Councillors are divided over fire brigade services
SOUTHERN Council is divided over whether the fire brigade should become a metropolitan function rather than remain local.
A proposal to change things has come from the chief fire officer of Durban, Mr Te Water. He said the change would result in a more efficient service, added opportunities for promotion for staff, better training and rationalisation of administrative work. However, according to the acting town clerk, if the service does become a metropolitan one, the sub structure would lose most of the control it currently has over the department.
New names for cops
FROM 1 December, the South African Police will officially be known as the South African Police Services and the service will be restructured.
The uniforms and the rank structure will be changed. Many of the ranks of the old SAP will fall away. A constable remains a constable, while a lance sergeant and a sergeant become just a sergeant. A warrant officer in the old SAP now becomes an inspector. A lieutenant and a captain will now both become a captain, while a major and a lieutenant colonel become a superintendent. A colonel becomes a senior superintendent, while a brigadier and all generals become directors. At the top of the rank structure will be the commissioner.
Community arrests hijackers
QUICK action by members of the public netted two suspects after a failed hijacking attempt in Prospecton.
A Toyota employee was parked outside the plant when two men approached him and threatened him with a firearm. He jumped out of the car and threw away his keys as he ran. He alerted the security department at Toyota. Two bystanders rushed to help the hijack victim and they managed to detain one of the hijackers.
School faces overcrowding
TWO classrooms big enough only to accommodate 35 pupils each will be inundated with some 400 pupils next year.
Inyonemhlope Secondary School in Umbumbulu was built in 1975. Through faction fighting, pupils left and the buildings were vandalised. The school was reopened last year with 150 pupils from Std 6 to Std 8. The school was built by funds raised by the community – now they don’t have money to restore it. Next year, the headmaster will be faced with overcrowding when the 400 pupils from three feeder schools are expected to attend the secondary school.
Women assaulted during burglary
TWO women were assaulted and three firearms stolen when two men forced their way into a Toti home on Monday, 27 November, at about 11am.
The resident of Hudd Road left home to go shopping. While she was away, two men approached the house and struck up a conversation with the gardener. They asked for a glass of water and the gardener led them to the kitchen. Once inside, the two men pulled out knives and forced the domestic worker and the gardener into the main bedroom and assaulted them.
