City aims to fix issues JOBURG

The operation is aimed at maximising service delivery.

  City of Johannesburg officials gather to inspect council flats earlier this year.

In a bid to reduce service delivery protests across Johannesburg, Operation Lokisa, which means fix, or sort out in Sesotho, was spearheaded by the Chair of Chairs in the council, councillor Alex Christians. The aim is to attend to specific and urgent issues that were raised by residents a long time ago but not attended to. Christians and the chairpersons of Section 79 committees conducted an oversight visit to various old-age homes around Westdene, Riverlea and Reuven. Website Website Website The MMC for Finance, Funzela Ngobeni, who is also the leader of executive business, and the newly appointed MMC for Housing, Meshack van Wyk also joined the inspection. “Among other things, this programme should be able to enhance communication and interface with community members; review, monitor and evaluate departmental policies; plans and the budget implementation impact,” Christians said. He also cautioned that departments should not over-promise communities when there is no budget committed for projects.

Tourists have been offered training with the famous Cosmo City grannies

Tourists have been offered training with the famous Cosmo City grannies‚ braai-ing and gardening in the city. Now Airbnb is looking for other unique local experiences to attract international guests. The Johannesburg experience will include packing mean punches with Coach Claude Maphosa and his team‚ the “boxing grannies”‚ who are ready to help you stay healthy and fit. When you meet them for a session in the morning‚ you will be paired with a granny who will be your partner for the training. The experience is R250 per person. “Get ready to sweat and have fun with our team of trainers and grannies. We will end the training with some soft drinks and feedback on how the session went‚” said Maphosa. For just R250 per person, tourists can train with the Cosmo City Boxing Grannies, as part of an Airbnb experience.

For just R250 per person, tourists can train with the Cosmo City Boxing Grannies, as part of an Airbnb experience.

About 30 experiences have been registered on the Airbnb website for Johannesburg. The company is calling for other provinces to join in the network. An authentic Jo’burg walk is R400 per person‚ exploring the city on skateboards is R300 per individual and many more exciting activities. And in the city of Cape Town one can do cool stuff like walking with penguins‚ cleaning up the beach and yoga on the shore. “The expansion of experiences across all of South Africa will help to boost tourism outside of city centres by attracting more people to rural and regional areas. Experiences help spread the benefits of hosting to those who do not have space in their house to rent out‚” said Velma Corcoran‚ country manager for Airbnb South Africa. “This is also a fantastic way for visitors and locals to experience parts of South Africa that they would otherwise miss had it not been for these Experiences led by passionate locals.” Travellers can get their hands dirty with an urban farming experience through Airbnb. Travellers can get their hands dirty with an urban farming experience through Airbnb. Image: Supplied Tourists can book an abstract art class through Airbnb experiences. Tourists can book an abstract art class through Airbnb experiences. Image: Supplied Experiences are activities that are led by local hosts‚ highlighting their interests and perspectives as well as unique places. “You don’t need to have a home on Airbnb to be a member of the experience. This is a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their work and gain traction on their unique and vibrant services‚” said Kelly Lodewyks on behalf of Airbnb. Here are some experiences. A Culture Run in Cradle of Humankind; Explore urban gardening with a farmer; Pubs, Bars & Rooftops Walk.

Two suspects at large

COSMO CITY – Police are on the hunt for two suspects in connection with a business robbery. Captain Balan Muthan warns that those who break the law will face the consequences. Honeydew police are on the hunt for two suspects allegedly involved in a business robbery. Earlier this week, three suspects, one armed with a pistol, entered the spaza shop in Cosmo City. According to police spokesperson Captain Balan Muthan, the suspects allegedly attacked one of the shop’s staff while they were unloading stock from a delivery van. “From there, the suspects entered the shop and took R6 500 in cash, two cell phones, airtime and cigarettes before fleeing the scene in a white Nissan truck they had arrived in,” alleged Muthan. Website Website Website The shop owner contacted Honeydew police and one of their patrol vehicles was already in the area. They immediately searched for any leads. They spotted the suspects’ truck and a chase ensued. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and started to flee on foot. “The officers arrested one of the suspects while two managed to get away. The truck was taken in as part of the investigation as well as one cell phone, some cash and airtime.”

State slammed for not executing warrants of arrests

JOBURG – Magistrate tells the state it must put its money where its mouth is. She said saying warrants are issued is not enough, they must be executed.

The case against six men accused of being part of syndicate conducting robberies at malls across the province was postponed at the Randburg Magistrates' Court.

Magistrate Gayle Pretorious gave the state a tongue lashing for not executing warrants of arrests that the state claimed to have in its possession. On 27 June, six men accused of being part of a syndicate that have been conducting robberies in Gauteng appeared before Pretorious in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court.

The six were arrested in September last year, on allegations that they had plotted to rob a cell phone store at Fourways Mall. The six were arrested together with three police officers, stationed at Douglasdale Police Station. The state has since withdrawn the case against the three police officers.

The six have been charged with conspiracy to commit a robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of unlicensed firearms and possession of prohibited firearms
At their previous appearance, the state told the court that it had in its possession, warrants of arrests against some of the accused persons. Defence attorney Idemudi Uriesi told the state that he wanted to see the original copies of those warrants. At the time, state prosecutor Yusuf Baba only had them on a soft copy as they were emailed to him by the investigating officer. An agreement was made that the originals will be handed to the defence, but that has not happened.

Pretorious asked the state why it had not executed the warrants that it said it had against the accused persons. The magistrate told the state that a warrant of arrest was a crucial document that cannot be left lying around, it must be executed.

“Issuing a warrant is not enough. You must put your money where your mouth is. Execute those warrants,” Pretorious told the state.

Baba said his hands are tied at this stage as he relied on the investigating officer to execute the warrants. He also said he was also still waiting for the officer to furnish him with the original warrants, as he only had them on email.

The case has been remanded to 16 July, where it is expected that the state will give the court clarity on the warrants and for the defence to be furnished with transcripts of the previous bail application of some of the accused persons.

Council dismisses manager for ‘gross misconduct’

JOBURG – The manager was removed by council in June.

Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba says he expects opposition to label this move as 'purging'.

The City of Johannesburg’s head of group strategy policy coordination and relations, a council-appointed manager, has been dismissed by council on 22 June after a disciplinary process found him guilty on 12 charges.

Among these, according to Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba, he was found guilty of intentionally failing to execute the lawful policies of the council, gross insubordination towards council, the City manager and him (the mayor).
“[He refused] to perform his functions in good faith and contravened the Code of Conduct for municipal staff contained in Schedule 2 of the Systems Act,” the mayor said.

The role of this position is a crucial function that helps the City in setting high-level strategic plans.

Mashaba said that in his ruling, the disciplinary hearing’s presiding officer found that ‘the employer has discharged its onus to prove that the employee is guilty of the charges. The evidence is uncontested’.

Mashaba said he expects opposition to label this move as ‘purging’.

“We remain clear that those who are found guilty of improper conduct have no place in this government.”

Fatal crash families need help

KYA SAND – CPF appeals to the community to assist families with burial costs.

The Douglasdale Police Station's vehicle crashed into four people and killed them instantly. 

The Douglasdale Community Policing Forum appeals to the community to assist the affected families with donations.
The Douglasdale Community Policing Forum has extended a helping hand to the Kya Sand families involved in the fatal pedestrian accident with police.

As reported in Two mothers and their children killed, Week ending 22 June, the accident which occurred on 14 June saw two women and two children knocked down by police on their way home. The vehicle lost control, killing them instantly.

The forum has banded together to help the grieving families with donations and assist with funeral and burial costs. Douglasdale forum member Freda Boiles said they consulted the families and want to provide as much assistance as possible. “We are appealing to the community for donations to help the families to alleviate the costs of burying their loved ones.”

While the families are struggling with the cost of the burials, there is still no word on the investigation into the fatal accident. Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has taken over and according to spokesperson Moses Dlamini, the investigation is ongoing.

If you are able to help with donations or related services, please contact Boiles on 084 315 7281 or fredaboiles@gmail.com. Alternatively, make a donation to the Douglasdale Community Policing Forum Bank Account: Nedbank Fourways, Branch Code 168405, Account Number: 1684008441, Reference: Funeral.

City of Joburg to release more than 600 new title deeds

Patricia Buys is seen recieving her title deed at the Eersterust Civic Centre where MMC for human settlements in Tshwane, Mandla Nkomo handed out 89 title deeds.

The title deeds, which will be released over the next financial year, are part of a plan to release 3 500 new title deeds in total.

Over the next two weeks, the City of Johannesburg will be releasing more than 600 new title deeds to Joburg residents.

New housing MMC Meshack van Wyk said in the coming 2018/19 financial year, the City aimed to release some 3 500 title deeds. This, he said, would empower the poorest residents, who would be able to give their families the security of permanent tenure.

“Sadly, the dignity of living in a safe home or the ownership of one remains a pipe dream that has washed away the hope of millions of people waiting for service delivery for decades,” he said.

“It is estimated that some 30 000 accommodation units are required in the short term to address the needs of the most vulnerable households.”

Van Wyk explained that, therefore, the current administration wants to speed up the delivery of title deeds. The City has, over the last two years, delivered more than 5 000 title deeds across Joburg.