Latest news with #TheWitness
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Joshlin Smith case: Life behind bars for mother, co-accused over trafficking
Joshlin Smith case: Life behind bars for mother, co-accused over trafficking Judge Nathan Erasmus has sentenced the three suspects, who he convicted of kidnapping and trafficking Joshlin Smith in Middlepos, Saldanha, last year, to life in prison. The Witness reports that Racquel 'Kelly' Smith and her two co-accused were sentenced this morning to loud applause from the crowd. Found guilty Erasmus, earlier in the month, found Smith and her two co-accused — a boyfriend and a mutual friend — guilty on charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. 'I have already found that on the evidence before me, Joshlin was exchanged,' he said. 'The evidence is from all scores there were payments, or at least the promise of payments,' he said, accusing Smith of regarding her daughter, who was aged six when she disappeared, as a 'commodity'. National attention The trial was held in a community hall in the small fishing town of Saldanha Bay, north of Cape Town, where the case sparked outrage. The case drew national attention, including from Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie, who offered a R1m reward for her safe return. But it took a turn when prosecutors alleged that Smith sold her daughter to a traditional healer, who was interested in her eyes and fair complexion. Shocking testimonies Explosive details that played out in court included statements from the girl's teacher and a pastor, who said the mother had told him of the planned sale of her child in 2023. Watch the sentencing: Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
1 dead, 6 injured in KZN cash-in-transit ambush
A bystander travelling in a taxi was killed after being caught in crossfire during a brazen cash-in-transit (CIT) heist near Baynesfield, south west of Pietermaritzburg, on the R56 yesterday afternoon. The Witness reports reports that the heist occurred shortly after 17:00, when a CIT vehicle was ambushed by an unknown number of armed suspects. A source told The Witness that the attackers, travelling in two vehicles, rammed into the armoured truck before attempting to access it using explosives. 'The suspects used explosives in an attempt to breach the vehicle, but the attempt failed. They then opened fire on the guards, who sustained only minor injuries,' the source said. The suspects hijacked two civilian vehicles after opening fire on their occupants. One civilian was fatally shot. Both hijacked vehicles were later recovered in the Lynnfield Park area. Emergency services rushed to the scene. In a statement, ALS Paramedics Medical Services said: 'Paramedics arrived on scene to find chaos and carnage, with the area spread over some distance. Multiple vehicles, including the cash-in-transit truck, were damaged by bullet holes and crashes. 'Paramedics triaged the scene and immediately began treating the injured. 'One person, a man who was allegedly in a taxi, was caught in the crossfire and sustained gunshot wounds. He was assessed by paramedics but unfortunately died at the scene due to his injuries.' Six other people, including security personnel, sustained various injuries and were treated at the scene before being transported to hospitals in Durban. SAPS and multiple private security units attended the scene. The area was cordoned off and the R56 closed to traffic to allow investigations to continue. The situation remains under active investigation. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
‘The River' and ‘Tsotsi' star Presley Chweneyagae dies at 40
Award-winning South African actor Presley Chweneyagae has died at the age of 40. According to The Witness, his family confirmed the news this morning, and his agency, MLA, released an official statement on their website shortly thereafter. 'It is with profound sadness that we confirm the untimely passing of one of South Africa's most gifted and beloved actors, Presley Chweneyagae, at the age of 40,' said MLA. Chweneyagae was born on October 19, 1984, in Mafikeng, North West, and his artistic journey began at the age of 10 when he joined drama classes at the North West Arts Council (now the Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation), setting him on a lifelong path of storytelling, expression and excellence. He rose to international fame with his unforgettable performance in Tsotsi (2005), a role that helped bring home South Africa's first-ever Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Chweneyagae's performance resonated with audiences across the globe, cementing his place as a powerful and authentic voice in African cinema. His career spanned theatre, TV and film, with standout performances in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) and the award-winning TV series The River (2018). On stage, his presence was commanding and transformative, with roles in: • Hamlet in Hamlet • Mark Antony in Julius Caesar • Bottom and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream • Orestes in Dikeledi (an adaptation of Electra) • Relativity, Urban Reality, Jack in the Box, The Grandball, Silent Voice, Kalushi, Cards, Beautiful Things, and more. He was also a gifted writer and director, co-authoring the internationally acclaimed stage play Relativity with Paul Grootboom – later published by STE Publishers – and directing the award-winning production CELL NO 4. 'We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, children, extended family, colleagues, and all who knew and loved him. While we grieve the immense loss of a remarkable talent, we celebrate the light he brought to the world,' read the statement. Details regarding memorial services will be shared in due course. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
6 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
10 homes lost in Pietermaritzburg blaze as road access hinders fire truck
Blocked access to the Sxavathini informal settlement in Copesville, Pietermaritzburg, forced Msunduzi firefighters to resort to extreme measures yesterday, hauling buckets of water by hand to extinguish a shack fire. Speaking to The Witness, Msunduzi station officer Vusi Nene said about 10 shacks were gutted by flames yesterday afternoon. 'We are using buckets to douse the fire. We had to park the truck on the main road and walk quite a distance to the scene. The cause is undetermined. The fire has been contained,' added Nene. A tenant who did not want to be named, and had moved in on Sunday, said the incident left him devastated. 'I was still moving my stuff to this new place, which I thought was better than where I used to stay before. I left to get the rest of my stuff today (Monday), I came back, the house is on fire,' said the distraught tenant. He added that he lost most of his treasured documents. 'This is heartbreaking as I no longer have an identity document. All my hard work and savings to buy belongings had gone to waste,' he said. Ward councillor Sphamandla Madlala sympathised with the families who lost their homes and belongings. 'This is sad. What we need to establish is what caused the fire. I have contacted the disaster management department to go to the scene and provide assistance,' he said. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
White crosses in Trump video: ‘Not mass grave' explains KZN farmer who took footage
White crosses in Trump video: 'Not mass grave' explains KZN farmer who took footage The farming community in KwaZulu-Natal has pushed back against claims that video footage of white crosses — shown during a high-profile meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa — depicted mass graves of murdered Afrikaners. The Witness reports that farmers have clarified that the images were from a symbolic memorial held in 2020 for victims of farm attacks. During last week Wednesday's televised meeting at the White House, Trump confronted Ramaphosa with video footage which, he claimed, proved there was a genocide against Afrikaners in South Africa. The footage showed long rows of white crosses, prompting controversy and international attention. Farmer who took footage of crosses explains Farmer Rob Hoatson, who filmed the original video, explained that the footage captured a large memorial event for Glen (63) and Vida Rafferty (60), who were murdered on their Normandien farm, near Newcastle, in 2020. 'I have been personally affected by farm murders in the local community, including those of my neighbours, Glen and Vida Rafferty in 2020, and my close friend Tollie Nell in 2024.' 'But the truth is that all farming communities in South Africa have been profoundly affected by this problem. 'I am grateful that farm murders have risen to international prominence, and I sincerely hope that they receive the attention they deserve,' said Hoatson who clarified the facts around the video in an interview with the BBC. Crosses laid before memorial of couple killed in farm attack The Raffertys' deaths sparked widespread grief. The couple was well-known and liked by the community. In 2022, Doctor Fikane Ngwenya and Sibongiseni Madondo were convicted and sentenced for the murder, while a co-accused, Siyabonga Macu, died before testifying. 'The aerial video showing thousands of people along a twenty-kilometre stretch was taken by me, a farmer in the area myself,' Hoatson said. 'The large spontaneous attendance at this community event bears testament to the scale and seriousness of the problem.' DA ward 2 councillor Bebsie Cronje also recalled the community's response. 'The entire town attended and paid respects at the crosses which the community laid before their memorial service,' she said. It was expected that white genocide issue would surface during White House visit Dr Oscar van Heerden, an expert in diplomacy, suggested that Trump's decision to raise the white genocide issue during the meeting was inevitable. 'He simply had to bring a matter to a conclusion on the white genocide issue and why he brought the refugees to America,' said Van Heerden, referring to the recent granting of refugee status to 49 Afrikaners by the U.S. government. The meeting has drawn mixed reactions, with some viewing Trump's confrontation as proof that tensions still exist between the two nations. Police minister says more black than white victims in farm attacks Meanwhile, South African authorities have rejected the genocide narrative. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, presenting the latest crime statistics, said six farm murders occurred in the first quarter of 2025, with only one involving a white farmer. 'The genocide conspiracy is totally unfounded and totally unsubstantiated,' said Mchunu, noting that black farmers and workers have historically been most victims. Most murder victims in SA are 'poor, unemployed young black males' Gareth Newham, head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme at the Institute for Security Studies, reiterated that farm violence in South Africa was not solely directed at white farmers. 'If there was any evidence of either a genocide or targeted violence taking place against any group based on their ethnicity, the ISS would be among the first to raise alarm and provide the evidence to the world,' said Newham. He added that most murder victims in South Africa are poor, unemployed young black males. 'Murder victimisation is far more linked to class, gender and location rather than race,' he said. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
