‘That was where Uncle raped me’

 The grandfather of a five-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by a man she knew says the little girl showed him the route she and the suspect took before she was attacked.

The victim was allegedly lured by the 49-year-old man after he promised to buy her a Fidget Spinner at the nearby tuckshop in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, where she lives.

The accused’s mother lives nearby.

It is alleged on 20 August, he forced her into a bush where he assaulted her and raped her.

A witness caught the suspect but the man fled when he was being approached.

The brave child, who was found bleeding, later helped police track down her alleged attacker in Tafelsig, where he was arrested.

The girl's 48-year-old grandfather says he took her with him for a ride to visit a friend when she identified the road and spoke out about the ordeal and where the accused rapist walked with her on his way to the bushes at Kapteinsklip train station.

“We were alone and she was with me to visit a friend in Rocklands. I drove to the house we were going to and she said ‘Pa look this is the road Uncle walked with me when he took me to the bush’,” he said.

“I couldn’t handle speaking about it and so I steered her off that topic to make her forget about it that moment.”

Her 48-year-old grandmother said the grandfather hasn’t come to terms with the incident yet.

“He isn’t coping well with what happened to her and he isn’t speaking about it.

“The child is doing well and healing. She is back at creche and participating in activities as normal.

“She asks to play outside but I don’t want her outside. She can’t understand why I don’t want her outside and says she feels jailed because of this.”

The suspect appeared for the second time in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

The accused was meant to take part in an identity parade but because the witness couldn’t be located, the case has been postponed by seven days.

Magistrate Alwira Bezuidenhout postponed the case to 6 September.

Joanie Fredericks from the Mitchells Plain Crisis Forum said she was disappointed in the delay of the case.

“I’m disappointed if the case can’t go to trial sooner,” she said.

“We will do all we can to make sure justice is served.”

Watch:Vetkoek blamed for deaths of three teens

Three teenage friends from the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa died hours after eating vetkoek they had bought from a vendor near their homes.

They had polony in the vetkoek, according to a fourth friend who had eaten with them but survived.

The deaths remain a mystery. Their families alleged they had been poisoned, but the vendor denies this.

Athule Makonzi, 15, Khanyisa Mtamzeli, 17, and Mzingisi Gobecimele, 17, died on Sunday, a few hours after consuming the vetkoek on Saturday night.

Hospitalised on Sunday, Athabile Simayile, 17, was discharged on Wednesday.

He told the Cape Times on Wednesday night he had felt dizzy immediately after eating the vetkoek and polony, went straight home, vomited and collapsed. He woke up in Somerset Hospital on Sunday.

Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said an inquest docket into the three deaths had been opened for investigation. No one has been arrested.

Rwexana said the surviving boy’s family had lodged a complaint of attempted murder, which was being investigated.

Neziswa Mtamzeli, 38, the mother of one of the deceased boys, Khanyisa, said that when her son arrived at their family home on Saturday night, he took a nap, but within minutes he fell hard off the bed.

She said Khanyisa had told them he felt very hot, and they poured cold water over him and undressed him, before asking him to lie on his bed.

He was vomiting non-stop.

She resolved to take him to the clinic in the morning.

He slept next to his twin brother Khanya. At about 5am Khanya woke his mother and told her that Khanyisa wasn’t breathing. She screamed and called the neighbours. 

Khanyisa Mtamzeli

In the morning, news spread that two of Khanyisa’s friends had also died during the night and had the same symptoms of vomiting and fever. Mtamzeli alleged the teenagers had been killed.

“I will not rest until the person who killed my child faces the full might of the law. The way they (friends) have died is puzzling. It is clear that they have been poisoned,” said Mtamzeli. 

She also disclosed that Khanyisa had been raped inside their two-room shack and his twin assaulted.

A man who lived in the same area had been found guilty on several charges and sentenced to a combined 75 years last November, Mtamzeli said.

“The family were still recovering from what happened to him last November, and now this,” she said.

Athule’s aunt Pamela Copela, 28, said she received a call from his father that Athule was sick.

Within minutes Copela had another call that he had died en route to hospital after vomiting and feeling hot.

“He was such a sweet child and loved his friends,” she said.

“What is heartbreaking is that all three of them didn't know that the others were sick.”

Both Copela and Mtamzeli said their families had not received counselling from the police or heard about the progress of the investigation.

They called for the vendor to be arrested. 

Nomsa Tikiteni, 42, the aunt of the third victim, Mzingisi Gobecimele, said: “Arresting the vendor would not bring the three of them back. Instead the vendor should bury the boys because their families cannot afford to do so.”

But the vendor, Ntombizodwa Mbeshu, denied any culpability, saying she had not sold polony to the boys, only vetkoek. Mbeshu said she had not slept since Sunday because she had received threats from community members that they would burn her home with all of her family inside.

“I do sell vetkoek, but on Saturday the vetkoek I sold them did not match the vetkoek that is said to have been eaten by those young men,” she explained.

“When one of the boys came to buy vetkoek from me on Saturday night I had already run out of polony.”

We won't be held to ransom in Mandela Bay, vows DA

Port Elizabeth - The drama over Nelson Mandela Bay’s axed deputy mayor Mongameli Bobani has intensified, with the DA launching a broadside that the maverick UDM councillor couldn’t hold the coalition to ransom.

UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa has approached the courts to seek legal remedy following the DA’s failure to reverse Bobani’s axing on Monday.

He was fired from his influential position during a chaotic council meeting in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, following corruption allegations and that he had undermined the DA-led coalition by voting with the ANC on numerous occasions.

Holomisa made a U-turn on his threats to pull out “of that nonsense” coalition if Bobani was not reinstated. Instead, he approached the courts to review the decision, saying all councillors would be cited in their legal papers to hold them responsible for costs.

On Tuesday, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said they had not been served with any court papers. “We will wait to see what happens in that regard,” he said, addressing journalists accompanied by mayors of the DA-led metros in Joburg.

Maimane said they were working well with their coalition partners. “This one individual (Bobani) can’t hold (the coalition) to ransom. We’ve got services to deliver to the people,” he said.

Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor Athol Trollip, who has been bumping heads with Bobani, said: “We tried for eight months to deal with the chaotic instability created by Bobani and his actions by voting with the ANC and in some instances with the EFF.” He said they had informed Holomisa “in countless letters” about Bobani’s “untenable behaviour”.

Holomisa told The Star the UDM was committed to the coalition, but criticised the “illegal” decision to remove Bobani, saying municipal procedures and regulations had been flouted.

But Trollip stuck to his guns, saying: “There was a quorum I don’t know what Mr Holomisa is going to challenge in court. When opposition parties saw they were going to lose, they walked out (of the council chambers).”

Bobani’s municipal car has been taken back and his salary stopped. He threatened to pitch up at work on Monday, but his legal counsel advised him not to do so.

The DA mayors were briefing the media on the economic crisis and their strategies for growth and to create jobs

Cash-heist suspects left empty-handed after shootout

Johannesburg - An attempted cash-in-transit heist went terribly wrong after four suspects involved in shootout with security guards made a quick getaway with no money in Broadway, Witbank.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, said four suspects are believed to have approached an Engen garage on Dedrick street Witbank just after 7am on Wednesday morning. 

He said three of them were allegedly driving a silver VW Polo while one drove an Audi A4.

"The suspects attempted to rob the G4s cash in transit occupants however were met with gunfire and no money was taken. A 38-year-old man and his crew were driving a G4S during the incident and the complainant fired some shots and it is believed that one suspect was shot on the leg and other suspects managed to take him into their car and abscond the scene,” said Hlathi. 

He added that a 33-year-old civilian was caught in the crossfire and found to be slightly injured on his back. 

It was also found that one of the vehicles used by the alleged robbers was shot and that one of the men inside was injured. 

At this stage no arrests have been made, however, police have urged that hospitals be on the lookout for a man with a gunshot wound on the leg and then alert the police.

#Gauteng MEC blames UNREGULATED system for school bus ACCIDENTS

 Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane says the school bus accidents in the province are as a result of an unregulated transport system.

Nkosi-Malobane was speaking on the sidelines of a dialogue event for women and the LGBT community in Soweto on Tuesday.

On Monday, 13 schoolchildren were injured in a school minibus accident in Soweto.

The man has been arrested and charged for drunk and negligent driving as well as culpable homicide.

Nkosi-Malobane says the unregulated school bus system continues to be a major issue in the province.

She says that strides have been made by the department but the response from drivers has been poor.

Nkosi-Malobane says the department is still experiencing major challenges, especially in the school transport sector.

“We still have incompetent drivers driving our children. People who are drunk… some of them don’t even have a license.”

Nigerian pastor accused of sex crimes now slapped with more charges

A Nigerian pastor facing a string of sex crimes‚ had another count added to his lengthy charge sheet in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday‚ when the state opted to charge him with being in the country illegally.

At the same time‚ the city’s high court ordered the minister of police to transport Timothy Omotoso to the Visa Facilitation Centre on Tuesday night so he could apply for an extension on his work visa which is due to expire on Wednesday.

The new charge‚ as well as the high court proceedings‚ saw Omotoso’s latest bid for bail‚ which had been set down for Tuesday‚ postponed again.

The senior pastor at the Jesus Dominion International Church‚ which has branches across the country‚ appeared briefly in the magistrate’s court on Tuesday morning‚ where his prominent new legal team said his latest shot at freedom – in the form of a bail application based on new facts – rested on the outcome of the application before the high court.

While the minister of police was initially opposed to the application‚ by 3pm on Tuesday and shortly after Omotoso was charged with being an illegal immigrant‚ they had agreed to assist him with his application for a new work visa.

Boy, 8, killed by dogs had 'fought to live'

A Howick mother, whose special needs son died in hospital after being attacked by their neighbour’s dogs in 2015, has told a court that he “fought to live from the day he was born”.

An inquest trial to establish whether or not anyone could be held liable for the eight-year-old’s death got under way in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, when Estelle Sinkins recounted the multiple surgeries and procedures her little James – who had two heart conditions, a cleft in his soft palate and scoliosis – endured during his short life. His medical issues were not just physical: James struggled to control his emotions, he was hyperactive, he suffered with attention-deficit disorder and he could not speak.

But, Sinkins said, he was making progress.

She and her husband, Graydon, had not known what the future held for their son and they were worried.

“But one thing he never lacked was love,” Sinkins said.“Perhaps what makes his death and the manner of it, so hard to cope with, is that he fought to live from the day he was born and he tried so hard to live after he was attacked. Sadly he lost that battle and we lost our beautiful boy,” she said.

Graydon, with his son James. Picture: Supplied

Sinkins choked back tears as she detailed the events leading up to her son’s death. She tried to intervene when the cross-German shepherds dragged him off his bicycle and tore into him, but it was too late. She broke down when she recalled being told he was dead. After a sleepless night at his side, her family convinced Sinkins to go home and rest. A few hours later, Graydon phoned her and told her to come back because James was in trouble.

“We were taken into a room where doctors told us they had done everything they could but James had died,” she said.

The desperation in her voice on Tuesday, provided a glimpse into what must have been going through her mind then. She ran to her son.

“I took his body into my arms, didn’t want to let him go. I made the staff remove the breathing tube and I dressed him in his own clothes. Eventually I was dragged away by Graydon and my sister,” she said.

Later she returned to his side to give him one last kiss goodbye. “I told him I would love him forever.”

After James’ death, the dogs were removed and euthanised.

But a year before, they attacked and killed the Sinkinses’ family dog and Sinkins told her neighbour then that she was worried for her son’s safety.

“I stated that if they came across him they would in all probability kill him,” she said.

Sinkins did not want this to happen to anyone else.

“I do not wish another mother or father or grandparent to have to endure the pain we’ve had to endure. I hope and pray if this does nothing else, it tells people who own a dog that it doesn’t matter what breed it is, you have a responsibility to make sure your dog does not pose a danger to others,” she said.

The inquest is expected to continue on Wednesday.

Zodwa Wabantu banned from Zimbabwe

Panties or not, it seems popular dancer Zodwa Wabantu will not be performing in Zimbabwe.

On Tuesday, the Zimbabwean acting minister of Tourism and Hospitality Patrick Zhuwao ruled that the Durbanite, famous for her sultry moves and revealing clothes, will not be allowed to perform at the Harare International Carnival.

This happened after actress Anne Nhira complained to the tourism board that Wabantu should not be invited because she was not a Zimbabwean, she dressed scantily and she was a lesbian.

In a letter to Nhira, Zhuwao stated: “The government position is that the artist concerned, Zodwa Wabantu, may not participate at the Harare International Carnival. In this regard, relevant authorities have been notified.”

Speaking to The Star yesterday, Nhira said: “This is an international event to promote the image of Zimbabwe. She is not Zimbabwean, and if we want dancers to perform at the event, there are local dancers who can do it.

“We don’t want a person who will tarnish our image as a country. She does her entertainment half-naked and she has publicly acknowledged that she is a lesbian.”

Dancers from Cuba and Brazil have been invited to perform at the week-long carnival, which starts on September 6. Other local acts that have been invited include Babes Wodumo, Busiswa and Uhuru.

Zodwa Wabantu at the Durban July earlier this year. Picture: Supplied

There were reports that Wabantu, whose real name is Zodwa Libram, is lesbian but she has dismissed them.

Same-sex relations are illegal in Zimbabwe, where gays and lesbians feel persecuted and their rights are undermined.

The Zimbabwean government does not approve of them.

Yesterday, Wabantu said she was unaware that she was not welcome in Zimbabwe anymore. “They contacted me today to organise the plane ticket bookings. I know nothing about this.”

She said she would confirm with the tourism authority today and give them a piece of her mind.

“I have performed in the country before, so what is the problem now?”

'He was stuck in the burning shack, but they couldn't save him'

Cape Town - A young dad burnt to death in an early morning fire which ripped through the Pooke Se Bos informal settlement on Tuesday.

Residents say Maruwaan Thompson, 29, struggled to escape the flames and was stuck inside his burning shack near Rylands.

More than 100 people have been left homeless after the blaze that raged on for six hours.

According to a report from Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Theo Layne, firefighters were called in shortly after 2am when several shacks were on fire.

“The blaze was extinguished at 7:30am and a cause has not yet been determined. There were 52 dwellings destroyed and 127 people displaced.”

Maruwaan’s burnt body was removed from his shack by forensic services shortly after 10am. His bereaved girlfriend, Leonie Fillies, says they lived with their son, Waylen, in the settlement for two years.

“Ek wietie wat gebeur het nie. (I don't know what happened.) We just saw the flames and I ran out with my child. Maruwaan could not get out,” she explains.

The young mother adds: “Waylen is net een jaar oud, nou het hy nie ’* pa nie. (Waylen is just one-year-old, now he doesn't have a father.)”

Layne says it is unclear whether or not the fire started in the family’s shack.

Maruwaan’s sister, Camela Brandt, says the Thompson family lives in Valhalla Park and rushed to Athlone after hearing the news.

“His whole body was burnt up, jy kon net sy gesig sien (you could just see his face). People say he was stuck in the shack and was shouting for help, but they couldn’t save him.”

Resident Ester Persens says she and her family escaped the blaze with the clothes on their backs and their personal documents.

“I heard a kadwa! and thought they were shooting, but then I saw the fire. My husband, children and myself had to run with just the clothes we had on, but I got a bag with our IDs and so on out,” she says.

Ester Persens says they got out in the nick of time. Picture: Henk Kruger

When the Daily Voice visited the informal settlement, many residents could be seen trying to salvage what they could from the debris.

Area Central Mayco member, Siyabulela Mamkeli, explained City trucks were working “extra fast” to remove the debris so residents could start rebuilding before nightfall.

“At this stage all services are activated and we are worried about rain. We will see if we can create a few small passages to make the area safer to prevent fires from spreading so fast,” he said.

Camela says they are devastated by her only sibling’s death.

“Ons is devastated en hartseer, hy was my enigste broer en ek het nie susters nie. (We are devastated and heartbroken, he was my only brother and I don't have sisters.) Now we are waiting to hear when we can get the body to start arranging the funeral,” she says.

Taxi war causes mayhem in Joburg

Johannesburg - A taxi war over routes that killed one driver in a movie-style morning rush hour shootout on Tuesday has left commuters in the south of Joburg fearing for their lives.

Gauteng Department of Community Safety spokesperson Busaphi Nxumalo said the gunmen arrived in four flashy Golf 7 GTIs and indiscriminately opened fire at the new Lehae taxi rank in Vlakfontein, which is being claimed by both the Ennerdale Taxi Association and the rival Lawley Taxi Association.

According to Nxumalo, one person was killed and another injured in the two-hour shootout that left about 50 bullet cartridges strewn around the scene.

A female resident, who spoke to The Star on condition of anonymity, said she heard the gunshots and couldn’t do anything but scream and run for cover.

“It was scary. Bullets were flying everywhere,” she said.

Commuters blamed the late arrival of law enforcement for the prolonged exchange of gunfire.

An eyewitnesses and taxi owner from the Ennerdale Taxi Association said that this incident could have been avoided had police acted on numerous complaints about the counter-threats between the two warring associations.

The owner, who also requested not to reveal his name, said he fears for his life due to heightened tension in the area over ownership of the new rank.

He said: “We reported this intimidation to the police but nobody cared about what is happening.

“They could have avoided and prevented this.”

According to the taxi owner, the ongoing “war” between the Lawley and Ennerdale taxi associations worsened after a case was opened last week.

“There is a man (his name is known to The Star) who is responsible for this war; he came here with his gang. This is the third time he has come here with his Golf 7 cars packed with gunmen,” he said.

“Last week, he was here and told us that on Monday, he was going to kill us, wathi uzosinquma (he would cut our necks).

“So when they came today, we saw the need to fight back and not take this lying down. He is the only one responsible for this,” the man added.

The 34-year-old taxi driver killed in the turf war was allegedly among the group of men who attacked drivers at the taxi rank, according to Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Kay Makhubele.

“It is believed that the deceased was a member of the Lawley Taxi Association. It is alleged that the deceased was driving in a Golf vehicle. No arrests have been made,” said Makhubele.

According to Makhubele, no other injuries were reported, but he promised that the police would monitor the situation and ensure law and order in the area.

He confirmed that the dozens of empty cartridges collected were found in a 600m area.

“In terms of the cartridges left on the scene, I can’t say, but there were many shots fired. I could say up to 40 empty cases were found.”

South African National Taxi Council chairperson for the greater Johannesburg region, Ralph Jones, expressed concern about the violence and loss of life.

“We were informed, and a case was opened last week about the intimidation situation,” Jones said.

“We were in touch with the SAPS and the Gauteng Road and Transport Department, and informed them of the matter.

“We do not condone the barbaric situation that happened. Police are looking into the matter.”

Jones told The Star that until the situation had been investigated further, the council was unable to provide further comment on the matter and how to ensure that such incidents were avoided.

Department of Transport spokesperson Melitha Madiba said she could not comment about the shootout.

Just last month, Transport MEC Ismail Vadi shut down ranks and routes in Soweto, including the Mofolo Kwa-Mthethwa informal taxi rank Makhetha Stores informal taxi rank Dube station taxi rank Makhetha Garage (Phefeni) taxi rank and Uncle Tom’s taxi rank, in a bid to stop the violence among rival associations.

The closure of the taxi ranks left many minibus taxi commuters stranded until the ranks were reopened three weeks ago.

#'I will never stop beating her'

HIS wife gave him money to buy meat, but Juluka wasn’t hungry.

Instead, Juluka Mvulunga (52) from Bekkersdal, Gauteng went to his neighbour’s house.

He used the R100 he got from his wife, Funeka Mvulenga (43) to allegedly pay for sex with his neighbour, Dieketseng Semathane (39).

But Juluka’s conscience stared bothering him and he confessed to Funeka.

Angry Funeka beat Dieketseng.

“Every day I’ll make her life miserable. I will never stop beating her. She took money that was meant to buy food for my kids,” said Funeka.

“She enjoyed my man’s 4-5 and stole my kids’ food.”

Now Dieketseng has to lock herself in the house, fearing for her life.

The incident happened in January, but the fight isn’t over.

On Sunday afternoon, Dieketseng tried to go to the spaza shop, but Funeka attacked her.

Dieketseng reported Funeka to the residents’ court known as The Base. Funeka was told to appear on Monday or go to the cop shop.

Funeka vowed she wouldn’t stop fighting, but Dieketseng and her family went to the cops.

Dieketseng’s son, Keketso Semathane, said the cops tried to make peace between the women, but Funeka couldn’t be found.

Bekkersdal police spokeswoman Sergeant Linki Lefakane said: “The woman has the right to request a protection order if she feels harassed. We are discouraging the two from fighting, as the law will resolve the issue.”

Treasury under fire over failed R1bn IT project

Cape Town - Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba has promised to crack down on those responsible for wasting R1 billion in the National Treasury on the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), which was never implemented.

Gigaba told the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday they had launched a forensic investigation into the IT contract, on which R1bn was spent.

The National Treasury initiated the IFMS project in 2005 and spent R1bn on the first phase. Another R1.2bn was spent during the second phase of the project.

National Treasury director-general Dondo Mogajane earlier told Scopa a total of R4.3bn was budgeted for the IFMS. Out of the R4.3bn, a total of R2.2bn was used over the last few years.

MPs complained that in 10 years, the National Treasury did not get value for money despite large sums being spent on the IT system.

Gigaba said he acknowledged the failure of internal controls to pick up problems in the project.

He said the problems were picked up by the Treasury’s internal audit committee.

“I am certainly giving my attention to the report and issues raised,” said Gigaba.

He said payments on the IFMS project had been suspended.

The IFMS was supposed to modernise the government’s IT system across departments.

Gigaba said they would now appoint a person who would be directly in charge of the IFMS project in the Treasury.

“We will ensure the forensic investigation is instituted to get to the bottom of the report. It is our intention to get to the bottom of this matter. There is no doubt about it. There was clearly a failure of internal controls with regard to this,” said Gigaba.

He added that despite problems associated with the project, the public must never lose trust in the Treasury.

This was one lapse out of the many good things the Treasury had been doing, he said.

Earlier, ANC MP Nyami Booi questioned why the Treasury had lost R1bn on a project intended to modernise the government’s IT system.

He said even on the second phase of the project, there were no results.

He questioned how the Treasury arrived at R1bn, because there was no value for money and the project had collapsed.

“Do you know how many houses could be built with R1bn?” he asked Treasury officials.

Mogajane said there was an investigation being conducted into the matter.

Scopa chairperson Themba Godi described the implementation of the IFMS project as “shambolic” and “shocking”.

He said the Treasury, whose job was to oversee proper expenditure in government, was in the dock for wasting money.

Godi said even the internal audit had found that the project cost was done informally.

He said the internal audit report also found that consultants were made to monitor themselves. He called on Gigaba to take action against those responsible.

Bursary and other support pours in for #GraceMugabe victim

Cape Town - Support for model Gabriella Engels, who was assaulted by Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe, has continued to pour in as two women, one of them from Cape Town, secured the 20-year-old a bursary to complete a make-up artistry course at Face to Face Beauty & Make-up Design School.

Civil rights organisation AfriForum, which has taken on Engels’s legal fight, has welcomed the offer.

Angela Botha from Kommetjie acted as a link between the beauty school’s principal, Shirley Wenman, and AfriForum.

Botha had posted a message of support for Engels on a Facebook community group, which Wenman saw.

The women soon interacted on the post, and Wenman then asked Botha to liaise with AfriForum, which Botha said she did.

Botha said she considered Engels to be a brave role model.

“Some people picked on her and said nasty things. Her fight then became my cause. I contacted AfriForum and they were delighted,” Botha said.

Wenman said she admired Engels for standing up to Mugabe.

“After reading about how Grace hit her and seeing the wounds, my heart broke. My first thought was that make-up will be able to cover the scar she will have on her forehead for the rest of her life. I then read that she has refused a bribe, and I said I needed to do something to show I admire her,” Wenman said.

The course Engels was offered is in Parktown, Johannesburg. AfriForum’s legal representative, Willie Spies, said they would encourage Engels to consider the offer.

“Her trauma counsellor will discuss it with her later this week. Ultimately it is her decision but it is an opportunity we will discuss with her,” Spies said.

Engels, 20, was attacked by Mugabe while visiting the first lady’s sons, Robert Jr and Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe, at an upmarket hotel in Sandton about two weeks ago.

Mugabe used an extension cord to assault Engels and her two friends, while the two sons and Mugabe’s bodyguards stood by and watched.

Engels soon posted pictures of an open cut on her forehead, which went viral.

AfriForum‘s Gerrie Nel is representing Engels, and at the end of last week they filed a review application at the North Gauteng High Court, asking the court to set aside a decision by International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to grant diplomatic immunity to Mugabe.

AfriForum said that according to a statement Engels made, Nkoana-Mashabane had misinterpreted section 7(2) of the Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges Act, and she did not have the power to grant immunity to Mugabe.

The application is expected to be heard in the high court within five months.

The Herald in Harare reported that Mugabe last Friday “reiterated the need to inculcate a culture of respect for women among the nation’s young men”.

Mugabe was speaking at the Harare Agricultural Show.

The newspaper reports her saying: “I visited various stands; of course, my first port of call was the Adult Rape Clinic stand. 

"I think it’s due to what is happening in society, those who initiated that programme realised that rape cases are on the increase and someone should do something.”

Pupil appears over alleged stabbing, teacher assaulted at same school

Cape Town - A Kuils River Technical High School pupil arrested for allegedly stabbing a fellow pupil has been released into the care of his parents following a court appearance on Tuesday.

The incident on Monday occurred during a fight between the two pupils.

Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Millicent Merton said: “We can confirm the incident at Kuils River Technical High School.

"Two boys were involved in a fight. One of the boys stabbed the other and the injured learner was treated at the day hospital. He was discharged after his wound was stitched up.”

On the same day, police opened a common assault case after a pupil from the same school allegedly assaulted a teacher.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said the alleged assault occurred after the pupil had handed over a script.

“While the teacher read through the answers, the learner tried to grab it out of the teacher’s hand. The learner assaulted the teacher with her bare hands,” Van Wyk said.

The two incidents came a week after a Soneike High School pupil was allegedly assaulted by a fellow pupil last week.

“The complainant was at a high school at Highbury Road, Highbury. While waiting for school to start, the complainant was standing outside the classroom, when a fellow pupil (a girl) also turned up for school. 

"The complainant greeted her with a hug, and she smacked the complainant in his face and kicked him on his leg,” Van Wyk said.

A case of common assault was opened for this incident at the Kuils River police station.

Alleged genital mutilator kept panties, pubic hair

Johannesburg - Police found an assortment of mementos, including women’s underwear and strands of hair, kept by accused genital mutilator Peter Frederiksen, when they searched his Bloemfontein house in 2015, the Free State High Court heard on Monday.

Lead investigator Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn, who took the witness stand for the second time on Monday after initially testifying during a trial-within-a-trial in Frederiksen’s case, told the court they went through his bedroom, where they seized cameras, photographs, some female panties and strands of pubic hair kept in several packages.

In the spare room, they found wine bottle corks with dates and names of people believed to be victims of alleged genital mutilation.

Other names and dates were also attached to champagne corks, which were presented in court as exhibits.

The court has ordered that names of the alleged victims should not be published.

“The pubic hair bags were found in different places in the bedroom,” said Steyn, who is attached to the police priority crime investigating unit, the Hawks.

“We also found bandages, numerous medical instruments, medical equipment and rings we believe were used for the piercing (of private parts), and there was also a vibrator,” added Steyn, in her evidence-in-chief, led by State prosecutor advocate Amanda Bester.

Steyn said more female panties were found in a safe in the bedroom where firearms were stored after one of Frederiksen’s former employees stumbled upon them. The former employee has been lined up as a State witness.

Defence lawyer Marius Bruwer then asked Steyn if any complainants had come forward claiming they had been sexually violated by Frederiksen when he severed their genitals.

“The people we approached were too scared. They did not want to testify,” she responded.

To which Bruwer responded: “It is our instruction from the accused that all circumcisions were consensual”

Steyn disagreed: “Tshidi said she didn’t consent to it the accused bragged that he had connections at Bainsvlei police station.”

Taking the witness stand earlier, Thuthuzela Care Centre forensic nurse Sister Mokoena confirmed the cutting of the clitoris of Frederiksen’s late wife, Anna Matseliso Molise.

Dr JM Kotze, who examined a minor who reported being sexually abused by Frederiksen, confirmed there could have been attempted penetration as the hymen was thinner than normal.

Frederiksen was arrested on September 17, 2015 after the Hawks searched his house following a tip-off from Molise and found a plastic bag in a locked deep freezer containing 21 clitorises packed in small plastic bags.

He is facing a total of 58 charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, several counts of illegally removing human tissue, removing human tissue in an unauthorised place, rape, and the conveyance and possession of unregistered medicine after he was found with several bottles of Xylocain, a local anaesthetic, in an injectable form not available in South Africa. He is also charged with illegally dealing in firearms.

Cape Flats gang war claims eighth victim

Cape Town - A bloody gang war in Mitchells Plain has claimed three more lives, bringing the death toll to eight in just one week.

Fearful residents say they have not sent their children to school this week, and blame the gunfire on a local druglord.

Residents say rival gangs, the Yakkies and Dixie Boys in Lentegeur, as well as the Americans and the Mongrels in Beacon Valley, have been at each other’s throats since 19 August.

On Sunday, three murders were reported. Cops were first called to Alpine Street, Beacon Valley, at 1:34pm where a 19-year-old man only identified as “Nose” was shot and killed.

Police spokesperson Sinathi Joni says cops have opened a murder docket.

She says at 6:47pm, police were called to the corner of Merrydale Road and Highlands Drive in Lentegeur, where the body of Nasief “Hout” Davids, 29, was found riddled with bullets.

He was shot in the head, chest and arm and died at the scene.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirms the shooting is gang-related: “The motive is gang-related. No persons have been arrested. Police are investigating a case of murder.”

Three hours later, cops were called to Bicycle Street in Beacon Valley where a 35-year-old man only identified as “Shaun” was shot moments after he went to a tuck shop.

Van Wyk explains: “The deceased went to the nearby shop when he was shot by three assailants who were on foot.”

Residents say the gang war was sparked two weeks ago by a drug merchant in the area.

“It’s more war in Lentegeur after Nasief, aka Hout Dixi, was killed and this morning they came and shot at the druglord’s house,” a woman says.

Another mother says they are too scared to leave their homes: “I haven’t sent my daughter to school since last week when the school sent everyone home due to the shootings in Aloe Street.

“People are living in fear and what is actually being done about it? I care about my 10-year-old daughter who has to walk to and from school.”

Rafique Foflonker, Public Relations Officer for the Mitchells Plain Cluster Forum, has called on authorities to create safe spaces for youngsters.

“We condemn the senseless killings and we need to look at alternative programmes for the youth,” he says.

Last week, four people were killed in gang- related incidents in Mitchells Plain.

However, family and residents say Brandon Wiese, who was killed on Tuesday in Aloe Street, Lentegeur, was innocent and was not a gangster.