CAPE TOWN – Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille says the South African government has embarrassed the country and undermined its international standing.
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Domestic worker racial abuse case resumes
Johannesburg – The trial of a man, who allegedly assaulted and racially insulted his girlfriend’s domestic worker, will resume in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Andre van Deventer faces charges of common assault and crimen injuria.
During a previous appearance, the court heard that the domestic worker, Gloria Kente, 50, had poor health after he allegedly assaulted and swore at her.
His lawyer, Henry van der Westhuizen, said Kente had health issues because she was overweight and unhealthy.
However, Kente said her doctor had never told her she was overweight and that she had never eaten healthy foods at her employer’s house.
She also told the court that when she asked Van Deventer to look after Pienaar’s child while she took a shower, she said she heard him shouting that they were “paying this kaffir R2400 to look after the child”.
He allegedly grabbed her by the collar of her pyjamas. Kente has also applied to the Equality Court in Cape Town for R100 000 in damages and an unconditional apology from Van Deventer.
SAPA
Trio guilty of killing Muldersdrift girl, 13
Johannesburg – The South Gauteng High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, has found three men guilty of various crimes in Muldersdrift including the murder of a schoolgirl, The Star reported on Thursday.
Alfred Zwane, Samson Mandlezi and Manir Ubisi were found guilty on 15 charges, including the murders of 13-year-old Alyssa Botha and 50-year-old Andre Jordaan, three attempted murders, robbery with aggravated circumstances, housebreaking and illegal possession of firearms.
The three denied knowledge of the crimes, but Judge Moses Mavundla rejected this on Wednesday when he handed down judgment.
Mavundla said he was satisfied that the State had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
On 5 September 2012, Anton Botha picked up his daughters Alyssa and Meghan from a friend’s house when Alyssa was shot dead. The men shot Anton Botha in the abdomen and he lost a kidney as a result.
Meghan was shot twice in the legs.
Jordaan was shot during a robbery in the area and died in hospital.
Sentencing procedures were due to begin on Thursday.
SAPA
A mutilated body of a girl found in N West
By Obakeng Maje
Assen- A mutilated body of a girl found by police in Assen village, near the river, says North West police.
The body of a girl between the age of 11 and 13 year-old was seen floating from Kgetlheng river at the vicinity of Finfoot farm on Sunday at around 15:00.
“The body was allegedly found by herdboys and police were called. Police found the body with missing hands, head and private parts. The police request anyone who could identify the body” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.
The community is urged to assist in identification of the body as well as information that may lead to arrest of the suspect by calling Investigating Officer; Const Bornfacious Molefe on 083 438 5017.
Alternatively, information can be communicated through Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or anonymous Crime Line sms 32211.
-TDN
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Cable theft causes Gautrain delays
Pretoria – There were delays in the Gautrain train service between Hatfield and Park stations on Thursday morning due to cable theft, operator Bombela Concession Company said.
The delays, on the north-south line, were caused by around 300 metres of signalling cable being stolen in the Snake Valley area near Pretoria, spokesperson Errol Braithwaite said.
The thieves broke through the reserve fence and forced open a locked manhole cover early on Thursday morning.
“Train services between Sandton and the airport are not affected,” Braithwaite said.
“Technicians are repairing the damage and we hope to have trains running at full speed again by about 08:00.”
‘Hot spot areas’
This was only the second incident of cable theft in the last three years which has caused train delays.
“In 2012 we implemented significantly increased security measures in identified ‘hot spot’ areas. These include rapid-reaction motorbike patrols, dog units and additional guards,” Braithwaite said.
“Since then numerous incidents of attempted theft have been foiled and some arrests have been made. Unfortunately, along with most other utilities, Gautrain does however remain a target.”
Bombela called on the relevant authorities to intensify the battle against cable theft through the Second Hand Goods Act and increased crime intelligence.
SAPA
ANC at weakest point in its history – Malema
Polokwane – Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has taken a swipe at the African National Congress and President Jacob Zuma, saying the ANC is no longer relevant.
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Ventersdorp- A proposal to turn murdered AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche’s home in Ventersdorp into a heritage site was rejected at a meeting of the North West heritage council, the Sowetan reported on Monday.
The proposal was announced by heritage council leader Themba Gwabeni, who said Terre’Blanche and his party were part of South Africa’s history.
Everybody had the right to celebrate their heritage, including the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB).
The SA Communist Party in the province said this was insulting and Terre’Blanche was not a hero.
Terre’Blanche, who opposed racial integration, was convicted of attempted murder and assault of a worker. One of his farmworkers murdered him in 2010.
SACP North West secretary Madoda Sambatha said people still lived with the scars of his actions, and many white people, including Afrikaners, were ashamed of him.
“We call on our own government and our ANC not to even start any debate around that proposal,” said Congress of SA Trade Unions North West secretary Solly Phetoe.
Gwabeni was an African National Congress municipal mayor for the Ngaka Modiri Molema district and defected to Cope after taking the ANC to court when it put the municipality under administration.
The AWB refused to comment, but conceded it intended to have its former leader’s house declared a heritage monument.
Sapa
N West elderlies share their cultural knowledge with youth
Matloding- Grey haired elderlies of Matloding in Ngaka Modiri Molema said young people have forsaken old traditional ways of marriage, child rearing and healthy food. They were sharing indigenous information to more than 200 young people at an intergenerational heritage celebration held in the area to mark the closure of Heritage month.
Ngwanamodimo Seitlhobogile, 84, said for young people to have sustainable life they should adopt the old system of marriage and respect their parents.
“It is unfortunate that our daughters have boyfriends these days who do not follow our traditional ways where the parents would meet to discuss their union,” Seitlhobogile said, adding that young people should be provided with parental care especially when they are in the puberty stage.
During the celebration North West MEC for Social Development Fenny Gaolaolwe handed over blankets, food parcels and fruit basket to 200 destitute families. Gaolaolwe said residents must use the services of social workers to access departmental social assistance.
“It is time we fast-track service delivery in most deprived wards. Our plans are at an advanced stage to launch Semelelang bakery owned by rural women,” Gaolaolwe said.
Meanwhile Kgosi Lekoko urged young women to respect tax payers money by stop misusing child support grants to play solitaire cards. These grants, Kgosi Lekoko said are meant to take care of needy children not for gambling purposes. He said the tribal authority and the residents have decided to call a meeting and decide on steps to be taken against those who misuse government social assistance grants.
The elderlies, especially grannies clad in their traditional attire spent most the better hours of the day by telling old stories, serving indigenous food, traditional beer and showcased wooden utensils.
-TDN
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North West premier sends his heartfelt condolences to Taung crash victims
By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng- The Premier of the North West Province Supra Mahumapelo on Sunday sent a message of condolence to the families of 15 people who lost their lives following this past weekend’s fatal accident which happened on the N18 road between Taung and Magogong, south-west of Vryburg.
The twenty-five people who sustained injuries are being treated at Hartswater, Taung and Klerksdorp hospitals.
The accident reportedly happened on Saturday afternoon when a bakkie and a taxi collided.
Sending the Provincial Government’s condolences, Mahumapelo said, “We offer our sincere condolences and express our deepest sympathy to the members of the bereaved families and the injured. We also wish the injured a full and swift recovery”, Mahumapelo said.
Premier Mahumapelo confirmed that he has already contacted the Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas to extend the North West Province’s condolences and to offer co-operation on how the families could he assisted with funeral arrangements.
Mahumapelo who voiced his concern about the loss of many lives following this tragic accident, appealed to road users to obey all the rules of the road, exercise caution and show good behaviour while on the road.
He also committed the Provincial Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to ensuring that road safety campaigns are intensified and that law enforcement officers show no mercy to traffic law violators.
A case for culpable homicide against a 66 year old man who was driving the bakkie, is being investigated by the Northern Cape police.
Elias Morebudi briefly appeared before Hartswater Magistrate Court and granted a bail of R3000 and his case will resume on 22 October 2014.
-TDN
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Government condemns petrol pastor
The Gauteng Provincial Government took a swipe at the ingestion of petrol by worshippers, decried the loss of South African lives in Nigerian during a church building collapse, and urged churches to play a role in building township economy.
Gauteng Infrastructure Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said speaking on behalf of the Gauteng Premier, at Father Masango St John apostolic Faith Mission Church, in Soshanguve, west of Tshwane. She asked church leader Archbishop Petrus John Masango, to help pray for South Africans to recognise their own indigenous church the role they play in healing and community building.
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The Guardian 