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Cokonyane murder accused remanded in custody


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-A case of Cokonyane-born man was postponed by Taung Magistrate Court on Thursday.

Gaopalelwe Sedimo subsequently appeared before Taung Magistrate Court after he was arrested in connection of rape and murder.

The incident took place last year November where a 17 year-old girl was allegedly raped and her grand-father was killed in the process.

Tsholofelo Kobi,17, was allegedly raped after she wasd kidnapped.

Police said Sedimo forcefully entered a shanty were Tsholofelo was sleeping and kidnapped her.

He allegedly took her to his home where the alleged rape took place.

Tsholofelo said she was in her room and she heard someone on top of the roof trying to remove the corrugated iron. She allegedly screamed for help and her grandfather,Joseph Kobi came to observe.

She heard Kobi speaking to someone outside, but couldn’t confirm whose the person as she was afraid to go outside.

Tsholofelo however confirmed that the person who climbed the roof of the shanty was Gaopalelwe Sedimo.

Sedimo allegedly forcefully opened the door of the shanty and kidnapped Tsholofelo.

According to her, Sedimo raped her and she managed to escape the ordeal after he left her in the room alone.

Sedimo’s father allegedly help her to get home after she explained what happened to her.

Kobi was taken home by the suspect’s father and allegedly found people gathered at her house.

To the shock of her life, Joseph Kobi was stabbed to death and could not belief her eyes.

The case of murder and rape was registered and Sedimo was the prime suspect.

The case was postponed to 20 February 2014 and Sedimo was remanded in custody. The court denied him bail after they said Sedimo’s father is one of key witnesses.

Sedimo has two pending cases against him. He was arrested in March 2013 for attempted rape and was given bail. Again he was arrested in connection of rape back in August 2013.

Sedimo is facing rape and murder charges, but according to his lawyer Loeto Ikanyeng, Sedimo will plead not guilty in both charges.

Ikanyeng said Sedimo confirmed that he never raped nor killed anyone and he had a consensual sex as they had a serious relationship.

The case will be back in court on 20 February 2014 and police investigations continue.-TDN
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Hilton-Smith achieves another accolade


SAFA Technical Director, Fran Hilton-Smith has been selected to the newly-formed FIFA Women’s Football Task Force whose duties will be to identify and harness global women football development.

Having recognised the 25 years of women’s participation and involvement in football, FIFA created this new initiative whose main goal is to develop a universal strategy for women’s football.

The other goal is to prioritise women football and develop a distinctive FIFA Women’s Club World Cup. This according to FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke should form part of the Brazil 2014 Legacy.

“To be the sole African representative on the newly formed women’s Football Task Force is a huge honour.

“I promise to do my best especially in enhancing the development of the sport on the continent. We must develop the game in Africa and one of the components of activating this is by identifying programs that will uplift women’s football on the continent,” said Hilton-Smith.

Hilton-Smith will represent the CAF region at the FIFA Women’s Football Task Force chaired by Moya Dodd of Australia.

The world football governing body will hold the first ever women’s task force meeting in Zurich on Wednesday, 15 January 2014.

 

Members of the FIFA Women’s Football Task Force:

Moya Dodd/ Australia – Chair

Junko Imai/Japan – AFC

Fran Hilton-Smith/South Africa – CAF

April Heinrichs/USA – CONCAF

Juan Angel Napout/Paraguay- CONMEBOL

Nicola Dormaine/Newzealand- OFC

Vera Pauw/Holland- UEFA

Jean-Michel Aulas/France-UEFA
-TDN
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First match is very important – Tshabalala


Bafana Bafana midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala believes the first match of the tournament is very important as it will set the tone going forward.

 

The dreadlocked left-footed player was speaking to the media shortly after the national team’s training session on Wednesday, 8 January 2014 in Pinelands, Cape Town.

 

Bafana Bafana are in camp in preparation for the upcoming Orange CAF African Nations (South Africa CHAN 2014) where they will face Mozambique in the opening match of the tournament on Saturday, 11 January.

 

The match takes place at the Cape Town Stadium – the venue for the opening and closing ceremony.

 

Kick-off is at 18h00.

 

“Every match we play is important but the first game is very crucial because it is always good to start the tournament on a high. A win sets a very nice tone for the rest of the competition. It is good for the team’s morale and for the fans,” said Tshabalala.

 

The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder is most capped player in the squad with 85 caps to his belt. He has played in the World Cup, the Confederations Cup as well as an Africa Cup of Nations. This will be his first CHAN tournament.

 

“The stakes and the expectations are high for us to do well. I believe we are ready after days of hard work and will continue doing so in the remaining two days. I am positive that the 11 players that will be selected to do the job on Saturday will succeed,” added Tshabalala.

 

“As for me, it is always an honour to wear the national team jersey. I am grateful that I have been given another chance to represent my country and I have always vowed that I will do my best whenever I am selected. This is a very important tournament and it would be nice to win it, but we have to take one game at a time.”

 

Striker, Katlego Mashego, echoed his sentiments.

 

“We want to do well in every game we play. We are raring to go. We know what we have to do and we are well aware how important the first match is. We have to start with a bang,” said Mashego.-TDN
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Cokonyane alleged serial rapist back in court for murder


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-A case of a 21 year-old man who was arrested for alleged rape and murder will be back at court today.

Gaopalelwe Sedimo,21 was subsequently arrested back in 2013 after he allegedly raped Tsholofelo Kobi and was implicated in Joseph Kobi’s murder.

Joseph Kobi was found murdered after his granddaughter screamed for help from her bedroom and Kobi went out to observe.

According to information, Tsholofelo left Kobi’s bedroom at around 00:00 and entered her shanty which she uses as a bedroom.

Few minutes later, Tsholofelo allegedly heard someone trying to force open the door of her shanty and with no success, the intruder climbed the shanty.

Tsholoferlo claims the alleged intruder was Sedimo as he removed a corrugated iron.

She screamed for help and Sedimo jumped off the roof and she heard someone talking to her grand-father outside.

After few minutes, Sedimo allegedly forced opened the door of her shanty.

He forcefully took her to his house where the monstrousness took place.

Tsholofelo said Sedimo stabbed her twice and raped her.

She said after the ordeal, she managed to escaped through the window after Sedimo left her alone in the room.

Sedimo’s father was the one who allegedly help Tsholofelo to get home after she explained what happened to him.

Tsholofelo received the shock of her life on her arrival at home when she saw people gathered at her house.

She found her grandfather dead with stabbing wounds.

Sedimo was arrested and charged with murder and rape. He claims that he never kill and rape anyone as he was in a relationship with Tsholofelo and they had consensual sex.

Sedimo’s lawyer, Loeto Ikanyeng was not available at court on Wednesday and the case was adjourned.

The court will hear Sedimo’s bail application today and he have other two cases pending against him.-TDN
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A decomposed body found hanged in North West


By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom-A decomposed body of a 23 year-old man was found hanged at Promosa location, near Potchefstroom on Wednesday.

It is alleged that a decomposed body was found by a community member and police were summomed after he allegedly committed suicide.

“It seems a 23 year-old man committed suicide and his body was in bad decomposed state. The body was found at Promosa cementery and according to information, no foul play suspected” said our mole.

A decomposed body was taken to government motuary and the cause of death will be conducted.

Police investigations continue.-TDN
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Lawsuit seeks CIA papers on Mandela arrest


Washington – An American student lodged a lawsuit against the CIA on Wednesday in an attempt to secure documents that purportedly show the intelligence agency was complicit in former president Nelson Mandela’s arrest.

Mandela, who died last month aged 95, was detained in 1962, convicted in the Rivonia Trial and incarcerated for decades under the country’s then apartheid rulers.

Ryan Shapiro, a PhD student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), filed the legal action after the CIA failed to comply with Freedom of Information requests he submitted to the agency regarding Mandela’s arrest.

“Although US intelligence has long been known to have been involved in the arrest of Mandela, little detailed information is available,” Shapiro’s lawsuit states, seeking details on the CIA’s alleged view of Mandela as a threat.

Shapiro contends that the CIA has refused to release the requested papers.

Questioned by AFP about the suit, lodged at a federal court in Washington, Dean Boyd, a spokesperson for the CIA , said: “The CIA generally refrains from commenting on court cases pending before the courts.”

AFP

Gabobidiwe High leads the way in Taung


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-Gabobidiwe High School is the only high school that reached 100% pass rate in matric in Dr Segomotsi Ruth Mompati.

A high school in Buxton, East of Taung scooped number one position in the district after being on a trap last year.

Gabobidiwe High School principal Tshepiso Mvula told our crew that he was targeting 80+ pass rate, but the school outdid itself by achieving 100% pass rate.

Our crew went on to speak to some of students at Gabobidiwe High and shared their feelings:”I am very excited and pround of our school after we managed to escape a trap that our school was in. I dedicate our achievements to our teachers who worked tirelessly even though we had some hiccups along the way” Ogodiseng Pelege said.

Pelege said even though he did not apply for any university, he is interested in studying Sports Management.

Rebaone Mothibuseng told TDN that she applied at University of North West and she is planning to study teaching.

“I want to become a teacher because the hardship our shools are going through especially in rural areas. I would love to see more improvements on education system and hopefully we can play our part” said Mothibuseng.

Mvula said 22 of his students achieved batchelor degree qualifications and other 32 pass with diploma.

Magadi Gaothuse is one of those who achieved Batchelor degree pass and said she wil persue a career as a Social Worker.

The community shared the same sentiment and the excitement was the order of the day.-TDN
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Heist robbers escape sentence


Pietermaritzburg – Five robbers were sentenced to in effect 30 years each on Wednesday for causing three deaths by pushing a pension-money transit vehicle off a road.

KwaZulu-Natal High Court Judge Anton van Zyl found that life terms for the murders were not appropriate as the robbers had not wanted the victims dead.

The five were: former Ladysmith police canine unit member Siyabona Mkwanyana; Jerody Mthiyane, of Mamelodi East; Philemon Nhleko, of Durban; Ewat Kaba, of Johannesburg; and Zikethula Sokhelo, of Vosloorus.

Gang member Ottoman Msimang himself died in the collision, in which the transit vehicle rolled, killing its trapped driver George van Tonder and guard Sibusiso Phakathi.

The robbers chose a stretch of road between Newcastle and Ladysmith for the robbery in October 2009 and it was well-planned.

Although the exact plan was not spelled out in court, it seemed the robbers planned to steal a vehicle with a long flatbed and use it to side-swipe the security van and push it off the road.

Van Zyl said there was an inherent risk of calamity in the plan to push the van off the road.

This plan seemed to go wrong, and a calamitous head-on collision, causing deaths and injuries, resulted.

After the collision, the robbers blew open a safe in the security van and tried to extricate their accomplice.

No attempt was apparently made to open a second safe in the back of the security vehicle.

Cash totalling R692 000 was stolen.

Each of the five robbers was sentenced to: Five years for the theft of the “attack” vehicle; 10 years for the explosion to open the safe; 15 years for the three murders, taken as one; 10 years for the attempted murder of a guard; and 20 years for aggravated robbery.

Some sentences and portions of others would run concurrently to avoid a Methuselah sentence.

Van Zyl said none of the robbers had expressed remorse. Where convicted criminals expressed apparent genuine remorse, it seemed that their chances of rehabilitation were enhanced.

All the accused were supporting their families, and their imprisonment would cause misery to their dependants, but they should have considered this before deciding to commit the robbery.

Van Zyl said robberies were a scourge and sentences should be a deterrent.

SAPA

A woman raped and murdered in North West


By Obakeng Maje
Lichtenburg-Police have arrested a 36 year-old suspect for allegedly raping and murdering his 41-year-old girlfriend on Tuesday at Letsopa Location in Ottosdal, says colonel Emelda Setlhako.

“It is alleged that the suspect had visited the deceased at her home on Tuesday evening. The deceased told her father that she is accompanying the suspect” said Setlhako. 

The father woke up and found her naked daughter outside his home in a pool of blood with a wound on her head. 

The Police were informed and went to the suspect’s house where they found his shoes with blood-stains. 

“The suspect arrested and will appear at the Ottosdal Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 14 January 2014” said Setlhako.-TDN
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A driver knocked off a teen in Rooivaal, near Taung


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-A 17 year-old girl was knocked down by an unknown motorist on the 01 January 2014 at Rooivaal, near Taung.

Gomotsegang Leeuw was enjoying a New year when an unknown motorist short-lived their joy.

“We were celebrating a New year in the morning of 01 January 2014 when a silver private car pounced on us. It seem the driver was drunk as we were walking along the pavement and the car came pouncing on us” said Leeuw.

Leeuw was admitted at hospital with minor bruises. She suffered injured on her legs, body and other parts of the body.

The driver fled the scene afterwards, but some of Leeuw’s friends took car registration number.

The case of hit and run was registered at Taung Police Station.

Police investigations continue.-TDN
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