South African Police Services`s bill amended

Mluleki Mrwebi

07 March 2012

Secretary of Police Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane today told Members of Parliament she believes they have succeeded in their attempts to bring the Hawks crime-fighting unit in line with the Constitution.

 Irish-Qhobosheane was addressing Parliamentarians on the South African Police Service Amendment Bill in Cape Town.

Earlier reports said that a

Constitutional Court

judgment found the unit was not properly insulated against interference.

The Police Secretary said the bill makes provision for the head of the Hawks to be appointed on a seven-year non-renewable contract.

Irish-Qhobosheane also said that Parliament would also be given greater powers in terms of approving Hawks policy.

A student nurse hands herself over to the Eastern Cape police

Mluleki Mrwebi

07 March 2012

An Eastern Cape student nurse has handed herself over to police after a new-born baby was stolen from Port Elizabeth’s Dora Nzinga Hospital last week.

The baby boy was left in New Brighton two days later by two women driving a BMW X5.

The nurse had apparently instructed the mother of the baby to take a bath and had disappeared with the baby.

Eastern Cape police said that the student nurse had apparently had a miscarriage but did not want to tell her boyfriend.

A toddler shot dead in Manenberg

Mluleki Mrwebi

07 March 2012

Cape Town police are searching for an 18-year-old man after a three-year-old boy was shot dead in Manenberg today.

The shooting occurred after police had searched the house for firearms and ammunition.

The Spokesperson November Filander said that they received a tip-off.

Filander said they found nothing but later were informed of the killing shortly after they had left.

Filander added that the alleged teenager from a neighbouring house shot the toddler in front of his mother accusing her of being a police informer.

Cosatu strike

Mluleki Mrwebi

07 March 2012

Many organisations came in numbers to support the Cosatu march today.

Cosatu amongst other things was protesting against the labour broking.

The General Secretary of the South African Student Congress Monwabisi Luthuli said the labour brokers must be banned in South Africa.

Luthuli further said that the E-Tolling system is corruption at its lower level.

Luthuli added that government must think of the poor people whenever they propose for any system.

A representative from Equal Education said the issue of labour broking needs to be looked at closely.

Cosatu also handed over a memorandum to the Metrorail representative.

They want Metrorail to improve their services.

The representative assured the unions that as Metrorail they will look at their memorandum.

The Western Cape Business Association was also served with a memorandum regarding the labour brokers.

The march ended outside Parliament where another memorandum was handed over to a government representative.



 

Cosatu march

Cosatu March



Decrease of road deaths in the Western Cape

Lauren Sndyers
7 March 2012

It was announced by Robin Carlisle MEC for Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape that for the first time in five years, the February Western Cape road death toll has dropped to 100.

Road fatalities for February this year fell from 129 last year to 99.

Carlisle said this was a decrease of 23 percent.

He also added that overall the 12-month fatality figures have fallen from 1772 as at the first of January 2009 to 1289 at the end of February 2012.

Nkoana-Mashabane says SA stands out on the continent

Lauren Snyders
7 March 2012

Minister of international relations and cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said at a lecture at the University of Cape Town last night, the department has used the last 18-years of freedom to reposition the country within the continent and the rest of the world.

She said that South Africa stands out as one of the countries who strive for peace, prosperity, democracy and infrastructure development.

Nkoana-Mashabane says that South Africa is one of the few countries which can champion diplomacy.

She added by saying South Africans need to stand together as South Africa changes the face of the continent.

City of Cape Town says fighting a blaze in an informal settlement is difficult

Andiswa Mkosi
7 March 2012


Yesterday the City of Cape Town said conditions in informal settlements made it difficult for firefighters to prevent blazes from spreading.


Officials encourage residents to create fire breaks and exit routes to prevent future fires from extending.


One woman died and 1000 people were left homeless when a fire destroyed their shacks in Langa yesterday morning.


Residents believed a candle fell over in the home of the deceased which triggered the blaze.

MEC Grant urges educators not to take part in protest

Andiswa Mkosi
7 March 2012


Western Cape Education MEC Donald Grant said he was hopeful that most educators would remain in their jobs during today’s national strike.


The South African Democratic Teachers Union said 13,000 educators will take part in Cosatu marches in Cape Town, Vredenburg and Worcester.


Grant said he hoped teachers would come to their senses to make sure learners are taught.


The MEC added they had a management plan in place if most of the teachers are taking part in the strike today .

Cosatu determined to stop e-Tolling system.

Andiswa Mkosi
7 March 2012


Cosatu has promised to bring the electronic road tolling system down should government fail to negotiate.


Thirty-two protest marches are to take place around the country today against labour brokering and e-tolling.


Cosatu officials in the Eastern Cape are calling for a complete stay away.


The union federation’s Zwelinzima Vavi says the tolling system and high fuel prices will just worsen the plight of the poor.


On the other hand Cosatu in the Western Cape has confirmed that the Democratic Alliance is not welcome at today’s marches.

A female driver survives a car crash on Chapman`s Peak

Mluleki Mrwebi
07 March 2012


A female driver escaped unharmed after she drove her car down a wall on Chapman's Peak.

The car plunged 100 metres down the incline.


Metro EMS Spokesperson Keri Davids said that the woman was very lucky to walk away unharmed.


Davids also said a rescue helicopter was sent to the scene.

Cosatu strike will not affect the Metrorail services

Mluleki Mrwebi

06 March 2012

Metrorail bosses in the Western Cape are confident that Wednesday's Congress of the South African Trade Union strike will not affect their services.

Thousands of union members are expected to march through the streets of the Mother City.

Cosatu  will protest against labour brokers and the implementation of the controversial Gauteng e-tolling system.

In Cape Town motorists have been advised to avoid the city centre until 2pm.

Metrorail’s Eddie Chinnapen said that contingency plans are in place.

Sadtu will take in the protest on Wednesday

Mluleki Mrwebi

06 March 2012

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union said at least 13,000 Western Cape educators will join Congress of the South African Trade Unions members for Wednesday’s nationwide strike.

The march organized by Cosatu is against labour brokers and the implementation of the Gauteng e-tolling system.

Sadtu provincial secretary Jonovan Rustin said that members will take to the streets in selected areas.

Rustin said all 13,000 teachers will strike Wednesday.

Cosatu has also reportedly called on learners to take part in the strike.

A councilor defends firefighters

Mluleki Mrwebi

06 March 2012

A Langa ward councillor Mayenzeke Sopaqa today defended firefighters following a fatal blaze in the area.

In the early hours of today more than hundred shacks caught fire in Zone 17,19 and 20.

On the fire one woman died and about 1,000 residents were displaced.

 Residents accused firefighter’s of taking too long to respond.

Mveliso Mnyombolo one of the residents said that he lost everything in the fire.

Residents further said firefighters arrived on scene about an hour after they were notified.

Councillor Mayenzeke Sopaqa said this was not the case.

Western Cape Fisheries Department alert on the red tide

Mluleki Mrwebi

06 March 2012

The Western Cape Fisheries Department says it cannot confirm whether a possible red tide along the west coast posses any threat.

The red tide is on the north of Lambert’s Bay.

A red tide is a reddish or brownish coloration of the water caused by the rapid reproduction of a variety of toxic organisms.

The department's spokesperson Lionel Adendorf said that they have been monitoring the changes on the west coast for quite some time now.

Adendorf added that they have now raised the alert level from green to yellow.

Cosatu warns government to go back to negotiating table regarding e-tolling

Lauren Snyders
6 March 2012

The Congress of South African Trade Unions Cosatu warned government today to return to the negotiating table to discuss the e-toll system or else they would make in unworkable.

Zwelinzima Vavi made the threat this morning at a National Press Club breakfast in Pretoria.

He also spoke about the mass demonstration against e-tolling and labour broking which takes place tomorrow.

Vavi said the demonstrations were aimed at forcing government back to the negotiating table.

Possible red tide could not be confirmed

Lauren Snyders
6 March 2012

It could not be confirmed by the Western Cape Fisheries department whether a possible red tide along the west coast could stop the collecting of shellfish.

The department has been noticing the development since last week.

A red tide is referred to as a reddish or brownish colouration of water.

It is caused by the rapid reproduction of a variety of toxic single-celled organism.

Langa fire kills a woman

Andiswa Mkosi
6 March 2012


A Langa woman dies in the early hours of this morning in a fire in a Langa informal residence.


The fire destroyed 350 shacks overnight.It left more than 1300 people homeless .


Wilfred Solomons-Johannes Disaster management spokesperson confirmed the woman’s death.


The cause of the fire is still being investigated by officials.

Fedusa appeals to its members not to strike

Andiswa Mkosi
6 March 2012

The Union federation Fedusa has appealed to its members not to take part in a Cosatu-led protest against e-tolling in Gauteng.


The Federation says those members who want to participate in the strike should avoid doing so under the federation banner.


On Wednesday Cosatu is plans to protest against road tolling and labour brokering, and education in the Western Cape.


Dennis George of Fedusa says they have made it clear to members where they stand on the matter.

Western Cape Education Department to investigate a school principal

Mluleki Mrwebi
06 March 2012


The Western Cape Education Department on Monday said it was investigating a number of allegations brought against a Nyanga school principal.


Learners at Nelson Mandela High School held a protest march calling for the removal of their headmaster on Monday.


They accused him of making them pay money, even though the school was a no-fee institution.


The learners’ pelted police with stones as they were refusing to attend classes.


The department's Bronagh Casey said that learners also complained about paying non-refundable fees for textbooks.

Human Settlements department plans to create new cities

Mluleki Mrwebi

05 March 2012

Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale says the primary task of his department is to de-racialise apartheid cities and towns.

Sexwale said that they are planning to create new cities.

Sexwale today told local government leadership in the Western Cape that President Jacob Zuma’s announcement of a massive infrastructure programme provides an opportunity to build new towns without townships.

Sexwale added that the main aim of these new developments would be to integrate the townships into the new South African cities.

Satawu strongly condemns acts of vandalism

Mluleki Mrwebi

05 March 2012

The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union today warned its members not to commit any crimes.

This comes after four members of Satawu were arrested last week in connection with the torching of Metrorail trains.

Last week several coaches were set alight in parts of Johannesburg following a week-long Metrorail strike.

Satawu spokesperson Zenzo Mahlangu said the union does not support acts of vandalism.

On Friday, Metrorail was granted a court interdict declaring the strike illegal.

All workers were ordered to return to work today.

Savannah Tyler Mersin found dead

Mluleki Mrwebi

05 March 2012

The body found on Muizenberg beach on Friday has been positively identified as that of Savannah Tyler Mersin.
Mersin the eight-year-old girl from Lavender Hill disappeared while walking home from school last week.

A passerby found her body in a shallow grave near a sand dune.
Cape Town police confirmed today that a family member made the identification earlier today.

Police spokesperson November Filander said that Savannah's mother and her boyfriend were initially taken in for questioning but were later released.

An accident in Parow claims a life

Mluleki Mrwebi

05 March 2012

A rescue helicopter was arranged to the scene of a fatal accident outside Parow Shopping Centre today.

The accident involved a mini-bus taxi and a truck on

Voortrekker Road

.

One person died on the scene and several others were injured in the crash.

ER24's Andre Visser said they used the Jaws of Life to rescue some of the injured.

Visser said that the injured people were transported to the nearby hospital by a helicopter.

More arrests in sight for murder of constable says police

Lauren Snyders
5 March 2012

Western Cape police confirmed today that more arrests are in sight in connection with the killing of a Philippi East constable.

Xoliswa Banga was gunned down in a police van last Friday while he was on duty.

It has been the first police murder in the Western Cape for 2012.

So far police have arrested three people in connection with the murder.

At the moment police are following up all leads to arrest the other suspects.

The police’s November Filander said the investigation into the murder of their colleague continues.

He added that one of the suspects is a juvenile and will appear in the Wynberg Magistrates Court later.

The other two men will appear in court tomorrow.

Chaotic protest underway in Philippi

Lauren Snyders
5 March 2012

Protesters in Philippi have wreaked havoc this morning.

Residents of Sweet Home Farm have blocked off Duinefontein Road over a lack of service delivery.

A set of traffic lights and speed camera was destroyed while residents burnt tyres and rubbish.

The councilor of Philippi Thembinkosi Phupha had to be evacuated out of the area after he tried to listen to the grievances of the residents.

The angry crowd described him as a corrupt liar who did not care about them.

Police are currently monitoring the situation.

Plato-police officers who fail firearm proficiency test should have their firearms removed

Lauren Snyders
5 march 2012

MEC for Community Safety in the Western Cape, Dan Plato has requested that Western Cape Police Commissioner General Arno Lamoer intervene and remove all firearms of police officers who failed the firearms proficiency test, but they are still on active duty.

This comes after information released in a draft performance audit was published over the weekend.

Plato explained that acting National Police Chief Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has said that he would charge the responsible commander and would want to know from the provincial commissioner why the police officer was allowed to carry a firearm.

Plato will be asking Lamoer for a copy of the report to ensure that a situation like this never happens again in the Western Cape.

Taxi drivers are not the main cause of road deaths

Andiswa Mkosi
5 March 2012


A Western Cape safety campaign said recent statistics showed that taxi drivers are not the main perpetrators of road deaths.


Safely Home said an studies made by the campaign in 2011, showed normal motorists were the main cause of road accidents.


Kevin October of the campaign said taxis were not the root cause.


He continued and said that taxi’s caused fewer than 15% of road fatalities.

WC police investigate death of a disabled man

Andiswa Mkosi
5 March 2012
Western Cape police are investigating the death of a disabled man who was knocked down and killed while riding in his wheelchair.


This occurred in Goodwood on the bridge over the N7 .


According to ER24’s spokesperson Vanessa Jackson the man died of his injuries at the scene of the accident .


It is said that the victim used the highway to travel in his motorized wheelchair.

Police raid four houses in Mpumalanga

Andiswa Mkosi
5 March 2012


Police in Mpumalanga have detained more than five million rands.


Cops raided four homes in Hazyview.


The search comes after a man was arrested at the Blue Haze Mall when he was found to in possession of four rhino horns and more than 60-thousand rands in cash.


The Hawks arrested the suspect on Friday afternoon.

Two suspects arrested in connection with Savannah`s disapearance

Mluleki Mrwebi
05 March 2012


Western Cape police on Sunday confirmed that two people were arrested in connection with the disappearance of an eight-year-old girl from Steenberg.


Savannah Mersin went missing almost a week ago.


Few days after her disappearance a body of a young girl was found buried in the sand dunes at Muizenberg Beach on Friday.


There has been speculation that the body could be that of Savannah but the body has yet to be identified.


Cape Town police Spokesperson Andre Traut said the two suspects spent the weekend behind bars.

Officials are worried that the situation may worsen in KwaZulu-Natal

Mluleki Mrwebi

04 March 2012

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu- Natal today said that they are worried about the situation there.

Officials said things may worsen following heavy floods in parts of the province this afternoon.

This is due to cyclone Irina which was downgraded to torrential rainfall.

Officials said a woman broke both her legs after her mud hut collapsed on top of her in Jozini.

Up to 300 homes are flooded and officials are busy with evacuations and mop up operations to alleviate the situation.

New programme for the Western Cape taxi drivers

Mluleki Mrwebi

04 March 2012

Cape Town Traffic Organization today said that it is building relations with taxi organizations in the province to decrease fatalities on the roads.

Cape Town Safely Home officials said they were working with taxi organizations over the next year to improve their behaviour on the Western Cape roads.

Programme Manager Kevin October said these type or programmes were important to decrease road fatalities caused by mini bus taxis.

October added that they understand the community’s frustration about taxi drivers .

About 31 motorists arrested in the Western Cape for various offences

Mluleki Mrwebi

04 March 2012

More than 30 motorists have been arrested for drunk driving in the Western Cape.

Provincial traffic officials set up several alcohol roadblock pulling-over hundreds of vehicles.

Traffic Chief Kenny Africa said that they screened more than 1,000 drivers.

Africa said that the highest alcohol reading that they recorded was 1.12 and that was in Knysna.

Africa added that apart from the 31 drunken driving arrests they also arrested two speedsters in the Beaufort West area.

Africa further said three people died on separate accidents.

500 suspects arrested in Gauteng over the weekend

Mluleki Mrwebi

04 March 2012

The Gauteng police said that over 150 people were arrested in an overnight crime prevention operation.

Officails said the suspects will appear in various courts on Monday.

This brings the number of arrests over the weekend to just over 500.

The police’s Kay Makhubela said that the group was arrested for crimes ranging from rape to drinking and driving.

Makhubela further said on Saturday night they managed to arrest 155 suspects during raids and stop and search operations. 

South African Weather Services has downgraded the tropical cyclone

Mluleki Mrwebi

04 March 2012

The Weather Service has downgraded Tropical Cyclone Irina.

The officials said that there is no indication that the storm will make landfall.

Northern KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo have their disaster relief teams on standby since yesterday to prepare for heavy rain and possible flooding.

The Weather Service now says the centre of the storm is moving eastwards but will still result in heavy falls over the southern part of Mozambique, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the east coast of South Africa.

Lavender Hill residents are still searching for an eight year old girl

Mluleki Mrwebi

04 March 2012

Lavender Hill residents said that they are praying that the body of an unidentified missing girl is not Savannah Tyler Mersin.

The eight-year-old Savannah disappeared last week.

A passerby found the body of the unidentified girl buried in a shallow grave on a sand dune near Muizenberg Beach on Friday.

Community member Haroldene Gordon said that Savannah's foster mother is traumatized by the news.

Gordon added that people are very angry because they’ve known Savannah since she was still a baby.

Gordon also said they just want clarity in this whole thing.

Western Cape Police Commissioner Arno Lamoer condemns police killing

Mluleki Mrwebi

04 March 2012

Western Cape Police Commissioner Arno Lamoer on Saturday condemned police killings.

Lamoer urged the community to help police find those responsible for a female constable’s death.

The 36-year-old officer was shot dead on her from Khayelitsha on Friday.

Police believe the constable's car was ambushed by an unknown number of suspects in Phillipi.

Lamoer said that he knew residents would assist them in arresting the killers.

Fish Hoek Beach cleared after a white shark was spotted

Mluleki Mrwebi

03 March 2012

The City of Cape Town says Fish Hoek Beach has been cleared after a shark sighting today.

The city is considering a proposal to begin the first steps of shark barring nets.

The South Peninsula Sub Council has to approve the proposal first.

The city’s Greg Oelofse said that the beach was cleared after a white shark was spotted this morning.

Oelofse added that as soon as the shark spotters are confident that the mammal is gone the beach will be reopened.

Rescue South Africa well prepared for the cyclone

Mluleki Mrwebi

03 March 2012

Rescue South Africa today said that they are not taking any chances ahead of cyclone Irina.

Rescue South Africa officials said they have set up a task force in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the cyclone that is expected to cause flooding and torrential rain in Mozambique, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.

Earlier in this year six people died and hundreds were displaced in Mpumalanga and Limpopo during a similar storm.

Rescue South Africa's Ian Sher said they have 4x4s on standby, swift border rescue, rope rescue, and technicians. 

Implats incurred costs due to the strike

Mluleki Mrwebi

03 March 2012

Impala Platinum says that the ongoing illegal strike has cost its Rustenburg operation two-point-four-billion-Rands in lost revenue.

Implats officials say the North West operation is still set to reboot next week as almost 15-thousand mineworkers have been rehired.

 Officials said that it remains unclear when full production will resume.

Implats' Rustenburg operation is the world's largest platinum mine. 

Sweat demands the decriminalization of sex work

Mluleki Mrwebi

03 March 2012

Cape Town sex workers are marching through the streets of Bellville.

The march is organized by rights group Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce.

The crowd of mostly women is calling for the decriminalization of sex work.

They are armed with placards and whistles.

The group of sex workers said that they are harassed by police officers almost daily.

They say the criminalization of sex work has forced them to live in fear.

Many sex workers on the march are wearing masks to hide their identities.

A police officer shot and killed in Phillipi

Mluleki Mrwebi

03 March 2012

A 36-year-old police officer was gunned down in Phillipi East last night.

The female constable was on duty at the time of the attack.

She was driving a police vehicle from Khayelitsha to Phillipi police station where she is stationed.

Cape Town police Spokesperson Andre Traut said she was shot twice and later died in hospital.

Traut added that no arrest have been made so far.

Two people died in Cape Town shack fires

Mluleki Mrwebi

03 March 2012

Two people died and 55 others were left homeless after two fires in Cape Town this morning.

Seventeen shacks were destroyed in Du noon and Khayelitsha.

The first fire broke out in the Site Five informal settlement in Du Noon in the early hours of this morning.

A young boy burnt to death in the blaze.

A total of eight shacks were gutted, leaving 30 people displaced.

Another fire broke out in QQ Section in Khayelitsha, a man was killed and 25 others were left homeless.

Disaster management spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said that the identity of the man is unknown at this stage.

Solomons-Johannes added that the cause of the fires is not known.

Cape Town police discovered a body in Muizenberg Beach

Mluleki Mrwebi

03 March 2012

Cape Town police will use forensic methods to determine the identity of a child, whose body was found in a shallow grave, at Muizenberg Beach on Friday.

The little girl’s body was discovered in a shallow grave on banks at Sunrise Beach.

Police spokesperson Andre Traut says they have not been able to make a positive identification.

Traut said a murder case has been opened and they are looking into the circumstances around the case. 

SANParks gets ready for Irina

Mluleki Mrwebi

03 March 2012

SANParks has started evacuating a campsite in the southern part of the Kruger National Park.

The South African Weather Service has warned that a tropical cyclone is likely to hit the eastern part of the country.

SANParks says it is taking precautionary measures and is concentrating on the southern part of the Kruger.

Tropical cyclone Irina is expected to move in from Madagascar.

 The northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal are also expected to be hit by heavy rain.