Johannesburg – South Africa has not fully reversed the damage done by the Natives Land Act, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

“A great wrong was done, and now it is up to us to follow-up by doing a great right,” he said in a speech at a commemoration of the centenary of the 1913 Land Act.

“We are now in charge of our own destiny. We have achieved a successful transition to democracy, but we have not yet fully reversed the dreadful pattern of poverty and landlessness – the havoc created by the Natives Land Act,” said Zuma.

“Correcting the consequences of this act is a critical cog in the wheel of state. It is a crucial component in the National Development Plan.”

The act dispossessed land from black and “native” South Africans.

Zuma said it marked the beginning of the socio-economic challenges the country now faced.

“The act was enforced for 78 years until it was repealed in 1991, and during these many years it did enormous damage, so much so that despite 22 intervening years, the legacy of the act stubbornly persists,” he said.

“We take our hats off to the black people of this country and to the Khoi and the San people, for not allowing the pain of the past to stand in the way of building the present and the future.

“The pain of being driven off one’s land is worse than anything one can imagine.”

Land redistribution

Zuma said the government admitted that the land redistribution progress had been slow, and that the 2014 redistribution target would not be met.

Until now, only 6.7 million hectares of land had been transferred through redistribution and restitution.

“We call on all South Africans to commemorate this landmark, with a view to correcting the wrongs of the past and to reinforce reconciliation,” Zuma said.

“We urge the public to participate in the process of improving land redistribution and reform to reverse the impact of the 1913 act.”

– SAPA

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma on Friday told shack dwellers near Cape Town he was shocked to see the conditions in which DA rule had left them.

“When the DA speaks in Parliament they say things have improved,” Zuma told a crowd of a few hundred people in Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay.

“I came to see for myself, and I have been shocked to see my people live in these conditions.”

The president went from door to door, talking to residents at length, and repeated the exercise in the nearby fishing community of Hangklip.

Media were crowded out of homes he visited by a massive security contingent.

But staff reported that Zuma commiserated with neighbours of a woman who died days ago when her dwelling caught fire.

He asked another why the DA was in power there.

She retorted that she had voted for the ANC, and invited him to check on that.

An unemployed, but qualified nanny, Pumla, said she planned to vote for the ANC next year, and had come to see Zuma because his visit had brought some hope.

“It’s just promises probably, but even if the promise is empty you still want that hope,” she said.

ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza said the visit was part of the president’s grassroots campaign for the 2014 elections, now 10 months away.

– SAPA

Polokwane – Ten days will not be enough for the trial of fraud-accused Julius Malema and four others, the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court heard on Friday.

Defence lawyer Michele Gioia said the November dates proposed by the State would be opposed.

There would not be sufficient time to deal with the 60 witnesses and over 11 000 pages of evidence that could be necessary at the trial, he told the court.

Gioia also claimed that the trial date was illegally communicated and that the defence was not consulted.

Malema is out on bail of R10 000 and faces charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering, and racketeering.

His co-accused are his business associates Lesiba Gwangwa, Kagisho Dichabe, Helen Moreroa, and Makgetsi Manthata, who are out on bail of R40 000 each.

‘State wasting our time’

Prosecutor Billy Moalusi said it was the State’s duty to determine the trial period, rather than the defence’s.

Magistrate Mohamed Shaik gave the accused formal notice of the trial date, before the matter was adjourned to 14:00.

Earlier, Malema’s counsel accused the State of employing delaying tactics.

“The State is playing with time, they are wasting our time,” Tumi Mokoena told the court.

The State alleges Malema and the others misrepresented themselves to the Limpopo roads and transport department, leading to a R52m contract being awarded to On-Point Engineering.

According to court papers, Malema had business ties with Gwangwa, a director of On-Point Engineering. Malema’s Ratanang Family Trust was an indirect shareholder in On-Point.

The department paid the company R43m. According to the charge sheet, Malema substantially benefited from this payment, knowing the money formed part of the proceeds of crime.

All five have proclaimed their innocence.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Someone of Mamphela Ramphele’s calibre should be welcomed into South African politics, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said on Friday.

“…I have known Dr Ramphele for more than 30 years as a brave and principled leader who has been ready to take costly stands for social justice,” Tutu said in a statement.

“If Dr Ramphele formally enters the election race next year, and goes on to attract sufficient votes to become a parliamentarian, there is no doubt that South Africans will benefit from her experience and her knowledge, and from hearing her voice.”

He said a strong constitutional democracy was strengthened by the presence of vibrant and credible opposition.

Ramphele’s political platform AgangSA will be officially launched as a party in Pretoria on Saturday.

A climate of fear

Tutu said that although Ramphele criticised the African National Congress, as he had done, this did not mean she did not love her country or should lose the right to speak.

“Dr Ramphele has spoken of a pervasive climate of fear and intolerance in South Africa, where critics restrict their criticisms to their armchairs behind closed doors rather than risk their capital or their connections or their clout.

“If we have indeed become a nation that fears the consequences of not kow-towing to the government we have clearly taken a wrong turn somewhere,” he said.

Last month, in an opinion piece carried by the Mail & Guardian, Tutu said he would not vote for the ANC.

“I have voted for the ANC, but I would very sadly not be able to vote for them after the way things have gone.

“I am not a card-carrying member of any political party,” he said in the piece.

There was a need for change in the country.

On Friday, he said Ramphele’s voice was worth hearing.

“… I look forward to the contribution she will make towards building the society we know we can become,” said Tutu. 

SAPA

Polokwane – The resumption of expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema’s corruption case was delayed in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Friday morning due to a technical problem.

Proceedings could not begin on time because there was a problem with the power supply to the machine that records the court proceedings.

Around 08:30 it was decided that the case be moved to another courtroom.

Malema is accused of making nearly R4m from corrupt activities.

He is out on bail of R10 000 and faces charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering, and racketeering.

Dozens of police cars

His co-accused are his business associates Kagisho Dichabe, Lesiba Gwangwa, Helen Moreroa, and Makgetsi Manthata, who are out on bail of R40 000 each.

Malema arrived at the court on Friday morning, where Magistrate Mohamed Shaik is expected to hear further argument as to whether the case should be postponed or not.

Dozens of police cars were stationed outside the court.

The defence is applying for an early trial date and is expected to argue about the State’s failure to provide a date for the matter to be heard in the high court.

On Thursday, the State argued that there was no court order in place demanding a high court date.

The State and the defence teams argued for and against the matter being postponed on Thursday, when the court had been expected to transfer the case to the high court and set a trial date.

Dept paid R43m

The State alleges Malema and the others misrepresented themselves to the Limpopo roads and transport department, leading to a R52m contract being awarded to On-Point Engineering.

According to court papers, Malema had business ties with Gwangwa, a director of On-Point Engineering. Malema’s Ratanang Family Trust was an indirect shareholder in On-Point.

The department paid the company R43m. According to the charge sheet, Malema substantially benefited from this payment, using it to buy a farm and a Mercedes-Benz.

Malema allegedly did this knowing the money formed part of the proceeds of crime.

All five have proclaimed their innocence.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi allegedly covered up a report on apparent corruption involving its investment company to protect his ally, the Mail & Guardian reported on Friday.

The report by the Financial Service Board (FSB) apparently found cases of corruption, fraud, and money laundering involving the Congress of SA Trade Unions’ investment company Kopana ke Matla and Westside Financial Services.

The newspaper said two sources with insight into the report had confirmed that Kopana ke Matla conducted financial advisory services without approval in terms of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act.

The two people had told the newspaper the report recommended that criminal charges be brought against senior staff members of Kopana ke Matla.

One Cosatu leader said the report recommended the matter be reported to the Hawks for criminal investigation but Vavi did nothing about it.

Kopana ke Matla had also been stripped of its licence to manage pension funds for workers.

The M&G said the report named Kopana ke Matla CEO Collin Matjila as contributing to the company’s woes.

According to the newspaper, Vavi and Matjilla were close allies and Vavi covered up the report to keep him safe.

Vavi allegedly knew about the report but chose not to share it with other Cosatu leaders.

Both Vavi and Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini declined to comment on the matter.

FSB spokesperson Tembisa Marele said: “What I can say is that the FSB did conduct an investigation which was presented to Kopano.”

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven could not immediately be reached by Sapa for comment on Friday. 

SAPA

Johannesburg – Flamboyant businessman Kenny Kunene lambasted President Jacob Zuma on Friday, calling him a “monster” and a “tyrant” in an open letter published on The Star’s website.

In the letter, addressed to Zuma, Kunene said: “In public you smile and laugh, but in truth you behave like a monster, a tyrant who will target perceived enemies ruthlessly, and because of that fear few dare to speak openly.”

Kunene wrote that he had supported Zuma before he ascended to the presidency, but was now disillusioned with his leadership.

“I’m writing this because I’ve never been more disappointed with the ANC you lead.

Credibility

“…Mr President, I don’t want to be one of those who tell you in fear that you have clothes on, when it’s obvious you are completely exposed,” Kunene said, referencing the fairy tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.

He said Zuma’s relationship with the Gupta family and the recent wedding scandal, and controversy surrounding spending on Zuma’s lavish household at Nkandla, detracted from the president’s credibility.

“The Gupta issue alone should be the last straw for many South Africans,” Kunene wrote.

“But the extent of how much the Gupta family controls you, and by implication this country, has not even begun to be understood.”

He said many people within the ANC were “terrified” to speak out against Zuma because they feared him.

‘Heartless’

“After the Shaiks and Julius Malema, the Guptas must know that you can drop them faster than they could drop your name. In your quest for self-preservation, you have become heartless.”

Kunene defended his own lavish lifestyle, saying that the money he spent was not taxpayers money.

“I love the ANC, or what it’s supposed to be, but I don’t love your ANC,” he wrote.

“For those of us who care, the question now is, as [communist theorist] Vladimir Lenin asked: ‘What is to be done?’,” Kunene concluded.

SAPA

Cape Town – A report on the multi-million rand upgrade to President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla residence has been declared top secret. 

Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi told Parliament this week that the document would not be made public as State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele declared the presidential task team’s report in terms of the Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS).

This means that not even Auditor General Terence Nombembe or Public Protector Thuli Madonsela will be able to see the report.

According to Eyewitness News, National Assembly speaker Max Sisulu has been waiting three months for Nxesi to table the Nkandla report.

Sisulu’s understanding was that the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, which meets behind closed doors, would deal with sensitive parts related to security but that parts dealing with construction, over-charging and other possible fraud or corruption could be referred to other committees that are open to the public. 

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said the MISS had been created by Cabinet but never passed through Parliament and thus cannot be considered law. 

Mazibuko told the Cape Times that the DA would table a motion in the joint standing committee of intelligence for the report to be sent back to Nxesi.

“The minister must thereafter submit to Parliament a redacted report, which must be made public before the relevant, open portfolio committees.

“The minister must also submit copies… to the public protector and the auditor-general.”

Speaking to Talk Radio 702 on Thursday, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said he hoped the details of the spending on Nkandla would be released to the public soon.

“There are further investigative processes and from a government point of view we want to know who overcharged, to what extent and how do we recover the money. I hope my colleagues can give those facts to the public soon,” said Gordhan.

News24