Latest news with #safetyConcerns
News24
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- News24
Major auto recalls in SA: Thousands of Toyota's Hino trucks, brand-new VW Golfs affected
For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has confirmed the recall of thousands of vehicles in South Africa from three leading automakers — Volkswagen, Volvo, and Toyota — due to safety concerns that could pose serious risks to drivers and passengers. The recall includes Golf 8 TSI, Golf 8 GTI, Volvo XC90 hybrid, and thousands of Hino 500 truck models. In a statement on Tuesday, the NCC said the concerns stemmed from faulty seatbelts and brakes, as well as issues related to parking brakes. VW South Africa is recalling 159 units of its high-performance Golf models — the Golf 8 R 2.0 TSI DSG 235kW and Golf 8 GTI 2.0 TSI DSG 180kW — sold between 16 April and 30 June this year due to issues with safety belts in the passenger seat. The NCC says a sewing process fault meant that the seatbelt could not attach properly, reducing its safety function if the car was in an accident. Supplied/ Volvo Volvo Cars SA has recalled 26 of its XC90 hybrid 2025 and 2026 models due to faulty brakes. The NCC warns that the brake functionality might become disabled temporarily while in braking ('B') mode in plug-in hybrid cars or one-pedal drive in pure electric cars, after coasting downhill for a period. 'This could lead to a collision with potentially serious safety consequences for occupants of the vehicle and others,' the NCC said. Toyota South Africa is recalling 6 662 Hino 500 SKD trucks and 77 Hino 500 CBU trucks manufactured and sold between May 2017 and December 2024 due to issues with the trucks' brake system. Hino Trucks is a subsidiary of Toyota SA. According to the NCC, an incorrect cage bolt spanner (which is found in the brake system of trucks) had been fitted to the SKD models, while some CBU trucks had come without it. While the parking brake would continue to operate during a vehicle failure, it would not be possible to release it, the NCC said. Acting commissioner of the NCC, Hardin Ratshisusu, said the regulator has noted a rise in vehicle recalls and is engaging automakers to ensure proper remedial action is taken. 'Consumers with affected vehicles are urged to urgently book their vehicles with their nearest approved dealerships for a thorough vehicle check, at no cost,' Ratshisusu said. Vehicle owners can contact their dealerships or visit the NCC website for more information.
CBS News
27-06-2025
- CBS News
Demolition of Beverly Grove apartments taken over by squatters begins
Construction crews have started demolishing the trio of abandoned apartment complexes at the center of safety concerns for a Beverly Grove neighborhood. The residents say that their usually quiet street has been hit with a rash of fights, fires and people using drugs because of the nearly 20 people squatting in the vacant buildings. The most recent fire sparked in the middle of the night on Tuesday. A cell phone video showed the flames burning behind the abandoned apartment complexes located at First Street and S. Flores Street. Multiple neighbors rushed out of their homes with fire extinguishers to try to put out the flames. "I was just trying to sleep and I saw some orange in my window," said resident Leo Petronzio. "It was fire, and we were all rushing outside." It's been more than a week since CBS News Los Angeles first spoke with residents living nearby, who say this is just another in a long trend of concerning issues created by the nearly 20 squatters who took over. In the time since, the property owner has posted "No Trespassing" signs, and some city officials have taken notice, but neighbors said people remained inside. After Tuesday's fire, LA Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky's office called the ongoing squatting situation "outrageous and unacceptable." "The Council Office has continued to apply pressure to ensure the owner addresses the safety and nuisance issues without delay, including requesting the repair of fencing around the properties and hiring private security," Yaroslavsky's office wrote in a statement.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Paul Reynolds Centre reopens Wednesday after being closed for repairs
The Paul Reynolds Centre in St. John's is reopening on Wednesday after being closed since Saturday for repairs to its main entrance. The centre's entrance ceiling partially collapsed on Friday, which closed the facility and cancelled programming for a few days. On Tuesday evening, the City of St. John's said the building would reopen after the main entrance was secured, but work will continue into Wednesday. The closures caused worry for parent Danielle Burt, who has her seven-year-old son enrolled in summer camp at the centre. "I do rely on a summer camp to keep my kid occupied while I work. Then, you know, there's safety concerns as well. So it's a bit unnerving," Burt told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show on Tuesday, before the decision to reopen was made. "It isn't just about, you know, enrolling your kids to do a fun activity. A lot of us do rely on these camps to, you know, have our kids busy so that we can work and provide for our family." Once the centre reopens, Burt said she will have safety concerns in mind. She hopes a commitment can be made that camps can continue throughout the summer — and be done safely. "I'm hoping they'll provide some information into how that happened. I mean, I would assume it was just as unexpected for them as it was for us, but, you know, it would be nice to get something," she said. "Hopefully … we can expect it to not happen with other parts of the building." The city said the continuing work on Wednesday might mean traffic in the area has to be redirected, and asked residents to follow all posted signs. Download our to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our . Click .
CBC
20-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
City of Thunder Bay drops Kam River Heritage Park as site for shelter village
Kam River Heritage Park is no longer a "viable location" for Thunder Bay's proposed shelter village, according to a memo from city administration going to city councillors on Monday. Councillors previously approved the site for the location of the village, which will include sleeping cabins. However, the memo from Director of Strategy and Engagement Cynthia Olsen states that the city has determined that it would be cost-prohibitive to ensure the site — which borders on the Kaministiquia River and a Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC) rail yard — is safe. "The assessment is nearing completion and it has become clear that although the mitigation measures required to satisfy external partners are technically feasible, their cumulative cost exceeds the project's available budget," the memo states. At-large Coun. Kasey Etreni said Friday that the river and rail yard are concerns when it comes to safety. "With the river there, although we could fence, how far along do you put the fence?" she said. "With security and safety you have to have more than one entrance, and how do you lock an entrance and only use it for emergency purposes?" In a statement to CBC News on Friday, a CPKC spokesperson said the rail company "strongly objects" to the Kam River park site "due to the significant and predictable increased safety risks posed by its proximity to the rail yard." "CPKC Police Service has extensive experience in addressing housing and temporary shelters by railyards and rail lines," the statement reads. "They create significant safety hazards. These can and sometimes sadly do lead to fatalities and railway related incidents. We have already documented high levels of trespassing, vandalism, illegal activities (e.g., substance use, fires) and mischief in the Kam River Park area." The statement goes on to say that having more people walking around and near the proposed site will increase these risks, "especially given the fact that the most direct access to the proposed village is through accessing CPKC property and crossing over railway tracks to do so." The company has requested the city choose a different site for the village. Etreni is tabling a motion to rescind the earlier site approval on Monday. It will require two-thirds of council to vote in favour. The motion also directs administration to review alternate locations for the village. A number of sites have previously been considered by the city and city council, including locations on Miles Street East, a plot of land on Fort William Road owned by the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, and a spot on Cumberland Street North, next to the Salvation Army's Journey to Life Centre. "I'm hoping by Monday that they will be able to announce another site," Etreni said. The city has said that it has budgeted about $5.5 million for construction of the village, which would include up to 80 cabins, and $1.5 million annually for operating costs. However, if the city meets certain timelines, it will be eligible for $2.8 million in external funding.
CTV News
18-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Montreal residents suing city, health authority over safety related to homelessness
Representatives from three communities hold a news conference to update on class action lawsuits related to safety concerns in their neighbourhoods caused by unhoused populations. (Stephane Giroux/CTV News) Two groups are taking Montreal health and municipal organizations to court over safety concerns related to unhoused populations in their neighbourhoods. Quebec Superior Court authorized the class action suits filed by residents and merchants in Milton Parc and Devonshire (near the old Hotel-Dieu Hospital) against Sante Quebec, the Montreal Central South regional health authority (CIUSSS), the City of Montreal and homeless organizations. They are demanding $25,000 per person for material damages, including vandalism, personal injuries and 'other consequences of behaviours of the unhoused with addiction and/or mental health problems.' The claimants say the suits are not directed at unhoused people, but at public officials who decide to set up services in their neighbourhoods without considering local residents and merchants, a news release from the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) reads. 'We are residents, voters, owners, taxpayers and people who have for years contributed to the vitality of our neighbourhoods,' said Devonshire resident Éric Faille. 'Yet suddenly, elected officials and bureaucrats from elsewhere decide to parachute homelessness resources into our community without consultation, information or consideration for our health and safety. That is simply unacceptable.' Groups in Montreal's historic Chinatown neighbourhood joined the two other groups at a news conference, and many residents are considering a similar class action. 'Many women like me, as well as seniors, no longer feel safe, free, heard, or respected by outside actors and authorities who seem more interested in helping the unhoused than in supporting residents, business owners, and workers in Chinatown,' said resident Carman Tang. 'We need to strengthen public safety, protect our quality of life, and promote economic opportunities in our community.' CRARR is assisting the residents in their cases. The accusations need to be proven in court, and future court dates will be scheduled in the coming months.
