Friday, June 30, 2017

State has weak case, says defence in #KaraboMokoena case

 The defence counsel for murder accused Sandile Mantsoe said on Friday that the State did not have a strong case for showing that the 27-year-old murdered his girlfriend Karabo Mokoena.
The Johannesburg Magistrate's Court 'heard from Mantsoe's defence counsel, Victor Simelani, that this was not a schedule six offence and that there were no reasons from the state's case to indicate that Mantsoe was a flight risk.
Mantsoe has been behind bars for about a month after he allegedly murdered and set alight Mokoena, his girlfriend of seven months, and buried her in a shallow grave in Bramley.
"The very motive that has been cited by the investigating officer in his affidavits does not make sense," Simelani told the court while delivering heads of argument in the bail application proceedings.
"As the court will note, we have tabulated the liquid assets of Mantsoe, we have stated that he has a base of clientele and we have considered that as any business, there are ups and down and our client's business is not insolvent."
Simelani argued that the State had suggested that the matter had been premeditated, but according to him, Mantsoe had clearly indicated that at most he had disposed of the body but had not killed Mokoena.
"State has indicated certain witnesses but the State has not used an affidavit from a single witness, even if they wanted to protect their identity and use a code name," he said.
"We are sitting with mere allegations from an investigating officer, the State wants this court to believe that there are witnesses. It's a closed fist."
Simelani further argued that there was no mention of the cause of death of Mokoena.
"There is no motive for this man."
The matter continues.

#D-Day for Cameron

People in the public gallery gasped in horror as Judge Chantal Fortuin read out the shocking testimony of a teenage meisie who was allegedly attacked by multi-murder accused Cameron Wilson.
It is alleged that Wilson had attacked Abigail Plaatjies and her friend Stacey Lee Mohale, 16, in Heinz Park near the R300 in April 2015.
Abigail was viciously assaulted, while Stacey Lee was raped, stoned and set alight, allegedly by Wilson and his accomplice, now 17.
Judge Fortuin was delivering her verdict in the Cape High Court trial for a second day, and indicated that Wilson would know his fate today, as the court goes into recess.
Wilson, 20, from Heinz Park, faces 15 charges including five counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault and rape, one count of the possession of an illegal firearm and one count of the possession of illegal ammunition.
Also returning to court was the family of Valhalla Park teen Lekita Moore, who was murdered in September last year.
She had been stabbed 98 times and her breasts and vagina slashed, allegedly by Wilson.
Lekita’s mother, Shireen, who had a breakdown after her daughter’s brutal murder, and who has been in a drug rehabilitation for the past few months, was allowed to attend court proceedings for the first time.
Shireen looked horrified, and covered her mouth, eyes and ears as Fortuin recapped witness testimonies.
Mense listened intently as Fortuin read out Abigail’s testimony explaining how her friend sobbed and begged for mercy when she was raped.
Wilson’s young accomplice, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was instructed to throw rocks on the girls’ heads to make sure they were dead.
“The accused forced them to walk up to the bridge area close to the R300. The accused then raped Stacey-Lee. He then later stabbed the girls and they were set alight when a tyre and branches were placed on them.
“Stacey-Lee died on the scene. Abigail survived,” Fortuin read.
Fortuin also went into detail on the testimony of a resident who found the girls on the soccer field.
“The witness testified he saw smoke and went closer. He saw two girls lying next to each other, facing each other with their backs. Only the one was breathing and they were burning.
“The two girls also had wounds to their heads. The clothes the two girls had on were burning.
“The tyre that was alight was closer to the one girl who was no longer breathing. He then put the fire out with sand.
“The witness then contacted an ambulance. According to the witness, there were stones with blood lying nearby. On the scene, no one knew who the girls were or what happened.”
While most people in the gallery were wiping away tears and covering their ears as these gruesome details were repeated, Wilson’s family looked confident but did not react.
The victims’ families expressed disappointment at yet another delay but were happy to hear the matter would definitely be finalised today.
They declined to comment to the media.

'We shall overcome‚' says Zuma at lavish bash

President Jacob Zuma is likely to appeal for unity on Friday as he opens the 2017 ANC policy conference.
Delivering a keynote address at the pre-conference gala dinner late on Thursday night‚ Zuma extented an olive branch to his detractors.
The ANC president admitted that contradictions are the culture of the party but warned against hostility.
"You are all also aware of the internal organisational fights facing our movement‚" Zuma said at the gala dinner in Nasrec.
"Your feet must contradict each other in order to move from where you are standing. As they contradict each other‚ you move forward."
Zuma said time would be set aside to deal with the challenges plaguing the governing party. He also cited the current national recession.
"Our country has been downgraded to sub-investment status‚" Zuma said.
"This may sound scary and it should be. However‚ we also know that when we unite and face such challenges as a people‚ we tend to overcome."
Zuma received a standing ovation from guests as he took to the podium.
Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa missed the dinner because he had been "assigned" to the funeral of former Botswana president Ketumile Masire. Masire was laid to rest on Thursday morning.
Prominent business people attended Friday night's glamorous event‚ including mining mogul Patrice Motsepe and ambassadors.
Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini was also in attendance and sat next to Zuma and Motsepe.
Dlamini got into trouble for attending Zuma's lavish birthday bash in Kliptown‚ Soweto‚ in April‚ after Cosatu had taken a decision that Zuma must step down.
While the term "white monopoly capital" will certainly be on the conference menu‚ Thursday night's spread consisted of smoked salmon roulade with yoghurt dill dressing for starters and dukka-spiced medallions of beef with a mushroom‚ pesto and cream cheese filling as a main course.
A table at the gala dinner is said to have cost about R25 000. Mkhize told guests that the ANC would welcome any unsolicited support.
"The ANC survives on the goodwill of its supporters and members‚" Mkhize said.

Record companies run radio in SA, says Cassper

Rapper Cassper Nyovest has once again shaded radio stations, claiming that they are run by record label bosses who are out of touch with what people really want to listen to.
Cassper called radio airplay into question this week when a Radio Monitor report circulated online claiming that Davido's hit single If was the most played song in Mzansi.
The list did not include a single track from Cassper's latest album, despite it reaching platinum status and being constantly spoken about.
A frustrated Cassper told TshisaLIVE that the list proved that a song which makes no impact on the streets could still top charts.
"Some artists don't make any impact but they are played because they are signed to record labels. Record labels still hold all the power with radio. Some independent artists lie to each other and pretend everything is okay when their music is not being respected on radio," he said.
He assured fans that he was still doing well despite the snubs from radio.
"If you don't hear my songs on radio it doesn't mean I am not doing well. There are a lot of artists doing well and you don't hear them on radio," he added.
He claimed that if he was signed to a record label he would be dominating radio airplay charts.
"I am not signed to a record label but if I was I would be in the top 10 of those charts every week," he said.

#Mob attacks top journalists

"My intention was to go to check if Peter was alright because he's a columnist for Business Day. Upon my arrival, I took out my cellphone to take a photograph of the protesters and they just went nuts," said Cohen.
"The police separated us and then Peter came out so it was clear he was OK. I decided not to inflame the situation so I left."
Bruce said he had no doubt that the attack was linked to an opinion piece that appeared in Business Day yesterday in which he wrote that he had been targeted by the Gupta family for writing articles critical of them.
There was a passing mention of Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama in the column.
Tiso Blackstar Group, formerly Times Media, which publishes Business Day, said: "We are appalled by the attempted intimidation of Peter Bruce. It is an outright threat to journalism that we should not laugh off as [the work of] a handful of lunatics making a noise. It is part of a concerted campaign to intimidate that should be condemned in the strongest terms by anyone who supports the freedom of the press.
"As a media company at the forefront of exposing state capture and, most recently, revelations from the Gupta e-mails leaks, we will not be bowed by these bullying tactics."
SA National Editors' Forum director Chris Kabwato said the forum "condemns unreservedly the intimidation and threats against journalists Peter Bruce [and Tim Cohen]. Media freedom is 
protected by the constitution and Mr Bruce has exercised his right to express himself.
"We also condemn the invasion of Mr Bruce's personal life as part of a cowardly act to silence him.
"We encourage Mr Bruce to report the perpetrators to the police. Journalism is not a crime. State capture is."
Black First Land First accused Bruce of racism.
"He is selective when he writes his opinion piece. He does not write what is truthful, factual and he doesn't investigate. He just writes what is in his racist mind and we don't accept that as black people and also as the BLF movement," said Thandiswa Yaphi, treasurer of the organisation.

ANC ward councillor killed in Richmond

Richmond ANC ward councillor Sfiso Mkhize was gunned down in a hail of bullets in the violence-ravaged region on Thursday night, bringing to three the number of political figures killed in the past few months.
 Deputy mayor Thandazile Phoswa was killed in April and municipal manager S’bu Sithole was gunned down a month before.
 MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has expressed her shock at the killing.
 It is understood that Mkhize was shot while on his way home.
 "This is an extremely difficult time for the fraternity of local government as we mourn yet another loss of a public representative at the hands of cold-blooded assassins who have no respect for human life," she said.
 "We will not be deterred as leaders in the sphere of local government by this unfortunate incident. We must all come together to keep pressure on the criminals in our society who create an atmosphere of fear through the murder of local government representatives," she added.
 Police spokespeople were not available for comment at the time of publishing.

Loud cheers as boyfriend denied bail for Eskom murder:First steps to justice

There were tears, loud cheers and embraces as David Ngwenya, the man accused of the murder of Eskom employee Thembisile Yende, was refused bail by the Springs Magistrate's Court yesterday.
Magistrate Cornell Pretorius found that Ngwenya, 44, had not proved that there were exceptional circumstances that warranted his release on bail.
"The evidence adduced by the applicant falls short of satisfying this court that exceptional circumstances exist."
She said if Ngwenya were released on bail he would evade trial.
"The state argued that there is a strong case against the applicant. I agree with this submission.
"The applicant faces the possibility of life imprisonment should he be found guilty," Pretorius said.
She said the evidence led in court on how Ngwenya was linked to the commission of the offence was corroborated by the conclusions of the postmortem results.
Family and friends of Yende embraced each other and burst into song as they left the court.
The group, including ANC and DA supporters, were joined by Yende's mother, Nesta, as they chanted songs calling for the arrest of more suspects.
"V*k man, f**k man, sifuna ababulali [We want the murderers]," the group sang.
Nesta said although she was pleased, she would be "happier" when the truth came out.
"I am happy. I will be much happier when justice is served",
Mboneni Yende, the family's spokesman, said the outcome did not mean victory for them.
"We are not declaring victory. This was just a hearing. However, it was important for us to know whether he was getting bail or not.
"To us this is just the beginning. We will fight to the bitter end to ensure that justice prevails."
Yende's body was found 13 days after she had disappeared. Her decomposing body was found in a storeroom next to her office in Pieterboth substation in Springs on the East Rand.
A postmortem revealed that she had been injected, strangled and hit on the head with an object.
During Ngwenya's bail application this week, the court heard that a key witness had told the police that Yende was killed because she knew of Ngwenya's alleged illegal stolen copper dealings and was about to report his activities to Eskom managers.
Ngwenya allegedly enlisted the help of a sangoma to ensure that he and his accomplices were "invisible" when they murdered Yende.
The court also heard that Ngwenya had been in a relationship with Yende for more than a year and was a frequent visitor at the Pieterboth substation where she worked.
In his affidavit, Ngwenya said: "I fully deny that I committed murder and I don't have any other previous convictions or pending cases. I'm employed at Eskom, married with three children aged 17, 12 and 11."
Yende had been working at Eskom as a trainee technician.
She joined the power utility in 2015.

#Man shot in plastic bag row

A Durban Metro policeman who shot his 48-year-old neighbour in Verulam over an argument about a plastic packet lying on the road, has been arrested for attempted murder, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Thursday.
The policeman, 35, shot his neighbour in the stomach following an argument between the neighbour and his father on Wednesday afternoon.
"It is alleged that the complainant had an argument with his neighbour and the neighbour’s son withdrew his firearm and shot the complainant in the stomach," said Captain Nqobile Gwala.
Reaction Unit South Africa spokesperson Prem Balram said the incident took place on Flamingo Way in Dawncrest at about 4pm.
The argument between the neighbours was sparked by a plastic packet that was lying on the road, said Balram.
"During the argument, the off duty policeman drew his firearm and fired approximately 12 rounds at his neighbour," he said.
"Several of the rounds struck the victim's Kia bakkie while one bullet entered the victim's abdomen and exited through his back. The policeman then fled the scene," Balram said.
Gwala said the suspect was later arrested for attempted murder. He will appear in court soon, added Gwala.

R80K found in car after alleged boss is gunned down

A witness has described how two gunmen wearing balaclavas shot dead a suspected Mitchells Plain gang leader and his friend at a garage in Pinelands.
Marwaan “Dinky” Desai, 45, the alleged leader of the Nice Time Kids in Lentegeur, was shot and killed while sitting in his parked BMW X5 on Wednesday at about 6pm.
Cops apparently found R80 000 cash on the backseat and boot of the car.
Desai and Shaheem Mohamed from Lansdowne were parked at the Caltex garage at the Howard Centre, in Forest Drive.
According to a witness, Mohamed had been dropped off, also by a BMW X5, and got into the passenger seat of Desai’s car.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the witness explained how two balaclava-clad men ran up to the car and opened fire.
“The two guys [Desai and Mohamed] were parked in a white car. The passenger had been dropped off in a BMW X5 with no [number] plates and they sat in the front of the car,” said the witness.
“All of a sudden, a Hyundai Tucson took the corner at the garage at a massive speed and the two men in balaclavas jumped out.”
He says the shooters ran to the driver’s side and shot both men.
“They shot through the window at both passengers. I was standing dead still three cars away, too shocked to move.
“The shooters saw me, but did not even care.
“They fired six or seven shots and then one of them scratched under the car, on top of the rear tyre on the driver’s side.
“Then they just sped off in their car.
“This looked well-planned. They looked like they had come just to do their thing.
“I went closer to check on the victims, but they were dead and I saw loads of money lying on the seat, tied-up R100 notes. I don’t know how much it was,” adds the witness.
Pinelands police officers arrived shortly thereafter and the scene was closed off.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk says: “Two men were shot and killed while sitting in their vehicle in a parking area of a Pinelands shopping centre.
“Two suspects fled the scene in a white Hyundai Tucson and are yet to be arrested.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated and the motive is yet to be determined.”
The shooting is believed to be related to ongoing infighting in the 26 gang, over drug turf.
Both Desai and Mohamed were buried according to Muslim rites last night.
At Desai’s home in Blombos Street, Lentegeur, hundreds of people came to pay their last respects to Desai, who was known as “Robin Hood” in his community, as he always helped those in need.
A family spokesperson said Desai’s wife Tasneema Desai, 35, and his five children, aged nine to 19, were traumatised.
“Tasneema is taking care of her children and dealing with everything as best she can. She lost her husband and partner,” said Nuraan Davids, 36.
“We do not know why he was shot. We only know he was shot in the head several times and now we are just waiting to hear what happened to Marwaan.”

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Husband shot dead after trying to save wife during shootout

 A newly wed couple has been shot and killed just hours after celebrating their two-month wedding anniversary.
The groom Ashley Sauls was also celebrating his 30th birthday on Tuesday.
In a sad twist, Ashley’s twin brother, Stan, was murdered eight years ago.
The pair had stepped out in the middle of the night and were found dead a few roads away in Parkwood Avenue, Parkwood.
Family members described how Ashley tried to shield his wife Alicia, 27, with his body.
He was found lying on top of her, holding her.
Ashley was shot in the head, and Alicia in the stomach.
Within hours, alert cops arrested four suspects for the double murder.
The suspects, aged between 25 and 30, will appear in court soon, police say, adding that a 9mm Norinco Star firearm was also confiscated.
Family say Alicia was a recovering drug addict and was going to start a nursing course soon, while Ashley was looking for work.
The couple tied the knot on 26 April and had no children.
Just hours before they were killed, Alicia gave her hubby a card, a pair of socks and a photo frame as birthday gifts.
She wrote in the card: “To my darling husband Ashley, Happy birthday my love, may you be blessed with many more joyful, loving and prosperous years to come. With all my love, from your wife.”
The young couple had been living with Alicia’s mom Elizabeth Hendricks, 45, in Walmer Walk, Parkwood.
Elizabeth says the pair went out just after 2am on Wednesday morning.
“Alicia came into my room and said: ‘Mommy, I am coming now’,” she explains.
“I was half asleep. I don’t know where they were off to.
“A few minutes later, I heard gunshots and I called to Alicia’s cellphone and there was no answer. Then a resident came to my home to bring me the news, and I just knew.”
Alicia’s grandmother Jasmine Jaffer, 61, showed the card and gift Alicia gave Ashley for his birthday.
“She bought him a photo frame with the intention of placing a picture of them in there, but she never got the chance,” says a heartbroken Jasmine looking at their wedding photographs.
Constable Carol Strauss confirms four people were arrested for the murders.
“A double murder case was opened for investigation. Sterling investigation led to the arrest of four suspects aged between 25 and 30 and the recovery of a 9mm Norinco Star firearm,” she says.
“Anyone with any information about this fatal shooting incident is requested to contact the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Adiel Noordien 078 353 2922 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.”

Cassper on Boity's 'new bae': If she’s happy, I’m happy

Cassper Nyovest has reacted to reports that his ex-girlfriend Boity Thulo has found love in the arms of a new man, saying that he only wishes her happiness.
Speaking to TshisaLIVE at the launch of Somizi's memoir, Dominoes: Unbreakable Spirit, in Johannesburg on Wednesday Cassper said he had spoken to Boity about the rumours but was just as confused as everyone else.
"I asked her about it but she wouldn't tell me anything. She was like 'it's none of your business'. I'm not heartbroken because we are really good friends. I don't think that it's her boyfriend but if it is, good for her. If she's happy, I am happy," Cassper said.
He said that Boity "had a lot of great things to say" about the Congolese basketball player, Christian Eyenga, with whom she has been linked.
Cassper’s only wish is that her new partner will treat her well.
"If that's her boyfriend, I hope he's a good guy. She's been through a lot and she deserves a good guy. I just didn't deserve her," Cassper added. 

'New Donald' has musicians shook and confused

Watch out, Donald! You might just have competition for that red mic.
An artist hoping to break into the music industry sparked shock and confusion this week when he named himself after award-winning musician Donald.
The young hopeful took to social media to promote his new song, which shares similarities to a hit by his more famous namesake.

Twitter users, including celebs like Black Coffee and Euphonik, were shocked by the discovery and asked him if he was "also Donald".
While others responded by suggesting that the upcoming muso change his name.
"Donald" hit back by saying that he would not change his name to please people and that South Africa having two artists named Donald was "not a miracle".
Attempts to contact the veteran Donald for comment were unsuccessful but perhaps someone can organise a collab with the two.

Sexwale to reveal findings of investigation into Gupta-linked company

Trillian Capital Partners chairman Tokoyo Sexwale is expected to drop a bombshell on Thursday when he announces the outcome of an investigation into the Gupta-linked company.
Sexwale and Advocate Geoff Budlender are to brief the media in Johannesburg on the findings of an independent investigation.
Trillian Capital Partners is part of the larger Trillian Group‚ whose majority is held by Trillian Holdings‚ of which Gupta associate Salim Essa is the sole director.
The company has been under intense scrutiny for its alleged role in state capture‚ something it vehemently denies.
Trillian came under the spotlight after a company whistleblower alerted former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela that the company's chief executive‚ Eric Wood‚ had briefed senior staff on the replacement of former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene with Des van Rooyen.
The briefing allegedly took place in October 2015. Nene was replaced in December 2015.
Nene's replacement‚ dubbed Nenegate‚ threw the markets into a freefall‚ with losses estimated at R400-billion.
The allegations that Wood had known of Nene's replacement saw Sexwale launch an investigation.
Madonsela in her report on state capture also announced that Trillian was one of several which had allegedly made payments towards the purchase of a coal mine bought by the Guptas‚ something the company has denied.
Budlender claimed earlier this year that their investigation had been hindered by the company for months because they had refused to hand over Wood's laptop computer‚ cellphone and other electronic devices.
The company claimed in the media reports that this was because they had changed lawyers‚ and were waiting for new ones to be appointed.
In May at a media briefing‚ Sexwale‚ who expressed fears at the time that the investigation would disappear‚ said it was snowballing and was "part of something much bigger".