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Mpumalanga
No glitches expected with October grant payment cycle, says Mpumalanga SASSA
No glitches expected with October grant payment cycle, says Mpumalanga SASSA
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Mpumalanga has issued a statement assuring social grant beneficiaries of a smooth transaction during the October payment cycle.
This comes after the technical glitches experienced last month, affecting grant recipients across the country.
According to SASSA, the elderly will receive their money on 3 October, those living with disabilities on 4 October, while payment of children grants categories will get theirs from 5 October.
“Social grant beneficiaries have a right to choose a method of payment of their choice, freely. The forms to make a choice are available at the nearest SASSA offices.”
Meanwhile, SASSA staff will be in most South African Post Office (SAPO) outlets and other payment platforms to monitor the payment and aim to assist beneficiaries with enquiries.
“The monitoring will be conducted for the first three payment days and they will assist any beneficiary that may be experiencing system payment-related challenges or non-payment due to failed bank verification and/or pending bank verification.
“In the eventuality of an unexpected non-payment [this] will be escalated to Postbank if related to a system glitch, and be sorted out as quickly as possible,” the agency explained.
Beneficiaries are also reminded to check their contact details to ensure that they are still correct.
For more information, contact the toll-free number on 0800 60 10 11 or 013 754 9428/9363 from 07:30 to 16:00 during weekdays (Monday to Friday).
District contacts are as follows: Ehlanzeni 013 799 7063/65; Bushbuckridge 013 799 7010/11; Gert-Sibande 017 801 1794 and Nkangala 013 285 0648. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Tue, 10/03/2023 - 10:37
68 views
Home Affairs Minister welcomes sentencing of corrupt official
Home Affairs Minister welcomes sentencing of corrupt official
Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, today welcomed the lengthy sentences recently meted out to two South Africans and a Pakistani national in two different cases in Durban and Johannesburg, respectively, for passport related crimes.
Arfan Ahmed, a Pakistani national who was arrested in a sting operation that included the Counter Corruption Branch of Home Affairs, the Hawks and the Police Crime Intelligence on 24 March 2022 at the Home Affairs office in Krugersdorp, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the Brixton Magistrate Court.
He was sentenced for the passports that were found in his house following his arrest in Krugersdorp. The department awaits his sentencing for his role in the Krugersdorp passport syndicate.
Ahmed is a kingpin of a passport syndicate that sought to undermine the country’s laws by fraudulently procuring South African passports for Pakistani nationals who did not have a legal right to possess South African passports.
He was working with some corrupt officials of Home Affairs in a network that spanned Gauteng, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Mpumalanga.
While the Pakistani is languishing in jail, the 12 corrupt Home Affairs officials who enabled his scheme have already been fired and submitted to the Hawks for criminal investigations.
In another important development, the Durban Magistrate Court sentenced Anda Ngozi and Nomathandazo Mboyane to 26 and 24 years, respectively. The two were officials of the Department of Home Affairs employed at the office in Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape.
They used to travel 650km each way at a time during the night to Home Affairs offices in Commercial Road and in Prospecton in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, to fraudulently process 52 passports for foreign nationals, mostly from the DRC, who are not legally entitled to them.
They were paid between R3 000 and R5 000 for each passport. South Africans who were prepared to lend their identities for this nefarious scheme were paid a paltry R500. These were usually young people who were on nyaope.
The two were arrested in November 2022 by Counter Corruption Branch of Home Affairs and the Hawks following the conclusion of an internal investigation led by the Counter Corruption Branch.
Ngozi was sentenced for eight years for fraud, as well as for contravention of the:
• Identification Act – four years
• Immigration Act – four years
• Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act – 10 years
Mboyane was sentenced for eight years for fraud, as well as for contravention of the:
• Identification Act – four years
• Immigration Act – four years
• Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act – eight years
The sentences of the two will run concurrently, practically meaning that Ngozi will spend 10 years, while Mboyane will spend eight years.
“I am extremely pleased that the courts are meting out lengthy sentences to those who seek to undermine the integrity of Home Affairs systems. It is worth noting that the courts had refused bail to all three after their arrests.
"I am also happy the collective work of the multidisciplinary law enforcement teams has ensured that these rascals face the full might of the law for their criminal actions,” said Minister Motsoaledi.
Minister Motsoaledi added that he was looking forward to the sentencing of more people related to these two cases as the Hawks haven't yet closed their investigations.
“Once again, I want to reiterate that we shall stop at nothing in ensuring that all Home Affairs officials who engage in malfeasance face the full might of the law. If you are at Home Affairs and are corrupt, expect our knock at your door," said Minister Motsoaledi.
He added that the actions of corrupt officials, kingpins, South Africans and corrupt foreign nationals have the following consequences for the country:
• People who don’t qualify for South African passports are legitimised through these actions to the detriment of the sovereignty of our country.
• They can use these documents to travel the world as South Africans, and in the process, they may be committing acts that are detrimental to the reputation of the country.
• More worrisome is the fact that even those who claim to be asylum seekers or refugees use these passports to travel back to their home countries proving that the whole claim of asylum was just a rouse.
• South Africans will find it difficult to travel the world as the authenticity of their documents will be questioned.
"South Africans who stupidly lend their identities to be utilised in this manner end up suffering serious prejudice when trying to do transactions with other State institutions, banks and some industry associations.
“This is because the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA), banks and the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) verify the identity of the people they transact with through the Home Affairs National Population Register (NPR).
"Every time you apply for an ID or passport you are required to take a photo. The latest photo you take becomes the one in our database and all previous ones are automatically deleted.
"So, if a South African sells their identity in this way, it means that the photo in the Home Affairs system is that of the foreign national. So, institutions verifying through NPR refuse to deal with people whose identity at Home Affairs have pictures that don't look like the person in front of them," said Motsoaledi.
The Durban Magistrate Court also ordered that the 52 passports be surrendered to the State.
Because of this abuse of the passport application system, Home Affairs has drastically changed the processes through which passports are acquired in the country. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 10/02/2023 - 13:28
288 views
Tons All-Round In Potchefstroom As Dragons Clinch Victory At The JB Marks Oval
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Communities urged to be cautious as inclement weather still expected
Communities urged to be cautious as inclement weather still expected
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Thembi Nkadimeng, has urged communities across the country to be extra cautious as the potential for further inclement and windy weather conditions remains high.
According to the department, the Minister is concerned about the prevailing adverse weather conditions characterised by wildfires and heavy rains affecting most provinces.
“The Minister urges communities across the country to be extra cautious as the potential for further inclement and windy weather conditions remains high,” the statement read.
Nkadimeng has directed respective disaster management centres to activate relief and response measures to ensure the preservation of life through their rescue and recovery efforts.
The Western and Eastern Cape have thus far experienced major flooding, resulting in significant damage to infrastructure and property.
“Sadly, several communities have been displaced and some roads are inaccessible, which is detrimentally affecting lives and livelihoods.”
The department said it has noted the high alert early warning issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS), particularly for the Western and Eastern Cape.
Some of the worst-hit areas include the City of Cape Town, Garden Route, Central Karoo District; West Coast District, Theewaterskloof, Gugulethu, Sarah Baartman and Nelson Mandela.
“Based on the reports and the weather forecast for the next couple of days as predicted by the SAWS, communities must be extra vigilant, especially in coastal areas.”
Warnings have also been extended for some parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga for 27 September 2023.
“The heavy rains are accompanied by strong winds which can lead to high tide, with the ocean's waters creeping up the shore, thus endangering lives.”
To this effect, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) is working collaboratively with Disaster Management Teams from across the three spheres of government and other teams to provide assistance where required.
“Minister calls on all social sectors and partners to mobilise aid and resources to respond adequately to the needs of affected communities.”
As more rain is still expected, the Minister calls on communities to observe the following safety measures:
- Be extra vigilant and exercise caution, especially in flood-prone areas.
- Follow regular updates and warning messages from the SAWS.
- Work with relevant authorities and follow safety tips.
- Those residing in low-lying areas must take extra care during storms, as sudden floods might affect them.
- Monitor the rising water levels and evacuate the areas to a safer place in case or water level rises.
- Be cautious of power lines that might be lying on the roads and debris on the roads.
- Cross through flooded roads or bridges or low-lying bridges, streams and rivers – use other safer routes.
- Try not to walk, swim or drive in swift-flowing water. Even if the water is 15 cm deep, it can sweep you off your feet.
- Motorists are urged to drive and park in safer areas.
- The public should contact their municipal disaster management centres or the nearest police station or call the national emergency numbers (112, 10177 or 107) when faced with threats.
- Sensitise children about the dangers of floods.
- Keep important documents in a water-resistant container.
- Keep your cellphone near you and have emergency numbers at hand.
- Be vigilant at night as it is harder to recognise potentially deadly road hazards.
- Beware of possible water contamination due to raw sewage or other dangerous substances. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 10:51
203 views
Over 50 avian influenza cases confirmed in South Africa
Over 50 avian influenza cases confirmed in South Africa
South Africa is dealing with a number of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 and H7 outbreaks, with more than 50 cases confirmed in various parts of the country, according to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).
The department has urged poultry farmers to immediately report any suspicion of the disease to the nearest State Veterinarian.
As of 21 September 2023, a total of 50 HPAI H7 outbreaks and 10 HPAI H5 outbreaks have been reported.
Gauteng province is the hardest hit by HPAI H7, with 37 confirmed cases.
Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West have confirmed two cases, respectively, while the Free State has recorded one case.
“The reported number of chickens that have died is 107 705, while the reported number of chickens that were culled is 1 318 521. Based on these reported figures, there has been a total loss of 1 426 226 chickens.
“The Western Cape province is the hardest hit with regards to the HPAI H5 outbreak, having a total of seven reported outbreaks. The other 3 HPAI H5 outbreaks are within the KwaZulu-Natal province,” the department said in a statement.
The reported number of chickens that have died of HPAI H5 is 98 249, while the reported number of chickens that were culled is 1 156 283, bringing the total loss of 1 254 532 chickens.
The department said it has noted an increasing number of newly detected H7 and H5 PCR positive farms, and urged the industry to ensure biosecurity on poultry farms to reduce the risk of introduction.
The department has facilitated the importation of fertile eggs for the broiler industry and, it said “a similar request for the table eggs will be considered if received”.
It is also facilitating the transit to Eswatini of fertile eggs for their broiler production.
The department has met with vaccine registration regulators and it was agreed that the registration of vaccination will be fast tracked. However, the meeting agreed that safety, efficacy and quality will not be compromised.
Due to the high probability of the avian influenza virus mutating and becoming zoonotic, the department warned that care needs to be taken on the quality and efficacy parameters of the vaccine chosen for use in this exercise.
“The criteria under which vaccination will be permitted is almost in its final development, and only farms with good biosecurity and approved to vaccinate by the department will be given permission to vaccinate. The other requirements for vaccination will be surveillance to enable early detection of incursion and mandatory slaughter of vaccinated chickens.
“The department further encourages all producers to intensify their biosecurity measures on the farm. The basic measures should aim at preventing contact with wild birds, including their faecal material, which can be transported in boots and equipment,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 09/26/2023 - 15:23
293 views
Police record successes in dealing with criminal syndicates
Police record successes in dealing with criminal syndicates
Police Minister Bheki Cele says the police are pushing back against crime in the country, and flushing out ruthless and greedy organised criminal syndicates.
“The work of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has, through intelligence-led operations and weekly high density operations, resulted in the arrest of thousands of criminals, especially dangerous and hardened criminals,” Cele said at a briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday.
The Minister outlined some of the successes achieved by the police in dealing with crime in the country.
He said assets worth millions of rands have been recovered and firearms have been removed off the streets.
“These covert operations have also resulted in multiple deaths of suspects who violently resisted arrest,” Cele said.
Cele said some of the meticulously conducted take-downs should renew hope in the country, that the men and women in blue are gaining ground against crime and continue to flush out criminality in both affluent and impoverished areas of society.
“South Africans on various platforms have welcomed the bolstered and decisive policing efforts by the SAPS, who are going toe-to-toe with criminals.
“But in the same breath, we are also aware that the SAPS triumph over crime is a bitter pill to swallow by some,” the minister said.
Cele said crime intelligence information remains central in the take-down of armed and ruthless gangs.
Cele said in the past week alone, police have registered a number of successes, including the latest take down of cash-in-transit heist suspects in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, where four suspects were killed and three suspects arrested.
“We would like to take this opportunity to appreciate the working relationship with the Hoedspruit Farmwatchers, who worked closely with the SAPS in taking down this syndicate.
“Among those arrested was a most wanted suspect, a Mozambican national, linked to the murder of a police officer, a spate of car hijackings, house and business robberies and fraud cases. Police seized one pistol, a rifle and some of the stolen money,” the Minister said.
Provincial overview
Among the successes achieved by the police include, in Gauteng, a multidisciplinary team led by the Anti-Kidnapping Task Team, rescued an 18-year-old Wits University student from a kidnapping syndicate last Wednesday.
The syndicate had been targeting the LGBTQI+ community through a popular dating app. Police have broken the back of this particular kidnapping syndicate, which has so far been linked to over 50 kidnappings, where ransom demands were being made.
In KwaZulu-Natal, following a shooting incident which resulted in the fatal shooting of five men at a parking lot in a shopping centre in Richards Bay on the 19th September 2023, police - 24 hours later - acted on information and traced two suspects to an upmarket estate in Ballito, where a shootout ensued.
The pair were shot and killed during a take-down operation, which involved specialised units of the SAPS, including the National Intervention Unit (NIU).
One of the suspects was on the police’s wanted list and being investigated in a number of cases. One suspect is being sought by the police.
In the Eastern Cape, police arrested a gang that had robbed a store of R1 million worth of jewellery.
Just hours later, police followed up on information and tracked down and arrested all 10 suspects, following a crime intelligence-driven operation. All the stolen jewellery was recovered, as well as four firearms. The syndicate is linked to numerous other similar heists across the country.
In Carolina, Mpumalanga, the illicit mining task team shutdown an illegally operated coal mine and seized mining equipment worth over R60 million, as well as coal worth R12 million.
A mine manager was arrested and a manhunt is underway for the mine owner.
In Khutsong, Gauteng province, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) - under Operation Gillette - arrested nine suspects for illegal mining and they attached, through a preservation order, 58 properties (51 vehicles, including luxury vehicles and seven houses) to the value of over R17 million. They will be appearing in court on 29 September 2023.
In the Northern Cape, 867 illegal miners were arrested during an intelligence driven operation in the Namakwa region on Tuesday, 19 September 2023. The area, which is a hotspot for illegal mining activities, is being closely monitored, and police are working closely with other relevant departments to combat illegal mining activities. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 09/26/2023 - 12:21
129 views
An ‘Afternoon Tea’ Experience at Walkersons Hotel & Spa
Tea and Scones – a signature Walkersons delight When it comes to indulging in British culinary traditions, the charming ‘afternoon tea’ tradition of with tea and scones stands out as a quintessential delight. Synonymous with leisurely gatherings, the appreciation of fine teas and a delectable array of tea-time treats, afternoon tea originated in 19th century …
Mashatile: Work underway to resolve service delivery issues in local govt
Mashatile: Work underway to resolve service delivery issues in local govt
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has assured Members of Parliament (MPs) that the State is attending to issues facing local government.
The Deputy President on Friday said the challenges are multi-dimensional and primarily rooted in governance, institutional capacity, poor financial management and political instability.
“To this end, we have conducted oversight visits to six provinces to ensure that we resolve the challenges of poor governance and lack of service delivery in these areas,” he said.
The Deputy President was responding to questions in the National Assembly on a range of issues facing the country.
Mashatile said outreach programmes were conducted in North West, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.
“This was to ensure that we resolve challenges of poor governance and lack of service delivery in these areas,” he explained, adding that they also identified areas of improvement for coordinating service delivery related to infrastructure backlogs and essential services.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has identified 66 out of 257 municipalities as those that need support.
The State, Mashatile said, is also working through the District Development Model (DDM) to improve intergovernmental relations on policy planning, budgeting and execution.
“Together with the Department of COGTA, we established what we call the Result Management Office (RMO), which will be used to strengthen this work.”
The RMO will focus on ensuring that municipalities improve service delivery with support and capacity from the war room.
It will also act as an engine for integrated service delivery that links to the community, coordinates profiles and integrates service delivery.
The State is also looking at addressing resources, capacity and skills in the local government space.
It also plans to facilitate improvements in planning, coordination, execution, monitoring and reporting on the delivery of projects.
“We aim to create resilient, sustainable and cohesive communities, where municipalities serve as catalysts and enablers of development,” said the Deputy President.
In addition, he said government will be looking at the hardships facing the City of Johannesburg. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 09/22/2023 - 11:57
381 views
Natural gas set to ignite African economies
The recent signing of an agreement to develop what has been called South Africa's largest liquified natural gas project in Mpumalanga province has emphasised the potential of natural gas as a viable energy source for the country.
The agreement, a “non-binding term sheet” (https://apo-opa.info/3PN65zR), is a partnership between South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Afro Energy, a subsidiary of Australian gas explorer Kinetiko Energy. The initiative is projected to generate 50MW of equivalent energy, growing to 500MW over time. There are also options for the development of further LNG gas equivalent projects.
The deal comes amidst renewed interest in onshore gas, as South Africa's power crisis shows few signs of easing. TotalEnergies has won approval (https://apo-opa.info/48phiOs) to search for oil and gas off South Africa's west coast, and in May, the South African government even announced plans to revisit the idea of shale-gas exploration in the Karoo region.
The Mpumalanga discovery is relatively advanced, and involves an innovative public-private partnership approach. However, the resource – estimated at 3.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas – pales in comparison to the gargantuan gas reserves in other parts of Africa.
Africa's natural-gas reserves have been estimated at around 620 trillion cubic feet (https://apo-opa.info/46iQ4qU), with the largest resources in Nigeria, Algeria and Senegal.
Thanks to its proximity to Europe, and well-developed LNG infrastructure, Algeria is currently Africa's largest exporter of natural gas, and the fourth largest gas export in the world (https://apo-opa.info/46m7Zgw), with the 10th largest proven natural gas reserves on the planet.
As Europe looks to wean itself off Russian energy, following that country's invasion of Ukraine, North and West Africa are well positioned to fill the gap. Established trans-Mediterranean gas pipelines can facilitate this, and several more pipelines are in the planning stages.
Supply bottlenecks and political challenges need to be resolved, but the upside for African oil-and-gas exports to Europe is enormous.
Natural gas has also long been heralded as a “transition fuel”, that can help ease the move from oil and coal towards renewable energy. By some measures (https://apo-opa.info/3sZeMy5), gas is a cleaner-burning, efficient fuel that produces fewer carbon-dioxide emissions than other fossil fuels.
It is abundant, and can be compressed, liquified and stored. This storage capability gives natural gas the advantage over forms of renewable energy like solar and wind, which are less easily dispatchable. Storing and providing renewable energy as and when required necessitates complementary technology like batteries, hydrogen or pumped storage.
Gas resources can simply be integrated into the well-developed global natural-gas infrastructure – through pipelines, and the international shipping. This means frontier natural-gas territories – such as South Africa – would be able to “plug in” to this system and begin supplying gas to where it is needed relatively soon after fields are established.
Ghana provides an instructive example of what is possible. The country's oil-and-gas industry launched with its first discoveries around 2006, and it was able to produce its first product within 40 months (https://apo-opa.info/3rkEXz1). In 2021, the country produced 2,4 million metric tons of gas (https://apo-opa.info/3PY0as9).
The imperative to minimise global greenhouse gas emissions to meet Paris 2050 commitments and to reverse climate change is a serious concern, which must be balanced against Africa's development imperatives.
Almost half of Africa's people remain without electricity (https://apo-opa.info/48BiLS2). The Africa Energy Commission (https://apo-opa.info/3ZtYv0d) has confirmed that it still sees a role for natural gas in the continent's evolving energy mix.
In a context where Africa still generates only four percent of global carbon emissions, and the majority (https://apo-opa.info/46oImM7) of its people still rely on biomass to meet their energy needs, a move to natural gas would still represent a net improvement (https://apo-opa.info/3RzRGIH).
That is the domestic scenario. Globally, the planet is hungry for natural gas. Africa is sitting astride enormous resources, but currently only provides 6% of global gas exports (https://apo-opa.info/46ioryf).
The opportunities are significant. There is worldwide gas activity going on, and Africa needs to come to the party.
- The continent's energy leaders will convene to discuss emerging energy opportunities at Africa Oil Week (https://apo-opa.info/466pce3), “Africa's leading upstream event” from 9-13 October in Cape Town. The event is a global platform for deals and transactions, bringing together governments, national and international oil companies, independents, investors and service providers for the betterment of the African continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil Week.
Msukaligwa Municipality found guilty of polluting water resources
Msukaligwa Municipality found guilty of polluting water resources
The Middleburg High Court in Mpumalanga has reaffirmed the regulatory role played by the Department of Water and Sanitation when it found Msukaligwa Local Municipality guilty of eight counts relating to water pollution.
The case, which was brought before the court on Wednesday, relates to non-compliance by the municipality with several directives issued by the department, in terms of sections 19 (3) and 53 (1) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act no. 38 of 1998).
The municipality failed to take reasonable measures to prevent the pollution of water resources and engaging in water use without authorisation at the Ermelo Waste Water Treatment Works.
This comes after the department’s Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Unit undertook numerous investigations since 2016, and subsequently issued notices and directives to the municipality.
“The outcomes of the investigations revealed that the Ermelo Waste Water Treatment Works was not authorised to engage in water uses, not functioning adequately, and the sewage was bypassing the process units and discharged straight into water resources, and there were poor operations and maintenance of the plant,” the department said.
Judge Bruce Langa ordered Msukaligwa Local Municipality to:
• Immediately cease unlawful water use at the Ermelo Waste Water Treatment Plant.
• Apply for registration of water use, as set out in section 21 (f and g) of the National Water Act.
• Immediately take corrective measures to stop the discharge of poor quality effluent to prevent further pollution of water resources.
• Appoint a suitably qualified environmental consultant to compile a rehabilitation plan, which must include the nature and impact that pollution has had or may have on water resources, and the measures that will be implemented to remediate the impact (with clear timeframes).
The rehabilitation plan must be compiled within 30 days from the date of the order of the court and submitted to the department for approval.
The municipality must implement all remedial action contained in the rehabilitation plan within 30 days from the approval of the plan by the department.
• The municipality must compile a closeout report after the completion of the rehabilitation, to be submitted to the department within 14 days of completion of the rehabilitation activities.
The costs of the application by the department are to be paid by the municipality.
Judge Langa said the Department of Water and Sanitation acted in good faith and made many reasonable efforts to make the municipality account for its actions or non-actions, including the issuing of notices and directives.
“The applicant, in my judgement, was entitled to approach the court for relief once it became clear that the respondent was not responding to the various notices, in terms of which it was directed to take certain measures to correct the issues identified repeatedly in various reports dating as far back as 2016.
"In this case, the respondent clearly remained supine, despite the critical problem that was raised many times by the applicant,” Langa said.
The department said it will issue a letter of intent to open a criminal case against Msukaligwa Local Municipality, should they fail to submit an action plan with clear timeframes and budget.
“The department is pleased by this court order and hopes that it will send a strong message to other institutions and serve as a deterrent to transgress provisions of the National Water Act,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 09/22/2023 - 09:04
9 views
UNIQ celebrates 10th store and first summer range
UNIQ celebrates 10th store and first summer range The Shoprite Group has opened its 10th UNIQ store in Rosebank Mall, just in time to launch the clothing brand’s inaugural Spring/Summer collection. Offering quality clothing for the whole family, UNIQ focusses on simplicity, comfort, superior textiles and value. The new collection is a fresh take on …
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Suspects arrested for being in position of stolen railway tracks
Suspects arrested for being in position of stolen railway tracks
Three suspects were arrested on Tuesday on the N4 freeway in Middleburg after being found in possession of a truck transporting allegedly stolen railway track valued at about R3 million.
The suspects, aged between 41 and 51, are expected to appear at the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
They are facing charges of being found with stolen items and for contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa.
Police are working with the Department of Home Affairs after it was discovered that the suspects are foreign nationals and two were found without valid documentation to be in South Africa.
Two of the suspects are Mozambican nationals while the third found with documentation is a Zimbabwean national.
“Police in Mpumalanga are working hard to address the challenge of damage to essential infrastructure as well as theft of valuable railway items. The Mpumalanga Provincial Anti-Gang Unit of the police was tasked with the responsibility of helping curb this challenge.
“As a result of the determination by the team, working in collaboration with members of the public and in this case Middleburg Highway Patrol members played a role as well which led to a breakthrough that was achieved,” said the office of the Provincial Commissioner in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela.
According to information, the railway track was stolen in Barberton in August 2023.
A case was opened and the investigation was handed over to the team, with the hope of arresting the perpetrators and recovering the reportedly stolen items.
After an investigation, investigators were able to gather valuable information and made follow ups which led to the trailing of the truck which was possibly transporting the suspected stolen railway track to a certain destination.
After being spotted and stopped, a search was carried out and the railway track was discovered inside the truck. The three men were then arrested.
The truck with its consignment and other items have been confiscated for further investigation.
The Provincial Commissioner has hailed the breakthrough.
"We are elated by this great achievement. We are adamant that the suspects may have been involved in other similar offences committed previously as our investigation team continues to probe.
“The damage to essential infrastructure is a thorn in the flesh but we are doing our best to address this, hence the arrest," said Lieutenant General Manamela – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 09/20/2023 - 14:47
142 views
Family demands answers after teen’s body disappears from state morgue
Department and police fail to answer questions because they are still investigating three years later
Maketa Set For SA Emerging One-Day Cup Birth
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Illegal miners to appear before Sabie Magistrate’s Court
Illegal miners to appear before Sabie Magistrate's Court
More than 60 suspects arrested over the weekend are expected to appear before the Sabie Magistrate's Court today on charges of illegal mining, among other things.
In total, 68 male suspects, aged between 19 and 54, were arrested in connection with illegal mining activities in Mpumalanga.
Amongst them, two were nabbed for human trafficking, meanwhile two others were charged for possession of unlicensed firearms with ammunition, while eight were nabbed for alleged kidnapping.
The successes are part of Operation Shanela in the province, which was carried out at Sabie on Saturday. All arrested suspects are facing charges relating to the contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa.
According to the police report, the operation was conducted by a team consisting of members of the police from Provincial Organised Crime, members from Sabie Vispol, members from the Local Criminal Record Centre in Lydenburg, Lydenburg K-9 Unit, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Minerals and Resources, personnel from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and guards from Phoenix Security and Amandla Security.
An operation was carried out after a victim from Lesotho came to the Sabie police station last month to report a case of kidnapping.
An investigation was thoroughly conducted and information was gathered. The investigating team coordinated and executed a sting operation in the early hours on Saturday.
When members arrived at the site, they managed to arrest the alleged illegal miners, well known as 'zama zamas', where two firearms with ammunition were found amongst the suspects.
The members also nabbed eight individuals, who are suspected to have been behind the kidnapping of the Lesotho national.
A preliminary investigation by the police revealed that two of the suspects are allegedly involved in the human trafficking of people from Lesotho, who were used for illegal mining in Sabie.
Two suspects face charges of human trafficking and more charges could possibly be added against them as the investigation continues.
The investigators are adamant that there could be more criminal activities that these men might be involved in. A probe is underway, where other stakeholders are assisting to ensure that the law take its course.
The confiscated firearms will be taken for ballistic testing to determine whether they were used previously in the commission of crime.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has commended the outstanding work that has been done by the collaborative team.
"We are very glad that not only was a huge number of suspects arrested, but two firearms were discovered.
“The issue of illegal mining is a concern in our country and we are happy that the public can see that the state, in conjunction with the private sector, is working hard to address the challenge, hence this success," she said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 09/18/2023 - 09:24
780 views
Police appeal for cooperation in apprehending suspects
Police appeal for cooperation in apprehending suspects
Police in Mpumalanga are appealing to members of the public to assist by providing information that can lead to the arrest of suspects involved in the shooting of patrons at a tavern in Kanyamazane on Sunday.
Two people died and scores others were injured as a result of the shooting.
One patron died at the scene, while another died in hospital later in the day. Two other people are said to be in a serious condition in hospital.
All the deceased have not yet been identified.
According to police, two armed men wearing balaclavas stormed into the tavern just after midnight and opened fire indiscriminately. After the shooting, the suspects fled the scene.
A team of investigators has been assembled under the leadership of the provincial commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela.
Manamela has strongly condemned the incident.
“We are very concerned about crimes that are being committed at liquor outlets, including crimes that are carried out near these liquor outlets.
“We trust that our communities will come on board and share information that will assist in this investigation,” she said.
A case of murder and attempted murder has been opened. The motive for the shooting is still unknown.
The investigation continues, and police have urged members of the public to come forward with information that may assist in the arrest of the perpetrators. The public is urged to use the Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP.
All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Mon, 09/18/2023 - 11:59
300 views
Mulaudzi And Mailula Win SA Senior Cross Country Titles In Gqeberha
Kabelo Mulaudzi and Karabo Mailula emerged triumphant to secure the most prestigious titles on offer, on a spectacular day of racing at the ASA Cross Country Championships held at Nelson Mandela University sports grounds in Gqeberha on Saturday. Competing in tough conditions, which included near gale-force winds, in-form athlete Mulaudzi delivered in style after turning …
Kusile’s Unit 4 returns to service
Kusile’s Unit 4 returns to service
Kusile Power Station's Unit 4 has returned to service bringing back 800 megawatts, which was taken off during the unit’s 20-day planned maintenance.
Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said this while briefing the media on the implementation of the country’s Energy Action Plan.
The unit came back online on Sunday morning, and will add 800 megawatts to the capacity available and removes 800 megawatts from the planned maintenance of Eskom.
Units 1, 2 and 3 of the power station located in Mpumalanga were put offline due to a flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) mechanism that was damaged in October last year. This affected stacks at the units. He said that these are expected to come online between October and the end of November 2023.
“We’ve been able to shed a month on the return of unit 3 and the expectation is that we should be able to return this unit by 14 October. The same is applicable for unit 1. We should be able to get it on 30 October.
On progress made on unit 2, the Minister said the team initially was of the view that the unit would return on 24 December. However, this has been revised to 30 November 2023.
The Minister reiterated that Kusile is central to addressing the load shedding question, because “we will need significant more additional generating capacity to be able to address this.”
In recent weeks the country has been experiencing various stages of load shedding including Stage 6.
In an update on Sunday afternoon, Eskom said that due to further improvements in generation capacity, Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 4 pm until 4pm on Monday.
Thereafter, Stage 4 load shedding will be implemented from 4pm on Monday until 5 am on Tuesday. This will be followed by Stage 2 load shedding from 5 am until 4 pm.
“This pattern will be repeated daily until further notice,” it said. –SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Sun, 09/17/2023 - 13:32
290 views
Call for a review of National Strategic Position on GBVF
Call for a review of National Strategic Plan on GBVF
South African children have reiterated a call for the review of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF).
The call was made during consultations with children on Pillar 7 of the NSP on GBVF, held simultaneously in Limpopo, the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.
The Department of Social Development has been on the road consulting children on the NSP-GBVF - the country’s blueprint document to combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
This follows a call by children during the Presidential GBVF Summit held last year, that the document should have Pillar 7, which will specifically look at violence against children.
During the summit, the children expressed their dissatisfaction about adults speaking on their behalf.
The NSP-GBVF currently has six pillars namely:
• Accountability, coordination and leadership;
• Prevention and Rebuilding;
• Justice, Safety and Protection;
• Response, Care Support and healing;
• Economic Power; and
• Research and Information.
During consultations, the children noted that the document is not child friendly, and does not include children and men.
The children believe that the “gender” in gender-based violence indirectly means women, and not children and boys.
They challenged the drafters to look into the document and count how many times children are mentioned.
“Maybe instead of a pillar, there should be a strategic document on how to deal with violence against children, seeing that adults have already drafted their own,” 17-year-old Rebecca Smith said.
The children also raised concern on the document being written only in English, noting that they do not think that their communities even know what “gender-based violence” is.
“The seventh pillar must all be about us - the children,” said Mondli Mncandi.
Patience Sibande (17) said she had to continue consulting her dictionary because of the difficulty in terminology and language used.
“We don’t understand it, and it excludes us as children from the rural areas,” she said.
The children also pointed out that while the drafters of the document may think that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA) community is mentioned, the document glosses over their issues and it does not understand [what] children who are of a different sexuality go through.
“The document is sound but lacks inclusivity in the sense that it only mentions the LGBTQIA community towards the end, the document should include them throughout,” said 16-year-old Northern Cape Child Ambassador Shareez James.
The department started the consultations last week with the children from Gauteng and the Western Cape.
“The consultative sessions seek to ensure that children have an opportunity to express their views on the NSP-GBVF and how their issues can find expression in the document. The Children’s Act encourages the right for children to participate in all matters affecting them,” the department said.
The consultations will continue in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga on 23 September 2023.
Upon the conclusion of the consultations, the inputs from children will be submitted to the national steering committee responsible for the NSP-GBVF so that a decision can be made on whether to include Pillar 7, as asked by the children. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Sun, 09/17/2023 - 10:10
145 views
Coming together starts with ‘hello’ this Heritage Month
South Africa is a diverse country made up of vibrant, multicultural communities. This cultural richness is evident in the many languages, dialects, phrases, and expressions that make South Africa so unique. The recent addition of South African Sign Language to the country’s 11 existing official languages creates even more opportunities to connect. To celebrate the …
ASA Cross Country Championships
Athletics SA, EP Athletics and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will be hosting the ASA Cross Country Championships this Saturday, 16 September, at the Nelson Mandela University Sport fields. The best of South Africa’s Cross Country runners, ranging in age from 8 years to over 80 years, and covering distances from 2km to 10km, will …
Oil and gas imperative for SA’s energy security
Oil and gas imperative for SA's energy security
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) will “sustainably continue to develop” South Africa’s oil and gas resources in order to ensure energy security and alleviate dependency on foreign oil.
This is according to Mineral Resources and Energy Deputy Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, who was speaking at the Southern Africa Oil Gas Conference on Wednesday.
“It is imperative to accelerate the exploration of oil and gas both onshore and offshore, as having our own petroleum resources will reduce our dependency on foreign oil and cushion our economies, in particular our citizens against imposed whirlwinds of crude price volatility,” she said.
The Deputy Minister said South Africa has already initiated policy intervention processes to boost the development and growth of the country’s oil and gas industry.
“The first intervention is the development of the Gas Master Plan which is a policy that outlines and guides the critical role of gas in South Africa while providing policy direction to the gas industry.
“We have also developed the Upstream Petroleum Development Bill seeking to ensure that the upstream petroleum sector is no longer regulated under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA), but under discrete petroleum legislation. We believe the de-coupling of the Upstream Petroleum Development Bill from MPRDA will bring regulatory certainty and hopefully shore up investor confidence,” Nkabane said.
Natural gas
Deputy Minister Nkabane highlighted that natural gas in one the key components in South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 and accounts for at least 3% of the country’s energy supply.
She explained that natural gas can also contribute to South Africa’s quest to lower emissions output.
“[The] continued exploration and discovery of indigenous gas is crucial for meeting our climate change targets and securing of energy supply,” she emphasised.
Nkabane highlighted that the recent discovery of maiden gas reserves in Mpumalanga represents a “major boost in electricity generation capacity as the country was looking at different sources of energy”.
She urged countries that have discovered gas to ensure these reserves not only serve international appetite but also contribute to energy security in local communities.
“Mpumalanga is the epicentre of South Africa’s power generation because [it] has a high concentration of power stations, therefore the discovery of gas positions the province at the centre of the just energy transition and as a source of reference for the country’s emission-reduction targets.
“We have also seen that Europe is looking to Africa to diversify its gas supplies. This presents a good opportunity and market for local gas beyond our own use. However, the caveat is that we should not rush to export our gas to Europe at the expense of our domestic and regional markets, no matter how tempting the prospects of earning foreign revenue.
“The argument often advanced is the lack of transmission infrastructure and unaffordability of gas products for local communities. My counter argument is that we are not going to change this situation if we do not use the revenue earned from gas exports to develop … our economies to create employment opportunities that will lead to consumption of goods and services,” she said.
Nkabane also called on African countries to increase ties in oil and gas trade between themselves.
“Already, South Africa imports the bulk of its crude requirements from African producers, including Nigeria and Angola. There is ample opportunity for a massive expansion of gas trade, especially from the Gulf of Guinea and the broader West Coast of Africa, where we have many producers and some already exporting. We collaborate closely with the African Petroleum Producers Organisation and urge more meaningful engagement with this continental body.
“As a region we should strive to build a strong oil and gas sector that will drive regional and continental economic development as is the case with the advanced economies,” Nkabane said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 09/13/2023 - 14:53
124 views