Johannesburg – Two men who set a spaza shop alight with people inside were sentenced to life imprisonment by the North Gauteng High Court, police said on Wednesday.

Colonel Ronel Otto said Mashegoana Maphile Magana, 29, and Klaas Samuel Tonga, 23, were sentenced on Tuesday to life for murder.

They were also each sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for attempted murder, 10 for common robbery, and eight years for arson. The sentences would run concurrently.

The two robbed Johannes Makola and his wife Jaivana Shabangu at their spaza shop in Ga-Mashegoana, Sekhukhune, in Limpopo in 2008.

“They took cash and groceries. One of the [men] poured petrol all over the shop and set it alight after locking the man and woman inside,” Otto said.

“Although they managed to break free from the shop, both sustained serious burn wounds and were taken to a hospital in Jane Furse for treatment.”

Shabangu died a few days later.

Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Simon Mpembe welcomed the sentence.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A total of 45 people have been arrested in connection with public violence in Fochville near Carletonville this week, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.

The arrests were made on Monday and Tuesday when residents embarked on a service delivery protest, police spokesperson Katlego Mogale said.

Residents blocked roads with stones and burning tyres.

“A spaza shop, a bottle store, and a house, believed to belong to a councillor, were set on fire,” she said.

On Tuesday, a meeting was held with Community Cafety MEC Faith Mazibuko and Merafong municipality Mayor Maphefo Mogale Letsie.

The protest erupted when the mayor attempted to address residents, and the meeting was called off, said Mogale.

Those arrested would appear in the Carletonville Magistrate’s Court on Thursday

– SAPA

Durban – A minibus taxi driver has been beaten to death by angry commuters following an accident at the Durban taxi rank.

The Mercury reported that James Bantu Khoza, 53, was attacked by commuters after his out-of-control taxi caused mayhem, killing the taxi rank manager and injuring two women and his conductor.

He allegedly drove the taxi into the taxi rank at high speed on Monday afternoon, knocking over two women and veering into a bus before hitting the taxi rank manager and ramming into another minibus taxi.

Khoza was then attacked with beer bottles and rocks and died at the scene.

Source: http://www.news24.com

Potchefstroom – Community sentiment favours an independent candidate in the hotly-contested by-election in ward nine in Tlokwe in the North West province, a voter said on Wednesday.

“This initiative [of an independent candidate] is a proposal from the community,” Tshepo Chempe said outside the polling station at the Boikhotso Secondary School in Ikageng, Potchefstroom.

That was why independent candidate Khotso Ratikoane had been asked to contest the by-election.

“We want good governance, we want ownership, community ownership. Only us as a community can give a mandate to Khotso.”

Chempe said he and Ratikoane were members of the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco).

Ratikoane had been working with Sanco in the community since 2009.

“We have seen his work, he is passionate,” said Chempe.

“We are confident he has the support of the community.”

No independent candidate has won the ward before.

Five candidates

The ward nine by-election in Tlokwe was being contested by five candidates.

They are: Mary Segogonyane Mosieleng of the ANC, Democratic Alliance candidate Jacky Tobolo, the Congress of the People candidate Phiri Abram Khoarai, Ratikoane, and African People’s Convention candidate Matong Ben Tshesebe.

Thabang Letsogo, an African National Congress Youth League secretary in the region, said he was confident the ANC would win the ward again.

“History is going to repeat itself, the ANC is going to win the majority,” he said.

“It will continue delivering in this area.”

Letsogo was very proud of the fact that he had already voted.

“I have confidence in the ANC, my vote is not a secret,” he said holding up his thumb with a black mark showing he had voted.

Cope provincial secretary Rammupudu Mooketsi said his party in the North West had done the spade work before the by-election.

“We are very confident about our candidate,” he said.

“We are aware that this is a heavily contested election… [but] a miracle might happen.”

Mooketsi said ward nine needed a reputable, transparent, grassroots leader, which Cope had.

He said Cope had become more relevant in the North West and its candidate had the community at heart.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Despite earlier hopes that flights to and from Kenya would merely be delayed, SAA has announced that all flights between Johannesburg and Nairobi have been cancelled on Wednesday.

Following a fire that gutted part of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi Kenyan authoroties have halted all flight operations to and from the airport. 

Based on this SAA has cancelled both its scheduled flights on that route for the day – flight SA184 from Johannesburg to Nairobi and flight SA185 from Nairobi to Johannesburg.

While all efforts to resume operations are being made by the Kenyan authorities, it is still early for any indication as to when the operations will resume.

The airline has put a recovery plan in place intended to minimise the impact of the inconvenience to its customers. The plan will be activated as soon as a signal is received indicating that the airport has resumed its operations.

Passengers wishing to cancel or reschedule their flights should take note of the following conditions:

All customers with SAA tickets who are affected by the Nairobi flight cancellations will be offered the following assistance either via our Call Centres, City Ticket Offices, Airport Ticket Offices or through their Travel Agent:

– rebooking on the next available flight (same cabin / same booking class) subject to space;

– all date and flight change fees will be waivered;

– this allowance will apply to South African Airways tickets only and not on any other airline tickets;

– the offer must be taken up and tickets re-issued through an SAA office by 12 August 2013; and

– If you are moving to a later date, all such travel must commence on/before 21 August 2013.

Johannesburg – Despite earlier hopes that flights to and from Kenya would merely be delayed, SAA has announced that all flights between Johannesburg and Nairobi have been cancelled on Wednesday.

Following a fire that gutted part of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi Kenyan authoroties have halted all flight operations to and from the airport. 

Based on this SAA has cancelled both its scheduled flights on that route for the day – flight SA184 from Johannesburg to Nairobi and flight SA185 from Nairobi to Johannesburg.

While all efforts to resume operations are being made by the Kenyan authorities, it is still early for any indication as to when the operations will resume.

The airline has put a recovery plan in place intended to minimise the impact of the inconvenience to its customers. The plan will be activated as soon as a signal is received indicating that the airport has resumed its operations.

Passengers wishing to cancel or reschedule their flights should take note of the following conditions:

All customers with SAA tickets who are affected by the Nairobi flight cancellations will be offered the following assistance either via our Call Centres, City Ticket Offices, Airport Ticket Offices or through their Travel Agent:

– rebooking on the next available flight (same cabin / same booking class) subject to space;

– all date and flight change fees will be waivered;

– this allowance will apply to South African Airways tickets only and not on any other airline tickets;

– the offer must be taken up and tickets re-issued through an SAA office by 12 August 2013; and

– If you are moving to a later date, all such travel must commence on/before 21 August 2013.

By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Kimberley police are investigating a case of murder and attempted robbery after a 43 year old male was fatally shot in the chest on Wednesday at approximately 09:20am. 

“It is alleged that the Cash In Transit(CIT) security was busy loading money into a safe at an ATM in Phakamile Mabija Road when the man tried to pass on the pavement” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

The security tried to redirect the person and this led to an argument between the two people. 

“It is further alleged that the man slapped the security guard which prompted the security to draw his gun and fatally injured the man” he said. 

No arrests have been made at this stage and the incident is under investigation. 

All information regarding the incident can forwarded to Detective Warrant Officer Desmond Markgraaf at 082 302 0407 or 08600 10111.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By TDN

Taung-The contribution of ANC Stalwart and struggle icon Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati towards establishing democratic governance and municipalities in the North West will be recognised by the Black Management Forum (BMF)-North West on Women’s Day.

North West Premier Thandi Modise will deliver the keynote speech and handover the award on behalf of BMF-North West at the Gala dinner hosted in honour of Dr. Mompati who was also the Executive Mayor of Naledi Local Municipality. 

“Mama Ruta as she is affectionately known was one of the participants of the historic 9 August 1956 women’s march to the union building” North Wrst premier spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said.-TDN

Follow on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or@IceT_

By Obakeng Maje

Rustenburg-The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in collaboration with Bojanala District, Rustenburg Local Municipality as well as Arts and Culture Structures in Bojanala District will be hosting a Women’s Day Celebrations on the 09th August 2013 at Lethabong Sports Ground in Rustenburg. 

Women’s day marks the anniversary of the great women’s march of 1956, where women marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the carrying of pass books. 

On 9 August 1956, about 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against legislation aimed at tightening the apartheid government’s control over the movement of black women in urban areas.

The event will be celebrating and honoring the great achievements of women in the modern days as well as the hardships they are currently faced with in the sport, arts and culture sector and mapping for further greater developments of women in the district.

“If you strike a woman, you strike a rock” said MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Mme Tebogo Modise. 

“This commemoration day pays homage to the women of our nation; our mothers, wives, our sisters and our daughters who fought tirelessly against the tyranny of the Apartheid government’, said MEC Modise

The day will be a festival of women in Sport, Arts & Culture sector. 

Games on the day of the event will be ladies football & Netball as well as performances by female artists from the District MEC Tebogo Modise will also be handing over sporting equipment and attire to 5 soccer and 10 netball teams that will be participating. 

The event is schedule to take place as follows:

Date: 09 August 2013

Venue: Lethabong Community Hall Rustenburg

Time: 09h00

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Cape Town – A senior official at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport says there is confusion at the airport after a “massive” fire broke out, shutting down one of east Africa’s most important transport hubs and causing serious damage, a report says.

According to Standard media, fire fighters at the airport were overwhelmed, forcing them to seek the help from the private sector and the Nairobi City Council.

Kenya’s government was quoted by eNCA as saying no casualities have been reported so far, adding that the fire crew was “dangerously” low on water”.

Interior Principle Secretary Mutea Iringo said they were monitoring and coordinating the response services.

“We are there and monitoring the situation,” he said.

Sky News quoted the transport minister as saying “people should just keep off the entire airport”.

The fire happened a day after thousands of passengers were on Monday night stranded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after a hitch with fuel supply to planes.

Several flights were cancelled after the pipeline supplying fuel to the airport malfunctioned. It is definitely going to affect operations again.

eNCA reported that the airport has been closed and passengers have been evacuated.