Monthly Archives: April 2013

Tatane cops were working during trial: Reports

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Johannesburg – Seven policemen acquitted of killing protester Andries Tatane returned to work in 2012 while their trial was still pending, according to a media report on Wednesday.

 

The Sowetan quoted Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Billy Jones as saying that after a disciplinary process it was decided the policemen could resume work, and they were assigned administrative tasks.

 

Jones said the internal disciplinary process was distinct from the criminal case.

 

Police had not yet been officially informed by the National Prosecuting Authority of its investigation into two other police members who testified in the trial and were suspected of perjury.

 

Jones could not say whether the men would be suspended pending the NPA probe.

 

At the end of March, Ficksburg regional magistrate Hein van Niekerk found the State could not prove its case of murder and assault against the seven policemen beyond reasonable doubt.

 

During the trial, two officers testifying for the State recanted their original statements. They claimed they were threatened into making statements to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

 

Tatane died on April 13, 2011, after police used rubber bullets and batons to subdue him during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg. The case received huge media attention when footage of Tatane’s assault was broadcast nationally. – Sapa

De Sa: We still have a chance

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While many have written Orlando Pirates off in the title race, Roger de Sa believes his side are still contenders ahead of their clash against Ajax.

De Sa’s troops – on 44 points, eight behind table-topping Kaizer Chiefs – have two games in hand over their Soweto rivals.

 

“We are one point better than where Pirates were last year at this stage of the season,” De Sa pointed out.

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

“Pastor himself on niece”

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The 48-year-old pastor has been on the run since the case was opened at the Soshanguve police station about seven weeks ago.

 

The teen’s father said he and the pastor are half-brothers, who share the same father.

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

Chris Hani celebrations kicks off today

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The Chris Hani District Municipality is to honour anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani on the 20th anniversary of the death of the ANC and SACP leader.

 

The municipality’s executive mayor Mxolisi Koyo, said the achievements of Hani be celebrate today until Freedom Day.

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

Baxter: Yeye suspension a blow

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Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane was red carded on Saturday in the team’s goalless draw against Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, and as a result, will miss the team’s Nedbank Cup quarter-final encounter against Bloemfontein Celtic on the weekend. 

 

The last time Yeye missed a Chiefs game in the current campaign was against Platinum Stars, on November 24, where the log leaders lost 2-0 at the the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.

 

Coach Stuart Baxter admits that losing Yeye for the Nedbank tie is a big blow to the team. He said that the South African international’s experience is vital, although they do have the depth in the squad to cover for Yeye.

 

“Yes, it is a big blow. It is a fact, we need him at this point in time in the team. His experience is vital and we need all the players at this stage of the season. With the injuries and suspensions, we just have to put our minds firmly on the ground and make sure we don’t lose focus. 

 

“We have players who will step up into the team, but as I have said losing Yeye is a blow,” Baxter explained.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

 

Pregnant teen was strangled- Reports

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Pretoria – Pregnant teenager Zanele Khumalo was strangled, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has heard on Tuesday.

 

Pathologist Dr Lorraine du Toit Prinsloo testified the 18-year-old Khumalo was five months pregnant when she died. 

 

The most probable cause of her death was manual strangulation, meaning she had been strangled.

 

Prinsloo was testifying the trial of Khumalo’s boyfriend Thato Kutumela, 26, accused of raping and murdering her at her parents’ home in Garsfontein, Pretoria, two years ago. He has denied guilt.

 

In his plea explanation Kutumela said he had sex with Khumalo on the morning before her death, but denied having anything to do with her murder.

 

Prinsloo told the court Khumalo did not have any injuries indicative of sexual assault, but this did not exclude the possibility she had been raped.

 

She said it was not possible to say in what position Khumalo had been when she was strangled.

 

Khumalo was last seen alive on the morning of 21 April 2011.

 

A neighbour rushed her to hospital after her parents and sister discovered her naked body under a blanket on her bed when they arrived home after work that afternoon.

 

The emergency doctor who tried to resuscitate Khumalo, Dr Garry Joubert, testified the young woman was naked and wrapped in towels when she arrived at the hospital. 

 

She was unresponsive and had no heartbeat or pulse.

 

Attempts to resuscitate her were stopped when it became clear there was no blood flow and that rigor mortis had already started to set in.

 

Joubert said the teenager had bruises on both sides of her neck. Her family had given a history of an abusive relationship and pregnancy.

 

He estimated Khumalo had probably died six or more hours before arriving at the hospital. The trial continues.

 

– SAPA

ANC as adept at dodging as Nats

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I have been confronted with phrases like national key point, national security and national interest many times in my life as a journalist.

 

I was a cub reporter in 1975 when I was arrested in Komatipoort for taking a picture of white refugees from Mozambique brought in by train.

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

Vavi not probed,says Cosatu

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Johannesburg – Cosatu on Tuesday denied a report that its affiliates are investigating general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

 

Deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali wrote in a letter to the Sowetan on Tuesday that a report by the newspaper on the purported probe was devoid of any truth.

 

“The report is based entirely on lies from some anonymous sources, who we are told preferred to remain anonymous for reasons that are obvious,” he wrote.

 

“The sources could not possibly have revealed their identity since beyond the fact that a meeting of union presidents and general secretaries took place on Monday, there is not a word of truth in any of the comments.”

 

Ntshalintshali said the Congress of SA Trade Unions was “utterly disgusted” by the report and viewed it was a personal attack on Vavi.

 

The Sowetan reported that presidents and secretaries from all the unions affiliated to Cosatu had met on Monday and formed a task team to investigate Vavi’s political and financial management of the union federation.

 

According to the report, three independent investigators had been appointed.

 

“The forensic auditors Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo will examine administrative issues, including claims of financial mismanagement by Vavi. The political investigation will be headed by labour lawyer Charles Nupen who will work together with Petrus Mashishi, the former president of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union,” reported the Sowetan.

 

The paper said its sources, within Cosatu, were expecting the report to be completed in time for the central executive committee’s (CEC) next sitting in May.

 

“This pack of lies clearly comes from disgruntled individuals who are pursuing some kind of personal vendetta again Vavi, all the national office bearers and the federation as a whole,” Ntshalintshali said.

 

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) also rejected the Sowetan report. Spokesman Castro Ngobese said it was “spurious and misleading”.

 

“We want to state categorically that comrade Vavi is not being investigated by the CEC. We view the story as part of a well-calculated and continuous offensive to publicly smear, humiliate and embarrass Vavi.”

 

He said forces inside and outside Cosatu were involved in making the allegations. He said they were the same people who wanted to dethrone Vavi in 2012.

 

“These forces see comrade Vavi as a threat to their self-centred political agendas, and want to use Cosatu as a bargaining political power tool elsewhere, at the expense of the workers and the poor,” he said.

 

Ngobese said Numsa had faith in Cosatu.

 

“Numsa shall battle and fight with all our might not to turn Cosatu into a toothless labour desk,” he said. – Sapa

 

 

A parolee arrested for Nwest rape

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A man on parole has been arrested for allegedly raping a 92-year-old woman in Mmakau, North West police said on Tuesday.

 

“The parolee was arrested today [Tuesday] in Mmakau village where he stays,” spokesman Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

 

The woman’s grandson, who saw him leave the woman’s house after the attack, described what he was wearing to police.

 

“Police went to the suspect’s place and found clothes that matched the grandson’s description.”

 

He said the 29-year-old man was out on parole after he was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for a rape committed in 2006. He was released on parole in 2010.

 

A warrant for his arrest was issued again in August 2012, after he allegedly attempted to rape another woman in the same village.

 

“The suspect ran away, and police had been looking for him.”

 

The elderly woman was raped in her home on Sunday. Her front door, which was locked by chains, was broken down. The man repeatedly raped her for three hours before running away. He was arrested on Tuesday.

 

The elderly woman was severely traumatised and taken to hospital. Ngubane said police would oppose bail in court and ask correctional services to revoke his parole. He was expected to appear in the GaRankuwa Magistrate’s Court soon to face two charges of rape and one of attempted rape.

 

-Sapa

Farmer “alleged” killers back in court

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The trial of two men who are accused of shooting a Fochville dairy farmer in February 2012 started on Monday in the Potchefstroom High Court.

 

Vukile Amos Nyangiwe, 28, and Paulos Lebohang Moloi, 32, are among five who allegedly shot David Hall, 49, and his wife Bernadette, 45, after they overpowered the couple. The other three are still at large.

 

Police said the couple were milking cows in their dairy about 70m from their homestead.

 

Capt Adele Myburg, police spokesperson said: “Mrs Hall saw the men walking across the field and shouted to her husband that there were men with firearms. He went outside but tragically two shots were fired killing him.

 

“The attackers then approached Mrs Hall and forced her into the farmhouse. Allegedly she hit them with a pipe and her fist but was hit back with a panga, gun and pipe over the head and body before she was tied up in the garage. The accused then fled the scene with the Halls’ vehicle, which was later found in Kokosi township. The couple’s dog freed Mrs Hall, who called help. The trial continues.

 

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