JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng police estimate that a clandestine drug lab uncovered in Westonaria on Thursday generated nearly R300 million over three years a multidisciplinary police team raided the farm and chemicals used to manufacture and tablet mandrax Cadaver dogs from the police’s K9 unit led officers to an isolated property where an estimated R10 million worth of mandrax was being processed ALSO READ: Hawks arrest 9 people after discovery of drug manufacturing lab in Krugersdorp When police moved in, they found the farm owner in the process of converting a powdered substance into a deadly, illicit drug.He was arrested on the spot. Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni explains the meticulous process used to make the drugs. “The powder has to be manufactured, and then, in which sense, you have to have the machinery mixing it with different components, which eventually form a tablet.” Police suspect the operation had cross-border links and have not ruled out more arrests. Sections 5 mineworkers are still trapped underground at Sibanye- Stillwater's Masakhane Mine in Westonaria The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) can confirm that six miners were rescued two deceased and five are still trapped underground at Sibanye-Stillwater's Masakhane Shaft in Westonaria NUM is deeply worried and concerned after thirteen employees were trapped underground yesterday after a seismic incident One mineworker was rescued early hours of this morning Five mineworkers are still trapped underground two have been located but it is dangerous to rescue them due to fall of rocks The other three mineworkers have not been located The NUM is angry and concerned at the rate at which mining incidents are happening at Sibanye Stillwater We send our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased mineworkers during this difficult time Peter Bailey: NUM Health and Safety Chairperson: 082 883 7302Livhuwani Mammburu: NUM National Spokesperson: 083 809 3257 The National Union of Mineworkers7 Rissik Street.Cnr Frederick JohannesburgTel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257Twitter: @Num_Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167 COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal social & economic relief information and resources Go back or visit Home Page Home | Business Gauteng Police have arrested nine foreign nationals at an illegal alcohol plant in Westonaria on Thursday. Provincial Police Commissioner General Tommy Mthombeni has placed the value of the fake alcohol at approximately R1 million. Two Taiwanese, six Malawians and a Mozambican were arrested when police pounced on the warehouse where the fake alcohol was manufactured. The plant has been operating for over 10 months now. Police say they got a tipoff from the aggrieved employees of the plant complaining about unfair labour practice and exploitation. They decided to alert the men and women in blue about the misdeeds that were taking place in the quiet suburb of Westonaria. “The employees’ exploitation … they were subjected to unfair wages, subjected to excessive working hours and to unsafe conditions. So, they went to the nearest police station, and they reported the matter to the police hence we had such a discovery of this illegal plant here at the Westonaria,” says Mthombeni. The police chief says trade in illegal alcohol is robbing the fiscus. “In terms of the set up here, you could estimate it to roughly a million rand. This means that South Africa has lost revenue in terms of the tax of which, in terms of this illicit trade, South Africa is losing billions of rands,” Mthombeni added. Those who work closer to this place – now declared a crime scene – say they were not suspicious of any illegal activities taking place there. The place has been quiet for some time. They suspected no debasement behind the closed doors of the premises. “We were told that this place is being renovated and that the new company was taking over. We heard that the new company will be selling cold drinks. We were not suspecting anything at all,” says one of those who lived near the place. Those who are in the know say consuming fake alcohol can be deadly. They are urging law enforcement agencies to deal with the illicit trade of fake alcoholic beverages heads on. Mthombeni says some of the charges they will consider, are kidnapping and employing undocumented foreign nationals. This is the second bust in Westonaria in less than a week. Last week, police made a R10 million drug bust at a lab in the area which led to the arrest of two suspects. The law enforcement authorities will continue to monitor suspicious areas in and around Gauteng. JOHANNESBURG - Nine foreign nationals have been arrested following a bust at an illegal alcohol manufacturing facility in Westonaria on the West Rand. Police pounced on the warehouse on Thursday morning, where they uncovered fake alcohol to the value of approximately R1 million being manufactured and bottled. Popular whiskey, brandy and vodka brands were being illegally manufactured and stored. Two Taiwanese, six Malawians and one Mozambican national were arrested at an illicit alcohol manufacturing warehouse in Westonaria on the West Rand on Thursday morning. Gauteng provincial police commissioner, Tommy Mthombeni, outlined some of the fake alcohol products they found. "You can see here it’s your Smirnoff, your J&B and your Klipdrift." He said they received a tip-off about the facility from aggrieved employees. "The employees came forward to SAPS [South African Police Service]. You can see they were not happy. We will also, through the prosecution, put forward charges of kidnapping." This is the second bust in Westonaria in less than a week. Last week, police made a R10 million drug bust at a lab in the area. Home | South Africa Gauteng police have discovered a drug laboratory worth more than R10 million and arrested two suspects, aged 51 and 49, during a raid in Westonaria. The operation was carried out by Crime Intelligence and the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit after police observed suspicious activity at the location. A search and seizure warrant was obtained, leading to the raid. During the search, officers found a fully operational drug lab, seizing mandrax and machinery used for manufacturing, processing, and packaging drugs. One of the suspects, reported to be the owner of the house, was arrested inside the lab, while further investigation led to the arrest of a second suspect nearby. Both have been charged with manufacturing and dealing in drugs. Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni commended the team for their efforts. “The discovery and dismantling of drug labs and the arresting of kingpins will help in stopping the selling of drugs in the streets of Gauteng that eventually leads to the commission of serious and violent crimes,” says Mthombeni. Gauteng police have uncovered two illegal manufacturing plants in Westonaria police made a R10 million drug bust in the area after uncovering mandrax and drug-manufacturing machinery on a plot On Thursday morning, police again swooped in on the area, uncovering an illegal alcohol manufacturing facility worth approximately R1 million.  Gauteng police commissioner, Tommy Mthombeni, said they were concerned about the activities occurring in Westonaria.  "What is worrying is that in Westonaria, it looks like everything is occurring here. You will recall, last week Thursday, we had a drug bust, that drug lab for R10 million. We are concerned about Westonaria, because here we are today for this illegal manufacturing plant for whiskey." Adriaan Vos is still recovering in hospital after being shot three times during an attack on his farm in Glenharvie Landi Vos, Adriaan’s daughter, told the Randfontein Herald that her father was shot twice in the knee and once in the back She explained that her father heard the dogs barking just after 01:00 on Sunday He then decided to drive down to the kraal to check on their goats since their security cameras had not been working all night he was able to get the bakkie to start again and drive to a neighbour for help.” the neighbours were able to stop the bleeding while waiting for the ambulance and police to arrive That was when they noticed Vos’ house was on fire my father was first taken to Leratong Hospital before being transferred to Helen Joseph Hospital the bullet that went through his back is currently lodged in his lung The bullet formed a blood clot in his lung and medical officials are keeping him for observation to consider the next steps.” The family is asking for the community’s help with donations of clothing and other essentials Anyone who would like to assist can follow the BackaBuddy campaign here 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 Westonaria Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced Mozambican national on charges of fraud after she was found in possession of 19 tampered South African birth certificates Gauteng spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation who also operated under the alias ‘Thuli Mthembu’ was arrested on September 18 2024 during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by Westonaria police in collaboration with the Randfontein Department of Home Affairs,” said Ramovha Zunguze initially insisted she was Thuli Mthembu Ramovha said 19 fraudulent birth certificates were seized during her arrest initially registered at the Westonaria police station was later transferred to the Hawks West Rand serious commercial investigation unit for further investigations “Authorities suspected that Zunguze was part of a syndicate involving Department of Home Affairs officials Further inquiries revealed her true identity as Joissa Catarina Rodriguez Zunguze from Maputo and confirmed her illegal presence in South Africa,” said Ramovha Zunguze appeared in court and pleaded guilty to charges of fraud the case was postponed to Thursday for sentencing Zunguze was sentenced to two years of direct imprisonment for fraud and three years in jail for possession of fraudulent documents Zunguze was sentenced to spend 40 days behind bars The court ordered that the sentences run consecutively The fraudulent documents in her possession will be destroyed by the State and the fraudulent South African identity document registered under the alias ‘Thuli Mthembu’ will be canceled,” said Ramovha “The West Rand serious commercial investigation team through diligent investigation and unwavering commitment Their efforts exemplify the directorate’s dedication to combating corruption.” Major General Ebrahim Kadwa has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of Zunguze “This conviction and sentencing underscore the resolute determination of law enforcement to protect the integrity of South Africa’s public institutions and root out corruption Let this serve as a stern warning to those attempting to exploit our systems,” said Kadwa according to Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba spokesperson for the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) Written by: IOL News Magic 828 AM is a South African commercial radio station playing the best of hits from the 80s Download the Magic828 App now on your mobile phone by clicking here © 2025 Magic828. All Rights Reserved the only South African among the top 24 finalists in the 2024 GoGettaz Agripreneur Competition a pioneering hydroponics operation based in Westonaria the inspiration behind Agang Bokamoso Farms who’s just clinched a spot among the top 24 semi-finalists in the 2024 GoGettaz agripreneur competition Out of nearly 2 000 applicants spanning 17 African countries Maleka stands proudly as the only South African to have made the cut have innovated a pipe system ensuring continuous water access for plants even during power shortages or pump failures we are excited to have made it into the top 24 This achievement is an indication to ourselves and the entire continent that we can go toe to toe with the best on the continent.” co-founder of GoGettaz and chairman of Econet Group expressed his enthusiasm for this year’s cohort and the impactful work of so many others who have taken part in the GoGettaz competition over the years are crucial for growing prosperity and food security across the continent “Our GoGettaz entrepreneurs are not just sitting around waiting for problems to be solved; they are busy working to solve them – inventing climate-friendly solutions and using new technologies to tackle ages-old challenges in this critical sector praising the competition for uncovering transformative talent across Africa “The impact of GoGettaz goes far beyond the competition itself as we uncover more and more talent and innovation across Africa I am thrilled with the quality of this year’s competitors and excited to see the opportunities and collaboration emerging to accelerate progress towards a more resilient and food-secure Africa” The competition’s finalists are vying for two grand prizes of $50 000 (nearly R900 000) each alongside $60 000 (about R1 million) in Impact Awards recognising ventures that demonstrate outstanding community benefit and align with sustainable development goals Past winners have gone on to shake up agricultural practices across Africa exemplifying the competition’s role in catalysing innovation and social impact Click here to meet the top 24 finalists in this year’s GoGettaz agripreneur competition. Shocking footage from Daybreak Foods’ farms reveals thousands of starving chickens turn cannibalistic as feed runs out With 21 global awards in the first six years of its existence Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society Contact usOffice: +27 21 879 1824News: info@foodformzansi.co.zaAdvertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor where the general unemployment rate is over 32% JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At the Westonaria agricultural park near Bekkersdal, east of Johannesburg farm workers are busy tilling the soil and planting tomatoes and lettuce Most people here are deaf and communicate using sign language. They are members of the Voiceout Deaf farming collective, started by entrepreneur Matebogo Victoria, to create a platform where deaf people can develop their skills in agriculture and find sustainable work. understood perfectly the challenges faced by deaf people when competing for opportunities with their counterparts who do not face the same challenge While studying at the Tshwane University of Technology in the country's capital Victoria had to attend classes with a hearing partner as the university could not make the lectures accessible for her It is an all-too-common challenge for deaf people “The government does not have facilities for communication (for deaf people) A lot of deaf people did not finish school They cannot afford to travel far to reach schools so normally they decide to leave school early,” said Victoria offering sign language as a subject and using it as a medium of instruction Most are based far from where the students live, which sometimes leads to them dropping out of school as families struggle to afford the transportation costs. decided to leave her corporate job and start Voiceout as a way of allowing deaf people to gain agricultural skills They become very much happy when they are here but when they go outside of this space For Sibongile Maake, the opportunity to learn agriculture in a space where co-workers can easily communicate with her in sign language was transformational It has also afforded her an opportunity to earn a living and rely less on the welfare disability grants that are paid out by the government it’s (a) pleasure working here in the farm I’m working slowly but surely and I am learning while also getting a salary who said in sign language his name was John said the challenges of communication reduced his chances of getting a job but the Voiceout Deaf project became a lifeline for him so coming here at the farm is very much better because they are able to communicate in my own language so it makes life much easier for me,” said John He and other workers are responsible for various activities at the farm including cleaning The demand for their vegetables was so great that Voiceout Deaf has taken on two other farms The project is breaking even: the farms currently supply some of the local supermarkets and chain stores with fresh produce In other South African provinces like Limpopo and North West provincial governments are looking at farming as a source of training and employment for disabled people The farming sector is emerging as a solace for those with disabilities who also face the dire levels of unemployment in Africa’s most developed economy As she goes around giving instructions monitoring activities on the farm Victoria laments how difficult it often is for people using sign language to understand the jargon of developed industries The Pan South African Language Board is responsible for setting the country's standards for sign language. A constitutionally mandated body responsible for promoting the development and use of South African languages, it recently scored a victory by having Parliament approve sign language as South Africa’s 12th official language. the board sometimes struggles to keep up with fast-evolving business language “The difficulty is that sign language has not developed to an extent that it covers technical jargon used in various sectors There are certain technical words used that are there in spoken language but not in sign language," she explains Victoria wants to inspire change in the farmers themselves “We need them (the deaf farmers) to think out of the box about agriculture They need to be empowered to understand that agriculture is involved in the production of other products like toothpastes This is where we have to improvise and find ways to communicate with them in the simplest way possible,” said Victoria For more news on Africa: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org Justice has been swiftly served for the 37-year-old rape victim after her rapist was sentenced by the Westonaria magistrate’s court This after the 39-year-old man raped the victim on her way from work According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) the incident took place in Westonaria on March 6 NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said Elias Nkete was sentenced to 13 years direct imprisonment for rape “The accused approached the woman when she was returning from work She tried to resist by fighting the accused but he overpowered her and raped her once,” said Mjonondwane The perpetrator allegedly managed to flee the scene “Nkete was at large until informers were tasked to trace him He was arrested on another farm in Fochville on April 27 the court discovered that Nkete is a convicted rapist for two counts of rape in 2008 in another case at Sebokeng magistrates’ court State Advocate Moss Malahlela argued that the incident left the victim traumatised and the accused committed this horrendous act at a time when South Africa is faced with a dark cloud of gender-based violence suggested that employers be mindful of the fact that employees could be both perpetrators and survivors and employers need to be mindful of the fact that employees could be both perpetrators and survivors This places employers in a unique position to reach both groups and help break the cycle of violence,” said Mojapelo Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa Tel: +27 11 268 6300 Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms & conditions and privacy policy AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale JOHANNESBURG - A 43-year-old miner will return to court for allegedly murdering a colleague The case caught attention after he posted a selfie with the deceased's intestines exposed READ: Mine worker appears in court for stabbing a colleague to death Bionehelo Lefefa is expected to apply for bail at the Westonaria magistrate's court it’s believed it was all related to a workplace dispute READ: Mineworker charged with stabbing colleague to death The deceased allegedly assaulted the accused injuring him in the eye Sibanye-Stillwater has not commented on claims around disciplinary processes involving the two You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security Emergency services responded to the scene of a rollover crash at Airport Approach IPSS Medical Rescue responded to a single-vehicle accident on the N2 near Dokodweni ejecting the occupants from the back of the vehicle Sadly one occupant succumbed to their injuries Police were involved in a high-speed chase and they collided with the suspects' vehicle in an attempt to stop them Suspects arrested and robbed property recovered A two (2) year old girl locked in her mother’s vehicle on Inhlaba Grove in Waterloo - KZN was freed by Reaction Officers a short while ago (Monday) The infant’s mother contacted Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) at approximately 09:39 She informed the Controller On Duty that she accidentally A 49-year-old woman was arrested on the N1 freeway near Mokopane for driving 180km/h in a 120km/h zone She'll appear in the Mokopane Magistrate's Court today Let's prioritize road safety and respect the law Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) tracked down & arrested a 21 year old female suspect who kidnapped a two (2) week old baby in Durban - KZN yesterday (Sunday) Baby Owami Lonathando Sindani (picture 1) was found safe by Reaction Officers this morning (09:15 Monday) in the vicinity Paballo Khoza is harvesting lettuce on his 6 000m² shade-netted farm in Westonaria Agri-Park Photo: Magnificent Mndebele/Food For Mzansi Paballo Khoza’s shade-netted farm soothes the soul and from the nearby thicket of trees and grass comes the sound of chirping birds The 6 000m² farm is in the Westonaria Agri-Park in Randfontein an incubation centre where aspiring farmers without land have the tools to become commercial producers Clad in farming overalls and a hat covering his folded-in dreadlocks Khoza explains that his main summer crop comes from his 8 500 pepper and 6 500 tomato plants – all shielded by flowers in vibrant colours that act as pest repellent Khoza joined the incubation centre with four others as a cooperative agribusiness they were the only young ones active in agriculture around the township of Libanon Khoza and his team were farming on only a quarter of a hectare where Sibanye Stillwater mine leased the land to them “We were planting a variety of vegetable such as mustard spinach But the lease agreement was nearing its end and they decided to apply for land to the department of agriculture Given their track record in running a food garden they were granted their shade-netted workspace in the incubation centre partly because he had faced an existential crisis He had needed to figure out his sense of being and his ultimate purpose ‘You are crazy to leave your job just like that’ They asked what I would support my son with I said it was going to be worth it in the end.” He continued his search to find himself until farming became his ultimate purpose Undoubtedly his decisions have come with costs that cannot be quantified memories return of the heavy price of disconnect from his son he and his team would also walk 7km per trip to the incubation centre they trudged the unforgiving route for a good five months right before their endeavours started to bear fruit I am not leaving farming for anything,” Khoza says But thinking back to his sweats to stabilise the business he is overwhelmed by emotion and tears of triumph “The garden was never planted in its full capacity I am the first one to do that,” he says with a smile He says that many of his clients are local supermarkets who sometimes need more produce than he can supply He has the potential to supply 200 boxes of tomatoes each day while his space currently limits him to harvest about 150 boxes of tomatoes a week and even though he has no doubts about his bright future he is troubled by how the agri-park is run by its management Inefficiencies have severely affected his income to the point where he had to let go of his three permanent employees You can understand that they were entirely dependent on this with no other options,” he explains There has been no electricity from January to March and Khoza feels that they are taking a huge chance on water it would have been a different story.” “It is little things like these that affect our businesses.” he says “The people who are driving it do not have the right vision A lot of the projects are standing still; incomplete Despite the challenges hampering his agribusiness He is planning on diversifying his produce to tap into the newly formalised cannabis market which is one of the things that I know will bring income “If I could have about 20 or more trees of cannabis he was already approached by someone who had wanted 10 000 seedlings of cannabis that he could not supply as he grows only a few of the plants Khoza is rolling up his sleeves and preparing to take flight ALSO READ: Award-winning urban cooperative now aims even higher Get Stories of Change: Inspirational stories from the people who feed Mzansi Gold Fields’ South Deep Mine has built and equipped a science laboratory at the TM Letlhake Secondary School at Simunye in Westonaria On 3 December South Deep handed over a fully equipped laboratory with capacity for 50 learners to the Gauteng Department of Education and the school’s governing board South Deep builds and equips science lab at TM Letlhake Secondary School in Westonaria Image credit: Gold Fields’ South Deep Mine is the municipality in which South Deep is located TM Letlhake is the only secondary school in the area and is categorised as a Quintile 3 no-fee school The school was not equipped with a functional science laboratory for learners to undertake practical tasks “Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic we remain committed to contributing to the welfare of our communities “Ensuring that the future generation has a solid foundation in the natural sciences is critical to the development of our country and our business We are directly investing in the field of science and engineering and are developing technical skills that will not only benefit South Deep but the wider economy as well,” Mokoatle adds this project will improve the knowledge base of our learners and have a positive benefit on their lives as I believe it gives them better prospects when they leave school.” Apart from the impact that this lab will have on the future of learners the new science laboratory created 11 direct job opportunities during construction phase The TM Letlhake Secondary School project is one of several local economic development projects contained in South Deep’s Social and Labour Plan Click here to send us a message A former West Rand traffic official will appear at the Westonaria magistrate’s court in January next year for soliciting a R100 bribe The ex-cop tried to solicit the bribe from an  undercover police officer posing as a motorist The undercover police was driving a vehicle without a front number plate Spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said the suspect is facing a charge of corruption was arrested on May 6 2023 by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation unit in the West Rand This was after they received a tip-off about corrupt activities by metro police South African Police Services (SAPS) and municipal traffic police around Gauteng Nkabi said the suspect was nabbed when the Hawks conducted a covert operation to arrest those who are involved in these corrupt activities “They [Hawks] sent agents around the area to do buy-and-busts One agent was stopped on corner N12 and R28 intersection by the suspect who extorted an amount of R100 from an agent for driving a vehicle without the front number plate The agent gave feedback and returned with Hawks investigators to point out the suspect The traffic official tried to evade arrest but was chased and apprehended,” said Nkabi Nkabi said the suspect will make his first court appearance at the Westonaria magistrate’s court on January 16 2024 Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale said after the suspect’s arrest in May this year the suspect was issued with a J175 – which enables the court to issue a warrant of arrest for the suspect in case the suspect fails to appear in court on January 16 2024 Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content has praised officers after the arrest of 13 suspects in connection with a Cash-In-Transit heist on the R501 in Westonaria and one of the vehicles used at a house in Carletonville Police say among those arrested is an off-duty police officer and a member of the National Defence Force Robert Netshiunda says the South African Police Service (SAPS) wishes the injured police officer a speedy recovery “The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) General Sitole has applauded a multidisciplinary team for their swift response which saw 13 suspects arrested promptly after a Cash-In-Transit robbery committed in Westonaria among them an off-duty police officer and a member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will appear in court soon on charges of armed robbery possession of explosives and possession of dagga among other charges The National Commissioner has wished the injured police officer a speedy recovery.” Ten cash-in-transit heist suspects arrested in Carletonville in Gauteng:  Netcare 911 responded to a plane crash in Syferfontein in Westonaria Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said reports indicated that a light aircraft had impacted the ground close to a nearby airfield showed no signs of life and was sadly declared deceased on the scene,” confirmed Shawn He explained that the circumstances leading up to the incident are not known however all relevant authorities were on scene Article: Caxton publication, Randfontein Herald