Johannesburg – Gauteng deputy police commissioner Major General Phumza Gela is back at work despite his suspension, the SA Policing Union (Sapu) said on Wednesday.

“The union is of course shocked that Gela is back at work,” spokesperson Oscar Skommere said.

He said Sapu learnt through its members that Gela had been back at work since Friday.

“We are trying to understand this because the allegations levelled against him were very serious.”

Skommere asked why Gela’s suspension was publicly announced, yet his reinstatement was not.

“We are seeking a meeting with the national [police] commissioner to try and understand this.”

Police spokesperson Phuti Setati said he was not aware of Gela being back at work, adding he would look into the matter.

“As a result I cannot comment.”

Gela was suspended along with four other high-ranking officials and military personnel over the landing of a privately chartered plane at Waterkloof Air Force Base, a national key point, in Pretoria on 29 April.

The plane, chartered by the Gupta family, was carrying 270 wedding guests.

They were attending the wedding of Vega Gupta and Indian-born Aakash Jahajgarhia at Sun City.

The landing sparked widespread criticism.

Suspensions

The other suspended officials were: the Chief of State Protocol ambassador Bruce Koloane, SA Air Force command post Brigadier General L Lombard, Air Force Base Brigadier General TS Madumane, and Movement Control Officer Lieutenant Colonel C Anderson.

In addition, the Tshwane metro police department suspended eight officers for allegedly escorting and providing unofficial security to the wedding guests.

A team of directors general investigated the landing.

A report was handed to Justice Minister Jeff Radebe on Tuesday.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Rustenburg-Police arrested two suspects aged 18 and 29 for allegedly being in possession of illegal copper cables yesterday at about 15:00 in Rustenburg.

Police said they were on patrol and conducting a stop and search operation around Rustenburg East, when they spotted a white Ford Bantam bakkie that appeared to be carrying a very heavy load at the back.

“Police stopped it and allegedly found a big copper cable hidden under a blanket” sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said. 

“It is alleged that the two suspects could not produce the necessary documents on request” she said. 

The suspects told the police that they were hired by a certain man known to the police, to transport the cables to Derby where they will be paid two thousand rand on delivery.

“The suspects agreed to take the police to a house where they have loaded the copper cable. On arrival, police discovered more copper cables estimated to the street value of R280 000 hidden at the back of the house”.  

“Both suspects were arrested and charged with illegal possession of copper cable” Moiloa said. 

They are expected to appear before the Rustenburg Magistrate’s court soon.

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North West – The wildcat strike at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, North West, continued on Wednesday, with workers demanding that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) leave the premises.

Workers associated with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) went on strike on Tuesday, demanding that the NUM’s offices at the mine be shut down with immediate effect.

At Lonmin’s platinum mine in Karee, near Marikana, workers stood in groups. Some of them were wrapped in blankets, and others carried knobkerries.

Worker Amos Maja said they wanted the NUM to leave the mine premises.

“The NUM must do the honourable thing and leave in peace,” he said.

On Tuesday, Amcu branch chairman Mceli Balimani said Lonmin had refused to close the NUM’s office, and had said the NUM had been given notice to vacate the office by July 3.

Striking workers agreed at a meeting at the Wonderkop stadium on Tuesday that they would report for duty, but would not go underground.

“We want to stop ‘amagundwane’ (rats) from going down,” Maja said.

A group wielding knobkerries stood at the entrance to the Marikana West township, near the Karee mine.

“We are going there [to the shaft]. It is not yet over,” said one of them.

In a list of grievances submitted to their leaders, Amcu members demanded an investigation into what they termed fraudulent membership of the NUM, and that the police arrest NUM members who they alleged carried weapons on mine premises.

They also wanted Lonmin to sign a recognition agreement with Amcu as the majority union.

Workers were expected to meet at the Wonderkop stadium later on Wednesday for a briefing by local Amcu leadership on progress made negotiating their demands.

Lonmin spokeswoman Sue Vey said there were no operations at the mine on Wednesday.

“Everything has come to a halt. Management is meeting with unions as we speak.”

Brigadier Thulani Ngubani said no incidents had been reported at the mine.

Marikana was the centre of a wildcat strike in the platinum belt last year, with 44 people killed – 34 of them at the hands of the police – in strike action. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

PRETORIA – Over the past few months, concerns have been raised about the practices of certain unscrupulous firearms dealers, who are not complying with the provisions of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).  

 

“The practice within the firearm dealership fraternity is to collect payment, from an applicant for a competency certificate and a licence for a firearm for self-defence purposes, as a deposit pending the processing of the licence application” Minister Nathi Mthethwa said. 

 

The complaints relate to the following:

 

1. That certain dealers withhold either the entire or a portion of, the deposit paid by the applicant when the application is either refused or where the refusal is subject to an appeal.  

 

 

2. That certain dealers sell or dispose the firearm for which a deposit has been paid to another person while the application for a firearm is still pending.  

 

 

3. That firearms for self-defence purposes such as Norincos and Lorcins that have defects are sold or offered mainly to applicants who are members of the black population. 4. That there is collusion between certain firearm dealers with certain members of the Central Firearm Registry in the South African Police Service with the purpose of delaying the processing of the application for a firearm for self-defence purposes or the refusal of such application.  

“The above concerns are serious and cannot be brushed off lightly.  If proven to be true, they have potential negative indictment and impact on crime-reduction efforts” Mthethwa said.  

Minister said the proper, correct keeping of registers and the integrity of the Central Firearms Register are essential elements in a fight against crime.  

“As such, any lack of proper controls may lead to a proliferation of unlicenced firearms throughout the country.”

He outlines.

“In order to ensure that the provisions of the Act are properly complied with by the firearm dealers and that alleged malpractices do not take place to the detriment of applicants for firearm licences, I have decided to set up an independent investigation into the practices complained of is conducted,” stated the Minister. 

The terms of reference for the investigation will cover the following areas:

 

1. An investigation into the practices of certain dealers to trade in or sell  firearms that are reserved for an applicant for a firearms licence to another person pending the finalization of application for a firearm licence; 

 

2.An investigation into the circumstances or reasons behind the sale of a firearm that is reserved for the applicant for a firearms licence to another person pending the outcome of the firearm licence application; 

 

3.An investigation into the practice by certain dealers to sell or issue training certificates to applicants for a competency certificate to possess a firearm without proper training in the knowledge of the Act and the proper use of a firearm; 

 

4.An extent to which training certificates are issued by non-accredited training institutions; 

 

5.The compliance with criteria for the granting of accreditation to dealers and training institutions; and compliance with the conditions of accreditation; 

 

6.An assessment into the effectiveness of current policies, procedures and practices relating to the dealers and firearms training institutions; 

 

7.The language of instruction and its impact on the trainee with regard to proficiency in the use or handling of firearms and related matters; and 

 

8.Any other matter that affects compliance with the Act by dealers and training institutions.Minister Mthethwa’s decision to set up such a Committee is informed by the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000) which empowers him to make regulations on conditions which the Registrar of Firearms may impose on a dealer. 

 

The Act requires that any dealer in firearms must be issued with a dealer’s licence in order to trade-in any firearm or ammunition.   

The Act also makes provision for the duties of dealers and under this provision, a dealer may trade in firearms or ammunition only on the premises specified in the dealer’s licence.

 

Dealers may not permit any person to trade in firearms or ammunition on his or her behalf unless that person is in possession of the appropriate competency certificate.  

They must also keep such registers as prescribed containing such information at the premises specified in the dealers licence.

The Committee will be headed by a Senior Counsel and three other members drawn from the legal fraternity.  The appointment process, including announcing the names of Committee chair and members, is at an advanced stage and will be communicated publicly in due course.

The Committee is legislatively empowered with the necessary powers and procedures to execute its mandate in accordance with the terms of reference.   

It will be given six weeks to complete its work from the time it commences.  The investigation will result in a written report to the Minister that incorporates findings as well as recommendations.

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THE scramble for ownership of South Africa’s tragic past – and the spoils that come with it – has begun in earnest.

The DA in Gauteng, led by members of its caucus in the provincial legislature, yesterday fired off a second salvo at the ANC, accusing it of failing to address the contentious and emotive issue of land reform.

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

After leaving the pitch in total disbelief a week ago following their disastrous league encounter against Ajax Cape Town, Kaizer Chiefs are looking to bounce back in style and wrap the Absa Premiership title against SuperSport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium tonight.

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

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-A case of a rape suspect who allegedly raped a 14 year-old Matlapaneng girl resumes today at Taung Magistrate Court.

Sokhupa, 23 was arrested last year after he allegedly forced himself on a teenager.

He was arrested and appeared before Taung Magistrate Court where his case was postponed.

He is expected to apply for bail today.

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By Obakeng Maje

Taung-A case of a rape suspect who allegedly raped a 14 year-old Matlapaneng girl resumes today at Taung Magistrate Court.

Sokhupa, 23 was arrested last year after he allegedly forced himself on a teenager.

He was arrested and appeared before Taung Magistrate Court where his case was postponed.

He is expected to apply for bail today.

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By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-A motion championed by the DA to open up the tender process of the Tlokwe municipality at the adjudication stage to the public, where referred back once again by the ruling party. 

This motion has been referred back several times in order to get comprehensive reports form administration.  It has once again been postponed to one of council’s portfolio committees that has only had a hand full of sittings since 2011.

 

“The Governance and Administration Portfolio Committee (GAPCOM) of the Tlokwe City Council is the mechanism where policy matters are traditionally discussed, but have been non-functional in this mandate” Johann Coetzee said.

 

“Justice delayed, is justice denied” outlines Coetzee.

 

The people of Potchefstroom have to wait a while before they can be present where tenders are awarded.  

Coetzee said They must wait for a transparent municipality.  

And they must wait before they are empowered to keep the municipality accountable.

 

The DA presses on the Governance and Administration Portfolio Committee to consider the motion with the necessary expediency and responsibility that the people of Potchefstroom deserve. 

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