Johannesburg – Somali shopowner Alodixashi Sheik Yusuf’s murder case is expected to recommence in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Magistrate Herman Badenhorst previously postponed the matter so that Yusuf’s status in the country could be established.

He is accused of shooting dead Siphiwe Mahori, 14, in Snake Park, Soweto, last Monday.

He allegedly fired at a group of people trying to rob his shop.

The shooting sparked a wave of looting of foreign-owned shops, which spread from Soweto to Kagiso on the West Rand and Sebokeng in the Vaal, causing several deaths, including a baby who was trampled by a group of people running.

The situation is calm at Diepsloot north of Johannesburg in Gauteng following a land-grab protest on Saturday. A group of people had attempted to occupy a piece of land illegally.

Police fired rubber bullets after the protesters pelted them with stones. A four-year-old boy was injured and a man was arrested for public violence.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za

The organisation, Friends of Jackie Selebi, has confirmed it will start an urgent court bid asking the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to review the late police commissioner’s criminal case.

Selebi, who was buried in Pretoria on Saturday, had been sentenced to 15 years in jail for corruption in 2010.

Spokesperson for Friends of Jackie Selebi, Isaack Lesole, says they believe evidence was supressed during his trial. Lesole says a report has been concluded with regards to evidence around the relationship between the Scorpions and the police at the time.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za

The ANC has given up its fight to introduce new rules that would have barred EFF members from interrupting President Jacob Zuma during the forthcoming state of the nation address (Sona).

Cumbersome parliamentary procedures and an anxiety not to be seen to be panicking over the EFF’s threats led the party to cancel a joint rules committee meeting on Friday, which would have approved the new rules that include barring MPs from questioning the president during the Sona.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen also confirmed that various opposition parties, excluding the EFF, had met Speaker Baleka Mbete informally on Thursday and highlighted the problems with pursuing new rules aimed at one political party.

For more http://www.citypress.coza

Residents of the troubled Limpopo town of Malamulele have decided to continue with their shutdown of services. They have met to decide a course of action after the Municipal Demarcation Board denied their request to break away from Thulamela Local Municipality and form a separate municipality.

Protests over the last four weeks have often been violent and children are being prevented from attending school.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Mahikeng- Six people were killed when a minibus taxi rolled on the Vryburg Road near Mahikeng, the North West premier’s office said on Saturday.

The accident happened on the Vryburg road between Setlagole and Mahikeng at around 11:30 when a minibus taxi, driving from Taung to Mahikeng, overturned, said spokesperson Sam Mokaila in a statement.

Six people died on the scene and a number of critically injured passengers were taken to hospital.

The cause of the accident was being investigated.

Premier Supra Mahumapelo conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

“On behalf of the government and people of Bokoni Bophirima, I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” he said.

SAPA

A man sustained critical injuries following an incident while he was mountain biking next to Jan Smuts Avenue near Conrad Drive in Craighall Park, Johannesburg this morning.

“Exact detail surrounding the cause of the fall is still unknown but reports from the scene indicate that the  man was cycling on the trail when the man came off his mountain bike” Netcare911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann said.

Netcare 911 paramedics, its rescue unit and other services arrived at the scene and found the injured man lying on the ground. Upon assessment it was established that the man was in a critical condition.

The man was skillfully placed on a trauma board and eight people carried the from the trail to a waiting ambulance, after which he was transported to hospital for further medical care.
-TDN
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Mahikeng- The National Department of Small Business Development (the dsbd) in partnership with the Bokone Bophirima Department of Economy and Enterprise Development hosted a Provincial workshop focusing on Co-operatives Development Act 6 of 2013, on Wednesday at Gaabo-Motho Resort in Mahikeng.

“The purpose of the workshop was to create awareness on the amendments and their implications to existing co-operatives with the aim of improving the sustainability of cooperatives” department spokesperson Dumisa Seshabela said.

The  Amendment Act aims to strengthen governance, accountability and transparency, and provide for a differential dispensation for co-operative to reduce the regulatory burden to co-operatives. 

Seshabela said the workshop was attended by approximately 150 cooperative members inclusive of youth, women and people with disabilities, representatives from government departments and municipalities within Bokone Bophirima. 

Speaking at the workshop, Elize Koekemoer: Director for Cooperatives Policy, Legislation and Strategy (the dsbd) emphasized that all provincial authorities responsible for cooperative development should be aware of the changes in the legislation and its implications, as well as the requirements and responsibilities in the co-ordination of co-operatives development initiatives amongst the three spheres of government.

Koekemoer indicated that the Act advocates for the establishment of institutions that will empower cooperatives and respond to their challenges such as Cooperative Development Agency, Cooperative Tribunal and Cooperative Council 

Patrick Sebitlo from Agro-preneur Business Incubation Centre encouraged other cooperatives to align to the new Cooperative Amendment Act and comply with other legislations that govern enterprises. 

He echoed that co-operatives need to stop depending fully on government for assistance; rather they should be able to generate their own capital and only approach government for further assistance.

The Department is currently working on the Provincial Cooperative Strategy that will incorporate the new amendments to reduce unemployment rate especially amongst youth and women as small businesses are the key drivers of economic growth and job creation.

The Department will further conduct follow up workshops in all the districts to afford other co-operative members opportunity of interacting with the Amendment Act.
-TDN
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