Pretoria – The co-accused of so-called “Modimolle monster” Johan Kotze feared for their lives, the Pretoria High Court heard on Wednesday.

Lawyer Jan van Rooyen, for accused number two Andries Sithole, put it to Kotze that he threatened the three men and told them to rape his ex-wife Ina Bonnette.

“You were aggressive. You said no k****r will tell me what to do and you will do what I say,” Van Rooyen said to Kotze.

“Your honour, I did not make that statement,” Kotze replied.

Van Rooyen said Kotze ordered Sithole, Pieta Mohlane and Frans Mphaka to hide in a room in his Modimolle house, where Bonnette was attacked.

He said Sithole had believed the threats were real.

“I did not have something with me. I did not have a weapon with me,” Kotze said, asking how he could have threatened them.

Van Rooyen said Kotze told the men to pin down Bonnette. Kotze denied this.

He said Sithole simulated raping Bonnette by moving up and down. Sithole told Kotze he was afraid and could not get an erection.

“I didn’t see Andries do it…. There was no such talk,” Kotze said.

Van Rooyen said Kotze told Sithole, when he failed to have sex with Bonnette: “It’s quite funny. If you rape you are good, but when it is arranged for you, you can’t do anything.”

He said that when the other co-accused were also unable to have sex with Bonnette, Kotze chased them out.

“Your honour, it’s not true,” Kotze said.

Van Rooyen put it to Kotze that his client’s version of events supported Bonnette’s testimony.

“It is not true,” Kotze repeated. – Sapa

This weekend saw one of the coastal Provinces, the Eastern Cape kick off their Sasol League national championships in which another glut of goals were witnessed.

A total of 26 goals were scored in the seven games that were played over the weekend as the coastal sides emulated their inland counterparts.

It was a good start for teams like City Lads, Manchester Babes and the University of Fort Hare who made their intention for challenging for the league title very clear by recording resounding victories.

The three came out with guns blazing underscoring the Eastern Cape as one of the provinces to watch this season. 

In the Inland Stream, it was business as usual for some powerhouses. The much-anticipated Tshwane derby between Mamelodi Sundowns and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Pretoria, turned out to be a one sided affair as the former proved too strong for their counterparts, massacring poor TUT 5 – 0.

The students from the University of Pretoria (Tuks) were rampant in their game against Katlehong Eagles. The students fired home nine goals, running away 9 – 2 winners over the out-of-sorts ladies from the East Rand.

Croesus ladies hammered NWU Vaal Campus 10 – 0 to take their total goal tally to 26 for the season thus far. Going by their current form, Croesus might be odd favourites to win the title this season. 

The good form showed by some teams this season has sent out a clear statement that defending champions Palace Super Falcons would not have it easy in the Sasol League this time around. 

Results from the weekend:

Inland Provinces

• Mamelodi Sundowns 5 TUT-PTA 0• Fabulous 0 Moroka Swallows 7• Croesus 10 NWU Vaal Campus 0• Tuks 9 Katlehong Eagles 2• Hallelujah Z. Force 0 Springs H Sweepers 0• Univ. of Johannesburg 3 Mondeor Meteors 3• Winchester 1 Palace Super Falcon 3• VUT 5 Lusaka 4• Mmokeng 1 Golden Ladies 6• North West University 2 Khunwana Blue Birds 1• Florentina 2 Clive United 0• Orbit FET College 7 Bianca Academy 0• Al’s Puk Tawana 4 Classic Academy 0• Western Tigers 0 Titans 2• Tshandama Y. Stars 2 Mphanama 0• Re Tla Dira 2 Botlokwa 1• Mahwelereng 0 University of Limpopo 2• Ma-Indies 2 Bakone 0• Chippas United Shayandima• Sisters 0 Kanatla Ladies 1• development 1 Queens 3 Eastern Cape Province

• Kubs 1 Thunderbirds 1• Birmingham 0 City Lads 4• Continental Express 1 Univ. Fort Hare 3• Manchester Babes 4 Liverpool 0• All Stars 2 Liverpool Development 1• Red Roses 1 Mqanduli Ambassadors 2  

Concrete and significant progress on most priorities especially on accelerating service deliver has been registered in Naledi Local Municipality and shows commitment of the institution to turning around, North West Provincial Executive Council (Exco) declared in Mahikeng 

 on Wednesday.

According to the Progress Report on the Implementation of the Local Government Turnaround Strategy tabled in the Exco meeting, Naledi municipality has registered significant progress with regard to monthly income raised, which increased from an average of R8.16 million in 2012/2012 to an average of R10.5 million in 201`2/2013.

The municipality had also patched 122 000 square meters of internal roads by the end of the second quarter and created more than 500 jobs through labour intensive service delivery projects for which it has received an Expanded Public Works Award.

Naledi is among municipalities that have registered progress regarding economic development projects and has attracted a number of investors. A 32 000 square meter shopping mall that will create about 1 800 permanent jobs is under construction in the municipality.

 Other municipalities that have registered significant progress in this regard include Kagisano-Molopo, Ratlou, Kgetleng, Tswaing, Moretele and Maquassi-Hills.

The provincial government has also deployed Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency technical experts to Kgetleng, Mamusa, Ventersdorp, Tswaing and Moretele municipalities to provide technical support on infrastructure delivery and acceleration.

By Obakeng Maje

Mmabatho-Police Divers recovered a body of two victims who crushed into a Modimolle dam in Mahikeng.

The police are still busy trying to remove another body that is trapped in a wrecked helicopter. The search has been halted yesterday because of the darkness and it resumed this morning.

According to reports, the helicopter crushed into a Modimolle dam after allegedly experiencing mechanical problems.

“Police Divers are busy searching for the wrecked helicopter and the search resumed today after it was halted yesterday” police said.

The body still trapped in the wreckage believes to be of the instructor.

The helicopter belongs to a local company in Mahikeng Airport.

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The government is outraged over the assault of a woman in Jane Furse, Limpopo, spokeswoman Phumla Williams said on Tuesday.

“This is a criminal activity and we call on law enforcement agencies to investigate, arrest and prosecute those that are involved in this heinous crime,” she said in a statement.

Two of five people accused of assaulting the woman and filming it were granted bail by the Nebo Magistrate’s Court.

Matthew Makofane, Maria Mahlaela, Gladys Maphanga, Refilwe Mzimba and Thabang Makuwa appeared in court on Monday, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

The group, all employees at a clothing shop in Jane Furse, allegedly assaulted 49-year-old Ester Mankge after accusing her of stealing a packet of underwear.

Makofane and Mahlaela received R500 bail each. Maphanga, Mzimba and Makuwa would remain in custody because of previous assault allegations.

Two men in the group allegedly beat the woman with various objects while filming it. The Daily Sun uploaded the video to their YouTube account on Monday.

“The incident happened October last year but the woman never opened a case until someone notified the police of the video,” Mulaudzi said.

A case was opened on April 8. All five were arrested last week.

Williams urged the public to refrain from spreading the video clip.

“These acts perpetuate immorality and work against building a society where there is respect for human life and dignity,” she said.

“South Africa is a democratic country with a Constitution that protects the rights of all that live in it.”

The ANC Women’s League in Limpopo also condemned the incident.

“The owner of the shop and security guards are counter-revolutionaries and we call all women and men to boycott the shop since this … crime happened inside the shop,” it said in a statement.

“The shop owner has failed dismally to guarantee gogo (grandmother) her women’s rights to (a) life free from violence, allowing gogo to endure continued violence which could end in her death.” – Sapa

Pretoria – A pair of large, scuffed running shoes that police say they found hidden in a kennel at the home of alleged axeman Joseph Ntshongwana took centre stage at his trial on Tuesday when a police expert insisted that a toecap, found near one of his alleged victims, was a “perfect match” for the right shoe.

Major Ze-Ev Krein, the chief forensic analyst at the police forensic science laboratory, was adamant that his “physical match” of the shoe and the toecap was an “exact science” and, in fact, it trumped any other scientific proof.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

South African officials Daniel Bennett together with assistant referees Enock Molefe and Zakhele Siwela will take charge of a key last 16 Orange CAF Champions League 2013 match between Cotton Sport of Cameroon and Stade Malien of Mali this weekend.

Tinyiko Victor will be the fourth official.

The match will be played between 19 and 21 April 2013.

SAFA’s head of referees, Adeel Carelse said the three officials continue to fly the South African flag high.

“We are happy for the three officials. They have shown great consistency and their hard work has duly been recognised by CAF,” said Carelse.

By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-North West police are investigating a case of inquest after a helicopter crushed into Modimolle dam in Mmabatho yesterday.

Police said the motive behind the crush is unknown and how many people occupied the helicopter.

“Police search will resume today after it was adjourned because of darkness” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

The helicopter allegedly plunged into a dam late at around 17:30 yesterday.

Police divers were brought from Klerksdorp to help and rescue victims.

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Black Leopards got a crucial three points in their battle against relegation following a dramatic 2-1 win against fellow strugglers Ajax Cape Town in Polokwane.

The Urban Warriors had led through Abia Nale’s 19-minute goal and dominated the entire half, but Lidoda Duvha equalised through Michael Nkambule’s first touch, before captain Rodney Ramagalela netted a dramatic winner in stoppage-time.

For more http://www.kickoff.com

nb

Nebo, Limpopo – Two of five people accused of assaulting a woman and filming it were granted bail by the Nebo Magistrate’s Court, Limpopo police said on Tuesday.

Matthew Makofane, Maria Mahlaela, Gladys Maphanga, Refilwe Mzimba and Thabang Makuwa appeared in court on Monday, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said

The group, all employees at a clothing shop in Jane Furse, allegedly assaulted 49-year-old Ester Mankge after accusing her of stealing a packet of underwear.

Makofane and Mahlaela received R500 bail each. Maphanga, Mzimba and Makuwa would remain in custody because of previous assault allegations.

“Further investigations revealed that three of the employees committed a similar crime involving young children,” Mulaudzi said.

“The employees allegedly beat children with sjamboks last year after allegedly stealing from the shop. Following a tip-off we found a video of a woman being beaten with a rubber hammer. We located the victim and opened a case against the five employees,” Mulaudzi said.

The two men in the group allegedly beat the woman with various objects while filming it. The Daily Sun uploaded the video to their YouTube account on Monday.

“The incident happened October last year but the woman never opened a case until someone notified the police of the video,” Mulaudzi said.

A case was opened on April 8. All five were arrested last week.

The group was expected to appear in the Nebo Magistrate’s Court on April 22 on charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. – Sapa