MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER CONDEMNS AN INCIDENT WHERE AN ELDERLY WOMAN WAS SET ALIGHT
NELSPRUIT: Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has strongly condemned an incident which took place on 09 January 2021, where an 80-year-old elderly woman was burned to death in what is believed to be a mob justice attack.
The condemnation by General Zuma came after facts were brought before the police that the victim, who was accused of practising witchcraft, was hacked with a hoe then locked in her house in Mbuzini near Tonga, before being set alight.
General Zuma said, it is disheartening that the elderly community, often suffer such accusations from sections of the society and strongly warned people to refrain from their actions. As a result, General Zuma has directed police to work tirelessly to ensure that those arrested, face the full might of the law.
Four suspects aged between 44 and 22, have already been arrested so far and will possibly make their first appearance before the Tonga Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, Tuesday, 12 January 2021. According to a progress report on the case, other suspects are still outstanding on this investigation and arrests are imminent.
General Zuma has called for stability in the area where the woman was murdered.
Read more about the Department of Community Safety, Security And Liaison HERE
POLICE INVESTIGATE TWO MURDERERS INVOLVING TWO PRINCES
NELSPRUIT: The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has strongly condemned the killing of two Princes, who were shot and killed in two different areas.
General Zuma has then called on the community to work with police during the investigations into these senseless killings.
The first murder was of Prince Zwelithini Dlamini 47-years-old who was shot and killed by an unknown man who stormed into his house in Matsulu near Nelspruit on 04 January 2021 around 22:00.
The victim was eating food with his two friends when this callous incident happened.
The heartless assailant after entering the house, did not utter a word but opened fire aimed at Dlamini killing him instantly.
His friends ran for cover and escaped unharmed.
Police are appealing to anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to contact Captain Elvis Shabangu on 0824490339.
Meanwhile on another seperate incident on 09 January 2021, in Siyabuswa.
Another royal family member Prince Andries Mbangelwa Mahlangu 67-years-old was shot and killed while sitting in his vehicle. His son told police that he heard gunshots at around 08:15 and went out to investigate. He then saw two men running out of the yard where his father had parked his vehicle.
When he approached the vehicle, he realised that his father was leaning with his chest against the steering wheel unconscious.
He further discovered that the victim was shot, the son immediately summoned police who mobilised all role players including medical personnel. Mahlangu was certified dead on the scene.
No one has been brought to account so far and police are requesting anyone with information that can assist in the investigation to contact Lieutenant Colonel April Aphane on 0823026621.
Three people killed in accident on N2 Road near Mkhondo
A head on collision that occurred this afternoon around 15h00 on N2 Road between Ermelo land Mkhondo,has claimed the lives of three people. The collision occurred between an articulated truck and a sedan.
The deceased were all passengers in the sedan. The driver of the sedan and another passenger sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby Piet Retief Hospital.
The driver of the truck got away with slight injuries.
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Hoe kan jy gefokus op God bly in 2021? Wees bewus van afleidings wat jou die jaar potensieël kan probeer weghou van dit wat werklik tel. Ontdek saam ons dit wat volgens Jesus werklik tel en fokus daarop in 2021.
RESIDENTS WARNED AS MANY VICTIMS FALL PREY INTO SOCIAL MEDIA FRAUD
NELSPRUIT – Residents are again warned to take extra precautions and be careful with their money as many fall into traps which scammers set for their unsuspecting victims, defrauding them of their hard-earned cash. Since the festive season began last year up to this far, the police in Mpumalanga received more than 15 cases where members of the public were lured via the Internet and social media platforms to deposit a sum of money into deals which were later found to be unscrupulous and never materialised, resulting in them losing a considerable amount of money.
Perpetrators often post appealing advertisements regarding the sale of cars, household appliances, cell phones, pets, generators, containers for sanitisers and other valuable items on social media platforms, including Facebook and the Internet. These suspects would then convince their targets who are in a dire need of the mentioned items that they can be obtained at an unbelievable price. Vulnerable victims would then engage in some form of communication with these faceless sellers who would then persuade on urgently getting a cash deposit either via EFT or deposit at the bank before the needed items are delivered.
After such a fraudulent transaction is made, the suspect would confirm having received the money and at times even demand more cash then vanished into thin air without fulfilling the promise. Despite countless warnings in the past, these type of trends continues to happen.
In a recent incident which had occurred at Bethal on 14 December 2020, the complainant was defrauded with a total of R150 000, after being made to believe that a white Toyota bakkie posted and advertised on a particular social media platform was authentic. The victim got hooked and was told by the fraudster to make an urgent deposit of the cash in order to secure the said vehicle urgently. He was further convinced that the vehicle documents will be prepared for him immediately after the payment. He then excitedly made the deposit and unfortunately, that was the last time he had his hands on his money.
The police were notified about the incident and a case of fraud was opened. They (police) have learned with great concern that others across the province were scammed of thousands of rands in the same fraudulent process.
The public is therefore again urged to approach reputable businesses, shops or car dealerships that are operating within the ambit of the law whenever they want to make purchases. The community members are further advised to conduct proper research rather than naively relying on advertisements displayed on social media as most of the information tends to be misleading. The public should also guard against the idea of quickly depositing or transferring cash to unknown people without proper verification.
Contact Mpumalanga Department: Community Safety, Security and Liaison HERE
Anyone with information that can assist police in apprehending these perpetrators with a view to putting their evil mission to an abrupt end, should call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111. Alternatively, they can send information via MySAPSAPP which can be downloaded to any smartphone. All information will be treated with strictest confidentiality and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
Geniet nog ‘n uitgawe van Marius Britz se “So is die Lewe”. Hierdie week se tema is “La gayyim!.
‘n Ou Ierse spreuk lui: Leef só, dat wanneer jy gebore word, die wêreld lag, maar wanneer jy sterf, die wêreld huil. Hoe langer jy daaroor dink, hoe meer maak dit sin. Voorbeelde van mense wie se dood die wêreld diep geraak het, is daar baie. Ayrton Senna was die groot Brasiliaanse renmotorheld, wat die Brasiliane hoop en trots gegee in ‘n donker tyd in hulle geskiedenis. Sy dood in ‘n F1-ongeluk in 1994 het ‘n hele nasie in rou gedompel.
So ook Evita Peron, die Argentiniese presidentsvrou. Moeder Teresa. Prinses Diana, Elvis Presley, noem maar op. Mense wat onteenseglik ander se lewens aangeraak het. Nader aan die huis is daar mense soos Johannes Kerkorrel en Gè Korsten, wie se dood derduisende aanhangers geskok en verbysterd gelaat het, en van hulle kultusfigure ná hulle dood gemaak het.
In die Bybel lees ons van Simson, ‘n merkwaardige man met geweldige krag en ‘n nog groter humeur. As hy hom vererg, bars die Filistyne. As hy ‘n weddenskap vir 30 linnehemde en pakke klere verloor, slaan hy 30 Filistyne dood, en gee hulle klere aan die Filistynse wenners van die weddenskap. As hulle kom om hom te vang, slaan hy ‘n 1000 van hulle dood met ‘n eselskakebeen en noem die plek Kakebeenshoogte.
As sy aanstaande skoonpa hom indoen met ‘n ooreenkoms, vang hy 300 jakkalse, bind hulle twee-twee aan mekaar vas, en maak ‘n brandende fakkel in elke paar se stert vas voordat hy hulle die Filistyne se landerye en hooimiedens injaag. Nou, elkeen wat al probeer het om een rooijakkals wat skaaplammers doodbyt, te skiet met ‘n jaggeweer en teleskoop, sal weet watter prestasie dit was om 300 jakkalse te vang met die hand en aan mekaar vas te bind.
Hy verskeur ook ‘n leeu met die kaal hand. Fenomenale man!
Simson verskeur ook ‘n leeu met die kaal hand
Dan vang die Filistyne hom nadat hy in onnadenkendheid sy kraggeheim aan Delila vertel. Hy verloor sy krag, en sy oë word uitgesteek. Al die Filistyne se leiers vier fees in hulle god Dagon se tempel! Tot op die dak van die tempel is daar 3000 mense wat fuif en dans. Simson bid dan om hom te wreek op die mense wat sy eer gesteel het, en kry vir oulaas sy krag terug. Hy trek die tempel se pilare om, en almal sterf. Soos hyself ook, wat gebid het dat dit moet gebeur. Dan die interessante vers. Ten spyte van sy manjefieke lewe, sê Rigters 16:30: Simson het met sy dood meer mense doodgemaak as in sy lewe.
Dit laat mens wonder: wat sou jy anders doen, as jy soos Simson die keuse gehad het om reg te maak vir die vroeëre verkeerde keuses van jou lewe? Miskien sou jy kon kies om meer lief te hê, om ander mense se seer beter raak te sien. Daarmee saam, om te sê: ek is hier vir jou. Altyd. Miskien sou jy ook kon kies om ‘n dikker vel te hê vir mense se geite.
Ons homo sapiens is dikwels soos boerbokke: as die voorbok deur die heining spring, spring al die ander agterna. Sonder om te weet waar hulle gaan beland. Maar, mense is ook bietjie anders as bokke, ons kry te skaam om terug te gaan en te sê: dit was ‘n fout, wanneer ons besef dit was onnooslik om sekere dinge te doen. Dalk sou jy veel makliker gesê het: “ek was verkeerd. Vergewe my asseblief.” Dink net hoeveel makliker dit jou lewe sou maak.
Miskien sou jy jou minder aan stories gesteur het. ‘n Leuen wat gefluister word, trek baie vinniger en verder as die waarheid wat kliphard geroep word. So kan baie mense getuig van ‘n gebabbel en gerugte wat hulle diep, diep, seergemaak het. In so mate dat hulle hulself onttrek het van alles en almal, en emosioneel siek geword het. As jy terugkyk, besef hoe lagwekkend dit eintlik was dat jy jou gesteur het aan sekere mense se opinies.
‘n Leuen wat gefluister word, trek baie vinniger en verder as die waarheid wat kliphard geroep word.
Jy sou dalk met jou oë groter oop deur die lewe gegaan het, en agtergekom het wie werklik jou vriende is, wie jy eerder moet vermy. Ek meen ook mens sou baie harder daarteen gewaak het om jou humeur te verloor. Soms kry jy koue rillings as jy dink aan al die kere toe jy te haastig reageer het, te vinnig ‘n mening uitgespreek het. Of te ongeduldig was, of bevooroordeeld was teenoor mense wat dit glad nie verdien het nie.
Elkeen van ons sou meer kon lag. ‘n Oudkollega van my van Secunda was oral gewild en bekend, nie net oor sy diep menslikheid nie, maar oor die manier waarop hy gelag het. Jy kon hom myle vêr hoor lag, en almal om hom het saamgelag. Hy was ‘n ligstraal in vele mense se lewens met sy aansteeklike lag. Vandag nog bewonder ek mense wat hartlik kan lag, uit hulle maag uit, sonder dat iemand noodwendig ‘n grap vertel het.
Laastens: jy sou dalk beter na jouself gekyk het, meer geoefen het, gesonder geëet het, gewerk het aan jou stresvlakke, meer ontspan het, meer nuwe dinge probeer het, vreemde horisonne ontdek het. Kortom, as jy toè geweet het wat jy noú weet, sou jy dalk anders gelèèf het, in plaas van net bestaan het. Begin vandag nog om die foute wat jy in die verlede gemaak het te vermy!
Dan sal jou dood, soos diè van Simson en al die ander, mense laat huil. Maak dit jou nuwejaarsvoorneme vir 2021. Jy het nie beheer oor virusse en dood nie. Maar jy het beheer oor jou eie benadering teenoor lewe en jou voorsorg teen rampe.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Terwyl ons 2021 nou betree in ‘n onsekere wêreld is ‘n baie belangrike vraag om jouself te vra is: “Wat is die beste uitkyk vir 2021?”. Mag jy beleef hoe die beste uitkyk jou jaar kom rig op die beste pad moontlik.
2020 ended with a spectacularly beautiful full moon. From where we live, I could see the lights of Emzinoni and Bethal to the south and Morgenzon to the North East.
I stood outside watching the moon (towards Emzinoni/Bethal) and I saw fireworks in the sky.
This was strange as no fireworks were permitted by the municipality this year. It was also after nine, so curfew was already in place.
It symbolised 2020 for me. While God was still in control and showing his wonderful world to us there would still be those that would defy every effort to curb the spread of the pandemic.
2020 was a particularly difficult year for us. The economic impact that COVID-19 brought about, devastated thousands of businesses and employees. The country’s economy took an even deeper nosedive and South Africa is now in deep, deep trouble.
We have lost friends to this wretched disease that now plagues the world. In December alone, I was personally affected with the news of three people that succumbed to COVID-19.
Happy New Year from The Bulletin!
This brings me to the fireworks that I saw last night. I must say that I do not like wearing a mask. I do not like to sometimes struggle to breathe, especially after a little bit of exercise (climbing stairs as an example).
But those that of us that are concerned about the pandemic oblige and keep to the regulations. Then there are those that would rather set of the fireworks.
This is how 2020 have been to me. Choices about what mask to wear, not if I am going to wear one. Choices about going to large gatherings or not. There are many instances where wearing a mask made reporting very difficult, but we still chose to stay within the limits as far as possible. We even removed our masks at times as the masks would obscure the voices of people, much to the annoyance of some of our readers.
Let us then take lessons from the year 2020 and build on it as we enter 2021 within a new lockdown.
Let us all try and make South Africa safe again.
I awoke this morning with a strange feeling about the new year.
Gone is the excitement that normally accompanies the first day of the year. Gone is the expectations of a “Prosperous New Year”. Gone are all those “New Year’s Resolutions”.
2021 promises to be a year of challenges, of difficulties and I am sure, more hardships.
But it also promises to be a year of miracles, kindness and compassion. A time to care about our fellow man and a time to make a difference in the communities around you.
It is also an ideal opportunity to reaffirm your relationship with God.
In the movie Evan Almighty, Morgan Freeman plays the character of God. When Evan’s wife decided that she cannot cope with his strange behaviour and change, she left him. Morgan spoke to her in a diner and said the following lines:
“Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?”
This is my wish for every one of you for 2021. Let us use our opportunities to be patient. Let us use our opportunities to be courageous! Let us make God our anchor again and let us love our families again!
Thank you for your support during 2020!
With your support The Bulletin continued to grow during the past year and with your support we will continue to do so in 2021.
