Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sudden storm rips up 100 homes in Eastern Cape

Zwelidumile Gowa is one of the many victims of the storm that hit Sawutana Village in Butterworth.

of Toleni and Sawutana near Butterworth are picking up the pieces after a storm ripped through their villages on Monday afternoon, destroying at least 100 homes and leaving scores of villagers without shelter. Continue reading Sudden storm rips up 100 homes in Eastern Cape

Top SA cyclist Nic Dlamini ‘assaulted’ at Table Mountain National Park

Nic Dlamini, a South African cyclist, is receiving medical assessment after being manhandled at the Table Mountain National Park on Friday.A screenshot where Nic Dlamini was allegedly assaulted by rangers at the Table Mountain National Park.

His team, NTT Pro Cycling, said it was aware of a video in which one of its riders, Dlamini, was involved in an incident in Cape Town.

“He’s currently undergoing medical assessment after which we’ll be able to provide a full update on what transpired,” the team said on Twitter.

In the video, shared on social media, a number of rangers are seen attempting to apprehend Dlamini. He is forced into the back of a bakkie.

One of the rangers is seen trying to stop the person taking the video from doing so.

While the extent of any injury is as yet unconfirmed, Club100 Cycling Cape Town said in a statement it “strongly condemns the assault by Sanparks officials on Pro-rider Nic Dlamini. This is no way to treat anybody. We hope that the full might of the law prevails and these individuals who in the process broke his arm are dealt with.”

SANParks in the Western Cape said on Friday afternoon it was gathering information about the incident and would release a statement later.

Father and toddler perish in a suspected suicide shack fire

Father and toddler perish in a suspected suicide shack fire

A man and his three year-old daughter have been killed in a shake fire in the Ramaphosa Informal Settlement in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni. The structure was engulfed in the early hours of Thursday.

Father started the fire intentionally

The man is believed to have intentionally started the fire with his three children inside the home – the other two managed escape with minimal injuries.

The children – a boy (aged seven) and girl (aged five) reportedly fled prior to the fire and screamed for help, prompting a neighbour to intervene. The father then locked himself and his child before setting the shack alight.

Firefighters from the City of Ekurhuleni’s emergency services unit rushed to the scene after receiving a phone call about the incident. On arrival, they found the one-roomed shack in flames and neighbours trying to extinguish the fire using buckets of water. The fighter fighters then took action and the blaze was soon doused.

“Frantically, neighbours tried to open the door to save both from the horror of fire, but it was too little too late when the objective was met”, Ntladi said.

Police investigating the incident

The South African Police Services (SAPS) officers received the crime scene from firefighters and started with their investigations and the removal of the bodies to an appropriate Pathological facility.

he children were then transported by ambulance to Bertha Gxowa hospital in Germiston for medical and psychological treatment.  It is alleged that the mother wasn’t home at the time on the incident.

Meanwhile, the summer season sees a spike in informal settlement fires. At least five people have been killed in separate shack fires in Cape Town, on Christmas Day.

Joburg power transformer destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve

A fire destroyed a City Power transformer at the Cleveland substation on Christmas Eve.

City Power is investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed one of its transformers at its Cleveland substation on Christmas Eve.

The fire plunged several suburbs in the east of Johannesburg into darkness, including Kensington, Jeppestown, Malvern, Heriotdale, Denver and Benrose

The blaze was put out early on Christmas morning after which mop up operations began, City Power said.

“We estimate that repairs will only be completed by tomorrow (Thursday), with power expected to be restored by 7pm should everything go according to plan,” the power utility said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.

“City Power teams of investigators and technicians are currently assessing the extent of the damage caused to the infrastructure, and what caused the fire.

“This investigation will also look at the cost of repairs and replacement to the damaged equipment, especially the transformer which was almost completely razed to the ground and may need a new replacement,” Mangena added.

A new transformer is estimated to cost between R12m and R16m, he said.

“We appeal to customers for their patience while investigations and repair work is conducted.

“We apologise to the residents for the inconvenience caused by this incident, especially on Christmas Day.”