The South African Football Association (SAFA) has joined hundreds of fans in mourning the passing on of former Moroka Swallows forward Andries “Six Mabone” Maseko.

Maseko passed away on Saturday, 26 October 2013 at Chris Hani Hospital in Soweto.

He was 58.

During his playing days, Maseko appeared in the colours of Swallows for 11 years (1972 – 1983). He also played abroad for Washington Diplomats, San Jose Earthquakes and Phoenix Infernos in the United States of America.

‘Six Mabone‘ will best be remembered for his exploits in 1976 in the then National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) when he scored a record eight goals in a single match helping the Dube Birds to a 13-0 victory over Umlazi Citizens in KwaThema, Springs.

“As the South African Football Association, we would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, fans and former teammates of Maseko.

“Soccer in general has been robbed of a talented star whose exploits entertained millions of soccer fans at the stadiums and at home. It is very sad to lose such quality. Maseko was a true legend whose legacy will live on for a long time. May his soul rest in peace,” said SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan.-TDN
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Vryheid – A Vryheid taxi owner was arrested for rape at the weekend, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Monday.

Captain Thulani Zwane said the man, 55, was alleged to have raped an 18-year-old woman in the toilets of the Vryheid taxi rank on 20 October.

“As she entered the toilet, it is alleged that she was followed by the suspect who threatened and raped her inside the toilet,” said Zwane.

The man would appear in the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

– SAPA

Bloemfontein – A former Free State teacher accused of being part of a child porn syndicate appeared briefly in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The man, who is out on R2 000 bail, will be back in court on 8 November.

In August, five other men, including another teacher and a retired school principal, appeared in various South African courts in connection with the same matter.

The six men were arrested in four provinces on 15 August after a tip-off from Interpol.

Child porn syndicate

The men were allegedly found in possession of child pornography. They were arrested in Lichtenburg, Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, White River, Douglasdale, and Florida.

A lawyer, a dermatologist, and a businessman are among the six. All are suspected of involvement in an international child pornography syndicate, police said at the time.

Police were investigating whether the six were involved in the distribution and manufacturing of child pornography.

Investigators raided several homes in various provinces in August.

Among the items seized were 672 DVDs, 22 memory sticks, eight laptops, two computer tablets, 39 external hard drives, and 25 books containing explicit photos.

It was reported the case had links to Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, western Europe and Australasia.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A group of children set tyres alight in Bekkersdal township, outside Westonaria, on Monday morning.

A Sapa photographer on the scene estimated the children were between 6 and 13-years-old.

“There were between 30 to 50 of them burning tyres close to the entrance of the township. Police came and put out the fire. They are monitoring the group,” he said.

Earlier, police broke up groups of children in school uniform and ordered them to go to school. The group that set fire to the tyres was not wearing uniform.

Violent protests in Bekkersdal over the last few days had affected schooling. The provincial education department announced last week it had organised a special residential camp outside the area for matric pupils who started writing their final exams on Monday.

Protests suspended

On Sunday, community leader Thabang Wesi said they did not want to disrupt the children’s exams.

“We are suspending the protests and allowing schooling to continue and for the situation to return to normal in Bekkersdal,” said Wesi.

On Monday, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said police maintained a strong visible presence in Bekkersdal as well as in the neighbouring Simunye township as the protests had spilled over to that area.

Several police officers, some on horseback, patrolled the streets.

At the entrance to Bekkersdal the metro police and SA Police Service conducted a roadblock, searching vehicles entering and leaving the township. Burnt tyres and rocks were lying in the streets.

The protesters wanted the removal of the mayor and better service delivery. They vandalised government properties and damaged police cars and a disaster management vehicle.

Group to meet MEC

Several people had been arrested and charged with public violence.

Wesi said community leaders met members of the tripartite alliance on Sunday and agreed to allow investigations launched by Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Lechesa Tsenoli to proceed.

The group was expected to meet Gauteng human settlements and local government MEC Ntombi Mekgwe on 3 November.

When Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane visited the area on Sunday residents disrupted a church service she attended by throwing stones at the building. Mokonyane condemned their action and said she would not be intimated.

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– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje
Boitekong- The police arrested two suspects between the ages of 23 and 24 for allegedly robbing a business in Boitekong on Saturday, at about 04:00am.

Sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said that the complainant alleged that she was asleep with the victim in a room attached to the shop when three suspects broke the padlock to gain entry.

“The suspects threatened them with a firearm before they stabbed the victim in his thigh. The suspects ransacked the shop and robbed them undisclosed amount of cash before they fled the scene on foot” Moiloa said.

The two suspects were arrested and one of them is still at large.
Investigation continues.-TDN
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Durban – Two 3-year-old cousins drowned in a flooded pit on Saturday night as their mothers cleared up after a storm hit large parts of the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

The tragedy occurred as parts of the eThekwini Municipality and the province’s South Coast were buffeted by rain and strong winds over the weekend.
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Johannesburg – A security guard was found beaten and tied up in a toilet on Monday morning at a construction site in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, paramedics said.

ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said the man was found by his employers.

“The man in his 30s is believed to have been approached by an unknown group of men sometime last night [Sunday] after which he was allegedly assaulted and tied up,” she said in a statement.

“He was then placed in the port-a-loo, unable to free himself.”

She said the man suffered some injuries as a result of the alleged beating and was cold after spending the night in the port-a-loo without much protection from the rain.

He was taken to a nearby hospital for further medical treatment.

KwaZulu-Natal police were unable to confirm on Monday morning if a case had been opened.
– SAPA