JOHANNESBURG – A Tshwane metro police officer was on Monday arrested for being in possession of three sets of explosives, an unlicensed firearm and a stolen vehicle.

Police raided the 29-year-old constable’s Akasia home this morning.

Spokesperson Matthews Nkoadi said an investigation was underway to determine whether the woman may be linked to other crimes.

“We are trying to find out if we can’t link her to crimes around the area, especially ATM bombings.”

for more details go to ewn.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

Itsoseng-North West police identified the unknown body of a 21-year-old Katlego Molefe that was discovered yesterday.

The body was discovered yesterday 7:00am by a  passerby on an open field near Verdwaal number 2.

“According to the information at our disposal, the victim was assaulted on the head with an unknown object. Molefe was from Biretsane Village near Atamelang and she was visiting her relative in Verdwaal during the incident” Captain Funani said.

“Molefe was last seen on Sunday night by her family. She told her family that she was going to spend the night with her boyfriend, when she left her relatives home” She said.

Police are still question the victim’s boyfriend to see whether he can be linked to the victim’s murder.

 A case of murder has been registered.

The motive of the incident is still unknown.   Nobody was arrested. 

File: (Portia Mojakgolo)

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-North West police are investigating a case of attempted murder and inquest after a constable shot his girlfriend and turned a gun on himself. 

“According to information received two lovebirds were seen arguing before leaving a local tavern(Kgano Bar) a on their way constable Boitumelo Kwate allegedly drove to the bushes in Modimong village and tied his girlfriend Gomolemo Portia Mojakgolo to tree before he sother” Captain Amanda Funani said.

A 26 year-old cop turned a gun on himself and his body was found miles awaya from his car.

Portia Mojakgolo(21) is recovering at Taung hospital andinvestigation continues.

Police suspect no foul play in the fiasco.

By Obakeng Maje

As the year 2012 comes to a close, we remember with anguish the bloodshed and the tears that were shed in the aftermath of the Marikana tragedy. We wish to convey our gratitude to church leaders under the auspices of the South African Council of Churches and traditional leaders for playing a significant role in facilitating mediation and supporting the negotiation process that ended in wage settlements and normalising of relations in the mining sector.

The challenges we faced in the past year not only served to make us acutely aware of the urgency with which we need to address unemployment, poverty and inequality but have strengthened our resolve to seek lasting solutions to the challenges facing us.

We wish to assure the people of our province that though we are still faced with challenges in some areas, the strides we have made together and the pace we have set gives us confidence that these are not insurmountable but need us to continue holding hands.

We wish to thank those who supported our effort to intensify the fight against poverty, joblessness, homelessness, illiteracy, crime, greed and corruption and for believing that clean governance is achievable.

Though our resolve to establish and maintain a corrupt free public administration was tested and challenged on all fronts by those who seek to continue plundering resources meant to improve the lives of our people, we intensified our effort and scored major victories in the interest of good governance and protecting the resources and assets of our people.

We owe it to our people to strengthen partnerships we have established with the business sector, churches, traditional leaders, community based organizations, institutions of higher learning, non-government organizations, women and youth organisations and the media to accelerate service delivery, stamp the tide of corruption and to usher a new era of pride in selflessness, integrity and morality.

As we celebrate Christmas and recharge for the tasks that still lie ahead of us in the new year, we call on all of our people to remember that this season of peace, goodwill and sharing also presents us with an opportunity to expand our giving encompassing the lonely and needy. We should celebrate it by giving the light of hope and love to those who need them most, our orphans, widows and our elderly.More advances lie ahead for us to score and celebrate as part of our legacy, history and rich heritage. Working together we can do more to deepen our democracy and sustain our hard won freedom for the next 100 years.

As a compassionate and caring government that supports the Decade of Action for Road Safety, we appeal to those who will be travelling during this festive season not to drink and drive, to exercise caution and share the road responsibly with other road users.

Let us enjoy the festivities responsibly and support our men and women in dignified blue by reporting suspected criminal activities, women, child abuse and neglect.

As we finalise preparations towards the 2013 African Cup of Nations matches to be hosted by the province at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, we are confident that working together we can do more to create better, healthier and safer communities.

As we celebrate, let us remember in our prayers the father of our nation,former President Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela and those in hospital.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Johannesburg – Ten more people died in overnight crashes, pushing up the already high road death toll since the beginning of the month, ER24 reported on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said this was despite a decrease in the number of accidents attended to.

Two people died when a car slammed into a stationary one in pouring rain on the road between Welkom and Virginia.

Another three suffered critical injuries.

Jackson said in a one-vehicle accident on the N3 near Pietermaritzburg, a 3-week-old baby died after being ejected when the car flipped over. His parents were only slightly injured.

In Bloemfontein, a pedestrian died after being knocked over by a car.

Two people died in a crash in Parow. The details aren’t clear, said Jackson, but one of the cars involved is believed to be a state vehicle.

In a head-on crash near Paul Roux, in the Free State, three people died.

All three men were trapped in the mangled wreckage of what remained of their vehicles. The local fire department needed to use the Jaws of Life to remove their remains.

Shortly after 03:00, Witbank crews rushed out to the scene of an accident on the N12 which had taken place approximately 2km from the Watermeyer off ramp outside of Witbank.

A single vehicle had left the road and the vehicle had rolled into a roadside ditch.

The vehicle was barely visible from the road and one of the two occupants had died due to the nature of injuries that they had sustained.

The other patient was transported to hospital by the provincial services ambulance.

For more details go to http://www.news24.com

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – A Bluff security guard, whose hoax bomb threats caused a busy supermarket to be evacuated three times, has admitted to making the false calls, saying he wanted to impress his boss.

Shane Muller, 25, who worked as a security guard for Pick n Pay on the Bluff, said his R2 000 a month salary was no longer sufficient to support his growing family.

Overwhelmed by his financial situation, Muller, who has a Grade 6 education, hatched a plan to get a promotion.

It was simple, he told the Durban Regional Court last week: call the police about an alleged bomb at the supermarket and assist with the search and evacuation with such efficiency that his boss would have no choice but to promote him to supervisor.

Using his cellphone from the supermarket, Muller made the first call to police on December 1.

When the police and the Dog Unit arrived, Muller helped cordon off the area and assisted with evacuating customers from the centre. After a thorough sweep, no bomb was found and the police left.

“I heard an officer Thomas say to my boss that the security guards did a very good job,” said Muller when he pleaded guilty in court last week to three counts of unlawfully and intentionally communicating false information regarding an alleged explosion.

Muller also pleaded guilty to calling police the next day about a bomb at the Oxford Fresh Market, located near Pick n Pay.

He did not assist in that operation, he said.

On December 5, after his boss commended him on his efforts during the “bomb threat” and said he would “look into” making him a supervisor, Muller made his third hoax call and assisted once again, hoping it would speed up his prospects of a promotion.

“I thought my boss would give me a raise if I did a good job for a second time,” he said.

“I can understand that you wanted to get a promotion and you wanted to be commended for your work but how does that affect Oxford?” asked regional magistrate Anand Maharaj during mitigation of sentence.

Conducting his own defence, Muller pleaded with the court not to send him to jail: “I don’t know why I did that one. That was a big mistake. I’m a good guy now. I don’t do nothing no more (sic). I will go to Oxford and tell the owner that I’m very sorry for what I did, from the bottom of my heart, I’m very sorry. On my children’s lives, I will never do it again. You can ask my neighbours. I’m a good person. I mow lawns to make extra money.”

Muller is the sole breadwinner for his parents, girlfriend, and her four-year-old daughter. His girlfriend is five months pregnant with Muller’s child.

The two met when Muller was a witness to her former boyfriend’s murder.

Prosecutor Kuveshnie Pillay said it was an extraordinary case.

“People were in a state of panic and businesses lost large sums of money,” Pillay said.

In court papers John Morton, the manager of Oxford, said the business lost about R150 000 in the 2.5 hours they were closed.

“It was a busy weekend and we were averaging close to R200 000 per hour. We managed to get the shop ready for trade and open for customers but business was slow because customers were wary to return to the shop,” Morton said.

He attributed the loss to the evacuation of the store when the hoax call was made.

Handing down sentence, Maharaj described Muller’s actions as “sheer stupidity”.

Referring to the call about a bomb at Oxford, Maharaj said: “It was of no benefit to you so I can only presume it was a big joke for you.”

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

Maharaj told Muller that his only saving grace was that he handed himself over to the police.

Twenty-eight people were injured when two cars and a minibus collided about 50 kilometres north of Bloemfontein, paramedics said on Monday.

Netcare 911 spokeswoman Santi Steinmann said the accident happened at 11pm on Sunday night.

“One person sustained critical injuries and another two sustained serious injuries. The other twenty-five people were lucky to escape with minor injuries.”

Steinmann said the people were transported to hospital for further treatment.

The cause of the accident was unknown and would be investigated, she added.

-Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp- A 27-year-old suspect was arrested for murder after he allegedly killed a 27-year-old suspect.

“The deceased and the suspect had an argument on yesterday at about 20:35pm when the suspect allegedly took out a knife and stabbed the deceased in a  chest” Captain Funani said.

The suspect was  also injured during the alleged incident and was admitted in a local hospital under police guard” She said.

He will appear at Klerksdorp Magistrate Court soon.

By Obakeng Maje

Taung- A 25-year-old pedestrian was allegedly killed after being hit by a metallic Opel Astra on the Mogareng Village road in Taung yesterday at about 03:45 North West police said.

“The deceased was allegedly crossing the road, when he was knocked down by the vehicle. He died on the scene” Captain Amanda Funani said.

Police are investigating a culpable homicide case. 

By Obakeng Maje

Hartbeespoortdam-North West police arrested a 59 year-old man after he stabbed a 57 year-old man to death.

This happened on saturday at Broederstroom where two men were playing cards together.

“according to information received, an argument ensued between them over money and the were engaged in a fight” captain amanda funani said. 

a suspect allegedly took out a knife and stab a 59 year-old several times after realising that he is no match to a 57 year-old man physically.

the victim was rushed to brits hospital where he kicked the bucket on the arrival.

police registered a murder case and a suspect will appear before magistrate soon.