Category Archives: NEWS

Bronx murder accused takes ill


Cape Town – The illness of one of three accused in the murder of gay night club owner Bruno Bronn delayed proceedings in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Defence lawyer Arno Nell told the court that his client, Fareez Allie, was ill and at his request the case was postponed to Wednesday.

Tuesday’s proceedings, before Judge President John Hlophe and assessor Jaco van Reenen, lasted only a few minutes.

With Allie in the dock are Frederick Willem John Coetzer and Achmat Toffa.

All have pleaded not guilty to a main count of premeditated murder, and another of robbery with aggravating circumstances.

If found guilty, the men face life sentences for the murder and 15 years for the robbery.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

SAPA

Proteas upbeat despite the rain


Durban – The Proteas remain confident their preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 is on track, despite rain disrupting the T20 International series against Australia.

The first match in Port Elizabeth was abandoned without a ball bowled, and rain could also affect the remaining two fixtures before the Proteas jet off to Bangladesh on Saturday.

The Proteas, however, have the reassurance of two warm-up matches in Dhaka, before their opening match against Sri Lanka in Chittagong on March 22.

“We have two warm-up matches, one against Pakistan and the other against Bangladesh A,”captain, Faf du Plessis said from a gloomy Kingsmead on Tuesday.

“That’s great for us because it will be played in sub-continental conditions.

“I’ve said before that I think as a team we are ready to head to the World Cup right now in terms of the form we have, but the important part of these games against Australia is guys getting time in the middle and for the guys to get more used to the white ball.”

The Proteas’ last T20I was a drawn series against Pakistan at home in November. The series completed an impressive run for Du Plessis’s squad in 2013, where they managed to win two away series against strong Sri Lankan and Pakistani sides.

“For me the biggest key for us as a team is our reflection points,” Du Plessis said.

“We beat Sri Lanka after getting hammered in the ODI’s; mentally we were nowhere but managed to pick ourselves up to win the series 2-1.

“We went to Dubai and beat Pakistan 2-0 which is why I feel that we are ready for the World Cup.  

“Fourteen months ago we gave ourselves the goal of being number one or two and we have done that, we were number six when we started the process,” he continued.

“We have had a great build-up to the World Cup, everything is running according to plan and now it’s a matter of getting some game time against Australia.”
Sport24

Amcu man found guilty


By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg-A 44-year-old Mvuyane Ndwandwe was found guilty and ordered to pay R500 admission of guilty fine on Friday, says North West police. 

Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said the accused was part of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) members who were protesting when the ongoing strike began in January this year. 

“The accused was arrested when the police removed and dispersed a group of approximately thirty strikers who were sitting in the middle of the road, blocking the free flow of traffic as well as preventing non-striking workers to go to work” Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, 29 January 2014 at approximately 06:00 at Nkaneng, near Khuseleka shaft.  

He was charged with possession of dangerous weapons; when he was found to be in possession of a knife and a knobkerrie.

“This is an indication that police will deal effectively with those who are disregarding the laws of the country, particularly during various gatherings including protected strikes”, said Brigadier Ngubane.-TDN
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Crackdown of car theft syndicate should bring relief to miners-Premier Modise


Rustenburg-The crackdown on criminality around the mining areas of Rustenburg should bring much relief to communities which have been plagued by crime, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Tuesday.

In commenting the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks and calling for the onslaught against crime to be intensified, Premier Modise said that the heat that should be turned higher against criminality.“Miners have experienced unprecedented levels of crime from bullying, violence and intimidation by their fellow workers to losing their valuable possessions to criminals who seem to have taken advantage of the volatile situation in our mining communities,” highlighted Modise.
She said that the rule of law should take the upper hand for crime to be forever on its back foot.
According to the Hawks, Five suspects were arrested, and eleven vehicles and a quad bike to the value of R606 000,00 were recovered in the Lehurutse, Rustenburg, Bethanie, Tlhabane and Klipgat areas.Spokesperson Captain Paul Ramaloko said the suspects were expected to appear in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates’ Court today.
“The syndicate targeted unsuspecting mine workers driving old model cars to get underground before they steal their vehicles,” said Ramaloko.

“This is a major success for us. We have been working on these projects for some time and we are confident that this breakthrough will bring some relief to the people who were victimized by these criminals. We will continue to identify and dismantle organised crime syndicates,” said Head of the Hawks in the North West, Major General Ntebo Mabula.

Ramaloko said that police investigations are continuing.-TDN
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Wits v Chiefs postponed


Johannesburg – The PSL have announced that the match between Wits and Kaizer Chiefs at Bidvest Stadium later this month has been postponed due to the Amakhosi’s participation in the CAF Champions League.

Chiefs are set to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo to face AS Vita on the weekend of 21 March for the first leg of their final qualifying match, with the return leg set to take place in Johannesburg a week later.

Wits were initially scheduled to host the defending champions during this weekend, but will now have to be rescheduled for a later date.

Sport24

NWest issues flood warning to municipalities


North West-The North West Provincial Disaster Management Centre has issued an early flood warning to all municipalities after several bridges across the province were reportedly flooded due to heavy rains experienced over the past few days.

Motorists and pedestrians crossing flooding rivers are advised to exercise extreme caution and not to underestimate flood currents.
The provincial government wishes to appeal to households that might experience flooding to exercise patience as some municipalities are overstretched by the demand for relief material due to flooding incidents.
Thirty RDP houses at Freedom Park in Rustenburg Local Municipality were reportedly flooded on Monday.
School attendance was also affected at Bosworth Primary School outside Klerksdorp as learners were forced to use the long route to school after the Witpoort bridge flooded.
The Maubane/Bosplas bridge in Mmotla village in Moretele Local Municipality was also flooded.
Heavy rains were also experienced in Tlokwe and Maquassi Hills Local Municipalities although no incidents were reported.
The Department of Water & Environmental Affairs has opened seven values at the Vaal dam and two values at the Bloemhof dam to allow the flow of water. The Bloemhof dam is said to be at 94%.
All the 150 households in Segwaelane, Majakaneng, Mothotlung,Oukasie, Maboloka, Bapong, Letlhabile, Mmakau and Premindia in Madibeng Local Municipality have received  counselling, tents, blankets, food parcels and Social Relief of Distress grants.The municipality is in the process of declaring a local state of disaster in terms of Section 54 and 55 of the Disaster Management Act no.52 of 2002.-TDN
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Premier Modise applauds crackdown of crime syndicates


The arrests of 16 members of crime syndicates are encouraging and should send an unequivocal message to criminals operating in and out of the North West Province that their honeymoon is over, Premier Modise said in applauding police on Tuesday.

“Our disappointment is that among those netted is a ring leader who purports to be a servant of God who is supposed to be in partnership with us to mobilise communities against crime,” said Premier Modise in calling on the police to intensify the onslaught against criminal syndicates for criminals to feel the heat.
Modise warned communities to be on the look out for wolfs in sheep’s skins.
She urged communities to work with police to fight the scourge of drugs which she said is destroying the future of our young people who are our future leaders.  
According to police, the arrests were carried out after a week-long operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), also known as the Hawks.
Spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Paul Ramaloko said that during the operation two Nigerian ringleaders were arrested  and drugs valued at more than R40 million, vehicles valued at more than R1,4 million and cash amounting to R186 000,00 were seized.
“These syndicates were under surveillance for months before they were arrested” Ramaloko said.
The first syndicate specialised in fictitious tenders, whereby they allegedly instructed victims to pay them in return for being awarded provincial government tenders.
Ramaloko said this syndicate mostly operated in Mmabatho.

“The Hawks arrested nine suspects in Mahikeng on Friday, recovered one vehicle, two laptops and eight cellular phones. Victims in this ring involve prominent persons who would not want to report their ordeal for the fear of prosecution or embarrassment” he said.

Approximately 24 victims brought their ordeal to the Hawks.

Ramaloko said that the suspects, Dingaan David Selabe, 45 a ringleader and a Bishop of Cornerstone Ministries in Signal Hill, Mahikeng, Petrus Andries Byleveld, 42, James Sizwe Mulaudzi, 52, Patrick Thipe, 45, Jan Qhete Masire, 41, Dipetso Jopie Esau, 39, Jack Seleke Medupi, 32, Itseng Boitheko Mathube,44 and Boitumelo Nancy Kweetsane,30 appeared in the Mahikeng Magistrates’ Court on Friday and their case was postponed to 14 March 2014 for bail application.

He said that syndicate which is alleged to have conned people out of a little more than R12 million is to remain in custody and that more arrests are expected.-TDN
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Rape of 92-year old granny harrowing – Premier Modise  


The reported rape of an elderly woman by a knife wielding man in Bapong near Brits is a horrendous and wicked act that calls for united action actions against rapists and all those who commit any form of gender based violence, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Tuesday.

“We wish to convey our sympathies to the 92-year old granny and want her to know that we will implore our police to do everything in their power to apprehend the suspect. The saddest thing is that the granny was attacked in the sanctuary of her home where she should have been safe,” said Premier Modise condemning the incident.
According to police, the granny was asleep when the assailant gained entry into her house after smashing a window.
 

“The knife wielding suspect allegedly demanded her pension money which she gave him,” Spokesperson for the North West Police, Captain Pelonomi Makau said.

 

“He then grabbed the granny and tied her hands behind her back before raping her,”

 

“We urge police not to leave any stone unturned until the heartless perpetrator is behind bars. There is no place in our society for those who violate, defile and abuse our elderly,” said Premier Modise reiterating her call for no bail against rape suspects.

 

Police investigations are continuing.-TDN
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ANC submits Top 10 candidates list


Pretoria – The ANC submitted its list of candidates for Parliament and provincial legislatures to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Tuesday, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said.
“We are comfortable [with the list]… we looked through it carefully,” he told reporters in Centurion.

Mantashe said the ANC national list committee was ready to respond to any issues the IEC might raise.

The deadline for political parties to submit their lists ahead of the national elections is Wednesday at 17:00.

The top 10 names on the ANC’s list are:

 Jacob Zuma

 Cyril Ramaphosa

 Malusi Gigaba

 Naledi Pandor

 Jeff Radebe

 Fikile Mbalula

 Blade Nzimande

 Bathabile Dlamini

 Lindiwe Sisulu

 Collins Chabane

– SAPA

Oscar loved guns- witness


Pretoria – Oscar Pistorius asked for a friend’s gun at a restaurant shortly before the firearm went off, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard on Tuesday.
“The accused asked me to pass my firearm to him,” Darren Fresco said to questions from prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

Pistorius took the Glock pistol from Fresco under a table, at Tasha’s restaurant in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, in January 2013.

Boxer Kevin Lerena and a British sprinter were with Pistorius and Fresco at the time.

When Nel asked Fresco why Pistorius asked for his gun, Fresco said he did not know.

“I thought he was competent. We had been to the shooting range before and I know he had a big love for guns,” said Fresco.

He said there was a bullet in the chamber and he saw Pistorius make a “shoulder gesture”, which he assumed was Pistorius sighting the existing bullet out of the chamber.

Fresco said the gun had no “specific safety clip”.

The gun fired and a bullet went into the tiled floor under the table.

During cross-examination by Advocate Barry Rouw, Fresco said Pistorius would have heard him when he said there was a bullet in the chamber.

 “The acoustics in that restaurant are terrible, particularly at lunchtime, but because of the proximity of our heads it is impossible that he could not have heard me say the gun was ‘one up’,” he said.

“One up” means there is a bullet in the chamber.

Fresco and Pistorius were sitting diagonally across from one another and leaned towards each other as the gun was passed.

Pistorius is accused of the murder of model and law graduate Steenkamp on 14 February last year.

He is also charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and two counts of discharging a firearm in public.

He allegedly fired a shot from a Glock pistol under a table at a Johannesburg restaurant in January 2013.

In September 2010, he allegedly shot through the open sunroof of a car with his 9mm pistol while driving with friends in Modderfontein.

SAPA