Latest news with #Anti-GangUnit
eNCA
3 days ago
- eNCA
Senior bank manager behind bars after multi-million drug bust
CAPE TOWN - A senior bank manager is facing charges of dealing in drugs and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The 40-year-old, Raed Cupido made his second appearance at Cape Town's Magistrates Court this week. Cupido was arrested on Tuesday last week during an intelligence driven operation conducted by members attached to the Anti-Gang Unit, Crime Intelligence and Provincial Organised Crime Detectives. Police pounced onto him at a Cape Town storage facility where he allegedly kept 15 bricks of cocaine of about 15 kilograms (1kg each) with an estimated street value of R18 million as well as one AK 47 rifle, an Uzzi, five 9mm pistols and an assortment of ammunition. The suspect is expected to make another appearance at the end of June and eNCA will make an application to film the court proceedings on the day.
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Youth Day marred by bloodshed as Westbury and Eldorado Park youth face gunfire and fear
On a day meant to honour the courage and sacrifice of South Africa's youth, the communities of Westbury and Eldorado Park are instead mourning the young lives lost to violence and gangsterism. Residents say gunfire has become a daily soundtrack in their neighbourhoods, with children and teenagers bearing the brunt of ongoing turf wars. While some youths are lured into gangs, others— far too many — are simply caught in the crossfire. This Youth Day, instead of celebration, Westbury residents are taking to the streets in protest. Marches and community-led demonstrations have been organised to demand urgent action against the escalating violence that has turned their streets into war zones.'We are tired of burying our children,' said a tearful mother in Westbury, holding up a picture of her 15-year-old son who was killed while walking home from school. 'Youth Day is supposed to be about honouring the youth, but here in Westbury, our youth are under attack.' The protest comes just days after the deaths of three teenagers in neighbouring Eldorado Park. Police have opened murder dockets and are investigating possible gang links. The names of the victims, aged between 14 and 17, have not yet been released.'These were young people with dreams, with potential,' said one Eldorado Park teacher who asked not to be named for safety reasons. 'Now they're statistics. That's what hurts the most.'According to residents, gunfights often erupt in broad daylight, sometimes just metres from schools or playgrounds. While the Anti-Gang Unit has been deployed in the past, their presence has been inconsistent, and at times, met with hostility. In one recent incident, Anti-Gang Unit officers were forced to flee Westbury after being attacked during a routine patrol. 'People feel abandoned,' said community activist Jerome Daniels. 'We need a long-term strategy, not just police presence for a few days after a tragedy. We need real investment in our young people, in education, in sports, in jobs.' The protests highlight a growing frustration among residents who feel the government has failed to address the root causes of gang violence—poverty, unemployment, and a lack of opportunities. Many say they have been calling for intervention for years, but little has changed. In both Westbury and Eldorado Park, community halls and churches have become makeshift counselling centres for grieving families and traumatised children. In schools, teachers report rising levels of anxiety among learners. 'Some of our kids have become numb to the sound of bullets,' said a high school principal in Westbury. 'That's not normal. That's not how children should grow up.' As Youth Day draws to a close, the demands from these communities are clear: they want safety, justice, and a future where being young doesn't come with a death sentence. can't keep waiting for another child to die before someone pays attention,' said Daniels. 'Enough is enough.'
eNCA
6 days ago
- eNCA
Westbury residents march against gangsterism
JOHANNESBURG - As we mark Youth Day, young people in Westbury and Eldorado Park are under attack. Residents say gunfire is a daily occurrence, with many children dying. Some are gripped in turf wars, others are innocent and caught in the crossfire. READ: Anti-Gang Unit police officers flee Westbury after being attacked Now, the community is taking to the streets to protest against gangsterism, crime and violence. It comes as police investigate the deaths of three teenagers in nearby Eldorado Park. eNCA reporter Hloni Mtimkulu is on the ground.
Daily Maverick
09-06-2025
- Daily Maverick
Nafiz Modack convicted of corruption — trial for multiple murders continues
In 2011, alleged underworld figure Nafiz Modack paid a corrupt, high-ranking police official to recover his vehicles using state resources. Nearly 14 years later, the top cop's plea agreement was used to convict Modack of corruption charges. Alleged underworld figure Nafiz Modack has been acquitted on charges before, but for the first time on Friday, 6 June 2025, he was convicted by a court on corruption charges. The corruption occurred in 2011, and nearly 14 years later, thanks to a plea agreement by former Brigadier Kolindhren Govender, a court could convict Modack. Several cases, including the murder of late Anti-Gang Unit Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear, remain to be resolved. Govender entered into a plea and sentencing agreement on 2 December 2019 and pleaded guilty to 51 counts of corruption and a count of contravening the South African Police Service Act. Among the reasons that this case took so long to resolve was that some of the final witnesses testified only last year. According to investigators, since Modack has been behind bars since April 2021, he no longer poses a threat to or can intimidate witnesses. The central point of this corrupt relationship was that Govender instructed police officers under his command to recover missing vehicles belonging to Modack. On Monday, 9 June, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said police recovered vehicles, including two exotic vehicles, which were handed over to Modack without following due process. The NPA did not comment on how many vehicles were recovered through the corrupt scheme. None of the recovered vehicles, he added, were processed through SAPS records, nor were any police dockets or inquiries opened and registered in any of the incidents. At the time of the offence, Modack was the sole owner of the businesses AMG Auto and Peuxon Properties. Court papers dating back to the time of the corruption said: 'In and during November 2011 Brigadier Govender commenced accepting gratification from Modack. Regular payments in a total of R146,600 were paid to Govender in return for special treatment and favours.' Govender pleaded guilty to 51 charges of corruption that relate to a corrupt relationship he had with Modack. He was handed five years' imprisonment, of which four-and-a-half years were suspended. The sentence was ordered to run concurrently with the six-year sentence that was handed down on a different matter. Payments for special treatment Senior State prosecutor advocate Louis van Niekerk successfully argued that Brigadier Govender received R146,000 from the two firms' accounts between November 2011 and August 2013. Van Niekerk also contended that the 51 payments Modack made had no legitimate purpose. He stated: 'Modack made regular payments to Brigadier Govender as a high-ranking South African Police Service (SAPS) member in return for special treatment and favours. Police were not allowed to do private work or preferential work for members of the public. 'Members of the public were not allowed to reward members of the SAPS. Modack never gave statements for any of the recovered vehicles. There were no statements by the arresting officer. There were no SAP13 recordings. No dockets were registered. His version was that they were his vehicles,' Van Niekerk explained. The court concluded that, given the evidence in totality, Modack was guilty of corruption relating to the recovery of motor vehicles. The case has been postponed until 8 July 2025 for Modack's sentencing. Murder charges In another case, Modack is on trial for a range of charges, including multiple murders and attempted murders. He was arrested in April 2021 in connection with the murder of Kinnear. Kinnear was assassinated outside his house in Bishop Lavis in September 2020. At the time of his demise, he was investigating Modack. Modack and former rugby player and debt collector Zane Kilian are the two main accused in Kinnear's assassination. The State contends that they also conspired in an attempt to murder lawyer William Booth in April 2020. In that case, Modack and Kilian, with the other accused, are collectively facing 124 charges, including murder, attempted murder, corruption, gangsterism, extortion, the illegal interception of communications, money laundering and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. Modack and his co-accused pleaded not guilty to the charges in January 2024. In March 2024, a State witness, who can be referred to only as 'Mr A' to protect his identity, implicated Modack as the person who allegedly ordered a hit on Nicolaas Heerschap, the father of Hawks officer Nico Heerschap. He said Modack told him he was proud of the hit. In January 2025, Western Cape High Court Judge Robert Henney dismissed several charges against Modack and his 14 co-accused, but not the principal charges of murder and attempted murder. Another pending case against Modack, his wife Rehana, and police officers is firearm licence fraud, which will be heard in Gauteng. In addition, Modack also faces charges in a massive tax fraud case involving more than R46-million, and his mother is allegedly the criminal enterprise's manager. Investigators told Daily Maverick that once all these cases had been concluded, Modack would be apprehended in connection with a probe into R50-million vehicle and property asset finance corruption. Another cop in Modack's web Modack had an alleged corrupt association with other police officers before Govender. Former AGU Sergeant Ashley Tabisher lost his job as a result of this alleged corrupt relationship with Modack. Tabisher faces charges of corruption for allegedly warning Modack about Anti-Gang Unit operations. It is alleged Tabisher received R10,000 from co-accused Amaal Jantjies. He was eventually released in December last year. Tabisher intends to bring an application to be acquitted on all charges. Furthermore, evidence presented in the Kinnear murder trial heard in the Western Cape High Court in April suggested that Modack was allegedly deceived by a middleman while trying to bribe former top cops Major General Jeremy Vearey and the late Kinnear. Modack's bank statements reveal that he made R600,000 in payments that he allegedly thought would go to Vearey and Kinnear. The payments were made for the return of his firearms that had been confiscated by the Anti-Gang Unit in 2017. Modack did not receive the confiscated firearms and Vearey, who had no involvement in the bribery scheme, did not receive a cent as Modack had apparently been duped by a middleman. DM
The South African
05-06-2025
- The South African
SAPS Anti-gang unit attacked in Westbury
While patrolling the area of Westbury, members of the Anti-Gang Unit came under attack and had to run for cover. The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, has condemned the ambush on the AGU. 'The Anti-Gang Unit is a unit in the SAPS that is responsible for combatting gangs and gang related crime,' said national SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. She said the crimes covered by the AGU include dealing and trafficking of drugs as well as gang related shootings and murders. The AGU is deployed in various hotspot areas that are plagued by gang activity in the different provinces, including Gauteng. Mathe said in the Gauteng province, the unit is deployed to areas such as Eldorado Park, Westbury, Moffatview, Southhills, Mohlakeng, Toekomsrus and Sophiatown. According to Mathe, on the afternoon of 3 June 2025, members of the anti-gang unit were patrolling in Westbury, while other members were conducting stop and searches along Steytler street. During the operation, they found a man in possession of drugs and he was immediately arrested. After the suspect was arrested, members of the community began mobilising themselves and threw rocks and bottles at police officers on the scene. The AGU had to retreat and tactically withdraw from the operation by running for cover. The incident was captured on camera. 'The community of Westbury have from time to time been complaining about the high levels of crime including drug dealing in the area,' said police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola . Masemola said they deployed the anti-gang unit to deal specifically with crime pertaining to drug dealing. He expressed disappointment in the community for attacking the police when they take charge and enforce the law. The police commissioner said he cannot allow such an incident to repeat itself. He pleaded with the community to appreciate, support and work with the police and not attack them. 'We cannot and will not tolerate this lawlessness. Our members will continue to discharge their duties without fear or favour, ' said Masemola. Mathe confirmed that no police officer or police property was damaged during the attack. She attributed this to members tactically withdrawing from the danger by discharging a warning shot. General Masemola also encouraged members of the AGU to not be deterred by the incident. He said they should continue preventing and combatting gang violence in the area without fear or favour. DO YOU THINK GANG VIOLENCE THRIVES BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY PROTECTION? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
