Day: January 9, 2022

UNITED NATIONS— The United Nations Women have set the theme for International Women’s Day, as “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” which will be marked by a high-level virtual event on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the General Assembly, the Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Executive Director of UN Women as well as gender equality and climate change activists and celebrities will participate.

“Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach,” the UN Women stated in a document.

According to the UN Women, the theme is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 66th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66): “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes”.

The day would be used to recognize the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all.

The UN Women document also acknowledges that advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century.

According to the UN Women, the issues of climate change and sustainability have had and will continue to have severe and lasting impacts on the environment, economic, and social development.

The UN Women noted that women are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most.

At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership result in more effective climate action.

According to the UN Women, continuing to examine the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change and sustainability is essential for sustainable development and greater gender equality.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

GAUTENG – Amos Ndlovu, aged 11 went missing on Thursday 6 January 2022 after he ran away from home in Diepsloot Ext 12.

Amos was last seen wearing a navy blue t-shirt, a cream white short and black sandals.

Anyone who has information that may assist with the investigation is urged to contact SAPS Diepsloot Detective Duty Officer on 071 675 7420, Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or alternatively leave an anonymous tip-off on the MySAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service

BRONVILLE – On the 8 January 2022, Mr Katliso Radiboke reported his brother Katlego Radiboke residing at Extension 15 Bronville missing.

He was last seen on 3 January 2022 and according to his brother, Katlego is mentally challenged and mostly roams around Mannys, Welkom. A missing person case has been registered for further investigation.

Anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of Katlego Radiboke (36) can contact Detective Hennity Motaung of Bronville Detective Services on 072 124 0441 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Source: South African Police Service

MPUMALANGA – The South African Police Service has started off the New Year on a sombre note, with the burial of a station commander, who was killed in the line of duty in Mpumalanga.

Colonel Beauty Marivate has been described by family, friends and colleagues as a dedicated officer with over 30 year experience, who fought a good fight. She met her untimely death while responding to a supermarket robbery on the 30th of December last year. She was fatally wounded when an armed gang opened fire on her vehicle when she arrived on the scene.

The 55-year-old station commander of Elukwatini SAPS, leaves behind four children and nine grandchildren.

Minister of Police General Bheki Cele delivered the eulogy at the official funeral service of the fallen Colonel. He didn’t mince his words when addressing the community’s anger towards the killing of their number one police officer.

“This killing must anger all of us as a nation and it is through our collective condemnation of such cruel acts, that communities can know the dangers of harbouring criminals who won’t hesitate to get rid of the very same people that protect and serve them. On the same breath, police must also respond decisively to these callous acts and ensure the death of one of their own is never in vein. Colonel Marivate was a skilled investigator who championed social justice so it’s important that all of those thugs who robbed this community of a leader, are found.”

During his address to the mourners gathered at the Elukwatini stadium, Minister Cele called on them to forge stronger working relations with the police.

“We will simply not co-govern with criminals, the President has made it clear that the life of criminals must be made hard and these words have re-energised the SAPS and strengthened our resolve to make life miserable for criminals, however police can’t do this alone, the men and women in blue who each day put their lives on the line to ensure our safety, need you to be their eyes and ears on the ground. It is through such active and consistent community policing partnerships, that criminals can wake up to reality that crime doesn’t pay but will instead land them in jail or in an early grave.”

Eight suspects have been arrested so far for the murder of Colonel Marivate. The Police Ministry is encouraged that police in the province are following up on strong leads that they believe will lead to more arrests.

Source: South African Police Service

EAST LONDON – The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene has expressed shock and devastation at the loss of one of the proficient divers of the South African Police Service in the Eastern Cape, Captain Pierre Marx aged 53, who went missing on Saturday the 08 January 2022 in the afternoon.

Preliminary report suggests that Captain Marx was attending to a complaint of drowning together with his co-divers from East London K9 Search and Rescue. The complaint related to reported four (4) people who were allegedly swept off Horse Shoe Valley causeway. As they arrived at the scene to assess the situation, they established that the complainant was on the Island in the main stream of the Nahoon River together with three (3) deceased whilst the fourth one was still missing in the river.

According to the report, the officers managed to take the three bodies across the stream. After a successful rescue of the complainant who is believed to be a local farmer, Captain Marx struggled with a strong current sweeping him despite attempts by his colleagues to rescue him. He disappeared in the heavy stream and only to be recovered in the early morning of Sunday the 09th January 2022.

The untimely passing of Captain Marx has sent shockwaves within the SAPS family and the community at large who have voiced out their distress at the devastating news of his drowning. Captain Pierre Marx is a well-known member of the SAPS who made himself a name within and outside the SAPS for his outstanding heroic rescue activities within the Province. He was very popular among various communities who witnessed his sense of commitment and empathetic disposition towards the plight of the people. He has won a couple of Bravery Awards one of which was when he saved a young boy from drowning in a storm water drain in East London.

Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene visited the crime scene in the early morning of Sunday where the member had drowned and later proceeded to the mortuary where his body is lying whilst arrangements for his funeral are still underway. Addressing Captain Marx’s colleagues and SAPS management at the conclusion of her visit, the Provincial Commissioner reiterated her devastation at the loss of the late Hero.

“This is a sad day not only for the SAPS family but for the entire community. Captain Pierre Marx was an asset and hope for all of us. We have lost a dedicated and dependable hero, a passionate and loyal member of the South African Police Service who kept the SAPS Flag flying high on various occasions. He promoted the image of the organisation in a manner that made all of us proud to be associated with the SAPS. On behalf of the management in the Province, I wish to send my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues. May his Soul rest in Peace. Lieutenant General Mene concluded.

The details of Captain Marx’s funeral will be communicated in due course and once the family has made a determination in this regard.

Source: South African Police Service

BRONVILLE – On the 8 January 2022 at 17:42 a group of boys from Bronville went to a mine dam to swim. According an eyewitness, one of them, a 5-year-old boy moved to a deeper side of the dam and struggled to come out. His older brother, who is 7-years-old tried to rescue him but both of them disappeared and drowned.

The incident was reported the following day on the 9 January 2022 at 08:30. The SAPS Diving Unit under the leadership of Lt Col. Conrad Fouche visited the scene and managed to retrieve the two bodies. The next of kin were informed and the two brothers were identified as Nic – Nadio Pienaar (5) and Marshall Pienaar (7) residing in Peterson Street Bronville, Welkom.

A case of Inquest has been registered for further investigation.

Children must refrain from swimming in places that are not safe and also parents must know the whereabouts of their children to avoid this disaster.

Source: South African Police Service