Author: Thembelihle Mkhonza
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) is investigating numerous claims that traffic officers were soliciting bribes from motorists using e-wallet or cash-send services. Allegations were that motorists stopped for road offences were being coerced by bent traffic cops to send cash bribes to “unknown or ghost” cellphone numbers. Johannesburg – The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) is investigating numerous claims that traffic officers were soliciting bribes from motorists using e-wallet or cash-send services. Allegations were that motorists stopped for road offences were being coerced by bent traffic cops to send cash bribes to “unknown or ghost” cellphone numbers. In a…
The fight against crime and corruption has been upped a notch in Gauteng with the announcement that government officials in supply chain and finance will undergo lifestyle audits. In a statement made available to The Bulrushes on Sunday, (2 March 2025), the Gauteng Provincial Government said it was “intensifying its commitment to transparency and ethical governance by subjecting all officials in Supply Chain Management and finance functions to comprehensive lifestyle audits”. The statement said this initiative aligns with Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s commitment in his 2023 State of the Province Address, to “strengthen accountability and combat corruption” within the provincial government. “The…
The police have uncovered an online drug syndicate selling steroids, scheduled medicine, stimulants and other performance-enhancing drugs online, and arrested six suspects – three men and three women. “These suspects were arrested at various locations in Pretoria,” said police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk in a terse statement on Tuesday, (11 February 2025). “They face multiple charges related to the contravention of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, Medicines and Related Substances Act, and the Counterfeit Goods Act. Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk said the takedown operation took place on earlier Tuesday, 11 February 2025, following extensive investigation. The investigations…
The Department of Employment and Labour is inviting South African unemployed graduates, between the ages of 18 and 35, to apply for the 2025/2027 internship programme, which comes with a stipend of R7 450.62 per month. There are 3 812 posts available in the 24-month Occupational Health and Safety internship programme detailed below: Centre: Head Office, Pretoria – Ref No. OHS/INTP/HQ (X17 Posts) Provincial Office: East London (Eastern Cape)-Ref No. OHS/INTP/EC (X720 Posts) Provincial Office: Bloemfontein (Free State)-Ref No. OHS/INTP/FS (X148 Posts) Provincial Office: Braamfontein (Gauteng) -Ref No. OHS/INTP/GP (X438 Posts) Provincial Office: Durban (KZN)- Ref No. OHS/INTP/KZN (X1, 008 Posts) Provincial Office: Polokwane (Limpopo)- Ref No. OHS/INTP/LP (X240 Posts) Provincial Office: Witbank (Mpumalanga)- Ref No. OHS/INTP/MP (X300 Posts) Provincial Office: Kimberly (Northern…
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has suffered a cyber attack that resulted in its systems failing at the weekend. The SAWS said its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems went down on the evening of Sunday, (26 January 2025), following a “security breach by criminal elements”. In a statement on Monday, (27 January 2025), SAWS said: “Aspects of critical services including aviation and marine have been interrupted. “In addition, the SAWS’ email system and website, which is the hub of critical weather information, have been affected. “However, alternative ways of disseminating important information such as the weather forecasts have…
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has announced a new “Remote Visa” for individuals who work in another country and want to live in sunny South Africa. Speaking at the RMB Morgan Stanley Investor Conference on Tuesday, (17 September 2024), Minister Schreiber said: “After working at breakneck speed over the past few months alongside the South Africans Revenue Service and Operation Vulindlela in the Presidency, the regulations for a new points-based work visa, as well as for the remote working visa, arrived on my desk this morning”. He added: “These regulations will bring the remote working visa to life after we are able to…
Celebrity Chef Lusizo Mvula Henna, convicted of defrauding the SA Revenue Service (SARS) of over R5 million, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. The 41-year-old accused better known as “Chef Sizo”, the owner of Blaque Olive Private Chefs, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on six counts of fraud and six years imprisonment on 14 counts of money laundering. Magistrate Keswa found that Henna, as owner of Blaque Olive Cheffs claimed undue VAT refunds totalling R 5.3million. SARS paid out R 3.1 million to Henna. However, it was established that there were…
Ahead of the International Day of Forest next week, Thobeka Primary School in Meadowlands Zone 6, Soweto, planted fruit trees on Friday. In partnership with Food & Trees for Africa, and P&G, schoolchildren planted 50 trees at the school – 30 fruit trees and 20 indigenous for shade. Together, Food & Trees for Africa, and P&G plan to plant 1 000 trees in 20 schools in Gauteng. Thobela Primary School was the first of the schools, where learners got their hands dirty as they participated in planting trees – an initiative that will contribute to clean air in SA. These trees will eventually offset 369…
A woman pretending to be a medical doctor was arrested at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) after demanding payment of R700 to “assist” a patient. The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) on Monday warned the public against falling prey to bogus healthcare practitioners lurking at public hospitals, where they ask for money to offer their “services”. The warning comes after the person impersonating a medical doctor was arrested Sunday night, (25 February 2024). Narrating events leading to the arrest, GHoD said the would-be victim became suspicious when the “doctor”, who was wearing green scrubs with the name “Dr. Zulu”…
At least 32 public hospitals and 83 clinics in Gauteng have seen their landline telephones disconnected by Telkom because they failed to pay their accounts, which run into millions of rand. Jack Bloom, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng shadow MEC for health, revealed the anomaly on Monday saying: “Gauteng public hospitals have a communication crisis as patients and their relatives cannot contact the hospitals for appointments, inquiries or updates as the Gauteng Health Department has not paid their phone bills”. “I have been inundated by complaints that hospital phone numbers are not working, including the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg, Steve Biko,…