Pretoria – A man was killed and two others injured when their car overturned on the Baviaanspoort Road near Pretoria on Saturday, paramedics said.

“Netcare 911 paramedics arrived at the scene and found the crumpled remains of the vehicle and accident debris obstructing the roadway,” said Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha.

“After triaging the injured it was found that a man had tragically died due to the extensive injuries that he sustained, two people escaped with minor injuries.”

After being treated on the scene the two people refused further medical treatment, Botha said.

The cause of the accident was unknown.

Police were investigating.

Meanwhile, in north Gauteng, a taxi accident caused multiple deaths.

Four people were killed and 11 injured when a taxi overturned on the N1 near Hammanskraal on Saturday, paramedics said.

“[Paramedics] arrived at the scene and found accident debris and the crumpled remains of the vehicle obstructing the roadway,” said Botha.

One of the injured was airlifted to the Steve Biko hospital; the others were taken by ambulance.

In KwaZulu-Natal, a man died and three others were injured when their car collided head-on with a truck on the N2 north near Umgababa on the south coast on Friday, paramedics said.

“Reports from the scene indicate that the vehicle veered across the centre median and collided head-on with the truck that was travelling on the north-bound lane,” said Botha.

He said the occupants were trapped in the wreckage.

“While firemen used the Jaws of Life, paramedics from all services worked tirelessly to stabilise the injured. After triaging they found that one man had tragically died on impact, one was in a critical condition while two others were seriously injured.”

The injured were stabilised at the scene and transported to hospital.
– SAPA

Johannesburg – The secretary of Parliament, Michael Coetzee, died following a battle with cancer, the ANC said on Saturday.

“Although we have known of his poor health for some time, his resilient and tenacious spirit in the face of this terminal disease gave us hope that he would get stronger,” the party’s chief whip Stone Sizani said in a statement.

“He continued to serve even as he battled with the disease, playing a key role in the transition process from the fourth to the fifth Parliament and putting in place necessary administrative mechanisms and instruments for the functioning of the new term of Parliament.”

Coetzee died on Friday night.

He joined Parliament in 2002 as its deputy secretary after being secretary of the Gauteng legislature for a number of years. Coetzee was appointed secretary of Parliament in 2012.

“His passing has undoubtedly robbed Parliament and the people of South Africa of a faithful and humble public servant, a highly experienced and diligent administrator, and a committed and passionate leader,” Sizani said.

“We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife, son and the rest of the family and friends on this painful loss.”
– SAPA

Johannesburg – An employee at the Timbavati game reserve’s Kambaku River Sands camp in Mpumalanga is in a coma after being attacked by an elephant, Beeld reported on Saturday.

Bryce Landsman, owner of the camp, told the newspaper that Louis Mkhatshwa, 52, was seriously hurt by the elephant on Wednesday.

Landsman would not say what the exact nature of the injuries were.

“There were no eyewitnesses, but as soon as I heard something was going on I went to check,” he was quoted as saying.

Landsman called emergency services straight away and an ambulance took Mkhatshwa to the Tintswalo Hospital in Acornhoek where he was stabilised. He was then airlifted to Nelspruit.
– SAPA

Johannesburg – There was no change in President Jacob Zuma’s condition on Saturday morning, the presidency said.

Spokesperson Mac Marahaj referred to a statement issued by the presidency on Friday evening which said Zuma would resume public activities next week.

”The president has been working from home and his first public engagement will be the state-of-the-nation address in Parliament on Tuesday,” Maharaj said.

Zuma would then attend the state-of-the-nation debate on Wednesday and Thursday and respond to the debate on Friday.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa would address The New Age/SABC business breakfast session on Wednesday, while ministers and deputy ministers would also participate in media interviews in various languages in order to unpack the state-of-the-nation for the public, Maharaj said.
– SAPA

Johannesburg – The Thembalethu Regional Court is expected to hand down judgment in August in the case of a George dentist accused of raping a 15-year-old boy, Saturday Star reported.

The matter was postponed to 12 August for judgment, with the trial having wrapped on Friday, according to the newspaper.

The dentist, 42, allegedly raped the boy on 27 December 2011, when the boy was sleeping over at the dentist’s rental home in Victoria Bay.

The dentist allegedly engaged the boy in sexual conversation on the patio, and offered him alcohol, leaving him drunk.

Later, he allegedly came into the boy’s room with lubricant and pornographic DVDs, and performed sexual acts on him including penetration.

The dentist was arrested on 28 December and was subsequently released on R1 000 bail. The man faces nine charges including rape and sexual assault.

Prosecutor Brandon Smith reportedly said certain aspects of what happened were not contested, including that sexual acts had been performed.

What was contested was whether the dentist had given the boy alcohol, consent had been given, and whether penetration took place.

The dentist has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
– SAPA