Police hunt for Shoprite robbers

Johannesburg - Police are requesting community assistance with information that may lead to the arrest of suspects wanted for the Shoprite business robbery.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said on 3 October a security guard at the entrance of Shoprite Mini Brixton High Street was opening for staff members when he saw a man who was dressed like a security guard wanting to get inside.

“He blocked him and told him that the shop is not yet opened. The suspect pointed a firearm at the security guard and forced him with two staff members to the parcel counter and took their cellphones. The suspect was joined by four accomplices and they took an undisclosed amount of money and fled the scene. Anyone with information can contact Sergeant Steven Maboko of Johannesburg Central Trio Detectives on 072 705 1021 or contact the nearest police station,” he said.

He added that community members are encouraged to report any criminal activities to the nearest police station or contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111; or via the My SAPS app.

Digitally-enabled home-based healthcare has emerged as a popular alternative to patients seeking care, due in part to Covid-19 pandemic regulations, which limited the ability of individuals to access medical facilities, and drove the uptake of telemedicine solutions.

Roodt says Noosi is founded upon a desire to reinvigorate the South African healthcare system.

“We believe that by leveraging a ‘tech4good’ approach this can be achieved in a way that empowers hard-working nurses with improved employment opportunities, while affording patients affordable and accessible healthcare,” she says.

Roodt adds that this has garnered the company several inquests from potential investors, which culminated in Noosi receiving an undisclosed pre-seed investment from

Anton Musgrave, partner at Futureworld International, and Vanessa September, CEO of the Constitution Hill Trust, earlier this year.

On this Musgrave says: “The Noosi vision is one that has exponential growth potential, particularly as healthcare has become a prominent global issue. We have seen tremendous growth in initiatives that prioritise the wellbeing of the public, and the home-based healthcare market is case-in-point.”

The investment into Noosi also comes as Africa’s health-tech industry has recorded impressive growth over the past few years.

In 2020 more than 40 health-tech startups on the continent received series-A funding. This trend is expected to continue, as governments across the continent recommit themselves to achiev- ing health-based outcomes laid out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 roadmap.

September says: “Across the globe communities are recognising that to realise one’s right to good health, we must develop interventions that are patient-centric and approaches that ensure that healthcare services are in tune with patient needs. When hearing about this initiative, its aim to empower both healthcare workers and those in need of care, and the fact that it was driven by an all-women team, I was very keen to add my support in the form of an investment.”

Noosi will expand across several provinces in South Africa over the new year, with global ambitions in the medium to long-term.