Beata Lipman dies

BEATA Lipman, who wrote the Freedom Charter by hand, died at 88 in Johannesburg on Thursday. Lipman had been unwell after being scalded by hot water.

She was famous for helping to write down the document that sets out the aspirations of a democratic South Africa, eventually woven into the constitution.

Daughter, Jane Lipman described her mother as “tough and bright and determined and stubborn”, and way ahead of her time. Lipman was cremated on Friday. A memorial service is expected in January. THE accused in the so-called coffin assault case were denied bail on Thursday.

Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson were seeking bail for assaulting and kidnapping Rethabile Mlotshwa. Middelburg Magistrate Jongilizwe Dumehleli described the incident as shocking, sadistic and racist. The duo claimed Mlotshwa’s actions caused them to lose their cool, saying they were forced to act when they found him with stolen copper cables. The men claimed they didn’t want to report the alleged theft to police as Mlotshwa had threatened their families.

Dumehleli rejected their claim, saying it was improbable especially taking into account their courage to force the victim into the coffin.