Police Seek Public Help in Catching Man Believed to Be Behind Several Arson Attacks Around Johannesburg

• The police have released images of a man believed to be behind the arson attacks in and around Johannesburg
• The man identified as Sentious Novans is wanted for murder, burglary and several cases of arson
• According to reports, the suspect breaks into people's homes, steals valuables and sets the home on fire

Gauteng - The Gauteng police have appealed to the public to help them apprehend Sentious Novans, who is behind several arson cases in Johannesburg.

Sentious Novans reportedly break into people's homes and steal valuables and cash before setting the house on fire.

According to TimesLIVE, Gauteng police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Sello released images of the suspect and appealed to the community to come forward with any information that could help them arrest him. Sello explained that in all cases, Novans broke into the houses and set the houses on fire after stealing. She said:

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"In all the incidents, the suspect will break in at affluent houses and, after stealing property, set the houses alight."

The Citizen reports that in a recent case, the suspect broke into a home in Melrose and set the kitchen on fire while the owner and live-in staff were inside. The homeowner and staff escaped without injuries, but the fire damaged the home.

Security footage obtained by Community Active Protection (CAP) indicated that one person is responsible for other arson attacks.

Col. Sello said anyone with information that can help them put the criminal behind bars should contact the police. The statement read:

"Anyone with positive information that can lead to the arrest of Novans is urged to contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Magongoa on 071 351 4189 or Lieutenant Colonel Prowse on 079 498 2435.

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"The Crime Stop Line can also be contacted on 08600 10111, alternatively anonymous tip-offs can be reported via the MySaps application which can be downloaded on any smartphone. Information received will be treated with the strictest confidence."

Police Minister Bheki Cele says foreign nationals are not the major cause of crime in SA, it's South Africans

In other news, Briefly News reported that Bheki Cele recently noted that South Africans are to blame for the country's high rise in crime rates. The Police Minister said over half a million South Africans occupy the country's 243 prisons as opposed to only 18 000 foreign nationals.

Cele made these sentiments during the Council of Mayors' conference on Thursday.

According to News24, the Minister said the crime stats in the country gives him sleepless nights. Per the publication, Cele said immigrants are not a problem but his fellow citizens who are occupying the prisons in large numbers.

Source: Briefly News