Durban – The case against three minors implicated in the murder of a woman who was decapitated was expected to continue in the Durban Regional Court on Monday.

On Friday, the court postoned the case so that their pleas could be typed out.

Falakhe Khumalo, aged 18, pleaded guilty on Thursday and was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the death of Desiree Murugan, whose headless body was found by municipal workers at Shallcross Stadium, in Durban, on 18 August.

He said he and his three co-accused lured Murugan, aged 39, to the stadium, where he paid her R100 for sex.

Khumalo said one of the minors stabbed her several times.

The body was dragged to another part of the sports field, where the head was chopped off.

Khumalo said he was promised R2m for the head of a white, Indian or coloured woman.

Traditional healer Sivonkaliso Mbili and his assistant Vusumuzi Gumede, aged 30, who were linked to the murder, have not pleaded and are expected to apply for bail on 22 September.

In an explanation of plea, Khumalo detailed how he plotted for more than a year to get the head to pay Mbili, who had cured him of a sexually transmitted disease.

Khumalo and the minors took the head to Mbili, the fourth accused in the trial.

Mbili allegedly ordered Gumede to bury the tins in which Murugan’s body parts were placed.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A 13-year-old boy drowned in a quarry dam in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, on Sunday, paramedics said.

“Paramedics received an emergency call from the Saps about a child that had apparently drowned in the nearby lake,” said ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring in a statement.

“Once on scene, paramedics discovered the lifeless body of the young body. Unfortunately there was nothing more the paramedics could do for the child and he was later declared dead.”

The boy was apparently pulled out of the dam by a passer-by.

Police were investigating.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A 13-year-old boy drowned in a quarry dam in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, on Sunday, paramedics said.

“Paramedics received an emergency call from the Saps about a child that had apparently drowned in the nearby lake,” said ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring in a statement.

“Once on scene, paramedics discovered the lifeless body of the young body. Unfortunately there was nothing more the paramedics could do for the child and he was later declared dead.”

The boy was apparently pulled out of the dam by a passer-by.

Police were investigating.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The fate of a Botswana man who was illegally deported – despite facing the death penalty – will be raised at the North Gauteng High Court.

Lawyers for Human Rights are seeking to compel the department of home affairs to locate Edwin Samotse after he was illegally sent back to his country last month.

The organisation also wants an assurance from the Botswana government that Samotse – who is wanted for murder in his home country – will not face the death penalty if convicted.

At the time of his illegal transfer, Samotse was in custody at the Polokwane police station while the Botswana government sought his extradition.

However, after the Botswana government refused to give assurances that, if extradited, Samotse would not face the death penalty, a South African court order was issued to ensure he was not deported.

In two previous cases, South African courts have ruled to ensure that the country’s government and its officials do not deport people to countries where capital punishment is used; unless assurances are given that they will not face the death penalty.

Meanwhile, two home affairs officials have been suspended for allegedly arranging Samotse’s unauthorised deportation, which apparently took place on 13 August.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Of the two men who allegedly opened fire in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court last month, wounding two people, one has been killed and the other arrested, Gauteng police said on Sunday.

The one man, 28, was shot dead and the other man, 26, was shot and injured during a shoot-out with police at the men’s hideout on Dunber Street in Yeoville on Saturday night, said Lieutenant Colonel Khensani Magoai.

“When the police arrived at the house, the suspects pointed at them with a firearm and one suspect was shot and killed,” said Magoai.

“The injured suspect was taken to hospital where he is under police guard.”

A firearm was also confiscated at the house.

On 19 August, a court orderly sustained a slight wound, and a police officer was seriously wounded in the head when the two awaiting-trial prisoners opened fire in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

On 20 August, The Times named them as Constable Eddie Ngobeni and Sergeant Theopilus Mogafe, the court orderly. Ngobeni was apparently trying to save Mogafe when he was shot.

The two prisoners, robbery accused Lucky Segwape, 28, and Nthabeleng Matlatfi, 26, were due to appear in court on charges of house robbery and possession of unlicensed firearms, The Times reported.

They emerged from the holding cells and opened fire in the courtroom.

Ngobeni was due to testify in their case. It was unclear how they got the weapon.

The two fled the court and hijacked a car outside. The vehicle was abandoned in Atteridgeville, where they hijacked another car, a red VW Polo.

Police were also searching for a third person who had escaped from custody when the two men opened fire in court.

He had appeared in court on the day of the shooting on a charge of armed robbery, had been ordered to stay in custody until his next appearance on 8 September.

On 20 August, Magoai said: “It was discovered that he [the third man] was not on the list of the awaiting-trial prisoners that were taken to correctional services.

“It is unknown how he escaped and an investigation is being conducted.”

The 26-year old faces charges of attempted murder, hijacking, escaping from lawful custody, the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition and pointing of firearm.

He would appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court soon.

SAPA


As allegations of insider trading emerge, the mine’s liquidators this week served a court application on former liquidator Enver Motala to recover R3m paid to him from Aurora’s accounts

The first conclusive evidence of insider trading for the benefit of Aurora Empowerment Systems role players has come to light.

This comes as the liquidators of Aurora this week served an application on former liquidator Enver Motala to reclaim the R3 million he was paid from Aurora’s accounts.
For more http://www.citypress.co.za








Generations actors agreed to go back to work following negotiations facilitated by the SABC’s chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Not all their demands have been met, but they will be getting more money, annual increases and longer-term contracts.
For more http://www.citypress.co.za

By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom- A 38-year-old driver died after a car that he was traveling in capsized, North West police said.

“At around 22:55, on Saturday, a vehicle that was traveling on Viljoenskroon-Potchefstroom road overturned and the driver,38, died on the scene. It is not known at this this stage what led to the incident and investigation continues” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.
-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom- A cyclist died instantly after being knocked down by an overtaking car on Potchefstroom-Carletonville road on Friday at approximately 18:50, says North West police.

“An unknown man was killed instantly after being knocked down by an overtaking vehicle in Potchefstroom. A case of culpable homicide was opened and investigation continues.” Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje
Hopetown police are investigating a case of copper theft. On Saturday at approximately 10:00 police were called out to a scene on a farm near Hopetown.

Northern Cape police said footprints were found and followed. The copper was found stashed in a veld not very far from where it was stolen. Police did way-lay duties in the veld, knowing that the thieves would return for the stolen goods.

Almost 12 hours of waiting and monitoring in the veld, the waiting finally yielded some great success.

“The suspects returned at 21:30, the same evening and police pounced on them after they put the nine rolls of copper in a get-away vehicle. The VW Polo Vivo was also confiscated by the police as it was allegedly utilized in the commission of crime. The estimated value of the stolen copper is R50 000” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

Three male suspects aged between 33 and 41 were arrested and will appear in the Hopetown Magistrates’ Court soon. 

The Hopetown Cluster Commander, Lt Col Ben Phete lauds the members from the Hopetown Crime Prevention unit for their tenacity, vigilance and endurance which resulted in this awesome success.

“Copper theft is a serious offense and these members truly went that extra mile to once again prove that the conventional policing methods, together with some patience, also brings forth great results” Ben Phete said.
-TDN
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