Latest news with #JMPD
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
WhatsApp scam warning: Users tricked into sharing verification codes
Authorities have issued a warning about a new WhatsApp scam where fraudsters trick users into giving away their security verification codes. The scam begins with a message from someone pretending to be a friend or contact. The sender claims to be taking part in an 'ambassador course' and asks the victim to help by sharing a code they will receive via SMS. That code is the victim's WhatsApp verification code. Also read: JMPD sends stern warning about e-wallet bribery scam Once the code is shared, scammers gain full control of the victim's WhatsApp account. They then impersonate the victim to message contacts, sometimes asking for money. How to protect yourself: • Never share your WhatsApp verification code with anyone • Enable two-step verification on your account • Verify suspicious messages by calling the person directly using a regular phone call • Use tools like Truecaller or Google to identify unknown numbers • Check and update your WhatsApp privacy settings • Report suspicious activity to WhatsApp and your local police What to do if your WhatsApp is hacked: • Log out and reinstall WhatsApp to trigger a new verification code • Use the new SMS code to regain access • Activate two-step verification immediately • Report and block the number that contacted you • Inform your contacts not to respond to suspicious messages from your number Authorities urge the public to stay alert and avoid sharing personal information online. * Issued by: Gauteng Provincial JOC – A Gauteng Police Board Initiative #SaferCity At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
6 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Joburg's budget aims to combat rampant crime and improve safety
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department has been allocated more resources to tackle crime across the city. The Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD), once a vibrant epicentre of finance and commerce, is now grappling with an alarming rise in crime that casts a long shadow over its efforts for revitalisation. But there is a glimmer of hope, with the city yesterday announcing new plans to tackle the scourge. As the police force employs various strategies to enhance security, the persistent issues of theft, robbery, and hijackings have put both residents and businesses on edge. The CBD's reputation for being a high-crime area is not unfounded, as reports indicate a worrying trend in criminal activity. Victims recount harrowing experiences, from being held at gunpoint during daylight hours to having their vehicles forcibly taken in broad daylight. The subject of the high crime rate in the province featured prominently in the White House last week when the South African delegation was hosted by the US government. Last year, Gauteng Premier was quoted as saying the crime in the province is giving him ''sleepless nights'. However, this could change if the City of Johannesburg has its way. Yesterday, the City of Joburg's pledge to protect residents from rampant crime across the municipality should come as a relief; moreover, as the city prepares to host world leaders later this year. Johannesburg will be hosting the G20 Summit, a meeting of heads of state and government held from 22 to 23 November 2025 Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds has announced increased resources for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). Arnolds tabled the R89.4 billion budget for the 2025/26 financial year at the council chambers in Braamfontein yesterday.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
How Joburg plans to spend R89 billion
For the 2025/26 financial year, Johannesburg will have an operating revenue of R84.8 billion The council chamber of the City of Johannesburg. Picture: Neil McCartney / The Citizen City of Johannesburg Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds has tabled a R89 billion budget to address the city's service delivery challenges. Arnolds delivered her first budget speech at the Connie Bapela Council chambers in Braamfontein on Wednesday. The primary driver of this growth in total revenue is the rise in service charges, mostly for water and electricity. 'Revenue for 2025/26 reflects a 9.3% increase compared to the previous year. This Increase is primarily driven by service charges, which account for the largest share of the City's revenue base.' Electricity service charges are budgeted at R25.6 billion, up by 12.5%. 'This reflects the approved tariff increase of 12.41%, which is a pass-through from Eskom. 'There is also a focused plan to reduce technical and non-technical electricity losses from 28% to 25.8%,' said Arnolds. Water and wastewater charges will generate approximately R20 billion, up 11.8% from the current year. 'This will be underpinned by an average tariff increase capped at 13.9%, despite a Rand water increase of 15.3%,' she said. Refuse removal revenue increases by 6.4% to R3.3 billion, with service reliability a core deliverable tied to the tariff increase of 6.6%. Property rates, the City's second-largest revenue stream, are expected to generate R18.1 billion, reflecting a 4.6% increase. Arnolds described this as a funded budget even through the city has been struggling with rate collection over the years. Keeping the lights on in Joburg R4.6 billion has been allocated to City Power over the next three years. This is meant to stabilise the grid to prevent collapse and strengthen the network to improve efficiency. 'This is also meant for the expansion of the grid to meet growing demand, prevent system collapse due to the ever-growing and changing energy landscape and to ensure revenue enhancement and reduction of technical losses,' said Arnolds. Water and Sanitation Johannesburg Water will receive the second-largest capital allocation of R5.6 billion over three years to address both service backlogs and infrastructure failure hotspots. The city will invest in new sewer connections to informal settlements and densified townships. Roads and Mobility At least R2.8 billion has been allocated to Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) for upgrading high-traffic corridors linking townships to economic centres, particularly in Diepsloot, Soweto, and Lenasia. On the other hand, R400 million has been allocated for expanding stormwater infrastructure in Orange Farm, Ivory Park and Braamfischeville, to prevent flash flooding. JMPD The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) will be empowered by a R16 million investment in Public Safety. This will enable the city to fight crime using the latest technology. ALSO READ: Morero's vision to make Johannesburg a world-class African city A pro-poor budget? Arnolds said the city had come up with a tariff strategy which is balanced and progressive. 'It ensures services are funded sustainably without excessive burdens. 'It also ensures indigent households continue to benefit from the Expanded Social Package (ESP). 'We are in the process of reviewing our ESP policy to be more inclusive and allow access to more vulnerable individuals,' she said. Arnolds said the city had the poor in mind when crafting the 2025/2026 budget. 'In this budget, all residents will continue to receive the first 6 kiloliters of water for free, 'Expanded Social Package (ESP) qualifying residents receive up to 15 kiloliters of free water, 50 kilowatt hours (kWh) of free electricity, free sanitation, and refuse removal because in Johannesburg, we believe that basic services are a human right, not a privilege,' she said. Pensioners will receive up to 100% rates rebates on homes valued up to R2.5 million. 'Indigent households, child-headed families, people living with disabilities, and the unemployed are supported through targeted rebates and subsidies on municipal services, housing, and transport,' she said. Arnolds said the city will keep the prepaid electricity surcharge unchanged at R200 (excluding VAT). She said this is a deliberate act to protect the poor against rising energy costs. 'This budget makes it clear: we will not govern in a way that reproduces inequality. Our pro-poor programme is a political choice – rooted in the values of equity, dignity, and redress. 'It is a signal that in the City of Johannesburg, no one will be left behind. Not on our watch,' she said. According to Arnolds, employee-related costs remain the largest expenditure item, aligned with the Multi-year Collective Bargaining negotiated agreement of 5.35% salary increase. She said repairs and maintenance spending has been ringfenced and increased to address ageing infrastructure, with a growing share of operating directed toward proactive maintenance over reactive fixes. She said contracted services and professional fees have been limited in growth. 'This ensures the city does not outsource its core responsibilities unnecessarily,' she said. NOW READ: ANC faction takes aim at Joburg mayor Dada Morero
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Joburg's R89. 4 billion budget aims to combat crime and improve safety
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department has been allocated more resources to tackle crime across the city. Image: X The City of Joburg has pledged to protect residents from rampant crime across the municipality, with Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds announcing increased resources for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). Arnolds tabled the R89.4 billion budget for the 2025/26 financial year at the council chambers in Braamfontein on Wednesday. She stated that the city's degradation through illegal dumping, informal invasions, vandalism, cable theft, and by-law non-compliance erodes dignity, drives away investment, and costs the municipality millions of rand. 'It is not enough to deliver services. We must also protect them,' she said. The JMPD's operations will receive a major boost for optimal deployment of officers in high-risk zones, taking advantage of strategic appointments made with the 2024/25 budget allocation. 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 ✕ Its officers will conduct weekly compliance patrols in informal trading hotspots. 'Smart surveillance systems linked to precinct revitalisation initiatives, supported by a R16 million investment in the Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre in Public Safety,' Arnolds said. There will also be support for the municipality's bad building strategy, where hijacked and unsafe properties are secured, repurposed, or demolished. 'The inner city war room, announced in the State of the City Address, is now operational. It brings together development planning, JMPD, housing, and public safety into a single command unit focused on precinct-by-precinct transformation,' she explained.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Gauteng police dismiss WhatsApp shutdown threats as unfounded
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has urged South Africans to refrain from spreading misinformation following reports of a shutdown and disruption of services in Gauteng. Image: SAPS Threats of a shutdown in the Gauteng province have been dismissed by the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola following a widely circulated WhatsApp message warning of a total shutdown in Gauteng on Monday. On Monday, Masemola cautioned members of the public against spreading WhatsApp messages that seek to mobilise communities to shut down and block highways, close schools, shut down the American embassy and Consulate as well as close down targeted food outlets in Gauteng on Monday, 26 May 2025. "Good evening, members. We have confirmed reports of a highway shutdown on Monday the 26th of May starting at 7.30am. The N1 Sandton, N1 Pretoria and M1 and M2 motorways will be affected. Please make use of alternative use for EMS. This has been verified by JMPD and TMPD. Please be cautious on the roads," part of the widely circulated message reads. Reacting to the message, Masemola urged those behind the WhatsApp message to refrain from spreading fake news and misinformation. "Members of the public are warned that this WhatsApp message only seeks to instill fear, bully community members and incite violence. Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the WhatsApp message and refrain from sharing it further," he said in a statement. Masemola assured Gauteng residents that the police are on full alert should there be any reports of a shutdown adding that all school services and roads will operate as normal. "Everything from businesses, schools to services will be fully functional and operational and accessible. There will be no highway shutdown or road closures. 'We are not going to allow lawlessness and acts of criminality, those who are found to be on the wrong side of the law, will be dealt with accordingly. The N1 Sandton, N1 Pretoria and M1 and M2 motorways will be opened," Masemola said. The Tshwane Metropolitan Pollice Department also dispelled the reports of a shutdown in a statement on Monday saying: "As of now, there is no official confirmation from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), or any other verified government authority regarding a national shutdown scheduled for Monday, 26 May 2025, involving highway closures or widespread disruptions. While messages circulating on social media claim that major routes such as the N1 (Sandton and Pretoria), M1, and M2 motorways will be affected, and that schools and businesses will be closed, these claims have not been substantiated by official sources." [email protected]
