The executive mayor of Matjhabeng Local Municipality, Thanduxolo Khalipa (58), has been sentenced for assaulting his driver and bodyguard. The Odendaalsrus Magistrate’s Court found Khalipa guilty on three charges: one count of common assault and two counts of crimen injuria. The charges stem from an incident during a community meeting last year, where Khalipa attacked and insulted his protectors. He was sentenced to three months in jail or a R5,000 fine for the assault charge and one month in jail or a R1,000 fine for each count of crimen injuria. Additionally, Khalipa was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane, the altercation occurred when tensions rose during a community meeting. The mayor’s protectors attempted to escort him out of the meeting due to the escalating crowd, but Khalipa responded by physically assaulting and insulting them.
In a separate case, Lukhanyiso Educator Ndoya (43) has been sentenced to 17 years of direct imprisonment for the attempted murder of his girlfriend, Lungiswa Dumiso (43), after finding her in another man’s house. Ndoya admitted to stabbing Dumiso twice in the neck on April 16, 2023. The two had been in a six-year relationship. Ndoya was angered after finding Dumiso naked in the house of another man, leading to a violent confrontation. Ndoya’s actions resulted in serious injuries to Dumiso, but she survived the attack. NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed Ndoya’s guilty plea, and he was sentenced after the court hearing.
In another incident, a 30-year-old Angolan man was arrested at Cape Town International Airport after being found in possession of cocaine. The suspect had traveled from Brazil via Dubai, and Hawks officials acted on a tip-off, leading to his arrest. After a search of his luggage, the drugs were discovered hidden in three suitcases. The value of the cocaine is yet to be determined, and the suspect is set to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court. Police spokesperson Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi confirmed the arrest and ongoing investigations into the case.
