Latest news with #R200
Eyewitness News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
DA's Msimanga says he'll give his 'left kidney' if Lilian Ngoyi Street repairs completed by end of August
JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng said it doubted that repairs to Lilian Ngoyi Street in the Johannesburg CBD will be finished by the end of August. The street was severely damaged by an underground gas explosion exactly two years ago. Repair work is underway, with the city promising the road will be opened to the public on 31 August. The DA visited the site to assess the progress of the ongoing repairs. With just over a month remaining before the City of Johannesburg plans to reopen Lilian Ngoyi Street, doubts have emerged about the metro will meet its own deadline. When Eyewitness News visited the site earlier this year, the city was busy installing new underground pipes and laying concrete slabs to reinforce the road. Construction teams are currently working on the road's foundation, but there are no indications that asphalt will be applied anytime soon. DA Gauteng leader, Solly Msimanga, said he did not expect the road to be open to the public by the end of August. "By August, if anything is completed here, I will give you my left kidney. We have now been told that over R200 million has been spent to fix this but nothing has been fixed." The city said it would provide an official update on their progress later on Tuesday.
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- The Citizen
Bank employee sentenced to five years for fraud and cybercrime
FNB employee sentenced to five years in jail for fraud and cybercrime A 35-year-old woman has been sentenced to five years in jail for her role in a meticulously orchestrated fraud scheme involving the unlawful access and manipulation of an elderly customer's banking profile and stealing more than R200 000. Lusanda Gloria Qose appeared in the Gqeberha Regional Court on Monday where the sentence was handed down. Abusing access credentials As a former sales and service consultant at First National Bank (FNB), Pier 14 branch in Gqeberha, Qose was convicted of fraud, cyber fraud, and the unlawful use of access credentials following her abuse of internal banking systems between 22 January and 24 April 2024. Her victim was 68-year-old Mlungwana Maranti, who held an Encore account linked to a Money Maximiser account and a registered cellphone number used for authorising transactions via FNB's InContact system. Fraud National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Qose unlawfully changed Maranti's cellphone number on the bank's system using her employee credentials, diverting all One-Time-Pin (OTP) authorisations to herself without his knowledge or consent. 'She further created a second bank card linked to the complainant's accounts, which she used to transfer funds from the Money Maximiser account to the Encore account and conduct multiple ATM withdrawals over three months. 'These fraudulent transactions resulted in a total loss of R245 000. The bank ultimately refunded the complainant and absorbed the financial loss,' Tiyali said. ALSO READ: Man sentenced to eight years in jail for cybercrime Security protocols Tiyali said Qose used her employee number to access FNB's core operating system, which contains confidential customer and transactional information. He said she bypassed internal security protocols such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and online fingerprint verification (OFV) and manipulated digital records to create the false impression that Maranti had authorised the transactions. 'The court found that Qose's actions were premeditated and sophisticated, involving multiple system breaches over an extended period. She pleaded guilty to all charges, citing financial distress as her motive. 'During sentencing proceedings, she and her aunt testified in mitigation, stating that she is a single mother of two minor children, aged 13 and 17. She has since repaid R87 000 through a deduction from her pension fund and expressed remorse for her actions,' Tiyali said. ALSO READ: Cybercrime: A global risk surpassing load shedding in potential impact Victim's emotional toll In a victim impact statement, Maranti detailed the emotional toll the crime took on him, detailing the trauma of watching his retirement savings vanish and revealing that he had contemplated suicide. The court heard that Qose was fully aware that the funds she stole were earmarked to grow the complainant's retirement nest egg. Tiyali said Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU) prosecutor Edmyrach Matabata argued that, despite Qose being a first-time offender, her gross abuse of trust and exploitation of a vulnerable senior citizen warranted a custodial sentence. 'The court concurred, emphasising that although the accused demonstrated remorse and potential for rehabilitation, the offence not only harmed the victim but also eroded public trust in the financial system.' NOW READ: South Africa remains a global hotspot for data breaches
Eyewitness News
10 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
DA's Msimanga says delays in completing Bree Street repairs appalling
JOHANNESBURG - It's been two years since an underground gas explosion ripped through Lilian Ngoyi Street in the Johannesburg CBD, and repairs to the 1.8km stretch remain incomplete. Commonly referred to as Bree Street, the city has been working to restore the damaged road, with a contractor still active on site. READ: Only 15% of work to restore Bree Street completed following 2023 gas explosion, says Morero The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is now conducting a site visit to assess the progress of the repairs along this once-bustling corridor. What was once among the busiest streets in Johannesburg's CBD remains a construction zone, with nearby businesses bearing the brunt. Repairs to the corridor were originally scheduled for completion in November last year, but the City of Johannesburg now said the work will be finished by the end of August. The delays were due to disputes with a previous contractor, and a new company has since taken over the project. DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said the delays were appalling. "We have been told this place will be ready by end of August or beginning of September. It's not going to happen." Almost R200 million was allocated to fix the road.
The Citizen
18 hours ago
- The Citizen
City Power employees among seven arrested for copper theft
City Power said 15 employees are undergoing disciplinary action, many of whom are linked to fraud, collusion with contractors, and theft. About 840 pieces of suspected stolen copper pipes, with a street value of over R200 000, concealed in boxes. Picture: City Power Three City Power employees, along with four others, have been arrested for copper theft worth an estimated R200 000. City Power confirmed that the suspects were arrested on Mandela Day on Friday. Employees nabbed The utility's spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, said the arrests were made in Reuven and Lenasia and form part of broader efforts to dismantle internal corruption and sabotage or theft that threaten the city of Johannesburg's electricity network. 'The most alarming development occurred in the early hours of Friday when a trade assistant, cleaner, and an EPWP worker were intercepted while attempting to exit City Power's Reuven Service Delivery Centre (SDC) with about 840 pieces of suspected stolen copper pipes, with a street value of over R200 000, concealed in boxes inside a company vehicle. 'The theft was detected by City Power security officers during a routine checkpoint inspection. Saps was immediately alerted, and the suspects were taken into custody on site. All three now face criminal charges,' Mangena said. ALSO READ: City Power halts services in Vezinyawo in Alexandra 'Disturbing' City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava said it is disturbing and deeply disappointing to find that the power utility's own staff are allegedly involved in the theft of public infrastructure. 'These are individuals entrusted with safeguarding our network, yet they've betrayed that responsibility. We will pursue disciplinary action without fear or favour.' Shootout The arrests come just days after a separate high-stakes operation in Denver, where City Power security personnel, with the support of Saps, JMPD, and private security, came under fire during a shootout with suspected infrastructure vandals. Mashava said no injuries were reported. 'The shootout in Denver underscores the dangerous and organised nature of these crimes. We are dealing with syndicates who are armed and unafraid to confront law enforcement. We will not relent in the fight to protect Johannesburg's electricity infrastructure.' Cleanup City Power said the arrests form part of an ongoing internal clean-up campaign launched by City Power in March 2025. The utility said to date, 15 employees are undergoing disciplinary action, many of whom are linked to fraud, collusion with contractors, and theft. City Power added that a total of 47 disciplinary cases have been processed since March 2024, including multiple suspensions and one criminal prosecution. Those implicated include electricians, security officers, team leaders, and senior managers. ALSO READ: City Power will not pay to replace this cable if stolen by thieves
The South African
19 hours ago
- The South African
8-hour power outage to affect these areas in Johannesburg
City Power Johannesburg has implemented an 8-hour power outage for regular electricity maintenance. 'The interruption is necessary to do maintenance work on our network, which is part of our programme of constantly striving to provide a better service,' mentioned City Power. Customers are urged to always treat their supply points as live, as the power supply may be restored at any time. The power outage will occur at Roosevelt Substation on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, from 8:30 until 16:00 in these areas: Blackhealth Risidale Northcliff At DBC Switching Station on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, from 9:00 to 17:00, these are the areas affected: Exchange Bond Grand Central Market Diagonal Part of Old Pretoria Road City Power Johannesburg has confirmed the arrest of seven suspects, including three City Power employees, in connection with copper theft. According to City Power, the three employees, including a trade assistant, cleaner and an EPWP worker, were caught attempting to exit a service delivery station with approximately 840 pieces of suspected stolen copper estimated to be worth R200 000 concealed in boxes inside a company vehicle. Some of the copper recovered. IMAGE: City Power Johannesburg/X. City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava expressed disappointment in some employees' involvement in the theft. 'It is disturbing and deeply disappointing to find some of our staff allegedly involved in the theft of public infrastructure. These are individuals entrusted with safeguarding our network, yet they have betrayed that responsibility. We will pursue disciplinary action without fear or favour,' said Mashava. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
