Elrico Neels, whose body was discovered in a ditch at the back of the Gariep High School in the early hours of Sunday morning. Pic: http://www.iol.co.za

Kimberley – A 20-year-old man appeared in court on Tuesday after he allegedly went on a drug-induced rampage, raping two young teenagers before killing one of them.

The community of Prieska is still in shock following the weekend’s events and the accused’s appearance in the Prieska Magistrate’s Court.

The two attacks were committed within minutes of each other during the early hours of Sunday morning.

During the first incident, a 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by the accused while she was on her way home after visiting her family in Plakkerskamp, a settlement in town.

The girl was allegedly accosted by the accused who threatened her with a stone before dragging her into the bushes where he raped her.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Kimberly – Police in the Northern Cape have swooped on major drug lords throughout the province and drugs with an estimated street value of more than R6 million, including 4.85 kilogrammes of cocaine, have been seized in the first seven days of this month.

In one operation, 4.85 kilogrammes of cocaine, with an estimated street value of R4.85 million, was confiscated from a house in Upington, while in Kimberley more than R750 000 in dagga, on its way to the Dingaan Hostel in Galeshewe, was intercepted.

A 21-year-old man, Spamandla Ndlovu, appeared in the Upington Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday in connection with the cocaine.

He will remain in police custody and the case was remanded until Thursday next week (October 15) for a formal bail application.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pic: (Facebook)

Johannesburg – A man in his 20s was killed and four people injured when their vehicle rolled in the Northern Cape, paramedics said on Monday.

ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said the accident occurred on Kirk Road in Kuruman on Sunday.

A light motor vehicle was found lying on its side, on the side of the road when paramedics arrived.

The lifeless body of the man, believed to be in his 20s, was found lying a few metres away from the vehicle.

“Unfortunately the man had already succumbed to his multiple, fatal injuries. He was declared dead on scene,” Meiring said.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Minister Fikile Mbalula pays his respects to Tsholofelo Bozwana, wife of prominent businessman Wandile Bozwana during his funeral service at NG Kerk Moreleta Park in Pretoria east. Photo: Thobile Mathonsi

Pretoria – “Love, I hear you,” were the last words uttered by slain businessman Wandile Bozwana to his wife before he was wheeled into the operating room where he died of his injuries.

His widow, Tsholofelo Bozwana, told mourners at his funeral service that she had rushed to his side at Unitas Hospital after hearing of the shooting, and was with him in his final moments.

“From the emergency centre to the theatre, I was with him. He would say things, but I did not hear him. However, I was able to hear him say ‘Love, I hear you’,” she said.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Tender-rigging and mismanagement of ratepayers’ money running into hundreds of millions of rand in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in Vryburg. 

North West – The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality has spent more than R100 million on consultants but failed to get value for money.

One of them was the former chief financial officer of the municipality, David Thornhill.

Thornhill was paid R39 000 for assisting the current chief financial officer Segomotso Phatudi to compile the annual financial statement a few days before the auditor-general’s office arrived in August last year to conduct the audit.

At the time, Thornhill was employed as a chief financial officer at Naledi Local Municipality in Vryburg. Thornhill is a former chief financial officer of the district.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

North West – R1 500. That’s how much the man accused of shooting and killing a man he suspected of stealing from his farm near the North West town of Koster wanted to pay the deceased’s family.

Cornelius Geldenhuys, through his legal representative advocate Vernon Strauss, approached Solomon Cquku’s family on Monday and offered them the cash to help with funeral arrangements.

Geldenhuys is accused of shooting and killing Cquku while he was on his bicycle on Friday. He claimed the man had stolen property from his farm.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Durban – Ayanda Mabulu will not apologise for his latest controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma instead he has vowed to continue using art to express his frustration.

“Those who find the painting offensive are the comfortable middle class, not the poor,” the artist said.

Mabulu’s painting, titled Spear Down My Throat (The Pornography of Power), depicts Zuma with his penis down the throat of a woman, who the artist says represents the country, while she is being penetrated by a hyena in a Victorian suit.

At the same time, the woman is also being milked into an urn with an ANC label.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE North West Health department refutes the claims that the Schweizer Reneke hospital was at the brink of being closed. The department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said that there was no intention of closing down the hospital, and urged the residents of Schweizer Reneke to be at ease.

“There was a proposal from a private company and presented that the Schweizer Reneke, Bloemhof, Taung, Vryburg and Christiana are too close to each other, so it does not make any sense to have a hospital in each area. The presentation was declined after a series of discussions.

“We can confirm to the residents of Schweizer Reneke and surrounding areas that the hospital will remain operation even though there are renovations taking place there,” Lekgethwane said.

-TDN

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