By Kaya 959 Reporter
A ninth soldier has been arrested for allegedly smuggling vehicles across the South African border.
The 31-year-old official will join eight other soldiers in court next month.
Police spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke said the soldiers were arrested as part of Operation Night Vigil stings in the North West, Free State and Northern Cape.
“Between 2017 and 2019, the accused were deployed at Beitbridge Border Post to protect the territorial integrity of the Republic of South Africa.
“Instead of carrying out their constitutional mandate, the accused allegedly connived with vehicle smuggling syndicates to smuggle stolen vehicles through the Limpopo River. It is further alleged that each vehicle would pay R15 000 that would be shared among themselves,” Maluleke said.
The accused were on the radar of the Hawks until they were arrested. The suspect will appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court soon to face corruption charges.
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Coupled arrested for R25m fraud
Meanwhile, three people have appeared in court for trying to swindle R25-million from the South African Revenue Services (SARS).
Mzwandile Collin Nxumalo, his wife Lebogang Dibakoane, and Sanele Nxumalo appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Court on charges of tax fraud.
Police spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said the three are directors at Umnothozwide Enterprise CC. They allegedly created and submitted fake invoices to SARS for a R25m payment received from the Department of Health in Gauteng to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
“The matter was referred to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption and Commercial Crime Investigation teams in Germiston for a further investigation. Investigation revealed that the money owed to SARS by Umnothozwide Enterprise CC was approximately R1.2m,” Mulamu said.
Mulamu said warrants of arrest were issued for the three accused to be apprehended. The trio handed themselves in at the Hawks offices in Johannesburg on Monday.
They were charged with fraud and for Contravening the Tax Administration Act. They appeared in court on the same day where each was granted R10 000 bail. The case has been postponed to 22 October for further investigation.
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