Author: Ntetekeng Santi

JOHANNESBURG – Thirteen people lose their lives in two horrific accidents in the Free State province. In the first accident, 10 people died when a taxi collided with a truck on the N1 highway, south of Koppies, towards Kroonstad on Sunday morning.The truck driver and the taxi passengers who survived the accident were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.In the second incident, three people, including a nine-year-old child, died on Saturday night when two bakkies collided on the R30 road between Allanridge and Odendaalsrus. The cause of both incidents is currently still unknown, and authorities are investigating both…

SASOLBURG – The DA in Metsimaholo has escalated the deteriorating state of the municipality’s sewer systems to the Provincial Legislature and the National Council of Provinces, seeking urgent intervention.”The inability to repair the sewer system is as a result of a severe lack of Light Duty Vehicles (LDVs) and essential materials for the teams on the ground. Terrible operational planning, stock control and maintenance budgeting is a direct fault of the ANC/EFF/AIC local government. Due to delayed response times, residents’ properties frequently experience sewage overflows, posing a serious threat to community health and causing pollution in the Vaal River.”The DA…

DE DEUR – Highway Patrol officers in De Deur, Vaal Triangle, recently uncovered a drug manufacturing lab, arrested three suspects and confiscated critical equipment and illegal substances.De Deur SAPS said in a statement that while Highway Patrol officers were conducting their duties on 14 November, they identified suspicious activity at a smallholding. Upon investigation, they discovered a fully operational drug lab. Three male suspects were arrested on the scene, reinforcing the South African Police Service’s stance on holding offenders accountable.Among the items seized were a tablet presser machine used in the production of illegal substances; a significant quantity of tablets…

SEDIBENG – The Vaal Marina Police together with the Free State SAPS diving Unit conducted an illegal fishing operation at the UJ grounds and Boschkop Farm last week.Police spokesperson, Constable Tshilidzi de Huis said the operation was held because local native species are being wiped out from the Vaal Dam by illegal fishing, “The illegal fishermen take the fish to Johannesburg and other markets. They also sell the fish to the Chinese, who have a taste for certain fresh fish,” explained De Huis. According to De Huis, illegal fishing also harms the ecosystem “If these illegal matters continue, there won’t…

The Sedibeng Essential Infrastructure Task Team arrested suspects in Sebokeng for possession of stolen copper cable, Tuesday, 5th November. Sergeant Nthabiseng Mokhachane, spokesperson for the Sebokeng Police, said the arrests occurred along Moshoeshoe Street when Task Team officers, during a patrol, identified a suspicious vehicle.Upon stopping and searching the vehicle, officers discovered copper cable that the occupants could not account for, as well as tools typically used for cutting cables. The suspects were detained and taken to Sebokeng Police Station, where ArcelorMittal representatives identified the cable as their property, confirming it as stolen.This case has been linked to a prior…

The Sebokeng SAPS is investigating an armed robbery that has left the Sebokeng community in shock. On Tuesday morning, suspects targeted the uSave store in Zone 14, escaping with an undisclosed amount of cash and multiple cigarette cartons.The suspects entered the store pretending to be customers, once inside one suspect took out a firearm and demanded that the staff open the tills. Meanwhile, accomplices outside forced waiting customers into the store, trapping them as the robbery unfolded.Sebokeng SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Nthabiseng Mokhachane urged the community to assist with any relevant information to come forward, emphasizing the importance of community support…

Thabiso Maphike, a vocal community leader and a businessman was shot and killed on Friday, November 08 evening when two assailants opened fire at him while he sat in a car outside his shop with his business partner. In January he was shot and survived a senseless hit.Following his shooting, dozens of Bophelong residents gathered at the scene in disbelief as police and forensics investigated.From a distance, behind the police barricade, a black Golf 1 with a shuttered passenger window could be seen at the door stop of Maphike’s shop.Several bullet piercings could be seen on the windscreen and some…

EVATON – The police have launched a manhunt after armed suspects made away with an undisclosed amount of money after robbing a cash van that was making rounds at various business premises. The incident happened in broad daylight at the TK petrol station in Zone 6 on Monday afternoon.Police spokesperson Constable Thulisile Msibi reports said the complainant reported on duty as a crewman to collect money bags from clients, after collecting money from several businesses, the team was enroute to make a collection at the TK petrol station, “When the vehicle stopped at the garage, the crewman stepped out of…

The Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) has installed nine solar high-mast lights at an inflated price of R3 742 893, 36. This decision comes amid a serious service delivery and financial crisis, during which the municipality has struggled to pay its debts and provide quality basic services to its residents, the Democratic Alliance said in a statement.This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, in a written reply to the questions tabled by the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). According to MEC Mamabolo, Emfuleni hired Ngwato Engineering Services…

VAAL TRIANGLE – The Gauteng government has revealed that councilors in the Emfuleni Local Municipality are among the culprits that are not paying their balances for rates and services including the mayor.The Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo said on Tuesday in front of the Gauteng legislature that the mayor owes R5 000, the speaker R4 000, and the chief whip of council R1 490, while members of the mayoral committee collectively owe about R125 670, this amounts to R136 976. Mamabolo was responding to questions posed to him orally in the legislature.According to News24, in…