'Additional 373 years imprisonment' NPA hopes sentenced for serial rapist

 The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Northern Cape says it hopes the harsh sentencing of a serial rapist will be a deterrent to other would-be offenders.

In one of the most severe sentences ever handed down in the Northern Cape High Court, Judge President Frans Kgomo sentenced Christian Julies to seven life terms and an additional 373 years imprisonment.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Julies was found guilty of 34 charges ranging from rape, attempted rape and assault.

NPA spokesperson Phaladi Shuping says he hopes the sentencing will send a message to people harbouring any criminal intentions.

“The NPA together with the police will deal decisively with would be offenders, we also hope the sentence will give the victims some kind of closure knowing that this guy has been removed from society permanently.”

Shuping says the testimonies of some of the women Julies had assaulted helped strengthen the State's case.

The convicted rapist raped women between the ages of 13 and 23 in various towns in the Northern Cape and North West.

He would target those walking in isolated areas, before attacking them

Proposed new prostitution laws to be tougher

Those who buy and sell adult sex workers should be partially criminalised, while prostitution should remain criminalised, the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) suggested yesterday.

Joined by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha in Pretoria, the SALRC released its report on the legislative framework of prostitution, which would be open for public discussion.

The SALRC compiled the report following extensive research relating to the circumstances around prostitution and the applicable legislation while considering international laws on the issue.

Currently, the buying and selling of sexual services are criminalised in the country in various sections of the Sexual Offences Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act.

Researcher in the commission Dellene Clark said the report looked at four international legislative models, which include criminalisation, decriminalisation, regulation and partial criminalisation. Topics included whether sexual services were considered as work, access to healthcare, and arrests of third persons for exploitation.

“When looking at different models, we looked at the country’s specific context. For example, in South Africa there are a high numbers of illegal migrants and lots of gender-based violence and unemployment. We are trying to apply a country-specific recommendation in terms of what we have come up with,” she said.

The report, titled the “Report on Sexual Offences: Adult Prostitution”, suggests that prostitution retain a totally criminalised legal framework, giving those in the “business” the opportunity to divert out of the system and have access to supportive resources and systems.

The report continues to suggest partial criminalisation of adult prostitution for all role-players engaging in the act with the exception of the person providing the service.

Masutha, however, said he was hopeful the report proposal would improve the current system to ease some of the complex issues facing the country such as the socio-economic marginalisation of women and the impact of HIV/Aids.

He said the released report was not draft policy of government on the subject, but a report put forward for public engagement and discussions.

“The commission found that despite mounting public and official concern about prostitution, South Africa has no clear strategy for dealing with prostitution, either on a primary and preventative level or on a secondary and intervention level.”

Cyril Ramaphosa vows to continue serving as special envoy to South Sudan

  Cyril Ramaphosa Deputy President says he will continue to serve as a special envoy to South Sudan as appointed by President Jacob Zuma despite allegations of receiving bribes.

South Sudanese rebels claim that Ramaphosa has been taking money from President Salva Kiir's government in order to block their leader, who is currently in South Africa from returning to the country.

He has refuted the claims saying the genesis of the conflict in South Sudan is due to the division within the country’s ruling SPLM.

The deputy president’s spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said, “The deputy president and the deputy secretary general of Tanzania have the responsibility of ensuring peace and harmony within the ranks of SPLM and ensuring that there is peace in South Sudan.”

Mmusi Maimane express his hope to return to Zambia

 Mmusi Maimane Democratic Alliance (DA) leader  says the Zambian high commission has committed to helping him return to that country to stand in solidarity with treason-accused opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema.

Maimane met with high commissioner Emmanuel Mwamba yesterday after being turned away at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on Thursday night.

The opposition leader planned to attend Hichilema’s trial, seen as based on trumped up charges, which started yesterday.

While he says his meeting with Mwamba proved to him his deportation was politically motivated, he’s encouraged by some assurances he’s received.

“What I am satisfied with is he gave me the assurance that should I plan my next trip, his office will work hard to ensure that we will go back there and support HH to ensure that he gets released.”

Mwamba says Maimane will be allowed to travel to Zambia.

“He is well-respected but that goes to the extent to make sure it doesn’t undermine any of our processes as a sovereign country.”

The high commissioner says Zambia’s democratic principles are respected in Africa.

Spur CEO opens up about his open letter to union solidarity

Cape Talk | The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviews Spur CEO Pierre van Tonder.

Spur CEO Pierre van Tonder wrote an open letter to Solidarity over the union's support of a boycott against the restaurant.

The boycott hit Spur after a racial incident at its The Glen restaurant in which a white man, who threatened a black woman, is seen grabbing the Johannesburg mother's child by the arm.

Van Tonder chats about his open letter in the audio clip above.

Four suspects killed in Benoni

Police have now confirmed the discovery of explosives in the car used by four suspected criminals who were shot dead on Friday morning in Benoni.

It’s understood the men opened fire on police during a routine patrol on the N12 west.

One officer was wounded badly during the shootout.

The police's Vishnu Naidoo says investigators are combing the area.

“When trying to order the driver to stop the vehicle, they opened fire on police officers – shooting one of them in the leg – and then a shootout ensued. The four suspects were killed and later on it was established that they were armed with automatic rifles.”

Competition Commission deputy targeted by Armed robbers

Hardin Ratshisusu Competition Commission Deputy Commissioner was accosted by armed robbers at the entrance to the residential complex where he lives in Midrand.

Ratshisusu  says, I was getting off a shuttle from OR Tambo International Airport.when returning from a SADC meeting in Botswana. Indications are that he may have been followed from the airport.

While Ratshisusu escaped unharmed, all his possessions were taken.

The Commission says it has activated all the relevant security interventions and is in contact with police ministry about the matter.

Police are busy investigating the incident as no arrest has been made at this moment.

Four arrested for deputy minister's kidnappers

Fikile Mbalula Police Minister reported the arrests that had been made last night, a 24-year-old Brandon Mashigo  in Garankuwa  was arrested on Monda .

Brandon Mashigo recently appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court yesterday and three other men were arrested yesterday morning.

Some of the suspects were repeat offenders, he added.

"The question of recycled criminals in communities is a reality. Some of those people arrested are linked to other cases.

They are people who have appeared in court before.

"I want to commend the police for the speed of their response," said Mbalula.

"The three people in custody will appear together with Mashigo in the Garankuwa Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of kidnapping and hijacking."

Makwetla's ordeal started on Sunday at about 7.30pm outside Life Riverfield Lodge Clinic in Randburg.

He was on his way to visit ANC stalwart Wally Serote in hospital, travelling alone in his private vehicle, a Range Rover.

Makwetla was accosted by armed men in the hospital parking lot. They forced him and security guards from the hospital into Makwetla's car.

They took his bank cards, withdrew cash, and dropped him and the security guards off unharmed in Garankuwa more than seven hours later, in the early hours of Monday morning.

Actor due in court today on human trafficking charges#Scandal

Kay Makhubela police spokesman said the group were expected to arrive for their first appearance at 9am when speaking to TshisaLIVE.

It is not yet known if the group intends to apply for bail or not.

The well-known actor and 16 other people were nabbed during a sting operation by the cops on Thursday.

Makhubela explained that police swooped in on the brothel in Springs after they got a tip-off from a woman who apparently escaped from the brothel.

The group of 11 women and six men have been charged with human trafficking under the Sexual Offences Act.

 e.tv has confirmed to TshisaLIVE that it is aware of the arrest but was not given any further details.

Vasili Vass, head of corporate affairs said, "e.tv is aware of the stories and speculation surrounding the arrest of a Scandal actor, but has received no further details at this stage. The channel will respectfully allow due process to take place". 

Maimane says Zambian authorities manhandled him

Mmusi Maimane Democratic Alliance leader speaks-out on Friday morning describing how he and his colleagues were manhandled, had there celllphones and iPads taken away by Zambian authorities and prevented from disembarking from the aeroplane in Lusaka before they were forced to leave that country.

The DA leader travelled to Zambia with an intention of attending the treason trial of Hakainde Hichilema, the detained President of Zambia’s largest opposition party – the United Party for National Development (UPND).

Hichilema is alleged to have attempted to block Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade, which was travelling on the same road.

The treason trial will be held on Friday at the Magistrate Court Complex, Hibiscus Road, Lusaka, Zambia.

Speaking on Talk Radio 702 Maimane, who is scheduled to give more details at a press conference he will hold at the Zambian embassy in Pretoria later on Friday, said he and his colleagues were manhandled for about an hour by Zambian authorities.

He warned that democracy in Zambia was "falling apart".

Maimane returned to South Africa on Thursday after being forcefully prevented from entering the Republic of Zambia.

"The leader of the official opposition is a constitutional office bearer of the the Republic of South Africa, and the actions of the Republic of Zambia tonight deserve serious attention by the South African government," said the DA after the unprecedented Zambian move.