Police ministry provided update on 'Justice for Cwecwe'

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu gave an update on Friday on the case of a 7-year-old girl from the Eastern Cape who was reportedly raped at her school in Matatiele.

The South African Police Service in the area has been criticised for their handling of the case, which sparked widespread demonstrations under the banner ‘’Justice for Cwecwe.’’

COURTESY: X - @SAPoliceService

Mchunu said no foreign DNA was found on the child.

“The investigation generally followed the correct processes, but with challenges. This is a case without witnesses, involving a minor, and – as crucial as DNA would be it would be – it would not be complete in that you would not be able to do the necessary comparison.”

At the same time, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has clarified that the three people whose DNA was taken were not suspects.

“We spoke about three people of interest. This does not necessarily mean that those people are suspects. The first investigating officers did their investigations, and it was identified that there were three people that they could bring closer [ to the investigation]. The DNA of these three has been taken and will be analysed. But they are not suspects.”

Earlier this week, Minister Mchunu confirmed that the school principal had also submitted his DNA following days of public criticism over his initial refusal.

No arrests have been made since the incident occurred in October last year.

The minister described the case as complex, but he assured South Africans that police were working hard to get to the bottom of it.

‘’I must stress that due to the sensitive nature of this case and the legal processes involved, we cannot disclose further details at this stage. What I can promise, on behalf of the Ministry of Police and the SAPS, is that we are committed to upholding the law and ensuring that justice is served. The full extent of the investigation will be pursued, and no effort will be spared in bringing the responsible parties to account. We do welcome the support from various sister departments and we call for a streamlined approach in respect of what is communicated.’’

‘’Moving forward, we are going to focus more attention on the victim in terms of providing the necessary support assessments and rehabilitation. We would want to see a situation where the truth comes out and the perpetrator of this crime is brought to book. We will continue to support the family and the victim through our Employee Health and Wellness unit including any other aspects related to this case. We assure the affected family of our full support and commitment to this case,’’ added Mchunu.

The police minister said the ministry will come down to Matatiele in the coming weeks to update the family on progress.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Ndithini Tyhido appointed new ANC leader in Cape Town

The African National Congress (ANC) in Cape Town has a new leader. Ndithini Leon Tyhido was on Friday announced to serve as a councillor in the City of Cape Town Council and has been appointed as the new Leader of the Opposition. This after the former opposition leader in Cape Town, Banele Majingo, jumped ship and moved to the Democratic Alliance (DA).

COURTESY: X - @myancwc

The ANC said its Provincial Executive Committee held a special meeting on Thursday evening.

‘’The meeting was called not only to fill a vacancy but to reassert the ANC's historic mission to build a non-racial, just, and equal society…This appointment is not symbolic it is a political realignment that returns the leadership of the caucus to the organised structures of the movement and aligns it with the strategic direction of the Regional Executive Committee,’’ it said in a statement.

‘’This deployment is a call to struggle. A call to resist the neoliberal governance of the DA-led City of Cape Town. A call to defend the poor. A call to rebuild people’s power in our communities. It is a call to end the tale of two cities where leafy suburbs flourish while the Cape Flats is left to fend for itself under conditions of poverty,crime, drugs, and despair,’’ it added.

Tyhido first served the Trevor Vilakazi Branch (Ward 93), and moved to the ANC Regional Executive Committee where he led political education, to his three-term tenure as Chairperson of the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF)

‘’He brings not just political clarity, but technocratic competence and strategic understanding of how to confront inequality in practice… With Comrade Ndithini Tyhido at the helm, the ANC is reclaiming its rightful role as the voice of the people, the conscience of the poor, and the force for transformation in this City,’’ concluded Khalid Sayed, ANC Western Cape spokesperson.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Power Outage affects thousand in Belhar

 An unplanned power outage affected over eight-thousand customers in Belhar on Thursday.

Picture: ESKOM 

According to reports Eskom said technicians have been dispatched to restore power.

Technicians have managed to restore electricity for 80-percent of the customers.

Customers are encouraged to treat all electrical appliances as live during the restoration period.

It is unknown when Eskom will restore electricity to the remaining customers.

Meanwhile, The City of Cape Town will be rolling out new electricity meters to residents.

The meter replacement programme aims to assist residents in managing costs, controlling and monitoring usage and ensuring accurate readings.

The city’s MMC for Energy, Xanthea Limberg, says the programme is compulsory and free.

She encourages residents to cooperate during this transition, as it is part of the city’s big investment drive in energy infrastructure.

“The city energy directors is rolling our transmitters to households over the next few months. This programme is compulsory and free, helping customers in many ways by reducing the risk of incorrect weeding’s. Improving energy usage for residence enabling qualified customers to benefit from the subsidised lifeline tariffs” said Limber

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Done By: Elona Sibunzi  

Terrorism case against Mamre man moved to the Bellville Regional Court

The terrorism case against a man who allegedly orchestrated a series of bomb scares in the City of Cape Town has been moved from the Belville Magistrates Court to the Bellville Regional Court.

Ferdinand Fortuin allegedly made false bomb threats at the Bellville taxi rank, transit park building, and department of water and sanitation offices last November.

‘’Fortuin is charged with four counts of contravention of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Act 33 of 2004 (POCDATARA) and for contravention of the Explosives Act 26 of 1956. The Deputy Director of Public Prosecution in the Western Cape, Adv Mervyn Menigo, told the court the case was previously postponed for the National Director of Public Prosecutions to authorise Fortuin’s prosecution on the POCDATARA charges. Today the authorization was provided to the court and attached to the charge sheet before the matter was transferred,’’ said Eric Ntabazalila, National Prosecuting Authority Western Cape spokesperson.

The State alleges that the 49-year-old Mamre resident contacted the Bellville Police Station on 11 November 2024 and informed officers that he had placed explosive devices at the Bellville Department of Water and Sanitation offices in Voortrekker Road and Bellville South, the Transnet Park Building and the Bellville Taxi Rank. Ntabazalila said this resulted in the deployment of substantial state resources and the evacuation of thousands of people from the three sites.

‘’At the Water and Sanitation Department offices in Voortrekker Road, Bellville, police assisted by the three bomb disposal technicians, K-9 Dog Unit using explosive detection canines and visible policing unit members evacuated 164 people while 151 people were evacuated at the department’s Bellville South offices. Police assisted by the same units evacuated 250 people from the Transnet Park Building offices and 3 000 people were evacuated from the taxi rank. The taxi rank was closed and roads leading to and out of the taxi rank were closed resulting in huge panic in the area. Although the threats proved to be a hoax, the NPA views the charges in a serious light as they resulted in panic amongst the public and economic disruption at the three sites. The Legislature has criminalised this type of conduct in POCDATARA and in the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997 has prescribed a minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment for a first offender. The NPA will not hesitate to prosecute conduct of this nature to the full extent that the law allows.’’

The case has been postponed to 24 April 2025.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Bellville Library fully operational again

Good news for library patrons attending in Bellville The City of Cape Town announced that the facility has resumed its normal operations after it scaled back services for just under two months, while work got under way to address urgent ventilation issues.

PICTURE: Pixabay

The City warned that work to repair the library’s industrial Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is ongoing, but the weather has cooled down, which means that the facility is now able to maintain required indoor air quality standards. The HVAC suffered irreparable damage as a result of ongoing acts of vandalism over an extended period of time.

The municipality said contractors have been on site for the past two months, to conduct repairs to address airflow and air quality problems. Over the peak summer period, the library provided limited services, but its full service offering has since resumed.

‘’We want to extend our appreciation to patrons and the public at large for their patience and continued support during this period. Bellville Library is one of our flagship facilities, and the City has to ensure compliance with Health and Safety standards. The contractors will remain on site for a while still, but conditions have improved to the point that we can throw open the doors to the public at large, and resume business as usual,’’ said Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.

 ‘’I do want to take this opportunity to encourage the public to help us protect this, and other community facilities. We cannot afford more damage to our HVAC system, so if you see anything  suspicious, please do report it immediately, either to the South African Police Service or the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700,’’ she added

Bellville Library is open to the public:

·        09:00 – 18:00 on Monday to Thursday

·        09:00 – 17:00 on Fridays

·        09:00 – 13:00 on Saturdays

 

Done By: Mitchum George

 

More than 13k library items returned to Cape Town libraries during ‘fine free week’

More than 13 000 library items returned to the City of Cape Town libraries during the municipality’s ‘fine free week’. Fine Free Week is an amnesty period where patrons can return overdue items without paying the accrued penalties. According to the City, just over 40 000 items, valued at over R4,6 million, were overdue. 13 178 items returned valued at just over R1,6 million.

Amongst the items that found their way back to the shelves at the Central Library, was French Cinema by Roy Armes, which covers the history of the French film industry, and was originally due for return on 8 March 2001.

SUPPLIED: Central Library Assistant Librarian, Nicole Smith, with the book

In a statement, the City said the person who borrowed the book moved extensively both locally and internationally, and discovered the book while sorting through stored belongings and decided to return it during the library’s fine free week.

‘’The book is no longer listed on the current library system, so there is no record of it, except the date sheet in the book. This is a historic return as its arguably one of the oldest books to find its way back during Fine Free Week. It’s not lost on us that the book itself is historical in nature. While it is still usable, restoration is not an option, but the patron has offered to buy the book, should it not be returning to the library’s shelves,’’ said Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.

‘’We are grateful to everyone who took advantage of the amnesty period to return library material - thank you for heeding the call. I want to encourage our patrons to please return anything that is still past the due date. The fines for overdue material are modest compared to the replacement cost, so please do the right thing. Fully stocked libraries benefit everyone,’’ she added.

Higham said a number of wayward Wimpy Kids too found their way home. The series, by author Jeff Kinney, dominates the list of outstanding items each year.

‘’The Library service will host a few more Fine Free Weeks throughout the year, which will hopefully yield some more overdue returns. For now, we shift our focus to the upcoming school holidays. Libraries will offer a range of activities to keep young minds engaged and entertained. Please reach out to your local facility for programme details,’’ said Higham.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

Housing group welcomes Mowbray Golf Course Redevelopment

Housing activist group, Ndifuna Ukwazi, has welcomed the City of Cape Town’s plan to redevelop Mowbray Golf Course with 30% affordable housing but warns that without clear affordability measures, long-term protections, and racial redress, the project risks becoming mere ‘affordable housing tokenism.’

The portions of Mowbray Golf Course will be used among others for affordable housing. The City said the golf course offers access to employment hubs, amenities and residential areas.

‘’For 113 years, Mowbray Golf Course has symbolised exclusion, leased at a nominal rate while serving as a green buffer that reinforced apartheid-era spatial divisions. The City’s proposal for a mixed-use development is a step forward, but the 30% affordable housing allocation remains unclear and inadequate. To truly serve Cape Town’s most vulnerable residents, the project must center equity and redress,’’ said Jonty Cogger, Attorney at Ndifuna Ukwazi.

‘’With over 58% of Cape Town households earning less than R10,000 per month, long-term sustainability measures are essential to prevent displacement and uphold the Constitutional right to housing. Instead of selling the land, the City should explore alternatives like 99-year leases and community land trusts to ensure affordability while maintaining public ownership. Transparency throughout the process is critical to achieving these goals.’’

‘’Housing policies must also include explicit racial redress. Race-neutral approaches fail marginalised communities and risk deepening apartheid-era inequalities. This is a historic opportunity for Cape Town to break with its exclusionary past, but without bold commitments, this could become another missed opportunity,’’ he added

 

Done By: Elona Sibunzi

 

Man fatally shot in Mitchell’s Plain

A man was shot and killed in Mitchell’s Plain on Wednesday night. Police confirmed that they are investigating the matter which occurred in Portland.

COURTESY: Facebook

‘’The circumstances surrounding this incident are still under investigation. Mitchells Plain police responded to a complaint on Wednesday 02 April 2025. Upon arrival at the crime scene in Eisleben Road at about 22:30 they found the body of an un identified man who sustained gunshot wounds. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel,’’ said Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, Western Cape police spokesperson.

No arrests have been made and the motive for this attack are unknown. Mitchells Plain police confirmed that they are investigating a murder.

Residents however believe that the incident could be gang-related, identifying the deceased as ‘’Kylie’’ who reportedly belong to the Hard Livings gang.

Anyone with information is requested to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111

 

Done By: Mitchum George

ANCWL wants GBVF to be declared a national disaster

The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) marched to Parliament on Wednesday to end the abuse against women and children in the country. A day prior, thousands of students and people marched through the streets of Cape Town demanding justice for CweCwe, the 7 year old girl who was reportedly raped at Bergview College, whilst awaiting transportation.

The ANCWL came in masses and demanded justice, not just for CweCwe, but the millions of women and children around the world. Deputy secretary of the ANCWL in the Western Cape, Connie Croats, led the march. A number of the women in the crowd were not only standing up for themselves, but for those who are victims and face abuse on a daily basis. 

The ANCWL marched through the streets at 12:00PM, with flags, banners, placards with their black, yellow and green attire.Regional Director of the ANCWL Sindiswa Masunpa said “This march is not about achievement, but fighting for the rights of the victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV)”.

The Women’s League requests the GNU to declare GBV as a national disaster just as Covid-19 was. Police blocked protestors from entering Parliament premises and were restricted from marching further.

The ANC's Women's League are marching to Parliament, this afternoon, calling for the Government of National Unity to declare #GBVF a "national disaster"@Bushradio pic.twitter.com/KdZgQpCwE3

— Bushradionews (@Bushradionews) April 2, 2025

At 14:00, a memorandum was handed over to government to review and according to the Regional Chair of the women’s league Zelda Transtraal government has 7 days to review the memorandum.

This is the second memorandum the ANCWL handed over to Government. The first one was handed over on November 29^th 2024 and reportedly have not received feedback. A number of members expressed disappointment in the government to protect women and children in the country. The ANCWL hopes that government gets the message that they refuse to be silent.

The memorandum was signed and will be reviewed in the next 7 days. 

Done by Shaneca Cupido

Drunk officer out on bail after he drove into a bus in Mitchell's Plain

A police sergeant was released on R1 000 bail after he drove into a bus in Mitchell’s Plain on Monday morning.

SCREENSHOT

Western Cape police confirmed that the 48-year-old stationed at Lentegeur SAPS was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Police are probing a case of driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless and negligent driving

‘’Lentegeur police registered a case of driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless and negligent driving following an accident on 2025-03-31 at 08:20 on the corner of of Eisleben Road and Lavender Street, Lentegeur,’’ said Captain F.C Van Wyk, Western Cape police spokesperson.

‘’According to reports, the sergeant was driving a silver in color, Mercedes Benz, and collided with a Golden Arrow bus at the mentioned address. He was arrested and escorted to the Shadow centre in Athlone, where his blood was collected from a registered and appointed nurse for analysis. His vehicle was badly damages on the front and was towed away by tow truck from the scene,’’ he added.

Van Wyk said the sergeant was detained at Lentegeur SAPS, and appeared in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates court on Tuesday.

In a video gone viral, it can be seen that the sergeant is being held by a Law Enforcement officer on one hand and a police officer on another and taken back to the scene after reportedly running away

Onlookers can be heard saying that the officers pants is being worn back to front

Public Relations Manager for Golden Arrow Bus Services Bronwen Dyke-Beyer confirmed the incident

“According to our bus driver and witnesses on the scene the third-party driver swerved into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with our bus. The third-party driver is allegedly a police officer who was off duty, but we are unable to confirm what caused him to swerve into the bus. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.”

 

Done by: Mitchum George

Televangelist Timopthy Omotoso found not guilty of multiple charges.

Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotso has been found not guilty of the charges preferred against him in the Gqeberha High Court.

The 66-year-old was arrested in 2017. He and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani, and Zikiswa Sitho, faced 32 counts of charges which included racketeering, trafficking in persons, rape, and sexual assault.

At the last court appearance the National Prosecuting Authority said the judgement will mark a remarkable milestone the case that has been marred by delays for almost eight years since the arrest of the trio.

It is understood that Omotoso was the leader of the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church and his co-accused were his assistants.

The case has been ongoing for eight years.

JDI had major branches in South Africa, Nigeria, and Israel, with Durban being its headquarters in the country.

 

Doner By: Elona Sibunzi