Month: April 2024

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Northern Cape has executed several operations, including numerous compliance inspections at second-hand dealers, scrapyards, recyclers, private security, firearm dealers, formal and informal businesses, farms and mines.

Operation Shanela, the weekly multi-disciplinary, high-density operation, commenced on Monday, 15 April to Sunday, 21 April 2024.

According to the police, the focus was on the reduction of contact and violent crimes in crime hotspots and the operation led to 525 arrests.

‘Actions and police activities executed during the disruptive actions included, vehicle check points (VCPs), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, smuggling of drugs and other commodities,’ the SAPS explained.

READ | 297 suspects arrested in N Cape

The police said VCPs and roadblocks were conducted across the province leading to 2 270 vehicles and 4 617 people stopped and searched.

Meanwhile, 382 suspects were arrested for murder, attempted mur
der, rape robbery, assault, burglary, malicious property damage, dealing and possession of drugs, illicit mining and possession of counterfeit goods.

Others who were detained included those who had suspected stolen stock, undocumented illegal immigrants, possession of precious metals as well as illegal dealing in liquor that resulted in the closure of 10 liquor outlets.

In addition, 143 wanted suspects were traced and arrested by detectives for evading court appearances and contravening court orders.

‘The police confiscated large volumes of alcoholic beverages and non-ferrous metal items during inspections.’

Police also seized a large amount of drugs and cash believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing during different raids and operations across the province.

VIEW | Police carry out crime reduction duties in the Northern Cape

Operation Shanela resulted in the arrest of 525 suspects in the Northern Cape. Operation Shanela resulted in the arrest of 525 suspects in the Northern Cape. Police confiscated la
rge volumes of alcoholic beverages and non ferrous metal items during inspections.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, indicated that the success of Operation Shanela is due to the support of various communities and the multi-disciplinary approach with several roleplayers.

The Commissioner said the police will continue to combat any unlawful actions and ensure that victims of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) are given special care and attention.

‘The SAPS invites the public to rate the police efforts in fighting contact crimes by participating in the ‘rate our service’ online survey to assist the police in improving services,’ Otola added.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cabinet has commended the millions of taxpayers who have filed their tax returns to help the South African Revenue Service collect tax revenue of R2.155 trillion for the 2023/24 financial year.

‘This is R52 billion more than the previous year and demonstrates the robustness of the local economy, despite challenging local and international conditions,’ a Cabinet statement said on Monday.

The increased revenue helps government to fund the country’s service delivery projects and other socio-economic development programmes.

Cabinet held a special Cabinet Meeting on Wednesday, 10 April 2024.

Since its inception, SARS has collected R21.6 trillion in net tax revenues. The R21.6 trillion tax collections represents a compound growth of 9.9% per year since the inception of SARS in 1997.

This has funded the South African democracy and touched the lives of millions who would be destitute without government support and services.

Source: South African Government News Agency

On Monday, 22 April, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, will officially open a new Home Affairs office at The Pavilion Shopping Centre in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal.

On Tuesday, 23 April, President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the Inaugural Worker Share Ownership Conference at the Sandton Convention Centre.

On Tuesday, 23 April, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Makhotso Sotyu, will launch Community Forestry Agreements in Butterworth, Eastern Cape.

On Wednesday, 24 April, President Cyril Ramaphosa will officiate the 20 Years celebration of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and launch the Phase V of the programme in Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape.

On Thursday, 25 April, a Webinar on the National Treasury two-pot system will be held via Zoom at 11am.

On Thursday, 25 April, the International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister, Alvin Botes, will host his Swedish counterpart for a bilateral meeting.

On Friday, 26
April, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will undertake a working visit to the United States of America.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Higher Education and Training has warned that Trinity International Bible University is not a registered private higher education institution and not authorised to offer any qualifications, including honorary degrees.

In a statement, Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Professor Blade Nzimande, said he has become aware of reports on social media of honorary doctorates that have been awarded to some of the country’s top celebrities by Trinity International Bible University.

Nzimande said the Department of Higher Education and Training has written to Trinity International University before and warned them about continuing to operate illegally and for them to regularise their operations.

He said the department has also asked the Council on Higher Education (CHE) for guidance on how honorary qualifications should be offered, and by who.

‘As the department, we have nothing against Trinity International Bible University or the celebrities they have chosen to honour. We are, howe
ver, deeply disturbed by the persistent disregard for the department’s regulations by the management of Trinity International Bible University.

‘The department is considering more comprehensive and decisive action against Trinity International Bible University and all other individuals or institutions, who continue to undermine the department’s regulations,’ Nzimande said.

The Minister said the department is willing to engage with Trinity International Bible University and the celebrities they have honoured to better explain their position.

‘Most importantly, as the Department of Higher Education and Training, we have a legal responsibility to protect the integrity of our qualifications and that of our post school education and training system,’ Nzimande said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The 37-year-old police officer who allegedly set a police vehicle on fire in an attempt to commit suicide on Saturday was denied bail in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The accused, Uakauta Japuhua, made his first court appearance before Magistrate Erich Dandu, who denied him bail and postponed the case to 18 June 2024 for further police investigations.

The magistrate advised the accused to file a formal bail application if he wished to be released on bail.

During the court hearing on Monday, Japuhua indicated that he will seek private legal representation.

The state was represented by Iyaloo Haipinge.

Japuhua faces a charge of malicious damage to property and he was remanded in custody at the Keetmanshoop police holding cell until his next court appearance.

It is alleged that the accused drove the police vehicle into the field and set it on fire with the intention to commit suicide.

The incident took place on Saturday between 04h00 and 06h00 in the Industrier residential area in the sou
thern town.

The police alleged that Japuhua was agitated when he found his girlfriend kissing another man, which caused an argument to erupt between them, the accused then opted to commit suicide

‘The member went into the vehicle, closed the doors, rolled up the windows and after he felt the heat of the flames, he got out and tried to extinguish the burning vehicle,’ said the Namibian Police Force in its crime report

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Cabinet has welcomed the reopening of the Tetra Pak facility in KwaZulu-Natal by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which attracted an investment of R500 million.

The investment forms part of the Presidential Investment Mobilisation Drive, where government set the ambitious target in 2018 to attract R1.2 trillion investments over five years.

‘Last year at the fifth South Africa Investment Conference, which marked end of the first phases of our investment mobilisation cycle, more the R1.5 trillion in investment commitments were raised. These investments translate into new factories, jobs in communities and greater economic activity around our country. Cabinet is confident that our investment drive will reignite economic growth and uplift our economy,’ a Cabinet statement said on Monday.

Tetra Pak is a global leader in packaging and processing solutions for the food industry and has had a presence and manufacturing footprint in South Africa since 1963.

The factory was originally built 45 years ago, in 1979. Through
this expansion, Tetra Pak will be exporting products to the continent.

Source: South African Government News Agency