Domestic worker racial abuse case resumes


Johannesburg – The trial of a man, who allegedly assaulted and racially insulted his girlfriend’s domestic worker, will resume in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Andre van Deventer faces charges of common assault and crimen injuria.

During a previous appearance, the court heard that the domestic worker, Gloria Kente, 50, had poor health after he allegedly assaulted and swore at her.

His lawyer, Henry van der Westhuizen, said Kente had health issues because she was overweight and unhealthy.

However, Kente said her doctor had never told her she was overweight and that she had never eaten healthy foods at her employer’s house.

She also told the court that when she asked Van Deventer to look after Pienaar’s child while she took a shower, she said she heard him shouting that they were “paying this kaffir R2400 to look after the child”.

He allegedly grabbed her by the collar of her pyjamas. Kente has also applied to the Equality Court in Cape Town for R100 000 in damages and an unconditional apology from Van Deventer.

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Trio guilty of killing Muldersdrift girl, 13


Johannesburg – The South Gauteng High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, has found three men guilty of various crimes in Muldersdrift including the murder of a schoolgirl, The Star reported on Thursday.

Alfred Zwane, Samson Mandlezi and Manir Ubisi were found guilty on 15 charges, including the murders of 13-year-old Alyssa Botha and 50-year-old Andre Jordaan, three attempted murders, robbery with aggravated circumstances, housebreaking and illegal possession of firearms.

The three denied knowledge of the crimes, but Judge Moses Mavundla rejected this on Wednesday when he handed down judgment.

Mavundla said he was satisfied that the State had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

On 5 September 2012, Anton Botha picked up his daughters Alyssa and Meghan from a friend’s house when Alyssa was shot dead. The men shot Anton Botha in the abdomen and he lost a kidney as a result.

Meghan was shot twice in the legs.

Jordaan was shot during a robbery in the area and died in hospital.

Sentencing procedures were due to begin on Thursday.

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A mutilated body of a girl found in N West


By Obakeng Maje
Assen- A mutilated body of a girl found by police in Assen village, near the river, says North West police.

The body of a girl between the age of 11 and 13 year-old was seen floating from Kgetlheng river at the vicinity of Finfoot farm on Sunday at around 15:00.

“The body was allegedly found by herdboys and police were called. Police found the body with missing hands, head and private parts. The police request anyone who could identify the body” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

The community is urged to assist in identification of the body as well as information that may lead to arrest of the suspect by calling Investigating Officer; Const Bornfacious Molefe on 083 438 5017.

Alternatively, information can be communicated through Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or anonymous Crime Line sms 32211.
-TDN
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Cable theft causes Gautrain delays


Pretoria – There were delays in the Gautrain train service between Hatfield and Park stations on Thursday morning due to cable theft, operator Bombela Concession Company said.

The delays, on the north-south line, were caused by around 300 metres of signalling cable being stolen in the Snake Valley area near Pretoria, spokesperson Errol Braithwaite said.

The thieves broke through the reserve fence and forced open a locked manhole cover early on Thursday morning.

“Train services between Sandton and the airport are not affected,” Braithwaite said.

“Technicians are repairing the damage and we hope to have trains running at full speed again by about 08:00.”

‘Hot spot areas’

This was only the second incident of cable theft in the last three years which has caused train delays.

“In 2012 we implemented significantly increased security measures in identified ‘hot spot’ areas. These include rapid-reaction motorbike patrols, dog units and additional guards,” Braithwaite said.

“Since then numerous incidents of attempted theft have been foiled and some arrests have been made. Unfortunately, along with most other utilities, Gautrain does however remain a target.”

Bombela called on the relevant authorities to intensify the battle against cable theft through the Second Hand Goods Act and increased crime intelligence.

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Oscar spoke to ex hours before shooting – report

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Johannesburg – Oscar Pistorius had a nine-minute conversation with his ex-girlfriend hours before he killed Reeva Steenkamp in his Pretoria home last year, according to a report.

Eyewitness News revealed on Thursday that Pistorius was talking to ex-girlfriend Jenna Edkins shortly before he arrived home at about 18:00 on 13 February last year. However, the police did not uncover this piece of evidence and it did not form part of his trial.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

De Lille to give update on Nobel Summit

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Cape Town – Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille will make an announcement on Thursday relating to the 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates to be held in the city.

This after the Cape Argus reported on Wednesday that the summit had been called off, citing unnamed independent sources.

Nobel peace prize winner Jody Williams told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Wednesday that the summit had been cancelled because “enough Nobel laureates refused to go”.

Last month, 14 Nobel laureates wrote to President Jacob Zuma asking that a South African travel visa be granted to the Dalai Lama.

This was the third time in five years he could not secure a visa to enter South Africa.

At the time the international relations department said the Dalai Lama’s visa application was a closed matter, and that he had cancelled his trip.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Wednesday criticised the government for allegedly refusing a visa to the Tibetan spiritual leader.

“I am ashamed to call this lickspittle bunch my government,” he said in a statement.

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Mystery Oscar statement issued

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Johannesburg – A press statement was issued by Paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s family and legal team on Wednesday in attempt to forestall a pending news report, apparently relating to electronic communications devices.

“We are not sure of the allegations which are to be made or the source of such allegations, but we are not aware of any deletions having been affected by Oscar or effected on his instructions that could be relevant to this trial or could have impacted on this trial,” they said.

Last month Pistorius was acquitted on the charge of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot dead through a locked toilet door at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day last year.

He said he mistook her for an intruder.

Pistorius was instead found guilty of culpable homicide.

In the trial, a police cellphone expert testified about an iPad2 and an iPad3 found at Pistorius’s house.

The website browser history on the iPad3 included “free mobile porn” and used car websites. According to the time next to the history, the porn website was accessed at 18:30 on 13 February 2013.

After that, the iPad was used to browse auto trader, used car websites and to search for cars, including the Ford Ranger and Aston Martin Rapide R.

Cellphone expert Colonel Mike Sale testified that according to data on the iPad3 and an iPad2 found on the scene the histories had the same type of content.

He said the web history before 13 February 2013 was deleted.

The Pistorius family and legal team said on Wednesday: “As far as we are aware all relevant communications were put before the court.

“The relevance of the communications from Oscar’s phones, iPad and laptop was properly dealt with by the court and ultimately played no role in the matter, this having been found by the court.”

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N West MEC to visit Hartswater crash victims

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Christiana- North West MEC for Social Development Fenny Gaolaolwe is scheduled to visit family members and relatives of 15 people killed in an accident on N18 road near Hartswater, Northen Cape Thursday, her office said.
 
Departmental acting spokesperson Petrus Siko said MEC Gaolaolwe had since the gruesome accident deployed social workers to provide counseling and de-briefing to family members and relatives of the deceased and further ordered them to compile home circumstance reports to determine their needs.
 
“Plans are at an advanced stage to provide needy families of the deceased with social relief of distress in the form of groceries while at the same time counseling sessions take place. We are lending our helping hand as a department during this difficult time in partnership with Lekwa-Teemane local municipality, Road Accident Fund, local churches and other stakeholders to ensure a dignified sent off of our brothers, sisters, parents and children who have lost their lives,” Siko said.
 
Mass funeral will be held on Saturday.
-TDN
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Taung shop-owner shot, suspects fled with a bakkie

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By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The community of Tamasikwa village, near Taung still trying to come to terms after what is labeled a “barbaric act” hit their area.

It seems crime is a very serious issue not only in urban areas, but also hitting rural areas nowadays. The gun-shots were heard at a foreign-owned shop at around 19:30 on Tuesday and that left a 22 year-old Pakistani in Intensive Care Unit(ICU) at Klerksdorp hospital with a gun-shot wound.

Adil Shehbaz,22, was shot by unknown suspects who came to his shop with intention of robbing him.

Shehbaz was about to close his shop when two suspects, one armed with a gun pounced on him. The suspects allegedly unleashed a warning shot and demanded money from Shehbaz.

“He explained to them that he does not have money, but the suspects decided to shoot at him” Madasar Iqbal who is uncle to the victim said.

Iqbal,26, said to add the salt to the wound, police arrived only after eight hours.

“The incident took place at around 19:30, we called the police but they only arrived eight hours later. I believe if they arrived early, something would ‘ve been done. We do not feel safe anymore” he outlines.

The suspects allegedly fled with undisclosed amount of money and demanded the victim’s car keys.

They drove away with the victim’s Toyota Hilux which was found abandoned in the bushes between Takaneng and Diretseng village.

“It is alleged that on Tuesday at approximately 19:30, two suspects arrived at the shop in Tamasikwa village with covered faces and one of them armed with a firearm.  A shot was allegedly fired and hit a shop owner (Pakistani National) in the chest” North West police spokesperson colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. 

Mokgwabone said the suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash and drove away with the car that was parked outside. 

“The offended was taken to hospital for treatment and the car was later found abandoned near Direetseng village. No one has been arrested at this stage” he concludes.    
Police investigations continue.

Kgosietsile Lethola High commemorate ‘1975 Bus Crash Heroes’

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By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The residents of Taung gathered together at Kgosietsile Lethola High School in remembrance of a tragically event where 34 people perished in an accident.

The high school paid a tribute to 32 pupils and two teachers who died in a horrific accident back in 1975 after the bus that they were traveling in lost control and ploughed against the embankment.

The school was on an educational tour when the atrocity happened.

“We came together to celebrate and commemorate those who died in a tragedy. We want their families and loved ones to know that they did not die in vain. We would remember them as true heroes and their spirits will always be with us” Kgosietsile Lethola principal Gaolaolwe Obotseng said.

According to the school principal, they want the graves of all those who were involved in a crash to be recognized as monument.

“We approached North West Heritage Council to forward our request, but they said the graves must reach 40 years before they could be recognized as a Heritage site” Obotseng said.

One of the survivors relived the fateful day when the relishing moment turned into tragedy. “We were on an educational tour in a bus to Manyeleti Game Reserve in Limpopo. The driver lost control and the bus ploughed into an embankment. 34 people died and I want to thank Almighty for sparing my life. Even though I lost my leg in the accident, all is not lost. We would like the government to help us and make sure those who died are honoured” Rosy Mpoletsang Molale laments.

The event was blended with a Heritage Day celebrations. The Department of Rural Environment and Agricultural Development representative Richard Gasealalwe said the youth must make sure they learn about their identity.

“Our youth need to learn about the indigenous food, learn about our heritage, our identity and rearing of a an African child” he said.
-TDN
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