The trial of the man dubbed the “Modimolle monster” and three others is expected to continue in the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Johan Kotze is accused of mutilating and orchestrating the gang-rape of his ex-wife Ina Bonnette, and of murdering his stepson Conrad (19) on January 3, 2012. At the time Bonnette was married to Kotze, but lived in her own flat.

His co-accused, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlane, and Frans Mphaka are accused of kidnapping, assaulting, repeatedly raping, and attempting to murder Bonnette. Kotze had hired the three to do work at his home.

In April, the court heard how Kotze and Bonnette had an agreement that she would have sex with three men. Sithole testified how he translated Kotze’s orders the day Bonnette was attacked in his Modimolle home.

Francois van As, for Mohlane and Mphaka, said his clients were told Kotze and Bonnette agreed she would sleep with three black men and he would arrange it for her.

Van As said Kotze told them his wife was not getting enough sex from him, he was too fat, and he suspected her of cheating. He said his clients did not want to have sex with Bonnette. They wanted their money for the day’s labour and to go home.
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The White House says President Barack Obama is looking forward to his forthcoming visit to South Africa.

It says it will not speculate on how former president Nelson Mandela’s health will affect the trip. Obama and his family will depart on the first leg of their Africa visit on Wednesday.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says their thoughts and prayers are with Madiba, his family and the people of South Africa but would not be drawn on how, if at all, Obama’s visit might be affected by developments in South Africa.

Carney did say Obama was looking forward to the trip and continuing to build on the already strong partnership with the government and people of South Africa.

Earlier, SA President Jacob Zuma indicated the trip would go ahead despite the concerns over Madiba’s health. On Sunday evening, the presidency issued a statement saying Mandela’s condition had worsened and is critical.
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Bloemfontein – The case against one of the men accused of plotting to assassinate ANC leaders in Mangaung was postponed in the Bloemfontein Regional Court on Monday.

The matter was heard in chambers because the psychiatric evaluation of Martin Keevy, 47, at the Free State Psychiatric Complex had not yet been completed. Keevy was sent to the complex for a 30-day evaluation about a month ago.

The matter was postponed to July 2.

Keevy, Hein Boonzaaier, 50, Johan Prinsloo, 49 and Mark Trollip, 49, were arrested on December 16.

They are accused of planning to kill African National Congress leaders by detonating a bomb at the party’s national elective conference in Mangaung.

Magistrate Mziwonke Hinxa denied Keevy, Trollip, and Prinsloo bail in January. Boonzaaier was granted R80 000 bail.

Trollip, Prinsloo, and Boonzaaier were expected to appear in court again in August. – Sapa

Nelspruit – A case of fraud, corruption and forgery against Kaizer Chiefs boss Bobby Motaung and two other men was dropped in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Monday, the SABC reported.

Magistrate Roelf Smith struck the case from the roll, saying he could see no progress into the matter.

The SABC reported that the court heard there were two conflicting letters with instructions about where the case would be heard. Smith also used those letters to justify his decision, according to the broadcaster.

Motaung, his business partner Herbert Theledi, and former Lefika Emerging Equity CEO Chris Gribb were accused of corruption related to the construction of the Mbombela Stadium ahead of the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.

In April, the three accused attempted to have the case struck off the roll. They called for the charges against them to be provisionally withdrawn until the State was better prepared. The court rejected their claims.

The three face a second case, relating to R920 million involving Gribb’s former lawyer Michael Romanos, former Mbombela municipal manager Jacob Dladla, and former Ehlanzeni district municipality technical services manager, Tebogo Kubeka. – Sapa

Cape Town – Democracy – significant and effective political participation and representation – has been the biggest casualty in South Africa’s democratisation process. The biggest losers are citizens and communities whose voices are continuously drowned out of the public participation processes.

Citizens now understand that elections that are held under the “free-and-fair” banner have not necessarily translated into democracy, but are a mere unconditional delegation of power to elected representatives.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Cape Town – There has been a steady stream of relatives and senior politicians to the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria, where a critically ill Nelson Mandela is being treated.

The former president was rushed to the hospital on 8 June with a recurring lung infection.

Ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and daughters Zindzi Mandela and Zenani Mandela were among those who flocked to the hospital on Monday.

Their visits, while common since Mandela was admitted 17 days ago, come amid heightened fears for his health, which was described by President Jacob Zuma as “critical”.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and UDM leader Bantu Holomisa had visited the elder statesman earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, AFP reports that in Washington, the White House said on Monday it was keeping a close eye on developments in view of President Barack Obama’s visit to the country.

A spokesperson said he didn’t want to speculate about the impact of Mandela’s health on the president’s trip.

Obama is due to travel to Senegal on Wednesday and spend the weekend in South Africa before journeying on to Tanzania, on a keenly awaited first big Africa tour of his presidency.

But there has been speculation that if Mandela, 94, passes away in the next few days, the entire trip would be either cancelled or substantially reworked.

– News24

Pretoria – Scores of journalists were milling around outside the Pretoria hospital on Tuesday morning where a critically ill Nelson Mandela is being treated for a recurring lung infection.

At midnight, the news crews made up of mainly international broadcasters, were doing live crossings near one of the Medi-Clinic Heart hospital’s entrances on Celliers Street.

More than 40 cars, including outside broadcast vans, crowded the parking bays outside.

Several generators for back-up power were running through the night and broadcasting equipment including huge lights and cameras had been set up.

The hospital’s Celliers Street entrance was closed and there was minimal activity at the other entrance on Park Street, with only a few reporters camping nearby. Several police cars were patrolling the area and a Tshwane metro police car was parked near the fleet of journalists.

Numerous Mandela family members, politicians and government officials have been visiting the anti-apartheid icon.

Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Madiba’s daughter Makaziwe, left the hospital on Monday night.

Sisulu arrived at the hospital just after 18:00 in a black Mercedes with blue flashing police lights. She and Makaziwe Mandela left just before 20:00.

Some of Mandela’s relatives left the hospital earlier in the day.

First seen leaving on Monday after a visit was grandson Ndaba Mandela, who arrived shortly after Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and daughter Zindzi Mandela-Motlhajwa.

Earlier in the day, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa arrived separately at the hospital.

Condition unchanged

On Sunday night presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement that Mandela’s condition had turned critical.

Addressing the media in a briefing, which was initially scheduled as an off-the-record editors’ briefing, on Monday, President Jacob Zuma said Mandela’s condition had not changed.

“Mandela remains in a critical condition in hospital and doctors are doing everything possible to ensure his well-being and comfort,” Zuma said in Johannesburg.

He and deputy African National Congress president Cyril Ramaphosa visited Mandela at the hospital on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, it was quiet outside Mandela’s Houghton home in Johannesburg on Monday night.

Quiet at Houghton home

A single broadcast vehicle was parked outside the house opposite the ailing statesman’s house.
The house was dark with all curtains closed. Only the ouside lights, in the yard and outside the house, were on.

The street was quiet, with only the occasional armed response patrol passing by.

The stones bearing messages for Mandela such as “God Bless Madiba”, “Thanx father” and “I love you Madiba” as well as cards were still visible in the flower beds in front of the house.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje
Hopetown-Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit are investigating a case of rape which allegedly occurred between March 2012 to December 2012.
The principal of a local High School in Hopetown was arrested on Monday,at approximately 07:30am.
“The suspect is known as Johan Horn (45) and he is accused of raping a 15 year-old scholar at his school” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.
The accused appeared in the Hopetown Magistrates’ Court and was granted a R15000 bail and the case is remanded to 12 August 2013.
The investigation continues.
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North West Traffic Authorities have raised serious concern about the number of drunken drivers on provincial roads, more especially over the weekends.
A concern was raised during the Jaws special operation over the weekend in Rustenburg where more than 17 people were arrested for the same offense.
“Drunken driving is regarded as one of the major contributory factor of road accidents and fatalities in the country, followed by speed, fatigue, driver fitness and vehicle roadworthiness” department spokesperson Simon Mmope said.
MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi calls traffic officials, not to show messy on drunken drivers as they are endangering the lives of other motorist.
He further called on motorists to refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol.
“The high number of drunken drivers is a course for concern. This is too much and we can’t just let lawlessness on our roads. We can’t just let people turning innocent children to be orphans, wives to be widows and husbands to be widowers”.
“Those who choose to drive under the influence do not respect other people’s lives. I have instructed traffic authorities not to be easy on them,” warns Maloyi.
MEC Maloyi further said that traffic Authorities will work 24 hours to make sure that those found on the road while under the influence are stopped before they cause another accident.
According to Traffic Authorities more drunken driving cases are recorded from Thursdays towards the weekend. Authorities have however vowed to focus on drunken driving, which they said will remain their priority project. They said that weekends will never be the same in targeted areas, as they realized that most cases are recorded as from Thursday until Sunday.
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