A policeman with 24 years' service has died inside a police holding cell while waiting for his drug-dealing and racketeering trial to start.
Captain Sakhepi Shange was one of four senior West Rand police officers arrested in March and charged with intercepting drugs on the way to forensic labs and selling them to the criminal underworld.
Shange, 43, died in the early hours of Friday morning after falling ill the previous weekend and being taken to hospital and back at least twice. The cause of death - which comes two-and-a-half months before his trial was due to start - is unknown.
Source: IoL
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Minister turns attention to Balfour protests
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba began a series of meetings in Balfour, Mpumalanga, on Monday to discuss the recent protests there, his spokesperson, Cleo Mosana, said.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka released a report last week on the preliminary findings of a study on a recent spate of protests across the country. Researchers flagged a lack of responsiveness to issues raised by communities, tensions between political and administrative sections of some municipalities, allegations of fraud and corruption, ward committees not functioning at their full capacity, and poor planning.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka released a report last week on the preliminary findings of a study on a recent spate of protests across the country. Researchers flagged a lack of responsiveness to issues raised by communities, tensions between political and administrative sections of some municipalities, allegations of fraud and corruption, ward committees not functioning at their full capacity, and poor planning.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Vavi blasts expenditure rule
COSATU general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has spoken against the purchase of new flashy cars worth almost R4 million by Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Vavi said the rule in the ministerial handbook, which allows ministers to buy cars worth 70% of their annual salaries, was “immoral and wrong”.
“Rule or no rule, they can’t just purchase expensive cars at taxpayers’ expense, giving an impression that they do not care about the message this opulence gives to the poor,” he said.
Speaking on the eve of a nationwide municipal workers’ strike , Vavi said: “Cosatu won’t be able to convince workers to go easy when they see cars worth millions bought by ministers. ”
“It is management with their hugely inflated salaries who are responsible for the sorry state of so many municipalities,” said Samwu general secretary Mthandeki Nhlapo.
Source: The Sowetan
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Vavi said the rule in the ministerial handbook, which allows ministers to buy cars worth 70% of their annual salaries, was “immoral and wrong”.
“Rule or no rule, they can’t just purchase expensive cars at taxpayers’ expense, giving an impression that they do not care about the message this opulence gives to the poor,” he said.
Speaking on the eve of a nationwide municipal workers’ strike , Vavi said: “Cosatu won’t be able to convince workers to go easy when they see cars worth millions bought by ministers. ”
“It is management with their hugely inflated salaries who are responsible for the sorry state of so many municipalities,” said Samwu general secretary Mthandeki Nhlapo.
Source: The Sowetan
Alpha Blondy Moves Summerstage
A sea of energetic fans from all over the world welcomed Alpha Blondy, known as the “African Bob Marley” to New York City’s Central Park Summerstage on Sunday, July 19th. The opening acts included performances by Lee “Scratch” Perry, identified as the “father” of reggae and Dubblestandart Sound System. The Ivorian reggae artist branded for his activism ignited this eclectic audience with his strong political lyrics that convey global peace and unity.
The origins of the crowd ranged from Brooklynites, to people from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora of Africa. The celebration and dancing to the rhythms of his dynamic 12-piece band, the Solar System was non-stop. Alpha’s poignant songs for the evening where Cocody Rock and Peace in Liberia. He unified and uplifted his fans by combining a mini speech with chants into the microphone “Peace in Iraq, Peace in Afghanistan, Peace in Israel and Palestine, Peace in Sudan, Peace in Eritrea…” In the early months of 2008, an American tour was scheduled and was canceled as a result of Alpha experiencing serious health problems. His latest CD was released in 2007 titled “Jah Victory.”
Blondy was named as United Nations Ambassador of Peace for Cote D’Ivoire in 2005 and continuously remains dedicated to his humanitarian efforts through his charitable foundation Alpha Blondy Jah Glory. His mission is to eradicate generational poverty by providing grass roots social programs that are beneficial to the lives of underprivileged children and women from villages within Africa and Haiti.
The foundation’s remarkable programs are Tafari Genesis Retreat Camp and the Micro Loan Program. The camp is considered a safe haven, and escape, for many children who are victims of civil war, and chronic life threatening illnesses like sickle-cell anemia, AIDS and malaria. Alpha Blondy believes, “It should not hurt to be a child.” The plague of HIV and AIDS is causing many children to become orphans who are left to be raised by elders or grandmothers.
The Micro Loan Program provides training and financing as little as $50.00 U.S. dollars to assist women who have become head of households to manage, operate, and start their own businesses. Overall, Alpha Blondy empowers communities to become self sufficient by learning and utilizing basic skills. This concept generates opportunities for many women to maintain their integrity, rebuild confidence as well as provide for their families.
Source: Jamati
The origins of the crowd ranged from Brooklynites, to people from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora of Africa. The celebration and dancing to the rhythms of his dynamic 12-piece band, the Solar System was non-stop. Alpha’s poignant songs for the evening where Cocody Rock and Peace in Liberia. He unified and uplifted his fans by combining a mini speech with chants into the microphone “Peace in Iraq, Peace in Afghanistan, Peace in Israel and Palestine, Peace in Sudan, Peace in Eritrea…” In the early months of 2008, an American tour was scheduled and was canceled as a result of Alpha experiencing serious health problems. His latest CD was released in 2007 titled “Jah Victory.”
Blondy was named as United Nations Ambassador of Peace for Cote D’Ivoire in 2005 and continuously remains dedicated to his humanitarian efforts through his charitable foundation Alpha Blondy Jah Glory. His mission is to eradicate generational poverty by providing grass roots social programs that are beneficial to the lives of underprivileged children and women from villages within Africa and Haiti.
The foundation’s remarkable programs are Tafari Genesis Retreat Camp and the Micro Loan Program. The camp is considered a safe haven, and escape, for many children who are victims of civil war, and chronic life threatening illnesses like sickle-cell anemia, AIDS and malaria. Alpha Blondy believes, “It should not hurt to be a child.” The plague of HIV and AIDS is causing many children to become orphans who are left to be raised by elders or grandmothers.
The Micro Loan Program provides training and financing as little as $50.00 U.S. dollars to assist women who have become head of households to manage, operate, and start their own businesses. Overall, Alpha Blondy empowers communities to become self sufficient by learning and utilizing basic skills. This concept generates opportunities for many women to maintain their integrity, rebuild confidence as well as provide for their families.
Source: Jamati
Saturday, July 25, 2009
SA plans three nuclear power stations
South Africa is considering the construction of three nuclear power stations on its coastline despite objections from environmentalists.
The country currently has Africa's sole nuclear plant, Koeberg, near Cape Town, which began generating electricity in 1984. It is surrounded by a private game reserve and has been targeted by environmental protesters.
Source: Mail & Guardian
The country currently has Africa's sole nuclear plant, Koeberg, near Cape Town, which began generating electricity in 1984. It is surrounded by a private game reserve and has been targeted by environmental protesters.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Waste company at centre of toxic storm
Residents of Clayville in Olifantsfontein near Kempton Park are locked in a fierce battle with a nearby hazardous waste-disposal company they say is poisoning them. And they maintain that it has links with the African National Congress (ANC).
The company in question is Thermopower Process Technology, Africa's largest hazardous waste disposer and a client of major companies such as Sasol, Monsanto, BASF, AngloGold Ashanti and Afrox Gas.
Thermopower is under investigation by the government's environmental police, the Green Scorpions. A neighbouring tile factory, Norcross, says it has had to shut down twice because its workers have become ill from emissions.
A Mail & Guardian investigation has revealed that Alan Norman, a former Absa executive described by some who have dealt with him as "the ANC's banker", has been central to the company's efforts to find an empowerment partner. Among those considered was Smuts Ngonyama, when he was head of the ANC Presidency under Thabo Mbeki.
Source: Mail & Guardian
The company in question is Thermopower Process Technology, Africa's largest hazardous waste disposer and a client of major companies such as Sasol, Monsanto, BASF, AngloGold Ashanti and Afrox Gas.
Thermopower is under investigation by the government's environmental police, the Green Scorpions. A neighbouring tile factory, Norcross, says it has had to shut down twice because its workers have become ill from emissions.
A Mail & Guardian investigation has revealed that Alan Norman, a former Absa executive described by some who have dealt with him as "the ANC's banker", has been central to the company's efforts to find an empowerment partner. Among those considered was Smuts Ngonyama, when he was head of the ANC Presidency under Thabo Mbeki.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
SA hit by service-delivery protests
A wave of protests has erupted in townships across South Africa over shoddy housing and public services, adding to pressure on President Jacob Zuma to deliver on promises to fight poverty. Police fired rubber bullets on Tuesday to break up about 200 protesters in Thokoza township outside Johannesburg, where they stoned police cars in anger at their dire housing conditions.
That followed a riot one week earlier in Diepsloot, also near Johannesburg, where two police cars were destroyed, buildings were burned and passing cars stoned in protest at moves to demolish shacks in order to build sewerage lines. More worryingly, a protest in eastern Mpumalanga on Sunday took on anti-immigrant colours as shops owned by foreigners were looted and burned.
That sparked anxious memories of the xenophobic attacks that swept the country one year ago, when about 60 people died and tens of thousands of foreigners fled townships for refugee camps. Protests over poor public service have soared this year, according to Municipal IQ, which monitors municipal services. Poor South Africans have staged 24 major protests so far this year, compared with 27 in all of last year, the group said in a statement. "We've got high levels of unemployment, the whole world is suffering from an economic downturn and that's not making it any easier," said Adrian Hadland, a director at the Human Sciences Research Council, a think-tank that advises on public policy. "Part of the frustration is local government is very uneven, and that is often the level of government where things are most keenly felt and expressed."
The African National Congress (ANC) last weekend called for an audit into municipal services, with the aim of aiding -- or sometimes pressuring -- cities to improve their performance. "The ANC put service delivery of local government at the centre stage," said ANC spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi. "Now we realise that our councillors in the municipalities might be needing intervention." "We need to directly fix the issues at hand, not the symptoms of the problem," Mnisi added.
Since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa has made strides in improving housing while expanding access to clean water and electricity, building 2,8-million houses in 15 years. But more than one million families still live in shacks without power, often sharing a single tap among dozens of households. The problem has heightened as South Africa is at the height of winter, with freezing temperatures in Johannesburg and other parts of the country. "In the absence of electricity, a roof over your head, and running water, it is keenly felt," said Hadland.
Zuma took office two months ago, after campaigning on promises to step up the fight against poverty in a country where unemployment is officially at 23,5% but is believed much higher. But the country has slipped into its first recession since apartheid, and thousands of jobs have been lost this year, complicating plans to boost government spending to fight poverty. "There is quite a serious problem in the sense that there isn't just a straightforward way of resolving it, because the state structures are poorly managed," said David Bruce, of the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
Any meaningful solution will take years to implement, but in the meantime the government will have to tread carefully to avoid inflaming public discontent, Municipal IQ said. "What is called for now is level heads, and the opening of communication channels," the group said.
That followed a riot one week earlier in Diepsloot, also near Johannesburg, where two police cars were destroyed, buildings were burned and passing cars stoned in protest at moves to demolish shacks in order to build sewerage lines. More worryingly, a protest in eastern Mpumalanga on Sunday took on anti-immigrant colours as shops owned by foreigners were looted and burned.
That sparked anxious memories of the xenophobic attacks that swept the country one year ago, when about 60 people died and tens of thousands of foreigners fled townships for refugee camps. Protests over poor public service have soared this year, according to Municipal IQ, which monitors municipal services. Poor South Africans have staged 24 major protests so far this year, compared with 27 in all of last year, the group said in a statement. "We've got high levels of unemployment, the whole world is suffering from an economic downturn and that's not making it any easier," said Adrian Hadland, a director at the Human Sciences Research Council, a think-tank that advises on public policy. "Part of the frustration is local government is very uneven, and that is often the level of government where things are most keenly felt and expressed."
The African National Congress (ANC) last weekend called for an audit into municipal services, with the aim of aiding -- or sometimes pressuring -- cities to improve their performance. "The ANC put service delivery of local government at the centre stage," said ANC spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi. "Now we realise that our councillors in the municipalities might be needing intervention." "We need to directly fix the issues at hand, not the symptoms of the problem," Mnisi added.
Since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa has made strides in improving housing while expanding access to clean water and electricity, building 2,8-million houses in 15 years. But more than one million families still live in shacks without power, often sharing a single tap among dozens of households. The problem has heightened as South Africa is at the height of winter, with freezing temperatures in Johannesburg and other parts of the country. "In the absence of electricity, a roof over your head, and running water, it is keenly felt," said Hadland.
Zuma took office two months ago, after campaigning on promises to step up the fight against poverty in a country where unemployment is officially at 23,5% but is believed much higher. But the country has slipped into its first recession since apartheid, and thousands of jobs have been lost this year, complicating plans to boost government spending to fight poverty. "There is quite a serious problem in the sense that there isn't just a straightforward way of resolving it, because the state structures are poorly managed," said David Bruce, of the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
Any meaningful solution will take years to implement, but in the meantime the government will have to tread carefully to avoid inflaming public discontent, Municipal IQ said. "What is called for now is level heads, and the opening of communication channels," the group said.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
ANC disbands committees in two provinces
The African National Congress (ANC) has disbanded the North West and Western Cape provincial executive committees (PEC), and has moved the Eastern Cape's provincial conference to August due to widespread factionalism and patronage, party secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Monday.
Briefing the media after a meeting of the party's top brass over the weekend, he said business interests, control of resources and patronage were at the centre of divisions in the North West, and have persisted for more than a decade.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Briefing the media after a meeting of the party's top brass over the weekend, he said business interests, control of resources and patronage were at the centre of divisions in the North West, and have persisted for more than a decade.
Source: Mail & Guardian
'Crooked' cop off for 16 months on full pay
Mpumalanga police commissioner Afrika Khumalo -- alleged in a sworn affidavit by drug baron Glenn Agliotti to have profited from drug trafficking -- has been drawing a salary for 16 months while staying at home on sick leave.
Khumalo told the Mail & Guardian he is still on "incapacity" leave, but would not say what is wrong with him or when he is expected to recover.
"I am recovering. I'm coming back to Mpumalanga," he said, before coughing loudly. "I am the police commissioner of Mpumalanga. Nothing has changed. As soon as I am better, I'm coming back."
Khumalo has not reported for work since March 23 last year. He claimed to be ill on the day he was due to respond at a press conference to media reports of Agliotti's allegations.
In a sworn affidavit to the National Prosecuting Authority on January 11 2007, Agliotti said Khumalo was implicated in an international drug-trafficking syndicate involving national police commissioner Jackie Selebi, who is on extended leave pending corruption charges.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Khumalo told the Mail & Guardian he is still on "incapacity" leave, but would not say what is wrong with him or when he is expected to recover.
"I am recovering. I'm coming back to Mpumalanga," he said, before coughing loudly. "I am the police commissioner of Mpumalanga. Nothing has changed. As soon as I am better, I'm coming back."
Khumalo has not reported for work since March 23 last year. He claimed to be ill on the day he was due to respond at a press conference to media reports of Agliotti's allegations.
In a sworn affidavit to the National Prosecuting Authority on January 11 2007, Agliotti said Khumalo was implicated in an international drug-trafficking syndicate involving national police commissioner Jackie Selebi, who is on extended leave pending corruption charges.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Monday, July 20, 2009
DOC hits back over BMWs
Criticism of minister Siphiwe Nyanda's recent splurge on two luxury BMWs is unjustified, as all official steps were followed, says the Department of Communications (DOC). In a statement, the department says: “The process of procuring the vehicles for minister Nyanda was done in accordance with prescribed guidelines, which are stipulated in the ministerial handbook.”
Nyanda purchased two BMW 750i sedans, for R2.2 million. Each car is valued at R1 135 000 and collectively come with R148 000 worth of extra features. The 4.3-litre, V8-engined cars are the latest 2009 models of the German manufacturer's flagship 7-series range. One has been purchased for Nyanda's office in Pretoria, while he will use the other in Cape Town.
The ministerial handbook notes that “ministers can exercise their own personal preference in terms of the make and type of vehicle to be procured, as long as they remain within the 70% of their annual salary limit”. According to the DOC, this rule applies to each of the minister's offices and the prescribed value includes whatever additional accessories that may come with a vehicle. The statement notes the DOC chose the “full maintenance lease” option from three purchasing options provided by the Department of Transport. The DOC says this option “brings the actual cost of the vehicles to government to the market value of the vehicle, less the residual value, which is on average 30%”. The department, however, failed to explain exactly what this means in terms of the final amount and was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) says it has scheduled meetings with the department to get detailed information on the minister's spending. The union says it is looking for an explanation from the department. “The CWU sees this matter as important, given the current economic situation. But it is important to get accurate information regarding the purchases. If the cars had reached their limits, they should be replaced – but more information is required,” said CWU secretary general, Gallant Roberts. The union, however, reserved any further comment, saying it will hold meetings with the department on Wednesday and will make a detailed statement following its discussions.
Source: IT Web
Nyanda purchased two BMW 750i sedans, for R2.2 million. Each car is valued at R1 135 000 and collectively come with R148 000 worth of extra features. The 4.3-litre, V8-engined cars are the latest 2009 models of the German manufacturer's flagship 7-series range. One has been purchased for Nyanda's office in Pretoria, while he will use the other in Cape Town.
The ministerial handbook notes that “ministers can exercise their own personal preference in terms of the make and type of vehicle to be procured, as long as they remain within the 70% of their annual salary limit”. According to the DOC, this rule applies to each of the minister's offices and the prescribed value includes whatever additional accessories that may come with a vehicle. The statement notes the DOC chose the “full maintenance lease” option from three purchasing options provided by the Department of Transport. The DOC says this option “brings the actual cost of the vehicles to government to the market value of the vehicle, less the residual value, which is on average 30%”. The department, however, failed to explain exactly what this means in terms of the final amount and was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) says it has scheduled meetings with the department to get detailed information on the minister's spending. The union says it is looking for an explanation from the department. “The CWU sees this matter as important, given the current economic situation. But it is important to get accurate information regarding the purchases. If the cars had reached their limits, they should be replaced – but more information is required,” said CWU secretary general, Gallant Roberts. The union, however, reserved any further comment, saying it will hold meetings with the department on Wednesday and will make a detailed statement following its discussions.
Source: IT Web
SA spends more on politicians’ bodyguards than border security
The police plan to spend R380 million on VIP protection services in the current financial year, compared with R225 million on border security.
Source: The Sowetan
Source: The Sowetan
Sunday, July 19, 2009
'South Africa cannot represent a whole continent'
The pledges trip easily off the tongues of global leaders on summit occasions, but experts canvassed by Agence France-Presse fear African nations may forever struggle to be truly heard no matter the global forum.
The days of undue Group of Eight influence on their lot may be numbered, given admissions at this month's summit gathering Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and the US in Italy's earthquake-hit L'Aquila.
But the G14 some believe will now take precedence -- adding emerging economic giants Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, plus Egypt -- may not offer much more, despite including two African voices at the table.
Neither South Africa nor Egypt could ever be said to represent the vast swathes of sub-Saharan Africa to which most aid is directed.
The leaders of the G8 nations vowed in L'Aquila to honour their promises to Africa and make up a $25-billion aid shortfall, but anti-poverty campaigners were not alone in demanding action not words.
Stephen Gelb, who heads up the Edge Institute in Johannesburg said "I don't take these pledges seriously because they don't carry any punishment if they're not met. No country is going to be kicked out of the G8 because it hasn't given aid to Africa."
Assefa Admassie of the Ethiopian Economic Association warned that the G8 "never honour their commitment[s]."
The solution, for him, is for Africans to take matters into their own hands. "We can't only blame G8 or multilateral organisations," he said. "We have to put our own houses in order."
Source: Mail & Guardian
The days of undue Group of Eight influence on their lot may be numbered, given admissions at this month's summit gathering Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and the US in Italy's earthquake-hit L'Aquila.
But the G14 some believe will now take precedence -- adding emerging economic giants Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, plus Egypt -- may not offer much more, despite including two African voices at the table.
Neither South Africa nor Egypt could ever be said to represent the vast swathes of sub-Saharan Africa to which most aid is directed.
The leaders of the G8 nations vowed in L'Aquila to honour their promises to Africa and make up a $25-billion aid shortfall, but anti-poverty campaigners were not alone in demanding action not words.
Stephen Gelb, who heads up the Edge Institute in Johannesburg said "I don't take these pledges seriously because they don't carry any punishment if they're not met. No country is going to be kicked out of the G8 because it hasn't given aid to Africa."
Assefa Admassie of the Ethiopian Economic Association warned that the G8 "never honour their commitment[s]."
The solution, for him, is for Africans to take matters into their own hands. "We can't only blame G8 or multilateral organisations," he said. "We have to put our own houses in order."
Source: Mail & Guardian
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Diepsloot violence bad omen for 2010
The South African Police Service's controversial handling of violent protests in Diepsloot has raised questions about the police's ability to manage the crowds expected at the World Cup.
Police used more than 1 000 rounds of rubber bullets, in some cases at close range, to disperse an angry crowd in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, the Star reported on Monday. Residents went on the rampage following rumours that they were to be moved to Brits in the North West province.
The Mail & Guardian reported last year that police struggled to control xenophobic violence across the country after the specialised crime combating units (CCUs) tasked with public-order duties were halved in the 2006 SAPS restructuring.
At the time Bilkis Omar of the Institute for Security Studies ascribed inept police action to low morale and inadequate in-service training in crowd management techniques in a democratic country.
"Since the attacks, and with the realisation that the CCUs are not able to perform optimally with minimal capacity, members in some provinces have been recalled to the units to take up public-order duties," Omar told the M&G.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Police used more than 1 000 rounds of rubber bullets, in some cases at close range, to disperse an angry crowd in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, the Star reported on Monday. Residents went on the rampage following rumours that they were to be moved to Brits in the North West province.
The Mail & Guardian reported last year that police struggled to control xenophobic violence across the country after the specialised crime combating units (CCUs) tasked with public-order duties were halved in the 2006 SAPS restructuring.
At the time Bilkis Omar of the Institute for Security Studies ascribed inept police action to low morale and inadequate in-service training in crowd management techniques in a democratic country.
"Since the attacks, and with the realisation that the CCUs are not able to perform optimally with minimal capacity, members in some provinces have been recalled to the units to take up public-order duties," Omar told the M&G.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Friday, July 17, 2009
Prisons fire fraud busters
In a major setback for the fight against corruption, the correctional services department has terminated its contract with Willie Hofmeyr’s fraud-busting Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
This comes after Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was lauded this week for her hardline stance on good governance when she suspended prisons boss Xoliswa Sibeko.
Sibeko and the department’s acting finance chief, Nandi Mareka, were suspended pending an investigation into the approval of expensive rental houses for Sibeko and Gauteng prisons boss Thozama Mqobi-Balfour.
The true commitment of Mapisa-Nqakula and her department to fighting graft is again called into question by the termination of the contract with the SIU. According to SIU spokesperson Trinesha Naidoo, the department did not renew its contract with the unit when it came to an end on March 31 this year.
Source: Mail & Guardian
This comes after Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was lauded this week for her hardline stance on good governance when she suspended prisons boss Xoliswa Sibeko.
Sibeko and the department’s acting finance chief, Nandi Mareka, were suspended pending an investigation into the approval of expensive rental houses for Sibeko and Gauteng prisons boss Thozama Mqobi-Balfour.
The true commitment of Mapisa-Nqakula and her department to fighting graft is again called into question by the termination of the contract with the SIU. According to SIU spokesperson Trinesha Naidoo, the department did not renew its contract with the unit when it came to an end on March 31 this year.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Minister Big Spender
Recently-appointed communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda has come under fire for his extravagant purchases, at a time when his department faces serious challenges. Despite his department recently coming under fire from Parliament for regressive policies and the mess at the SABC, the minister has spent millions on two luxury German cars.
Click here
Only three months into his tenure, Nyanda purchased two BMW 750i sedans, for R2.2 million. Each car is valued at R1 135 000 and collectively come with R148 000 worth of extra features. The 4.3-litre, V8-engined cars are the latest 2009 models of the German manufacturer's flagship 7-series range. One has been purchased for Nyanda's office in Pretoria, while he will use the other in Cape Town.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), which posed parliamentary questions to the minister on his vehicle spending, has questioned the acquisitions. DA spokesperson for communications Lindiwe Mazibuko said Nyanda's spending sent the wrong message to the public. “The ANC government, despite being in the grips of an economic recession and regardless of the endless public commitments by president [Jacob] Zuma to cut back on wastage, has not altered its approach to public spending: it continues to misuse public funds for entirely unnecessary purposes.”
The Department of Communications (DOC), in its response to the DA, refers to the ministerial handbook, which it says allows for the purchase of vehicles when the current official vehicle for a minister's office has reached 120 000km, or five years. The response further states the previous vehicle for use in Cape Town was nine years old and had reached 115 072km, while the one in Pretoria was four years old, with 137 194km on the clock. In its disclosure of vehicle cost and accessories, the DOC revealed the new Pretoria vehicle came with rear-seat entertainment at a cost of R23 000. An innovations package, which includes ambient interior lighting and a rear-view camera, ceramic surround for controls and adaptive headlights, was also included at a cost of R35 000. The vehicle also has a high-gloss satin chrome finish, valued at R5 600, and sun protection glazing for R6 200. The Cape Town vehicle also had a series of additional extras. A sports leather steering wheel, at a cost of R2 300, a rear-view camera for R5 000 and special wheel design for the 750i, valued at R3 000, also form part of the package.
Solidarity spokesman Jaco Kleynhans slammed the minister's purchases, saying Nyanda needs to set an example through wise spending. He adds that, while the minister's portfolio might not be seen as a priority, government has recognised the role of ICT in tackling key issues and the minister needs to start reflecting this. “The reality is we are in a recession and the example needs to be set by government. It needs to show that it can spend its money more wisely as income from taxes is reduced. Also, during this time, there is a bigger need for services, and government needs to show that it is cutting down on its spending,” he says. Kleynhans notes it is worrying that the industry and country have yet to hear from the minister on key issues, but his spending has come to the fore. He adds it is worrying that the country has not seen the minister take the lead in issues regarding the SABC board, reports of gross mismanagement by executives, or on telecoms infrastructure.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions declined to comment until it has studied the matter further. The DOC did not respond by the time of publication.
Source: IT Web
Click here
Only three months into his tenure, Nyanda purchased two BMW 750i sedans, for R2.2 million. Each car is valued at R1 135 000 and collectively come with R148 000 worth of extra features. The 4.3-litre, V8-engined cars are the latest 2009 models of the German manufacturer's flagship 7-series range. One has been purchased for Nyanda's office in Pretoria, while he will use the other in Cape Town.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), which posed parliamentary questions to the minister on his vehicle spending, has questioned the acquisitions. DA spokesperson for communications Lindiwe Mazibuko said Nyanda's spending sent the wrong message to the public. “The ANC government, despite being in the grips of an economic recession and regardless of the endless public commitments by president [Jacob] Zuma to cut back on wastage, has not altered its approach to public spending: it continues to misuse public funds for entirely unnecessary purposes.”
The Department of Communications (DOC), in its response to the DA, refers to the ministerial handbook, which it says allows for the purchase of vehicles when the current official vehicle for a minister's office has reached 120 000km, or five years. The response further states the previous vehicle for use in Cape Town was nine years old and had reached 115 072km, while the one in Pretoria was four years old, with 137 194km on the clock. In its disclosure of vehicle cost and accessories, the DOC revealed the new Pretoria vehicle came with rear-seat entertainment at a cost of R23 000. An innovations package, which includes ambient interior lighting and a rear-view camera, ceramic surround for controls and adaptive headlights, was also included at a cost of R35 000. The vehicle also has a high-gloss satin chrome finish, valued at R5 600, and sun protection glazing for R6 200. The Cape Town vehicle also had a series of additional extras. A sports leather steering wheel, at a cost of R2 300, a rear-view camera for R5 000 and special wheel design for the 750i, valued at R3 000, also form part of the package.
Solidarity spokesman Jaco Kleynhans slammed the minister's purchases, saying Nyanda needs to set an example through wise spending. He adds that, while the minister's portfolio might not be seen as a priority, government has recognised the role of ICT in tackling key issues and the minister needs to start reflecting this. “The reality is we are in a recession and the example needs to be set by government. It needs to show that it can spend its money more wisely as income from taxes is reduced. Also, during this time, there is a bigger need for services, and government needs to show that it is cutting down on its spending,” he says. Kleynhans notes it is worrying that the industry and country have yet to hear from the minister on key issues, but his spending has come to the fore. He adds it is worrying that the country has not seen the minister take the lead in issues regarding the SABC board, reports of gross mismanagement by executives, or on telecoms infrastructure.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions declined to comment until it has studied the matter further. The DOC did not respond by the time of publication.
Source: IT Web
Zuma under pressure over al-Bashir
Pressure on President Jacob Zuma to distance himself from the African Union (AU) decision to ignore the arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir mounted yesterday when a host of civil society organisations and prominent South Africans urged him to honour treaty obligations.
SA is a signatory to the Rome Statute under which the International Criminal Court (ICC) was established. Because the treaty has been ratified by Parliament, for SA to not observe its obligations is arguably unconstitutional and against the law. The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for al- Bashir and this requires signatory states to execute the warrant should he land on their soil.
The group said Zuma and International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane were present at the AU meeting when the decision was approved to ignore the ICC warrant and “neither the president nor the foreign minister is reported to have raised any objections.
Yesterday, human rights organisations in SA, including the statutory Human Rights Commission, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, the Centre for Human Rights at Pretoria University, the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, the Human Rights Institute of SA, the International Centre for Transitional Justice, the Institute for Security Studies, the Khulumani Support Group, the Legal Resources Centre and Lawyers for Human Rights, called for the government to abide by SA’s ICC obligations and to distance itself from the AU position.
“SA’s endorsement of the declaration requires it to break its international treaty obligations and to defy its own law and constitution . As a state party to the Rome Statute, SA is obliged to co-operate fully with the ICC in the arrest and transfer of President al-Bashir to the ICC, whether or not it agrees with the indictment.
“Should the South African government persist with its support for the decision, it will do so in open defiance of its own constitution and law.”
Source: Business Day
SA is a signatory to the Rome Statute under which the International Criminal Court (ICC) was established. Because the treaty has been ratified by Parliament, for SA to not observe its obligations is arguably unconstitutional and against the law. The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for al- Bashir and this requires signatory states to execute the warrant should he land on their soil.
The group said Zuma and International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane were present at the AU meeting when the decision was approved to ignore the ICC warrant and “neither the president nor the foreign minister is reported to have raised any objections.
Yesterday, human rights organisations in SA, including the statutory Human Rights Commission, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, the Centre for Human Rights at Pretoria University, the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, the Human Rights Institute of SA, the International Centre for Transitional Justice, the Institute for Security Studies, the Khulumani Support Group, the Legal Resources Centre and Lawyers for Human Rights, called for the government to abide by SA’s ICC obligations and to distance itself from the AU position.
“SA’s endorsement of the declaration requires it to break its international treaty obligations and to defy its own law and constitution . As a state party to the Rome Statute, SA is obliged to co-operate fully with the ICC in the arrest and transfer of President al-Bashir to the ICC, whether or not it agrees with the indictment.
“Should the South African government persist with its support for the decision, it will do so in open defiance of its own constitution and law.”
Source: Business Day
Thursday, July 16, 2009
DR Congo: Hold Army Commanders Responsible for Rapes
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo should urgently investigate and prosecute senior army officials allegedly involved or complicit in rampant sexual crimes against women and girls, as part of its efforts to combat sexual violence, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Human Rights Watch also called for a series of other actions to prevent sexual violence during conflict in Congo.
The 56-page report, "Soldiers Who Rape, Commanders Who Condone: Sexual Violence and Military Reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo," documents persistent sexual violence by the army, and the limited impact of government and donor efforts to address the problem. The report looks closely at the conduct of the army's 14th brigade as an example of the wider problem of sexual violence by soldiers. The brigade has been implicated in many acts of sexual violence in North and South Kivu provinces, often in the context of massive looting and other attacks on civilians. Despite ample information about the situation, military, political, and judicial authorities have failed to take decisive action to prevent rape.
"We have seen progress in the prosecution of ordinary soldiers for sexual violence," said Juliane Kippenberg, Africa researcher for Human Rights Watch's Children's Rights Division. "But senior army officers continue to be untouched. Their own crimes and their command responsibility for the crimes of their soldiers must be investigated and held to account."
During 2008, the United Nations registered 7,703 cases of sexual violence by the army, rebels, and other actors in the Kivus, in eastern Congo where the army has been fighting various rebel groups. The majority of the victims were girls. Military courts in Kivu convicted 27 soldiers of crimes of sexual violence during 2008. In March 2009, 11 soldiers were convicted on charges of rape as a crime against humanity in Walikale, North Kivu.
Source: Human Rights Watch
The 56-page report, "Soldiers Who Rape, Commanders Who Condone: Sexual Violence and Military Reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo," documents persistent sexual violence by the army, and the limited impact of government and donor efforts to address the problem. The report looks closely at the conduct of the army's 14th brigade as an example of the wider problem of sexual violence by soldiers. The brigade has been implicated in many acts of sexual violence in North and South Kivu provinces, often in the context of massive looting and other attacks on civilians. Despite ample information about the situation, military, political, and judicial authorities have failed to take decisive action to prevent rape.
"We have seen progress in the prosecution of ordinary soldiers for sexual violence," said Juliane Kippenberg, Africa researcher for Human Rights Watch's Children's Rights Division. "But senior army officers continue to be untouched. Their own crimes and their command responsibility for the crimes of their soldiers must be investigated and held to account."
During 2008, the United Nations registered 7,703 cases of sexual violence by the army, rebels, and other actors in the Kivus, in eastern Congo where the army has been fighting various rebel groups. The majority of the victims were girls. Military courts in Kivu convicted 27 soldiers of crimes of sexual violence during 2008. In March 2009, 11 soldiers were convicted on charges of rape as a crime against humanity in Walikale, North Kivu.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Hawks under surveillance
The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has urged the new crime fighting unit, the Hawks, to remain viciously independent.
The fledgling crime investigations unit made at least three arrests in Cape Town during its first week of operations.
One of the people arrested was a Home Affairs official based at the controversial Nyanga Refugee Reception Centre.
Source: iafrica.com
The fledgling crime investigations unit made at least three arrests in Cape Town during its first week of operations.
One of the people arrested was a Home Affairs official based at the controversial Nyanga Refugee Reception Centre.
Source: iafrica.com
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Tension eases between courts and government
At the second judges' conference since 1994, Zuma and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe launched a well-received effort to win judicial hearts and minds, but judges are standing firm on the controversial Superior Courts Bill, aimed at handing administrative control of the courts to Radebe's department.
Zuma opened the four-day conference on Monday by assuring members of the judiciary that the executive arm of government and the ANC respected the independence of the judiciary. "The transformation of the judiciary should be advanced and undertaken without interfering with the principle of judicial independence," Zuma said. "An independent judiciary is one of the cornerstones of any democracy. As the executive, we respect without reservation the principle of judicial independence and the rule of law."
In his closing remarks Chief Justice Pius Langa commented that "he said the right things. But they were not just right, they were also inspiring because they were affirming. He was expressing his confidence in the judiciary and affirming the independence of the judiciary." A resolution read out by Langa stated: "The judiciary should be empowered to administer courts and its own budget. To this extent the judiciary will work with, and cooperate with, other branches of government to develop a model of court administration that best reflects the principle of judicial independence."
The conference adopted various resolutions affecting the judiciary, including the recognition of a single judiciary with the chief justice at the helm.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Zuma opened the four-day conference on Monday by assuring members of the judiciary that the executive arm of government and the ANC respected the independence of the judiciary. "The transformation of the judiciary should be advanced and undertaken without interfering with the principle of judicial independence," Zuma said. "An independent judiciary is one of the cornerstones of any democracy. As the executive, we respect without reservation the principle of judicial independence and the rule of law."
In his closing remarks Chief Justice Pius Langa commented that "he said the right things. But they were not just right, they were also inspiring because they were affirming. He was expressing his confidence in the judiciary and affirming the independence of the judiciary." A resolution read out by Langa stated: "The judiciary should be empowered to administer courts and its own budget. To this extent the judiciary will work with, and cooperate with, other branches of government to develop a model of court administration that best reflects the principle of judicial independence."
The conference adopted various resolutions affecting the judiciary, including the recognition of a single judiciary with the chief justice at the helm.
Source: Mail & Guardian
'Fear made police cook stats'
The alleged cooking of crime statistics by police stations in three provinces is the consequence of "fear" instilled in police managers by former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi, Johan Burger of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) has charged.
Last week the Mail & Guardian reported on the alleged manipulation of statistics by a KwaZulu-Natal police station and victimisation of a whistleblower.
Further cases of the concealment and destruction of dockets in Gauteng and the Western Cape have since been reported, including a whistleblower's claims that the Paarl police station failed to record or investigate 52 rape cases, including one involving a child of four.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Last week the Mail & Guardian reported on the alleged manipulation of statistics by a KwaZulu-Natal police station and victimisation of a whistleblower.
Further cases of the concealment and destruction of dockets in Gauteng and the Western Cape have since been reported, including a whistleblower's claims that the Paarl police station failed to record or investigate 52 rape cases, including one involving a child of four.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Thursday, July 9, 2009
ANC youth on nationalisation of mines
The African National Congress (ANC) Youth Leagues’ call for the nationalisation of South African mines has ignited diversified debate locally and internationally. ANC Youth League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu tells Mining Weekly that the ANC Youth Leagues’ call for the nationalisation of mines is within the context of the ANC's constitutional strategic goal. “The ANC's constitution commits all members to abide by the objectives of the Freedom Charter.”
He explains that the Freedom Charter states that unequivocally the mineral wealth beneath the soil that belongs to monopoly industries and banks shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole. “The people as a whole is vividly distinguishable from State rentals of mineral wealth to big corporations who brutally exploit labour and unsustainably exploit mineral wealth to make big profits. “The Freedom Charter is a the clearest expression of what the ANC and alliance partners seek to achieve in South Africa and any person who is against the Charter is against the aims of the ANC and the revolutionary alliance,” Shivambu comments.
The ANC Youth League believes that this is even more relevant with the economic downturn. “We do not want the production extraction and trade of mineral wealth in the country to be profit driven. The profit motive, in particularly with regard to mining in the country, has not been helpful with the development of the South African economy. “Companies have been extracting mineral wealth from the country's soil without developing the communities where these minerals are being extracted. These same companies have also not significantly contributed to the industrialisation, beneficiation, and the diversification of the economy.”
Shivambu says that the country has been reliant on the production of mineral resources from mining for a very long time, and adds that it is not durable. “South Africa now needs to be competitive in other areas of the industry such as beneficiation. Most South Africans do not even know what the platinum is used for, yet 70% of platinum reserves are located in South Africa. The country needs to start beneficiating its resources,” he says.
The ANC Youth League believes that only when the State is in control of mineral production an opportunity will be created for the development of the country’s mineral industry. “The State will not employ people just because we want to make more money, and then cut labour when it suits us, with thousand of people losing their jobs and their lives because working conditions are not safe. “When the State is directly involved in the mining of these minerals, it is going to be more conducive to the people, developing communities and societies,” says Shivambu.
However, South African Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu told Reuters that the country would not nationalise mines despite calls from the ruling party's allies. She confirmed that the ANC's youth wing, as well as trade union federation Cosatu, have asked the government to take control of mines. "We are definitely not going to nationalise mines," Shabangu reassured. "The ongoing debate will not change the government's policy at all. It must be a concern for investors, but I want to assure them that as government we are not going to go on that route. The South Africa they knew yesterday is the same today and nothing will change. It is a non-issue," she said.
To that, Shivambu says that the Minister is not representing the views of the ANC. “We met with the ANC and as far as we are concerned, the policy of the ANC is the Freedom Charter which was reaffirmed in the recent congress of the ANC. “The Minister is not speaking on behalf of the ANC, she is speaking on behalf of government. Even though the government is constantly mandated by the ANC, at times there are those who miss the proper understanding and grasp of what the ANC is saying on certain issues. “The Charter speaks to the nationalisation of mines, and possibly at government-level that has not been given practical meaning, however, within the ANC policy that is a reality. We are sure that the ANC will be guiding government on how to move forward on this particular issue.” He says that investor confidence will not be harmed by the nationalisation of the country’s mines. “We are going to open up investment opportunities in other areas such as the beneficiation of minerals, where we do not have the capacity. However, in terms of control ownership of mines we need the state to be in control of the mines.”
Shivambu explains that the nationalisation proposal is not going to be a “big-bang” introduction, but a gradual introduction of State ownership. “Partnerships will be formed between the State and big corporations,” he says. Ultimately, Shivambu states that the ANC is for nationalisation of mines in the country, and that it will happen.
Source: Polity
He explains that the Freedom Charter states that unequivocally the mineral wealth beneath the soil that belongs to monopoly industries and banks shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole. “The people as a whole is vividly distinguishable from State rentals of mineral wealth to big corporations who brutally exploit labour and unsustainably exploit mineral wealth to make big profits. “The Freedom Charter is a the clearest expression of what the ANC and alliance partners seek to achieve in South Africa and any person who is against the Charter is against the aims of the ANC and the revolutionary alliance,” Shivambu comments.
The ANC Youth League believes that this is even more relevant with the economic downturn. “We do not want the production extraction and trade of mineral wealth in the country to be profit driven. The profit motive, in particularly with regard to mining in the country, has not been helpful with the development of the South African economy. “Companies have been extracting mineral wealth from the country's soil without developing the communities where these minerals are being extracted. These same companies have also not significantly contributed to the industrialisation, beneficiation, and the diversification of the economy.”
Shivambu says that the country has been reliant on the production of mineral resources from mining for a very long time, and adds that it is not durable. “South Africa now needs to be competitive in other areas of the industry such as beneficiation. Most South Africans do not even know what the platinum is used for, yet 70% of platinum reserves are located in South Africa. The country needs to start beneficiating its resources,” he says.
The ANC Youth League believes that only when the State is in control of mineral production an opportunity will be created for the development of the country’s mineral industry. “The State will not employ people just because we want to make more money, and then cut labour when it suits us, with thousand of people losing their jobs and their lives because working conditions are not safe. “When the State is directly involved in the mining of these minerals, it is going to be more conducive to the people, developing communities and societies,” says Shivambu.
However, South African Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu told Reuters that the country would not nationalise mines despite calls from the ruling party's allies. She confirmed that the ANC's youth wing, as well as trade union federation Cosatu, have asked the government to take control of mines. "We are definitely not going to nationalise mines," Shabangu reassured. "The ongoing debate will not change the government's policy at all. It must be a concern for investors, but I want to assure them that as government we are not going to go on that route. The South Africa they knew yesterday is the same today and nothing will change. It is a non-issue," she said.
To that, Shivambu says that the Minister is not representing the views of the ANC. “We met with the ANC and as far as we are concerned, the policy of the ANC is the Freedom Charter which was reaffirmed in the recent congress of the ANC. “The Minister is not speaking on behalf of the ANC, she is speaking on behalf of government. Even though the government is constantly mandated by the ANC, at times there are those who miss the proper understanding and grasp of what the ANC is saying on certain issues. “The Charter speaks to the nationalisation of mines, and possibly at government-level that has not been given practical meaning, however, within the ANC policy that is a reality. We are sure that the ANC will be guiding government on how to move forward on this particular issue.” He says that investor confidence will not be harmed by the nationalisation of the country’s mines. “We are going to open up investment opportunities in other areas such as the beneficiation of minerals, where we do not have the capacity. However, in terms of control ownership of mines we need the state to be in control of the mines.”
Shivambu explains that the nationalisation proposal is not going to be a “big-bang” introduction, but a gradual introduction of State ownership. “Partnerships will be formed between the State and big corporations,” he says. Ultimately, Shivambu states that the ANC is for nationalisation of mines in the country, and that it will happen.
Source: Polity
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Forty million South Africans without medical aid
Only about 14% of South Africans belong to a medical aid scheme, the Health Systems Trust (HST) said on Monday.
This left a balance of more than 40-million people without cover and dependent on the public health sector, spokesperson Fiorenza Monticelli said in a statement distributed at the health informatics SA conference held in Johannesburg.
Source: Mail & Guardian
This left a balance of more than 40-million people without cover and dependent on the public health sector, spokesperson Fiorenza Monticelli said in a statement distributed at the health informatics SA conference held in Johannesburg.
Source: Mail & Guardian
New crime-fighting unit dubbed the Hawks
South Africa's new Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations has been dubbed "the Hawks".
Anwa Dramat, the head of the unit, said it would focus on fighting organised crime and corruption as well as serious economic crimes.
He said 288 cases from the Scorpions -- which the new unit replaces -- would be transferred to the Hawks. Two hundred and twenty former members of the Scorpions would also be transferred to the new unit.
Anwa Dramat, the head of the unit, said it would focus on fighting organised crime and corruption as well as serious economic crimes.
He said 288 cases from the Scorpions -- which the new unit replaces -- would be transferred to the Hawks. Two hundred and twenty former members of the Scorpions would also be transferred to the new unit.
Monday, July 6, 2009
We respect judicial independence, says Zuma
A call to reform South Africa's judiciary does not mean judges' independence will be compromised, President Jacob Zuma said on Monday, seeking to allay concern about judicial autonomy under his rule.
Zuma caused a stir before he was elected president in April when he said the judiciary needed to change and judges should not be above criticism.
Zuma battled corruption and graft charges for years before they were dropped on a technicality two weeks before the general election. His supporters criticised the judiciary, with some saying there were "counter-revolutionary" forces in the system.
On Monday, Zuma told a judges' conference: "Let me from the onset state that the transformation of the judiciary should be advanced and undertaken without interfering with the principle of judicial independence."
"An independent judiciary is one of the cornerstones of any democracy. As the executive we respect without reservation the principle of judicial independence and the rule of law." But he said judges could be criticised.
"All South Africans accept the fact that the judiciary is the final arbiter of all disputes ... However, that does not mean that the judiciary and other dispute resolution institutions should be beyond criticism."
"Criticism of the said institutions is allowed and indeed proper in a democratic society, but it should be fair and informed," Zuma said.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Zuma caused a stir before he was elected president in April when he said the judiciary needed to change and judges should not be above criticism.
Zuma battled corruption and graft charges for years before they were dropped on a technicality two weeks before the general election. His supporters criticised the judiciary, with some saying there were "counter-revolutionary" forces in the system.
On Monday, Zuma told a judges' conference: "Let me from the onset state that the transformation of the judiciary should be advanced and undertaken without interfering with the principle of judicial independence."
"An independent judiciary is one of the cornerstones of any democracy. As the executive we respect without reservation the principle of judicial independence and the rule of law." But he said judges could be criticised.
"All South Africans accept the fact that the judiciary is the final arbiter of all disputes ... However, that does not mean that the judiciary and other dispute resolution institutions should be beyond criticism."
"Criticism of the said institutions is allowed and indeed proper in a democratic society, but it should be fair and informed," Zuma said.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Spy war at PetroSA
Papers filed in a court case shed light on a bizarre spy war at PetroSA that involved a bug sweep by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
At the same time, worker protests have erupted at the parastatal over the suspension of a trade union member, allegedly for leaking information to the Mail & Guardian after his emails were searched by management.
Workers allege a general witch-hunt against critics and dissenters at PetroSA. They link it to management's fears that criticism could derail a huge expansion programme planned at the parastatal.
The "spy versus spy" allegations are contained in papers filed last month in the Cape Town Labour Court by former senior PetroSA investigator Lerato Lesole, who is suing the parastatal for unfair dismissal and demanding immediate reinstatement.
Lesole was investigating PetroSA's chief executive, Sipho Mkhize, and the chief financial officer, Nkosemntu Nika, before he got the chop.
His probe was sparked by a claim by an internal whistle-blower in 2007 that Nika might be involved in fraudulent activities and that Mkhize was involved in tender irregularities relating to the desludging of PetroSA's Milnerton oil tanks.
Source: Mail & Guardian
At the same time, worker protests have erupted at the parastatal over the suspension of a trade union member, allegedly for leaking information to the Mail & Guardian after his emails were searched by management.
Workers allege a general witch-hunt against critics and dissenters at PetroSA. They link it to management's fears that criticism could derail a huge expansion programme planned at the parastatal.
The "spy versus spy" allegations are contained in papers filed last month in the Cape Town Labour Court by former senior PetroSA investigator Lerato Lesole, who is suing the parastatal for unfair dismissal and demanding immediate reinstatement.
Lesole was investigating PetroSA's chief executive, Sipho Mkhize, and the chief financial officer, Nkosemntu Nika, before he got the chop.
His probe was sparked by a claim by an internal whistle-blower in 2007 that Nika might be involved in fraudulent activities and that Mkhize was involved in tender irregularities relating to the desludging of PetroSA's Milnerton oil tanks.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Crime stats scam exposed
A KwaZulu-Natal police whistleblower, who was suspended without pay because, he said, he exposed fraudulent crime statistics, has had his salary reinstated.
Constable Craig Josiah approached the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg last month to set aside his suspension. He claimed he had been victimised and subjected to trumped-up charges after he exposed "fraudulent" activities in the capturing of crime statistics.
Judge Fikile Mokgohloa ordered that Josiah's salary be reinstated pending the state's filing of its papers and argument in court on Josiah's suspension.
Josiah's station commissioner, Director Hariram Badul, had discontinued his salary on March 9. This was after the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), acting on information provided by Josiah, raided the Mountain Rise Police Station in Pietermaritzburg and discovered 170 unregistered dockets stacked away in a room.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Constable Craig Josiah approached the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg last month to set aside his suspension. He claimed he had been victimised and subjected to trumped-up charges after he exposed "fraudulent" activities in the capturing of crime statistics.
Judge Fikile Mokgohloa ordered that Josiah's salary be reinstated pending the state's filing of its papers and argument in court on Josiah's suspension.
Josiah's station commissioner, Director Hariram Badul, had discontinued his salary on March 9. This was after the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), acting on information provided by Josiah, raided the Mountain Rise Police Station in Pietermaritzburg and discovered 170 unregistered dockets stacked away in a room.
Source: Mail & Guardian
'Cops Ignore Kebble Murder Accused'
Police have not yet acted on 52 extraditions, including Brett Kebble murder accused John Stratton.
Yet they seem to have made moves to extradite a nurse accused of stealing medical records of former health minister Manto Tshabala-Msimang.
Source: All Africa.com
Yet they seem to have made moves to extradite a nurse accused of stealing medical records of former health minister Manto Tshabala-Msimang.
Source: All Africa.com
Friday, July 3, 2009
Palin's resignation shocks Alaska, nation
Gov. Sarah Palin stunned Alaska and the nation Friday by abruptly announcing her resignation from office. Palin, the governor of Alaska for two and a half years, said she will step down in three weeks and hand power over to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. Palin made the announcement at a hastily called press conference held at her Wasilla home as the holiday weekend began. She complained about ethics complaints lodged against her, said the media isn't reporting her accomplishments, and struck conservative political themes like smaller government, resource development and national security. Her statements sparked an immediate national debate over whether this kills any chance Palin had ever winning national office, or frees her up to concentrate on national politics.
Palin, 45, said she decided first not to run for re-election next fall when her term is up, then figured in that case she'd just leave now. Palin said she didn't want to be a "lame duck," a political phrase for officeholders who have signaled they are leaving office and therefore lose clout to push their political agenda. Palin said that instead, she'll work for the Alaska's interests without the title. "Many just accept that lame duck status and they hit the road, they draw a paycheck. They kind of milk it. And I'm not going to put Alaskans through that. I promised efficiencies and effectiveness," she said. But Palin could have waited until next year to announce she wasn't running for re-election, said Valdez Republican state Rep. John Harris, who plans to run for governor now that Palin isn't. The deadline for her to decide wasn't until next June, after the next legislative session is over. Harris called her decision "strange."
Palin's explanation makes no sense, agreed state Rep. Mike Hawker, a leading critic of her. "That isn't a reason. Seated governors just don't resign in the last year of their term no matter how successful or for that matter unsuccessful they've been. Right now there are a lot more questions than answers. And until the governor chooses to reveal more of her motive here, it's just one of those questions we will never know the answer to," said Hawker, a Republican from Anchorage. Hawker noted that Palin's decision to quit "gives her unfettered ability to pursue her economic interests, whether it be a book deal or speeches, that type of thing, without being cluttered by state ethics law."
Source: Anchorage Daily News
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Ramphele warns of chaos
Director of the World Bank and convenor of the so-called Dinokeng group, Mamphela Ramphele, has said the first of various ticking time bombs in South Africa have begun to explode. She was a guest speaker in Pretoria at a future conference of the Solidarity union on Tuesday.
Dinokeng is a diverse group of 35 esteemed South Africans who met last year with the aim of trying to determine how the country could look by 2020. The group says South Africa finds itself at a crossroads of three scenarios: walk apart, walk behind or walk together.
Ramphele said the government was responsible for the various time bombs, because it failed on education, health, crime, poverty and unemployment. "We are seeing increasing agitation because people are tired of hearing the empty promises municipalities make. This is one of the time bombs which is set to explode." She said South Africans should start reclaiming their ownership, "since the country does, after all, belong to us. It will require a mind shift in perspective and a step out of our comfort zones. The striking doctors are doing this now and this is another time bomb starting to explode. The strike is causing utter chaos, but it is necessary in order for government to get the message.
According to Ramphele, the strike will force the government to contemplate the health sector, "which has become a gravy train going nowhere". She said it was of utmost importance that citizens and leaders from all sectors become involved and start demanding better service delivery. Ramphele said the onus was on South Africans to choose the walk-together scenario.
The Dinokeng group sketches South Africa in a walking alone scenario by 2018 up to 2020, as a country where the separation between the government and citizens increases, budgeted deficits increase, service delivery deteriorates day by day, and "gangs, self-appointed mayors and taxi organisations reign in local areas".
Source: News 24
Dinokeng is a diverse group of 35 esteemed South Africans who met last year with the aim of trying to determine how the country could look by 2020. The group says South Africa finds itself at a crossroads of three scenarios: walk apart, walk behind or walk together.
Ramphele said the government was responsible for the various time bombs, because it failed on education, health, crime, poverty and unemployment. "We are seeing increasing agitation because people are tired of hearing the empty promises municipalities make. This is one of the time bombs which is set to explode." She said South Africans should start reclaiming their ownership, "since the country does, after all, belong to us. It will require a mind shift in perspective and a step out of our comfort zones. The striking doctors are doing this now and this is another time bomb starting to explode. The strike is causing utter chaos, but it is necessary in order for government to get the message.
According to Ramphele, the strike will force the government to contemplate the health sector, "which has become a gravy train going nowhere". She said it was of utmost importance that citizens and leaders from all sectors become involved and start demanding better service delivery. Ramphele said the onus was on South Africans to choose the walk-together scenario.
The Dinokeng group sketches South Africa in a walking alone scenario by 2018 up to 2020, as a country where the separation between the government and citizens increases, budgeted deficits increase, service delivery deteriorates day by day, and "gangs, self-appointed mayors and taxi organisations reign in local areas".
Source: News 24
SA healthcare model “primitive” — Minister
South Africa's model of healthcare financing is "primitive" and will be abandoned, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said on Tuesday.
"The present system of healthcare financing can no longer be allowed to go on, because it is simply unsustainable," Motsoaledi said during his budget vote speech in Parliament.
He said of the 8,5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) that was spent on healthcare, only 3,5% of the GDP catered for 84% of the population's healthcare. The other 5% catered for just 14% of the population or seven-million people.
"Nowhere in the civilised world can you find that state of affairs," he said.
"The present model of healthcare financing is just outright primitive and we are going to abandon it."
Motsoaledi said critics of the government's proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) were "hard at work" to prove that the government was going to overburden the rich.
"NHI is a system of universal health coverage where every citizen is covered by healthcare insurance, rich or poor," he said.
Source: Polity
"The present system of healthcare financing can no longer be allowed to go on, because it is simply unsustainable," Motsoaledi said during his budget vote speech in Parliament.
He said of the 8,5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) that was spent on healthcare, only 3,5% of the GDP catered for 84% of the population's healthcare. The other 5% catered for just 14% of the population or seven-million people.
"Nowhere in the civilised world can you find that state of affairs," he said.
"The present model of healthcare financing is just outright primitive and we are going to abandon it."
Motsoaledi said critics of the government's proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) were "hard at work" to prove that the government was going to overburden the rich.
"NHI is a system of universal health coverage where every citizen is covered by healthcare insurance, rich or poor," he said.
Source: Polity
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
ABUSING MAJORITY
Mr John Mchunu and his leadership of the ANC Ethekwini Region must emulate the example of President Jacob Zuma. In respect of what he had told the Late Joe Slovo when they met to discuss talks with the NATS to find a solution. President Zuma told Joe Slovo that the NATS government has a powerful machine which ANC and exile can not match but ANC got on its side values, principles, morality and sympathy.
The Ethekwini Municipality has a powerful 16 vote majority in the Ethekwini Municipality but those who they push around have values, principles and have public sympathy. You can not use the majority to do what you please, thrown tried and tested produces to the wind, demolish market, scounder money on bus contracts and projects like Ushaka Island. Use your majority towards development taking political and not professional decisions. Take a look at Gauteng, Tshwane and Cape Town about name changing, about intercommunity relationships. Majority in those Metro do not mock minorities.
To Mr John Mchunu they say there was an unsinkable ship called the Roman Empire, they sank. The ANC in the Western Cape introspection about their loss, they say they lost Western Cape because of their own arrogance. Arrogance will not take Ethekwini too far. History has shown us that those who abuse power and are arrogant collapse very fast. Perhaps President Jacob Zuma should give these new comers a letter about humanity and fairness.
Source: Minority Front
The Ethekwini Municipality has a powerful 16 vote majority in the Ethekwini Municipality but those who they push around have values, principles and have public sympathy. You can not use the majority to do what you please, thrown tried and tested produces to the wind, demolish market, scounder money on bus contracts and projects like Ushaka Island. Use your majority towards development taking political and not professional decisions. Take a look at Gauteng, Tshwane and Cape Town about name changing, about intercommunity relationships. Majority in those Metro do not mock minorities.
To Mr John Mchunu they say there was an unsinkable ship called the Roman Empire, they sank. The ANC in the Western Cape introspection about their loss, they say they lost Western Cape because of their own arrogance. Arrogance will not take Ethekwini too far. History has shown us that those who abuse power and are arrogant collapse very fast. Perhaps President Jacob Zuma should give these new comers a letter about humanity and fairness.
Source: Minority Front
Constant Fear and Mob Rule in South Africa Slum
The two robbery suspects had already been viciously beaten, their swollen faces stained with rivulets of red. One of them could no longer sit up, and only the need to moan seemed to revive him into consciousness. The other, Moses Tjiwa, occasionally stared into the taunting crowd and muttered, “I didn’t do anything.”
The suspects were awaiting the final cathartic wrath of the mob, the torment of being burned alive, wrapped in the fatal shawl of a gasoline-soaked blanket. Then suddenly they were saved from that hideous death by the brave intervention of a local politician. “Let the police handle this,” he implored. As usual, the police arrived late on that recent evening, and many in the mob angrily objected to their being there at all. Finally, one police inspector shouted: “Get back or I’m leaving this place and never helping you people again. I hate Diepsloot!”
Crime in South Africa is commonly portrayed as an onslaught against the wealthy, but it is the poor who are most vulnerable: poor people conveniently accessible to poor criminals. Diepsloot, an impoverished settlement on the northern edge of Johannesburg, has an estimated population of 150,000, and the closest police station is 10 miles away. To spend time in Diepsloot over three weeks is to observe the unrelenting fear so common among the urban poor. Experts point to the particularly brutal nature of crime in this country: the unusually high number of rapes, hijackings and armed robberies. The murder rate, while declining, is about eight times higher than in the United States.
In Diepsloot, people usually bear their losses in silence, their misfortune unreported and their offenders unknown. If a suspect is identified, victims usually inform quasi-legal vigilante groups or hire their own thugs to recover their property. There is also the impromptu mob justice, when an apprehended suspect becomes the sacrificial culprit for a thousand grievances. Even Jacob Zuma, the new president, says that citizens cannot be “blamed if they take the law into their own hands.” In one way or another, most already do. Among the wealthy, private security is the substitute for police protection. The open veldt surrounding Johannesburg is filling in with one barricaded development after another, fortified with electrified fencing, cameras and armed patrols. But the poor have no money for such defenses. Robbery is the most common crime in Diepsloot, a place where most every door is flimsy and each pathway a peril. Five-pound hammers are commonly used in assaults. Thieves hide easily in the darkness, preying on those who begin their walk to work before dawn and return after nightfall.
In the case where the mob turned its rage on Mr. Tjiwa and another man, Philip Dlamini, a young woman had been toting a satchel with about $500, the day’s proceeds from the grocery where she worked. Mr. Dlamini, accused of snatching the bag away, was quickly seized. A beating made him give up the name of an abettor, Mr. Tjiwa, who at the time was beginning an evening of beer at Themba’s Bottle Shop. “What’s this about?” he recalled demanding as he was being wrenched away. “You know what it’s about,” his accusers said, smacking his head with the metal end of a spade.
A mob’s haste sometimes leads to irredeemable errors. A few days later, Superintendent Sam Mokgonyana, the commander of the police station closest to Diepsloot, speculated that neither Mr. Dlamini nor Mr. Tjiwa was involved in the robbery. Rather, he supposed, the woman carrying the cash was in league with others in some inside conspiracy. “She should have been the first one arrested,” he said. Then he sighed before adding, “I wish I had 100 more men like me so I could do some proper policing.”
South Africa is a young democracy, and people have yet to trust the government for protection. Under apartheid, the police were agents of state repression. Now, says Antony Altbeker, a criminologist, attitudes toward law enforcement have “turned from hatred into contempt.” By international standards, the South African Police Service has an adequate amount of manpower per capita, though it is an undersized force in relation to the amount of violence. Whatever the measure, people here often dismiss the police as bunglers at best and crooks at worst. In Diepsloot, an arrest is usually seen as a way to gain the leverage needed to exact a bribe.
While Superintendent Mokgonyana agreed some of his officers were corrupt, he insisted a larger share of the venality rested with prosecutors and the courts. The superintendent is new to this command and said he tried to keep at least six vehicles on patrol in Diepsloot, but said that the few paved roads did not penetrate the contorted pathways of the shacks. Officers rarely move on foot among the hovels of salvaged metal and wood. With nightfall, the people themselves are loath to venture out.
On May 17, shortly after midnight, robbers shot up Ndlovu’s Tavern, killing a man and wounding 12 others. While the gunshots likely awakened hundreds, those who hear everything most often believe it is wise to do nothing. The heist lasted three hours. Some of the robbers leisurely played snooker while others did the hard work of carrying away crates of beer. The customers had been ordered to lie face down on the floor, and one of the gunmen selected a Freddie Gwala tune on the jukebox and danced on the backs of his captives. That killing was the first of four that week in Diepsloot. “Nobody helped,” George Ndlovu, the tavern’s owner, said of his neighbors. “I don’t blame them. I would not have helped.”
Diepsloot is something of a depository for South Africans forcibly evicted from other overcrowded townships and a collection point for immigrants. It is divided into 12 “extensions.” The better areas have government-built houses. The worst have only the haphazard shacks, with no light except that provided by kerosene and paraffin. Water trickles from communal taps. Toilets are the portable kind found on construction sites. The police now park a small trailer in Extension 1, but the officers there deal only with paperwork. A red-brick police station stands on the township’s northern perimeter, but those inside are unarmed municipal officers responsible for traffic, not crime. “Even if you know who robbed you, there is not much you can do,” said David Kaise, a day laborer who was recently parted from $50 and his cellphone.
But he did try, taking his troubles to the Comrades, a group of vigilantes available for hire. They hang out amid the squalor of Extension 1, nursing bottles of Black Label beer as they await the next customer. Their methods are notorious. They chain prisoners down and pour saltwater on their buttocks to soften the skin. Then they wield a heavy plastic cane called a sjambok. A dozen or so whacks are usually enough. “The sjambok is very good medicine,” wisecracked Evens Matamisa, a slender man with dreadlocks and the Comrades’ vice chairman. “We bring people to our office. It is the best clinic in town for giving the medicine.”
Those who fight crime and those who commit it are too often the same. The Comrades required a $20 fee before accepting Mr. Kaise’s “case,” and then returned with only the phone, which was broken. The day laborer regretted his decision. “The guy who robbed me must have paid them more,” he said. Each of the extensions has a “community policing forum,” a legally empowered group of volunteers meant to assist the police — and very often to act in lieu of them. They vary in size and tactics, but many hunt down suspects and handcuff them. As punishments, they impose fines. They demolish shacks. They sometimes apply beatings.
President Zuma is an advocate for these forums and has spoken approvingly of the “instant justice” they provide. His party, the African National Congress, has called for a “massive” expansion of community policing, with stipends paid to young enlistees. But police work is dangerous and citizen vigilantes are most often unarmed. Julius Malepe, the forum chairman of Extension 7, complained that his group had apprehended several suspects only to find them back on the street within days. Then the criminals get angry with him and that puts his life in danger, he said. “We do the job for the police and at the end of the day, they get a fat check and we get nothing,” Mr. Malepe said.
That complaint came a month before Mr. Malepe was murdered. Early one Saturday this month, he led two dozen unarmed civilian “patrollers” through the neighborhood. Their vigil ended at 3 a.m., and the forum chairman and another man, Samuel Matari, walked home. As they passed the New Creation Missionaries church, they were confronted by four gunmen. “We’ve been warning you,” one of the assailants called out, according to Mr. Matari. He and his friend ran for their lives.
Mr. Malepe, the earnest, gap-toothed chairman of Extension 7, was shot down on one of the many undulating dirt roads of Diepsloot, falling dead in the darkness just a few feet from the Fly by Night Tavern.
Source: New York Times
The suspects were awaiting the final cathartic wrath of the mob, the torment of being burned alive, wrapped in the fatal shawl of a gasoline-soaked blanket. Then suddenly they were saved from that hideous death by the brave intervention of a local politician. “Let the police handle this,” he implored. As usual, the police arrived late on that recent evening, and many in the mob angrily objected to their being there at all. Finally, one police inspector shouted: “Get back or I’m leaving this place and never helping you people again. I hate Diepsloot!”
Crime in South Africa is commonly portrayed as an onslaught against the wealthy, but it is the poor who are most vulnerable: poor people conveniently accessible to poor criminals. Diepsloot, an impoverished settlement on the northern edge of Johannesburg, has an estimated population of 150,000, and the closest police station is 10 miles away. To spend time in Diepsloot over three weeks is to observe the unrelenting fear so common among the urban poor. Experts point to the particularly brutal nature of crime in this country: the unusually high number of rapes, hijackings and armed robberies. The murder rate, while declining, is about eight times higher than in the United States.
In Diepsloot, people usually bear their losses in silence, their misfortune unreported and their offenders unknown. If a suspect is identified, victims usually inform quasi-legal vigilante groups or hire their own thugs to recover their property. There is also the impromptu mob justice, when an apprehended suspect becomes the sacrificial culprit for a thousand grievances. Even Jacob Zuma, the new president, says that citizens cannot be “blamed if they take the law into their own hands.” In one way or another, most already do. Among the wealthy, private security is the substitute for police protection. The open veldt surrounding Johannesburg is filling in with one barricaded development after another, fortified with electrified fencing, cameras and armed patrols. But the poor have no money for such defenses. Robbery is the most common crime in Diepsloot, a place where most every door is flimsy and each pathway a peril. Five-pound hammers are commonly used in assaults. Thieves hide easily in the darkness, preying on those who begin their walk to work before dawn and return after nightfall.
In the case where the mob turned its rage on Mr. Tjiwa and another man, Philip Dlamini, a young woman had been toting a satchel with about $500, the day’s proceeds from the grocery where she worked. Mr. Dlamini, accused of snatching the bag away, was quickly seized. A beating made him give up the name of an abettor, Mr. Tjiwa, who at the time was beginning an evening of beer at Themba’s Bottle Shop. “What’s this about?” he recalled demanding as he was being wrenched away. “You know what it’s about,” his accusers said, smacking his head with the metal end of a spade.
A mob’s haste sometimes leads to irredeemable errors. A few days later, Superintendent Sam Mokgonyana, the commander of the police station closest to Diepsloot, speculated that neither Mr. Dlamini nor Mr. Tjiwa was involved in the robbery. Rather, he supposed, the woman carrying the cash was in league with others in some inside conspiracy. “She should have been the first one arrested,” he said. Then he sighed before adding, “I wish I had 100 more men like me so I could do some proper policing.”
South Africa is a young democracy, and people have yet to trust the government for protection. Under apartheid, the police were agents of state repression. Now, says Antony Altbeker, a criminologist, attitudes toward law enforcement have “turned from hatred into contempt.” By international standards, the South African Police Service has an adequate amount of manpower per capita, though it is an undersized force in relation to the amount of violence. Whatever the measure, people here often dismiss the police as bunglers at best and crooks at worst. In Diepsloot, an arrest is usually seen as a way to gain the leverage needed to exact a bribe.
While Superintendent Mokgonyana agreed some of his officers were corrupt, he insisted a larger share of the venality rested with prosecutors and the courts. The superintendent is new to this command and said he tried to keep at least six vehicles on patrol in Diepsloot, but said that the few paved roads did not penetrate the contorted pathways of the shacks. Officers rarely move on foot among the hovels of salvaged metal and wood. With nightfall, the people themselves are loath to venture out.
On May 17, shortly after midnight, robbers shot up Ndlovu’s Tavern, killing a man and wounding 12 others. While the gunshots likely awakened hundreds, those who hear everything most often believe it is wise to do nothing. The heist lasted three hours. Some of the robbers leisurely played snooker while others did the hard work of carrying away crates of beer. The customers had been ordered to lie face down on the floor, and one of the gunmen selected a Freddie Gwala tune on the jukebox and danced on the backs of his captives. That killing was the first of four that week in Diepsloot. “Nobody helped,” George Ndlovu, the tavern’s owner, said of his neighbors. “I don’t blame them. I would not have helped.”
Diepsloot is something of a depository for South Africans forcibly evicted from other overcrowded townships and a collection point for immigrants. It is divided into 12 “extensions.” The better areas have government-built houses. The worst have only the haphazard shacks, with no light except that provided by kerosene and paraffin. Water trickles from communal taps. Toilets are the portable kind found on construction sites. The police now park a small trailer in Extension 1, but the officers there deal only with paperwork. A red-brick police station stands on the township’s northern perimeter, but those inside are unarmed municipal officers responsible for traffic, not crime. “Even if you know who robbed you, there is not much you can do,” said David Kaise, a day laborer who was recently parted from $50 and his cellphone.
But he did try, taking his troubles to the Comrades, a group of vigilantes available for hire. They hang out amid the squalor of Extension 1, nursing bottles of Black Label beer as they await the next customer. Their methods are notorious. They chain prisoners down and pour saltwater on their buttocks to soften the skin. Then they wield a heavy plastic cane called a sjambok. A dozen or so whacks are usually enough. “The sjambok is very good medicine,” wisecracked Evens Matamisa, a slender man with dreadlocks and the Comrades’ vice chairman. “We bring people to our office. It is the best clinic in town for giving the medicine.”
Those who fight crime and those who commit it are too often the same. The Comrades required a $20 fee before accepting Mr. Kaise’s “case,” and then returned with only the phone, which was broken. The day laborer regretted his decision. “The guy who robbed me must have paid them more,” he said. Each of the extensions has a “community policing forum,” a legally empowered group of volunteers meant to assist the police — and very often to act in lieu of them. They vary in size and tactics, but many hunt down suspects and handcuff them. As punishments, they impose fines. They demolish shacks. They sometimes apply beatings.
President Zuma is an advocate for these forums and has spoken approvingly of the “instant justice” they provide. His party, the African National Congress, has called for a “massive” expansion of community policing, with stipends paid to young enlistees. But police work is dangerous and citizen vigilantes are most often unarmed. Julius Malepe, the forum chairman of Extension 7, complained that his group had apprehended several suspects only to find them back on the street within days. Then the criminals get angry with him and that puts his life in danger, he said. “We do the job for the police and at the end of the day, they get a fat check and we get nothing,” Mr. Malepe said.
That complaint came a month before Mr. Malepe was murdered. Early one Saturday this month, he led two dozen unarmed civilian “patrollers” through the neighborhood. Their vigil ended at 3 a.m., and the forum chairman and another man, Samuel Matari, walked home. As they passed the New Creation Missionaries church, they were confronted by four gunmen. “We’ve been warning you,” one of the assailants called out, according to Mr. Matari. He and his friend ran for their lives.
Mr. Malepe, the earnest, gap-toothed chairman of Extension 7, was shot down on one of the many undulating dirt roads of Diepsloot, falling dead in the darkness just a few feet from the Fly by Night Tavern.
Source: New York Times
Monday, June 29, 2009
Constant Fear and Mob Rule in South Africa Slum
Crime in South Africa is commonly portrayed as an onslaught against the wealthy, but it is the poor who are most vulnerable: poor people conveniently accessible to poor criminals. Diepsloot, an impoverished settlement on the northern edge of Johannesburg, has an estimated population of 150,000, and the closest police station is 10 miles away.
To spend time in Diepsloot over three weeks is to observe the unrelenting fear so common among the urban poor. Experts point to the particularly brutal nature of crime in this country: the unusually high number of rapes, hijackings and armed robberies. The murder rate, while declining, is about eight times higher than in the United States.
In Diepsloot, people usually bear their losses in silence, their misfortune unreported and their offenders unknown. If a suspect is identified, victims usually inform quasi-legal vigilante groups or hire their own thugs to recover their property.
There is also the impromptu mob justice, when an apprehended suspect becomes the sacrificial culprit for a thousand grievances. Even Jacob Zuma, the new president, says that citizens cannot be “blamed if they take the law into their own hands.”
Source: New York Times
To spend time in Diepsloot over three weeks is to observe the unrelenting fear so common among the urban poor. Experts point to the particularly brutal nature of crime in this country: the unusually high number of rapes, hijackings and armed robberies. The murder rate, while declining, is about eight times higher than in the United States.
In Diepsloot, people usually bear their losses in silence, their misfortune unreported and their offenders unknown. If a suspect is identified, victims usually inform quasi-legal vigilante groups or hire their own thugs to recover their property.
There is also the impromptu mob justice, when an apprehended suspect becomes the sacrificial culprit for a thousand grievances. Even Jacob Zuma, the new president, says that citizens cannot be “blamed if they take the law into their own hands.”
Source: New York Times
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Behind Ramatlhodi's front
Ngoako Ramatlhodi's secret Bushveld farm really was his, but his friend who fronted for him bankrolled it too -- before sharing in casino rights awarded by the Limpopo government, where Ramatlhodi was premier. Ramatlhodi, now chairperson of Parliament's justice committee, is tipped for the position of national director of public prosecutions.
The Mail & Guardian earlier this month revealed Ramatlhodi's hush-hush role in the 1996 purchase of a farm near Mokopane, while he was premier. It was sold two-and-a-half years later to Anglo Platinum for the controversial resettlement of communities, at a face-value profit of R1-million.
Ramatlhodi's role was obscured by the fact that the buyer was a close corporation owned on paper by his friend, Limpopo businessperson Joe Mogodi. Ramatlhodi volunteered that he was the true owner during a long-running Scorpions probe, since closed, into allegations that he took bribes from a social grants contractor. Mogodi, however, insisted to the M&G that he was the owner.
The records of an October 2000 North Gauteng High Court hearing, in which First National Bank sued Ramatlhodi for debt, reveal:
* FNB, which extended the loan to purchase the farm, knew Ramatlhodi was the true owner;
* In correspondence with the bank Mogodi confirmed he was merely Ramatlhodi's "go-between";
* Ramatlhodi's salary as premier was insufficient to meet FNB's instalments; and
* Mogodi paid hundreds of thousands of rands to cover the instalments and settle debt, leaving him in a "financial predicament".
Mogodi, in other words, bent over backwards to fund the purchase of the farm for Ramatlhodi. During this time Mogodi vied for a casino licence, which was ultimately awarded to a consortium including him. Completing the circle, the provincial gambling board that awarded the licence was headed by Seth Nthai -- Ramatlhodi's personal advocate who defended him against the FNB debt claim. From the facts of that dispute, Nthai would have known that Mogodi had bankrolled the farm for the premier. Mogodi declined to comment. Ramatlhodi and Nthai failed to comment by the time of going to press.
Ngoako Properties, the close corporation owned on paper by Mogodi, offered R2.2-million to buy Sterkwater-De Hoogedoorns farm, plus a further R600 000 for cattle and implements, in January 1996. The offer was accepted. FNB approved a five-year loan of R2.8-million to fund the purchase. Both Mogodi and Ramatlhodi signed surety. But Mogodi may not have been fully aware of what he had let himself in for. The record of the FNB-Ramatlhodi hearing reflects FNB's Polokwane bank manager, Hendrik Janse van Rensburg, writing to his regional head office in April 1996: "We enclose the premier's balance sheet and we confirm that he signed the letter of suretyship … Repayment of the loan was discussed with him and he referred us to Mr Mogodi."
Three years later, once things had gone belly-up, Van Rensburg reported to his regional office: "During March 1996 the premier approached the bank for a 100% long-term loan of R2.8-million … The bank approved the loan subject to the condition that the term of the loan be reduced to five years ... "The premier could not register the farm property in his name in view of his position as premier, and he requested his personal friend, Mr J Mogodi, to register the close corporation in his name … "[Regional office instructed us] to request Mr Mogodi to sign a letter of suretyship and register a bond over his [own] farm property. He reluctantly agreed, informing us as follows: he was not even present when the financing of the farm had been discussed … "Mr Mogodi has serviced the instalments from the loan account without any financial assistance from the premier. He was eventually forced to surrender his endowment policies and MIA [managed investment account] to continue with his trading activities."
From the start, Van Rensburg's reports show, Mogodi attempted to negotiate a lighter burden with FNB. The monthly instalments were R55 000 a month. By early 1997 Mogodi had, on Van Rensburg's evidence, already put in R300 000 of his own money, but the loan account was in arrears. An FNB agricultural adviser proposed selling off less viable portions of the farm, but Mogodi, according to another Van Rensburg report, informed them: "He [Ramatlhodi] has decided to keep the farm property." Mogodi also told the bank they could only afford to repay at a rate of R35 000 to R40 000 a month, consisting of R20 000 (Mogodi), R10 000 (Ramatlhodi) and R5 000 to R10 000 (farm income). That Ramatlhodi could never have intended to pay the entire loan from his salary is clear: as late as 2004, Ramatlhodi grossed less than R60 000 a month. His net salary would have been well below FNB's R55 000 instalments.
The loan account fell further into arrears. In September 1997 cattle and implements were auctioned. When Angloplat made an offer of R3.2-million for the farm property in September 1998 it was accepted. The profit went straight to FNB, but the loan account was so far in arrears that FNB demanded Mogodi and Ramatlhodi pay a shortfall of more than R1-million. Mogodi eventually paid R375 000 and FNB let him off, but it sued Ramatlhodi for the balance. After the first day of the trial, in October 2000, FNB and Ramatlhodi settled. The details are not known.
On the available evidence, Mogodi's R375 000 brought his total contribution towards Ramatlhodi's farm to at least R675 000, and potentially much more. Did he get anything in return? Although the full circumstances are not known, Mogodi soon benefited from a casino licence. This is made problematic by the timing of the award and the dual role of Nthai, Ramatlhodi's defence advocate in the FNB matter.
Source: Mail & Guardian
The Mail & Guardian earlier this month revealed Ramatlhodi's hush-hush role in the 1996 purchase of a farm near Mokopane, while he was premier. It was sold two-and-a-half years later to Anglo Platinum for the controversial resettlement of communities, at a face-value profit of R1-million.
Ramatlhodi's role was obscured by the fact that the buyer was a close corporation owned on paper by his friend, Limpopo businessperson Joe Mogodi. Ramatlhodi volunteered that he was the true owner during a long-running Scorpions probe, since closed, into allegations that he took bribes from a social grants contractor. Mogodi, however, insisted to the M&G that he was the owner.
The records of an October 2000 North Gauteng High Court hearing, in which First National Bank sued Ramatlhodi for debt, reveal:
* FNB, which extended the loan to purchase the farm, knew Ramatlhodi was the true owner;
* In correspondence with the bank Mogodi confirmed he was merely Ramatlhodi's "go-between";
* Ramatlhodi's salary as premier was insufficient to meet FNB's instalments; and
* Mogodi paid hundreds of thousands of rands to cover the instalments and settle debt, leaving him in a "financial predicament".
Mogodi, in other words, bent over backwards to fund the purchase of the farm for Ramatlhodi. During this time Mogodi vied for a casino licence, which was ultimately awarded to a consortium including him. Completing the circle, the provincial gambling board that awarded the licence was headed by Seth Nthai -- Ramatlhodi's personal advocate who defended him against the FNB debt claim. From the facts of that dispute, Nthai would have known that Mogodi had bankrolled the farm for the premier. Mogodi declined to comment. Ramatlhodi and Nthai failed to comment by the time of going to press.
Ngoako Properties, the close corporation owned on paper by Mogodi, offered R2.2-million to buy Sterkwater-De Hoogedoorns farm, plus a further R600 000 for cattle and implements, in January 1996. The offer was accepted. FNB approved a five-year loan of R2.8-million to fund the purchase. Both Mogodi and Ramatlhodi signed surety. But Mogodi may not have been fully aware of what he had let himself in for. The record of the FNB-Ramatlhodi hearing reflects FNB's Polokwane bank manager, Hendrik Janse van Rensburg, writing to his regional head office in April 1996: "We enclose the premier's balance sheet and we confirm that he signed the letter of suretyship … Repayment of the loan was discussed with him and he referred us to Mr Mogodi."
Three years later, once things had gone belly-up, Van Rensburg reported to his regional office: "During March 1996 the premier approached the bank for a 100% long-term loan of R2.8-million … The bank approved the loan subject to the condition that the term of the loan be reduced to five years ... "The premier could not register the farm property in his name in view of his position as premier, and he requested his personal friend, Mr J Mogodi, to register the close corporation in his name … "[Regional office instructed us] to request Mr Mogodi to sign a letter of suretyship and register a bond over his [own] farm property. He reluctantly agreed, informing us as follows: he was not even present when the financing of the farm had been discussed … "Mr Mogodi has serviced the instalments from the loan account without any financial assistance from the premier. He was eventually forced to surrender his endowment policies and MIA [managed investment account] to continue with his trading activities."
From the start, Van Rensburg's reports show, Mogodi attempted to negotiate a lighter burden with FNB. The monthly instalments were R55 000 a month. By early 1997 Mogodi had, on Van Rensburg's evidence, already put in R300 000 of his own money, but the loan account was in arrears. An FNB agricultural adviser proposed selling off less viable portions of the farm, but Mogodi, according to another Van Rensburg report, informed them: "He [Ramatlhodi] has decided to keep the farm property." Mogodi also told the bank they could only afford to repay at a rate of R35 000 to R40 000 a month, consisting of R20 000 (Mogodi), R10 000 (Ramatlhodi) and R5 000 to R10 000 (farm income). That Ramatlhodi could never have intended to pay the entire loan from his salary is clear: as late as 2004, Ramatlhodi grossed less than R60 000 a month. His net salary would have been well below FNB's R55 000 instalments.
The loan account fell further into arrears. In September 1997 cattle and implements were auctioned. When Angloplat made an offer of R3.2-million for the farm property in September 1998 it was accepted. The profit went straight to FNB, but the loan account was so far in arrears that FNB demanded Mogodi and Ramatlhodi pay a shortfall of more than R1-million. Mogodi eventually paid R375 000 and FNB let him off, but it sued Ramatlhodi for the balance. After the first day of the trial, in October 2000, FNB and Ramatlhodi settled. The details are not known.
On the available evidence, Mogodi's R375 000 brought his total contribution towards Ramatlhodi's farm to at least R675 000, and potentially much more. Did he get anything in return? Although the full circumstances are not known, Mogodi soon benefited from a casino licence. This is made problematic by the timing of the award and the dual role of Nthai, Ramatlhodi's defence advocate in the FNB matter.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Friday, June 26, 2009
HRW: Zim army guilty of diamond field abuses
Human Rights Watch on Friday accused Zimbabwe's armed forces, under the control of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF, of torture and forced labour in the eastern Marange diamond fields.
A new 62-page report documents the killing of more than 200 people by the army in a takeover of the eastern fields last year, saying it believes the illegal diamond trade is a likely revenue source for senior Zanu-PF officials.
"The police and army have turned this peaceful area into a nightmare of lawlessness and horrific violence," said Georgette Gagnon, HRW's Africa director in a statement.
"Some income from the fields has been funnelled to high-level party members of Zanu-PF, which is now part of a power-sharing government that urgently needs revenue as the country faces a dire economic crisis," the rights group said.
Source: Mail & Guardian
A new 62-page report documents the killing of more than 200 people by the army in a takeover of the eastern fields last year, saying it believes the illegal diamond trade is a likely revenue source for senior Zanu-PF officials.
"The police and army have turned this peaceful area into a nightmare of lawlessness and horrific violence," said Georgette Gagnon, HRW's Africa director in a statement.
"Some income from the fields has been funnelled to high-level party members of Zanu-PF, which is now part of a power-sharing government that urgently needs revenue as the country faces a dire economic crisis," the rights group said.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Zimbabwe’s Diamond Fields Enrich Ruling Party
JOHANNESBURG — Zimbabwe’s military, controlled by President Robert Mugabe’s political party, violently took over diamond fields in Zimbabwe last year and has used the illicit revenues to buy the loyalty of restive soldiers and enrich party leaders, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released Friday.
The party, ZANU-PF, has used the money from diamonds — smuggled out of the country or illegally sold through the Reserve Bank — to reinforce its hold over the security forces, which seemed to be slipping last year as the value of soldiers’ pay collapsed with soaring inflation, Human Rights Watch researchers said.
Source: New York Times
The party, ZANU-PF, has used the money from diamonds — smuggled out of the country or illegally sold through the Reserve Bank — to reinforce its hold over the security forces, which seemed to be slipping last year as the value of soldiers’ pay collapsed with soaring inflation, Human Rights Watch researchers said.
Source: New York Times
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Alleged Ponzi-scheme recruiter's assets frozen
The assets of lawyer Dean Rees -- an alleged recruiter for a Ponzi scheme reportedly headed by Barry Tannenbaum -- have been frozen, the Financial Mail said on Thursday. According to a recent investigation, Rees sought investors for Tannenbaum's scheme that supposedly imported pharmaceutical drugs into South Africa and then sold them on to generic drug manufacturers. Although Rees said he was an unwitting pawn of Tannenbaum, his assets were frozen this week by the Queen's Bench division of the United Kingdom High Court in London, the FM added. When contacted, Rees said he would fight this "most vigorously".
According to the FM, the UK court order specifically froze nine bank accounts belonging to Rees and his companies, including four at Investec and others in Hong Kong, New York and Switzerland. The order also demanded that Rees hand his passport to Barwa's lawyers and that he provide a list of all his assets.
Source: Mail & Guardian
According to the FM, the UK court order specifically froze nine bank accounts belonging to Rees and his companies, including four at Investec and others in Hong Kong, New York and Switzerland. The order also demanded that Rees hand his passport to Barwa's lawyers and that he provide a list of all his assets.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Fight against blood diamonds under review in Namibia
Diamond-producing nations open a meeting on Tuesday to review global efforts to prevent trade in the gems from fuelling conflicts, with an eye on alleged abuses in Zimbabwe and Venezuela's recent suspension.
An international scheme known as the Kimberley Process, named after the South African mining town, was launched in 2003 with the aim of curbing the flow of "blood diamonds" into the mainstream market.
Namibia, which currently heads the process, is hosting the three-day meeting to deliberate on efforts to further curb the illegal diamond trade blamed for financing wars in developing countries.
"The clock is running out on Kimberley Process credibility," said Annie Dunnebacke of the London-based Global Witness, which monitors the exploitation of natural resources.
Global Witness has pointed to worries over smuggling, money laundering and human rights abuses in the world's alluvial diamond fields.
Source: Mail & Guardian
An international scheme known as the Kimberley Process, named after the South African mining town, was launched in 2003 with the aim of curbing the flow of "blood diamonds" into the mainstream market.
Namibia, which currently heads the process, is hosting the three-day meeting to deliberate on efforts to further curb the illegal diamond trade blamed for financing wars in developing countries.
"The clock is running out on Kimberley Process credibility," said Annie Dunnebacke of the London-based Global Witness, which monitors the exploitation of natural resources.
Global Witness has pointed to worries over smuggling, money laundering and human rights abuses in the world's alluvial diamond fields.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Ex-MEC charged with murdering spouse
Mpumalanga's former Environmental Affairs MEC, Luckson Mathebula, is due to appear in court for a second bail application today after being charged with the assassination of his estranged wife. The two gunmen who murdered Rose Aletta Mnisi in front of a group of primary school children are still at large, but police arrested Mathebula along with a girlfriend and a traditional healer on conspiracy to murder charges last week.
The girlfriend, Pretty Thembi Gama, allegedly provided the getaway car and the 7.65mm pistol used to shoot Mnisi at point-blank range in the back of her head two weeks ago. The traditional healer, Jimmy Chauke, allegedly blessed the assassination plot and provided muti to 'protect' the killers. Chauke has been denied bail and was remanded until July 5, but Mathebula and Gama will both appear in the Lulekani Circuit Court near Phalaborwa today. Both are in custody after they were refused bail last Friday.
Police are also still attempting to track the gunman and his getaway driver after they backed out of a deal to surrender to police last week. The alleged killers initially offered to surrender through Mathebula's attorney, Francis Legodi, but backed out at the last minute and have since disappeared. Investigating officer Superintendent Hennie Lochner has confirmed that he was probing reports that a woman with the same name as Mnisi was murdered in almost identical circumstances three weeks ago.
The girlfriend, Pretty Thembi Gama, allegedly provided the getaway car and the 7.65mm pistol used to shoot Mnisi at point-blank range in the back of her head two weeks ago. The traditional healer, Jimmy Chauke, allegedly blessed the assassination plot and provided muti to 'protect' the killers. Chauke has been denied bail and was remanded until July 5, but Mathebula and Gama will both appear in the Lulekani Circuit Court near Phalaborwa today. Both are in custody after they were refused bail last Friday.
Police are also still attempting to track the gunman and his getaway driver after they backed out of a deal to surrender to police last week. The alleged killers initially offered to surrender through Mathebula's attorney, Francis Legodi, but backed out at the last minute and have since disappeared. Investigating officer Superintendent Hennie Lochner has confirmed that he was probing reports that a woman with the same name as Mnisi was murdered in almost identical circumstances three weeks ago.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Fidentia curators probe 'significant entity'
Fidentia's curators have been probing a deal involving "a significant entity in the financial-services industry", according to a report made public on Monday.
In the report, dated March 10, curators Dines Gihwala and George Papadakis detailed how they had recovered, or had firm agreements on, about R160-million of Fidentia cash. They also listed a number of assets that still had to be sold, including the Sante Winelands Hotel and Spa at Franschoek, and Fidentia's former headquarters in Cape Town's Century City, for which they are seeking more than R53-million. "There is also a transaction involving a significant entity in the financial-services industry, which may be liable to the curators in a transaction that appear[s] to be a sham," they said. "Inasmuch as the curators are still investigating this claim, they are reluctant to disclose the identity of such entity to ensure no reputational damage is suffered by such entity, just in case it turns out that the information at the disposal of the curators is unreliable and/or inaccurate."
Former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown is currently facing criminal charges related to the Fidentia debacle. One-time Fidentia accountant/financial director Graham Maddock is behind bars after entering a plea agreement with the Scorpions, which involves testifying against Brown. The curators said in their report that Maddock had undertaken in the plea agreement to pay them R6,3-million. Of this they had so far received R2,8-million, from the sale of the Maddocks' Constantia family home.
An associate of Brown's, Louis Koen, had agreed to repay R10,9-million, and had so far handed over R3,2-million of this. Johan Linde, who received R5,1-million as purported dividend and restraint of trade agreements, had paid over the entire amount to the curators. These amounts make up part of the R160-million total. The curators said summonses for similar payments, totalling more than R20-million, had been issued against Johan de Jongh, Hjalmar Mulder and Zacharias Brown.
Also unresolved were claims of R8,5-million against former Fidentia director Rudi Bam, R24,7-million against Brown and his wife, Susan, and R77-million against businesses formerly controlled by broker Steve Goodwin. Goodwin was jailed two months ago, in another Scorpions plea agreement, after being apprehended in the United States. Gihwala has previously said that the shortfall on Fidentia's books could be as much as a billion rand.
The publication of the curators' report, available on the Financial Services Board's website, follows an order made by the Cape High Court last week.
Source: Mail & Guardina
In the report, dated March 10, curators Dines Gihwala and George Papadakis detailed how they had recovered, or had firm agreements on, about R160-million of Fidentia cash. They also listed a number of assets that still had to be sold, including the Sante Winelands Hotel and Spa at Franschoek, and Fidentia's former headquarters in Cape Town's Century City, for which they are seeking more than R53-million. "There is also a transaction involving a significant entity in the financial-services industry, which may be liable to the curators in a transaction that appear[s] to be a sham," they said. "Inasmuch as the curators are still investigating this claim, they are reluctant to disclose the identity of such entity to ensure no reputational damage is suffered by such entity, just in case it turns out that the information at the disposal of the curators is unreliable and/or inaccurate."
Former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown is currently facing criminal charges related to the Fidentia debacle. One-time Fidentia accountant/financial director Graham Maddock is behind bars after entering a plea agreement with the Scorpions, which involves testifying against Brown. The curators said in their report that Maddock had undertaken in the plea agreement to pay them R6,3-million. Of this they had so far received R2,8-million, from the sale of the Maddocks' Constantia family home.
An associate of Brown's, Louis Koen, had agreed to repay R10,9-million, and had so far handed over R3,2-million of this. Johan Linde, who received R5,1-million as purported dividend and restraint of trade agreements, had paid over the entire amount to the curators. These amounts make up part of the R160-million total. The curators said summonses for similar payments, totalling more than R20-million, had been issued against Johan de Jongh, Hjalmar Mulder and Zacharias Brown.
Also unresolved were claims of R8,5-million against former Fidentia director Rudi Bam, R24,7-million against Brown and his wife, Susan, and R77-million against businesses formerly controlled by broker Steve Goodwin. Goodwin was jailed two months ago, in another Scorpions plea agreement, after being apprehended in the United States. Gihwala has previously said that the shortfall on Fidentia's books could be as much as a billion rand.
The publication of the curators' report, available on the Financial Services Board's website, follows an order made by the Cape High Court last week.
Source: Mail & Guardina
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Chaos prevails as protesters, police clash in Iranian capital
On Saturday, thousands of defiant protesters swept into the streets of the Iranian capital, where they clashed with police armed with batons, tear gas and water cannons. A stream of videos posted on social networking Web sites depicted scenes of chaos -- the sound of gunshots and helicopters whirring overhead and graphic images of wounded men and women being carried away. Unconfirmed reports put the death toll as high as 150 on the seventh day of post-election protests. Sources at one Tehran hospital confirmed 19 deaths Saturday.
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said numerous protesters who had been beaten and injured by security forces were arrested and detained when they sought medical treatment in hospitals. It said fear of arrest had reportedly driven injured protesters, some in serious condition, to seek care at foreign embassies. One woman, Shahnaz, said riot police used batons and water hoses to keep her and about 300 other people from reaching Revolution Square in central Tehran. She said she saw helicopters hovering and then she saw tear gas. Shahnaz is being identified only by her first name for safety reasons.
Verifiable information was hard to come by. The Ministry of Culture on Saturday banned international media from reporting on the demonstrations unless they receive permission from Iranian authorities. A freelance journalist said it was "very dangerous" to take pictures.
Source: CNN
'Neda' becomes rallying cry for Iranian protests
RIP NEDA, The World cries seeing your last breath, you didn't die in vain. We remember you."
Nedā (ندا) is a word used in Persian to mean "voice", "calling," or "divine message," and she has been referred to as the "voice of Iran." She was filmed as she lay dying on the street. Her death thus became iconic in the struggle of Iranian protesters against what they said was the fraudulent election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Source: Wikipedia
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Heath is back in from the cold
Former judge Willem Heath is back in from the cold and is to be appointed Justice Minister Jeff Radebe's special adviser.
This was confirmed on Tuesday by Radebe's new spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, who said it was expected the appointment would be sealed "in a matter of days".
Heath, as a legal adviser to President Jacob Zuma, played a key role in the efforts that led to the dropping of the corruption charges against the ANC leader before the general elections in April.
"The minister considered the qualities and special attributes that Willem Heath brings as a former legal practitioner and a former judge," Tlali said on Tuesday.
Source: News 24.com
This was confirmed on Tuesday by Radebe's new spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, who said it was expected the appointment would be sealed "in a matter of days".
Heath, as a legal adviser to President Jacob Zuma, played a key role in the efforts that led to the dropping of the corruption charges against the ANC leader before the general elections in April.
"The minister considered the qualities and special attributes that Willem Heath brings as a former legal practitioner and a former judge," Tlali said on Tuesday.
Source: News 24.com
Govt won't seize white farms, says minister
South Africa's new Agriculture Minister, Tina Joemat-Petterson, said on Tuesday the continent's biggest maize producer would not seize white farms to redistribute to black South Africans as this would harm its economy. "With our willing-buyer, willing-seller policy there are times when the land becomes too expensive for the state to purchase, and if we face a programme of expropriation, it would further destabilise the economic industry of agriculture," she told an agribusiness conference in Cape Town.
After the fall of apartheid in 1994, the African National Congress set itself a target of handing 30% of all agricultural land to the black majority by 2014. But progress towards the target has been slow, and only about 4% of land has been acquired from private owners amid funding problems that government officials say might hinder the government from meeting its goal.
Land reform is a sensitive issue in Africa's biggest economy, where critics say the programme has hurt investment in the commercial farming sector and drastically reduced the land that is available for commercial agriculture.
Source: Mail & Guardian
After the fall of apartheid in 1994, the African National Congress set itself a target of handing 30% of all agricultural land to the black majority by 2014. But progress towards the target has been slow, and only about 4% of land has been acquired from private owners amid funding problems that government officials say might hinder the government from meeting its goal.
Land reform is a sensitive issue in Africa's biggest economy, where critics say the programme has hurt investment in the commercial farming sector and drastically reduced the land that is available for commercial agriculture.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Patrick Maqubela: Acting judge and former MK operative
Acting Western Cape High Court Judge Patrick Ntobeko Maqubela, who was found dead in his Bantry Bay apartment last week at the age of 60, commanded an Umkhonto weSizwe unit until being arrested and sentenced to 20 years in jail, in 1982. He came to prominence several years ago when Mo Shaik and Mac Maharaj alleged that the then head of the National Prosecuting Authority, Bulelani Ngcuka, had betrayed him to the security police.
Maqubela blew their allegation out of the water, saying they knew very well who had shopped him , and it was not Ngcuka. Maqubela was born in Qumbu in the Transkei, on March 30 1949. While at school he joined the Black Consciousness-aligned SA Students Organisation. He read law at Fort Hare university but was expelled for political activities. He was articled to Griffiths Mxenge, the Durban-based human rights lawyer who was assassinated by a police hit squad in 1981. In Umkhonto weSizwe, Maqubela’s unit, which planted bombs at targets such as an army recruitment centre in Durban, answered to Zweli Nyanda, brother of the current minister of telecommunications, Siphiwe Nyanda. Zweli Nyanda was killed when a squad under the command of Eugene de Kock raided the house where he was staying in Swaziland.
The man Maqubela suspected of betraying him was staying in the same house but vanished shortly before the raid. He was subsequently detained by the ANC in Lusaka before “committing suicide”. During his imprisonment, Maqubela was called “the godfather” by cellmates arrested with him because he was older than they were and had an air of authority and calming influence at a time when they thought they were going to be hanged.
After being released in 1991, he became the director of the SA Legal and Defence Fund until it folded in 1994. He served as legal adviser to several politicians, and SA Airways. He was made an acting judge last year. Maqubela is survived by his wife, Thandi, and five children.
Source: The Times
Maqubela blew their allegation out of the water, saying they knew very well who had shopped him , and it was not Ngcuka. Maqubela was born in Qumbu in the Transkei, on March 30 1949. While at school he joined the Black Consciousness-aligned SA Students Organisation. He read law at Fort Hare university but was expelled for political activities. He was articled to Griffiths Mxenge, the Durban-based human rights lawyer who was assassinated by a police hit squad in 1981. In Umkhonto weSizwe, Maqubela’s unit, which planted bombs at targets such as an army recruitment centre in Durban, answered to Zweli Nyanda, brother of the current minister of telecommunications, Siphiwe Nyanda. Zweli Nyanda was killed when a squad under the command of Eugene de Kock raided the house where he was staying in Swaziland.
The man Maqubela suspected of betraying him was staying in the same house but vanished shortly before the raid. He was subsequently detained by the ANC in Lusaka before “committing suicide”. During his imprisonment, Maqubela was called “the godfather” by cellmates arrested with him because he was older than they were and had an air of authority and calming influence at a time when they thought they were going to be hanged.
After being released in 1991, he became the director of the SA Legal and Defence Fund until it folded in 1994. He served as legal adviser to several politicians, and SA Airways. He was made an acting judge last year. Maqubela is survived by his wife, Thandi, and five children.
Source: The Times
Thursday, June 11, 2009
ANC bosses flee in bomb scare drama
ANC bigwigs, including secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, dashed out from Luthuli House headquarters yesterday following a bomb scare. Deputy secretary-general Thandi Modise and other officials were also evacuated by security personnel from the party’s Sauer Street address.
Party spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi told Sowetan the receptionist at head office received the bomb scare call at 10.30am. “The receptionist dropped the phone and the caller rang again, three times. We then decided to call the police who advised we should evacuate the building and we did. “The police searched until midday and found nothing. It’s not a nice thing to threaten people with bombs and we are not going to laugh it off. We’re waiting for a full report from the police.”
Source: The Sowetan
Party spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi told Sowetan the receptionist at head office received the bomb scare call at 10.30am. “The receptionist dropped the phone and the caller rang again, three times. We then decided to call the police who advised we should evacuate the building and we did. “The police searched until midday and found nothing. It’s not a nice thing to threaten people with bombs and we are not going to laugh it off. We’re waiting for a full report from the police.”
Source: The Sowetan
SA rocked by R10bn Ponzi scheme
One of South Africa's largest Ponzi schemes, estimated to be worth up to R10-billion, has been uncovered, reports said on Thursday. The weekly Financial Mail, the Star and website moneyweb.co.za reported that this scheme could outstrip Fidentia and other scams by billions of rands. It said some of South Africa's wealthiest families seemed to have been targeted. A website set up to provide details said the scheme was allegedly run by Barry Tannenbaum (43), grandson of Adcock Ingram founder Harold Tannenbaum.
According to the Financial Mail, Tannenbaum may have defrauded investors through his Frankel International and Frankel Chemical Corp companies. Tannenbaum allegedly asked investors to put money in his companies, Frankel International and Frankel Chemicals, by offering returns of more than 200% a year, the magazine said.
The Star reported that estimates showed up to R10-billion could be at stake. One local investor placed as much as R100-million in the scheme. The newspaper named those involved as Tannenbaum and Johannesburg attorneys Dean Rees and Darryl Leigh. It said Rees and Tannenbaum were both blaming each other for the scheme.
The website describes the Frankel investment scheme as operating as an importer and exporter of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to and from foreign countries. "These ingredients are used by manufacturers of generic medicines and a large part of the APIs are used in the manufacturing of the antiretroviral drug prescribed to people who are exposed to or contracted HIV/Aids."
The site added that Tannenbaum promoted his concept to investors "claiming massive returns on investments". It alleges that he supported his proposition "by showing prospects purchase orders from major pharmaceutical companies such as Adcock Ingram, Aspen and Novartis for the respective APIs valued in the many millions." Tannenbaum currently lives in Sydney, while Rees is in Switzerland. Leigh told the Star that he could not comment "at this stage".
According to the Financial Mail, victims of the scheme included former Pick n Pay CEO Sean Summers. "Summers is fortunate in that, while he is believed to have put more than R20-million into the scheme, he hasn't lost everything," the publication said. Other victims included Allan Rock, a professional tennis coach, accountant Howard Lowenthal and broker Wayne Gadden, the Financial Mail said. Uraj Tewary, a call centre administrator, was also a victim. He took his wife's pension money and any money that his family could get, and put it into the scheme. "The problem is that my wife is due to have a baby any day now and I don't even have money to pay the doctor," Tewary told the Financial Mail.
The website describes a Ponzi scheme as a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors rather than from any actual profit earned. It usually offers returns that other investments cannot guarantee in order to entice new investors, in the form of short-term returns that are either abnormally high or unusually consistent.
The perpetuation of the returns that a Ponzi scheme advertises and pays requires an ever-increasing flow of money from investors in order to keep the scheme going. The system is destined to collapse because the earnings, if any, are less than the payments. The scheme is named after Charles Ponzi, who became notorious for using the technique after emigrating from Italy to the United States in 1903.
Source: Mail & Guardian
According to the Financial Mail, Tannenbaum may have defrauded investors through his Frankel International and Frankel Chemical Corp companies. Tannenbaum allegedly asked investors to put money in his companies, Frankel International and Frankel Chemicals, by offering returns of more than 200% a year, the magazine said.
The Star reported that estimates showed up to R10-billion could be at stake. One local investor placed as much as R100-million in the scheme. The newspaper named those involved as Tannenbaum and Johannesburg attorneys Dean Rees and Darryl Leigh. It said Rees and Tannenbaum were both blaming each other for the scheme.
The website describes the Frankel investment scheme as operating as an importer and exporter of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to and from foreign countries. "These ingredients are used by manufacturers of generic medicines and a large part of the APIs are used in the manufacturing of the antiretroviral drug prescribed to people who are exposed to or contracted HIV/Aids."
The site added that Tannenbaum promoted his concept to investors "claiming massive returns on investments". It alleges that he supported his proposition "by showing prospects purchase orders from major pharmaceutical companies such as Adcock Ingram, Aspen and Novartis for the respective APIs valued in the many millions." Tannenbaum currently lives in Sydney, while Rees is in Switzerland. Leigh told the Star that he could not comment "at this stage".
According to the Financial Mail, victims of the scheme included former Pick n Pay CEO Sean Summers. "Summers is fortunate in that, while he is believed to have put more than R20-million into the scheme, he hasn't lost everything," the publication said. Other victims included Allan Rock, a professional tennis coach, accountant Howard Lowenthal and broker Wayne Gadden, the Financial Mail said. Uraj Tewary, a call centre administrator, was also a victim. He took his wife's pension money and any money that his family could get, and put it into the scheme. "The problem is that my wife is due to have a baby any day now and I don't even have money to pay the doctor," Tewary told the Financial Mail.
The website describes a Ponzi scheme as a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors rather than from any actual profit earned. It usually offers returns that other investments cannot guarantee in order to entice new investors, in the form of short-term returns that are either abnormally high or unusually consistent.
The perpetuation of the returns that a Ponzi scheme advertises and pays requires an ever-increasing flow of money from investors in order to keep the scheme going. The system is destined to collapse because the earnings, if any, are less than the payments. The scheme is named after Charles Ponzi, who became notorious for using the technique after emigrating from Italy to the United States in 1903.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Breakthrough in ANC attacks
Four people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with this week's killing of an ANC member in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal. "Nongoma SAPS members made a breakthrough by arresting four suspects at Dlabe area in Nongoma," said police spokesperson Director Phindile Radebe in a statement.
Police confiscated a shotgun, a rifle and three 9mm pistols with live rounds. "The suspects are aged between 18 and 21 and have been are charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition."
On Tuesday morning around 1am ANC member, Ntombi Busisiwe Simelane, 59, a teacher at Nhlanhlayethu High School, was shot and killed in her home.Another party member, Bafanyana Seme, 44, was shot in the leg during the attacks on two homesteads. An attack on a third homestead was foiled when a resident confronted the gunmen as they tried to enter a room. They ran away, shooting as they did so. Nobody was hurt.
The firearms would be sent for ballistic testing.
Source: IoL
Police confiscated a shotgun, a rifle and three 9mm pistols with live rounds. "The suspects are aged between 18 and 21 and have been are charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition."
On Tuesday morning around 1am ANC member, Ntombi Busisiwe Simelane, 59, a teacher at Nhlanhlayethu High School, was shot and killed in her home.Another party member, Bafanyana Seme, 44, was shot in the leg during the attacks on two homesteads. An attack on a third homestead was foiled when a resident confronted the gunmen as they tried to enter a room. They ran away, shooting as they did so. Nobody was hurt.
The firearms would be sent for ballistic testing.
Source: IoL
Govt, unions reach social services agreement
The Social Development Department and unions have agreed to implement the occupation specific dispensation (OSD), backdated to April 1 2008. An agreement was signed to put the OSD into effect for all social service professions and occupations on June 4, read a joint statement by labour and the government issued on Wednesday. "We congratulate all role players and thank the negotiators for their tireless efforts in reaching this historic agreement," Social Development Minister Edna Molewa said in the statement.
The agreement was applicable to social workers, probation officers and assistant probation officers, community development practitioners and child and youth care workers. "We trust that the agreement will be implemented fully and correctly," said labour chairperson at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council and Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Sdumo Dlamini.
The OSD makes provision for a set of salary grades which allow for progression along a career path. It also recognises the experience of social service professionals.
Molewa said: "The implementation of this agreement will enable the sector to attract and retain the current skills force within the public service. It will also bring about uniformity in the remuneration of professionals. "... we will ensure that this agreement is implemented correctly without any further delays." This would happen in July.
Meanwhile, other government departments and unions were meeting to discuss the same issue at the public service's bargaining council on Wednesday. Cosatu spokesperson Sifiso Dlamini said the meeting started at 1pm. The OSD was agreed upon in September 2007 following a crippling public workers' strike, but had not yet been implemented. This had resulted in an outcry by unions such as the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) and Cosatu. Both Popcru and Cosatu have threatened strikes. Public sector doctors recently embarked on a strike over the OSD.
Dlamini said between two and four negotiators from Cosatu as well as other trade unions would be represented at the meeting. He could not immediately be reached for further comment.
Source: Mail & Guardian
The agreement was applicable to social workers, probation officers and assistant probation officers, community development practitioners and child and youth care workers. "We trust that the agreement will be implemented fully and correctly," said labour chairperson at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council and Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Sdumo Dlamini.
The OSD makes provision for a set of salary grades which allow for progression along a career path. It also recognises the experience of social service professionals.
Molewa said: "The implementation of this agreement will enable the sector to attract and retain the current skills force within the public service. It will also bring about uniformity in the remuneration of professionals. "... we will ensure that this agreement is implemented correctly without any further delays." This would happen in July.
Meanwhile, other government departments and unions were meeting to discuss the same issue at the public service's bargaining council on Wednesday. Cosatu spokesperson Sifiso Dlamini said the meeting started at 1pm. The OSD was agreed upon in September 2007 following a crippling public workers' strike, but had not yet been implemented. This had resulted in an outcry by unions such as the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) and Cosatu. Both Popcru and Cosatu have threatened strikes. Public sector doctors recently embarked on a strike over the OSD.
Dlamini said between two and four negotiators from Cosatu as well as other trade unions would be represented at the meeting. He could not immediately be reached for further comment.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Judge may have been killed
The police are investigating the possibility that Western Cape High Court Acting Judge Patrick Maqubela was murdered, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. "The inquest investigation into the death of Acting Judge Patrick Maqubela has been altered to a murder investigation as a preliminary post-mortem could not determine the exact cause of death," said Superintendent Andre Traut. "A thorough investigation by Sea Point police revealed information and evidence which suggested that the angle of our investigations is directed to the possibility of a crime, and therefore the case docket has been changed to a murder investigation."
Traut said Maqubela's body was discovered at his Sea Point home at around 16:00 on Sunday after he failed to answer calls from concerned colleagues and family members. "He was found by security personnel of his residential complex lying in bed under circumstances which have appeared that foul play was not a factor."
An initial diagnosis by a state pathologist on the scene suggested that he had suffered a "severe heart attack" on Friday, said Traut. "On Monday, a post-mortem was conducted which could not accurately determine the cause of death, as the procedure was hampered by the state of decomposition of the body and organs. The result of further post-mortem tests is now awaited, to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the death of Maqubela," said Traut.
Further police investigations of the scene of his death revealed the possibility of criminal activity. "As yet, no suspects have been identified or arrested," said Traut. Maqubela was hearing the City of Cape Town's application to evict refugees from the Bluewaters camp near Muizenberg, set up last year after the outbreak of xenophobic violence.
Source: News 24
Traut said Maqubela's body was discovered at his Sea Point home at around 16:00 on Sunday after he failed to answer calls from concerned colleagues and family members. "He was found by security personnel of his residential complex lying in bed under circumstances which have appeared that foul play was not a factor."
An initial diagnosis by a state pathologist on the scene suggested that he had suffered a "severe heart attack" on Friday, said Traut. "On Monday, a post-mortem was conducted which could not accurately determine the cause of death, as the procedure was hampered by the state of decomposition of the body and organs. The result of further post-mortem tests is now awaited, to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the death of Maqubela," said Traut.
Further police investigations of the scene of his death revealed the possibility of criminal activity. "As yet, no suspects have been identified or arrested," said Traut. Maqubela was hearing the City of Cape Town's application to evict refugees from the Bluewaters camp near Muizenberg, set up last year after the outbreak of xenophobic violence.
Source: News 24
Monday, June 8, 2009
NHI will cost R100bn more
In a speech on Friday, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan made no reference to the proposal, but mentioned that a task team has been set up at the National Treasury to "explore models for broadening public-private partnerships in the health sector".
A national health insurance scheme could cost the taxpayer an additional R100 billion a year in taxes - an amount equal to about 9 percent of general household spending.
Source: IoL
A national health insurance scheme could cost the taxpayer an additional R100 billion a year in taxes - an amount equal to about 9 percent of general household spending.
Source: IoL
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Digging for mining licences
Coal-mining companies with black empowerment partners who have friends in high places are posing a growing threat to some of South Africa’s most sensitive environmental areas. The companies are seeking to cash in on South Africa’s coal resources, mainly in Mpumalanga, by supplying cheap coal to Eskom.
Coal-mining companies with black empowerment partners who have friends in high places are posing a growing threat to some of South Africa's most sensitive environmental areas. The companies are seeking to cash in on South Africa's coal resources, mainly in Mpumalanga, by supplying cheap coal to Eskom.
o The empowerment partners of Coal of Africa, which is prospecting near heritage and national park site Mapungubwe, include new Minister of Human Settlements Tokyo Sexwale's Mvelaphanda group.
o The sister of the former trade minister Mandisi Mpahlwa, (who is President Jacob Zuma's financial adviser) Mandlakazi Mandaka, is the BEE partner of Delta Mining Company, which has been handed a permit to prospect in Wakkerstroom. Concerns have been voiced about the impact of mining on the area's important wetlands.
o In Dullstroom ANC funding vehicle Chancellor House has applied for a prospecting licence amid allegations that it is riding roughshod over local stakeholders.
o In Belfast farmers have mounted a court challenge to Exxaro, Africa's largest black-controlled diversified mining company and the biggest supplier of coal to Eskom.
The applications have pitted environmental groups such as the Escarpment Environmental Protection Group and the Mpumalanga Lakes District Protection Group (LPDG) against mining groups and have turned farmers into green activists. The activists are pointing fingers at the department of minerals and energy for favouring companies with political connections. The department has denied looking at the ownership of companies in awarding permits, except to check their BEE credentials. Many government officials, former officials and their families have decided to seek their fortune in mining through BEE deals in the coal industry.
They include Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor's husband, Sharif Pandor; former director general of trade and industry Alistair Ruiters and former minister of minerals and energy Penuell Maduna. Brigette Radebe, the wife of Justice Minister Jeff Radebe and sister of mining billionaire Patrice Motsepe, is the driving force behind Mmakau Mining, which has entered a joint venture with Total Coal SA.
The department's mineral regulation deputy director general, Jacinto Rocha, said his department would not punish anyone for having political connections. "There is no prohibition on family members [of officials] of the department or elsewhere in government getting mineral rights," he said. The fact that former political leaders had received permits was a mere coincidence. We look at compliance when we issue licences," he said. "We don't look at who is there."
Environmentalists also question Zuma's decision to move Buyelwa Sonjica from minerals and energy to environment, seeing it as a sign that BEE coal-mining interests now trump environmental concerns. Rocha strongly denied this. He said activists sometimes became very "emotional" and did not consider all the facts. "We don't issue licences on emotion, we issue them on the basis of law," he said. "After having followed the process, it does not make a department official happy or sad. It is just a yes or a no, after the process was followed to the letter. "We all have children. No one in the department says 'to hell with the environment'," he said.
Rocha said the department received 622 prospecting applications last year, of which 62 were granted and 125 denied. The others are still being processed. He named an application by an unnamed mining house in amphibian haven Chrissiesmeer, also on the Mpumalanga escarpment, as an example of an application refused on environmental grounds. The applications show that many mining companies now have the Waterberg in their sights. The Waterberg coalfield, around Lephalale in Limpopo, has 50% of South Africa's remaining coal reserves and hosts South Africa's latest power station, Medupi.
The area is home to the Waterberg biosphere, Marakele National Park and many private reserves.
Only Exxaro's Grootgeluk colliery operates in the area. But Exxaro Resources chief executive Sipho Nkosi said the Waterberg has sufficient coal to feed eight power stations and the company could be mining there for the next 200 years. Several mining houses, including BEE company Sekoko Coal, are investigating the feasibility of an open-cast coal mine in the Lephalale area and several have applied to the government for prospecting licences. Companies seeking prospecting licences must submit environmental management plans, which involve consultation with the owners or lawful occupiers of the land in question. In many cases, however, landowners and interested parties dispute that there has been adequate consultation. The department must also submit applications to the water affairs and environmental affairs departments. In many sensitive cases these claim they did not see licence applications or, as in the case of Mapungubwe learned of them only at the last minute. The law provides that sister departments have 60 days in which to react to environmental management plans. "If there is no response, we take it that the department has nothing to say," said Rocha. "You can't blame us if someone in another department doesn't do their job."
Coal of Africa (CoAL), the driver of a controversial proposed mining venture near world heritage site Mapungubwe, has powerful allies. Its BEE partner is the Mvelaphanda group, headed by Tokyo Sexwale before he was appointed to Cabinet. Mvelaphanda owns a stake in CoAL through African Global Capital (AGC), which owns a 26% stake. But the connections do not end there. Former intelligence director general Vusi Mavimbela is the executive director of Mvelaphanda responsible for business strategy and African expansion. This week Mavimbela was tipped to become the director general in President Jacob Zuma's office.
CoAL's mining application has sparked a public outcry, with South African National Parks and even the former minister of environmental affairs, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, speaking out against the proposed mining. But CoAL's chief operating officer, Riaan van der Merwe, said the park and the mine could coexist. "We know there is a lot of emotion around coal mining, particularly considering the scars left by mines in the Witbank area," he said. "But mining methods have changed drastically." He said CoAL took its environmental responsibilities seriously and intended managing the mine in line with the vision of the proposed Transfrontier Conservancy Area. Among the measures planned at the mine were the use of strobe lighting when reversing trucks, rather than a warning beep. High-noise activities such as blasting will also be restricted to between 8am and 4pm. He said the mine was far enough from Mapungubwe not to disturb the park. All baobab trees uprooted as part of mining operations would be lifted and replanted.
CoAL has 74% ownership of the project, with the remaining 26% held by several BEE groups, according to Van der Merwe. He would not disclose their identity.
Environmental groups regard the Delta Mining Corporation's (DMC) exploration for torbanite and coal in the Wakkerstroom region as the gravest threat this environmentally sensitive area has faced. The groups, including World Wildlife Fund South Africa, the Botanical Society and Birdlife South Africa, have objected to the granting of prospecting rights in more than 20 000ha of pristine grassland and wetland. They and local farmers have joined forces against Delta in two high court applications for the prospecting rights to be revoked.
Central to their case is the weak environmental management plan, which the Mail & Guardian has seen. The report turns a blind eye to the pristine state of the area and to its biodiversity, including rare birds such as wattled cranes and other red data species.
Investigative programme 50/50 revealed that the sister of former minister of trade and industry (Mandisi Mpahlwa, who is Jacob Zuma's financial adviser), Mandlakazi Madaka, is the BEE partner in DMC's venture in Wakkerstroom. "We are aware of reports of who our BEE partners are, though we are not aware of any concerns, certainly we have none," said Delta chairperson Bernard Swanepoel. He said Delta Mining was a private company whose shares were mainly held by its chief executive and founder, Heine van Niekerk. An investment company in which Swanepoel is a director, To The Point Growth Specialists, owns 30% and the rest is held by the management team, he said. Swanepoel denied allegations that the environmental management plan used to secure prospecting rights in Wakkerstroom was fatally flawed. "We outsourced two scoping studies to two separate independent competent persons," he said. "We are confident that the process we ran was thorough and professional. Although some areas were identified as sensitive, none were identified as irreplaceable and our exploration process will ensure that sensitive areas are left undisturbed," he said. Swanepoel said the DMC property is not adjacent to or in the wetlands. "Our property is about 20km away and about 200m lower than (or downstream of) the wetlands in the area," he said. "About two-thirds of our prospecting area is old or current mealie fields. Consequently our property and the land we plan to explore will allow for coal extraction that should in no way affect the wetlands."
Source: Mail & Guardian
Coal-mining companies with black empowerment partners who have friends in high places are posing a growing threat to some of South Africa's most sensitive environmental areas. The companies are seeking to cash in on South Africa's coal resources, mainly in Mpumalanga, by supplying cheap coal to Eskom.
o The empowerment partners of Coal of Africa, which is prospecting near heritage and national park site Mapungubwe, include new Minister of Human Settlements Tokyo Sexwale's Mvelaphanda group.
o The sister of the former trade minister Mandisi Mpahlwa, (who is President Jacob Zuma's financial adviser) Mandlakazi Mandaka, is the BEE partner of Delta Mining Company, which has been handed a permit to prospect in Wakkerstroom. Concerns have been voiced about the impact of mining on the area's important wetlands.
o In Dullstroom ANC funding vehicle Chancellor House has applied for a prospecting licence amid allegations that it is riding roughshod over local stakeholders.
o In Belfast farmers have mounted a court challenge to Exxaro, Africa's largest black-controlled diversified mining company and the biggest supplier of coal to Eskom.
The applications have pitted environmental groups such as the Escarpment Environmental Protection Group and the Mpumalanga Lakes District Protection Group (LPDG) against mining groups and have turned farmers into green activists. The activists are pointing fingers at the department of minerals and energy for favouring companies with political connections. The department has denied looking at the ownership of companies in awarding permits, except to check their BEE credentials. Many government officials, former officials and their families have decided to seek their fortune in mining through BEE deals in the coal industry.
They include Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor's husband, Sharif Pandor; former director general of trade and industry Alistair Ruiters and former minister of minerals and energy Penuell Maduna. Brigette Radebe, the wife of Justice Minister Jeff Radebe and sister of mining billionaire Patrice Motsepe, is the driving force behind Mmakau Mining, which has entered a joint venture with Total Coal SA.
The department's mineral regulation deputy director general, Jacinto Rocha, said his department would not punish anyone for having political connections. "There is no prohibition on family members [of officials] of the department or elsewhere in government getting mineral rights," he said. The fact that former political leaders had received permits was a mere coincidence. We look at compliance when we issue licences," he said. "We don't look at who is there."
Environmentalists also question Zuma's decision to move Buyelwa Sonjica from minerals and energy to environment, seeing it as a sign that BEE coal-mining interests now trump environmental concerns. Rocha strongly denied this. He said activists sometimes became very "emotional" and did not consider all the facts. "We don't issue licences on emotion, we issue them on the basis of law," he said. "After having followed the process, it does not make a department official happy or sad. It is just a yes or a no, after the process was followed to the letter. "We all have children. No one in the department says 'to hell with the environment'," he said.
Rocha said the department received 622 prospecting applications last year, of which 62 were granted and 125 denied. The others are still being processed. He named an application by an unnamed mining house in amphibian haven Chrissiesmeer, also on the Mpumalanga escarpment, as an example of an application refused on environmental grounds. The applications show that many mining companies now have the Waterberg in their sights. The Waterberg coalfield, around Lephalale in Limpopo, has 50% of South Africa's remaining coal reserves and hosts South Africa's latest power station, Medupi.
The area is home to the Waterberg biosphere, Marakele National Park and many private reserves.
Only Exxaro's Grootgeluk colliery operates in the area. But Exxaro Resources chief executive Sipho Nkosi said the Waterberg has sufficient coal to feed eight power stations and the company could be mining there for the next 200 years. Several mining houses, including BEE company Sekoko Coal, are investigating the feasibility of an open-cast coal mine in the Lephalale area and several have applied to the government for prospecting licences. Companies seeking prospecting licences must submit environmental management plans, which involve consultation with the owners or lawful occupiers of the land in question. In many cases, however, landowners and interested parties dispute that there has been adequate consultation. The department must also submit applications to the water affairs and environmental affairs departments. In many sensitive cases these claim they did not see licence applications or, as in the case of Mapungubwe learned of them only at the last minute. The law provides that sister departments have 60 days in which to react to environmental management plans. "If there is no response, we take it that the department has nothing to say," said Rocha. "You can't blame us if someone in another department doesn't do their job."
Coal of Africa (CoAL), the driver of a controversial proposed mining venture near world heritage site Mapungubwe, has powerful allies. Its BEE partner is the Mvelaphanda group, headed by Tokyo Sexwale before he was appointed to Cabinet. Mvelaphanda owns a stake in CoAL through African Global Capital (AGC), which owns a 26% stake. But the connections do not end there. Former intelligence director general Vusi Mavimbela is the executive director of Mvelaphanda responsible for business strategy and African expansion. This week Mavimbela was tipped to become the director general in President Jacob Zuma's office.
CoAL's mining application has sparked a public outcry, with South African National Parks and even the former minister of environmental affairs, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, speaking out against the proposed mining. But CoAL's chief operating officer, Riaan van der Merwe, said the park and the mine could coexist. "We know there is a lot of emotion around coal mining, particularly considering the scars left by mines in the Witbank area," he said. "But mining methods have changed drastically." He said CoAL took its environmental responsibilities seriously and intended managing the mine in line with the vision of the proposed Transfrontier Conservancy Area. Among the measures planned at the mine were the use of strobe lighting when reversing trucks, rather than a warning beep. High-noise activities such as blasting will also be restricted to between 8am and 4pm. He said the mine was far enough from Mapungubwe not to disturb the park. All baobab trees uprooted as part of mining operations would be lifted and replanted.
CoAL has 74% ownership of the project, with the remaining 26% held by several BEE groups, according to Van der Merwe. He would not disclose their identity.
Environmental groups regard the Delta Mining Corporation's (DMC) exploration for torbanite and coal in the Wakkerstroom region as the gravest threat this environmentally sensitive area has faced. The groups, including World Wildlife Fund South Africa, the Botanical Society and Birdlife South Africa, have objected to the granting of prospecting rights in more than 20 000ha of pristine grassland and wetland. They and local farmers have joined forces against Delta in two high court applications for the prospecting rights to be revoked.
Central to their case is the weak environmental management plan, which the Mail & Guardian has seen. The report turns a blind eye to the pristine state of the area and to its biodiversity, including rare birds such as wattled cranes and other red data species.
Investigative programme 50/50 revealed that the sister of former minister of trade and industry (Mandisi Mpahlwa, who is Jacob Zuma's financial adviser), Mandlakazi Madaka, is the BEE partner in DMC's venture in Wakkerstroom. "We are aware of reports of who our BEE partners are, though we are not aware of any concerns, certainly we have none," said Delta chairperson Bernard Swanepoel. He said Delta Mining was a private company whose shares were mainly held by its chief executive and founder, Heine van Niekerk. An investment company in which Swanepoel is a director, To The Point Growth Specialists, owns 30% and the rest is held by the management team, he said. Swanepoel denied allegations that the environmental management plan used to secure prospecting rights in Wakkerstroom was fatally flawed. "We outsourced two scoping studies to two separate independent competent persons," he said. "We are confident that the process we ran was thorough and professional. Although some areas were identified as sensitive, none were identified as irreplaceable and our exploration process will ensure that sensitive areas are left undisturbed," he said. Swanepoel said the DMC property is not adjacent to or in the wetlands. "Our property is about 20km away and about 200m lower than (or downstream of) the wetlands in the area," he said. "About two-thirds of our prospecting area is old or current mealie fields. Consequently our property and the land we plan to explore will allow for coal extraction that should in no way affect the wetlands."
Source: Mail & Guardian
Monday, June 1, 2009
South Africa: 36 Illegal Miners Die
An underground fire in an abandoned shaft has apparently killed 36 people who were illegally mining, the Harmony Gold Mining Company said Monday. The company said the bodies were brought to the surface by other illegal miners over the weekend at the Eland shaft in central South Africa. In a statement, the company said that it was unclear if other illegal miners had died and that it would not send its own workers in to search, because “the abandoned mining areas where the criminal miners have been active are extremely dangerous.”
Source: New York Times
Source: New York Times
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to education. They agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
2. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
(a) Primary education shall be compulsory and available free to all;
(b) Secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational secondary education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
(c) Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
(d) Fundamental education shall be encouraged or intensified as far as possible for those persons who have not received or completed the whole period of their primary education;
(e) The development of a system of schools at all levels shall be actively pursued, an adequate fellowship system shall be established, and the material conditions of teaching staff shall be continuously improved.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to choose for their children schools, other than those established by the public authorities, which conform to such minimum educational standards as may be laid down or approved by the State and to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.
4. No part of this article shall be construed so as to interfere with the liberty of individuals and bodies to establish and direct educational institutions, subject always to the observance of the principles set forth in paragraph I of this article and to the requirement that the education given in such institutions shall conform to such minimum standards as may be laid down by the State.
UN resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966
2. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
(a) Primary education shall be compulsory and available free to all;
(b) Secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational secondary education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
(c) Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
(d) Fundamental education shall be encouraged or intensified as far as possible for those persons who have not received or completed the whole period of their primary education;
(e) The development of a system of schools at all levels shall be actively pursued, an adequate fellowship system shall be established, and the material conditions of teaching staff shall be continuously improved.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to choose for their children schools, other than those established by the public authorities, which conform to such minimum educational standards as may be laid down or approved by the State and to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.
4. No part of this article shall be construed so as to interfere with the liberty of individuals and bodies to establish and direct educational institutions, subject always to the observance of the principles set forth in paragraph I of this article and to the requirement that the education given in such institutions shall conform to such minimum standards as may be laid down by the State.
UN resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966
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