Wednesday 28 August 2019 TOP SCHOOL IN MALELANE CIRCUIT 2020 ADMISSION STARTED and BEACON COLLEGE & KIDZ PARADISE CLOSES IN SEPTEMBER. MALELANE. | Gr R - 12. | HOSTEL FACILITIES | 013 790 1730/071 579 0972 & 013 790 1534 Email: [email protected] Hawks nail seven in R210m drug bust Tumelo Waga Dibakwane SEVEN men accused of operating drug manufacturing laboratories, who were caught in possession of R210 million worth of Mandrax tablets, are expected to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court again on September 22. Tebogo Nkolwane (40), Mzingise Makoto (69), Rederick Barth (30), Jabulani Dladla (46), Bandile Zigane (35), Vuyo Zigane (32) and Tokologo Maimene (29) appeared in court last week where they were denied bail as their addresses Eskom’s power station in Kriel, Mpumalanga. Photo: Sourced had to be verifi ed. They were arrested by the Mpumalanga Hawks and Crime Intelligence last ‘Mpu deadly global Wednesday. The ght against crime, fraud air pollution hotspot’ and corruption is one of the government’s ESKOM BLAMED FOR HIGHVELD’S DIRTY AIR urgent priorities Masoka Dube by Eskom. Greenpeace said Eskom’s Steele, senior Climate and Energy Highveld plants emitted more SO2 as Campaign manager for Greenpeace all the industrial emitters in the largest Africa. Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, A FRESH study by Greenpeace Africa emitting province in China, Shandong. “There are very real casualties from Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said the men has revealed that Mpumalanga is topping “However, due to the number, size and Eskom’s chronic air pollution, with were arrested on a farm in Breyten near the chart as the world’s largest sulphur location of South Africa’s coal fi red power disease and premature death the tragic Ermelo. She said drug manufacturing dioxide (SO2) hotspot. stations, it was possible that emissions outcome,” Steel said. equipment was also seized. This follows on the heels of a similar would result in the hotspot referred to in Activists arrived at dawn and set up a Meanwhile, another multimillion-Rand report by the environmental lobby group the report,” said Eskom spokesperson, full hospital scene with “patients” in beds clandestine laboratory, together with a at the end of last year, which indicated that Dikatso Mothae. to blockade the entrance. The beds and storage facility, was also dismantled in the Witbank area was the world’s worst She said Eskom remained committed to activists were chained together to prevent Soweto respectively. emitter of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). continually reducing emissions and had removal, while the makeshift hospital beds “This follows two Hawks project- Analysis of high tech NASA satellite an emission reduction plan, which was were labelled with a plethora of diseases driven operations in the early hours of data has shown that the coal-fi red power currently in execution. caused and exacerbated by air pollution. the morning where members raided stations of Eskom in the province were Nonetheless, anti-pollution activists “The air apocalypse begins here,” said simultaneously a clandestine laboratory in the reason for the dirty air. Kriel, on the from Greenpeace Africa protested at Steele. “Eskom must take responsibility Breyten and a Mandrax chemical storage Highveld, has now been named as one of Eskom’s Megawatt Park headquarters for this deadly air pollution and commit facility in Diepkloof. It is alleged that the the world’ worst SO2 hotspots. in Sunninghill in Gauteng last week, to full compliance with our Minimum laboratory takes the drugs to Diepkloof for In the previous report, Witbank was blocking the entrance to the already Emission Standards (MES). There is no packaging and then export them to other named as the worst aff ected area globally controversial state-owned enterprise. doubt that the levels of sulphur dioxide countries,” said Sekgotodi. of NO2, which is a dangerous pollutant Photos shared with NEWSHORN pollution in Mpumalanga are as bad as the Mpumalanga Community Safety, in and of itself and also contributes to the showed a makeshift emergency hospital levels of nitrogen dioxide and the common Security and Liaison MEC, Gabisile formation of PM2.5 and ozone, two of the scene to highlight the premature deaths denominator is Eskom’s 12 coal-fi red Shabalala, has applauded the Directorate most dangerous forms of air pollution. and diseases allegedly caused by Eskom’s power stations in the province.” for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) The new study corroborated existing polluting coal-fi red power stations in Kriel Steele said the protest was a reminder in the province for arresting the suspects. data, which indicated that Mpumalanga and surrounding areas. that real people were living in the midst of Shabalala said the police did outstanding was a “deadly global air pollution hot “Time after time, data analysis the air pollution crisis and are paying the work, adding that this would contribute spot”, in terms of nitrogen dioxide (NOx) confi rmed that South Africa is in fact in price with their health and in some cases, immensely in the government’s eff orts to and SO2 emissions, Geenpeace said. the midst of an air apocalypse. Eskom’s with their lives. combat drug and substance abuse. Mpumalanga is home to 12 coal-fi red coal addiction and its refusal to comply power plants with a total capacity of more with air quality standards are seriously than 32 gigawatts owned and operated damaging people’s health,” said Melita CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 COMMUNITY NEWS Wednesday 28 August 2019 Skukuza court sentences rhino poachers Air quality under Tumelo Waga Dibakwane His counterpart, Adolph Ndlovu, Mketeni, welcomed the prosecution and was convicted for trespassing, being in congratulated the SAPS, Ranger’s corps possession of an unlicensed fi rearm and and the Environment Crime Investigative severe threat THE South African National Parks ammunition as well as possession of a Unit. (SANParks) has welcomed the conviction fi rearm with the intent to commit a crime. He expressed his gratitude to the justice CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and sentencing of three poachers at the He was sentenced to 10 years system for stepping up and ensuring that Skukuza Regional Court last week. imprisonment. all hands are on deck in the fi ght against The three were given varying sentences, Abednigo Mahlabane, who was arrested wildlife crime. “Even one premature death from air relating to rhino poaching in the Kruger in 2017, was convicted for trespassing, “It is very encouraging to note that the pollution is one too many,” she added. National Park. being an illegal immigrant, being in perpetrators are not just arrested but they Meanwhile, according to Jeff rey Mathebula was arrested in 2015 possession of an unlicensed fi rearm and are also sentenced as it should be. Greenpeace, Limpopo’s air quality was and convicted for trespassing in a national pointing of a fi rearm. This is a step in the right direction and also under threat from Eskom’s coal- park and fi ned R10 000 or two years He received an eff ective sentence of 10 it goes to show how this poaching scourge fi red power stations, with the Matimba imprisonment, of which half is suspended years imprisonment. can be overcome if we all work together,” area ranked as the seventh worst SO2 for fi ve years. The CEO of SANParks, Fundisile said Mketeni. pollution hotspot in the world. “Greenpeace Africa believes that it is unfathomable that, as the picture of air pollution in South Africa becomes Three caught grimmer by the day, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, was even considering with carcasses lowering the country’s SO2 limits,” Steele said. Tumelo Waga Dibakwane “South Africa has the most polluting cluster of coal-fi red power stations in the world, creating unprecedented THREE suspected poachers who levels of deadly air pollution. There were caught in possession of 17 can no longer be any doubt: this is an Suspects who were arrested during the raid in Mpumalanga lay on the ground with their animal carcasses, were denied bail by emergency. hands tied. the Graskop Magistrate’s Court last “It’s time for the minister and our communities. Many young lives have week. National Air Quality Offi cer, Dr been destroyed by heartless drug peddlers Surprise Mdluli (44), Civil Khoza Thuli Khumalo, to act by ensuring Urgent priority who do not care about the future of this (31) and Christopher Mkhantswa (40) compliance with the MES and stricter country,” Shabalala said. were caught between Graskop and air quality standards to protect people’s She has appealed to communities to Bushbuckridge in possession of the health,” Steele added. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 report crime to the police, especially drug- carcasses, a rifl e, live ammunition and Greenpeace Africa’s demands related incidents. She has also encouraged a spotlight. They were not asked to included that Eskom and Sasol, “the “The fi ght against crime, fraud and the police to meticulously investigate all plead and will appear in court again worst air off enders” must commit to corruption is one of the government’s drug-related cases and bring culprits to this week. full compliance with the MES or be urgent priorities; criminals have no place book. Security guards patrolling the area decommissioned and said no further in our communities. We are striving for a Shabalala said that through a speedy called the police when they saw the postponement of this should be crime-free society, “she said. prosecuting process, communities would suspects. granted. The organisation also said that “We are conscious of the devastating continue to have faith in law enforcement Kholofelo Nkambule, senior under no circumstances should the SO2 consequences of drug abuse on agencies. manager Communications at limits be weakened, but strengthened.