Cape Town – The corruption of high-ranking officials proves that democracy is not immune from attack, author Frank Chikane said on Thursday.

“[In the past] there was a principle and we would refuse money meant to control you or influence you. And we were able to do that,” he told the Cape Town Press Club.

“Today, you produce money and people, well, become different human beings. And I think we never actually prepared ourselves for that.”

Chikane, who was director general in the presidency from 1999 to June 2009, said comrades during apartheid were seen as “angels” rather than “demons”.

“[We] made a fundamental mistake that we thought the angels will remain angels when they get to government,” he said.

“One day I’m going to write a book about the fragility of democracy because I’ve found out how vulnerable democracy can be, and how you can manipulate systems to produce certain outcomes.”

He said that without vigilance, the country was destined for a future where syndicates decided who was prosecuted and who was free from reproach.

Citizens should move away from becoming a lamenting generation that sat back and did nothing, and towards a people who thought of solutions and implemented them.

He cautioned those in power to move away from self-interest.

“The only way to ensure peace, stability and prosperity for all in the world… is the pursuit of common good of humanity. If it’s common good you won’t fight about it. If it’s about self-interest, you will fight about it.”

‘Corruption benefits a few’

Chikane clarified that he did not believe the general membership of the ANC was corrupt.

“By definition, corruption benefits the few,” he said.

Chikane has published two books – Eight Days in September and The Things that Could Not be Said From A(ids) to Z(imbabwe).

The first details the removal of Thabo Mbeki as president, while the latest gives his views on issues such as international diplomacy, HIV/Aids, and the Zimbabwe facilitation process.

Chikane was awarded the Nielsen Booksellers Choice Award on Wednesday evening for his latest book.

He denied claims that he was not a disciplined ANC member.

“Nobody has come to me and said you are wrong [about what you write].”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – South Africa has condemned violence used by Egyptian security forces to disperse pro-democracy demonstrations in Cairo and elsewhere.

“The tragic loss of Egyptian lives takes Egypt further away from the democratic aspirations as expressed by the millions of Egyptian voters last year,” the international relations department said on Thursday.

“The South African government calls on the Egyptian authorities to exercise utmost restraint in dealing with peaceful protests.”

It called on that country’s interim authority to end the violence against its own people, investigate unrest-related deaths, and unconditionally release all political detainees.

The department said Egypt had to launch a transition process, which would allow for the return to constitutional normalcy and democratic legitimacy.

“It is also incumbent on those forces responsible for law and order to protect civilians and prevent further bloodshed in Egypt,” the department said.

An Egyptian-led, inclusive negotiated process remained the only option for the country to move beyond its present impasse.

South Africa was ready to help Egypt through sharing its experiences and lessons from the transition from apartheid to democratic rule, the department said.

International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane had discussed the situation in Egypt with her peers on the sidelines of the current SADC summit in Malawi.

“Peace and stability in Egypt is crucial to the North African region and the African continent as a whole,” the department said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has been released of all his duties, the trade union federation said on Thursday.

Its executive said he had been put on special leave pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing relating to an affair he had with a junior Congress of SA Trade Unions woman employee.

“[Vavi] has been released from all his official duties as the general secretary during this period of investigation until such time that the outcome of the [disciplinary] hearing is known,” deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali told reporters in Johannesburg.

“He’s suspended in terms of given leave… any employee of any organisation, when you are suspended, then there are arrangements made in terms of coming to a work place.”

Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini announced earlier that Vavi at been placed on special leave after a special central executive committee (CEC) meeting.

Full investigation

“After lengthy discussion, the [CEC] meeting agreed to conduct a full investigation into the allegations and to ask both the general secretary and the staff member to attend disciplinary hearings,” Dlamini said.

“The meeting insisted that everybody involved must be treated equally and that the process will be conducted in a free and fair manner, in full compliance with the Cosatu constitution.”

The hearing would be chaired by an independent person. Ntshalintshali would take over Vavi’s role.

Last month, a junior Cosatu employee accused Vavi of rape. He admitted to having a consensual affair with her. The woman subsequently withdrew a sexual harassment complaint against him. The CEC met in Johannesburg on Wednesday to decide on possible sanctions against Vavi.

Unconstitutional?

Earlier, National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) general secretary Irvin Jim said Wednesday’s CEC meeting was unconstitutional.

Jim said Numsa, a strong Vavi ally, was “feeling very bad about what has happened” to the general secretary.

Dlamini said it was agreed on Wednesday that the CEC meeting was properly constituted.

“The expressions of Numsa that, even after the meeting had satisfied itself that it was properly constituted… they remained convinced that it was not, is recorded in the minutes, but also is recorded that the meeting agreed that it was properly constituted.”

Dlamini said it was agreed that every individual involved in the matter had to respect Cosatu’s internal processes.

“[The] issues must only be communicated to media by national office bearers.”

Cosatu second deputy president Zingiswa Losi said a date for Vavi’s disciplinary hearing had not been set because the decision was taken late on Wednesday. A letter was only sent to Vavi on Thursday morning, before the news briefing, she said.

Four weeks

Regarding the length of Vavi’s special leave, Losi said the CEC decided that at its next meeting on September 16 a report should be ready.

“Which will then mean from now until that time of the central executive committee meeting it will be four weeks that we have to ensure that an independent… person or persons from outside the federation will be able to listen to the processes of that disciplinary hearing,” she said.

There had been claims by those supporting Vavi that the allegations against him were part of a political conspiracy and that people were trying to silence Vavi because he was too outspoken. Dlamini denied this.

“There is no way it can be a political conspiracy issue. We urge our members and leaders to contend with the fact that our duty as leaders, as affiliates, is to work internally and strengthen the federation.”

He denied claims that Cosatu was imploding.

“Our focus is to ensure there is no split in the federation… [it] becomes more and more critical.”

Johannesburg – Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has been released of all his duties, the trade union federation said on Thursday.

Its executive said he had been put on special leave pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing relating to an affair he had with a junior Congress of SA Trade Unions woman employee.

“[Vavi] has been released from all his official duties as the general secretary during this period of investigation until such time that the outcome of the [disciplinary] hearing is known,” deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali told reporters in Johannesburg.

“He’s suspended in terms of given leave… any employee of any organisation, when you are suspended, then there are arrangements made in terms of coming to a work place.”

Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini announced earlier that Vavi at been placed on special leave after a special central executive committee (CEC) meeting.

Full investigation

“After lengthy discussion, the [CEC] meeting agreed to conduct a full investigation into the allegations and to ask both the general secretary and the staff member to attend disciplinary hearings,” Dlamini said.

“The meeting insisted that everybody involved must be treated equally and that the process will be conducted in a free and fair manner, in full compliance with the Cosatu constitution.”

The hearing would be chaired by an independent person. Ntshalintshali would take over Vavi’s role.

Last month, a junior Cosatu employee accused Vavi of rape. He admitted to having a consensual affair with her. The woman subsequently withdrew a sexual harassment complaint against him. The CEC met in Johannesburg on Wednesday to decide on possible sanctions against Vavi.

Unconstitutional?

Earlier, National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) general secretary Irvin Jim said Wednesday’s CEC meeting was unconstitutional.

Jim said Numsa, a strong Vavi ally, was “feeling very bad about what has happened” to the general secretary.

Dlamini said it was agreed on Wednesday that the CEC meeting was properly constituted.

“The expressions of Numsa that, even after the meeting had satisfied itself that it was properly constituted… they remained convinced that it was not, is recorded in the minutes, but also is recorded that the meeting agreed that it was properly constituted.”

Dlamini said it was agreed that every individual involved in the matter had to respect Cosatu’s internal processes.

“[The] issues must only be communicated to media by national office bearers.”

Cosatu second deputy president Zingiswa Losi said a date for Vavi’s disciplinary hearing had not been set because the decision was taken late on Wednesday. A letter was only sent to Vavi on Thursday morning, before the news briefing, she said.

Four weeks

Regarding the length of Vavi’s special leave, Losi said the CEC decided that at its next meeting on September 16 a report should be ready.

“Which will then mean from now until that time of the central executive committee meeting it will be four weeks that we have to ensure that an independent… person or persons from outside the federation will be able to listen to the processes of that disciplinary hearing,” she said.

There had been claims by those supporting Vavi that the allegations against him were part of a political conspiracy and that people were trying to silence Vavi because he was too outspoken. Dlamini denied this.

“There is no way it can be a political conspiracy issue. We urge our members and leaders to contend with the fact that our duty as leaders, as affiliates, is to work internally and strengthen the federation.”

He denied claims that Cosatu was imploding.

“Our focus is to ensure there is no split in the federation… [it] becomes more and more critical.”

Ajax Cape Town have announced that Khama Billiat’s proposed deal to Mamelodi Sundowns is off.

The two clubs agreed terms for the transfer of the Zimbabwean attacked last week, but the Urban Warriors have now decided to pull the plug.

“Eight days ago Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns agreed on terms for the transfer of Billiat to the Pretoria based outfit, subject to the player agreeing on personal terms with the club,” Ajax director Ari Efstathiou is quoted on the club’s Facebook page.

“We agreed to extend the time limit for the transfer to take place, however no agreement was reached at the set deadline. The deal is now considered cancelled.”

That will be music to Orlando Pirates’ fans ears, with the Buccaneers seemingly the player’s preferred destination in any case.

For more http://www.kickoff.com

Cape Town – Portable toilet tanks used in protest action for flush toilets, are being stolen at night while residents sleep, DA MP Masizole Mnqasela has alleged.

This was supported by Mayco member for utility services Ernest Sonnenberg, who said the city had received reports from contractors about missing portable toilet containers. But the group that organises these protests has denied stealing the containers.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Durban – Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a shop owner in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Thursday.

The men were taken into custody on Tuesday evening after a man was shot dead at his shop in Anton Lembede Street, said Colonel Vincent Mdunge.

Apparently he had multiple wounds and he was taken to hospital where he was dead on arrival.

The men, 34 and 35, were caught on the N3 near Berea Centre after a police chase.

Police recovered six cellphones and a car, said Mdunge.

“It has also been established that one of the suspects was wanted in Pretoria in connection with the murder of his brother.”

They would appear at the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Sapa

Cape Town – The indictment in the Thandi Maqubela murder trial is to be amended to “better serve” the proper administration of justice, the Western Cape High Court ruled on Thursday.

Maqubela is accused of murdering her husband Patrick Maqubela, who was an acting judge in the Western Cape High Court at the time of his death in June four years ago.

She is on trial with a business associate Vela Mabena.

Both have pleaded not guilty before Judge John Murphy.

Maqubela alone faces two additional charges – forgery and fraud – relating to her husband’s will which she is alleged to have falsified and presented at the office of the Master of the High Court in Johannesburg.

Currently, the indictment alleges that Maqubela and Mabena

caused the death of the judge by suffocating him with a piece of plastic clingwrap placed over his face.

The judge ordered the indictment to be amended so as to allege, in the alternative, that death was caused if not by strangulation then by means unknown to the prosecution.

The judge said the amendment would not jeopardise the two accused in any way.

The amendment would serve the proper administration of justice, he said.

It was the court’s duty to reach the truth of the matter to the best of its ability.

Murphy disagreed with defence counsel Marius Broeksma’s contention that the amendment would render the indictment “vague and embarrassing” Äterminology often used by defence lawyers to have criminal charges “thrown out”.

Murphy said the amendment to the fraud and forgery charges would also not jeopardise Maqubela’s defence.

Instead, it would merely serve to elaborate on the details.

Because of the amendments he would readily grant both the prosecution and defence teams permission to reopen their respective cases to place further testimony before the court.

Any such applications had to be brought before the presentation of closing arguments, the judge said.

The case was postponed to Tuesday.

Sapa

Potchefstroom – A 23-year-old man has been arrested after the murder of an Ikageng, Potchefstroom, man in his home while he was doing laundry, North West police said on Thursday.

The killer apparently entered the victim’s yard and stabbed him in the neck on Wednesday afternoon, Sergeant Kealeboga Molale said.

“The deceased was found lying in a pool of blood by neighbours, who alerted paramedics. He was declared dead on the scene.”

The arrested man would appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Friday on murder charges.

Sapa