Day: October 15, 2022

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Be load-shedding ready and avoid secondary tripping

The City of Cape Town reminds residents to reduce the risk of nuisance tripping by switching off major and non-essential appliances prior to load-shedding. Secondary or nuisance tripping happens when the power does not come back on immediately after the occurrence of load-shedding. This is because the system gets overloaded and trips when all electrical demand or appliances come back on at the same time.

The City encourages residents to reduce the risk of nuisance tripping occurring in their areas by switching off appliances prior to their scheduled load-shedding in their areas. 

‘Secondary tripping typically happens when the power has been restored after a period of load-shedding. When the power comes back on, tripping in an area often happens when electrical equipment such as geysers all come on at the same time, not having been switched off prior to load-shedding. It overloads the system and it trips, leading to secondary outages.

‘The risk of tripping is reduced when residents switch off appliances such as their geysers, air conditioners and pool pumps prior to load-shedding and leaving one light on to indicate the return of the supply.

‘The City continues to do its utmost best to protect residents from the worst impacts of load-shedding, primarily through the management of the Steenbras Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme,’ said Councillor Beverley Van Reenen, the City’s Mayoral Committee member for Energy.

Be load-shedding prepared: 

• Know your load-shedding area number and schedule. Download the City’s app on Apple and Android and check the City’s social media pages for regular Load-shedding updates. 

• Keep your cellphone and laptop fully charged. 

• Keep your rechargeable lights, torches or candles in an easy to reach area. 

• Use surge protectors to protect your electrical devices. 

• Consider an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) backup battery system that will allow you to plug in one or more appliances (similar to a generator).

Doing more to end load-shedding over time

City customers have been protected from more than 1 100 hours of Eskom’s 1 900 hours of load-shedding between February 2022 and September 2022.

The City also continues to build on its programme of ending load-shedding over time by focusing on energy diversification to enhance security of supply with the City’s own build projects, small-scale embedded generation programmes of buying excess power from qualifying customers, wheeling and independent power producer programmes. 

Source: City Of Cape Town

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Two suspects due to appear in court for tampering and damaging of essential infrastructure

MPUMALANGA –Two suspects between the ages 56 and 61 are expected to appear before the Amersfort Magistrate Court on Monday, 17 October 2022. They were arrested during the multidisciplinary approach operation  conducted by the Hawks’ Secunda  based Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Daggakraal Vispol and Transnet Investigators on Friday, 14 October 2022 for tampering and damaging of essential infrastructure-Railway tracks.

The team followed an information about persons who were busy removing the railway tracks at Daggakraal. On arrival the team caught the duo red handed on the act. Upon questioning the suspects had no better explanation. They were immediately arrested and police confiscated the removed railway tracks as an exhibits for further investigation. During preliminary investigation it was established that one of the suspects is a repeated offender with another case on the court roll as per Morgezon case which happened in April 2022 and the case was postponed to 15 November 2022.

The duo were charged and detained pending their first court appearance on Monday.

The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the multidisciplinary approach conduct by the team. She further cautioned the public to refrain from damaging of the essential infrastructure which affect the economy of the country. She concluded by appreciating the loyal citizens who continually report the illegal activities to the police.

Source: South African Police Service

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Seventh alleged police murder suspect appears in court

EASTERN CAPE – Simphiwe Mlinjani (44) appeared in Butterworth Magistrate’s Court on 14 October 2022 for allegations of conspiracy to commit murder, police killing, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

This is subsequent to his arrest by the East London based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation on 12 October 2022 at Fort Beaufort on his way to Whittlesea in the Eastern Cape from Outshoorn where he had been residing lately.

It is alleged that on 30 August 2021, a police Warrant Officer Kulu who was attached to Centane SAPS was shot and killed at his Ndabakazi homestead in Butterworth after his wife had allegedly conspired to kill him with a group of seven suspects from Queenstown. The conspiracy is reported to have taken a year before execution. The suspects are alleged to have been approached with the hope of getting a payment of R1 million from the pay-out of the would-be deceased’s life cover should the murder be successful.

Six suspects were arrested including the wife of the deceased in October 2021. The recently arrested accused has been traced by the investigating officer since March 2022 to no avail until Tuesday, 12 October 2022.

The accused will join his other six co-accused in the Butterworth Regional Court on 17 October 2022.

Source: South African Police Service

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Alleged police killer remanded in custody

KWAZULU-NATAL – On Wednesday 12 October 2022 Hawks members from Durban Serious Organised Crime Investigation working together with Metro Police, Durban Central detectives and Ethekwini District Task Team arrested Thembelani Khuboni (28) for murder of Metro police official.

It is alleged that on Saturday Constable Xolani Cele (42) was sitting in his private vehicle at M section in Umlazi. Whilst chatting to someone, unknown suspects fired several shots at him and he died at the scene. He was then robbed of his service pistol with live round of ammunition. 

A case of murder and robbery was reported at Umlazi police station. Police members received information about the suspect who was involved in the shooting. A joint operation was conducted and Khuboni was arrested at K section in Umlazi.

He appeared in the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 14 October 2022 and the matter was remanded in custody. The case was postponed to 30 November 2022.

Source: South African Police Service

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Four arrested for murder in Petrus Steyn

FREE STATE – The police have arrested four suspects at Mamafubedu near Petrus Steyn in the early hours of the morning.

On Saturday, 15 October 2022 at about 04:30, the police were summoned to a house in Mamafubedu Township where they found a deceased person lying on the ground outside.

It is alleged that at about 03:30 the people inside the house were busy drinking alcohol when a fight broke out and a male was stabbed to death on the scene. Preliminary investigations led to the arrest of four people and a seizure of a knife.

The four suspects are expected to appear before the Petrus Steyn Magistrate court on Monday, 17 October 2022 facing charges of murder.

Source: South African Police Service

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Vigilance by Highway patrol members led to the recovery of hijacked vehicle and saved the victim’s life

NELSPRUIT – The vigilance by members of the police from Middelburg’s Highway Patrol has led to the recovery of a hijacked silver VW Polo Vivo and saved a life of the victim on Friday, 14 October 2022 in Delmas.

According to the report, the men and women in Blue were patrolling on the N12 Road towards Delmas when they noticed the said vehicle with Mpumalanga registration number plates. Something drew the attention of the members when they saw what looked like a fight inside the occupants of the VW Polo. Towards the Dwarsfontein off ramp, the members then attempted to pull over the vehicle however their efforts were unsuccessful. Again they ordered the driver to pull aside but the car instead sped off at the traffic lights. It is said that when the Polo approached the offramp at the R42 (Bronkshorstspruit) Road, the driver immediately swerwed in front of a certain truck, taking a sudden turn before it stopped. Three males are said to have jumped out of the car then ran into the bushes and nearby houses. Members tactically approached the vehicle only to find a male victim with head injuries at the back seat with his hands and feet tied with some ropes. The said man informed police that he was hijacked by the suspects who had earlier jumped out of the car.

An ambulance was then summoned to assist the 37-year-old victim in his injuries. Police at Delmas opened a case of hijacking with an additional charge of kidnapping.

Police are still in pursuit of the suspects and urge anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the suspects to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively members of the public can send information via My SAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has commended the astute members for their vigilance which resulted in the rescuing of the victim and prevented suspects from harming him further as well as ensured that the hijacked car was recovered.

Source: South African Police Service

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Police hunt triple murder and attempted murder suspects

PORT ST JOHNS – Police in Port St Johns are on the hunt for suspects allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of three teenagers last night, 14 October 2022.

It is alleged that at about 19:10, police were attending to another complaint at Qhubuswayo locality Majola A/A when they heard the sound of gunfire. They immediately drove in that direction and saw some males running. They chased after them but they managed to escape.

On further investigation, they found the bodies of three teenagers (2 males and 1 female), aged between 17-18 years old, lying nearby. Another three persons (ages unknown) were also found injured with gunshot wounds. They were taken to the local hospital for treatment.

At this stage, the circumstances surrounding the incident is under investigation. Police are investigating three cases of murder and three cases of attempted murder.

Police are appealing to anyone who can assist in the investigation or may know the whereabouts of the suspects is asked to contact the detective Commander at SAPS Port St Johns, D/Lt Col Mandla Miya on 082 779 7259 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or the nearest police station. The My SAPS App can be utilised to give tip-offs. All information is confidential and callers may remain anonymous.

Source: South African Police Service