Day: August 7, 2022

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US Top Diplomat Blinken in South Africa on Africa Tour

JOHANNESBURG — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his three-nation tour of Africa Sunday by visiting a museum in South Africa commemorating how the country’s Black youths helped to end white racist rule.

Blinken’s visit to Africa is seen as part of a competition between Russia and Western powers for support from African countries over the war in Ukraine. His trip to Africa follows recent tours by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French President Emmanuel Macron.

South Africa is one of many African countries that have maintained a neutral stance on the war and have not publicly criticized Russia.

After an early morning arrival, Blinken visited the Hector Pieterson memorial in Soweto township, on the outskirts of Johannesburg, which honors a student killed in 1976 when protesting South Africa’s regime of racial oppression, apartheid, which ended in 1994.

Blinken laid a wreath at the memorial accompanied by Pieterson’s sister, Antoinette Sithole. He also toured the museum, which contains artifacts, photographs and videos of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid.

“Hector’s story is one that really resonates because we have our own struggle for freedom and equality in the United States and South Africa’s story is unique but there are also so many common elements, and that resonates powerfully,” said Blinken.

Sithole, who also participated in the 1976 student protests, said the museum is a highlights the role played by South Africa’s youth in bringing an end to white minority rule in the country.

“The museum is a reminder for generations to come. We must know where we come from and where we are going, and don’t forget that the youth took a stand for us to be better today,” said Sithole.

On Monday, Blinken will hold talks with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor.

The U.S. top diplomat will also describe the United States’ strategies for sub-Saharan Africa in a major policy speech at the University of Pretoria. Africa has been hard-hit by the effect of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the rising food and oil prices caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Blinken and Pandor will hold a press conference Monday in which the two countries’ different positions on the Ukraine war are expected to be visible.

Blinken will go on to visit Congo and Rwanda this week to end his international tour which also took him to Cambodia and the Philippines.

Source: Voice of America

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Members of Limpopo Highway patrol continue to make impact following the arrest of three suspects

POLOKWANE: Members of the Limpopo Highway Patrol Unit continue to intensify their crime fighting determination after they arrested three suspects in Motetema and Dennilton policing areas respectively. The suspects, aged between 25 and 28 were arrested on Friday 05 August 2022 for cases of burglary and fraud.

The members were on patrol duties in Motetema at about 11:45, when they operationalised information received from the Detectives about a wanted suspect of burglary in the area. The suspect was traced and was located at a certain car wash towards CS Barlow College. He was arrested on the spot.

Thirty minutes later at around 12:00, the members of Limpopo Highway Patrol (LHP) who were patrolling around Groblersdal, received information about a suspicious Toyota Corolla driving around the area. Members traced the said vehicle and it was spotted at Moteti village in Dennilton. The two suspects were approached and searched. Following preliminary investigations, the suspects were linked to two cases of fraud that occurred during August 2022 in Dennilton policing area.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the members for their dedication in ridding this Province of criminality.

The said vehicle will be subjected to further investigations to determine its ownership and if it is connected to any criminal activities. The suspects, aged between 25 and 28 will soon appear before the magistrate courts in Motetema and Dennilton respectively.

The Police investigations are still continuing.

Source: South African Police Service

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Gauteng police arrest 660 suspects during this Saturday’s operation O Kae Molao

PARKTOWN – The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela was joined by the Premier of Gauteng David Makhura and the Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko, on Saturday night, 6 August 2022 during Operation O Kae Molao in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg District.

The Eldorado Park community has recently handed over a memorandum of their demands to the Provincial Commissioner where the high levels of crime in the precinct which include proliferation of unlicensed firearms and drugs were raised as some of their concerns. This and the past Saturday’s operations aimed to assist the police station to reduce crime levels and bring stability in the area by bringing in multi-disciplinary forces such as the specialised units in the SAPS that include Crime Intelligence, Provincial Investigation Unit, National Intervention Unit, Tactical Response Team as well as Johannesburg Metro Police, Gauteng Traffic, Community Policing Forum, BACSA’s Eyes and Ears Project partners, Tracker and Fidelity to augment the capacity of the station.

The operation has resulted in the arrest of 99 suspects. Sixty-seven of which were undocumented persons, six for drug related offences while 13 were apprehended for driving drunk among others. Hundreds of litres of alcohol was seized and six liquor outlets were closed for operating without a license. The police also seized a replica firearm.

While the operation was underway in Eldorado Park, the other four districts were also conducting simultaneous operations in their respective precincts. Tshwane was concentrating in Brooklyn and Villieria, Sedibeng operations were conducted in Evaton, West Rand on the other hand was operating in Westonaria and Bekkersdal while Ekurhuleni was working in Ivory Park and Benoni. The four districts together managed to arrest 561 suspects for crimes that include possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of suspected stolen goods, possession of drugs, assaulting a police officer and driving drunk.

Some of the suspects were released after paying admission of guilt fines on the spot while others will appear before different courts in Gauteng on Monday, 8 August 2022.

Source: South African Police Service

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Ten suspects arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition and drugs

WESTERN CAPE – Multiple successful SAPS operations within various hot spot areas to combat crime proved to be successful with numerous arrests.

On Friday, 05 August 2022 at about 21:25, Steenberg SAPS Crime Prevention Unit executed a search warrant on a premises in Flute Street, Steenberg. Members searched the premises and found 100 packets of tik and one 9mm round ammunition. A 26-year-old suspect was arrested on a charge of possession of drugs and illegal possession of ammunition. The suspect will appear in the Wynberg Magistrates court on Monday, 08 August 2022 on the mentioned charges.

In an unrelated matter, deployment within the Manenberg policing precinct has proven successful, as two females aged 26 and 57 were arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as a 34-year-old male for possession of drugs and a 52-year-old male for the possession of two unlicensed firearms and ammunition in three different crime prevention operation.

Manenberg SAPS had an integrated deployment in the hot spot areas to combat gang violence through disruptive operations, stop and searches and following up information received from the community.

On Saturday, 06 August 2022 in the early hours of the morning, at 02:15, members of the Western Cape Emergency response unit intensified patrols in the vicinity of Corrie Court after random gang shootings. They saw a suspicious male standing at Corrie Court and as they approached him they saw him throwing something down. On closer investigation they found two 9mm pistols laying on the ground with serial numbers filed off. On searching the suspect they also found two 9mm rounds in his possession. The 52-year-old male was arrested.

In a separate and unrelated incident, two females aged 26 and 57, were arrested for the possession of a .38 Special revolver and six rounds of ammunition. This arrest was made after the Manenberg SAPS Crime Prevention Unit followed up information received of an illegal firearm at an address in Sutter Peak Road, Heideveld. The firearm was found hidden in the bedroom and both mother and daughter was arrested. It is alleged that the illegal firearm belongs to the boyfriend who is a member of a gang.

At 16:00 Manenberg SAPS Crime Prevention Unit followed up information leading them to an address in Longkloof Circle, Heideveld and arrested a 34-year-old male for 30 mandrax tables and seven half mandrax tablets valued at over R1000-00.

All the suspects are due to appear in the Athlone Magistrate court on their respective charges.

On Friday, 05 August 2022 at about 23:45 a member attached to the N7 Rural Flying Squad was on duty and busy with patrols on the Dwarskersbos Road in the direction of Elands Bay, when they saw a suspicious red Ford Bantam on its way to Dwarskersbos. The member pulled the vehicle over and searched it. A Norinco pistol and six rounds were found under the driver seat. The 43-year-old suspect could not provide a valid licence for the firearm and was arrested for failure by person carrying firearm to produce the licence or permit or authorisation, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Source: South African Police Service

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SAPS deploys spesialised units in West Rand to flush out illegal miners

The Police Ministry is confident the South African Police Service (SAPS) has the capabilities to deal with illegal miners who are terrorising communities living in the West Rand.

As part of ongoing police efforts to combat illicit mining and associated crimes in the West Rand, the SAPS will step up police operations, deploy necessary resources and specialised units of the service, to keep residents living in the epicentre of illegal mining safe.

Police Ministry and SAPS management led a two day Crime Combating Imbizo in West Village; Krugersdorp and another in the Kagiso area in the West Rand. The community meetings were also attended by Premier of Gauteng David Makhura and members of his Executive Council, officials from the Department of Home Affairs as well as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. Residents of both communities expressed their concerns around violent crimes committed allegedly by illegal miners who residents refer to as ‘blanket people’ or so called ZamaZamas.

Residents also claim the majority of Gender Based Violence (GBV) crimes are committed by the illegal miners who are often heavily armed, and many of them undocumented foreign nationals.

The Izimbizo also resulted in numerous complaints of police corruption and the local police who are not responding adequately to their policing needs.

Police Minister, General Bheki Cele has ordered a full SAPS clean-up in the West Rand as an immediate policing intervention.

“No community must be prisoners of crime and ruthless criminals who act without impunity, residents have the right to feel safe and to sleep at night. This is why the SAPS, must be seen and must be felt while the sealing of mines is expedited by those responsible.”

Police National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has committed more boots on the ground.

“We will respond through action as the police, we will deploy the highly trained TRT, NIU and Special Task Force and K9 teams to make sure we flush out all undesirable elements in this area. Whoever comes with fire will be met with fire. We ask for space to conduct these operations and request the community, to assist us, work closely with us and ensure we bring perpetrators to book through court processes.”

Cele says the allegations of police corruption and inadequate service delivery at stations will be probed at a provincial level and acted on. The Minister also acknowledged the community’s call for the South African Defence Force (SANDF) to be deployed.

“The request to bring in the army will be considered, when the need arises. This process takes a long time however in the meantime, the police’s response to flush out these Zama Zama’s will continue and will be bolstered by reinforcement of these specialised units, who will be deploy here while government works on a broader plan to tackle the whole value chain of illicit mining and its benefactors.” concluded Cele.

The SAPS has since established multi-disciplinary Economic Infrastructure Task Teams, made up of different specialised units partnering with the private security, government departments as well as business.

The collaboration aims at preventing and combating economic and critical infrastructure related crimes, including illicit mining across all nine provinces within identified districts per province.

These Task Teams have hit the ground running where Intelligence gathering and analysis remains one of the key operational approaches.

The Police Ministry has applauded the community of Kagiso for exercising restraint and handing over the suspected illegal miners, during the community protest against illegal miners earlier in the week. The Ministry is also appealing to residents to work with the police and bring forward information that can assist police inventions and operations.

Source: South African Police Service