Provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa said five men were convicted by the Musina Regional Court on Monday. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, listed the convicted men as Eze Chekuebwe Aloicios, 42; Chimankpam Prosper Ashame, 53; Dube Lebang David, 40; Chigozie Henry Okoro; and Okeke Peter Richard, 52. “During 2021, the Musina-based Hawks serious organised crime investigation (unit) received a tip-off about suspicious people who were dealing in illicit drugs around Musina. The investigation was launched and the Hawks managed to identify accused, and the address of their operations,” said Mmuroa. The accused men were arrested during a take-down operation conducted by the Musina-based Hawks serious organised crime unit and the Thohoyandou-based tactical response team (TRT) on November 11 2021 at Musina. “The Hawks investigations established that the accused were dealing in crystal meth drugs. The accused applied for bail several times, which was denied,” said Mmuroa. He said the five drug dealers have been in custody from the time they were arrested in 2021 until their conviction and sentencing this week. The court handed down the following sentences: Eze Chekuebwe Aloicios was sentenced to eight years in jail after being convicted for contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. Aloicios was also convicted for contravening the Immigration Act and he was sentenced to an additional two years behind bars. Chimankpam Prosper Ashame was also found guilty on two counts contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Ashame was also convicted for contravention of the Immigration Act and was sentenced to an additional two years imprisonment. Chigozie Henry Okoro was also found guilty of contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, and was sentenced to three years imprisonment. David Lebang Dube was found guilty on two counts of contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Richard Peter Okeke was guilty on two counts of breaching the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and sentenced to seven years. He was also convicted of contravening the Immigration Act, and sentenced to an additional two years imprisonment. Meanwhile, provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Major-General Gopz Govender has welcomed the conviction of the five drug dealers, and their sentencing. |
The coastal metropolis claimed the top spot ahead of global heavyweights like Bangkok, New York, and London, solidifying its status as a premier destination for both tourists and residents alike. The rankings, which highlight the top 10 cities worldwide, placed Bangkok in second place, followed by New York City in third. The 10 best cities in the world in 2025: 1. Cape Town 🇿🇦 2. Bangkok 🇹🇭 3. New York 🇺🇸 4. Melbourne 🇦🇺 5. London 🇬🇧 6. New Orleans 🇺🇸 7. Mexico City 🇲🇽 8. Porto 🇵🇹 9. Shanghai 🇨🇳 10. Copenhagen 🇩🇰 (TimeOut) Melbourne and London rounded out the top five. Other cities featured in the prestigious list include New Orleans (USA), Mexico City (Mexico), Porto (Portugal), Shanghai (China), and Copenhagen (Denmark). Cape Town’s top ranking comes as no surprise to those familiar with its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and dynamic urban life. Known for its stunning beaches, iconic Table Mountain, and world-class culinary scene, the city has long been a favourite among travellers. Additionally, Cape Town has made significant strides in urban development, sustainability, and tourism infrastructure, further enhancing its global appeal. |
A Mr D Food rider has spoken out about their experience working for the company, including how much they earn per delivery and the penalties for not working, despite the company's telling them not to reveal any information. After discovering the demanding conditions delivery riders in South Africa endured in their day-to-day jobs, MyBroadband and BusinessTech spoke to numerous riders to better understand their experiences. It immediately became apparent that they were reluctant to do so due to instructions from the companies they worked for. "We are not allowed to speak to journalists," was a typical response. When asked about this, Mr D said that it is "not aware of any general directive instructing drivers not to speak to the media." "As a platform operating in a highly competitive last-mile delivery industry, we maintain strict confidentiality standards." One rider called Carlo, whose name has been changed for anonymity, was willing to speak about his experience working for the Takealot-owned company. Carlo said he has worked for Mr D for two years. It is important to note that delivery drivers in South Africa are not employees but rather independent contractors or gig workers, meaning they do not receive the benefits and protections an employee does. However, they can select how many hours and days a week they are willing to work. This is also the case in the e-hailing industry, allowing many to earn an additional income by working on the side. While he said that the number of days he works per week differs, his workdays remain the same at 12 hours from 8 am until 8 pm. Carlo says he can deliver between 15 and 20 deliveries daily, earning R28 per delivery. This works out to about R420 on a lousy day and R560 on a good one. While this brings in an average of R11,760 per month or just over R40 per hour, significantly more than the national minimum wage of R27.58, it also has to cover Carlo's riding expenses. These include fuel and vehicle maintenance, leaving him with R8,500 at the end of the month. According to Carlos, covering these expenses is the biggest struggle of the job, as Mr D does not subsidise any of it. When asked about this, the platform said that driver expenses are tracked, and payments are adjusted monthly to cater for changes in fuel costs. Carlos also owns his motorbike, so he does not have to pay rent, which many others do, costing roughly R450 per week. Even though one of the benefits of being an independent contractor is choosing when one works, Carlo says that all Mr D riders are required to work at peak time on Friday. He said that riders who are not online during this period face a penalty. However, Carlo did not elaborate on this penalty. Mr Delivery was acquired by the Takelaot Group in 2014 and its food delivery service rebranded to Mr D Food two years later, while its courier business became the Takealot Delivery Team. It would take another eight years before the food delivery platform turned a profit. Naspers, the owner of the Takealot Group, reported that Mr D was profitable for the first time at the end of the 2024 financial year. "Mr D has built a leading two-sided food-delivery marketplace in South Africa by providing superior service and better restaurant selection to customers, as well as an economically attractive channel to increase sales with minimal incremental cost or effort for restaurants," said Naspers. "In addition to the partnership with offline grocer Pick n Pay, Mr D expanded its product categories to include pet food and accessories, gifts and flowers as well as general merchandise, moving to a convenience-delivery model." In addition to speaking to Carlo, MyBroadband and BusinessTech also interviewed Patience, who works for Pick n Pay asap! |
Looking to explore one of Cape Town's yummy food markets? Image: supplied
Cape Town's food markets are a major attraction, celebrating South Africa's rich flavors, music, and culture. Here are three top markets you won't want to miss.
1. The Mojo Market, Sea Point, Cape Town
For yummy food and the coolest vibes, Sea Point's Mojo Market is the place to be. The market boasts a number of food stalls and clothing stalls, with cocktail bars and live music performances thrown in for good measure. The Sea Point Promenade is a literal stone's throw away too – making this market the perfect place to fill rumbling tummies after a long walk on the Promenade. Open seven days a week from 08:00 to 24:00.
2. Root 44 Market in Stellenbosch, Cape Town
Located in the Stellenbosch Winelands, Root 44 offers a great variety of food, crafts, and live entertainment. Visitors can enjoy a range of international and local cuisines, including gourmet burgers, artisanal pizzas, fresh seafood, sweet treats, and much more at this charming food market set among the Stellenbosch vineyards. The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 17:00.
3. The Neighbourgoods Market at The Old Biscuit Mill
Located at The Old Biscuit Mill, the Neighbourgoods Market is a dynamic platform for smaller food merchants and artisans, designers, specialty producers and traders from around the city. There is a wonderful array of food to choose from, although it'll have to be either breakfast or lunch, as the market is only open from 9:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays and 10:00 to 16:00 on Sundays.
The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has slapped 38 employers with fines amounting to R68 000 for hiring illegal foreign nationals without valid work permits in contravention of immigration laws.
In a parliamentary reply, Minister Nomakhosazana Meth said her department conducts blitz inspections in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs and the police.
Meth said her department's mandate was to enforce the implementation of labour laws to ensure the protection of workers, while the Department of Home Affairs scrutinised the validity of visas and work permits through the application of immigration laws.
"In the event of non-compliance with immigration laws, the Department of Home Affairs arrests the non-compliant employers and employees."
Meth said during the blitz, 68 employers and 322 foreign nationals were found on the wrong side of the law across the nine provinces.
"With respect to the 68 employers arrested, each employer paid an admission of guilt fine to the amount of R10 000. Therefore, the total amount paid in lieu of fines is R680 000 while the 322 employees were taken for further processing as per immigration requirements," she said.
Meth's response showed that Eastern Cape led the pack with 34 employers that flouted the laws and were fined a collective R340 000, followed by Mpumalanga with 15, Limpopo eight, KwaZulu-Natal five, and two in the Western Cape.
She also said of the 322 foreign employees that were arrested, the largest number, 163, were from Limpopo.
The Western Cape came second with foreign nationals at 43, Eastern Cape and Gauteng at 34 each, Mpumalanga 30, KwaZulu-Natal 16, and Free State two.
In a separate response to another set of questions, Meth said her department received 6 255 work permit applications between April 2023 and March last year.
She said the role of her department was to make recommendations on corporate work visa applications regarding the availability of local labour in various categories.
The Department of Home Affairs makes final decisions or waive any recommendation made by any of these three departments after following their final internal processes or after consulting further with other departments such as those in the security cluster.
She added that of the 60 corporate applications her department received and processed, 5 383 were rejected.
A total of 872 work visas for migrant workers were recommended.
The applications were mainly from foreign nations from Zimbabwe with 445, Lesotho with 250, Mozambique 86, and Namibia 70.
The applications were for mining, agriculture, and education and training.