Day: May 28, 2022

The City of Cape Town’s 4th Cape Town State of Energy and Carbon 2021 Report has been launched. It highlights the key transitions under way and required in an energy sector that continues to be in turmoil and where greater public private partnerships are increasingly emerging as tangible beacons for a more sustainable and secure future.

The report aims to provide a data-rich evidence base for decision makers, support for researchers and planners as well as operational transparency in the energy sector. It looks at aspects of electricity, transport and waste and how these can transition to more sustainable operations. For the first time, the full data set of the State of Energy and Carbon is available digitally on the City’s Open Data Platform.

‘Load-shedding across South Africa continues to limit economic growth, and electricity price increases add an unnecessary burden to households already under financial pressure. Coal-fired electricity remains the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions even as the recent 6th Assessment Report of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has highlighted the need for immediate multilateral action on climate change. The expansion of the scope of this publication to a ‘State of Energy and Carbon’ reflects the critical role of energy supply in climate action. Our economy needs a clean, reliable electricity supply. This has placed electricity sector reform front and centre of policy at all levels of government. The best thing the City can do right now to significantly reduce carbon emissions is to reduce reliance on Eskom power and use renewable technology to end load-shedding, over time, in Cape Town,’ said the City’s Executive Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis.

‘When looking at electricity, the report highlights that we must urgently move forward with City partnerships and plans that will end load-shedding over time. The only we way we can achieve this is through cleaner, renewable energy sources, moving away from harmful fossil fuels and making sure the lights are kept on.

‘Transport is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions of any one sector and the demand for petroleum continues to grow. Key interventions to reduce emissions include improved public transport options, electric vehicle preparedness and ensuring that urban planning supports effective mass transit.

‘In the waste sector, organic waste and wastewater are significant sources of emissions but they offer opportunities for climate action. Our landfill sites have made great strides in capturing and flaring the powerful and very harmful greenhouse gas, methane. The City is now nearing the production of electricity from landfill gas with the 2MW waste-to-energy project at our Coastal Park Landfill.

‘Our energy and climate data is internationally recognised for its quality and we can be proud of the work put into it by officials, partners and service providers’, said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen.

Source: City Of Cape Town

The City’s Water and Sanitation Department will be conducting zero pressure tests on the main water supply to the Khayelitsha Low Zone (Mandela Park, T3-V3, Graceland, Ekuphumleni, Village 2 North, Solomon Mahlangu, Site B, Village 3 North, Victoria Mxenge, Griffiths Mxenge, Village 4 North, Village 2 north, Village 1 North, Silvertown and T3-V5) area. This work will result in the disruption of water supply to this area on Tuesday, 31 May 2022, from 20:00 until 04:00 on Wednesday, 1 June 2022.

Zero-pressure testing is part of the installation process for pressure management technology. Tests are done to see if there are any unmapped inflows that need to be taken into account before smart pressure reducing valves are installed.

Residents are kindly advised to store water in clean, sealed containers for use during this period and to ensure that their taps are closed to avoid water loss and/or damage when the supply is restored.

This work forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy. Managing water pressure more effectively reduces the possibility of pipe bursts and water wastage.

The City regrets any inconvenience caused.

Source: City Of Cape Town

ZWELITSHA - In its endeavours to clean the Province of corruption wherever it rears its head, the South African Police Service Anti-Corruption Unit this weekend once again pounced on one of its targets who works at the Traffic Department in Port St Johns.

The arrest of the suspect follows after inspection was conducted in his office in Port St Johns, during which some irregularities were identified and some documents confiscated. According to the information, the suspect aged 36, immediately followed up with a call to arrange that the inspector meet him in one of the Petrol Stations in King Williams Town.

Having been allowed by the inspector who had already alerted the police of this particular arrangement, the suspect arrived on Friday evening the 27 May 2022 at the petrol station to pay bribery to the inspector so that the files could be destroyed and the matter not reported to the authorities. After delivering the money, a sum of R10 000-00 in the vehicle of the inspector, the police arrived and immediately arrested him for corruption after he had bribed the inspector.

Expressing her satisfaction with the work done by the Anti-Corruption Unit, the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene said, “the wheel of anti-corruption has begun to grind and those who continue to disregard our warnings will not escape being crushed by it.”

He was then taken to police custody pending his appearance in King Williams Town Magistrate Court on Monday the 30th May 2022 on charges related to corruption.

Source: South African Police Service

MELODING – The Provincial Organized Crime together with Illicit Mining Knock Out Team received information about suspects dealing in drugs at a house in Stiltepark Meloding, Virginia.

On the 27 May 2022 at about 17:30 the house was identified and searched. Drugs and cash amounting to R3870.00 were found on the premises.

A male aged 59 and a female aged 50 were arrested for dealing in drugs.

The two suspects will appear on 30 May 2022 in the Virginia Magistrate Court.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lt Gen Baile Motswenyane praised the joint team work for their swift reaction in arresting the couple and confiscating the drugs.

Source: South African Police Service

MPUMALANGA - Belinda Swart (53) pleaded guilty in the Secunda Magistrate Court on Thursday, 26 May 2022 for possession of a dangerous dependent producing substance (methamphetamine).

The conviction followed the arrest of the accused on Thursday, 13 January 2022 by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation based in Secunda together with Crime Intelligence and K9 Unit when they promptly responded to information about a suspect allegedly dealing in drugs around Secunda on Tuesday, 11 January 2022.

A disruptive search and seizure operation was executed on the premises and the suspect was found in possession of drugs (crystal meth). Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was previously arrested by the Hawks in 2018 for contravention of the Drugs and Drugs Trafficking Act. The accused was later in August 2018 found guilty and sentenced to 3 years imprisonment of which 1 year 6 months were suspended for 5 years, with the choice of acknowledgement of guilty of R12 000.00.

The accused was remanded in custody by the Secunda District Court on the first appearance on Thursday, the defense of the accused insisted to proceed with a formal bail application on schedule 5 hearing. The accused was denied bail and remanded in custody. The case was postponed to 4 April 2022 for further investigation.

On the 4 April 2022 the accused appeared in court and the court released her under strictest court order that she goes through a rehabilitation processes. After rehabilitation she should report to the Hawks offices in Secunda twice a week to be tested for drugs. The accused went through all the processes of rehabilitation and drugs test assisted by the investigating officer until she completed the order.

On Thursday, 26 May 2022 she was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment suspended for 5 years. The state made an application in terms of Sec 297 sub sec 9aii so that the previous conviction, dealing in drugs be put in operation. The Secunda Hawks also arrested the said accused for dealing in drugs in 2019. The accused also pleaded guilty on that occasion and was sentenced for dealing in drugs. Additional sentence was posed on the accused for a fine of R9 000-00 on her previous conviction.

The court made it clear to her that this was her final warning, that she should not be found guilty for similar crime.

The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the enormous effort by the investigating officer and further informed the community that arresting the perpetrators is not to punish them. She also appreciated the community for giving information about criminal activities within their midst".

Source: South African Police Service

PARKTOWN - Three suspects were arrested after suspected stolen copper cables were recovered at their company premises in Industria West Extension, Johannesburg on Friday 27 May 2022. Another charge was added after one of the suspects attempted to bribe the police for their release.

Members of crime intelligence have been working on inquiries involving suspects who are stealing copper in large quantities, processing it, and exporting it to foreign countries.

Various units of the South African Police Service in Gauteng and electricity utilities, that include Eskom and City Power, pounced on the premises where they found suspected stolen copper cable valued at approximately half a million rands (R 500 000) and aluminium stacks worth about two hundred thousand rands (R200 000).

Upon preliminary investigations on the premises, the City Power and Eskom officials confirmed that the suspects and the company have tempered with high voltage electricity supply.

The suspects are facing charges of tempering of essential infrastructure, illegal processing of aluminium (non-ferrous metal) and attempted bribery. They are expected to appear before Johannesburg Magistrates' Court in due course.

The newly established multi-disciplinary Essential Infrastructure Task Team is making inroads in the arrests of suspects and recovery of copper cables.

Source: South African Police Service