Fake magistrate faces a very real eight years in jail!

Tuesday 23 March
                                               2021, 0145

Real News. Scrolla.Africa

Fake magistrate faces a very real eight
years in jail!
Kabelo Tlhabanelo

The fake magistrate ran up a bill of over R30,000 at a
guesthouse, promising that the Department of Justice would
pick up the tab.

But it turned out to be a total lie and on Friday, the slippery con
man ran out of luck - and he is facing eight years behind bars.

What Elsabe Risseeuw from the Imperani Guesthouse didn’t
know was that the man who introduced himself as magistrate
Thato Mofokeng from Welkom, Free State, had already racked
up 17 previous convictions!

Risseeuw said he arrived at their guesthouse in Ficksburg on 21
August and left without settling his R31,390 bill.

He had introduced himself as the newly-appointed magistrate
in the area and called himself Daniel Sebiloane.

“He hit us during Covid-19 lockdown when we were struggling
to get clients, so we were grateful for the business,” Risseeuw
said.

Mofokeng booked for 11 nights. On 23 August he asked the
guesthouse to provide accommodation and breakfast to his two
friends which added R1,880 to the bill.

On 28 August, the fake magistrate requested the guesthouse to
provide a venue, alcohol and other items because he was going
to host a farewell party for one of his friends.

Then he vanished without paying a cent.

Risseeuw told Scrolla.Africa: “He didn’t look suspicious and the
information he gave us looked genuine. But he won't harm
anybody again.”.

Free State NPA spokesman Phaladi Shuping said Mofokeng also
visited Frontier Hotel in Bethlehem with his girlfriend on 16

October and said he was a top politician from Luthuli House
and the ANC would pay the bill.

But he paid for one night, then left without paying a bill of
R9,239.

Mofokeng has previously served time for all his 17 convictions.

He didn't have any pending cases when he was sentenced on
Friday.

“It’s war!” declares Gumede before
heading to court
Lungani Zungu

              Former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede
              describes her legal woes as warfare, as she heads
              back to the Durban Specialised Commercial
Crimes Court today.

“My hands are clean. After more than a year since arresting me,
the state still hasn’t proven its case,” she said.

She says her lawyers will be fighting for the case to be thrown
out of court.

Gumede took a swipe at the NPA and the Hawks, saying that
their way of charging people first and prosecuting later was
flawed.

“Things can’t just carry on as if nothing is wrong. Our law
enforcement authorities should do their jobs fairly and
ethically,” she said.

“This kind of action is damaging to one’s reputation.”

Gumede lost her job as mayor of eThekwini in 2019. She was
charged with fraud and corruption along with 16 other people,
including City Manager Sipho Nzuza.

The arrest stemmed from a R430 million Durban Waste tender
issued in 2017 during her term.

Last Thursday, three more ANC councillors from the eThekwini
Municipality appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial
Crimes Court following their arrest on Wednesday.

When Gumede goes to court today, she will have one soldier
less after the passing of her loyal supporter Mzomuhle Dube
who died last month after a short illness.

“The only way I can honour comrade Dube is to fight until the
end to clear my name.”

If anything, Dube’s death has boosted Gumede’s confidence.

She has pledged her support for Public Protector Busisiwe
Mkhwebane, who faces a parliamentary inquiry into her fitness
to hold office.

If Mkhwebane is removed, she will be the first public protector
not to finish their term since the office was initiated in 1995.

Gumede is now a member of the KZN provincial legislature.

Picture source: @GumedeZandileRT

Bapedi nation might have to wait for
candle wife to bear an heir
Judas Sekwela

The Bapedi nation might have to wait for years
before they have a king.

That's because none of the late King Victor Thulare’s four
children were born from a so-called candle wife, a woman
selected by the nation and married off to the royal household
for the express purpose of giving birth to a male child.

The queen mother Manyaku Thulare has been chosen as the
interim leader of the Bapedi nation in Sekhukhune, Limpopo.

This follows much discussions, meetings and mutual agreement
amongst elders after the death of King Victor Thulare III two
months ago.

He was the son of queen Manyaku.

Royal family spokesman Ntoampe Mampuru said the nation is
going to find a candle wife in Lesotho to come and give birth to
the king.

Mampuru said Queen Manyaku’s appointment is very
significant as it will help the nation to get through what is a
difficult period of mourning.

“The appointment comes at a time when South Africa
continues to recognise and advance the rights of women into
positions of power and leadership in all sectors of society,
including traditional leadership.”

Mampuru told Scrolla.Africa queen Manyaku’s appointment
puts to rest any fears about the succession process following
what was a difficult and protracted legal dispute over the head
to the Bapedi throne.

Mampuru added that queen Manyaku has always loved the
Bapedi people and has stopped at nothing to ensure their
needs are always at the forefront.

“The late king was widely respected for his love and wonderful
leadership. Queen Manyaku has always been credited as
teaching the king to love his people,” said Mampuru.

Muvhango star opens up about his less
glamorous side hustle
Lwai Nongaua

               Perhaps acting is more high-profile than farming,
               but for actor Gabriel Temudzani, the two
               professions share equal billing in his heart.

“I will be the happiest person if I could see myself as a fully-
fledged commercial farmer,” said Temudzani who is celebrating
21 years of playing the role of Chief Azwindini Mukwevho in
Muvhango.

“I long for black farmers to have a close relationship with the
market. I strongly believe that it is through agriculture where
we can fight poverty and create employment for our people,"
he told Scrolla.Africa in an exclusive interview.

He said he was passionate about farming and uplifting others as
he improves as a farmer.

He said he grew up in the villages where farming is a way of life.

“My decision to consider farming as a potential career came a
little late,” he said.

He said his decision to study agriculture came about because of
his strong belief that formally advancing your knowledge and
using modern technology-driven ways have the ability to
rapidly increase productivity.

He officially took over his family farming project in 2016 and
the journey has been good.

Already, the project has created four permanent employees
and dozens of personnel who work seasonally.

Temudzani hinted that the project could soon become a
registered commercial project in Limpopo.

“Through the farm, I intend to fight poverty, create
employment and change the negative narrative about black
farmers,” he said.

“I want to build strong systems that will ensure that many
aspiring black farmers have access to a lucrative farming
market.”

Mpumalanga premier fingered in traffic
learnership flawed process
Dalphine Tagwireyi

The Mpumalanga premier declared the 2021 traffic cop
learnership at the Mpumalanga traffic college procedurally
flawed without conducting proper investigations.

This is according to Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security
and Liaison, head of department, Busisiwe Nkuna.

In a letter, which is in Scrolla.Africa’s possession, Nkuna
responded to Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane’s questions to
explain why the premier’s directive to nullify the learnership
was not followed.

In a defiant response, Nkuna said she was being persecuted
because the premier, through Ntone Molelekoa, gave her a list
of names of candidates that the panel needed to recommend
although they did not qualify.

Nkuna further alleged that Molelekoa sent directions to her to
delete the name of Mthokozisi, a traffic cop applicant and be
replaced by Musa, the premier’s alleged preferred choice.

“I have records of all the lists I was given by Ntone saying they
are from the premier,” Nkune wrote in the letter.

“Do you want me dismissed because I did not appoint your
candidates who did not qualify?”

She further noted that she tried unsuccessfully to engage with
her immediate boss, MEC Vusi Shongwe and when he finally
granted her an audience he harshly ordered her out of his
office when she said the withdrawal procedure would result in
legal proceedings.

DA councillor Comfort Sibiya said the entire situation is a classic
comedy of errors.

“Clearly many politicians escape accountability by barking out
verbal instructions without committing themselves in writing,”
Sibiya said.

Sibiya said he can personally point out two candidates who are
not qualified from around his area of Lydenburg/Mashishing.

The premier’s spokesperson Sibongile Mpkani Mpolweni said
the office of the premier will not comment on the contents of
the correspondence because of the confidentiality of the
employer-employee relationship.

Gogo wallows in poverty after her son
is killed
Gogo Tshinakaho Mudau says she had spent
most of her life in severe poverty while she
raised her son, Azwifaneli Mudau.

But Azwifaneli, 37, had not disappointed her because he made
a success of his business - only to be murdered at the gate of
his house in Makwarela Extension 3 in Vhembe, Limpopo.

Azwifaneli’s own wife, Winnie Ntanganedzeni Nemaranzhe, has
been taken into custody for her suspected role in the murder.

"Life has not been easy with his father having passed on many
years ago,” the gogo said.

"Raising him as a single mother, I prayed that God would guide
him. He never disappointed me. I never wanted for anything
until that day when he was killed."

She said she is living a life of poverty as her daughter-in-law
took the furniture and their water tank from the house and left
her with nothing.

"This woman is heartless and evil. I can’t bear the sight of her,”
she said.

The family had faced threats from the alleged killers before the
arrests were made, and were concerned that if they were to be
granted bail, then the family would no longer be safe.

"I’m glad the killers weren’t granted bail. They must be locked
up for the rest of their lives. I have nothing. I have to rely on my
grant because of them. I wish the wheels of justice could move
faster and they be jailed for life."

The four suspects, Tshivhangwaho Mudau, Tshililo Madega,
Takalani Nemutandani and Nemaranzhe, were arrested in
December 2020 almost twenty months after police began their
investigation.

The case was postponed to 14 May 2021 for further
investigations.

South Africa finally closes the book on
AstraZeneca
Arthur Greene

            Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on
            Sunday that South Africa had sold its 1.5 million
            doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, more
than two months after purchasing them.

All 1.5 million doses have gone unused because a small clinical
trial showed last month that the shot offered minimal
protection against mild to moderate illness caused by the
dominant coronavirus variant.

This decision was made counter to the advice of many medical
experts, who pointed out that the vaccine was likely to still be
effective at preventing serious illness and death caused by the
virus.

Earlier this month, professor Shabir Madhi, the principal
investigator of the AstraZeneca vaccine trials in South Africa,
said he was “mortified” by the government’s decision to
suspend rollout.

Soon afterward, the government swiftly decided to sell the
batch of vaccines to countries within the African Union (AU), in
which South Africa’s dominant variant of the virus was not as
prominent.

The media statement released by the Ministry of Health
explains that in “the past weeks the Department has had to
ensure that all member states identified by the AU vaccine
acquisition team as recipients of the vaccines, are compliant
and have obtained all regulatory approvals, permits and
licences to roll out the vaccines in their respective countries.”

The statement adds that the first shipment of vaccines - the
first 1 million doses that South Africa received - will be
distributed to nine member states, while the remaining
500,000 will be sent to five other countries.

The statement does not specify which countries the vaccines
will be sent to, nor does it mention how much these countries
paid for the vaccines.

The statement did, however, “confirm that the full purchase
amount was received by the Department on Monday last
week.”

Picture source: @htTweets

Makhadzi steps away from “Woza
Summer” as Sikorobho and Limpopo
Boy squabble
Philani Mzila

Makhadzi has distanced herself from the song “Woza Summer”
by Limpopo Boy.

Makhadzi, real name Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, told
Scrolla.Africa she knows nothing about the song.

"I know nothing about the song. I don't know why they listed
me as one of the composers," she said.

Makhadzi, the “Tshanda Vhuya'' and “Matorokisi'' hitmaker
told Scrolla Africa she didn’t know why she was listed as one of
the composers.

“I never worked on it at all,” she said.

“Woza Summer,” which belongs to Robert Thoka, who’s known
as Limpopo Boy, was released on Friday.

The song is at the centre of a dispute between Limpopo Boy
and bandmate Blessing Khumalo, known as Sikorobho.

The controversy began when Sikorobho learnt that Limpopo
Boy registered the song as his own, when their initial
agreement was that they were going to release the song
together.

"It was disturbing what Limpopo Boy did,” said Sikorobho.

According to Sikorobho, the song was released under Open Mic
and features Queen Lolly and Dj AirBurn Sounds.

Sikorobho said he wasn’t fighting with Limpopo Boy but added:
“He double crossed me on the song. I have also left his flat
because what he did was not cool at all. He was selfish and I

can't be sharing a room with someone who signs deals behind
my back. One day he will need me."

Limpopo Boy confirmed he released the song alone and lashed
out at Sikorobho.

"He's an opportunist. He used me. That song is mine and he
must stop bad-mouthing me," he said.

Open Mic manager Brandon Maseko denied that it was
released under his stable.

"I was only helping him because he dances for Makhadzi. The
song is released independently. I can't tell you the name of the
stable," he said.

Floods and mice bring Biblical scenes to
Australia
Arthur Greene

                Roads have been flooded, homes submerged and
                people have been able to kayak through the

streets after torrential rainfall hit parts of Australia this week.

The “once in 100 years” floods have led the Australian
government to declare a natural disaster in large swaths of
New South Wales, as heavy rains lay waste to the state and
force thousands to evacuate.

Officials have issued evacuation orders for nine areas, with
more likely to follow.

Sky News reported on Saturday that over 4,000 emergency calls
have been made by people who need to be rescued from
flooding but no deaths have yet been reported.

However, New South Wales Emergency Services Minister David
Elliott said in a news conference on Sunday, “we are moving
closer and closer to the inevitable fatality."

The moment one young couple’s home near Sydney was swept
away has been captured on video. Neighbours filmed the
uprooted cottage drift away on what should have been the
couple’s wedding day.

Meanwhile, thousands of mice have infested a town in south-
east Australia.

The gigantic swarms have taken over the small town of
Gilgandra, also in New South Wales, and locals say it is their
worst mouse infestation in decades.

Video source: @jackiefox_
Picture source: @RedCrossAU

Trump wax figure put into storage
because people wouldn’t stop punching
it in the face
Arthur Greene

A wax figure of Donald Trump had to be removed
from his display at a waxwork museum in Texas,
USA, because visitors wouldn’t stop attacking it.

The San Antonio Express News Reported that the proprietors of
Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks had to move Donald to its storage
room, because patrons punched and scratched him, inflicting
deep cuts to his face.

“When it’s a highly political figure, attacks can be a problem,”
Clay Stewart, the regional manager of the museum told the
publication.

He said that they initially tried to prevent the attacks by moving
him within view of the front desk, so security could keep an eye
out. However, this still did not prevent museum visitors from
passionately “punching” Donald hard in the face.

So they shipped him to the storage room, where he currently
presides.

“We’ve always had trouble with the presidential section
because no matter what president it was – Bush, Obama or
Trump – they’ve all had people beat them. The ears were torn
off Obama six times. And then Bush’s nose was punched in.”

Obama, at least, has seen some respite since he left office and
remains on display, where he is reportedly only very rarely
attacked.

The former stands in close proximity to Trump’s former
domain, so he really is seeing better days at the San Antonio
museum.

It turns out, unsurprisingly, that this figure of Trump is not the
first to have been on the receiving end of rough treatment. In
October 2020, Madame Tussauds Berlin got rid of its Trump
statue, ceremoniously dumping the replica in the rubbish when
it changed its exhibits as a way to condemn his administration’s
politics.

Even members of his dynasty are unsafe; a statue of ex-first
lady Melania Trump in her native Slovenia had to be removed
after being set on fire by vandals.

Picture source: @DearAuntCrabby

Bafana coach forced to make team
changes
Menzi Magubane

Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki has been forced to make
last-minute changes to his team line up.

This comes after South African teams used a Fifa Covid-19
ruling as an excuse to prevent the coach from selecting them
for national duty.

Ntseki is expected to call up replacements for Thulani Serero,
Bongani Zungu, Keagan Dolly and Dean Furman who have not
been released by their teams.

Ntseki is expected to announce replacements for each of these
players after Sunday's DStv Premiership matches.

Due to current Covid-19 rules, players who would travel for the
games in Africa will now have to go complete a 10-day
quarantine upon their return to their overseas-based clubs.

On Thursday, Bafana face Ghana in the African Cup of Nations
Group C qualifiers at FNB Stadium in Soweto at 6pm.

The good news for Ntseki is that Percy Tau is expected to be
available for this match. Tau has not been getting game time at
Brighton in England and the club has released him.

Other players that Ntseki has managed to get on board are
Isreal-based Siyanda Xulu and the three Portugal-based Thibang
Phete‚ Luther Singh and Lyle Foster.

Ghana and Bafana are tied up in Group C with nine points each.

Black Stars are on top on goal difference and Thursday's match
could decide who takes the group and qualify for 2022 Africa
Cup of Nations in Cameroon. On Wednesday Sudan, who are
third in the group with six points, will take on Sao Tome.

Sudan are expected to win which will pile-up pressure on
Ghana and Bafana at the top.

After the Ghana match, Bafana will travel to Sudan for both
teams' final match of the group on Sunday. On the same day,
Black Stars will host Sao Tome.

Picture source: @BafanaBafana

A test of depth for young Proteas
Sphiwe Masilela

             The young blood in the Proteas’ squad will have
             to get up to speed quickly as they prepare for the
             upcoming 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s Twenty20
World Cup, as well as the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023.

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) Convenor of Selectors, Victor
Mpitsang, believes the rookies have a big void to fill in the
absence of veterans, while they also have an opportunity to
make a name for themselves.

“It will be a good indication of our depth as a cricket nation
with the loss of some of the senior players to the Indian
Premier League,” he said.

“As the selection panel, we are looking forward to seeing what
the new additions to the team will bring to the Proteas’
system.”

Warriors all-rounder Wihan Lubbe and Momentum Multiply
Titans fast bowler Lizaad Williams have received their maiden
call-ups to the squad.

South Africa are gearing for the Pakistan tour, which will
commence on 2 April, through to 16 April.

The tour will consist of three ODI’s and four T20 international
matches.

“We have enough experience within that squad to present
Pakistan with a good challenge when they arrive on our
shores,” said Mpitsang.

“And to Temba Bavuma, our new captain, all the best to him
and the players for the upcoming tour.”

The team will assemble in Pretoria on Saturday.

Picture source: Supersport.com

Zimbabwean actress Nhira who blocked
Zodwa receives a state funeral
Joseph Chirume

Anne Nhira died from wounds sustained during a
robbery in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, over a
week ago.

She was accorded a State funeral on Sunday in Harare.

Nhira had come back from praying on a hill when she was
attacked.

Though famous in Zimbabwe in 2002 for her role in the soapie
Studio 263, it was her influence over her government to ban
Zodwa Wabantu in 2017 which drew strong public criticism.

Zodwa was earmarked to perform at the prestigious Harare
International Carnival, an annual music and cultural
extravaganza aimed at attracting tourists and investors to
Zimbabwe.

But then Nhira dropped the bombshell.

She was thought to be dating Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick
Zhuwao, at the time. He was then the Minister of Tourism and
responsible for the carnival.

Nhira wrote to Minister Zhuwao citing Zodwa’s nudity and her
raunchy dances as immoral and unacceptable in a conservative
society like Zimbabwe.

Through an order from Zhuwao, Zodwa was banned from
performing at the carnival much to the anger of male revellers
who had sharpened their teeth to have a glimpse of Zodwa in
the flesh.

The banning led to a deluge of criticism of Nhira who called her
names, while some said she was bedding Minister Zhuwao. This
prompted her to take a leave from the public space.

Nhira appeared in South Africa in 2013 as an actress in the films
The Rapist and Ndafunga Dande. She also had roles in South
African productions, Zabalaza and Mutual Friends.