Friday, February 16, 2018 TEL: 011 740 1825 Task team strikes again Bikers bring joy Read more on page 3 Read more on page 4 Councillor bemoans lack of service delivery in the CBD It’s been eight months since the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality vowed to take action against urban decay in the Brakpan CBD. Despite assurances that regular clean-ups would take place and that service delivery challenges would be dealt with, not much has been done to address the appalling conditions in the Brakpan Mall and surrounding area. The issue was highlighted by the Herald in June last year and is of great concern to DA councillor for the area, Brandon Pretorius. “It has become very obvious to me that our local departments are constantly dragging their feet where issues of service delivery are concerned,” he said. “They would rather try pass the buck than deal with pertinent service delivery issues; services that residents are paying for. “The lack of responsibility and accountability by our local departments is incredibly alarming. “Our CBD is deteriorating each day and the metro is responsible for this deterioration.” Pretorius pointed out that the deterioration appears to be a trend throughout Ekurhuleni. The EMPD held a by-law enforcement operation in the Brakpan Mall last week. While the clean-up is welcomed, it seems to make little difference. “The City’s management does not Jakes Mojalifa (left) and Mack Mashisi are traffi c wardens from the EMPD Brakpan precinct. seem to be bothered, as no one is held accountable,” he said. “They should really support our Saturday, to conduct a follow-up structures were demolished. along Prince George Avenue, the “I am incredibly concerned that local businesses more to ensure operation where more items were In the meantime, Pretorius has clearing of weeds in the trenches the metro does not see the value long term investment within our seized and vagrants were once made it his ‘personal mission’ for and side-walks, and overall of maintaining good relationships town.” again removed. the month of February to address cleaning and maintenance.” with the local business fraternity The EMPD regularly conducts basic issues and get them resolved. Pretorius believes that while to ensure a conducive economic by-law enforcement operations in These will include simple service it is not the responsibility of a environment. these areas, but seems to be fi ghting Pretorius has made delivery issues and focusing on the municipality to create jobs, it is “In my view, this would be the a losing battle. it his ‘personal CBD’s two main roads. still their responsibility to create best way to try and address poverty Traffi c wardens from the Brakpan “Voortrekker Road and Prince an attractive environment to lure within Brakpan. precinct held a clean-up operation mission’ to address George Avenue need major investment opportunities. “Unfortunately it does not seem in the mall on Wednesday, last basic issues attention,” said Pretorius. He can be contacted on 083 308 as if the metro shares my sentiments week, where vagrants were “The fi xing of all the street lights, 7821. and this is a shame in itself. removed and a large quantity of The operation also saw them which have been out of “What is actually being done goods and material was confi scated. visiting a parking lot along Queen order for the past two years, by the Economic Development More photos on our website go to It was necessary for the wardens Avenue (behind Jet) where goods proper grass-cutting and www.brakpanherald.co.za Department in Brakpan? to return a few days later, on were confi scated and illegal tree-trimming on the island PENSIONERS DISCOUNT MON - THURS VALID DATES THUR 15 FEBRUARY 2018 - MON 19 FEBRUARYBRUARY 2018 MANGOES PAW PAWS LARGE EGGS SUNBAKE BREAD WHITE BROWN R19.99 R14.99 R44.99 R9.99 R8.99 2KG BOX 2KG BOX 2.5 DOZEN 1 MAIN REEF ROAD (NEXT TO VW DEALERSHIP), BENONI T: 011 421 3313 / 1413 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: REBEL FRUIT & VEG NO HAWKERS • NO TRADERS • WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT THE QUANTITIES • E&OE • ACTUAL PRODUCTS ON OFFER MAY DIFFER FROM VISUALS SHOWN, AS THESE ARE SERVING SUGGESTION ONLY. 2 News Friday, February 16, 2018 A memorial run in honour of Ferdinand Fouche was recently held by SA Kawasaki 1400 Owners Club. Friends remember biker The biking fraternity is The SA Kawasaki 1400 mourning the death of Owners Club recently arranged Ferdinand Fouche (48), an avid a memorial run in honour of biker who died on January 28 Fouche. following a collision along Friends and family gathered Denne Road in Witpoort at the Fireplace Roadhouse in Estates. Dalpark and proceeded to the The Brenthurst resident, scene of the accident, where known fondly as Ferdi to those present were given an family and friends, worked at opportunity to share their Kimberly Clarke. memories of Fouche. He joined The Mutts “He will be fondly Motorcycle Club in 2012 and remembered as a great person was later promoted to vice- with an uplifting spirit,” said president of the group. friend Wynand Prinsloo. In 2017 he also joined the SA A funeral service for Kawasaki 1400 Owners Club Fouche was held in Springs on Mother’s Nest Children’s Home is a registered non-profi t where he made more friends Monday, last week. organisation dedicated to helping abused children, specialising and embarked on regular runs He is survived by his fi ancée in helping the children on a long-term basis with fellow members. Bernice Fourie, his two He was returning home from children Alicia (18) and Jayden Brenthurst resident Ferdinand Fouche died in a 19 Pienaar Street, Brenthurst, Brakpan a run to Vanderbijlpark when (14) and their mom Yolanda motorcycle accident. He was engaged to Bernice 011 817 2667 [email protected] the fatal accident occurred. Fouche. Fourie. C344782HD07CC33344744744477882HD08282HD82H22HD0HDHHD0D07 Friday, February 16, 2018 News 3 Task team nabs repeat offender Dog fi ghters guilty A suspected car thief found himself in handcuffs after being tracked The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) down by the Brakpan Anti- has welcomed the judgement handed down Hijacking Task Team. in the Nigel Regional Court on Monday, last The team’s swift action also week, which found 17 men guilty of their resulted in the recovery of a stolen involvement in dog fi ghting. car. In November 2013, the NSPCA responded The car, a white Toyota Conquest, to information about an organised dogfi ght was stolen from an address along being held in Tsakane, which resulted in the Opperman Street in Dalpark on arrest of 18 suspects and the rescue of 14 Monday. grievously injured dogs. After parking the car sometime “We are thankful and appreciative that these just before 10am, the vehicle’s criminals have been found guilty for their owner discovered it was missing participation in this heinous crime,” said senior about 20 minutes later. inspector Wendy Willson, manager of the She alerted the Brakpan SAPS NSPCA Special Investigations Unit. and her vehicle tracking service “It has been a trying four years fi lled with provider. numerous challenges to get this case fi nalised, The task team responded and but we did not, and would never, relent until quickly located the car in Buhle justice was served for these dogs.” Park, Germiston. Sentencing is scheduled for April 18. The suspects were attempting to disconnect the tracker when the team pounced. Paving fraudster While one man evaded arrest, a 25-year-old suspect was nabbed making the rounds for possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Residents who have fallen victim to a paving “The suspect has two other conman operating in the Brakpan area are pending cases against him relating urged to get in touch with local police. to vehicle thefts in Boksburg and This follows an incident in which a The long arm of the law caught up with a repeat offender on Monday when he was arrested by Sgt resident was robbed of thousands of rand Elsburg,” said Capt Pearl van Staad, Ockert Venter (left), WO Sonja Roos, WO Jan Roos and Const Jacques Vivier of the Brakpan Anti- Brakpan police spokesperson. by a contractor he found on a classifi eds Hijacking Task Team. website. “The complainant alleges he saw an advert online for paving at a reasonable price,” Weekend Crime said Capt Pearl van Staad, spokesperson for Brakpan police. According to information approached by a lone robber at * A home in Graaf Street, Sunair when she realised they were “They met at the complainant’s house received, the following about 4pm. Park, was burgled of a TV, DVD being followed by two men. to start work and the complainant made a crimes were reported to He demanded the victim’s player, two tablets and other The men were nowhere to be deposit Of R1 000. Brakpan police over the belongings and threatened to household items. seen when the friends entered a “The suspect then delivered soil and the weekend: kill him. • Sunday – Copper cables were shop to seek help. complainant made a payment of R11 000. • Friday – A scrap metal The victim’s father reported the stolen from business premises Confi dent that the men were “The suspect never again pitched up dealership was robbed by two incident to police. along High Street. gone, the friends parted ways and after three weeks he sent an email to men. * A motorbike (colour, make A security guard on duty at the and the victim walked home. the complainant stating that he had been The robbers entered the Porter and model not provided) was address was confronted by two As she approached Germains deported to Zimbabwe.” Avenue premises at 1.44pm stolen from Tweedy Road in armed men at about 1.30am.