#CourtneyPieters: ‘He killed her because he didn’t like her’

First he poisoned her, and when she was dead, he raped three-year-old Courtney Pieters’ body.

Then he broke all the bones in her little frame, put her in a plastic bag and went to dump her body on a field.

And he did all this because he "didn’t like” the child.

This is according to a source close to Mortimer Saunders, who says the alleged child rapist and killer confessed his crimes to police, and confided in him over the weekend.

The 40-year-old suspect is being kept in the hospital wing of Goodwood Prison.

The source adds that Saunders revealed he made a full admission to cops on the day of his arrest on May 14.

“He also believes he will get a light sentence because she was dead before he raped her,” adds the confidante.

Courtney disappeared from her home in Pluto Street, Elsies River, on 4 May, and was found nine days later, buried in a shallow grave at Bofors Circle, Epping Industria, near her home.

Saunders, who boarded with the family, helped searched for the little girl.

But the childhood friend of Courtney’s father, Aaron Fourie, was nabbed a day after her body was found.

Friends and family of Saunders were shocked, including his father, a pastor of the Old Apostolic Church in Elsies River.

Saunders, who worked as a team leader at an international call centre at the V&A Waterfront, was described as a “soft-spoken, shy guy who would not hurt a fly”.

But the Daily Voice source says this was a disguise.

The insider says Saunders was comfortable revealing details of Courtney’s death because he believes he’s done nothing wrong.

“He says he fed her Fusion cooldrink laced with ant poison,” says the source.

“He doesn’t think he did anything wrong, he claims he couldn’t have [raped] her because she was too far gone from the poison.

“It was all over by 10am on the [day] she went missing. He fetched a blanket from another bedroom, wrapped her up, put her in a bag and went to dump her.”

It is believed the killer broke the child’s bones to make her fit into a shopping bag.

That much was confirmed by President Jacob Zuma, when visiting the family at their home a few weeks ago, when he told the media: “That a man who stays here can rape the child, kill the child in the bedroom ... and break every bone to make the child fit in a plastic bag ... It shows something has gone wrong with society.”

It appears Courtney’s body was also not kept in Saunders’ bedroom, after it had been suspected that it had been, due to the “smell of death” that came from his fridge, now believed to have come from old meat.

The source adds: “The question on everyone’s lips, though, is why? Why would anyone kill an innocent three-year old child?

“Well, according to him, he didn’t like Courtney. He said this with a straight face. He was disappointed that he was caught, but he does not appear to be sorry at all.

“He said he would tell the truth in court.”

Prosecutor Adnaan Gelderbloem said DNA tests, forensic reports and witness statements should be ready when Saunders appears next in the Goodwood Magistrate's Court on 27 August.https://goo.gl/sqxVzn

COSATU and ANC in Western Cape welcome DA’s Decision to suspend to ZILLE

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape have welcomed the announcement of Premier Helen Zille’s suspension although her suspension cannot be taken into account as yet because due process wasn’t followed before making the announcement

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane on Saturday announced that the party’s Federal Executive had resolved to suspend Zille following an outcry over her tweets about the positives of colonialism

Maimane says while he was also offended by the colonialism tweets he reiterates that he doesn't believe Zille is racist, adding that she has contributed to South Africa’s democracy.

However, Zille hit back, saying that her suspension goes against the DA’s constitution which affords her the opportunity to give reasons as to why she should not be suspended.

“I have been charged, I’m happy to go to a hearing but I’m not happy to have to incriminate myself before a hearing even takes place and allow the party just impose a penalty without going through a proper process, and that’s the issue here..”

Meanwhile, the ANC in the Western Cape says Zille has a history of racist views; from her comments about professional black people, refugees and her recent comments on colonialism.

At the same time, Cosatu’s Tony Ehrenreich says Zille should be removed as premier of the Western Cape.

“Well it’s clearly inappropriate that you’re suspended in your party but you’re allowed to continue as a leader in government.

“Government must respond to all of its people and if you’re still holding on to the legacy of apartheid and the lessons of apartheid, you’re not suitable to be in the party but neither are you suitable to be a leadership of an important government institution.”

ZILLE AND I HOLD DIFFERENT VIEWS

Maimane says Zille’s public utterances in connection with colonialism have damaged the party, while Zille says she rejects colonialism and apartheid but maintains that there were some benefits.

He says while he was also offended by the colonialism tweets he reiterates that he doesn’t believe Zille is racist, adding that she has contributed to South Africa’s democracy.

While the DA leader announced Zille’s suspension, Zille said she cannot be suspended without making her representation as to why she shouldn't be suspended.

Later after that announcement, the da federal executive wrote to Zille asking her to make her representations in 72 hours.

Maimane says he and Zille have disagreed on the direction the party needs to take in the run up to the 2019 general elections.

“It has become quite fundamentally clear that Premier Zille and I hold different attitudes about the direction the Democratic Alliance needs to accomplish in 2019.”

At the same time, Zille says she has never condoned colonialism or apartheid.

“I reject colonialism, reject apartheid. What I’m saying is that can you repurpose aspects of its legacy, such as, for example, our Constitutional principles.”

Zille’s suspension can now only come into effect should her recommendations be rejected by the disciplinary process.

A suspect arrested in connection of a murder of 33-year-old mother

A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Unathi Booi in Langa.

The 33-year-old's body was found in an alley by community members earlier this week.

Booi’s was reportedly last seen leaving her home with a friend on Sunday night, but she did not return.

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini paid Booi's family a visit this week, to offer her support.

The police's Frederick van Wyk says, “We can confirm that a 42-year-old man was arrested and will appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates Court on 5 June on a charge of murder.”

DA clarifies issue #ZilleSuspension

Western Cape premier and former Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille has responded to her suspension by the DA's federal executive (FedEx) saying the decision does not comply with the party's own federal constitution.

However, the DA has also moved quickly to clarify the issue in a further statement. In a statement posted on her Twitter account on Saturday afternoon, Zille said the DA constitution required that she be given time to make representations on the matter.

There was also a contradiction between the content of a letter sent to her by FedEx chairperson James Selfe and the statement made by DA leader Mmusi Maimane about her suspension, Zille said.

In his letter, Selfe had given her until June 6 to give reasons why she should not be suspended until the outcome of her disciplinary hearing. However, Maimane's statement was "unequivocal that the suspension was already operative".

The DA’s leadership has charged Zille with violating the DA constitution. The party's federal legal commission has found that Zille has a case to answer over her tweets earlier this year in which she said colonialism had had some benefits for the country.

In her statement, Zille also said it was not correct that she had refused to apologise.

"I have apologised publicly. What I have not agreed to is plead guilty to charges of misconduct which I have never committed.

"I am obviously prepared to face a full disciplinary hearing. I have not accepted that the DA has a right to find me guilty and penalise me before the hearing even takes place. I cannot be bullied into resigning or incriminating myself," Zille said.

In a further statement issued shortly after Zille's Twitter statement, the DA said it should be noted that the DA FedEx had written to Zille "to signify its intention to temporarily suspend her from party activities until the conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings instituted against her".

"We have given Helen Zille the opportunity to indicate to us why she should not be so suspended. The notice calling for representations on suspension has already been served and requires any representations to be made within 72 hours. The final decision of the DA federal executive regarding whether to suspend Helen Zille will be made once any such representations have been made and considered," the statement said.

Earlier on Saturday, Maimane announced Zille had been suspended from all DA-related activities pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.

Briefing the media following the DA’s two-day FedEx meeting in Johannesburg, Maimane said he had been working to resolve this matter using all available means.

“It has become quite evident that Helen Zille and I hold fundamentally different attitudes about the mission the Democratic Alliance needs to accomplish in 2019, and the goals and priorities that flow from this.

“Ms Zille’s social media commentary and public utterances in connection with colonialism undermine our reconciliation project. There is no question that Ms Zille’s original tweets and subsequent justifications have damaged our standing in the public mind.

“We live in a fragile democracy which means our public representatives must, at all times, be sensitive to the legitimate anger that people still feel about our past and its legacy,” he said.

As DA leader, it was up to him to rebuild public trust. In this regard, he had asked Zille to tender an unreserved apology to both South Africa and the DA for the damage she had done.

“Unfortunately, she declined. In this period, Ms Zille has continued to damage the party with various pieces of communication that seek to undermine what we are trying to achieve. Accordingly, [the] federal executive has resolved Ms Zille be suspended from all party-related activities until such time as her disciplinary hearing is concluded. A notice of suspension will be served on Ms Zille in this regard. This has not been an easy decision. But, as the leader, I must do what is right for the party and South Africa,” Maimane said.

A 33-year-old mother raped and killed

Residents of Langa’s old flats near zone 26 are still reeling from the loss of “bubbly and fun-loving” Unathi Madotyeni, whose mutilated body was found just 300m from her home.

The 33-year-old mother of two was allegedly raped before being killed, and her eyes gouged out.

The gruesome discovery was made on Monday morning, hours after Madotyeni left her home with friends the evening before for a night out.

Her family says they are heartbroken and filled with anger.

“Though we know it is unlikely that this case will be taken seriously, we are not allowed to take the law into our own hands anymore, and the way he took her life was very brutal, said Madotyeni’s uncle Ntsikelelo Mthetho.

“I would love for him to feel the same pain that he made her feel,” he added.

Madotyeni, who arrived in Cape Town in February to further her studies, left her home with a friend around 6pm on Sunday. This is according to a friend, who asked to remain anonymous.

She recalled the last time she saw Madotyeni, saying they had met up with friends at a local tavern where they stayed for a few hours before she told her (female friend) she wanted to leave. They proceeded to a friend’s home and a male acquaintance accompanied the pair. Shortly after, Madotyeni allegedly decided to go home and the man followed her out.

Police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk said a case of murder has been opened for investigation.

“The body of a woman was found in Langa with multiple injuries. Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation. No-one has been arrested at this stage,” Van Wyk said.

Madotyeni’s family appeared upset and distraught by the incident, saying Madotyeni had two gashes to her forehead, and blood streaming out of her one eye socket had dried up.

When Weekend Argus visited the family, they were heading to the mortuary.

Madotyeni’s cousin, Noluvuyo Booi, said those who were first to arrive at the scene had to dress the body.

“When she was found her jeans were pulled down to her knees and they told us her eyes had been taken out. Who does that, what kind of an animal is this guy?” she asked.

Mthetho added he could not understand why police had not arrested the man who was last seen with his niece.

“Witnesses confirmed to police that he had changed his clothes but he flat out denied this, saying what he had on when he was questioned was what he had on the night before.

“Police did not even bother to look into this. Unathi is gone and her killer is wandering the streets,” he said.

At the time Madotyeni’s body was found, two men accused of the murder of Stellenbosch University student, Hanna Cornelius, were appearing in the town’s magistrate’s court - 48 hours after the 21-year-old’s body was found.

The humanities student’s body was found just 24 hours after she and a male friend had been hijacked. The pair were in a white VW Golf last Friday night, the car was later found near a farm between Stellenbosch and Kraaifontein.

Two weeks ago after 22-year-old Johannesburg woman, Karabo Mokoena was laid to rest. Mokoena was allegedly killed and burnt by her boyfriend.

Madotyeni’s family said they would be taking her body back to the Eastern Cape for burial

Charlotte Nikoi body discovered on Table Mountain

Unicef has confirmed that the decomposed female body found on Table Mountain on Tuesday is that of Charlotte Nikoi.

"We learned with great sadness that the remains of our colleague Charlotte (Nana Yaa) Nikoi have been found. All of us at Unicef are deeply saddened by this news and express our personal sympathies to her family.

"Nana Yaa was a committed colleague who devoted the past 18 years of her life to the work and values of the United Nations. Her warmth and steadfast support will be missed by all those who knew her." Najwa Mikki spokesperson for Unicef said.

Nikoi went missing on March 21 after she had gone hiking with her family. It was suppose to be there last day in Cape Town before leaving for Johannesburg.

Since her disapperance her family has made a desperate plea to the public for anyone to come forward with any information about her disappearance.

Taxi slams in vehicles‚ then into a wall

Paramedics rushed to the scene in the business district‚ north of the city‚ after receiving reports of a serious collision.

Netcare911 spokesman Nick Dollman said two taxis and a car had collided‚ before one of the taxis crashed into a wall of the nearby business.

"Paramedics assessed approximately 20 people at the scene and attended to 14 with injuries; 12 had sustained relatively minor injuries‚ one had moderate injuries and the front passenger of the taxi had sustained serious injuries‚" said Dollman.

Firefighters used the jaws of life to remove two passengers trapped in the wreckage.

Dollman said one of the drivers was detained by police.

#CabinetReshuffle: Zuma welcomes court ruling

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma on Friday night welcomed the decision of the North Gauteng High Court to grant him leave to appeal its judgement by Judge Bashir Vally ordering the President to submit the record and reasons of the decision to reshuffle his Cabinet on 31 March 2017.

In his application for leave to appeal, the President had contended that there was a reasonable prospect that another Court would come to a different decision from that of the High Court and that the matter was one of considerable importance to the parties and the country.

In a statement the Presidency said: "The application for leave to appeal was argued today, June 2, 2017, before Judge Vally and he agreed that the President be granted leave to appeal his judgment to the Supreme Court of the Appeal.

"In handing down judgment, the court emphasised that the public interest in this case post issuance of the judgement has been wide, deep and intense and warranted that the the issues raised by this particular matter be considered by the Supreme Court of Appeal.

"Further, the court agreed that there is merit in the contention by the President that the order had far-reaching implications and therefore warranted the attention of a higher court."

Zuma may now approach the Supreme Court of Appeal. Earlier on Friday, the South Gauteng High Court granted Zuma leave to appeal but Judge Vally said he remained sceptical and believed there were no reasonable prospects that another court would come to a different conclusion.

However, he conceded that there might compelling reasons to appeal.

"The president's contention is not without merit. The president contends further that the order fundamentally impacts on the manner in which the office of the Presidency operates. The DA was not able to dispel or discredit these claims. In these circumstances this matter should be brought to the attention of a higher court."

Last month, the Democratic Alliance approached the court to compel Zuma to hand over all records which supported his reasons for sacking former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas during a midnight reshuffle in March.

In his first ruling, Vally ordered Zuma to provide all documents and electronic records, including correspondence, reports, contracts, memoranda, evaluations, advice received and recommendations that related to his decision.

Zuma has continuously maintained that he is empowered through the constitution to hire and fire members of his cabinet and that the decision to axe Gordhan and Jonas was an executive one.

#Durban-Child porn suspects in court

Three Durban men, who were arrested at the beginning of December on child pornography charges, appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Friday.

The men were arrested during a swoop by SAPS and the US Department of Homeland Security, after a child pornography website was red-flagged when one of the suspects, a 29-year-old from Pinetown, accessed the site.

After his arrest, he spilled the beans on the other two suspects, a 47-year-old man from the Bluff and a 35-year-old from Waterfall, who were subsequently arrested.

The 29-year-old was released on bail, while the 47-year-old has also been charged with rape, sexual assault and grooming a 6-year-old child for pornographic purposes.

On Friday, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Kara said the case had been postponed until July for a cyber crime report and further particulars.

* The suspects are not being named because they have not pleaded.

Zuma faces tricky commission decision

The Guptas might hold the reins on his administration, but it’s President Jacob Zuma who has the final say in appointing the commission that could lead to his downfall.

A trail of leaked emails made public this week has been cementing perceptions of the Gupta family’s hold over the state, leading to widespread calls for a commission of inquiry to investigate.

Investigative reporters from several media outlets are wading through an estimated 100000 to 200000 missives made available on an internet platform.

Even the ANC has expressed concern at the leak of emailed correspondence purporting to be between the Gupta family, their associates, government ministers and Public Enterprises Board members. It called on the government to verify the claims, and for individuals whose names appear in the emails to explain.

ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the party was seriously concerned about the allegations.

Even the ANC has expressed concern at the leak of emailed correspondence purporting to be between the Gupta family, their associates, government ministers and Public Enterprises Board members. It called on the government to verify the claims, and for individuals whose names appear in the emails to explain.

ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the party was seriously concerned about the allegations.“It is causing great damage,” he said.

The emails have linked Zuma, through his son Duduzane and several cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, with the Guptas in governance and state institutions. Some of the emails related to situations where tenders worth billions of rand were involved.

“Such matters cannot be allowed to fester in the public domain. Accordingly, the ANC calls on government to urgently seek to establish the veracity of these claims and explanation from those implicated,” Kodwa said.

He added, in line with the decision of the ANC national executive committee, the party wanted a commission of inquiry set up without delay.

Zuma is constitutionally empowered to establish such a commission.

But some analysts argue the president is so deeply implicated that the credibility of such a body would be severely compromised if he was involved in setting it up.

Constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos, of the University of Cape Town, said the constitution allowed for the deputy president to step in if the president was unable to fulfil his duties of office.

De Vos is one of a number of legal and political analysts to warn of a looming constitutional crisis over the mounting claims of state capture following the publication of the emails.

One of the recommendations by former public protector Thuli Madonsela was that Zuma should ask Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to appoint a judge to lead an inquiry into allegations of state capture.

Professor Somadoda Fikeni, of Unisa, said a commission could be set up by Zuma and its terms of reference drafted by the chief justice, the Judicial Service Commission or another body.

Meanwhile, Gigaba is in the eye of the email storm.

One email addressed to Gigaba when he was still minister of home affairs was an early naturalisation request for the Guptas’ mother, Angoori Gupta.

“Your favourable consideration of our request for early naturalisation into South Africa will be highly appreciated - we have made this country our home already,” it read.

The Daily Maverick cited a chain of emails in which it is claimed Gigaba ordered officials to be placed in Mumbai and New Delhi to fast-track visas for the Guptas as they shifted assets and employees between India and South Africa.

The SACP called on the minister to resign, saying he had lost the benefit of the doubt it was prepared to give him when he replaced Pravin Gordhan.

“Quite clearly, the majority of those who are affected, they should not hold public office on our behalf. And I think it is as easy as that. That includes the current minister of finance, Malusi Gigaba,” the SACP’s second deputy secretary general, Solly Mapaila, said.

“Otherwise, there’s no way that our people can trust government with such people at the helm.”

On Friday, Gigaba insisted he had done nothing wrong.

“Nobody has given me these emails. Nobody has told me how these emails were obtained - whether it was through proper means or whether they have not been fabricated.

“I don’t know,” Gigaba said during a media briefing.

Other leaks suggest Salim Essa, known for trying to buy a bank after the Guptas’s accounts were closed and for heading Denel’s red-flagged joint venture partner VR Laser Asia, was allowed to vet Ben Ngubane’s first public statement as Eskom chairman. Molefe arrived at Eskom weeks after Ngubane and won credit for ending

Weekend Argus