Monthly Archives: September 2014

Oscar’s TV trial setting precedent for media – Booth


Cape Town – Televising Paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial will hopefully open the gates to screening other important cases, defence lawyer William Booth said on Monday.

“I hope, post Oscar Pistorius, [that] the same will happen with other cases, some cases that are even more horrific than Oscar’s case,” he told the Cape Town Press Club.

He believed opening up court rooms around the country would increase transparency and hold magistrates and judges accountable for their conduct.

Media applications would need to be scrutinised on a case-by-case basis and exclude trials where children were involved.

Booth said it might even be possible to televise rape trials if victims were willing. He said a recent survey of United Kingdom rape victims revealed the majority were in favour of giving evidence while televised.

“The rationale is that they wanted to encourage more victims of crime, particularly rape and assault, to come forward.

“It doesn’t have to become a circus.”

Booth said the televising of Pistorius’s trial could be criticised to an extent.

“Traditionally, witnesses shouldn’t talk to each other. What happened here is that every witness knew what the previous witness had said.”

However, he believed witnesses would still have been able to pick up information from social media if the trial had not been on television.

Judge Thokozile Masipa will hand down judgment on Pistorius in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Thursday.

The athlete was charged with murder following the fatal shooting of his model and law-graduate girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He shot her through the locked toilet door in his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year. He claimed he mistook her for an intruder.

Booth predicted there was “quite a significant risk” that Pistorius could be convicted of killing an intruder, if not Steenkamp.

He was asked about the prospects of success of an appeal, should Pistorius be convicted of murder.

Booth said there were two possible grounds for appeal – that of Pistorius claiming he was badgered by the State and that of witnesses not being called because they did not want to be televised.

“If your client is being badgered, you get up as a lawyer. You object. There is also duty on the judge. I don’t believe you can sit back,” Booth said.

It was a different matter if judges continuously overruled, he added.

Booth said the issue of witnesses was not a relevant point because the judgment on the televising of the case made provision for witnesses being called in camera.

SAPA

Mogoeng: NPA, protector independence paramount


Johannesburg – Anything other than a truly independent NPA, public protector, and allied institutions are unacceptable, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said on Monday.

“Anybody who makes an effort to… appreciate the theme that runs through my addresses that relate to constitutional institutions will remember that I’m campaigning for near absolute independence of the judiciary,” Mogoeng said.

This included institutions established under South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

“That goes for the NPA, that goes for the public protector,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg after meeting International Criminal Court president Justice Sang-Hyun Song.

“More importantly, if you also have a look at our jurisprudence, of this court in particular, you will realise that anything other than a truly independent National Prosecuting Authority, and public protector, and allied institutions, is unacceptable to me and the broader legal fraternity.

“That’s where we are,” Mogoeng said.

Earlier on Monday, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) appeared to backtrack on reports that its chairman Kebby Maphatsoe accused Public Protector Thuli Madonsela of being an agent for the US Central Intelligence Agency.

Maphatsoe’s special adviser, Ike Moroe, denied the statement but conceded that reference to the CIA had been made.

“He did make reference to the possibility of a CIA machination in an attempt to destabilise the country,” Moroe told reporters in Johannesburg.

“[However] nothing is impossible… from the international intelligence community.”

The Star reported on Monday that Maphatsoe, who is also deputy minister of defence and military veterans, had accused Madonsela of working for the CIA.

SAPA

Cosatu condemns attack on NUM member


Johannesburg – The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Monday condemned the intimidation of a National Union of Mineworkers member during an inspection in Marikana by the Farlam Commission of Inquiry.

When the woman arrived in Marikana, dressed in a red NUM T-shirt, miners affiliated to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) shouted obscenities at her.

She took cover among police officers. Cosatu identified her as Helen Diatile. The NUM is a Cosatu affiliate.

“Cosatu strongly condemns this action which could have escalated into an even more serious incident, and appeals for tolerance among workers,” Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said in a statement.

“The only people who can benefit from violent confrontations between workers are their employers, who will always seek to exploit such divisions,” he said.

The NUM security team and police escorted Diatile and NUM spokesperson Luphert Chilwane, who was accompanying her, out of Marikana.

“They both opened a case of intimidation at the Marikana police station,” Craven said.

The commission’s inspection was attended by lawyers, Lonmin mineworkers, the widows of slain miners, and journalists.

Commission chairperson, retired Judge Ian Farlam, called the miners to order.

“I am in charge of this inquiry and this is a public place. Everyone is free to wear what they want. You have your Amcu T-shirts on,” he said.

Farlam said he had been informed that a police witness, scheduled to point out some spots, felt intimidated afterwards.

“It will be remembered that when it was drawn to my attention that the NUM representative was being told to leave, I spoke out very strongly about it.

“Despite what I said, the intimidation continued. Thank you very much, the proceedings are terminated,” said Farlam.

The commission is investigating the 44 deaths relating to a 2012 strike in Marikana.

SAPA

Let us raise our game against Nigeria – Mashaba


Cape Town- Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has challenged his charges to forget about the politics surrounding the Nigeria game, calling them to psyche themselves up for one of the biggest games of their lives.

Addressing members of the media after the morning training session at Athlone Stadium on Monday, Mashaba said the issue of whether Nigeria would be banned or not by the world football governing body, FIFA was neither here nor there as far as the team’s training regime was concerned.

“As far as I am concerned, we will play Nigeria on Wednesday and we are ready to go to battle and it is a big one and I have told my boys to up their game, come Wednesday,” said Mashaba.

The Bafana Bafana mentor said the good thing about Wednesday’s game was the fact that the boys had removed pressure off themselves by winning against Sudan in Khartoum last Friday.

“The 3-0 win was critical but now we need to be even more clinical if we are to follow up our win on Friday. It won’t be a technical match; they are going to be fighting as well. We all know what Nigerians can do,” Mashaba cautioned, adding that he had lots of confidence with the kind of players that he had assembled. “We should be in a position to get something out of the game.”

Second half replacement, Sibusiso Vilakazi, came on eight minutes into the second period and scored a superb brace to send South Africa on their way three days ago, and Mashaba hinted that he was resisting the temptation to include Vilakazi in his starting line-up as a result of the Wits’ midfielder’s heroics.

“In modern football, that is what we call a tactical move. You don’t throw all your good players from the word go. You throw them from the bench when the opposition is tiring. All three subs that came on paid dividends. It was like they were saying; we want to show the coach that we don’t belong to the bench,” added Mashaba.

Apart from Andile Jali, who is nursing a slight knock, Bafana Bafana medical team has given the squad a clean bill of health.
-TDN
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Forensic auditor’s killer nabbed

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Johannesburg – The killer of forensic auditor Lawrence Moepi has been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal after nearly a year on the run, police said on Monday.

“He was apprehended this past weekend after he was found alone, hiding in a rondavel in West Bank, KwaZulu-Natal,” Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale said.
For more http://www.news24.com

KZN actress Boni earned her stripes

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Picture: (Daily Sun)

Picture: (Daily Sun)


Johannesburg- THUSO Mbedu is fast becoming a face that TV viewers love to see on Sundays.

She is a ray of sunshine among fellow cast members whose characters have dark clouds hanging over them.

Thuso, from Pietermaritzburg in KZN, plays Boni Khumalo in Saints and Sinners on Mzansi Magic. Her family, the Khumalos, are headed by Mamohato (played by
Nthati Moshesh).
For more http://www.dailysun.mobi

North West finest Dj Sphere promises fireworks

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Picture: (By Obakeng Maje) Dj Sphere posing before rocking the crowd at Pudumong Annual Beer Festival

Picture: (By Obakeng Maje) Dj Sphere posing before rocking the crowd at Pudumong Annual Beer Festival


By Kgatilso Ramose
Pudumoe is the place to be this weekend as Pudumoe Beer Festival return for the second year.

This year it promises to be bigger and better.

North West’s finest DJ Trekkie Sphere who is known for bringing music heavy weights to Pudumoe, is the organiser and fun is guaranteed.

“Last year we invited Chymamusique, now this year we are taking it to another level” said the delightful DJ Sphere.

“This year we invited crowd puller, DukeSoul, we even invited Brand house to come and showcase what they got. They will brand the whole venue” he explained.

Pudumoe Community Hall was packed to capacity last year and the stake is high this year.

“We are expecting a massive crowd to come over. As next year, we want to take it to Pudumoe Sport Ground due to a bigger and growing crowd” Dj Sphere said.

Line up includes:
DukeSoul
Divine V
Poposki
ShakesDj
Sir LDW
Mluu
Dowie
Tdo Soulfreak
Bizza
General Zitto
Khelsna
Da Juice

MC
Teddy Cash
-TDN
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MKMVA: Madonsela thinks she is God

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Johannesburg – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela must tell the country who her “handlers” are, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) said on Monday.

“If advocate Thuli Madonsela feels more powerful and above the Constitution, she should tell the country who her handlers are,” MKMVA chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe told reporters in Johannesburg.
For more http://www.news24.com

Farlam inspects Marikana

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Pretoria – A large crowd of lawyers, police officers, journalists and evidence leaders gathered in Marikana, North West, on Monday for an inspection “in loco” by the Farlam Commission of Inquiry.

A lengthy convoy formed along the dusty Lonmin Platinum mine roads as the team moved through areas related to the August 2012 shooting of Marikana miners during a strike.

It was led by retired judge Ian Farlam, who chairs the inquiry, and drove to several areas spoken about during the probe into the shootings.

Several police Nyalas (armoured vehicles) and a water cannon were at the hill where the miners were shot. A helicopter hovered overhead.

Earlier this month, Farlam said the inspection would focus only on areas linked to the shootings on 16 August.

“We are confining our attention to the events of the 16th [August 2012]. We anticipate that it will probably take us the whole day,” he said.

“Parties are requested to communicate with evidence leaders which spots they would want to be inspected by close of business on Wednesday. We have held other inspections earlier.”

200+ arrested

The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during unrest at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana in August 2012.

Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with the police on 16 August.

More than 70 people were wounded and more than 200 were arrested. The police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them at the time.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed.

During an inspection in October 2012, two North West crime scene experts led Farlam and his team around the area where the 34 were shot dead.

Warrant Officer Patrick Thamae pointed out where bodies were found near the hill where the mineworkers had assembled in the days leading up to 16 August.

Another inspection was held in March 2013 near Lonmin’s K3 shaft. The commission’s members retraced the steps of miners and police officers on 13 August.

On that day, Warrant officers Hendrick Tsietsi and Sello Ronnie Lepaaku were hacked to death in a confrontation with protesting mineworkers.

– SAPA

A man hanged self in Mokgareng, near Taung

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Picture: (Internet)

Picture: (Internet)


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- North West police are investigating a case of inquest after a 22 year-old man found hanged at his home in Mokgareng village, near Taung. The incident took place on Saturday night at Mokgareng village where the 22 year-old man allegedly hanged himself in the garage.

“A man was found hanged on Sunday morning by one of family members. The cause of the gruesome discovery is yet unknown and police opened a case of inquest” sergeant Kelebogile Moleko said.

Police investigations continue.-TDN
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