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Sanral operating normally after powder scare


Johannesburg – Sanral was operating at full capacity on Wednesday following an evacuation of the building, the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) said.

“Employees are back at work today, and everything is running normally,” said ETC CEO Jamie Surkont.

The Tshwane hazardous material unit was called to the SA National Roads Agency Limited’s nerve centre on Tuesday afternoon after a “suspicious envelope containing a white substance” was found on the premises.

The building was evacuated and its electricity shut down.

Thirty-seven people were decontaminated and hospitalised as a precautionary measure.

All of them had been discharged by Wednesday morning, said Surkont.

On Tuesday, Sanral said the evacuation had disrupted the Gauteng highway tolling system, but Surkont said it remained operational. Biological testing revealed that the powder was not anthrax.

SAPA

N West rapists remanded in custody


By Obakeng Maje
KANANA- Two Suspects, a 19 year-old Joseph Dlomo and 21 year-old
Johannes Moabi accused of allegedly raping a 27 year-old victim from
Kanana Township near Orkney on 29 December 2013 appeared in Orkney
Magistrate’s Court on 9 January 2014 for bail application.

They are still in custody and will appear again on 10 February 2014 for further investigation.

“It is alleged that the victim and her friends were from a local tavern
when they were chased by the suspects. According to the information, the
suspects managed to grab the victim and threatened her with a knife. The suspects took the victim to an open field and took turns in raping her” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

The suspects were later arrested.-TDN
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A 34 year-old rape accused granted bail


By Obakeng Maje
VENTERSDORP-A 34-year-old accused of allegedly raping a 14 year-old victim at Tshing Township in Ventersdorp  on 27 December 2013 appeared in Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court and was granted a bail of R1000,00.

“He will appear again on 31 January 2014 for further investigation” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

According to the information,  the victim from Biesiesvlei visited her
aunt who stays in a rented house from the suspect.

“It is alleged that in the morning of an alleged rape, the suspect called the victim to his bedroom and asked her to iron his clothes. It is alleged that the accused grabbed the victim and allegedly raped her” said Makau.-TDN
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Three nabbbed for Rustenburg murder


By Obakeng Maje
BOITEKONG-Three accused Solomon Maolele(22), Siyabonga Kacha(41) and
Siyanda Sidsiya(25) appeared in Rustenburg Magistrates Court on charges of murdering a 30 year-old Sakhumzi Gantsho.

Maolele was released as he could not be linked to the murder,  Kacha
will be turned into a State Witness, and Sidsiya is still in custody and
will appear again on 26 February 2014  in Rustenburg Magistrates Court
on 26 February 2014 for further investigation.

“It is alleged that the deceased from Sondela township was on his way
home when he was confronted by the accused and an argument ensued. It
has not been established the cause of the argument as investigations are
continuing” captain Pelonomi Makau said.  

According to the information, the suspects stabbed the victim on his back and his left hand.

Suspects were later traced and
arrested.-TDN
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Madonsela: Nkandla report out in February


Cape Town – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela says she will now release her report into the upgrades at Nkandla “around 9 February 2014”.

Madonsela said on Friday the delay was to allow one of the parties concerned more time to submit comments, Eyewitness News reporter Alex Eliseev tweeted.

Madonsela did not state who the party was.

Madonsela said it was only fair that affected and implicated parties be given an opportunity to address her on her provisional findings.

Government’s Security Cluster released its report into the Nkandla upgrade in December. The report stated that President Jacob Zuma knew nothing about the costs involved.

News24

Premier Modise wants section 154 intervention in Madibeng completed-Elisha


North West Premier Thandi Modise has repeated her appeal to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for Section 154 intervention in Madibeng Local Municipality to be completed, Acting Premier & MEC for Public Works Roads & Transport Raymond Elisha declared on Friday.

“Though obstruction and resistance to the implementation of the recommendations of the Ministerial investigation task team report has significantly delayed progress towards rooting out fraud and corruption that were uncovered within the municipality, the provincial government wants to see the intervention bringing matters to finality,” highlighted Acting Premier Elisha.He reiterated the commitment made by Premier Modise that no stone will be left unturned in the investigation into allegations that the water pumps in Brits were sabotaged for the benefit of those awarded tenders for water tankering services as the provincial government views the allegations in a serious light.-TDN
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A Rustenburg Wife Implicated In Murder Of Husband


By Obakeng Maje
Phokeng-Police arrested four suspects including the victim’s wife for Murder, Possession of unlicensed firearm and unlawful possession of precious metals (platinum) after a 35-year-old man was shot dead on Wednesday at about 21:00.

“It is alleged that the suspects went to the deceased’s house and asked to meet with him outside. The wife heard two gun shots a few minutes later and the suspects fled the scene” sergeant Kealeboga Molale said. 

The three suspects aged between 26 and 44 were arrested on the same night.

The suspects allegedly admitted that they were dealing in precious metal with the deceased when they had a misunderstanding.  According to the reports, the suspects further admitted and implicated the wife to the killing of the victim.

“That that led to questioning and subsequent arrest of the wife on Thursday” said Molale.

The four suspects are expected appear on Friday at the Bafokeng Magistrates’ Court.-TDN
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It’s all systems go at Wolmaransstad schools


By Obakeng Maje
Wolmaransstad-Schools around the Wolmaransstad area in the North West heeded the call by the Department of Education to ensure that the culture of learning and teaching is implemented on the first day of the schools reopening.

The compliance to the appeal was given thumps up by MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi on Wednesday and Thursday while visiting and observing adherence, as per Exco resolution to deploy executive members to different schools across the province.

MEC Maloyi was impressed by the enthusiasm displayed by both learners and teachers in preparing for the academic year. In some schools Maloyi was told by school management that parents spend part of their festive holidays painting and cleaning schools for their children to learn in a clean and habitable environment.

 However in some schools, MEC Maloyi, became seriously concerned about the pupil’s intake. His concern was around the over populated classes which had over sixty pupils in one class. He cited the situation as unacceptable and resolved that urgent attention should be given to the schools to ensure that learning continues unabated.

Among other, were infrastructural challenges like, broken windows, roofs blown away by the wind and broken doors were also identified. During the MEC’s visit several structural defects were identified at the toilets of one school in. Maloyi, engaged a local philanthropist who attended to the challenge with immediate effect.

“We will refer all this challenges to the relevant department for urgent intervention. Besides the challenges encountered we are satisfied with the fact that schools have already started with teaching and learning and that stationary and text books have already being distributed to learners on the first day of learning,” said Maloyi.

“The courage and the spirit displayed by the schools management humbles and makes me sure that as the North West province we will obtain the first position during the next matric results. The preparations for the foundation phase also made me sure that we will have well-groomed learners in future,” said Maloyi as he concluded.-TDN
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Three nabbed for copper cable at depot


Johannesburg – Three employees at the Ekurhuleni electrical depot in Kempton park, Johannesburg, were arrested on Thursday for possession of stolen goods, Gauteng police said.

The three men, aged 20, 33 and 40, stole a metre of copper steel from the depot, Superintendent Vusi Mabanga said.

The steel was found under a blanket in one of the men’s vehicles during a random security check at the gate, Mabanga said.

The men would appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court soon.

Sapa

New arrest on Krejcir linked-hit plot


Johannesburg – A fifth person was arrested on Thursday for allegedly plotting to kill a police investigator associated with the Radovan Krejcir investigation, said Gauteng police.

“The suspect is a 34-year-old woman, who is a sergeant within the crime intelligence environment,” said Lt-Gen Solomon Makgale.

He said the woman allegedly provided software to track investigators.

Nine cellphones were confiscated from her.

Earlier, three men and a woman were arrested for allegedly plotting to kill forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and crime intelligence officer Colonel Nkosana “Killer” Ximba.

One of the men was also linked to the kidnapping and attempted murder case for which Krejcir is being investigated.

The kidnapping case allegedly involves Czech fugitive Krejcir, Sandton businessman Desai Luphondo, and two members of the Hawks Ä Warrant Officers Samuel Modise Maropeng and George Jeff Nthoroane.

They were arrested in November.

In June, they allegedly kidnapped and assaulted a man whose brother, known only as “Doctor”, disappeared with a 25kg shipment of tik he had been recruited to help smuggle through OR Tambo International Airport.

They allegedly kept the man at Krejcir’s Money Point business in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, for four days, and assaulted him.

Sapa