Missing women died in crash

Kimberley - While the two young Galeshewe women, who were reported missing two weeks ago have been identified at the state mortuary after they were involved in a fatal crash, their families have been left with more questions than answers.

Both families indicated that after Nosipho Precious Mahamba, 20, and Sibongile Leonard, 25, left home on the morning of October 3, they had been unable to contact them as their cellphones were switched off. Their phones have not been retrieved yet.

The deceased were only identified this week at the state mortuary in Kimberley after they were killed in a horrific accident on the same day that they went missing.

The accident happened on the N12 road near Windsorton at about 7.30pm.

No one has been able to establish their intended destination, as all six occupants were killed when the Opel Corsa bakkie they were travelling in collided with a truck.

Some residents in the area where the women lived, fear that they might have been the victims of human trafficking.

The residents said that they were becoming increasingly afraid that young girls were being lured away from their homes, drugged and forced to work as prostitutes.

They believed that the two young women were being taken to Johannesburg at the time of the accident.

Police spokesperson, Captain Bashoabile Kale, said that the police had identified three of the occupants of the bakkie as being from Taung and Pudimoe.

“All the occupants in the vehicle were locally based. The police were initially trying to identify the remaining deceased as residing in the Taung district and did not realise that they were the missing young women from Kimberley,” said Kale.

He added that the police had managed to trace that the car was last serviced by a mechanic in Galeshewe, which resulted in the investigating officer identifying the two young women as being Kimberley residents.

“One of the deceased, who was never reported as missing, is also from Kimberley. The missing persons file will be closed although the culpable homicide investigation will continue.”

Kale stated that the police had searched for the missing women after members of the public reported seeing them at the Boland flats in the Kimberley CBD.

“We checked the closed-circuit television cameras both inside and outside the flats. A Nigerian national living at the flats was called in for questioning, although it was a case of mistaken identity. It could not be proven that the women had left Amakhuzeni Street in a black Volkswagen Golf or that they had left in the company of a Nigerian national,” said Kale.

Hawks spokesperson, Captain Philani Nkwalase, stated that they had not been approached to investigate possible human trafficking relating to the incident.

Girl,aged 15 traumatised after wrongful arrest for robbery

A Lavender Hill family is demanding an apology from Steenberg police, saying cops wrongfully arrested their teen daughter and treated her like a gangster.
The girl’s grandmother says police made a big mistake after accusing the 15-year-old of a robbery.

She says the girl has been left shocked and traumatised after being picked up by cops and handcuffed to a holding cell.

The teen, who asked not to be named, says the drama unfolded at De Villiers Court on Tuesday, 10 October 2017, while she was outside with her friends.

“We were standing on the corner and there was a whole commotion down the road. There was a whole fighting thing so we went to buy Paaper and when we came back everything was finished,” she explains.

“Then we went to stand on the corner again and then the police came and picked up two guys."

“Then they came back and picked me up and told me I am going to Pollsmoor because I was involved in a robbery, so I asked them what robbery and they said at the robot.”

The girl says she was taken to Steenberg Police Station and handcuffed to the holding cell while one of the men allegedly involved in the robbery was put inside the cell.

Her family says the man is a well-known member of the Mongrels gang in the area.

The girl’s family says they were informed by residents of what had happened and rushed to the police station.

The teen was released and given a notice to appear in Wynberg Magistrates’ Court two days later and was informed that the victims of the robbery claimed she was involved.

The family says after the girl explained her story to the juvenile court, she was released and told there would be no charges.

Sergeant Angeline Grill confirms the girl’s arrest and says: “It was alleged that the minor was involved in said crime where the property of two victims were stolen. The alleged suspect was pointed out by the complainant. The minor was released into the care of her parents for an assessment by Wynberg Probation Office.”

Her grandmother says despite being released, the girl has been traumatised and has become withdrawn.

“They have made a moerse mistake. We are going to lodge a complaint. What proof do they have that she was involved?” she says.

“We are not going to leave it like this until they admit they wrongfully arrested her. She had to go write exams like that and she was humiliated and traumatised.”

Traumatised Spur 'racial abuse victim' admitted to hospital

The man man allegedly racially abused outside the Gordon’s Bay Spur has been admitted to hospital for more than a week, saying the event caused him psychological damage.

Xolani Loliwe, 28, said he was traumatised and did not feel safe any more.

Loliwe has lodged a counter-complaint with the Gordon’s Bay police against the 60-year-old man implicated in the fracas over a parking space two weeks ago.

He also laid a complaint against the Spur restaurant manager, who Loliwe claims denied him entry into the restaurant following the fight in the parking lot, after he approached the manager for assistance.

Loliwe told the Cape Times he was receiving psychological treatment in hospital.

He said he was disturbed by the fact that the man he says abused him had laid a complaint with the police despite his not having given the man his personal details.

“After that I began feeling unsafe and feared that somehow this man was following me, or when cars drove past me I felt unease,” Loliwe said.

“Before I came to hospital I fainted and soiled myself, and I knew I had to get help.”

The owner of the Gordon’s Bay Spur has repeatedly declined to comment.

First a denial, but Lansdowne cops in trouble after suspect 'escapes'

Cape Town - A disciplinary process is under way at the Lansdowne police station after a robbery suspect “escaped” from a holding cell last Sunday.

This was after the Cape Times reported on Roscoe Topley’s home burglary in Lansdowne last week - and repeated denials and obfuscation by the police.

In the incident the suspect made off with various personal items, including the family’s spare house keys.

Police told the Cape Times the suspect was in custody at Lansdowne police station, but repeated follow-up questions revealed yesterday that he had in fact escaped a week ago.

It is understood they called an urgent meeting with the family last Monday, following questions from the Cape Times.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said the matter was being investigated.

“An incident occurred on October 3 at about 6.30am, and a housebreaking and theft case was only registered on October 8 by the complainant. A suspect was taken in for questioning on Sunday and kept in a holding cell.

“Later it was discovered that the suspect was no longer in the holding cell, which is being investigated. Disciplinary steps are under way against members of the station in this regard,” Van Wyk said.

The case of housebreaking and theft continued to be investigated, and the suspect was still being sought, he added.

Before confirming the disciplinary process on Thursday, Van Wyk said: “New information regarding your enquiry has come to the attention of this office and the matter is receiving our further attention. This office will communicate with you in due course.”

The police’s initial response to the enquiry said there was no escape from Lansdowne police station’s holding cells.

“There was no escape yesterday or over the weekend at that station,” Van Wyk said.

But Topley said he conducted his own investigation, because he “lost confidence in police”, and shortly after the burglary, he had spotted the suspect in the parking lot of a local shopping centre.

The suspect was wearing an entire outfit of Topley’s which was stolen from his home on that day.

“I went to the local shop when I saw a man standing in my clothes. He had on a full outfit that was mine.

“I went to the police station with all the information I had gathered and they came out to arrest the guy.

“At the police station they searched through the suspect’s bag and in it were various other items belonging to my family, including our extra set of house keys.

“Police took his details and it was found that he gave a false name and address to police.

“We went to the address and then returned to the police station. When we got there, I was told the suspect had just escaped from the holding cells,” Topley previously said.

Community policing forum chairperson Rafique Foflonker said: “The disciplinary process is necessary. 

"But it must also be noted that there are very good and seasoned officers out there who go the extra mile for the community.

“The discplinary procedure must be adhered to. Also, the Lansdowne police station is not purpose-built as a police station; it is office space rented as a police station, and this is a concern as well.”

Girl stabbed at Hanover Park school by former pupil

Police are on the hunt for a former pupil at Crystal High School, Hanover Park, after he stabbed a girl on the school grounds yesterday.

The incident happened in full view of other pupils and residents, school principal Dino Abrahams said.

“It happened before school. The pupil was taken to the day hospital just after it happened,” he said.

It is believed the girl was stabbed by a man in an alleged gang-related incident.

“We know the man who stabbed the victim, he is an ex-pupil and the information has been shared with police.

Equal Education spokesperson Nishal Robb said: “Equal Education has consistently maintained that there is a school safety crisis in the Western Cape, and that far more needs to be done by the provincial government and by the SAPS to keep learners and teachers safe in school and on the way to school.

“On top of having to teach traumatised learners in already under-resourced and overcrowded classrooms, teachers and principals also have to act as police officers, security guards, detectives, counsellors, and therapists. 

"In this context, it makes complete sense that teachers feel abandoned and exploited by their employer, the WCED, and by the government in general.”

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said SAPS reacted to the incident yesterday morning.

“The Philippi SAPS was summoned to a high school. It was brought to the attention of police that a learner was stabbed in an incident at the school. The learner who is a minor was already taken by her parents for medical treatment."

He said police had a talk with pupils addressing issues on gangs, bullying and drug abuse. “No complaint has been lodged by the victim’s parents yet and the state of injuries are unknown. No arrest was made."

#DurbanStorm - at least 8 dead

Durban - Violent storms - and the strong wind, rain and hail they brought with them - left a trail of devastation in Durban and parts of the province on Tuesday.

At least eight people were killed and a child has gone missing.

The southern regions were among the worst affected.

Robert McKenzie said a 12-year-old boy died after he was swept away in a stream in Izingolweni, inland from Port Shepstone, and confirmed he was aware of at least four deaths.

Police Search and Rescue units were at the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, in Umlazi, where two people were killed during a wall collapse.

They were also in Old Main Road, in Isipingo, where one person was killed when the vehicle he was in became flooded.

In the Durban CBD, they attended the scene where a toilet wall collapsed, leaving one person dead.

Several private ambulance services raced to Rotterdam Road, in the Bayhead area, where a former police officer was crushed to death when a container fell on his car.

Rescue Care’s Garrith Jamieson said another man was rushed to hospital after a lengthy extrication.

Netcare 911’s Nick Dollman said reports from that scene indicated a 40-foot container - which was stacked on top of other containers - was blown over.

“Paramedics attended to the two occupants of the car. The first man, who was approximately 30 years old, had sustained relatively minor injuries but was trapped inside the car when the roof collapsed,” Dollman said. “He was in a stable condition and was transported by ambulance to hospital for further assessment and care.”

He confirmed that the other man, believed to be in his 40s, had sustained severe injuries and died at the scene.

“To access the victims, the container first had to be removed and then fire fighters and rescue personnel used the Jaws of Life,” Dollman said.

Read more: One dead after container lands on car

The Department for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs’s (Cogta’s) spokesperson, Lennox Mabaso, confirmed two deaths in Nquthu, northern KZN.

“In ward 8, Mbewunye, an 8-year-old girl was struck by lightning and in ward 2, KwaMngxangala area, a 46-year-old male drowned while trying to cross a river,” Mabaso said.

IPSS Medical Rescue’s Paul Herbst said a little girl was missing yesterday afternoon.

This after she was washed away by raging floodwaters near the creche she was at, in Umlazi.

“A creche lying close to a nearby river flooded. The teacher from the creche managed to grab three of the children. Unfortunately a fourth child got swept down to the river in the floods," he said.

IPSS, together with ER24, conducted a search down river but could not locate the girl.

Also read: #DurbanStorm Three vessels grounded in Port of Durban

Several others were rescued yesterday.

Jamieson said in Kingsway Road, in eManzimtoti, a family became stuck inside their below-road-level house, when it was flooded.

“Paramedics and SAPS entered the house and assisted a 14-year-old boy and an elderly lady to safety,” Jamieson said.

On the M7, before Sarnia Road, several vehicles were submerged under deep water.

Jamieson said paramedics Ceron Jacobs and Ian Wessels, along with firefighter Justin Bateman, bravely dived into the water and pulled three people out from a bus.

The National Sea Rescue Institute’s Craig Lambinon said during operations in Montclair and Isipingo, a baby was rescued from a flooded home.

The acting MEC of Cogta, Weziwe Thusi, yesterday activated and dispatched disaster management teams to respond to the situation on the ground.

“Teams are providing emergency relief led by mayors, councillors, amakhosi, izinduna, ward councilors and community development workers,” Mabaso said.
He said the MEC had also activated joint operations centres in all affected municipalities.

“The department is warning that the extreme levels of rainfall will be followed by a cold front which is expected to reach KZN by the weekend. Disaster management teams will continue to provide emergency assistance as long as necessary,” Mabaso added.

The Department of Education, meanwhile, has advised parents to liaise with their children’s schools on whether or not they should send them to school today.

Several schools had to suspend teaching yesterday and the department was last night still trying to establish the exact number of schools that had been affected.

But some have already reported water damage to classrooms‚ fallen trees and broken fences, and roof damages.

Spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said his offices had advised schools to assess their individual situations and decide on whether or not to hold classes today.

The eThekwini municipality is expected to hold a press conference today to brief media on the impact of the storm and its relief efforts.

#DurbanStorm: Ethekwini Municipality urges people to stay indoors

Durban - As weather conditions continue to deteriorate and reports of infrastructure destruction emerge the eThekwini Municipality has urged its residents to stay indoors during the storm.

It comes as cars images shared on social media showed cars being submerged in flood water on the N2 freeway in Durban. There were also reports of trees being knocked down by the high-speed winds. Roofs on several homes across the city were also blown off and homes were flooded.

“Due to the inclement weather conditions currently being experienced in Durban, all residents are urged to stay indoors until the storm passes,” said Tozi Mthethwa, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson.

“Residents are also cautioned against driving or walking anywhere for the duration of the storm. All roads in the southern parts of Durban have been closed,” Mthethwa said.

Mthethwa said currently, the wind is measured at 70 kilometers per hour and it is extremely dangerous.

“Our Disaster Management Call Centre is currently experiencing high call volumes. Residents are requested to please only call the Disaster Management Call Centre for emergencies on 031 361 0000.”

'was afraid'Man who stabbed girlfriend 45 times

 A Galeshewe man, who claims he was afraid of his girlfriend, has pleaded guilty to murder after he stabbed her 45 times with a knife.

Ismael Molupi is facing a possible sentence of 15 years behind bars after he admitted in the Northern Cape High Court on Monday to killing his girlfriend, Nomalizo Nyenye.

Molupi stabbed Nyenye, who is believed to have been a traditional healer, 45 times with a knife at her home at Dingaan Hostel on May 10 this year.

In his plea statement, Molupi said that the incident happened after they had an argument.

“I went to Nyenye’s house on the morning of the incident, at approximately 7am. We sat on the bed and talked. At around 9am, I went to buy some food for us at a nearby shop. When I returned we continued to sit on the bed and ate the food. We continued talking but an argument erupted between us.”

According to Molupi, Nyenye indicated that she resented him for being unemployed and the fact that she had to support him.

“She also said that she resented me because she had to drink a substance, about three weeks before, in order to abort her foetus as she was pregnant with my child,” Molupi said.

He went on to say that things got out of hand after Nyenye threatened him.

“I told her that I would take my things and leave. I went to put my clothes in a bag and wanted to leave. She then told me that she would do the same to me as she did to Neo and CCV. I did not know who those people were or what she had done to them, but the manner in which she made the remark made me afraid.”

Molupi said that Nyenye was a traditional healer and that he had seen how she changed the behaviour of those who consulted her. “She was also in possession of a human figure made from dough, with eyes that were sprinkled with red pepper and needles stuck in its body.

“At that stage I was afraid of the deceased,” said Molupi. “I went to the kitchen, which was next to the bedroom, and took out an Okapi knife. I headed back to the bedroom and stabbed her. I am not sure how many stab wounds I inflicted on her,”

He admitted that he had direct intent to kill Nyenye and stated that he regretted his action.

Nyenye died of a loss of blood due to the multiple stab wounds that she suffered.

Molupi, who has no previous convictions, will return to the stand on Tuesday to give testimony regarding mitigating circumstances on the charge against him.

The State indicated that Nyenye was found in a pool of blood by one of her neighbours.

According to the State, Molupi was seen to be in possession of a knife by his friends.

The State said that other witnesses had seen Molupi going into Nyenye’s home on the morning of the incident with a bag and noticed that he had changed his clothes. A bag containing clothes which appeared to have blood stains on them was found later that afternoon at Molupi’s sister’s house.

'Lion Mama' walks free after fatal stabbing

An Eastern Cape mother who admitted to stabbing her daughter's alleged rapists, killing one man and injuring two others, left the Lady Frere Magistrate's Court a hero and a free woman after the National Prosecuting Authority opted not to press charges against her.

The 56-year-old mother stabbed the alleged rapists on September 2 at an unoccupied house in the Qumbu administrative area in Zwartwater near Komani.

She was arrested and released on R500 bail facing murder and attempted murder charges.

She cannot be named in order to protect the identity of her 27-year-old daughter.

Prosecutor Fikile Seti told magistrate Bala Mhlangu the director of public prosecutions had told him to withdraw charges against the woman, referred to as the "Lion Mama".

Seti did not give reasons for the decision.

Those in the packed court room rejoiced.

Addressing hundreds of her supporters outside court, the mother said she was overwhelmed by the support.

"I felt like an old baboon that has no friends, but today you showed me I have people and that I was not alone. Thank you.

"I am happy that the charges are withdrawn against me and I thought I was going to jail, but God was on my side."

She said when she stepped into the dock, she never thought charges would be withdrawn. "I was afraid but with the support of the people outside the court and those who filled the court, I was strong," she said.

Since the Lion Mama's story spread, South Africans rallied behind her to pledge financial and emotional support.

Cape Town resident Natalie Kendrick set up a generosity page which helped crowdfund over R133,000 which was meant to help with her legal fees.

Her attorney Buhle Tonise said the money raised for the woman would be used for her wellbeing.

"She still needs to go for trauma counselling for her and her daughter. We have transferred the money that was paid to us to her for her wellbeing," Tonise said.

"She said she wants a fence and another room for her daughter. She also asked for assistance with managing her money as she has never had that amount of money. She wants assistance on how to save the money."

The two men whom the woman stabbed remain in police custody and are facing charges of rape.

Accused chased from court and killed as guards watch

Cape Town - The public screamed in horror as an accused was chased from the Athlone Magistrate’s Court right next to the police station on Monday, and stabbed to death outside as security guards watched helplessly, and before officers could intervene.

They did manage to arrest two men.

A 32-year-old man was due to appear in court on drug- related charges when an altercation with a suspected rival gang erupted, according to a court official, who cannot be named because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the National Prosecution Authority.

The man had been chased outside the court premises before he was attacked. He attempted to seek refuge at a nearby butchery where he collapsed.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said the two suspects in their 20s were arrested shortly after the stabbing.

They were expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court charged with murder, said Van Wyk.

Athlone Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Aziza Kannemeyer said the rival gangs were to appear in the same court and after an argument, a fight broke out.

“The rival gangs threatened everyone in court. Security guards were hopeless and could do nothing. He (the accused) tried to get away and ran outside the court. 

"The fight between the rival gangs continued on the streets, and unfortunately they caught him and stabbed him.

“The public was frightened and for their safety ran to the SAPS police station nearby for protection,” said Kannemeyer.

“The situation was very chaotic even people who had come to court to listen to cases of their family members or friends were running and screaming.”

Kannemeyer said officers from the Athlone Police Station next door were quick to respond, as the screams from members of the public alerted them.

“But, unfortunately they could not stop the stabbing of the individual.”

She called on the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to beef up security measures as rival gangs often fought at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court.

“The Department of Justice has to ensure that cases of rival gangs are separated or this is not going to stop,” she said.

“Very often there are people of rival gangs in court to listen to cases of their peers and when they meet their rivals it’s likely they will fight or approach them,” said Kannemeyer.

She said security guards were powerless and could not do anything as they were not armed and their duties were only to check that those going inside court did not have weapons on them.

The Justice and Constitutional Development’s media officer, Steve Mahlangu, had not responded to queries by deadline.

In 2013 a man was shot and wounded outside the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court in a suspected rival gang fight.

Two months previously two people were shot dead outside the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court and a third wounded in the crossfire.

Also that year Blackheath pastor Albern Martins was shot dead by three men before he was able to make a court appearance accused of fraud, dealing in abalone and drugs.

#CAPE TOWN Suspect nabbed, but 'escapes from cell':Family's burglary ordeal

Cape Town - A Lansdowne family have suffered a double trauma after having their home burgled, and then the arrested suspect allegedly escaping from Lansdowne police station’s holding cells.

While police have denied the suspect escaped from their holding cells, the Cape Times understands they called an urgent meeting with the family last night.

Homeowner Roscoe Topley said the ordeal had made them lose confidence in the police.

“My home was burgled last Monday, and when I got home, the first sign of forced entry was when I saw my gate unlocked. Various items were missing from my home,” Topley said.

When he reported the case, he was told to return home and make a list of all the things that were missing.

“This encounter (with the police) made me very despondent. I listed all my stolen items but decided to conduct my own investigation. 

"On Sunday I went to the local shop when I saw a man standing in my clothes. He had on a full outfit that was mine,” he said.

Topley said he didn’t immediately approach the man who was standing with a group of men but could identify that it was his clothes and shoes worn by the suspect. 

Instead, he spoke to a car guard in the parking area, asking about the man wearing his clothes.

“I went to the police station with all information gathered and they came out to arrest the guy. At the police station they searched through the suspect’s bag and in it were various other items belonging to my family, including our extra set of house keys. Police took his details and it was found that he gave a false name and address to police.

“We went to the address and then returned to the police station. When we got there, I was told the suspect had just escaped from the holding cells. 

"I was shocked because how could he escape from a police station? I again attempted to lay a charge but still have not received a case number,” Topley said.

He had followed up with the police yesterday morning regarding his case number as it had not been sent via SMS yet, he said.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said: “There was no escape yesterday or over the weekend reported at the mentioned station. A case of housebreaking was opened on Sunday; however, the case system is offline as from yesterday.

“The docket will be registered as soon as the system is back online. There has been no spike in housebreakings in the Lansdowne police precinct.”

Topley said help from the police left much to be desired. 

“This is my first experience as a victim of crime and it has been unsavoury. They ask for people to come forward with information, but when you do that, this happens.”

Breaking news:Severe storms set to hit Gauteng

A severe thunderstorm is expected in Gauteng this afternoon.

The South African Weather Service says from around lunchtime residents can expect heavy rain, damaging winds and hail.

Forecaster Dipuo Tawana says, “Severe thunderstorms are expected in places over the province from the afternoon. We’re looking at from around 1pm onwards.

EFF Expels Six COUNCILLORS!

The EFF has fired six of its councillors in the Mogale City council for voting with the ANC.

The EFF’s Central Command Team took this decision after they met on Saturday after the completion of a disciplinary process.

"On 11 July 2017, six EFF councillors contravened the EFF decision not to attend the Mogale City Budget-vote council meeting in which the ANC needed its budget to be passed. These councillors not only helped for a council meeting quorum to be constituted, they also voted in favour of the proposed ANC budget," said EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in a statement.

"The organisation took exception to this conduct as it returned the public purse in the hands of the ANC. This is the same ANC that the people of Mogale City removed from the government following the 2016 local government elections outcomes. It is the same ANC that has been looting the public purse since 1994 to the exclusion and marginalisation of our people."

According to Ndlozi, the mandate not to vote with the ANC is consistent with the "non-negotiable cardinal pillar number seven" – their policy position to fight corruption.  

"Thus these six councillors, namely Ms Nhlanhla Shilubane, Ms Nomonde Nkatu, Ms Lemogang Modisane, Mr Eric Baloyi, Mr Edward Motsitsi and Mr Simanga Mkhumbeni, essentially betrayed our revolutionary tenet. Accordingly they have been expelled," said Ndlozi.

He said the EFF Central Command Team confirmed the sentence the party’s National Disciplinary Committee, as required by the EFF’s code of conduct. 

"The six EFF councillors have the right to appeal, however, the expulsion sentence is in effect even when under appeal. The EFF will communicate with the Mogale City Municipal Manager so as to declare the six vacancies and so that the EFF can replace all the six councillors," said Ndlozi.

The EFF obtained nine seats in the Mogale municipal council, which has 77 seats, of which the ANC occupies 38. All nine EFF seats were obtained through the proportional party list, so the expulsion of the six councillors would not require by-elections.

'Lesbian lovers' tiff' led to alleged Satanic ritual death

A woman accused of killing her friend during an apparent Satanic ritual allegedly did it in a fit of anger after a heated argument over her ex-lover.

Corrine Jackson, 20, was arrested for the murder of her alleged lesbian lover Nadine Esterhuizen, 18.

Last week Jackson, who tried to commit suicide after Esterhuizen’s murder, was declared medically and mentally fit to stand trial by a District Surgeon at Heideveld Hospital.

Jackson was being treated for knife wounds in jail. In court last week, she appeared with a bandage around her neck.

Jackson, of Woodlands, is expected to be back in the dock on November 1 for a formal bail application.

Sources at Pollsmoor Prison, where she is being held, says Jackson has allegedly admitted to cops that she stabbed Nadine to death during an argument over one of Jackson’s former girlfriends.

Esterhuizen, from Portlands, Mitchells Plain, was a matriculant at Athlone High School, where Jackson apparently fetched her every day with a motorbike.

Esterhuizen’s family denied claims that the two were in a lesbian relationship and said they had only been friends since December 2016.

Jackson’s family, however, reportedly admitted the two were dating.

According to the prison source, Jackson said she killed Esterhuizen during a heated argument on Se“She said she stabbed Nadine to death because they were arguing over an ex-lover of Corrine’s and it was a jealousy thing,” says the source.

“Jackson has a lot of cuts on both her legs, from the top to the bottom, she says those were made a month or two ago already, but it really looks like a striped jeans when she takes off her pants.”

Last week, Esterhuizen’s sister, 29, who asked not to be identified, told Daily Voice how her fiancé found Esterhuizen in a pool of blood in the kitchen and that her long hair had been cut.

She revealed that a cup had been filled with blood and strands of hair added to it.

The sister further described that the word “sorry” had been written on the floor using Esterhuizen’s cut hair.

Jackson was allegedly found inside a locked toilet at the same residence, holding a knife.

The sister claimed Jackson allegedly pretended to be Esterhuizen by responding to her WhatsApp messages while the teenager lay dead in the kitchen.

She says Esterhuizen had obtained an interdict against Jackson in July after she allegedly fractured her skull and threw her cellphone into the ocean.ptember 27, at Esterhuizen’s sister’s house in Colorado.

Panga gang attacks group of cyclists

A traumatised cyclist has spoken out after five men armed with pangas and knives robbed a cycling group of their bicycles near Langa.

Abdullah Jaffer, the owner of Jafmed Pharmacy in Ottery, and his fellow cyclists were riding to Stellenbosch when the assailants attacked them on Jan Smuts Drive on Sunday.

“It could have been a lot worse. Somebody could have gotten stabbed. They didn’t come with guns thankfully.

“We don’t know what could have happened in that situation. You have to count your blessings and just be thankful that you live to ride for another day,” he said.

Jaffer and 12 other cyclists were coming from the Rondebosch side when they were attacked. The ride was part of their preparation for upcoming cycling events.

He and his friend were taken to a hospital.

“We came down Jan Smuts Drive towards Epping. As we came over the bridge approaching Pinelands we saw about five or six guys crossing from Langa. 

"We were close to each other and as we approached them, the guys at the back saw these guys pulling out a long knife. Others had sticks and pangas. 

"They physically pushed me off the bike. I mean we must have been doing either 35 or 36km/h, so I hit the deck quite hard. My other friend also got knocked off quite badly. I think five or six of us fell.

“As I was lying on the floor the guys came at me and I just said they must take the bike because that was obviously what they came for.”

The robbers fled on foot and disappeared in the Langa area with three of their bikes.

“We have ridden that route quite often. We have been riding to Stellenbosch now for the past four weeks. It is the first time something like this happened to us. 

"We have now heard from the other guys that it has happened before in that particular area and seems a bit of a hot spot.”

Jaffer added that cyclists felt safer when riding in numbers and was puzzled by the attack.

“These guy were so brazen. I mean there were 13 of us. They just came at us. If it wasn’t us, it was either the group coming behind us or the group ahead of us. 

"There are so many cyclists in that route training because there are two big rides coming up. They were there and targeting cyclists. They were prepared and knew exactly what to do and who to go for.”

Pedal Power Association chief executive Robert Vogel said: “We all know that crime is rampant in the city in all respects, but what shocks me the most is the violence. 

"To be attacked with a panga the criminals were prepared to take somebody’s life or cause serious injuries just for the bicycle.

“The other thing is that location where this happened. I was talking to somebody just two days ago and he was chased by somebody who tried to knock him off his bike, but he got away. It seems now that it is one of the latest hot spots in Cape Town.”

He said hijacking of cyclists has been a common occurrence and no steps were taken to prevent this.

“It’s nothing new. It’s just that we don’t know where it is going to happen next. There have been issues in Ocean View, Kommetjie now it’s Jan Smuts Drive. It seems to move all over the city.”

Police spokesperson Andre Traut said the circumstances of the robbery were being investigated and no one had been arrested.

#state vehicle hijacked

Police in Maake have launched a manhunt after yet another state vehicle was hijacked yesterday at about 4.30pm at Lorraine village outside Tzaneen,  Letaba Herald reports.

According to Maake police spokesperson Constable Emmanuel Manabe, Kruger Leshaba, 45, was driving a state Nissan hard body double cab, registration GHJ 319 L, which belonged to the Limpopo Department of Health and Welfare.

Leshaba was allegedly on his way from attending a meeting in Lenyenye, and soon after dropping off his colleague in Lorraine village, a silver polo with four occupants blocked his way. Two armed men then alighted the vehicle and forced Leshaba out of the vehicle at gunpoint.

No shots were fired.

The two suspects then fled with the state vehicle.

The victim alleges he was on his way to park the vehicle at Sekororo clinic when the incident took place.

This is the second state vehicle to be hijacked in the Maake policing area this week.