A social gathering in Naude Street ended in near tragedy when Brendon Jafhta (24) was shot in the chest by a policeman on Saturday at approximately 23:00.

According to Jafhta’s brother Sergio Daniels, they were sitting in front of their yard when a quarrel broke out between himself and a visitor at the policeman’s house nearby.
They went their separate ways and saw a car leave the premises of the policeman. It returned a while later and the policeman, accompanied by a local traffic officer, walked over to them.
“He had a gun, which he pointed at me and ordered me to come to his yard so that the matter could be settled,” Daniels said. “I tried my best to ignore him.”According to Daniels the policeman then pointed the gun at Jafhta and shot him.

Pandemonium broke out after that.

Jafhta was rushed to Barberton Medi-Clinic and later transferred to Nelspruit Medi-Clinic in a critical condition.
Daniels went to the police station where a docket was opened.

According to Insp Elizabethe Sithole, acting head of the detective branch, she received the statements of witnesses as well as the policeman.

After the incident an accident occurred involving another police officer. He was patrolling the streets when he came across an angry mob. He stopped to find out what the problem was. The mob was shouting names at him and insisted that he arrest the policeman who shot Jafhta or they would set fire to his house.
On trying to drive away he bumped into three people. Two were slightly injured by the third had to be rushed to hospital and was discharged the next day.
No arrests have been made and according to Sithole the case is being investigated.

Al het daar nie rekors gespat nie het die middag goed afgeloop en is uitstekende prestasies behaal.

Carla de Nuysschen is as die junior victrix ludorum aangewys, met Armand Grobbelaar en Morné Pretorius wat gesamentlik die junior victor ludorums was. 

Beide senior trofeë is gedeel. Melissa Vermaas en Cele-Mari du Plessis is as die senior victrix ludorums aangewys en Mark Pretorius en Drickus Coetzer as die senior victor ludorums. 

In die “dash for cash”-item waar die vinnigste swemmer die kans kry om oor 25m vir kontant te swem, het Mark Pretorius die afstand in ‘n tyd van 13,83sek afgelê. 
Calvin Robinson was tweede in ‘n tyd van 15,62sek en Drickus Coetzer derder in ‘n tyd van 15,64sek. 

Die vinnigste dogter was Cele-Mari du Plessis in ‘n tyd van 14,44sek, met Landi Joubert tweede in ‘n tyd van 15,78sek en Melissa Vermaas derde in ‘n tyd van 15,90sek.

A police constable from Barberton appeared in court after he assaulted a family friend during a quarrel in the middle of the night on March 16. 
The injured woman, whose face and eyes were badly swollen, was admitted to Barberton Provincial hospital after the attack. It is still unclear what caused the quarrel. 

Capt. Doris Jele, acting station commissioner, told the Barberton Times that Const Johnson was off duty when the incident occurred. She said that Johnson contacted the police and the ambulance service after the assault. 

A report regarding the incident was forwarded to the area commissioner and she was awaiting the outcome after which a decision will be made regarding Const Johnson’s future in the police service. 

Cecil Gavin Hugh Johnson (23) was released on R500 bail after appearing in Barberton magistrate court on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. 

The case was postponed to April 13. 

The injured woman was not prepared to comment on the incident.

At long last, the Emjindini stadium renovation and upgrading will soon be underway. The appointed contractor, Bright Future Project CC, gave this assurance last Tuesday at the Emjindini indoor sports complex during the tender hand-over.
 
An amount of R1,5 million was allocated by the National Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture through its program called building for sports and recreation (BSR) in March last year. The initial proposed stage for starting with the construction was August last year but it was delayed after no proper contractor suitable could be found. 
During the hand-over by the Ehlanzeni District Municipality to Umjindi, it was agreed that the project should be completed by June 30. 

Some of the upgrading is the planting of new grass and installation of an automatic pop-up irrigation system. The existing ablution block, change rooms, vending stalls and entrance gate are also part of the renovation. The existing security fencing will be upgraded, new entrance gates will be installed and some fence perimeters will be moved. The area behind the existing spectator stand, the entrance gate and ablution facilities, will be paved. 

Local labourers and construction material will be used and 30% of the budget will be spent on local labour. The construction staff should comprise 50% women, 15% youth, 15% disabled and the contractor permanent staff will not be recognized as local labour. 

A communication liaison officer, Jameson Makola has been appointed to liaise with all parties concerned. Willem Gower, Tumber Fourie Engineers, believes that the project will be a success. 

The owner of the appointed contractor, Precious Mashego, said her contractor is committed to the upliftment of communities. As agreed upon during the handover of the project, her companies would give first preferences to local residents when making appointments.

A second rape charge was added to the charge sheet of Quinten John de Witt (26) when he appeared in the Barberton Magistrate court on Friday March 18. 
He will now stand trial on two counts of rape, one count of kidnapping and one of attempted murder. 

De Witt was arrested after he allegedly kidnapped a young woman from her workplace, raped her and then slit her wrists at the quarry site near Fairview mine in the early hours of March 5. 

The court case was postponed to April 14 to allow for further investigation. 

Other offences alleged committed by De Witt include assault, reckless driving and malicious damage to property. He will remain in custody.