Sexual offences court to be re-opened


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JOHANNESBURG – Deputy Minister of Justice Andries Nel on Friday said courts that will hear sexual offences cases will start operating again before June.

Nel was attending Lead SA’s Stop Rape campaign at Sandown High School in northern Johannesburg.

President Jacob Zuma, other government officials and millions of pupils across the country yesterday took a pledge to reject sexual violence.

The gang-rape and murder of Western Cape teenager Anene Booysen in February led to outrage countrywide.

A call was made for the extra courts to be reopened to deal with the crisis in South Africa; a country which Interpol says is the world’s rape capital. 

Nel said Justice Minister Jeff Radebe would make the announcement about when courts would be reopened.

“There are approximately 58 courts that we believe would be ready in the very, very near future top to activated.

“The minister will be making more detailed announcements [soon].”

Booysen (17) was raped, mutilated and left for dead at a construction site in Bredasdorp.

Two men are being accused of her rape and deat

For more details go to http://www.ewn.co.za

We’re ready,says Baxter


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Kaizer Chiefs Head Coach Stuart Baxter lamented the strange scenario faced by the two teams as Kaizer Chiefs will be hosting Bidvest Wits in the ABSA Premiership league fixture on Saturday, 2 March at the FNB Stadium. 

 

Baxter spoke to kaizerchiefs.com ahead of the much anticipated clash; It is a strange situation to face the same team back to back in a space of a week. It doesnt mean that the results of last week will be repeated or have an influence in tomorrows game no it is a totally different ball game and hence we are preparing accordingly. We are trying to create a coaching environment that can give us the results. Its all about group performance and on the day we hope to produce what we prepared at the training grounds depending on the dynamics of the game on the day. 

 

Amakhosi will be missing the services of George Lebese who joined Jimmy Tau (Started light training) and Jimmy Jambo on the injury list. Also missing for this encounter are the services of the hard tackling midfielder Willard Katsande who picked up a fourth yellow card against Wits last weekend at Mbombela Stadium in the Nedbank Cup. Baxter was optimistic under the circumstances; Since the beginning of the league we have faced challenges in terms of missing key players in different positions but we are continuing to rally ahead with whoever takes the field. 

 

The two teams met in the first round of the 2012/13 PSL Season in the league in September 2012 with Amakhosi emerging 3-1 conquerors with Bernard Parker scoring a brace and Lehlohonolo Majoro sealing the victory after Calvin Kadi pulled one goal back for the Students. 

 

The former Chiefs players, Thomas Sweswe and Tinashe Nengomashe, will share the battlefield with fellow Zimbabwean countrymen Kingston Nkhatha, Lincoln Zvasiya and Matthew Rusike, which should add some spice to the clash. 

 

The game is scheduled for 18:00 kick-off and tickets are selling at R40 for Adults and R10 for Scholars at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers nationwide.

Kelly Khumalo and her manger,go separate ways


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On the reality show “Rolling with Kelly Khumalo“  Kelly Khumalo and Sarah Setlaelo were an inseparable duo of manager and artist, and looked like they had a prosperous future together conquering the entertainment industry. Sadly, it seems like it wasnt meant to be for the two.

For more details go to http://www.drum.co.za

Oscar an avid gun collector in 2012


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Johannesburg – An official at a South African gun collectors’ club where Oscar Pistorius was a member says he steadily became an avid collector of firearms in his Olympic year. He says Pistorius bought a collection of pistols and shotguns, all American manufactured, his favorite.

John Beare, vice chairman of the Lowveld Firearm Collectors Association, told The Associated Press that Pistorius also purchased a semi-automatic rifle for his expanding collection at the end of 2012.

That coincided with the early stages of Pistorius’ romance with Reeva Steenkamp, the model he shot and killed at his home in the early hours of February 14.

Prosecutors have charged Pistorius with premeditated murder for killing Steenkamp with three of four shots fired from his 9 mm pistol. Pistorius said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder. – Sapa-AP

Cops arrested for taxi driver’s murder


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Johannesburg – The eight policemen implicated in the killing of an East Rand taxi driver were arrested on Friday, the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID) said.

All eight will be charged with murder, said IPID spokesman Moses Dlamini.

“I cannot disclose which police station they are being held at but it’s not Daveyton… They will appear in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court on Monday,”

Mido Macia, 27, a taxi driver and Mozambican national, was tied to the back of a police van and dragged along the street in Daveyton, on the East Rand, on Tuesday.

An eyewitness filmed the assault. Macia died in the local police station’s cells later that day. – Sapa

A Kimberley man sanctioned to 59 years in prison


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Pic: (HANS WILLEMSE)

BY Obakeng Maje

The Griekwastad Regional Court sentenced Hans Willemse(30) to 59 years imprisonment for a series of crimes he committed between 20 and 25 April 2011 police said.

“In 2011he was arrested for theft and house breaking in Groblershoop and sentenced for two years in prison” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

” The accused escaped while on his way to Douglas prison. He dispossessed an officer who was escorting him. The accused then fled to a farm near Griekwastad where he set a farm house alight and shot at through the window” police said.

“Three of the four persons inside the house managed to escape and the accused raped a 43 year-old female four times” Kock said.

“The accused then fled to another a nearby farm where he broke into the farm house, stole clothes, food and slaughtered a sheep. The police search party comprising of the Tactical Response unit, SAPS Airwing,  SAPS K9, Douglas SAPS and Griekwastad SAPS under the command of Colonel Avril Wentzel, managed to arrest him on the fifth day after his escaped from police custody” police said.

The accused was arrested while hiding in a farm near Griekwastad on 25 April 2011.

The police confiscated the stolen firearm, ammunition and a knife from him.

The Griekwastad Regional Court sentenced the accused on 13 counts of offences.

Count 1 and 2 for rape- imprisoned for 22 years.

Count 3 and 4 for rape – 18 years.

Count 5 for escaping from lawful custody – 3 years.

Counts 6(illegal possession of firearm)

7(discharge of firearm in a public place),

8(pointing of firearm) and count 9(pointing of firearm) were put together and the accused received 6 years imprisonment.

Count 10 for arson – 3 years

Count 11 for possession of dangerous weapon – 2 years

Count 12 for Stock Theft – 2 years

Count 13 for House breaking and theft – 3 years.  

A 53 year old policeman who was disarmed by the accused was eventually dismissed.

“The Kimberley Cluster Commander, Major General Jean Abrahams commended the two investigation officers, Detective Capt James Oliphant and Detective Sergeant JJ Geyers for their excellent services and investigations which led to this good sentencing.

The farming community in the surrounding areas are also commended for their assistance with regard to the whereabouts of the accused.

This truly portrays partnership policing at its best.” police said.               

 

Municipal worker,wife arrested for fraud


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BY Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Commercial Crime Unit is investigating corruption and fraud charges following the arrest of a prominent member of the Karoo Hoogland Municipality in Williston and his wife last night Kimberley police said.

“The two were arrested in connection of fraud and corruption amounted to R 600 000-00” Lieutenant Andrea Cloete said.

Police said two suspects were detained at the Mosselbay Police Station after the arrest and were transported back to Williston Police Station for bail application.

They will appear at Williston Magistrate Court on Monday.

Police investigation continues.

Community warned about hospital jobs scam


ImageCommunity members in the Madibeng area have been urged to be on the lookout for people going around townships in the area recruiting people for jobs in the name of the Brits District Hospital management.

The provincial health department and hospital management have appealed to the public to report such bogus cases to the police.

Hospital CEO Themba Mhlanga said that the hospital was a state institution governed by government’s recruitment and selection policy and the hospital could not deviate from it at any time.

Hospital human resource manager Naledi Motlhabane said: “For any government posts including at the hospital, standard procedure must always be followed.”

He added that posts advertised should have the following details: name of the post, reference number, salary, centre (Brits District Hospital), academic requirements and many other things.

“Other things to look for are duties, enquiry person, contact numbers and addresses, the name of the person to forward the application and closing date. They are often advertised in newspapers as well,” he said. 

For more details go to www.thenewage.co.za

Arrest rumours untrue


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The Hawks have squashed rumours that spread in the province on Wednesday that public safety MEC Nono Maloyi had been arrested in connection with ANC activist, Obuti Chika’s murder.

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter were abuzz with allegations that Maloyi had become the second high ranking ANC official to be arrested for the murder.

This came on the back of ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu’s arrest on Monday.

However, Hawks spokesperson Capt Paul Ramaloko said there was still room for more arrests in the case.

“I can confirm that no other MEC has been arrested in this case but we are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests. We are still investigating the case and that may lead to the arrest of more suspects,” he said.

Maloyi’s office also came out with a statement castigating the rumours as cheap and unfounded.

Public safety department spokesperson Simon Mmope said Maloyi was considering opening a defamation suit against anyone found to have started the rumour.

“The department wishes to put it on record that the MEC is highly on duty and is proceeding with his day-to-day programme of government. We would like to dismiss all allegations and put it on record that they are all lies and propaganda. The MEC is a law abiding citizen who will never be part of any form of illegal activity,” said Mmope.

He added that the rumour was an unfortunate disturbance on governance and an attack on Maloyi’s good name.

“The MEC has vowed to trace the source of these unfounded and malicious allegations. He has been advised to open a case of crimen injuria with the police,” Mmope said.

Maloyi is said to have called on the police to speedily resolve the investigation around Chika’s murder “without fear or favour and let justice take its course”.

Meanwhile, Dodovu, together with seven other suspects, were remanded in custody until next week, when a ruling on their bail application would be heard.

Ramaloko said the State would oppose the bail applications of all the suspects.
– See more at: http://thenewage.co.za/85262-1017-53-Arrest_rumours_untrue#sthash.RxvfB3Sx.dpuf

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SACP, Cosatu express shock at Dodovu’s arrest


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The SACP and Cosatu have expressed disappointment in ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu, who is among eight suspects arrested for ANC regional secretary Obuti Chika’s murder.

Chika was gunned down at his home in the early hours of December 14 last year, two days before the ANC elective conference in Mangaung.

SACP provincial secretary Madoda Sambatha and his counterpart at Cosatu, Solly Phetoe, said they were shocked and disappointed at Dodovu’s alleged involvement in Chika’s killing.

“It is deeply regrettable that the name of the people’s movement, the ANC, is being associated with such regressive and appalling events,” Sambatha said.

He commended the police for the speedy arrests of the suspects and expressed hope that Chika’s family would find closure.

“They (police) must do their job and ensure that all those involved be brought to book irrespective of stature or affiliation. The SACP would like to appeal to members of the alliance to separate acts of individuals from the ANC.”

Phetoe called on ANC members to allow the law to take its course and not be divided along factional lines over the arrests, as was the case during the trial into the death of whistleblower ANC councillor Moss Phakoe last year.

“We want to repeat what we said during the case of the late Moss Phakoe, who was killed and the case took almost four years while the so-called ‘hands-off and hands-on’ were dividing the ANC.

“We appeal to everybody to let the law do what it is expected to do. Those who are implicated, those who played a role in the killing of Chika must face the court and explain to the public why they killed the leader of the ANC,” he said.

He added that those arrested should tell the truth.

“The law must do its duty, whether it is the MEC or a councillor, a worker or anybody who was part of the plan; they must face the music,” he said.
For more details go to www.thenewagae.co.za