Durban

One of the men who allegedly killed historian David Rattray is also under investigation for raping two young teenagers at gunpoint and armed robbery, the media reported on Wednesday. This emerged on Tuesday in the Dundee Magistrate’s Court during the bail application of Simphiwe Ndlovu (25).

A twin boy and girl burnt to death in a blaze that gutted their home in Sea View, Durban, on Monday afternoon, emergency services said. Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said the seven-year-old siblings had tried to escape, but could not because of burglar bars. Paramedics declared them dead on scene.

AmaZulu put together their best performance to beat Silver Stars 1-0 at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Last Wednesday AmaZulu fired a number of experienced players including international goalkeeper Komoka Camara (from Guinea) and captain Siphiwe Sgwili because of ill discipline.

A Durban ward councillor was gunned down on Friday afternoon as he arrived at a house he was apparently selling in the Merebank suburb, paramedics said. Rajah Naidoo, the councillor for ward 68 in the eThekwini municipality, died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour on Thursday ordered that convicted Durban businessman and fraud convict Schabir Shaik be immediately removed from St Augustine’s Hospital in Durban and sent to Westville Prison. Balfour made the decision after viewing medical reports on Shaik’s condition. Shaik has been in Durban’s St Augustine’s Hospital for the past 83 days.

African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma on Monday filed papers in the Durban High Court opposing the National Prosecuting Authority’s request to have documents released from Mauritius for use as evidence in his trial. The documents pertain to an alleged meeting between Zuma, businessman Schabir Shaik and Alain Thetard of French arms company Thint.

The ongoing dispute over which consortium should build Durban’s 2010 Soccer World Cup stadium was adjourned until April 2 by the Durban High Court on Monday. A consortium led by Group 5 has been named as the preferred bidder, but has yet to sign a contract with the eThekwini municipality.

Durban’s mayor, Obed Mlaba, on Monday rejected weekend media reports that a National Intelligence Agency (NIA) security check of his office was linked to succession battles within the African National Congress. ”These people [the media] must come up with something to sell newspapers,” he said.

At least 22 Durban factory workers had to be taken to hospital with respiratory problems on Monday morning, paramedics said. Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said 18 of them were from the Beacon Sweets factory in the Jacobs industrial area, while the other four were from a nearby shoe factory.

The Sharks register a second successive home victory in the Super 14 rugby championship at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Friday night as they beat the Waratahs 22-9. They landed four penalty goals and a drop goal to three penalty goals before scoring a try three minutes from the end.

The state’s attempts to use the Durban High Court to obtain documentation from Mauritius amount to an abuse of process, the court learned on Friday. Any attempt to obtain documentation from Mauritius would have to be determined by a criminal court, Thint’s chief executive said in papers before the court.

More than 50 schoolchildren were on Thursday evacuated to various hospitals suffering severe skin irritation, paramedics and health authorities said. Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said evacuation of the children from Alipore Primary School in Durban’s Merebank suburb followed a similar incident on Wednesday when 36 children from the school were taken to hospital.

Axed deputy president Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thint are expected to go to battle with the National Prosecuting Authority on Friday over the release of documents from Mauritius. The documents pertain to meetings between Zuma, his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik and Thint.

Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour has ordered a medical specialist to ascertain whether convicted businessman Schabir Shaik’s stay at a Durban hospital is absolutely necessary, media reports said on Tuesday. The media speculated last month that Shaik had spent more than R500 000 on his hospital stay.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to issue a statement concerning possible action against Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, Cricket South Africa media manager Gordon Templeton said on Tuesday. Afridi is alleged to have swung his bat at a spectator after he had been dismissed for 17 against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday.

A Durban metro policeman riding a motorcycle was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident after he was allegedly forced off the road by a minibus taxi on Monday. A spokesperson for ER24, the national medical-care network, said the policeman had lost a foot.

Lamontville Golden Arrows walloped Bidvest Wits 3-1 in a Castle Premiership game played at the Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday. Abafana Besithende led 1-0 at halftime. Arrows striker Mabhuti Khanyeza scored twice in the 39th and 83rd minutes.

Two tries by wing JP Pietersen gave the Durban Sharks a 17-3 victory over the Bulls of Pretoria in an error-strewn Super 14 match on Saturday. Pietersen scored once in each half in a game dominated by good defence and indifferent attack. The Sharks led 7-3 at halftime and the issue stayed in the balance until Pietersen wrapped up the match with five minutes remaining.

A poor crowd on Sunday saw AmaZulu play out a 1-1 draw against SuperSport United in a Premier Soccer League game at the Princess Magogo Stadium. AmaZulu were in a 1-0 lead at the interval. Bennet Mnguni, the former Sundowns midfielder, and ex-Kaizer Chiefs player Lucky Mzizi made their debuts for AmaZulu.

The 2-0 defeat of Lamontville Golden Arrows by Ajax Cape Town in their Premier Soccer League encounter on Wednesday at Chatsworth Stadium has not dampened the team spirit. In fact, it has steered them to reinforce the squad if they are to avoid relegation at the end of the season.

The student representative council of the Durban University of Technology on Monday called off its boycott plans after the institution’s management agreed to meet several of its demands over results, fees and security. SRC president Thami Shezi had initially urged nearly 1 500 students not to register.