Monthly Archives: August 2012

Bester to be sentenced

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CAPE TOWN – The so-called Facebook Rapist will learn his fate on Tuesday.

Thabo Bester is expected to be sentenced in the Western Cape High Court.

On Monday he entered into a plea bargain with the state in terms of which he confessed to murdering a Gauteng woman, Nomfundo Tyulu, in Cape Town last year.

The judge explained in detail to Thabo Bester and his lawyer the charges he faced.

Bester simply nodded each time he was asked if he understood the proceedings.

In a plea statement he admitted to stabbing Nomfundo Tyulu to death last September, while the two were holidaying at a bed and breakfast in Milnerton.

They met several times in Johannesburg several months earlier, when Tyulu sold a car to Bester.

In the statement he said he was deeply sorry for what he did and added he didn’t know what motivated him to take someone’s life.

He is already serving a 50-year jail term for a series of rapes and robberies he committed in Durban.

For more details go to http://www.ewn.co.za

Situation in Lonmin stable…for now

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Rustenburg – The situation at the Lonmin’s Marikana mine in the North West was stable on Tuesday morning following the deaths of nine people, police said.

 

Captain Dennis Adriao said police had been monitoring the situation at the mine where violence had erupted from Friday.

 

“At this stage no other incidents were reported throughout Monday night.”

 

Nine people – two police officers, two security guards, three protesters and two other men – had been killed by 20:30 on Monday.

 

The deaths were linked to violence apparently triggered by union rivalry.

 

3 000 workers protest

 

Adriao said the two police officers were killed on Monday afternoon and three protesters were shot dead.

 

One other police officer was critically injured, he said.

 

About 3 000 Lonmin rock drill operators started an illegal work stoppage and protest march on Friday.

 

Earlier, officials from the platinum mine announced that the body of a man was found on the premises. He had been shot dead.

 

Adriao said the man’s death was believed to be linked to the violence.

 

Another man died in hospital on Sunday after being hacked with a panga as he left the mine after the evening shift.

 

On Saturday, two security guards were killed when the car they were travelling in was set alight.

 

Scores of other people have been injured in the violent unrest in the last four days. Police also reported that eight vehicles were torched on the mine property on Sunday.

 

‘Stopping the violence’

 

Violence at the Lonmin Marikana mine has been linked to clashes between members of the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which are reportedly fighting for control of local mines.

 

Lonmin has called for an end to the violence.

 

“Whilst our first thoughts must be with the families of those killed and injured in these criminal clashes, our operational priority is to see the violence stop,” says Lonmin CEO, Ian Farmer.

 

Num has condemned the violence and has called for immediate action from the police.

 

“[We are] alarmed at that the escalating violence has been allowed to continue unabated by the law enforcement agencies in that area in North West Province,” said Num general secretary Frans Baleni.

 

“We call for the deployment of a special task force or the SANDF to deal decisively with the criminal elements in Rustenburg and its surrounding mine.”

 

Baleni dismissed statements that it was a rivalry attack and said the Num was a victim of Amcu. By Monday afternoon, police had made no arrests.

 

In February, the two unions also clashed over membership at Impala Platinum’s mines in Rustenburg.

SAPA

A farmer killed in Hartbeesfontein

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By Obakeng Maje

Hartbeesfontein-Police are investigating a case of murder after a woman  was attacked on her farm today 13 August 2012 at about 9:00 in Witklip near Hartbeesfontein.

It is alleged that the woman was about to open her gate and was about to leave the farm when she was approached by three suspects.

“According to the information received, it is alleged that the three suspects were hiding near a house close to the gate when they shot her three times”

“The woman aged 35 to 39 was shot her on her face, arm and on the chest” Brigadier Thulani Nguane said. 

Police were called by a passerby and the ambulance also arrived and she died on her way to the Hospital.

At this stage the police do not know the motive of the killing.

The suspects fled the scene with a brown van and investigation continues.

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51 year-old man arrested after assaulting two officers

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By Obakeng Maje

Ventersdorp Police arrested a 51-year-old Afrikaners for allegedly assaulting two female traffic officers.

According to the information received, three traffic officers were part of a roadblock that was conducted .

The incident occurred on the 13 August 2012 at about 12:00 on the Derby Road outside Ventersdorp.

It is alleged that the suspect did not want to corporate with the traffic and became violent. The suspect then started assaulting the three traffic officers aged 37, 39 and 53. 

Among these three traffic officers the woman (37) is pregnant.

“Police were called and a case of common assault, abstracting traffic officers while on duty and failing to give names to the traffic officers was registered” thulani ngubane said.

 The suspect is expected to appear before Ventersdorp Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 14 August 2012.  Investigation continues

 

 

Five people died in an accident and other four critically injured

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By Obakeng Maje

The Mahikeng police are investigating a case of Culpable Homicide after five people die while four are critical in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Mahikeng due to accident.

  The accident happened on 12 August 2012 at about 18:00 on the Zeerust road, 10 km away from Mahikeng, near Manyane Game Reserve.

  Five people of the Nissan Tida occupants died at the scene while four occupants of the Corolla were taken to Bophelong Hospital. 

The four survived occupants of the Corolla are in critical conditions in Bophelong ICU. 

“The occupants of the Nissan Tida were on their way from Rustenburg to Mahikeng and occupants of the Corolla were travelling from Mahikeng to Pietersburg when the two cars collided” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.   

Culpable Homicide investigations continues, and names of the deceased cannot yet be revealed as the next of kin still needs to identify their beloved ones.

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Muslim killing case postponed

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JOHANNESBURG – Two people accused of killing a man in an alleged Islamophobic attack will have to go through an identity parade before they return to court, Gauteng police confirmed on Monday. 

Last week, two men assaulted Mohammed Faiyaz Kazi and a friend at a fast food outlet in Magaliesburg. 

It is alleged the fight broke out when one of the suspects hurled insults at Kazi over his beard. 

Kazi died from his injuries at a Potchefstroom hospital last Monday.  

There was confusion in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court when it emerged that the suspects appeared before the magistrate.

Family members were not allowed to attend proceedings.

Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the public was barred from the room because of ongoing investigations. 

“Members of the public have cellphones. They can take pictures and we do not want to contaminate the identity kit.”

The pair will remain in custody until their next court appearance on August 21.

For more dtails go ewn.co.za

Kimberly to host KNVB coaching courses

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By Obakeng Maje 

The KNVB programme, to coach two hundred (200) women coaches, is still well on track with another nineteen (19) participants completing the basic coaching course in Kimberley, Northern Cape.

 

The project, an initiative of the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and in conjunction with the South African Football Association (SAFA), took place from the 3 rd – 7 th of August.

 

It was headed by coach Nico Labohm, who was sent by the KNVB.

 

SAFA Technical Director of Women’s Football Fran Hilton-Smith, who was at the course to assess coaches for further development, thanked the KNVB for their efforts to develop women coaches.

 

“This is a wonderful programme that gives interested women a taste of football coaching and encourages them to study further to improve their levels. By developing qualified coaches at junior level, especially teachers, we can improve the standard of our grassroots football, which in turn will benefit our national teams,” said Hilton-Smith.

 

Guests at the closing ceremony included SAFA President of the Northern Cape Mr Theodore Khupe, Deputy President of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) Mr Dickson Moleko, Deputy Director of School Sport in the Northern Cape Ms Kgalalelo Nkokou and Manager of Development: Sport and Recreation Ms Khumo Nicolas.

 

Further courses are planned in other Provinces.

 

Here is the full list of participants:

 

Innocent Bekebeke

 

  R.C.Mills

 

  Pauleen Maasdorp

 

  R.C.Mills

 

  Leona Van Neel

 

  Kappa Pirates

 

  Anita Isaacs

 

  R.C.Mills

 

  Rionette Cloete

 

  M.U. Ladies

 

  Christelle Cloete

 

  M.U. Ladies

 

  Louisa Mathibedi

 

  Sishen Intermediate School

 

  Maria Thupae

 

  Gasebonwe Jantjie Middle School

 

  Felicity Baepane

 

  Laxey United

 

  Gadio Moncho

 

  Rearata Primary School

 

  Mary Sethibang

 

  Flamingo Primary School

 

  Evah Hans

 

  Magareng Primary School

 

  Lorraine Valtyn

 

  Tigress Girls Warrenton

 

  Wendy Augus

 

  FNB Football First

 

  Zullette Katz

 

  Colville Football Club

 

  Lindokuhle Fiki

 

  Potential Football Club

 

  Thandi Sem

 

  Young Stars

 

  Li-Anne Jonkers

 

  Mahobe United

 

  Yolandi Baartman

 

  De Aar Celtic

 

    

 

Abused girls to share R240 000

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KwaZulu-Natal – Five KwaZulu-Natal girls, including orphans who were abused by a US Peace Corps volunteer, will be given about R240 000 to share – as a form of compensation by the US government and the family of their perpetrator.

 

This emerged after Jesse Osmun, 31, appeared in the US District Court in Hartford, Connecticut, last week after pleading guilty to engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children.

 

Osmun’s attorney, Richard Meehan, said the money was made up of $20 000 (R160 000) from the Peace Corps and $10 000 (R80 000) to be donated by Osmun’s family.

 

“We have agreed with the government to create a fund to benefit these specific children and the Peace Corps has graciously agreed to voluntarily contribute,” Meehan said.

 

“The fund will be administered by a US law firm pro bono under the supervision of the court. It is an attempt by my client and his parents to provide for some services for these children,” he said.

 

Osmun was on assignment at the Umvoti Aids Centre in Greytown last year when he abused five girls aged between three and five years old.

 

Two months ago, he pleaded guilty to illicit sexual conduct with children. He faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment in a US federal jail. Osmun will be sentenced on October 10.

 

Joan Dutton, director of the Umvoti Aids Centre, said she was initially sceptical about the children receiving “blood money”, but she changed her mind after realising the good it could do for their future.

 

She said that while she had not been told the exact amount, she had been in touch with US investigators who had spoken to her about offering the children compensation.

 

High food prices to crippled the poor

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Rising food prices, particularly of maize and wheat, which are the staple diet of the poor in South Africa, have posed serious problems for the urban and rural poor.

 

Based on recent information from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO 2009), supported by independent sources (Heady & Fan 2008), food prices will continue to increase steadily over the next decade.

 

Due to the current drought in the United States of America, a very hot summer in Russia and excessive rain in Brazil there are severe constraints placed on the global food chain which are pushing up prices around the world.

 

The (FAO 2012) indicated that its index of global food prices rose 6% in July, the biggest increase since November 2009.  Hunger continues to be one of the greatest challenges in the new South Africa and one of the key driving forces exacerbating the problem is the rising cost of food.

 

According to the General Household Survey (GHS 2010) it is estimated that 21,9% of South African households have inadequate or severely inadequate access to food. The rural areas of South Africa bear the brunt of living without the fundamental security of regular meals, with unemployment levels as high as 70% in some rural communities. (The national average is 25.7%). 

 

A study done by the Human Science Research Council in 2009, revealed that 19% of households reported skipping meals, and 20% ran out of money to buy food, 35% to 70% of expenditure goes to food in poor households, 50% to 80% of households could not afford an acceptable nutritional balance and based on current prics and levels of fortification only 20% of households could afford a minimum nutritionally adequate diet.

For more details go to http://www.sabc.co.za

Department of Education officials face suspensions


Durban – At least 10 KwaZulu-Natal education officials are facing “imminent” suspension related to corruption in the department’s school nutrition programme.

Provincial education department head Nkosinathi Sishi made the announcement in Durban.

This followed the suspension of two department officials in June.

Some 2.2 million pupils in KwaZulu-Natal benefit from the national school nutrition programme, which costs the province R1.2bn a year.

For more details go to http://www.new24.com