Day: September 5, 2022

MACLEAR - An off-duty SAPS member’s attentiveness lead to the recovery of stolen property and the arrest of a suspect.

On Sunday members from the crime prevention unit of Maclear follow up on a business burglary case after their colleague, who was off-duty, reported to them that she saw people riding with new bicycles in Clearview Maclear.

The members immediately followed up the information and arrested the 31-year-old suspect and confiscated some of the stolen items in the Katkop area.

The suspect will appear tomorrow in the Maclear magistrate court.

The acting District Commissioner, Brig Asogran Naidoo commended the members on the swift reaction. The community is once again requested to please reject and report stolen goods and not to buy it and encourage criminal activity.

Source: South African Police Service

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the SAPS National Commemoration Day should serve to not only pay tribute to the fallen men and women in blue but also to mobilise society against the killing of officers.

The President said no society can remain silent when criminals have clearly declared war on the police.

“Our men and women in blue represent the authority of the State and any attack on them is a direct attack on the State and an attack on the people. If criminals bother to read history, they must know that no one has ever defeated the people.

“Those responsible for police killings, who have not yet been arrested, must know that wherever they are, they will be found and they will face the full might of the law,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa was delivering the keynote address at the South African Police Service (SAPS) Commemoration Day at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Sunday.

The event celebrated the lives of SAPS members who had fallen in the line of duty from April 2021 until March this year.

This year, 33 police officers' names were engraved on the national memorial wall where the President and bereaved family members laid wreaths.

President Ramaphosa said among those who were being honoured, some were targeted by criminals for their firearms, others were involved in shootouts with criminals, and others were killed by reckless drivers who failed to stop when pulled over.

“Let us spare a thought for our police men and women and what they must feel each time they leave their homes to enforce the law.

“Yet, even knowing the risks, our officers continue bravely and relentlessly, on a daily basis and with a stern determination to prioritise the safety and security of the people of this country.”

President Ramaphosa urged the Police Ministry to drive the process of ensuring that SAPS is adequately resourced to prevent, combat and investigate police killings.

He said all the perpetrators of these attacks on police must be brought to book.

“If we are to win the war against crime and police killings, we need to build healthy, stronger relations between the police and the communities they serve. In any community where crime happens, somebody always knows something. Some of our people remain silent for fear of victimisation.

“It is for this reason that we are always striving to make it easier for citizens to anonymously report crime or suspicious activities.”

The President further urged communities to take responsibility for each other’s safety, adding that the fight against crime cannot be won by the police on their own.

“As we remember our fallen heroes and heroines, let us salute all police officers for the love they have for our country and its residents, and for their patriotic spirit and resilience in the face of brazen criminals.

“Let us demonstrate that we value our law enforcement officers who make a deliberate choice to take up policing as a calling rather than a mere job,” the President said.

The President urged the country to avenge the deaths of the slain officers by making sure that “we fulfil their dream of a society that is safe and secure, where all people live in peace”.

Source: South African Government News Agency

NELSPRUIT - An alleged hijacker (45) was arrested by the police few minutes after he, together with his accomplices allegedly hijacked a white Isuzu truck and robbed two victims of large amount of liquor to the value of about R127 000. The hijacking incident is said to have occurred today, 05 September 2022 near Hazyview around 10:20 and the said suspect was arrested few minutes later around 11:00 at Marite outside Hazyview.

According to the information, a 34-year-old man together with his crew are said to have been driving in a truck loaded with the said beverages along the R40 Road on their official trip from Hazyview to Nelspruit. It is further said that when they reached opposite Numbi Park in Kiepersol a group of about three armed suspects emerged and got inside the road. The suspects are said to have pointed the two with firearms and instructed them to immediately stop the truck. Thereafter, the suspects went inside then instructed the driver to head straight to the nearby bushes in Sandriver where upon arrival, they were locked at the back of the truck and their faces covered with some plastics.

The suspects then reportedly offloaded the consignment of liquor into another vehicle, a silver Mahindra bakkie then fled the scene, leaving their victims behind with the truck.

The police were notified of the incident by a tracker company and they (police) immediately activated their resources whereby the said bakkie was spotted at Jim Brown. Two suspects are said to have fled upon noticing the police from Calcutta to evade the arrest but one was unlucky as he was cornered. The bakkie was still loaded with the suspected stolen liquor.

The male suspect is expected to appear at the Mkhuhlu Magistrate's Court tomorrow, Tuesday 06 September 2022 on charges of being found in possession of suspected stolen properties and he could possibly be linked to the hijacking incident at Hazyview earlier today.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has commended the collaborative effort displayed between the tracker company and the SAPS members which led to the arrest of the suspect as well as the recovery of the suspected stolen properties. "We are still in pursuit of the remaining suspects and we shall not leave this matter just like that until we put all of them behind bars" said the General.

Source: South African Police Service

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the latest employment figures – which show a decline in the unemployment rate for the second quarter of 2021 – are cause for cautious optimism in the recovery of the economy.

The President was addressing the nation through his weekly newsletter on Monday morning.

The statistics show a decline in unemployment from 34.5% in the first quarter of 2022 to 33.9%.

“Over the last few years, South Africans have had to contend with slow growth and rising unemployment. This has been worsened by a devastating pandemic, an attempted insurrection unrest in July last year, and, earlier this year, severe floods in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and North West.

“Amidst all this, the energy crisis has loomed large, causing damage to the economy and hardship for households and businesses. Yet, even amidst these formidable challenges, our society and economy has proven to be resilient. And indications are that our economy is showing encouraging signs of recovery,” President Ramaphosa said.

The statistics also indicate some 648 000 job gains in that same period and according to the President while this is to be welcomed, “much more needs to be done” to slow unemployment even further.

The President added that employment gains show that government’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan – which focuses on mass public employment, economic reform and infrastructure development – is making headway in creating jobs.

“With infrastructure development and investment being one of the key priorities of our recovery plan, the growth in jobs in the construction area is particularly encouraging. The February budget outlined a 30% increase in spending on public infrastructure over the next three years to R812 billion, compared to R627 billion over the past three years.

“The Construction Industry Development Board recently noted that there has been an increase in infrastructure projects driven by state-owned enterprises like Transnet and Eskom, but also in the metros and through the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure,” he said.

The President emphasised that structural reform processes undertaken by government are “difficult but necessary” and that these reforms are yielding results in assisting the economy to grow.

He called on government, labour, business and civil society to forge consensus on these reforms and “trade-offs that are necessary to achieve our goals”.

“While our economy takes time to recover and our reform programme is implemented, we will continue to pursue a range of complementary interventions to support job creation. Alongside the measures that supports private sector growth, we will expand public employment and ensure social protection for the most vulnerable.

“The growth in employment, together with other promising signs of recovery, should encourage us to push ahead with the reforms and implement our Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan to unlock investment and growth. It should encourage all social partners to work more closely and with greater urgency and purpose to achieve faster growth and create more jobs,” President Ramaphosa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

GQEBERHA - The bodies of the two unidentified persons that was found in the Bethesldorp areas on 31 August 2022 and 01 September 2022 respectively have been identified this morning, 05 September 2022.

The body of the female found in a drain on 31 August 2022 was identified as Velencia Kelly (20) from Ext 36 in Bethelsdorp. Her family last saw her about 3 weeks ago. An inquest docket is under investigation.

The body of the man found on 01 September 2022 on a gravel road in Standford Road, was identified as Cleevan Octavian Muller (35). His family had also not seen him in a while. A case of murder is under investigation.

Source: South African Police Service

GQEBERHA - Three children from Pendla Street in New Brighton, lost their lives this morning when the shack that they were sleeping in, caught fire and they burned to death.

It is alleged that at about 06:15, the father of the children left for work and the mother left the sleeping children to go to a nearby shop. On her return, she found the shack on fire and despite desperate attempts by the neighbours to save them, the fire was too intense and they died.

The fire was extinguished by the fire brigade. The children, an 11-month-old boy, 5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl were positively identified.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and police are investigating an inquest.

Source: South African Police Service

NELSPRUIT - The police in Mpumalanga condemned the double murder in Boschfontein outside Schoemansdal, near Komatipoort this morning, Monday 05 September 2022 around 01:59.

According to information, a 41-year-old man was engaged in a fight with his 31-year-old neighbour, which led to fatalities to both neighbours who are also reportedly known to be friends.

Schoemansdal police received a call from the local hospital that two males, one with bruises on his face, fractured jaw and hand and the other one was hacked on his head, with an axe, succumbed to their injuries. On the police's arrival it was established that both victims lived as neighbours and friends in Boschfontein.

It is currently unclear what might have sparked the commotion, but a police investigation is underway.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has regarded the incident as regrettable and appeals to community members to seek for professional help rather than resort to violent behaviour. "Violence is not even a point to consider especially amongst neighbours or friends who experience differences. The two deaths could have been avoided" said the General.

Source: South African Police Service