Johannesburg- Paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s lawyer Barry Roux has lashed out at police inefficiency saying they were to blame for many criminals not being convicted.

“There’s tardiness. They don’t take the docket to court – sometimes they don’t take it because they sold it. Or sometimes they don’t take it because they have misfiled it,” Roux told law students at the University of the Witwatersrand yesterday, The Citizen reported.

He said the biggest problem in South Africa was that people who committed crimes did so knowing “there’s a fair chance they won’t get caught – or if arrested, won’t get tried”.

Roux called on police to “wake up”.

He also criticised certain procedures in court that led to delayed justice.

“If justice is delayed long enough people don’t show up anymore or simply forget what happened,” he said.

Pistorius was charged with murder following the fatal shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He shot her through a locked toilet door at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year. He claimed he mistook her for an intruder.

Judge Thokozile Masipa will hand down judgment in the trial on September 11.

For more http://www.citizen.co.za

By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- A 31-year-old woman from Thabazimbi appeared in Rustenburg Magistrates Court on Monday after being charged with perjury. 

She was arrested on Friday while opening a case docket claiming that she and her boyfriend were hijacked while at a parking lot in Rustenburg. 

The wide-awake police officials managed to realise that the same car that the complainant was reporting it to be hijacked, was actually reported to be hijacked a day before in Northam.

“It is alleged that police officials called Northam police station where it was confirmed that the car was reported to be hijacked. The complainant was then arrested and charged with perjury as she had already done a sworn statement under oath” captain Pelonomi Makau said.       

Upon appearance in court, she was granted R500 bail on condition that she report daily at her nearest Police Station until she appears again in court on Wednesday, 17 September 2014.  

The North West Provincial Commissioner; Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo would like to warn dishonest people involved in this kind of criminal activity that police will deal with them effectively. 

“It is this kind of criminal activities that deny innocent citizens access to service delivery due to channelling of  resources to false and fraudulent activities like this case” said Lt Gen Zukiswa Mbombo.  
-TDN
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The Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs in partnership with South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA) will be hosting the SATMA Nominee Launch for the second time in a row at Mmabatho Convention Centre on the 30th August 2014.

SATMA Awards are a platform to honour and market traditional music across the country. Since 2005 the SATMA’s have brought all races and ethnic groups together through celebration of diverse music that transcends tribal, racial and geographic line.

The SATMA will be celebrated under the theme “My Culture, Your Culture, One Nation” which calls for unity amongst South African ethnic and racial groups as well as African in the Diaspora through Traditional Music.

“As we will be heading into a Heritage Month, The Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs will be hosting a Media Briefing to launch the Satma Nominee Launch as well as the Heritage Month Activities” departmental spokesperson Shirley Montsho said.

The Media launch will be held as follows:

Date: 30th August 2014

Venue: Mmabatho Convention Centre

Time: TBC

-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Atamelang- Two suspects Samuel Mogoje(25) and Piet Barrington(40) appeared at the Atamelang Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for an alleged murder of a 36-year-old man.

They were remanded in custody until 3 September 2014 for bail application.

“It is alleged that on Sunday at about 18:00, the victim and the two suspects were at a tavern when an argument ensued. The suspects allegedly assaulted the victim with fists and kicked him all over his body.  The victim was taken to the clinic where he was certified dead” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

Investigation into the matter continues.
-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- Police are investigating a case of Culpable Homicide after two vehicles, a Nissan Tiida  and Honda collided head-on along N4 road between Marikana Toll Plaza and Kroondaal on Wednesday at about 14:00.

“A woman who was driving the Nissan Tiida died on the scene while a male passenger was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.  

The driver of the Honda who was alone in her vehicle also died on the scene.
-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Pampierstad- The police arrested twelve people in a protest at Sekhing village, near Pampierstad, says Warrant Officer Thuso Setumiso.

The villagers were allegedly picketing and barricaded the roads with tree branches and burning tyres.

“The community were protesting and police were called to monitor situation. Twelve people were arrested after the situation got out of hand. The arrested people will be formally charged for public violence on Thursday” Setumiso said.

The community took their grievances to the streets after they said the clinic that was supposed to be completed more than three years ago is been deliberately delayed buy the contractor.

The contractor was whisked away for protection and Setumiso said the community did not want to listen even to their councillor to resolve the matter. The police used rubber bullets to disperse unruly crowd and no injuries suffered.

Police investigations continue.-TDN
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