THE 2021 July unrest instigators now face an additional charge of terrorism.
This was revealed by the national head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPIC), Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya during a media briefing on Monday morning, 19 February.
Lebeya was updating the public on the progress made and taking stock of milestones achieved since the previous quarter.
He said: “We may recall that 65 alleged July unrests instigators were secured to appear in court on charges of conspiracy to commit public violence, incitement to commit public violence and incitement to commit arson. A charge of terrorism has been added.”
All the accused are out on bail and the case is postponed to 8 April 2024 at Durban Local Division of the High court in KZN.
He said a decision is pending in another case related to the July unrest.
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Sharing other successes, Lebeya said his members are determined to deal with national priority offences and their persistence led to securing the attendance in court of at least 724 is made of 705 individuals and 19 institutions.
He said 229 accused persons, which is made of 220 individuals and nine juristic persons were convicted and sentenced.
“A breakdown of the arrests per crime category and nationality of the 705 natural persons, comprises 582 which is 82,5% South Africans and 123 which is 17,5% foreign nationals. The top five national priority offences that contributed to a high number of arrests are 156 for fraud including 15 companies and 64 for precious metals and diamonds; 67 for narcotics; 51 for non-ferrous metals; and 51 for corruption,” he said.
Lebeya said during these arrests, the DPCI also seized various exhibits including precious metals and diamonds, endangered species, vehicles, cash, firearms, ammunition, counterfeit goods, explosives and electronic devices worth R102 614 521,89.
“In 229 convictions, fraud contributed the highest number of convictions with a total number of 63. Precious metals and diamonds are the second highest with a total number of 45 accused persons. Eleven accused persons money laundering in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (POCA),” he said.
He said that over and above arrests and convictions, the directorate, in collaboration with the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) secured (92 orders with a monetary value of R39 642 652,71.
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