JUST IN: Truck crash and diesel spillage cause total road closure of N1

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JOHANNESURG - Following the earlier motor vehicle accident involving two trucks on the N1 South before Maraisburg Road, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has confirmedt that all lanes of the N1 South are closed to traffic. According to JMPD, this closure is necessary to allow emergency personnel to safely manage the scene and clear the diesel spillage and overturned vehicle. "Three slight injuries have been reported, and one of the trucks has overturned, spilling diesel. Emergency personnel and Law Enforcement are on scene, and initially, three lanes were affected and closed off, causing heavy delays. "All lanes of the N1 South are currently closed before Maraisburg Road. Vehicles are being diverted at Gordon Road. Significant and heavy traffic congestion is being experienced on the N1 South and surrounding areas," said JMPD. The estimated time for the scene to be cleared and the N1 South to be reopened is approximately 4 hours. Motorists...

Televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused found not guilty after eight years


GQEBERHA - Televangelist Timothy Omotoso (63) and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani (41) and Zikiswa Sitho (33),  have been found not guilty on all the 32 charges the state indicted them on. 
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has noted the judgment of the High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, Gqeberha.

Delivering the judgment, Judge Irma Schoeman found that trio was not guilty due to the technicality, mainly that the former prosecutors in the case acted improperly and the accused were not sufficiently cross-examined by the state. It is for that reason that the prosecuting team will study the judgement and decide which legal avenues to explore. 

Since the arrest of the trio in April 2017, their trial has been protracted with numerous obstacles including interlocutory applications by the accused that even included Constitutional Court challenges. The most recent applications were for five special entries for a mistrial and an application made on 16 January 2024, where the defence made an application for the judge to reconsider her previous judgment on the application for discharge according to Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which were successfully opposed by the state. The delays caused some witnesses to no longer want to proceed with giving evidence as they indicated they have since moved on with their lives and are not interested in reliving their experiences in court. That has led to the reduction of the charges from 63. 

"In as much as the NPA does not seek to secure conviction at all costs, it remains committed to ensuring justice is served for the victims of crime and will go at all lengths to give a voice to the victims by exploring all the possible avenues," said Luxolo Tyali, the NPA Regional Spokesperson.

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