Page 4 - Seskhona Newspaper Issue 49

Page 4 News Seskhona, 13 December 2019
Local police gets recognized

by Provincial Commissioner

The Provincial Commissioner from various government matters in the province.
hosted a Prestigious event departments, Community MEC Shabalala was also
on the night of o6 December Police Forum representatives, acknowledged for her
20 19 , at Graceland Casino to the sponsors, media houses as commitment in working
award Mpumalanga SAPS well as stakeholders in the fight together with the Provincial
members for their relentless against crime. leadership of the police
efforts in fighting crime and The Leadership of the police, in rooting out crime and
ensuring that the community is in partnership with the corruption. Capt SS Mlotshwa from Embalenhle Police Station receiving the Detective
Team of the Year Award. Mlotshwa lead a team of highly dedicated and skilled
always safe. MEC for Community Safety, According to the Provincial
investigators.
The well organized event, Security and Liaison, thought Commissioner, the prestigious
which was in style, drew it befitting to spare a bit of event forms part of the SAPS
dignitaries from Mpumalanga time from their busy schedule plan to boost the morale
as well as other provinces. and converge to appreciate of members so that they
The occasion was graced by members from the province continuously serve the public
the attendance of the MEC for for their hard work which is in spite of the agonizing
Community Safety, Security hardly appreciated. reality, that of even paying the
and Liaison, Gabisile Shabalala, MEC Shabalala thanked the ultimate price.
the House of Traditional Provincial Commissioner of The Deputy National
Leaders led by Inkhosi SG SAPS in Mpumalanga for his Commissioner: Human
Ngomane, the District Mayor leadership as he sets a standard Resource Management
of Gert Sibande Municipality in everything he does. Lieutenant General Bonang
Cllr Muzi G Chirwa, senior MEC further presented Mgwenya, presented a crafted
Management of SAPS from him with a gift as a token of plan to motivate and encourage
Head Office accompanied appreciation and souvenir to members within the service to
Const Cynthia Mtshweni from Emzinoni Police Station awarded Visible Policing
by some Provincial keep doing what he always do more even under pressure
Employee of the Year (Level 5-7) Award.
Commissioners, senior officials does when it comes to policing or severe circumstances.
sasoL OW:
•

NOTICE I SAKHISIZWE COMMUNITY

Lt Col NS Ntuli from Secunda K9 scooped Visible Policing Team of the Year
Award. She was part of the team that led to the arrest of a serial rapist.
On 20 August 2019, the Secunda Sheriff with assistance from a private security
company and the SAPS, evicted a group of unlawful land occupiers in Sakhisizwe,
Evander. The occupiers had unlawfully erected structures on the farm
Witkleifontein 13o IS, which is an area where underground coal mining activities
have previously taken place. The structures encroached onto restricted areas
which, due to mining activities, are neither suitable nor safe for residential use.
This land is legally owned by the Sakhisizwe Communal Property Association (CPA)
and there is a registered servitude in favour of Sasol Mining.
Sasol had numerous engagements with this community before, during and after
the eviction, in an attempt to find a sustainable solution. However, after a number
of futile attempts to convince the affected people to vacate the land, Sasol Mining,
together with the Sakhisizwe CPA (land owner) took a decision to approach the
Mpumalanga High Court for an interdict stopping the illegal occupation of this
land. The order was granted on 4December 2018 and still stands.
Sgt Gugu Zulu from Forensic Department in Secunda Police Station was awarded
Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management Employee of the Year Award.
In this matter, the community was represented by the office of Legal Aid South
Africa. Subsequently, public announcements were made in English and Zulu to
communicate the eviction order to this community. All such notifications were
ignored leaving the Sheriff of the court with no option but to carry out the eviction
operation eight months after the court orderwas granted.
Sasol always aims to proactively engage stakeholders and to build mutually
beneficial relationships. The eviction operation was a last resort after numerous
unsuccessful engagements with the community. To this end, Sasol can safely say
that the eviction operation was carried out in accordance with the law and any
party not satisfied may appeal the court ruling.
W/O CL Van Schalk from Secunda Police Station was awarded Sports Man of
Community members are advised to refrain from paying any monies to individuals the Year. He represented the province on Combat Rifle, Practical Pistol and Gun
who sell stands at Sakhisizwe as some parts of this land are unsafe for residential Shooting competitions.
purposes. Any further illegal occupation of the land will be addressed using the
standing court orderand the laws of the country.

Community members are further encouraged to report any suspected illegal
activities to the SAPS.

Sasol, as a private company, is not mandated to deal with land issues. The
company is also not in a position to provide alternative land to the evicted parties
nor to compensate for any losses, as measures were taken to notify the affected
persons months before the eviction order was granted.

The safety and security of Sakhisizwe community members remains a top Const 'lhomas Mogadime (also a communication officer at Bethal Police Station)
priority. scooped Man of the Year Award.