Delving into the past
Shots were fired from the bakkie at the police van, which landed in a ditch.
This week we take a look at the Advertiser’s December 10, 1993, edition.
• Prison warden shot in the head
A Nigel prison warden, Molefe Ephraim Mabene, was shot in the head and police sergeant MJ Gumede wounded when the police van in which they were travelling was ambushed.
The incident occurred at around 09:00 Wednesday morning on Station Road, just a few kilometres from the prison.
According to a police press release, the vehicle carrying the prisoners was followed by a white Ford Courier bakkie.
Shots were fired from the bakkie at the police van, which landed in a ditch.
The prisoners in the back of the vehicle were unable to escape as the door was jammed against the embankment.
Gumede, who was driving the vehicle, sustained light injuries and was taken to the Dunnottar Hospital.
Mabene was taken by helicopter to the Garden City Clinic.
On Thursday morning, he was in a stable condition in ICU.
The five prisoners were kept in the vehicle until it had been dusted for prints and were then transported to the courthouse.
Also read: Delving into the past
• Subways go safe
Two of the Springs subways are going to be much safer for pedestrians.
The decision was taken at the Springs Town Council meeting on November 30.
The Fourth Avenue, Geduld subway steps will be closed off and a pedestrian way will be paved on the south side of the subway.
This should also help the health hazard that is caused by people urinating on the steps.
After the situation has been monitored, it will be decided whether or not to build a public toilet on the site.
At the South Main Reef subway, a concrete palisade fence will be erected at the beginning of the subway and will run up until the taxi ranks in Second Street.
This was decided after people were frequently attacked and mugged in the subways.
Another alternative for the Geduld subway was to build a bridge over it, but this was decided against as it would be too costly and people might not even use it, preferring to save time and energy and walk through the subway.
Another problem with the bridge was that to get to the beginning of the bridge, people would have to walk through quiet streets, which might well have proved more dangerous than the actual subway.
Although many people use the stairs, it was decided to close them since it would be safer and would-be muggers wouldn’t be able to hide behind them.
The projects will cost R44 000 and should start sometime next year.
Also read: Delving into the past
• Sports club reaches out
To mark International Day for the Disabled, the Whirly Wheels Sports Club, in conjunction with the National Council for Disabled People (NCDP), hosted more than 700 people at an event held at the Brakpan Indoor Centre on Friday.
Arriving from all over the East Rand and townships, including KwaThema, Duduza and Tsakani, disabled visitors were treated to music, fashion shows, basketball and other events, while drum majorettes from the Nkabinde Primary School in KwaThema dazzled the crowd with a performance.
The event also featured well-known disabled singer Margaret Singane and poet Mzwakhe Mbuou, who recited some of his most popular works.
Whirly Wheels chairperson Arthur Fourie said the aim of the day for the disabled was to make people aware of their disabilities in South Africa.
“We have the right to equal opportunities.
“Many people don’t know our needs, such as accessibility to buildings, pavements and parking areas, to name a few,” he said.
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