Day: September 16, 2024

National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has reiterated his stance that South Africa is ‘not a playground for criminals’ and that anyone who finds themselves on the wrong side of the law will be sniffed out.

Masemola said criminals will be made to answer to the crimes they have committed.

This comes as a multidisciplinary team working at OR Tambo International Airport has seized more than R13 million worth of drugs, including R12 million worth of cocaine, in the past two months.

Nine suspected drug traffickers or drug mules have been arrested during this same period. All suspects were arrested in possession of the drugs.

In the latest success, OR Tambo police arrested a Nigerian believed to be a drug mule on Friday evening.

Police were working closely with airport security, the Border Management Authority (BMA), customs officials and Airport Company South Africa (ACSA) staff when the arrests were effected.

‘The drug mule had just landed from São Paulo a
nd was connecting to Nigeria when he met with a cleaner at the airport and handed him airline headphones. Suspecting that there was something amiss, the team opened the aircraft headphones and found cocaine stashed in the headphones.

‘The drug mule who claims he is a street vendor in Nigeria said he was in Brazil to buy clothes and shoes which he sells in his home country. Police are investigating this aspect to prove that this may be used as a decoy,’ said the police.

The cleaner, who noticed that police were hot on his heels, evaded arrest.

Police have since launched a manhunt for him.

Masemola applauded the team for their vigilance that continues to yield positive results.

He said the men and women in blue remain dedicated to putting a stop to the illicit drug trafficking trade.

‘These arrests and drug confiscations should serve as a deterrent to other drug traffickers, that they will be caught,’ he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has kicked off Corrections Week to promote awareness and understanding of South Africa’s corrections system.

The week is commemorated during September every year.

This year, the week is commemorated under the theme: ‘Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy Towards Shaping the Future of Corrections’.

The department said the country’s transformation since the fall of Apartheid 30 years ago is intertwined with that of corrections.

‘Since 1994, DCS has significantly reformed the correctional system, including playing a major role in the renaming of the United Nations [UN] Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners to the ‘Nelson Mandela Rules’, by the UN General Assembly in December 2015, which is assisting South Africa to speed up transformation towards a people’s developmental correctional system that is consistent with various principles and guidelines.

‘Remarkable success has also been achieved in implementation of the DCS Strategic Framewor
k on Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability [SFSS]. Such notable strides bear witness to the reality that offenders can, indeed, be rehabilitated. Using the SFSS, amongst others, as a springboard, DCS has a strong case for its cause of successful offender rehabilitation and, consequently, fruitful social reintegration,’ the department said.

Corrections week is based on the notions that:

rehabilitation, and not punishment, works in correcting offending behaviour and

family, community and societal involvement is critical in all of the rehabilitative and social reintegration work that DCS implements on a daily basis.

‘The backbone of Corrections Week activities, therefore, is the willingness of DCS to provide opportunities for citizens to witness the value of education, skills development and training, spiritual care, arts and culture, life skills programmes as well as community corrections in preparing an offender for life out of incarceration.

‘The involvement of offenders in caring for their community, in
taking responsibility for their fellow offenders and their families, are stepping-stones to the reintegration of these individuals into a society equipped to strengthen the moral fibre of society,’ the department said.

As the department works to rehabilitate offenders, community participation in the process is vital.

‘Relationships between DCS and the community, community-based organisations, NGOs and faith-based organisations are inherent to the successful achievement of the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, as well as ensuring a victim-centric correctional system.

‘To this end, the participation of the community in ensuring that victims of crime have a voice, and in strengthening and enhancing the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, is crucial,’ the department said.

The department called on South Africans to join hands in order to fight crime and restore dignity to all.

‘Over the last 30 years, Correctional Services has restored the dignity of millions of offenders and changed t
heir lives for the better. Together let us continue to build a South Africa where the values of human dignity, non-racialism, non-sexism and the rule of law remain paramount.

‘Let us extend our social net to the most vulnerable in our midst and help build a more inclusive society,’ the department said.

Corrections Week runs from 15 to 21 September.

Source: South African Government News Agency

As the nation celebrates the 2024 Heritage Month in honour of liberation struggle stalwarts, government has encouraged South Africans to visit heritage sites, museums, galleries and libraries.

During Heritage Month in September, South Africa celebrates the nation’s diverse culture and rich heritage, however, this year the country will also pause and reflect on the resistance and liberation heritage route.

Government will commemorate the national Heritage Day on 24 September at Meqheleng Stadium in Ficksburg, in the Free State province under the theme: ‘Celebrating the lives of our heroes and heroines who laid down their lives for our freedom’.

This year’s theme puts a spotlight on South Africa’s liberation movements who received various forms of solidarity and support from neighbouring countries during the liberation struggle.

‘Building from the successful national Heritage Month launch earlier this month, government in collaboration with various key entities are hosting several activities among others a
imed at celebrating our unique cultural heritage, reflecting on our liberation heritage, as well as healing the wounds of our past injustice.

‘We celebrate the roles played by brave man and women who were at the forefront of our resistance and liberation struggle,’ Department of Sport, Arts and Culture said.

The department in collaboration with the Department of Military Veterans and other key stakeholders will on Friday, the 27th of September, host the Homecoming and Repatriation ceremony at the Freedom Park.

‘As one of key highlights of the month, this occasion will see the return of human remains of some of the struggle stalwarts being repatriated back home. The event will also launch a new country-to-country repatriation model,’ the department said.

Other key events of the month include:

the arrival of repatriated human remains of resistance and liberation struggle stalwarts, notably from Zambia and Zimbabwe on 25 September at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria.

Hosting of Indigenous Games
Festival from the 24-26 September in Bloemfontein. Young people will compete in various Indigenous Games codes such as (kho-kho, Jukskei, Diketo, Kgati, Morabaraba, Debeke, and many others) and medals and trophies will be up for grabs.

Hosting of a workshop on Celebrating 30 Years of Heritage: Promoting Cultural Diversity taking place on 14 September in Mafefe, Sekhukhune, in Limpopo. This workshop seeks to promote unity, tolerance and harmony by showcasing different cultural diversity.

The 11th Annual Golden Shield Heritage Awards at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. This initiative is aimed at recognising excellence in the heritage sector and honouring ordinary South Africans, at grass-roots community level, who have been actively involved in conservation management of heritage under theme: Honouring Champions of Heritage in the 30 years of democracy.

The department together with its key stakeholders has activated a social campaign called ‘Our history, Our Story, Our Heritage’.

Media, civil society a
nd all citizens have been called to join government in embracing the country’s heritage by honouring, celebrating and commemorating the brave men and women who fell fighting for the liberation and to use cultural diversity to foster social cohesion, unity and nation building.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Thorough infrastructure maintenance to ensure sustainable water supply to residents of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality came under the spotlight at a meeting between Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, Sello Seithlolo and municipal councillors.

Seithlolo made the call during a meeting with municipal councillors, held in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday.

The engagement comes after Seitlholo accepted an invitation from municipal councillors to discuss some of the ongoing issues that have been affecting the wards.

These include ongoing water challenges affecting some parts of the municipality, which are exacerbated by ageing infrastructure, rapid urbanisation, floods, theft, and vandalism of water infrastructure.

During the meeting, councillors raised concerns of sewer spillages in the communities, which cause health hazards and water pollution that end up affecting recreational facilities including the beaches in the city.

Seitlholo called on the municipality to address issues that affect water d
elivery services to communities and the travel sector.

In addition to infrastructure maintenance, he also encouraged the municipality to conduct a full investigation into illegal connections.

‘I therefore call on the municipality to be committed on issues of water and sanitation. Municipalities should improve on their investigations related to the issues so that they can be resolved,’ Seitlholo said.

He assured the municipality of further provincial visits and engagements, to ensure tangible changes pertaining to water and sanitation challenges.

The Deputy Minister also held a meeting with Umhlanga Tourism Association (UTA) to discuss issues relating to water and sanitation affecting the tourism hub in the Umhlanga area.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Three suspects are expected to appear in the Nebo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of murder, hijacking and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the three were arrested on Sunday at Phokoane village in Nebo policing area in Limpopo.

‘The arrests follow an incident in which members of Nebo and Jane Furse Tracking Team spotted a suspicious vehicle, a white Toyota, while tracing wanted suspects in the area.

The police then approached the vehicle with four occupants and called for backup.

‘The suspects suddenly fired shots at the police. The police retaliated, and two of the suspects were shot. One died at the scene, and the second suspect was transported to a local hospital with injuries and the two other suspects were arrested.’

Preliminary investigations revealed that the said vehicle that was driven by the suspects was reportedly hijacked.

The Provincial Police Commissioner in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welco
med the arrest

Source: South African Government News Agency

Following a meeting of the party leaders last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa says in his weekly newsletter that he is even more convinced that the Government of National Unity (GNU) is essential for the growth and development of the country.

‘I am convinced that the GNU will not only survive, but that it will thrive. South Africans expect the GNU to succeed, and we will not let them down,’ the President said.

On Wednesday last week, the leaders of the parties that form the GNU met to reflect on how the GNU is working.

Three months have passed since 10 parties represented in Parliament signed a Statement of Intent committing themselves to work together in government and Parliament to advance the country’s interests.

The parties agreed to certain fundamental principles, including to respect the Constitution and the rule of law and to promote accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance.

The parties also agreed on a common minimum programme that would form the basis of the work of the GNU.
At its first Cabinet Lekgotla in mid-July, Ministers and Deputy Ministers drawn from the GNU partners, together with Directors-General and other officials, developed priority actions to give effect to the minimum programme.

Since these priority actions were outlined in the Opening of Parliament Address on 18 July 2024, the President said Ministers and Deputy Ministers have been hard at work to implement the tasks assigned to them.

‘For a few Ministers and Deputy Ministers, being in the Executive is a new experience and for some it has been quite an adjustment. But with the support of their departments, they have all hit the ground running. Across all parties, Ministers and Deputy Ministers are making headway in confronting the challenges the country faces.

‘What is significant and most welcome is that the members of the Executive have undertaken their work as part of a Cabinet collective. Although they are drawn from different parties, they have pursued the common GNU programme. They have worked in a spiri
t of cooperation and collaboration as Cabinet colleagues to serve the interests of the South African people,’ the President said.

President Ramaphosa added the members of the Executive have each understood their role in advancing the three strategic priorities of the seventh democratic administration.

‘The priorities are clear – a commitment to drive inclusive growth and job creation. A clear focus to reduce poverty and to tackle the high cost of living. A resolve to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

Ministers and deputy ministers have been focused not on the interests of their respective parties, but on the common mandate they have received to build and develop the country,’ he said.

The President said there was general agreement among the party leaders last week that the GNU has made a good start. They believe that the GNU is working well and that everyone is playing a constructive role.

‘As party leaders, we nevertheless recognise that the parties in the GNU represent a range of politi
cal and ideological perspectives. There are issues on which we disagree and there will be times when differences between the parties will become more apparent.

‘A case in point has been the debate around the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, which I signed into law last week. Even as the leaders were meeting last week, some parties in the GNU were publicly urging me not to sign the Bill, while others were saying that I should sign the Bill,’ he said.

The President highlighted that the Constitution is quite clear on the responsibilities of the President with respect to signing legislation.

He explained that once a Bill has been passed by Parliament, the President must either assent to the Bill or, if they have reservations about its constitutionality, refer it back to Parliament.

‘Since, after considering all the various submissions, I had no such reservations about the BELA Bill, the Constitution obliged me to assent to it. However, even as I signed the Bill, I noted that some of the parties in
the GNU said they wanted to engage each other on parts of the bill dealing with issues of school admissions and language.

‘To give the parties time to discuss these issues, I said we would delay implementation of the Act in order for parties to engage and come up with proposals, if any, on the relevant clauses,’ the President said.

In taking this approach, President Ramaphosa said he sought to establish a culture of openness and dialogue among the GNU parties.

‘We are also drawing on a long history in South Africa of engagement among parties on matters on which they seem far apart.

‘As times, agreement can be reached when matters come to a head at the last minute enabling all parties to focus on finding solutions and discovering that there is more that unites them than what separates them. We cannot guarantee that the parties that have requested timeout to engage will reach agreement on every difficult issue. But we need to make every effort to find common ground,’ the President said.

Source: South Afri
can Government News Agency