Pretoria east residents see red over blackouts

A DARK Christmas looms for Pretoria east residents, who have since called on the City to shed light on their predicament. Residents in Mooikloof, Faerie Glen, Zwavelpoort and Olympus have been plagued by random power outages in recent months. Mathlodi Kgapola said her Mooi- kloof residence and surrounding estates had two outages at least twice a week without any explanation or warning. Another resident, from Faerie Glen, said they were tired of the City's “lame excuses”. These ranged from stormy weather and trees not being felled that disturbed electricity poles to cable theft. “Every time it is a new story,” said the resident. She understood that even in the most well developed cities there were power outages, but “the City must let us know in time so we can make alternative plans for the festive season and security". Once criminals knew the City was not doing anything about the power outages, they would capitalise on it, especially during the festive season whi…
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Kidnapped Pretoria businessman reunited with family

Elderly Pretoria businessman Omar Carrim, who was kidnapped after leaving his business more than three months ago, has been reunited with his family. Carrim, the owner of Home Hyper City, was kidnapped 137 days ago. The 76-year-old, whose family had repeatedly expressed fears that his heart may give in, has been admitted to an undisclosed hospital. “On behalf of the family, I can confirm the release of Omar Carrim (76). He was released in Olifantsfontein this evening at about 10.30pm,” said anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee. “We appeal for privacy. Let’s give the victim and his family the time and space to recover from the ordeal,” said Abramjee. Activist Yusuf Abramjee speaks about the release of Pretoria businessman Omar Carrim. The family has thanked friends, community members and relatives “for all the support and assistance since he disappeared in early August. We are most grateful to everyone and we thank the Almighty for returning our father and brothe…
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Is that Pretoria ‘pap and vleis’ being made with donkey?

The slaughter of donkeys has raised concerns about consumers being duped when ordering “pap and vleis” from vendors on the outskirts of Pretoria. Three men caught driving a Citi Golf‚ loaded with buckets and refuse bags of freshly slaughtered donkey meat‚ appeared in the Ga-rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of livestock theft. Zimbabwean national Mgcini Dube was denied bail while local residents Stephen Sepeng and Collen Molapo were released on bail of R1‚000 and R500 respectively. The trio were arrested on November 29 when an off duty police captain spotted a suspicious vehicle making a U-turn. SPCA inspector Mishack Matlou was shocked when he arrived at the scene of arrest‚ after the organisation was contacted by the police. "The meat was packed in buckets and refuse bags. We are still investigating as to how we could add cruelty to animals to their charges because the donkeys are killed in the most horrible way‚ sometime hacked with pangas‚" he s…
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Pretoria hijacking hotspots identified

With people getting ready for the upcoming holiday season, it is natural to be slightly more relaxed at this time of the year. Relaxation mode, however, might be the worst thing to do while behind the wheel during the holiday and festive season. Hijackings, common as they are, tend to happen more frequently during the festive season. Motorists in and around the city are required to be more vigilant at all times to avoid becoming a statistic. It is also advisable for motorists to familiarise themselves with hijacking hotspots. Compiled by the SAPS, various tracking companies and the South African crime intelligence bureau, Pro-ActiveSA made an all-in-one list of hijacking hotspot areas. Pro-ActiveSA said: “It will provide the reader with a visual overview of areas to be most aware of.” Areas and streets prone to hijacking occurrences include: – Es’kia Mphahlele Drive – Paul Kruger Street – R55 – Burnett Street – Delfi Avenue and Garsfontein Ro…
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City of Tshwane: Workers who protested outside the Gauteng High Court are misinformed

THE workers who protested outside the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, over what they perceived to be a delayed justice in their case with the City, were misinformed, municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said. The out-of-work staff and subcontractors were bused in to the court to demand a speedy verdict. The court case concerns the validity of a tender between their employer, Moipone Group of Companies, and the City. The high court heard the case on September 21, but a verdict is still pending. The workers said they supported their employer, who took the City to the high court for refusing to pay for services rendered under a “valid and binding” contract. To showcase their frustrations, they marched from Marabastad to the high court, where they delivered a memorandum to acting court manager Lucky Makumule. The protesters said the City lacked the will to honour its contractual obligations and that had put them out of work since June. They were hoping for a favou…
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Sanco dreig om Pretoria se middestad tot ʼn stilstand te bring

Die Suid-Afrikaanse burgerlike organisasie Sanco het gedreig om Donderdag Pretoria se middestad tot ʼn stilstand te bring om oor dienslewering te betoog. “Die gemeenskap van Tshwane in Gauteng word genooi om aan die massa-protesaksie deel te neem,” het Sanco in ʼn kennisgewing genoem. Sr.supt. Isaac Mahamba, woordvoerder van die Tshwane-metropolisie, het bevestig die metropolisie het die kennisgewing van die beplande optog ontvang. “Die metropolisie het nie die optog goedgekeur nie aangesien die organisasie versuim het om aan sekere vereistes van die Byeenkomstewet te voldoen,” het Mahamba gesê. Volgens die kennisgewing gaan Sanco-ondersteuners omstreeks 10:00 van die ou Putco-busdepot in Marabastad tot by die Tshwane-huis stap. Die roete wat betogers beplan om te stap behels Struben-, Sophie de Bruin-, Madiba- en Lilian Ngoyistraat. Die optog sal na verwagting teen 15:00 klaar wees. Metropolisiebeamptes gaan na die middestad ontplooi word om die situasie te mon…
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Guards cause havoc at Steve Biko Hospital – angry security staff strike over pay

MANAGEMENT at Steve Biko Academic Hospital yesterday terminated the contract of the Born to Protect security company after its employees embarked on an unprotected strike, which massively disrupted services. More than 200 security officers barricaded the hospital’s entrances with rocks, burning tyres and rubble from the morning, claiming they had not been paid. Police eventually intervened. The guards also threatened to shut down the hospital today should payments not be made by the end of business yesterday. The guards said they were striking due to their payments being delayed and some not getting paid at all. The hospital’s acting chief executive, Dr Mathabo Mathebula, said management was terminating the services of the company as the non-payment allegations and delays were not happening for the first time. “Whether they are paid or not, the alternative is for us to terminate the contract with the company; they are privately employed by the company that is workin…
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Beloning uitgereik om inligting te bekom oor plaasmoord te Donkerhoek, oos van Pretoria

Sedert die moord op ‘n hoewe op Donkerhoek, oos van Pretoria, in 2015, was daar geen vordering in die ondersoek nie, wat daartoe gelei het dat ‘n beloning nou uitgereik word in ‘n poging om meer inligting te bekom. Op 15 November 2015, nou twee jaar gelede, is die 32-jarige Gavin Wolfswinkel vermoor, en Lucky Sithome is ook in die aanval dood. Wolfswinkel sou ‘n maand later getrou het. Die Boschkop polisiekantoor, wat die gebied bedien waar die moord gepleeg is, was al voorheen dikwels in omstredenheid gedompel omdat lede nie hulle werk doen nie of selfs openlik rassisties teen blanke klaers optree. Chnay Coetzer, Wolfswinkelse suster, sê die gebrek aan vordering deur die polisie met die ondersoek, het hulle as familie laat besluit om ‘n private speurder aan te stel en ‘n beloning vir bruikbare inligting uit te loof. Lede van die publiek wat enige inligting het, kan dit deurstuur aan Chnay Coetzer by 079 522 1210. Mense is welkom om anoniem hulle inligting te deel e…
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Geskiedkundige Kerkplein in Pretoria trek ’n nuwe baadjie aan

Die bome in die geskiedkundige Kerkplein in Pretoria het in die slag gebly, maar sal deur nuwe bome en ander aantreklikhede vervang word. Foto’s van die afgekapte bome het Pretorianers vandeesweek verstom, maar die Tshwane-munisipaliteit sê dit is net ’n tydelike situasie en die plein sal nadat die projek afgehandel is mooier as ooit wees. Solly Msimanga, DA-burgemeester van die Tshwane-metroraad, het met sy begrotingsrede in Mei dié projek aangekondig en inwoners gemaan om geduldig te wees omdat die projek sowat nege maande sal neem om af te handel. Die Lalela-projek (die Zoeloe-woord vir luister) sal volgens Msimanga die eerste in sy soort wees en hopelik tot ’n meer inklusiewe gemeenskap bydra. Die vorige ANC-beheerde burgemeesterskomitee het die projek vier jaar gelede goedgekeur, maar dit het nie ’n werklikheid geword nie. Die nuwe administrasie het in Augustus verlede jaar beheer by die ANC oorgeneem en meen Kerkplein kort ’n “nuwe laag erfenis” waar ál die…
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PRETORIA WOMAN CELEBRATES 106TH BIRTHDAY

Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa says the National Development Plan’s goal to have a minimum life expectancy of 70 years is achievable. The MEC was part of birthday celebrations for 106-year-old Makwena Mabitsela in Atteridgeville on Saturday. She has urged South Africans to lead healthy lifestyles in their quest for a longer life. Ramokgopha says Mabitsela is an inspiration. “I tried to hold a mic for her and she said no, she’ll hold it herself. She’s an example of what is possible in terms of longevity.” By: EWN
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