By Obakeng Maje

Bloemhof-Three suspects arrested on Friday at Bloemhof after they allegedly robbed and assaulted a 16 year-old boy.

The atrocity took place on 30 August 2013 when a teenager and his friends were in town watching people dancing in the street.

Captain Makau said three suspects allegedly stabbed him in the back with a knife and hit him with beer bottles on his head.

“A 16 year-old victim was allegedly bleeding profusely and suffered opened wounds after he was bludgeoned by suspects” Makau said.

Three suspects allegedly robbed him off his shoes and cellphone.

“He was taken to Tshepong hospital for medical attention and spent two weeks before being discharged” she said.

Police said three suspects were arrested on Friday after they were traced by police.

“Three suspects appeared before Bloemhof Magistrate Court for robbery and assault charges” Makau said.

Police investigations continue.-TDN

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Thembelihle municipality’s mayor Danny Jonas has laid criminal charges against two former senior municipal employees who are allegedly involved in corruption totalling R90m.

The charges were laid at the Kimberley police station on Monday. Jonas said the charges were recommended by the Special Audit Services from the national Treasury after an investigation revealed that two former senior officials, whose names are known to The New Age, allegedly plunged the municipality into “irregular, unauthorised, fruitless and wasteful expenditure totalling R69m”.

The charges also include a R37m project which was awarded to a company which is close to the duo. Thembelihle municipality is situated on the eastern part of the Northern Cape and it comprises towns such as Orania, Renosterburg and Hopetown.

He said the two former officials were allegedly involved in a lot of financial irregularities and misconduct which still reflected badly on the municipality’s audit outcomes.

“We requested the investigation from the Treasury to establish the liability of the former municipal employees and to determine what the best way forward would be. We are now implementing the recommendations from the treasury in this regard.”

He said they were advised that criminal charges must be brought against both former employees for their involvement in the tender process.

“We have also been advised to recoup R107853 from them after they illegally claimed for accrued leave. This was deemed an invalid claim.”

DA MPL Karen de Kock said they were confident that the Thembelihle municipality was setting a good example to other municipalities. “Financial management has a direct impact on service delivery. It is our duty towards ratepayers to ensure that all public funds are spent in a way that maximises service delivery.”
Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za

Several petrol filling stations in Kimberley were brought to a total standstill yesterday when Numsa protested on their driveways, forcing on-duty employees to flee and hide.

The petrol attendants strike entered its 10th day yesterday. Workers at components retailers, panel beaters, car and spare parts dealers and fitment workshops joined the petrol attendants to demand a 10% wage increase.

Some petrol station managers were seen filling up vehicles. Some of the vehicle owners had to assist to get the services required.

Numsa regional secretary Carlos Irwin said they would ensure that all petrol stations were closed.

“We will make sure that our colleagues who are on duty join us or they must stay at home. The strike needs to have an impact on the employer.”

Most of the striking workers were holding knobkerries and sticks and threatening their colleagues on duty.

Irwin said their protest was peaceful. “We are not fighting anyone. If we were intimidating anyone the police would have arrested us a long time ago. They are always accompanying us.”

One business owner said he did not understand the position of Numsa workers who were forcing other members to join them.

“Unfortunately most of my staff members are breadwinners in their households. If they don’t work they won’t get paid. You cannot force anyone to join you if they don’t want to.”
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

About 500 unemployed residents in Kimberley and surrounding areas benefited from the renewable solar energy project in Kalkbult farm.

The project which is run by Scatec Solar and supported by the department of energy has subcontractors who have also recruited and trained more than 500 employees, mainly from the local community, at levels ranging from technical skills to finance and project management.

The company report says 16% of the employees were women who participated at all levels from management and administration to construction.

Scatec Solar was awarded the Kalkbult project by the department of energy, under the first round of the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme in December 2011.

Company CEO Raymond Carlse, said immediately after the end of the financial year in November 2012 the company commenced construction of the plant, which consists of more than 312000 solar panels mounted on 156km of substructure, inverters, transformers and a high voltage substation.

“I am very proud of our staff and contractors who have been able to complete this substantial project three months ahead of schedule, demonstrating how swiftly utility-scale solar energy plants can be built and put into operation,” Carlsen said.

Construction of the next two projects near Hanover in the Northern Cape and near Burgersdorp in the Eastern Cape, has started and completion is mid-2014.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

Durban – The raid that led to the rescue of 16 girls, many of them under age, from an alleged brothel in Durban was illegal, the policeman who spearheaded the operation has conceded.

Warrant Officer Cyril Freese was testifying in a trail-within-a-trial in the Durban Regional Court on Thursday regarding the admissibility of the search warrant he executed on February 16 last year.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Nelspruit – A woman convicted of playing a role in her brother’s murder was sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 18 years in the Nelspruit Circuit of the High Court in Pretoria on Friday.

Belinah Maluka, who was 63 when the crime was committed in 2011, was sentenced with her co-accused, Louis Mlungisi Given Msibi, 28, and Surprise Sibusiso Nzima, 25, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Their co-accused, Percy Dube, 23, turned State witness after confessing to the crime, for which he received a 20-year prison term.

The three were convicted of robbing Julia Dories Mashabane and killing her husband, traditional healer Richard Philip Manikela, 53.

Manikela was shot dead at his home in Phathwa Trust on the morning of July 22, 2011.

Judge Mmonoa Teffo said evidence showed Maluka met Dube to arrange a robbery at her brother’s house.

“That was when she told him (Dube) her brother was keeping an amount of R3 million in cash inside his house,” she said.

“Prior to the murder, Maluka then met with Dube, Msibi, Nzima and a fourth suspect, Steven, who was not before court, at her house, where the robbery was planned.”

Teffo said the group initially planned to scare Manikela, using an electric iron and masking tape, rather than kill him.

Manikela’s hands and feet were tied and his mouth was sealed with masking tape. He was tortured with the iron in an effort to compel him to give them the money.

Teffo said Nzima then went into Manikela’s bedroom, where Dube was demanding the money from Manikela’s wife.

“He saw the deceased’s pump-action shotgun with ammunition inside the safe, took it and went to the kitchen and shot Manikela, who died as they watched.”

The men stole the gun, ammunition, a cellphone, money, and fled in Manikela’s car.

“The robbers followed on Maluka’s information. The deceased’s family regarded her as their sister, sister-in-law, and aunt. They felt safe in her hands,” Teffo said.

“Out of greed, Maluka abused that relationship with the family. She became evil and planned the robbery, which ultimately resulted in Manikela’s death. There are no compelling and substantial circumstances for a lesser sentence for Maluka.

“The torture, using a plugged and hot iron was cruel and brutal. Where have you seen a human being ironed?”

Teffo sentenced each of the three to life imprisonment for the murder, and 15 years for the armed robbery.

Maluka and Msibi each got an additional three years for possession of an unlawful firearm. Nzima received another six years for possession of two unlawful firearms and ammunition. The sentences would run consecutively.

Sapa

Durban – A Hindu priest from Chatsworth who was jailed for raping a child devotee has failed in his bid to present further evidence.

Cooper Reddy, 60, of Havenside, was sentenced in May to 15 years in prison after being convicted on two counts of rape, a count of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Port Elizabeth – A 16-year-old girl was killed and nine others were injured when a bus overturned in Ncanarha near Port Elizabeth, the Eastern Cape traffic department said on Friday.

The accident happened on the N10, N2 and R72 interchange on Thursday night, said provincial traffic department spokesman Tsepo Machaea.

The driver lost control of the bus while approaching a curve. It went through the embankment and overturned.

The teenager died on the scene. The injured were taken to Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth, said Machaea.

The bus was transporting 75 athletes from schools in the Alfred Nzo District to Port Elizabeth for provincial games.

Eastern Cape sport MEC Xoliswa Tom sent her condolences to the family of the girl. She wished the injured pupils speedy recovery.

“I feel heartbroken when young children being developed to be the future stars that can represent this country in sport, are subjected to such trauma,” she said.

Sapa

Mbombela – A woman convicted of playing a role in her brother’s murder was sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 18 years in the Mbombela Circuit of the High Court in Pretoria on Friday.

Belinah Maluka, who was 63 when the crime was committed in 2011, was sentenced with her co-accused, Louis Mlungisi Given Msibi, 28, and Surprise Sibusiso Nzima, 25, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Their co-accused, Percy Dube, 23, turned State witness after confessing to the crime, for which he received a 20-year prison term.

The three were convicted of robbing Julia Dories Mashabane and killing her husband, traditional healer Richard Philip Manikela, 53.

Robbery arranged

Manikela was shot dead at his home in Phathwa Trust on the morning of 22 July 2011.

Judge Mmonoa Teffo said evidence showed Maluka met Dube to arrange a robbery at her brother’s house.

“That was when she told him [Dube] her brother was keeping an amount of R3m in cash inside his house,” she said.

“Prior to the murder, Maluka then met with Dube, Msibi, Nzima and a fourth suspect, Steven, who was not before court, at her house, where the robbery was planned.”

Teffo said the group initially planned to scare Manikela, using an electric iron and masking tape, rather than kill him.

Manikela’s hands and feet were tied and his mouth was sealed with masking tape. He was tortured with the iron in an effort to compel him to give them the money.

Teffo said Nzima then went into Manikela’s bedroom, where Dube was demanding the money from Manikela’s wife.

“He saw the deceased’s pump-action shotgun with ammunition inside the safe, took it and went to the kitchen and shot Manikela, who died as they watched.”

‘Sister became evil’

The men stole the gun, ammunition, a cellphone, money, and fled in Manikela’s car.

“The robbers followed on Maluka’s information. The deceased’s family regarded her as their sister, sister-in-law, and aunt. They felt safe in her hands,” Teffo said.

“Out of greed, Maluka abused that relationship with the family. She became evil and planned the robbery, which ultimately resulted in Manikela’s death. There are no compelling and substantial circumstances for a lesser sentence for Maluka.

“The torture, using a plugged and hot iron was cruel and brutal. Where have you seen a human being ironed?”

Teffo sentenced each of the three to life imprisonment for the murder, and 15 years for the armed robbery.

Maluka and Msibi each got an additional three years for possession of an unlawful firearm. Nzima received another six years for possession of two unlawful firearms and ammunition. The sentences would run consecutively.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A Tlokwe special council meeting on Friday was properly convened, the council said.

“The council meetings that were convened on Monday this week as well as this [Friday] morning were in order and legal,” spokesperson William Maphosa said in a statement.

He was responding to the DA’s claim that a council meeting set for Friday was called illegally, because it did not have the backing of a quorum of 50% of the councillors plus one.

Maphosa said: “Sections 36 and 37 of the Municipal Structures Act as well as the council’s rules of order empower the speaker of council to call all meetings, both ordinary and special council sessions.”

Earlier, DA North West leader Chris Hattingh said in a statement the party did not attend the special council meeting on Friday.

Maphosa said this decision was “disingenuous”.

“One would have expected the DA, as democrats that they claim to be, to accept democratic processes to take their course without resorting to technicalities and clutching at straws.”

The ANC in the North West earlier said that one of the items on the agenda for the meeting was a motion of no-confidence in Tlokwe Mayor Annette Combrink, of the DA, but this would not be effected on Friday.

“While the motion appears as an agenda item in today’s [Friday] council meeting, the ANC will not be acting on this matter today,” spokesperson Kenny Morolong said in a statement.

Fourteen ANC councillors were expelled from the party in July for participating in a motion of no confidence in then Tlokwe mayor Maphetle Maphetle. He was replaced by Combrink.

The ANC’s national disciplinary committee subsequently overturned the expulsions.

“The inevitable removal of the mayor who ascended to the position through the subversion of democracy will only be effected after the conclusion of the outstanding by-elections,” Morolong said.

Postponed by-elections

The ANC retained control of two of three wards in Tlokwe by-elections on Wednesday.

The Electoral Court in Bloemfontein ordered on Tuesday evening that five of the nine by-elections in Tlokwe be postponed.

This was after the court heard an application by five independent candidates, who were disqualified from taking part in the by-elections by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

A sixth by-election, in Ward 13, was earlier postponed after an out-of-court settlement.

North West Local Government MEC Manketsi Tlhape said on Wednesday the date for the remaining by-elections would be announced once her office received the required documents from the IEC.

Morolong said: “The ANC reaffirms its unwavering resolve to restore democracy and the will of the people of Tlokwe, thus building on the foundation we have already laid to change the lives of our people for the better.”

Maphosa said the DA was only interested in holding onto power in Tlokwe to the detriment of service delivery.

– SAPA