Additional accused handed themselves over for the theft of over R2,1m worth of conveyor belts.
MPUMALANGA – Ian Stewart (58) and Macnab Campbell Quinton (50) handed themselves to the police before they appeared in the Evander Magistrate Court on Monday, 12 September 2022.
Ian Alistar Stewart
This happened after they learned that they were sought by a multidisciplinary team which included the Secunda-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Secunda Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime, Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) and Secunda K9 unit during the operation conducted in Springs, Embalenhle and Witbank respectively on 07 September 2022 for theft of conveyor belts.
Campbell Quinton Macnab
During the operation Mxolisi Mona (29)and Veli Charles Mahlangu (44) were arrested, charged and taken to court on 9 September 2022 where they were joined by Adam Voges (48) who handed himself before the court. The trio was released on warning and the case was postponed to 29 September for tracing of the remaining accused.
Veli Charles Mahlangufor illustration purposes only
In total, five accused were brought before the court and later released on warning pending the ongoing investigation and the arrest of the last accused. All five suspects are expected to appear together in the same court on 29 September 2022.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the multidisciplinary approach by the team and she promised that no stone will be left unturned. “We shall investigate without fear, favour and prejudiced,” she added.
Adam Daniel Voges
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous
Nelspruit: 12 September 2022 – A 30-year-old suspect accused of fatally hacking a suspected intruder who peeped through his rented room’s window in the early hours of 11 September 2022, is expected to appear before the Belfast Magistrate’s Court, tomorrow, 13 September 2022.
In reaction to the unexpected incident, it is said that the suspect allegedly grabbed an axe, hacking the victim in the head. Police are investigating the strange visit and the circumstances that might have led to the brutal act. It is further alleged that both the victim and the suspect were somehow known as friends. It is also alleged that the two were earlier sitting together before the incident.
for illustration purposes only
After the said incident, the Police, as well as the Emergency Medical Service in Belfast, were summoned to the said location where, upon arrival, they found the victim lying on the ground with a wound on his head. The man was unfortunately certified dead on the scene.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has condemned the brutal (hacked) murder and urged community members to resolve matters in a civil manner rather than resorting to violence.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous
Three suspects, aged 29, 29 and 43 were arrested today, Wednesday 07 September 2022 at Leslie after staging a robbery at a certain farm earlier around 07h30 am.
According to the information, the three male suspects went to the farm under the pretence of being potential customers of livestock. Once they were let in, the three held a 60-year-old female (farm owner) together with her helper hostage. It is further alleged that the helper somehow managed to escape however the owner was left alone with the suspects who allegedly assaulted her as well as stabbed her in the thigh.
The men are said to have robbed her of several items including an undisclosed amount of cash, an airgun, tools, a grinder, house keys, a bag, and other items before they fled the scene.
Police as well as local farmers in the area were alerted about the incident and at around 09h00 am the three suspects were swiftly cornered, two along the N17 Road whilst the third one was apprehended next to another farm nearby. The suspects were reportedly found in possession of the items that were allegedly stolen earlier at the farm. They were then charged for possession of suspected stolen properties and they could possibly be linked with the said farm robbery.
The three are expected to make their first appearance at Leslie Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 09 September 2022 facing the said charges. Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against them or linking them to other crimes committed elsewhere as the investigation progresses.
Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has appreciated the arrest of the suspects as well as the recovery of the items that were stolen earlier during the robbery. “Working with other stakeholders in the fight against crime seems to produce positive results and it gives us joy to be experiencing such successes. We encourage others to join hands with us in the path of creating a safer environment for all citizens” said the General.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous
Laerskool Secunda se 0/9 krieketspan is onoorwonne hierdie seisoen na 7 wedstryde.
Onder leiding van mnr. Ruben Silvo en mnr. Roelof Steyn as afrigters het hierdie span van krag tot krag gegroei gedurende hulle 2022 krieketseisoen. Die seuns het ook ‘n krieketkliniek bygewoon wat deur Nickus Boshoff van NB Krieket akademie aangebied is in Juniemaand.
Met hul harde oefening en vasberadenheid het hierdie seuns al 7 hulle krieketwedstryde gewen. Die volgende 3 Laerskool Secunda krieketspelers is as die beste boulers aangewys; Aldrich Fourie, Aaron Odell en Juan Badenhorst.
Laerskool Secunda se 0/9 krieketspan saam met hulle afrigters.
Die 2 grootste oorwinnings sover was dié van 10 paaltjies elk en waar hulle teenstanders slegs 21 en 31 lopies aangeteken het.
Met 4 wedstryde oor van hierdie seisoen is Laerskool Secunda baie opgewonde om te sien wat vir hierdie gesogte span voorlê.
Vir meer inligting oor ons #wennerskool volg gerus vir Laerskool Secunda op hulle Facebookblad.
WHAT ARE YOU REALLY SUPPORTING WHEN YOU ADVERTISE, SHARE OR TAKE ANIMALS FROM FREE TO GOOD HOME ADS?
Our biggest challenge in an overwhelmed animal welfare system is the massive overpopulation crisis fuelled by irresponsible owners, breeders, pet shops that sell animals and those who support them. This includes every single person who is highly irresponsible in giving away animals, for free, especially to strangers.
There are not enough homes for every domestic animal and that is why we so fiercely advocate for spay and neutering. So, if there are not enough homes, how many good homes do you think there are? What do you consider a good home? Sadly, a “good home” means very little in today’s society.
What people don’t seem to understand, is that whether they sell, buy, give an animal away for free or adopt, it is never just about a good home, but about a good placement for that animal. The needs of the animal should come first.
Your intentions might be considered well-meaning, but here we will share some reasons why you should seriously reconsider free to good home ads! Animal rescuers can share hundreds of stories about this that ended up in horror situations for those animals.
Just a short while back I spoke to someone about a situation locally. A person gave an animal away for free and thought it was a good home. A while later they asked how the animal was doing. The new owners sent photos. The animal was chained, lost weight and appeared very scared. They did take the animal back, but it was an irresponsible homing and the animal paid for it, even if just for a while. They said they wished they did better for the animal and that they will never do this again! Other stories are even worse!
Image by The Paw Company
A FEW REASONS WHY “FREE TO GOOD HOME” ADS HURT ANIMALS.
First of all it fuels the massive overpopulation crisis. How many of those animals do you think are sterilized? If these animals are not re-homed properly with home checks and sterilization, through the SPCA or other reputable animal welfare organizations, these animals countless times, end up in the wrong hands! Trailers full of dogs and other animals are found at borders and other places by authorities.
Where do you think they got all these animals? Free to good home “stock” usually comes from backyard breeders, irresponsible owners or those that do not want animals anymore because it is inconvenient for them. Someone in a difficult situation, the very few exceptions, will do re-homing through a responsible organization. Paying for an animal is no guarantee that they will be taken care of or loved.
There are speculators which mean the person can make a pure profit by selling these animals instead of having to care for mothers and litters. They collect the “free to good home” or buy litters only after they have found buyers.
These “free to good home” animals are targets for animal dealers. They take these animals and sell them for profit too. Some call them “flippers”. They can sell to other people as pets, to breeders, for animal trades like skin or for racing, as security animals and to laboratories for animal testing to mention a few. Some animal dealers troll these ads too and are “experts” when it comes to fooling most. They pretend to care for the animals in front of you and if you are not trained to spot them, like those who work in animal welfare, you will be fooled and an animal will pay the price. There are literally animal brokers who will meet you at a different house or even has a fake Facebook profile where it looks like they love animals.
Those who failed the adoption process are on the list too. Some people could not get animals through reputable shelters, so now they troll these “free to good home” posts. There is a reason that shelters reject some people, whom those who do not work in animal welfare, would consider “good homes”. So, chances are someone who asks for animals online, free or to buy, might have been rejected by reputable organisations already.
Dog fighters may take the power breeds to use in fights and bait dogs (other breeds and species) can easily be obtained through these adverts and used in fights too. Bait animals are used for sparring and building up aggression of the pedigree or power breed, like a pre-show for the main event.
In some cases, these animals are used as food for humans and other animals.
Some people just want to abuse animals for their own entertainment………. Yes, there are people like this living among us.
They are used in witchcraft as offerings. Again, it happens locally!
How can you guarantee it is a good home? Do you really know what we consider a good home? You most likely can’t because you are not trained to do this.
Also read why spaying and neutering your pets is a good idea!
NO ANIMAL IS ACTUALLY FREE
The “buying price” is but a small expense compared to their care by a responsible pet guardian (owner). Usually, the veterinary bill for first vaccinations, de-worming, tick and flea treatment and sterilization will fall on the new owner and this will remain an expense during the animal’s lifespan. If you are at all a responsible pet owner you will need to pay for sterilization as well as spend on proper food, toys and shelter. Easily more than R2000! Do you think someone who asks for free animals will do the above? Can you guarantee they will?
Yes, we don’t support selling and yes, we don’t support “free to good home”, so what do we support? ADOPT DON’T SHOP. Adoption from reputable organizations is the only kind of “trading” of animals we support. These organizations will do an adoption application, home check, sterilization, adoption contract and follow-ups. That’s responsible. There are registered organizations that do not do this. Don’t support them!
The fact remains that millions of animals are euthanized annually because there are just not enough homes for all the animals. If there are fewer animals then chances are less for these animals to fall in the wrong hands and get abused.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Educate your friends and family on this topic and share our posts.
Report any such post on the social media platform and to your local welfare organizations. Facebook doesn’t allow the selling of animals, so report it too.
Sterilize your animals and don’t give them away for free (nor sell them). Rehome your pets through reputable organizations if you can’t take care of them.
Please stop supporting the “free to good home” ads.
Stop being mad at shelters and start blaming breeders (of any kind), irresponsible pet owners and every single person who gives animals away for free as if they are objects and not sentient beings.
Are you willing to take these risks with an animal’s life? If these people really cared about these animals, they would let them be adopted through a responsible organization and sterilize their pets. When you support breeders, pet shops that sell animals and the “free to good home’’ adverts, you contribute to the massive overpopulation crisis. Irresponsible homing hurts animals.
Next week we will look at why you should and how you can keep your cat in your yard!
BRAVE OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICIAL TACKLES ARMED ROBBER
Nelspruit: 06 September 2022 – A brave off-duty police officer’s intervention led to the arrest of a 26-year-old business robbery suspect at Mhluzi Mall near Middleburg yesterday, Monday 05 September 2022.
It is said that the alleged robber and his accomplice got into one of the chain stores at Mhluzi Mall and robbed employees of eight cell phones at ‘gunpoint’.
Mhluzi Mall near Middleburg
Information at the police’s disposal indicates that after the suspects pointed employees with a ‘firearm’, they allegedly broke the glass door where mobile phones were kept.
Upon seeing that, the off-duty police officer who was at the ATM left everything he was doing at the time and intervened. It is further said that the alleged robber then pointed the police officer with a ‘firearm’ compelling the officer to protect his life where he fired a shot, hitting the suspect on his left hand. As a result, the suspect dropped the ‘firearm’ and took to his heels. Unfortunately during the squabble, a 32-year-old innocent passerby also sustained some injuries on his head but was rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
Community members pursued and apprehended the suspect who was in possession of a ‘firearm’ and he was reportedly found still in possession of the suspected stolen mobile phones. It is said that in the process of his apprehension, he sustained some injuries in the hands of community members but was later rescued by a CPF member.
Members of the police from Mhluzi were summoned to the scene and the suspect was arrested and then taken to the hospital for medical treatment as well. He is facing a charge of possession of suspected stolen properties and could possibly be linked to the business robbery. Upon investigation, it was also realised that the suspect’s ‘firearm’ was a toy gun after all.
Meanwhile, the Independence Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) was notified about the incident and they will conduct their own probe into the shooting. The other suspect, who earlier vanished into thin air during the time when his fellow got arrested, was also cornered and arrested today (06 September 2022) after members of the community informed police that they spotted him in the Mall.
The 22-year-old male suspect was charged with business robbery and is expected to appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, 07 September 2022 alongside the injured suspect who faces the same charges but with an additional charge of possession of suspected stolen properties. Police cannot rule out the possibility of linking the two to other criminal activities committed elsewhere where more charges against them are expected as the investigation continues.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela appreciated the commitment displayed by the brave off-duty member and thanked members of the public for not folding their arms when they saw a crime being committed in front of their eyes.
“We pride ourselves in the calibre and bravery of police officials like this one who, in the midst of immediate danger, placed his life at risk for the sake of members of the public. Two days back we just honoured brave men and women in blue who, in the past year paid the ultimate price. This should send a strong message to criminals that the SAPS will continue to dismantle their operations from every corner without fear or favour” said the General.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous
GOGO, AGED 63 AND HER GRAND-DAUGHTER, AGED 17 FOUND MURDERED, MAN DETAINED FOR QUESTIONING
Voice clip by Brigadier Selvy Mohlala
Nelspruit: 06 September 2022 – A 32-year-old man was detained though still in hospital under police guard, awaiting questioning regarding the murder of his 17-year-old girlfriend and her grandmother at Emadamini, near Ermelo on Monday 05 September 2022.
The granny and granddaughter’s lifeless bodies were found in their house by family members after being contacted by the granddaughter’s employer who was worried that she failed to show up for work on Monday (05 September 2022).
On their arrival, family members enquired from neighbours, but no one had knowledge of their whereabouts as the doors were locked and nobody responded to their calls.
The granddaughter’s boyfriend is said to have been contacted to give family members the house keys but he reportedly denied any knowledge of the keys. When asked about the whereabouts of his girlfriend, he allegedly mentioned that his girlfriend was in hospital as she indicated that she was not feeling well.
On the said Monday at about 18h00, family members grew concerned and resorted to breaking the house window to investigate. They were reportedly met with two lifeless bodies covered with blankets, both had head injuries and bruises all over.
The report further indicates that community members started a manhunt for the boyfriend with the hope that he will give some indication of what might have happened. The man was tracked down this morning (Tuesday, 06 September 2022) and handed over to the police at about 02h00 am. Although he sustained some injuries and community members alleged that he stabbed himself with a knife. Police then apprehended him for questioning, hence placing him under police guard in the hospital so that he could give clarity and information that may assist in the investigation.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has vehemently condemned such a gruesome murder of the two females. “We continue to experience senseless killings of the vulnerable groups and in this instance, it is a female senior citizen as well as a female minor. This is a matter of concern however police will work hard to get to the bottom of this where any person who is behind their murder will have to face the full might of the law. A team of investigators has been assembled to investigate and we hope that they will make a breakthrough soon” said the General.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous
Curro recently staged a concert called “a trip around the preschool in 60 minutes” by the pre-school learners
Parents and grandparents all brave the bitter cold to see what their little children were up to. The expectations were high and the queues kept forming as the hall filled to capacity.
A concert by preschool children will always be full of surprises. They might be good or bad, but you are bound to have surprises.
The biggest surprise would be the skills of the teachers in getting most of the very small children (2 years) to go through their paces. I never thought it was possible, but I have now seen the proof. The screen opened to a group of two-year-olds, or so I am told, that was so cute. Most managed to do some of the moves that they practised for hours. But the stars were the ones that found the crowd more fascinating than the concert.
The stage fright (surprise) kicked in the moment the curtains opened and no amount of coaching and cheering could move the little ones to join the group. The parents enjoyed it thoroughly.
In a higher grade, the movement of the lights (in circles) caught the eye of a toddler and he kept following it with his head as it moved. The crowd cheered and laughed. The rest of the groups did not disappoint and continued to perform the moves that they practised.
Al the groups had a theme and the costumes were brilliant. Music played and the children danced or paraded around the stage, well as I said, most of them did. Those that didn’t, continued to be the delight of the crowd.
A “Flight Captain” gave directions to the concert and made everyone feel at home. She gave a good description of where the groups were “heading” before every appearance.
There were Ladybug Land, Woodlands, Potlood Paradys, Lilo and Stich Island to name but a few.
I am sure that several of the parents and especially grandparents secretly wiped a tear away while enjoying the concert. I know that I was moved and thoroughly enjoyed the kids.
Curro Secunda is an independent preschool in Secunda, Mpumalanga, that provides high-quality early childhood development for children from 3 months to 5 years, with a focus on the ELDAs. Our small class sizes allow our dedicated teachers to engage each child in our internally developed play-based curriculum, at affordable school fees, and build strong, caring relationships with each child. Our school is on the same campus as our primary and high schools, which allows children to easily progress from preschool to primary school in a familiar environment.
What do we offer?
At Curro Secunda, we lay the foundation for your child’s future social and academic life by incorporating play in stimulating, developmental activities, such as creative movement and artistic expression. By involving you, as parents, in your child’s learning experience, we provide a holistic development programme with small class sizes at affordable school fees, that stretches beyond the classroom.
How do we support your child’s early childhood development?
As a Curro School, our internally developed programme is designed with the Early Learning and Development Areas (ELDAs) in mind. This approach to early childhood development aims to stimulate physical, social, emotional and cognitive well-being through developmental activities and engaging play areas. ELDAs focus on aspects such as gross-motor development, fine-motor development, social awareness, communication, spatial awareness and arts.
We encourage loose-parts play
The development of curiosity and imagination in early childhood is vitally important to the development of problem-solving skills and critical thinking later on. Therefore, as a Curro School, we encourage playing with loose-parts and multi-purpose playthings, rather than single-purpose toys that don’t involve much imagination. Through loose-parts play, children in our small class sizes use their natural curiosity to explore previously undiscovered fascinations, such as stacking, rolling, sliding, fitting, colours and more.
Curro Secunda activities
As a Curro School, we believe that participation in extramural activities plays an important role in promoting social skills, self-confidence and physical well-being. These activities are offered by external tutors or coaches, at a cost in addition to our affordable school fees, and generally take place on the preschool premises.
