9 June 2011 –
The Port Shepstone Organised Crime Unit descended upon Margate SAPF this week. Two more policemen were arrested, bringing to four the number arrested since mid-May this year. One is believed to be in jail at the moment awaiting a bail hearing, one is out on bail and another two appeared in court yesterday (Wednesday, June 8). They are charged with serious crimes from armed robbery, attempted murder, kidnapping, corruption, theft of cash.
Steven Ngubane, Margate SAPF detective, arrested June 7 for attempted murder of tuck shop owner, Masinenge squatter camp
Constable Steven Ngubane, a Margate SAPF detective, was arrested on June 7 by Detective Warrant Officer Basil Crouse from the Port Shepstone Organised Crime Unit. He appeared in court in Port Shepstone on charges relating to robbery, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed ammunition and theft of ammunition.
The case was postponed until June 9 for bail application.
Ngubane, above, was arrested after a formal complaint from a complaint by a tuck shop owner at the Masinenge squatter camp near Margate on April 17. The complainant said he had been in bed in the early hours of the morning when he was woken by a man wearing a police uniform, who shone a torch light in his eyes. When the tuck shop owner asked who he was, the uniformed man did not reply.The tuck shop owner then grabbed the torch, whereupon the man in the police uniform fired shots at him.The ‘policeman’ allegedly told the man to cover himself with a blanket, before taking a sum of money and leaving.
In another case, Constable Mduduzi Kenneth Mpofana, also a detective at Margate SAPF, was arrested on May 19 by DWO Crouse.Constable Mpofana appeared in court the same day on charges of corruption, kidnapping and theft of cash. He was released on bail of R1 000. The case was postponed until June 30.
Yesterday (Wednesday), the Organised Crime Unit arrested two more detectives alleged to be involved in the same case.Warrant Officer Mzingisi Sukantaka and a Constable Nkuleleko Mditshwa face the same charges as Constable Mpofana and appeared in court on June 8 2011. They were released on bail of R1 000 each and the case has been postponed to June 30.The constable will face an additional charge of possession of stolen property after his office was raided and property, which was seized from suspects and which was supposed to be handed into the exhibit store, was found in his office.These items included 183 CDs, an amplifier, a television, two cellphones and cellphone chargers. A civilian was also arrested in connection with the case but has not yet appeared in court. The investigation is ongoing.
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/kzn-south-coast/kzn-south-coast-news-general?oid=4474358&sn=Detail&pid=4196921&Crime-unit-swoops-on-Margate-station
