Lesufi to eradicate shacks
Man stabbed to death
JOHANNESBURG - In what appears to be another case of gender-based violence, a man from Vosman, Emalahleni, died after he was stabbed to death, allegedly by his girlfriend. According to Mpumalanga Police Commissioner Lieutenant General, Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, Lungile Khumalo’s (36) life was cut short following an altercation with his 26-year-old partner who allegedly stabbed him to death inside his home. On Saturday, at around 11:30pm. Khumalo was rushed to a local hospital by a family member. The accused appeared in the Witbank Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where she abandoned her bail application.
Midnight rescue
CAPE TOWN - It was a dramatic midnight rescue for a 37-year-old rock climber who survived a fall high on Table Mountain. Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) said yesterday the Capetonian fell above the Africa Crag climbing route, ‘but was saved by her safety rope. Injuries to her leg immobilised her where she landed’. A rescue team reached the top of the mountain via the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. “The technical team hauled the woman to safety with rescue ropes, taking her to safety shortly before midnight,” said WSAR. The climber was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Gunmen rob motorists
JOHANNESBURG - Many motorists were robbed of their belongings during peak traffic on the M1-M2 split at the Crown Interchange in Johannesburg early yesterday morning by five men armed with 9mm guns. Vision Tactical director Yaseen Theba said the suspects are believed to be informal miners who reportedly used bridges to avoid capture. “According to reports, they were robbing commuters of their cellphones while motorists were stuck in traffic. Images of the alleged suspects have gone viral, and voice notes from witnesses providing descriptions of the suspects and detailing the robberies are also circulating.’’
JOHANNESBURG - Premier Panyaza Lesufi has promised to eradicate Gauteng’s 700 informal settlements, saying the provincial government has bought land to address the issue.
Lesufi was speaking during his 2024 State of the Province Address in Nasrec, Johannesburg. He said the government has started the process to ensure that the land has water, electricity and sewage so that young people can move out of informal settlements.
“Informal settlements must come to an end. We cannot have so many informal settlements in our province, there are 700 informal settlements,” he said told MPLs during the final SOPA for the current administration.
The premier said plans were underway to upgrade almost 68 informal settlements into habitable housing. “We are accelerating our plans to decongest and relocate people from informal settlements to more habitable land.
“This includes the placement of people in the completed mega projects or other new housing developments,” he said.
According to Lesufi, they have provided more than 2 000 households from 20 informal settlements, with the security of tenure through relocation into completed mega projects.