Johannesburg – A total of 23 initiates have died in Mpumalanga, police said on Thursday.

All the deaths had taken place at legal initiation schools since last Wednesday, police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi said.

He said 23 murder cases had been opened, but that no arrests had been made yet.

The deaths were in the Nkangala district towns of Evander, Middelburg, Belfast, Kwaggafontein, Siyabuswa, Verena and KwaMhlanga.

In Evander, police were investigating an inquest docket after an initiate died after complaining of stomach pains, said Hlathi.

On Tuesday, Traditional Affairs MEC Simon Skhosana sent his condolences to the families of 10 of the initiates and said his department would investigate.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A man has been arrested near Durban for the murder of the sangoma believed to have masterminded rituals performed on Marikana mineworkers, police consultant Makhosini Nkosi said on Thursday.

The Hawks arrested the 28-year-old man from KwaMaphumulo, outside Pietermaritzburg, at KwaMashu Hostel on Tuesday night, he said.

He was linked to the murder of sangoma Alton Zikhuthele Joja, 69, also known as Ndzabe.

He would appear in the Bizana Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

“The SA Police Service had wanted [Joja] to testify at the Marikana Commission regarding his alleged role in the rituals, that made protesters believe they would be invisible and invincible in the face of gunfire,” said Nkosi.

In March, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard that Joja was believed to have sent his sons to perform rituals on protesting Lonmin mineworkers at Marikana.

Marikana deaths

The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of 34 striking mineworkers by the police near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana on 16 August, and the deaths the previous week of 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, in strike-related unrest.

On 24 March, Joja was at his home in the Ludeke Holt village, in Mbizana, Eastern Cape, when five men armed with pistols and rifles entered his homestead.

They shot him when he approached their car, then fled.

The vehicle was later found abandoned and burnt out, with a rifle inside.

Joja died on arrival at a local hospital.

Last month, police sent the R5 rifle for ballistics tests to determine whether it had been stolen from one of the two slain policemen.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Mpumalanga police on Thursday denied a report that five people were killed during a protest in Amsterdam.

“The report in the media is incorrect. No one has been killed,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Hlathi told Sapa.

Enca reported that two policemen and three residents were killed in the protest over service delivery in Amsterdam.
Hlathi said 33 people were arrested for public violence.

“Municipal offices have been burnt, three police cars damaged and a policeman was slightly injured.”

The policeman was hit by a stone. Hlathi said protesters tried to burn down a library. The fire was extinguished.
“They stole computers from the library and five shops owned by foreigners were looted.”

He said eight of the arrested people were minors. They were released into the custody of their parents and expected to appear in the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

“The situation is tense and police are there to keep it under control,” Hlathi said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – About 272 995 bucket toilet systems are still being operated by municipalities, Co-operative Governance Minister Richard Baloyi said on Thursday.

“There was a time I thought the bucket system was gone… that it had exited our space, but this number came out when we were assessing the state of sanitation,” Baloyi said in Kempton Park.

He was speaking at a conference on municipal audit outcomes, attended by mayors, municipal managers, heads of provincial departments, and Auditor General Terence Nombembe.

Baloyi did not say which municipalities still operated the bucket system.

He said a breakdown of provinces showed that the system had even been formalised in some areas, and that there were areas where there was not even a record of a toilet in a community.

“That state of affairs indicates that people in those communities still use the nearest bushes to relieve themselves,” Baloyi said.

“This is the true state of the lack of sanitation in some parts of our country.”

Earlier, Baloyi said his department would soon release a report on the state of municipalities.

“It is imperative that the report indicates and shows what is being done to address sanitation issues, such as the bucket system,” he said.

– SAPA

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.

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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.

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