Category Archives: NEWS

It’s all systems go at Wolmaransstad schools


By Obakeng Maje
Wolmaransstad-Schools around the Wolmaransstad area in the North West heeded the call by the Department of Education to ensure that the culture of learning and teaching is implemented on the first day of the schools reopening.

The compliance to the appeal was given thumps up by MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi on Wednesday and Thursday while visiting and observing adherence, as per Exco resolution to deploy executive members to different schools across the province.

MEC Maloyi was impressed by the enthusiasm displayed by both learners and teachers in preparing for the academic year. In some schools Maloyi was told by school management that parents spend part of their festive holidays painting and cleaning schools for their children to learn in a clean and habitable environment.

 However in some schools, MEC Maloyi, became seriously concerned about the pupil’s intake. His concern was around the over populated classes which had over sixty pupils in one class. He cited the situation as unacceptable and resolved that urgent attention should be given to the schools to ensure that learning continues unabated.

Among other, were infrastructural challenges like, broken windows, roofs blown away by the wind and broken doors were also identified. During the MEC’s visit several structural defects were identified at the toilets of one school in. Maloyi, engaged a local philanthropist who attended to the challenge with immediate effect.

“We will refer all this challenges to the relevant department for urgent intervention. Besides the challenges encountered we are satisfied with the fact that schools have already started with teaching and learning and that stationary and text books have already being distributed to learners on the first day of learning,” said Maloyi.

“The courage and the spirit displayed by the schools management humbles and makes me sure that as the North West province we will obtain the first position during the next matric results. The preparations for the foundation phase also made me sure that we will have well-groomed learners in future,” said Maloyi as he concluded.-TDN
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Three nabbed for copper cable at depot


Johannesburg – Three employees at the Ekurhuleni electrical depot in Kempton park, Johannesburg, were arrested on Thursday for possession of stolen goods, Gauteng police said.

The three men, aged 20, 33 and 40, stole a metre of copper steel from the depot, Superintendent Vusi Mabanga said.

The steel was found under a blanket in one of the men’s vehicles during a random security check at the gate, Mabanga said.

The men would appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court soon.

Sapa

New arrest on Krejcir linked-hit plot


Johannesburg – A fifth person was arrested on Thursday for allegedly plotting to kill a police investigator associated with the Radovan Krejcir investigation, said Gauteng police.

“The suspect is a 34-year-old woman, who is a sergeant within the crime intelligence environment,” said Lt-Gen Solomon Makgale.

He said the woman allegedly provided software to track investigators.

Nine cellphones were confiscated from her.

Earlier, three men and a woman were arrested for allegedly plotting to kill forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and crime intelligence officer Colonel Nkosana “Killer” Ximba.

One of the men was also linked to the kidnapping and attempted murder case for which Krejcir is being investigated.

The kidnapping case allegedly involves Czech fugitive Krejcir, Sandton businessman Desai Luphondo, and two members of the Hawks Ä Warrant Officers Samuel Modise Maropeng and George Jeff Nthoroane.

They were arrested in November.

In June, they allegedly kidnapped and assaulted a man whose brother, known only as “Doctor”, disappeared with a 25kg shipment of tik he had been recruited to help smuggle through OR Tambo International Airport.

They allegedly kept the man at Krejcir’s Money Point business in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, for four days, and assaulted him.

Sapa

NPA to discuss Mpisane’s case


Durban – The NPA will examine the State’s decision to withdraw corruption and fraud charges against Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mpisane, it said on Thursday.

“National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Mxolisi Nxasana instructed the head of the special commercial crimes unit to submit a detailed report for his consideration with the view to establish whether the reasons for the withdrawal warrant his intervention in a form of a review or not,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Nathi Mncube.

Mpisane faced more than 50 charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering of a forged document.

She was accused of submitting forged documents to obtain Construction Industry Development Board gradings, which were then used to win five public works department tenders worth R140 million.

The State dropped charges against Mpisane on Wednesday in the Durban Commercial Crimes Court.

KwaZulu-Natal NPA spokeswoman Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the withdrawal was because the State could not submit a forensic investigation report to the court by Wednesday afternoon.

Mncube said Nxasana had noted the public’s outrage at the State’s decision to withdraw the criminal case.

“The NPA will inform the public on the next course of action in this matter once the NDPP has applied his mind on the matter,” he said.

The report by the special commercial crimes unit was expected to reach the NDPP’s office Monday.

Mpisane still faces charges in two other cases. In the Durban Regional Court she is accused of inflating invoices of her business Ä Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance, and Transport CC Ä by almost R5m to cut her tax bill.

In the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court she stands accused of interfering with a State witness related to the tax fraud case.

The lead prosecutor in those two cases has been removed and the NDPP will inform the courts on January 31 whether the cases will proceed following representations by Mpisane’s lawyers about the prosecution’s conduct.

Mpisane’s legal team has accused the prosecution of suppressing evidence.

Sapa

Matriculant commits suicide


Johannesburg – A matric pupil has hanged herself at her home in Hurlingham, Johannesburg, Gauteng police said on Thursday.

This happened on Wednesday, the first day of the 2014 academic year, said Constable Thabo Malatjie.

The 17-year-old girl was a pupil at St Theresa’s School in Rosebank.

School principal Sister Barbara Summer said a trauma counsellor was called in to speak to the pupils.

“With the help of the counsellor, the girls prayed and lit a candle in memory. They shared stories and just supported each other,” she said.

Malatjie said an inquest docket had been opened and that the police would investigate.

Sapa

Marikana miners were unaware of police


Miners running from a hill at Marikana on August 16, 2012, did not know they were heading straight for a police line, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.

Dali Mpofu SC, representing wounded and arrested Marikana miners at the inquiry, put it to Brigadier Adriaan Calitz that his clients’ view was obscured by Nyala police vehicles.

“My point is that the reason why the view between the approaching strikers and the tactical response team’s line was obscured, is because of those Nyalas that were in front of them. The Nyalas subsequently made way,” said Mpofu.

“The shooting happened almost immediately after one of the Nyalas cleared the way and the volley of bullets came. It’s like there is a Nyala, and they [protesters] are coming. It opens the way, and they get shot.”

Calitz said he did not understand Mpofu’s assertion.

Mpofu went on: “You have testified that the line was not there when the people were blocked by Nyala four. When they were going around the kraal, surely they did not know that the people [police] had run and formed the basic line.”

The three-member commission’s chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, intervened, urging Mpofu to move to another point in his cross-examination.

“Please let us move on to matters that he can deal with effectively, which will enable you to get answers of value for you to argue with at the end of the case.”

Mpofu insisted that Calitz take the questions.

“With respect, chairman, I can’t see why any human being, whether it’s this witness or another person cannot answer the questions.”

Farlam ordered Mpofu to move to another point of his cross-examination.

Earlier, Mpofu said that when the protesting mineworkers left the hill, they were not looking for trouble.

They were simply going to the Nkaneng informal settlement when they were attacked by police, he said.

“As far as using the path [to Nkaneng] is concerned, the only difference between the first group and the other group behind them, is that those who came first managed to go through, while those who followed were blocked,” said Mpofu.

Calitz said protesters who were peaceful were permitted to go through, and that “militant groups” were intercepted by the police.

“The peaceful groups moved, and the militant groups remained behind [at the hill]. It is not as if it was a coincidence that they [peaceful protesters] went past,” said Calitz.

Mpofu said members of the militant group were not able to proceed to the informal settlement, because the path was blocked by a Nyala police vehicle.

Calitz disagreed: “That is not correct. They did not proceed because they chose to carry out an attack [on police officers].”

Calitz was the operational police commander during the protracted strike at Marikana, near Rustenburg.

The commission of inquiry is probing the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during labour-related unrest at Lonmin’s platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.

On August 16, 2012, 34 people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead and 78 people were wounded when the police fired on a group gathered at a hill near the mine while attempting to disperse and disarm them.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in unrest-related violence.

The public hearings resume on Friday.

– Sapa

SAHRC to probe Mothutlung killings


The SAHRC will investigate the deaths of three people in Mothutlung, near Brits in North West, following violent protests about water shortages, it said on Thursday.

“The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has decided to launch an own initiative investigation into the causes of the protest in relation to the provision of water,” spokesman Isaac Mangena said in a statement.

On Monday, mineworker Osia Rahube and a photographer known as Bra Mike were shot dead during a protest, allegedly by police.

On Tuesday Lerato Seema died after jumping from a moving police Nyala. Police said he was trying to escape from custody. Residents claimed police brutality.

The area has been without water for at least three months.

Mangena said the SAHRC had met the Madibeng local municipality and community representatives.

It had noted residents’ concerns and would follow up on the promises made by the municipality, which included restoring the water supply.

“The SAHRC condemns the situation in Mothutlung, particularly the unnecessary deaths of three people.”

Mangena said the SAHRC welcomed the investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). It hoped Ipid would establish the causes of the deaths and ensure that those responsible were brought to book.

“It is disappointing that the [SA Police Service] top management seems not to have heeded the recommendations of the SAHRC following its investigation into the death of Ficksburg activist Andries Tatane in 2012 during a similar service delivery protest relating to water shortages,” he said.

In its report on Tatane, the SAHRC found the police had used a disproportionate amount of force and that officers had not been properly equipped and trained to deal with the riot.

It recommended, among other things, that the police improve training to ensure protests were peaceful, and that a training manual for the public riot unit be developed.

“The SAHRC was willing to help the SAPS in this regard. It was also recommended that the SAPS actively engage in communication with communities where there are popular protests like in Mothutlung,” he said.

Mangena said the deaths in Mothutlung could have been avoided had the police implemented some of the recommendations.

“It is also worth noting that, a few weeks ago, the SAHRC issued a report on the failure of the Madibeng local municipality, which also covers Mothutlung, to deliver water services to the people.”

The report followed a complaint received in March from residents of Klipgat C, who said they had been without water for five weeks, and that the municipality had failed to address the problem.

The SAHRC found that the municipality failed to provide residents with water and sanitation.

“We recommended that the municipality put interim measures in place, that should be linked to the long-term provision of water,” he said.

– Sapa

Military brought in to calm situation in Mothutlung


The military will help provide water to Mothutlung near Brits, the SA National Defence Force said on Thursday.

A contingent of soldiers would be sent to the area on Thursday to help the water affairs department, spokesman Lt-Col Piet Paxton said in a statement.

“The first elements of 14 water bunkers with a protection element, escorted by military police, will reach the affected areas today.”

Three men were killed in the township during protests over water this week. On Monday, mineworker Osia Rahube and a photographer known as Bra Mike were shot dead, allegedly by police. On Tuesday Lerato Seema died, allegedly after falling from a moving police Nyala. Police said he was trying to escape from custody.

Residents claim they have been without water for at least three months.

“The main aim of this deployment is to render humanitarian assistance to the affected townships.”

Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa on Thursday said water supply had been restored to parts of the township.

“We will continue working with the municipality at both local and district municipalities to ensure smooth running of the repaired pumps and that no further disruptions are experienced,” she said in a statement.

One pump had been refurbished and refitted, resulting in water being restored at about 60 percent of normal flow to the reservoirs. She had undertaken to have water supply fully restored to the area by Friday.

Cosatu in the North West on Thursday called for an independent investigation into the deaths of the three men.

While it welcomed a probe by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, it said the Ipid reported to Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and therefore could not be independent.

“Hence the Congress of SA Trade Unions North West is calling for an independent body which is not located in the ministry to be the one investigating this matter,” provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said in a statement.

Phetoe said the trade union federation was troubled by the fact that police, not criminals, were killing residents.

“We think that the community must know who called the police, who gave instruction to killing innocent poor people who were fighting for their rights and demanding service delivery for their own families.”

The African National Congress Youth League welcomed the intervention by Mthethwa following the killings.

“We appreciate that the minister sees that there is a problem that needs to be corrected within the SAPS,” the youth league said in statement.

The organisation called for better training of public order police to ensure they could handle riots better.

“We want these police who are in this unit to be the people that our citizens trust and rely on when there are riots and related incidents.”

– Sapa

Four nabbed for being in possession of drugs


Four men were arrested in Kimberley after they were found in possession of drugs with a street value of R74 000, Northen Cape police said on Sunday.

“Six plastic bags filled with 74 bundles of the drug called Cat were found hidden under the seats of the car they were travelling in,” said spokesman Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana.

Police had responded to a tip-off about the vehicle.

The vehicle was pulled off the road and searched about 15 km outside of Kimberley.

The four men, aged between 29, 30, 31 and 32 are expected to appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court soon.
-Sapa

R50 000 reward for information on rape and murder charges


A R50,000 reward has been offered for information that may lead to the arrest of anyone behind the rape and murder of an elderly woman from Galeshewe near Kimberley, Northern Cape police said on Sunday.

Brigadier Masebueng Mochologi-Maleeme said the 88-year-old woman found in her home on November 25.

“[She] was raped, killed, and left naked in her house,” said Mochologi-Maleeme.

Anyone with information was urged to contact the police.
-Sapa