Thank You SABC Music Concert to feature popular artists - and 1 000 free tickets up for grabs to TV licence holders [+VIDEO].

THE SABC is hosting its own Thank You SABC Music Concert by local musicians at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.

Earlier this year, the SABC implemented a 90 percent local music offering across all its radio stations.

Chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said then: “This cross-pollination of music is very important for the public broadcaster because part of our mandate is to tell the South African story, and music plays an important part in ensuring the SABC fulfils this mandate.”

READ: Awards show honours Hlaudi Motsoeneng

The SABC has welcomed the artists who will perform and those who have embraced the public broadcaster’s initiative to prioritise and support local music.

The line-up of 100 musicians for the concert, which starts at 10am, includes DJ Black Coffee, Trompies, Doc Shebeleza, Don Laka, Mafikizolo, Rebecca Malope, Stimela, Nothembi, Riky Rick, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Jack Parow, Ihashi Elimhlophe, Deborah Fraser, Babsy Mlangeni, Candy, Johnny Clegg, Mango Groove, Kwesta, Emtee, and the Legends Medley with artists such as Dan Nkosi, Freddie Gwala, CJB, Condry Ziqubu, Blondie Makhene and Zizi Kongo, among others.

The SABC is giving away 1 000 free tickets to valid SABC TV licence holders to attend. If you can’t produce a licence, you'll pay R100 for a ticket.

The Star

The State Security Agency told former apartheid-era killer Eugene de Kock they needed to take him to a safe place. His lawyers went to court. The SSA let De Kock go....

Pretoria - About three minutes after the legal team of former apartheid-era killer Eugene de Kock entered the Palace of Justice on Church Square on Tuesday- armed with an urgent application to have him released from where he was being held in the parking lot of the Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria - De Kock was told he was free to go home.

According to his lawyer, Julian Knight, De Kock was held for about two and a half hours in the parking lot by State Security Agency members. De Kock arrived at the prison shortly before noon, as he was summoned to a meeting with the area commissioner.

He was instead told by members of the State Security Agency that he was to be placed under witness protection and taken to a "safe place".

De Kock, who shortly after his release last year also had to remain "in a safe place" for some time under witness protection, refused point blank.

Knight said as De Kock wanted to get into his car to leave, members of the State Security Agency blocked his way with their vehicles.

De Kock immediately phoned Knight, who went to the prison to try to reason with the officials.

When this fell on deaf ears, he instructed advocate Roeloff du Plessis and his team to head to court immediately to secure an urgent order for De Kock's release.

But there was no need, as the team had barely entered the building, when Knight phoned them to let them know it had been agreed that De Kock could go home.

The application was so urgent that Knight was due to take the stand to testify, as opposed to submitting an affidavit.

Du Plessis nevertheless met Judge Lettie Molopa-Sethosa in chambers and left her with a copy of their intended application.

"We will immediately head back to court if this happens again," Knight said.

The legal team asked in their application that the ministers of Justice, Police and State Security as well as the head of the prison, be ordered to immediately bring De Kock before the court.

They also asked that he be allowed to return home under the parole conditions under which he was released in the first place.

It is not clear why state officials wanted to place De Kock under witness protection and why they were claiming he was not safe at his house, at an undisclosed location in Pretoria.

"He has been staying there since his release in February last year, without any incident," Knight said.

Neither Correctional Services, nor the minister of justice or the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) could shed any light on the happenings on Tuesday.

Spokespersons for the NPA and Correctional Services referred the matter to the office of Justice Minister Michael Masutha.

His spokesperson, advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, simply said "no comment".

Knight said all he was told was that De Kock was "some kind of security threat" or that "his life was in danger".

"But we don't know why. There is no proof of this. He has been living at his house for the past 18 months without incident."

It is not the first time that his team headed to court to have De Kock released from the custody of the State Security Agency.

They also headed to court in January last year, shortly after De Kock's release from prison. He was at the time supposed to be released on parole, but instead ended up being held against his will at an unknown location and under unclear circumstances, his lawyer said.

Knight at the time had no idea where De Kock was. De Kock eventually phoned Knight and said he would phone him every four days.

Last year in court papers, Knight said he had no idea whether De Kock was speaking with a gun to his head.

But the State Security officials released him - before the court could hear the application.

zelda.venter@inl.co.za

Pretoria News

A Lavender Hill teen who lost everything in a fire that almost killed his grandmother says he has been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers who came to his aid.

Cape Town - A Lavender Hill teen who lost everything in a devastating fire that almost killed his grandmother says he has been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers who came to his aid.

Nurdeen Joshua, 18, from Steenberg High was at school when his home went up in flames last month, destroying his study material, sports accolades and coursework.

He was studying for his final exams and practising for the Cape Argus Food Lover's Market High School Quiz.

Islamia College in Lansdowne heard about his plight and decided to extend a helping hand.

They donated a quarter of their R8 000 winnings - about R2 000 - for making it to the seventh place to help him out. Ironically, Steenberg High knocked Islamia Collage out of the semi-finals, but South Peninsula High eventually clinched the title.

The college's principal, Shaheem Galant, said: "We saw that Nurdeen had determination and it was admirable. His conditions did not deter him. We extended a hand to help so he could get whatever he needed. Our aim is to help the poor and the needy. That was part of it, and we thought it would be good to help him."

He was also given several boxes of study guides, which covered every subject, and stationery - including calculators and books - so that Nurdeen and his 16-year-old sister, Nawaal, could continue with their studies.

A local dentist, Dr Husain Brey, dropped off some clothing and a cash donation for Nurdeen and his family early last week. The Bellville Athletics Club also stepped up to the plate by donating clothes, because Nurdeen is Steenberg High's star athlete.

One of his teachers, Riedewaan Gafoor, said Nurdeen was putting on a brave face. "He is always a happy-go-lucky child. It's hard to gauge what he is feeling, if he is sad. He is a very grateful child. He cried when he was handed the cheque. He put down some money for his matric ball that will happen in December this year.

"The school waived his school fees for the year - R1 700 for him and his sister," he said.

Nurdeen was overcome with emotion on receiving the much-needed help. He said: "I am overwhelmed by everybody's generosity - especially the kindness of complete strangers. If only they can see how every cent or donation helped.

"It will take months before the council will fix our flat but in the meantime we are slowly rebuilding our lives in our temporary home. I am very grateful and can not thank people enough."

gadeeja.abbas@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

When Nithia Chinnasamy died in a hail of bullets while out on day parole, it did not come as a shock to those close to him.

Durban - To some he was a hero, a man who looked after his family and the poor. To many others, Nithia Chinnasamy was a feared thug, a drug lord who wreaked havoc before he was jailed for life 16 years ago.

Chinnasamy, head of the notorious Nithia’s Gang that struck fear into those who crossed its path, mainly in Phoenix, in the 1980s and 90s, had known since his childhood days that his death would be violent, said one of his acquaintances.

So when the gangster, who “lived by the sword”, died in a hail of bullets on Monday morning, shortly after being released on day parole from the Boksburg Correctional Services, it did not come as a shock to those close to him.

Chinnasamy, 48, was shot multiple times by two men wearing police uniforms, while in the passenger seat of his friend’s Toyota Corolla, which had been parked in Silverbush Crescent in Dalepark, Brakpan.

According to reports, 18 bullet cartridges from two guns were found - eight cartridges were from an R5 rifle and 10 from a 9mm pistol.

A burnt Renault, believed to be that of the killers, was found nearby at the corner of Plumbago and Bottlebrush streets.

Police could not yet confirm if it was a random shooting or a hit.

“I cannot say if he was targeted. We are still investigating the motive,” said Brakpan police spokesman Captain Joep Joubert.

“At this stage, we do not know if the men who were wearing police uniforms were police or bogus cops. We are investigating.”

Joubert said Chinnasamy was granted day parole on July 1.

This meant he stayed at the Boksburg Correctional Services facility at night and was released in the mornings.

Chinnasamy had been fitted with a tracking device to restrict his movements.

Joubert said a friend had picked him up and taken him to his home in Silverbush to pick up something.

“The friend got out to open the front gate, while the victim stayed inside. According to an eyewitness, a Renault (arrived) and two occupants, wearing police uniforms, opened fire at the car.”

A businessman who knew Chinnasamy from his childhood days said his enemies had probably wanted to exact revenge.

“I am not surprised nor am I shocked that he was executed,” said the man, who requested anonymity.

“It is said that if one lives by the sword then one will die by the sword. That is exactly what happened to Nithia.”

He said the “evil deeds” of Nithia’s Gang in the 1980s and 1990s had left a trail of misery. “They beat a man to pulp after they attacked him with a baseball bat. The evidence in the Durban High Court by (the man’s) friend sealed the fate of Nithia and his co-accused. During their reign of terror, Nithia called the shots and his gang members followed his instructions to the letter.”

In 2000, Chinnasamy was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 10 years for murder, attempted murder and kidnapping.

The murdered victim was 19-year-old Phoenix resident, Sagendran Claude Arran, whose friend panel beater Hansraj “Don” Deepchund was in a witness protection programme. He had given evidence against Chinnasamy and 10 others.

The accused were also charged with the attempted murder of Deepchund. All of them had pleaded not guilty.

Arran and Deepchund were brutally assaulted by various members of the gang with pickaxe handles, baseball bats, a fire hose and other weapons on June 14, 1998. Unconscious, they were dumped in a bush. Arran died shortly afterwards.

Deepchund had testified: “When I awoke, I realised I did not have my trousers on... I was dazed and did not know where I was.”

He said he had been traumatised by the incident and for months had lived in fear.

Four other gang members were also sentenced to life and 10 years.

Chinnasamy, Rashid Shaik, Renesh Singh, Gerald “Mole” Govender and Somagan “Stars” Govender were found guilty of the murder of Arran.

Judge Alan Magid at the time said Chinnasamy had orchestrated the “brutal, vicious and concerted” attacks on the two victims.

But there was more to Chinnasamy than his criminal ways, said one old friend.

He said he had played with Chinnasamy in the dusty streets of Springtown before his family relocated to Phoenix 35 years ago and got to know him well.

“It would be fair to say that there was a good, bad and ugly side to (him),” he said. “Nithia was a shrewd character. He also did good but that was for his own benefit. He threw poor residents, who were in arrears with their electricity bills, lifelines by settling the debts. He did so to win them over and so that when police conducted raids they would keep their mouths shut.”

He said Chinnasamy had accumulated his wealth as a mandrax drug lord.

“Mandrax was the popular drug during that era. Sugars (straws) and other drugs came later. But his incarceration has done little to beat the drugs scourge in Phoenix. Drugs continue to be a menace in this sprawling suburb.”

When a POST team visited Chinnasamy’s home in Greenbury, Phoenix, on Monday, a small white tent had been erected in a cramped space outside the family’s small flat.

Chinnasamy’s son, Owen, said he felt “very sad” about his father’s death. “He was my life. He never left us hungry and provided everything for our family,” he said. “We are trying to stay strong.”

Deepak Panday, the author of The Kings of Durban, a book about the early Indian underworld from 1860 to 1960, said he had known Chinnasamy from when he was a youngster growing up in Greenbury.

After hearing about his death, a shocked Panday said: “Phoenix has lost a son, brother, husband, father and for me, a dear friend.”

He said different people had different interpretations of who Chinnasamy was. “He was either loved, respected or feared.”

Panday, 34, who intends writing a third instalment of the book, which would include stories of his interactions with the members of Nithia’s Gang, said growing up in the “gang-infested streets of Phoenix” built one’s character.

“And this rough and tough soul had a dream and passion to make it big by any means necessary.

“Yes, many may label him a thug or a hoodlum for his alleged actions, brought forward in a court of law, but for me, who was 16 when I met him, he was hero-worshipped.”

Panday said he had met Chinnasamy several times and that the he had advised youths to stay away from trouble on the streets “and to not get mixed up in grown-up business”.

He said that three weeks ago, he received a surprise call from Chinnasamy, who had asked for a copy of his book.

“We chatted for about 15 minutes and he had told me a lot of people were willing to pay for his story.

“But he said people liked to do things for the wrong reasons and never agreed to any proposals.”

Before Chinnasamy was jailed, he had run a feeding scheme for the poor in Greenbury and surrounding areas, said a moulana who had known him: “Every month, Nithia prepared breyani for the poor. He also assisted in settling the water and electricity arrears of residents.”

He said Chinnasamy’s incarceration was a “loss to the poor”.

However, a retired policeman felt differently.

“Nithia grew up in Sorrel Road in Springtown. He was a humble child and his family were good, helpful people. How things went wrong in terms of how he became involved with drugs and the murder conviction, I don’t know,” said the man, who requested anonymity.

“When he was in Springtown, he was clean, but when he settled down in Phoenix, things changed.”

He had his own theories on why Chinnasamy was killed.

“Someone could have eliminated him to possibly take over that trade, or saw him as a threat in the drug game.”

He said it could also have been a revenge killing.

Chinnasamy had a reputation of being a “big time gangster”, he said. “People feared him because he had a string of (gangsters) behind him. Yes, he helped people by paying their utility bills, because that’s the norm with gangsters in Phoenix who live in flats. They give money to keep people quiet, so these people alert them when the police come around.”

Another policeman said: “If you ask anyone in Phoenix, they know who he was.”

Retired police captain Gopalan Gounden, whose investigations led to Chinnasamy’s conviction, declined to comment.

Timeline of a lifer

Chinnasamy began serving his life sentence at Westville Prison in July 2000.

In November 2001, Chinnasamy was suddenly transferred to the Ncome Prison in Vryheid, apparently without any reasons.

He said in an affidavit that the move would had a severe effect on him as his wife, Shamilla Krishanlall, would not be able to visit him.

His children were aged 6 and 4 at the time.

Chinnasamy said that after two months at the Ncome Prison he was once again suddenly transferred to the Pietermaritzburg Prison without reason.

He had remained there for about three months, until May 2002, when he was transferred to the C Max Prison in Kokstad.

He had accused Gounden, the investigating officer, of colluding with the Department of Correctional Services in punishing him.

Chinnasamy said that while in Kokstad Prison, privileges and rights previously allowed to him, including visitational rights, had been revoked.

He said the only reason he received for his transfer was “security reasons”.

“I was never regarded as a security risk during my period in Medium B and no efforts were made to subject me to additional security.

“The security at Medium B is certainly more than sufficient to safely detain long-term prisoners such as me,” Chinnasamy said.

Chinnasamy said his detention at Kokstad Prison was highly prejudicial to him because he was detained in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day and only allowed one hour out of the cells under close supervision.

He was permitted visitors only twice a month, restricted to half an hour a visit.

Further, prisoners were allowed to read only the Bible and no other reading material was provided or allowed.

He was also not allowed access to radio, television or written media.

Chinnasamy said as a result, he had been cut off from the outside world.

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial head of prison services at the time, Ndusumbuso Eunah Norelela, said the privileges Chinnasamy claimed he had were unauthorised and a breach of prison service orders.

“Information was received by the head of the Westville Prison Medium B from an inmate that Chinnasamy had indicated that he intended escaping from prison if his appeal against his conviction and sentence failed. Due to the sensitive nature of such information and the fact that it would endanger the informant, Chinnasamy was considered a security risk.”

Gounden said he had received information that plans were being made by Chinnasamy to kidnap one of his children.

“We learnt that he wanted to torture my child and then kill me as well.”

In March 2003, Chinnasamy was transferred from Kokstad Prison back to Westville Prison.

He had brought a successful application against the minister of correctional services in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

The State opposed the application, saying he had been transferred from Westville Prison to Kokstad because police received information that he intended escaping by paying prison officials.

They also said plans were being made in prison by Chinnasamy to kidnap and torture one of the investigating officer’s children and to kill the investigating officer himself.

Represented by advocate Jimmy Howse (instructed by attorney Shashi Marajh), Chinnasamy then applied to the high court to be transferred from Kokstad Prison to the Westville Medium B Prison, alternatively to the Umzinto Prison, or to be transferred to a facility where his spouse and next of kin could have reasonable access to him.

He also asked that rights and privileges that he enjoyed in Westville Medium B, to which he was entitled, be restored.

The late KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Judge Herbert Msimang granted the order because Chinnasamy had not been given a hearing before he was transferred from Westville Prison.

In April 2005, at a graduation ceremony at Westville Prison, Chinnasamy, a student at the Teamwork Bible College, received a diploma in theology.

He reportedly earlier told the college principal, Pastor Sigamoney Gopaul, that the college had changed his life.

“He said he was happy to have found God,” Gopaul said.

In 2014 Chinnasamy was transferred to Boksburg Correctional Services to prepare him for parole.

He was on day parole (allowed to leave the prison in the morning but having to return each evening) for about a month when he was killed on Monday morning in Brakpan.

POST

Jeremy Marais was heading to work on a jam-packed train when he fell out, apparently while “trying to keep the carriage doors open”.

Cape Town - A man died after he apparently fell out of a jam-packed train on Tuesday.

Jeremy Marais, 32, from Scottsville in Kraaifontein, was heading to work in Retreat when he fell out of a moving carriage between Eikefontein and Brackenfell stations.

His body was wrapped around a lamppost.

He was travelling with his cousin Desiree Coetzee who only discovered he was gone when she arrived at the Brackenfell station.

Coetzee’s dad, Desmond, said: “I was on my way to work when my daughter called to say she can’t find Jeremy. I last saw him on Tuesday as they walked off towards the station. I did not realise it would be the last time I would see him alive.”

Coetzee told him she was standing behind Marais in the carriage, which was “so squashed that the train doors wouldn’t close”.

Desmond said: “I travelled to Brackenfell station to look for him. I asked at the ticket booth about people falling out of the train, but they knew nothing.

“I then decided to go and look for him on the tracks. A security officer joined me in the search. I started running and when I took a turn, I just stopped, unsure, but there Jeremy was lying, dead, his head near to an iron rod,” he said.

Jeremy’s wife, Samantha, was too distressed to speak.

Willem Marais, 55, blamed his death on Metrorail.

“The railway will have to make a plan to improve on their services. People are stuffed into carriages and then the doors can’t even close,” said Marais.

But Zino Mihi, corporate affairs manager for Prasa, said according to their reports, Marais was holding the train doors open.

“According to our control centre reports, the male was standing and keeping the train doors open. He therefore fell on the railway tracks between Eikefontein and Brackenfell stations. He is alleged to have died on the scene.

“An ambulance was called but he was certified dead on the scene. An investigation by both the Rapid Rail Police Unit and our Protection Services Investigations team is under way.”

Daily Voice

Police have been accused of using excessive force in dealing with protests at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Durban - Police have been accused of using excessive force in dealing with protests at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Students at UKZN’s Mabel Palmer residence in Glenwood said police kicked down doors and forced their way into residences on Monday, then left without an explanation.

A woman who describes herself as a UKZN School of Arts lecturer, Pumelela Nqelenga, wrote on Facebook that a woman student had been raped by a police officer at the Pietermaritzburg campus on Monday.

“SAPS raped a student last night during the protest. We have been waiting for an ambulance… RMS (Risk Management Services) wanted her to pay for the ambulance but we are stopping it. During the protest black women are being sexually assaulted,” she wrote.

UKZN spokesman Lesiba Seshoka confirmed a case of sexual assault had been reported to the university.

“A student on the Pietermaritzburg campus has reported a case of sexual assault by an SAPS officer. The alleged incident is reported to have happened off campus. It is under investigation,” he said.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said no case had been opened with the police.

Nqelenga told online newspaper Daily Vox that the student was in hospital and would decide for herself if she wanted to pursue criminal charges against the police officer.

“The way the university has handled the situation is very bad. There are three campus securities here… and there’s the police. None of them are protecting the students. It looks quite volatile, it feels as if they are antagonising the students,” she told the Daily Vox.

Students said their doors were kicked down without reason by police and private security at a residence near the Howard College campus.

"We also do not like what is going on, we want to return to classes and complete our degrees, but we can’t if such is happening,” said one student.

“We are not safe any more. We were attacked where we stay, they come and attack us, we don’t know who to trust any more because they come in and just attack us. In this case, I don’t think the protest will stop any time soon because the management is arrogant enough to allow burning to continue because they do not want to meet student leadership and address the issues,” said the final-year student.

Unisa criminologist and policing expert Professor Rudolph Zinn speaking generally on police crowd management said police lacked training and needed to act with as much restraint as possible.

“They need to gather intelligence on people enticing people to commit offences, identify those individuals and arrest them when they are not part of a group. If you arrest them as part of a group, you inflame the situation,” he said.

“Firing tear gas into crowds creates the opposite reaction to what they actually want, it causes students to ransack buildings and this is concerning, because we have not seen professional policing in dealing with issues correctly,” he said.

Zinn said police should be on campus to protect university property and students.

Daily News

The Assets Forfeiture Unit is set to apply for a court order to seize the assets of a Cape Town pastor allegedly at the centre of a massive pyramid scheme.

Cape Town – The Assets Forfeiture Unit is on Wednesday expected to apply for an order in the Western Cape High Court to seize the assets of a Parow pastor who is believed to be at the centre of a massive pyramid scheme.

Colin Davids allegedly operated an illegal Ponzi scheme promising people high returns on investments.

On June 22, the Bellville Magistrate’s Court released Davids, the director of the Platinum Forex Group, an alleged Ponzi scheme, on R100 000 bail.

At the time, Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said 48-year-old Davids was arrested on June 22 on charges of contravening the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act and the Banks Act.

“Davids, a pastor at New Direction Grace Ministries in Parow, Cape Town, was allegedly running a Ponzi scheme whose investors were mainly government employees who had retired or resigned from the service,” Ramovha said at the time.

In July 2015, Platinum Forex Group’s R100 million worth of assets were frozen on the order of the Western Cape High Court following the National Director of Public Prosecutions’s application for a Preservation Order in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, Ramovha added.

Davids’ case has been postponed to 18 January 2017 to allow for further investigations.

The Hawks have urged members of the public who have been victims of the Platinum Forex Group to come forward and make contact with the Investigating Officer, Lieutenant Colonel J Hardenberg on (021) 918 3354 or email HardenbergJ@saps.gov.za.

African News Agency

Options are being pursued between Tshwane Rapid Transit and the city administration to put A Re Yeng buses back on the road.

Pretoria - Options are being pursued between Tshwane Rapid Transit and the city administration to put A Re Yeng buses back on the road.

The multi-million rand bus rapid transit has been severely crippled after the axing of almost 100 drivers who had embarked on an illegal strike regarding the right to union representation.

The bus operator has just seven drivers at the moment to service the 7km inception phase between the city centre and Hatfield, which was launched towards the end of 2014 and serves thousands of commuters every day.

Tshwane Rapid Transit boss Bukeka Mahlutshana told the Pretoria News on Tuesday there were a few options on the table that would see the state-of-the-art bus system resume operations. “We will keep commuters up to date on a weekly basis,” she said.

Following the dismissal of the drivers, there was still considerable discussion over the employment of new bus drivers as well as recruitment strategies, the bus operator said.

The drivers had been recruited from the taxi industry as part of the agreement with the city. They underwent training and were awarded certificates of competence in operating the modern buses.

In accordance with the agreement, taxis no longer operate along the bus rapid transit routes. The taxi industry roleplayers who entered into the agreement with the city wholly own the bus operator, with National Taxi Alliance’s Piet Mahlangu and Abner Tsebe of the South African National Taxi Council the two men at the helm.

Mahlutshana could not confirm if management would go back to the taxi industry to source new drivers.

At the root of the dispute is that management bluntly refuse to recognise the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu). Drivers were demanding to be represented by the union, while management was reluctant, largely because Tshwane Rapid Transit is a private company.

Mahlutshana said management first resolved to terminate the employment of 33 bus drivers and then added scores a week later following the strikes. This brought to 97 the number of drivers dismissed and left the company with only seven drivers to operate the system.

Allegations over maladministration and corruption at the bus service also erupted when drivers protested in the CBD last Friday demanding remuneration for August and compensation for what they described as abnormal shifts.

However, management said there had been numerous engagements with employee representatives regarding their grievances, particularly on the matter of shift changes. But these were not successful.

Subsequent meetings failed to yield positive results as the workers insisted on being represented by Samwu, said Mahlutshana. This resulted in the collapse of the communication structure and processes that had been put in place between management and employees.

“Management was compelled to engage workers through Samwu, a union which had no recognition agreement with the company,” said Mahlutshana.

The union, meanwhile, wants the dismissed workers to be reinstated immediately because it would take the bus operator more than six months to train and employ new drivers. It also argued that recruitment and training would be an expensive and long process, instead of negotiation, which will be cheaper.

keketso.mashigo@inl.co.za

Pretoria News

Estate living has come to the modest Joburg suburb of Kew situated on the border of Alexandra and close to Sandton and Joburg’s north-eastern suburbs.

Johannesburg - Estate living has come to the modest Joburg suburb of Kew.

The 10th Road development will comprise affordable rental properties in an old warehouse. In the offering is a lifestyle component such as a crèche, gym, supermarket, hair salon, communal spaces such as gardens, a playground area, an indoor soccer and basketball court, canteen, social areas, biometric access control, wi-fi and DStv access.

Most of the units are studios ranging in size to suit different affordability levels.

The complex, called Live-Easy, is on the border of Alexandra and close to Sandton and Joburg’s north-eastern suburbs.

It is also close to major public transport routes such as the Rea Vaya bus route, which is under construction along Louis Botha Avenue and London Road.

The complex offers accommodation priced from R1 950 to R3 750 a month and is suitable for those earning between R3 500 and R15 000 a month.

The development will be in stark contrast to neighbouring Alexandra, as well as other parts of Joburg, where many lower-income employees live in undesirable conditions, sometimes with no running water, electricity and security, and yet they pay similar rentals.

Live-Easy co-founder James Huff said there was a severe shortage of clean, safe and affordable accommodation for blue-collar workers like domestic workers, waiters, cleaners and security guards.

“These people are earning entry-level wages, but land up living in unsavoury and overcrowded conditions, sharing rooms separated only by curtains and multiple tenants sharing one bathroom.

“We conceived this development after seeing a former factory with five huge warehouses and decided we could convert these into a new type of lifestyle development. It’s a great opportunity for those wanting a better life - a chance to move in and move up,” he said.

About 90 units of the first phase of 136 have been pre-let. The tenants took occupation on September 1and construction of phase two will begin early next year, providing a further 500 units and additional facilities.

“Employers have also expressed interest in this type of development, especially those in the hospitality and call centre industries. Restaurant managers, for instance, need to ensure their staff return home safely after hours and have to co-ordinate lifts to different areas,” Huff said.

Live-Easy's appeal was that staff members could live in the same place and use the same transport to and from work, which brought down the cost, he added.

Staff could also arrive at work on time and travel safely home late at night, and they had the added benefit of enjoying a much higher standard of living.

anna.cox@inl.co.za

@annacox

The Star

The Fees Commission's hearings in Cape Town had to be halted after a group of students refused to let UCT vice-chancellor Dr Max Price leave and then took over the proceedings.

Cape Town - The Fees Commission's hearings in Cape Town had to be halted on Tuesday after a group of students, some of whom slammed it as a "Mickey Mouse commission", refused to let UCT vice-chancellor Dr Max Price leave and then took over the proceedings.

Price had just finished his presentation to the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training, known as the Fees Commission, when he was blocked from leaving the Centre for the Book in the city centre.

"Max Price, we can't breathe because of white supremacy," shouted one protester.

"You are not leaving here. This guy must answer the questions," shouted another.

Their demands included that UCT "bring back the cadres" that had been suspended or expelled by the university.

Police eventually escorted Price from the building and to safety.

The students, who call themselves Black Solidarity, then took over the commission with student activist Mxolisi Mlandu leading the proceedings. Students and other audience members were then given an opportunity to speak, with many calling for free "black-centred education".

Earlier in the day, Price had told the commission that for the foreseeable future higher education should be funded by tuition fees and government grants.

Price suggested grants be provided for the poorest students and loans, including bank loans, for the so-called "missing middle", with support from the government.

"The fee level system for different levels of income is too complex. The same goal can be achieved far more simply and efficiently by offering grants to the very poor, which cover their total fees and therefore effectively creates fee-free education; part grants but mostly loans to the missing middle; and charging higher fees to the wealthy," the university wrote in its submission.

During his presentation, Stellenbosch University vice-chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers told the commission that fee-free higher education was not feasible. He said the university supported a differentiated approach to providing financial aid to poor, academically deserving students.

Those with a household income of below R122 000 would receive support from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

He said last year's zero percent fee increase had a "particularly perverse effect" and the university could sit with a shortfall of about R50 million if there was no fee increase for the 2017 academic year.

The commission expected to submit a preliminary report to President Jacob Zuma in November.

ilse.fredericks@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Orlando High School principal Peter Nhlapo has vacated his post after pupils and teachers made accusations which could later not be proved.

Johannesburg - In a case similar to one at Roodepoort Primary School, another Gauteng principal has vacated his post after pupils and teachers made accusations which could later not be proved.

Peter Nhlapo, principal of Orlando High School in Soweto, allegedly asked to be moved to the Gauteng Education Department’s district office amid accusations of violence from teachers and pupils.

In May, pupils at the school went on a rampage, burning classrooms, vandalising the administration block and stealing equipment, saying they did not want Nhlapo. They claimed he had a tendency to disrespect and swear at them.

Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi placed Nhlapo on leave pending investigations, but none of the complainants came forward. The investigation collapsed and the matter closed.

Orlando High now has a new principal, while Nhlapo works as an administration officer at the district office.

The department said Nhlapo had wanted to leave the school for safety reasons as he had been badly assaulted twice.

He allegedly wrote a letter at the beginning of the year asking to be removed, and the department negotiated with him to stay because he was a good principal.

Acting department spokesman Oupa Bodibe said the last straw for the principal was when pupils vandalised the school when they ran amok, saying they didn’t want him.

When he was put on leave while investigations were being carried out, processes were already in place to move him, Bodibe said.

Orlando High School governing body chairman Siyabonga Zwane said it was shocking that the pupils were “singing as if they were in a choir” when they levelled allegations against Nhlapo but could not provide concrete evidence.

He also said it was not fair that Nhlapo was no longer at the school, whereas a teacher who incited pupils was still there.

The South African Democratic Teachers Union was, however, elated that Nhlapo would not be returning. An official from the union’s Soweto East branch said the news was “a victory for education”.

Last year, Roodepoort Primary School principal Nomathemba Molefe was forced out of the school after parents revolted against her and prevented their children from going to school.

However, allegations were that the parents wanted a coloured principal. While forensic investigations cleared Molefe, the department still removed her from the school and employed a new principal.

South African Principals Association Gauteng president Daya Chetty said their areas of focus were support, development, induction and mentorship of principals.

“As a professional organisation we do not get involved in any labour matters,” Chetty said, adding that neither of the principals had consulted the association.

botho.molosankwe@inl.co.za

The Star

The Menlyn Maine Central Square, described as a boutique-style mall, which will have 50 hand-picked retailers, restaurants and entertainment experiences, will open its doors to the public in two weeks.

Pretoria - In just two weeks the R1.8 billion Menlyn Maine Central Square will open its doors to the public.

The 65 000m² development can be described as a boutique-style mall, which will have 50 hand-picked retailers, restaurants and entertainment experiences. The development, situated near the Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, is scheduled to open on September 21.

“At Central Square you’ll also find a mix of features such as a piazza, public park, hotel, apartments, conferencing, offices, hospital, sporting facilities and selected retail shops and restaurants,” said Henk Boogertman, architectural director for Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings.

He said that as the centre of Menlyn Maine, Central Square was uniquely crafted to be ideal for convenient daily shopping.

One of the main features will be a two-level Virgin Active classic gym, the first in Pretoria.

Central Square will also provide a park that runs in a strip through the whole precinct; it starts with a private park for its residential quarter, then goes through the buildings and alongside the development, ending in a big park and piazza feature in front of the spectacular Sun International's Time Square at Menlyn Main Casino.

The five-star hotel and 8 000-seater multipurpose arena development planned for Menlyn Maine is still under construction.

Boogertman said he did not want Central Square to be thought of as a shopping mall, but instead as an urban lifestyle centre.

“It will be aspirational in the sense that if people enjoy quality, they will come here.”

Some of the business that have booked their place in the mall are Spar, Woolworths, Pick n Pay and Tasha's.

Central Square was described as design-driven with the overall architecture of the building being contemporary and timeless, and also unique in appearance, shape and form.

The building is crowned with a glass roof, and one of the major features is the open-air dining facility that the development will allow for.

Each shop has an exclusive, bespoke front made of steel, aluminium and wood - all in shades of charcoal black.

The piazza will have restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and a hotel that will be set around it. There will also be 1 800 basement parking bays and 300 open parking bays.

It is co-owned by Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings and the Government Employees Pension Fund.

“Our vision was to develop the most exciting retail and entertainment experience of the highest possible standard at the heart of our new city centre, one that offers an outstanding boutique-styled shopping and leisure experience. This will not only be a great work of architecture, but also a real asset to its owners, retailers and customers,” Boogbertmman said.

The square is located minutes from Atterbury and Garsfontein interchanges and will have six access points from the N1 highway.

It will be just one of the features of Menlyn Maine, the ground-breaking 315 000m² decentralised green city mega-development.

Menlyn Maine is one of 16 green cities being built in various countries and the only one in Africa.

All the buildings in the precinct are set to be rated 4 Green Star SA or higher.

A leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ND certification has been earmarked for the precinct.

Sun International’s Time Square at Menlyn Main Casino is scheduled to open in September next year and is expected to create 10 000 jobs during the construction phase and 2 200 sustainable jobs.

The rest of the precinct will take about four or five more years to complete at a cost of about R10bn.

Menlyn Maine will be home to a:

5-star Sun International hotel

Sun International Time Square at Menlyn Main Casino

Central Square

4-star Central Square Business Hotel

3-star 200 room hotel

Commercial business district

400 residential apartments

2100 parking bays

Open-air dining facilities

nomaswazi.nkosi@inl.co.za

Pretoria News

Gay-bashing American preacher Steven Anderson will be coming top Cape Town but details of the evangelist’s visit are top secret, for security reasons.

Cape Town - A local pastor has revealed that a gay-bashing American preacher is heading to Cape Town next week.

But details of the evangelist’s visit are top secret, for security reasons.

A petition with 60 000 signatures demanding that “kill the gays” Pastor Steven Anderson of the United States be barred from South Africa was not enough to keep him out of the country.

While Cape Flats reverend Oscar Bougardt applauded the Department of Home Affairs’ decision to allow Anderson entry into the country, gay rights organisations called it “nothing short of cowardly and dangerous”.

Bougardt confirmed the controversial pastor would be coming to Cape Town after a scheduled visit to Boksburg on September 17.

Following a meeting with the LGBTI (Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community and the SA Human Rights Commission, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba on Monday said Anderson would be allowed in but there were “serious conditions” attached to his visit.

He said authorities would deport or charge Anderson if he stepped out of line.

Anderson made headlines after he reportedly told a congregation that there are now “50 less paedophiles in this world”, following the June 12 massacre at a gay club in Orlando, Florida.

Pastor Bougardt, of Strandfontein, said he contacted Anderson in July after local restaurants and a hotel cancelled his reservations.

Anderson and his flock from the Faithful Word Baptist Church are expected to arrive in Joburg on September 17.

Bougardt says Anderson confirmed he would be visiting Boksburg for a “door-to-door crusade” before coming to the Mother City.

However, all the venues are being kept under wraps as a matter of security.

“So 60 000 signatures has not stopped him from coming to spread the gospel,” Bougard said.

Michael Clayton of the Triangle Project slammed Home Affairs’ decision.

“In light of the near certainty that this (gay bashing) will happen when Anderson is in the country, allowing him to enter in an act of legal over-cautiousness is nothing short of cowardly and dangerous.”

Daily Voice

Joe Slovo High School pupils set alight a classroom, broke the school gate, and stoned teachers’ cars when they protested at having to pay a R2 fine for arriving late.

Cape Town - School children raised all hell on Tuesday when they protested at having to pay a R2 fine for arriving late.

The police and the fire department were called in to contain hundreds of rioting students at Joe Slovo High School in Khayelitsha.

Principal Majiet Parker said it started when 17 pupils arrived almost two hours late for school and were locked out.

The group broke down the school gate. Once inside, the boys and girls allegedly threatened staff members, and began stoning cars and breaking windows. They also smeared Parker’s vehicle with food and stoned the deputy principal’s car.

Parker, who has been principal for nearly a decade, said this is the first time his staff has feared for their lives and called in police.

He said the school is a no-fees institution but relies on a parent contribution fee set by the School Governing Body.

He said the R2 latecomers penalty was agreed on by learners and their parents.

Parker said the group on Tuesday refused to pay, and started protesting violently.

“We had 17 learners who arrived at 9.35am,” he explained.

“They are the regular latecomers who blame it on the train and we have called their parents previously.

“While I called the Representative Council for Learners to speak to the pupils, they began throwing stones.”

Bambanani worker, Freddy Tshali, 31, said pupils began threatening him when he refused them entry to the school. “They said they know I walk late after school and that they will stab me because I think high of myself.”

Rugby coach Luthabo Komana said he was forced to move his car when pupils began throwing food at it. He said the group forced their way into a woodwork classroom and science lab, breaking windows and the ceiling, and using the wood to set alight another classroom.

Grade 10 learner Babalwa Plaatjie, 17, of the Representative Council for Learners, said they wanted the principal out.

“We are striking because we are tired of corruption; we have to pay a fine of R2 when we are late, and R500 when you are in a fight.

“We want to know what this money is being used for because we have classrooms which are broken.

“We want our principal to go.”

Paddy Attwell, Director of Communication at the Western Cape Education Department, said: “This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable. Our district office will investigate.”

Police spokesperson, Constable Noloyiso Rwexana said police has opened a case of public violence.

No arrests have been made.

Daily Voice

The Manenberg Safety Forum intends to erect a memorial plaque in honour of Maruwaan Scullard, a former drug addict who died while on a charity walk.

Cape Town - The Manenberg Safety Forum intends to erect a memorial plaque in honour of Maruwaan Scullard, a former drug addict who died while on a charity walk from Joburg to Manenberg.

A car crashed into him and two other men, Jonathan Peter Jansen, 38, and Jaryd Jooste, 26, while they were on a lunch break nearVanderbijlpark in Gauteng last Friday.

The initiative, which would have taken an estimated 60 days to complete, was to raise funds for the establishment of a mentoring programme for youth in the gang-and drug-ravaged community.

Clare Pretorius of the Love Out Loud campaign said Scullard’s body had not yet been released by pathology services in Gauteng but was expected to be flown back to Cape Town by the end of the week.

She said Jansen had been taken out of intensive care and was improving.

“Jaryd is also getting better, but he is unfortunately still in a serious condition because he sustained serious head injuries,” Pretorius said, “but at least he is awake and eating.”

Manenberg community leader Roegshanda Pascoe said Jansen and Jooste’s return to Manenberg, where they live, would be a bitter-sweet moment.

“We would like to get their permission to complete the walk.

“I have volunteered and I would like to urge the youth and residents of Manenberg to also volunteer to finish what Maruwaan, Jonathan and Jaryd started.

“They have displayed selflessness and courage and, not only that, we cannot let Maruwaan’s death be in vain,” Pascoe said.

“It was an enormous sacrifice Maruwaan made,” she said.

Pretorius explained that the team had chosen Joburg as their starting point so that when they reached Manenberg, after what would have been more than 1.7 million steps taken, there would have been a “huge” celebration.

“Maruwaan had been off drugs for a year and a half and really wanted to be an example for other youngsters in Manenberg,” said Pretorius.

Jooste, a mutual friend of Jansen and Scullard, was driving behind them in a support vehicle.

They stopped and parked behind the yellowline under a bridge to rest and have lunch “when a speeding motorist rammed into them while they were standing behind their vehicle”, said an eyewitness, Nigel Branken.

He said the car had hit Scullard full on.

A case of culpable homicide is being investigated.

siyabonga.sesant@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Kommetjie residents are considering mounting a legal challenge after the City of Cape Town gave the go-ahead for the building of 254 new houses.

Cape Town - Kommetjie residents are considering mounting a legal challenge after the City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee gave the go-ahead for the building of 254 new houses in the suburb, overturning a decision by the council’s spatial planning, environment and land use committee (Spelum) to reject the rezoning and subdivision applications.

Mayco’s decision comes amid pending legal action from the Kommetjie Residents and Ratepayers’ Association (KRRA) for a similar approval granted last year for another 107 houses in the same area between Klein Slangkop and Kommetjie.

In July, Spelum rejected the rezoning applications for the three connected sites along Slangkop road over the lack of bulk infrastructure to service the developments and the absence of a plan to address the heavy traffic over Ou Kaapseweg and along Kommetjie Road.

Cape Town deputy mayor Ian Neilson said on Tuesday that he was aware that the issue was controversial, but that the Mayco deemed the site suitable for development.

Traffic access concerns were being addressed through the city’s congestion alleviation interventions, which include an eight-month-long traffic study in the Far South, announced last month.

“This council has applied its mind very strongly to that particular issue. We have carried out a number of investigations into the issue of services in that valley and we have also provided significant funding for congestion alleviation,” said Neilson.

The developments are planned for an area between two existing residential estates to the north and south, Imhoff’s Gift Caravan Park and the naval radio station to the west, and the Table Mountain National Park to the east.

According to the applications, 44 houses would be built at Protea Ridge, and 210 houses off Wireless Road.

Neilson said the environmental and heritage impact assessments had raised “minimal concern” for allowing the developments to proceed.

KRRA chairman Patrick Dowling said Mayco’s decision was “predictable” and that the association would plot the way forward at a meeting on Wednesday.

He said it was expected that the association would again consider raising public funds to mount a further legal challenge.

“In principle, we are very determined to confront and contest that approval,” he said.

Dowling said the association believed that developments should not be approved before the requisite infrastructure was in place to support them.

“We acknowledge the city’s commitment to expenditure, but we don’t think it’s sufficient to make a radical difference to be able to cope with other developments approved, but not yet built,” he said.

In previous objections by the KRRA to the city council, the association argued that the traffic impact assessment on which the recommendations to approve the developments were based was outdated and almost three years old.

Neilson said Kommetjie Road and Ou Kaapse Weg had already been identified as roads needing attention and money was already being spent in this financial year to address the congestion.

“We are quite satisfied that although there are these concerns, they are not limited to the Noordhoek valley alone. We have these congestion issues all over Cape Town. Given the interventions in terms of traffic alleviation, these will be adequate to allow this level of further development to take place,” he said.

The city’s traffic congestion study also includes Chapman’s Peak Drive, the Glencairn Express Way, Main Road from Simon’s Town to Muizenberg, and Boyes Drive.

Dowling said the broader environmental impact of further developments in the Kommetjie was also being overlooked.

The council’s report on the matter notes that the area which will be developed is the last portion of land available for development between the existing town and the Table Mountain National Park.

“There are very real unspoken environmental concerns about the larger biodiversity of the area,” Dowling said.

lindsay.dentlinger@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

The Durban driving school owner charged with the murders of two brothers over a parking bay dispute says he shot them in self-defence.

Durban - The Durban driving school owner charged with the murders of two brothers over a parking bay dispute says he shot them in self-defence because he feared for his life.

Bonginkosi Khanyile is charged with the murders of Ahmed and Mohamed Vawda in the parking lot of the Kingsford block of flats in Margaret Mncadi Avenue (Victoria Embankment).

He has also been charged with extortion because it is alleged he extorted R350 from Ayesha Vawda, sister of the men, in June 2015 and threatened her life because of a parking dispute.

On Tuesday Khanyile pleaded not guilty to the charges in the Durban Regional Court.

In a statement read to the court by his advocate, Gideon Scheltema SC, Khanyile said he was assaulted by the brothers shortly before the murders.

“I was waiting for an elevator when I was confronted by Ahmed over a parking issue. He became enraged and threatened to kill me.”

Khanyile said Ahmed’s wife tried to pull him away and a security guard had tried to intervene, but they were unsuccessful.

He said Ahmed’s wife left, then he saw Mohamed coming towards him and both men assaulted him.

During the assault, Khanyile alleges, his glasses were broken and he was kicked in the face.

He said when he broke free, he heard one of the men ask the other for a fireman and he believed they were going to kill him. Khanyile said he got his firearm, but Ahmed continued to advance towards him even after he (Khanyile) had cocked the firearm.

“I then fired four shots in his direction and he fell down. I caught a glimpse of Mohamed by the foyer, where he fell down.”

In connection with the extortion charge, Khanyile said he had taken R350 from Ayesha Vawda but denied he had threatened her life.

Vawda testified on Wednesday that during the alleged extortion, she had gone to visit her parents and parked in another flat’s parking bay because the bay for her parents’ flat at Kingsford was occupied.

She said her parents, Ahmed, his wife and Mohamed lived in the flat at Kingsford.

She said her brothers had told her that they had an understanding with the security guards and she could park in another flat’s parking bay if necessary.

The case continued on Wednesday.

The Mercury

Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip has called for an urgent probe into a contract with Joburg media company Mohlaleng Media.

 Port Elizabeth - Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Athol Trollip, wants the metro to freeze a contract with a Johannesburg media company, Mohlaleng Media.

This after The Herald published a report which outlined the company having free reign to spend as it pleased after a cap of R10 million had been lifted.

The newspaper reported that payments to Mohlaleng included an amount of R771 552 paid to two media specialists, Grant Pascoe and Vukile Pokwana, over five months to “beef up” the communications unit.

In recent months, in the run up to the Local Government Elections, Pascoe and Pokwana worked closely alongside former Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Danny Jordaan.

Pokwana is a former journalist, while Pascoe is a former DA heavyweight in the City of Cape Town who defected to the African National Congress (ANC) in recent years.

Trollip issued a statement on Wednesday and stated that he had asked acting City Manager, Johan Mettler, to freeze the contract.

He said he was disturbed to learn that more than R21-million had already been paid to Mohlaleng Media, some of which was allegedly used to remunerate political appointments under the former administration.

Trollip said that it beared the hallmarks of an irregular contract which is adequate grounds to freeze the contract and call for an urgent investigation.

“This administration will not tolerate irregular, wasteful or unnecessary expenditure, in any form, and any contract that is alleged to have facilitated any expenditure of this nature will be fully investigated and scrutinised,” he said.

African News Agency

Desmond Tutu has had successful surgery to treat recurring infections that have afflicted him for more than a year, his family said.

Cape Town - Anti-apartheid icon Desmond Tutu has had successful surgery to treat recurring infections that have afflicted him for more than a year, his family said on Wednesday.

The 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town has struggled with ill health in recent years, but his family has not said whether his current ailment is related to the prostate cancer Tutu has battled with for nearly two decades.

“Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu's surgery this afternoon was successful and he was in good spirits,” the brief family statement said.

Reuters

A pre-wedding party turned into a nightmare when three armed gunmen barged into a Malvern home and robbed the assembled guests.

Durban - A joyous pre-wedding gathering at a Durban home turned into a nightmare for a young couple and their family when they were attacked by a gang of five armed robbers.

Just a day before their wedding, the terrified couple tried to save their lives by locking themselves in a bedroom as three gunmen barged into the Malvern home, while a fourth kept watch at the front of the house and a fifth at the back.

The thugs kicked the bedroom door open and rough-handled the family, making them lie on the floor as they made off with the bride’s imitation jewellery, several cellphones and cash.

The brazen morning house robbery shattered the notion that there’s safety in numbers and led to the bride’s father - who said he was sickened by crime - advising other families to hire armed security when hosting functions at their homes.

Despite their harrowing ordeal on Thursday, the couple tied the knot at a Christian ceremony the following day.

The bride, an attorney, and her husband have since moved to Johannesburg where she started a new job on Monday.

“The fear doesn’t leave you,” the 25-year-old woman, who requested anonymity, told POST yesterday (Tuesday).

She said she was now worried about her family’s safety as the robbers were not afraid to strike in broad daylight.

Her uncle, Lawrence Naidoo, said the robbery lasted about 15 minutes.

“I was offloading vegetables from my bakkie to cook for the meals, when my brother-in-law (the bride’s father) arrived and went inside,” he told POST.

“A few minutes later, a light gold 4x4 drove up and parked at the front entrance, blocking the driveway gate. Three men jumped out and each one wore a cap. The fourth person, the driver, remained inside.

“They casually walked on to the property. The first walked past me and went towards the front door, and without knocking or announcing who he was, went inside. I followed him, and his accomplices in turn followed me.”

He said one of the two men, who was behind him, caught him by his collar and repeatedly demanded, “Where’s the money? Where’s the safe?”

“That’s when I realised there was a problem.”

Naidoo said the first man had grabbed the shoulder of his sister (the bride’s mother) and demanded to know the same from her.

While both siblings were being held, their 85-year-old mother, who was sitting in the kitchen, watched the events unfold.

She started to scream out in fear, he said.

The family were then pushed into the kitchen and forced to lie on the floor.

“I just remember telling them to pray,” recalled Naidoo.

The third suspect walked into the passage looking for the homeowner.

Naidoo said his niece (the bride) and her fiance, who had seen the men enter the property, locked themselves in her bedroom and tried to call for help.

His niece’s screams had alerted her father, who used an alternative route and made his way to the kitchen, where he saw what was happening.

“They rough-handled him, pushed him and hit him with the gun on his face.”

The family’s cash and cellular phones were taken.

The homeowner was then dragged to his bedroom where he handed over cash.

When they were done, the robbers broke down his niece’s bedroom door, Naidoo said.

“Her fiance was trying to keep the door closed but they kicked it open. My niece ran to the toilet trying to call her brother to warn him to stay away. He was returning home but had not answered her call as he was around the corner,” Naidoo said.

He said his nephew arrived shortly afterwards and parked behind the 4x4, in which the fourth accomplice sat.

“The other three pulled him out of the bakkie, stole his money and drove off in his van, loaded with vegetables.”

Naidoo said his brother-in-law, who tried to check on his son, was prevented from doing so by the fifth robber, who had kept guard at the back of the house.

The bakkie, which had a tracking device, was recovered in KwaMashu later that day.

Naidoo said despite his niece being rattled, she tied the knot and the couple travelled to Johannesburg on Saturday to start their new lives.

Her father, who declined to be named, said families should hire armed security for functions.

“About two years ago, when my son got married at our former home in Stella Road, we hired eight armed security personnel,” he said. “Because this was going to be a small wedding, we did not employ security.”

Police spokeswoman Captain Nqobile Gwala said a case of house robbery was being investigated.

Post