Month: August 2022

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City supports SAFA’s homecoming celebrations for Banyana Banyana

The South African Football Association (SAFA) is hosting an event tomorrow evening

The South African Football Association (SAFA) is hosting an event tomorrow evening, Thursday, 4 August 2022, to welcome home the Champions of WAFCON, Banyana Banyana.

The team made history after winning their first ever Africa Cup of Nations trophy when they beat Morocco 2 – 1 in the final on 23 July.

Tomorrow, SAFA will host the Banyana Banyana Homecoming at 18:00 at Athlone Stadium. The stadium’s gates will open at 16:00 to the public.

The public is invited to come along – free of charge – to meet Coach, Desiree Ellis and the Cape Town-based Banyana Banyana players, and celebrate the win!

Source: City Of Cape Town

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Suspects heading to court for charges of damage to infrastructure

WESTERN CAPE – Part of police efforts to protect the infrastructure and economy in the Western Cape, saw the arrest of an adult male for trading without a second hand license and infrastructure related offences.

Members the Economic Infrastructure Task Team conducted compliance inspections at a scrap yard in Thys Witbooi Street, Vrygrond on Monday, 01 August 2022. During the inspection, the members confiscated copper and aluminium cables with a total mass of 437,05 kilogram and with an estimated street value of R43 000-00. The suspect could not produce any documentation to operate a second hand business.

The same members assisted Public Order Police in Mfuleni when they arrested an adult male after he was caught with three electric boxes and 33 electrical breakers with an estimated street value of R20 000-00. It is believed that the equipment belongs to the City of Cape Town.

Once charged the suspects are due to make their respective court appearances in the Simon’s Town and Blue Downs Magistrates courts.

Source: South African Police Service

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Security guards in custody for theft of copper cables

KWAZULU-NATAL – On Tuesday 2 August 2022, Hawks members from Pietermaritzburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation arrested two security guards aged 27 and 37 for theft of copper cables which happened at Hidcote area in Mooi River.

Members received information about two security guards who were cutting copper cables in the area. It is alleged that they loaded the cables in their vehicle and fled the scene. Security Company was contacted and the two security guards were questioned. A pointing out was conducted and 670 meters of copper cable to the street value of approximately R180 000-00 was recovered.

Transnet officials positively identified the stolen cables and the two suspects were charged for theft as well as damage to infrastructure. They are expected to appear in the Mooi River Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

Source: South African Police Service

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Limpopo Provincial Commissioner appoints female senior officer as the new District Commissioner of Sekhukhune

POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe and top Provincial Police Management kick-started the Women’s month on a positive note following the appointment of a highly dedicated Policewoman, Major General Junior Lehabe-Metsi, as the new District Commissioner of Sekhukhune , one of the five Districts in the Province.

The rank of a Major General was conferred to the newly appointed District Commissioner by the Provincial Commissioner this morning, Wednesday 03 August 2022, during the event that was attended by the Deputy Provincial Commissioners, Provincial Heads and the two Brigadier Station Commanders from the same District, Tubatse and Burgersfort police stations.

Major General Lehabe-Metsi brings with her a wealth of experience, having served for many years in the South African Police Service at various levels in Gauteng and North West provinces. She began her career in 1989 as a Constable and steadily progressed through the ranks until she was appointed as the Provincial Head of Corporate Communication and Liaison in the North West Province, holding the rank of Colonel.

Before her appointment as the District Commissioner, Major General Lehabe-Metsi was the Station Commander of Ga-Rankuwa Police Station holding the rank of Brigadier. This was preceded by her stint as the Director of Community Safety and Transport Management in Gauteng, where she was the programme manager of crime prevention, civil society and mobilisation.

As the District Commissioner, Major General Lehabe-Metsi will be overseeing twenty one (21) Police Stations falling under Sekhukhune District and these include; Burgersfort, Tubatse, Groblersdal, Denilton, Nebo, Mecklenburg, Masemola, Hlogotlou, Marblehall, Motetema, Sekhukhune, Maklereng, Rakgoadi, Zaaiplaas, Roosenekal, Apel, Elandskraal, Driekop, Jane Furse, Ohristad and Leboyeng.

Wishing the new District Commissioner well in her new responsibilities, the Provincial Commissioner has also told her to be decisive in her dealings and be resolute when confronting the scourge of crime, especially inter-provincial criminal activities as the District shares boundaries with Mpumalanga and Gauteng Provinces.

Source: South African Police Service

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Manhunt launched following robbery at Primary School

ODENDAALSRUS – On 01 August 2022 at about 23:25, it is alleged that a 43-year-old security officer was on duty at Malebaleba Primary School in Kutloanong, when he saw an unknown man who fired one shot at him. A crowbar was used to forcefully open the classroom where the security officer was in and he was tied up at gun point.

The suspects went to the staff room and fled with laptops and cash as well as other valuables. After four hours, the security guard managed to untie himself and screamed for help. The security officer did not sustain any injuries and a case of business robbery was registered for further investigation.

Anyone with information leading to the arrests of these suspects, can contact Detective Constable Modise Kotsi of Odendaalsrus Detective Services on 082 301 2797 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Tip-offs can be submitted via the My SAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service

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Millions of Hungry People in Horn of Africa Resort to Extreme Measures

The World Health Organization warns a lack of humanitarian aid is driving millions of hungry people in the Horn of Africa to engage in desperate measures to survive.

Conditions in the Horn of Africa are worsening. Conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic have turned the region into a hunger hotspot. That is having disastrous consequences for the health and lives of millions of people.

A recent U.N. analysis of the food situation in the region found 37 to 50 million people as being in what is classified as IPC phase 3. The World Health Organization explains that level of food insecurity forces people to sell their possessions to feed themselves and their families. At that stage of crisis, it says malnutrition is rife and special nutritional treatment is needed.

Sophie Maes is the WHO incident manager for drought and food insecurity in the greater Horn of Africa. Speaking from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, she says the WHO and other aid agencies are unable to provide the help needed to stave off hunger and ill health because of a severe funding shortage.

“Normally what you do in this kind of situation is you do blanket supplementary feeding so that people do not slide further into malnutrition,” said Maes. “This is not being well funded at the moment due to the competing crises that are going on.”

She notes the World Food Program ran out of money and had to cut rations for many beneficiaries to be able to support those most in need. She says health risks have been compounded by four years of consecutive drought. She says the hoped-for reprieve is unlikely to come as forecasts indicate the upcoming rainy season is expected to fail.

She says growing numbers of people are engaging in risky behavior just to get something to eat and support their families.

“People are desperate to get money. So, there is survival sex going on. There is more violence, fighting for the meager resources. And, also, gender-based violence going up with women having to go farther to find food and water,” said Maes. “So, as they are further away from where they live, they are more prone to be attacked.”

The WHO says it needs nearly $124 million to spend through the end of the year to protect lives in the fragile region. It says the money will provide millions of people with the aid they need to fight disease outbreaks, provide life-saving nutritional feeding for severely malnourished children, and ensure they have access to health services.

Source: Voice of America