Paris – A French jeweller who shot dead a teenage robber last week has sparked an intense national debate in France, with a Facebook page supporting him attracting more than 1.5 million “likes”.

Stephan Turk, 67, shot an 18-year-old in the back on Wednesday as he and another robber were fleeing on a scooter with gems stolen from the jeweller’s shop in the French Riviera city of Nice.

His actions have divided France, with supporters arguing for the right to self-defence amid a general climate of insecurity, while critics condemn the use of violence and vigilantism.

A Facebook page created anonymously several days ago in support of Turk – who on Friday was charged with murder – had garnered 1.53 million likes by Sunday evening.

“He did what the justice system isn’t able to do! These days, if you want something done right, do it yourself,” user Fanny Duvergt wrote.

But on Twitter, where debate over the issue is also raging, doubts have emerged about the huge swell of Facebook support, with some saying many of the “likes” may have been bought.

A Facebook page against the jeweller and the use of force has also emerged over the past few days, though it has a comparatively meagre 17 800 “likes”.

“Shooting someone who is escaping in the back, that’s murder. It’s not self-defence… We’re not in the Wild West taking justice in our own hands,” Facebook user Katia Chipolina wrote on the page.

French law allows for killers to escape conviction for murder if they can show they acted in “legitimate defence”.

But the prosecutor who recommended Turk be charged with murder does not believe this can be applied as the jeweller’s life did not appear to be in immediate danger when he fired an unlicensed semi-automatic pistol.

If convicted of voluntary homicide, the jeweller could spend the rest of his life in prison.

On Sunday, French President Francois Hollande waded into the fray, saying in a televised interview that he recognised “exasperation and anger” in the case but insisting that “it’s up to justice to do justice and not anyone else.”

The case has also been seized upon by the far-right Front National (FN).

“When people feel obliged to defend themselves with such dramatic consequences, it is a sign that they no longer have any confidence in the state or the forces of order,” FN leader Marine Le Pen said on Saturday.

And in a photo published in the Journal de Dimanche newspaper on Sunday, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the FN party, was shown brandishing his fist at the camera.

“I would have done the same thing,” he was quoted as saying in the paper.

AFP

Cape Town – The NPA will not respond to a request for comment regarding a BBC documentary questioning the police case against Shrien Dewani, Western Cape director of public prosecutions Rodney de Kock said on Sunday. 

Shrien’s wife Anni was shot dead in an apparent fake hijacking in Khayelitsha on 14 November 2010.

The programme, titled The Honeymoon Murder: Who killed Anni? claimed to have obtained “secret police files” and commissioned forensic experts to review all the evidence.

According to the online preview, the experts plan to expose “fundamental mistakes” in the police investigation and the interpretation of forensic evidence.

The programme is set to air on Thursday.

“… It would be improper for the NPA to engage on the merits of the case,” De Kock told the BBC’s Panorama editor, Tom Giles, in a letter, sent at the beginning of September, and shown to the media on Sunday. 

“To do so will be to subject Mr Dewani to a trial by media, a concept foreign to the Republic of South Africa and a practice that will violate Mr Dewani’s right to a fair trial.” 

De Kock said the matter was sub judice. 

“The proper forum to address this matter is a court of law, not the media.” 

Accident

The Mirror reported on Saturday that Shrien could be cleared after experts claimed that Anni had been shot by accident. 

The bullet that killed the 28-year-old hit her left hand, went into her chest and through her body, causing fatal neck injuries.

Ballistics experts at the Forensic Firearms Consultancy in London reviewed case documents, the Mirror said. It quoted a source as saying the evidence would appear to support the theory that Anni Dewani was shot during a struggle.”

Three men are already serving sentences for her murder. 

Shrien, 33, who has repeatedly denied masterminding a plot to kill his wife, is undergoing treatment in the UK for post-traumatic stress disorder. 

He has been fighting extradition to stand trial in Cape Town for over two years. 

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle ruled in 2011 that Dewani should be extradited, but he successfully appealed against this order, on mental health grounds. 

The British Press Association reported in July that Riddle had ordered for Dewani to be extradited on the basis of a slow but steady recovery. 

“It may be a long time before Mr Dewani is fit to plead, but he may be closer to that point,” he was quoted as saying. 

“It is not impossible that if returned now, then after a reasonable period of further treatment and assessment he will be found fit to plead and a trial can take place.” 

Agence France Press reported last month that Dewani launched an attempt to take his extradition case to the Supreme Court, arguing his mental health was too fragile.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A small aircraft carried out an emergency landing on the N1 south in Limpopo, between Mokopane and Polokwane, on Sunday, the provincial roads and traffic department said.

It was believed that there was a mechanical problem with the aircraft, said departmental spokesperson Jimmy Machaka. 

No one was injured in the landing.

“Two lanes of the highway have been re-opened, with officials regulating the flow of traffic until the plane has been removed from the road,” he said.

He urged motorists to exercise patience when travelling along that section of the road.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Vryburg-A 23 year old man was arrested by North West police after he allegedly bludgeoned a 18 year-old victim to death.

“Police arrested a 23 year old suspect who stabbed a teenager to death on Friday” sergeant Kelebogile Molale said.

Molale said the suspect will appear tomorrow at Vryburg Magistrate Court for murder.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Northern Cape police arrested three suspects aged between 32 and 37 after they were allegedly found in possession of suspected stolen copper.

Lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said police were on patrol when they noticed three suspicious men.

“Police approached three suspicious men who were allegedly carrying a bag” Mdhluli said.

Three men looked like confused dinosaurs fleeing Juriseen park after police pounced on them.

“The suspects allegedly asked help from their knees, but police acted swiftly and arrested them before they ran far” he said.

A copper worth R7000 were allegedly found in their possession and were arrested after they failed to account the originality of the copper.

“They will apprear tomorrow at Kimberley Magistrates Court for being in possession of suspected stolen copper” Mdhluli said.

Police investigations continue.-TDN

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Polokwane – Two goals in the space of eight minutes in the second period has lifted Golden Arrows to a 2-1 victory over Polokwane City in a PSL clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday.

Going to the break locked at 0-0 in a dour affair, the visitors sparked to life just after the hour mark through Philani Shange who scored the first goal. 

His surging run down the left revealed a visibly fragile City defence, and his sojourn into the area was unhindered before he rammed the ball home to strike first for his side.

Eight minutes later, Arrows doubled their lead when they were awarded a penalty as Thanduyise Khuboni added the second score for a 2-0 scoreline.

The penalties were not over though, as referee Victor Gomes awarded a second, but on this occasion for the home side in the 80th minute. Moffat Mdluli made no mistake to make it 2-1.

City chased the game in the final 10 minutes, but were ultimately unrewarded for their efforts.

For Arrows it was their first win of the new season in their fourth game, while City remain firmly routed to the foot of the table without a single point from their four league outings.

Earlier, the hosts made a bright start as Mothusi Gopane, Mdluli and Kagiso Senamela had chances go narrowly wide.

But Arrows found the going slightly tougher, as Polokwane shut their visitors out for much of the half.

City threatened towards the end of the half, but Esau Kanyenda failed to make his chances pay, spraying his tame effort wide of the mark.

Seconds later, Kanyenda was in with another opportunity, but his acrobatic effort wasn’t enough to test Arrows goalkeeper Siya Mngoma.

Arrows opened the scoring through a the Shange goal in the 61st minute. 

Shange exposed the Polokwane defence as he made a run into the left hand side of the box before slotting the ball into the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead for Arrows.

Gomes awarded a penalty to Arrows six minutes later as Shange went to ground in the City area. 

In the 69th minute, Khuboni stepped up to convert from the spot to find the left side of the net and give his side a 2-0 lead.

In the 79th minute, a second penalty was awarded but on this occasion for the hosts. 

Within a minute City pulled a goal back as Mdluli was clinical from the spot to make it 2-1.

Scores:

Polokwane City – (0) 1 (Hlela 80’pen)

Golden Arrows – (0) 2 (Shange 62’, Khuboni 70’pen)

Teams:

Polokwane City: Marumo, Molekwane, Hlela, Mkhabela, Tshilo, Mdluli, Nzimande (Hlongwa 58’ [Tlolane 83’]), Sali (Moloi 70’), Kanyenda, Senamela, Gopane

Golden Arrows: Mngoma, Tom, Zwane, Bester, Khuboni, Shange (Wadabwa 75’), Ntombayithethi, Qalanto (Ntuli 72’), Sithole, Nene, Nguzana (Smith 57’)

SAPA

Durban – Twenty people were injured when part of a floor collapsed at a church in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday morning, paramedics said.

“A section of the top floor collapsed,” ER24 said in a statement.

Twenty people were treated for mild and moderate injuries at the scene on Old Main Road, Edendale, and were later taken to hospital.

“The cause of the structural collapse is yet to be determined,” ER24 said.

SAPA

Upington – Northern Cape premier Sylvia Lucas used her official credit card to spend R53 159 on fast food during her first 10 weeks in office, the Sunday Times reported.

Lucas spent R26 565 on food in one month, according to the report.

She was inaugurated as premier on 30 May.

According to the Sunday Times, she spent R11 956 on food in Kimberley, where she lives in the official premier’s residence, in August.

Treasury guidelines stipulated that official credit cards were for “when the executive authorities are away on official duties outside the province”.

Between 16 July and 2 August, Lucas spent more than R2 000 at her local SuperSpar, the Sunday Times reported.

Lucas reportedly told the newspaper the shop was conveniently “close to her home”.

“When we go out of Kimberley, we go to the SuperSpar and we buy water and Powerade and cool drinks. We need Powerade for the energy, you know,” she was quoted as saying.

“How would we have eaten if we didn’t use taxpayers’ money?”

When asked about using taxpayers’ money on fast food, Lucas referred questions to Ramona Grewan, her chief of staff.

She said Grewan and the PA in the office Nondzame Matika were in possession of the credit cards and signed off on all the spending.

She reportedly told the Sunday Times it was impossible for her to spend the money in Kimberley when she was mostly out of town.

According to the newspaper, Grewan said there were two credit cards, the one Matika had and the one Lucas had. She said she did had not given authorisation for the spending.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Makaziwe Mandela has come out in support of her lawyer who earlier said that Nelson Mandela was in a “permanent vegetative state” and has even offered to take the stand in his defence at a disciplinary hearing.

According to the Sunday Times, this information has emerged in submissions by Wesley Hayes, who has a complaint lodged against him with the Cape Law Society, for alleged misconduct and misleading the High Court in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, lodged the complaint following a bitter legal battle with his aunt and other family members over the burial site of Mandela’s three deceased children. A court ruled against Mandla recently and he was forced to exhume and rebury the remains in Qunu.

Hayes implied that Mandla harbours a grudge against him after he represented and won all 11 cases brought against the ANC MP by his extended family. 

By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison Nono Maloyi together with Premier Thandi Modise and National Human Settlements Minister Connie September will handover 1000 Title Deeds for ownership of houses to the communities of Tlokwe.

MEC says the long awaited title deeds will serve as a basic to create wealth for the beneficiaries.

Maloyi will further handover low cost houses to deserving beneficiaries in the area. 

“The two events which would take place in two consecutive days are informed by the MEC’s intentions to promote ownership and restore dignity to the people on the North West and the country at large” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.

The two events which are scheduled to take place as follows:

1.Handover of Title Deeds

Date            : 16 September 2013

Time           : 10:00am

Venue        : Chris Hani Community Hall in Ikageng Location

2.Handing over of Low Cost Houses

Date           : 17 September 2013

Time           : 14:00

Venue        : Next to the Sarafina Library (Ikageng)-TDN

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