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

Johannesburg – Twenty-six people appeared in the Ngqamakhwe Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence on Tuesday, Eastern Cape police said.

“They were not asked to plead and their case was postponed to 22 November for further investigation,” said police spokesperson Jackson Manatha.

The group was released on a warning.

The 18 women and eight men were arrested on Monday after violent protests broke out in the area.

Manatha said the area was quiet on Tuesday morning.

– SAPAJohannesburg – Twenty-six people appeared in the Ngqamakhwe Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence on Tuesday, Eastern Cape police said.

“They were not asked to plead and their case was postponed to 22 November for further investigation,” said police spokesperson Jackson Manatha.

The group was released on a warning.

The 18 women and eight men were arrested on Monday after violent protests broke out in the area.

Manatha said the area was quiet on Tuesday morning.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Police operations in the Western Cape are unaffected by corruption allegations against provincial commissioner Arno Lamoer, Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said on Tuesday.

Plato met senior police managers on Tuesday.

Lamoer was not at the meeting.

“A delegation of deputy commissioners have assured me that policing is stable and continues unaffected,” Plato said in a statement.

The allegations relate to newspaper reports that national police commissioner Riah Phiyega told Lamoer on three occasions that she was aware he was under investigation.

According to the Sunday Independent, the telephone conversations were legally recorded by crime intelligence operatives monitoring Lamoer’s calls.

He was allegedly associated with a Cape Town drug-dealer and well-known businessman.

In the conversations Phiyega reportedly made Lamoer aware of similar allegations by Hawks’ boss Anwa Dramat.

According to the report, the disclosures outraged crime intelligence operatives, who had threatened to lay criminal charges against Phiyega.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate confirmed on Friday that it had received allegations of defeating the ends of justice against Phiyega.

Phiyega denied the allegations.

She said she had not been formally informed of the case of defeating the ends of justice against her, but was aware of the allegations.

– SAPA

A man was arrested for attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old was arrested on Monday afternoon after Pinetown residents called police about a silver VW Polo with no registration plates, police spokesperson Thulani Zwane said.

The police spotted the vehicle in New Germany and a high-speed chase ensued.

The man lost control of the car and it overturned.

He got out and fired two shots at the officers.

“The police managed to capture the man. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm,” said Zwane.

The unlicensed CZ 9mm pistol would be sent for ballistic tests to determine if it was used in other crimes.

The man was expected to appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court later on Tuesday.

– SAPA

Pretoria – Boeremag leader Tom Vorster and five members of its bomb squad which blew up numerous targets in 2002 were sentenced to in effect 25 years’ imprisonment by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Vorster shrugged and told reporters he had not expected such a severe sentence, as he had already been in prison for over a decade.

Bombers Herman van Rooyen, Johan and Wilhelm Pretorius, and Rudi Gouws received the same sentences as Vorster.

The third Pretorius brother, master bomb maker Kobus Pretorius, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, of which 10 years were suspended.

Remorse

This was because Pretorius had a change of heart during the trial, broke away from his past and expressed remorse for what he did.

The members of the bomb squad were sentenced to an additional 13 years imprisonment on charges of culpable homicide and conspiring to murder former president Nelson Mandela.

Soweto mother Claudia Mokone was killed when a piece of steel dislodged by a bomb the Boeremag planted on a railway landed in her shack.

Judge Eben Jordaan said Mandela would have been killed by a landmine planted by the Boeremag bomb squad if he had not arrived by helicopter to open a school in Bolobedu, Limpopo.

This would have caused chaos and bloodshed in the country. He said the Boeremag’s aim had been to destroy democracy in South Africa.

How dangerous they were was shown by the fact that they carried on committing violent crimes some had said were incapable of being carried out.

The bombers already had five large car bombs ready for targets in the city centres of Pretoria and Johannesburg and were planning further bomb attacks when they were caught.

Boeremag leaders Mike du Toit, Dirk Hanekom and the Pretorius brothers’ father, Dr Lets Pretorius, were each sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment, of which 10 years were conditionally suspended for five years.

Mike du Toit’s right-hand man, Andre du Toit, and Dion van den Heever were sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment of which 10 years were suspended.

Rooikoos du Plessis and Jurie Vermeulen, who also played important roles in planning the coup, got 15 years’ imprisonment, of which 10 were suspended.

Suspended sentences

One of the Boeremag’s most active members and the Boeremag chaplain, 74-year-old Vis Visagie, was sentenced to five years of correctional supervision.

Five of the Boeremag members who played a lesser role, including the youngest member Jacques Jordaan, walked out of the court free men after being given suspended sentences.

They are the Boeremag “weakling” Adriaan van Wyk and former defence force officers Giel Burger, Jacques Olivier, and Pieter van Deventer.

The sentences were met with outrage by some, but acceptance by others.

Dr Lets Pretorius’s wife Minnie cried inconsolably. Friends shielded her from the cameras.

Van Wyk’s wife expressed relief that her husband would be coming home.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-North West police are investigating a case of inquest after two learners from Berts Bricks Primary School drowned.

The atrocity took place on Monday after the kids were aallegedly dropped by their school bus.

“Three kids were allegedly walking home from school when the youngest girl aged 7 slipped and drown into an overflowing furrow at Haaskraal farm near Potchefstroom on Monday, 29 at about 15:00pm” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

Police said a canal was overflowing after severe storm with gusty winds, hail and heavy rain were experienced in Potchefstroom and nearby areas.

“According to the information, the youngest girl slipped and fell in an overflowing furrow. It is alleged that a 12 year-old girl attempted to rescue her and also drowned” Makau said.

The third girl who experienced the ordeal managed to go home and reported the incident.

“The Rescue Police were alerted and a search was conducted after missing girls until Monday midnight without any success. On Tuesday, at about 05:00am, police continued with a search and the two bodies were recovered three kilometres away from where they alleged drowning” she continues.

The South African Police Service is appealing to motorists as well as pedestrians not to cross overflowing rivers and dams during these times of rains.-TDN

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