Johannesburg – KwaZulu-Natal police appealed on Wednesday to the owner of a herd of goats, found hidden in a forest in Donnybrook, to come forward and claim his animals.

“A Donnybrook farmer was driving past a pine plantation on 28 October when he noticed 15 goats that had been tied with ropes and hidden in the forest,” police spokesperson Jay Naicker said.

“He contacted the Donnybrook SA Police Service, who arranged for the goats to be fetched and taken to the animal pound in Howick.”

Naicker said police had not received reports of stolen goats in the area, and nobody had come forward to claim the herd of horned herbivores.

He said the recovery of the goats illustrated the cohesive nature of the Donnybrook community.

“The successful recovery of the goats is indicative of the fact that a healthy relationship exists between the Donnybrook farming community and the broader Donnybrook community as well as the Donnybrook SAPS.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – From early next year Johannesburg authorities will allow the installation of security devices on tombstones, in a bid to curb theft, officials said on Wednesday.

Alan Buff, who oversees the city’s cemeteries said a deal has been entered into with a private company that will install microchip transmitters into tombstones.

The system is designed to detect movement and trigger off sirens.

“Then we will be able to immediately locate the area where a tombstone has been moved and we will be able to track it down,” Buff told AFP.

“It’s like your car tracking device,” he said.

An SMS will be sent to the family of the deceased to notify them of any tampering with the tombstone.

“Obviously there’s a lot of emotional connotation that goes with it,” said Mark Pringle director of Memorial Alert, the company that has the patent for the world’s first tombstone security technology.

The system will detect even the slightest of movements, such as the shifting of a vase.

Families of the deceased can choose to install the alarm, at an as yet undisclosed cost.

“We have keep affordability in mind,” said Pringle.

The city’s 36 public cemeteries currently have perimeter sensors and are patrolled by security guards, yet on average between 15 and 20 marble or granite tombstones are stolen a month.

Along with the new technology, it will also be possible for families to take out insurance against theft and vandalism of tombstones.

Pringle said theft from cemeteries was not only unique to South Africa but was a worldwide problem.

– AFP

Pretoria – The mother of pregnant teenager Zanele Khumalo, who was strangled in her bed, collapsed in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

This happened shortly before her daughter’s former boyfriend was convicted of murder and rape.

Busi Khumalo wailed hysterically and had to be helped out of court after collapsing during acting Judge Johan Kruger’s judgment.

Kruger found the father of Zanele Khumalo’s unborn child, 26-year-old Thato Kutumela, guilty of murdering and raping her at her parents’ home in Garsfontein on 21 April 2011.

Kutumela was also found guilty of stealing his former girlfriend’s nightclothes and underwear to hide the fact that he had raped her.

He did not testify, but claimed in his plea explanation that they had consensual sex that morning and that she was alive and well when he left.

He initially claimed in the magistrate’s court that he was at work all day.

Khumalo’s naked body was discovered under a blanket on her bed when her parents arrived home from work.

They rushed her to hospital, but she had already been dead for about six hours by then.

A pathologist testified that the 18-year-old girl’s heart had stopped because of intense pressure to her neck. She was five months pregnant at the time of her death.

Turbulent relationship

Kruger said the couple had a turbulent relationship, which included Khumalo suffering a wound on the back of her head and her father barring Kutumela from their house after he apparently assaulted her and took her cellphone.

They had exchanged several long phone calls in the early hours of the morning before her death and she, thereafter, refused to answer three further calls from Kutumela.

It was clear from the evidence that Khumalo went to her house to finish “unfinished business” that morning, but that she refused to open the gate for him.

Several witnesses saw Kutumela at Khumalo’s house that day and a neighbour saw him slipping into the kitchen while she was talking to Khumalo.

Kruger said Kutumela had not been invited to the house that morning, but had clearly planned his trip, even phoning a colleague to say that he would be late.

He had tried to cover his tracks by wearing a blue work suit similar to those worn by workers at the complex and falsifying the time of his arrival at work no less than three times.

He also erased all signs of telephone conversations from Khumalo’s cellphone and later claimed he was not there at all.

He entered the complex with an empty looking backpack, but left with it bulging.

Findings

Kruger found that no other person than Kutumela had been at Khumalo’s house that day and that the only reasonable inference was that he had murdered her, taking her nightclothes with him, which must have shown signs that he had raped her.

He had viciously grabbed Khumalo by the throat and throttled her so that she lost consciousness and offered no resistance when he raped her.

“The scenario is one of a vicious and cold-blooded attack on the deceased, leaving no doubt that he had forced himself on her, raped her and viciously throttled her.

“His is not the conduct of an innocent man visiting his lover.

“From the very outset he attempted to move incognito and cover his tracks.

“His conduct was cunning and designed to mislead. It bears the signs of a planned mission with the intent to kill,” Kruger said.

The judge ordered that Kutumela remain in custody until Thursday, when his advocate will oppose the State’s request to withdraw his bail.

‘An end to a dark period’

Khumalo’s father, Themba Khumalo, who is the chief of media liaison at the water affairs department, told reporters he was relieved that the pain and uncertainty of two-and-a-half years had come to an end.

“We prayed every evening for a conviction. The verdict puts us at the end of a very dark period.

“We know Zanele is no longer feeling the pain she felt that night and that she’s at peace with herself.

“She visits us in our dreams to say that she is at peace.

“I feel pity for his [Kutumela’s] family because when our children are punished, we feel it.

“It’s a case of a man brought up in a proper family, but losing his way,” he said.

He warned teenagers to be careful when they chose who to love, and to do research and more research to establish their boyfriends’ backgrounds.

Zanele Khumalo’s sisters Lindi and Confidence said the court’s ruling gave them closure about their fun-loving sister’s death.

Lindi said she hoped Kutumela would be “gone forever” and get life imprisonment. Confidence said she had always known in her heart Kutumela was guilty.

“Even though he’s in jail his family still have him. My sister would have turned 21 last Sunday and it was sad to have to celebrate her coming of age without her,” she said.

– SAPA

Pretoria – The mechanical engineer accused of murdering a group of joggers in Midrand by ploughing into them with his car, has admitted to drinking a few beers that day, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard on Tuesday.

State prosecutor Mervyn Menigo told the court the State and defence had reached an agreement and that Sibusiso Langa admitted he used alcohol and had “a couple of beers” on the day of the accident, 22 October 2011.

Langa, 46, on Monday pleaded not guilty to five charges of murder, one of attempted murder, and one of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Reneilwe Lesenyeho, 31, Gaolojwe Isaac Tlale, 37, Moroesi Margeret Mokoatsi, 35, Given Mills, 30, and Nomvula Regina Dumako, 35, died and Abegail Stengile nearly died – when Langa allegedly crashed into them as they were jogging next to Lever Road in Midrand.

The State alleges Langa was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time. All of the victims died of multiple blunt force injuries.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

Kimberley – A statement by the teenage accused in the Griekwastad farm murder trial was not in line with evidence found at the scene, the Northern Cape High Court heard on Wednesday.

“It is not consistent from the evidence at the scene of the crime,” police crime scene and blood spatter expert Captain Marius Joubert said.

Judge President Frans Kgomo is hearing evidence in Kimberley in the trial of a 17-year-old youth accused of murdering Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christel, 43, and their daughter Marthella, 14.

They were shot dead on their farm Naauwhoek, near Griekwastad, on 6 April 2012.

Joubert submitted that the blood stains on a T-shirt apparently worn by the boy had multiple transfers of blood marks.

“It is not consistent with one action,” he said.

He told the court there was no sign of movement where the girl was found.

“I reject the paragraph in the [youth’s] statement.”

Joubert concluded his testimony that Marthella Steenkamp defended herself against an attacker outside the house and not inside.

Before Joubert’s evidence-in-chief, the family members present were again warned about the type of evidence to follow.

“It will be one of those days that will not be pleasant,” said prosecutor Hannes Cloete.

Blood trail

Joubert told the court the 14-year-old girl left a trail of blood through the kitchen on her way to the telephone.

He said the blood from the gunshot wound to her chest had flowed down her body, her right leg and arm, and right hand, and had dripped onto her feet, indicating she was upright when that happened.

He submitted to court the drip, flow and smear blood spatters from the back door through the scullery and into the kitchen.

The girl’s DNA was linked to all these spatters.

He showed photographs of where the girl, covered in blood, leaned against the kitchen counter. The blood trail went around the counter to the telephone.

It seemed as if the girl had stopped between the counter and the wooden dining room table, halfway to the phone.

There was a collection of blood spatters on the floor and a bloody handprint on the dining room table.

“The spatters are concentrated in one area. The victim must have stood for a while and left blood to collect,” Joubert said.

The court heard on Monday that Marthella Steenkamp was shot once in the chest and three times in the head.

Referring to a blood smear found near her father Deon Steenkamp, Joubert said it was probably created by a forearm which had moved inwards towards the body.

“Possibly by the victim to make himself comfortable… pulling in [his] arm.”

Joubert will be cross-examined by the youth’s defence team on Thursday.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

Cape Town – The legal practice bill passed by the National Assembly this week risks hampering the effective functioning of the legal profession, the SA Attorney’s Association said on Wednesday.

“It is regrettable that some of the provisions of the bill will make inroads into the profession’s ability to remain viable, effective and competent,” it said.

The association singled out the wide ministerial powers conferred by the bill for criticism, notably that to nominate members of the new, single statutory council that will replace all existing law societies.

“The minister will have wide regulatory powers, previously held by the law societies, including the determination of fees for legal services, the issuing of regulations regarding community service and the power to appoint an interim council after dissolving the Legal Practice Council pursuant to a court order,” it said.

It also voiced fears that the provisions of the legislation aimed at ensuring that the legal profession was transformed to reflect the racial demographics of the country could be abused “to restrict entry into the profession”.

The controversial bill was finally passed by the National Assembly on Tuesday after nearly two decades in the pipeline, despite strong objections from the opposition and from the profession.

In the debate on the bill, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe conceded that consensus had not been reached but said the search for it could not continue forever.

He insisted that government had a legitimate interest in ensuring that the constitutional imperative of transformation of the judiciary became a reality.

Opposition parties said the bill would damage the advocate’s profession, though the bill stopped short of its original intention of fusing it with that of attorneys, and undermine the independence of the legal fraternity.

– SAPA

Bloemfontein – The State has asked for a separation of trial after one of two accused in a rightwing coup plot case agreed to a plea bargain, the Bloemfontein High Court heard on Wednesday.

Mark Trollip, 48, and Johan Hendrik Prinsloo, 49, appeared in court on charges of high treason and conspiracy to commit terrorist acts.

They were allegedly involved in plans to bomb the African National Congress’s national conference in Mangaung last December.

According to the charge sheet, Trollip and Prinsloo planned to acquire weaponry such as AK-47, R1 and R4 rifles to execute the coup.

Kenny Pretorius, for Trollip, agreed to a plea and sentencing agreement.

In terms of this, Trollip pleaded guilty on the conspiracy charge and was sentenced to eight years in prison. The state withdrew a charge of high treason.

Johann Nel, for Prinsloo, said he did not agree to the plea bargain and his trial would continue.

Prosecutor Torie Pretorius said that if found guilty of high treason the accused faced a minimum of 15 years in prison.

A date for Prinsloo’s trial would be set later in the day.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) will consider new municipal boundary proposals for redetermination only after the 2016 municipal elections, the board said on Wednesday.

MDB chair Landiwe Mahlangu said the board was holding discussions about reducing the number of municipalities to ensure their efficiency, viability, and sustainability.

Last month, the board released its final decisions on municipalities that were up for consideration.

“This effort is not only taking place in the Eastern Cape province but includes… Mpumalanga and Northern Cape where the MDB has recently interacted with the local SA Local Government Association [Salga] structures on similar challenges,” said Mahlangu.

“In as much as discussions are taking place, the only changes that are going to be effected are those on which the board has taken a decision that was communicated last month.”

The MDB was also waiting for Co-operative Governance Minister Lechesa Tsenoli and MECs in the affected municipalities to determine formulae and legislative changes that would affect the municipalities involved.

Mahlangu encouraged stakeholders to contribute to the development of municipalities.

He was currently on a road show aimed at briefing provincial Salga structures on the final decisions taken by the board and the implications these would have.

The board had given information to the Independent Electoral Commission for it to comment on the impact of its decision and would soon be embarking on a ward delimitation process, part of which would be to ensure the smooth transition of the affected municipalities.

– SAPA

Durban – Three men accused of strangling two pensioners in their home in Shongweni on the outskirts of Durban appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The three are accused of murdering John Noble, 72, and his wife Hester, 68.

Noble was strangled with a wire, while his wife, who suffered from emphysema, was strangled with the tubes of her oxygen tank.

Their bodies were found at their Shongweni Valley home last week by neighbours.

Scelo Matabane, 30, Siyabonga Xaba, 24, and Philani Shange, 28, face two charges of murder, a charge of housebreaking, and a charge of aggravated robbery.

The three claimed in court through their court-appointed lawyer that they had been assaulted and Matabane said they feared for their lives if they were to be held at Hillcrest police station.

However, Magistrate Ishmael Motaung ordered that they be detained at the police station.

Matabane was sporting a grazed face, a swollen eye and limped into the court room.

Police said on Monday that eight people had been arrested and that four were directly linked to the murders.

The other four had allegedly received property stolen from the crime scene.

It was not clear when the other accused would appear or exactly what charges they would face.

They remained in custody until their next appearance in court on 21 November.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Trade union Solidarity has condemned as a disgrace the nomination of Robert McBride as the new head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

“McBride’s nomination is another disgrace to the already beleaguered SA Police Service,” the union said in a statement.

General secretary Flip Buys said taxpayers were tired of their money being used for “repeated inappropriate appointments”.

“Taxpayers have to stand by powerlessly and watch cadre deployment being put before effective service delivery.”

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced on Tuesday that Cabinet had approved the nomination of the former Ekurhuleni metro police chief as head of IPID.

Buys urged government to withdraw McBride’s appointment for the position in order to restore the country’s image, both locally and internationally.

Solidarity said it was obtaining legal advice about the possibility of contesting such an appointment.

– SAPA