Vryheid Organised Crime proves its prowess at crime fighting
Vryheid Organised Crime Unit was once again acknowledged at the annual Provincial Excellence Awards hosted by the South African Police Service.
THE hard work and dedication of the Vryheid Organised Crime Unit was once again acknowledged at the annual Provincial Excellence Awards hosted by the South African Police Service.
The Vryheid team scooped first place when it entered for the first time in 2017, and was awarded first runner-up at this year’s event.
Commander of the Unit, Col Dupie du Plessis, said that, while the team never seeks recognition when it endeavours to bring criminals to justice in order to make the community safer for all, the fact that their efforts are acknowledged is really appreciated.
While the Organised Crime Unit boasts close a 100% conviction rate on its cases, the case that stood out ahead of the 2018 Excellence Awards was that of the farm attack in which Vryheid farmer, Daniel Swanepoel, was tortured and killed at his Eensgevonden farm on November 4 last year.
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Mr Swanepoel was alone at his farm house when he was attacked by two men. The attackers stabbed him several times, demanding credit cards and cash, even using a device usually used on cattle to shock him. When Mr Swanepoel’s wife returned home, the suspects forced her into her vehicle and had her drive to a nearby ATM, where they demanded that she withdraw cash. She managed to alert a passing motorist that she was in trouble and members of Neighbourhood Watch managed to capture one of the suspects, but the other managed to escape.
Members of the Organised Crime Unit took over the investigation and arrested the second suspect the very next day.
Following the investigation Ayanda Mncube (21) and Sibusiso Mbatha (23) were sentenced to 25 in prison for murder, 15 years for robbery, and 3 years for kidnapping, at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on January 23.
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KZN acting provincial commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa welcomed the sentence saying, “We hope this sentence will bring closure to the family who lost their loved one.”
Organised Crime is a small unit based in Vryheid which services the entire KZN province, handling as many as 70 high profile cases at one time.
“We want to send a message to criminals that one day, they will have to account for what they have done,” concluded Col Du Plessis.
