Latest news with #Marais
The South African
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Apartheid top-cop gets 15 years for Caiphus Nyoka murder
Former apartheid police officer, Johan Marais, has been sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment. He was charged for the murder of student activist, Caiphus Nyoka. Nyoka was killed on 24 August 1987. At the time, Marais was the section leader of the Reaction Unit 6 in Dunnottar. The unit was a counter-terrorist force with the South African Police Service. 'The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence of 15 years,' said NPA spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane. At the time of Caiphus Nyoka's death, he was a member of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), as well as the president of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at Mabuya High School. 'He was also the organiser for the South African Youth Congress Organiser (SAYCO) in the East Rand,' said Mjonondwane. Nyoka fiercely opposed apartheid policies and did not shy away from opposing them publicly. The Pretoria High Court has previously heard evidence detailing the events leading up to Nyoka's killing, 37 years ago. It was presented that Marais, together with members of the security branch and other units within SAPS, met to discuss a plan to kill Nyoka. In the early hours of 24 August 1987, Nyoka was shot nine times after the police stormed his bedroom. He died on the scene due to the multiple gunshot wounds. Then commanding officer, Major Leon Louis van den Berg, Sergeant Pieter Stander and Sergeant Abram Hercules Engelbrecht have since been charged separately for the murder. 'During the sentencing arguments, Marais told the court that he committed the offence 37 years ago under the instructions of the apartheid regime,' said Mjonondwane. However the team of prosecutors assigned to the case argued that Marais pleading guilty, was not an indication of remorse, as he has still not apologised to the family. Judge Papi Mosopa also agreed that Marais had failed to demonstrate pure remorse. Mosopa said he felt the sentence he gave Marais was fitting for the crimes committed. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
10-07-2025
- The Herald
Caiphus Nyoka's killer Johan Marais gets 15 years as court cites lack of remorse
'In the early hours of August 24 1987 at about 2.30am, Marais, together with Sgt Pieter Stander, Sgt Abram Hercules Engelbrecht and other members of the reaction unit who are also charged separately, arrived at Nyoka's homestead and stormed Nyoka's room. They found him sleeping with three of his friends. After identifying him, they removed the friends from the room and proceeded to shoot him nine times.' Mahanjana said Nyoka died on the scene. During the sentencing arguments, Marais told the court that he committed the offence 37 years ago under the instructions of the apartheid regime, further asking the court for a sentence of correctional supervision because of his age, medical condition and that he showed remorse for his actions. However, Mahanjana said the team of prosecutors — advocates Esther Dlelwani Kabini, Daniel Desi Mogotsi and Vhulahani Nesengani Davhana — asked the court to impose a stringent sentence and argued that Marais, together with his co-perpetrators who are still standing trial for the same matter at the Pretoria high court sitting in Benoni, committed a planned brutal killing of Nyoka. 'They targeted him, isolated him from the friends he was with and killed him execution style while half-naked, sleeping in his bed. Furthermore, the team argued that the fact that Marais pleaded guilty does not show true remorse because even after 37 years, he still has not apologised to the family,' she said. The NPA has welcomed the sentence, stating that the sentence was significant and impactful, not only for the state and society, but most importantly for the victims' families to finally find closure. TimesLIVE
Al Arabiya
09-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
French prosecutors seek trial of six over 1982 attack on Jewish restaurant
French prosecutors said on Wednesday they were seeking the trial of six people by a special terrorism court over an attack on a Jewish restaurant in Paris 43 years ago in which six people were killed and at least 20 others were injured. The bombing and shooting assault on the Jo Goldenberg restaurant in the heart of the Jewish district of the Marais quarter in August 1982 marked the deadliest antisemitic attack in France at the time since World War Two. It came amid a wave of violence involving Palestinian militants. There has been no previous trial related to the case. A judge has now to decide whether a trial will take place. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) said in a statement it was requesting a trial of Walid Abdulrahman Abu Zayed, suspected of being one of the gunmen behind the attack and detained in France since the end of 2020. Also among those it wants to put on trial are Nizar Tawfik Mussa and Mahmoud Khader on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist organization. PNAT said it wanted three other people also to stand trial for complicity in murder and complicity in attempted murder in connection with a terrorist organization. Arrest warrants for the suspects have been issued, though it is not known whether five of them are currently in France.
The Citizen
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
AI is transforming Tshwane's tourism industry
The unveiling of a WhatsApp chatbot, a new Artificial Intelligence-powered concierge designed by four visionary hoteliers, was at the heart of the annual general meeting of the Tshwane Tourism Association held on June 19 in Pretoria. 'Four hotel experts designed the chatbot for the hospitality industry to transform hospitality industry communication,' said chairperson Susan Marais. She explained the purpose was to bridge communication gaps, soften the formality of traditional reception, and offer guests 24-hour concierge service. According to her, the chatbot promises a sense of belonging, smoother guest experiences, and easier marketing by sending targeted emails and follow-ups, with early trials showing excellent feedback rates from WhatsApp interactions. Marais emphasised that AI could take a business in the hospitality industry to the next level. She sees the chatbot as not only a service enhancement but a strategic tool: 'It's a faster, friendlier way to reach guests, keep them informed, and give them that feeling of home'. Looking ahead to 2026, the association is mapping out an outstanding year with several aims, like strengthening safety structures, building on its existing Memorandum of Understanding with the metro and metro police to ensure tourists feel safe at all times. Marais is also looking towards leading the association to expand the grading of establishments to raise the benchmark across accommodation providers. This will support township tourism by spotlighting local cultural experiences and township-led tourism routes, and develop an urban heritage circuit. 'We want to design walkable and guided historic city routes with storytelling flair as well as improve connectivity and transport, forging partnerships with public and private transport players for better links between hotels, attractions, and transit hubs.' She noted that most of these initiatives are 'pretty well on track'. She stressed the importance of keeping hospitality training accessible. 'After Covid-19, training has become a luxury, but our focus must remain on this important aspect.' The year kicked off with the association's showcase event at the CSIR International Convention Centre, drawing 60 exhibitors and over 400 visitors. 'Old friendships were renewed, and new relationships and collaborations were forged,' said Marais. To her, the annual Official Tshwane Guide was a standout promotional tool in the past year. Over 6 000 copies were distributed in key airports, hotels, and lodges, helping tourists easily discover what Tshwane offers. The association is gearing up for its 25th anniversary edition of the guide in 2026. Marais explained the association tapped into university campuses to encourage tourism careers over the past year. 'We spoke to university students to get more students to study in the hospitality industry,' she said. 'This initiative supports long-term workforce development in Tshwane's tourism ecosystem.' In the past year, the association also strengthened its reach by networking with other tourism bodies across South Africa, and maintained safety sessions with the metro police and the service provider of a Tshwane safety app. She underlined these partnerships, noting that resident and visitor safety is critical and continuously improving. Reflecting on the year's successes and looking forward, she said: 'I cannot help but look back at the past 12 months as an absolute whirlwind. We cannot wait to share many of these new initiatives with our members throughout the year to come.' The Tshwane Tourism Awards 2025, scheduled for August 16 at Batter Boys Village, will recognise excellence across hospitality, events, sustainability, and innovation. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Vogue Arabia
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
These Are The Summer Trainers Hitting The Streets in Paris
The French have long nailed the ballet flat. It's practically a prerequisite to being Parisian, right up there with the petulant pfffftttssss , strong coffee and that insouciant, undone-but-somehow-still-glamourous thing they do so well. So imagine my surprise when the streets–stretching from the Marais to the 11th arrondissement–weren't dotted with scruffed-up Chanel flats or ballerina-esque Margiela Tabis, but with trainers. Yes, trainers. Worn by all the coolest girls. Now, I'm not a sneakerhead —and frankly, I've never been particularly enthralled by the whole athleisure culture that's swept through most urban cities. I always felt a quiet kinship with Parisians, who are almost aggressively indifferent to exercise and would sooner be caught dead than in yoga leggings or overt workout gear. So to see trainers worn so nonchalantly, looking pulled together and every bit haughty despite their casual ease, I was forced to reconsider my stance. Alexa Chung in her Samba's breaking up a summer suit Gigi Hadid rocking her Samba's and double denim To be fair, these trainers were miles away from anything resembling performance wear—or those gargantuan Triple S Balenciaga sneakers that once dominated pop culture. A tricky silhouette that somehow made sense on spindly legs and required a certain froidure to pull off (you need real attitude to wear a shoe like that). Instead, the trainers spotted all over Paris were their polar opposites: anti-bulk, barely-there soles with a retro bent. Dries Van Noten's versions were a clear hit – suede, sorbet-coloured, and everywhere. Another strong contender was Margiela's newly launched nylon Sprinter, seen in soft pastel hues, as well as a snazzy acid green number that all but dominated. Wisps of sneakers, really. So compellingly chic, I was ready to throw all my trainer tribulations out the window. Fashion is fickle–and, seemingly, so am I. Clearly, Parisians, and all the best-dressed celebrities with megawatt star power, agree. From the slim Adidas Samba to Prada's aptly named Collapse sneaker (also in nylon, a core trend), the trainer has become compact, agile, impossible to resist. Alexa Chung is a devoted Samba girl, wearing hers with effortless élan —a clever contrast to a summer suit and a ladylike Chanel bag. Gigi, on the other hand, rides the wave in all blue, fully committed to her double-denim moment. But one of the best looks clocked on the 3rd arrondissement was a nameless stranger in balloon cotton beige poplin-tie waist pants rolled up messily, a navy cardigan tied up and falling off the shoulder, its saving grace. And where you would have expected a sweet slip on sandal, was a nylon sneaker, obstructing what would otherwise have been a perfectly preppy ensemble. The styling nuance these summer sneakers bring isn't just about comfort, it's about intention. They either lighten up a serious outfit or add a knowing touch of irony: a retro trainer with a suit, a pair of shorts worn with a blazer, high socks and a suede sneaker. The trainer is no longer an afterthought—it's the outfit-maker. Comfort may be a given, but it's almost beside the point.
