WC Police seize drugs worth R39 000

Posted on October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 by

The distribution of drugs in the community was dealt a blow when police members arrested a suspect for the possession of drugs in Wynberg last night. The members followed up information about drugs that is in a vehicle in Main Road, Wynberg and operationalised the information.

The vehicle fitting the description was searched at Grand Central where the members found 4258 mandrax tablets and two one-kilogram bags containing crystal meth. They arrested an adult male for the possession of drugs. The estimated street value of the drugs is R39 000

In an unrelated matter, members of the Tactical Response Team searched a premises in Samson Street, Belhar, where they found a large amount of dagga, comprising of sweets, brownies, gummies, lollipops, and containers containing dagga. A 32-year-old male was arrested for the possession of dagga.

The suspects will appear in the Wynberg and Bellville Magistrates’ Courts today.

Summer season likely to bring above average rainfall

Posted on October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 by

The South African Weather Service’s (SAWS) seasonal forecast reveals that the forthcoming summer season will mostly be hotter than normal with rainfall patterns that is likely to favor above-normal rainfall over the summer rainfall areas. These conditions could pose public health risks and the occurrence of natural disasters, especially flooding.

The EL Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is in a neutral state, with rapid cooling experienced in the last month which could result in a weak La Niña event within the next month if current predictions hold true.

For South Africa, this translates into generally favourable rainfall conditions for the summer rainfall areas in the North-Eastern parts of the country, and as mentioned above, is expected to increase the likelihood of flooding during summer.

Predictions indicate that the North West, parts of the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and parts of the Eastern Cape, will receive above normal rainfall which will likely benefit water reservoirs. However, measures such as establishing proper drainage systems, must be taken to safeguard against floods.

Without proactive measures in anticipation of impending above average rainfall, we are likely to see drownings, injuries and hypothermia. Unfortunately for parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, predictions indicate below average rainfall patterns which could exacerbate existing drought conditions in these areas. Farmers are encouraged to implement soil and water conservation measures, proper harvesting and storage techniques and proper drainage systems to mitigate these impacts.

In addition to the rainfall, the seasonal forecast anticipates above normal minimum and maximum temperatures across the country, with exceptions in the southwestern coastal areas which will be below normal.

The latter impacts cities mostly in the Northen Cape and parts of the Western Cape, while the increased minimum and maximum temperatures will be the status quo throughout the rest of the country. This means that measures must be taken to mitigate the risk of heat-related illnesses which cause harm to human health and accelerate the growth of foodborne pathogens.

Though summer is a welcome respite from winter, the SAWS would like to remind fellow South Africans that increased warming across the globe requires that everyone proactive measures to protect themselves on hot days and avoid exposure to flood prone areas where drainage is insufficient.

SA Harvest expands greenhouse network to build climate-resilient communities

Posted on October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 by

SA Harvest has announced a significant milestone in its long-term strategy to build a climate- resilient, community-driven food system: the completion of three greenhouses in Cape Town, Gqeberha, and rural Eastern Cape.

These projects form the backbone of a replicable model for systemic sustainability - one that integrates nutrition, education, and economic inclusion into local food ecosystems.

Launched as part of SA Harvest’s mission to move beyond food rescue and tackle the root causes of hunger, the greenhouse initiative demonstrates how localised production can foster food sovereignty in structurally food-insecure communities.

The greenhouses utilise Fresh Life Produce’s African Grower vertical hybrid-hydroponic growing system, which was designed to enable individuals across South Africa to cultivate their own vegetables on minimal land and thereby to foster self-sufficiency. Taking the concept a step further, each of SA Harvest’s greenhouses is strategically positioned alongside an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre, enabling measurable nutritional outcomes, early education integration, and community ownership.

The pilot site at Tehillah Community Collaborative’s ECD in Elsie’s River, Cape Town, which was made possible through a generous grant from the Maria Marina Foundation, has flourished since inception.

“This project has been characterised by abundant harvest, community engagement, and data-led impact tracking, demonstrating what’s possible when infrastructure and dignity align,” says Ozzy Nel, COO of SA Harvest. “It’s a proof of concept for how food production can be embedded in early learning and long term development.”

The second greenhouse, completed in partnership with Missionvale Care Centre in Gqeberha, extends this model into the Eastern Cape. Missionvale has been a key beneficiary since July 2024, preparing meals and distributing food with SA Harvest.

The greenhouse at Missionvale has since become a valuable case study in adaptive design, and lessons learned have shaped improvements to future builds, including enhanced climate resilience features.

Commenting on how the greenhouse has impacted on the community, Missionvale Care Centre’s Linda van Oudheusden, says, “The greenhouse has had an immediate impact on 50 chronically ill patients who now receive fresh vegetables essential for taking their medication. You can’t take treatment on an empty stomach. Beyond that, we’ve trained seven unemployed youth in vertical farming - a skill they’ll carry for life - and we hope to grow the project into a sustainable income stream for the centre. In these tough economic times, it’s vital that we are part of the solution. Our enormous gratitude to SA Harvest and the SA Growers Association for this initiative, which has included specialised training for all our people. It’s an incredible journey with SA Harvest that is making a positive difference all over the country.”

“This initiative isn’t just about growing food - it’s about building systems that endure disruption,” says Nel. “What began in Cape Town is now evolving into a nationally relevant model of resilience.”

That evolution continues with SA Harvest’s third greenhouse at iThemba Kuluntu, a grassroots organisation in Pondoland led by community leaders TJ and Anke Hannemann. Through SA Harvest’s long-standing relationship with FNB, whose ECD initiatives have positively impacted over 1,200 centres and over 72,000 children, iThemba Kuluntu now hosts a fully equipped ECD centre where more than 40 women have been trained as early childhood practitioners.

Additional funding from philanthropists Vinny and Charlene Lingham, through The Lingham Foundation, will enable the build of a new community centre, further embedding local development. iThemba Kuluntu will also serve as SA Harvest’s official feeding partner in the Pondoland region.

The greenhouse brought together insights from both Tehillah and Missionvale: climate-smart design, integrated nutrition support, deep local ownership, and sustainability embedded into every layer.

“What sets these greenhouses apart isn’t just the fresh produce they deliver - it’s the learning they enable,” says Ozzy Nel, COO of SA Harvest. “We’re helping young people understand the value of nutrition and where their food comes from - laying the foundation for long-term change. At iThemba Kuluntu, for example, we’ve added solar and water tanks to power the ECD centre in an area that’s extremely remote. And we’ve learnt a lot along the way; for example, rather than utilising traditional tunnel structures for the greenhouses, we designed them with a pitched steel frame to harvest rainwater and a polycarbonate roof that’s incredibly durable.”

These projects are part of SA Harvest’s broader mission to transform South Africa’s food system - from a fragmented supply chain of waste and hunger to a regenerative, circular model that works for both people and planet. By rescuing surplus food and distributing it through a tech- enabled logistics network to over 240 vetted community partners at no cost, SA Harvest is proving that food security is not a charitable act, but a systems challenge with a systems solution.

Since 2019, SA Harvest has rescued more than 24 million kilograms of food, prevented over 38 100 345 kilograms of CO₂e emissions, and delivered upwards of 94 million meals. The greenhouse initiative represents the next frontier in that mission: rooted in resilience, driven by data, and grounded in community.

For more information, visit www.saharvest.org

About SA Harvest
SA Harvest is South Africa's fastest-growing food rescue organisation, transforming food security and environmental sustainability through strategic supply-chain innovation. To date, SA Harvest has distributed over 94 million meals, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, food waste, and plastic pollution by diverting surplus food away from landfills. Join SA Harvest’s mission at www.saharvest.org

SANDF speaks out on military truck misuse claims

Posted on October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 by

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has rejected claims that a military truck, which travelled from the Western Cape to Gauteng, was specifically deployed to remove tree stumps, obstructing the street outside one of its residences.

Reports had suggested that a SANDF truck journeyed over 1 200 kilometres from Oudtshoorn to Pretoria to remove two tree stumps from the yard of Major-General Edward Mulaudzi, Deputy Head of Logistics Procurement, in Waterkloof Ridge.

It was also reported that the driver of the truck was instructed to turn around and head to Pretoria because the tree stumps needed to be removed.

However, the SANDF has since clarified the situation regarding the truck’s usage for removing the tree stumps.

“The truck used to remove the tree stumps that were blocking the street outside a SANDF residence, after complaints by the neighbours, belongs to the Logistics Support Formation based in Lyttleton, Pretoria.

“There is no truth as reported that the vehicle in question came from Oudtshoorn specifically to deal with the removal of the tree stumps.

“We can confirm that the vehicle was in Oudtshoorn for other duties, and upon completion, the vehicle came back to its home base in Pretoria – Logistics Support Formation.

“Therefore, it was never called back for this assignment. The vehicle was already in Pretoria, attending to other duties at one of the SANDF facilities, when it was further assigned to remove the tree stumps blocking the street,” SANDF said.

NERSA to consult on changes of calculations to Eskom losses charge

Posted on October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 by

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has published a consultation paper regarding an application from Eskom to amend the losses charge calculation methodology for embedded generators.

The generator losses charge is the cost that electricity generators pay to account for power lost when transporting electricity through the grid.

“The proposed change aims to modify the existing formula for calculating technical losses incurred by embedded generators connected to the Eskom distribution network, ensuring that it better reflects the actual costs based on recent technical studies,” NERSA said on Thursday.

Eskom intends to implement the amended methodology in the 2026/27 financial year’s Eskom Schedule of Standard Tariffs.

According to NERSA not all the generated electricity reaches end-users.

Some of it is lost as heat in conductors, transformers and other network equipment.

“In practice, this means a generator must supply more electricity than what is delivered to consumers, with the difference representing transmission or distribution losses.

Eskom motivates that the charge provides a financial signal that encourages generators to locate closer to demand centres, since plants that are far from major load areas typically result in higher losses,” the Regulator explained.

Eskom’s recent technical studies and power flow simulations revealed that seemingly embedded generators now contribute to increased network energy losses in most geographical areas.

Moreover, Eskom’s studies show that the current rebate system, which offers financial advantages to embedded generators, is no longer cost-reflective and results in an unintended subsidy.

Subsequently, Eskom considers it necessary to amend the losses charge methodology to more accurately represent the costs linked to the use of the distribution network by embedded generators.

Eskom’s application proposes changes to the formula, thereby constituting an amendment to section 5.5.1 of the Tariff Code.

In terms of section 5.1 of the Governance Code, NERSA is the approval authority for the Grid Code, and any amendment, derogation or exemptions from the Grid Code shall therefore be approved only by NERSA, as guided by the Grid Code Advisory Committee (GCAC).

The recommendations from and input of the GCAC on Eskom’s application will be considered during the decision-making process of the Energy Regulator.

This public consultation process is undertaken in accordance with the requirement of procedural fairness, which necessitates that the Energy Regulator undertake a public consultation process to ensure that its decisions comply with section 10 of the National Energy Regulator Act, 2004 (Act No. 40 of 2004) (‘NERA’), read with sections 4 and 5 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000) (‘PAIA’).

Eskom’s application is available on the NERSA website here under ‘Notices>Public Hearings’. Members of the public and stakeholders are requested to submit written comments to [email protected] by Thursday, 13 November 2025.

A virtual public hearing to make oral representations on this application will be held on 24 November 2025 via MS Teams and livestreamed on X and YouTube.

Members of the public and stakeholders who wish to attend or present their views at the hearing must submit their requests by 16:30 on Monday, 17 November 2025 to [email protected].

Western Cape police clamp down on counterfeit goods worth R8 million

Posted on October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 by

The Western Cape Provincial Counterfeit and Illicit Goods Policing Team, in conjunction with various law enforcement and industry partners, executed a well-coordinated operation targeting the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods within the province.

The multidisciplinary team comprising members of the Western Cape Essential Infrastructure Task Team, the National Counterfeit Unit, Public Order Policing (POPS) Western Cape, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), Customs officials, and Brand Protectors, conducted inspections at identified business premises in Bellville yesterday where suspected counterfeit goods were being sold.

During the operation, a large consignment of counterfeit clothing, footwear, and accessories bearing the trademarks of well-known international brands was seized. The total estimated value of the confiscated goods is approximately R8 million.

While no arrests were effected during the operation, investigations are continuing to trace the supply network and determine the origin of the illicit goods.

The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General (Adv.) Thembisile Patekile, commended the collaborative effort, emphasising that the sale of counterfeit products undermines legitimate business operations, deprives the state of revenue, and often supports organised criminal networks.

“The SAPS will continue to work closely with enforcement agencies and brand representatives to remove counterfeit products from circulation and to protect the rights of consumers and legitimate traders,” said Lieutenant General Patekile.

Members of the public are urged to report the sale of suspected counterfeit goods to their nearest police station or through the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111.