Latest news with #Rekord
The Citizen
7 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Crèches are now ready to fight fires
Crèches are now ready to fight fires Tshwane has delivered fire safety equipment, including serviced and upgraded extinguishers, hose reels and hydrants, to nine early childhood development centres in regions 3 and 6. This comes after a routine inspection by the DA caucus's Section 79 Community and Social Development oversight committee, chaired by Phuti Kwenaite. 'Recently, we pointed out there are maintenance elements that have been neglected in Tshwane's ECDs.' She said the fire extinguisher problem was supposed to be addressed two years ago. Kwenaite highlighted the significant risk posed when fire extinguishers are neither present nor functional. 'It is a big risk for the extinguishers not to be there and functioning. 'This is why the fire department took some time for some of these ECDs to open.' MMC for Corporate and Shared Services Kholofelo Morodi confirmed that Tshwane has completed the servicing and upgrading of fire-fighting equipment, with a sharp focus on ECD centres. She said the initiative, executed by Group Property Management, ensures full compliance with national safety standards, specifically SANS 10400 Part T (fire safety) and SANS 1475 (fire extinguishers). Marodi added that these mandate the installation, maintenance and servicing of portable fire suppression equipment. 'It includes the maintenance of fire extinguishers, hose reels, and hydrants and forms part of the city's annual fire safety programme.' She said these maintenance efforts signal a broader shift in Tshwane's multiparty coalition prioritising the safety of employees, children and communities. Marodi added that maintaining a safe workplace supports an efficient municipality and reflects Tshwane's commitment to this principle. 'Reinforcing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards remains pivotal to protecting employees and service users. 'This intervention forms part of an ongoing effort to strengthen internal systems, promote compliance, and safeguard infrastructure, all aimed at delivering reliable and dignified services to residents.' ALSO READ: Mamelodi youth punches back at crime through boxing Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
7 hours ago
- The Citizen
Two due in the docks for fatal stabbing of Grade 11 learner
Two due in the docks for fatal stabbing of Grade 11 learner Two learners, aged 19, are expected to appear before the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court on June 20, facing a charge of murder. The duo are linked to the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old Grade 11 learner at Lesedi Secondary School in Lethabong, an informal settlement in Donkerhoek, east of Pretoria. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said their investigations revealed that the victim was attacked by two learners outside the school premises on June 18. The two fled on foot after the stabbing. Masondo said it is reported that the deceased was attacked by the first suspect, who stabbed him in the upper body. 'He was taken to the nearest medical care centre where he was certified dead on arrival,' Mavela explained. He said police opened a case of murder and searched for the two learners from the same school, who were persons of interest in this case. The family of the deceased said they are still in shock and could not believe that their son was murdered in such a brutal way. The deceased 's aunt, Shirley Mokonyane (64), said the family wants justice, and the police must speed up their investigations. She said their family was heartbroken. She said the law and the courts must make an example of the learners and hand down a sentence that will permanently remove the suspects from society. She also said the government needs to do something about the safety of children at school. Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the department was deeply saddened by the fatal stabbing. According to preliminary reports, the matric learners did not attend school that day but allegedly arrived after school, just as learners were boarding their scholar transport. The two learners allegedly proceeded to attack the victim just outside the school yard. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
Central residents urged to adhere to gun laws
Pretoria Central SAPS are encouraging residents to obtain the correct certification to carry firearms in light of a recent spate of illegal possession arrests. While expressing his approval over his station's recent successes, station commander Brigadier Hlengane Gibin Mashaba said illegal firearms pose a serious risk to public safety. 'We want to call on all people who have firearms to ensure they complete their firearm competency training, thus ensuring they meet the legal requirements to possess a firearm,' Mashaba said. In the most recent arrest, a 19-year-old was taken into custody after police recovered a firearm in his possession, which he did not have a permit for. A team led by Captain Nthuteng Mogotsi, consisting of Constable Itumeleng Kgasago, patrollers Thoko Nchabeleng, Samuel Mathato, and Mpho Chaka, were conducting stop-and-searches in the inner city. At around 23:00, they came across a white VW Polo on Eeufees Road. '[When] approaching the vehicle, the members requested permission to search the car. They recovered a calibre loaded with one round hidden in a cabin. Unfortunately, the suspect did not have a valid document to possess the firearm. Steps were taken to confiscate the firearm for further ballistic analysis, and the suspect was taken to the station and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm,' said Constable Thabang Nkhumise. The arrest came on June 17, a few days after two suspects had been arrested for possession of two unregistered firearms and another for the same charge in separate instances. The 19-year-old suspect is expected to appear at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court pending further investigation. The other three suspects remain in custody pending investigation and to address verification. Nkhumise said the block around the station and magistrate's court has had a power outage for the past three days, delaying a lot of cases. ALSO READ: Trench in Equestria reopens after poor repairs, claim motorists Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Summit hears Pretoria company's small nuclear reactor offers independence
As South African cities confront load-shedding and economic stagnation, the search for energy independence has never been more urgent. For the Tshwane metro and other municipalities, a new option has emerged in the form of a locally developed small modular reactor, designed by Pretoria engineers, that promises to change how cities generate and control their electricity. This option was recently discussed and caught a lot of attention at the Energy Summit 2025 held at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The summit aimed to build a smarter energy system focused on powering a sustainable and inclusive future. It drew all stakeholders grappling with growing energy demands and pressure to transition towards clean, reliable energy sources, where Tshwane's energy future was the main theme. Developed by Pretoria-based company Stratek Global, the reactor offers a combination of safety, cost-efficiency, and energy security, making it an ideal fit for municipal deployment. Rekord spoke to a nuclear physicist and Stratek chairperson from Pretoria east, Dr Kelvin Kemm. He is confident that it can help municipalities. 'The reactor is designed specifically to be deployable at the municipal level. With this system, a municipality like Tshwane can own and operate its own nuclear power facility, independent of Eskom and free of geographic limitations.' He told Rekord that it is ideal for the metro, as unlike large-scale nuclear power plants, which require vast infrastructure and access to significant water sources, the reactor is self-contained and highly adaptable. He explained that gravity, natural cooling paths, and other physics functions have been used in design such that safety devices will fall into place naturally, under gravity, as cooling paths exist without active pumps running. When it comes to whether the metro would be able to use such a reactor if interested parties decide to commission the construction, he said, once the teams start building, it will take about five years to build the first reactor. 'This first one will take a year to 18 months for all the legal compliance, testing, and certification. From the second one onwards, construction will go faster.' He explained that the costs for such a reactor should be measured by how much the electricity will cost the customer. 'The electricity from the reactor will cost about the same as coal-fired electricity now. It is completely untrue that nuclear electricity will cost a huge amount,' stressed Kemm. He said there are huge economic benefits for the metro. During construction, hundreds of people will be employed in good-quality jobs, like any industrial construction. Construction materials will also be purchased from local suppliers. Tasks like forming metal parts, cutting, machining and high-integrity welding, and so on, all need to be performed and sourced. 'When the reactor is running, it will employ a couple of hundred people on a full-time basis. These range from engineers to skilled technicians to react to operators to draft craftsmen, such as plumbers and electricians. Many private companies will be involved, supplying goods and services on a regular basis.' According to Kemm, a representative from their Pretoria branch has twice travelled to a country in the Middle East to explain their proposal and architectural designs were carried out for that country, by Pretoria east architects JKDA. To him, it is a positive factor that South Africa has one of the oldest and most experienced nuclear regulators in the world. He said Stratek Global has an impressive building in Centurion, and there is a staff of some 150 people. 'They check and certify all issues concerning the design and construction of any nuclear system, to ensure the safety and protection of people and the environment.' He added that the principle of private or municipal ownership of electricity has already been established by the government for wind and solar systems. 'There is no reason why nuclear will be different. So, the metro, or groups of companies in Rosslyn, could install their own nuclear power. One reactor complex will fit easily on a piece of land the size of a football field. Such ownership is perfectly feasible. In fact, it is possible to have your own private grid,' he concluded. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Daspoort tunnel to be closed for weekend maintenance
Daspoort tunnel to be closed for weekend maintenance The Tshwane metro has advised motorists that the Daspoort tunnel will be undergoing maintenance on June 21 and 22. Bremer Street will be closed between Deborah and Market streets from 08:00 until 16:00 on both days. Toward the end of April, MMC for Roads and Transport Tlangi Mogale led a similar effort. The work entailed filling potholes, cleaning stormwater drains and other repairs. Ward 1 councillor Leon Kruyshaar, who has said that the tunnel is synonymous with several issues, urged motorists to avoid the tunnel this weekend as much as they could. 'Please do not think you can use this tunnel on Saturday and Sunday, it will definitely be closed up. They may allow access in the evening, but I can tell you for sure, not between 08:00 and late afternoon,' Kruyshaar said. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes, such as the following: – Es'kia Mphahlele Drive – Van Der Hoff Road – The R80 – N4 Magalies Freeway. Stakeholders have apologised to residents for the inconvenience. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
