Cape Town – The annual defence budget debate is an interesting phenomenon. Every year since 1994 there has been almost total cross-party support in Parliament for increases in defence funding; and yet every year the gap between what the government expects of the SANDF and the funding it provides, has widened.
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Johannesburg – A South African woman was reportedly caught by customs officials at Mumbai Airport carrying 26 kilogrammes of drugs, the SABC reported on Friday.

According to Indian media reports this was one of the biggest drug busts in recent times.

The woman, identified as Sity Lentin, was searched by Indian custom officials as she prepared to board a Ethiopian Airways flight to South Africa, the broadcaster reported.

Acting on a tip-off officials searched her luggage and found a false pocket in which drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine and ketamine were concealed.

The SABC reported Lentin was believed to work for an event management company which has operations in India, Canada and Singapore.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The DA and the Mpumalanga education department condemned on Friday an alleged incident of racial segregation at Hendrina Combined School, near Middelburg.

The Democratic Alliance’s provincial spokesperson Anthony Benadie said he was told on Thursday of a plan that would have black and white pupils hold separate matric dance events.

“[We received] information from angry parents who were… notified at a meeting for the English matric class that the school’s white parents and scholars had decided to host their own matric farewell, and that the black learners must hold their own,” said Benadie in a statement.

The department said they were not aware of the incident but were looking into it.

“The department condemns any form of discrimination based on race, sex or colour that may take place in any of its schools and will institute a probe into this matter,” said spokesperson Jasper Zwane.

The principal of the school Arthur Williams said he could not comment on the matter.

“I have been instructed not to speak to the media,” he said.

According to the DA, white parents cited “cultural differences” as the reason for the separate events.

Benadie said he telephonically engaged with Williams on two separate occasions.

“During the first he stated that because the school was unable to pay for a matric dance, the required funds were raised by a parents’ committee.”

However, in the second discussion, Benadie said Williams changed his stance, saying that the school was hosting a combined farewell which all learners were invited to attend.

SAPA

The case against the Limpopo taxi driver who defaced the controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma at Johannesburg’s Goodman Art Gallery last year, has been postponed to early next month in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court.

Louis Mabokela entered the Rosebank gallery in May last year and smeared black paint on the Brett Murray picture titled ‘Spear of the Nation’, which depicted Zuma’s private parts.

Mabokela’s pleaded not guilty to a charge of malicious damage to property.

Professor Barend le Grange, who also defaced the painting, earlier pleaded guilty to the same charge and paid a fine of R1 000.

Mabokela was allegedly assaulted by security personnel inside the gallery while Le Grange was left untouched.
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Cape Town – Another arrest was made on Friday afternoon in connection with the murder of 18-year-old schoolboy Enrico Martin, Western Cape police said.

Captain Frederick van Wyk said an 18-year-old was arrested at 3pm in Bonteheuwel.

Police arrested a 19-year-old from Athlone on Thursday evening. Both would appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Martin was shot shortly after 8am on Wednesday while entering the Spes Bona High School premises in Athlone.

Van Wyk said at the time that three men, two of them armed, dressed in school tracksuit tops, approached Martin. One of them shot him in the head.

Education MEC Donald Grant said paramedics revived Martin and took him to Groote Schuur Hospital, but he died soon after arrival. – Sapa

Johannesburg – Union rivalry is the main source of instability at South African mines and labour groups should work with companies to resolve disputes, said Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of the ruling African National Congress.
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Kimberley – The Northern Cape’s transport department head Steven Jonkers appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for allegedly ignoring tender procedures.

Jonkers, 47, appeared with Clarissa Ann Carstens, 45, on charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act, said Northern Cape National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mashudu Malabi.

The charges related to the awarding of bus contracts in the Springbok region in the Northern Cape, Malabi said

They were granted bail of R5000 each and the matter was postponed to June 25. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Delareyville-North West police arrested four suspects after their attempt to rob a farmer and his wife was foiled.

Police said four suspects stormed at Brooders TUT, near Delareyville this morning at 06:00am when a 56 year-old woman allegedly opened the gate for their dogs.

“Four suspects allegedly entered the farm and pounced on a farmer and his wife. They allegedly held them hostage and assaulted a farmer” sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said.

They allegedly locked a wife in a separate room and continue with robbery.

Police said a wife escaped through a window and went to call for a help.

“She went to her neighbours and on their return, two suspects were shot” Moiloa said.

Police were called and four suspects were arrested and charged with assault with intention of grieviously bodily harm and attempted robbery.

“Two suspects were rushed to local hospital for medical attention and all four will appear before Delareyvill Magistrate Court on Monday” she said.

Police investigations continue.

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The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will in its effort to strengthen crop production in the Province, prioritise the cultivation of about 20 000 hectares of arable land during the 2013/14 financial year. This was pronounced by MEC Desbo Mohono.

Mohono said to achieve the set goal, mechanisation packages and fencing will be provided as support services to subsistence farmers, so as to get production off the ground. “Of these hectares, 12 890 will be in Bojanala District, 5 600 in Ngaka Modiri Molema, 7 888 in Dr Kenneth Kaunda, while Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District will plant 1 000 hectares”, announced Mohono.

Mohono told the Provincial Legislature that the same support will be extended to the Taung Irrigation Scheme, where a total of 150 hectares is targeted for fodder production.

“The Department commit to deliver on this objective, in our endeavour to promote food production and raise rural employment and income”, said Mohono.

The recent spate of violent rapes in the North West province is worrying and that prompted Bojanala Platinum District Municipality to resolve, through its Special Projects Portfolio Committee to initiate a social dialogue on RAPE, by launching the District Anti-Rape Campaign today at the Rustenburg City Hall. According to Selina Ramasia from the municipality, members of the public, traditional leaders, churches and business forums will sign the pledge. “We invite all stakeholders including members of the Media to make a pledge as this criminal behaviour is threatening to overtake our communities,” said Ramasia.
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