Bloemfontein – A member of the SA Air Force (SAAF) based at the Bloemspruit Air Force Base appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on a murder charge on Tuesday.

Corporal Simphiwe Magudulela, 27, told the court, through an interpreter, he would like to apply for legal aid.

The matter was postponed to 10 September for a possible bail hearing.

This followed a shooting at the base, outside Bloemfontein, that saw a man being killed and another critically wounded early on Sunday morning.

“A member on duty shot two colleagues. One of them died on the scene and the other is in a critical condition,” Free State police spokesperson Harry Nagel said on Monday.

He said the shooting took place at around 02:00 on Sunday.

“We are investigating a case of murder and attempted murder.”

SA National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesperson Xolani Mabanga confirmed the incident.

He said the injured SANDF member had been stabilised and was recovering in hospital.

Mabanga said the circumstances leading to the shooting at the base were being investigated.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – An 18-year-old school pupil was given a five-year suspended sentence by the Nelspruit Regional Court on Tuesday for trying to rape a 5-year-old girl.

A Sapa correspondent reported that Mduduzi Lucky Mpila,18, from Barberton in Mpumalanga, had been found guilty of attempted rape.

Mpila, a Grade 10 pupil, had pleaded not guilty.

He was arrested in 2011 when the girl’s mother reported that her child had been sexually abused.

Magistrate Willie Wilkins sentenced Mpila to four years’ imprisonment.

The sentence was suspended for five years.

Passing sentence, Wilkins said Mpila was 16-years-old when he committed the crime and had a chance to change his life.

According to a social worker, the girl was not physically injured during the incident and was coping well at school despite the ordeal, Wilkins said.

Had the teenager succeeded in raping the girl, the sentence would have been life imprisonment.

“You had a very good relationship with the victim’s parents until your criminal act on their daughter… which changed everything. They no longer have trust in you.”

The State had requested direct imprisonment, that Mpila’s name be placed on the sex offenders’ register, and that he be declared unfit to work with children and to possess a firearm.

“Your defence has argued against the State’s request and said you are still very young and may need better employment in the future. If I agree with the State, doors will be closed for you as no employer would hire you,” said Wilkins.

He said he was giving Mpila a chance to change his life.

“You are still too young… I am giving you a chance to change your life for the better. I have decided to agree with your defence, but all will depend on your behaviour during your suspended sentence.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The death toll in the Melmoth bus crash at the weekend has risen to 10, KwaZulu-Natal transport authorities said on Tuesday.

“This follows the passing of another young girl, who died from injuries at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital last night [Monday],” said Transport MEC Willies Mchunu.

“The girl had been airlifted from Ngwelezane Hospital after being in a critical condition,” he said, describing the news as devastating.

“On behalf of the provincial government, we would like to send our condolences to the family, who have now also lost their daughter and sister.

“We are indeed a province in mourning and our prayers are that we do not lose more lives,” he said in a statement.

After the accident on Sunday, it was reported that 10 people, including the bus driver had died in the crash.

On Monday, officials reduced the number to nine, after it was found that the driver had not died, but was injured and recovering in hospital.

The bus was travelling on the R66 near Eshowe, and was heading to uMzumbe in Port Shepstone, when it overturned and hit steel barriers.

It was carrying people returning from the annual reed dance at the Nyokeni Palace. More than 60 people were injured.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said the barriers pierced the front of the bus.

The latest report from the provincial transport department indicated that the deaths were of eight girls who took part in the dance and two women who accompanied them as guardians.

Mchunu said investigations showed that the bus had been speeding and had faulty brakes.

Traffic officials had earlier stopped the bus in Nongoma and found that its driver was under the influence of alcohol.

“The driver was arrested and detained in Nongoma, and subsequently replaced with another driver, who was behind the wheel when the accident occurred,” said Mchunu.

Government would cover the cost of the funerals.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The DA in Mpumalanga has laid criminal charges against the Govan Mbeki municipal manager and the director of technical services, the party said on Tuesday.

The Democratic Alliance claimed municipal manager Mmela Mahlangu and director of technical services Bongani Mtshali had contravened the National Water Act by failing to address sewage problems in the municipality.

“The sewage leaks in the municipality are so severe that they have affected three water sources, namely the Grootbrak River in Evander/Embalenhle, the Waterval River in Leandra/Lebogang, and the Blesbokspruit in Bethal/Emzinoni,” DA councillor Tim Denny said in a statement.

“Water samples taken from these sources have shown catastrophic levels of faecal coliform bacteria, which is dangerous for both human and animal consumption.”

The municipality could not be reached for comment.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Leonard Hlathi confirmed that a case had been opened at the Embalenhle police station.

Denny said the DA and members of the community had been trying for more than a year to get the municipality to repair the sewerage problems.

The municipality had also failed to inform residents of any health risks.

“It is both Mr Mahlangu and Mr Mtshali’s direct responsibility as municipal and departmental heads to ensure that sewage is disposed of in a manner that will not pose a threat to the well-being of the community,” he said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Police on Tuesday night cordoned off the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg after an apparent attempt to set the building alight.

The party’s Jackson Mthembu said a “suspicious” fire had broken out in the reception area next to the main entrance.

He said security guards had put out the flames, which had almost reached the ceiling of the reception area.

“We view this in serious light as it appears as an act of attempting to destabilise the ANC through acts arson and sabotage,” said Mthembu.

He added that the police at Luthuli House would investigate the source the fire, while ensuring that there is no other pending threat to the building and people in the building.
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Johannesburg – UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has called on President Jacob Zuma to intervene to end the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) strike.

“The workers have passed a vote of no confidence in [Higher Education] Minister Blade Nzimande and now want President Zuma to intervene urgently, fearing for the collapse of the institution,” the United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader was quoted as saying, the DispatchOnline reported on Tuesday.

“Community members cry as they feel the university is under threat and they want Zuma to declare what is going on in WSU as a crisis,” he reportedly said.

The protracted strike was in its seventh week and talks were set to continue between representatives of the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the National Tertiary Education Union (Netu) and university management.

Staff were demanding an eight to 10% increase,while management was only offering 4.25% backdated to January this year.

The DispatchOnline reported Holomisa, traditional, church and community leaders met in Mthatha to discuss issues affecting WSU.

Stakeholders attending the meeting passed a vote of no confidence in Nzimande and appealed to a newly established task team to urge Zuma to intervene.

The task team included Holomisa; Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) president Phathekile Holomisa; Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders chair Ngangomhlaba Matanzima; ANC MPs Zukile Luyenge and Vatiswa Bam-Mugwanya; and Council of Churches regional chairperson Vusumzi Mabo.

Holomisa reportedly said they would write to the presidency on Tuesday asking for intervention.

Vote of no confidence

However, in a statement later on Tuesday, Eastern Cape SA Communist Party (SACP) spokesperson Siyabonga Mdodi dismissed the vote of no confidence in Nzimande as an “anti-communist sentiment”.

“We view some of the comments as anti-communist sentiments disguised as genuine voice representing the plight of the university,” Mdodi said.

He called the vote unfair.

“We find this to be very unfair as no one denies the resources pumped into the university under the leadership of comrade Blade Nzimande, who is not the minister of WSU but the minister of department of higher education and training with many challenges,” Mdodi said.

On Thursday, higher education director general Gwebs Qonde said the university was still technically and commercially bankrupt.

Qonde said the university could only afford a 4.25% increase.

Qonde said he had met the parties concerned in early August, but was unable to reach a settlement as the unions did not appear to grasp the gravity of their demands and the potentially disastrous consequences.

Qonde defended the administrator’s decision to shut down all WSU campuses and send students home.

“The risk to safety of students and prolonged nature of the strike has resulted in the university taking the decision to vacate the residences and send students home for a short term,” he said.

The decision has already led to protests by students who clashed with police on Wednesday.

At least a dozen students were injured during the scuffles.

– SAPA

By TDN

Young people in the North West Province are to be exposed to programmes aimed at addressing youth unemployment and unlocking opportunities for them to participate in the mainstream of the economy during a Youth Development Economic Empowerment workshop that is to be hosted in Rustenburg as from Thursday.

The objective of the two-day workshop, which is organised by the Youth Development Support in Premier Thandi Modise’s Office in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency is to empower young people on opportunities that will unlock their potential for economic development.

The  need for the Youth Economic Empowerment Workshop and intensified moral regeneration campaign to combat social ills that are distracting young people from reaching their full potential was identified  by young people in the province during the Provincial Youth Summit that was held in Mahikeng in 2011.

Premier Thandi Modise will highlight the importance of the National Development Plan in addressing skills development and unlocking economic opportunities for young people to participate in the mainstream economy in her keynote address to be delivered on the opening day of the workshop that is to be attended by 120 young people from across the province.   

The workshop will among others focus on entrepreneurship development, youth cooperatives and opportunities in key sectors of the provincial economy.

The event scheduled to be held as from Thursday, 05-6th September at the Orion Safari Hotel.-TDN

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By TDN

Young people in the North West Province are to be exposed to programmes aimed at addressing youth unemployment and unlocking opportunities for them to participate in the mainstream of the economy during a Youth Development Economic Empowerment workshop that is to be hosted in Rustenburg as from Thursday.

The objective of the two-day workshop, which is organised by the Youth Development Support in Premier Thandi Modise’s Office in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency is to empower young people on opportunities that will unlock their potential for economic development.

The  need for the Youth Economic Empowerment Workshop and intensified moral regeneration campaign to combat social ills that are distracting young people from reaching their full potential was identified  by young people in the province during the Provincial Youth Summit that was held in Mahikeng in 2011.

Premier Thandi Modise will highlight the importance of the National Development Plan in addressing skills development and unlocking economic opportunities for young people to participate in the mainstream economy in her keynote address to be delivered on the opening day of the workshop that is to be attended by 120 young people from across the province.   

The workshop will among others focus on entrepreneurship development, youth cooperatives and opportunities in key sectors of the provincial economy.

The event scheduled to be held as from Thursday, 05-6th September at the Orion Safari Hotel.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-North West police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after one man died and two were rushed to a local hospital for medical attention.

The accident took place on Monday at around 20h15 between Cokonyane and Modimong village were a Toyota Hilux allegedly belonging to Batau Memorial Service crashed.

According to eyewitness, a vehicle veered of the road and it capsized.

“A man,35 succumbed to injuries and perished in an accident” said Emergency Service.

Esrom Tshabalala allegedly suffered head injuries and was certified dead on the scene by paramedics.

One of the casualties is Mandla Khubeka who was taken to hospital along the other unknown passenger.

Even though police cannot outline what was the cause of the accident, investigations continue.-TDN

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Johannesburg – A former Ivory Park mechanic has been awarded an interim settlement of R1.29m after he lost his left arm when police shot him, The Star reported on Tuesday.

Ntantise Daniel Taliwe, 37, reached the settlement with police, after initially claiming more than R10m in damages.

The matter never went on trial as the minister of police, in his official capacity, admitted total liability.

Taliwe was working on a car engine with three friends on 19 August 2004 when they heard shots being fired, according to the report.

His friends ran off but Taliwe was hit with a bullet from behind. The bullet entered the left side of his chest, damaging an artery.

He had to undergo an operation to restore circulation to his arm, and a second operation due to gangrene, which resulted in his arm being amputated above the elbow.

Being unable to return to work, he received the settlement in respect of past and future loss of income and for damages.

The newspaper said police gave no explanation for the shooting. 

SAPA