Limpopo – A Limpopo man allegedly raped his three-year-old niece in Ga-Mothapo, Mankweng on Friday, police said.

Constable Moses Molepo said the girl was left with her uncle when her 28-year-old mother went to work at 6.30am.

“The victim revealed the ordeal to the mother and the matter was reported to police for further investigations,” Molepo said.

Doctors at Mankweng Hospital confirmed that the girl had been raped. Police were looking for the 20-year-old uncle, he said. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Klein Mier-The community of Klein Meir are accusing their municipality for not heeding to their call after experiencing some difficulties regarding water in the area.

The residents are foaming after the water was contaminated. The community members say they have informed the municipality about the water issue,but the management decided to procrastinate.

“The municipality here in Klein Mier is not helpful and the water here is contaminated” other resident told sabc.

However the municipality said they are busy dealing with the issue, said Themba Mokidi.

The residents vow that if nothing is done they will take it into their hands.

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Tlokwe municipality mayor Annette Combrink has refused to use a luxury official car that was delivered to her last week, Beeld reported on Friday.

Expensive official cars for mayors were no longer appropriate when people were burdened by poverty, Combrink reportedly told the paper.

She said she would use her nine-year-old personal Volkswagen Passat for official business.

Combrink on Thursday spoke about the fact that the municipality had ordered a Mercedes-Benz C350 CDI worth R736 000 for the previous mayor, Maphetle Maphetle, in June last year.

The car was only delivered last week, as special fittings beige leather seats and a sunroof had been requested.

Meanwhile, two vehicles borrowed from a dealer were both damaged when Tlokwe municipal officials used them.

The new Mercedes had been placed in storage in a municipal garage, Combrink said.

Maphetle told Beeld he was not familiar with any specific model or special finishes having been ordered because he did not know exactly what had been budgeted for.

Combrink said she had asked the Auditor General to investigate the purchase.

“My biggest objection is basically that expensive official cars in general, not just at Tlokwe, are unnecessary and obsolete.”

-Sapa

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Friday said it is willing to sign a pledge with parties affected by the Marikana violence to prevent its reoccurrence.

“I would not have qualms about that, because as a union we believe that the right to life is that which our Constitution promises everybody,” union president Senzeni Zokwana told the Farlam commission of inquiry.

“As a union we would accept any recommendation that the commission would come up with and if that includes us having to sign some pledge (we will).”

Zokwana was asked under cross-examination if the union would sign a pledge to work with all parties in future to prevent such violence from reoccurring.

He said the NUM would be willing to sign anything proposed by the commission to prevent more violence.

Zokwana agreed this pledge and recommendations should encompass the behaviour and language used by union leaders.

“I would agree with that. Leadership is about being responsible. It can lead to war depending on the language (s)he uses. A culture must exist in this country where it forges unity.”

Zokwana was testifying in the commission which is probing the deaths of 44 people during a strike at the North West mine.

Thirty-four strikers were shot dead and 78 wounded when police opened fire while trying to disperse a group of protesters gathered on a hill near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana on August 16 last year.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.

Zokwana also testified that the NUM did not block Marikana miners’ wages.

“NUM would never be averse to where workers are given an offer. It may object to the forum used, but [would] not… [oppose] this offer,” he said.

Dali Mpofu, for those arrested and injured during the violent strike, said striking mineworkers believed NUM told Lonmin mine not to negotiate with them.

He said this was the reason why strikers went to NUM officers on August 11, and not, as Zokwana believed, to burn it down.

NUM shop stewards allegedly fired at a large group of strikers who marched towards the union’s offices at the mine. Two strikers were injured and had to be hospitalised.

Mpofu admitted the group of strikers included NUM, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), and non-unionised members.

He put it to Zokwana that it was normal for members to go to the nearest union office to inquire, if they believed the NUM was standing in the way of wage increases.

“When you march it is when you don’t reach satisfactory answers,” Zokwana said.

He said if this was the case, NUM members would have sent a smaller, unarmed delegation to get information.

“(It would have been reasonable) provided it was NUM members marching to the NUM office, minus the weapons.”

-Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp- Two suspects arrested by police on for fraud in Klerksdorp. 

A complain was received that the Vaal Commercial Institute in Klerksdorp was allegedly an unregistered College. 

“Mr Jenmi Oluwatoyin Olakunle (Nigerian citizen and  35-years-old) and Collen Goitsemodime Lentswe (43-years-old) appeared before the Klerksdorp Magistrate Court on Friday” captain Adele Myburgh said. 

“Olakunle will remain in custody for a formal bail application and Lentswe was granted bail of R1000.00” police said. 

They will both re-appear in court on 15 February 2013.

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By Obakeng Maje

Marikana- A Lesotho citizen was arrested for allegedly robbing a business with four other accomplices on Friday at around 08:00 am North West police said. “The shop owner in Marikana at the Group 5 area was in her shop when the suspects pounced on her” captain Adele Myburgh said.

“They pointed her with a firearm and stole her cellphone and amount of undisclosed cash” Myburgh said. Police members arrived at the scene shortly after it happened and follow-up on information received at the crime scene. 

“One of the suspects was identified at the CBD and the police apprehended him” she said. 

The suspect pointed his firearm towards police members and fled into an open field towards the informal settlement. 

The other four suspects also started running away in the same direction.

“Whilst the armed suspect was running he shot towards the police members chasing him” police said. Police members fired back towards the suspect and managed to arrest him in the field. 

Four other suspects escaped and are still at large. 

No injuries were sustained during the shoot-out. 

The suspect will appear at Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate Court soon.

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By Obakeng Maje

Lomanyaneng- A police officer was arrested on Friday after allegedly stabbing a 51-year-old man with a knife at 08:00 in Setlopo Village North West police said. 

“According to information received, the complainant and the suspect were drinking traditional beer at a shebeen” captain Adele Myburgh said.

“A 51 year old man was assaulted and stabbed at the back of his left shoulder by the suspect” she said. The suspect will appear in court soon for Assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. 

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By Obakeng Maje 

Taung-Two women were collecting fire wood in Moretele village,near Taung when one of them struck by a lightning North West police said. 

“A 26-year-old woman was struck by lightning at about 17:15 and declared dead on the scene by Taung Emergency Services” captain Adele Myburgh said. 

The woman was identified as Ikanyesang Seabelo. 

An inquest are opened and under investigation. 

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By Obakeng Maje

Schweizer Reneke- The missing couple, Carien Wilkens(20) and James Viljoen(28) were found unharmed in Durban on Friday police said. 

“The success was made possible due to the assistance of the Pink Ladies Organization” Captain Adele Myburgh said. 

“There was no faul play suspected” Myburgh said. 

The couple were reported missing on Monday after they failed to return home from outing in the weekend visit at Sun City.

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Dutywa, Eastern Cape – A half-blind, hearing-impaired grandmother was raped by a man who then fell asleep in her bed in Mthuvi village, Dutywa, Eastern Cape police said on Friday.

Captain Jackson Manatha said the 69-year-old woman was sleeping in a rondavel with her 12-year-old grandson when a man broke in at 2am on Wednesday.

“We suspect that the man was able to push the door open and the granny did not wake up because she cannot hear properly.” Manatha said the woman was also “partly blind”.

Her grandson told the police he heard noises, but thought his grandmother was going outside to the toilet.

“The man raped the granny and was able to stop her from screaming. The granny then ran out of the rondavel and was found by one of the neighbours sleeping next to the garden at 7am,” he said.

The neighbour took the woman inside the rondavel to see why she had slept outside.

“But the neighbour was shocked to see running shoes protruding from the bed where the granny was supposed to be sleeping. The man fell asleep in bed… he must have been drunk,” said Manatha.

The neighbour pulled the blanket back to find a man sleeping in the bed.

“They were supposed to call the police first and the suspect woke up and ran away.”

The rapist, in his early 20s, was identified is a neighbour. He was yet to be arrested.

“We have his name and we are looking for him,” said Manatha. – Sapa