Category: General

The police at Parkweg Police Station are looking for the family, relatives or friends of an African female who was found murdered at an open space near Stadium Swimming pool: corner of Park Road and First Avenue, Willows.

On Friday 3 September 2021 at about 21:20 the police received a complaint of the body of a female estimated to be between 20 and 30 years. A patrol vehicle was despatched to attend and on arrival at the scene the police found a lifeless body of a woman with two stab wounds lying on its back.

The deceased was wearing black pair of jeans, black hoodie inside black and red jean jacket and Nike sneakers. A Capitec bank card and house keys with orange key holder were found inside her pockets. A murder case was later registered for further investigation.

Any member of the public who might have information that might help the police to identify the deceased and trace her family is requisted to call Captain Yaliwe Mokoena at 082 526 2653, or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111, alternatively send information via MySAPS App.

Source: South African Police Service

Community policing was displayed today, 04 September 2021 when Sgt Willem van der Merwe from the

Upington Highway patrol unit received information from a community member who noticed two suspicious bags lying next to the road.

At 14:00 Sgt van der Merwe followed up on the information and drove out on the N10 road between Upington and Groblershoop as indicated by the informant.

Upon further investigation he discovered two black bags containing a large amount of dagga with an estimated street value of R253 000-00. An enquiry was opened and no arrests were made as the dagga was found abandoned.

“This is a clear demonstration of the community being the eyes and ears of the police. This exchange of information prevented the drugs from reaching the streets and being sold to innocent persons. The police will continue to squeeze the space for drug dealers to operate,” said the ZF Mgcawu Acting District Commander, Brig Johnny Besnaar.

Source: South African Police Service

The police in Lebowakgomo have launched a search operation for a missing elderly woman, Raesibe Francinah Mphahlele aged 72 of GA-Chuene Maratapelo, who went missing on 26 August 2021 at about 14:30.

The victim is reportedly mentally challenged.The type of clothes she was wearing at the time of disappearance are unknown.

Police conducted search operations with no success. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the missing person should contact the investigating officer Lieutenant Colonel Nyamanyawo Thomas Baloyi on 0825658234, or the nearest police station or MYSAPSAPP.

Police search operation and investigations are still continuing.

Source: South African Police Service

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has passed gender-based violence (GBV) bills during its virtual sitting on Wednesday.

The three bills – namely the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill, Domestic Violence Amendment Bill and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Amendment Bill – will change the landscape in terms of how government departments, law enforcement and the courts deal with cases of violence against women and the vulnerable.

The bills were introduced in Parliament following a Presidential Summit against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) held in November 2018.

The summit resolved, amongst others, to fast track the review of existing laws and policies on gender-based violence, making them victim-centred, ensure all other relevant laws respond to GBV, revisit and fast track all outstanding laws and bills that relate to GBVF.

Criminal Law Amendment Bill

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Amendment Bill proposes amendments to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007, being one of several legislative measures identified to strengthen South Africa’s response to GBVF, in particular the legislation regulating the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO).

The bill aims to expand the scope of the NRSO to include the particulars of all sex offenders and not only sex offenders against children and people who are mentally disabled.

It also aims to expand the list of persons who are to be protected to include other vulnerable persons, namely, certain young women, persons with physical, mental, sensory or intellectual disabilities and persons over 60 years of age who receive community-based care and support services.

It also aims to increase the periods for which a sex offenders’ particulars must remain on the NRSO before they can be removed from the register.

The bill further proposes to expand the ambit of the crime of incest, and introduces a new offence of sexual intimidation.

Domestic Violence Amendment Bill

The purpose of the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill is to amend the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998 to, amongst others, further provide for how acts of domestic violence and matters related thereto must be dealt with by certain functionaries, persons and government departments.

It also aims to further regulate the obtaining of protection orders in response to acts of domestic violence.

Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill

The Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill aims to amend four acts, namely the Magistrates’ Courts Act 32 of 1944, the Criminal Procedure Act 51 0f 1977, the Criminal Law Amendment Act 85 of 1997 and the Superior Courts Act 7 of 2013.

The bill’s purpose is to amend the Magistrates’ Courts Act to provide for the appointment of intermediaries and the giving of evidence through intermediaries in proceedings other than criminal proceedings.

The bill also amends the Criminal Procedure Act to further regulate the granting and cancellation of bail and the right of a complainant in a domestic-related offence to participate in parole proceedings.

It also amends the Criminal Law Amendment Act to further regulate sentences in respect of offences that have been committed against vulnerable persons, and amend the Superior Courts Act to provide for the appointment of intermediaries and the giving of evidence through intermediaries in proceedings other than criminal proceedings.

“The House passed two of the bills – the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill and Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill with amendments, and the two Bills will now be sent back to the National Assembly. The Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill will now be sent to the President for assent,” Parliamentary spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, said.

Filling of NYDA Board vacancies adopted

The NCOP has also adopted the report of the Select Committee on Health and Social Services on the filling of vacancies for the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Board.

The names of the 17 recommended candidates, which were approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday, will now be sent to the President for the appointment.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cabinet has approved the extension of the National State of Disaster to next month.

“Cabinet approved the extension of the National State of Disaster to 15 October 2021, in terms of Section 27(5) (c) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (57 of 2002),” Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele said on Thursday.

In addition, Cabinet approved that the country should remain on Adjusted Alert Level 3 of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Justice and Correctional Services is taking decisive steps to fight Gender Based Violence and Femicide, says Minister Ronald Lamola.

He said the department is taking a “victim centred” justice system.

“In the Justice Sector, we continue to lead various campaigns against Gender Based Violence and Femicide, for both society and the workplace. We have availed resources to fight this pandemic including ensuring that we have victim centric justice system that eliminates secondary victimisation,” he said.

Lamola said the courts are meting out hefty consequences for perpetrators of the scourge which has “gripped South Africa for a long time”.

“[W]e have taken decisive actions within the ambit of the law against perpetrators. This sends a strong message that there will be serious consequences and severe punishment for violating women. The courts are demonstrating to South Africans through convictions and harsh sentences that strong actions are taken. We have also toughened granting of bail and our parole regime is reformed to ensure that perpetrators of Gender Based Violence and Femicide are not granted parole prior to satisfying strict requirements,” Lamola said.

He assured that officials whose “action, inaction or failure to observe standard operating procedures lead to compromised security resulting in loss of lives” will be punished.

The Minister said although government has initiated progressive policies against Gender Based Violence and Femicide, society is also needed to fight patriarchy and misogyny.

“Society must come on board, we must address and tackle the deep rooted culture of violence and masculinity which manifests itself in our communities. Concerted efforts to dismantle patriarchal mindsets in society are still needed, we will remain relentless in promoting gender equality.

“We will continue agitating for increased representation of women which must culminate into increased influence. If all of us can take a firm stand against this pandemic and commit ourselves as activists, together we can defeat this monster. Violence against women is a direct threat to the fabric of society,” Lamola said.

The Department of Social Development has established a 24-hour Gender Based Violence Command Centre which offers trauma counselling and assistance to survivors.

Source: South African Government News Agency