Durban – A would-be hijacker was shot dead on Monday by the driver of the vehicle he was attempting to hijack in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Police spokesperson Thulani Zwane confirmed the shooting.

He said four men attempted to hijack the car in Alberts Road.

The driver, a man believed to be in his 50s who was wounded in his stomach, returned fire, fatally wounding one of the four men.

He was driving with his wife when they were attacked.

Zwane said the three other hijackers fled in a getaway vehicle.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said the husband and wife had both been shot.

The husband was taken to hospital in a critical condition while the wife was in a serious condition.

A worker from a nearby workshop, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “I first heard three shots. Then there was a slight pause and then suddenly there were five shots in rapid succession.”

He said he ran out and saw the dead hijacker lying at the entrance to the complex of mini-factories and auto repair businesses.

“I came past the car to see what had happened and the woman said: ‘Please help us, we’ve been shot’. She was hit in the leg. She was amazingly calm, but he was in pain, real pain,” he said.

He and fellow workers secured the scene around the Toyota Camry, and called paramedics and the police.

Police and forensics experts could be seen working at the scene late on Monday afternoon.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The majority of young South Africans believe it is acceptable for parents to smack their children sometimes, according to a survey released on Monday.

The survey, conducted by Pondering Panda, found that 11% of respondents believed it was acceptable for parents to smack their children at all times, 63% believed it was sometimes so, and 25% believed it was never acceptable.

The respondents were asked their opinion of the social development department’s proposal to make it a criminal offence for parents to smack their children.

Younger respondents were less likely to agree that corporal punishment was sometimes or always justified.

“At least 65% of those aged between 13 and 14 held this opinion, compared to 79% of those aged between 25 and 34,” Pondering Panda spokesperson Shirley Wakefield said.

In terms of race groups, 85% of white youth believed physical discipline was acceptable, compared with 75% of blacks, and 55% of coloureds.

The survey also found that young people were against criminalising parents smacking their children.

“What this survey also shows is that young people are not against government intervention in family affairs completely, but conditionally support government intervention on certain issues,” Wakefield said.

At least 3 078 respondents, aged between 13 and 34, were interviewed in August.

Interviews were conducted through cellphones across South Africa, excluding deep rural areas.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Johannesburg police appealed for help on Monday in finding a man accused of killing a shop owner’s son.

The man allegedly shot the son of a shop owner at the corner of Troye and President streets in the city in May, Warrant Officer Xoli Mbele said.

He was with an accomplice at the time. They robbed the shop of money and cellphones before the 28-year-old was shot.

“He was rushed to the hospital but he passed on the following day,” said Mbele.

Anyone with information was asked to contact police.

Sapa

Durban – A motorist who allegedly drove a stolen Mini Cooper car against the traffic flow on the N2 to evade arrest, was eventually arrested by a determined policeman.

What began as an ordinary call on the police radio on Friday concerning two motor vehicles, turned into a movie-style car chase for two Mayville policemen.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Durban – The woman whose horror story shocked the nation and helped break the silence about rape, believes self-defence should be taught at school.

Girls should also be taught about self-empowerment and how to read situations, while boys should be taught the impact that rape has on girls.

“No means ‘no’, and girls should be able to say that,” said Alison Botha, who was giving a Women’s Day breakfast presentation to Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) guests at the Oyster Box Hotel, uMhlanga Rocks, on Friday.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Durban – A former student who was a “political fanatic”, serving a life sentence for killing two people, has told a court that he was not a high risk and that his anger was under control.

Nqobile Zondi, who has served 16 years of his sentence at Westville Prison – short of the 20 years required to be eligible for parole – has taken the Department of Correctional Services to court after it turned down his parole application.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – Murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius has over six months to prepare for trial after shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday, before Magistrate Desmond Nair.

“The matter that is before me today is merely for the postponement to the high court. It is merely a short appearance,” Nair said.

He asked Pistorius if he agreed that he would arrange his own defence and witnesses.

“I am satisfied with the provisions my legal team has made,” Pistorius replied.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel handed the indictment to the court.

“We will serve the indictment on the accused… We have arranged a date for the trial.”

Nair then served the papers on Pistorius.

“I’m enjoined by legislation to serve them on you and I am now doing that,” said Nair.

The papers were handed over to a court official, who had to get past a number of journalists sitting on the courtroom floor, to hand over to Pistorius.

The trial was moved to the High Court in Pretoria and would run from March 3 to 20.

The indictment lists 107 witnesses to testify for the State.

Among them are Pistorius’s sister Aimee, his uncle Arnold, former police investigator Hilton Botha, and residents of the Silver Woods Country Estate in Pretoria, where he lived.

Medical experts, a weather forecaster, paramedics, ballistic and forensic experts will also be called.

Pistorius’s former girlfriends, Melissa Rom and Samantha Taylor would also testify.

Melissa is the daughter of Pretoria hairdresser Gary Rom.

Samantha’s mother Patricia Ann Taylor was also on the witness list.

Also making the list are two people from Melrose Arch in Johannesburg where Pistorius accidentally fired a gun in a busy restaurant in January. He narrowly missed a friend’s foot.

Former soccer player Mark Bachelor who said after an argument with the paralympian that Pistorius threatened to break his legs was also on the list.

Steenkamp was killed in Pistorius’s Pretoria home on February 14. At his bail hearing, Pistorius submitted that he thought Steenkamp was an intruder.

Members of the Myers family were also due to testify next year. This was the family Steenkamp lived with in Johannesburg. Their daughter Gina was Steenkamp’s best friend.

Botha, who was lead detective in the case, was later replaced by Lt-Gen Vineshkumar Moonoo.

Botha’s removal from the Pistorius case followed reports in February that he was himself charged with attempted murder.

Police later confirmed that he had seven attempted murder charges pending. In 2011 Botha allegedly fired shots at a minibus while trying to stop the vehicle. Seven people were in the taxi at the time.

Along with murder, Pistorius was also charged with contravening the Firearms Control Act, the National Prosecuting Authority said. The charges were not read out in court.

The indictment read: “In that on or about 16 February 2013 and at (Silver Woods Country estate address) the accused (Pistorius) did unlawfully have in his possession ammunition, to wit 38 x 38 rounds, without being the holder of a licence in respect of a firearm capable of discharging that ammunition…”

After his appearance, Pistorius – wearing a black suit and navy blue shirt – was embraced by his family before being escorted out of the courthouse by about 20 police officers.

Earlier, Pistorius and his siblings held hands and bowed their heads in prayer for about 15 minutes. Aimee and Carl shed tears ahead of their brother’s appearance.

Sapa

Durban – A man who allegedly shot dead a colleague at Durban’s King Edward VIII hospital had a dream before his arrest and was not surprised when police arrived, the Durban Magistrate’s Court heard on Monday.

Warrant Officer Vusi Nkosi said Khulekani Aubrey Ntuli had told him that the night before “he had a dream of an overflowing river that he was unable to cross”.

“I had a conversation with the accused. He said he was avoiding all vehicles with the ND (Durban) registration,” said Nkosi.

The 43-year-old Ntuli is alleged to have killed Sipho Mfayela, 54, on February 28 after he was told the results of a misconduct disciplinary hearing appeal.

He was arrested in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, in May, after nearly three months on the run. He faces charges of murder, pointing a firearm, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

However, Ntuli’s lawyer George Pooran told the court that his client intended to plead not guilty, as he was in Johannesburg at the time of the murder and did not know he was wanted by police.

Ntuli was staying with his brother when he was arrested and according to Nkosi had claimed on the day of his arrest to be wearing the same T-shirt that he was wearing when he allegedly killed Mfayela.

Nkosi said Ntuli’s brother had stated “blood is thicker than water” when asked by police why he had not told them that Ntuli was staying with him.

Magistrate Vanitha Armu is expected to hear closing arguments later on Monday before deciding whether to grant Ntuli bail.

Sapa

Nelspruit – A tavern patron who shot another patron dead in a brawl in Mpumalanga was found guilty of culpable homicide in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Monday.

A Sapa correspondent reported that Lawrence Senzani Phoku, from Sukani Trust near Hazyview, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide despite being charged for murder.

Phoku said he did not know how the gun got into his hands on October 15, 2011.

He testified that three men confronted him while he was drinking at the tavern.

“One of my attackers carried a firearm in his hand. While the other men were attacking me, I fell to the ground and the man holding the firearm lost his grip and the firearm also fell down next to me,” he said.

“As the men were busy kicking me, I don’t know how the firearm got in my hand. I heard a gunshot from the same firearm, which was still in my hand.”

Phoku said he was frightened by the gunshot.

“I then stood up and ran home,” he said.

The next morning, he heard from locals that Thokozani Lambo Goma was killed at the KaMarule tavern, where he had been.

“I know I took a wrong decision by firing the weapon accidentally. In my humble request, I am voluntarily pleading guilty to a charge of culpable homicide, and I ask the court to find me guilty (of ) the culpable homicide charge,” Phoku said.

He did not want to waste the court’s time but asked to be given a lesser charge than murder.

“I also apologise to the court, the family of the deceased and the community for what I have done.”

“I know I am charged with murder but I plead guilty to culpable homicide.”

Prosecutor Michael Mazibuko said the State accepted the accused’s statement.

Magistrate Eddie Hall agreed and found him guilty of culpable homicide.

The case was postponed to Friday for sentencing.

Sapa

Durban – A man who allegedly shot dead a colleague at Durban’s King Edward VIII Hospital served a four-year sentence for a previous murder conviction.

Magistrate Vanitha Armu, who denied Khulekani Aubrey Ntuli’s application to be released on bail, said Ntuli had served four years of an eight-year sentence after being convicted of murder in 1992.

Since his release, Ntuli had worked for nearly 18 years at the hospital before the fateful day of February 28 this year, when he is alleged to have killed Sipho Mfayela, 54.

Armu rejected Ntuli’s assertion the exceptional circumstance required for him to be released on bail was the fact that he had been in Johannesburg with his brother on the day of the shooting.

“On the day there were two eyewitnesses. He was extremely well known at the hospital. There is no mistake that he was the person who could have killed Mfayela.”

Ntuli faces charges of murder, pointing a firearm, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

After the shooting, the 43-year old is alleged to have pointed his gun at another staff member before fleeing.

The court was also told that Ntuli suffered from a terminal illness, but the details were not disclosed.

Armu said she believed it was “most unlikely” that Armu was in Johannesburg at the time of the murder, despite his brother testifying that he was.

Ntuli denied that he was on the run for three months, but told the court that he had sought extended leave in February so that he could write an examination he was studying for.

He was arrested in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, in May.

Earlier, the arresting officer Vusi Nkosi testified that Ntuli had a dream before his arrest and was not surprised when police arrived, the Durban Magistrate’s Court heard on Monday.

He said Ntuli had told him that the night before “he had a dream of an overflowing river that he was unable to cross”.

“I had a conversation with the accused. He said he was avoiding all vehicles with the ND (Durban) registration,” said Nkosi.

However, Ntuli’s lawyer George Pooran told the court that his client intended to plead not guilty, as he was in Johannesburg at the time of the murder and did not know he was wanted by police.

Ntuli was staying with his brother when he was arrested and according to Nkosi had claimed on the day of his arrest to be wearing the same T-shirt that he was wearing when he allegedly killed Mfayela.

Nkosi said Ntuli’s brother had stated “blood is thicker than water” when asked by police why he had not told them that Ntuli was staying with him.

Armu remanded Ntuli in custody until September 16 for his next court appearance.

Sapa