Pietermaritzburg – A Richard’s Bay motorcyclist who crashed at an unmarked speed bump has been granted a 50% liability admission for her knee injuries and damages from the KwaZulu-Natal roads department.

The case, brought by Lourika Boisson, was heard by Deputy Judge President Gregory Kruger in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

She said that her hospital expenses were R60 000 and repairs to her BMW motorcycle would cost about R43 000.

She developed necrosis, a skin flap was debrided several times and she needed a skin graft. Her knee was permanently disfigured.

On the road to Stanger in March 2008 she crashed at the unmarked and unpainted speed bump. She said that the roadside warning sign was obscured by tree foliage and was in shade.

She said the department failed to maintain warnings to road users of the speed calming device.

The amount to be paid to her is still to be decided.

Johannesburg – The three men sentenced in the North Gauteng High Court Pretoria for killing former world heavyweight boxing champion Corrie Sanders during an armed robbery will apply for leave to appeal, the SABC reported on Wednesday.

Judge Ferdi Preller on Wednesday sentenced Paida Fish, Chris Moyo and Samuel Mabena, all in their 20s, to 18 years imprisonment for murdering Sanders.

They were sentenced to 19 years for armed robbery and a further six years for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Preller ordered that some of the sentences run concurrently, giving a sentence of in effect 30 years for each of the three men. They are all first offenders.

Sanders, 46, was shot during an armed robbery at the Thatch Haven Country Lodge outside Brits while attending his nephew’s 21st birthday party on 22 September 2012.

He died the next day in the Kalafong Hospital.

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma will deliver his eighth State of the Nation address on Thursday amid tight security following threats of disruptions.

The EFF on Tuesday repeated its threat to interrupt his annual address by asking him questions about his Nkandla homestead.

“The EFF will ask questions to Zuma during the Sona [State of the Nation address] because Zuma has not been coming to Parliament and we do not believe that Zuma will come to be held accountable in Parliament,” spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said in a statement.

Despite the threat, Parliament has said it was satisfied with security arrangements for the event. The legislature’s presiding officers have vowed to apply rules and conventions strictly during the speech.

Parliament’s protection officers and police will be deployed inside the National Assembly building.

“The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which co-ordinates all security and law enforcement for the president’s annual State of the Nation address… is satisfied with the progress being made with its security planning,” police spokesperson Solomon Makgale said in a statement on Wednesday.

The precinct would be closed to the public, except for those accredited to attend the event, including MPs, journalists, and members of the diplomatic corps.

“The nation at large, particularly the community of Cape Town, is advised that there will be limited access in areas surrounding Parliament, meaning that there will be road closures and parking restrictions,” said Makgale.

A no-fly zone will be set up over the precinct, except for SA Air Force jets, which will do a fly-over shortly before Zuma’s speech.

While security measures had been increased, the withdrawal of parliamentary workers’ voluntary services from the State of the Nation address could cause some headaches for Parliament’s management.

Talks in deadlock

On Tuesday night, talks between Parliament’s management and Nehawu over a 13th cheque deadlocked again, prompting the union to announce it would follow through with its plans.

“The secretary to Parliament made commitments that the matters we have raised will be addressed, but when we requested him to put these commitments on pen and paper, he refused,” said National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) Western Cape secretary Luthando Nogcinisa.

Nehawu denied it was using State of the Nation address to bargain with Parliament.

“Our objective is not to disrupt the Sona [State of the Nation address] as it has been reported by some media houses,” Nogcinisa said.

“Our only objective is to highlight the plight of workers in Parliament.”

The union has over 900 members employed by Parliament, some of whom perform voluntary services during the State of the Nation address.

“They include things like the choir, the ushers who would take guests from the airport to Parliament, and usher MPs and so on,” said Nogcinisa.

It was not clear whether Parliament had made alternative arrangements to offset the effects the withdrawal of Nehawu’s service would have on the event.

“We are in talks with them and we’ll communicate with them directly on issues of mutual concern. We will not conduct our negotiations in the media,” said Parliament’s spokesperson Luzuko Jacobs.

Nehawu is demanding a 13th cheque for workers, and that workers’ pay be equalised.

The Bokone Bophirima MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Gaoage Molapisi says the fight against crime needs brave and dedicated men and women who will take the bull by its horns to create a save and secured environment.

Speaking during the launch of this year’s Safety and Security Month yesterday in Danville here in Mahikeng, Molapisi said South Africa is suffering from high level of criminal activities and innocent people continue to be victimized by selfish, dangerous and heartless criminals who should be locked away.

“Government alone cannot win the fight against crime, but it takes a community and the nation at large to build a crime free society. This fight is a combined responsibility which needs brave men and women to work with us and the rest of the stakeholders in an integrated approach.

“We must work together towards creating an environment where our families will live in their houses without any fear of been invaded by these ruthless thugs, business owners operating their outlets without any fear of been violated. Women and children must enjoy the breezing air from public space without been raped and violated,” said Molapisi.

He said the department will during this month continue to mobilize men and women, business sectors, churches, community safety forums and community policing forums to strengthen the fight against crime and make South Africa a safe country.

During the launch, MEC Molapisi led the Letsema project which braved the hot weather conditions to cut tree and bushes on the walk path from Danville to town. The area is one of the hot spots of crimes identified in the province.

In partnership with the Mahikeng Local Municipality, the Department managed to repair street lights in the area of Danville which were reported to have since been damaged in the past two years.

-TDN

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