Day: January 14, 2023

Prolonged, high stages of load-shedding is having an impact on water supply operations in Cape Town, notably in higher-lying areas where water needs to be pumped to get to properties. Residents across the city need to help by using less water immediately so we can reduce our collective water use to 850 million litres per day. See here.

As a precautionary measure, the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is urging residents to please use less water. This will help maintain the supply during prolonged high stages of load-shedding, which is affecting water supply operations.

High-lying or mountainous areas which rely on Water Pumping Stations are at more immediate risk of low or no water pressure during high stages of load-shedding. The affected areas are:

1. Somerset West region

2. De Novo and Kraaifontein, including Belmont Park, Eikendal and Scottsville

3. Deep South, from Simon’s Town to Murdoch Valley

4. Hout Bay

Please note:

• Residents will experience low pressure to no water.

• Affected areas could change depending on the situation.

• For updates, follow @CityofCTAlerts which is a City of Cape Town Twitter account.

‘The challenge is that reservoirs are not able to fill up fast enough because of the prolonged period of load-shedding while residents are also using lots of water at the same time.

‘Using less water will help deal with operational challenges, notably due to heavy load-shedding, which are impacting on our water treatment plants and ability to convey good quality drinking water to reservoirs and areas across Cape Town, especially to high-lying areas where the water has to be pumped.

‘While City teams are monitoring the water supply operations and usage very closely and doing all they can to maintain supply, we also need our residents to help us during this time by using less water,’ said Acting Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.

Reminder during prolonged load-shedding:

• The City is calling on everyone to reduce our collective water use to 850 million litres per day.

• Tap water is still safe to drink, and dams are over 65% full.

• Be prepared and please help – load-shedding tips: https://bit.ly/3j4fEga

For more information, see:

https://bit.ly/3uTV6th

https://bit.ly/3BD3KjF

Source: City Of Cape Town

Thank you to beach-goers for their cooperation when sewage-related matters temporarily affect public access to our beaches.

Water samples taken for water quality testing indicated the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by the National Water Quality Guidelines for coastal waters.

Health warning signage will be removed.

The City apologises for any inconvenience and thanks the public for its cooperation during this time.

The beach was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure. Investigations found sewer reticulation pipes and a bulk stormwater pipe (which also had illegal sewer connections) were blocked with foreign objects such as litter, rags, carpets, tins, pieces of animal carcasses, stones, brick pieces and even cutlery. This unfortunately caused an overflow at the stormwater-to-sewer diversion chamber in the area.

The City’s Roads and Infrastructure Management and Water and Sanitation Departments collectively addressed the blockage and cleaned the stormwater-to-sewer low flow diversion chambers. The City continues to monitor this situation.

This reiterates the City's call for residents to not discard waste using the sewer system.

What residents can do to help prevent sewer overflows:

Don't flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper. See www.capetown.gov.za/blocked-sewers.

Use the City's solid waste services provided to get rid of your waste, not drains. Waste that gets into the sewer pipes will cause blockages and put strain on and can damage sewer related infrastructure such as pipelines, pump stations and wastewater treatment works (WWTWs).

Report sewer blockages and overflows so they can be cleared in a reasonable timeframe, given the current power situation.

Source: City Of Cape Town

EDEN CLUSTER - An intelligence driven operation executed at a residence in Thembalethu, George landed a 41-year-old man behind bars who appeared in court on Friday, 13 January 2023.

On Wednesday, 11 January 2022 at about 18:45 members of the George Public Order Police armed with a search and seizure warrant conducted an operation at a house at Zone 06, Thembalethu. A search of the premises ensued and the members found a laptop, card reader and a point of sale device as well as several cards. The occupant of the premises was unable to give proper account for his possession thereof. Police confiscated the items and the occupant of the premises was subsequently arrested.

The accused made his first court appearance on Friday, 13 January 2023 on charges of possession of stolen goods under the Cybercrime Act. He was remanded in custody and the case postponed to 25 January 2023 for a formal bail application.

This matter is being probed by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).

Western Cape police management hailed the success of the operation, under the theme “More boots on the ground to enhance visibility”, with the ultimate aim to safeguard communities. This operation is part of ongoing crime combatting operations of the last leg of the province’s Safer Festive Season operational plan.

Source: South African Police Service

CAPE TOWN - Members attached to the Western Cape Commercial Crime Investigations Unit conducted tracing operations to arrest suspects in fraud cases under investigation.

On Friday, 13 January 2023, the members of Commercial Crime Investigations conducted a tracing operation that resulted in the arrest of a 43-year-old female residing in Kuilsrivier for a Wellington fraud case.

According to records she was employed by a grape farm. During November 2021 the farm manager informed the director of the farm of suspected transactions that was made by the suspect. After further investigation by the farm, they employed an auditing company to do an audit from 2019 to 2021 and it was discovered that the suspect made over 400 transactions from the business accounts to her personal account that amounts to R11,210,781- 95. The suspect was arrested and will appear in Wellington Magistrate’s court on Monday, 16 January 2023 on the said charges.

Members of the same unit conducted further tracing operations on Friday, 13 January 2023 at about 10:30, and arrested a 37-year-old man from Hawston on a charge of fraud. The suspect was a manager at a retail clothing store, and while employed did fictitious refunds and pocketed the cash. A total of R201 210.00 was stolen from the company due to fraudulent transactions. The suspect was arrested and detained at Mitchell’s Plain SAPS. He is due to appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates court on Monday, 16 January 2023.

Source: South African Police Service

CAPE TOWN - Kuilsrivier police are seeking the assistance of the public to locate 17-year-old Alvina du Toit. She was last seen leaving her home in Ncandla Street, Nuwe Vrygrond, Kalkfontein, Kuilsriver on Saturday, 07 January 2023 when she went to visit her friends. She has not returned home. She was recently seen in Capricorn, Muizenberg area.

At the time of her disappearance, she was seen wearing a black Redbat T-shirt, blue jeans and blue Nike takkies

Anyone who can assist with information that will lead to Alvina’s safe return is kindly requested to contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Andries Binedell on 079 894 1561 or alternatively call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information through the MySAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service

CAPE TOWN - Members attached to Anti-Gang Unit, deployed in Delft due to ongoing gang violence in the area, recovered three firearms, ammunition and arrested several suspects in the Delft area.

Members followed up on information gathered from various sources regarding alleged firearms at a certain address in Ebro Crescent, Delft. A thorough search was conducted and a firearm and one round of ammunition were found hidden in the right wheel of the vehicle, confiscated and booked in as exhibits. The suspect was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The team operationalised more information and proceeded to an address in Okkerneet Street, Delft. A thorough search was conducted and an adult female was arrested for being in possession of a double barrel 12 Gauge shotgun and five 12 Bore rounds were confiscated and booked in as exhibits. The suspect was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Further intelligence took the team back to the previous address in Ebro Crescent, Delft. A thorough search of the premises was conducted and a female was arrested for being in possession of a 9mm firearm with serial number removed, and eight rounds of ammunition was confiscated and booked in as exhibits. The suspect was arrested for possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

The team also successfully arrested two suspects for a Delft murder case in a tracing operation conducted when they went on foot in the precinct.

The suspects are due to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court once charged.

Source: South African Police Service

NELSPRUIT - The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned the fatal shooting incident at Longhomes in Piet Retief whereby a Councillor, identified as Mr Sbonelo Mthembu (36) as well as two other males were gunned down last night, Friday 13 January 2023 around 20h00.

According to the report, the three were shot at a certain yard in Mkhondo. Further information indicates that the Councillor as well as his mechanic were dropped off by a friend who was driving a bakkie when suddenly three armed men appeared in the yard. The suspects reportedly fired multiple shots at the Councillor who was in the yard, and also fatally shot the friend who was still inside his bakkie. The mechanic did not escape the shooting as he was shot by the same suspects whilst in the yard as well. Thereafter the three suspects fled into an unknown direction.

The Police at Piet Retief as well as the paramedics were informed about the incident whilst the Councillor and his mechanic were privately taken to a nearby hospital. The mechanic was unfortunately certified dead on arrival meanwhile the Councillor succumbed to his injuries moments later.

When police and medical practitioners arrived at the scene, they found a male victim lying motionless behind a steering wheel of a white bakkie with a gunshot wound. The paramedics certified him dead at the scene.

A case of three counts of murder was opened and the suspects are still at large.

Police urge anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the perpetrators to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MySAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

A dedicated team of experts in the field of investigation was immediately assembled under the leadership of the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela to probe this disheartening incident with an anticipation to swiftly bring perpetrators thereof to book.

Source: South African Police Service