Johannesburg – Two men have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms by the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court for rape and house robbery, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.

Captain Jethro Mtshali said Mozambican Jozana Orlando Mathabele, 35, was sentenced to 366 years and his fellow countryman George Sithole, 35, was sentenced to 287 years’ imprisonment on Tuesday.

He said the pair were accused of a series of house robberies and the rape of several women in Rabie Ridge, Tembisa and Ivory Park in 2010.

“The modus operandi of the suspects was that they target households where vulnerable victims were staying, break into the house… (steal) valuables and later take turns raping their victims.”

He said Mathabele and Sithole were linked to more than 13 cases. – Sapa

Kimberley – The scene of a triple murder on the farm Naauwhoek near Griekwastad last year was unusual, the Northern Cape High Court heard on Wednesday.

House breaking, robbery and farm attack scenes were usually left in chaos, investigator Colonel Dick de Waal told Judge Frans Kgomo.

There were no signs of forced entry at the farmhouse. Usually the victims were tied up and there would be signs of a struggle, with furniture knocked over.

De Waal was giving evidence in the triple murder trial of a 16-year-old boy. Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christel, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14, were shot dead on the farm Naauwhoek, on April 6, 2012.

De Waal said at these kind of crime scenes the inhabitants’ belongings, such as clothes and personal items, would have been thrown from cupboards and drawers. In this case only one or two drawers were found open.

De Waal told the court no luxury items were stolen, except for allegations of some money and a knife from one of the victims. Six cellphones, usually a popular item taken during robberies and farm attacks, were found in the house.

Prosecutor Hannes Cloete meticulously took De Waal through evidence indicating the firearm safe was found open, with firearms and ammunition still inside it.

Electrical equipment such as computers, laptops and radios were left undisturbed in the farm house. The land line had not been destroyed, the television was still on, and the DVD player and DSTV  decoder were untouched. The family was apparently watching the television show Vetkoekpaleis on the night of the murders.

Three wallets were found in the house, with about R4000 in one of them, De Waal testified.

The investigator testified that getting firearms was usually the  motive behind farm attacks. In this case, firearms were left in the  safe and the murder weapons were found outside the house.

“It was extremely odd to find the two firearms so close to the house.”

De Waal said a .357 revolver and a .22 rifle, which were found outside the house, were the weapons used to kill the Steenkamps. They were linked positively with empty cartridges found with the firearms and on the scene in the house.

De Waal told Judge Kgomo he investigated the possibility of some  sort of revenge attack on the Steenkamps.

“We could not find any evidence of a revenge attack. They were dear members of the community and people praised them.”

The court also heard that the gunpowder residue test conducted on the boy’s hands was negative, while tests done on two shirts were positive.

The trial continues. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-Four taxi drivers who appeared briefly at Taung Magistrate court for assaulting a motorist were given free bail by magistrate.

North West police arrested four suspects yesterday after they allegedly assaulted a motorist. They accused a motorist of stealing their commuters.

“The suspects were given free bail by Taung Magistrate Court and will be back in court on the 16 April. The magistrate ordered four accused to appear back in court and investigations continue” police said.

The taxi drivers vowed that anyone who pick or steal their commuters will be dealt with. 

The incident came after the old taxi rank put under construction by Greater Taung municipality.

This apperantly affects the income of taxi drivers as the allocated rank is too far.

Now central taxis operate in the streets and only long distance taxis are accomodated in a makeshift rank near Extention 6.

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By Obakeng Maje
Vryburg- The Department of Economic Development,Eviroment,Conservation and Tourism ordered a farmer at Sunhurst Safari Farm to find alternative way to accomodate elephants in their farm.
According to department the Sletcher family in Vryburg near Bry were owning close to nine elephants and the living condition for the wild animals are not conducive.
“The family decided to breed cows instead after the death of their father in 2008. They allegedly sold a four calves of elephants to another farmer in Eastern Cape” Dumisa Seshabela said.
Another two elephants allegedly ran away from the farm towards Botswana border.
Now the department said those elephants will be hunted.
“The elephants need over 300 000 hectors to live and after the death of their father the family divided the space which was not enough for nine elephants to live in” department spokesperson said.
The calves now sold to Elephants of Eden farm in Eastern Cape while others will be hunted.
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BY Obakeng Maje

Wolmaranstad-Police have registered an inquest docket after an eight-year-old girl`s lifeless body was found in the bushes.

Police alleged that the minor and her friend were playing on the streets when torrential rains started pouring heavily on Tuesday  at about 18:30.

 “It is alleged that the kids were on their way home in the bad weather when the floods started and blew the eight year-old away. The deceased was allegedly carried away by storm water that plunged her to a nearby bushes” sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said.

The victim’s friend managed to run away and informed the victim’s mother police said. 

“A eight year-old girl was taken to a local clinic where she was certified dead on arrival” Moiloa said.

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North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on believers to pray for families of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) that lost their loved ones in the Central African Republic (CAR), for peace and unity in countries on the continent experiencing violent conflicts and against the scourge of rape during their Easter gatherings.

“Conflicts on the continent and violent crimes which are robbing families and communities of their loved ones and peace should be high-up on prayer lists .As religious leaders amplify the anti-rape campaign, believers should remember those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones and also pray for the speedy recovery of those who are in hospital,” said Premier Modise.

The Premier wishes those that will be driving to various destinations a safe travel and urged communities to be vigilant against opportunistic crime.

“The Easter Arrive Alive/Duty Calls law enforcement operations will only be successful if there is cooperation and everyone takes steps to support the Decade for Road Safety Campaign aimed at reducing road crashes and fatalities. We call on communities to report suspected criminal activities and for parents not to leave their children alone,” Modise added.

She urged motorists not to drink and drive and to observe safe following distance in the wet weather.

The provincial government is liaising with the SANDF and other stakeholders in the province towards preparations for the proposed national day of mourning and memorial services for the fallen heroes two of whom are said to be from the North West Province.

“The re-militarisation of the police in recent years has not garnered greater
community respect, nor has it secured high conviction rates”

National police chief Riah Phiyega said yesterday that plans were in place for the demilitarisation of the police under the National Development Plan.

She said this while being cross-examined at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Rustenburg by evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga, SC.

He asked her about efforts she had taken to bring the SAPS in line with recommendations contained in the NDP.

Reading several extracts of the plan, Madlanga said it called for “an urgent demilitarisation” of the police service.

For more details go to www.sowetanlive.co.za

Rustenburg -A scuffle broke out on Tuesday between police officers and a group of protesters outside the Rustenburg Civic Centre where the Farlam commission is holding public hearings.

Police officers seized a stack of placards from a group of protesters during the lunch break.

The protesters shouted at the police officers, accusing them of murdering the Marikana mineworkers.

“Shoot us all, that is what you are used to,” a woman shouted at the large contingent of police officers.

“You have murdered our brothers. (Police commissioner Riah) Phiyega must say the truth,” shouted another protester.

Most of the placards read: “Do not let police get away with murder”.

A police officer took the stash of placards into a vehicle parked nearby.

A spokesman for the Marikana Support Campaign, Rehad Desai, said the protesters had been angered by the “evasive” evidence being given to the Farlam commission by Phiyega.

“The people are very angry; these are community members demanding justice. We have every right to protest in this country,”  he said.

“The police seized our placards, we do not know the reason for that. The placards demand that the police should be brought to book  and we also want Phiyega fired.”

He said a number of activities would be held across South Africa  on August 16 annually to commemorate the death of 34 mineworkers.

When the hearings resumed, Ishmael Semenya, SC, for the police, told the commission that the officers would be informed that the people had the right to protest outside.

Phiyega was still on the witness stand, giving evidence regarding the police’s intervention on August 16 last year.

Under cross examination, Phiyega said the police intervention plan for the troubled Marikana mines was good, but got disrupted during implementation.

Because of this disruption the outcome included the shooting deaths of 34 striking mineworkers, which was unintended, she told the commission.

Evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga, SC, asked the police commissioner whether the police intervention at Marikana could be described as a success.

“Taking into account all the factors you have referred to, would  you say that the operation was a success?” he said.

“On August 16, we do know that 34 people were killed and more than 70 were injured. I want you to make a judgment and tell this commission whether based on the SA Police Service’s own tests, you can say the (Marikana) operation was a success?”

Phiyega said: “I think I need to be responsible when answering. I have said the plan was good, and it was disrupted. It is important for me to take all those issues into context.

“The outcome was intended. The plan was good, it was disrupted and we had an unintended outcome. We cannot have a simplified definition of success.

“It would be a broad definition of success.”

Madlanga said the evidence-leading team would argue that the Marikana operation was chaotic and did not represent the best of responsible policing.

On August 16 last year, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were injured when the police opened fire near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana.

Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week. – Sapa

Durban – A final-year UKZN Medical School student – just weeks away from completing her medical degree – was found raped and murdered in her room at the St Hillier Court student residence in Umbilo on Monday night.

Provincial police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said today that a 27-year-old man had handed himself over to police in connection with the crime.

“He has been charged with murder and rape and is expected to appear in court soon,” Zwane said.

A student who stays at the residence said another student had to break the door to get access to the room. 

“Apparently her parents had been trying to get hold of her, but she was not answering,” she said. The student said she had seen the girl’s father entering the residence.

For more details go to www.iol.co.za

Cape Town – Startling statistics on police brutality were presented at Parliament on Tuesday.

MPs heard that:

* Cases of police brutality leapt by more than 300 percent in the past decade, from 416 during 2001/2002 to 1 722 cases by 2011/2012.

* Of the 720 deaths reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate in 2011/2012, one in five involved police criminality.

* Only one out of every 50 people who experienced or witnessed police abuse reported it.

* The SAPS was facing civil claims totalling R1.1 billion related to shooting incidents, and assault cases of more than R800 million.

For more details go to www.iol.co.za