The North West ANC Provincial Executive Committee is meeting today and among other things to be discussed is the future of embattled  North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, China Dodovu. Dodovu is a suspect in the murder case of ANC Regional Secretary in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, Obuti Chika.

He appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate Court yesterday, his case was postponed to Monday where the bail hearing will continue.

According to Supra Mahumapelo, North West ANC chairperson, the Mangaung conference resolved that steps must be taken against all ANC members who are formally charged with criminal activities. Dodovu is the eighth suspect to be arrested in connection with Chika murder. Other accused are  community member Jeffrey Letuka, 28, North West provincial ANC Youth League chairman Papiki Baboile, 27, ward secretary Paul Molomonyane, 33, councillor Itumeleng Molebatsi, 50, municipal worker William Malefo, 46, Sihlangu Sekhakhane and taxi driver Kgotso Kali, 36.

They were all arrested earlier this month. Chika, 33, was shot at point-blank range in the driveway of his home in Alabama, Klerksdorp, on December 14. He died at Klerksdorp Hospital shortly after his arrival there. He was the ANC’s regional secretary in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality.

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Johannesburg – A woman, who was arrested when the bodies of two babies were found in a chest freezer in KwaMashu, will appear in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The bodies of a four-month-old baby and a newborn were found amongst chicken pieces and meat on January 26, after police received a tip-off from local residents.

The woman had allegedly been running an illegal funeral home called Mabinda Funeral Services.

She had been declared insolvent, and her assets liquidated. Despite this, she allegedly continued running the business.

The bodies were recovered when police conducted an in-loco inspection.

The woman was arrested and charged with contravening the Human Tissue Act. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-A case against eight suspects who are implicated in Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality regional secretary Oubuti Chika murder has been postponed.

NPA sposkesperson Medupi Simasiko said they will oppose a bail for suspects.

“We believe we have a strong case against suspects and we will oppose their bail application” NPA spokesperson said.

“We are convinced that the exhibits we obtain is more essential” Hawks said.

The Hawks outline that their evidence will be presented in court next week.

MEC for Local government and Traditional Affairs China Dodovu said his arrest is “politically-motivated”.

The arrest came after Oubuti Chika was shot in a point-blank at his house in Alabama,near Klerksdorp two days before Mangaung.

He was rushed to hospital and passed on shortly after his arrival.

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Despite the pothole sealing work currently done on First Street in the Industrial Site in Mahikeng, businesses along the street have blamed the local municipality for profit loss due to the road nightmare.

The road on the street has become a disaster with ever increasing deep potholes and motorists experience havoc with large traffic volumes getting stuck during rainy weather.

“I’ve given up hope. In my entire life for 44 years this road has been a crisis and has been reconstructed three times in 1986, 1992 and last year but it remains a ghost. I’ve lost a business and my clients have turned against me because of potholes and mini lakes that occur when it rains and again there is no drainage system,” said Car Care business owner, Andre Davids.

Sharpline Signs company co-owner, Mike Frits said: “Companies doing business with us have disappeared. I’ve lost my vehicle engine since I got stuck when I drove my car through stationary water on this road.

“Our company has been here since 1986 and it does not help patching up the road with soil which is washed away by the rain water.

The municipality has spent tax payers’ money and should now take responsibility for loss of our business profit”.

Nkosinathi Masombuka, a motorist complained about his vehicle wheel alignment. “I use this road going to work everyday. I keep paying for my wheel alignment because the potholes keep damaging my vehicle,” he said.

The road is one of the four projects under investigation by the SIU following unjustifiable expenditure.

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Pretoria – Oscar Pistorius’ representatives have named the substance found in his bedroom after the shooting death of his girlfriend as Testis compositum, and say it is an herbal remedy used “in aid of muscle recovery.”

A product called Testis compositum is also marketed as a sexual enhancer, good for lack of stamina. Some online retailers advertise oral and injectable forms as testosterone boosters.

South African police say they found needles in Pistorius’ bedroom along with the substance, which they initially named as testosterone. Prosecutors later withdrew that statement identifying the substance and said it had been sent for laboratory tests.

Pistorius family spokesperson Lunice Johnston said in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday that the athlete’s lawyers confirmed that the substance is Testis compositum. – Sapa-AP

Klerksdorp – The bail application of eight men implicated in the murder of ANC North West official Obuti Chika was postponed on Wednesday, said the Hawks.

The group appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court and their bail application was postponed to March 4 and 5, said Captain  Paul Ramaloko.

“Next week will be the conclusion of the bail application,” he said.

Chika, 33, was shot at point-blank range in the driveway of his home in Alabama, Klerksdorp, on December 14. He died later in the Klerksdorp Hospital.

Local government MEC China Dodovu was among those arrested for Chika’s murder.

The suspected trigger-man, Sihlangu Sekhakhane, was also arrested. He led police to Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal, where the suspected murder weapon was found.

The other accused are community member Jeffrey Letuka, North West provincial ANC Youth League chairman Papiki Baboile, ward secretary Paul Molomonyane, councillor Itumeleng Molebatsi, municipal worker William Malefo and taxi driver Kgotso Kali. – Sapa

Cape Town – Smokers and drinkers will have to cough and splutter up more for their vices, according to the latest budget proposals.

Beer drinkers will pay seven cents more for a 340ml can.

A bottle of wine will cost 15 cents more, while the price of ciders and alcoholic fruit beverages is set to rise seven cents a litre.

A 750ml bottle of spirits will cost R3.60 more from April 1.

Those who prefer traditional African beer will, however, not be digging deeper into their pockets.

Tax on cigarettes increases by 60c, to R10.92 per packet of 20.

Motorists will feel the pinch again this year, paying a total of 23 cents a litre more for petrol from April 3.

The general fuel levy will go up by 15 cents a litre, with an additional eight cents a litre going to the Road Accident Fund.

For the first time in four years, shoppers are going to have to pay more for plastic bags.

The levy on plastic shopping bags goes up from four cents to six cents this year.

The environmental levy on incandescent light bulbs will also go up a rand, to four rand a bulb.

Those purchasing e-books or downloading music will also be affected.

The SA Revenue Service will require all foreign businesses supplying these services in South Africa to register as VAT vendors.

“In the case of imported services or digital supplies, such as e-books or music, no border post or post office can perform the function as collecting agent, as is the case with physical goods,” according to the 2013 Budget Review.

The document says this means consumers are buying services on websites without paying VAT.

Treasury says the new proposals will bring South Africa in line with international trends. It cites regulations adopted by the European Union, which state that those supplying digital goods must register for VAT in the country where consumers reside.

Sapa