By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Two suspected vehicle syndicate thieves aged 37 and 32 were arrested, various implements used in vehicle theft as well as three stolen vehicles were seized in a multidisciplinary operation in Naturena, south of Johannesburg.
The suspects were arrested on Thursday evening.
Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said various law enforcement teams, including the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section, APS Gauteng Province Crime Intelligence, CAP Specialised Operations, and private security, were involved in the operation.
“The vehicle described in the intelligence information was observed as it came out of residential premises in Naturena and was tactically contained. Two suspects were arrested, and electronic devices used in the theft of motor vehicles, as well as three military-grade signal jammers, were recovered.
“Further investigation of the suspect’s vehicle, a grey Mazda CX-5, revealed that it was reported stolen as per a Sandton case.”
Mogale said the team discovered two more stolen vehicles, which were identified as stolen in Parkview and Alberton, respectively.
The team also recovered vehicle VIN labels, multiple false registration plates, vehicle registration papers, a device used to start vehicles, gloves, and cell phones.
Mogale said the suspects are believed to be part of a syndicate that targets high-end motor vehicles, especially SUVs, in and around Gauteng.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Booysens Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Meanwhile the former head of the North West Health Department, an official, and a businessman, faces charges related to the 2008 construction of the Moses Kotane and Joe Morolong Hospitals in Rustenburg and Vryburg.
Lydia Sebego (63), Vuyo Mbulawa (54), and Roulgh Mabe (69) were granted bail in the Molopo Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation and Serious Commercial Crime Investigation units arrested the trio in Mahikeng, also on Thursday.
The case relates to the North West Health Department seeking to build two hospitals in Ledig (Moses Kotane Hospital) and Vryburg (Joe Morolong Hospital) in 2008 and 2009.
“Sebego is facing two charges of Contravening the Public Finance Management Act, Mbulawa is facing ten charges of fraud, and Mabe is charged with six counts of fraud,” confirmed National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Henry Mamothame.
According to Mamothame, service-level agreements were signed between the two companies and their directors on services that needed to be rendered to the two hospitals, but this never materialised.
The companies further submitted fraudulent invoices, which the department paid after Mbulawa allegedly authorised them.
“This allegedly led to a loss of over R86 million to the Department of Health. The state’s evidence further reveals that Sebego signed the service-level agreements while she knew that the two companies were not compliant and did not meet the requirements,” said Mamothame.
The fourth suspect, the director of the second company, was yet to be arrested.
Sebego was granted bail of R10,000 bail, Mbulawa was granted R20,000 bail, while Mabe was given bail of R100,000.
The matter was postponed to 31 January 2024 to allow for the tracing of the remaining suspects.