Nelspruit – Blood samples taken from a T-shirt and pieces of glass link Sunday Surprise Mashego to the scene of a murder in 2006, the Nelspruit Circuit of the High Court has heard.

Three Pretoria forensic laboratory experts found sufficient agreement on this evidence to link Mashego, 30, to the murder of tavern-owner Josaya Themba Joma, of Lihawu in Msogwaba, near Mbombela, on February 8, 2005, according to a Sapa correspondent.

The court heard this evidence on Wednesday afternoon, before the matter was adjourned to Thursday.

Prosecutor Dora Ngobeni told the court on Wednesday that experts would not be called to testify, and asked the court to accept their affidavits supporting the evidence.

“The defence has agreed and accepted the DNA tests as evidence, which were collected from the crime scene, and also from the accused,” she told the court.

Mashego, who was arrested in 2006, has pleaded not guilty to four charges of murder, housebreaking with intent to commit robbery, and illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Delays with the forensic tests had previously caused the matter to be provisionally withdrawn from the court roll, but it was reopened when they were completed.

Chief investigator Warrant Officer Andrew Thwala testified that Mashego was linked to the offences following the arrest of Ndumiso Shilubane, who was found in possession of the murder weapon.

“After we were informed about the suspects’ whereabouts, we pounced on them sitting under a tree, and Shilubane was arrested after he was found with the pistol,” he told the court.

“Shilubane said it was given to him by the accused to hold it 30 minutes before we pounced on them at Msogwaba on February 13, 2005,” Thwala said.

The men tried to run away when police arrived, and two of them escaped.

Thwala traced Mashego and arrested him in 2006, after following up on information from Shilubane.

After arresting Mashego, Thwala said he took him to a clinic in KaNyamazane, where blood samples were taken.

“I sealed the blood samples, a bullet taken from the deceased, together with a cartridge from the confiscated pistol, the pistol, glass pieces with blood samples from the scene, and a T-shirt.

“All were sent to the Pretoria forensic laboratory for testing,” Thwala testified.

Shilubane told the court Mashego asked him to hold the pistol for him before the raid.

“We stay in the same area and I have known the accused for more than 10 years. We ran together when police came. I ran away as I was afraid. I was in possession of the firearm.

“After I was arrested and the pistol found, I told police it belonged to the accused,” he said.

Mashego, who is serving a four-year sentence for armed robbery, denied this.

“I don’t know anything about the firearm and I was not with Shilubane on that day,” he said. – Sapa

Rustenburg – Police officers doing duty in Marikana during last year’s strike-related violence could have more information about what happened, the Farlam Commission on Inquiry heard on Thursday.

“I cannot exclude the possibility that some of the 600 officers who were there could have other [pictures and videos on their cellphones] that they did not hand in,” Major General Charl Annandale told the commission, which is sitting at the Rustenburg Civic Centre.

Annandale headed the police tactical response team during the unrest.

Under cross-examination, Annandale said the officers were asked to hand in any information they had, but that there had not been any requirement for them to use their cellphones in the first place.

Deaths at Marikana

The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people – 34 of them shot dead by the police – during unrest near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana in August.

“There’s no protocol for officers to use their own private cellphones and cameras, as professional people are appointed for such,” Annandale said.

Five police videographers were deployed to take footage during the unrest.

Some cellphone footage has also been entered into evidence.

Earlier in proceedings, Nokukhanya Jele, for the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), said it waited several months to acquire the pocket-books of police officers deployed at Marikana.

After a short adjournment, Jele told the commission it had just received around 500 of these books from the police.

Pocket-books

The commission heard that the pocket-books could contain crucial information.

A typical entry in officers’ pocket books would have information on the posts they held on a particular day, the type of vehicles they used, and the type of firearms they had in their possession, Annandale said.

“In terms of Marikana, they would say when they went on duty and whether they used their firearms or not,” he said.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-The mushrooming of backstreet abortion “clinics” maneuvered by bogus doctors has prompted the North West Department of Health together with National Prosecuting Authority, South African Police Service and other Government departments to march against illegal abortion and promote family planning. 

“The peaceful march which is scheduled to start at 08h00 on Monday, 20 May at Rustenburg town main taxi rank will be led by Health MEC, Dr. Magome Masike” department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said.

The march is an initiative of all stakeholders against advertising and provision of illegal abortion services around town and neighboring suburbs.  

“It is also aimed at raising awareness on the dangers of unsafe illegal abortion, family planning and to inform communities about safe pregnancy resolutions and other related services” Lekgethwane said.  

“The problem facing the Department is that most of the people who use these backstreet abortionists often flock back to the health care facilities with serious complications” MEC Magome Masike said. 

This is not only costly to the Department but also creates a burden on the health care system he said. 

The department said it is for that reason that women must stop using backstreet abortionists to save themselves and the limited resources.

Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act as amended by Act no 01 of 2008 promotes women’s reproductive health rights and extends freedom of choice by affording every woman the right to choose whether to have early, safe and legal termination of pregnancy according to her individual beliefs.

The Act also gives women of any age or marital status access to abortion services on request during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy and in certain cases extends the access to the first twenty weeks of pregnancy.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-A suspect appeared before magistrate in Taung for livestock theft.

Tshepo Mompati,23 appeared before Taung Magistrate court for livestock theft and his case was postponed until 27 May 2013.

He was arrested after he allegedly stole three cows at Longaneng village and auctioned them in Hartswater.

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By Obakeng Maje

Taung-A case of eight suspects who were arrested for harassing Magogong village community continues todat at Taung Magistrate Court today.

The proceeding was adjourned yesterday.

“Only four members of the accused appeared before court. And the rest of the crew will take the stand today” colonel Kgwenyape said.

Eight suspects were arrested after they allegedly robbed and assaulted members of community.

They were subsequently cornered by community members at Saddam’s tavern in Magogong village, near Taung.

According to police, four members have impending cases and they were all remanded in custody.

“The court proceeding continues today and all eight suspects will appear before court for bail application” said Kgwenyape.

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London – Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani offered to return voluntarily to South Africa to face trial in a letter to the South African government last month, it was revealed in court on Wednesday.

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

Lonmin mineworkers who downed tools today risked losing their jobs, the platinum miner has announced.

Sue Vey, spokesperson for the company, said all 13 shafts were not operational.

They were engaging with unions to find out why workers, who reported for duty, did not go underground.

Labour analysts said the consequences of embarking on a wildcat strike could lead to job losses.

They were “deeply concerned” that the country was developing a poor reputation in employer-employee relations.

The wildcat strike is said to have been sparked by the weekend killing of Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) North West regional organiser, Mawethu Joseph Steven.

His death was seen to have heightened tensions between AMCU and its rival National Union of Mineworkers.

The police were monitoring the situation.

According to Sapa, a large number of police were at Wonderkop stadium, in Marikana, where AMCU members were expected to meet this afternoon.

A water cannon, a number of police vans, and Nyalas were parked outside the stadium. Lonmin workers were bused in from all 13 shafts of the mine. 

Carrying knobkerries, sticks, and umbrellas they filed into the venue singing: “Police are dogs. They must leave.”

Marikana made international headlines last year on August 16 when police shot dead 34 striking Lonmin miners while trying to disperse them.

Ten people were killed the week before in strike-related violence. – Additional reporting Sapa. 

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