Author: Silver Sibiya
The Department of Correctional Services’ decision not to send former President Jacob Zuma to prison and then release him on special remission has sparked debate with some analysts and opposition parties arguing if it was the right decision. Zuma is part of the 9 000 prisoners who benefitted from a remission of sentences announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to low-risk offenders to ease overcrowding in correctional facilities, worsened by this week’s fire at Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre near Louis Trichardt, Limpopo. However, Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said Ramaphosa released Zuma because he feared that there was going to be…
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela does not rule out the possibility that some of the police officers are working with illegal miners popularly known as Zama-Zamas. Mawela together with the Tactical Response Team (TRT) Amabherethe, crime prevention wardens and other law enforcement officers spent Thursday raiding mine shafts and informal settlements rooting out illegal miners. Mawela led the crackdown in Jerusalema, Florida Mine Shaft and New Canada following complaints by residents that they were being terrorised by groups of illegal miners who operated in abandoned mine shafts in the west of Johannesburg. In most mine shafts the police were…
City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, has warned that law enforcement authorities won’t hesitate to use lethal weapons, when confronted by criminals. Tshwaku’s comments come after Sunday’s shootout between the police and illegal miners at Matholeville near Roodepoort when he paid a surprise visit, catching the criminals off guard who then fired shots at the MMC together with members of the JMPD who had accompanied him. The police returned fire and chased the suspects who ran up to the mountains in-full view of the community. Tshwaku said they went to the area…
Some residents of Riverlea and other surrounding areas have criticized yesterday’s illegal mining imbizo held by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele saying it was another talk shop and won’t bring any permanent changes in their area that has been invaded by illegal miners. Following recent deaths of five suspected illegal miners and the violent gun violence between the warring factions fighting turf wars, Rivelear residents took to the streets in protests against what they said were a lack of police action in dealing with the scourge. Cele was forced to come to the area where he promised to deploy…
The City of Johannesburg says it has made a breakthrough in its investigation over the causes of the Lillian Ngoyi explosion a few weeks ago which claimed the life of one person, had 48 others hospitalised and destroyed 34 vehicles and infrastructure. Lilian Ngoyi Street popularly known by its original name Bree Street is one of the busiest taxi ranks in the Joburg CBD and also houses thousands of minibus taxis which ferry commuters in and out of the city daily. Joburg City Manager Floyd Brink said on Wednesday the cause of the explosion was methane gas which is lighter…
EFF leader Julius Malema is adamant he will continue the ‘Kill the boer’ chant because even the Equality Court ruled in his favour when it found that chanting could not cause a genocide, he said this during a media briefing in Jobrug on Wednesday. The court found that the right-wing group AfriForum which had approached the court, failed to prove the lyrics demonstrated a clear intention to harm or incite harm or propagate hatred. AfriForum has taken the matter to court again after Malema chanted it at the party’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations at FNB Stadium on Saturday where thousands of…
Calm was restored in Riverlea, Johannesburg on Tuesday following protests from angry residents who demanded urgent intervention from the government after being caught in the middle of alleged turf wars between rival gangs of illegal miners over the weekend. Five bodies were found with bullet wounds on the weekend and are believed to be victims of gang wars over turn among illegal miners. This has led to Police Bheki Cele’s intervention where he promised to deploy police units in the area within 24 hours. The residents blocked busy roads like Main Reef, Nasrec Road and Devon causing traffic jams. An angry…
The assault case against Orlando Pirates star Thembinkosi Lorch has been postponed following his brief appearance at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday after his lawyer said the defence was not ready for pre-sentencing arguments. The sentencing proceedings have been postponed to 4 September. The unavailability of electricity at the Randburg Magistrates Court also contributed to the postponement of his sentencing. Lorch was found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm last month. The NPA Gauteng Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the defendant told the court they were not ready for sentencing because Lorch was out of the…
Hip Hop artist and TV presenter Molemo Katlego Maarohanye, aka Jub-Jub, appeared at the Johannesburg Magistrates Court after handing himself over to the police following a warrant that was issued for his arrest on three counts of rape, two of attempted murder and one of assault. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane Maarohanye’s ex-girlfriend opened the case against him in February last year. “One of the complainants laid a rape charge with SAPS in February 2022 against Maarohanye, her former boyfriend. She alleged that the incidents of rape happened between 2006 and 2009 while she was in a relationship…
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbaluka said the party will introduce new measures to monitor the work done by its councilors at local government while speaking on the sidelines of the two-day ANC Local Government Interventions Workshop in Boksburg. The government intervention workshop aims to aid ailing municipalities and the workshop was to address pressing issues facing the local government, Mbalula said adding that they’ll clamp down on possible corruption. “Projects can only succeed when proper qualified engineers, project managers, finance managers and so forth are appropriately appointed. There is no excuse for not spending money for what is budgeted for…