LOCAL NEWS
Extraordinary Stories From Across Our Rainbow Nation
"Illegal immigrants" blamed for overburdened healthcare system after video goes viral of pregnant women laying helpless in city hospital
The Patriotic Alliance's City of Joburg MMC for Health and Social Development, Ashley Sauls has lambasted the state of the city's "overburdened" healthcare system, blaming its bed shortage problems on the "overlooking of controlling illegal immigration".
Sauls shared these sentiments at the weekend after posting a video that has since gone viral of his walkabout inside the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg on Saturday.
In the short clip shared on his social media, scores of heavily pregnant women can be seen laying on the floor of the passage of the hospital seemingly in line to receive medical attention.
According to Sauls account of the situation, following his assessment and conversations with the hospital matrons, some of the women were waiting in queues for over three days, only receiving blood pressure tests and nothing more.
Sauls claimed that the real issues stemmed from undocumented immigrants who had "inundated" the city's hospitals.
"Our health systems are overburdened due to the overlooking of controlling illegal immigration," he exclaimed.
Sauls added that the local, provincial and national leadership needs to put their heads together to deal with the immigration problems head-on, with the directive of putting "South Africans first".
ANC Senior Offical WANTED for Hiring "IZinkabi" (Killing Squad) to Kill Witness
09/03/2021
A senior ANC figure is allegedly a "person of interest" in the assassination of Gauteng Department of Health whistleblower Babita Deokaran, as the Hawks investigators circle the governing party in search of the contractor behind the hit.
According to News24, the mastermind is an ANC figure who had occupied prominent positions in government and remains influential in the party.
Sources in the law enforcement community said Deokaran was not only a vital witness but was the centre of the Special Investigating Unit's (SIU) probe into corruption at the Gauteng government.
New Job Post for Khusela Diko
09/02/2021
The Presidency says former presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko will be transferred to a different position within the public service when she returns from maternity leave.
The Presidency says this recommendation arose from a Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) probe into the government’s procurement of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) by the Gauteng Health Department.
The SIU probed was based on allegations that Diko and her late husband were involved in a multimillion rand PPE tender corruption.
There were no findings against her however, she has been given a warning letter for failing to disclose her interests.
A spokesperson for Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli says Diko’s new role will be announced soon.
Meanwhile, the DA still await for the president to disclose the report on how Diko was cleared.
THOUGHTFUL GESTURE
08/19/2021
JOHANNESBURG - It’s Christmas in August as Julius Malema gifts his Twitter followers with Cassper Nyovest’s Drip sneakers. The EFF president announced earlier this week that he would give 50 people brand-new pairs of Drip 990, a sneaker by Cassper Nyovest, in collaboration with Drip Footwear.
“In support of a black child, black enterprise and black business - The first 50 people to retweet this tweet, using this hashtag: #RF990 and @casspernyovest, will get #RF990 sneakers directly from Don Billiato himself, in a venue to be communicated directly to the winners.” Cassper responded by thanking Malema for his thoughtful gesture.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUE IN CAUSE OF FATAL BUS CRASH
08/19/2021
JOHANNESBURG - The Eastern Cape Transport Department said that investigations were still under way to determine the cause of a fatal bus crash. Thirty people died when a DMJ Transport bus crashed between East London and Butterworth on the N2 highway earlier this week. Officials said that the stretch of road where the accident happened is notorious for road collisions.
“We are also looking at the condition of the bus. It has been kept at a police station where our case investigators are taking a look at it,” said Transport Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose.
Binqose said that some survivors claimed that they had issues with the bus when they left Cape Town.
NOT SENDING US PACKING
08/19/2021
According to News24, the mastermind is an ANC figure who had occupied prominent positions in government and remains influential in the party.
Sources in the law enforcement community said Deokaran was not only a vital witness but was the centre of the Special Investigating Unit's (SIU) probe into corruption at the Gauteng government.sn't changed its mind about investing more into its properties. Emira Property Fund, which published its annual financial results on Wednesday, said out of its many properties in KZN, looters only touched the Springfield Retail Centre. The property was looted and suffered fire damage to a third of its structure.VAULTING TO THE RECORD
08/19/2021
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's Mirè Reinstorf has set an African U20 record (4.15m) while taking the gold medal in the women's pole vault on day one of the World Athletics U20 Championships Nairobi. This is Reinstorf's first international competition, and she's raising the flag high.
The five-day event, which started on Wednesday and hosted at the Moi International Sports Complex Stadium in Kenya, will take place until 22 August with 54 athletes (29 men and 25 women) from South Africa taking part in the action.
DENIAL OF CAT SLAUGHTER
CAPE TOWN - The South African Satanic Church on Monday distanced the religion from the slaughter of cats in Manenberg. At least 39 cats have been found mutilated in the community in recent weeks, while some have labelled the killings satanic. The South African Satanic Church said it did not condone the abuse or slaughter of animals.
WORKING TO FEED OURSELVES
JOHANNESBURG - Millions of people who live in South Africa go to bed on an empty stomach and do not have money to buy nutritious food. However, a brand-new partnership between gardening equipment company, Aquacraft, and NGO Siyakhana, aims to not only help reduce food insecurity but is also assisting startups involved in urban food Gardens. According to Aquacraft, its alliance with Siyakhana makes sense because the NGO has various food garden outreach projects in Johannesburg, the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape. It also has the capacity to train schools and children’s homes on how to run food gardens, and as Siyakhana rolls out projects in other areas, Aquacraft will assist the NGO.
TRANSNET CONFIRMS NO RANSOM PAID
08/16/2021
JOHANNEBSURG - Transnet has confirmed that it did not pay ransom to restore its IT systems following last month’s cyber attack. The company’s main ports and other utilities were affected by the attack, which left exporters - among other stakeholders - seething. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan on Monday praised Transnet management and its IT division for its handling of the cyberattack.
“Transnet demonstrated that it had the skills and capability, both within Transnet and partners it was able to bring in to identify exactly the target of the attack, to very quickly shut down the system so that all of the operating systems of Transnet, which manage the container movements were secured and safe.”
SCHOOLS IN NORTHERN CAPE STARTING TO RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER COVID-19
08/16/2021CAPE TOWN - The Northern Cape Department of Education said there was a considerable drop in COVID-19 infections being recorded at schools. Authorities said 213 cases had been picked in the sector over the past three weeks. Seventy-nine out of 424 primary schools in the province have returned to normal teaching and learning - with all pupils back on a full-time basis.
REMEMBERING THE 34 MINERS IN RUSTENBURG
08/16/2021JOHANNESBURG - The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) on Monday said it would continue to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Marikana massacre by demanding justice. Monday marks exactly nine years since 34 miners, who had been striking for better pay and acceptable working and living conditions, were gunned down by police in Rustenburg.
TENDER FRAUD AT NATIONAL HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE
08/16/2021JOHANNESBURG - Two suspects are expected to appear in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in connection with multi-million rand tender fraud at the National Health Laboratory Services. The suspects, aged 32 and 57, were arrested on Sunday by the Hawks following an investigation into corruption in the procurement of personal protective equipment amounting to R14.4 million.
BAIL AFTER CORRUPTION CHARGES
A Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality employee arrested for tender fraud has been released on bail. Admin clerk, Adele Majal, appeared in the Gqeberha New Law Court on Thursday for allegations of fraud, corruption and money laundering.
GERMAN COUPLE SENTENCED FOR MURDER AND FRAUD
Two German nationals, Jens Leunberg (42), and Kristina Adler (44), were sentenced to 25 and 10 years imprisonment, respectively, for fraud and the murder of fellow German national, Claus Schroeder.
Judge Thembekile Malusi of the High Court of South Africa: Eastern Cape Division, Port Elizabeth found the couple guilty of the crimes in March 2021.
The two were arrested in July 2011 and the trial commenced in March 2015.
Adler was absent in court after she was admitted in hospital due to the deterioration of her mental state.
Judge Malusi said that there were substantial and compelling circumstances in this case for the court to part from the minimum sentence provisions. Factors which were considered in Adler’s case were her ill-health, the welfare of her two young children who were separated from their parents at the age of three and five years and the extended period she had been awaiting trial. Leunberg, on the other hand, had been in custody for ten years awaiting trial.
Leunberg and Adler first visited South Africa in May 2007 for holidays. In 2008 they then visited the country on business and spousal visas, which were in actual fact fraudulent.
Adler and Leunberg, who have two children together, met a married couple, Claus and Tanja Schroeder, in Jeffreys Bay in 2007.
Adler and Leunberg then indicated to the Schroeders that they were interested in purchasing a farm in the Jeffreys Bay area. The Schroeders then saw this as an opportunity to sell their farm, Owvanuk in Thornhill, in the district of Hankey.
On 18 October 2007, a memorandum of an agreement for purchase and sale was drawn up between Thornhill Ubuntu Tourism Activities CC, the purchaser, represented by Adler, and DTTC Investments CC, the seller, represented by Tanja, for the sale of the farm for R8,5 million. The purchaser undertook to furnish the seller with proof that they had obtained a loan by 15 November 2007. The purchaser further undertook to pay the seller R13 000 per month as occupational rent for the farm from 15 January 2008 until the farm had been transferred into the name of the purchasers.
Adler furnished Tanja with a document from ING Bank, Germany, dated 13 November 2007 which purported to be an approved bank guarantee for the amount of R8,5 million for the purchase of the farm, a document which was fraudulent as the purchaser never obtained a loan of R8.5 milion from any bank. Induced by the misrepresentations, the Schroeders granted Leunberg and Adler occupation of Owvanuk farm on 15 January 2008.
On 11 April 2008, Leunberg approached the Department of Home Affairs to apply for a business permit for Thornhill Ubuntu Tourism Activities CC. The department required a certificate from a chartered accountant that stated that at least R2.5 million in cash and a capital contribution of at least R500 000, originating from abroad was available to be invested as part of the book value of the business. Adler and Leunberg submitted a fraudulent Deutsche Bank online printout held in the name of Adler which indicated that on 5 May 2008 her account had an amount of Euro 347 252.
On 14 August 2009, Claus Schroeder arrived at Owvanuk farm as he was concerned that over a year had passed since the signed sale agreement between the two couples yet the R8.5 million had not been transferred. Leunberg instead, under the false pretence that his vehicle had been stuck in the kloof lured him to the kloof where he killed him. Claus Schroeder's body was never found, however, witnesses stated that they saw Leunberg emerge from the bushes with blood on his clothes.
The court congratulated the prosecutor, Advocate Marius Stander, and the Hawks investigator, Warrant Officer Daniel Siebert, for embarking on an extraordinary effort to prosecute and investigate the case against formidable odds as they both at some point faced serious health challenges during the 10-year life span of the case.
“Indeed, each of your efforts in this trial has been a credit to your profession and ensured that justice is served,” said Judge Malusi.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Indra Goberdan, welcomed the sentence. "The sentence was fair, given the fact that Jens Leunberg spent 10 years in custody awaiting trial . The sentence sends a strong message to criminals. Adv Stander should be applauded for the huge effort he put in to achieve this finalisation,” she said.
FORMER CORRECTIONAL SERVICES COMMISSIONER LINDA MTI REQUESTS POSTPONEMENT IN BOSASA R1.8 BILLION CORRUPTION MATTER
The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court postponed the Bosasa Operations (PTY) R1.8 billion fraud and corruption matter to 28 October 2021 to allow Linda Mti to inspect the docket.
Former Commissioner of Correctional Services (DCS), Linda Mti, former DCS Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Patrick Gillingham, and former Bosasa CFO, Andries Van Tonder and former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi stand as co-accused in the matter.
The matter relates to four tenders awarded to Bosasa and its subsidiaries between August 2004 and 2007, which was valued at over R1.8 billion. This was for rendering catering and training services, installation of CCTV cameras, installing perimeter fencing and supplying a television system and monitoring equipment.
COVID-19 IMPACTING CLASSROOM
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) in KwaZulu-Natal said it was worried that learning was being hampered due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. The union said the problem with many schools around KwaZulu-Natal where most pupils have been brought back to the classroom was that social distancing was not practiced.
