Rustenburg -A scuffle broke out on Tuesday between police officers and a group of protesters outside the Rustenburg Civic Centre where the Farlam commission is holding public hearings.

Police officers seized a stack of placards from a group of protesters during the lunch break.

The protesters shouted at the police officers, accusing them of murdering the Marikana mineworkers.

“Shoot us all, that is what you are used to,” a woman shouted at the large contingent of police officers.

“You have murdered our brothers. (Police commissioner Riah) Phiyega must say the truth,” shouted another protester.

Most of the placards read: “Do not let police get away with murder”.

A police officer took the stash of placards into a vehicle parked nearby.

A spokesman for the Marikana Support Campaign, Rehad Desai, said the protesters had been angered by the “evasive” evidence being given to the Farlam commission by Phiyega.

“The people are very angry; these are community members demanding justice. We have every right to protest in this country,”  he said.

“The police seized our placards, we do not know the reason for that. The placards demand that the police should be brought to book  and we also want Phiyega fired.”

He said a number of activities would be held across South Africa  on August 16 annually to commemorate the death of 34 mineworkers.

When the hearings resumed, Ishmael Semenya, SC, for the police, told the commission that the officers would be informed that the people had the right to protest outside.

Phiyega was still on the witness stand, giving evidence regarding the police’s intervention on August 16 last year.

Under cross examination, Phiyega said the police intervention plan for the troubled Marikana mines was good, but got disrupted during implementation.

Because of this disruption the outcome included the shooting deaths of 34 striking mineworkers, which was unintended, she told the commission.

Evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga, SC, asked the police commissioner whether the police intervention at Marikana could be described as a success.

“Taking into account all the factors you have referred to, would  you say that the operation was a success?” he said.

“On August 16, we do know that 34 people were killed and more than 70 were injured. I want you to make a judgment and tell this commission whether based on the SA Police Service’s own tests, you can say the (Marikana) operation was a success?”

Phiyega said: “I think I need to be responsible when answering. I have said the plan was good, and it was disrupted. It is important for me to take all those issues into context.

“The outcome was intended. The plan was good, it was disrupted and we had an unintended outcome. We cannot have a simplified definition of success.

“It would be a broad definition of success.”

Madlanga said the evidence-leading team would argue that the Marikana operation was chaotic and did not represent the best of responsible policing.

On August 16 last year, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were injured when the police opened fire 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

Durban – A final-year UKZN Medical School student – just weeks away from completing her medical degree – was found raped and murdered in her room at the St Hillier Court student residence in Umbilo on Monday night.

Provincial police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said today that a 27-year-old man had handed himself over to police in connection with the crime.

“He has been charged with murder and rape and is expected to appear in court soon,” Zwane said.

A student who stays at the residence said another student had to break the door to get access to the room. 

“Apparently her parents had been trying to get hold of her, but she was not answering,” she said. The student said she had seen the girl’s father entering the residence.

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

Cape Town – Startling statistics on police brutality were presented at Parliament on Tuesday.

MPs heard that:

* Cases of police brutality leapt by more than 300 percent in the past decade, from 416 during 2001/2002 to 1 722 cases by 2011/2012.

* Of the 720 deaths reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate in 2011/2012, one in five involved police criminality.

* Only one out of every 50 people who experienced or witnessed police abuse reported it.

* The SAPS was facing civil claims totalling R1.1 billion related to shooting incidents, and assault cases of more than R800 million.

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

Johannesburg – A picture of a pretty girl flashing an innocent smile is carefully propped up, a burning white candle next to it.

On a mattress, on the floor, sits her grief-stricken grandmother.

Gladys Madonsela is trying to make sense of the rape and murder of Thandeka Madonsela.

She was just 14 years old, a Grade 8 pupil at Rand Girls High in Parktown, Joburg.

She was raped, disembowelled and murdered in the early hours of Saturday morning. Her alleged assailants are two boys, aged 16 and 17.

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

Johannesburg-As part of the “I Play Fair, Say No to Doping” campaign, Bafana Bafana players and technical staff participated in an hour-long anti-doping workshop conducted by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) at the Cape Sun Hotel last Thursday, 21 March 2013.

SAIDS is an affiliate of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), an organisation that promotes and co-ordinates the fight against doping in sport internationally.

The presentation by SAIDS project facilitator, Fahmy Galant, covered aspects of anti-doping and specific emphasis was placed on supplements and steroids and the adverse effects they can have on an athlete’s body. This is inclusive of how drugs affect the general performance of an athlete.

The presentation was aimed at giving the 23 national team players as well as the Bafana Bafana Team Doctor and officials an understanding on topics such as the purpose and context of SAIDS and their “I Play Fair, Say No to Doping” campaign and how it ties in with the Spirit and Ethics of Sports.

The anti-doping workshop is an initiative of the SAFA Medical Office and is meant to empower national team players with a deeper understanding of anti-doping laws and how they apply to football players.

The campaign is also aimed at giving a deeper understanding on how the anti-doping code applies to their specific code, in particular the athlete, coach, team management as well as parents. It is aimed at helping them understand doping control and procedures as well as the dangers of doping.

The ultimate synopsis is to see that all national team players understand the repercussions of doping. At the end of the hour-long presentation, the players were given pamphlets that provide information on the preferred medication and the banned substances.

By Obakeng Maje

Taung- Four suspects are due to appear before Taung Magistrate Court today for assault. Four accused are taxi drivers and they allegedly assaulted a private car victim whom they accuse of stealing their commuters.

North West police said the incident took place on Monday next to Taung District Hospital and the accused are aged between 25 to 36.

“Four suspects are due to appear before Taung Magistrate Court today for assault. They allegedly assaulted another motorist who allegedly picked hikers” police spokesperson Kelebogile Moiloa said.

Taung police said the victim was taken to a local clinic for medical attention and a case of assault was opened.

The confusion in taxi industry came to light after the old taxi rank was put under construction and the new makeshift taxi rank was allocated to taxis.

The taxi drivers vowesd that they will not use the new taxi rank as is too far and too small, however the Greater Taung municipality refutes the claims called them absurd as all needed elements are in place.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

Platinum Stars coach Cavin Johnson has been making the most of his quiet week at the Rustenburg-based club.

With most of Dikwena’s first-team squad back after being away on international duties at the weekend, the Absa Premiership rookie coach will have a full-strength squad to wreak havoc when struggling Mamelodi Sundowns visit the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday.

For more details go to http://www.thenewage.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

Taung,Mogopela B-A 21 year-old learner in Mogopela B, near Taung is furious at the Department of Education after she was told to return to grade 11 as they made mistake on her report.

Maphefo Precious Diphoko told Vaaltar FM news team that she quit school because of the treatment she received from Kgosietsile Lethola High School.

“Since this year I’ve been attending grade 12 classes. And two weeks ago I was called to a meeting by school principal and ordered me to bring my parents” wracked Diphoko said.

“The meeting took place and the principal said I actually failed grade 11,so I must go back to grade 11 class and repeat” she told Vaaltar FM news.

Maphefo said she feel coaxed as along she has been studying and writing grade 12 trials and tests.

Our crew tried to get clarity from both Department of Education and school principal,but with no luck.

A week ago North West SADTU secretary general plea that MEC for Department of Education in the province mme Louisa Mabe must resign according alleged emblezzment been going on in the sector.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

Johannesburg – The South African government on Tuesday faced calls for an inquiry into why troops were sent to the Central African Republic, after 13 soldiers died there in weekend clashes with rebels who seized the country.

The killings, Pretoria’s heaviest military loss since apartheid, raised questions over why the SANDF (South African National Defence Force) was present in Bangui – the official line being they were sent to train local forces.

The opposition Democratic Alliance said the “highly questionable deployment” should be probed by Parliament.

“The real fact is we don’t know why the SANDF were deployed in the CAR and that’s why we need a comprehensive investigation,” said the DA’s shadow defence minister David Maynier.

He added there was speculation the soldiers were sent to “support or prop up” ousted president Francois Bozize, who has now fled the CAR into exile.

President Jacob Zuma in January authorised the deployment to help local troops as part of a bilateral pact.

Four hundred soldiers were cleared to go, but just over 200 were sent.

At the time, the SANDF said the soldiers would also protect a small group of South African troops already on the ground.

South Africa has forces in African hotspots like Sudan, and Zuma said on Monday the deployment was part of efforts to bring peace to the region.

But Maynier said the probe should aim to determine whether Zuma had misled lawmakers as to the reasons why the troops were sent to Bangui.

The South African soldiers fought a nine-hour battle at the weekend with rebels who swept into the capital Bangui. Altogether, 13 were killed and 27 injured.

The bodies of the dead soldiers arrived home on Tuesday night.

The DA has called for a parliamentary committee to be set up to probe the matter. – AFP

Johannesburg – Oscar Pistorius’s brother Carl is expected to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of culpable homicide.

The charges relate to an accident in 2008 which led to the death of a 36-year-old woman.

In a statement last month, the Pistorius family’s attorney Kenny Oldwadge said culpable homicide charges were brought against Carl Pistorius after the accident, but were later withdrawn by the State.

The National Prosecuting Authority later reinstated the charges.

Oldwadge said there was “no doubt that Carl is innocent”, and he said the charge would be challenged in court.

“Carl deeply regrets the accident. Blood tests conducted by the police at the time proved that he had not been under the influence of alcohol, confirming that it was a tragic road accident after the deceased collided with Carl’s car.” – Sapa