A police officer in the Western Cape is set to appear in court shortly after being arrested for the murder of his wife in Stellenbosch.
The Independent Police Investigative
Directorate reported that the warrant officer is accused of fatally shooting
his 41-year-old wife during an argument on Saturday, after she sought refuge in
a neighbour’s home.
This incident marks the third case since
September of a police officer being arrested for the murder of a partner.
Done by: Stephanie Van Rayen
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday evening announced his intention to sign a Presidential Proclamation that will bring the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act into operation, immediately.
The BELA Bill was passed by the 6th democratic Parliament
on 26 October 2023. The President assented to the Bill on 13 September
2024. During the public signing of the
Bill, President Ramaphosa announced his decision to delay the implementation
date for sections 4 and 5 by three months.
Ramaphosa said in a statement issued on Friday evening that
he had met with the leaders of the parties to the Government of National Unity
(GNU)
“I accordingly advised them that I would proceed to sign a
Presidential Proclamation to bring the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act into
operation from today. I have instructed the Minister of Basic Education to see
to the full implementation of the BELA Act,” the President said.
The President explained that he has also instructed the
Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, to do what is “necessary” as is
customary with any law to ensure that the timeframe of implementation –
particularly with regard to the preparedness of the system for universal Grade
R access – and the consequential regulations setting out the norms and
standards are prepared.
“All bodies and all officials responsible for the
implementation of this Act are required at all times to act in accordance with
the Constitution, the law and the relevant policies and regulations,” said
President Ramaphosa.
The President said that over the last three months,
discussions have been held with a view of reaching consensus on these
outstanding clauses of the BELA Act.
He stressed that the Bill of Rights guarantees the right of
every person to equality and that it guarantees the right of every person to
receive a basic education.
“We must therefore do everything in our means to ensure
that every child, without exception, has equal access to a decent, quality
education. We must therefore leave no child behind.
“Let us ensure that our children get the best education so
that they can take our beautiful country and our diverse nation forward to a
prosperous future.”
Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, said she will not
tolerate the weaponising of the Bela Act for political means. She briefed the
media on Saturday after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the full implementation
of the Act on Friday.
‘’I am today warning any person who seeks to victimise
schools or school children outside of the rule of law that they will be dealt
with harshly.’’
“I want to remind South Africans that children should be
placed at the heart of everything that we do, for the successful implementation
of this Act. All these thirteen and a half million learners are my
responsibility, and I will seek to protect them at all costs,’’ she added.
Gwarube said that since the announcement of the Act, she
has instructed a team to immediately develop guidelines that will be sent to
all public schools and provincial education departments by the end of January
2025.
‘’Furthermore, I have instructed the Department of Basic
Education to continue with pace the process of developing draft regulations,
norms and standards, and a policy that will inform the implementation of this
Act. I want these to be published for public comment within the next six months,
taking us to June 2025.’’
Done By: Mitchum George
All hands were on deck
as 80 children were treated to a special Christmas party at the Seawinds
Community Center yesterday.
The kids were eager
with anticipation waited outside as the organisers readied the venue, taking
special care to drape the chairs and tables and prepare for the
buffet-style-three-course-meal.
Some of the children
were joined by their parents, single parents and senior women were in
attendance as well. For the past five years, the Michelle Davids Foundation has
been organising street parties for the children of Military Heights, Hillview,
Seawinds and Lavender Hill on the Cape Flats.
This year, however Davids
opted to sway from usual and have the event indoors due to the ongoing violence
in the area.
Every year since 2020,
gifts are prepared for the children and this year was no different. The
children struggled to carry both their plates and gifts home.
Done by: Shaneca Cupido
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) has condemned acts of vandalism during a protest that caused extensive damage to the Bishop Lavis Magistrate Court.
COURTESY: Sub-council chairperson, Angus McKenzieProtestors on Saturday vandalised the court, “set parts of
it on fire and stole essential court equipment”. It is alleged that the
incident occurred after an alleged gangster was killed by the Anti-Gang Unit in
Kalksteenfontein.
“According to reports, Bishop Lavis SAPS members received a
complaint of a fire at the mentioned address.
On arrival, they found the front entrance to the building burning. The
two security guards on duty informed them that an angry mob broke down the
front gate. They entered the premises
and damaged the security gate and a few windows in front of the court
building,” said FC van Wyk, Western Cape police spokesperson.
“The two security guards fled and went to go hide
themselves, and contacted the police. When SAPS arrived on the scene, the crowd
fled the scene. Fire and Rescue was contacted and extinguished the fires. Cases
of public violence and attacks on police were also registered for
investigation. All these cases are still under investigation, with no arrests
as yet,’’ he added.
The DJCOD said it has put measures in place so that court
proceedings resume.
“We are working closely with the South African Police
Service (SAPS) to secure the premises and prevent further damage. Additional security measures have been
implemented, including the deployment of extra security guards and a 24-hour
police presence to safeguard the building,’’ it said in a statement.
“The department can confirm that systems are being put in
place to ensure the continuation of court operations. Measures have already
been initiated to facilitate the postponement of cases, with proceedings expected
to resume [on Monday],’’ it added.
The department said repairs will be made to the court.
“The department is prioritising emergency repairs to the
damaged infrastructure, including restoring water supply and other essential
services, to ensure that the court remains accessible and operational.
“We condemn any acts of vandalism and urge the community to
cooperate with law enforcement authorities as investigations into the incident
continue,” it concluded
COURTESY: Sub-council chairperson, Angus McKenzieThe South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) echoed
the department’s sentiments.
‘’No grievance justifies an attack on the institutions that
are vital for promoting and protecting of the rights of citizens and for
providing necessary services. We encourage community members to seek
constructive communication with local authorities to express their concerns and
work together towards solutions that benefit everyone.’’
The SAHRC further raised concerns about potential delays
and/or postponements in court proceedings resulting from this incident.
‘’Sudden disruptions can negatively affect the rights of
community members who rely on the court for various services. Despite the
reported grievances, the Commission urges law enforcement agencies to enhance
their efforts in maintaining law and order and to hold accountable those
responsible for this incident while ensuring that court services remain
accessible to all who need its services.’’
Done by: Mitchum George
There has been an increase in mid-festive road fatalities, compared to 2023. Five hundred and twelve people died on South Africa's roads so far compared to 499 in 2023.
Briefing the media on Thursday, on the N1 at Touwsriver, Transport
Minister, Barbara Creecy gave an update on the mid-Festive Season preliminary
road safety report.
COURTESY: X - @TrafficRTMCThe report also focused on the Festive Season road safety
campaign that commenced on 1 December 2024 and initiatives and plans that seek
to reduce the number of the crashes and fatalities during this period.
Creecy says motorists use mobile apps to avoid roadblocks
on major routes, adding that the so-called back routes saw an increase in
accidents
The transport minister says the number of arrests has
increased by 677 from 2023 to 3 063 in 2024.
She raised concerns about the number of motorists being
three sheets to the wind. According to preliminary figures, more than 900 were
arrested for drunk driving
‘’We remain concerned about the high number of people who
continue to drive under the influence of alcohol and pedestrians who use roads
recklessly. A total of 941 drivers were arrested for drunk driving while 230
were arrested for driving at excessive speeds. A total of 98 pedestrians were
arrested for crossing the roads where it is not safe do to so,’’ said Creecy.
Despite efforts by traffic enforcement, the country has
seen a significant increase in fatal road traffic crashes so far in the festive
season.
A total of 439 fatal crashes have been recorded which is a
3.1 % increase when compared to 426 fatal crashes recorded in the same period
last year.
‘’The majority of those who died were pedestrians (45.6%),
followed by passengers (26.8%), drivers (26.7%) and cyclists (0.74%). Major
crashes, where five fatalities were recorded from one incident, had a
significant impact on the number of road deaths in this period. Four major
crashes were recorded in the period under review with 30 fatalities.’’
Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and
Limpopo accounted for 70% of all fatalities in this period. Gauteng has the highest
number of fatalities at 96 fatalities from 90 crashes, followed by
KwaZulu-Natal with 77 fatalities from 71 crashes, and the Western
Cape with 74 fatalities from 61 crashes. The Eastern Cape and Limpopo
both at 11%. The Northern Cape has the lowest number of fatalities with 4%
Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy says she met with all 9
MEC’s on Tuesday, and they have agreed to intensify efforts to safeguard those
on the roads
Creecy noted that some provinces are experiencing difficulty
in implementing the 24/7 shift system, and has instructed provincial
authorities to implement a flexi-shift system to improve traffic officer
visibility at all hours of the day.
She reminded everyone that road safety is everyone’s
responsibility.
‘’We should continue to remain on high alert until everyone
has returned from holidays and for every single day that we spend on the road,’’
said Barbara Creecy, Transport Minister.
Done by: Mitchum George
Four laboratory-confirmed cases of the diphtheria disease has been confirmed by the Western Cape Health & Wellness Department.
In a statement, the department said one of these cases has
sadly passed away.
Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that spreads
through respiratory droplets or contact with an infected person. Children
without full immunisation and adults with waning immunity are at higher risk,
especially in crowded conditions. Symptoms include sore throat, fever, chills,
nausea, and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
The Department says it is working closely with all partners
including the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the National
Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), and the City of Cape Town in managing these
cases.
It asked residents not to panic while efforts to control diphtheria
cases are under way.
The department says that it is working closely with all
partners including the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the
National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), and the City of Cape Town in
managing these cases.
The department has assured residents that it has stepped up
efforts to screen people who have been exposed to the disease in the affected
communities.
It is reported that over 300 people in the Philippi
farmlands were tested for diphtheria after an elderly woman’s death in the
Riemvasmaak informal settlement last week.
‘’Treatment is also being offered to those with symptoms
consistent with the disease,’’ it said.
Done By: Mitchum George
More than 14 000 children were tagged at Cape Town beaches over the past long weekend, as part of the City of Cape Town’s Identikidz programme.
The Identikidz project allows children to be tagged on
arrival at the beach, with a band containing their caregiver’s details. In the
event that a child gets separated from their family, responders can use the
contact information to reunite them.
COURTESY: CoCTAccording to the municipality, Muizenberg was the busiest
with 2 283 children tagged, followed by Strandfontein (2 021) and Strand (1
747). Identikidz, coordinated by the City’s Community, Arts and Culture
Development Department, tagged 14 396 children across 15 beaches, while eight
lost children were reunited with their families.
During the last festive season more than 130 000 children
were tagged, with 302 reunions.
‘’This is a positive
start to the festive season as there were still many people on the beach for
the long weekend. It is comforting to know parents and guardians make use of
Identikidz. Over the next few weeks beaches will become busier and crowds will
only get bigger so it is important for those visiting with small children to
find the Identikidz registration desks and get their little ones tagged,’’ said
Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
‘’Young children inevitably wander off or are confused by
crowds and Identikidz provides an extra layer of protection for our most
vulnerable bathers. I encourage adults to keep an eye on the children in their
care and especially when they are in or near the water. We should all take
beach safety seriously,’’ she added
Staff at the Identikidz registration desks will:
• With the permission of parents or caretakers, register
children and issue them with an identification tag/wrist band
• Assist with the reunification of a lost or displaced
child
• Work closely with the provincial Department of Social
Development, the City’s enforcement agencies and the South African Police
Service to ensure the safety and reunification of a lost or displaced child
with their family.
Done By: Mitchum George
A 34-year-old man is in a holding cell at Steenberg police station, after he was arrested for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and discharging of a firearm in a public place.
The incident, according to police spokesperson F.C van Wyk,
follows a shooting incident on Tuesday morning at about 10:50 in Epston Close,
Lavender Hill.
‘’Upon arrival of police members the suspect was assaulted
by community members, and the members intervened. The suspect was transported
to a nearby hospital for medical treatment under police guard. He was
discharged later and is currently in police custody,’’ said Captain F.C van
Wyk.
It is understood community members believed that the suspect
recently shot and killed two teenagers in the area.
‘’No injuries or damages were reported to police. The
members confiscated a Norinco pistol with three 9mm rounds and handed it in as
exhibits. The suspect will appear in the Wynberg Magistrates court once
charged,’’ said Captain F.C Van Wyk, Western Cape police spokesperson.
In an enquiry regarding the two teenagers, van Wyk said a
13-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy have been killed in a suspected
gang-related shooting.
“On their arrival, they found the bodies of a 13-year-old
girl with a gunshot wound to the head and a 17-year-old male with gunshot
wounds to the head and both legs. The victims were declared dead on the scene
by medical personnel.”
The motive is believed to be gang-related.
Done By: Mitchum George
Construction has begun on a temporary structure to house Parliament, ahead of 2025 Opening of Parliament and State of The Nation Address (SONA).
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI)
officially handed over the site to the contractor in Cape Town for the interim
dome on Tuesday.
The Dome will serve as the temporal home for Parliament for
the next two years, whilst Parliament is being rebuilt following the fire that
gutted it two years ago. The Dome will be set up at the Niewmeester Parking
Site within the Parliamentary Precinct.
‘’The project of setting up the Dome is expected to take 24
days from today, which will be on time for the 2025 opening of Parliament and
State of the Nation address. The project has the blessings of both the
Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza, MP and the
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Dean Macpherson, MP. The
erection of this structure is set to save the state a lot of money in terms of
accommodating Parliament in the next two years,’’ said Sifiso Mdakane, DPWI
Director-General.
COURTESY: X - @DepartmentPWIEight, 12m containers, carrying all the necessary
accessories and parts, which were transported from the Defence Force storage
facility in Pretoria to Cape Town, were handed over to commence construction.
The DPWI says the project is being overseen by the Chief Professional Architect
from the Prestige Unit of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and
construction experts.
‘’The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will
provide regular updates until the completion of this project and official
handover to Parliament,’’ said Sifiso Mdakane, DPWI Director-General.
Done by: Mitchum George
WARNING: THIS BLOG DOES CONTAIN GRAPHIC DETAILS
KwaZulu-Natal police said they found the body of the
25-year-old woman on Tuesday evening.
‘’Police responded to reports of a murder on a gravel road
at Malangeni area in Umzinto where the body of a 25-year-old woman was found
lying in the middle of the road. Her bloodied body was found with several stab
wounds and a broken knife was found next to her body,’’ said Colonel Robert
Netshiunda, KZN police spokesperson.
‘’Reports indicate that the suspect fetched the woman, who
was his girlfriend, from her home and it is suspected that the two had domestic
related altercation which escalated to the murder. The suspect’s vehicle was
found abandoned down the road from where the woman’s body was found, and blood
on the front passenger seat suggested that the suspect killed the woman inside
his vehicle,’’ he added.
KZN police confirm that this suspect who had confessed to killing a woman on Facebook, has been found hanging from a tree, not far from where he allegedly stabbed the woman to death. His body was found by members of SAPS who were combing the scene. pic.twitter.com/Uj18tLFZkW
— Athlenda Mathe (@AthlendaM) December 18, 2024
Netshuinda says a manhunt was launched which led to the
discovery of the suspect’s body which was hanging on a tree, a short distance
from where he killed the woman, in what is believed to be a suicide.
‘’Police are investigating a case of murder and an inquest
docket will also be opened for further investigation.’’
Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, condemned the incident.
“This shocking incident is a grim reminder of the ongoing
scourge of gender-based violence in our society. Such acts of violence are a
betrayal of our shared humanity and have no place in our nation. Furthermore,
the use of social media to amplify such cruelty is utterly unacceptable and
reflects a disregard for basic decency and the dignity of others. The act of
this individual having taken his own life ends the immediate legal pursuit of
justice, but it does not diminish the severity of his actions or the pain
inflicted on the victim, the victim’s family, friends, and community, including
his own family. Families and communities need to be very much alive and alert
to issues of mental health of their members; any sign or suspicion of this
disease must be reported to Social Workers and other authorities without any
delay.’’
‘’We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and
loved ones of the victim and reaffirm the government’s commitment to intensifying
efforts to create a society where women and children can live free from fear,’’
he added.
Done by: Mitchum George
National Government has extended the date for spaza shop owners to register their businesses to avoid possible closure.
On 15 November, President Cyril Ramaphosa set a 21-day
deadline for spaza shop registrations, which would have initially ended on
Tuesday. The deadline was part of efforts to combat a surge in foodborne
illnesses.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister,
Velenkosi Hlabisa, addressed media on Wednesday on food safety and security in
the country
‘’The government still needs to do more work to ensure that
the sector is properly regulated and adheres to health regulations. The
government understands the concerns raised by some stakeholders regarding the
registration deadline for spaza shops. However, it must be noted that the
initial deadline was set to address the urgent need to ensure compliance with
health and safety standards following the tragic incidents of food-borne illnesses. Registration ensures that all spaza shops
meet minimum standards, regardless of their past operations.’’
‘’In considering whether or not to extend the registration
deadline, the government considers its commitment to supporting small
businesses, prioritising health and safety, ensuring inclusivity and fairness,
and maintaining its integrity,’’ he added.
PICTURE - X: COGTA Min. Velenkosi HlabisaHlabisia says 42 915 applications nationally were received
since 15 November and 17 December 2024. Of these, says Hlabisa, 19 386
applications were approved. There are 392 registration centres across South
Africa.
National Government says it has decided, in consultation
with the President Cyril ramaphosa, to extend the registration deadline for all
Spaza Shops and other food-handling outlets to 28 February 2025.
Hlabisa says prior to the revised deadline, government will
continue, it says, to implement the action plan to address the crisis of foodborne
illnesses and the illicit trade of goods across the country.
‘’Those who have registered their businesses and have duly received their acknowledgement of registration still need to undertake a further process to obtain their trading licenses. For this process, Environmental Health Practitioners and other regulatory authorities will still inspect owners of registered food-related trading businesses to ensure that their businesses are eligible to trade.’’
‘’Notwithstanding the holiday scaling down of operations,
municipalities must still reserve capacity to assist those who will be
registering. We also urge business owners to continue with their registration
process within their respective municipalities and not wait until the next
registration deadline.’’
Hlabisa warned that a lot still needs to happen for those
who have registered their businesses and others who still need to do so.
‘’We need to explain that we are dealing with two distinct
processes. The 1st process is Business compliance where you need to register
the Spaza shops or any food handling business. The second process is compliance
with health regulations. This process does not depend on whether you are
registered or not. If you don’t comply with the health regulations the business
is closed down immediately. Hence 1041 spaza shops have already been closed.’’
‘’We are aware of some who have encountered obstacles not
of their own making, preventing them from complying with the 21-day
registration period. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank
all those who have taken the time to register their businesses. This was an
essential step in ensuring that these businesses uphold the dignity and protect
the human lives of the public they serve from which they derive their
livelihoods. We are, however, also aware that others have just stayed away and
ignored the directive to register their businesses. We want to warn that people
must register their businesses and subject these to health compliance inspections,’’
he added.
Government has called on civil society and business partners to help educate community on food safety.
‘’One of the most important initiatives we have undertaken
is the rollout of a public education and awareness campaign aimed at children
of school-going age, teachers, and their parents.’’
‘’It is important that we intensify this campaign,
especially during this busy festive season and in preparation for the opening
of schools in early January. The messages on food safety and the dangers of
pesticides in domestic environments are quite critical in reducing the risk of
infections and food contamination,’’ added Hlabisa.
Government says it has learnt valuable lessons in a short
space of time, especially, it says, regarding the need for strengthened
enforcement of regulation of spaza shops and other small food handling outlets.
Done by: Mitchum George
