Daily Archives: May 11, 2012

Famous Mandela trial to be digitised

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Records of the 1964 trial where Nelson Mandela got a life sentence are to be digitised as part of archives of the life of South Africa’s first black president, his foundation said on Thursday.

The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Internet giant Google in March created online digital archives of Mandela’s life, comprising thousands of handwritten documents, photographs and videos of Mandela.

These will soon include the Rivonia Trial of 10 anti-apartheid activists and members of the African National Congress that took place between 1963 and 1964.

“One of the key projects we will soon be embarking on is the digitisation of the Rivonia Trial trial records,” Sello Hatang, spokesman of the centre told AFP.

“Once digitised, it will ensure records are available to a greater number of people and form part of the Nelson Mandela greater archives.”

Though this digitisation will increase the records’ accessibility, very few original documents are available, according to Verne Harris, head of the memory programme at the centre.

“Most of the Rivonia trial records are lost,” he told the centre’s donors on Thursday night.

Mandela was captured by police and sentenced in 1964 to life in prison during the Rivonia trial where he delivered a speech that was to become the manifesto of the anti-apartheid movement.

He was jailed on Robben Island for 18 years before being transferred in 1982 to Pollsmoor prison in Cape Town and later to Victor Verster prison in nearby Paarl.-SAPA-AFP

Mother of Soweto video teen returns home from women’s centre

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The mother of a Soweto teenager filmed being gang raped has returned to her Bramfisherville, Soweto home from an abused women’s centre, an official said on Friday.

She was welcomed back by Gauteng social development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza and the Bramfisherville residents on Thursday, said social development spokesman Sello Mokoena.

The mother was admitted to a centre for abused women shortly after news of the rape surfaced on April 18. She received trauma counselling, was treated for stress and given a full medical examination.

“[We] will continue rendering counselling and [the] services of a psychologist to the entire family of seven,” said Mokoena

The family would be given a transport allowance to attend counselling sessions.

The teenage girl was still staying in a place of safety, where she was moved shortly after the gang rape was reported.

“We… urge you as the community of Bramfisherville to unite against crime and also to unite in supporting this family during this trying time,” said Mayathula-Khoza.

She said the department was determined to fight abuse, in partnership with NGOs, business and churches.

“We urge communities to participate in our parenting and prevention of sexual abuse skills programmes, as well as to take part in our education and awareness creation campaigns,” said Mayathula-Khoza.

Gautrain completion date still unknown

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Gautrain completion date is still unknown

Gia Nicolaides

JOHANNESBURG – There is still no indication as to when the final leg of the Gautrain system will be open to the public, as disputes over water seepage continue.

The Bombela Concession Company maintains the train is ready to operate between Rosebank and Park Station, while the Gautrain Management Agency said it cannot provide assurances that the water will not cause long-term damage to the underground tunnel.

In April, Gautrain commuters were given a glimmer of hope when Bombela announced it was ready to operate between Rosebank and Park Station, the final phase of the project.

The Gautrain Management Agency hit back, saying according to its contract it needs assurance that the amount of water being pumped out of the tunnel will not cause damage to the railway track or affect long term operations.

Bombela insists the drainage system in place is working well.

The agency is considering approaching the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa to help sort out the dispute if it is not resolved soon.

(Edited by Clare Matthes) 

Dewani case postponed again

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Dewani In Focus

Regan Thaw 

CAPE TOWN – The case against two men accused of playing a role in Anni Dewani’s murder was postponed yet again on Friday.

Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe appeared in the Western Cape High Court for another pre-trail conference.

The prosecution team was surprised when Judge André le Grange postponed the matter to next Friday.

Qwabe’s lawyer told the court he needed time to consult with his client, as his previous defence counsel had to withdraw for financial reasons.

Mngeni’s legal representative was not in court because he was stuck in traffic, the state explained.

The judge enquired as to whether the third accused, Shrien Dewani, would in fact be part of the trial.

It was explained to him he would only come back to South Africa once he is declared mentally fit.

It was reiterated the matter would go to trial on 30 July.

Anni was shot dead during a hijacking in Cape Town in 2010.

Following the murder, Dewani was accused of masterminding the murder.

South African authorities have been fighting to get him extradited to face the charges against him.

However earlier in 2012, a London court halted the extradition on mental health grounds. 

(Edited by Lindiwe Mlandu)

Mantashe unimpressed with de Klerk

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Gwede Mantashe. Picture: EWN

Stephen Grootes

JOHANNESBURG – African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe on Friday said former President FW de Klerk’s refusal to apologise for the homeland system shows he is nostalgic for South Africa’s apartheid past.

On Thursday night during an interview, De Klerk alluded that the National Party Policy of separate development was not wrong.

He told CNN he had not changed his mind about the homelands.

“What I haven’t apologised for is the original concept of seeking to bring justice to all South Africans through the concept of nation states,” said de Klerk.

Mantashe in response argued that the policy still affects our provinces.

“You will see that everywhere [where] there were Bantustans, [is] a problem we’ll always battle with,” Mantashe responded.

(Edited by Clare Matthes)

A MAN STILL AT LARGE!!!

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Colonel Mothusiemang Kgwenyape standing next to a canal

BY Obakeng Maje

Taung,Chiefscourt- The residents of Taung in chiefscourt woke up to the bad news when an unknown suspect found a woman making fire in the early hour of the morning.

According to the reports, the perpetrator forced a woman back into her own house and rape her.

After the ordeal the suspect flee the scene and he is still at large.

“The police are asking for your help and anyone who have information that can lead us to the arrest of the suspect must please call us on 086 10111” Ngubane said..  

Two suspects reminded in custody!!!

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BY Obakeng Maje

Two suspects who appeared briefly before Taung Magistrate Court yesterday were reminded in custody. A sangoma and his girlfriend are accused of murder after Diana Sopika(23) originally from Shweizer-Reneke was found dead.

Her body was placed in a black plastic bag and was floating on the water in nearby river. The gruesome event came to light three weeks ago at Mokgareng village, near Taung.

The residents were so angry and hunted down the suspects with the help of police. This resulted in the arrest of Benjamin Monnahele(36) and his girlfriend, Kgalalelo Ratilodi who is also 23.

They briefly appeared in Taung, and their case was reprimanded until their third appearances on the 17th of May 2012.

The two suspects are expected to apply for a bail on the due date.

“The case of two suspects were postponed until on the 17th of this month and they will remain in custody” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

Diana Sopika was allegedly killed while came to consult a sangoma in the area. and the residents were chanting and singing outside the court showing their anger and condemn killing of women.

Last week premier Thandi Modise also take a stand and condemn the women killing in the area after another incident in Mafikeng were a woman was allegedly been killed by her boyfriend and other three accomplices.

Johan Kotze back in the dock

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Accused murderer Johan Kotze

JOHANNESBURG – Johan Kotze and his co-accused are expected to make their next court appearance on Friday to be served their indictments.

Kotze, who has been dubbed the “Modimolle Monster”, and three of his workers are standing trial for the rape and torture of his estranged wife and the murder of her teenage son.

Prosecutor Renier van Rooyen is expected to serve a final indictment on Kotze and his co-accused which will detail the state’s case against them.

The trial is also likely to be transferred to a high court, most likely to the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

In April, the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court denied bail to Kotze’s co-accused, who claimed they were forced to take part in the grisly crime.

Kotze has made no attempt to secure his freedom.

It is likely to take months for the trial to begin in the high court, while police appear to have wrapped up most of their investigation.

Kotze’s ex-wife, Ina Bonnette, is expected to be the state’s star witness.

(Edited by Clare Matthes)

Word from Captain!!!

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Augusto Palacios, Lucky Lekgwathi © Backpagepix

I have been an Orlando Pirates player for many years and I have had my fair share of ups and downs. As we are about to play our two most crucial games of the season, a lot of things cross my mind.

This is further emphasised by the people I meet in the streets. Wherever I go the questions are all the same: “Lucky, do you guys feel nervous now that you have only two matches to play or do you think you can defend the title?”

Well, my answer to all these questions is very simple. For us Orlando Pirates players, pressure is the order of the day….even when we were on position seven at some point in the season, we still had pressure.

I personally feel there is nothing wrong with pressure; it’s how you deal with it that counts. We have worked hard this whole season to be where we are today and we don’t intend to relax any time soon.

These two games are very important for us hence we are treating both encounters like cup finals. The inconsistency in the leagues all over the world is a result of the overall improvement of teams. The days of big club and small club are long gone; every team must work hard to attain success, there is no divine right or favour for any club.

From the beginning of the week our preparations have been that of intensifying our workload to be at our best for the next game, but equally as important has been the conditioning of our mental state. Psychology plays a big role when it comes to games like these.

Ask any sports man and he will tell you that an unsettled mind leads to an unsettled performance. The reason the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are able to dish out that level of football week in and week out, is due to their state of mind, hence they hardly get yellow or red carded. Their minds are tuned into what they need to achieve – everything else is secondary.

This is what we have been working on ourselves. We cannot allow ourselves to be drawn into the debate on where the trophy will go, because that will only unsettle us. Our initial focus is to collect three points against Celtic and three more points away to Arrows and nothing more.

I would like to assure the Ghost that we are determined to win this league and we will do all we can to win it but for now we are focussing on the SIX POINTS.

So far things have worked for us and we are thankful to management, for the support and commitment they have shown to the team.

The atmosphere in the team is great and I can promise everyone that on Saturday afternoon, football lovers will see a different a team, determined to win this match.

We have in total 180 minutes to play for our lives… we have to win this match first and think about the next match in Durban against Golden Arrows.

Those are two crucial matches for us and we will do our best to win both of them. To our fans, please let us behave ourselves in the stadium and rally behind the team for the duration of the match.

I will pause here for today.

Lucky ‘Phinda Mzala’ Lekgwathi.

Jersey #14

D-day for Chiefs trio

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Kaizer Motaung will today announce the assistants for Kaizer Chiefs’ new coach Stuart Baxter. 

Baxter is on a two-year deal in Naturena and his technical team will be finalised today.

KickOff.com has been informed that Baxter may opt for two assistants – his own man and a local assistant, but nothing is cast in stone yet.

According to those in the know, Baxter’s local options are Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse, Doctor Khumalo and Arthur Zwane.

The trio are currently coaching the team, with Khuse the head coach.

Have your say on Facebook: Who do you think should assist Baxter?

Khumalo, who has been the vocal of the three since they took over from Vladimir Vermezovic, says they will respect management’s decision.

“Let’s just respect the protocol … the chairman said he is going to announce it on Friday so we just have to wait for the chairman to announce,” Khumalo says.

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