Billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe has denied reports that he is neglecting his pledge to help residents of Mmakau, North West, the Sunday Sun reported.
Motsepe Foundation spokesman Peter Ledwaba told the newspaper that Motsepe had pledged millions towards the development of the area a long time ago.

“People mustn’t think we say this for publicity. It has always been there, but he didn’t want to confine it only to Mmakau but to the Madibeng municipality as a whole,” he was quoted as saying.
“Motsepe started the pledge in Tshwane, where he made a pledge of R2 million.”
The foundation was responding to a report in the Sunday Sun a week earlier, according to which Mmakau residents had accused Motsepe of making promises, but not keeping them. The newspaper reported that residents were angry because Motsepe was neglecting his home village, where Motsepe family businesses were standing empty and jobs had been lost.
Ledwaba said the allegations were aimed at harming Motsepe’s reputation. He said the foundation had further pledged R5m over five years to the people of Madibeng. The money was for education. Half of it went to teacher development and the rest was used on the pupils.      -Sapa

Rustenburg – A protester was not threatening police when he said they would “finish each other” before the fatal shooting at Marikana, a survivor told the Farlam Commission on Monday.

Workers’ representative Mgcineni Noki apparently told police: “… You are going to die here, we are going to finish each other… Let us sign a paper so that the whole world can see how we will kill each other today.”

Testifying before the commission on Monday, Mzoxolo Magidiwana, 24, who was wounded in the shooting on August 16 last year, said he had not heard Noki, also known as Mambush.

Advocate Vuyani Ngalwana, representing police, asked Magidiwana whether, if these words were addressed to him, he would consider this a challenge.

Magidiwana replied: “No, that is not so.”

He had also not believed Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mthunjwa when he went to the hill where the strikers had gathered and warned them they should leave to avoid “bloodshed”.

Magidiwana said the striking mineworkers had been waiting for Lonmin management to go to the hill and address their concerns.

Commission chairman Ian Farlam asked whether Magidiwana had believed Mthunjwa when he said a decision had been made that the protesters would be killed.

Magidiwana replied: “I never believed that. I never thought about that.”

Mthunjwa was not believed because no unions were involved in the workers’ demands for a monthly wage of R12,500.

However, when police nyalas began rolling out barbed wire, he realised that what Mthunjwa had said was true, Magidiwana said.

Farlam asked why a group of protesters had run towards police, “making it easier for them to kill you”.

“(We) never went towards the police,” Magidiwana said.

Farlam said: “You went towards them, you were reducing the distance between them and you.”

“No, it was not like that,” Magidiwana said.

The commission is holding hearings in Rustenburg, North West, as part of its inquiry into the deaths of 44 people during an unprotected strike in Marikana last year.

On August 16, 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were injured when police opened fire while trying to disperse a group which had gathered on a hill near the mine.

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

Magidiwana previously told the commission he was repeatedly shot and beaten by police on August 16.

He said police approached him, asking him where he had put the firearm.

Police have alleged that Magidiwana was shot in an attempt to disarm him.

He was allegedly found with a Z88 pistol bearing the SA Police Service emblem.

Police said he was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He was arrested, but could not be detained because of the severity of his wounds.

Magidiwana was hospitalised at various institutions, under police guard.

He was charged as accused number 273 of the protesting mineworkers.

A policeman has testified that Magidiwana conceded being in possession of the police firearm.

Another police officer submitted that he saw Magidiwana shoot at a nyala.

The 24-year-old has dismissed the police allegations as “nonsense”. – Sapa

Bloemfontein – The trial of seven policemen charged with killing protester Andries Tatane was postponed by the Ficksburg Regional Court on Monday.

The court postponed the matter to March 18, because the policemen’s defence lawyer Johann Nel is in hospital.

Tatane was killed on April 13, 2011, allegedly by police using rubber bullets, during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg.

Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-SAPS request assistance with the tracing of a male named Martin Katota , aged 39 years who went missing on 03 January 2013 at approximately 01:00pm. 

“The male resides in Platfontein and was last seen at the municipal dump on the Griekwastad Road in Kimberley” Lieutenant sergio Kock said. 

“He has black hair, black moustache, brown eyes and is an ex-soldier from the SANDF” Kock said. 

Police said Katota speaks Khwe and Afrikaans. 

All information regarding the missing person can be forwarded to Detective Warrant Officer Riaan Lamprecht on 082 548 0254 or 10 111. 

The investigation continues.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

Former AmaZulu defender Belux Kasonga has completed his move to the Thai Premier League, having penned a deal with BEC Tero Sasana.

Kasonga spent over a month in Thailand on trial with a number of clubs before committing his future to Sasana. The player’s signing was confirmed to the Siya crew by his agent, Ali Tlhoaele, of KN Sports and Virgin Talent.

“Belux Kasonga has signed a six-month long deal with BEC Tero Sasana in Bangkok. The club has the option to extend his contract for a year,” said Tlhoaele.

Kasonga endured a frustrating spell with AmaZulu this season, after he failed to secure the necessary paperwork that would have allowed him to play in the PSL.

Still in Thailand, Tlhoaele is aiming to secure deals for both Siyabonga Vilane and Lindokuhle Bengu. The two players have also been in Thailand for the past month, as they look to ply their trade in Asia.

For more details go to www.soccerladuma.com

Kaizer Chiefs’ top goalscorer, Bernard Parker, will not play a part in his side’s upcoming league fixture against Chippa United after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season against Wits on the weekend.

The 26-year-old, who is in double figures for the Amakhosi so far this campaign with 10 goals, will be suspended for the clash with the Chilli Boys as his team look to bounce back from their 1-1 draw with the Clever Boys that stopped them from extending their lead at the top of the Absa Premiership.

However, good news for the Amakhosi faithful is that the Bafana Bafana man will only serve a one-match ban, meaning that he will be available for selection when Stuart Baxter picks his side for the Soweto Derby that takes place on Saturday afternoon.

Parker has been in inspired form for Chiefs this season under Baxter, and while both coach and player will be disappointed that he will miss the trip to Cape Town, it could be a welcome rest for their talisman ahead of their encounter with rivals, Orlando Pirates.

Meanwhile the club’s Bafana defender, Tsepo Masilela, could also miss the game against the Chilli Boys after picking up a muscle injury and will undergo a late fitness test to see whether he will be fit to play.

For more details go to www.soccerladuma.com

Kimberley – A 12-year-old girl was seriously injured after a brick wall collapsed on top of her while she was walking down the stairs at Denise Court, at the Roodepan flats, at the weekend.

The Roodepan police, ambulances and the municipal firefighters rushed to the scene, where hundreds of people had gathered on Saturday at about 4pm.

Residents also complained that the derelict building posed a grave danger.

Sol Plaatje emergency services had to demolish a section of the staircase to prevent further injury and have cordoned it off. 

ER24 paramedics, who transported the patient to the Kimberley Hospital indicated that the patient, Monique Brandt, had sustained serious head, neck, shoulder and back injuries.

The Roodepan Primary School learner had to undergo a number of tests to determine the extent and severity of her injuries on Saturday but was later discharged and is recovering at home.

Her father, Roderick Brandt, who was sitting downstairs at the time of the incident, sharing a beer with neighbours, said that he felt powerless when he witnessed how the bricks came tumbling down. “I wanted to help my daughter but I couldn’t do a thing.”

He added that he was still in a state of shock and was concerned that his daughter may have suffered permanent damage.

Stanley Norman, a neighbour, said that he heard a loud thud as the bricks pelted Monique, causing her to collapse.

Another neighbour, Marlon van Wyk, added that his children Kristin and Teslin nearly suffered the same fate.

“I called my children, who are four and two years old, inside the house, about five minutes before the wall caved in. We are living in a dangerous environment,” he said.

“Building inspectors never come to the flats although the walls are cracked and this neglected building is broken and rusted. How many lives need to be lost before something is done to improve safety?” 

Van Wyk added that the staircases of the other blocks of flats in Roodepan had also been condemned.

“The residents are now forced to make use of the dark stairways that are unlit but are afraid because  they are frequented by drug lords, rapists and other criminals.”

Van Wyk pointed out that there were also no fire escapes in the building.

“Should a fire break out, the residents will be trapped. The flats do not comply with the safety requirements, yet we are living here like rats.”

Residents said that they had repeatedly brought the wobbly stairs and dilapidated state of the flats to the attention of the ward councillor, who was “not interested” in their problems.

“The councillor is only interested in our votes and drinks beer all day at his tavern. He is nowhere to be found when there is a crisis,” one resident said.

Ward councillor, Vaughan Settley, visited the family on Sunday and explained that his absence was because of an ANC warm-up campaign that he had to attend ahead of the by-elections in Warrenton on Wednesday.

“We regret this tragic incident and will engage with the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs to look into the matter because there are several structural defects and loose roofs. I have also spoken to the municipal manager to get a team to investigate what happened,” Settley said.

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

North West – The State opposed bail in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday for eight men accused of murdering ANC North West official Obuti Chika.

Prosecutor Riekie Krause said if the men were released, local residents would be shocked and outraged. Several of them had also failed to disclose previous criminal convictions or pending cases.

Chika, 33, was shot point-blank range in the driveway of his Klerksdorp home on December 14. He died in a local hospital.

North West local government MEC China Dodovu is among the eight accused.

“The State has a strong case against the applicant (Dodovu),” Krause said.

She said he had three passports, a diplomatic one and two personal ones.

Another accused, Sihlangu Sekhakhane, had previously confessed to the crime. He had also led police to his gun.

Krause said forensics had later matched the bullets which killed Chika to this gun.

The other six accused are community member Jeffrey Letuka, North West provincial ANC Youth League chairman Papiki Baboile, ward secretary Paul Molomonyane, councillor Itumeleng Molebatsi, municipal worker William Malefo, and taxi driver Kgotso Kali.

The court heard that Sekhakhane had claimed to have met Kali in a BMW X5 shortly before the crime.

Kali allegedly told him that, before he could attend the African National Congress’s conference in Mangaung, in December, Chika had to be killed.

Krause confirmed that Baboile owned a BMW X5.

She told the court an unnamed witness had also confirmed to the State that some of the eight had previously discussed murdering Chika during a meeting.

Krause said bail was also being opposed because some of the applicants knew “witness X”. – Sapa

Cape Town – A high-speed chase ended with the death of a motorist on the corner of Buitengragt and Strand street in the CBD early on Monday morning.

The woman was killed when a Toyota Avanza, driven by suspected hijackers, crashed into her Opel Corsa, at about 5am on Monday.

The two occupants of the Toyota were being pursued by police.

They were suspects in a hijacking that occurred in Nyanga earlier on Monday morning, said Merle Lourens, spokeswoman for the city’s traffic services.

The hijacking was picked up by Skytracker, which notified the police. The flying squad gave chase, and followed the Toyota into the CBD. Police confirmed that a gun was found on the scene of the crash.

Speaking on CapeTalk on Monday morning the woman’s sister-in-law, who identified herself only as Janine, said the victim’s husband was trying to get to the scene of the accident.

However, he could not get through because of the heavy traffic congestion.

The woman’s body was taken to the Salt River mortuary before he could reach the scene.

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

Johannesburg – The family of the taxi driver who died while in police custody expressed disappointment on Monday with the way the Benoni Magistrate’s Court had handled the case.

“We don’t feel okay…. They actually said nothing today,” Badanisile Ngwenya said outside the court. Mgwenya was speaking on behalf of the family of Mozambican Mido Macia, 27. He had rented a room in her backyard. She walked out of court with Mido’s father Joseph.

“This man is here to fetch his son’s corpse home…. It’s not fair what they did and we are leaving without answers,” she said.

The frail man aired his dissatisfaction in a soft voice.

The eight policemen implicated in Macia’s death did not appear in court after the prosecution said an identity parade still had to be held.

The identity parade is scheduled for Thursday. They are expected to apply for bail on Friday.

About 100 Daveyton residents protested outside the court. Many of the women wore traditional Mozambican garments over their clothes.

“Steve Biko also died in police custody,” read a poster waved by one of the demonstrators.

Protesters complained they had been sent them from pillar to post on Monday.

It was initially reported that the case would be heard in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court and several residents went there only to be told it had been moved to the Benoni Magistrate’s Court.

They vowed to be at the court for the duration of the trial when it started.

Two warrant officers and six constables have been charged with the murder of Macia, who was allegedly tied to the back of a police van and dragged along a street in Daveyton on Tuesday. An eyewitness filmed the assault.

Macia was found dead in the local police station’s holding cells several hours later. A post mortem revealed he had died of head and internal injuries.

At the time, Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesman Moses Dlamini said police claimed they ordered Macia to move when they found his minibus illegally parked.

“It is alleged that the taxi driver then assaulted the constable and took his police firearm. The warrant officer overpowered the taxi driver and handed the firearm back to his colleague,” he said.

Dlamini said the officer then called for backup.

The police claimed they put the “resisting suspect” into the police van and took him to the police station.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions alleged that police had said Macia died when other men attacked him in the cells. – Sapa