Johannesburg – The trial of a man, who allegedly assaulted and racially insulted his girlfriend’s domestic worker, will resume in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Andre van Deventer faces charges of common assault and crimen injuria.

During a previous appearance, the court heard that the domestic worker, Gloria Kente, 50, had poor health after he allegedly assaulted and swore at her.

His lawyer, Henry van der Westhuizen, said Kente had health issues because she was overweight and unhealthy.

However, Kente said her doctor had never told her she was overweight and that she had never eaten healthy foods at her employer’s house.

She also told the court that when she asked Van Deventer to look after Pienaar’s child while she took a shower, she said she heard him shouting that they were “paying this kaffir R2400 to look after the child”.

He allegedly grabbed her by the collar of her pyjamas. Kente has also applied to the Equality Court in Cape Town for R100 000 in damages and an unconditional apology from Van Deventer.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The South Gauteng High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, has found three men guilty of various crimes in Muldersdrift including the murder of a schoolgirl, The Star reported on Thursday.

Alfred Zwane, Samson Mandlezi and Manir Ubisi were found guilty on 15 charges, including the murders of 13-year-old Alyssa Botha and 50-year-old Andre Jordaan, three attempted murders, robbery with aggravated circumstances, housebreaking and illegal possession of firearms.

The three denied knowledge of the crimes, but Judge Moses Mavundla rejected this on Wednesday when he handed down judgment.

Mavundla said he was satisfied that the State had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

On 5 September 2012, Anton Botha picked up his daughters Alyssa and Meghan from a friend’s house when Alyssa was shot dead. The men shot Anton Botha in the abdomen and he lost a kidney as a result.

Meghan was shot twice in the legs.

Jordaan was shot during a robbery in the area and died in hospital.

Sentencing procedures were due to begin on Thursday.

SAPA

Pretoria – There were delays in the Gautrain train service between Hatfield and Park stations on Thursday morning due to cable theft, operator Bombela Concession Company said.

The delays, on the north-south line, were caused by around 300 metres of signalling cable being stolen in the Snake Valley area near Pretoria, spokesperson Errol Braithwaite said.

The thieves broke through the reserve fence and forced open a locked manhole cover early on Thursday morning.

“Train services between Sandton and the airport are not affected,” Braithwaite said.

“Technicians are repairing the damage and we hope to have trains running at full speed again by about 08:00.”

‘Hot spot areas’

This was only the second incident of cable theft in the last three years which has caused train delays.

“In 2012 we implemented significantly increased security measures in identified ‘hot spot’ areas. These include rapid-reaction motorbike patrols, dog units and additional guards,” Braithwaite said.

“Since then numerous incidents of attempted theft have been foiled and some arrests have been made. Unfortunately, along with most other utilities, Gautrain does however remain a target.”

Bombela called on the relevant authorities to intensify the battle against cable theft through the Second Hand Goods Act and increased crime intelligence.

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