IKOSI VW MAHLANGU WAS APPOINTED TO THE NATIONAL HOUSE OF TRADITIONAL AND KHOISAN LEADERS (NHTKL)
The Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders (MPHTL) wishes to congratulate Ikosi VW Mahlangu of the Ndzundza Fene Traditional Council on his nomination to serve in the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (NHTKL). This followed the passing of Ikosi SE Mahlangu in July, which left a vacancy.
Ikosi VW Mahlangu was elected unopposed by all the Mpumalanga Traditional leaders in a seating presided over by the Chairperson of the Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders, Inkhosi SG Ngomane, all delegates from all local Houses were present, and all Covid -19 regulations were followed.
Inkosi Sandile Ngomane, Provincial Chairperson of the Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders, congratulated Ikosi VW Mahlangu on his appointment, saying “we have faith in his leadership and are confident that he will steer the traditional institution toward the goals of improving traditional communities’ livelihoods.”
Visit the Mpumalanga Department of Co-operative Governmence and Tradisional Affairs HERE
MPUMALANGA MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE SENTENCED FOR FRAUD AND CORRUPTION
MPUMALANGA – Khensani Antoinette Mashaba (37) was found guilty and sentenced by the Mhala Regional Court on Tuesday 31 August 2021 for fraud and corruption – Contravening Section 17 read with section 1,2(1) 2(2) of the Prevention and combating of corrupt activities Act 12 of 2004.
Khensani Antoinette Mashaba (37)
During the period between April 2012 and November 2012, Mashaba was employed by the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality as a public officer and she allegedly recruited two relatives to open a company called Amiway CC which necessitated transporting or supplying of water to the affected areas in Mkhuhlu region.
Without the knowledge of the two ladies who opened the company the accused, Mashaba acquired an interest in a contract or agreement between the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality and an entity known as Amiway CC. Mashaba made the application for the rendering of service by Amiway CC on behalf of the Municipality in which Amiway CC was paid a total amount of R700 070,00 for services rendered of the said contract.
She then unlawfully, falsely and with intent to defraud/misrepresent the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality and/or its employees submitted duplicate claims of R93 480.00 which was unlawful as well as invalid and Municipality paid the money into Amiway CC business account for the service which was never rendered.
In 2015, information was received by Special Investigative Unit(SIU) through a whistle-blower, about the municipal employee who was running an unregistered company. A case was opened and later transferred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Mpumalanga for further investigation.
During the investigation, it was established that Mashaba recruited the two ladies to open a company and ordered them to put her cell phone number on the business account. It was also established that the said municipality was at all times dealing with the accused and not members of the Amiway CC. Mashaba ensured that the particulars on the invoice such as postal address and contact numbers did not belong to Amiway but were hers and those of her relatives.
The suspect was arrested, charged with fraud, theft and corruption. During the trial, witnesses admitted that indeed they were recruited to open a company and business account in which she withheld all the documents. The victims further testified that since they handed all the documents to the accused, they never heard anything about the company and they did not benefit from it.
The investigation was finalised and the accused was found guilty and sentenced on Monday as follows:
-The accused was sentenced to five(5) years imprisonment, wholly suspended for a period of five (5)years on condition that the accused is not convicted of Fraud and Corruption during the period of suspension.
-To pay compensation to the amount of R93 480.00 to the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality
The accused to submits herself to correctional supervision for a period of twelve (12) months and the correctional supervision shall be comprised of the following measures:
House Arrest at her home in Culcutta Trust, Community Service for sixteen(16 ) hours per month for a total of twelve (12) months to be performed over the weekend at Culcutta/Mkhuhlu SAPS
Participation in the programs is determined by the supervision committee.
Refrain from abusing drugs or alcohol
Submit herself to an assessment with the Social Worker at Bushbuckridge Community Corrections.
Subject herself to monitoring.
Not to leave the magisterial district of Mapulaneng.
Conduct herself properly at all times
-Accused deemed to be declared unfit to possess a firearm
Failure to comply with these conditions will result in the accused being brought back to court for an alternative sentence.
ANIMALS 101 – WHEN YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND CRUELTY, YOU CAN JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST IT MORE EFFECTIVELY!
In the previous two weeks, we looked at how to better understand cruelty and recognize the signs of cruelty. This week we will look at how you can help us fight cruelty against animals.
Picture source: Bethal SPCA Facebook page
Pets have no voice to cry out for help. They aren’t able to alert authorities to abuse, and they can’t quietly discuss their pain and injuries with a veterinarian. You have to be the eyes and ears for the animals you encounter to ensure that if there is any abuse, it can be stopped in time. If you do not report cruelty, then you are complicit.
As we mentioned last week, neglect may require an educational visit from an SPCA inspector or animal welfare worker. Abuse may require the removal of the animal from the home and prosecuting the offenders. Either way, your call will guarantee a better life for that animal.
REPORTING CRUELTY
ALWAYS REPORT CRUELTY! If you notice an animal that appears to be suffering, call your local animal welfare agency (mainly the SPCA in SA) immediately! Do not send a message or email nor report this through social media as we lose precious time! Call their emergency number until they answer! It can always be done anonymous and even if you are unsure, rather report so the SPCA or animal welfare can investigate.
Save your local SPCA office and emergency numbers on your phone. Also include the numbers of the areas where your friends or family stay or where you visit frequently.
Be a responsible pet owner. Know about and fulfill the needs of your pet. Don’t just concern yourself with basic needs – give your pet positive experiences that really enhance its well-being. It is a lifetime commitment, not just when it suits you.
Be an example of kindness to other pets. Foster a pet that has suffered abandonment. Sadly, many pets are relinquished to shelters for various reasons. Foster homes help these animals to recover and prepare them to move on to a new permanent loving home. If you can, ADOPT!
Intervene if you witness animal cruelty, abuse or neglect. Do what you can to stop someone from mistreating an animal. However, be sensible and if necessary, seek help from other witnesses. An animal that has been mistreated needs support, sometimes immediately. You can make a real difference by taking an animal out of a harmful situation.
You can keep food, water and a blanket in your car. If you see an animal in need or roaming around you can help. Approach only if it is safe for both you and the animal, as we do not want them to run away into danger. If the animal is hurt, stay with them or follow them at a safe distance, while you wait for your local animal welfare organisations to come and assist you. If you can pick up the animal, take them to your Vet, the SPCA, or into your yard until the owners are found.
Teach your children to have respect for animals. Set a good example by being respectful towards animals. Show children how to interact with and treat animals with love and consideration. Even if you pet allows it, kids should not be sitting on or pulling on the ears or tails etc. of pets. Help them to grow up to become the next generation of advocates for animals. Children who are cruel to animals often grow up to be cruel to people as well. Nip animal cruelty in the bud early on.
Know the legislation & support legislation that promotes kindness to animals. Stronger animal welfare laws and harsher penalties for abusers will lead to fewer cruelty cases. Support the campaigns and advocate for animal rights! Ask what animal welfare policies the political party you support has. You can read the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1993 (Act 169).
Animal and social welfare link. Consider that neglect of animals can be closely linked to domestic violence. Animal abuse usually precedes or is concurrent with other abuse. By reporting your suspicions, you may also be helping both the animal in need and the family concerned.
Educate people around you about the issue. Help people to understand that they can intervene in situations where animals are being neglected or even tormented. Animals have a right to live without fear or pain, and we have a responsibility to step in if their rights aren’t respected. Promote programs at schools! You can read more on specific educational animal welfare topics on the NSPCA website www.nspca.co.za
Offer help to people who seem overwhelmed with their animals. Animals aren’t necessarily neglected out of a lack of love. An owner may not have the psychological resources to provide an animal with the appropriate care. Whatever the reasons may be, an affected pet must be removed from a place of neglect and given the care it needs to live and thrive. Any help you give to an animal may help a human too.
Volunteer in animal welfare, whether it is by fostering, helping at kennels, sharing posts, or by donating to those that do the work. Take care of those animal welfare workers in the trenches, so they can continue this sad and tough job. Whether it is words of encouragement, a gift, treatment, or just a coffee.
Using cruelty-free products like skin/body/hair/make-up. The www.humaneguide.co.za are products endorsed by Beauty without Cruelty (South Africa) that do not test on or pay for testing on animals. Don’t be fooled by companies’ smart and sly slogans. It is never what the company claims, but what they can prove! Be informed!
Preventing animal cruelty is no easy task, but with your help, we CAN DO THIS!
Next week we will look at how to choose pets for your kids.
SIXTEEN SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED FOR CHARGES RELATED TO DAMAGES TO ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
MPUMALANGA – Suspects aged between 35 and 45 were arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Middelburg together with Transnet Investigators during an intelligence-driven operation on Monday, 30 August 2021 at Vaalbank in Middelburg.
Information was received about intruders who allegedly stole railway lines in Santa Dullstroom en route towards Middelburg. The team followed up with the information and found four trucks inside Mashcor Scrap metal dealer still loaded with railway tracks.
During further investigation, the fifth truck loaded with transformers and palisade which were positively identified by Transnet officials arrived. The railway tracks were stolen from the decommissioned line while the transformers and palisade were stolen from the working substation.
The 16 suspects of which 14 are foreign nationals were arrested and charged for possession of suspected stolen property, theft and damaging of essential infrastructure.
The owner of the scrap metal was traced and also arrested. The suspects are expected to appear before the Middelburg Magistrates’ Court soon.
PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER WELCOMES HEFTY SENTENCE HANDED DOWN TO A MAN WHO MURDERED HIS EX-PARTNER
NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has welcomed a hefty sentence that was handed down to Skhumbuzo Patrick Khoza, aged 40 for the murder of his ex-partner Lourencia Zinhle Mathebula. The incident occurred on 26 December 2019. The sentence was imposed by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Middelburg on Friday, 27 August 2021.
Skhumbuzo Patrick Khoza (40)
The court reached its decision to sentence Khoza after being satisfied with the evidence presented by the state against him. It is said that the relationship between the accused and Mathebula was abusive to a point that she (Mathebula) even applied for a protection order against him. The relationship then eventually ended but Khoza never accepted this and instead, he orchestrated a plan to end her life.
It is said that he posted intimidating and threatening messages on his Facebook account, a few days before the incident.
Khoza waited for an opportunity to strike and on the said day, he met with Mathebula who was in the company of her brother. He then requested the brother to excuse them and pretended as if he wanted to have a decent conversation with her.
The brother then went away for a while and on his return, he shockingly witnessed his sister being shot several times by the accused. The accused then fled the scene, leaving the victim bleeding profusely with her brother in a helpless situation. Mathebula was unfortunately later certified dead by the paramedics and police at Elukwatini opened a murder case where a manhunt was immediately launched for the suspect who skipped the country and went into hiding at the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Members of the Detectives at Elukwatini worked tirelessly in their investigation and were assisted by members of the community who shared information with police on the whereabouts of Khoza. The astute members then followed up on the information where on 05 January 2020 Khoza was arrested on the N17 road whilst on his way back from the Kingdom of Eswatini. He was charged for the murder of Mathebula and went on trial where he was convicted on 23 August 2021 hence his sentence on Friday was as follows:
The accused was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the murder charge and he was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Lieutenant General Manamela has further thanked members of the public, as well as the Investigation Team, the Prosecution Team, and the Judiciary for their concerted effort which led to this notable sentence. The Provincial Commissioner also indicated that the sentence was given at the appropriate time amidst Gender-Based-Violence incidents reported during the August month where women are supposed to be celebrated. The General is hopeful that the sentence will send a stern warning to perpetrators of crimes against women that the arm of the law will catch up with them.
Goedehoop se Tennisspan tree as Mpumalanga-Kampioene uit die stryd!
Saterdag, 28 Augustus 2021 was ‘n koue trietsige dag. Goedehoop se tennisspan het die knyp in die lug skaars gevoel. Ten spyte van Covid kon hulle vir die eerste keer hierdie jaar aan ‘n tennis toernooi deelneem en die koue is verdryf deur opgewondenheid, al het die senuwees geknaag. Tennis Suid-Afrika het die BPN Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis Toernooi te Middelburg aangebied.
Die naweek van 22 tot 24 Oktober 2021 vind die Nasional Rondte van die BPN Paribas RCS Rising Star Tennis Toernooi plaas waar Goedehoop se tennisspan dit sal uitspook teen die res van die provinsiale spanne wat deurgedring het.
PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER APPLAUDS MEMBERS AFTER TWO MEN WERE ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF DAGGA TO THE VALUE OF MORE THAN R400 000
NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has applauded SAPS members from the Intelligence Unit in the province as well as their counterparts from the Nelspruit Flying Squad. Their relentless efforts resulted in the arrest of two men, aged 37 and 44 respectively who were found in possession of dagga to the value of about R 409740 at Low’s Creek in the early hours of today, Sunday, 29 August 2021.
According to the report, the members received information about a large volume of dagga stored at a certain house in Low’s Creek. They then conducted an Intelligent Driven Operation and upon arrival at the house, they conducted a search where 13 bags starched with dagga was discovered. The dagga was weighing about 273,16 kilograms.
The two suspects were then arrested and charged accordingly. They are due to appear before the Barberton Magistrate’s Court today, Monday, 30 August 2021 for dealing in drugs.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Manamela has considered the arrest as a great success in the fight against drug-related activities in the communities.
DA is concerned about the dilapidation of Trichardt Electricity Infrastructure as well as the electricity situation affecting Bethal residents
The Govan Mbeki Municipal council convened on Thursday. The meeting was once again conducted on Virtual platforms.
During the meeting, two motions were submitted to the council but both were rejected by the ANC majority with the EFF abstaining.
DA cllrs Ciska Jordaan and James Masango submitted motions to council.
James submitted a motion asking that the newly appointed service provider in Bethal be held accountable.
“This is a sign that the ANC is not bothered by the suffering of the people of Bethal and Emzinoni due to electrical outages that is continuing for more than 2 decades,” said James, “the ANC is only obsessed in looting and not the residents.”
DA Cllr James Masongo
The Bulletin also spoke to DA Councilor Ciska Jordaan about her concerns about the non-acceptance of these two motions. Trichardt is plagued with electricity problems.
Mediclinic Highveld also operates from Trichardt and the electricity problems may put patients at risk.
Ciska was very concerned about the state of service delivery and in particular, the electricity problems.
Cllr Ciska Jordaan.
“The Democratic Alliance in Govan Mbeki is becoming increasingly concerned that for the last few months, Trichardt has been experiencing a number of electrical problems that have left residents and business owners in the town extremely worried for the future of the electrical infrastructure as well as the damage that it has caused and will cause to their assets and the potential negative impact that inconsistent electricity supply has on local businesses,” said Ciska.
“Of course, one must also consider the impact that inconsistent electricity supply has on the local clinic, the dialysing centre, the Mediclinic Hospital and other medical establishments in the town while these establishments rely on the provision of electricity to save lives – more especially so during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Specifically, there have been occasions when several areas in Trichardt have been without electricity for extended periods of time during which 3 minisubs in different parts of the town had to be replaced,” said Ciska, “Since the replacement of these minisubs, residents have complained of fluctuating current and voltage which creates insecurity in the state of safety of the infrastructure as well as the financial cost to businesses and on municipal accounts.”
“The growing concern arises from the fact that Bethal, Emzinoni and Embalenhle towns in Govan Mbeki Municipality are currently experiencing load-shedding imposed by the municipality partially due to dilapidated infrastructure that is not attended to because of the financial incapability of the municipality. The municipality is not only owing ESKOM and Rand Water more than R2bn but also experienced 75% electricity loss during the month of August.”
“Residents in Trichardt are fearing that this town might be next in line to experience prolonged electricity outages such as the towns mentioned above. It is for this reason that the DA submitted a motion to the Govan Mbeki Council that was considered during the council meeting on the 26th August 2021,” she continued.
“The intention of the DA’s motion was to have an in-depth assessment done on the status of electrical infrastructure and safety with regard to electrical infrastructure in Trichardt and a master plan compiled that will specify the status and layout of electrical infrastructure including streetlamps. The motion sought to have a report with the above information made available at the next council meeting. It is unfortunate that the motion was opposed by the ANC and therefore was not accepted by the council.”
“During this meeting, the ANC has openly voted against service delivery. ANC councillors also voted against a DA motion that sought to receive progress updates on electricity distribution in Bethal. It is clear that the ANC does not care for the people of Trichardt or the people of Govan Mbeki.”
Ciska concluded by saying: “The DA-led City of Cape Town is so advanced in electricity distribution that it is providing electricity from renewable sources to its residents. While the country experienced load shedding by ESKOM, the lights are shining in Cape Town. Trichardt and other towns in Govan Mbeki can also be governed with such distinction if its voters give the DA a chance on the 27 October Local Government Elections.”
28 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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