Category Archives: NEWS

Dodovu murder case postponed until tomorrow

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BY Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp- The court was packed to rafters on Tuesday for the appearance of Local government MEC China Dodovu who has become the latest high profile figure to be arrested in connection with the callous murder of ANC regional secretary, Obuti Chika.

Dodovu was arrested in Potchefstroom on Monday afternoon following extensive investigations by the Hawks.

His arrest followed that of seven other suspects who are still in custody in Klerksdorp.

Magistrate postponed Dodovu’s case until tomorrow where he will be joining other suspects for similar offence.
“I can confirm that he (Dodovu) has been arrested in Potchefstroom but it’s not clear if it was at his home or office.

“He is now in police custody and will appear in court tomorrow after postponement,” he said.

Asked if Dodovu was the “big fish” the crowd in Klerksdorp was speaking about during the appearance of the seven other suspects, Ramaloko said it was too early to tell.

He said investigations were continuing and more arrests were expected.

“The arrest was part of follow-up to investigation since the first suspect was nabbed. We are still investigating,” he said.

Ramaloko further said that the R200000 reward was still up for grabs and members of the public should come forward and present information or tips that may lead to the successful arrest and prosecution of those involved in Chika’s murder.

Dodovu is the deputy ANC provincial chairperson and his arrest has brought shock waves to the province.

Provincial ANC spokesperson Kenny Morolong said: “We commend the police on their efforts in dealing with Chika’s murder and we believe the legal process should run its course without impediment. At an appropriate time, the provincial executive council will issue out a statement.”

He said that the party believed in the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise by the courts.

Chika, 34, was gunned down at his Alabama home in Klerksdorp on the eve of the ANC elective conference in December last year.

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

A Vryburg man sanctioned to 15 years in prison for murder

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BY Obakeng Maje

Vryburg– A 24-year-old man was convicted on charges of Murder and Attempted Murder in Vryburg court.

This conviction emanates from an incident that occurred in the early morning hours during July 2012 in the close vicinity of a licensed liquor premises in Colridge, Vryburg.

“It is alleged that there was a quarrel between the suspect and the deceased, Dierein Olyn (25). The suspect stabbed the victim on the shoulder and the injuries precipitated to his death” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

Ashlien Bardenhorts (24) was sentenced and convicted to 15 years imprisonment, five years suspended for 5 years on a charge of Murder and 8 years imprisonment on a charge of Attempted Murder.   

On 20 February 2013, the liquor premises in Colridge was requested by the North West Liquor Board to surrender it’s liquor licence.

“The liquor licence has been suspended for a period of 6 months because of the non compliance of certain conditions of the liquor licence” police said.

“The high rate of crime reported from this liquor premises is also a worrying factor for the SAPS and North West Liquor Board. Licensed liquor premises are strongly advised to comply to the liquor licence” said police.

 

Three suspects at large after rape

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BY Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-The Douglas Police in the Northern Cape Province are looking for three suspects of a rape case.

 Police said on saturday at about 10:00 am, a 47 year-old woman went out to look for her 13 year-old son in nearby Shops in Douglas.

” The woman could not find her son and went further to other shops to continue the search. She was alone in the street when suddenly three unknown male suspects approached her from behind” Lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said.

 “The three suspects grabbed her and started toassault, kicking, and trampling her without any reason. The woman then became unconscious and woke-up at another house nearby, wearing only a jersey and socks” he said.

Some community members assisted her with a blanket to cover self.

She was taken to a local clinic where she received received a medical assistance.

 The police confirmed that the victim was raped and was able to identify the three male suspects.

“And an ID-Kit was drawn as a result. Two of the suspects are short and light in complexion, whilst the other suspect is tall and dark” police said.

The SAPS is concerned about the plight of women and children in South Africa and calls on community members to join hands with government to address this challenge by providing us with information about the whereabouts of wanted suspects.

Arresting these suspects will stop and prevent them to prey on other victims. The SAPS therefore calls on anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective Constable Bongani Gumede on 082 302 0468 (c) or 053-838 4213 alternatively contact Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.

Woman arrested for murder in Wolmaranstad

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BY Obakeng Maje

Wolmaranstad-A 31 year old woman is expected to appear before Wolmaranstad Magistrate Court on Wednesday in connection with a murder of a 66 year old David Alexander Barclay.

“The man was found lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound in the neck on Saturday at Lindburg Lodge Vaalbochfontein” colonel Sabata Mokwabone said

(CCTV) Cameras to be installed in Mahikeng

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BY Staff Reporter

Close Circuit TV (CCTV) Cameras are to be installed at crime hotspots in Mahikeng, the provincial capital of the North West Province in the new financial year.

 

The intervention to be funded by the provincial government was announced by Premier Thandi Modise in her State of the Province Address as part of the roll out of the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Strategy.

 

The strategy is aimed at reducing environmental factors that contribute towards crimes against women and children as well as serious and violent crimes by eliminating crime hotspots such as disused physical structures and pathways with overgrown vegetation within communities.

 

Improving lighting through installation of high mast lights in some communities as part of implementing the strategy has significantly contributed towards reduction of crime.

 

The provincial government and the South African Police Service have encouraged municipalities to develop and implement their own local CPTED Strategies. Mahikeng is among the twelve municipalities in the province that have thus far developed and are implementing the strategy.

 

Carl Pistorius ‘regrets’ fatal crash

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Pretoria – More details have emerged of the fatal accident involving Carl Pistorius, brother of paralympian Oscar Pistorius, in 2008.

Carl Pistorius was charged with culpable homicide following the accident, in which Marietjie Barnard, 36, was knocked off her motorbike. She died in hospital six days later, Beeld reported.

The charge sheet alleges that Pistorius was driving on Barrage Road, between Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging, on 8 March 2008 when he apparently overtook a car when it was not safe to do so.

Barnard was severely injured in the collision with his Ford Ranger.

Evidence

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the case was scrapped from the roll shortly after the incident due to a lack of evidence. However, new evidence including details of the accident and the post mortem results came to light, and a warrant for Pistorius’s arrest was issued in March 2012. He was released on a warning.

The case was due to begin last Thursday, but was postponed due to the bail hearing of Pistorius’s brother, Oscar. It has now been set down for 27 and 28 March 2013 in the Vanderbijlpark Regional Court.

Kenny Oldwage, Oscar Pistorius‘s lawyer, said that blood tests at the time showed no alcohol in Carl’s blood.

“There is no doubt that Carl is not guilty and the charge will be fought in court,” he said in a statement, adding that Carl “regrets the incident”.

Police could not supply Beeld with any information about Barnard or her family, saying this would come out in the court case.

For more details go to www.news24.com

Report details dept mismanagement

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Johannesburg – Corruption and mismanagement have been highlighted in a top secret report about the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities.
The report, now in the possession of Beeld newspaper, was compiled after an investigation originally requested by Minister Lulu Xingwana, and which Xingwana herself, according to the newspaper, does not want to share with MPs.
Among the report’s findings is of an official who was awarded R180 000 for working overtime, a nurse who was appointed as director, bursaries amounting to thousands of rands awarded without any repayment agreement, and friends who were given preference for senior management positions over better qualified candidates.
Xingwana herself was recently in the crossfire for the alleged purchase of millions of rands worth of luxury office furniture for her head office.
The report warns that the department faces possible legal action after determining that officials lacking qualifications and some who even had criminal records, were appointed to senior positions.
One of the officials only had matric and a diploma in nursing, but was appointed to a top position over a candidate who had BA degree in political science, a master’s degree in project management and an LLB degree.
Departmental spokesperson Cornelius Monama said disciplinary measures had been initiated and that the officials in question had already been temporarily suspended with full pay.

– SAPA

Girl bitten by ‘racist’ dog

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Johannesburg – A Honeydew mother has accused a dog of being racist after the animal ran into her yard and bit her daughter.

The Sowetan reported that the 7-year-old daughter of Pam Nkosi was bitten on the knee by a neighbour’s bull terrier.

“I feel that the dog is racist. The way it behaved. It shows that it was not familiar with other races.”

Nkosi said the dog’s owner did not come to check on her daughter and did not offer to help with the medical bills.

She said the dog’s owner, Sean Norman, was “impossible” and that police had to intervene after he denied that his dog had bitten the girl.

Nkosi said the Norman had not kept the dog’s vaccinations up to date and this put her daughter at risk of disease.

“He (Norman) said the child was bitten by another dog. He later said the child fell while walking near a hedge, but an emergency services report and doctor’s letter confirmed the incident,” Nkosi said.

The owner didn’t want to comment.

An SPCA inspector didn’t want to comment on whether the dog was “racist” or not but said the case was being investigated.

For more details go to www.news24.com

Confusion at Bredasdorp court

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Cape Town – Confusion reigned in the Bredasdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning when the alleged killers of Anene Booysen were moved from one courtroom to another.
A panic ensued when the media and the public were told to move to a larger courtroom, with people shoving each other and running along the corridor.
The other courtroom was already full and they had to squeeze into what little standing space was available.
Court officials then said Jonathan Davids, 22, and Johannes Kana, 21, would appear in the original courtroom after a few more cases had been called.
The media contingent sat waiting in an outside courtyard for clarification about what was happening. Protest songs echoed in the background.
Booysen, 17, was gang-raped and disembowelled after visiting a club on Friday, 1 February.
Her body was found at the Asla Magwebu construction site, where she worked, not far from her RDP home, the next morning. She died in hospital that night.
Davids and Kana have been charged with the crimes and are expected to apply for bail.
At their last court appearance on 12 February, Magistrate Graham Cupido ruled that their faces not be shown in the media because the State believed this could jeopardise the ongoing investigation.
Access control was strict when the court opened on Tuesday. Media houses had to apply for permission to attend the hearing and only family members were let into the court.

– SAPA

A 20 year old man in court for Thato Mogotsi murder

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By Obakeng Maje

Itsoseng- A 20 year old man handed himself over at Itsoseng Police Station in a company of his mother for a murder of a 22 year old man.

Thato Mogotsi,22 was stabbed to death with unknown object and suffered several wounds in his neck and chest.

“Mogotsi was rushed to a local clinic by unknown men. He died on his arrival and no one was arrested” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

“A 20 year old man is due in court today after he handed himself over for the alleged murder” Mokgwabone said.

Police said the suspect will appear today before magistrate for alleged murder of Thato Mokgotsi and investigations continue.

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