Cape Town —
Johannesburg Cash-In-Transit Heist Foiled
A gang of about 25 gunmen from South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province and from Zimbabwe and Botswana were intercepted by police while planning a cash-in-transit heist on Monday afternoon (February 21, 2022).
The confrontation happened in Rosettenville, a suburb in the south of Johannesburg, and left 10 suspects dead and another eight arrested.
Police Minister Bheki Cele confirmed that the majority of firearms recovered were AK-47s with double magazines and R4s. Police also found explosives and petrol at the scene.
IPID spokesperson Grace Langa said five police officers were injured and a further two had to be airlifted to hospital.
Ace Magashule Back In Court to Challenge R255 Million Asbestos Corruption Case
Suspended African National Congress secretary-general Ace Magashule is in the Bloemfontein High Court to challenge the validity of the state's case against him on fraud and corruption charges. The charges stem from a tender worth R255 million, awarded by the Free State Department of Human Settlements, for the assessment and removal of asbestos roofs from houses and buildings in the province.
Magashule is implicated with 15 others, including five companies, former Mangaung Mayor Olly Mlamleli and Edwin Sodi’s firm, Blackhead Consulting - companies that were paid for work that was never done.
According to the indictment, Magashule's alleged cut from the R255 million tender, came in the form of school tuition for a daughter, electronic tablets, and R250,000 for the travel expenses of a delegation to Cuba.
Magashule's insists that on an evaluation of the state's docket against him, there is no case for him to answer.
Cape Town Launches Renewable Energy Tenders
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The City of Cape Town, in its efforts to become the first South African city without loadshedding, has launched tenders to procure 300 Megawatts of renewable energy. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has said that more procurement rounds for power generation projects and storage are planned.
Western Cape Warned of Bee Removal Scammers
The Western Cape's cold winters and hot summers have made the region a prime breeding ground for honeybees. Bee removal service providers have been inundated with calls for help.
However, scammers looking for a quick buck and illegitimate bee removers are also thriving amid the demand, undercutting prices by killing colonies, rather than removing them.
Residents needing help with bee removals should ask for references and follow it up. Among thing to note is that legitimate removers will be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and will have have proof of registration.
