Criminal law expert William Booth says Oscar Pistorius is crumbling under Gerrie Nel’s cross examination by presenting different versions of what happened on February 14.
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Bafana Bafana confirm Cosafa Cup entry
South Africa have confirmed they will participate in the 2014 Cosafa Cup to be held in Botswana in September, one of seven teams from the region to give a positive response so far.
The tournament is scheduled to be held between September 13-28, sandwiched between the first and second set of qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, with South Africa only likely to take part in the second week of the tournament when the quarterfinals start.
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MEC Maloyi honors Contractors and handover 1000 units
Rustenburg-MEC for Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi will on Wednesday hand over 1000 units of the Sunway presidential project residents who have been staying in informal settlements in Hartbeespoort Madibeng.
The MEC will further hand over 400 units of the community residential units (CRU) project to Boitekong community which is outside Rustenburg.
The units are expected to assist greatly migrant workers who have been staying in informal settlements, earning less than R3500 and handover the project to the Rustenburg Local Municipality to generate revenue.
“The project is also expected to eradicate informal settlements around the Rustenburg area” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.
Bole said the MEC will further honour contractors during the Govan Mbeki awards, who have outshined others within the Human Settlements and construction of RDP houses within the province.
“The North West province remain the National champion in the Country of the auspicious Awards which was confirmed in the previous financial year. The winners on Wednesday will be expected to represent the province during the National event which is coming soon” he outlines.
These awards are meant to motivate all stakeholders in the Human Settlements development and accelerates delivery. The awards are further set to honour role players in the housing value chain that have committed to partner with government in building sustainable integrated human settlements.
The events will take place as follows:
Madibeng Sunway project
CRU hand over in Boitekong
Govan Mbeki Awards
Time: 10H00
Date: 16 April 2014
Venue:Sunway village
Time: 14 H00
Date: 16 April 2014
Venue: Boitekong Hall
Time: 18H00
Date: 16 April 2014
Venue: Bafokeng Civic centre
-TDN
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Pupils save gran, pets from burning house
Pietermaritzburg – Three courageous high school pupils have been hailed as heroes for braving an inferno to rescue a stricken 83-year-old woman and her two dogs just seconds before the roof of her home collapsed.
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Protesters block route
Johannesburg – Residents of Olievenhoutbosch in Centurion were protesting along the R554 on Tuesday morning, Gauteng police said.
Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said residents had gathered and blocked the route.
“They did not use anything to block the road, they just gathered in the middle of the road.”
He said it was not yet clear what they were protesting about.
“Police are monitoring the protest, so far no violence was reported.”
SAPA
A woman smashed by a train in Bloemhof
By Obakeng Maje
Bloemhof-North West police are investigating a case of inquest after a woman committed suicide.
Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said police were called after a body of a woman in her early thirties was found near railway line.
“Police discovered a body at around 13H45 on Monday at a railway line. It is alleged that a woman went to the railway line and waited for a good train and threw herself in front of it” Mokgwabone said.
Mokgwabone said police found the clothes of a woman next to the railway and a suicide note.
“She probably took off her clothes before she was smashed by a train. She was lighter in colour and police ask anyone with information to come forward and identify her as her face was badly damaged” he said.
The police are appealing to the community of Bloemhof to come to the police station or call Lieutenant Sebolai on 053 433 1047 or 072 505 3045 to assist in identification of the deceased.
“The deceased is light in complexion and has an afro hair” concludes Mokgwabone.-TDN
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Premier Modise slams stoning of cars outside Mahikeng
The tide of lawlessness and criminality carried out under cover of darkness should be stemmed out, North West Premier Thandi Modise said in slamming the stoning of cars near Rooigrond informal settlement on the Mahikeng-Lichtenburg road on Monday evening.
“The trend to plunge communities in violence without a second thought or regard for consequences is disturbing. We cannot afford to have a situation private and public properties are torched, people’s possessions stolen and vehicles belonging to innocent passers-byes are stoned and people threatened with violence under the guise of service delivery protests, “Premier Modise said
.Modise appealed to communities to refrain from unlawful action and violent protests but to instead opt for dialogue and constructive engagement around their community development issues.She called on law enforcement agencies to investigate allegations that the attempt to plunge targeted municipalities into anarchy is coordinated action orchestrated by senior leaders with personal interests.-TDN
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Oscar’s version becoming more improbable- State
Pretoria – Murder accused Oscar Pistorius’s version of the night he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp is getting “more and more improbable” the State said on Monday.
“You see Mr Pistorius, it’s getting more and more improbable,” prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the Paralympian in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
“You’re building a version that is so improbable that no one would ever believe you.”
He said Pistorius left the gun in the bathroom after he shot Steenkamp.
Nel accused Pistorius of tailoring his evidence as the trial continued.
Pistorius has been charged with murdering Steenkamp when he shot her through a locked toilet door of his Pretoria home on 14 February last year.
He says he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.
Pistorius has pleaded not guilty and in his plea statement denied he had argued with her shortly before the shooting.
On Monday, Nel questioned Pistorius on what happened after he shot and what he did with his gun.
Pistorius said, gun in hand, he ran to the bedroom checked behind the curtains while looking for Steenkamp. He said he only put it down when he tried to break open the door.
He said he was running with a cocked gun.
Nel said in the State’s version Pistorius fired at Steenkamp and put the gun on the floor.
“Your version is so improbable. You wouldn’t have run up and down with a gun in your hand,” Nel said.
Pistorius said: “I wasn’t thinking about the firearm.”
As Pistorius got emotional, Nel said: “Mr Pistorius, you’re not using your emotional state to escape, are you?”
Pistorius is also charged with three contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, one of illegal possession of ammunition and two of discharging a firearm in public.
He allegedly fired a shot from a Glock pistol under a table at a Johannesburg restaurant in January 2013.
On 30 September 2012 he allegedly shot through the open sunroof of a car with his 9mm pistol while driving with friends in Modderfontein.
He has also denied guilt on these three charges.
SAPA
Government improves functioning of institutions of traditional leadership – MEC Manketsi Tlhape
Mahikeng- North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs Manketsi Tlhape says government has made great strides in improving the functioning of institutions of traditional leadership.
Tlhape said this during the official opening of the Ninth Session of the Fifth Term of House of Traditional Leadership with the theme “20 years of moving traditional communities forward”.
MEC Tlhape said “a lot has happened since the inception of a democratic South Africa. A number of policies have been developed to further strengthen and support traditional leaders but also to involve them when planning for development of communities under traditional leadership”.
The Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act 41 of 2003 also provides for amongst others, the recognition of traditional communities and the establishment and recognition of traditional councils.
“The Department has successfully completed the first traditional council elections recently and is also clamping down on illegal initiation schools while awaiting a bill to regulate the establishment of initiation schools” she said.
The Commission on Tribal Disputes has made a lot of progress and is finalizing 48 outstanding cases having dealt with 40 already.
During the opening session, MEC Tlhape handed over 19 vehicles to Dikgosi, which will be used by the traditional council in making their daily duties easier.
“In giving effect to the provision of the Constitution which recognizes the institution, status and role of traditional leadership, the Department continues to provide Dikgosi with the much needed tools of trade. The process has already started with the provision of vehicles, offices, furniture and computers to such offices to ensure the full functioning and improved provision of service by traditional councils”, she said.
The Chairperson of Provincial House of Traditional Leadership Madoda Zibi thanked the government in uplifting the livelihood of the Dikgosi. Since the establishment of House of Traditional Leaders we have seen a lot of changes which made us feel our worth as Dikgosi.
Amongst others, the ceremony was attended by the Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosi Pontsho Maubane, representatives of Houses of Traditional Leaders from other provinces, representatives from Botswana and Namibia as well as dignitaries from other government departments.
Meanwhile, Oratile Mashaba (10) was awarded a merit certificate by the House of Traditional Leadership for his outstanding performance in the 1200m during the Primary Schools Athletics Championships in Paarl, Western Cape Province.
Mashaba who is doing Grade 5 at Sedumedi Primary School received a gold medal for his participation in the race.-TDN
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Premier Modise to switch on electricity for Tlhabologang residents
North West Premier Thandi Modise is to switch-on electricity to celebrate the completion of the Phase 1 of the electrification project that has benefitted 1830 households in Tlhabologang Township outside Coligny.
“The delivery of the R36 million project by Eskom will reduce crime, fire disaster incidents we had experienced in the area and restore the dignity of the residents most of whom are farm workers who were evicted from neighbouring farms,” Premier Modise said ahead of the switch-on.
The project was implemented from the budget of R2 billion, one hundred and forty-one million that was allocated by government towards the National Integrated electrification programme for new connections across the country in the past financial year.
The switch-on to will be held at Reboneilwe Secondary School as from 17:00 this afternoon.
The programme for the event includes a visit to the substation that is under construction to carry additional new connections in the area.-TDN
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The Guardian 