A detective told the Cape High Court on Thursday that he became suspicious of murder accused Najwa Petersen after hearing her sobbing account on the night of her husband’s Taliep’s death. The officer was the second witness called in the trial of Petersen and the three men she allegedly hired to carry out the execution-style shooting.
The African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday called on the Competition Commission to intensify its investigations into the causes of high food prices. A spokesperson said all stakeholders in food prices should convene an urgent meeting to discuss ways of minimising the effect of high food prices on the poor.
The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa reserved judgement on Thursday in the hearing of a complaint against the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s broadcast of a ”hate song” by hip-hop artist Zubz, said the Freedom Front Plus, which had laid a complaint about the song in February.
Gunmen have attacked police from the African Union and United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur for the first time, injuring one officer by beating him with a rifle butt, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday. The unarmed police were stopped at gunpoint as they returned from a routine patrol.
South Africa’s touring team has sought security assurances from the Indian cricket board following reports that militants plan to target the third Test match starting on Friday in the northern city of Kanpur. South Africa team manager Logan Naidoo had written to the board expressing concerns over the players’ security.
Rembrandt and Rubens may be turning in their graves. The latest show at the venerable Louvre sees blood, bones and beetles cohabiting with the grand masters of the Dutch, Flemish and German schools. France’s biggest museum has invited a contemporary artist to show works ”in counterpoint” with those of the old masters.
United States air strikes killed 10 people in the eastern Baghdad militia stronghold of Sadr City, Iraqi police said on Thursday, but street fighting eased after four days of clashes that have killed close to 90 people. The Sadr City slum has since Sunday been the focal point of battles between black-masked Mehdi Army militiamen and security forces.
It is possible that the crime-fighting Scorpions may not be incorporated into the South African Police Service by June, African National Congress national executive committee Siphiwe Nyanda said on Thursday. He was speaking at a seminar hosted by the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria.
The Eastern Cape health department will not recognise nurses trained at illegal nursing schools because the schools do not train quality nurses, the department said on Thursday. Departmental spokesperson Siyanda Manana said such institutions are not accredited by the South African Nursing Council.
A security guard accused of murdering Pretoria dancer Estée van Rensburg appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, wearing shackles around his ankles. State prosecutor Lucas Choma told the court the investigation against Aaron Mashishi (25) was almost complete.