Latest news with #rekord.co.za
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Residents blame metro for poor cemetery conditions
Outrage is mounting in the north of Pretoria as residents are at their wits' end with the Tshwane metro allegedly neglecting various cemeteries' upkeep. The resting places of loved ones have been described as sites riddled with long grass, weeds, and crime. Heatherdale Cemetery, in particular, has come under fire, with grieving families describing it as a jungle of disrespect. Ward 98 councillor Dana Wannenburg condemned the metro for failing to maintain these sacred spaces, despite ongoing complaints and public promises. 'It's not just about overgrown grass, it's about respect. People pay rates and taxes expecting basic services, not to bury their loved ones in filth and fear,' he said. Residents visiting Heatherdale Cemetery said they now have to bring their own gardening tools to clear burial plots. Tombstones are obscured by knee-high grass and overgrown shrubs, making it nearly impossible to locate graves. 'It's heartbreaking. We couldn't find my grandmother's grave on Mother's Day. We wandered around like strangers in a place that should feel sacred,' said Marco Washington, a local resident. Community members have also raised safety concerns over the thick vegetation providing hiding places for criminals and drug users. 'We've seen people using the cemetery as a dumping ground and a drug den. 'You don't know what or who is waiting behind the bushes. It's no longer safe to visit alone.' Mosquitoes and snakes have also become a hazard, with elderly mourners particularly vulnerable to bites and falls. Despite a commitment made by the mayor and the mayoral committee at a public meeting on May 21 to prioritise cleaning of the Heatherdale Cemetery, no action has been taken. 'We were told help was on the way. We're still waiting. 'How long must we beg to be treated with dignity?' Wannenburg has called on the municipality to take urgent action to clean and maintain all cemeteries. Residents have started logging complaints through the metro's online portal and emailing municipal departments directly, in the hope that co-ordinated pressure will lead to change. 'This is not a luxury, it's a necessity. Our cemeteries must be places of peace, not danger. The city must step up, not only out of duty, but out of decency,' he said. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ 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 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
16 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Local church blesses city with massive outreach
Hundreds of people from across the city were blessed with heart-warming donations as a local church displayed community spirit and unwavering faith through massive outreach. Driven by their aim to make a lasting difference in the city, members of the Doxa Deo Wonderboom church donated food and clothes to over 850 people during their annual street store drive in Pretoria North on May 31. Outreach organiser Yolanda Pelzer said the aim was to provide people with clothes for the winter ahead, blankets, a warm cup of soup, bread and a pack of vegetables to take home as well as prayer. 'This year's street store had over 12 tons of clothing distributed to people who are not so fortunate to be able to buy their own clothes this winter. 'We were able to give people the opportunity to walk through the street store themselves, and each person was able to take an average of 15 items home for the day.' Pelzer said Doxa Deo believes people should be treated with dignity, and needy people often cannot choose what they want, but have to take what they get. 'Through the street store, people could not only take something home for free, but also take home something they chose themselves and loved.' She said they also served over 350 litres of soup, 250 loaves of bread, as well as 1 400 water bags and 200 packets of sweets during the outreach. 'We also had a special area for the children, and each child was spoiled with a face paint of their choice as well as a packet of sweets,' she said. She said the church aims to make a difference in the city by equipping people through various processes to know God, love others, and make a positive impact in their lives. Lisa Weitz (33) from Onderstepoort shared how grateful she was to receive clothes and food for her seven children completely free of charge. 'We feel blessed to have been given the vegetables and clothes without hesitation, and from people who didn't even know us personally. Most of the stuff we received, we really needed but couldn't afford, so it's going to help a lot.' Church member Helena Pretorius (54) shared how honoured she felt to have been there for people who really needed it. 'It was really heart-warming to see joy on the children's faces as we gave them sweets and painted their faces. It always makes them feel special.' She believes God works with people's hearts and puts love in one's heart so they pour it out where it's needed. 'It feels great to share your love with other people. We didn't know them and their struggles, but just making their days better felt amazing,' she said. Reinhardt Smit, lead pastor at Doxa Deo Wonderboom, shared that the street store was extremely successful and that the church plans to launch several outreach projects next year that will focus on making a lasting impact and change in our city. ALSO READ: Learners enjoy action-filled day in the spirit of Child Protection Week Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ 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 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Police warn of con artists exploiting SAPS identity to scam public
Scammers are using fake SAPS details to trick the public into sharing personal information. Police are warning members of the public of a scam involving fraudulent letters and phone calls that falsely appear to originate from the SAPS. According to Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk, the scammers often distribute fake documents on social media apps. 'These fake letters, often distributed via WhatsApp, bear the SAPS logo and contain the names, contact details of senior SAPS officers, and the addresses of legitimate SAPS offices.' She said that in some instances, the scammers also use the names of police stations that do not exist. 'The scammers use this information to deceive recipients into sharing personal details under false pretences,' she said. She said the scammers tailor the content of the letters according to the victim's location, with changes made to names, addresses, and contact persons to make the communication appear authentic. 'Also, these WhatsApp messages are preceded by phone calls from individuals posing as police officials, who falsely claim that criminal cases have been opened against the victim,' she added. She stated that these so-called 'police officers' coerce victims into paying a certain amount to make their supposed cases 'disappear'. 'Anyone who has received or responded to these fraudulent messages or phone calls is urged to report the matter and open a case at their nearest police station.' She further warned that 'the SAPS do not communicate with the public via WhatsApp or video calls'. SAPS urges all members to remain vigilant at all times. Follow these tips: – Don't respond to these fraudulent messages or phone calls. – Don't provide or confirm any personal information such as ID numbers, addresses, or banking details. – Don't pay these 'scammers' any money. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ 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 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Security forum seeks support to prioritise men's mental health event
Lakes Security Forum in the east of Pretoria, is urging the public to support its upcoming Mental Health Month initiatives, with a particular emphasis on assisting men. The organisation is preparing for a busy calendar in June, which includes mental health awareness campaigns, a prayer day, and a Father's Day event, all designed to address the often-overlooked emotional struggles faced by men. Chairperson Jean Jonker has called for assistance in the form of sponsorships, volunteers, venues, and resources to ensure the success of the events. 'We're specifically looking for speakers, mental health professionals, and experts who can offer their time and skills during our men-focused sessions,' said Jonker. He emphasised that far too many men suffer in silence, grappling with grief, trauma, pressure, or stress without adequate support. 'In June, we want to create a safe space for men to open up, connect, and find strength together,' he said. 'Men's mental health is often neglected, and we hope to change that by bringing in motivational speakers, mental health specialists, and faith leaders who can provide the tools and emotional support they need.' He said the mental health and support sessions will be open to all men but will certainly welcome women who wish to learn how to support the men facing these challenges in their lives. 'We know that in society, men's mental health is stigmatised, and many will be too ashamed to come themselves, so we encourage their women to accompany them and support them.' Jonker added that this session will aim to create awareness and build an environment in which men can be supportive pillars for one another. 'However, we need the community's support to make this event a success. We essentially have to create something from scratch, so we will need food for participants, financial contributions for support materials and services, and speakers and experts to offer their skills.' He added that even if people simply spread the word about this upcoming beneficial event, it will make a difference. 'If people share this and talk about it, more men will show up, and every action creates a ripple of hope and support.' One of the directors, Malcolm de Klerk, said it is important to make the awareness campaign a success. 'It will essentially help with men's mental health, which is too often overlooked, especially in the community safety space,' he said. ALSO READ: North residents confront Tshwane officials at imbizo Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ 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
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Hammanskraal producer strives to make it to stardom
From getting inspiration from his father to working with artists from around the world, producer in the north of Tshwane exemplifies resilience and unwavering determination. Kgomotso Ngwenya (28), known as Komfort Muziq, is a music producer and DJ from Hammanskraal who is determined to make it to the top in the music industry. His ability to set the tone for different events has earned him recognition and opportunities in the industry. Speaking to Komfort Muziq, he reflected on and shared his music production journey. He said that from listening to his father's songs to singing in the church choir at a very young age, he always knew music was a gift meant for him. 'It has always been a part of me, I love making music to the point that back in high school, I once took my stationery money and bought studio equipment instead of books,' he said. His music has a variety of genres, often including a touch of soul, a bit of groove vibes, and afro tech. His artistic versatility arises from his experimental approach, which he developed as a result of transitioning from soul music to afro tech. 'I learnt to blend soul and afro tech music to create distinct soundscapes, I would say I'm a soulful person that likes to add a bit of aggression to my sounds,' he said. Komfort Muziq said he has worked alongside hit songmakers in the country, like 9umba, the producer of the hits 'Umlando' and 'Ulazi'. In 2021, he released a notable single titled 'Is'khalo,' featuring collaborations with renowned artists such as 9umba, Uyandi, and Skhwama. 'It is one of the biggest songs I have made that became a big deal for me. The song had the largest number of streams since I started in the industry.' He recently released 'Imizamo' featuring Casey Ntuli, and people are loving the song. 'My songs always have meaning, I want people to find healing in my music as much as they are able to dance to it,' he said. He said over the years in his journey, he has seen a lot of growth in himself and doors of opportunities have been opening for him. 'Having the opportunity to work with various artists from around the world who are already making waves in the industry has inspired me and helped me to improve and shape my sounds to the music it is today.' He added that some of his songs have been played on the I Believe radio show by Oskido, and that for him, means big artists like Oskido believe in the sounds he produces. Komfort Muziq encouraged aspiring musicians and producers to always maintain consistency in their work. 'Practice makes perfect, eventually, it will all make sense. Not everyone will enjoy your productions, but that's okay, your people are there, and people who like your style will always show up,' he said. He further said he is currently working on several songs with multiple artists and plans to release an EP soon. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ 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!
