Boksburg drug dealer caught with merchandise in his undies

Leonie Pretorius
31 July 2016

A Nigerian man has been charged with dealing drugs at the Boksburg Flea Market after officers found him with illegal tranquillizers hidden in his underwear yesterday.

Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department spokesperson, Wilfred Kgasago, said that officers had received a tip-off about the dealer and placed the man under surveillance.

The 32-year-old Nigerian national was detained at Boksburg North Police Station after charges of possession and dealing in illegal substances were registered

The man was approached and arrested when drugs were found hidden in his underwear.

Thirty-two bags of crystal meth and cat valued at R12 500 were retrieved from the suspect’s underwear.

Cash amounting to R1 530, suspected to be proceeds from drug-dealing, was confiscated from the suspect.

He is expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court Tomorrow.

Heavy police presence ahead of Wednesday's polls

Natasha Mabuto

31 July 2016

Police are on high alert ahead of Wednesday's local government elections.

Government strongly warns that it will take tough action against anyone who will attempt to disrupt the polls.

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko says there will heavy police presence across the country.

He says officers will be assigned to escort IEC officials and to secure ballot papers.

This also comes as the African National Congress and the Economic Freedom Fighters are set to hold their final rallies ahead of Wednesday's local government elections.

The EFF will hold its final rally at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane.

The Independent Electoral Commission in Mpumalanga said its all systems go for the next week's local government elections.

The commission yesterday launched the provincial results centre just outside Mbombela.

Alleged coalitions formed by political parties in key metros

Leonie Pretorius
31 July 2016

Political parties are reportedly holding secret talks to form coalitions in key metros where the vote could go either way on Wednesday.

Reports say that these meetings are taking place despite parties having splurged hundreds of millions of rands to outdo each other.

The upcoming municipal elections are largely seen as the most fiercely contested and expensive yet.

Jacob Zuma has recently blasted the opposition party while on his campaign trail, calling it the brain child of apartheid.

The Democratic Alliance’s Tshwane mayoral candidate Solly Msimanga says President Zuma’s recent attacks on the party show that he’s frightened of defeat at the polls.

The NFP exclusion from the upcoming elections

Natasha Mabuto

30 July 2016

The NFP has been excluded from this year’s polls after failing to meet an Independent Electoral Committee deadline for the payment of its deposit.

The National Freedom Party says an Electoral Court decision to dismiss its bid to participate in the municipal elections will see the livelihoods of hundreds of people affected.

The party had approached the court claiming it had new evidence to support its bid to have the IEC bend its electoral timetable.

Party leaders say while they are disappointed by the ruling, they will accept the court’s decision and start preparing for the next election.

However the NFP will no longer be able to participate in the polls, many of its members face a loss of employment.

The National Union of Mineworkers on Eskom wage negotiations at the CCMA

Natasha Mabuto

30 July 2016

The National Union of Mineworkers had a meeting with Eskom which deliberated on all demands that were sent to Eskom.

They say they appreciate the role played by the government towards stabilizing of the company however they are unhappy with regards to the behaviour of undermining the mighty NUM by the minister of Public Enterprise.

Paris Mashego says “We will be embarking on a programme which will include demonstrations, picketing and a strike. We have lowered our demands to 12% and at the maximum at 13%. We continue saying to the employer that if they don’t address the issue of the Apartheid wage gap, if they don’t increase the housing allowance our members are definitely going on a strike”.

ANC “home away from home” insists Ramaphosa

Natasha Mabuto
30 July 2016

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa insists the ANC remains the hope of the people.

On Friday, he sounded optimistic about his party's prospects in the Western Cape.

It's the only province in South Africa not run by his party and unlikely to go the way of the ANC on Wednesday, if political forecasters are to be believed.

Ramaphosa has been canvassing there for the ANC for days. Yesterday he first stopped at the home of Goodwill Mshwene, who said he lived with five family members in the shack just off Mew Way in Khayelitsha.

Ramaphosa appeared amused to learn the well-built Mshwene was a chef at a Cape Town casino.

He described his family to Ramaphosa, explaining his 19-year-old son would soon complete high school The Deputy President urged the parent to apply for NSFAS funding.

ATM fraudster nabbed by Hawks

Natasha Mabuto
30 July 2016


The Western Cape Hawks have nabbed a fugitive wanted in connection with a R50 000 ATM fraud case in Paarl yesterday.

Spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha says the 34-year-old man was spotted at a mall during surveillance operations.

Police had been searching for him since 2014, in connection with the crime, which was committed in Queenstown.

He is expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday

IEC says the 2016 elections have been the most difficult yet

Natasha Mabuto
30 July 2016

Electoral Commission of South Africa vice chairperson Terry Tselane said that this year's municipal elections are the most difficult South Africa has ever experienced.

The IEC had experienced problems with its voters’ roll and there had been political killings.

It is one of the most serious conflicts that the IEC has experienced in the history of elections and in the history of the country.

He assured guests at the opening of the Century City conference centre, which would be the Western Cape IEC’s nerve centre for the coming days that they would deliver free and fair elections.

Provincial electoral officer Courtney Sampson warned that after the 3rd of August election, there would be unhappy people as there are only 914 seats available for 7 869 candidates.

EFF candidate for Tshwane has been disqualified

Nontando Mafanya
29 July 2016

An Economic Freedom Fighters candidate for Tshwane has been disqualified after a racist rant on Facebook.

Journalist has confirmed that judgment has been handed down in the case against Thabo Mabotja, who was charged with breaching the electoral code of conduct.

Mabotja was pulled before the Electoral Court after posting on Facebook his view that all white people should be “hacked and killed”.

Counsel for the Independent Electoral Commission argued that he should be disqualified from contesting in Wednesday’s municipal elections, according to television channel.

The court issued its judgment a short while ago, and the Mabotja is no longer a candidate.

Man shot six times while leaving his home.

Wayne Boonzaaier
29 July 2016

Deputy Chairman of the Eastern Cape Bus Council Bixie Mkutu escaped with his life when he was shot six rimes outside his king William’s Town home on Sunday night.

He is recovering at an undisclosed location with gunshot wounds to the thigh, arm and back.


He was shot by two unidentified gunmen shortly before 8pm while leaving his home at the corner of Grey and Cambridge Streets.

He counted eight shots. Eastern Cape Hawks spokeswoman Captain Anelisa Feni said the shooting was being investigated by members of the Organised Crime Unit

IEC and EISA encouraged people to vote

Nontando Mafanya

29 July 2016

The Independent Electoral Commission and Electoral Institute of Southern Africa have emphasised the importance of the Local Government Elections taking place on August 3.

IEC Deputy Chairperson Terry Tselane and EISA's Ilona Tip spoke to SABC . Tselane says people must know the importance of electing someone who will be responsible to deliver the community's basic needs.

 Operation director for EISA Ilona Tip also says citizens should identify their leaders to make sure they deliver on promises.

Posted by Bush Radio 89.5 FM on Friday, 29 July 2016

WC ANC still unclear on Fransman's status

Leonie Pretorius

29 July 2016

The African National Congress  in the Western Cape believes its national leadership will be able to resolve the ongoing turmoil around its provincial chairperson Marius Fransman.

Fransman had taken the party’s Secretary General Gwede Mantashe to court in his fight for his job.

He had voluntarily stepped down to allow an investigation into sexual assault claims levelled against him to run its course.

Fransman, though, was conspicuous in his absence during deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa's campaign blitz in the Cape Winelands yesterday.

His deputy and acting Western Cape chairperson Khaya Magaxa said Fransman’s status within the party is still unclear.

Muthambi dismisses claims of censorship at SABC

Leonie Pretorius

29 July 2016

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has dismissed concerns that censorship has been implemented at the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

She addressed a community newspaper meeting in Pretoria yesterday.

Muthambi re-iterated that the SABC informs and educates people as compared to mainstream media.

She says she doesn't understand why there has been a hype about alleged censorship at the public broadcaster.

Ramaphosa says political killings are aimed at destabilising ANC

Leonie Pretorius

29 July 2016

African National Congress  Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says those responsible for a spate of political killings ahead of next week’s local government elections are trying to destabilise the ruling party.

Ramaphosa was speaking on the sideline of an election campaign in Mbekweni in the Western Cape, where he called on authorities to intensify their efforts to track down the perpetrators.

More than a dozen people have been murdered, most of them ANC members in KwaZulu-Natal, in the run up to the polls.

Ramaphosa has condemned the killings, adding some are trying to weaken the governing party.

Political debates continue with crime as today's topic.

Wayne Boonzaaier

28 July 2016

With the local government elections ahead, the political debates at the Bush radio studious are still well under way.

With it being the fourth day of political debates today’s topic was crime; what political parties will do to prevent and decrease the crime rate in Cape Town.

Listeners submitted questions, regarding crime in their community’s and the possibility of decreasing crime rate, for the political party representatives to address.

One of the remarks received was from a Mitchell’s Plains local discussing how crime is rife in their community and accused the DA of not doing anything about.

To which, JP Smith, the DA Mayoral Safety and Security member answered:

“We went from a situation where we took over from the ANC with 1876 staff, we are now sitting with over 3000 staff. We are deploying metro police on a fixed basis.

Our metro police officers are deployed to one specific community and they work in that community every day.

We all agree we need more staff. But the budget is not allowing that once you’re in council you will discover that you have massive competing   crisis with electricity, and housing.

There are many competitive things in council and people who sit on the outside don’t fully appreciate this until they’re in council then they become a lot more quitter.

When you are in local government you are dependent on systems in the criminal justice system that other spheres of government control and this is a reality and if you don’t understand that you are too ignorant to be part of this debate.

We have an operational plan to continue increasing resources, you will see incremental increases every year as wave been doing over five years but on a stable and responsible basis that the rate payers can absorb, not wild budget increases that the rate payers cannot deal with.”

Another questioned was submitted, saying “How will ICOSA deal with crime?”

ICOSA’s Richard Cock replied “When people vote ICOSA into power we’re not making promises.

Crime is everyone’s responsibility, we will implement an integrated approach that is budget driven.

The department of Safety and Security in the City of Cape Town is doing well but that department is starved of budget. We will prioritise budget to fight crime.

We would want to develop programmes where we take communities and make everyone in the community responsible for preventing crime.

We will get the City of Cape Town to develop a combative forum where we have a unit that will deal with gangsterism and drugs.

We will involve all community forums with regards to fighting crime.”

Thulsie brothers back in court

Leonie Pretorius

28 July 2016

The two brothers accused of plotting attacks on US and Jewish interests in Johannesburg will be back in court this morning.

Their lawyers are to argue their arrest was unlawful. Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie stand accused of planning to set off bombs at an American Diplomatic Mission and Jewish institutions.

In sworn affidavits, the Thulsie twins say the State has failed to make a proper case against them and that prosecutors have refused to supply them with the details of the charges they face.

It’s emerged the police were expecting to find components to make bombs and suicide vests during raids at their homes, but what they did find was cell phones, sim cards, hand written notes and other documents.

Arrests made in Simon's Town naval base burglary

Somila Nkosana

28 July 2016

Two people have been arrested in connection with a burglary at the Simon's Town naval base

Hand grenades, firearms and ammunition were stolen during the break-in last weekend. Hawks Head, Berning Ntlemeza has confirmed the stolen weapons have also been recovered.

 The Hawks' Lloyd Ramovha says that they can confirm that an overnight blitz by the Hawks and crime intelligence has resulted in the arrest of two suspects aged 18 and 26 early this morning for their suspected involvement in the naval base burglary over the weekend.

  

Western Cape Community Safety MEC, Dan Plato claims this is the third break-in at the base this year. Plato says the theft of guns will have a severe impact on the safety of Western Cape residents, because the weapons will most likely end up in the hands of gangsters.

Drivers warned to fill up as pumps could run dry

Leonie Pretorius

28 July 2016

There are fears that pumps at petrol station arounds the country could run dry today as a result of the strike called by labour union, Chemical Energy Paper Printing Wood and Allied Workers Union.

The strike is expected to affect mainly fuel refineries and depots impacting on delivery to filling stations.

CEPPWAWU's Clement Chitja says their members in the petroleum industry are embarking on a nationwide strike following a deadlock in wage talks.

Chitja says the reasons why they are taking this bold action is because wage negotiations weakened and did not deliver an agreement as anticipated.

Tokai forest murder accused back in court

Leonie Pretorius

28 July 2016

Four men accused of raping and murdering 16-year-old Franziska Blochliger in the Tokai forest earlier this year are scheduled to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court  Today

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In May, Magistrate Hafiza Mohamed said the State had a weak case against Jerome Moses and Daniel Easter, who had made a formal bail application. Moses was released on R2 000, and Easter on R1 000 bail.

Mohamed ruled that the State's case was not sufficient to link the two to the crime.

Howard Oliver, whose DNA was found at the scene, and Jonathan Jonas, abandoned their bail applications.

The teenager was found dead in Tokai Forest on March 7.

She had been strangled and raped.

 Her killers took her iPhone, watch, headset, and diamond ring.

14 people have been arrested after alleged politically-motivated killings

Wayne Boonzaaier

27 July 2016

Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko says 14 people have been arrested following a parliamentary task team investigation into recent politically-motivated killings in the country. 

The police minister briefed the media at Parliament's Imbizo Centre today. He was joined by acting SAPS Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza. 

Nhleko said it was important to treat the matter with urgency and to provide clarity given the recent spate of murders in five provinces ahead of the August 3 elections.

Severe weather update: Condition to worsen

Somila Nkosana

27 July 2016

The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre has been alerted by the South African Weather Service that current adverse weather conditions are expected to continue across large parts of the Western Cape until tomorrow.

Members of the public are advised that heavy can rain can still be expected particularly in the Overberg and Peninsula region, along the West Coast, its adjacent interior and the Cape Winelands.

In addition, gale force wind and very cold weather conditions can be expected.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning says the concern is that the continuous heavy rainfall my lead to localized flooding in some areas.

Provincial as well as Municipal Disaster Management Centres remain fully operational with officials on standby 24/7.

These centres may contacted should the need arise.

Taxi violence leaves 5 people dead

Mbasa Gqokoma

27 July 2016

The death toll in taxi violence in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape has risen to five.

Last week, heavily armed assailants randomly opened fire on shoppers and commuters near a taxi rank, leaving 15 people seriously injured.

Eastern Cape Safety and Liaison MEC, Weziwe Tikana has warned taxi associations that permits will be withdrawn if the fighting over routes doesn't stop.

Tikana added that, “We have agreed that we have to engage, otherwise if they continue to fight we will have no other option either than the withdrawal of the permit.”

Major damages caused by tornado in Johannesburg

Somila Nkosana

27 July 2016

Certain parts of Johannesburg have fallen victim to two tornadoes in the last few days and the latest sighting passed over Tembisa and was captured on camera by bystanders.

The tornado passed through Thembisa at approximately 4pm, damaging Phumulani Mall‚ Tembisa Hospital and a Total garage‚ both in Hospital View.

Many took to social media to share footage they captured of the natural disaster as it crashed down and damaged buildings and caused complete chaos on the roads.

Several emergency response teams rushed through to Tembisa yesterday afternoon shortly after the extreme winds erupted. Paramedics and rescue workers found debris scattered across the parking lot of the mall as well as twisted metal laying at the entrance of the mall.

Several vehicles were damaged, roofs blown off and three people sustained minor injuries.

The area was closed off by the local police and emergency services.

As we enter the second day of debates things get heated.

Wayne Boonzaaier

26 July 2016

It is day 2 of the political debates in the Bush Radio Studios. Today’s debate topic was the current state of housing in Cape Town.

This is what some of the political party representatives had to say:

DA’s Benedicta van Minnen “I’m not going, this afternoon, to give a whole list of promises about what we would do if we gain power in the City of Cape Town.

The DA has been running the administration in Cape Town and we’re running on our record. 

It’s important to note that since 2001 58 000 houses have been built by the municipality in the City of Cape Town.

In this administration since 2011, 34 000 thousand houses have been built by ourselves. So more than half of the housing built in the metros since its inception has been in this term.

We certainly see this going forward in the next term as we’ve recognized the barriers that we have and we work extremely hard to tear those away.

EFF’s Bernard Joseph “EFF believes that this informal settlement across the metro and across the province needs to be eradicated.

That’s the one area. We also need to ensure that we have adequate sanitation in terms of service delivery and proper water to house and we do not have to build these houses when the toilet is in the kitchen. 

How do you prepare food for your family if the toilet is in the kitchen.

ANC’s Yonela Diko “In 2007 as were in government and the province that if we do not address the issue of housing by 2023, we will have a housing back log of over 460 000 houses.

Now we are at 2016. We had a plan back then if we spend R1 billion into building houses for our people we would’ve addressed the issue a few years after 2023.

In 2009 of course the DA took over government we are in 2016 and the housing back log 400 000.”

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union welcomes the arrest of three suspected human traffickers

Wayne Boonzaaier

26 July 2016

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union says it welcomes the arrest of three suspected human traffickers and the rescue of over 50 children by the South African Police Services over the weekend.

Popcru’s Richard Mamabolo explains “According to the progress that the SAPS has been making, arresting suspected human traffickers.

We feel that South Africa has been used as an exit point from throughout the most parts of the region to the international world.

And of course locally as well we have seen that the statistics are increasing.

You would find your children forced into prostitution and others of course their unpaid labour.”

R2K welcomes court victory for sacked SABC Journalists

Wayne Boonzaaier

26 July 2016

The Right to Know Campaign in a statement says it welcomes the judgement handed down by the Labour Court for SABC Journalists.

Right to Know’s Organiser, Micah Reddy in a statement says, there is a need for a radical response to the prevailing status quo at the SABC to ensure that the broadcaster is protected from political interference.

Reddy says “R2K welcomes this latest victory against SABC management and in favour of the purge SABC journalists.

This is a victory for press freedom and basic constitutional values. That said the battle continues, the battle to reclaim the soul of our public broadcaster which has been steadily undermined by political interference.

The issues run much deeper than the censorship policy and the intimidation of journalists. The root of these problems id political interference and a lack of respect for public broadcasting.

We have management that are in cahoots with political factions and its destabilizing the SABC”

8 new Taxi’s to deliver the disabled free of charge

Natasha Mabuto

26 July 2016

Social development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi yesterday handed over eight specialised minibus taxis to six district municipalities and two metros to transport disabled people during times of need.

The taxis will be used by department offices and each vehicle will cost R11 659 to lease per month for the next five years.

Sihlwayi said her department had a much greater responsibility than other departments because it had to bring quality services to the most vulnerable groups of the community.

The handover took place in a tent in front of Jabavu Hall in Duncan Village and was attended by about 1000 residents from the area dressed in ANC regalia singing about the party.

Amos Mzimele, 44, a resident from Mooiplaas said vehicles for disabled people were a necessity for all communities.

Several human trafficking arrests made

Somila Nkosana

26 July 2016

The police have made a breakthrough in a human trafficking investigation which has resulted in more than 50 children being rescued. 

Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane is scheduled to announce details of the arrests and the operation later this morning

. 

The police say they have arrested three men suspected of human trafficking and secured the release of more than 50 children. Details of the operation are not known, except that it took place this weekend

Two weeks ago the police rescued 16 girls from a house in Kempton Park. The youngest girl was 15-years-old. It is suspected that the girls were being used as prostitutes.

NPA welcomes r2m tik drug bust at CT airport

Leonie Pretorius

26 July 2016

The National Prosecuting Authority says the arrest of yet another alleged drug smuggler at Cape Town International Airport has dealt a further blow to the narcotics trade.

Johannesburg resident Melody Sibanda was allegedly caught with tik worth nearly R2 million in her possession at the weekend.

Sibanda, who was arrested during a random search, appeared in the Bellville Magistrates Court yesterday.

Authorities say the 27-year-old had hidden the drugs in boxes of Kellogg’s Cornflakes packed in her luggage.

The matter has been postponed to next Monday for a formal bail application.

Portia Sizani back in court

Somila Nkosana

26 July 2016

Portia Sizani, wife of former African National Congress (ANC) chief whip in Parliament, Stone Sizani, is expected back in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court today.

Earlier this year Sizani was found not guilty on five of the 15 counts of money laundering against her. However, she still has 16 counts of fraud and 10 counts of money laundering against her name.

She is accused of defrauding the Eastern Cape Education Department out of more than R1.2 million by processing several fraudulent applications for Grade R teaching posts.

Fransman is not back on the job: Kodwa

Somila Nkosana

26 July 2016

National ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said that Marius Fransman did not have the ANC’s agreement to return to the post of Western Cape leader and the party would oppose his court bid to claim the job back.

Kodwa confirmed remarks by ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe to the effect that Fransman imposed himself at campaign events last week and embarrassed ANC elections head Nomvula Mokonyane into telling reporters that he was back in the fold to save face.

Fransman made a surprise appearance on the campaign trial on Thursday, as President Jacob Zuma went door-to-door in Philippi on the Cape Flats. Over the weekend, he issued a statement welcoming what he termed the ANC’s acknowledgement on that day that he was back in his post and announcing that

Fransman was accused of sexually harassing a 21-year-old colleague while they were travelling to the ANC’s birthday celebrations in Rustenburg in January.

The case was sent to the Northern Cape’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), after prosecuting authorities in the North West decided not to proceed with it, citing insufficient evidence.

The Northern Cape DPP then referred it back to the investigating officer with questions, where the matter remains at this point, according to the National Prosecuting Authority.

Case of SABC former employees will be handed down in Johannesburg on Tuesday

Nontando Mafanya

25 July 2016

Trade union Solidarity said in a statement Judgment in the case of the four dismissed SABC employees will now be handed down in the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Tomorrow.

Solidarity chief executive Dirk Hermann told Journalist that it will be handed down at 10:00 am at the Labour Court in Johannesburg.

He said the judgment will be handed down by a colleague of Judge Robert Lagrange.

Judge Lagrange previously said in proceedings on Friday that he would provisionally hand down judgment today, or in Cape Town tomorrow.

 On this morning, the union was told the judgment would be handed down in Cape Town tomorrow.

This has now, however, been changed.

Recent rains offer some relief for WC farmers

Wayne Boonzaaier
25 July 2016 

Agri Western Cape says recent rains have brought some relief to farmers in the province. 

The ongoing drought has crippled the farming sector with the industry losing millions of rand in revenue.

 Agri Western Cape’s Chief Executive Officer, Carl Opperman, says parts of the province still remain in terrible need of rainfall, particularly in grain and livestock farming areas. 

Opperman says things are looking positive. he says in some areas, winter rains are arriving too late.

Political Parties discuss issues in Cape Town.

Wayne Boonzaaier

25 July 2016

Bush Radio hosted various political party members, to take part in a political debate discussing various issues in Cape Town.

Parties that attended include the PAC, ACDP, LPP and COPE among others.

The ACDP says it has been able to set a track record of good governance in Cape Town during their 2006-2011 term.

They also said “During that time we established a solid track record in the portfolios we were managing in that period.”

The PAC says the issue of land is still central to all the problems that are faced within the City of Cape Town.

They also added “ PAC will ensure that we have radical transformation of the economy.

To create skills development for the unemployed youth and to ensure we build new and better communities."

The Local People’s Party says in terms of the City of Cape Town’s budget, the youth is not properly catered for.

The party’s leader said: “When we look at youth empowerment in terms of our city’s budget, they are almost invisible and ignored.

When in fact most of the money is wasted on expensive consultants. If we could use that money empowering our youth we would go much further.

And what we are proposing in our manifesto is that 10% of all government budgets should be used for youth empowerment.”

Lastly, COPE touched based on waste removal, saying everyone knows that in the poorest areas there are serious rodent infestations.

COPE's Farouk Cassim discussing waste removal in Cape Town.

They also added “ We need to make sure that refuse removal gets proper attention.


Refuse is a source of energy, because the refuse dumps are high in various gasses that can used and exploited.”

EC traffic officer gunned down in suspected robbery

Natasha Mabuto

25 July 2016

An Eastern Cape traffic officer has been gunned down in a suspected robbery in Port Elizabeth.

It’s believed the official was shot eight times while pulling into his home in Motherwell last night.

Authorities are also investigating whether his service pistol was stolen during the incident.

NSFAS urging students to choose careers relevant to country’s economy

Natasha Mabuto

25 July 2016

The students' financial aid scheme, NSFAS is urging learners to choose careers that are relevant to the country's economy.

Executive officer, Msulwa Daca has been addressing learners, teachers and education officers during the launch of NSFAS week in Philippi on the Cape Flats.

The aim of the week is to share information on the scheme. 

Daca says NSFAS pays out an average of R15 billion per year to about 420 000 students.

He says the fund is owed about the same amount by defaulting previous beneficiaries but that has not derailed their funding programmes.

Thulsie twins to appear in court

Somila Nkosana

25 July 2016

Identical twin brothers Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie‚ who face three charges relating to terrorism activities are to appear in court this afternoon.

They are alleged to have been plotting to attack US and Jewish interests in South Africa and of twice attempting to fly to Syria to join IS.

The Thulsies were arrested on the same weekend as siblings Ibrahim and Fatima Patel in police anti-terrorism raids earlier this month.

Last Monday, Advocate for the twins Annelene van den Heever had asked the court to compel the state to disclose certain documents relating to the charges against the brothers.

Van den Heever said the documents were needed to proceed with the Thulsies’ bail application.

But magistrate Pieter du Plessis said the state has no obligation to disclose the documents at this stage and that he does not have the power to order it to do so.

"More often than not at bail there isn’t even a completed charge sheet‚" he said.

WC Government sold Tafelberg for an office block

Natasha Mabuto

25 July 2016

In a statement issued, the NDIFUNA UKWAZI movement says the Western Cape Provincial Government has intentionally mislead the community of Tafelberg.

This is after the movement says it published an online record of around 700 leaked documents from the Western Cape Provincial Government including emails, memo’s which revealed Western Cape Government sold Tafelberg to subsidise an unaffordable Provincial Office Block.

NDIFUNA UKWAZI representative, Julian Sendin says

“We can reveal that several politicians including Madikizela and Grant lied about what the proceeds of the sale Tafelberg would be used for”.

He says “They claimed repeatedly that the proceeds would go towards a  project but document reveal that actually the R135million has been diverted into a R1.2billion mega project which is to build offices for the provincial government in Bree street in the CBD”.

WC Police arrested more than 400 suspects over the weekend

Somila Nkosana

25 July 2016

Western Cape Police conducted daily search operations in Nyanga which resulted in more than 400 arrests this past weekend.

All arrested suspects will appear in the Athlone. Philippi and Wynberg Magistrates Courts Courts as well as in Fezeka Community Court

Meanwhile, Saturday night Phillipi SAPS members arrested a 29-year-old male from Oaklands close to Westridge, Mitchells Plain after following up on information that drugs had been stored at a residence in Evergreen Road Hanover Park.

The suspects were found in possession of 260 Mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R 20 800.

In an unrelated case SAPS members received information indicating that drugs were being transported from Cape Town to Worcester.

The information was forwarded to Worcester SAPS who conducted an operation. A white Mitsubishi Colt LDV with registration CY 63461 was pulled over near a petrol station in Worcester.

Two male occupants were found and on searching the LDV 999 - Mandrax tablets were found.

The suspects were arrested on charges of possession of drugs. Both suspects are from the Belhar area in Cape Town.

 They are due to appear in the Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday on a charge of possession of drugs.

Bail application of suspected terror twins set to start

Leonie Pretorius

25 July 2016

The bail application of the Thulsie brothers, Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee, who were accused of terrorism, is expected to start in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today.

The twins are charged with contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act.

Last week National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Louw told journalists outside the court that they would oppose bail because the twins faced serious charges.

Louw said more charges could be added, or arrests made, during the course of the police investigation into the matter.

According to their charge sheet the brothers, who were arrested on July 9 along with siblings Ebrahim and Fatima Patel, were allegedly linked to the Islamic State terror group and were allegedly planning to set off explosives at a US embassy and Jewish institutions in South Africa.

Judgment in SABC four case expected

Somila Nkosana

25 July 2016

The four SABC journalists who were fired will most likely know if an interdict to set aside their dismissals was successful by the end of today.

 According to trade union Solidarity Judge Rob Le Grange is expected to give his judgment on the dismissal of Foeta Krige, Suna Venter, Krivani Pillay and Jacques Steenkamp.

According to Solidarity Chief Executive Dirk Hermann, the trade union is sure that they had managed to convince the court that the dismissal of the four was unlawful and in breach of legislation.

After judgment is given Solidarity will brief the media with a full explanation of the ruling.

The four journalists were charged with contravening their employment contracts after they spoke up on internal editorial policies at the state broadcaster.