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The South African Police Service (SAPS) is being strengthened to prevent crime, says Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele.

Gungubele conveyed the message while briefing the media on the outcomes of the regular Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

This, he said, includes putting more police on the streets and setting up specialised teams that will focus on specific types of crime.

“South Africa will also use data driven methods in a more sophisticated way to identify and target crime hotspots,“ he said.

The Minister said SAPS was intensifying operations to detect and remove illegal firearms and ammunition from the hands of criminals.

The police have in the past 12 months permanently removed 65 519 firearms from circulation.

The Cabinet position was made in the wake of the murder of hip-hop artist Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA, and celebrity chef Tebello Motsoane, in Durban, last week.

At the meeting, Cabinet expressed its condolences to the family and friends of both men.

He said: “Cabinet also expressed its sympathies to the family and friends of anti-crime activist, Mr Ayob Mungalee, who was recently shot dead at Eldorado Park in Johannesburg.”

He was the national director of the People Seeking Justice Action Group, a movement which mobilised community members to take a stand against gangsterism and drug dealing.

Cabinet also expressed condolences to the families and friends of those killed in recent mass shootings in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

“These heinous and cold-blooded attacks, which are being investigated by law-enforcement authorities, highlight the prevalence of gun violence and its impact on communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cabinet said school safety in South Africa remains a top priority for government and reports of violence between learners and educators are a serious cause for concern.

“While the Department of Basic Education has put mechanisms in place to combat this scourge, it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to collaborate with school authorities and learners to ensure that schools remain safe places for our learners to develop and become responsible citizens. The safety of our educators at schools is also of paramount importance,” said Gungubele.

Government calls on all citizens and community structures to work together with their local SAPS to drive crime out of communities. If you have information that can help expose people involved in illegal activities, call Crime Stop at 0800 10111.

Government has declared a National State of Disaster to enable an intensive, coordinated response to the impact of floods that are affecting Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Northern Cape and North West provinces.

The declaration, made in terms of the Disaster Management Act of 2002, was on Monday gazetted by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

The National Disaster Management Centre has, in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, classified the impact of current, above-normal rainfall in various parts of the country – with Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape as the most affected – as a national disaster.

A national disaster may be declared by the Minister CoGTA where disastrous events occur or threaten to occur in more than one province.

The Presidency on Monday said the National Disaster Management Centre has received reports ranging from flooded homes, vehicles swept away by floodwaters and overflowing dams and sewerage facilities, to the loss of basic infrastructure and damage to roads, bridges and a Limpopo hospital.

“In agriculture, farmers have suffered crop and livestock losses, and anticipate further losses as the South African Weather Service predicts that current heavy rains will persist.

“These conditions have been brought on by the La Niña global weather phenomenon which occurs in the Pacific Ocean but impacts on a country like South Africa with above-normal rainfall,” said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

Forecasts indicate that this weather pattern will remain in this state during the early part of 2023.

The presence of a La Niña event usually has its strongest impact on rainfall during the mid-summer months.

He said: “With the continued strengthening of the La Niña event, the country can expect above-normal rainfall and below-normal temperatures over the summer rainfall areas.

“Taken together, these conditions demand the provision of temporary shelters, food and blankets to homeless families and individuals and the large-scale, costly rehabilitation of infrastructure.”

National entities, including the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force, may be required to play a role in the response to the disaster.

The National Disaster Management Centre continues to monitor, coordinate response and recovery measures by the relevant organs of state and stakeholders. This further includes the dissemination of early warnings and advisories on weather forecasts by the South African Weather Service.

Magwenya said President Cyril Ramaphosa’s thoughts were with affected communities across the country.

“The President appreciates the way in which entities of government, non-governmental organisations and community-based structures have responded to date.”

The Department of Social Development is set to conduct an anti-alcohol and substance abuse campaign in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape provinces.

The campaign in Mpumalanga will be held at the Middleburg Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the Northern Cape, the campaign will be held at the Sol Platjie University on Wednesday and Thursday.

The campaign, which will run under the theme, ‘Protecting students against crime, substance abuse and gender-based violence’, seeks to raise awareness among students, who can sometimes diverge from their studies as a result of access to alcohol and drugs.

The department said this also serves as an opportunity for the department to educate, create awareness and disseminate anti-alcohol and substance abuse, as well as gender-based violence information, to students in institutions of higher learning.

According to the 2019 – 2024 National Drug Master Plan (NDMP), 58% of deaths on South African roads can be attributed to alcohol consumption.

It also reveals that nyaope / woonga (heroin and cannabis mix) and methamphetamine (tik) usage is gaining popularity among adolescents, with far-reaching effects on users, families and communities.

“Waging war against substance abuse is not government’s role alone and it is for this reason that the department works in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, including community structures, as well as Institutions of higher learning.

“The abuse of alcohol and drugs is one of the contributing factors to the high prevalence of GBVF, which has been declared as the second pandemic in the country. Similar to GBVF, substance abuse has a negative impact on the lives and well-being of many South Africans, especially, vulnerable women, children and persons with disabilities, who are continuously victims of domestic violence and abuse,” the department said.

As part of building a caring society for all South Africans, the Department of Social Development is the custodian of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act, No 70 of 2008, which mandates the department to develop programmes and support initiatives aimed at the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.

The Act exists to prevent usage, treatment of substance use disorders, as well as the reduction, production, and distribution of illicit drugs in South Africa.

Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Florence Radzilani, has expressed shock and sadness at the news of a bus accident, which happened on Monday on the N1-29 stretch, next to the HF Verwoerd Tunnel. The crash claimed a total of 20 lives.

Radzilani has since sent messages of condolences to the families of the deceased and comfort to the survivors.

“The accident involved a bus that was transporting passengers from Makhado to areas around Ndzhelele, Siloam and Tshikombani in the Vhembe District,” the department said in a statement.

According to reports, a truck that was overtaking another vehicle lost control and collided with the bus. The bus rolled over a bridge and 19 people died on the scene.

The exact details surrounding the collision are unknown at this time. The South African Police Service is investigating the cause of the accident.

“Paramedics and rescue personnel were able to retrieve 19 bodies from the crash and the 20th person lost their life in hospital,” the department said.

Scores of injured survivors were taken to various hospitals for varying degrees of injuries.

Police divers have been dispatched to the scene to verify that no one has been swept away in the river.

According to reports, 68 people were left injured after the bus landed in a river after rolling off a bridge on the freeway.

Radzilani is today expected to visit the injured.

Disciplinary proceeds relating to a Nic Diederichs High School incident in which a Grade 10 boy learner allegedly assaulted a fellow girl learner has recommended that he be expelled.

In a statement the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirmed that disciplinary proceedings into the matter whereby the Grade 10 pupil was captured in a video that went viral on social media beating up the Grade 10 girl learner, were held on Sunday.

The video shows a girl and boy approaching the victim, and upon arrival the boy can be seen confronting the girl and as she stands, he hits the girl over the head and she falls back.

As she tries to retaliate, she is slapped numerous times on the head by the boy who was then suspended pending disciplinary proceedings.

The incident took place on 31 January 2023.

“As such, the hearing resulted in a recommendation being made to our Head of Department (HOD) stating that the said learner should be expelled from the school. Accordingly, a final decision on this recommendation will be made by the HOD and same will be communicated in due course,” the GDE said in a statement on Monday.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane condemned misconduct by learners against other learners.

“Again, we vehemently condemn all acts of misconduct by learners against other learners. Learner ill-discipline in our schools will be met with consequences. We also plead with parents to assist in enforcing discipline upon their children in and outside the school environment” Chiloane said.

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, has expressed outrage at the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Umthwalume on the South Coast of the province.

According to the reports, the girl, Emihle Vuyo Nyawose, was sent to a nearby store, but never returned home.

The suspect, who had previously asked the child for money, was reportedly the last person seen with the deceased.

After questioning, the suspect confessed to raping and killing the child by twisting her neck before burying her in a shallow grave in a nearby forest.

Khoza described the extent of brutality against the innocent child as a barbaric act of a heartless criminal.

“It is disheartening to learn about such brutality against a child. The child was robbed of her life by a person who was supposed to protect her.

“The suspect betrayed the child’s trust and that of the family, and we have full confidence in the court to give him a harsh sentence for his cruelty and barbaric act,” Khoza said.

Khoza expressed her condolences to the victim’s family, and commended the swift action by the police, who arrested a suspect linked to the brutal crime.

A team of social workers has since been dispatched to provide psycho-social support, trauma debriefing, and trauma containment to the family.

The suspect is expected to appear in court shortly, and Khoza has assured the public that the police would work tirelessly to ensure justice is served.

The MEC has also urged parents to work together to ensure that their children always play within their sight

“As parents, it is our responsibility to keep our children safe at all times. We must never send children on errands on their own, as there is an increase in abduction incidents, which are a reminder of the dangers that exist in our communities.

“Every child has a right to a safe and secure childhood, free from harm and abuse. As society, it is our duty to affirm and protect these rights, ensuring that every child can reach their full potential and live a happy and fulfilling life,” Khoza said.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the dismissal of a Special Tribunal appeal by former Eskom contracts manager Dudu Moyo to have a freeze order on her pension benefits reconsidered.

According to SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, Moyo’s benefits were frozen last year following an investigation by the SIU into contracts she was managing at two of the power utility’s power stations.

She resigned during the corruption busting unit’s investigations.

“The SIU investigation revealed that Moyo unlawfully benefitted R24 584 000 from a multimillion-rand contract to transport water from Kendal Power Station to Kusile Power Station. The contract was signed with a company called Tamukelo. Moyo signed 23 payment certificates for Tamukelo between December 2011 and July 2014, at a cost of approximately R138-million.

“Furthermore, the SIU probe revealed that Tamukelo and its representatives paid entities linked or associated with Moyo, whilst she negotiated and managed Eskom’s contract with Tamukelo. The modus operandi employed by Moyo was to create structures of entities owned by members of her family and friends to receive these funds.

The SIU said there was a clear conflict of interest in that she received the funds while she formed part of middle management.

“Moyo was also part of a team that presented the negotiation strategy of the Tamukelo tender worth R300 million to the tender and procurement committee,” Kganyago said.

He added that Moyo continued to mislead Eskom by “declaring that there was no conflict of interest when dealing with Tamukelo and other role players for five years when signing Eskom’s annual declaration of Conflict Interest Policy”.

Moyo’s legal woes also extend to the High Court in Pretoria where the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), together with the SIU, were granted an order to freeze assets, including a luxury home and two vehicles belonging to her and her husband.

This was granted in relation to another matter Moyo is involved in.

“The civil litigation steps that the SIU has taken against Moyo is part of the SIU’s implementation of the SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover assets and financial losses suffered by State institutions and/or to prevent further losses,” Kganyago concluded.

Government has expressed appreciation to the radio industry for its unique role in promoting the identities of South Africans across cultures and languages, as well as fostering peace domestically and internationally.

This as South Africa observed World Radio Day, which was celebrated under the theme “Radio and Peace,” on Monday, as 13 February is specifically set aside to raise awareness of the importance of radio.

“Radio in particular is still one of the most accessible mediums in the country. During the dark days of Apartheid South Africa, radio was used as a revolutionary tool to keep the people informed of the struggle being waged against the crime against humanity.

“For example, radio played a positive role in society during the anti-apartheid struggle.  Radio Freedom in South Africa used to communicate and send messages to people on the ground. People would gather together in homes who had radios just to hear the broadcast,” Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele said.

In South Africa, radio is a very powerful communication medium, which is easily accessible even in the rural parts of the country. It brings people from all walks of life together through its role of entertaining, educating and sharing important information.

“Similarly, it played a crucial role in fostering democracy and expressing our diversity in this country. The media, such as radio, continues to shape opinions and perceptions and influence public discourse.

“Radio holds particular importance in framing narratives on issues or events and has great power to influence people.  In a post-pandemic environment, radio, like other media, has a critical role to play in contributing towards social cohesion, peace and nation building,” Gungubele said.

Radio stations are among the key stakeholders of government, as they disseminate key information about government programmes of action and opportunities that the public can use to improve their lives.

The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has encouraged first-time homebuyers to take advantage of the over 500 affordable housing opportunities available across the province.

According to the provincial department, the available homes specifically cater for households with a gross income of between R3 501 and R22 000 per month.

Housing opportunities range from one, two and three-bedroom homes at Forest Village in Cape Town; Syferfontein in George and Mill Park in Bredasdorp.

Western Cape residents are urged to apply for the department’s Help Me Buy a Home/FLISP subsidy to purchase one of the available housing opportunities.

The Help Me Buy a Home/FLISP subsidy is designed to assist first-time homebuyers to acquire a home.

“The subsidy will essentially assist to reduce monthly bond or loan payments, making it more affordable to purchase a home. Qualifying applicants will receive a subsidy based on their gross household income,” the department explained.

According to Western Cape Infrastructure MEC, Tertuis Simmers, there are numerous housing opportunities in prime residential areas across the province.

“If your household income is between R3 501 to R22 000 per month, and you meet the qualifying criteria, this subsidy can assist you to purchase your first home. We encourage young professionals, first-time homeowners and those starting a family to research the options available to get their foot into the property market.”

Meanwhile, the department’s Communication and Stakeholder Relations Director, Nathan Adriaanse, believes that there are multiple benefits to home ownership.

“While it often means different things to different people, to most a home represents stability, ownership of an asset with a value that will increase over time and providing a legacy within the family that many generations can benefit from. A home also helps to build communities since many homeowners get involved in the affairs of the neighbourhood for the betterment of the entire community,” he said.

To date, over 250 Western Cape residents have purchased their first homes in one of the department’s three developments, using the Help Me Buy a Home/FLISP subsidy.

At present, there are 571 housing units still available in the Eerste River Cape Town, George and Bredasdorp developments.

Residents are encouraged to check the qualification criteria and to submit an application for one of the available housing opportunities.

Interested residents can apply directly to the department’s partners.

The department said it remains committed to accelerating human settlement delivery while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements for residents of the Western Cape.

Details of the units and contact details of the agents can be found on the department’s website at https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/human-settlements/documents/public_i….

In addition, residents can contact their nearest municipal housing office or the Department of Human Settlements at 27 Wale Street, Cape Town or 021 483 6488 / 0611 / 8984 / 0623 / 2060 or at human.settlements@westerncape.gov.za.

For more information visit www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/human-settlements.

Mpumalanga police management has warned communities to desist from making illegal electricity connections.

The warning comes after police in the province reported four deaths by eletrocution in the past week.

“On Thursday, 9 February 2023, a 16-year-old female who was in the company of her boyfriend lost her life. According to the victim’s boyfriend, they were walking on the wet street at night when he suddenly saw his girlfriend falling.

“Police were summoned to the scene and found the victim lying in a pool of water and there were loose electric cables lying around her. She was certified dead by medical personnel on the scene,” said provincial South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

In a separate incident in Block B, the deceased arrived home at about 5pm when his sister informed him that there was an electric fault. He went to fix the problem, but the deceased’s sister heard him screaming. She never took note until the deceased’s friend came home looking for him.

“When the deceased’s sister sent her younger sister to call him, she came back running and indicated that her brother was lying on the floor and not responding. She said she could only see him shaking. He was quickly rushed to hospital where he was certified dead,” said Mohlala.

In the third incident, a 36-year-old female from Gritana, Kamaqhekeza, was working her field at home on Monday at about 12.30pm when her family members noticed something strange.

“She was taken to hospital with burn bruises on her arm. She was also certified dead by the doctor in hospital.

“The fourth incident took place at Kamhlushwa when a 12-year-old boy was sent to the neighbour’s house. According to the deceased’s father, the victim was seen by other people falling. When they went to inspect, they realised that he was electrocuted by illegally connected electric cables,” Mohlala said.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela called on communities to refrain from making illegal electricity connections as more lives might be lost.