Thursday 28 March 2013

Relatives receive remains of soldiers killed in CAR

The relatives of 13 South African troops  who were gunned down by the Central African Republic arrived at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in the capital Pretoria on Thursday to receive their remain.

The soldiers were killed on Saturday during a clash with rebels in the outskirts of Bangui. Twenty-seven were injured.
Their next-of-kin identified them ahead of a ceremony. A social worker had been assigned to each family.
Soldiers formed a guard of honour for their fallen colleagues before their coffins were loaded into hearses.



SA Armry handover the remains of 13 soldiers


  
Waterkloof Air Base. Handover of remains  of 13 South African troops who died in the Central African Republic 

Mandela back in Hospital With Lung Infection

The South Africa  anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela  has been readmitted  to a Pretoria  hospital with a recurring lung infection, government announced Thursday.

Mandela, 94, has become increasingly frail in recent years and has been hospitalized several times since last year, most recently earlier this month when he underwent a  medical test.

As calculated this is the third time in four months Mandela has been hospitalized
  
Tata as he is popularly known by his supporters was admitted to a hospital just before midnight Wednesday due to the recurrence of his lung infection.

 “Doctors are attending to him, ensuring that he has the best possible expert medical treatment and comfort,” the statement said. It appealed “for understanding and privacy in order to allow space to the doctors to do their work.”

It did not identify the hospital. In December, Mandela spent three weeks in a hospital in the South African capital of Pretoria, where he was treated for a lung infection and had a procedure to remove gallstones.

Oscar Pistorius allowed to leave South Africa after winning appeal


 South African track star Oscar Pistorius charged with murder in the slaying of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp  will be allowed to travel abroad to compete after winning his bail restrictions.


Judge Bert Bam said Pistorius could hand over his passport to his attorney and was entitled to use it to travel outside South Africa.

However Pistorius must  report his itinerary a week before leaving.

 Pistorius was charged  with premeditated murder last month after he shot Steenkamp in his Pretoria home on February 14.

Pistorius' legal team went to Pretoria's North Gauteng High Court on Thursday to challenge the restrictions imposed on the athlete when he was freed on bail last month.

The defense  also included a ban on returning to the Pretoria home where the shooting happened, on drinking alcohol and on talking to witnesses in the case.
 
State prosecutor Gerrie Nel told the court he plans to serve Pistorius with an indictment on June 4.
Pistorius spent eight days in jail before a magistrate freed him on bail on February 22.

The Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, known as the "Blade Runner" for competing on carbon fiber blades fitted to the stumps of his amputated legs, says he thought Steenkamp was an intruder.
Prosecutors argue that he intentionally killed her after a loud argument.