The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation(HAWKS) has announced an arrest of additional six security officers which are accused of being in possession of fraudulent firearm competency certificates in Mpumalanga province.
Hawks Spokesperson in Mpumalanga,Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said the last batch of 20 security officers that were arrested for possession of fraudulently acquired competency certificates made their first court appearance in Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on Friday,31 January 2025.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni,the six will join their 14 co-accused that appeared in the same court on 17 and 24 January 2025.The group was summoned to court after a joint investigation by the Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Corruption Investigation,Priority Crime Management Centre,and a private security company.The suspects appeared in court in three phases.
He said the first group of seven suspects appeared on 17 January 2025,followed by the second group of seven that appeared on 24 January 2025 before the group of six that appeared on 31 January 2025.
He added that all the suspects were summoned by the court to make their second appearance jointly on 07 February 2025.
He revealed that the security officers were apprehended after the law enforcement officers received a tip-off.
He said the suspects were summoned to court after project COBRA was launched by Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Corruption Investigation,Priority Crime Management Centre,and a private security company in 2024.The project was launched after information was received that the suspects colluded and fraudulently acquired the certificates in 2023.
He concluded that the team successfully investigated and linked the suspects.
Foreign national arrested for farm murder
The police has confirmed an arrest of foreign national that was involved in a farm murder eight years ago in Globersdal,Limpopo province.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said a 51-year-old suspect,Tobias Moyo,who is a foreign national involved in a farm murder at one of the farms in Globersdal,was arrested on Sunday,26 January 2025,at Etwatwa in Daveyton,Gauteng province,through positive information.He appeared before Globersdal Magistrate's Court on Tuesday,28 January 2025,and he was remanded in custody until Monday,03 February 2025.
He added that meanwhile,Fanie Sergio Makwakwa(31) still required to avail himself to the nearest police station as it is believed that he may be of assistance in solving serious cases that happened on the farm.
Moyo was arrested after being one of the prime suspects for a murder which occurred almost eight years ago in the farm at Globersdal whereby the farm owner was killed and his family members were attacked.
He stated that according to reports,a group of men attacked the farm owner together with his family and assaulted the farmer to death.Family members were taken to the hospital for medical treatment and were later discharged.
He highlighted that among the group,four suspects were arrested,two on 06 August 2017,and another two on 08 August 2017.When they initially appeared in court on 08 August 2017,they were not given bail.However,they were eventually granted bail.
He also highlighted that in the course of time,one of the suspects passed on when they were expected to appear before the court,and the second one was subsequently released by the court.
He pointed out that the case docket was eventually referred to Polokwane High Court,and the remaining suspects were given a date of 23 August 2017 for their second court appearance,but they failed to appear and absconded.
He concluded that warrants of arrest were issued against the two suspects who were supposed to appear before court,but they were nowhere to be found.