Missing Krugersdorp real estate agent's body found

Leonie Pretorius

31 May 2016

A missing real estate agent was found dead in a veld in Randfontein today, police said.

Hanle Lategan, 52, went missing yesterday when she was supposed to meet clients at a house in Krugersdorp.

She parked her car at the Krugersdorp Private Hospital, which was close to the house where she was supposed to meet the clients.

Police spokesperson Captain Appel Ernst said Lategan's car was found abandoned in a parking bay at the hospital and that There was an attempt to withdraw money from her bank account in Krugersdorp.

 Ernst said, CCTV footage showed two men approaching her.

School children walking in the veld found her body in a wetland next to a stream and signaled down a motorist. 

Police confirm rape of 12 year old boy

Leonie Pretorius

31 May 2016

Police have confirmed they're investigating the rape of a 12-year old boy from Atlantis.

The child was allegedly raped on Saturday, apparently by an unknown man in an open field.

The police's Noloyiso Rwexana says no arrests have been made.

She says she can confirm that a case of rape is under investigation, that A 12-year-old boy is the victim of this incident, she has urged anyone with information that can assist their investigation to contact the Saps unit in Milnerton.

Pupils in Vuwani are not going to write mid-year exams

Simamkele Vakaza

31 May 2016

The mediation panel in Vuwani, Limpopo says the area can only stabilise when all sectors of the society engage with each other. This as provision of services as well as schooling and business operations remain suspended in and around Vuwani.

Two weeks after schools in Vuwani were supposed to reopen, teachers have still not returned to work out of fear for their safety. The National Education Department says the majority of pupils are also staying away from schools and are not writing mid-year exams.

Permanent solution can only be found when various sectors of the community engage in productive talks and by involving government through the process.

A case is opened against UCT Rhodes Must Fall Students

Simamkele Vakaza

31 May 2016

The University of Cape Town says it has opened a case against three students from the Rhodes Must Fall Movement who have breached a court order preventing them from setting foot on campus. The five are accused of unlawful behaviour relating to violent protests earlier this year.

The Western Cape High Court recently made final an interdict against five people, three of them students, forbidding them from entering UCT premises.

A statement says the judge found that those interdicted did not show regret for their actions. UCT says three of the five also took part in protests at the Bremner building last week.

Mamelodi’s Khama centre of attention in Absa award ceremony

Nontando Mafanya

31 May 2016

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Khama Billiat was the centre of attention at the 2015/16 PSL Awards last night.

The Zimbabwean national walked away with three main awards as the PSL honoured this season’s top achievers at Emperors Palace.

Billiat walked away with the night’s most coveted prize, PSL Footballer of the Season Award.

He also took home the 2015/16 Absa Premiership Player’s Player of the Season and the Absa Premiership Midfielder of the Season.

4 men arrested in Delft following a spate of shootings

Nontando Mafanya

31 May 2016

Four men have been arrested during a walkabout in Delft by community crime fighters and police following a recent spate of shooting.

At least eight people have been killed in what are believed to be gang-related shootings. 

Police made the arrest at a house where angry community members had gathered.

The suspect was found in possession of mandrax, while three other men have been taken in for questioning.

Three arrests were also made yesterday in connection with the shootings. Among the casualties of the gun battles is a four-year old Machiano Geswind, who was standing outside his family home when he was hit by a stray bullet.

His parents wept as Community Safety MEC Dan Plato offered his condolences.

At least five people have been shot in gang related

Nontando Mafnya

31 May 2016

At least five people have been shot in Delft over the past the weekend. Three of them, including a child, died.

The shootings are thought to be gang-related. The four-year-old boy was shot in the stomach by a stray bullet on Sunday.

The Delft Community Policing Forum Jamiel Spannenberg in a statement says, they need the community to work in partnership with the police to really grab this crime bull by the horns.

He says, These are really unnecessary killings; like the situation where a young man was found in possession of an illegal firearm but was released in the care of the parents. Just couple of days later, he was killed.

WITS University still looking for two man that planned arson attack

Nontando Mafanya

30 May 2016

Wits University has appealed to anyone with information on what appears to have been allegedly  on one of its buildings in Braamfontein, to come forward. 

The university says two unknown people wearing balaclavas gained entry into its library through a window at the weekend, with at least three gas cylinders. There’s still no clarity on whether the pair are Wits students and the institution has since beefed up its security.

University spokesperson Shirona Patel says, The safety and security of our staff, students and property remains paramount. Additional security has been deployed at strategic points at our campuses.

Man injured as car bursts into flames

Leonie Pretorius

28 May 2016

A man has been critically injured when the vehicle he was driving in burst into flames after crashing into a tree on the N-7 at Goodwood.

ER-24 spokesperson Chitra Bodasing says it is understood that the passenger managed to pull the driver from the vehicle.

Paramedics treated the man on scene and rushed him to hospital.

The passenger was uninjured.

In another crash, a car collided with a taxi in a lane in the opposite direction.

Two women inside the car sustained minor injuries and were also treated on the scene and transported to hospital.

The third occupant in this vehicle, a man, and the taxi driver were uninjured. Authorities are investigating the cause of both incidents.

Operations at Lily mine to continue

Leonie Pretorius

28 May 2016

Operations at the Lily Mine in Barberton will resume next month after a major investment by a Canadian company.

Working came to halt at the mine in Mpumalanga in February after a shaft caved in. 

Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyerende are still trapped underground.

The National Union of Mineworkers says it's disturbed that the mine will resume operations while the three still have not been rescued.

Spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu says,the workers must be rescued, dead or alive, so that the families can find closure.

Claremont teacher accused of rape granted bail

Leonie Pretorius

28 May 2016

A Claremont teacher has been forced to take leave while he stands accused of allegedly raping a 17-year-old learner.

The 52-year-old Science teacher was granted bail of R2,000 in the Wynberg Magistrates Court yesterday.

He handed himself over to police earlier this week

.

The man has been granted bail on condition that he makes no direct or indirect contact with his accuser.

The state says the 17-year-old learner, who attends an all-girls school, where the alleged accused is a teacher, is severely traumatised.

The man is a father of two and is still employed by the private school.

The case has been postponed to June, to allow the state time to consult with the complainant.

City granted Permanent interdict to prevent violent protests

Mbasa Gqokoma

27 May 2016

In a statement, the Western Cape High Court, on Wednesday, granted the City of Cape Town a final and permanent interdict against violent protesters, preventing them from disrupting the MyCiTi service or conducting any protest action at the MyCiTi stations along the T04 trunk route.

City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Brett Herron says, the City cannot allow protesters to vandalise and damage infrastructure, inconvenience commuters, and disrupt the MyCiTi service which is providing a vital and important service to the communities of Dunoon and Joe Slovo.

He says “Vandalism and the destruction of City property, coupled with intimidation and threats to City’s personnel and law-abiding citizens, is unacceptable”.

“There is absolutely no excuse or justification for this criminal and thuggish behaviour and with this final interdict the court drew a line in the sand”, Herron adds.

The Western Cape High Court found that the City of Cape Town ‘has a clear right to protect its property, as well as to protect its officials and employees, and the commuters who make use’ of the MyCiTi stations and service, he concludes

More fist fights & Insults as ANC candidates continue to disagree

Mbasa Gqokoma

27 May 2016

Punches and insults are flying amid tension over the ANC’s municipal councillor lists in the Dr WB Rubusane region in the Eastern Cape.

The outbursts have been allegedly blamed on power struggles, especially when popular choices of candidates put forward by members on the ground are overridden by party bosses higher up the rungs.

Members allegedly said their mini-revolt was based on similar manipulations of 2011 election lists, and that national leadership instructions for popular choices to be respected were being openly ignored.

In one claim this week, two faction’s allegedly hurled insults at each other in the street as one group toyi-toyed past the home of a city Councillor who was surrounded by supporters.

301 SA Firefighters to assist in Canada

Simamkele Vakaza

27 May 2016

Canada will be receiving the aid of 301 South African firefighters to assist the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre in the countries wildland fire suppression efforts at the province of Alberta.

This deployment of wildland firefighters is the biggest South African deployment ever outside of the army to assist a foreign country.

CIFFC is proud of South African fire fighters from their Working on Fire programme and with no doubt believe that they will do South Africa proud to provide these essential services to Canada.

 In April, Working on Fire held a deployment boot camp in Gauteng to prepare 400 South African firefighters for deployment and to meet international standards.

Tributes pour in for former Bafana Bafana Coach Dumitru

Simamkele Vakaza

27 May 2016

Tributes continue to pour in for former Bafana Bafana coach Ted Dumitru. The 76-year-old collapsed in a Johannesburg mall on Thursday after suffering a heart attack. The paramedics tried to resuscitate him but to no avail.

The South African Football Association has joined millions of South Africans in mourning the passing on of former Bafana Bafana coach. He will be remembered for his success at club level as a coach with Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.

SAFA CEO Dennis Mumble says Dumitru's passion to improving South African soccer will be missed. SAFA president Danny Jordaan said Ted Dumitru was a true giant of South African football.

New Drug Counselling Centre launched in Atlantis

Mbasa Gqokoma

26 May 2016

Western Cape MEC for Social Development, Albert Fritz, has today launched the new Atlantis Drug Counselling Centre.

In his open remarks during the launch, MEC Fritz says “It is always great to see people in the province taking initiative, whether they be in government, NGO’s, the Private Sector or individuals in communities”.

He said the discussion he has had with some community members in Atlantis, have been most encouraging.

MEC Fritz says he’s department has now increased its services in the last six years from a mere 7 drug treatment and intervention sites, to 26 sites around the province.

WC Human Settlement MEC to hand over houses in Pelican Park

Mbasa Gqokoma

26 May 2016

Western Cape Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela will today visit 4 families that have been relocated from Thabo Mbeki Informal Settlement to the Thembelihle Housing Project in Pelican Park, Cape Town. 

The families are all headed by senior citizens, and include special needs beneficiary 79 year old Madebesa Jongiwe Mavango. The visit is for MEC to welcome these families to their new homes.

Spokesperson for MEC, Zalisile Mbali says “MEC Madikizela intervened after he was alerted to the plight of these families by the leadership of Thabo Mbeki, who informed him that the families were living under appalling conditions in a flood prone area”.

He says they will now enjoy the warmth of their homes and survive the cold of the fast approaching winter season.

COSATU calls on members to picket today

Mbasa Gqokoma

26 May 2016

In a statement, the Congress of the South African Trade Union says it rejects the legal threats by the Department of Basic Education directed at SADTU, after the union called on its members to join a picket today, protesting overcrowding, at township and rural schools.

Cosatu National Spokesperson Sizwe Pamla says the issues that are being raised by SADTU have an effect on the health of both teachers and learners.

He says “COSATU is calling on all teachers and workers in general to join the SADTU picket and push back against the offensive that is currently directed at the teachers union”.

Pamla says “The federation has concluded that the department of Basic Education is deliberately colluding with those, who have political scores to settle with SADTU”. 

The department has allowed leaks and the misinformation campaign to be used to attack SADTU despite the report of the Ministerial Task Team making it very clear that SADTU as an organization was not found guilty of selling any posts, Pamla concluded. 

A man sustained injuries following a collision with a bakkie

Simamkele Vakaza

26 May 2016

A biker sustained severe injuries following a collision with a bakkie at the Strandfontein Road and Klip Road intersection in Cape Town this morning.

“ER24 paramedics and Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and found the man lying in the intersection. His bike was found a few metres away from him”, said Chitra Bodasing, ER24 spokesperson.

“Upon assessment it was found that the man, believed to be in his 30’s, sustained multiple injuries. He was treated and transported to the Groote Schuur Hospital for further medical care”, concluded Bodasing.

Former President Thabo Mbeki wants the Youth to be taught African’s history

Simamkele Vakaza

26 May 2016

Former president Thabo Mbeki says young Africans should be given a more positive view of their history. Mbeki says Africans need to document and teach their own history in schools.

Mbeki says too many believe they have been victims of slavery, colonisation and apartheid with no control over their destiny. Mbeki says South Africa's education system needs to promote African pride adding that colonialism doesn't define Africa's future.

He says Africa’s youth should be empowered to take responsibility and transform the continent. Mbeki has called on Africans to conscientize the youth to continue the struggle to fully liberate the continent.

Six suspects arrested for housebreaking

Mbasa Gqokoma

25 May 2016

Members from SAPS Claremont where on routine crime prevention patrols on Tuesday, when they received information to be on the lookout for a white Avanza with six occupants who were just involved in a housebreaking in Malleson Road in Mowbray.

Police managed to pull over the vehicle in Imam Haron Road and upon searching the vehicle, they recovered a television set, four cameras, and an assortment of jewellery, a crow bar and a screw driver.

Six male suspects aged between 28 and 35 were arrested and will make a court appearance at the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Thursday on charges relating to house breaking and theft, possession of presumably stolen property and possession of housebreaking implements. 

Police are also investigating the possibility of these suspects being wanted or linked to other cases.

Three suspects are expected to appear In Court after a shootout at Nyanga

Simamkele Vakaza

25 May 2016

Three people are expected to appear in court after they were involved in a shootout with police in Nyanga. Two men and a woman, were arrested yesterday in possession of guns and ammunition. 

The arrest occurred at their residence in Nyanga following a brief shootout where no one was injured.

It’s alleged they shot at Hawks and Flying Squad members who were conducting a raid in the township. They’re expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrate Court on Thursday.

Khayelitsha residents puts pressure to city of Cape Town Mayor

Nontando Mafanya

24 May 2016

Around 100 Khayelistha residents have gathered at the Civic Centre to put pressure on Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille to address sanitation issues in informal settlements.

The group, led by the Social Justice Coalition, has handed over a list of demands relating to poor sanitation and safety concerns in the area.

The mayor is expected to table her budget in the provincial legislature tomorrow.

The City of Cape Town has reserved R15 million to be spent across 204 informal settlements this financial year.

 But residents say the budget allocation is unequal to the community’s needs. More than 5,000 residents have signed a petition handed over to a representative of the mayor calling for her to address their demands.

One of the residents in a statement said there are bucket toilets and dirty water in front of the clinic, there are diseases there and it’s not safe.

The group has advised the mayor to increase expenditure to helpless communities and commit to implementing long-term sanitation infrastructure.

WC Human Settlements to hand over houses

Leonie Pretorius

24 May 2016

The Western Cape MEC of Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela, is set to hand over a number of houses to beneficiaries of the Mount Pleasant and Swartdamweg Site A Housing Project today.

The project, which falls under the Integrated Residential Development Programme subsidy funding, as provided by the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, has yielded 220 Breaking New Ground housing opportunities at a cost of approximately R37.5 million. 

Practical completion of the houses concerned was reached on 31 March 2016. 

A total of 7 disabled units were also constructed as part of the project, offering relief to relevant disabled beneficiaries on Overstrand's housing allocation list.

Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela will deliver a keynote address, followed by a speech from Overstrand Executive Mayor, Nicolette Botha-Guthrie

Youth Café launched in Oudtshoorn

Leonie Pretorius

24 May 2016

Western Cape MEC for Social Development, Albert Fritz will today launch the departments fourth Youth Café in Oudtshoorn.

Guided by the Provincial Youth Strategy and Provincial Strategic Goal 2 which speaks to improving education outcomes and opportunities for youth development, the Western Cape Government has prioritized the empowerment and development of young people in the province.

Fritz says “This new Youth Café follows the success of the first three Youth Cafés in Mitchell’s Plain, Athlone and George”. 

He added that “The Youth Cafés offer entrepreneurial, leadership and other skills training, including internet access for job seekers or entrepreneurs”.

This Café will allow young people in Oudthoorn access to a developmental space that is limited only by their creativity, he concluded.

Minister Plato conducts safety outreach

Simamkele Vakaza

24 May 2016

Minister Plato will be engaging with the religious community in the area on the various opportunities available to partner with the Department of Community Safety, especially through the Youth, Safety and Religious Partnership. 

“Minister Plato, together with officials from the Department of Community Safety, will officially hand over a Safety kiosk with one of our safety partners, the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading in Khayelitsha”, said Ewald Botha, Spokesperson for Minister Plato.

40 Safety Kiosks by the Department of Community Safety and relevant safety stakeholders and will enable communities to play an active role in identifying and resolving safety concerns that exist within their neighbourhoods.

Violent protest in Hammanskraal resulting six people being injured

Simamkele Vakaza

24 May 2016

Residents of Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, continued to block roads in the township late into the night as police patrolled the area following violent protests.

The city says at least 16,000 people have illegally been occupying land in an area known as Sekampaneng. Six people were injured in the attacks which are being investigated.

Meanwhile… Residents of Plastic View informal settlement, east of Pretoria, have pleaded with police to help them restore peace in their community. This follows violent clashes between Basotho and Zimbabwean nationals over the weekend in the area. 

Residents say tensions between the two groups have been simmering for years, resulting in constant clashes.

Court dismisses DA’S claim Zuma had hidden motives

Nontando Mafanya

23 May 2016

The Western Cape High Court has dismissed the Democratic Alliance’s claim that secrete causes were behind President Jacob Zuma’s failure to suspend deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba.

Judge Mokgoatji Dolamo handed down his ruling earlier today in the opposition political party’s proposal to have Jiba suspended pending the outcome of an inquiry into her fitness to hold office.

Jiba allegedly criticised by several judges for her handling of the spy tapes saga, the Richard Mdluli case and her decision to prosecute former Kwa-Zulu Natal Hawks head Johan Booysen.

In a 54-page judgment, Judge Dolamo in a statement said he does not agree with the DA’s “simplistic view” that all President Zuma had to ask himself was whether the allegations against Jiba were serious enough to warrant suspension and an investigation.

US official ‘shot in the face’ on Johannesburg tour bus

Leonie Pretorius

23 May 2016

A US city councilman from Mobile, Alabama is in a stable condition after he was shot in the face in Johannesburg during a robbery over the weekend.

 US news outlets report CJ Small was shot on Saturday when a tour bus he was riding on was ambushed and people on board were robbed.

 Mobile City Council spokesperson Marion Steinfels said in a statement that Small is expected to recover Small, who owns a mortuary, travelled to South Africa to attend the South African Funeral Director & Morticians Association Convention.

The family is working with the US Consulate Office in Johannesburg as well as the Secretary of State in Washington.

 It is unclear when he will be able to be released from the hospital and return to the States.

Prison wardens wearing torn uniform to work in the Eastern Cape

Leonie Pretorius

23 May 2016

The Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union in the Eastern Cape has blamed the Department of Correctional Services for failing to provide uniforms to prison warders.

 Many officials are forced to wear old, torn uniforms to work. Many say at times they had no choice but to ask inmates to stitch up their torn uniforms for them.

Popcru provincial chairman Loyiso Mdingi said for years this had been a problem. 

However, Eastern Cape regional commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast said all correctional centres in the province were given an opportunity to order uniforms last year.

Judgement to be handed over to Jiba today

Simamkele Vakaza

23 May 2016

The Western Cape High Court is expected to hand down judgment on Monday in an application by the Democratic Alliance to have Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba suspended, pending a disciplinary inquiry into her fitness to hold office.

The Democratic Alliance asked the court to force President Zuma to suspend Jiba and institute disciplinary proceedings after she was strongly criticised by the Supreme Court of Appeal in cases relating to the so-called Zuma spy tapes, and Richard Mdluli.

In March, the DA argued that the failure by President Zuma to suspend Advocate Jiba was unlawful and tainted by ulterior motives and bias

The Democratic Alliance says Parliament acted illegally on Maimane’s financial findings

Simamkele Vakaza

23 May 2016

The DA says Parliament's Ethics Committee acted unlawfully when it found its leader Mmusi Maimane guilty of not declaring all his financial interests.

The Ethics Committee found that Maimane had failed to declare to Parliament financial donations to his 2015 internal elections campaign when he was contesting for the position of party leader. The party now wants the Cape High Court to set the ruling aside.

The DA found the verdict biased and when their appeals failed, accused the committee of being a political hit-squad for the ANC.

Four people killed in a shack fire in CPT

Nontando Mafanya

22 May 2016

Four people, including two children, have been killed in a shack fire on the borders of Cape Town.

 Early this morning, firefighters battled a blaze in Bloekombos near Kraaifontein.

The city's Theo Layne in a statement says, the cause of the fire is still undetermined and the incident was handed over to the South African Police Service for further investigation.

Senior ANC leaders to finals party’s candidates today

 Nontando Mafanya

21 May 2016

Senior African National Congress leaders in the Western Cape are meeting today to finalise the party's candidates list for the local government elections.

 Two previous attempts to conclude the process were disrupted by dissatisfied members who claim the regional structures have not followed the proper procedure for nominations.

The provincial executive committee has only been able to finalise lists for two regions, with four others still outstanding.

ANC provincial spokesperson Jabu Mfusi in a statement says, they are still going to the national conference where all things are going to be approved and structures are going to be provided.

There will also be an opportunity to appeal if they see something annoying.

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner served with a letter of suspension today

Leonie Pretorius

19 May 2016

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni was served with a letter of suspension today after weeks of waiting for the axe to fall over her links with businessman Thoshan Panday.

 Ngobeni was served with the notice of intention to suspend her by acting national police commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane in May.

Her suspension relates to her links to Panday and his associates, who reportedly had paid nearly R20 000 for her husband Lucas's birthday party in 2010.

 The bash, thrown by Panday, came at a time when the controversial businessman was a suspect in a fraud investigation.

A man has been arrested for possession of gold R11, 000 in CT International Airport

Nontando Mafanya

19 May 2016

A man has been arrested at Cape Town International Airport after he was found in possession of gold valued at around R11, 000.

 The man was taken into custody on Tuesday after customs discovered the gold concealed in a jam jar.

South African Revenue Service spokesperson Sandile Memela says, that the jam jar was found in the man’s luggage and it was put through the scan that revealed four metal stones which was confirmed to be gold bars.

The man and gold were handed over to the South African Police Service. This is the second gold bust at an airport this week.

On Monday, a Lebanese national was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after Sars officials found gold bars worth more than R7 million in his luggage.

Mafevuka’s allegedly killers bail hearing continues in the Khayelitsha Magistrate court

Nontando Mafanya

19 May 2016

Two cousins were arrested after the 19-year-old’s body was found in a communal toilet in March.

Supporters have again gathered at the case against two men accused of the rape and murder of Sinoxolo Mafevuka in Khayelitsha.

The bail hearing continues in the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court today. The two cousins were arrested after the 19-year-old’s body was found in a communal toilet in March.

A small group of supporters is outside the courtroom. They’ve been following court proceedings since the two men first appeared in March. Some are holding placards with the message:

“Stop the Violence against women”. At the last court appearance on Monday, defence lawyer Thabo Nogemane told journalist the bail hearing has been dragging on for longer than he had anticipated.

Nogemane is expected to continue the cross-examination of Investigating Officer Batiki Tshabalala today.

Zuma says he never lied about Nkandla

Leonie Pretorius

17 May 2016

President Jacob Zuma told Parliament today that he had never lied about the upgrades to his home in Nkandla.

This was after DA leader Mmusi Maimane demanded to see his bond, after quoting from a 2012 statement Zuma made to Parliament, saying that his home was bonded and that he and his family were paying for it.

According to Zuma, when he answered questions about his home in Parliament in 2012, he had said his family had built the home, and not government.

MEANWHILE

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema’s warned his party is prepared to meet violence with violence.

Scuffles broke out inside and outside the National Assembly chamber as Malema and his fellow EFF Members of Parliament fought back against members of Parliament’s Protection Services as they were being physically removed from the House.

Once the EFF benches were clear, Zuma took to the podium and started answering questions, making no mention of the mayhem that had just unfolded. 

Cape Town cop gets 5 years in jail for fraud, defeating ends of justice

Leonie Pretorius

17 May 2016

A former police constable has been sentenced to five years behind bars for fraud and defeating the ends of justice

Ashley Munnik heard his fate in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Court yesterday.

He was arrested early last year following a lengthy investigation.

The former South African Police Service member was stationed at the Athlone Police Station where he worked as a detective.

In 2014, he was accused of corruption, following an investigation that found he had kept several packets of tik instead of handing them over as evidence.

Munnik was convicted on ten counts of defeating the ends of justice and one count of fraud.

He has been sentenced to five years for each count, which will run concurrently.

Another Dramatic Q & A session anticipated as Zuma takes podium

Nontando Mafanya

17 May 2016

Parliament is braced for more possible drama this afternoon when President Jacob Zuma is set to answer questions in the National Assembly.

Today's sitting comes in the wake of the Western Cape High Court dismissing an application from the Economic Freedom Fighters, which wanted Speaker Baleka Mbete interdicted from unlawfully physically ejecting any EFF member from the chamber.

 During the Presidency budget vote earlier this month, 16 EFF Members of Parliament were forcibly removed after trying to prevent the president from speaking.

Meanwhile, today members of the National Assembly are debating the situation in Vuwani, Limpopo where protests have culminated in school closures and damage to schools amounting to millions of rand.

Twenty five people have thus far been arrested since the protests began last month.

 It is alleged that one of them was an ANC councillor from the Makhado local municipality.

A total of twenty eight schools were burnt down during protests. Vuwani residents have been fighting against a merger with the Malamulele municipality and surrounding areas.

Court dismiss EFF urgent plea on the Speaker of the National Assembly

Simamkele Vakaza

17 May 2016

The Western Cape High Court has struck off the roll the Economic Freedom Fighters's application to have the speaker of the National Assembly interdicted from removing the party's Members of Parliament during the president's question and answer session this afternoon.

Parliament says the court ruled that the application was not urgent. According to Parliament, the EFF also wanted to have the session postponed. President Jacob Zuma is expected to give oral replies to questions in the National Assembly today. The EFF members have been previously kicked out of Parliament.

COPE says Gordhan arrest claims an act of intimidation

Leonie Pretorius

16 May 2016

The Congress of the People  says that “continuous media leaks” are being used to intimidate Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

The opposition political party is accusing President Jacob Zuma of using the tactic to irritate Gordhan until he resigns.

Yesterday, reporters revealed that the Hawks want the finance minister prosecuted for spying in relation to the activities of a so-called rogue unit at the South African Revenue Service.

University of Johannesburg student auditorium on fire

Leonie Pretorius
16 May 2016

Arson is suspected of the being the cause of a blaze that saw the University of Johannesburg's Sanlam Auditorium going up in flames in the early hours this morning.

There was a strong burning smell in the air as members of the South African Police Service examined the scene, searching for clues as to what had caused the fire.

Warrant Officer Gordon Billing told reporters that no arrests had been made so far and that the scene was yet to be investigated by arson inspectors.

DA leader Maimane speaks about the Crime affecting the Nelson Mandela Bay

Simamkele Vakaza

15 May 2016

Gang violence is destroying the Nelson Mandela Bay area, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said in Helenvale today.

 He was accompanied by the party's mayoral candidate, Athol Trollip. Maimane said both victims and offenders, as well as their families, were deeply affected by this kind of criminal activity.

"It affects young people who, out of desperation, are dragged into gangsterism and drug addiction, which ends up destroying their lives and robbing them of their potential and their destiny." Maimane said that the cycle of "unemployment, poverty, desperation, drugs, gangsterism and violence" had to be broken.

Drug burst over the weekend in the Country

Simamkele Vakaza

15 May 2016

A 57-year-old man was arrested in Durban at the weekend when he was found in possession of hydroponic dagga plants with a street value of R100 000, KwaZulu-Natal police said today. The raid took place on Friday in Bluff. The man was also found in possession of an unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Meanwhile a search operation conducted by Beaufort West police yielded a massive haul of mandrax tablets worth R10 million in the early hours of this morning, Western Cape police said. Provincial management commended the Beaufort West police for the good work. The seizure and arrest were believed to have made a major dent to the drug trade.