'Luxurious' lifestyle of inmates once again in the spotlight

The luxurious lifestyle of inmates is once again in the spotlight

Last week, a viral video of an inmate on trial, bragged about a supposed comfortable life in Goodwood prison here in Cape Town. The video circulating on social media shows the inmate recording himself on a phone boasting about receiving basic necessities such as breakfast, lunch and supper, as well as toiletries for free in prison.

This week, at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre, known as Sun City, an unexpected raid was conducted

The operation revealed contraband items such as plasma TVs, PlayStations, wifi routers, and designer perfumes.

Officials also found drugs, knives, and alcohol, dismantling illegal electricity connections used for gaming devices and cellphones.

Meanwhile, in Mpumalanga, two officials based in Ermelo Correctional Facility were arrested for attempting to smuggle dagga and a mobile phone with accessories. The two were caught during a surprise search as they reported for duty on Wednesday morning.

As the saying goes, ‘a new broom sweeps clean’’ and the new Correctional Services Minister, Pieter Groenewald, has vowed that more raids will be conducted.

Since taking office, Groenewald has vowed to stamp out corruption at various Correctional Services Centres.

Done By: Sihle Jezile

President Ramaphosa appoints first woman chief justice: Mandisa Maya

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Mandisa Maya as a South Africa’s new chief justice which will take effect September 1. Presidency announced this on Thursday.

This comes after Ramaphosa’s consultation, in accordance with the Constitutional prescripts, with JSC and the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly

Maya will be the first woman to be appointed to the position, after becoming the first woman judge to serve as the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

She will be taking over Raymond Zondo whose term comes to an end in August 31.

Done By: Elona Sibunzi

Zizi Kodwa resigns as a Member of Parliament

Former Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has resigned as a Member of Parliament.

Kodwa is facing corruption charges amid allegations that he influenced the awarding of the contracts during his time as ANC spokesperson between April 2015 and February 2016.

He has already stepped aside as a member of the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee of the ANC.

ANC Secretary-General of the ANC, Comrade Fikile Mbalula, says the party received the letter on Thursday.

"The letter is dated 24 July 2024 and the resignation is with immediate effect. "The African National Congress has accepted the letter and wishes Comrade Zizi well.’’

I have received a letter from Comrade Zizi Kodwa formally communicating his resignation as a Member of Parliament. The letter is dated 24 July 2024 and the resignation is with immediate effect.

The African National Congress has accepted the letter and wishes Comrade Zizi well. pic.twitter.com/YORQlORrMc

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) July 25, 2024

Kodwa announced his immediate resignation from his role as minister after the first court appearance, where he was granted R30 000 bail.

 

Done By: Esobusi Mkangelwa

More rain headed for Cape Town

The South African Weather Service has issued an advisory for an orange Level 5 disruptive rainfall over Cape Town and surrounding municipalities on Saturday.

Cold fronts approaching the western Cape this weekend again resulting in scattered to widespread showers and rain for Saturday#Weather #saws#WeatherForecast pic.twitter.com/LvPuQMTMlg

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 24, 2024

Cape Town has already experienced significant rainfall this month, and so the soil and waterways in many parts of the city remain well saturated.

The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management says all of its services will be put on standby to deal with any impacts from the forecast.

‘’We advise the public to please take heed of the current advisory, and to start implementing any possible mitigation measures around their properties in the interim. This would include clearing out drainage systems and cleaning gutters, removing dead tree branches and other obstructions, and digging trenches around their homes to divert water away,’’ said Charlotte Powell, City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson.

 

Done By: Esobusi Mkangelwa

Uyinene Mrwetyana's killer to testify on different rape case

Convicted killer Luyanda Botha failed to have attempted rape case against him struck off the court roll.

Botha, who is serving three life sentences for the rape and murder of former University of Cape student Uyinene Mrwetyana (19) in 2019, appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he is on trial - in an unrelated matter - for the attempted rape of a 21-year-old nursing student in 2014.

PICTURE: Pixabay

The complainant, who attended a nursing college in Athlone at the time, accused Botha of attempted rape while she was showering in the college residence bathrooms.

The former post office worker will return to court in August.

"The case was postponed to August 2 and 6. The second of August is where he will take the stand and testify. After that [the 6th of August] we will continue with the cross examination, said Eric Ntabazalila, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)  spokesperson in the Western Cape.

"The emphasis is that there is a case for him to answer. There is evidence which links him to the case. During the argument, he did not dismiss that he was present at that building on the day and the state would be able to prove our case in court,” added Ntabazalila.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Memorial to be held for Strandfontein mother and daughter who died in fire

A candlelight memorial service will be held on Wednesday evening for the mother and daughter who lost their lives, after a fire broke out at their home in Strandfontein on Monday.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

The victims, identified as Ruth (43) and Kirsten September (17), sustained fatal burn wounds when their house caught alight in the early hours of Monday.

The City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said the incident was reported around 01:15, and firefighters responded to the double storey house alight.

"Fire crews from Mitchell’s Plain, Ottery and Lakeside were dispatched to the scene. The blaze in the gutted house was extinguished at 2.45am.

“Two adults, a man and a woman, were treated for smoke inhalation. unfortunately, a woman and a young girl sustained fatal burn wounds,” he said.

Carelse said that a building inspector was requested as the formal house had “substantial structural damage”.

“The cause is yet to be determined and the scene was handed over to the South African Police Service,” he said.

At the same time, Ward Councillor, Elton Jansen, has called for donations to assist the family following the tragic incident.

 "It is requested that all donations be dropped off at the Ward office in Cruiser street, Strandfontein - as the family will accept your assistance/donations but cannot handle lots of interaction right now."

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Fifty additional law enforcement officers deployed to Wynberg, Bellville and Mitchells Plain

Fifty additional law enforcement officers has been deployed to Wynberg, Bellville and Mitchells Plain. The City of Cape Town says the deployment of the extra officers is part of the efforts to make the City safer.

Eighteen of the officers were deployed in Bellville, while 32 were divided between Mitchells Plain Town Centre and Wynberg CBD.

COURTESY: City of Cape Town

City of Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, said the deployment is in addition of the existing deployment of law enforcement, traffic and metro officers in the areas. This latest expansion to more CBDs follows the City's successful deployment of 100 Law Enforcement officers to Cape Town's main CBD since July 2022, with over 1 800 arrests made in the 2023/24 financial year, 30% of these drug-related.

‘’We are crowding dedicated policing resources into key CBDs as part of efforts to make Cape Town safer and boost economic activity. The 150 dedicated officers across the City Bowl, Bellville, Mitchells Plain, and Wynberg are already on the ground, working to make it safer for both residents and businesses.’’

Great news! 😄 More law enforcement officers have been deployed to our Bellville, Mitchells Plain and Wynberg CBDs to increase safety for our residents and businesses! 🚔👮👏

Read more: https://t.co/OULuwTxD2S pic.twitter.com/lsROcRAxrT

— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) July 23, 2024

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety & Security, JP Smith, said the deployment of officers will up the overall quality and efficiency of its policing operations.

‘’For communities, it is an opportunity to establish relationships, and trust, with the uniformed services working in their area for the benefit of all.’’

In total, the City has deployed an additional 26 Law Enforcement officers and 24 Metro Police officers across the three CBD's in Bellville, Mitchells Plain, and Wynberg.

 

Done By: Stephanie van Rayen

Golden Arrow driver suspended after refusing scholar on board for losing bus ticket

A Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) driver has been suspended after he refused to allow an 11-year-old boy onboard on Monday, after the scholar lost his bus ticket.

ARCHIVE: Picture - Mitchum George

The grade 6 learner at Simons Town Primary School, had to make his way from Simon’s Town to Makhaza, Khayelitsha where he resides.

It is reported that Harare law enforcement officials intervened and the boy was later found and taken home to his mother.

According to GABS spokesperson, Bronwen Dyke-Beyer, Golden Arrow was involved in the search for the scholar, and was in contact with his parents, having visited his home.

"Golden Arrow can confirm that company policy is to assist uniformed scholars in situations where they have lost their Gold Cards and that the driver who failed to do so has been suspended. We have undertaken to review all mechanisms related to lost scholar tickets to ensure that protocol is followed in such cases."

"In circumstances where unaccompanied minors are making use of our services, we would ask parents to assist us by ensuring that their children are able to contact them in an emergency situation and that they advise their children on what to do in a situation where they are not able to catch their bus for whatever reason. An example of this could be phoning their parents, returning to school, contacting the transport information centre or making their way to a police station. We would also encourage parents to register their children’s Gold Cards so that they can be easily traced and replaced," added Dyke-Beyer.

Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said they were saddened to hear about the incident.

“Learners in this position should return to the school and seek assistance from one of the staff members. Transportation of learners via the department’s learner transport scheme relates to learners living outside of a 5km radius of their nearest school and where no public transport is available,’’ said Bronagh Hammond, WCED spokesperson

Done By: Elona Sibunzi

AIDS Pandemic can be ended by 2030, says UNAIDS

According to a new UN report, AIDS pandemic can be ended by 2030, but only if leaders boost resources and protect human rights.

The report released on Monday, entitled ‘The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads’, brings together new data and case studies which demonstrate that the decisions and policy choices taken by world leaders this year will decide the fate of millions of lives and whether the world’s deadliest pandemic is overcome. 

“At the end of December 2023 30 point 7 million people were accessing antiretroviral treatment that is 7.7 million up from 2010 but still short of the 34 million target that we have for 2025”, said Director of the UNAIDS New York office Cesar Nunez.

Nunez added, in terms of new infections, there has been a reduction of 60 percent since the peak in 1995 and in 2023 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV compared to 3.3 million in 1995.

The reduction in new cases has had a positive impact on mortality rates, leading to fewer deaths, in 2023 around 630 people died from AIDS related illnesses worldwide compared to 2.1 million back in 2004 and 1.3 million in 2010. The target for 2025 is fewer than 250%.

Funding for HIV dropped by 5% from 2022 to 2023 and by 7.9% between 2020 and 2023, which demonstrates that the decisions and policy choices taken by world leaders decides the fate of millions of lives meanwhile global new HIV infections are not declining fast enough.

In Southern Africa data collected in 2023, reflects that there has been a  59% decrease in new HIV infections since 2010, 57% decrease in AIDS-related deaths since 2010, 20.8 million People living with HIV, 450 000 New HIV infections and 260 000 AIDS-related deaths.

South Africa will be the fourth African country after Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi to receive CAB-LA donation in state clinics and hospitals as part of its health programme.

Picture by: Pixabay

”The government accepted the 96 000 Cabotegravir long-acting injectable doses, which will arrive between October and December this year, as part of a larger donation of 231 000 doses that Pepfar is releasing over a period of two years”, said the health department's director general, Sandile Buthelezi.

Done by: Sihle Jezile

 

Man charge for killing college student after being turned away from fresher’s ball

A 24-year-old man named Samkelo Gregory Mngcina appeared in the Barberton Magistrate's Court yesterday in connection with the murder of 23-year-old Bandile Bhisha, a college student from Mpumalanga.

According to the provincial police spokesperson, Donald Mdhluli, the shooting incident occurred on Saturday on the college premises. Mdhluli stated that Mngcina was allegedly denied access to a freshers' event arranged for students because he was not a student and refused to pay the R50 entrance fee.

He then reportedly went to a vehicle, returned and opened fire randomly, hitting three students. Tragically, one of the victims, Bandile Bhisha, died to his injuries, while the other two were taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

Mngcina was arrested later that day near Nelspruit. He remains in custody, and the case has been postponed to July 31 for a bail application.

 

Done by: Stephanie Van Rayen

 

Two men caught in possession of Cocaine worth R252 million in Still Bay

Two men appeared in the Riversdale Magistrate’s Court on Monday after being found in possession of cocaine valued at R252 million.

Picture: Pixabay 

According to Sergeant Christopher Spies, on Friday evening, police were tipped off about activities at a local harbor. Upon a follow up, members spotted the vehicle with a rubber duck on the trailer which fitted the description. The vehicle sped off and a chase ensued. Police brought the vehicle, a Toyota Pajero, to a halt at Jongensfontein Road, Still Bay where the occupants got out and fled into the bushes. The members pursued the men. The two men were tracked down and apprehended at a local accommodation establishment.

The 48 year old and 38-year old Russian national are facing a charge of dealing with drugs.

 

Done By: Elona Sibunzi