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The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the man arrested in connection with the murders was out on parole for a separate murder when the massacre took place.

The suspect made his first appearance in the Lusikisiki Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday in connection with the massacre, which left five others injured.

“Siphosoxolo Myekethe is facing 18 charges of murder and one count of possession of an unlicensed firearm, an [AKM type] assault rifle. During his brief appearance in court, the accused elected to be represented by a Legal Aid attorney and expressed his intention to exercise his right to apply for bail.

“The prosecution will be opposing bail against the alleged murderer, who has two previous convictions for escaping from legal custody and murder. He is currently out on parole for murder,” NPA regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said in a statement.

Myekethe is expected back in court on 15 October.

Previously, the SAPS indicated in a statement that investigations into the killings were at “an advanced but sensitive stage in relation to the arrest of the suspects linked to the gruesome murder.”

On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed deep sorrow following the killing of six community patrollers in Tina Falls/Godini on Sunday night. The patrollers were reportedly preparing for duty at their base at Lugongozo Senior Secondary School when attackers opened fire on the group. Six of the patrollers were fatally wounded, with four others injured in the attack.

The President offered his condolences to the families of the victims and extended wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. Further, President Ramaphosa condemned the violence, describing it as a grave loss to the community and an assault on the efforts of ordinary citizens to maintain safety in their area.

The President had previously conveyed his condolences to the families of the 18 people killed last month.

Separately, Cabinet has applauded the successes of intelligence-led operations conducted in the Verulam and Highflats areas in KwaZulu-Natal.

“In the Verulam operation, police confronted a mastermind and one of the most wanted suspects in most of the cash-in-transit robberies in KwaZulu-Natal. The suspect was killed in a shootout after he opened fire against the police. Similarly, two suspects in the murder of seven people in the Highflats case were killed in a shootout with the police,” said a statement released by Cabinet.

According to reports last month, seven people, including three children, were allegedly killed in what appeared to be an execution-style attack, while sitting in their home.

Cabinet has applauded the continued success of Operation Shanela, which has garnered over 10 000 arrests over the previous week.

“Cabinet further commended a joint operation in Limpopo that led to the discovery of a drug lab in Lebowakgomo, where drugs to the value of approximately R4 million were seized and three suspects arrested,” said the statement from Cabinet.

It has also welcomed the arrest of six engineering firm directors accused of Black Economic Empowerment fronting and tender fraud of approximately R400 million at Eskom and Sasol.

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A joint operation conducted by the Limpopo Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Limpopo Provincial Flying Squad, and Lebowakgomo SAPS discovered the facility at Makotse Village in Lebowakgomo on 29 September 2024. The operation resulted in the seizure of drugs valued at approximately R4 million and the arrest of three suspects aged between 25 and 33.

The suspects were apprehended during an ongoing crackdown operation aimed at dismantling drug networks in the province. Police discovered a significant quantity of mandrax at one of the suspects’ residences and located the nearby drug manufacturing lab, along with various chemicals and substances used in production of the illegal narcotic.

The SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory has been dispatched to investigate the drug lab further. Security measures will remain in place at the site until the investigation is completed.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Major General Samuel Manala, commended the collaborative efforts of the various law enforcement agencies involved in this operation.

The suspects appeared before the Thabamoopo Magistrate’s Court on 30 September, facing charges of possession and dealing in drugs. Their case has been postponed until 7 October 2024, for a formal bail application.

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Operation Vala Umgodi

A South African Police Service (SAPS) Border Police roving team, alongside customs officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), were deployed in Limpopo under Operation Vala Umgodi. Together, the team seized illicit tobacco products worth more than R21 million and arrested three undocumented Zimbabwean nationals in Musina on Wednesday 25 September 2024.

According to a preliminary report, the team received information regarding a consignment of illicit tobacco products making its way on a truck through Musina. The truck was successfully intercepted by officers, which resulted in the seizure of the illicit tobacco products and the arrest of the three suspects.

On the same day, a Mission Area Joint Operational Centre (MAJOC) roving team comprising officers from Public Order Policing (POP) and Tactical Response Team (TRT), assisted by SAPS drone pilots, arrested another five Zimbabwean nationals at an address in Musina. The suspects were arrested for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, with officers seizing three firearms and 74 rounds of ammunition.

Further investigation revealed one of these firearms was used in a Potchefstroom house robbery case.

At the same address, the team arrested three more Zimbabwean nationals for the possession of dagga. Over 110 kilograms of dagga with an estimated street value of R137 000 was seized.

These successes follow within days after police destroyed a man-made bridge over the Limpopo River near the Beit Bridge Border Post.

Within the first six months of its’ activation, Operation Vala Umgodi recorded over 6000 arrests within the period of December 2023 to June 2024 countrywide.

Operation Shanela

In Gauteng, the SAPS has continued to conduct high-density operations aimed at ensuring that criminals have no space to operate. This past weekend, from Friday 27 September until Sunday 29 September 2024, over 800 suspects were arrested as officers traced wanted suspects, conducted roadblocks, raided liquor outlets and performed stop and searches, among other crime prevention activities. Suspects were arrested for crimes including rape, murder, assault, housebreaking and theft, armed robbery, fraud, and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).

A total of 196 suspects were arrested in Johannesburg District, where the Acting Provincial Commissioner in Gauteng, Major General Fred Kekana, led an integrated high-density Operation. This included a roadblock in Honeydew on Saturday evening, 28 September, where 63 illegal immigrants were apprehended. Eight were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, three for possession of drugs, one for fraud and twelve unlicensed liquor outlets were closed.

Tshwane saw 238 arrests, followed by 150 in Ekurhuleni District, 77 in West Rand District and 63 in Sedibeng District.

Some of the suspects were released after paying admission of guilt fine while others are expected to appear before various Magistrate Courts in Gauteng from Monday 31 September.

A week-long operation in the Northern Cape saw the SAPS collaborate with the Departments of Home Affairs, Health, Correctional Services, Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Human Settlements and SARS. Together they executed operations under the banner of Operation Shanela with the focus on illegal firearms and contact crimes.

Disruptive actions were executed in high crime areas, which included roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, high visibility patrols, compliance inspections, and stop and search actions.

These actions resulted in the arrest of 285 suspects for an array of crimes. This includes the arrest of 110 wanted suspects for serious crimes such as business robbery, murder, rape and assault GBH.

A total of 5300 persons and 2950 vehicles were stopped and searched at roadblocks and vehicle check points. Two unlicensed liquor outlets were closed during compliance inspections, and hundreds of litres of alcohol were confiscated.

A significant quantity of drugs, including dagga, crystal meth and mandrax were seized during search actions.

SAPS has stated that efforts to combat crime will continue “unabated to curb priority crimes throughout the province.”

Drug mule arrest

A joint operation between SAPS and the SARS Customs at the OR Tambo International Airport has led to the arrest of a 21-year-old South African woman for drug trafficking. This is the eleventh drug mule to be arrested at OR Tambo in a period of two months.

The drug mule was profiled and intercepted as she was arriving on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil on Sunday morning, just before 09:00. She was taken to a local hospital where an X-ray confirmed that she had foreign objects in her stomach.

National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has commended the vigilance of members of SARS and SAPS at the Airport.

“Our men and women in blue working closely with SARS customs and various stakeholders continue to assert the authority of the state at all our ports of entry. We appreciate the hardwork and dedication of our members and urge them to do more to squeeze the space for criminals. Drug traffickers are feeling the heat and there is nowhere to hide”, said Masemola.

Over the last month, there have been weekly interceptions from drug mules at OR Tambo, with the majority arriving from São Paulo.

Previously on Sunday, 22 September 2024, a 30-year-old Namibian drug mule was arrested after arriving from São Paulo. After being taken for medical examination, she was found to be carrying more than 60 drug bullets. She has already appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.

On Friday, 13 September 2024, A Nigerian drug mule was arrested after he was found in possession of cocaine concealed in aircraft headphones. He too had just landed from São Paulo. He has already appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.

Major Drug Bust

Police in Jane Furse, under the Sekhukhune District, arrested a 23-year-old suspect following the recovery of drugs with an estimated street value of R4 million, on Friday 27 September.

Crime Prevention Unit members in the area received a tip-off about possible possession of drugs, and promptly followed up on the information. The suspect was driving a white Hyundai i20 and was stopped by the Crime Prevention members. Upon searching him, he was found in possession of two black plastic bags containing tablets, believed to be mandrax.

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Police said two unlicensed firearms were seized, along with high calibre ammunition, and several replica firearms. Two illegal immigrants were found at the premises and subsequently apprehended.

“The police have been observing and monitoring a plot where suspicious activities were taking place. On Thursday morning, the police executed a search warrant where they discovered that the premises were used to manufacture drugs. Chemicals used to manufacture drugs, machinery, and finished products were found at the premises,” the statement read.

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, applauded the team for their hard work.

“More than ten drug labs have been discovered by the police in Gauteng in the last five months. This is evidence enough that we are making inroads in identifying and dismantling drug labs in our province.

“I am proud of my members who have been working with diligence to identify and close down the existing drug labs in our province,” Lieutenant General Mthombeni said.

The arrested suspects will appear before the local Magistrate’s Court. They will face charges that include the manufacturing of drugs, possession of unlicensed firearms, and possession of ammunition.

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The SAPS indicated it had been observing his movements and links to a kidnapping syndicate operating in Johannesburg. The suspect has specifically been linked to the kidnapping of a 63-year-old businessman kidnapped in Helderkruin, Roodepoort, in July. The victim was rescued on the same day, with the SAPS discovering R300 million worth of crystal meth during the same operation, at two properties in Fourways and a hotel in Bruma.

It is alleged that the suspect is linked to the drugs that were seized, and he is expected to be charged alongside eight other suspects arrested for the kidnapping and the drugs recovered.

The suspect was arrested by a multidisciplinary team led by the SAPS anti-kidnapping task team, counterintelligence, detective services, JMPD K-9 unit, Flying Squad and private security.

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General Masemola held a media briefing on Thursday, 01 August 2024, giving an update on the work of the South African Police Service. He said high-density operations have been conducted in each province, with their respective Provincial Commissioners “actively taking part and leading operations on the ground.” This has resulted in the arrest of 766 237 suspects. These suspects were arrested for various crimes including 161 752 wanted suspects apprehended for “priority crimes” which include murder, Cash-in-Transit armed robberies, rape, hi-jacking and firearm related offences.

“We have established and beefed up cash-in-transit task teams, particularly in the Eastern Cape, where a number of them have been recorded in the month of July. In the past month alone, 13 cash in transit robbers were arrested in the province while six suspects were fatally wounded during confrontation with police,” General Masemola said.

The police have also registered a breakthrough with the arrest of at least ten suspects linked to ATM bombings in Gauteng. Eight of the suspects were intercepted in Katlehong, Thokoza, and Soweto in Gauteng while another two were traced to Senekal in the Free State.

“These arrests were effected with the assistance of our partners in the banking sector and key stakeholders in the fight against crime. These suspects are being linked to more than 20 ATM bombings that took place in Soweto and the East Rand,” he said.

Drug busts

Intelligence-led operations have resulted in several successful drug busts, with the Commissioner noting “police are intercepting large quantities and consignments of drugs.”

“In a recent success this week, a drug mule was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday morning as he arrived from Brazil. Police were following up on information that the 38- year-old Brazilian national was on an identified flight and was carrying drugs. As soon as the identified aircraft landed, police swooped in and searched the aircraft where they found cocaine worth R1 million in the toilet of the aircraft. The man is expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on a charge of drug trafficking.”

The recent high-profile raid of a “clandestine drug lab worth R2 billion” in Limpopo resulted in 5 arrests, including of three Mexican nationals. The Western Cape saw R252 million worth of cocaine seized through a roadblock in Stillbaai. Among the two suspects arrested was a Russian. SAPS also seized R40 million worth of cannabis (dagga) in the Magaliesburg in Gauteng.

R4 million worth of cocaine and R4 million worth of Crystal meth was seized in different parts of Mpumalanga, including Nelspruit and Komatipoort.

R2 billion worth of drugs have been destroyed in the previous twelve months. This includes cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and unregistered medicines. Operation Shanela has netted 21 161 criminals for dealing drugs, with 64 351 were arrested for possession of drugs.

Gang violence

Ongoing gang-related violence in the Eastern and Western Cape and Gauteng continues to receive priority with the deployment of the Anti Gang Unit and specialised units in identified hotspots, General Masemola said.

“Dedicated interventions are continuing and several gang leaders and members have been arrested in the past six months. These include 64 gang members arrested in Westbury. Thirty-four of them belong to the Fast gang group that were operating in Westbury, Langlaagte and Eldorado Park. During this period, 36 gang members from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal and Limpopo were convicted to a collective 350 year’s imprisonment,” he said.

Police visibility

The National Commissioner emphasised that heightening and enhancing police visibility as a form of a deterrent to crime is at the top of the SAPS agenda.

“Our ears remain on the ground, and we are well aware that our communities want to see more police officers on the ground. This is why we have recruited and trained 20 000 police officers in two years, who are already serving and protecting communities at grassroots level of policing.

“All these members have capacitated our police stations and various specialised units, including crime intelligence and the detective environment, where capacity is much needed,” he said.

Masemola announced that there are currently 4 500 recruits in training and the remaining 5 500 recruits will commence with training in January 2025.

“Through collaboration with key stakeholders in the fight against crime which includes various government departments and entities, it is our collaboration with private security as our eyes and ears on the ground that is proving to be effective and beneficial. Through our E2 project with private security, we have been able to share resources and intercept criminals jointly, through working together,” he said.

In the last seven days, 106 firearms were confiscated during operations across the country. Forty of these firearms were seized in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Of the 106 firearms, 90 are hand guns, eight are homemade firearms, seven are rifles while one shotgun was seized.

In two years, more than 20 000 firearms have been seized from all corners of the country.

“In the Western Cape where we experience a lot of firearm related gang violence, 3 100 firearms have been confiscated to date while in Gauteng, 673 firearms have been seized during tracing operations during a 12 month period,” he said.

In closing, General Masemola sought to reassure communities SAPS would continue to intensify crime combatting efforts, while calling for communities “to play their part by reporting suspicious activities.” The “message is clear to criminals… Either you hand yourself over to us and lessen our work of tracing you, or we come for you. We will not back down in protecting our communities.”

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