Day: May 9, 2022

The City of Cape Town’s Energy Directorate is pleased that repair work to infrastructure which was damaged during a fire in Langa on Saturday, 16 April 2022, has started.

‘Work is under way to reconnect those who were affected by the fire to the grid. The low voltage backbone was completed on 4 May 2022 at a cost of R460 000. It is foreseen that the installation of overhead connections and prepaid meters will commence soon and will cost an estimated R1 million.

‘We’re pleased with the support and cooperation of the community as we move to improve the living conditions of the fire-affected households. These households in Langa form part of a larger reconnection drive of households across the metro that have been cut off from electricity supply due to fire. City teams will do their best to complete this work as soon as possible over the coming weeks. In City-supplied areas, where practically and legally possible, almost 100% of longer existing informal settlements have been connected to electricity,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen

After the fire, the City’s Human Settlements and Urban Waste Directorate teams, as well as the Disaster Management Department assisted with the registration process, debris removal and site clearance as well as enabling soft relief.

‘This has been a team effort and we thank all our City teams for the work to enable the electricity connection. We encourage community leaders, organisations and residents to help us prevent the occurrence of fires such as this one, which can mostly be prevented if flames are not left unattended. The City will continue its awareness drives and other interventions to reduce the instances of fires in informal settlements. We remain committed to our most vulnerable residents,’ said Councillor Van Reenen.

 

 

Source: City Of Cape Town

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe together with Acting Station Commander of Seshego Colonel Madimetja Flora Mokoka have on Sunday 08 May 2022,  joined the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Mrs. Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, in receiving and signing the ‘memorandum of demands on Gender-Based Violence’ from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, Polokwane Circuit Women’s League (ELCSA) during the church’s Mother’s Day Gathering.

In attendance were also the Capricorn District Commissioner, Major General Lesiba Mashilo, Dean Ngwako Timothy Machakaand members of the church

The Chairperson of ELCSA Women’s League presented the Memorandum to the attendees and Officials, which reads as follows:

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa Polokwane Circuit Prayer Women’s League hereby says ENOUGH IS ENOUGH with Gender-Based Violence.

We therefore request that:

1. Cases of Gender-Based Violence be given priority and urgency they deserve.
2. Victims be assisted in a victim-friendly or alternative room, where a statement will be taken in private providing victim support services.
3. Victims of Gender-Based Violence must be treated with dignity, confidentially and be interviewed by trained Police Officers in a victim sensitive manner.
4. Victims be referred or taken for medical examination by the healthcare professional to obtain medical evidence and complete a medical report, including seeing to the health of the victim.
5. The investigation be conducted by Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigation Unit or detective with relevant training.
6. Victims of sexual offences, Femicide and Infanticide; and their families must be referred to victim support services that are available within the precinct for legal, medical, social and psychological help.
7. Families of victims of Gender-Based Violence be given the necessary support.
8. Victims be proactively and continuously given feedback on the progress of their cases.
9. Women and Children are emotionally abused and we request South African Police Service to treat victims with dignity.
10. Financial abuse happens when an abuser has control over finances in a relationship and withholds money from the victim. Often, a woman does not leave an abusive relationship because she fears she will not be able to provide for herself or her children.  Financial abuse can make the victim feel as if she can’t leave. In this case, we ask officers to deal with cases in a sensitive manner and advice victims to seek professional help.

The memorandum was signed and received by MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Provincial Commissioner and Seshego Acting Police Station Commander.

Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Radebe expressed her appreciation for the women of the church for coming forward to bring issues of their concern, particularly on Gender-Based Violence. The General said that Seshego is cited as one of the Policing areas with the highest rates of Gender-Based Violence including violence against children on the national database. She said Seshego, Mankweng and Thohoyandou have the highest statistics in these atrocious crimes against vulnerable members of our society. Most of the cases of GBV are influenced by issues of moral decay, that is why we need moral revival and institutions such as the church play an important role

MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Mrs. Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhannya declared appreciation for the steps taken by women to assist the community and Police in eradicating Gender-Based Violence. She said members of the community need to come forward whenever they witness abuse because if the acts are not reported, the perpetrators continue abusing more women and children. We need to do more to protect children because when we do not, some of them will grow up to become broken members in our community and others, abusers. The MEC called for a moral regeneration of our communities.

All the members in attendance including the leadership of the church agreed with the action plan set in place by the South African Police Service and Department of Transport and Community Safety, to resolve all issues faced by victims and complainants of Gender-Based Violence and violence against children.

 

 

Source: South African Police Service

NORTHERN CAPE – Gert Remer Van Rooyen (62) appeared before Kimberley Magistrate court on Monday, 09 May 2022 for alleged contravention of the Pension Fund Act 24 of 1956.

The accused, who is a director of Defensor Security Company, was warned to appear in court by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team. Allegations are that the suspect deducted contributions from employee’s salaries for the benefit of the Private Security Sector Provident Fund (PSS-PF) and failed to hand over the contributions to PSS-PF as mandated. Defensor Security Company therefore owes PSS-PF an amount exceeding R14 Million, of which R11.1 million relates to outstanding contributions and the balance relates to late payment interest.

The accused appeared in court and his case was postponed to 22 July 2022.

 

 

 

Source: South African Police Service

GQEBERHA – Police in Gqeberha are warning communities that there is no justification whatsoever in acts of mob justice and perpetrators of such crimes will face the full might of the law.

This warning emanates from incidents that occurred in Kwazakele and New Brighton over the weekend whereby people were attacked and died at the hands of the community in these respective areas.

It is alleged that on Friday evening, 6 May 2022 at about 21:30, SAPS Kwazakele attended to a complaint of mob justice in Tubali Street. A 28-year-old male was found badly assaulted and sustained burn wounds to his body. The victim was taken to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. A case of murder is under investigation.

Also on Friday, 6 May 2022 at about 18:40, it is alleged that a bystander at a crime scene attempted to steal a cellphone of a murdered victim when other bystanders caught him and beat him with stones. As the police arrived to attend to the murder scene, the crowd dispersed. The beaten person was taken in a critical condition to hospital. A case of attempted murder is under investigation.

In another incident, the body of an unknown man was found on Saturday evening, 7 May 2022 at about 22:30, lying in the Nqadini Street in New Brighton with burn wounds and a stab wound on his body. Circumstances relating to his murder is unknown. The man was taken to hospital by a passing ambulance. A case of murder is under investigation.

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Thandsiwa Kupiso has strongly condemned these senseless attacks and has warned that those responsible for these vigilante attacks will be hunted down and arrested. ‘Mob justice is not the solution and will not be tolerated. The communities are supposed to be the eyes and ears of the police and are required to report criminals to the police for further action and not to be the law unto themselves. Mob justice or vigilantism is tantamount to crime and those arrested will face the judicial system. We will not condone such callous acts of crime. We appeal to the communities to allow the justice system to deal with perpetrators and bring them to book,’ warned Brig Kupiso.

 

 

 

Source: South African Police Service

FREE STATE – The Kestell Detective Service successfully traced and arrested wanted suspect accused of stabbing Tommy Miya (27) to death with a knife that was seized outside a tavern and fled the scene.

It is alleged that on Sunday, 8 May 2022 at about 01:30 the police were summoned to certain tavern in Tlholong near Kestell where a young person has been stabbed to death whilst smoking outside the premises. It is further alleged that he came into the tavern and fell on the floor with stab wounds. He was declared dead by local Emergency Medical Service. The deceased was identified as Tommy Miya (27) of Extension 5 by his relative. The motive behind the killing is unknown at this stage. A case of murder is being investigated.

The suspect was traced, arrested late in the afternoon by police through community information and knife seized as an exhibit. He was charged and appeared before the Kestell Magistrate court on Monday, 9 May 2022 facing charge of murder.

Therefore, the accused person, Tumelo April Mokoena(31) also charged for being in possession of dangerous weapon. His case has been postponed to 18 May 2022 for legal aid and formal bail application.

Source: South African Police Service

NORTHERN CAPE – Morris Mmusi (26) has been found guilty as charged on a count of rape and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Olifantshoek Regional Court on Monday, 09 May 2022.

On the 18 April 2016 the accused raped the 12-year-old female victim who was in the company of her three friends.

The incident happened in the veld in Olifantshoek after the accused accosted the victim together with her three friends at a knife point and forced them to undress.

The three friends of the victim managed to escape the ordeal, fled while the accused was busy raping the victim.

The accused then fled the scene subsequent to raping the victim.

The friends of the victim alerted a passer-by and escorted them to the police station.

The investigating officer, Constable Pako Bele, of the Kathu FCS unit was assigned to investigate the case and collected evidence including the DNA.

DNA results positively linked the accused with the crime scene and the rape case of the 12-year-old victim.

The accused was apprehended and arrested on 25 January 2017 and denied bail.

He remained in police custody until the finalisation of the trial.

Brigadier Nicky Mills, the Provincial Head of the FCS unit in the Northern Cape commended the investigating officer for excellent investigative work, and for working in synergy with the National Prosecuting Authority and Department of Justice.

The Olifantshoek Regional Court declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm, and ordered that his name be recorded in the National Register for Sex Offenders.

 

 

 

Source: South African Police Service

NORTHERN CAPE – The inauguration of the Northern Cape Junior Provincial Commissioner, was held in Upington on Saturday, 07 May 2022 where learners from different schools in five Districts participated in debating sessions for the position of Junior Provincial Commissioner.

The Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Corporate Services, Brigadier Gilroy Tait, outlined the purpose of the day emphasizing the involvement of learners in the fight against crime.

In his key note address the Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing, Brigadier Hennie Van Rensberg, encouraged learners to embrace education, and to participate in the fight against crime, to create safe and secure environment more particularly in schools and in the communities.

Eighteen learners from the five districts were given an opportunity to debate on the topic ” Why should they become the Junior Provincial Commissioner, how will they fight crime”.

Learners were adjudicated on the knowledge of the topic and their presentation skills.

The learners displayed high levels of brilliance and in-depth understanding of what it expected of them during their presentations.

Unfortunately only one leaner could be nominated for the best presentation.

15 –Year-old, Dioka Dioka from Ba-Galotlhare High School in Heuningvlei in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District swooped the position of the Junior Provincial Commissioner.

Deputy Junior Provincial Commissioners were also inaugurated and as follows;

DPC: Policing – Danelle Jacobs, female from Oosterhuizen high school in Kakamas in the ZFM District;

DPC Crime Detection, Lusanda Selesho (female), from William Pescodia high school in Kimberly in the Frances Baard district;

DPC: Corporate Services went to Lerato Mogadi Claudia Sebatane (female) from Mogomotsi Secondary school in Warrenton in the Frances Baard district.

The Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Corporate Services, Brigadier Gilroy Tait presented certificates of partcipation including floating trophies to the Junior Provincial Commissioner and her Junior Deputies.

Brigadier Joyce Ramaru delivered the vote of thanks and praised learners for their participation in the Junior Provincial Commissioner inauguration.

 

 

 

Source: South African Police Service