Pensioner in court after neighbour shot
Man, 79, faces charges of murder, illegal guns possession
THE CITY of Tshwane will launch the much vaunted Informal Traders’ Bursary Fund at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The fund emanates from the informal traders’ summit held in May, which provided a platform for informal traders to engage with mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa and the leadership of the city to express the problems confronting them, the city said yesterday.
During these interactions one of the areas identified was the inability of the traders to invest in the education of their children to enable them to further their studies and increase their employability, and ensure a positive contribution to the socio-economic fabric of the city.
“In recognition of the plight of the informal traders, given their limited income which is mainly for subsistence, coupled with the high cost of education, the city conceptualised a bursary fund targeting the children of informal traders to enable them to further their studies and thus reduce the chances of inter-generational transmission of poverty… “
At the inception of a process to capitalise the bursary fund on August 20, a one-hour show was hosted by Power FM promoting the fund and its intended objectives.
Ramokgopa and the station’s listeners pledged R162 000 to support the fund.
Companies and businesses would be sold tables (for the launch), with the proceeds going to the fund.
“The City of Tshwane will be entering into a memorandum of agreement with the University of Pretoria for children of informal traders deemed eligible for a bursary to be enrolled at UP, subject to such a child meeting the minimum entry requirements of the university,” the city council said. – ANA
THE DAUGHTER of a 79-yearold Hazendal man, who allegedly shot and killed his neighbour last week, stared at her father coldly as he made his first appearance in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Before William Petersen stood in the dock to face Magistrate Keith le Keur, he locked eyes with his daughter – the only family representative in the packed courtroom.
Petersen faces charges of murder and the possession of illegal firearms and ammunition after police discovered 25 firearms, 700 rounds of ammunition and a “concealed body”, later identified as his neighbour, 39-year-old Aneez Dennis.
The cache of firearms comprised pistols, rifles and revolvers of various calibre.
Last week, Petersen contacted police to report an attempted housebreaking.
He reportedly called the police saying he had fired two shots at an “intruder” who had “fled the scene”.
Police spokesman Andrè Traut said later that same day, police received an anonymous tip-off that a body was concealed on Petersen’s property.
“A search of the premises led to the discovery of the body of a 39-year-old male in the backyard,” Traut said.
Only eight of the 25 firearms recovered were registered in Petersen’s name.
He was also unable to account for the loss of two of his firearms.
Police are also investigating a charge of defeating the ends of justice.
Asghar Mia for the accused, representing William Booth Attorneys, argued that the “State had no grounds” to oppose bail because his client had no prior convictions, and that this specific incident was a “result” of a burglary.
He asked the magistrate for a “summary of evidence” and that the State should provide reasons as to why it was opposing bail.
Mia also requested his client be held at the medical section of the prison because of a “history of gout and high blood pressure”.
Prosecutor Tercia April revealed that the concealed body was shot five times, in the back and leg, indicating there was “no way” the deceased could have “run away” as Petersen claimed.
She said that the Schedule 5 offence was a “serious issue”, hence the State was opposing bail.
The case was postponed to December 22 for a formal bail application.
Petersen was remanded at Pollsmoor Prison.
The deceased’s eldest sister, Colette Louw, 43, said her brother was planning a reunion with his 15-year-old son and eight-yearold daughter whom he hadn’t seen in more than five years.
She said she was overwhelmed with sadness over what had happened to her brother.
“I did not see Petersen then, I will face him now.
“I want justice to prevail, whether he (my brother) was wrong or not, there was no reason for the way that man (Petersen) killed him,” she said.
PETERSEN REPORTEDLY CALLED THE POLICE, SAYING HE HAD FIRED TWO SHOTS AT AN ‘INTRUDER’