The shadow of the Marikana massacre hung over Human Rights Day celebrations on Thursday as the country commemorated another day of police brutality – more than 50 years before Marikana – when 69 people were gunned down in Sharpeville.

Speaking at a rally in Mbekweni, Paarl, President Jacob Zuma said there had been “regrettable, shocking and unacceptable incidents involving the SAPS since the last Human Rights Day commemoration”.

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Johannesburg – Johan and his wife thought their home in Bassonia, Johannesburg, was perfect. Their townhouse complex is near good schools, shopping malls, a golf course and city highways for easy access to provincial highways. In this quiet neighbourhood they owned a spacious house and were proud of their achievements.

But Johan (not his real name) and his wife were shocked when, during a residents’ annual general meeting one resident wanted it minuted that owners would never sell to black people should they decide to leave the complex. The AGM duly minuted the resolution.

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An autistic teenager died after being covered in self-tanning oil and set alight during drunken “horseplay” at his 18th birthday party, a UK court heard.

Steven Simpson, who suffered from Asperger’s syndrome, a speech impairment and epilepsy, died from horrific burns the next day.

The court heard that as Simpson became increasingly drunk at his party he was dared to strip to his boxer shorts.

Defendant Jordan Sheard, 20, who had gatecrashed the house party, was seen taunting the host, who was openly gay, and then scrawling obscene and homophobic insults on his bare stomach, face and forearm.

Sarah Wright, prosecuting, said “it was described as good-natured fun” but in reality was “cruel behaviour” to someone who was “vulnerable and an easy target”. 

After 2am a partygoer took the tanning oil from Simpson’s bedroom and, as it was poured over him, others chanted: “Light it, light it.” Wright said: “Steven did not object; he seemed to be enjoying the situation.”

But the court heard that Sheard then held a cigarette lighter to Simpson’s groin, and instantly the highly flammable liquid caught alight and flames engulfed his body.

Instead of putting out the fire, Sheard ran away. The court was told that neighbour Sean Banner was the only person who helped Simpson, and burned himself extinguishing the flames. Simpson died in hospital from 60 percent burns the next day.

Sheard, who initially tried to blame the college student for setting himself alight, eventually admitted manslaughter and was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday.

Passing sentence, Judge Roger Keen told Sheard that the evening had involved “good-natured horseplay” but that putting a flame to a man doused in flammable fluid was “a highly dangerous act”. 

He also regarded the decision to run away as “serious aggravation” in setting the jail term.

Wright said Sheard only vaguely knew Simpson but was allowed into the party in Barnsley, Yorkshire, last June with two friends anyway. She said that despite Simpson’s learning difficulties, he was sociable and had lots of friends.

Andrew Smith, defending, said the incident was a “criminally stupid prank that went wrong in a bad way”. 

He added that the defendant had been “deeply and significantly affected by what he has done and the tragic consequences that ensued from it”. – Daily Mail

Free State – The seven policemen accused of killing protester Andries Tatane are expected to apply for the charges to be dropped in the Ficksburg Regional Court on Friday, SABC news reported.

Two of the State’s police witnesses claimed they were threatened into making statements to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

Neither could identify any of the accused in a video of the protest because the officers were wearing helmets, according to the report.

State witness, officer Kabelo Pule, was discredited last year when he alleged the police had used excessive force when restraining Tatane. It emerged that in an internal hearing he had claimed the opposite had happened.

Tatane was killed on April 13, 2011, allegedly by police using rubber bullets, during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg.

Last year the case was postponed after the State cast doubt on its own witness, Captain Matshidiso Lesomola, an observer at the service delivery protest. – Sapa

Fugitive arrested at traditional healers homestead, Premier Modise calls for partnership against crime

North West Premier Thandi Modise has called for the partnership of traditional healers and other faith- based organisations in the fight against crime. This follows the arrest of a 30-year-old man in connection with the Lethabong double murder who was detained while consulting a traditional healer.

“Traditional healers need to take a non-compromising stance against crime and blow the whistle on murderers and rapists who consult them in the hope that they would escape the long arm of the law. They need to be educated that harbouring fugitive in a punishable criminal offence so that they should put the safety of communities first before business .Failure to blow the whistle on criminals they know categories them as beneficiaries in the criminal value chain,” stressed Premier Modise who applauded police on the arrest.

The suspect was traced to Orion Informal Settlement in Magaliesburg near Krugerdorp is expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court later this morning to face charges of murder.

 According to police, the suspect had allegedly shot dead a 44-year old mother, Annah Moilwe and her daughter Tshepiso at their home in Slovo Extension in Lethabong near Rustenburg on Saturday. The suspect was reportedly 28-year-old Tshepiso’s boyfriend and had broken into their home around 3am.

The girlfriend had a protection order against him. A quarrel ensued. The man took out a firearm and allegedly shot his girlfriend in the stomach and chest.

When the mother tried to intervene he shot her three times, twice in the chest and once in the chin. She died on the scene while her daughter died at the Hartebeesfontein clinic.

In condemning the fatal shooting earlier in the week, the Premier has said that threats of violence against women who have been granted protection orders still needs to be kept in check and evaluated to prevent violent incidents that results in them being killed by their estranged partners.

Modise had underscore that threats that necessitate the issuing of protection order should not be underestimated by authorities to ensure that the complainant’s safety is to a certain extend guaranteed and that where possible, guns which have claimed lives of estranged lovers and partners have to be confiscated.

 She said that the rate at which guns are used to kill women by their partners is unacceptable.

Rustenburg – Mineworkers in Marikana had taken a brave step by fighting for better wages without their trade union, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said on Thursday.

“It was brave of you to bypass the middleman, the National Union of Mineworkers, when you realised that it was no longer serving your best interests,” he told around two thousand people at a Human Rights Day event near the Marikana koppie where 34 miners were shot and killed on August 16 last year.

“It is encouraging to see that you continue to fight for your rights despite the challenges facing you,” he said to applause.

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MBEKWENI – Government on Thursday said it would do all it could to ensure the rights of women and children are protected.

Minister Jeff Radebe and President Jacob Zuma were speaking at a Human Rights Day event in Mbekweni, outside Paarl in the Western Cape.

Zuma expressed his deep concern about the high levels of violence against many women and children, but he reiterated he has confidence the police and the Justice Ministry are capable of arresting perpetrators and punishing them within the confinements of the law.

Radebe echoed Zuma’s sentiments and told Eyewitness News his department would ensure criminals faced the full wrath of the justice system.

“All these sexual assaults must be condemned in no uncertain terms.”

South African news bulletins and newspaper headlines have in recent months been hogged by stories of brutal rapes and murders, including that of Bredasdorp teen Anene Booysen.

Booysen was raped by several men and left for dead in the Western Cape town last month.

Meanwhile, the president said he was satisfied there had been a more than 70 percent conviction rate for reported crimes committed against women and children over the past financial year.

Human Rights Day commemorates the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, when 69 people protesting against apartheid pass-laws were gunned down by police.

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Krugersdorp – A 30-year-old man wanted for the murder of a woman and her daugther in Lethabong was arrested in Magaliesburg near Krugersdorp on Wednesday, North West police said.

Captain Amanda Funani said he was arrested at the Orion informal settlement while consulting a traditional healer.

Annah Moilwe, 44, and her daughter Tshepiso, 28, were shot dead at their home in Slovo Extension on Saturday, allegedly by Tshepiso’s ex-boyfriend.

Police said he allegedly broke into their house around 3am.

The girlfriend had a protection order against him. A quarrel ensued. The man took out a firearm and allegedly shot his girlfriend in the stomach and chest.

When the mother tried to intervene he shot her three times, twice in the chest and once in the chin. She died on the scene.

Her daughter died at the Hartebeesfontein clinic.

He was expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday to face charges of murder. – Sapa