Johannesburg – Gang rapist and house robber Thandanani Tharib Msomi, 26, was jailed for life on Monday by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg.

His two accomplices, aged 19 and 31, were still on trial and were expected to appear in court again on 23 October, said police spokesperson Solomon Mbele.

He said they gang-raped a 33-year-old female and stole a home theatre system after breaking into her home in Emalangeni Reserve, near Mpumalanga township, outside Durban, on 1 October 2011.

Mbele said Msomi was sentenced to life for the rape and to 15 years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to steal and theft.

“The ruthless and barbaric attack of women by criminals of Thandanani’s calibre will not be tolerated in our society and we welcome [the] maximum sentence meted out by the court,” said KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni.

“Our endeavours to effectively investigate reported crimes instil hope to victims of crime and send our clear resolute commitment to criminals that we will trace, arrest and successfully prosecute them,” he said.

SAPA

Johannesburg – VIP protection guards without advanced driving course qualifications were allowed to drive VIPs, the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court heard on Monday.

This emerged during the trial of Joseph Motsamai Semitjie, who is accused of reckless or negligent driving, and of failing to help injured motorcyclist Thomas Ferreira.

Ferreira collided with the BMW X5 Semitjie was driving when it skipped a traffic light while on the left-hand side of the yellow line in Paardekraal Drive.

He sustained head injuries and was comatose for weeks.

“VIP guards who did not have proper qualifications were given state authority and were allowed to drive VIPs,” Semitjie’s colleague Sergeant Tshepo Lethlathle told the court.

Prosecutor Micky Thesna asked Lethlathle when the right time was to switch on a car’s blue lights and siren.

Lethlathle said this was when they were instructed to do so by the VIP.

“So, if the VIP you are transporting instructs you to stop because he wants to buy dagga would you follow such instructions?” Thesna asked.

Lethlathle replied that he did not know.

“You are avoiding my question because you know that buying dagga is illegal, just as much as crossing a red traffic light,” said Thesna.

During cross examination, Magistrate Abdul Khan asked Lethlathle whether it was legal to skip a red traffic light.

“If you are transporting a VIP and they tell you that they are late, and the traffic light is red, as a driver you have to observe and warn other motorists before crossing a red traffic light,” Lethlathle said.

Lethlathle told the court VIP drivers’ mandate was to safely transport VIPs to their destination.

“How safe is the VIP if a red traffic light is crossed?” asked Khan.

Earlier, Lethlathle was asked to describe Mmemezi’s character.

He described the former housing MEC as someone who wanted things done his way.

“I lodged several complaints to my superiors against former MEC Mmemezi, but nothing was done about the complaints.”

The matter was postponed to 17 October to allow the defence to subpoena one last witness.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The public protector will look into the distribution of food parcels in Tlokwe by Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, her office said on Monday.

The matter would be investigated under the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, spokesperson Oupa Segalwe said in an e-mail to Sapa.

“Under this law, the public protector does not have the discretion on whether or not to investigate,” he said.

DA MP Mike Waters sent Protector Thuli Madonsela a letter on 13 September, asking her to investigate Dlamini.

The DA accused Dlamini of trying to buy votes ahead of municipal by-election in Tlokwe, North West, by dishing out food parcels.

Dlamini’s visit came a few days before a by-election in Tlokwe’s Ward 9.

At the time, Dlamini denied that this was the reason for the relief efforts, and said there were more than 17 000 child-headed households in Tlokwe (Potchefstroom).

The ANC recently won two of three municipal by-elections in Tlokwe, according to results released by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

The party’s candidate Oupa Mogoshane lost Ward 26 to former ANC councillor Batiki “Stone” Mahlabe, who stood as an independent candidate.

SAPA