Cape Town – A school vice-principal accused of raping a 12-year-old girl was granted bail of R4000 by the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.

Western Cape NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said bail was granted on condition the man report daily to the Grootbrak police station, not make contact with the girl or witnesses, and not enter the Knysna area unless attending court.

The matter was postponed to October 30 for further investigation.

The vice-principal was arrested two weeks ago.

Ntabazalila said the girl was called into a classroom, where she was inappropriately touched.

“The school’s principal entered the classroom and saw what was happening and reported it to the police,” he said. – Sapa

Butterworth – Serial killer Bulelani Mabhayi was jailed for life by the Mthatha High Court, sitting in Butterworth, on Tuesday, said Eastern Cape police.

Mabhayi, 39, had pleaded guilty to 20 charges of murder, six of rape and 10 of housebreaking dating back to 2007, said Brigadier Marinda Mills.

He was sentenced to 20 life terms for each of the murders, five life terms for five of the rapes, and 10 years for the sixth, she said.

He was also sentenced to 10 years on each charge of housebreaking. The sentences would run concurrently. – Sapa

Johannesburg – Gerhardus Jansen van Vuuren, the alleged stalker and killer of his ex-girlfriend – Rustenburg’s first test-tube baby – has been arrested in Brazil after skipping bail two months ago.

Andrea Venter, a Joburg accountant, had left her hometown of Rustenburg to flee the increasingly hostile advances of her ex-boyfriend, Jansen van Vuuren, after applying for a protection order against him in 2007.

The 25-year-old graduate started a new life at a Joburg accounting firm.

But Jansen van Vuuren allegedly contacted at least 33 accounting firms across the province to find his ex-girlfriend – eventually finding out her address.

In May 2011, Venter returned to her Fourways housing complex, where Jansen van Vuuren was allegedly waiting for her.

She was punched in the face with a knuckle-duster and stabbed 14 times with a pocket knife.

Venter died at the scene.

Jansen van Vuuren then tried to slash his own throat in a failed suicide bid.

The incident was caught on CCTV.

A security guard who tried to intervene will be a witness at Jansen van Vuuren’s trial.

Jansen van Vuuren was arrested and twice denied bail at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court, as State experts believed he was dangerous and could flee if granted bail.

In January, Jansen van Vuuren told the courts his trial should be delayed because he wanted to be mentally evaluated.

At a later appearance, Judge Fritz van Oosten dismissed the State’s argument that Jansen van Vuuren was a flight risk. The IT technician was released on R15 000 bail, and vanished shortly after. The last time he signed in to comply with his bail conditions was on May 15.

The sudden disappearance of their daughter’s alleged murderer left Venter’s parents fearing for their lives.

Dries Venter told the media he was concerned for his family’s safety, as, when Jansen van Vuuren was dating his daughter, the young man had often threatened to kill him and his wife if Andrea left him.

Police searches for Jansen van Vuuren failed until Wednesday, when he was found hiding out in Brazil.

The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that Interpol had arrested him.

NPA spokeswoman Phindi Louw said the man who had been arrested in Brazil had been fingerprint tested and confirmed to be Jansen van Vuuren.

It’s understood an extradition process will begin soon. It’s unclear how long it will take before he will return to face justice.

The Star

Johannesburg – Eight men suspected of planning an armed robbery on the West Rand were arrested in Germiston, on the East Rand, on Tuesday, said the Hawks.

“We foiled an armed robbery…,” said spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko.

He said the eight were arrested in Leondale after a tip-off to the Hawks and the National Intervention Unit.

“We followed up on the information and arrested the suspect at 10am. Five vehicles were seized and three firearms. Three of the vehicles have been stolen,” he said.

Ramaloko said the men would appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court within 48-hours. – Sapa

Durban – The trial of a doctor, his wife and three others on human trafficking and related charges was postponed by the Durban Regional Court on Tuesday.

Dr Genchen Rugnath, his wife Ravina, and three other people are accused of human trafficking and of running a brothel where children as young as 12 were kept.

The other three are Sandile Patrick Zweni, Nonduzo Dlamini and Bhabha Dubazini.

All five have pleaded not guilty to 156 charges, including assault, rape, sexual exploitation of a child, and racketeering.

Rugnath owns the Down Town Lodge and the Inn Town Lodge, where the alleged offences took place.

On Monday, State witness Yvonne Dudu Shinga told the court prostitutes would leave Ragnath’s hotel when staff were informed that he was about to visit.

Shinga said the prostitutes, who were known as “Sandile’s girls”, would leave the hotel reception and would stand on the corner of the road next to the premises of a neighbouring business.

Shinga worked as a receptionist at Rugnath’s hotel, in Durban’s Point area.

The State asked for the postponement to allow it to re-examine Shinga after cross-examination finished early.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

Pretoria – The Gripen and Hawk fighter aircraft acquired through the multi-billion rand arms deal have exceeded expectations, a senior official of the SA Air Force (SAAF) said on Tuesday.

The technologically advanced aircraft had boosted the SAAF’s training and national defence capabilities, combat systems director Brigadier General John Bayne testified at the Seriti Commission.

“We have been delivered by the government an excellent, well-balanced and well-equipped fighter system capability. The Hawk has proven to have a cost-effective, collateral operational capability, especially when packaged with the Gripen, which is our force multiplier,” he said.

“The Gripen has exceeded the SAAF’s and SA National Defence Force’s [SANDF] expectations, especially in the domain of modern, fourth generation integrated systems, deployability, logistics support and reach.”

The old SAAF aircraft had problems with cooling.

“As you know, electronics don’t like heat. They have to be controlled. These aircraft have large avionic systems, therefore the cooling demand on the aircraft is very high for the systems as well as for the crew,” said Bayne.

“This has been overcome on these aircraft by the engines that they have.”

The government acquired 26 Gripen advanced light fighter aircraft and 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainer aircraft as part of the strategic defence procurement package, commonly referred to as the arms deal.

Put to good use

Bayne said the Hawk and Gripen fighter aircraft had been put to good use since delivery, in line with South Africa’s security environment and requirements.

“Should the security environment change to one of conflict, then the utilisation of the systems will change as and when required to defend and protect the Republic in line with the constitutional mandate.

“In these times of a security situation, the situation is managed as best as possible.”

Should the commission of inquiry, chaired by Judge Willie Seriti, recommend the termination of the aircraft purchases, the implications could be far-reaching.

“The defence force would not be able to meet its constitutional mandate,” said Bayne.

“I believe a fighter system is a national asset. It is part of the national power base and, therefore, we will lose an element of that power,” he said.

“South Africa is a regional and global player in its own small way. To have a balance of national power, it is essential to have a fighter capability.”

Compared to previous fighter planes, the Gripen generally had an edge because of its night-vision capabilities.

South Africa’s acquisitions were not yet fitted with this competence, but this would happen.

“Very shortly we will have this capability on the Gripen.”

Bayne will be back on the witness stand when the commission resumes on Wednesday.

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission in 2011 to investigate alleged corruption in the 1999 multi-billion rand arms deal.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A City of Johannesburg official accused of illegally selling state land in Lenasia appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, said the Gauteng human settlements department.

The case against Sifiso Handsome Litau was postponed to 3 October, said spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa.

He was granted bail during an appearance in March.

Motlhaolwa said Litau was also expected to appear at an internal disciplinary hearing before the end of September.

Meanwhile, 60 witnesses began giving evidence against Richard Zikhali and Michael Magodola in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.

They face 94 counts of fraud and money-laundering relating to the alleged illegal selling of state land in Lenasia and Ennerdale.

They allegedly conned people out of millions of rand before being arrested and charged in 2010, and have been in police custody since then.

In November 2012, the provincial housing department demolished about 50 houses, which it said were illegally built on government land.

The occupants had been given forged deeds of sale with the department’s logo.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A Soweto man appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for killing his girlfriend, police said.

He was arrested on Saturday night, after his girlfriend was found dead in his bedroom, said police spokesperson Kay Makhubela.

He would appear again in court on 10 September, when he was expected to apply for bail.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-A man was allegedly found dead at Ga-Dlomo farm after he went missing.

The atrocity took place yesterday at around 14:00 after a herdboy allegedly found a man wearing black trouser dead in the veld.

Victor Nobula,60 allegedly went missing two weeks ago and police were summoned to the crime scene.

According to our source, a herdboy by the name of Senokwane called a woman who is allegedly related to the deceased and informed her about the discovery.

Police suspect no foul play as Nobula’s body showed no signs that show the body was strangled.

Keamogetse allegedly informed the cops who went to the scene.

A case of inquest was registered and police investigations continue.-TDN

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By Lesedi Setlhodi

Bloemfontein-Not all books bestseller make it to the big screen and for the fans of “Fifty Shades of Grey”, it is going to be a treat as the book is also being turned into a film adaptation that is currently in the works with a release scheduled for 1 August 2014.

After several months of hand-wringing from fans and speculation, finally the search for the Fifty Shades of Grey leads is over.

Dakota Johnson (right) and Charlie Hunnam (left) will take on the roles of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey respectively in the anticipated big-screen adaptation of the sexy novel.

Fifty Shades of Grey is a 2011 erotic romance novel by British author E. L. James. 

It is the first volume in the Fifty Shades trilogy that traces the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a young business mogul, Christian Grey. 

The book is known for its explicit erotic scenes which involve dominance from Grey himself to the submission of his new protégé Anastasia. 

The second and third volumes, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, were published in 2012. Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world. 

The series has sold over 70 million copies worldwide. 

Of course like any other book or film, there has been mixed critical reception of the book, with the quality of its prose being generally seen as poor whereas other commend James for the most vivid skills he has. 

Dakota, 23, previously appeared in The Social Network in which she shared a love scene with Justin Timberlake and had small roles in 21 Jump Street and The Five-Year Engagement. 

She is the daughter of Don Johnson, best known for TV shows Miami Vice and Nash Bridges.

Now for the role that made massive waves to a point whereby fans were ecstatic about the breath-grasping bachelor that they would have liked to assume the role of Christian Grey…as it may be disappointing to other fans, Charlie Hunnam snatched it. 

He is a 33 year old and British who starred in the dark biker thriller Sons of Anarchy as Jackson ‘Jax’ Teller and also appeared in Guillermo del Toro’s robot epic Pacific Rim.  

Charlie was chosen over Ian Somerhalder who played Damon in Vampire Diaries and Matthew Bomer who played the astute Neal Caffrey in the series White Collar.-TDN

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