South Africa – Page 6

Shock at costly funeral for Tshwane ANC councillor where taxpayers had to fork out a whopping R576 000

Tshwane council Speaker Katlego Mathebe has been mired in controversy after allegations surfaced that her office unlawfully forked out a whopping R576 000 for catering at a late ANC councillor’s funeral. The matter, which has baffled even the official opposition ANC, came to light during the ordinary council sitting last Thursday. At the meeting, Mathebe’s office submitted a report detailing how it was forced to deviate from the Supply Chain Management Act when it procured services for funeral preparations. Winterveldt ANC councillor Esther Matumane, who was afforded a civic funeral, died outside her home after being shot several times in September. Senior ANC councillor Mapiti Matsena expressed shock at claims that the City parted with R500 000 to cover aspects of the funeral costs. “An amount of R576 000 is extremely high for procuring a service provider.” The amount was probably spent on buying groceries for the bereaved family, given that civic funeral polici…

EFF warns Rosslyn companies during protest: Police won’t be able to protect you – demand a basic minimum wage of R12 500

Thousands of EFF members, some who work in the area, marched on Thursday to demand a basic minimum wage of R12 500 and worker ownership and control to the South African Breweries, PRAGA Technical, BMW, Nissan, Afrit Trailers and Coca-Cola. Tshwane Secretary Nqobile Mhlongo told BMW that workers will close down the area if their demands are not met. “There is no political or police force which will protect companies in Rosslyn area from thousands of workers. Companies must not wait until there is no time and there is social instability which will collapse business in the area until they extend ownership of companies to workers. The sooner we realise economic freedom for workers, the better for Rosslyn to grow economically.” The party’s deputy chairperson Leofi Leshabane said workers have complained to Nissan about being on night shift for several years without any rotation but nothing has been done. There are also complaints of racism at Afrit Trailers and Praga Tech…

10-jarige Seun van Pretoria al ’n week lank opsoek

Die 10-jarige seun Johannes Venter van Pretoria-Noord word reeds sedert Dinsdag 30 Oktober 2018 vermis. Woordvoerder van die organisasie Pink Ladies, Dessie Rechner, sê dat Johannes Phillip Venter se ouma hom skool toe geneem het op die betrokke dag wat hy verdwyn het. Hy is ’n leerder van die Laerskool Voortrekker Eeufees in Presidentsraat, maar het geen van sy klasse daardie dag bygewoon nie. Volgens Rechner het die seun se pa hom na bewering by die skool kom haal, waarna hulle saam in Shoprite in Pretoria-Noord gesien is. Venter het ’n groen skoolsak met ’n wapen daarop by hom gehad. Die seun se ma is oorlede en het by sy ouma gewoon. Volgens Rechner word die saak ook deur die polisie ondersoek. Die organisasie Pink Ladies, ŉ organisasie wat dit daarop toespits om vermiste mense op te spoor. Enigeen met inligting oor waar Venter hom bevind, kan die polisie van Pretoria-Noord by 082 319 9798 of Pink Ladies by 072-214-7439, 083-378-4882 of 086-001-0111 bel. …

Waarskuwing: Nuwe dwelm middel, soortgelyk aan dagga, laat beland jong tieners in ernstige toestand in hospitaal

Polisie het dringend 'n onbekende stof vir forensiese toetsing gestuur, na 14 jong volwassenes en tieners wat in Pretoria woonagtig is na die hospitaal gehaas moes word nadat hulle ’n onbekende kruiemengsel wat bekend staan as puff or blazing gebruik het. Dit kom na die voorval waar drie tieners van Pretoria-Wes, Maandagmiddag na die hospitaal gehaas moet word, geklee nog in hul skooldrag, nadat hulle die onbekende stof gerook het. Xander Loubser, woordvoerder van BestCare, het die voorval bevestig en gesê dat die drie tieners in 'n ernstige toestand was en is behandel vir simptome soos aanvalle, psigose, naarheid, braking en hallusinasies. Al drie tieners is gestabiliseer en na die Eugene Marais-hospitaal vervoer vir verdere mediese sorg. https://youtu.be/VA8K6RLqHoo In 'n video wat wat geneem is, kan gesien word hoe een van die leerlinge, met ’n drup in sy arm, hewig veg en baklei met een van die paramedici. Daar kan ook op die greep gehoor word dat die seun on…

Bogus doctor arrested for issuing medical certificates to people applying for or renewing their driver’s licenses

A 50-yeard old man pretending to be a licensed medical practitioner was arrested by the Tshwane Metro Police (TMPD) at the Waltoo licensing department on Tuesday. It appears that the man was issuing medical certificates to individuals who applied for new or to renew their driver’s licenses. When questioned by the police, the man claimed to be a qualified doctor. TMPD officers got in touch with the health professional council of South Africa and verified that the so called medical practitioner was operating illegally, as his medical license was suspended. The bogus doctor was arrested and will appear in court soon. Read the original article on Rekord East.

South Africa’s first clear-water lagoon is Pretoria’s new ‘beach’

Landlocked Pretoria just got a new ‘beach’ thanks to South Africa’s first clear-water lagoon. It took Balwin Properties two years to make history in Sub-Saharan Africa, by constructing the first ‘beach’ of its kind. The Blyde, which officially opened on 8 September, is an exclusive housing estate in Pretoria East, which features 1.5-hectare The Blyde. Cost of construction While it’s unlikely to replace the seasonal exodus to coastal hotspots, Pretoria’s new ‘beach’ and residential complex provides an unusual oasis for residents of The Blyde. The project, which was spearheaded in partnership with Crystal Lagoons in 2016, cost an estimated R4.2 billion to construct and is only accessible to residents of The Blyde. While The Blyde’s lagoon is definitely the main attraction, other facilities include a restaurant, gym, spa, concierge, laundromat, and multi-purpose sports fields. Residents can enjoy swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing on the lagoon. Environme…

Booswigte steel kerkklok van NG kerk Wespoort in Danville

’n NG kerk in die weste van Pretoria se kerkklok is soek nadat booswigte verlede week baie moeite gedoen en swaar gedra het om dit te steel. Dié klok van die NG kerk Wespoort in Danville weeg maklik meer as 100 kg. “Ek hoop die mense wat die klok gesteel het, word gevang, sodat hulle dit weer kan terugsit. Ek sal graag wil sien hoe hulle dit gaan regkry,” sê Koos du Raan, die koster. Du Raan sê daar is Maandag die eerste keer opgemerk die klok hang nie meer in sy boog aan die bo-punt van die kerktoring nie. Die klok word net op spesiale geleenthede gelui, soos op begrafnisse en middernagdienste. ’n Ouderling het Maandag die klok se ketting in die binneplaas naby die kerkgebou sien lê. “Groot was ons verbasing toe ons omdraf en sien die klok is weg,” sê Du Raan. Die diewe het vermoedelik oor die kerk se agterste muur geklouter nadat hulle die lemmetjiesdraad in die hoek platgedruk het. Du Raan wys na die leer wat teen die agterkant van die kerkgebou is, w…

Oom Paul spog nou met ‘n splinternuwe baadjie by sy graf

Nadat sy graf in Julie vanjaar gevandaliseer is, het Jacques Müller, 'n beeldhouer van Centurion, aangebied om nie net die beskadigde borsbeeld op die graf van oudpres. Paul Kruger te restoureer nie, maar 'n hele nuwe beeld vanuit graniet en marmer te kap. Die nuwe Kruger-monument is gister op oom Paul se 193ste verjaarsdag onthul.

Farm attack, couple traumatized by terrorists during 3 hour ordeal, Pretoria West

A traumatic farm attack took place on 5 October 2018, between 01:00 and 04:45, on a Welgegund smallholding in Pretoria West, Gauteng. The inside perimeter beams were activated around 01h00, after the attackers bypassed, and cut through the electric fence. The resident, Niel looked and could not see anything and reactivated the alarm, but the attackers were inside the property already. They gained access to the house from the balcony. The male victim was surprised by three armed black males in his bed. (one armed with a pistol and ²nd with a crowbar). Both the man and woman were tied up. They forced the victims to open the safe, and took their time ransacking the house. The suspects and fled the scene at around 04h45, taking with them: jewellery, camaras, 2 laptops. R1800± in cash, mobile phones, TV, and meat. The couple did not sustain any physical injury, but are extremely traumatized. Patrollers with dogs and SAPS followed the tracks but no arrests have been made …

Six year old girl raped in men’s toilet at Dros restaurant in Pretoria

A witness says the suspect was sitting alone while he was watching the girl in the play area, and when the girl went to the bathroom he followed her. A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped in the restroom of a popular restaurant in Pretoria on Saturday. According to a witness who wished to remain anonymous, the man was “stalking his prey” while she was playing in the children’s area of Dros restaurant in Silverton. The witness claimed the man was sitting alone in the smoking section, where he asked for a glass of water, saying he was waiting for a friend. Shortly afterwards, the man moved nearer to the restaurant’s play area and started watching the girl, who was on her own. Moments later, the child went to the bathroom and the man followed, the witness said. “He allegedly snatched her from the female rest room, blocked her mouth and took her to the men’s rest room where he raped her.” The child’s mother, who is apparently a regular at the Dros, noticed th…