BEDFORDVIEW / EDENVALE: A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS
Taxi drivers shoot live rounds into the air near Eastgate
02 April 2019, 14 Week 21 Volume 09, 23Week May 2017,
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"It is very disappointing for JMPD officers who stood and watched. The JMPD has the same rights as SAPS members to arrest suspects. In this instance, they failed to act.� On Sunday, 27 March, two Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers stood by and watched when a group of taxi drivers fired a hail of bullets in the air scaring motorists near Eastgate. The taxi drivers were accompanying the family of one of the two taxi owners who had been gunned in Bedfordview on Sunday. In some cultures, when a person dies, close relatives visit the scene to "take" the spirit of the deceased to its resting place However, this was not the case at the intersection of Allum Road and Cumberland Street on Wednesday. Guns of different calibres were fired, sending a hail of bullets into the air. JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said two of their officers were blocking traffic lanes for a cleansing ceremony just before 13:00 on Allum Road and Cumberland Street, near Eastgate. "The ceremony was held by the family of a taxi owner who was killed there recently. Other taxi drivers unexpectedly started firing shots into the air. These drivers were attending the cultural ritual. No arrests were made and the JMPD does not condone the shooting. This incident is, however, being investigated by the SAPS officers who arrived on the scene soon after the shooting," Minnaar said. He referred journalists to the SAPS when
he was asked why the JMPD didn't act when the shooting began and said the officers were only controlling traffic. Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said none of their members were present during the shooting. However, they were investigating the incident and their members were on the scene to collect evidence. "Our investigations will determine which guns were used. Discharging of a firearm in a public space is a criminal offence. Whether the firearm is licensed or not, it remains an offence," he said. Chairman of Gun Owners SA Paul Oxley, said the incident was "totally" against the law.
"What happened is totally wrong and serious actions must be taken against the men who fired their weapons in the air. It is worrying that metro officers were on standby as the men fired their guns. Police management have been recently telling the country that they are doing everything to fight crime but their officers were spectators when a criminal offence was being committed. "What happened is ridiculous from what police management are preaching to the nation. Innocent people were in the vicinity where guns were fired randomly and they could have been seriously injured," he said. Oxley said many gun owners have a be-
lief that when you fire a bullet in the air, it will disappear. "What they don't know is that the bullet comes down with the same velocity it exited the weapon with. It then becomes extremely dangerous to those who are in the vicinity of the person firing the gun." "It is very disappointing for JMPD officers who stood and watched. The JMPD has the same rights as SAPS members to arrest suspects. In this instance, they failed to act. If this unlawful behavior continues, everyone who has a gun will just shoot randomly in the air. Even a man having a braai at his home will take his gun and open fire thinking it is legal to do so," said Oxley.
02 April 2019
ANGRY CUSTOMER DRIVES CAR INTO A BANK
Standard Bank has confirmed none of their staff members or clients were injured when a woman drove into one of its branches on Friday, 29 March. Reports confirm that the motorist had driven her car “a number of times” into the bank’s front entrance at the K90 Centre, causing about R100 000 in damages. Publications spoke to a security guard, who said that the customer, who was “very, very angry” had left the bank,
got into her Mercedes Benz and drove “through the windows”, knocking it repeatedly until they were “all down”. She was shouting and saying, ‘if you don’t give me my money, then I will go inside the bank with this car,” he told the reporter. In a video shared on Twitter by anticrime activist Yusuf Abramjee, a silver luxury vehicle is seen on the pavement in front of the branch’s damaged exterior. “A lady drove her car into a @ StandardBankZA in Boksburg after she
waited hours for service! #MovingForward,” the caption to the video reads. Standard Bank spokesperson Ross Linstroom announced that counselling had been offered to those “impacted by this unfortunate event”. “We can also confirm that the client was served in a professional manner and in line with client-service procedures. The query was of a complexed nature. This is now a police investigation, and as such we are not in a position to provide further details,” he said.
EDENVALE
neighbourhood watch busts alleged drug peddlers AfriForum’s Edenvale neighbourhood watch executed a safety patrol on 27 March 2019 in conjunction with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other role players and confiscated a large find of drugs and cash. The parties involved became suspicious of a house in the area and decided to investigate. Three suspects were then arrested and seven blocks of cocaine, as well as cash, were confiscated. “Communities that focus on proactive behaviour, visibility and working together, can make a difference and this success is definitely an example of this. Communities can better their preparedness and still assist SAPS within the framework of the law,” says Hillel Coetzer, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety for the Northern Region. “AfriForum in Edenvale is here to assist the community and to play an active role. We also help to make the community a safer place by combatting crime,” says Linda McKenzie, Vicechairperson of AfriForum’s Edenvale branch.
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02 April 2019
Celebrates 10 years this month
It is no April fools joke, tame TIMES has survived 10 of the most turbulent years in the Media industry. Digitalization has been taking its toll with Google and Facebook the only winners in the advertising income space. We have seen huge publications fade away. With every release of ABC auditing figures it is clear that the circulation of popular mainstream newspapers are decreasing. tame however, is still going strong. Our sister publication, Taxi Times, is growing faster than any other newspaper in South Africa. Our team may be small, but we are dynamite!!
t u a n g i l B n i r a K
Thank you to all our clients and readers for their continued support.
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Thunder MMA impresses at RAW Fight Night Several Thunder MMA fighters travelled to South Hills, last Saturday, to compete in RAW Fight Night. The day started early with grappling and light contact bouts. The team shone in several different weight categories including the 15kg to 25kg, 25kg to 35kg, 35kg to 45kg and 45kg to 55kg. When the sun set it was time for the main event. First up from Thunder MMA was Tinika Vilares who stepped into the hexagon for the first time. Vilares showed a lot of heart and fought to the
best of her ability. Sadly her opponent was better prepared and Vilares lost the match. The second Thunder MMA fighter in the hexagon was Martin Meyer, who only had three days to prepare for the fight. Meyer was confident in the bout and took control early to secure a win by technical knockout (TKO). For more information on Thunder MMA contact us on 0611540315 or you can visit them at 45 Parnell Road, Elsburg.
Congratulations to Kate Metzer We are very proud of Holy Rosary High School Equestrian, Kate Metzer, for being chosen for the DSA Lead Programme.
This programme aims to develop young athletes to improve their riding and build future capacity for Dressage in South Africa.
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Gauteng’s autumn road race Sunday, 5 May 2019, Germiston Lake Enter at WWW.100CYCLECHALLENGE.CO.ZA
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