Latest news with #Lategan
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Climate
- IOL News
Disaster Risk Management squares up for next frontal system
The SA Weather Service (SAWS) issued a warning for yellow level 4 disruptive rainfall this coming weekend. Image: File As the SA Weather Service (SAWS) issued a warning for yellow level 4 disruptive rainfall this coming weekend, the City's Disaster Risk Management Centre will once again coordinate emergency responses to any impacts brought about by the forecast. The forecast is from Friday into Sunday. Among the potential impacts are localised flooding of roads and settlements and saturation of waterways. "We have alerted our NGO partners who will provide humanitarian assistance where needed," said Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson, Sonica Lategan. "We ask that residents please address any issues on their properties to mitigate the risk of localised flooding. Also, please log service requests for any City-related services so that these can be assigned to the relevant departments." Motor vehicle accidents tend to soar during heavy rains. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Lategan said the safety of City staff members will also be considered. "The rate of assessment and action can be slowed by prevailing weather conditions, and we also have to consider the safety of staff members. If required, our Disaster Coordinating Committee will convene to coordinate responses where needed. However, I do want to appeal to the public to help ease the load where possible. For example, motor vehicle accidents tend to soar during wet weather spells, eating into available enforcement and emergency resources. Do your bit and employ driving tactics that are appropriate for the road conditions." The City's donation drop-off points are the following fire stations: Constantia, Goodwood, Hout Bay, Lakeside, Roeland Street, Strand and Wynberg. Donors can also email for collection. Anyone wishing to assist can donate clothing for all ages, non-perishable food items like rice, maize meal, tinned fish, tinned beans and baby formula, as well as personal hygiene items. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
Time Out
08-05-2025
- Climate
- Time Out
Cape Town weather does not look lekker for Mother's Day weekend
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is the bearer of some bad news ahead of the upcoming weekend - we are in for some stormy weather, Cape Town! A Yellow Level 4 warning has been released by SAWS ahead of anticipated damaging winds and waves in and around Cape Town. According to Sonica Lategan, the City of Cape Town's Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, the strong winds will start on Friday, with heavy rain expected on Saturday. "Potential impacts from the forecast could include uprooted trees, damage to roofs, an increased risk of runaway fires and disruption of coastal activities. We urge residents to secure objects on their properties that could be carried away by the wind, like outside furniture and to be mindful of potential damage to garage doors, sliding doors and windows," Lategan said in a statement on Thursday. "When travelling, please be on the lookout for obstructions on the roadway, like fallen trees or other debris. Any weather-related emergency can be reported to the city's public emergency communications centre on 021 480 7700." The storm is expected to clear by Mother's Day on Sunday, so if you had planned anything outdoors, you may still be able to make those memories with mom. However, we suggest monitoring the weather as the weekend progresses to ensure you will be in the clear... literally. Cape Town emergency numbers Should you require assistance over the weekend, please take note of the emergency numbers below: TIME OUT RECOMMENDS:
IOL News
06-05-2025
- IOL News
New evidence challenges the narrative of Albert Luthuli's death
Inkosi Albert Luthuli's death on July 21, 1967, remain a mystery. Image: Independent Media Archives More contractions and inconsistencies came to light on what modern-day investigator Warrant Officer Brenden Burgess found about the death of Inkosi Albert Luthuli compared to what was revealed in 1967. However, Burgess told the Pietermaritzburg High Court during the proceeding of the re-opened inquest that he could not conclude what led to the death of the Struggle stalwart. Burgess, a police crime scene management analyst who studied forensic science at the University of South Africa, ruled out that Luthuli was killed after being hit by the train, which was the conclusion reached by an inquest conducted shortly after his death. The train driver, Albertus Lategan, had in 1967 told the inquest that was presided over by Magistrate CI Bosswell at the Stanger Magistrate's Court that he saw an African man spinning after being hit by his goods train number 332. He said that due to the shape of the train and the position in which Lategan was seated on the driver's seat, which was on the right-hand side, it would have made it impossible for Lategan to see Luthuli spinning. 'The possibility of the scenario occurring as described by Mr Lategan is highly unlikely,' said Burgess. He said the spot at the Mvoti River railway bridge where the train stopped, did not reflect that the train had hit someone who was walking on the bridge's walkway, but it indicated that the train stopped after its driver had seen something lying on the railway line. 'The probability of the impact being on the southern side of the bridge was highly unlikely.' Burgess, who started testifying before Judge Qondeni Radebe on Monday and concluded on Tuesday, said evidence given to Bosswell was inconsistent with what he established might have happened on the day of the incident. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Burgess, who reconstructed the evidence scene using other experts, told the court on Tuesday that his findings were different from those of the original investigators, including the train driver, ambulance driver, and doctors. Burgess's evidence was too mathematical as it was dominated by detailed calculations of the speed, the size, length, and weight of the train, the length of the railway bridge that crossed Mvoti River, and the side of the bridge's walkway. He said the locomotive of the train that was said to have hit Luthuli on the bridge was pulling seven tanks containing syrup and seven containers of sugar. He said the train was no longer in existence as its parts were destroyed or recycled. On the day, he said, the train had left a nearby station at 10.29am and reached the Mvoti bridge, where it was alleged to have hit Luthuli at 10.39am. He also cast doubts on the evidence that was given by Doctor Mauritius Joubert, a neurosurgeon who examined Luthuli's body, saying his report had left out internal injuries. 'There are no detailed descriptions given by doctors as to the severity and nature of the sculp fracture and brain damage of Mr Luthuli. 'No detailed description of the internal examination seemed to have been undertaken by the doctors.' Burgess said that when he conducted the reconstruction of the evidence collected after the incident, he established that Lategan had provided evidence that the train hit Luthuli on the right side of the shoulder. He said Lategang stated that the deceased, who was unknown to him at the time of the impact, was struck on the right shoulder and also saw the 'African male spinning around'. 'There are inconsistencies noted from Mr Lategan's description and medical evidence.' He said he conducted a thorough reconstruction of the accident using the help of the engineers proved that Lategan did not tell the truth about the train hitting Luthuli. 'The possibility of the accident scenario occurring as described by Mr Lategan, in my opinion, is highly unlikely,' Burgess said. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which is leading the inquest, believed that Luthuli might have sustained the fatal injuries after someone had struck him with a strong object such as a steel bar or a strong stick. It was also suspected that he had been placed on the spot where he was found after being attacked elsewhere, or someone might have met him on the bridge and tried to push him onto the train. The NPA said it has a report from Dr S Nsele, a KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health forensic pathologist, which indicated that Luthuli's injuries on both arms indicated that he was trying to defend himself when he was being attacked. Burgess read the report, which he received from the NPA on April 25, 2024, to the court. 'Dr S Nsele's report mentioned that the bruises on Luthuli's both hands and the fracture of the left elbow are indicative of the wounds sustained during the assault,' read the report. When asked to comment on what is contained in the report, he could not conclude what happened because the past investigation was poorly recorded. 'The nature of the injuries sustained by Mr Luthuli was not well documented to come to any conclusion as to the course of the injuries sustained by Mr Albert Luthuli. 'Until such time further information is forthcoming, the probable cause of the injuries sustained by Mr Luthuli, in my mind, remains inconclusive,' said Burgess. The matter is proceeding until May 16.
