Durban – Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of Eston sugar farmer Mickey Hampson last month.

The weekend arrests came in the wake of a spate of farm killings in the province and have been hailed by the community as a victory for those affected by farm attacks.
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Durban – Years of counselling, family support and dedication to her work have kept Dhanaselvie Naidu upbeat, despite being the victim of eight hijackings and numerous muggings.

The 40-year-old nursing sister at RK Khan Hospital said she was now considering leaving her home country for Australia to escape the crime, after the latest incident last week.
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Johannesburg – Two women and a man have been arrested for allegedly murdering a woman in Kagiso, on the West Rand, police said on Tuesday.

The woman was found with open wounds on her face and head on Sunday, said Warrant Officer Solomon Sibiya.

“The victim was rushed to Leratong hospital, by an ambulance, in a serious but stable condition. She later died in hospital,” he said.

People at the scene told the police the woman was assaulted by someone who lived with her, said Sibiya.

Police arrested the three on Monday, on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and murder.

They would appear in the Kagiso Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Sapa

Stutterheim – Two men were arrested in connection with robbery in Stutterheim on Tuesday, Eastern Cape police said.

One of the men was caught near an ATM in Hill Street after a woman told the police she had been robbed, said Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa.

His three alleged accomplices sped off in a white Volkswagen Polo, and the police gave chase.

The vehicle stopped at some point and the men jumped out and ran away. The driver was caught in Cathcart. The men allegedly robbed people of their bank cards.

The getaway vehicle belonged to a rental company in East London and had not been reported as stolen, said Mawisa.

The men would appear in the Stutterheim Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Sapa

Johannesburg – Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane on Tuesday announced plans to develop the West Rand, particularly Westonaria and Randfontein.

“We have plans in place, we are going to (work) very vigorously on the West Rand,” she told reporters in Johannesburg.

She said the plan was for Mogale City to be the anchor of future development. She appealed to the public to rally behind the programmes. She admitted the process would be tough as the budget was thin.

“The immediate reality is that the revenue is very thin. We need everyone to help. The future of the West Rand will depend on the three spheres of government,” Mokonyane said.

Sapa

Johannesburg – The City of Johannesburg is continuing its operation to remove street traders from the city centre, the African Diaspora Forum (ADF) said on Tuesday.

Forum spokesman Aline Mugisho said trader representatives met city officials on Monday with a list of demands.

“In response to these demands, the city stated that it was busy formulating a relocation plan and until then the operation continues.”

The forum wanted traders to be allowed to return to run their businesses in the central business district.

Traders also sought the return their goods by the metro police, and insisted on being compensated for missing goods and loss of income, Mugisho said.

“The city should negotiate all issues concerning street traders in the forum in order to address outstanding issues.”

Mugisho said the city had promised to return stock that was confiscated by the metro police.

The city’s Operation Clean Up started at the beginning of October and about 6000 hawkers were removed from the streets of central Johannesburg.

The forum complained that the operation started without any consultation with the traders. There was also no relocation plan in place at the time.

The forum would meet city officials again on Friday.

Sapa

Nespruit – An Mpumalanga woman who assaulted her five-year-old daughter with a cable was sentenced on Tuesday to two years’ imprisonment suspended for five years.

Nelspruit regional magistrate Willie Wilkens said the woman, a student at a local Further Education and Training (FET) college, became violent after being abused by her own father.

The 22-year-old woman, from Kanyamazane outside Mbombela, was arrested earlier in the year on a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Her name was being withheld to protect the identity of her child.

Wilkens said the intention of the sentence was to enable the woman to be rehabilitated not to repeat her mistake.

“You became pregnant at a younger age and financial problems have contributed to the commission of this crime,” he said.

He said reports from social workers who interviewed the mother and the child found that they had reconciled.

“This is not a closed relationship. I have also noticed that you have changed by joining a church. Christianity may change your life for the better,” Wilkens said.

“I see you have passed your matric and you are down in life. You need to stand up. You have two children to (take) care of.”

He said that, according to a report by the doctor who examined the girl, she was brutally assaulted all over her body with a cable.

“There is a minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment for assaulting a child with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” Wilkens said.

“You are also ordered to attend a rehabilitation programme for one day a week for a period of 12 weeks with Nicro (the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders). If you fail to adhere to this order, you will be sent straight to jail.”

Sapa

One hundred and sixty six military veterans from the North West Province were overjoyed to receive their health & wellness cards and health screening at the Department of Military Veterans’ “Our health is our concern” Provincial roadshow held at the 10 SAI BN Military Base in Mahikeng on Tuesday.

The handover of health & wellness cards for military veterans to access health services from all military bases across the country is part of the roll-out of a national campaign and Socio-Economic Support Programme aimed at providing health care and well-being support to military veterans.

In delivering Premier Thandi Modise’s message of support to the military veterans from former liberation movements Umkhonto We Sizwe(MK), Azanian People Liberation Army (APLA), Former South African Defence Force, Former Bophuthatswana Defence Force, Acting Director General Retired Major General Dr. Makhethi Radebe said that the province supported the efforts of the Department of Military Veterans to better the lives of military veterans.

General Radebe reminded the veterans that Premier Modise had on the occasion of the handover houses to World War II veterans said that extending benefits to military veterans is not a payback but part of remembering as a country those who fell in the line of duty in defence of South Africa and celebrating those who are still alive as heroes and heroines.

Radebe reiterated the Premier’s call for youth to emulate military veterans by taking volunteerism or “Letsema” seriously as a way to make a meaningful contribution in their communities.

“Although all the veterans who are here volunteered and self-selected to serve without expecting anything in return, this programme that we are proud to be associate with its about honouring, restoring the dignity and empowering our military veterans for nation building and the building of a better life for all.” Radebe restated.

“Perhaps now more than ever before, the country needs the vital skills, experience and expertise that military veterans’ possess, in order to advance the critical goal of consolidating reconciliation, social cohesion and nation building. In this regard your health is very critical in enabling you to contribute effectively and efficiently,” he added.

According to Chief Director for Health and Wellness in the Department of Military Veterans, Xoli Morolo, Two million Rands have been set aside for the roll out of the programme launched by Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula earlier this month for the benefit of 4800 military veterans from across the country during this financial year.

Former Umkhonto We Sizwe Military Veteran Radilori Moumakwa welcomed the rollout of the Socio-Economic programme.

“It will assist many of those who felt neglected to access heath benefits, housing and empowerment and skills development that they dearly needed,” said Moumakwa who was also a member of the Luthuli Detachment.

Moumakwa’s sentiment was echoed by Esau Phetoe of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force Military Veteran Association who expressed appreciation for the inclusive approach adopted by the Department of Military Veterans. -TDN
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Johannesburg – The alleged mastermind of a satanic ritual that left Kirsty Theologo dead was emotionally immature, the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg sitting in Palm Ridge heard on Tuesday.

Clinical psychologist Sunette van den Heever said Lindon Wagner had “impaired intellectual ability”. He was isolated and lonely.

Van den Heever said Wagner had accepted responsibility for the part he played in the killing of Theologo, 18.

Wagner was wearing a black jersey and white shirt in court on Tuesday. His long curly hair was plaited into braids.

Wagner and his co-accused, Courtney Daniels, Harvey Isha and Robin Harwood, are on trial for the murder of Theologo and the attempted murder of her 14-year-old friend.

During earlier proceedings, he told the court he hit Theologo several times on the head with a rock, doused her with petrol and set her alight in a “soul-selling” ritual on a hill in Linmeyer, Johannesburg in October 2011.

He had hoped to “gain power” in return for his soul.

Theologo died in hospital a week later while her friend survived the attack.

Two others, Lester Moody and Harvey King, earlier confessed to the killing and were sentenced to 17 years in prison, five of which were suspended.

Wagner has maintained throughout that “something” had come over him when he and his co-accused performed the ritual.

He said he could not hear anything but could see what he was doing. Wagner said he only snapped out of it when he heard Theologo scream.

On Tuesday, however, prosecutor Karien Coetzee argued that Wagner had testified that he heard Theologo question why they were doing this to her as she thought they were friends.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a two-day visit, the presidency said on Tuesday.

“President Zuma and DRC president… Joseph Kabila are expected to discuss political, economic, and security co-operation and pay particular focus on the search for peace and stability in the eastern part of the DRC and the Great Lakes Region,” spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

A business forum would also be held.

“The growing bilateral economic co-operation between [SA] and the DRC will receive added impetus through a two-day business forum to be held in Kinshasa,” he said.

Zuma was accompanied by International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Energy Minister Ben Martins, and Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.

Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor would be acting president during Zuma’s trip, as Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe was in China for a bi-national commission meeting.

– SAPA