Blog South Africa

Sapa photographer Werner Beukes, Beeld photographer Herman Verwey and SABC cameraman Lewellyn Carstens were held for 45 minutes at the Musina police station on Wednesday morning. Their crime: taking photos and video of suspected rhino poachers!

It was only when the NPA intervened that they were released by police.

We have to ask ourselves what the government motives are considering the draft Protection of Information Bill. This disgusting bill could see journalists ending up in jail for publishing ‘classified information’, even if it is in the public interest.

Do you want to live in a society where freedom of the press is destroyed?

It will only be a matter of time before the government tries to silence bloggers who dare to expose corruption or question them on any subject. Each of us needs to make a stand against this travesty!

Tags: Crime, Government & Politics, Society & Culture by James
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This pic popped up on one of my favourite sites: Fail blog

Immediately I saw that it was 100% South African. After all, who can mistake the Castle Lager, Boerewors, Steak and Chop for anything else other than purely South African!

Tags: Inspiration & Jokes by James
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In an extremely brief court appearance today, the charges against Nico Venter for the murder of Anika Smit were withdrawn by the prosecutor.

Prosecutor Tanya Carstens told Magistrate Barend van Schalkwyk the State was withdrawing all charges. She gave no reasons for this at all.

Nico Venter’s lawyer, Gerard Pretorius, also mentioned that he was clueless as to why the charges were withdrawn.

One has to wonder if the police had focused their investigation on the first person who crossed their paths – much like the police did with Fred van der Vyver in the Inge Lotz murder.

Police have been very close-lipped about the investigation, only mentioning previously that they were searching for a second unnamed suspect.

We were also told that super-cop Piet Byleveld was working the case, but he has since retired and there was no word on his thoughts on the case.

This all leaves us the following questions:

Who killed Anika?
Why did they kill her?
Are we ever going to see the person responsible brought to trial?
Have the police done the best job possible on this case?

Tags: Anika Smit Murder, Crime by James
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I wonder what is going on with the Anika Smit murder case.

Way back in May, her ex-boyfriend, Nico Venter, was arrested by the police. He was then released on R10 000 bail. This left relatives and friends angry and unhappy.

Johan Smit was a bit more down-to-earth. When commenting on the bail, he said:

“People say you are innocent until the court finds you guilty. I assume if he has not been convicted yet, I must accept the court’s decision”.

We discovered that Nico Venter was questioned by police on March 12 and that later in March he was asked to go back to the police offices. On legal advice he refused and was arrested later that day. He was later released to appear in court.

The following day we are told that the police are searching for a second suspect. They did not name the suspect or provide any other information. Now, months later, a second arrest is yet to be forthcoming.

A week or so later on March 21 it was reported that super-sleuth Brigadier Piet Byleveld had been called in by local police to assist in the case. He has not discussed why he was being brought into the case.

What is strange to me is that Nico Venter was granted bail and then Piet Byleveld is brought in on the case. I have a number of questions:
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Tags: Anika Smit Murder, Crime by James
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What is our society coming to, when a convicted double-murderer is spared jail because the court doesn’t foresee him repeating his crime?

In December 2005, Andries Mashele’s wife told him that she was leaving him. He was so enraged that he took his gun and murdered his wife and 4 year old son. He then turned the gun on himself, but survived.

Now Judge Ronel Tolmay of the Pretoria High Court has convicted him without ANY jail time at all!

Mashele got 10 years imprisonment, suspended for 5 years. He also has to complete 800 hours community service and to pay his deceased wife’s family a mere R2000.

The judge said that he was not the kind of individual who should be removed from society.

This judgement is disgusting and is typical for the ridiculous overly-liberal ‘justice’ system we have in place now.
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Tags: Crime by James
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Who didn’t see this one coming?

Vuvuzelas have been shown a red card by European football’s ruling body amid fears they could damage the game’s “magic”.

Uefa says the plastic trumpets drown out supporters and detract from the emotion of the sport.

The noisy horns became a hallmark of the World Cup in South Africa, producing a monotonous backdrop during every match.

But they will not be allowed in stadiums during Champions League, Europa League and Euro 2012 qualifying matches.

Uefa says it has taken the decision to “protect the culture and tradition of football in Europe”.

Read more about it: Sky News

Tags: Sport by James
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