Burgersfort – A woman was arrested in Burgersfort, Limpopo, on Wednesday in connection with the kidnapping of a 10-year-old boy, police said.

The boy was taken around 4pm on Tuesday afternoon near his home in Vergelegen village by a man who asked for directions, Colonel Ronel Otto said.

“A few hours after the boy was taken his parents received a text message demanding R10 000 for the child to be returned home safe,” said Otto.

The parents alerted police and an arrangement was made for the money to be paid into an account number provided by the kidnapper.

“Police arrested a woman at an ATM in Burgersfort trying to withdraw the money,” said Otto.

The boy was found unscathed near the ATM and police were searching for a second suspect believed to have been involved in the kidnapping.

Sapa

White River, Mpumalanga – A principal of a high profile private school in Mpumalanga has been fired after being arrested in connection with an international child pornography syndicate.

The man who cannot be named until he pleads appeared in the White River Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and was released on R1000 bail, a Sapa correspondent reported.

“Today, we have come up with an agreement to terminate his position in the school,” the school board announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The board said it regarded the allegation in the most serious light while respecting his constitutionally protected right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The accused, who is an award-winning author, has been headmaster at the preparatory school for the past three years.

The board described him as a man “characterised by exceptional professionalism,” who also enjoyed the respect of his teaching colleagues, parents and pupils alike.

He is suspected of being part of a syndicate, which includes five other people across the country.

A total of six professionals have appeared in courts throughout the country for child pornography.

The six included two teachers and a retired principal, a lawyer, a dermatologist, and a businessman.

Police spokesman Lt-Gen Solomon Makgale said the accused were arrested in Lichtenburg, Bloemfontein, White River, Douglasdale, Florida, and Potchefstroom.

“They are all suspected to have been involved in an international child pornography syndicate,” said Makgale.

Makgale said police were investigating whether the six were involved in distribution and manufacturing of child pornography, and if they were linked to an international syndicate.

At the weekend, police raided several homes in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Free State.

Among the items seized were 672 dvds, 22 memory sticks, eight laptops, two computer tablets, 39 external hard drives, and 25

books containing child porn.

The Times reported the case had links to Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Western Europe, and Australasia.

It reported that children as young as five were believed to have been groomed to have sex with each other and adults. The images were believed to have been generated overseas, and local police – with the help of their international counterparts – were investigating whether South African children were involved.

Their cases were postponed in court and they would appear separately on different dates in the next two months.

The Film and Publications Board (FPB) commended police for the arrests.

FPB acting CEO Jonas Phoshoko expressed disappointment at the fact that the crimes were committed by those who ought to be protectors.

“Looking at the profile of those arrested, it affirms that these crimes attract even the most trusted within society,” he said in a statement.

He hoped those found in transgression of the Film and Publications Act by being in possession, creating or distributing child pornography would be severely punished if found guilty.

Phoshoko urged parents to be vigilant and guard their children against potential abusers, both physically and on the

Port Shepstone – A minibus driver accused of killing mountain biker Burry Stander in an accident appeared at the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.

“The matter was postponed to 21 and 22 of October for trial,” KwaZulu-Natal NPA spokeswoman Natasha Ramkisson said.

Njabulo Nyawose, facing a charge of culpable homicide, was released on a warning.

Stander, 25, was cycling in Shelley Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast when he was struck by a minibus taxi Nyawose was allegedly driving on January 3.

Charges against him were reinstated last month after they were provisionally withdrawn. This was done for the directorate of public prosecutions to decide whether to prosecute.

Stander was fifth in the men’s cross-country race at the 2012

London Olympics. Four years earlier, at the Beijing Games, he finished 15th in the cross-country event.

Sapa

Johannesburg – The Constitutional Court will hear an application on Thursday for leave to appeal against a ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal authorising President Jacob Zuma to confer the status of senior counsel on practising advocates.

Urmilla Roshnee Devi Mansingh, a practising attorney and member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates (JSA), seeks an order declaring that Zuma’s power to confer honours in terms of section 84(2) of the Constitution does not include the power to confer senior counsel status on practising advocates.

The General Council of the Bar (GCB) and the JSA would oppose the application.

The status of senior counsel is conferred on an advocate by a sitting president, acting on the recommendation of the justice minister.

The case arose in the High Court in Pretoria where Mansingh brought an application that section 84 of the Constitution does not include the prerogative power to confer the status of senior counsel (commonly known as ‘silk’) on practising advocates.

Mansingh’s case was based on the grounds that the Constitution is intended to sever relations with the past, and as such the past practice of conferral of silk status as a prerogative power is of no importance.

The court should look to indications which compel a meaning of honours which deviates from the provision’s historical background.

Mansingh won in the high court. The GCB lodged an appeal at the SCA, which overturned the high court ruling in March.

The SCA found that section 84 allows Zuma to confer, as an honour, the status of senior counsel on practising advocates.

Mansingh will argue that the SCA lost sight of the fact that silk status is a certification of professional quality awarded by way of letters patent (a president’s written order) Ä not an honour.

Sapa

Parliament, Cape Town – South Africa’s rejection of military rule in Egypt is unlikely to change, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Wednesday.

Replying to questions in the National Assembly, Motlanthe said South Africa’s position remained in line with that of the African Union.

“South Africa continues to be guided by the AU Peace and Security Council and the AU High-Level Panel for Egypt,” Motlanthe said.

“We are informed that the AU remains engaged with all the parties to the conflict in Egypt in finding a sustainable resolution to the present political crisis in that country.”

ANC MP Tisetso Magama commended South Africa and the AU for their role in trying to defuse tensions in the North African country.

“However, we express concern on the matter of more than 900 people having died in clashes of violence in Egypt, mostly killed by their own government and of course the resultant destruction of property and churches,” Magama said.

Motlanthe said Magama’s sentiments were in line with the South African government’s.

Asked if South Africa would intervene, Motlanthe said: “As South Africa, we work through the AU high level panel which has been mandated by the AU to engage with all affected sectors of the Egyptian population to try and de-escalate tensions as well as to bring about peace.”

Motlanthe said though South Africa did not recognise the military regime, it had to engage it in efforts to find a solution to the crisis.

The deputy president could not indicate when the Egyptian Embassy in South Africa would be shut down.

“Once a coup happens in any country… because the situation is still very much in flux in that country, it takes a while for those relations to be severed completely and so the building and the staff will still be there,” he said.

“We still have our presence in Egypt. Our embassy is still there.”

Sapa

The ANC wished the country’s latest news network, ANN7, well ahead of its launch this evening.

“The ANC congratulates our country’s newest news network, Africa News Network 7,” said party spokesperson Jackson Mthembu.

“(We wish) the network well and trust that it will play a constructive role in our national discourse, exercising media freedom in a balanced and objective manner that supports and enhances our thriving democracy.”

ANN7, nicknamed Gupta TV, was scheduled to go on air on DStv channel 405 at 6pm. This would be the country’s third 24-hour news network following the launch of the SABC’s 24-hour news channel on August 1 and eNCA in 2008.

“As during the launch of SABC news channel earlier this month, the ANC therefore reaffirms its support for the expansion of views and opinions on the air waves and trusts that ANN7 will bring constructive, thoughtful and insightful perspectives into the public discourse,” said Mthembu.

Chantal Rutter Dros will host prime time shows, while Gerry Rantseli-Elsdon will host Vuka Africa and Jimmy Manyi will anchor a weekly talk show, Straight Talk, according to the channel’s website.

– Sapa

Johannesburg – Three students were stabbed on the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Polokwane campus this week, the institution said on Wednesday.

The attack on Tuesday was sparked by an argument related to student leadership elections held on campus, TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said in a statement.

The injured students received treatment at a local hospital and were discharged.

“The alleged perpetrator, who was assaulted by bystanders, has been apprehended and is currently under police guard in hospital. The [police have] already launched an investigation into the matter,” De Ruyter said.

The university instituted an internal investigation.

De Ruyter said the institution was weapon-free and had security measures in place to ensure the safety of staff and students.

– SAPA

Cape Town – Procurement contracts worth over R1bn in Limpopo are being probed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Parliament’s finance select committee was told on Wednesday.

SIU officials and public service and administration department (DPSA) officials briefed the committee on progress made in probes instituted after national government took over the running of five departments in the province in December 2011.

The departments were education, health, public works, treasury, and roads and transport.

“We are currently investigating 18 procurement contracts which is to the value of R1bn,” SIU programme manager Leonard Lekgetho told MPs.

The biggest contracts under scrutiny were in the health department.

Four cases were under investigation in the department where officials allegedly flouted procurement laws.

“The value of those four matters amounts to [over] R900m,” Lekgetho said.

Five cases were being investigated in the education department, one in the treasury, five in the public works department, and three in the roads and transport departments.

On the non-disclosure of business interests, the SIU initially identified 302 cases.

“Currently as we speak, 41 cases have been referred to the DPSA for institution of disciplinary action against the members,” Lekgetho said.

Another 48 cases were in the process of being referred to the DPSA for disciplinary action.

“Investigations where we could not find anything are 114. Disciplinary cases completed by departments were 13 and cases where we did not investigate were 86.”

Suspected misconduct

MPs were unhappy at the pace of action against those suspected of misconduct and criminal behaviour.

DPSA official Mamodupi Mohala-Mulaudzi disagreed, saying progress was being made.

A total of 88 cases were referred to the DPSA by both the SIU and forensic firms who were contracted to probe financial irregularities.

Of those charged, 44 were in senior management positions, while 44 were junior staff members.

Two heads of department were given precautionary suspension letters and charged with wrongdoing.

Their disciplinary cases were set to start in September and October.

They remained suspended on full pay.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The Congress of SA Trade Unions needs to focus on its principles, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Wednesday.

“Once you close your eyes to those fundamental principles you are going to see the battles that are running now,” he told Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) members at their 2nd national political school in Benoni, east of Johannesburg.

“Those battles are a function of many things.”

Mantashe said one of those things was the development of personalities in the trade union federation.

“When you begin to worship individuals then you are going to kill the thing [Cosatu].”

Divided

Cosatu has been divided following allegations of rape against its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, and his suspension. Cosatu announced on Thursday that Vavi had been put on special leave pending outcomes of a disciplinary hearing into an affair he had with a junior employee.

On Friday, Vavi vowed to challenge his suspension.

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.

Cosatu affiliates such as the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the Food and Allied Workers Union have backed Vavi.

The unions have called for Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini to be removed from his position after he made comments saying damage had been done to Cosatu. They also claim the special central executive committee meeting which suspended Vavi was not constituted properly.

Numsa, Cosatu’s biggest affiliate, said it had lost faith in Dlamini and that he was not representing all Cosatu affiliates.

Fundamental principles

Mantashe on Wednesday said Cosatu needed to appreciate the fundamental principles and focus on its responsibility to workers.

“You gave power to general secretaries and killed worker control,” he said.

“Once you do that you tamper with the content and nature of the trade [union] movement,” he said.

– SAPA

The North West health department has received a clean audit from the Auditor General for the 2012/13 financial year, it said on Wednesday.

“The achievement happened after a vigorous fight to address all the reported findings that led to qualification last financial year (2011/12) and effective implementation of the audit recommendations,” spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane said in a statement.

Problems, such as payment of creditors, procurement and management of contracts, and unauthorised expenditure, were highlighted by Auditor General Terence Nombembe for the 2012/13 year as needing urgent attention.

Lekgethwane said these problems were being addressed.

“Extensive resources have now been put behind payment of suppliers, especially pharmaceutical supplies, since they are the biggest consumer of the departmental allocation.”

The department has been allocated R7.6 billion for the 2013/14 financial year.

Sapa