GATVOL Bluff - December 2022

Meet the Brighton Beach

JANE DAVIES

For those of you who don’t know me. Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I am a lifelong resident, mother of 3, and business owner on the Bluff. Since 2018 I have been an active member of the Brighton Beach CPF.

I previously served in the SAPS in various crime preventive roles (flying squad etc) before I moved into specialist investigations units.

I have a Diploma in policing majoring in investigation, completed various detective training courses and have been trained by the DEA as well West Yorkshire Police in intelligence analysis.

ADELE SCHOLTZ

For those of you who don’t know me. Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I am a resident, mother of 2, and the at a local high school

I have served in law enforcement and I am an active member of the Brighton Beach CPF.

During the looting period 10th - 17th of July 2021 I was running the Bluff Stand Up and Bluff Standup Secure “Zello” channels together with the community and various roll players.  We made a major impact in the safeguarding of property and businesses including the well-being of all community members and subsequently I continue patrolling weekly and offer my full support to all law enforcement authorities on a voluntary basis. Working together we can continue to ensure a safer place for our loved ones and each community members that in itself is a Reward.

NTUTHUKO AYANDA MBONGWE

For those who don’t know me. Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I am a resident studies at a high school in Durban Central .I am an active member of the Brighton Beach CPF.

During the looting in July last year I contributed a lot of my time standing together with all the community Members. After that period of time I decided to join the CPF to work with the patrolling community members.

Working together as a community we can ensure the safety for our loved ones and community members.

Beach executive committee

GRANT GUERIN

I am a lifelong Bluffite and my bluff Heritage and ancestry goes back as far as my Great Grandparents.

I have been actively involved with the Bluff CSO, COP and CPF since 2009. My vision for the Bluff is to create and be part of the safest and cleanest Suburb in KZN.

I do understand this is going to take a lot of hard work and effort but I believe if every resident puts something in whether it be time or money we can achieve this goal.

I’m not in this for any sort of Glory or pat on the back or recognition I prefer to work behind the scenes and do my part.

I have a Bcom Degree with Specialisation in Financial Management And An Honours Degree in Business Administration

Hi all, my name is Velile Ngwane and I would like to give you a short biography of myself.

I’m a Bluff baby, I was born and bred here on the Bluff, a mother of 3 boys, I’ve always been an active member of the Bluff I’ve worked in the vulnerable groups on the Bluff alongside our Counsellor Zoe Solomon on a voluntary bases. I have now established an NPO that aims to motivate, educate and alleviate social ills that our youth are facing today, while building social cohesion.

During the July 2021 unrest, I was a foot patroller stationed at Booths bottle in the aim to safeguard our area and residents, today I am an active member of our Brighton Beach CPF in the executive structure and I occupy the seat of Deputy Secretary. As a mother my dream and wish for the Bluff is that we all would live in a safe environment where we can take walks on our roads and beautiful beaches without the fear of being mugged or abducted and killed, an environment where our kids can be safe to play in parks together without fearing that someone will kidnap and traffic them, and I build that together we can all make that possible by holding hands and working together. And that is payment enough.

VELILE NGWANE

Loadshedding is hitting South African consumers right in their pockets. Since the current round of loadshedding started, insurer King Price has seen a 100% increase in the number of claims for damage caused to appliances due to power surges –and with Eskom running out of money to buy diesel in the coming months, as announced in its State of the System Presentation, things are only going to get worse.

That’s the warning from King Price Insurance’s client experience partner, Wynand van Vuuren, who says the company has settled more than R21 million in claims in the past 14 months alone, for damages sustained through power surges and dips affecting residential buildings, home contents and portable possessions. This figure excludes lightning-related and large commercial claims.

“We’re getting a massive number of claims for ‘fried’ computer equipment, fridges, TVs and even distribution boards caused by power surges,” said Van Vuuren. “But there are several steps you can take to avoid having to replace your expensive appliances.”

UNPLUG YOUR APPLIANCES

The easiest, cheapest and most effective way of protecting your appliances is simply to unplug them when you’re not using them, or when the power goes off. That way, you’re 100% protected from power surges, says Van Vuuren.

INSTALL A UPS SYSTEM

UPS (uninterruptable power supply) systems can go a long way towards protecting your most valuable appliances. A UPS enables your appliances to shut down properly when the power goes off, and it’ll protect them from the power surges that often occur when the power comes back on.

USE ALTERNATIVE POWER SUPPLIES SAFELY

INSTALL SURGE PROTECTION

The most effective surge protectors are connected directly to your distribution board by a qualified electrician. These protectors divert any excess power into a grounding wire. Another option is to use surge protector strips on all your plugs, which provide a certain level of protection against surges caused by the power coming back on after an outage, or by lightning strikes.

Alternative power supplies must comply with safety guidelines, and they must be installed by a registered electrician. Portable generators are relatively cheap and easy to operate but must be correctly linked to your power supply. Simply plugging a generator into a house plug is known as back-feeding and it’s not only dangerous, it may result in any damage not being covered by your insurer.

CHECK YOUR INSURANCE

It’s important to check your home contents insurance to see if you’re covered for damage from power surges, says Van Vuuren. In general, consumers should be able to claim these damages directly from their municipality, but this isn’t always viable. If you’re insured for electrical damage due to power surges and dips, you can claim directly from your insurer, who will then claim from the municipality on your behalf.

DON’T LET LOADSHEDDING FRY YOUR PRECIOUS APPLIANCES

BE AWARE OF BUYING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Buying on social media has it pitfalls so be aware when making purchases. Not all the sellers and buyers on social media platforms are out to get you but many are

With the Christmas Season approaching many community members will be looking to make sales and purchases and advertise them online using platforms such as Facebook marketplace and Gumtree.

Brighton Beach Police are investigating numerous cases of Fraud relating to these types of purchases and sales.

Tracking suspects who make use of fake user profiles, uber collections and drop offs as well as fraudulent banking confirmations make this a very difficult crime to combat as well as investigate.

From a combating point of view it is impossible to police private purchases and decisions regarding who a person sells to or buys from in the comfort of their own homes thus awareness of the prevalence of this type of crime is very important.

MARKETPLACE – SELLING AN ITEM

Check the buyers profile of items previous advertised, bought and sold is one way to establish if the person makes frequent sales and is reliable.

Their user profile number of friends and posts should indicate regular usage and what you need to know about the buyer. Few details and friends/ photos usually indicate a new account.

Ask for a copy of the buyers’ identity document, and details of the vehicle that will be used by the buyer when collecting the items. If you are being paid by bank transfer E wallet etc, make sure the correct amount of funds are cleared in your account before agreeing to the collection of the item. Do not allow the goods to leave with only banking confirmation by the buyer, check your account. Do not accept part payments.

If the buyer will indicates that they need to transfer the money as they are stuck at work/ car broken down etc and they will send an alternate person/ uber to collect the item, rather stick with your originally agreed to terms and cancel or delay the sale until the buyer can meet your original terms.  A serious buyer will not be deterred.

Any “last minute” changes to what you have agreed to with respect to the collection and or payment of the goods are concerning.

Always record the time and date of collection the Buyers name, ID Number, address, car make model colour and registration, contact numbers etc for your records. Hopefully you will never need them but if you later establish that you have been scammed this will assist Authorities in trying to trace the buyer.

BUYING:

If buying an item online check the seller’s profile.

See if the items being sold are not being sold by other parties on other social media groups (Photos) and

check if the contact numbers are the same or different.

Always arrange to collect the item yourself and do not request the seller to post/ uber the item to you. Watch out for fake business profiles. See what they buy and sell, if they are regular suppliers.

Again be aware of any “Last Minute Changes” rather lose out on that particular item than your money.

BE AWARE OF FAKE ONLINE BUSINESSES. DO SOME RESEARCH

Always record the time and date of collection.

Sellers name, ID Number, address, contact numbers etc for your records. Hopefully you will never need them but if you later establish that you have been scammed this will assist Authorities in trying to trace the buyer.

WARN AND PROTECT OTHER BUYERS

If you feel that you have averted being scammed please report the matter to the administrators of the Social media site  (block the profile). Also report this matter to the SAPS. Remember that scammers do this for a living and there will be buyers/ sellers out there not as aware as you are where the information you have collected could be useful.

GUARD DOGS

For centuries our beloved cannine companions have served us by protecting our homes and our families from intruders and unwanted visitors. Dogs of every breed have a natural instinct to protect their territory; however, there are some breeds in particular that make effective Guard Dogs. In this article we will be discussing the top 5 Guard Dog Breeds as well as their benefits and training process.

If you are looking for a guard dog that is easy to train and loyal to a fault, then you should invest in a German Shepherd. Known for their police work, German Shepherds are quick learners as they are incredibly intelligent and very protective over their humans as well as their property as they are fiercely territorial.

With a natural instinct and skill for guarding, the Italian Mastiff, Cane Corso, has a long history of protecting. Its muscular stature and a deep bark make them intimidating and will ward off any unwanted visitors. To train a Cane Corso effectively, one should focus on honing in on its natural protective instincts and obedience as this dog requires a strong human companion to take charge when needed.

The third is famously known for its courage and strength and loyalty to its human family. This gentle giant - who won’t be so gentle when needed - is the Bullmastiff. That’s right, although the Bullmastiff is large and intimidating they make for one of the best family pets and guard dogs. When you bring a guard dog into your family, it is important that your children and other people’s children are safe too. Luckily, the Bullmastiff is highly tolerant and gentle with little ones, if properly trained and socialized. One needs to be assertive and experienced in dog handling, as Bullmastiffs will show dominance if not properly taught who the Alpha is. With a dog as intimidating as this because of its large size and

scary bark, you won’t have to worry about losing sleep over being unsafe and unprotected. The Belgian Malinois is an athletic breed. They are a favourite amongst the police and military due to their agility, their trainability and their search and rescue skills. This breed’s natural instinct is

Cane Corso

to serve. However, in order for your Belgian Malinois to be an effective protector, you would definitely need to invest in specialised training, and ensure that they are properly socialised, so that they are quickly adaptable. New people that you allow in your home as well as new environments unnerve them, so they need to learn to feel at ease when you are bringing visitors to the home

Our final breed is the cuddliest of them all, The Akita, but intruders be aware! These canines are one of the best guard dogs. Akitas have been protecting Japanese Royalty for generations. This in itself shows their loyalty to their humans as well as the possessions their humans own. Akistas are highly suspicious of strangers; therefore, you can be confident that your property and family members are well

protected when leaving your home. Akitas are natural protectors so little to no guard dog training is needed, other than obedience training which is always recommended for any guard dog, as you want to be able to control your fearless protector.

Before choosing your new companion, it is very important that you do the necessary homework with regards to breeding lines and health conditions. Invest in buying your furry friend from a reputable breeder who can guarantee a pedigree and stable personality. Your guard dog needs to mix well with your personality too, which is, by far, the most rewarding part of it all.

Akita

Belgian Malinois

Bullmastiff

It’s Christmas and not just about Christmas carols and the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ to some, but rather a time of opportunity for others. Everybody is trying to wind down before Christmas and attention to detail so often gets lost in the chaos although, attention to detail may be of little to no help because the fraudulent documents that are being produced these days are almost flawless to the eyes.

This is how it goes. You get a random call from somebody looking to buy specific generators for instance. When you explain that you don’t sell generators the “cute” voice on the other end of the phone tells you that she has been phoning around all morning without luck but that there is a way for you to make some money whilst at the same time, get her out of work for the rest of the day. She will go on to explain that you only need source the generators for her and become the middle man. She will even manifest the details of a company she dealt with before but is no longer allowed to deal with since a falling out between her boss and the supplier.

GREED!!! The oldest sin on earth. Too many people rising to the bait.

The cute sounding caller provides you with the contact details and website for the supplier with whom you make contact. The supplier will quickly tell you that he can give you a really good price and that coincidentally, he is the only person in the country who can supply this particular make of generator. The website is plausible and the person answering the phones is on the ball.

You order the specific generators, pay for them and then wring your hands as you tack on as much as you like to your invoice. Surprise!!! The caller is gone forever and the supplier’s details are false and represent a company that doesn’t exist. The bank account into which you paid is cleaned out and you are left with a big invoice that will never be paid and a gaping hole in your finances.

When it looks too good to be true, it usually is.

Be Safe. Be Blessed. Be Careful.

Brad Nathanson Investigations

www.bradnathanson.co.za

Follow us on Facebook for all our latest crime news and updates: https://www.facebook.com/BradNathansonPI/

LIFE SHOULDN’T JUST GO ON AFTER 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GBV

Article written by: Francesca Pedrosa (RISE Legal Volunteer) & Naomi Braak  (RISE Legal Volunteer)

Gender-based violence is a worldwide problem that individuals face every day. It is a crisis that is facing our men, women, and children around the world, and unfortunately, in South Africa, it is particularly prevalent. We have higher GBV statistics than the majority of the world’s countries.

ACTIVITY FOR 16 DAYS

In 1991, the first 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV) were launched. Today, 16 days of activism, is one of the world’s most wellknown and longest-running movements to challenge and raise awareness about the violence faced by women and girls in our society. The Centre for Women’s Global Leadership initiated the campaign, which starts on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 and ends on Human Rights Day on December 10, as part of their bigger aim, which was to establish that violence against women amounts to a violation of human rights. But despite 30 years of activism, GBV is still rife and widespread, with up to 50% of women and girls in South Africa having experienced violence and abuse in their lifetime.

A YEAR OF ACTION

For 16 days of the year, activists lobby and campaign, while for 349 days of the year, GBV awareness is mostly pushed aside until such time as a horrific incident occurs that makes us look at it again.

GBV happens every day. A child is kidnapped, raped, and mutilated and left under a bush. A woman is raped and murdered by her partner in front of her daughter. A young student is gang raped, stabbed, and murdered by dropping a rock on her head. We read about it in the news, it shocks us to the core, and then we move on with our lives.

In the first quarter of 2021, 558 women were murdered, which is nothing compared to the 855 women murdered in the first quarter of 2022. Worse still, are the numbers of our children being murdered: 116 in 2021 and 243 in 2022. When we put it in figures like this, our hearts ache for the disaster and scourge that is facing our country. We are a country at war with our own women and children.

However, our natural instinct is to turn away from all the hurt, pain, and suffering that we see in the news because, honestly, how could we live knowing what is happening?

BUT, by the time we hear about it in the news, the child has been raped, and the perpetrator has a knife against his victim’s neck, and it’s too late.

We as a society cannot just raise awareness for such a problem over a period of 16 days; we need to battle this scourge every day and make an impact where we can. Organizations such as RISE Against Domestic Violence continue throughout the year to raise awareness, not only during the 16 days of activism or when a horrific incident occurs that makes our society look twice.

We need to actively stand up against violence every day. We need to speak out about the wrongs being committed not only to our women and children but to our men as well.

ACTIVE INITIATIVES

The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has allocated R65 million to implement the Gauteng Strategic Plan aimed at combating violence against women and children. The GPG has opened more than 60 safe sites, called “green doors,” which offer victims services such as trauma counselling, debriefing, and an entry point into the criminal justice system.

We hope to see these services and safe sites spread to other parts of the country as well. Many South African organisations and civil societies, most of which are non-profit and reliant on public funding and volunteer workers, work around the clock through the year to fight the scourge of GBV.

BREAK THE SILENCE

By speaking out about abuse, people become empowered. It helps by giving them the strength, courage, and power to speak out and to make a change in their situation. When people find out they are not alone and that they have support, whether through family, friends, organizations, or governmental institutions or campaigns, it makes the fight against GBV that little bit easier.

Help is always available, but people need to be aware that the help is there all the time and not just over a period of 16 days, when stories, articles, and campaigns are released with a vengeance. We need to continue to have vengeance against GBV 365 days of the year; otherwise, the battle will be lost.

If you are experiencing violence or abuse, or if you know of someone who is, do not hesitate to contact the South African Police Service or an organisation such as Rise Against Domestic Violence, who will be able to provide you with necessary assistance and support.

CRIME NOTICE

In light of the *Apparent* occurrences of difficulty in registering cases with the police all members and citizens should be aware of the following National instruction with regards to SAPS members opening cases or registering a criminal offence

*Refusal by SAPS members in assisting complainants to open criminal dockets in terms of SAPS NATIONAL INSTRUCTION 3 OF 2011*

*Know your rights as  a complainant*

1. It has been reported that members stationed at various police stations are refusing to open cases involving women and children due to the following reasons:

1.1 The complainant cannot identify the suspect by name.

1.2 The complainant did not bring the suspect to the police station.

1.3 The crime did not happen within the stations boundary

1.4 The member who is attending to the complainant does not think that is serious enough.

1.5 Complainants are told to resolve the issue with the suspect.

*THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE*

3. National instruction 3 of 2011 regulates opening and registering of case dockets.

3.1 Section 1 of the National Instruction ; a member who receives  the complaint must interview the complainant  in order to see if the complaint meets the requirement for that specific crime.

3.2 According to Section 2, Complainants must never be referred to another police station even if the crime was committed in another police station area.

4. (CSC) Community Service Centre is responsible for ensuring that:

4.1 Complainants or reporters of crime , whether  the crime was committed in his/her station area or in the station area of another police station, are treated courteously and that a comprehensive affidavit is taken from the complainant or reporter of the crime.

4.2 Complainants or reporters of crime are not referred to another station to lodge complaints of crime

4.3 All complaints and reports made by the public receive immediate attention.

5. Cluster commanders and Station Commander’s must ensure that all members who do not comply with National instruction 3 of 2011 are subjected to disciplinary steps.

*Members of the public* - Please report If SAPS members refuse to open your case:

#SAPS National complaints centre: Tell: 080033177 or 0860264487