Free State – We can’t show you the pictures, but we can tell you what we saw.

The minute we arrived at the Groenpunt Correctional Centre maximum-security entrance in the Free State, prison warders were putting on their shields and bullet-proof vests and rushing to units housing high-risk prisoners.

There was some commotion, and members of the parliamentary portfolio committee on correctional services made their exit. They criss-crossed paths with armed warders who hurriedly headed in the other direction, invading the office they had been observing.

The portfolio committee left.

Then, through the fence, we saw a mob of warders assaulting a man dressed in orange garb – apparently a defenceless prisoner – who squirmed and groaned in pain.

We don’t know who he is, or what happened to him afterwards.

But we saw them passing the man around in a circle, brutally beating him.

As cameras clicked away, capturing the action, the men in brown continued to beat the prisoner.

Then they took him away, and came for us. What happened next was an hour-long traumatic experience that left us feeling like terrorists.

“What are you doing?” asked an armed warder dressed in brown uniform.

His colleagues joined him and they blocked our car.

“Please get out of the vehicle,” said one of the warders.

There were three photographers, including one from The Star, and a reporter from The Star.

With an army of armed warders surrounding us, the photographers were ordered to delete pictures they had taken, capturing the beating we had just witnessed.

Our cameras were confiscated, our cellphones too. A camera left with us by an official from the portfolio committee was also seized.

We were ordered into Correctional Services cars and taken to an administration block, where we were lined up and body-searched. It was humiliating and terrifying.

Shaking in fear, we could see other warders peeping through the door.

For about an hour, we stayed in that room, defenceless and without a word on what would happen next.

Unbeknown to us, our phones, cameras and memory cards were being surveyed by the prison’s IT people. And when the cameras were returned, all data, including pictures unrelated to the Free State prison facility, had been deleted.

During this process, The Star’s journalist was taken to the women’s toilets to be body-searched.

For more details go to http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – A nurse was attacked with a hot iron when she and her colleague were robbed in their Daspoort, Pretoria, flat on Wednesday, police said.

The 24-year-old walked in on four men armed with knives who had overpowered her flatmate earlier when she opened the door after they knocked, Captain Bonginkosi Amos Msimango said in a statement.

After they forced their way into the flat at around 5.30pm, they tied up the first nurse, also aged 24.

When her colleague came home from work at the Hercules Clinic later, they tied her up as well and used a hot iron to burn her on her chin and elbow, until she handed over her car keys.

The men fled with a laptop and the woman’s Polo Vivo.

No arrests had been made. – Sapa

Limpopo – A corruption probe into Limpopo roads and transport head Ntau Letebele should continue despite his resignation, the DA said on Wednesday.

“The investigations into the awarding of a R53 million contract to On-Point Engineering must continue, to ensure that individuals who were involved in the awarding of the tender face the full might of the law,” Democratic Alliance spokeswoman Meisie Kennedy said.

“The former MEC for the department Pinkie Kekana must step down with immediate effect as the MEC for economic development, environment and tourism, for the role she played as the executive authority in this matter.”

Limpopo transport spokesman Joshua Kwapa said Letebele handed in a resignation notice dated January 10.

“I confirm that he (Letebele) resigned and that the MEC has accepted his resignation. His last day of work was yesterday (Tuesday), after he requested to be let go early.”

The resignation followed the announcement of an investigation into the department’s awarding a R53 million contract to On-Point Engineering, that allegedly partly benefited former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.

Malema’s business partner Lesiba Gwangwa is chief executive of On-Point.

In October, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found Letebele’s conduct in respect of the awarding of the bid to On-Point “improper, and constituted maladministration”.

Madonsela found the department unlawfully awarded tenders to On-Point Engineering.

She found On-Point and Malema benefited improperly from the contract. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Police are investigating a case of possession of suspected stolen copper wire after eight suspects has been arrested with copper wire in their possession. 

The police officials who arrested the suspects were busy conducting visible police patrols this morning police said.  

“The police officials noticed six males and two females that looked suspicious to them under the bridge in Old De Beers Road, Kimberley” lieutenant Andrea Cloete said. 

“They then pulled-off their vehicle and stopped the eight suspects and searchedthem” Cloete said.  

Police discover bags consisting of copper wire to the value of R2800-00. 

“All eight suspects were arrested on the scene and taken to the Kimberley Police station” Cloete said. 

The suspects will appear Kimberley Magistrate Court tomorrow for bail application. 

The police investigation continues. 

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By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Northern Cape police arrested two suspects while they were busy patrolling the area.

It is alleged that the police saw two suspects sitting in their car and looked suspicious.

“Police searched two suspects and a knife was found in a car. They arrest two suspects for question and while on their way to the police station,one suspect who was sitting behind driver seat allegedly drew a knife and stabbed a police officer cutting a throat” Lieutenant Donald Mdhuli said.

“The police officer who was driving managed to stop a car and a fight ensued that resuslt in a shoot-out” Mdhluli said.

A suspect who was armed with a knife was allegedly fatal shot and has been taken to hospital for with gun wounds.

“Another suspect was taken to police cell and the police officer was also rushed to hospital while his colleague is been treated for shock” police spokesperson said.

By Staff Reporter

The North West Department of Health has activated its Orange Africa Cup of Nation 2013 plans to ensure clean bill of health during the biannual tournament scheduled for 19 January to 10 February. The Health Promotion team is already hard at work with blitz activities in hot spots around Rustenburg. Additional 300 000 Choice condoms have been procured for Rustenburg alone as more people are expected for the games. The condoms will be distributed in hotels and hot spots that may experience influx of people as result of the games. Rustenburg is a Host City.

A total of ninety Emergency Medical Rescue Service personnel together with five medical doctors and seven nurses will man the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on match days. Eight ambulances will operate within the stadium with 12 more ambulances strategically placed in all major routes leading to Rustenburg to ensure swift response during emergencies. Two buses and two quantums will be on standby at the stadium incase of stampede or disaster.

 The department recently added new 19 additional ambulances to its fleet to aggressively respond to the plight of communities and improve the response time during emergencies. This is in addition to 31 ambulance unveiled in June 2012.The Job Shimankane Tabane Hospital is also ready for any emergencies. 

The hospital’s accident and emergency unit with six resuscitation beds was refurbished for 2010 FIFA World Cup. Twelve beds for P2 patients, six beds in short stay ward, five obstetrics and gynaecology beds, five paediatrics and one isolation beds are in place in the emergency unit. Four treatment areas, triage area, counseling, administration and six theatres are also functional.Rustenburg will be home to Group D teams: Togo, Ivory Coast, Algeria and Tunisia.