Day: July 30, 2024

The provincial head of the police in the Eastern Cape, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, has welcomed efforts by the Interim Cash-In-Transit (CIT) task team of the Hawks and the provincial Tactical Response Team (TRT) in locating cash-in-transit (CIT) suspects on Monday.

The suspects were located within hours after the incident occurred.

It is alleged that on Monday around 06:00, an SBV armoured vehicle (AV) from East London, enroute to Stutterheim, was ambushed on the N6 near Macleantown by a number of suspects in a fleet of vehicles.

‘It is further alleged that during the incident, three guards were injured as the AV landed on its side during the attack. An SBV escort vehicle was also allegedly shot at and a backup to the scene was called,’ the police said in a statement.

The suspects allegedly fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money and abandoned three vehicles from their fleet, which were later circulated and discovered to have been reported stolen in other provinces. Explosives were also
recovered on the scene.

‘A few hours later, information was received which led the team to Kom location in a homestead of Keiskammahoek.

‘The team was received with a hail of bullets from the assailants in the suspicious homestead and the police were forced to retaliate with the same force which ended with five of the assailants fatally wounded,’ the police said.

Cash in original money bags,3xAK 47 riffles, 1x R1 riffle, 4 x R5 riffles,17 magazines with a large number of live rounds of ammunition were recovered and seized in the household.

A 58 year old suspect who happened to be the owner of the homestead was arrested and will appear in King William’s Town Magistrate’s court soon.

A follow up investigation ensued which led to the arrest of three suspects driving in a suspicious Porsche vehicle with GP registration between Queenstown and Cradock.

A quick roadblock was set up by Gqeberha Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks jointly with Cradock SAPS K9 (Dog Unit), Cradock Visible Police (Vi
spol), Cradock Public Order Police (POP) and Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) members outside Tarkastad where the suspicious vehicle failed to stop.

The chase ensued and conventional methods were used to bring it to a halt.

Three suspects aged between 44 and 48 were arrested. Cash in stacks of R100 and R200 notes in original cash bags, four burner cellphones and a Porsche Cayenne vehicle were seized during the arrest. On circulation the Porsche was found to be reported stolen in Gauteng.

The three suspects will make their first court appearance before Cradock Magistrate’s court on Thursday.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The world is entering an era of new economic challenges, even as the recent ones have yet to be overcome, says South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago.

‘The global economy continues on a long recovery path from the pandemic. This path has been a troubled one, and despite better prospects in recent months, remains beset by risks and vulnerabilities built up during the pandemic.

‘Inflation remains stubbornly high, and public debt levels globally are at record levels,’ the Governor said on Tuesday.

Addressing the 104th annual Ordinary General Meeting of the SARB shareholders in Pretoria, Kganyago asserted that technological development carries both risks to cybersecurity and the hope of large and sustained boosts to global productivity.

‘Inflation remains a major policy concern for central banks globally. Although global inflation declined from 8.7% in 2022 to 6.8% in 2023 and continues to ease in 2024, it remains high relative to the 2-3% inflation targets that many countries are trying
to achieve.

‘Restrictive monetary policy, along with the recovery in supply chains and other pandemic-related bottlenecks, has helped inflation to recede from its 2022 highs. However, global disinflation has slowed recently, as is well illustrated by consumer price inflation in the United States (US) still sitting at 3% relative to their 2% target,’ Kganyago said.

He said the slow pace of disinflation reflects a pattern of lower imported inflation but higher services inflation across most economies.

‘In some [economies], rising wages and sustained pent-up demand for services have been key factors. In emerging markets specifically, fiscal challenges and sustained currency depreciations have played more of a role.

‘Policy commitment to reduce inflation back to targets has been strongly signalled around the globe, and central banks have generally been cautious in their approach to policy. Deepening geo-economic fragmentation, higher temperatures and other supply-related risks raise concerns about the long-te
rm prospects for inflation, and considerable effort is going into reassessments of neutral real rate levels,’ the Governor said.

While inflation remains higher than desired, global economic activity has proven to be more resilient than expected.

‘Global growth surprised higher at 3.3% in 2023, despite considerable divergence in growth across individual economies. Generally, however, global growth rates are expected to remain below pre-pandemic trends. This reflects the impact of protectionist measures on global trade, relatively tight financial conditions as well as uncertainty of future policy trajectories,’ Kganyago said.

Domestic real economy developments

Despite South Africa’s low economic growth, employment levels have recovered the 2.2 million jobs lost during the height of the pandemic.|

‘As of the first quarter of this year, total employment surpassed its 2019 level. Nonetheless, job creation has been too slow and not enough to offset the growth in the labour force, leaving the unemployment rate
elevated at 32.9% in the first quarter of this year,’ the Governor said.

The South African economy slowed to 0.7% in 2023 from 1.9% in 2022, and remains well below growth in peer emerging markets.

‘Load shedding and logistical challenges have been weighing heavily on economic activity, depressing the credit appetite of businesses and the spending of households.

‘South Africa’s tailwind for growth coming from strong terms of trade continued to fade, despite still remaining at historically good levels. Exports also suffered over the past 12 months from energy and logistics challenges as much as price factors. Imports were also muted by logistics.

‘As energy and logistics constraints continue to ease, the growth outlook will also improve. The domestic economy is expected to grow by 1.1% this year, rising to 1.7% by 2026, as both household spending and investment start to strengthen,’ Kganyago said.

Domestic inflation dynamics

As with the global trend of moderating inflation, South Africa’s headline inflati
on decelerated over the past year, falling from 6.9% in 2022 to an average of 6% in 2023.

‘These annual averages, however, hide the ongoing volatility in the underlying components of inflation, in turn demonstrating the risks and uncertainty marking the disinflation path.

‘Since September of last year, headline inflation has been fluctuating between 5% and 6%, with frequent monthly setbacks coming from fuel, food and services prices.

‘In February, core inflation rose by 0.4 percentage points to 5%, propelled sharply higher by medical insurance inflation. Encouragingly, as of June, core inflation has moved to 4.5%,’ Kganyago said.

The SARB sees core inflation averaging 4.6% this year, from 4.8% last year. Inflation expectations eased in the first half of this year, but still remain well above the midpoint of the target band.

‘While headline inflation came out between 5% and 6% for much of the past year, our current forecast shows it easing to 4.9% this year, pulled lower mainly by softening food and fuel
inflation, and resting at the midpoint in 2025 and 2026.

‘Even with some quantitative and qualitative adjustments to risk perceptions over time, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has felt it appropriate to maintain the repurchase (repo) rate at 8.25% – a level set in May of 2023,’ he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Social Development (DSD) has reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking, focusing on the protection of children as the world commemorates World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

This year’s theme focuses on leaving no child behind in the fight against human trafficking.

The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed annually on 30 July to raise awareness about human trafficking and to promote and protect the rights of trafficking victims.

The department has since taken the time to remind South Africans especially caregivers about the prevalence of human trafficking and appeal for their vigilance when it comes to protecting children.

Citing the June 2023 publication by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the department said it was estimated that a possible 250 000 people have fallen victim to human trafficking in South Africa alone.

‘This serves as a grave violation of human rights and dignity. On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Depart
ment of Social Development stands united against this heinous crime,’ the department said.

According to the department, children represent a significant proportion of trafficking victims worldwide, with girls being disproportionately affected.

In terms of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, children are twice as likely to face violence during trafficking than adults.

Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the Caribbean, according to the department, make up 60% of detected trafficking victims.

‘In addition to conflicts, pandemics, economic hardships, and environmental challenges, the proliferation of online platforms poses risks as children often connect to these sites without adequate protection.’

The department explained that traffickers exploit online platforms, social media, and the dark web to recruit and exploit children.

They also use technology to evade detection, reach wider audiences, and disseminate exploitative content.

‘Countries including
South Africa, are required to prioritise child protection, bolster legislation, improve law enforcement, and allocate more resources to combat child trafficking.’

The department has since called for prevention efforts to target root causes of human trafficking such as poverty and inequality to reduce children’s vulnerability with special attention paid to trafficking of children on the move or in transit.

According to the department, South Africa remains a source, transit, and destination country for men, women and children subjected to the crime of trafficking for forced labour and sexual exploitation.

‘This means South Africans are being trafficked to other parts of the globe while the country is also used by traffickers to harbour victims in transit to other countries where they are going to be exploited.

‘Victims of trafficking are also brought into the country to be exploited.’

Meanwhile, traffickers are said to control victims through deception, intimidation, threats, use of force, withholding of p
assports, debt bondage, and forced use of drugs and alcohol.

The department has described the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (PACOTIP) of 2013 as a critical legislative tool in South Africa’s fight against human trafficking.

The South African government, through the Department of Social Development has implemented various measures to prevent child trafficking. The PACOTIP Act aims to align with international agreements and provides for the prosecution of traffickers, protection of victims, and coordination of anti-trafficking efforts.

The Department of Social Development’s Gyan Dwarika said the significance of the PACOTIP Act, in conjunction with the Children’s Act, in safeguarding vulnerable children and ensuring their rights and safety are upheld.

‘The Act ensures that any child identified as a victim of trafficking is treated as a child in need of care and protection mandates immediate reporting and investigation of suspected cases, and provides for the safe placement and care o
f trafficked children,’ Dwarika said.

Dwarika’s roles in the department include focusing on child labour, commercial sexual exploitation of children, online safety, and child marriages.

The department said they also offer victims of child trafficking comprehensive support and rehabilitation services.

These include psychological counselling, medical care, legal assistance, and placement in Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs).

She said community involvement was crucial in preventing and combating child trafficking.

‘International cooperation strengthens the response to the repatriation process of children trafficked into and out of South Africa. It ensures that children are repatriated safely and in line with international standards, considering factors like the best interests of the child and the safety of the repatriation process.’

Victims are also placed in accredited shelters where they are cared for by shelter staff and social workers to determine if they were trafficked.

Through the Criminal Asset
s Recovery Account (CARA) fund, the department is procuring a fleet of 10 vehicles to be distributed to gender-based violence (GBV) shelters accredited to accommodate victims across all nine provinces.

The Western Cape has partnered with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to create awareness at the Cape Town bus rank.

Source: South African Government News Agency