Articles by Fritz Platt's Profile | Smile 90.4FM, Smile FM Journalist | Muck Rack

The Department of Fisheries and Environment has announced the re-opening of the process for the verification and confirmation of small-scale fishers in the Western Cape. This comes after the Western Cape High Court reviewed and set aside the 2016-2019 process of awarding small-scale fishing rights in the province. The process to verify and confirm small-scale fishers, which is being reopened this month, is open only to all those individuals that participated in the previous process in 2016.

R50 000 reward offered after German tourist killed

The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism has offered a R50 000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the gunmen criminals who shot and killed a German tourist in White River. The victim and three fellow travelers were on their way to the Mdluli Safari Lodge when they were attacked by armed men. The driver was shot and killed in the incident.

No permit? No fireworks for you

The City of Cape Town’s Directorate of Safety and Security says despite it being illegal to set off fireworks within the Metro, without a special license, many residents are ignoring calls to not sell or use these fireworks during their holiday celebrations. The City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre last year, during Guy Fawkes celebrations, recorded more than 350 complaints about the setting off of fireworks and 63 for the selling of fireworks.

Report illegal connections and vandalism to the City

The City of Cape Town’s Directorate for Energy and Climate has urged residents to immediately report the theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure. Reports can be made to the City itself or the South African Police Service. Mayco member, Beverley van Reenen, says fixing vandalized infrastructure costs the municipality a lot of money and also leads to prolonged area power outages. She adds that with the recent intensification of loadshedding, vandalism risks have increased.

City’s first solar plant to be built in 2024

Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (3)Issue with article?

The City of Cape Town has announced plans to build its first grid-connected solar plant next year. The City says it’s but only one of its many interventions to end loadshedding over time. A tender has been issued the tender for engineering, procurement, and construction of its planned 7MW Atlantis solar photovoltaic plant. The facility will be connected directly to the City’s electrical network, feeding additional power into the local grid.

Fishing halted around penguin colonies

Fishing has been halted around the country’s major penguin colonies. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has declared some areas around the significant penguin colonies as closed to commercial fishing for anchovy and sardine. The closure came into effect on the 1st of September. These restrictions follow prolonged negotiations with the seabird conservation groups and the pelagic fishing industry representatives.

Justin Bieber's SA concerts canceled

Big Concerts today confirmed that Justin Bieber’s Justice World Tour South African dates have been canceled. On its social media pages, Big Concerts confirmed that all fans that purchased tickets from Ticketmaster will receive a full refund and will be contacted by Ticketmaster directly. Fans do not need to take any action. Fans have been urged to keep an eye on their inbox for further information.

32 Mother City pools open this summer

Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2)Issue with article?

The City of Cape Town has announced that 32 of its public swimming pools will be open this coming summer season. The Mother City’s swimming pools and spray parks are in the final stretch of preparedness for the summer season. Of the City’s 38 swimming pools, 32 will open this season, as well as four of the six spray parks. The majority of the recreational water facilities will open in time for the school holidays which start on 3 October.

Durbanville Nature Reserve open over weekends

Mother City residents can now also visit the Durbanville Nature Reserve over weekends. The annual spring flowers have started to bloom at the City’s Durbanville Nature Reserve and residents are encouraged to visit the reserve right on their doorstep. Entrance to the reserve is free and the new opening times are as follows: • Weekdays 07:30 – 16:00 • Saturday 08:00 – 13:00 • Sunday 12:00 – 17:00 The reserve, located along Racecourse Road in Durbanville, offers a range of activities and facilities.

Cape Town Destroyers compete in Luxembourg

The Cape Town Destroyers, a specialist team, within the Fire & Rescue Service, is currently in Luxembourg to compete in the annual World Rescue Challenge. The team consists of nine firefighters and rescue services technicians from different Mother City fire stations. They will compete against 71 other teams at the event. The team boasts a combined 176 years of experience between them.

Brace for another 12 months of loadshedding

South Africans will have to brace themselves for at least another 12 months of loadshedding. Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer says that even though the President’s plans to bring loadshedding to an end, are being rolled out, it will take at least another year before the additional capacity could be added to the national grid. Oberholzer says building facilities and then generating electricity does not happen overnight.

Verification process of small-scale fishers re-opens

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

City to conduct survey about how residents commute to DHL Stadium

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The City of Cape Town’s Directorate of Urban Mobility has invited residents to participate in a survey to determine how residents commute to DHL Stadium. The survey will commence today, 5 September 2022, to gather information about residents’ commuting patterns and travel behavior when traveling to events held at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town. The data will assist the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate with transport-related planning for big events held at the stadium.

New driver's license card coming in 2023

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announced the roll-out of a new driver’s license card for South African motorists. The Minister said Cabinet had approved this roll-out, which will see a new license card issued to motorists from next year. The new cars will provide more-secure design features and adhere to international standards. He says the new card will be piloted from 1 November 2023 until 31 March 2024.

Significant recovery in tourism numbers

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Tourism Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, says the most significant recovery in South Africa’s tourism numbers was seen in the African market. Sisulu held a press briefing to present domestic and international tourism performance statistics. The report covers the 2021/2022 reporting period. Sisulu says visitors from Europe were in a close second, while visitors from the Americas were third highest. Forward bookings increased by an impressive 328% in August 2022.

Taxpayers will fork out just under R3 billion to have parliament buildings restored

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Taxpayers will fork out just under R3 billion to have parliament buildings restored Taxpayers would have to fork out just under R3 billion to restore the burnt-out parliament building. The parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said this estimate for repair costs was contained in a final report of an assessment of the fire damage that Patricia de Lille, minister of public works and infrastructure, handed over to the parliament.

100 additional law officers deployed in Cape Town CBD

Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2)Issue with article?

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the safety of Mother City residents has now been significantly boosted with the deployment of an additional 100 law enforcement officers. The officers started doing service on the 1st of July in the CBD to help keep visitors and residents of the City Centre safe. Hill-Lewis says this deployment was a direct response to addressing the safety of all Capetonians who visit, live, and earn a living in the CBD.

Land released for resettlement of flood-affected residents in the eThekwini Metro

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has released four pieces of land for the resettlement of flood-affected residents in the eThekwini Metro. Minister Patricia de Lille says the land will be used to erect houses for residents whose homes were damaged or washed away in the floods in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province earlier this year. De Lille says the land has been signed over to the Housing Development Agency which will now manage and facilitate the development and servicing of the land.

Four arrested for the possession of stolen copper cable

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Four suspects will appear in Court this week after being arrested for the possession of stolen copper cable. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi says three of the suspects were arrested in Elsies River on Friday after they tried fleeing from police, during an anti-crime operation at a scrap-metal dealer. The suspects were arrested by the Economic Infrastructure Task Team.

Increase in truck hijackings in Western Cape in 2nd quarter of 2022

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Western Cape recorded six cash-in-transit heists in the second quarter of the year. The provincial SAPS earlier today announced the crime statistics for the 3-month period, April to June 2022. Brigadier Monica Swart says these 6 CIT-robberies were reported in Gugulethu, De Doorns, Parow, Thembalethu, Franschhoek and Saldanha. Swart says they also recorded an increase in truck hijackings in this reporting period.

Export of SA wines & grapes to the UK increased by 15- and 16% in 2020/21

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The export of SA wines and grapes to the United Kingdom increased by 15- and 16%, respectively, over the 2020/21 reporting period. This, according to the province’s trade- and investment agency, Wesgro. The agency says that this growth in export figures for wines and grapes has been brought about by the introduction of the Cape Trade Portal.

SA's cattle herds under 21-day lockdown

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Department of Agriculture has announced a national ban on moving cattle to curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. Cattle may not be moved from one property to another for a period of 21 days. The Department says the ban will be reviewed on a weekly basis. There will be exceptions, including if there is a veterinary permit for direct slaughter at registered abattoirs and for slaughter for ritual purposes.

Agri SA says foot-and-mouth disease ban too late

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Agri SA says the total ban on the movement of cattle, to curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, comes too late. The organization says the ban would have a severely negative impact on farming areas that have not recorded any cases of the disease. The Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza, made the announcement yesterday, effectively locking down all of the country’s cattle herds for a period of 21 days.

Western Cape still free from foot-and-mouth disease

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The DA in the Western Cape has applauded the provincial government for its strict animal-health safety and control measures which have prevented foot-and-mouth disease from reaching the province. The DA’s spokesperson on Agriculture, Andricus van der Westhuizen says officials from the provincial department of Agriculture have been continuously conducting inspections at roadblocks, and checking livestock for symptoms.

14 suspects charged for Krugersdorp rape

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Police Minister Bheki Cele says 14 suspects have now been charged for the rape of the 8 women at an abandoned mine near Krugersdorp. The women were with a filming crew, about 2 weeks ago, when they were attacked, robbed, and sexually assaulted. Cele, during an address to the National Council of Provinces, said the problem of illegal miners and zama zamas is not a new problem for the country.

Home Affairs to employ 10,000 young people

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Department of Home Affairs would as of later this year employ up to 10,000 young people at Home Affairs offices as part of its new digitization project. Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the initiative would see the Department recruit and train unemployed graduates to provide their assistance, to help speed up the digitization process. The Minister says the project will run over a 3-year period, effective from November 2022 until October 2025. He says candidates will receive on-the-job training.

Home Affairs to digitize and overhaul the country's passport system

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Department of Home Affairs earlier today announced its new programme to digitize and overhaul the country’s passport issuing system. Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says due to widespread corruption, the South African passport has been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. He says the overhaul of the application, issuing- and collection process is to ensure the integrity and overall reputation of the country’s passports.

Drakenstein Municipality making good progress with installing UPS equipment at traffic intersections

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Drakenstein Municipality says it is making good progress with installing Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) equipment at major traffic intersections. The Municipality says the UPS systems will ensure minimal disruptions in traffic flow when loadshedding is implemented. Communications Manager, Riana Geldenhuys, says of the 47 sets of traffic intersections in Drakenstein 17 already have UPS assistance.

City sees a worrying increase in domestic violence

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The City’s Directorate of Safety and Security says it has seen a worrying increase in the number of cases of domestic violence being reported. The City’s Emergency Call Centre logged 1,777 emergency incidents between Friday, 5 August, and Sunday, 7 August. Mayoral Committee member, JP Smith, says there were also 156 assault cases, and 28 reports of domestic violence reported. Smith says with Women’s Day being celebrated this week, more must be done to keep women safe.

Attacks on Cape Town bus commuters also on the increase

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Western Cape Department of Transport says it is not only long-distance buses that have experienced an increase in attacks but also buses that transport commuters to and from work here in the Mother City. Chief Director for Transport Regulation in the Western Cape, Yasir Ahmed appeared before Standing Committee on Transport and Public Works on Friday and said passengers on especially Golden Arrow buses have also been the target of robberies.

City commemorates fallen Safety and Security staff members

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City’s law enforcement officers regularly put their own lives at risk to protect fellow Capetonians from crime and violence. Hill-Lewis on Saturday paid his respects to the City officials who lost their lives, in the performance of their duties and during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said law enforcement is sometimes a dangerous occupation and thanked officials for working hard to keep residents safe.

Intercape says it has recorded more than 80 attacks on its buses in 2022 alone

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The long-distance bus company, Intercape, says it has recorded more than 80 attacks on its buses in 2022 alone. The company says the attacks started in 2019 and have, since then, gradually increased. Intercape’s legal representative, Jac Marais, appeared before the Standing Committee on Transport and Public Works earlier today. Marais says the company has to, on a regular basis, deal with its buses being stoned, and shot at.

SAHPRA confirms one patient has died after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has confirmed that one patient has died after receiving a Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 injection. SAHPRA says this is the first death out of 160 deaths reported after vaccination where the cause could be directly linked to a Covid-19 vaccination. SAHPRA’s CEO Dr. Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela says an investigation found the patient developed the rare Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after vaccination and then died.

Cable thieves sentenced to jail in Drakenstein Municipality courts

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Drakenstein Municipality has week welcomed the harsh sentences, handed down to suspects found guilty of the theft of copper cabling. The municipality says it is serious about fighting the scourge of cable and copper theft and Alderman Conrad Poole, Executive Mayor, has welcomed the recent conviction and harsh sentences of four cable thieves. In the first case, three men were convicted for the theft of streetlight cables and other items in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court.

Cape Town customers protected from more than 720 hours of loadshedding

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The City of Cape Town has, between February and July 2022, protected its customers from 722 hours of Eskom loadshedding. The Directorate of Energy and Climate Change says the City remains committed to protecting its customers from up to two stages of loadshedding where it is possible primarily through the use of the Steenbras Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme.

Poultry Association warns the suspension of anti-dumping duties on chicken imports is bad news

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The South African Poultry Association has warned that the decision to suspend the anti-dumping duties on chicken imports is bad news for local chicken producers and consumers. The decision by the Department of Trade and Industry now means that chicken imports from Brazil, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, and Spain will not be charged import tariffs.

Phase 3 of Presidential Youth Employment Initiative wraps up at the end of August

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Department of Basic Education has confirmed that phase 3 of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative would conclude at the end of this month. The Initiative was started during the middle- to late stages of the Covid-19 pandemic and saw unemployed young people assist teachers and school staff at 20 000 schools across the country’s nine provinces. Media liaison officer at the DBE, Terence Khala, says preparations are already underway for phase 4 which will start early in 2023.

Mother City's economy could see significant boost hosting Formula E

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Mother City’s economy would see a significant boost with the hosting of its first Formula E race in February 2023. Illana Pereira, from Tourvest Destination Management, spoke to eNCA and says sports tourism is already a big money generator for the Western Cape. She says if Cape Town gets the green light to host this event it will just further boost the City’s international profile.

Payday weekend sees a spike in crime and accidents

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The City’s Directorate of Safety and Security has urged residents and motorists to be extra cautious over the payday weekend. This is when law enforcers see a significant spike in motor vehicle accidents and other crimes. A total of 1,843 incidents have been reported to authorities between Friday 29 July and Sunday 31 July. Mayoral committee member at the Directorate, JP Smith, says assault cases increased to 159 this past weekend, compared to last week’s 95 reported cases. Read more here.

Four diesel thieves caught red-handed

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Four suspects were arrested in Parow earlier this morning after they were caught siphoning diesel from a parked truck. Members of the City’s Directorate of Safety and Security arrested the men, just after 4 AM. Mayoral Committee member at the Directorate, JP Smith says the truck driver was asleep at the time of the incident. Smith says the suspects had managed to drain almost 125 litres of diesel before they were caught. Read more here. Related articles: Western Cape police kept busy by criminals.

Green Scorpions to assist police to arrest murderers of Anton Mzimba

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Minister of Forestry and the Environment, Barbara Creecy says the Green Scorpions have offered their assistance to police to help track and arrest the murderers of Timbavati’s head ranger, Anton Mzimba. Mzimba was gunned down outside his home on Tuesday last week. Creecy last week paid homage to Mzimba’s fight against rhino poaching. Creecy says Mzimba was a key member of the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Forum.

Western Cape police kept busy by criminals

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

An intelligence-driven operation by members of the Anti-Gang Unit on Thursday afternoon saw the arrest of a Namibian male for the possession of uncut diamonds. The suspect was apprehended in the parking area of a shopping centre in Worcester. Police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, says police were acting on a tip-off. Members of the Cape Town police’s Operation Restore also last week arrested a 23-year-old male for vehicle hijacking and robbery.

UIF recovers more than R900 million in fraudulent TERS payments

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) says it has contracted 6 auditing firms to help recover the millions of Rand that were lost due to fraudulent Covid-19 TERS claims. The UIF says it has started investigating and prosecuting companies that claimed TERS funds but did not pay the monies to their employees. Communications Director at the UIF, Makhosonke Buthelezi, says those companies, that have not registered their employees with the fund but claimed TERS funds are also under investigation.

Hill-Lewis cautiously optimistic about Ramaphosa's plans to fix SA's energy crisis

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

He says the City of Cape Town will continue to move forward with its plans to become more independent of Eskom and end loadshedding over time. Hill-Lewis also notes that many of the steps announced by the President are in line with what has been proposed by energy experts and economists and included in the 10-point plan to end loadshedding, proposed to Ramaphosa two weeks ago. He reiterates that the fundamental and systemic problems at Eskom will not be solved overnight.

Fuel price drop expected next week

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Motorists can expect a slight reduction in fuel prices by next week Wednesday. Economist at FNB, Koketso Mano, says this reduction could be made possible by the overall price of Brent crude oil which has significantly fallen over the past 2 weeks. The current over-recovery, on the country’s fuel prices, will also add to this reduction. Mano says the projection is that petrol prices may reduce by R1 per litre, while diesel prices may drop by up to 60 cents per litre.

Cape Town businesses urged to help end loadshedding

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has invited businesses, factories, and warehouses, with large solar-power facilities to join the City’s initiative to bring loadshedding to an end. He this week announced that the City would now embark on a two-step initiative to further boost the City’s electricity supply. This would include compensating Independent Power Producers for the electricity they supply to the municipality while these IPPs would also be encouraged to become net producers of electricity.

Efforts intensified to repair and recover most important commuter rail corridors

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says efforts will be further intensified to repair and recover 10 of the country’s most important commuter rail corridors. He says work would include the fixing and replacement of overhead cabling, signaling infrastructure, and electricity sub-stations. Mbalula says train stations along these corridors will also be repaired and better maintained.

Ramaphosa: Urgent and decisive action needed to tackle loadshedding

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

President Cyril Ramaphosa says there must be urgent and decisive action to tackle loadshedding. Ramaphosa on Wednesday officiated the opening of the first Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference at the Sandton International Convention Centre in Johannesburg. He says he has already instructed the relevant departments and entities to put together measures to add additional capacity to the country’s power network, as soon as possible.

Data shows a definite up-trend in mass shootings in South Africa

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

The incidence of mass shootings, seen across the country over the past few weeks, has a range of motivators and can’t be pinned on just one cause. This, according to Dr. Guy Lamb, Criminologist, and Lecturer within the Political Science Department at the University of Stellenbosch. Lamb says gang activity, turf-wars, and criminals extorting protection money from informal businesses are all contributing factors. Lamb says data shows that there has been a definite up-trend in mass shootings.

San and Khoi communities will see immense benefits from the Rooibos Access and Benefit-sharing agreement

By Fritz Platt |Smile 90.4FM Verified

San and Khoi communities will see immense benefits from the Rooibos Access and Benefit-sharing agreement The Minister of Forestry and the Environment, Barbara Creecy says local San and Khoi communities will see immense benefits from the Rooibos Access and Benefit-sharing agreement. The agreement, signed between the SA Rooibos Council and the National Khoi and San Council, and the South African San Council, recently saw its first benefit payment of more than R12 million paid to these communities.