Pretoria – Paralympian Oscar Pistorius knew he was firing at his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp the night she was killed in his house, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.

“I believe he knew she was in the bathroom and he shot four shots in the bathroom and killed her,” investigating officer Hilton Botha testified.

He was responding to questions from prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who is opposing an application for bail by Pistorius.

In an affidavit on Tuesday, Pistorius told the court he thought he was firing shots at an intruder in the bathroom.

Steenkamp was shot dead early on February 14 at Pistorius’ home in Pretoria.

Earlier Botha told the court 29-year-old Steenkamp was shot three times through the bathroom door, with wounds to her head, elbow and hip.

Botha said the shots were not fired straight at the toilet door, but rather “directly to the toilet, the basin itself.”

“If you walk in directly and fire straight at the door you will miss the toilet,” he said, suggesting Pistorius had been aiming. – Sapa

BY Obakeng Maje

North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo said “2013 is the year we declare war on corrupt police” she said.

This year   we will ensure that we root out all the rotten apples amongst us, we want upright Policemen and women” Mbombo said.

In making sure that her words become a reality the North West Anti- Corruption Unit of the Hawks arrested other two police officials on alleged charges of corruption police said. This happened just few weeks after one officer was arrested in Zeerust in January and two officers arrested in Rustenburg in February.

“It is alleged that the two Warrant Officers who are both aged 50, with 25 years of service contacted the complainant on the 21 January 2013 regarding information of explosives at Kanana, Klerksdorp that they have received from an informant” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said. 

“A trap was set and that led to the arrest of both suspects at Orkney for possession of explosives” he said.

The Warrant Officer advised the complainant to register R10 000-00 informers claim and submitted an identity document of a person whom he said is the informant.

It was established that both members also approached members of the explosives unit to assist them in submitting an informer’s claim.

The complainant was again contacted and told that the informer received other information regarding a big consignment of explosives.

” However, the information was to be supplied once the R10 000-00 is paid out. A controlled action was conducted and both suspects were arrested on charges of Contravention and Combating of Corrupt activities Act” Ngubane adds.

They were also arrested on 23 December 2012 for corruption after being stopped and searched while trying to sell a television that was recovered during an operation from the suspect.

The latter was also forced to pay R2500.00 and allowed to go free said police.

“According to information received, they were arrested while on the way to the bank to withdraw money as there would-be buyer had only R470.00” he said.

“They were found in found in possession of the money and the television. All this occurred while the departmental investigation was on. The two appear at Vierfontein Magistrate Court yeaterday and they will be back in court after seven days” Brigadier outlines.

Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo urged members of the public to ensure at all times that they report corrupt activities by SAPS members.

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Kaizer Chiefs will be looking to consolidate their position on top of the Absa Premiership standings when they visit Black Leopards at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Wednesday, 20 February 2013.

The Glamour Boys go into the encounter high in confidence having returned to the top of the league standings following their moral boosting win against Free State Stars. The Technical Team was pleased with the player’s “attitude” and “mental strength” which will go a long way in seeing the Club achieving its objectives come the end of the season.

Chiefs have an edge in this fixture having claimed eight wins, four draws while the hosts have won five.

Leopards do not have a great home record against the Soweto side, with five losses and just two wins from eight meetings.

The encounter between the two sides early in the season will forever be remembered for being interrupted by the hail storm at the time when the Glamour Boys were on cruise control leading by 2-0 courtesy of Bernard Parker and Kingston Nkhatha.

Chiefs won the replay of that game later thanks to goals from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker.

The clash will also see former Chiefs players, Abbas Amidu and stylish Michael Nkambule coming up against their former teammates, while Kingston Nkhatha should relish an opportunity to renew friendship with his former teammates at Black Leopards. 

Kick-off is at 19:30

For more details go to www.kaizerchiefs.com

BY Obakeng Maje

Bethanie: A 38 year old female appeared before Ga-Rankua Magistrate Court on Monday for allegedly stabbing a 33 year old man to death with a knife North West police said.

The incident took place at around 23:00  on Saturday at Bapong Section, Bethanie. 

“It is alleged that the  deceased was sitting at the suspect’s house with his friend drinking beer. According to information available at this stage, the suspect arrived drunk and began to argue with the deceased when asked not to make noise because kids were asleep” Colonel Emelda Setlhako said. 

“It is suspected that a deceased was also drunk when the argument started. The argument allegedly led the two to a fight whereby the suspect stabbed deceased on his left side of the chest and the latter fell to the ground” Setlhako said. 

He was transported to Bapong Community Clinic, but died on arrival.

A case of murder was registered and the suspect, Mpho Mohasa,38 was arrested and will reappear before the court today for bail application.

Investigation continues.

Pretoria – A charge of possession of unlicensed ammunition will be added to Oscar Pistorius’ murder docket, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.

This was after rounds for a .38 special firearm were found in a safe in Pistorius’ room while police investigated the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Investigating officer Hilton Botha said Pistorius had a licence for a 9mm pistol.

This was the firearm mentioned in Pistorius’ affidavit on Tuesday when he said he shot Steenkamp.

Steenkamp was shot dead in the early hours of February 14 in a bathroom in Pistorius’ home.

The State is refuting his affidavit that he thought there was a burglar in the bathroom when he fired four shots — three of which hit her.

Answering State prosecutor Gerrie Nel, Botha said there were four shots through the bathroom door, and four cartridges found on the floor.

One projectile hit a wall.

Botha said that when police arrived, they found two Blackberry phones in Pistorius’ room, and two iPhones in the bathroom. Botha said the phones had not been used “in months”.

In his affidavit Pistorius said he had called Netcare emergency services but Botha said these phones had not been used.

The court then adjourned so that a diagram of the bathroom could be displayed in the court.

This was part of Nel’s argument in opposition to the granting of bail. – Sapa

Grabouw – The daughter of a Grabouw councillor is the latest gang-rape victim – by two men she considered good friends and who were trusted by her family.

The 22-year-old, with her leg shaking uncontrollably, on Tuesday told the Cape Times about her ordeal on Saturday. She cried as she recalled how the two suspects pushed her against a wall and took turns to rape her.

Her father decided to go public, saying the justice system failed rape victims because his daughter’s attackers were released on R500 bail each.

“The bail means there is something seriously wrong with the justice system. I don’t know if it’s just here in Grabouw or everywhere, but we are not happy about that,” the father said.

This case comes exactly three weeks after the rape and murder of Anene Booysen, 17, of Bredasdorp.

The woman said: “I never suspected anything before because we were good friends and I trusted them.”

She used to date one of the men, whom she has known since 2006. The other suspect was her sister’s boyfriend for the past 18 months. Her sister broken up with him after the rape.

Her father said: “I know both guys very well and I am shocked because… they came into my house all the time. They were like my children.”

The victim was at a club with the two suspects and her boyfriend on Friday evening and then slept at her boyfriend’s house.

On Saturday morning, the two suspects came to the boyfriend’s house and she got a lift home with them.

“My boyfriend and I were fine with them taking me home because we have all been friends for so long and we always hang out,” she said.

The two men decided to buy beers, which the woman said she shared with them but later asked go home because she was tired from the night before.

They went to the one suspect’s house where she again complained that she was tired and the one suspect offered her a room to sleep in.

He followed her into the room. The second suspect came in and locked the door behind him. Then they raped her.

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

Pretoria – When the investigating officer arrived at Oscar Pistorius’ home he found the lifeless body of Reeva Steenkamp lying at the bottom of the staircase.

Pistorius is charged with the murder of the law graduate and model at his home in the early hours of February 14.

He has denied the allegation in an affidavit, but has not pleaded yet to the charge. He said he shot through a bathroom door, thinking there was an intruder, and not realising the person inside was Steenkamp.

In response to the defence’s application for more information, State prosecutor Gerrie Nel submitted a witness statement from the investigating officer Hilton Botha, who has been in the police service for 16 years.

Botha described to the packed courtroom that: “She was wearing a white short and a black vest and was covered in towels.”

He indicated Steenkamp had three entrance wounds, one in the head just above the ear, one in her elbow and one in the hip.

Botha said an alternative charge of possession of illegal ammunition could be added as several rounds of .38 special caliber bullets were found in a safe in Pistorius’ bedroom.

Botha was also describing to the court the layout of Pistorius’ home and the scene he found.

Botha told the court that a pair of female slippers were found on the left hand side of the bed and Steenkamp’s overnight bag was found on a couch in the room.

He indicated that one cartridge was found in the passageway between the bedroom and the bathroom and three more cartridges were found in the bathroom.

Pistorius’ 9mm pistol was found on a shower mat in front of the shower. Two iPhones were also in the bathroom.

Botha told the court neither of the cellphones had been used to make calls. Two Blackberry handsets were also found in the bedroom and they had not been used in months.

Botha testified that the bathroom door was broken and a cricket bat was found on the floor.

The State will also submit a witness statement that there was non-stop fighting at Pistorius’ home on the morning Steenkamp was shot dead, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.

“The accused’s actions and phone calls on the night is part of pre-planning,” Nel said earlier on Wednesday.

Asked whether he opposed bail for Pistorius, Nel said: Yes, because he is a flight risk.”

He said they didn’t want “another Dewani”, referring to applications to extradite Shrien Dewani from the United Kingdom. Dewani is accused of murdering his wife Anni while on honeymoon in South Africa.

Nair asked Nel how serious the crime was.

“It’s a very serious crime. A defenceless woman was gunned down,” he said.

Earlier on Wednesday Pistorius’s brother was seen leaving the Brooklyn police station after an early morning visit .

Journalists and photographers ran after Carl snapping pictures and trying to get him to comment, but he just got into his car and drove off.

Pistorius was once again shielded from the media when he was taken to court with the car windows closed with car mats.

Police at the Brooklyn police station once again tried to fool the media by using two cars but the small group of journalists were a step ahead of the police. Both of the station’s exits were covered and journalists were able to see that a person who had his face covered in one of the cars was not Pistorius.

And at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court his family arrived shortly after 8am and were escorted to the courtroom by security members.

Back on Wednesday morning, businessman Kenny Kunene arrived looking fly in jeans and a blue blazer with red trimming and white sunglasses.

One again their was a battle for the media trying to get seats in court c or the additional courtroom which was set up to transmit proceedings. Those who got the nod were given armbands.

Despite the case being broadcast on a big screen, members of the media still wanted to see Pistorius in the flesh.

Photographers were allowed into the courtroom for a few minutes to take photographs of Pistorius’ family. They were then asked to leave the courtroom by court personnel as no pictures of Pistorius will be allowed.

Outside there was little activity, with none of the crowds of Tuesday.

A woman dressed in the colours of the ANC Women’s League and carrying a poster also slipped into the court building.

Pretoria News, Sapa

By Staff Reporter

The Provincial Development Plan, roll out of Infrastructure development projects, job creation and interventions to improve service delivery are expected to feature prominently in North West Premier Thandi Modise’s State of the Province Address to be delivered in the Provincial Legislature on Friday 22 February 2013.

The Premier’s speech to mark the opening of the North West Provincial Legislature is to be broadcast Live on Motsweding FM, North West FM and Regional Community Radio Stations as from 10h00 to 11h00 and is expected to outline achievements, challenges and programme of action to accelerate service delivery and increase the momentum to drive back unemployment, reduce economic inequality and poverty.The speech will be steamed live on www.nwstateoftheprovinceaddress.org.

In his State of the Nation Address delivered last week, President Jacob Zuma announced that he have asked for work in the province to be fast-tracked further in light of the huge backlogs in that province, especially electricity, schools, clinics, roads and water in the next two years.

The Programme of Action for 2013 to be announced by Premier Modise will cover the five priorities – education, health, the fight against crime, creating decent work as well as rural development and land reform.

The Premier will among others also pronounce on the Provincial Development Plan, ICT rollout ,local government turnaround strategy, Clean Audit 2014,uprooting corruption, strengthening partnerships for moral regeneration, the fight against the scourge of rape, HIV and Aids, rhino poaching, social cohesion and the crime in general.

In the aftermath of Marikana, the speech by Premier Modise will also reflect on implementation of social labour plans, the challenges facing the mining sector, the proposed restructuring by Amplats, recent spate of violence in the mining sector and the need to safe jobs in the platinum mining sector.

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By Obakeng Maje

Brits-Police are investigating a murder case which took place in Elandsrand on Monday at about 10:55. 

This is after a 58 year old man was allegedly hit with a brick and shot dead with a firearm said police.  

“It is alleged that the man was at his house yard with his domestic worker when he went inside the house to fetch his cell phone charger” colonel Emelda Setlhako said. 

“The domestic worker heard a person screaming from the house and when she went to investigate what was happening” Setlhako asserted. 

She was surprised to find the man physically fighting with the suspect / unknown man.

According to the information received, the gunshot was fired and the suspect fled. 

The Police, Emergency Medical Services as well as Security Companies were called at the scene of crime whereby the man was found lying dead with blood stains, multiple gunshot wounds and severe bruises. 

“He was then taken to Brits Government Mortuary. The suspect is still at large and investigations continue” Police said.

Police would like to urge members of the community to assist with any information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect by contacting the Investigating Officer, W/O Moses Mmatli on 079 222 8954.   

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By Obakeng Maje

A fight against illegal smuggling of cigarettes and other illegal goods at the Port of Entry is very rife that the police have intensified the fight against it and ensure that those who commit such crimes are brought to book North West police said. 

In less than two days just after police have recovered an illicit cigarettes worth R274 480.00 on Thursday last week at Ramatlabama Port of Entry and on Saturday at Kopfontein Port of Entry, three suspects were arrested for illicit cigarettes worth R1 102 398.00.

“Yet again Kopfontein Port of Entry recovered illicit cigarettes worth R467.720.00 on Monday at about 20:30” colonel Emelda Setlhako said. 

“According to the information, the police were performing their daily routine duties at arrival and search point for heavy motor vehicles when a truck driven by a 30 year old Botswana National male was searched” she said.

The driver was requested to open the rear door of the truck in order for the search to be conducted. While searching, the police noticed the truck had a false compartment.  “They noticed that the length of the truck’s outside is not the same with the one inside” she adds. 

The police opened the false compartment of the truck with a crow-bar and discovered 3904 cartons of Remington gold, Pacific blue & Sevilles cigarettes estimated at R467 720 00.  

The packages of these cigarettes were found without stamp impression which is a requirement in terms of section 54 (2) of Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964 as amended. 

“The goods were seized in terms of section 88 of Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964.

The suspect informed the police that  his manager a 38 year old  Zimbabwean national was escorting him” setlhako said.

A case of smuggling of illicit cigarettes was registered at Nietverdiend Police Station. 

The two suspects  were detained at Nietverdiend police station and will appear at Lehurutshe Magistrate Court on today.

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