South Africa

A classified advertisement for an ”adult stunner” precipitated an alleged assault by former bouncer Gary Beuthin, the Randburg Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday. Three stand accused of attempted murder, armed robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and possession of firearms and ammunition.

Convicted serial rapist Mongezi Jinxela claimed during testimony in mitigation of sentence on Wednesday that women misled men and then cried rape to the courts. Johannesburg High Court Judge George Maluleka found Jinxela guilty last Thursday of raping 60 women. Altogether he was found guilty on 219 charges of rape, kidnapping, robbery and assault.

More than a thousand people and 70 officials were arrested during a drive to root out driver-licence fraud and corruption, the Department of Transport said on Wednesday. ”About 2 790 drivers’ licences were also cancelled during the ongoing joint operation,” said spokesperson Collen Msibi.

Charges of theft against South African singing sensation Mandoza were withdrawn in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Mandoza (29), whose real name is Mduduzi Tshabalala, and his wife, Mpho Tshabalala (27), were accused of theft under false pretences.

South Africa’s acting chief prosecutor is seeking an urgent meeting with the country’s justice minister over the possible arrest of police chief Jackie Selebi, a media report said on Wednesday. South Africa’s opposition has called repeatedly for Selebi to be sacked over the country’s high crime rates and his links to convicted drug dealer Glenn Agliotti.

In the five days that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) takes to elect a leader and approve major policies, more than 600 women and children in South Africa are likely to be raped and 240 others murdered. About 3 000 houses could be burgled and 2 500 robberies carried out in a country described as one of the most violent outside a war zone.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Wednesday that police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi had not been arrested as rumoured. ”Where we are now and as we speak, there is no arrest by the Scorpions of the police commissioner today [Wednesday],” said NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) on Tuesday refused to endorse Thabo Mbeki or Jacob Zuma for leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), but hinted it would be more comfortable with Zuma at the helm. The TAC said it hoped the winner would usher in ”serious change”.

Angry commuters set fire to two trains in Pretoria after severe storms disrupted rail services. Train services in Pretoria were brought to a standstill after the signalling system broke down and a back-up system was struck by lightning, rail operator Metrorail said.

Cape Town firefighters have brought under control a fire that broke out in an industrial building in Salt River early on Tuesday. Johan Minnie of the city’s disaster management said the fire, which started in the building before spreading to a nearby train station, had finally been contained by late afternoon.

The African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday laid down some house rules aimed at preventing factionalism ahead of its national conference, at which its new leadership structure is to be elected. The warning comes after heated debate over whether President Thabo Mbeki should continue for another term, or whether party deputy Jacob Zuma should succeed him.

A crack police team killed 11 would-be robbers and wounded one when it thwarted a cash-in-transit heist on the R101 near the Carousel casino in Limpopo on Tuesday. National police spokesperson Director Phuti Setati said members of the task force had received a tip-off that the men were going to rob a Coin security van at about 11.40am.

”Sexist” remarks made by Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi about women’s equity were misunderstood, the trade-union federation said on Tuesday. ”It was for some reason interpreted as an attack on women and this we totally reject,” said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has chosen not to take sides in the battle for the African National Congress (ANC) leadership between the President Thabo Mbeki or party deputy president Jacob Zuma. ”We will seek to work with whoever is democratically elected,” said TAC secretary Mark Heywood on Tuesday.