Johannesburg – A Gupta family chartered jet was moved off the Waterkloof Air Force Base on Thursday afternoon after widespread outrage about private use of a military facility.

The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) said the plane flew to nearby commercial OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

The wealthy and politically-connected Gupta family landed wedding guests at the Waterkoof Air Force Base – a national key point – on Tuesday morning.

News of the aircraft landing angered political parties and organisations including the ANC, DA, IFP, Cosatu, and the SA Communist Party.

The Gupta family on Thursday bemoaned what it described as “negative reporting” around the wedding.

“It was planned as a destination wedding to tempt other Indian families to use South Africa as a venue, instead of going to Mauritius or Thailand,” the family said in a statement.

“For the record, the family has obtained each and every permission for any and every part of the event.”

The family said it had not been directly involved in the Waterkloof incident, but had been assured by the Indian High Commission that proper processes were followed and agreements reached with the appropriate officials.

On Thursday, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula ordered that the jet be removed from the air force base.

The minister further called for an investigation on why the air force was approached with a request to use the base.

She said the international relations and co-operation department agreed to the Indian High Commission’s request for the use of it.

On Tuesday, SANDF spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini said the force was not aware of any permission granted for the Gupta family to use the air force base.

But Gupta family spokesman Gary Naidoo insisted in a brief statement on that permission was obtained from the SANDF to use the base.

On Thursday, the department of international relations and the SA Revenue Service (Sars) also said they would be investigating how the jet was allowed to land at Waterkloof.

International relations spokesman Clayson Monyela said neither the department nor the presidency granted executive authority for the aircraft to land at the base.

Monyela said the Chief of State Protocol, ambassador Bruce Koloane, had been suspended while it conducted its investigation.

International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane had placed him on compulsory leave with immediate effect.

Cabinet said government remained in the dark over who had allowed the private aeroplane to land at the air force base.

Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said high-level investigations into the matter were underway.

He also confirmed that President Jacob Zuma, said to be a close ally of the Guptas, was not attending the wedding.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions in the North West said its members who worked at Sun City complained that the family did not want to be served by the black staff who were employed at the resort.

“They demand that their services must be rendered by white personnel, starting from the cleaning of their rooms, the cooking and the drivers of the shuttles they use in the resort,” provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said in a statement.

The Centre of Constitutional Rights of the FW de Klerk Foundation said it was concernedthat public resources were being utilised for the benefit of private associates and that permission must have been given by the respective minister.

“Moreover, bearing in mind the co-ordinated effort, it can probably be assumed that the matter was at least co-ordinated at Cabinet cluster committee level, if not by the presidency itself,” the centre’s director Johan Kruger said in a statement.

If this was the case heads needed to roll, he said.

Cosatu also complained that the Gupta family was being escorted around by police using state vehicles.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced on Thursday that national police commissioner Riah Phiyega had launched an internal investigation into the wedding saga.

“I have further instructed that in the event that such transgressions occurred, that the law must take its course on any person found to be responsible,” Mthethwa said in a statement.

He said he was expecting a preliminary report by the end of Thursday. – Sapa

The final draft of the Protection of State Information Bill contained a typo: on page 6, the word “for” appeared as “foe”. This slip of fingers over keyboard inadvertently hints at the political agenda behind the bill, which sees enemies everywhere. This is the agenda causing the internecine battles in the ANC. It’s an agenda that distrusts democracy and infantilises citizens.

From its perspective, the Right2Know campaigners are “foreign spies”, as suggested by Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele. MPs are suspected of being “in the pay of another government”, an accusation made by ANC MP Luwellyn Landers and reinforced by Cwele during the debate on the adoption of the bill in the National Assembly.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

North West Acting Premier Raymond Elisha was outraged and disappointed that pensioners had to queue the whole day before they finally received their old age social grants from South African State Security Agency (SASSA) on Thursday evening.

Acting Premier Elisha observed unacceptable delays which were said to have been caused by shortage of cash which had to be augmented with two deliveries after his 

  intervention during routine monitoring when he visited the paypoint in Khuma township near Stilfontein on Thursday morning.

“Social grant payments need to be planned and executed in such a manner that they do not undermine the dignity of beneficiaries. We hope that the inconvenience that our aged experienced would not reoccur anywhere else and apologies profoundly that beneficiaries experienced unacceptable levels of service,” emphasised Elisha.

By Obakeng Maje

Zeerust-A decomposed body of a 20 year-old man found hanged to the tree by North West police on Tuesday.

Police said a decomposed body of Nthusang Monametsi, 20 was discovered in Ikageleng Location, near Zeerust.

“Nthusang Monametsi was allegedly reported missing two weeks ago by his mother” captain Amanda Funani said.

Police said Monametsi was found hanged to a tree in school uniform.

It is said Monametsi was last seen wearing a school uniform going to school. He allegedly asked to be released to go and see a medical doctor and he never came back.

“On Tuesday police were called to the scene at the bushes next to Ikageleng Location cementery where Monametsi’s body was” Funani said.

Police launched an inquest case and investigations continue.

By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp Tactical Response Team (TRT) arrested two suspects, on Wednesday about 22:30 for dealing with dagga. The two suspects aged between 25 and 33 were arrested at Extension 24 in Jouberton after police received a tip off from the members of the community North West police said.

“Police allegedly searched the suspects residential place and found four suspects” captain Amanda Funani said.  

“It is alleged that when the suspects saw the police they ran away for their lives” Funani said.  

Police fired warning shots and they managed to arrests two suspects, but the other two fled. “Police allegedly discovered 11 bags of dagga weighing 80 kg with the estimated street value of R200 000” she said.

It is alleged the dagga was found inside one of the suspects bedroom.

The two suspects were arrested and police are still searching for the two suspects who fled the scene.   

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo has once more applauded the community for assisting the police in catching the suspects. “Anybody who can assist the police in catching the other two suspects who fled the scene, is urged to call Jouberton Police Station on 018 465 9300.                           Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

By Obakeng Maje

The North West Department of Social Development today acknowledged to a meeting of the NW Social Development Portfolio Committee, that they have closed down the only state Drug Rehabilitation facility in the North West Province after a funding dispute with a sister Department, The NW Department of Health. 

The facility, located at Witrand Potchefstroom, is critical in the continuing fight against drug addiction, especially rife in the youth community concentrated in the educational hub, Potchefstroom, where a number of drug peddlers, including Nigerians, have been arrested recently. 

“The squabble amongst officials with no consideration or understanding on how the discontinuation of a critical service impacts on the NW community is indicative of how serious the NW Government regards the much publicized “Batho Pele” (People First) slogan – it has become nothing more than fading posters in NW government offices” DA leader in the province Chris Hattingh said.

“The DA will pursue the re-opening of the Witrand Drug rehabilitation facility, the tabling and publication of the NW Drug Master Plan and the establishment of Local Drug Action Committees, as envisaged in the National Drug Master Plan, in the NW Provincial Legislature” Hattingh said.

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The four-day Gupta “wedding of the century” extravaganza kicked off on Tuesday evening in style. 

Guests were treated to a fireworks display followed by a sumptuous dinner with delicacies from across the globe.

The multimillion-rand wedding is being held at Sun City, in North West, where the family reportedly booked out the entire Palace of the Lost City for more than 400 guests. Suites here cost between R4 600 and R44 000 a night.

For more www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Thursday ordered that the Gupta family’s chartered jet be removed from Waterkloof Air Force Base.

“The clearance should be rescinded and the aircraft should immediately be removed… ,” she said in a statement.

The minister further called for an investigation on why the air force was approached with a request to use the base.

She was informed about media reports on the clearance given to the aircraft during her visit to Ethiopia. When she returned on Wednesday she asked for an urgent briefing from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).

She said the international relations and co-operation department had agreed to the Indian High Commission’s request for the use of the base.

“The SA Air Force therefore dealt with the request as a normal process that has always applied when (the department ) makes such a determination and direction.”

Initially a representative from the Gupta-owned Sahara Computers approached the defence department for help with the Indian High Commissioner’s request for use of the base.

“This request for assistance was rejected, and since it was not even formalised, the ministry considered the matter closed. It had been our advice that the Airports Company SA was best placed to assist.”

She said against expectation attempts were then made to secure use of the base using diplomatic channels at the international relations department.

The office of the chief of state protocol dealt with the commissioner’s request without consulting the chiefs of SANDF or air force, or the defence ministry.

“The ministry of defence and military veterans would never have approved such a request… ,” she said.

On Thursday, the international relations department said the Chief of State Protocol, ambassador Bruce Koloane, was placed on suspension while it conducted its investigation.

The Gupta family, which owns The New Age newspaper and Sahara, is celebrating the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, to Indian-born Aaskash Jahajgarhia at Sun City, North West. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-Taxi Owners in Taung launched new association to have a strategic plan in taxi industry around the area.

The launch took place yesterday at Taung Conventional Resort and it was unveiled by new chairperson Mr Gaanakgosi Motsage.

The chairperson of Taung Local & Long Distance Taxi Association (TALLTA) said the formal structure will bring economic growth.

“TALLTA organisation will provide assistance to taxi drivers and owners in the area. The problems that will be encountered by taxi drivers and owners, will receive assistant from the organisation” Gaanakgosi Motsage said during the launch.

Some of taxi drivers welcomed the initiative while others not quite sure if that will help.

Taung taxi drivers and owners went beserk early this year when the Greater Taung municipality shut down original taxi rank for renovations.

They accused the municipality of short-changing them.

They also said other motorists steal their commuters as the other makeshift taxi rank allocated to them is too small and far from the CBD.

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