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Deadly KZN thunderstorms expected to continue on Friday

A 20-year-old matriculant died after being struck by lightning in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. Lightning claimed the life of a second person in the province the following day.

A 20-year-old matriculant died after being struck by lightning in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. Lightning claimed the life of a second person in the province the following day. 
Image: 123rf.com/Richard Valdez

Lightning has claimed the lives of two people in KwaZulu-Natal – including a matriculant on Christmas Day.

The provincial department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) said Msawenkosi Sizwe Zulu, 20, was struck by lightning on Wednesday while he was on his way home from a traditional music festival.

Zulu had recently written his matric exams at Mhloluthini High School in the Ulundi local municipality.

Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka sent his condolences to Zulu’s family, as well as to a family in the Msinga local municipality, who lost a loved one as a result of a lightning strike on Thursday.

“As a department, we are really saddened by this tragic loss of life that has taken place as a result of the ongoing bad weather conditions. Our teams are working with the local authorities to provide the necessary support to the affected families,” said Hlomuka.

The department responded to a number of incidents across the province:

  • in Mzokhulayo in the Ndwendwe local municipality, 30 houses were damaged by strong winds and one person was hospitalised after being struck by lightning;
  • in Msinga, over 54 houses were damaged by thunderstorms; and
  • in the uMzimkhulu local municipality in the Harry Gwala district, 308 houses weredamaged.

“The incidents that we have experienced over the past three days have been heartbreaking. We are working hard to ensure that those that are affected get help as soon as possible,” said Hlomuka.

“We are also working with our sister departments in the province, which include human settlements and social development, to ensure that sustainable, long-term assistance is provided to the affected families, who now have to rebuild their lives.”

Meanwhile, the department has also received a weather warning from the SA Weather Service (Saws) for the possibility of severe thunderstorms hitting parts of uThukela, uMgungundlovu, uMzinyathi, Amajuba, Zululand, uMkhanyakude, King Cetshwayo, Ilembe and Ethekwini on Friday.

Hlomuka urged residents in the province to exercise extreme caution as these thunderstorms could have a serious impact. “We are appealing to residents to … stay up to date on the weather reports,” he said.

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Cops confiscate hundreds of bottles of booze at Durban beachfront

Holidaymakers found drinking in public were given a choice - either destroy the alcohol in the presence of police, or authorities would do it for them.

Holidaymakers found drinking in public were given a choice – either destroy the alcohol in the presence of police, or authorities would do it for them. 
Image: supplied

Hundreds of litres of confiscated alcohol have been poured out in police operations on the Durban beachfront since the start of the festive season.

Durban metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad said beachgoers found drinking in public were ordered to destroy their alcohol in front of a police officer, or authorities would do it for them.

“If the alcohol is still sealed, members of the public are allowed to give it to the police for safekeeping until they return from the beach,” he said.

Despite routine searches and heavy police presence at the revamped beachfront and popular Blue Lagoon area, some holidaymakers managed to sneak alcohol past authorities.

“This is why we have police officers patrolling on foot and they are not hesitating to act when people break the law. There are clear signs that state that drinking in public is not allowed,” Sewpersad said.

He said the police’s tough stance against drinking in public had been praised by members of the public.

“We have had many compliments from members of the public, particularly those that visit the Blue Lagoon area. They have said that this year was the first in a long time that they were able to have a family picnic without any problems.”

Sewpersad warned that the tough stance would continue throughout the festive season.

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Pretoria military armoury could have been plundered over months: Sandu

Some of the emptied cases found during a spot check at a SANDF armoury in Pretoria.

The theft was discovered on Tuesday during a spot check of the SANDF’s Engineering Formation armoury, located at the Lyttelton Tek Base.

Military police arrested 11 soldiers who were on duty at the time that the theft was discovered. The soldiers are due to appear in a military court in Thaba Tshwane, outside Pretoria, on Friday afternoon.

Sandu national secretary Pikkie Greeff said information obtained from sources at the base showed that the last time an inspection of the armoury was done was in September.

“That goes against [official] policy. Armouries are meant to be checked every 30 days,” he said.

“There are several people who do the check, which includes the weapons officers, logistical officers and the commanding officer of the base.

“It is clear that these checks were not done. What the military – which is clearly embarrassed by this theft – has done is to adopt a shotgun approach and arrest everyone who was on duty the day the theft was discovered.

“What they should have done is a proper investigation, which should look into why the armoury was last checked in September.”

Greeff said another important question that the investigation needed to answer was who was going to receive and use the weapons. “Find that out and you can start to solve who was really responsible for this theft.”

He said whoever was behind the theft had access to the armoury for an extended period of time.

“It is not just anyone who can access an armoury. You are only allowed in for very specific reasons. There are supposed to be lots of checks and balances in place, with people having to sign in and out. There are entry books, which are meant to record what is taken, brought back and the conditions of equipment which is removed from the armoury.”

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Bullets fly as KZN cops nab two suspects for double murder

Two men have been arrested for a double murder in KwaZulu-Natal.

Two men are expected to appear in court soon in connection with a double murder in Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal.

The men were arrested on Thursday in the Bergville area.

The bloodied bodies of two men were found in a car on the P10 road at Ntabamoya in Winterton on December 20, said police on Friday.

“The occupants sustained multiple gunshot wounds and a 30-year-old man was declared dead at the scene,” said spokesperson Brig Jay Naicker.

“A 37-year-old man was taken to the hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. Charges of murder were opened at Winterton police station for further investigation.”

He said information was gathered at the scene for possible leads.

“On December 26, a multi-disciplinary operation was conducted at Ngoba area in Bergville, searching for the suspects involved in the double murder. A vehicle was spotted travelling through Ngoba and when the police attempted to intercept the vehicle, they were met by a hail of bullets.

“During the shoot-out, two suspects were arrested at the scene. One of the suspects was injured and was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.”

An unlicensed pistol was found concealed in the vehicle.

“A 22-year-old suspect is in police custody, while the other is in hospital under police guard,” said Naicker.

“Further charges for attempted murder, as well as illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, were opened for investigation.”

He said the pair would be profiled to determine if they were linked to other cases committed in Winterton and surrounding areas.

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Stolen cellphones found buried under sand after early morning theft in Port Alfred

Thieves who raided a holiday cottage near Port Alfred on Friday morning allegedly also had abalone in their possession.

Thieves raided a holiday cottage outside Port Alfred while the occupants were asleep in the early hours of Friday morning – but their enjoyment of their haul was short-lived.

Three hours of tracking led to the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of the stolen property, Eastern Cape police said in statement. They allegedly also had abalone in their possession.

The suspects, between the ages of 28 and 39, will face charges of theft, possession of abalone without a permit and possession of undersized abalone.

Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said the suspects took various items from the cottage including fishing equipment, a wetsuit and cellphones.

“The local farm security was alerted and started to track the suspects. Members of the SAPS K9 and local SAPS were also mobilised,” said Govender.

A local farm security officer spotted items of clothing drying in the dense bush. Other items which resembled the stolen items were also found, as well as abalone.

“The unsuspecting suspects, who were ‘resting’, were alarmed when they were caught out,” said Govender.

“All the stolen items, with the exception of the cellphones, were recovered, and 27 abalone were seized.”

Then, “during the preliminary investigation and interviewing of the suspects, the cellphones were found wrapped in plastic, buried in the sand”.

Govender said the stolen items were returned to an “ecstatic” holidaymaker.