Bloemfontein – The SA Human Rights Commission has recommended that a Bloemfontein teacher be registered as a person not suitable to work with children after he was found guilty of racism and hate speech.

Wilgehof Primary School’s Lenard Mac Kay was suspended in July following a complaint by a parent.

Craig Thiem said his children had repeatedly complained to him about a white teacher with a racist attitude towards black pupils.

In the complaint it was stated that Mac Kay displayed a full sized old South Africa flag in front of his classroom since May 2012, and had a poster in the class that depicted black people as having monkey-like noses and primate brains who could only make confusing noise.

The commission found that Mac Kay’s actions were a clear violation of both the right to equality and the right to human dignity of the pupils.

It also found that his administering of corporal punishment was clear violation of the South African Schools Act.

The SAHRC recommended that the Free State provincial department of education assess the prevalence of racism in public schools in the province and report back to the commission within 12 months.

– News24

Johannesburg – A Johannesburg man has been arrested for the rape of a 10-year-old girl in Zondi, Soweto, police said on Tuesday.

The 10-year-old girl was playing with other children in the street at around 18:00 when the man allegedly approached her and took her back to his shack, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said.

One of the children alerted their aunt, who went to the man’s shack with other people accompanying her.

The girl had been raped and the 35-year-old man was reported to the police.

He was arrested and was expected to appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court soon, Makhubela said.

– SAPA

Mbombela – The assault case against former Mpumalanga human settlements MEC Siphosezwe Masango and two of his bodyguards has been postponed to next year for trial.

The three were not asked to plead to charges of assault and intimidation when they appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, a Sapa correspondent reported.

They are accused of assaulting and intimidating motorist Gert van der Merwe, 39, at the Nkomazi toll plaza in July last year.

“The suspects appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court today [Monday] and their case was postponed to January 13 next year for trial,” Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Moses Dlamini said.

Van der Merwe opened the case at the Kaapmuiden police station and the case was transferred to the Ipid as the bodyguards work for the police.

In February, Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza sacked Masango as human settlements MEC after he found that the department had delivered only 3 900 houses throughout the province when the target was 10 980 for the 2012/2013 financial year.

African National Congress provincial secretary Lucky Ndinisa said the party would conduct an internal investigation.

“The ANC will launch an internal investigation regarding the case levelled against Masango, but for now we treat him as innocent until proven guilty by a court of law,” said Ndinisa.

Another assault case

In a separate matter, the ANC had still not dealt with its Ehlanzeni regional chairperson Ngrayi Ngwenya. He was found guilty of assault and fined R1 000 along with Nkomazi local municipality mayoral bodyguard Bheki Mhlongo after they assaulted a man in April.

Ngwenya, 49, and Mhlongo, 33, who is the bodyguard of Nkomazi mayor Thulisile Khoza, were found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm by the Barberton Magistrate’s Court last month.

They were found guilty of assaulting former ANC member Collen Sedibe, who is now a member of Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters.

Sedibe was still an ANC member during his assault, which happened at an ANC meeting in Malelane on 18 April. The assault allegedly took place after a difference of opinion between Ngwenya and Sedibe, who vocally campaigned for Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe prior to the ruling party’s elective conference in Mangaung, Free State, in December last year.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Former National Youth Development Agency head Andile Lungisa has asked to be relieved of his political duties while he deals with the criminal charges against him, the ANC said on Tuesday.

“We resolved to accept his request to be relieved of his political duties whilst he devotes his energy in clearing his good name from the damaging allegations that are now before our courts,” ANC Eastern Cape spokesperson Pindile Miza said in a statement.

Lungisa is one of the ANC Eastern Cape’s executive committee members.

On Friday, he appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on charges of fraud and money-laundering, with Thabo Shogolo, Xolisile Guquza, and Ursula Sali.

They allegedly accepted and shared among themselves R2.5m paid by the arts and culture department for the Nelson Mandela Sports Day concert.

They allegedly promised that US singer R Kelly would perform at the concert, but he did not.

The group was arrested after handing themselves to the Hawks on Friday.

Lungisa and Shogolo were granted bail of R10 000 each, Guquza was granted bail of R5 000, and Sali was released on a warning.

They were instructed to surrender their passports to the investigating officer, and not to make contact with State witnesses.

The case was postponed until 30 October.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Police and members of the public who helped arrest a gunman in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, are to be commended, the Gauteng provincial legislature said on Tuesday.

“We appreciate the work of members of the community in helping police to arrest the suspect,” community safety portfolio committee chairperson Jacob Khawe said in a statement.

Two community safety patrollers and two bystanders were wounded in Hillbrow on Sunday after they stopped a man to search him. He drew a weapon and shot them, Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale said on Monday.

Two members of the public were also wounded. Bystanders helped police arrest the man.

By Tuesday morning one of the patrollers was discharged from hospital and the other was not in a serious condition. It was not clear how badly the bystanders were wounded, Khawe said.

“We also commend the police for their swift response in arresting the suspect and hopefully that the detective work will secure a harsh sentence for the suspect,” Khawe said.

He would visit the wounded patroller in hospital later on Tuesday. He said the patrollers should keep working hard to fight crime.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Former police commissioner Jackie Selebi still owes the SA Police Service more than R17m in legal fees, according to a report.

Die Burger reported that Selebi has not paid the amount more than three years after his drawn-out court case ended.

However, the full amount he owes has not been officially tallied up. According to the report, finalising the amount is a complex process, as there were several complaints and costs involved in the case.

Eyewitness News reported on Tuesday that Selebi may be required to pay less than the full R17.4m because he was not convicted on all charges against him during his trial.

The justice department referred queries to the police, saying it only handled the legal team and not the costs involved in the case.

‘Living a life of luxury’

Selebi was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010 for taking bribes from convicted drug dealer Glen Agliotti. He appealed the sentence and collapsed at home when he lost his appeal in the lengthy case. He was released on medical parole in July 2012, suffering from a variety of complaints including kidney failure, hypertension and diabetes.

He was spotted shopping in Pretoria over the weekend, being chauffeured in a luxury BMW.

Beeld reported on Tuesday that even if Selebi’s health improves, he will not have to return to prison, in terms of his medical parole conditions.

Meanwhile, Freedom Front Plus spokesperson Pieter Groenewald said Selebi was making a mockery of the country’s justice system, and was leading a life of luxury while owing the state millions in legal fees.

Groenewald added that Selebi’s debt is long overdue and must be paid back with interest. If Selebi cannot pay his debt, he must be declared insolvent and his assets must be seized, Groenewald said.

For more http://www.news24.com

By Obakeng Maje

North West-Police in the North West are warning the community on a new method that criminals could be using to target various households.

“Burglars are using coded chalk symbols to let other criminals know whether a property is worth targeting” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. 

Mokgwabone said the marks that are dubbed the “Da Pinci Code”, are made by would be thieves to indicate if the house is vulnerable. 

“These marks would reveal who is living in the house and whether there is anything worth stealing” Mokgwabone outlines.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

The Springbok Sevens rugby squad left for Australia on Monday to participate in the opening tournament of the World Series which takes place at the Gold Coast on the weekend.

South Africa were seeded first in Pool B and faced stiff opposition from a trio of European teams headed by England, France and Spain.

“We realise that every time a South African team takes the field then the expectation is for us to win,” newly-appointed head coach, Neil Powell said.

“It is a huge motivating factor for the team and something we as a group embrace.”
The team’s preparations for the annual World Series kick-off at the Gold Coast had gone well and they were looking forward to the series, Powell said.

“A few players ended the last season with some injury niggles and they used the break and pre-season period to sort themselves.
“Playing-wise, we used the Middelburg Sevens to try out a few new ideas and I am glad for the valuable opportunities it gave us to gauge ourselves.”

The team would be without former coach Paul Treu for the first time in almost a decade, but Powell said not much had changed within the setup.

“I know a lot of other countries have changed coaching and player personnel but we are fortunate that, apart from the change at head coach, we have a settled squad and management.

“However, we are taking nothing for granted and fully realise we will have to go out there and perform to the best of our ability.
“Vuyo (Zangqa, assistant coach) and I sat down a while ago and decided we will do only some minor tweaks because our core structure is so good thanks to the great work done by Paul.”

The Springbok Sevens would be aiming to improve on their runners-up spot last season, where they also clinched three tournament titles.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

A defiant Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will not take down the billboard advertisements that say the African National Congress (ANC) proudly brought motorists e-tolls.

The party has been criticised by ANC structures for the election advertisements placed on Gauteng’s freeways.

The ANC Women’s league accused the DA of trying to be smart and opportunistic. But the DA says it is a fact that e-tolls are ANC policy and that they are deeply unpopular.

DA Gauteng Premier candidate Mmusi Maimane says: “ANC must explain why people should be taxed twice. Why pay tax, fuel levy and now e-tolls – that is what ANC must explain.”

Meanwhile, the ANC says it will not take the e-tolls billboards put up by the DA on the Gauteng’s freeways lying down.

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

The Nelspruit Regional Court said on Monday that a man who attacked and robbed farm dwellers in Mpumalanga was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

A Sapa correspondent reported that Xolane Letsoalo, 27, from Ngodwana outside Mbombela, faced nine charges including theft, armed robbery, housebreaking, two of attempted murder, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

His co-accused, Freddy Nkosi, 27, faced one charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The two were arrested in November 2010 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Magistrate, Andre Geldenhuys sentenced Letsoalo to 15 years on three counts of housebreaking and theft, 10 years on two counts of attempted murder, 10 years on two counts of armed robbery, two years on theft out of a motor vehicle and eight years on possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Letsoalo would serve the sentences consecutively.

Geldenhuys sentenced Nkosi to eight years, and said he was lucky he was not charged for the other offences. Letsoalo committed very serious offences, he said.

“A day after you committed the first robbery and stole a firearm, you went further to use the same firearm to commit another robbery.”Letsoalo could have easily killed some of his victims.

“You fired shots at two women at a farm and injured one of them. You shot at her using her own firearm. You could have easily killed her.”The two men had shown no remorse during the trial, Geldenhuys said.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za