Oudtshoorn Municipality put under administration

Mbasa Gqokoma

31 July 2015

The African National Congress in the Western Cape has welcomed the intervention to place the Oudtshoorn Municipality under administration.

The municipality has not produced a budget for a year and the municipality has also seen leadership struggles.

ANC’s Cobus Grobler said this also brings an end to the fallacy that Oudtshoorn is closed down, that is not true, and it is still service delivery as usual.

“We call on ANC councillors and other parties to work together to make sure that service delivery is efficient and that the council is active on issues” Grobler added.

Building collapse in Booysens leaves one dead

Melon Radebe

31 July 2015

An incident in Booysens earlier today left one person dead and another one sustained moderate injuries. This is after part of the building they were working on collapsed.

ER24 and provincial paramedics arrived on scene and found one person was trapped under. He was assessed and it was found that he had succumbed to his injuries.

ER24’s spokesperson Chitra Bodasing said this about the one survivor, “He was treated and transported to hospital for further medical treatment.”

Scottsdene High inspections to continue

Rentse Khiba

31 July 2015

The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works said it will continue with inspections and interventions at the recently completed Scottsdene High School.

This as the school has been said to have structural problems which are deemed unsafe for the learners.

Ministerial Spokesperson Siphsihle Dube said “structural elements of both the double story and the single story building, including bearing walls and floor slabs needed to be assessed against industry standards”

Dube also said, ”this prompted the Western Cape Education Department in consultation with the Department of Transport and Public works to close the newly constructed school on 20^th July 2015 as the safety of learners and teaching staff is the highest priority.”

IFP urges the KZN government not to yield to MKVA

Melon Radebe

31 July 2015

The Inkatha Freedom Party said the country cannot allow a situation where certain people will use their status and contracts to get special treatment.

This follows the alleged demand by the Umkhonto WeSizwe Military Veteran’s Association that its members be employed at various municipalities.

The IFP urges the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial government not to allow to be held to ransom by the Umkhonto WeSizwe Military Veteran’s Association.

The IFP’s Blessed Gwala said, “They must follow the due process. Not to use their status to get jobs from government.”

Suspects arrested in Woodstock robbery

Rentse Khiba

31 July 2015

Five suspects have been arrested for armed robbery and possession of unlicensed fire-arms and ammunition in Woodstock.

 The victims of the robbery were able to give descriptions of the suspects and the car’s registration number, which the police followed up on.

Sergeant Hilton Malila said,” Members of the Woodstock police station arrested Five men in Voortrekker road for an armed robbery incident committed in Salt River.”

Malila added that a 9mm was confiscated upon arrest, including the complainant’s personal items.

Suspects will appear in the Cape Town magistrates Court Malila said.

Paramedics use specialized equipment to extricate woman

Melon Radebe

31 July 2015

An accident early this morning at Orient Crossing near Magaliesburg left one person dead.

It is believed that the vehicle the woman was driving went straight across at the T-junction crossing and overturned several times.

Upon the assessment of the occupant, paramedics found that a woman believed to be in her thirties tragically lost her life during the roll-over accident.

Netcare 911 Spokesperson, Santi Steinmann said, “The fire department had to make use of specialized equipment to extricate the woman’s body from the vehicle.

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

POPCRU: ensure police are properly armed

Rentse Khiba

31 July 2015

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union condemn the recent spate of police killings that have taken place over the last month.

They warn the public that police will use any necessary means possible when confronted with dangerous criminals.

POPCRU is calling on police management across the country to ensure the police are properly armed and well-resourced.

The union Spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said “The police force should obviously react defensively towards such a nature of crimes, another thing we would like to emphasize on, is that we need to ensure that we find a way in which communities can better work with the police.”

He also reported that police have been able to arrest a lot of criminals and a lot of guns have been apprehended since then.

WCED handling the Scottsdene Secondary School matter

Loyiso Langeni

31 July 2015

Education officials from the Western Cape Education Department have decided to temporarily relocate learners from Scottsdene Secondary School until the WCED is 100 percent sure that the school is structurally safe.

This decision comes after concerns were raised by engineers that the school’s building may not meet structural requirements.

Ministerial Spokesperson Jessica Shelver said The WCED will not compromise on learner and educator safety.

“We are therefore, decided to temporarily relocate the learners to other premises until we are 100% sure that Scottsdene is structurally safe.

We pleased that the WCED has come up with a plan to ensure that teaching will take place in an environment that is conducive to teaching and learning” Shelver added.

She also said that there is a hope that the broader school community will work together in the interest of education.

WC ANC denounces incitement of people to take law into own hands

Mbasa Gqokoma

31 July 2015

The African National Congress in the Western Cape denounces any incitement of people to take the law into their own hands.

The ANC says that vigilantism is a form of criminal behavior that is punishable under the law.

This statement comes after the arrest of Ses’khona leader and ANC Provincial Executive member Andile Lili for his incitement of violence made publicly earlier this week.

Faiez Jacobs said we want to make sure that our members respect the rule of law and everybody is innocent until proven guilty.

Jacobs added that “I think for us that is a very important point, we fought for the constitution and democracy”.

We will investigate the matter as the ANC and that is our approach, Jacobs added.

Cosatu expresses concern on country’s transport system

Mbasa Gqokoma

30 July 2015

The Congress of the South African Trade Union has expressed concern over the country’s transport system.

In a statement Cosatu said recent reports have suggested that there are serious challenges in the transport system, from the mode of transport to the safety of passengers.

Cosatu’s Khwezi Mabasa said some of the problems in the transport sector are related to reduced state funding and particular the bus subsidy and also based on the fact that public money has been used to fund the Gautrain and only the small portion of the population.

Mabasa added that the Cosatu leadership is going to have a meeting with the Minister of Transport to raise the issue and also try to find a solution.

MEC Plato says NO to community violence

Rentse Khiba

30 July 2015

Western Cape MEC of Community Safety, Dan Plato said safety is everyone’s responsibility but taking the law into your own hands will not make anyone safer.

Ministerial Spokesperson Ewald Botha said MEC Plato believes that he cannot create a safer environment where people live, work and move about if apparent leaders in community call for violence murder and crime in response to their own unhappiness with the criminal justice system.

This follows the arrest of ANC’s Andile Lili following comments he made outside a Cape Town court earlier this week. Lili said since the justice system is failing the poor he called on communities to take the law into their own hands.

Botha said, such behaviour will not be tolerated and that disciplining Mr Lile would send a strong message to others.

Meanwhile the Social Justice Coalition has condemned the comments made by Andile Lili, stating that the comments were reckless and uncalled for.

SJC’s Axolile Notywala said instead of advocating for further violence and bloodshed Lili should use the platforms and avenues he has as a leader and a member of the provincial ANC to put pressure on the police and the justice system and government to ensure that the commissions’ recommendations are implemented and other necessary actions taken.

It has been reported that Lili was arrested this morning on a charge of inciting violence.

Disadvantaged schools in the WC to receive internet

Melon Radebe

30 July 2015

The Western Cape government on Wednesday signed a 5-year Local Area Network contract to provide internet for schools in the province.

The provincial government said E-learning will enhance quality education by increasing access to quality ICT disadvantaged communities, and also provide support for struggling learners.

Young people in schools will have broadband access internet from either a tablet device or computer in one of their computer labs or even from their cellphones.

“We say that because what this means is that, the more and more we roll-out broadband the more and more people get connected, there will be an opportunity for them to keep up to date and compete in the global market.” Mpofu concluded. 

Pretoria man shot in the head

Rentse Khiba

30 July 2015

A Pretoria man is in a serious condition after he was shot in the head outside a hotel on the corners of Wessels and Church Road last night.

ER24 Spokesperson Russel Meiring said, ER24 paramedics as well as SAPS were alerted to the scene and upon arrival, they found the patient in the reception area of the hotel.

Meiring added that, when they assessed the patient they found that he was in a serious state, yet fully conscious.

“Treatments as well as life support interventions were immediately performed on the patient before he was transported to Meulmed hospital for further treatment.” Meiring said.

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

RSR to conduct testing on new PRASA locomotives

Melon Radebe

30 July 2015

The Railway Safety Regulator wrote to the Minister of Transport to inform her of the current progress of testing the locomotives purchased by PRASA.

The locomotives were purchased for commercial use.

The Minister believes the PRASA Board of Directors can handle the task despite challenges that have arisen.

Ministrial Spokesperson Tiyani Rikhotso said the RSR has informed the Minister that they have given a no objection stage approval for PRASA to continue with its commissioning and testing of the locomotives.

Rikhotso said what it means is that they still have to conduct further tests before they can give a final approval for the locomotives to be utilised in the South African passenger rail market.

“The Minister has welcomed the report and she calls for patience while the RSR continues with their work”, Rikhotso concluded.

Goal of 18 000 dignity packs distributed reached

Loyiso Langeni

30 July 2015

Dignity Dream and the Deputy Minister in the Presidency Buti Manamela reached their goal of providing 18 000 dignity packs on Nelson Mandela International Day.

The two joined together to challenge corporations to meet the needs of South Africa’s schoolgirls over a 67-day period.

The goal was to ensure that girls are kept in school and have access to safe and hygienic sanitary pads.

Matshepo Seedat said the goal was to raise sufficient funds to distribute 18 000 packs of Dignity Dream to girls who are unable to afford sanitary towels.

“The largest single donation was by the National Youth Development Agency which donated R200 000 which resulted in 1 248 sanitary towels. Ordinary South Africans also came on board contributing towards this call” Seedat added.

She concluded by saying that Grade 5 and 6 pupil of Glenstantia primary school and Grade 10 and 11 from St Dominic’s girl’s high school donated their pocket money towards the Dignity Dream packs.    

A case reported to the SAPS about a 7-year-old assaulted girl

Mbasa Gqokoma

30 July 2015

The case of a 7-year-old Mitchells Plain girl who was allegedly assaulted by boys in her area has been reported to the South African Police Services.

The Western Cape Department of Social Development made contact with the girl’s family. Childline, the Department’s NGO partner, has begun offering support and services to the girl while the Department of Social Development is offering support to the girl’s mother. 

Minister Albert Fritz said we also very encouraging the department to take drastic actions, and we are pleased on how the community responds to our call.

“We have instances like these and cases like these reported to the police and to the department. We will act on them and we are very encouraged about that” he concluded. 

Parliament: Youth Roundtable Discussion on entrepreneurship to fight poverty

Mbasa Gqokoma

29 July 2015

Parliament today hosted a Youth Roundtable Discussion with emphasise on creating a culture of entrepreneurship amongst the youth, in order to eradicate poverty and unemployment.

Bernice Hlagala from the Presidency said the National Youth Policy which was adopted in May this year aims to empower young people and build a culture of patriotism.

Hlagala said there is a need to improve the quality of further education and training by expanding young people who are actually part of those.

She added that more funding for academically deserving students particularly those from poor families is important. We need to recruit graduates into the public service.

“It is important that young graduates also see public service as an employer of choice” she added

Commitment from SSOE’s to train artisans as well as access to information through IT developments. We need to attract young people into those areas, she emphasised

Meanwhile with 7.3% of young people living with HIV Hlagala stressed the importance of a proper healthcare system. She said government is working at reducing the availability of drugs and alcohol to the youth.

Hlagala said on health care and healthy lifestyles we need to make sure that there is increased access to information and knowledge around sexuality issues.

It is important that we need to promote healthy lifestyles particularly looking at sexuality issues.

Hlangala added that we need to facilitate responsive information, education, counselling to adolescence and we need to also make sure that there is overall transformation on the health care system, including the introduction of the National Health Insurance.

“Additionally there is a need to reduce availability of drugs and alcohol more especially in schools” she concluded.

WC ANC accepts bailout package for Oudtshoorn Municipality

Mbasa Gqokoma

29 July 2015

The African National Congress in the Western Cape said it supports the administration bailout package for Oudtshoorn municipality by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs National Minister Pravin Gordan.

ANC Provincial Chairperson Klaas Windvogel said they regret the confusion in the media that this package was presented by the Democratic Alliance.

Windvogel said unfortunately the way it was presented to Council created the impression that it’s a support package by the MEC Anton Bredell.

He said that the ANC rejected the package and they demanded that the package as agreed upon by the national Minister, Pravin Gordon.

Windvogel added that the Deputy Minister Nel and the MEC said this package should be implemented and accepted.

“It was by mistake interpreted as a package from the MEC and that is why the ANC component rejected it” Windvogel concluded.

ACDP calls for access to learning for learners in the WC

Mbasa Gqokoma

29 July 2015

The African Christian Democratic Party wants the Western Cape Department of Education to do more to place children in schools in order to maximize their education.

ACDP Western Cape Leader Ferlon Christians says more children are joining occupied mobile schools in Dunoon.

ACDP says the children need to be placed in primary schools as soon as possible.

Christians said the ACPD is asking the Western Cape Education Department to intervene so that learners can get placed in proper schooling and have better learning experiences. “We know that schooling is the only way to get out of poverty,” said Christians.

The department is negotiating at the moment with the City of Cape Town for the continued use of the site but, the ACPD is asking and urging the Education Department to do more in order for those learners to be placed, Christians concluded.

Seven arrested for impersonating the Hawks in Limpopo

Lusanda Bill

29 July 2015

Seven suspects are appearing in court today after they were arrested for being part of a syndicate of impersonating the Hawks.

The arrest follows an investigation which started in March this year which already six other suspects have been arrested.

Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the syndicate was cheating people in terms of demanding money from them with the pretense of releasing suspects from court, and as such the money would be deposited into and account where it would then be distributed amongst the suspects.

Mulaudzi said while the operation was successful we still believe there might be more people involved and as such the investigation is still ongoing.

MEC Plato condemns stabbing to death of a police officer on the N2

Lusanda Bill

29 July 2015

Western Cape MEC of Community Safety Dan Plato said the safety of the N2 highway remains a major concern. This follows the murder of a police officer this morning after the Baden Powell Drive off-ramp.

According to police the officer was attacked by unknown suspects when he stopped to change a flat tyre.

He was stabbed and succumbed to his injuries.

Ministerial Spokesperson Ewald Botha said MEC Plato has called on all police authorities and Sanral to erect and maintain sufficient access restriction fencing along the N2 to prevent access to the road reserve and the highway.

Botha said the SAPS to arrest any pedestrian on the N2 on sight and for them to be charged with contravening the National Road Traffic Act.

“Also the SAPS, Provincial Traffic and City Law Enforcement authorities need to uphold the standing orders from last year which compels any official to assist any vehicle that is pulled over on the N2” Botha added.

EC government stresses the importance of keeping a girl child in school

Lusanda Bill

29 July 2015

The Eastern Cape government says the Sanitary Dignitary Campaign will benefit over one-thousand children in ten schools in the province.

On Tuesday the provincial government hosted a drive in Peddie to restore the dignity of a girl child.

Mayor of the Ngqushwa Municipality Solomzi Ndwayana has stressed the importance of keeping a girl child in school.

Ndwanyana said people must look after their children especially girl children because they are prone to abuse by unscrupulous people.

“Let’s carry forward this fight especially here in Ngqushwa because if we take girls to school we will go a long way in alleviating poverty” Ndwayana added.  

DA and COPE comment on Daniel Mtimkulu

Loyiso Langeni

29 July 2015

The Democratic Alliance says it is regrettable that the former Head of Engineering Services at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa Daniel Mtimkulu has resigned before there was an investigation into his qualifications.

However, the DA is happy with the swift action taken to lay criminal charges against Mtimkulu to investigate the waste of taxpayers’ money.

DA MP of Transport Manny de Freitas said Mtimkhulu should be used as example to anybody who submits fake certification.

The DA has written to Prasa’s Board Chairperson to request that he ask Mtimkulu to pay back the salary he has been earning over the last four years as an employee of Prasa, because he was doing it under false pretences.

Likewise, while the Congress of the People is also pleased that Daniel Mtimkulu, the Head of Engineering at PRASA, has resigned, they say they will continue their action against him.

They will also continue to press for action against those who improperly appointed Mtimkulu to Head Engineer.

COPE Spokesperson Dennis Bloem they will not stop with their action against Mtimkhulu and suspended CEO Lucky Montana. We have opened up fraud cases against these two notwithstanding his resignation from Prasa.

“Cope is saying we want the money back that he was being paid as an employee of Prasa” Bloem added.

Saps yielding in the right direction

Loyiso Langeni

29 July 2015

The South African Police Service believes the decision by the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation to nominate SAPS as a good practice case study is an indication that SAPS is headed in a positive direction.

MPAT nominated SAPS to be a good practice case study based on its performance on the Management Performance Assessment Tool. The study is done by Wits University.

Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said they decided to use SAPS because of its management performances where they have made great stride.

Naidoo added that they have moved from position 27 to 12 in the previous financial year and they have just leant now that they have gone even further up the ladder but it has not been announced yet exactly what the position is.

“We are very ecstatic about this, we started a long and very difficult journey in turning the SAPS around, in terms of governance, management and administrative perspective. This is because of the seven belief that a well-managed organization is bound to do better in achieving its goal” Naidoo said.

MEC Winde: Language schools and tourism sector losing money

Melon Radebe and Rentse Khiba
25 July 2015

Western Cape MEC of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde today said the new visa regulations has had a negative economic impact on the tourism and education sector.

During a press briefing today, MEC Winde touched on the national regulators impact on tourism in the province. He made sure to highlight the fact that despite tourism in South Africa being affected by the new visa regulations, an additional sector affected is the education sector, namely English language schools around the country.

Meanwhile the English language schools, which are well known for teaching foreign nationals living in South Africa, Basic English were reported to be losing students at a rapid pace according to Winde. 

The MEC stated that on recent visits to English language schools across the province the amount of students had been cut down by 50% and that it had reached the point where language school teachers needed to be retrenched.

 

In recent reports Johannes Kraus, chairman of Education South Africa, said more than R34 million has been lost between January to March 2015. With accommodation prices included it was R42 million this year so far.

 

Winde claimed that when one group of tourists tries to apply for a visa at the same time, others in the group would be unsuccessful. This of course discouraged tourists.

 

MEC Winde mentioned that whenever tourists rate their top 10 cities to visit, Cape Town is always included.  But now that the new visa regulations have been implemented, people don’t want to come. They now prefer to either travel to Australia or Kenya.

 

He also went on to say that tour companies were more focused on drawing tourists to these countries. However, Winde said that the local tourism industry could learn a lot from these countries. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Tokozile Xasa plans to visit China. Xasa wants to see how the Chinese tourism industry is run.

 

 

 

 

 

NUM reach wage agreement with Village Main Reef

Loyiso Langeni

28 July 2015

The National Union of Mineworkers has signed a two-year agreement with Village Main Reef.

NUM General Secretary David Sipunzi said they hope that the offer tabled by Village Main Reef is going to put more pressure on bigger gold mining companies to try and match the monetary value of the basic wage increase.

Sipunzi added that they offer an increase of R1000 for underground workers entry level and R80 surface.  

“Unfortunately those amounts do not attract benefits but should we reach a better offer with other remaining participants in the chamber that will spill over to this agreement with Village Main Reef,” Supunzi said. 

Suspect arrested contravening the Medicines Control Act

Loyiso Langeni

28 July 2015

The City of Cape Town arrested 127 suspects over the past weekend of which one suspect was arrested for contravening the Medicines Control Act.

Deputy Chief Metro Police Yolande Faro said the members came across 37 bottles of codeine cough syrup during a joint operation with the South African Police Service in Milnerton focusing on liquor enforcement.

“Apart from the charges pertaining to the Medicines Control Act, the suspect will also face a charge of being in possession of stolen goods” Faro added.

Meanwhile through the Stabilisation Unit 14 suspects were arrested on drug-related charges during their first day of deployment in Manenberg.

DA calling for the suspension of SAA Chairperson Dudu Myeni’s

Lusanda Bill

28 July 2015

The Democratic Alliance is calling on the Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene to suspend the Chairperson of the South African Airways and institute an investigation into Dudu Myeni’s tenure as a SAA board member.

Myeni has been accused of selling meetings with President Jacob Zuma for thousands of rands at a time.

The DA believes Myeni’s tenure has been riddled with controversy since her appointment last year.

DA MP of Public Enterprises Natasha Mazzone said pending an outcome of an investigation into alleged mismanagement going on in the airline, we feel this is a serious incident which must be investigated.

“Treasury has taken over as custodian of SAA and therefore we expect Minister Nene to act without any hesitation in suspending her immediately and instituting an investigation” Mazzone added.    

Eastern Cape government restoring dignity of a girl child

Lusanda Bill

28 July 2015

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government is currently hosting a Sanitary Dignity Pack Campaign in Peddie today, in a drive to restore the dignity of a girl child.

The Campaign is part of the Nelson Mandela Month activities to give dignity and enhance confidence and self-reliance in girls from poverty stricken areas who do not have access to such services.

Manager Media Relations in the Office of the Premier Hlanga Mafani said when girls go into menstrual period they miss about four days a week in total a year its more than 548 days.

Mafani said this campaign will make sure that one it restores the dignity of girl children that does not have access to these services. Secondly it will ensure that there is a continued effort in the province to improve the standard of education.  

South African Students’ Congress calling for free education

Lusanda Bill

28 July 2015

The South African Students’ Congress calls on the TVET Colleges to intensify the strikes in demand of free education across South Africa.

The Students’ Congress does not believe that the government takes students demands as seriously or urgently as the students deserve.

Students’ Congress Secretary General Luzuko Buku said government’s announcement that there is free education for the poor is not what is happening in reality.

Buku said students need to join this strike so that there can be free education in the country.

Home Affairs: Minister Gigaba has put measures to fight fraud and corruption

Mbasa Gqokoma

28 July 2015

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said the department has put measures in place to fight fraud and corruption.

This as the departments Marabastad office has been rated as the most corrupt at 62%.

Minister Gigaba said fraudulent activities undermine all noble efforts to render an efficient and professional service.

Minister Gigaba said there is an integrated multi-disciplinary responsive team dealing specifically with Marabastad consisting of the Department of Home Affairs, State Security Agency, the Directorate for Priority Crimes investigation as well as the South African Revenue Service.

Gigaba said it was set up to attend to the challenges of Marabastad in a holistic manner where 30 officials were dismissed in the past 2 years in Marabastad.

Gigaba added that they will do all in (their) power to abut the twin evils of fraud and corruption within the public service.

Meanwhile Minister Gigaba said any officials and persons found guilty of unethical criminal conduct will continue facing without fail the full might of the law.

He added that between April and July, the department had carried out investigations that resulted in five officials’ arrest and three other individuals.

Gigaba said working with Law Enforcement Agencies and Government Departments in the Justice and Security Cluster they are making serious inroads in this regard as shown by recent arrests across the country, convictions and imprisonments for fraud and corruption.

He added that “strategies and tactics we have adopted in strengthening our counter corruption unit in abling it to prevent, detect and reduce instances of corruption are bearing fruit”.

 Many culprits within and outside our department have been brought to book for various acts of fraud and corruption, he concluded.

WC MEC for Community Safety hands over a Safety Kiosk in Tygerberg

Mbasa Gqokoma

27 July 2015

The Western Cape MEC of Community Safety Dan Plato believes the handover of a Safety Kiosk to the Tygerberg Hospital precinct will assist in the hospital’s ability to provide a safer environment for more efficient health service delivery.

The area is currently manned by 10 Chrysalis graduates as community liaison officers.

Ministerial Spokesperson Ewald Botha said the handover forms part of the Safety Partnership launched in April this year.

Botha said this mobile, high visibility point of safety has been deployed to Tygerburg Hospital since the end of June 2015 and is manned by 10 Chrysalis Graduates as community liaison officers within the hospital and on the precinct, using the Community Safety Kiosk as a base for their functioning.

He added that the effectiveness of the graduates is displayed in the statistics which show that they have assisted 638 members of the public within the first 2 weeks deployment.

Prasa’s Head Engineer Daniel Mtimkulu resigned

Mbasa Gqokoma

27 July 2015

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has confirmed it has received the resignation letter, from its former head of engineering Daniel Mtimkulu.

Last week Mtimkulu was suspended with immediate effect after he allegedly claimed he had obtained a doctorate in engineering that could not be verified by PRASA.

Group Chief Strategy Officer Sipho Sithole said PRASA can confirm that Daniel Mtimkulu has resigned from his position as Head of Engineering Services.

Sithole said this is as after charges have been put against him for gross dishonesty and fraudulently misrepresenting his academic qualifications.

7-year-old girl allegedly sexually assaulted in Mitchells Plain

Mbasa Gqokoma

27 July 2015

The Western Cape Department of Social Development has expressed concern over a case where a 7-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by boys in her area in Mitchell’s Plain.

MEC of Social Development Albert Fritz has urged parents to report cases of abuse and neglect.

Fritz said what we have done was further to establish the facts and social workers to give support to the family of the victim and the victim itself.

“We are also going to allow the Criminal Justice System to take effect”.

We will support the police and the courts in establishing the truth behind this matter and give necessary support to the family, Frits added.

A man died after a truck burst into flames in KZN

Mbasa Gqokoma

27 July 2015

A truck driver died this morning after the truck he was driving burst into flames on the R56 in Richmond outside Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal.

ER24 Spokesperson Russel Meiring said ER24 paramedics arrived on scene, and on their arrival, they found a wreckage of a truck parked on the side of the road.

Meiring said the cargo of wooden beams were spread across the entire scene. Prior to the arrival of paramedics, fire services had extinguished the fire, which had broken out when the truck collided with a rock embankment.

Meiring said when paramedics assessed the lone occupant, they found that the man had already succumbed to his multiple burn wounds.

Nothing more could be done for the patient and he was declared dead, Meiring concluded.

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

A new-born baby found dumped in a plastic bag

Mbasa Gqokoma

27 July 2015

Cape Town police have opened an inquest docket for investigation, after the body of a newborn baby was found in a plastic bag in Heideveld over the weekend.

A pedestrian discovered the body next to the Heideveld High School fence on Duinefontein Road.

Lieutenant Ian Bennett said at this point in time it is uncertain on why the baby was left or how the child died.

Bennett said SAPS has opened an inquest dock to determine the cause of death.

“We call on anyone who has information to come forward with any information regarding the baby boy,” said Bennett.

We are also searching for the mother in this point in time. To anybody who has information regarding this incident can contact Manenberg SAPS on 021 699 9400 or the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111, Bennett concluded.

A 16-year-old boy in a critical condition following stabbing incident

Lusanda Bill

27 July 2015

A stabbing incident this morning on Springbok Avenue in Middelburg has left a 16-year-old boy in a critical condition.

The boy was stabbed while walking to school.

ER24 Spokesperson Russel Meiring said ER24 paramedics were alerted to the incident and immediately responded to the high school.

Meiring said when paramedics assessed the patient they found that he had sustained stab wounds to his arms and back. Paramedics treated the patient for his injuries and provided him with advanced life support interventions.

“Once treated, the patient was transported to Midmed Hospital for urgent medical treatment” Meiring added.

Protest action in Port Elizabeth condemned

Lusanda Bill

27 July 2015

The Eastern Cape Education Department has condemned the protest action by pupils and parents in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth.

The protest is over the shortage of teachers and lack of infrastructure in schools.

Departmental Spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the department together with the parents had a meeting on Sunday to try and resolve some of the issues.

Mtima said in principle there has been an agreement on various issues that rate in them closing down schools. Today they have used the day to talk to their membership culminating in a meeting at 18:00 this evening.

“The Department has agreed to also meet tomorrow to tie the loose ends from the discussions that were held last night” Mtima added. 

Suspect arrested on various charges including murder

Lusanda Bill

27 July 2015

A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with three alleged robberies that took place in the Ekhurhuleni area.

The suspect was arrested on Sunday following an anti-crime joint operation.

Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said we arrested a man initially who was found to be in possession of a vehicle that was suspected to be stolen. That vehicle we later verified as the vehicle that was hijacked in April this year.

Naidoo said after conducting follow-up investigation and profiling of the suspect we further discovered he had a string of convictions including murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.