Johannesburg – A Western Cape petrol station cleaner will attend his graduation ceremony at UCT after completing a social sciences degree 17 years ago, Beeld reported on Friday.

Joseph Khohlokoane, 44, finished his degree with around R30 000 of study debt in 1996.

He started working as a petrol attendant at a Shell Ultra City in Worcester to try and pay his debt, as the University of Cape Town would not formally give him his degree until he had settled his account.

“I wanted to pay it off at R100 a month, but they said it wasn’t enough,” Khohlokoane was quoted as saying.

He spent the next 10 years working as a petrol attendant, and then another seven as a cleaner.

“I actually wanted to become a social worker, but after two years they told me I couldn’t carry on, because I stutter. So I changed courses, and switched to social sciences,” Khohlokoane said.

His employer Willem Venter, said a farmer in the area Clarence Johnson heard about Khohlokoane’s situation and arranged for his debt to be paid.

Over the years the debt had accrued interest and had grown to R100 000.

On Friday, Venter will drive Khohlokoane, his wife, and their daughter to his graduation ceremony in Cape Town.

Khohlokoane, dressed in a brand new suit, said he had never lost faith and always knew he would get his degree somehow.

“I’m so happy. I’m free,” he said. 

SAPA

The 25-year jail sentences that each of the three Deelpan rapists was given by the Mmabatho Regional Court on Friday should sent a strong message to perpetrators of sexual offence that those who violate women and children will face the full might of the law, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Saturday.

“We welcome the jail term sentences as they served justice on the perpetrators and call on real men to stand up against the scourge of rape and change their attitude towards violence and gender inequality.” emphasised Premier Modise.Young girls and women should avoid high risk places that could increase their vulnerability such as taverns, shebeens, since most perpetrators target women who are either drunk or who those who ask for lifts from strangers, said Modise.

She called on women to always be aware of their surroundings and consider risks and their safety whenever they go out for entertainment given that not even infants are safe from sexual violence.

According to police, Sam Mboma, 26, Sello Dikale, 19, and Olebogeng Mafulako, 19, raped a 25-year-old woman in Deelpan, near Itsoseng, in October last year.

The three had allegedly accosted the woman and gang-raped when she was leaving a tavern with her brother and cousins.

They were arrested after they were identified by the survivor.

Bafana Bafana had a surprise guest at their hotel last night (Friday, 07 June 2013) when they were visited by the SA High Commissioner accredited to Cameroon and CAR, Her Excellency Ms Zanele Makina.

Ms Makina wished Bafana Bafana well in their clash against the Central African Republic (CAR) in a Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The match will take place today (Saturday, 8 June) at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo and kicks off 15h00 local time in Cameroon (16h00 SA time).

The High Commissioner also joined on the tradition of handing out playing jerseys to all the players.

“I am proud to be standing here in front of you this evening ahead of such an important game for our country. We are all ambassadors here representing the South African flag, so I can safely call you fellow diplomats.

“You arrive here with the advantage of being perhaps the most respected nation on the continent, but at the same time you have the disadvantage of everyone wanting to prove a point against you. It is going to be tough against CAR but we have confidence that you will not let us down and you will also not let yourselves down. I can only wish you all the best, we know you can do it,” said the High Commissioner in the presence of South African Football Association (SAFA) President, Kirsten Nematandani.

Meanwhile Bafana Bafana completed their preparations for the match with a training session at the match venue. Head coach Gordon Igesund has a clean bill of health with all players fit for the encounter.

“I have said before that the match against Lesotho was to check on combinations, and I have already made up my mind on the starting line-up with CAR. Losing is not an option, and the boys know that there is no bigger game than this one if we want to reach Brazil,” said Igesund

Johannesburg – The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will meet Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille to discuss sanitation issues, it said on Friday.

“The commission has… decided to take immediate steps to address the current crisis by firstly engaging with the mayor’s office,” said spokesperson Isaac Mangena.

“The commission will also engage with national, provincial and local government, as well as the Public Protector and civil society organisations to intervene in this matter.”

On Wednesday, De Lille called on the SAHRC to help the city educate residents in informal settlements about the benefits of portable flush toilets (PFTs).

Mangena said the SAHRC had a specific mandate.

“Having received complaints from communities arising from government service delivery choices, it would be inappropriate and contrary to its legal mandate to participate or endorse government programmes, which are the subject of a complaint,” Mangena said.

He said the SAHRC had received complaints from residents about PFTs.

“They argue that these alternatives pose similar challenges as the current bucket system, and may continue to pose health risks and violate the dignity of users,” Mangena said.

“The commission wishes to emphasise that the eradication of the bucket system must be looked at nationally, and not only at a provincial level.”

Sanitation facilities

Mangena said the SAHRC had conducted an on-site inspection in Gugulethu.

“The SAHRC observed that there were no proper sanitation facilities in some of the areas… and that community members reported that there had been no waste collection services since 2 April due to a strike by the city’s service provider, Sannicare,” he said.

“This has resulted in an accumulation of waste which needs urgent attention and intervention.”

De Lille said on Wednesday that communities were resisting the installation of PFTs.

“If we continue to receive resistance to our efforts in a community, the city will be obliged to move our focus to other areas where the initiatives are welcome,” she told reporters.

On Tuesday a group of people in Khayelitsha threw human waste at a bus used by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille and others to travel to a green economy event.

Dumping faeces

Zille’s spokesperson Zak Mbhele said several ANCYL members protested outside the event.

“Police that were stationed around the venue fired tear gas to disperse the mob,” he said.

Police spokesperson Tembinkosi Kinana said two men, aged 23 and 26, were arrested for public violence.

On Monday, two men dumped human waste on the steps of the Western Cape legislature in a protest about portable toilets.

ANC councillor and youth league member Loyiso Nkohla, and former ANC councillor and banned league member Andile Lili told The Cape Argus it was a “warning” of things to come.

“We will return with thousands of these bucket toilets next week and empty them around the legislature building,” Lili was quoted as saying.

“We were ready to be arrested and will die for this.”

Last month, former Sannicare janitors, who were responsible for cleaning communal toilets, blocked a part of the N2 highway with burning tyres, and dumped faeces on the road.

They were protesting against being dismissed after demanding they be paid the equivalent of a 16-hour work day, which Sannicare rejected, saying it was against labour legislation.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Former president Nelson Mandela’s medical condition was “serious this time”, presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj says.

The 94-year-old anti-apartheid hero and the country’s first black president was taken to hospital early on Saturday for a recurring lung infection.

“The situation is serious this time but doctors have assured us he is comfortable,” Maharaj told television station eNCA.

Reuters

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By Obakeng Maje

Douglas-Police are investigating a case of possession of mandrax after a 25 year-old male was arrested on Thursday.

“The police pounced on the suspect inside his shanty in Bogani Township in Douglas at approximately 11:00am after receiving information of a person who was in possession of mandrax tablets” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.  

The suspect was found with seventy eight (78) mandrax tablets. 

“He was arrested and the mandrax valued at R6280,00 was confiscated” Kock said.  

The suspect will appear in the Douglas Magistrates’ Court on Monday. 

The investigation continues. 

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By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-The SAPS Organised Crime unit are investigating a robbery which allegedly took place on 24 May 2013 at approximately 13:40pm. 

It is alleged that the driver of a courier company was forced to stop his Mercedes Sprinter due to an obstruction on the road. 

“A tyre was rolled in front of his vehicle approximately 22km outside Kimberley on the Griquastad Road” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

Police said alongside the road, a brown Toyota Cressida was parked with its bonnet open. The courier vehicle was transporting cash and was en-route to Kimberley” said Kock. 

The driver and the passenger was approached by two men who jumped out from the back of the Toyota Cressida. 

They threatened the men and tied up the passenger with duck-tape and pushed him in the back of the Sprinter. 

“The two men took an axe and chopped open the safe inside the Sprinter and removed a substantial amount of money from the safe. They allegedly fled in the Cressida, leaving the two men behind” Kock said. 

During the investigation, Detective Warrant Officer Henk Van der Merwe from the SAPS Organised Crime unit suspected that the statement made by the driver of the courier company appears to be suspicious. 

“The driver was arrested together with two other men on the 27 May.The other two suspects are from Bloemfontein”.

Police recovered R11 000 of the money. 

The police also confiscated the brown Toyota Cressida that was used during the commission of crime.

The suspects known as Ayanda Ntabeni(32), Pro Mpukwana(31) and Luyanda Mpukwana(21) appeared before the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court on 29 May 2013 and the case was remanded until Monday for a formal bail application. 

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By Obakeng Maje

Pampierstad-Police are investigating a case for being in possession of suspected stolen copper after a man was arrested in Phakamile Mabija Road, with a bag of copper wire. 

On Friday,Provincial members were busy with routine visits to scrap metal dealers when they stopped and search the suspect. “A 24 year-old Pampierstad man could not account for the possession nor did he have any proof of ownership with him hence the arrest” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

The total weight of the copper weighs 12kg and estimated to be about R1000 in street value. The man was charged for possession of suspected stolen property and will appear in court on Monday” Kock said.

The police have noted that although copper is the preferred item for thieves, all types of metals such as outside taps, gutters, church bells, brass ornaments, geyser pipes and manhole covers and brass components from fire hydrants are also taken into consideration.

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Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza is confident the team will overcome visiting Mozambique in an international friendly match scheduled for Sunday.

The coach and his technical team were highly impressed by the senior women’s national team who walloped a select Mpumalanga Sasol XI 14-1 in a practice match played at Ingwenyana Lodge on Thursday.

While this was just a practice match in preparation for Sunday’s encounter, the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana was nonetheless clinical and impressive. A similar performance against Mozambique will further enhance their reputation in continental football.

The game with Mozambique will be played at Kanyamazane Stadium on Sunday and kicks off at 15h00.

While satisfied by the comprehensive score-line in the practice match, Mkhonza believes there are still a few areas to be polished.

“The players did a demolition job on the field of play and I am really impressed by the performance and effort they put into the match. They should however, be more ruthless in front of goals.

“The defence and midfield departments however, are looking cohesive and solid. The two departments worked as a unit and with time, will only get better. The goalkeeping department is also another area that needs further attention. The goal we conceded was very soft,” said Mkhonza.

The coach said the fact that the squad would be trimmed to 18 players would increase the level of competitiveness in the squad.

After the Mozambique game on Sunday, Banyana Banyana will face northern neighbours Zimbabwe in a match scheduled for 15 June at Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton.

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