Pretoria – The SA Navy is not adequately equipped, despite the multi-billion rand arms deal, the Seriti Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.

More vessels should be added to the national fleet, which currently includes four frigates and three submarines, Rear Admiral Robert Higgs said on his second day on the witness stand at the commission, sitting in Pretoria.

“In my judgement, the SA Navy needs more. It is often much better and cost-effective to buy new. The best deal for us would be to build local as [much] as possible. That would help stimulate the economy.

“I would say that [the current fleet] is exceedingly modest… Yes, we do need more.”

Higgs said navy ships were not primarily used for war, and had been deployed in several humanitarian missions, raising South Africa’s international relations profile.

Evidence leader Simmy Lebala asked Higgs whether other African countries had submarines and frigates. He asked the admiral to explain how the current South African warships were being used.

“Why do we have to behave like superpowers, given our limitations? The history of our country, socio-economic factors, surroundings, and the background inform us that our priorities are health, houses, feeding the poor, HIV and Aids,” Lebala said.

“Still, you want us to employ the military resources that we have on equating us to superpowers. Why can’t we be superpowers in our own right by focusing on economic issues?”

Higgs replied that the regular conflicts on the African continent were a clarion call for action.

“We end up with lots of other players being the players in our continent. I think we have done very well with what we have and with much more capability we could be in a position to help shape events on our continent, together with our African partners,” he said.

African solution to African issues

“We could be part of an African solution to African issues. It is much better for South Africa to play a meaningful role in our continent than to leave that open to people from outside the continent because we don’t have the capability.”

Higgs said all countries with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council had numerous submarines and frigates.

Focusing on the continent, Higgs said no other country in sub-Saharan Africa had submarines. Nigeria had “a significant-sized frigate vessel” and Egypt had submarines.

Earlier, Lebala asked Higgs about the rationale of buying high-tech military hardware in an African country riddled with socio-economic problems.

Higgs said South Africa was capable of balancing its needs perfectly.

“Chair, I believe South Africa can walk and chew gum at the same time. We are capable of doing both and it comes to balance. It’s a matter of looking at it and being smart,” he said.

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission, chaired by Judge Willie Seriti, in 2011 to investigate alleged corruption in the 1999 multi-billion rand arms deal.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The Proteas’ Management team has rounded off the CSA coaching conference on Thursday with an overview of the national team vision and strategy for the next few years.

The presentation, led by head coach Russell Domingo, was an opportunity to create synergy and a collective vision between the national set-up and the lower structures.

“The coaches attending the workshop are big role players for cricket in South Africa,” said Domingo, explaining the importance of information sharing.

“They develop the players who will one day represent South Africa, so it was important for us (management) to share our strategy and vision to make sure we are on the same wavelength.

“It was great to create constructive debate amongst the delegates and to get an understanding of the thinking of some of the top coaches in the country.

“If our domestic coaches have a better understanding of our expectations and requirements at national level, that can only bode well for the quality of players we have coming through.”

In addition, Domingo also touched on the current ‘healthy’ state of the Proteas Test squad and ways to maintain the No 1 ranking; the ODI squad and the expectations looking ahead to the 2015 World Cup, as well as the Blue Label T20 squad, which will be vying for an ICC World Twenty20 trophy in seven months’ time.

Proteas assistant coach, Adrian Birrell, addressed the delegates on the importance of leadership and the essential requirements of creating an enabling environment.

This followed an informative talk on Monday from Proteas’ bowling coach, Allan Donald, who gave input into harnessing skilled and equipped fast bowlers for the Test arena.
Source: http://www.news24.com

By TDN
Potchefstroom-In a blatant and defiant abuse of state resources the Department of Social Development ordered buses, exclusively for the use of ANC Women’s League members, to transport them to the Taung Women’s Day celebrations, DA said.
“These buses will leave tomorrow morning at 05:30 from Promosa and Ikageng. ANC WL members, from the 9 by-election wards, have been instructed to wear ANC WL apparel” Chris Hattingh said.
DA said Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini appears to be oblivious about the public outcry about her abuse of state resources.
“The DA will approach the Public Protector with a request to investigate the political abuse of state resources in the ANC’s Tlokwe by-election campaign” Hattingh said.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Cape Town – Woodstock police have released a photo of a man believed to have defrauded hospitals in Observatory of tens of thousands of rand 2011 and March.

Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said the man who impersonates a medical practitioner, defrauded one of the hospitals of R96 000.

“The suspect’s last known address in the Cape Town central area was visited, and a large quantity of medical equipment and doctors’ uniforms were confiscated” on July 9.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Durban – Two months after a Chinese woman was viciously murdered at her family business in KwaZulu-Natal, her grieving husband says he is no closer to finding out why she had to be killed.

Meimei Wang, 34, was strangled, stabbed 21 times and repeatedly hit over the head with a 9kg gas cylinder at the shop in Umzimkhulu on June 17.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Nelspruit – A warrant of arrest has been issued for a suspected rhino poacher who failed to appear in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Thursday, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Magistrate Eddie Hall issued the warrant for Zwelithini Maphanga, who was arrested along with Tshepo Malambe and Mike Mkansi on suspicion of illegally hunting a rhino in the Kruger National Park in 2011.

Malambe and Mkansi were present in court on Thursday.

Maphanga’s lawyer told the court he did not know his client’s whereabouts.

Hall said: “During the previous court appearance, Mkansi was not present. It seems the accused are taking turns being absent.

“Maphanga’s bail amount will now be forfeited to the State and a warrant for his arrest will be issued.”

Malambe was remanded in custody while Mkansi’s bail was extended with a warning that he appear again on September 16.

In a separate case in the same court, three suspected poachers also appeared on charges of illegally hunting a rhino.

Sifiso Lephoko, David Mawelele, and Daniel Dlamini were arrested in the Stoltznek section of the park in March 2011.

Prosecutor Isabet Erwee told the court that Dlamini and Mawelele were currently serving time for other crimes while Lephoko was on bail.

The matter was postponed to September 16.

In a third case, Jonas Makhubela, who was arrested for illegal hunting in the park early this year, told the court he was prepared to plead guilty.

Hall told him a legal aid lawyer has been appointed to help him with his plea bargain.

“Your attorney will assist you in the procedure to be followed and you should tell him everything you need the court to know regarding your case.”

The case was postponed to September 5 for the defence to prepare the confession statement.

Sapa

Potchefstroom – A senior police officer accused of stealing mascara from a shop in Potchefstroom was back in the city’s Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, police said.

The trial of Lt-Col Kenaleone Aggy Motloung was postponed to September 27, Captain Pelonomi Makau said.

She was arrested at a Clicks branch at the Mooiriver Mall on August 2 after allegedly shop-lifting two mascara units worth R130.

She was released on R500 bail on the same day.

Motloung – based at the crime intelligence unit in Potchefstroom Ä was off duty at the time.

Sapa

Johannesburg – The National Prosecuting Authority’s failure to hand over the so-called Zuma spy tapes would spark a constitutional crisis, the DA said on Thursday.

The party was waiting to see if the NPA would do the “right thing”, federal executive chairman James Selfe said in a statement.

“If we do not receive these documents tomorrow (Friday) and there is no appeal, the NPA will be in contempt of court. This would effectively plunge South Africa into a constitutional crisis.”

The tape transcripts and other documents relate to an NPA decision in 2009 to drop corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma.

The High Court in Pretoria on Friday ordered acting national director of public prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba to lodge a copy of the tapes with the registrar of the court within five days.

The ruling by Judge Rami Mathopo followed an application by the Democratic Alliance. The party wanted to overturn the decision, announced in April 2009, by then acting National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe to withdraw fraud and corruption charges against Zuma.

Selfe said Friday’s ruling was a victory for democracy, accountability and the Constitution.

“South Africa has the right to know if there was a case against President Zuma and if the decision by the NPA to drop the charges was politically motivated. The NPA will now have to answer for this decision.”

In March last year the Supreme Court of Appeal ordered the NPA to lodge the record with the registrar of the high court. The NPA refused to do so on the basis that it contained confidential representations by Zuma.

Mathopo ordered Jiba to comply with the SCA order and ruled that the record to be lodged include a copy and transcript of the electronic recordings Mpshe referred to in his announcement.

The record had to include any internal memoranda, reports or minutes of meetings dealing with the contents of the recordings or the transcript itself, insofar as these documents did not breach the confidentiality of Zuma’s written or oral representations.

With regard to the memoranda, minutes, and notes of meetings, Jiba was ordered to deliver copies to the DA’s Cape Town attorney within the next five days. Those parts of the document she considered confidential had to be marked.

The NPA and Zuma were ordered to pay the costs of the DA’s application.

NPA spokeswoman Bulelwa Makeke said on Thursday the NPA would only have an update regarding the handing over of the tapes on Friday.

Sapa