A man has gone missing in the Vaal river in Delportshoop, Northern Cape, paramedics said on Thursday.

Two men swam across the river on Wednesday afternoon, but only one man, 19, made it to the riverbank, ER24 said in a statement.

“He called for help from emergency services once he was sure that his friend had not proceeded to another area or resurfaced somewhere else,” the statement said.

The 19-year-old man was treated on-scene for hypothermic symptoms from being very cold and taken to a nearby hospital.

Police and rescue teams had not found the missing man on Wednesday night.

The search would continue on Thursday morning for his body.

– SAPA

Cape Town – A former Cape Town police officer was sentenced to five years in jail after he tried to kill his girlfriend, Die Burger reported on Thursday.

Warrant Officer James Bennie Davids, 58, appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday after being convicted of attempted murder in June.

Davids reportedly stabbed Sharon Cupido, 35, in her neck, arm and stomach in January last year.

She was rushed to Groote Schuur hospital where her wounds were stitched up.

According to the report, Davids testified that he and Cupido had been sitting in her car in Victoria Road, Woodstock, when they got into a fight and he grabbed a knife normally used to cut open boxes.

He reportedly wrote a letter asking her to forgive him. The letter described how he had previously threatened her with knives and a gun because he was jealous, and believed that she was in a relationship with a former lover.

Davids was suspended from the police earlier this year, but was appealing the decision.

Magistrate Wilma van der Merwe reportedly said: “A person, especially a woman, is supposed to feel safe in a relationship and not be afraid.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Zwelinzima Vavi says he recognises that some people remain “unforgiving” about his affair with a Cosatu employee, which has reportedly resulted in him being placed on special leave.

Vavi tweeted on Thursday morning that he committed an error and apologised for it, but added that while many people accepted his apology, many people remained unforgiving.

“I am relieved so many have accepted that apology and recognise that some remain unforgiving. Know others celebrating and rubbing salt,” he tweeted.

“I committed an error & have profusely apologised to everyone hurt by my indiscretion. That was a right thing to do.”

He also thanked people for their support, and said he “will say more later”.

According to reports, the Cosatu secretary general was put on special leave on Wednesday after a meeting was called to discuss his future within the organisation.

Cosatu will only release an official statement on the matter on Thursday.

News24