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Give us five years: Malema


Pretoria – EFF leader Julius Malema on Sunday appealed to South Africans to give his party five years in government.

“We don’t want 20 years in government, we are only asking for five years,” he told supporters at Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria.

“If we don’t deliver, fire us. Show us the door and say we want hard workers.”

He said leaders in his party would never steal from government coffers but would instead push for the upliftment of the poor.

“We will never take your hungry children’s money. When you take public funds, your taking money that is meant for ARVs for the sick.”
Malema said there was too much money in the country but those in power did not know what to do with it.

He spoke of mechanisms that would be implemented to curb wasteful expenditure and contribute to the increment of grants in the party’s manifesto.

He said ministers and the president would have to buy their own cars and houses as they earned salaries.

“Like all civil servants, buy your own car, houses. Why should we buy politicians cars and houses while they work? The time of politicians being treated like royalty is over,” he said.

The elections take place on 7 May.-Sapa

Oscar’s defence enters critical phase


Pretoria – Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial enters a critical phase on Monday as his defence team attempts to recover from a faltering start and reinforce the Paralympian’s claim that he fatally shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp by mistake because he was overwhelmed by a long-held fear of violent crime.

Pistorius’s mindset when he stood on his stumps in a bathroom and pulled the trigger on his 9mm pistol in the early hours of 14 February 2013 remains the crux of the trial that has captured worldwide attention and is about to start its seventh week of globally televised proceedings.

It was initially scheduled to run for three weeks.

Judge Thokozile Masipa will analyse thousands of pages of testimony before she reaches a verdict, but ultimately must ponder the pivotal question: Did Pistorius fire his gun with the intention to kill or out of a misplaced belief that his life was in danger from a perceived intruder?

Masipa will decide, with the help of two assessors, if Pistorius’s overall account is believable and whether the apparent inconsistencies in his testimony count against him or are unimportant in the bigger picture.

If Pistorius’s defence, which will resume calling witnesses on Monday after a two-week trial recess, can show that his story of a tragic error is a reasonable explanation, even the double-amputee runner’s shaky testimony would be rendered irrelevant and the judge should acquit him of murder, legal experts say.

Contradictions

While testifying, Pistorius sometimes contradicted earlier testimony and other times said he did not remember details.

“The test doesn’t end there,” former state prosecutor Marius du Toit said of Pistorius’s testimony. “It’s not over. They [the defence] can still show there is another plausible scenario.”

Du Toit has over 20 years’ experience in South Africa’s criminal justice system and is following the trial closely. He said it must be shown that Pistorius had the “sole intention” to kill Steenkamp to be convicted of murder.

Pistorius, 27, doesn’t dispute that he shot 29-year-old Steenkamp through a toilet door. He claims the killing was accidental and he fired four times in quick succession without thinking and while terrified, believing that an intruder had climbed up a ladder and through a bathroom window of his Pretoria villa in the pre-dawn hours and was about to come out of the cubicle and attack him.

Prosecutors charge that the story is an intricate lie designed to cover up a murder. They say the couple fought, Steenkamp fled to the toilet screaming and Pistorius followed her and shot her through the wooden door while they were arguing. She was hit in the hip, arm and head.

More defence witnesses

Charged with premeditated murder, Pistorius faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

The prosecution’s case appeared to be bolstered as holes in Pistorius’s story were exposed when the athlete was on the stand for a fierce five-day cross-examination by prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

Nel also succeeded in undermining the evidence given by the defence’s first two expert witnesses, a pathologist and a former police forensic scientist.

But defence lawyers have only presented three of up to 17 witnesses they say they may ask to testify.

At the outset of the defence’s case, lawyer Barry Roux said Pistorius’s actions on Valentine’s Day last year centred on his “disability” and “vulnerability” and Pistorius’s team will likely seek to rebuild the overall argument that his actions were guided by fear and not anger in a country with a high rate of violent home invasions.

Roux said he will also show that a crucial thread of the prosecution’s case is not true; that neighbours heard a woman screaming before and during the shots fired by Pistorius at around 03:17 on the fatal night.

The lawyer said neighbours who live closer to Pistorius’s house never heard a woman scream.

Instead, it was Pistorius’s high-pitched shrieks for help after realising his terrible mistake, the defence argues.

AP

A boy bludgeoned to death in Kanana


By Obakeng Maje
Kanana-Police are investigating a case of murder after a 19 year-old boy was murdered on Saturday.

“An argument ensued between the suspect and the victim. The suspect allegedly took out the knife and stabbed the victim in the chest.The victim died on the way to the hospital” colonel Emelda Setlhako said.  

The police arrested the suspect and seized the knife.  

He is expected to appear in court soon. Police investigation continues.-TDN
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Klerksdorp murder accused to appear in court


By Obakeng Maje
Klerksraal- The police arrested a 46 year-old man for murder on Saturday in Klerksraal.

“It is alleged that the suspect stabbed the victim with an unknown object. The deceased was found with head injuries and her face covered with blood. The suspect was arrested and is expected to appear in court soon” colonel Emelda Setlhako said. Police Investigation continues.-TDN
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Kraaipan man nabbed for girlfriend murder


By Obakeng Maje
Kraaipan- North West police arrested a 35 year-old man after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend at a local tavern on Saturday.

Colonel Emelda Setlhako said the suspect allegedly called his girlfriend who was with her friends and moved into the streets.

“The argument allegedly engulfed between the two and the suspect assaulted her and dragged her to her residential area” Setlhako said.

She said the suspect dropped his girlfriend at the doorstep of her house and left.

“She was left unconcious and was taken to Kraaipan clinic where she passed away” Setlhako outlines.

Police arrested a suspect and was charged with murder.

He is expected to appear before Atamelang Magistrate Court on Monday and police investigation continues.-TDN
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No hesitation over election arrests


Johannesburg – Security forces will not hesitate to arrest those believed to have committed election-related crimes, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) said on Sunday.

“To date police have arrested 63 people in 84 reported cases,” Lieutenant General olomon Makgale said in a statement.

They were arrested for alleged public violence, intimidation, common assault, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property, and contravening sections of the Electoral Act.

Law enforcement would continue its zero-tolerance approach to those seeking to derail the elections.

“Furthermore, police arrested four suspects when they conducted cordon-and-search operations at Freedom Park near Rustenburg in the North West Province in the early hours of this morning,” said Makgale.

“Four suspects between the ages of 26 and 40 were arrested and dangerous weapons such as knives, knobkerries, pangas, spears, steel pipes, wooden sticks, sjamboks, axes and grass cutters were seized.”

The four were also found in possession of items they allegedly stole from shops in the area between 26 and 27 April.

Law enforcement agencies would continue to stabilise problematic areas through crime prevention operations.

“Experienced prosecutors are readily available to deal with any election-related criminal case generated and give relevant guidance to the investigators.”
“The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure is satisfied with the manner in which people conducted themselves during different political gatherings that took place today [Sunday].”

Makgale sat Natjoints urged all South Africans to respect every person’s democratic right to vote.

“Our police officers will be deployed at every voting station and we will also be monitoring problematic areas very closely to ensure that these elections are conducted in an environment that is free and fair,” he said.

“Let these arrests serve as a reminder that the joint security forces remain focused in their efforts to ensuring a free and fair elections.”

The elections will be held on Wednesday.-Sapa

Thousands file out of stadium as Zuma talks


Johannesburg – The ANC swept aside a weak economy, fierce criticism of its president and questions about the party’s future at a massive Soweto rally on Sunday, in a pre-election show of force.

More than 90 000 jubilant supporters packed the FNB Stadium to capacity for a final “victory” rally ahead of Wednesday’s vote.

However, party president Jacob Zuma’s lengthy speech met a lukewarm response, with thousands filing out of the stadium even as he promised more jobs for blacks.

The ANC has won every general election by a landslide since the first democratic vote in 1994 and is expected to win by a wide margin this time round too.

Bikers, DJs and marching bands stirred up the yellow-clad crowd to cries of “viva, ANC, viva!”, offering no hint of the turbulence the party has suffered during Zuma’s nearly five-year stewardship.
Corruption scandals, poor public services, a cratering economy and the use of R230m of taxpayer funds to upgrade Zuma’s private home have, for many South Africans, sullied the party’s revolutionary zeal.

Former stalwarts like Ronnie Kasrils, a leading party veteran, have gone so far as to publicly ask voters not to back the party that delivered them from apartheid.

But that legacy, for now, still looks set to be enough to hand the ANC another thumping electoral victory.

Zuma himself entered the stadium to the sound of a military drumroll and cheers, avoiding a repeat of the humiliating boos he suffered in the same stadium during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in December.

The ANC is expected to garner 63% of the vote, according to the latest Ipsos poll, just three points less than in 2009.

The still-weak opposition and expected low turnout are likely to play to the ANC’s unparalleled ground operations and help mask otherwise disappointing results for the party.

Behind the predicted victory, the ANC is expected to see its share of the vote fall for a second consecutive election.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Alliance, which has painted today’s ANC as unworthy of its storied history, is predicted to increase its share of the vote by nearly six percentage points to 22%.

The DA is expected to do well in Gauteng – which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria – and the Northern Cape, in addition to the Western Cape, which it already runs at provincial level.
Zuma, with a second five-year term strongly likely, on Sunday promised non-whites more economic power.

“Economic transformation will be a key priority” in the next administration, he said.

But under the Constitution, Zuma’s second term would be his last and he risks becoming a lame duck as would-be successors jockey for position ahead of a 2017 elective conference.

Win or lose, he will also have to deal with an estimated 30 demonstrations a day against poor public service, with many citizens furious that 20 years of majority ANC rule have not improved their lot.

Although the election outcome is seen by many as a foregone conclusion, analysts say business – rattled by strikes, a weakened rand and unsustainable levels of unemployment – will hope that the ANC’s margin of victory is reduced.

“A lower-than-expected majority for the ANC would probably be regarded positively by markets, as it may jolt the party into reforming itself internally over the coming years,” said Shilan Shah, an economist with Capital Economics.-Sapa

Malema will wear red work suit in Parly


Pretoria – The dress code for ministers will change when the Economic Freedom Fighters win the elections, leader Julius Malema said on Sunday.

He said when he goes to Parliament, he would be dressed in his red work suit and beret.

“They wear suits, that’s why they are lazy,” he said.

“They are servants, they are supposed to serve us. You can’t build an RDP [house] with a tie.”
He said even if he was to be inaugurated as president, he would wear the same attire.

Malema was addressing thousands of his supporters at the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria during his party’s Tshela Thupa rally.

Supporters braved the heat to attend the party’s final push to urge voters to go to the polls. More than 30 000 people filled the stands and cheered when the EFF leader entered the venue.

Some people climbed on the perimeter fence to get a glimpse of him, risking injury in the process.

Malema appealed to South Africans to give his party five years in government.

“We don’t want 20 years in government, we are only asking for five years. If we don’t deliver, fire us. Show us the door and say we want hard workers.”
He said leaders in his party would never steal from government coffers, but would instead push for the upliftment of the poor.

“We will never take your hungry children’s money. When you take public funds, your taking money that is meant for ARVs for the sick,” he said.

There was too much money in the country, but those in power did not know what to do with it.

He spoke of mechanisms that would be implemented to curb wasteful expenditure and contribute to the increment of grants in the party’s manifesto.

Ministers and the president would also have to buy their own cars and houses, since they earned salaries.

“Like all civil servants, buy your own car, houses. Why should we buy politicians cars and houses while they work? The time of politicians being treated like royalty is over.”
Malema added his party would not enter into a coalition with any party after the election.

“If we lose, we are not going into coalition. We stand alone. Its either we win 50 percent or we are not involved.”

Malema said his party was not ready to work with any organisation and risk their mission being diluted, with EFF’s leaders not after positions.

“Ours is not about positions, but fighting the exploitation of our people. Even if we get one seat, we have won because we did not have one before,” he said.

Malema said the EFF was the future, they could not be wished away and the party would be in existence for the next 100 years.

“They can’t wish us away, the EFF is the future. Any future without EFF is suffering. The EFF is the solution to the problems you’re facing,” said Malema.

The general election takes place on Wednesday.-Sapa

ANC supporters: Run Zille, run


Johannesburg – The FNB Stadium in Soweto was a sea of yellow, green and black as thousands of ANC supporters came out to attend the party’s Siyanqoba rally three days before the elections.

The almost 95 000-seater calabash stadium was almost filled to capacity with people of all ages singing and dancing as local musicians entertained them.

People waved ANC flags while others held up homemade placards which read “Run Zille run” and “Run Malema run”.

The crowd shouted “Viva Zuma Viva. Halala ANC, Halala”.

A group of young men carried around a cardboard box in the shape of a coffin and the words “RIP EFF” painted on the side.

There was a second cardboard coffin painted blue with the words “RIP DA”.

President Jacob Zuma is expected to address the rally later in the day.

EFF supporters paint Atteridgeville red


Pretoria – EFF supporters started arriving at the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe stadium in Atteridgeville, ahead of the party’s Tshela Thupa rally on Sunday.

The streets around the stadium were full of people wearing red T-shirts as they sang and danced.

A small group was marching with a box that looked like a coffin on which was written “Rest in Hell,” referring to other political parties.

Inside the stadium, those already in the stands were singing Julius Malema is coming and “Thupa e etla” (the whip is coming).

Stands were slowly filling up despite most buses being late.-Sapa