Steenberg police have registered an inquest for investigation following the death of a 6-year-old boy whose body was found inside a washing machine at his home.

The boy’s father reported his son missing at the police station on Friday morning, 19 December, which led to officers visiting the family’s home in Ensor Street in Cafda, Retreat.

After initiating a search for the boy, they discovered the body of the child inside the washing machine. It is unclear how he ended up inside the appliance.

The boy was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel, and a post-mortem will be conducted to determine his cause of death.

Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 0860010111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.

The City of Cape Town has issued a stern warning to the public not to bring alcohol or drink in public spaces this festive season, as it will lead to their liquor being confiscated and a R500 fine.

City officials, led by the Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security JP Smith, destroyed nearly 3,000 litres of alcohol at the City’s Ndabeni pound on Thursday, 18 December.

In the first 11 days of December alone, the liquor pound received over 1,00 units of confiscated alcohol, amounting to just under 740 litres.

Smith says alcohol consumption in public spaces, and the trauma it can cause, remains one of the biggest headaches for enforcement and emergency services, particularly over the festive season.

“These totals will balloon over the coming weeks, and next year, we’ll dispose of it all. The City takes a lot of flak for the alcohol destruction, but the outrage around the destruction that irresponsible alcohol use causes is far more muted. We can significantly reduce incidents of interpersonal violence, drownings, road accidents and pressure on our trauma centres and enforcement services by making different choices, yet for many people this is simply too big an ask.”

The City’s Coastal by-law addresses the issue of liquor on beaches, and signage is posted at all beaches and public amenities, outlining what visitors are able to do.

Anyone found in possession of alcohol or consuming it will have their goods confiscated, in line with the City’s impoundment policy. They will also be fined R500.

The alcohol can be reclaimed, upon payment of the fine and the impoundment release fee, which is R835.

The impoundment policy also guides the disposal of liquor.

Smith says disposal is the easiest option, as a legal opinion obtained several years ago highlighted the complexities of selling the impounded liquor, including that the City would need a liquor licence, and that it would create the perception that confiscations are profit-driven and not in the interest of public safety.

“As we head into the peak festive season, I appeal once more to the public to leave the alcohol at home and to keep our public spaces alcohol-free, for their own safety, but also that of others.”

The new moon spring tide will peak tomorrow. The National Sea Rescue Institute has urged beachgoers to exercise caution during this time. NSRI-Spokesperson Craig Lambinon says the new moon spring tide will significantly affect tidal conditions over the weekend.

The new moon spring tide will peak tomorrow

Lambinon says this natural phenomenon occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align during the new moon phase. This amplifies the gravitational pull on the Earth’s oceans. The effects of this new moon spring tide will be felt over this weekend and for the next few days. The NSRI is asking beach visitors, rock and surf anglers, and people who intend to walk on coastal paths to be aware of the stronger tidal variation typical of spring tides. He says the effects of spring tides can last several days. By adhering to these safety measures, you can minimise risks and enjoy the ocean’s natural beauty responsibly.

What to Expect During a Spring Tide:

Higher High Tides: Water levels will rise significantly, reaching further up the shoreline.

Lower Low Tides: More of the seabed will be exposed as water levels dip below average.
Increased Tidal Range: The difference between high and low tide levels will be at its maximum.

Impacts and Hazards of a Spring Tide:

Spring tides often result in stronger tidal currents, particularly in narrow inlets. This natural phenomenon can present potential dangers:

Rip Currents: Stronger tidal flows intensify rip currents at beaches, posing a risk to swimmers.

Rip Tides: Stronger tidal flows of water, especially in places like the Knysna Heads.

Coastal Hiking Hazards: Some hiking trails near the coast may become inaccessible or hazardous during high tide in the afternoon.

Fishing Precautions: Shoreline anglers should exercise extra caution, as higher waves may reach beyond usual safe zones.

Safety Measures to Follow:

To ensure your safety while enjoying coastal activities, the NSRI recommends the following precautions:

Beach and Swimming Safety

Swim at lifeguard-protected beaches: To avoid rip currents, swim between lifeguard flags.
Be aware of rip currents: Rip currents are particularly strong during spring tides, especially during outgoing tides in the late afternoon.

Stay informed: Check daily weather forecasts from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and consult tide timetables.

Coastal Activities

Hiking: Plan your hikes carefully, avoiding trails that may be cut off during high tide.
Fishing: Shoreline anglers should maintain a safe distance from the water. When fishing from rocks or cliffs, they should wear a life jacket and carry flotation equipment (for example, an empty 5L water container with a rope attached) that can be thrown to someone in the water.
Boating and paddling: Always wear life jackets, carry essential safety equipment, and keep your cell phone fully charged in a waterproof pouch. The free NSRI SafeTrx smartphone app allows you to log your trip and call the NSRI for help quickly and easily.
General Water Safety

Alcohol and swimming: Drinking alcohol before doing an activity in or near water may put your life at risk.
Supervise children: Ensure that children are under the supervision of a responsible adult in and near the water.
Inland water caution: Be cautious around rivers, lakes, and dams, especially during heavy rainfall.
Weather awareness: Monitor adverse weather conditions such as strong winds and fast-flowing rivers.

Additional Precautions

Time your activities: Be cautious during tide changes, especially when high tide recedes to low tide for beach visitors (in the late afternoon) and on the incoming tide for rock anglers.
Stay informed: Follow local safety alerts and warnings issued by authorities.

READ MORE: Emergency assistance

The online traffic fine management platform FinesSA is warning motorists about a traffic fine scam in which fraudsters pose as authorities and demand immediate payment, falsely claiming that motorists have outstanding fines.

This is after the organisation said it received numerous queries regarding the legitimacy of SMSs or WhatsApp messages in which immediate payment is requested for outstanding fines.

It is warning locals to be cautious when they receive notifications in this regard, as the messages appear official and often mimic legitimate municipal or traffic fine platforms. 

FinesSA CEO Barry Berman said there’s a link in the message that redirects to a clone website where payment can be made. 

“The messages look convincing, but they are designed to create urgency and panic. Once someone clicks a link and pays on an unsafe site, the money is gone and no fine has actually been settled,” said Berman. 

Berman added that the number of motorists seeking clarity has increased sharply in recent days.  

“We’ve seen a noticeable spike in motorists contacting us to check whether SMSs they’ve received are legitimate,” he said. 

FinesSA further stressed that it does not issue traffic fine notifications via SMS. Berman warns that motorists who proceed with payment on these sites are effectively handing money over to criminals.  

Motorists who may fall victim to these scams are still liable for any legitimate fines, even if they believe they have paid.  

The company added that motorists should always be cautious of messages that demand immediate payment or threaten penalties. 

“The safest thing to do is stop, don’t click, and verify your fines directly on a secure platform like our website or app. If the link doesn’t go to finessa.co.za, it’s not legitimate.”

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