South Africa Vision

Police Minister General Bheki Cele has told law enforcement officials to make sure that they “enforce the law” without fear or favour, but within the confines of the Constitution, during and after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) this evening.

He was addressing a parade of law enforcement agencies – including the South African Police Service and the South African Defence Force – at Cape Castle ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address.

“[The] Commander-In-Chief of the South African forces is here to give the line to the nation tonight. Yours is to make sure that that happens with all necessity of respect and protection. That protection is for the inhabitants and the citizens of this land, including those that are visiting us today (sic).

“As you move around here, you are all over as the forces to look after the safety and the comfort of all people that are around this city, around this province, and around this country in this moment when the President gives us the guideline.

“You must make sure that anybody who chooses this day to get out of the way [and] break the law has chosen the wrong day,” he said.

Cele reminded the law enforcement officials that their duty to serve and protect those who live in South Africa continues “now, during and after the State of the Nation Address and many other days thereafter”.

“You must remember that their safety is not only when they enter these premises, when they enter this precinct. Wherever they are and wherever you are, you remain responsible for their safety.

“We will emphasise the point that women, children, the elderly and vulnerable [groups]… when they look at you, they must see the hope. Not only see the hope, but also receive the hope, receive the safety and they must feel that your presence is better [for] their safety,” he said.

Also at the parade, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise, laid out expectations for law enforcement ahead of SONA.

“We expect that you will do what you have to do to protect the country. If criminality happens and you close your eyes, you affect the country. When you affect the future of this country you contribute to the disintegration of the life we want for South Africans.

“In anticipation of whatever may happen today, you will remember all the laws. Members of the SA National Defence Force, you will… remember what you are taught in your code when you are deployed with the police.

“We expect you will keep within the prescripts of the military code and we expect that you will excel in doing whatever it is you have to protect the integrity of this country,” Modise said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Parliamentary spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, has clarified that the institution is spending more on this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) – to the tune of R8 million – because of the unavailability of the Parliamentary precinct.

This year’s SONA will be held at the Cape Town City Hall, for the second time in a row, owing to a fire that gutted Parliament’s Old Assembly Chamber and the National Assembly Chamber, where SONA is usually held (with these buildings also hosting critical offices of Parliament).

The 2022 blaze continued for at least three days, rendering the precinct unavailable for use.

“We are forced, as Parliament, to pay more than we would have paid if we were still in the precinct of Parliament. The things that we have to pay for, previously we did not have to pay for.

“Things like broadcasting facilities, live transmission to the various television stations in the country – in order to reach and to involve South Africans in the business of Parliament – the conferencing facilities… those are the things we did not have to pay for but here [at the Cape Town City Hall], we have to pay,” Mothapo said.

He emphasised that Parliament chose competitive pricing in order to hire the facilities and equipment it uses, not only for SONA but also for the upcoming SONA Debate, the President’s Reply, which will be followed by, later this month, the Finance Minister’s Budget Speech.

The City Hall facilities were also used in a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament to honour Founding Speaker, Dr Frene Ginwala, who passed away last month.

Regarding the price Parliament has to pay for use of facilities outside of the traditional precinct, Mothapo said: “That is the market price. [We have followed a] competitive process to compare prices and to go for the best available price in the market. To hire those [facilities is] the greatest key cost driver and I think that will account for 90% of the cost of the State of the Nation Address,” he said on Thursday.

Mothapo explained that Parliament has a Constitutional obligation to ensure that South Africans are not left out of the SONA and other Parliamentary activities.

“We are obligated, under the Constitution, to ensure public involvement, to ensure that the public participates in what is happening in Parliament. The Constitution, in terms of participatory democracy, public involvement, public participation… [obliges us] to ensure that we are open, we are transparent and we are involving all South Africans in the work of the institution,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

NELSPRUIT – Police in Mpumalanga have refused to be associated with criminal activities and as a result a Police Constable stationed at Sabie SAPS and three other suspects were arrested for damage to essential infrastructure at Mac-Mac plantation in Graskop yesterday, Tuesday 07 February 2023 at about 17h00.

The 32-year-old Constable and the other three suspects aged between 38 and 43 were caught red-handed by the security personnel whilst loading railway tracks on a super-link truck believed to be owned by a Cape Town based trucking company.

According to preliminary investigation, three of the four suspects are from Mpumalanga and the 38-year-old driver is from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. Security personnel alerted police who immediately attended the scene where the four suspects were arrested. The case docket was handed over to the Hawks or Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) for further handling. The value of the damaged infrastructure and the truck used in the commission of crime will be determined as the investigation unfolds.

The suspects are expected to make their first court appearance in Graskop Magistrate’s Court today, 08 February 2023 facing the said charges.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela was disappointed by the alleged involvement of the SAPS member in criminal activities and applauded the security personnel for doing the exceptional job. “The member involved will not be given special treatment, but have to face the consequences of his criminal acts. Internal investigation will also be instituted against him” said the General.

Source: South African Police Service

NORTHERN CAPE – The Kuruman Regional Court convicted and sentenced Jean Claude Uitlander (47), Arthur Tshitse (58) and Ismael Mokhoenyane (58) for dealing and possession of scheduled medicine on Tuesday, 7 February 2023. The Kuruman based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team arrested the trio in May 2018, after the team received information that they intended to sell the anti-retroviral medication illegally in Kuruman.

The medicine consignment was to be sold for R300 000-00, while the actual value stood at R197 400-00. All three accused were found guilty as charged and the court sentenced them after considering all the evidence presented.

The accused were each sentenced to R6000-00 fine with an alternative two years imprisonment. They were additionally sentenced to four (4) year imprisonment, wholly suspended on condition that they are not found guilty on contravention of the Medicines and Related Substance Act. They were further declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Source: South African Police Service

EASTERN CAPE – The East London based Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks in a joint operation with Combined Private Investigation Security, East London Visible Police members arrested Thamsanqa Cetyiwe (33) on 06 February 2023 for allegations of theft, causing damage to essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen property (motor vehicle).

It is alleged that on 06 February 2023 at about 15:00, five male suspects forced open the Telkom cell phone tower at Bongweni area next to East London airport and removed a battery from the tower. The Combined Private Investigation Security Company was patrolling the area when the incident took place and alerted the Hawks about the incident. Four suspects fled into the nearby bushes while one suspect, who was the driver of a VW Polo, was arrested.

Upon searching the vehicle, the Telkom cellphone tower battery worth R25 000, was found in the boot of the vehicle as well as grinders and other tools believed to have been used in the commission of crime. A preliminary investigation conducted revealed that the getaway car was reported to have been stolen in Woodstock in Cape Town in October 2022.

Cetyiwe made a short appearance in East London Magistrate’s court on Tuesday, 07 February 2023 and was remanded in custody until 27 February as further investigations are in progress. More arrests are imminent.

Source: South African Police Service

KIMBERLEY- The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Koliswa Otola applauds the three life sentences that were recently handed down to Jason Obakeng Witbooi (28) for raping three girls aged 11, 12 and 14 years old respectively in Kimberley. During school hours on 07 November 2016, the three victims decided leave the school premises and went to play in the veld next to their school in Kimberley. The girls were followed by the accused who threatened them and raped them, before fleeing the scene. The scene was fine combed and evidence was collected by the SAPS Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management unit which was sent for forensic testing. The suspect was positively identified through DNA linkages and arrested on 04 October 2020.

Police successfully opposed bail and Witbooi remained in custody up until he was handed down three life sentences for rape on 31 January 2023 in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court. “General Otola reiterated that gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) is one of the priority crimes for the Northern Cape SAPS therefore lauds Warrant Officer Shaniel Antonie from Kimberley Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for her meticulous investigation that led to securing three life sentences. May this be a stern warning to criminals who intend committing similar crimes, that no impunity will be granted to perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide in the Northern Cape, Gen Otola said.”

Source: South African Police Service