An apartheid-era South African security police commander says ex-President FW de Klerk knew of gross human rights violations during his term of office. Eugene de Kock, jailed for his role in killing anti-apartheid activists, made the accusation a day after Mr De Klerk said that his conscience was clear. Talking from his prison cell to a radio station, he said the ex-president's hands were "soaked in blood".
De Kock said he was prepared to testify in court against Mr de Klerk. He claimed he could list exact instances where the country's last white president gave the order for specific killings. De Kock was nicknamed "Prime Evil" for his role in ordering the killing and maiming of dozens of anti-apartheid activists, often using very cruel methods. He is serving two life sentences in a maximum-security prison in Pretoria.
On Thursday, Mr de Klerk denied ever condoning the elimination of anti-apartheid activists or any other gross human rights violations during his term of office, which began in 1989 and ended in 1994 when Nelson Mandela became president. "I have not only a clear conscience, I am not guilty of any crime whatsoever," Mr de Klerk said while addressing the media in Cape Town. "I have never myself approved murder or the random killing of anybody, or gross violations of human rights."
There has been speculation about Mr de Klerk's knowledge of human rights violations during his term of office since news first broke last week that his former Police Minister, Adriaan Vlok, would face charges relating to the poisoning of the then secretary general of the South African Council of Churches, Reverend Frank Chikane, in 1989. Mr Vlok has admitted to approving the poisoning of the former church leader as well as other human rights violations. He publicly sought forgiveness by washing Rev Chikane's feet in his office last year.
Source: BBC
Friday, July 27, 2007
Jailed policeman accuses De Klerk
An apartheid-era South African security police commander says ex-President FW de Klerk knew of gross human rights violations during his term of office. Eugene de Kock, jailed for his role in killing anti-apartheid activists, made the accusation a day after Mr De Klerk said that his conscience was clear. Talking from his prison cell to a radio station, he said the ex-president's hands were "soaked in blood".
De Kock said he was prepared to testify in court against Mr de Klerk. He said Mr de Klerk's hands were "soaked in blood", and claimed he could list exact instances where the country's last white president gave the order for specific killings. De Kock was nicknamed "Prime Evil" for his role in ordering the killing and maiming of dozens of anti-apartheid activists, often using very cruel methods. He is serving two life sentences in a maximum-security prison in Pretoria.
On Thursday, Mr de Klerk denied ever condoning the elimination of anti-apartheid activists or any other gross human rights violations during his term of office, which began in 1989 and ended in 1994 when Nelson Mandela became president. "I have not only a clear conscience, I am not guilty of any crime whatsoever," Mr de Klerk said while addressing the media in Cape Town. "I have never myself approved murder or the random killing of anybody, or gross violations of human rights."
There has been speculation about Mr de Klerk's knowledge of human rights violations during his term of office since news first broke last week that his former Police Minister, Adriaan Vlok, would face charges relating to the poisoning of the then secretary general of the South African Council of Churches, Reverend Frank Chikane, in 1989. Mr Vlok has admitted to approving the poisoning of the former church leader as well as other human rights violations. He publicly sought forgiveness by washing Rev Chikane's feet in his office last year.
Source: BBC
De Kock said he was prepared to testify in court against Mr de Klerk. He said Mr de Klerk's hands were "soaked in blood", and claimed he could list exact instances where the country's last white president gave the order for specific killings. De Kock was nicknamed "Prime Evil" for his role in ordering the killing and maiming of dozens of anti-apartheid activists, often using very cruel methods. He is serving two life sentences in a maximum-security prison in Pretoria.
On Thursday, Mr de Klerk denied ever condoning the elimination of anti-apartheid activists or any other gross human rights violations during his term of office, which began in 1989 and ended in 1994 when Nelson Mandela became president. "I have not only a clear conscience, I am not guilty of any crime whatsoever," Mr de Klerk said while addressing the media in Cape Town. "I have never myself approved murder or the random killing of anybody, or gross violations of human rights."
There has been speculation about Mr de Klerk's knowledge of human rights violations during his term of office since news first broke last week that his former Police Minister, Adriaan Vlok, would face charges relating to the poisoning of the then secretary general of the South African Council of Churches, Reverend Frank Chikane, in 1989. Mr Vlok has admitted to approving the poisoning of the former church leader as well as other human rights violations. He publicly sought forgiveness by washing Rev Chikane's feet in his office last year.
Source: BBC
Monday, July 2, 2007
Chad leader's son killed in Paris
The son of Chad's President Idriss Deby has been found dead in Paris after apparently being forced to inhale the chemicals from a fire extinguisher. The body of Brahim Deby, 27, was found in the car park of his block of flats. An extinguisher was found by his body. An autopsy report said he had likely been asphyxiated by "white powder". Police have launched a murder inquiry.
Brahim Deby was last year sacked as a presidential advisor after a conviction for drugs and weapons possession. His body was found in a corridor between the parking lot and the stairs leading to the flats in Courbevoie, west of Paris. An initial autopsy report concluded he had been "asphyxiated, probably by the white powder he was sprayed with", a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office in the western suburb of Nanterre said. The source of the powder is believed to have been the fire extinguisher found near the body. A head wound found on Deby's body had not caused his death, the prosecutor's office said. "He clearly died a violent death," the spokeswoman said. "We are going on the hypothesis of murder."
President Idriss Deby came to power in a coup in 1991. Rebels trying to oust him last year attacked the capital, N'Djamena, before being repulsed with French military aid. A few months later, Mr Deby won elections boycotted by the opposition, who complained of fraud.
A spokesman for the rebel group, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) spokesman Makaila Nguebla told Reuters news agency that Brahim Deby's conduct had prompted many top Chadian officials to join the rebellion. "He is at the root of all the frustration. He used to slap government ministers, senior Chadian officials were humiliated by Deby's son."
Source: BBC
Brahim Deby was last year sacked as a presidential advisor after a conviction for drugs and weapons possession. His body was found in a corridor between the parking lot and the stairs leading to the flats in Courbevoie, west of Paris. An initial autopsy report concluded he had been "asphyxiated, probably by the white powder he was sprayed with", a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office in the western suburb of Nanterre said. The source of the powder is believed to have been the fire extinguisher found near the body. A head wound found on Deby's body had not caused his death, the prosecutor's office said. "He clearly died a violent death," the spokeswoman said. "We are going on the hypothesis of murder."
President Idriss Deby came to power in a coup in 1991. Rebels trying to oust him last year attacked the capital, N'Djamena, before being repulsed with French military aid. A few months later, Mr Deby won elections boycotted by the opposition, who complained of fraud.
A spokesman for the rebel group, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) spokesman Makaila Nguebla told Reuters news agency that Brahim Deby's conduct had prompted many top Chadian officials to join the rebellion. "He is at the root of all the frustration. He used to slap government ministers, senior Chadian officials were humiliated by Deby's son."
Source: BBC
Sunday, July 1, 2007
PRECIOUS METALS ACT 37 OF 2005
The purpose of the Precious Metals Act is to provide for the acquisition, possession, smelting, refining, beneficiation, use and disposal of precious metals; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Offences and penalties
(1) Any person who-
(a) contravenes section 4(1) or (3), 5(1) or (2), 7(5) or (6), 8(6), (7) or (9), 9(5), (9) or (10) or 11(1) or (2);
(b) buys unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal without having satisfied himself or herself that the vendor thereof is lawfully entitled to sell or dispose of such metal; or
(c) maliciously places any unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal in the possession or on the premises of any other person with intent that such other person may be convicted under this Act, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) Any person who-
(a) contravenes section 4(4), 7(8) or (9), 8(4) or (10), 9(7), (8), (10) or (11), 10(1) or (2), 13 or 15(1) or (2) or 22(1);
(b) being an authorised dealer contemplated in section 14(1), buys unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal from any person who has not produced a licence, permit or certificate as provided in that section;
(c) being an authorised dealer contemplated in section 14(1), fails to obtain and retain the certificate contemplated in section 14(2); or
(d) fails to comply with any lawful request to produce and exhibit the register or proper books of account required to be kept by him or her in terms of this Act, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(3) If any person convicted in terms of subsection (1) or (2) is at the time of his or her conviction the holder of a licence, permit or certificate contemplated in this Act, he or she shall forfeit such licence, permit or certificate and any right of renewal thereof for such period as the court convicting him or her may direct.
Source: SABINET
Offences and penalties
(1) Any person who-
(a) contravenes section 4(1) or (3), 5(1) or (2), 7(5) or (6), 8(6), (7) or (9), 9(5), (9) or (10) or 11(1) or (2);
(b) buys unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal without having satisfied himself or herself that the vendor thereof is lawfully entitled to sell or dispose of such metal; or
(c) maliciously places any unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal in the possession or on the premises of any other person with intent that such other person may be convicted under this Act, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) Any person who-
(a) contravenes section 4(4), 7(8) or (9), 8(4) or (10), 9(7), (8), (10) or (11), 10(1) or (2), 13 or 15(1) or (2) or 22(1);
(b) being an authorised dealer contemplated in section 14(1), buys unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal from any person who has not produced a licence, permit or certificate as provided in that section;
(c) being an authorised dealer contemplated in section 14(1), fails to obtain and retain the certificate contemplated in section 14(2); or
(d) fails to comply with any lawful request to produce and exhibit the register or proper books of account required to be kept by him or her in terms of this Act, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(3) If any person convicted in terms of subsection (1) or (2) is at the time of his or her conviction the holder of a licence, permit or certificate contemplated in this Act, he or she shall forfeit such licence, permit or certificate and any right of renewal thereof for such period as the court convicting him or her may direct.
Source: SABINET
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