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 The state has since withdrawn the case against the three police officers.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.

Readily available WiFi key to smart cities

SA business decision-makers acknowledge that wider availability of WiFi would contribute to a smart city strategy, although majority of them don't feature smart city projects in their budgets.

Riaan Graham, sales director for Ruckus Networks, Sub-Sahara Africa.

This is according to the 2018 WiFi in South Africa report recently released by Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS company, and business technology research firm World Wide Worx.

The group surveyed IT decision-makers at 106 large (100 or 200 staff members) local companies on their attitudes to smart cities, with an additional sample of 20 small and medium businesses (up to 100 employees) also being interviewed to give an overall view.

According to the report, 95% of the interviewed leaders believed that readily available WiFi would be beneficial to the development of a smart city strategy, adding that some of the major benefits of smart cities include boosting the economy and attracting new business.

Notes the report: "While SA is still a long way from having a true smart city, business decision-makers are aware of its benefits.

"Albeit only 24.5% of businesses feature smart city projects in their budgets, a figure which can be considered relatively high, given that the smart cities is a relatively new concept and no South African city has a clear programme in place to achieve this.

See also
Expect more WiFi zones in Joburg
Quality WiFi prioritised over cost: SA report
"Even more, a substantial proportion (37.8%) of companies expect to have a budget for smart city projects in the future."

Barriers to smart cities
The survey found that 76% of respondents indicated that fibre infrastructure is the biggest tech barrier to smart cities roll-out. This was followed by the lack of an IOT ecosystem, no unified view for the city and infrastructure stability.

It noted: "Approximately 20% of respondents found the barrier to smart cities were non-technology related with the lack of funding cited by 71% of respondents. This was followed by the cost of access at 40%. These findings suggest that financial issues are the core challenge facing smart cities.

Riaan Graham, sales director for Ruckus Networks, Sub-Sahara Africa, says infrastructure and connectivity lie at the heart of smart cities.

"We still have many challenges that are making the development of smart cities difficult, but we are working towards getting the foundational elements right.

"If we look at SA, a number of the major cities are undergoing phases of re-urbanisation, where we are also seeing new town or city centres coming up, like Cosmo City near Kaya Sands, Johannesburg, for example.

"The pace of this implementation process varies between city centres, and is largely being driven by demand from the growing populous in these cities, and resultantly the growing stress on available infrastructures, service delivery and the effects of climate change that are forcing local governments and town planners to think more innovatively and engage in steps to transform these centres into smarter cities.

"Most of the major cities in the country have the necessary basic infrastructures needed to move towards a smarter model, however, available capacity and access remain a challenge in under-developed nodes.

"What we need to realise is that infrastructure and connectivity lie at the heart of smart cities where connectivity allows for effective data collection to ensure positive growth within the cities, tailor-made to fit the needs of the people and as well as addressing unique challenges they might be faced with."

City developments
Both Johannesburg and Cape Town aspire to become smart cities. Currently, their focus is most keenly observed in the delivery of forward-thinking transport routes, and these are definitely delivering investment opportunities in new areas.

By integrating technology into services, both cities are well on their way to becoming 'smart'.

Last year Cape Town was recognised as a major tech hub, with potential to be a rising global player, and ranked number 22 among the world's top tech cities. Meanwhile, Johannesburg has expanded access to its free WiFi network as part of the city's smart city programme.

"Looking at the broader African region, we are faring well. A case in point is Nairobi having introduced smart street lamps that use LED lighting, saving the city money on energy costs.

"Additionally, the lamp poles have WiFi embedded in them which helps with air quality probes and with the installed IOT be installed, which is one of the key building blocks to smart cities and CCTV cameras can be connected as well.

"Nairobi is fast-tracking the smart city race and already has a smart system in place that can adapt to the changes in the environment in an effort to provide integrated and intelligent services to the city," noted Graham.

Young leader setting an example

Nhlanhla did not allow himself to be swallowed up by the many social ills that have destroyed the youth of Zandspruit.

Zandspruit Sports Forum founder, Nhlanhla George Nkosi, walking the dusty streets of Zandspruit. 

“It’s not about where you come from, but where you’re going.”

Zandspruit-born Nhlanhla George Nkosi’s life journey speaks exactly to those inspiring words.

Nhlanhla did not allow himself to be swallowed up by the many social ills that have destroyed the youth of Zandspruit. After realising that someone had to stand up for change in the impoverished community, the 34-year-old leader founded the Zandspruit Sports Forum, a project which he uses to tackle social challenges. He also joined the Ward committee in 2011, in support of his mission to change his birthplace for the better.

“I saw a challenge in the young people who were getting involved in substance abuse. I realised that this was due to the lack of service delivery in Zandspruit,” he said.

This fuelled Nhlanhla’s vision – of a Sports Development Forum, which would focus on different sporting codes. The idea became a reality and so he started setting his short-, medium- and long-term goals, in a bid to combat social ills such as abuse, and encouraging child-headed families to get the best education they could.

Nhlanhla is a Witwatersrand University student who is studying towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics. His hard work has not gone unrecognised as he earned an opportunity to work in the Minister of Labour’s office in Pretoria. Added to this achievement, he was re-elected as part of the Ward 114 committee, where he represents the younger generation in his community.

As netball and soccer seem to be the most favoured sports in Zandspruit, Nhlanhla said his long-term wish is to build a recreational centre where he can expose the youth to other sporting codes. “My long-term vision is to have a recreational centre that will cater for all sporting facilities as well as a stadium for local clubs to have a home ground. This will allow us to produce professional soccer teams and show our talent to the nation and the entire globe,” he said.

Over the years, other organisations, such as Impophomo, have begun to show an interest in Nhlanhla’s plan to enhance change through education and sports.

Never to old to learn

NORTH RIDING – The University of the Third Agers (U3A) explain what it is they do.

Members of U3A Joburg North Branch on a recent excursion to Pilanesberg.

University of the Third Agers (U3A) shared on their history and why they are so important for the retirees who form part of this group.

The group’s name was coined to refer to retirees who are no longer in full-time employment. U3A began in 1972 in France, where faculty members and working academics were the course facilitators and lecturers. It spread to the United Kingdom with the realisation that third agers had skills to organise and teach their own autonomous learning groups and has been adopted in over 36 countries around the world.

There are seven branches in Gauteng, one of which are in North Riding (Johannesburg North Branch) and another in Hurlingham (Johannesburg Branch).
We spoke to Margaret Britz, a member of the North Riding branch. She explained the branch boasts a membership of about 600 members as of last year December. “U3A runs from February to November each year in keeping with the University recesses.”

Their subscription is R50 per year and includes listening to one speaker/lecturer per month. These talks are held at the Gereformeerde Kerk Randburg in Northwold on the first Tuesday of every month. “Once a member, you are entitled to join our Special Group Interests, which are held at various venues. For your pleasure we have walking, art and opera,” said Britz.

She added that they discuss South African literature, play bridge and scrabble and learn about line-dancing, photography and even the Spanish language. The group also holds a bi-monthly social luncheon at various restaurants and go on various outings to different places and exhibitions. “We invite all retirees to visit us. You may come as a visitor to any lectures for R20.”

Britz said that anyone who joins them will make new friends and maybe meet old friends they worked with years ago – what more could anyone ask for?

Details: Margaret Britz 011 475 0756; 073 281 8620.

The Northgate Road Race is back

NORTHGATE – Record numbers (and times perhaps) are expected at this year’s Northgate Road Race so get ready to run.

 Randburg Harriers runners show their support at last year's Northgate Road Race.

You had better put your running shoes on because the Northgate Road Race is back!

Northgate Shopping Centre is expecting a record turnout this year at their 22nd annual Road Race on 8 July, after last year’s 3 000 smashed previous attendance records.

In addition to the 10km run and 5km fun run – which is walked by many – this year will see the first 10km professional walking race, so there really is something for everyone!

This year’s Northgate Road Race may have around 3 500 runners take part, beating last year’s

3 000. 

The race is fast becoming popular not only with runners and sports clubs but with families and the community in general, who enjoy a fun and active start to the day. The race welcomes everyone and sees walkers and runners from all ages hit the road in the name of fitness and, importantly, fun.

“This is the first major run after the Comrades Marathon and many runners use it to launch into their training after a good rest, and others simply enjoy a sunny and active start to a chilly day with family, friends or colleagues,” said Natalie Kinsley, marketing manager of Northgate Shopping Centre, where the race starts and ends (Entrance 4).

Race director, Charlie Herselman of the Roodepoort Athletics Club, said the Northgate Road Race gets bigger and better every year. “It really is a nice easy route for the average runner to finish.”

The Northgate Road Race is always a hit.

Entry fees for the race have been kept low, and all participants will receive a medal. In addition, the first 800 entries of the 10km race and the first 150 entries of the 5km race will receive a

T-shirt. Prizes up to R750 per runner are also up for grabs across the age category spectrum. Visit www.entrytime.com to enter – pre-entries close on 4 July, but you can always enter on the day of the race from 6am at Entrance 4 of Northgate Shopping Centre. The starting gun will fire at 7.30am for the 5km and 10km runs, and at 7.40am for the 10km walk.

Race numbers and T-shirts can be collected between 9am and 3pm on 7 July outside Entrance 4 of Northgate Shopping Centre, or from 6am on the morning of the race.

Get your running shoes out because the Northgate Road Race is back.

So, why not bring the family or come along with your friends, grab a coffee before the race (Wimpy opens especially early on the day) and come and enjoy the race.

Details: Northgate Shopping Centre 011 794 1687, Charlie 082 770 1143.

Understanding scoliosis

JOHANNESBURG - As part of Scoliosis Awareness Month, We spoke to experts to get their opinions on what scoliosis is, how to test for it and how it is treated.

A medical drawing depicting a normally shaped spine versus a twisted rear and front view of scoliosis.

As part of Scoliosis Awareness Month, we spoke to Rowan Berkowitz of Berkowitz Shnier Orthotists and Prosthetists to get his expert opinion on what scoliosis is, how to test for it and how it is treated.

What is Scoliosis?

According to Berkowitz, scoliosis has several causes and is defined as a lateral curvature of the spine in the frontal plane of the body, which means that the spine curves from side-to-side.

“Normally, the spine is straight, as seen from the front or behind. With scoliosis, the spine curves to the side in the shape of the letter ‘S’ or ‘C’,” Berkowitz said.

The most common form of scoliosis is termed ‘idiopathic’, which literally means of unknown cause or origin and may occur in early childhood or adolescence. Scoliosis may occur anywhere in the spine but is usually found in the lower and mid back regions.

A diagram showing a scoliosis affected spine in a human.  

How can I tell if my child has Scoliosis?

“A proper diagnosis must be made by a medical practitioner or scoliosis professional, but a simple two-minute evaluation of your child will give you an indication if further investigation and treatment is required,” Berkowitz said.

On its website, www.scolicaresa.com Berkowitz and fellow scoliosis researcher, Dr LouAnn Rivett, have put together a free simple-to-follow guideline you can use to determine whether your child needs further investigation.

Berkowitz continued, “If you are concerned that your child may have scoliosis, Scheuermann’s disease, or other postural deformities of the spine, consult your healthcare practitioner. They will request X-rays of the spine to confirm a diagnosis. They may wish to refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in disorders of the adolescent spine, a scoliosis physiotherapist or orthotist for further treatment.”

What are the treatment options?

According to Berkowitz, treatment protocol depends on several factors such as skeletal maturity, size of the curve, other underlying conditions and considerations.

The condition may be monitored with X-rays, physiotherapy may be advised, bracing either full-time or night-time or surgery may be recommended. This applies to both scoliosis and hyperkyphosis (Scheuermann’s disease).

Berkowitz said, “There is a perception that neither specific physiotherapy nor bracing is effective. This is not correct. There is a lot of clinical data on trials and international research studies, which have been conducted, proving the effectiveness of both physiotherapy and bracing.

“Research has also shown that general fitness exercises and some other exercises can make the condition worse. However, specific methods such as the Schroth method (Germany) and the Seas Method (Italy) have shown favourable results and improve the condition. These methods are conducted only by therapists trained in these methods.”

Berkowitz added that the earlier the problem is detected, the more effective the treatment is and, naturally, compliance is a key factor.

Details: www.scolicaresa.com

Take a look at the new Madiba centenary commemorative bank notes and coins

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will be launching its first commemorative banknote series, in celebration of the first democratically elected president Nelson Mandela’s birth centenary.

SARB announced that they will print all denominations – R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200 notes. As part of the celebrations, the South African Mint, a subsidiary of the SARB, will also be issuing a new commemorative circulation R5 coin.

Madiba would have been a hundred-years-old this year on 18 July and the country is geared to celebrate with a series of commemorative events. SARB is preparing for the launch of the notes and R5 coin. Test packs of the commemorative banknotes were made available to members of the broader cash industry to allow them to make adequate preparations in relation to issues such as adaptions of cash processing and cash dispensing machines, ticketing machines and so forth.
Even though these test packs were governed by strict confidentiality provisions, the SARB says that certain breaches have occurred, and as a result, some of the designs have been circulating on social media. The SARB decided to release all the designs ahead of the official launch scheduled for 13 July 2018 in order to avoid confusion and unnecessary speculation.

More detailed information about the commemorative features of the notes and additional security features will be made available at the time of the official launch.

They said that these notes will be issued into circulation by 18 July 2018 and will co-circulate for a limited time, together with the current Mandela banknote series and the existing R5 coin.
R10 note

R20 note

R50 note

R100 note

R200 note

R5 coin

Police investigate two house robberies 1 in Cosmo City 1 in Randpark Ridge

In one of the house robberies, the suspects gained entry through a window that had been left open for the cat to get in and out.

Honeydew Police spokesperson, Captain Balan Muthan.

Two cases of house robbery in separate suburbs are being investigated by the Honeydew Police.

Spokesperson for the station, Captain Balan Muthan, stated that the incidents, one each in Cosmo City and Randpark Ridge, happened a day apart.

In the early hours of 19 June, a couple was robbed by three suspects, one wielding a gun, at their home in Cosmo City. “They were awoken by the sound of the door being kicked by the suspects. The suspects told them to lie down, covered them with a blanket and made off with a television and two cellphones,” said Muthan.
The next day, 20 June, a house was robbed at 4.30am in Randpark Ridge, while the victim, who was left with bruises, was asleep. According to Muthan, the victim had left her lounge window open for her cat. This allowed the criminals to gain entry into the house, after scaling the wall around the property. “The suspects told the complainant they wanted cash and jewellery,” Muthan explained.

Muthan added that the suspects came across a laptop bag and took two laptops, two cellphones and a quantity of jewellery before fleeing the scene.

No vehicles were seen, and no shots were fired during either incident.

These Cosmo City gogos are great

COSMO CITY – Fire safety for the community

Gogos are given Jozi fire safety kits at Cosmo City Firestation.
In a concerted effort to reduce fire fatalities, the Johannesburg Emergency Management Services visited Cosmo City to educate the community about fire safety.

Through the Public Information, Education and Relations Department responsible for public education, 50 elderly women from the community were identified.

This group of gogos form part of the Cosmo City’s Community Emergency Response Team.

They were given Jozi fire safety kits and have already been trained on basic firefighting and first aid with the aim of empowering them to deal with some of the emergencies before the Comso City firemen arrive on the scene.

This is part of the emergency services’ initiative of building resilient communities and communities that are capable of dealing with any emergency that might occur in their areas. Since the beginning of June, Emergency Management Services has handed over safety kits in various informal settlements in Johannesburg.

Fires are mostly caused by the following:

Candles that are not placed in proper candle safety jars to prevent them from falling
Using open fires for cooking in a confined space with highly flammable materials such as imbaula (braziers), which also cause from inhaling the toxic smoke
 Illegal electricity connections
n The most recent causes which are difficult for the City to deal with are the fires started in love triangles where couples fight and deliberately set the entire settlement on fire.

Dainfern Lions set to take part in the World Youth Cup

DAINFERN – The club was founded on fundamentals such as respect, unity and the love of the beautiful game.

 Dainfern Lions Football Club is set to compete in the Gothia Cup -The World Youth Cup in July.

With Dainfern Lions Football Club set to take part in the Gothia Cup – The World Youth Cup in July, chairperson Nic Papas gave some insight into the club.

“Dainfern Lions has gone from strength to strength since I took over six years ago. We got our new kit this year and our little Barcelona look-a-like kids are very excited for their new kit,” Papas said.

He added that the club was founded on fundamentals such as respect, unity and the love of the beautiful game. “Dainfern Lions club is situated here inside Dainfern Estate. We are an official club and are affiliated to the Rand Central Football League and play matches on weekends.”

He highlighted that they accommodated many players from Diepsloot and Cosmo City, which was thanks to the club’s sponsors.

Dire need for more fire engines despite new acquisitions

Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba may have celebrated this week after handing over four new fire engines to Joburg Emergency Services (EMS), but the fire engine shortage in the city is far from over.
The Saturday Star is aware of two major blazes in the past few weeks where a fire engine was not dispatched due to unavailability.

At the King’s School in Robin Hills, Randburg, pupils and the school’s fire safety officer were forced to put out a blaze that began in a stretch of veld directly next to the property.

According to the school's health and safety officer, Mark Lentz, the fire broke out on the afternoon of May 25 at the public park next to the school. The dry grass caught fire quickly, with the blaze approaching the outskirts of the school at a rapid pace, according to Lentz.

He said the school receptionist had contacted emergency services at least three times to ask for a fire engine to quell the blaze, but none had arrived.


Luckily, the school has a programme starting in Grade 10 to train its high school pupils in putting out such fires, as well as creating fire breaks around the property to help prevent fires from spreading.

The pupils and Lentz were able to put out the flames, but Lentz said he was wary of what would have happened if wind speeds had been higher.

“The school was safe, but it could easily have been damaged with stronger winds. Luckily we have plans in place for that too,” he said.

Meanwhile, another fire broke out on June 7 at Delta Park, also in Randburg. According to Ward 99 councillor, Nicole van Dyk, the Blairgowrie Community Association had informed her of the fire and that no fire engine had arrived, though firefighters had arrived with beaters two hours after the blaze had been reported.

“There is a shortage of fire engines, but the city is working on it. There are historical reasons: the engines weren’t maintained (by the previous administration) and took far too long to fix them,” said Van Dyk.

Joburg Public Safety MMC Michael Sun confirmed that a further 20 engines were still required, as the city wished to deploy at least one more to each station.

This week, the city deployed four engines to the Florida, Lawley, Ivory Park and Eldorado Park stations. Earlier this year, three other engines were handed over to Fairview, Jabulane and Cosmo City.

Last year, the city cancelled a R161million contract to procure fire engines, allegedly because of poor service delivery from the provider.

However, Sun said that while the contract was cancelled, the city had decided to allow the company to partially continue its contract, but that a new tender would be put out “in the near future” to find a new service provider.

4 killed by Police van in Kya Sand

KYA SAND – A police van reportedly ploughed into pedestrians, killing four on Thursday 14 June .

Four people were confirmed dead following an accident on Agnes Avenue in Kya Sand.

According to eyewitnesses, a police van allegedly careered into the pedestrians killing them instantly.

Two police officers also sustained injuries and have been transported to hospital.

The road was closed off and motorists are urged to use alternative routes.

The two on-duty police officers from Douglasdale police station were driving along Main Road when the four people, including two children aged five and seven, were killed.

"The police members were injured and taken to hospital," police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said.

"A case of culpable homicide has been opened and will be transferred to the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID) for further investigation."

The SAPS wished to convey its condolences to the families of the deceased and would give IPID full support during the investigation, Masondo added.

Inequality and violent protests in South Africa

“Inequality is found around the globe, but the World Bank says South Africa qualifies as the starkest example. For a vivid example of it, Johnny Miller of the Unequal Scenes Project sent a drone over northwest Johannesburg. On the left is Kya Sands, a shack city that is home to many economic migrants who arrived from other African nations. Across the road is Bloubusrand [sic], a middle-class suburb known for its diverse mix of residents.”

The photograph sums up in undeniable visual terms what many people in South Africa are still in denial about – the unsustainable inequality characteristic of this society, and the fundamental need to change this state of affairs. Just how urgent, if not imperative, the need to address this inequality is, lest it should bring us to the brink of social anarchy, if not civil war, was forcibly impressed upon me by events on the road from Greyton to Port Elizabeth yesterday.

When I stopped at Sedgefield to fill up with petrol, I heard people talking about the ‘trouble in the direction of the Tsitsikama toll gate’. When I inquired about the nature of the ‘trouble’, they described scenes of protest, stone-throwing (at motorists) and burning tyres in Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and The Crags, near Storms River. It was too late for me to turn around and take the inland route, so — when they told me the police were on the scene — I decided to take my chances.

I must have sat in long lines of cars and trucks along that road, listening to radio updates, for at least two hours, trying to get some reading done on my Kindle in-between moving forward at a snail’s pace and stopping again a few kilometres further. When we got to Plettenberg Bay there was a heavy pall of smoke hanging over the road ahead, and the police re-routed motorists along the back road past Robberg to avoid the flash points of the protests.

Meanwhile I heard on the radio that the protests emanated from dissatisfaction with lack of houses, electricity and basic services. On the road to PE from there I had plenty of time to think about the significance of these ugly scenes of confrontation between police and shack dwellers, and the direction in which my thoughts took me was not reassuring. What the TIME photograph, together with its caption, said in fairly abstract terms, had been brought vividly to life in these scenes, and I realized that they do not augur well for the future in this beautiful, but benighted country.

Recently similar protests occurred in towns near where my partner and I live, namely in Hermanus, Caledon, and just last week in Bot River, causing us huge delays getting to Cape Town for an interview at the Portuguese consulate for visas (that us poor South Africans are always subjected to). And every time it is the same story: dissatisfaction with the living conditions that these people have to put up with. Hence, my train of thought along the road back to PE inexorably led me to the conclusion, that – unless things could begin to change tangibly fairly soon – we are in for escalating violence in South Africa. I would hesitate to say in all seriousness that ‘the revolution has begun’, but when one really considers quite honestly the chasm between the haves and the have-nots in South Africa, even that — the uprising of the poor — is not beyond the realm of the possible.

And, to get back to Verhaeghe’s work on inequality, the root of the problem (as Verhaeghe — a Belgian in a wealthy country where inequality, far less severe than in South Africa, is already showing alarming social effects — has shown), lies in the fact that South Africa chose to go the American neoliberal model way in 1994, namely dog-eat-dog capitalism. Which is excellent for the rich, and those who got all the opportunities in the world to get rich, but which is, by the same token, terrible for the poor, and those who do not get these opportunities. Social democracies like those of Scandinavia and western Europe would have been far better models to emulate.

Unless the South African government, together with civil society, can figure out a way to cross the gap between the rich and the poor, things are bound to get much worse from here on. The hopes that some people are placing in the land-redistribution programme seem to me excessive; even if the ‘expropriation without compensation’ principle allows more land to be given to the landless, there’s no guarantee that they would be able to translate this into self-sustaining wealth. And that is not even going into the question, what kind of land should be expropriated – if productive farmland would fall under the axe, as it were, it would be counter-productive, and risk food-shortage. (It seems to me that state-owned land, of which I am told there is plenty in the country, would be the best land to distribute among would-be farmers, provided they are taught how to farm, and provided the poor would benefit from this.)

Another avenue that would potentially bear fruit as far as alleviating poverty is concerned, is to teach people how to practice permaculture, as one of my erstwhile doctoral students, now Dr David Pittaway, has argued in his doctoral thesis (on the link between the looming ecological crisis and capitalism). He should know: together he and his partner started and built up a permaculture project outside of Port Elizabeth that enabled them to get pretty near to being self-sufficient as far as food goes. Imagine this being taught to poor people with access to land. In an economy where all that people can ever hope for is ‘jobs’, the ability to feed oneself in a dignity-enhancing way would be a good alternative, and may go a long way towards staving off further protests.

When the NPA chooses not to prosecute, how does a victim achieve justice?

JOBURG – Private prosecution must be instituted in the name of the private prosecutor, and the process documents issued in the name of, and at the expense of, the private prosecutor.

 Garry Hertzberg, practising attorney at Dewey Hertzberg Levy and host of the Laws of Life with Garry Hertzberg on Cliffcentral.com

Not all reported cases make it to court. Sometimes crime victims are left with unanswered questions when they are told that their docket is back from court and no prosecution will take place.

Garry Hertzberg, practising attorney at Dewey Hertzberg Levy, takes us through how this happens and what crime victims or complainants can do if they find themselves in such a situation.

Hertzberg explains that in criminal matters, it is usually the state that prosecutes.

“This means that the state brings the case before a court and presents the evidence to try and get a conviction. ”

The National Prosecuting Authority is not mandated to bring every case before a court; it has the discretion to prosecute or not, and they base this decision mainly on the availability of evidence.

If it does happen that the NPA choose not to prosecute, how then does a victim achieve justice?

Hertzberg highlights that the South African Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) makes provision for private prosecutions. The NPA issues a declaration stating that it will not prosecute.

“Once this is done, the victim then has three months to institute proceedings. Private prosecution must be instituted in the name of the private prosecutor, and the process documents issued in the name of, and at the expense of, the private prosecutor.”

He, however, pointed out that before the private prosecutor can go ahead he or she must make a deposit with the court as security that the charge will be prosecuted without delay.

According to Hertzberg, the state will pay the expenses of the private prosecutor if a conviction is secured in this way, but conversely, if the accused is acquitted, the court could order that his or her expense be paid by the private prosecutor.

The NPA can stop a private prosecution if it wants to prosecute the matter itself. Also if the accused in a private prosecution pleads guilty, the prosecution must be continued by the state prosecutor.

“This process can be very expensive, and the risks are great but it may be well worth it in the end to secure a well-deserved conviction,” Hertzberg concluded.

Lack of communication from Eskom leftresidents in the dark

JOBURG – Many residents were reportedly affected by power outages last week
.

Residents continued to report power outages on the morning of 15 June, some reported that they had been without power for more than 24 hours.

Various households were affected a result of industrial action currently effecting Eskom.

And the communication to municipalities from Eskom left a lot to be desired. This according to the City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Nico de Jager.

De Jager said that despite the City receiving communication that the parastatal was able to continue meeting the demand for power generation on the eve of 14 June, a number of Johannesburg communities, and those in other municipalities, were left without light due to a widespread power failure.

“Effective communication of power failures and the need for load shedding was only communicated late ,” he said.

The City was left unable to make the required plans to mitigate the impact on residents, De Jager continued.

“We urge all our customers to use electricity sparingly and to treat all installations as live to prevent unsafe incidents.”

City Power later announced that Joburgers might have to endure stage-2 load shedding. The entity encouraged residents to look at the load shedding timetable on City Power’s website to see if their area would be affected.

Collision on Northumberland left several injured

NORTHGATE – Netcare 911 responded to the scene and transported the injured to hospital.

The taxi collided with a light motor vehicle and left several injured. 

A collision on Northumberland Avenue left multiple people injured.

Communications Officer for Netcare 911, Tebogo Magoro said at about 8.50am on 15 June, Netcare 911 responded to reports of a collision on Northumberland Avenue.

The light motor vehicle collided with a taxi on Northumberland Avenue. 

When they arrived, they found several people injured as a result of a taxi and light motor vehicle colliding. “All patients were treated on the scene by various services and transported to the hospital for further assessment and care.”

Magoro added the exact details pertaining to the incident are not known to paramedics but local authorities were on scene to investigate.

The Randburg Sun was unable to reach Honeydew Police Station for comment on the collision. More information will be shared on the matter as and when comment is available.

Cosmo City Fire Department applauded for prompt response to fire alarm in Midrand

Kitty and Puppy Haven devastated by fire

MIDRAND – According to Berger more than three tons of dog food was destroyed in the fire and she is asking for assistance from the community.

Samantha Berger and Elijah who was one of the rescued dogs.

 A section of Kitty and Puppy Haven based in President Park, Midrand went up in flames in the early hours of 10 June.

The animal shelter’s Samantha Berger said CCTV footage showed that fire started between 5 and 6am. She added that staff started work at 8am so the affected animals were only able to receive help then.

A staff member Herman Potgieter (64) together with his wife Rianna and long-serving employee of 17 years Happiness Mabizela risked their lives freeing some of the animals which were in the burning kennels.

“Herman was sent to the hospital after he collapsed from smoke inhalation in one of the kennels while trying to take some of the dogs to safety,” said Berger.

Samantha Berger surveys the damage after a fire at the Kitty and Puppy Haven

Berger thanked three Metro police officers, Lufuno Madzhiga, John Aphane and Ester Molai, who saw the smoke and flames coming from within the property and immediately came in and started assisting the staff in putting out the fire.

“We were driving along Modderfontein Road when he saw smoke coming from the inside of the property,” said Madzhiga.

“We decided to do go inside and see what was happening so we could assist if need be.”

Berger added, “I would like to send a big thank you to the Cosmo City Fire Department which sent out a fire engine to assist us when we called because we were getting no response from the Midrand Fire Department, which eventually arrived about an hour after the Cosmo City fire engine.”

Samantha Berger and Rosemary who was rescued from the fire.

According to Berger more than three tons of dog food was destroyed in the fire and she is asking for assistance from the community.

“We would appreciate it if the community could donate building materials, or grant us donations towards rebuilding the destroyed dog kennels.”

Kitty and Puppy Haven's Samantha Berger looks at the tons of dog food that was destroyed in the fire.

Robert Mulaudzi of the City of Johannesburg Emergency Services has confirmed the incident and said no one was injured but some people were transported to a hospital for smoke inhalation.

Kitty and Puppy Haven's Samantha Berger inside one of the destroyed dog kennels
People are encouraged to visit the Kitty and Puppy Haven Facebook Page  for more details regarding donations.

The Ian Tarr project gets a helping hand from the community

BROADACRES – Klarika Nettleton of the Ian Tarr project is grateful for the support and generosity which the community shows on a regular basis.

Tranquil Masiyiwa, Klarika Nettleton and Hlengiwe Ngidi are working together to help both community members and animals in the townships as part of the Ian Tarr project.

Members of the community are coming together to give generously and support a project that helps humans and animals alike.

The Ian Tarr project serves both humans and animals of Johannesburg’s informal settlements. The project was started after Ian Tarr was shot and killed outside the Broadacres Spar off Cedar Road in 2005.

A box was placed outside the shop in his memory where people can leave their donations of pet items which are then handed out in the nearby informal settlements of Msawawa, Kya Sands and Pipeline.

Klarika Nettleton, who runs the project, also collects second-hand clothing and other necessary items to distribute to the community at the same time.

This month, Nettleton took the time to tell the Fourways Review a little bit about those who have helped her work recently.

She said, “Two staff members from the Spar, Hlengiwe Ngidi and Tranquil Masiyiwa, have been a great help.”
Ngidi, who works in customer service, said, “I was telling my friend Jacky about the donation box, and how Klarika also gives clothes away. She mentioned that she had some clothing to give away, and one day she came through and donated eight bags of clothes [to the project]!”

Spar staff member Masiyiwa added, “There was a lady I was telling about the project. She’s a regular [to the Spar] and has made the effort to come through and donate animal food anonymously a number of times. Each time she donates about eight bags of dog and cat food but doesn’t want anyone to know it’s her.”

Nettleton is truly thankful for the continued support of the community, some of whom donate to her cause weekly, helping the less fortunate.

“We have to pray to God Almighty for Him to remove informal settlements in our country, as they are truly inhumane places for both people and animals.

“I appeal to government, council and the residents of South Africa to create a humane society as Nelson Mandela believed was important,” she said.

Nettleton also encouraged the public to join her in praying that the country’s economy improves and that all the unemployed can find jobs, in order to combat crime and theft in society.

“Doing things wrong, such as taking things that don’t belong to you, will definitely not lead to you being blessed,” she concluded.

The Ian Tarr project is always looking for the following donations:

Pet food for both dogs and cats
Tick and flea treatments
Blankets
Old clothes, toys or other goods that can be distributed among communities.
Details: Klarika Nettleton 011 462 1445.

Help those who help others

BLOUBOSRAND – Pet’s Preschool is asking the community for assistance.

Gladys Lente with some of her children during breaktime at Pet's Preschool in Bloubosrand.

Pet’s Preschool in Bloubosrand has been a pillar of the community, assisting children rich and poor.

The love and care they give each child are evident in the smiles the teachers receive back. This school was started in 2006 and since then, they have grown to accommodate 54 children from two months old until Grade 2. Although the preschool is dependant on fees, because some of their children are from the Kya Sand Informal Settlement, they have waived fees for them. This has assured that the Christian school does not turn away children in need, but they need assistance from the community to continue helping more children in need. Their most urgent need is groceries to ensure their children have more than one meal a day while in their care as well as other donations.

Principal Petricia Mbewu is outside at the playground with some of the young children at Pet’s Preschool in Bloubosrand.

 Head principal Petricia Mbewu said, “Groceries would be the most pressing issue because we don’t pay our staff so it would be nice to be able to give them food to feed their families as well”.

The school is also looking for assistance with toiletries, toys, clothes, and blankets to give to their children and families who are in need.

“As we are Christians, we also teach the children about the love of God so that they may also learn to love and care for others. I thank God for putting me in Bloubosrand and for allowing me an opportunity to serve Him through this ministry. In all this work, I am not alone, I am only a tool in God’s hands,” said Mbewu.

Dawn Buthelezi who cares for some of the youngest at Pet’s Preschool puts one of the children to sleep.

Sisa Dube, the very first teacher who started at the preschool is still involved with the school and helps Mbewu to take care of the school. “To see the school grow has been wonderful and the blessings from the community have been colossal.

Charity Mhlanga decides to have a class outside with her children.

“We started with one child and now we have over 50 children. We have a lot of community programmes such as the recycling initiative which helps keep the lights on as well. Every little bit we get goes a long way,” said Dube.

Details: Pets Preschool 011 462 5686; Mbewu 082 257 8697.

Seriously injured and trapped taxi driver is rescued

JOBURG NORTH – Man trapped in taxi after crash with tow truck.

One man was injured in a taxi crash and rushed to Helen Joseph Provincial Hospital.

Specialised equipment was used to rescue a man on the morning of 8 June when a taxi crashed into the back of a towing vehicle.

This incident occurred on Republic Road, and when ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene, they found both vehicles in the middle of the road.

The taxi driver was found trapped in his vehicle and once he was freed, paramedics assessed him and found that he had sustained numerous injuries, leaving him in a serious condition.
The man was treated for his injuries and provided with pain-relief medication before he was transported to the Helen Joseph Hospital for further care. The driver of the recovery vehicle escaped injury.

The details surrounding this incident are not yet known but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations.

Confidence is key to a successful business

JOBURG NORTH – This entrepreneur shares his journey on what it takes to be a success
Adam Dembovsky gives advice to young entrepreneurs by sharing his journey to success.
An entrepreneur is not always guaranteed success but it is all about finding the right opportunity.

Randburg’s businessman, Adam Dembovsky has such a mindset, looking for what is wrong, fixing it and then making money. If this does not work, he believes that you do it better than the rest.

“The best advice I can give is that starting a business is not about doing something you love, but finding something that you hate and then fixing it!” said Dembovsky. “Find where the problem is because that will be where the business is. Once you fix that problem, you move on and go forward.”

His first step into business began after travelling through Africa. While in northern Malawi and marvelling at the beautiful scenery, he wanted to enjoy it with a brandy and Coke. However, with no ice, his drink was not satisfactory and he spent four hours looking for ice.

He eventually found some ice for about R150. When he returned to South Africa, he started a business called Ice Cubed Manufacturing and it launched with a single ice machine and operated out of a friend’s garage in Cape Town.

The business came with a handful of customers who would collectively turn over about R5 000 monthly. Within five months, Dembovsky moved the business to an industrial warehouse and the client base had grown by over 15 000 per cent.

“We did things better, we worked harder and planned well. The business started from a bad experience and hating a warm drink, not from a love of ice,” said Dembovsky.

The business grew rapidly and was unable to manufacture enough ice to keep up with the swelling demand. The business was then sold.

“I have always been inclined to fold capital onto itself to try and generate more capital. A lot of guys want to buy and hold onto what they have. I wanted capital to do something more exclusive with higher barriers. Basically, anyone with an ice machine and cooler box in their boot was my competitor.”

Innovation Factory creates exhibition stands for companies.

His next ventures, however, were not successes and he went back to the drawing board. He then went into a mobile vending business that had been dormant for almost 10 years. Named Major Tom, the crux of this business was distributing beverages –primarily beer and coffee out of backpacks at events and activations.
“The business was born from hate. Once I was at a Metallica concert and I wanted some beers to drink while watching the concert. I found there was a monster queue and I was angry that I paid all that money for a ticket and I have to stand in a queue.

You’ve never met anyone in a queue going, ‘Jeez I’m having a great time here, I’d much rather be here than outside and enjoying the show’,” he said.

Since buying the business in 2013, with no existing customers base to speak of, Dembovsky and his partners went to work and were able to close major deals with SA Breweries, Ellis Park, The Dome, Jacaranda FM and Loftus Versfeld.

The business was sold four years later on a multiple of almost 35 times the original purchase price.

One of the exhibitions Innovation Factory has worked on.

Dembrovsky is currently the owner and managing director of the award-winning brand retail and experiential space construction company, The Innovation Factory. After starting the business five years ago, with a staff contingent of 11 people and running at a substantial loss in their first year,

Innovation Factory is now an established business and an all-around construction house who pride themselves on their innovative approach and fastidious production team.

“I have always been drawn to manufacturing and thought the industry was really cool. I was walking through a mall and I saw a lot of things that are built, such as shelves and counters. I thought, if I could make a portion of that, I will succeed. Walking in shops, for example, the furniture and structures can dictate a person’s consumer habits based on colours and such.”

The business now employs almost 70 staff who are experienced in the exhibition and shopfitting industry.

Police officers arrested for alleged hijacking, kidnapping and armed robbery

“The victims were driven to an open veld [by the policemen] and forced to lie on the ground while being threatened with firearms.”

Gauteng Police spokesperson, Colonel Lungelo Dlamini. 

Three police officers were arrested in Krugersdorp West after they allegedly hijacked two vehicles and kidnapped and robbed their drivers on the first Saturday of June 2018.

A truck driver and the driver of the truck escort vehicle were travelling along Rustenburg Road when the incident took place.

Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, spokesperson for the Gauteng Police, said the policemen had stopped the truck and escort vehicle and forced the driver of the latter out of his vehicle.

“He was then ordered into a police vehicle,” said Dlamini. “One of the police officers jumped into the truck and forced its driver to sit in the passenger seat.

The vehicles were driven to an open veld and both drivers forced to lie on the ground while being threatened with firearms. They were also robbed of a substantial amount of money before the officers drove away.”

After a case was reported, information was followed up and the police officers were arrested.

The truck and the escort vehicle were later recovered. The police officers, who were part of the Germiston Flying Squad, were arrested and detained at the Krugersdorp Police Station. They are set to appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court shortly. Dlamini said that communities are urged to take every possible step to report corrupt police members and those involved in criminal acts.

The Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng, Lieutenant General Deliwe de Lange, has ordered a full and thorough investigation into the activities of the arrested police officers.
“Taking action against bad elements in the service must be seen as a commitment by management to work towards a better police service,” said De Lange.

UPDATE: Metrobus strike continues with no negotiations taking place

 JOBURG – Union and Metrobus to meet today the 13th of June.

The Metrobus strike continues.

 A meeting with the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Demawusa), who represents striking Metrobus employees, has been set for 13 June while the strike continues indefinitely.  This according to the union’s Dion Makhura, who said they have already backed down on many of their demands, including investigating ‘union-bashing’ of Demawusa members by Metrobus managers.  Makhura said the union is being reasonable but feels the bus company is not bringing their part.  Negotiations with Demawusa, who represents less than half of Metrobus employees, started last week and collapsed on Wednesday. Metro police have now also been deployed to all Metrobus routes in Joburg to ensure the safety of passengers as negotiations continue between the bus company and the union.  Metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar confirmed that even though he could not confirm if any incidents had taken place to compromise passengers’ safety, officers will continue to monitor all routes.  Metrobus spokesperson Goodwill Shivuri could not be reached for comment by the time of publishing, but he did speak to various media outlets earlier today, confirming the Metro police presence.  He told Jacaranda FM that the matter has since been referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and that the strike continues.

Johannesburg recycling: What are residents required to do?

Given just a few weeks to become "eco-compliant", Joburg residents will have to learn fast.
Have you heard the news? Residents of Johannesburg have just a few weeks to start recycling after city officials vowed to tackle the scourge of pollution.

In a media statement shared over the weekend, local authorities confirmed that a phased-in “separation at source” recycling programme would become mandatory for all households in the metropolitan area from Sunday 1 July onwards.

But what do JHB-dwellers need to know ahead of the proposed changes? We’ve put together a quick guide for those of you who need to adjust to “the new normal”:

What do we need to recycle?
These are the items you’ll have to keep separate from your household rubbish:

Plastics
Glass
Cell phones
Cans
Building rubble
Broken or disused vehicle parts
Garden waste
The caveats and nitty-gritty of what counts as a recyclable can be found here.

How do we “separate at source”?
The easiest way to comply with the city’s plans is to simply introduce another bin for your recyclables. Other methods include placing a separator in your bin, which divides it into two and allows space for household and recyclable rubbish.

Will our recycled rubbish be collected in Johannesburg?
We’re hoping to get more clarity over the next couple of days, but there’s been no confirmation of whether the local municipality will provide a recyclables collection. Private recycling pick-up organisations do operate in the area, though.

Companies like EcoMonkey and Mama She’s offer a kerbside collection service. EcoMonkey’s collection prices start at R85 a month and a more comprehensive service package can cost up to R1 700.

Once you sign up to EcoMonkey, you’ll be allocated a collection day. They require that your recyclable rubbish is left out before 7:00 on the day. Word to the wise: Go and put your bin out the night before, so you’re not waking up at stupid-o-clock.

Mama She’s are currently experiencing website maintenance but are still fully operational. Customers are required to buy blue recyclable bags (usually priced R20 in most supermarkets) and to put their non-household trash in there.

Blue bags must then be left outside ahead of your allocated collection day. If Mama She’s sounds like a better option, contact info@wasterecyclers.co.za for more details.

What areas will have recycling collections?
EcoMonkey: Douglasdale, Lonehill, Jukskei Park, Magaliesig, Dainfern, Olivedale, Sharonlea, Jukskei Park, Johannesburg North, Northwold, Kya Sands, Honeydew.

Mama She’s: Lonehill, Magaliessig, Fourways, Douglasdale, Norscot, Fourways Gardens, Cedar Lakes, Chartwell Country Estates, Witkoppen Ext. 3, Elma Park- Edenvale, Sunninghill, Paulshof, Edenburg-Rivonia and Bedfordview.

Where do we take our recyclables?
There are a number of locations Jozi residents could take their recyclable items. The MyWaste index is the easiest way to find a recycling centre near you. If it’s on your way to work or just around the corner, a private collection may not be required!

For things like cans and metals, you could even get a bit of money back for handing them in. Buy-back centres operate across the city and really can make your recycling experience even more worthwhile.