Members of a Bryanston family have lost most of their worldly possessions in a fire that tore through their home on Friday.
It is unclear what caused the fire but, according to ER24 paramedics, it appeared to have started in the roof.
A mother and her two 18-month-old children were in the house at the time. Fortunately she kept a cool head and evacuated before the fire took hold.
Fire and Rescue services and ER24 paramedics were called to the scene. Paramedics assessed the mother and two children, who seemed physically unaffected by the incident. It was recommended they saw a physician for possible smoke inhalation. The three were taken to a relative’s house to recover from shock.
As the fire devastated the home, firemen tried to salvage whatever possessions they could. Investigators will determine the exact cause of the fire.
sc@caxton.co.za

You can run but you cannot hide is an adage that befits the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system, Metro police’s state-of the-art mass surveillance technology that scans vehicle number plates.
This is not good news for criminals, as the system can identify stolen vehicles, expired licence’s, various unregistered vehicular misdemeanours and, importantly, wanted suspects.
This might sound like a new form of privacy intrusion for those who live on the straight and narrow, but Metro police spokesman Inspector Wayne Minnaar begged to differ.
“Our officers have the authority to utilise technology or instruments that can be used in the fight against crime. This can help affect law enforcement.”
Three cameras mounted on the roof of Metro police vehicles are telltale signs of this impressive technology. Pointed in three different directions (forward, left, and right), the cameras scan registration plates of surrounding vehicles. Immediately, the vehicle’s photo and other details appear on a computer in a patrol car, with the owner’s information, including address and ID number.
In the event of a vehicle identified as stolen, the computer beeps noisily with the screen turning red, accompanied by information about where it was stolen and to which police station its theft was reported.
Minnaar had nothing but praise for this crime-busting invention.
“The first of its kind in South Africa, this technology has made our jobs a lot easier. Metro police has succeeded in retrieving stolen vehicles, zeroing in on number plate cloning, and arresting wanted criminals.”
“I want the public to know that our crime-fighting efforts have intensified and that we are watching,” he added.
kebam@caxton.co.za

Gauteng Department of Health and Social development is about to conclude its H1N1 campaign.

In view of this, the department urging pregnant women, patients with chronic lung and heart diseases, diabetic, school going learners under the age of 20 as well as senior citizens over 65 years to immunize against H1N1 virus by 31 July.
More than 120 000 doses have been administered since the start of the campaign in April. During the campaign, no cases of the pandemic have been reported.
The aim of this drive is to decrease mortality and morbidity rates as well as to reduce transmission of the pandemic virus within communities.
The campaign has also benefitted airport staff, nurses, intensive care unit workers, emergency services workers, doctors and HIV positive children under the age of 15.
The pandemic, H1N1 outbreak started in Mexico last year and rapidly spread to other countries including South Africa. Gauteng province had 13 deaths resulting from the pandemic influenza.
The vaccine is available at all public health facilities as well as Clicks pharmacies in the province.
Details: 086 136 4232, H1N1@health.gov.za or www.doh.gov.za

Loyal readers will be aware that the Chronicle often shies away from publishing consumer complaints.
These are matters where money is paid in exchange for a service that benefits an individual and not the general community.
Of course exceptions are made when it is a municipal service because public money is involved, and when there are large sums of money and a trail of victims. And so we did make an exception on two occasions over the past month. The first case saw a series of articles about a suspected illegal operation that lured residents into paying for building materials they never received.
The report revealed a number of trade names used by the perpetrators, and gave tips on how to avoid becoming a victim. A few weeks later, the suspect was arrested and appeared in court last Friday.
In another incident, two families had their house literally cleaned out by domestic workers provided by a cleaning service company which could not be traced. Subsequently, other companies in both industries felt the reports painted everyone providing a similar service with the same brush.
The owner of one cleaning service company even demanded that a story be published explaining that her business was above board. What they imply is that if someone in your line of business is suspected of running an illegal operation, it may not be reported as this would implicate you as well.
It’s a typical example of service providers looking only at their profits and interests at the expense of their clients. These are the same people who, if badly treated at a local supermarket, car dealership or petrol station, want the entire world to know and will go red in the face explaining why it warrants front page news.
But sorry, succumbing to such would mean failing to perform the role of a newspaper and bowing too easily to the man with the money.
kennedym@caxton.co.za

Public parks and open spaces in the Sandton area that were allegedly bought illegally could soon return to the hands of the City of Joburg.
This follows a court interdict for four properties valued at R30 million that were illegally transferred, to be returned to the municipality.
The properties were part of 33 alleged to have been illegally transferred to two purchasers in just one day via forged applications for lost title deeds. No monies were received by the City of Joburg Property Company (JPC), the municipal assets management utility.
Subsequent investigation confirmed the signature of JPC managing director Helen Botes had been forged.
The respondents have since entered a notice of intention to oppose the re-transfer and were given 15 court days from 19 July to file their answering affidavits.
Municipal spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane and JPC’s Ashton Bodrick said the administrative process to re-register the four properties in the name of the municipality was already underway.
“During this time, the original title deeds of all 33 properties will remain in possession and control of the JPC at an undisclosed location. In addition, further steps will be taken to prevent incidents of this nature happening in future,” said Bodrick.
Meanwhile, the municipality and JPC were finalising an internal forensic investigation of all officials to ensure that any form of corruption was rooted out.
Attorneys alleged to be affiliated to the Law Society of the Northern Province, who were involved in the transaction, are being investigated and could be barred from practising.
The municipality further stated that the National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks had been informed of the alleged fraud and were investigating.
sc@caxton.co.za

Speculation about the imminent attack on foreign nationals living in Mzansi has security forces on red alert.
But it is the masterminds of these attacks, and the proudly South African public, who should be extremely worried and ashamed. At a time when patriotism is at its peak following the greatest and most successful Fifa World Cup in history, some obviously un-proudly South Africans decided it would be the right time to strike. The timing points to anti-unity individuals whose heads are not properly screwed on. They opted to go out of their way and destroy everything the nation has built over the past couple of months. Perhaps most worrying is the fact that the so-called attacks are based on rumours with no substance or sign of origin and initiator.
For the information of the perpetrators, those of us who don’t mind sharing our beautiful country with foreign nationals living here legally will respect people who go public with their intentions.
They also owe the nation an explanation on the reasons for the attacks, and should invite the rest of us to debate whether killing foreign nationals is the way to go.
Had they been wiser and proudly South African enough, they would know that the solution to problems they have with foreign nationals lies in implementing tighter immigration laws and stricter border post control. This would result in only those foreign nationals with potential to add value to South Africa allowed through our borders. As for the killing, as well as seizing and destroying properties belonging to foreign nationals, that’s definitely not ayoba.
kennedym@caxton.co.za

The country’s leading fund-raising soccer extravaganza, the Telkom Charity Cup, will kick off on 7 August at Soccer City.
The tournament allows the participation of only the four Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams with the most votes from the public.
It was announced at a media launch that all 16 Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams were eligible.
These are Ajax Cape Town, AmaZulu, BIDVest Wits, Bloemfontein Celtic, Free State Stars, Golden Arrows, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Maritzburg United, Moroka Swallows, MP Black Aces, Orlando Pirates, Platinum Stars, Santos, Supersport United and Vasco Da Gama.
Voting can be done via phone or sms, and ends on 1 August.
At an official media launch, PSL chief operating officer Professor Ronnie Schloss said the tournament had raised over R40m for charity since its inception 24 years ago.
“This year our target is R5m, and we urge fans and teams to help us reach it.”
This year’s tournament will have special seating for families, and entertainment for children.
“After the diverse attendance of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, we hope the nation supports this day of soccer for charity. We also urge companies to fill up the 8000 suite seats.”
According to Schloss, 90 000 tickets are  on sale at all Shoprite/Checkers stores and Computicket outlets.
Voters stand a chance of being one of two daily winners of R500, and are automatically entered into the main prize draw of R10 000.
Fans can sms their PSL team of choice to 34620 or log onto www.charitycup.co.za to view phone numbers for voting.
abed@caxton.co.za

South African magician Ilan Smith once again foxed local audiences when he predicted the Fifa 2010 World Cup™ final teams and score eleven days beforehand.
Smith wrote down the team names and score on a piece of paper, sealed it an envelope and locked it in a safety deposit box at a radio station studio.
After the final, the envelope was opened and its contents read live on air. ‘Spain 1, Netherlands 0 Ayoba!’ was witnessed by staff and captured on film.
Smith lives in Sandton and works from Norwood and was mentored by the country’s top magician, the late George Moss.
Although Smith has performed at international level, he is determined to become South Africa’s greatest illusionist-magician.
Citing David Copperfield as his inspiration, Smith said he adds a strong interactive human element to his shows, which he believes is crucial in capturing local audiences.
“The art of magic and illusion is just one aspect. My main objective is to entertain and leave the crowd with something to talk about back home.
“I regularly generate new material and make it one-of-a-kind so that South African audiences relate to it.”
Smith is currently working on his next project in which he plans to thrill local audiences with the biggest illusion and magic show performed by a South African.
abed@caxton.co.za

Eskom has urged homeowners to be cautious after criminals representing themselves as Eskom appointed Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CFL) installers entered a home.

The incident has forced Eskom to suspend all door-to-door CFL rollouts pending an investigation into the incident.  Residents are requested to refuse entry to anyone posing as an Eskom CFL installer.

Customers who wish to participate in the energy-saving CFLs exchange can still visit the locally advertised exchange points in selected areas. Details of the exchange points are listed on www.eskom.co.za/dsm (click on right hand side panel link called CFL programme and click on customer self exchange points).

Customers are reminded that exchange points are temporary in selected areas only, and should bring their incandescent bulbs as soon as they see the exchange point advertised.

Eskom regrets that a positive initiative such as this exchange programme has been hampered by a criminal element and hopes to resume it in due course.
sc@caxton.co.za