Latest news with #AfriForum
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Drone operators catch maize thieves near Delmas
Security drone operators doing routine aerial patrols had no idea they were about to stumble upon what can only be described as a massive maize theft syndicate near Delmas. Farmcor AS Security drone operators spotted two people carrying 50kg woven polypropylene bags on their heads as they exited a client's maize fields near Hawerklip, close to Delmas Colliery on the R50, Leslie Road, at around 09:00 on July 12. The pair was seen leaving private farmland and heading toward a nearby informal settlement. The drone operators continued monitoring them as they entered a shack in the settlement, where they offloaded the bags. Farmcor AS Security was immediately informed, and reaction units swiftly responded to the scene. Upon arrival, members of AfriForum's Delmas Valke Neighbourhood Watch, CamFX Security and other role players joined the operation. Initial investigations revealed the shacks were used to store yellow maize allegedly stolen from adjacent fields. When reaction members requested access to other dwellings, they were told those were unoccupied. A source close to the investigation said security personnel were informed of more storage facilities nearby. The teams were then led to several zinc shelters, where they confirmed that stolen maize was stockpiled in large quantities. It was stored in about 200 woven bags, pulled from almost every shack. The two initial suspects evaded capture, but the teams recovered about 50 tons of yellow maize. ALSO READ: Learner from Evander High School gets chosen as exchange student to Egypt The price of yellow maize for the July 2025 contract on the South African Futures Exchange is approximately R4 019.80 per ton. Consequently, 50 tons would be valued at roughly R201 000. Several suspicious vehicles, including a 32-ton truck and trailer, were also identified nearby and are believed to be linked to the syndicate involved in the theft operation. Hennie Bekker, AfriForum's district co-ordinator for the Highveld, told the Streeknews that grain theft is an ongoing concern in the agricultural industry. 'Farmers suffer immense losses due to grain theft. Proving the origin of a maize cob or pit is challenging. For instance, if a car is stolen, its ownership can be proved via a VIN or registration number, but proving ownership of grain is impossible,' Bekker explained. 'The real value of what is stolen is also difficult to determine. These thieves steal grain in bags or come onto lands with bakkies, sometimes stealing hectares at a time, so it is nearly impossible to quantify the losses. 'The additional cost of security is another contributing factor to the losses farmers suffer from grain theft, and there is, unfortunately, no real solution to this problem,' Bekker concluded. The Streeknews was unable to confirm at the time of going to print whether there were any arrests in the Hawerklip case. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Swift justice demanded in footballer's culpable homicide case
Mogaila in court Sekhukhune United player Shaune Mogaila was involved in a fatal crash in October last year in Tembisa, killing a nine-year-old girl and injuring another teenage boy. Image: Simon Majadibodu / IOL AfriForum is demanding swift action from the SA Police Service (SAPS) in the culpable homicide case against Sekhukhune United player Shaune Mogaila, who the lobby group complains has been allowed to continue with his life. Mogaila was involved in a car accident that left nine-year-old Gomolemo Mavimbela dead and a 14-year-old boy injured in October last year. The winger fled the accident scene after crashing in his BMW sedan but later handed himself to the police, and in November, the Tembisa Magistrate's Court granted him R20,000 bail. However, AfriForum's private prosecution unit, which represents Gomolemo's mother, Keo Mavimbela, and the 14-year-old's mother, Carol Khethiwa, has expressed concerns that the accused is allowed to continue with his football career while the criminal justice system fails those seeking justice and closure. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Gomolemo's mother, Keo Mavimbela, Advocate Gerrie Nel, and the 14-year-old's mother, Carol Khethiwa. Image: Supplied In a letter written to the SAPS in Rabie Ridge near Tembisa on Wednesday, the unit's head Advocate Gerrie Nel said its clients have attempted to follow the progress in the matter by attending court, but the reasons tendered by the State for each postponement have been met with disbelief as the police still require until September 16 to complete the investigation. 'While the accused returned to the field in February 2025 to continue his career as a soccer player, the SAPS only obtained a statement from Khethiwa in June 2025, after the May 19 postponement,' Nel explained. He demanded that the police ensure that the case is trial-ready on September 16 and that no further postponements are requested for further investigation. In addition, Nel wants the SAPS and/or the prosecutor to provide meaningful feedback, including a timeline, failing which would suggest an apparent lack of urgency in completing the investigation. AfriForum complained that Mogaila was granted bail despite available evidence indicating that he fled the scene and handed himself over to the SAPS at least eight hours after the collision. 'On February 4, 2025, three months after the incident, the matter was postponed because the post-mortem and J88 forms were not available. 'The SAPS requested an opportunity to analyse video footage and to obtain further witness statements,' reads the letter. According to Nel, in May, the State requested another postponement because the post-mortem was still unavailable and to obtain the results of a blood alcohol sample obtained from Mogaila, which suggests that the specimen was received more than eight hours after the accident. Last month, the matter was postponed to September 16 due to the outstanding blood alcohol report. Mavimbela said she felt like there is no progress in the case and that there is a lot of run-around. 'The way things are going, it doesn't give any hope because the case has been postponed without a trial. 'It's always investigations, investigations based on the same reason, which is the blood results,' she said. AfriForum is also demanding to be provided with details of the evidence obtained, including dashcam footage of the collision and a statement from the driver in whose car the camera was installed, and a statement about the alcohol and identification of the possible drugs found in Mogaila's car. The unit wants to establish Mogaila's whereabouts and how he managed to escape in the period between 7am and 3pm on the day of the collision. Available information indicates that the accused fled the scene via an e-hailing vehicle and spent time at a friend's house before handing himself over to the SAPS. Additionally, AfriForum has asked for statements from individuals who removed Mogaila's car from the scene, including information on who arranged for the vehicle to be towed away, as well as evidence from his insurance company regarding the version he provided to explain the collision in support of his claim. BMW South Africa has been asked to provide statements to the police on the evidence recorded by the luxury vehicle's electronic control unit, which would provide precise details of speed, acceleration, and deceleration, engine revs, gear selection, and steering input, among numerous other data fields, in the moments preceding the collision. Other required evidence is the vehicle tracker data, if such a device were installed on the car, and Mogaila's insurance company would be able to confirm this, and statements from other potential witnesses, such as pedestrians and motorists, who are visible in the dashcam footage. SAPS Gauteng spokesperson Mavela Masondo is yet to respond to requests for comment.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Soccer star's 'special treatment' after deadly crash concerns mom
The soccer star's luxury car crashed into another, in an accident that killed the young child and injured another 13-year-old in Tembisa. The mother of a nine-year-old child who was killed in an accident allegedly caused by Sekhukhune United soccer star Shaune Mogaila says she's tired of the delays in the case against him and has turned to AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit for help. The accident occurred in October last year along Andrew Mapheto Road in Tembisa, where Mogaila's BMW M2 collided with a Hyundai Grand i10. Accident The crash tragically claimed the life of Gomolemo Mavimbela-Kekana. The nine-year-old's mother, Keo Mavimbela-Kekana, and 13-year-old Thando Khethiwa, the son of Mavimbela's friend, sustained critical injuries The Sekhukhune United winger allegedly fled the scene and handed himself over to the police later that day. He was granted bail of R20 000. The Ekurhuleni Metro Police reported that broken liquor bottles and a white substance they suspect was cocaine were found inside the BMW M2. The mother of 9-year-old child who was killed in an accident allegedly caused by Sekhukhune United soccer star Shaune Mogaila says she's tired of the delays in the case against him and has turned to AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit for help. @TheCitizen_News July 18, 2025 ALSO READ: Case of Sekhukhune United soccer player delayed, as girl's uncle speaks of family's 'devastation' [VIDEO] 'Delays' AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit, advocate Gerrie Nel, said that nine months later, despite dashcam video evidence of the crash, the matter continues to be postponed for further investigation. In correspondence with the Rabie Ridge police station commander, Nel asked for an update on the case. 'In our experience of other matters, it has become more and more evident that the Saps either lack the skills to investigate culpable homicide cases or consider them to be of lesser importance. Consequently, little is done to mitigate delays in the blood alcohol results, which have allowed cases to drag on until they are eventually struck off the roll. 'The trauma caused by this lingering case remains unhealthy for the victims, and our instructions are to not only obtain a status update but also to ensure that justice is served. To that end, we offer both our assistance and that of our client to ensure that the matter is postponed for trial and concluded without further undue delay., Nel said. The Citizen has contacted the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s Lumka Mhanjana for comment. This will be included in the story when received. 'Justice' Mavimbela said all she wants is justice. 'I approached AfriForum because I feel like there's no progress in this case. I feel like there's a lot of runaround. And the only thing that I want is justice in this case. But the way things are going, it doesn't give any hope because the case has been postponed without a trial. 'It's always investigations, investigations based on the same reason, which is the blood results. I hope that AfriForum could help me reach justice for my daughter, myself and Thando,' she said. Keo Mavimbela, Adv. Gerrie Nel, and Carol Khethiwa after consulting at AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit. 'Emotional burden' AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit spokesperson Barry Bateman said the unit also represents Thando's mother, Carol Khethiwa. He said Keo and her family not only bear the emotional burden of this incident but also the physical and financial burden. 'While Keo walks with a severe limp after undergoing numerous surgeries to heal her body, which was crushed in the wreck that killed her daughter, the football player behind the wheel of the other car runs onto the pitch. 'We share Keo's concern that Mogaila may be given preferential treatment because of his status as a soccer player. AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit was established to ensure that everyone is treated equally before the law, regardless of political or social status,' Bateman said. The matter is scheduled to return to the Tembisa Magistrates Court on 16 September 2025. ALSO READ: Sekhukhune United star to appear in court following crash that killed nine-year-old girl
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Metro urged to ditch outdated security solutions as cable theft cripples Fountains area
East residents and civic organisations are raising concerns over the metro's plans to allocate over R230-million in security guard contracts to protect assets. According to AfriForum, this is an outdated method that will drain public funds without effectively protecting assets. Ward 56 councillor Shaun Wilkinson, whose ward has been battling persistent power outages caused by cable theft, said the time has come for the metro to embrace smarter, more cost-effective solutions. He added that his residents are constantly affected by infrastructure vandalism and theft, yet the metro remains committed to deploying guards. 'Metro guards are often under-equipped and unable to stop organised criminal syndicates,' Wilkinson said. 'We need to move beyond symbolic security measures and embrace systems that provide real-time monitoring and faster responses.' Wilkinson said vandalism near the Unisa and Tuks perimeters has a ripple effect, disrupting water and electricity supply, research activities and even the academic reputation of institutions in Pretoria. He added that current guards, especially those deployed at tourist attractions and power stations, are ill-prepared for the scale of organised theft. 'Even if patrollers are stationed, they are not backed by high-visibility surveillance or rapid response teams. That makes them a deterrent in name only.' Groenkloof residents are currently contributing money out of their own pockets to buy and install cameras in the area. This comes after the area has faced back-to-back power outages due to cable theft. Resident Francois Geringer said it would be great if they could get the metro's help. 'The stolen cables cost more than installing cameras to safeguard the cables.' AfriForum has launched its own initiatives to protect vulnerable sites and argues that the metro's reliance on traditional guarding contracts is fiscally irresponsible and ineffective in curbing theft. The organisation's Greater Pretoria North district co-ordinator, Llewellynn Hemmens, said modern technology could achieve far more at a fraction of the cost. Hemmens said their organisation obtained quotations to secure three substations for under R100 000 using camera systems and smart monitoring tools. 'We are already installing cameras at the first substation as part of a community project, but despite letters and discussions, the metro has shown little co-operation.' According to Hemmens, AfriForum has offered assistance free of charge or at minimal cost, but their proposals were met with silence while the city pursued 'inflated' guarding contracts. 'This is a clear sign of poor management and a lack of political will,' he said. 'Taxpayers are footing the bill, but the infrastructure remains exposed.' AfriForum has urged the city to halt new guarding contracts, audit current infrastructure vulnerabilities, and collaborate with civil society on scalable, cost-efficient security solutions. 'The tools exist to turn this around, but the metro needs to act decisively and responsibly,' Hemmens said. The metro was approached for comment, but had not responded in time for printing. ALSO READ: Planned march today in Mamelodi Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
‘His brother is not coming back': Heartbroken mother speaks after toddler dies in Pretoria tent fire
The mother of a toddler who died in a Pretoria tent fire is staying strong for her grieving children as the family prepares for a memorial. The mother of two-year-old Alejandro McGarry, who died last Tuesday in a tent fire, is staying strong for her other children who are only coming to terms with the tragedy. Susan Radue said there were so many untrue stories making the rounds after little Ali, as his family affectionately called him, died after a candle burned down the tent they were sleeping in on a smallholding at Grootvlei Oos in Pretoria. 'He didn't die in his camping cot and also not a gas explosion,' she said. A heartbroken family 'We are coping as a family. We will hold a memorial on Friday to greet our Ali, we cannot bury him, because we need to have postmortem DNA tests done because his body was unrecognisable.' Radue said her other children were heartbroken and she needed to keep them strong. 'The middle child, my 16-year-old, is a very strong child, but it's like it only hit him today that his younger brother is not coming back. He went back to the scene and sat there for a while,' she said. ALSO READ: One dead in a shack fire at informal settlement in Ekurhuleni Radue said besides having to find finances for the DNA tests, they also struggled with transport after their Toyota RAV4 keys were destroyed in the fire. 'A house fire is fast, hot, dark and deadly' AfriForum disaster management specialist Tarien Cooks said the dangers of house fires were becoming more common in the cold winter months. 'In the past few months, several lives have been lost in house fires. A house fire is fast, hot, dark and deadly,' she said. 'Smoke spreads faster than you think and most deaths in house fires are not from the flames, but from smoke inhalation.' Another fire claims two-year-old's life The second fire last week in Tshwane claimed a two-year-old and a family of five. City of Tshwane emergency services department spokesperson Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni said: 'On arrival, the firefighters found out that the fire had destroyed the four-roomed shack dwelling. 'Sadly, five family members, including a senior citizen, one adult and three minors, were fatally burned.' NOW READ: Massive fire sparked by DIY heater displaces hundreds in KZN
