Durban – KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Willies Mchunu has accused the DA of “political point-scoring” over the Field’s Hill crash, which claimed 22 lives.

Mchunu was reacting to a statement by DA provincial spokesperson Radley Keys in which he claimed the party had, for the past eight years, sought to draw attention to the dangers of heavy vehicles using Field’s Hill instead of the N3 toll route.

On Thursday, 22 people died when an articulated truck’s brakes failed on Field’s Hill.

The vehicle careened down the M13 and smashed into four minibus taxis and a car at an intersection at the bottom of the hill.

“Even during this difficult time when the province is in mourning, the DA, true to its form, could not resist temptation to use this unfortunate moment for political breast-beating and political point-scoring,” said Mchunu.

He said the accident was not an opportunity for politics, but a time to set aside differences to resolve the carnage on the country’s roads.

Keys said that apart from raising the dangers of heavy duty traffic at a provincial level, a number of Durban councillors had been campaigning for a ban on trucks using the hill.

“We have also sent expert traffic studies, numerous different proposals and letters to the MEC regarding this issue. We have never received any feedback,” said Keys.

He said that the head of the province’s transport portfolio committee should summon Mchunu to appear before the committee.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A metro police officer was rushed to hospital after he was shot by robbers at a shopping centre, Johannesburg metro police said on Monday.

“He is stable but in a very serious condition at Milpark Hospital,” said police spokesperson Ednah Mamonyane.

The officer and his colleagues had gone to investigate the source of gunshots at The Bridge shopping centre in the Johannesburg CBD when three men opened fire on them.

The three had robbed a jewellery store and later shot and injured a security guard while they tried to get away.

“When the officers approached them, they opened fire at them, the officers returned fire and one of them was shot at by the robbers.”

It was not yet established whether any robbers were injured, Mamonyane said.

The three men managed to get away.

No arrests have been made.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje
Klerksdorp-Police in Klerksdorp registered a case of murder after a headless body of a male was recovered by a passer-by in a veld at Oudorp Township near Klerksdorp on Sunday at 10:00.
“According to the information, the unknown body which had no private parts was about to decompose when it was recovered. Police could not determine the deceased age” captain Pelonomi Makau said.
Police request anybody with information regarding a missing person to contact Lt.Col. Veldschoen on 082 856 0912 or 018 464 5006
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Kimberley – A 35-year-old Roodepan tuck shop owner was killed while another 21-year-old man from Lerato Park is in a coma after he was shot in the head, allegedly by the same group of men at the weekend.

Five men from Galeshewe will appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of murder and attempted murder.
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Cape Town – ANC provincial chairman Marius Fransman has accused “certain racist lobby groups” of using the media to discredit the organisation that has helped 18-year-old double amputee Flippie Engelbrecht with mechanical hands and his two court cases.

He said on Sunday that these groups were trying to “dig dirt on” The Freedom Trust and its secretary, Carina Papenfus.
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A five-year-old girl was found dead beneath a pile of rubble in Diepsloot, northern Johannesburg, on Monday, police said.

She was thought to have been suffocated with a plastic bag, said Colonel Lungelo Dlamini.

“She was found by community members in extension five,” he said.

The girl went missing on Saturday. – Sapa

A woman has been found dead on a street in Bronville near Welkom, Free State police said on Monday.

Her half-naked body was found in Watermeyer Street on Sunday morning by a patrolling police officer, said Warrant Officer Malebo Khosana.

“Her head was crushed with a big stone found on the scene and made it difficult to identify her.”

No arrests had been made and police were investigating, said Khosana. – Sapa

A Mozambican man suspected of rhino poaching was arrested on Sunday, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife authorities said.

“Two gunshots were heard late afternoon on Sunday inside Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park,” Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesman Musa Mntambo said in a statement on Monday.

Field rangers were sent to search the area and additional rangers were posted at all possible exit routes.

At 5.45pm, there was a shoot-out between the rangers and three unidentified men.

“One suspect was injured during the shooting and was later arrested, while two managed to escape,” said Mntambo.

When the man was searched, rangers found a set of horns, a bag, a torch and an axe. On Monday morning, rangers found the carcass of a white rhino.

Ezemvelo CEO Dr Bandile Mkhize expressed concern at the recent increase in the number of shooting encounters faced by rangers.

“Poachers are always ready to shoot to kill our field rangers. This is very concerning as it puts our rangers in danger whenever they are confronted with poachers,” he said.

He said Ezemvelo would continue to intensify its war against rhino poaching.

At least 39 people have been arrested for poaching in KwaZulu-Natal this year, with 63 rhino poached in the province. – Sapa

Johannesburg – The High Court in Johannesburg will hear Numsa’s application to have Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi’s suspension overturned on Tuesday.

National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) general secretary Irvin Jim confirmed on Monday that the application would be heard.

In court papers, Numsa called Vavi’s suspension “unconstitutional and unprecedented”.

Earlier this month, Jim said the union had been forced to take legal action as “Cosatu’s internal and democratic processes are being undermined and flouted”.

He said the decision to legally challenge the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) had not been made lightly, and it was not the preferred option of engagement after delegates called for Vavi’s suspension in the February and May central executive committee meetings.

The Food and Allied Workers’ Union and the SA Football Players’ Union are listed as co-applicants in Numsa’s court action.

Vavi was suspended last month for bringing Cosatu into disrepute after he admitted to having an affair with an employee.

Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven confirmed that it had been served with the court papers. – Sapa

The industrial action by members of the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), would be in its seventh day.

Members are expected to attend the meetings after school to decide whether they will continue working just seven hours.
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