Heidelberg Correctional Facility raided by EST and SAPS

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GAUTENG - On Monday, 8 December 2025, the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Arends, conducted a search operation at the Heidelberg Correctional Facility. This initiative was executed in collaboration with facility management, including the Communications Department, the Emergency Support Team (EST), and various units of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The operation involved the search of over 100 inmates, resulting in the confiscation of numerous illegal items, including cellphones, chargers, earphones, a laptop, cash, dagga, tattoo machines, and various grocery items. On Wednesday, 10 December 2025, the #AGU returned to the Boksburg Correctional Facility for another search of approximately 150 inmates, resulting in the seizure of contraband such as multiple cellphones, a mini hi-fi, chargers, a knife, various grocery items, dagga, and cash. Further charges were imposed on the inmates found in possession of these contraband items. Lt ...
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Televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused found not guilty after eight years

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GQEBERHA - Televangelist Timothy Omotoso (63) and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani (41) and Zikiswa Sitho (33),  have been found not guilty on all the 32 charges the state indicted them on. 
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has noted the judgment of the High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, Gqeberha.

Delivering the judgment, Judge Irma Schoeman found that trio was not guilty due to the technicality, mainly that the former prosecutors in the case acted improperly and the accused were not sufficiently cross-examined by the state. It is for that reason that the prosecuting team will study the judgement and decide which legal avenues to explore. 

Since the arrest of the trio in April 2017, their trial has been protracted with numerous obstacles including interlocutory applications by the accused that even included Constitutional Court challenges. The most recent applications were for five special entries for a mistrial and an application made on 16 January 2024, where the defence made an application for the judge to reconsider her previous judgment on the application for discharge according to Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which were successfully opposed by the state. The delays caused some witnesses to no longer want to proceed with giving evidence as they indicated they have since moved on with their lives and are not interested in reliving their experiences in court. That has led to the reduction of the charges from 63. 

"In as much as the NPA does not seek to secure conviction at all costs, it remains committed to ensuring justice is served for the victims of crime and will go at all lengths to give a voice to the victims by exploring all the possible avenues," said Luxolo Tyali, the NPA Regional Spokesperson.

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