In Brief

Smuggler taped crocs to body JERUSALEM – A Palestinian woman was caught trying to smuggle three crocodiles from Egypt into the Gaza Strip via Rafah Border Crossing, it was revealed on Sunday.

Maria Telleria, spokesperson for EU BAM, which monitors the border as part of an agreement between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, said the smuggler tried to cross into Gaza with the three crocodiles taped to her upper body. A Palestinian guard noticed the woman was oddly obese and became suspicious.He notified the monitors, and the reptiles were discovered on further inspection.The crocodiles measured 40 to 50cm in length.They were returned to Egypt, and the woman was questioned by Palestinian security officials.She related that she wanted to sell the reptiles to a local zoo.* 5 Children found dead in bathtub JOHANNESBURG – A 60-year-old woman and her five granddaughters were found dead in their home at Zwide outside Port Elizabeth, police said yesterday.Captain Ernest Sigobe said the elderly woman was found in her bedroom and the children were found in the bathroom on Sunday night.He said the woman had visible injuries and police believed that she was strangled.The children were found in a bathtub full of water.Police were not sure about their exact cause of death.Sigobe said no one had been arrested yet.* Couple’s death possibly suicide SECUNDA (SOUTH AFRICA) – The badly decomposed bodies of a couple were found in their house in Silkaatskop on Saturday night.Pieter du Toit, 46, was seriously ill and before his death underwent several operations to remove brain tumours.His wife, Teresa, 36, a nurse, was also depressed about her husband’s suffering, family and friends said at the weekend.She nursed him and administered his medication.The police suspected that the couple had been dead for about a week before their bodies were found in their double bed in the main bedroom.Residents of this town at the weekend speculated about a possible suicide pact.Superintendent Hein Duerr, chief investigator in town, said the police were investigating all possibilities, also that of a suicide pact.No notes were found, however, and the police did not suspect foul play.Sapa-dpa-BeeldA Palestinian guard noticed the woman was oddly obese and became suspicious.He notified the monitors, and the reptiles were discovered on further inspection.The crocodiles measured 40 to 50cm in length.They were returned to Egypt, and the woman was questioned by Palestinian security officials.She related that she wanted to sell the reptiles to a local zoo.* 5 Children found dead in bathtub JOHANNESBURG – A 60-year-old woman and her five granddaughters were found dead in their home at Zwide outside Port Elizabeth, police said yesterday.Captain Ernest Sigobe said the elderly woman was found in her bedroom and the children were found in the bathroom on Sunday night.He said the woman had visible injuries and police believed that she was strangled.The children were found in a bathtub full of water.Police were not sure about their exact cause of death.Sigobe said no one had been arrested yet.* Couple’s death possibly suicide SECUNDA (SOUTH AFRICA) – The badly decomposed bodies of a couple were found in their house in Silkaatskop on Saturday night.Pieter du Toit, 46, was seriously ill and before his death underwent several operations to remove brain tumours.His wife, Teresa, 36, a nurse, was also depressed about her husband’s suffering, family and friends said at the weekend.She nursed him and administered his medication.The police suspected that the couple had been dead for about a week before their bodies were found in their double bed in the main bedroom.Residents of this town at the weekend speculated about a possible suicide pact.Superintendent Hein Duerr, chief investigator in town, said the police were investigating all possibilities, also that of a suicide pact.No notes were found, however, and the police did not suspect foul play.Sapa-dpa-Beeld