Johannesburg – The Gupta family denied on Thursday that there was a robbery at its family home in Houghton, Johannesburg, but Gauteng police insisted it did happen.

“The Sowetan today [Thursday] reported a house robbery at a family home of the Guptas in Houghton. The report is erroneous,” Gupta family spokesperson Gary Naidoo said in an e-mail to Sapa.

“The family can categorically state that none of their properties were robbed.”

However, Gauteng police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini insisted the newspaper report was correct.

“I am not going to say anything against what they are saying, but there was a robbery at the property that belonged to the Guptas in Houghton.

“We have arrested a domestic worker. She will be appearing in court tomorrow.”

The worker was arrested in Benoni on Wednesday, Dlamini said.

“The domestic worker was found in possession of some of the stolen goods,” Dlamini said.

She had disappeared shortly after three men in two vehicles robbed the house earlier in the day.

Apparently, the men overpowered a gardener at noon and stole money, household goods, and jewellery.

It was not immediately clear which of the Guptas owned the house.

The domestic worker would appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Police were searching for the men.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The KwaZulu-Natal executive has thanked the teams that responded to two recent accidents in which 32 people died in the province, for their services.

Acting Premier Senzo Mchunu on Thursday commended the teams, including police, forensic and fire services, and private paramedics, for their professional work under distressing circumstances.

Last Thursday, 22 people died when an articulated truck’s brakes failed on Field’s Hill in Pinetown.

On 1 September, 10 people died when a bus transporting them from the annual reed dance ceremony went over an embankment and overturned on the R66 near Nkwalini, between Melmoth and Eshowe.

Seven girls who participated in the dance, which was held at Enyokeni Royal Palace, at KwaNongoma, and two women who accompanied them as guardians, and the bus driver died.

Mchunu conveyed the KwaZulu-Natal executive’s condolences to Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, as host of the ceremony, and the bereaved families.

The executive rejected alleged attempts at political point scoring in the wake of the accidents.

“We caution against political grandstanding of any nature during this difficult time for the families,” he said.

“It is in fact foreign in our culture that even before the deceased have been laid to rest, some would seek to make political capital out of this very unfortunate incident.”

The executive was awaiting a full report on the accidents from Transport MEC Willies Mchunu.

“That report will be presented to cabinet and interrogated thoroughly before it is tabled in the legislature for all parties to give inputs. For now, let us pay respect to the departed,” said the acting premier.

“Out of respect for the departed, we will only delve into the circumstances around the accidents after the funerals.”

A memorial service for those who died in the Field’s Hill crash was planned for Thursday morning, and a mass funeral for 13 of the dead was planned for Saturday morning.

– SAPA

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma’s announcement in Cape Town that he was sending the info bill back to Parliament, caused considerable confusion on Thursday.

He referred the controversial protection of state information bill back to the National Assembly for redrafting on two sections.

Zuma said he had arrived at the conclusion that the bitterly contested bill would not pass constitutional muster.

“I have referred the bill back to the National Assembly for reconsideration in so far as sections 42 and 45 lack meaning and coherence, and consequently are irrational and accordingly are unconstitutional,” he told members of the Parliamentary press corps at a lunch meeting.

Zuma declined to explain why he thought the sections problematic and, as numbered in the final version of the bill adopted by the National Assembly, they did not tally with those set out in an explanation subsequently provided by his office.

It appeared that Zuma in fact referred to sections 45 and 48.

Section 45 criminalises the improper classification of state information and provides for prison sentences of five to 15 years, depending on the level of wrongful classification.

Section 48 stipulates that the written authority of the national director of public prosecutions is needed to institute charges in respect of any crime under the legislation that carries a jail term of five years or more.

Shortly after Zuma announced his decision, Speaker Max Sisulu informed the National Assembly that an ad hoc committee would be established to deal with the President’s reservations on the bill.

Rising to address the Assembly, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele said the ANC welcomed the president’s decision because it would strengthen the legislation.

– SAPA

The North West Provincial government is in the process of developing a Freight Transport Strategy including Passenger and Freight Rail Plan for the province. A feasibility study for the development of a Freight Hub at Mahikeng International Airport is part of the strategy development process.

The Airport is undergoing infrastructure upgrade to bring it to strictl compliance to  South African Civil Aviation Authority(SACAA) and International Aviation Organization(ICAO) regulations so that it can achieve a category 6/7 safety status  for its international license status to be transferred from the Pilanesburg International Airport.

In terms of the infrastructure upgrade project plan, R15 million is being spent on the Civil Project that is underway for the rejuvenation of the runway, taxiways, apron and landing strip markings.

A new 16 element Instrument Landing System(ILS) which will give the Mahikeng Airport ILS the same status as the Oliver Tambo International Airport has been installed as part of upgrading the Electrical Grounding Lighting System and ILS upgrade project. Thirty Million Rand is also being spent on the project to be completed in the current financial year.    

The development of Mahikeng Airport was one of the provincial priorities outlined by Premier Thandi Modise in her State of the Province Address

According to the approved Provincial Land Transport Framework report which recommended the development of a Freight Hub/Dry port in Mahikeng to complete the Spatial Development initiatives, enhance regional trade and eliminate border crossing delays and to minimize administrative inefficiencies.

By Obakeng Maje

Jan Kempdorp-Two cops appeared at Jan Kempdorp Magistrate Court yesterday with other two accused .

Four suspects were allegedly arrested by Police Special Unit whilst business robbery.

Constable Aobakwe Mafura, Sam Bodumele and other accused were allegedly arrested after their plan to rob a supermarket in the area foiled.

“Police acted on acted on a tip-off after the suspects planned to break into the shop” lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said.

Police set a trap and went into the shop to wait for the suspects.

In the early hours of the morning in Sunday, police allegedly heard a noise on the roof of the shop and arlams were deactivated.

“All suspects entered into the shop through the roof and were allegedly arrested for business robbery and being in a possession of unlicenced firearm” Mdhluli said.

One of the suspects was shot in a leg after he tried to escape the wrath of justice.

They appeared before court and their case was postponed until next week Wednesday.

According to our investigation, apparently one of the suspects who is a constable at Jan Kempdorp, seems he cannot keep his hands away from criminal activities as he was allegedly arrested previously for the same matter.

Police investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-North West police are investigation a case of culpable homicide and drunk and driving case after a North West University student(Potchefstroom campus) died in an accident.

Sergeant Kealeboga Molale said a 23 year-old driver was allegedly travelling with other four passangers when he allegedl lost control of his vehicle.

“A 20 year-old girl perished in an accident at the scene and other three occupants were allegedly taken to local hospital for minor injuries” Molale said.

A driver appeared before Potchefstroom Court for culpable homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol charges.

“The police investigations continue and the accident took place in the early morning of Thursday” she said.-TDN

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East London – A Grade 10 pupil from Ebenezer Majombozi High School in the Eastern Cape was stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver while on school premises, the Daily Dispatch reported on Thursday.

His attackers were from another school and had lied to the security guard so they could gain access to the school.

A pupil told the Dispatch that four boys drove into the school on Tuesday, and stabbed the boy because he had refused to give them cigarettes.

“Seeing all the commotion the security guard refused to open the gate and the guys were trapped,” the unnamed pupil was quoted as saying.

Other angry pupils then stabbed their car tyres.

The boy was treated in hospital and discharged.

The provincial education department however said he was not the target.

Spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the attackers had been looking for two other pupils.

“It was only after they were arrested that the school became aware that the four were in the school to stab two other pupils before they got into a fight with the victim.”

The four, aged between 19 and 20, were arrested.

SAPA

Harare – Zimbabwe’s opposition dismissed President Robert Mugabe’s new cabinet as political “deadwood” on Wednesday as the veteran leader swore in new ministers after disputed elections.

The opposition MDC party called the new cabinet “the same crop of tired Zanu-PF politicians,” referring to Mugabe’s party.

“Regrettably, what we have seen is a recycling of the same exhausted minds that have presided over the dramatic demise of what was once the jewel and bread basket of Africa,” said the MDC in a statement.

Mugabe, 89, was declared winner of the 31 July elections by a landslide of 61% of the vote.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, his top rival and former prime minister, claimed the polls were “a massive fraud” and a “sham”.

Western countries said the vote was neither free nor fair, while African countries said they were free but would not pass them as fair.

At the swearing-in, Mugabe reiterated his plans to force foreign-owned companies to cede 51% ownership to black Zimbabweans and pledged to work to rebuild the fragile and slowly recovering economy.

Mass unemployment

“Zimbabwe must just make progress,” he told reporters.

The country is struggling to combat mass unemployment and come up with food aid for millions of people in need.

The new cabinet is full of veterans and Zanu-PF loyalists, including some ministers who, like Mugabe, have been in office since independence in 1980.

Ex-justice minister Patrick Chinamasa has been handed the task of steering the economy.

Official Zimbabwe unemployment statistics are hard to come by, but independent economists estimate that more than eight in 10 people are out of formal work.

Political upheaval after an election in 2008 sent the country’s economy into a tailspin marked by astronomical inflation that reached 231 million percent.

AFP

The North West Provincial Executive Council (Exco) has welcomed an investment of more than R1,1 billion that is to boost job creation in the province.

Premier Thandi Modise says that the investment by Sephaku Cement, an associate company of Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed, Sephaku Holding Limited for the construction of a cement production facility represents the largest investment in a South African enterprise by an African Company.

Construction of the Aganang Cement Project stretching over an area of 65 hectares at a site situated about 35 kilometers outside Lichtenburg commenced three months ago.

The limestone mine,clinker and cement manufacturing plant with a guaranteed kiln production capacity of 6000 tons per day, the biggest single kiln line in South Africa is targeting to manufacture approximately 1.2 million tons of cement per annum.

Three hundred and two previously unemployed people 50% of whom are from the province are currently employed on the project which is also expected to create 650 employment opportunities for local sub contractors.

Sinoma International has reportedly also spent R500 million locally towards construction of the cement market is targeting to supply Gauteng, Northern and North Western region of the country with cement for the next 40years.

The provincial government is engaged in discussion with Sephaku Cement regarding the upgrading of the 24,65 kilometer D933 Gelukspan road between the cement factory and the R503 Lichtenburg/Mahikeng road for it to carry the expected increase in truck loading during the operational phase of the project support.

Meanwhile, an agreement has been reached with all crop farmers belonging to the Kopanong Communal Property Authority affected by the mining operations on the farm Verwaal 57 10 and Stiglingspan 7310 to compensate them with R1500 per hectare per annum for as long as the land cannot be cultivated as a result of mining operations.
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A Mpumalanga widow has presented her husband’s convicted killer with a Bible and advised him to seek Jesus Christ.

Güdryn Schoeman, 69, presented the Bible to Aaron Majawodwa Nkosi, 30, through his lawyer Lawrence Manzini, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Nkosi was appearing for mitigation before sentencing in the Nelspruit Circuit of the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Manzini told his client that the Bible was from his victim’s widow.

“Güdryn Schoeman has asked that you repent and find a way to Jesus Christ,” Manzini told Nkosi as he handed him the Bible in full view of the court.

“She has sent this Holy Bible as a present to you. She said you should accept it and find a new life.”

Güdryn’s husband Johannes Hendrik Tolstoi Schoeman, 86, was killed at their home on Vygeboom Farm near Badplaas on December 17, 2010.

Nkosi, who quietly sat in the dock, accepted the Bible.

Prosecutor S Ntuli told the court that Güdryn, as a Christian, had told him she had already forgiven Nkosi for murdering her husband.

“In her statement presented before court, Schoeman said her husband was an incredible man. He helped everyone on his farm and was among the farmers in the apartheid era who loved his African employees,” Ntuli said.

“Schoeman said her husband has helped in building proper houses with running water for all his farm labourers. He also built two schools, two soccer fields and paid his workers well.

“He left his farm in the hands of seven of his staff members to run it and he only assisted them when needed.”

On Tuesday, Nkosi was found guilty of murder, robbery and kidnapping, while his co-accused Thomas Johannes Nyathi, 30, was acquitted of all the charges.

Judge Mmonoa Teffo said she had to acquit Nyathi because there was no evidence which positively linked him to the crime.

She said the only piece of evidence Ä blood samples taken from the crime scene Ä were inadmissible because proper procedures were not followed by the police team.

On Wednesday, Ntuli told the court that Schoeman left a financial strain on his wife’s shoulders as she was now obliged to run the farm with the seven reliable staff members.

“This was a very serious crime to be committed against farmers and it is prevalent in the region. The two accused grew up on the same farm. They both knew the Schoemans very well and that they were vulnerable elderly citizens. But the Schoemans did not know them,” Ntuli said.

“The attack was well planned. Nkosi and his accomplice attacked them in the safety of their own home. The deceased, according to evidence, did not resist when attacked due to his old age.”

Ntuli told the court that most farms in the region were easy targets for criminals because they were far away from police stations.

“Help gets to them at a later stage. Although Mrs Schoeman has forgiven the accused, she’ll never forget the ordeal for the rest of her life,” Ntuli said.

“There are no compelling circumstances on the accused and he has shown no remorse to his actions. This act was perpetrated by greed. They were only looking for money and weapons. Schoeman did not deserve to be killed in that manner.”

Teffo postponed sentencing to Friday. – Sapa