Johannesburg – Tension at the City of Joburg’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) boiled over on Wednesday night when a firefighter from the Orange Farm station shot and killed his boss.

The man was one of the firefighters placed on suspension following an illegal strike over the deaths of two firefighters who died of smoke inhalation after being trapped in an inner-city building this year.

On Wednesday night, the Orange Farm fire station’s action commander, Lesedi Phatsoe, arrived at the firefighter’s Vanderbijlpark home to serve him with a notice to appear before a hearing. He was shot dead.

Police spokesman Captain Johannes Motsiri said an argument broke out between the two.

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

Johannesburg – The trial against a 21-year-old man alleged to have been behind the accident that led to the death of Top Billing presenter Simba Mhere and his best friend is expected to continue in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Preshalin Naidoo faces a case of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving.

He has made several appearances since his arrest earlier this year following Mhere and Kady-Shay O’Bryan’s death.

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Picture: (Fury as NWU up in smoke)

BY REGINALD KANYANE

STUDENTS and management at North West University Mafikeng Campus reached a compromise to go back to their residence on Wednesday afternoon.

  It was not clear what influence Premier Supra Mahumapelo exerted on the negotiations as met with students and management over the issue.

  University management had decided to indefinitely close the institution and evacuate all students from campus residence following a week of violent protests.

  Police moved in and drove students out around 6am and everyone was out of the campus by 8am.

Premier Supra Mahumapelo visited the students who were stranded on the road and called on them to remain calm while his office negotiated with the university.

  In his address, Mahumapelo said: “It is wrong that the university uses force to evacuate students because there could be injuries and even loss of life. We want them to talk to you so that an amicable solution is found.

  “We get worried that students coming from poor backgrounds and other African states can be given such a short notice to leave. How do they go back home and yet expected to be back in time for examinations,” Mahumapelo said.

  On the other hand, the student leadership rushed to court to try and interdict the indefinite closure.

The university has been closed down due to student protests that started on October 21.

  NWU vice chancellor, Prof Dan Kgwadi said that there was need to restore order and make sure that university staff is allowed back on campus to perform its duties.

   “The Mafikeng Campus of the NWU currently is under siege by students since October 21 and management and staff had been locked out of campus.

  “Considerable damage had been done to facilities on campus which must now be repaired to ensure that examinations can begin on Monday, 2 November 2015,” he said.

  Kgwadi added that there was need for police to remain on campus to make sure that there was no further damage to property.

  “Management will now assess the situation and take the necessary steps to prepare for the commencement of examinations,” he said.

  Student representative council (SRC) president Linda Mabengwana said they had worked hard to have students back on campus but they had three outstanding issues before business could return to normal.

  “We want the issue of the examination dates moved forward because November 2 is too close. We also demand that students who participated in the protests should not be charged and that police should not be allowed on campus. We are not criminals that they should patrol here.

  “If these are not met, we cannot allow staff members back on campus and we would continue our fight in the courts of law,” Mabengwana said.

  Students also had misgivings over the way they had been evacuated.

A final year Political Sciences and International Relations student, Ofentse Pilane said: “We do not appreciate the way the message was communicated to us. We learnt through media that we will be evicted. What about other students who are from various areas and countries? How would they find an alternative accommodation in the short space of time?”

  Another student from Rustenburg, Tshepiso Mataboge said that she will only be back at the campus after the situation has calmed down.

-TDN

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