Durban businesswoman Shawn Mpisane is expected to appear in the Durban magistrate’s court today.  She’s facing fraud charges – relating to her construction companies.  Mpisane is currently also embroiled in a tax fraud trial.  

The restraining order was granted after a two-year investigation. The wealthy businesswoman allegedly provided false information to the Construction Industry Development Board to get government tenders.

This allegedly led to larger government contracts worth R140 million. Yesterday, the Assets Forfeiture Unit seized assets and attached property worth R140 million belonging to Mpisane and her husband Sbu. 

The  unit seized among other things, a Rolls Royce Phantom worth between R6 and R8 million, two Porsches, a Maserati, a Mercedes Benz and a BMW. Their luxury house is said to be valued at R80-million.

PricewaterhouseCoopers curator Trevor White says: “As a result of the restraint order we are in the process of valuating three properties that they own as well as the various assets in those properties as well as their motor vehicles which in the court order is listed as 62 vehicles.”

Questions have earlier been raised about Mpisane and her company– Zikulise Cleaning and Transport. They have been accused of poor workmanship relating to housing projects.

For more details go to http://www.sabc.co.za

At least 2000 farm workers were issued with retrenchment notices on Wednesday, Business Day reported on Thursday.

This, as the agricultural sector shed jobs ahead of the implementation of a new minimum wage, and as mechanisation on farms gathered pace.

The paper reported analysts warning that thousands more would be shed when the new wage comes into effect at the beginning of next month.

Agricultural Machinery Association secretary Jim Rankin told Business Day he expected he expected farmers to look more closely at mechanisation “in the light of the last six months” — during which workers went on strike and unions demanded big pay rises — but said the process “started a long time ago”.

Sapa    

Community members in Mahikeng have joined the DA in attacking the licencing departments, especially in the Ngaka Moridi Molema district.

The neglect they say is causing people to sleep outside the departments’ offices to queue for learners’ and drivers’ license appointments.

“It’s a risk waking up early rushing to join the queue of a limited number of people considered to make appointments. Traffic authorities should do something about this or increase the number of people they take for appointments,” said Kenny Leburu.

Mapule Thebejane said: “I realised I was risking my life when I woke up early sometime last year to queue for an appointment. Many people want their driver’s license but the department of traffic should register people who come on that day and take a limited number and those left behind should be considered as first priority the following days and not that people should wake up early everyday.”

The DA called for improvement saying people’s lives were at stake.

“Community members start queuing for service as early as 4am only to be served after four hours and this smacks of total disrespect and is rather unacceptable. All the different services in the department are handled by the same few people, causing the application forms to stop being issued as early as 10am. This affects local productivity as leave needs to be taken from work to fulfil their legal obligations,” said DA provincial media manager Tiaan Kotze.

“It is very unsafe to be in a queue at that time of the morning as it exposes members of the community to robberies and cold conditions. We appeal to the municipality to employ more trained permanent staff to alleviate the lack of adequate service delivery to the taxpayer. We respect our people and we would like them to be afforded a decent service,” said Kotze. Human settlements, public safety and liaison spokesperson Simon Mmope urged the community to use other license centres including Lehurutshe, Zeerust and Lichtenburg to avoid congestion.

“We appreciate people applying for licenses but they must be safe and take heed of criminals when they walk in the dark,” said Mmope.

Public safety director in the Mahikeng local municipality Keaobaka Boikanyo was not available for comment at the time of going to press.

For more details go to http://www.thenewage.co.za

The ANC has set February 26 as the day the party will win back the mayoral seat at the Tlokwe local municipality.

This comes after as the ruling party promised to call for a motion of no confidence in the DA’s Tlokwe municipality mayor, Annette Combrink.

“Maphetle (Maphetle) will be reinstated the same way he was removed, through a motion of no confidence in the present mayor,” spokesperson Kenny Morolong said.

In November last year, warring ANC factions passed a motion of no confidence in ANC mayor Maphetle.

He was replaced by the DA’s Annette Combrink. The DA won the mayorship following a walkout during the vote on the motion.

Morolong said relations among the party’s councillors at the municipality had been mended.

Morolong is part of the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) members who were tasked to restore order in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district after the party’s regional executive was disbanded a week ago.

“PEC officials convened a successful meeting with ANC councillors at Tlokwe local municipality on Monday.

“The purpose of this meeting was inter-alia to reflect on previous developments, harmonise relations among these deployees of the organisation and forge close working links,” he said.

Morolong said officials were satisfied with the progress made through the engagement, which he said would restore the confidence of the people of Tlokwe in the ANC.

“Our councillors have exhibited renewed determination and an unflinching readiness to work to preserve the vote of confidence bestowed in the ANC during the previous local government elections.

“They have committed themselves to the reinstatement of comrade Maphetle as mayor of Tlokwe, this long awaited development will be realised on February 26,” he said.

As a result of the interaction, Morolong said PEC officials had resolved to engage the party’s provincial working committee to start disciplinary action against the affected councillors.

Six councillors face the party’s wrath for spearheading the ousting of Maphetle.

Morolong scoffed at what he said were efforts by the DA to pass a motion of no confidence in the council speaker at the municipality. –with Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-North West community members are advised concerning the use of the South African Police Services emergency number 10111. “The communities are encouraged to use 10111 when the call from a Telkom landline” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

“Cellular phones are the main mode of communication in our communities nowadays. When the caller calls from cell phone technical difficulties are being experienced therefore,we urge that our  communities in the North West to dial 112 in case of an emergency from a cellular phone” Ngubane said. 

There are call centre agents available to assist callers and activate the relevant station area for reaction. 

“112 is a toll free number, when dialed from any cellular phone network or service provider” Ngubane said.

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Durban – Nigeria qualified for the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after trouncing Mali 4-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday.

The Super Eagles will face the winners of the other semi-final between Ghana and Burkina Faso, scheduled for Nelspruit at 20:30, this Sunday at the National Stadium.

Nigeria took the lead on 25 minutes through a diving header inside the box by defender Elderson Echiejile off a low cross by Victor Moses from the right.

They doubled their advantage on the half hour when Brown Ideye finished off another low cross from the right, this time by Emmanuel Emenike.

Emenike netted his fourth goal of the tournament a minute before the break when his shot off an edge-of-box free kick took a deflection beyond goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa.

Substitute Ahmed Musa slotted home the fourth goal for Nigeria on 60 minutes when he burst clear.

Mali pulled a goal back in the 75th minute through substitute Fantamady Diarra, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama as the Nigerian defence suffered a lapse in concentration.

Nigeria took the game to Mali from the first whistle with Chelsea winger Moses shooting wide after just two minutes.

However, Mali settled and came close to going in front after 12 minutes when Kalilou Traore’s header off a corner narrowly missed the target.

And moments later, Momo Sissoko’s shot flew just above Vincent Enyeama’s goal.

Nigeria carved a good chance on 15 minutes when Emenike fired at goal, but Samassa did well to keep it out before the ball was cleared for a corner.

Soon after Nigeria’s second goal by Ideye, the Dynamo Kyiv striker was denied by the young Mali goalkeeper, before Ogenyi Onazi’s chipped shot after a swift counter attack was held by back-tracking Samassa.

In the 47th minute, Seydou Keita’s shot from inside the Nigeria goal area missed as Mali searched for a goal.

Molla Wague’s header in the 55th minute came close as Mali continued to pile pressure on the Super Eagles.

But Nigeria then created two good chances. First, Ideye hesitated when clear on goal in the 56th minute and a Musa effort that found the net seven minutes later was disallowed for offside.

Enyeama saved a low shot by Cheick Tidiane Diabate before Mahamadou Samassa had the easiest of chances to reduce the tally, but Enyeama kept him out.

Emenike let fly a powerful shot in the 87th minute, but his effort was wide of the target.

In stoppage time, Diarra could have pulled another goal back twice but his efforts missed their mark.

AFP

By Obakeng Maje

Douglas-The police are investigating a case of dealing in Dagga and Mandrax after the 21-year-old male was arrested at his home in Breipaal, Douglas yesterday.

The police said they followed up the information and at the approximately 14:00 they managed to pounce on the suspect while he was still busy dealing with the illegal substances. 

“The police confiscated 71 pokes, 16 small packages of Dagga, two shopping bags of loose Dagga and 30 Mandrax tablets” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

“The estimated street value of Dagga and Mandrax approximately R6000.00 and this will be used as exhibits in Court” Kock said. 

The suspect will appearing at Douglas Magistrate Court soon and the investigation continues.

It was a “minor setback” that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is no longer the majority union at Impala Platinum, the union has said.

NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said they would do everything in their power to claw back the recognition from rival union, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).

The NUM’s recognition agreement with Implats reportedly came to end on Saturday, with the union blaming the violence that accompanied the industrial action last year when thousands of mineworkers downed tools demanding higher wages.

“With all the violent strike action and threats against our members, we don’t expect to be in the majority,” said Seshoka.

“This is a minor set-back. We’re going to get our members back once the violence and threats cease.”

Johannesburg – Despite Gordon Igesund falling short of his semi-final mandate, 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winner Andre Arendse believes the 56-year-old remains the best man to lead Bafana Bafana.

According to the football411.com

website

, South Africa saw their AFCON 2013 adventure come to an end at the quarter-final stage after going down on penalties to Mali, with some expecting SAFA to axe the coach after having initially set him a target of a last-four finish.

Arendse, though, believes that would have been a mistake, telling Football411: “Some people suggested that being on home soil Bafana should have won the tournament, but I believe that was completely unrealistic.

“South African football has been in steady decline since 1996, but Bafana’s display at AFCON 2013 was an absolute improvement and step in the right direction.”

Having won a PSL title under Igesund, Arendse is not surprised the former Santos coach has breathed new life into the national set-up after a mere seven months at the helm.

“I see much more fighting spirit, team cohesion and confidence among the players. Gordon has brought back a winning mentality,” noted the current Bidvest Wits assistant coach.

While the former goalkeeper – capped 67 times for Bafana – regards Itumeleng Khune as one of Africa’s premier shot-stoppers, Bafana’s defensive fragility has him concerned.

“Khune was indeed a standout, but largely because we saw him making saves way outside his 18-yard area to cover for the back four’s mistakes,” he added.

“Bafana fell short in central defence and were at times exposed. There was a lack of cohesion between Bongani Khumalo and Siyabonga Sangweni – for me that combination just didn’t work.”

Since crashing out to Mali in the quarters, Khumalo’s leadership credentials have been called into question. Arendse, he0owever, was quick to jump to his former team-mate’s defence.

“The criticism is grossly unfair. He always gives maximum effort, wears his heart on his sleeve and is a real team player,” he said.

“While he was at times a little reserved, we must not forget he is a young captain. I have no doubt he will grow in stature and that his leadership qualities will skyrocket,” he concluded.

Football411

Durban – A funeral parlour owner wanted by the police for her part in a suspected R6 million life insurance scam was shot dead on Sunday night, prompting suspicions that she had been silenced to stop her from exposing her accomplices.

Faith Msibi was driving to her home in Driefontein, near Ladysmith, at 8pm when she was killed.

The day before her murder the Durban commercial crime unit arrested four people, all known to Msibi, and charged them with fraud. The police had been on the verge of question Msibi when she was killed.

Captain Thulani Zwane said that detectives had been investigating two fraudulent insurance claims. The first was for R3m paid to a group, including Msibi, in October last year. The second, also for R3m, had been lodged by the same people but was unpaid.

Zwane would not confirm whether Msibi’s murder was linked to the suspected fraud.

Mbongileni Miya, Msibi’s cousin, said yesterday that Msibi had been killed to “eliminate the evidence”.

“It is clear that she was being silenced,” Miya said.

“She had come to show us her new car and see our grandmother. She mentioned she thought people were following her.”

Zwane said the police had found that a Bergville family, the Nenes, of Mazizini, had buried their son, Themba, in March 2011 but had not been able to register his death because Msibi’s funeral parlour had misplaced his identity document.

In January last year a death certificate, the identity document and R15 000 in cash had been taken to the Nene family.

“Mrs Nene asked what the money was for, but the response was that the funeral parlour was thanking the Nene family for not rushing them when their son’s identity document went missing,” said Zwane. The date of death on the certificate was September last year.

Zwane said: “Investigations revealed that the missing identity document had two life cover policies from two different insurance companies valued at R6m linked to it. Both policies were taken out after Themba was buried.”

The policies had been taken out on Themba by a funeral parlour employee, he added.

Among those arrested was a 51-year-old taxi owner who allegedly bought a coffin for a funeral which never took place.

The four fraud suspects appeared in Durban’s commercial crime court yesterday. No arrests have been made in connection with the murder.

The Mercury