Pretoria – Police anticipated resistance and bloodshed as a result of their efforts to disperse protesting Marikana mineworkers last year, the Farlam Commission heard on Monday.

This emerged as evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga was questioning North West deputy police commissioner William Mpembe on methods used to manage the wage-related unrest.

Madlanga asked: “General, you have been asked this question before. In your responses you referred to individuals and so on. I would like to get a response which is as brief as possible in that answer.

“Did you foresee that there might be bloodshed?”

Mpembe agreed.

“Correct. I have said there were plans to address that risk,” he said.

Madlanga said if this was the case, Mpembe’s earlier evidence at the commission was untrue.

“You have [previously] mentioned the possibility of bloodshed purely as a strategy. In the light of the last response you have just given now, surely that cannot be the truth,” said Madlanga.

“General, I suggest to you and we will argue that the truth is that you foresaw the possibility of bloodshed and it is a lie [to say] you did not have such foresight.”

Mpembe said he did not agree.

Await instructions

Earlier, lawyers representing the mineworkers wounded and arrested during the Marikana unrest last year provisionally pulled out of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry.

Lawyer Dali Mpofu announced the decision to withdraw, pending a High Court ruling in Pretoria on his application for the State to fund the legal team.

“Our instructions [from the mineworkers] are to await the judgment and at that point to receive further instructions. In the meantime, we will not be participating for the victims,” he said.

“If we are back later on in the week, we will have the extra burden of catching up with what would have happened [at the commission]. We have been consulting with a small delegation of the victims now. We are still going to consult with the larger groups.”

On 21 June, Mpofu told the commission it could be his last day representing the miners. He then brought the urgent court application seeking funding for representing the mineworkers.

Mpofu wants President Jacob Zuma and Justice Minister Jeff Radebe to approve payment for the mineworkers’ legal team.

The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 mineworkers in strike-related violence in Marikana, North West, in August.

On Monday, Mpofu promised the commission’s chair, retired judge Ian Farlam, that he would update the commission about his team’s decision, based on the court outcome.

“Irrespective of the outcome, as professionals, we have a duty to come here and brief the commission. We are not going to just disappear,” he said.

Any time

Contrary to media reports, the high court ruling could be made “any time from now”.

“In the media, it’s being said the judge will give his decision on Thursday. The judge did not say that. The judge simply said he would give his judgment this week.

“In reality, the judgment could be in the next two hours, tomorrow, or any time this week,” he said.

As Mpofu and his team left the Tshwane council chambers, where the commission was holding its public hearings, Farlam inquired about Mpofu’s recovery from stab wounds he sustained a while ago.

“I will take further instructions from my clients,” said Mpofu jokingly.

The former SABC CEO was stabbed and robbed while walking on an East London beach in April.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The ANC is “better off” without AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, the party said after the king joined the DA on Monday.

“We wish him all the best in his political wilderness, because he will need it,” Eastern Cape African National Congress secretary Lubabalo Mabuyane said in a statement.

“We believe that the ANC is better off without him and his hysterical paroxysms that attempted to undermine our integrity as the organisation and that of our leadership.”

He said the party welcomed his decision, as it was an “affirmation” of the constitutional right to freedom of association.

“His decision to quit the ANC and his unbecoming conduct has surely rattled the bones of his forefathers who played a significant role in the ANC and the freedom of this country,” Mabuyane said.

“With his majesty out of the ANC, we will have less worry as we will not have to baby-sit a king with reckless conduct. Maybe in the DA he has found people of the same ilk as him.”

Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip announced earlier on Monday that Dalindyebo had joined the party.

“After a long meeting to discuss the DA’s values and the DA’s constitution, I can confirm that AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has joined the DA,” Trollip said.

Trollip said Dalindyebo believed the DA’s “brand of clean government and delivery” was needed in the province.

Appealing murder charge

“I was up front with King Dalindyebo with regards to some of the controversies that have surrounded him,” he said.

“I made it clear that the DA expects its members to conduct themselves in line with the party’s values and principles.”

Dalindyebo is still appealing a 15-year jail term on various charges, including attempted murder.

Last month, Dalindyebo made headlines when he reportedly described the ANC and President Jacob Zuma as “corrupt hooligans”. He made the remarks in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, at a prayer service for ailing former president Nelson Mandela.

Dalindyebo reportedly said the ANC had distorted the anti-apartheid icon’s legacy and behaved arrogantly. He said he would stop smoking dagga the day Zuma stopped being corrupt.

Dalindyebo previously said he would join the DA as a birthday gift to Mandela. Mandela, who remains in a critical but stable condition in a Pretoria hospital, turns 95 on Thursday.

On Saturday, AbaThembu royal family spokesperson Nkosi Daludumo Mtirara said the family had apologised to Zuma.

SAPA

Cape Town – Claims that a hijacker was on board, left an SAA plane sitting on the tarmac at OR Tambo International Airport for 40 minutes after landing on Monday.

A News24 User said the reason the captain gave was that the airport authorities and airport police didn’t want the plane to taxi into a parking bay, because there may be hijackers on the plane.

“Eventually the plane did go into a parking bay, escorted by police cars. When they allowed us to disembark there were police everywhere, armed, as well as ambulances and a fire truck.”

A tweet confirmed this. “Just landed at OR Tambo, only to be told by captain they suspect our plane is hijacked! He must confirm his identity first!!” tweeted @sedisemoseneke.

“they let us off the plane but there was fire trucks and police men everywhere!! No one explained what was going on!!”

SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali told the Mail and Guardian that they’d received information that one of their planes had been hijacked.

He said they were trying to determine where the rumour had originated from, emphasising that there had been no attempt to hijack the plane.

Two men accused of running an illegal initiation school were denied bail in the Barkly West Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Northern Cape police said.

Winston Moleleki, 38, and Joseph Makhasane, 24, would be back in court on August 6, said Colonel Priscilla Naidu.

The two men were also charged with kidnapping two youths and forcing them to attend an initiation school.

They were hospitalised after botched circumcisions, said Naidu.

-Sapa

Cape Town – The ANC thanked Cassel Mathale for his leadership role as premier of Limpopo, following his announcement on Monday that he had resigned.

“Since his election in 2009, comrade Mathale has executed the mandate bestowed upon the African National Congress by the people of Limpopo with dedication and commitment,” spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said after Mathale’s statement that the party had decided to “recall” him.

“The ANC expresses its gratitude to him for the leadership role he played as head of the provincial executive, thus today leaving behind a prosperous, thriving and stable province, notwithstanding some of the challenges experienced in recent times.”

The party looked forward to working with Mathale in future and was confident that the provincial legislature would fill his post quickly to ensure no disruptions in governance.

Nehawu reaction

In earlier reaction, the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) said the ANC had shown “decisive leadership” by recalling him.

“This is a significant step by the African National Congress to ensure unity inside the movement, and also in restoring people’s confidence in the movement and government,” Nehawu provincial chairperson Mike Shingange said.

“Without being triumphalists, our union is happy to see that the ANC has at long last endorsed our view that Mr Mathale was a liability and an embarrassment to our movement and government.”

The union described Mathale as a “divisive” figure who had encouraged factionalism and invited foreign tendencies into the ruling party and the provincial government.

Shingage said it would support the ANC’s appointment of a new premier.

In Mathale’s resignation statement he said his “redeployment” was consistent with the ANC’s culture and tradition.

Provincial government spokesperson Tebatso Mabitsela confirmed Mathale would remain in his position until his resignation had been confirmed in a legislature sitting. Because of the separation of powers, he could not say when the special sitting would be held.

DA reaction

The Democratic Alliance said the latest developments were in line with its own unsuccessful efforts to have a debate on a motion of no confidence in Mathale held in the legislature.

“All the efforts to block the DA’s motion in the legislature have proved meaningless, as today’s move effectively is in agreement with the DA’s long-held position,” said DA Limpopo legislature caucus leader Desiree van der Walt.

“Mr Mathale’s track record in government is so poor that he should have been shown the door a long time ago,” she said.

Other reaction

Inkatha Freedom Party Chief Whip Koos van der Merwe said the party hoped the recent spate of resignations and the Cabinet reshuffle were signs the ANC was taking a tougher stand against corruption.

Congress of the People acting provincial chairperson Patrick Sikhutshi said the resignation was long overdue, and called on members of Mathale’s executive council (MECs) to also resign.

“Should they resign on their own accord, it will go a long way in trying to restore the credibility to their leadership, which is long being damaged,” he said.

Mathale was appointed premier on 9 May 2009.

He listed his achievements during his term of office. These included improving the matric pass rate, building 63 123 houses and 15 bridges, providing 1.2 million households with water and electricity, and expanding access to antiretroviral treatment for people with HIV/Aids.

‘There were problems’

He acknowledged there were still problems, but did not mention that in December 2011 five provincial government departments were placed under administration because of allegations of corruption and gross violation of the Public Finance Management Act.

He also did not mention the scandal in 2012 when it was found that textbooks for certain grades had not been delivered to schools.

Mathale was removed as ANC provincial chairperson in April, when the party’s national executive committee decided to disband the provincial executive committee.

It did so because of “un-ANC behaviour and institutionalised factional conduct”. It was replaced by an ANC provincial task team.

Mathale said contrary to perceptions, he and the provincial government had acted against corruption and had not interfered with investigations.

“At no stage have we attempted to derail or delay any process of investigation or disciplining any irregular conduct,” he said.

“Under all material conditions, we have never sought to channel or redirect state resources to pursue any agenda except the noble course of realising the pledges made to our people.

“Therefore, I also leave the office of the premier with my conscience clean that I have never done anything unlawful and un-ANC… Thank you and goodbye.”

SAPA

Pretoria –  As Modimolle Monster Johan Kotzé’s victim looked at the men found guilty on Monday of kidnapping and gang raping her, a friend said: “You are allowed to cry Ina Bonnette. You are allowed to cry.”

Judge Bert Bam found Kotzé, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlake and Sello Mphaka guilty of kidnapping and of four charges relating to the rape of Bonnette.

Asked how she felt about the judgment, Bonnette said: “I am okay”. She declined to give further comment.

Kotzé and Sithole were also found guilty of killing Bonnette’s 19-year-old son, Conrad.

The other two co-accused were acquitted on the murder charge.

Kotzé hugged friends in the gallery before being taken down to the holding cells.

He had denied guilt, and claimed he could not be held accountable for his actions on 3 January 2012, the day he murdered Bonnette’s son and tortured her in his Modimolle home.

Sithole, Mohlake, and Mphaka claimed Kotzé threatened to shoot them if they did not co-operate.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Medupi Simasiku welcomed the judgment.

“Yes, we are happy and we hope it brings closure to the family.”

He hoped the judgment would serve as a lesson that these types of crimes did not go unpunished.

The matter was postponed to Tuesday morning for arguments in mitigation of sentencing. SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Lichtenburg-North West police made a break-through when they arrested three suspects in connection of illicit cigarettes. The three suspects were arrested on Saturday,after police received information about suspicious truck from Potchefstroom.

“Lichtenburg Police immediately responded to the tip-off and conducted the search. They saw the suspicious truck with given description and stopped it” sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said.  Moiloa said a thorough search and inspection were conducted and police discovered illicit cigarettes that were hidden behind a charcoal inside the truck.

“The Shasha and Chelse cigarettes worth R188 500.00 and police arrested three suspects” she said

Two South Africans and a Bangladesh National aged 32,34 and 36 were subsequently arrested. 

Upon questioning,they alleged that were taking the cigarettes to Keerom Farm outside Lichtenburg. 

The police went to the farm to investigate and allegedly found more cigarettes worth R459 325.49 hidden in a warehouse in the farm.  

“It is alleged that cigarettes were in transit to Lenasia in Johannesburg” Moiloa said. 

Abdul Rehman (36) Mahomed Patel (32) and Milon Kumar (34) appeared before Lichtenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday,and the case was postponed until Thursday for bail application. 

“The suspects were remanded in custody and the acting Provincial Commissioner, General Naidoo expressed his words of gratitude to members of Lichtenburg and Potchefstroom Clusters for making sure that the perpetrators were put behind bars” police said. 

“We will ensure that illicit dealing like this,are dealt with effectively”, said Major General Naidoo.  

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT

By Obakeng Maje

In an effort to improve adherence to HIV/AIDS treatment and patient outcomes in the North West province, the Department of Health has to date initiated a total number of 6342 eligible HIV positive patients on new Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) pill treatment since its introduction in April 2013.

The number includes 2882 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, 3229 new infections and 231 patients that were switched from the three drugs to FDC due to side effects or adverse events.

“The new pill is a combination of all three antiretroviral pills – emtricitabine, efavirenz and tenofovir. It is being administered to all newly diagnosed patients that are eligible to be put on ARV treatment, pregnant women and HIV positive breastfeeding mothers” departmental spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said. 

The Department of Health said the pill is easy to take, highly effective with fewer or no side effects and it is in no way inferior to taking three individual drugs.

“A significant number of clinical health professionals in the province have already been trained on the FDC to rollout to eligible groups in 315 health facilities currently providing antiretroviral treatment” MEC Magome Masike said. 

Health MEC Dr. Magome Masike has expressed his contentment with the department’s progress in rolling out FDC.

“We are also happy with the progress we are making in the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, I must say that there is more that needs to be done especially in getting more men to test,” says MEC Magome Masike.

The North West Province is currently providing antiretroviral treatment to about 186 777 patients.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Pretoria – The so-called Modimolle monster, Johan Kotze, and his three co-accused Andries Sithole, Piet Mohlane and Sello Mphaka have been found guilty of the gang rape of Ina Bonnette, Kotze’s ex wife.

They were all four also found guilty on charges of robbery, kidnapping and assault with the intention of bodily harm.

Kotze and Sithole were also found guilty of the murder of Bonnette’s son Conrad.

The verdict was handed down in the Pretoria High Court by Judge Bert Bam.

The court is set to adjourn again at 8.30 am on Tuesday for sentencing arguments.

Bam called Bonnette a believable witness.

“It wouldn’t have been strange if she was at times unsure of events,” Bam said in his judgment.

Kotze had denied guilt, and has claimed he cannot be held accountable for his actions that day.

Sithole, Mohlane, and Mphaka claimed Kotze threatened to shoot them if they did not co-operate.

Bam said Bonnette was cross-examined by three experienced attorneys. He said this must have been traumatic and painful for her.

“She is just a human being. Any person makes mistakes,” Bam said.

He said it was not uncommon for a witness, who was as emotional as Bonnette, to be unsure at times. He said she was not a perfect witness, and that it was not realistic to think such a person existed.

“There was a sound of truth .”

One of many examples of this was her testifying that, after the rape, she pleaded with her eyes for Kotze’s three co-accused to help her.

“It is unlikely that any witness would think of something like that,” said Bam. – Sapa

Kaizer Chiefs will be going into their 2013/14 title defending season with a new jersey, with the Nike having unveiled the PSL’s champions new home kit.

Having replaced last season’s league and cup double winning home jersey, the new kit is a minimalist design, with the return of of the gold.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com