Day: May 8, 2022

CAPE TOWN— A man on Saturday wrested a gun from a policeman, went on a rampage and shot dead two patients inside a South African hospital, police said.

 

He also seriously wounded the police officer from whom he seized the firearm in Cape Town.

 

The “patients were shot dead and a police official was seriously injured on Saturday evening inside a local hospital when a 40-year-old man took the firearm of a police official and fired several shots,” police spokesman brigadier Novela Potelwa said in a statement.

 

Police had taken a suspect needing medical attention to Somerset Hospital, near the V&A Waterfront, a popular spot for both local and international tourists.

 

The man grabbed the policeman’s firearm, shot him in the head and then gunned down “two patients who were in his proximity” before other police officers disarmed him.

 

South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates for a country not at war.

 

Last year Cape Town’s murder rate was by far the highest in the country, at 64 killings per 100,000 people, compared to Johannesburg’s rate of 37. New York’s was 5.5.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

ACCRA— About 5,306 terror-related attacks took place in West Africa in three years, claiming over 16,726 lives, thousands of injuries and millions displaced and living under austere circumstances.

 

Dominic Nitiwul, Ghana’s Minister of Defence, also said that as of the end of the first quarter of 2022, 840 attacks had already resulted in 2,482 casualties.

 

The Minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, on in Accra.

 

The two-day forum would offer the opportunity for Chiefs of Defence Staff to dialogue and discuss defence and security matters affecting the West Africa Sub-Region.

 

Countries present at the event are Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin.

 

Others are Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Liberia.

 

Nitiwul said the Chiefs of Defence Staff had a pivotal role to play in shaping the defence and security policies needed to achieve regional peace and public safety.

 

He said the Sub Region was saddled with complex transnational crimes committed both in the physical and cyber domains.

 

Nitiwul also said terrorist activities had assumed cross border dimensions with far-reaching implications for civil societies, regional security and global peace and development.

 

“In the land domain, countries are confronted with environmental degradation caused by illegal mining and illegal lumbering, development and expansion of slums, illegal migration, kidnappings and abductions, money laundering, proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the trafficking of narcotics.”

 

“The security situation is also compounded by threats to democratic stability, land and chieftaincy disputes, banditry and armed robberies, high youth unemployment, the menace of nomadic herdsmen and vigilantism,” he said.

 

He however noted that the meeting represented the will of the ECOWAS leadership to save the entire community and contribute to a favourable global peace and security situation.

 

The Minister said the fight against terrorism and activities of extremist groups could be won through accurate and predictive intelligence.

 

He said there was currently a limited collaboration amongst various national intelligence agencies across the Sub-Region, which had caused a serious limitation in the fight against the activities of Terrorist Armed Groups and Violent Extremist Organisations.

 

“These groups rather have increased collaboration and information sharing across national borders in a bid to outwit security forces and impose their will on the population.”

 

“As professionals, we must resolve to bury our differences imposed by nationality, culture, ethnicity, language, religion etc and forge ahead with greater collaboration.”

 

“It remains imperative that we bridge the gaps that exist in information and intelligence analysis to pave way for a better integration for effective political, social and military direction,” Nitiwul said.

 

Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, Chairman of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff expressed worry over the incidence of coup d’tats recorded in the last couple of years.

 

“Just as we thought we have to make a very significant progress in dealing with the situation in Malik and Gambia, similar unfortunate Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau in January and February,” he lamented.

 

The Vice-Admiral however, expressed appreciation to ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State for their quick intervention in resolving the situations in these countries.

 

He said the Accra Initiative had been one of many ECOWAS Initiatives necessary to safeguard collective security in the interest of its people.

 

“It has become necessary to convene from time to time to update ourselves as Security Chiefs of the West African Region to take stock of issues that have been discussed and its implementation to safeguard our collective security in the interest of the good people of the region,” he said.

 

He encouraged them to synchronise efforts and strategise against terrorism in the region.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Extra budget has been made available to intensify the City’s Urban Waste Management (UWM) Directorate’s cleansing services for the rainy season, and the department is calling on jobseekers to register with the EPWP database to be eligible.

 

The City of Cape Town is working hard to ensure that the impact of rainy weather on residents and their areas is reduced this winter, and have developed a programme of area cleansing aimed specifically at flood prevention during the upcoming wet weather.

Approximately R48 million has been made available to do targeted interventions in areas that predominantly experience blockages in stormwater gullies, manholes and catch pits.

Extra budget will enable additional street sweeping and removal of illegal dumping, as well as mechanical washing and sweeping of roads where required.

 

As part of the plans, EPWP recruitment opportunities have been created to assist the permanent staff in conducting this work.

 

These short-term job opportunities are now available, and the Urban Waste Management directorate is encouraging unemployed residents to register their names on the subcouncil database so they can be eligible to benefit while helping our city get through winter. Recruitment for these work opportunities has been challenging in previous years, and historically it has only been possible to fill approximately 60% of available positions, primarily due to not enough candidates being registered in various areas throughout the city.

 

‘Residents are reminded that their litter and dumping can block stormwater infrastructure and cause flooding of roads and residential areas, and also contribute to sewer blockages. Certain waste types such as some cleaning chemicals can also increase fire risk if not managed correctly. For these reasons, we want to urge residents to make themselves aware of collections services and drop-off sites operating in their area and dispose of general litter and potential fire risks in the correct way. We also encourage residents to apply for extra bins if the standard 240l wheelie bin is not sufficient,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management Directorate.

 

Residents are reminded of the following:

• Information on potentially flammable chemical waste can be found at the following link:

03_Hazardous_Household_Chemicals_Leaflet_NEW_CI.indd (capetown.gov.za

• Guidelines on how to dispose of various waste types, including potential fire risks such as cleaning chemicals, are available here:

Residents are encouraged to report littering and dumping to the relevant authorities

Ø City Call Centre: 0860 103 089

Ø Wastewise@capetown.gov.za

Ø If you have the culprit’s vehicle registration number and/or can identify him/her: Call:  021 444 6231/ 021 444 6224 / 021 444 6223

If you live in an informal settlement, and bagged household refuse has not been collected, this can also be reported by SMS to 32772 for attention. Reporting on uncollected waste helps us ensure workers on the ground are performing to the required standard.

 

Source: City Of Cape Town

On 5 May 2022, detectives from the Inanda Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit arrested a 30-year-old man for three counts of rape.

During January to May 2022, the suspect targeted females who were walking alone late in the afternoon around the Sydenham policing area. He would point them with a firearm and forced them to get into his vehicle. He would then drive to a secluded spot where he would sexually violate the victims at gunpoint.

During the arrest, police found the suspect in possession of a toy gun and driving the same vehicle, as described by the victims. Detective will profile the suspect to check if he is linked to other cases where the same modus operandi was used. The suspect will appear before the Durban Magistrate Court tomorrow on charges of rape.

 

 

Source: South African Police Service

Members of an integrated crime prevention operation followed up on information relating to drugs at a residence in Khayelitsha on Saturday (2022-05-07) at about 10:00.

Upon arrival at the address in Khumisile Crescent in Site C, the members searched the premises. They confiscated ammunition and a consignment of drugs and cash. Two suspects aged 34 and 35 were arrested and detained on charges of possession of unlicensed ammunition and drugs.

Once charged the suspects are expected to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrate court on the mentioned charges.

 

 

 

Source: South African Police Service

 

WESTERN CAPE – Members of the Provincial Extortion team followed up information on Friday (2022-05-06) at about 22:49 that wanted suspects were hiding in Khayamandi in Stellenbosch. Upon arrival at the identified address, the members entered the premises and search the property. They recovered a 9mm and a 7.65 pistol with ammunition. A 19-year-old man was arrested and detained on charges of possession of a prohibited, and an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Nyanga police were busy with patrols on Friday (2022-05-06) at about 22:55 near to Emms Drive, when they spotted a suspicious Volkswagen polo. Upon searching the occupants and the vehicle, they confiscated a 9mm pistol and a .38 special Revolver with ammunition. Two males aged 33 and 39 were arrested and detained on charges of possession of an unlicensed and prohibited firearm with ammunition.

Philippi police members responded to information early yesterday morning at around 08:15. Whilst busy with patrols, they spotted the suspect who fitted the description and searched him and found him in possession of 25 rounds of ammunition. The 24-year-old man was arrested and detained on a charge of possession of unlicensed ammunition.

 

Once charged, the suspects will make their respective court appearance in the Stellenbosch and Athlone Magistrate court on the mentioned charges.

 

 

 

Source: South African Police Service

Following a shooting incident that occurred inside Somerset Hospital on Saturday evening, a 32-year-old police constable from Sea Point police station who was shot and seriously injured, has sadly succumbed to injuries sustained.

The death of the police official was confirmed by the hospital he was admitted to early on Sunday morning.

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lt General Thembisile Patekile has conveyed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased policeman.

The names of two other persons aged 42 and 48 who were killed during the shooting incident, are yet to be released.

Meanwhile an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident is underway.

 

 

Source: South African Police Service