Cape Town – The net is reportedly closing in on the person believed to be responsible for the gruesome attack on a family in Stellenbosch, according to a report.
Die Son reported on Tuesday that police are searching for the shop where the murder weapon – an axe – was bought. It is believed the axe was then sharpened before the incident.
For more http://www.news24.com
Durban – A South African police officer has been arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly trafficking drugs, it was reported on Tuesday.
Sergeant Busisiwe Zungu was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport, reported The Mercury.
Zungu’s arrest came as a shock to her family and friends who described her as a law-abiding citizen who “was very proud of her clean record”.
Her police partner also described her as a hard worker.
Zungu has been suspended from the Saps who are also conducting their own investigation into the alleged trafficking.
Patricia Gerber, head of Locked Up, an organisation that assists South Africans arrested overseas for drug smuggling, says China unfortunately has the death penalty for drug-related offences.
Last month, a Johannesburg father was sentenced to death in Malaysia after he was found guilty of drug smuggling.
Deon Cornelius was found guilty of smuggling 2kg of methamphetamine into Malaysia when he landed at Penang International Airport on 4 October 2013, News24 reported.
Gerber says many of those who get arrested are decoys and not mules.
“They [the mules] travel all over the world and are protected by corrupt police and airport authorities,” Gerber said in an email to News24.
“The decoy on the other hand is a person who is recruited by means of manipulation, coercion and are threatened at times.
“They are recruited for the sole purpose [of being] arrested so that the drug mules can walk through with the larger amounts, this is done unbeknown to the decoy.
“Before the arrival of the decoy the airport receives a tip off… The mules do have a hassle-free passage.”
In 2011, South African woman, Janice Linden was executed in China for drug smuggling, reported Sapa.
She was arrested in Guangzhou in November 2008 after she was caught with 3kg of crystal methamphetamine (tik) in her luggage. She was convicted of drug smuggling in 2009.
Bloemfontein – A 17-year-old boy stabbed his stepfather to death with a kitchen knife on Sunday night, apparently in self-defence.
Netwerk24 reported on Tuesday that the boy and his stepfather were arguing when the stepfather apparently threatened to shoot him.
He then stabbed the 59-year-old man five times.
The cause of the argument is unknown, but no gun was found in the home, according to Free State police.
The boy’s mother was at their Fichardt Park, Bloemfontein, home at the time of the incident, and cradled her dying husband, Netwerk24 reported.
A neighbour said the teenager was in a state after the stabbing, and hovered over his stepfather, repeatedly urging him not to die.
OFM reported that the man died at the scene and the boy was arrested for murder. He will appear in court on Tuesday.
Bloemfontein – The Constitutional Court will hear an application on Tuesday by a non-governmental organisation seeking to determine whether Parliament has failed in its constitutional obligation to get political parties to disclose the source of their private funding.
Currently, political parties are not obliged to disclose their funders.
The applicant in the matter, My Vote Counts NPC, is calling for a more inclusive, transparent and accountable political system.
Forming the basis of their case was the constitutional right to access information and the right to vote.
The group contends that citizens are entitled to access information about private funding to political parties and Parliament has a constitutional obligation to enact specific legislation to mandate this disclosure, in addition to the wide general provisions of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia).
Parliament, represented by the Speaker of the National Assembly and chair of the National Council of Provinces, was opposing the application.
It claimed that Paia adequately and exhaustively covered the constitutional right of access to information and the disclosure of the private funding of political parties may be requested through the existing legislation.
It also planned to argue that it had enacted several pieces of legislation that promoted accountable and transparent governance, therefore it had no obligation to enact the specific legislation sought by My Vote Counts.
All political parties currently represented in Parliament are cited as respondents, but none of them opposes the application.
They have agreed that the Constitution confers exclusive jurisdiction the Constitutional Court.
Kimberley – Four pupils from a Northern Cape school who are facing charges of raping a fellow teen have been expelled from the school pending an investigation, Netwerk24 reported on Tuesday.
The four have been charged for raping the 18-year-old boy in the school’s hostel. The incident was caught on cellphone cameras and one of the videos has gone viral.
“The pupils involved received notice of expulsion and an order to appear before a disciplinary committee. They have also received the charges,” said Sydney Stander, education department spokesperson.
The victim was tied with rope to a steel-framed bed, beaten, smeared with a white substance thought to be soap or shaving cream, and then raped with the handle of a broomstick.
About 20 boys watched and laughed while the victim cried out for help.
The attack is suspected to have been racially motivated because the four, aged between 14 and 18, are white and the boy is coloured.
It is suspected they attacked the teen last Sunday after finding out his mother was white, reported City Press.
They appeared in court last Friday and have been granted bail. They will be back in court on 5 March.
The ANC in Bokone Bophirima will hold its 8th Provincial Conference from the 12-15 February 2015 in Mafikeng exactly the same month it was elected four years ago. The process towards the elective conference began in earnest in July 2014 when the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) adopted guidelines, rules and procedures of the 8th Provincial Conference. Qualifying branches went to BAGMs and BGMs that selected delegates and as well as nominated candidates for the Provincial Executive Committee(PEC) which culminated in each region convening regional general council that consolidated all nominations from the branches.
The ANC also held the Provincial General Council(PGC) which was an opportunity for the province to draft a provincial proposal with regard to policy review as we prepare for the 8th Provincial conference and the National General Council(NGC) .All the events were characterized by high levels of discipline and unity amongst members of the ANC in the Province contrary to the skeptics and scatter deception but the very few whose interest is to see vigilantism and anarchy prevailing in our organization.
Structures of our movement — our leagues, and ANC regions have already made their preference even though this has been discouraged by the ANC because it has a danger to deny branches the space to engage in meaningful discussion as per the directive of the ANC with a view to making informed decisions in their nominations.
It is normally acceptable that ANC membership will have differing views when it comes to election of leadership because they are not conveyer belts ,but that must not degenerate into a bad political environment where people rely on insults to sustain their choice of leadership.ANC has held many conference before ,and the 8th provincial conference is no exception .
We must, denounce the use of insult by anybody within our movement to advance choice of leadership against the other. This has a potential to fracture our movement. Constructive criticism have always served as a critical component part within our structures to choose the best cadres to lead the ANC. Accordingly, this criticism has helped the ANC to emerge out of conferences with the best leadership.
Leaders must be elected democratically, hopefully uninfluenced by demagogy, selfish promotion and self-serving media advertising in favour of some among us, will continue a struggle which we,ourself inherited from a people hungry for genuine emancipation and ready to follow and support a leadership genuinely committed to serve the cause of the people.
No reason exists which would permit us as a movement and the delegates entrusted with the historic responsibility to take our movement into the next four years, to gamble on this outcome, by placing at head of our revolutionary march, a cadre of leaders which would be unable correctly to handle the complex issues of freedom Charter and to advance Socio- Economic Freedom which ANC January 8th statement has placed on the agenda of the current year, including our own.
The delegates must understand that the 8th Provincial Conference has been convened to discuss not merely the fortunes of the African National Congress, but to contribute in Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal of our Province as we deal with the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. This places a special obligation on our Provincial conference to live up to the expectations of our people to address their concerns and aspirations.
*NB: This opinion piece is written by Oupa Matla in his own personal capacity.
Whatever written here doesn’t represents Taung DailyNews and the newspaper doesn’t necessary agree nor disagree with what is written.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@TaungDailyNews or @IceT_
Mahikeng- The North West Provincial Government has received with astonishment and disappointment news about the attack on the contractor appointed recently by government to work on restoring water for the community of Majakaneng near Brits.
The incident which according to the police happened last night, Saturday, resulted in two of the contracted workers being injured.
This disturbing attack happened hours after Premier Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo’s visit to the area, where he had a fruitful interaction with the community about practical ways of resolving the community’s service delivery concerns.
It was during that community meeting that Premier Mahumapelo confirmed amongst others, the appointment of the contractor who was already on site.
“This development is certainly going against the peaceful mood that prevailed yesterday in Majakaneng. We are however content about the arrest of one of the suspects who are linked to this displeasing incident, and we call for the law to take its course”, said Premier Mahumapelo.
Pleading with the community of Majakaneng to allow the contractor the space to deliver on the urgent task at hand, Premier Mahumapelo encouraged them to isolate criminal elements who are using the plight of the community for their own criminal interests.
Mahumapelo further calls for the deployment of increased law enforcement personnel to the area, for them to ensure that security is tightened around key water installation sites.
Premier Mahumapelo reiterated his call for the community to work closely and serenely with government, and focus their energies towards bringing stability and reconciliation in the area of Majakaneng.
While the situation is being closely monitored, the communities are urged to work with the police and report any suspicious acts of criminality.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_
North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Gaoage Molapisi will launch the Safety and Security focus month in Mahikeng (Danville).
The MEC has during his budget speech indicated that the conference will be held to reflect on the mandate of CPF’s and Boards, as well as exploring measures of strengthening them to enhance their functionality.
he Department aims to ensure broad stake holder mobilization through a series of activities to be performed during the February month targeted as a Safety and Security focus period” departmental spokesperson Daddy Sebolecwe said.
Sebolecwe said this is to continue creation of partnerships through working together by the Criminal Justice System cluster institutions in Government, the civil society and business sector in the fight against crime.
The MEC is expected to outline the programme of action and schedule of activities to unfold during February and beyond.
Community members are encouraged to be part of the launch.
The event will unfold as follows:
Date : Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Venue : Danville next to Nursery (Mahikeng)Time : 9H00
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_
Johannesburg- The South African Under-17 Men’s National team, Amajimbos head to the Niger capital of Niamey confident of flying the country’s flag high at the CAF African Youth Championship which runs from 17 February – 1 March this year.
The Molefi Ntseki-coached youngsters will jet out of the country on Saturday and will travel via Addis Ababa before settling in Niamey, the capital of Niger for this important tournament.
For Amajimbos, this trip will present an opportunity of a lifetime. The top four teams from the CAF Youth Champs will qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile later in the year.
But first Amajimbos will have to negotiate their way through a tricky path in Group B where they face African football powerhouses Ivory Coast, Mali and Cameroon. The South Africans open their account with a clash against Ivory Coast on February 16 at the Municipal Stadium. Kick-off is at 15h00.
Three days later on February 19, Amajimbos tackle Mali before playing their last Group B match against Cameroon on February 22. Both matches kick off at 15h00 and will be played at Municipal Stadium.
The winners of Group A, which consists of hosts Niger, Nigeria, Guinea and Zambia, will play the runner up in Group B while the winner of Group B will play the runner up in Group A.
The Under-17 technical team had an opportunity to look at all the players in a friendly match against an Eastern Cape Under-17 Provincial team on Thursday which they lost 2-1 but coach Molefi Ntseki said the result did not count much as they wanted to have a final look at the team ahead of tomorrow’s departure.
“The friendly match was very important for us because we managed to break away from the normal trend and was in a different environment. The purpose of the friendly was for us to get a chance to have a look at all the players hence there were eight substitutions at one go. The result was not the focus of the day but rather to see where we are ahead of our journey.
“We are in a tough Group but we are relishing the challenge. We have proven in the past that when the going gets tough that is when the best comes out of our boys,” said Ntseki.
UNDER-17 AFRICAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
GROUP A GROUP B
NIGER. SOUTH AFRICA
NIGERIA. COTE D IVOIRE
GUINEA. MALI
ZAMBIA. CAMEROON
South Africa Matches:
16 FEB. SOUTH AFRICA vs COTE D’ IVOIRE 15h00 at Municipal stadium
19 FEB. SOUTH AFRICA vs MALI 15h00 at Municipal Stadium
22 FEB. SOUTH AFRICA vs CAMEROON 15h00h at Municipal stadium
First Group A vs Second Group. B
Second Group A vs First Group B
These four teams qualify for the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in Chile.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_
Jan kempsdorp- A group of white boys from a Northern Cape high school have videoed themselves attacking a black pupil and raping him with a broom handle, according to a report.
City Press reported that the four-minute video shows a group of six white pupils, who were wearing only their underpants, attacking the child.
The video, which was seen by City Press, shows the boy bound to a bed and painted with a white substance before the boys raped him. A group of black pupils are also seen watching the attack.
Before he was raped, the video shows his attackers shaving his head and his buttocks. The boy can be heard screaming and crying as his attackers and other boys in the room laugh and joke.
The assault allegedly took place in the agricultural school’s hostel in Jan Kempdorp, which is on the border with the North West.
Northern Cape education spokesperson Sydney Stander said the video was shot on Sunday at the hostel.
For more http://www.mg.com
The Guardian 