By Obakeng Maje

Makwassie- A case of seven accused will continue today at Makwassie Magistrate Court after it was postponed yesterday police said.

“Our investigator asked the court to postpone the case for today as the wanted to gather more information on the case” captain Amanda Funani said.

Seven men were arrested after accosted on a 27 year-old woman in Makwassie,near Wolmaranstad.

It is said a woman was from a local tavern with her boyfriend when the gang pounced on them.

“They allegedly threatened a woman with knives and took her to an open field where the alleged rape took place” Funani said.

They were arrested on Sunday morning police said.

All seven members are linked to other crimes took place in the area.

“They remained in custody and will appear today on charges of rape,kidnapping and assault” she said.

The boyfriend ran away and alerted the police about the gruesome event.

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Dali Mpofu, the lawyer for the miners injured and arrested during the strike at the Lonmin Platinum mine in Marikana, is expected to call his first witness to testify at the Farlam commission on Wednesday.

Thirty-four striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were wounded when police opened fire while trying to disperse a group of protesters gathered on a hill near the mine on August 16.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed. Last week, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) president Senzeni Zokwana was cross-examined.

Zokwana told the commission the NUM would reconcile with the families of those injured and killed during the violent strikes.

“Even if NUM is not found to have contributed [to the violence] NUM will be committed not only to make sure this never happens again, but that mineworkers are united,” he said.

He was asked under cross-examination if the union would be willing to reconcile with those affected, if it were found to have contributed to the violence during the Marikana strike.

“I don’t think we need to be found guilty to participate,” he said.

Zokwana said what had happened at Marikana was an emotional issue, and that as a former mineworker he recalled the pain of seeing a co-worker’s body brought up from the mine.

He said the deaths of 44 people at the North West mine in August should not be in vain. Zokwana said the mining industry needed to change after what happened at Marikana.

Sapa

ABSA Premiership

Result: Sundowns 0-0 Chiefs

Date: 12 February 2013

Venue: Loftus Stadium

Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs walked away with a point each after a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday night.

League leaders Amakhosi struggled to keep possession or cause trouble in the final third in the first-half while Sundowns looked slick but also lacked a final ball.

Teko Modise produced a weak effort in the fifth minute which Itumeleng Khune dealt with easily while a ball over the top was just too strong for Lehlohonolo Majoro eight minutes later.

Nyasha Mushekwi tried to drill a cross into the area in the 17th minute but it was too close to Khune while Modise couldn’t get as much power as he would have liked on his strike in the 27th minute.

George Lebese turned his defender well in the middle of the park in the 31st minute but his pass through the centre of the defence was far too strong for Majoro.

The half finally came to life in extra-time as a wicked cross into the area from Sundowns was dealt with by Khune. Chiefs then burst forward where Majoro tested Wayne Sandilands with a powerful drive which the stopper could only parry and Bernard Parker just couldn’t reach the rebound as the defence cleared.

The second-half started on a brighter note with Reneilwe Letsholonyane getting up to nod the ball into the path of Majoro but he couldn’t turn to get a shot away.

Parker then missed a great chance when he was found at the far post by a superb Lebese cross but he diverted his effort into the side netting.

Chiefs continued to push forward and saw Siboniso Gaxa test Sandilands with a rasping drive in the 56th minute while Modise scuffed a shot at the other end three minutes later.

Elias Pelembe saw a penalty appeal waved away after going down under a challenge from Eric Mathoho while Josta Dladla poked a shot over from just a few feet out.

Khune was forced into a brilliant save with 10 minutes to go to keep out a thunderous header from Themba Zwane while Parker saw a goal ruled out for offside two minutes later.

The dying minutes lacked real chances as both sides had to settle for a point.

Sundowns: Wayne Sandilands, Tebogo Langerman, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Alje Schut, Method Mwanjali, Tsholofelo Modise, Elias Pelembe, Jabulani Shongwe, Esrom Nyandoro, Katlego Mphela, Nyasha Mushekwi.

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Tsepo Masilela, Siboniso Gaxa, Erick Mathoho, Junaid Mashamaite, Siphiwe Tshabalala, George Lebese, Josta Dladla, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Lehlohonolo Majoro, Bernard Parker.