Pretoria –  As Modimolle Monster Johan Kotzé’s victim looked at the men found guilty on Monday of kidnapping and gang raping her, a friend said: “You are allowed to cry Ina Bonnette. You are allowed to cry.”

Judge Bert Bam found Kotzé, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlake and Sello Mphaka guilty of kidnapping and of four charges relating to the rape of Bonnette.

Asked how she felt about the judgment, Bonnette said: “I am okay”. She declined to give further comment.

Kotzé and Sithole were also found guilty of killing Bonnette’s 19-year-old son, Conrad.

The other two co-accused were acquitted on the murder charge.

Kotzé hugged friends in the gallery before being taken down to the holding cells.

He had denied guilt, and claimed he could not be held accountable for his actions on 3 January 2012, the day he murdered Bonnette’s son and tortured her in his Modimolle home.

Sithole, Mohlake, and Mphaka claimed Kotzé threatened to shoot them if they did not co-operate.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Medupi Simasiku welcomed the judgment.

“Yes, we are happy and we hope it brings closure to the family.”

He hoped the judgment would serve as a lesson that these types of crimes did not go unpunished.

The matter was postponed to Tuesday morning for arguments in mitigation of sentencing. SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Lichtenburg-North West police made a break-through when they arrested three suspects in connection of illicit cigarettes. The three suspects were arrested on Saturday,after police received information about suspicious truck from Potchefstroom.

“Lichtenburg Police immediately responded to the tip-off and conducted the search. They saw the suspicious truck with given description and stopped it” sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said.  Moiloa said a thorough search and inspection were conducted and police discovered illicit cigarettes that were hidden behind a charcoal inside the truck.

“The Shasha and Chelse cigarettes worth R188 500.00 and police arrested three suspects” she said

Two South Africans and a Bangladesh National aged 32,34 and 36 were subsequently arrested. 

Upon questioning,they alleged that were taking the cigarettes to Keerom Farm outside Lichtenburg. 

The police went to the farm to investigate and allegedly found more cigarettes worth R459 325.49 hidden in a warehouse in the farm.  

“It is alleged that cigarettes were in transit to Lenasia in Johannesburg” Moiloa said. 

Abdul Rehman (36) Mahomed Patel (32) and Milon Kumar (34) appeared before Lichtenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday,and the case was postponed until Thursday for bail application. 

“The suspects were remanded in custody and the acting Provincial Commissioner, General Naidoo expressed his words of gratitude to members of Lichtenburg and Potchefstroom Clusters for making sure that the perpetrators were put behind bars” police said. 

“We will ensure that illicit dealing like this,are dealt with effectively”, said Major General Naidoo.  

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT

By Obakeng Maje

In an effort to improve adherence to HIV/AIDS treatment and patient outcomes in the North West province, the Department of Health has to date initiated a total number of 6342 eligible HIV positive patients on new Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) pill treatment since its introduction in April 2013.

The number includes 2882 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, 3229 new infections and 231 patients that were switched from the three drugs to FDC due to side effects or adverse events.

“The new pill is a combination of all three antiretroviral pills – emtricitabine, efavirenz and tenofovir. It is being administered to all newly diagnosed patients that are eligible to be put on ARV treatment, pregnant women and HIV positive breastfeeding mothers” departmental spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said. 

The Department of Health said the pill is easy to take, highly effective with fewer or no side effects and it is in no way inferior to taking three individual drugs.

“A significant number of clinical health professionals in the province have already been trained on the FDC to rollout to eligible groups in 315 health facilities currently providing antiretroviral treatment” MEC Magome Masike said. 

Health MEC Dr. Magome Masike has expressed his contentment with the department’s progress in rolling out FDC.

“We are also happy with the progress we are making in the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, I must say that there is more that needs to be done especially in getting more men to test,” says MEC Magome Masike.

The North West Province is currently providing antiretroviral treatment to about 186 777 patients.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Pretoria – The so-called Modimolle monster, Johan Kotze, and his three co-accused Andries Sithole, Piet Mohlane and Sello Mphaka have been found guilty of the gang rape of Ina Bonnette, Kotze’s ex wife.

They were all four also found guilty on charges of robbery, kidnapping and assault with the intention of bodily harm.

Kotze and Sithole were also found guilty of the murder of Bonnette’s son Conrad.

The verdict was handed down in the Pretoria High Court by Judge Bert Bam.

The court is set to adjourn again at 8.30 am on Tuesday for sentencing arguments.

Bam called Bonnette a believable witness.

“It wouldn’t have been strange if she was at times unsure of events,” Bam said in his judgment.

Kotze had denied guilt, and has claimed he cannot be held accountable for his actions that day.

Sithole, Mohlane, and Mphaka claimed Kotze threatened to shoot them if they did not co-operate.

Bam said Bonnette was cross-examined by three experienced attorneys. He said this must have been traumatic and painful for her.

“She is just a human being. Any person makes mistakes,” Bam said.

He said it was not uncommon for a witness, who was as emotional as Bonnette, to be unsure at times. He said she was not a perfect witness, and that it was not realistic to think such a person existed.

“There was a sound of truth .”

One of many examples of this was her testifying that, after the rape, she pleaded with her eyes for Kotze’s three co-accused to help her.

“It is unlikely that any witness would think of something like that,” said Bam. – Sapa

Kaizer Chiefs will be going into their 2013/14 title defending season with a new jersey, with the Nike having unveiled the PSL’s champions new home kit.

Having replaced last season’s league and cup double winning home jersey, the new kit is a minimalist design, with the return of of the gold.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Durban – Disposing of harmful electronic waste (e-waste) with everyday refuse is harmful to the environment and a waste of money that could be made through recycling.

For http://www.iol.co.za

The recent sharp increase in cases before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) was an early warning indicator that the economy was heading for extremely tough times, Nerine Kahn, the executive director of the statutory body, said last week.

She also said that for the first time in its 17-year history skilled professionals were referring cases to the CCMA.

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

An application by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) to stop platinum miner Lonmin [JSE:LON] from de-recognising it was struck off the roll by the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Monday.

“The matter is struck off the roll for lack of urgency. The applicant is ordered to pay the costs,” Judge Rob la Grange said.

“NUM did not need to wait until it saw the notices before raising the alarm about the situation. In any event, it could have pressed for notices as soon as it was advised orally of the membership situation at the beginning of April this year,” he said.

NUM wanted the court to stop Lonmin from de-recognising it, claiming it had detected irregularities in the transfer of its members to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

The NUM also wanted the court to reverse the membership of those who had joined Amcu.

NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the ruling was a minor setback.

“We are meeting at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on Wednesday. We knew from last week that the court has no jurisdiction.”

He said the NUM would speak to its lawyers about what would happen to the offices it occupied at Lonmin’s Marikana operations near Rustenburg, North West.

The NUM had until July 16 to recruit more members and retain its majority union status, or vacate the offices.

Source: http://www.news24.com

A man appeared in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning for allegedly setting alight his ex-girlfriend, resulting in her death.

Roger Lucas, 24, wearing a blue tracksuit top and khaki pants, was led into courtroom A after being kept in custody.

He was told that the charge against him had been changed from attempted murder to murder, after Nazeema Terreblanche died in hospital at the start of the month.

He told the court it was the first time he had heard of the new charge.

The case was postponed until 31 July for Lucas to get a lawyer and for further investigation.

Lucas allegedly attacked Terreblanche on 14 June. The Daily Voice reported that Lucas and Terreblanche had been arguing. 

He allegedly poured petrol over her – while she carried a friend’s baby – and struck a match. The baby sustained minor burns to his feet.

It was believed that Terreblanche was pregnant at the time of the attack.

SAPA

Pretoria – There was little activity outside the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria on Monday, where former president Nelson Mandela is being treated for a recurring lung infection.

The anti-apartheid icon is spending his 38th day in the private hospital since being admitted on 8 June.

Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe Mandela arrived at the Park Street entrance shortly after Surgeon General Aubrey Sedibe.

At the Celliers Street entrance the display of well-wishes on the wall continued to grow. Hand-made cards, balloons, flowers, and flags of different countries covered the wall.

Handful of reporters

Tshwane metro police continued to cordon-off Celliers Street, restricting traffic to residents, hospital visitors, and cars belonging to media. Police at both entry points searched cars entering the hospital premises.

Outside broadcast vehicles remained parked on the Celliers Street pavement, and a handful of reporters were doing live crossings.

On Sunday, it was reported that former president Thabo Mbeki said he believed Mandela would be discharged soon to recuperate at home.

Mbeki reportedly said he knew the ailing elder statesman’s doctors and they were doing an excellent job.

The last update from the presidency said Madiba was responding to treatment and still in a critical but stable condition.

SAPA