Johannesburg – Voters must help oust the ANC in next year’s elections, said Agang SA.

Mamphela Ramphele’s party launched its national election campaign in Johannesburg on Saturday

People had not had a more important opportunity than the one they had now, Ramphele said at the launch, according to a statement issued by Agang.

“The 2014 election is an opportunity to raise your voices and say no to the way the ANC is shamefully running this country,” she said.

Ramphele said the elections would give five million first-time voters a chance to exercise their civic right and to have their voices heard.

Describing the party’s new emblem she said: “Our colourful circle is inclusive of all the people of South Africa, where everybody is equal.”

“You will notice the colours of our flag, because we are proud of what South Africa was promised when it was designed and raised jubilantly from flagpoles across our country at the dawn of our democracy.”

She said the 11 triangles represented the official languages.

“Green is the colour of growth and represents our commitment to make sure we look after our natural resources so that we will always have clean water, good food and beauty – and there will be enough, for all, forever.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – EFF official Floyd Shivambu denied reports on Sunday that former ANCYL treasurer general Pule Mabe shared with him money he allegedly stole from the poor.

He was reacting to a report in Sunday World alleging that of the R2m allegedly fleeced from the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa), R30 000 was given to him.

The former ANC Youth League spokesperson said his legal representatives would write to Sunday World to ask for the withdrawal of the story and for the publication of a front page apology. If the newspaper failed to do so, he would take the matter to court.

However, Sunday World editor Marvin Meintjies said the newspaper would stand by its story.

“We stand by our story, which is based on documents compiled by the investigators,” he said.

“We are 100% convinced about the veracity of the documents.”

He said allegations that Mabe was the paper’s source were incorrect.

Mabe, who is a member of the ANC’s national executive committee, Paseka Letsatsi, Sassa communications head and Kabedi Ramosa appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Friday on charges of theft, fraud, and money laundering.

They had handed themselves over to the Sunnyside police station earlier in the day.

They were released on bail of R10 000 each and were expected to appear in court again on 13 February.

Shivambu said: “The police case against Pule Mabe does not mention my name as a beneficiary of the ‘stolen’ millions, instead [it] mentioned a number of recipients, most of whom are his private companies, his friends and family members, and the ANC Youth League, which he paid R100 000.

“The police case does not in any way suggest that I received R30 000 from Pule Mabe, including from the R100 000 of the ‘stolen’ money he paid to the ANC Youth League account.”

Shivambu said that if he did exchange any money with Mabe when he was treasurer general of the ANCYL, it was solely for organisational work.

Shivambu said he had retrieved bank statements online which confirmed he had not received R30 000 from Mabe.

“I believe that those who stole money should be held accountable and should not resort to desperate attempts to implicate others.

“The only other source of this misleading information is Pule Mabe, because he said that he will try to drag the leadership of the Economic Freedom Fighters into his private problems so that he can get some sympathy from his political associates and try to divert attention,” Shivambu said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Five men were arrested for stealing a trailer containing several tons of hand and body lotion worth R1.5m in Cleveland, Johannesburg on Sunday, Gauteng police said.

“This morning at around 02:00 a group of armed men held up a security guard at a logistics company in Cleveland,” said Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale

“The robbers unhitched a trailer carrying a container filled with hand and body lotion from the logistic company’s [truck] and connected it to their own before making their getaway.”

Following a tip-off, police went to a warehouse in Stormill, near the Johannesburg CBD, where they found five men off-loading the goods into smaller cars. The men were then arrested.

The five men were: the owner of the warehouse, the warehouse caretaker, a truck driver and two 25-year-old men.

“All five men are currently in police custody on possible charges of armed robbery and for being in possession of property suspected to be stolen,” said Makgale.

“They are all expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on [Monday].”

More arrests were expected.

– SAPA

Polokwane – Security will be tight at the Polokwane High Court, where EFF leader Julius Malema’s corruption trial is expected to start on Monday, Limpopo police said.

Police would monitor and patrol the area in and around the court, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

The city centre and Malema’s hometown of Seshego would also be monitored.

“The aim is to ensure peace and stability. No lawlessness will be tolerated and those who break the law will be arrested immediately,” said Mulaudzi.

Malema is accused of making nearly R4m from corrupt activities.

He is out on bail of R10 000 and faces charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering, and racketeering.

His co-accused are his business associates Kagisho Dichabe, Lesiba Gwangwa, Helen Moreroa, and Makgetsi Manthata, who are out on bail of R40 000 each.

The trial is expected to run until 29 November.

Mulaudzi said police would also monitor a night vigil by Malema’s supporters at Cosmo Leisure Lodge and Conference Centre in Polokwane on Sunday.

On Monday, streets around the high court would be closed to traffic from 06:00.

A supporters’ march was scheduled to take place on Monday from Oost Street down Bodenstein Street to the court.

– SAPA