Premier Modise welcomes arrest of Orkney rape suspects

Loyiso Langeni
31 December 2013

North West Premier Thandi Modise has welcomed the arrest of two suspects in connection with the rape of a 27- year-old Orkney woman and called for no bail when they appear in court for bail application on 9 January.

Premier’s Spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said In reiterating her earlier call for united action against the scourge of rape, Premier Modise called for vigilance against opportunistic crime during new-year eve festivities and for women to take the precaution of not leaving their children alone or with strangers.

Kgwele said Premier Modise said Young girls and women could assist reduce rape incidents, by carefully considering those that they choose to go out with, to welcome the new year and the places they go to for entertainment. given that perpetrators target women who are drunk and that not even infants and children of both sexes are safe from sexual violence from people that are known to them and those that are related to them

 

 

 

Jet-Ski accident leaves one injured

Loyiso Langeni
31 December 2013

A man sustained serious injuries after a Jet-Ski accident in Richards Bay, yesterday.

Netcare 911 Chris Botha said Reports from the scene indicate that the Jet- Ski slammed into a buoy before he was catapulted into the water.

He added that when paramedics arrived at the scene and found that bystanders had rescued the man and brought him to the water’s edge.

Botha said after paramedics stabilised the man and deftly immobilized him on a trauma board, they transported him to a nearby hospital for the care that they required.

 

Five people injured in separate accidents

Mluleki Mrwebi
30 December 2013

An accident on the N1 near Verkeerdevlei toll plaza this afternoon has left four people injured. 

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Chris Botha said paramedics arrived at the scene and found that the vehicle veered off the road its twisted remains coming to rest in the veldt, a seven-year-old-boy was ejected from the vehicle and was found next to the wreckage. After triaging the injured it was found that the four occupants of the vehicle had sustained serious injuries.

Botha said after paramedics stabilised the injured on scene they transported them to a local hospital for the care that they required.

Exact detail to the cause of the accident and preceding events is still not known at this stage.

Meanwhile a man sustained critical injuries after he was struck by a bus near the art- scape theatre in Cape Town this morning.

Botha said paramedics arrived at the scene and found a man in his forties lying on the road with severe injuries to the lower limbs. After paramedics stabilised the injured man they skillfully immobilized him on a trauma board before he was transported to a nearby hospital for the critical care that he required.

The police are investigating the cause of the accident.

WC death toll down by half

Mluleki Mrwebi
30 December 2013

The Western Cape Department of Transport says the committed of traffic officers on their job has seen a decrease in the number of passenger related deaths as compared to last year around this time.

Since the 1^st of December 2013 till the 29^th of December 2013, only 29 deaths compared to 59 deaths last.

Ministerial Spokesperson Siphesihle Dube said this was able with the launch of Safely Home “It Takes A Second to Save a Life”

Dube said in total about 124 people have lost their lives in the province’s roads compared to last year’s 149.

He added that what has become of serious concern is the death of pedestrians and up to so far 60 deaths have been recorded.

Fifteen people injured in an accident in Durban

Mluleki Mrwebi
30 December 2013

ER24 paramedics and other emergency services this morning responded to a motor vehicle collision on the N2 North near Natal Portland Cement.

ER24 Spokesperson Werner Vermaak said on arrival, they found that a motor vehicle had slammed into the rear of a taxi leaving a taxi passenger and the driver of the motor vehicle trapped and 13 other passengers with various injuries.

Vermaak said ER24 Durban and Highway paramedics worked together with Durban Metro Fire Department and Rescue Care EMS to treat all of the patients. The most severely injured patient was extricated using jaws-of-life. It took rescuers over an hour to free the trapped patients.

He added that a total of fifteen patients were treated on scene and transported to various hospitals in Durban for further care.

Exact details to the cause of the accident are not yet known at this stage and the police are investigating.  

WC farmers to assist drought stricken North West farmers

Mluleki Mrwebi
30 December 2013

Gerrit van Rensburg, Western Cape MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development on Sunday announced that Western Cape farmers will donate drought relief animal feed for farmers in the drought stricken Northern Cape and North West Provinces.

Van Rensburg said Western Cape farmers experienced good harvests the last couple of years, and would like to assist in the areas where farmers are battling for the survival of their livestock.

“We have an abundance of hay to donate, but transporting it in large quantities has been the problem.” said Van Rensburg

Van Rensburg said Transnet has pledged to make a train available which would collect donations at towns such as Swellendam, Caledon, Malmesbury and Porterville.Transnet will then transport the animal feed free of charge to the drought stricken areas.

Police Minister calls for the SAPS Service Termination environment to be investigated

Mluleki Mrwebi
29 December 2013

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa today announced that a comprehensive forensic investigation will be conducted within the South African Police Service Service Termination environment.

Ministry Spokesperson Zweli Mnisi said this section is responsible for processing and payment of service termination benefits of former employees of the SAPS, those employed under the SAPS Act as well as the Public Service Act.  The section has a mandate to ensure that such payments are processed timeously, efficiently and in most instances, deals directly with the widows and widowers of the former employees. 

This comes after the arrest of four suspects,who are employees of the SAPS, attached to the Service Termination section.  All suspects were arrested this month in relation to alleged service payout fraud, corruption and appeared in court last week. 

Minisi said the arrests came as a result of Mr Kgolagano Mompati, the son of the late Warrant Officer Rankwane Mompati opening a case of fraud in Pretoria last month. 

He added that the suspects are accused of amongst other things organizing clients (false dependents or beneficiaries) and completing false documents such as a proof of relationship.  

Four men rescued in Mouille Point

Mluleki Mrwebi
29 December 2013

The National Sea Rescue Institute in Bakoven were on Saturday afternoon activated to respond to Mouille Point where 4 men had reportedly been rescued by a passing boat.

It is alleged that the boat was off their rigid inflatable boat that appeared to have suffered mechanical motor failure and was at risk of running onto rocks.

NSRI Spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the NSRI Table Bay, who were on a routine patrol in the area at the time, reached the boat and confirmed that the 4 men were safe having already been taken to the Oceana Power Boat Club.

Lambinon also said an NSRI rescue crewman was put onto the casualty boat after the boat had been towed further out to sea by NSRI Table Bay and the NSRI crewman was able to start the motor and took delivered the boat to the OPBC returning the boat to her owners.

Three people seriously injured in Umhlanga

Mluleki Mrwebi
29 December 2013

Three people were seriously injured in an accident on the M41 near Umhlanga this morning.

It is alleged that their vehicle veered off the M41 its crumpled remains coming to rest on an adjacent Road.

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Chris Botha said paramedics arrived at the scene and found the three men at the side of the road with serious injuries.

Botha added that after they were stabilised on scene paramedics transported them to a local hospital for further care.

The exact cause of the accident is yet known.

An accident in Umkomaas left six people seriously injured

Mluleki Mrwebi
28 December 2013

A head-on collision on the N2 north near the Umkomaas off ramp has left one person seriously injured this afternoon.

It is alleged that a vehicle traveling south veered across the centre median and struck another head on, both vehicles overturned the crumpled remains of one coming to rest on its roof on the side of the road the other came to rest about fifty meters further down an embankment.

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Chris Botha said paramedics arrived at the scene and found three people still trapped in the wreckages.

Botha said after triaging it was found that one female had sustained critical injuries while five other females were in a serious condition.

He added that the wounded were stabilised and skillfully immobilized on trauma boards they were transported to various hospitals for further care.

The exact detail to the cause of the accident and preceding events is not yet known.

The City promises to provide aid for Valhalha Park fire victims

Mluleki Mrwebi
28 December 2013

The City of Cape Town has promised to continue to provide disaster relief aid to more than 1 500 people left destitute by a fire in the ‘Agstelaan’ informal settlement in Valhalla Park on Monday 23 December 2013.

The City had stopped assisting the residents on Thursday, after a protest had ensued with residents demanding proper houses from the City.

The Disaster Risk Management Centre Spokesperson Wilfred Johannes-Solomons said the City of Cape Town is committed to finding a solution to the issues raised and will once more engage with the community today to find the way forward.

Meanwhile a number of shacks were gutted with fire this morning in Khayelitsha informal settlements.

Fire and Rescue Services Spokesperson Theo Layne said no one was injured in the fire and the cause of the fire is not yet known.

Layne further said police and fire-fighters are still at the scene.

Five people injured in an accident in Tongaat

Mluleki Mrwebi
28 December 2013

Five people were injured after an accident on the N2 near Tongaat this morning.

It is alleged that two vehicles were traveling on the south bound carriage way, after another car collided into the rear of the bakkie , the 4x4 then veered off the road and lolled its crumpled remains coming to rest on the north bound carriage way.

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Chris Botha said paramedics arrived at the scene and found that the passengers from the bakkie had been ejected from the vehicle as it was tumbling across the centre median.

Botha added that after the injured were stabilised at the scene paramedics transported them to a local hospital for the care that they required.

The exact cause of the accident is not yet known and the police are investigating.

ANC in WC threatens to take the City of Cape Town to court over Valhalha Park fire victims

Mluleki Mrwebi
28 December 2013

The African National Congress in the Western Cape has announced that it will approach the High Court to restore the dignity of fire victims in Valhalla Park after its leadership and the Youth League visited the Agtstelaan informal settlement in Valhalla Park.

About 1 400 people were left homeless when 350 dwellings were destroyed by fire on Monday.

ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman questioned the fact that no proper houses were built in that area after the court specifically instructed the DA run government to do so five years ago already!

Fransman has also questioned DA councilor of Cape Town J.P. Smith for wearing a bulletproof vest when he visited Agtstelaan?

Fransman said we found that there is no list yet after the fire with the names of the affected people, which is totally unacceptable! This is the first step to control and assess the disaster situation.

"I will also ask Cape mayor Patricia de Lille to install toilets in the area and more water points, because water and sanitation is a basic right and denying anyone that right in any way is an affront to their human dignity,” Fransman said.

City of Cape Town satisfied with a low number of drowning in Cape Town beaches

Mluleki Mrwebi
27 December 2013

The City of Cape Town says it is pleased that there had been no drownings, or violent incidents such as stabbings, were reported to have taken place on the City’s beaches on Thursday and today.

There has been no drowning reported in Cape Town beaches today.

Richard Bosman Executive Director, Safety and Security, City of Cape Town said traditionally these days are one of the busiest days of the year on Cape Town beaches.

Richard Bosman said we are satisfied with this result as it demonstrates that the City’s various interventions are having a positive effect with regards to keeping our beaches safer for users.

 

A train accident leaves eleven people injured in Durban

Mluleki Mrwebi
27 December 2013

Eleven people were left seriously injured after two trains collided at Berea Road station in Durban this morning.

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Chris Botha said paramedics arrived at the scene and found that ten people had sustained moderate injuries while one man was in a critical condition.

Botha said after the injured were stabilized they were transported to various hospitals for the care that they required.

The exact detail to the cause of the accident and preceding events will remain a subject for police investigation.

WCED paid tribute to Nariman Khan

Mluleki Mrwebi
27 December 2013

The Western Cape Education Department officials and provincial Minister Donald Grant have paid homage to Nariman Khan, Manager of the department’s Safe Schools Programme.

Khan died in a car accident on Vanguard Drive in Goodwood on Thursday morning.

Department’s Millicent Merton said a number of colleagues paid their respects to her family.

Merton further said Minister Grant said it was a sad day for the WCED and the province. Safe Schools work in partnership with various other departments like Social Development, Community Safety and Cultural Affairs and Sport, Non-governmental organisations, community organisations and faith-based organisations. 

She added that Grant had been asked by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille to convey her deepest condolences to Khan’s family. Zille described Khan as a star and said the news was absolutely terrible.

Khan was deputy principal at Voorspoed Primary School in Hanover Park when she was seconded to the WCED head office in 1998 as a Safe Schools coordinator.

A motorbike rider sustained serious injuries after an accident

Mluleki Mrwebi
27 December 2013

A motorbike rider sustained serious injuries when he crashed his off road motorbike in a sugarcane field near Shongweni dam last night.

ER24 Spokesperson Werner Vermaak said paramedics responded to the incident but found that the terrain was extremely difficult to safely evacuate the injured rider. The SAPS Search and Rescue unit was called to the scene to assist with the evacuation.

Vermaak said while paramedics were stabilising the rider on the scene, the SAPS unit prepared their gear to load the man onto the back of their vehicle.

He added that the team efforts between the paramedics and the SAPS Search and Rescue unit resulted in the injured rider being evacuated safely to an area where he could be transferred into an ambulance.

A female rescued in East London beach

Mluleki Mrwebi
26 December 2013

The National Sea Rescue Institute in East London volunteer sea rescue duty crew and Dynamic private ambulance services responded to East Beach following reports of a drowning in progress this afternoon.

NSRI Spokesperson Craig Lambinon said an arrival on-scene it was found that a local female, while being swept out to sea by rip currents, she had been rescued from the surf by a colleague and she was safely on the beach.

Lambinon said it appears that the man had rescued the female and on getting her to the beach he had attempted CPR efforts.

He added that the female has been transported to hospital by a Dynamic ambulance in a stable condition for observation for secondary drowning and it is expected that she will make a full recovery.

Four people injured in an accident

Mluleki Mrwebi
26 December 2013

Four people were injured and one was critical after their vehicle and a taxi collided head-on along Bridal Road Kloof this morning.

Netcare 911 Spokesperson Chris Botha said rescue officers and the paramedics arrived at the scene and found a man with critical injuries still trapped in the Uno. While the rescue officer used the Jaws of Life to free the injured man paramedics clambered into the vehicle to stabilise the wounded patient.

He added that after the injured people were stabilized on scene paramedics transported them to various hospitals for the care that they required.

The exact detail to the cause of the accident and preceding events will remain a subject for police investigation.

Two cars overturned leaving two people injured

Mluleki Mrwebi
26 December 2013

Two people sustained various injuries when their vehicle overturned on the N7 near Bosmansdam Road in Cape Town last night.

ER24 Spokesperson Christo Venter said paramedics on the scene found two vehicles with severe damage lying several meters apart from each other.

Venter said the driver of the bakkie that overturned was found outside of his vehicle and treated for possible chest injuries. The driver of the overturned Hyundai was also found outside of the vehicle and treated for possible head injuries. Both patients were transported to Tygerberg Hospital for further medical management.

The exact cause of this incident still remains unclear and the police are investigating.

A man drowned in Witsand

Mluleki Mrwebi
26 December 2013

On Wednesday afternoon the National Sea Rescue Institute in Witsand and volunteer sea rescue duty crew, the SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS responded to Riverside, Witsand, following reports of a drowning in progress.

NSRI Spokesperson Craig Lambinon said on arrival on scene it was found that a group of people from a local farm community had been enjoying a day at the river when an adult male got into difficulty in the water.

Lambinon said a 28 year old male, who was part of the same group, had gone into the water to assist the man in difficulty but he is believed to have gotten into difficulty himself before disappearing under water.

Lambinon added that the body of the man was discovered and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services, Police have opened an inquest docket and family are being assisted by Police trauma counselors.

ANC visited Valhalha Park fire victims

Mluleki Mrwebi

26 December 2013

 The African National Congress leadership and ANC Youth League delegation on Wednesday visited Valhalla Park fire victims.  

 

ANC Youth League Coordinator Mbulelo Memani said during the  visit as part of the delegation led by ANC Chairperson Marius Fransman to victims affected by the fires at the both the shacks and cement homes in Valhalla Park it was clear that in addition to immediate disaster relief, the community requires sustainable assistance which will ensure dignified living conditions and proper houses.

Memani said the delegation to the area saw the need for a resident-led committee elected by the residents at a community meeting on Friday.

He added that this committee will be working with the ANC and ANC Youth League team to solve the immediate disaster management issues and to ensure that proper housing is provided. 

Citizens urged to donate blood

Andiswa Mkosi
25 December 2013

The South African National Blood Service says it needs at least 3,000 units of blood every day.

This amount of blood will help save lives and sustain its services this festive season.

SANB says hospitals are at risk of experiencing blood shortages during this period because of the number of road accidents.

SANB urges all citizens to donate blood increasing the chance of a life being saved.

22 people drown in Limpopo

Andiswa Mkosi
25 December 2013

The Limpopo government reported 22 drowning incidents since the start of the festive season.

Twelve of the incidents involved children, added Limpopo officials.

 

The provincial government says they have allocated lifesavers at all swimming spots in the region.

 

Meanwhile in Cape Town a 30-year-old man from Plumstead has reportedly disappeared underwater.

Overcast Christmas in JHB

Andiswa Mkosi
25 December 2013

Johannesburg residents can expect a wet Christmas today.

Johannesburg is going to experience 60 percent chance of rain and an overcast sky throughout the day.

Meanwhile Cape Town will be experiencing clear skies and no rain has been predicted throughout the day.

Traffic officials have urged road users to be vigilant on the roads.

Valhalla fire victims take refuge at a community hall

Andiswa Mkosi
24 December 2013

The City of Cape Town says some informal settlers left homeless by yesterday’s devastating fire in Valhalla Park have taken refuge at a community hall.

The City’s JP Smith says Disaster Risk Management assisted with blankets , food and clothes.

Smith says the earth moving equipment is on site also there is a venue operaiojn centre where disaster management and housing are busy identfying and veryfying the beneficiaries for the new sites.

As soon as the earth moving equipment has cleared the site a surveyor will go on the site. Toilets and taps have already been provided and once the plots are marked the residents will be issued with a starter kit which they will assemble under the supervision of council, added JP Smith.

WC road deaths decrease

Andiswa Mkosi
24 December 2013

The Western Cape’s road death toll has decreased. The death toll for WC is 35 percent lower than last year.

Provincial Transport MEC Robin Carlisle says from hundred and fifty three for the first 20 days of December the toll has dropped to a hundred.The decrease covers all classes of road deaths except that of motor cycles which has gone up.

Carlisle says they are particularly happy with the decrease in the number of passenger deaths which has gone down by 60 percent. He added this directly relates to safety belt usage.

MEC Carlisle says campaigns aimed at encouraging motorists to buckle up and not speed are paying off.

Meanwhile The Road Traffic Management Corporation is expected to give an update on holiday season road deaths today.

1 440 people left homeless after a CT fire

Andiswa Mkosi
24 December 2013

Yesterday a fire gutted through Valhalla Park’s eighth avenue.Theo Layne of the Fire Rescue department says the fire burnt down 350 shacks and left 1 440 people homeless.

Residents spent the night going through burnt remains of their homes.

According to Layne 20 people were injured of these victims nine were fire fighters and eleven were civilians. Six fire fighters were rushed to hospital and the fire was extinguished at around six yesterday afternoon, added Theo Layne.

One woman says she is grateful that she and her three children escaped unharmed.

 

88 year old woman raped and killed in the NC

Andiswa Mkosi
23 December 2013

Northern Cape police are offering a R50,000 reward for any information that could lead to arrests following the rape and murder of an elderly woman in Galeshewe.

The 88-year-old woman’s body was found in her home three weeks ago.

No arrests have been made following the crime.

The police are asking the community members to come forward If they have any information regarding this crime.

 

CT and minstrel join forces

Andiswa Mkosi
23 December 2013

The City of Cape Town says it has resolved the bottleneck with minstrel associations.

Mayor Patricia de Lille says the city bosses are very happy that they found a solution with the minstrel.

She says the event organizer will be maintained with the support of a tender.

The minstrel will provide support facilitation serves. The city will provide other services such as police for safety. De Lille says the ministrel will take charge of the event next year.

31 people injured in an accident

Andiswa Mkosi
23 December 2013

Three people died in a collision between a bus and a taxi in the central Karoo in the Northern Cape.

At least 31 people were also injured in the accident.

The accident happened early this morning.

he Western Cape EMS Spokesperson Robert Daniels says 31 passengers with minor injuries were taken to hospital, four were very seriously injured and are in a stable condition.

Woman injured in a boat accident

Andiswa Mkosi
23 December 2013

A 25-year-old woman is being treated at a St Francis Bay hospital for a severe leg injury after two boats collided on the Krom River.

There also appears to be other patients who were injured and transported to hospital by their own cars.

National Sea Rescue Institute’s Craig Lambinon says a doctor that happened to be on the scene at the time had already initiated first aid treatment on the woman.

The woman was then rushed to hospital where she is recovering.

The National Sea Rescue Institute says it is unclear how the accident occurred. The NSRI appeals to eyewitnesses to come forward and help clarify how the accident occurred.