Kimberley, Griquatown – A 16-year-old boy accused of murdering the Steenkamp family on their farm pleaded not guilty to three murder charges in the Kimberley High Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Hannes Cloete put five charges to the boy one by one.

The boy pleaded not guilty to all. They include a charge of rape and one of defeating the ends of justice.

The State confirmed that a Child Court was in session, which was confirmed by the boy’s lawyer, Willem Coetzee. He submitted there was no plea explanation.

Earlier, Northern Cape Judge President Frans Kgomo allowed journalists from Media 24, Independent Newspapers, Central Media Group, SABC, and Sapa to be in court during the proceedings.

Cases involving minors are usually held in camera. The boy’s trial was expected to start on Monday. He may not be identified.

The teenager was arrested for the murders of Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14. They were shot on their farm Naauwhoek, near Griquatown, on April 6, 2012. – Sapa

The government has confirmed that South Africa’s consul-general in Shanghai has been recalled “for health reasons”, following reports that he was found walking naked in a street near his office in China’s commercial capital about three months ago.

The appointment of Lassy Chiwayo – a former mayor of Mbombela in Mpumalanga – had been terminated and he was back in South Africa receiving treatment, Clayson Monyela, a spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, said on Sunday.

The Sunday World newspaper reported that Chiwayo had been recalled because he had “tainted South Africa’s reputation” by walking naked through the Shanghai streets near the consulate-general offices and assaulting South Africa’s ambassador to China, Bheki Langa, at a reception in Beijing.

The paper quoted Chiwayo as strongly denying these allegations and insisting that he had merely been reassigned to duties back in South Africa in the normal course of events.

But Monyela was adamant that Chiwayo’s posting in Shanghai had been terminated and he was in South Africa receiving treatment for “health-related challenges”.

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

The ANC in the province is happy with the results of Thursday’s by-election in Warrenton, where it achieved a 58.14% victory.

The DA came second with 38.82%, which the party was excited with as they said the percentage signalled the DA’s growth and influence, and that they were looking forward to the 2014 national elections.

“That is where even more people will show their dissatisfaction with the ANC,” the DA in a statement saidw.

The ANC declined from 62.21% of 2011 and the DA increased their margin from 27.44% of the same year.

ANC provincial secretary Zamani Saul said the victory showed they were further strengthening and consolidating their gains in the area of Magareng.

The by-election in the Magareng local municipality’s Ward 4 was held after the death of an ANC counsellor. The election was contested by ANC, DA, Cope and Azapo.

“The people have expressed their confidence and support to the ANC because of the leadership role it provides and its non-compromising attitude to address the challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment in that community,” Saul said.

He said the ruling party would build on the campaign work done in the ward, to ensure that it consolidated its support and increases in the national and provincial elections in 2014 to 70%.

“The electorate showed they will not be fooled by opportunistic political parties that do not have their interest at heart but are more concerned with making newspaper headlines and staging melodramatic walkouts.”

DA spokesperson Clivé Burger said they created an amazing atmosphere in Warrenton on Thursday.

“The ‘Blue Machine’ was revved up and ready to go. The DA left its footprints in Ward 4. Our voter numbers have grown by 41.47%. We are very excited about this percentage and are looking forward to the 2014 national elections where even more people will show their dissatisfaction with the ANC,” Burger said.

“It is clear if you look at the decline in the percentage of people voting for the ANC, that they are no longer satisfied with the ANC government.

“The DA’s growth in strong ANC wards reflects that people are changing their minds and would rather vote for the DA which has shown an excellent track record regarding service delivery.

“The DA is ready to take over the Northern Cape.”

Oscar Pistorius is “on the verge of suicide” as he is forced to sell off his belongings to fight a charge of premeditated murder, a friend of the Paralympic star has said.

Mr Pistorius, 26, is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after she was shot dead at his home last month.

The Olympian claims he shot her through a bathroom door thinking she was an intruder.

Mike Azzie, a close friend who Mr Pistorius refers to as Uncle Mike, said the sportsman was a “broken man” after he was tasked with selling his racehorses to raise money to pay for spiralling legal fees.

Speaking in a BBC3 documentary, Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened?, Mr Azzie said Mr Pistorius regularly talks about Ms Steenkamp as he awaits his next court appearance on 4 June. He said: “He just always seems to mention Reeva and to ask us to pray for her…

“I would say that he is a broken man and I would go as far to say that he would be on the verge of suicide. It really worries me.”

According to the documentary makers, Mentorn Media, police in Johannesburg said they have requested all records of phone calls and messages between Mr Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp on the day she was killed.

For more details go to http://www.independent.co.uk

By Obakeng Maje

Jouberton-Police are investigating a case of murder after a 26-year-old victim and his friends were allegedly attacked and robbed by two suspects and robbed on saturday at about 00:30 North West police said.  

“It is alleged that the victims were in Govan Mbeki Drive in Jouberton when the incident occurred. The 26-year-old victim was stabbed with a knife in the chest and died on the scene” captain Aafje Botma said. 

“Police said one of the suspects was later arrested and police are still looking for other suspect” Botma said. 

The arrested suspect is expected to appear in court soon.

By Obakeng Maje

Mmabatho: A 28 year-old suspect has been arrested for allegedly raping a 20 year-old woman on Friday North West police said. 

“It is alleged that a woman was home when the suspect arrived and asked her to accompany him to the bank” captain Botma said.  

“Along the way, he changed direction and drove to his residential place where upon arrival he went to the bathroom to take a bath and requested the complainant to join him” she said. 

According to information received, the woman refused.  

Police said the suspect allegedly locked the door after bathing, pinned her on the bed and raped her.  

The suspect was later arrested and is expected to appear before magistrate soon. 

Investigation continues.

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By Obakeng Maje

Rustenburg-Phokeng police were called to a crime scene in Freedom Park,near Rustenburg and found two men torched to death. 

“One of the two men was already burnt beyond recognition whilst his counterpart was still ablaze” Thulani Ngubane said. 

“Police tried extinguish fire to avoid further damages to the victim’s body” he said. 

An angry crowd of about 500 people who were gathered at the crime scene tried to disturb the police on duty and a fight erupted. “Police called for backup and members of POP assisted  in taking control of the scene. The names and ages of two men are unknown at this stage” police said.

They were allegedly assaulted and then set alight.

The mob allegedly accused the two men for string crimes committed in Freedom Park, and they also alleged that a certain murder was committed in the area by the two victims. 

“Police are still investigating these accusations. 

Furthermore, the police are investigating the two murder cases of the burnt victims. 

Nobody has been arrested at this stage” Ngubane said.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in the North West Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo has condemned the gruesome act, stating that two wrongs do not make a right and South Africa still remains a constitutional Republic governed by laws and a very sound justice system which all of us needs to abide by. 

“She has instructed the police in Phokeng to speed-up the investigations and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.