The case against the Limpopo taxi driver who defaced the controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma at Johannesburg’s Goodman Art Gallery last year, has been postponed to early next month in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court.

Louis Mabokela entered the Rosebank gallery in May last year and smeared black paint on the Brett Murray picture titled ‘Spear of the Nation’, which depicted Zuma’s private parts.

Mabokela’s pleaded not guilty to a charge of malicious damage to property.

Professor Barend le Grange, who also defaced the painting, earlier pleaded guilty to the same charge and paid a fine of R1 000.

Mabokela was allegedly assaulted by security personnel inside the gallery while Le Grange was left untouched.
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Cape Town – Another arrest was made on Friday afternoon in connection with the murder of 18-year-old schoolboy Enrico Martin, Western Cape police said.

Captain Frederick van Wyk said an 18-year-old was arrested at 3pm in Bonteheuwel.

Police arrested a 19-year-old from Athlone on Thursday evening. Both would appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Martin was shot shortly after 8am on Wednesday while entering the Spes Bona High School premises in Athlone.

Van Wyk said at the time that three men, two of them armed, dressed in school tracksuit tops, approached Martin. One of them shot him in the head.

Education MEC Donald Grant said paramedics revived Martin and took him to Groote Schuur Hospital, but he died soon after arrival. – Sapa

Johannesburg – Union rivalry is the main source of instability at South African mines and labour groups should work with companies to resolve disputes, said Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of the ruling African National Congress.
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Kimberley – The Northern Cape’s transport department head Steven Jonkers appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for allegedly ignoring tender procedures.

Jonkers, 47, appeared with Clarissa Ann Carstens, 45, on charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act, said Northern Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mashudu Malabi.

The charges related to the awarding of bus contracts in the Springbok region in the Northern Cape, Malabi said

They were granted bail of R5000 each and the matter was postponed to June 25. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Delareyville-North West police arrested four suspects after their attempt to rob a farmer and his wife was foiled.

Police said four suspects stormed at Brooders TUT, near Delareyville this morning at 06:00am when a 56 year-old woman allegedly opened the gate for their dogs.

“Four suspects allegedly entered the farm and pounced on a farmer and his wife. They allegedly held them hostage and assaulted a farmer” sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said.

They allegedly locked a wife in a separate room and continue with robbery.

Police said a wife escaped through a window and went to call for a help.

“She went to her neighbours and on their return, two suspects were shot” Moiloa said.

Police were called and four suspects were arrested and charged with assault with intention of grieviously bodily harm and attempted robbery.

“Two suspects were rushed to local hospital for medical attention and all four will appear before Delareyvill Magistrate Court on Monday” she said.

Police investigations continue.

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The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will in its effort to strengthen crop production in the Province, prioritise the cultivation of about 20 000 hectares of arable land during the 2013/14 financial year. This was pronounced by MEC Desbo Mohono.

Mohono said to achieve the set goal, mechanisation packages and fencing will be provided as support services to subsistence farmers, so as to get production off the ground. “Of these hectares, 12 890 will be in Bojanala District, 5 600 in Ngaka Modiri Molema, 7 888 in Dr Kenneth Kaunda, while Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District will plant 1 000 hectares”, announced Mohono.

Mohono told the Provincial Legislature that the same support will be extended to the Taung Irrigation Scheme, where a total of 150 hectares is targeted for fodder production.

“The Department commit to deliver on this objective, in our endeavour to promote food production and raise rural employment and income”, said Mohono.

The recent spate of violent rapes in the North West province is worrying and that prompted Bojanala Platinum District Municipality to resolve, through its Special Projects Portfolio Committee to initiate a social dialogue on RAPE, by launching the District Anti-Rape Campaign today at the Rustenburg City Hall. According to Selina Ramasia from the municipality, members of the public, traditional leaders, churches and business forums will sign the pledge. “We invite all stakeholders including members of the Media to make a pledge as this criminal behaviour is threatening to overtake our communities,” said Ramasia.
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The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will soon distribute six ambulatory veterinary clinics to the rural parts of the Province, MEC Desbo Mohono told the Provincial Legislature.

Mohono said these clinics will be introduced in an attempt to intensify the Primary Animal Health Care programme, while at the same time bringing animal health services closer to the farming community.

“We will also sustain effective veterinary bio-security, through the implementation of vaccination, surveillance, diagnostic and meat safety programmes”, said Mohono.

Moreover, Mohono committed her Department to strengthening and repositioning the Department’s livestock breeding centres, adding that a Bull Subsidy Scheme will be initiated as part of the livestock improvement programme.

Regarding the NW/IDC Nguni Cattle Development project which Mohono described as a matter of proud record for the Department and the Province, a commitment to pursue sustainable markets for this indigenous breed was undertaken.
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Cape Town – The Emirates flight carrying SA doctor Cyril Karabus touched down in Cape Town shortly before noon on Friday.

Emirates Flight EK772 left Dubai in the early hours of the morning.

Karabus boarded the flight without incident after experiencing numerous delays.

He had been detained in the United Arab Emirates since 18 August 2012, after being convicted and sentenced in absentia for the death of a patient in 2002.

Even though he was acquitted on 21 March, his return home was delayed because he was still listed on a UAE database as a fugitive from justice.

Karabus received his passport earlier this week, but then faced another delay when his visa had the wrong dates.

He finally boarded his flight early on Friday morning. A large crowd was waiting for him at Cape Town International Airport.
For more http://www.news24.com

Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund has named his squad for the friendly against Lesotho and the two 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Central African Republic and Ethiopia.

The 25-man squad will assemble for camp on May 29 and leave for Cameroon, where the match against CAR will be played, on June 4.

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Senzo Meyiwa, Wayne Sandilands

Defenders: Mulomowandau Mathoho, Tefu Mashamaite, Bevan Fransman, Siboniso Gaxa, Tebogo Langerman, Thabo Nthethe, Anele Ngcongca, Tsepo Masilela.

Midfielders: Kagisho Dikgacoi, Dean Furman, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Oupa Manyisa, May Mahlangu, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Richard Henyekane, Tlou Segolela, Thuso Phala, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Daine Klate

Forwards: Bernard Parker, Katlego Mashego, Tokelo Rantie