Rustenburg -Police have successfully dealt with most protests and gatherings, even in the face of violence, over the past 18 months, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.

“There has been positive intervention by police where at least over 80 percent of a total of 151 gatherings and protests were dealt with successfully and peacefully in the past 18 months,” national police commissioner Riah Phiyega told the commission.

She was under cross-examination by Dali Mpofu, for the wounded and arrested miners.

The commission, sitting on its 100th day in Rustenburg, is chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam.

It is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during wage-related unrest near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana last year. On August 16, police shot dead 34 miners. In the preceding week, 10 people, including two police officers and security guards, were killed.

Mpofu questioned Phiyega about the perceived use of maximum force by police towards the miners last year.

He said the police action was not according to guidelines and prescripts regarding the use of minimum force.

Phiyega said: “I do not agree with you because of various reasons. To start with, the situation at Marikana was an illegal gathering… the Constitution gives everyone the right to gather, but to gather peacefully and unarmed.”

Mpofu said it was clear the police at Marikana broke the law.

“If one of the police commanders would come here before the commission and say ‘yes, we used maximum force on the day’… that would amount to a confession, as the prescripts outlaw maximum force. It has no place in South Africa. Is that correct?” he asked Phiyega.

Ishmael Semenya, for the police, objected and said there was no basis for Mpofu’s statement that another police commander would agree that maximum force was used.

Phiyega said the Marikana situation was “unprecedented”. – Sapa

Durban – He claims to have no assets whatsoever, but Edward Zuma, son of President Jacob Zuma, is accused of being a man of “substantial means”, involved in 25 companies and close corporations, who is hiding his wealth from his creditors.

“His conduct is typical of a debtor who is intent on avoiding his creditors,” said Paul Mann, of event planner Functions for Africa, who remains out of pocket after organising Zuma’s plush wedding in October 2011.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – A Pretoria cellphone thief could just qualify for the title of South Africa’s most idiotic criminal after he uploaded a photograph of himself to his victim’s WhatsApp profile, Beeld reported on Tuesday.

Lohan van Heerden, 20, a second year actuarial science student at the University of Pretoria, could not believe his eyes when the very thief who had stolen his phone the night before uploaded a picture of himself, dressed up in a suit and tie.

Van Heerden was driving home from Hatfield to Pretoria Gardens on 16 May when four men jumped into his car at a traffic light, held a knife to his throat, and robbed him of his phone, jacket, belt, and money.

The robbers had also forced him to drive to an ATM to withdraw R1 000, before letting him go.

Van Heerden said when he saw the picture he immediately recognised the man as the gang’s ringleader, and also as the one who had assaulted him by hitting him in the face.

Police were investigating the case.

Anyone with information on the thief should call the Sunnyside police station detective branch on 012 4223678 or the SA Police Service on 08600 10111.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Government on Tuesday condemned xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in certain areas of Gauteng and the Vaal.

“Government has noted with concern so-called xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals… We strongly condemn violence, not only on foreign nationals, but also on South Africans,” acting spokesperson Phumla Williams said.

“South Africa is a democratic country that accommodates foreign nationals that are in this country legally.”

She said government commended police for the arrest of “about 100 people associated with the recent lawlessness”.

Police said on Monday nine people were arrested for public violence and possession of stolen goods after a shop owner shot dead two men in Diepsloot at the weekend.

The Somali man allegedly shot dead the two, believed to be Zimbabwean nationals, outside his shop on Sunday, Lieutenant –Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said.

Circumstances surrounding the shooting were unclear. The man was arrested and charged with murder. He would appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Local residents gathered in front of the shop afterwards and threw stones and looted the business. Police dispersed the crowd, but other shops were then looted.

“Live in harmony”

The nine were arrested on Sunday night. They would also appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Last week, more than 90 people were arrested for protest-related crimes in Evaton, Orange Farm, and Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg.

“More than 100 complaints of looting and vandalism of spaza shops belonging to foreign nationals and locals have been reported,” Dlamini said on Friday.

Williams called on South Africans and foreign nationals to “live in harmony”.

“Criminal activities against each other will not be tolerated, as such acts impact negatively on the country’s economy and image,” she said.

“Government will… do all in its power to ensure that any form of violence is rooted out, and citizens live without fear of being attacked by criminals.”

– SAPA

Cape Town – The parents of a mentally disabled boy are outraged after he was allegedly whipped with a rubber pipe by his teacher.

The seven-year-old, who also suffers from epilepsy, was left with at least 17 painful lashes on his body.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – A Pretoria cellphone thief could qualify for the title of South Africa’s most idiotic criminal after he uploaded a photograph of himself to his victim’s WhatsApp profile, Beeld reported on Tuesday.

Lohan van Heerden, 20, a second-year actuarial science student at the University of Pretoria, could not believe his eyes when the very thief who had stolen his phone the night before uploaded a picture of himself.

Earlier this month, Van Heerden was driving home from Hatfield to Pretoria Gardens when four men jumped into his car at a traffic light, held a knife to his throat, and robbed him of his phone, jacket, belt, and money.

The robbers had also forced him to drive to an ATM to withdraw R1 000, before letting him go.

Van Heerden said when he saw the picture he immediately recognised the man as the gang’s ringleader, and also as the one who had assaulted him by hitting him in the face.

Police were investigating the case.

Anyone with information should call the Sunnyside police station’s detective branch on 012-422-3678 or the South African Police Service on 08600-10111. – Sapa

South African champions, Kaizer Chiefs, will today embark on a tour of Johannesburg to celebrate their triumphant Absa Premiership and Nedbank Cup championship season.

Amakhosi’s head coach, Stuart Baxter helped guide the team to a famous league and cup double this season, earning them their first PSL title in eight years.

In a statement released by Chiefs, the club’s marketing director, Jessica Motaung, said that the purpose of the tour is “to celebrate the success of the Club this season with the supporters who have stuck with the team through thick and thin this season. Supporters as our 12th player were instrumental in the team’s success this season.

“We also want to acknowledge the support we got from the Gauteng Legislature, the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture in Gauteng including our sponsors. I would like to invite the fans to join us on this momentous occasion in the history of the Club.”

The tour bus will make three stops, once at the Legislature, once at Absa Towers and finally at 8414 Sentho Street, Phefeni.

Route for the Trophy Parade:

Depart from Naturena (Kaizer Chiefs Village) at 09h00

Turn Right into Ronald Street

Turn right to main street all the way straight to Colombine Right and

Left into M1 on-ramp,

Drive all the way straight into M2 Split off ramp into Rissik Street,

Drive straight up and stop at Legislature – 09:30.

Depart from Legislature turning Right into President Street – 10:30

Turn Right into President Street.

Turn Right into Mooi Street 

Drive straight and turn right into Main Street 

Stop at ABSA Towers – 11:00

Depart from ABSA Towers and drive straight down Main Street – 15:00

Turn left into Eloff Street.

Turn Right into Trump Street.

Turn Left into Westex Road and drive until it becomes Earl Street, drive down Earl Street.

Turn Right into Ophir Booysens Road into Soweto Highway.

Turn Left into Immic Street.

Turn Right into Ebencycler

Turn Left into Jackeeplen Street until it becomes Masupha Street.

Drive down Masupha Street and turn left and go around the traffic circle.

Turn left into Sofasonke Street.

Then turn left around the Sofasonke traffic circle and drive straight.

Drive down Sofasoneke and cross over Klipspruit Valley into Khumalo Street. Drive down into Pela main road.

Turn Right into Ndlovu Road.

Turn left after the railway bridge into

STOP at 8414 Sentho Street, Phefeni – 15:00

Leave 8414 Sentho Street, Phefeni – 14:00

Turn right into Bickley Street

Turn left into the taxi rank, from taxi rank drive and turn left into Ndlovu Street.

Drive straight into Butshingi Street and left into Vilakazi Street.

Turn right into main road and then turn right into Klipspruit Valley Road.

Turn left into Chris Hani road, proceed straight into Golden Highway.

Turn Right and back to Naturena.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Mamelodi Sundowns will be not be retaining the services of defender Buhle Mkhwanazi following his return from a season long loan spell at University of Pretoria.

Mkhwanazi has returned to his principal club Sundowns after spending a second year away on loan having already spent the previous season at Bloemfontein Celtic.

KickOff.com has been informed that Sundowns will now be permanently releasing him.

The 23 year-old is still under contract with Sundowns for another two years.

“He is not in their (Sundowns) plans and so they will sell him outright to another club. However, we have already informed Sundowns of our preferences in as far as where we would like to see Buhle next season but Sundowns will make the call since they are the ones dealing with the interested clubs.

“At the same time Tuks have already indicated that they want him to stay on with them so we will just be waiting to see what happens with the guidance of Sundowns,” says KickOff.com sources.

For more http://www.kickoff.com

Johannesburg – Nine people will appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, for public violence and possession of stolen goods, according to police.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said a Somali shop owner charged with murdering two men, believed to be Zimbabweans, would also appear in court.

He had told the police the men tried to rob him outside his shop in Diepsloot on Sunday, so he pulled out his firearm and shot them, Dlamini said.

Later that day, local residents stoned and looted the shop. Police dispersed them, but they targeted other shops. At the time, Dlamini could not confirm how many shops were looted.

The nine suspects were arrested that night.

Dlamini said the area where the incident took place was a semi-informal settlement believed to be populated by foreigners and South Africans. – Sapa