| 2024/06/23 |
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Media Statement
WESTERN CAPE – The police management in the Western Cape welcomed the lengthy incarceration which includes two life sentences imposed for drug and Gender-based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) offences in the Garden Route District recently. A lengthy investigation in the confiscation of a consignment of drugs which was found on a minibus taxi bus at George came to a conclusion when Loveness Mazivire (27), a Malawian national, was sentenced to 10 years direct imprisonment at the Regional Court in George on Thursday, 20 June 2024. The investigation revealed that on 16 March 2022 at about 15:00 George Crime Prevention Unit members conducted a vehicle check point on the N9 just outside George. They pulled over a minibus taxi and ensued with a search. The vigilant members searched parcels belonging to a woman on board when they found 303 Mandrax tablets and 295.40 grams of Tik with an estimated street value of R118 540-00 concealed amongst her groceries. She was arrested for the possession thereof. The accused was found guilty on a charge of dealing in drugs and subsequently sentenced to direct imprisonment. In an unrelated matter, detectives attached to the Mossel Bay Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual offences unit(FCS) secured two life sentences following the death of Jamie Lee Julies (16) on 29 January 2023. On 29 January 2023 police were summoned to a house on a farm at Groot Brakrivier where the body of the victim was found in a shower. Investigation into her death later took police to a dam where her sister initially found her naked body and took her home where she was declared dead. The post-mortem later confirmed that the victim died of strangulation and that she was also sexually violated before her death. Further forensic evidence and DNA analyses later linked Johan Counter (33) to the rape and murder of the victim. The accused was arrested and remained in custody ever since. He was sentenced at the Mossel Bay Regional Court to life imprisonment on each charge. The Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile commended the investigation and prosecuting teams in both matters for their diligence to secure these convictions. Drugs remains one of the key instruments used by perpetrators of violent offenders. He said, “it is our endeavour to eradicate the transportation of illicit drugs into the province. Furthermore, these two life sentences should send a stern warning to GBVF offenders. Detectives are geared to ensure that such offenders are removed from society”, Lt Gen Patekile concluded. Ends
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