organised crime

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News

Government moves to criminalise illegal mining as concerns mount

The Justice Department has moved to criminalise illegal mining as authorities grapple with a surge in mining-related deaths, violent crime and organised criminal syndicates. Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, announced on Tuesday that the General Mining Laws Amendment Bill will introduce a specific criminal offence for illegal mining and impose heavier penalties for offences linked to the illicit mining trade. "While illicit mining is prohibited, illicit mining and the activities related […]

todayAugust 11, 2026 14

News

Defence asks court to reject key witness’s evidence in Matlala attempted murder trial

The defence in the attempted murder trial of alleged underworld kingpin, Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, has urged the Johannesburg High Court to reject the evidence of the State's first witness, arguing that his testimony is riddled with contradictions and unsupported by forensic evidence. The application came after security guard, Bethwell Cele, concluded three days of testimony and cross-examination by lawyers representing all five accused. Matlala and his four co-accused, including his […]

todayJuly 23, 2026 55

News

Defence challenges State witness’s account in Matlala trial

The defence in the attempted murder trial of alleged underworld kingpin, Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, spent Wednesday systematically challenging the credibility of the State's first witness, questioning everything from the layout of the crime scene to whether he may have accidentally shot the alleged victim himself. Proceedings in the Johannesburg High Court centred on the testimony of security guard, Bethwell Cele, who was on duty when taxi boss, Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni, […]

todayJuly 22, 2026 36

News

Witness’s memory tested as court blocks CCTV evidence in Matlala trial

The credibility of the State's first witness in the trial of alleged underworld kingpin, Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, came under intense scrutiny on Tuesday, as the Johannesburg High Court refused to allow CCTV footage to be played, until it is properly authenticated. Defence lawyers also challenged the witness's recollection of key details surrounding the 2022 attempted murder of taxi boss, Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni. Security guard, Bethwell Cele, spent hours in the […]

todayJuly 21, 2026 43

News

Matlala trial begins with not guilty pleas as State prepares to call first witness

The trial of alleged underworld kingpin, Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, and his four co-accused officially got underway in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday, with all five pleading not guilty to 25 charges as the State prepares to call businessman, Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni, as its first witness. The accused face charges including attempted murder, fraud and money laundering linked to three alleged hit plots between August 2022 and January 2024. The […]

todayJuly 20, 2026 65

News

Madlanga Commission | Witness M granted request to testify behind closed doors over safety fears

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has granted Witness M's application to testify in-camera after the witness raised concerns about their safety and that of their family. Evidence leader, Advocate Teboho Mosikili, told the commission on Wednesday that Witness M's evidence should be heard behind closed doors because of the significant security risks involved. "Chair, at the heart of this application there a serious security and safety concerns to the witness […]

todayJuly 8, 2026 197

News

Over 200 illegal mining suspects arrested in major West Rand operation

More than 200 suspected illegal miners have been arrested during a large-scale law enforcement operation at the Losberg Kloof Mine near Westonaria on Gauteng’s West Rand. The six-month intelligence-driven operation, conducted under Operation Prosper, brought together the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Fidelity Specialised Services and Sibanye Protection Services to dismantle illegal mining syndicates and transnational criminal networks operating at the Sibanye Stillwater-owned […]

todayJuly 7, 2026 117

News

Madlanga Commission | Khan’s testimony date yet to be confirmed following shooting

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry says it is too early to determine when suspended deputy Crime Intelligence boss, Major-General Feroz Khan, will testify. This comes after Khan was shot on 3rd Avenue in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Sunday night, just days before he was expected to appear before the commission after being implicated by previous witnesses. Khan is reportedly in a critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a […]

todayJune 29, 2026 103

News

Madlanga Commission | Nku declines to identify source behind July 2021 drug bust

Alleged police informant and businessman, Tumelo Nku, has declined to reveal the identity of the source who allegedly informed him about the drug consignment discovered in Aeroton, south of Johannesburg in July 2021. Nku testified before the Madlanga Commission on Thursday, where he was questioned about his alleged role in the operation, during which approximately 715 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of R300 million, was discovered concealed […]

todayJune 25, 2026 203