By Obakeng Maje
Bodibe-Itsoseng Police are investigating two cases of arson after two houses were allegedly set alight by community members in Ditshwaneng and Shaleng sections in Bodibe village, North West police said. The community alleges that the two suspects whose houses were burned on Tuesday, stabbed and killed a man on Monday.

Colonel Emelda Setlhako said the community handed over one suspect to the police on Monday night and accusing him of the murder of a man that was found lying in the street in Ditshwaneng section. The man was taken to Thusong hospital where he later died due to his injuries.

“The suspect that was handed over to the police was arrested, but not in connection with the murder case but for a case of business burglary that took place on the 2 March 2014. He will appear in Itsoseng Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday” Setlhako said.

The second suspect is still at large and the police are looking for him as he is wanted for the same business burglary.

There is currently nothing linking the two suspects to the murder case of the man, who was allegedly killed in the street.

“The police addressed community members and explained the processes to follow when they suspect that someone has committed a crime. They were requested to not take the Law into their own hands. The Station Commander encouraged the community to work in cooperation with the police to fight crime. The situation in Bodibe is currently calm and under control” she said.

No suspects have been arrested for the murder and arson cases and the police investigations continues.-TDN
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Johannesburg – A man accused of murder has handed himself over to police after being on the run for over a year, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.

“He handed himself [over] for murder that he allegedly committed on 1 December 2012 at Zone 2 in Meadowlands,” spokesperson Constable Sibusiso Chauke said in a statement.

The suspect had been on the run ever since until he decided to hand himself over on Tuesday.

The man, aged 28, allegedly had an argument with the deceased on the day.

“It is alleged that the suspect produced a knife and stabbed the deceased on the upper body several times.”

The man then fled the scene.

The deceased, aged 19 at the time, died on the way to hospital.

“Police were called to the hospital where a murder case was opened. The hunt for the man was then launched,” Chauke said.

The man was charged with murder and would appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court soon.

– SAPA

Durban – A man who held Brett Williams in a choke hold until he passed out wanted the former Royal Marine to be charged with assault, the Durban Regional Court heard on Wednesday.

Grant Cramer, who was giving evidence in the trial of four men accused of beating Williams to death at a rugby stadium in Durban last March, said: “I wanted to lay a charge of assault against the deceased.”

Cramer explained that a photograph had been taken of his split lip to be used as evidence.

When asked why, he admitted that he had been upset at Williams punching him.

Cramer said his girlfriend had urged security guards to call police but there had been no response.

Cramer was giving evidence in the trial of brothers Blayne and Kyle Shepard, Andries van der Merwe, and Dustin van Wyk, who each face one charge of murder, three of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and one of crimen injuria.

They are accused of beating Williams to death outside Kings Park Stadium following a Super Rugby match between the Sharks and the Melbourne Rebels in Durban in March last year.

The court has previously heard that Cramer and Williams had a verbal spat that led to Williams punching Cramer.

Cramer then put Williams in a chokehold until Williams passed out.

Williams was then subsequently beaten up by a group of people alleged to be the accused.

Cramer, who was a best friend and former gym partner of Blayne Shepard, was initially charged with assault, but has denied being part of the final beating that led to Williams’s death.

Christo van Schalkwyk, for the Shepard brothers, questioned Cramer as to whether he was aware that Williams had been robbed at knifepoint the night before in Durban’s Florida Road.

He questioned Cramer as to whether he had seen any injuries on Williams prior to his altercation with the former Royal Marine.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

Pretoria – It was American Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan who made popular the maxim that one is entitled to one’s one opinion, but not to one’s own facts.

But Advocate Barry Roux might test this idea to its limits.

On Wednesday morning, the Colonel Johannes Vermeulen, a forensic investigator, began to give his testimony.
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By Obakeng Maje
The name Bathandwa Vazi must ring bell in your ears as a youth of South Africa.
A 24 year-old woman has achieved what most people of her age will only wish for.

As an Afro-Jazz musician, Bathandwa Vazi released her hot 10-track
album that was nominated for Satma award in 2013.

Vazi who is based in Kokstad, Kwazulu-Natal developed love for music,
fashion, style and manuvered her way up to prove her worth.

“I developed an immeasurable love for music at the tender age. I
released an album which is Afro-Jazz and little bit of love songs on
it. The 10-track album is doing well and receives warm welcome as most
of its tracks are on high rotations at various radio stations” said
Vazi.

A Chiawelo-born entrepreneur also runs her own youth magazine called
Expressions.

“As a youth I actually wants to. encourage the youth, inspires them
and give them tips, life-style and how to deal with the challenges
they come across daily, hence I say Expressions magazine is a youth
magazine for the youth by the youth” outlines Vazi.

An altrustics person Vazi is, she also has brain, yet so humble.

She said the legacy our late former president Nelson Mandela left is impeccable.

“I also run an internet cafe in Kokstad,in Kwazulu-Natal since 2011.
My message to the youth is that, one can become anything despite their
background”

A go-getter, self-driven and motivated singer said education is only a
gateway vehicle from poverty.

She is armed with National Diploma in (Town planning) from Durban
University of Technology and has certificate in Project Management.

Vazi also hosts her own show on Inanda fm every Mondays(16H10-16H20)
where she talks about life-style tips, fashion,career, life, relations
and social interaction.

“Running my own business and helping the youth was my ideal. We also
have a Communications company called YTE where we offer branding,
editing, printing and many things especially to small businesses” said
Vazi.

Vazi also have a slot on Khayna fm every Fridays at 15H50 where she
talks about fashion, make-over and style tips.

She was voted the Best Entrepreneur in Communication by NYDA back in 2011.

As they say, all entrepreneurs are idiosyncratic and Vazi is no exception.

To keep in touch with one of the most achievers in SA, follow her on:

Twitter@bathandwav
Facebook: Bathandwa
Tumbler: @lovefashionbybathandwa
Instagram: @bathandwav

Mothutlung- MEC for Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi will on Thursday hand over about 1000 houses to the Mothotlung families in the Madibeng local municipality. The Houses are part of the 8000 houses that are expected to be handed over between February and March 2014.

“The benefiting families are mostly those that have been staying in informal settlements while others are from local areas like Diamonds Ville, Mothotlung and other neighboring areas. The department has also prioritized families headed by the elderly, child and people with disability. The Mothotlung area it was recently infested by service delivery unrests and the municipality placed under administration by the North West Provincial Government recently” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.

The handover is part of celebrating twenty years (20yrs) of freedom, and also in line with the Outcome 8 of the National Development Plan vision 2030 which is intended to improve the quality of people’s lives and bring back dignity to the marginalised communities across the province.

The hand over programme is also part of the department’s service delivery initiative and reduction of housing backlog in the province.

The handover will take place as follows:

Date: 13 March 2014

Time: 10H00

Venue: Mothotlung ext 2

Stakeholders in the transport industry will be afforded a chance to participate in the recapitalization and redistribution of busses to serve rural communities, Premier Thandi Modise assured in her response to the Debate of the State of the Province Address on Tuesday.

Premier Modise made the commitment in announcing that R30 million has been allocated to the North West Transport Investment (NTI) towards the recapitalization process.

“The recapitalization is necessary as some of the busses are over 40- years- old. New busses would be prioritized for learner transport and expand access to public transport for disadvantaged communities in our province,” Modise said.

The NTI bus fleet of 600 busses includes the Batswana Gare Transport, Botlhaba Transport Service and the Attridgeville Bus Service and operates mostly outside the province. -TDN
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