Pretoria-Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela on Friday congratulated Mr Senzo Mchunu on his election and subsequent swearing-in as the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal last week, vowing to work together with him to entrench good governance in the affairs of the provincial government.

The Public Protector also extended a laudatory message to Mr Mxolisi Nxasana and Adv. Vasantrai Soni on the commencement of their service this week as National Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of Special Investigating Unit (SIU), respectively, following their appointments in August. She welcomed the appointment of Judge Bernard Ngoepe as the country’s first Tax Ombud.

“We pledge to partner with them on matters of mutual interest regarding the promotion of good governance in state affairs,” the Public Protector said.

The Public Protector recently signed a response protocol aimed at expediting investigation processes in cases involving high-ranking officials and office bearers in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government with former Premier, Dr. Zweli Mkhize.

The Public Protector has previously partnered with the SIU in investigations, and can, in terms of the Public Protector Act, refer matters to the National Prosecution Authority in the event her investigations point to the commission of criminal offences. She is on record encouraging organs of state to establish internal complaint-handling mechanisms such as sector-specific ombudsmen.

The Public Protector further bade farewell to Dr Mkhize and former Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr Andries Nel, who has since been appointed Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

“We’ve had a fruitful partnership against maladministration with Dr Mkhize and Mr Nel,” she said, adding that her office looked forward to working with Mr Nel and Minister Lechesa Tsenoli on local government matters.-TDN
Source: Public Protector’s Office
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A truck parked next to the road to deliver blankets

Potchefstroom – The social development department has started delivering blankets in the Tlokwe wards where by-elections are to take place later this month, the DA said on Friday.

“Only days after the (African National Congress) launched their plans for the final round of Tlokwe by-elections, the department of social development started its own vote-buying efforts,” Democratic Alliance constituency head for Tlokwe Juanita Terblanche said in a statement.

“The blankets were distributed from (an SA Social Security Agency) truck, coincidentally parked close to the home of an ANC councillor.”

She said sources within the department had alerted the DA about the blanket campaign, and that another food parcel handout campaign was to be held.

This is the third time the department has been accused of buying votes in the municipality ahead of a by-election.

However, the department continued to deny the claims and said the handing out of food parcels and blankets was part of its Project Mikondzo, a service delivery improvement initiative to improve access to the department and its entities.

DA MP Mike Waters has asked for an investigation into Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who has said she will look into the distribution of food parcels in Tlokwe.

Terblanche said it was not right for the government to use state resources to benefit a particular party’s campaigns.

“This blatant abuse of state resources for party political campaigning must end.

“It is indicative of the ANC’s desperation to regain Tlokwe,” she said.

Sapa

Johannesburg – Former National Youth Development Agency head Andile Lungisa and three others were granted bail in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Friday.

Lungisa, Thabo Shogolo, Xolisile Guquza, and Ursula Sali are accused of defrauding the arts and culture department.

Lungisa and Shogolo were granted bail of R10 000 each, while Guquza was released on R5 000 bail. Sali was released on a warning.

“The release comes with conditions. You have to hand in your passports to the investigating officer and you must not contact the state witnesses,” Magistrate Jeremy van Vuuren said.

“You cannot write letters, e-mails, sms’s, and when you see them on the streets you can’t shout at them.”

The matter was postponed to 30 October.

Lungisa and his co-accused were arrested on Friday morning on charges of fraud and money laundering. He handed himself over to police.

Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramaloko said the arrests related to R2.5m paid by the arts and culture department for the Nelson Mandela Sports Day concert.

The four allegedly lied to the department and promised they would have R Kelly perform.

At the time of the concert, the department said it had entered into negotiations with the promoter of the R&B singer’s recent tour to South Africa.

It was subsequently announced that the star was on the bill for the music concert that would follow the day’s sporting events.

However, it was discovered that R Kelly’s management had been unaware of the agreement, and he had departed the country as planned.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The South African education system was better before the advent of democracy, Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele said on Friday.

“The students of 1976 died fighting against inferior education, and it [education] is worse today,” she told students at the University of the Witwatersrand.
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Johannesburg – The Constitutional Court ruling against the criminalisation of sexual conduct between consenting adolescents was welcomed by Fedusa on Friday. For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – Four people, including a government employee who allegedly posed as an SA Revenue Service official, have been arrested for allegedly abusing the tax system, Sars said on Friday.

They were arrested last month, spokesperson Marika Muller said in a statement.
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Dikgacoi pulls out of Bafana squad due to injury

The Crystal Palace midfielder pulled a hamstring while training with his club Crystal Palace in England.

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund said he will not replace the player, and will now travel with 22 players to face the Lions of the Atlas in an international friendly match scheduled for Friday, 11 October 2013 in Agadir City.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 19h00 local time in Morocco (21h00 South African time).

Bafana Bafana depart for North Africa on Monday night (07 October) at 21h45.-TDN
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The African National Congress congratulates the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) in general and the South African Students Congress (SASCO) in particular on resounding and overwhelming victories recorded in the recent Student Representative Council (SRC) elections held around the country.
“The results of these elections have unequivocally debunked the myth spread by many that young people do not have faith in the Mass Democratic Movement and the African National Congress. In many campuses, SASCO and the ANC Youth League, contested and defeated those who posture as having the monopoly of the youth vote, particularly the middle class youth vote” ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said.
Mthembu said this notion has been rejected by the children of Mandela, sending a clear message that young people are secure in the knowledge that the true representative of their aspirations is the Congress Movement.
“We trust that never again, should others seek to speak on their behalf, calling them “born-free” with the intention to isolate them from the struggles of our people and our collective history” Mthembu outlines.
He also states that it is with pride that the ANC lauds this generation of the children of Mandela for explicitly making their voices heard through the ballot, reaffirming their conviction in the Congress movement in Universities such as Wits, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan (previously led by DASO). In the University of the Western Cape, young people have rejected the oft-touted myth that the DA delivers for all by conferring upon SASCO 100% of the seats available in the Council.
The African National Congress calls upon the PYA to consolidate their gains by closing ranks against opportunistic elements, displaying unity in action across all its components and serving young people with selflessness, diligence and distinction.
“We have no doubt the PYA will never betray the confidence the youth continues to have in the Congress movement” concludes Mthembu.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
North West-Police in Lichtenburg are investigating a case of rape following allegations that a police official stationed at Sannieshof raped a 29 year-old victim at Sannieshof on Wednesday between 02:00 and 006:00.
The suspected Detective Constable, 38, has been in the Police Service for eight (8) years.
According to information, the victim who stays in Hillbrow , Johannesburg came to Sannieshof to attend court on 2013-10-03 of her boyfriend who is in custody in Sannieshof on charges of Housebreaking .
“It is alleged that on Monday, the victim sent the investigating officer a text message that she wanted to speak to him in connection with the case. When she met with the Investigating Officer in Sannieshof, it is alleged that the Officer misled her into believing he was going to assist her with the case of her Tanzanian boyfriend” brigadier Thulani Ngobane said.
Information has it that he took the woman to his grandmother’s place where he allegedly raped her 3 times during the night. The official has not been arrested yet as he is still at large.
“It is also alleged that before the ordeal, the police officer had asked the lady for money to assist her with the case. The victim had R2000, 00 and the suspect said R2000, 00 that was not enough” Ngubane outlines.
The matter has been reported to the IPID and the Police would like the public to assist whenever they identify this constable.
The detective Constable is charged with 3X counts of rape.
Once the member is arrested and charged, he will be suspended, immediately without pay, once all has been verified.
“The North West provincial Commissioner has condemned the horrible act, and instructed the police to work hand in glove with the IPID to get this member arrested. The Provincial Commissioner said:
“We will never rest in our laurels as the Police management in this Province, until we clean all those hyenas that hid in the beautiful blue whilst they want to scavenge on innocent citizens and dent the good image of the Police” she said.
This matter has left the provincial commissioner dismayed and heartbroken, and said this should not deter the public from vesting their trust in the Police as thousands of men and women in blue are good cops.
“They should just work with us in cleaning the Police Service. Crime and corruption will not be tolerated and it remains our duty to protect the vulnerable and the weak, especially women and children” said the North West Provincial Commissioner.-TDN
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The North West Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison has intensified its fight against crime in the Dr Segomotsi Ruth Mompati by launching the second Community Safety Forum (CSF) in the District.

The Mamusa Local Municipality CSF is expected to lay positive results in consulting and engaging communities to come up with plans to fight crime in the area as one of the government priorities.

All relevant stakeholders are involved and will work hand-in-hand with police to ensure the safety of the communities particularly the vulnerable groups.

The Departmental MEC Nono Maloyi has assured communities, all stakeholders involved and the communities at large that doors will always be opened on advices relating to crime prevention.

“Fight against crime requires full cooperation, dedication and commitment from all of us. We must take responsibility of what is happening in our communities and work with our committed men and women in blue,” said MAloyi.

According to the police report, crimes such as housebreaking, lack of social order due to liquor consumption, assaults and rape cases have been recorded in and around the Mamusa area.

The CSF is intended to identify problems such as crime hotspots and remedial actions in order to fight all forms of crime.-tdn
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