Archives October 2022

The Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has released Nonesi Mguca (49) a payroll officer and Namhla Toni (43) an administration clerk on warning after they appeared before the court on October 3, 2022. This is after their arrest by the Mthatha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Hawks, on the very same day of their detention for allegations of fraud. “It is alleged that in May 2019 an expenditure officer at Intsika Yethu Local Municipality in Cofimvaba was doing a month end expenditure report which included the staff salaries.”

“She noticed that the remuneration list was not the same as the one she already imported to the First National Bank for the month ending on May 25, 2019. She scrutinized the reports and established discrepancies which started in September 2018 in the monthly salaries of the duo,” said provincial Hawks spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela.
Due to the fraudulent activities and manipulation of the payroll system, the debts to the total amount of more than R170 000 owed by the duo is alleged to have been paid by the municipality. Extensive probing by the Hawks confirmed that Mguca and Toni allegedly colluded to make fraudulent changes on the payroll system to avoid some financial deductions from their salaries which resulted in the arrest of the duo on October 3, 2022.
The matter was remanded to December 2, 2022, for legal representation.

A manhunt is underway as Ngcobo SAPS are investigating a business robbery that led to the death of two people, with another critically wounded in the Lahlangubo Administrative Area today.
According to police spokesperson, Captain Namhla Mdleleni, police were summoned to a complaint of a robbery in progress at a shop in Lahlangubo.
“Upon arrival at the scene they discovered two male bodies aged 32 and 34 with gunshot wounds. There was also a 60-year-old woman who was rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound. An undisclosed amount of cash, cigarettes and airtime were stolen,” said Mdleleni.

She added that cases of murder (two counts) with additional charges of attempted murder and business robbery is under investigation. The circumstances surrounding the incident are unknown, at this stage.”
Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects can contact Ngcobo SAPS Station Commander, Colonel Xolani Sali on 082 442 4163 or 08600 10111. All information will be treated with confidentiality and callers may remain anonymous.

The case against the owners of the Enyobeni tavern in East London, where 21 youths died in June, has been postponed to 25 November after the State introduced a new prosecutor. The tavern made headlines in June this year, after 21 teenagers died there under mysterious circumstances. The owners, Siyakhangela Ndevu and his wife Vuyokazi, stand accused of violating the Liquor Act for allegedly selling alcohol to underaged patrons on the tragic night.

The Eastern Cape Liquor Board opened the case after 12 girls and nine boys, some as young as 13, died inside the tavern and on their way to hospital. The Eastern Cape health department said the children had died from suffocation inside the overcrowded venue. On Wednesday, East London Magistrate Kevin von Bratt told the court that a new prosecutor, advocate Tango Phangalele, would take over the case and needed to familiarise themselves with the docket and evidence before the court. Von Bratt moved the matter to next month Defence lawyer Precious Daniel said she was almost ready to proceed with the trial.

“I have been furnished with documents such as photo album and video footage today. I can only now finally say I can consult with my clients properly and cover any loopholes if there are any. We can finally say, on the 25th of November, we are ready to proceed with trial.” Outside court, disgruntled parents maintained that the tavern couple should be charged with murder. Nombulelo Sanarhala, mother of 16-year-old victim Esinako Sanarhala, said: “The tavern circulated posters for the event promising free alcohol, [a] photoshoot, and Wi-Fi. Our kids are young so they fell for that.” Sanarhala added Sanarhala also called on the justice department to move swiftly to ensure justice was served in the case.

“Yes, we agree they did not force the children to attend the tavern, but they coerced them by offering free alcohol,” she said. The double-storey tavern has since been shut down after the Liquor Board revoked its liquor licence. But the parents are not happy, claiming that the owners may be operating four other taverns elsewhere.
The Eastern Cape Liquor Board could not verify this, but promised to investigate the allegations. The Buffalo City Metro previously revealed that the tavern’s structure was built illegally and may be knocked down.

Cofimvaba – Dawn FM will soon rock the digital space as online community radio station serving the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality and the surrounding communities and to the world. Dawn FM has commissioned MB Media to digitalise the new radio station for the community.