Removing evasive plants from dams gets underway Rapist gets more charges

By Dumisani Hlatswayo

CHLOORKOP - The district commissioner of the Ekurhuleni District, Major General Anna Sithole, has welcomed the addition of more rape charges against a 38-year-old man. In January of this year, the suspect was arrested, and he will appear in Daveyton Magistrate Court again on the 27th of February 2023 to face 38 charges of rape committed in Tembisa, Tembisa South, Benoni, and Putfontein over a period of four years.

The suspect, Sipho Lucas Phiri, was arrested by the Benoni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) detectives following an elaborate investigation, utilizing of in house expertise

(linking through DNA and and the modus operandi analysis) and a pointing out parade. The vehicle, which has also been used during the commission of these crimes, and his licensed firearm were confiscated as well.

“The evidence is there for all to see that we are dealing with someone, had he not been caught, hellbent on causing trauma and untold pain to women wherever he went,” said Major General Sithole.

Major General went on to thank the Benoni FCS detectives in general and the investigating officer in particular for the manner in which he is handling the case and she is confident that the ultimate outcome will be a lengthy jail time for the suspect.

By Staff Writer

The process of removing the evasive water plant known as hyacinth from the city’s lakes, dams, and pans has begun in earnest, providing a lifeline to unemployed young people from townships.

The robust hyacinth removal project began in November 2022 and has provided employment to over 100 young people through the Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP).

These young people use integrated methods such as manual removal, spraying herbicide, and biocontrol agents.

The project is set to run until June 2023 and the focus is on the Blesbokspruit, Witfield, and Bredell dams, and the Wattville Pan.

The impactful work caught the attention of two young women from Slovo Park near Springs, Johanna Makoe (38) and Fikile Nkonyane (36) who saw the group of workers removing the evasive plant from

Blesbokspruit and took the opportunity to gather the plants, dry them up and make furniture to sell to the public.

“This is how we make a living of late. Gathering and drying hyacinth, then weaving it into dry furniture is our daily bread. All you need is time and patience,” said Johanna Makoe. The City’s wetlands management unit will continue working around the clock to remove hyacinth on the water bodies beyond the end of the current programme.