Piater Kruger appeared before the court for the contravention of the Medicines and Related Substances act today.
MPUMALANGA – A 28 years old suspect (the manager of Muscle Mecca shop) appeared before the Secunda Magistrate Court on Friday 11 March 2022, after he was arrested by the Hawks Vereeniging and the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Mpumalanga, based in Secunda on Thursday, 10 March 2022 for Contravention of the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101/1965.
Piater Kruger (28) was granted R5000 bail and the case was postponed to 10 June 2022 for further investigation.
Piater Kruger (28)
Information was received about a person who is selling medicine in his shop. A Project Disprin was registered and the matter was investigated. During the investigation it was established that the suspect does not have a valid document to possess the said medicine. The court was consulted and a “warrant of search” was authorised and executed at the said address. Upon the search, numerous steroids to the value of R300 000,00 were found and confiscated. The suspect was immediately arrested, charged and detained pending his first court appearance on Friday.
Police are urging anyone with information to call the Crime Stop number on 0860010111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust is pleased to confirm that the Endurance22 Expedition has located the wreck of Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship which has not been seen since it was crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915.
Taffrail and ship’s wheel, aft well deck. Credit – Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust and National Geographic.
One hundred years after Shackleton’s death, Endurance was found at a depth of 3008 metres in the Weddell Sea, within the search area defined by the expedition team before its departure from Cape Town, and approximately four miles south of the position originally recorded by Captain Worsley.
The team worked from the South African polar research and logistics vessel, S.A. Agulhas II, owned by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and under Master, Capt. Knowledge Bengu, using Saab’s Sabertooth hybrid underwater search vehicles. The wreck is protected as a Historic Site and Monument under the Antarctic Treaty, ensuring that whilst the wreck is being surveyed and filmed it will not be touched or disturbed in any way.
Donald Lamont, Chairman of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, said:
“Our objectives for Endurance22 were to locate, survey and film the wreck, but also to conduct important scientific research, and to run an exceptional outreach programme. Today’s celebrations are naturally tempered by world events, and everybody involved in Endurance22 keeps those affected by these continuing shocking events in their thoughts and prayers.
Drone Footage of SA Agulhas at res in the ice
“The spotlight falls today on Mensun Bound, the Director of Exploration, and Nico Vincent, Subsea Project Manager. Under the outstanding leadership of Dr John Shears, they have found Endurance. But this success has been the result of impressive cooperation among many people, both onboard the remarkable SA Agulhas II with its outstanding Master and crew, a skilled and committed expedition team and many on whose support we have depended in the UK, South Africa, Germany, France, the United States and elsewhere. The Trustees extend to them all our warmest thanks and congratulations on this historic achievement.”
Mensun Bound, Director of Exploration on the expedition, said:
“We are overwhelmed by our good fortune in having located and captured images of Endurance. This is by far the finest wooden shipwreck I have ever seen. It is upright, well proud of the seabed, intact, and in a brilliant state of preservation. You can even see “Endurance” arced across the stern, directly below the taffrail. This is a milestone in polar history. However, it is not all about the past; we are bringing the story of Shackleton and Endurance to new audiences, and to the next generation, who will be entrusted with the essential safeguarding of our polar regions and our planet.
We hope our discovery will engage young people and inspire them with the pioneering spirit, courage and fortitude of those who sailed Endurance to Antarctica. We pay tribute to the navigational skills of Captain Frank Worsley, the Captain of the Endurance, whose detailed records were invaluable in our quest to locate the wreck. I would like to thank my colleagues of The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust for enabling this extraordinary expedition to take place, as well as Saab for their technology, and the whole team of dedicated experts who have been involved in this monumental discovery.”
Launch and recovery of the AUV
Dr John Shears, Expedition Leader, said:
“The Endurance22 expedition has reached its goal. We have made polar history with the discovery of Endurance, and successfully completed the world’s most challenging shipwreck search. In addition, we have undertaken important scientific research in a part of the world that directly affects the global climate and environment. We have also conducted an unprecedented educational outreach programme, with live broadcasting from onboard, allowing new generations from around the world to engage with Endurance22 and become inspired by the amazing stories of polar exploration, what human beings can achieve and the obstacles they can overcome when they work together.
We will shortly begin our return leg to Cape Town, after an expedition which it has been my great privilege and honour to lead. The Expedition team, and the officers and crew of the S.A. Agulhas II, have been simply outstanding. I would also like to say thank you to The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, and all of our partners, especially in South Africa, who have played a vital role in the success of the expedition.”
Sabretooth AUV snow night
Nico Vincent, Subsea Project Manager, said:
“This has been the most complex subsea project ever undertaken, with several world records achieved to ensure the safe detection of Endurance. State of the art subsea technologies have been deployed to achieve this successful outcome and I would particularly like to thank the subsea team for all of the engineering support, both onboard the ship and throughout the months of planning, design and testing. All of them showed a huge commitment and resilience, worthy of the finest tradition of polar exploration. Saab provided the Sabertooth so I also want to thank them, including their ace team onboard SA Agulhas II, and those who ensured the vehicles performed as well as they did.”
The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
It was Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ambition to achieve the first land crossing of Antarctica from the Weddell Sea via the South Pole to the Ross Sea. The Ross Sea Party which was landed at Hut Point on Ross Island had the task of laying supply dumps for Shackleton’s crossing party and achieved its objective, but at the cost of three lives lost. In the Weddell Sea, Endurance never reached land and became trapped in the dense pack ice and the 28 men on board eventually had no choice but to abandon ship.
After months spent in makeshift camps on the ice floes drifting northwards, the party took to the lifeboats to reach the inhospitable, uninhabited, Elephant Island. Shackleton and five others then made an extraordinary 800-mile (1,300 km) open-boat journey in the lifeboat, James Caird, to reach South Georgia. Shackleton and two others then crossed the mountainous island to the whaling station at Stromness. From there, Shackleton was eventually able to mount a rescue of the men waiting on Elephant Island and bring them home without loss of life.
Weddell Sea Ice
Scientific Research
Under the leadership of Dr Lasse Rabenstein, Endurance22’s Chief Scientist, a world-leading team of scientists from research and educational institutions successfully conducted hundreds of hours of climate change-related studies over the duration of the expedition. Representatives from the South African Weather Service, German firm Drift & Noise, Germany’s Alfred-Wegener-Institute, German Space Agency (DLR), Aalto University in Finland and South Africa’s Stellenbosch University researched the ice drifts, weather conditions of the Weddell Sea, studies of sea ice thickness, and were able to map the sea ice from space. Combined, these important studies will materially help our understanding of this remote region and how it influences our changing climate.
Endurance22 education programme
Since the expedition was conceived, educational outreach was a key objective. The FMHT partnered with Reach the World, the US-based education organisation, and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) who have successfully connected with tens of thousands of children throughout the expedition via regular live stream interviews and material produced for classroom use.
Endurance Wreck AUV footage in 4K
Expedition coverage and exclusive documentary
History Hit, the content platform co-founded by historian Dan Snow, award-winning digital content agency and media network Little Dot Studios, and impact-driven production company, Consequential, have produced a range of content covering the setting up of the expedition, the voyage and search, and now the discovery itself, as well as the history, science, and other themes that connect to the wider mission. Short-form content continues to be distributed to millions of subscribers, including with content breaking on TikTok. The team has also been filming for a long-form observational documentary chronicling the expedition which has been commissioned by National Geographic to air later this year.
Ship at sea
Set to premiere this Fall 2022 as part of National Geographic’s EXPLORER series, this documentary event will air globally on National Geographic in 172 countries and 43 languages before it heads to Disney+. Exclusive storytelling about the Endurance will be featured across National Geographic’s digital and social platforms, including in the National Geographic magazine and the award-winning podcast, Overheard at National Geographic. An in-depth story about the finding of Endurance, including its historical relevance, is available on natgeo.com now.
DUO RELEASED ON WARNING FOR OVER R4.7MILLION FRAUD AND THEFT
MPUMALANGA – Clive Lewarne (54) and Clive Lewarne (54) were released on warning by the Middelburg Magistrate Court on Tuesday,08 2022 after they were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Middelburg.
Clive Lewarne (54)Clive Lewarne (54)
They were arrested for the contravention of Sec 18(2)(a)of the Riotous Assemblies Act, Act 17/1956 that the accused conspired to commit theft, fraud, contravening Sec 11(1) of the Banks Act, Act 90/1990, Contravening Sec 4, Sec 1 and Sec 8 of the POCA Act, Act 121/1998, contravening Sec 7 of the FAIS Act, Act 37/2002 and contravening Sec 43 of the Consumer Protection Act, Act 58/2008 in that they operated an investment scheme combined value R 4,796 595-00.
The case was joint with their other court case and postponed to 20 May 2022 for the accused three`s lawyer to be present in court.
Police are urging anyone with information to call the Crime Stop number on 0860010111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
Adoption of DA Motion will improve transparency in Govan Mbeki Municipality
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the unopposed adoption of a DA Motion with the intent to improve transparency and accountability in the Govan Mbeki Municipality. The Motion allows for the public to be able to scrutinise the municipality’s bid adjudication committee.
Some functions of a municipal bid adjudication committee include the consideration of reports from the bid evaluation committee and the final awarding of municipal tenders.
The Motion was unopposed in the council. As per the Standing Orders of the Govan Mbeki Council, it will now be considered by the Mayoral Committee, specifically considering any possible legal implications of the implementation of the Motion in terms of municipal finance regulations and the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act. Following this, a report is expected by the council.
Cllr Ciska Jordaan.
It is no secret that South African Municipalities are plagued by corruption which is often rampant behind closed doors where tenderpreneurship thrives.
Being transparent with the business of the bid committee grants public assurance that municipal tenders are awarded in an ethical manner, free from corruption and maladministration.
“For too long, the Govan Mbeki Municipality has been doing its business in darkness,” says Cllr Ciska Jordaan, “The DA hopes that the mayoral committee will consider this Motion with the gravity that it deserves, as we will continue to shine the spotlight on the financial affairs of this municipality.”
ANIMALS 101 – PROACTIVE STRATEGIES TO CUT DOWN ON VETERINARY COSTS.
As a pet owner, it’s important to understand that all veterinary practices have unavoidable built-in costs, and when choosing a provider, the cost is just one of many variables you should consider. When you’re creating your household budget, it makes sense to include pet health care expenses and emergency funds as well as to be as proactive as possible when it comes to preventing lifestyle-related diseases.
Consider pet insurance.
Safe a bit every month.
Get involved in animal welfare. Volunteer your time. This way you can build great relationships which can come in handy in an emergency.
Annual vet checks are crucial.
Be proactive.
Image by Dr. Karen Becker (Facebook page)
TOP PROACTIVE STRATEGIES TO AVOID BIG VET BILLS.
Dental checks — if you see any plaque and tartar accumulating on your pet’s teeth start an at-home dental hygiene routine. Unaddressed oral issues are a common reason for super-expensive veterinary dental procedures so preventing them from occurring can save you thousands, over time.
Examine your pet’s ears — animal ear canals should be like yours, clean and dry. Remove accumulating debris or wax daily, or however often is needed to keep your pet’s ears in pristine condition.
Examine your pet’s eyes — remove accumulating debris as it forms with a damp cloth and keep the hair trimmed short around the eyes to avoid matting and secondary moist pyodermas (skin infections).
Lumps and bumps inventory — run your hands over your pet’s body weekly and keep an at-home body and skin chart. Note the date, location, and size of any new skin tags, warts, lumps, or bumps. Update your pet’s body chart as things change and if you see rapid changes, it’s time for a well-justified vet exam.
Monitor bowels daily — catching changes in your pet’s stools the minute they happen allows you to immediately address them with some home remedies from a veterinarian and dietary adjustments that oftentimes prevent a trip to the vet.
Monitor your pet’s weight at home — weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding your animal. This gives you some idea if your pet is headed up or down the scale; certainly not exact, but you’ll get some idea about how you need to adjust the upcoming weeks’ calories. Maintaining your pet’s weight reduces the potential for a multitude of diseases.
Range of Motion check-in — your animal needs a lot of daily activity to maintain the resiliency of their muscle mass, ligaments, tendons and overall strength. If you find your animal is moving even slightly slower, is hesitant to climb stairs, or to join you on the couch, address this change immediately.
Proper grooming – do regular grooming, including keeping them clean (don’t wash too often), combing them regularly and keeping their nails trimmed.
Provide enrichment – exercise regularly and meet both your pet’s physical and emotional needs. Strive for at least 30 minutes of intense and interesting physical activity a day and play games which engage them mentally.
Observe body language – when you can spot the changes in their body language and behaviour, you can act immediately when something is off. With any behaviour changes, it is important to rule out health problems, by visiting your trusted veterinarian.
Have a home emergency kit – having the right tools to treat small injuries can prevent it from getting worse or from becoming infected later.
Supervision – when eating bones (not as food, only recreational), when swimming and playing with new or hazardous toys.
Keep them safe in your secure yard – avoid potential injuries caused by other people, other animals, ingestion or being hit by a car when they escape out of the yard.
Keep health treatments up-to-date – vaccinations against dangerous illnesses, tick and flea treatments and regular deworming can prevent unnecessary and expensive trips to the vet.
Protection against extreme weather – follow out tips for pets in summer and winter.
Apart from tracking weekly changes in your pet’s health, investigating and thoroughly understanding any current health issues is critical to your effective alignment with your loved ones’ prescribed protocols.
Assessing water and air quality — are the chemicals being filtered out of the tap or well water my pet drinks?
How many chemically off-gassing fabrics, upholstery, furniture and carpet is my pet exposed to, and am I offering a means of detoxification?
Are there chemical endocrine disrupters routinely present in the home? Food stored in plastic bags? Does my pet chew plastic toys? Room sprays, plug-ins, or heavily scented candles often used?
Does my animal have exposure to lawn chemicals or household extermination chemicals that can negatively affect their health?
Do I know where the ingredients in my pet’s food come from and do I feel confident my animal is getting all the nutrition they need to thrive with what I’m currently feeding? What percentage of my animal’s diet is ultra-processed versus unprocessed, real, fresh food? How many times were the ingredients in the food my animal is eating heated? (Each time nutrients are heated AGEs form, which contributes to many chronic disease processes).
Flea and tick pesticides are expensive and have potential side effects; have I assessed my animal’s unique exposure risks for my location.
Am I checking vital organ function annually to assure myself my animal is as healthy on the inside as they appear to be on the outside? The only way to address disease is to identify it as soon as possible, proactive bloodwork is critical to the wellness process.
Don’t follow home remedies from unqualified individuals on the internet.
For emergencies, learn pet CPR and how to help a choking animal. Have an emergency poison treatment pack as part of your first aid kit.
If there are health concerns or sudden changes, always consult your Vet! After receiving a diagnosis, the goal is to co-create a viable treatment or quality of life plan you feel confident and comfortable executing at home.
Remember neglect and not providing medical care, when necessary, can be considered animal cruelty! They are your responsibility!
All of this revolves around you having an adequate knowledge base about what’s going on in your animal’s body to make good choices, and that only happens by educating yourself.
Next week we will look at what we consider to be a responsible pet owner.
Curro Secunda is still celebrating after its Class of 2021 achieved a 100% pass rate. The school’s exceptional pass rate grants these learners access to tertiary education providers to study towards degrees, diplomas, or any other course of their choice.
Curro Secunda prepares its learners to write the Independent Examination Board (IEB) examinations at the end of Grade 12. The IEB is a recognised player in the South African education landscape and offers an alternative voice on curriculum and assessment matters and to contribute positively to debate on educational issues.
IEB in a nutshell
The IEB aims to not only teach learners the skills inherent in the subject curricula but do so in an expanded way so that learners are able to apply the skills in wider context. Learners are therefore prepared for life after school with skills sets that go beyond subject specific knowledge.
IEB learners follow the same South African National Curriculum as those writing the NSC examination. Learners are largely taught the same content, however, the approach to learning differs in the two systems.
The IEB has its own subject assessment guidelines and sets its own examinations.
As with the NSC, the following four core subjects are a compulsory requirement for IEB:
Two official languages
Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
Life Orientation
As with the NSC, the IEB is recognised by local and international universities; although, a university may still require a prospective student to write its internal entrance exam, regardless of which matric certificate they have.
Umalusi, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, oversees the quality assurance of the management and administration of both the NSC and IEB examinations, and is the body that issues an overarching National Senior Certificate to all successful candidates.
POLICE CLEAN UP THE STREETS FROM DAGGA AS TWO SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED WITH DAGGA
Nelspruit: Police from Piet Retief worked hard in cleaning up the streets from all forms of drugs, including dagga where they arrested two suspects, aged 43 and 38 on allegations of dealing in dagga yesterday, Monday 07 March 2022 in Piet Retief.
According to the report, police received information from some members of the public about suspects involved in the selling of dagga. The members then acted accordingly and upon arrival at a certain house in Ajax Compound (Piet Retief) found two men and immediately conducted a search whereby they discovered seven bags stashed with dagga.
The suspects were immediately arrested and charged for dealing in dagga. The seized dagga is estimated to worth almost R20 000 in street value.
The two male suspects are expected to appear before the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court today, Tuesday 08 March 2022 facing the said charges.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the arrest and thanked members of the community for their relentless efforts in alerting police about criminal activities. “The collaboration between police and the public is really yielding positive results. Working together going forward will also assist us in eradicating all forms of drugs in the society ” emphasized the General.
Police are urging anyone with information to call the Crime Stop number on 0860010111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
TWO SUSPECS DUE IN COURT FOR ENTICING HAWKS MEMBERS
MPUMALANGA – Two suspects aged between 41 and 43 are expected to appear before the Volksrust Magistrates’ court on Tuesday, 08 May 2022 after they were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Secunda for corruption.
It is alleged that on Monday members of the Hawks were attending court at Volksrust for a bail application for dealing in drugs. An investigator reportedly received a phone call regarding an unknown Nigerian male who wanted to meet him to negotiate the release of his brother who was appearing in court for dealing in drugs. The brother was apparently arrested on the 9 December 2021 and has been in custody since.
Volksrust
A sting operation was put in place after the court granted authorisation. The two suspects approached the investigator as planned and offered an amount of R5000 in order to ensure the brother`s release. The pair offered to pay an additional amount to make the case disappear.
The pair was consequently arrested and charged for corruption.
Police are urging anyone with information to call the Crime Stop number on 0860010111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
Whistleblower – The decision to become a whistle-blower is not to be taken lightly
Becoming a whistle-blower is one of the biggest decisions to make. It is a life-changing decision. It is also one that is wrought with danger and intimidation.
The decision should not be taken without consultation with close family members as this will put a lot of strain on relationships within the family group.
In doing research for these articles, I have endeavoured not to become closely involved and to write my own opinions on the matter. I have combed the internet in search of reasons and explanations.
There are now several groups and organisations that offer help to whistleblowers. Legislation in South Africa is very advanced when it addresses whistleblowing but in practice, it is another story altogether. This is where the groups and organisations are of great help.
Let us explore some of the reasons that people become whistleblowers.
There is no question that most whistleblowers decide to act because they feel their sense of justice and code of ethics compels them to do so. Whistleblowers understand that the illicit activity taking place isn’t just illegal—it can also be harmful. Illicit actions may harm the community, jeopardize the health of the employees, compromise environmental safety, or defraud the government and, ultimately, taxpayers. Whistleblowers are driven by a strong sense of integrity. They simply want to do the right thing.
In some cases, whistleblowers are motivated by a sense of self-preservation. There is one famous case in which a Vietnam veteran became a whistleblower when he realized his Medicare claim was denied due to egregious overbilling for services he hadn’t received. As a result, the veteran, who had muscular dystrophy, couldn’t get the care that he truly needed. He brought a qui tam lawsuit in an effort to stop the Medicare fraud, and so that he could receive the medical care he needed.
The decision to become a Whistleblower makes one different from the norm.
If you have taken the step to become a whistle-blower it would be advisable to take advice from lawyers and groups that specialise in this field but also take care as not to blabber all your information to the world.
The following advice was taken from Facebook that was written by an actual whistle-blower:
How to speak up.
1. Don’t.
2. But if you do, make sure you make backups of backups all the time.
3. Install a phone call recorder.
4. Make sure you have a proper audio recording quality on your phone. Test it. Make an easy and quick to access icon on your phone.
5. Ensure that your phone is locked with at least a pin or fingerprint.
6. Install a background video recorder on your phone. These apps have a quick launch button while your phone is locked. It also ensures that another person cannot grab your phone and delete the video as your phone is locked.
7. Record all meetings and discussions you are party to. Refer to the RICA act of South Africa.
8. Write down what happens to you as soon as possible and email it to yourself. It will help you to remember facts of events and dates and times. This will also give you a file with an electronic date and time stamp on which could be useful.
9. Make backups of your storage devices and give it to people you trust to keep safe. A lawyer will keep a storage device for you for a small fee. You can even give a storage device to your life insurance broker to keep for you.
10. Make backups of your files on the cloud. It’s free. Use multiple usernames.
11. Use internet cafe computers if you can, to back up your files to the cloud. Make sure to not write the username or password down anywhere. Make sure it is something you will never forget. This will give you the power to access your files from any internet connection in the world.
12. Save ALL emails, no matter how unimportant it seems at the time. Make backups regularly.
13. Study up on the law and acts of South Africa. Use Google to find any act of South Africa.
14. Study up on South African case law (already determined cases which may be like your case). Use Google or the SAFLII website. https://www.saflii.org/
15. Union reps are usually on the employer’s payroll. Don’t expect too much help when taking on your employer.
16. Be proactive. You could be ignored on purpose.
17. Be prepared to lose your job.
18. Lawyers are very expensive. Some law firms will help you on a Pro Bono basis. Ask them.
19. To take your case to labour court is insanely expensive. R80 grand and more as a deposit before your lawyer even take your case to court.
20. Get emotional support, see a psychologist or psychiatrist. It gets tough, really tough.
21. Know your case inside and out. Never doubt yourself. Keep a diary if you can, you’ll be surprised how that helps.
22. Ethics lines work for money, don’t expect much.
23. Read the Protected Disclosures Act. But don’t rely on its stipulations to be adhered to.
24. Make sure that your files end up in capable hands should anything happen to you. Make multiple arrangements.
25. It will take many years. It is a marathon, not a sprint.
26. No one wants to go to prison. So, expect threats and intimidation by the guilty to keep you quiet.
27. Ensure the safety of yourself and your family. Get advice and help where you can.
28. “There is no avoiding war, it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.” Meaning, act as soon as you can, don’t rely on internal procedures alone. If it concerns the outside world, then tell the outside world (meaning tell the authorities).
29. Finally once you start it’s like a water slide…. there is no getting off until the end.
There are several links below that one can visit for more information and support:
Information on the Protected Disclosures Act by the Institute for Security Studies click HERE
Lentreis… Hoe kan ons met die laaste 40 dae voor die kruis vereenselwig met Jesus se pad? Hoe kan ons deel word van hierdie pad? Om teenwoordig te wees in hierdie reis en deel te word van wat hierdie pad bring. Reis saam ons, reis saam Jesus op die pad na die kruis.
