A man shot and wounded his girlfriend in the back of a minibus taxi before turning the gun on himself in Umbumbulu.

Durban - A man shot and wounded his girlfriend in the back of a minibus taxi before turning the gun on himself in Umbumbulu on Durban's outskirts on Wednesday, paramedics said.

Netcare 911 spokesman Chris Botha said the girl, believed to be a matric pupil, was taken to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital and the man to Prince Mshiyeni Hospital, both in Durban. Both were in a critical condition.

Police comment could not be immediately obtained.

Sapa

A minibus driver accused of killing mountain biker Burry Stander in an accident appeared at the Port Shepstone Magistrate's Court.

Port Shepstone - A minibus driver accused of killing mountain biker Burry Stander in an accident appeared at the Port Shepstone Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.

“The matter was postponed to 21 and 22 of October for trial,” KwaZulu-Natal NPA spokeswoman Natasha Ramkisson said.

Njabulo Nyawose, facing a charge of culpable homicide, was released on a warning.

Stander, 25, was cycling in Shelley Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast when he was struck by a minibus taxi Nyawose was allegedly driving on January 3.

Charges against him were reinstated last month after they were provisionally withdrawn. This was done for the directorate of public prosecutions to decide whether to prosecute.

Stander was fifth in the men's cross-country race at the 2012

London Olympics. Four years earlier, at the Beijing Games, he finished 15th in the cross-country event.

Sapa

Medication, alcohol, and treatment could have contributed to the deaths of three men after a KZN Traffic Inspectorate est, an inquiry heard.

Pietermaritzburg - Medication, alcohol, and treatment could have contributed to the deaths of three men after a KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) test, an inquiry heard on Wednesday.

Ravenda Padayachee, for the transport department, said these factors could have contributed to the deaths of Lenny Nxumalo, Ntuthuko Sibisi, and Sibonakaliso Mhlanga.

At a commission of inquiry in Pietermaritzburg, he put the possibilities to Dr Dhanraj Maney, a forensic medical officer who conducted post mortems on the three men.

The commission is probing the deaths of eight people who died after participating in a RTI fitness test in the city in December. The victims took part in a four-kilometre run at the Harry Gwala Stadium. The event formed part of a fitness test for RTI job applicants. More than 34 000 people qualified to apply for 90 advertised RTI trainee posts. Of these, 15 600 attended a fitness test on December 27, and a similar number on December 28.

Maney found no specific cause of death for the three men.

Padayachee said when Sibisi was treated, he was given 7.8 litres of fluid, but had an output of 400ml. He said this could have led to Sibisi drowning from fluid in his lungs.

According to the hospital's records, Sibisi had an epileptic seizure when he was admitted, but did not receive medication for the seizures.

Padayachee attributed Nxumalo's behaviour of being violent and refusing treatment from paramedics to alcohol.

He told the commission that Nxumalo's friend had given a statement stating they had been drinking alcohol on December 25 and 26.

Nxumalo apparently finished first in his group at 5.30pm on December 28 and then fell ill. He refused help from paramedics who offered him liquid to drink. Nxumalo reportedly became violent towards them.

“I cannot say alcohol was the only reason for his (violent) behaviour,” Maney said. Nxumalo eventually received treatment after 8pm and died after resuscitation failed.

When Padayachee asked Maney if alcohol was a dehydrating substance, he agreed. Padayachee asked Maney if Nxumalo had a compromised liver. He said “yes”.

“That would make his body predisposed to retaining heat,” Padayachee said.

Nxumalo's liver had fatty changes, a sign of alcohol consumption.

Maney said he had not received the blood results which he took from Nxumalo during the post mortem.

According to medical records from Sibisi's work place he had been on chronic medication for hypertension. The medication reduces fluid in the body and makes it unable to manage dissipation of heat.

In January 2006 and October 2010 he had been prescribed medication for his high blood pressure.

Padayachee said it was impossible to know whether Mhlanga took his medication the day of the fitness test or before.

He asked Maney if a person with hypertension who had taken his medication at the time of the fitness test would have struggled to dissipate heat.

Maney said this was the case in theory, but did not know if this happened with Sibisi.

The commission continues on Thursday when another forensic medical officer is expected to testify about the post mortems she conducted on another three participants.

Sapa

KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize announced that he was stepping down as premier of the province.

Durban -

KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize announced on Thursday that he was stepping down as premier of the province.

The ANC's chairman in the province Senzo Mchunu was sworn in as acting premier by KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Chiman Patel in Durban.

Mkhize said his tasks as treasurer general of the African National Congress had prompted the decision.

He praised Mchunu and his colleagues in the KwaZulu-Natal executive.

He also thanked President Jacob Zuma for his support.

Mkhize would be based at ANC headquarters Luthuli House in Johannesburg full time as from September 1. Sapa

uShaka Marine World chief executive Shawn Thompson has been suspended with immediate effect following his arrest this week.

Durban - Three years after he allegedly abused his position as uShaka Marine World chief executive, Shawn Thompson has been suspended with immediate effect following his arrest this week.

Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said the Durban Commercial Crime Unit arrested 47-year-old Thompson on Tuesday afternoon and charged him with corruption.

He appeared in the Durban Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday where the matter was postponed.

According to the charge sheet, Thompson is charged with two counts of corruption.

He is accused of having abused his position as chief executive in that, in 2009, he submitted invoices for and authorised payments of R13 172 from uShaka Marine World to Villa Coco Guest House – a Durban North establishment owned by Thompson and/or his wife, Jackie – for the accommodation of three guests, including a man known as Ken Burman.

Naicker said the three guests of uShaka Marine World were visiting the country.

“It is alleged that the suspect instructed his personal assistant to book the guests at a guest house which was owned by a relative. Once the booking was confirmed at the guest house, the suspect authorised and signed the payment order.”

Thompson was accused of not following the proper procedures in procuring the accommodation for the guests, Naicker said, adding that the matter was investigated internally and “once that process was completed a criminal case was opened”.

Thompson was granted bail of R5 000 and the case was postponed to September 11 for further investigation.

His bail conditions state he must surrender his passport, he cannot leave the province, and has to report to his local police station every week, until the matter is settled.

On Wednesday, Thompson told The Mercury he had yet to see the full charge sheet and would release a full statement once he had read it.

“I’ve got an idea in my mind (what it says) and it will be dealt with at the right time.”

He said he had yet to consult a lawyer and confirmed he was suspended from his position at uShaka with effect from Thursday.

Jacob Henry de Villiers Botha, director of uShaka’s board, said in response to questions e-mailed by The Mercury, that Thompson had informed the board about the charges against him this week.

De Villiers Botha said the board then took a decision to suspend him pending a full investigation.

When called for further comment, he said he had not seen the charge sheet “at the moment”.

“We discussed the alleged case (against Thompson) before. I need to speak to the police to get more information before I can make a detailed comment to the media.”

eThekwini Municipality spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said that the municipality welcomed action by the uShaka board of directors and had requested a report as well as an urgent meeting to discuss the matter.

“We are happy they moved swiftly to appoint an acting CEO, so that operations will not be affected. – Additional reporting by Bernadette Wolhuter and Colleen Dardagan

The Mercury

Bruce Galloway, who claims he was abducted, was having "serious financial difficulties", one of his partners said.

Durban - Kloof businessman Bruce Galloway, who claims he was abducted outside his home by armed men who then threw him over Kloof Gorge, was having “serious financial difficulties” and was being sued by some of his business partners who were threatening to have him prosecuted, one of his partners said.

And the day before he went missing, he was “admonished” at a meeting by some of his partners for the way he was controlling the finances of their businesses.

“He left the meeting in haste and then mysteriously disappeared the next day,” Christian Thandolwenkosi Mjadu said in an affidavit before the Durban High Court in which he suggests Galloway, 53, may have “orchestrated his own disappearance”.

Mjadu, a partner with Galloway in hardware retailing business Build-It, made an urgent application on July 25, two days after Galloway disappeared, securing an order suspending the authority that Galloway and his son, Wayne, had to transact on the company’s two bank accounts which held funds totalling almost R2 million.

When the matter came back to court on Wednesday, the order was set aside.

Responding to a request for comment, Galloway said it had been withdrawn by consent “because I was found” but the application contained “a number of inaccuracies”.

He said he still intended to set the record straight but declined to comment further.

Mjadu said in his affidavit before the court that he had a 70 percent stake and Galloway a 30 percent stake in the business which supplied bulk hardware to the Spar group.

He controlled the operations side of it while Galloway did the administration, finances and, with his prior approval, paid all the bills.

Mjadu said Galloway had similar shareholdings in a number of companies with other black businessmen and it was his “modus operandi” to run the finances in these as well.

He was trusted because he had an “impressive history” with the Spar group and was chairman of the cane growers association.

Regarding the “alleged abduction”, Mjadu said there were concerns “that it displayed features that cause suspicions about its authenticity”.

And, he said, he was worried about the safety of the money in the bank.

“There is a real possibility that he or his alleged abductors may unlawfully gain access to the accounts.

“I am aware that he was having serious financial difficulties and at least three parties who are shareholders with him have instituted legal proceedings claiming that he has not conducted the administration and finance of these businesses lawfully.

“I was advised by some of the shareholders that a meeting was held on July 22 with the Spar group.

“At that meeting he was admonished for his conduct and the manner in which he controlled those businesses and there was a strong likelihood that he would be prosecuted for his conduct.”

Mjadu said it was conceivable “he may have orchestrated his own abduction for his own benefit”.

“If it (his abduction) was contrived he may unlawfully access the funds which, it appears, he may have done to others…”

He said if his suspicions were misplaced, “and I do not intend to malign anyone’s integrity” it was possible Galloway’s abductors might force him to withdraw the money or his son may be tempted to use it to pay any ransom demand.

Galloway was found three days after he went missing on a ledge in the gorge. He claimed to have been thrown from a public viewing point by his abductors after he refused to divulge the pin number for his ATM card.

He was admitted to hospital and underwent a back operation.

He has made a statement to police in which he said he would not recognise his attackers.

tania.broughton@inl.co.za

The Mercury

Murder-accused bouncer Hector Britts did not shoot Craigh Botha, nor did he know who did, the Durban Magistrate’s Court heard.

Durban - Murder-accused bouncer Hector Britts did not shoot Craigh Botha. Nor did he know who did, the Durban Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.

“I don’t own a firearm and no firearm was seized from me. I would be surprised if any of the witnesses indicate that they saw me in possession of a firearm and that they witnessed me shooting the deceased,” the 33-year-old said in an affidavit read out by his attorney, Ridwaan Sayed.

Britts was applying for bail, which was opposed by the State, but granted nonetheless.

He stands accused of having shot and killed Botha, 38, earlier this month but intends to plead not guilty.

Britts was working at the Rocca Bar nightclub in Durban that evening and claims Botha, a patron, attacked him “by throwing a flurry of punches”.

“I was taken by surprise and did not even have an opportunity to retaliate. It was at this stage that somebody shot the deceased,” he said.

For the State, public prosecutor Blackie Swart read out investigating officer Selvan Naidoo’s affidavit opposing Britts’s release.

“The applicant is well aware that the State has a strong case against him. That constitutes a temptation for him to flee in order for him not to stand trial,” it said. It also said Britts’s criminal profile, which included his being convicted of fraud in 1999, a pending charge of assault and numerous charges (such as attempted murder and armed robbery) which were withdrawn – had somehow become public knowledge.

“This has instilled fear in witnesses who have not yet submitted statements.”

Finally, the community had “demanded” bail be withheld, the affidavit said, and Britts’s release would jeopardise the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system.

Sayed argued that Britts had been employed in the municipality’s fire and disaster management division for 13 years and owned the Newlands East home in which he lived with his wife, Lauren, along with three of his five children.

Britts had not travelled outside the country, did not own a passport and was not a flight risk. Sayed said the court could not be swayed by public emotion and that a bail application was not “a forum for anticipatory punishment”.

Magistrate Vanitha Armu appeared to agree and set bail at R10 000. Botha’s family was “very, very disappointed.”

“I have heard of house robbers’ bail being set higher,” his brother, Andrew, said.

Britts is expected back in court next month.

The Mercury

ANC provincial chairman Senzo Mchunu was sworn in as acting KZN premier after Zweli Mkhize announced he was stepping down.

Durban - Zweli Mkhize announced on Thursday that he was stepping down as KwaZulu-Natal’s premier.

ANC provincial chairman Senzo Mchunu was sworn in as acting premier by KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Chiman Patel in Durban.

Mkhize said his tasks as ANC treasurer-general had prompted the decision.

“After considering the workload associated with my two responsibilities, I have come to the conclusion that I need to spend more time fulfilling my responsibilities as the treasurer general of the African National Congress.”

Mkhize was elected treasurer-general at the ANC's elective congress in Mangaung last year.

He praised Mchunu and his colleagues in the KwaZulu-Natal executive.

He also thanked President Jacob Zuma for his support.

Mkhize would be based at ANC headquarters Luthuli House in Johannesburg full time as from September 1.

He said he believed the ANC would “start all the necessary processes” to ensure that a new premier was appointed by September 1.

Mchunu was appointed in an acting position until August 27 while Mkhize travelled with Zuma, who was scheduled to visit Malaysia. - Sapa

The ruling party has explained why Zweli Mkhize resigned as KwaZulu-Natal premier.

Durban - Zweli Mkhize resigned as KwaZulu-Natal premier because he could not juggle two posts, ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said on Thursday.

“His resignation as premier of KwaZulu-Natal will now afford him ample time and opportunity to concentrate on his functions and tasks as ANC treasurer general,” Mthembu said in a statement.

“Between December 2012 and now, comrade Zweli has had to juggle between two positions, each with immense responsibilities, undoubtedly placing a strain on him as an individual.”

Mkhize was elected to the treasurer general post in December at the party's elective conference in Mangaung.

A few months ago, he also stepped down as the party's KwaZulu-Natal chairman. He announced his resignation as premier on Thursday morning.

“These resignations by comrade Zweli Mkhize are in adherence to our Constitution which stipulates that as treasurer general... he should be full-time at the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House,” said Mthembu, who thanked Mkhize for the “immeasurable role” he played as premier since 2009.

“We are confident that comrade Zweli Mkhize will bring... diligence, commitment and the political astuteness that has always been his trademark) to Luthuli House)...”

Mthembu said the ANC executive committee in KwaZulu-Natal was tasked with identifying a new candidate for the premier post.

“The KZN ANC leadership will be expected to provide the national executive committee of the ANC with the names of three candidates from whom one will be selected...” - Sapa

A man who was hijacked and kidnapped outside his home near Phoenix, was thrown out of a moving car, his sister said.

Durban - The man who was hijacked and kidnapped outside his Mount Moriah home, near Phoenix, was thrown out of a moving car, his sister said yon Wednesday.

Dumisani Mdlalose, 30, was accosted by three armed men after his return from work at about 8pm on Monday.

The suspects hijacked his BMW 318i and forced him into the car, driving away with him.

Mdlalose’s wife, Thembeka, who was seated in the front passenger seat, managed to escape the men and ran for help.

Mdlalose was found by family and friends at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Phoenix on Tuesday, after being spotted by an ambulance in Avoca.

His sister, Mbali, 27, said she was disheartened to see her brother struggle in a hospital bed.

“The hijackers threw him out of a moving car and his bruises look really bad. He struggles to talk to us, but he does say a few words and then gets tired,” she said

Mbali said the family were praying for Mdlalose’s recovery and were hoping the hijackers would be found quickly.

“We’re just really happy that he is alive. We are still struggling to explain to his son, Bhampo, what has happened to his father,” she said.

Two-year-old Bhampo was in the house with the family’s domestic worker when the incident happened.

Police were still investigating. The car and stolen cellphones are yet to be recovered.

Daily News

The family of businessman William Daly have hired a private investigator to help find those responsible for his murder.

Durban - The family of legendary businessman William (Bill) Daly have hired a private investigator to help find those responsible for his murder.

Daly’s niece, Pat Lee, told the Daily News that her son-in-law had employed the services of Brad Nathanson Investigations to try to make sense of things.

Daly, 89, was killed in an apparent robbery at his Morningside home on Monday afternoon. Lee said: “He meant so much to us.”

She said a security company had been hired to guard the house and the “priceless” possessions inside round the clock.

Lee has the task of sorting through more than 100 years of history in her uncle’s home. “He never threw anything away,” she said.

The house, 44 Maple Street, was bought by his grandfather in 1889, eight years after he founded cordial company W Daly & Son.

Then a modest wood and iron structure, it was advertised as being “Out in the country with a view of the anchorage” - a far cry from the urban Morningside of today.

Daly’s grandfather, after whom he was named, rebuilt part of the house in 1902 to its present double-storey grandeur.

In a newspaper article celebrating its centenary, Daly was quoted as saying: “I have lived here all my life and could never give it up.”

Lee said it was too soon for her and the family to decide what would become of a house of such historical and sentimental value.

She is also not sure what will become of Daly’s vintage cars. Three have been moved to storage in Pinetown for safety. The fourth, which will be removed later, is a 1936 MG VA that belonged to Daly’s father.

Daly’s great nephew, Chris Lyle, said the car had stood on bricks for many years before Daly restored it for his sickly mother. She died six weeks before her 101st birthday in 1998.

“I know we can’t keep them, we wouldn’t be able to maintain them, but I would like to at least keep the number plate to have something to remember him by and pass it down,” he said.

Daily News

A Durban family’s Morningside home was twice targeted by robbers in one week.

Durban - A Durban family were targeted by robbers twice this week at their Morningside home.

On Wednesday night, a teenager received stitches to his forehead after he was struck with a crowbar during an attempted robbery.

The boy, 13, and his family, who did not want to be named, were confronted by three men at their Waller Road home.

It is alleged the suspects forced their way into the home when the teenager’s 16-year-old brother went to close the front gate.

The 13-year-old was in the bedroom when he heard his grannies - 78 and 76 years old - scream in the kitchen.

His mother and father were in the dining room preparing for the evening prayer and supper.

“A man wearing a balaclava appeared at our room door. My brother (a 19-year-old) and I tried to push the door closed.

“Half of his body was through the door. He could not get inside and began swinging the crowbar… to fend us off.

“That’s when I was struck on my forehead. We eventually managed to push him out and shut the door,” said the boy.

Both brothers hid in the locked room, fearing the worst for their family.

Meanwhile the brother who had been confronted by the robbers jumped over the boundary wall into the neighbours’ yard. He fell on his face, bruising his nose, arm and leg.

One of the suspects opened fire on the boy’s father, who returned fire. The suspects fled the home in a waiting vehicle.

On Tuesday, three suspects forced open the gate and door of the same home with a crowbar.

Two women were home at the time. They were forced to lie on the floor and were covered with a blanket. But the women screamed, alerting neighbours. The robbers took jewellery and cash.

It is believed the suspects parked their getaway vehicle in the garage.

Dr Shabir Randaree, who treated the 13-year-old, said he received three stitches.

Mayville police are investigating a case of house robbery.

Daily News

Shocked residents are pleading with the eThekwini Municipality to not re-use unleased graves that are 10 years or older.

Durban - Leave the dead alone. That is the plea from shocked communities about a plan by the eThekwini Municipality to reuse unleased graves that are 10 years or older.

The plan is already being implemented in oThongathi (Tongaat) on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast where a local councillor said he had seen graves as old as 60 years being dug up and human remains strewn about.

“In the graves that were opened, I was shocked to see pieces of skull on one, and on another a full skull with all the teeth still in place,” said Brian Jayanathan.

 “They just simply buried those remains. What worries me is that someone else will be buried in that same grave.”

The city’s parks, leisure and cemeteries department confirmed last week that the Tongaat Regional Cemetery (Desainagar) had reached its capacity.

Only families who had graves under lease that granted them the exclusive right of use would be permitted to reuse them, it said.

City spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said all graves in eThekwini that were 10 years or older that didn’t have leases, records or tombstones, would be available for public reuse, as provided for in the KwaZulu-Natal Cemeteries Act.

But Jayanathan said this should not be allowed to happen. “The city cannot use short-term solutions to sort out a long-term problem.

This issue needs to be looked at carefully because it is very sensitive.”

He said the closure of the Desainagar cemetery had come as a shock to residents.

“This places greater burden on the affected residents as they either resort to cremation or have to bury their deceased away from Tongaat,” he said.

Jayanathan said the city had not bothered to inform residents about the status of the graves.

“It’s of concern to the Tongaat community that burials are now going to take place in Molweni and Tafuleni, about 40km from KwaMashu and Inanda,” he said.

KwaZulu-Natal historian Jabulani Maphalala described the grave reuse plan as disturbing, saying it went against the cultural beliefs of many.

Maphalala, a former history professor at the University of Zululand, said a grave had to be respected. Burying someone over another’s grave showed no respect and discriminated against the cultural beliefs of people, he said.

“Many Zulu people still believe in tradition and part of that is we still speak to those who have left us because we don’t believe that they die, but find comfort in (the fact) that they are resting,” he said, explaining that this was done where the person had died and at the grave.

“If someone is buried over your relative, how are you going to speak to them? It will be a major disaster in terms of cultural beliefs.

In fact, this is wrong and takes away people’s rights to practise their tradition freely,” he said.

For people to have to pay for leases to ensure that no one was buried over their loved ones was sad, said Maphalala.

“Can you imagine the stress this causes because you begin to wonder for how long people will have to pay?

“Why can’t the dead be left alone? There is more than enough land to bury people.

“People should not be deprived of a right to be left in peace when they die.”

Maphalala said the municipality needed to look at how people would be affected by the plan, especially those who believed in their ancestors.

“No one has the right to take that away from anyone. They must find land because I also know that many African people don’t believe in cremation,” he said.

Chairwoman of the Durban North Ratepayers’ Association, Irene Read, said she was shocked to hear of a grave being reused.

“What is this world coming to? My first instinct is that there are many people who have beliefs when it comes to the graves of their loved ones. So I really wonder how this is going to work.”

Read feared the plan would have cultural and financial implications.

“Everyone will be forced to lease out of fear that their relatives may find themselves sharing a grave. It really is not a nice picture.

The city really has to find another way around this,” she said.

Mofokeng said families who wanted exclusive use of graves needed to contact the office of the district manager of the parks, leisure and cemeteries department to apply for a 10-year lease.

“Any person who does not intend to lease the grave where a family member has been buried and objects to it being reused, should raise his or her objection in writing by September 30,” he said.

Those who objected should indicate their relationship to the deceased and provide the block and grave number as well as proof of identification.

mpume.madlala@inl.co.za

Daily News

An iPhone App helped police arrest three and track down stolen goods, less than an hour after the items were taken.

Durban - Three men have been arrested in central Durban after an iPhone App helped police track stolen goods to a pawn shop less than an hour after the items were taken from a car in uMhlanga.

La Lucia resident Jason Anthony stopped at uMhlanga Centre, formerly Buxton’s Centre, at about 5.15pm last week.

He claimed that a remote car jamming ploy prevented him from locking his car.

On returning to his car about 10 minutes later he noticed his Apple laptop and iPad were missing.

“I called the cops. The carguards said they saw a Polo parked next to my car. A guy got out, went into my car and then sped away,” he said.

On arrival, Durban North police officers noticed Anthony had an iPhone and inquired as to whether he had the “Find my iPhone” App, which he did.

“They asked me to start tracking my iPad and we saw it was in Durban,” he said.

Anthony accompanied the officers to the CBD, tracking the stolen goods to their final location at a pawn shop at the intersection of McArthur and Joseph Nduli (Russell) streets.

On entering the shop, the two men behind the counter denied any knowledge of the items, and Anthony was asked to press the tracking device causing the iPad to chime within the shop.

After sifting under papers and other material in the shop, the two items were found.

A police source said three foreigners (two were behind the counter at the time the police entered, another entered later) who identified themselves as the owners of the shop were arrested and charged with receiving stolen goods.

The men were expected to appear in court today.

lauren.anthony@inl.co.za

Daily News

A pregnant woman had to jump several metres into her neighbour's yard in a desperate attempt to avoid robbers.

Durban - A pregnant woman climbed over a wall and jumped several metres down into her neighbour’s yard in a desperate attempt to avoid robbers who stormed her uMhlanga home on Wednesday.

The teacher, on maternity leave, was in her home in Chestnut Crescent, Prestondale, when five men forced opened the kitchen door and held up her domestic worker, who was washing dishes.

Hearing noises, the teacher fled through the back door into the garden. While climbing over the wall, she triggered the security alarm.

Police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said the robbers demanded cash from the domestic worker and took two television sets, jewellery and clothing.

A case of armed robbery was opened at Durban North police station.

A neighbour, Jackie Warren, said police and Marshall Security guards responded to the incident.

“There is a sheer drop at the back. I would not have jumped, but I guess she was acting on adrenalin. She was a complete wreck emotionally, and at the time was in a state of shock,” Warren said.

Marshall Security spokesman, Tyron Powell, said the woman was traumatised.

He said she had fallen while climbing over the wall, and had been taken to hospital.

Powell said his company received a panic signal from the neighbour’s house when the woman climbed over the wall.

The guards who were the first to respond were told that the robbers were armed with guns.

“We are still unsure at what point she managed to flee and jump the wall.

“No one saw the suspect’s vehicle. The driveway gate had not been derailed,” said Powell.

Daily News

Two months after a Chinese woman was viciously murdered in KZN, her husband is no closer to finding out why she was killed.

Durban - Two months after a Chinese woman was viciously murdered at her family business in KwaZulu-Natal, her grieving husband says he is no closer to finding out why she had to be killed.

Meimei Wang, 34, was strangled, stabbed 21 times and repeatedly hit over the head with a 9kg gas cylinder at the shop in Umzimkhulu on June 17.

Two men pleaded guilty to murder in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday. Sivuyile Lukhakhayi and Amandla Vukaphi, both 21 and still in school, were sentenced to life imprisonment plus 15 years each for robbery.

A third accused, 18-year old Tshidiso Rampesi who worked as a guard at the store, pleaded guilty last week and was sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison.

Shoulong Chan, who moved back to China after the murder and returned to South Africa for Wednesday’s verdict, said he still could not fathom why his wife had to be killed.

Speaking via his attorney, Samlal Garbaran, hired to conduct a watching brief over the murder case, Chan, who speaks Mandarin, said he had since sold the business and moved back to China with his three children, who are eight, five and three years old.

The couple had moved to South Africa about six years ago.

On the day of the murder Wang was alone at the Kwa-Khaile store.

“Why did they have to kill her? They could have taken what they wanted and spared her life,” said the still distraught Chan.

He said he had seen the CCTV footage of how his petite wife was killed at the hands of her three attackers.

Acting Judge Enthias Xolo, who had convicted Rampesi, had found there were substantial and compelling circumstances in his favour, including the fact that he was a youthful first offender and had demonstrated remorse for his actions.

However, Shoulong said he was horrified by the sentence, and did not think it was appropriate considering the violence his wife was subjected to.

Rampesi’s accomplices had told the court that while they had both been responsible for assaulting and stabbing Wang, Rampesi had joined in later and assaulted Wang with the gas cylinder.

They said it had been Rampesi’s idea to rob the shop.

The court had heard that when Lukhakhayi and Vukaphi arrived at the shop that morning, they found Wang sweeping the floor.

They grabbed her and pushed her to the floor.

Vukaphi started stabbing her while his accomplices stole a computer monitor, cigarettes, tobacco and airtime vouchers. Lukhakhayi then joined in the stabbing.

The post-mortem revealed that Wang had suffered 21 fatal wounds, and more than 20 superficial wounds.

She also suffered massive head trauma when she was assaulted with the gas cylinder.

Judge Rashid Vahed, who convicted Lukhakhayi and Vukaphi on Wednesday, said Rampesi was “fortunate” to have got off so lightly.

He said Lukhakhayi and Vukaphi had participated fully in the murder, stabbing Wang multiple times.

“You brought to an end the life of an innocent woman who did you no wrong. This woman was subjected to a particularly vicious attack and I can find no substantial and compelling circumstances in this case that allows the court to deviate from the prescribed life sentence,” said Judge Vahed.

Shoulong said that he was satisfied with the life sentences, only because this was the maximum punishment allowed by South African law.

The Chinese business community in Umzimkhulu also expressed shock and anger at Wang’s murder.

Miao Tian, a business owner in the area who moved to South Africa 19 years ago, said she did not believe the prison terms were sufficient for Wang’s killers.

“In China, the death penalty is still practised. This would be justice for such a brutal murder,” Tian said.

She said the Chinese business community in South Africa was huge, and that relations with South Africans were generally very good.

Tian said, however, that crime was always a huge concern.

“We are easy targets, but we provide the community with a service and provide jobs,” she said. “We just want to live in peace and earn a living, like everybody else.”

Daily News

Durban - Shipping cattle by sea was “cruel and inhumane”, the National Council of the SPCA said on Wednesday in an application for an urgent interdict to stop 2 000 animals being loaded on a ship bound for Mauritius.

Durban - Shipping cattle by sea was “cruel and inhumane”, the National Council of the SPCA said on Wednesday in an application for an urgent interdict to stop 2 000 animals being loaded on a ship bound for Mauritius.

It would be more humane to slaughter the cattle in South Africa and export the meat, the NSPCA said in its bid in the Eastern Cape High Court.

The eight respondents include the agriculture minister; the registrar of animal improvement for the Department of Agriculture; the Eastern Cape agriculture MEC; and John Page, trustee of Page Farming Trust.

The ship, MV Barkley Pearl, was due to dock in East London on Thursday to load cattle from the Page Farming Trust, just outside the city, before heading for Port Louis.

The NSPCA made the application after learning that the trust had allegedly not applied for a permit to export cattle.

The trust had informed the NSPCA in April that it intended to transport cattle on the Barkley Pearl “sometime in August”, and asked it to voice any legitimate concerns to avoid a last-minute interdict.

The NSPCA replied by labelling the shipment “cruel and inhumane” and suggested an alternative of slaughtering the cattle here then exporting the meat.

It said it had tried to establish when the cattle would be loaded and had been “met by a wall of silence”.

It brought the urgent application when it learnt the ship would arrive today.

The matter was heard on Wednesday and adjourned to Thursday after the trust indicated its intention to oppose the application and said it needed time to file responding papers.

In court papers Grace de Lange, a senior NSPCA inspector, said she had observed the loading of more than 2 000 cattle from the Page Farming Trust on to the Barkley Pearl last year.

The Marshall Islands-registered ship, which has been converted and designed specifically for transporting live animals by sea, is 92m long and 16m wide. It has six decks where the cattle are housed.

The ship was at sea for 10 days and Lange said she flew to Mauritius to observe how the cattle were offloaded.

“It took them almost 16 hours to offload all the cattle. For the cattle (that survived) the entire ordeal lasted more than 13 days,” Lange said in her affidavit.

She described how the cattle in the lower decks suffered the most because of the build-up of faeces and urine, making it slippery. The ammonia meant many of them were unable to breathe properly and were extremely weak.

She also described the “incredible cruelty meted out by the Mauritian handlers who used prodders on the testicles of the bulls”.

Lange said the cattle were beaten unnecessarily with planks, some of them had their tails twisted and others were kicked in the face.

She had seen a bull that was left on the ship because it was too weak to move, she said.

“Its eyes were protruding out of its head and it was completely overcome with panic.”

Before she could reach the bull, she said it was killed.

Marcelle Meredith, the national executive director of the NSPCA’s board, said in her affidavit that New Zealand was the latest in a long list of countries opposed to transporting live animals by sea.

“It must be appreciated that animals like cattle are land animals,” Meredeith said.

“They are not used to being on the sea and are absolutely terrified. The 10 to 13 days they spend on a ship from South Africa to Mauritius is the most traumatic for them.”

She said the phenomenon of eyes popping out of an animal’s head was a consequence of incredible anxiety and trauma they experienced.

“It is deeply concerning to the NSPCA that animals are expected to endure high levels of cruelty and suffering at the hands of exporters and those who export them,” she said.

“It would make a mockery of our statutory law if this court were to permit a practice as horrific as the one that the Page Farming Trust are about to subject the cattle to.

“We have seen how animals collapse because they are not properly fed and watered and also because they do not properly sleep on board these ships.

“We have seen how collapsed animals often get trampled by other animals and how they suffer agonising injuries, including broken legs, which are simply never treated.

“Many of them ultimately die a slow and extremely painful death.”

Yusuf Patel, the secretary-general of the United Ulama Council of SA, provided an affidavit endorsing the NSPCA’s recommendation that it would be more humane for animals to be slaughtered in South Africa before exporting the meat.

Last year the NSPCA obtained a warrant under the Animals Protection Act to prevent Page Farming Trust from sending another consignment of animals to Mauritius. However, Meredith said the trust then went to the high court and overturned the order.

noelene.barbeau@inl.co.za

Daily News

There was no evidence that heat exposure caused the deaths of two men after a KZN Road Traffic Inspectorate fitness test, an inquiry heard.

Pietermaritzburg - There was no evidence that heat exposure caused the deaths of two men after a KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) fitness test, an inquiry in Pietermaritzburg heard on Thursday.

This was the evidence of forensic medical examiner Dr Kamelia Mancheva on the deaths of Wanda Philani Nkosi and Lindokuhle Kunene.

She said she found no specific cause of death when she conducted the post mortems on the men after they took part in the RTI fitness test. Mancheva conducted three post mortems.

The commission is probing the deaths of eight people who died after participating in a fitness test for RTI job applicants in Pietermaritzburg in December. The victims took part in a four-kilometre run at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

More than 35 000 people qualified to apply for 90 advertised RTI trainee posts. Of these 15 600 attended a fitness test on December 27, and a similar number on December 28.

Mancheva said she found fatty changes in Kunene's liver, which could be associated with heat exposure. She told the inquiry there were other causes of fatty changes in the liver, such as alcohol abuse and antiretroviral treatment.

Ravenda Padayachee, for the provincial transport department, said Kunene's friend made a statement saying they drank alcohol regularly on weekends. According to the statement Kunene was a big person.

Padayachee asked Mancheva if it was possible for the fatty changes and hardened liver to be caused by Kunene being a heavy drinker. She said it was most likely.

Mancheva did not conduct a microscopic examination on Kunene which would have enabled her to assess changes in organs associated with heat stroke. She said she was not experienced in handling cases of heat stroke as she was still studying the subject.

Retired chief forensic pathologist Jan Botha criticised the post mortems done on the participants who died after the fitness test.

“Autopsies on heat-related deaths are complex, the unavailability of the toxicology results is regrettable.”

Botha said the autopsy results had information missing and described them as sketchy. He said the post mortems should have been conducted by a specialist.

“A person with significant skill in microscopic work should have examined the organs,” Botha said.

He said the clinical notes from the hospitals were difficult to assess because the copies were not clear and the handwriting was difficult to read.

The inquiry continues.

Sapa

Pics of murder accused Hector Britts posing with a gun have gone viral, much to the dismay of his alleged victims family.

Durban - Murder accused Hector Britts smiles and poses with what appear to be firearms in a series of photographs that have gone viral on social media networks.

The photographs have sparked outrage from his family and the family of his alleged victim, Craigh Botha.

Some of the pictures showed Britts, “gun” in hand, posing with young women.

Botha’s brother, Andrew, said on Thursday that he was angry and disappointed.

“I am worried for those girls,” he added.

The photographs had been handed over to police, public prosecutor Blackie Swart and to private investigator Brad Nathanson.

Britts, 33, stands accused of shooting Botha, 38, at the Rocca Bar nightclub in Durban earlier this month.

He handed himself over to police in the days after the shooting, while Botha was fighting for his life in hospital, and was originally to be charged with attempted murder.

This was changed to murder after Botha died of organ failure a few days later.

Britts was working as the club’s “security manager” on the night of the shooting, when Botha was a patron.

Investigating officer Selvan Naidoo said in an affidavit that has been brought before the court that he interviewed Botha in hospital before he died.

“It was confirmed that Mr Hector Britts had shot Mr Botha,” the affidavit reads.

But, in his own affidavit, Britts says Botha attacked him and that he was still reeling in shock when “somebody shot the deceased”.

He has said that he does not own a gun, and does not know who shot Botha.

Britts appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court this week when, despite the State’s opposition, he was released on bail of R10 000.

One of the pictures shows Britts in a suit and tie, surrounded by other men dressed similarly, and brandishing what appear to be guns in both hands.

“That was taken off my Facebook page and I don’t appreciate that,” the accused’s wife, Lauren, the mother of three of his children, said on Thursday.

That photograph had been taken on the couple’s wedding day and the “guns” were toys and part of the theme, she said.

“They belonged to our son.”

The other pictures were taken at a themed party at Rocca Bar.

“They host lots of those parties,” said Lauren, “That’s actually a cigarette lighter in his hand.”

Britts is scheduled to come before a magistrate again next month.

The Mercury

Suspended uShaka boss Shawn Thompson was arrested by the Durban commercial crime unit and charged with corruption.

Durban - Suspended uShaka Marine World chief executive Shawn Thompson is preparing for a fight to clear his name. He said on Thursday that he had made a full financial disclosure in the 2010 financial year statements to uShaka’s board of directors and it was “shocking” and “strange” that charges had resurfaced now.

Thompson, 47, was arrested by the Durban commercial crime unit on Tuesday afternoon and charged with corruption. He is out on R5 000 bail and is due back in court in September.

He is accused of abusing his position as chief executive in that, in 2009, he submitted invoices for and authorised payments of R13 172 from uShaka Marine World to Villa Coco Guest House - a Durban North establishment owned by Thompson and/or his wife, Jackie - for the accommodation of three guests.

He is also accused of not following the correct procedures in procuring the accommodation for the guests.

On Thursday, in a statement to The Mercury, Thompson said: “The events that have unfolded over the past two days have caused a lot of anxiety for my family as well for as myself.”

Thompson said he was “disappointed” about the way in which events had unfolded.

“I intend doing all in my power to get to the bottom of this and to clear my name. Further details around the charges are being awaited and the alleged transgression that has apparently led to this unfortunate situation...”

He believes that his track record at uShaka over the past few years speaks for itself.

“I am still extremely proud of the fact that Auditor-General, Terence Nombembe commended uShaka Marine World for having the cleanest audit in the city for the past financial year,” he said.

City manager S’bu Sithole on Thursday distanced himself from the decision to suspend Thompson.

“He has not been suspended by us… He does not report directly to us but to the board of directors which is entrusted with corporate governance of the whole of uShaka Marine,” he said.

He was shocked by the arrest, and said he would look into the merits of the case and find out “what really happened” and then exercise his judgement on a way forward.

“The criminal charges have a different process altogether. We also have processes internally. What are the implications? Do we process disciplinary processes or not? We don’t know at this stage whether he is being rightfully charged or not,” he said.

Jacob Henry de Villiers Botha, the director of uShaka’s board, revealed on Thursday that uShaka chief financial officer Prakash van den Berg had been appointed to act in Thompson’s absence.

According to her Facebook profile, Van den Berg has previously worked as a chartered accountant for the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants in Joburg and for Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World.

Her profile states that she has worked as chief financial officer for uShaka from October 6, 2003 to date.

De Villiers Botha said the board was busy with its own investigation and a press conference would be held next week.

It would be business as usual for the uShaka complex.

The Mercury