Amanzimtoti, KZN – Amanzimtoti has been rocked by the killing of a grandmother while her handicapped husband tried to call for help.

Although neighbours responded quickly, a call to the police hotline on 10111 was never radioed to police patrols.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

KwaZulu-Natal – A KwaZulu-Natal businessman was subjected to 22 days of terror at the hands of men who kidnapped him, repeatedly beat him and threatened to kill him while they kept him chained to a bedpost.

He was released after a ransom of a million rupees (R161 000) had been paid.
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Durban – A Durban teacher, who had gained the trust of one of his pupils, lured her to a hotel with the promise of access to her maths paper and then raped her.

This was alleged by the girl, who says she fell pregnant. She claims further the man forced her to have an abortion which was only successful after three attempts, two at an illegal clinic.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

The arms deal commission’s hearing was halted because cross-examination transcripts were not available owing to a staff shortage. The commission announced this week that it would cut its staff complement.

The commission has also been dogged by allegations that some of its evidence leaders are yet to be paid for their work.

However, the unavailability of a document manager, whose contract was not renewed this week, has already affected the work of the commission. It is unclear whether the commission will employ another document manager before the public hearings continue next week.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

The cost of investigating and prosecuting 30 police officers accused of running the “Cato Manor death squad” is expected to rise to nearly R30 million as a protracted legal battle wears on.

The officers, who have been suspended indefinitely since their arrest more than a year ago, will appear in the Durban High Court on Monday.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Cape Town – Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko has spoken out about the infighting in the party and said she is disappointed that those jostling for positions were trying to drive a wedge between her and Gauteng Premier candidate Mmusi Maimane.

According to the Sunday Times, several MPs including John Steenhuisen and former parliamentary leader Athol Trollip are said to be campaigning for Maimane to oust Mazibuko as parliamentary leader in the hope that Maimane will succeed DA leader Helen Zille should she step down.

Mazibuko told the newspaper that she was disappointed that those jostling for positions were trying to use her and Maimane to climb the political ladder.

This comes after weeks of speculation of internal feuds. Last month, The DA dismissed as rumours claims about an internal battle over the use of party resources by its parliamentary leader and its Gauteng premier candidate. At the time, DA MP Geordin Hill-Lewis, a senior aide to Zille, said it was nothing but internal rumour mongering before an election.

For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – The presidency denied a report on Sunday that President Jacob Zuma had a hand in the withdrawal of an academic honour for Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

“The reports are baseless and ridiculous,” presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

“Neither the president nor his private office had any knowledge of this honour that was apparently turned down until enquiries came from Media24 or Naspers newspapers.”

On Friday, Beeld reported that Motlanthe was on his way to China to receive an academic honour when it was unexpectedly withdrawn and that fingers had been pointed at Zuma.

The newspaper reported that, according to three sources, Motlanthe was “furious” officials at the South African embassy in Beijing told him the international relations department had instructed that his invitation from the University of International Business and Economics be turned down.

His spokesperson Thabo Masebe reportedly confirmed to the newspaper that Motlanthe was told only days before he was meant to leave.

According to Beeld, it was told by source at the Union Buildings that there was no direct evidence Zuma was involved, but merely a strong suspicion in government circles.

Maharaj said Zuma and Motlanthe continued to work well together and shared responsibilities.

“It would thus assist greatly if the media probed deeper before believing and publishing spurious allegations of this nature so as not to peddle falsehoods,” he said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Voters must help oust the ANC in next year’s elections, said Agang SA.

Mamphela Ramphele’s party launched its national election campaign in Johannesburg on Saturday

People had not had a more important opportunity than the one they had now, Ramphele said at the launch, according to a statement issued by Agang.

“The 2014 election is an opportunity to raise your voices and say no to the way the ANC is shamefully running this country,” she said.

Ramphele said the elections would give five million first-time voters a chance to exercise their civic right and to have their voices heard.

Describing the party’s new emblem she said: “Our colourful circle is inclusive of all the people of South Africa, where everybody is equal.”

“You will notice the colours of our flag, because we are proud of what South Africa was promised when it was designed and raised jubilantly from flagpoles across our country at the dawn of our democracy.”

She said the 11 triangles represented the official languages.

“Green is the colour of growth and represents our commitment to make sure we look after our natural resources so that we will always have clean water, good food and beauty – and there will be enough, for all, forever.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – EFF official Floyd Shivambu denied reports on Sunday that former ANCYL treasurer general Pule Mabe shared with him money he allegedly stole from the poor.

He was reacting to a report in Sunday World alleging that of the R2m allegedly fleeced from the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa), R30 000 was given to him.

The former ANC Youth League spokesperson said his legal representatives would write to Sunday World to ask for the withdrawal of the story and for the publication of a front page apology. If the newspaper failed to do so, he would take the matter to court.

However, Sunday World editor Marvin Meintjies said the newspaper would stand by its story.

“We stand by our story, which is based on documents compiled by the investigators,” he said.

“We are 100% convinced about the veracity of the documents.”

He said allegations that Mabe was the paper’s source were incorrect.

Mabe, who is a member of the ANC’s national executive committee, Paseka Letsatsi, Sassa communications head and Kabedi Ramosa appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Friday on charges of theft, fraud, and money laundering.

They had handed themselves over to the Sunnyside police station earlier in the day.

They were released on bail of R10 000 each and were expected to appear in court again on 13 February.

Shivambu said: “The police case against Pule Mabe does not mention my name as a beneficiary of the ‘stolen’ millions, instead [it] mentioned a number of recipients, most of whom are his private companies, his friends and family members, and the ANC Youth League, which he paid R100 000.

“The police case does not in any way suggest that I received R30 000 from Pule Mabe, including from the R100 000 of the ‘stolen’ money he paid to the ANC Youth League account.”

Shivambu said that if he did exchange any money with Mabe when he was treasurer general of the ANCYL, it was solely for organisational work.

Shivambu said he had retrieved bank statements online which confirmed he had not received R30 000 from Mabe.

“I believe that those who stole money should be held accountable and should not resort to desperate attempts to implicate others.

“The only other source of this misleading information is Pule Mabe, because he said that he will try to drag the leadership of the Economic Freedom Fighters into his private problems so that he can get some sympathy from his political associates and try to divert attention,” Shivambu said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Five men were arrested for stealing a trailer containing several tons of hand and body lotion worth R1.5m in Cleveland, Johannesburg on Sunday, Gauteng police said.

“This morning at around 02:00 a group of armed men held up a security guard at a logistics company in Cleveland,” said Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale

“The robbers unhitched a trailer carrying a container filled with hand and body lotion from the logistic company’s [truck] and connected it to their own before making their getaway.”

Following a tip-off, police went to a warehouse in Stormill, near the Johannesburg CBD, where they found five men off-loading the goods into smaller cars. The men were then arrested.

The five men were: the owner of the warehouse, the warehouse caretaker, a truck driver and two 25-year-old men.

“All five men are currently in police custody on possible charges of armed robbery and for being in possession of property suspected to be stolen,” said Makgale.

“They are all expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on [Monday].”

More arrests were expected.

– SAPA