Yay or Nay: Rate police services HONEYDEW – Rate the police’s services.

The survey form.

The Honeydew Police Station has now made it possible for the public to rate its service delivery.

The survey, as well as suggestion boxes, will be found at all police stations under the Honeydew police cluster such as Douglasdale, Diepsloot, Roodepoort, Zandspruit, Cosmo City, Randburg and Florida police stations.

The community can detail their experiences at the station and how the services can be improved.

Spokesperson for Honeydew Police Station, Balan Muthan said the survey is for the community to make their voices heard and for the police to give feedback on complaints and comments.

“We encourage the community to take a minute or two to fill in the survey and rate services received whether positive or negative. This will help us improve the way we help the community,” said Muthan.

Details: Honeydew Police Station 011 801 8400.

To become a member of the Honeydew SAPS WhatsApp community, send your name and surname to 079 439 5345

Joburg official fired after swindling Cosmo City community over ‘free’ nursing classes

The scam started when Ekhaya Health Centre‚ a training college‚ approached Cosmo City Multipurpose Centre in order to obtain the use of the centre for the provision of nursing classes which were to be offered to the community.  Services offered through the City’s community centres are free to the public, so the agreement with Ekhaya was that their training would also be free.  After a few months it emerged that the now former city employee had colluded with Ekhaya management to demand money from prospective students.  Seven students paid R36,000 for training‚ but never completed their studies after classes were suspended.  The former employee allegedly received R18,000 as part of the deal.  Mashaba has demanded an explanation as to why the employee was allowed to tender a resignation and serve notice rather than face a disciplinary hearing, while the city will seek to open a criminal case.

Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba's vow to fight corruption in the Democratic Alliance-led metro appears to be yielding positive results – at least for now.

Mashaba announced on Monday that an employee is his administration was dismissed after allegedly being involved in a scam which swindled residents of Cosmo City.

"I will not allow a situation where corrupt employees are allowed to resign without facing internal disciplinary procedures. Where corruption is uncovered‚ swift action must be taken. The city will seek to open a criminal case and ensure that those implicated face the full might of the law‚" Mashaba said.

This follows a breakthrough of a scam that started when Ekhaya Health Centre‚ a training college‚ approached Cosmo City Multipurpose Centre officials in order to obtain the use of the centre for the provision of nursing classes which were to be offered to the community.

As per norm‚ services offered through the City of Joburg community centres are free to the public. The agreement entered into with Ekhaya Health Centre was based on an understanding that their training would also be free‚ the mayor said.

Mashaba said that after a few months it emerged that the now former city employee colluded with Ekhaya Health Centre management and demanded money from prospective students.

"Seven students paid R36 000 for training‚ but never completed their studies after classes were suspended. It also emerged that the former employee allegedly received R18 000 as part of the deal. Today‚ I called for immediate action to be taken‚" Mashaba said.

"I am also demanding a detailed explanation from the Executive Head of Social Development and line managers as to why the implicated employee was allowed to tender a resignation and serve notice‚" he added.

He also promised the students' families which were affected by this to retrieve their money.

When Mashaba was sworn in as Johannesburg mayor‚ he promised to address the city's "public enemy number one – corruption" and set the tone for a business-like approach to fixing Johannesburg's problems.

To date‚ there has been at least five city officials that have been fired by Mashaba since ascending to the mayoral seat.  

COSMO CITY 2 homes robbed an hour apart Honeydew Police Station investigate two house robberies in the precinct.

 Honeydew Police Captain Balan Muthan

Honeydew Police are investigating two house robberies in Cosmo City during which the occupants of the two homes in Ext 6 and 4 respectively were held at gunpoint.

Police spokesperson Captain Balan Muthan dissected both incidents committed an hour apart on Wednesday 24 January, saying no shots or injuries were reported. Understandably the victims were left shaken.

Also Read: Two businesses robbed in one go

The first incident happened about 8.45pm in Ext 6, according to Muthan. “The complainant was watching television when two intruders entered the house through an unlocked door; one armed with a firearm and the other unarmed. They unplugged the television, demanded two cellphones and left the house,” said Muthan.

The second incident happened after 9pm in Ext 4. “Three black males – two armed with firearms and one with a knife – threatened the occupants of the house.

    They robbed them of three watches, four cellphones and an undisclosed amount of cash,” Muthan reported.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at northsider@caxton.co.za  (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.

Soccer players honoured during club awards

The Zandspruit-based football outfit, which plays under the Mogale City Local Football Association, hosted its 5th annual sports awards ceremony on 10 December.

Coach Proud Shoko and Dieketseng Makae coordinated the presentation of the awards.

Hard work and dedication paid off to a score of Golden Drifters Football Club Academy players who were honoured for their incredible display during the season.The Zandspruit-based football outfit, which plays under the Mogale City Local Football Association, hosted its 5th annual sports awards ceremony on 10 December.

Golden Drifters FC players and Dieketseng Makae celebrate the achievements at the awards venue.

It was clear that the awards were much anticipated, as the communities of Zandspruit and Cosmo City, including parents of the players, turned up in large numbers at the Good News Convention Centre in Muldersdrift to support this prestigious event.

“The whole event is about the children. We are here to empower them, especially since most hail from the outskirts of Zandspruit, Cosmo City and Muldersdrift. The event is basically to award them for the hard work that they’ve put in this year,” said Proud Shoko, who is the founder and coach of the academy.

The players, who were dressed in their finest suits and casual wear, were rewarded for their outstanding performances in both the leagues and various tournaments.

U/17 player and awardee Siyabong Nkosi thrilled the crowd with his dance moves at the venue.

Shoko indicated that the boys excelled throughout the year, with the U/17s being crowned as champions of the league and other divisions as runners-up.

“The boys did very well this year. Our U/13s and U/15s finished second in the league and our U/17s scooped their league – they are the champions of this year. We also had one boy selected to play for Platinum Stars and another who was chosen to play for Panorama Football Club,” a delighted Shoko explained.

Best Players of the Season, Player’s Player award, Most Improved Player, Top Goal-scorer and Captain of the Season were some of the elite awards presented to players from the U/11s to the U/17s during the event.

A vibrant Ntando Ntwanambi, the captain of the U/11s, was one of the most called-out recipients at the awards, walking away with both the U/11 Best Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Year, an award voted for by the player’s teammates.

Ntando Ntwanambi proudly displays his accolades after the Golden Drifters FC awards. 

Phoko, who facilitated the occasion along with Dieketseng Makae who was the programme director, explained why they will continue hosting these awards despite challenges. “It’s only through this event that we have seen the growth of these young footballers. As an organisation that deals with sports we have managed to change so many children’s lives and transform them into better players using our own limited resources and funds,” he said.

Since Zandspruit, Cosmo City and Muldersdrift are affected by all sorts of socio-economic challenges, Shoko thanked the parents for their unwavering support of their children’s future at the academy.

Uninvited guests spoil birthday party

COSMOCITY – Suspects rob family and friends during birthday party celebrations.

Police spokesperson Captain Balan Muthan says the police are searching for the suspects.
A house party came to an abrupt end in Boskruin on 6 December when two gatecrashers arrived uninvited.

The two alleged robbers entered the home through the back door that was not locked while the complainant was celebrating his birthday with friends.

One of the suspects is said to have had a firearm while the other had a pair of bolt cutters.

According to police spokesperson Captain Balan Muthan, the armed suspect allegedly pointed his gun at the victim and his friends and asked them to keep quiet.

“The gunman took the victim to the bedroom and wanted to know where the safe was. The victim told the gunman he doesn’t have a safe, and he asked for a laptop, and the victim showed him a laptop and he allegedly took it.”


It is reported that the armed suspect then ordered the victim to return to the dining room where everyone was lying on the floor, tied up with shoelaces.

The suspects also covered everyone with a duvet before taking a TV, laptop, six cellphones and jewellery.
On the same night, two suspects allegedly robbed two sisters while they were at home in Cosmo City.

It is claimed the two entered the room the sisters were in, and one of the suspects, who had a firearm, allegedly pointed it at them and demanded money.

The other suspect is said to have taken a cellphone and ran away.

One of the sisters screamed to alert the community and one suspect was caught.

Mega-blitz to make Cosmo beautiful

COSMO CITY – Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo hit the ground running this festive season with planned mega blitz clean-ups around Johannesburg.

This illegal dumping sign has clearly been ignored.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo hit the ground running this festive season with planned mega blitz clean-ups around Johannesburg.

The first clean-up took place in Cosmo City on 13 December.

Dumped rubbish outside the wall of the park.

Johannesburg City Parks regional manager, Puleng Ditabe said, “What happened here today is what we call a ‘mega-blitz’… where we have identified areas in need of conservation efforts.

We have reached peak-season where we are at the top of the rainy season. People are on holiday and need to enjoy the park life.

“This area suffers from a lot of illegal dumping, and many materials that have been dumped are not safe for children. We are also planning to beautify the area by cutting grass and repairing safety fences.”

Approximately 60 City Parks employees, 40 environmental workers, community members and Pikitup employees participated in the mega-blitz to cut grass, prune trees, clear out illegal dumping, and pick up litter. Over 100 indigenous trees were planted in the area during the course of the day.

A Johannesburg City Parks truck brings in indigenous shrubs ready to be planted.

Environmental experts were there to educate the residents and also to give them advice.

Ditabe said, “The primary focus of this education initiative is that people need to learn how to co-habit with the environment.”

A digger waits at the corner of Eritrea and Guinea Streets in Cosmo City to clear dumped rubble in the park.

Areas focused on during the clean-up included:

• The Cosmo City Arboretum in Sierra Leone Drive. Grass was cut, trees pruned and illegally dumped material removed
• Guinea Street. This is one of the worst affected streets often used for illegal dumping. The street is also close to the beautiful Eritrea Park. Rubbish and litter were removed and the area was beautified
• Afghanistan Street. Grass was cut and trees pruned
• Slovenia Road. Wetland maintenance and vegetation control of reeds, litter and debris
• Repair and replacement of broken fences

A vandalised children’s play slide had to be repaired..

As part of its citywide A Re Sebetseng clean-up campaign Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo encouraged all citizens to do their part in keeping the city clean, green and liveable.

Who is your ward councillor?

COSMOCITY – Many do not know the answer to this question. Find out here.

Ward councillors act as spokespersons for the needs of residents in certain wards.

Their contact details are invaluable numbers to have on your phone and also helps you to get involved in the goings-on in your area.

Here are the details of Randburg’s ward councillors:

Ward 96 – Sbusiso Mthemba on 071 295 8290 or 082 559 1371 and sbusiso1025@gmail.com

The ward includes Kya Sand, Chartwell, Farmall, Bloubosrand and other areas outside of the Randburg Sun distribution area.

Ward 98 – Beverley Weweje on 074 882 3014 and weweje@vodamail.co.za

The ward includes Randpark Ridge, Kelland, Cresta, Windsor East, Windsor West, Windsor Glen, Randpark and Fairland.

Ward 99 – Nicole van Dyk on 071 382 1992 and ward99jozi@gmail.com

The ward includes parts of Robin Acres, Robindale, Linden, Jacanlee, Darrenwood, Robin Hills and parts of Blairgowrie.

Ward 100 – Rosina Mosito on 061 993 7276.

The ward includes Cosmo City and parts of the surrounding areas.

Ward 101 – Dalu Cele on 073 446 8653 and dalu@ward-101.co.za

The ward, recently demarcated, includes parts of Boskruin, Bromhof, Northwold, Sonneglans, Golden Harvest, Hunters Hill, Sharonlea and Olivedale.