Johannesburg,South Africa

The South African Police Service(SAPS) unit for Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation(HAWKS) has confirmed an arrest of foreign national that works as a petrol attendant at Ultra City N4 Middelburg for card skimming.

The police statement said a 32-year-old Swati national,a petrol attendant,is expected to appear before the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday,5 March 2024 for contravention of the Cybercrime Act 19/2020.

The suspect was arrested by HAWKS on Monday,4 March 2024 while he was on duty at Ultra City N4 Middelburg.

His arrest came after a thorough investigation which was conducted by banks and the investigators informed the police and Hawks involvement led to his arrest in possession of that device.

"It is alleged that during an internal audit ABSA/FNB bank card investigators had a suspicion of a skimming device amongst the petrol attendants at the garage.

"Information was escalated to the Hawks for further investigation and it was operationalised.The team comprising of the Hawks and bank investigators conducted a search and seizure operation.

"During the search,the suspect who was on duty,was found in possession of the skimming device.He was arrested and detained pending his first court appearance.

"The case was transferred to the Middelburg Serious Commercial Crime for further investigation.

The value is still being determined.It is currently estimated at R400 000-00 potential loss.Investigation continues,"said police statement.

Police disrupted smuggling activities across Limpopo River

Over the past weekend,the South African law enforcement agencies conducted a special operation around Beitbridge which resulted to the confiscation of counterfeited goods.

According to police statement,a successful operation conducted by the Border Police team at Musina in the Vhembe District near the Beitbridge Port of Entry on Sunday,3 March 2024,has resulted in the seizure of counterfeit goods and the recovery of an inflatable boat believed to be used for illegal crossings of the Limpopo River between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The police statement continues,during the operation,members of the SAPS OR Tambo International Airport Border Police intercepted a smuggling attempt and seized one inflatable boat,25 liters of diesel,counterfeit cigarettes,and liquor that were being smuggled between South Africa and Zimbabwe.Despite some suspects managing to evade arrest by fleeing on foot and crossing the Limpopo River,homemade wooden bridges used for illegal crossings were successfully dismantled during the operation.

Police adds that,in a separate incident,nine male Zimbabwean nationals were apprehended by the Vhembe District Proactive Police for contravening immigration Act during a separate Vala Umgodi operation.These individuals were arrested less than 10 kilometers from Beitbridge.The Department of Home Affairs Immigration Office was engaged for immediate deportation of the illegal immigrants.

Three men killed in a tavern shooting

The police in Mpumalanga are investigating a shooting of three people in a tavern in Tweefontein and that incident occurred on Sunday night.

Police said according to information,two armed men entered the tavern,carrying high caliber firearms during the time when the tavern was still open.It is further reported that the armed suspects then opened fire indiscriminately.It was during this time when the three male victims were shot at and sustained serious injuries.

Police continued that the paramedics as well as the police were called to the scene,and upon arrival,the three males aged 36,43 and 50 were unfortunately certified dead by the medical personnel.