Johannesburg – By midday, Oscar Pistorius’s bid for freedom looked all over. Police detective Hilton Botha had painted a damning picture of a man injecting testosterone, and shooting his girlfriend as she sought refuge behind a locked bathroom door.

Pistorius, State prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, was a flight risk with a house in Italy, secret foreign bank accounts and a number of cellphones that had never been used.

But by Wednesday afternoon, advocate Barry Roux SC had punched holes in Botha’s testimony, forcing the veteran warrant officer to backtrack and concede that his version might not have been as open and shut as he would have liked.

The bail hearing, which has almost become a trial-within-a-trial, ended inconclusively on Wednesday.

All parties were due back on Thursday to present closing arguments to chief magistrate Desmond Nair.

Taking the stand at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, Botha described Pistorius’s actions on the night his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was killed as not consistent with what a reasonable man would do under those circumstances.

Pistorius faces a charge of premeditated murder.

“I find it difficult to believe that when you hear a noise in your house, you don’t go find your girlfriend to make sure she’s safe and that you decide to face something without knowing where she is,” Botha said.

In his affidavit, read out by Roux on Tuesday, Pistorius alleged he had heard a noise around 3am while bringing a fan in from the balcony of his bedroom. He had then grabbed his gun before going to the bathroom and fired shots at the toilet door. He said he did not know Steenkamp was not in bed as he was too scared to turn on the lights.

Without his prosthetic legs on, Pistorius said, he had felt vulnerable.

“We now have a vulnerable person without his legs, a harmful person in the house, a harmless girlfriend and he wants to protect himself and his girlfriend,” said Roux.

But Botha questioned this.

“You say he was scared, yet he walked towards danger?” the police officer asked.

It was this seesawing between the State and Pistorius’s defence that characterised much of the second day of the athlete’s bail application.

Of particular interest were arguments around reasons why Steenkamp had locked herself in a bathroom at 3am. The defence’s version is that the model locked herself in upon hearing Pistorius shouting that there was an intruder in the house. But the State implied the couple had fought, forcing Steenkamp to lock herself in for safety.

“What do you think she should do? Run into the house where the danger is or safeguard herself in the toilet? Would you lock yourself in the toilet if you were a woman?” asked Roux.

Botha just nodded.

But when re-examined by Nel, Botha said he found it strange that Steenkamp would lock herself up.

“If she was in the toilet and heard her boyfriend shouting, do you think she would have answered?” Nel wondered. In the gallery, the family scoffed at the question, but Botha said “yes”.

In his affidavit, Pistorius said he had been a victim of violence and burglaries. He had also received death threats, prompting him to sleep with a gun under his bed, despite living in a security complex.

But the State disputed his theory of his being a vulnerable crime victim, with Botha saying “he was never a complainant in the police system”.

Nel also questioned how a man supposedly so paranoid of crime could sleep with a sliding door left open less than 2 metres from his bed.

The alleged burglar had also ignored the open sliding door and had gone to the side with a small bathroom window and two dogs.

“Even if you are too small to get through that small window, you’ll have trouble climbing in,” Nel said.

Pistorius has not given evidence to indicate whether the dogs had barked. Neither did a statement by a neighbour who told the police he had heard a woman’s screams and gunshots.

“We got statements from someone who said they saw that lights were on, and went to bed as they didn’t see anything wrong… and thought they had been dreaming. He then heard a woman screaming… then two or three more shots,” said Botha.

This also appeared to cast doubt on Pistorius’s version that when he grabbed his gun, he was not aware his girlfriend was not in bed as it was dark.

But Roux responded sarcastically: “We have a witness who for the whole hour couldn’t sleep… who heard talking and screaming. Where does this person live?”

Botha responded “about 600 metres” away, to rousing laughter.

The police said they had found Steenkamp’s overnight bag and ladies’ slippers on the left side of the bed, and it was on that side that the holster for the gun was also found.

This led the State to question how Pistorius could not have seen his girlfriend when he grabbed the gun.

But the defence, after conceding that Pistorius usually slept on the right side of the bed, said that on that particular night he slept on the left side as he had a shoulder injury.

Inside the bedroom, there were needles and bottles of what police believed to have been testosterone. But Roux grilled Botha on this, saying the stuff confiscated was herbal medication Pistorius was taking, not a banned substance.

Roux also tore apart Botha’s evidence that Pistorius should be denied bail as he had a property in Italy and an offshore account, making him a flight risk.

He stuck to his statement even when Nair had asked: “The accused, using a prosthesis to get around, familiar as he is, will flee the country after getting bail?”

With the kind of money Pistorius has, it was possible for him to get anywhere, responded Botha.

But he failed to substantiate his claims that Pistorius had a house in Italy when Roux confirmed the opposite, only saying: “That’s what I was told.”

Case for bail to be granted

* There is no substance to say there was a deliberate firing of shots at the toilet.

* Offshore account is actually a corporate account and Pistorius can’t simply withdraw money from it.

* He’s an internationally acclaimed athlete and easily recognisable.

State’s reasons against

* He could be a flight risk.

* He has offshore accounts and a house in Italy, and “if you have the kind of financing he has, it is possible to get anywhere”.

* If found guilty, he faces 15 years to life imprisonment.

* If he skipped the country, it would be difficult to extradite him to South Africa.

The Star

By Obakeng Maje

Mogwase-Yet another brutal murder of a woman has been registered in the North West. Mogwase Police are investigating a murder case after the discovery of a burnt body of a woman at Lerome village at Thabeng Section. 

The body was discovered Tuesday at about 10:30am. 

“A body was discovered by community members at an abandoned house. Allegations further states that the neighbours saw a fire burning on sunday night at abandoned house, but they thought maybe children are just playing with fire” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

“On Tuesday morning the neighbours sensed a bad smell coming from the house and went to investigate” he adds. 

Police were alerted and summoned to the scene.

They found a body covered with corrugated iron. 

“It is alleged that there were signs next to the body showing that the deceased has been burnt to death” police said. 

Police discovered a bottle of beer next to the body, which suggests that the deceased was drinking with other people before she was killed. Police believe that the woman is between the age of 25 and 30.

“Foul play is suspected and at this stage no one has been arrested” Brigadier Ngubane said. 

The badly burnt body of a woman was burnt beyond recognition on the face and other body parts. 

Police identified her sexuality through her breasts and toes as there were only parts not burnt to ashes. 

“It is not known at this stage if the woman was raped and her body was taken in for further forensic investigation” Ngubane said. 

A case of murder is been investigated.

Johannesburg – The investigating officer in the Oscar Pistorius murder case has seven charges of attempted murder against him, the police confirmed on Thursday.

“Yes. It is one case with seven charges of attempted murder,” said Gauteng police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila.

He said detective Hilton Botha was first charged back in 2009 but the charges were then provisionally withdrawn. The matter was then referred to the director of public prosecutions (DPP).

“It was only yesterday that we were informed by the DPP that he is being charged,” he said.

Botha is the investigating officer in the murder of Reeva Steenkamp, who was allegedly killed by paralympian Pistorius on Valentine’s Day.

According to Eyewitness News, the charges are related to a shooting incident which occurred while Botha was allegedly drunk.

It is alleged that three policemen, including Botha, were drunk while driving a state vehicle when they opened fire on a minibus taxi loaded with passengers. They were arrested in 2011.

 The EWN report quoted Malila as saying: “There was a decision taken by the DPP’s office to charge the members, each one of them with seven counts of attempted murder. That was the number of people that were in the taxi.”

The detective and two other officers are due to appear in court in May, EWN said.

Malila said there were no plans to pull Botha off the Pistorius case.

“The member is innocent until proven guilty. The member was chosen by the station to do the investigation due to the fact that he is a senior,” Malila was quoted as saying. – Sapa

Kaizer Chiefs continued their dominance at the top of the Absa Premiership table as they came out 3-1 victors at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night. 

Tefu Mashamiate set the tone of the game when he handed the visitors a lead in the fourth minute, before goals from Kingston Nkhatha and Lucky Baloyi wrapped up the victory. 

Stuart Baxter welcomed back the return of Morgan Gould to his defensive unit after having spent six months on the sidelines due to an Achilles injury. 

Eric Mathoho was the one making way for the defenders return as they looked to maintain their position as the log leaders. 

The visitors couldnt have asked for a better start than the one they received when they took the lead four minutes in. 

Siphiwe Tshabalala was on hand to supply a corner into the box, which was flicked on by Gould and directed to Tefu Mashamaite who made no error in tapping it into the back of the net, 1-0. 

That goal didnt seem to unsettle Leopards, however, as they came out with some blistering pace on the counter attack which saw Mongezi Bobe force Itumeleng Khune into making a save shortly after. 

The Chiefs shot-stopper pulled off some heroics, in the 23rd minute, when he performed a fantastic double save which saw him push Abbas Amidus shot onto the upright before gathering the rebound. 

On the half hour, Jean Mugananga hit an ambitious strike from 30-yards out but it went well wide of Khunes goal. 

Leopards insistence paid off when they managed to find a 41st minute equalizer through Josua Obaje. The striker connected to the end of a brilliant supplied cross to beat Khune at the near post, 1-1. 

Abel Makhubela opted to make a change at the start of the second half in which he brought on David Zulu in place of Amidu. 

Chiefs were left ruing their missed chances when Mandla Masango did all the hard work to break into the box and beat his marker, but he failed at the last hurdle in trying to beat Maphaha when he stung the side netting in the 51st minute. 

On the hour, Bernard Parker tested Azwindini Maphaha with his set-piece delivery at goal but the shot-stopper made an acrobatic save to push it around his post. 

Chiefs reclaimed the glory in the 65th minute, when Kingston Nkhatha gathered onto a Reneilwe Letsholonyane through ball to strike a fantastic effort which rattled the back of the net despite Maphaha getting his fingers to it. 

Lucky Baloyi put the icing on the cake with a 94th minute goal with the last touch of the game. 

Black Leopards: (1) 1 (Obaje 41) 

Kaizer Chiefs: (1) 3 (Mashamaite 4, Nkatha 65, Baloyi 94) 

Teams: 

Black Leopards: Maphaha, Khoza, Xakane, Nyirenda, Mabunda, Bobe (H. Zulu 80), Monama, Mugananga, Dzaga, Amidu (D, Zulu 47), Obaje 

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Gould, Mashamaite, Ritchie (Masilela 83), Katsande, Letsholonyane (Baloyi 86), Tshabalala, Masango, Nkhatha (Ngcobo 67), Parker

Johannesburg – Murder suspect Oscar Pistorius only started eating on Tuesday night, said his uncle Arnold.

“He only started to eat last night,” he told eNews Channel Africa on Wednesday.

“Carl and Aimee (Pistorius’s brother and sister) tell me they sit with him and he spends a lot of time reading, especially reading the Bible, as his mother taught him.”

Pistorius has been under arrest since his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in his Pretoria home in the early hours of Thursday last week.

He has been charged with murder, and his bail application is under way in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

Arnold said this had been a tough time for the family, but they stood behind the athlete all the way.

He voiced concern over what he described as his nephew’s “public trial”.

“The case is ongoing and you can judge for yourself… The truth will prevail,” he said.

In the TV interview, Arnold said the Pistorius family has been in contact with the Steenkamps, but respected their privacy and loss.

Asked about allegations that Pistorius had a history of violence, he described Pistorius as a “peacemaker”.

Pistorius was in extreme shock and was grieving in this “emotionally tough time” said his uncle.

“The world will see a different Oscar; nobody can be the same ever again if such a tragedy comes over your life, but he will bounce back and be greater than ever.”

Steenkamp was cremated at a private ceremony in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday. – Sapa

Students and staff members at the North West University Mafikeng Campus celebrated the handover of eight new computer laboratories to various academic departments as a huge milestone in bridging the technological divide.

Prof Sevid Mashego, director for special projects at the institution, recently handed over the facilities to various faculties.

As a result, the campus now boasts a total of 30 laboratories across various schools, faculties and departments.

IT director at the university, Claudia Pietersen, said the computer laboratories would be used for different reasons and activities.

“In trying to keep up with the fast-growing technology, the laboratories have been fully equipped with modern technology and will put students at an advantage, even those not studying computers, giving them access to modern technology,” she said.

In his remarks, Prof Mashego said that the facilities should bridge the digital divide among students and make it easier for their academic life on campus.

“However, it must come as an obligation to the campus community that everyone strives to nurture these facilities and make the utmost use of them.

“These are your properties and you need to use them knowing that others after you would also want to derive benefits from them,” he said.

Campus rector Prof Dan Kgwadi congratulated everyone who played a role in making sure that the projects saw the light of day.

“With a large cohort of students coming to this campus, this is not and can never be enough,” he said.

“But we are committed to bringing the best of facilities to our students.

“We would like to appreciate efforts from the special projects team and everyone who took part in making sure that we have these facilities today.

“Let us make use of them and be counted among the best in e-learning technology.”

Students said they welcomed the development and that the facilities came in handy for those without experience in computer technology and the internet.

for more details go to http://www.thenewage.co.za

The Sekhukhune district municipality and water affairs department officials have warned residents living along the Tubatse River outside Burgersfort not to use the river water because of the presence of cholera in the water.

Yesterday a joint operations teams comprising health, municipal and water affairs officials were inspecting water facilities and sources at the affected places in preparation for emergency measures.

The district municipality, spokesperson Willy Mosoma, said: “Vibrio cholera (bacteria which causes cholera) was discovered in Tubatse River stretching from the De Hoop dam.

“Several villages including Taung, Maseven, Matokomani, Ga-Motodi, Ga-Malekana and many others are affected. Thousands of people can be infected or lose their lives if we don’t act swiftly. This is very serious.”

Mosoma said routine tests on water treatment plants came out positive for cholera on Tuesday.

The provincial health department’s, Sinenhlanhla Gumede said yesterday hospitals in the province were ready to deal with any outbreak of the waterborne disease. “We have no cases of cholera reported in our health facilities this year up to this stage.”

The district municipality said the preventative interim measures taken include deploying 10 water tankers to supply villagers with drinking water.

Symptoms of cholera infections include severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration.

Health authorities said that the disease was infectious and advise people to wash their hands regularly, especially after visiting the loo.

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

ABSA Premiership

Result: Leopards 1-3 Chiefs

Date: 20 Febraury 2013

Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium

Kaizer Chiefs held on to top spot on the league table with a superb 3-1 win away to Black Leopards on Wednesday night.

The Glamour Boys started the game brilliantly and just four minutes in Junaid Mashamaite poked home from the edge of the six-yard area after Siphiwe Tshabalala’s corner had been flicked on by Morgan Gould.

The visitors had another chance two minutes later when Willard Katsande got onto the end of a cross from Tshabalala but his header flashed wide of the target.

Despite conceding early, Leopards settled well and looked dangerous on the counter. They almost created a great chance in the 18th minute when Joshua Obaje skinned his defender before running up the byline. His attempted low cross was blocked by Katsande and Gould got in front of Abbas Amidu to block his shot from close range.

Itumeleng Khune then made two spectacular saves in the 21st minute. First the Bafana stopper went full stretch to push Amidu’s shot onto the post with his fingertips before springing back up to deny Mongezi Bobe on the follow-up.

Keegan Ritchie saw his cross deflected behind after getting in on the flank and although Mashamaite got above the goalkeeper from the resulting corner, his header looped out harmlessly.

Leopards would strike with just four minutes to go in the half though as Obajes converted at the near post after a superb cross from Bobe.

Chiefs started the second period brightly and saw Mandla Masango played in brilliantly but after rounding the goalkeeper, he could only find the side netting.

The visitors then felt Ernort Dzaga should have been sent off on the hour mark after a professional foul on Reneilwe Letsholonyane who was bursting through on goal. The referee awarded the free-kick and produced a yellow card, and Parker saw his strike from the set-piece tipped away by the goalkeeper.

The pressure continued for Chiefs though as they saw a header from a corner blocked on the line and in the 64th minute they would restore their lead as Kingston Nkhatha fired a thunderous strike in at the near post.

Leopards desperately looked for a way back into the game but Chiefs were confident and limited the opportunities for the home side.

Chiefs almost wrapped up the game in the first minute of stoppage time when substitute Sthembiso Ngcobo snatched the ball at the back but he was unable to beat the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

The visitors would finish on a positive note though as Lucky Baloyi smashed the ball into the roof of the net with the last kick of the game after being played in beautifully by Parker.

Leopards: Azwindini Maphaha, Humphrey Khoza, Nkosiyabo Xakane, Harry Nyirenda, Samuel Mabunda, Mongezi Bobe, Raymond Monama, Jean Mugananga, Ernort Dzaga, Abbas Amidu, Joshua Obaje.

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Morgan Gould, Junaid Mashamaite, Keegan Ritchie, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Willard Katsande, Mandla Masango, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bernard Parker, Kingston Nkhatha.

For more details go to http://www.soccerladuma.com

Absa Premiership

Result: Orlando Pirates 1-0 Platinum Stars

Date: 20 February 2013

Venue: Orlando Stadium

Referee: Khulasande Qongqo

Daine Klate scored the winner as Orlando Pirates edged Platinum Stars 1-0 in their Absa Premiership clash.

The victory kept Pirates in second place, two points behind Kaizer Chiefs who also picked up a victory at Black Leopards on Wednesday.

There was a good chance on 18 minutes for Pirates when Klate swung a free-kick into the area, but Takesure Chinyama couldn’t quite get enough power on the header to beat Siyabonga Mpontshane.

On the half hour Dinaledi should have taken the lead when Mogakolodi Ngele ghosted past the challenge of Happy Jele and while his shot had the better of Senzo Meyiwa, it came crashing back off the upright. Patrick Malokase then looked to bury the rebound, but shot just wide.

Seconds later at the other end Innocent Mkhabela was easily dispossessed by Sifiso Miyeni, but his long-range effort failed to draw a save out of Mpontshane.

Platinum Stars’ shooting continued to let them down and shortly before the break it was Robert Ngambi who smashed a chance from the edge of the area well over the bar.

It took seven minutes into the second period for The Sea Robbers to take the lead as Thandani Ntshumayelo did all the hard work by beating two defenders before playing in a perfect cross for Klate to slot into the back of the net. It was a third league goal of the season for the Pirates winger.

Thereafter both teams were lucky to continue with 11 men on the park as Thabo Matlaba reacted angrily to a harsh challenge from Vuyo Mere.

A brilliant reaction save from Senzo Meyiwa then kept Pirates ahead and Mkhabela would have counted himself unlucky not score with his header off a corner.

Matlaba then went on an exciting run up the left and with a fierce shot gave Mpontshane a massive  shock as the ball struck the outside half of the near post.

Dinaledi refused to give up and nearly got the leveller on 88 minutes when substitute Siphelele Mthembu turned his marker and pulled the trigger, but his strike also met the woodwork, much to the frustration of coach Cavin Johnson on the sidelines.

Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa, Happy Jele, Ayanda Gcaba, Lucky Lekgwathi, Thabo Matlaba, Oupa Manyisa, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Andile Jali (Onyekachi Okonkwo 90), Daine Klate (Rudolf Bester 64), Sifiso Myeni, Takesure Chinyama (Collins Mbesuma 71).

Subs: Brighton Mhlongo, Mark Mayambela, Bheki Nzunga, Ndumiso Mabena.

Stars: Siyabonga Mpontshane, Vuyo Mere, Tshepo Gumede, Benson Mhlongo, Luvolwethu Mpeta, Innocent Mkhabela (Roger Majafa 88), Robert Ngambi, Thuso Phala, Patrick Malokase (Siphelele Mthembu 57), Mogakolodi Ngele, Thabani Mthembu (Sibusiso Msomi 65)

Subs: Kagisho Mlambo, Elias Ngwepe, Thabiso Semenya, Solomon Mathe

Goal: Daine Klate (Pirates 52)

For more details go to http://www.soccerladuma.com

Kimberley – A woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing R3.8 million from Child Welfare SA in Kimberley, Northern Cape, the Hawks said on Friday.

The 57-year-old woman was recently appointed assistant financial director in the province’s education department, Captain Paul Ramaloko said.

She was arrested on Thursday.

The woman is accused of transferring social grants into her personal account during 2009 and 2011.

Ramaloko said she would appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on April 12 on 158 counts of fraud. – Sapa