Johannesburg – Severe thunderstorms are expected in several provinces across the country on Monday, the SA Weather Service said.

These included a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms in Gauteng, the north-eastern parts of the Free State, the eastern parts of the North West, the Mpumalanga highveld, the south-western parts of Limpopo, and the extreme western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, said forecaster Dithuso Mogapi.

A 30 percent chance of showers was also expected in Gauteng on Tuesday morning.

However, the rainy weather conditions would clear up in the rest of the affected provinces by Tuesday.

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Rustenburg – A taxi driver accused of the murder of his girlfriend and her mother was found guilty by the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Seuntjie David Nakedi, 33, was found guilty of killing Tshepiso Moilwe, 28, and her mother Annah Moilwe, 44, at their home in Lethabong on March 15, 2013.

Tshepiso was shot in the stomach and chest, and her mother in the chest and chin.

Magistrate Cornelius Nel said Nakedi’s claims that the two were shot accidentally and that he went to their home after his girlfriend invited him there left many questions unanswered.

Nakedi told the court during his trial that he wrestled for the gun with Tshepiso when a shot accidentally went off, hitting her.

Nel said Nakedi did not explain how the gun ended up being aimed at the deceased.

“If they were wrestling for the gun she could have been hit in the side,” Nel said.

He said Nakedi could not explain how Annah Moilwe was shot while she was pulling him from behind.

Referring to the post mortem report, Nel said the bullet that struck Annah in the chin went through her throat and exited her back. Another bullet hit her in the thigh and exited behind her knee.

“Cellphone records did not indicate the deceased (Tshepiso) calling you… instead what is found is an exchange of text messages from the accused to the deceased (Tshepiso) and her reply.”

Nakedi had told the court Tshepiso called him to her parents’ home in an attempt to reconcile after she obtained a protection order against him.

Nakedi said on arrival she opened the door for him. They went to her bedroom and they talked about their strained relationship. As he was leaving Tshepiso called him. He claimed that when he turned around she was pointing a gun at him.

While wrestling for the gun both she and her mother were shot.

He claimed he found the gun inside a bag in his taxi. He took it home with the intention of handing it to Lethabong police, but forgot.

Obakeng Ngwenya, for Nakedi, asked the court to impose a sentence which was fair and fit for the offence.

In mitigation, Nakedi told the court he regretted killing the two and asked their family to forgive him.

He asked the court for a non-custodial sentence as he was afraid his taxi would be repossessed if he did not pay the monthly instalments.

“My other taxi was repossessed before I was granted bail,” he said.

Nakedi was arrested near Magaliesberg, Gauteng, while consulting a traditional healer a few days after the murders.

His bail was revoked and he would remain in custody until sentencing on Tuesday.

Outside court the two families exchanged heated words and security guards separated them.

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Polokwane – A large crowd cheered as EFF leader Julius Malema walked onto a stage set up near the Polokwane High Court on Tuesday, after his corruption trial was postponed for almost a year.

He was accompanied by Economic Freedom Fighters MPs. EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi began chanting “Hands off our commander and chief, hands off”.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Cape Town – Stellenbosch University will not be taking any disciplinary action against the three students involved in a “blackface” incident, the institution announced.

“The pursuance of critical debate and conciliatory conversations is of much greater value to Stellenbosch University’s student community than action against the students that caused the buzz on social media last week after a birthday party at Amazink in Kayamandi,” the communication and liaison department said in a statement issued on its website.

Two of the students posed for photos with their faces smeared black and wearing wigs and outfits meant to represent tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams. The pictures were widely circulated on Twitter. The pictures were uploaded by another student.

Recommendation

The university said it accepted the recommendation of the investigation team that no disciplinary action would be taken against Michael Weaver, Ross Bartlett, and Mark Burmann.

“The three students have made a commitment to participate in discussions in various student forums to help repair relations after their actions had caused resentment and hurt,” the institution said.

This was the second incident of “blackface” at an institution of higher learning in the country. Two students from the University of Pretoria were suspended from their residence in September after a picture of theirs went viral on the internet.

The picture distributed on social media showed the pair of female students in domestic worker outfits with black paint smeared on their faces and arms. They posed with headscarves and padded bottoms.

Stellenbosch University acting rector and vice-chancellor Professor Leopoldt van Huyssteen said although the institution would not be taking any disciplinary action, they still regarded the incident in a very serious light.

Sensitivity

Van Huyssteen said although the investigation confirmed the students’ statement that they attended the 21st birthday celebration and that they dressed up according to the theme of the party, sensitivity was needed due to the history of the country.

“… our country’s history and vulnerable relations demand that we should be sensitive to remarks, actions and terminology that may be hurtful and offensive.

“The storm that the photo provoked on campus, in the media and on social platforms, confirmed this in the run up to the university’s diversity week. The chain of events over the past week resulted in a valuable learning experience for the three students and our campus community,” he said.

The institution also announced that the incident, the complex South African context, the meaning of “blackface” and the related sensitivities would be included in discussions in residences, the listening, learning and living structures, in leadership training and the 2015 welcoming programme.

It would also become part of the short course curriculum of the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development.

SAPA

Bloemfontein – A man was killed when he was hit by two cars on Abrahamskraal Road in Bloemfontein, paramedics said.

ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said paramedics found the dismembered body of the man lying in the middle of the road when they arrived on the scene on Monday night.

“Unfortunately the man had already succumbed to his injuries,” he said.

Meiring said both drivers had stated they did not see the pedestrian walking across the road.

SAPA

Durban – The office of the man representing the 12 Nkandla “scapegoats” has been burgled – on the eve of the civil servants’ potentially explosive hearings.

Having somehow got past guards and into an 11th floor Durban union office, they stole the personal laptop of Claude Naicker, KwaZulu-Natal manager of the Public Servants Association (PSA), while ignoring DVD players, other valuables and all other offices.
For more http://www.news24.com

East London – A 16-year-old Eastern Cape girl’s birthday festivities ended in tragedy when she died from apparent drug-related complications last weekend.

The Daily Dispatch reported on Tuesday that the girl had turned 16 last Thursday and had gone out to a popular bar to celebrate with six friends on Saturday night.
For more http://www.news24.com

Polokwane – The trial of Julius Malema and his co-accused was postponed by the Limpopo High Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Andrew Laka asked the court to postpone the trial because some counsel were not available.

“The case is postponed to August 3, 2015 for trial,” Judge Ephraim Makgoba said.

Charges

Malema and his co-accused, On-Point Engineering directors Lesiba Gwangwa and Kagisho Dichabe and two companies, On-Point Engineering and Gwama Properties, face charges of racketeering and 52 other counts, including fraud.

In March, corruption charges against Malema’s business associates – Selbie Manthatha, his wife Helen Moreroa and his brother Makgetsi Manthatha – were discharged.

The two brothers and Moreroa were initially charged with Malema, Gwangwa and Dichabe in September 2012.

They were accused of misrepresenting themselves to the Limpopo roads and transport department, leading to a R52m contract being awarded to On-Point Engineering.

It is alleged in court papers that Malema had business ties with Gwangwa, and that Malema’s Ratanang Family Trust was an indirect shareholder in On-Point. The State alleges Malema substantially benefited from the tender payment to On-Point, using it to buy a farm and a Mercedes-Benz.

Malema’s bail was extended.

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The “Generations 16” are hoping that it’s third time lucky as they add a labour court bid to their battle against the popular soapie’s executive producer, Mfundi Vundla.
For more http://www.citypress.co.za