The University of KwaZulu-Natal students and staff who engaged in a racial war of words on Facebook are to be "dealt with accordingly" by the institution. "The protest at the Westville campus has nothing to do with race, gender or social class. All those making racial remarks will be dealt with accordingly. Racial remarks do nothing but incite hatred and will do nothing to resolve the problems on campus," the university's spokesman Nomonde Mbadi said yesterday.
The flurry on racist posts on the university's Facebook page came on Wednesday after a student posted: "Indians will never understand us blacks because we are raced [sic] differently. We are born to kill that why tomorrow we will wipe out all Indians on campus. Don't come otherwise you will go straight to heaven". Tensions were already running high as students and staff had to flee the campus on Monday and Tuesday morning when violence erupted during a strike over financial aid and accommodation. Coupled with their anger against the university over confusion about when lectures would resume, students and staff, who said they were offended by the post, then began racial name-calling. One student said "Blacks are stupid and want everything for free", while another wrote: "Kill the Indians and the whites. This is our country". The posts have since been removed.
"We are extremely disappointed that at this point in our democracy young students, who are the future leaders of our country, are engaging in racial slander on a social media network. The protest action was not about racial prejudices," Mbadi said. She said the university prided itself as a diverse institution of higher learning where different cultures are welcomed and celebrated. "The emancipation of South Africans has given us the freedom to embrace each other, to understand each other and to show tolerance of the highest order. The university's transformation charter aims to heal the divisions of our nation's past, bridge racial and cultural divides and lay the foundations for a university that is united in its diversity," she said.
The university's pact, Mbadi explained, commits every staff member and student to treat each other with respect and to abide by the rules and regulations of the institution.
The South African Human Rights Commission said that it had not received any complaints. "People must understand their inherent respect as they engage in such important platforms. We call on people to use these spaces more responsibly. Our doors are open to anyone who wants to bring a complaint and we will seek to address the issue," the commission's spokesman Vincent Moaga said. "We are hoping the Department of Higher Education, which has always [addressed] the problems affecting students, will continue to engage with the relevant authorities to address such issues."
Source: Mail & Guardian
Showing posts with label KZN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KZN. Show all posts
Friday, February 17, 2012
Water poisoned with cyanide in KwaZulu-Natal
The raw water supply for the northern KwaZulu-Natal town of Dundee and surrounding areas has been poisoned with cyanide, uThukela Water said on Friday. The 'spill' was discovered on Thursday morning when cows died after drinking from a stream near a site outside Newcastle, spokesman Dumisani Thabethe said. Residents appeared to have escaped harm so far. “There is no one who has been reported to have been affected by the spillage,” he said. “Our concern is people getting water directly from the river. “We are told that about 11 cows have died, but by late evening it was 50, but I am not too sure about the accuracy of the figures.
As a precaution, uThukela Water broadcast a warning on the Newcastle community radio station. The spill might have come from a site where synthetic rubber was being manufactured, but this was still being investigated, Thabethe said. The Ngagane river was flushed with water from the Ntshingwayo dam in an attempt to dilute the chemical content. Water was being released from the dam at 16,000 litres per second.
Thabethe said HTH, chlorine used in domestic swimming pools, was poured into the river before it was flushed. “They were hoping to stimulate a chemical reaction between the HTH and the cyanide.”
SourceL The Sowetan
As a precaution, uThukela Water broadcast a warning on the Newcastle community radio station. The spill might have come from a site where synthetic rubber was being manufactured, but this was still being investigated, Thabethe said. The Ngagane river was flushed with water from the Ntshingwayo dam in an attempt to dilute the chemical content. Water was being released from the dam at 16,000 litres per second.
Thabethe said HTH, chlorine used in domestic swimming pools, was poured into the river before it was flushed. “They were hoping to stimulate a chemical reaction between the HTH and the cyanide.”
SourceL The Sowetan
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
KZN cop arrested after burglar killed
A policeman was arrested on Monday for allegedly being part of a group that killed and burnt a suspected burglar in Nanda, KwaZulu-Natal police said. "The policeman was arrested at work at the Nanda police station today [Monday]. He is facing a murder, attempted murder and assault charge," spokeswoman Brigadier Phindile Radebe said.
On July 18 local residents attacked three people they suspected of breaking into a house. "One person escaped, another was injured the third person was killed and his body was set alight."
Eight people were arrested last Friday and due to appear in court again on August 10. The group implicated the police officer in the crime. He was expected to appear in the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Source: Mail & Guardian
On July 18 local residents attacked three people they suspected of breaking into a house. "One person escaped, another was injured the third person was killed and his body was set alight."
Eight people were arrested last Friday and due to appear in court again on August 10. The group implicated the police officer in the crime. He was expected to appear in the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
R3m tender goes to mother of Zuma's kids
A multimillion-rand contract for catering services for the KwaZulu-Natal legislature awarded to Nonkululeko Mhlongo, a Pietermaritzburg businesswoman, was not advertised in the tender bulletin, the legislature has acknowledged. Mhlongo is the mother of two of President Jacob Zuma's love children.
Bongani Sibisi, the chief operations officer of the legislature, conceded yesterday that while the tender awarded to Mhlongo's company, Bucebo General Trading, had been advertised in the print media, it had - contrary to legal requirements - not been advertised in the tender bulletin. The auditor-general in his report pointed out that this and many other tenders ought to have been advertised in the tender bulletin as well. Even in the case of this tender, an open briefing attended by hundreds of people was held and everything was done in an open atmosphere. Bucebo was paid R1 303 671.50 in 2008/09 and has received R2 359 880.81 in 2009/10.
Opposition parties in the provincial legislature yesterday disputed Sibisi's statement that the contract had been awarded to Mhlongo on merit. The IFP and DA suggested there had been irregularities in the awarding of the contract.
The IFP spokesman on public accounts, Lionel Mtshali, said the R1.3m awarded to Bucebo for catering in 2008/09 had been included in the legislature's irregular expenditure of R19m on catering during that year. Mtshali said the legislature had broken the law by awarding catering contracts to Mhlongo and another bidder before the expiry of the 21-day review period for tenders. "Similarly, the award of this tender was not advertised in the Government Gazette, as required by the treasury's regulations," he said. "This leads us to believe that Bucebo General Trading received preferential treatment from the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, which did not ensure that all bidding proposals for the catering tender were considered fairly and advertised properly for public scrutiny."
DA caucus leader John Steenhuisen said that further investigation into the awarding of the contract to Mhlongo was required. "During the course of the 2008/09 financial year, the Kwazulu-Natal legislature incurred a massive amount of irregular expenditure. "This overexpenditure largely consisted of catering contracts for the members' dining room and other legislature events."
Steenhuisen said that his party wanted further scrutiny of the circumstances leading to the awarding of the contract. "It is our information that several tender regulations and procedures were violated when making this award," he said. "The legislature needs to make a full disclosure on how this particular close corporation came to be awarded the catering contract so that the public can be assured that no untoward influence was brought to bear in this matter," Steenhuisen said.
Sibisi said at the weekend that there had been nothing untoward in the awarding of the tender to Bucebo. He said that the contract had been put to public tender and 53 bidders had submitted proposals. "The company was selected following applicable supply chain procedures of using bid committees to evaluate all the bids and make an award," he said.
Source: IoL
Bongani Sibisi, the chief operations officer of the legislature, conceded yesterday that while the tender awarded to Mhlongo's company, Bucebo General Trading, had been advertised in the print media, it had - contrary to legal requirements - not been advertised in the tender bulletin. The auditor-general in his report pointed out that this and many other tenders ought to have been advertised in the tender bulletin as well. Even in the case of this tender, an open briefing attended by hundreds of people was held and everything was done in an open atmosphere. Bucebo was paid R1 303 671.50 in 2008/09 and has received R2 359 880.81 in 2009/10.
Opposition parties in the provincial legislature yesterday disputed Sibisi's statement that the contract had been awarded to Mhlongo on merit. The IFP and DA suggested there had been irregularities in the awarding of the contract.
The IFP spokesman on public accounts, Lionel Mtshali, said the R1.3m awarded to Bucebo for catering in 2008/09 had been included in the legislature's irregular expenditure of R19m on catering during that year. Mtshali said the legislature had broken the law by awarding catering contracts to Mhlongo and another bidder before the expiry of the 21-day review period for tenders. "Similarly, the award of this tender was not advertised in the Government Gazette, as required by the treasury's regulations," he said. "This leads us to believe that Bucebo General Trading received preferential treatment from the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, which did not ensure that all bidding proposals for the catering tender were considered fairly and advertised properly for public scrutiny."
DA caucus leader John Steenhuisen said that further investigation into the awarding of the contract to Mhlongo was required. "During the course of the 2008/09 financial year, the Kwazulu-Natal legislature incurred a massive amount of irregular expenditure. "This overexpenditure largely consisted of catering contracts for the members' dining room and other legislature events."
Steenhuisen said that his party wanted further scrutiny of the circumstances leading to the awarding of the contract. "It is our information that several tender regulations and procedures were violated when making this award," he said. "The legislature needs to make a full disclosure on how this particular close corporation came to be awarded the catering contract so that the public can be assured that no untoward influence was brought to bear in this matter," Steenhuisen said.
Sibisi said at the weekend that there had been nothing untoward in the awarding of the tender to Bucebo. He said that the contract had been put to public tender and 53 bidders had submitted proposals. "The company was selected following applicable supply chain procedures of using bid committees to evaluate all the bids and make an award," he said.
Source: IoL
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Hijacker bail fraud outrage
The Justice Department has been urged to investigate how a dangerous crime suspect being held for hijacking three cars managed to slip out of jail using a fraudulent bail certificate. Police yesterday confirmed that a warrant of arrest has been issued for Innocent Phumlani Dlamini, 21, who, according to court records, was granted bail of R3 000 on December 22, 2009. However, Dlamini appeared in court on December 14, his case was adjourned for trial on January 22.
The Justice Department has been urged to investigate how a dangerous crime suspect being held for hijacking three cars managed to slip out of jail using a fraudulent bail certificate. One of his victims, says she has lost faith in the justice system."I was shocked. How could he have gotten bail when he had been remanded and was due to appear in court this week? My faith in the entire judicial system came crashing down after waiting almost a year to get a court date finalised."
A source has confirmed to the Sunday Tribune that the suspect appeared in U regional court on October 7 last year and again on December 14 when his trial was set down for January 20 to 22. He was remanded in custody at Westville Prison to stand trial on five counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. However, according to the J7 form, which is the warrant of detention, the suspect was granted bail in U court on December 22. Warrants of detention are usually filled out by the court orderly, who is a police official. They are then signed by the magistrate. The source said the suspect should not have been called to court on December 22, and according to the charge sheet, he was not. The charge sheet does not reflect an appearance in any court on that day.
The source confirmed that the U court, where the suspect was allegedly granted bail, was closed for the day and the magistrate, Anand Maharaj, denies it is his signature on the form. Dianne Kohler Barnard, MP and DA shadow minister of police, said, "This country's criminal justice system is almost beyond repair. At the root of much of the problem is corruption shown, for example, by the continuous increase in missing police case dockets, the number of which has increased every year since 2003, and totals more than 2 500 since then. "By all accounts this man is a serial criminal, yet he played the system like a maestro. Good cops put their lives on the line apprehending suspected criminals like this, and for him to be out on the streets again is unconscionable. "Yet it's their colleagues and the officials they work with on a daily basis who have allowed him to stroll out."
Justice spokesman Tlali Tlali said officials would investigate to establish if this was "an isolated incident or a phenomenon". KwaZulu-Natal's state attorney Krish Govender said it would be wrong to assume that forged bail applications were a trend, but said the matter deserved urgent investigation. "This is the first time I am hearing of such a case in KZN. I'm sure the Department of Justice will pursue this matter with vigour."
Source: IoL
The Justice Department has been urged to investigate how a dangerous crime suspect being held for hijacking three cars managed to slip out of jail using a fraudulent bail certificate. One of his victims, says she has lost faith in the justice system."I was shocked. How could he have gotten bail when he had been remanded and was due to appear in court this week? My faith in the entire judicial system came crashing down after waiting almost a year to get a court date finalised."
A source has confirmed to the Sunday Tribune that the suspect appeared in U regional court on October 7 last year and again on December 14 when his trial was set down for January 20 to 22. He was remanded in custody at Westville Prison to stand trial on five counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. However, according to the J7 form, which is the warrant of detention, the suspect was granted bail in U court on December 22. Warrants of detention are usually filled out by the court orderly, who is a police official. They are then signed by the magistrate. The source said the suspect should not have been called to court on December 22, and according to the charge sheet, he was not. The charge sheet does not reflect an appearance in any court on that day.
The source confirmed that the U court, where the suspect was allegedly granted bail, was closed for the day and the magistrate, Anand Maharaj, denies it is his signature on the form. Dianne Kohler Barnard, MP and DA shadow minister of police, said, "This country's criminal justice system is almost beyond repair. At the root of much of the problem is corruption shown, for example, by the continuous increase in missing police case dockets, the number of which has increased every year since 2003, and totals more than 2 500 since then. "By all accounts this man is a serial criminal, yet he played the system like a maestro. Good cops put their lives on the line apprehending suspected criminals like this, and for him to be out on the streets again is unconscionable. "Yet it's their colleagues and the officials they work with on a daily basis who have allowed him to stroll out."
Justice spokesman Tlali Tlali said officials would investigate to establish if this was "an isolated incident or a phenomenon". KwaZulu-Natal's state attorney Krish Govender said it would be wrong to assume that forged bail applications were a trend, but said the matter deserved urgent investigation. "This is the first time I am hearing of such a case in KZN. I'm sure the Department of Justice will pursue this matter with vigour."
Source: IoL
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Mpisane contract stays under wraps
Attempts by The Mercury to uncover the truth about the affairs of high-flying La Lucia couple S'bu and Shawn Mpisane have been met with obfuscation and silence. Yesterday, we exposed shoddy workmanship in the building of low-cost housing in Umlazi, and possible irregularities in the payment of at least R219-million from the eThekwini municipality to their company, Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance and Transport. But attempts to establish how the contract was secured by the company in the first place have been stymied by a lack of communication by the provincial Human Settlements (housing) Department.
The contract - worth R300m in total, according to municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe - has been administered by eThekwini municipality and payments were made through eThekwini accounts.However, The Mercury has learned that the project was commissioned by and originated with the Human Settlements Department, which initially contracted a Section 21 entity, the Umlazi B10 Housing Company, to build 4 500 units. After the apparent failure of the company to deliver, the project was contracted to Zikhulise. Requests for clarity regarding the procedures followed in re-awarding the contract remain unanswered.
There is also confusion around the status of the project. Sutcliffe said it had been completed in mid-December, yet many houses were incomplete and others were falling down. According to Sutcliffe, payment was only made after "professionals" had certified the work done. Umlazi councillors and residents said Zikhulise had not resumed work in the new year, apparently because it had not received any payments since October. This was despite documentary proof in The Mercury's possession that about R50m was paid out in the last three months of 2009.
On Wednesday, Shawn Mpisane, registered owner of Zikhulise, promised to explain the situation to The Mercury. But contacted on Wednesday night, she said she was entering a three-day slimming programme and would thereafter discuss the matter. Earlier, Dominic Ntsele, a PR man, phoned, saying he wanted to establish The Mercury's motive for writing about the Mpisanes. Ntsele, one of the last people to spend time with mining boss Brett Kebble before he died in a hail of bullets, said he was acting on behalf of "concerned loved ones" of the Mpisanes. He refused to reveal who they were.
Since Monday, the provincial Human Settlements Ministry has promised to respond to questions relating to the Umlazi development. While officials were helpful, the division which should have provided information had still not done so at the time of going to print on Wednesday night. Sutcliffe also failed to return calls.
Source: IoL
The contract - worth R300m in total, according to municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe - has been administered by eThekwini municipality and payments were made through eThekwini accounts.However, The Mercury has learned that the project was commissioned by and originated with the Human Settlements Department, which initially contracted a Section 21 entity, the Umlazi B10 Housing Company, to build 4 500 units. After the apparent failure of the company to deliver, the project was contracted to Zikhulise. Requests for clarity regarding the procedures followed in re-awarding the contract remain unanswered.
There is also confusion around the status of the project. Sutcliffe said it had been completed in mid-December, yet many houses were incomplete and others were falling down. According to Sutcliffe, payment was only made after "professionals" had certified the work done. Umlazi councillors and residents said Zikhulise had not resumed work in the new year, apparently because it had not received any payments since October. This was despite documentary proof in The Mercury's possession that about R50m was paid out in the last three months of 2009.
On Wednesday, Shawn Mpisane, registered owner of Zikhulise, promised to explain the situation to The Mercury. But contacted on Wednesday night, she said she was entering a three-day slimming programme and would thereafter discuss the matter. Earlier, Dominic Ntsele, a PR man, phoned, saying he wanted to establish The Mercury's motive for writing about the Mpisanes. Ntsele, one of the last people to spend time with mining boss Brett Kebble before he died in a hail of bullets, said he was acting on behalf of "concerned loved ones" of the Mpisanes. He refused to reveal who they were.
Since Monday, the provincial Human Settlements Ministry has promised to respond to questions relating to the Umlazi development. While officials were helpful, the division which should have provided information had still not done so at the time of going to print on Wednesday night. Sutcliffe also failed to return calls.
Source: IoL
R300m corruption in KZN social department
A forensic investigation commissioned by KwaZulu-Natal's social development department has revealed corruption involving about R300-million, provincial minister Meshack Hadebe said on Wednesday. "I don't want to discuss the content of the report now because there are processes that have to be followed. It is still confidential. I also don't want to discuss it because there are people's bank accounts that have to be frozen,” he told Sapa.
Radebe, who commissioned the investigation, said some senior officials in his department and people outside the department were likely to be arrested or face disciplinary measures. Radebe said he initiated the investigation after he received calls from people complaining about not receiving their grants. He also suspected funds earmarked for NGOs and community-based organisations were not handled properly.
Radebe had briefed Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize about the contents of the report.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Radebe, who commissioned the investigation, said some senior officials in his department and people outside the department were likely to be arrested or face disciplinary measures. Radebe said he initiated the investigation after he received calls from people complaining about not receiving their grants. He also suspected funds earmarked for NGOs and community-based organisations were not handled properly.
Radebe had briefed Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize about the contents of the report.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Woman, 81, stabbed fifty times
An 81-year-old woman was stabbed 50 times and her throat slit allegedly by her neighbour who accused her of witchcraft in KwaKwiliza near Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Wednesday. "An 81-year-old woman was found with her throat slit and 50 stab wounds in her body last night [Tuesday]," said Captain Jabulani Mdletshe. "It is alleged that her neighbour killed her after he accused the elderly woman of killing two of his family members through witchcraft."
He said police were called to the scene but the man had already escaped.
Source: IoL
He said police were called to the scene but the man had already escaped.
Source: IoL
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
150 yellowwood trees poisoned
About 150 yellowwood trees, an endangered species and the national tree of South Africa, were chopped down and poisoned in the Drakensberg because a government environmental group mistook them for black wattle trees, a report said on Tuesday.
The yellowwood trees that were destroyed were between 50 and 100 years old, Beeld newspaper reported.
The Working for Water initiative, administered by the department of water affairs and forestry, was created to fight invasive alien plants.
Source: News 24.com
The yellowwood trees that were destroyed were between 50 and 100 years old, Beeld newspaper reported.
The Working for Water initiative, administered by the department of water affairs and forestry, was created to fight invasive alien plants.
Source: News 24.com
Monday, May 11, 2009
Mkhize reveals KZN Cabinet
KwaZulu-Natal's new premier Zweli Mkhize on Monday announced his new Cabinet.
Lydia Johnson would be MEC for agriculture and environmental affairs.
Wesizwe Thusi would remain MEC for arts, culture, and tourism but would have the added task of sport and recreation. Mike Mabuyakhulu was announced economic development MEC and would also serve as the acting premier. Senzo Mchunu would take over as education MEC, Ina Cronje, is the new finance MEC. Newcomer Sbongiseni Maxwell Dhlomo would take over as health MEC. Peggy Nkonyeni, is the speaker of the KZN legislature.
Maggie Govender would head the human settlement department, formerly known as housing. Willies Mchunu, the province's former speaker, would take over as the new MEC for local government and traditional affairs, while Meshack Hadebe would remain social development MEC
Source: News 24
Lydia Johnson would be MEC for agriculture and environmental affairs.
Wesizwe Thusi would remain MEC for arts, culture, and tourism but would have the added task of sport and recreation. Mike Mabuyakhulu was announced economic development MEC and would also serve as the acting premier. Senzo Mchunu would take over as education MEC, Ina Cronje, is the new finance MEC. Newcomer Sbongiseni Maxwell Dhlomo would take over as health MEC. Peggy Nkonyeni, is the speaker of the KZN legislature.
Maggie Govender would head the human settlement department, formerly known as housing. Willies Mchunu, the province's former speaker, would take over as the new MEC for local government and traditional affairs, while Meshack Hadebe would remain social development MEC
Source: News 24
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Thousands at Matatiele hearings
on 18 August 2007, Constitutional Court Judge Sandile Ngcobo declared that the part of the Twelfth Amendment Act of the Constitution that altered the boundaries of KwaZulu Natal was invalid because it was not adopted in a manner consistent with the Constitution.
Although the Eastern Cape held public hearings on the matter of Matatiele being incorporated into the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal did not. There was therefore not sufficient public participation in the legislative process, which was inconsistent with the Constitution. Ngcobo suspended the order of invalidity for 18 months for Parliament to adopt a new amendment to the Constitution if it wished to.
Matatiele-Maluti Mass Action Organising Committee chairman Mandla Galo said on Tuesday the organisation would be presenting 3 920 written submissions against the district's continued incorporation into the Eastern Cape. "The reasons for wanting to stay in KwaZulu-Natal are economic. The distance between Matatiele and Bisho is the same as going from Matatiele to Pretoria." He said most people in the district were oriented towards Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The opposition to being incorporated into the Eastern Cape went across the colour spectrum. "White business and farmers are behind us. I must sincerely thank them for giving their workers time off today to come here (to the stadium)."
Matatiele was incorporated into the Eastern Cape on 28 February 2007, hours before voting started in the local government election of 2006.
Source: News 24
Although the Eastern Cape held public hearings on the matter of Matatiele being incorporated into the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal did not. There was therefore not sufficient public participation in the legislative process, which was inconsistent with the Constitution. Ngcobo suspended the order of invalidity for 18 months for Parliament to adopt a new amendment to the Constitution if it wished to.
Matatiele-Maluti Mass Action Organising Committee chairman Mandla Galo said on Tuesday the organisation would be presenting 3 920 written submissions against the district's continued incorporation into the Eastern Cape. "The reasons for wanting to stay in KwaZulu-Natal are economic. The distance between Matatiele and Bisho is the same as going from Matatiele to Pretoria." He said most people in the district were oriented towards Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The opposition to being incorporated into the Eastern Cape went across the colour spectrum. "White business and farmers are behind us. I must sincerely thank them for giving their workers time off today to come here (to the stadium)."
Matatiele was incorporated into the Eastern Cape on 28 February 2007, hours before voting started in the local government election of 2006.
Source: News 24
Thursday, June 24, 1999
KZN warfare described to TRC
Any deaths of family members caught in violent clashes between the leaders of the ANC and the IFP in Shobashobane on the south coast in the early 1990s resulted in the counter-attacks that led to the high incidence of bloodshed in the area. This was the evidence of an amnesty applicant before the amnesty committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on Wednesday. The TRC also heard that the two political organisations "did not see eye to eye as to which one should operate in the area".
Ziphakamise Nyawose (30) told of how people closest to him were killed during the attacks, which made him flee the area to stay in the bush for three months."As a member of the ANC I was also a victim of these attacks. In 1991 I was attacked on three occasions at my home. In 1992 my house was attacked twice and I was also attacked at the taxi rank. In 1993 my brother Bongani was murdered and his decomposed body was found in the bush after a week. "In the same year I was in the company of Mandla Blose when we were attacked at a taxi rank. On that occasion we retaliated by shooting back at our attackers," he said.
Nyawose said he went to report the shooting to the police but was told that they would not investigate matters involving ANC supporters. "From there it was clear to us that the police were collaborating with our attackers. These attackers were known in our area. Their names were Mhlati Mbambo, Thokozani Blose, Dudu and Sithombe (Goodman) Ngcobo. They were all IFP members," he said.
Nyawose has applied for amnesty for the murder of Bhekabantu Samuel Cele and attempted murder of IFP strongman and businessman Goodman Ngcobo in 1993. Nyawose said Cele had died in the shoot-out but he was not the target; he was only caught in the crossfire. "Ngcobo was attacking us because some members of the ANC had killed his mother in 1990, but I was not involved in that killing," he said. He said he lost everything when his house was burned down by IFP supporters during the violence. He told the amnesty committee that he had since reconciled with Ngcobo.
Source: IoL
Ziphakamise Nyawose (30) told of how people closest to him were killed during the attacks, which made him flee the area to stay in the bush for three months."As a member of the ANC I was also a victim of these attacks. In 1991 I was attacked on three occasions at my home. In 1992 my house was attacked twice and I was also attacked at the taxi rank. In 1993 my brother Bongani was murdered and his decomposed body was found in the bush after a week. "In the same year I was in the company of Mandla Blose when we were attacked at a taxi rank. On that occasion we retaliated by shooting back at our attackers," he said.
Nyawose said he went to report the shooting to the police but was told that they would not investigate matters involving ANC supporters. "From there it was clear to us that the police were collaborating with our attackers. These attackers were known in our area. Their names were Mhlati Mbambo, Thokozani Blose, Dudu and Sithombe (Goodman) Ngcobo. They were all IFP members," he said.
Nyawose has applied for amnesty for the murder of Bhekabantu Samuel Cele and attempted murder of IFP strongman and businessman Goodman Ngcobo in 1993. Nyawose said Cele had died in the shoot-out but he was not the target; he was only caught in the crossfire. "Ngcobo was attacking us because some members of the ANC had killed his mother in 1990, but I was not involved in that killing," he said. He said he lost everything when his house was burned down by IFP supporters during the violence. He told the amnesty committee that he had since reconciled with Ngcobo.
Source: IoL
Wednesday, June 23, 1999
Sisters oppose brothers' amnesty
TWO sisters have turned against their brothers, one of whom pursued and shot dead their 79-year old father, who was also necklaced and set on fire. Ms Zodwa Cele and Ms Nkosazana Cele on Tuesday opposed the amnesty application of their brother Mr Roy Cele (40), who killed his father, Mr Amos Cele, in the late 1980s. The sisters testified at the amnesty hearing of their brothers Roy and Thulani Cele (34), who together led a group of youth in the Inanda area. Both men have applied for amnesty for the murder in December 1989 of their IFP-supporting father and of their relatives Ms Dudu Ngcobo and Mr Martin Ngcobo, who were also aligned to the organisation. The brothers were each sentenced to five years in jail for public violence and 15 years each for the murders.
The Cele sisters told the amnesty committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, sitting in Durban, that their brothers used the community to settle a domestic dispute following previous conflicts with their father. They dismissed any political motive for the crime. "I pursued somebody and shot him in the bush. I think it was my father, because he was found the next day at that spot," said Roy Cele. He said his father's houses were also set alight by the groups he led.
The amnesty committee, led by Judge Sisi Khampepe, spent time cross-examining Cele. Zodwa Cele told the committee that the two other victims were related to Thulani and Roy, the leaders of the vigilante group. She said they had come from Umlazi to Inanda for Christmas and not for political activities. Trouble started when Martin Ngcobo was found dead at a bus stop. A group of people then came from Umlazi to Thulani and Roy's house to inquire about the murder and the arm missing from the body.
Evidence that a group of people came looking for the brothers was denied by Zodwa Cele. Instead, she said the group beat her with a sjambok, assaulted her with stones and left her bleeding. "As I was running back home I saw a group of people led by Thulani Cele beating up Dudu (Ngcobo)," she said. She told of the chaos in the family when Roy led the group to his father's house. The sisters, one pregnant with twins, held their children and fled from their house. The Cele sisters said they would not like their brothers granted amnesty because they lied in their testimony.
Source: IoL
The Cele sisters told the amnesty committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, sitting in Durban, that their brothers used the community to settle a domestic dispute following previous conflicts with their father. They dismissed any political motive for the crime. "I pursued somebody and shot him in the bush. I think it was my father, because he was found the next day at that spot," said Roy Cele. He said his father's houses were also set alight by the groups he led.
The amnesty committee, led by Judge Sisi Khampepe, spent time cross-examining Cele. Zodwa Cele told the committee that the two other victims were related to Thulani and Roy, the leaders of the vigilante group. She said they had come from Umlazi to Inanda for Christmas and not for political activities. Trouble started when Martin Ngcobo was found dead at a bus stop. A group of people then came from Umlazi to Thulani and Roy's house to inquire about the murder and the arm missing from the body.
Evidence that a group of people came looking for the brothers was denied by Zodwa Cele. Instead, she said the group beat her with a sjambok, assaulted her with stones and left her bleeding. "As I was running back home I saw a group of people led by Thulani Cele beating up Dudu (Ngcobo)," she said. She told of the chaos in the family when Roy led the group to his father's house. The sisters, one pregnant with twins, held their children and fled from their house. The Cele sisters said they would not like their brothers granted amnesty because they lied in their testimony.
Source: IoL
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