- Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams had a busy start to the new year, having already responded to four incidents including two rescues in the basin. Crews descended on the Helderberg Nature Reserve after a group of three hikers aged between 25 and 32 were reportedly lost on Tuesday 2 January. The group had started their hike early morning and called the emergency number (021 937 0300) when they were not able to find their way back to the intended trail. A small rescue team drove up to locate the stranded trio in the Helderberg College forest. Once the rescuers had located the hikers, they were driven down the jeep track and back to their vehicles at the reserve parking. The rescue mission was successfully concluded at 14:20.
- In a separate incident late last Thursday evening (4 January), rescue crews responded to the Helderberg Nature Reserve where a hiker was reported overdue. One of the first search teams to arrive on scene was Sage, an 11-year-old German shorthaired pointer and her handler from K9 Search and Rescue Association of South Africa. The duo, accompanied by a reserve ranger, were immediately dispatched to hastily cover areas that had not yet been checked by park rangers. Within minutes of starting out in the dark, Sage successfully located the missing hiker, who was sadly found deceased before 02:00.
- The death of two occupants, who died in Somerset West after a vehicle was hit by a train, is under investigation after the incident on New Year’s Eve (Sunday 31 December). Sergeant Suzan Jantjies, spokesperson for Somerset West police, said an inquest is in progress after the fatal incident which occurred at the Ridgmor Farm crossing around 19:50. The oncoming train travelling from Strand to Cape Town collided with the black Audi despite hooting at the vehicle which was stationary on the railtracks. Both the 57-year-old driver and a passenger (42) sustained fatal injuries. Circumstances surrounding the incident forms part of the investigation. Station commander Colonel Jacolize Fleischmann expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased.
- A motorist nabbed for drunk and reckless and negligent driving in Strand on Sunday 31 December was one of 29 arrests, including 13 for driving under the influence of alcohol, made by Metro Police officers as the new year beckoned. A media statement released by the City of Cape Town on Tuesday 2 January further divulged that law enforcement officers conducted 171 operations, made 156 arrests and issued 3 103 notices. And, less than 24 hours into the new year, Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (Leap) officers recovered four firearms. Cape Town Traffic Services recorded 38 934 speeding offences and issued 14 252 fines for various traffic violations. Officers also impounded 201 vehicles and executed 954 warrants of arrest. The City’s Fire and Rescue Service responded to 736 incidents between Wednesday 27 December and Monday 1 January. Of these, vegetation fires accounted for 63% of all incidents. The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 2 982 incidents over the long weekend up to New Year’s Day. This included 423 noise complaints, 209 assaults, 93 domestic violence incidents, 65 motor vehicle accidents, 33 incidents of self-harm and 13 accidents involving pedestrians. The incident in the Helderberg on New Year’s Eve saw Metro Police officers swoop on a vehicle that was swerving in the road. They stopped the driver, and he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless and negligent driving.
- The Helderberg boasts numerous babies who were born on New Year’s Day (Monday 1 January). According to Megan Davids, spokesperson for the provincial Department of Health, the first New Year’s baby to be born at the Macassar Community Day Centre’s Midwife Obstetric Unit was “Baby April”, a bouncing little girl who made her much-anticipated debut at 05:37. The newborn weighed in at 2,91 kg with a height of 34,5 cm and length of 50 cm. In total, the local health facility rang in the New Year with altogether six babies, including four boys and two girls. Nine babies were born in Helderberg Hospital, and Baby Banda was the first baby born at the facility at 03:06, weighing 3 kg.
- Three suspected robbers are behind bars thanks to the vigilance and swift reaction of a passerby who called Somerset West police after witnessing a cyclist fall prey to the trio. According to Jantjies the suspected perpetrators were arrested after they apparently targeted a young man riding his bicycle in Sir Lowry’s Pass at 17:10. “The complainant was allegedly riding his bicycle when three unknown men approached him and pushed him off his bicycle,” she explained. “The suspects reportedly took his backpack, an undisclosed amount of cash he had on him and attempted to snatch his bicycle. A passerby, who witnessed the incident, assisted the complainant with details of the suspects and contacted police. Due to the alertness of the witness police were able to arrest all the suspects and recover some of the cash belonging to the complainant.”The suspects, aged 21, 26 and 28, are expected to appear in the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on charges of common robbery. Following the incident, Fleischmann commended the witness for his valued assistance, swift action and vigilance.
- Macassar police conducted a shebeen operation during the festive season. Five separate illegal shebeens located inside houses were raided between Sunday 10 December and Friday 5 January. Five suspects (one at each house) were issued with fines. According to a spokesperson of Macassar police each of these suspects must pay these fines, and if they can’t afford to pay it (or are unwilling to pay) then they will have to appear in court. During the operations, four suspected drug houses were also searched and two arrests were made at two of the properties.
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