Category: City of Tshwane

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Centurion residents taught how to avoid driveway hijackings by RICHARD BRUSSOW of the National Hijack Prevention Academy

Centurion residents were on Saturday taught about how to avoid becoming victims of hijackings in driveways.

This was during a workshop at Laerskool Louis Leipoldt in Lyttelton, where former police officer Richard Brussow spoke to them about prevention of crimes such as hijacking and robbery.

Brussow, who established the National Hijack Prevention Academy in 2001, said 68% of hijackings happened in driveways and could be avoided.

He has more than 15 years of experience in motor vehicle crime investigation, organized crime, motor vehicle theft, metro police crime prevention, and vehicle tracking.

Brussow educated his audience about tricks used by hijackers, their motivation, factors that lead to attacks and categories of hijacked vehicles.

Robbers liked using service stations as a base to prey on unsuspecting victims, he said. Once they had identified their victims they drove behind them until they arrived home.

Brussow advised motorists to always look at the car behind them to prevent the crime.

Those in attendance were also warned against inviting potential car buyers to their homes after they had advertised them online.

Rather, Brussow said, ask to meet them at a service station where there were CCTV cameras. He said sellers ought to carefully examine the buyers’ driving licenses to check if they were not fake.

They also needed to guard against receiving counterfeit cash from unscrupulous buyers.

Motorists must also be aware of a technique where criminals bumped into cars during rush hour with the intention to get them out of their vehicles, where they would be robbed. However, he said the technique was well known.

Robbers had slightly changed it by sending female drivers to bump into cars, hoping that drivers wouldn’t be scared to stop for inspecting the extent of the damage. “Just get a number plate and drive off,” warned Brussow.

-Pretoria News

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The City of Tshwane is pulling the plug on smart meters contract with Peu

The City of Tshwane’s daily payment to its erstwhile electricity smart meters contractor Peu Capital Partners has been drastically reduced from R4million to R1.8m.

In addition, MMC for utility services Abel Tau said the municipality has covered ground towards the replacement of the almost 13 000 meters that had already been installed as part of the deal.

The replacement of the meters comes after AfriBusiness succeeded in having the Peu irregular smart meter contract set aside in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.

But Tau said the reduction of daily payments to Peu was the essence of what the City wanted residents to know about.

“We have made a decision that would save the City a huge amount of money to ensure that we can take those savings and redirect them to service delivery,” he said.

Regarding the sum of R4m previously paid to Peu, he said: “I checked last week and the amount has drastically dropped. I think we were at R1.8m”

He said the City was making inroads in terms of replacing the Peu meters. It had replaced more than 5100 for small power users, leaving only 1200.

The meters in some households could not be replaced because their owners were not at home, while others had refused to have them replaced.

Tau said that from July 1, residents should know that Peu meters information stored on the saver might be lost. “It is important to move them over to the new system so that we may continue to deliver service to them,” he added.

There had been complaints that the new meters were not adequate, allowing users to buy only up to R1000 electricity at the time.

However, Tau said: “For the big power users I think we have changed over 2000 meters (with) not a single complaint.”

He said the bulk of complaints came from households.

“If you look at the contingent of over 10000 meters and we only have 20 complaints, that should tell you that we are doing quite well,” he said.

On March 1, when the City started with the replacement, it was not ready for the process, he said.

“There were a number of things that were challenges, like the software, not interfacing with what we had at the time.”

Previously the buyer could only buy electricity at the working centres, but now they can purchase it everywhere.

“Once we have rolled out the software completely the residents will realize that the meters they have now are actually smarter than what they thought,” Tau said.

“We are looking at vision 2030 to become a smart City.

“The plan is to roll out the smart meters to the rest of the residents,” Tau added.

-Pretoria News

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It’s all systems go for Atteridgeville R1.2bn Capital Mall

The much-anticipated R1.2 billion Capital Mall in Atteridgeville will go ahead despite efforts to halt its construction on the basis that it would “cannibalize” smaller shopping centres in the vicinity.

MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning Isak Pietersen said the City of Tshwane’s Appeals Tribunal successfully intervened in the impasse, which threatened to block the development.

The legal wrangling was between the developer, McCormick Property Development, and Safari Investments, over the threats posed by the new mall on the existing shopping centres.

Pietersen said the complaint was overturned on the basis that it lacked substance and went against the spirit of competition permitted in business.

He said the mall construction was an example of what the City wanted to do by creating a conducive economic environment for job creation.

“The aim of the City is to make sure we create those jobs and this is going to make sure that we create jobs,” he said.

The project would be in line with the City’s transport system plans, accommodating A Re Yeng bus system from the CBD towards the direction of the mall, Pietersen said.

“A lot of people who are going to use buses will have an opportunity to use the shopping mall.”

He said he was not sure when construction would start.

“There was an issue emanating from the appeal of the opposite mall that the big mall would cannibalise the smaller malls there. The matter was solved,” he said.

The project head of communications, Gayle Crow, said it was all systems go on the mega-development set to serve the entire Pretoria West region.

“An appeal to halt the development was overturned during a sitting of the City of Tshwane’s Municipal Appeals Tribunal in April, paving the way for the development of the iconic 60000m² regional mall, which will bring more than 3000 employment opportunities to the surrounding communities,” she said.

Crow said the mall would have direct access to both the N4 and WF Nkomo Street and situated on the planned N4/R55 interchange.

The double level mall will also anchor Capital City, an R5bn mixed-use development.

“The development node includes a 1500-bed private hospital, value retail centre, motor dealerships, affordable housing, student housing, schooling and community facilities,” Crow said.

The mall would probably open towards the end of 2021.

-Pretoria News

This news release does not necessarily reflect the opinion of SA-news.

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Tshwane city manager, Dr Moeketsi Mosola, reprimanded for aborted China trip

Tshwane city manager Dr. Moeketsi Mosola has received a serious talking-to from executive mayor Stevens Mokgalapa about the controversial authorization of a trip by officials to China.

Mokgalapa called off the trip in April after it came to his attention that Mosola “erroneously” signed a document on his behalf.

He then called for an investigation to determine how the anomaly in the documents occurred.

On Monday he broke his silence in the wake of the probe, saying he had already given the implicated parties a tongue-lashing.

“I did reprimand those who were involved. For me the fact that it was canceled and that the city never incurred any funds for it; it ended there,” he said. Asked who exactly he reprimanded, he said: “It was the city manager I reprimanded because that was his signature.”

He said that his message to Mosola was that what happened with the China trip must not repeat itself.

“What I have received was that it was done in hindsight and I requested that it should never happen again. It was just an administrative error in terms of the signature that happened,” he said. He slammed the practice by senior city officials to overlook the role of politicians in the municipality.

He said that by canceling the trip he wanted to make a point to “people to understand that the politician is in charge here”.

“If I feel that a trip is not useful or viable for the city I’ve got to manage those interests. I can’t allow a willy-nilly trip while I am preaching that we don’t have money,” he said.

He said it had become a norm that officials would submit documents to him at the last minute, hoping that he would sign them without scrutiny.

“Luckily you have the mayor who knows how to do an oversight part. All the applications that come to me I do apply my mind. I always say the answer is ‘no’ up until it becomes a ‘yes’ with convincing reasons.”

-Pretoria News

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Two more suspects arrested in connection with Mamelodi pre-school robbery

Gauteng police have arrested two more suspects in connection with the robbery of international students at a pre-school in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, earlier this month.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters, one of the suspects was arrested in Limpopo on Friday while the other was caught in Mpumalanga on Saturday.

Eighteen students and two professors from the US, who were on an outreach visit at the Viva Foundation School in Mamelodi East, were attacked and robbed by five armed suspects two weeks ago.

Service Maimela, 30, was arrested a few days later at the Pienaarspoort informal settlement in Mamelodi East. He appeared in the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court last Monday on charges of robbery, attempted murder and assault.

The matter was postponed to Monday, May 27 for further investigations, said Peters.

Peters said the police were still processing the dockets of the two additional suspects, adding that they were most likely to appear in court along with Maimela.

“Both suspects are due in court on Monday 27 May 2019, pending confirmation of the court,” she said.

The US tourists were robbed of their laptops, cellphones, cameras, passports, plane tickets, bags and US dollars.

“The intelligence-driven operation will continue as police are optimistic that it is only a matter of time until the remaining suspects are arrested,” Peters said.

*news24

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Tshwane Metro Police Department officers pounce on robbery suspects

Pretoria – Tshwane Metro Police Department officers on Sunday arrested three men for possession of a car that was taken during a house robbery in Limpopo about two weeks ago.

The arrests were made in Barnett and Hilda streets in Hatfield at about 11am. The suspects had been on the run after committing another crime on Saturday.

Metro Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the vehicle’s original number plate had been replaced.

The suspects, aged 24, 32 and 37, are facing charges of house robbery, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as possession of a hijacked motor vehicle.

Mahamba said two charges were opened in Limpopo and the others yesterday in Pretoria.

“Between May 18 and 19, three suspects went to a house in Limpopo and committed house robbery and took a VW bakkie, a firearm, R4000 and bank cards and went to withdraw R5000 from the victim’s account.

“On Saturday night they went to a pub in Limpopo and an argument ensued between them and a man believed to be the owner of the car.

“They shot him, and his brother rushed him to hospital. Unfortunately, they were involved in a car accident on their way there, and we are yet to confirm their current state with the hospital,” he said.

Mahamba said the suspects traveled from Limpopo to Tshwane in the same car. By then, they had removed the original number plate of the car and replaced it with a GP one.

“We received information that these guys were coming to Pretoria, and our officers heard on the radio that the same car they were looking for was parked at a McDonald’s outlet in Colbyn.

“When they arrived, they saw a car moving away and followed, while calling for back-up from the SAPS. They managed to stop the car and arrest the men,” he said.

Of the three suspects, two are from Limpopo and the third a Zimbabwean. Their crimes were committed in Bogom and Ga-Mamabolo in Limpopo.

The three are in police custody and expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court soon.

“They will appear in court soon after we have combined all the dockets,” Mahamba added.

*iol

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Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration in Pretoria forced roads to be closed for Saturday

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration will bring some parts of the capital to a standstill. Dozens of roads will be closed and Pretoria residents will need permits to get in and out of certain areas.

Many roads in Pretoria will be closed beginning on Friday. The street around Loftus Stadium will be closed around 3pm.

TMPD spokesperson Isaac Mahamba said if you live in the area, you’d better get a permit.

“Some main streets like Francis Baard will be open but many of the smaller streets like the intersection with Eastwood Street will be closed off to traffic,” said Mahamba.

University Road, which runs parallel to the highway, will also be closed.

Residents in the area can use Walter Jameson Avenue to access Francis Baardt.

Businesses operating close to the stadium won’t be affected.

“The business or the people that do business around the stadium are accredited, they have been given permits to come and occupy, to do their business as usual.

“But if there are some who say they haven’t got, they must come forward. Remember we do not want to frustrate anybody,” said Mahamba.

Tshwane Metro Police say all branches of law enforcement will work together to ensure the day runs smoothly.

*enca

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Jo’burg:- Plastic bags will be banned at some of SA’s biggest malls, including Sandton City

JSE-listed real estate giant Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), which owns some of South Africa’s top shopping malls, says it will implement a “no plastic shopping bag” policy at its malls by 1 January 2020.

Some 1,808 tenant shops may have to drop plastic bags by the end of the year.

L2D’s shopping mall portfolio includes Sandton City, Melrose Arch, and the Eastgate complex.

L2D decided to take the “bold step to implement a ‘no plastic shopping bags’ policy across our malls to ensure that change starts with us,” said Amelia Beattie, the company’s chief executive, in a statement.

“With rising levels of plastic pollution in our country and oceans, it is no longer a case of best practice to eradicate the use of plastic shopping bags but rather a commitment of paramount importance and necessity. We are committed to implementing this initiative to drive our sustainability imperative,” said Beattie.

It has already introduced recycling drop-off booths at Sandton City and at Eastgate, and this will be expanded to all its malls.

In Johannesburg, more than 740 tenants at Sandton City will be affected, as well as 425 tenants at the Eastgate Complex and 171 tenants at Nelson Mandela Square.

The company also owns Liberty Midlands Mall (240 tenants) in KwaZulu-Natal, and Liberty Promenade Mitchells Plain (172 tenants), in the Western Cape.

In addition, L2D has interests in the mixed-use precinct of Melrose Arch and the newly developed Botshabelo Mall (57 tenants), in the Free State.

*businessinsider

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Tshwane Total Shutdown: Protest movement hits Pretoria

The Tshwane Total Shutdown protest movement gripped Pretoria on Thursday morning, resulting in major traffic disruptions and an increased police presence.

Total Shutdown action – first witnessed in the Western Cape and more recently in Alexandra, Johannesburg – is a protest movement designed to disrupt daily routine in an attempt to bring attention to a wide array of socioeconomic issues. The protests usually involve the barricading of major roadways and mass marches.

Disruption in Tshwane erupted in the early hours of Thursday morning, following anonymous threats and flyer-drops earlier in the week. The African National Congress (ANC), which openly supported the protests in Alexandra, have distanced themselves from the Tshwane Total Shutdown. ANC regional chairperson, Dr Kgosi Maepa, said:

“I’ve heard people are going to organise a shutdown. We are not against it because there is no service delivery in Hammanskraal.”

The exact cause of the discontent in Tshwane is, by all accounts, multifaceted. Inadequate service delivery forms the foundation for uprising with local taxi operators bolstering offensive. Taxi organisations, in the northern and western townships of Pretoria, have rebelled against the City’s management.

On Tuesday, Stinkwater Eersterust Taxi Association (SETA) and Ga-Rankuwa, Soshanguve, Hammanskraal Taxi Association (GSHTA) held a picket outside the Tshwane house, demanding that a memorandum on permits be accepted and approved by the powers that be. It’s alleged that this coincides with the Tshwane Total Shutdown experienced on Thursday.

According to reports from Pretoria residents, the suburbs of Mokopane and Shoshanguve remained inaccessible shortly after daybreak. Protesters have barricaded streets with burning debris, rubble and boulders, causing massive traffic delays in the area.

Tshwane traffic authorities have urged motorists travelling in the area to exercise extreme caution.

The protests precede the State of the City Address which is due to take place in Pretoria from 9:00 onward. Traffic is due to be disrupted in the vicinity of Church Square and Paul Kruger Street. Road closures are expected to be in place until midday.

The South African
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Polisie se misdaad rekord styg – Twee Metropolisie lede van Pretoria op heterdaad betrap met ’n gesteelde voertuig in hul besit

Polisie se misdaad rekord is aan die styg - Twee Metropolisie lede van Pretoria op heterdaad betrap met ’n gesteelde voertuig in hul besit

Twee lede van die Pretoriase Metro Polisie is in hegtenis geneem nadat ‘n gesteelde voertuig in hul besit gevind is.

Die voertuig wat in Eldoraigne gesteel is, is opgemerk by ‘n woning in Philip Nel Park. Die eienaar van die huis, ‘n vroulike lid van die Metropolisie is gearresteer en na verdere ondersoek is nog twee verdagtes aangekeer. Die een is getroud met die vroulike konstabel en word tans opgelei deur die Metro Polisie.

Dit blyk dat die polisie se misdaad rekord aan die styg is as gelet word op die groot aantal voorvalle waarby beamptes betrokke was in die afgelope maande.

Deur: Die Vryburger
Hierdie berig weerspieël nie noodwendig die mening van SAUK-nuus nie.