Sasol Secunda Operations launched a massive five-day COVID-19 vaccination drive
Sasol Secunda Operations launched a massive five-day COVID-19 vaccination drive in partnership with the government of Mpumalanga. This is in preparation for its upcoming annual maintenance shutdown, which is expected to involve nearly 20 000 workers this year, among them Sasol employees.
The Premier of Mpumalanga, Mrs Refilwe Maria Mtshweni-Tsipane, spoke to the dignitaries at Sasol Recreational Club, “We are expecting about 8000 employees (Sasol) and 11000 contractors to be vaccinated.”
Mrs Refilwe Maria Mtshweni-Tsipane said that the COVID pandemic has been with us for nearly two years now and Government has put some measures in place to try and curb the spread of the virus.
“This launch of the vaccination rollout is a significant milestone for us,” she said, “as other industry players have also shown interest in being part of this program.”
Mrs Refilwe Maria Mtshweni-Tsipane said that their ultimate target would be 65% herd immunity within our communities. “If we achieve this we would have curbed the spread of the virus and there would be a possibility of going back to living our lives as normal. We might even be able to take off our masks and go back to our normal way of living.”
She said that it is concerning that only about 67% of the elderly have been vaccinated in this district. She also stated that it is a mammoth task to try and get to 65% of the 4,5m people living in Mpumalanga. There are about 105 sites that are vaccinating but people are slow to come and receive the vaccination.
Mtshweni-Tsipane encourages everyone to take part in the program and be vaccinated.
While Sasol will do its best to ensure that all COVID-19 health and safety guidelines and protocols are be observed throughout its maintenance shutdown, the company is launching the vaccination drive as an added measure to safeguard all those who will be involved in the activity.
“By getting a vaccine, individuals do not only protect themselves they also protect their loved ones, their colleagues and their community”, said Mashudu Ndou, Vice President and Head Corporate of Community Affairs for Sasol Secunda Operations.
As this is a partnership, the government of Mpumalanga through its health department has made available important resources such as trained personnel and vaccines to support this large-scale vaccination drive. Furthermore, Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane and Health MEC Sasekani Manzini will attend the launch event of the drive, where they will also tour the state-of-the-art Sasol Medical Centre in Secunda.
The Sasol maintenance shutdown will take place from 30 August to 24 September 2021, and will comprise service provider employees from different regions.
SIX SUSPECTS TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR POSSESSION OF GOLD-BEARING SOIL AS WELL AS CONTRAVENTION OF THE IMMIGRATION ACT
Nelspruit – Six suspects aged between 19 and 42 are due to appear before the Graskop Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, 26 July 2021, for being in possession of gold-bearing soil as well as contravention of the Immigration Act.
Their appearance came after they were nabbed today during an operation which was conducted by members from the Dientjie Police Station who noticed a vehicle offloading suspicious bags around the area and called for backup.
On their arrival at the scene, the suspects, four Mozambicans, one South African, one Zimbabwean were found with the said bags loaded with gold-bearing soil and were arrested on the spot. Police further discovered that four of the suspects are in the country without proper documents hence the additional charge.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, has welcomed the arrest and commended the sterling work done by police in ensuring that the suspects are apprehended so that they can face the full might of the law. She has further warned the community to refrain from illegal mining as apart from being illegal, it also poses danger to life.
AN INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN OPERATION LED TO THE ARREST OF ALLEGED FRAUDSTER
NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, has praised police formations between Mpumalanga and Gauteng for manning an Intelligence-Driven Operation wherein a 52-year-old Nigerian national was nabbed for fraud. His arrest spirals from an incident at which on 06 January 2021, a complainant suffered a loss of R150 000, which was intended to be paid to a supplier.
Unbeknown to the complainant that the account of the said supplier was hacked, leading to the supplier not receiving his payment. After this, the supplier did not render the intended services because he did receive the agreed payment and that is then when it surfaced that actually, the funds were deposited into the wrong account.
The complainant immediately opened a case in that regard and Crime Intelligence, as well as the Detectives in Nelspruit, gathered enough information until a tactical operation was conducted. On 23 July 2021, the suspect was followed and apprehended in Gauteng and police seized a number of documents with bank account numbers.
It has since been discovered that the suspect was also sought in Sophiatown for a theft case that occurred in 2018. Further investigation has also revealed that the suspect was previously arrested in different police stations, three in Gauteng and one in the Eastern Cape provinces respectively for fraud.
The astute investigation team has currently identified a total of 18 bank accounts that they suspect were used for fraudulent activities, however, they are yet to be confirmed by the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC). One of the accounts has preliminary been confirmed as having been used to swindle the Mine workers’ Provident Fund of more than R50 million, however, an extensive probe on this matter is underway.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, 26 July 2021, facing a charge of fraud he allegedly committed in Nelspruit involving the mentioned R150 000.
” This is a job well done by police in the two provinces. They have combined their prowess and executed a well-knitted operation which led to the arrest of the alleged fraudster. We will await for SABRIC to assist in the investigation so that we can be able to identify who else has been defrauded by the suspect. All his activities will be unravelled, ” said General Manamela.
POLICE IN MPUMALANGA ARRESTED MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY PEOPLE FOR DIFFERENT VIOLATIONS
NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, has applauded members of the police as well as other security agencies for working tirelessly over the past week, delivering more than 1360 arrests.
The suspects were charged for different violations including Murder, Attempted Murder, Rape, Assault with an intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, Possession of Stolen Property, Fraud, Armed robbery, Incitement to commit a crime, Possession of drugs, possession of dagga, Illegal possession of unlicensed firearms, and Transportation of liquor during alert level 4 of the Lockdown Regulations.
Some people who were not spared and arrested are those who committed Domestic violence, Drunken driving, Burglary at residential places, Malicious damage to property, Selling of expired food, Violation of the Lockdown Regulations by loitering in the streets beyond the curfew time as well as not wearing masks and other criminal violations. Some of the suspects have already appeared before different courts in the province whilst some will appear tomorrow.
The Provincial Commissioner has delivered a strict caution and waved a red flag to all reprobates to refrain from their actions that impact the amenities of the Republic, including the tarnishing of investors confidence in our economy. She has also urged the community to always adhere to the Lockdown Regulations, lest they run a risk of amassing unnecessary criminal records that will always hang on their heads and bleak their future.
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Die dinge wat ek sê het ‘n groot invloed op wat in ons eie lewens sowel as ander mense se lewens gebeur. Dit dra groot krag, so hoe werk ons met hierdie krag?
INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN OPERATION LED POLICE TO ARREST FIVE SUSPECTS ON DRUG RELATED ALLEGATIONS AND CONFISCATION OF CONTRABAND WORTH ABOUT R500 000
NELSPRUIT – An Intelligence-Driven Operation has led to police in Mpumalanga arresting five suspects in two separate incidents at Ermelo and Lydenburg, respectively. During these operations which were conducted on Wednesday, 21 July 2021 and Friday, 23 July 2021, police confiscated drugs to a combined estimated value of about R500 000.
According to the report, in the first incident; members received information about suspected illegal drug activities carried out at a certain house in Ermelo. It was further alleged that the suspects trafficked the drugs using a silver VW Polo Vivo.
Members from Ermelo K9 Unit together with their counterparts from Standerton K9 Unit then coordinated their resources to act collectively and operationalised the information gathered. On Friday, 23 July 2021, they followed the leads and spotted the identified house which matched the description as given. Upon their arrival at the place, the police formations found three people busy packaging something suspicious inside the house.
They then searched them and combed the house, resulting in more than 580 Heroin sachets discovered in the routine. Police further found an undisclosed amount of cash, which suggests that they (suspects) were involved in drug dealing. The three suspects, aged between 28 and 38 who are Nigerian Nationals were immediately arrested and charged accordingly. One of the suspects is a female and the trio is expected to appear before the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 July 2021.
Meanwhile, members from the Lydenburg K9 Unit also conducted an Intelligence-Driven Operation where they intercepted suspects who were in a planned mission to traffic bags of dagga using a Ford Ranger bakkie.
This operation was carried out on Wednesday, 21 July 2021 too at which police noticed and swooped down upon the mentioned bakkie which had two occupants. The astute members ordered the driver of the vehicle to halt the bakkie. This was followed by a thorough search where nine bags with dagga were found culminating in the driver and his crew being swiftly arrested. They both appeared before the Mashishing Magistrate Court on Thursday, 22 July 2021 where they were remanded in custody. Pat Mngomezulu, aged 36 and Michael Molala, aged 33, is expected at the same court next Thursday, 29 July 2021.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has appreciated the efforts by members for their resilience in ridding the communities of drugs. “It is high time we claim back the streets from the hands of drug dealers and criminal elements. The call made by our good citizens to decisively deal with drugs in the community has been heard. We are acting with speed to close all the nets for trading in illegal drugs within the society. The public should continue to entrust us with valuable information as they can witness the positive results thereof. ” said General Manamela.
Geniet nog ‘n aflewering van “So is die Lewe” uit die pen van Marius Britz.
Om ‘n omroeper te wees op ‘n radiostasie, klink baie romanties. As jy na jou radio luister, klink dit of hulle woorde sommer so maklik vloei. Elke woord netjies ingemessel in ‘n muur van stories en nuus en sport en vertellings en aanhalings.
Maar in werklikheid is dit baie moeilik. Om ‘n program vooraf op te neem, is maklik, want dan kan jy die stotter en verkeerde woordkeuses uitredigeer. Om “lewendig” op die lug te gaan, is ‘n ander storie. Dit vat ure se noukeurige navorsing en voorbereiding, en intense konsentrasie. Die wye wêreld daarbuite luister met ‘n fyn oor na enige teken van rassisme, obseniteite, godsdienstig omstrede stellings, politiek inkorrektheid, ens. Dink maar hoeveel omroepers die afgelope tyd in die nuus was oor uitlatings wat hulle gemaak het.
Dan ook die moeiliker deel: as jy laataand voor die rekenaarskerm sit, en al beweging wat jy sien, is die monitors en volumebeheer en die speellys, en jou enigste gehoor is die mikrofoon voor jou. Dan dink jy soms aan die vroeë jare van Radio Jakaranda, rondom 1985, toe ‘n gewilde deurnagomroeper een oggend in die hartjie van die nag gesê het: “Ek mors my tyd. Daar is niemand daar buite nie”. Hy het alles in die ateljee afgesit, en huis toe gegaan. Groot opskudding, en hy moes vir depressie behandel word voordat hy weer kon uitsaai.
Maar die impak van radio op mense se lewens is elke dag verrassend. So speel jy ABBA se Andantè Andantè. “Take it easy, with me, please. Touch me gently, like a summer breeze”. En die boodskap kom in die ateljee deur: “Jy ken my nie. Maar dankie vir hierdie lied. Ek huil terwyl ek vir jou skryf. My man het my alweer geslaan. My oog is toegeswel, en my lip gebars. Ek is ‘n adjunkhoof by ‘n hoërskool. En ek het moreoggend ‘n belangrike vergadering.” Jy speel “Alleenheid” van Coenie de Villiers. Hy sing: “om die alleenheid te ontwyk, koop ons boeke en musiek, drink ons whiskey in die donker, luister Bach, hoor hoe iemand langsaan lag”.
Die Whatsapp kom van die ou tannie. Sy is al jarelank ‘n weduwee, en haar kinders het alle kontak met haar verbreek. (Terloops, sy is verbasend tegnologies vaardig vir iemand van in die sewentigs). “Liefie,” sê sy, “ek maak gou vir ons twee ‘n broodjie en lekker tee”. En twee minute later: “skuus Engel, ek was gou badkamer toe. Maar ek luister heeltyd na jou.”
Jy weet jou stem op die radio, jou onsigbare teenwoordigheid, word die harnas teen haar eie oorweldigende eensaamheid. Nog later: “Ek is verskriklik lief vir jou”. Haar eensame lewe, haar gepredestineerde ballingskap is onoorkombaar. Op ‘n ander program praat jy oor weermagtye. Jy speel “Ballad of the Green Berets”, ook “Oshakati, Wamboland.” Die troepe se kenwysie.
En daar kom ‘n e-pos deur in die ateljee, effens onsamehangend. “Ek was daar. In die Bos. Ek het lyke gesien. Baie. Ek het iemand geskiet. Ek het hom in die oë gekyk voordat ek hom doodgeskiet het. Hy kyk nou nog elke dag en elke nag vir my. Oral waar ek gaan. Ek wil hom net verwoes. Ek gooi hom met koppies, glase. Selfs met die kombuisstoel. Hy wil nie weggaan nie. My vrou en kinders weet nie hoekom ek so bang en kwaad is nie.
Niemand weet iets daarvan nie. My vrou slaap in ‘n ander kamer omdat ek snags so skreeu in my slaap, omdat die nagmerries my kranksinnig maak. Ek was net agttien jaar oud. Maar brandewyn help. Dit help baie om te vergeet. Dis al wat help. Wou maar net vir jou sê.”
Tydens ‘n klassieke musiek program in Pase speel jy Bach se Matteus-passie, die roerende gedeelte waar Jesus se dooie liggaam ter ruste gelê word in die graf van Josef van Arimitea. Die musiek is tragies-hartseer, dramaties. Die woorde verruklik mooi. “Ruht wohl, ich weiss, einst gibt der Tod mir Rüh.” Toe kom daar ‘n oproep deur in die ateljee: “Hei tjomma, hê jy nie vi’ ons ‘n lekka raat vir spuitpoep nie?”
Maar die belonings is ook daar. Net ná ‘n direkte uitsending van ‘n erediens, laat weet iemand: “Ek was as kind laas in die kerk. Maar ek het vanoggend my lewe in die diens aan die Here oorgegee. Dankie. Dankie. Dankie. Ek weet nou my Verlosser leef!”
Jy bied ‘n program aan oor depressie, en die reaksie is so oorweldigend, oorspoel met rou, verskriklike stories wat met jou gedeel word, dat jyself tydens die lewendige uitsending begin huil. Want jy dink aan die RSM wat een aand, lank terug, teen ‘n boom geleun het in ‘n tydelike basis, omring deur ‘n klomp dooies en gewondes. Hy het met sy hand beduie. “Padrè, welcome to the real world,” het hy gevoelloos, afgestomp, emosioneel verrinneweer, gesê.
Ter wille van jou eie oorlewing moet jy soms net wegkom, net wegbreek van die “real world”. Jy klim vroegoggend, terwyl dit nog stikdonker is op die Weskus, op jou motorfiets, en ry sommer ‘n koers in. Lambertsbaai, Clanwilliam toe. Maar die mis is dig, en dis gevaarlik. Daarom stop jy by ‘n Ultracity se Wimpy vir ‘n koffie. Jy is die enigste persoon daar. Die personeel is moeg, nagskof gewerk. Jy is omring deur moeë mense, dink jy. Terwyl jy jou koffie drink, kom die kelnerin verneem: “Is alles in orde, meneer?”.
AN INTELLIGENCE DRIVEN OPERATION YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS AS MAN ARRESTED WITH STOLEN BUILDING MATERIAL
22 July 2021
An Intelligence-Driven Operation led to the arrest of a 36-year-old man who was found with suspected stolen building material.
“The arrest came after members of the Nelspruit Flying Squad operationalised information gathered by Crime Intelligent members about a man who was in possession of stolen goods in his house. The information led the members to Tinkomeni area in Pienaar at the house of the suspect where he was found in possession of different sorts of building material believed to have been robbed from Hardware PNL in Pienaar Lehawu area. The value of the stolen items is yet to be calculated by the owner.” SAPS provincial spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said in a statement
All the stolen items were found hidden in the suspect’s garage and he could not produce proof of payment thereof hence he was arrested.
The suspect was charged for being in possession of Suspected Stolen Property and he is expected to appear today on 22 July 2021, at the Kanyamazane Magistrate’s Court.
Police have uncovered that this case is linked with two other cases where three people were also found red-handed inside the same hardware and were arrested. They are currently standing accused of cases related to business burglary and have already appeared before the same court where their matters were remanded to a later date.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has welcomed the arrest.
MPUMALANGA – A multi-disciplinary operation was conducted yesterday, 21 July 2021 by the Hawks’ Organised Crime Investigation, Wildlife Trafficking Counter-Intelligence and private sector to curb wildlife trafficking in Nelspruit.
Photo for illustration purposes
Two suspects aged 48 and 53 are expected to appear at the Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court today after they were arrested whilst transporting 19 rhino horns in two bakkies. They were charged for illegal possession and selling of rhino horns. Their vehicles were impounded for further investigation.
The rhino horns with an estimated value of R2,6 million were seized and an investigation to ascertain if the suspects are linked to crimes contravening the Endangered Species Act is continuing.
