BY REGINALD KANYANE

VIDEO footage evidence that is said to be shocking, has led to the postponement of a case against a former female councillor accused of plotting to kill the North West premier Supra Mahumapelo.

The woman has been charged with two accounts of conspiracy to murder. She allegedly wanted Mahumapelo and present Mahikeng mayor Gosiame Seatlholo dead and consulted a sangoma to do the job.

Lawyers representing Gaasite Legalatladi, 43, on Thursday requested they be given time to study the video footage and pictures presented by the state as evidence. The case was then postponed to February 4 next year. The woman appeared in the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court.

Although the contents of the video evidence have not been made public, authorities described the footage as shocking. At the time of her arrest in December last year, the Hawks said that Legalatladi was caught on camera, naked, undergoing rituals at a sanagoma’s house in Mmasebudule village, near Zeerust.

She allegedly approached the traditional healer on November 21 asking for muti to kill Mahumapelo and Seatlholo. The traditional healer blew the lid on her and police set up cameras leading to Legalatladi’s arrest.

Defence lawyer Butch Schoeman said: “We requested the state to postpone the matter because there was new evidence by the state. In order for us to adequately prepare for the case, we need to familiarise ourselves with the new photos and video footage.”

Premier Mahumapelo said: “We welcome the postponement and we hope all evidence will be revealed before the court of law when the case resumes. I do not bear grudges and if she can apologise, she will be forgiven.”

The reason behind the intended hit was that Mahumapelo allegedly stole a farm that belonged to Legalatladi’s parents.

As for Seatlholo, Legalatladi allegedly claimed that the mayor was given her post.

*The article firstly appeared on The New Age newspaper

-TDN

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Pic Courtesy: (City of Chicago :: Low Cost Pet Vaccine Clinic Dates)
http://www.cityofchicago.org

BY REGINALD KANYANE

MORE than 2192 dogs and 112 cats were vaccinated for rabies across the province last week. The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’ spokesperson Phemelo Manankong said that rabies was a disease which affected people’s health and can cause the brain infection.

“The virus causes death in most instances and it is shed in saliva, and is spread by bite of an infected animal. The significant blitz campaign was part of celebrating International Rabies month that is been celebrated on the September every year,” Manankong said.
He said that as part of the campaign, also about 108 animals were sterilized or castrated. Manankong said that the campaign further created awareness about this fatal but preventable disease at various schools.

“The department also organised a scientific evening for medical and
veterinary related professions where Professor Lucille Blumberg and Dr Claude
Sebeta gave presentation on the testing of the disease and the medical
treatment of the patience.

“We’re appealing to communities to continue vaccinating
their animals and protect them as rabies is a very dangerous
disease. It is also important that dogs and cats should be vaccinated to
reduce the risk to people and animals.”

According to Manankong, the cases of rabies have been minimal in the province.

Manankong said that even though there were minimized cases being reported, he advised people to continue to vaccinate their animals.

“The campaign also gave three veterinary students an opportunity to get
hands-on experience and was allowed to castrate dogs under
supervision.”

-TDN

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CAPE TOWN – Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has reshuffled his “shadow cabinet”, dropping, among others, controversial MP Dianne Kohler Barnard from the police portfolio.

She’s now Deputy Shadow Minister responsible for Public Works.

Zakhele Mbhele will take over from Kohler Barnard, who hit the headlines this week over a Facebook post she shared which seemed to urge the return of former apartheid-era president PW Botha.

“In this instance I certainly didn’t think the tweet was fair or proper,” said Maimane.

“In fact it was indefensible, in fact we needed to take a decision in this regard.

“But that’s within the purview of my right as leader of the caucus in the NA,” he said.

– Africa News Agency