The Democratic Alliance says it will write to the Portfolio Committee of Justice and Constitutional Development to seek clarity about the move by the National Prosecuting Authority to redeploy prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach.

On Thursday, the NPA wrote a letter to Breytenbach advising her that she will be moved from the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit to the office of the acting National Director. The latest development comes after Breytenbach was acquitted of all charges by an NPA disciplinary hearing.

The main charge against Breytenbach was failing to act impartially when she investigated the Kumba Iron Ore/Sishen and Imperial Crown Trading mining rights issue.

The DA is fuming over the move by the NPA to redeploy graft buster, Glynnis Breytenbach.

The parties’ Debbie Schaffer says: “The DA is extremely concerned at the latest development given that Glynnis Breytenbach was involved in high profile and controversial cases”.

The move to redeploy Breytenbach came just a day after the NPA filed a motion of notice with the Labour Court, seeking an order that will see the senior prosecutor fired. Constitutional law expert, Professor Shadrack Gutto, believes the NPA has no case against Breytenbach, “I think it’s going to be very difficult case for the NPA”.

In the latest development, Breytenbach’s lawyer says the NPA is pursuing more investigations against her.

For more sabc.co.za

Journalists who have been parking their cars opposite the main entrance of a Pretoria hospital where former president Nelson Mandela is being treated, have been told to find alternative spots.

This as Mandela spends his 8th day in hospital where he is being treated for a recurring lung infection.

Tshwane metro police officers have told journalists that they have received instructions from their directors that no one should be allowed to park opposite the main entrance on Park Street, an entrance mostly used by Mandela’s visitors.

Meanwhile, security continues to remain tight at both entrances of the hospital.

President Jacob Zuma visited the statesman on Thursday night, but it is understood that no-one saw him arrive or leave the hospital premises.

After visiting Madiba, Zuma released a statement appealing to people to keep Madiba in their thoughts and prayers.

Madiba was admitted on Saturday last week to treat a recurring lung infection.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Deputy minister of Military Veterans, Thabang Makwetla says his ministry has budgeted R300 million to honour and support the families of all fallen struggle heroes in the country.

Makwetla was speaking at Freedom Park in Pretoria, where he handed over the remains of the ten MK members, who died during the struggle in the 1980’s, to their families.

“As the leadership of ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe, we are here to be reminded that true patriotism in South Africa is actually of very quality because those have set the standard so high that when we talk of patriotism we are talking of individuals who are prepared to give their all for the good of all South Africans”, said Makwetla.

The remains of the 10 Umkhonto we Sizwe veterans, who were handed over to their respective families in Pretoria on Friday, will be reburied at their respective homes across the country on Saturday.

Some of the activists were killed in the Battle of Mutale near Thohoyandou in March 1988. Others include the Mofolo 3, who were killed in the operation that was run by Soweto security police who disguised themselves as MK members in Soweto in July 1989. Dumisani Nkabinde is a member of the Nkabinde family who was amongst the recipients of the remains.

“It has been 25 years, we have been looking, lot of things has happened, people have been born and also died , people who were supposed to be with us right here, right now. I feel that we should give thanks to organisations and the people, I think they have been brought home eventually”.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Johannesburg – Nelspruit Medi-Clinic will appeal against a decision by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria that it was liable for damages suffered by a man who was admitted in hospital with malaria, the Citizen reported on Saturday.

George Vermeulen, 45, of White River, was admitted to the hospital in a critical state in May 2007, after being diagnosed with malaria following a trip to Mozambique.

He developed pressure sores on his heels and his lower back. A septic wound formed on his lower back that was so large his doctors could put a fist inside it.

Judge Billy Mothle granted Medi-Clinic leave to appeal against his ruling last year.

He had ruled that the hospital was liable for the injuries sustained by Vermeulen, due to negligence of the hospital and its nursing staff.

Vermeulen instituted claims for damages of almost R4m for his pain, suffering, disability and medical costs.

Mothle said the matter was of substantial importance to Medi-Clinic as it affected the conduct of its business in various other hospitals with the potential to attract liability claims.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Three men were arrested on Friday after an armed robbery in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

A 10-man gang attacked security guards dispensing cash at a pension payout point at 09:15, said police spokesperson Jay Naicker.

“One security guard was shot and injured, and the suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot to a… bakkie, which is presumed to be their getaway vehicle,” he said.

Police, responding to the robbery, saw the bakkie and gave chase, returning fire when the robbers shot at them.

The robbers then abandoned the car and got into a minibus taxi.

“The police continued pursuing the robbers [who were] in the… minibus taxi, and the gun battle between the police and robbers continued,” said Naicker.

The taxi stopped and two men got out and opened fire on the police with automatic weapons.

Police returned fire and arrested both men.

One of them was wounded. The other was unharmed.

The police seized two rifles, an Uzi submachine gun and a money box.

They also confiscated the bakkie and another car believed to have been used in the robbery.

They continued pursuing the minibus taxi, which was stopped in Shongweni.

“The driver was arrested in Shongweni and was found in possession of a shotgun,” Naicker said.

“The police recovered some of the money boxes inside the [minibus taxi]. The security guard shot by the robbers was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.”

Bakkie reported stolen

Naicker said it was later established that the bakkie used by the robbers was reported stolen in Phoenix earlier in the week.

He said the firearms seized would be sent for ballistics testing to determine whether they had been used to commit any other crimes.

The wounded robber was under police guard in hospital.

He and the other two men arrested would be charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and theft of a motor vehicle.

They were expected to appear soon in the Mpumalanga Magistrate’s Court.

– SAPA

Soweto – President Jacob Zuma hit out at critics of his ANC government as he went on the campaign trail on Friday in Soweto ahead of 2014 elections.

Zuma went door-to-door in Orlando, a day after he visited Nelson Mandela in hospital.

Zuma used the occasion to slam critics who allege he has mismanaged the economy and allowed labour unrest to fester.

He launched a robust defence of his administration, accusing people of forgetting the scale of the problems he faces.

“They’ve forgotten that this government is trying to fix problems that have been there for centuries,” Zuma told students at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus.

Schoolchildren and university students sang songs wherever he went, waving ANC flags.

“Get well, Mandela, get well!” was a popular chant as the country’s Madiba marked a week in hospital for a recurrent lung disease.

The DA, meanwhile, prepared for a big rally in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The ANC won 65.9% of votes in 2009 polls.

The DA took 16.7% in the previous national elections, but their representation in Gauteng province shot to over 33% in municipal vote in 2011.

The state looks set to be a battle ground at the next election.

AFP

Johannesburg – The Farlam Commission of Inquiry probing the deaths of 44 people at Lonmin Platinum’s mine at Marikana in August last year was adjourned on Friday, SABC radio reported.

The commission, sitting in Centurion, would resume on Tuesday.

On Friday, North West deputy police chief William Mpembe told the commission arrested miners were taken to premises offered by Lonmin for processing because the Marikana police station was undergoing renovations.

Mpembe said there was no electricity at the police station, and the police decided to use the facility offered by Lonmin.

The inquiry heard on Thursday that the police were told about the danger they would face at a hill in Marikana during the mining unrest.

Vuyani Ngalwana, for the police, read a statement by Warrant Officer Rapheso Masenya to North West deputy police commissioner General William Mpembe.

Masenya was part of the operations on 16 August and recorded events with a video camera.

In his statement, Masenya said he and his team were told by Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa not to get close to the protesters because they would get hurt.

Captain Dennis Adriao had told Masenya and his team: “You are being identified as police spies and you should withdraw from this place as miners said they would kill you.”

Masenya said he and his team, who were filming the scene, went back to the operations centre.

SAPA

JOHANNESBURG – The Springboks have paid tribute to former president Nelson Mandela, saying they’ll keep him in their thoughts when they take to the field on Saturday.

The Boks take on Scotland in the second match of their incoming tour.

Captain Jean de Villiers said the team is joining the rest of the world in wishing Madiba a speedy recovery.

“Madiba has done so much for this country and he’s an incredible person. From a Springbok point of view, all we can do is honour him as much as we can on the rugby field.”

The ailing statesman is spending a seventh day at the Pretoria Heart Hospital where he is being treated for a recurring lung infection.

Madiba’s daughters and several grandchildren visited him in hospital on Friday.

His ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is still by his side.

Madiba’s eldest grandson Mandla Mandela is visiting from the Eastern Cape, but it is unclear if he will visit his grandfather on Friday.

Earlier, religious leaders held a brief prayer service at one of the entrances of the facility.
They asked that the 94-year-old statesman be comforted during this difficult time.

Colourful posters with messages of support surrounded the entrance of the hospital.
For more ewn.co.za

Rustenburg – The families of mineworkers killed in a clash with police in Marikana will conduct a cleansing ceremony of the site, the Bojanala municipality said on Thursday.

The event was expected to be held on Monday afternoon at the hill where miners gathered before the shooting.

“Family members of the deceased and those who were injured, from as far as the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and neighbouring countries, such as Lesotho, Malawi, and Swaziland, are expected to attend the ceremony,” the municipality said in a statement.

“Religious leaders from different denominations will later conduct a spiritual cleansing ceremony processes, after the ritual and cultural activities have been earlier performed by the respective affected family members.”

Police shot dead 34 striking Lonmin mineworkers in Marikana on August 16. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.

Bojanala mayor Louis Diremelo said in the statement people needed to be calm and stable for the ceremony.

“Let’s peacefully allow space for families and relatives to perform what they believe will heal their scars and emotions created by this tragic incident.” – Sapa

Johannesburg – The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) decision to move prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach from its headquarters to the office of the director of public prosecutions “deserves an explanation”, the DA said on Friday.

“While we are not privy to the reasons for this move, it most certainly demands an explanation,” said spokesperson Debbie Schafer.

“If there was insufficient evidence to find her guilty of the charges she was facing, for what possible reason would she have been moved?”

According to SABC radio news, Breytenbach had been informed that she would be redeployed to the office of the director of public prosecutions in Pretoria and would no longer be working at the Specialised Crime Unit (SCU).

On Thursday, the NPA confirmed that it had filed an application for the Labour Court to review the outcome of a disciplinary hearing which cleared Breytenbach of all charges against her.

On 27 May, Breytenbach was found not guilty on 15 counts by a disciplinary hearing, which sat at the NPA’s head office in Pretoria.

One of the charges was that she failed to act impartially when investigating the Kumba Iron Ore/Sishen and Imperial Crown Trading mining rights dispute, because of “improper relations” with Sishen’s lawyer Mike Hellens.

Findings

After the findings at the disciplinary hearing were made known, the NPA said it found them “factually incorrect and legally unsustainable” and would approach the court for a review.

On Wednesday, NPA spokesperson Bulelwa Makeke, said in response to a question, that Breytenbach was at work but that the NPA would not discuss work matters in the media.

Schafer said she would ask Parliament’s justice portfolio committee chairperson Luwellyn Landers, to request the NPA to appear before the committee to explain the reasons for moving Breytenbach.

“The credibility of the NPA demands that answers be given in a public forum,” said Schafer.

– SAPA