Daily Archives: April 11, 2014

Mokgareng sangoma set self alight after murder


By Obakeng Maje
Mokgareng- A 38 year-old sangoma Benjamin Monnahela allegedly committed suicide after he set himself alight in his house in Mokgareng village, near Taung.

Monnahela was expected to appear before North West High Court on Friday on charge of murder. He was arrested back in 2012 after he allegedly killed Mosetsanagape Supi,23 from Ipelegeng location in Schweizer Reneke.

Supi came to see Monnahela for consultation and he allegedly killed her for muti purpose. Supi’s mutilated body was found floating in the nearby river in Mokgareng by passerby.

Police were called and investigations linked the sangoma to Supi’s murder.

He was subsequently arrested with his former girlfriend but she was later aquitted.

Monnahela who was on bail was expected to appear at North West High court on Friday, but according to Vaaltar FM news, he allegedly burned himself to dead after he set his house alight.

Police investigations continue.-TDN
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Dead cats and dogs used to scare non-striking miners


By Obakeng Maje
Marikana-North West police said dead cats and dogs are allegedly used to scare away non-striking miners in Marikana. Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said dead cats and dogs are placed on the door steps of non-striking miners by Amcu members.

“This method is used to target non-striking miners and also a red paint are placed on their doors as a sign of identifying them to be attacked” Ngubane said.

The Police continues to condemn acts of violence and urges anyone who may have information on people who goes around at night attacking and damaging people’s houses.

“We urge those going to work, to continue walking in groups and avoid dark and bushy areas. Any person or situation that is seen to be suspicious should be reported to the Police. Members of the South African Police Service are deployed in the area to ensure visibility and protection of people’s lives” Ngubane said.-TDN
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A house reduced to ashes in North West


By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- Police are investigating a case of Arson and this follows after a four-roomed house situated at Tau Section in Luka village was set alight by unknown people.

“It is alleged that the house belongs to a 38-year-old National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) affiliate, who works as an Instructor at Shaft One at  Implants. The incident took place on the early hours  of 10 April 2014 , at about  01 :00” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said. 

Properties including bedroom suit, ward robes, sewing and embroidery machines were destroyed by the fire.

Only one room was burnt and the damage is estimated to the value of R50 000.

No one was injured as the house was unoccupied.

“It is alleged that tenants who are renting a backroom were woken up by smoke inhalation and saw that one of the rooms had caught  fire. They managed extinguished the fire before it could damage the whole house” Ngubane said.

The cause of fire is unknown and police are still investigating. No one has been arrested.

Police said incidents of this nature where people’s houses are targeted and burnt during the night will not be tolerated.-TDN
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Oscar not accepting responsibilty dominates coverage


Johannesburg – Most of the online conversation about the Oscar Pistorius murder trial on Thursday was dominated by prosecutor Gerrie Nel’s accusations that Pistorius failed to take responsibility for his actions.

This was according to media monitoring group Data Driven Insight (DDI).

DDI said in the 24 hours ending at 16:00 on Thursday, this topic dominated online conversation at 26.85%.

Another topic of interest was American musician Kendrick Lamar’s song Bitch don’t kill my vibe, which the court heard caused a fallout between Pistorius and his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

She was reportedly upset after the song was played while she, Pistorius and his friend drove from a function.

Steenkamp sent Pistorius a message where she wrote that she was “not some bitch” that was trying to kill his vibe.

A total of 16.23% of the online chats around the trial were based on this point.

At 10%, the third most conversed about topic came from Pistorius’s “I don’t know” responses which he gave to several of the questions posed to him by Nel.

Pistorius was on trial for the murder of Steenkamp after he shot her dead through a locked bathroom door at his house on Valentine’s Day last year.

He alleged to have mistaken her for an intruder.

According to DDI, while fresh signals being possibly detected from the missing Malaysian plane made world headlines, Pistorius’s trial generated more coverage.

Comparing the two stories, Pistorius’s trial received 97.68% of the news coverage while the missing Malaysian airplane received 2.39%.

Globally, the United States gave the trial the most publicity, followed by Australia, and the United Kingdom.

The data was compiled from 6.2 million social media platforms which included blogs, forums, social networks and commentary.

It also included data from 60 000 global online newspapers, 2 000 South African print publications and 66 radio and television stations.

SAPA

1000 criminal cops fired


Johannesburg – More than 1 000 police officers with criminal records will be removed from the SA Police Service, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s office said on Thursday.

“SAPS is in the process of removing 1 017 officers while another 67 have left the service,” said acting spokesperson David Barritt in a statement.

He said the removal comes following an audit ordered by Mthethwa, which identified 1 448 officers with criminal records.

“After following the correct legal and labour processes, SAPS is now satisfied that 1 017 of its members are no longer fit to serve.”

He said the remaining officers were still expected to appear before the fitness board.

Mthethwa said the action showed the department was making progress in continuing efforts to rid police ranks of dishonest officers.

“Those with criminal convictions do not belong in the police force. I have made it clear to SAPS that I expect zero tolerance with regard to criminality in the police, at every level.”

The process was challenging but would result in a better police service, with it being in its final stages.

“The only remaining obstacle now is that a trade union has undertaken legal action in the Eastern Cape in an attempt to derail the process,” the minister said.

SAPA

NW MEC Maloyi to launch motor vehicle licensing services at Klerksdorp Post Office


Klerksdorp- North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi will officially launch the motor vehicle licensing services at the Klerksdorp Post Office.

MEC Maloyi said this is to speed-up motor vehicle registering services to the communities and reduce long queues. About four Post Offices in the province which would be announced by the MEC during the launch have been identified to provide registering services.

“Among other services includes the renewal of motor vehicle licenses, registration of new vehicles, application of traffic register certificate, and notification of changes in respect of vehicle particulars and de-registration of stolen and recovered vehicles” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.

The event will be held as follows:

Date:Friday 11 April 2014

Time:09H00

Venue:Klerksdorp Post Office (City Mall)
-TDN
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