By Obakeng Maje
The case of possession of counterfeit cigarettes involving Mozambican and Pakistani nationals has been postponed until 18 October 2013. The accused, Mkamlia Mlayo (37) and Ejuaz Ahmed (34) were granted R1000.00 bail after appearance before the court today.
“The two were arrested at Rhenosterfontein farm in Rustenburg after police got a tip-off about illegal cigarettes at the farm. Police were performing duties as part of Operation Platinum belt in line with strategies of Mine Crime Combatting Forum (MCCF) that was launched last week Wednesday when they got information regarding illegal cigarettes at Rhenosterfontein” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.
Mokgwabone said the police responded to the information promptly where upon arrival they found cigarettes being off loaded from the truck onto another truck and a bakkie. The suspects ran away upon seeing the police, but the latter managed to arrest them.
A total of 995 boxes, each containing 50 cartons to the estimated value of R13 million (Thirteen million rand) were found in the vehicles.
“The success follows successful policing of Marikana Commemoration on Friday last week whereby 100 traditional weapons were confiscated from people who were on a bus from Impala Platinum which was en route to Marikana for commemoration. The operations will continue in an effort to curb criminal activities around Mines and surrounding areas through partnership with MCCF stakeholders, partners and the broader communities” he concludes.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom-North West police are investigating a case of attempted murder after a woman allegedly caught her boyfriend with another woman.
“It is alleged that at about 22h45 on Sunday a female suspect allegedly stabbed her boyfriend with a broken bottle several times on his body. This came after the suspect found the victim with another female” sergeant Kealeboga Molale said.
Molale said the two had an argument that led the suspect to stab the victim.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
“The suspect was arrested and she appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrate Court on Monday” she said.
Police investigation continues.-TDN
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Johannesburg – Gauteng unveiled a 25-year transport plan on Monday to accommodate larger numbers of people.

Transport MEC Ismail Vadi said the “Integrated Transport Master Plan 25” (ITMP 25) proposed a radical change in spatial and transport planning.

“It’s a point of departure from apartheid spatial planning, land use and mobility patterns, and ushers in an innovative way of structuring our future societal development,” he said.

Part of the plan was to prioritise the rail system as the backbone of the province’s transport network.

Vadi said moving away from private cars would reduce congestion, enhance efficiency and promote sustainability.

Doing nothing would have a severe impact on the province’s natural environment, its economy and the quality of life of its residents, making the province less pleasant to live in, Vadi said.

The ITMP 25 would be led by Gautrain CEO Jack van der Merwe, who would work with an inter-disciplinary team of experts.

Gauteng’s projected population would rise to 18.7 million from the current 12.3 million 25 years from now.

The working population would grow to 8.6 million, making the number of passenger trips approximately 25 million per day, resulting in serious traffic congestion.

“Given the prospect of the population growing to 18.7 million and a sharp increase in the use of privately-owned cars, residents of Gauteng would live through the nightmarish scenario of unparalleled traffic gridlocks,” he said.

Another part of the plan was to move long distance freight from road to rail.

Rail-based freight logistic hubs would be developed on the periphery of core urban areas, Vadi said.

– SAPA

Pretoria – Miners arrested and wounded during strike-related unrest in Marikana last year want to hold a peaceful march, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.

Dali Mpofu, for the miners, said this came after the Constitutional Court dismissed their application to have the State fund their legal team.

“They want legal representation at the State’s expense,” said Mpofu.

He indicated that the march would most probably head to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Scores of miners filled the auditorium in Centurion as Mpofu reported back to the commission on the decision of the Constitutional Court.

SA Council of Churches president Anglican Bishop Joe Seoka and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa were also present during the proceedings.

After reporting back to the commission, Mpofu requested that they be excused.

“Until there is funding on the table, their participation is withdrawn,” he said.

The miners, Mpofu, Seoka, and Mathunjwa then left the proceedings.

Retired Judge Ian Farlam said the commission would continue.

North West deputy police commissioner General William Mpembe would be cross-examined.

He gave evidence several months ago but his cross-examination had been put on hold as Mpofu tried to get funding for his team.

The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest at Lonmin Platinum’s mining operations in Marikana, North West, last year.

Thirty-four people – almost all striking mine workers – were killed in Marikana on 16 August 2012, when police fired on them.

Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Free State Stars coach Steve Komphela and Bloemfontein Celtic coach Clinton Larsen have been charged by the Premier Soccer League (PSL), the soccer body said on Monday.
The pair will appear before a disciplinary committee in Johannesburg on Tuesday, following comments made to the media by both coaches.

“The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has charged Free State Stars and their coach, Steve Komphela, and Bloemfontein Celtic coach Clinton Larsen for bringing the league and the SA Football Association (SAFA) into disrepute in terms of (the)… rules,” the PSL said.

Komphela was enraged following Stars’ first PSL of the new season against SuperSport United, losing 4-1 after his team received a red card from referee Victor Gomes shortly before half-time.

“I know I could be facing some action, but this guy reffed nonsense,” Komphela said after the game on August 3.

“Anyone could have played for SuperSport today. With a referee like this, who needs an opponent?”

Meanwhile, Larsen unleashed on referee Daniel Volgraaf at half-time of his side’s premiership clash with Mamelodi Sundowns a day after Komphela’s comments.

Larsen was caught on a television camera at half-time having a go at referee Volgraaf for what he believed to be a dubious red card decision which led to his side losing 3-1 to the Brazilians on August 4.

Walking down the tunnel, Larsen voiced his discontent at the referee and was later called to task for his abrasive attitude toward Volgraaf.
For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – CSA on Monday launched its four-day coaching conference which is expected to have a significant impact on the way the game is developed at all levels in the future.

“Obviously it is impossible to get every single coach to the conference,” commented CSA general manager Corrie van Zyl.

“But we will have in attendance all our national coaches and consultants, the franchise and semi-professional coaches and the coaching managers of all our affiliates to ensure that we develop a synergy that can be taken back to every level of coaching, including our club and youth structures.

“Coaching is such an important part of our talent development pipeline and it is important that we have a uniform structure with buy-in from coaches at all levels.

“Some of the key areas to be addressed are the CSA pipeline strategy, the key performance areas for coaches and a coaching philosophy which includes equipping coaches with the necessary tools to address the challenges associated with transformation.

“This is only the beginning of the process,” concluded Van Zyl.

“We will be taking the momentum forward from here to the CSAS CEO’s meeting later this month and then next month to the transformation symposium and the CSA Cricket Committee.”
For more http://www.news24.com

Pretoria – Oscar Pistorius’s family says they are “grateful” that a trial date has been set as they can now start preparing for the court case.

The statement was made by Pistorius’s uncle, Arnold, on behalf of the family.

The paralympian will go to the North Gauteng High Court to face a charge of murdering Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day this year.

Earlier on Monday, the family of Steenkamp’s best friend released a statement saying that the memory of Pistorius’s deceased girlfriend will live on.

Monday would have been Steenkamp’s 30th birthday.

Steenkamp lived with the family during her time in Johannesburg. Their daughter Gina was Steenkamp’s best friend.

“Ironically, the 19th of August 2013 [Monday] would have been Reeva’s 30th birthday, a day that should have been a celebration of her life,” they said in a statement.

“Instead, it will now mark a court appearance relating to her untimely passing six months ago.”

Myers family due to testify

They said that as the world’s attention focused on the court, “there are those who met, knew and loved Reeva that will focus their attention on their hearts and memories, allowing her life, strength of character and passion to live on through them”.

The family is due to testify at Pistorius’s trial in March next year.

Pistorius appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday where he was served with an indictment.

Along with murder, Pistorius was also charged with contravening the Firearms Control Act.

The trial was moved to the High Court in Pretoria and would run from 3 to 20 March.

The indictment lists 107 witnesses to testify for the State.

Among them were the Myers, Pistorius’s sister Aimee, his uncle Arnold, former police investigator Hilton Botha, and residents of the Silver Woods Country Estate in Pretoria, where he lived.

Medical experts, paramedics, ballistic and forensic experts would also be called.

At his bail hearing, Pistorius submitted that he thought Steenkamp was an intruder.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A KwaZulu-Natal man almost had his arms crushed when his hands were caught in a machine used to press cardboard, Durban paramedics said on Monday.

The 32-year-old factory worker was taken to a nearby hospital after paramedics found his hands had been pressed through the machine in Westmead, ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said.

“He’s got some broken bones and some of his skin has come off,” she said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A junior advocate qualified in shipping law has approached the Competition Tribunal to seek interim relief against three senior advocates, Business Day reported on Monday.

The junior advocate claimed the three were engaged in “racist anti-competitive” conduct, which has the effect of excluding him from the shipping market.

Simba Chitando would ask the Competition Tribunal on Monday to restrain Michael Fitzgerald SC, Russel MacWilliams SC and Michael Wragge SC – from engaging in alleged racist anti-competitive conduct.

Chitando wants the tribunal to order them to include him in the pool of junior advocates they refer work to.

‘Unjustified’

Fitzgerald said in an answering affidavit filed on behalf of all three advocates that they take strong exception to the “wholly unsubstantiated and unjustified attack” made on them and their good reputation.

“[We] regard the accusation made against us by the applicant [Mr Chitando] of racism and xenophobia as nothing other than seriously defamatory.”

He wants the interim order while the Competition Commission investigates his complaint against the advocates.

It is reportedly the first time the individuals are being brought before the authorities.

– SAPA

Taung-North West police arrested a 23 year-old man after he allegedly broke into a house and raped a 69 year-old woman.
Police said the incident took place at Cokonyane, near Taung were a man gained entry through a window.
“He allegedly found a 69 year-old woman in the bedroom and raped her. While busy raping her, she wrestled with a suspect and managed to overpowered him and escaped” sergeant Kealeboga Molale said.
Molale said a woman screamed for help and her neighbour came to investigate.
The neighbour allegedly searched the house after a suspect allegedly tried to strangle the victim.
“The suspect was allegedly hidden under the bed after he realised that his bubble was bursted” Molale said.
A 23 year-old man was dragged out of the bed and left embarrassed like confused dinosaurs fleeing Jorrison Park.
He was arrested after the police were called and will appear tomorrow at Taung Magistrate Court for rape and house breaking.
Police investigations continue.-TDN
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Editor: We would like to apologize to Buxton residents near Taung as we were given wrong information by North West South African Police Service spokesperson Sergeant Kealeboga Molale. Molale told our crew that the above incident took place in Buxton, near Taung while it took place in Cokonyane village. Hopefully our sincere apology will be welcomed and we willing to continue serving the community with more informative information.