BLOEMFONTEIN: The Kestell Magistrates’ court, has today postponed the case against two men accused of killing seven people at Lismore farm, outside Kestell to Wednesday, 20 July 2022,  for the accused to get a Legal Aid Attorney.

Twelve men between the ages of 18 and 25, appeared at the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court, facing two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, possession of the stolen property, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

A gender-based violence perpetrator, Linda Makhanya, was sentenced to an effective 20 years imprisonment, by the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court on 15 July 2022, for violence perpetrated against his ex-girlfriend, Sonto Radebe. He was convicted on four counts (rape, theft and two attempted murders). Makhanya and the complainant were in a relationship, that ended in June 2017.

Responding to high-level corruption is the NPA's number one priority. The next few months will be a defining time for the institution and the rule of law in South Africa 

The Pretoria District Court, sentenced two police constables from the South African Police Service (SAPS) Puleng Peter Seshoka (40), and Zakhele Ronnie Mtsheni (40), to 4 years of direct imprisonment, after being convicted of corruption worth R100 000. 

The Scottburgh Regional Court, sentenced a 42-year-old man to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to raping an 11-year-old girl, in March 2019, in the Hibberdene area. On the day of the incident, the child, who was mentally challenged, was on her way home from the shop, when he accosted her. He dragged her into a bushy area and raped her before fleeing. The child reported this to her mother, and they informed the Police.

The matter of S v Zandile Gumede and 21 others, (including persons and companies) will return to the Durban High Court next week, on 18 July 2022, where the trial is set to begin. The accused in this matter, are an array of eThekwini Municipality officials (current and past), ward councillors, business people and their companies.

The Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court, sentenced a 29-year-old man (Mr X), from Saulsville in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, to twenty-two years of direct imprisonment, for two counts of rape of a 12-year-old minor.  The court ordered that his name be written in the National Register for Sexual Offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm. This is after he was convicted, by Magistrate Allen Cowan, on 25 May 2022.

The trial against the men charged with the murder of Sindiso Magaqa, amongst other offences, is set to begin in the Pietermaritzburg High Court next week. Sbonelo Myeza, Mbulelo Mpofana, Mlungisi Ncalane and Sibusiso Ncengwa, are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, attempted murder, malicious injury to property and charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, one being a prohibited firearm.

On Tuesday, Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Thembelani Headman Dlamini (44), to life and 40 years imprisonment, for the offences of murder, attempted murder, extortion, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Dlamini is an ex-policeman, who had worked under the crime intelligence unit, before becoming a taxi owner. In 2019, Dlamini was with a friend, when they were shot at, while he survived the attack, his friend was killed.