Robbers caught in the act

Two suspects were arrested on Wednesday following attempts to rob someone in Belhar.

Police caught the duo whilst patrolling the area.

They however, fled the scene in a vehicle when they spotted the officers approaching.

The officers then pursued the duo and fired shots at their vehicle.

Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, says the officers nabbed the suspects after the pair exited their vehicle and tried to flee on foot.

“The suspects received injuries during their altercation with the members and are in custody with the police in a medical facility where they receive treatment. They face charges related to the possession of an imitation firearm and reckless driving”

The 20- and 26-year-old suspect will make their court appearance at the Bellville Magistrate court once charged.

 

Done By: Elona Sibunzi

Police caught suspects attempting a robbery in Belhar

Police were patrolling in the Belhar area when they came across suspects in the act, attempting to rob someone on Wednesday.

Upon seeing police presence, the suspects fled the scene on a motor vehicle, that police said had no registration number attached.

Picture by: Pixabay

“The police chased the suspects as they refused to stop the vehicle and the members fired several shots to the wheels in efforts to stop the vehicle but the suspects sped forth,” said Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, Western Cape police spokesperson.

“The vehicle eventually stopped and the suspects fled on foot but were quickly apprehended by the officers. The suspects sustained injuries during the altercation with the police and they are in custody under police guard in a medical facility where they are receiving treatment,” added Pojie.

The suspects will be charged with possession of an imitation firearm, reckless and negligent driving.

Once they have been charged they will make their first court appearance in the Bellville Magistrate court.

 

Done by: Sihle Jezile

Angolan national arrested at the Cape Town International Airport with cocaine

A 30-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday at Cape Town International Airport by the Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.

The suspect, an Angolan national, was traveling from Brazil via Dubai. According to Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi, the Hawks received a tip-off about the suspect’s flight and tracked his arrival.

Picture: Pixabay

“His arrest follows after the Hawks received information regarding a suspect that boarded a flight from overseas and heading to Cape Town. The information was operationalised and the suspect was spotted. Upon searching his luggage, he was found with cocaine hidden inside the three suitcases. 

The Hawks' South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) in conjunction with the Cape Town Border Police arrested a 30-year-old foreign national for dealing in drugs at the Cape Town International Airport,” Vukubi said. 

When they searched his luggage, they discovered cocaine hidden inside three suitcases. The man was arrested for drug trafficking, and the value of the cocaine is yet to be determined. He is scheduled to appear in Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

In a separate case, police in KwaZulu-Natal seized cocaine worth around R80 million on December 2. The drugs were found in a container at Durban Harbour, which had arrived from Brazil.

Colonel Robert Netshiunda stated that the cocaine was still in its pure form and disguised as kidney beans. The shipment had been tracked since it left Brazil in early November and was only uncovered after the container arrived in Durban on November 30.

It was meant to be sent to Johannesburg, but no arrests have been made yet.

Done by: Stephanie Van Rayen

Three accused of kidnapping and raping girl in Philippi to plead not guilty

The defence lawyer for three suspects accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl in Philippi last November announced that they will plead not guilty. The suspects appeared in Wynberg Magistrates Court yesterday for their bail hearing.

According to reports, Isaac Murishi, David Ndayisaba, and Paul Bucumi allegedly abducted the girl, forcing her into their vehicle before driving away.

They were arrested a week later by a multi-disciplinary investigation team, which included the Hawks and law enforcement from the City of Cape Town.

The men are also facing additional charges of rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and extortion, as they purportedly demanded R10, 000 for the girl's release.

Defense lawyer Livhuwani Nemugomoni stated that this is a sensitive case.

"The people out there need justice, and we should ensure that the right people are brought to justice. This is a bad situation and the community, and the family needs to be assured that the right people have been arrested and the right people are standing trial for what they did, which is wrong" said Nemugomoni.

Done by: Stephanie Van Rayen

         

AIP and Google announce SA local news support fund

The Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) and Google have partnered to establish a first-of-its-kind initiative to support the sustainability and digital transformation of small, local, and independent news publishers in South Africa through targeted project-based funding - the Digital News Transformation Fund (the DNT Fund).

The DNT Fund, launched on 25 November 2024, seeks to recognise the importance of local and independent news publishers in maintaining a vibrant, trusted, and diverse public interest news ecosystem, and to address the resource challenges that have impacted the ability of these publishers to plan for and embark on digital transformation initiatives.

With a commitment of R114-million over three years (R38-million a year), the DNT Fund will provide project-based funding to help small, local and independent news publishers develop and strengthen their digital operations, improve their audience reach and engagement, and enhance the sustainability of their journalism.

Chairperson of the Association of Independent Publishers, Anetta Mangxaba, describes the DNT Fund as a crucial lifeline for independent journalism in South Africa:

“Local, independent publishers are essential to a healthy democracy, acting as watchdogs for their communities and amplifying the voices of grassroots citizens. However, in today’s challenging landscape for public interest journalism, South Africa’s grassroots outlets face immense financial pressures and the challenges of the digital divide.’’

Google News Partner Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa, Marianne Erasmus, says the DNT Fund aims to support local, independent, community and vernacular language public interest news publishers to build a solid digital foundation, expand their audience reach, improve their reader engagement and develop practical data strategies that will lead to a resilient commercial model.

 “We’ve consulted with and listened to news publishers and policymakers in South Africa to develop a funding framework that will meaningfully support the digital transformation needs of the local and community news ecosystem.’’

The DNT Fund is expected to open its first round of applications by March 2025, following industry and stakeholder consultations on its approach to funding and the finalisation of the Fund’s structures and policies.

Done By: Mitchum George

Strict traffic regulations could lead to license suspension

 The Western Cape Government has approved President Cyril Ramaphosa’s strict traffic law as the festive season has approached.

The MEC for Mobility, Isaac Sileku said Ramaphosa's signing of the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill marked a significant breakthrough in increasing road safety capabilities. “This legislation is a crucial step towards reducing road accidents and fatalities on our roads,” Sileku said.

He said that residents should approach to road safety, strict regulations for drivers and vehicles, improved enforcement, and enhanced penalties for offenders.

The Western Cape Government has urged residents, whether driving a car, bicycle or going by foot to be responsible in the roads and prioritize safety

Done by: Sibongintando Hemeni

Western Cape police arrested suspects in connection with a business burglary

Western Cape Police arrested four suspects aged between 21 and 32 in connection with a business robbery which took place in Elsies River on Wednesday.

Picture by: SAPS

“The members performed crime prevention duties in Mfuleni when they were alerted about the robbery. Being on the lookout, they spotted a vehicle which were described to have been involved in the business robbery,” Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, Western Cape police spokesperson.

“The members pulled over the vehicle with four occupants inside and ensued with a search resulting in the discovery of an imitation firearm, an undisclosed amount of cash and a cellular phone which were connected to the robbery,” added Pojie.

The suspects were arrested and will appear in the Goodwood Magistrates court for their first appearance soon.

 

Done by: Sihle Jezile

Western Cape schools are full for 2025

 

Western Cape MEC David Maynier confirmed that schools in the Western Cape are already full. Thousands of children are expected to wait until next year for placement.

On December 4 the Western Cape Education department (WCED) allocated 97% places of the learners whose applications were received for Grade 1 and Grade 8 for the 2025 school year.

Placement was in progress for 3 698 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners. In addition, from January 1 2025 the department expects to receive late admission applications.

Maynier said they were building new schools and classrooms through the Rapid School Build Programme with six new schools and 180 additional classrooms at existing schools scheduled to be completed by January next year.

They aim to complete a further three schools and 85 additional classrooms at existing schools by the end of March 2025.

 Done by: Shaneca Cupido

Living Rights Festival: A Powerful Call for Global Human Rights and Justice

On International Human Rights Day, commemorated annually on 10 December, the Living Rights Festival concluded with a profound message of hope, accountability, and urgent action against global injustices. Bringing together activists, artists, academics, and civil society organizations, the festival emerged as a critical platform for addressing the most pressing human rights challenges of our time.

Professor Ari Sitas, Acting Director of the Institute for African Alternatives, set the tone by describing our world as "losing its moral compass," where human beings are often reduced to "collateral damage." The festival confronted stark global issues, from the ongoing genocide in Palestine to systemic inequalities, climate catastrophes, and unchecked global militarization.

The festival explored critical themes including: Conflict and human experiences; Economic and climate justice; Democracy and accountability; Reconciliation and healing; The role of activist movements.

A particularly focus was the situation in Gaza, where over 17,000 children have been killed, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention and humanitarian action.

Central to the festival was the recognition of art as a powerful tool for human expression and liberation. The "Unbroken Spirits: Concert for Humanity" drew parallels between resistance struggles, while performances like the Insurrections Ensemble's "Must Gandhi Fall" critically examined historical narratives of resistance and leadership.

The festival concluded with a resolute call for global accountability. Key demands include Resisting systemic oppression; Building peace through civil society initiatives; Demanding accountability from global powers; and prioritizing human dignity over militarization

The festival also celebrated the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nihon Hidankyo, survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, whose advocacy underscores the critical need for global disarmament.

As Professor Crain Soudien emphasized, the work ahead involves reimagining human rights frameworks, confronting systemic discrimination, and creating more inclusive global development agendas.

 

Done by: Esobusi Mkangelwa

RAF warns it will compensate 'deliberate accidents'

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has warned claimants that it will not compensate someone who intentionally causes a motor vehicle accident, even if it results in serious injuries.

PICTURE: Pixabay

This comes as its reported that people throw themselves against moving vehicles, to enable themselves to claim from the Fund. It is understood that such people wait for the vehicles to slow down enough that they do not get killed on impact before throwing themselves.

‘’This behaviour is dangerous and adds unnecessary pressure on the Fund which must assess and investigate claims of rightful claimants efficiently. In the event of death, the RAF further does not compensate beneficiaries of those who are the authors of their own misfortune,’’ said McIntosh Polela, RAF Head of Corporate Communications.

The RAF Act requires that the respective degrees of fault, blame or negligence, amongst other things, must be determined upon receiving a claim.

According to figures from RAF, it declined 49 631 claims from 2021/2022 to 2023/24. It cited cases where a claimant was solely responsible for causing the road crash; claims where the claimant died before finalisation of the claim; where injuries sustained were so minor that no claim for damages arose; and claims that were lodged fraudulently.

‘’We acknowledge road users may be faced with socio-economic challenges. However, road safety and road crash prevention efforts must remain a priority to all as they contribute towards the reduction of accidents,’’ said McIntosh Polela, RAF Head of Corporate Communications.

RAF says the Fund does not compensate for the death itself but only pays for the actual costs to cremate the deceased or bury them in a grave.

2024 school year concludes!

The 2024 school year officially ended on Wednesday, and the Western Cape Education Department has appealed to the public to keep a close eye on their local schools, which are targets of vandalism and burglary whenever schools are closed.

PICTURE: Pixabay

Over the December-January 2023 holiday period, twenty-four schools in the Western Cape, were either burgled or vandalized, with 26 incidents reported. This is a significant decrease compared to the same holiday period in 2022, when 48 incidents were reported at 42 schools.

Education MEC, David Maynier, says his department has subsidized security for more than 400 schools over this holiday period, further urging residents living close to schools to report any suspicious activity to police.

‘’We are subsiding holiday security at 480 of our schools over the break, but we need the support of our communities to keep our schools safe while closed. Please keep a close eye on your local school, and report any suspicious activity to the SAPS immediately. Quick reporting can make all the difference in deterring would-be criminals, or apprehending perpetrators that have targeted our schools.’’

Maynier wished teachers and learners a safe and peaceful holiday.

‘’This has been a challenging year for the Western Cape Education Department and our schools, and we thank our teachers, principals, School Governing Bodies and officials for the leadership they have shown during this period.’’

‘’Next year is likely to be even more challenging. We encourage staff and learners to get as much rest as they can, to return refreshed and ready for the 1st term in January!,’’ added David Maynier, Education MEC.

Schools reopen on 15 January 2025

 

Done By: Elona Sibunzi