Cops in prisoner search

NATIONAL police commissioner General Kgomotso Phahlane has vowed to stop attacks on journalists by police officers and communities after a meeting with the SA National Editors Forum (Sanef ).

Sanef said it requested a meeting with police top management about attacks by police on journalists.

“General Phahlane condemned attacks on journalists and said he would issue a memo by next week to all police officers appraising them of the need to respect journalists at crime scenes. The meeting agreed to formalise existing agreements to enhance understanding between the police and the media.”

These included editors invited to address national, provincial and regional meetings of police leadership and recruits and police officers invited into newsrooms to enhance their understanding of media operations. – ANA THREE awaiting trial prisoners escaped from police holding cells in Tzaneen, Limpopo after cutting through a mesh wire, the police said yesterday.

Spokesman Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said the incident took place on Sunday.

One prisoner was caught at a farm in Letsitele .

“The remaining two are Bethuel Simango, 25, from Mozambique and Muye Makgopa, aged 26... A special task team was established,” he said.

Simango faced charges of rape and housebreaking, while Makgopa faced charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of ammunition, housebreaking and theft.

The first prisoner arrested, Ike Ngobeni, 27, will appear in the Nkowankowa’s Magistrate Court today. – ANA A MAN accused of blowing up his wife with a hand grenade during a domestic dispute will stand trial in March .

Joel Moahase appeared briefly in the Durban High Court yesterday, where his case was postponed to March 17.

Moahase is alleged to have killed his wife Lesego in their Amanzimtoti home on August 31, last year after an argument about money.

Mohoase is out on R5 000 bail. – ANA