A man has been charged with raping a mentally handicapped woman who has the mental capacity of a child between seven and 10.

Cape Town - A 19-year-old man has been charged with raping a mentally handicapped woman who has the mental capacity of a child between the ages of seven and 10.

Marco Geel of Wellington made a brief appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on allegations that he raped a 22-year-old mentally ill woman. According to the prosecution, the charges were regarded as very serious based on the woman’s mental capability at the time of the rape.

Geel had allegedly raped the woman four times last year while visiting a welfare organisation where someone close to him had worked.

The woman’s identity and that of the organisation is being withheld to protect the victim. She had been in the care of the Cape Town welfare organisation for the past five years.

Geel has not yet pleaded to the charges and had not disclosed the basis of his defence.

He was arrested after he handed himself over to police on August 10 and was held in custody while his bail application went ahead.

It is the State’s case that a witness visited the woman and noticed that she was bleeding. On being questioned, the woman implicated Geel as the man who had allegedly raped her.

The prosecution opposed his release but Geel’s defence argued that he had a fixed address, fixed job and was not a flight risk.

After a lengthy bail application, magistrate Zwelindumile Sogwagwa freed Geel on a warning.

The case was postponed so that the docket could be traced.

On Tuesday, Geel’s lawyer, Joe Weeber, told the court he had helped locate it. He and prosecutor Godsave Tyhokolo agreed the case could be postponed to December 7 for further investigation.

Sogwagwa granted a final postponement, saying that if the State’s investigation was not complete by his next appearance, he would strike the matter from the court roll.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Striking De Doorns farmworkers sat in the sun for hours as various parties negotiated their lot behind closed doors.

De Doorns, Western Cape - Striking De Doorns farmworkers sat in the sun for hours as various parties negotiated their lot behind closed doors in the town’s municipal buildings on Tuesday.

On Monday, 50 hectares of vineyards outside the Boland town were burnt by strikers. Shops were looted and the N1 was closed as thousands of strikers turned violent.

The damage to the vineyards alone has been estimated at R70 million, according to calculations made by farmers on the scene.

Workers are demanding a wage of R150 a day; many of them claim they are currently receiving the industry minimum of R63 a day.

The N1 between Touws River and Worcester was again closed on Tuesday. Just after dawn, a farmer identified a group of protesters and opened fire.

“This morning a 43-year-old farm owner was arrested for firing live rounds at protesters. SAPS is here to maintain law and order, and will stay on the scene for as long as it takes,” said police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut.

No one was injured in the shooting and the man was charged with attempted murder. He was remanded in custody on Tuesday.

Among those around the negotiating table on Tuesday were three MECs: Dan Plato (community safety), Gerrit van Rensburg (agriculture and rural affairs) and Ivan Meyer (cultural affairs and sport).

“We believe this to be politically motivated action, and not a labour protest,” said Van Rensburg.

“There are very good relations between farmers and farm workers in the area.”

Parties representing workers’ interests expressed frustration at Van Rensburg’s denial that there were genuine grievances and general wage-related discord between employers and workers. Cosatu and the ANC in the Western Cape issued press statements denouncing Van Rensburg’s stance.

By mid-afternoon, representatives of farmers arrived at the negotiations and entered the building to jeers from protesters.

Speaking to the Cape Argus, many workers told of the hardships of living on R350 or less a week.

They insisted on listing the names of farmers who they accused of maltreatment and paying “unfair” wages.

They threatened to strike indefinitely, if their demands were not met.

In a break between negotiations, Braam Hanekom, of Cape Town NGO Passop, took a swipe at farmers who have allegedly threatened workers with dismissal if they joined unions.

“If workers aren’t unionised, there is no one to represent them, no one to direct a strike and no one to call to task when protests turn violent and destructive as they did on Tuesday,” Hanekom said.

Agri Western Cape’s Portia Adams estimated that 50 hectares of grapes were torched in the De Doorns protest.

She said different groups in the protesting crowd were demanding different things: “Some are calling for more wages, some want living wages and other just want work, there is no collective thing that they want. If they could come out and say what they want, then we could talk.”

Adams said some of the protesters “have huge political influences amongst them and the fact that there is such a huge political influence makes it that much harder to come to a solution”.

Meanwhile, Western Cape police have sent reinforcements to help contain the situation.

The six demonstrators who were arrested for public violence on Monday are due to appear in the Worcester magistrates court on Wednesday.

daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

A 38-year-old man is fighting for his life in Tygerberg Hospital after being burnt by firecrackers.

Cape Town - A 38-year-old man is fighting for his life in Tygerberg Hospital after being burnt by firecrackers in Mitchells Plain.

The man, whose family has asked that he remain unnamed, was admitted to Tygerberg Hospital with burns on 70 percent of his body. He was in a critical condition and being ventilated, Health Department spokesman Mark van der Heever said.

The man was one of seven people admitted to public hospitals after being injured by firecrackers on Guy Fawkes on Monday night.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said this year’s celebrations had not resulted in as many complaints as previous years.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA, however, said they were kept busy with scores of animals needing rescue.

Two children underwent surgery after fireworks exploded in their hands.

Margaret Cooke and her family were at Mnandi Beach, one of the city’s designated areas. She said she had turned her back for a second and her son Jezreel, 11, had lit a rocket which exploded in his hand.

They rushed him to the Mitchells Plain Day Hospital and he was transferred to the Red Cross Children’s War Memorial Hospital. Two fingers on his left hand were severely injured and he underwent surgery on Tuesday.

Nine-year-old Ashley Samuels, of New Tafelsig, was also admitted to Red Cross. He was at the Swartklip sports field to take part in the festivities when a rocket exploded in his hand. Paramedics treated him on the scene before transferring him to Red Cross.

Van der Heever said seven patients were admitted to Tygerberg Hospital and Red Cross with injuries they sustained while operating firecrackers.

Tygerberg Hospital admitted four patients, the critically injured 38-year-old man, an 11-year-old boy who underwent surgery on his left hand, and a 13-year-old boy injured in both eyes. An 11-year-old girl is in a stable condition after her right index finger was injured.

Smith said paramedics had treated three patients for burn wounds.

The SPCA’s Moyo Ndukwana said they had been inundated with calls from pet owners saying residents were setting off fireworks in residential areas.

Eight SPCA inspectors and two call centre controllers were on duty and received over 40 calls relating to fireworks on Monday night up until the early hours of on Tuesday morning.

“From these calls, seven animals in distress needed to be rescued, and a further six dogs and one kitten was admitted to the SPCA’s hospital in Grassy Park by members of the public,” Ndukwana said.

“The SPCA’s lost and found department received 43 calls from owners reporting their dogs missing or from people who found scared, lost dogs in areas such as Grassy Park, Lotus River, Muizenberg, Athlone, Brackenfell and Kraaifontein,” he said.

lynnette.johns@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

The Public Protectorwarned business leaders about how government officials and business were siphoning large sums of public money.

Stellenbosch - South Africans are fast asleep to a corrupt practice that costs the government billions of rand.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela warned business leaders in Stellenbosch on Tuesday about how corrupt government officials and business were siphoning large sums of public money by submitting false bills to government departments.

“This country has not even woken up to the problem of false billing. My team and I suspect our government is losing billions.”

Madonsela wants to launch a full systemic investigation next year to see how much the government loses through false billing.

She also called on society to reject “tenderpreneurship”, saying it bred corruption, which was milking the state of resources that should have been channelled towards uplifting the poor.

Madonsela said she had been shocked by the reality that there were “paper companies” only created as vehicles for specific tender deals. False billing happened when public officials and businesses colluded to siphon money from government coffers for services that weren’t rendered, she said.

“Travelling and hospitality services have specifically been fingered in this regard,” she said.

Madonsela said her investigators found false billing when they recently investigated contracts between On-Point Engineering and the Limpopo Transport Department.

The public protector found On-Point and former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema benefited improperly from the contract, while the tenders were unlawful.

She said her investigations into RDP housing and medicine and equipment shortages, book distribution, pupil transport and feeding schemes had all pointed to problems with false billing.

“If these allegations [of false billing] prove to be true this means that public money that is meant to procure goods and services meant to alleviate poverty and underdevelopment – including health care and education – is siphoned off to line the already swollen pockets of ‘tenderpreneurs’,” said Madonsela.

South Africa has made progress but it has been “stunted by various forms of maladministration, including corruption”.

Madonsela said the recent census results showed how corruption was slowing down development and letting inequality persist.

“We committed ourselves together with other nations to halve poverty by 2015 but the census results tell a different story.”

Unemployment is at about 25 percent with 50 percent of our young people being without jobs.

“There seemingly is a correlation between provinces known to have systemic maladministration challenges and slow delivery on socio-economic rights such as health, housing and education.”

Madonsela asked business leaders and society not to turn a blind eye to corruption and to work with institutions such as the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the auditor-general and her office to combat it.

“Turning a blind eye is not helpful. We can’t just complain about it. We all have to do something… it must be a national quest.”

Madonsela believes South Africa must set up an anti-corruption unit similar to that in Singapore that can tackle corruption head-on in the public and private sector.

“The public protector is not really designed to bust corruption but more as an ombudsman.”

Cape Argus

Talks will take place between farmers and their workers in De Doorns, Western Cape following violent protests, Cosatu said.

Cape Town - Talks will take place between farmers and their workers in De Doorns, Western Cape on Wednesday morning following violent protests, Cosatu said.

Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said they would join the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration at 11.20am to facilitate negotiations at the Worcester civic centre.

“These negotiations must find a way in which workers can get decent wages and end the atrocious living conditions of workers on farms and in the informal areas,” Ehrenreich said.

“The ill treatment and under-payment of workers by some farmers must stop, otherwise we will see a Marikana in De Doorns.”

Cosatu said it would make sure protests were peaceful.

Workers had gathered on the N1 highway since Monday, resulting in 30 hectares of vineyards being burned, and several arrests. On Tuesday, around 8000 workers gathered in the small town before protesting, forcing the temporary closure of the N1 between De Doorns and Touws River.

A farmer was arrested during the day for attempted murder after he allegedly shot at protesting workers.

Police spokesman Lt-Col Andrè Traut said two people were arrested on Tuesday after looting a bottle store.

“The situation in De Doorns is still being monitored, and no violence or incidents have been reported today (Wednesday).”

Both the Democratic Alliance and provincial agriculture MEC believed the protest was politically motivated.

DA provincial leader Ivan Meyer blamed the African National Congress.

“It is very clear to me that much of the protest in this area is politically motivated, and the local ANC... once again played a large role in inciting the violence and vandalism,” he said on Tuesday.

Wouter Kriel, spokesman for agriculture MEC Gerrit van Rensburg, on Tuesday said there did not seem to be people leading the protest and no list of demands was handed out.

“This is not a labour strike and (is) not organised by farm workers, even though farm workers are involved. It seems to be politically motivated,” Kriel said. - Sapa

The day before Robert Barclay was reported missing he was spotted by picnickers who tried to warn him to come up before it got dark.

Cape Town - The day before hiker Robert Barclay of Botswana was reported missing he was spotted at a stream by picnickers who tried to warn him to come up before it got dark, a man told the Cape Argus on Tuesday.

The man, who asked not to be named, said he was with the pinickers on Bainskloof road at about 6.30pm on Saturday when they noticed Barclay, “just standing around” at the bottom of the road next to the stream.

The man told the Cape Argus that they had tried to get his attention by shouting and waving at him.

“He wasn’t carrying anything with him… We were concerned about how he got there because it’s a dangerous descent with loose rocks and sand,” the man said.

“He just looked at us and didn’t acknowledge seeing us… he didn’t wave back, nothing.”

Thirty minutes later the Bainskloof visitors left the picnic spot.

“It was getting dark and I assumed he came up. The next day I heard he was missing,” the man said.

The 23-year-old’s body was found 250m down a gorge on Bainskloof Pass, near Wellington, at 8am on Tuesday, said Emergency services spokesperson Keri Davids.

A technical EMS rescue and Cape Nature Conservation team used a stretcher and a safety line to carry his body to the Bainskloof road.

The discovery followed a two-day search by about 79 EMS rescuers, Wilderness Search and Rescue volunteers and family and friends.

When the Cape Argus arrived at the scene a few minutes after Barclay’s body was taken away, his brothers John, 26, and Donald, 21, were making arrangements to travel to Paarl mortuary to identify the body.

Donald told the Cape Argus that he was “still in great shock”. Before leaving for Paarl an emotional Donald thanked the rescue team for their help in finding his brother.

nontando.mposo@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Talks to resolve a farm labour dispute continued, with the Western Cape agriculture department calling for calm and order.

Cape Town - Talks to resolve a farm labour dispute continued on Wednesday afternoon, with the Western Cape agriculture department calling for calm and order.

“The current protest action in De Doorns is harming our economy and preventing job creation in the Western Cape agricultural sector,” provincial agriculture MEC Gerrit van Rensburg said.

“The unrest can only be solved through negotiations, and therefore the current talks between labour and employers, chaired by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, is of great importance.”

Workers had been gathering on the N1 highway since Monday, and 30 hectares of vineyards were burned, resulting in several arrests.

On Tuesday, around 8000 workers gathered in the small town before protesting, forcing the temporary closure of the N1 between De Doorns and Touws River.

A farmer was arrested during the day for attempted murder after he allegedly shot at protesting workers.

Police spokesman Lt-Col Andrè Traut said two people were arrested on Tuesday after looting a bottle store.

When the initial protest started, police said it was linked to a wage dispute. The agriculture department and Democratic Alliance in the province denied this, suggesting it was politically motivated.

The department on Wednesday confirmed the protest was a “labour issue”.

Van Rensburg, community safety MEC Dan Plato and sport and culture MEC Ivan Meyer were sent to the town to quell the unrest.

“As a team, we were able to create an environment conducive for dialogue,” Van Rensburg said.

“I was able to get the employer and worker representatives to sit around a table and engage one another in a calm manner, even though the African National Congress councillors did not approve of my presence.”

Talks continued until 9pm on Tuesday and resumed at the Worcester civic centre around 11am on Wednesday.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the province said it was helping with the talks.

“These negotiations must find a way in which workers can get decent wages, and end the atrocious living conditions of workers on farms and in the informal areas,” provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said.

“The ill treatment and under-payment of workers by some farmers must stop, otherwise we will see a Marikana in De Doorns.”

Van Rensburg said that if the protests were due to a wage dispute, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant should be approached to take part in discussions.

He warned farm workers that illegal protests would have legal consequences.

De Doorns produces table grapes, predominantly for the export market. This industry supports 8000 full time workers and 8000

seasonal jobs in the Hex River Valley.

The agriculture department estimated that if it could increase exports by five percent, an additional R432 million would be added to the provincial economy, creating around 9500 new jobs on farms and almost 13,500 jobs in “value-adding activities”. - Sapa

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) will be conducted on a proposed liquefied gas facility in Mossel Bay, PetroSA said.

Johannesburg - An environmental impact assessment (EIA) will be conducted on a proposed liquefied gas facility in Mossel Bay, PetroSA said on Wednesday.

The company said the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was appointed to head up the assessment.

“The CSIR is required to provide PetroSA with clear environmental input in the planning and design process (of the facility),” it said in a statement.

The EIA will identify and evaluate environmental characteristics of the project as well its possible impact. It is scheduled to start on December 7.

PetroSA chief executive Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo said the establishment of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Mossel Bay was important in maintaining the sustainability of the company's gas-to-liquids refinery.

“Employment levels at the refinery and PetroSA's contribution the economy of the Southern Cape and the country will be maintained,” she said in a statement.

“This will see our gas-to-liquids refinery continuing to produce liquid petroleum fuels, thus contributing to security of fuel supply for the country.”

The facility allows for LNG to be transported into the country through a floating station that pumps it to the refinery. - Sapa

Twenty people were injured before the start of Linkin Park’s concert at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.

Johannesburg - Twenty people were injured at a concert at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday evening when a temporary scaffolding structure collapsed due to high winds, the city said.

“The injured were treated on the scene and have been taken to nearby hospitals for further medical attention,” said spokesperson Kylie Hatton.

She said the temporary structure was a branding activation, located adjacent to the stadium forecourt on the Cape Town CBD side of the venue.

“The structure had been pre-approved and certified safe by structural engineers prior to the event.

“The remainder of the structure was dismantled and the commanding officer at the Venue Operations Centre declared the event site safe shortly afterwards.”

The American rock band Linkin Park were scheduled to perform at the stadium.

Hatton said the concert was going ahead as planned and all necessary support was being provided to those injured. - Sapa

A woman succumbed to her injuries after an advertising banner collapsed on her and 20 others at Linkin Park's concert.

Cape Town - A woman has died at the Cape Town leg of a worldwide tour by the US rock band Linkin Park.

The woman, whom authorities have yet to identify, was caught under a banner advert for Lucozade, when gale force winds caused the structure to collapse.

Twenty people in total where injured, some sustaining bone fractures, according to officials who were at the scene.

After the concert, Linkin Park released a statement expressing their condolences to the family of the deceased and the fans who had been hurt.

Spokeswoman Kymm Britton said in a statement: “Though we have had no relationship with the sponsor or the entity responsible for erecting the structure, we take the safety of our fans very seriously and our thoughts are with all of those who were affected by this tragedy.”

Big Concerts, one of the organisers who brought Linkin Park to South Africa for the group's Living Things world tour, also released a statement expressing their sympathies for the victims.

Dionne Domyan, spokeswoman for the promoter said: “We would like to thank the City of Cape Town, the South African Police Services, and all the medics, doctors, and disaster risk personnel for their swift and professional response to this accident.”

Meanwhile, on Big Concerts' official Facebook page where the statement regarding the structure collapse also appeared, fans reacted emotionally, some calling for legal action by the family of the fan who died against the company responsible for erecting the advertising structure despite warnings of gale force winds.

A comment by Jason Ross NaIdoo read: “They should [have] looked at a weather report and reassessed if the structure was really necessary and most of all safe to have around! I think the family of the deceased should board this run away train class action law suit straight into who ever is responsible for passing that advertising tower… “

Another fan commenting on the same post criticised Linkin Park for allegedly not making reference to the incident during their performance. Larry Shane September wrote: “I think its pretty pathetic that no one had the decency to at least make an announcement during the show. I'm not impressed big concerts. This is such a tragedy on a really great concert and band. Please do right by the family of the deceased.”

Big Concerts did not immediately respond to an e-mail from IOL asking if an investigation would be conducted.

Linkin Park's sold-out Johannesburg concert would continue on Saturday, the band confirmed. - IOL

Update 06:45: Big Concerts spokeswoman Dionne Domyan has confirmed to IOL that structural engineers had “pre-approved and certified safe” the advertising tower prior to its collapse.

Find @BENiTAsays and @IOL on Twitter.

A woman was killed and sexually assaulted on her Philippi farm, allegedly by a couple she “rescued” from the streets.

Cape Town - A 62-year-old grandmother has been strangled to death and sexually assaulted on her Philippi farm, allegedly by a couple she “rescued” from the streets and offered accommodation in a shack on her property.

Hester Koch’s granddaughter, Jade White, described how Koch was “viciously murdered by the people she did everything for”.

Koch, a pensioner, lived on the farm with her partner, Arnold Schultz.

Three months ago she took in a couple and their two children who she’d found begging at traffic lights nearby. The couple told Koch that they had lost all their belongings in a fire. The woman was pregnant.

White said she had helped the woman while she was in labour less than a month ago. “I should have left her there to suffer. I am angry and bitter and wish my gran never met them.”

White, 24, of Eerste River, said the whole family pitched in to help make the two-bedroom shack comfortable for the couple and their children.

A few weeks after moving on to Koch’s farm, they started getting “cheeky” with Koch and Schultz, she said. “They started smoking a lot of tik and stealing whatever they could find.”

Koch asked the family to leave a week ago. The woman allegedly lured Koch out of the house by knocking on her bedroom window and asking her to open because she needed to get supplies for the baby. Koch allegedly told Schultz that she was going to open the door for the woman.

Schultz fell asleep again and was woken up by the couple and two men who told them “Koch is lying dead in the shed” when he asked where his partner was.

The men apparently tied Schultz up with his neck ties and ransacked the house for about 45 minutes.

They took his bakkie, which was recovered by the police on Tuesday.

Koch was allegedly found with a pillow case over her head and a belt around her neck.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel said that four suspects were arrested on Tuesday and were due in court on Thursday.

nontando.mposo@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

The City of Cape Town will conduct its own investigation into the Linkin Park concert tragedy that left one dead.

Cape Town - The City of Cape Town will conduct their own investigation of the events that led up to an advertising tower collapsing, killing a woman and injuring 19 other people, at a Linkin Park concert at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Kylie Hatton said that while the SAPS would be leading the main investigation into the tragedy, internally, the City of Cape Town and its relevant departments would be looking at “everything from the process (of erecting the structure), to the approval (regarding the safety of the tower)”.

Hatton said questions would be put to the event organisers Big Concerts, disaster management and response teams who attended the scene as well as contractors and service providers.

It’s believed Lucozade - whose banner was displayed on the collapsed structure - will also be approached during the investigation.

Hatton said the City of Cape Town would co-operate with the relevant authorities with regards to their investigation.

She said they would not release the name of the deceased because the family had not granted permission to do so.

Hatton declined to comment on whether the municipality had been in contact with the victims, 12 of whom were hospitalised after suffering physical injury during the collapse of the structure.

Meanwhile, social media exploded with news of the incident.

On Big Concerts’ Facebook page where their statement expressing sympathy and condolences for the incident was posted, fans encouraged the family of the victim to sue for damages.

A comment by Jason Ross NaIdoo read: “They should [have] looked at a weather report and reassessed if the structure was really necessary and most of all safe to have around! I think the family of the deceased should board this run away train class action law suit straight into who ever is responsible for passing that advertising tower… “

Another fan commenting on the same post criticised Linkin Park for allegedly not making reference to the incident during their performance. Larry Shane September wrote: “I think its pretty pathetic that no one had the decency to at least make an announcement during the show. I'm not impressed big concerts. This is such a tragedy on a really great concert and band. Please do right by the family of the deceased.”

Official comment from Linkin Park stated that the group where “deeply saddened” by the incident.

Linkin Park spokeswoman Kymm Britton said in a statement: “Though we have had no relationship with the sponsor or the entity responsible for erecting the structure, we take the safety of our fans very seriously and our thoughts are with all of those who were affected by this tragedy.”

The advertising tower was situated in the outer field of Cape Town Stadium and had been erected as a branding activation, according to numerous media reports. - IOL

Follow @BenitaSays and @IOL on Twitter.

Court papers show the route Patricia de Lille’s husband drove before his arrest for alleged recklessly and negligently driving.

Cape Town - Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille’s husband drove on the N1 in the direction of Cape Town, the M5 and Forest Drive to Pinelands before his arrest for allegedly driving recklessly and negligently, court papers show.

No other details about Edwin de Lille, 64, who suffered a stroke on October 11, passengers, the vehicle or the time of the incident were specified. The State has formally charged him with reckless and negligent driving.

At the weekend, Patricia de Lille said her husband had suffered a stroke behind the wheel. City officials were also silent on the incident.

Edwin de Lille was expected to make his first appearance in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after his arrest in Pinelands on Friday.

But when prosecutor Neliswa Joni called the case against him, no one responded. Joni then asked that the case be postponed in his absence. Joni added that a sick note had been supplied to the State and handed it to magistrate Sean Lea.

After a short while, the magistrate called the prosecutor to the bench and later struck the case from the court roll.

The State would have to re-summons Edwin de Lille, Lea said.

According to the doctor’s note, Edwin de Lille suffered a stroke on October 11 this year and suffers from hypertension and diabetes.

“On Friday, he was found to be hypoglyceamic and hypertensive and this could precipitate another stroke,” doctor Rafiq Abbas from Grassy Park Medi-Centre said in the note.

Abbas added that Edwin de Lille was not fit to attend court between November 2 and November 30.

Provincial director of public prosecutions spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said the Directorate of Public Prosecutions had requested that a formal report on exactly why the case was struck from the court roll, be supplied.

He said the matter was removed from the court roll because the magistrate presiding over the case was not satisfied that he had been properly subpoenaed to appear in court.

Ntabazalila said the directorate of public prosecutions had asked that the docket be sent to its offices so that a decision on whether to reinstitute the prosecution could be made.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Principals at Hanover Park schools have met police and representatives of the Education Department over continuing violence in the area.

Cape Town - Principals at Hanover Park schools, at which teachers and pupils have been traumatised by continuing gang violence in the area, have met police and representatives of the Education Department to discuss their concerns.

Last week, the Cape Argus reported on how pupils were dodging bullets on their way to school while their teachers sometimes also had to put their own lives at risk to ensure their pupils’ safety.

Teachers said gangsterism had become the only topic of conversation among pupils, and many of the children had lost someone they knew to violence over the past few months.

On Wednesday, another fatal shooting was reported in Hanover Park.

Police spokesman Andre Traut said a 20-year-old man was killed in Lansman Walk, Hanover Park, at 4.45am.

“The circumstances of the matter are being investigated and no one has been arrested as yet. The motive is yet to be established,” he said.

Bronagh Casey, spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant, said the focus of the meeting with principals - held on Tuesday - was the safety of pupils and teachers affected by gang violence. Community police forums also attended.

“The principals expressed their feelings of fear and that more must be done to protect them, their educators and learners while travelling to and from school,” Casey said.

She said principals also indicated that the violence in the community was having a knock-on effect on the schools.

Some of the pupils were involved in gangsterism and brought the conflict into schools.

The violence was also affecting the psychological well-being of many of the pupils and teachers.

Casey said it was suggested that a community march that would mobilise parents to take control against their children who were participating in gangsterism and unruly behaviour be held.

She said principals would now take the suggestion to their teachers and notify the district about whether they would support and participate in the march.

Once this had been finalised, the Western Cape Education Department would make an application to the City of Cape Town for the march to be held.

Casey said Grant was concerned about the recent flare-up of violence in Hanover Park: “This is an extremely difficult situation and we admire and value our educators’ courageous efforts in trying to create and secure a stable teaching and learning environment for our learners when there is violence and fear in the community.”

ilse.fredericks@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

eNCA has suspended sports anchor Lance Witten over tweets relating to the Linkin Park concert tragedy in Cape Town.

Cape Town - eNCA has suspended sports anchor Lance Witten over tweets relating to the Linkin Park concert tragedy in Cape Town on Wednesday night.

A woman died as a result of injuries sustained when a temporary scaffolding collapsed at the concert due to high winds.

Nineteen other people were injured with 12 requiring hospitalisation.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Witten tweeted: “Linkin Park is so badass, people are dying to see ’em.” ,

After a flurry of angry responses, he said: “Actually, if you feel you need to unfollow me because I made a joke people would've made tomorrow, be my guest. What happened was awful.

“A few months from now, Trevor Noah will use that tweet as a joke on stage.”

He later apologised, saying: “I’m sorry. It was in bad taste.”

However, eNews announced his suspension, saying: “Witten’s comments do not reflect the views or values of our company. An internal inquiry into Mr Witten’s comments will be conducted.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the young woman who lost her life, and all those injured in the #LinkinPark incident.” - IOL

A drunk mom smothered her one-month-old baby boy while breastfeeding him.

Cape Town - A drunk mother smothered her one-month-old baby boy while breastfeeding him.

The 32-year-old was out drinking with friends before returning to her home in Kosovo, Nyanga, to feed her baby.

But she passed out while breastfeeding her son.

When she woke up the following morning, her breast was still stuck inside the baby boy’s mouth.

She saw with horror that his lips had turned black and blood was streaming out of his nose.

Police have not arrested the woman, although social workers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death.

When contacted, the distraught mom said she couldn’t believe her son is dead. But she refused to discuss the tragedy.

“It’s hurting and I still cannot believe that he is dead. I don’t want to talk of this anymore,” she said.

The woman’s neighbour said he rushed to the scene after a friend called for help last Friday night.

“I couldn’t believe that she slept next to her child’s dead body for all these hours,” the man said.

“The child’s lips had turned black and he was ice-cold.”

The neighbour said that the child’s mother was crying uncontrollably as blood came out of her son’s nose.

“She cried for help but there was nothing we could do – the child was already dead,” he said.

“But she is the mother – she should have known better. It is very sad.”

A community worker says similar incidents of neglect are all too common this time of year.

“This is the time for street parties where people enjoy the end of the year,” she said.

“Parents need to take control of themselves, otherwise face the consequences,” she said.

Nyanga police spokeswoman Captain Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened.

*This article was published in the Daily Voice

Linkin Park concert-goers have recounted the moments before and after tragedy struck at Cape Town Stadium.

Cape Town - Linkin Park concert-goers have recounted the moments before and after tragedy struck at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.

A woman attending the concert died of her injuries after temporary scaffolding collapsed in high winds outside the venue. At least 20 people were injured.

The 33-year-old woman worked at a city hotel. She died in Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in the city.

She has not been formally identified as her parents have not yet been informed of her death.

The woman’s husband, who was with her on Wednesday night, said he was considering legal action.

The concert-goers were hurt when two Lucozade-branded towers fell during strong south-easterly winds.

Sources said all stadium events had exhaustive safety plans and the emergency was immediately co-ordinated by the Venue Operations Centre.

Ambulances from the province’s emergency medical services and private ambulance companies ferried the injured to hospital.

On the scene on Wednesday night Nicole Barlow told the Cape Argus she had been standing between the two sponsored towers that fell on the south side of the stadium.

She and Ashley Barlow had been handing out samples of the energy drink earlier in the day. The women said gazebos had been erected too, but they had been packed away because of the wind.

This morning Barlow wrote on Facebook: “Still can’t believe what happened. Knowing that you were 5cm away from possibly being killed is crazy. Hope everyone and especially the Lucozade girls and the fans who got injured so badly and are currently in critical condition have the strength to fight it through, and to the family of the fan who passed away you have my deepest condolences, R.I.P.”

Meanwhile, concertgoer and nurse, Justine Butler told EWN how she tried to help comfort the woman who eventually died.

“She was probably the first person that I came up to. She was right in front of me in the ground and she had serious injuries.”

According to EWN, Western Cape Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said several people are still being treated in hospital.

“They sustained fractures to their hands, legs and spine. The doctors will later today decide how long they will be kept in hospital.”

Event organiser Big Concerts said as the incident was outside the stadium, it fell under the jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town.

The city said in a statement on Thursday night that the structure had been pre-approved and certified safe by structural engineers prior to the event.

After their performance on Wednesday night Linkin Park posted a message of condolence on their blog, saying: “We wish to express our deep sadness and concern for those injured and our heartfelt condolences to the family of the fan who died as a result of her injuries.”

The concert went ahead despite the incident.

Cape Argus, IOL

The commission of inquiry into allegations of police inefficiency in Khayelitsha has been suspended, the commission said.

Johannesburg - The commission of inquiry into allegations of police inefficiency in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, has been suspended, the commission said on Thursday.

“The minister of police and seven other police applicants have filed papers for an urgent interdict to stop the work of the commission,” commission spokeswoman Amanda Dissel said.

“In view of this application, the commission will not proceed with the public hearings.”

It was due to begin its work on November 12 and continue until December 14. A full report was due on February 24, 2013.

Western Cape premier Helen Zille established the commission in August to investigate police inefficiency in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. It was headed by retired judge Catherine O'Regan and advocate Vusi Pikoli.

Zille cited a breakdown of trust between Khayelitsha residents and the police as the reason for doing so.

Dissel said the commission would give notice of the date when hearings would resume. It would depend on the outcome of the litigation.

On Tuesday, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa filed court papers challenging the establishment of the Khayelitsha commission of inquiry.

The matter would be heard in the Cape High Court on November 12. The ministry's lawyers would also challenge the commission's subpoenas, served on some police officers in the province.

Sapa

Friends and family of the woman who died after being crushed at the Linkin Park concert say they are devastated.

Cape Town - Friends and family of the woman who died after being crushed by falling scaffolding at the Linkin Park concert at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night say they are devastated.

Florentina Heaven-Popa, aged 33, was a senior executive at one of the city’s finest hotels, the One & Only at the V&A Waterfront, her grieving husband Leslie Heaven confirmed to the Cape Argus on Thursday.

Heaven said he had been at the concert with his wife, but did not want to say more than: “We will be taking legal action, and thus do not want to comment further.”

Meanwhile, the city of Cape Town has launched an independent investigation into the events leading up to Heaven-Popa’s death, Mayor Patricia de Lille announced on Thursday.

The investigation would be headed by SAPS and a structural engineering firm.

De Lille said the city and event organisers, Big Concerts, would fully co-operate with the investigation.

“I would also like to give the assurance that the city has moved proactively to institute an independent external investigation into the causes of the incident,” she said.

Nineteen people were injured when temporary Lucozade promotional scaffolding collapsed as a result of strong winds before the concert.

Heaven-Popa, of Hout Bay, died of injuries. Twelve people were taken to hospital and two remain in critical condition.

Heaven-Popa worked as training and quality assurance manager at the One&Only, a super-luxury Kerzner International hotel at the V&A Waterfront.

The One&Only Cape Town described Heaven-Popa as a “highly respected member of the One&Only Cape Town team, who will be deeply missed by all her colleagues”.

“Everyone at One&Only Cape Town send their deepest condolences to her family.”

About 10 000 people were in the stadium precinct when the incident happened on Wednesday at about 7pm while people were queuing to enter the stadium bowl.

A spokesperson for UK-based pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which manufactures Lucozade, said the branding activation had been erected by a contractor who “fully complied” with the safety specifics as required by the city and the concert organisers.

The spokesperson said the structure had been checked and signed off by concerned parties.

“Our main concern now is with the immediate family of the deceased and the injured. A full investigation is under way and we will co-operate fully with authorities looking into the matter,” she said.

Nicky’s Spotlight’s Promotions, the company that supplied promoters for Lucozade, had about 30 promoters – a mixture of men and woman, between 18 and 28 years old – at the stadium on Wednesday.

The company’s Steven Barker said two of the promoters had been injured in the incident. One was discharged from hospital on Thursday.

Barker said the promoters were standing close to Heaven-Popa when the scaffolding fell on top of her.

“We have arranged for trauma counselling for all of them,” he said.

One of the promoters, Marinique Welsh, 15, of Bothasig, had two broken vertebrae. She is heavily sedated at the Panorama Mediclinic.

Her parents are waiting to see a neuro-surgeon and will be consulting a lawyer on whether or not to pursue legal action.

A mother of another promoter, Jenny Stafford, told the Cape Argus she was appalled at the way promoters were treated, even though they offered them trauma counselling.

US band Linkin Park conveyed their condolences to the family of the woman who died and distanced itself from the “sponsor entity” which erected the structure.

Concert promoters Big Concerts posted a message on its Facebook page expressing its sympathies and condolences to the injured and to the family of woman who died.

“We wish to reiterate how saddened we are about the regrettable accident that occurred outside the Cape Town stadium… We are working closely with the City of Cape Town and the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structures in an effort to investigate the accident.”

Linkin Park are scheduled to perform in Joburg on Saturday. Stadium Management SA reassured concertgoers that medical and extra security and safety checks, including SAPS, K9 and Bomb Squad would be in place at the Soccer City complex.

Stadium Management SA’s venues have hosted more than 300 events that have seen more than 4.4 million people passing through its turnstiles.

Cape Argus

Helen Zille had to be escorted from a sports field in De Doorns after being pelted with stones by striking farmworkers.

De Doorns - Western Cape Premier Helen Zille had to be escorted by police from a sports field in De Doorns on Thursday after being pelted with stones by striking farmworkers and taken to safety in a Nyala.

Stones were hurled at her by a hostile crowd of about 2 000 people who chanted expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s name as Zille made her address to a gathering at the Stofland sports field.

She was not hurt.

A few hours later, Western Cape ANC chairman Marius Fransman received a warm and welcoming reception from the same crowd.

Zille had gone to the area, accompanied by Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Gerrit van Rensburg, to get first-hand information about the strike which has brought the De Doorns farming community to a halt for four days, her spokesman, Zak Mbhele, said.

Zille said she had spoken to people in the community about their grievances and had walked over a bridge on the N1 to speak to the crowd on the sports field.

She said a section in the crowd started chanting Malema’s name and intimidated others so they wouldn’t speak to her. “There was so much noise and mayhem that I decided to leave. It was very bad,” Zille said.

She said meetings with farmers and the police had been successful and it was hoped there would be an end to the violence.

The strike, over low pay and poor working conditions, also forced the closure of part of the N1 between De Doorns and Touws River for the fourth day on Thursday.

On Thursday, the road was still closed with stones, litter and burning tyres used as barricades. Police maintained a presence in the area.

Resident Phumzile Langathi said Zille had visited a few homes in the area before walking to the sports field. He said when Zille walked past him he had warned her not to politicise the situation.

“I told her that people were not here because of the DA or the ANC but they are here because of issues with farm owners. They want answers about what is happening,” Langathi said.

“They didn’t give her a chance, they started shouting Malema’s name and threw stones at her.”

Zille was escorted out of Stofland in an armed police personnel carrier to the town’s centre, where she met about 60 farmworkers.

Van Rensburg’s spokesman, Wouter Kriel, said they had been in meetings with police and farm owners and had also gone to the sports field where farmworkers had gathered.

“We would have loved to stay there [sports field] a bit longer but it got a bit rowdy so we had to leave,” Kriel said.

Addressing the same strikers later, Fransman said Zille had been “chased out of the area because she displayed poor leadership”.

“She had time to go to Nkandla while things were rotting here in the Western Cape,” Fransman said.

He told the strikers that if farmers did not give in to their demands for a living wage and decent working and living conditions, the ANC would arrange a march to the Provincial Legislature, and extended an invitation to them to join it.

Workers earn between about R69 and R75 a day.

Provincial Cosatu chairman Dan Melaphi also addressed the farmworkers, and said later that they had told him they hadn’t wanted to speak to Zille because they had felt the provincial government had been siding with the farmers.

“Her MEC [Van Rensburg], who takes orders from [Zille], has been siding with the farmers the whole week. People have read the things he has told the media and they don’t want anything to do with them. Zille’s intervention is too late. As premier of the Western Cape she should have been here earlier in the week,” Melaphi said.

Workers would not accept anything less than R150 a day, Melaphi said, double the going rate. The association had offered R80 but had withdrawn it when workers rejected it and talks collapsed. He said negotiations with the Hex Valley Table Grape Association, representing some of the farmers, would resume on Friday.

xolani.koyana@inl.co.za

Cape Times