Day: June 22, 2023

Two children, aged five and seven, have died in the South African city of Johannesburg after a fire broke out in a residential building where they had been left unattended and locked inside an apartment.

The blaze, in the inner city area of Hillbrow, began on Wednesday afternoon.

A reporter from South Africa’s Times Live has recently tweeted a video from the scene filmed after firefighters arrived:

Squatters often move into old and abandoned buildings in the area – which colloquially are said to have been “hijacked”.

Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda visited the scene later in the evening, commending firefighters for their efforts and saying Hillbrow’s old buildings did not meet health and safety standards.

“This particular property has been at the centre of the City [of Johannesburg’s] efforts to reclaim hijacked buildings from illegal occupants and crime syndicates,” New24 quoted him as saying.

The city’s emergency services say the children appear to have died from smoke inhalation and their bodies were later found “burnt beyond recognition”.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and the police are conducting investigations.

Source: BBC

MEC Maloyi appoints contractor to build an emergency house for a destitute family

The April Family in Madibogo Village in the Ratlou Local Municipality, has found relieve from the Department of Human Settlements. The family of 15 has been living in a one roomed house that belonged to their grandparents for the past 20 years. The family consist of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Learning about the situation the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Nono Maloyi accompanied by the Head of Department (HOD) Kgomotso Mahlobo visited the April family to introduce a contractor who will be building a house for them. The philanthropist raised to the occasion after hearing about the heart breaking story of the April family.

Member of the family 29-year-old mother of three Idah April, says the family survives on child support grant. No one in the family is employed and they make a living from odd jobs.

The adults in the family are outside the social grants/ old age bracket and on odd jobs from the neighbouring farms. Most of them do not have identity documents and are unable to benefit from the social relieve fund from government.

“We will welcome any little assistance we can get as a family. It’s been years since we have been living in this room which does not have privacy, and also has defects.

“We depend on child support grant and money from odd jobs from local farms. The government assistance will come in handy,” said a hopeful April.

According to the Head of Department Kgomotso Mahlobo, the department prides itself by having contractors who plough back into the communities through their corporate investments.

Otukile Kgabi of MGT Projects, volunteered to build a house for the April family and hope to complete it by next month. “We heard of your plight and we came here to ensure that you get a decent house, we promise you that you will be living in your house on Mandela Day this year,” said Mahlobo.

Mahlobo also urged appointed contractors in different housing projects to perform to their best abilities, as the departmental MEC Maloyi has issued a serious warning and vowed to terminate the contracts of non-performing contractors. She said the department is looking forward to working together with the appointed contractor and they will offer them support.

Source: Government of South Africa

A six-man rhino poaching gang has been handed prison terms ranging between 16 and 20 years after they were found guilty of conspiracy to commit theft of rhino horn and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The six men, who were sentenced in the Eastern Cape High Court sitting in Makhanda, are Francis Chitiyo, Trymore Chauke, Meshack Chauke, Simba Masinge, Nhamo Muyambo and Abraham Moyane.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, said the men were arrested in 2018 after they conspired to commit rhino poaching in the Makhanda area.

“They obtained an unlicensed 375 caliber hunting rifle, which was fitted with a silencer to suppress gunshot sounds to avoid detection during their illegal hunt. On the afternoon of their arrest, the six travelled in two vehicles towards the Makhanda area, where there are numerous game reserves housing populations of rhino.

“Before they reached their destination, one of the vehicles suffered a mechanical breakdown. They were stopped by members of the rhino poaching task team of the police patrolling the N2 highway, while towing the other vehicle. Inside the vehicles, two axes, knives and cellphones were discovered. The disassembled hunting rifle was found concealed in the tailgate of one of the vehicles,” Tyali said.

Following their arrest and conviction, five of the men escaped but were rearrested.

“While the gang was in custody, no rhino poaching incidents were reported in the Eastern Cape. However, since the escape of the five, 13 rhino were poached during the first three months of 2023.

“Investigations to establish the involvement of the gang in the said poachings are being conducted and further charges will be brought in the subsequent trial if they are linked. Delivering the sentence, the court noted that it was more than a coincidence that when the gang was in custody, there were no poaching incidents in the Eastern Cape,” Tyali said.

Meanwhile in Mpumalanga, the Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced a 32-year-old man to 32 years imprisonment for rhino poaching related activities.

This after the man, Freedom Ndlovu, was convicted on charges of trespassing at the Skukuza National Park, three counts of rhino killings, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, conspiracy to commit an offence, possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of ammunition.

NPA regional spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said Ndlovu and two other accused were arrested in 2016 after rangers at the park received a tipoff about poachers in the area.

“[The rangers] went to the alleged scene and found Alberto Valoyi , Fanwell Ndobe and Freedom Siyabonga Ndlovu in possession of a hunting rifle, ammunition, six fresh rhino horns and an axe. They were all subsequently arrested. Ndobe and Ndlovu absconded after the court granted them bail, and Valoyi was convicted and sentenced.

“Later, Ndlovu was rearrested, but his co-accused Ndobe is still at large,” Nyuswa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cabinet has welcomed the cooperation agreement between South Africa and France, which is set to increase the capacity of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

The agreement aims to strengthen the relationship between South Africa and France in capacitating the SIU on cyberforensic, financial crimes and analytical skills.

The agreement — which was signed by Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, on Monday, 19 June — is expected to also yield the establishment of an anti-corruption academy in Tshwane.

The academy will serve the SIU and other law enforcement agencies and anti-corruption agencies within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries.

“This new capacity will also deepen the country’s ability to respond to matters arising from the State Capture Commission,” Cabinet said in a statement on Thursday.

The establishment of the academy aims to enhance Investigative capabilities and prevention measures, and promote anti-corruption and public education.

Source: South African Government News Agency