AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale JOHANNESBURG - Residents in parts of Diepsloot are planning a protest over persistent darkness. In addition to the trouble caused by the darkness they claim the problem has intensified crime. READ: Diepsloot residents hit back at Eskom over cutoffs Residents say they have been without power for five months after Eskom disconnected their illegal transformers. After months of interactions with the utility even though they have now paid the initial fee they owed. eNCA reporter Hloni Mtimkulu is monitoring developments in the area The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg officially launched the Riverside View Phase 3 development in Diepsloot on 11 December 2024 undertaken by the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) aims to address the city's housing backlog and provide affordable rental accommodation Riverside View Phase 3 comprises 184 rental units including bachelor apartments and two-bedroom units catering to a diverse range of residents.Speaking at the launch Mayor Morero emphasized the importance of providing secure and affordable housing “This development is a step towards building strong family structures and creating safe environments for our children," he said.He urged beneficiaries to maintain their new homes and avoid degrading their living spaces “Poverty and being poor cannot be synonymous with filthiness we are undermining and degrading ourselves as Africans We should never allow this to happen in this property."MMC Mabaso highlighted the successful completion of Phase 3 ahead of schedule and praised JOSHCO's efforts which will add 701 more units to the development Despite receiving over 30,000 applications for the 184 units in Phase 3 the City remains committed to investing in affordable housing to meet the growing demand.“We were able to open these units just before Christmas which is the best gift that we can give to the residents of Johannesburg We hope and believe they will honour their monthly rental so that we are able to invest to future developments Our collection for rent is for JOSHCO to self-sustain and invest in future development enabling us to accommodate other residents that are still in need of this decent accommodation," Cllr Mabaso said.Key features of Riverside View Phase 3 include: By investing over R116 million in this project the City of Johannesburg has not only provided housing solutions but also generated jobs and empowered local businesses Riverside View Phase 3 represents a significant milestone in the city's efforts to create sustainable and inclusive communities DIEPSLOOT - Frustrated Diepsloot residents say Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is their last hope they have asked the premier to intervene to have their electricity restored Residents took their fight to be reconnected to the premier's doorstep after Eskom removed over 35 illegally connected transformers in the area last year WATCH: Residents in Diepsloot protest over electricity outages And while the residents claim they have now paid the reconnection fee They've given officials seven days to respond accusing their councilor of failing them and demanding his removal. SAPS and immigration officer JOHANNESBURG - Operation Shanela has hit Diepsloot in northern Johannesburg on Saturday WATCH | Illegal foreign nationals nabbed in Operation Shanela Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni will be joined by senior SAPS officers and other law enforcement agencies More than 35 illegally connected transformers were removed in Diepsloot last month in a joint Eskom and law enforcement operation But residents claim this has made the area more dangerous and 96 gathered to discuss the urgent issues of crime and unemployment affecting their neighborhood on Saturday Although attendance was uncharacteristically low determined to address the concerns of the Diepsloot community.Cllr Abraham Mabuke of Ward 113 constructive criticism from attendees. He urged the residents to share their frustrations knowing that addressing these issues would require the full involvement of the community. “We need each other to bring real solutions,” he emphasised pushing for the honest dialogue necessary to make tangible changes.As the meeting progressed, all three wards split into smaller commissions allowing each group to focus on the issues most pertinent to their respective areas This structure encouraged fruitful discussions as each ward delved into its unique challenges and crafted strategies to address them the issues remained as urgent and relevant as ever emphasising that the community’s priorities had not wavered.In Ward 96’s commission Alphaeus Silayelo raised a significant concern regarding healthcare accessibility noting the limited availability of mobile clinics in the Diepsloot area He said that the three mobile clinics only service the area for a few days each week and close early Silayelo proposed that the clinics be available five days a week and remain open until 5pm instead of closing at 3pm. “Healthcare is essential especially for the vulnerable in our community,” he stated urging for this adjustment to ensure better access for all residents.In the same commission Muzi Gama brought up the pressing issue of rising crime and its correlation to the high unemployment rates particularly among the youth. He expressed his concerns about the alarming increase in substance abuse with manyyoung people turning to drugs and alcohol due to a lack of job opportunities and constructive engagement He advocated for initiatives aimed at creating job opportunities and youth programmes to help steer young residents from addiction and crime.As the commissions reconvened each ward shared its discussions with the larger group unemployment and access to essential services emerged with all agreeing that these issues had become deeply intertwined and demanded immediate The meeting concluded with Cllr Mabuke commending participants for their honest input and dedication He underscored the importance of collaboration and urged everyone to continue these conversations within their wards to drive real change.“Let’s keep working together,” Cllr Mabuke said his voice steady with resolve, “because our community depends on it.” The attendees left with a renewed sense of unity hopeful that their collective voice would lead to a brighter future for Diepsloot.Written by Luyanda Lunika28/10/2024To stay informed about the latest developments in the City X: @CityofJoburgZAFacebook: City of JoburgInstagram: @CityofJoburgTikTok: @CityofJoburgLinkedIn: City of JohannesburgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CityOfJoburgZA/videosJoburg Pulse Radio: https://s3.radio.co/s349cd1429/listen The search for missing Pretoria man Eric Jones ended in heartbreak this morning when family and friends discovered his lifeless body just 300m from where his abandoned vehicle was found in Diepsloot Pretoria Rekord reports that Jones’ friends and family members organised a search in Diepsloot the area where his locked vehicle was found Police are on the scene with his friends and family members Jones (33) was last seen in Pretorius Park their last conversation was on WhatsApp at 16:35 on Thursday after which Jones’ cellphone was switched off Further deepening the mystery surrounding Jones’ tragic death friends uncovered crucial details during their search revealing that Jones was at the Menlyn Maine Casino on Thursday night and was last seen alive on surveillance footage leaving alone in his car shortly after 04:00 on Friday morning and his vehicle was found abandoned and locked Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal Read original story on www.citizen.co.za JOHANNESBURG - Another family has been left in a state following the disappearance of their child Diepsloot teenager Sipho Moyo has not been seen since Christmas Day There are fears the 15-year-old may have been taken by a rival gang an issue that is apparently rife in the community eNCA reporter Hloni Mtimkulu has more details in the video above A newborn baby was rescued from a pit latrine in Diepsloot thanks to a vigilant community member who alerted authorities Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers accompanied by Emergency Management Services (EMS) arrived at the scene to find residents gathered and pointing to a 19-year-old woman suspected of abandoning the baby who admitted to placing the infant in the latrine,” said JMPD Spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla The mother and child were taken to a local clinic before being transferred to Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital for further care “The well-being of both the mother and the child remains our top priority We are working with health authorities to ensure they receive the care they need,” Fihla added “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the residents who promptly reported this matter Their vigilance ensured the infant’s safety.” The JMPD has urged citizens to continue reporting suspicious behaviour highlighting the importance of community cooperation in combating crime and protecting vulnerable lives A shack fire incident in Diepsloot north of Johannesburg has claimed the lives of a two-year-old toddler and a 26-year-old woman The incident has left the community in shock with many residents expressing their condolences to the families of the victims According to the Joburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) the cause of the fire is still unknown and is currently under investigation A spokesperson for EMS Xolile Khumalo has urged residents to be cautious with electric appliances and to ensure that they have working smoke detectors in their homes “EMS continues to implore all of Johannesburg to ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off after use,” said Khumalo South Africa (28 November 2024) – It’s truly heartwarming to witness the joy on a child’s face when they receive a simple gift together with various generous partners and the I Love Fourways community recently brought smiles to the faces of 13,500 schoolchildren within the Diepsloot township the Foundation has not only alleviated the financial burden on families but also ignited a spark of hope within these young minds According to I Love Fourways’ Carolyn Penny these gifts hold immense significance in a community where such donations are rare inspiring youngsters to pursue their dreams despite the challenges they face and play dough for younger pupils in Grades 0–3 Older students in Grades 4–7 received age-appropriate items such as pens These gifts will not only leave lasting memories but also inspire these young minds to reach for greatness Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a887e1fb7e87c309d94a32b8076b0390" );document.getElementById("d2d9e305b5").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Would you like to receive truly phenomenal inspirational and good thing stories right to your inbox Then subscribe to our weekly GoodThingsGuy newsletter today I accept GTG’s Privacy Policy GoodThingsGuy is the home of everything good and those are the things that really matter We believe that there is good news all around us and over 1 million readers a month agree with us GoodThingsGuy was officially launched on the 1 August 2015 in order to only promote good news inspirational stories and promote only positive multi-platform media company that distills unique content across multiple media platforms We consider individual and corporate contributions through the website or mail us directly here. Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again JOHANNESBURG - Most of Gauteng's Diepsloot residents were in the dark on Tuesday night They've admitted to connecting to the grid illegally besides illegally connected infrastructure, it's picked up that some residents buy their electricity from unregistered vendors These developments emerged as the utility disconnected transformers in the area But residents say connecting to illegal transformers is a means to an end because their pleas to Eskom have fallen on deaf ears Please check your email and enter your one time pin below: Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Several welfare organisations in Diepsloot have had no electricity from Eskom for more than a year The power utility says a transformer has been broken by illegal connections and can’t be fixed because the area is too dangerous for its technicians The transformer supplying the offices of the South African Depression And Anxiety Group (Sadag), and Lawyers Against Abuse in Diepsloot township broke down in May 2023.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads which operate from containers in a fenced enclosure say this has put great pressure on already stretched resources and made their work even harder Eskom says the transformer broke down repeatedly because of illegal connections from a nearby informal settlement in Extension 2 It was moved on to the property of the Gauteng Department of Social Development Sadag development manager Fatima Seedat said the lack of electricity was very disruptive “We are situated in an already overburdened and under-serviced community The impact of no electricity does put a strain on everyone,” she said She added that they had to adapt to using noisy generators and gas heaters when it was cold Neighbouring Family Africa had been supplying food for Sadag clients but the lack of electricity had made this difficult Eskom says illegal electricity connections in nearby informal settlement are the cause of the breakdown of the area’s transformer Lindsay Henson, the executive director of Lawyers Against Abuse, said the full-time use of generators had pushed up their costs. Lawyers against Abuse provides legal services, therapy and counselling for women and children who have experienced rape, abuse, and other forms of violence.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “We operate a walk-in centre in Diepsloot where we provide all our services to the community free of charge Not having electricity for the past year has had a significant impact on our work,” she said “Generators are not meant to run continuously 50 hours a week there have been many times when our generators have broken down and we’ve had to send them for repairs We have now purchased three generators that we alternate each day to stay operational,” Henson said “In addition to the exorbitant financial costs of running a generator 50-plus hours per week it has required significant staff time each day to maintain these generators and move generators inside and outside our centre This is time that would be better spent actually doing the work of the organisation – assisting those who have experienced abuse Having these generators also creates an unnecessary safety risk for staff and for our centre from those who may want to steal the generators.” The transformer was also supplying electricity to the offices of the Gauteng Social Development Department. Spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa declined to comment and referred GroundUp to Eskom.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Eskom Gauteng spokesperson Amanda Qithi blamed people in nearby homes for the breakdown of the transformer “In most areas within Diepsloot, communities have illegally installed their own transformers on the Eskom network, in the process damaging the electricity infrastructure and making it unsafe for Eskom technicians to operate on. The communities’ illegal operations on the Eskom network make it inoperable and unsafe,” she said.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Read more in Daily Maverick: Buffalo City ratepayers march to City Hall, demanding withdrawal of ‘unaffordable’ electricity fee “We urge the community of Diepsloot to partner with Eskom in reducing or preventing prolonged outages in the area by refraining from conducting illegal electricity-related activities as they not only negatively affect Eskom paying customers and community service points such as this social development office.” Qithi said it was not possible to put in a dedicated transformer for the welfare offices “Eskom’s network configuration does not allow for dedicated supply lines to paying customers making it impractical to service them separately which is the reason the offices are still without electricity supply.” First published by GroundUp Daily Maverick’s journalism is funded by the contributions of our Maverick Insider members. If you appreciate our work, then join our membership community. Defending Democracy is an everyday effort. Be part of it. Become a Maverick Insider ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng will conduct an oversight inspection at the pedestrian bridge in Diepsloot West on the R511 The oversight inspection will be led by the DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Roads and Logistics This pedestrian bridge was constructed in 2018 to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the road the DA has since learned that this bridge is not used by the residents because it has not been constructed properly It is unacceptable that millions of rands have been spent on building this bridge The media is invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs Details of the oversight inspection are as follows: registered non profit organisation in South AfricaReg No: 011-895 NPO Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries And the school has a string of distinctions from its top learners adding to Gauteng’s 88.4% pass rate an increase of 3% over the 85.4% achieved in 2023 It was a good year for the Matric Class of 2024 announced its remarkable achievement with a record-breaking best-ever democratic era national pass rate of 87.3% up from 82.9% in 2023 – an impressive 4.4% improvement Banyana Mohajane said was “a testament to the continuous efforts of educators and supporting organisations across the country.” a partner entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation while offering hearty congratulations to the 2024 Matric cohort on their outstanding achievement gave special recognition to a Gauteng high school Diepsloot Secondary under its adoption programme.The school’s learners have demonstrated exceptional academic performance and AAS celebrated the success of this adopted school that contributed to the nation’s exceptional pass rate the school is supported by AngloGold Ashanti is noteworthy in that it has 1912 learners 37 educators and just 21 classrooms (a crowded 91 learners per classroom) The school’s remarkable achievement was applauded by AAS’s Mohajane who said the Foundation was particularly proud of the quality of education they were able to dispense the Adopt-a-School Foundation implements a Whole School Development (WSD) model that focuses on holistic school improvement This includes not just academic enhancement but also better school leadership strengthened curriculum delivery and learner well-being The Foundation has created conducive teaching and learning environments in 665 underprivileged schools across South Africa through strategic public and private partnerships Through support from the Department of Basic Education and numerous dedicated corporate donors the Foundation has played a significant role in helping high schools meet their Matric targets year after year Nany Sithole 17-year-old and Tshimendze Mukona 17- year-old Modiba particularly stood out with six distinctions exemplifying the hard work and determination that has propelled her to success Physical Science and Mathematics were her favourite matric subjects she is not sure which direction her career will take as she is equally interested in becoming a software engineer The top-achieving student believes that her exceptional academic performance will help her secure bursaries to make her dreams a reality With her pass rate and dedication to her goals this future leader is poised to make a significant impact in the fields of science and engineering "I aim to gain knowledge and skills that will not only improve my career prospects but also contribute to the growth of the industry," she says "I also want to make enough money so that I can give back to my community." Naledi Gamedze’s five distinctions were earned because she was driven and single-minded during her matric year She says she is driven by her aspirations in economics and accounting “Although I faced financial constraints as the oldest of two children in a single-parent household Sibusiso Hlatshwayo achieved six distinctions this is while Tshimendze Mukona achieved five distinctions and Nany Sithole achieved three distinctions Reflecting on the challenges she faced during her matric year she said she particularly battled anxiety and the fear of making mistakes she credits her perseverance to a motivating quote by actor Denzel Washington: "Dreams without goals are just dreams." SVP Group Sustainability at AngloGold Ashanti said: “AngloGold Ashanti wishes to congratulate the class of 2024 and top-performing learners on achieving such a significant milestone AngloGold Ashanti’s CSI Fund remains committed to supporting education-related programmes to empower the youth and contribute to the current and future upliftment of communities “Education is a powerful tool that can unlock opportunities,” Sangqu concluded The Adopt-a-School Foundation remains committed to fostering such success stories and ensuring that more learners across South Africa have the opportunity to reach their full potential The organisation looks forward to continuing its partnership with schools and the Department of Basic Education to build a brighter future for all learners Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or swiping left Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or the keyboard right arrow key and the pedestrian bridge is still incomplete The DA made this startling discovery during an oversight inspection today as part of Transport Month This pedestrian bridge has been under construction for many years and is still not complete and the homeless sleep on top of the bridge There is also a big gaping hole in the middle of the bridge which poses a danger to anyone who tries to use the bridge The construction of the R511 has been completed This is also dangerous for the residents of Diepsloot and could lead to accidents taking place on this road See photos here, here, here , here and here The DA will write to MEC Diale and the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) regarding the road and the pedestrian bridge We will continue to put pressure on both provincial and local governments to complete all the construction on this road A DA government will ensure that this road is installed with robots and pedestrian bridge is fixed as a matter of urgency for the safety of all the road users Democratic Alliance, registered non profit organisation in South AfricaReg No: 011-895 NPO JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has questioned how South Africans are expected to respect the rule of law if those in power continuously undermine it Thousands of party supporters marched to the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein on Tuesday calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to be held accountable for his Phala Phala scandal The court has been hearing arguments from the EFF’s legal team who want it to rule that Parliament failed to hold Ramaphosa accountable by dismissing a report which suggested he may have violated his oath of office -Malema: EFF founding manifesto demands we fight against corruption -EFF marches over Phala Phala: 'We are highlighting the corruption of ANC and Ramaphosa' - Malema -EFF grilled on delay in challenging National Assembly decision not to initiate impeachment inquiry against Ramaphosa EFF supporters picketed outside the apex court as arguments continued. They marched along the streets of Johannesburg on Tuesday, raising placards calling for the removal of Ramaphosa from office. EFF leader Julius Malema said the president had failed to lead by example. "The people of Diepsloot don't have food to eat but the president is sleeping on dollars. It starts to be rotten from the head. Once the head is rotten, the whole of South Africa will be rotten.” The EFF said the African National Congress (ANC) abused its parliamentary majority in the previous administration to shield the president from being impeached. Sections children are discovering a new way to learn through games The library staff has introduced fun activities that help children develop their skills and stay focused on learning.One of the favourite games is FIFA24 which not only improves football skills but also teaches valuable lessons like concentration and strategic thinking These games make learning enjoyable and motivate children to get involved The children who participated in the holiday programme at Diepsloot Library had a lot to say about it said: “I didn't know learning could be this much fun Playing FIFA24 helped me understand football better and I made new friends who love football too."The library staff is delighted with how engaged the children are They believe these activities not only complement school lessons but also make learning more exciting Diepsloot Library is helping children develop a greater understanding and become more enthusiastic about learning.These programmes show that learning doesn't have to be dull games are teaching children important skills while they have fun It's a winning combination that's making a big difference in their lives Stay connected and informed about the latest developments in the City on: The family of a seven-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by an Ethiopian national operating a spaza shop in Diepsloot demands justice The child was allegedly raped last week in the presence of her 8-year-old sibling inside the accused’s spaza shop The child’s family claims that they were initially turned away by the police when they tried to open a case of rape A case was opened three days after the alleged crime through the intervention of Diepsloot Community Forum Diepsloot residents continue to call for an overhaul of their local police station Power News reporter Bafana Nzimande has the details in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies successfully removed over 35 illegally connected transformers in Diepsloot Extension 6 is part of Eskom’s ongoing efforts to reclaim its network and mitigate the financial and operational strain caused by unauthorized electricity connections Eskom revealed that during the 2022/23 financial year it suffered non-technical losses amounting to approximately R5 billion due to illegal connections and other electricity-related criminal activities These activities not only destabilize the electricity network causing frequent outages and substandard service for paying customers but also pose significant safety risks to Eskom’s technicians expressed deep appreciation for the collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Bala emphasized that these efforts are crucial in safeguarding Eskom’s assets and reducing the severe energy losses caused by illegal connections In addition to removing the illegal transformers Eskom is currently investigating allegations from community leaders that some of its employees may be involved in the sale of illegal transformers “We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards crime and corruption and will update community leaders on the outcomes of these investigations once they are concluded,” Bala added claiming that the poor service delivery in their area forced them to resort to illegal connections some residents even admitted to purchasing electricity from unregistered vendors due to the prolonged delays in Eskom’s response to their needs acknowledged the severity of the crime rate in Diepsloot which he suggested pushed residents to seek alternative means of electricity supply Eskom has reiterated its call for communities to refrain from engaging in illegal activities related to electricity and has urged the public to report such activities to the Eskom Crime Line Central News Weekly Edition 068 | Download the latest weekly edition| Top Story: “Shivambu Steps Down as EFF Faces Setback After Losing Third Largest Party Status” https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues ________________________ Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content, Podcasts To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za General Info:info@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator:admin@centralnews.co.za Whatsapp / Call: 081 495 5487 Website: https://www.centralnews.co.za The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has successfully completed a transformative project that has not only upgraded road infrastructure and improved connectivity in Diepsloot ext 5 and 6 but has also restored a sense of pride. Residents and motorists in Diepsloot are now experiencing the benefits of the completed gravel road upgrade as one of many projects that have been implemented in Region A to improve the quality of municipal roads JOHANNESBURG - The Amaberete have been deployed to curb ongoing crime in Diepsloot Police Minister Bheki Cele made the announcement during Operation Shanela He says the Tactical Response Teams will work closely with the community Diepsloot residents embarked on yet another march against high crime rates on Saturday They are blaming poor police visibility and illegal foreigners for the rise in crime.