Pistorius family owns scores of guns


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Murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius’ family reportedly owns a total of 55 firearms, an Afrikaans weekend newspaper report revealed today.

 

The report says Pistorius’ father, three uncles and grandfather own 55 firearms between the five of them.

 

His father, Henke, has four firearms registered in his name, his  grandfather, Hendrik, has ten firearms in his name, his uncle, Arnold, also owns ten firearms, while another uncle, Theo, who is a  hunter, owns 17 firearms, and a third uncle, Leo, owns 14, reported the Afrikaans  newspaper.

 

Oscar Pistorius is facing a murder charge after shooting dead his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day.

 

Pistorius pleaded not guilty to the charges, he said he thought Reeva was an intruder.

 

He has since been released from custody a week ago on R1 million bail, an amount of R100 000 was paid immediately.

 

The case has made world headlines with international news channels carrying live broadcasts of Magistrate Desmond Nair’s bail application ruling.

 

Pistorius has also lost the support of international brand Nike, which pulled off its endorsement deal with the paralympian. Sunglass maker Oakley has also pulled out of sponsorship deals with Pistorius.

 

Meanwhile, a legal expert of the paper estimated that Pistorius’ legal costs during his week of detention probably amounted to approximately R1.2 million.

 

“And this is only the beginning. Until his next court appearance, consultations will continuously take place. Then his trial starts, which will make the current bill look small,” said law professor Tom Coetzee.

For more details go to http://www.sabc.co.za

North West water shortages blamed on lack of proper maintenance


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Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa says the lack of proper maintenance, leaking and ailing infrastructure are the causes of the water shortages in Rustenburg, Mafikeng, Tlokwe and Lichtenburg in the North West.

 

She says 50 % of the water in the country is lost due to leakages. Molewa handed over resuscitated bore holes to the rural community of Refentse in the Madibeng local Municipality near Brits.

 

The bore holes went out of use due to lack of maintenance. Molewa says the government has a 10 year plan to address the water challenges in the country.

 

She says: “Any new infrastructure that we build has got to have an operations and maintenance plan so that we don’t remain in the back log and continuously build new infrastructure that require the same kind of attention as we go ahead. We require over R 730 billion to fix infrastructure, from agricultural sector to households and everywhere else.”

For more details go to http://www.sabc.co.za

Sexual offences court to be re-opened


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JOHANNESBURG – Deputy Minister of Justice Andries Nel on Friday said courts that will hear sexual offences cases will start operating again before June.

Nel was attending Lead SA’s Stop Rape campaign at Sandown High School in northern Johannesburg.

President Jacob Zuma, other government officials and millions of pupils across the country yesterday took a pledge to reject sexual violence.

The gang-rape and murder of Western Cape teenager Anene Booysen in February led to outrage countrywide.

A call was made for the extra courts to be reopened to deal with the crisis in South Africa; a country which Interpol says is the world’s rape capital. 

Nel said Justice Minister Jeff Radebe would make the announcement about when courts would be reopened.

“There are approximately 58 courts that we believe would be ready in the very, very near future top to activated.

“The minister will be making more detailed announcements [soon].”

Booysen (17) was raped, mutilated and left for dead at a construction site in Bredasdorp.

Two men are being accused of her rape and deat

For more details go to http://www.ewn.co.za

We’re ready,says Baxter


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Kaizer Chiefs Head Coach Stuart Baxter lamented the strange scenario faced by the two teams as Kaizer Chiefs will be hosting Bidvest Wits in the ABSA Premiership league fixture on Saturday, 2 March at the FNB Stadium. 

 

Baxter spoke to kaizerchiefs.com ahead of the much anticipated clash; It is a strange situation to face the same team back to back in a space of a week. It doesnt mean that the results of last week will be repeated or have an influence in tomorrows game no it is a totally different ball game and hence we are preparing accordingly. We are trying to create a coaching environment that can give us the results. Its all about group performance and on the day we hope to produce what we prepared at the training grounds depending on the dynamics of the game on the day. 

 

Amakhosi will be missing the services of George Lebese who joined Jimmy Tau (Started light training) and Jimmy Jambo on the injury list. Also missing for this encounter are the services of the hard tackling midfielder Willard Katsande who picked up a fourth yellow card against Wits last weekend at Mbombela Stadium in the Nedbank Cup. Baxter was optimistic under the circumstances; Since the beginning of the league we have faced challenges in terms of missing key players in different positions but we are continuing to rally ahead with whoever takes the field. 

 

The two teams met in the first round of the 2012/13 PSL Season in the league in September 2012 with Amakhosi emerging 3-1 conquerors with Bernard Parker scoring a brace and Lehlohonolo Majoro sealing the victory after Calvin Kadi pulled one goal back for the Students. 

 

The former Chiefs players, Thomas Sweswe and Tinashe Nengomashe, will share the battlefield with fellow Zimbabwean countrymen Kingston Nkhatha, Lincoln Zvasiya and Matthew Rusike, which should add some spice to the clash. 

 

The game is scheduled for 18:00 kick-off and tickets are selling at R40 for Adults and R10 for Scholars at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers nationwide.

Kelly Khumalo and her manger,go separate ways


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On the reality show “Rolling with Kelly Khumalo“  Kelly Khumalo and Sarah Setlaelo were an inseparable duo of manager and artist, and looked like they had a prosperous future together conquering the entertainment industry. Sadly, it seems like it wasnt meant to be for the two.

For more details go to http://www.drum.co.za

Oscar an avid gun collector in 2012


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Johannesburg – An official at a South African gun collectors’ club where Oscar Pistorius was a member says he steadily became an avid collector of firearms in his Olympic year. He says Pistorius bought a collection of pistols and shotguns, all American manufactured, his favorite.

John Beare, vice chairman of the Lowveld Firearm Collectors Association, told The Associated Press that Pistorius also purchased a semi-automatic rifle for his expanding collection at the end of 2012.

That coincided with the early stages of Pistorius’ romance with Reeva Steenkamp, the model he shot and killed at his home in the early hours of February 14.

Prosecutors have charged Pistorius with premeditated murder for killing Steenkamp with three of four shots fired from his 9 mm pistol. Pistorius said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder. – Sapa-AP

Cops arrested for taxi driver’s murder


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Johannesburg – The eight policemen implicated in the killing of an East Rand taxi driver were arrested on Friday, the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID) said.

All eight will be charged with murder, said IPID spokesman Moses Dlamini.

“I cannot disclose which police station they are being held at but it’s not Daveyton… They will appear in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court on Monday,”

Mido Macia, 27, a taxi driver and Mozambican national, was tied to the back of a police van and dragged along the street in Daveyton, on the East Rand, on Tuesday.

An eyewitness filmed the assault. Macia died in the local police station’s cells later that day. – Sapa

A Kimberley man sanctioned to 59 years in prison


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Pic: (HANS WILLEMSE)

BY Obakeng Maje

The Griekwastad Regional Court sentenced Hans Willemse(30) to 59 years imprisonment for a series of crimes he committed between 20 and 25 April 2011 police said.

“In 2011he was arrested for theft and house breaking in Groblershoop and sentenced for two years in prison” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

” The accused escaped while on his way to Douglas prison. He dispossessed an officer who was escorting him. The accused then fled to a farm near Griekwastad where he set a farm house alight and shot at through the window” police said.

“Three of the four persons inside the house managed to escape and the accused raped a 43 year-old female four times” Kock said.

“The accused then fled to another a nearby farm where he broke into the farm house, stole clothes, food and slaughtered a sheep. The police search party comprising of the Tactical Response unit, SAPS Airwing,  SAPS K9, Douglas SAPS and Griekwastad SAPS under the command of Colonel Avril Wentzel, managed to arrest him on the fifth day after his escaped from police custody” police said.

The accused was arrested while hiding in a farm near Griekwastad on 25 April 2011.

The police confiscated the stolen firearm, ammunition and a knife from him.

The Griekwastad Regional Court sentenced the accused on 13 counts of offences.

Count 1 and 2 for rape- imprisoned for 22 years.

Count 3 and 4 for rape – 18 years.

Count 5 for escaping from lawful custody – 3 years.

Counts 6(illegal possession of firearm)

7(discharge of firearm in a public place),

8(pointing of firearm) and count 9(pointing of firearm) were put together and the accused received 6 years imprisonment.

Count 10 for arson – 3 years

Count 11 for possession of dangerous weapon – 2 years

Count 12 for Stock Theft – 2 years

Count 13 for House breaking and theft – 3 years.  

A 53 year old policeman who was disarmed by the accused was eventually dismissed.

“The Kimberley Cluster Commander, Major General Jean Abrahams commended the two investigation officers, Detective Capt James Oliphant and Detective Sergeant JJ Geyers for their excellent services and investigations which led to this good sentencing.

The farming community in the surrounding areas are also commended for their assistance with regard to the whereabouts of the accused.

This truly portrays partnership policing at its best.” police said.               

 

Municipal worker,wife arrested for fraud


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BY Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Commercial Crime Unit is investigating corruption and fraud charges following the arrest of a prominent member of the Karoo Hoogland Municipality in Williston and his wife last night Kimberley police said.

“The two were arrested in connection of fraud and corruption amounted to R 600 000-00” Lieutenant Andrea Cloete said.

Police said two suspects were detained at the Mosselbay Police Station after the arrest and were transported back to Williston Police Station for bail application.

They will appear at Williston Magistrate Court on Monday.

Police investigation continues.

Community warned about hospital jobs scam


ImageCommunity members in the Madibeng area have been urged to be on the lookout for people going around townships in the area recruiting people for jobs in the name of the Brits District Hospital management.

The provincial health department and hospital management have appealed to the public to report such bogus cases to the police.

Hospital CEO Themba Mhlanga said that the hospital was a state institution governed by government’s recruitment and selection policy and the hospital could not deviate from it at any time.

Hospital human resource manager Naledi Motlhabane said: “For any government posts including at the hospital, standard procedure must always be followed.”

He added that posts advertised should have the following details: name of the post, reference number, salary, centre (Brits District Hospital), academic requirements and many other things.

“Other things to look for are duties, enquiry person, contact numbers and addresses, the name of the person to forward the application and closing date. They are often advertised in newspapers as well,” he said. 

For more details go to www.thenewage.co.za