Johannesburg – The driver of a tipper truck alleged to have caused the bus accident on the Moloto road did not run away, Mpumalanga police said on Wednesday.

“We found him at the scene and obtained a statement. We know where he stays,” said Colonel Leonard Hlathi.

“We are verifying his driver’s licence and his professional driving permit.”

Twenty-nine people died and 30 were injured when a bus and a truck collided near Kwaggafontein on Monday night.

The Mpumalanga public safety department said the accident occurred when an articulated truck drove into the back of a tipper truck before colliding with a bus and another vehicle, both coming from Pretoria.

The truck, carrying beetroot, crashed into the tipper while it was stationary, waiting for oncoming traffic to pass before turning right.

Accident to be probed

The truck then veered in front of an oncoming bus and collided with it head-on.

Department spokesperson Joseph Mabuza said a committee had been established to provide help to the bereaved families.

“It is believed that most of those who perished in the accident were from Matshiding village, near Siyabuswa, in Dr JS Moroka municipality.”

The SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) was saddened by the accident.

“Once again accidental, untimely death has claimed from among the working class mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and, most importantly, selfless, dedicated breadwinners… who traversed the nights of treachery and miseries of exploitation in a quest to sustain life for their loved ones,” spokesperson Vincent Masoga said.

Bus company Putco confirmed the bus involved belonged to it.

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said a team would investigate the accident.

“The team’s brief is not limited to determining what caused the crash, but also includes coming up with proposed interventions to ensure the prevention of a further recurrence,” Peters said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A cashier died and two were injured when a wall collapsed on them in Maitland, Cape Town, on Wednesday, Western Cape Police said.

The wall collapsed at a construction site, injuring the cashiers, who were working at a neighbouring business premises, said police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk.

“One of the cashiers died at the scene and the other two cashiers were taken to nearby hospitals for medical treatment,” Van Wyk said.

Police were investigating.

– SAPA

Bloemfontein – One of the accused in a right-wing coup plot case has agreed to a plea bargain, the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein heard on Wednesday.

During the appearance of Mark Trollip, 48, and Johan Hendrik Prinsloo, 49, prosecutor Torie Pretorius read the details of a plea and sentencing agreement between the State and Trollip.

He and Prinsloo face charges of high treason and conspiracy to commit terrorist acts for their involvement in plans to bomb the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung last December.

In terms of the plea and sentence agreement, Trollip would plead guilty on the conspiracy charge and the State would withdraw the high treason charge.

Pretorius said one of the reasons taken into account with the plea agreement was that no lives were lost and no damage was done. The accused also could not obtain any weapons for the execution of their plans.

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

Pretorius said Trollip, who was the self-proclaimed leader of the organisation Wit Brandwag, expressed remorse and was willing to co-operate with the police after his arrest.

Some of the plans were unrealistic, but the State felt that if the accused were successful, many lives would have been lost and caused racial tension.

Under the plea agreement, Trollip would serve a prison sentence of eight years.

Trollip is represented by Kenny Pretorius.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A bail application by Kwaito star Brickz was postponed by the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Magistrate Piet Kotzé indicated that he needed more evidence before he could make a ruling.

“Section three of the Criminal Procedure Act states that the court can order that more evidence be brought before it if it cannot reach a decision due to lack of information or evidence it has,” Kotze said.

The State and the defence had presented conflicting affidavits to the court, said Kotzé.

Brickz, whose real name is Sipho Charles Ndlovu, has been in custody since 1 November for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl in March.

In an affidavit submitted as part of his bail application, Ndlovu denied raping the girl and indicated he intended pleading not guilty.

Kotzé ordered that a certified copy of an admission of guilt fine that Ndlovu paid in 2007 after he was arrested for drug possession be brought to court.

Investigating officer Warrant Officer Joel Ngobeni testified that Ndlovu was violent, and that police were called when he fought with his wife.

Kotzé requested that the police officers said to have been called to Ndlovu’s house on numerous occasions because of his alleged violent nature be called to testify to this effect.

Isaac Mokgopi, for Ndlovu, pleaded with Kotzé to proceed and not postpone the hearing.

No one was certain that the police officers would be traced within a reasonable time, he said.

“I respect the court’s view in this matter. However, I do not think that the officers would make a difference… looking for them and the preparations for court will take time.”

Kotzé would not budge and postponed the matter to 15 November.

Ndlovu shook hands with his supporters who had filled the public gallery.

He appeared sad as he was led by the court orderly towards the holding cells.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The state made several attempts to halt Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s probe into Nkandla, according to court papers.

In papers opposing an urgent application to prevent her from releasing the provisional report, Madonsela she met the ministers of state security, police and public works on 22 April to discuss the report.

“Resistance to the investigation was very strong at this stage and there were separate attempts by the minister of police, and thereafter collectively by the ministers of police, public works, and state security… to stop the investigation,” Madonsela said in an affidavit filed in the North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday afternoon.

‘Frustrated, obstructed’

Madonsela said it was “mooted” that her probe into the R206m upgrade at President Jacob Zuma’s private homestead of Nkandla, in KwaZulu-Natal, be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation by the Auditor General.

“As recorded, the Auditor General advised my office that he had declined the request by public works at the onset.”

She said the public works minister told her on 31 May he had persuaded the AG to conduct an investigation.

“This has not, to my knowledge, materialised, nor has the SIU [Special Investigating Unit] yet been authorised to conduct any investigation,” Madonsela said.

“Evidently, it was contemplated that such investigations, had they been initiated, would have reported to the president regarding the contended irregularities at his own private dwelling.”

Madonsela said her investigating team was “frustrated and in many instances obstructed” while it was conducting the probe.

“Many of these frustrations are detailed in the executive summary to the provisional report,” she said.

“These include only being given sight of certain documents for short periods and in the presence of government officials, and key members of the investigation team being excluded from important meetings.”

Interdict

The state security ministerial cluster sought to interdict Madonsela from releasing her provisional report to affected, implicated, and interested parties for comment.

Madonsela’s provisional report was given to the cluster on 1 November.

This followed a special request that it have access to the report ahead of all other parties to establish if its contents would compromise Zuma’s security. The return date for comment was 6 November.

The cluster filed an urgent application on Friday to prevent Madonsela from releasing the report. The North Gauteng High Court postponed the matter to the end of this week.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in a founding affidavit that Zuma’s safety would be compromised if Madonsela released the provisional report without state comment.

Report contains no threats to state security

However, she said the provisional report contained no threats to state security.

“Information and/or annexures which, in my view, could constitute a breach of security were specifically excluded,” Madonsela said.

Madonsela said she attached a draft report to a confidential affidavit.

“I consider it critical… to point out that I am constrained by the circumstances to place the report before the court,” she said.

Madonsela said the version of the report that was filed would provisionally only serve before the court.

“It is… obviously essential that this court itself be able to adjudge whether any proper basis for the applicants’ concerns exist in terms of the content of the provisional report to be disclosed to interested parties.”

She said the decision to determine whether the report dealt appropriately with potential security sensitive information was hers.

“The Constitution is clear: no person or organ of state may dictate to, or interfere with, the functioning of my office,” she said.

“My decision to place the provisional report before the court must be viewed in this light.”

– SAPA

THINGS went from bad to worse for So You Think You Can Dance winner Sibahle Tshibika (23).

At first, Sibahle’s gogo Beatrice (72), collapsed and died on Friday while watching her being crowned the winner of the competition on TV.

And on Monday, Sibahle’s home in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, was burgled only a few days after she had won the grand prize of R250000 on Friday.

The dancer told Daily Sun while she was still in Joburg, she received a phonecall from an unknown person telling her they wanted the money she had won on the SABC1 show.

When she returned home, her two-bedroom house had been ransacked.

“I live in fear… I must move soon. Who knows what these people will do to me or my family?” asked Sibahle.

Her mum, Noluthando (46) said the burglars had forced 

their way through the front door.

However, the family didn’t open a case with the police.

Noluthando said they had not received her daughter’s prize money yet and didn’t know how they would pay for Beatrice’s funeral, who is supposed to be buried in the Eastern Cape.

Noluthando said they were told the money would take 

between 10 and 14 days to clear.

International Relations deputy minister Marius Fransman visited the family yesterday. He pledged R20000 so that Sibahle would not have to use her prize money to build a new house for her mum.

For more http://www.dailysun.mobi

One of the men killed in the Bedfordview blast was a fugitive wanted in the Czech Republic and one of Radovan Krejcir’s closest ‘enforcers’.

Jan ‘John’ Charvat was wanted in the Czech Republic for tax fraud, Eyewitness News reporter Mandy Wiener said today.

For more http://www.citypress.co.za

Orlando Pirates winger Daine Klate has pulled out of the Bafana Bafana squad due to injury.

Klate featured in Pirates’ 2-0 loss to Al Ahly in the Champions League final second leg, where he suffered a knock to his knee.

Confirming the news, the South African Football Association (SAFA), posted a statement on their Facebook page, which read, “Orlando Pirates winger Daine Klate has been withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana squad to face Swaziland in an international friendly match due to a knee injury.

“Klate sustained the injury during club’s 2-0 defeat to Al Ahly in the final of the CAF Champions League played in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday, 10 November 2013.

“He was seen limping when the club landed in South Africa on Tuesday (11 November), and was said to be heading for a scan.

“There is no replacement for Klate.”

It was also confirmed that the group of Pirates players, who returned from their trip to Egypt on Tuesday, would link up with the rest of the squad this morning (Wednesday) in time for the first training session in the afternoon.

Source: http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

A young man has tragically been killed after he was knocked down on the KZN N3 highway last night.

“Paramedics and rescuers who arrived on scene assumed that he may have been trying to cross the highway to get to the cafe near the New England road off ramp when he was knocked down by an 18-wheeler truck. The remains of the young man were found lying in the slow lane of the highway, and it appeared that the truck had driven over the lower part of his body” Er24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said.

Sadly he had already died on scene prior to the arrival of assistance where his injuries had been so severe. 

“Paramedics had no other option but to declare him dead on scene” said Jackson.

Local authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the man and what exactly took place.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Setlagole-North West police are investigating a case of kidnapping after a boy was allegedly kidnapped from school in Setlagole village, near Mahikeng.

The monstrous event left the community in obstreperous mood.

The community yesterday barricaded roads with burning tyres and tree branches to make an earnest aowal.

“The community visited one of the accused and threatened to burn her alive if she does not leave the village. Police ferried five accused to a place of safety after the community threatened to burn them alive” captain Joseph Kaku told sabc.

According to report, a boy was kidnapped by known accused.

“My boy was allegedly kidnapped by accused from his school after they lured him. They gave him sweets and kidnapped him” Tlwaelo Owageng told sabc.

According to her, a boy displays deviating behaviour after the ordeal.

“He seems disturbed and he cries a lot. He cannot concentrate at school and is so sad” said despondent mom.

Dipuo Mane who was one of the accused, but in disguise said she heard the main accused ausi Khumanego talking to someone over the phone discussing their next move in stealing a kid.

“I heard ausi Khumanego discussing their moves over the phone with one of the accomplice after I heard that she is involved in stealing kids back in 2010” said Dipuo.

“I tricked her to be part of them so that I can have a tangible prove. We went to collect a boy at Selometsane Primary school where we kidnapped him”.

According to Dipuo, a boy was taken away by other people in a car.

The community are up in arms and threaten to take law into their own hands by harshly burning perpetrators.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_