Pretoria – An alleged rapist in the “Modimolle monster” trial did not go to the police because he was afraid he would be framed, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard on Monday.

Sello Mphaka believed he would be framed for the mutilation of Johan Kotzé’s wife, Ina Bonnette, and the murder of his stepson, Conrad.

Mphaka reiterated his evidence – that he had not raped Bonnette because he could not get an erection, never saw Kotzé torturing her and had nothing to do with her son’s murder.

“The woman knows very well that I did not rape her… He [Kotzé] was there on 3 January, but I did not rape her,” he said.

According to Mphaka, Kotzé was a “good man” earlier in the day but became angry.

The court heard that Kotzé threatened to kill his co-accused when Mphaka and Pieta Mohlake refused to co-operate with his plan for them to have sex with his wife.

“It surprised and frightened me. He had a different face. I don’t know how to explain it,” said Mphaka.

Kotzé, Andries Sithole, Mohlake and Mphaka all denied guilt to charges of kidnapping, raping and attempting to murder Bonnette and murdering her 19-year-old son, in Kotzé’s Modimolle home on 3 January 2012.

During cross-examination, Mphaka testified that he and Mohlake initially wanted to go to the police, but Sithole had told them Kotzé was rich and well-known in the area, knew the police and would blame them.

“He said it had nothing to do with us. It was something between the lovers [ Kotzé and Bonnette],” he said.

Mphaka said he had an argument with Sithole, who he suspected of working with Kotzé and being aware of the plan to attack Bonnette.

Asked repeatedly why he did not go to the police, Mphaka gave a number of reasons, including that he was afraid of Kotzé and the police.

Mphaka said he went to Kotzé’s house to work and not to steal or rape. He left without any payment for the work he did and without taking anything from Kotzé’s house.

Kotzé’s advocate, Piet Greyling, questioned Mphaka about discrepancies in his evidence and accused him of fabricating his version of events.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Ailing former president Nelson Mandela is still in a critical but stable condition, the presidency said on Monday.

“We remind all South Africans to begin planning for Madiba’s birthday on the 18 July,” President Jacob Zuma said in a statement.

“We must all be able to do something good for humanity on this day, in tribute to our former president.”

Zuma thanked everyone who kept Mandela and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Transport Minister Ben Martin has lamented the death of 15 people in an accident in Sandfontein in North West, an official said on Monday.

“The minister sends his heartfelt and sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes those injured a speedy recovery,” said spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso.

“He has called on every road user to take personal responsibility in road safety and ensure that South African roads are not turned into killing fields.”

The accident happened on Sunday afternoon on the R510 road at the Sandfontein village off-ramp.

Rikhotso said preliminary indications were that a light delivery vehicle turned into oncoming traffic and collided with a bus.

Those killed were passengers in the delivery vehicle, and 29

people injured in the crash were on the bus.

Rikhotso said Martins had urged the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to speed up its investigation into the accident. – Sapa

London – Honeymoon murder accused Shrien Dewani’s mental health has improved and he has talked about returning to South Africa to fight a murder charge, a London court heard on Monday.

The British Press Association reported that his depression was now moderate, and not severe.

Dewani, 33, is accused of orchestrating the murder of his wife Anni, who was shot while visiting Gugulethu, Cape Town, in November 2010.

While he has denied any involvement in her murder, he faces extradition to South Africa for trial.

Opening the case for the South African government at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Hugo Keith QC said Dewani’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and risk of suicide had all improved.

The businessman, who was excused from attending the hearing, is being treated for the conditions in a mental hospital near Bristol.

“Our case is not that it would be oppressive to extradite him,” Keith said.

“We suggest that there has been significant and sustained improvement [in his depression], largely as a result of the administration of drugs, but also due to the grounding techniques and coping therapies, which he has acquired during his time at Fromeside [clinic] and more recently at Blaise View since his transfer to Blaise View [mental health hospital] in January this year.”

In April, his PTSD was found to be “considerably less” and was now moderate or severe, rather than severe.

The court heard that Dewani still had a substantial inability to concentrate and poor memory, but he no longer made active references to suicide.

“There are more positive observations about how he wishes to return to fight the case against him,” Keith said.

The South African government had offered reassurances that he would be admitted to a mental hospital if he was found to be ill.

If held in jail, he would be kept in a single cell, which would reduce the chance of him being attacked.

– SAPA

Agang SA, South Africa’s newest independent political party, confirmed that the Independent Electoral Commission has completed its party registration.

Thabo Leshilo, Agang SA’s Director of Communications said: “We are delighted to confirm the completion of the registration of Agang SA with the IEC. 

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

Labour federation, Cosatu, will on Tuesday morning embark on a drive slow in Pretoria against the implementation of e-tolls in Gauteng.

The federations’ leadership says after the drive slow the convoy will head towards the Medi-Clinic Heart hospital where former president Nelson Mandela is currently being treated, to wish him a speedy recovery.

The drive slow will begin in Hatfield at End street, between Church and Pretoria streets.

The proposed route for the drive slow will be, N4 and proceed to N1, joining R21 towards the airport, off-ramp at Neilmapius road back to the R21 to the city of Tshwane where they will proceed to the Medi clinic-Heart hospital.

Cosatu is appealing to motorist in the Pretoria area to support their cause.

DA wants to know why the ANC-led government continues to pursue the e-tolling system despite evidence showing that the project has not been successful in other countries.

Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance wants to know why the ANC-led government continues to pursue the e-tolling system despite evidence showing that the project has not been successful in other countries, such as Portugal.

Reports say lower than expected revenue from e-tolls was recorded in Portugal.

The country’s road chief even warned that there would not be enough money for road maintenance. The DA says Portugal’s e-tolling failure is clear evidence that the system does not work.

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

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund has welcomed the decision from the world football governing body, FIFA regarding the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in which it sanctioned the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) for fielding an ineligible player in their match against Botswana last month.

Igesund added that the decision gives South Africa another chance in the competition.

“We welcome the decision, which I believe was expected. It was never in doubt because rules are rules, so in our view it is a correct decision.

“The decision also gives us a second bite on the cherry; we now have to beat Botswana and hope Ethiopia loses or draws against Central African Republic. But I am very pleased with the outcome,” said Igesund.

In a statement, FIFA confirmed it has sanctioned the EFF for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminary competition match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ between Botswana and Ethiopia played in Lobatse on 8 June 2013. Ethiopia won the game 2-1 but the match has now been awarded to Botswana following the FIFA disciplinary committee hearing.

“The match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Botswana, with the EFF also receiving a fine of R60 000 after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee considered the EFF liable for having breached article 55 paragraph 1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 8 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Regulations,” read the statement.

“The sanction relates to the Ethiopian player Minyahile Teshome Beyene failing to serve the automatic one-match suspension imposed on him following two cautions received in two different matches (article 17 paragraph 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code).”

The decision by FIFA means South Africa still has a chance to proceed to the play-offs of the qualifiers if they beat Botswana in the last game and Ethiopia fails to beat the Central African Republic.

“We accept and welcome the announcement by FIFA,” said SAFA CEO Dennis Mumble.

“Regarding our issue where we also wrote to them (FIFA) about the same player featuring in our match having not served his suspension, we were not looking for three points but were just inquiring about the status of the player in the qualifiers.

“We would also like to reiterate our coach’s views that there is now much more to play for in the qualifiers as we believe we stand a good chance of proceeding to the next round of play-offs, even though it must be noted that it’s no longer in our hands. But we will go there (match against Botswana) and do the best we can, and hope for a favourable result in the other match.”

Bafana Bafana are now two points behind Group A leaders Ethiopia with one round of group stages matches remaining. South Africa will have to beat Botswana in September and hope that the Central Africa Republic (CAR) draws against or beats Ethiopia in the other match.

Four men suffered serious burns when an explosive device was thrown into a fire in Mmakau near Brits, North West police said on Monday.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lesego Metsi said the incident happened on Sunday as three people were sitting around a fire.

Their neighbour allegedly tossed a detonator used in mine blasting into the flames and it exploded.

“All four of them survived with serious facial and bodily burns… and were taken to Brits hospital.”

The neighbour suffered third-degree burns and was transferred to George Mukhari Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa in a serious condition.

Metsi said the man apparently worked for a company that owned a nearby quarry.

“The device, believed to be used for crushing stones, is suspected to have been stolen from the suspect’s workplace,” said Metsi.

The man would face charges of attempted murder and possession of explosives when released from hospital. The motive for his action was not yet known.

– SAPA

Soweto residents severely assaulted two men who tried to rob a pedestrian at the weekend, police said on Monday.

A 37-year-old man was walking home from Inhlazane railway station in Jabulani on Sunday night, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said.

Three men held him at gunpoint before hitting him over the head.

“Before the man fell down he screamed. The screams were heard by people in the township who came to his rescue.”

The man with the gun fled as residents caught and attacked his accomplices. They were being treated under police guard at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Makhubela urged people not to take the law into their own hands.

“We encourage citizen arrests, but strongly discourage mob justice. Once a suspect has been apprehended, they must be brought to us injury-free,” he said.

– SAPA

Cape Town – Fast and decisive action must be taken against criminal police officers at all levels of the police service, the DA said on Monday.

Its call follows reports at the weekend that national police commissioner Riah Phiyega had ordered “a purge of convicted criminals” from the SA Police Service (SAPS) after an in-depth audit of its ranks.

In a statement, DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard welcomed the news.

“The DA calls on SAPS management to take swift and decisive action against criminals within the service, including those within its higher echelons.”

She said her party would submit parliamentary questions to determine when the audit would be finalised, and what steps would be taken in future to “prevent criminals infiltrating the police service”.

The City Press reported on Sunday that Phiyega had – in a letter sent to the police ministry and the service’s top brass – ordered that police officers convicted of a crime be removed from the SAPS.

It quoted Phiyega, in the letter, dated 29 May this year, as saying: “The findings of the audit revealed an unpleasant picture of employees with criminal convictions and who have criminal cases pending against them.”

The audit was reportedly close to completion.

Kohler-Barnard said all members of the SAPS, including those within its leadership, should be professional police officers who protected South Africans from criminals.

“They should not be criminals themselves. We trust that the national police commissioner will take swift action in dealing with any criminality within the service.”

– SAPA