Julius Malema back in court to face corruption charges

Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema appeared at the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane on Tuesday morning to face charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering, and racketeering.

Juju as he is popularly known  is accused of having made nearly R4m from corrupt activities. He is out on R10 000 bail.

He will appeared  with his business associates Kagisho Dichabe, Lesiba Gwangwa, Helen Moreroa and Makgetsi Manthata, who were granted bail of R40 000 each on 25 September.

They are appearing in the high court building as the magistrate's court was gutted by fire last year, nearly a month after their first appearance.

R52m contract
The State alleges Malema's associates misrepresented themselves to the Limpopo department of roads and transport, leading to a R52m contract being awarded to one of them.

According to court papers the department paid R43m to On-Point Engineering, of which Gwangwa was a director. Malema's Ratanang Family Trust was an indirect shareholder in On-Point.

Malema allegedly benefited substantially from the payment, using the proceeds to buy a farm worth R3.9m and a R382 655 Mercedes-Benz, knowing the money formed part of the proceeds of crime.

He was accompanied to court on Tuesday by his confidante Jacob Lebogo, who is the former secretary of the African National Congress Youth League in Limpopo.

Also there were ANCYL spokesperson Magdalene Moonsamy, members Roleta Lebelo and Josi Buthane, and controversial businessman Kenny Kunene.

Traffic was backed up in the Polokwane CBD ahead of Malema's appearance, with many streets to the court closed. Impatient drivers hooted and flashed their lights at one another.

"We are deploying sufficient police, but we don't foresee any threat," said Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

Mandela is fine- wife

Nelson Mandela's wife has said his husband   is "fine" and his health is improving after he was hospitalised more than a week ago for pneumonia at the MediClinic Hospital.

"Madiba is fine, Madiba is getting better and better," said Graca Machel , referring to 94-year-old Mandela's clan name,

Machel said Mandela  is in hospital simply because the doctors want to be absolutely sure that he is strong enough to go home and nothing is going to recur.

 

 MEDICLINIC Heart Hospital where Mandela is hospitalised

Her comments marked the latest upbeat update from the family  on  Madela's condition since he was hospitalised shortly before midnight on March 27.


On Thursday, President Jacob Zuma said that he had visited his predecessor and that doctors had said he was showing continuous improvement.

"Madiba is stable and we are thankful that he is responding well to treatment and that he is much better," Zuma said,

To help him breathe without difficulty, doctors last week drained excess fluid that had built up on the lining of his lungs.


Mandela's latest health scare has sparked an outpouring of wishes and prayers from across the globe and at home.

 Mandela's lung problems date back to his 27 years in apartheid jail when he was diagnosed with early-stage tuberculosis in 1988.
He has also been treated for prostate cancer and has suffered from stomach ailments.

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.

Can Oscar Pistorius survive jail term?

South Africa Paralympian gold medalist Oscar Pistorius should expect tough life ahead of him if the Pretoria magistrate court will not grant him bail. Pistorius who is currently being kept at Brooklyn police station in the capital Pretoria is expected to be transfered to a prison if the court throws out his bail application. This will will be a hard time for Pistorius who was born without borns below his knees on both legs to live a prison life. Speaking to reporters outside NPA spokesman Medupi Simasiku said the state is confident on its investigation officer Hilton Botha and promise that they will get want they want. The state is opposing Pistorius application for bail. However defence advocate Barry Roux is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that his client is granted bail. In the 10 page afidavit read by Roux Pistorius denied the murder allegetion in strongest term saying he had no intention to kill his girlfriend. On Wednsday Roux who is one of the top lawyers in South Africa accused the police of contaminating the Valentine's day shooting of Pistorius girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Roux accused Botha of walking around the house without protective shoe covers. Pistorius was arrested early on Thursday morning after his model girlfrind was shot dead in his home at Silver wood estate. During court proceedings Pistorius has been emotional throughout.