Cape Town – A psychiatric report on murder accused Oscar Pistorius is ready for collection at Weskoppies hospital, it was reported on Friday.
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Johannesburg – Two of the “Waterkloof Four” will file an urgent court application in the North Gauteng High Court on Friday to have their parole re-instated.

On 16 February, Christoff Becker and Frikkie du Preez were re-arrested after footage emerged of them allegedly drinking alcohol and using a cellphone at the Kgosi Mampuru prison.

The video, reportedly taken on a cellphone, was posted on YouTube. It showed Du Preez and Becker drinking, and using a cellphone in jail.

Earlier in February, Becker, Du Preez, Gert van Schalkwyk, and Reinach Tiedt were released after being jailed for beating a homeless man to death in Pretoria in 2001.

Becker, 27, said in court papers that his re-arrest in February was for nonsensical reasons, five days after being released on parole.

He said he was at home on 16 February when Rapport newspaper carried an article about him and Du Preez, who allegedly held a party in prison where alcohol was used.

Becker, Du Preez, and two other prisoners were in his cell at the time, the newspaper reported.

In court papers, Becker denied that alcohol was used at the party, which was video-recorded. He also said the pictures of Johnnie Walker and J&B in the video were in fact pictures of a computer’s screensaver.

He wanted the parole board to set aside the decision to revoke his parole, be moved back to Pretoria from Kokstad prison, and be released on parole on the same conditions he was released in February.

Becker also sought to have his re-arrest and detention declared unlawful, and for the department to pay for his legal bill.

The correctional services department said on Wednesday that they would oppose Becker’s application.

“The department has submitted papers in reply to court,” spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said.
SAPA

Johannesburg – Two traffic police officers were shot and wounded in Heidelberg, Gauteng police said on Friday.

Captain Thivhulawi Tshilate said the two, aged 46 and 52, were patrolling the R550 road on Thursday night when a white Volkswagen Golf overtook them on a barrier line.

The officers signalled the car to stop, but it sped off.

“The traffic officers gave chase and… one of the occupants of the suspect’s vehicle protruded through the window and started firing several shots towards the traffic officers’ vehicle with a rifle,” Tshilate said.

“Both traffic officers… sustained serious injuries and [were] taken to the hospital for medical treatment.”

He said the driver and passengers were unknown.

A case of attempted murder had been opened.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The body of an 8-year-old girl was found in a graveyard in Thohoyandou on Thursday, Limpopo police said.

“She was found covered by heaps of soil,” police spokesperson Mashudu Malelo said.

The Grade 1 pupil’s father reported her missing after he was unable to find her when he went to fetch her from school on Wednesday afternoon.

A resident, who was passing by the graveyard, found her body on Thursday afternoon.

“There is a possibility that she was raped but we are awaiting results from the doctor,” Malelo said.

Police were investigating.

SAPA

Ventersdorp- Drug treatment services are still under utilised despite government’s efforts to educate communities about the dangers of drugs, West MEC for Social Development Fenny Gaolaolwe said on Thursday.

“The department is currently providing drug treatment services through Witrand Hospital and Sanpark Alcohol and Drug Centre. These facilities are not being fully utilised by community members especially those that are adversely affected by drugs,” Gaolaolwe said, adding that the aim of treatment they offer is not only to stop drug abuse but to make sure that the addicts are returned to the community or workplace being a healthy and productive people.

Yesterday MEC Gaolaolwe deployed a team of government officials and stakeholders to Rysmierbult, Klippan farms and extension 5 and 6 at Tshing township in Ventersdorp local municipality to raise awareness on the dangers of substance abuse and conscientise the residents about effective treatment services offered by the department.

These areas Gaolaolwe said are known to be the hotspots areas where drug abuse is common and the users had little or no information about the way to escape the addiction.

About 150 households were targeted in the area. Saints Care Givers, an organisation rendering substance abuse prevention services in Ventersdorp earlier reported that dagga, alcohol and home-made concoctions are the most commonly used drugs in the area.

“It is so disturbing that the referrals from this area are the lowest while the use of drugs escalates,” Gaolaolwe said.

She said preparations are underway to take a fully fledged provincial event on substance abuse to Ventersdorp in July.

Today the United Nations member states commemorate International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under theme: “Drugs: Treatment Works.” The anti-drug day is observed annually on the 26 June to raise public awareness on the fight against drug abuse and promote of preventative measures.-TDN
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Arts and Culture in the North West Province received a boost with over R19 million grant sponsorship it received from the National Lotteries Board. The chegue was presented to Premier Supra Mahumapelo at the SABC TV2-The New Age Business Breakfast held at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng on Thursday.

“We are excited about the funding and recognition of our strength because Arts, Culture and Tourism are the pillars of our economy and upon which of our rebranding, repositioning and renewal strategy should be anchored,” Premier Mahumapelo said.

In expressing confidence that the funding would benefit young people and people with disabilities through targeted projects, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), Charlotte Mampane said that the NLB is a catalyst for social upliftment and had approved the grant as it met the criterion for job creation, poverty alleviation and youth development.

The jubilant MEC for Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs, Tebogo Modise said that projects to benefit from the grant sponsorship funding include the Women’s Liberation Monument, Maftown Week Celebration, Sol Plaatjie Exhibition, Taung Calabash, Pottery for the Disabled, Touring Art Exhibition, Children’s Art Competition and Wheelchair Dancing.The CEO for Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation, Moatlhodi Dilotsotlhe assured MEC Modise, Mampane and Members of the Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation Board that a monthly expenditure audit would be conducted on the allocated funds to ensure accountability and minimise risk.
The boost to tourism was also welcomed by MEC for Tourism, Desbo Mohono who also highlighted the importance of mining tourism.
Premier Mahumapelo is expected to announce other development plans and interventions to address youth unemployment and change the image of the province when he delivers his State of the Province Address from the Mmabatho Convention Centre tomorrow.-TDN
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Mahikeng- North West MEC for Social Development Fenny Gaolaolwe on Thursday announced that the Head of Department Advocate Matshidiso Mogale has been put on special leave on the basis of the Public Service Commission report.

MEC Gaolaolwe said she is still studying the report and further developments will be communicated in due course.-TDN
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Durban – The search is on for the kingpins of an international drug ring, who must now be counting the cost of the country’s most prolific bust of nearly 10 tons of pure heroin worth over R3bn.
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