Woman discovers body of fatally stabbed son in Cottonlands

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A 69-year-old female discovered her son’s lifeless body with multiple stab wounds on a footpath in Cottonlands.

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Upon discovering this, they called for assistance from Reaction Unit South Africa. RUSA responded to the call, officers were led to the pathway where the lifeless body was. The 38-year-old sustained multiple stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. He was announced deceased by the medics.

The deceased’s 28-year-old friend was discovered at his home approximately 30 meters away. He had been stabbed three (3) times in his abdomen, twice in his neck, and once in his right leg. He informed Reaction Officers that he and the deceased were consuming traditional beer at his residence last night.

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Two unknown males approached and befriended them. The four consumed alcohol together. Around 00:00 they decided to purchase more alcohol from a local tavern. The homeowner and the two unknown men left while the deceased remained in the house. While walking to the tavern, the two males produced knives and repeatedly stabbed the victim.

They left him for dead and returned to the house where they stabbed the deceased. It could not be confirmed if they dumped his body in the pathway or if the critically injured man collapsed while attempting to seek assistance. His injured friend managed to make his way back to the house.

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According to the deceased’s mother, she contacted him telephonically late last night and requested that he return home. This morning, she discovered that he did not return and went in search of him when she made discovery. The motive for the attack was confirmed.

Reminder to fill up as petrol and diesel price is to go up tomorrow

The latest data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows that motorists in South Africa’s fortunes have turned, and drivers should prepare for a sizeable increase in petrol and diesel prices next week.

The CEF’s data on 25 January 2023 points to a petrol price jump of almost 60 cents per litre, while diesel is expected to climb by around 30 cents per litre.

Prices have continued their gradual trend into an under-recovery territory, and the snapshot is a complete reversal of conditions at the start of the year and even the middle of the month, where a petrol and diesel price cut was still on the cards.

The expected changes are as follows:

  • Petrol 93: increase of 58 cents a litre;
  • Petrol 95: increase of 52 cents a litre;
  • Diesel 0.05%: increase of 33 cents a litre;
  • Diesel 0.005%: increase of 22 cents a litre;
  • Illuminating paraffin: increase of 38 cents a litre.

The main driver behind the higher local prices is the rising cost of international petroleum product prices, pushed higher by a stronger global oil price.

The increase would be worse by about 12 to 15 cents per litre if the rand wasn’t in a relatively strong position vs the US dollar. The currency exchange rate is currently contributing to an over-recovery of around that amount.

Oil prices, meanwhile, are contributing to a bigger under-recovery, ranging from 35 to 68 cents per litre.

Analysis by Bloomberg economists noted that oil has advanced in price as investors weighed the outlook for Chinese demand, while a weaker dollar made some commodities more attractive for buyers.

Oil prices hit 87$ a barrel on Thursday, as China made moves to reopen its slowing economy after dropping its zero-Covid stance.

The number of virus-related deaths and severe cases at hospitals in China is now 70% lower than peak levels in early January, authorities said late Wednesday. That should aid recovery in mobility and fuel consumption in the biggest oil importer.

Crude has also benefited from a slump in the dollar, with a gauge of the greenback near the lowest since April, Bloomberg said.

According to the Automobile Association (AA), the expected increases will put an even bigger burden on consumers who are already under strain due to the rising costs of living in South Africa.

“Any increases to fuel prices now, at a time when South Africans are grappling with, among other issues, financial pressures and rolling blackouts, is unwelcome. We again want to urge the government to revisit the fuel pricing structure with a view to finding ways to mitigate against this and other possible increases in future,” it said.

In addition to the expected increases for February, the AA warned the Minister of Finance will be delivering his Budget Speech in Parliament in mid-February, where potential fuel tax hikes might be announced.

Although the announcement of these taxes would be made in February, the actual adjustments would only come into effect in April. However, this will be at the same time Eskom’s 18.65% electricity price hike is planned to come into effect.

“Last year, the Minister heeded calls by the AA not to increase the two main levies attached to the petrol and diesel prices: the General Fuel Levy and the Road Accident Fund levy. We again urge the Minister to follow this same route when he delivers his Budget Speech this year and to consider the implications of increasing these taxes on all South Africans.

“Consumers can simply not afford any more price shocks, and considering the impending 18.65% increase to electricity rates, an increase to the levies will deal a massive blow to personal finances,” the AA said.

“Consumers continue to be extremely embattled and increases to the two fuel levies will be counter-productive, are ill-timed, and have disastrous outcomes for millions of people already struggling to make ends meet.”

A couple jailed for stealing millions from the KZN Blind and Deaf Society

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A Durban husband and wife found guilty of swindling millions of rand from the KZN Blind and Deaf Society have been sentenced to jail.

The wife, Ruvanya Ramiah, 31, was sentenced to an effective 15 years behind bars, while her husband, Ayush Rambally, 32, was jailed for 8 years.

The couple pleaded guilty to fraud and theft in June last year.

Ramiah pleaded guilty to 354 counts of fraud, amounting to over R12.6 million, while Rambally pleaded guilty to 79 counts of theft, amounting to about R1.7m.

In her plea, Ramiah, who worked as a finance officer for the society from March 2012 to February 2019, said she committed fraud by paying herself inflated salaries, twice and sometimes more often in the same month.

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According to NPA spokesperson Natasha Kara, the accused said her duties included salary payments and general payments, and she had access to and control of the Society’s banking accounts.

“She also created false payments to suppliers and fabricated evidence to support those payments. The money went into her bank account and that of her husband.”

Rambally said in his plea that he took the money knowing very well that he was not entitled to it, as he was neither an employee nor a creditor of the Society.

In admitting that his actions were wrong, he admitted to using Society’s money for his and his wife’s purposes.

In aggravation of the sentence, senior state advocate Andre Carlitz led the evidence of Veetha Sewkuran, who is the president of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society.

“Sewkuran said that once news of the fraud had gotten out, funders and companies withdrew their funding and association with the Society.

“She said that the lack of funds resulted in them retrenching 15 staff members who then took the Society to the Council for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA), thus causing the Society further financial problems.

“Sewkuran mentioned that Ramiah was in a position of trust and she betrayed that trust,” said Kara.

“The fraud committed has impacted the reputation of the Society, with the Society needing to prove itself as it is still under scrutiny from donors and the public. She said that the Society may have to close its doors should it not recover from its loss.”

In handing down the sentence, the court found that the couple did not show remorse and pleaded guilty due to the overwhelming evidence against them.

“The court concluded that their motive was for greed and not need, as they were receiving an income and Ramiah held a full-time job.”

BOLO missing dog.

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Durban Sun WhatsApp Image 2023 01 30 at 17.57.39
Missing dog male, medium size and cream in colour. Last spotted in the Fynnlands area on Wylie Road in Bluff. If seen please call (081) 563 8115 or (064) 680 0330.

Man shot dead, the killer calls victim’s cousin to inform them of the crime

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A 28-year-old man was gunned down in Madadeni, KwaZulu-Natal while walking down a road. However, after shooting the young man, the killer then took the victim’s phone and called the victim’s cousin to inform them of the crime.

Local police explained that the crime occurred on 26 January 2023. The 28-year-old man had visited friends and was on his way home on foot. At 9.45 pm, as the man was walking through Section 7 of Madadeni, his evening took a violent turn.

“An unidentified person shot him in the chest. The suspect then took the deceased’s Nokia cellphone and contacted his (the victim’s) cousin to inform them of the crime,” said a police source.
After informing the shocked family member of the fatal shooting, the police source added that the suspect then switched off the cellphone and vanished with it.

Madadeni SAPS spokesperson Constable Langa explained that a suspect was arrested later that night, without divulging the suspect

13-Year-Old dies after taxi hit a cow in Ndwedwe

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A 13-year-old boy was killed after a taxi hit a cow on the P100 in Ndwedwe on Sunday.

Motorists contacted RUSA for assistance on the scene. According to RUSA, they found the scene attended by the Provincial Ambulance Service.

The questioning was carried out, and it was established that the Taxi struck a cow before the driver veered across the oncoming lane. The taxi collided with a metal barrier which ripped the sliding door off the vehicle and threw out a teenager who was seated by the door seat.

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The taxi plummed down an embankment ( a wall) before it came to a stop. The driver was reported to have fled the scene. He was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. Six other children sustained minor moderate injuries.

They were transported privately to a medical facility. The 13-year-old sustained life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. It is alleged that the children are related to the driver who was transporting them to a family member`s residence at the time of the accident.

The cow sustained minor injuries and left the scene prior to the arrival of First Responders.

Scholars escape burning vehicle Riet river

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Several scholars escaped from a vehicle that burst into flames while they were being transported to school this morning.

Assistance was called for by the local reaction security company. According to RUSA, they received the call around 07:02. They arrived at the scene and discovered a VW Microbus engulfed in flames.

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The driver told the officers that he had purchased the vehicle two weeks ago. He went on to say that the vehicle had been at the panel beater and that today was the first day he actually used the vehicle to fury children to school when it suddenly burst into flames.

The cause of the fire was not established and no injuries were reported.

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Cash-in-transit robbers nabbed in Verulam

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Reaction Unit South Africa made a huge arrest of three out of four cash-in-transit robbers in Verulam.

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picture 1: credit RUSA

According to RUSA, the arrests were made following an event that started with a cash-in-transit robbery on Ireland Street in the Verulam CBD. The robbers fled on foot with the cash box.

They then hijacked a champagne-colored Toyota Corolla (picture 2) and sped off. While on the run on Wick Street, the getaway vehicle struck a 57-year-old pedestrian. The robbers continued driving and collided with a white Toyota Hiace (picture 4) at the Wick & Ireland Street intersection. The taxi plummeted several meters down an embankment.

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picture 2: credit RUSA

Witnesses contacted RUSA after they noticed armed suspects exiting the Toyota Corolla and hijacking a black VW Golf which fled on the M27 in the direction of Waterloo. Reaction Officers converged on the initial scene where the money box was recovered (picture 3).

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picture 3: credit RUSA

An extensive search spanning two and a half hours was then launched for the suspects. RUSA Members spotted the black VW Golf stationary near the Waterloo Phase 6 entrance. Two suspects alighted from the vehicle and fled in different directions.

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picture 4: credit RUSA

Officers split up and requested additional backup. The first suspect was apprehended after a search of the sugar cane plantation approximately five kilometers from the initial scene. The second suspect fled through a bush and attempted to evade arrest while fleeing through properties.

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picture 5: credit RUSA

A RUSA Member observed the robber’s movements from an elevated position and directed other Officers to his location via two-way radio. The suspect was thereafter located hiding in a bush. Both robbers are Mozambican nationals. They were placed under arrest and detained at SAPS Verulam.

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picture 5: credit RUSA
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picture 6: credit RUSA

Two shot in a drive-by shooting in Greenwood Park

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Emer-G-Med paramedics responded to the scene of a shooting incident on Havelock Road in the Greenwood Park area.

On arrival on the scene, two men were found to have been shot multiple times and were treated and stabilized on the scene before being taken to a nearby hospital for further care.

Reports from the scene allege that the men were seated in a vehicle when they were sprayed with bullets from a passing vehicle.

The South African Police Services were in attendance and will be conducting the necessary investigation accordingly.

A 45-year-old man shot during a robbery in Mawotana

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Warning: This article contains graphic images & is not for sensitive readers.

A 45-year-old man was shot during a robbery on an unnamed road in Mawotana this morning (Thursday).

RUSA was contacted by the residents requesting assistance for the injured male. The officers arrived on the scene and found the victim sitting on the pavement bleeding from a wound on his left thigh.

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The victim was on his way to meet his employer in the construction industry in Phoenix, he explained that when he was on his way he was confronted by a lone gunman. The suspect demanded his valuables, and when he attempted to flee, two rounds were fired.

One round of the two rounds fired, struck his left thigh. The suspect thereafter stole R650 in cash before he fled in an unknown direction.

The man was treated for his injury on the scene before being transported to the hospital in stable condition.