Daily Archives: February 26, 2013

Beard murder accused refused bail

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ImageKrugerdorp – The Krugersdorp Regional Court denied bail to murder accused Roedolf Viviers on Tuesday.

“The applicant failed dismally to prove to this court that it would be in the interest of justice to release him on bail. Bail is therefore denied,” said magistrate Reginald Dama.

Viviers and another man, Zayne van Tonder, 33, allegedly insulted Muhammad Fayaaz Kazi and his friend Anser Mahmood about their beards at a Chicken Licken outlet in Magaliesburg on August 6, 2012.

An argument and a fight ensued. Kazi was severely beaten and died in hospital.

Charges against Van Tonder were later dropped and he was released.

Kazi’s brothers Mohammed Nuaman, 22, and Mohammed Farhan, 18, shouted “Praise Allah” when Dama made his ruling.

Kazi’s widow Sajidah sobbed and hugged friends and relatives who packed the public gallery.

Viviers, who was wearing glasses, a blue shirt and khaki pants calmly listened to Dama. He looked at his feet when he was led to the police cells.

He will appear in the High Court in Johannesburg on March 4, when a trial date is to be set. – Sapa

Truck full of live chickens overturns in North West

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By Obakeng Maje
Lichtenburg- A traffic was halted after a truck driver lost control on a road between Mahikeng and Lichtenburg.
According to reports, a truck transporting full live chickens overturned after the driver lost control.
The accident caused feathers to fly all over.
Blood of dead chickens was splattered on the road and this caused a delay in the process.
“We do not have more details regarding the accident” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.
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Premier to engage Agri-North West on Development

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A jubilant Gideon Morule,President of African Farmers Association of South Africa after his association’s meeting’s with Premier Thandi Modise regarding leased state farms held in Mahikeng last week.Premier Modise is scheduled to  meet with AgriNW to discuss road infrastructure,availability and Quality of water for Rural Development and Rural Safety in the next two weeks.Meeting with other farmers associations are in the pipeline.

By Staff Reporter

Premier Modise and Agri-North West to discuss rural development and food security

Constraints and challenges in rural development and food security are to be the main focal points of an engagement between North West Premier Thandi Modise and Agri North West. The meeting between the provincial government and the Executive Committee of Agri North West hosted by Premier Modise is to be held in Mahikeng on Friday.

Other issues for discussion at the bilateral meeting that is to commence at 9:00 am  in Malibongwe Boardroom, Office of the Premier Ga-Rona Building include concerns of commercial farmers about road infrastructure and maintenance, availability of and quality of water for development and rural safety.

Modise has in recent weeks challenged the agriculture sector in the province to work towards increasing its food productivity to ensure that the province becomes the food basket of South Africa that should also feed the African continent. She has said that the problem of access to food affects about 32, 9% of the population of the province because only 23, 6% of the households in the province are involved in agricultural activities,

The provincial growth and development strategy has identified amongst many other programmes, agriculture as one of the key pillars for economic growth that should provide opportunities for the total empowerment of the people of the province.

Within the pillars of agriculture, the strategy speaks to emerging and established farmers, women in agriculture and youth in agriculture.

 

 

 

Dodovu murder case postponed until tomorrow

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BY Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp- The court was packed to rafters on Tuesday for the appearance of Local government MEC China Dodovu who has become the latest high profile figure to be arrested in connection with the callous murder of ANC regional secretary, Obuti Chika.

Dodovu was arrested in Potchefstroom on Monday afternoon following extensive investigations by the Hawks.

His arrest followed that of seven other suspects who are still in custody in Klerksdorp.

Magistrate postponed Dodovu’s case until tomorrow where he will be joining other suspects for similar offence.
“I can confirm that he (Dodovu) has been arrested in Potchefstroom but it’s not clear if it was at his home or office.

“He is now in police custody and will appear in court tomorrow after postponement,” he said.

Asked if Dodovu was the “big fish” the crowd in Klerksdorp was speaking about during the appearance of the seven other suspects, Ramaloko said it was too early to tell.

He said investigations were continuing and more arrests were expected.

“The arrest was part of follow-up to investigation since the first suspect was nabbed. We are still investigating,” he said.

Ramaloko further said that the R200000 reward was still up for grabs and members of the public should come forward and present information or tips that may lead to the successful arrest and prosecution of those involved in Chika’s murder.

Dodovu is the deputy ANC provincial chairperson and his arrest has brought shock waves to the province.

Provincial ANC spokesperson Kenny Morolong said: “We commend the police on their efforts in dealing with Chika’s murder and we believe the legal process should run its course without impediment. At an appropriate time, the provincial executive council will issue out a statement.”

He said that the party believed in the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise by the courts.

Chika, 34, was gunned down at his Alabama home in Klerksdorp on the eve of the ANC elective conference in December last year.

For more details go to www.thenewage.co.za

A Vryburg man sanctioned to 15 years in prison for murder

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BY Obakeng Maje

Vryburg– A 24-year-old man was convicted on charges of Murder and Attempted Murder in Vryburg court.

This conviction emanates from an incident that occurred in the early morning hours during July 2012 in the close vicinity of a licensed liquor premises in Colridge, Vryburg.

“It is alleged that there was a quarrel between the suspect and the deceased, Dierein Olyn (25). The suspect stabbed the victim on the shoulder and the injuries precipitated to his death” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

Ashlien Bardenhorts (24) was sentenced and convicted to 15 years imprisonment, five years suspended for 5 years on a charge of Murder and 8 years imprisonment on a charge of Attempted Murder.   

On 20 February 2013, the liquor premises in Colridge was requested by the North West Liquor Board to surrender it’s liquor licence.

“The liquor licence has been suspended for a period of 6 months because of the non compliance of certain conditions of the liquor licence” police said.

“The high rate of crime reported from this liquor premises is also a worrying factor for the SAPS and North West Liquor Board. Licensed liquor premises are strongly advised to comply to the liquor licence” said police.

 

Three suspects at large after rape

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BY Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-The Douglas Police in the Northern Cape Province are looking for three suspects of a rape case.

 Police said on saturday at about 10:00 am, a 47 year-old woman went out to look for her 13 year-old son in nearby Shops in Douglas.

” The woman could not find her son and went further to other shops to continue the search. She was alone in the street when suddenly three unknown male suspects approached her from behind” Lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said.

 “The three suspects grabbed her and started toassault, kicking, and trampling her without any reason. The woman then became unconscious and woke-up at another house nearby, wearing only a jersey and socks” he said.

Some community members assisted her with a blanket to cover self.

She was taken to a local clinic where she received received a medical assistance.

 The police confirmed that the victim was raped and was able to identify the three male suspects.

“And an ID-Kit was drawn as a result. Two of the suspects are short and light in complexion, whilst the other suspect is tall and dark” police said.

The SAPS is concerned about the plight of women and children in South Africa and calls on community members to join hands with government to address this challenge by providing us with information about the whereabouts of wanted suspects.

Arresting these suspects will stop and prevent them to prey on other victims. The SAPS therefore calls on anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective Constable Bongani Gumede on 082 302 0468 (c) or 053-838 4213 alternatively contact Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.

Woman arrested for murder in Wolmaranstad

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BY Obakeng Maje

Wolmaranstad-A 31 year old woman is expected to appear before Wolmaranstad Magistrate Court on Wednesday in connection with a murder of a 66 year old David Alexander Barclay.

“The man was found lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound in the neck on Saturday at Lindburg Lodge Vaalbochfontein” colonel Sabata Mokwabone said

(CCTV) Cameras to be installed in Mahikeng

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BY Staff Reporter

Close Circuit TV (CCTV) Cameras are to be installed at crime hotspots in Mahikeng, the provincial capital of the North West Province in the new financial year.

 

The intervention to be funded by the provincial government was announced by Premier Thandi Modise in her State of the Province Address as part of the roll out of the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Strategy.

 

The strategy is aimed at reducing environmental factors that contribute towards crimes against women and children as well as serious and violent crimes by eliminating crime hotspots such as disused physical structures and pathways with overgrown vegetation within communities.

 

Improving lighting through installation of high mast lights in some communities as part of implementing the strategy has significantly contributed towards reduction of crime.

 

The provincial government and the South African Police Service have encouraged municipalities to develop and implement their own local CPTED Strategies. Mahikeng is among the twelve municipalities in the province that have thus far developed and are implementing the strategy.

 

Carl Pistorius ‘regrets’ fatal crash

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Pretoria – More details have emerged of the fatal accident involving Carl Pistorius, brother of paralympian Oscar Pistorius, in 2008.

Carl Pistorius was charged with culpable homicide following the accident, in which Marietjie Barnard, 36, was knocked off her motorbike. She died in hospital six days later, Beeld reported.

The charge sheet alleges that Pistorius was driving on Barrage Road, between Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging, on 8 March 2008 when he apparently overtook a car when it was not safe to do so.

Barnard was severely injured in the collision with his Ford Ranger.

Evidence

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the case was scrapped from the roll shortly after the incident due to a lack of evidence. However, new evidence including details of the accident and the post mortem results came to light, and a warrant for Pistorius’s arrest was issued in March 2012. He was released on a warning.

The case was due to begin last Thursday, but was postponed due to the bail hearing of Pistorius’s brother, Oscar. It has now been set down for 27 and 28 March 2013 in the Vanderbijlpark Regional Court.

Kenny Oldwage, Oscar Pistorius‘s lawyer, said that blood tests at the time showed no alcohol in Carl’s blood.

“There is no doubt that Carl is not guilty and the charge will be fought in court,” he said in a statement, adding that Carl “regrets the incident”.

Police could not supply Beeld with any information about Barnard or her family, saying this would come out in the court case.

For more details go to www.news24.com

Report details dept mismanagement

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Johannesburg – Corruption and mismanagement have been highlighted in a top secret report about the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities.
The report, now in the possession of Beeld newspaper, was compiled after an investigation originally requested by Minister Lulu Xingwana, and which Xingwana herself, according to the newspaper, does not want to share with MPs.
Among the report’s findings is of an official who was awarded R180 000 for working overtime, a nurse who was appointed as director, bursaries amounting to thousands of rands awarded without any repayment agreement, and friends who were given preference for senior management positions over better qualified candidates.
Xingwana herself was recently in the crossfire for the alleged purchase of millions of rands worth of luxury office furniture for her head office.
The report warns that the department faces possible legal action after determining that officials lacking qualifications and some who even had criminal records, were appointed to senior positions.
One of the officials only had matric and a diploma in nursing, but was appointed to a top position over a candidate who had BA degree in political science, a master’s degree in project management and an LLB degree.
Departmental spokesperson Cornelius Monama said disciplinary measures had been initiated and that the officials in question had already been temporarily suspended with full pay.

– SAPA