The Emalahleni Local Municipality has confirmed the suspension of two senior officials arrested last week on corruption charges. Jerry Djiana and Busi Hlumbane appeared in the Emalahleni magistrates court on Tuesday and were each granted R10 000 bail. As part of their bail conditions, the court barred them from entering municipal premises or leaving the district without notifying the police’s investigating officer. The two are expected to return to the Emalahleni magistrates court on the 4th of June. Municipal spokesperson Lebo Mofokeng says the decision to relieve the officials off their duties was taken in the interest of good governance and to protect the municipality’s integrity. Mofokeng says this step aligns with the mayor’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership. He further assured residents that service delivery would not be affected, despite the administrative changes. Copyright © 2022Capricorn FM.All rights reserved Five suspected ATM bombers have been killed and one arrested during a shootout with police in Emalahleni The suspects were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with the Tactical Management Operational Section (TOMS) of the Hawks the South Africa Police Services (SAPS) Special Task Force (STF) and Falcon Risk Security in the early hours of Monday National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation said the team was following up on information received regarding a potential ATM bombing in the Witbank area “Information was operationalised leading the team to Schoongezicht in Emalahleni where the group was reported to be converging at an alleged safe house The multi-disciplinary team were strategically posted to be on the lookout for the white Toyota Hilux received in the intelligence information “The identified vehicle was spotted driving out from the area and when the team attempted to stop the vehicle Five suspects were fatally wounded and one injured,” Lebeya said The bakkie in which the suspects were travelling in Lebeya has commended the work of the law enforcement agencies “A call is made to potential robbers to withdraw from such activities as this always attracts dire consequences The team shall always be on alert," Lebeya said General Enquiries newsfiles@gcis.gov.za Tel: 012 473 0213Editor Roze Britz roze@gcis.gov.za News Editor Janine Arcangeli janine@gcis.gov.zaEditor-in-Chief Zanele Mngadizanelemngadi@gcis.gov.za  Home | South Africa Traffic volumes have started to increase on the N4 toll road between Komatipoort and Emalahleni in Mpumalanga This as travellers head back home from various destinations after the Easter long weekend Traffic law enforcement officers are manning roadblocks to ensure compliance Security and Liaison MEC Jackie Macie has cautioned road users to exercise patience “We can see traffic has increased on N4 from Lebombo to Machadodorp to Gauteng where we are going to intensify visibility people they are forcing whilst they noticed that they are tired so hence we increased our police visibility,” says Macie Mining and Technical Exhibition (MTE) will drive innovation to the coal face on 14 May 2025.The annual MTE Middelburg/Emalahleni (Witbank) Mining & Industrial Expo will take place in Middelburg this year at Steelcrest High School on 14 May 2025 – rescheduled due to the fact that COALSAFE 2025 takes place on 8 May this year Last year 115 companies booked stands and 400 visitors came through to see innovation in action Historically this is MTE’s main coal exhibition the company has added a general industrial element to the focus on mining houses “Last year 115 companies booked stands and 400 visitors came through to see innovation in action and this year we expect an even greater turnout!” says Andrew Macnamara MTE always customises the expertise exhibiting at the tradeshow to answer the call of the industry operations and commodity focus in the area making sure that the exhibition “speaks” to the challenges of industry in the area through relevant exhibitors Macnamara notes that in his recent conversations with the operations in Middelburg in preparation for the show so its time to concentrate on maintenance and efficiency as producers streamline their operations to remain competitive in the current market environment.” month-on-month coal production contracted (-8.8%)1 Transnet rail and port inefficiencies remain a major constraint despite a notable improvement in the tonnages of coal railed in the latter stages of 2024 Coal railed to the privately owned and operated Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) “improved to around 52 million tonnes in 2024 up from 47.9 million tonnes in 2023…This is still significantly below the levels of more than 70 million tonnes Transnet railed annually to RBC between 2017 and 2020” 2 Although recent collaborative efforts by the Transnet Freight Rail Industry Recovery Team have provided some relief criminal activity and aging infrastructure remain significant obstacles to achieving efficient rail performance “Coal companies continue to work closely with Transnet to secure the 600km rail line from the coal fields to Richards Bay aiming to mitigate the impact of cable theft and vandalism that act as a constraint to exports.” With an annual output reaching approximately 235 million tonnes in South Africa coal is the country’s most significant mining commodity by production volume and it remains the backbone of South Africa’s energy sector – employing approximately 174 515 people directly in 2024 Minerals Council has noted that the global narrative on coal has been more nuanced after the European energy crisis in 2022 when the continent scrambled to find alternative energy sources after being cut off from Russian gas amid the Ukraine war There is now greater recognition that although the energy transition is an absolute imperative coal will still have a role to play for some time in providing baseload power where it is now considered to be a “critical mineral” because of the important role it plays in sustaining the economy Register for free to gain access the digital library for African Mining publications Click here to send us a message Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries “By replacing the tank and repairing leaks we’ve made sure that Edward Matyeka Primary can maintain a steady flow of water,” said Juqu “This is essential for the well-being of learners and staff and ensures the school’s facilities can operate without constant water-related disruptions.” “This improvement has been a game-changer for our school we no longer have to worry about water shortages disrupting our daily activities.” Juqu explained that things were a bit different at Siyanqoba Secondary as the school has no municipal water access and relies solely on borehole water “While the school already had a system of five 5,000l JoJo tanks Engen stepped in to address these issues by installing a 5,000l holding tank and implementing top-level connections between the tanks allowing them to fill properly and enabling a consistent water flow This solution has ensured that the school has a consistent water supply “Our intervention has created a sustainable water solution for Siyanqoba Secondary,” commented Juqu “By addressing the engineering flaws and enhancing the system’s capacity we’ve ensured a steady water supply that the school can rely on.” “The new system has brought much-needed relief,” he said “Our learners can now concentrate on their studies and we no longer face debilitating water shortages and disruptions.” Engen CSI manager said these interventions demonstrates our commitment to supporting the next generation by providing access to essential facilities “Engen is firmly committed to investing in sustainable development projects that deliver tangible value to the communities in which we operate,” he said we hope to make daily school life easier and healthier as well as restore the dignity of learners at these two schools.” Edward Matyeka Primary and Siyanqoba Secondary School are both located close to the Engen Emalahleni Terminal Both schools have been adopted by the company and earlier this year the two schools benefited from Engen’s winter campaign which provided 50 learners from each school 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 A section of Voortrekker Road in eMalahleni Extension 10 was closed following an incident this morning in which a police officer was shot while responding to a robbery in progress Witbank News reports the closure affected the stretch of road between the Christiaan de Wet and Hofmeyer intersections the police officer was attending to a robbery call at a local filling station on Voortrekker when the incident occurred It is at this stage unclear if anything was stolen collecting evidence and working to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting Residents and motorists were advised to use alternative routes to avoid the area and minimise disruptions to their daily activities 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 the two eMalahleni Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs) suspected of taking gratification will spend the long weekend behind bars Witbank News reports Magistrate Matome Seima postponed the case to Tuesday for a formal bail application Councillors Jerry Djiana (MMC: Development planning) and Busi Hlumbane (MMC: Technical services) were remanded in custody Three counts of extortion and three counts of corruption are being investigated against Djiana and Hlumbane and a case of defeating the ends of justice is also being investigated against Djiana The MMCs were arrested yesterday in a Hawks sting operation They are suspected of receiving R20 000 in gratification for extending the lease of a crematorium in eMalahleni Djiana asked police officers to go to the toilet shortly after he was arrested and allegedly tried to hide the envelope with the cash in a toilet Seima said he is weighing the presentations by the state and the defence before making a ruling aligned with the justice system asked that the accused not be allowed in the municipal building while the case is under investigation argued that the MMCs are office bearers elected for a period of time “They serve on the mayoral committee and report to their principal who is the mayor and will not interfere with the day-to-day runnings of the municipality They have certain functions they have to attend as heads of their departments,” Sithole said Sello Matshoga from the ANC Nkangala region said the case is serious and compromises the party’s integrity He indicated the matter would be referred to the party’s disciplinary committee said the party takes these allegations of fraud and corruption against the two comrades extremely seriously as it contravenes the revolutionary morality the ANC is working hard to inculcate in its membership and society the two councillors in eMalahleni have immediately stepped aside from their positions of deployment and elected leadership positions,” Manzini’s statement read Read original story on www.citizen.co.za The city is limitless when it comes to possibilities The Best of Emalahleni – City of Coal’s Readers’ Choice Awards celebrates all this and more but also gives you the chance to tell us what and who is the best of the best These awards are certainly one of the most gratifying events Lowveld Media and it is a platform that recognises local excellence The voting is now officially open for the Best of Emalahleni – City of Coal’s Readers’ Choice Awards You can find the voting lists online from 2 May 2025 The Emalahleni Local Municipality released a statement following the arrest of two members of the Mayoral Committee “The municipality has learned with shock of the arrest of two councillors the municipality will not comment further as the information surrounding their arrest is still sketchy We will allow the law enforcement agencies to do their work and thereafter we will communicate further,” said municipal spokesperson Lebo Mofokeng Witbank News reports that Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said the two councillors were yesterday arrested at Witbank Dam by the Middelburg-based Serious Corruption Unit after allegedly receiving R20 000 in gratification which is part of an alleged R500 000 demanded from a victim to qualify for the extension of a lease agreement the R20 000 allegedly paid yesterday followed an alleged R40 000 payment made in February The councillors’ vehicles were also seized Read original story on www.citizen.co.za Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Tel: +27 11 268 6300 Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms & conditions and privacy policy Everyone is on high alert at the Madressa Tul Umar Orphanage in Pine Ridge after robbers entered the premises in the early hours of yesterday morning Witbank News reports a young girl visiting family at the orphanage said she was in the kitchen listening to music on her earphones at around 02:00 when two armed men entered The robbers showed me their firearms and grabbed my phone and earphones I think the sound from the TV scared them off When they fled I screamed and the two young men from the orphanage chased after them.” One of the victims said: “The grass on the other side of the church is very long and there are no streetlights the robbers overpowered us and hit us on our heads with the firearms.” Founder Sontoyi Nyembezi from the orphanage said all the orphans were safe Read original story on www.citizen.co.za has launched an investigation into claims that members of the Witbank police station are involved in corrupt activities “The provincial commissioner takes these allegations very seriously and a dedicated team of investigators has been assembled to follow up on these accusations,” said Captain Magoseni Nkosi of the provincial police Several senior members at the station are accused of collecting protection fees from local businesses particularly the Chinese shop owners and other entities including illegal immigrants operating in the area The police are alleged to have regular meetings with criminals at the Crescent Shopping Centre where they supposedly receive cash payments in exchange for protection Former police assets seized in blue lights case New police minister ruffles feathers by picking Nkabinde as chief of staff other officers are accused of being on the payroll of scrap metal dealers who buy and sell stolen cables from mines It is alleged that this forms part of an organised crime syndicate within the police force which operates with the protection of senior officers shied away from providing details of what they are investigating in Emalahleni “We cannot provide detailed information at this stage as the investigation is ongoing but the integrity of the police force remains a top priority,” said Nkosi Nkosi further emphasised that any officer found guilty of corruption will face disciplinary action: “We are committed to upholding the highest standards of conduct and any violation of these standards will not be tolerated “The community should rest assured that the SAPS [SA Police Service] will take appropriate measures once the investigation is concluded.” The Independent Police Investigative Directorate said that the Emalahleni cases have not been brought to its attention Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content another newborn baby was found dumped in eMalahleni The baby girl is alive and being cared for by the Witbank Provincial Hospital after she was found in a handbag by a dog this morning The dog dragged the handbag with the baby inside into his home in Skosana Street Vosman police Sergeant Gugu Mahlangu attended the scene dragged a handbag into her home and that is when the shocking discovery was made “It is alleged that the dog was restless and kept barking she discovered a newborn baby inside the handbag wrapped in a blanket she was still alive and we rushed her to the hospital where she is receiving care,” Mahlangu explains Read original story on www.citizen.co.za is expected to make a formal bail application at the eMalahleni Magistrate’s Court on September 10 He made his first court appearance yesterday and was remanded in custody According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli The vehicle crashed into a fence and got stuck in a trench The incident took place in eMalahleni at about 03:30 on Sunday “The sergeant handed himself over to the Witbank police and handed in a firearm believed to have been used in the commission of crime “The weapon is suspected to be a state-issued firearm and ballistic testing will be conducted as part of the probe He was arrested and the case docket was handed to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for further handling,” Mdhluli says While the motive for the killing is unknown “Preliminary investigations suggest that the couple was having some domestic-related challenges.” According to acting provincial police commissioner Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi although Ipid is handling the investigation the Mpumalanga police are also conducting an internal investigation Firearms should only be used by police to fight crime and to defend themselves when their or others’ lives are in danger “Members should seek professional help whenever they come across challenges in their families The SAPS has put in place employee health and wellness programmes to assist members,” he adds Read original story on www.citizen.co.za