A security guard has said that police also looted shops during the violent protests in Zamdela. "If I had a camera, I would have taken photos. They took stuff in one Chinese shop and the community followed," said a security guard at a municipal office. "At Save Right [a local shop near the police station] they even advised us not to injure each other, and when the ATM was robbed, their van was nearby."
The 32-year-old man claimed that Sasolburg police were also unhappy about the proposed merger of the Ngwathe and Metsimaholo local municipalities.
He said this was evident in Tuesday's shooting, in which two people died and others were wounded when police from other provinces were deployed.
"We protested on Sunday [and] no one was wounded or died; we did it again on Monday ... [there were] no injuries we heard about. So why are people being shot at when there is police from other provinces?"
Earlier in the week, police from Gauteng and Welkom were deployed in the area to help control the situation.
Criticism
Police spokesperson Colonel Motantsi Makhele said he was aware of the allegations that police were among the looters. "People must come to the front if they have information," he said. "We welcome anyone who has information so that we can investigate this."
Resident Nthako (47) said he was happy Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi had announced that the process of merging the municipalities had been stopped.
However, Nthako criticised government officials for not arriving at Moses Kotane Stadium where residents had expected to be addressed on the matter at 10am on Tuesday.
Residents ran out of patience and left the stadium at 11am.
"If they came to the stadium and addressed people, no one would have died or got injured," Nthako said. A protester was shot dead at the Zamdela police station during a clash with protesters on Tuesday.
Sticks and stones
Earlier in the day, police said another protester was shot dead by a motorist after a group of protesters tried to block his way. Nine people, two of them police officers, have been injured since the protest started on Sunday.
A Jacaranda radio journalist's car was pelted with stones and a South African Press Association cameraperson was threatened with a knife, also on Tuesday. The situation was quiet on Wednesday and police were seen patrolling the area and taking photographs of damaged properties on the main road.
Three police nyalas [armoured vehicles] were seen driving around in the area while a helicopter hovered overhead. Lucky Malebo, a community leader, said people had gone to hospital to check on the wounded.
"A list of those who were injured and those who died is being compiled, and we might get it around 3pm," he said. Malebo said the residents had wanted to hold a meeting at the stadium on Wednesday, but could not apply for permission as no one was on duty at the council.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Showing posts with label Richard Baloyi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richard Baloyi. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
SACP: Zuma surrounded by 'wrong people'
The public sector strike turned ugly because President Jacob Zuma was surrounded by people who failed to advise him correctly, the South African Communist Party (SACP) in KwaZulu-Natal said on Wednesday. "The strike has gone ugly because the president is sitting with wrong people. He is surrounded by people who don't advise him correctly and that make his office vulnerable," said SACP provincial secretary Themba Mthembu. He was speaking during the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) general council in Durban on Wednesday afternoon.
Mthembu said if Zuma had good advisers, they could have advised him that the strike would be nasty because workers' pockets had been hit by the recession."Zuma should have been advised that there was a need to handle wage negotiations professionally," said Mthembu. He described Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi as a bad negotiator who caused militancy among striking workers. "Baloyi is a bad negotiator. The way he has handled the strike and negotiations was like he was watching the Olympics," said Mthembu. He called for the speedy resolution of the wage dispute. "Sadly, for now, it seems that the cowboys are in charge."
Source: Mail & Guardian
Mthembu said if Zuma had good advisers, they could have advised him that the strike would be nasty because workers' pockets had been hit by the recession."Zuma should have been advised that there was a need to handle wage negotiations professionally," said Mthembu. He described Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi as a bad negotiator who caused militancy among striking workers. "Baloyi is a bad negotiator. The way he has handled the strike and negotiations was like he was watching the Olympics," said Mthembu. He called for the speedy resolution of the wage dispute. "Sadly, for now, it seems that the cowboys are in charge."
Source: Mail & Guardian
Friday, August 27, 2010
Nyanda drops plan to dismiss director-general
AFTER a vitriolic and public battle, Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda has withdrawn a letter of dismissal against his director-general, Mamodupi Mohlala. Gen Nyanda fired Ms Mohlala last month, saying there had been an irretrievable breakdown of trust between them. Ms Mohlala challenged her dismissal in court, arguing that Gen Nyanda did not have the authority to fire her.
She filed an affidavit detailing what appears to have been interference in her work by the minister, including the administration of tenders. Gen Nyanda failed to submit an answering affidavit. As part of the out-of-court settlement, Ms Mohlala will be paid her full salary and benefits but will take leave with effect from yesterday, until September 27. This leave will allow Public Services and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi to seek an alternative and equal post for her within the government, including in state-owned enterprises.
If Mr Baloyi fails to do so , Ms Mohlala will return to the Department of Communications. Gen Nyanda will also pay Ms Modupi’s legal costs. Yesterday Ms Mohlala said the withdrawal of her dismissal and the settlement meant she had been “vindicated” and that there was acknowledgement her dismissal did not follow proper procedure. “I’m happy and satisfied that the matter has been settled and (I thank) the president and Mr Baloyi for their intervention. But we cannot ignore what happened between me and the minister. We are exploring other options in the interest of the department,” she said. Asked if she would return to the department if not deployed elsewhere, Ms Mohlala declined to say.
During the first court appearance last month, President Jacob Zuma requested that Mr Baloyi intervene in the matter outside court proceedings. Ms Mohlala was offered a R2,9m settlement but refused, demanding to be redeployed to a post of equal standing.
Gen Nyanda’s spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso said yesterday the agreement did not imply the immediate reinstatement of the former director-general to her old position. He said this arrangement allowed what Ms Mohlala had initially requested from the president to take effect. “As (the) ministry we welcome the agreement as it paves a way for the filling of the position as soon as possible by a suitable and relevant person with the necessary expertise,” he said. Mr Rikhotso said the settlement was done in order to reinstate Ms Mohlala as a public servant. Consequently, Mr Baloyi would explore suitable options in order to address this matter.
The fight between Ms Mohlala and Gen Nyanda broke into the open last month. The pair failed to settle the dispute amicably and their impasse has paralysed the department, with staff morale said to have collapsed, with no collective sense of purpose. Some of Gen Nyanda’s complaints against Ms Mohlala included her hiring people from the private sector to handle department al finances. She was also accused of breaching the minister’s confidence on delicate matters involving Sentech, the state-owned signal distributor. Ms Mohlala complained about Gen Nyanda’s “interference” in tenders, saying this violated the Public Finance Management Act.
Source: Business Day
She filed an affidavit detailing what appears to have been interference in her work by the minister, including the administration of tenders. Gen Nyanda failed to submit an answering affidavit. As part of the out-of-court settlement, Ms Mohlala will be paid her full salary and benefits but will take leave with effect from yesterday, until September 27. This leave will allow Public Services and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi to seek an alternative and equal post for her within the government, including in state-owned enterprises.
If Mr Baloyi fails to do so , Ms Mohlala will return to the Department of Communications. Gen Nyanda will also pay Ms Modupi’s legal costs. Yesterday Ms Mohlala said the withdrawal of her dismissal and the settlement meant she had been “vindicated” and that there was acknowledgement her dismissal did not follow proper procedure. “I’m happy and satisfied that the matter has been settled and (I thank) the president and Mr Baloyi for their intervention. But we cannot ignore what happened between me and the minister. We are exploring other options in the interest of the department,” she said. Asked if she would return to the department if not deployed elsewhere, Ms Mohlala declined to say.
During the first court appearance last month, President Jacob Zuma requested that Mr Baloyi intervene in the matter outside court proceedings. Ms Mohlala was offered a R2,9m settlement but refused, demanding to be redeployed to a post of equal standing.
Gen Nyanda’s spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso said yesterday the agreement did not imply the immediate reinstatement of the former director-general to her old position. He said this arrangement allowed what Ms Mohlala had initially requested from the president to take effect. “As (the) ministry we welcome the agreement as it paves a way for the filling of the position as soon as possible by a suitable and relevant person with the necessary expertise,” he said. Mr Rikhotso said the settlement was done in order to reinstate Ms Mohlala as a public servant. Consequently, Mr Baloyi would explore suitable options in order to address this matter.
The fight between Ms Mohlala and Gen Nyanda broke into the open last month. The pair failed to settle the dispute amicably and their impasse has paralysed the department, with staff morale said to have collapsed, with no collective sense of purpose. Some of Gen Nyanda’s complaints against Ms Mohlala included her hiring people from the private sector to handle department al finances. She was also accused of breaching the minister’s confidence on delicate matters involving Sentech, the state-owned signal distributor. Ms Mohlala complained about Gen Nyanda’s “interference” in tenders, saying this violated the Public Finance Management Act.
Source: Business Day
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Prisons chief finance officer cleared of wrongdoing
The acting chief financial officer of Correctional Services, Nandi Mareka, has been cleared of wrongdoing after being suspended alongside national commissioner Xoliswa Sibeko, the ministry said on Tuesday. Sibeko is still facing disciplinary action.
The two senior correctional services officials were suspended in July over allegations related to the renting of accommodation for senior executives with "exorbitant cost" to the taxpayer. "Ms Nandi Mareka was found not to have been involved in any wrongdoing in the rented housing matter and was therefore cleared," the department said in a statement.
However, Sibeko was still facing disciplinary proceedings. "A process of engagement was initiated by the Department of Public Service and Administration. Following this process, Minister Richard Baloyi then decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the suspended national commissioner. The national commissioner shall remain on suspension until the matter is finalised."
A team of Correctional Services officials who investigated the allegations recommended that Mareka return to work as soon as possible. It was alleged that Sibeko and her Gauteng counterpart Thozama Mqobi-Balfour were renting properties in Pretoria's Woodhill golf estate at a cost of R30 000 a month. The rentals were being used while official residences remained empty.
Source: IoL
The two senior correctional services officials were suspended in July over allegations related to the renting of accommodation for senior executives with "exorbitant cost" to the taxpayer. "Ms Nandi Mareka was found not to have been involved in any wrongdoing in the rented housing matter and was therefore cleared," the department said in a statement.
However, Sibeko was still facing disciplinary proceedings. "A process of engagement was initiated by the Department of Public Service and Administration. Following this process, Minister Richard Baloyi then decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the suspended national commissioner. The national commissioner shall remain on suspension until the matter is finalised."
A team of Correctional Services officials who investigated the allegations recommended that Mareka return to work as soon as possible. It was alleged that Sibeko and her Gauteng counterpart Thozama Mqobi-Balfour were renting properties in Pretoria's Woodhill golf estate at a cost of R30 000 a month. The rentals were being used while official residences remained empty.
Source: IoL
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)