13 March 2025- A woman (36) was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Postmasburg Regional Court for murder. On 24 December 2023, the accused, Ilse Freemen, went to the victim’s shack at Maranteng in Postmasburg.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said Freemen, confronted the victim (32), about a stolen door and gossip stories that were spread. Shemane said an argument ensued between the two women and the accused strangled the victim to death.
“The accused reported the incident to the victim’s boyfriend, who then called the police. The accused was subsequently arrested,” he said.
Meanwhile, ZF Mgcawu District management commended Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Tshonto Kgomonyane, for his thorough investigation work in ensuring that the accused served time for the heinous crime.
10 March 2025- A man (50) was sentenced to six years imprisonment for fraud and theft of a motor vehicle. In November 2020, the accused, Hanro Pietersen, visited the complainant at Riverside Farm, near Plooysburg.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said Pietersen informed the complainant that he was a mechanic and would be able to fix his Nissan X trail vehicle, which is valued at R70 000. Shemane said the victim paid the accused R15 000 to do the repairs on the vehicle and Pietersen then towed the vehicle to Kimberley.
“The accused took the vehicle papers with him and informed the complaint that he was taking the papers in case the police stopped him along the road. Instead, the accused went to the Kimberley Traffic Department and forged the signature of the complainant and put the vehicle on his name.
“After the accused repaired the vehicle, he then sold it to a person in Roodepan in Kimberley. It then came to the attention of the owner that the vehicle has been sold,” he said.
Shemane further said the complainant approached the police and a case of theft of motor vehicle and fraud was registered. He added that, the police recovered the vehicle and arrested the accused.
“On 5 March 2025, the Kimberley Regional Court convicted and sentenced him to six years imprisonment, and he was also declared unfit to possess a firearm,” said Shemane.
Meanwhile, the District Commissioner of Pixley Ka Seme, Major General Nomana Mtukushe, commended the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Samuel Witbooi of De Aar Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit in securing the conviction and bringing the perpetrator to justice.
10 March 2025- The accused, Angelique Loubsher (53), who was facing 135 counts of theft, was found guilty by the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court. Loubsher was working as a Financial Administrator at a company selling cleaning materials, had over a period of 10 months (from 3 January 2021 to 23 October 2021) stealing money belonging to her employer, instead of depositing it into the employer’s bank account.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said she was sentenced to just more than 23 years imprisonment, suspended on condition that she pays the whole amount of R285 842.46, back to her now former employer. Myburgh said Loubsher was also put under correctional supervision for a period of five years.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, congratulated the Potchefstroom Detectives for recently achieving excellent sentences. Asaneng commended the Investigating Officers and prosecution for leaving no stone unturned to secure the sentence.
5 March 2025- The accused, Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney (69) was sentenced to a cumulative 10 years imprisonment by the Pretoria North Regional Court for perjury, fraud and theft. This is after Sigamoney defrauded the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pension payouts, while being the sole director of a company that was awarded tenders worth millions from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to supply office furniture.
The Investigating Directive Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said she has applied for leave to appeal and the court postponed the matter to 12 March 2025, for arguments. Mamothame said in his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Pieter Nel, highlighted the need to convey a strong message to potential perpetrators, on the seriousness of such offences.
“The court previously granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit a confiscation order against her, stipulating that an amount of R138 593.00 with interest calculated at 11.25% per annum, calculated from the date of this order, be paid back to SASSA.
“Sigamoney’s conviction is as a result of an occurrence of 13 April 2017, wherein she applied for an old age grant with SASSA, attaching a supporting affidavit wherein she stated that she has never worked for a period of 20 years,” he said.
Mamothame further said, on 18 April, SASSA provided Sigamoney with a letter of approval, which she signed for as received. He added that she is alleged to have received grant money from SASSA amounting to approximately R123 000, from July 2017 to July 2022.
“Subsequent to charges being registered against her, she continued to receive the grant for a further 16 months. Although she is listed as the director of KJP Traders Pty and Matthew Pillay (her son), KJP is alleged to have conducted business with the state as early as 2012, preceding her application to SASSA.
“Furthermore, the company is estimated to have cashed in approximately R88 million from the SAPS contracts, to which the last payment was in 2022,” said Mamothame.
3 March 2025- A man (33), briefly appeared in Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud. In May 2022, the accused, Minhaz Ahmed Patel allegedly went to a car dealership in Klerksdorp to apply for financing of a BMW 4 series M4 Coupe valued at R1.4 million.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Sivenathi Gunya, Patel allegedly submitted fraudulent documents and his motor vehicle finance was approved by the bank. Gunya said he subsequently received the vehicle, which he never made any payment for since its purchase as credit agreement states.
“As a result, the bank suffered a loss of R1.4 million. The matter was referred to the Klerksdorp based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further handling. Following a lengthy trace, the suspect was arrested by the police at OR Tambo International Airport, while trying to flee to his home country on 2 March 2025.
“Patel appeared before court and the matter was postponed to 13 March 2025, for formal bail application,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Brigadier Silas Munzhedzi and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the investigation and prosecution team for their relentless efforts in ensuring that perpetrators face the full might of the law.
22 February 2025- A man (36) was sentenced to six years imprisonment for stealing a vehicle by the Postmasburg Regional Court, of which two years were suspended for five years. On 15 December 2023, the accused, Tshepo Links, stole the keys of a Ford Ranger from the house and drove without owner’s consent.
The ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Masegela said Links was driving on the Griekwastad road, where he was involved in a collision and fled the scene. Masegela said the police conducted an investigation, and Links was arrested.
“The police in the ZF Mgcawu District welcomed the conviction and sentencing of a theft of motor vehicle,” he said.
Meanwhile, the District Management, commended the collaborative work by advocate Moloi Motsatse, the investigating officer, Sergeant John Manzana of Upington Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit.
21 January 2025- A man (23) from Letlhabile village, near Brits, briefly appeared before the Brits Magistrate’s Court. Kagiso Stock Malematje is facing charges of two counts of murder and a count of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
It is alleged that in the early hours of 16 January 2025, the accused, along with three other men, targeted a tuck shop in Maboloka village. The group reportedly robbed the deceased of cash, cigarettes, airtime, and two cell phones before fatally shooting them in front of their two minor children.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said on 17 January 2025, a witness reported the incident to the police. Mahanjana said Malematje was subsequently identified and arrested on the same day.
“Another suspect believed to have been involved in the crime was also arrested, but did not appear in court. The case has been remanded to 17 February 2025, to allow for further investigations,” she said.
21 November 2024- A man (39) was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Springbok Regional Court for rape. On 11 December 2010, the accused, Mervin Morne Cloete, raped a woman (30), who was in a company of her friends.
The victim and her friends, visited another friend in Okiep, outside Springbok. They consumed alcohol in what can be described as a small party.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane said, the complainant usually sleeps in one of the rooms at her friends’ place, when she is drunk or when she comes from the pub. Senokoatsane said on the said night, some of the friends of the complainant, decided to go to the pub in town, but the complainant and the rest of her friends remained behind because they were heavily intoxicated.
“The remaining friends went to sleep, leaving the complainant in the room, where games were usually played. The complainant was in a drunken stupor on the bed in the room, fully clothed.
“At around 11pm, the victim was awoken by one of her friends. The complainant immediately felt that something was off. She realised that her pants and underwear were cut between her legs, and she felt wet in her private parts,” he said.
Senokoatsane further said, the complainant informed her friend that she suspected that she had been violated since her pants and underwear were cut between the legs, and she smelled like someone who just had intercourse.
He added that she also indicated that she had two kids and therefore knew how someone smelled who just had intercourse.
“She also realised that her cell phone which was in her upper body was also missing. The police were called, coming the next morning and the matter was reported. During preliminary investigations, all her male friends who were part of the gathering on 11 December 2010, were regarded as suspects.
“All of them were questioned and their buckle samples were taken for DNA elimination. All of them were eliminated, thus there was no suspect. The state was unable to proceed due to the lack of a suspect,” said Senokoatsane.
He said on 21 May 2021, eleven years later the accused, Cloete, was arrested on an unrelated charge of Contravening the Conditions of a Protection Order. Senokoatsane said his buckle sample was taken and sent to the laboratory to be placed on the database.
“The Investigating Officer in that matter was informed by the laboratory that a comparative search on the National Forensic DNA Database indicates that the accused arrested on the 21 May 2021 matter, is a person of interest in the rape matter that occurred on 11 December 2010.
“A comparison was done, and in a Section 212 statement dated 14 June 2022, it was concluded that the DNA of the accused taken in the 2021 matter, matches the DNA(semen) that was obtained from the tights and the underwear the complainant in the rape matter wore on 11 December 2010,” he said.
Senokoatsane said the regional court prosecutor in the matter, Basil Kock, after consultation with the victim, gave the instruction that the accused be charged with rape and made his first appearance on 24 April 2023.
He said when the trial was to commence, the accused tried to delay the trial, by submitting that Kock had a personal vendetta against him and should therefore recuse himself from the matter.
“The court explained to the accused after submissions by the learned prosecutor that there was no basis for the prosecutor to recuse himself. The trial eventually commenced on 4 September 2023.
“During the trial, the accused again delayed the matter for a considerable period when he fired his legal aid attorney. A Judicare practitioner had to be appointed, which resulted in further delays in finalising the matter,” said Senokoatsane.
“When the trial commenced, the accused testified by an admission that he had sexual intercourse with the complainant on the said date and place. He further admitted the contents of the 212 statements, which indicate that his semen (DNA) was found on the clothing of the complainant.
“However, the accused claimed that the sexual intercourse was with the consent of the complainant. The accused claimed that he went to look for the complainant, at the residence where the rape took place when he did not find her at the local pub,” he said.
Senokoatsane said he further testified that he found the complainant in the room, where she was sleeping, and he woke her up. He said he indicated that after chatting for a while, they slept together.
“All the above was denied by the complainant who insisted that she was in a drunken stupor and knew nothing about any sexual intercourse. This was confirmed by the state witnesses who testified that the complainant was heavily intoxicated and in a drunken stupor when they left her in the room.
“The accused after being cornered on numerous occasions by the prosecutor informed the court that he did not wish to answer any further questions concerning the rape,” said Senokoatsane.
He said during pre-sentencing, Kock highlighted the seriousness and prevalence of the offence in the court’s jurisdiction. Senokoatsane said Kock also highlighted the psychological effect rape has on victims such as the complainant.
14 November 2024- A woman (25) was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Postmasburg Magistrate’s Court for assaulting her ex-boyfriend with a bottle. On 28 January 2024, the accused, Jocellyn Koopman assaulted her ex-boyfriend with a bottle at a club in Lime Acres.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said armed with a protection order, the victim, Poloko Madito (31), reported the incident to the police and the accused was subsequently arrested. Shemane said the case was assigned to Detective Constable Desmond Thabang Madito and guided by Emmauel Muruba of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“The accused was convicted and sentenced in the Postmasburg Magistrate’s Court to five years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ZF Mgcawu District management applauded the investigating officer and the prosecution team for securing the conviction and sentencing of a domestic violence perpetrator and assured the public that the policing and investigating of domestic violence related crimes remains a priority for the police.
8 November 2024- An elderly man aged 75 was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Bafokeng Sexual Offences Regional Court in Tlhabane, near Rustenburg for rape. On 4 June 2023, the accused, Themba Moya, called Tshwetso Letshaba (15) at around 12pm, to assist him with something in the house at Lethabong Township, outside Rustenburg.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said on arrival, Moya who is the victim’s neighbour, invited her to his bedroom, where he raped her. Mokgwabone said the matter was reported to the police and the suspect was arrested.
“Sadly, the victim allegedly killed herself a few weeks after the rape incident,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, applauded the Investigating Officer, D/Sgt Letshabang Mzinyathi and the state prosecutor, Advocate Dzimema and other role players for working together to secure the conviction.
The Guardian 