Kaizer Chiefs defender Siboniso Gaxa has been ruled out of the Bafana Bafana squad to face Lesotho, Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia in the upcoming international matches.

Gaxa is suffering from a hamstring injury which forced him to be taken off the field in the final of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday, 25 May 2013 where Chiefs defeated Supersport United one nil.

The right back will be replaced by Russia-based Siyanda Xulu.

Gaxa joins fellow defender Tsepo Masilela and midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi on the sidelines.

Bafana Bafana assemble for camp on Wednesday night (29 May) in Johannesburg.

The Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison say that it has declared war on criminals especially in all areas where crime was identified to be on the high. Areas such as Rustenburg and Madibeng are some of the municipalities that the Department has planned to prioritize in implementing its crime combating strategies. The Department announced this during the recent launch of the Madibeng Local Municipality’s Community Safety Forum.
“According to the Chief Director in the Public Safety branch of the Department Mr Orabile Mocwaledi, fighting crime is one of the key priorities of government, as outlined on the National Development Plan’s Outcome 3” said Simon Mmope.
Oarabile Mocwaledi said that the South Africa Police Service should work together with other government departments and communities, Security and Criminal Justice clusters and other arms of government. He said that by being united in the fight against crime, more can be achieved.
Mocwaledi further urged all organizations, government Departments, communities and other stakeholders to be involved, not only in determining police priorities in their area, but also in identifying the crime prevention needs. He said that, crime levels are perpetuated by a range of economic, social and political factors, crime prevention needs would require a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach.
The passing of the 1995 Police Service Act required the formation of community police forums (CPFs) at all police stations.
“The final evaluation of the project highlighted the lack of formal interaction between CPFs and other criminal justice agencies (such as the courts and prisons) as well as government departments concerned with welfare, education and local government” he said.
Therefore the CSF concept tackles the deficiencies of community policing forums by approaching the security challenge from a developmental perspective.
This involves bringing together those role-players responsible for criminal justice and services that, correctly targeted, could assist in preventing crime.
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By Obakeng Maje
Wolmaransstad-A body of a man was found alongside the road at Rietfontein, near Wolmaransstad.
Police said the man aged between 50 and 60 was only known as Mokwara.
“He was found alongside the road and his body is currently in the state mortuary. Anybody who might be missing a family member or relative or can assist the SAPS with information is requested to contact Detective Constable Seboco at 018 596 9439 or 078 332 3546”.
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Johannesburg – It is alleged that the 14-year-old boy who murdered four family members with an axe took the body of his 3-month-old baby sister to the veld and drank her blood.

The boy has been accused of hacking his mother, grandmother, baby sister and 7-year-old brother to death in their home in Etwatwa in Benoni, reported Beeld.
For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – Forty-five people have been arrested for public violence, housebreaking, and possession of unlicensed firearms in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, police said on Tuesday.

“Thirty-eight suspects were arrested for public violence, four for possession of unlicensed firearms, and three for housebreaking and theft,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said.

They were arrested on Monday evening and were expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The violence started on Sunday evening when a Somali man, aged 39, allegedly shot and killed two Zimbabwean men outside his shop after an argument.

The man was arrested and was due to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of murder and attempted murder.

“It is alleged that the community gathered in front of the Somali’s shop after the shooting incident, threw stones, and started looting,” Dlamini said.

A number of shops in the Extension Six area were looted.

Several shop owners voluntarily removed their goods and locked their shops.

On Sunday evening, nine people had been arrested for public violence and the possession of suspected stolen goods.

“[On Monday] there were several people who gathered at the scene where the shooting occurred, but it is believed most of them were onlookers,” Dlamini said.

More arrests could be expected as operations continued.

– SAPA

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