Category: General

FREE STATE – Twelve suspects are expected to appear before Harrismith Magistrate court this morning on charges of public violence which include few minors who will be under supervision of their parents.

The police visibility is high in Harrismith, Intabazwe, Makgolokweng Village, Tshiame A and B monitoring unpredictable situation of protests which have spread to other sections of Harrismith where they were called to attend protesters barricading roads and burning tyres in the township and N5. The tyres were removed as there were no protestors nearby.

The group of protestors at Tshiame A section wake up putting stones inside the roads. The police have arrested seven suspects this morning pertaining this incident.

Thus far the situation is still tense in and around Harrismith on the N3.

Source: South African Police Service

POTCHEFSTROOM – Police in Mogwase request the public to assist in locating Mmampoko Juliet Sekole (51) of Masakeng Section, Welgeval Village near Moruleng. Sekole went missing on Tuesday, 25 May 2021.

She was last seen walking alone in the street, wearing a blue apron with yellow dots and bare footed. The missing person is also suffering from depression.

Police request anyone who may have information about Sekole’s whereabouts, to contact Colonel Shimane Kubyadi on ?082 856 1087 or call South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number: ?08600 10111.

Source: South African Police Service

Eskom says it remains committed to completing Kusile power station within the 2024/25 financial year.

“The Eskom board and management are committed to completing Kusile power station within the revised, board-approved completion date in the 2024/25 financial year, and within the project budget of R161.4 billion, excluding interest during construction.

“This project budget remains unchanged,” said Deputy President David Mabuza when responding to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday.

The Deputy President had been asked what action has government, as the overseer of Eskom, taken to ensure the project goes according to schedule, and whether the plans were sufficient for the success of the project.

Mabuza said the Eskom board and management have been driving efforts to complete Kusile to meet the target date. Resolving the issues hindering completion of the project has also been prioritised.

“Through the annual shareholder compact, Eskom is measured on the delivery of major milestones for both Medupi and Kusile projects.

“The status of the project schedule, progress and mitigation actions are monitored through regular executive engagements with the Department of Public Enterprises.”

The Deputy President said delays at Unit 4 to Unit 6 were due to contractor financial, commercial and contractual issues.

“However, the project team is pursuing rigorous schedule recovery plans for achievements of milestones that are at risk.

“We are advised that the plans are sufficient to complete the Kusile project within the set target dates.

“The commercial operation target dates for the remaining three units are January 2023 for Unit 4, December 2023 for Unit 5 and May 2024 for Unit 6.

“Furthermore, we can report that during our visit to Kusile Power Station last month, the Political Task Team on Eskom was encouraged by the progress being made and the commitment by management to implement appropriate risk management plans and design defect modifications.”

The Deputy President said measures have been put in place to strengthen project monitoring, oversight and assurance capability, which will result in increased controls over productivity, and ensure contractor and suppliers quality inputs to avoid schedule and cost overruns.

Source: South African Government News Agency

NELSPRUIT – Police in Mpumalanga have launched a vigorous manhunt for suspects following two separate incidents in which five victims were fatally shot and their houses torched. These horrifying incidents occurred in the early hours of today, Wednesday 16 June 2021, at Bushbuckridge and Madras near Hazyview respectively.

Reports indicate that in the first incident, police received information about a shooting incident at Madras, where four family members were shot execution style by four suspects inside their RDP house.

When police arrived at the scene, they found the house in flames with four victims inside lying unconscious with burn wounds in two separate rooms. The emergency services were summoned for assistance and all the victims were unfortunately certified dead.

The victims have already been identified by the family as Martha Ndlovu (Mother), aged 53, Eckson Five Ndlovu (father), aged 59, Lovenecia Ndlovu (girl child), aged 14 and 12 year Permission Ndlovu (girl child). Police further discovered that one family member, a 25 year old man who was also in the house survived the shooting and managed to alert neighbours who eventually notified police.

Meanwhile in the second incident, which occurred in Bushbuckridge, also a group of about four armed suspects stormed into a certain house at Mandela Village. It is said that Caswell Maphanga, aged 25 was asleep at the time and the suspects reportedly shot at him and then burned the house before they fled the scene.

Concerned members of the public notified relevant stakeholders about the incident and upon arrival, the fire fighters extinguished the fire. However, Maphanga was unfortunately certified dead by the paramedics and police opened a murder case hence the manhunt.

A Preliminary investigation revealed that before the incident, Caswell’s mother received a call from her other son indicating that there were people looking for him (Caswell’s brother) and were already on their way to the house. The mother was reportedly at work at the time and she then learned that the suspects had already killed Caswell as well as burned her house. A preliminary probe has revealed that these killing spree are as a result of gangs fighting against each other. Police request Skhumbuzo Madalane and Bonginkosi Shakoane to come forward as they believe the duo can positively assist in the investigation. As a result of all these atrocious acts, police management in Mpumalanga, led by the Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Thulani Phahla, has motioned a 72 hour Activation Plan comprising of all relevant disciplines with a view to track down those responsible.

In the meantime, police urge the community to be patriotic in their quest to find these heartless villains. They (community) can volunteer their valuable information if they have knowledge on the whereabouts of Madalane as well as Shakoane by contacting Detective Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Bhiya at 0720158022, or Detective Captain Dexter Ndlovu at 0829229902/ 0833124305.

Alternatively members of the public can call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

Source: South African Police Service

POTCHEFSTROOOM – Police opened inquest dockets after 20 unidentified male bodies were on Tuesday, 14 and Wednesday, 15 June 2021, found at two various locations in Orkney outside Klerksdorp.

The first five decomposed bodies were found at approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 14 June 2021, outside an old and unused mine shaft ventilation in Lawrence Park, Orkney.

On Wednesday, 15 June 2021, 14 more decomposed bodies were found along Ariston Road near the railway line in Orkney. While still processing the scene, the police received information that another body was discovered where the initial five bodies were found, thus bringing a total number to 20. All the deceased are suspected to be illegal miners commonly known as “zama zamas” operating in obsolete shafts in Orkney and Stilfontein. Furthermore, the deceased suffered severe body burns. As part of investigations, post-mortems will be conducted to determine a cause of death for these men whose bodies were found wrapped in white plastic bags.

Investigation into the matter continues and it includes the possibility of linking the incident with the video that was circulated on social media platforms wherein a man calling himself “Mafifi” was seen pleading for assistance following an apparent smoke inhalation occurrence at shaft number six.

The police request anyone who may have information regarding the incident to call Colonel Gaanakgomo at 082 568 5975 or South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number: 08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via My SAPS App. The information will be treated with strictest confidentiality.

Source: South African Police Service

FREE STATE – The police station in Clocolan is closed after a positive case of Covid 19 virus.

The communities serviced by the said police station are advised that the Community Service Centre will temporarily operate from the Municipality Town Hall at Andries Pretorius Street next to Post Office.

For emergency the following number can be used: 0825251847.

The building will undergo decontamination and the community will be informed as soon as it’s open again.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lt Gen Baile Motswenyane and management wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the closure.

Source: South African Police Service