The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Viljoenskroon has launched a manhunt for Celiwe Ndawonde a suspect wanted in connection with a fraud case involving a non-delivered backpack tender worth R86,917 A warrant of arrest was officially issued after detectives confirmed her disappearance following the alleged scam Police have intensified efforts to track down Celiwe Ndawonde a woman believed to be linked to a fraudulent tender scam that left a local business owner out of pocket to the tune of R86,917 The suspect is now officially wanted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and a warrant of arrest has been issued as detectives seek public help in locating her The matter relates to an incident that occurred on Thursday when a complainant who had been awarded a tender to supply backpacks made an immediate payment to a supplier believed to be represented by the suspect the payment was made with the assurance that delivery would occur within 24 hours—but the goods never arrived Police spokesperson Sergeant Josephine Rani confirmed the developments today and issued a formal appeal for public assistance in locating the suspect “Viljoenskroon detectives are requesting the public’s assistance in locating a suspect wanted in connection with a fraud case A warrant of arrest has been issued for the individual depicted in the attached image who is now officially sought by police,” said Sergeant Rani Members of the public who may have any information on Ndawonde’s whereabouts are urged to contact Detective Sergeant George Nkoane directly on 083 822 5834 Rani assured that all information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and encouraged community members to assist in ensuring justice is served The case began with what appeared to be a legitimate business transaction whose name is being withheld to protect their identity was awarded a formal tender to supply backpacks to a client After sourcing what seemed like a reliable supplier the complainant made the full upfront payment of R86,917 to secure the goods The agreement reportedly promised that the delivery would take place within a 24-hour window and multiple attempts to follow up were ignored or diverted prompting the complainant to open a case with the Viljoenskroon SAPS Detectives launched an investigation and soon identified Celiwe Ndawonde as the primary suspect she has since evaded all attempts at contact and authorities believe she may be actively avoiding arrest The incident has highlighted the growing trend of fraudulent tender schemes particularly in rural and semi-rural areas like Viljoenskroon Criminals posing as legitimate suppliers have been exploiting businesses and entrepreneurs involved in government or private sector procurement by offering too-good-to-be-true deals only to disappear once funds have been transferred these schemes are run by individuals who mirror legitimate business operations using real or fake company registration numbers and carefully orchestrated communication to create trust and victims are often left with little recourse police say they are confident that Ndawonde is the central figure in the scam and that her apprehension will be crucial in bringing closure to the victim and possibly uncovering links to similar schemes in the province 🔴 Central News Weekly Edition | Issue 100 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Headline: “Mbalula: Budget Disagreements Won’t Derail GNU https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Central-News-Issue-100.pdf https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator:admin@centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin and website in this browser for the next time I comment Residents of Orkney in the North West and Viljoenskroon in the Free State marched to the Harmony Gold Mine head offices in Vaal Reefs They were demanding participation in the mine’s procurement systems as well as developments of their communities many of them are unemployed and living in appalling poverty This despite a mine operating where they live demanded jobs at the Harmony mines in the Free State While North West residents demanded jobs in the Harmony mines based in Orkney Executive director of the Vaal Reefs Business Chamber said it was about time for the mine to do the right thing for the communities And an inclusion that is quite deliberate in terms of empowering communities,” he said The Matlosana region has for the longest time been the golden hub for the South African mining economy The community members said over time they have seen investments going outside of town And they felt it was high time they stand up and voice their opinions Matlosana region is a local municipality in the North West province And it is caused by social housing projects that are not taken into mind “Young people are not given enough job prospects while billions of rands are being milked from our community,” Peke remarked they came together because they were tired of relying on mining companies “For some time we have been side-lined and overlooked And it is high time that we are also given a voice And we don’t want to read about the amount of money that the mines are making This as detailed over annual reports to their shareholders “We have been living in this place for a very long time This is a place where our children have been going to school Because these mines are not mining for themselves “They are mining on our land … yet we find ourselves having a problem of environmental impact We have the problem of influx in terms of gangsterism and so forth So our plea is that we want to be heard,” she said Visit SW 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Image: 123RF/albund The Viljoenskroon magistrate’s court in the Free State on Monday sentenced a 40-year-old pastor who kept a 50-year-old woman against her will for eight months and raped her  several times to life imprisonment Magistrate Sbongile Mathambeka also sentenced Office Samson Choniswa four years for theft and five years for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said on August 31 2020 the complainant was hitchhiking trying to get transport to Johannesburg after burying her mother “Choniswa told the complainant he can organise transport for her but they must first go to his house and the complainant agreed.” “He refused to let her go and kept her in the house for eight months against her will “He raped her several times and assaulted her He took her cellphone and R1,800 cash,” Shuping said The next day she hitchhiked to Potchefstroom police station where she reported the case Choniswa denied raping the complainant and claimed it was consensual He said the complainant came to him asking to be his wife prosecutor Siphokazi Tunzi told the court the injuries sustained by the woman showed she was held against her will Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. 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Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now Please read our Comment Policy before commenting. on the road between Kroonstad and Viljoenskroon after receiving complaints regarding the lack of progress with rebuilding this crucial road This road is an example of how the Free State Provincial Government has neglected rebuilding and maintenance of the province’s crucial roads infrastructure The road has reached the stage that it is dangerous to road users Please see photos here, here and here This specific road links the Eastern Free State to important parts of the Western and Northern Free State and also with the North West province The road is no different to many other roads across the province that are in a similar state of disrepair and where dirt tracks next to the road have become less dangerous for road-users than the dangerous potholed tarred sections The heart of the Free State are our local rural economies and the roads remain the arteries through which economic activities such as goods and services are transported The economic heart of our province is dying because these arteries are in an advanced state of decay Although all sectors of the economy are affected by this the agricultural sector are hardest hit due to their reliance on a sound roads infrastructure for the distribution of their various commodities Other activities such as the taxi industry schools and universities and emergency services are similarly affected by this The police station in Viljoenskroon also makes use of these roads as they have to transport prisoners between Viljoenskroon and Kroonstad on a daily basis Of the 17 police vehicles at the disposal of police station in Viljoenskroon 11 are broken and are currently undergoing repair work Much of this damage to police vehicles has been caused by the dire state of the roads in the area An inept administration and problems with supply chain management regarding road tenders have been a significant factor in the road infrastructure repair and maintenance backlogs Replies to questions by the DA in the Free State Legislature indicate that delays in the repairs to the road between Viljoenskroon and Kroonstad are also due to these reasons indicated in a reply in the legislature that repairs were meant to start in October 2019 now he has shifted the goal posts in reply to a follow up question in which he states that: “Negotiations are still underway to appoint the most suitable service provider at the most suitable price in line with correct procedures and policies” After awarding a tender and determining these dates there appears to be further administrative and legal issues that are preventing the crucial work from commencing The history of poor supply chain management in this department indicates that the provincial government is willing to sacrifice the livelihoods of our residents in the ongoing tender wars The DA will continue to probe these issues and hold the politicians and officials who are responsible for this accountable in the Free State Legislature registered non profit organisation in South AfricaReg No: 011-895 NPO The R59 road between Bothaville and Viljoenskroon has been flooded due to heavy rains Motorists are advised to avoid the road and use alternative routes preferably into town (Bothaville) Roads and Transport has deployed the emergency team to ensure the safety of road users Motorists are urged to be patient and careful while driving on that road You are advised to use Reitz street going into Viljoenskroon CBD Send us videos or pictures of Potholes / Flooding areas in the Free State E-mail us : newsroom@centralnews.co.za or Whatsapp us on 0833989119 By Thys Khiba– Four people died in a motor vehicle accident outside Viljoenskroon about five kilometres on the R59 towards Bothaville on Monday morning It is alleged that when two vehicles collided head-on a 22 seater Mercedes Benz combi was coming from Viljoenskroon side heading towards Bothaville while a silver VW Polo was from Bothaville traveling towards Viljoenskroon side Free State police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli confirmed twenty (20) people were rushed to different hospitals for medical attention “Viljoenskroon Police received a distress call at about 01:45 today about a fatal accident that about five kilometres on the R59 towards Bothaville,” said Kareli Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide and no arrests have been made to this point “The cause of the accident will form part of police investigation intense investigation needs to first be done to establish who was in the wrong Zamdela police requires community assistance with dealing with a case of murder that took place on 02 October at about 07h15 Police found a body of an unknown male sustained injuries on his left cheek and a wound at the back of his head The deceased was found wearing grey trousers a black t-shirt and grey shoes were found next to his body “Police received information about the body of an unknown male lying lifeless next to a house in Walter Sisulu Emergency personnel were called to the scene and declared the man dead,” said Sergeant Fikiswa Matori DO YOU HAVE A NEWS STORY OR AN OPINION FOR CENTRAL NEWS: E-mail us : newsroom@centralnews.co.za or Whatsapp us on 0833989119 Home | Politics The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Free State has called on the African National Congress (ANC) to remove one of its councillors in Moqhaka Municipality Councillor Lehlohonolo Ramajoe is facing a charge of rape and has appeared in the Viljoenskroon Magistrate’s Court several times He will spend Christmas Day behind bars after the court rejected his bail application and postponed the matter to January 29 The EFF says it is not enough for Ramajoe to resign as a member of a mayoral committee the ANC maintains that it has suspended Ramajoe EFF Provincial Secretary Bosanku Msimanga says “We call on the ANC to remove Ramajoe as a ward councillor of Ward 20 Failure to do so… we will lobby the community of Vijoenskroon to petition the ANC to remove Ramajoe as a ward councillor of Viljoenskroon Failure to do so will only help to deepen the crisis and weaken the struggle against gender-based violence.” Home | South Africa Roads and Transport has cautioned motorists about adverse driving conditions due to flooding on some of the province’s roads The following roads are impassable and motorist are advised to use alternative routes: The R76 between Kroonstad to Viljoenskroon For the R59 between Bothaville and Viljoenskroon the alternative routes are the R727 For the R34 between Kroonstad and Edenville the alternative routes are the S151 and S155 For the R82 between Koppies and Sasolburg the alternative route is N1 There is no alternative route available for travellers on the R30 from Bothaville to Orkney “The members of Trio Task Team led by Sergeant Tauru Majoe followed up intelligence driven information of three (3) suspects suspected to be on the mission to murder the relative of one of the suspect’s to benefit.” Makhele indicated that on Thursday 28 April 2022 the three (3) suspects were travelling from Viljoenskroon headed to Bothaville where the execution of the mission was to take place.  “They arrived at the house of one of the suspects house where the plan was to be discussed.”  Makhele confirmed that the Trio Task Team members alerted the members of Viljoenskroon Detective and Crime Prevention Unit for back- up and headed to the house.  Police officers managed to arrest two males and one female suspect.  The female suspect is alleged to be the instigator of the mission as she is the policy holder and relative of the victim.  Two men and one woman are expected to appear before Bothaville Magistrates Court on Wednesday 4 May 2022 on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder DO YOU HAVE A NEWS STORY OR AN OPINION FOR CENTRAL NEWS: E-mail us : newsroom@centralnews.co.za or Whatsapp us on 083 398 9119   and website in this browser for the next time I comment.