Two arrested in Kempton Park after police seize elephant tusks worth R1.2m
Durban - Two men aged 40 and 42, are expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for illegal possession of and dealing in elephant tusks, specialist crime-fighting unit the Hawks said on Tuesday.
The duo was nabbed following an operation conducted by the Hawks’ serious organised crime investigation unit in Germiston, the endangered species team and the Ekurhuleni SWAT team.
The operation took place at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Monday following information that the suspects were selling elephant tusks.
"The description of the suspects’ vehicles was confirmed and upon searching, police seized five elephant tusks wrapped and concealed in a travelling luggage," said Hawks' spokesperson captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
"Both vehicles, a Ford Figo and Audi Q5, were immediately seized. The suspects were then traced and apprehended at the same location during an undercover-operation. The elephant tusks, weighing about 45 kilograms with an estimated street value of R1.2 million, have since been confiscated."
The men were charged with contravening the National Environment Management: Biodiversity Act.
African News Agency (ANA)
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Mthatha robbers sentenced to 45 years in jail ten years after reign of terror
Durban - Three armed robbers described as a "menace to the Mthatha community" were sentenced to a combined 45 years in jail, specialised policing unit the Hawks said on Tuesday.
Hawks spokesperson colonel Katlego Mogale said Sabelo Malgas, 36, and Mncedi Mondliwa, 33, were sentenced to 30 years direct imprisonment each while Andile Maguma, 39, was sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment on Friday by the Mthatha Regional Court, for 10 armed robberies.
"The trio launched a string of attacks in and around Mthatha from January until their arrest in March 2010, terrorising business people, and committed violent house robberies. During their arrest they were found in possession of three illegal 9mm pistols and ammunition."
"The trio launched a string of attacks in and around Mthatha from January until their arrest in March 2010, terrorising business people, and committed violent house robberies. During their arrest they were found in possession of three illegal 9mm pistols and ammunition."
Hawks head, lieutenant general Godfrey Lebeya said he welcomed the guilty verdict.
“For the past 10 years, this matter has been on the court roll. The convictions and sentences of the three accused on Friday, February 7, 2020 is welcomed.
“For the past 10 years, this matter has been on the court roll. The convictions and sentences of the three accused on Friday, February 7, 2020 is welcomed.
"The 10 case dockets on which the three accused were charged are now offloaded from the investigation team's workload. It makes the load lighter in order to focus on other equally demanding tasks.
"I commend the work of the investigators and prosecutors on this outstanding and well-deserved conviction. The community in Mthatha is much safer from the trio," said Lebeya.
African News Agency (ANA)
African News Agency (ANA)
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Joburg pupil falls to his death at Ferndale High School
Johannesburg - There was more tragedy around the Gauteng province on Tuesday when a Ferndale High School pupil fell to his death from the third floor. The Grade 10 pupil fell to his death after suffering an epilepsy seizure.
Netcare 911 paramedics said the incident happened just after 9.30am on Tuesday morning.
“Netcare 911 responded to reports of a fall at a school in Randburg. Reports from the scene allege that a minor male had fallen from a third floor balcony,” said Herbst.
Steve Mabona, the spokesperson for Gauteng Department of Education, said the epileptic seizure led to the 16-year-old jumping to his death from the third floor.
Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has in recent days continously appealed for divine intervention as the death of the pupil, means at least 11 pupils in Gauteng have been killed in school-related deaths since the start of the 2020 academic year.
Sadly, the boy passed on. Once more, We must go and face the family and break the news , it’s too much now. Our sincere condolences to the family and friends and learners at Ferndale High. This is the 11th death since the reopening of schools this year @EducationGP @Steve_Mabona twitter.com/lesufi/status/…
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“The Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi is distraught about another incident which led to the death of a learner in Ferndale High School. The incident happened on Tuesday morning where the boy learner allegedly experienced a seizure which emanated from a diagnosis of epilepsy,” said Mabona.
Mabona said the pupil was sent to a hospital after emergency services were called to the school. He later died in hospital, he said.
“This is another death which has struck us as the Gauteng Department of Education, we are lost for words, we don’t know what to say anymore.
“It is unfortunate that we need to go face the family and say this is what transpired and convey our condolences,” he said.
He said the department’s psycho social unit team has been dispatched to the school. Mabona described the pupil’s death as “sad and unfortunate”.
Paramedics had earlier reported that the boy was in a “stable condition” and had commended the school for their swift reaction.
“Circumstances leading up to the falls are not known however the school needs to be commended on their quick reaction to the incident,” Herbst had said.
The school would not comment on the incident, relaying questions back to the Education Department.
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