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"title": "Joburg police officers charged with Mthokozisi Ntumba’s murder enter ‘not guilty’ plea",
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"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The accused, all members of the South African Police Service, pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder and attempted murder. They are Tshepisho Kekana (27), Cidraas Boitumelo Motseothata (43), Madimetja Joseph Legodi (37) and Victor Nkosinathi Mohammed (51).</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-862073\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Bheki-Ntumba5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"423\" /> Students protesting against funding difficulties at institutions of higher learning formed a guard of honour when Mthokozisi Ntumba's body was removed on 10 March 2021. Ntumba was shot during clashes between police and students. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daily Maverick)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The murder and attempted murder charges are spelt out in the charge sheet:</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count 1, “in that upon or about 10 March 2021 and at or near De Beer Street in Braamfontein, in the district of Johannesburg Central, the accused did unlawfully and intentionally kill Mthokozisi Ntumba, by shooting him.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count 2, “in that upon or about the date mentioned in court… attempted to kill Masiu Oarabile Lefa by shooting at him.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count 3, “attempted to kill Siphesihle Mtsweni, an adult male, by shooting at him.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count 4, “the accused did unlawfully and intentionally attempt to kill Nikiwe Rasmeni, an adult female, by shooting at her.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1151645\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Bheki-killercops1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"452\" /> Wits University students protest in Johannesburg in March 2021 over the financial exclusion of students. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On 10 March 2021, Mthokozisi Ntumba visited his doctor at a clinic in Braamfontein. Moments after leaving the clinic, Ntumba was fatally shot as police opened fire on protesting students. He died at the scene.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three of the accused allegedly shot and injured three students from the Johannesburg Institute of Engineering who had been standing outside the building. Police reportedly entered the building and continued to shoot at fleeing students.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The matter was briefly delayed when the judge questioned the presence of media in the court and whether proper procedures allowing for them to be there had been followed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When court resumed, the first witness testified about Ntumba’s last moments. She described how she had raced back to the clinic after the shooting to alert the doctor who had seen to the victim moments earlier.</span>\r\n\r\nhttps://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-03-11-mthokozisi-ntumbas-family-members-demand-justice/\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The witness said that although she did not witness the actual shooting, she strongly believed that the shots she heard were those that killed Ntumba. She said that she saw a police vehicle immediately after hearing the gunshots.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ntumba’s cousin, Sthembiso Jwara, told </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> soon after the shooting in March last year that the family was shocked and devastated, especially since his death was caused by people who were meant to ensure the safety of citizens.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The trial continues on Tuesday. About 20 witnesses are expected to testify.</span><b> DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The accused, all members of the South African Police Service, pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder and attempted murder. They are Tshepisho Kekana (27), Cidraas Boitumelo Motseothata (43), Madimetja Joseph Legodi (37) and Victor Nkosinathi Mohammed (51).</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_862073\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-862073\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Bheki-Ntumba5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"423\" /> Students protesting against funding difficulties at institutions of higher learning formed a guard of honour when Mthokozisi Ntumba's body was removed on 10 March 2021. Ntumba was shot during clashes between police and students. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daily Maverick)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The murder and attempted murder charges are spelt out in the charge sheet:</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count 1, “in that upon or about 10 March 2021 and at or near De Beer Street in Braamfontein, in the district of Johannesburg Central, the accused did unlawfully and intentionally kill Mthokozisi Ntumba, by shooting him.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count 2, “in that upon or about the date mentioned in court… attempted to kill Masiu Oarabile Lefa by shooting at him.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count 3, “attempted to kill Siphesihle Mtsweni, an adult male, by shooting at him.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count 4, “the accused did unlawfully and intentionally attempt to kill Nikiwe Rasmeni, an adult female, by shooting at her.”</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1151645\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1151645\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Bheki-killercops1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"452\" /> Wits University students protest in Johannesburg in March 2021 over the financial exclusion of students. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On 10 March 2021, Mthokozisi Ntumba visited his doctor at a clinic in Braamfontein. Moments after leaving the clinic, Ntumba was fatally shot as police opened fire on protesting students. He died at the scene.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three of the accused allegedly shot and injured three students from the Johannesburg Institute of Engineering who had been standing outside the building. Police reportedly entered the building and continued to shoot at fleeing students.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The matter was briefly delayed when the judge questioned the presence of media in the court and whether proper procedures allowing for them to be there had been followed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When court resumed, the first witness testified about Ntumba’s last moments. She described how she had raced back to the clinic after the shooting to alert the doctor who had seen to the victim moments earlier.</span>\r\n\r\nhttps://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-03-11-mthokozisi-ntumbas-family-members-demand-justice/\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The witness said that although she did not witness the actual shooting, she strongly believed that the shots she heard were those that killed Ntumba. She said that she saw a police vehicle immediately after hearing the gunshots.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ntumba’s cousin, Sthembiso Jwara, told </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> soon after the shooting in March last year that the family was shocked and devastated, especially since his death was caused by people who were meant to ensure the safety of citizens.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The trial continues on Tuesday. About 20 witnesses are expected to testify.</span><b> DM</b>",
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Students protesting against funding difficulties at institutions of higher learning formed a guard of honour when Mthokozisi Ntumba's body was removed on 10 March 2021. Ntumba was shot during clashes between police and students. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daily Maverick)
Wits University students protest in Johannesburg in March 2021 over the financial exclusion of students. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)