By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Hawks have arrested a man in Germiston, Gauteng, for making threats against President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and CEO of a Cape Town based company.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said the arrest follows a case reported earlier this month.
“On Monday, 12 May 2025, a complainant, who is the CEO of a Cape Town based company, allegedly received a voice message from the suspect, in which threats were made against the President of South Africa.
“The suspect is also alleged to have sent multiple threatening messages targeting the complainant, her family and the mayor of Cape Town,” Mbambo said.
Mbambo added that the matter was reported to the Cape Town based Hawks’ CATS team.
“They conducted a swift investigation resulting in the suspect’s apprehension in Gauteng. The suspect is currently being transported to Cape Town and is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 May 2025, where he will face a charge of intimidation.”
Mbambo said investigations are ongoing.
In a separate incident, a Brazilian national has been arrested after being caught with cocaine worth an estimated street value of R1.4 million strapped to his legs.
SAPS national spokersperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the drug mule was in transit to Benin when he was intercepted by officers at the airport.
“He was pulled aside and during a body search, cocaine was found wrapped around his legs. He has been arrested and is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on a charge of drug trafficking”.
Mathe said police were intensifying their efforts to clamp down on the illicit trade of drugs.
She said from January 2025 to March 2025, 23 306 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs.
Mathe added that a total of 3 471 suspects were also arrested for dealing in drugs.
These include six Mozambicans and three South Africans who were arrested in Standerton, Mpumalanga, after police dismantled a clandestine drug laboratory in the area.