Radio 2000 Mixes

Eastern Cape police have opened a case of murder and arson after two women accused of witchcraft were burnt to death in Ngonyameni village in EmaXesibeni, formerly known as Mt. Ayliff. The children who were in the house at the time of the attack managed to escape. Their family says the act was carried out by a mob and that incident has left them devastated.

The police have denied allegations that they have failed to assist residents who have been illegally evicted from their homes in Alexandra north of Johanneburg. About two people have been forced from their houses by what has been described as a syndicate. The local Community Policing Forum says they have established that those behind the evictions claim that the victims are not the righful owners of the houses which are part of the Alexandra Renewal Project. Yesterday our reporter Nosipho Mncube spoke to one of the affected people who said that the police have not been helpful. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the police's Brigadier Mathapelo Peters for a response.

The woman dubbed "The Lion Mama" who stabbed three men she found raping her daughter says she is happy about the sentence meted out to the men found guilty of the attack. She was speaking outside the Mthatha High Court sitting at Lady Frere magistrate's court in the Eastern Cape where the men were given a 30 year imprisonment term each. Five years is suspended. Mncedisi Vuba and Xolisa Siyeka were on Tuesday convicted of gang-raping the woman at Qumbu village. Her mother was called to the scene and stabbed the three men who were taking turns raping her. Our reporter Yanga Funani was in court.

A criminal syndicate is allegedly forcing vulnerable families out of their homes, in Alexandra in Northern Johannesburg. So far about 20 families have been forcefully removed from their homes by the gangs, who want to sell their homes to third parties. It is alleged that the police are involved by turning a blind eye to this even after the incidents were reported. The criminals use violence and threaten to shoot those who resist. Ouer reporter Nosipho Mncube is on the story.

Police are hunting for suspects who have been kidnapping children around Gauteng. The provincial Community Safety Department says four cases have been reported in Ekurhuleni, and Pretoria this month with the last incident occurring earlier this week. In all the cases the suspects demanded a ransom and later released the children on receipt of the cash. Those kidnapped were between the ages of six and 17 years. Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane says parents should keep an eye on their children.

The Democratic Alliance says today’s ruling that former president Jacob Zuma should personally pay for his legal costs in his corruption case, is a victory for South Africans who have been footing the bill. The High Court in Pretoria has upheld the application by the DA and EFF to set aside an earlier agreement signed by the presidency, authorising state funding for Zuma's defence in criminal cases. Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering stemming from 783 alleged payments to him in relation to the 1990s arms deal. Gauteng Deputy judge president, Aubrey Ledwaba, delivered the judgment this morning.

Police are investigating numerous cases including murder and attempted murder following several attacks believed to be related to the ongoing plastic sector strike. Since the strike started in mid-October, some companies have reported incidences and posted photos on social media of injured workers as well as cars that have been vandalised and set alight. It's believed the attacks might be linked to the strike.

Civil society group Equal Education says both the Satchwell and Manjoo reports have helped them to reflect on what it should have and should do differently as it seeks to fight the scourge of sexual harassment within the organisation. Professor Rashida Manjoo, who was part of the initial investigating panel, but later distaced herself from its report, released her own this week which calls for a more victim-centred approach to dealing with the problem. The Satchwell report cleared former Treasurer Doron Issacs who was accused of sexual harrasment. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the organisation's General-Secretary Noncedo Madubedube.

A sexual harassment complaint against the ANC's national spokesperson, Pule Mabe continues this afternoon in Johannesburg. This after Mabe's 26 year old assistant cited two incidents in which she says she resisted his advances. The matter is being heard by the ANC's Internal Grievance Pane. Our reporter Mbali Thethani is on the story.

The City of Mbombela has described as misleading claims made by the DA in Mpumalanga that 1 billion rand is being returned to the coffers of Treasury while there are service delivery problems. The party revealed this week that the municipality only spent 13 percent of its allocation for the 2017/18 financial year. It claims that the City underspent on amongst other things, its infrastructure and electrification programme budgets. The City says this is a misrepresentation of facts. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to City of Mbombela's Joseph Ngala.