Day: June 11, 2024

A truck driver has been arrested on allegations of stealing coal at the Arnot Power Station in Mpumalanga.

This after a coal loaded truck was spotted by the Eskom Group Security Investigation’s tactical team entering a coal yard in Middelburg.

The coal was due to be delivered to the power station.

‘The truck left the coal yard after about an hour and the members followed it as it then drove to Arnot Power Station. On arrival at Arnot Power Station, the truck joined the queue to offload coal.

‘The Eskom Group Security Investigations team checked and discovered that the coal due to be offloaded was indeed discarded coal containing stones, which confirmed the suspected coal swapping witnessed earlier at the Middleburg coal yard,’ Eskom said in a statement.

According to the power utility, the truck driver was questioned and admitted to selling the coal for some R6 000.

Eskom Acting General Manager for Security, Botse Sikhwitshi, praised the team for its work.

‘We commend the Group Security Investigations a
nd the Middelburg Hawks team for working tirelessly together in bringing coal thieves to book. There is tangible evidence to ensure successful prosecution of the suspect.

‘The delivery of poor quality coal often leads to unit breakdowns and cannot be tolerated. We hope the perpetrator, once convicted, faces the harshest possible sentence, which shall serve as a deterrent to others,’ he said.

The public is urged to report any information they may have on illegal electricity sales, fraud, the theft of coal, fuel oil and diesel, and all other electricity related crimes to the Eskom Crime Line on 0800 11 27 22

Source: South African Government News Agency

The corruption case against former South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Head, Richard Mdluli, has been set down for trial in October.

Mdluli will be in the dock in the Pretoria High Court with co-accused, former SAPS Head of Supply Chain Management, Heine Barnard and former SAPS Crime Intelligence Chief Financial Officer, Solomon Lazarus.

According to National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, the court ordered that the ‘trial will commence on the set date regardless of the pending outcome on an application by Mdluli compelling the SAPS to pay for his legal fees’.

‘Mdluli, together with…Barnard and…Lazarus, are facing charges of corruption, fraud and theft relating to the police’s secret slush fund from the time they were employed by the SAPS in the Crime Intelligence Services, between 2008 and 2012,’ he said.

The three face a raft of charges, including:

Payment of private trips to China and Singapore.

Private use of a witness protection hou
se in Boksburg and conversion of this property for his personal use.

The leasing out of Mdluli’s private townhouse at Gordon Villas in Gordon’s Bay as a safe house to the State and using the monthly rental to pay his bond.

Payment of Mdluli’s financing costs owing on his private BMW through an intricate scheme to the detriment of the SAPS.

Coercing a SAPS supplier into giving Mdluli a special deal on the use and purchase price of a Honda Ballade.

Paying transfer costs to an attorney on the purchase of a house in Cape Town.

Having family members, without adequate qualifications or experience, appointed in crime intelligence as well as getting them on the payroll and paying their salaries, providing them with motor vehicles and cell phones.

The trial is expected to commence on 7 October this year.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Mop up operations continue across KwaZulu-Natal following heavy rains, which wreaked havoc in various parts of the province.

Last Monday’s heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds, wreaked havoc in various parts of the province, affecting the districts of eThekwini Metro, Ilembe, King Cetshwayo, Umzinyathi, Amajuba and Umkhanyakude District Municipalities.

At least 11 people lost their lives, including seven people from uThongathi in the north of Durban, and four in Nquthu, Eshowe and KwaHlabisa, respectively.

Over 55 people were also reported to have suffered minor to moderate injuries and are receiving medical treatment in hospital.

The storm also left extensive damage to schools and power lines, leaving many parts of eThekwini without electricity.

The eThekwini Metro was hardest hit, with dozens of people treated for injuries in health care facilities.

The eThekwini Municipality said relief intervention in the form of food, blankets, mattresses and building material is underway to assist displaced re
sidents in eMagwaveni, uThongathi.

‘eThekwini teams and volunteers are working together to clear debris in preparation for rebuilding. Water standpipes and water tankers have been provided to ensure an interim water supply. The restoration of electricity is also in progress,’ the municipality said.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has also deployed community works participants playing a crucial role in helping affected families.

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza and eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, has also conducted an assessment on the restoration of basic services in eMagwaveni, uThongathi.

Khoza said social workers have been deployed to provide relief and support, including assistance with important documents and school uniforms for affected learners.

‘Partnerships with organisations like the Hollywood Foundation and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) ensured immediate aid, including meals and shelter in community hal
ls.

‘The government pledged to construct proper homes for victims and increase disaster relief coordination efforts. Despite ongoing relief efforts, more aid is needed for affected areas like uThongathi, Osizweni, and Eshowe,’ Khoza said.

Other interventions include assessment of the families who have lost loved ones and construction of temporary residential units (TRUs) for displaced families. Debris and fallen trees on the roads has been cleared; and electricity supply has been restored to certain areas.

A command centre has also been established on site to assist community members, and Social Relief of Distress grants are being disbursed by SASSA and the Department of Social Development.

Relief, in the form of building material, food, blankets and mattresses is being provided to residents of uMgababa, Ward 98, who were also affected by the heavy rains and strong winds.

eThekwini Deputy Mayor, Zandile Myeni, and Chairperson of the Governance and Human Capital Committee, Nkosenhle Madlala, recently visi
ted the area to assess the extent of the damage.

About 30 families from the area lost their homes to the storm. While injuries were reported, no deaths have been recorded in the area.

Myeni said eThekwini Municipality, including provincial government, non-profit and non-governmental organisations are working together to provide relief to the affected families, and work to restore services is also underway.

Jozini Municipality responds to tornado disaster

Meanwhile, Jozini Local Municipality Mayor, Mfananaye Mathe, visited the KwaJobe area in northern KwaZulu-Natal to address the aftermath of a devastating tornado that struck the area leaving more than 59 families displaced.

The Gumede family, where nine children aged between four and 10, along with their grandmother, saw their RDP house collapse while they were inside.

Two of the children are hospitalised, with one admitted at Obonjeni Hospital and the other at Ngwelezane Hospital in Mpangeni.

Mathe has provided essential supplies, including groceries,
blankets, and sleeping sponges to support the affected families.

The Jozini Local Municipality Disaster Management Team has also supplied temporary tents to all those impacted by the tornado.

While acknowledging the challenges in providing immediate assistance to everyone, Mathe emphasised the municipality’s commitment to swiftly intervening where possible.

The mayor also expressed his gratitude to the Department of Community Services for its ongoing support during this crisis.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Johannesburg Water has reminded customers to store enough water in preparation for the upcoming one-month planned maintenance to be undertaken by Rand Water.

This as Rand Water will be conducting extensive maintenance on its infrastructure from 22 June to 29 July 2024 to improve reliability and efficiency of water infrastructure.

The maintenance work will affect Johannesburg Water’s systems that are supplied by the Palmiet and Eikenhof pump stations, and the Daleside Booster Station.

The work will impact some of its customer’s systems, including Johannesburg Water and other municipalities and industries.

The systems to be impacted during the maintenance period include all Sandton and Midrand systems, the South Hills Tower, as well as the Alexandra Park, Randjieslaagte, and Linksfield reservoirs.

‘This kind of preventative maintenance is imperative to make Rand Water’s systems more efficient and reliable for their customers, such as Johannesburg Water. During this time, Johannesburg Water customers will b
e impacted by low pressure to no water supply.

‘Johannesburg Water will make arrangements for alternative water supply at strategic areas like hospitals, clinics, schools, municipal offices, police stations and shopping centres. However, residents are encouraged to store water in preparation for the maintenance,’ said Johannesburg Water.

During the maintenance period, pumping at Rand Water’s Palmiet Pumpstation – which feeds several of Johannesburg Water’s systems – will be reduced as follows:

1 July 2024, Palmiet System – Palmiet will be pumping at 60% for eight hours.

15 July 2024, Palmiet System – Palmiet pumping will be reduced to 68% for 50 hours.

29 July 2024, Palmiet System – Palmiet pumping will be reduced to 76% for 40 hours.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Operation Shanela has resulted in the arrest of over 1 200 people in the North West.

Police operations, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies and role players aimed at preventing and combatting crime, resulted in the arrest of 1 278 suspects for various offences over the 3 – 9 June period.

‘The suspects were, among others, arrested for crimes such as rape, murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), house and business robberies, malicious damage to property, burglary at residential and business premises, possession of drugs, theft out of/from motor vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,’ said the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Of the 1 278 suspects, 379 were apprehended during raids and 52 suspected undocumented persons were taken in for processing by immigration officials.

The arrests were effected during stop and searches, road blocks, patrols, vehicle check points, visiting and inspecting of licensed liquor premises and second-hand goods dealer
s and tracing of wanted suspects, among others.

During the operations, a variety of drugs, 17 cell phones, six firearms, 18 rounds of ammunition and other items were confiscated.

As part of enforcement of the Liquor Act, 1989, a total of 24 illegal liquor outlets / shebeens were shut down.

North West Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, thanked all role players for their continued efforts to ensure safer communities.

Since inception in May 2023, Operation Shanela consists of regular stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points, high visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects with a focus of murder and rape suspects, compliance inspections at liquor outlets and second hand good dealers.

Source: South African Government News Agency

South Africa will continue to do everything within its power to preserve the existence of the Palestinian people as a group, and to end all acts of apartheid and genocide.

This is according to the International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, who spoke in Russia on Tuesday.

The Foreign Ministers from the expanded BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group of nations met for a two-day meeting focused on current international relations, global governance reform and conflict resolution.

Pandor told her colleagues that South Africa welcomes the order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 24 May 2024, ordering Israel to halt military action in Rafah.

‘We see the provisional measures ordered by the court thus far as a signal of a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people.

‘Nevertheless, the injury to International Human Rights Law, inflicted by Israel, remains significant. W
e, therefore, call on the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to also act to ensure accountability for those committing war crimes.’

The meeting, chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, is the first since the bloc expanded in 2023 to include Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia.

Pandor reiterated South Africa’s call for a two-State solution, which is of the view that it would bring lasting peace and address the root causes of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

‘A solution is long overdue, and an agreement must urgently be negotiated. The agreement must result in the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian State, based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital that exists side by side, in peace and security with Israel.’

She also echoed the country’s firm support for the full membership of Palestine as a member State of the United Nations (UN).

‘Please allow me also to again emphasise the urgent need for BRICS to
contribute to the reform of the UN Security Council. The inability of the Security Council to act and respond effectively to conflict situations such as in Gaza further supports the sentiments of this urgent call to reform.’

She called on all UN member States to support Africa’s call for the historic injustice committed against the continent to be ‘remedied’ through an acknowledgement of the role it plays in current global affairs.

Delaying reform of the Security Council, she said, presents serious negative implications for the multilateral system, undermining the credibility of global peace and security and threatening to reverse the gains made in the past 78 years.

‘Please allow me to conclude my intervention today with a sincere call to all of us to capitalise on the current opportunities for partnership in this meeting and to tackle global challenges that stand in our way towards a stronger and more empowered global South in a stable multipolar world.’

Source: South African Government News Agency