Day: November 16, 2022

The police in Tzaneen is searching for a missing 35-year-old man.

According to the report it is alleged that Cassius Machete left home at Thapane village in Tzaneen next to Rodney’s Hair Saloon on Monday 14 November 2022 at about 10:00 without informing anyone where he was heading and has never returned back home.

Cassius is medium in height, coffee coloured skin with brush haircut and limp walking. It is further reported that he is mentally challenged.

During the time of his disappearance he was last seen wearing black trousers, a round necked black shirt, black jacket with black and white sandals.

It is reported that the family conducted a search at his relatives and friends without success.

A search team comprises of members of Detective Unit and Visible Policing has been formed to investigate the case of a missing person.

The police request anyone who might have information that can assist to reunite Cassius with his family to contact the Investigating Officer Colonel Zitha at 082 414 3309 or 015 306 2111, Crime stop number 0860010111 or visit any nearest police station or MySAPSApp.

Source: South African Police Service

A rhino poacher, Silvester Sidney Zitha (40) was sentenced to an effective 17 years imprisonment by the Skukuza Regional Court on Tuesday, 15 November 2022.

His sentence stems from a rhino poaching incident in which Zitha and his accomplice were caught after entering the Kruger National Park via Tshokwana Section between 18 and 19 October 2018.

In the morning of 19 October 2018 field rangers who were working on that day spotted human tracks towards Kingfisher ranger area. It is said that they then informed their leader (Section Ranger) concerning the discovery. Later on a chopper was brought in to assist with the search. The foot prints were followed until around 16h00 on that day (19 October 2018) when the rangers heard sound of gunshots and thereafter at approximately 5 meters, they saw two males running towards their direction. One of the men was in possession of a bag and an axe whilst the other was in possession of a firearm.

The rangers then ordered them to immediately stop, however the two continued to run whilst dropping off the items they were carrying. A chase ensued for about 3 kilometres but the pair was apprehend. During their capture, two backpacks were also found in their possession with rhino horns as well as another backpack with four live ammunitions as well as a .458 hunting rifle with a silence on. Other items confiscated was an axe.

Police were summoned and Zitha as well as his co-accused were arrested. Police discovered that Zitha was in South Africa without valid documentation. During court appearance, a bail application was made and only his co-accused was granted bail but Zitha on the other hand was denied bail. His co-accused never returned to court and on a later stage he passed away which left Zitha to stand trial alone.

On Tuesday, 15 November 2022 Zitha was found guilty and sentenced as follows:

On the count of trespassing (count 1), the accused was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and on the count of possession of hunting rifle and silencer (count 3), he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Meanwhile on the count of possession of unlicensed ammunition (4), he was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and on the count of killing of a rhino (count 5), the accused was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment then on the count of possession of dangerous weapon (count 6), Zitha was sentenced to one year imprisonment. The accused was also sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for conspiracy (count 7) to commit crime. In terms of section 280 (2) of Act 51 of 1977, the court ordered that the sentences in count 6 and 4 will run concurrently with the sentence in count 3, and that the sentence in count 7 will run concurrently with the sentence in count 5, culminating to the 17 years imprisonment. The accused was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the sentence and appreciated all stakeholders for their contribution which led to the well-deserved sentence including the SANPARKS staff (Rangers), the team of investigators, the Prosecution team, and the Judiciary.

Source: South African Police Service

The police in Upington are requesting the assistance of the public in locating  missing Petrus Job (40) who was last seen near Bo-Plaas farm about 60km outside Upington on Olifanthshoek road on Friday, 11 November 2022.

He was last seen wearing a green shirt, blue overall pants and brown boots the day he went missing. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Petrus can contact the investigating officer Captain Elsie Benade on 076 021 8440.

Remember there is no waiting period to report a missing person.

Source: South African Police Service

Police in KwaZulu-Natal embarked in a number of operations across the province last week as we are approaching the festive season. Members of the community can expect more police visibility as we intensify our operations.

From 7 November 2022 until 14 November 2022, police officers arrested 1868 suspects for various crimes such as murder, attempted murder, robberies, carjacking, rape, burglary, fraud, malicious damage to property and other cases. Various drugs such as crystal meth, ecstasy, heroin, mandrax and other drugs were seized during police operations. Numerous traffic fines were issued to those who contravened the Road Traffic Act.

Police seized 71 firearms with 642 rounds of ammunition during these operation. Suspects were also charged for liquor related cases as well as theft of copper cables. Stolen vehicles, stolen property and stolen livestock were seized by police. All the suspects appeared at various Magistrates Courts in the province. These operations are still ongoing in all parts of KwaZulu-Natal and we can expect more arrests.

Source: South African Police Service

Police in Gauteng located the body of an 11-year-old boy earlier today, 16 November 2022 in the Apies River running through Portion 9, Temba.

A preliminary report suggests that the child along with other children from Marokolong village were swimming in the river on Monday when the victim was swept away. Gauteng recently experienced heavy and consistent downpour of rain the past few weeks in the province.

A team comprising of members Search and Rescue (Johannesburg and West Rand), Roodepoort K9 Academy as well as Search and Rescue trainees was immediately activated and worked around the clock to locate the missing child until his body was recovered earlier today.

Community members must remain vigilant and urged to contact Emergency Services if someone is in danger.

Source: South African Police Service

Eskom acting head of the generation division, Rhulani Matebula, has resigned from the power utility and is expected to leave at the end of November.

Mathebula was appointed in the acting position just six months ago, following the resignation of long serving generation head Philip Dukashe.

Eskom Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jan Oberholzer has thanked Mathebula for his service.

“Rhulani’s successor will be announced in due course pending the relevant recruitment process. Until then Thomas Conradie…will hold the fort, fully supported by all the key stakeholders.

“I’d like, on behalf of myself [and] all my colleagues at Eskom, to thank Rhulani for the service he has given to Eskom and to the country as a whole. That is sincerely appreciated and Rhulani, we wish you well in all your endeavours to come,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eskom says with older power stations reaching retirement, it is forging ahead with plans to close the energy supply gap.

The power utility says generating units at three power stations must be taken offline over the next five years as the three reach the end of licensed operation coupled with the retirement of Komati Power Station which was taken offline in October.

“To contribute to closing the supply gap, Eskom will repurpose these power stations and take advantage of the existing Transmission infrastructure in these facilities and convert these coal-fired power stations to renewable sources.

“This not only allows Eskom to continue generating much-needed electricity in these and other areas, but also to continue extending economic opportunities to the host communities under its Just Energy Transition programme,” Eskom said.

The power utility said it has already begun the process to invite independent power producers to lease some of its land to build new renewable power plants.

“Within its own scope of influence, Eskom has led initiatives that will result in four independent power producers to invest at least R40 billion in new renewable plants on land leased at four of its power stations. This will produce at least 2 000MW in new generation capacity on approximately 6 200hectares of land over the next few years.

“This is the first phase of the land lease programme, which will raise hundreds of billions in renewable energy investment without any underwriting recourse to Eskom and the taxpayer,” Eskom said.

Source: South African Government News Agency