Day: January 9, 2023

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — South African police are investigating allegations by the outgoing head of state-owned power company Eskom that he was poisoned.

Andre de Ruyter alleges someone put cyanide in his coffee a day after he tendered his resignation. De Ruyter has been criticized for failing to end widespread graft in the company that fueled the worst blackouts in South Africa's history.

Debt-ridden Eskom says due to the police investigation, it cannot comment on de Ruyter's claim that someone tried to poison him at his Johannesburg office on December 13.

The story broke over the weekend with de Ruyter telling energy analyst and editor of EE Business Intelligence Chris Yelland that after drinking the coffee, he became weak, dizzy and confused, and started vomiting.

De Ruyter went to a doctor and tests were conducted.

South Africa's minister of public enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, says the alleged attempt on de Ruyter's life will be thoroughly investigated and those responsible will be charged.

Morne Malan, the head of communications at Solidarity, a union with 6,000 members at Eskom, believes the alleged poisoning was linked to de Ruyter's fight against corruption.

"All the indications at the moment are that he was in fact poisoned based on the toxicology report," Malan said. "From our understanding, normal cyanide levels for a human being would be around 15 milligrams per liter of blood whereas Andre de Ruyter's was at over 40 milligrams per liter."

De Ruyter submitted his resignation shortly after Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe criticized Eskom's management, saying, "Eskom by not attending to load-shedding is actively agitating for the overthrow of the state."

Malan says the union doesn't believe Mantashe's accusation because he says de Ruyter always put Eskom first and did his best.

Malan added that due to political interference in South Africa's state-owned enterprises, it's almost impossible for any CEO to conduct business independently.

"It's terribly difficult to actually judge the extent to which he was effective," Malan said. "There are certain things we can point to. We do believe he did a relatively good job at alleviating Eskom's debt load. The fact of the matter is that load-shedding was significantly worse last year than ever before. We did have over 200 days of load-shedding in 2022."

Across the country, rolling power cuts known as load-shedding were first implemented by Eskom around 2008 due to demand outstripping supply. In 2022, South Africa experienced blackouts for up to 10 hours a day at times.

Energy analysts blame corruption, crippling debt, lack of maintenance of aging coal-powered plants, and the inability to procure new plants and renewable energy sources in a timely manner as reasons for the demise of the once world-class power utility.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has refused to comment on the poisoning investigation, referring instead to a statement issued in December. It said it is overjoyed by de Ruyter's resignation and called him the worst CEO in the history of Eskom.

Energy expert Ted Blom was also critical of de Ruyter.

"In terms of delivering the fix-up at Eskom, he grossly underperformed and he's actually leaving Eskom in a far worse situation than what he inherited it," Blom said.

He added that he doesn't know anyone who would want to take the job at Eskom.

"It certainly is not fixable by one or two people. If you are going to bring in a team to fix up Eskom it's going to have to be in the form of a task force. They're going to have to be independent and they're going to have a mandate that is irrevocable for a period of time," Blom said. "You can't have chopping and changing every 18 months or every year like Eskom's had in the past 15 years."

De Ruyter, who officially started as CEO in January 2020, is expected to leave Eskom on March 31.

Source: Voice of America

WESTERN CAPE - Pacaltsdorp police are seeking the assistance of the public in the search for a missing teenager, Masihano Carelse (17), who was initially reported as missing by his next of kin during December 2022.

Preliminary investigation into his disappearance indicates, the 17-year-old boy left the residence where he stayed, at the time, at Reiger Park, Pacaltsdorp in George, on 23 December 2022. He never returned. He is about 1,8 meters tall and was dressed in a tracksuit pants with a hoody on the day of his disappearance.

The investigation officer, Warrant Officer Joseph Rondganger is requesting the public to come forward with any information which could ensure the safe return of Carelse. Anyone with information may contact the investigation officer at the Pacaltsdorp Detectives at 044 803 9134 or 0739466473. Information could also be shared via Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or the MySAPS app. All information will be treated confidentially.

Investigation and the search for the missing person continues.

Source: South African Police Service

POTCHEFSTROOM - Four accused have today made a brief appearance before the Zeerust Magistrate’s Court on charges of stock theft and possession of suspected stolen livestock.

The accused, Boikano Kamoli (26), Peter Katlego Mogotsi (19), Bradley Diketso Nonyana (28) and Agostinho Rafael Savela (33) court’s appearance stems from their apprehension on Friday, 06 January 2023 at about 10:00. It is alleged that the accused were travelling in two Ford Ranger bakkies, one towing a trailer loaded with eight cattle, when they were stopped by the traffic officers along the N4 road between Zeerust and Rustenburg. The traffic officers called the police for assistance.

Upon arrival of the police at the scene, the accused failed to provide satisfactorily account of the livestock and it was also noticed that the brand marks of the cattle were tampered with. Preliminary investigation led the police to Sempe Cattle Post near Dinokana and it was discovered that one of the suspects is a shepherd at the said cattle post. The livestock owners were traced and all eight cattle were positvely identified by their owner, valued at R100 000.00.

All four accused were immediately arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen livestock. Further investigation revealed that two accused, Boikano Kamoli (Lesotho) and Agostinho Rafael Savela (Mozambican) will also face an additional charge for contravening the Immigration Act no 13 of 2002, Section 49(1). They were all remanded in custody until their next appearance at the same court on Thursday, 12 January 2023, for formal bail application. Investigation into the matter continues.

Source: South African Police Service

WESTERN CAPE - The abuse and trafficking of illegal drugs is one of the root causes of violent crime in communities in the Western Cape and remain a focus point in our crime combating efforts. Members attached to Operation Restore Gugulethu are lauded for their efforts to take drugs off the streets.

These members followed up intelligence of an alleged location where drugs are stored in NY 1, Gugulethu. The premises was searched and members found 495 whole/full mandrax tablets,17 halve mandrax tablets,17 sachets dagga and one black plastic bag containing loose dagga, amounting to an estimated street value of R15 000-00.

A 36-year-old female was arrested and is detained at Gugulethu SAPS for dealing in drugs, alternatively, possession of drugs. She is scheduled to appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s court on Tuesday, 10 January 2023.

In an unrelated incident in Lingulethu West, three suspects, aged between 28 and 38, were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. They are due to appear in court once charged.

On 08 January 2023 at 16:30, members of Steenberg police arrested a 27-year-old suspect for possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of a prohibited firearm at Parkin Court, Lavender Hill. Members were busy with crime prevention patrols in Lavender Hill when they noticed a suspicious looking man who immediately started running when he spotted them. Members jumped out of the vehicle and gave chase. Members apprehended him at the back of the flats and found in his possession a firearm. The serial number of the firearm was removed and the suspect will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s court once charged.

Source: South African Police Service

FREE STATE - Police conducted a multi-disciplinary roadblock on the Dewetsdorp road on Saturday, 07 January 2023. An unlicensed firearm was found in a vehicle with Lesotho registration numbers.

The vehicle was stopped and while being searched, a.22 firearm with eight live rounds of ammunition was found hidden under a carpet in the back seat. A total of three suspects were arrested.

The arrested suspects aged 39, 43 and 53 will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court today for possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Source: South African Police Service

WESTERN CAPE - On 09 January 2023, a joint operation was conducted by members of Maitland Flying Squad, SAPS K9 Unit, National Intervention Unit, Metro Police, Metro K9 Unit and Law Enforcement after information was received about stolen property, taken during a house breaking and theft at the warehouse of a non-profitable organisation, being stored on four premises in Hanover Park.

A case was reported at Lansdowne SAPS. Upon searching the identified premises, various stolen property were recovered which was identified by a representative of the organisation as their property taken during the commission of the said crime. A total of ten suspects (males and females) aged between 20 and 40 were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property and detained at Philippi SAPS for further investigation.

The members were commended for their vigilance and good working relationship with other law enforcement agencies. Community involvement is pivotal in the fight against crime, and they were also thanked for their cooperation and willingness to provide the necessary information that led to the arrest of the suspect.

Source: South African Police Service

EASTERN CAPE - As new year celebrations continue in the Joe Gqabi District SAPS members in conjuction with other law enforcement agencies members worked tiresly to ensure the enforcement of various legislation continued and the safety and security of all citizens were ensured as operation "Vala Konke" continued during the past week and festive weekend yielding the following positive successes.

The Joe Gqabi District Commissioner, Maj Genl Lindelwa Vellem together with her senior officers and Station Commanders took the lead in the operations through patrols on foot together with the members on the ground.

Junior Constables that were deployed after "Project 10 000" beefed up the manpower during this very busy time and performed duties under the watchfull eyes of senior Commanders. The operations included static roadblocks, high density patrols, stop and search operations for illegal firearms, drugs, dangerous weapons, prevention of stock theft, closing of illegal shebeens and the compliance inspections at Liquor outlets.

During this period the operations also included awareness campaigns, heightened police visibility at malls, visits to Liqour outlets and second hand goods stores for compliance inspections, monitoring of events and initiation schools.

The Detectives focused on the tracing of wanted suspects. Members from the different stations and spesialize units supported the activities.

The following arrests were effected and recoveries achieved:

42 arrests were made in different crime categories.

1770 people searched

521 vehicles searched

57 traffic and J534 fines were issued

32 dangerous weapons seized

120 g drugs seized

A total of 21,5805 l Liquor and 6000l of concoctions were confiscated. Vala Konke also achieved successes across the border when Aliwal North Crime Intelligence and the Stock Theft and endangered species unit followed up on positive information that led to the recovery of 12 sheep after the suspect was apprehended in the Free State Province.

In the Kat-Kop area of policing, spesialized units supported the station and two unlisenced firearms were recovered. Two suspects, aged 33 and 35, were arrested.

The Joe Gqabi District Commissioner, Major General Lindelwa Vellem applauded all the SAPS members for their continued commitment and dedication to ensure the safety and security of all people during the festive holiday period.

The operations will continue to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all citizens.

Source: South African Police Service