Drunken Man sentenced to 3 years house arrest

A drunken man who stabbed his drunk common-law wife with a broken bottle neck during an argument was on Friday sentenced to three years' house arrest.

Henry Beukes, 33, appeared in the Bellville Regional Court before magistrate Deon Oosthuysen, who said neither Beukes nor the woman had any respect for each other.

The incident happened at Fisantekraal, near Durbanville, in March last year, when a drunk Beukes arrived home, to find his common-law wife, Maria October, drunk as well.

Oosthuysen said the woman had been jealous of Beukes, and in her own drunken state had physically attacked him.

This was triggered by a suspicion that Beukes was having an affair because he wanted to go out again for more to drink.

Oosthuysen said Beukes' defence, that he attacked the woman in self defence, was “laughable”.

He said Beukes had pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted murder, and a full scale trial had ensued before the court could get to the bottom of the incident.

Beukes was found guilty of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.

Oosthuysen said Beukes had claimed innocence to the very end, and it was only now, that he was to be sentenced, that he claimed to have remorse.

Under house arrest, he would be free to work for a living and attend church, but he would not be allowed to consume liquor, or drugs without a doctor's prescription. (from IOL)

The sentence for stabbing someone in the face with a broken bottle is going home and spending 3 YEARS with NO DRUGS.

80% of crime in Motherwell linked to alcohol

Eighty percent of crimes committed in South Africa's third most populous township - Motherwell in Port Elizabeth - are alcohol-related, said police on Sunday.

Motherwell station commander Keith Meyer said that the 13 square kilometre township has 106 licensed taverns and many illegal shebeens.

“Apart from drunken driving and drunk and disorderly arrests, seven armed robbers were arrested for holding up a Somali-owned shop. The men, ranging in age from 18 to 26, will appear in court (on Monday). Another man was arrested after being found in possession of stolen goods, weapons and cash,” said Meyer.

Meanwhile, a 19-year old man was arrested in Nellmapius, near Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, after he allegedly stabbed to death another man following an argument over a girlfriend. Police spokesperson Shawane Sepato said the argument between the two men started in a tavern in the area.

Sepato said one man stabbed the other with a sharp object. The man was certified dead upon his arrival at hospital. Police arrested 145 suspects for various crimes during a crime operation in the Mamelodi cluster.

Sepato says suspects were arrested for crimes including possession of dagga, assault, possession of stolen motor vehicles and the possession of firearms and ammunition. (from IOL)

It really does not make sense to be arresting people for possession of cannabis when on the polices own version alcohol causes 80% of the crime!!! How about arresting some people for public drunkeness, or closing down illegal drinking establishments? This makes me wonder - Who is in charge of licencing 109 taverns in 13 square kilometres?

You can pick up a copy of the application at the South African Library and the application cost a whole R100. (Cape Gateway)

The Department of Trade and Industry is in charge of the Liquor Act. (the dti's liquor act page)

Should be Legalized

Major drug campaign planned

The Department of Social Development and the Central Drug Authority (CDA) are launching an anti-substance abuse national campaign, a department spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Abram Phahlamohlaka said the campaign would run with the theme “No place for drugs in my community”.

“South Africa is facing a growing phenomenon of substance abuse, which is linked to the illicit drug trafficking trade,” Phahlamohlaka said in a statement.

The launch would take place on October 14 in Upington in the Northern Cape, where there were high levels of substance abuse and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

The drug trade had serious implications for South Africans because substance abuse contributed to crime, gangsterism, domestic violence, family dysfunction and many other forms of social problems, Phahlamohlaka said.

After the national launch provinces would conduct their own programmes in the form of door-to-door campaigns throughout the country, Phahlamohlaka said.

The Minister of Social Development Edna Molewa, accompanied by other national ministers, and Northern Cape Premier Hazel Jenkins, MEC Alvin Botes, and CDA members would conduct a door-to-door campaign in the areas most affected by substance abuse and educate communities on its dangers.

The campaign would aim to get people talking about the problem in the public arena, homes and schools, and to stimulate debate and action at all levels of society.

“The South African government recognises that the drug problem is complex and requires decisive and collective national action if the goal of creating a drug-free society is to be achieved”.

- Sapa

National Prosecuting Authority CLAIMS success... alas its all lies

Despite more than half of the cases set down for trial in court disappearing from the court rolls, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has claimed an 88% rate of successful prosecutions.

Reading the annual reports of the police and NPA together shows that a vast number of serious crime cases reported to the police are never enrolled for trial. Of those that are, more than 50% are taken off the roll for various reasons.

The two reports show that despite a moderate decline in the incidence of some serious crimes and an improvement in efficiency at the NPA, the country still has a great deal of serious crime — with more than a 75% chance of the culprits getting away with it.

National director of public prosecutions Menzi Simelane, in his first annual report tabled in Parliament yesterday, said there had been an improvement in the performance of the prosecuting service in 2009-10, with the conviction rate rising almost 3% from that achieved in the 2008-09 financial year.

“The disposal rate of the courts is also indicative of their improved performance. During 2008-09, a total of 1,07-million cases were disposed, of which 59,7% were removed from the roll by means of withdrawal, issuing of a warrant, transfer, mental referral or struck off the roll, and 40,3% were finalised with a verdict or an alternate dispute resolution method,” Mr Simelane said.

“During 2009-10, fewer cases were removed from the roll (and) more were finalised. A total of 1,06-million cases were disposed, of which 55,9% were removed from the roll and 44,1% were finalised. This translates into a 3,7% increase compared to 2008-09.”(from BusinessDay)

The Bushmen have a Cannabis enhancing plant?

South African Bushmen have been chewing kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) for hundreds of years to reduce stress, relieve hunger and elevate their moods. Now there are plans to market the exotic plant worldwide as a new over-the-counter drug

Aside from its potential health benefits and mood-altering qualities, the plant is also well known for its ability to enhance the effects of other psychoactive drugs - particularly cannabis. (From MNN)

Ben-Erik Van Wyk, a professor of botany and plantbiotechnology at the University of Johannesburg, said he's extensively researched the plant and found no ill effects or evidence of dependency. (Clearly the man hasn't tried hard enough!)

When chewed, the plant gives a slight head rush, which is similar to the effect of smoking a cigarette, Van Wyk said.

"It's a product with huge potential," he said. "Anyone who has chewed it and has experienced the sensation of the plant definitely knows there's something happening." (from Psyorg)

So clever..

The cannabis plant has a survival stragety which is ingenious. The cannabis flower is valued by humans for its effect when smoked. The one bit of the flower which IS not smoked are the seeds. Where do the seeds go? Pretty much EVERYWHERE!

Two men were due to appear in the Sterkspruit Magistrate's Court on Monday for the alleged possession of 58 bags of dagga, Eastern Cape police said.

Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mpumelelo Landu said the two were arrested outside Sterkspruit when police searched two vehicles they were travelling in on Friday.

Police confiscated 58 bags of dagga each weighing about 120kg.

“The value of the dagga was about R6,9-million,” said Landu (From IOL)

How much cannabis does it take to kill a person?

Quite a lot. In fact so much that it's not possible according to the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs.

"Cannabis presents almost no toxicity and cannot lead to an overdose." Summary Report regarding Toxicity of Cannabis.

"I've heard that you have to smoke something like 15,000 joints in 20 minutes to get a toxic amount of Delta9 THC. I challenge anybody to do that..."

Dr. Paul Horby, PhD Biochemist & Human Pathologist

"There are no deaths from cannabis use anywhere; you can't find one "

Dr. Lester Grinspoon, MD Professor Emeritus, Harvard Medical School