By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-The SAPS Organised Crime unit are investigating a robbery which allegedly took place on 24 May 2013 at approximately 13:40pm. 

It is alleged that the driver of a courier company was forced to stop his Mercedes Sprinter due to an obstruction on the road. 

“A tyre was rolled in front of his vehicle approximately 22km outside Kimberley on the Griquastad Road” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

Police said alongside the road, a brown Toyota Cressida was parked with its bonnet open. The courier vehicle was transporting cash and was en-route to Kimberley” said Kock. 

The driver and the passenger was approached by two men who jumped out from the back of the Toyota Cressida. 

They threatened the men and tied up the passenger with duck-tape and pushed him in the back of the Sprinter. 

“The two men took an axe and chopped open the safe inside the Sprinter and removed a substantial amount of money from the safe. They allegedly fled in the Cressida, leaving the two men behind” Kock said. 

During the investigation, Detective Warrant Officer Henk Van der Merwe from the SAPS Organised Crime unit suspected that the statement made by the driver of the courier company appears to be suspicious. 

“The driver was arrested together with two other men on the 27 May.The other two suspects are from Bloemfontein”.

Police recovered R11 000 of the money. 

The police also confiscated the brown Toyota Cressida that was used during the commission of crime.

The suspects known as Ayanda Ntabeni(32), Pro Mpukwana(31) and Luyanda Mpukwana(21) appeared before the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court on 29 May 2013 and the case was remanded until Monday for a formal bail application. 

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By Obakeng Maje

Pampierstad-Police are investigating a case for being in possession of suspected stolen copper after a man was arrested in Phakamile Mabija Road, with a bag of copper wire. 

On Friday,Provincial members were busy with routine visits to scrap metal dealers when they stopped and search the suspect. “A 24 year-old Pampierstad man could not account for the possession nor did he have any proof of ownership with him hence the arrest” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

The total weight of the copper weighs 12kg and estimated to be about R1000 in street value. The man was charged for possession of suspected stolen property and will appear in court on Monday” Kock said.

The police have noted that although copper is the preferred item for thieves, all types of metals such as outside taps, gutters, church bells, brass ornaments, geyser pipes and manhole covers and brass components from fire hydrants are also taken into consideration.

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Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza is confident the team will overcome visiting Mozambique in an international friendly match scheduled for Sunday.

The coach and his technical team were highly impressed by the senior women’s national team who walloped a select Mpumalanga Sasol XI 14-1 in a practice match played at Ingwenyana Lodge on Thursday.

While this was just a practice match in preparation for Sunday’s encounter, the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana was nonetheless clinical and impressive. A similar performance against Mozambique will further enhance their reputation in continental football.

The game with Mozambique will be played at Kanyamazane Stadium on Sunday and kicks off at 15h00.

While satisfied by the comprehensive score-line in the practice match, Mkhonza believes there are still a few areas to be polished.

“The players did a demolition job on the field of play and I am really impressed by the performance and effort they put into the match. They should however, be more ruthless in front of goals.

“The defence and midfield departments however, are looking cohesive and solid. The two departments worked as a unit and with time, will only get better. The goalkeeping department is also another area that needs further attention. The goal we conceded was very soft,” said Mkhonza.

The coach said the fact that the squad would be trimmed to 18 players would increase the level of competitiveness in the squad.

After the Mozambique game on Sunday, Banyana Banyana will face northern neighbours Zimbabwe in a match scheduled for 15 June at Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton.

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By Obakeng Maje

Mmabatho-The Mmabatho Regional Court sentenced three accused Sam Mboma (26), Sello Dikale ( 19)and Olebogeng Mafulako (19) to 25 years imprisonment each on Friday for rape.  

“According to the information, accused persons were arrested on 30 October 2012 for raping a 25 year old survivor at Deelpan near Itsoseng” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

The survivor, her brother along with her cousins were from a tavern on that fateful night when the accused approached them. Police said the three accused tried to grab them,but could not succeed as they fled the scene and only managed to grab the survivor. 

“The suspects undressed the victim and gang-raped her. A case of rape was reported to the police and the accused were arrested after being identified by the survivor” said Mokgwabone.

“It emerged from the investigation that one of the accused, Sam Mboma was released on parole in 2010”.  

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Yaounde-South African Football Association (SAFA) President Kirsten Nematandani has urged the country to rally behind Bafana Bafana in their quest for 2014 World Cup qualification. 

The SAFA boss is in Yaoundé, Cameroon to give moral support to Bafana Bafana, who will be taking on the Central African Republic (CAR). The Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier will be played at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo on Saturday, 8 June 2013. 

Kick-off is at 15h00 local time in Cameroon (16h00 SA time). 

“This is a very important fixture for the entire country. We need to get all the points in the remaining matches to enhance our chances of going to Brazil. In our group, we are the only country that participated in the last World Cup and qualifying would, for us, be continuity,” said Nematandani. 

“We are also the only country that has played in a World Cup in the group, so with the experience we have we cannot let this one slip by. The boys also need to qualify to make the country proud and uplift their own careers by playing in such a prestigious tournament.”

The SAFA President has also appealed for support from all South Africans. 

“We need to rally behind the team as they fly the flag on behalf of the nation. It is at time likes these that the support of the country will be crucial. I have no doubt in my mind that the boys will do well.” 

The match will be attended by among others, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou and the SA High Commissioner accredited to Cameroon and CAR, Her Excellency Ms Zanele Makina. 

Nematandani has also brushed aside the events of early in the week when Bafana Bafana where unable to fly to Yaoundé on time due to cancelled flights. 

“That is something we don’t want to talk about as it can happen to anyone, and bear in mind that there were other passengers who were also affected by the turn of events which had nothing to do with the preparations of the team. That is all behind us now and what pleases us is that the boys are in Yaoundé focussing on what they came here for. Cameroon has been good to us and we want to assure all South Africans that the team is in safe hands,” said Nematandani.

“I watched the boys at training yesterday (Thursday, 6 June) and they showed a lot of energy. They were in high spirit which shows they have put the whole thing behind them – which is what matters. We ask all South Africans to also think positively rather than focus on what happened. People might talk about the risk of travelling by road, but having looked at our options that was the best solution to ensure the team prepared well as we are here for football. We are aware of the risk we took but it was arrived at it cautiously.”

Bafana Bafana had their final training session at the match venue this afternoon (Friday)

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The South African Senior Women’s team, Banyana Banyana, today took some time off from their match preparations to visit two schools in Kanyamazane ahead of their game against Mozambique on Sunday.

The school visits form part of the teams programme to interact with the community and also promote their game against Mozambique. The team was well received by the pupils at both Masihambisane Primary School and Sitintile High School where the squad handed over an autographed shirt and ball to the headmasters of the two schools.

For the Sasol sponsored team, the schools visit provided the players and management the opportunity to interact with young football lovers and to tell them that their dream of playing for the national team could come true.

Primrose Ndlozi proved to be a favourite amoung the young supporters that came out to meet the team. As a local girl, many of the young players in the community view her as their idol who is an inspiration and someone they can look up to.

“It is always good for the team to come out and interact with the community. These are the people who support our team and without their support our team would lack a fundamental communal element,” said Joseph Mkhonza, Banyana Banyana head coach.

Tomorrow, the team will be at Kanyamazane Mall from 10h00 in the morning. This will be the team’s final public promotion before their 15h00 kick-off against Mozambique on Sunday.

“I was glad to see so many kids excited to see us and I am even more excited by the fact that there were so many young girls at the schools that have an interest in football. This was a great outing for the team as many of the girls are still students. Now we understand the importance of being actively involved with the communities,” said Janine van Wyk, Banyana Banyana captain.

An Initiation Indaba will be held in Kempton Park near Johannesburg on Friday to discuss the future of initiation schools in the country.

This after the ruling African National Congress in Parliament turned down a call by other political parties to have an Independent Commission of Inquiry into the recent deaths of 36 initiates in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. They were undergoing traditional initiation and circumcision rituals.

Leader of Congress of People in the Mpumalanga Legislature, Zalle Madonsela, believes government leaders haven’t been open about the issue.

“I was speaking to one official who is working at KwaMhlanga Hospital about these deaths and he said to me, ‘Are you aware that the number has increased to 36?’ Then I decided to present it to the house as motion during the sitting … When I come with an allegation, the MEC is supposed to then tell the House the truth… For the mere fact that the department did not deny [it], we feel convinced that there is something that they are hiding,” said Madonsela.
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