Daily Archives: October 1, 2014

Mystery Oscar statement issued

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Johannesburg – A press statement was issued by Paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s family and legal team on Wednesday in attempt to forestall a pending news report, apparently relating to electronic communications devices.

“We are not sure of the allegations which are to be made or the source of such allegations, but we are not aware of any deletions having been affected by Oscar or effected on his instructions that could be relevant to this trial or could have impacted on this trial,” they said.

Last month Pistorius was acquitted on the charge of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot dead through a locked toilet door at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year.

He said he mistook her for an intruder.

Pistorius was instead found guilty of culpable homicide.

In the trial, a police cellphone expert testified about an iPad2 and an iPad3 found at Pistorius’s house.

The website browser history on the iPad3 included “free mobile porn” and used car websites. According to the time next to the history, the porn website was accessed at 18:30 on 13 February 2013.

After that, the iPad was used to browse auto trader, used car websites and to search for cars, including the Ford Ranger and Aston Martin Rapide R.

Cellphone expert Colonel Mike Sale testified that according to data on the iPad3 and an iPad2 found on the scene the histories had the same type of content.

He said the web history before 13 February 2013 was deleted.

The Pistorius family and legal team said on Wednesday: “As far as we are aware all relevant communications were put before the court.

“The relevance of the communications from Oscar’s phones, iPad and laptop was properly dealt with by the court and ultimately played no role in the matter, this having been found by the court.”

SAPA

N West MEC to visit Hartswater crash victims

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Christiana- North West MEC for Social Development Fenny Gaolaolwe is scheduled to visit family members and relatives of 15 people killed in an accident on N18 road near Hartswater, Northen Cape Thursday, her office said.
 
Departmental acting spokesperson Petrus Siko said MEC Gaolaolwe had since the gruesome accident deployed social workers to provide counseling and de-briefing to family members and relatives of the deceased and further ordered them to compile home circumstance reports to determine their needs.
 
“Plans are at an advanced stage to provide needy families of the deceased with social relief of distress in the form of groceries while at the same time counseling sessions take place. We are lending our helping hand as a department during this difficult time in partnership with Lekwa-Teemane local municipality, Road Accident Fund, local churches and other stakeholders to ensure a dignified sent off of our brothers, sisters, parents and children who have lost their lives,” Siko said.
 
Mass funeral will be held on Saturday.
-TDN
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Taung shop-owner shot, suspects fled with a bakkie

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By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The community of Tamasikwa village, near Taung still trying to come to terms after what is labeled a “barbaric act” hit their area.

It seems crime is a very serious issue not only in urban areas, but also hitting rural areas nowadays. The gun-shots were heard at a foreign-owned shop at around 19:30 on Tuesday and that left a 22 year-old Pakistani in Intensive Care Unit(ICU) at Klerksdorp hospital with a gun-shot wound.

Adil Shehbaz,22, was shot by unknown suspects who came to his shop with intention of robbing him.

Shehbaz was about to close his shop when two suspects, one armed with a gun pounced on him. The suspects allegedly unleashed a warning shot and demanded money from Shehbaz.

“He explained to them that he does not have money, but the suspects decided to shoot at him” Madasar Iqbal who is uncle to the victim said.

Iqbal,26, said to add the salt to the wound, police arrived only after eight hours.

“The incident took place at around 19:30, we called the police but they only arrived eight hours later. I believe if they arrived early, something would ‘ve been done. We do not feel safe anymore” he outlines.

The suspects allegedly fled with undisclosed amount of money and demanded the victim’s car keys.

They drove away with the victim’s Toyota Hilux which was found abandoned in the bushes between Takaneng and Diretseng village.

“It is alleged that on Tuesday at approximately 19:30, two suspects arrived at the shop in Tamasikwa village with covered faces and one of them armed with a firearm.  A shot was allegedly fired and hit a shop owner (Pakistani National) in the chest” North West police spokesperson colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. 

Mokgwabone said the suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash and drove away with the car that was parked outside. 

“The offended was taken to hospital for treatment and the car was later found abandoned near Direetseng village. No one has been arrested at this stage” he concludes.    
Police investigations continue.

Kgosietsile Lethola High commemorate ‘1975 Bus Crash Heroes’

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By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The residents of Taung gathered together at Kgosietsile Lethola High School in remembrance of a tragically event where 34 people perished in an accident.

The high school paid a tribute to 32 pupils and two teachers who died in a horrific accident back in 1975 after the bus that they were traveling in lost control and ploughed against the embankment.

The school was on an educational tour when the atrocity happened.

“We came together to celebrate and commemorate those who died in a tragedy. We want their families and loved ones to know that they did not die in vain. We would remember them as true heroes and their spirits will always be with us” Kgosietsile Lethola principal Gaolaolwe Obotseng said.

According to the school principal, they want the graves of all those who were involved in a crash to be recognized as monument.

“We approached North West Heritage Council to forward our request, but they said the graves must reach 40 years before they could be recognized as a Heritage site” Obotseng said.

One of the survivors relived the fateful day when the relishing moment turned into tragedy. “We were on an educational tour in a bus to Manyeleti Game Reserve in Limpopo. The driver lost control and the bus ploughed into an embankment. 34 people died and I want to thank Almighty for sparing my life. Even though I lost my leg in the accident, all is not lost. We would like the government to help us and make sure those who died are honoured” Rosy Mpoletsang Molale laments.

The event was blended with a Heritage Day celebrations. The Department of Rural Environment and Agricultural Development representative Richard Gasealalwe said the youth must make sure they learn about their identity.

“Our youth need to learn about the indigenous food, learn about our heritage, our identity and rearing of a an African child” he said.
-TDN
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North West driver dies in an accident

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By Obakeng Maje
Delareyville- The police have registered a case of culpable homicide after a car overturned and the driver aged 46 died on the scene. 

“The car was traveling on Atamelang road when it overturned on Tuesday at about 08:30. What led to the incident is not yet known” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.-TDN
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Taung family perish in a horrific accident near Delareyville

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By Obakeng Maje
Taung- Police in Vryburg are investigating a case of culpable homicide after four members of Monyatsi family died when two vehicles collided on Monday at approximately 14:20 along N14 between Vryburg and Delareyville.

The incident occurred after the two vehicles that were travelling to opposite directions collided.

“Itumeleng, Lerato, a three year-old and the mother aged 35 died as a result of the accident. It is alleged that two of them died at the scene while the other two were certified dead at the hospital” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. 

The occupants of the other car, a husband, his wife and two children were admitted at the hospital with serious injuries.    

Investigation into the matter continues.-TDN
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One nabbed for house robbery in N West

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By Obakeng Maje
Garankuwa- A 21-year-old man appeared in Ga-rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for alleged house robbery, says North West police said. 

“It is alleged that the suspects who were all wearing balaclava, gained entrance into the house where they found the owner and pointed her with a firearm” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

They allegedly tied her with plastics straps, robbed her cellphone, cash and fled the scene on foot. The accused was later arrested while his accomplices are still at large.-TDN
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Two nabbed for attempted murder in N Cape

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By Obakeng Maje
Two Barkly West men appeared in the Barkly West Magistrate Court on Monday for a charge of attempted murder, says Northern Cape police.

“It is alleged that on Tuesday at about 16:30, Bothata John Daniels,34, went to look for his friend at the Rietgat Resort and was referred to the owner of the pub. The owner of the club, Rohan Bekker,28, allegedly became racially abusive towards Daniels” lieutenant Andrea Cloete.

Bekker and his friend, Peter Watson,34, allegedly shoved the complainant into the back of a bakkie and drove off. The complainant alleged that he was taken to a place where they bound his hands with cable ties.

The two suspects then drove to the Vaal river bridge where they untied the complainant. Daniels was then pushed off the bridge and the suspects drove off.

Daniels managed to swim to safety and he was spotted by a passingby police vehicle on R31.

“A shaken and injured Daniels explained to police what had happened. He was taken to the hospital in Barkly West for treatment to injuries sustained to his head and shoulders” Cloete said.

The suspects were arrested and charged for attempted murder. Peter Watson was released on R1000 bail while Rohan Bekker remained in police custody. The case is remanded to the 6th October 2014.

This is the second attempted murder case involving  Rohan Bekker.

In August 2014 he was charged for attempted murder for allegedly tying up and assaulting Koos Essel.

“He was found by workers who heard his screams. His hands and feet were bound with cable ties and he was shoved inside a canvas bag. Essel was also found on the banks of the Vaal River” she said.

Rohan Bekker was arrested and charged for attempted murder and the case is still pending.-TDN
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MEC Mohono joins World Tourism Day celebrations in the Northern Cape

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Upington – Following her recent visit to the Northern Cape where she joined the Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, the Northern Cape provincial government and the whole country in celebrating World Tourism Day (27 September 2014) activities which were held under theme.

“Tourism Transforming Lives, North West MEC for Tourism, Desbo Mohono says her department was able to exchange best practices and benchmark other trends within the Tourism sector across the country. MEC Mohono said that it is important that she engages with other relevant national stakeholders, the Minister and Tourism MECs from other provinces so as to better place her newly formed department and province as set against other provincial departments in the map.

“This tour to the Northern Cape was not only to celebrate world Tourism Day, we were there to also benchmark, network and exchange best practices. I was there to ensure that I sell Bokone Bophirima as a tourism product to the market which was available there” she said.

Mohono said the North West province has quality world class tourism products which the citizens as the custodians need to represent, package and sell well to the relevant markets. “Hence we are in this province to see how we can learn from them and share best practices”, she said.

MEC Mohono also added that since the North West and Northern Cape are bordering each other the prospects of creating partnerships which will benefit both provinces in growing the economy.

“We can engage each other on a regular to develop strategies in working together to grow the tourism economy. Both our provinces are mainly rural and we both have astonishing indigenous Tourism products. Our partnership would go a long away and it will definitely yield positive results which will transform the lives of ordinary South Africans from both provinces”, she added.

World Tourism Day is an annual event meant to foster awareness among the international community about the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

This year’s theme was focusing on the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve change in their local communities.-TDN
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