Rustenburg – The police’s operational plan for the Marikana unrest was a compilation of the input of all the commanders, involved in the mission to disperse and disarm the striking workers, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.

Major General Charl Annandale denied that the so-called “Scott plan” was the work of only one policeman, Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Scott.

However, Dumisa Ntsebeza, for the families of the deceased miners, put it to him that the reluctance to admit it was Scott’s plan was because “professionally, he wasn’t the person meant to formulate the plan for Marikana”.

“You decided on Scott because he had certain qualities… There’s nowhere [in Scott’s statement and plan] that says what input from [the police commanders] he used in the plan,” said Ntsebeza.

Scott had also frequently used the term “I” in the plan.

Annandale told the commission, which is sitting at the Rustenburg civic centre, he did not know why Scott had omitted to credit the commanders for their input.

Earlier, Ntsebeza asked Annandale whether he would have been prepared to reveal anything to the commission that would embarrass the police.

“Would you be prepared, since you are under oath and have vowed to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing else but the truth, to break rank and say [the video material does exist]?” asked Ntsebeza.

Video footage

He was referring to video footage he claimed police might have failed to hand in to the commission because they feared it would incriminate them.

Most of the video material used in the commission was taken from the media.

“It’s remarkable that all the material we have is from sources other than the police,” said Ntsebeza.

Annandale said he had indeed been true to the oath he made to the commission.

The commission, which is chaired by retired Judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people killed in the unrest last year.

Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers in Marikana on 16 August.

Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Teenager Kirsty Theologo paid for the petrol with which she was doused before being set alight in an apparent satanic ritual, the South Gauteng High Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court heard on Monday.

“Lindon [Wagner] gave me money to buy petrol as we got up by the BP garage along the way to the mountain. He got the money from Kirsty… I think he asked her for the money,” Harvey Isha told the court.

Isha is on trial with Robin Harwood, Lindon Wagner and Courtney Daniels, for the murder of Theologo, the attempted murder of her 14-year-old friend, and for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

They have all pleaded not guilty.

Two other accused, Jeremy King and Lester Moody, confessed to the crime and were each sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment, five of them suspended.

Doused with petrol

Theologo, 18, and the other girl were tied up, doused with petrol, and set alight on a hill in Linmeyer, south of Johannesburg, on 21 October 2011.

Theologo died in hospital, but her friend survived.

“What an irony. She bought her own petrol,” Judge Geraldine Borchers said during the proceedings on Monday.

Isha said Wagner gave him a container he had picked up at a rubbish bin, and told him the petrol was for making a bush fire on the hill.

He, the other accused and Theologo’s friend had smoked dagga at Wagner’s flat while waiting for Theologo to arrive.

They had also bought vodka from a nearby liquor store.

“When Kirsty arrived she asked for the weed [dagga] as well. She then left with Jeremy to buy herself some zol [dagga],” said Isha.

Going up the hill

When Borchers asked him what the plan was for the night, Isha said he had believed they would sit and drink the vodka. They then left the flat.

“At that point, I didn’t know where were going.”

The group walked towards the hill, he said.

“When we reached the mountain, we started looking for sticks to make fire and gathered stones around to sit on. We then sat around the fire and started drinking.”

Asked to describe the mood around the fire, Isha said it “was alive, everyone was having a conversation with each other and laughing”.

He said he did not know about claims that brake fluid was consumed.

“I don’t know anything about the brake fluid. I know we were drinking the vodka. I remember that I was sharing a glass with Jeremy.”

His lawyer Chris Pillay asked him what the drink tasted like.

“It was mixed juice… It tasted lekker [nice],” he said with a smile.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Zeerust- North West police are investigating a case of attempterd robbery and possible murder regarding the outcomes of the investigations.

Onthusitse Senosi(19) was shot dead by a 46 year-old on alleged self-defence after he entered the house of a man in Borakalo section, near Motswedi village.

Police said a 46 year-old man was asleep with his wife when they heard dogs barking.

“A 46 year-old went out to investigate after he also heard a kitchen door opens. He allegedly saw Senosi coming out of one of bedrooms with a gun in his hand” police said.

Senosi was shot in a leg and neck after a fight over a gun.

A will be robber died on the scene and police were called.

“A 19 year-old boy was taken to government motuary” Moiloa said. Investigation continues.

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Durban – The mother of the sangoma who was stoned to death in Welbedacht by a mob which wrongly believed she had abducted a child, has welcomed the 10-year sentences handed to the men who murdered her daughter.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – It is not necessary for President Jacob Zuma to explain his relationship with the Gupta family to the ANC, secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said on Monday.

“Did the president take us into his confidence about the relationship between [him] and the Gupta family? I’m not sure if that is necessary,” he told reporters in Johannesburg.

“It is not the business of the NEC [national executive committee] who I relate to in my personal capacity. The question is whether the relationship impacted on the behaviour of the family?”

He said the NEC had welcomed the report of the directors-general appointed to probe the unauthorised landing of a private jet chartered by the Guptas at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.

“The NEC agreed to wait for the report of the DGs as commissioned by the ministers in the security cluster…. The [African National Congress] welcomes the outcome of the investigation. We appreciate details contained in the report and clarity given,” he said.

“It provides the basic information on what happened. This will help the parliamentary debate on Wednesday. We are confident that the relevant ministers will take the process to its logical conclusion so that this incident does not repeat itself.”

The plane landed at the base last month. It was carrying 270 guests attending the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, and Indian-born Aakash Jahajgarhia at Sun City, in North West.

The use of the Air Force Base sparked widespread criticism. The government launched an investigation into a possible breach of diplomatic protocol.

On Sunday, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said Zuma and his Cabinet had no involvement in the landing.

Radebe said one of the findings of the investigation was that the landing was a direct result of manipulation of processes.

He said names had been “dropped” in the course of the probe, including those of Zuma, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and Transport Minister Ben Martins.

Mantashe denied that there was a conflict between himself and Zuma because of the landing. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Hebron-Police arrested a 27-year-old suspect for Attempted Murder and Rape of a 19-year-old woman on Sunday at about 22:40 in Hebron. 

“It is alleged that the victim was with her boyfriend when the suspect asked them to drive him home as he was under the influence of alcohol” sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said.  “Allegations further stipulates that the victim and the boyfriend drove the suspect home. On arrival at his place, the suspect  took out a firearm and the victim’s boyfriend ran away” Moiloa said.  

“According to the information, the suspect shot the victim on her left waist and allegedly raped her”

“The victim’s boyfriend informed the police that his girlfriend was held at gun-point by the suspect at his house” Moiloa said.  

The police went to the scene and allegedly found the suspect drunk and immediately arrested him.  A teenager was transported to Garankuwa Hospital.  Investigation continues.

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By Obakeng Maje

Upington-A 31 year-old man was sanctioned to prison for 22 years after was found guilty of robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder.

Bodiki Fani Semho was arrested by police on the 9 May 2011 and he confessed that he robbed and killed Mantswe Frederick Lokailwe.  

Police said Lokaile took Semho to a hiking spot and Lokailwe was attacked by the suspect on their arrival.

“It is said that Semho hit Lokailwe with a wheel spanner at a hiking spot while he was busy offloading his bags from the car. Semho further suffocated him with him t-shirt and left him to die” colonel Priscilla Naidu said.

Lokailwe’s body was dumped along the gravel road by the suspect and drove to Kuruman where he used the deceased car as a maxi taxi.

The car was spotted by Lokailwe’s faily member and informed the police.

“Semho was arrested and charged with robbery with aggraviting circumstances and murder” Naidu said.

He confessed to the murder and led the police to the scene of crime.

“Police found the badly decomposed body dumped alongside the road.

The accused remained in police custody until the finalisation of the case. He was convicted to 12 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and 22 years for murder” police said. The 12 year sentence will run concurrently with the other sentence. 

The prosecutor, Adv Jacques Rosenberg commended police in their investigation of this case. “He added that due to the thoroughness in the investigation,  the accused had no option but to plead guilty” she said.  

The accused had no motive for killing his friend.

“The accused Semho back in court soon to face charges of escaping from custody” Naidu said. 

He escaped from police cells in 2012-11-01 but was arrested soon after.

“We are proud of the members of the SAPS who like D/Cst  Tsholofelo Mphafi  who works tirelessly to bring criminals to book and to make sure that they remain behind bars and away from society. Their dedication towards the safekeeping of our society is a shining example of the kind of officers we expect in the SAPS’, commented the Cluster Commander of the Pofadder cluster, Lt Col Nico Beukes.

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“We do not deny that the bank did lodge the application, but we have sat down with them and agreed on a settlement which will be made an order by the court on Tuesday,” SA Roadlink spokesman Marnus Kruger told The New Age.

The New Age previously reported that the company owed the bank about R6 million.

The bank had reportedly applied for a liquidation order, claiming the bus company was in a “dire financial position and unable to pay its debts”.

According to the newspaper, Roadlink bought five buses each worth R1.08m in 2011, and was R1.4m in arrears on the payments, excluding interest, by November 2012. It also reportedly owed R1m to the bus manufacturing company Scania SA.
For more http://www.timelive.co.za

According to The Star, Zenani and Makaziwe Mandela intend fighting an April 2004 Johannesburg High Court order which gave Mandela the right to instruct Ismail Ayob, his then lawyer, to stop managing his financial, personal and legal affairs.

The court order barred Ayob from selling any of Mandela’s artworks.

The Star reported that Mandela’s current lawyer, Bally Chuene, filed an affidavit last week in response to a lawsuit brought by the sisters, who are represented by Ayob.

Last month the sisters filed papers asking for Chuene, George Bizos SC and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale to remove themselves as directors and trustees of the Mandela Trust and as directors of Harmonieux and Magnifique (Pty) Ltd with immediate effect.

In his replying affidavit, Chuene reportedly said he, Bizos and Sexwale had, in 2011, refused to release the trust’s money to the daughters without a legal justification.

The Star reported that Chuene was adamant Ayob was behind the women’s court action.-SAPA