TUESDAY Tel: 046 636 1173 GO GREEN www.grocotts.co.za 25 MAY 2010 SOUTH AFRICA’S OLDEST INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER R5.00 Muni to write off Bhisho owes Makana Be a fighter put From Mawas to R2.1-million R15-million down the lighter Sharks INSIDE PAGE 2 PAGE 5 PAGE 13 PAGE 15 Show of hands UNANSWERED QUESTIONS... Ward 4 Councillor Melikhaya Phongolo (left) and Mayor Vumile Lwana present next year’s budget to around 70 Manley Flats residents in a small farm school. Residents were given an opportunity to put questions to the municipal officials before the mayor and his entourage left for Fort Brown where a second imbizo was scheduled. See full story on Page Three Photos: Steven Lang V Market Day Specials valid Wednesday 26th May 2010 only Many more indoor specials No name Valid from Wed 26th May till Sat 29th May 2010 only Topside/ Fresh Bulk Lean Silverside Bulk Pork Granny and Golden Russet Chicken 5 piece Beef Mince Roast Chops Starking Eco Borsch Pears braaipack Apples R9.99 R4.99 p/kg 95 95 95 Large Avos Cashew Nuts 21.99 38. 46. 32. 4 for R10.00 R69.99 p/kg per kg per kg per kg per kg WEDNESDAY ONLY WACKY WEDNESDAY: 2 Cayne Pines for 10.00 and 2 for free Prices apply to Pick n Pay Grahamstown. Tel 046 636 1747 Prices advertised are inclusive of VAT. We reserve the right to limit quantities. No traders please. E&OE. Every month for the past year. Addcheck 19 Hill Street Grahamstown (an independent research company) has proven that Pick n Pay gives you more for your money on a representative basket of 1000 items. 046 622 3258 2 Grocott’s Mail Tuesday, 25 May 2010 NEWS NEW STREET FIRE... A fi re News in brief brokeout at Olde 65 on Satur- Rape in Extension 7 day damaging the roof and the kitchen of the pub as well as a Grahamstown police are inves- part of Debonairs Pizza. tigating a case of rape after a The incident occured at around 21-year-old woman was alleg- midday in the pub's kitchen. edly raped by her sister's boy- Mynhardt Van Dyk of Olde 65 friend. Warrant Officer Sherolene said: “There was no trading at Williams said: “The victim was the time. We suspect an electic at a shopping mall when the sus- fault in the extractor fan. The pect forced her into a vehicle and staff members saw that there was instructed the driver to go to Ex- smoke coming from the kitchen, tension 7 where both the suspect they used fi re extinguishers to and the victim were dropped off. put out the fi re until the fi re bri- The suspect allegedly assaulted gade came. There is no structural and tied the victim to a tree with damage, just the roof and the his shoelaces and raped her.” A wall.” Van Dyk said Olde 65 will 40-year old man was arrested and be open as soon as their kitchen will appear in court soon. is cleaned. “I don't see us closing for more than 10 days,” he said. Man arrested for A manager at Debonairs said attempted rape the cost of the damage at the A 24-year-old man has been ar- business has not been deter- rested and is facing charges of mined yet. “The ceiling in the attempted rape after he sexually kitchen and toilet fell off after assaulted a woman in Vukani on being damaged by the fi re. Some Saturday morning. W/O Williams parts of the roof in the front shop said: “It is alleged that the victim were also damaged. We do not was sleeping at her house with know how much this will cost us her two sisters when the suspect, for now,” he said. Photo: Stephen who is known to her, entered her Penney room. The suspect forced the vic- tim to undress and told her that he was going to give her money Three years for three robberies but she refused. The suspect then forcefully assaulted the victim.” Williams said the suspect fled the DANIELLA POTTER who testified in court. cused for them to unjustly frame him consideration that the accused is scene after one of the occupants On 19 September 2009, the third for these crimes. “still young” and living with his moth- of the house woke up. 19-year-old Grahamstown count, the accused threatened the The state prosecutor argued that er, twin brother and sister. The court resident was sentenced to complainant, who was 16 years old the accused should be sentenced for also ruled that it was strange that Five arrested for robbery A three years imprisonment at the time, with a knife and robbed two years per count. The defence at- the accused called no witnesses even Five man aged between 18 and 44 and declared unfit to possess a fire- him of R100. The court ruled that it torney argued that in prison, the ac- though the witnesses were available. have been arrested and are fac- arm under the Firearm Act in the must take the interest of society into cused will be exposed to gangs and All three counts were taken for the ing charges of robbery after they Grahamstown Magistrate's Court consideration and that robbery is although he will be taught skills, he purpose of sentence and the accused mugged two people on separate last week. The accused, Siyabonga prevalent in the area of jurisdiction. will receive little rehabilitation. He was given three years imprisonment. occassions in Hlalani and Tantyi Thembani, did not plead guilty to the The state prosecutor said that also asked the court to take into ac- The court ruled that the accused is townships. The suspects stole three counts of robbery that were the identity of the accused in all count that the accused is undergoing given leniency in order for him to re- money and a cellphone. Police laid against him but the court ruled three counts does not appear to be circumcision ceremonies. habilitate himself and warned that if managed to arrest them after that the witnesses’ testimonies were in question. He added that the state The court ruled that each of these he repeats such crimes he will go to being assisted by the community. accurate. The court found that the cannot criticise the witnesses’ testi- counts are serious offences and that the regional court. three charges of robbery that were monies and the accused knows the each count could see a serving time The accused is not a first of- CPF meeting laid against the accused are true witnesses well. He further argued of three years. The court took into fender as he was convicted on 29 A Community Policing Forum and that the accused did not show that the witnesses had testified hon- account that the accused has been in December 2007 for a crime in which general meeting will be held at remorse for his actions or mercy to estly and frankly. The defence at- custody for seven-and-a-half months violence was also used. He was given the SAPS boardroom in Beaufort the complainants. torney’s arguments that there was already. The court also took into a suspended sentence. Street on Thursday at 5.30pm. The first count of robbery took insufficient light for the witnesses Members of the public are invited place on 2 May 2009 where he stole to accurately identify the accused in to attend. R450 from the complainant. No inju- the first two counts and that some of Uncollected debt from ratepayers ries were sustained. On the second the witnesses had been under the in- Compiled by Abongile Mgaqelwa count, which took place on 9 August fluence of alcohol was overruled by totals R2.1-million 2009, the complainant sustained in- the court. The court found all the wit- PRUDENCE MINI is nothing they can do as the owner juries after the accused walked past nesses’ identification of the accused has died. “We are taking what the law- Send your comments him and hit him on the back of the as valid. The court also took into con- THE recent municipal council meet- yers say and that they have done all via SMS to 082 049 2146 head and he fell to the ground. The sideration that on all counts the wit- ing sought the approval of the Budget, they could legally do” to recoup coun- accused then proceeded to remove nesses were in close proximity to the Treasury and Integrated Development cil's money from these debtors, Sizani and we may publish the complainant's takkies at the val- accused. The court also ruled that Plan (IDP) portfolio committee to write said. DA Councillor Les Reynolds said them. ue of R399.99 and R35 from his pock- there appeared to be no bad blood off “uncollectable” debt amounting to that there is a lesson to be learnt here. et. He was seen by another witness between the witnesses and the ac- R2.1-million. The report from the Chief “We should not allow ratepayers and Financial Offi cer to the Budget, Treas- business owners to have such high ar- EMERGENCY NUMBERS ury and IDP committee stated that rears. Sea Breeze should have never Ambulance:............................ 10177 they received a detailed report from have got in that position where they owe Aids Helpline:............ 0800 012322 Whitesides Attorneys who are currently R16 000. We should be on top of this,” AA Rescue: ................ 0800 111997 handling the debt collection on behalf he said.