Day: January 4, 2023

Western Cape Government will move faster this year in making province more energy secure

Today Premier Alan Winde visited a Macassar-based business, Taylor Technology, that is taking steps to ameliorate the impact of ongoing load shedding. The Premier was accompanied by former Eskom executive Alwie Lester, who has now joined the Western Cape Government (WCG) team, and Executive Director of Energy at the City of Cape Town Kadri Nassiep.

Another difficult year of rolling power cuts lies ahead for the country. By visiting Taylor Technology, the Premier had an opportunity to see for himself how the private sector – particularly small to medium-sized businesses - are faring and what the Western Cape Government (WCG) can do to nurture an enabling environment for business owners and their employees.

“Making the Western Cape more energy resilient will remain a top priority for the WCG in 2023,” Premier Winde assured residents. He added, “We need to make sure there is more investment into and from the private sector to mitigate the devastating effects of load shedding. In 2022 we had 3 630 hours cumulative hours of load shedding in South Africa. Economic recovery and more importantly job creation cannot happen under these circumstances. ”

“2022 was a year of recovery for the province. In 2023 we will push harder to further our economic recovery amid the ongoing energy crisis. The very successful festive season concluded the Western Cape’s year of recovery,” the Premier emphasised. He added, “But now at the beginning of 2023 we know that it will be a challenging year, but it is nonetheless a year of hope and opportunity for the Western Cape.”

He applauded Energy Capital – a business that has so far installed 280 solar panels at Taylor Technology’s premises to help it become more resilient and sustainable – for harnessing the potential of the renewable energy sector.

“I applaud our partners in the private sector for taking chances by setting up their business operations in our province, bringing with them economic and job opportunities, and for helping in our collective drive to become more energy resilient. This will take a mammoth effort; it is, however, one we are up to and committed to. My government and I will be working closely with the private sector and municipalities across the province to ensure we create an enabling environment for energy resilience. I am very excited by the work that I am seeing in Saldanha Bay, Stellenbosch, George, and the City of Cape Town to bring more independent Power Producers (IPPs) on board and we will work closely with all provincial municipalities in 2023 to develop our energy resilience. Premier Winde concluded.”

Source: Government of South Africa

While locals and holidaymakers continue to enjoy the remaining festive season, authorities in the City of Cape Town have urged the public to behave responsibly to ensure the safety of all.

“This long weekend was certainly quieter than the one before and I want to thank the public for heeding my appeal to celebrate responsibly.

“There are still some concerns and the New Year weekend wasn’t without incident. Officers arrested 66 drunk drivers, and given the carnage on our roads, there can be no leniency for those who put their own lives and those of others at risk when they are behind the wheel,” said the city’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.

The city’s enforcement agencies arrested 121 suspects and issued nearly 18 000 fines for various transgressions.

Smith urged everyone to play their part in ensuring safety.

“Help us keep the number of incidents down, even as you let your hair down. The holiday continues, as many residents have not yet returned to work. Schools are not in session and our recreation areas are flooded with visitors for weeks to come.

“If everyone behaves responsibly, this festive season will be memorable for all the right reasons,” he said.

On Sunday, 1 January 2023, the Metro Police Special Operations Unit recovered an illegal firearm and ammunition in Hanover Park when they were flagged down by a resident while busy with crime prevention patrols.

They were tipped off about the whereabouts of a person who was involved in a shooting incident at Soetwater Court a few days prior.

The officers responded and found the suspect after he tried to flee. When he was searched, officers discovered a 9mm pistol with 13 rounds in the magazine and a sealed box with another 50 x 9mm live rounds wrapped with a cloth in the yard.

The 25-year-old suspect was arrested for the illegal possession of ammunition and a firearm and detained at Philippi SAPS.

Metro Police officers also arrested an arson suspect on Saturday, 31 December 2022 after they received a complaint of a Wendy house alight in Blue Downs.

Upon arrival, the complainant pointed at the suspect, who had set the house alight. The 26-year-old was arrested for malicious damage to property and detained at Kleinvlei SAPS.

Visible policing

Cape Town Traffic Services held integrated roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and speed control operations in the week of 25 December 2022 to 31 December 2022.

A total of 29 398 speeding offences were recorded. Officers impounded 75 public transport vehicles and executed 357 warrants of arrest. They also arrested 72 motorists, 59 of whom were driving under the influence of alcohol and six for reckless and negligent driving.

Metro Police officers made 49 arrests and issued 2 903 fines. Officers also responded to 24 domestic violence calls, while seven of the arrests were for drunk driving.

The city’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded just over 1 000 calls, less than a third compared to the previous week.

During the period 30 December 2022 to 2 January 2023, the PECC recorded 2 717 incidents. Just over 40% of these incidents were requests for medical assistance.

Call-takers also recorded 215 assault incidents, 277 nuisance complaints, and 76 domestic violence incidents.

Source: South African Government News Agency

POLOKWANE - The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has assembled a dedicated team of investigators attached to the Provincial Office to assist in probing the disappearance of a 7-year-old boy, Washu Tshihume who went missing from Lamvi village under Makuya policing area in the Vhembe District a day before Christmas, Saturday 24 December 2022.

Police have been working around the clock to find the little boy who reportedly disappeared while playing with friends near his home. The case is now being handed by the Provincial Investigation Unit.

Visiting the area today to engage with the community and family members, the Provincial Commissioner, accompanied by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection Major General Samuel Manala and the District Commissioner of the Vhembe District Major General Eddie Van der Walt, appealed to the residents to desist from taking the law into their own hands and allow the police space to investigate the matter thoroughly.

"I know this is a very difficult situation for everyone especially the parents but I promise that police will leave no stone unturned to find the child and what really transpired. We therefore call on community members in this area to assist the Police in searching for the child," said Lieutenant General Hadebe.

"When I arrived here this morning, I was told that a house was torched last night. Nothing can justify anyone to take the law into their own hands as this behaviour is a criminal act and the Police will be obliged to act against the culprits. I urge everyone to desist from engaging in any form of criminality as this will not help to find the child." Concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.

Anyone with information may contact the investigating officers Lieutenant Colonel Richard Boshomane on 079 894 5501 or Warrant Officer Phaladi Makola on 071 601 5174 or Sergeant Thulani Baloyi on 072 228 2680. Alternatively, they may call the Crime Stop number 0860010111 or the nearest police station or use MySAPSApp.

Source: South African Police Service

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has announced that the price of both grades of petrol will decrease by R2.06 per litre, while diesel is to drop by between R2.68 (500ppm) and R2.80 (50ppm).

The new prices, effective from Wednesday, mean that a litre of 95 unleaded petrol will now cost R20.75 at the coast and R21.40 inland. 93 unleaded now costs R21.10.

The wholesale price of 50ppm diesel is set to drop to R20.79, although retail prices, which vary between outlets, will be higher.

The price of Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale) will drop by R1.93, while the Single Maximum National Retail price (SMNRP) for Illuminating Paraffin will drop by R2.58 per litre.

The Maximum LPGas Retail Price, on the other hand, will increase by 82 cents per kilogram.

The department attributed the adjustment in prices to various international and local factors, including the decrease in the Brent Crude oil price and international petroleum product prices; the slight appreciation of the rand against the US dollar, and the implementation of the slate levy (a decrease of 21.90 c/l -- from 83.28 c/l to 61.38 c/l – which will be implemented into the price structures of petrol and diesel effective 4 January).

Source: South African Government News Agency

The City thanks residents for their cooperation while three beaches were affected by partial temporary closures due to sewage related issues. These issues have now been attended to.

Small Bay and the affected section of Strand Beach reopened yesterday, Tuesday 3 January.

Both these affected areas were closed as a precautionary measure on Sunday, 1 January 2023.

The Deep Blue section of Strand beach was closed due to an electrical fault at the pump station, but the issue has since been resolved.

Small Bay was closed due to a damaged sewer pipe. The damaged pipe section was isolated inside the manhole. Sewer flow is being diverted by means of a mobile pump that is running 24 hours. Spillage onto the beach is contained. Repairs to the damaged section will be resolved depending on the tide timetable.

The City's Environmental Health Service has received the recent water sampling results for Small Bay and Strand Beach and can confirm that the results show that the water quality is within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by the National Water Quality Guidelines.

The health warning signs have been removed.

The main bathing area section at Fish Hoek Beach between the lifeguard station and Jager Walk remains temporarily closed until further notice (see the map above):

City Health will continue to take water samples for water quality testing until such time as the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by the National Water Quality Guidelines.

In the meantime, the public is advised to avoid contact with the water in the affected area until further notice.

This is a precaution as contact with the water could result in potential gastro-intestinal issues and therefore any person who enters the water does so at their own risk.

Health warning signage has been erected, advising the public of the situation.

We appreciate the public's cooperation during this time.

The City regrets any inconvenience caused during this time.

Source: City Of Cape Town

NELSPRUIT - Matsobane Seema (61) appeared in the Mbibana Magistrate's Court today 04 January 2023 where he was remanded in custody for charges of attempted murder, arson and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The suspect handed himself over to Vaalbank Police Station yesterday, 03 January 2023.

According to the report, the couple was staying in the victim's house together with the victim’s sister. It is alleged that on 23 December 2022 at around 02:00, the suspect allegedly had an argument with his 59-year-old female partner, which unfortunately turned ugly and the victim reportedly tried to expel him from the house. He allegedly refused to leave and they then slept in separate bedrooms for that night. The victim reportedly slept in the same bedroom with her. Shortly the suspect allegedly went into the victim's room and stabbed her multiple times with a knife on her right upper body, then further struck her on the head with a garden fork. When the sister tried to intervene, the suspect allegedly pushed her away until she was powerless. Then the suspect also poured the victim with boiling water. As if that was not enough, the suspect set the house on fire whilst all doors were locked with the two siblings still inside. He then fled the scene. The victims screamed for help and community members came to their rescue where they managed to breakdown the burglar proofs of the bedroom windows in order to set them free from the flames. The two victims were taken to hospital for medical attention whilst the Fire and Rescue workers managed to extinguish the fire. While police were conducting their investigation and in pursuit of the man behind this tragedy, the suspect reportedly handed himself over to the authorities hence his arrest.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the arrest. The General is however disappointed that after many occasions police are warning people to say no to Gender Based Violence, but a senior citizen who is supposed to shed light to young people is caught in the same act.

Source: South African Police Service