Reid: 'I am at war with your country'

An article published by CNN contains a partial transcript of Thursday's court hearing in which Richard Reid was sentenced to life in prison for his confessed plan to try and blow up a jetliner with explosives he had hidden in his shoes. The exchange is between Reid and Judge William Young.

Source: CNN

Scorpions nab teachers 'for R2,9m fraud'

Three Umlazi teachers have been arrested in connection with fraud totalling R2,9-million in one of the biggest scams against the KwaZulu-Natal department of education. And Scorpions' investigators are separately probing massive fraud within the department, possibly involving senior officials. However, the department won't disclose any information for fear of jeopardising the case.

In the first breakthrough, it has emerged that the salaries of more than 400 teachers were diverted into bank accounts allegedly set up by the three teachers, who were arrested last week by members of the Durban commercial crime unit. Zibuyile Winifreder Shezi, 36, of Ingilosi Primary School, Bhekinkosi Mitchel Shezi, 40, of Zwelesethembiso CP School, and Buyisiwe Theodora Zoe Sithole, 43, of Ingilosi JP School will appear in court again on Friday when they are expected to submit a formal bail application.Police Superintendent Vish Naidoo said more arrests were expected.

It is alleged the teachers were assisted by officials of the education department's Durban South region. "During the first three months of last year, the three accused allegedly changed or had the banking details of other educators changed and their (other educators') salaries were deposited into the (new) accounts," Naidoo said. The investigation had taken a long time because of the complexities of fraud cases, he added.

The teachers were arrested at their schools on January 23 by Det Insp Vincent Cele and colleagues of the Durban commercial crime unit. The teachers appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court the next day and have been remanded in custody until Friday. "We are investigating the possibility that a person or persons with access to the personnel administration computer system assisted in the execution of this crime and appeal to anyone who can assist us with information in this regard to contact Detective Inspector Cele at 031 332 2534, on extension 2327," Naidoo said. Durban South education officials were unaware of the arrests yesterday, although administration director Richard Mlangeni said investigations by auditors were ongoing.

Education department spokesperson Mandla Msibi said more cases of fraud and corruption were being investigated as part of a concerted effort to root out the problem. "Perpetrators of fraud and corruption should know that we are out to get them because we are determined to run a clean department," Msibi said. Regarding the Scorpions' probe, which involves more than one employee and "a lot of money", he said investigations were at a "sensitive stage".

Source: IoL

Mandrax may flood market after R3bn theft

The street price of Mandrax is set to go down after the theft of tablets worth three billion rand which police seized in a world-record raid in 2002. On Tuesday it was reported that chemicals used to manufacture Mandrax, and confiscated during the biggest drug bust in the world, had been stolen.

However, it was three billion rand's worth of actual Mandrax - ready for street sale - that was taken and not the chemicals used in the manufacture process, as was reported. Two weeks ago a group of armed robbers made off with the drugs confiscated by detectives in a raid on a Douglasdale property linked to the Mothiba brothers, who are both in custody and awaiting trial. Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini said a gang of men broke into the police vehicle storage facility in Alrode on the East Rand on January 8. "They held up two guards and broke through a wall, which gave them access to a safe where the drugs were being kept," he said.

Bobby Hamman, director of Drug Wise, said the theft probably meant that the stolen Mandrax would go back on to the streets and "back into exactly the same hands". "It came out of a police storage facility, so one would be inclined to believe that some kind of collusion was involved. "But at the end of the day it is likely to cause a decrease in the price, and there will just be a whole lot more available," Hamman said. According to research published by the Medical Research Council regarding drug usage and the costs surrounding substance abuse, the street cost of Mandrax in Cape Town - where it is most commonly used - is currently between R20 and R45 per tablet.

Hamman said, however, that he felt the new flood of Mandrax on the street market was unlikely to have a huge impact on the present trade.

Source: IoL

Van Schalkwyk: Statement on Roodefontein development Van Schalkwyk: Statement on Roodefontein development

I became aware of the Roodefontein development and the possible controversy following media reports relating to the development. It was my initial impression that the controversy, which surrounded the development, was based on a usual conflict between competing and vested interests of role-players, as is the case with most such developments.

On two occasions, I enquired from Mr David Malatsi whether he had acted correctly and properly in dealing with the Roodefontein application and he gave me his firm assurance that he had. When Mr Malatsi was appointed Deputy Minster of Social Development in the National Government, I asked Mr Johan Gelderblom as the Acting Minister of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning to investigate this matter fully and report to me. After one of Mr Gelderblom's reports to me, I contacted the Chief Secretary of the New National Party in the Western Cape, Mr Freddie Adams, and enquired from him whether the party had received any donations that could be considered to be out of the ordinary.

On Monday, 23 December 2002 I met with Mr Adams and he responded to my earlier queries. It became clear to me that there was reason for grave concern. Both Mr Marais and Mr Malatsi will be suspended from all party activities, including party caucuses, with immediate effect pending the conclusion of the Public Protector's investigation and any other party actions, which may arise there from.

Source: Polity

South Africa: ANC escalates privatisations and economic restructuring

On January 14 President Thabo Mbeki gave his state of the nation address before the South African parliament, which was heralded with an air force flypast and a 21-gun salute.

In his speech Mbeki made vague and unsubstantiated promises that in the next year the government would increase the “social wage”, especially of the poor, the old and young children; reduce unemployment; improve public services like hospitals and clinics, schools, roads, access to water and electricity. He also promised to work to eradicate malaria, tuberculosis and particularly to “continue to focus on the treatment of sexually transmitted infections”.

Source: World Socialist Web