WELCOME to Tsotsi Hunt, a YouTube Shorts series that gives you a glimpse into the hunt for criminals.
This series highlights the efforts of cops in tracking down criminals, from gang leaders to drug dealers.
Catch a new episode of Tsotsi Hunt every Monday, exclusive to Daily Sun.
Episode 27
The South African Police Service (SAPS) stopped a courier company bakkie and a private Toyota bakkie with six armed suspects who were allegedly making their way to commit a robbery in Sandton at the weekend.
Police confirmed that two rifles and three pistols loaded with live rounds of ammunition were found in the suspects possession.
The suspects were arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunitions as well as conspiracy to commit robbery.
Episode 26
A 30-year-old man from Malawi has been arrested in Kanoneiland in Kimberley. He was found in possession of 15 bags of dagga worth R375 000.
The suspect is set to face charges in Keimoes Magistrates' Court.
Episode 25
A 42-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly shooting his son-in-law in Benoni, Ekurhuleni.
Police said a couple had reportedly been arguing over the weekend when the wife called his father to threaten the husband.
“There was allegedly a struggle between the two and a gunshot went off, injuring the son-in-law,” police said in a statement.
The police investigation revealed that the suspect had several unlicenced firearms and ammunition at his place of residence in the neighbouring Brakpan.
An undisclosed number of firearms and ammunition were then seized by the cops.
The man has been charged with attempted murder, possession of unlicenced firearms and ammunition. He is expected to appear in the Benoni Magistrates Court.
Episode 24
Undercover sting: Stolen treasures recovered!
Stolen cars are turning up in every corner of Mzansi!
In a remarkable turn of events, the reappearance of a white Toyota Corolla, 14 years after its disappearance has stunned many. A 31-year-old South African man was taken into custody by law enforcement after being caught with the stolen vehicle at the Nerston Port of Entry at the border between eSwatini and Mzansi. The suspect is due to appear in the Amsterdam Magistrates Court on Monday, 26 February. The car was reported stolen in Komani in the Eastern Cape in 2010.
In a separate case, a 22-year-old man is being accused of intending to smuggle a Ford Ranger Raptor worth R1,5 million across the border to Zimbabwe. He's expected to appear before the Tzaneen Magistrates Court on Monday.
Episode 23
A 39-year-old man has been arrested after he was caught smuggling illicit cigarettes worth almost R300 000 in Hoedspruit outside Phalaborwa. Limpopo on Saturday, 17 February.
The man’s Toyota Rav-4 was intercepted after police received a tip-off along the R40 within the Hoedspruit area, where both the SAPS and members of the Provincial Visible Task searched his vehicle.
Upon the search, 728 packets of unlawful tobacco products such as Remington Gold cigarettes were found and later confiscated by the cops.
The suspect has been arrested on charges of possession of illicit cigarettes with a high value and is set to appear in the Hoedspruit Magistrates Court soon.
Episode 22
Seven thieves were arrested after robbing a Cash Crusaders store in Honeydew, north of Joburg.
JMPD received a tip-off that the suspects were preparing to meet with a buyer of the stolen goods at a home in Bezuidenhot Valley near Kensington.
The suspects were arrested at the scene and the stolen goods, including laptops and cellphones, recovered.
Episode 21
A madala has been arrested after being found in possession of 106 guns and about 2 000 bullets which were found in his home in Mpumalanga.
The 67-year-old madala was bust late last week.
Police spokesman Colonel Donald Mdhluli confirmed that further details indicated that the madala was somehow involved with a security company but was suspected to be non-compliant.
A search warrant was obtained, and police conducted an operation at the elderly man's home in Elukwatini
“Members discovered a total of about 106 firearms as well as 1 704 various assorted live rounds of ammunition. Among the weapons found in the house are 14 rifles, eight shot guns, 84 pistols with ammunition, 9mm pistols to a total of 718, about 921 live rounds of ammunition for a rifle, and 65 live rounds of ammunition for a shotgun.
“Firearms were not kept inside a safe but rather stored underneath a bed while some were kept inside the wardrobe,” Mdhuli said.
The suspect appeared in the Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrates Court on Friday, 19 January on a charge of contravening the Firearm Control Act. He was released on bail of R6 000 and is expected back in court on 10 April.
Episode 20
Police in Mokopane, Limpopo arrested a 33-year-old male suspect linked with a series of business and house robberies. This comes after an intelligence-driven operation was conducted on Friday, 22 December 2023.
It's reported that the arrested suspect has since evaded arrest while his three accomplices were bust in the beginning of the festive season for possession of unlicenced firearms and ammunition.
The suspect will join his three accomplices in custody and face all 20 cases of robberies. The suspects are linked to the Post Office robberies committed in Mokopane and other business, and house robberies committed in Polokwane during 2023.
The suspect was expected to appear before Mokopane Magistrates Court on Monday, 22 January.
Episode 19
Police in the Western Cape have arrested 103 suspects and 46 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol in the Garden Route district.
The suspects were arrested during a joint operation between police, provincial traffic and local municipal traffic officials over the long weekend between Thursday, 14 December and Sunday, 17 December.
Police spokesman Sergeant Christopher Spies said: "The police arrested a total of 33 suspects for possession of drugs in Oudtshoorn after small quantities of drugs were found in their possession during stop and search operations."
Meanwhile, four liquor outlets were also shut down and four suspects, aged between 31 and 40, were arrested for selling liquor without a licence at Pacaltsdorp in George.
"The police confiscated more than 524 litres of liquor during these operations. All the suspects will appear in their respective courts once charged. These operations will be sustained for the duration of the festive season and beyond to ensure that the public are and feel safe," Spies said.
Episode 18
Seven suspects have been arrested for operating an illegal potato chips factory in Marlboro, north of Joburg. The foreign nationals don't have the required documentation to operate the factory.
The suspects were arrested during a routine stop and search in Sandton on Friday. JMPD spokesman Xolani Fihla said officers stopped a panel van with two men.
"The officers searched and found boxes in the vehicle. After close examination, the officers found that the address on the packages of potato chips found in the boxes did not correspond with the manufacturer's address, and they didn't have the SABS mark of approval.
“The officers escorted the male occupants of the panel van to the manufacturer's address in Marlboro,” said Fihla.
The business owner is yet to be traced and arrested.
Episode 17
Five suspects between the ages of 32 and 41 have been arrested in Stellenbosch, Western Cape.
They were caught in possession of stolen property, including iPhones, jewellery, a television and housebreaking tools, including knives, a screwdriver, balaclavas and an axe.
Cops cornered the suspects on Helshoogte Road in Stellenbosch. The vehicle was stopped with the five suspects inside.
The stolen items were later identified as belonging to an 82-year-old gogo who had fallen victim to a house robbery on a farm in Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, during the night.
Western Cape police spokesman on FC van Wyk said: "The suspects are scheduled to appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrates Court once charged."
Episode 16
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Episode 15
A shoot-out in Kagiso, Mogale City has led to the arrest of 13 suspects.
The arrests follow a gun battle between two groups believed to be security companies affiliated with different taxi associations.
Police officers found the two groups engaged in a fierce gun battle on Wednesday. As the police approached, members from both groups attempted to flee the scene.
But 13 suspects were bust, and a cache of 13 rifles, four pistols, and numerous rounds of ammunition were seized on the spot, police confirmed.
An additional firearm was discovered hidden at a nearby filling station. Two people from one of the groups sustained injuries during the shoot-out and were hospitalised.
The seized firearms are set to undergo further investigations and ballistic testing to determine if they have been used in other serious and violent crimes.
The arrested suspects are due to appear in court soon, facing charges of attempted murder and discharging a firearm in a municipal area. The police investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Episode 14
Three suspects have been arrested in Harrismith, Free State for draining trucks of diesel.
The police received information of stolen diesel being kept in Intabazwe, near an airfield.
Officers found a bakkie loaded with 14 25L containers of stolen diesel. The suspects appeared in the Harrismith Magistrates Court on Monday.
Episode 13
Panic has ripped through Riverlea, Joburg following a gun battle between two competing zama zama gangs. About 200 suspects have since been arrested.
Episode 12
Drugs worth R1,2 million destined for the streets of Durban, KZN have been seized in a flat.
Police confiscated a total of 7 500 ecstacy tablets, as well as suspected cocaine and ephedrine powder.
The search for the suspect who rented the flat is underway.???
Episode 11
Police have arrested two suspects, aged 30 and 33 after they were found to be operating a clandestine hydroponic dagga laboratory on a farm in Fountains Head in Umkomaas, KZN.
Police were doing routine patrols when they stumbled upon the illegal dagga laboratory on Sunday.
A total of 1 200 dagga plants and dagga processing machines worth about R10 million were found at the lab. Police are closing in on the third suspect who is believed to be the owner of the dagga laboratory.
Episode 10
A 39-year-old man has been arrested for armed business robbery.
He was among a group of gun-wielding robbers who stormed a shopping centre in Thembalethu last Thursday night, 18 January.
A shoot-out ensued when police arrived on scene. The suspects fled on foot, but police cornered one of the perpetrators inside a shop.
An undisclosed amount of cash and a fake firearm were confiscated.
The search for the remaining suspects continues.
Episode 9
Illegal mining remains a huge challenge in Mzansi.
In the latest police bust, five zama zamas, aged between 18 and 57, were arrested in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga.
They were found in possession of gold bearing dust worth an unknown value.
Police said the suspects were bust after local security officers received a tip-off about activity at an old mine shaft.
One of the suspects was caught keeping watch next to the mine and attempted to flee in a Toyota Etios. He was quickly cornered and arrested.
The other four were cuffed after exiting the shaft later that afternoon.
They appeared in court on Monday, 3 July 2023, on charges of illegal possession of gold bearing dust and illegal mining.
Episode 8
An Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) operation has led to the arrest of 12 undocumented foreigners in Crystal Park, Gauteng.
An illegal shebeen was also shut down for operating without valid trading and liquor licences.
During the operation on Monday, 19 June, EMPD also confiscated illegal mining equipment.
Episode 7
Police are on the hunt for at least six more suspects involved in a brazen jewellery heist at the East Rand Mall, Ekurhuleni on Father's Day.
This was after eight heavily-armed suspects stormed the Jewellery Club on Sunday, 18 June.
They held up the store employees at gunpoint before fleeing with jewellery worth millions. A car chase ensued and the suspects were cornered in Alexandra, east of Joburg. High calibre firearms, ammunition, getaway cars and explosives were seized.
Episode 6
Three young men have been arrested for the possession of unlicenced firearms and drugs in the Western Cape.
Episode 5
It was business as usual for the police in the Western Cape on Youth Day, 16 June. Four suspects were arrested for the possession of stolen property, unlicenced guns and ammunition.
Episode 4
Illicit and smuggled cigarettes worth R43 million is being destroyed at the Beitbridge border post.
The customs division of the South African Revenue Service (Sars) began the destruction of the tobacco products on Tuesday, 13 June.
Sars deputy commissioner Johnstone Makhubu said the destruction of the 20 million cigarettes is likely to last a few days.
The illicit and smuggled cigarettes were seized in multi-agency operations.
In one such operation at the Beitbridge border in February 2023:
- A total 1 211 master boxes of illicit cigarettes worth an estimated value of R26 million were seized.
- Four people were arrested, and criminal cases opened with regard to dealing in the smuggling of illicit cigarettes.
- Four trucks, one bakkie and one tractor with a trailer, which were used to carry the illicit cigarettes, were detained with an estimated value of more than R3 million.
Illicit trade robs the government of much-needed revenue and destroy industries, exacerbating unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Sars’ director of customs and excise, Beyers Theron, said: "There has been a noticeable shift to increased cross-border smuggling using 'runners' over the past few years.
“These are not individuals smuggling these cigarettes as an entrepreneurial opportunity but organised criminal syndicates exploiting the unemployed and the poor by employing individuals as runners to carry goods, often for kilometres, across borders.
“These runners carry at least two master cases of illicit cigarettes on their backs per unit, often repeating these trips multiple times. These cigarettes are then loaded into trucks, small goods vehicles, cars and taxis, that wait at locations along the border for distribution to their intended destinations on the local market,” Theron said.
Episode 3: Ten heist tsotsis bust!
Ten suspects aged between 24 and 30 were arrested for their involvement in a spate of business robberies in the Capricorn, Sekhukhune and Mopani areas in Limpopo. The group of heavily armed suspects attacked filling stations.
Episode 2: Man nabbed for operating illegal gold refinery lab
A 22-year-old man has been arrested after the discovery of a fully operational gold refinery laboratory on a smallholding in Zuurbekom, Westonaria.
The operation was executed by an integrated team led by the Hawks in collaboration with the police’s Tactical Response Team, its forensic division, officials from the Department of Environmental Affairs, as well as the Sibanye Stillwater’s Asset Protection Services.
About 1 260 tons of gold bearing material with an estimated value of R3 million was found along with two generators, nearly 200kg of loaded carbon and a cellphone. The suspect was arrested and all exhibits were seized for further investigation.
The suspect, who is a foreigner, was not in possession of proper documentation and an additional charge of contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 may be preferred against him. He appeared in the Westonaria Magistrates Court on charges of contravention of Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005 and operating an illegal gold refinery on 18 May 2023.
Episode 1: Seven nabbed in drug bust
Seven suspects have been apprehended in an ongoing drug operation in Germiston, Ekurhuleni. They were caught in possession of crystal meth, rocks, mandrax, nyaope and dagga to the value of R13 900, as well as eight rounds of ammunition.
The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department’s drug enforcement unit nabbed the suspects on Saturday, 22 April. The seven suspects face charges of possession of illegal substances and possible dealing, and possession of live ammunition.
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