WRAP-UP BULLETIN

WRAP-UP BULLETIN                                                                                                    9 JULY 2019

As the bloodletting on the Cape Flats continues unabated and calls for the deployment of the army fall on deaf ears, a desperate call to declare a state of emergency in the province has been made to jolt the national government into action. Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz on Monday urged the national government to consider declaring a provincial state of emergency after a weekend in which 55 people were killed across the province. IOL reports that echoing the calls made by community leaders across the Cape Flats following the bloodshed over the weekend, the MEC said: “Between midnight Friday and 6am today, there were 55 unnatural deaths which resulted from gunshot wounds and sharp objects in the province; 33 of which were in the metro west region.

The average dam level in the Western Cape has increased by more than 6% during the past week. Iol reports that The latest average level for dams across the province stands at 45.4% (2018: 47.2%). The City of Cape Town’s dams continue to see good recovery and are now on average 59.6% full (2018: 53%). Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell said water continues to flow to dams around the province from various catchment areas following recent rainfall.

Three people have died after sand fell into a trench on Sandown Road in Table View, Cape Town, on Monday night. IOL reports that Yesterday evening, just after 5pm, the City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue responded to persons trapped on Sandown road, Table View. Upon arrival, it was found that three persons were trapped in a trench as a result of the walls caving in.  The City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said Fire Services, Metro and other agencies worked tirelessly throughout the night to recover the bodies. The bodies of three adult males were eventually recovered and the scene was handed over to SAPS

The District Six Working Committee is trying to gather more support for the renaming of Keizersgracht to Hanover Street. Ewn reports that The City of Cape Town’s public participation process is currently under way. It runs until 22 July.This Saturday a rally will be held in Salt River in a bid to get more people to throw their weight behind the process. At the same time, a process is under way to rename Zonnebloem back to District Six.The committee’s Shahied Ajam said: “It’s all to do with the bigger picture leading up to 24 September, being Heritage Day. He said he predict Hanover Street will be handed over to the people of District Six

After the nationwide outcry against the City for implementing a by-law under which homeless people are issued fines for sleeping in public places, the Community Chest conducted an urgent discussion yesterday with key stakeholders to try to find solutions. Iol reports that The meeting was attended by the SA Human Rights Commission , as well as various NGOs, chief executives of homeless shelters, and other figureheads fighting the cause of street people.“ ,” said SAHRC commissioner Chris Nissen said  The SAHRC was scheduled to have a meeting with City of Cape Town officials last week, but they never showed up.

The 39-year-old woman charged for the murder of 10-year-old, Siphumelele Mzimba, whose decomposing body was found in a bush abandoned bail her application in the Pinetown Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. Iol reports that Zandile Nsele appeared briefly in court where the murder charge was added to the kidnapping and extortion charges she had faced at her previous court appearance on June 20.This after Siphumelele disappeared from her home near Pinetown on June 13.It is alleged that a year ago Nsele had rented a room from where Siphumelele and her family lived following which she moved five minutes away from her home.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)on Tuesday said it had terminated the contract of Thato Sikwane, also known as DJ Fresh, with immediate effect. In a statement released on Tuesday, the broadcaster said termination followed unsuccessful engagements between SABC Radio management and DJ Fresh, subsequent to his usage of offensive language on-air. Fresh was the headliner of MetroFM’s breakfast show.

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