Latest news with #R100k
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Wanted man slips through the cracks
Wanted man slips through the cracks – again The fugitive wanted in connection with the disappearance of Sodwana Bay skipper John 'Matambu' Dercksen was reportedly apprehended for shoplifting – and let go after a court hearing. According to reports, the theft and subsequent arrest of Tomas Frederik 'Ferdie' Visser occurred in the Heidedal area of Bloemfontein on 17 March – one year and one day after Dercksen disappeared without trace. ALSO READ: R100k reward to catch fugitive linked to missing Sodwana skipper His hearing was held on 18 March; the charge was withdrawn and he was released. 'It was R151 for two packets of smoked Viennas and a tin of beans, so they didn't run his ID number, thinking it was just a petty theft,' said Cherie Eilertsen, Dercksen's sister. 'I'm encouraged that we now know where he is… And he's got to surface every two to three days to steal something to eat. 'I'm not focusing on the fact that they released him because there's a lot of good that's come from this; he's living rough, nobody's helping him, he's having to steal. 'We now need to bring him in.' Visser has been wanted in connection with Dercksen's disappearance in March last year. He was apprehended in Mozambique five days after Dercksen went missing, presumed murdered, but 'botched' extradition proceedings saw charges against him withdrawn. Although he was sent back to prison to see out the remainder of a previous sentence for which he had been parolled – and broken parole conditions – Visser managed to escape – while doing community service – from the Tonga Community Correction office in Mpumalanga at which he was being held. He has been on the run since, but a warrant of his arrest was issued earlier this year in connection with a sexual assault case in Nelspruit. An anonymous angler earlier this year posted a R100 000 reward for information leading to Visser's arrest. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Missing Sodwana Bay skipper: Family receives reports of suspect spotted in Bloemfontein
The fugitive wanted in connection with the disappearance of Sodwana Bay skipper John 'Matambu' Dercksen was reportedly apprehended for shoplifting in Bloemfontein – and let go after a court hearing. The Zululand Observer reports that according to information, Tomas Frederik 'Ferdie' Visser was allegedly arrested for shoplifting in the Heidedal area of Bloemfontein on March 17 – one year and one day after Dercksen disappeared without trace. Dercksen was last seen in the company of Visser when the latter chartered Dercksen's boat in Sodwana Bay. He has since disappeared without a trace and his boat was later found, destroyed by a fire, in Mozambique. ALSO READ: R100k reward to catch fugitive linked to missing Sodwana skipper Visser's hearing in Bloemfontein was reportedly held on March 18, the charge was withdrawn and he was released. 'It was R151 for two packets of smoked Viennas and a tin of beans, so they didn't run his ID number, thinking it was just a petty theft,' said Cherie Eilertsen, Dercksen's sister. 'I'm encouraged that we now know where he is… And he's got to surface every two to three days to steal something to eat. 'I'm not focusing on the fact that they released him because there's a lot of good that's come from this; he's living rough, nobody's helping him, he's having to steal. 'We now need to bring him in.' Visser has been wanted in connection with Dercksen's disappearance in March last year. He was apprehended in Mozambique two months after Dercksen went missing, presumed murdered, but 'botched' extradition proceedings saw charges against him withdrawn. Although he was sent back to prison to see out the remainder of a previous sentence for which he had been out on parole (and broken parole conditions), Visser managed to escape from the correctional facility in Mbombela at which he was being held while doing community service. He has been on the run since. A warrant of his arrest was also issued earlier this year in connection with a sexual assault case in Mbombela. An anonymous angler earlier this year posted a R100 000 reward for information leading to Visser's arrest. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Eyewitness News
04-07-2025
- Eyewitness News
Easy access to guns, ammunition contributes to gang violence flare-ups in Cape Town
CAPE TOWN - A criminologist said that flare-ups of gang-related shootings were becoming more prevalent because of the availability of guns and ammunition in the Western Cape. Fourteen suspects were arrested for murder and attempted murder, and seven are behind bars for being caught with illegal guns in Mitchells Plain on Thursday night. The arrests were made after five people were killed and seven others injured in gang-related shootings in the area on Thursday. READ: CoCT offers R100k reward for information on recent Mitchells Plain shootings Criminologist Guy Lamb said that the easy access gangs had to guns and ammunition was a massive concern. Lamb believes it's one of the reasons why flare-ups of gang violence are becoming more prevalent in Cape Town. "Part of the problem with much of this kind of escalation of gang shootings is availability of firearms and ammunition. But of course, that doesn't necessarily lead to the flare-ups, it just makes them more prevalent." Lamb said reasons for a flare-up of gang violence included fighting over drug turf. "What typically happens in gang-related conflicts is when there is tension between different competing gangs over territories or if there is conflict within a particular gang around leadership issues or there are reprisal attacks." Lamb said a cycle of shootings often happened when revenge attacks occured.
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
DA slams R100k taxpayer-funded legal bill for magistrate's protection
The Minister of Justice has continued to evade the real question as to why a legally trained person is assisted to the tune of R100 143.68 to obtain a protection order against journalists, says the writer. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development continues to defend a shocking display of state overreach and misuse of public funds as revealed by a DA parliamentary question. The Department spent over R100k of public money on a personal protection order for a magistrate, when the magistrate herself could have attended to this administrative task. The DA will be writing to the minister, demanding that the magistrate pay back this wasted money. Last year, Magistrate Ezra Morrison sought a protection order against journalists who reported on the magistrate's failure to refer a child, now accused of the murder of Deveney Nel, to the Children's Court when he was a minor. He was accused of raping an 11 year old girl when he was 13 and was found by psychiatrists to be a danger to society and at high risk of reoffending. Despite this warning, nothing was done. In reply to a question posed by the DA, the Minister of Justice has continued to evade the real question as to why a legally trained person is assisted to the tune of R100 143.68 to obtain a protection order against journalists. The minister attempted to justify this gross abuse of funds by claiming that the matter was 'intrinsically linked' to the magistrate's professional duties. What is worse is that costs are for consultations, drafting, formal appearances and settlement. Not only are these prices seriously inflated, but these are all things the magistrate could have done herself for a personal matter. Seeking a protection order is something thousands of vulnerable South Africans are forced to navigate alone every day in terms of the Protection from Harassment Act and the Domestic Violence Act. The two Acts are intended to prevent domestic abuse and harassment, provide safety and security to complainants and their dependents and are specifically designed to be accessible and victim-centred. Magistrate Morrison's application to obtain such an order against journalists is a private matter and not a state function, whichever way you look at it. The DA finds it deeply disturbing that R100 143.68 was spent on an advocate's fees when the Magistrate could have simply attended at the Clerk of the Court and completed the requisite forms. Yet, the minister failed to address this question in her response and only provided vague answers with no proof that this warranted a protection order or an explanation as to why the matter was not referred to the Press Ombud. While the most vulnerable in our society – women, children and the poor – sit in long queues waiting for overwhelmed clerks and backlogged courts, the minister affords preferential treatment for the legal elite. The DA will be pursuing further accountability through parliamentary channels, including demanding that the Magistrate pay the money back to the state. Nicholas Gotsell MP DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice
The Citizen
07-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
No explosion, says Tronox after loud bang prompts evacuation
No explosion, says Tronox after loud bang prompts evacuation A LOUD bang at Tronox KZN Sands caused alarm among Empangeni residents earlier this afternoon (Saturday). The noise reported at around 4pm, followed by the sounding of an emergency siren, sparked social media speculation of an 'explosion' at the company's Central Processing Complex (CPC). ALSO READ: R100k reward to catch fugitive linked to missing Sodwana skipper 'Kindly note the current social media reports circulating about an 'explosion' at CPC and an evacuation. Please note there has been no serious incident,' reassured a company spokesperson. 'A tea cup with excess mould coating likely caused a loud 'pop' sound when slag was tapped into it. While the sound was loud, it's a harmless reaction.' 'Given that there's currently a furnace reline in progress and many contractors on site, the shift supervisor evacuated the plant as a precaution to carry out inspections.' 'There is no cause for concern,' the company confirmed. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
