Johannesburg – The investigating officer in the Oscar Pistorius murder case has seven charges of attempted murder against him, the police confirmed on Thursday.

“Yes. It is one case with seven charges of attempted murder,” said Gauteng police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila.

He said detective Hilton Botha was first charged back in 2009 but the charges were then provisionally withdrawn. The matter was then referred to the director of public prosecutions (DPP).

“It was only yesterday that we were informed by the DPP that he is being charged,” he said.

Botha is the investigating officer in the murder of Reeva Steenkamp, who was allegedly killed by paralympian Pistorius on Valentine’s Day.

According to Eyewitness News, the charges are related to a shooting incident which occurred while Botha was allegedly drunk.

It is alleged that three policemen, including Botha, were drunk while driving a state vehicle when they opened fire on a minibus taxi loaded with passengers. They were arrested in 2011.

 The EWN report quoted Malila as saying: “There was a decision taken by the DPP’s office to charge the members, each one of them with seven counts of attempted murder. That was the number of people that were in the taxi.”

The detective and two other officers are due to appear in court in May, EWN said.

Malila said there were no plans to pull Botha off the Pistorius case.

“The member is innocent until proven guilty. The member was chosen by the station to do the investigation due to the fact that he is a senior,” Malila was quoted as saying. – Sapa

Kaizer Chiefs continued their dominance at the top of the Absa Premiership table as they came out 3-1 victors at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night. 

Tefu Mashamiate set the tone of the game when he handed the visitors a lead in the fourth minute, before goals from Kingston Nkhatha and Lucky Baloyi wrapped up the victory. 

Stuart Baxter welcomed back the return of Morgan Gould to his defensive unit after having spent six months on the sidelines due to an Achilles injury. 

Eric Mathoho was the one making way for the defenders return as they looked to maintain their position as the log leaders. 

The visitors couldnt have asked for a better start than the one they received when they took the lead four minutes in. 

Siphiwe Tshabalala was on hand to supply a corner into the box, which was flicked on by Gould and directed to Tefu Mashamaite who made no error in tapping it into the back of the net, 1-0. 

That goal didnt seem to unsettle Leopards, however, as they came out with some blistering pace on the counter attack which saw Mongezi Bobe force Itumeleng Khune into making a save shortly after. 

The Chiefs shot-stopper pulled off some heroics, in the 23rd minute, when he performed a fantastic double save which saw him push Abbas Amidus shot onto the upright before gathering the rebound. 

On the half hour, Jean Mugananga hit an ambitious strike from 30-yards out but it went well wide of Khunes goal. 

Leopards insistence paid off when they managed to find a 41st minute equalizer through Josua Obaje. The striker connected to the end of a brilliant supplied cross to beat Khune at the near post, 1-1. 

Abel Makhubela opted to make a change at the start of the second half in which he brought on David Zulu in place of Amidu. 

Chiefs were left ruing their missed chances when Mandla Masango did all the hard work to break into the box and beat his marker, but he failed at the last hurdle in trying to beat Maphaha when he stung the side netting in the 51st minute. 

On the hour, Bernard Parker tested Azwindini Maphaha with his set-piece delivery at goal but the shot-stopper made an acrobatic save to push it around his post. 

Chiefs reclaimed the glory in the 65th minute, when Kingston Nkhatha gathered onto a Reneilwe Letsholonyane through ball to strike a fantastic effort which rattled the back of the net despite Maphaha getting his fingers to it. 

Lucky Baloyi put the icing on the cake with a 94th minute goal with the last touch of the game. 

Black Leopards: (1) 1 (Obaje 41) 

Kaizer Chiefs: (1) 3 (Mashamaite 4, Nkatha 65, Baloyi 94) 

Teams: 

Black Leopards: Maphaha, Khoza, Xakane, Nyirenda, Mabunda, Bobe (H. Zulu 80), Monama, Mugananga, Dzaga, Amidu (D, Zulu 47), Obaje 

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Gould, Mashamaite, Ritchie (Masilela 83), Katsande, Letsholonyane (Baloyi 86), Tshabalala, Masango, Nkhatha (Ngcobo 67), Parker

Johannesburg – Murder suspect Oscar Pistorius only started eating on Tuesday night, said his uncle Arnold.

“He only started to eat last night,” he told eNews Channel Africa on Wednesday.

“Carl and Aimee (Pistorius’s brother and sister) tell me they sit with him and he spends a lot of time reading, especially reading the Bible, as his mother taught him.”

Pistorius has been under arrest since his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in his Pretoria home in the early hours of Thursday last week.

He has been charged with murder, and his bail application is under way in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

Arnold said this had been a tough time for the family, but they stood behind the athlete all the way.

He voiced concern over what he described as his nephew’s “public trial”.

“The case is ongoing and you can judge for yourself… The truth will prevail,” he said.

In the TV interview, Arnold said the Pistorius family has been in contact with the Steenkamps, but respected their privacy and loss.

Asked about allegations that Pistorius had a history of violence, he described Pistorius as a “peacemaker”.

Pistorius was in extreme shock and was grieving in this “emotionally tough time” said his uncle.

“The world will see a different Oscar; nobody can be the same ever again if such a tragedy comes over your life, but he will bounce back and be greater than ever.”

Steenkamp was cremated at a private ceremony in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday. – Sapa

Students and staff members at the North West University Mafikeng Campus celebrated the handover of eight new computer laboratories to various academic departments as a huge milestone in bridging the technological divide.

Prof Sevid Mashego, director for special projects at the institution, recently handed over the facilities to various faculties.

As a result, the campus now boasts a total of 30 laboratories across various schools, faculties and departments.

IT director at the university, Claudia Pietersen, said the computer laboratories would be used for different reasons and activities.

“In trying to keep up with the fast-growing technology, the laboratories have been fully equipped with modern technology and will put students at an advantage, even those not studying computers, giving them access to modern technology,” she said.

In his remarks, Prof Mashego said that the facilities should bridge the digital divide among students and make it easier for their academic life on campus.

“However, it must come as an obligation to the campus community that everyone strives to nurture these facilities and make the utmost use of them.

“These are your properties and you need to use them knowing that others after you would also want to derive benefits from them,” he said.

Campus rector Prof Dan Kgwadi congratulated everyone who played a role in making sure that the projects saw the light of day.

“With a large cohort of students coming to this campus, this is not and can never be enough,” he said.

“But we are committed to bringing the best of facilities to our students.

“We would like to appreciate efforts from the special projects team and everyone who took part in making sure that we have these facilities today.

“Let us make use of them and be counted among the best in e-learning technology.”

Students said they welcomed the development and that the facilities came in handy for those without experience in computer technology and the internet.

for more details go to http://www.thenewage.co.za

The Sekhukhune district municipality and water affairs department officials have warned residents living along the Tubatse River outside Burgersfort not to use the river water because of the presence of cholera in the water.

Yesterday a joint operations teams comprising health, municipal and water affairs officials were inspecting water facilities and sources at the affected places in preparation for emergency measures.

The district municipality, spokesperson Willy Mosoma, said: “Vibrio cholera (bacteria which causes cholera) was discovered in Tubatse River stretching from the De Hoop dam.

“Several villages including Taung, Maseven, Matokomani, Ga-Motodi, Ga-Malekana and many others are affected. Thousands of people can be infected or lose their lives if we don’t act swiftly. This is very serious.”

Mosoma said routine tests on water treatment plants came out positive for cholera on Tuesday.

The provincial health department’s, Sinenhlanhla Gumede said yesterday hospitals in the province were ready to deal with any outbreak of the waterborne disease. “We have no cases of cholera reported in our health facilities this year up to this stage.”

The district municipality said the preventative interim measures taken include deploying 10 water tankers to supply villagers with drinking water.

Symptoms of cholera infections include severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration.

Health authorities said that the disease was infectious and advise people to wash their hands regularly, especially after visiting the loo.

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