ACDP call on Helen Zille to act on demands made by protestors

Oscar Thomas
24 April 2014

The African Christian Democratic Party in the Western Cape has called on Premier Helen Zille to act on the demands made by protestors at the Provincial Legislature on Wednesday.

ACDP Provincial Leader Ferlon Christians said people are tired of waiting for basic services and houses when other effluent suburbs are receiving these services and live in leafy suburbs. 

Christians said we sitting with service delivery issues all the time and we want the premier to seriously look at this memorandum.

Christians said we want the premier to address the concerns of our people within the Western Cape Christians added.

ANC locked out of council meeting by DA

Oscar Thomas
24 April 2014

The African National Congress Caucus in the Western Cape today said they were locked out of the council meeting by the Democratic Alliance Caucus because of difference of opinion.

ANC’s Charlotte Haynes said the speaker wanted to put one of our councilors out as he wanted him to apologize for something which we disagreed with, that he did not say anything wrong.

“The speaker agreed on something with us and the next thing you know the speaker “somersaulted” and insisted that the councilor must remain out. The DA came back and they have changed the venue of the meeting to the first floor” Haynes added.

Haynes said they have taken a decision as the ANC that they are going to attend this council, as we are part of this council and we are here to represent our party.

Meanwhile Mayor Patricia de Lille released a statement saying the ANC caucus has for the second time in recent months bought their ungovernability campaign into the Council Chamber. 

De Lille in the statement said by moving the council meeting to an alternative venue this sends a strong message that the ANC’s ungovernability campaign will not be tolerated. 

Communities call for better service delivery

24 April 2014

Andile Mbwanja

 

 

Thousands of people led by the ANC and other civil organisations marched to the Western Cape Provincial Legislature today to hand-over a memorandum to the Western Cape premier, Helen Zille demanding proper service delivery to the townships.

Among their demands include proper houses, land and the removal of Helen Zille, accusing her of being racist.

ANC Western Cape chairperson, Marius Fransman said the are two Western Capes, one for the poor and one for the rich. One for coloured, African, Indian and one for the white elite, and that must stop.

 

"The ANC has decided in the Western Cape we will stand firmly side by side by these comrades and we will fight in solidarity with the poor to make sure that the sanitation is being addressed in the Western Cape. We are saying that Helen Zille’s politics of deception is in fact now being uncovered.” Fransman added

The marchers have vowed to march again on Friday if Zille does not respond to their demands.   

Cosatu NW: Provincial FET College living standards not good

Lusanda Bill
24 April 2014

The Congress of South African Trade Union in the Northern Cape on Wednesday said it is appalled about the terrible living conditions that some students of the Northern Cape FET College are subjected to. 

Cosatu Northern Cape Provincial Secretary Anele Gxoyiya said these allegations need to be investigated and action needs to be taken against those found guilty. 

Gxoyiya said the allegations claim that the students are forced to live in dirty places and they have also been forced to go and stay in the township, when there is accommodation.

“We have made a call the Education Department to investigate these allegations as well as the CEO of the FET College must make sure that this matter is resolved as soon as possible” Gxoyiya added.  

Police seek armed robbery suspects

Bulelani Guwa

24 April 2014

Eastern Cape police are searching for suspects who were involved in an armed robbery which happened on Tuesday night in Tsolo. 

Police were following up on information on a business robbery and when they started searching for the suspects they were attacked by four gunmen.  One police officer was shot dead during the attack. 

Police Spokesperson Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said 45 year old warrant officer Mpendulo Mbasane, was shot and killed by robbers that entered Boxer Save superstore on Monday late.

Fatyela added that after police gave chase there was an exchange of gunfire.   One suspect was shot and killed.  Police also recovered a 9mm pistol, two magazines and two cell phones.

Corruption Watch calls for action with irregularities with R10 billion tender

Bulelani Guwa
24 April 2014

Corruption Watch said it is preparing to take further action based on the Constitutional Courts findings that declared illegal and invalid the award of a R10-billion contract by Sassa to Cash Paymaster services.

Corruption Watch Executive Director David Lewis said they urge the police to undertake an investigation into allegations of bribery surrounding the Sassa contract. 

Lewis added that the constitutional court has made a very important ruling in a case involving one of the largest public tender awards ever made in South Africa. There were irregularities in the process of awarding the tender.

“The irregularities and the process should be questioned. Should look beneath the irregularities and ask in whose interest was the irregularity perpetrated and for what reason was the irregularity perpetrated. That is what has led us to ask the police to look ask those questions” said Lewis.

Nathi Mthethwa visits Cape Flats to stomp down on gangsterism and drugs

Oscar Thomas

24 April 2014

Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa is today visiting the Cape Flats to inspect election hotspots.

The minister will be speaking with community leaders and inspecting drug dealing and gang hotspots in Cape Town. 

Ministerial Spokesperson David Barritt said Minister Nathi Mthethwa  will be visiting Manenberg, Hanover Park, Tafelsig and Bishop Lavis.

Last week Minister Mthethwa said he has requested police to step up policing where gangs and drugs are involved by arresting the druglords. 

“He will also be traveling with the other security ministers and will be engaging with community leaders to discuss local issues including the ever present problems of gangsterism and drugs within communities.” Barritt added.

R6.2 Million Public Library officially opened in Knysna

Oscar Thomas
23 April 2014

Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports together with the national Department of Arts and Culture officially opened a public library in Knysna. 

The library which was opened on Tuesday cost R6.2 million. MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sports Dr Ivan Meyer said the library will create public value for the community. 

Ministerial Spokesperson Daniel Johnson said the library which comes at a cost of R6.2 million enlarges the library to approximately 1100m².

“This 1100 m² of new library consisting of three storey does mean that we are now in a position to provide an improved library service to the citizens of Knysna Johnson added.

Six people arrested for armed robbery

Loyiso Langeni
23 April 2014

Six men were over the weekend arrested and several weapons seized during an operation led by the Limpopo police. 

The suspects are linked to an armed robbery case which happened in the Mahwelreng area. 

All six suspects face possible charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and explosives. 

Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale said all the firearms seized have been sent for ballistic testing to determine if they were used in other crimes. 

“The intelligence that we had received is that these people were going to commit this crime and indeed when we arrested them we recovered an instrument that we believe were going to be used for this crime they have planned to commit.

We have recovered pistols with live rounds, we also recovered two revolvers with live rounds, explosives, barraclavas, one ten pound, hammer,” Makgale added.

Official suspended for abusing government’s land

Loyiso Langeni
23 April 2014

A Corruption Watch investigation has led to the suspension of a senior public official at the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development. 

Corruption Watch’s Bigboy Maubane said the investigation found that the official was using government land to run a private resort without authorization. 

The official managed the Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve north of Pretoria. 

Maubane added that the department of Infrastructure Development initially suspended the acting manager and Corruption Watch is following an investigation as the Department has promised that they will conducted their own forensic investigation and their own completion of that investigation they would initiate a disciplinary proceedings against her.

Three people injured in a truck collision near Worcester

Loyiso Langeni
23 April 2014

ER24 paramedics this morning attended to an accident on the N1 near Worcester whereby two trucks collided into each other. 

Paramedics Spokesperson Russel Meiring said when they arrived on the scene they found that two mangled trucks blocking one lane of the road. Three occupants were left critically injured and trapped in their truck. 

“Provincial services had to use the jaws-of-life equipment to free the occupants in a 45-minute operation.

Once freed, paramedics provided advanced life support to the patients before they were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.” Meiring added.

The cause of the collision is not yet known and local authorities were on scene for further investigations.

Black Sash welcomes judgement on Sassa

Mluleki Mrwebi
23 April 2014

Black Sash has welcomed the outcome of the Constitutional Court judgment last week against All Pay versus Sassa, and Cash Payment Services. 

The judgement terminates the constitutionally unlawful contract between CPS and Sassa and that mechanisms are in place to ensure the continuity of services to social grant beneficiaries. 

Black Sash Spokesperson Elroy Paulus said there have been deductions for airtime, electricity and various types of loans which were unlawful. 

“We will continue fighting to make sure that Sassa, the Department of Social Development, the Reserve Bank make decisions in the public interest, to protect the bank accounts of beneficiaries and to align deductions to be lawful” Paulus added.

Cash-in-transit incident in George

Bulelani Guwa
23 April 2014

The George Organised Crime Investigation Unit is seeking the assistance of the public in a cash-in-transit incident that took place on Tuesday at a shopping centre in Wildernis. 

Police said a security company was busy collecting cash from one of the shops and two security members were walking back towards the stationed vehicle with the cashbox when the incident occurred. 

Captain Bernadine Steyn said four men approached the security members on foot. Two of the suspects had firearms. The suspects took a container with several bags containing an undisclosed amount of cash. 

Steyn added that the men fled in a green Fiat Uno and a blue BMW. Nobody sustained any injuries during the incident.  Anyone with information is requested to contact the investigating officer constable Jan Koopman on 044 802 1600.

Career Expo to be held in Mitchell’s Plain for the youth

Oscar Thomas
23 April 2014

The Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande will today be in Mitchell’s Plain to host a career Expo.

The Expo is targeting learners and youth in Mitchell’s Plain that are neither in education nor employed. Ministerial Spokesperson Vuyo Yekani said the expo will provide study opportunities, funding and skills courses. 

Yekani said through this program it is expected that our department,the Department of Higher Education Training will be equipping the learners and out of school youth with the necessary information that will enable them to make informed career choices.

Enabling them to tap into other opportunities of education and training in the post-school education and training sector.

“At the career expo a number of our entities at the Department of Higher Education particularly the fitters have exhibits and relay information that might be of use to the students and other young people who are neither in employment or in school” Yekani added.

R10 Million spent on VIP security instead of the poor

OscarThomas
22 April 2014

The Democratic Alliance said it is unacceptable the allegations that the South African Social Security Agency has spent R10 million of public money on VIP protection for its Chief Executive Officer Virginia Petersen and the spokesperson of the Department of  Social Development Lumka Oliphant.

DA MP of Social Development Mike Waters said this is abuse of public money which could have been spent on helping the most vulnerable. 

Waters said we believe that the tendering regulations were flouted and that tender was awarded to unknown company to the value of R10 million rand.

We believe this is a slap in the face for the poor, who the Department of Social Development are actually suppose to benefit.

Waters said If this R10 million rand has been spent on child support grants for example we could’ve given over 2000 children a child's support grant for over a year and this would’ve been direct investment in the poor of our country as appose to wasteful expenditure for VIP security Waters added.

Democratic Alliance to report expenditure on VIP security

Bulelani Guwa
22 April 2014

The Democratic Alliance will report to the Public Protector,  allegations that the South African Social Security Agency has spent R10 million of public money on VIP protection for its Chief Executive Officer Virginia Petersen and the spokesperson of the Department of  Social Development Lumka Oliphant. 

The DAs Mike Waters said they believe the tender regulation was flouted .

“This is a slap in the face for the poor who the department of social development are supposed to benefit.” Said Waters

Waters concluded that if the R10 million had been spent on child support grant,   two thousand children would have received child support grants for a year and this would have been a direct investment for the poor  of South Africa as opposed to wasteful expenditure for VIP security

 

An woman died in a collision in KZN

Loyiso Langeni
22 April 2014

An accident this morning claimed the life of a woman in her thirties on the R103 near Inchange in KwaZulu Natal. 

It is believed that a bakkie hit her and paramedics found her lifeless body lying on top of the bakkie canopy. 

ER24 Spokesperson Luyanda Majija said the elderly bakkie driver and his passenger sustained no injuries but they were in a state of shock.

“Paramedics were told that the bakkie apparently hit the deceased as she was attempting to cross the road causing her to land on the canopy.

The bakkie then allegedly moved a further 150 meters before coming to a stop.” Majija added.

The exact details of the cause of the accident will remain the subject of a police investigation. 

Police getting tough on druglords

Loyiso Langeni
22 April 2014

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said through his investigation of policing he has found that one challenge for the police is drugs and the violence that goes with the illegal drug trade. 

Minister Mthethwa said good community policing includes getting users off the street and into rehabilitation. 

Ministerial Spokesperson David Barritt said Minister has instructed SAPS to increase resources into areas to try and target the big drug lords.

“He said he wants to go out to the big fish because these people are evil they don’t care about that they are destroying the lives of young South Africans

All they care about is dealing drugs which are extraordinary dangerous, in the Western Cape tik is the scourge, it’s a serious problem.” Barritt added.

Five people died and four others injured in Ventersdorp

Mluleki Mrwebi
22 April 2014

An accident in Ventersdorp left five people dead and four others injured this morning.

ER 24 Spokesperson Santie Steinman said when they arrived at scene they found that the two vehicles had collided resulting in the deaths.

She said the four injured people were treated at the scene before they were rushed to hospital.

The exact cause of the accident is not known at this stage and the authorities are investigating. 

Four people died in shack fires in the Cape over the weekend

Mluleki Mrwebi
22 April 2014

According to the Western Cape Disaster Risk Management four people died this past long weekend in shack fires across the Cape. 

The fires occurred in Mfuleni, Nyanga and Mitchell’s Plain.  Authorities are investigating the cause of the fires.

Disaster Risk Management Spokesperson Wilfred Solomons Johannes said about 30 people were left homeless after these shack fires.

He said a man died in Nyanga and in Mfuleni a man with his son and a daughter died.

Wilfred Solomons further said the City has offered some material to the victims to rebuild their structures and the cause of the fires is not known and the authorities are investigating. 

Four people dead and several injured in accidents

Bulelani Guwa
22 April 2014

An accident on the N3 north bound near Warden on Monday evening left four people dead and eight others injured. It is believed that a minibus overturned several times before coming to a standstill.

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Santi Steinmann said upon the arrival on scene they found that a minibus had overturned resulting in eight people sustaining injuries and four people tragically losing their lives. The injured people were treated on scene before they were transported to hospital for further medical care.

In another accident four children were left injured in an accident on the N3 Nottingham Road last night. It is believed that the car they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned.

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Chris Botha said when they arrived on the scene all people with serious injuries were treated on scene and transported to hospitals in Pietermarizburg for further treatment.

Home Affairs working hard to provide secure and reliable population register for the country

Oscar Thomas
19 April 2014

Minister Pandor also emphasised as the department they have worked hard to try and provide a secure and reliable population register for the country. 

Minster Pandor said Home Affairs is moving towards sufficient, accessible, efficient officers to meet the needs of the people across the country. 

Pandor said our Job as Home Affairs is to create one secure national population register. Where all of us whether you are rich whether you are poor, all of us one national population register.

 

Pandor said this is the major function of this department,my desire is to have all of you on that register in order for me to secure your identity Pandor added.

New Home Affairs office opened into improve service delivery

Oscar Thomas
19 April 2014

Minister of Home Affairs Naledi Pandor on Thursday officially opened a new Home Affairs office in Mossel Bay to improve service delivery.

Pandor said this is part of government’s drive to improve quality of services especially for people in remote and rural parts of the country.

Pandor said as the ANC government we have a target of ensuring that services to our communities are at least within a 25km range or less.

We trying to ensure that where we have multi purpose centres to centres such as this one, we have service officers that are closest to communities Pandor said.

So really it’s to bring services closer to the people Pandor added.

Teen in custody after stabbing classmate to death

Oscar Thomas
19 April 2014

A 15-year-old was on Thursday arrested by the Great Brak Police after he stabbed a learner and he later died in hospital.  

The deceased identified as 15-year-old Joseph Isaacs sustained stab wounds to his chest en-route to school.It is believed that the learners were arguing about a seat on the bus when the suspect stabbed the victim with a knife in the chest. 

Captain Malcolm Pojie said Information reveals that the deceased and the suspect argued about a seat on the bus whereafter the suspect, 15, stabbed him with a knife in the chest, he said.

The stabbed pupil got off the bus next to the R102. He was later joined by his father, who accompanied an ambulance taking the boy to George Hospital.

However, attempts to save him were unsuccessful and he died in hospital. An autopsy will be conducted on the deceased's body to determine the exact cause of death.

Pojie said a 15-year-old boy was arrested after being identified by witnesses. He would be assessed by social workers later on Thursday and remained in custody at the Groot Brak River police station.

The teenager was due to appear in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

A woman hit by car in Benoni

Loyiso Langeni
18 April 2014

A woman in her late twenties sustained critical injuries when a vehicle struck her this morning on Longmore Drive in Crystal Park, Benoni.

ER24 Spokesperson Werner Vermaak said when paramedics arrived on the scene they found that bystanders have pulled her in the middle from the middle of the road.

“She sustained critical head injuries and paramedics had to stabilised before she was rushed through to nearby hospital for further medical treatment

it is understood that the vehicle collided with her when she tried to cross the road. Some of the bystanders explained that the vehicle immediately sped off after colliding with her.” Vermaak added.

The incident was handed over to the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department for investigation

Ehrenreich: Promote equality in the Western Cape

Loyiso Langeni
18 April 2014

The Congress of South African Trade Union in the Western Cape has called on the ANC to implement Employment Equity in relation to Provincial demographics. 

This is after a report released last week by the Department of Labour showed that nearly half of all senior positions in the province is filled by white males. 

Cosatu’s Tony Ehrenreich said it is only when we promote equality and justice that we create the environment for sustainable economic growth and development. 

“What Cosatu wants to see is that we must immediately implement Employment Equity that means many white people leave half of the white senior managers would like to be moved out of their jobs in government to somewhere else.

Many of the blacks in engineering industry have to make place for some white workers, general workers in that industry but we have to make sure that Western Cape is more equal and fairly represented and that employment equity is applied according to the law,” Ehrenreich added.

Traffic Operational Plan launched

Bulelani Guwa
17 April 2014

Western Cape MEC of Transport and Public Works Robin Carlisle together with the Safely Home and Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement on Thursday launched the Easter 2014 Provincial Traffic Operational Plan. 

Ministerial Spokesperson Siphesihle Dube said it is important that during this period motorists drive safely and arrive safely home. 

Dube said the focus of the operation is to ensure driver fitness, vehicle fitness, and compliance to safety, speed enforcement and targeting dangerous behaviour by drivers as well as by pedestrians.  The operation will also look at load management.

Dube concluded that they are looking at ensuring that they have lower fatalities than they had last year at this time. They have been lucky to enjoy a decrease in fatalities. Last year fatalities went down by 30 percent. Through these efforts hopefully there will be no fatalities.  

 

68 people injured in a collision

Bulelai Guwa

17 April 2014

 

An accident this morning on the N1 Southbound near Bloemfontein left 68 people seriously injured.

This is after two buses collided into each other.  Upon their arrival paramedics found it was a rear end collision.

 Netcare 911 Spokesperson Santi Steinmann said the exact details of the cause of the accident will remain the subject of a police investigation.

 “All the people were treated on scene before they were transported to various hospitals for further care” said Steinmann

Ports of entry working hours extended.

Bulelani Guwa

17 April 2014

The Department of Home Affairs has extended working hours at all ports of entry for the long Easter weekend.

Minister of Home Affairs Naledi Pandor said the hours have been extended to make sure the facilitation of movement of persons and goods in and out of the country for the Easter weekend is easy and quick.

Departmental Spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa   said the extension of working hours has the implication of deployment of more staff to the ports of entry to ensure quality, effective and efficient services to people moving across South Africa’s port of entry during the Easter weekend.

"In addition the department of Home Affairs takes this opportunity to extend its best Easter wishes to all those travelling through our air, sea and land ports of entry during this period, while reiterating the national message for all to ensure they arrive alive." said Mamoepa

Three motor vehicle collision leaves one person injured

Bulelani Guwa
17 April 2014

An accident this morning at the intersection of Aliwal and Fourth Street in Bloemfontein has left one person seriously injured. 

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Santi Steinmann said when paramedics arrived on scene they found that one person had sustained serious injuries after three motor vehicles collided.

Steinmann said the patient was treated on scene before being transferred to hospital for the further medical care that he required.

The exact details of the cause of the accident will remain the subject of a police investigation.

Five men arrested for robbing a casino in Mthatha

Bulelani Guwa
17 April 2014

Eastern Cape Police today arrested five men who robbed Ritz Bingo Entertainment in Mthatha Plaza which is a casino. 

Eastern Cape Police Spokesperson Mzukisi Fatyela said the men where arrested in different areas within Mthatha. 

Fatyela said during the arrest police recovered two firearms, two millimetre pistols with eleven rounds of ammunition.

“The suspects have also been linked to other cases of armed robbery that has happened in the Mthatha area in the last few months” Fatyela added.

They are expected to appear in court soon.

Another police officer killed in Klapmuts

Loyiso Langeni
17 April 2014

A police officer was shot dead on Wednesday night after he was attacked by three unknown men at Klapmuts Police Station near Stellenbosch. 

Western Cape Police Commissioner Arno Lamoer said the officer was shot twice inside the police station. 

“The message is very clear that we cannot tolerate police officer being killed.

We ask the community to come forward to give us information so that we can solve this crime,” Lamoer added.

17 people injured in a truck collision

Loyiso Langeni
17 April 2014

Seventeen people were left seriously injured early this morning in Newcastle in KwaZulu Natal. 

This is after a construction truck overturned several times and rolled down a steep embankment.

It is believed that the driver of the construction truck apparently swerved out for a cow which led to him losing control of the truck.

ER24 Spokesperson Werner Vermaak said when paramedics arrived on the incident they found that all the people were scattered along the truck down embankment.

“With the help of the local site apartment they managed to get all of them back up to the road where they were treated.

Two of them were in a serious condition and the rest of them sustained moderate injuries. They were all transported through to local hospital for further medical care,” Vermaak added.

Missing Child Alert: Demi Timmye

Minister Sibusiso Ndebele welcomes the Bloemfontein Regional Magistrate Court ruling

Mluleki Mrwebi
17 April 2014

The decision by the Bloemfontein Regional Magistrate Court regarding electronic tagging of a South African remand detainee as an alternative to incarceration has been welcomed. 

Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said inmate population has been reduced to 156, 370 in 2013 and the incarceration rate has also declined from 403 inmates to 290 inmates. 

Ministerial Spokesperson Logan Maistry said Correctional Services Minister Sbu Ndebele has enthusiastically welcomed the court ruling to utilise the electronic monitoring awaiting inmates.

Masitry said the electronic monitoring will go a long way in ensuring that incarceration is reduced. 

Missing Adult Alert: Patrick Woodland

Missing Adult Alert: Portia Zandile Mpetha

Small bus operators to sign a memorandum

Bulelani Guwa
15 April 2014

The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South African National Small Bus Operators Council in the province.

Western Cape MEC of Transport and Public Works Robin Carlisle said the department has identified the need to formalise the establishment of a working relationship, based on mutual understanding and respect. 

Ministerial Spokesperson Siphesihle Dube said this council was established in 2012 and is the representative body for all bus operators who own buses to the maximum of 30 which carry 35 or more people.

"The purpose of the memorandum is to incorporate these small bus operators into the transport family as it were and to provide support and encouragement and to allow them to evolve constructively and be active members of the transport fraternity” said Dube