Johannesburg – Former National Youth Development Agency head Andile Lungisa has asked to be relieved of his political duties while he deals with the criminal charges against him, the ANC said on Tuesday.

“We resolved to accept his request to be relieved of his political duties whilst he devotes his energy in clearing his good name from the damaging allegations that are now before our courts,” ANC Eastern Cape spokesperson Pindile Miza said in a statement.

Lungisa is one of the ANC Eastern Cape’s executive committee members.

On Friday, he appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on charges of fraud and money-laundering, with Thabo Shogolo, Xolisile Guquza, and Ursula Sali.

They allegedly accepted and shared among themselves R2.5m paid by the arts and culture department for the Nelson Mandela Sports Day concert.

They allegedly promised that US singer R Kelly would perform at the concert, but he did not.

The group was arrested after handing themselves to the Hawks on Friday.

Lungisa and Shogolo were granted bail of R10 000 each, Guquza was granted bail of R5 000, and Sali was released on a warning.

They were instructed to surrender their passports to the investigating officer, and not to make contact with State witnesses.

The case was postponed until 30 October.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Police and members of the public who helped arrest a gunman in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, are to be commended, the Gauteng provincial legislature said on Tuesday.

“We appreciate the work of members of the community in helping police to arrest the suspect,” community safety portfolio committee chairperson Jacob Khawe said in a statement.

Two community safety patrollers and two bystanders were wounded in Hillbrow on Sunday after they stopped a man to search him. He drew a weapon and shot them, Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale said on Monday.

Two members of the public were also wounded. Bystanders helped police arrest the man.

By Tuesday morning one of the patrollers was discharged from hospital and the other was not in a serious condition. It was not clear how badly the bystanders were wounded, Khawe said.

“We also commend the police for their swift response in arresting the suspect and hopefully that the detective work will secure a harsh sentence for the suspect,” Khawe said.

He would visit the wounded patroller in hospital later on Tuesday. He said the patrollers should keep working hard to fight crime.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Former police commissioner Jackie Selebi still owes the SA Police Service more than R17m in legal fees, according to a report.

Die Burger reported that Selebi has not paid the amount more than three years after his drawn-out court case ended.

However, the full amount he owes has not been officially tallied up. According to the report, finalising the amount is a complex process, as there were several complaints and costs involved in the case.

Eyewitness News reported on Tuesday that Selebi may be required to pay less than the full R17.4m because he was not convicted on all charges against him during his trial.

The justice department referred queries to the police, saying it only handled the legal team and not the costs involved in the case.

‘Living a life of luxury’

Selebi was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010 for taking bribes from convicted drug dealer Glen Agliotti. He appealed the sentence and collapsed at home when he lost his appeal in the lengthy case. He was released on medical parole in July 2012, suffering from a variety of complaints including kidney failure, hypertension and diabetes.

He was spotted shopping in Pretoria over the weekend, being chauffeured in a luxury BMW.

Beeld reported on Tuesday that even if Selebi’s health improves, he will not have to return to prison, in terms of his medical parole conditions.

Meanwhile, Freedom Front Plus spokesperson Pieter Groenewald said Selebi was making a mockery of the country’s justice system, and was leading a life of luxury while owing the state millions in legal fees.

Groenewald added that Selebi’s debt is long overdue and must be paid back with interest. If Selebi cannot pay his debt, he must be declared insolvent and his assets must be seized, Groenewald said.

For more http://www.news24.com

By Obakeng Maje

North West-Police in the North West are warning the community on a new method that criminals could be using to target various households.

“Burglars are using coded chalk symbols to let other criminals know whether a property is worth targeting” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. 

Mokgwabone said the marks that are dubbed the “Da Pinci Code”, are made by would be thieves to indicate if the house is vulnerable. 

“These marks would reveal who is living in the house and whether there is anything worth stealing” Mokgwabone outlines.-TDN

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The Springbok Sevens rugby squad left for Australia on Monday to participate in the opening tournament of the World Series which takes place at the Gold Coast on the weekend.

South Africa were seeded first in Pool B and faced stiff opposition from a trio of European teams headed by England, France and Spain.

“We realise that every time a South African team takes the field then the expectation is for us to win,” newly-appointed head coach, Neil Powell said.

“It is a huge motivating factor for the team and something we as a group embrace.”
The team’s preparations for the annual World Series kick-off at the Gold Coast had gone well and they were looking forward to the series, Powell said.

“A few players ended the last season with some injury niggles and they used the break and pre-season period to sort themselves.
“Playing-wise, we used the Middelburg Sevens to try out a few new ideas and I am glad for the valuable opportunities it gave us to gauge ourselves.”

The team would be without former coach Paul Treu for the first time in almost a decade, but Powell said not much had changed within the setup.

“I know a lot of other countries have changed coaching and player personnel but we are fortunate that, apart from the change at head coach, we have a settled squad and management.

“However, we are taking nothing for granted and fully realise we will have to go out there and perform to the best of our ability.
“Vuyo (Zangqa, assistant coach) and I sat down a while ago and decided we will do only some minor tweaks because our core structure is so good thanks to the great work done by Paul.”

The Springbok Sevens would be aiming to improve on their runners-up spot last season, where they also clinched three tournament titles.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

A defiant Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will not take down the billboard advertisements that say the African National Congress (ANC) proudly brought motorists e-tolls.

The party has been criticised by ANC structures for the election advertisements placed on Gauteng’s freeways.

The ANC Women’s league accused the DA of trying to be smart and opportunistic. But the DA says it is a fact that e-tolls are ANC policy and that they are deeply unpopular.

DA Gauteng Premier candidate Mmusi Maimane says: “ANC must explain why people should be taxed twice. Why pay tax, fuel levy and now e-tolls – that is what ANC must explain.”

Meanwhile, the ANC says it will not take the e-tolls billboards put up by the DA on the Gauteng’s freeways lying down.

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

The Nelspruit Regional Court said on Monday that a man who attacked and robbed farm dwellers in Mpumalanga was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

A Sapa correspondent reported that Xolane Letsoalo, 27, from Ngodwana outside Mbombela, faced nine charges including theft, armed robbery, housebreaking, two of attempted murder, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

His co-accused, Freddy Nkosi, 27, faced one charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The two were arrested in November 2010 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Magistrate, Andre Geldenhuys sentenced Letsoalo to 15 years on three counts of housebreaking and theft, 10 years on two counts of attempted murder, 10 years on two counts of armed robbery, two years on theft out of a motor vehicle and eight years on possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Letsoalo would serve the sentences consecutively.

Geldenhuys sentenced Nkosi to eight years, and said he was lucky he was not charged for the other offences. Letsoalo committed very serious offences, he said.

“A day after you committed the first robbery and stole a firearm, you went further to use the same firearm to commit another robbery.”Letsoalo could have easily killed some of his victims.

“You fired shots at two women at a farm and injured one of them. You shot at her using her own firearm. You could have easily killed her.”The two men had shown no remorse during the trial, Geldenhuys said.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund is prepared to take risks as he switches his focus on building a team for the 2015 African Cup of Nations and the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Bafana leave for Morocco tonight where they will play an international friendly match at Agadir City on Friday. With the pressures of trying to qualify for Brazil 2014 now off his shoulders, Igesund is starting a new chapter with Bafana Bafana.

The team does not have a good record on the continent, but recently away wins were recorded against Kenya and the Central African Republic.

According to Igesund, winning at all costs is not the main priority at this stage. Unfortunately, Bafana Bafana have been hit by another withdrawal. Dutch-based anchorman Kamohelo Mokotjo picked up an injury whilst playing for FC Zwolle on Sunday. He was earmarked to replace another injured player, Crystal Palace’s Kagisho Dikgacoi.

Morocco, who have also failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, will host the next African Cup of Nations tournament and are taking this match seriously.

Post by SABC News Online.

Johannesburg – Two security guards accused of stealing copper from a municipal warehouse have been arrested in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Monday.

The men, aged between 26 and 29, were taken into custody on Sunday after they allegedly faked a robbery in Havelock Road, Captain Thulani Zwane said.

They alerted police to a robbery that took place while they were on patrol. They said five armed men forced them to open the store and stole a drum of copper cable, Zwane said.

“After further investigations police found that the guards had made a false statement.”

The stolen copper, with an estimated street value of R150 000, was found at a nearby house. Zwane said the men were found in possession of a bolt cutter believed to have been used to open the warehouse.

“Police believe that the guard may be linked to previous robberies at the warehouse.”

The men were expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of housebreaking, theft, and perjury.

– SAPA

Cape Town – The tabling of new regulations requiring prospective municipal managers to undergo competency tests was welcomed by the DA on Monday.

The regulations arise from the Local Government Municipal Systems Amendment Act.

“The DA has pushed for over two years for these regulations to be tabled and is pleased that the new Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Lechesa Tsenoli has heeded our calls,” Democratic Alliance MP John Steenhuisen said.

The new regulations include compulsory competency tests for all those applying for the position of municipal manager.

“Those dismissed for misconduct or convicted of an offence are prevented from serving as municipal managers,” Steenhuisen said.

“Now that the regulations have been tabled, the minister must ensure that they become effective without any further delay.”

– SAPA