Faith Mazibuko – praag.org

Community Safety MEC to get restraining order against victim’s father

Gauteng community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko was caught in a confrontation with the father of a teenager who was found dead in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, The Star reported on Thursday.

Sandy Maharla, 18, was last seen on Friday when her mother sent her to the shops. Her remains were found on Sunday morning.

Marvin Steenkamp arrived at the family’s home as Mazibuko, who was visiting the family, was about to leave.

Steenkamp said he worked for the National Intelligence Agency and wanted to know what was going on, shouting he was the father.

A confrontation between the two ensued and Mazibuko accused him of harrasment.

“You are out of order. As much as you are the biological father you have no right to harass the family and the police,” Mazibuko reportedly said.

He responded: “Yes I am out of order. You come here and make allegations against me. Did I murder my child? Don’t talk nonsense with me.”

The two pointed fingers at each other and the argument heated up. Some people tried to pull Mazibuko away.

Another relative, Jocelyn Balston joined in and defended Steenkamp, reportedly swearing at Mazibuko then chasing everyone out.

Mazibuko said she was going to get a restraining order against Steenkamp to ensure that he does not interfere with the investigation.

A man accused of the murder was handed to the police on Monday but will be released due to a lack of evidence.

Rape of mentally ill woman shocks community safety MEC

Gauteng community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko expressed shock on Tuesday at the rape of a mentally ill Soweto woman.

“No stone will be left unturned in the criminal justice system to bring the perpetrator to book,” she said in a statement.

The 47-year-old woman was raped, allegedly by her nephew’s friend, in Zola on Saturday night.

Police said the alleged rapist and the nephew were at a shebeen on Saturday night. The man left.

The nephew, knowing his friend was going to his aunt’s house in Zola, left the shebeen shortly afterwards, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said.

“He found his friend on top of his aunt and had a fight with him.”

The man ran away and was still at large.

“We need to stand together as communities and continue to fight against this scourge of people who prey on the vulnerable,” Mazibuko said.

She said her department was providing medical and legal assistance and counselling for the victim through Ikhaya Lethemba, a centre for abused women and children. – Sapa

Outrage at Lenasia women’s murder

The murders of two elderly women in Lenasia this week is disturbing, Gauteng community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko said on Thursday.

“Such an act of criminality does not only rob the families and their grandchildren of their beloved ones but demonstrates cowardness,” she said in a statement.

“This case should receive the highest attention by the criminal justice system.”

On Wednesday, the bodies of two elderly women were found in a house they shared in Lenasia extension 11.

Gauteng police spokesman Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said a relative found the women, aged 70 and 75.

“One of the old ladies, who was full of blood, was found in the sitting room. The other was found dead in a bedroom,” he said at the time.

The motive for the killings was unknown and the weapon used had not yet been identified. Both women suffered head wounds, and one had strangulation bruises.

“We cannot rule out that there might have been rape, but that will be determined by the investigation,” Makhubela said.

Mazibuko urged people to contact police if they had information about the crime. – Sapa

Johannesburg power sabotage ‘terrorism’

The actions of employees involved in turning off power at sub-stations around the city was equal to terrorism, Gauteng safety MEC Faith Mazibuko said on Friday.

“We are angry as a provincial government, and what has happened was equal to an act of terrorism,” Mazibuko told reporters.

She said the matter was being investigated by various agencies, including the Hawks.

Mazibuko said the people behind the power disruptions had endangered people’s lives.

City Power’s managing director Sicelo Xulu said it had realised that switches at a number of sub-stations had been tampered with.

“There was no forced entry, and that simply means that someone turned them off,” said Xulu.

He said that City Power had put in place security measures at sub-stations around the city to ensure the disruptions did not happen again.

Xulu said some of the areas still affected included Lenasia, Alexandra, Randburg and some areas in the Johannesburg CBD.

“The process of laying criminal charges has been undertaken,” said Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau.

He said the labour relations process had to be respected, but that a situation where residents were deprived of electricity could not be allowed.

Earlier in the day City Power management updated him on the restoration of electricity in some parts of Gauteng.

Power was disrupted in parts of the West Rand and northern Johannesburg after a few hundred City Power staff downed tools on Wednesday afternoon.

City Power said the strike was not union-led.

The workers were unhappy about a new shift system being implemented

It was believed that striking workers had sabotaged infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts, which affected traffic flow and some businesses’ operations.

Power had been fully restored by noon to areas including Houghton and Melville by noon on Friday, but it was expected that other parts of Johannesburg could remain in the dark over the weekend, City Power said.

The electricity supply had also been reconnected in Auckland Park, Kew, and Bramley. – Sapa