Month: April 2024

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, has commended progress in the implementation of the Lower uMkhomazi Water Scheme project, which will augment raw water availability and meet water supply demand in the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.

The uMkhomazi Water Scheme Project, which is currently under construction, will meet water supply demand for approximately 50 000 households in the South Coast within the eThekwini and Ugu District Municipalities.

The Lower uMkhomazi Bulk Water Supply, which is situated in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Ward 99) and uMdoni Local Municipality (Ward 18), worth more than R20 billion, with Umngeni-Uthukela Water as the implementing agent.

The project includes the construction of a new dam with a wall height within uMkhomazi River. The associated infrastructure will also include a 32km raw water conveyance tunnel and a 5km pipeline to uMlaza River.

There will also be a balancing dam and a water treatment works in the uMlaza River with a gravity pipeline to the Umge
ni Water Supply System which supplies water to more than five million people and industries in the province.

This includes eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, uMgungundlovu and Harry Gwala District Municipalities.

Mchunu and Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, together with eThekwini and Ugu Districts Mayors and traditional leaders, including Inkosi Bele and Inkosi Mcadi, conducted a site inspection visit at Phase 1 of the project in Goodenough Abstraction point and pumping systems on Saturday. Phase 1 of the project is currently at 46% progress.

Mchunu expressed his gratitude for the advancements made on the project, which is expected to be completed in December 2027.

He said the department is confident that the project will meet water supply demands in the South Coast areas, even in the near future.

‘We are pleased with the progress made by the contractor’s determination and the capacity which is demonstrated by being ahead with about 6% of the expected schedule. This project will a
ugment water in the South Coast areas that have been experiencing water supply challenges for a long time,’ Mchunu said.

The project, which has previously been plagued by delays, has finally taken off following Mchunu’s intervention.

The project is divided into two phases with the first phase consisting of raw water component comprising two independent systems, namely Ngwadini system, with off-channel storage; and the Goodenough system, with abstraction works and a raw water storage reservoir.

Phase 2 entails a potable water component, comprising 100ml per day Water Treatment Works; 3.5km gravity main pipeline to Quarry Reservoir; extension of Quarry Reservoir to 30ml capacity; and the construction of a Green Star Administration Building.

The Lower uMkhomazi Water Scheme project is part of the uMkhomazi Water Project consists of the construction of an 81m high dam at Smithfield on the uMkhomazi River, with gross storage capacity of 251 million cubic metre (m3), a 33km tunnel from Smithfield Dam to uMlaza
River Valley, and a 5.1km, with a 2.6m diameter gravity, bulk pipeline connecting the tunnel to the Baynesfield Water Treatment Works (WTW).

This part of the project will be funded and implemented by the department’s entity, Trans Caledon Water Authority (TCTA).

The Umkhomazi Water Project will result in a 55% increase in the amount of available water in the uMngeni Water Supply System.

The Umgeni Water Supply System augmentation from the uMkhomazi Water Catchment is expected to increase fresh water supply from 394 million cubic metres a year to 608 million cubic metres a year.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Lizette Marielle Steyn, 56, has been sentenced to at least 12 years imprisonment after being found guilty of 85 counts of theft.

The former Finance and Administration Manager of AgriCAD was sentenced in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana explained that Steyn was arrested in July last year.

‘Steyn was employed by AgriCAD [and her] responsibilities, amongst others, were to load the creditors for payment on the business bank account monthly and do the day-to-day bookkeeping and accounting. As such Steyn had full access to the AgriCAD ABSA bank accounts.

‘During her employment, Steyn would change the details of one of the AgriCAD ABSA bank accounts and replace it with her six different personal Capitec accounts.

‘From 27 October 2020 until 09 May 2023, 85 different payments of over R16 million for the company were paid into her personal bank accounts. With the funds, Steyn installed solar panels in her house and bought luxury items, a
caravan, and a vehicle for her son-in-law. She also paid for her daughter’s wedding, and her family’s weekends away and holidays,’ she said.

Mahanjana said Steyn pleaded guilty to charges against her and explained that she ‘stole the money to pay debts because her husband lost his job’.

The thief then asked the court to consider leniency upon sentencing due to her ill-health and the fact that she is a first time offender.

‘However, the prosecutor, advocate Rachelle van der Walt, argued that as much as Steyn was a first-time offender, her offences were committed over three years. Furthermore, Steyn was in a position of trust, her employer trusted her, but she betrayed that trust and was not hesitant to hide her dishonest conduct.

‘She opened Capitec accounts in her name which she used to receive the stolen money for luxurious items and extravagant lifestyles. Therefore, Adv van der Walt asked the court to consider long-term imprisonment when imposing the sentence.

While delivering the sentence, Magistrate
Ignatius du Preez said Steyn was left with no option but to plead guilty.

‘Her change of heart and acknowledgement of her criminal conduct originated from being caught and not from her true inner feelings of regret. Therefore, she had no choice but to concede defeat.

‘Steyn committed the offence when she was at an age where it was expected of her to be able to distinguish between right from wrong, but she failed dismally. Furthermore, courts are increasingly faced with the situation where offenders with medical challenges commit serious offences, and such illness cannot be used as a license to commit crime,’ du Preez said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: Fourteen people have claimed to have been scammed of a collective N.dollars 1 264 700 after failure to secure vehicles they ostensibly bought online.

The group has now mobilised on a WhatsApp group titled ‘Aili’s victims’ in pursuit to collectively seek justice. They say they individually deposited money as customers to purchase desired vehicles through the alleged Aili Magano Paulus companies, AMP Trading and ICM Japanese Trading that orders vehicles from Japan via the Walvis Bay harbour.

Nine of the alleged 14 victims provided documentary evidence as proof that they paid N.dollars 793 500 for the vehicles.

Nampa has also seen that the nine people opened cases of fraud with the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) against Paulus between 2021 and 2024.

Speaking to Nampa last week, the group’s spokesperson, Karolien Louw whose documents show that she is owed N.dollars 320 000, stressed that since 2021, she has been fighting to recover her money with the involvement of lawyers and NamPol, however all ef
forts since have proved futile.

‘I am disappointed and hurt. I can’t believe that one person can tell so many lies… I initially made a post on Facebook on her page, ICM Japanese Trading, and that is where the people started contacting me telling me that they have also been defrauded by her and so forth. It is just shocking that people have no conscience to steal from people like that,’ she fumed.

Louw said the money she had deposited was meant to buy two vehicles, a Mercedes and Audi for her and her mother after she sold her house in Rehoboth.

‘The worst thing for me is that I took the money from my mother and she is a pensioner… She sold her house for me to get that money… And Aili always plays the victim when you try to enquire about your money. The other day when I asked about my money she told me about her brother that has died and the last time is that she was going to commit suicide… it’s all lies. I hope someone will learn out of this and be more cautious,’ she said.

Another alleged victim, Frieda
Nafindi from Walvis Bay who indicated that she is owed N.dollars 116 000 by Paulus narrated that she was introduced to the suspect by her cousin following intentions to buy a new car in 2021.

‘I sold my car and wanted to buy a new one and after being introduced to her as someone that orders cars for people, I deposited N.dollars 110 000 into Aili’s account after confirming that she had found my desired vehicle,’ she said.

Nafindi said after a few weeks, Paulus claimed another N.dollars 36 000 bringing the total purchase for a Tiguan to N.dollars 146 000, stressing that since the money was paid, Paulus never delivered the vehicle and had since been avoiding, insulting and refusing to pay back the money.

‘I involved my lawyer in the issue and managed to recover only N.dollars 30 000 and since then I also opened up a case with the police but nothing has been done to date and she still owes me money,’ Nafindi stressed.

She said the issue has left her depressed to the extent of almost wanting to commit suicide
due to humiliation from her family and work peers – that she was scammed and is now walking as a result of being carless.

Mercel Tense who is owed N.dollars 34 000, aired frustration that the legal system is failing consumers in cases of scammers, noting that even though many cases have been opened, nothing has been done to ensure that they recover their monies.

‘It has been three years now for me fighting to get my money back or something. It seems like there is no legislation or direct approach from the legal side to deal with people of this nature that are scamming people. Even though we have contracts signed and proof of payment for the purchases, failure always comes on grounds of technicality in the courts and this is what is frustrating everyone – that nothing can be done to recover their money,’ he stressed.

Warrant Silas Shipandeni of NamPol in the Khomas Region confirmed that seven cases have been opened against Paulus in Windhoek, noting that most of the cases are still under investigation while
about four are before the Katutura and Windhoek Magistrate’s courts where she had appeared on numerous occasions.

‘The public is advised to carefully consider and do proper background checks when buying vehicles online before depositing their hard earned money. The public is also advised to always reach out to the police for proper screening and background checks to see if the alleged seller of vehicles is not either wanted by police or in conflict with the law concerning their business,’ he noted.

Meanwhile, responding to Nampa over the weekend, Paulus said she is currently in contact with all clients whom she owes and is refunding them gradually.

Paulus explained that she was unable to deliver the vehicles upon being jailed for seven months following failure to deliver a customer’s vehicle, which had left her bankrupt, resulting in non-delivery of clients’ vehicles.

‘My business is a registered business, I was delivering as I started with it. The only problem that caused my business to go down is when o
ne of my clients who was impatient went to open a case and I was arrested so my business went down and some of the cars that I purchased ended up being sold… And some of the deposit I sent to Japan I lost and from there, when I came out it was like I am starting over with my business and it’s difficult for me,’ she narrated.

‘I am not sure how many people I am owing because right now I have my own brother who passed away, so I cannot know because I don’t have my book here, but some of the people I have started to refund them,’ she said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will deliver a special public lecture on the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy on Tuesday, 9 April 2024.

According to the Presidency, he will deliver the public lecture at the invitation of the University of Johannesburg’s School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, in partnership with the College of Business and Economics.

‘Priding itself as an international university of choice, anchored in Africa and dynamically shaping the future, the University of Johannesburg will host the Deputy President at its Auckland Park campus,’ the statement read.

The public lecture will focus on inspiring the youth in South Africa to imagine a better, prosperous future.

His lecture is expected to highlight considerable progress made by the democratic government in fostering a more inclusive and equitable society since 1994.

Source: South African Government News Agency

SWAKOPMUND: The case of the 26-year-old man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend over the weekend at Usakos, has been postponed to 07 May 2024 for further investigations, while he is remanded in custody.

According to police reports, the accused who was identified as Samuel #Goseb and appeared in the Usakos Magistrate’s Court on Monday, allegedly entered into the deceased’s house while she was out with friends and waited for her.

Upon her arrival and entering the house, the accused allegedly started stabbing her all over her body, resulting in her sustaining serious injuries.

It was further reported that the accused proceeded to take their three-year-old daughter, running away with her into the mountains.

The child was later found during the chase, unharmed.

The deceased, who was identified as 29-year-old Lena Williams, succumbed to the injuries on her way to hospital, where she was declared dead upon arrival.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: A 29-year-old woman succumbed to injuries sustained in an alleged fight with a 22-year-old male suspect in Ausspannplatz, Windhoek, in the early hours of Monday.

An incident report by the Namibian Police Force on Monday indicated that the incident happened at around 01h07 when the suspect allegedly stabbed the deceased in the chest and arms during a fight between the two.

It is alleged that the suspect was fighting with the deceased at a residential flat near Maerua Mall on Ballot Street. The neighbours called the police and upon arrival, the police found the flat locked and were informed by witnesses that the suspect drove out.

However, he drove himself and the deceased to the Katutura Intermediate Hospital, where according to the nurses, the suspect parked his vehicle at the emergency entrance and informed the nurses that there was someone in the car who needed urgent attention.

The woman who had been identified as Frieda Ndinelago Amadhila, was declared dead upon arrival.

Her next of kin hav
e been informed of her death.

No arrests have been made and the suspect is fighting for his life due to an injury he sustained on his throat during the fight.

The murder weapon has not been found yet and police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency