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Residents urged to exercise caution with open flames

Location: News

Residents urged to exercise caution with open flames

As the country heads into summer, the City of Cape Town has encouraged residents to always exercise caution with open flames, such as fires and candles.

The call comes after the City of Cape Town’s firefighters battled 48 informal structure fires, where nine people lost their lives over the weekend.

In the first incident, four people, including three minors, sustained fatal burn wounds at Manuel Street in Wallacedene in the early hours of Saturday.

At 04:40am, the bodies of a man and woman were discovered after firefighters extinguished a blaze in Bida Crescent, Victoria Mxenge. 

At around 04:50pm, firefighters responded to a wendy house fire in Epping Forest, where they discovered the body of a minor beneath the debris.

On Sunday after midnight, an emergency call was received where structures were alight near Chris Hani High School in Khayelitsha.

“The fire was extinguished by 01:45 am. Two adults, genders unknown, sustained fatal burn wounds. All these incidents were handed over to the South African Police Service for further investigation,” said the city’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.

Smith said the unlawful occupation of land creates a number of challenges for the city, including the city’s emergency and enforcement responses to incidents.

“Our officers are on the scene in record time but are hampered by other factors, such as access. Current legislation urgently needs to be amended to prevent the proliferation of land invasions, which exacerbates fire risks,” Smith said.

Smith said all these incidents were handed over to the South African Police Service for further investigation.

Smith has extended condolences to the families, saying that fires are devastating and traumatic for all who are involved. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Mon, 10/28/2024 - 15:30

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McKenzie reflects on 100 days in office

Location: News

McKenzie reflects on 100 days in office

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has reflected on his first 100 days in office as being characterised by "putting out fires" and ensuring that the sector has access to opportunities.

These opportunities include a new agreement to fund the film sector, as well as ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive in sport and the arts.

“One key observation of the first 100 days in government is that the ministry has had to respond to several crises and last-minute challenges. One example was the need to rescue the National School of Arts, which was facing closure due to overwhelming financial pressures.

“In August 2024, the Ministry also became aware of a crisis in South Africa’s imminent hosting of the U18 African basketball championships, known as the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) U18 Afrobasket.

“To safeguard South Africa’s international reputation as a credible host country, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) took over the handling of the event with less than two weeks to go, which ultimately saved the tournament,” the ministry said on Thursday in Johannesburg.

READ | Minister McKenzie steps in to assist National School of the Arts

McKenzie and Deputy Minister Peace Mabe provided a full feedback report to the nation on their first 100 days in office following their swearing into office in the Government of National Unity (GNU) on 3 July 2024.

The Minister’s wide-ranging portfolio encompasses sport, arts, culture, heritage, recreation, social cohesion and nation building, the custodianship of archives and more.

“At the end of August, South Africa’s attendance at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru was also about to fail. The ministry had to step in at the last minute to ensure the young athletes were able to fly to South America. The athletes received their flights to Peru, with mere hours to spare.

“The South African team then delivered an outstanding all-round performance, finishing sixth in the overall medal standings, with a total of seven medals: three gold, two silver, and two bronze. Rising star Bayanda Walaza was confirmed as the fastest teenager in the world,” the ministry said.

READ | Acting President Mashatile congratulates South African sports stars

Access to opportunities

McKenzie has signed a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube.

“The new MoU aims to progressively transform access to both sports and cultural programmes in schools, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive in sport and the arts.

“This MoU marked a milestone in the GNU’s vision to deliver equality of access for all young people, particularly those in rural, township, and underprivileged areas,” the ministry said.

READ | Partnership to transform access to sports programmes in schools

Furthermore, the Cultural and Creative Industries Bosberaad took place on 29 - 30 August and was attended by 72 sector and sub-sector organisations, with a total of more than 200 participants in attendance.

“The Bosberaad was a follow-up to bilateral meetings that the ministry had earlier set up with individual organisations and key industry players across different domains and disciplines.

“It assisted in reimagining a new sector ecosystem, where representative sector and sub-sector organisations can enjoy direct recognition and support from government.

“This reconfiguration has enabled the department to come up with a new funding model, which will be rolled out in the new financial year, built on principles of inclusivity, broad-based recognition and equitable distribution of available resources for sector-organisation support – as opposed to just funding a few, selected organisations,” the ministry said.

The ministry also provided new musical instruments and infrastructure to the Mitchell’s Plain Music Academy and the Isivivana Centre in Khayelitsha, which received audiovisual equipment and support.

“The ongoing process of formalising the uniquely South African motorsport of spinning is continuing apace, with the ministry being part of the announcement of two major new sponsors for the sport, Cell C and Kappa, with more support for the sport now flowing in from the private sector,” the ministry said. - SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Fri, 10/18/2024 - 09:45

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SA’s crime figures “tell sobering story”

Location: News

SA's crime figures "tell sobering story"

Crime is generally on the increase and crimes that are of concern include murder, rape, hijacking, kidnapping for ransom payments, and extortion.

This is according to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu who released the crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year and the first quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year in Cape Town on Friday.

“These numbers tell a sobering story, reflecting the severity of the challenges we face. These numbers represent more than just figures on a page; they reflect the lived realities of our citizens—their fears, their losses, and their hopes for a safer tomorrow.

“The data is a stark reminder of the urgent need for action. We are confronted with a crisis that threatens the safety of our communities and undermines the stability of our nation. Contact crimes, in particular, are wreaking havoc and instilling fear,” said the Minister.

South Africa has seen an increase in the number of contact crimes reported at the country’s police stations during this year’s first quarter, from April to June 2024.

Contact crimes increased by 3 831 from 149 806 cases to 153 637 cases reported in the first quarter of 2021-2022 and 2023-2024. 

This is followed by assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm with 2 247 cases and common assault with1 339 cases.

Mchunu said the top crime police stations are in four provinces, Western Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. 

“It is worth noting that the Limpopo province recorded 3.3% per capita, making it the safest province in as far as murder is concerned,” he said. 

The top 30 police stations for murder cases were in four provinces.

“All the top 30 stations for murder were in only four provinces, namely Western Cape [11 stations], KwaZulu-Natal [eight], Eastern Cape [six] and Gauteng [five]

“The leading stations among them were Nyanga [Western Cape], followed by Inanda [KwaZulu-Natal], Umlazi [KwaZulu-Natal], Khayelitsha [Western Cape] and Harare [Western Cape],” the Minister said.

During the previous quarter, 6 228 cases of murder were reported as compared to the current 6 198 cases.

Mchunu said there has been an increase in rape and extortion cases reported.

“We have been reading about kidnappings and extortion cases in the media; 135 cases of kidnapping for ransom were recorded in the first quarter, with Gauteng and KZN accounting for 81 and 15 cases respectively.”

On the list of the top 30 police stations where rape cases were lodged, Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal is first, followed by Mthatha in the Eastern Cape and third is Thohoyandou police station in Limpopo.

Touching on police murders, Mchunu said 21 police officers were killed in the first quarter (16 off duty and five on duty officers), with the largest number of officers being from the Eastern Cape (five), KZN (four) Western Cape (four).

“We will ensure that our personnel receive the support and resources they need to perform their duties safely and effectively,” he said.

The number of cash-in-transit (CIT) heists in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Gauteng are still a concern.
Police would be meeting with various cash in transit companies to discuss measures aimed at curbing this crime.

He said his department’s priorities for the 7th Administration are clear and resolute. 
“Bringing crime levels down is our number one priority, to protect the citizens of South Africa and make them feel safe again,” he said. 

The Minister explained that elections had resulted in the delay of the release for the last quarter of the previous financial year and that these would be made available on the police’s website at https://www.saps.gov.za/services/downloads/2024/2024-2025_-_1st_Quarter_WEB.pdf. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Fri, 08/30/2024 - 13:54

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