Knysna – A 42-year-old police sergeant has been arrested for allegedly shooting and wounding a motorist in Knysna, Western Cape police said on Monday.

Captain Bernadine Steyn said a man reversed his bakkie from a pavement into the road, in front of an oncoming green Mazda bakkie on Sunday evening. The Mazda driver stopped and got out.

“The owner of the Mazda bakkie, who is an off-duty sergeant based at Knysna, allegedly took out a firearm and shot the victim in the chest.”

The man was taken to a hospital in George in a stable condition. The policeman fled the scene, but was arrested later. He was expected to appear in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Steyn said the firearm used had been stolen earlier that evening from the Knysna police station. The circumstances surrounding the theft were being investigated. – Sapa

The ANC has dissolved its Limpopo’s provincial leadership, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Monday.
  
“The PEC [provincial executive committee] has been dissolved for  displaying totally un-ANC behaviour and institutionalised factional  conduct,” Mantashe told reporters in Johannesburg.
  
“[It will] be replaced with an interim structure that will be given no more than nine months to work towards convening a provincial conference.”
  
A list of the provincial task team was being decided during a meeting on Monday. A provincial general council would be held in Limpopo on Sunday.
  
The decision to dissolve the PEC was taken at a three-day national executive committee meeting in Irene, south of Pretoria at  the weekend.
  
Mantashe said there were a number of issues in the province, which involved MECs and mayors who did not hold the same views as the PEC being removed.
  
It showed there was no ANC leadership in the province, there were groupings, and the ANC was paying the price.
  
“These issues cannot go unnoticed by the ANC,” he said.
  
Mantashe said dissolving the PEC would not affect government positions.
  
Provincial chairman Cassel Mathale is also the Limpopo premier.
  
“The PEC is elected in the inner conference of the ANC. That PEC  is not government, so we’ll dissolve the PEC not government,” he said.
  
The NEC also dissolved the NEC of the ANCYL.
  
“[This is] as a consequence of its continued ill-disciplined behaviour that brought the organisation into disrepute on numerous occasions,” Mantashe said.
  
“An interim team will be selected and put in place by the NWC [national working committee].”
  
Mantashe said the NEC had instructed that all processes be stopped immediately with regard to the pending provincial and regional conferences of the ANCYL.
  
Some were trying to rush these conferences so that leaders could  be elected.
  
“We can’t have a leadership that is instant,” said Mantashe.
  
“There is a difference between filter coffee and instant coffee.”
  
Mantashe denied that dissolving the ANCYL NEC and the Limpopo PEC was a purging exercise.
  
“The Mangaung conference has come and gone… we don’t go around  purging people,” he said.
  
“You cannot be flat-footed and do nothing when things go wrong.” – Sapa

Head Coach Stuart Baxter called for his players to improve if they are to stand out and be counted in the Nedbank Cup.

The Briton was speaking after goals in each half from Sthembiso Ngcobo and Kingston Nkhatha helped the Glamour Boys beat Polokwane City to progress to the next round of the competition.

Baxter made six changes to the team that started against Orlando Pirates in the previous league fixture, starting with the likes of Sthembiso Ngcobo, Siyabonga Nkosi, and Kaizer Motaung JNR.

“I am pleased that we have progressed to the next round of the competition. I would like to congratulate Polokwane City for the job well done. They showed a clear intent to win the game.

“I was not pleased though with the manner in which we played. I felt that we lost shape at times and a couple of guys struggled with cramps during the course of the game. It was not a good performance from us. The players also know that they are capable of doing better than they did on Saturday. We will have to improve if we are to stay in the competition.

A select group of fans once again displayed unbecoming fan behaviour when they booed Siyabonga Nkosi whose brilliant pass created the first goal.

Baxter was not pleased with the behavior of the fans; “Fans are entitled to have their opinions known because they pay a lot of money to travel from all corners of the country. They expect that their players will be on top of their game at all times.

“I feel though to target one player is working against the team. I also do not think the fans who are booing their own players are Kaizer Chiefs fans.

Kaizer Chiefs fans rally behind their team through thick and thin. Siya worked hard for the team just like other players did. This can crush the confidence of a player and which means we have a player less to select.

It is now a challenge but if this trend of booing players continues it can be a big problem as it has the potential to act against us.

I would like to once more join the Club in calling our fans to be patient with the players. There is a lot we can achieve if we are united.

There will be another change in Gordon Igesund’s defensive line-up for Bafana Bafana, after a Soccer-Laduma source close to Orlando Pirates explained that Siyabonga Sangweni has been ruled out with injury.

The 31-year-old centre back missed out on his side’s 1-0 win over Zambian side Zanaco this weekend, due to the fact that he was struggling with his knee, and it is thought that he aggravated the injury on Friday.

Despite missing that game, Bafana coach, Gordon Igesund, had informed the media that he expected Sangweni to be fit for the match against Central African Republic later this month, however that is no longer the case.

Sangweni himself has now confirmed to Soccer-Laduma that he will not be turning out for the national team because of the aggravated injury. According to the source, the defender has been training alone the last few days and he will not make the trip to Cape Town.

With regards to who will fill the void set to be left by Sangweni, sources at Kaizer Chiefs have revealed that defender, Erick Mathoho, is due to be called up as his replacement.

Mathoho, 23, has been in fine form for the Amakhosi so far this season, and may well start alongside his teammate, Morgan Gould, in the centre of Bafana’s defence against CAR.

Soccer-Laduma earlier reported that Kaizer Chiefs defender Tsepo Masilela has been ruled out of the Bafana Bafana clash with a calf injury, being replaced by Mamelodi Sundowns’ Tebogo Langerman.

For more details go to www.soccerladuma.com

The Nedbank Cup last eight draw has dished out some interesting clashes, as teams inch ever closer to the final round of this cup competition and the R7 million prize money on offer!

The quarter-final will see a number of interesting encounters, including current ABSA Premiership leaders Kaizer Chiefs travelling to the Free State to face Bloem Celtic!

The full last eight draw is as follows:

Tembu Royals/Maritzburg United v SuperSport United

Mamelodi Sundowns v Platinum Stars

United FC v African Warriors

Bloem Celtic v Kaizer Chiefs

What are you thoughts on the quarter-final draw? Share you views on Express Yourself!

For more details go to www.soccerladuma.com

BY Obakeng Maje

Ventersdorp: Police have made a breakthrough in a case of a murder, attempted murder and house robbery that happened on Sunday, 17 March 2013 in a Sterkstroom farm outside Ventersdorp. 

Police arrested a 22-year-old suspect and are questioning another one who is believed to be the second suspect. 

” The 22-year-old man was arrested on Sunday night at about 23:00 after Police received a tip-off from the member of the community.  Allegedly the suspect was seen with the stolen items and Police were alerted. The suspect was found in possession of three firearms, a digital camera and knives that the Police confiscated” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

 A 67-year-old farmer and his 64-year-old wife were attacked by two suspects Sunday at about 09:45.

“It is alleged that the two suspects surprised the 67-year-old farmer outside the couple’s house and assaulted him with a blank object on the head and dragged him into the house. While inside the house, the suspects saw the victim’s wife and they assaulted her too” Ngubane said. Police suspects that the woman was raped in the process and the medical report is awaited.

“After the alleged assault on a woman, they took two cellular phones, tied the woman with ropes and fled the scene on foot” police said. 

The 64-year-old woman managed to untied herself and went to seek help at the neighbouring farm.  

The 67-year-old farmer died on the scene and the woman was taken to a hospital in Klerksdorp where she is recovering. 

Police suspects that the motive for the incident was a house robbery. 

The 22-year-old suspect is expected to appear before Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of stolen property and house robbery.

Investigation continues.

BY Obakeng Maje

PRETORIA – “Anybody who attacks or kills a police officer will face the full might of the law. In fact, the killing of members of the law enforcement agencies, especially the police is a direct threat to our hard-won Constitutional democracy. A threat that should not be taken lightly by society” Nathi Mthethwa said.

This is a stern warning from the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa in reaction to the death of an Ekurhuleni Metro police officer this past weekend at Daveyton. 

Preliminary reports indicate that the officer went out to enforce by-laws and whilst on duty a confrontation ensued when police tried to impound an illegally operating caravan. 

Reports further indicate that the owner of the caravan allegedly confronted the police as they were about to remove it from the pavement, which contravened the Ekurhuleni by-laws. 

” The owner then punched the officer who fell backwards and hit his head hard on the ground and declared dead” Zweli Mnisi said.

“The Minister stressed that police officers do not require permission from criminals to perform their duties because such a mandate is Constitutionally-enshrined.  He emphasized that any person who impedes police in carrying their duties, will face a charge of obstruction of justice” said Mthethwa spokesperson Mnisi.

“Whilst we have been consistent in condemning police brutality, we shall not tolerate any provocation of police officers when they perform their duties.  There is no carte blanche to say people must attack police, hence we shall deal with such elements decisively and unapologetically.  So whoever wants to test the wrath of the law, will meet its sting.” Mthethwa yelled.

The Minister also raised a concern about the seemingly deafening silence from some of the regular commentators, analysts, political opposition parties and social commentators around this officers’ death.

“Where is the condemnation that normally accompanies police brutality?  Has a life of a police officer in modern democracy been reduced to insignificance?  We shall continue to fight crime, within the confines of the law.  Coupled with this is our unmovable stance on community-policing philosophy.” he said.

Minister Mthethwa reiterated government’s uncompromising stance of fighting crime, smartly and toughly. 

“Almost each week we are criss-crossing the country, urging communities to partner with the police and we have received significant support and undertakings on this quest.  We shall therefore not allow a minority of people who think they can attack or provoke our officers.  We shall not tolerate any such lawlessness which is unjustifiable.” said Mthethwa.

He urged society to respect police officers and vice versa. 

In the final analysis, police should take the lead in keeping with their Constitutional mandate of honest, dedicated, selfless sacrifice and service to society.  Equally, our policing philosophy is primarily embedded in the close cooperation between police and all spheres of society said police minister.

The active involvement of community structures, in local projects like community patrol groups, contributes towards decreasing crime in general.

Minister Mthethwa thanked police for acting swiftly in arresting the suspect.  He further urged society not to support people who disturb public order and that they should be intolerant to such people as they would be to some police officers who brutalize members of society. 

The suspect will appear in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court today.