Category: General

DURBAN – A total of four men aged between 23 and 47 are set to appear before Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 28 June 2021 for being in unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition as well as for being in possession of suspected stolen property.

Yesterday, a multi-disciplinary intelligence driven operation which was conducted in Mayville yielded positive results.

The team was following up on information after a house was broken into in the Scottburgh CBD and various items were stolen.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence at Mayville in Durban. The team proceeded to the Mayville residence as information indicated that the stolen items were on the premises. A search warrant was executed and over five thousand rounds of ammunition, a rifle, seven cellular phones, two magazines, a rifle as well as diamonds and jewellery were seized.

The suspects have been detained pending their court appearance.

Source: South African Police Service

CAPE TOWN – Police members in this province will go the extra mile to satisfy their suspicions when dealing with offender members who fail to abide by the law.

On Friday 25 June at about 19:00, members of the Flying Squad spotted a vehicle near to Zevenwacht Mall in Kuilsriver and followed their instinct to pursue the vehicle. When they reached the intersection of Strand and Stratford Road, they brought the suspicious vehicle with five occupants to a halt. The members called for backup from the K9 Unit. The vehicle used by the suspects was reported stolen earlier during the month in Lingelethu West. When the members, assisted by the explosive dog searched the vehicle, they found a revolver. Five suspects between the ages of 21 and 30 were arrested and detained. Once charged they will make a court appearance in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and possession of a hijacked Vehicle.

The community is encouraged to share criminal activities by calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Source: South African Police Service

DURBAN – Operations to root out criminality in Pietermaritzburg are ongoing as police work hard to capture criminals that are roaming the streets and terrorizing the community.

This was followed by an operation that was conducted yesterday morning in the Pietermaritzburg CBD. The team proceeded to a men’s hostel where they were following up information about a murder suspect who was in unlawful possession of a firearm. A search was conducted in the hostel and a revolver with 13 rounds of ammunition was found in the suspect’s possession.

The 32-year-old suspect was placed under arrest. The suspect was positively linked to a case of murder that was opened at Boston SAPS. It is alleged that on 25 April 2021 at 22:17, Khalipha Shezi (22) was shot at Incwadi area. He sustained injuries on the head and body. He was taken to hospital where he later died. The recovered firearm will be subjected to ballistic testing. The suspect is expected to appear before the Pietermaritzburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 28 June 2021.

Source: South African Police Service

Sparks will fly as the 2021 Tour de France kicks off with South Africa’s Qhubeka World Tour Cycling team making its seventh appearance.

The annual men’s multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France will get underway on Saturday.

Like other grand tours, the event which consists of 21 day-long stages over the course of 23 days, commences this Saturday until Sunday 18 July 2021.

The team from South Africa will be represented by eight riders, including Nicholas Dlamini, a Cape Town born athlete who makes history as the first black South African cyclist to participate in the 108th Tour de France.

South Africa’s Team Qhubeka World Tour Cycling team with the motto of ‘Bicycles Change lives’ will be making it’s 7th appearance this year, having done well in 2015 with Steve Cummings’ stage win on Mandela Day.

In a statement on Friday, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, sent his best wishes to the team ahead of the race.

“Allow me to first congratulate Nicholas Dlamini rising from humble beginnings to the international stage. This is a demonstration that tenacity, determination and selflessness are indeed virtues that birth greatness, as long as one remains focused at all times.

“To the entire South African registered team that will be carrying the country’s flag high, go out there and represent us well. You have stood the test of time, especially during these difficult times when the COVID-19 pandemic is still wreaking global havoc.

“We agree with your motto that bicycles change lives, as they serve as an instrument of promoting a healthy lifestyle. All the best to the team. We are behind you all the way,” Mthethwa said.

The event starts in Brest, France, where participants will cycle 3,470 kilometres over 21 days, ending in Paris.

Source: South African Government News Agency

EDEN CLUSTER – Crime combating operations in the Southern Cape as part of operation “Vhuthu hawe” resulted in the confiscation of drugs with an estimated street value R1 million. This operation commenced on Thursday, 24 June 2021 at 06h00. It included compliance inspections, roadblocks and vehicle check points, stop and search operations and the closing down of drug as well as liquor outlets.

On Thursday at about 19:30, members attached to Crime Intelligence, Attaqua K9 and the Eden Cluster Crime Combating Team operationalized information when they pounced on a house at 15th Avenue, Bongolethu, Oudtshoorn. A search of the premises ensued when police found 538 Mandrax tablets and 2,5 kilogram Tik concealed in a bag in a storeroom. The police arrested a 44-year-old man, a highflyer in the area, on a charge of dealing in drugs.

The team, armed with a search warrant, thereafter proceeded with a search of a house at 9th Avenue where small quantities of Mandrax tablets were discovered. They arrested a 21-year-old woman on a charge of dealing in drugs.

Meanwhile tracing operations for outstanding suspects led to the arrest of 69 suspects on outstanding warrants of arrests.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Major General Thembisile Patekile, joined these operations on Friday. He also addressed operational members and applauded them for their commitment. Major General Patekile said: “the deployment of resources in crime-stricken areas will continue to ensure that the public are and feel safe”.

All arrested will appear in the various local courts once charged.

Source: South African Police Service

The South African National Parks (SANParks) says an independent report on the wildfire that burned about 600 hectares of land within the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and some neighbouring properties has ruled out natural causes.

The report also ruled out rock falls or lightning strikes or an accidental/negligent incident, such as an abandoned camping/cooking fire as possible causes of the fire.

The latter, therefore, confirms the fact that the fire was not started by homeless persons, as was initially alleged.

SANParks Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Luthando Dziba, said various potential causes of the fire were thoroughly assessed by an independent investigator, Enviro Wildfire (Pty) Ltd.

Dziba said the investigation report provides compelling evidence suggesting that the fire may have been started as a malicious act.

This evidence is currently being investigated by law enforcement agencies.

The report states that according to CCTV footage and eyewitnesses, the fire started at approximately 8:40am under extreme weather conditions such as very warm temperatures (26°C) and low relative humidity (19%).

Within a few hours, the temperature had increased to 34°C and the relative humidity had decreased to 13%, with a prevailing north-westerly breeze of approximately 12km/h.

These conditions, in addition to dry vegetation, presented an ideal environment for the rapid spread of the fire due to the high fire danger index.

In turn, the increase in wind speed and a change in the wind direction caused embers to land outside of the burn area, where they ignited the surrounding veld.

According to Dziba, the situation could have been much worse if the strategic relationship between SANParks and various stakeholders, including the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, were not in place.

“This provided for a well organised effort in suppressing the fire from the ground and air-support within reasonably good time,” Dziba said.

The firefighting team consisted of SANParks, NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd, City of Cape Town, Working on Fire, Volunteer Wildfire Services and the South African National Defence Force.

A total of five fire-fighters were injured while fighting the fire.

“These men and women acted in the best interest of the community, despite the extremely grim weather conditions and did so at risk to their own welfare and safety,” Dziba said.

Extensive damage occurred to the Rhodes Memorial restaurant, University of Cape Town and the historic Mostert Mill, and various private properties as a result of windblown smouldering embers landing on dry, combustible materials such as thatch, exotic pines, palm trees, ivy and leaves in gutters.

Dziba thanked Cape Town residents and businesses for their generosity and donations of food, drinks and other necessities for the fire fighters, and extend his sincere thanks to the fire fighters for their bravery and dedication.

He thanked members of the public who assisted the investigation.

The independent fire report is available on the SANParks website on https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id=58294.

Source: South African Government News Agency