By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, outlined progress made in the third quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.
Lebeya says members of the DPCI are determined to deal with national priority offences.
“Their persistence led to securing the attendance in court of at least 724 suspects, which is made of 705 natural persons and 19 juristic persons,” Lebeya said.
Lebeya said 229 accused persons, which is made of 220 natural persons and nine juristic persons, were convicted and sentenced.
“The top five national priority offences that contributed a high number of arrests are 156 for fraud, including 15 companies; 64 for precious metals and diamonds; 67 for narcotics; 51 for non-ferrous metals and 51 for corruption,” Lebeya said.
Lebeya added during the arrests, the DPCI seized various exhibits, including precious metals and diamonds, endangered species, vehicles, cash, firearms, ammunition, counterfeit goods, explosives and electronic devices worth R102 614 521.89.
“Out of the 229 convictions, fraud contributed the highest number of convictions, with a total number of 63. Precious metals and diamonds are the second highest, with a total number of 45 accused persons.
“Over and above arrests and convictions, the Directorate, in collaboration with the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), secured 92 orders with a monetary value of R39 642 652.71, “Lebeya said.
Lebeya used the opportunity to warn criminals attacking police officers that the law will not have mercy on them.
He said 22 police officials were murdered in the third quarter, 12 off duty and 10 on duty, and that 12 arrests were effected.
Lebeya also said a charge of terrorism has been added to the charges against 65 alleged instigators of the July 2021 unrest.
After the Hawks initiated investigations, they identified the author of the video clip as 36-year-old Mdumiseni Khetha Zuma, who was arrested in KwaZulu-Natal on August 28 2021. His bail was denied.
Lebeya said on November 29 2023, the Pietermaritzburg regional court sentenced Zuma to an effective 12 years’ imprisonment after his conviction on contravening the Riotous Assemblies Act.
With regards to illegal miners, Lebeya said there have been some successes. On 24 November 2023, three suspects — Progress Bayeni Mlambo (42), Leornard Moyo (46) and Kocanai Sithole (26) — were arrested by a team comprising Welkom-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Hawks’ Head Office Precious Metals & Diamonds (PMD) team, Public Order Police and Protea Coin Security.
“Information about the accused exchanging gold for cash between the Free State and Gauteng led the investigators to seek a search and seizure warrant. They had their eyes set squarely on a certain house in Parys, where these illegal activities were said to be taking place.
“The suspects appeared before the magistrate in Parys on 27 November 2023 for contravention of the Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005, and again on 29 January 2024,” Lebeya said.
Lebeya described human trafficking as modern-day slavery and a crime against humanity.
“South Africa has not been spared this twin-pandemic of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, “he said.
During this reporting period, 19 potential victims of trafficking in persons were rescued. Three foreign nationals were convicted, while four suspects were arrested.