Latest news with #RUSA
The South African
6 days ago
- The South African
Bogus doctor arrested in Mpumalanga
A bogus doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was arrested in Embalenhle, Mpumalanga, after allegedly posing as a medical doctor. This incident follows a compliance inspection conducted by a Health Inspector at a local medical practice. The inspector paid a visit to the surgery that operated under the name of a registered medical doctor (the suspect) in Extension 7. Upon arrival, the inspector entered the consultation room of the suspect, where he found him conducting medical consultations and questioned him. During the questioning, the 36-year-old suspect, Jonathan Ilungwa Kilimba, produced five patient files to 'prove' he was a real doctor. However, when asked whether he was registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to confirm he was a registered doctor, he confessed that he was not registered with the organisation. Kilimba was immediately arrested and detained at Embalenhle SAPS for violating the Health Professions Act. This also prompted investigations to check the authenticity of his asylum documentation since he is a foreign national. The suspect is expected to appear before the Evander Magistrate's Court on 17 June 2025, over charges of impersonating a healthcare professional. The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, urged the public to verify the credentials of medical practitioners before consulting. 'We urge the public to always verify the credentials of medical professionals before consulting them. The SAPS remains committed to protecting the public from unqualified individuals who put lives at risk by operating illegally,' pleaded Mkhwanazi. Four suspects were arrested after using muthi to rob people in Verulam CBD, KZN, on Friday, 13 June 2025. The four suspects, two men and two women, are also linked to committing this crime in other areas. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the female suspects would approach people and start a conversation to kick things off. During the conversation, the suspects would smear muthi on the victim's arm and convince them to enter their vehicle. The muthi would make the victims feel weak and disorientated, which affected their thinking abilities. RUSA explained, 'They would drive off with their male accomplices and the victims would be robbed of their valuables before being dumped on the side of the road.' A silver VW Polo used in the crime was seized. A victim who chose to remain anonymous was also a victim of this incident and had her phone stolen while visiting the mall. She says that she was waiting for her mother outside a bank at the mall when a man suddenly bumped his shoulder against hers, smearing the muthi on her. A few moments after the incident, while still trying to process what happened, an old woman came to her and told her that the man who just bumped into her put muthi on her so she should follow her to get help. 'I responded to her, and everything changed. It was like an out-of-body experience, I felt numb, yet aware of everything around me. I couldn't move or respond except when they told me to. The next thing I knew, I was in their car. I don't know how I got there. Luckily, I had no money on me,' she recalled. She adds that the woman then instructed her to perform certain rituals to remove the muthi. While she was distracted and dizzy, they quickly swapped her phone with a fake one. She says, 'They then told me to get out of the car and urinate on my hand. After 30 minutes, I was told to apply the urine on my face to remove the muthi.' The victim says that she went to the security officers at the mall to tell them about what just transpired but when they searched for the suspects, they had long left the mall. After this experience, she says that she no longer feels safe to travel alone and does not trust anyone. 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.
The South African
10-06-2025
- The South African
KZN elderly woman killed, daughter injured in alleged stabbing
An attacker allegedly killed an elderly woman in her eighties and critically injured her 60-year-old daughter at their home in Hexham, Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday 9 June. A man arrived at the house but found the door locked. He tried calling for his wife and elderly mother but received no response. He then forced his way inside and found both women lying in pools of blood in the passage. Neighbours heard the man calling for help and made multiple calls for medical assistance to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA). Officers and paramedics dispatched themselves and arrived at the scene around 18:45. They declared the elderly woman dead at the scene. She had suffered multiple stab wounds to her face and body. The attacker slit her daughter's throat and stabbed her cheeks, neck, and hands. She was bleeding heavily. Paramedics stabilised her before rushing her to hospital by ambulance. RUSA officials found a large blood-stained butcher knife and a smaller bent knife at the scene. The critically injured woman's son went missing, and RUSA has not confirmed his involvement. Officials are investigating the case as murder and attempted murder. 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.
The South African
04-06-2025
- General
- The South African
Woman attacked over R350 SRD grant in KZN
A domestic dispute in Mhlasini, KwaZulu-Natal, turned violent on Tuesday 3 June after a woman admitted to spending her R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant on alcohol. Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded to the scene after receiving reports of an assault. When officers arrived, they found that a man had confronted his partner over the money she had withdrawn earlier that day. According to RUSA, the man returned home and questioned his partner about the R350 SRD grant she had withdrawn. She told him she had spent it on alcohol. A heated argument followed. During the altercation, he allegedly assaulted her, pulled out a knife, and held it to her throat. When she tried to defend herself, she grabbed the blade and suffered a deep cut to her hand. Despite the injury, the woman declined to open a criminal case against her partner. 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.
The South African
04-06-2025
- General
- The South African
40-Year-old man allegedly raped after kidnapping in KZN
Two men kidnapped and raped a 40-year-old man in Temple Valley, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday morning, 4 June 2025. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the victim approached a passerby from a nearby bush and requested help at around 08:52. The passerby contacted RUSA's Operations Centre, prompting immediate deployment of Reaction Officers. The man, barefoot and dressed in pyjama shorts and a t-shirt, told officers the attackers took him from his home around 03:30 and that he knew one of them. He claimed the suspects drove him around in a BMW and assaulted him for allegedly discussing their illegal activities with other community members. The victim was allegedly injected with an unknown drug before the vehicle stopped at the corner of Republic Street and Trevenen Road, Lotusville. The driver gave cash to the other man and told him to rape the victim. They dragged him into a bush and assaulted him. Two men walking on the nearby railway line heard him scream and rushed to help. Police arrested a 26-year-old Malawian man in Verulam CBD, KwaZulu-Natal, for a string of robberies. On Monday, 2 June, a robbery victim spotted the suspect near Todd Street by the railway station. The victim raised the alarm. Bystanders, mostly foreign nationals, joined in and attacked the man before police arrived. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), officers found the suspect being assaulted by the crowd. The victim who recognised him had led the confrontation. Police took the injured suspect into custody. 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.
The South African
03-06-2025
- General
- The South African
Malawian national arrested in KZN over a series of robberies
Police have arrested a 26-year-old Malawian national in Verulam CBD, KwaZulu-Natal, in connection with a series of robberies. A victim allegedly recognised the suspect near Todd Street by the railway station on Monday 2 June and alerted others, who then assaulted him before officers arrived. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), a group made up primarily of foreign nationals had already begun assaulting the suspect by the time officers arrived. The confrontation began when one of the robbery victims spotted the man and confronted him with the help of bystanders. Two weeks ago, the suspect allegedly forced his way into a home in Southridge, brandished a firearm, and robbed a man of his cellphone in front of the victim's minor daughter. Since the incident, the victim had been searching for the suspect and recognised him in the Verulam CBD. During questioning, the suspect admitted to selling the stolen phone to a foreign national in Durban. RUSA officers confirmed his involvement in at least three other robberies in Temple Valley. Officers recovered the firearm used in the crimes, later identified as a replica blank gun. RUSA officers restrained the suspect and handed him over to SAPS Verulam, where he remains in custody pending further investigation. 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.
