The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) committee was briefed at Tempe, an SA National Defence Force (SANDF) hub of bases, units and accommodation outside Bloemfontein before moving to the border environment proper. Stops during the 21-23 October visit included the Maseru Bridge port of entry (PoE) and border town Ficksburg.

A social media post attributed to Defence Corporate Communication (DCC) has it, after hearing from SANDF officers posted to the border protection tasking Operation Corona, as well as Free State-based Border Management Authority (BMA) and SA Police Service (SAPS) officers, the SCSJ called for an urgent, unified borderline management plan and legislative reforms to strengthen inter-departmental co-ordination.

The call was prompted after the parliamentarians saw infrastructural decay, inadequate staffing, porous fencing and limited surveillance technology. Collectively these weaken national border integrity and facilitate illegal migration, smuggling and stock theft.

A BMA presentation brought to light a 70% staffing shortfall to cover a 285 km stretch of land border, the DCC reported. Similarly the SANDF told the NCOP members it has “only 42 soldiers” to patrol 485 km of land border. Police add to the tale of woe warning of persistent problems such as livestock theft, corruption and a lack of secure pounds with SA Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials confirmed ongoing efforts to counter illicit trade.

A public engagement session at the Ficksburg town hall in Clarens, according to a Parliamentary Communication Services statement, sought solutions to increasing challenges facing border agriculture. Stock theft, cross border crime, rural safety and SAPS service delivery were the main points raised.

Residents called for effective implementation of the National Rural Safety Strategy, particularly at police station level, as well as for sufficient resources to be allocated to safeguard rural communities and prioritise food security. Going further they “urged for adequate resourcing” for the BMA, SANDF and SAPS to effectively address cross-border criminality and ensure farming communities are safe.

The farming community further proposed strengthening SAPS stock theft units by way of increasing trained and skilled detective numbers; expanding vehicle fleets and mobility resources; integrating technology to enhance surveillance and investigative capabilities; and imposing heavier sentences for livestock related crimes.

Residents also called for greater SAPS capacity in rural areas, recommending appointing dedicated rural safety co-ordinators at rural police stations, equipped with dedicated vehicles and clear job descriptions focused solely on rural safety. They proposed the deployment of dedicated crime intelligence resources to rural areas to enhance proactive threat detection, support targeted policing operations and improve overall effectiveness of crime prevention strategies.

On cross-border crimes, residents emphasised increased patrols, improved mobility and additional resources to secure vulnerable border regions and disrupt illicit activities. They further proposed establishing area reaction teams at strategic points for quick response to emerging security threats.

Additionally, there was an appeal to finalise of overdue legislation, including the Pounds Act and the Controlled Animal Bill, to strengthen regulatory compliance on stock theft and stray animals. They also called for stricter regulation of auctions, abattoirs and speculators to curb livestock related crimes.

The Free State Regional Commissioner undertook to deploy additional SAPS personnel to address concerns of the Ficksburg community.

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Constable Tumelo Mokone (36), Sergeant Lucky Kubheka (43), and Sergeant Tieho Tieho (42) were arrested by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit on 30 January 2025 in Harrismith on charges of theft and corruption. Their arrest stems from an incident on 21 December 2023, when a complainant left his bank card at an ATM in Harrismith. The officers retrieved the card and were later caught on video using it to purchase alcohol at three different liquor stores. When a criminal case was opened, they attempted to bribe the complainant with R1,000 to drop the charges, but he refused and pursued legal action. The trio remains in custody and will appear for a formal bail application on 3 February 2025.

In a separate case, Letuka Michael Lebona (50) was convicted and sentenced for corruption and defeating the ends of justice after attempting to bribe a police officer to make a rape case disappear. On 30 January 2024, Lebona offered R3,000 to Sergeant Kelebogile Xola of the Zamdela Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in exchange for the rape case docket involving his employee. Sgt Xola immediately reported the matter, leading to an undercover operation where Lebona was caught handing over the bribe. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 29 January 2025 to a R50,000 fine or five years’ imprisonment.

Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, condemned the actions of the arrested officers and praised those who upheld their integrity. “We are deeply disappointed by the betrayal of trust by these officers and will ensure they face the full might of the law. At the same time, we commend Sergeant Xola for her professionalism and dedication to justice. SAPS remains resolute in eliminating corruption and ensuring accountability within the service.”

The rape case linked to the Sasolburg incident remains ongoing, with the 34-year-old accused set to appear in court again on 13 February 2025.

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The park was one stop during an oversight visit to the Free State province by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources (SCALRMR). Also part of the oversight visit was the NCOP Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade (SCEDT) with illegal land occupation also on the agenda.

While at the Golden Gate park parliamentarians heard the national conservation site has become a corridor used by “organised crime syndicates” to move cattle and horses stolen from commercial farms in South Africa into landlocked Lesotho. The livestock rustling issue, according to a Parliamentary Communication Services statement, goes beyond park boundaries and adversely affects local communities.

Another negative is theft and vandalism on the R712 provincial road leaving entrances to the park “compromised”. Committee members heard access control will be restored with park management looking at “robust solutions” to end unauthorised access. The SA National Defence Force (SANDF), as part of its Operation Corona border safeguarding tasking, has “a presence” along the road to assist with border management.

Among recommendations post the oversight visit are a referral to its sister committee on security and justice for “enhanced” traffic enforcement on the R712, better co-ordination on transport of illicit goods and preventing illegal occupation.

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Police were deployed as part of the ongoing Operation Shanela that focusses on reducing contact and violent crimes. From Wednesday to Sunday (18 August) policemen and women were in action in the Frances Baard, Namakwa, ZF Mgcawu, John Taolo Gaetsewe and Pixley Ka Seme districts of the Northern Cape.

A statement from the Office of Acting Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner Major General Luntu Ngubelanga has it “numerous compliance inspections” were conducted at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security operations, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, farms and mines.

While these were underway, police were also manning checkpoints, undertaking searches and patrolling across the five municipal districts of the Northern Cape. Their “haul” was 217 suspects arrested for offences ranging from murder, attempted murder, rape robbery, assault, burglary, malicious damage to property, dealing and possession of drugs, illicit mining, possession of counterfeit goods, possession of suspected stolen stock, undocumented persons and possession of precious metals. Illegally dealing in liquor resulted in 10 liquor outlets being closed.

Not to be outdone by their uniformed colleagues, detectives were also active netting 287 suspects wanted for, among others, not making court appearances and contravening court orders, in tracing operations.

In addition to arrests, police confiscated what is termed “large volumes of alcoholic beverages, non-ferrous metal items and huge amounts of drugs and cash believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing” in raids.

Operation Shanela activities in the Free State yielded 900 arrests for possession of drugs, rape, murder, attempted murder and possession of dangerous weapons. Combating illegal mining also led to the arrest of 161 undocumented people. The police arrested 29 suspects for burglary, 20 for possession of gold-bearing material and 29 for illicit mining.

Police also clamped down on stock theft in the Free State last week. In Villiers, three suspects were arrested after a collaborative operation on a suspicious quantum minibus taxi. The vehicle was tracked and found to have 24 stolen sheep. In Ventersburg, seven men from two vehicles—a silver Audi and a red VW Polo—were arrested after Henneman police and Ventersburg police stopped both vehicles and found them with a shared slaughtered cow in both cars. Other cows were found at a farm near Poul Roux and Senekal. In Bloemspruit, four suspects were arrested after Bloemfontein Flying Squard stopped a white Tazz and found sheep in the vehicle. Further information led the members, together with the Bloemfontein Stock Theft Unit, to a house where more stolen sheep were found hidden inside a house. Nine stolen sheep were recovered.

Police in the Free State continue to arrest drug peddlers. In one incident, four suspects aged between 20 and 41 were arrested during the early hours of Wednesday, 14 August. They were busy packaging dagga intended to be distributed for peddling at different identified schools. Dagga worth an estimated R1.5 million was seized.

Meanwhile in Limpopo, police between 12 and 18 August arrested 870 suspects for various offenses, including murder, attempted murder, rape, dealing in drugs, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition among other charges.

Police recovered two stolen or hijacked motor vehicles, one unlicensed firearm, thirteen dangerous weapons, and stolen items.

Moreover, 38 wanted suspects were also arrested for serious cases such as rape, carjacking, and murder.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended police for ensuring that the citizens of the province are well protected against any criminal activities.

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In one, machines suspected to be used for cloning the integrated circuits used to securely store international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) numbers was taken from a Bloemfontein house.

Earlier this month, the provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, lieutenant colonel Zweli Mohobeleli, said police investigators reacted to information about two houses in Woodlands, Bloemfontein, where the suspects were using unknown machines to clone data and manufacture SIM cards.

“A search and seizure operation, duly authorised by the court, was conducted. SIM cards of different service providers to an estimated value of over R1 million, suspected cloning machines, cash, two firearms and rounds of ammunition were among the items recovered at the two houses,” Mohobeleli said.

Three suspects – all Chinese nationals – were arrested in the Bloemfontein operation, while another 45 suspects were subsequently arrested in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Six are Chinese nationals and thought to be ring leaders, and the remainder are all foreign nationals, according to COMRiC (Communication Risk Information Centre), Chief Executive Thokozani Mvelase.

In total, more than two million SIM cards were seized.

COMRiC said the cards seized were not fake or cloned – based on tested samples, they are genuine and active on networks but were illegally obtained. The confiscated machines were not used to produce SIM cards. Rather, COMRiC maintains they were for bulk SMS (short message service) indicating criminal activity.

Part of follow-up efforts will see a joint task team support police in investigations. This, Mvelase is reported as saying, will help us understand how so many SIM cards ended up in specific locations, especially if the individuals involved are not recognised distribution channels.

“As the investigation progresses we will determine if and what crimes were committed,” Mvelase added.

“Illegal SIM cards,” he told ITWeb, “can lead to identity theft and unauthorised access to sensitive information, resulting in monetary loss and privacy breaches for victims.”

Criminals can use these SIM cards to bypass security measures, gain control of bank accounts and perpetrate fraudulent activities without the victims’ knowledge. Repercussions for individuals are often devastating, as they must navigate complex processes to restore their identity and recover lost funds.

“On a systemic level, the use of stolen SIM cards undermines the integrity of the telecommunications network, posing significant challenges to service providers and regulatory authorities. These illicit activities can lead to network congestion, reduced service quality and increased operational costs for providers who must invest heavily in security measures and fraud detection systems.”

Additionally, COMRiC points out stolen SIM cards complicates law enforcement efforts to track and apprehend criminals, as they obscure the digital footprints necessary for effective investigation.

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