Man was detained for threatening the South African president and the Mayor
A 28-year-old suspect has been taken into custody in Germiston on charges of threatening to use violence against Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and a CEO located in Cape Town.
The Directorate for Priority Crime’s Crime Against The State (CATS) team, also known as the Hawks, made the arrest as part of the Gauteng-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation.
The arrest was made on Friday, May 23, 2025, in response to a case that was reported earlier this month, according to Western Cape Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo.
“The complainant, the CEO of a company based in Cape Town, allegedly received a voicemail from the suspect on Monday, May 12, 2025, containing threats against the President of South Africa,” she added.
Mbambo also accuses the suspect of sending numerous threatening texts to Hill-Lewis, the complainant, and her family.
According to her, the Hawks’ CATS team in Cape Town was notified of the incident, and after a prompt investigation, the suspect was apprehended in Gauteng.
The suspect is presently on his route to Cape Town, where he is scheduled to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 26, 2025, to answer to an intimidation charge, according to Mbambo.
Investigations are ongoing, she noted.
In another case, IOL News revealed three weeks ago that the death threats made against Knysna Mayor Thando Matika in a voicemail that went viral in a WhatsApp group might be related to the ward 8 by-election that is coming up after former Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa resigned.
The Victor Molosi Region of the African National Congress (ANC) in Knysna has acknowledged that they have since opened an investigation into an intimidation issue.
“Our Provincial Detectives Serious and Violent Crime Investigations are looking into the matter, and they have already found a suspect. The Senior Public Prosecutor will review the docket after the inquiry is finished and determine whether or not to institute prosecution.
According to police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie, no one has been taken into custody as of yet.
The ANC Youth League in the Victor Molosi Region claims that there have been “disturbing” voicemails going around in which a “rogue individual” threatens Matika’s life.
We are aware that some people are making concerted efforts to undermine Knysna.
These nefarious attempts are intended to sabotage the advancement and unity brought about by the mayor and his mayoral committee’s hard work, which includes committed ANCYL officials like Deputy Regional Convener Kay Andrews,” the statement stated.
“We urge the authorities to look into these attempts in detail and hold those who try to sabotage Knysna’s peace and prosperity accountable. The party declared, “We take these threats very seriously.
Notably, a council member was shot and killed in front of his Knysna home recently. We must not ignore these dangers. Even when our conflicts are at their worst, we must learn to tolerate one another.
In addition to exposing the others he is referring to in the voice notes that are circulating, the criminal who is making these threats needs to be taken into custody.
