Latest news with #Saps
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Child Protection Week: Growing calls for tougher sentences for child abuse offenders
Joburg Child Welfare is calling for decisive action and tougher sentencing as Saps highlights recent life sentences for sexual offenders. JCW and other non-profit organisations marched to the Department of Justice on Sunday, 1 June. Picture: Supplied As South Africa marks Child Protection Week to raise awareness about children's rights and safety, non-profit organisation Joburg Child Welfare (JCW) has called for harsher punishments for perpetrators of child abuse. This year's theme, 'Working together in ending violence against children', urges all South Africans to unite in protecting children from harm. South Africa marks Child Protection Week from 29 May to 5 June 2025. As part of the week's activities, JCW and other non-profit organisations marched to the Department of Justice on Sunday, 1 June. Child Protection Week 'With more than 26 000 cases of child abuse and neglect reported in the 2024-25 financial year, according to the Department of Social Development, it is high time that we emphasise more comprehensive approaches to strengthen children's protective environments,' said Abubakr Hattas, CEO of JCW. The organisation said the march aimed to demand the urgent implementation of tougher penalties for child abuse offenders, particularly those involved in Schedule 6 crimes. ALSO READ: Gauteng man arrested for illegal initiation school and taking in children 'This march aimed to raise national awareness and signal to lawmakers that the current sentencing regime fails to reflect the gravity of the harm inflicted on children,' Hattas said in a statement on Tuesday. 'We demand a justice system that not only protects, but actively deters violence against children.' JCW and other non-profit organisations marched to the Department of Justice on Sunday, 1 June. Picture: Supplied. March demanding stricter sentences for abusers The CEO said strong child protection offers a safeguard against the many risks and vulnerabilities that can lead to harm and abuse. This means backing initiatives that teach kids the importance of boundaries and respect for one another, while also educating them about their rights to safety and protection, Hattas said. 'South Africa has strong legislation and a national action plan to prevent and address violence against children, indicating urgent commitment to the protection of children's rights. However, laws and policies by themselves are insufficient; they are ineffective without enforcement,' he said. ALSO READ: Violence against children soars despite strong laws Hattas added that society needs to build a stronger consensus and show greater intolerance for abuse and violence to truly protect children. 'Acceptance of violence against children undermines protective norms and practices, sharply increasing children's vulnerability to violations of their rights,' Hattas concluded. 'More must be done to advocate for and protect the rights of every child and young people in the country.' Recent arrests and sentences for child sexual offenders Amid Child Protection Week, the South African Police Service (Saps) has highlighted the recent harsher sentences and arrests against perpetrators who committed crimes against children. Police arrested a 50-year-old man in Brackenfell, Cape Town, on multiple charges, including sexual exploitation, grooming, and facilitating the production of child pornography. ALSO READ: Parents sentenced for murder and abuse of one-year-old daughter Saps spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi said the Free State Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) Unit traced the suspect to the Western Cape after conducting an extensive investigation into cyber sexual crimes against minors. Recently, a father of three has been sentenced to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting his children, aged between three and 13 years. The conviction comes after the children's mother reported the case to the Benoni police on 4 August 2021. The Benoni Regional Court found the father guilty on multiple charges, including rape, sexual assault, compelling or causing a minor to masturbate, and exposing genital organs, Pastor sentenced to 2 life terms Furthermore, on 26 May 2025, the Edenburg Regional Court sentenced a 47-year-old pastor to two life terms of imprisonment after finding him guilty of raping a 12-year-old girl. 'As South Africa observes Child Protection Week, the Saps remains committed and dedicated to protecting children's rights and ensuring justice for victims of sexual crimes,' Mukhathi said. NOW READ: South Africans demand #JusticeforCwecwe in nationwide protests (VIDEOS)
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Public urged to beware of strangers from dating apps
The Committee expressed particular concern over the recent arrest of a gang operating in Maboneng, targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has raised concerns over a disturbing rise in kidnappings and robberies in Johannesburg's Maboneng precinct. It warned residents to exercise extreme caution when meeting strangers from online platforms. This follows the Committee's unannounced oversight visit to Jeppe Police Station on Friday, during which it was briefed by station management on a troubling pattern of crimes linked to online dating apps. Lured, robbed and attacked 'During the visit, Station Management briefed the Committee on a disturbing trend where victims from across Gauteng are lured to Maboneng through hookup apps, only to be kidnapped, robbed, or assaulted,' the committee said in a statement on Friday. It added that the criminal tactics resemble those used in the Olorato Mongale murder case, where victims are tricked by strangers met online or in public places, then violently attacked. ALSO READ: Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not suspect in kidnapping case, says Saps LGBTQIA+ community specifically targeted It expressed particular concern over the recent arrest of a gang operating in Maboneng that allegedly targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community. 'The committee condemns these crimes in the strongest terms and calls for heightened vigilance from all citizens,' the statement read. While commending the police for progress in the Mongale case, in which one suspect was recently killed during a shootout in KwaZulu-Natal, the committee stressed the importance of justice for all victims. 'While the committee commends the police for these breakthroughs… justice must be served for Olorato and all victims of these heinous crimes,' it said. ALSO READ: Police officers charged with serious crimes remain on active duty Safety advice issued The committee urged the public to take safety precautions when engaging with strangers on digital platforms. 'For their safety, the Committee advises the public to avoid meeting strangers from apps in isolated or unfamiliar areas, inform trusted contacts about meetup plans, verify identities through video calls before meeting, and immediately report suspicious activity to the Saps,' the statement concluded. NOW READ: WATCH: Olorato Mongale remembered as 'light extinguished too soon', police vow action
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Suspect cleared in kidnapping case
Here's your daily news update for Saturday, 31 May 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. As police continue their search for a suspect wanted in connection with the kidnapping of women, another man was cleared of any wrongdoing on Saturday. The South African Police Service (Saps) confirmed that Fezile Ngubane, who was previously identified as a suspect in a syndicate targeting young women, has been cleared of any wrongdoing and released from police custody. In other news, the City of Tshwane has warned its residents that the city's water woes could worsen if they continue to consume water at the current rate. While Rand Water conducts its 107-hour planned major maintenance, which will affect parts of the City of Tshwane, the municipality has urged residents to conserve water to avoid further outages. Weather tomorrow: 01 June 2025 The weather service predicts fine and cool to warm conditions; however, it will be partly cloudy over the northeastern parts of South Africa as well as along the southwest coast, with possible damaging waves along the south coast. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not suspect in kidnapping case, says Saps Ngubane was handed over to police by his father on Friday at the KwaMashu police station after reports emerged linking him to the ongoing Olorato murder case. Fezile Ngubane. Picture: Supplied/ Saps According to Saps, Ngubane earns a living washing cars and resides in the same neighbourhood as the deceased suspect Philangenkosi Makhanya. CONTINUE READING: Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not suspect in kidnapping case, says Saps Veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench has died The media industry is mourning the death of veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench. Veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench. Picture: Facebook Trench, who worked for several major publications both in South Africa and abroad, died on Friday evening surrounded by family. He had been battling oesophageal cancer. CONTINUE READING: Veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench has died Tshwane's water warning to residents City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba on Friday urged residents of Region 6 and some parts of regions 2 and 3 to urgently reduce their water consumption after levels at the city's reservoirs dropped significantly. Picture: Stock Bokaba said the continuation of high consumption was likely to put consumers in these regions at risk of having no water until the work is completed. CONTINUE READING: Tshwane's water warning to residents PODCAST: What closure of Nissan Rosslyn plant means for Mzansi The Nissan plant in Rosslyn outside Pretoria faces closure in the Japanese carmaker's desperate attempt to cut its global losses. Nissan will close seven of its current 17 factories by 2027, one reportedly being the Rosslyn Plant outside Pretoria. Photo by MATTHIAS BALK / DPA / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP The local factory is one of seven global assembly facilities on the chopping block as Nissan plans to reduce its plants from 17 to 10 by 2027. CONTINUE READING: PODCAST: What closure of Nissan Rosslyn plant means for Mzansi Truck driver found twenty times over the legal alcohol limit in KZN The Road Traffic Inspectorate, working with the South African Police Service (Saps), have arrested a truck driver for drinking and driving in Van Reenen along the N3 Freeway. Picture: Supplied According to Duma, another driver was caught driving a truck and blew 2.0mg/1000ml, which is twenty times more than the legal limit of 0.10mg /1000ml. CONTINUE READING: Truck driver found twenty times over the legal alcohol limit in KZN Here are five more news stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Trump's pastor: No white genocide | Spar bleeds billions| Mongale murder suspect shot dead
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Truck driver found twenty times over the legal alcohol limit in KZN
He will make his first court appearance in August. The Road Traffic Inspectorate, working with the South African Police Service (Saps), have arrested a truck driver for drinking and driving in Van Reenen along the N3 Freeway. The driver is currently detained in Ladysmith. According to the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, the driver allegedly blew 0.32 mg/1000ml, which is three times more than the legal limit of 0.10 mg/1000 for professional drivers. ALSO READ: Tow truck driver arrested after KZN crash kills 8 Another truck driver, who was also caught driving intoxicated, will make his first appearance in court on 18 August 2025. According to Duma, the second driver was caught driving a truck and blew 2.0mg/1000ml, which is twenty times more than the legal limit of 0.10mg /1000ml. KZN truck accidents KZN has been battling the scourge of truck accidents in recent months, due to several factors. On 16 May, two trucks collided along the N3 Southbound just after the Peter Brown off-ramp, after one of the trucks allegedly experienced brake failure. A week before, a collision between a truck and a light delivery vehicle transporting passengers claimed multiple lives on the N2 highway near Empangeni. ALSO READ: Lifeless body of a driver recovered in KZN after a two-day search Eight victims lost their lives in the accident. Duma says the province has adopted a zero-tolerance attitude to drunk drivers due to the high number of accidents. 'Weeks ago, we laid to rest nine victims of a horrific accident involving a truck in Empangeni along the N2,' said Duma. 'Families lost their loved ones and breadwinners, with children becoming orphans as a result of one reckless truck driver. 'During my meeting with senior management last Monday, I instructed our RTI team to intensify their 'no-nonsense, zero-tolerance' and Alufakwa campaign on our roads. ALSO READ: Truck accident forces closure of N3 toll road as festive season ends 'We undertake to clamp down on bad behaviour in all corners of our province. 'In particular, we are paying more attention to trucks because, more than any vehicle, trucks can damage more vehicles at once, and their accidents can lead to serious injuries because of the impact.' The department said the country's roads would no longer be 'playgrounds' for irresponsible drivers. 'We must remove all these elements that are costing our country a fortune. 'We have been informed that road accidents cost the South African economy over R164 billion annually, an equivalent of 3.4% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).' READ NEXT: Police arrest six truckers for theft of minerals in Pongola, KZN
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Road Closures: M4 travel impacted for Durban Ironman tomorrow
Most of the M4 will be closed to accommodate the Durban Isuzu Ironman 70.3 triathlon tomorrow (June 1). The 90.5km bike leg of the race follows a coastal route from the Durban Promenade to Umdloti and back, forcing the closures for athlete safety. Between 5am and 2.30pm, motorists will be unable to use the M4 highway between Umdloti and Sandile Thusi Road near the Durban CBD. Motorists are urged to rather use the N2 for long-distance travel, although a number of M4 crossing points are available. M4 crossings Sibaya residents and visitors to Sibaya Casino can use Sibaya Drive for access. The crossing of the M4 at the M4/Sibaya Drive/Heleza Boulevard circle will be monitored by Saps. Umhlanga crossings are available at Egret Lane and Umhlanga Rocks Drive.. The M41 will be closed east of Ridgeside Drive. La Lucia and Durban North residents can cross at Ridge Road, Inca Drive, Hinton Grove and Swapo Road. Athlone Drive will remain open at Blue Lagoon. Further delays can be expected at Country Club Beach and Battery Beach as large sections of Snell Parade will also be closed. For those attending the event, parking and access points will be clearly marked, but be prepared for some congestion around key race locations. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
