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Two former G4S employees arrested in connection with Thabo Bester escape plot
Police have arrested two former G4S employees in connection with Thabo Bester's prison escape. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the two employees, who were dismissed by the company, were arrested on Monday at their place of residence in Bloemfontein.
The pair will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, on charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody and defeating the ends of justice.A group of 22 South Africans are stranded in Egypt after leaving war-torn Sudan by boat. They had arrived for a project last year and the boat was chartered by the company which employed them, said Gift of the Givers' Dr Imtiaz Sooliman. They have been on the boat in Port Safaga for the last three days, awaiting clearance. Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the department would intervene in getting the required clearances.– Ntwaagae SelekaA bodyguard assigned to an executive member of the management of the University of Fort Hare was killed in a car accident on Sunday morning. Earlier in April, five people were arrested during the investigation into the murders of the University of Fort Hare's fleet manager, Peet Roets, and the Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu's bodyguard of five years, Mboneli Vesele.Jenni EvansJUST IN | Company at the centre of KZN school nutrition tender controversy pulls out of contract Pacina Retail, the company which has faced questions over its delivery on a school nutrition tender, has pulled out of the contract with the KwaZulu-Natal government.School pupils in the province have gone hungry as Pacina Retail has been unable to meet its obligations for the National Schools Nutrition Programme for two weeks.A 50-year-old woman and her 39-year-old partner have been arrested for the brutal murder of two young Soweto boys, police said on Wednesday. "Yesterday , following a forensic investigation at the boys' homes, the team brought in two suspects for questioning," Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said. Tshiamo Rabanye, 6, and Mduduzi Nqobizitha Zulu, 5, disappeared last week while playing in the street.The poet Duma Ndlovu's nomination to receive the National Order award has been withdrawn, the Presidency said on Sunday. This came after public outcry following the announcement that Ndlovu would receive one of the country's highest honours despite him being implicated in allegations of state capture. On Sunday, the Presidency said it had accepted Ndlovu's withdrawal, saying also that Freek Robinson and Mike Horn's nominations had been withdrawn. "To uphold the integrity of National Orders, [the award's committee] will further adopt measures to strengthen the selection process. These measures include a workshop which will be undertaken by Council members at the end of April 2023. Timelines of the selection process will also be reviewed," the Presidency said. Earlier this week, the ANC Veterans' League called on the Presidency to revoke Ndlovu's nomination, adding that it had written to an official in the Presidency.Police Minister Bheki Cele has confirmed that a man believed to be linked to the killing of 10 family members in Imbali township in Pietermaritzburg was killed during a shootout with the police on Friday. The man was found while participating in a cleansing ceremony at a house near the crime scene. He was with three others when the police found him. Cele said one of the three men was arrested, one was injured in the shooting and hospitalised, and the third managed to escape.Eight women and two men from the same family have been shot dead after a group of armed men stormed their home in the Imbali township in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday. "The motive behind this barbaric act of criminality is still unknown. Police are on the scene," said the ANC's Moses Mabhida Region on Friday. Senior leaders, including Msunduzi Municipality Mayor, Mzimkhulu Thebolla, are en route to the scene.The bodies of two children, aged five and six, who were reported missing on Wednesday, were found on Thursday in Soweto. Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said one body was discovered in White City, and the other in Rockville.- Tshepiso MotloungTourism Minister Patricia de Lille has announced that she will officially dissolve the SA Tourism board on Friday.In a statement on Wednesday morning, De Lille said she believes that good cause exists to dissolve the Board.“I shall do so officially through the Government Gazette on Friday, 21 April 2023,” she added.President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally appointed members of the SABC board- six months after the term of the previous board came to an end. "In terms of section 13 of the Act, President Ramaphosa designated Mr Khathutshelo Ramukumba as Chairperson and Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi as the Deputy Chairperson of the SABC Board," the Presidency said.The president said:"The SABC is a vital institution of our constitutional democracy. I trust the newly appointed board members will work hard at ensuring that South Africa continues to benefit from a stable, independent and effective national public broadcaster."Stellenbosch University council appoints committee to probe nepotism claims against VC The council of Stellenbosch University has decided to appoint a committee of three to probe allegations of nepotism against vice-chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers.Council agreed that the matter should first be referred to a council committee of three people, of which one would be an independent legal professional. The committee would investigate the facts underlying the motion, including allegations of nepotism and a possible breach of rules in relation to De Villiers’ discretionary placements of family members at the university.The Presidency announced on Monday that President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Electoral Amendment Bill. The controversial bill would make it possible for independent candidates to stand in provincial and national elections and flows from a Constitutional Court order. The National Assembly passed the bill in February, amid concerns from civil society. Ramaphosa is satisfied that the bill will pass constitutional muster, the Presidency said.Stellenbosch University alumni reject convocation request to share motion of no confidence in VC The alumni of Stellenbosch University have rejected a request by the convocation's executive committee to distribute the motion of no confidence it adopted on Friday, with all alumni members. The motion was adopted by the five members of the executive committee in relation to the vice-chancellor and rector Wim de Villiers who faces allegations of nepotism and violating the university’s admission policy. In a leaked email sent by alumni relations manager Shaun Stuart to Advocate Jan Heunis, the president of the convocation, Stuart said: “With reference to your request of 14 April 2023 to send a statement to the Convocation of SU, the request is rejected.” The convocation is a statutory body made up of all graduates, full-time and retired academic staff, and diplomates.BREAKING | Stellenbosch University convocation calls on vice-chancellor to resign before council meeting The Stellenbosch University convocation has adopted a motion of no confidence in vice-chancellor Wim de Villiers following allegations of nepotism. The motion was adopted on Friday morning during a meeting of the executive committee of the SU convocation. The motion calls for De Villiers and the registrar to resign before the council’s meeting, which is expected to happen on Monday.BREAKING | Seven arrested in connection with the murder of retired journalist Jeremy Gordin Police have arrested seven suspects in connection with the murder of retired journalist Jeremy Gordin in March.Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the group was expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court soon on charges of murder, house robbery, possession of a suspected stolen property, and possession of an unlicenced firearm.State withdraws charges against four men accused of killing Hillary Gardee The State has provisionally withdrawn charges against the four men charged with the murder of Hillary Gardee. Speaking in the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela on Wednesday, Judge Takalani Ratshibvumo warned Philemon Lukhele, Albert Mduduzi Gama, Hlabirwa Rassie Nkune and Sipho Lawrence Mkhatshwa that the withdrawal of the charges did not mean they had been acquitted. The men were expected to stand trial for the kidnapping and murder of Godrich Gardee's daughter Hillary.At least five people will appear in the Alice Magistrate's Court on Tuesday in connection with the murders of Mboneli Vesele, the bodyguard of the University of Fort Hare's vice chancellor, and fleet manager Petrus Roets. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said they would also face three charges in connection with the attempted murder of Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu and other senior officials, as well as charges of corruption at Fort Hare. Minister Bheki Cele and police commissioner General Fannie Masemola are set to brief the vice chancellor on Tuesday before attending court proceedings.Five people were killed in a horrific multi-vehicle crash near Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal, with paramedics attending to a scene that stretches at least a kilometre. Five trucks, eight minibus taxis and 22 motor vehicles had been involved in the accident, during misty conditions, on the N3 southbound between Hilton and Cedara, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport said. "They say the scene is spread out for over a kilometre," said Robert Mckenzie, KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services spokesperson. The road is closed in both directions to allow for rescue vehicles and ambulances. Motorists should use the R103 instead.Two people have been arrested in connection with the widely publicised escape of Facebook rapist Thabo Bester. They are a 39-year-old former G4S employee and a 65-year-old man from Port Edward in KwaZulu-Natal.SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the multi-disciplinary team investigating Bester's escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre arrested the two people over the past weekend. "The former G4S employee was arrested at his residence in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 8 April 2023, while the 65-year-old man was arrested on Friday, 7 April 2023 at his home in Port Edward," said Mathe.- Marvin CharlesLarge parts of Pretoria and Centurion were left without power on Monday morning after electricity pylons collapsed along the N4 highway between Simon Vermooten Road and Solomon Mahlangu Drive. The City of Tshwane said in a statement that two electricity pylons fell onto the N4 highway on Sunday evening, resulting in the power outage. The incident has led to the closure of the N4 east between Solomon Mahlangu and Simon Vermooten off-ramps.08 April 14:20Fugitive also known as 'Facebook rapist' Thabo Bester, was arrested in Tanzania late on Friday night, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has confirmed. Lamola said the convicted murderer was arrested together with his 'accomplice', socialite-doctor Nandipha Magudumana and a Mozambican national. Bester and Magudumana have been on the run since the news of his prison escape was revealed by Ground Up.An extradition bid to have Gupta brothers, Rajesh and Atul, returned from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa has been unsuccessful. Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said the South African government had learnt with"shock and dismay" that the Guptas had appeared in an extradition hearing on 13 February already and that the extradition bid was unsuccessful.Read the full story below: The United Arab Emirates has refused South Africa's request to extradite the Gupta brothers. - The justice department was notified of the decision in a diplomatic note on Thursday, even though the decision was made in February already. - South African authorities were shocked by the decision. The prosecuting authority said all technical processes had been complied with and all boxes had been ticked.Key underworld figure, Nafiz Modack was charged with another murder and attempted murder, the Blue Downs Regional Court heard on Thursday. This emerged during the court appearance of Modack, Zane Kilian, Jacques Cronje, Ziyaad Poole and Bubbles Brown. Former AGU officer Ashley Tabisher, Amal Jantjies, Jannick Adonis, Fahmeed Kelly, Yaseen Modack, Mario Petersen, Petrus Visser, Muhamed Mukadam and Ricardo Morgan, who are charged with the murder of AGU detective Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear, also appeared in court. The latest charges relate to an incident at Cubana nightclub in Green Point, in December 2017 where two bouncers were stabbed. Only one survived. Visser and Cronje were also charged with the Cubana incident. The enormous case with over 3000 charges was also not transferred to the Western Cape High court as expected on Thursday, due to new issues which had to be dealt with.JUST IN | Nine suspected CIT robbers killed, four wounded in shootout with Gauteng police Nine suspected cash-in-transit robbers have been killed in Sebokeng during a shootout with Gauteng police on Thursday. At least four other robbers have been wounded, said police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. "These suspects are believed to be behind a spate of cash in transit heists in Gauteng and surrounding areas," she said. *Editor's Note: A ninth person has since died. This post has been updated to reflect the new death toll number.Seven alleged online scammers are expected to appear in the Soshanguve Magistrate's Court in connection with a number of robberies linked to online adverts for vehicles and goods.Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the suspects are accused of creating fake adverts on online marketplaces and then luring potential buyers to isolated areas where they would be robbed. In all the cases, the group held their victims at gunpoint and demanded money and belongings, said Nevhuhulwi. During the arrest, police confiscated police uniforms, two firearms, two fake guns, ammunition and nine cellphones.A former executive administrator has appeared in court in connection with an R15 million fraud investigation. Lerato Patricia Mufamadi, 40, appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday, said Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha. Mufamadi, a former employee at a mining and metals company, is accused of altering suppliers' banking details to hers, allowing for payments to end up in her bank account between May 2017 and October 2021. The case has been postponed until next Tuesday for a bail application while Mufamadi remains in custody.The North West ANC MP charged with the murder of his wife has been granted R50 000 bail. Sibusiso Kula, 34, was arrested in January and charged with the murder of his wife, Jennifer Mohlomi, who was stabbed to death in November.On Tuesday, Judge Andre Peterson granted Kula R50 000 bail and ordered that he surrender his passport and have no contact with his children.Man arrested for stabbing brother to death, allegedly over fight about meat A 43-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stabbing his 52-year-old brother to death following an argument, allegedly over meat. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the stabbing happened on Monday night at Sawpits Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. The family apparently had a traditional event over the weekend, where the older brother took meat that was left over. The accused reportedly went to his brother's house to demand some leftovers before a fight broke out.
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