Pretoria, 23 June 2021 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has revised its rest and service facilities rates for the first time since its inception in 1998. The new rates took effect from 28 January 2021.
SANRAL’s long-term strategy, Horizon 2030 is the blueprint for its development over the next ten years and among the key strategic interventions is the adoption of an Integrated Funding Model which entails the generation of its own revenue.
Furthermore, the diversification of revenue sources and the development of sustainable revenue streams from the identified business areas are among the key strategic objectives. SANRAL’s Business Development Strategy identifies key pillars and key focus areas through which SANRAL can derive or significantly increase its revenue. One of these is that of rest and service facilities.
“The previous levy/rate structure had been in existence since 1998 when SANRAL was officially formed. The revised rates were developed with the intention of ensuring fairness to the market for all parties,” explained Thabiso Malahleha, SANRAL’s Head of Strategy.
There is also an approved Rest and Service Facilities Policy that outlines potential developers’ planning and technical requirements. The revised rate card considers factors such as traffic, Gross Lettable Area, and location of the facility with regards to rural or urban. The intention is to also let out opportunities for development on SANRAL owned land through an open and competitive tender process.
“Noting that there may be cases where access to the facility is not direct, in the strict definition it is accessed through a SANRAL interchange which needs to be maintained accordingly,” continued Malahleha.
SANRAL will at intervals review both the policy and rate card to ensure reasonable alignment with the market. Noting that there are existing facilities with direct access off the national road network that do not have an agreement in place. A process to engage these facility owners or operators will be followed.
Geniet nog ‘n aflewering van “So is die Lewe” uit die pen van Marius Britz.
Op my daaglikse perlgrimstog om prioviand vir die beleggingstydperk te gaan bekom by die naaste winkelsentrum, kook my bloed meteens: in die veld langs die pad loop ‘n man en hou ‘n brandmaer, verflenterde hond vas aan ‘n nylontou wat om die hond se nek vas is. Die verwilderde hond se oë is angebevange, en kort-kort steek hy vas, waarop die man met ‘n plastieksambok in sy ander hand die verwilderde hond genadeloos slaan terwyl hy op die dier skreeu en skel.
My eerste impuls was om in die veld in te ry en die trogdoliese wreedaard onderstebo te ry, die hond op te laai en hom hom met liefde te gaan versorg. Dit is ‘n algemene ding hier in ons omgewing. Veral naweke sien jy die veghonde vol letsels wat iewers heen gesleep word vir hondegevegte. Daar is skynbaar baie geld vir weddenskappe op die spel. Daar is ook gerugte dat klein skoothondjies gesteel word om tydens sulke gevegte die vegters op te sweep en kwaad te maak.
Die herrinering word opgevolg deur berigte op sosiale media en die Burger. ‘n Man en vrou word afgeneem waar hulle sogenaamd iemand se lieflinghond “oppas”. Hondesitters, noem die tweetal hulself. Ongelukkig vir hulle het die eienaar kringtelevisie in sy huis geinstalleer, en daar word duidelik gesien hoe die hond genadeloos geslaan word, geklap word, aan sy nek gegryp word en deur die lug by die deur uitgeslinger word. Skynbaar was dit vir hulle snaaks, want die tweetjies geniet dit oënskynlik.
Met hierdie twee grafiese beskrywings hierbo sal menige hondeliefhebber onmiddelik die roering van woede en afgryse ervaar. Veral as jy self honde het wat jy soos kleinkinders hanteer, en wat jou hele lewe verryk.
Sy naam was Marx, ons swart worshondjie. Hy was die een wat op sy oupa se skoot aan die slaap geraak het, wat lief was om onder die komberse voor die gasverwarmer te lê, om saam met oupa sy Sondagmiddagslapie op die bed in die sonnetjie te vang. Sy grootste vreugde was om die sakke te deursnuffel as sy oupa dalk ‘n draai by Hospice se winkel gemaak het, want daar was altyd ‘n speelding iewers wat hy dan opgespeel het, die watte-binnegoed oor die hele huis versprei, soos hy instinkmatig geteel is.
Die ritueel met etenstyd was so voorspelbaar; hy sou geduldig sit en wag terwyl hy kyk hoe sy kos ingeskep word, dan sou hy, stertjie swaaiend, stip kyk hoe die sousie oor die blokkies gegooi word, dan het hy gehardloop na die hoekie waar hy sy aandete sou eet. Na ete het hy met ‘n behaaglike sug op die bank kom spring, en dan weggetrek met ‘n gesnork van kakofoniese omvang, reg vir die nag. Wanneer daar egter ‘n geluid was, het hy skielik opgespring, en met ‘n donderende stem gaan soek na die skelms. Marx het die hart van ‘n leeu gehad, die brein van ‘n jakkals, die lyf van ‘n wors, en die blaf van ‘n Rottweiler.
Drie weke gelede het hy egter net eensklaps begin om sy agterbeentjie te sleep. Hy kon nie meer opspring om op sy oupa se skoot te kom sit nie. Die verlamming het vinnig versprei. Eers was dit sy hele agterlyfie, toe sy voorlyf. Marx was binne enkele dae heeltemal verlam. Daaglikse besoeke aan die veearts het bevestig dat dit ‘n genetiese ding was wat worshonde so jonk soos vier jaar al kan plattrek. Geen medikasie, inspuitings of oefening het gehelp nie. Ons het alles probeer, dapper gebly. Ten duurste cannabisolie vir diere gekoop en getrou dit vir hom gevoer. Die hortende asempie het egter vir ons duidelik gemaak dat Marx se longspiere ook begin verlam raak het.
En toe.
Met die wintersonnetjie wat alreeds laag oor die see hang, het ons hom veearts toe gevat, na ‘n ander een toe vir ‘n tweede opinie. Toegedraai in sy nuwe rooi kombersie, met sy gunsteling teddiebeer langs hom. Die een waarmee hy so baldadig gespeel het.
Die veearts was egter klinies en reguit. Daar is geen kans nie. Nie eens ‘n peperduur opersasie nie. Sy het vol deernis ons gelos om totsiens te sê. Marx se ogies was dof, sy asempie was vlak en hygend. Hy kon nie beweeg nie. Ek het sy koppie in my hand gehou waar hy op die ondersoektafel gelê het. En toe, meneer, het ek gehuil. Hartstogtelik geweeklaag. Marx het sy verlamde nekkie opgedwing, sy koppie effens gelig, en die trane op my wange gelek.
Op daardie oomblik het ek uitgeloop. Ek wou nie by wees nie. My oë was te troebel om die mooi van die weskus se sonsondergang te sien, want my sonnetjie het ook so pas gesak.
Meneer die hondeslaner, en wag vir jou langs die veld. Miskien moet ek vir jou wys wat daardie sambok van jou nog alles kan doen.
Arrests made for non-compliance with COVID-19 Regulations during the Overall Friday programme in Emalahleni
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe, once more calls on communities to comply with the COVID-19 Regulations.
The MEC was speaking shortly after the “Overall Friday Programme” which was conducted in and around Emalahleni last night.
During the operation, over twenty people were arrested for failure to be at their places of residence in line with the curfew.
One person was arrested for being in possession of a vehicle that was reportedly stolen in Embalenhle.
The police also brought to book about seven more suspects who were wanted in connection with assault with intention to do grievous bodily harm cases in the area.
Others suspects were caught for offences that include house breaking and theft, driving under the influence of alcohol and carjacking.
About nine liquor premises and three filling stations were also visited during the operation
Read more about the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison HERE
MEC welcomed these successes but he appealed to the police to spare no effort in making Emalahleni a crime-free area.
He further emphasized that government’s efforts to eradicate crime will bear fruits if the police do their work with integrity and show no leniency towards perpetrators of crime.
“Our police must not show any leniency towards criminals. The rogue elements must be mercilessly pursued and no stone should be left unturned.”
” The police must respect themselves and do their work with utmost integrity in order to win the respect of communities. It cannot be accepted that law enforcement officers are constantly accused by communities for failure to do their work properly,” said the MEC.
Shongwe also called on liquor traders to operate within the ambit of Disaster Management Act by ensuring full compliance to all COVID-19 health protocols.
He observed that some liquor outlets and renowned eateries visited, there was no social distancing among patrons.
“Taverners must not only prioritize profits but they should comply with all COVID-19 Health protocols.”
“Adequate Social distancing among the patrons must be ensured at all times in these establishments,” added the MEC.
He is also reminding communities that the role of the vaccination programme does not mean the pandemic is over as numbers are rapidly rising.
He encourages communities to continue wearing their masks in public, washing their hands or sanitizing regularly, and avoiding large gatherings.
Overall Friday Programme is implemented from Friday to Sunday in identified areas to promote law enforcement visibility and fight crime through a multidisciplinary approach.
MPUMALANGA – Roland Smit (46), Michael Harris(38) and Alice Smit (40) appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate”s Court on Friday, 25 June 2021 facing charges of Corruption, Fraud and Theft.
It is alleged that in 2018 Roland Smit and Micheal Harris were employed as managers at Crown National food distributors in Nelspruit, where they outsourced transportation, against company policy, to other transport companies.
These transport companies were allegedly paid from Crown National’s account. It is also reported that the duo would further transfer the money into their personal bank accounts, prejudicing Crown National of an actual loss of R 2 289 608.00.
From left to right: Roland Smit, Michael Harris and Alice Smit
Alice Smit, the wife of Roland Smit, was the administrator on behalf of these companies and who also allegedly received money into her personal bank account.
The trio was released on R10 000 bail each with stringent conditions that include attending all court proceedings until the case is finalised and further not interfere with the investigation and witnesses. The case was postponed to 20 August 2021 for further investigation.
Evander Gold Mines reached out to 3 NPO’s today when they donated to their organisations.
Livhuwani Ramuedzisi, Evander Gold Mine HR Manager, said that they want to work hand in hand with NPO’s and NGO’S in the area.
“We invited you here to receive this token from us,” said Levhuwani, “it is to say that we acknowledge the work that you are doing and we are fully aware of what you have been doing in the community.”
A police constable was shot by her husband, also a police officer, after an argument in a local restaurant
Bethal: Today, 2021-06-24 at about 18:45 police from Bethal received a complaint of murder which took place on Moses Kotane street where a woman was shot dead by her husband.
On arrival at the scene, the police found a body of a woman which happen to be Constable Sarah Aphane. She was stationed at eMzinoni SAPS.
Crime scene in Bethal
It is alleged that the couple had an argument near Cedar Spur Bethal where the husband struck the wife on the upper body.
After striking her, he then withdrew his firearm and fired a shot which hit her on the left side of the upper body close to the heart.
The suspect aged 36, who is also a police officer stationed at Hendrina, was arrested on the scene and detained at Bethal cells.
All role players including Secunda Local Criminal Record Centre(LCRC), District Commissioner Brigadier Mtungwa, Bethal detectives, IPID, Bethal Emergency Medical Services, Bethal Forensic Pathology were summoned to the scene and the body was taken to Bethal government mortuary by Mr Sipho Sibande. Bethal CPF (Community Policing Forum) assisted the police in securing the scene.
How to report a stray animal emergency, suspected or confirmed cruelty.
There might come a time where you see an injured animal or one in danger and this week we will look at what to do in such a situation. This includes injured animals who appears to be without a caregiver in that moment or animals that appear to be in distress.
WHEN YOU FIND AN INJURED, ABANDONED OR STRAY ANIMAL – HOW TO REPORT IT?
Your own pet should be taken to your vet immediately. Withholding medical care from your animals can possibly be reported as cruelty which is punishable by law.
Save your local SPCA and welfare organisation’s emergency numbers as well as the areas you frequently travel to.
If you find an animal that is abandoned, injured or in danger, please DO NOT LEAVE THEM!
Keep calm as the animal can feel your anxiety. Most of the time they are scared and might run away from you. Never chase them as they can get injured further. If it isn’t safe for you nor the animal to approach, then keep an eye on them or follow from a distance until help arrives.
Call your nearest SPCA on their emergency number. Call until they answer. Don’t just send a message. An animal’s life depends on it! They have to attend to sick or injured animals that do not appear to have an owner at the time.
Give an exact location. Drop a pin via WhatsApp, of the specific location or at least a specific address. Not just the house behind no 2 Spuy drive! The SPCA or other welfare organisations can’t drive up and down searching for a hurt animal 30 minutes after you sent a message, nor without a proper description. They rarely find the animal and it might be too late.
Give a proper description of the animal e.g. a black Labrador with a white patch limping in this area in this direction.
If you have a food and water rescue pack in your car, you can put it in a safe area for them. In general, we don’t advise giving food, but sometimes this animal has not had any for days or it can get the animal to come to you.
If you can get close or can move them out of harms way, do so and stay with them.
If you have something warm close by and they are cold, cover them.
Take them to the nearest veterinarian or SPCA if possible, as it will save time. The Vet will handle the emergency and contact the SPCA if needed.
If you hit the animal with your car, please do not drive off. Rather lie and say you found them than leave them to suffer and die!
Follow up until the animal is safe. You are at that time all they’ve got!
NOTE: Don’t report emergencies through Facebook as it is not monitored 24/7 and precious time could be lost.
REPORTING CONFIRMED OR SUSPECTED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
It is your moral duty to report cruelty to animals. If you are in doubt, still report it as a welfare check might be in order to confirm. Read more here on SIGNS OF CRUELTY.
Cruelty to animals is a crime and is punishable by law!
Most organisations will require some paperwork for this, but it will stay confidential and will not be revealed to the accused.
1. If it is safe for you to take video or pictures do so.
2. Get the exact address or pin drop.
3. Contact your local SPCA.
4. Assist with the case where possible.
DO YOU KNOW OF AN ABANDONED ANIMAL OR SAW ONE BEING DUMPED?
Abandoning an animal is an act of animal cruelty and an offence in terms of the Animal Protection Act No 71 of 1962. If you see or know of someone who has moved and left their animals behind or who goes away for long periods of time and leave their animals alone or those who dump them somewhere, please report it!
Anyone can open a case of abandonment or cruelty at your nearest SAPS. Even if you think nothing will happen, you are creating a paper trail which could save an animal’s life in the future. You can also contact your local SPCA or other animal welfare organisations for guidance.
Thank you to each of you who are reporting cruelties or animals in distress. You can be the voice for the voiceless! Next week we will look at what to do if your pet is poisoned.
TEENAGER DUE TO APPEAR BEFORE COURT ON ALLEGATIONS OF STABBING HIS UNCLE TO DEATH
NELSPRUIT – A 17-year-old boy is soon expected to appear before the Acornhoek Magistrate’s Court on allegations that he stabbed his 52-year-old uncle to death. This shocking incident is said to have occurred yesterday, Monday 21 June 2021, at Ratanang Village in Casteel near Bushbuckridge.
According to the report, the teenager was at home when his uncle, who lived with him as his guardian, arrived. It is said that an argument broke out between them which ended sadly as the boy allegedly stabbed his uncle on the upper body repeatedly. The matter was reported to police whereupon their arrival at the scene, found the victim in a pool of blood still bleeding profusely.
Medical personnel were summoned and they, unfortunately, certified the victim dead. A case of murder was then opened and the suspect was arrested whilst taking into consideration the fact that he is still a minor. The matter was handled under the guidance of the Probation Officers.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Thulani Phahla has strongly denounced the incident. ” It is unfortunate that violence has become an accepted norm of resolving matters in our society and this often results in unbearable circumstances. This situation needs to be urgently corrected by all walks of life, ” commented General Phahla.
