Sangoma charged with human trafficking, premeditated murder of toddler to apply for bail
The two suspects will remain in custody until their next appearance later in June.
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15 hours ago
- IOL News
PSL avoids chaos as Marumo Gallants receive lenient sanction
The PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has narrowly avoided chaos on the eve of the 2025/26 season, thanks to a lenient outcome in the controversial registration saga involving Marumo Gallants and midfielder Monde Mphambaniso. Cape Town City had been hoping for a last-minute lifeline that might see them reinstated in the Betway Premiership, but those hopes were crushed on Thursday night when the PSL Disciplinary Committee (DC) handed Gallants a R200,000 fine — half suspended — for violating registration rules. That means the MTN8 will go ahead without delay, and the top-flight calendar remains intact, even though the decision leaves many with more questions than answers. City had taken the matter to arbitration through the South African Football Association (SAFA), arguing that Gallants breached league regulations by fielding Mphambaniso in 26 of their 28 league matches last season despite not securing the correct clearance certificate. The PSL handbook clearly stipulates that such documentation is required when a player moves between clubs, especially if they were previously registered as professionals. I hope we get a similar verdict, Marumo Gallants must be fined and Capetown City must play in the NFD — Shamase (@uNdu_Mk) July 28, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The midfielder had been part of the Gallants setup when the club sold its Motsepe Foundation Championship status to Leruma United last year, allowing them to purchase Moroka Swallows' Premiership license. With that transaction, Mphambaniso effectively became a Leruma United player — and thus should have been cleared anew to feature for Gallants. Instead, Gallants simply carried on with him in their squad, setting the stage for a dispute that could've derailed the entire league kickoff. PSL prosecutor Zola Majavu confirmed on Thursday that Gallants had pleaded guilty to misconduct, acknowledging their failure to follow proper procedure in registering Mphambaniso. 'The PSL finalised a disciplinary matter, in which I had proferred charges of misconduct against Marumo Gallants FC and its player Monde Mphambaniso,' said Majavu. 'The case stems from the registration of Mphambaniso, which was procured by Gallants without the required clearance certificate in accordance with the rules of the league.' Marumo Gallants management must apologise to us for bringing us into disrepute. They must also give us an undertaking that they followed due process with all players for 2025/2026 season. — Bra Hloni (@BraHlonisky) August 1, 2025
IOL News
15 hours ago
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Court hears shocking testimony against Phoenix tavern owner in unrest trial
A warehouse in Durban was burnt and items looted during the July 2021 unrest. Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers A State witness has identified a Phoenix tavern owner in video footage as the one who gave instructions to someone to put pallets on top of the July unrest victims who had been allegedly assaulted and placed next to their burnt taxi. The pallets were intended to aid in burning the victims alive. The witness pointed this out during re-examination at the Durban High Court on Friday. Four men, Ravine Naidoo, Trevor Gopal, Tyreece Govender, and Timothy Govender, are on trial for murder, two counts of attempted murder, public violence, and malicious property damage. Gopal, the owner of Tees Tavern, is also charged with incitement to commit public violence. During court proceedings, video footage introduced to the trial by the defence was played. The State witness, whose name cannot be revealed for security reasons, told the court that Gopal in the video was giving instructions. He stated that a man in a blue T-shirt, positioned on the ground floor, received instructions from Gopal, who was upstairs with others. He pointed out the man in a blue T-shirt, looking up at Gopal. After that, the man disappeared from the video footage and appeared again carrying pallets, which he placed on top of the victims, Njabulo Allen Dlamini, Nkosikhona Madlala, and Sandile Sambo. Next to the victims was the burnt taxi that they were driving. The three victims and two others had come in a taxi to Phoenix to buy from Gopal's tavern. According to the two males and one female who alighted from the taxi and went to the tavern, they came back running. They got into their taxi, which was bearing the logo Touch Africa. The witness said a lot of cars came at this stage, and Gopal's brother blocked the taxi, and its occupants were told to get out of it. He said one male and one female were able to run away, but the three others were caught by the crowd that was incited by Gopal to put the heat on black Africans coming to Phoenix. He reported that the victims were assaulted, with Tyreece and Timothy striking Dlamini on the head with a hammer and a rock. Dlamini later died due to blunt force head injuries. Before the witness gave the court this information, there had been numerous objections from the defence counsels, citing that the conduct of the State prosecutor, advocate Thabani Buthelezi, was unacceptable as he asked the witness leading questions. Gopal's counsel, advocate Jimmy Howse SC, said the State was given the video footage, but it did not use it. 'The State cannot ask questions that did not arise from the cross-examination,' Howse objected. He said the State was now seeking to lead evidence in re-examination, which is not allowed. The trial continues on Monday. [email protected]
IOL News
16 hours ago
- IOL News
Khayelitsha couple faces bail opposition in horrific rape and murder case of seven-year-old girl
Odwa Jack and girlfriend Nokuthula Matyeseni appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court for the rape and murder of Lolitha Kowa. Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete The case against a Khayelitsha couple accused of the rape and murder of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa has been postponed to next week for verification of a new residential address after their Kuyasa home was allegedly set alight. Odwa Jack and his girlfriend, Nokuthula Matyesini, appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court on Friday morning, where the State confirmed its intention to oppose bail. Slain Lolitha Kowa's body was discovered kilometres from her Kuyasa home. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The pair was arrested on July 23, hours after Lolitha's body was discovered about 1.5 kilometres from her home. The child had gone missing the previous day after telling her family she was going to play with Matyesini's daughter. Her body was later found dumped in another section of Kuyasa. A screwdriver was lodged in her head, her stomach was bloated, and a sock had been stuffed down her throat. The prosecutor told the court that both accused face a Schedule 6 charge, the most serious category of offences under South African law, which includes premeditated murder and requires exceptional circumstances for bail to be granted. He detailed Jack's criminal history, submitting that the State now had access to his full bail profile. 'Odwa Jack has four previous convictions,' he said. 'In 2016, he was convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances and received a five-year suspended sentence. In 2022, he was convicted twice – once for being in possession of drugs, and another time in Mitchells Plain for being in possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He was also convicted in 2015 for selling liquor without a licence. He has no outstanding warrants or pending matters.' The prosecutor said Matyesini had no current convictions, pending cases, or warrants, but added: 'She was arrested and charged with assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm in 2013. That matter was subsequently withdrawn.' He informed the court that, following consultation with the investigating officer, the State would oppose bail. He also confirmed that the couple's home had been torched following their arrest, and this formed part of the State's opposition, as it meant that they were a flight risk because they had no place to stay. In response, the defence said the accused now have an alternative address and requested the court to allow time for the new location to be verified and assessed for safety and community acceptance. The matter was postponed to August 8 for this process to be completed. Outside the court, hundreds of community members expressed anger and sorrow over the murder. Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) chairperson Thobile Ndwalaza said Jack had been banned from driving their vehicles. 'We are going to start screening new drivers because of what happened. Even if Odwa came out today, he will never touch our vehicles again. We are very shocked by this incident – it has us on high alert,' he said. Harare Community Police Forum chairperson Mthetho Mahomba condemned the accused in strong terms. 'They have demonstrated that they are not human beings, and we now regard them as animals. We don't have space for them in our community – animals belong in the zoo. This is all because of the brutal and inhumane manner in which they killed her.' Community activist and CPF member Funeka Soldaat called for consistent action against gender-based violence beyond high-profile cases. 'We are grateful that communities are supporting each other and mobilising, but we must do this daily and not only when something shocking happens. We need to return to the values we were taught growing up. It can't be that women are protecting men. The accused could have gone to the community and reported the boyfriend instead of protecting him.' The community is expected to return to court next week when the bail matter resumes.
