2025.2.20 Ekurhuleni male nurse accused of rape to remain behind bars
The 49-year-old man appeared in Nigel Magistrates Court on Wednesday, and stands accused of raping 2 teenage boys in 2023.
JOHANNESBURG – A male nurse accused of rape and sexual assault in Duduza, Ekurhuleni will remain in custody for now.
The 49-year-old man appeared in Nigel Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
He is accused of sexually assaulting a 17 and 19-year-old in 2023.
In August 2023, a 17-year-old boy was admitted to the Springs Netcare Private Hospital where he met the accused for his medical procedure.
When the boy was discharged, it is alleged the suspect offered to visit the boy at home to give him his medication.
Before leaving, the suspect asked the boy to accompany him to his car where the rape happened on two occasions.
The suspect was allegedly seen again on several occasions parked at an open veld with different boys until he was reported by the community and the victims came forward to open their cases.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana: “A 49-year-old male nurse, from Duduza, appeared at the Nigel Magistrates Court. He is facing charges of rape for allegedly raping a 17-year-old boy. He is further facing a charge of sexual assault for allegedly sexually assaulting a 19-year-old young man.”
The suspect will remain in police custody.
2025.2.20 Convicted child rapist, murderer Marvin Minnaar sentenced to life in prison
Marvin Minnaar was charged with the kidnapping, rape, and murder of 12-year-old Sibusiso Dakuse, who went missing in 2020.
CAPE TOWN – A convicted child rapist and murderer has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Western Cape High Court.
Marvin Minnaar was charged with the kidnapping, rape, and murder of 12-year-old Sibusiso Dakuse.
The child went missing on 26 February 2020.
Minnaar was the coach of the Hout Bay Snipers basketball team, of which the deceased was a player.
He also lived near Dakuse’s home in Imizamo Yethu.
Witness statements showed that the deceased was last seen alive in Minnaar’s presence, and the court heard the accused also helped in a search for the missing boy after he’d already killed him.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Eric Ntabazalila: “Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell, commended senior State Advocate Ajam and the investigating officer, Sergeant Mvunelo, for their tenacity in ensuring justice for the deceased, the family, and the broader community of Imizamo Yethu, who were shocked by the heinous, gruesome crime committed by a man who betrayed the trust of a young boy who looked up to him as a coach.”
2025.2.19 State closes murder case against man who stabbed ex-girlfriend 22 times
Sphamandla Khumalo planned to kill the mother of his two children when he stabbed her at least 22 times in the parking lot of the Gateway shopping centre on August 4, the Durban high court heard on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Krishen Shah made his closing statement in Khumalo’s trial for Nomfundo Msibi’s murder.
Khumalo and another man fled the taxi rank after Msibi, 30, was stabbed to death and lay in a pool of blood on the ground. An okapi knife was found lodged in her body.
Khumalo, who is represented by Legal Aid attorney Phumelele Danisa, elected not to testify in his defence. He pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder.
“There was no evidence to suggest this was a spur of the moment [killing]. There was intent. The victim was prevented from walking away during an argument,” Shah said.
Msibi’s wounds in her neck and the knife lodged in her body showed the brutality with which Khumalo acted.
The court previously heard how the couple, who had split up in May 2024, agreed to meet at the mall where Khumalo’s lay-by purchase at Truworths, taken in Msibi’s name, was to be settled.
Shah submitted video footage of Msibi’s final moments, which was screened in court on Tuesday. It showed the couple quarrelling and Khumalo is seen repeatedly stabbing Msibi. She falls to the ground and Khumalo bends down and continues to stab her and attempts to slit her throat. He then stands up and straddles her while continuing the attack.
Judge Jacqueline Henriques said though Khumalo admitted to stabbing Msibi, he maintained this was not his intention.
Shah responded: “I don’t want to make a meal of the evidence about how Msibi fled to live in the KwaMashu area because she was being followed by Khumalo. It’s proof they were not together [despite his claims].”
There was also no explanation why he was armed with the knife.
Henriques said there was nothing to contradict the evidence of investigating officer Det-Const Boitumelo Phama, who likened the attack to the “slaughtering of an animal”, or the footage.
“There were 22 knife incisions in the body of the victim,” she said.
Judgment is expected when the case resumes on March 24.
2025.2.18 Lengthy jail term for gardener who killed woman and son in Alberton
Co-accused allegedly offered money for the two to be killed
The Johannesburg high court on Tuesday sentenced gardener Pardon Danhire to 25 years each for the murders of Nadine Terblanche and her son Ruandre Vorster in Alberton in November 2023.
Danhire, 37, entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the state. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The court further ordered that five years of his sentence be suspended on condition that he truthfully testifies against his co-accused Frederick Stapelberg, whose trial is set to resume next month.
“The court deviated from imposing the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment, citing that Danhire co-operated with the state and took responsibility for his actions, thereby showing remorse,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said.
Danhire had worked as a gardener, hired by Stapelberg, who later allegedly contracted him with a promise of R100,000 to kill his girlfriend, Terblanche, and her son.
“The lifeless bodies were discovered by a local security company on November 27 2023, after they were summoned to the scene through a panic button that was allegedly pressed by Stapelberg, following an alleged physical altercation with Danhire about the money he was promised after killing the deceased,” Mjonondwane said.
Danhire confessed to authorities and fingered Stapelberg as the person who hired him to kill Terblanche to allegedly gain access to her assets.
“The NPA frowns upon the senselessness killing of women and children, and will now focus on the trial against Stapelberg with the aim of ensuring that justice prevails.”
2025.2.18 Fatal stabbing of Durban woman by her ex relived during murder trial
The investigating officer likened the attack to the ‘slaughtering of an animal’
The harrowing final moments of Nomfundo Msibi’s life on the afternoon of August 4 last year in the parking lot of Gateway shopping centre played out in the Durban high court on Tuesday.
The video footage was screened by senior prosecutor Krishen Shah during the murder trial of Msibi’s ex-lover and father of her two children, Sphamandla Khumalo, 34.
Khumalo and another man fled the taxi rank after Msibi, 30, was stabbed to death and lay lifeless in a pool of blood on the ground. An okapi knife was found lodged in her body.
The footage shows two women with children walking from the taxi rank in one section of the parking lot to the mall. They are confronted with Khumalo and Msibi, who are quarrelling. This makes them run back to the rank.
The couple moves in the same direction and Khumalo is then seen repeatedly stabbing Msibi. She falls to the ground and Khumalo bends down and continues to stab her in her upper body and attempts to slit her throat. He then stands up and straddles her while continuing with the attack.
A man believed to be a security guard arrives, followed by taxi operators and shocked onlookers.
Earlier, Msibi’s boyfriend Mthobisi Gasela told high court judge Jacqueline Henriques he started dating Msibi in May last year after her split with Khumalo.
Under cross-examination from legal aid attorney Phumelele Daniso, he said Msibi told him about physical abuse she endured at the hands of Khumalo during their relationship. She didn’t lay any assault charges because of her work commitments.
Gasela said Msibi had three children. The two youngest ones were fathered by Khumalo, who is originally from Nongoma but lived at an informal settlement near the mall.
He disputed Khumalo’s claim he was still seeing Msibi in August.
“Msibi was often with me in August because she feared being around Khumalo in KwaMashu,” said Gasela.
He said after the stabbing he was terrified because Khumalo threatened his life. Gasela ran to a police officer to report the incident.
“I was scared because he had threatened me. When I got closer to Msibi’s body I found they [security officers] had grabbed him [Khumalo] and pinned him down.”
Khumalo was arrested and handcuffed at the scene.
The state is alleging the murder was premeditated.
According to the indictment, Msibi ended her relationship with Khumalo prior to August and limited her communication with him as she was in another relationship (with Gasela).
On August 4 Msibi was contacted by Khumalo’s brother to meet him at Truworths Gateway so they could finalise a lay-bye garment for her child. Msibi agreed to the meeting her and asked Gasela to accompany her as she was scared of Khumalo. They went to Gateway together but split up and Msibi met Khumalo and his brother at Truworths.
Postmortem findings showed Msibi died from stab wounds to her neck and arms. Investigating officer Det-Const Boitumelo Phama from Durban North police station likened the attack to the “slaughtering of an animal”.
She said Khumalo’s brother was arrested but later released as he was not party to the crime.
Khumalo refused to give a statement, she added.
The trial was adjourned to Wednesday for closing arguments.
2025.2.15 World’s ‘first openly gay imam’ shot dead in South Africa
Muhsin Hendricks, a pioneering figure dubbed the world’s first openly gay imam, has been shot dead in South Africa.
The 57-year-old cleric ran a mosque in Cape Town intended as a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims. He was killed on Saturday morning after the car in which he was travelling near the southern city of Gqeberha was ambushed.
“Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle,” police said in a statement.
News of Hendricks’ death has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the globe.
Julia Ehrt, executive director at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (Ilga), called on the authorities to thoroughly investigate “what we fear may be a hate crime”.
“He supported and mentored so many people in South Africa and around the world in their journey to reconcile with their faith, and his life has been a testament to the healing that solidarity across communities can bring in everyone’s lives,” she said.
Hendricks was killed after he had reportedly officiated at a lesbian wedding, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The details of the attack emerged through security footage that was shared on social media.
It shows a car pulling up and blocking the vehicle in which Hendricks was travelling as it was pulling away from the curb. According to police, the imam was in the back seat.
The angle of CCTV footage reveals what happened from one side of the road – an assailant jumps out of a car, runs to the ambushed vehicle and shoots repeatedly through the back passenger window.
Hendricks’ Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which runs the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in the Wynberg suburb of Cape Town, confirmed he had died in a targeted attack on Saturday morning.
But Abdulmugheeth Petersen, chair of the foundation’s board, appealed via a WhatsApp group for their followers to be patient, stressing the importance of protecting Hendricks’ family.
Hendricks’ work challenged traditional interpretations of Islam and championed a compassionate, inclusive faith.
South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution was the first in the world to protect people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation and in 2006, became the first country in Africa to legalise same-sex marriage.
But despite a thriving LGBT community, gay people still face discrimination and violence. The country also has one of the highest murder rates in the world.
Hendricks came out as gay in 1996, which shocked the wider Muslim community in Cape Town and elsewhere.
That same year, he founded The Inner Circle, an organisation providing support and a safe space for queer Muslims seeking to reconcile their faith and sexuality before going on to establish the inclusive Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque.
He was the subject of a documentary in 2022 called The Radical, in which he said about the threats he faced: “The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.”
Hendricks often spoke about the importance of interfaith dialogue and the need to address the mental health issues and trauma faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within religious communities.
He told the Ilga World Conference in Cape Town last year: “It is important that we stop to look at religion as the enemy.”
Reverend Jide Macaulay, an openly gay Anglican minister, described Hendricks’ death as “truly heartbreaking”.
The British-Nigerian LGBTQ rights activist runs House of Rainbow, an organisation that provides support for gay people in Nigeria where same-sex relationships or public displays of affection are illegal, and paid tribute to Hendricks’ bravery.
“Your leadership, courage, and unwavering dedication to inclusive faith communities have left an indelible mark,” he said.
Sadiq Lawal, a gay Muslim man living in Nigeria, told the BBC that Hendricks, had made such an impact as he had made “the impossible possible” by saying the words: “I’m a queer imam.”
“He’s a mentor to many queer Muslims in Africa, especially in Nigeria, because of religious extremism,” he said.
“I’m still in shock and devastated.”
2025.2.14 Child pornography accused couple denied bail in Randburg Magistrate’s Court
They were refused bail.
The court found that their release would, among other things, endanger the public.
Darren Wilken and his girlfriend, Tiona Megan Moodley, who are accused of running a child pornography distribution ring, have been refused bail in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.
The bail ruling was handed down on Friday.
The pair was arrested last month on multiple child pornography-related charges and on charges of money laundering. They are accused of “conducting a thriving business off of the sale of child abuse material”.
In handing down her ruling, magistrate Pravina Rughoonandan found there was a likelihood that the release of Wilken and Moodley on bail would endanger the safety of the public.
In support of this, she pointed to investigating officer Hendricus Johannes Boshoff’s evidence that when he was arrested, Wilken nonchalantly remarked he could continue his activities once released on bail; as well as his to evidence that these types of crimes were prevalent and harmful both to children and society at large.
“The court finds there is prevalence of this particular type of offence and I do find there’s a likelihood the applicants will endanger the public safety or a particular person as evidenced from past conduct of being in possession of pornographic material, which was made available and sold to the public,” she said.
She found further that the State had a “relatively strong case” against the pair and that this could be an incentive for them to evade trial or extradition, with Boshoff also having revealed during the bail application that the police had received approaches from three different countries inquiring about potentially extraditing the couple.
Rughoonandan also noted that it was “impossible to completely rule out the potential of evidence being erased due to the increasing sophistication of cybercrime and other cyber activity”.
“With the use of sophisticated technology, digital transactions can be altered, erased or concealed, making it difficult to determine their actual origins. It may become more difficult to prove the validity of financial transactions and the veracity of claims if important evidence is destroyed due to a lack of adequate safeguards and timely verification,” she said.
Against this backdrop, she also found there was a likelihood Wilken and Moodley would interfere with evidence.
Finally, she found their release would undermine “the sense of peace and security among members of the public both locally and internationally” and jeopardise public confidence in the justice system.
She said:
The court notes had it not been for the assistance of the US law enforcement agencies – including the FBI in Washington, the US Embassy Cyber Task Force and other international partners, the local authorities would likely have remained unaware [of Wilken and Moodley’s alleged offences].
She further pointed to the “significant outcry from the international community regarding the purchase and distribution of child pornography”.
“The court finds the nature of the offences and the circumstances under which they were committed is likely to induce a sense of shock or outrage in the community where the offence was committed – but not only locally, but also internationally,” she said.
The case was postponed until 24 March for further investigation.
2025.2.11 Manhunt for Pollsmoor inmate who escaped while on prison maintenance duty
A Pollsmoor Prison inmate escaped over the weekend while he was part of a work team responsible for maintaining the prison facility’s grounds.
Authorities have since launched a manhunt for him.
He was serving a six-month sentence for theft and trespassing.
A manhunt has been launched for an inmate who escaped from Pollsmoor Prison while part of a work team carrying out maintenance on the facility’s grounds on Sunday.
Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the inmate, Yanga Wayithi, 35, was serving a six-month sentence for theft and trespassing.
“He was assigned to a work team responsible for maintaining the facility’s grounds and was part of the team that was working on the grounds,” Nxumalo added.
Police were notified, and a case of escape from lawful custody was opened.
“The Department of Correctional Services’ tracing team is actively working to ensure a swift rearrest. Additionally, an internal investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances of the escape, with the findings informing any further action to be taken,” Nxumalo said.
He urged the public to be vigilant and on to report any suspicious activity to authorities.
Western Cape police spokesperson Captain Frederick Van Wyk said police are still searching for the escapee.
A search between Correctional Services personnel and Kirstenhof SAPS is continuing after an escape from lawful custody case was registered.
The escape comes hot on the heels of another jailbreak in December when a detainee escaped while being transported to Pollsmoor Prison.
The man reportedly escaped through the roof of the prison transport vehicle he was travelling in.
The alarm was sounded when members of the public saw the detainee making a run for it.
Members of the public alerted the truck driver to the escape attempt near a railway crossing in Muizenberg.
The driver and his partner secured the roof, and upon checking the detainees at Pollsmoor, they discovered that one prisoner was missing.
2025.2.6 JUST IN: Man killed in alleged home invasion in Chatsworth
A man was killed in an alleged home invasion in Chatsworth in the early hours of Thursday morning.
According to ALS Paramedics, they responded to reports of a home invasion on Silverglen Drive in Chatsworth, South of Durban.
“Paramedics arrived on the scene to find SAPS already in attendance and were guided into a house where they found two patients who had sustained gunshot wounds,” said ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson.
“One man believed to be in his forties had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to his chest and unfortunately there was nothing paramedics could do for him and he was declared deceased on the scene.”
Jamieson said a second man, believed to be in his sixties, had sustained a gunshot wound to his lower body and was in a critical condition.
“Advanced Life Support Paramedics worked to stabilize the man on scene before rushing him to a nearby hospital for the urgent care that he required.”
He said at this stage the events leading up to the shooting were not clear.
“However SAPS was in attendance and will be investigating further.”
2025.2.4 Bail for ‘vigilantes’ accused of hacking suspected criminals to death
Exceptional circumstances warranted their temporary release, said magistrate
There was no clear role which of the 12 suspects allegedly played in last month’s brutal hacking of five people in Bhambayi, north of Durban.
This was the finding by Ntuzuma magistrate Nkanyiso Madlala, who granted the men R5,000 bail each on Tuesday.
“Keeping someone in prison whose role is unknown can amount to injustice. I have suspects who don’t even know their role themselves and yet they are charged. They have a right to know,” said Madlala.
He said while they faced a serious charge that could result in their long-term imprisonment, there were exceptional circumstances which warranted their temporary release.
The hearing was preceded by a large gathering of Bhambayi residents who called for murder charges to be dropped against Aphelele Nhlanganiso, Qondokwakhe Jama, Linda Mthembu, Nkululeko Mhlalezulu, Sibonelo Ntshangase, Mmeli Makhubela, Sandiso Godagoda, Aphelele Hlongwa, Bongani Nkabinde, Sipho Manqele, Zanemvula Mlotshwa and Zolani Zide.
They face five counts of murder, six charges of kidnapping and one charge of attempted murder after the bodies of five alleged criminals were found hacked to death with a bush knife in Inanda on January 16. The murders were seen to be committed by vigilantes fed-up with ongoing rapes and robberies in the community.
On Monday the state called investigating officer Sgt Nhlanhla Mzimela to testify.
Mzimela told the court the state was opposing bail as some witnesses claimed to have received a threatening voice note from an unknown phone number.
Mzimela said the state was still not aware of the motive for the massacre.
On Thursday last week, prosecutor Anusha Govender said the state was no longer opposed to the suspects being released on bail as the investigating officer had profiled the suspects. “The witnesses have relocated. The suspects are not flight risks and the safety of the witnesses is not a concern,” said Govender.
This had lead to the suspects testifying in their defence.
Madlala said all the suspects had an alibi for the times of the killings.
“There is no evidence that suggests the person who sent a voice note was acting on behalf of the suspects even though Mzimela stated it could be one of them. It is baseless reasoning,” said Madlala.
Madlala said the court was still in the dark as go where the victims had been taken before their deaths.
“We have heard evidence that there was a mob of 100 people. How come its only these people who are arrested and appearing in court? There was also no information suggesting the applicants had fled,” said Madlala.
Madlala highlighted how Inanda continued to record high rates of robbery, murder and rape.
“The court is a mouthpiece of its jurisdiction. The case before me is unique in that often times you see people protesting for suspects not to be given bail but in this case there are calling for bail, There is nothing placed before me linking the suspects,” said Madlala.
He said the written statements were still outstanding from the state.
“Even though I know the community may feel safer when you are around it does not mean you should take the law onto your own hands,” he said.
As part of bail conditions the suspects were warned not to interfere with witnesses and to report to Inanda police station daily.
The matter has been adjourned to March 27.
Another suspect, Elliot Mthokozisi Gumede, 50, made a first appearance in connection with the same incident. He was arrested in Bhambayi.
He has enlisted a private legal representative. His matter has been postponed to February 11.
2025.2.4 KZN police hunt for suspects who killed four people at a tavern, including two off-duty cops
The motive for the shooting is unknown
Police in KwaZulu-Natal have launched a manhunt for at least five suspects who allegedly shot and killed four people, including two off-duty police constables, and injured four others at a tavern on Ikhwezi Road at Bhidla Section in Sundumbili on Monday night.
Police closed the tavern and confiscated liquor after it was established it was operating illegally.
According to police, the deceased were drinking alcohol when an altercation ensued between a police constable and a group of five men.
Police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said after the argument was resolved peacefully, the constable bought alcohol for the five men.
“Later the other constable had another scuffle with the same five men outside the tavern which allegedly resulted in the constable being shot. The bleeding constable reportedly ran back into the tavern with the suspects following him while they allegedly continued shooting randomly at everyone inside the tavern,” Netshiunda said.
He said during the shooting incident, three people were shot and killed at the scene, including the police constable.
Netshiunda said the second police officer also sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to a healthcare facility where he was certified dead on arrival.
“Four more people were also shot and injured and were rushed to hospital,” he said.
2025.2.1 Stats reveal violence between partners remains high in SA
Violence against partners in relationships appears to be tapering off but the numbers remain very high. That is according to statistics provided by Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, in a parliamentary reply to an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) question.
Mchunu has revealed that between 2019 and 2024, 1736 females were killed by their partners while 1507 males were killed by their partners for the period under review.
For the 2020/21 year, 642 deaths were recorded for both genders while in the 2021/22 year the number increased to 729.
In the 2022/23 year, the number escalated further to 995 deaths before tapering off to 887 in the 2023/24 year.
Mchunu could not provide the race statistics for these deaths as this classification is optional in the crime administration system.
However, he says female victims would generally reflect the population dynamics in the country, where the majority would be black victims.
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