In Brief

Nasa love triangle pilot to leave HOUSTON – The space shuttle pilot at the centre of a love triangle that led an ex-astronaut on a bizarre diaper-clad drive across five states to confront her rival is leaving the space agency, Nasa announced on Friday.

Commander Bill Oefelein will leave Nasa on June 1, nearly four months after authorities believe his cooled relationship with Lisa Nowak led her to drive 1 448 kilometres from Houston to Florida and confront her romantic rival. “Nasa requested his reassignment and the Navy agreed,” said Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Doug Gabos.Oefelein will likely report for duty in July, Gabos said.Nasa spokesman Jim Rostohar declined to comment on the reason behind Oefelein’s reassignment.* ‘Probe Zuma assassination plot’ JOHANNESBURG – The home of ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma’s confidant, Elias Khumalo, was raided on Friday as police seized evidence linked to an alleged hoax assassination plot against Zuma, City Press reported yesterday.A laptop and various other items were seized at Khumalo’s home in the presence of his lawyers.Sources told City Press that Khumalo was part of a core group of people known to be close to Zuma.They allegedly took part in an amateurish plot claiming that a former member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was paid R1 million in a failed plan to assassinate Zuma.Last week, City Press revealed how Reverend April Peete Mbambo was flown to Durban, where he was allegedly identified by the supposed assassin, Ben Wyland Coetzee, as the person behind the hoax.* Withcraft fears hit supermarket JOHANNESBURG – Police guarded a supermarket at Bizana in the Eastern Cape this weekend after a crowd threatened to burn it down, the SABC reported.Three people were hurt in a scuffle with police.It was believed locals thought the shop management had been practising witchcraft.The store was forced to close Saturday and it would not open Sunday.Police said they would organise a meeting to resolve the matter.Nampa-Sapa-AP”Nasa requested his reassignment and the Navy agreed,” said Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Doug Gabos.Oefelein will likely report for duty in July, Gabos said.Nasa spokesman Jim Rostohar declined to comment on the reason behind Oefelein’s reassignment. * ‘Probe Zuma assassination plot’ JOHANNESBURG – The home of ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma’s confidant, Elias Khumalo, was raided on Friday as police seized evidence linked to an alleged hoax assassination plot against Zuma, City Press reported yesterday.A laptop and various other items were seized at Khumalo’s home in the presence of his lawyers.Sources told City Press that Khumalo was part of a core group of people known to be close to Zuma.They allegedly took part in an amateurish plot claiming that a former member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was paid R1 million in a failed plan to assassinate Zuma.Last week, City Press revealed how Reverend April Peete Mbambo was flown to Durban, where he was allegedly identified by the supposed assassin, Ben Wyland Coetzee, as the person behind the hoax. * Withcraft fears hit supermarket JOHANNESBURG – Police guarded a supermarket at Bizana in the Eastern Cape this weekend after a crowd threatened to burn it down, the SABC reported.Three people were hurt in a scuffle with police.It was believed locals thought the shop management had been practising witchcraft.The store was forced to close Saturday and it would not open Sunday.Police said they would organise a meeting to resolve the matter.Nampa-Sapa-AP