Cape Town – The trial of Thandi Maqubela, accused of killing her acting judge husband Patrick Maqubela, was postponed by the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.

Marius Broeksma, for Maqubela, asked Judge John Murphy for more time to prepare argument on the amendment of her murder and forgery charges.

Maqubela and her co-accused Vela Mabena, both out on bail, were asked to return to court next Tuesday.

The two have pleaded not guilty to suffocating the acting judge with cling-wrap in his Sea Point, Cape Town, flat on 5 June 2009.

Maqubela has also pleaded not guilty to forging her husband’s signature on his will, and then fraudulently presenting it at the Johannesburg office of the Master of the High Court.

Last month, Murphy indicated he intended amending the charges on the indictment.

On the murder charge, he wanted to extend the cause of death by adding “or means unknown” to “suffocation with plastic”.

He said this was after the State previously conceded that it was unable to submit evidence regarding an alternative means of death.

Regarding Maqubela’s alleged forgery of her husband’s will, he wanted to amend the charge from “making of the signature” to “making of the will”.

Broeksma would present argument next week as to the prejudice his clients would suffer should the charges be amended.

The court heard the defence intended calling a witness next Wednesday.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A complaint calling for the impeachment of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has been laid with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The Institute for Accountability said on Tuesday its director, Paul Hoffman, SC, did so after Mogoeng addressed Advocates for Transformation last month.

“The most serious aspects [of the complaint] include allegations of contempt of court and attempting to defeat the ends of justice which it is alleged amount to gross misconduct justifying impeachment,” the institute said.

In his speech, Mogoeng questioned critics who complained when a white male candidate was not recommended for appointment to the Bench, while those who were appointed were described as “executive toys”.

“These developments seem to suggest that war has been declared against transformation. People are clutching at straws to discredit the JSC. They seem to want the JSC they can dictate to,” he said in a speech prepared for delivery.

Complaint received

“The apparent discomfort with the progress we are making in transforming the Judiciary… must be dealt with decisively.

“And for the record, many white males have been recommended for appointment by the JSC over the years. It is for them and those who know them better to say whether they are ‘executive toys’.”

JSC secretary Sello Chiloane said the commission received the complaint.

“The complaint will be dealt with by the judicial conduct committee,” he said.

“The chief justice is one of those judges on the committee, and because the matter involves him, they will have to consider how to deal with it. They will handle it in terms of their own processes.”

The institute said it included a complaint of gross incompetence in the first complaint.

“[This is to]… cover the eventuality of the JSC being unable to find the necessary intention for the charges of contempt and attempting to defeat the ends of justice,” it said.

“The JSC has been asked to deal with the matter as one of urgency in view of the high office of the chief justice and his invitation to ‘forge ahead’ with the complaints.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Justice Minister Jeff Radebe welcomed the conviction of the so-called “Birthday rapist” Mlungisi Mtshali on Tuesday.

He was convicted on 122 charges, including rape, kidnapping, and theft.

“The minister also commended the young ladies, who had the courage to come forward when the image of the accused was flighted on TV,” his ministry said in a statement.

“This is justice manifestly seen to be done and we hope that he will receive a lengthy sentence that fits the crimes committed.”

Mtshali was dubbed the “Birthday rapist” because he reportedly told his victims it was his birthday and invited them to celebrate with him at a nearby restaurant or bar.

He would later ask them to accompany him, in a metered taxi, to fetch his sister or a friend in Hillbrow or central Johannesburg, where he lured the women into a hotel room and raped them.

He was arrested in Pietermaritzburg in March last year after it was discovered that he had been “erroneously released” by correctional services in February.

He was convicted in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The EFF’s policies of land reform and elimination of national borders within southern Africa will boost youth support for the party, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

Thirty-eight percent of respondents believed Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, would gain support because of its policies, according to research conducted by Pondering Panda.

Twenty-nine percent believed he would lose support and 18% believed his support base would not change.

Fifteen percent did not have an opinion on the matter.

The cellphone survey was conducted among 2 339 people aged between 18 and 34.

However, 49% of respondents did not support the EFF’s land reform policy, while 37% did.

According to the survey, 42% of young blacks approved of land reform.

Support for the policy was also strongest in the Free State, with 56% of respondents approving it.

On the elimination of borders, 32% approved, while 54% disapproved.

“Although opposition to the EFF’s land and border reform policies still significantly outweighs support for them, what this survey shows us is that they are far from marginal ideas,” Pondering Panda spokesperson Shirley Wakefield said.

“Young South Africans want change, and other parties should look carefully at the alternatives they will be offering them.”

– SAPA

Cape Town – A man has been arrested in connection with the rape of a 4-month-old and a 7-year-old boy in Ceres, Western Cape police said on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Andre Traut said a 32-year-old man was taken into custody and questioned in Ceres on Monday night.

A task team comprising various police units was created to investigate the rapes.

“We will go to great lengths to ensure that the perpetrator is brought to book,” he said.

Provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer said on Monday that the baby had been sleeping in bed with her parents when a man snatched and raped her in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The boy was in the house and raped at the same time.

Lamoer said it was believed that the man had been staying in the house, on a farm, at the time.

“The child is currently at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, where she had reconstructive surgery, and she will stay there for a long time,” Lamoer told reporters on the sidelines of a police memorial service in Kuils River.

“As you can see, there is a sick society outside. Some men can’t take the responsibility and we need to make sure this person is arrested.”

Traut clarified that the children were not siblings as previously reported.

– SAPA

Durban – A 37-year-old man was fined R30 000 on Tuesday for his role in stealing shipping containers worth millions from Durban’s port.

Terence Pillay pleaded guilty in the Durban Regional Court to 21 counts of theft.

Magistrate L Ndlovu said she decided on a fine as she thought imprisonment would “muzzle the accused” when it came to helping the police.

“The accused has been instrumental in uncovering a lot of alleged [illegal] activities,” Ndlovu said.

The court was told that Pillay handed himself to police and agreed to help them solve the crime.

Pillay was the manager at a storage company whose owner, Yusuf Omarjee, had been charged with stealing containers, fraud, and money laundering. Omarjee is out on R10 000 bail.

Half of Pillay’s sentence was suspended for five years, meaning he only had to pay R15 000.

If convicted of theft or attempted theft during that period he faces a six-year jail term.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A Johannesburg couple was arrested on Tuesday for killing their child, after previously reporting her as missing, Gauteng police said.

The couple reported the 3-year-old girl missing on 10 July, but the dog unit found the child’s body on Friday in the basement of the block of flats where they lived, police spokesperson Xoli Mbele said.

“She was wrapped in plastic and her body was in a decomposing state.”

Mbele said the child’s mother told the investigating officer the child had died after an illness.

She said that when she told the child’s father, he wrapped the body in a plastic bag and threw it into the basement.

The couple would appear soon in Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

– SAPA

Cape Town – An SAA plane has been involved in a second “hijacking” incident in as many months.

Flight SA 417 was en route from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth on Tuesday when the airline received the alert.

The plane was met by armed police and other emergency response teams, Algoa FM reported.

“SAA is deeply concerned about a false hijack alert involving one of its aircraft,” said spokesperson Tlali Tlali.
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By TDN

Mahikeng-About 300 dancers from across the country and the neighbouring Botswana converged at Mmabana Mahikeng over the past weekend during the Superstars Dance Festival, that was hosted jointly by the South African Dance Foundation North West (SADF – NW) and Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation. 

Superstars Dance Festival is a prestigious event where dancers are awarded points that qualify them for national colours and thereby stand a chance to be selected to represent the country at international competitions sanctioned by World Dance Council (WDC), of which SADF is a member.

“Dancers from the age of six up to the professional level illuminate the dance floor with Cha Cha, Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Rumba and Jive moves that kept audience asking for more. To ensure an inclusive participation and excitement for dance sport fanatics, the Superstars Dance Festival incorporated traditional, Hip Hop and street dance styles” Mmabana spokesperson Trinity Bogosi said.

Amongst the judges was Salome Sechele, a Latin American champion, adjudicator, choreographer and a reality TV judge who has represented South Africa at an international level.

“The next edition of the competition, which is envisaged to be even bigger, will be hosted in 2014 in Mahikeng” concludes Bogosi.-TDN

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Johannesburg – Cosatu leaders have reportedly decided to call a special meeting to decide whether general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi should face a disciplinary hearing.

Eyewitness News reported on Tuesday that top Congress of South African Trade Unions leaders called a special Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on the matter.

Although there is no official confirmation of the meeting, insiders told EWN that Vavi will have to face Cosatu leadership over the matter of his affair with a junior worker.

Vavi denied a claim of rape by the worker, and she later withdrew the complaint against him.

According to EWN, the meeting could be a stand-off between Vavi’s supporters and those he believes are trying to oust him.

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