Yearly Archives: 2012

Illness delays murder case

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IOL news oct 5 gavel_sep 4

Muldersdrift, North West – The trial of two men implicated in the murder of a Muldersdrift man was postponed by the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Micky Thesner told the court a third accused, Maniri Lubisi, was still in hospital.

“The hospital hasn’t indicated when he’ll be ready for release,” she said.

The case was postponed until November 5 for Lubisi, and for further investigation.

The two accused in court, Alfred Zwane and Samson Madlaza, stood before the magistrate in an empty court room and were told they would remain in police custody.

They were allegedly part of a group which robbed and shot 50-year-old Andre Jordaan at his home.

Police said Jordaan was with other people outside when a barking dog alerted them to a group of men carrying firearms.

The robbers entered the house and shot Jordaan seven times. He died in hospital.

Police were investigating whether the three men were part of the gang which killed Alyssa Botha, 13, and wounded her 17-year-old sister and her father in a robbery in the same area two weeks ago.

Five men were arrested in connection with the robbery, but all of them were released because of a lack of evidence.

One of the men had a memory card belonging to one of the girls.

The matter would continue on November 5. – Sapa

Madonsela: bias claims ‘mischievous’

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IOL thuli madonsela march 29

Pretoria – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Monday dismissed accusations of bias, reportedly made against her by her deputy, Mamiki Shai.

Madonsela was reacting to a Sunday Times report on claims, attributed to Shai, that she had changed the findings of a report into the DA-led Midvaal Municipality, and had deliberately withheld its release until after municipal elections.

“For one to say I sat on that report to ensure that the DA wins in Midvaal is really mischievous, but it must be tested. We work through a memo system in our offices, which indicates when a report was handed to me,” she said.

“Reports are not thrown at you as you walk through the door. I think people should read the (Midvaal) report and then ask whoever is accusing me what was in that report that I removed which makes the final report unjust.”

She said she wanted the African National Congress in Midvaal to be part of the investigation into the allegations of her bias.

The public protector said she stood by all her findings as they were credible.

“I have never made a decision that I cannot justify, or that can’t be justified by the report itself. I challenge you as journalists to read the reports, especially the one on Midvaal, which has the most absurd of allegations,” she said.

Madonsela welcomed Parliament’s decision to assign the justice portfolio committee to look into various allegations – made in a series of anonymous letters – against her and her office.

She had requested the probe in July.

Madonsela also rejected claims, attributed to Shai in the newspaper report, suggesting that the public protector was taking up issues beyond her jurisdiction. – Sapa

Setlopo High School students celebrate their matric dance in style

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By Obakeng Maje

Mafikeng- Setlopo High School Students will relish every moment they had at their Matric Dance farewell which were celebrated in style at Gabomotho Resort.

The anticipated event started with inclinations as students were convoyed in a VW to Gabomotho Resort.

They were all dressed up and paired with well-known personalities.

“They must do their best at school and they must not let their background determine their. future. This should actually encourage them to work very hard no matter how difficult it is can be. They must keep pushing and eventually they will see the light at the end of the tunnel” Motsweding Fm presenter, Sir Max said.

Motsweding FM news anchor, Bayo Selogilwe who is also a chairperson of Tsala Tota Organization chairperson  was a Guest of Honour.

“We as radio personnels must keep on motivating this kids to do well in their exams and remember that its up to an individual not about a friend or anyone, but one’s future” Bahedile Selogile said.

“They must change their situation and take a good example from US president,Barack Obama.He didn’t let his background to affect him of fulfilling his dreams to became the first black president of America” she asserted.

Goitseone Mooki MAFIKENG FM NEWS ANCHOR was one of the Speaker.

He said “It iss an honour to be part of the initiative as I can relate with the benefactors. I would like to see more schools benefiting and more sponsors coming on board”.

Lesego Molamu from Lesco Event/Radio Producer and Boitumelo “LadyGee” Mosiane from KitsokeNeo were the Organizers of this Matric Dance.

Molamu said this is the Beginning of “Fairytale”where by “we will be helping disadvantaged kids to enjoy and attend their Matric Dance as they have been at school for 12 Years”.

“Jullia Mosiane(teacher) at Setlopo High School  was the one who identified the underpriviledged kids” Molamu said.

Best Dress of the Night: Thabiso Moeng and Kriel Dimakatso.

“We would like to thank the following people if it was not for them, we would have managed to organise such a massive event:  Sir Max MOTSWEDING FM, MK1 VW Club, Tutu Kgobane Presenter @ NWUFM, Refilwe Fifi Lefenya Presenter @ MAFIKENG FM, Bayo Selogilwe SABC NEWS ANCHOR, Goitseone Mooki MAFIKENG FM NEWS ANCHOR, Boitumelo LadyGee Mosiane, Napoleon Rilela, Gloria Phoxx, Kabelo Mahemo, Obakeng, Gaa” Molamu said.

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Teacher beaten by pupils

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Mpumalanga – Four teenage boys and a girl from a Oosterland High School near Secunda allegedly assaulted a teacher from a neighbouring school so badly at the weekend that he had to be admitted to hospital, Beeld reported.

Attie Rudolph, 44, sustained severe concussion on Friday night at Secunda High School and had to have stitches for a cut on the back of his head.

The attack took place around 7pm at a dance arranged by the school as part of their spring celebrations.

Rudolph was allegedly confronted at the school gate by a group of teenagers who said they had come to collect a girl who was in the school hall.

Rudolph told them that only the girls’ parents were allowed to collect her, asked them to leave and then walked away.

He was attacked from behind and bashed on the head with a heavy object, after which he fell to the ground.

He was kicked in the face before his attackers fled, but they were identified by a witness.

Rudolph was admitted to hospital for treatment, and discharged on Saturday.

A charge of assault has been laid against the five assailants. – Sapa

 

NW’s R600m lease debacle drags on

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iol pic si NW building

More than four years after the North West public works and health departments signed a R600 million lease to rent a complex for the provincial Health Department, eight officials have been called to a disciplinary hearing about the deal.

 

 

The officials – seven from the provincial Public Works Department and one from the Health Department – appeared before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday.

 

 

They include the former head of the Public Works Department, Obakeng Mongale; Pandora Hlakanye, who was the director of facility management; IT employee Seatlholo Matlhaku; Josie Scholtz; Johanna Hart; Johannes Tselane; Mbulelo Tundzi, who sat on the tender adjudication committee; and Vuyo Mbulawa, the former chief director of corporate services in the Health Department.

 

 

Provincial health spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane confirmed that Mongale, who has since moved to the Health Department, and Mbulawa, attended an “enquiry”. They were not charged but were only there to establish facts, said Lekgethwane, adding that the department was not privy to the details of the meeting as it was a closed, ongoing session.

 

 

Provincial public works spokesman KJLebo Mokgethi would not confirm which employees were summonsed or whether their disciplinary hearings were linked to the Peolwane Properties lease.

 

 

The disciplinary hearing of the eight employees was scheduled for the same week that the two departments, in conjunction with the provincial Treasury, started a court process to set aside the pricey lease – signed off in 2008 by the provincial Health Department and costing R3.9m a month.

 

 

It kicked in in November, but the department has refused to move in or pay rent.

 

 

The building’s owner, Peolwane Properties, approached the Mafikeng High Court to get the department to honour its lease obligations and the court ordered a review of the tender.

 

 

But since the lease was signed four years ago, more than four officials involved in the decision have left the health and public works departments.

 

 

Mongale is now executive manager for specialised hospitals and medical support services in the Health Department and Hlakanye is chief of facility management.

 

 

The disciplinary hearing followed a report by The Sunday Independent that the department had ordered a forensic investigation conducted by Gobodo Incorporated of the the lease after complaints from a losing bidder.

For more details go tohttp://www.iol.co.za/

Two rhinos mutilated in reserve

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IOL pic oct15 rhino file image

Johannesburg – Two rhinos were found dead and mutilated at the Shingalana Lion and Rhino Game Reserve in Haartebees in the North West on Sunday morning, the reserve said.

Spokesperson Jaco Pfister said the corpses were discovered with their horns, ears and genitals removed.

He said this was the second such incident at the reserve in a week after another rhino was recovered on Monday.

“We believe the same people were behind both incidents because they have removed similar parts from the rhinos,” he said.

No one had been arrested and police were investigating. – Sapa

Mbalula spitting fire over reports

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The Sunday Independent newspaper earlier reported that Mbalula was now backing President Jacob Zuma in the coming ANC elective conference, quoting unnamed sources.

 

Mbalula was linked with a campaign to replace ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe, a move led by the ANC Youth League.

 

But Mbalula described these reports to the Sowetan newspaper as “a desperation of political thugs and their cohorts who have elected to subject me to political lynch”.

 

“Those who possess uncontrollable ambitions to ascend to leadership by hook or crook, or position themselves as king-makers, will not hesitate to play dirty tricks,” he was quoted by the newspaper.

 

Mbalula also lashed at Zizi Kodwa and businessman Sello Rasethaba who had been quoted as saying he was amenable to their proposals to ditch his ambitions to replace Mantashe, the Sowetan said.

 

The Sowetan reported that Kodwa, a former Zuma spokesman, had been quoted as saying they were trying to make Mbalula understand that “he can’t be part of a coalition that can’t be defined politically”.

 

“There has to be a generational mix, but the generation of 1942 can’t be forced out,” the paper quoted Kodwa as saying.

 

Mbalula said: “…I neither need spokespersons nor self-styled messiahs in the form of Zizi Kodwa or Sello Rasethaba to speak on my behalf.”

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

Zuma delaying to appoint SIU head

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JOHANNESBURG – A number of organisations on Sunday said President Jacob Zuma’s failure to appoint a full-time head of the special investigations unit is raising questions about his commitment to fighting corruption.

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), Corruption Watch, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) have all voiced concerns.

Advocate Willem Heath stepped down as SIU head exactly 10 months ago, and no new head has yet been appointed.

He resigned following remarks he made to the City Press newspaper about former president Thabo Mbeki’s alleged involvement in prosecuting President Jacob Zuma.

Zuma became embroiled in corruption-related controversy when his financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, was charged and later convicted with corruption and fraud.

Mbeki then relieved Zuma of his duties as his deputy after he was accused of abusing his power.

Corruption Watch head David Lewis said he did not understand the delay in the appointment.

“It doesn’t square with fighting corruption. The SIU has been a very effective body”.

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

Striking Bokoni Platinum miners set to return to work

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Limpopo- Striking Bokoni Platinum Mine workers in Limpopo are expected to return to work today. More than 3 000 miners embarked on an unprotected strike about two weeks ago, demanding to be paid R 16 500 per month. 

Labour unions, the Transport and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Tawusa) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), have urged their members to return to work after management said it would fire them if they did not do so. 

NUM spokesperson William Mabapa says, “If the workers are not back to work it won’t be the issue about the union, it’ll then be an issue about the employee and the employer, because by Monday (today) the company will start to have the powers and the prerogative that if they dismissed the workers they may re-employ them with low salaries and that’s not what we want as the union because that’s going to take us back to square one, we urge our members to go back to work.” 

The union says it has lost its members after violent protests in Marikana in the North West

Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers says it’s concerned about the escalating violence targeting its members in the Rustenburg area. The union says it has lost its members after violent protests in Marikana in the North West. 

It says four of its members were killed in August. Two people are expected to appear in court today in connection with the killing of an NUM shop stewart in Marikana two weeks ago.

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

Step-father sought after a 5 year old death

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By Obakeng Maje

Majakaneng-North West police are search for a step-father of the deceased after a five year old baby found murdered.

On Wednesday a case of kidnapping was reported at Mooinooi police station after a boy went missing.

“It alleged that a suspect abducted a boy on Wednesday and a case was opened. Yesterday police were called after a body of a boy was found in an open field” Sergeant Philani Nkwalase said. 

“Police were taken to a crime scene near Echo Berry farm where body as found. The boy was certified dead by paramedics after he suffered a fructured skull and bruises on his neck” He said.

Police are right on the heels of alleged perpetrator who is still at large.

Muder case has been opened and investigation continues.

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