Day: November 3, 2022

Posted on

South Africa: Do right by women and children, urges minister Zulu

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 3 (NNN-SANEWS) — Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, has challenged South Africa citizens to hold unresponsive officials accountable when dealing with the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

“We are here because we need to hold each other accountable. We need to pull our energies together and make sure that we do the right thing by the women of South Africa in ending GBVF,” Zulu said.

To solve the problem, principals need to go house to house, street to street and community to community to get to the root causes of GBVF, she said on the second day of the Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide held in Midrand.

Highlighting some progress registered by the department in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBV), Zulu said through the services of the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre, the department continues to be accessible to victims of gender-based violence across the country.

She said throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period, the centre reached 184,462 clients, compared to the 2019/20 financial year, where 61,573 clients were reached.

“The Gender-Based Violence Command Centre continues to provide gender-based violence victims with holistic services, such as psychosocial counselling, on a 24/7 basis. Between April 2021 and March 2022, 70,353 people accessed these services,” Zulu said.

The department has also deployed a total of 100 GBVF ambassadors in hotspots to conduct education and awareness campaigns. These include the employment of 250 social workers focusing on GBVF.

Regarding funding for non-profit organisations, the Minister said through the inter-governmental MinMEC processes, the department has developed and approved the Sector Funding Policy, which puts in place mechanisms to facilitate planning, prioritisation, programme targeting and budgeting.

In addition, the department is currently developing the NPO Online Funding System, which complements the funding policy and addresses the delays in the processing of transfers to NPOs.

“The online funding system will automate our NPO-funding application processes. When fully implemented, the system will initially complement the manual application process. However, over time, it will become the preferred mode of applying for funds by NPOs,” the Minister said.

She said a total of 963 NPOs are registered as rendering victim empowerment services and are supported by 1,238 NPOs that are registered as providing family services.

Zulu said all the registered NPOs are accountable in terms of the NPO Act, and 60% of them are not compliant with the NPO Act, as they do not submit their annual reports, due to non-filing.

Meanwhile, 30 properties were identified across the country as suitable for GBV shelters, with the majority of them implemented by civil society organisations funded by the department.

A total of 146 organisations, including the National Institute Community Development and Management, Lifeline SA and the National Shelter Movement, are funded by the department at a cost of approximately R191 million.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Posted on

South Africa: Police discover bodies of 19 drowned illegal miners

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 3 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Gauteng police have confirmed that bodies of 19 suspected zamazamas (illegal miners) have been discovered in Krugersdorp, a mining town west of Johannesburg.

Sources on the scene said that the men drowned while working in the mines and their bodies were retrieved from the water by other zamazamas — which means “those who try their luck” in Zulu — who informed the police about the incident.

The source said that when the authorities arrived at the scene, the bodies had already been removed from the mine.

Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the Krugersdorp police are investigating the deaths of the zamazamas.

“The Police in Gauteng can confirm that on 2 November 2022 at about 15:00, members from SAPS Krugersdorp responded to a call following the discovery of 19 bodies of alleged illegal miners in one of the active mines in the area.”

Brigadier Muridili said preliminary investigations suggest that the deceased were moved to the place where they were discovered.

No foul play is suspected at this stage and post-mortems will determine the cause of death.

“All the necessary role players were summoned to the scene. An inquest docket has been registered for further investigation,” said Brigadier Muridili.

Zamazamas working in Krugersdorp have been making headlines recently.

In July, 20 zamazamas allegedly robbed and gang raped eight women who were part of a gospel music video shoot.

Police descended on the area and arrested several zamazamas, claiming that they were cleaning the area of illegal miners.

In September, the police ministry said it was encouraged by the great strides made in improving the safety and security of residents in Krugersdorp since the deployment of specialised SAPS units to the area, curbing illegal mining.

In October, rape charges against the 14 men arrested in connection with the gang rape were withdrawn in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court when it was found that the DNA evidence taken from the suspects did not implicate them.

The withdrawal of the charges caused widespread national outrage, particularly at the incompetence with which the police handled the case.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Posted on

Police: 21 Bodies Found at Mine in South Africa

South African police are investigating the discovery of at least 21 bodies suspected of being illegal miners and found near an active mine in the town of Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg.

According to police, 19 bodies were discovered on Wednesday afternoon and two more were discovered on Thursday morning. Police said they suspect that the bodies were moved to the location where they were found, which is a privately-owned mine.

“We can confirm that this morning our search and rescue team went back to the scene and, as they were searching, they discovered two more bodies. They retrieved them from an open (mine) shaft,” police spokeswoman Brenda Muridili said Thursday.

The grim discovery is the latest in a series of incidents related to illegal mining in the Krugersdorp area. In July, eight female members of a film crew were raped and robbed at an abandoned mine in the area, where they were working on a music video shoot.

The incident sparked violent protests against illegal miners in surrounding communities.

Last week, rape and robbery charges against 14 men, who are also suspected of being illegal miners, were withdrawn after police couldn’t link them to the rapes through DNA evidence. The men were arrested during police raids on the abandoned mine where the rapes took place.

Illegal mining is rife in South Africa, with miners known locally as “zama zamas” searching for gold at the many disused and abandoned mines in and around the Johannesburg region. Krugersdorp is a mining town on the western edges of Johannesburg.

Illegal mining gangs are considered dangerous by the police, are usually armed and are known to fight violent turf battles with rival groups. The trade is believed to be dominated by immigrants who enter illegally from neighboring countries Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

The 14 men who had rape and robbery charges against them dropped are accused of being in South Africa illegally and have been charged with immigration offenses.

Source: Voice of America

Posted on

Police search for murder suspect/s

LUSIKISIKI – SAPS Lusikisiki are investigating a case of murder following the death of a 20-year-old female student whose body was been found dumped in the Lwalweni river banks.

The incident occurred between 29 and 30 October between 21:00 and 07:00 at Mcobothini locality Dubhana A/A.

The deceased body was seen by local people who were crossing the river. She sustained stab wounds on the upper body. The motive for the murder is unknown at this stage.

No suspect has been arrested the matter is still under investigation.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the My SAPS App to submit a tip-off.

Source: South African Police Service

Posted on

Six alleged stock thieves busted with suspected stolen stock

Nelspruit:  Six suspects aged between 20 and 38 appeared in Piet Retief Magistrates’ Court today, 03 November 2022, for possession of suspected stolen livestock carcases.

On 28 October 2022, the farmer reportedly had a routine check on his flock of sheep and to his surprise, discovered a deficit of 22. It is said that the farmer made his own enquiries and received information that his sheep were allegedly stolen and already slaughtered by suspects.

Members of the police from Piet Retief Stock Theft Unit were alerted about the matter and they were summoned to the scene. Upon arrival, an investigation was conducted where information was followed whereby four suspects were reportedly found in possession of the carcasses. In addition, sheep heads were also seized with brand marks suspected to be that of the complainant. The four suspects were immediately arrested. Further investigation led to the arrest of two more suspects that were allegedly found with ten sheep carcasses.

During their court appearance, the six were granted bail of R2000 each and they are expected back in court on 08 December 2022. Their names are Amos Sfiso Manana (28), Thabani Nkosi (24), Nkosinsiphile Mnisi (36), Nkosikhona Simelana (24), Thebelihle Floence Khumalo (28), and Siyabonga Samuel Shandu (20). The investigation continues.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the arrest of the suspects hence their court appearance. The General further emphasised that the police will continue to tackle stock theft however, farmers should also continue to brand mark their livestock as this exercise assist in identification whenever the items are recovered. The public is discouraged from buying stolen goods.

Source: South African Police Service

Posted on

CCTV+ : Script de « In the Name of Youth »

PÉKIN, 3 novembre 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Ruijin, berceau de la République populaire de Chine, a donné naissance à quantité d’innovations dans l’histoire. Le village de Songping est un site historique. Sur un mur, on peut lire quelques essais, aux lignes grossières mais au style délicat, qui semblent être des griffonnages d’élèves. En fait, ces essais ont été écrits par les soldats de l’Armée rouge, qui ont étudié ici il y a environ 90 ans.

Dans les années 1930, le Kuomintang a mené un « encerclement et une répression » militaires et un blocus économique féroces dans la zone soviétique centrale. En 1933, l’école de communication de l’Armée rouge des ouvriers et des paysans chinois a été créée sur la colline de Pingshan, dans le village de Songping, pendant cette guerre dévastatrice. Un groupe de jeunes soldats de l’Armée rouge, âgés de 16 à 17 ans, dont les connaissances ne dépassaient pas le niveau de l’école élémentaire, étudiaient assidûment la technologie radio afin de construire le réseau de communication de l’Armée rouge.

Quatre-vingt-dix ans se sont écoulés depuis. Les jeunes étudiants d’aujourd’hui ne sont sûrement pas en mesure de ressentir la faim et la soif de connaissances des jeunes de cette époque. Après 90 ans, nous ne pouvons plus déchiffrer ce que ressentaient les jeunes soldats lorsqu’ils ont peint ces graffitis sur ce mur. Cependant, on peut y voir des vestiges de leur vie. C’est ici qu’ont été consignées leurs voix fortes et leur jeunesse florissante. C’est au cours de ces années qu’ils se sont courageusement lancés sur le champ de bataille de la communication, après une brève période d’apprentissage.

Les adolescents d’autrefois sont devenus des silhouettes pâlissantes dans l’océan du temps, mais leurs essais inscrits sur ce mur sont encore clairs. Ce que ces traits rudes et délicats représentent, c’est l’esprit indélébile de l’Armée rouge. Après 90 ans, le souhait qui se cachait derrière ces graffitis s’est déjà réalisé. La loyauté, la foi, le dévouement et les sacrifices de générations de communistes ont permis le grand renouveau de la nation chinoise. Les ombres du passé sont révolues, mais la marque rouge sur la terre du Jiangxi ne s’est jamais effacée et restera toujours radieuse.

Vidéo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1935979/Lyrics_of_In_the_Name_of_Youth.mp4