Two suspects arrested after R4 rifles stolen from military base
via The Citizen2 min read
Two suspects were arrested at Mooiplaas informal settlement following the theft of R4 assault rifles and grenade launchers from the Lyttelton Military Base in Pretoria in April. The thieves gained entry by cutting a perimeter fence and forcing open a security door. South African Police Service spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko stated that an intelligence-driven operation led to the recovery of two R4 rifles with ammunition, a replica firearm, and a traffic officer鈥檚 uniform. Cases of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of government property, and contravention of immigration legislation have been opened. Ian Cameron, National Assembly chair of the portfolio committee on police, expressed concern about the ease with which military-grade weapons entered criminal circulation, questioning state security failures. University of Limpopo criminology professor Witness Maluleke highlighted that this incident is not isolated, pointing to compromised security systems and potential inside involvement, which he described as a significant concern for the country.
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Tens of thousands of middle and upper-class families are reportedly misusing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Nsfas in South Africa, diverting funds intended for impoverished students. Witness Maluleka, head of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Limpopo, described this as "black-on-black criminality." Benjamin Rapanyane, a political lecturer at North-West University, warned that this issue could lead to nationwide student protests if not addressed, as deserving students are being denied funding. A final-year public management student at Mthashana TVET college, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her experience of having her Nsfas application rejected within hours, despite her family's financial struggles. She has returned to class without funding for her final year and faces a R5,000 balance to write her exams. Nthatile Selebi, a civil engineering student at Tshwane South college, highlighted the suffering of genuinely needy students due to delays and missing allowances, while others exploit the system. She also noted that accommodation payment delays lead to eviction threats for students. Selebi expressed concern over the inconsistency in Nsfas funding, particularly the defunding of engineering students in occupational programs while other fields receive full support. Many students are stressed by late payments, sudden defunding, and a lack of communication from Nsfas, impacting their academic performance. A Facebook support group for Nsfas is
A month-old rhino calf was rescued after its mother was killed by suspected poachers on a private game reserve near Middelburg. The rhino, named Behati, was found shot and dehorned between July 22 and July 23 at UBhetyan-O-Africa. The calf, whose birth was celebrated less than a month ago, was located around 14:30 on July 23 after a farm-wide search. Farm owner Deon Cornelius confirmed the calf's discovery and arranged for its airlift to a rehabilitation facility, believed to be in Bela-Bela. Middelburg SAPS members are investigating the scene. Separately, two men were arrested on the N12 near the Phola/Ogies off-ramp on July 23. Police stopped their vehicle and found two rhino horns, a hunting rifle, and live ammunition. The suspects, who could not produce permits for the horns or firearm, face charges related to illegal possession of protected species products and an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. They are expected to appear in the Ogies Magistrate鈥檚 Court on July 24. Susan Cornelius, co-owner of the reserve, believes one of the recovered horns belongs to their poached rhino, though this has not been officially confirmed.
South Africa's National Student Financial Aid Scheme Nsfas is facing significant criticism, with experts and student leaders describing it as flawed and mismanaged. Economist Dawie Roodt called the system "a complete mess" and suggested that South Africa sends too many students to university, advocating for fewer universities and more vocational training colleges. Student leaders, including Mayibuye Youth Movement national president Keamogetswe Masike, allege that cartels have hijacked the scheme, leading to insufficient or stolen allowances. Masike stated that over 32,000 students have not received meal allowances, with 10,000 to 15,000 of them, predominantly first-year students, being defunded without clear reasons. This has resulted in students being evicted from private accommodation and some dropping out. Higher Education Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim acknowledged the issues, stating that reforms and restored payments are underway. He cited resolutions for 1,149 students at Central University of Technology regarding accommodation allowances, and 374 Nelson Mandela University students affected by qualification code updates, with payments scheduled for August. Additionally, Nsfas has processed 1,706 Unisa gap investigations, restoring funding for these students, with another 656 awaiting finalization. Masike called for a commission of inquiry into the corruption and suggested decentralizing Nsfas offices to campuses for better student assistance.