Day: May 31, 2022

The City’s Transport Infrastructure Implementation Department will, on 6 June 2022, commence with the revamp of the Bellville Public Transport Interchange (PTI). The work will be concluded by November 2022, pending unforeseen delays and inclement weather.

The planned work will focus on the minibus-taxi section of the PTI and includes:

• The construction of new layer works for the roadway and holding area

• A new surfacing layer and road markings

• Fencing to improve security

• Paving for pedestrians

• A new underground closed stormwater system

‘The Bellville Public Transport Interchange is one of the busiest facilities in Cape Town, serving thousands of commuters on weekdays. Minibus-taxis and Golden Arrow buses operate from there, adding to a beehive of activity. We aim to make this facility safe and orderly for commuters and operators,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

‘Once complete, commuters and minibus-taxi operators will benefit from safer access. The new fence will assist to ensure manageable flow, and ease the congestion at the facility and surrounding roads,’ said Councillor Quintas.

Source: City Of Cape Town

The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate will be erecting a new overhead sign along the N1 freeway at the Foreshore exit. The new sign will replace the same sign that broke off the gantry some time ago. The Foreshore exit will be closed to traffic for three hours on Sunday, 5 June 2022.

The closure of the Foreshore exit along the N1 freeway is planned as follows:

• On Sunday, 5 June 2022

• From 08:00 until at least 11:00

The closure will allow the team to safely remove a sample bracket from the existing adjacent sign in order for it to be replicated. The replacement sign, which indicates the routes to the Cape Town International Convention Centre and Christian Barnard Street, will be fitted on Sunday, 26 June 2022, if all goes as planned.

Residents are advised that the dates may change due to unforeseen circumstances as the work is weather dependant.

‘Our team will be closing the lanes to this exit for safety reasons, while they remove the overhead sign and will ensure that all traffic wanting to enter the Foreshore area is redirected to the N1 exit at Buitengracht for those few hours. We thank residents for their patience while the work is under way,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

Source: City Of Cape Town

HARRISMITH – On 31 May 2022 at about 12:00, Harrismith police were summoned to a murder scene at an informal settlement in Intabazwe known as Mathlaranthleng.

The deceased is approximately 30-years-old and it is suspected that he was killed somewhere and dumped in the area. Both his hands and legs are tightened with a rope and burned beyond recognition. Enquiries were made around the vicinity without success and no one could recognize the charred body of the deceased. A case of murder is being investigated.

Any person with information on the next-of-kin or on the suspects can contact Detective Lt Col Maphalala of Harrismith on 082 854 7542 or Harrismith police on 058 624 1000 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or MySAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate conducts a survey amongst its residents and businesses across the city annually to assess the level of customer satisfaction. This is in line with best practice for organisations aiming to improve its service delivery to its customers. The directorate has been conducting these surveys for the past few years already, but unfortunately the 2020 and 2021 cycles were deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The City of Cape Town would like to inform residents that the annual Water and Sanitation Customer Satisfaction Survey began on Wednesday, 25 May 2022 and will end on Thursday, 30 June 2022.

The Water and Sanitation Directorate has over the years employed the services of independent external consultants to perform the customer surveys in both formal and informal residents as well as business sectors across Cape Town. This financial year, the City has contracted the services of Kantar South Africa (Pty) Ltd, an independent research agency, to conduct the survey among residents and businesses. Residents should therefore be aware of the possibility of a visit from their representatives in the coming days.

The survey’s main aims are to gain insight regarding customer requirements and gauge customer satisfaction in terms of commitments in the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s customer service charter. Areas across the city are randomly selected from the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s four administrative districts to form the sample. In addition, four commercial areas will also be randomly chosen.

The assessment results will assist in forward planning in that they will:

• understand the experience of residents of Cape Town with regards to the services provided by the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate

• ascertain an acceptable level of service satisfaction, which needs to be achieved and/or maintained

• identify any areas needing improvement

• uncover any needs not currently being addressed, especially in informal and in business areas

• interrogate and evaluate effectiveness of marketing campaigns, and inform communication strategies

‘Surveyors will be carrying a Kantar identification card as well as producing the permission letter from the City of Cape Town for the survey. The City would like to remind residents that it is in their interest to participate as these results will help inform future initiatives. The views and opinions of the participants are important to the success of this study. The survey will consist of a diverse range of questions and should take about 25 minutes to complete. All information provided to the surveyors will remain strictly anonymous and will be treated as highly confidential,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

If in doubt about any person claiming to be from or working on behalf of Kantar, residents should please contact the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089 to confirm the person’s identity.

Source: City Of Cape Town

NORTHERN CAPE – On Monday, 30 May 2022, the Springbok Magistrates’ Court convicted and sentenced 21-year-old Michele Ruan Van Wyk for fraud.

In 2021, the accused allegedly attempted to sell false Namakhoi Municipality tender documents for a tender valued at R15 million to a certain businessman. The businessman reported the matter to the Springbok based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation. A sting operation was put together, as the accused demanded R100 000-00 for the tender to be secured. An arrangement was reached with the accused to receive an amount of R10 000-00 as a down payment. The accused was later arrested with fake tender documents and cash.

The accused made numerous court appearances wherein he pleaded guilty in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act, resulting in a three-year direct imprisonment sentence. He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Source: South African Police Service

The Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Ms Thembi Siweya, to unveil the brand-new studios at Bushbuckridge Community Radio 88.4 FM

The MDDA, led by the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Ms Thembi Siweya, will unveil the brand-new state-of-the-art broadcast studios at Bushbuckridge Community Radio 88.4 FM, on Friday, 03 June 2022, in Bushbuckridge, Ehlanzeni District Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

The station was formed in 1996 after a Health Media Seminar that was held in Bushbuckridge in October 1993. The seminar was co-hosted by the Kaizer Foundation of South Africa Trust, the Wits Links Projects (HSDU), WRF, CWR) and the community of Bushbuckridge and attracted senior print and electronic journalists from both South Africa and abroad, political parties, health experts and a range of overseas health experts and policy makers

Bushbuckridge Community Radio started broadcasting with an 18-hour broadcast License on the 16 December 1996. It was finally granted a 24-hour license in 1999. The station’s motto is: “bringing people together,” which came about because of the tensions between the Shangaan and the Mapulana (Sotho) communities in Bushbuckridge.

The languages of broadcast are Sepulana (Sesotho), Shangaan, SiSwati, and English. The station is one of the two community radio stations in the Ehlanzeni district, and broadcast to 135 villages as well as surrounding townships and suburbs.

The new state-of-the-art studios now allows Bushbuckridge Community Radio to audio stream, which will elevate the quality of broadcasting, opening more areas to the content that carries information about community activities and pride in local cultures.

Source: Government of South Africa

MPUMALANGA – Sifiso Innocent Mabuza (39), who was sought by the Nelspruit based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for fraud and contravention of tax administration Act handed himself over to the office of the Hawks in Nelspruit on Monday, 30 May 2022 through his lawyer.

His appearance followed an investigation in relation to a fraud case which transpired during 2018 and 2021. During that time, Mabuza was the director of Shishila Rural Trading whereby he submitted fraudulent tax returns to South African Revenue Services (SARS) and prejudiced the receiver of revenue an amount of R28 million. The investigation team traced Mabuza and he promised to hand himself over which he never did.

The court then issued a warrant for his arrest and the team utilised several tactics to assist in securing his appearance in court including enlisting the assistance of the public.

During his appearance in court, the investigation and prosecution teams brought to the attention of the court that Mabuza has more than ten properties in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Durban and Limpopo registered under his name and all the addresses have to be verified before his attempt at a bail application. The matter was postponed for seven days until 3 June 2022.

The Provincial Head of the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded members of the Media and public for making effort to bring the accused before court after his denials. Major General Mokoena also applauded the Investigation team and Prosecution for standing on the ground by persuading the court to remand him in custody. Major General Mokoena said without hesitation that there is no one above the law and that the Hawks will do their job without fear nor favour. She concluded.

Source: South African Police Service