Johannesburg – An official at a South African gun collectors’ club where Oscar Pistorius was a member says he steadily became an avid collector of firearms in his Olympic year. He says Pistorius bought a collection of pistols and shotguns, all American manufactured, his favorite.

John Beare, vice chairman of the Lowveld Firearm Collectors Association, told The Associated Press that Pistorius also purchased a semi-automatic rifle for his expanding collection at the end of 2012.

That coincided with the early stages of Pistorius’ romance with Reeva Steenkamp, the model he shot and killed at his home in the early hours of February 14.

Prosecutors have charged Pistorius with premeditated murder for killing Steenkamp with three of four shots fired from his 9 mm pistol. Pistorius said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder. – Sapa-AP

Johannesburg – The eight policemen implicated in the killing of an East Rand taxi driver were arrested on Friday, the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID) said.

All eight will be charged with murder, said IPID spokesman Moses Dlamini.

“I cannot disclose which police station they are being held at but it’s not Daveyton… They will appear in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court on Monday,”

Mido Macia, 27, a taxi driver and Mozambican national, was tied to the back of a police van and dragged along the street in Daveyton, on the East Rand, on Tuesday.

An eyewitness filmed the assault. Macia died in the local police station’s cells later that day. – Sapa

Pic: (HANS WILLEMSE)

BY Obakeng Maje

The Griekwastad Regional Court sentenced Hans Willemse(30) to 59 years imprisonment for a series of crimes he committed between 20 and 25 April 2011 police said.

“In 2011he was arrested for theft and house breaking in Groblershoop and sentenced for two years in prison” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

” The accused escaped while on his way to Douglas prison. He dispossessed an officer who was escorting him. The accused then fled to a farm near Griekwastad where he set a farm house alight and shot at through the window” police said.

“Three of the four persons inside the house managed to escape and the accused raped a 43 year-old female four times” Kock said.

“The accused then fled to another a nearby farm where he broke into the farm house, stole clothes, food and slaughtered a sheep. The police search party comprising of the Tactical Response unit, SAPS Airwing,  SAPS K9, Douglas SAPS and Griekwastad SAPS under the command of Colonel Avril Wentzel, managed to arrest him on the fifth day after his escaped from police custody” police said.

The accused was arrested while hiding in a farm near Griekwastad on 25 April 2011.

The police confiscated the stolen firearm, ammunition and a knife from him.

The Griekwastad Regional Court sentenced the accused on 13 counts of offences.

Count 1 and 2 for rape- imprisoned for 22 years.

Count 3 and 4 for rape – 18 years.

Count 5 for escaping from lawful custody – 3 years.

Counts 6(illegal possession of firearm)

7(discharge of firearm in a public place),

8(pointing of firearm) and count 9(pointing of firearm) were put together and the accused received 6 years imprisonment.

Count 10 for arson – 3 years

Count 11 for possession of dangerous weapon – 2 years

Count 12 for Stock Theft – 2 years

Count 13 for House breaking and theft – 3 years.  

A 53 year old policeman who was disarmed by the accused was eventually dismissed.

“The Kimberley Cluster Commander, Major General Jean Abrahams commended the two investigation officers, Detective Capt James Oliphant and Detective Sergeant JJ Geyers for their excellent services and investigations which led to this good sentencing.

The farming community in the surrounding areas are also commended for their assistance with regard to the whereabouts of the accused.

This truly portrays partnership policing at its best.” police said.               

BY Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Commercial Crime Unit is investigating corruption and fraud charges following the arrest of a prominent member of the Karoo Hoogland Municipality in Williston and his wife last night Kimberley police said.

“The two were arrested in connection of fraud and corruption amounted to R 600 000-00” Lieutenant Andrea Cloete said.

Police said two suspects were detained at the Mosselbay Police Station after the arrest and were transported back to Williston Police Station for bail application.

They will appear at Williston Magistrate Court on Monday.

Police investigation continues.

The Hawks have squashed rumours that spread in the province on Wednesday that public safety MEC Nono Maloyi had been arrested in connection with ANC activist, Obuti Chika’s murder.

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter were abuzz with allegations that Maloyi had become the second high ranking ANC official to be arrested for the murder.

This came on the back of ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu’s arrest on Monday.

However, Hawks spokesperson Capt Paul Ramaloko said there was still room for more arrests in the case.

“I can confirm that no other MEC has been arrested in this case but we are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests. We are still investigating the case and that may lead to the arrest of more suspects,” he said.

Maloyi’s office also came out with a statement castigating the rumours as cheap and unfounded.

Public safety department spokesperson Simon Mmope said Maloyi was considering opening a defamation suit against anyone found to have started the rumour.

“The department wishes to put it on record that the MEC is highly on duty and is proceeding with his day-to-day programme of government. We would like to dismiss all allegations and put it on record that they are all lies and propaganda. The MEC is a law abiding citizen who will never be part of any form of illegal activity,” said Mmope.

He added that the rumour was an unfortunate disturbance on governance and an attack on Maloyi’s good name.

“The MEC has vowed to trace the source of these unfounded and malicious allegations. He has been advised to open a case of crimen injuria with the police,” Mmope said.

Maloyi is said to have called on the police to speedily resolve the investigation around Chika’s murder “without fear or favour and let justice take its course”.

Meanwhile, Dodovu, together with seven other suspects, were remanded in custody until next week, when a ruling on their bail application would be heard.

Ramaloko said the State would oppose the bail applications of all the suspects.
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The SACP and Cosatu have expressed disappointment in ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu, who is among eight suspects arrested for ANC regional secretary Obuti Chika’s murder.

Chika was gunned down at his home in the early hours of December 14 last year, two days before the ANC elective conference in Mangaung.

SACP provincial secretary Madoda Sambatha and his counterpart at Cosatu, Solly Phetoe, said they were shocked and disappointed at Dodovu’s alleged involvement in Chika’s killing.

“It is deeply regrettable that the name of the people’s movement, the ANC, is being associated with such regressive and appalling events,” Sambatha said.

He commended the police for the speedy arrests of the suspects and expressed hope that Chika’s family would find closure.

“They (police) must do their job and ensure that all those involved be brought to book irrespective of stature or affiliation. The SACP would like to appeal to members of the alliance to separate acts of individuals from the ANC.”

Phetoe called on ANC members to allow the law to take its course and not be divided along factional lines over the arrests, as was the case during the trial into the death of whistleblower ANC councillor Moss Phakoe last year.

“We want to repeat what we said during the case of the late Moss Phakoe, who was killed and the case took almost four years while the so-called ‘hands-off and hands-on’ were dividing the ANC.

“We appeal to everybody to let the law do what it is expected to do. Those who are implicated, those who played a role in the killing of Chika must face the court and explain to the public why they killed the leader of the ANC,” he said.

He added that those arrested should tell the truth.

“The law must do its duty, whether it is the MEC or a councillor, a worker or anybody who was part of the plan; they must face the music,” he said.
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The winner of this year’s Rector’s Learnership award at North West University Mafikeng Campus, Tsietsi Mmutle, had displayed “quality leadership skills”, the university’s rector, Prof Dan Kgwadi, says.

Mmutle, who was president of the Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC), was given the award at the university’s opening function this week.

The prestigious award is sponsored by Midrand-based computer component importing and distribution company Rectron to a student with exceptional leadership qualities. The company also donated laptops to seven of last year’s best performing first year students.

“Tsietsi led the CSRC during the most challenging year but managed to lead the campus to the most successful academic year as indicated by the output in the core business of research, teaching, learning and community outreach,” said Kgwadi at the opening function

“Stagato” as Mmutle is affectionately known, said he was honoured by the award and thanked friends and family, whom he called the driving force behind his success.
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Cosatu will march against rape on Friday, said its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

“We need to do far more to combat the shocking level of rape, assault and murder of women and children,” Vavi said on Thursday.

He said the rape and murder of 17-year-old Anene Booysen in Bredasdorp, had turned the spotlight on a much wider and deeper problem.

“We read almost daily of rapes and assaults on infants and 97-year-old grannies, and women and children of all ages.”

Vavi said the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) central executive committee (CEC) had resolved to organise marches on March  8, International Women’s Day, and to picket at the courts where people accused of crimes such as this were appearing.

There would be marches in the North West and the Free State on Friday.

Vavi said the CEC had also resolved to demand the transformation  of the whole judicial system.

He said the bail hearing of murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius had shown the world that South Africa’s legal system catered only for the rich.

“If you can hire advocates who charge thousands of rand an hour and put up R1 million rand for bail you can soon be back at home.”

He said Cosatu would campaign to ensure the poor had access to the justice system.

“The current amounts demanded by lawyers and advocates are way above the heads of workers and the poor. This lies behind deepening  levels of inaccessibility of justice to millions.”

He said justice was a basic constitutional right, and should not  be a privilege for only the wealthy. – Sapa

Pretoria – A woman was allegedly raped at Wierdabrug police station when she went to report a case of domestic violence, the DA said on Friday.

“The police officers involved must be suspended immediately pending the outcome of the investigation, as they are not fit to work with members of the public, and women in particular,” Democratic Alliance spokeswoman Patricia Mokgohlwa said in a statement.

Police Captain Agnes Huma confirmed that the matter was being investigated.

She said the incident happened between last Friday night and Saturday morning.

No one had been suspended or arrested yet, and no further details were immediately available because Huma was awaiting the investigating officer’s report.

Mokgohlwa said an investigation was not enough and that the allegations were very serious.

“… Not only because the (alleged) perpetrators are those we are supposed to entrust with our safety, but also because the woman, in a desperate attempt to seek refuge from domestic violence, was further violated by police officials.”

She would ask Gauteng community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko to ensure the alleged rapists faced the “full might of the law”.

“The MEC must also indicate what support has been and will be given to the woman.

“… We will never end the war against women’s bodies when the very police officers tasked to combat crime turn around and become criminals and rapists themselves,” she said.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesman Moses Dlamini could not immediately confirm whether Ipid had received a complaint about the incident. – Sapa