Day: February 12, 2024

Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene, has commended the swift and decisive action by police officers in response to a shooting of a prominent attorney in Vincent, East London, on Friday.

Their immediate mobilisation and relentless pursuit resulted in the arrest of five suspects.

It is alleged that on Friday, at about 09:48, the attorney had parked his car and was about to enter his office when two suspects approached him and fired several shots, injuring him in his upper body. He was taken to hospital for treatment.

While police were still at the crime scene, East London Crime Intelligence was already hard at work gathering crucial information.

Within an hour and with the assistance of the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) District Detective Coordinator, their efforts led to the discovery of the silver Mercedes Benz getaway vehicle in Amalinda.

A 42-year-old male was arrested swiftly, when a second vehicle, a Renault Clio, was spotted at a complex on the beachfront.

Observation duties
were held while waiting for back-up from the Flying Squad, East London Serious and Violent Crimes Unit and SAPS Cambridge Crime Prevention members.

Another two suspects, aged 35 and 41 years, were arrested while attempting to flee in a bus bound for Durban. The bus was stopped in Mthatha by members from the Mthatha Serious and Violent Crimes Unit.

At about 04:00 on Saturday morning, a further two suspects (ages unknown) were arrested at a house in Westville, Durban.

Two firearms were recovered at a house in Quigney. They will be sent to ballistics for testing.

All five suspects are detained on charges of attempted murder. The motive is still under investigation. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon. Additional charges may be added as the investigation unfolds.

Mene congratulated all the officers involved for their professionalism, bravery and dedication to duty.

‘The team (BCM District Detective Coordinator, East London Crime Intelligence, East London and Mthatha Serious and Violent Crimes
Unit, SAPS Cambridge and East London Flying Squad), led by experienced officers, showcased exceptional coordination and teamwork.

‘Such exemplary work underscores our unwavering commitment to apprehending those responsible for this heinous act. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, we cannot disclose further details at this time,’ Mene said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is expected to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption at the Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA).

This after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation authorising the unit to probe the agency.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago explained that the unit will probe allegations of corruption related to at least seven contracts and ‘serious maladministration of salary adjustments… that were not duly authorised’.

The seven contracts in question are for the procurement of legal services; event organising and management services; consultancy services; security services; services relating to the Riemvasmaak Tourism Master Plan; catering services, and an audio-visual system.

‘The SIU will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by NCEDA or the State. The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of NCE
DA, the applicable suppliers or service providers or any other person or entity.

‘In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU will identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses,’ he said.

The investigation is expected to cover a time period between 1 March 2012 and February 2024, and may lead to referrals for criminal prosecution.

‘In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.

‘The SIU is empowered by the SIU Act to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation caused by acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration,’ Kganyago said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The first batch of four hydraulic mooring units procured by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to improve operations and reduce shipping delays at ports have been delivered and operationalised at the Ports of Cape Town and Ngqura.

The batch is part of the 52 units procured by the authority.

TNPA General Manager for Infrastructure, Thecla Mneney, said: ‘This marks the first of a series of major port equipment deliveries at our commercial seaports this year. We continue to make progress in fast-tracking the implementation of key investments in port infrastructure to improve operational efficiencies and provide quality service to the maritime industry’.

The TNPA also explained the uses of the units.

‘A hydraulic tension mooring unit is a system that is placed on the quayside to ensure the safety of vessels alongside and mitigate the severity of long-wave effects on vessels. The units assist with stabilising vessels alongside during strong winds, adverse weather conditions and high swells. The benefits
also include minimized down-time and safety during operations.

‘The new mooring units increases TNPA’s capacity to prevent excessive surge motions of vessels alongside, bringing the total number of units to six at the Port of Cape Town and four at the Port of Ngqura.

‘TNPA has procured 52 shore tension units with an allocation of 16 units for the Port of Cape Town, 14 for the Port of Durban, eight for the Port of Port Elizabeth, six for the Port of Ngqura, four for the Port of Saldanha and four for the Port of Richards Bay. The phased delivery of the rest of the units will be completed by early 2025,’ TNPA said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has cautioned the public against engaging in risky sexual behaviour, as this increases the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV infection.

Between April and December 2023, 167 109 males presented at public health facilities across the province and 67 400 (40%) were treated for male urethritis syndrome (MUS).

According to the provincial department, the MUS data accurately reflect newly acquired STIs.

Symptoms of MUS include discharge from the penis and burning urination.

If left untreated, complications can include pain and swelling of the testes, while gonorrhoeae and chlamydia are the most predominant cause of MUS in South Africa.

In 2020, the MUS incidence in the province was recorded at 12% and has increased over the years to 15% in 2023.

The department said it has noticed a peak of STI incidence in sub-districts E (Alexandra and Sandton) and F (Inner City, Braamfontein and Hillbrow) in Johannesb
urg.

Some areas include the Merafong sub-district in the West Rand, Katlehong, Ekurhuleni South, Germiston, Katlehong and Vooslorus, Lesedi in Sedibeng and Bronkhorstspruit in Tshwane.

Sub-districts E and F in Johannesburg have tertiary institutions and high-risk individuals such as sex workers and people who inject drugs.

Meanwhile, Merafong is a mining area with a majority male population. Region 7 has farming areas, where cultural norms hinder the uptake of services, especially amongst men.

Ekurhuleni South and Lesedi have technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, informal settlements, truck stops and hostels.

The GDoH has implemented a combination of prevention intervention approaches, which incorporate STI components in these areas such as the promotion of consistent use of male and female condoms, which are free and available in health facilities.

The interventions also involve encouraging the reduction in the number of sexual partners, increased uptake of HIV counselling an
d testing, STI screening, delayed sexual debut, as well as the promotion of sexual wellbeing.

The MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has urged people who are sexually active to use male and female condoms, which they can access free at their local healthcare centres to protect themselves against STIs and HIV.

She said the rise in MUS is attributed to high rates of unsafe behaviour such as non-use of condoms while engaging in vaginal or anal sex, multiple sexual partners, inconsistent condom use, high levels of substance use and cultural norms.

‘Our clinics provide free condoms and STI and HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. We should not let STIs go untreated, as they increase the risk of HIV infection and transmission, which will hamper the province’s goal to reduce new HIV infections by 2030,’ emphasised Nkomo-Ralehoko.

In addition, the MEC encouraged women to start early antenatal care as soon as they realise that they are pregnant for thorough screening of any STI, and app
ropriate and timely treatment for those who test positive.

Between April and December 2023, she said 1 255 out of 66 377 pregnant women who presented at our facilities for antenatal care for the first time tested positive for syphilis.

‘If left untreated in pregnant women, syphilis can have adverse outcomes for the growing baby as well as increased morbidity in the mother. It can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy (congenital syphilis), leading to stillbirths, health complications, congenital deformities and even infant death,’ said the concerned MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.

The MEC also said that there has been a noticeable increase in women who are presenting at health facilities to be initiated on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which is an antiretroviral drug prescribed for HIV-negative people to prevent them from becoming infected with HIV.

Between April and November 2023, 38 305 females aged 15 to 49 years were initiated on PrEP, compared to 11 988 males.

‘We believe that the high uptake of PrE
P among women has led this group to have unprotected sex resulting in a high incidence of MUS. The studies have reported that STI incidence is also high among young women receiving PrEP.

‘We would like to encourage more males to get initiated on PrEP to protect themselves against STIs. Additionally, both men and women who are on PrEP should use condoms to protect themselves against STIs, HIV and unwanted pregnancies,’ the MEC said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Thirty years on, the debate about the importance of social assistance rages on in the country. Very few people contextualise it for what it is and its importance in the lives of ordinary South Africans. It is disheartening that we have to still defend it despite the good results we keep getting for investing in the human capital of our country. I had thought the debate that by providing much needed assistance to poor households; we are creating dependency had long past, little did I know that this would come from sections unexpected and we must continue to fight for this right and never tire to explain it.

Niq Mhlongo in his book ‘Black Tax’ simplified the importance and the contextualisation of the importance of social grants when he called together a group of esteemed writers to tell stories of their families and how knowingly or unknowingly do pay social grants to members of their families who need assistance.

What then is the matter when the state invests in its citizens through social grants? Where is
the dependency when a child exits the system when they turn 18? Where should disabled people get their assistance when life is already expensive for a disabled person? When we comment about the social grants, we seem to shy away from the statistics and the good report and awards that continue to show us that social protection including social assistance is a much needed policy and 30 years on, we are seeing the results of this investment.

The National Senior Certificate (NSC) results are proof. We were told that 543 786 full time learners who wrote matric were grant beneficiaries. Out of this number, 441 872 passed their examinations and grant beneficiaries formed the largest number of learners who sat for the NSC with 160 326 distinctions and 202 156 passing with an entry to institutions of higher learning.

While these are direct results, the country continues to be recognised by reputable institutions for its social assistance programme. Last year, South Africa was recognised for this poverty alleviation
programme, which is central to restoring the dignity of its people. The country won the esteemed International Social Security Association (ISSA) Good Practice Award, in Social Security for Africa 2023.

The awards recognised government efforts in investing in the lives of children, especially those who are from poor and vulnerable households. It further acknowledged the hard work and success in delivering social security.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) also won two certificates of merit for its role in providing Social Relief of Distress for victims affected by floods in the KwaZulu-Natal and those in distress at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

ISSA, which was founded in 1927, is the world’s leading international organisation for social security institutions, government departments and agencies. Over 30 countries in Africa had entered for the accolades with 138 entries received from 48 member institutions.

As a country, we should be encouraged that the work of government t
o improve the standard of living of people is being recognised across the world. South Africa has since the dawn of democracy worked systematically to overcome its past and to provide hope.

Our social assistance programme has been at the heart of transforming lives and a springboard for change in communities throughout the country. Our social grants are amongst the largest in the world, with more than 26 million beneficiaries (including the SRD benefiaries).

The Child Support Grant (CSG) is an important instrument of social protection and was first introduced in 1998 to replace the racially based State Maintenance Grant (SMG), which had been in existence since the 1930s. It expanded the qualifying criteria to all eligible children but subject to a means test. At the time, the grant was R100 and has since increased over the years to R500.

In June 2022, we introduced Child Support Grant Top-Up with an additional amount of R250. The Top Up Grant is given to orphans in the care of relatives. Thus, avoiding the
long process of foster care as we have also amended the Children’s Act and excluded orphans in the category of children in need of care and protection. This also shows that as a country, we have done well in putting in place a good child protection system. Children can be orphaned but not necessarily in need of care but may need support. This further acknowledges that as a people whose foundation is built on Ubuntu, relatives have been looking after orphans no matter their socio-economic status.

The eligibility of these grants, especially for children, has been increasing over time from 7 years and now to 18 years. Today just over 13 million children receive the monthly grant amounting to approximately R81 billion per annum.

The ISSA award came less than two years after World Bank report released in October 2021 showed that our social protection system helped protect vulnerable people and ensured that they can meet their basic needs.

In particular, the report demonstrated that South Africa’s social assista
nce system is effective, well targeted and provides support to the poorest households.

This means that children can learn better because they are not hungry and people are in a better position to contribute to the development of the country. Helping the most vulnerable in our communities is about solidarity and ensuring that we live up to values of our constitution and we leave no one behind.

We thank President Cyril Ramaphosa for the assurance that the SRD grant of R350 will be extended and that this grant will serve as a foundation for a Basic Income Grant.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Police in Berea, in KwaZulu-Natal, have opened cases of impersonating a police officer, possession of drugs and fraud against a 38-year-old foreign national on Vause Road in Musgrave on Saturday.

The suspect was also found in possession of rock cocaine and a fraudulent police identification card.

The police were executing their crime prevention duties when they stopped and searched the man.

A subsequent search at his place of residence on Okleigh Drive led to the recovery of fraudulent fishing permits, more fraudulent police identification cards, fraudulent refugee asylum work permits, a police date stamp, as well as 15 rounds of ammunition.

A computer and other equipment, believed to have been used in the production of fraudulent documents, were seized for further investigation.

The suspect is expected to appear in court today.

Source: South African Government News Agency