Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper

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Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
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                                   Pienaar Police Station
                                   praised for cleanliness
                                             Thobile Mlangeni                                the Covid-19 pandemic as per the health           in Ehlanzeni District. Among its services it
                                                                                             regulations to prevent the spread of the          boast a victim-friendly support centre for
                                                   PIENAAR - The local police station        virus.                                            supporting victims of gender-based violence.
                                                      had been highly commended for             “Keeping the workstation clean should            Capt Jabu Ndubane, spokesperson for
                                                       its spotless facility.                not only happen when an MEC visits that           the Pienaar Cluster, said the station has
                                                          MEC Vusi Shongwe praised           workstation. Facilities must always be clean.     the Family Violence, Child Protection and
                                                         the management of Pienaar           I am still to visit this police station without   Sexual Offences Investigations Unit that
                                                            Police Station, under the        making an announcement and I expect to            deal with related cases from stations falling
                                                             leadership of the station       find it spotless,” he said.                       under the former Pienaar cluster and others.
                                                                commander, Col Thulani          Shongwe also urged the SAPS to do their          The station is headed by Col Thulani
                                                                 Maphanga, for keeping       work without fear or favour to ensure that        Maphanga and he is assisted by Lt Col
                                                                   it clean.                 Pienaar/Msogwaba and surrounding areas            Mapitso Makgatho.
                                                                       Shongwe               are crime-free.                                     “In case the community is not happy about
                                                                      emphasised the            “You must serve the community well in          a case or they have any complaints, they
                                                                        importance of        terms of crime prevention as we know that         may put their complaints into the suggestion
                                                                         keeping public      this area was previously identified as one of     box found at the reception area or formally
                                                                          facilities clean   the crime hotspots in the province. You must      lodge their complaint with the station
                                                                            especially       arrest perpetrators of crime and eliminate        commander,” explained Ndubane.
                                                                              during this    them from the community,” he said.                  The station’s telephone numbers are
                                                                               time of          Pienaar Police Station is one of 29 stations   013-794-9300/ 01/08 and 013-794-9310.

Pienaar Police station commander, Col Thulani Maphanga.                                                                                                             Pienaar Police Station.
Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
2        LOWVELDER EXPRESS - NEWS                                                                                                                                                            Thursday May 13, 2021

                                                                                                                     Police make 880
                                                                                                                     arrests in one week
                                                                                                                     Mbekezeli Mbuli                                     while you are aware the police are looking
                                                                                                                                                                         for them, simply means you are working in
                                                                                                                       MBOMBELA - The provincial police,                 cahoots," said Phahla. He also extended his
                                                                                                                     working with the community and other                appreciation to members of the public who
                                                                                                                     law enforcement agencies, have recorded a           continuously support the police, providing
                                                                                                                     resounding 880 arrests in just a week.              information on criminal activities.
                                                                                                                       This splendid effort was applauded                  The 880 suspects were arrested for
                                                                                                                     by both the acting provincial police                various criminal offences, including
                                                                                                                     commissioner, Maj Gen Thulani Phahla,               murder, rape, robberies, assault with an
                                                                                                                     and the MEC for community safety,                   intent to inflict grievous bodily harm,
                                                                                                                     security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe.                 driving under the influence of alcohol or
                                                                                                                       “The police are working hard to reduce            drugs, and stock theft.
                                                                                                                     the level of crime,” said Phahla. He                  Shongwe said the arrests augers well
Cllr Themba Bulunga, Indvuna Joseph Ndzinisa and MEC Vusi Shongwe.
                                                                                                                     reiterated the call for communities to obey         for the fight against crime and it will

Bereaved family distraught
                                                                                                                     the law and report all criminal activities          also inspire communities to work with
                                                                                                                     to authorities. He further cautioned the            the police.
                                                                                                                     community to refrain from protecting                  "These arrests are a clear indication

after losing four members
                                                                                                                     family members who commit crime,                    that with increased cooperation among
                                                                                                                     arguing that whenever a crime has been              stakeholders in the security cluster,
                                                                                                                     committed, someone somewhere has either             great strides will be made to secure the
                                                                                                                     lost valuable property or has died.                 communities. Our security agencies must
Thobile Mlangeni                                              added that he would miss his grandchildren.
                                                              He last saw them a year and half ago just                "I would like to urge the public to report        continue working with the same vigour
   MSOGWABA - What was meant to                               before the outbreak of Covid-19.                       their own family members to the police if           to ensure that bad elements are removed
be a joyful family union between Phinda                         The tragedy saw both the local and                   they have committed a crime. Hiding them            from society."
Mabaso (34) and his family ended                              provincial government lending a hand to the
tragically when they lost their lives on                      deceased family.
the N4.                                                         The local ANC councillor, Themba
   The Ford Focus hatchback in which they                     Bulunga, of the City of Mbombela Local
were travelling collided head-on with an                      Municipality, a representative of the
articulated truck near Machadodorp on                         Msogwaba Tribal Council, Indvuna Joseph
Worker's Day. Theirs bodies were trapped                      Ndzinisa, pastors and other members of the
inside the wreckage and Jaws of Life had                      community gave their outmost support to
to be used to remove them.                                    the family from the day they learned of the
   Mabaso, his wife, Portia Sethole                           accident.
(28), and their children, Ntokozo (3)                           The MEC for community safety, security
and Siphesihle (2), were laid by to rest                      and liaison, Vusi Shongwe, paid homage
by family members, friends and the                            to the bereaved family last Friday. He said,
community at Msogwaba Cemetery this                           “As far as the investigation is concerned we
past Saturday.                                                cannot conclude it now, it is still ongoing.
   The deceased's aunt, Reginah Ndlovu,                       We will get the report from the engineers             The acting provincial police commissioner, Maj Gen Thulani Phahla, signing a memorandum
said the family was still in shock regarding                  and all the experts responsible for road              given by the DA’s provincial chairperson, Jane Sithole, during a recent protest.
what had happened.                                            accidents.

                                                                                                                   Two bogus recruiters caught,
   “Sipho and his family were travelling                        “We are shattered. As the provincial
from Pretoria, where he was based, to meet                    government, on behalf of Premier Refilwe
the family for the first time. His wife and                   Mtshweni-Tsipane, this accident, just like

                                                                                                                   one still sought by Hawks
children had never been here before. We                       any other in the province, is worrisome to
were all looking forward to that meeting,                     us. To have four people perish on the road,
but that never happened,” she said.                           including two children, is so saddening,”
   Tony Mabaso, the father of the late                        said Shongwe.
Phinda, said he was so distraught to lose                       He called on all road users to adhere to            Mbekezeli Mbuli                                        team and the Mpumalanga
his firstborn son, daughter-in-law and                        the signs and rules of the road. “We call on                                                                 Crime Intelligence during a joint
grandchildren all at once. “I am hurting.                     motorists to obey each and every rule that             BUSHBUCKRIDGE - Two                                   intelligence-driven investigation.
I was hoping he would be the one to help                      govern us, to make sure that we protect              suspects between 47 and 50 were                           According to a police report, the
the family and his siblings because he                        everyone against situations like this one,”          arrested by members of the Hawks                        two allegedly impersonated officials
was the only one working,” he said. Tony                      Shongwe said.                                        Serious Corruption Investigation                        from the Department of Health
                                                                                                                                                                           and conducted a recruitment drive
                                                                                                                                                                           that reached out to gatherings at
                                                                                                         447981R                                                           churches and other places where
                                                                                                                                                                           they would find youth in numbers.
                                                                                                                                                                           They allegedly promised them
                                                                                                                                                                           enrolment at the Nursing Training
                                                                                                                                                                           College which would guarantee
                                                                                                                                                                           employment at the Department of
                                                                                                                                                                           Health.
                                                                                                                                                                             They demanded money from all
                                                                                                                                                                           the prospective nursing trainees
                                                                                                                                                                           for enrolment. More than 75
                                                                                                                                                                           unemployed youth paid money into
                                                                                                                                                                           the suspects’ accounts between 2016
                                                                                                                                                                           and 2017, totalling R610 000.
                                                                                                                                                                             After the victims of Mpumalanga
                                                                                                                                                                           and other provinces paid, the
                                                                                                                                                                           suspects allegedly started telling
                                                                                                                                                                           them about the employment they
                                                                                                                                                                           were promised.
                                                                                                                                                                             The matter was reported to the
                                                                                                                                                                           police in 2018 and investigations
                                                                                                                                                                           revealed that the suspects were not
                                                                                                                                                       *$2$

                                                                                                                                                                           employees of any department in the
                                                                                                                                                                           province.
                                                                                                                                                                             Two of the three suspects have
                                                                                                                                                                           already been arrested and the third
                                                                                                                                                                           one is sought by the Hawks.

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Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
Thursday May 13, 2021 		                                                                                                                                                                                                           NEWS - LOWVELDER EXPRESS                 3

                                                                                      Local champ
                                                                                      is eyeing Mr
                                                                                      World SA title
                                                                                                                     Thobile Mlangeni

                                                                                                                       MBOMBELA - A local, Simphiwe
                                                                                                                     Mabena, a 30-year-old model, has his
                                                                                                                     eyes set on the Mr World SA title.                                     Pinky Phosa.
                                                                                                                       The 2019 winner of Mr Face
                                                                                                                     of Emalahleni, Public Choice and
                                                                                                                     Mr Mpumalanga 2020 best model winner
                                                                                                                     believes he has what it takes to be next
                                                                                                                                                                                            Esteemed icon to mentor
                                                                                                                     Mr World SA. He is one of the top 15
                                                                                                                     contestants of this prestigious pageant.
                                                                                                                       “I entered because I love giving back to
                                                                                                                                                                                            the community online
                                                                                                                     the community and running a few charity                                Bridget Mpande                    Nelspruit recently awarded
                                                                                                                     drives as the ambassador of the Kukhanya                                                                 her with an honorary member
                                                                                                                     Foundation. I have been helping                                           MBOMBELA - Pinky Phosa         certificate.
                                                                                                                     schoolchildren with uniforms. The                                      has become one of the mentors       Phosa is a former chairperson
                                                                                                                     Mr World SA title will help me to reach                                of The Elevation Alliance (TEA). of the standing committee on
                                                                                                                     out to more people out there,” Mabena                                     It is a newly established      appropriations and a former
                                                                                                                     explained.                                                             NPO pre-launched at the Jenna     member of the Parliamentary
                                                                                                                       “I am extremely committed to my                                      Clifford Design Studio.           Budget Office (PBO) and PBO
                                                                                                                     community. I love new challenges and I                                    Phosa recently established     Advisory Board. She is a former
                                                                                                                     am a selfless young man with a teachable                               an NPO called the Pinky           chairperson of the portfolio
                                                                                                                     spirit and look forward to this new                                    Phosa Solutions Foundation. “I    committee on higher education
                                                                                                                     journey,” he said.                                                     accepted the offer to be a mentor and training, a former MEC
                                                                                                                       According to the Mr World SA website,                                because I want to expand my       for economic development,
                                                                                                                     Mr World South Africa, the winner of                                   ability to reach out to people.   environment and tourism, a
                                                                                                                     Mr World SA, would be an international                                 I want to continue serving the    former MEC for finance, and a
                                                                                                                     ambassador for doing good within his                                   community via various online      former Speaker of Mpumalanga.
                                                                                                                     community and country. He will also                                    programmes.”                        She was elected as president
                                                                                                                     follow the ethos under the shared banner                                  This woman wears many          of the Common Wealth
                                                                                                                     "United with Purpose". Should he go                                    hats; she is a social worker by   Parliamentary Association,
                                                                                                                     on to win the Mr World title, he will                                  training, an accomplished public Mpumalanga Branch and
                                                                                                                     similarly stand for the same ethos as the                              representative and a community convener of the Progressive
                                                                                                                     Miss World pageant which promotes                                      builder. The South African        Women’s Movement of South
Simphiwe Mabena.                                                                                                     "Beauty with a Purpose".                                               Council for Business Women        Africa Mpumalanga.

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Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
LOWVELDER EXPRESS - NEWS
 4 			                                                                                                                                                                Thursday May 13, 2021

Young people help to control traffic. > Photos: Neo Machaba

Unemployed youth do good at no cost
Mbekezeli Mbuli and Neo Machaba               upon themselves to help and make things         especially those using public transport.
                                              easier for motorists and community              People were always late to their destinations
  TEKWANE SOUTH - It has been a tough         members, by erecting a temporary bridge.        as they were forced to use the congested
and challenging three months for motorists    These young people control the flow of          N4,” said Mthokozisi Sandleni, the leader of
of Tekwane South, KaNyamazane and             traffic at no cost to motorists and members     the group. “We realised that government was
Entokozweni, since the connecting bridge      of the community, especially learners who       going to take some time to fix the bridge,
collapsed in February.                        cross to the other side every day, travelling   and people were always delayed on the road,
  The bridge on the D2296 collapsed           to school.                                      so we took it upon ourselves to help where
following the recent heavy rainfall as a         “The plan to start controlling traffic       we can.”
result of Cyclone Eloise.                     came after we realised the inconvenience          Due to the lack of enough space to make
  A group of unemployed youth took it         caused to the schoolchildren and motorists,     the bypass road and bridge bigger, the group
                                                                                              had to come up with a plan to control traffic.
                                                                                                They divided themselves into two groups.
                                                                                              The first group is stationed on the Tekwane
                                                                                              South side and the other on Entokozweni's.
                                                                                                They stop traffic from one side and use
                                                                                              walkie talkies to communicate, to ensure a
                                                                                              smooth flow.
                                                                                                They work from morning until late night
                                                                                              and are not paid a salary; instead they
                                                                                              depend on tips from motorists.
                                                                                                “We are just volunteering to help the
                                                                                              community,” said Given Mhlongo, one of
                                                                                              the traffic controllers. He explained the daily
                                                                                              challenges they face, but try to work them
                                                                                              out. “Sometimes motorists don’t respect us.
                                                                                              They just want to do as they please. One
                                                                                              motorist once took out a gun on us, but we
                                                                                              managed to control the situation,” Mhlongo        is coming and very soon. Construction will
                                                                                              continued.                                        start soon,” confirmed Ngala.
                                                                                                Joseph Ngala, the spokesperson for the             He appealed to motorists to respect the
                                                                                              City of Mbombela Local Municipality,              young people controlling traffic at this
                                                                                              confirmed that the construction for the           particular road. He argued that these youth
                                                                                              bridge was under way.                             are not bound to conduct and control traffic,
                                                                                                “It has always been our plan that we            but are volunteering their time to help
                                                                                              must have a low bridge linking these              motorists at no cost. “What they are doing is
                                                                                              communities, especially for instances like        commendable. They are doing great service
                                                                                              these. And with the current situation, we         for their communities. I think we should
                                                                                              have decided to speed up the process and          be helping rather than insulting them. So
                                                                                              commence with the construction soon to            we would like to urge motorists to respect
                                                                                              allow these communities to travel with            them, because without them, life would be
                                                                                              ease. This will also give a breather to the       difficult, as they will have to use the N4 all
                                                                                              already overstretched N4. So, yes, a bypass       over again,” said Ngala.

          2021 REGISTRATION STILL OPEN

                                                                     ,
Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
Thursday May 13, 2021 		   LOWVELDER EXPRESS   5
Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
LOWVELDER EXPRESS - NEWS
 6 			                                                                                                                                                                      Thursday May 13, 2021

New SGB members orientated
Bridget Mpande                                                schools are governed in the best interest    members to perform their professional
                                                              of all stakeholders, especially learners,    functions, decide on school policy,
  MBOMBELA - The MEC for the                                  and to always put the best interest of the   including admissions, language and
Department of Education (DoE),                                school before any personal interests.        finance, and administer and control
Bonakele Majuba, recently outlined                               He said the department would              the property of the school, buildings
the responsibilities of the newly                             commence with the orientation                and grounds. They have to encourage
elected members of school governing                           programme for all the newly elected          parents, learners, educators and other
bodies (SGBs).                                                members to ensure they understood            staff members at the school and offer
  These members were democratically                           their roles and responsibilities.            voluntary services.
elected to serve in the governance of                            “As per the South African Schools            “We will soon start with an induction
schools within Mpumalanga for the                             Act no 84 of 1996, they must promote         programme as a form of building
next three years.                                             the best interest of the school and ensure   capacity,” he explained.
  According to the MEC, the members                           its development. They have to adopt a           Majuba added that the DoE
have been given an opportunity to be                          constitution setting out how the SGB         appreciated the outgoing SGB members
part of government’s drive to improve                         will operate, a mission statement for        for the good service they had rendered,
learning outcomes and reach the goal                          the school and a code of conduct for         and requested them to officially hand
of providing quality education in                             learners which sets out disciplinary         over the reins of governance to the new
schools.                                                      procedures. They have to help the            members in a transparent and peaceful
  They are expected to ensure that                            principal, educators and other staff         manner.                                    MEC Bonakele Majuba.

                                                                                                                                                      Rape accused
                                                                                                                                                      gets nine life
                                                                                                                                                      sentences
                                                                                                                                                      Thobile Mlangeni

                                                                                                                                                        MBOMBELA - The Mpumalanga
                                                                                                                                                      Division of the High Court of South Africa
                                                                                                                                                      sentenced a 37-year-old convicted rapist to
                                                                                                                                                      nine life imprisonment terms and 199 years.
                                                                                                                                                        John Mashele of the Kingdom of eSwatini
                                                                                                                                                      was found guilty of multiple counts of rape,
                                                                                                                                                      robbery with aggravating circumstances,
                                                                                                                                                      housebreaking with intent to commit murder
                                                                                                                                                      and rape, murder, extortion and kidnapping.
                                                                                                                                                        According to evidence heard in court from
                                                                                                                                                      June 20, 2012 to August 11, 2019, Mashele
                                                                                                                                                      and his two accomplices, Lungelo Dlamini
                                                                                                                                                      and Maxwell Mamba, would offer a lift
                                                                                                                                                      to victims and when they were near their
                                                                                                                                                      destination, they would pull off the road,
                                                                                                                                                      hold them at gunpoint and rape them.
                                                                                                                                                        Dlamini and Mamba pleaded guilty
                                                                                                                                                      in January and were sentenced to life
                                                                                                                                                      imprisonment for these offences.
                                                                                                                                                        Mashele was arrested after his description
         ADVERTORIAL                                                                                                                                  was given to the police and he was linked to
                                                                                                                                                      the crimes through DNA.

         SANRAL AND TRAC PROJECTS                                                                                                                         Mashele and his two
         IN MPUMALANGA PROVINCE                                                                                                                           accomplices would offer a
                                                                                                                                                          lift to victims, pull off the
         Though planned before the onset of COVID-19,
         improvements to the N4 in Mpumalanga worth
                                                                                      Emalahleni – Middelburg
                                                                                                                                                          road, hold them at gunpoint
                                                                                      • This rehabilitation project is worth R380 million
         ��E��'.11.43�8-4:1)�&))�94�,4;*732*39Y8�*A�4798�                               and lies between the O.R. Tambo and Van                           and rape them
         in working with the private sector to build                                    Dyksdrift Interchanges in the Highveld region.
         infrastructure that will contribute to the Economic                            It is 48% complete, with a completion date of                    He denied the allegations and claimed that
         Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.                                              March 2022.                                                   he had an identical twin.
                                                                                      • Over 280 workers sourced from eMalahleni and                     Prosecutor and senior state advocate,
         Through its concessionaire, the Trans African                                                                                                Vuyo Mkhulise, led with the evidence of
         Concessions which manages the N4 eastward,                                     Steve Tshwete local municipalities with 58 SMMEs
                                                                                                                                                      several witnesses who identified Mashele as
         SANRAL is upgrading and rehabilitating the                                   � '*3*��9.3,�+742�574/*(9�5&79.(.5&9.43E
                                                                                                                                                      the culprit.
         following sections of the N4:                                                Kaapmuiden to Kaalrug:                                             The court heard that in some incidents
                                                                                                                                                      Mashele would demand cash from the
         Belfast - Machado                                                            • This 15.5km road project includes upgrading the               victims’ families and rob them of their cell
         • The R400 million project is expected to be                                   carriageway to four lanes and rehabilitation of the           phones. All these crimes were committed in
           completed in three years.                                                    existing road. The R340 million project is 70%                the Lydenburg and KaBokweni districts.
         • Rehabilitation of 30km of Section 5B, upgraded                               complete and expected to be concluded in                         In June 2012, two of the victims were
                                                                                        August 2021.                                                  hiking from Lydenburg to Mbombela when
           from two-lane to four-lane carriageway.
                                                                                      • 213 local community members employed with                     Mashele and his co-perpetrators offered
         • 21 SMMEs appointed, with approximately 300 jobs                                                                                            them a lift. On their way, they pulled off the
           created.                                                                     contracts for 51 SMMEs between CIBD
                                                                                                                                                      gravel road, ordered them to undress, raped
                                                                                        Grades 1 and 4.                                               them and robbed them of their belongings.
         New Karino Interchange                                                                                                                          On August 11, 2019, two victims were
         • This Mbombela-based project, valued at                                                                                                     on their way home when the three offered
            R390 million, is 50% complete.                                                                                                            them a lift. On their way, the trio produced
         h� �;*7����*2*7,.3,�(4397&(9478�-&;*�'*3*��99*)�                                                                                             firearms, forced the victims out of the car
            from the project, and 275 employees are on site.                                                                                          and told them to take a walk. After reaching
            Improved nd safer access roads with reduced                                                                                               a certain place, one victim was ordered to
                                                                                                                                                      call home and raise an amount of R20 000
            travel times will stimulate further economic                                                                                              to be released.
            growth through this project, particularly in the                                                                                             Mashele was convicted on 31 counts and
            area north of the Crocodile River.                                                                                                        was sentenced to nine life terms and 199
                                                                                                                                                      years imprisonment by the Acting Judge
                                                                                                                                                      Johanna Mthimunye.
                                                                                                                                                         The NPA welcomed the conviction and
         www.sanral.co.za                                                                                                                             sentence.
         Reg. No. 1998/009584/30 An agency of the Department of Transport.
Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
Thursday May 13, 2021 		                                                                                                                NEWS - LOWVELDER EXPRESS                     7

 Two more        Shongwe vows to lead fight against crime
 pedestrians hit                              Thobile Mlangeni                             are still the same. I must support the      police officer is equivalent to killing the
                                                                                           police and arrest those found to be part    community).”
                                                 PIENAAR - The reinstated MEC              and parcel of crime and corruption,”          Outlining his approach to end crime

 on the R40
                                              for community safety, security and           said Shongwe.                               in the province, Shongwe said he would
                                              liaison declared his full support to law       “I think that is why the premier,         bring back the outreach programmes
                                              enforcers in their quest to end crime in     the cabinet and the party leading the       to communities and Izimbizo to talk to
                                              the province.
 Thobile Mlangeni                                                                          government decided to redeploy me           communities. “We will make sure that
                                                 MEC Vusi Shongwe addressed the            back in the department. I am going          we bring back a sense of responsibility
     CASTEEL - The community                  police during a visit at Pienaar Police      to give you (the police) the necessary      to the community to prevent crime. We
  complained about the increasing             Station. He was en route to pay homage       support. We are going to be working         will bring back road safety education
  number of pedestrians being hit by          to the bereaved family that had lost         together, and I am going to bring back      programmes, including the popular unit
  motorists allegedly driving at high         four of their members in a recent            all the programmes that we used to have     of the SAPS, the Tactical Response
  speed on the R40 between Casteel and        accident on the N4 Toll Road near            during my time as MEC. This includes        Team; with the special training they
  Acornhoek Mall.                             Machadodorp.                                 the Overall Friday, and the motto had       have, they are able to assist in high-crime
     Sarah Malatji, a concerned resident,        “I am still the same Vusi Shongwe,        that was dropped immediately after I left   communities.
  said the past weekend saw two young         the same MEC who worked with you             the department. The motto: ‘Wabulala          “For us to be able to achieve the Vision
  people losing their lives while trying to   before, and my approach and strategies       ipholisa wabulala umphakathi' (killing a    2030, in which you will to find a crime-
  cross the road.                                                                                                                      free community with police stations
     “One of them died on the spot after                                                                                               only working to certify documents,
  being hit by vehicle on Saturday                                                                                                     the approach is the following: we need
  evening. Another one was also hit                                                                                                    to prepare the community through
  on Sunday afternoon, not far from                                                                                                    Izimbizos, educate them about crime
  where the first accident had happened.                                                                                               and take out the bad elements within
  This actually concerns us as residents                                                                                               the community. Those involved in rape
  living along the road. We plead with                                                                                                 cases, murder cases, heists and serious
  the department to increase road signs,                                                                                               criminal activities need to be removed
  including speed bumps and pedestrians                                                                                                from the society and be donated to the
  crossing lines along the road, as this                                                                                               Correctional Services for counselling
  is a busy road leading to the Kruger,”                                                                                               and rehabilitation. As police we do not
  she said.                                                                                                                            do counselling, our duty is to arrest
     A few weeks ago, another accident                                                                                                 perpetrators, speedily so,” he said.
  claimed a pedestrian's life on the road                                                                                                He raised his concerns over the
  near Aurtherseat Village towards the                                                                                                 alarming increased rate of crime in the
  mall.                                                                                                                                province. “Almost every part of the
     The MEC for community safety,                                                                                                     province is a crime hotspot now. We
  security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe,                                                                                                  must bring back the province to where it
  reiterated his call to motorists to save                                                                                             used to belong. In the past we used to be
  lives by being extremely cautious                                                                                                    rated number one or two, competing with
  on the road. "We cannot be counting                                                                                                  the Free State in fighting crime. But now
  fatalities every day on our roads.                                                                                                   as I speak we fall somewhere around
  Motorists must come to the party and                                                                                                 number eight; we are just before the last
  use the road responsibly." He also sent                                                                                              province. This means that we are counted
  his condolences to bereaved families                                                                                                 among those provinces with high crime
  of accident victims in the province.        The spokesperson for community safety, security and liaison, Moeti Mmusi, and MEC Vusi   rates, and that is not good,” concluded
                                              Shongwe.                                                                                 Shongwe.
Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
LOWVELDER EXPRESS
8 			                  Thursday May 13, 2021
Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
Thursday May 13, 2021 		   LOWVELDER EXPRESS   9
Pienaar Police Station praised for cleanliness - Mpumalanganews Epaper
LOWVELDER EXPRESS - COMMUNITY
 10 			                                                                                                                                                                   Thursday May 13, 2021

Education department closes Everest College                                                                                                         Workers query
Thobile Mlangeni
                                                                                                                                                    unpaid salaries
   MSHOLOZI - The Department of
Education (DoE) in Mpumalanga has                                                                                                                   Neo Machaba
shut down operations at Everest College                                                                                                                TEKWANE SOUTH - Contract
because it is allegedly neither registered                                                                                                          workers of the Buhle Besive Company,
nor recognised by the department. It is a                                                                                                           contracted by the City of Mbombela Local
privately owned school in Msholozi Trust                                                                                                            Municipality (CMLM), are up in arms
outside White River.                                                                                                                                over unpaid salaries.
   This happened on Wednesday morning.                                                                                                                 The company’s workers have accused
   The principal, Lindela Dlamini, was                                                                                                              it of owing them their salaries, having not
served with a letter to immediately close the                                                                                                       received it almost 11 days after month
school, failure of which would constitute a                                                                                                         end, and failing to provide proper working
criminal offence. “Parents must ask for the                                                                                                         equipment to fulfil their daily duties.
EMIS or registration details of the school.                                                                                                            The company refused to comment on the
In a normal school it should state at the                                                                                                           matter.
entrance or in the office whether the school                                                                                                           One of the aggrieved employees of the
is officially registered or not,” said Sibusiso                                                                                                     company said it is hard for them to push
Zwane, the DoE’s acting district director of                                                                                                        through the month as they have financial
coordination. An EMIS number is a unique,                                                                                                           responsibilities and families to take care
eight-digit number assigned to all schools by                                                                                                       of. “I am renting a room and my landlord
the department.                                   The police, officials and the media at the offices where the principal had been served with the   wants to kick me out because I have not
   “We sent a message to Everest College          letter.                                                                                           paid rent yet. I have children to feed and
parents that neighbouring public schools                                                                                                            instalments to pay. What makes matters
are ready to accommodate them. We will            the school. The official even approved of its      close Everest in the beginning of the year?    worse is that we are in the dark as to
make sure that all the logistics regarding        building plans last year. I am surprised that      The department totally failed to consider      when will we get our salaries,” said the
their admission are sorted within a week’s        this same department with the police and           parents in this move,” said a parent, Happy    employee.
time. The parents must approach the schools       media came to shut Everest’s doors today. I        Nkosi. “Our children are learning English at      Another employee complained that the
and fill out the necessary application for the    feel like I was ambushed as a criminal and         that school. Where do we take them now?"       compact machine they are supposed to
registration of their learners.”                  yet I am not one,” Nthame said.                       Lewis Sedubela, a member of the school’s    use to clean the dump site does not even
   Zwane warn other illegal schools to              He added that he had been to the                 governing body, said they were disappointed    work. “We do come to work every day,
stop their operations. He said unregistered       education’s circuit offices many times             regarding the department’s decision. “The      but we don’t have much to do because the
schools were depriving learners of their          before. “I actually wanted to register Everest     registration of the school was in process.     equipment is not working and the owner
rights to quality education. “We warn             before I built it, but I was advised by            I went with the school management to the       of the company, Enky Mboweni, does not
everybody to stop such activities because         officials from the same department to build        department circuit and the director was        help in any way to get it repaired.”
it is a criminal offence and goes with a fine     the school and have qualified teachers, and        given requirements to follow. As parents          Lowvelder Express contacted Mboweni
and a jail term,” he said.                        that the registration processes would follow       we decided to register our children there      and he declined to comment. “I cannot
   Speaking to the director of the school, a      as those processes had already begun.”             because we wanted the best for them. There     answer the allegations made against
private physician based in White River,             Learners’ parents raised their concerns.         was not a school in Msholozi three years       the company,” he said before dropping
Dr Robby Nthame, said Everest registration        They blamed the DoE for closing the school         ago. Learners were in overcrowded mobile       the line. Since the company refused
processes had started and were still in           in the middle of the year.                         classrooms in Boschrand and teachers were      to comment on these allegations,
process. He indicated that he had been              “We have paid about R900 in school fees.         complaining of the bad environment. We         the publication spoke to CMLM’s
engaging the department ever since the            This includes fees, transport and meals. We        decided to take our children to Everest        spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, who said
inception of the school. “I applied two           had bought uniforms and the like. How did          College,” he said. “This decision might not    such issues fall outside their jurisdiction.
years ago and an official came to inspect         the department fail to tell us of their plans to   end well.”
Thursday May 13, 2021 		                                                                                        COMMUNITY - LOWVELDER EXPRESS   11

Walkers celebrate Mother’s Day in style
                           Bridget Mpande

                              GRASKOP - Lowveld Walkers
                           conquered God's Window on Saturday.
                           Members celebrated an early Mother's
                           Day by visiting this famous natural
                           landmark along the Panorama Route.
                              Joseph Mashaba, the founder of
                           Lowveld Walkers, said it was an
                           interesting event and they enjoyed the
                           magnificent views while doing what
                           they love.
                              "It was one of our more well-attended
                           walks. We had people coming from
                           various areas. We used a bus to travel here
                           and the route was a great experience,"
                           he said.                                    Thabo Mahasha hands out a trophy to Busisiwe
                              The organisation introduced              Mabuza.
                           competitive events on March 22. Since
                           then the participants get to compete once
                           in a while and get to walk away with
                           great prizes.
                              Busisiwe Mabuza outshone the rest. She                                                  Simphiwe Mbethe.
                           received a trophy, R500 and a gift hamper.
                           Reneiloe Mogane took second place
                           and received a massage voucher from
                           Pure Bliss.
                              In the third was Ncobile Lubisi who
                           also walked away with a massage
                           voucher. Irene Gininda, Jabu Mpangane,
                           Thandiwe Phiri and Brenda Maluleke
                           were the lucky winners of Mother's Day
                           gift hampers.
                              Mashaba said the event would not have
                           been possible without the sponsors. "We
                           are so grateful to Buscor for providing
                           transport. Violet & Rose at i'langa Mall,
                           Amiware and Build it Matsulu are
                           some of the sponsors that helped us. We
                           appreciate all the businesses and people
                           who made a contribution," he explained.
                              The next walk will be held on Saturday.
                           Participants will start walking from
Joseph Mashaba.            Emkhatsini to Moyeni Mall.                  Doreen Delisile Ngobeni.                       Jabu Mpangane.
Thursday May 13, 2021
                                                                  express

                           Galaxy to fight till the end
                                                                    Mbekezeli Mbuli                      to go before the season comes to     Danie Craven Stadium. Galaxy
                                                                                                         an end, Galaxy need to collect       will wind off their first-ever season
                                                                     It looks like TS Galaxy will        maximum points to avoid being        in elite football against Kaizer
                                                                   have to fight tooth and nail for a    overtaken by the Chiefs, who         Chiefs at the Mbombela Stadium
                                                                   spot in the top eight of the DStv     have also made their intentions of   on June 5.
                                                                   Premiership.                          reaching the top eight known.          Chiefs still have to play
                                                                     This comes after the already          In 10th spot are Limpopo's         Swallows, Black Leopards, Golden
                                                                   eighth-placed Galaxy lost 1-0         Baroka FC, who are tied on points    Arrows and Galaxy.
                                                                   to the top-of-the-log Mamelodi        with Chiefs, too, but many believe     Galaxy’s spokesperson, Mini
                                                                   Sundowns on Sunday at the             the real competition is between      Mkhize, said the team will fight
                                                                   Mbombela Stadium.                     Galaxy and Chiefs.                   until the fat lady sings. “We will
                                                                     This loss cost them an                Galaxy still have to play Golden   not give up that top eight spot
                                                                   opportunity to cement their place     Arrows on May 19 at the Sugar        easily. We want to make history
                                                                   in the top eight with 35 points.      Ray Xulu Stadium, and Orlando        by finishing within the top eight
                                                                   Galaxy are tightly chased by          Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium      on our first season in the DStv
                                                                   Kaizer Chiefs who are ninth with      on May 30.                           Premiership. The boys are working
                                                                   29 points.                              They then take on the stubborn     hard at training to go back to our
                                                                     Now, with only four games           Stellenboch FC on June 2 at the      winning ways.”

                                                                        TS Galaxy’s shot stpper, Marlon Heugh makes a save.
                                                                        Photo: TS Galaxy.

TS Galaxy’s captain, Mxolisi Macuphu.
Photo: TS Galaxy.                                                                                                                 Spiwe Msimango. Photo: TS Galaxy.

                                        TS Sporting still in it to win it, says commentator
                                        Mbekezeli Mbuli                                    Mnisi’s boys, Royal AM, who are sited with
                                                                                           47 points.
                                           Even though the GladAfrica                         Sibusiso Ngomane, a soccer commentator,
                                        Championship campaigners, TS Sporting,             argued that TS Sporting still have ample
                                        lost their weekend clash against Royal AM,         chance to finish the season on a high.
                                        they are still in it to win it or secure a space      “But it is up to them. They need to man
                                        in the promotional play-offs.                      up, step up to the plate and fight for that
                                           Sporting are currently in fourth position       promotion spot to the DStv Premiership.
                                        with 43 points. They are tied for points with      Looking at all their previous games, I would
                                        JDR Stars, which are in fifth place with 43        confidently say Sporting have what it takes
                                        points, too.                                       to compete for top honours and deserve
                                           With only six points to play for, Sporting      to be promoted to the elite league,” said
                                        need to win their two remaining fixtures to        Ngomane.
                                        finish the season with 49 points and pray             He argued that anything is possible in the
                                        Sekhukhune United, which are in third              game of football.
                                        position with 44 points, lose or draw their           Sporting will host Uthongathi FC at the
                                        last two fixtures.                                 KaBokweni Stadium on Sunday. Kick-off
                                           In second place are Richards Bay which          is 15:00. They will finish the season on the
                                        are sited with 45 points and on the top of the     road to Tshwane where they have a date with
                                        GladAfrica Championship table are Sinky            Pretoria Callies.                               Zakhele Lephasa and Aubrey Ngema.
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