Aa arts co-operative has stepped up to claim responsibility for the mysterious boat floating on the Black River in Cape Town.

Cape Town - An arts co-operative has stepped up to claim responsibility for the mysterious boat floating on the Black River which has captured the attention and imagination of Cape Town residents.

Fred du Preez, of the KOP arts co-operative, said the boat and the figures in it were not to make a radical statement. “But if we can put focus on the river, all the better.”

A hooded figure sits in the boat. Next to it is another hooded figure which appears to be climbing a ladder.

Addressing the rumour about evil spirits, Du Preez said “that story really came from the people living on the riverbanks, they remarked that they find the figures eerie and for )which we apologised”.

He said they chose the Black River because it is “a rubbish heap covered with water”.

“It’s sad that we enter Cape Town and then have such little respect for this potentially beautiful river. Can you imagine a tearoom, play parks, skate park, cycle roads all along the river?

“We like making something to look at. The only evil in this story is the ignorance of us polluting nature,” said Du Preez.

“This piece will evolve to more characters on the boat doing a whole range of things. Watch the river,” Du Preez added.

sibusisiwe.lwandle@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Ice cream vendor Luke Dausi has reason to smile again after a brutal attack on Sea Point’s promenade left him with no front teeth.

Cape Town - Ice cream vendor Luke Dausi has reason to smile again after a brutal attack on Sea Point’s promenade left him with no front teeth.

Since the attack last Wednesday, Cape Town residents have rallied to support Dausi.

Dentist Marc Sher volunteered to assess and treat Dausi.

“I saw Luke late last week for assessment. He was in a lot of pain with a large amount of bruising and swelling,” said Sher.

“We’ve been through scans and called on other specialists to assist. We managed to make him some dentures, so he can at least smile again.”

The dentist said it was still a long road to recovery, with surgery required to put implants in Dausi’s mouth.

“It can take anywhere from three months to over a year.”

Dausi’s employers at Ola have organised financial assistance for the 22-year-old Zimbabwean. The company aims to help Dausi find a home, and move him out of the shelter where he lives.

“At least this horrible story is turning into something bigger. And hopefully we can help Luke and his family,” said employer David East.

Dausi is scheduled for surgery on Friday.

He was selling ice cream from his bicycle when two men, one with a skateboard and the other wielding a baseball bat approached him at 4.20pm, and asked how much his ice cream was.

Before Dausi could respond, he was knocked unconscious with a blow to the face from the bat.

The men fled with two cellphones and R430.

Police said no arrests had been made. Witnesses can call Inspector Olivier of Sea Point police station on 021 430 3700 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111

sibusisiwe.lwandle@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Teenager Anene Booysen's alleged killer was seen bothering her in a pub a few hours before her death, the court heard.

 Bredasdorp - The alleged killed of teenager Anene Booysen was seen bothering her in a pub a few hours before her death, the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court heard on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Maria Marshall put it to Jonathan Davids, 22, that a witness saw him making a nuisance of himself on Friday, February 1.

The witness said Booysen told Davids to leave her alone.

Early the next morning, she was found gang-raped and disembowelled at a nearby construction site.

Before she died in hospital, Marshall said the teenager told hospital staff that “Zwaai” and six other men were responsible for her injuries.

Davids's nickname is “Zwaai”.

Davids denied the account and said he and Booysen merely greeted each other.

He also said he knew of another “Zwaai”, who lived in Zwelitsha.

“I heard he's a gangster, a 28 (gang member),” Davids said.

He could not say if Booysen had known this man.

The court heard that Davids gave his clothing to the police for forensic testing after he was arrested. - Sapa

Anene Booysen's alleged rapist and killer says the marks on his body were the result of a fall hours before his arrest.

 Bredasdorp - Anene Booysen's alleged rapist and killer fell and hurt himself, the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court heard on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Maria Marshall said Jonathan Davids, 22, had marks on his left arm and neck when he was arrested on Saturday evening, February 2.

Davids, who was on the stand testifying in his bail application,said he got the marks when he fell that morning.

Booysen was found gang-raped and disembowelled at a nearby construction site in the early hours of that morning.

Before she died in hospital, Marshall said the teenager told hospital staff that “Zwaai” and six other men were responsible for her injuries. Davids' nickname was “Zwaai”.

He earlier told the court that he knew of another “Zwaai”, who lived in Zwelitsha.

“I heard he's a gangster, a 28 (gang member),” Davids said. He could not say if Booysen had known this man.

Davids and his co-accused Johannes Kana, 21, are accused of the crimes, which fall under Schedule Six and which require them to prove there are “exceptional circumstances” why they should be granted bail.

Kana's bail application is to be heard at a later stage.

Marshall warned Davids that, should he be released on bail, the police would not be able to guarantee his safety.

In a petition, the community had made it clear they would not tolerate anyone guilty of the crimes living in the vicinity.

“If you're granted bail, are you not worried about your safety?... They could hurt you,” asked Marshall.

Davids shook his head and said: “Hulle mag nie (They are not allowed to).”

He later conceded that his life could be at risk.

Marshall asked why he should be let free.

“Because I'm innocent,” he replied. - Sapa

Anene Booysen's alleged killer was previously involved in four criminal cases, the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court heard.

Bredasdorp - Anene Booysen's alleged killer was previously involved in four criminal cases, the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court heard on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Maria Marshall said Jonathan Davids, 22, was convicted of theft last February and received a five-year suspended sentence.

He also had three assault cases withdrawn against him in Bredasdorp, in September 2007, January 2008 and October 2011.

On the last charge, which was assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, Davids said he was innocent.

He was not asked about the other cases.

Davids and Johannes Kana, 21, stand accused of gang-raping, murdering and mutilating 17-year-old Booysen in the rural town at the start of the month.

Davids has pleaded not guilty to the crimes, which have been categorised as Schedule Six offences.

Pieter du Toit, for the defence, asked Davids where he would be getting the money for bail, should it be granted.

Davids replied that his family would be raising the money.

The lawyer said this surely meant they would be keeping a close eye on him, so that their money was not forfeited.

Davids agreed.

Du Toit also confirmed that Davids had no passport.

The court heard that his closest family member was an uncle in Grabouw.

Asked if he would go there should he flee, Davids said “yes”.

Family and friends of Booysen gasped and started whispering furiously. - Sapa

A bail hearing by one of the two men accused of killing Anene Booysen was postponed by the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court.

Bredasdorp - A bail hearing by one of the two men accused of killing Anene Booysen was postponed by the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Magistrate Graham Cupido said the application by Jonathan Davids, 22, would resume on Wednesday.

He and Johannes Kana, 21, are accused of raping, killing and mutilating Booysen on February 2.

Davids has pleaded not guilty to the Schedule Six offences. Kana has not yet pleaded and is expected to apply for bail at a later stage.

Booysen visited a pub in town on Friday, February 1. A few hours later, she was gang-raped and mutilated. She was found at a construction site and died later in hospital. - Sapa

Blood and semen were found on items collected in the Anene Booysen rape and murder investigation, the court has heard.

 Bredasdorp - Blood and semen were found on items collected in the Anene Booysen rape and murder investigation, the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court heard on Tuesday.

Investigating officer Warrant Officer Edmund Abels said forensic tests did not specify whether the fluids were found on clothes taken from Jonathan Davids, 22, or Johannes Kana, 21.

He was testifying in a bail application brought by Davids.

He and Kana are accused of raping, killing and mutilating Booysen on February 2.

She was found at a construction site in town and died later in hospital.

Magistrate Graham Cupido asked if the clothes were packed in separate evidence bags before being sent off to the laboratory.

The policeman confirmed that they were.

Pieter du Toit, for the defence, asked how the officer would know to whom the blood and semen belonged.

Abels replied that the investigation was still ongoing and that full forensic reports would reveal that in about two months.

A gasp was heard from Booysen's family and friends, who packed the public gallery.

The court earlier heard that before Booysen died, she told three hospital staff that “Zwaai” and about six other men were responsible for her injuries.

Davids confirmed his nickname was “Zwaai”, but said he knew of another man who was also called “Zwaai”. He lived in Zwelitsha and was a “28” gang member.

Abels said the police searched for about 20 minutes for this man.

In the statement Booysen's foster mother gave to the police, she said Davids was the only “Zwaai” her daughter would have known.

Du Toit put it to Abels that her mother could surely not know who the teenager's friends were when she allowed her daughter to be in a bar at 3am, and did not know her whereabouts at all times.

Abels said this could be true, however, the police had statements from Booysen's friends in which they had said the same thing as her foster mother. - Sapa

Naked, except for a red rhino horn covering his probiscis, a rhino poaching activist ran down Kloof Nek to raise awareness.

Cape Town - Stark naked except for a red rhino horn covering his proboscis, a Cape Town anti-poaching activist has mimicked the speeding Kloof Nek skater’s video to raise awareness about the slaughter of rhinos.

Steve Newman, a gym manager, joined the “Spoofing the Kloof Nek Cam” bandwagon by doing a copycat video of Decio Lourenco’s skating video which went viral earlier this month.

Newman started raising awareness about rhino poaching last year when he skydived naked and raised R10 000 for the African Conservation Trust and Project Rhino KZN.

Since uploading the YouTube video last Thursday, Newman’s Spoofing the Traffic Camera - Running without Limits video has more than 10 000 views.

In Newman’s video he uses the same soundtrack, wears the same clothing, helmet and skateboard as Lourenco then strips naked and runs down Kloof Nek, with “Save the Rhinos” painted on his back.

Newman said his aim was to raise awareness about rhino poaching and to raise funds for organisations who are trying to combat the crime.

The latest statistics from the Department of Environment Affairs show that so far this year 96 rhinos have been poached. Last year 668 were poached, and 448 in 2011.

So far this year 34 people have been arrested, while last year 267 people were arrested.

“We all live in this country and even if something doesn’t affect your life directly, if we all change the way we think about things, we could make a big difference,” Newman said.

He took the idea from Lourenco’s video because of the instant popularity.

He said doing “something amusing” would get people talking and hopefully involved in helping the cause.

Newman aims to build a long lasting campaign to raise funds for anti-poaching projects. He is planning to don only his rhino horn for the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour - both mass participation sports events.

zara.nicholson@inl.co.za

Cape Times

The State says one of the men alleged to have raped and murdered Anene Booysen has confessed to raping and assaulting her.

Bredasdorp - The State says one of the men alleged to have raped and murdered Bredasdorp teen Anene Booysen has confessed to raping and assaulting her, but not to killing her.

Investigating officer Warrant Officer Edmund Abels told the Bredasdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday that Johannes Kana, 21, would not be applying for bail as he confessed to raping and assaulting Anene.

Outside court, NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that Kana confessed to his part in the crime and that witnesses had seen him with Anene on the night of her murder.

Booysen was found on February 2, gang-raped and disembowelled, at a construction site not far from her home.

“He confessed his involvement in the crime and forensic tests are being carried out on his clothing and shoes. The State are still awaiting the results.”

Co-accused Jonathan Davids, 22, pleaded not guilty and his bail application began on Tuesday in a packed courtroom.

Police cordoned off the road leading to the court. There was also a heavy police presence inside court.

Davids took the stand and said he had been to the same pub as Anene on the night of her murder, but had only greeted her.

He said he left the pub with friends and went home. Once there he went to buy a box of wine and then drank it with his friends, before going to bed.

“I knew Anene very well and used to live with them for four to five months. My nickname is Zwai.”

Anene had allegedly uttered the name Zwai before she died.

Under cross-examination he said he’d heard of another person with the same nickname. “I heard that he is a 28’s gangster and lives in the Zwelitsha township, but I don’t know him.”

When prosecutor Maria Marshall asked him about scratch marks on his arm and neck on the day he was arrested he said he had fallen.

Davids told the court that he should get bail because he was not guilty.

Abels said Anene had pointed out Zwai as the perpetrator.

“Before she died she told three different medics that it was Zwai and his friends. And according to Anene’s mom, Zwai… is the only Zwai she had known. Davids lived with the family and according to her foster mother was like a child in the house. He lived with them at one stage.”

Abels said police could not rule Davids out as a suspect, and that possible blood and semen were found on his shoes and trousers.

Defence attorney Pieter Du Toit, Abels said he wasn’t sure whose clothes the semen and blood were found on.

“At the moment there is a strong case against the accused. We are waiting for the forensic results and can’t say whose clothes it was found on,” said Abels.

The court heard that Davids had a previous conviction from 2005 for theft, for which he received a suspended sentence of five years.

Also, three cases of assault had been brought against him, but had been withdrawn. Two of the cases had been opened by men and the third by a woman.

Cross-examined about another man with the nickname “Zwai”, Abels said police had searched for him. “We were told he left the area a month before the incident.”

However, he admitted police had searched for the second “Zwai” for only 30 minutes.

He also admitted that the only thing linking Davids to the case was his nickname and possible evidence on his clothes.

The bail hearing continues on Wednesday.

natasha.bezuidenhout@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

A pastor under investigation for homophobic statements says Oscar Pistorius is "cursed for openly supporting homosexuals'.

Cape Town - A local pastor under investigation by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for homophobic statements is in the spotlight again for saying murder-accused Oscar Pistorius is “cursed for openly supporting homosexuals”.

But Oscar Bougardt of the Calvary Hope Ministries in Mitchells Plain and Delft defended his comments, telling the Cape Times on Tuesday: “I will continue to make statements until I die.

“Someone needs to speak out about their (homosexuals’) filthy lifestyles.”

Bougardt made the comments about Pistorius, the Paralympic athlete accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, on his Facebook page.

Bougardt said Pistorius, “one of those sport stars who supported the filthy lifestyle of homosexuals”, was recently dropped from the “It Gets Better South Africa” campaign against homophobic bullying.

“I believe that Oscar Pistorius is cursed for openly supporting homosexuals. According to the Holy Word of God, homosexuality is an abomination to God, and any person who supports homosexuals are doomed for hell.”

Bougardt later removed the Facebook comments.

“One of the reasons I removed it was because homosexuals have been harassing me, screaming at me and verbally abusing me… It’s not because I’ve changed my stance on what I said.

“I feel it’s a truthful comment,” he said on Tuesday.

Asked how he felt about the SAHRC probing his comments, Bougardt said: “I don’t care. If they want to prosecute me they can.”

He added that the crime rate was “sky high” because of “homosexuals coming into our communities, picking up boys and giving them drugs and alcohol”.

“Our children are getting confused by these perverts.”

The website mambaonline said forensic investigator Pierre Le Roux last year complained to the SAHRC about other comments On Tuesday SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena confirmed that at least three complaints about Bougardt had been previously lodged.

He would look into whether Bougardt’s latest comments had been added to the complaints, but was not able to elaborate on this yesterday by the time of going to press.

Late last year, the SAHRC said it was looking into Bougardt after he sent out homophobic e-mails to gay groups.

In 2011, Bougardt said Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu should burn in hell for being accepting towards homosexuality.

caryn.dolley@inl.co.za

Cape Times

The teen who boarded a Safmarine vessel in Ghana and then left the ship in Table Bay on a life raft has been sent home.

Cape Town - The Libyan stowaway who boarded a Safmarine vessel in Ghana and then left the ship in Table Bay on a life raft has been sent home.

Police were surprised when early on Monday morning they approached a life raft floating near Robben Island and found the Libyan stowaway inside wearing only a pair of shorts.

Charles Mussuah, 19, told police he was from Jobey in Libya. He was mildly dehydrated after stowing away on the vessel, Cha Chai, for the four-day, 8 000km journey from Ghana to Cape Town.

Mussuah said he had cut a life raft away from the ship when it neared Cape Town as he was unsure of its destination. It remains unclear how Mussuah travelled from Libya to Ghana.

On Tuesday, Craig Maulson, Safmarine operations manager, said Mussuah was kept at the Table Bay Harbour police station until early yesterday before heading home with the Cha Chai on Tuesday.

“He was placed on board the vessel and kept under security surveillance for the duration of the voyage from Cape Town to the vessel’s next port of call in Malaysia. The necessary arrangements have been made in accordance with international regulations to repatriate him to his home country upon his arrival in Malaysia.”

Maulson said Safmarine had arranged and covered the cost of two security guards to accompany him to ensure his safety and that of the crew.

Maulson said crew members spotted Mussuah launching a life raft belonging to the ship on Sunday night.

NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said Transnet National Ports Authority reported a stowaway adrift at sea on a life raft east of Robben Island after 10pm on Sunday. A police boat found the raft.

On Monday, Yusuf Simons, Department of Home Affairs provincial manager, said stowaways were the responsibility of shipowners or the vessel’s captain.

Police spokesman Frederick van Wyk said immigration officials interviewed him on Monday.

jason.felix@inl.co.za

Cape Times

Three armed robberies have taken place at UCT less than a week after a march on the campus to protest against crime and rape.

Cape Town - Three armed robberies have taken place at the University of Cape Town (UCT) less than a week after thousands of students and staff marched through campus to protest against crime and rape.

Last Wednesday’s march by more than 3 000 protesters was triggered by UCT business science student Bayanda Baba’s fatal shooting during an attempted robbery at a bus stop in Gugulethu in January.

A day after the protest, two visitors and two UCT security guards were held up at gunpoint on Stanley Road Middle Campus in Rondebosch.

The visitors were robbed of their vehicle, watches, a bag, passport and money.

Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said the vehicle, a silver Nissan Almera, was later recovered in Athlone. A case of carjacking has been registered at the Rondebosch police station.

“Our information is that the robbers followed the visitors on to campus after they had withdrawn money from a bank in Main Road. UCT Campus Protection Services unit is working with the SA Police Service on the case,” said Patricia Lucas, communications manager at UCT.

Last week on Monday and Friday saw two more incidents in the vicinity of the UCT campus, with students being robbed at knifepoint.

According to Lucas, one of these incidents took place in the parking lot on the main campus in Rondebosch on Monday. The other occurred in Anzio Road, Observatory, just outside the Health Science campus on Friday morning. In both cases, students were robbed of their cellphones. No arrests have been made.

“No one was physically injured and we believe the two cases are unrelated to the protest march and rally at UCT on February 20; rather we see these incidents as part of the wider pattern of crime that is affecting all of South Africa.”

But many students are now fearing for their safety.

“I have been much more cautious on campus since the incidents,” said medical student Russell Githinji.

Honours student Mackson Lefoka said: “With all these incidents, it is hard to believe that safety on campus is the main priority. I do not feel safe.”

Speaking at the campus protest march last week, UCT Vice-Chancellor Max Price called on the government to do more to address crime.

“We want to say directly to those in authority that we feel you are failing us.” The UCT SRC has also spoken out against the crimes.

“The SRC takes every instance of crime very seriously. That guns were used in a robbery the day after a march against crime is of particular concern,” said SRC president Lorne Hallendorff.

While the university does have measures in place to deal with crime, the SRC believes that more can be done.

“Students need to feel the presence of security guards when they are moving around at late hours on campus,” said Hallendorff.

As a response to the crimes the university has increased patrols in the areas concerned and is working with the police to resolve the cases.

sibusisiwe.lwandle@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

A dog was shot and killed while trying to protect its owner from robbers in a Cape Town suburb.

Cape Town - A dog was shot and killed while trying to protect its owner from robbers in North Pine on Tuesday.

The dog, Tina, was taken to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA where she died from bullet wounds following the attack at her owner’s house.

Provincial police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said it was reported that when Tina’s owner returned home from the bank, a VW Jetta pulled up and two unidentified men demanded money.

“The man resisted and the dog ran up to save him. As the dog was attacking the men, one of them shot the dog,” Van Wyk said.

The men fled with an undisclosed amount of money. It is not clear in which direction they went.

SPCA chief inspector Moyo Ndukwana, who arrived and sedated Tina at about 12.15pm, said he found two bullet wounds – one was believed to be an entry wound in the neck and the other an exit wound in the back leg.

“She seemed numb and in a severe state of shock,” Ndukwana said.

The SPCA’s Lise-Marie Greeff-Villet said X-rays and tests were done to determine the extent of the internal injuries, but Tina later died.

Police have opened a case of armed robbery.

natasha.prince@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

23 out of the 37 teachers at a Crossroads school have been charged with misconduct by the Western Cape Education Department.

Cape Town - Twenty-three out of the 37 teachers at a Crossroads school have been charged with misconduct by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).

Two non-teaching staff members at Dr Nelson R Mandela High School were also charged, said Bronagh Casey, spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant.

The school has been in the news since principal Linda Mnotoza’s return at the start of the school year.

Some teachers, parents and pupil representatives told the Cape Argus they no longer wanted him to be principal of the school.

They said he had charged parents a R200 fee despite the school being a no-fee school.

A group of teachers said they would not return to class until Mnotoza was removed. Casey said the department had investigated allegations made against the principal last year but found them to be unfounded

On January 21, teachers were issued with letters requiring them to provide reasons why misconduct charges should not be levelled against them.

Schooling returned to normal for a while but classes were again disrupted in February.

Casey said a notice for their disciplinary hearings with charge sheets and letters were presented to staff members on Monday and Friday.

Jonavon Rustin, provincial secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union, said the union was dealing with the allegations against the teachers.

Cape Argus

The mother of a teen beaten and set alight by a vigilante mob says her son was led astray by the wrong crowd.

Cape Town - The mother of a man killed by a vigilante mob in Kanana informal settlement says her son was a “good boy” led astray by the wrong crowd.

Eddie Raqa, 18, was on Tuesday accosted by a mob, beaten, had bricks hurled at him and set alight.

“He was my youngest child, and he had helped me since I had a stroke and couldn’t do the housework any more,” said Florence Sirathaza of her son.

“Just yesterday he spent all day in the yard – fixing things, cleaning and making it look nice. He wanted to be a builder because he was good with his hands. I raised him, he was not violent and always polite.”

Community members claimed he had tried to mug a woman, who was on her way to work, near the Valhalla Drive, N2 intersection.

“The woman ran, and he ran after her. When people heard her screaming in among the shacks they came out. Eddie didn’t have a chance, by then it was too late to run away. It was chaos,” said resident and witness Mzukho Bruintjies.

Raqa’s body was identified by his brother-in-law, who recognised his takkies.

The police have apparently asked his mother for a blood sample to confirm the identity.

Bruintjies said early morning muggings were commonplace in Kanana and that the community was fed up.

“If the police won’t patrol to stop this crime then the community will carry on taking matters into their own hands,” she warned.

After news of Raqa’s death spread, friends and family gathered outside Sirathaza’s shack where she lives with her three other children.

Holding a photograph of Raqa, she wept when asked about the killing. “Oh umntanami, umntanami (my child, my child),” she cried.

Shortly before Raqa’s death, another man was caught, beaten and burnt to death in nearby Philippi.

When the Cape Argus arrived at the scene – a gravel road in Kosovo informal settlement – the police had removed the body. Witnesses explained what had happened, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“At around 5.30am, a man was seen running from roof to roof over the shacks,” one man said.

“People heard the commotion and came outside. This guy was being chased by a group of men. He fled into the area where the sewerage pumps are and tried to hide, but they found him and dragged him into the street. They set fire to him,” he said.

The attackers claimed the victim had been involved in a robbery at a shebeen earlier in the morning.

The police have confirmed murder dockets have been opened for both killings.

On Monday, a man known only as Jonathan was seriously injured after being beaten and stoned by Philippi residents at Brown’s Farm.

Residents chased several men they believed had stolen a cellphone. They caught and attacked him.

Vigilante killings and attacks have been most common in Khayelitsha. According to a police report 78 such cases occurred in Khayelitsha between 2011 and last year.

daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

An investigating officer has testified that the man Anene Booysen fingered before she died was known as Zwaai.

Bredasdorp - An investigating officer in the rape and murder case of Anene Booysen has testified that the man Booysen fingered before she died was known as Zwaai, the SABC reported on Wednesday.

Doleen Olivier was testifying in the bail application of Jonathan Davids, one of the accused, whose nickname was Zwaai and whose family name was Teikentakke.

Davids on Tuesday said his arrest was a case of mistaken identity.

Olivier has also testified that before she died Anene said that between five and six men had raped her.

So far police have only arrested Davids and his co-accused, Johannes Kana.

The bail application continues. - Sapa

It is a disgrace that Afrikaans-speaking children cannot be accommodated in a Xhosa-speaking school in Du Noon, the Freedom Front Plus said.

Cape Town - It is a disgrace that Afrikaans-speaking children cannot be accommodated in a Xhosa-speaking school in Du Noon, Cape Town, the Freedom Front Plus said on Wednesday.

“The party's reaction follows reports that Afrikaans parents in Du Noon have had to pay thousands of rands to get their children to school, while a Xhosa-medium school is situated close to them,” spokesman Anton Alberts said in a statement.

Basic education department spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said a school's language of instruction was decided by the school's governing body, not the department.

“Our schools are open to everyone. The decision lies with the parents.”

Alberts said Afrikaans schools across the country were being forced to take in children who spoke other languages.

“Government is not only failing to fulfil its international obligations with regard to minorities in South Africa, but does not even apply their own policies consistently.”

Alberts said if the government was consistent in applying its policies, the Xhosa-medium school would have been forced to become double-medium and allow Afrikaans pupils to be instructed in Afrikaans at the school.

“The FFPlus intends to submit a parliamentary question in which it will ask the Minister of Basic Education (Angie Motshekga) about this discrimination.”

If the minister did not rectify the matter, the FFPlus would report it to the SA Human Rights Commission. - Sapa

“The court isn’t satisfied that the accused showed all the elements regarding his guilt. A plea of not guilty is noted.

Cape Town - A Western Cape High Court judge has rejected a Belhar man’s guilty plea because he failed to set out exactly how he allegedly killed 39-year-old Shahieda Kruger with a pot plant.

Judge Robert Henney was tasked with hearing 21-year-old Lorenzo Botha’s plea in the high court on Tuesday.

But after listening to the plea Judge Henney was not satisfied that Botha had met all the requirements for his admission of guilt to be accepted.

In the plea, Botha said he should have foreseen that his actions would cause Kruger’s death, instead of saying that his actions had in fact led to her death.

Judge Henney rejected the plea saying he wanted the State to present evidence and prove its case.

It is the State’s case that Botha struck Kruger twice over the head with a pot plant on July 18 in her Belhar home.

Botha was known to the family and had worked for Kruger’s husband, Dean, as a carpenter and did other odd jobs at his business and around the Belhar house.

After his arrest Botha was charged with murder and aggravated robbery for allegedly taking an unknown amount of money from the couple’s safe.

Judge Henney said on Tuesday he needed to know more about the alleged robbery adding that the State “shot itself in the foot” by withdrawing the robbery charge minutes before Botha pleaded guilty.

“The court isn’t satisfied that the accused showed all the elements regarding his guilt. A plea of not guilty is noted.

“I have a problem with the intention and for certainty the court must hear evidence and make a proper finding and establish the guilt of the accused,” Judge Henney said.

Prosecutor Samantha Raphels said the State would call three witnesses in support of its case.

Botha is due back in court today when the State was set to call its first witness.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

The trial of a Knysna businessman facing 79 charges, including statutory rape, has been postponed.

George- The trial of a Knysna businessman facing 79 charges, including statutory rape, was postponed by the Thembalethu Magistrate's Court, in George, on Wednesday.

Adrian Wilson-Forbes, 60, will appear again on Monday. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of statutory rape, abduction, indecent assault, trafficking persons for sexual purposes, and making child pornography.

The case started on Monday, when evidence was presented by police officers from the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit in George.

Wilson-Forbes allegedly abducted an 11-year-old boy from the Garden Route mall in George in 2001 and took him to a local dam where he allegedly exposed his genitals and offered him money to have sex with him. The boy was allegedly indecently assaulted.

He allegedly offered the boy money to find him young girls for sex.

Constable Adri Koeries testified on Tuesday about the alleged rape of an eight-year-old girl on March 29, 2012.

She said a man confessed to her that he had procured three girls for sexual purposes for Wilson-Forbes in return for money.

The first two girls were abducted in 2001 and 2002, and the third in March last year. All three were aged between eight and nine at the time.

Koeries testified the man had photographs on his cellphone of the alleged rape in March, which led to Wilson-Forbes' arrest in May. - Sapa

The City of Cape Town will burn vegetation at the Zoarvlei Wetland section of Table Bay Nature Reserve.

Cape Town - The City of Cape Town will burn vegetation at the Zoarvlei Wetland section of Table Bay Nature Reserve, its environmental resource management department said on Wednesday.

“This burn will take place when weather conditions are favourable during March 2013, to remove accumulated dry reeds and bulrushes,” spokesman Koos Retief said in a statement.

“Burning is part of an integrated management approach to suppress reed beds.”

The area to be burnt lay between the Paarden Eiland industrial area to the west and Brooklyn to the east.

The burn would be conducted between 10am and 2pm. Residents and land owners would be informed about the exact dates.

“The removal of dry flammable material by means of a controlled burn will reduce the likelihood of future uncontrolled wildfires,” he said. - Sapa