Johannesburg – A man has been arrested after a suspected stolen vehicle was spotted in Riverlea, Johannesburg metro police said on Monday.

Three other men who were with him in the vehicle managed to flee on foot, said Superintendent Edna Mamonyane.

The men were intercepted in Riverlea after CCTV camera footage reported a Ford Ranger with no number plates as having been stolen in the Main Reef area.

“The four occupants were flagged down by metro officers and after stopping, they started to shoot at officers,” Mamonyane said.

The officers returned fire and managed to apprehend one of them. A firearm was confiscated.

The man is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of car theft.

Police are looking for his three accomplices.
– SAPA

Johannesburg – A Bulgarian national believed to be Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir’s accountant and right-hand man has been arrested in Benoni, Gauteng police said on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old was arrested at the Benoni police station around 18:30 on Monday when he reported to the station as part of his bail conditions, national police spokesperson Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale said.

He was currently out on bail of R30 000 after being arrested on two counts of fraud unrelated to Monday’s arrest.

“Police believe that the accountant was Krejcir’s right-hand man, who knew the ins and outs and participated in all of Krejcir’s alleged criminal activities.”

Man to appear in court

Police also believed that the man paid those in Krejcir’s pocket in cash, Makgale said.

The man would appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s court on Wednesday on charges of murder, conspiracy to murder, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. He would appear with Krejcir and five others at a later date to face the same charges.

Krejcir, Desai Luphondo, Warrant Officers Samuel “Saddam” Maropeng and George Nthoroane, and Jan Lefu Mofokeng and Siboniso Miya face charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, and dealing in drugs.

They allegedly kidnapped Bheki Lukhele from his Katlehong home in June last year.

Accused deny involvement

He testified about how he was bound, blindfolded, assaulted and had boiling water poured all over him – allegedly by Krejcir – in a bid for him to reveal the whereabouts of his brother Doctor.

Doctor had allegedly disappeared with 25kg of tik (methamphetamine) which he had been tasked to transport to Australia, allegedly for Krejcir.

All the accused have denied involvement in the matter.

“Most of the investigations are at an advanced stage and we can say with absolute confidence that more charges are going to be brought against Krejcir and those around him who have been engaging in criminal activities,” Makgale said.
– SAPA

Cape Town – The city’s eviction drama has taken another turn as tensions rose between Blackheath residents and their new neighbours who were moved from Lwandle last week.
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Cape Town – Two Cape Town men have been found guilty of murdering their German employer and throwing his body down the mountainside, a report said on Tuesday.
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Pretoria – Former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils’s statement submitted to the Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the 1999 multi-billion rand arms deal was criticised on Tuesday.

“We are going to take you through what the critics say. Your statement just deals with common cause things, except where it highlights when you took trips abroad,” evidence leader Simmy Lebala SC, said.

“The critics are saying ‘why did we go to procure these capabilities when we had the financial and budgetary constraints?’ Where there is need for you to explain, we will make it a point that you explain.”

In response, Kasrils said he did not want to waste the inquiry’s time by repeating issues that had been traversed by previous witnesses.

Not wasting time

“I did have a discussion with leaders of evidence about a year ago and indicated the extent to which I am aware and not. I am working with my own learned counsel, in terms of their advice to me,” he said.

“I am not wishing to waste the time of the commission. It was clear that there have been so [many] witnesses relating to minutes of meetings, acquisition, defence procurement, and so on, and I am advised not to repeat those things.”

Lebala said Kasrils would have to be taken through some of the minutes of meetings.

Kasrils’s sworn statement to the inquiry stated that it was vital for the SA National Defence Force to obtain the weaponry.

“It was vital for these forces to have the capability and capacity, supported by appropriate resources and equipment, to support their assignments at home and on the continent,” said Kasrils in the affidavit.

Good working relationship with Modise

He has previously told the inquiry that because he was only a deputy minister, working under former defence minister Joe Modise at the time of the arms deal, he was not privy to all the details of the transaction.

However, he had a good working relationship with Modise dating back to the liberation struggle.

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission in 2011 to investigate alleged corruption in the multi-billion rand deal.

The government acquired, among other hardware, 26 Gripen fighter aircraft and 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainer aircraft for the air force, and frigates and submarines for the navy.

Former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota was at the public hearings on Tuesday. He is scheduled to testify after Kasrils.
– SAPA