Public protector Thuli Madonsela's findings are subject to the Constitution and the law, and state legal advisers have no authority to tell government what to implement, she said on Wednesday. Madonsela said state attorneys have been advising the government against implementing remedial action she recommended. "In the event organs of state are unhappy with our findings and the accompanying remedial action, they should take us to court on review." She said courts were the only institutions that had a final say on whether her findings and the need for remedial action were rational or not.
Madonsela was speaking at a meeting with stakeholders, which included provincial government leaders, local government authorities and civil society in Polokwane. Her spokesperson, Kgalalelo Masibi, said delegates including Limpopo's provincial minister of agriculture, Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, and Polokwane mayor Freddy Greaver agreed with Madonsela. "[They said] failure to implement the public protector's remedial action was defeating the institution's purpose of supporting and strengthening constitutional democracy," she said in a statement. "They added that leaders in government had a responsibility to act promptly upon receipt of the public protector's report with a view to ensure administrative justice and accountability."
The meeting formed part of a nationwide road show dubbed The Public Protector Dialogues with the Nation. The road show aimed at soliciting feedback regarding Madonsela's work and highlighting the importance of implementing her suggestions for remedial action.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Showing posts with label Polokwane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Polokwane. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Police hunt hitmen
POLICE in Limpopo are searching for three suspects who shot and wounded an off-duty police constable and his girlfriend at Brukedo Lodge in Tshisaulu village near Thohoyandou yesterday.
It is alleged the gunmen were hunting for the girlfriend but the reason why they wanted her dead is not known.
Thohoyandou police spokesperson Captain Mashudu Malelo said the suspects held the receptionist hostage and demanded to be shown to the couple's room. He said the men fired at random, shooting the constable and the woman, who are fighting for their lives in the Polokwane Provincial Hospital
Source: The Sowetan
It is alleged the gunmen were hunting for the girlfriend but the reason why they wanted her dead is not known.
Thohoyandou police spokesperson Captain Mashudu Malelo said the suspects held the receptionist hostage and demanded to be shown to the couple's room. He said the men fired at random, shooting the constable and the woman, who are fighting for their lives in the Polokwane Provincial Hospital
Source: The Sowetan
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
More tenders for Malema - company gets R3,2m from Polokwane
THE company that is co-owned by ANCYL president Julius Malema was recently awarded two tenders by the Polokwane municipality. Only last month SGL Engineering Projects, the company Malema co-owns with Lesiba Gwangwa, was awarded a tender for rural sanitation worth R2,2million.
Polokwane municipality spokesperson Simon Mokwatedi confirmed yesterday that the company had already started to do work in Feke village in GaMaja. He said after that it would proceed to Makgeng and Mountain View villages in GaMamabolo. The contract for the rural sanitation project was awarded last month and is expected to be completed at the end of May. “The contract entails putting up ventilated improved toilets for the villagers,” Mokwatedi said.
Asked if the company had produced a tax clearance certificate prior to its appointment, Mokwatedi explained that it was a standard procedure for any company wanting to get a tender to submit documents that were accompanied by tax clearance certificates. Another tender awarded to Malema’s company was that of a road in Bendor.
It was awarded in January. Mokwatedi said the company was appointed for the road contract at a new residential area and the tender was worth R1million. Mokwatedi said that the construction of the roads had not started yet as they were still at a planning stage.
Source: The Sowetan
Polokwane municipality spokesperson Simon Mokwatedi confirmed yesterday that the company had already started to do work in Feke village in GaMaja. He said after that it would proceed to Makgeng and Mountain View villages in GaMamabolo. The contract for the rural sanitation project was awarded last month and is expected to be completed at the end of May. “The contract entails putting up ventilated improved toilets for the villagers,” Mokwatedi said.
Asked if the company had produced a tax clearance certificate prior to its appointment, Mokwatedi explained that it was a standard procedure for any company wanting to get a tender to submit documents that were accompanied by tax clearance certificates. Another tender awarded to Malema’s company was that of a road in Bendor.
It was awarded in January. Mokwatedi said the company was appointed for the road contract at a new residential area and the tender was worth R1million. Mokwatedi said that the construction of the roads had not started yet as they were still at a planning stage.
Source: The Sowetan
Thursday, May 29, 2008
New Cosatu president appointed
The Congress of South African Trade Unions on Wednesday elected S'dumo Dlamini to take over as president after the sacking of its embattled president, Willie Madisha.
This was announced by Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi at a press briefing after the union's three-day central executive committee meeting in Johannesburg. Ousted Cosatu president Madisha, said to be a close ally of President Thabo Mbeki, was axed in February. This was shortly after Jacob Zuma was elected president of the African National Congress in Polokwane in December last year.
Madisha's exit came after Malawian businessman Charles Modise claimed to have made a R500 000 donation to the South African Communist Party (SACP). He said he gave the money, in black plastic bags, to Madisha, who in turn said he handed the cash to SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande. The latter said he never received it. -- Sapa
Source: Mail & Guardian
This was announced by Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi at a press briefing after the union's three-day central executive committee meeting in Johannesburg. Ousted Cosatu president Madisha, said to be a close ally of President Thabo Mbeki, was axed in February. This was shortly after Jacob Zuma was elected president of the African National Congress in Polokwane in December last year.
Madisha's exit came after Malawian businessman Charles Modise claimed to have made a R500 000 donation to the South African Communist Party (SACP). He said he gave the money, in black plastic bags, to Madisha, who in turn said he handed the cash to SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande. The latter said he never received it. -- Sapa
Source: Mail & Guardian
Monday, October 1, 2007
Pikoli's suspension 'sinister'
The shock suspension of South Africa's prosecutions head amid silence by President Thabo Mbeki has led to concerns of "sinister" dealings and government meddling in the country's justice system. Mbeki's integrity came under fire this week as his suspension of top prosecutor Vusi Pikoli was linked to the alleged pending arrest of national police commissioner Jackie Selebi, who is seen as an ally to the president.
With no reaction from Mbeki, analysts and opposition political parties fear Mbeki may have acted out of a desire to protect Selebi, also the president of international policing agency Interpol. Analyst Steven Friedman of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa said suggestions of political interference in the justice system was cause for serious concern. "If Selebi is not charged, clearly there will be a suggestion that the president got Pikoli out of the way to protect Selebi," he told AFP. Friedman said Mbeki's silence on the issue was damaging, bordering on disdainful, and created the impression that "something sinister is afoot". Selebi faced a raft of calls to quit last year when his friend, businessman Glen Agliotti, was charged with the mafia-style killing of mining magnate Brett Kebble.
Last Sunday, Mbeki suspended Pikoli due to what a government statement said was an irretrievable breakdown in his relationship with the country's justice minister. But news reports on Friday claimed Pikoli's suspension followed within days of Mbeki learning about Selebi's pending arrest, with the NPA believed to have obtained the warrant last week. Opposition political parties have called for Selebi's head, and for Mbeki to quell the speculation by breaking his silence on the alleged link between the two events. "If the speculation turns out to be correct, then we have a dilemma," said Human Sciences Research Council political commentator Adam Habib. "If the predident suspended Mr Pikoli on the grounds that he had issued a warrant for the commissioner's arrest, then it suggests that an invasion is being made into an independent institution's operations. "Intervening in the operations of the National Prosecuting Authority constitutes a violation of our constitution."
No confirmation has been forthcoming from the government, prosecutors or Selebi's office of reported claims that a warrant had been issued for the commissioner's arrest. Main opposition Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said in a statement on Friday it "seems clear that the suspension of Pikoli was motivated by the desire of President Mbeki to protect his close ally (Selebi)." "The implications of this development for our democracy are profound. "If true, this latest allegation ... points to the fact that we have entered the phase of an imperial Presidency, where the President appears to govern almost with impunity."
The weekly Mail and Guardian newspaper suggested in an editorial Friday that Pikoli's suspension pointed to political expediency impacting on crime-fighting. "Pikoli's suspension is closely intertwined with the ... investigation into Selebi's alleged links with organised crime," it said. "There is a persuasive view that Mbeki wishes to head this off before the ANC's Polokwane conference for fear of the political harm it might do him."
The ANC meets in Polokwane in the Limpopo province at year-end to elect a new leader, with Mbeki still in the running for a third term as party head. Main contender, ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma, is also in the national prosecuting authority's aim, ever since his financial advisor Schabir Shaik was convicted in 2005 of corruption and fraud in connection with bribes arranged for Zuma. Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga could not be reached for comment.
Source: News 24
With no reaction from Mbeki, analysts and opposition political parties fear Mbeki may have acted out of a desire to protect Selebi, also the president of international policing agency Interpol. Analyst Steven Friedman of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa said suggestions of political interference in the justice system was cause for serious concern. "If Selebi is not charged, clearly there will be a suggestion that the president got Pikoli out of the way to protect Selebi," he told AFP. Friedman said Mbeki's silence on the issue was damaging, bordering on disdainful, and created the impression that "something sinister is afoot". Selebi faced a raft of calls to quit last year when his friend, businessman Glen Agliotti, was charged with the mafia-style killing of mining magnate Brett Kebble.
Last Sunday, Mbeki suspended Pikoli due to what a government statement said was an irretrievable breakdown in his relationship with the country's justice minister. But news reports on Friday claimed Pikoli's suspension followed within days of Mbeki learning about Selebi's pending arrest, with the NPA believed to have obtained the warrant last week. Opposition political parties have called for Selebi's head, and for Mbeki to quell the speculation by breaking his silence on the alleged link between the two events. "If the speculation turns out to be correct, then we have a dilemma," said Human Sciences Research Council political commentator Adam Habib. "If the predident suspended Mr Pikoli on the grounds that he had issued a warrant for the commissioner's arrest, then it suggests that an invasion is being made into an independent institution's operations. "Intervening in the operations of the National Prosecuting Authority constitutes a violation of our constitution."
No confirmation has been forthcoming from the government, prosecutors or Selebi's office of reported claims that a warrant had been issued for the commissioner's arrest. Main opposition Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said in a statement on Friday it "seems clear that the suspension of Pikoli was motivated by the desire of President Mbeki to protect his close ally (Selebi)." "The implications of this development for our democracy are profound. "If true, this latest allegation ... points to the fact that we have entered the phase of an imperial Presidency, where the President appears to govern almost with impunity."
The weekly Mail and Guardian newspaper suggested in an editorial Friday that Pikoli's suspension pointed to political expediency impacting on crime-fighting. "Pikoli's suspension is closely intertwined with the ... investigation into Selebi's alleged links with organised crime," it said. "There is a persuasive view that Mbeki wishes to head this off before the ANC's Polokwane conference for fear of the political harm it might do him."
The ANC meets in Polokwane in the Limpopo province at year-end to elect a new leader, with Mbeki still in the running for a third term as party head. Main contender, ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma, is also in the national prosecuting authority's aim, ever since his financial advisor Schabir Shaik was convicted in 2005 of corruption and fraud in connection with bribes arranged for Zuma. Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga could not be reached for comment.
Source: News 24
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