Premier Modise expresses shock and condemns farm murder discovered after a week

North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed shock that the incident in which a well known dog breeder Eric Labuschane was murdered and his 78-year-elderly mother was locked in the bathroom was only discovered after a week.

In condemning the heinous crime and conveying condolences to the Labuschane family, Premier Modise said that the incident highlights the need for farmers to keep in regular contact with each other as part of crime prevention strategy and in support of the rural safety plan.

“An effective communication network with farmers should be maintained by rural safety coordinating structures in order to prevent farm attacks and improve response time in the event attacks occur,” emphasised the Premier who was also concerned that the mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s from was found dehydrated and in a state of shock a day after her son’s body was removed from the scene.

“We wish Labuschane’s elderly mother a speedy recovery and pray for her strength to deal with her loss as she mourns the tragic death of her son,” Modise said.

She called on police not to leave any stone unturned until those responsible are behind bars. 

 According to the report, Eric Labuschane who had been renting a four-bedroom house on Olifants Hoek farm, about 23km outside Rustenburg 

 since August last year was allegedly stabbed and bludgeoned with a rock.

Labuschane’s body was discovered after his landlord, Peter Roberts,son of herbalist Margaret Roberts noticed a strong smell and flies and summoned police who broke down the front door to gain access into the house and discover Labuschane’s decomposing body in the main bedroom.

Roberts’s curiosity to enquire on Labuschane whom he had last seen last Wednesday night 

  was drawn by his dogs which were growing thin.

Roberts purportedly said that Labuschane was a recluse and he was not worried that he had not seen him or his mother .

North West police spokesperson Colonel Emelda Setlhako said Labuschane had also been strangled and that t did not look like there was forced entry into the house.

Setlhako also confirmed that Labuschane had a worker who was also last seen last Wednesday and that a Volkswagen bakkie and two cellphones were missing.

By Obakeng Maje

Cape Town-Bafana Bafana maneuver their way to the top of the group after walloping Central African Republic 2-0 in a world cup qualifier.

South African national team is leading the pack by five points and kept their hopes of qualifying for Fifa World Cup that will be hosted in Brazil next year alive.

The game started like a house on fire as Bafana’s prose has the merits of simplicity,euphony and precision.

Bafana started asking questions to the visitors in the early minutes.

Bafana striker Tokelo Rantie was supposed to put Bafana in the driving seat after he received a pass from Letsholenyane,but his shot went over the bar.

The CAR defence was buyoed and denied Bafana any opportunity.

CAR strikers imposed pressure on Bafana’s back four,but found them sturdy.

Bafana influential Defender Thabo Matlaba took a shot from a distance that left CAR goalkeeper in no man’s land.

The stadium erupted and commentators stuttered when Matlaba scores for Bafana.

“I am very happy after scoring for Bafana and what went through my mind was to score a goal” Matlaba said.

“The coach told us to play with confidence and take our chances. We believed in ourselves and taking that shot from a distance was marvellous” said man of the match.

The Central African Republic strikers Foxi shot was saved by skipper Itumeleng Khune who was more gingerly between the poles.

“I am very disappointed by the referee as he allowed the goal and succumbed to pressure from south African players who refuted the goal. Even the linesman did not acknowledged a hand ball to say the list” CAR coach said.

“Bafana won in front of their supporters and we expecting cracker game when they come to our backyard. We will show them when they visit on the 08th of June” said the coach.

Bafana international Parker unleashed a wonderful shot on the 70th minute to make it 2-0 in favour of Bafana.

“We played well today and improving game by game. We kept our clean sheet and our back four was more sturdy” igesund said.

Bafana midfielder Furman was substituted after he was left blurred by CAR player.

Bafana was so delicate and showed some improvements since the Afcon.

They won the game 2-0 and with an advantage.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

By Obakeng Maje

Madibogo: Two members of Madibogo SAPS Visible Policing Unit were driving along Madibogo-Setlagole road when they noticed a group of community members gathered at a nearby Shop at Tlhaping Section in Madibogo North West police said. 

The two officers then stopped to investigate the matter. 

“They were informed that a robbery just occurred at the Shop and that one shot was fired outside that shop by the fleeing suspects” warrant officer Sam Tselanyane said. 

The officers were given the direction that the suspect took after the robbery and also informed that the three suspects were riding on horses. 

“It is alleged that the three suspects came riding horses and left them outside and entered the shop where they found the owner, 31-year-old Indian man. One of the suspects pulled out a firearm and pointed the owner and ordered him to give him the money” police said. While the owner was terrified and shocked, the suspect hit him with a firearm on the forehead and he fell on the ground.  

“Another suspect took out a knife and also threatened the victim, whilst the other suspect took cash estimated at R500, Airtime vouchers to the value of R350, R420,00 worth of cigarettes and cellular phone to the value of R700,00” Tselanyane said. 

Police said all the items were thrown in the bag and thereafter the suspects fled the scene. 

The two policemen followed the direction that they were given and all three suspects aged 16, 19 and 20 were arrested not far away from the scene.  

All stolen items including a firearm and knife that were used for the robbery were recovered. “According to the information received, it is believed that one of the accused stole his father’s firearm and was used for the robbery” police said. 

It is also suspected that the horses were also stolen at Setlagole.  

All three suspects will be charged with armed robbery.  

They are expected to appear before Atamelang Magistrate’s Court on Monday  

Investigation continues.

The Northern Cape cabinet has expressed their heartfelt apology to a Rietfontein mother, who gave birth to her baby on the street two weeks ago.

The new mother was forced to deliver her baby on the streets as the health facility that was supposed to open 24 hours was closed due to salary disputes.

The acting Premier Grizelda Cjiekella and Health MEC, Mxolisi Sokatsha visited Veronica Brown at her home to formally apologise.

Cjiekella says they take responsibility for what has happened, she says it was a mistake that will never be repeated.

“I think it’s really a blessing to have him healthy. I spoke to the health staff that was here they said there’s nothing wrong with the baby.  We came here to apologise to the parents and take responsibility but we have addressed the issues, because the problem was overtime problem. But the department has addressed this matter, so we hope that now in the future this will never happen again but also that our people will not be punished when we got challenges to be addressed as government,” says Cjiekella.

The mother, Veronica Brown, has welcomed the apology; “I thank them because they cared enough to come here and I welcome their apology.”

However, Rietfontein community members were not impressed. “For me the disappointment lies in why should this thing turn so ugly before people could fix it, it means the money was there the equipment was there but it is dragging feet and they are not sincere with the people of the Mier region,” says Community spokesperson  Meris Kocks.

Johannesburg – The police and their management are covering up events surrounding the Marikana shooting, the SA Humans Rights Council (SAHRC) claimed on Friday.

It accused national police commissioner Riah Phiyega of failing to mention a statement by police officer Hendrich Wouter Myburgh, which contradicted her assertion that police acted in self-defence.

“At best, the national commissioner was dishonest in saying that she had received no information to cause her to question the truth of her press statement that the police had acted only in self-defence,” SAHRC representative Bonita Meyersfeld, director of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, said in a statement.

“At worst, the fact that the police have never mentioned this evidence is indicative of a deliberate cover-up.”

Phiyega told the Farlam Commission of Inquiry investigating the events surrounding the shooting in North West on August 16 that she stood by her stance that police acted in self-defence when they shot the miners.

Approached for comment from Phiyega, her consultant Makhosini Nkosi indicated this would be forthcoming before the end of the afternoon.

However, no response had materialised by early evening.

During cross examination of Phiyega at the commission, evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga read a statement into the record by Myburgh about the shooting.

Myburgh said that after most of the shooting had stopped, he found three wounded people on the ground on the hill and continued to search for “other suspects”.

“I suddenly heard a gunshot behind me. As I turned, I saw a NIU 1/8national intervention unit 3/8 constable who is unknown to me putting his side firearm in his leg holster while he was standing next to the injured…,” he said in the statement.

“I asked him 1/8the NIU 3/8 constable what is going on. He replied by saying: ‘They deserve to die’ and he moved away.”

The commission heard that the constable could not be identified or named.

Madlanga asked Phiyega whether, if Myburgh’s evidence was indeed true, she would continue holding the view that the officers fired shots in self-defence.

“I’m consistent in my view that, given the sensitivity of the issue… I would be very, very cautious to answer such a question… It is difficult to say on this or that hypothesis,” answered Phiyega.

The commission’s chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, warned Phiyega that her “deliberate attempt to not answer a question” led to inferences being drawn.

Phiyega said she and her commanders had wanted to understand what had happened, but Myburgh could not give them more details to find or identify the NIU constable.

On August 16, 34 striking Lonmin mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were wounded when the police opened fire while trying to disperse a group which had gathered on a hill near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana.

Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week. – Sapa

Pretoria – Members of the ANC must draw positive lessons from the decision to disband the ANCYL national executive committee (NEC) and the Limpopo ANC provincial executive committee (PEC), President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.

“The (ANC) NEC collective decided to dissolve the NEC of the Youth League precisely because of its continued ill-disciplined behaviour, which has brought the organisation into disrepute on numerous occasions,” he said in a speech prepared for delivery at the KwaZulu-Natal ANC provincial general council.

“On the same measure, we further decided to dissolve the Limpopo PEC because of institutionalised factionalism, which is un-ANC (sic).

“We encourage all our structures to draw positive lessons from this experience and forge ahead with the selfless struggle to make the lives of our people better.”

Zuma said nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of unity in the party.

“Let me take this opportunity to commend the comrades in erstwhile leadership of the Youth League and also the former Limpopo PEC for the manner in which they have responded to this directive from the organisation,” he said.

“They have respected the decision with humility and discipline. They have behaved in a manner that we expect ANC cadres to behave, to respect the authority of the organisation.”

He said members of the Youth League NEC and the Limpopo NEC were still members of the party.

“It is encouraging that the comrades are acting within the discipline of the organisation. The time for divisive and polarising political rhetoric is over. We must build the ANC,” Zuma said.

“The time for leaking information to the media and using journalists to divide the ANC must also come to an end. Already we are seeing progress in this regard.”

He said the African National Congress’s national conference in Mangaung in December had helped to draw a line against ill-discipline and factionalism.

“What stood out about that conference as well was the high levels of discipline and order. We proved that our movement remains an epitome of democracy and political maturity in the manner in which the conference was conducted,” Zuma said.

“Mangaung went smoothly and successfully, despite the so-called wise predictions from some sections of the media and analysts, who were saying authoritatively that the ANC would implode in Mangaung.

He said the ANC would mobilise millions of South Africans to defend the “gains of this hard-won democracy” during the national elections next year.

“We must prove to our people in word and in action that the ANC remains the only organisation capable of mobilising the broadest strata of society for fundamental social transformation,” Zuma said.

“We need unity and cohesion. That is why we commend the KZN province for working hard to achieve unity in the province, which has led to enormous success both in the ANC and governance.”

He congratulated the province for the way it had dealt with the “leadership question” at recent conferences.

“You have demonstrated that the unity of the ANC and its cohesion is more important than who is at the helm,” Zuma said.

“That is an important spirit, because the ANC is not about fighting for positions. It is about sacrifice, dedication and commitment.” – Sapa

The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is not in a position to start work on the N1-N2 Winelands toll highway project in April, it said on Friday.

“Statements in this regard are mischievous and intended to influence public opinion in a particular direction,” said spokesman Vusi Mona.

“Sanral has never said it intends to start with the project or to conclude the concession contract on 20 April 2013.”

Mona was responding to a statement by the City of Cape Town on Wednesday that Sanral intended resuming the N1-N2 Winelands toll highway project.

Mayoral committee member for transport Brett Herron said the city received notification from Sanral on March 6, and undertook to provide the city with 45 days’ notice of its intention to start working on the toll project.

“This means that Sanral could commence work on the project by 20 April 2013, without first resolving the city’s concerns,” said Herron.

He said a review application about the planned tolling was before the Western Cape High Court and was yet to be decided.

Mona said negotiations of contracts was a time-consuming and lengthy process.

“Only after the appointment of a concessionaire, and once funding has been secured, can the necessary works under the project be carried out.”

There had been exchanges between Sanral and the city about a possible meeting.

Mona said: “It is untrue that Sanral is not willing to engage the city… however, we have noted the city’s threatened action to interdict Sanral on the project.”

Although Sanral respects the city’s right to approach the court where it feels aggrieved, Sanral will also exercise its constitutional right in this respect, he said. – Sapa