Josh Sullivan, an American pastor who was kidnapped by armed robbers during a church service in Motherwell, Eastern Cape, South Africa, on Thursday last week, has been rescued.
According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, 45-year-old Sullivan was found at a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha, on Tuesday night.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said the rescue was the result of an intelligence-driven operation carried out on Tuesday. Said Fumba:
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As officers approached the house, they observed a vehicle on the premises. The suspects inside the vehicle upon seeing law enforcement allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team.
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Fumba said officers returned fire, killing three suspects. The victim was found inside the vehicle used by the attackers during the confrontation.
He added that miraculously unharmed, the pastor was assessed by medical personnel at the scene and is currently in excellent condition.
More: <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/eastern-cape/american-pastor-josh-sullivan-rescued-from-kidnappers-in-eastern-cape-three-suspects-killed-49baa400-39a5-44ba-8e52-d4dddcf5fea1">IOL</a>

Pindula News

An American pastor named Josh Sullivan was rescued by the police in South Africa after being kidnapped by robbers during a church service. The police found him at a safe house and arrested the kidnappers. They had to fight back when the suspects shot at them, killing three of them. The pastor was unharmed and is now safe and sound. He was checked by doctors and is doing well. The police did a great job in rescuing him and bringing him back to safety.

American Pastor Taken At Gunpoint During Church Service In South Africa Rescued By Hawks

A 53-year-old Zimbabwean national was expected to appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court in South Africa on Monday. He is accused of possessing explosives.
The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) said the man was arrested at the Beitbridge Port of Entry on January 17, 2025. Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa said:
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It is alleged that police stopped and searched a bus that was driven from Zimbabwe to South Africa.
During the search, the police found a piece of luggage on top of the fuel tank. When inspecting thoroughly, they noticed that the bag carried explosives.
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Mmuroa said bomb technicians from the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Local Criminal Record Central in Musina were called to the scene. He said:
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The luggage was removed from the bus. They found three reels of detonating fuse of 350 meters each inside, valued at over R105,000, and a passport.
The police managed to identify the suspect through his passport and placed him under arrest.
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A man from Zimbabwe was caught in South Africa with explosives. He was arrested at a border checkpoint on a bus from Zimbabwe. The police found bombs in his bag and arrested him. They found detonating fuses worth a lot of money. The man was identified with his passport and taken into custody. He will be appearing in court soon.

53-Year-Old Zimbabwean Arrested By South Africa's Hawks For Possessing Explosives

A South African woman, Ntombelanga Pretty Labane, is scheduled to return to court in March 2025 to face fraud charges after earning more than R1.2 million working as a school teacher despite not having a matric certificate.
Labane, from Mpumalanga, holds a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree. However, she allegedly used a fraudulent matric certificate to apply to Walter Sisulu University, where she obtained her degree.
Mpumalanga provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Monica Nyuswa, confirmed to <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/mpumalanga/woman-without-matric-who-earned-r12-million-working-as-a-teacher-to-face-trial-next-year-1d845447-11fb-46cd-8572-7756647136f8?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2x4BtOZxYyrfifPwpVq2AQsdM7OFvh8jhrzWDG3Lw3s8OtZmhiGgZscY0_aem_Xg_jHu60subgkf-ruTU9aA">IOL</a> that Labane’s case has been postponed to March for trial.
Labane, who is not in custody, has made several court appearances before the Amersfoort Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga.
She was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, on charges of fraud.
Lt. Colonel Dineo Sekgotodi, a provincial Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga, said that Ntombelanga Pretty Labane had been employed as a teacher since 2016.
It is alleged that on September 1, 2016, Labane applied for a business and accounting teacher’s position at Hlelimfundo Secondary School in Amersfoort, under Mpumalanga’s Volksrust circuit.  Said Sekgotodi:
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Labane submitted a CV, copies of a fraudulent matric certificate, a B-ED degree, and SACE (SA Council for Educators) certificates to the school principal, who informed the school management team to consider her application. They then agreed that she is suitable for the post.
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The principal notified the School Governing Body (SGB) of the decision made by the school management team, and the SGB expressed its support for the decision. Said Sekgotodi:
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The management team allowed Labane to apply for the post, and she was given an application document called EDU 1 to apply for the post. SGB members and the principal signed the application forms on September 12, 2016.
All relevant documents were sent to the circuit manager who signed and took them to the Department of Education’s district office at Ermelo.
The application was sent to the Human Resource Persal registry section, and it was forwarded to the Human Resource Provisioning section.
After the human resource provisioning section checked it, it was forwarded to the employment section where it was captured and Labane was employed.
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Labane’s troubles began when a whistleblower, aware that the woman had not completed her matriculation, reported the issue to the Public Service Commission offices in Mpumalanga. This led to an investigation by the Public Service Commission. Said Sekgotodi:
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After the investigations, findings and recommendations were made.
The principal, circuit manager and the district office were asked about a fraudulent matric certificate and they reported that they did not notice that it was fraudulent as they do not have detectors to verify the validity of the documents.
The Public Service Commission referred the matter to the Hawks’ Secunda-based serious commercial crime investigation (unit) for further investigation in July 2022.
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The Hawks spokesperson confirmed to IOL that Labane is not in custody, as no arrest warrant has been issued against her.
Further investigations by the Hawks revealed that Labane does not possess a Grade 12 certificate.
She attempted the matric exams four times— in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006— but failed each time. Said the Hawks:
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Labane then forged the matric certificate by putting the certificate number: 040 9517 7028 B which belonged to another candidate called Nozipho Ritta Ngema.
The results that were appearing on her fraudulent matric certificate were not her real results.
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Labane submitted her fraudulent matric certificate to apply for admission at Walter Sisulu University, where she successfully obtained a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Summary:
A South African woman named Ntombelanga Pretty Labane made R1.2 million working as a teacher without a real matric certificate. She used a fake one to get her job. Labane faces fraud charges and will go to trial in March 2025. Despite having a B.Ed degree, she lied about having a matric to get hired. Labane's fake was caught after a whistleblower reported it. Further investigations revealed she failed her real matric exams many times. Labane used another person's certificate number to fake her own. She got her degree at Walter Sisulu University using the fake matric. Now she's in trouble with the law.

"South African Woman Earned R1.2 Million As A Teacher Using Fake Matric"

South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has obtained a forfeiture order against Gift Mafukidze, an undocumented Zimbabwean national.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd Ramovha, the Hawks’ spokesperson for Gauteng, confirmed that Mafukidze, described as an illegal immigrant from Zimbabwe, was arrested and charged under Section 34 of South Africa’s Immigration Act. Said Ramovha:
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This decisive action underscores the DPCI’s unwavering commitment to combatting illegal activities and enforcing the law in South Africa.
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Mafukidze, who was transferred from Vredendal in the Western Cape to the Lindela holding facility in July 2023, was found in possession of R40,000 during his detention. Said the Hawks spokesperson:
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The money has now been forfeited to the State under a court order granted by the Pretoria High Court on December 10 2024.
The investigator from PCSI (Priority Crime Specialised Investigation) has diligently pursued this case, ensuring that the ill-gotten gains from illegal mining activities are seized and repurposed in the interest of justice.
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Mafukidze, who has since been deported to Zimbabwe, claimed that the R40,000 in his possession was earned through illegal mining activities.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

South Africa's Hawks, a crime investigation unit, got back R40,000 from an undocumented man from Zimbabwe. The man was caught with the money and said he earned it from illegal mining. He was arrested and charged, then deported back to Zimbabwe. The Hawks are determined to stop illegal activities and enforce the law. The money was taken by the state, according to a court order. The investigation team worked hard to make sure the money from illegal activities was used for justice.

South Africa's Hawks Secure Forfeiture Order For R40,000 Owned By Undocumented Zimbabwean Man

South Africa’s specialised crime investigations unit, the Hawks, has arrested a 25 year old, Raymond Sithole,  for allegedly holding four Zimbabwean illegal immigrants hostage at Chebeng village in the Seshego area of Polokwane City.
The police spokesperson said Sithole illegally smuggled his victims aged between 15 and 20 years into the neighbouring country after promising them good jobs. He said Sithole kept the four at his house and would force them to steal and do other jobs for no pay. Capt Maluleke said Sithole has been charged with human trafficking and corruption.
He said the suspect has since appeared before the Seshego magistrate court and was remanded in custody to January 9. Hawks Limpopo’s provincial head, Major General Thobeka Jozi commended her team for reacting swiftly and apprehending Sithole.
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/sa-national-arrested-over-4-zimbabwean-hostages/">Chronicle</a>

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