Day: June 14, 2024

Troops of the Nigerian Army on Thursday neutralised six terrorists, recovering a substantial cache of arms in a counter-terrorism operation at Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State.

A statement by the army posted on its official X Handle said the operation targeted identified terrorists hideouts in the Birnin Gwari general area.

‘It is part of a special clearance mission aimed at restoring peace and security in the state.

‘The troops conducted thorough clearance across Maidaro, Ngade Alha, Dogon Dawa, Damari, Saulawa, Farin Ruwa, Maganda, Sabon Layi, and Kampanin Doka villages.

‘The troops made initial contact with the terrorists in Saulawa, where two terrorists were immediately neutralised with recovery of a Baofeng Radio and a motorbike.

‘The mission continued with further combat engagements in Farin Ruwa, where the troops neutralised additional four terrorists.

‘The gallant troops also recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), two AK-47 rifles, six AK-47 magazines, one FN rifle magazine, 22 rounds of 7
.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 51 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition and another motorbike.

‘The successful clearance operation underscores the army’s commitment to eradicating terrorism and ensuring safety and security of citizens in Kaduna State and other troubled spots,’ it said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

History has been made in Limpopo where Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, has been elected as the new Premier – the first woman to hold the position in the province.

Ramathuba was elected during a sitting of the seventh Limpopo Legislature in Lebowakgomo on Friday.

She takes over the reins from outgoing Premier, Chupu Stanley Mathabatha, who held the post during the fifth and sixth administration terms.

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are also women. Makoma Makhurupetje was elected unopposed as the new Speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, and Tebogo Mamorobela was elected as the Deputy Speaker.

In her acceptance speech, Ramathuba said she was humbled and grateful to accept the responsibility entrusted to her as the Premier of ‘this great province’.

The newly appointed Premier committed the new administration to inclusivity and access to quality basic services.

‘I am deeply honoured for the opportunity to lead Limpopo towards a future of progress, prosperity and unity. I am recommitting the new administrati
on to inclusivity, [and] access to qualify basic services,’ Ramathuba said.

She also called on the Executives to carry out their duties with diligence.

‘I call upon the members of this Legislature to uphold their oversight role with diligence and dedication, ensuring that the administration of Limpopo serves the best interests of all its citizens,’ the new Premier said.

She acknowledged the exemplary leadership of the outgoing Premier, saying his stewardship has steered Limpopo through the challenges of the past two administrations.

Ramathuba’s election came as a number of provinces held their first sittings of their respective Legislatures on Friday.

In Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu was elected as the new Premier, taking over from Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane who took office in 2018.

In his acceptance speech, Ndlovu said he was grateful for the opportunity given to him.

‘I am committed to upholding and building upon the legacy that the previous premiers have left for us. We are continuing with the journey whic
h was started by Premier Matthews Phosa up until Premier Refilwe. Premier, you have done your part,’ Ndlovu said.

Oscar Mabuyane was re-elected as Premier of the Eastern Cape for a second term and MaQueen Joyce Letsoha-Mathae was elected Premier for Free State.

Meanwhile, Alan Winde was re-elected as the Western Cape Premier during a sitting of the Western Cape Parliament on Thursday. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has urged newly sworn-in Members of Parliament to reflect on past mistakes and commit to improving democracy in South Africa.

The Chief Justice on Friday presided over the swearing in of hundreds of Members of Parliament (MPs) at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) during the first sitting of the National Assembly of the seventh Parliament.

Zondo described the first sitting of Parliament after the General Elections last month as an important milestone for South Africans.

‘We get an opportunity to look back on the road we have travelled and see where we have made mistakes, and see where we have done well and make sure that in the fourth decade of our democracy, we will not repeat those mistakes,’ he told the House.

Zondo took the time to congratulate the MPs who were sworn in and reminded them of the position they occupy in the National Assembly.

‘They make laws for our country and in that way, shape the future of our democracy. Therefore, as you take the oat
h or make the affirmation that you will make today, you will recall the responsibility that the people of South Africa have placed on your shoulders and the honour that you have been given, and the privilege to be part of this very important body in our country.’

The Chief Justice stressed the importance of the oath taken by MPs, which enjoins them to be faithful to the Republic of South Africa, and to obey, respect and uphold the Constitution and all other laws of the Republic.

Zondo reminded MPs that the oath or affirmation is “binding… on their conscience”.

The election of the Speaker of the National Assembly is now underway after two nominations were put forward for this position. After this process is concluded, the elected Speaker will preside over the election of the Deputy Speaker.

Today, MPs will also elect a President to form the seventh administration for the nation, and a government of national unity after the ruling party did not secure an absolute majority. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South
African Government News Agency

Tinos Ndebele has been sentenced to 30 years of direct imprisonment after being convicted on charges of tampering with essential infrastructure as well as theft from essential infrastructure.

On 8 June 2023, an alarm was triggered at a Telkom cellphone tower in Roodewal. Telkom officials went to the scene and found fencing to the tower damaged and a container broken and the door forced open. Inside the container, 12 batteries amounting to R36 000 were stolen.

According to the Free State National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), a police forensic team was called to the scene and fingerprints were lifted from the crime scene.

‘The fingerprints lifted matched those of the accused. Through diligent police investigations, the accused was traced and arrested,’ said the NPA.

In his defence during the trial, the accused explained that he was a snake catcher and on the said date he was chasing a King Cobra and the snake went into the container. This explained why his fingerprints were found at the crime scene.

Regio
nal Court Prosecutor Petro van den Berg argued that the court should sentence the accused to the maximum sentence for this criminality, as tampering with essential infrastructure offences were on the increase and harming the economy, lives of the citizenry and affecting the running of the country

The Bloemfontein Regional Court found him guilty of tampering with essential infrastructure and theft from infrastructure.

He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on a charge of tampering with infrastructure and 15 years imprisonment on a charge of theft from infrastructure.

The court ordered that five years of count 2 (theft from infrastructure) to run concurrently with count 1 thus the accused was effectively sentenced to 30 years of direct imprisonment.

‘The National Prosecuting Authority will continue to prioritise the prosecution of crime and criminals that disproportionately undermine South Africans’ safety, the country’s socio-economic well-being, the functioning of the economy of the country, compromise
the well-being of the citizenry, and the rule of law,’ said the NPA. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in partnership with the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture, the Presidency and Limpopo Provincial Government are ready to host the commemoration of Youth Day on Sunday.

This year marks the 48th anniversary of the 16 June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, when young people protested against the Bantu Education Act, which enforced Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools and apartheid laws that oppressed black South Africans.

The 2024 Youth Day and Youth Month aim to promote the Sport for Youth Development (S4YD) agenda as a tool for social cohesion and solidarity in South Africa.

The 2024 commemoration of Youth Month, which will be held under the theme ‘Actively advancing socioeconomic gains of our democracy’, will have added significance as it coincides with the celebration of 30 years of freedom.

NYDA Executive Chairperson, Asanda Luwaca, said among other key areas, this year’s Youth Month focuses on sports for development of the youth and the nati
on.

Various developmental activities that will be held around the country in the lead up to Youth Day.

As this year’s Youth Month is anchored around the role of sport as a transformative tool to build an inclusive and socially cohesive society, Luwaca said the proposed intervention is for government across all spheres to identify various sporting codes that will feature in programmes and projects planned to commemorate the Youth Month.

Luwaca said the NYDA will be hosting the National Youth Day Careers and Opportunities Expo in Polokwane.

‘Over the last two years and post-COVID-19 pandemic there has been a reimagining of what the commemorative days ought to look like as previous Youth Day approaches were no longer relevant to young people.

‘The focus has instead been on having a large-scale career and opportunities expo for young people that offer as many live opportunities as possible. This is more relatable to young people, as this is what interests them – opportunities for study, volunteerism, service
, employment, and entrepreneurship,’ Luwaca said.

She said the expo will include ‘opportunity providers’ from the private sector, government departments, civil society, academia, and development partners.

‘It is important that young people are provided with platforms to access opportunities for their personal development, so that they can become active participants in the economy,’ Luwaca said.

The agency has confirmed over 110 opportunity providers to be joining the National Youth Day commemoration to be held at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane from 9am.

Other programmes taking place in Limpopo are anchored on the provision of access to opportunities as well as celebrating youth excellence.

Certification ceremony of young welders

Meanwhile, the NYDA, in collaboration with the Department of Correctional Services, and the Department of Labour and Employment will today host the certification ceremony of young welders who have completed their accredited welding courses.

This ceremony will take place at
Fhulufelo Secondary School, where young people will also be given their start up toolboxes for their personal enterprises and cooperatives.

The agency will also on 15 June support the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture at its annual Creative and Cultural Industries Youth Expo to be held at the University of Limpopo, Mankweng. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has welcomed the 10-year imprisonment sentence imposed on the driver who caused the collision that claimed the lives of her son, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren in 2022.

Speaking after the Ladysmith regional court imposed the sentence on Wednesday, Chikunga commended the court for the sentence and said justice has been done.

‘However, it is not going to bring back my children. It is six children, who had a bright future ahead of them,’ Chikunga said.

Handing down the sentence, Regional Court Magistrate, E L Louw, said she had considered the seriousness of the offence, the interest of the public and the accused’s personal circumstances in passing sentence.

Louw said the accused, Celumusa Ngwenya, was 35 years old, had three children and was an amputee.

Ngwenya had his right leg amputated following a road accident in 2018 and he bought a bakkie after obtaining R1.8 million in compensation from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) in 2022.

The magistrate imposed 10 yea
rs direct imprisonment and cancelled Ngwenya’s driving licence.

Four months before the tragic crash involving the Minister’s family, Ngwenya applied for a driving licence to drive heavy motor vehicles. The application was made at the Randburg driving licence testing centre, where he was issued a licence to drive a light motor vehicle.

Circumstance surrounding the issuing of the licence are deemed suspicious and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) will conduct a thorough investigation.

The magistrate found that Ngwenya was grossly negligent, noting he was driving at excessive speed and had ignored a barrier line before the collision occurred.

‘Evidence showed that he was driving at 153 kilometres per hour and operated the vehicle with his left leg because he had a prosthetic right leg. There was no reason, there was no emergency, and the accused said his children were at home,’ the magistrate said.

RTMC CEO Advocate, Makhosini Msibi, gave evidence in aggravation of sentence and pointed out that
road crashes were costing the economy R198 billion a year.

Msibi said the road on which the crash happened was notorious for deadly collisions and was classified as one of the national hazardous routes.

He said Ngwenya had not made any attempts to stop or reduce speed before the collision happened, and the mechanical investigation of the vehicle showed that the throttle was open, indicating that the vehicle was still in motion even after impact.

The CEO said the RTMC is investigating the circumstance in which Ngwenya was issued a licence, and that the officials who processed his application will be held accountable. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency