Saturday, June 30, 2012

CT police stations get special attention


CT police stations get special attention
2012-06-30 09:05


Twenty-two police stations which receive over half of the Western Cape's crime reports will get special attention, provincial Community Safety MEC Dan Plato says.(File, Sapa)

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Cape Town - Twenty-two police stations which receive over half of the Western Cape's crime reports will get special attention, provincial Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said on Friday.

"I will be conducting my own oversight visits to assess the improvements made at these stations... in the gang-affected communities, and will continue to visit these communities to assess [their] shortcomings and needs," he said.

"Many of our police officers risk their lives to protect our communities, but will be limited in their ability if they do not have the necessary resources or support."

In a briefing on Thursday, provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer said he had recently identified the most active police stations as well as the five most crime-infested blocks for each station.

It was hoped that by focusing resources in these areas, crime rates would drop significantly, he said.

Plato said he would conduct the visits as soon as Lamoer had sent him a list of the stations.


- SAPA

Read more on: police | dan plato | cape town | politics | service delivery | local government

Friday, June 29, 2012

Breytenbach hearing open to media


Breytenbach hearing open to media
2012-06-29 22:43

Glynnis Breytenbach (Supplied)

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Johannesburg - The disciplinary hearing of suspended National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach will be open to the media when it resumes in July, her lawyer says.

Gerhard Wagenaar said on Friday that restrictions would be put in place if confidential matters arose during proceedings, expected to be held on 23 July.

NPA head of communications Bulelwa Makeka confirmed that advocate Barry Madolo made the ruling on Friday.

However, the NPA was going to take legal advice from the State Attorney to see whether they could challenge this decision, and if so, how it should be challenged -- within the forum of the disciplinary hearing, or in a court.

"You must understand that this has never happened before," she said.

The decision follows an application by publisher Media24, who believe the hearing should be open to the media in the public interest.

Breytenbach was suspended on 30 April for conduct related to cases allocated to her.

She has submitted in papers before the Labour Court that she was suspended as regional head of the specialised commercial crime unit because she insisted on investigating fraud and corruption charges against former police intelligence head, Lieutenant General Richard Mdluli.

The first sitting of her disciplinary on 19 June was taken up with submissions on whether the hearing should be open or closed.

City Press assistant editor Adriaan Basson said at the time that both matters were of interest to the public, and if what she alleged was true it was a "very serious indictment" of the NPA.

City Press is a Media24 title with an interest in politics.

But if the NPA was correct in its case against her, it was also a serious matter, said Basson.

Breytenbach had not opposed the presence of the media but advocate William Mokhari, for the NPA, had argued there could never be a provision that internal disciplinary matters should be open.

The Breytenbach and Mdluli cases were in the Labour Court this week, with challenges to their suspensions.

Judgment in Mdluli's cases was stayed and in Breytenbach's it was reserved.





- SAPA

Read more on: media24 | richard mdluli | glynnis breytenbach | johannesburg | media | npa

MDC accuses diamond miner of funding shadow Zanu-PF


29 JUN 2012 08:54 - RAY NDLOVU The shadowy operations of Anjin Investments has come under scrutiny from the Movement for Democratic Change and human rights group Global Witness. The shadowy operations and ownership structure of Anjin Investments, a China-linked diamond mining company in Marange, eastern Zimbabwe, has come under scrutiny from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and human rights group Global Witness. They are anxious that diamond revenue from Marange is being used to prop up a Zanu-PF-led parallel government. Anjin, which boasts of being “the next De Beers” because it is the largest diamond company in Marange, has also not remitted revenue to the treasury in tax payments. There are four diamond mining companies with operations in Marange: Anjin, Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources and the Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation, the government’s diamond investment arm. OUR COVERAGE 'Mr Mines' eyes Zanu-PF succession battle MORE COVERAGE Black market dirties Zimbabwe diamond fields They were meant to contribute $600-million in revenue to boost the official budget of $3.4-billion. However, figures from the finance ministry headed by the MDC-linked Tendai Biti show that only $30-million had been paid in the first half of the year, against expected revenue collection of $274-million. The signs are that the budget target is wildly off the mark and a Mail & Guardian report last week signalled that Biti would be revising downwards growth targets for 2012 at a fiscal policy review in early July. Obert Mpofu, the mines and mining development minister, has defended low diamond revenue collection from Marange, arguing that Zimbabwe was adversely affected by Western sanctions and had not held any diamond auctions this year. But his explanation has failed to impress the MDC, which is feeling the heat from the slumped economic growth and had pinned its hopes on revenue from diamonds. A parallel government An angry Biti told Parliament last week: “We, in the ministry of finance, now fear that there may be a parallel government to which these monies may be going and not coming to us.” Anjin, which began operations in Marange in 2010 and is estimated by Global Witness to have produced three million carats this year, says it will not remit diamond revenue to the treasury because of a $98-million loan China extended to Zimbabwe last year for the construction of a national defence college in Harare. It is not clear how much of the loan — which was brokered by senior Zanu-PF officials — has been paid. Anjin chief executive Munyaradzi Machacha said it had so far injected $30-million into state coffers. “He [Biti] says he has not received anything, which means he is untruthful or illiterate. Go ask Biti what he has done with it. He is persecuting a cash cow because he has made a calculation blunder. We have invested and we are still to break even. The $30-million we have remitted is in royalties and other obligations.” Machacha said the company had been selling its diamonds at $60 a carat “and not $1500 as projected by the finance minister”. China-loan deal “Biti should be man enough to tell the world that he made a mistake in his budget presentation on revenue coming from diamond sales.” Political observers said the China-loan deal was a thorn in the side of the cash-strapped MDC, whereas Zanu-PF would take ownership of a state-of-the-art military college ahead of elections. Meanwhile, the ownership of Anjin is also a source of conflict among members of the unity government. Gift Chimanikire, the deputy mines and mining development minister, tabled an ownership structure before Parliament last week that was strongly challenged by Biti. Chimanikire said Anjin Investments was 50% owned by the Chinese government, 40% by Zimbabwe Defence Industries — linked to the defence ministry — and 10% by the Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation. But Biti said the corporation was not a shareholder and the 10% was held by an “unknown” military outfit called Matt Bronze. Biti’s claims are backed by a Global Witness report released last week titled “Financing a Parallel Government”, which intimates that Matt Bronze is linked to members of Zanu-PF’s ruling elite. MAIL & GUARDIAN Comments by Sonny What's in a name? GLOBAL keeps coming up in strange places when it comes to International Conflict. Is it not perhaps a Illuminati Company of choice? Fossil, Despot, Bob Mugabe will not be able to run with the "Young Wolves" much longer! Are the Chinese still destined to inherit AFRICA? Blood diamonds are flooding the world markets......

SA men take down Australian robbers


SA men take down Australian robbers
2012-06-29 09:21


Kobus Delport shows off the knobkerrie he used to knock out two robbers. (Sunshine Daily Coast)

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Johannesburg - Two Australian robbers have been overpowered by two former South African men in a house in Queensland, Australia, Beeld newspaper reported on Friday.

Former East Rand businessman Theo Nel, 42, and his father Kobus Delport, 68, the former head of the security police's Springs branch, overpowered the burglars, beat them up and subdued them until the police arrived.

Nel told the newspaper that this was one of the first home invasions ever in Queensland, and that journalists had camped on the family's lawn for two days afterwards.

Two masked burglars, armed with automatic rifles, stormed into Nel's home, and took him to the study to fetch his wallet.

It was there that he and his father overpowered them and disarmed them.

Delport broke one of the rifles on the first burglar's head, while Nel broke his knobkerrie beating the second man.

"There was one hell of a fight, but we hammered them. I just wanted to protect my family," Nel said.



- SAPA

Read more on: australia

MDC accuses diamond miner of funding shadow Zanu-PF


29 JUN 2012 08:54 - RAY NDLOVU The shadowy operations of Anjin Investments has come under scrutiny from the Movement for Democratic Change and human rights group Global Witness. The shadowy operations and ownership structure of Anjin Investments, a China-linked diamond mining company in Marange, eastern Zimbabwe, has come under scrutiny from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and human rights group Global Witness. They are anxious that diamond revenue from Marange is being used to prop up a Zanu-PF-led parallel government. Anjin, which boasts of being “the next De Beers” because it is the largest diamond company in Marange, has also not remitted revenue to the treasury in tax payments. There are four diamond mining companies with operations in Marange: Anjin, Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources and the Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation, the government’s diamond investment arm. OUR COVERAGE 'Mr Mines' eyes Zanu-PF succession battle MORE COVERAGE Black market dirties Zimbabwe diamond fields They were meant to contribute $600-million in revenue to boost the official budget of $3.4-billion. However, figures from the finance ministry headed by the MDC-linked Tendai Biti show that only $30-million had been paid in the first half of the year, against expected revenue collection of $274-million. The signs are that the budget target is wildly off the mark and a Mail & Guardian report last week signalled that Biti would be revising downwards growth targets for 2012 at a fiscal policy review in early July. Obert Mpofu, the mines and mining development minister, has defended low diamond revenue collection from Marange, arguing that Zimbabwe was adversely affected by Western sanctions and had not held any diamond auctions this year. But his explanation has failed to impress the MDC, which is feeling the heat from the slumped economic growth and had pinned its hopes on revenue from diamonds. A parallel government An angry Biti told Parliament last week: “We, in the ministry of finance, now fear that there may be a parallel government to which these monies may be going and not coming to us.” Anjin, which began operations in Marange in 2010 and is estimated by Global Witness to have produced three million carats this year, says it will not remit diamond revenue to the treasury because of a $98-million loan China extended to Zimbabwe last year for the construction of a national defence college in Harare. It is not clear how much of the loan — which was brokered by senior Zanu-PF officials — has been paid. Anjin chief executive Munyaradzi Machacha said it had so far injected $30-million into state coffers. “He [Biti] says he has not received anything, which means he is untruthful or illiterate. Go ask Biti what he has done with it. He is persecuting a cash cow because he has made a calculation blunder. We have invested and we are still to break even. The $30-million we have remitted is in royalties and other obligations.” Machacha said the company had been selling its diamonds at $60 a carat “and not $1500 as projected by the finance minister”. China-loan deal “Biti should be man enough to tell the world that he made a mistake in his budget presentation on revenue coming from diamond sales.” Political observers said the China-loan deal was a thorn in the side of the cash-strapped MDC, whereas Zanu-PF would take ownership of a state-of-the-art military college ahead of elections. Meanwhile, the ownership of Anjin is also a source of conflict among members of the unity government. Gift Chimanikire, the deputy mines and mining development minister, tabled an ownership structure before Parliament last week that was strongly challenged by Biti. Chimanikire said Anjin Investments was 50% owned by the Chinese government, 40% by Zimbabwe Defence Industries — linked to the defence ministry — and 10% by the Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation. But Biti said the corporation was not a shareholder and the 10% was held by an “unknown” military outfit called Matt Bronze. Biti’s claims are backed by a Global Witness report released last week titled “Financing a Parallel Government”, which intimates that Matt Bronze is linked to members of Zanu-PF’s ruling elite. Mail & Guardian Comments by Sonny Why does the name "GLOBAL" come up so often in International Conflict? Is it Illuminati driven? How long can fossil Despot Bob Mugabe keep running with the young WOLVES?

South African Reserve Bank : SARB launches campaign to warn consumers of risks associated with Ponzi and Pyramid schemes Sharemax

South African Reserve Bank : SARB launches campaign to warn consumers of risks associated with Ponzi and Pyramid schemes
06/28/2012 | 03:07pm US/Eastern

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has launched a national awareness campaign to warn consumers of risks associated with illegal deposit-taking schemes, sometimes also referred to as Ponzi or pyramid schemes.



The campaign encourages members of the public to report any information on these schemes to a dedicated email address or to report it to the Crime Line number.

Speaking at a media briefing held in Johannesburg today (Thursday, 28 June) Hlengani Mathebula, Group Head of Strategy and Communications at the SARB cautioned the public against illegal deposit-taking schemes.

"These schemes hook the public by convincing them of the high returns in a short space of time. This poses a risk because they tend to collapse when it becomes difficult to attract new investors, or when a large number of investors cash out. The schemes involve payment of purported returns to existing investors from the funds contributed by new investors. Through this process, illegal deposit-taking schemes promise investors that they will gain high returns if they invest in these funds.

Mathebula says various such schemes have been probed by the Bank Supervision Department of the SARB in the recent past.

"My appeal to all is to speak to an accredited financial service provider before investing and to report any suspected Ponzi and pyramid schemes to the South African Police Service or the SARB."
Mathebula also called on all banks in South Africa to support the campaign and to work with the SARB to publicise key campaign messages.

Campaign elements are primarily radio and print to create awareness in respect of Ponzi and pyramid schemes. The campaign message is Beware of oMashayana. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Speak to your Bank or an authorised financial services provider.

Report suspected illegal deposit-taking (Pyramid or Ponzi) schemes to sarb-banksup@resbank.co.za . Alternatively call 0800 677 772 or SMS the Primedia Crime line on 32211.
Enquiries:

Hlengani Mathebula

Group Head: Strategy and Communications

+27 12 313 4210

+27 82 448 9219

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Regulate the Regulators
Sharemaxing the high life....Why is there still No Prosecution in the Sharemax case ??????


The Scuba Scene
High Court applications in Egypt and South Africa, criminal charges and threats of more criminal charges, a luxury lodge . .more development in Mozambique, a Reserve Bank investigation into millions leaving the country and a tycoon’s yacht floating in the Red Sea.

These are the ingredients of yet another chapter unfolding in the Sharemax saga as the riches of the two top managers of the failed and beleaguered property syndication are being exposed.

Revelations of the wealth of former managing director Willie Botha and marketing director André Brand also come in a week that a Free State farmer prepares to apply for the liquidation of the R5bn Sharemax group.

Farmer AC van Zyl of Hoopstad says in his North Gauteng High Court affidavit that he invested R3m in Sharemax’s two biggest property syndications, The Villa and Zambezi Retail Park.

He says the syndications of both The Villa and Zambezi were illegal and have failed. There’s no money to repay him or any of the other investors – as the Reserve Bank has ordered, so the liquidation of Sharemax is the only option.

The liquidation application was due to be heard this week.

Focus shift

While many Sharemax investors are coming to terms with the fact that they’ve lost most, if not all, their investments in Sharemax, the focus has now shifted to the dazzling wealth that Botha and Brand have walked away with in the face of devastated and in some cases, impoverished shareholders.

Botha is fighting battles on all fronts.

Brand has also accused Botha in writing of pocketing R9m of investors’ interest – although he quickly withdrew the statement after Media24 Investigations started asking questions.

Besides his Sharemax woes, Botha is also embroiled in a bitter feud with the man who built his ultra-luxury yacht and who says he invested millions in the yacht as well.

Peet Gericke, owner of Scuba Scene diving in Pretoria, has also gone to war with Botha, accusing him of breach of contract and claiming that Botha intimidated him. He has laid charges at the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria.

At the heart of their dispute is the 43-metre Scuba Scene yacht thought be worth between R120m and R150m, which is owned by Botha’s family trust.

Gericke says he built the luxury yacht over more than four years and that he owns a substantial share.

Dirty laundry

Not so, says Willie Botha, who claims on his yacht’s website that Scuba Scene is fully-owned by the Willem Botha Family Trust. The website, which showed Botha and friends frolicking and diving on the yacht during a recent Red Sea holiday, was this week promptly removed from the web.

The yacht’s Facebook page detailing the feud between Botha and Gericke was removed. Finweek was, however, able to retrieve a copy of the page which gives a fascinating insight into the dispute.

Gericke says his battle with Botha has resulted in four High Court applications in Pretoria and two in Egypt. Litigation continues unabated.

Gericke confirms that he’s been visited by Reserve Bank investigators looking into millions that left the country through his accounts for the construction of the yacht. Much of the money came from Botha, he says, adding the investigators left with a substantial volume of documentation.

Gericke has also consulted with a private investigator in Pretoria, who in turn handed a pile of documents to Willie Hofmeyr, head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit.

Threats of liquidation

On the Facebook page, the Botha camp claims to have loaned R600 000 to Gericke and says if he doesn’t repay the Botha Trust in December, they will liquidate him.

Botha and his advocate visited Egypt in October and say they laid fraud charges against a business partner in Egypt.

The Scuba Scene yacht, which boasts 13 en suite cabins, a crew of 14 and the finest finishes, has been locked down in Hurghada in the Red Sea (see pictures).

Although Gericke still advertises dives from the Scuba Scene on his firm’s website, he confirms that the boat is no longer operational.

Botha also claims that he holds a 50% shareholding in Jupitrax, which owns the Scuba Scene shop in Menlyn Park in Pretoria and a multi-million rand resort development in Mozambique.

Gericke is busy developing the luxury Praia Paraiso coastal estate in Ponta Do Ouro in southern Mozambique. If Botha’s claim to own half of Jupitrax is correct, it would mean he also has a stake in the Praia Paraiso developments, which offer fractional ownership.

Meanwhile, questions are being asked about Brand’s accusation against Botha that the latter had illegally pocketed R9m of investors’ money in October 2009.

Documents pertaining to this payment are now in the hands of the Hawks.

Unanswered questions

Finweek has pieced together the events surrounding the money, and despite assurances by Botha – and suddenly Brand – that there was nothing illegal about the payment, questions remain.

Brand wrote a memo to Botha on 7 July claiming he was owed R24.5m in unpaid commission. He claimed that between March 2007 and February 2011 Botha had earned almost R50m in commission from Brandberg Investments, a property company that does business with Sharemax.

This money does not include the commission they earned from selling shares worth R5bn over 10 years to 40 000 investors.

Brand said he only got around R7m from Brandberg and demands another R24.5m from Botha. Botha claims he never received the memo.

Brand’s claims come after he started an investigation to trace commission that he thought he should have received from Botha but never did.

One of the people he visited was Capicol MD Paul Kyriacou. Capicol was the developer of Zambezi Mall and The Villa. Kyriacou confirmed that he’d told Brand about the R9m he transferred to Botha in October 2009.

“I notified AndrĂ© Brand about this and gave him a copy of all the documentation many months ago,” Kyriacou said. He claims it was for his share in a company he sold to Botha and that there was nothing illegal about it.

Cash up-front

But Brand didn’t agree and wrote the July memo.

Enter Wietz Lourens Nell, a Pretoria businessman who buys and sells property. Brand wanted to get rid of his game farm near Thabazimbi in Limpopo Province, valued R79m according to a 2010 auditor’s report.

Nell found a buyer, and Brand signed a letter agreeing to sell the farm for a mere R21.5m. But, according to Nell, he wanted cash.

The sale never materialised but, says Nell, Brand asked him to help him get his money out of Botha and he gave Nell the July memo.

At around that time, Brand realised that the R9m payment from Capicol to Botha might be questionable. On 26 October he wrote to Botha distancing himself from the transaction saying the money had been wrongfully transferred from Capicol to Botha’s helicopter company.

Brand wrote: “These funds should be transferred to Sharemax for purposes of an interest payment.”

Brand also gave the memo to Nell, who in turn passed it on to the Hawks and the lawyers now bringing the liquidation application. He also made an affidavit about his dealings with Brand, now in Media24 Investigations’ possession. The Hawks will not comment on their investigation.

When Media24 Investigations approached Brand and Botha for comment last week, Botha refused to entertain any questions.

However, at midnight last Friday, both responded by saying that they had spoken to one another and that Brand was withdrawing any allegation against Botha and that he was now satisfied that the money was paid legally to his former business partner.

Brand never denied that the memos were authentic, simply that they had been obtained “dishonestly”.

- Jacques Pauw ( Finweek )
.




Thursday, June 28, 2012

Sarb warns of ponzi schemes...Sharemax



Sarb warns of ponzi schemes
Jun 28 2012 16:51 Sapa
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Johannesburg - South Africans should take care when choosing investments that off


ered large returns within a short period, the SA Reserve Bank warned on Thursday.

Many of these lucrative options were scams, bank spokesman Hlengani Mathebula said in Johannesburg.

"Report any suspected Ponzi or pyramid schemes to the SA Police Service or the SARB."

Though there were several investigations underway into schemes in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in particular, the central bank regarded this as a national problem.

"Once you focus on a specific area or name, they move. This is a national issue," Mathebula said.

"Millions and billions" of rands were lost through pyramid schemes.

In 2011, the bank opened 15 new investigations and continued with a further 26.

Schemes being probed included Realcor Holdings Pty Ltd, Sharemax Investments, and Ingele Mineral Holdings.

In total, the bank had investigated 222 schemes in the past five years.

To raise public awareness of the issue, the bank had started a campaign with the slogan, "Beware of oMashayana [con artists]."

It would appear on TV, radio, and in the print media.

Mathebula said thousands of South Africans lost money every year to illegal deposit schemes, known as Ponzi or pyramid schemes.

"These schemes hook the public by convincing them of high returns in a short space of time."

Instead, the schemes collapsed as soon as they failed to recruit new investors. Pensioners were particularly vulnerable, as were those who received bonuses or had recently received death benefits.

Those participating in stokvels, or who had benefited from Road Accident Fund payouts, were also targeted, Mathebula said.

The problem cut across all sectors of society, with both the poor and rich falling victim.

Wealthy people were frequently motivated by greed, while poorer people were ignorant of the risks, said Mathebula.

The bank was usually only made aware of such schemes after people had already lost money, he said.
Read more about:
ponzi scheme | sharemax | sarb

SA transport is limiting economic growth - Gordhan


MIDRAND - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Wednesday told the ANC’s National Policy Conference that a skills shortage and inadequate transport infrastructure is limiting economic growth in South Africa. He said the structure of the economy had remained essentially the same since 1994. The minister was speaking at a business breakfast at the conference in Midrand, Johannesburg. In his opening address on Tuesday, President Jacob Zuma said the country needs radical economic change. Some 3, 500 delegates made up of ANC branches, its leagues, alliances and business people will spend the week discussing and debating policy. However, no immediate policy decisions will be made. Gordhan spoke to business and outlined some of the challenges in the global economy which he believes have a significant impact on South Africa and other countries on the continent. He said policy makers must ask themselves what needs to be done differently. “One of the challenges that the last few years, particularly the last 18 months or so, exposed, is the gap between policy makers and the business sector on the one hand – and ordinary citizens on the other hand". Gordhan said in the local context, a lack of skills and inadequate transport infrastructure are some of the challenges. (Edited by Thato Motaung) EWN Less than a month earlier.... Sanral support won’t result in deficit slippages, Gordhan avers |

By: Terence Creamer 31st May 2012 TEXT SIZE Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has insisted that any additional financial support extended to stabilise the financial position of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) will have no impact on South Africa’s Budget deficit position. It was confirmed on Thursday that government was considering the implementation of an additional Appropriation Bill to assist the embattled roads agency meet its short-term financial obligations. But Gordhan stressed that government would not pursue interventions that could result in an increase in the deficit. “Let me say very emphatically . . . nothing that we do is going to increase our deficit. Everything that we will do, and have to do, will be within the current fiscal envelope,” Gordhan said. He also indicated that it was possible that the resources would be sourced through reductions in the allocations to other national departments. In February, Gordhan announced revised deficit figures, which had been lowered when compared with the forecasts disclosed in the October mini-Budget. The deficit was currently expected to be 4.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012/13, and fall to 4% in 2013/14, before retreating to 3% in 2014/15. The Bill to support Sanral, which could be introduced once Parliament reassembles after its upcoming recess, was being considered in light of constraints that had arisen following a North Gauteng High Court interdict preventing the State-owned company from moving ahead with collecting toll fees to pay for the recently upgraded motorways in the country’s richest province. Sanral borrowed R20-billion to build the roads, which, together with interest payments and maintenance over the 24-year repayment period, would result in a total cost of around R58-billion. It intended implementing an electronic-toll (e-toll) collection system to recover the costs from motorists, which would enable it to pay off the debt (R20-billion), cover interest payments (about R38-billion), as well as conduct routine maintenance. However, the interdict prevented Sanral from moving ahead with its e-toll collection system. The National Treasury was, thus, currently working to assess whether an appropriation was necessary, as well as where the money could be sourced and for how long such support would need to endure. Gordhan indicated that the delay in tolling could cost Sanral between R270-million (a Moody’s estimate) and R600-million a month and that, while the timeframe for such support was uncertain, it was likely that the support would endure until year-end. It might also be necessary to assist Sanral with a key debt repayment that would come due in January 2013. However, government has also made an application to the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal the April 28 interdict and the associated legal process was unlikely to be settled by year-end. In fact, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who is heading up an Inter-Ministerial Committee overseeing the resolution to the dispute over the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), offered an "educated guess" that the legal process would continue through until August next year. Should the R600-million figure prove correct, it implied support of R3.6-billion until year-end, which would be over-and-above the R5.75-billion bail-out already confirmed in the February Budget. USER-PAY PRINCIPLE But for government, the GFIP matter also offered a platform for government to defend the user-pay principle more generally. In his statement Motlanthe reaffirmed that the user-pay option “was the most viable, fair and equitable” way to fund the GFIP and that open-road tolling was the “most appropriate mechanism for collection of toll fees”. But he also restated government’s argument that it should be able to include user charges in its arsenal of infrastructure funding options. He was supported by Gordhan, who called for the emotion to be set aside and for South Africans to understand that “there are limited sources of funding from which we can pay for the things we desire” and that user charges had to sustained as one of those funding options. “The element of user charges is a crucial element anywhere in the world. We pay for electricity, we pay for telephones, we pay for water, we pay for sanitation, we pay for refuse removal – those are user charges,” Gordhan said, while acknowledging that these were not always cost reflective. South Africa, he added, required a combination of resources from direct fiscal allocations, to user charges, debt raising and public–private partnerships to deliver on the R845-billion public infrastructure plan outlined for the coming three years. “It is very important that the principle of user-pay and of user chargers is not undermined through this process and through the emotion, and that we are able to sustain our ambition to provide the kind of infrastructure that will both impact positively on our economic potential, but also the environmental in which our people live.” Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter Comments by Sonny You don't have to be a Rocket Scientist to see that Gordhan is trying to smuggle with our minds. Is he the one who authorised the use of GEPF funds for SANRAL? Is he the one responsible for wanting to use GEPF funds for future development? Does he not know that it 'might just impede on his own pension?' Or is he the untouchable at the top of the Pyramid? Who loaded the dice?

Transnet to make its own trains, locomotives


Sapa | 28 June, 2012 10:45 A Transnet Freight Rail goods train slogs uphill near Magaliesburg in North West. File photo. Image by: Picture: PAUL ASH Logistics company Transnet will eventually manufacture its own trains and locomotives, CEO Brian Molefe said in Johannesburg. "Transnet will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to be an equipment manufacturer," he said. "We will build our own locomotives and trains." He was speaking at a business breakfast hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa. Transnet had ordered 143 locomotives from General Electric's local subsidiary. The first 10 of these had been wholly manufactured in the United States. "During the manufacture, we sent our people to learn and study how the locomotives are put together." A manufacturing plant had been set up in South Africa, and Transnet had begun ordering parts for local assembly rather than complete locomotives. Some parts were already manufactured locally, such as wheels. "We have put in an order for cranes for our port terminals, and we are looking to conclude a similar agreement here," he said. Transnet would insist that maintenance, at least, be carried out in South Africa. Responding to criticism of the country's high port charges, he said the group was looking at port charges for containers. Historically, South Africa had been a bulk exporter of raw materials, particularly minerals. As a result, bulk prices were kept low, but container prices were high. Now that the country was industrialising, it was increasingly exporting containers of manufactured goods. "We need to encourage container exports," Molefe said. South Africa's port charges were perceived as high relative to other countries because it did not offer subsidies. "The question we should be asking is, should South Africa, to be competitive, start subsidising its ports?" There were arguments for and against subsidies. Subsidies would take resources away from priorities such as health and education, and when the government needed to cut spending, charges would go up as subsidies fell away, Molefe said. Times Live Comments by Sonny During the old days, pre 1994, the SAR&H were building their own coaches and locomotives, what happened to all that cash-flow and know-how? Or was it because 'white males' ran the show then? This is not a political comment but one of evolution!

Assad: Syria 'in a state of war'


27 JUN 2012 08:54 - SAPA-AFP President Bashar al-Assad says Syria is in a state of war, ordering his Cabinet to crush the revolt even as fierce fighting continues near Damascus. With the uprising now in its 16th month, Assad told his Cabinet on Tuesday that Syria was in a "real situation of war". "When one is in a state of war, all our policies and capabilities must be used to secure victory," he said according to the official SANA news agency. Turkey said it had issued fresh rules of engagement to its army in response to the shooting down by Syria of one of its fighter jet last Friday. A senior official travelling with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said a Geneva conference on the crisis planned for this weekend was threatened by Russia's refusal to consider Assad's departure. Across the country, the violence continued with at least 116 people killed on Tuesday according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which said 68 civilians, 41 soldiers and seven rebels had lost their lives. The fighting drew closer to the capital with clashes breaking out on Tuesday in the suburbs of Damascus between rebel forces and Syrian army units, around elite Republican Guard posts, the London-based Observatory said. Heaviest fighting "Violent clashes are taking place around positions of the Republican Guard in Qudsaya and Al-Hama," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said in Beirut. It was the first time that artillery had been used "so close to the capital", he added. "This development is important because it's the heaviest fighting in the area and close to the heart of the capital." Abu Omar, a spokesperson for activists in the Damascus region, said all communication had been cut off in and around Al-Hama and Qudsaya. Regime forces had "stormed the areas with tanks", he said via Skype. He also spoke of a "massacre" but gave no further details. The official SANA news agency reported that government forces had clashed with "armed terrorist groups" in Al-Hama, killing dozens and arresting others. Cautious statements Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan moved to denounce Syria's downing of its Phantom F4 fighter jet in far more aggressive terms than his initial, cautious statements over the weekend. "This is a hostile act ... MORE COVERAGE Nato fury grows over Syria's attack on Turkish jet Turkey blames Syria for shooting down military jet Syrian rebels kill 25 pro-Assad militiamen Russia prepares ships for Syria mission a heinous attack," he said, adding that the military's standing orders had been adjusted accordingly. "The rules of engagement of the Turkish Armed Forces have changed given this new development," he said. Erdogan warned that any security or military risk posed by Syria on the Turkish border would be "considered a threat and treated as a military target". "This latest development shows the Assad regime has become a clear and imminent threat to the security of Turkey, as well as for its own people," he added. Damascus has defended the downing of the jet, saying it was a response to "a gross violation" of its sovereignty as the jet had entered Syrian airspace. Appealing for calm But Nato condemned the action after a meeting on the incident that had been called by Turkey, a member of the alliance. "It is another example of the Syrian authorities' disregard for international norms, peace and security, and human life," Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. The jet's two pilots are still missing. Russia appealed for calm. "We believe it is important that the incident is not viewed as a provocation or an intentional action, and that it does not lead to destabilising the situation," said a Russian foreign ministry statement. Washington rejected a Russian proposal for Iran to take part in a planned international conference on Syria in Geneva on Saturday. "It is better to involve Iran in the settlement [of the Syrian crisis]," Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters in Jordan. "In any case it would complicate the process [if Iran is ignored]." Useful contribution State department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters in Washington the US did not think Iran could make a useful contribution given its support for the Damascus regime. State department officials have also said that Clinton will not attend the meeting unless all parties first agree on the need for political change in Syria. A senior official travelling with Clinton said the Geneva conference was threatened by Russia's refusal to consider Assad's departure but that a deal might yet be done. "The sticking point is a clear agreement that there needs to be a political transition," the official said on Tuesday. Amnesty International has denounced the Syrian regime for the torture and killing of three medics. "The discovery of the charred and mutilated bodies of three young medical workers a week after their arrest in Aleppo city is yet further evidence of the Syrian government forces' appalling disregard for the sanctity of the role of medical workers," it said. – Sapa-AFP MAIL & GUARDIAN Comments by Sonny The time has come to charge President al-ASSAD with murder and crimes against humanity in the World Court? No matter what Mr Putin of Russia thinks.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Starved, no air to breathe - 42 immigrants die in truck


Starved, no air to breathe - 42 immigrants die in truck 27-JUN-2012 | SAPA-AFP | 9 COMMENTS Believed to be en route from Somalia to South Africa. Found dead in Tanzania Somali refugees at a UNHCR reception center in Yemen. Photo: AFP RELATED ARTICLES Durban couple share horror of kidnap Fears of growing African extremism DAR ES SALAAM - Forty-two immigrants were found dead in a truck in central Tanzania after suffocating, Deputy Interior Minister Pereira Silima said. “They died of suffocation and had no food,” Silima said. “There were more than 100 people in the truck,” a local administration official said. “After he had learnt of the dead bodies, the driver abandoned the truck and ran away.” The bodies were discovered in the truck in Dodoma province, about 400 kilometres west of Dar es Salaam. In December, 20 Somali immigrants were found dead in Tanzania. Foreign ministry spokesman Isaac Nantanga said at the time that an increasing number of Ethiopians and Somalis were crossing the country to make their way to South Africa, the continent’s top economy. Sowetan News Comments by Sonny What is the ANC Conference in Midrand planning for all these illegal immigrants? Jobs, houses, cars & Chivas? When will they focus on the real SA issues? Our own poor, needy & uneducated Citizens? Or, will they just go about their routine - Window Dressing for the civilised world at large? TIME FOR A RADICAL CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IS NEEDED! Fears of growing African extremism 26-JUN-2012 | REUTERS | 11 COMMENTS Can the African Union step up to deal with security threat? Clergymen gather around the coffins of the victims of the Christmas day bombing at St Theresa Catholic Church Madalla, during a mass funeral for the victims, outside Nigeria's capital Abuja February 1, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde RELATED ARTICLES 100 lashes for child out of wedlock Islamic sect claims responsibility for Nigeria church attacks Boko Haram says will 'devour' Nigeria president Troubled Kano state finds husbands for 1000 women Mali arrests two suspected al-Qaeda men Somali football chief and Olympic boss killed in bombing South Africa warns about sea pirates Freed SA couple leave Somalia Durban couple freed by captors! Iraq bomb kills 9 young soccer players, fans Grenade attack in Kenya bar during Euro 2012 football match Mombasa blast deaths rise to 3, suspect arrested Three of Africa's largest extremist groups are sharing funds and swapping explosives in what could signal a dangerous escalation of security threats on the continent, the commander of the U.S. military's Africa Command said. General Carter Ham said there are indications that Boko Haram, al Shabaab and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - groups that he labelled as the continent's most violent - are sharing money and explosive materials while training fighters together. "Each of those three organizations is by itself a dangerous and worrisome threat," Ham said at an African Centre for Strategic Studies seminar for senior military and civilian officials from Africa, the United States and Europe. "What really concerns me is the indications that the three organizations are seeking to coordinate and synchronize their efforts," Ham said. "That is a real problem for us and for African security in general." The United States classified three of the alleged leaders of the Islamist sect Boko Haram, based in remote northeast Nigeria, as "foreign terrorist," on June 20. But it declined to blacklist the entire organization to avoid elevating the group's profile internationally. Police in Nigeria said members of the group seized a prison there Sunday and freed 40 inmates. Islamist militant group al Shabaab is active in war-ravaged Somalia and has been blamed for attacks in Kenya. Last year it claimed responsibility for the death of Somali Interior Minister Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), an affiliate of al Qaeda based in North Africa, is mainly a criminal organization operating in the Sahel region. It kidnaps Westerners for ransom and aids Africa's drug trade, according to intelligence officials. MALI FEARS U.S. and regional officials fear that a power vacuum in northern Mali following a military coup in March may open an expanded area of operations for Islamist militants. Some western diplomats talk of the country becoming a "West African Afghanistan". Ham said AQIM was now operating "essentially unconstrained" throughout a large portion of northern Mali, where Islamists have imposed a harsh version of Shariah law. The group was a threat not only to the countries in the region, but also has "a desire and an intent to attack Americans as well. So that becomes a real problem," Ham said. Emphasizing that the U.S. military plays mainly a supporting role in Africa, Ham said the United States is providing intelligence and logistical help in the hunt for Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, whose Lord's Resistance Army is accused of abducting children to use as fighters and hacking off limbs of civilians. The International Criminal Court in The Hague indicted Kony for crimes against humanity in 2005, and his case hit the headlines in March when a video entitled "Kony 2012" put out by a U.S. activist group and calling for his arrest went viral across the Internet. Ham said he was confident that Kony would ultimately be apprehended by African troops. "This is an African-led effort," Ham said. "It is the African Union increasingly taking a leadership role with a little bit of support from the United States military. We think that is the right approach." SOWETAN NEWS Comments by Sonny Is the writing on the walls? African Spring in the making? Whil
e the King eats cake, the Country shall burn!

Shoot-out at Joburg shopping centre

Shoot-out at Joburg shopping centre
2012-06-26 12:42




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3 robbers killed in shoot-out
Student wrongfully arrested for shoot-out - report
Hijackers caught after shoot-out



Johannesburg - An armed robbery in a Dunkeld shopping centre ended in a shoot-out between security guards and three men on Tuesday, Johannesburg police said.

Captain Pinky Tsinyane said no injuries were reported.

A man entered the Dunkeld Fruit and Flowers shop in the Dunkeld West Centre, at the corner of Bompas and Jan Smuts avenues, in the morning, pretending to be a customer.

He hit the assistant manager with a firearm and took an undisclosed amount of money.

Security guards shot at the robber and his two accomplices as they fled. The robbers returned fire before escaping in a white Toyota bakkie.

Police recovered a 9mm pistol at the scene.


- SAPA

Read more on: johannesburg | crime

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Shootout at Dunkeld Fruit and Flower shop


The pistol dropped by one of the robbers

Five men fled with an undisclosed amount of cash following an armed robbery at Dunkeld Fruit and Flowers in the Dunkeld West centre on Tuesday morning.

26 June 2012 | Graeme Shackleford and Kierryn Goodwin

Shots were fired during the robbery, but the only injury sustained by a staff member occurred when he was pistol-whipped by one of the men.

According to Rosebank police spokesman Sergeant Bongi Mdletshe, the robbery took place at 8.40am.

The five men entered the shop and split up. Two men distracted a cashier by asking her about birthday cards while the three others pointed a gun at another staff member and told him to take them to the cash office.

In the office, the robbers pistol-whipped the staff member, and demanded money and asked him if there were any firearms on the premises. He opened the safe, and the robbers took the cash.

Centre security guards ran to the scene as the robbers fled to their car. Shots were fired, and one of the robbers dropped his gun as he ran.

The robbers left in a white Toyota bakkie with a Free State licence plate. They are armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information that may assist the police in their investigation should contact Rosebank police on 011-778-4700 .

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ANC's second transition vital, says Zuma


Sapa | 26 June, 2012 12:36 An ANC flag The ANC's second transition is necessary to overcome the compromises it made in the fight for democracy, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday. SAVE & SHARE EMAILPRINT "One of the causes of the slow pace to economic freedom is that ahead of [the first democratic election in] 1994... we went through a negotiations process," Zuma said in Midrand, between Johannesburg and Pretoria. "We had to make certain compromises in the national interest, and these were absolutely necessary to make. We had to be cautious about restructuring the economy in order to maintain economic stability and confidence at the time." Zuma was opening the policy conference of the ruling African National Congress. He said the apartheid era's economic power had remained intact. "The ownership of the economy is still primarily in the hands of white males, in which it has always been." A document on the second transition was one of the ANC's 13 policy documents which would be discussed during the four-day conference. Zuma said the second transition would make the country a "true democratic developmental state... which has a number of instruments it can use to facilitate change". The first transition was still important because it had ushered in an era of democracy in South Africa. "The time has come to do something more drastic to accelerate change towards economic transformation and freedom." Zuma asked delegates to discuss the notion of a second transition when dealing with the strategy and tactics document. "It is time to ask questions about the present and future... the last 18 years was the first transition. We are calling for a dramatic shift... to deal with the triple challenge[s] of poverty, unemployment and inequality." TIMES LIVE Comments by Sonny The best "Ten Year Plan" ever thought out my Zuma to stay in power!! Why does he not opt for "LIFE PRESIDENT" alike Bob Despot Mugabe? This is like a someone asking the 'Blind' to vote for a "White Elephant!"

ANC rethinks e-tolls


DOMINIC MAHLANGU | 26 June, 2012 00:188 Comments DEBATE OUR POLICIES: President Jacob Zuma and his wife, Bongiwe Ngema, at the ANC's Progressive Business Forum banquet at Gallagher Estate in Midrand last night See also pages 4, 9 Picture: MOHAU MOFOKENG In what appears to be a major change in the Gauteng ANC's policy on e-tolling, the ruling party in South Africa's economic powerhouse says consideration should be given to raising the fuel levy as "an interim measure" to pay for improvements to the province's freeways. SAVE & SHARE EMAILPRINT In its attempts to address the mounting debt incurred by the SA National Roads Agency following a court order preventing the implementation of e-tolling at the end of April, the ANC in Gauteng also proposes a "once-off'' contribution from companies making "super profits" in the province. Sanral has incurred a R20-billion debt to improve Gauteng's free ways, with the government paying more than R5-billion to cushion it. According to the Gauteng ANC's discussion paper on public transport and infrastructure, which is to be debated at the ruling party's policy conference at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, this week, Gauteng members also want the government pension fund to be used for infrastructure development. The Gauteng e-tolling project has stalled following a court challenge by civil society organisation Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa). The matter is now before the Constitutional Court. Outa wants an increased fuel levy to be used to fund the freeway improvements in view of Gauteng's position as the continent's economic hub. Last month, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan appealed to the Constitutional Court to set aside an earlier ruling in the Pretoria High Court that stopped Sanral from kick-starting the project. The ANC in Gauteng hopes to push the policy conference for a solution that will minimise harm to its constituency. In its report, the party's provincial executive said the impasse over e-tolling could, if not handled properly, damage the ANC and the government's reputation, both in terms of electoral support and South Africa's international credit rating. Other, longer-term proposals tabled by the provincial ANC include upgrading of alternative roads to tolled routes and a speeding up of the roll-out of public transport projects such as the Bus Rapid Transit system, and the revitalisation of Metrorail. The province's policy proposals come at a time when Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is leading a government task team in an attempt to find a solution to repay the loan that Sanral took to finance the project. The e-tolling debacle is understood to have prompted Zuma to remove Transport Minister S'bu Ndebele and his deputy, Jeremy Cronin, from the portfolio. Sapa reported that Zuma last night said South Africans needed to constructively criticise the ANC's policy discussion documents. Speaking at the ANC's Progressive Business Forum banquet, Zuma said the party would "open itself up" to allow the broader society to understand the party's thinking. "We now publish our documents for people to look at and comment on and discuss and add views ... I haven't seen any other organisation doing this," he said. "It goes a long way to show the confidence the ANC has ... That it believes people have a contribution to make. "We have never deviated from that culture, we say: 'We are here ... What are your views about South Africa'?" Even though the conference might adopt certain resolutions regarding the documents, it would still consider "recommendations" before the policies were finalised at the ANC's elective conference in Mangaung, Zuma said. "Participate in the evolution of the policies that will guide this country," the president added. SUNDAY TIMES Comments by Sonny Oh, how the Dominoes are falling....... The BIG ONE still has to fall before the Mangaung Conference in December 2012..... ANCYL behaviour is 'not acceptable' HLENGIWE NHLABATHI | 25 June, 2012 00:04 Free State premier and provincial ANC chairman Ace Magashule. Image by: SIMPHIWE NKWALI SAVE & SHARE EMAILPRINT President Jacob Zuma on Sunday, lambasted the ANC Youth League, saying its members conducted themselves as if they were a lost generation and their behaviour was not acceptable. His comments followed a boycott of the provincial conference of the ANC by the Free State youth league at the weekend. The league claimed the conference was illegitimate. Zuma said there were vast differences between the league of today and the league as it was in its heyday. The league previously raised issues in a comradely way and did not organise meetings or insult party leaders. "Only those who don't have the ANC in their blood will do so [boycott an ANC conference] . only those who don't understand and believe in the ANC," Zuma told delegates in his closing remarks at the ANC Free State conference. Zuma said that, like the youth of the 1950s, the league of today needed to know what its role was, and that its current leaders could not create new roles for it. "They [the youth of the 1950s] never attempted to shape the ANC outside there ... in slogans and in meetings that you cannot describe," he said. Zuma was referring to a rally on Saturday organised by the "young lions" in Bethlehem. The league boycotted the ANC elective conference in Parys, the home town of the party's provincial chairman, Ace Magashule, claiming it was illegitimate. Zuma offered condolences to the families of those who died in a bus crash returning from "this gathering of some sort". He said "those comrades would have come back and the chair [Magashule] would have engaged and persuaded them, showed them how the ANC leads and lives". "I'm not certain whether the youth of today is anything that inspires. I'm not certain the things some of our youth are doing inspire at all." Zuma said each generation of the young carved out its own niche, adding that the youth of today had a critical duty to defend the democratic gains of the freedom struggle. In an indirect attack on expelled youth league president Julius Malema, Zuma said: "The ANC must discipline everyone equally. Those who think they can bend around the constitution for their own selfish ends must be dealt with." Malema was expelled for fomenting division in the party. Zuma gave the Free State conference his blessing, saying it has been convened constitutionally. He criticised those who differed, saying they had conducted themselves in an "un-ANC" way. He said the provincial ANC leadership had been meticulous in dealing with complaints by individuals and branches, to the extent of postponing the conference three times. Zuma has the backing of Magashule in his bid to be re-elected ANC president in Mangaung. Times Live

No peeking: ANC keeps media out till policies fully baked


26 JUN 2012 06:39 - NICKOLAUS BAUER Policies adopted at ANC sessions this week will affect the entire nation, but the media aren't welcome as the party "doesn't want to hold back". The media have been barred from most of the ANC’s policy conference sessions in Midrand, which kicks off on Tuesday. “There will be closed sessions at the conference as we don’t want people to hold back because of the media. We want open conversation where people won’t be afraid to say what they feel,” ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told reporters in Johannesburg on Monday. Mantashe assured journalists that although the conference would be largely off limits to the media, regular press conferences would be held to “inform” the press. The conference will be opened by President Jacob Zuma and will run at Gallagher Estate until Friday. Mantashe said about 3 500 delegates were expected to attend, comprising branch members, national executive committee delegates, alliance partners, ANC leagues and other representatives. On Tuesday, the ruling party’s three main policy documents on organisational renewal, strategy and tactics as well as the state intervention in mining will be discussed, along with the national development plan spearheaded by Trevor Manuel. Reporting back Wednesday will see commissions debating the ANC’s 12 policy documents, after which each will report back on Thursday and Friday. “There have been very robust debates within our branches, regions, provinces [and] alliance structures, and the public, on the policy propositions. OUR COVERAGE Zuma faction to 'suppress' leadership debate Zuma lashes Kgalema MORE COVERAGE Zuma: 'Second transition' is the right thing - it's the only thing 'Mangaung must be a turning point' We are very confident the conference will bring together all those discussions and produce outstanding policy outcomes,” Mantashe said. It’s expected that the policy conference will be the scene where the covert ANC leadership race – happening within the ruling party ahead of its elective conference in Mangaung this December – deepens. Zuma is embroiled in a leadership tussle with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale who are both vying to replace the him at Mangaung. It’s understood the policy conference will be the place where Sexwale and Motlanthe not only informally launch their respective presidential campaign, but gauge possible support. “The policy conference is a preparatory conference ahead of the Mangaung elective conference – to decide our policy mandate before then. Leadership might be discussed within commissions but there will be no nominations taking place,” Mantashe said. Off limits Although nothing is stated in the ANC constitution regarding the rules of engagement within a policy conference, Mantashe made it clear that the leadership debate would not be touched on. ANC policy head Jeff Radebe reiterated this notion and said the programme would be strictly adhered to. “Any manifestation of ill-discipline won’t be tolerated at the policy conference,” said Radebe – a hint at how those wanting to open the leadership debate might be dealt with. Radebe said while policy debates would be spirited, he said they would not become divisive or partisan. “In my experience in the ANC there is no voting when it comes to policy. It’s a collective effort to shape policy together,” Radebe said. Mail & Guardian Comments by Sonny President Zuma is doing last minute window dressing for a second term in office before MANGAUNG in December 2012. Communist Rhetoric and Propaganda died with the first 'Democratic' elections in 1994. Zuma and the ANC has failed the Citizens of SA dismally! We need a new vision in Parliament - Not the ANC!! ZUMA's LAST STAND IS BEING WRITTEN!!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Protect And Serve - Not Die...Jeppestown Massacre 25 th June 2006







Protect And Serve - Not Die...Jeppestown Massacre 25 th June 2006

Protect And Serve - Not Die

My four brave buddies in BLUE
Today the Country salutes you
You were all an inspirational light
Keeping your mission and zest bright
Little did you ever know
What seeds of evil against you could sew

On Sunday 25th Junes 2006 you were on duty
Little knowing what was expected of you
To come up against the trained forced of evil
Lead to your fate by Lucifer, the Devil
You were outnumbered, outgunned and slain
Like pigs going to their slaughter

Out numbered, not once, out spirited
You stood your ground like heroes
You carried your cross like disciples
You paid the supreme price with your flesh
You have all earned a place in heaven
While your enemy will languish in HELL!

Copyright (c)2006 William Ernest Cox

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Chilling glimpse into 'Jeppestown Massacre'
January 31 2008 at 07:36am



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By Alex Eliseev

For 19 months, photographs of the Jeppestown bloodbath lay hidden in police dockets and court files - but today it's clear why the June 25 2006 shootout was dubbed a massacre.

Some of the 1 000-odd images presented to the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday are too grisly to publish, but they tell the real and frightening story of a raid gone very wrong.

The most striking photograph shows two slain police officers - Constable Pieter Seaward and Inspector Gert Schoeman - on the floor in a final embrace.

Seaward's right hand is resting on his colleague's arm, his left hand is tucked under Schoeman, only the hand protruding.

Their blue uniforms are covered in blood and dust from the crumbling plaster.

All around is the bloody chaos of a standoff that, in the end, claimed 12 lives.

The wall above the officers is smeared in streaks of blood and riddled with bullet holes. At their feet is a bag used by the gang to carry their loot.

The floor is a wild mess of clothes, suitcases, bags, takkies, newspapers, car tools, buckets and coins.

In the same room lie three dead robbers - one at the feet of the dead cops, one on the floor and one on his back on the bed. Five guns are scattered around the bedroom.

The photo albums also contain pictures from the postmortems, detailed ballistic diaries, chilling glimpses inside other rooms at 54 Mordaunt Street, the areas surrounding the house, and money bags stolen from the Honeydew Pick n Pay and recovered in the hideout.

The much-awaited trial of the "Jeppestown Massacre 13" began on Wednesday after a two-day delay.

State prosecutor Joanie Spies read out the 23 charges and was met with defiant pleas of "I'm not guilty" on all counts from all accused.

This means the trial - set down until the end of March - is likely to run its full course.

The 12 men and one woman face various charges of robbery, murder, attempted murder, and being in possession of unlicensed and illegal firearms.

All but one accused exercised their right to remain silent. Zinto Mqunu claimed he had gone to the house to visit a sangoma and was not involved in the robbery.

Ballistic evidence has shown that at least 27 firearms were used in the siege - including an AK-47 - and that more than 110 shots were fired by the seized weapons.

The real figure - including shots fired by police outside the house - is closer to 300.

On Wednesday, 11 handguns and an AK-47 were laid out as evidence. The service pistols of Schoeman, Seaward, and inspectors Victor Mathye and Frikkie van Heerden were also presented.

Two witnesses were called to give evidence: a woman robbed outside the Pick n Pay and a supervisor on duty on that bloody Sunday.


Joanne Brown, who has an artificial leg, had parked in the disabled-parking spot outside the supermarket. As she opened the door, "a chap" appeared and ordered her to hand over her handbag.


She later saw a man with the bag - covered in "trinkets, teddy bears and silly things" - making a getaway. She spotted a red Honda Ballade and claimed it was used by the gang. The car was then linked to the scene in Jeppestown.

Sarah Marumole - a supervisor at the Pick n Pay since 2002 - was six months pregnant when the gang struck.

She said she worked with one of the accused, Mary Maleke, who is thought to be the insider at the store.

Marumole attended an identity parade at C-Max prison (where 10 of the accused are kept) but said she was too scared to point out anyone.

On Wednesday, she was given a set of photographs and picked out one of the faces.

None of the widows of the slain police officers were in court.

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Widow relives horror of Jeppestown massacre
KHETHIWE MABENA | 01 September, 2009 17:56

CHEATED: Widows Leonie van Heerden and Nadia Seaward listen to proceedings in the Johannesburg High Court yesterday. Van Heerden earlier recounted events that led to her husband being killed .Pic: ALON SKUY. 04/11/2008. © The Times.Save & Share
THE widow of a policeman murdered in the Jeppestown massacre wept as she described how difficult it was for her to explain their father's death to her young children.

"Every day of their lives [my children] miss their father. We do not go to bed without my son asking why they shot his dad," said Inspector Leonie van Heerden in the Johannesburg High Court yesterday.

"I am angry. They took away the best thing in my life."

The widow, also a police officer, has spent many days in court listening to the proceedings.

"We had dreams, things we wanted to go through together. I'm missing my best friend's company, his jokes, everything," she said.

Her husband and partner in the Roodepoort police dog unit, Inspector Frederick "Frikkie" van Heerden, was one of the four police-men killed during the bloody Jeppestown shootout in June 2006.

She, too, was at the scene, but survived.

The police officers had driven to Jeppestown after a tip-off that an 18-man gang was hiding in a house in the area.

Eight robbers died during the five-hour gun battle with the police.

Van Heerden was one of the four witnesses called by the state to testify in aggravation of sentence against the 12 accused who were recently convicted for charges including murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

She had previously said that she would not be able to testify against her husband's killers because she was still traumatised and was undergoing counselling.

Yesterday, however, she was the first of the witnesses to testify.

"I remember that Inspector Victor Mathye was shot in both legs and was down on the kitchen floor. I remember that he fired shots to keep the people inside the house at bay and that he was using his last breath to fire the shots," she said.

"I was bleeding from the head and a person came out of the house, looked at me, laughed and ran off."

Van Heerden lost her composure when she was asked to describe how the incident affected their daughter: "Her father was everything to her," she said.

Ă½ Accused Emmanuel Mweli, 29, appealed for leniency because he had "already spent two years behind bars" and was "still young".

Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng dismissed an application that it be recorded that three of the accused felt that he had pre-judged them and had not properly considered their evidence.

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Life sentences for Jeppestown massacre accused
Submitted by MyHoneydew on Fri, 28/11/2008 - 07:52.
28 November 2008

Eleven of the 13 accused in the Jeppestown massacre were on Thursday given four life sentences each by the Johannesburg High Court for the murders of four policemen.

Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng also gave them 40 years each for other crimes relating to the incident, including the killing of eight others who were thought to be members of the gang.

As sentence was past, family members of the slain policemen wept and hugged each other before leaving the court room.

Fanie Schoeman, brother of slain police Sergeant Gert Schoeman, said "I'm happy that it's over, but we can't say that justice has been served, because they took my brother away.

"The message that the judge gave to other criminals is a good one... Police are there to protect us, it doesn't matter what background you come from, you should know what is right and what is wrong," he said
with tears in his eyes.

Those sentenced to life were Nkosinathi Mzamo Mchunu, of Hillbrow; Sizwe Mbuyazi, of Joubert Park; Khumbulani Mabaso, of Johannesburg CBD; Sizwe Dlamini, of Fairview; Sihle Mdunge, of Hillbrow; Muzulelwa Vezi, of Johannesburg's Bree Street; Siyanda Mgomezulu, of Hillbrow; Hlongwa, of Jabulani Hostel; Bekokwakhe Zulu, of Benrose Hostel; Mhlomme Sesiba, of O'Riley Street, Johannesburg and Zinto Mqunu of Jeppestown.

Most of the accused were fathers of very young children.

The "prime mover" behind the Pick 'n Pay robbery in Honeydew which eventually led to the bloody shoot-out in Jeppestown two years ago, Senzo Mweli, 29, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. He was also sentenced to five years for attempted murder, which would run concurrently with the 20-year sentence.

The policemen were killed in the shoot-out at a house in Mordaunt Street, Jeppestown, on Sunday June 25, 2006 in the aftermath of the
robbery.

Inspectors Frederick "Frikkie" van Heerden, 32, and Victor Nzama Mathye, 49, both of the West Rand dog unit; Sergeant Gert Schoeman, 30, of the West Rand emergency response service; and Constable Pieter
Seaward, 31, of the Johannesburg dog unit died in the gunfight.

The father of Schoeman said earlier that he looked forward to closing a painful chapter of his life.

"I have waited two-and-a-half years for this book to be closed. It's been two-and-a-half years without any proper sleep. My son was a very brave man and I am very proud of him," said Stanley Schoeman.

Provincial Commissioner for Gauteng, Director Govindsamy Marimuthoo,
said the sentencing was settling for all members in the police force.

"We welcome the sentencing, and will continue in the fight against crime...our fallen heroes have paid the ultimate price...it is a great relief to know that those responsible for these atrocious acts have received justice."

Mokgoatlheng said that the background the accused came from should not be an excuse to the events that occurred.

"People cant be allowed to take the law into their own hands, because we have the capacity to think what is right and what is wrong...what this court can't understand is why people should kill in cold blood."

He said that while he understood that the financial situation of the accused was very dire, it was no excuse even if all eleven of the 12 accused were all first time offenders.

"We come from a very painful past, but I try to understand why such a waste of life happens for money...speaking as a black judge, I must say, that in South Africa today, a black man can rise and become what he wants to be."

He said that South African policemen were the bastion of the constitution and society would not accept the killing of a policeman while on duty.

"No civilised society should live like this...people should be allowed to go shopping on a Sunday morning without the fear of being shot and killed."

Promise Mchunu, brother of accused number 3, Nkosinathi Mzamo Mchunu, appeared depressed ahead of the sentencing.

"My brother is not okay. I spoke to him three days ago. He is very sad. I am very sad about this situation too, I love him very much," said Mchunu.

In response to Mchunu's testimony that police had shot at the robbers first, Mokgoatlheng said that the police were just doing their job.

"The police were following you criminals, it is not correct that the police shot at you first, they were just doing their work, and they should be allowed to do their work," he said.

Sapa
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The facts as sent in by Anonymous; CATO MANOR



THE FACTS - Background to the SVCU - Cato Manor
by Durban Organised Crime Unit - KZN on Monday, 26 March 2012 at 07:23 •
Background
For those of you who are just joining this group, here is some background to bring you up to speed.
There is currently a fraud trial about to commence in which a Durban businessman (Mr. Thoshan Panday) and a police colonel (Mr. Navin Madhoe) were arrested on allegations that they ran a police accommodation scam during the World Cup Soccer which defrauded tax payer 60 million rand.Shortly after their arrest, these individuals are alleged to have attempted to bribe, the DBN Organised Crime Commander, General Johan Booysen to side line the investigation. Booysen declined the offer and as a result, Colonel Madhoe was also arrested for corruption. At some stage, crime scene photo graphs were stolen from a computer from the offices of the Serious Violent Crimes Section (SVC) of the DBN Organised Crime Unit. This was one of Booysen’s departments which ultimately fell under his command. These photos were also used in an attempt to persuade Booysen to drop the fraud charges. The reason being, some of these photos could have been seen out of context as some of the SVC staff was pictured allegedly drinking alcohol (even though they were off duty). The remainder of the photos were of dead bodies, either from gun skirmishes with police or of victims of crime killed during hijackings, robberies etc. The threat was to release the photo’s to the press alleging that the unit was acting like a hit squad and then celebrating afterwards with booze filled parties. The hope here was that all these investigators would be either fired or arrested thus making it impossible for them to testify in the pending fraud case as some of the police witnesses against both these men, came from this unit. Neither General Booysen, nor his investigation team heeded to this threat, and the investigation continued.Suddenly, on the morning of 11th December 2011, The Sunday Times flooded our door steps and newsstands with an “amazing expose” on how they had uncovered a police “hit squad”. They further claimed that they had been hard at work on this story for the past 3 years. They claimed that the SVC Unit based at Cato Manor was actually a hit squad taking revenge on police murders and that they had photos to prove this. Quite a coincidence as this had just been the threat made by the “little extortionist” just a few weeks earlier. The photos were hard hitting. Unless one was use to seeing violent and grotesque photo’s of dead bodies, the news was certainly sensational. The newspaper even claimed that the unit acted like a Vlakplaas unit. Not a very nice allegation to make against anyone. What the Times failed to report was that SVC had won numerous awards for their high detection and conviction rate. That, in the same period of time, two of its own members had been shot and killed on duty. Thus making it quite likely that they would be involved in that many shootings. There was no comparison offered against stats as to how many policemen died in the country over that same period of time. If they publicised this one would understand that amount of deaths, yet regrettable, were understandable.Then, when two of the unit’s detectives agreed to meet with these journalists to set the record straight, the journalist’s again wrote with a crooked pen, stretching the truth describing the meeting as a sordid event. They even wrongly accused a policeman in the media as a shooter in shooting incidents, even after a heads up was given them at this meeting, that they had their facts wrong.


One can only assume that Sunday Times enjoys paying out lawsuits or that there is something more sinister at play here. Perhaps the integrity of these journalist’s needs to be questioned. It seems that whenever they publicise the name’s of any detective from this unit, it just coincidently happens to be a detective who is a witness against the pair charged for fraud.After the breaking news, the excrement hit the fan in HQ and two investigation teams were assembled and sent to Durban from Pretoria (Hawks Head office) and Limpopo (ICD) to investigate these allegations. The SVC detectives had all their cell phones, computer’s, cameras and firearms seized for forensic analysis. Confidential informer files were perused and informers were traced and contacted. The entire SVC staff compliment was treated as suspects regardless of any specific case number or shooting incident. The unit was closed with immediate effect. The amount of effort and logistics put into it was quite sensational, much like the newspaper article, however when SVC members asked for legal assistance of choice (like a previous disgraced National Commissioner was afforded), they were simply told, NO! Shame on you police management. You plan to leave your boys out in the cold like that. How about growing some back bone and integrity.Both these internal investigation teams still continue with their “amazing” work in Durban at great expense to the tax payer and with little indication as to their end date. Perhaps the investigators from up country are enjoying a little sun and sea in Durban. One certainly hopes that their accommodation was not arranged by either Panday or Madhoe.

The Times also published photos of shootings that this unit was not even involved in. One would think, that at a time when the controversial “Info Bill” hangs in the air, that any journalist worth their salt would for first question the motive of their source. It is what junior investigators taught on Detective Course in the subject of informer handling. Always question the motive of your informer. The reason for this is to prevent you from being used as a pillar of Organised Crime by simply removing opposition. Then, perhaps these journalists were duped? However, surely if one really investigated the allegations for three years, one would have clarified certain issues prior to going to press and publically humiliating career detectives who have served their country. Or was that also a lie? These are the questions you must ask yourself.The Times writes as if they have had privy to confidential shooting reports and affidavits held by the Independent Complaints Department. I seriously hope not. That would be another law suit waiting to happen. The photographs, one could argue, are stolen police property. But that aside, what was reassuring was that several “real” journalist’s had come forward to place on record that they too were offered these photographs at some point but did not wish to run with the story as certain date stamps on picture folders were altered thus questioning their authenticity. Perhaps the reporters at the Times thought they had found the story of a lifetime and went with it with little consideration to those they may hurt along the way. Perhaps, it was the fact that they had found witnesses, or perhaps it was their overseas financed ballistics expert, who knows. Let us leave that to the courts. I too was once a detective who interviewed many witnesses, story tellers, money seeker’s, revenge seekers. Their worth gets examined at a court of law, not a newspaper. So, in a nut shell that is what’s going on. They have labelled our “good guys” as “hit men” and claimed that they “executed 51”. That is a serious accusation after so many of their facts already published were wrong. They claim they have booze filled celebrations after near death experiences. If so, perhaps the post battle drink was how they dealt with it all. The law states that the burden of proof rests with the accuser so let’s wait for what the courts decide. Put simple: “He who accuses, must prove”. Until then, these media men have successfully disbanded one of our greatest tools against violent criminals in KZN. Our blanket of protection is gone.

This is not only a concern for the public but for the other police officers who perform their daily duties as this unit also had the task of solving and preventing the murders of police officers.Mark my words; take a look at the stats in year’s time. Violent crime will escalate and many innocents will die unnecessarily at the hands of criminals.“Their successes weren’t reached by keeping office hours and scheduled lunch breaks. It was reached by putting in the effort, working beyond the call of duty and by just being great detectives.”Another thing I was taught in Detective school was that most things in life happen for a reason and that I should question everything that happens. One thing that bothers me here is why are the police turning on their own all of a sudden, why do they visit the families of those shot by police even when they know these individuals had a criminal past. There is seriously something bigger at play here.

It is for these reasons that this page exists. We have to support our guys; we cannot afford to lose 10, 20 or 30 seasoned detectives because of some fraudster’s dirty tricks. There is far more at stake here. I speak for myself here, but my detective nose is twitching and I am of the opinion that Panday holds black mail over someone’s head high up on the government ladder and that is why all the pressure is on to dissolve yet another good investigation unit.

Stand firm folks and believe, lady justice holds a mighty big sword.

Anonymous