Johannesburg – A Johannesburg metro police officer was run over and injured when he tried to pull over a car in Riverlea on Thursday.

“He tried to stop a white VW Golf after noticing that it did not have number plates. The driver of the Golf knocked him down and sped away instead,” spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said.

The 26-year-old officer was taken to hospital.

The Golf driver was still at large. – Sapa

Johannesburg – A six-month-old baby boy kidnapped from his parents’ home in Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg, was found safe on Thursday, Gauteng police said.

The child was “found in good health in Fordsburg”, Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.

Police arrested the Pakistani couple who allegedly kidnapped him and allegedly tried to slit his nanny’s throat on Tuesday. The couple had rented a room in the family’s house.

Earlier on Thursday, Dlamini said: “The father received an sms late yesterday (Wednesday) saying that they (the kidnappers) were demanding R100 000 for the baby”.

The couple had three children of their own, and were apparently expecting a fourth.

According to a report in The Star on Thursday, the father, Ifeanyi Jones, pleaded with the couple to return his child.

“Please bring my son back. You say you are Christian, and this baby has done nothing to you.”

Jones claimed the couple had tried to poison their food.

“I think now that their motive was to come and do harm.” – Sapa

BY Obakeng Maje

Rustenburg-On Thursday at about 12:15pm members of the Hawks( Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) arrested Martie  and Andries Mulder  at their house in Geelhout Park  in Rustenburg for failing to comply with an order of freezing their assets North West police said. 

The couple appeared on today at the Rustenburg Magistrate Court. 

“They will appear again on 21 January 2013 for bail application and they will remain in custody” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

The order had been obtained by the Assets Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority .

“They will be charged in terms of section 75 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. The suspects will  appear at the Rustenburg Magistrate’s court  on 18- 22 March 2013 on charges of fraud” Ngubane said. 

If they are convicted, they may be imprisoned for 15 years.

This is the first  case of this nature to be handled by the  newly established Financial and Asset Forfeiture Investigation Section in the history of SA  on failure to comply with the freezing order. This action by the section should serve as a strong warning to people whose assets have been frozen and are disobeying the court order.

On 23 September 2011, the AFU of the National Prosecuting Authority obtained a restraint order for freezing assets in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime in the North West High Court in Mahikeng. 

The freezing order was a result of the following circumstances:

Van Velden and Duffy Attorneys in Rustenburg Employed Martie Mulder in June 2006 until September 2011. 

She was employed as a secretary to work on files for the firm’s Road Accident Claims Department. In that case she had access to the firm’s road accident claims bank account.

She allegedly used her position to transfer money fraudulently to her and her husband’s personal bank accounts pretending that those payments were for medical doctors and Service Providers for Personal injuries or Third Party claims. 

These payments amounted to more than R5 million.

The purpose of the restraint order was to freeze the assets of the Mulders until their criminal trial is completed.

 The AFU will then apply for confiscation order to recover the proceeds of their crime and get profit out of that.

The High Court appointed the curator of KPMG in this case. 

The duty of the curator was to secure the assets of the Mulders.

On 23 September 2011, the curator executed the restraint order to attach the assets of the Mulders. The curator  removed their motor vehicles and left them with a Land rover Discovery for daily use and their household furniture. 

The couple did not own the house they were staying in. 

The following is the property that the curator removed: Ford Fiesta, the second Land rover Discovery, 16 feet Bowriderboat, Wave Blaster 2 Jet ski, Kia 2700 delivery vehicle and a Mazda Drifter bakkie. The total value of the assets was R765 227,00

he Mulders were warned that in terms of the restraint order they were legally obliged to ensure the safekeeping of the assets in their possession” he adds. 

“The curator had to visit the couple more often to ensure that  the assets were still in good condition and looked after. On 13 November 2012, the curator learnt that the Mulders had moved from their last known residential address without informing the curator” Ngubane outlines.

 The following day, the curator and  Auctioneering company in Rustenburg conducted a comprehensive asset verification check at Mulder’s residence. It was established from the sheriff that the movable assets had been attached by a creditor and sold on 18 July 2012 for their rental debt.

In terms of the restraint order, the Mulders had a duty to submit a monthly income and an expenditure affidavit to the curator which they failed to do from January 2012. They were also had to contact the curator should there be any threat to attach  any of the frozen assets. The Mulders failed to contact the curator to inform him of the attachment which resulted in a financial loss in excess of R100 00,00.  

The curator also learnt that on 29 November 2012, Andrie Mulder sold their dinner set and several paintings to one of the porn shops in Rustenburg.

By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg-Bafana Bafana clash against North African,Algeria will be played at 20:30. 

The time has been changed to a later stage after South Africa experience a heat wave across the country.

“kick off time for the international friendly match between South Africa and Algeria has now been moved from 

15h30 to 20h30.

The match will be played on Saturday, 12 January 2013 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

The time of the clash has been moved due to the prevailing heat wave in the country, a factor which both teams said will not suit players, just a week before the start of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations South Africa 2013″ Bafana spokesperson said.

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-A case of inquest has been opened by Taung police after  the body of a 6 year old boy was found floating in the Vaalharts Canal in Magogong village near Taung.

“The boy was reported missing on 09 January 2013 after he went playing with his friends at the canal. The body was seen by Vaalharts  water scheme workers when they were patrolling and cleaning the canal. The body was then retrieved by SAPS Divers from Kimberley in the Northern Cape” Captain Makau said..

By Obakeng Maje

Lethabong police near Rustenburg have registered an Inquest case after a 24 year old man poured himself with paraffin and set himself alight.

“He was taken to Job Shimankane hospital where he later died” Captain Makau said.

The motive of his actions are still unknown as there was no suicidal note found. Police are investigating.

By Obakeng Maje

Swartruggens- Police in the North West have opened an Inquest case after an unidentified decomposed body of a woman was found by a farm worker on the N4 road between Swartruggens and Rustenburg on the Rietfontein area. “It is alleged that the deceased could have been murdered and dumped at the area two weeks ago” Captain Makau said.

“The deceased was wearing ablue denim jeans, black shoes, black belt and a brownish shirt on” she said. Police are appealing to anyone who has reported a missing person to contact Swartruggens police station on 

014 544 0002/ 

076 4386237.

BY Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-A 43 year old suspect, Molehane Petrus Motsumi appeared before the Orkney Magistrate’s court on Thursday,after he  allegedly raped a 10 month old baby in Kanana near Orkney in the North West Province. 

“The suspect  is still in custody and will appear again on 18 January 2013 for bail application. It is alleged that on 8 January 2012, the victim’s mother left her baby with her cousin when she went to work” Captain Pelonomi Makau said. “According to her cousin, on that day her uncle who is also staying with the family took the baby away for a walk without any suspicious mission from the cousin. When the uncle returned after n hour the baby was crying hysterically” She said. 

The uncle could not explain why the baby was crying.

 When the cousin changed her nappies, she noticed the reddish marks on the victim’s private parts but thought it was nappy rash.

“In the evening, when the baby’s mother bathed her, the baby could not stop crying until the mother realized the reddish marks on her private parts” North West police said. 

“The mother took her to the clinic where the doctor confirmed rape” She said.  

According to the information, the suspect has a history of rape, as he once attempted to rape one of family member, but the incident was not reported to the police.

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By Obakeng Maje

The current spate of rape and abuse cases in our country is a matter of grave concern and a painful reminder of the disregard for human life and human dignity.

“We are confident that the law-enforcement agencies will do everything in their power to ensure that victims of these crimes get justice. Those found guilty of these heinous crimes must face the full wrath of our criminal justice system” Department of Children,Women and People with Disabilities said.

“We are on record as calling on our courts to impose the harshest possible punishment against those found guilty of crimes against women and children. We believe that those who derive pleasure of abusing women and children must rot in jail” Spokesperson Cornelious Monama said.

“We call on all our people to join our campaign to eliminate gender-based violence in our society. We must confront crimes against women with every available ammunition at our disposal to ensure that those who harm the most vulnerable in society have no place to hide” He said. 

Violence against women cannot be tolerated in our free and democratic society. It is a gross violation of the Constitutional rights of women. 

The Departmen say they have to acknowledge the fact that gender-based violence robs women of the opportunity to become productive citizens of the country.

 It denies them their constitutional rights and condemns them to a life of perpetual fear. 

They are therefore prevented from enjoying the fruits of our freedom and democracy. 

“This means that the task of making ours a truly non-sexist society is undermined” He adds.

 “We are also concerned at the growing reports of women who continue to die at the hands of their partners and children being killed or abused by people who were supposed to protect and love them” Department said. 

Many of these cases point to a deterioration of the moral fibre of our society. 

They urge members of the communities to join hands with government in order to help defeat the scourge of child and women abuse.

As the government and people of South Africa, they say we have taken the war against gender-based violence to a higher level.

 On the 10th of December, government launched the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence. Led by the Deputy President, we are confident that the work of the Council will lead to a significant reduction in the incidents of violence against women and children. 

The Council is a multi-sectoral structure capable of providing authoritative leadership as we collectively confront violence against women and children. 

The seriousness with which government views gender-based violence and its impact on individuals, communities and society has been the driving force behind the establishment of the National Council Against Gender-based Violence. 

“We urge all South Africans to join this fight” They said. 

“When we know that someone is being abused in our own home or in our neighbour’s house, we have a duty to report it” Department said.

Rustenburg – The government-appointed Commission of Inquiry into the dozens of deaths at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana will likely only present its final report in June, two officials said on Wednesday.

The commission, headed by Ian Farlam, a retired Supreme Court of Appeal judge, was meant to finish its work last month and present a final report by the end of January.

However, officials said the commission was intent on conducting more hearings and the next round of testimony would begin on January 21.

Dozens of people died in late 2012 after a wildcat strike at the Lonmin mine in North-West province turned violent, with clashes erupting between rival unions and later between strikers and police. The worst day of violence came on August 16, when police shot dead 34 miners.

Commission members “have asked for an extension. They say they can wrap up the hearings within three months. But we are giving them until May. When they finish in May they will have one month to file the final report, which means by the end of June,” Jacob Skosana, the head of policy at the Department of Justice, told dpa.

His comments were confirmed by another official close to the commission who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to speak with the press.

Skosana said the paper work was being prepared to make a formal application to the government to have the mandate of the commission extended.

A spokesman for President Jacob Zuma said his office had yet to receive an formal demand for an extension but would review such a request.

The commission has a wide-reaching mandate to investigate all aspects of the violence, including rivalries between unions, police conduct, Lonmin management and the manner in which the government dealt with the crisis. – Sapa-dpa