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.

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
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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

________________________________________________________________________________
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 .

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!!

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.

ý 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