Monthly Archives: March 2014

Reeva and Zanele’s parents share grief


Pretoria – The parents of two women both killed by their boyfriends met in the High Court in Pretoria on Friday for mutual support.

“We obviously share the same pain… Theirs is fresh, it’s about a year old, ours is almost three years old,” said Themba Khumalo, father of murdered teenager Zanele, after meeting Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June.

“Only time will heal.”

Steenkamp was shot through the locked toilet door of paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s Pretoria home on February 14 last year. He said he had mistaken her for an intruder. However, the State contends the murder was premeditated.

A pregnant Zanele Khumalo was found dead at her parents’ home in Garsfontein, Pretoria East, in April 2011.

Her naked body was discovered under a blanket on her bed when her parents arrived home from work. They rushed her to hospital, but she had by then been dead for about six hours.

Thato Kutumela was sentenced in the High Court in Pretoria on Friday to 20 years in prison for her murder and rape.

Themba Khumalo, his wife Busi, and their two daughters met Steenkamp on Friday morning before Kutumela was sentenced and after Pistorius’s case was postponed in a nearby court room.

The shook hands, prayed together, consoled each other and shared some “wise words”, he said.

“We know exactly what they are going through… In more ways than one – the pain is one. They lost their daughter through a boyfriend, we lost our daughter through a boyfriend – it is an unbelievable pain and experience.

“Reeva’s family is still hurting… We will remember them in our prayers,” he said.

Khumalo said their criminal had been taken away and this made it easier for the family.

Judge Johan Kruger sentenced Kutumela to 20 years in prison for murder, 10 years in prison for rape, and six months in prison for theft, to run concurrently.

“I’m of the view that the sentences that I have instituted meet the proportionality test,” he said.

As Kruger read out the sentencing there were people saying “yes” and “amen”.

As Kutumela made his way down to the cells the people in court started clapping hands. A member of the ANC Woman’s League said a prayer in court afterwards.

Khumalo’s family, including her parents, sat in the front row of the public gallery wearing black t-shirts bearing her face with the words “Nothing was in vain” printed on the back.

In November last year, Kutumela was found guilty of murdering and raping the mother of his unborn child. He was also found guilty of stealing the teenager’s nightclothes and underwear to hide the fact that he had raped her.

Kutumela did not testify, but claimed in his plea explanation they had consensual sex that morning and that she was alive and well when he left.

On Friday, Kruger said Kutumela was within his rights when he chose not to testify but said this made deciding on an appropriate sentence much more complicated.

Meanwhile, the case against Pistorius was postponed on Friday to April 7 because one of the assessors was ill.

He has pleaded not guilty and in his plea statement denied he had argued with his girlfriend shortly before the shooting.

He also faces two charges related to contraventions of the Firearms Control Act.

Sapa

Food parcel registration at ANC Offices


Durban – The use of ANC offices to register beneficiaries for state-sponsored food parcels has raised eyebrows, with opposition councillors crying foul.

The SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) was this week signing up scores of Bluff residents at the ANC councillors’ offices near Tara Road. They would receive parcels valued at R1 270.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Khune expected for Sundowns clash


JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is expected to be fit for the top of the table clash against Mamelodi Sundowns next Saturday.
The skipper injured his ankle during warm up before the CAF Champions League first leg game against Liga Muculmana de Maputo.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

BRICS must be on the lips of the business sector –Premier Modise


 

BRICS must be on the lips of the business sector as it is a vehicle through which the aspirations of people are carried, North West Premier Thandi Modise said in her opening keynote address delivered at the 2

nd Annual North West BRICS Expo and International and Tourism Conference on Thursday.

 

“The country as well as the continent ought to be reminded from time to time to have dialogue among them on what benefits could be harvested from our involvement with this world structure,” Premier Modise said.

 

Modise said that increased investment in the economy by both the private and public sector is at the heart of creating jobs and sustainable growth.

 

“This gives impetus to our desire to move away from full reliance on the primary sector to value addition and beneficiation both in agriculture and mining,” she added.

 

The conference ends tomorrow with a BRICS Charity Golf Day in Aid of Breast Cancer Awareness, Provincial Human Rights Day Celebrations and Premier’s Small Business Awards & Gala Dinner with special performance by Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu.-TDN
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North West protestors denied bail


By Obakeng Maje
Orkney-Twenty accused of the thirty five protestors arrested on Thursday for public violence, arson and malicious damage to property appeared in the Orkney Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

They are still in custody and will appear again on 4 April 2014 for bail application.

Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said that on 26 and 27 March 2014 respectively, protestors partially burnt the local municipality offices and pelted windows with stones.

“The protestors allegedly barricaded roads with burning tyres and looted several shops belonging to foreign nationals. It is further alleged that one shop and a bottle store were also burnt down” he said.

According to the information, protestors damaged two police vehicles by breaking their windscreens.  

“The protestors allegedly went to schools in the township in the morning today, disrupted classes and forced learners to join the protests.  Police are currently monitoring the situation” Mokgwabone said.

The suspects, 13 females and 22 males, with ages ranging between 19 and 39 appeared in Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Two of the suspects are allegedly minors with ages 15 each.   

“We would like to issue a stern warning to the protestors that criminal activities and gangsterism  will not be tolerated and the police will deal effectively with those who take advantage of community protest to commit crime”, said Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.  

The community is advised to consult with relevant authorities in case of any dissatisfaction on any matter affecting them. It is advisable that the rule of law is respected at all times and that proper procedures are adhered to when raising complaints. Investigations continue.-TDN
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NWest goes all out to commemorate Human Rights Day


North West Provincial Government is committed to ensuring that all residents of the province’s rights are protected as enshrined in our Constitution, which has been hailed as the best in the world, Premier Thandi Modise said today.

 

Modise was speaking ahead of the Provincial Human Rights Day that is to be commemorated at the Mmabatho Stadium

 tomorrow Saturday 28 March 2014, under the theme, “20 Years of Freedom and Democracy; Our Future; Make it work!”

 

“We commemorate Human Rights Day to solidify our commitment to a free and fair democratic South Africa wherein everyone has the right to equality, human dignity, freedom of movement. That’s why we are vocal in the province about those people that want to deprive others of the fundamental rights,” said Premier Modise.

 

Human Rights Day is a national day that is commemorated annually on 21 March to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa.

 

This year’s National Human Rights Day celebrations were held on

 21 March at

 the Sharpeville Cricket Grounds in Gauteng, hence the provincial event is only being held

 tomorrow.

 

“South Africa is a country that leads by example. That’s why we take

 the promotion and protection of human rights and will continue to right against the scourge of rape, xenophobic attacks, intimidation and attacks of non-striking employees and all other acts that deprive other human beings of their fundamental rights,” reiterated Modise.

 

 

“We are proud that we have accomplished more as we celebrate our twenty years of democratic rule during which we have made commendable progress in addressing social ills and bringing about the South Africa we envisaged in the Freedom Charter many years ago. Our record speaks for itself, for instance, we are one of the first countries in the world to have outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation and legalised same-sex marriage,” highlighted Modise adding that such an achievement made her very proud to be South African.

 

Twenty cultural groups from all municipalities are to showcase their cultural heritage at the event.

 

Renowned artists that will also perform at the event include Tshidi Moholo of the Malaika fame and KB Motsilenyane, both from the North West.

 

The event will commence at 9’o’clock with a one-hour interfaith programme, which will be followed by a formal programme wherein Premier Modise will deliver a key note address.

 

The event is open to all members of the public.-TDN
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Harties Cableway attracted over 30 000 visitors -Premier Modise


The Harties Cableway near Hartbeespoortdam outside Brits has attracted over 30 0000 visitors within its first year of opening, North West Premier Thandi Modise declared  on Thursday.

 

Reporting on the growth of the tourism sector in her opening address delivered at the 2

nd Annual North West BRICS Expo and International and Tourism Conference underway at the Mmabatho Convention Centre

, Premier Modise said that the facility which was revamped at a cost of R49 million has stimulated tourism activities in the area and created about 45 jobs.

 

“The development of the Madikwe landing strip to create more access to one of the province’s prime wildlife destination has also contributed to the high volumes of tourists to the Madikwe Game Reserve, increased employment to 700 people and contributed to the economy of the area especially the surrounding villages,” Modise said.

  

The Premier said that15 new tourism products were established in the tourism sector which generated R2.2 billion during 2012 to the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP).-TDN
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Economists predict moderate petrol hike


Cape Town – The petrol price would probably increase by 8 cents per litre on Friday, Mike Schüssler of economists.co.za told Fin24.

He said although the price could be lowered by 16 cents per litre due to oil prices being down and the rand a little stronger at the moment, taxes of 20 cents – the fuel tax and RAF levy combined – plus about a 4 cents increase in transport costs as announced, will come into effect.
For more http://www.news24.com

Man jailed for raping, killing a pregnant teen


Pretoria – The 26-year-old man convicted of murdering pregnant teenager Zanele Khumalo was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the North Gauteng High Court on Friday.

“The sentence I impose is the following: on count one, murder, you are sentenced to 20 years imprisonment,” Judge Johan Kruger said.

Thato Kutumela, dressed in white, stood as Kruger told him that he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for rape and six months for theft.

“Sentences imposed regarding count two and three will run concurrently with count one,” he said.

Kutumela was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

As Kruger read the sentence there were people saying “yes” and “amen”.

As Kutumela made his way down to the cells the people in court started clapping hands. A member of the ANC Women’s League said a prayer in court afterwards.

Stole Khumalo’s underwear to hide evidence

Khumalo’s family members, including her parents, sat in the front row of the public gallery wearing black T-shirts with her face printed on them.

Kutumela was found guilty in November last year of murdering and raping the mother of his unborn child.

She was found dead at her parents’ home in Garsfontein, Pretoria east, in April 2011.

He was also found guilty of stealing the teenager’s nightclothes and underwear to hide the fact that he had raped her.

He did not testify, but claimed in his plea explanation they had consensual sex that morning and that she was alive and well when he left.

This was after he initially claimed, at the magistrate’s court, that he had been at work all day.

Khumalo’s naked body was discovered under a blanket on her bed when her parents arrived home from work.

They rushed her to hospital, but she had by then already been dead for about six hours.
SAPA

Maphoitsile rape accused denied bail


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-A 47 year- old accused, Phetlha Bernard Montsheng appeared in the Taung Magistrate’s Court on charges of raping an 86 year-old victim at Maphoitsile village in Taung on Saturday at about 01:30 in the morning, says captain Pelonomi Makau.

The accused is still in custody and will appear again on 3 April 2014 for bail application.

“It alleged that the victim’s daughter heard her mother screaming in her bedroom and she went to investigate.  As she entered the bedroom the suspect pushed her, broke the window and fled the scene” Makau said. 

The daughter screamed for help and the community members apprehended the suspect and allegedly assaulted him. 

The suspect sustained injuries and was admitted at the Taung hospital under police guard where he was released on 25 March 2014.-TDN
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