Author: Justice Nyaka

Top Matric achiever Gugu Pioneer Libambo  –  Mpumalanga’s overall best Grade 12 learner in the class of 2024 – has received a brand new Toyota Vitz. Gugu’s hard work, dedication, and commitment earned her a set of new wheels sponsored by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government. “She has been named the overall best learner in our province following the announcement of the 2024 National Senior Certificate Examination results – surpassing the 67 000 learners who wrote the exam,” said Mpumalanga MEC for Education Cathy Dlamini on Wednesday, (15 January 2025). “Her achievements are nothing short of extraordinary. “As a testament to…

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The top Grade 12 Matric achiever in Mpumalanga will be given a brand new set of wheels – a Toyota Vitz – when results are announced next week. “The 2024 provincial overall Grade 12 best learner will be honoured with a full bursary from the provincial government, a generous array of rewards, and a brand new fully sponsored car,” Mpumalanga Education MEC Cathy Dlamini said on Friday, (10 January 2025). “This is an exceptional recognition of the power of dedication, perseverance, and hard work. “It demonstrates that with commitment and passion, success is not just a dream – it becomes…

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A convicted murderer, 41-year-old Thabo Silas Tsotetsi, who concealed the body of his girlfriend in the ceiling of his house, has been sentenced to life in prison. This week, the High Court sitting in Delmas, Mpumalanga, on Wednesday (6 March 2024), meted out the maximum sentence to the accused. During 2022, Tsotetsi killed his girlfriend and hid her body in the ceiling of their Balfour home. Recalling events leading to the discovery of the body, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said: “This shocking discovery was made on 4 October 2022 by a female companion, who has a child with…

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Female attorney – 42-year-old Jo-Anne Mantladi Mmela – accused of defrauding the Road Accident Fund (RAF) before skipping bail has been re-arrested and remanded in custody. The attorney was re-arrested by the Hawks at her hideout in Hammanskraal, Gauteng, on Saturday, ( 24 February 2024). Mmela was brought before the Middleburg Regional Court in Middleburg, Mpumalanga, on Monday, (26 February 2024), where she was remanded in custody. Allegations are that in September 2022, the suspect claimed money from RAF on behalf of a client. “It is alleged that the accused, who was an attorney practicing under Mmela and Associates, was…

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A 39-year-old pastor accused of raping a teenage member of his church has appeared in the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court, in Mpumalanga. The “man of God” was in the dock earlier this week, on Monday, but he was not asked to plead. Allegations are that three weeks ago, the pastor raped a 15-year-old girl at her home. The pastor was subsequently arrested at the weekend by the SA Police Service (SAPS) Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said the SAPS acted as soon as the rape survivor reported the matter. “The incident involving…

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The 27-year-old man, who was arrested after he was found in possession of explosives, on Monday appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga, where he was remanded in custody. Police have established that the undocumented suspect, Thaimo Ndlovu, is from Zimbabwe. Ndlovu faces charges of the illegal possession of explosives and the contravention of the Immigration Act. He was arrested at his residence in Baberton on Friday, (2 February 2024), after police found explosives at his residence. At least nine electronic detonators, 14 shock tube assemblies as well as 16 blasting cartridges were recovered from the suspect’s residence. Six…

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A post office was robbed of an undisclosed amount in cash during the pension grant payouts in Wakkerstroom, near Volskrust, in Mpumalanga on Friday morning, (2 February 2024).  Four armed suspects raided the post office and held the staff at gunpoint before forcefully opening a safe. The robbers fled the scene with the undisclosed cash using two vehicles. It was the second robbery on Friday in Mpumalanga in which armed robbers targeted a post office. The Bulrushes reported that a post office in Mangweni near Malelane was robbed by two armed men on Friday (2 February 2024). RELATED: Paramedic Arrested For Post…

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A paramedic and his accomplice have been arrested for an armed robbery at a post office in Mangweni, near Tonga outside Malelane, in Mpumalanga.  Witnesses told police that two armed robbers stormed into the post office Friday morning and held staff at gunpoint. The armed robbers demanded the keys to the safe and tied up the staff before they made off with an undisclosed amount in cash. They sped off in a VW Golf. Acting on a tip-off, police were able to arrest the suspects within hours. Shockingly, when the suspects aged 26 and 39 were arrested it emerged that…

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Aluminium pot maker 52-year-old Nombango Claudia Mgiba, who was arrested on suspicion that she was melting down cables stolen from Eskom to make her Potjies, has been freed on R5 000. She was arrested earlier this week on Monday after the Hawks raided her home in Mkhuhlu near Calcutta outside Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, where they recovered Eskom cables and found the aluminum pots. Mgiba appeared in the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, (1 February 2024), where she faced charges of possession of suspected stolen property. Hawks Mpumalanga spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said: “She was released on R5 000 bail and the…

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The woman accused of stealing aluminum cables belonging to Eskom and smelting them to make huge aluminum pots at her home in Mkhuhlu, near Calcutta outside Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, has been remanded in custody. The accused 52-year-old Nombango Claudia Mgiba was arrested at her home on Monday morning, (29 January 2024). She appeared in the Calcutta Magistrate’s Court on a charge of possession of suspected stolen property. The accused was arrested by the Hawks in conjunction with other police teams through a tip-off about the power utility’s stolen aluminum cables, which she stored at her home. Mgiba allegedly smelted the cables…

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