Johannesburg – Cosatu General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi and his rape accuser will face off on Monday at an internal hearing, eNCA reports.

The woman, a mother of two, claims Vavi forced himself on her. He’s denied this, saying it was consensual sex.

“We all do these things in dark corners and when they come out lots of people are hurt,” the Sunday Times reported him as saying.

The 26-year-old woman said she believed the inquiry would get to the truth. 

She has not laid a rape charge against Vavi, but is now facing a criminal investigation herself, for allegedly trying to extort R2m from the Cosatu leader.

She claims it was Vavi’s wife who, after being made aware of the incident, allegedly suggested the rape accuser was entitled to a payoff. 

Noluthando Vavi, speaking to eNCA, categorically denied this.

And she is standing by her man.

“It’s sad and it’s unfortunate … But I have forgiven him because he came up very openly to me and he answered all the questions I asked him.

For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – Transport Minister Dipuo Peters says her department will forge ahead with its plans to implement e-tolling on Gauteng’s freeways once President Jacob Zuma has signed the tolling bill into law.

She denied that Zuma was delaying the signing of the transport laws and related matters amendment bill – which paves the way for the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to implement e-tolling on the province’s highways – because of next year’s elections. 

For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has alleged that the tax case against him is a politically motivated conspiracy run by a group of Indians ‘in bed’ with Afrikaners, the Sunday Times reported.

“I’m subjected to political persecution by political leadership led by [Finance Minister] Pravin [Gordhan], with his group of Indians,” Malema was quoted as telling the newspaper.

“It’s a small clique of Indians who are in bed with a group of Afrikaners in [the SA Revenue Service], and Afrikaners in the law fraternity.”

He reportedly claimed the “small group of Indians” had a “political programme” against him.

“The Afrikaner are [sic] pursuing a racial hatred against Julius and what he advocates for,” he was quoted as saying.

On Tuesday, Malema’s Polokwane house was auctioned.

Sars attached the property to recoup Malema’s R16m tax debt.

In May, Malema’s incomplete mansion in Sandton, Johannesburg, was sold at auction for R5.9m. His farm in Limpopo fetched R2.5m at auction in June. 

Several of his household goods were also auctioned earlier in the year.

Malema also faces corruption charges in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court. He is accused of making nearly R4m from corrupt activities, and is out on bail of R10 000. 

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A 22 year old young man was travelling in his BMW when it appears that he suddenly lost control of the vehicle. He crashed the vehicle into a wall of a building at the corners of Voortrekker and 8th and collided into four pedestrians which had been standing on the sidewalk at the time.

“Sadly, one of the pedestrians was allegedly killed as a result of the impact while the other three were treated for serious injuries including broken bones” Er24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said. 

“They received care by paramedics and were taken to hospitals in the area by ambulance” Jackson continues.

Er24 said the driver of the BMW stood no chance as his vehicle stood shredded at the side of the road, car parts strewn for a couple of meters down the road. 

“He had died as a result of the extensive injuries that he had sustained in the crash and he was declared dead” Jackson said.

At this time, investigations are still underway as to the cause of this horrific crash.

(Edited by Obakeng Maje)

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Pic: (By Obakeng Maje)
Johannesburg – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it has secured over 1 000 new members.

“We received 1 100 new members on the first day of recruiting,” said party leader Julius Malema at a media briefing in Soweto.

“If this becomes a trend then we will be getting 1 000 member[s] every day…it’s going to be bigger than what we expected.”

This exceeded their expectations, he said.

The EFF – which had gathered in Soweto for a two day national assembly – plans to contest next year’s general election.

Malema said the EFF would be officially registered with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Monday after a few amendments had been made, including changes to its logo.

The EFF logo depicted an arrow instead of a spear and this was to be changed.

Malema said the party would register with double the required number of members needed to contest the election.

“I was told by the IEC that we should have 500 members to register but we are going to register with 1 100 new members,” the former ANC Youth League leader said.

Malema is facing corruption charges in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court. 

Potential

He is accused of making nearly R4m from corrupt activities and is out on bail of R10 000.

He faces charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering and racketeering.

Malema acknowledged on Saturday that intimidation was part of politics, but expressed concern about the alleged intimidation of his members.

He said “people with pangas” had intimidated his members during an EFF meeting in the Vaal, but did not say when this had occurred.

He noted that intimidation tactics were worse in Mpumalanga.

“I am more worried about Mpumalanga because they have the potential to kill,” he said.

Malema also encouraged Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and his wife to stay strong amid the rape allegations against him.

Vavi’s lawyer Dup de Bruyn said earlier that a case of extortion had been opened against a woman who allegedly tried to blackmail Vavi.

Malema said he expected Vavi’s wife to stick by his side and not allow “his detractors any room for joy”.

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