Day: September 20, 2022

POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has ordered a prompt probe into the brutal killing of a well-known attorney in Mokopane, who was gunned down at his home in Mokopane town on Monday 19 September 2022 at about 18:30.

According to the information received, the deceased Mr Schalk David Pienaar aged 69 was at his home with his wife when an intruder opened fire on the deceased and he was fatally wounded.

The Police were notified and on their arrival at the scene, preliminary investigation showed that the victim was shot several times and it seemed he tried to run back into the house but unfortunately he collapsed.

Several spent cartridges and projectiles were found in front and inside the garage.

“The perpetrator(s) must be hunted down and brought to book. We appeal to community members to assist with any information that can lead to the apprehension of these faceless criminal(s), “said Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.

The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage but a manhunt for the suspect(s) is underway.

Anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of the suspect(s) is urged to contact the SAPS Mokopane Branch Commander Lieutenant Colonel Smit on 082 451 7213 or Crime Stop number 0860010111 or the nearest police station or MySAPSApp.

Source: South African Police Service

WESTERN CAPE – The Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit detectives are seeking the assistance of the public to trace the suspect who is responsible for a shooting incident in Ocean View.

A 28-year-old man was walking in Saturn Way, Ocean View, on Friday 12 August 2022 at around 17:50, carrying his son aged 2 in his arms. Reports suggested that an unknown man approached and fired numerous gun shots. The 28-year-old man was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel, whilst the 2-year-old  was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The unknown suspect who was wearing a brown hoodie top at the time of the incident, fled the scene and is yet to be arrested.

Anyone with information of what transpired or who witnessed the crime are urged to call the investigating officer Sergeant Elton Logenstein on 071 298 2349 or alternatively call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Source: South African Police Service

The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), Tsakani Maluleke, says South Africa must improve coordination across public institutions and government in order to minimise duplication and fragmentation.

She made the remarks while addressing the ‘Governance and Technologies in a Disrupted Economy’ seminar at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) on Monday.

“Management disciplines are also key to ensuring that value is derived for money spent on projects, especially infrastructure development and maintenance.

“For some time now, we have highlighted the need for competence and stability in the administration of public institutions. We have also cautioned against overreliance on consultants, and raised the issue on the costs of consultants versus the return on investment received,” Maluleke said.

Over the past five years, she said the AGSA had reported on the overreliance of municipalities on consultants who assist them with compiling Audited Entity Financial Statements (AFS) for audit.

“We have reported that South African municipalities spent R5.3 billion on consultants for the purpose of compiling financial statements for audit, with 70% of municipalities using them every single year during this period.

“In the 2020-21 financial year alone, municipalities spent R1.26 billion on consultants. Sometimes, even where consultants are used, we receive annual financial statements with material errors,” she said.

Maluleke said with better governance and compliance with legislation, processes and policies, government would support the country’s collective desire to ensure that public institutions and officials deliver a better quality of life for all people.

“Now more than ever, the need for strong governance, capable institutions and competent public officials who deliver on the hopes and aspirations of citizens, is unanimous and undisputed,” she said.

The AGSA has over the years demonstrated that poor audit outcomes strongly correlate with weak governance, instability at key management and leadership levels, weak internal controls and ineffective consequence management.

These features, she said, inevitably lead to poor performance and service delivery, as well as weakened financial health and overall capability of public institutions.

“As the AGSA, we have reported on poor audit outcomes and inadequate service delivery in many municipalities. One of the root causes of such outcomes, is the pattern of poor conduct by those that are elected and appointed to serve as stewards over public institutions.

“All too often, we find that these leaders do not invest building public institutions with a culture of performance, accountability, transparency, and integrity,” she said.

One of the contributing factors to the lack of improvement in the audits outcomes, Maluleke said, “is the lack preventative controls and consequence management, which translates directly into the leakage and inefficient use of public resources”.

“If done well, preventative controls and effective consequence management can go a long way towards ensuring that resources are used efficiently and effectively in ways that can truly deliver on the aspirations of citizens,” said Maluleke.

Source: South African Government News Agency

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, arrived in New York on Monday, where she is leading South Africa’s delegation to the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77).

UNGA77 is taking place at the United Nations (UN) headquarters from 20 to 27 September 2022 under the theme, ‘A watershed moment: Unlocking transformative solutions to interlocking challenges’.

Pandor believes that this year’s UNGA theme resonates with South Africa’s philosophy of working together as a global community to find solutions to challenges affecting the global community.

“UNGA77 is being held at a time when the world is characterised by geopolitical tensions, concerns around the proliferation of mini-lateral security pacts which, in part, replicate the work that should ordinarily be undertaken by the UN Security Council.

“Also, the world economy is under strain and its ramifications on food, energy and finances require a united global response,” said Pandor.

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), several high-level meetings are being held on the margins of the UNGA77. These include meetings focusing on transforming education, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), elimination of nuclear weapons and several climate-related engagements.

The climate change engagements, according to the department, precede the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference that is scheduled to take place in November 2022 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The various engagements at UNGA will provide South Africa an opportunity to highlight issues of national, regional and international importance.

The department said South Africa’s participation in the general debate of UNGA77 is a strategic opportunity for the promotion of SA’s national and foreign policy objectives, as espoused in Chapter 7 of the National Development Plan, titled ‘Positioning South Africa in the World’.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Acting President David Mabuza says he has noted with concern the accidents that have occurred on South African roads involving trucks.

This after a truck collided with a bakkie ferrying school learners in Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal, killing 19 children and two adults. According to reports, the two adults who lost their lives include the driver of the bakkie and an assistant teacher.

The 28-year-old truck driver, Sibusiso Siyaya, appeared in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the accident.

“Earlier today, another accident took place on the R66/34 near Ulundi again in the KwaZulu-Natal, with no reported fatalities,” a statement read on Monday.

Mabuza has thanked the rapid response by the provincial government in attending to the needs of the victims’ families in this hour of grief.

He underscored the importance of road safety and urged road users to stick to the rules.

“Every life that is lost on the road is one too many. We, therefore, call on road users to exercise caution and be patient with other road users to save lives,” said the Acting President.

He further called on every concerned South African not to resort to destruction of property and violent acts against truck drivers, but allow authorities to attend to the prevailing challenge on the roads.

He called on the trucking industry to hold an imbizo to discuss the challenges faced by drivers, and find solutions that will improve safety on the roads for truck drivers and other road users.

Source: South African Government News Agency