Category Archives: NEWS

43 amnesty prisoners back in jail

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IOL june 12 prison cell

By Botho Molosankwe

Forty-three prisoners are back behind bars barely a month after receiving a presidential early release.

The prisoners were part of the 37 783 who were released from May 15 after President Jacob Zuma granted a special remission of sentence to certain categories of prisoners.

The 43 were arrested for a range of offences such as rape, attempted murder, robbery, assault, kidnapping, theft, stock theft, possession of drugs, possession of stolen goods and housebreaking. Two are women.

Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Sibongile Khumalo did not give further details on where the crimes were committed, but confirmed that two of the 43 had been released from Gauteng prisons.

Two of the offences were committed in Gauteng and the others in other provinces.

Khumalo said the prisoners had had to attend a pre-release programme to facilitate their smooth integration into the community.

They had been taught life skills and it had also been drummed into their heads to leave a life of crime behind them.

Their arrests will not have any bearing on the sentences they were pardoned while serving. They may qualify for another pardon in the future.

“It will depend on what criteria will be used in future to pardon them, so we can’t say whether they will qualify for the pardon or not,” Khumalo said.

After the announcement of the special remission was announced, Hamadziripi Tamukamoyo wrote on the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) website: “Although there have been assurances from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) that the lessons from past remissions have been learnt, some have warned that the DCS is not equipped to adequately manage either the remission or the post-release process.

“This is a crucial point, considering that for years the DCS has failed to recruit and retain staff at the appropriate levels. In addition, there has been a continued disproportionate allocation of the budget, with the rehabilitation and well-being of offenders receiving the smallest share.”

In light of the rearrest of the prisoners, Tamukamoyo’s colleague, Tizina Ramagaga, researcher in the Crime and Justice Programme at the ISS, said it was possible the released prisoners had not been completely rehabilitated.

“The department won’t know whether the person to be released is completely rehabilitated because the fact that rehabilitation is being offered is not a guarantee that the person is rehabilitated when they are given the pardon,” Ramagaga added.

The Star

Alleged Mxit rapist faces another charge

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Copy of iol news pic cellphone june 12

By Kamini Padayachee

The 35-year-old man who is charged with abducting and raping a teenage girl after he lured her on Mxit is to be charged with another count of statutory rape in connection with a second teenage girl who has come forward since his arrest last week.

The man, who cannot be named until he pleads, appeared on Monday in the Durban Regional Court and was denied bail by Magistrate Fariedha Mohammed.

Mohammed said that he was a danger to society given that he was charged with assaulting young girls and that his seven previous convictions showed he had no respect for the law.

The man, testifying in support of his bail application, broke down in the box and apologised for what he had done.

He told the court the incident was a “horrible mistake” and that he was “sorry”.

Prosecutor Val Melis said the man, who was initially charged with two counts of rape and the abduction of the first girl, now faced a third charge of statutory rape of the second girl.

In his testimony, the man said he lived with his mother and that he was unemployed.

He said that he was going to plead not guilty to the charges against him.

“I was not aware that she (the first girl) was 14 when I picked her up.

“She looked older, at least 16 or 17. She told me that she wanted to run away and I offered to help her.”

He also claimed that he had been in a “kind of love” relationship with both teenage girls.

He added that he was not aware of the massive search which was launched for the missing teenager.

“I actually wanted to get her home because I knew that her parents would be worried.

“If I had known what was happening, I would have returned her, trust me. But I did not know what to do – I panicked. I did love her. I am sorry – it was a big mistake.”

He admitted he had lied to the girl about his age when they had chatted on social networking site Mxit.

Melis told the man that he had said he was 19 because he knew that the teenager would not have been interested in speaking to him if she had known his real age.

The man replied: “That could be right.”

Melis also told that the court that the girl would testify that the man had taken away her Sim card and locked her in the house when he was away.

The man denied this and said the girl had his keys to the house and had flushed her Sim card down the toilet.

The case was adjourned to July 13. – The Mercury


Outcry as Cele backs accused

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nm cele etch from waist up (26069767)

By Tania Broughton

Suspended national police commissioner Bheki Cele was slated on Monday for attending the court case of his “foster daughter”, wealthy businesswoman and tax fraud accused Shauwn Mpisane.

Mpisane – who has strong family ties with Cele – pulled in the big guns for what was to be day one of her trial on R5-million tax fraud charges.

As she stood in the dock of a Durban regional court in her trademark towering heels and designer gear, a smartly dressed Cele – her “father figure” – sat behind her in the public gallery.

He arrived alone and without ceremony. He acknowledged reporters but then spoke to no-one and did not return after the lunch adjournment.

But Paul Hoffman of the Institute of Accountability in Southern Africa slammed his presence in the courtroom as “utterly inappropriate”.

“It’s right up there with jailed former police commissioner Jackie Selebi when he said of Glen Agliotti ‘he’s my friend… finished and klaar’. And look at where Selebi is now.

“He is violating all the principles expected of him by the constitution. That he maintain high standards and ethics, that he be objective and accountable… these principles are totally foreign to the way he behaves.”

The DA’s Dianne Kohler Barnard said: “One would have thought he was in sufficient trouble. One would not expect someone in his position to do this.

“It could be seen as putting pressure on the case. It is most inappropriate. He has no boundaries and does not understand the impact of what he does sometimes.”

Cele’s spokesman Vuyo Mkhize, said he had gone to court to give Mpisane moral support.

“Her father, now deceased, was his best friend. He promised to look after her. He was in town and he took the opportunity. He considers her his foster daughter.

“Those who say he should not have, have no understanding of the concept of innocent until proven guilty. You do not abandon people just because they are charged.

“He is, and has always been, sensitive to the perception created by association with people found to have digressed the law.”

Mpisane’s other “big gun” was respected advocate Wim Trengove, SC, who on Monday launched a pre-trial application attempting to persuade magistrate Blessing Msani to compel the State to disclose more details of its case against her so that she can properly prepare for trial.

It was revealed at the start of proceedings on Monday that the State had compiled a new charge sheet in which Mpisane and her close corporation Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance and Transport, are facing 118 charges of fraud and one of contravening the close corporations act.

The act disqualifies someone from running a business if he or she has been convicted previously of fraud. – The Mercury


Match tickets and Park & Ride information for the SA-Gabon clash

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BY Obakeng Maje

Tickets for the international friendly match between South Africa and Gabon are already on sale.

Bafana Bafana will face the Central Africans on Friday, 15 June 2012 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Kickoff is at 20h30.

Tickets on the lower and upper concourse are  R50.00.

Tickets are available at Computicket outlets, Shoprite and Shoprite Checkers stores around the country.

Please note no tickets will be sold at the stadium on Match Day.

HospitalitySuites
32-Seater suites at R5000,00 / suite, not including catering and beverage, are available for the match. Catering and beverage for the suites have to be arranged with Stadium Management.

VIP Restaurant 
Seats in the VIP Restaurant @ R350,00/person. The package includes a high quality buffet dinner and 2 complimentary drinks (Beer, cider or soft drinks). A well-stocked cash bar is also available. It further includes 4 hospitality parking tickets for a table of 10. The cost for a table of 10 is R3000,00

Club Lounge
Seats are available @R100,00 per ticket for this exclusive area. The ticket provides access to an exclusive cash bar and a seat on suite level.
 
Contact Asiat Suluwale at 013 7574600 or suluwale_asiat@yahoo.com to reserve a suite or for further details.

Details are also available on the website: www. mbombelastadium .com

 Please note the following information regarding Park and Ride parking at the stadium and Hospitality:

Park and Ride:
There will be a full park and ride in operation for the match on Friday 15 June 2012:

The following three pick-up points will be in operation:

  • Riverside Mall
  • Public Transport Hub in the CBD
  • Show grounds

• All match tickets entitle spectators to use the buses

• Spectators must present a valid match ticket when boarding the buses to the Stadium

• There will be two pick -up points at the Stadium after the match that will be clearly marked

• The same buses will be travelling to Public Transport  Hub  and the Show grounds after the match

• Buses will transport spectators to the pick – up points until all spectators have left the stadium and there will be no need to rush for the buses

• There will be sufficient buses to transport all the spectators

• Buses will start leaving the pick-up points at 17h00

• The match kick -off is at 20h30

Parking at the Stadium

• Limited early bird parking is available at the stadium for free

• Hospitality parking tickets that ensure reserved convenient parking at the stadium are available at R30,00 per ticket and can be purchased at the Stadium Ticket office and at the offices of LCBT at the Crossing Shopping Centre

• Once all the parking in the stadium precinct is full vehicles will be diverted to the park and ride pick -up points.

 

Bafana Bafana squad reduced for Gabon friendly

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BY Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana caretaker coach Steve Komphela has released five players from the squad that will face Gabon in an international friendly match that will be played on Friday, 15 June 2012.

The clash will take place at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Kickoff is at 20h30.

Captain Steven Pienaar, striker Katlego Mphela, midfielders Oupa Manyisa and Thanduyise Khuboni as well as defender Bongani Khumalo have all been allowed to go home.

The players left after the squad’s training session on Monday evening.

“We are left with one match, having played two already. Initially we called-up a big squad because we had three back to back clashes and wanted to have cover in various positions in case of injuries. We have seen what the five that we released can give us, and now this is a chance to have a look at other players,” said Komphela.

“At the same time we also had to reserve some respect to the opposition and not make wholesale changes to our squad. We still need continuity and we believe the players that are remaining will provide the needed balance to tackle Gabon on Friday.”

Bafana Bafana departs for Nelspruit on Thursday morning (14 June).

The full Bafana Bafana squad to face Gabon:

 

GOALKEEPERS

KHUNE Itumeleng

Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

SANDILANDS Wayne

Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

KEET Darren

KV Kortrijk FC (Belgium)

DEFENDERS:

GOULD Morgan

Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

MATHOHO Eric

Bloemfontein Celtic FC (SA)

MASENAMELA Punch

Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

NGCONGCA Anele

Racing Genk FC (Belgium)

GAXA Siboniso

Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

XULU Siyanda

Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

MIDFIELDERS:

  

TSHABALALA Siphiwe

Kaizer Chiefs FC ( SA)

LETSHOLONYANE Reneilwe

Kaizer Chiefs FC ( SA)

MODISE Teko

Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

MOKOENA Lebohang

Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

JALI Andile

Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

MAHLANGU May

Helsingborg FC ( Sweden)

SERERO Thulani

Ajax Amsterdam FC ( Netherlands)

MASHABA Mzikayise

Free State Stars FC (SA)

STRIKERS:

  

NOMVETHE Siyabonga

Moroka Swallows FC (SA)

RANTIE Tokelo

Orlando Pirates FC ( SA)

RODGERS Eleazar

Santos FC (SA)

MAJORO Lehlohonolo

Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

Gabon is expected in Nelspruit on Wednesday morning (13 June) around 06h00.

The full Gabon squad:

  • Didier Ewono Ebang
  • Anthony Mfa Mezui
  • Emmanuel Ndong Mba
  • Edmond Mouele
  • Ecuele Manga
  • Remy Ebanega Ekwa
  • Henry-Junior Ndong
  • Stevvy Nzambe
  • Charly Moussono
  • Merlin KoumbaTadjigora
  • Cedric Boussougou Moubikou
  • Franck Engonga Obame
  • Robert Nsimbi
  • Alexandra Ndoumbou
  • Guelor Kanga
  • Levy Madinda
  • Landy Jerry Obiang Obiang
  • Branger Engone
  • Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
  • Judex Soumouna Lipoukou
  • Romaric Rogombe
  • Allen nono
  • Axel Meye Me Ndong
  • Romuald Ntsitsigui

 

 

Coach: Paolo Duarte

 

Chris’s kind gesture to Rihanna

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chris and rihanna

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Chris Brown sent champagne to Rihanna when they partied in the same nightclub at the weekend.

 The former couple – who split in 2009 after the ‘Yeah 3x’ singer assaulted his then-girlfriend – sat at different tables at New York’s SL on Saturday (09.06.12) but onlookers say they were very aware of one another inside the club.

 A source told the New York Post newspaper: “After Chris made his way into SL with a group of friends, Rihanna pulled up with her own group of friends. The infamous exes sat far enough from each other to not be able to talk, but close enough to keep an eye on one another.

 “Chris sent Rihanna two bottles of Ace of Spades Champagne. DJ Sinatra had both Rihanna and Chris dancing at their tables.”

 The meeting comes a few weeks after Rihanna came face-to-face with Chris and his current girlfriend Karreueche Tran at Los Angeles club Greystone Manor but things were not so friendly.

 A source said at the time: “Chris and Rihanna sat a few tables away from each other and shot dirty looks at each other all night.

 “No one saw them actually interact. Rihanna was escorted to the bathroom multiple times and walked by Chris’ table each time, not even batting an eyelash.”

 Rihanna and Chris recently worked together on two tracks, ‘Turn Up the Music’ and ‘Birthday Cake’ and Rihanna recently admitted she was surprised about the backlash over the collaboration.

 She said: “I thought people were gonna be surprised that we finally did a record together, but I didn’t see how people could think it was a bad thing. In my mind, it was just music.

 “I mean, if I went back to him [as a girlfriend], then that’s a whole different discussion. And if I ever do, then that’s something that y’all have to talk to me about when – if – that ever happens. Until then, look at it for what it is.” – Bang Showbiz


Boks call up Aplon, Greyling

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The Springboks have called up Gio Aplon and Dean Greyling to camp following injury concerns around Zane Kirchner and Coenie Oosthuizen, respectively.

They will join the team in Johannesburg, where they are currently preparing for the second Test against England at Ellis Park on Saturday.

“We are not going to risk any player that is struggling with injuries and it was decided to call in replacements for both Zane and Coenie,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, in a statement from the SA Rugby Union on Monday.

Kirchner injured his knee late in the first half of the first Test win in Durban, and underwent a scan on Monday morning.

It was decided that he would not be considered for the second Test and will be re-examined next week.

Oosthuizen experienced some stiffness to his shoulder and neck area on Monday morning, with the national medical team decided on a cautious approach.

He will be sent for a scan in the next 24 hours after which a decision will be made.

Meyer said he was pleased to have Aplon (16 Tests) and Greyling (two Tests), who are familiar with being in the international set up.

“Both Dean and Gio were on our official list of standby players and are fortunate that both of them have played Test rugby for South Africa before,” he said.

“They have also been in good form in Super Rugby and were two of the unlucky players that did not make the initial 32-man squad.

“They also attended our planning camps and should be up to speed with how we want to play.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming them to the squad.” – Sapa


Girl, 15, killed at house party

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IOL pic apr15 Bloody Knife

By KEITH GLADDIS

A schoolgirl was stabbed to death at a house party hosted by a boy whose parents were away.

Megan-Leigh Peat, 15, was attacked at the home alone gathering in the early hours of Saturday.

A 19-year-old who was allegedly seen leaving the house covered in blood and with his finger almost severed was being questioned by police last night. It is believed Megan, who wanted to train as a midwife, knew the boy.

Megan’s father David, 39, laid a floral tribute to his daughter at the scene of the murder in Ampthill, Bedfordshire on Sunday.

A card attached to it said: ‘Megan Moosay, miss you more than words can say. You will always be in my thoughts and forever in my heart. Love you forever, Dad.’

Some of the teenagers who attended the party had been seen smoking cannabis in the cellar bar of a nearby pub in the hours before the attack.

It is believed Megan had gone to the house with at least one friend and may have been joined by others later.

Paramedics went to the house at 1.30am after calls saying a girl had been fatally injured. Despite attempts to revive her, she died at the scene.

A few minutes earlier, police had come across a 19-year-old in a street nearby who had a severe injury to one of his fingers.

A trail of blood ran from the house and a neighbour’s Vauxhall Astra had blood spattered on the tyres.

One resident said a woman in her 40s and her teenage son had moved into the rented semi-detached house around three months ago. She said the boy had celebrated his 18th birthday about a month ago, adding: ‘They seem like a nice family. I don’t see much of them but when they moved in they did the front garden up so they are obviously house-proud.

‘The boy has friends round in boy racer cars and you hear the odd blast of loud music but that is all. They have been no trouble.’

Another said he had heard loud music coming from the house on a number of occasions but had not noticed a party at the property on Friday evening. It was suggested last night that the boy who lived at the house may have been at the pub when the attack took place.

Megan’s friend Chelsie McAneny, 16, said her classmates at Harlington Upper School were planning to release balloons in tribute to her.

She added: ‘She was the hero at school. Everybody loved her and knew her.

‘She would stick up for everyone and was a great friend. She was really funny, sociable and bubbly. I can’t believe what happened and still don’t. It doesn’t feel real.’ Lorraine Adams – mother of Megan’s best friend Dee, who was not at the party – said: ‘She was such a beautiful girl.

‘It has knocked everybody sideways. It’s a great loss to everybody. She was a fantastic person.’

On her Bebo account Megan wrote that she was happiest when she was with ‘my friends or with family or at a party’.

A post mortem examination was due to be carried out by a Home Office pathologist yesterday. – Daily Mail

Gauteng has 3 000 abused kids

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iol news child abuse doll

More than 3000 children are listed in the Child Protection Register (CPR) for sexual abuse in Gauteng, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said on Monday.

“The specified categories of abuse in which the names appear in the CPR are sexual abuse, emotional abuse and deliberate neglect,” she said in a written reply to a parliamentary question.

A total of 1751 sexual abuse victims’ names appeared on the CPR register for the Western Cape. In addition, the province had the highest number of children found to be deliberately neglected, at 2522.

Dlamini said the CPRs of most provinces were compatible, which would enable social workers to access information from other provinces.

The Eastern Cape was the only province using a separate system.

“DSD (the department of social development) is in the process of rebuilding the whole system and in future the provinces will be utilising one CPR system”, Dlamini said. – Sapa


Mubarak slips into coma

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Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak sits inside a cage in a courtroom during his verdict hearing in Cairo on June 2, 2012. Picture: AFP.

Reuters 

CAIRO – Egypt’s Interior Ministry confirmed on Monday that former president Hosni Mubarak is in a coma.

His two sons who face charges of insider trading and money laundering were reportedly at his side in hospital.

The 84-year-old former statesman was sent to a prison hospital in Cairo, after he was sentenced to life behind bars for the killing of pro-democracy demonstrators in 2011. 

Mubarak was already suffering from health problems during sentencing and attended court proceedings on a gurney. 

On Monday, Egypt’s prison authority approved a request to let Hosni Mubarak’s eldest son stay close to him in a prison hospital in response to the former president’s deteriorating health.

Mubarak requested his son Alaa be moved close to him after the authorities earlier agreed to a similar request to have his youngest son Gamal brought next to him.

Citing a security source in the Interior Ministry, the report said the latest decision was in response to “a deterioration in his health”.

Mubarak was jailed for life on 2 June for failing to prevent the killing of protesters who rose up against him, but the acquittal of senior police officers for lack of evidence angered many Egyptians who believe the ex-president may win an appeal.

Since Mubarak was moved to Tora prison hospital from a plush military hospital where he was held during the 10-month trial, speculation has been rife about his state of health. Such rumours also frequently recurred as he aged in office.

Security sources said last week that Mubarak was given artificial respiration five times in one day and doctors recommended he be moved to a military hospital or back to the medical facility he was in prior to his conviction.

He has also reportedly slipped in and out of a coma at times, although prison sources said on Monday he was awake and with his sons.

Gamal, once seen as being groomed for the presidency, and Alaa are also being held in Tora prison pending a trial over a case of alleged stock market manipulation. Corruption charges they had faced with their father in his trial were quashed.

Mubarak’s wife Suzanne and the wives of his two sons also visited the ex-president on Sunday, the state news agency reported, quashing rumours that had briefly swirled suggesting the former president had died.

About 200 supporters of Mubarak protested outside Tora prison on Saturday demanding he be moved to a hospital outside prison.