Former rehabilitation manager arrested for assault, rape of male patient in Northern Cape
12 July 2020, 5:10 PM
A former Manager of the Hanover Rehabilitation Facility in the Northern Cape has been arrested in Cradock in the Eastern Cape for the rape and assault of a 33-year-old man.
Police say the suspect has been at large since the incident happened in October 2019 at the rehabilitation centre.
Police say the victim, who was receiving treatment for drug addiction, was also electrocuted.
Northern Cape Police Spokesperson Mohale Ramatseba says the suspect will appear in the local court on Monday on charges of rape and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
“It is alleged a 45-year-old male suspect allegedly sexually assaulted a 33-year-old man in Hanover during October 2019. Since the commission of the offence, the suspect was on the run. The suspect’s arrest evasion came to an end in Cradock on Thursday, 09 July 2020. The incident was reportedly committed at a rehabilitation facility in Hanover on the weekend of 25 October. The victim was also subjected to electrical shock.”
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Three more Limpopo police stations closed due to COVID-19
12 July 2020, 4:31 PM
Another three police stations in Limpopo have been temporarily closed for decontamination after police officers tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Police spokesperson Motlafela Mojapelo says the Maake and Bolobedu police stations in Mopani and Seshego in the Capricorn district municipality have been closed. This brings to eight the total number of police stations that have been temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
In the Free State, two more police stations; Hertzogville and Bayswater in Bloemfontein have temporarily closed after personnel tested positive.
More than 20 police stations in the Free State were forced to close in just over a week due to rising infections.
The communities, serviced by Hertzogville and Bayswater police stations, are advised that the stations have been closed temporarily.
For Hertzogville Police Station, community members are advised to visit a house at no 31 Du Plessis Street, next to detective offices in Hertzogville; while for Bayswater Police Station in Bloemfontein, the community can use the number 051 406 2649 or call station commander Lieutenant Colonel Tyu on 082 467 6081 for any emergencies.
The communities will be informed when the police stations will reopen for services.
In the video below, the SABC News looks at the impact of COVID-19 on the police:
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Western Cape expecting severe storm, residents urged to stay indoors
12 July 2020, 4:17 PM
With a severe storm warning in place in the Western Cape, residents are being urged to stay indoors on Monday. The Disaster Management Centre says the storm is expected to make landfall in the province around midnight on Sunday.
Storm surges and wave heights of up to 12 metres are expected in some coastal areas.
⚠️Intense #ColdFront expected in the Western Cape tomorrow (13 July 2020). Main impacts will be from wind. Here’s the Alerts. Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/B6jc5mEGu0
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 12, 2020
⚠️A strong cold front will make landfall early Monday morning (13 July 2020) in the Western Cape. Large waves, gale force to strong gale force winds (65-100km/h) are expected with flooding possible in the SW Cape. The marine and coastal communities should take extreme precaution pic.twitter.com/mvLNzArK7f
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 12, 2020
The storm is predicted to make landfall at Cape Columbine on the West Coast. It will then move across the province to Cape Agulhas and towards Plettenberg Bay on Monday afternoon.
Small ports and harbours, in particular, are urged to take precautionary steps. Disaster Management Spokesperson James Styan has urged citizens to limit travelling.
“Limit travelling around the province as much as possible, conditions will be difficult. As mentioned, probably the biggest storm we’ve seen. So, it’s not something to take likely. All key disaster stakeholders have already been informed proactively to ensure that they are putting in place all possible mitigation measures and in the event of any emergency, to call the number 112.”
In the video below, cold front and storm wreak havoc in many parts of the Western Cape:
No emergency shelter required
Disaster Management says no residents required emergency shelter overnight following the heavy rains of the past three days. This, after residents of informal settlement experienced distress after their shacks were flooded.
In the video below, several informal settlements in the Western Cape experience flooding, power outages:
Disaster Management’s Charlotte Powell says a small group of residents at an informal settlement in Macassar near Somerset West refused an offer to take shelter at a local church hall out of fear of losing their personal belongings. They opted to stay with relatives.
Powell has warned residents of another approaching cold front starting on Sunday evening.
“The weather office has forecast another cold front to make a landfall later on Sunday, with impact to be felt until Tuesday. Given that the water table is already high due to prevailing weather conditions, the heavy downpours predicted for the next front will increase the risk of flooding.”
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Ramaphosa likely to urge South Africans to take COVID-19 more seriously: Analyst
12 July 2020, 4:02 PM
Political analysts believe Sunday night’s address by President Cyril Ramaphosa will focus on convincing South Africans to take the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic more seriously.
President Ramaphosa will address the nation at 20:00 this evening on developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of the pandemic.
SABC’s Political Editor, Mzwandile Mbeje weighs in:
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) July 3, 2020
It comes as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country soars to 264 184 with almost 4 000 deaths.
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Stricter restrictions
Speculation is rife that Ramaphosa may announce stricter restrictions in areas with the highest infection rates including Gauteng, the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
However, political analyst Ralph Mategka says Ramaphosa will probably put emphasis on rallying citizens to behave more responsibly.
“People have been talking about returning to some of the stricter lockdowns. I don’t think that is the conversation. I think the issue is about how South Africans ought to behave because this is amongst us, this is, I mean, we can defeat this. If we don’t behave well as a nation, there is just so much government can do and if one begins to imagine that government needs to balance the economy and the need to protect people from the infection, it’s quite unfortunate that as a nation we are not pulling our weight. Going to harder lockdown is not going to work. It’s just going to make things worse.”
South Africans are anxiously awaiting the President’s address.
Some want him to announce the closure of schools because they fear that many learners will die due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Others want the sale of alcohol to be banned again as many crimes are attributed to the lifting of the ban.
“What I would like the President to address tonight is how long will we remain on Level 3? Does the government plan to take us back to hard lockdown and if so, do they have sustainable budget to sustain Level 5 or hard lockdown? The President must stipulate very clearly contradictions of Minister of Education sending our children to school in institutions that are still dilapidated. What is the intention of the President in terms of addressing that? I’m even expecting schools to be closed. I’m hoping he will be saying schools are closed,” one South African says.
President Ramaphosa addresses the Nation on Sunday evening:
–Additional reporting by Ditaba Tsotetsi
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Queen Noloyiso to be laid to rest in Mngqesha
12 July 2020, 5:14 AM
The late Queen of AmaRharhabe Queen Noloyiso Sandile will be laid to rest at Mngqesha Location, outside King William’s Town, Eastern Cape, on Sunday. She has been accorded an official Special Funeral Category One.
She died of COVID-19 related complications at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane on Wednesday afternoon.
Family Spokesperson Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe on Friday said they are happy that the Queen will be given a special funeral.
“As a family and a nation, we are humbled by such an honour bestowed upon her Majesty by His Excellency, the President, the Head of State. And indeed, we obviously conduct the service consistent with the regulatory companion that is currently in place within the context of the lockdown.”
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) July 10, 2020
In the video below, the SABC News reports on the death of Queen Noloyiso Sandile:
Queen Noloyiso took over the reins as regent in 2011, following the passing of her husband King Maxhoba Sandile.
During her tenure as a leader of AmaRharhabe, Queen Noloyiso was instrumental in community development initiatives. Her passing has been described as a loss not only to the AmaRharhabe Royal House, but to the entire nation as well.
President to deliver a eulogy
President Cyril Ramaposa is expected to deliver the eulogy of the Queen. The President on Wednesday paid tribute to the late Queen, describing her as a bastion of traditional values and an inspiring leader of her people.
“We join the Great Place of Mngqesha and amaRharhabe in mourning her passing. At the same time, we pay tribute to her for her deep and unwavering commitment to the upliftment of her people and to her country. May her soul rest in peace,” the President said.
In the video below, the family of Queen Noloyiso Sandile says she’ll be laid to rest on Sunday:
