Cape Town – A group of about 40 Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters are taking part in a protest outside Sanlam’s head office in Bellville, Cape Town.

It was unclear what the protest was about but Sanlam’s spokesperson Ainsley Moos told News24 that the company was asked to receive a memorandum from the group later on Tuesday.

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Johannesburg – It is most likely that the security cluster of ministers leaked the Nkandla report to the media, the EFF claimed on Tuesday.

“… It [leaking the report] benefits them in order to discredit the work of the public protector since it [the report] does not favour the president they so much fought to protect,” said Economic Freedom Fighters spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

The EFF condemned the ANC Youth League and the SA Communist Party for the quick insinuation that the provisional report was leaked by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

“Inasmuch as the leaking of reports should be avoided, it is simplistic and irresponsible to immediately insinuate that the public protector is the first suspect.

“If the office of the public protector gives courtesy and prerogative to affected parties to peruse her findings and recommendations on contents she will be publishing anyway, it is unlikely that it benefits her to leak the report.”

SACP wants probe into leak

The ANCYL said on Monday it seemed Madonsela had leaked the provisional report on her investigation into the upgrade at President Jacob Zuma’s private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal to the media.

The SACP said on Sunday an investigation had to be launched into the leaking of the report under Madonsela’s watch.

The Mail & Guardian reported on Friday that the leaked provisional report revealed that Zuma had received substantial personal benefits from the over R206m upgrade at his homestead.

While government had stated that the upgrades were essential for Zuma’s security, the newspaper reported that Madonsela found it to include a swimming pool, visitors’ centre, amphitheatre, cattle kraal, marquee area, extensive paving, and new houses for relatives.

Madonsela’s spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi said on Friday it was unethical and unlawful to publish the public protector’s provisional reports.

“It violates section 7(2) of the Public Protector Act 23, 1994,” she said in a statement.

Discrediting Madonsela

Ndlozi said the security cluster would leak the report only because it could not stop it from being published, thus providing grounds to discredit the public protector and politicise a simple case of corruption and nepotism; crimes Zuma was allegedly committing against the people.

“The apologists’ calls for investigations are also trying to position Zuma as the innocent, poor victim, which is consistent with how the man has managed to avoid accounting for his actions and answering to serious allegations of corruption in the past,” he said.

Ndlozi said society should avoid buying into the propaganda that Zuma was being targeted, or that he was an innocent victim.

“These are mere attempts seeking to divert attention from the critical questions on the table; the idea that a man in the highest office has been embezzling public funds for personal gain.”

He said the public protector had to be given space and time to release her findings and recommendations on the Nkandla investigation.

“Society must be defended from any attempts to delay and discredit the legitimate right to hear how the president of the Republic used public funds to upgrade his home and then falsely and knowingly claimed that it is for security enhancement.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Eighteen men arrested in connection with a dog fighting syndicate appeared in the Tsakane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, the NSPCA said.

The matter was moved to the Nigel Regional Court, where they would appear again on 20 January, National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) deputy CEO Este Kotze said in a statement.

The NSPCA was pleased with the decision to transfer the case.

“This means that upon conviction, an individual may be sentenced to a fine not exceeding R300 000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 15 years.”

She said lawyers representing the accused had argued against the move.

– SAPA

A man has been arrested for shooting dead a 6-year-old girl in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town, police said on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Andre Traut said the man fired three shots, one of which killed the girl and wounded a 4-year-old boy in the leg in Lentegeur on Monday afternoon.

An 18-year-old was also wounded and was taken to hospital.

“The motive is unknown,” said Traut.

The 23-year-old man would appear soon in court.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A patient is thought to have committed suicide by jumping from the seventh floor of the Helen Joseph Tertiary Hospital in Westdene, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, the Gauteng health department said.

Hospital CEO Dr Raymond Billa said nurses last saw the patient around 05:30 on Tuesday as he was going to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later they noticed he had not returned to his bed. They opened the bathroom door and found the window open, Billa said.

“As hospital staff searched for the patient a cleaner saw a body lying on the ground floor and immediately alerted the nurses and security.”

Police were called to the scene.

The man was brought to the hospital’s accident and emergency unit on Saturday after he was believed to have drunk herbal medicine and excessive alcohol at home, spokesperson Simon Zwane said.

He was resuscitated and also treated for organophosphate poisoning.

On Monday he was moved to a medical ward from the hospital’s intensive care unit.

The health department instituted an investigation into the apparent suicide, Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo said.

“This is a tragic incident that must be investigated in detail to provide us with full information about how it happened and whether it could have been prevented,” Papo said.

The patient’s family and staff would be offered counselling to help them deal with the trauma, Zwane said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A photographic portrait of former president Nelson Mandela has been sold for a about R2m, the charity 21 Icons SA Africa said on Tuesday.

The money raised would be donated to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital and the World Wildlife Fund.

The Mandela portrait was sold to a New York private art collector, who did not want to be named. The price was the highest ever fetched for a South African photograph.

“The portrait, by Adrian Steirn, depicts Nelson Mandela’s face reflected in a mirror and was the first of 21 signed portraits of iconic South Africans to be unveiled during the debut season of this three-year project.”

Photographer Steirn said Mandela’s pose in the portrait was intended to convey the 95-year-old former statesman reflecting on his life journey.

“As he reflects on his life, we reflect on his legacy and our future,” he said in a statement.

Portraits of retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former president FW De Klerk would be auctioned at an event in March 2014. The proceeds from these sales would be donated to charities chosen by those depicted in the portraits.

The art collector who bought the Mandela picture said: “In a single frame the photographer has captured the essence of dignity, principle, conviction and courage in this great man…”

The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital is being built in Johannesburg and is expected to open late next year.

Mandela’s granddaughter Swati Dlamini said: “To see this beautiful and moving portrait of our father and grandfather, [raise] such a significant sum for causes dear to him is heart-warming for our family.”

Earlier this year, Mandela spent almost three months in hospital for a recurring lung infection before being discharged on 1 September to continue receiving treatment at his home in Houghton.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Former President Nelson Mandela’s spirit is still strong even though he is sick, his daughter Makaziwe Mandela said on Tuesday.

“That spirit is still very, very strong, even if he is sick on his bed,” she said at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Opus in Johannesburg.

“The story of Tata’s life has to be repeated and told over and over again, so we don’t forget who we are.”

The opus is a publication chronicling the life and times of the anti-apartheid icon.

Iconic story

Opus Media CEO Karl Fowler said 50% of the book, which measured half-a-metre and weighed 37kg, was material that had not been seen before.

“An opus is about telling iconic and great stories, and hopefully telling the stories that have never been told before by using great photography.”

He said the Nelson Mandela Opus was the biggest opus the company had made and each book was hand-stitched.

“This story has to be told, it must be told,” Fowler said.

Also present at the launch, which was held at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, were Mandela’s wife Graça Machel, his grandson Ndaba Mandela, other members of the family, and Public Service Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

Sisulu, who gave the keynote speech, pledged to make history compulsory in all schools.

“People are defined by where they come from… I pledge to all of you that in my position in government I will fight to make sure that history be made a compulsory subject so that children always understand who we are and what we have been through,” she said.

“This book [the opus] will be the first book to be taught in schools when I succeed.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Blue light driver Joseph Motsamai Semitjie ignored the safety of other road users when he hit teenage motorcyclist Thomas Ferreira, the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court ruled on Tuesday.

Semitjie, the driver of former Gauteng housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi, was found guilty of negligent and reckless driving.

“The accused did not enter the intersection when it was safe to do so, and therefore failed to take due regard for the safety of others and himself,” said Magistrate Abdul Khan.

Ferreira collided with the BMW X5 Semitjie was driving when it skipped a red traffic light while on the left-hand side of the yellow line in Paardekraal Drive, Krugersdorp, on the West Rand, on Saturday, 5 November 2011.

Ferreira, who was 18-years-old at the time, suffered head injuries and was comatose for weeks.

Witnesses testified they did not hear a siren on the X5.

Khan said the court was satisfied with the witnesses’ testimony, and there was no reason why they would lie.

“The accused neglected to switch on the siren as per regulations governing the relevant Traffic Act. He did not make himself visible to other road users. He entered the intersection while other vehicles were moving.”

No assistance

Semitjie also did not offer any assistance to Ferreira, even though he had not suffered any visible injuries himself.

Instead, Semitjie was busy on his cellphone all the time, Khan said.

“He was able to assess himself and damages to the vehicle he was driving. No evidence presented showed that the accused was unable to assist the motorcyclist at the scene.”

Ferreira’s mother Priscilla said she was satisfied that justice had been served.

“Thomas could not testify and the court relied on witnesses who were on the scene to find out what happened. We have been hoping for justice through the law,” she said outside the courtroom.

It had been a difficult journey for the family and for her son, who would turn 21 in January, she said.

“Brain injuries have a lot of negativity and difficulty. It is still not an easy one for us.”

The matter was postponed to 13 March for sentencing procedures.

– SAPA

Pietermaritzburg – Senior police officer Lieutenant General Bethuel Zuma has succeeded in having two charges against him thrown out of court.

Magistrate Reard Abrahams ruled in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday that Zuma will not face charges of driving under the influence or defeating the ends of justice.

He will still face charges of failing to stop when ordered to, and of attempting to escape from custody.

Zuma’s counsel applied for the dropping of all charges against him last week, after the State wrapped up its case.

The court previously heard that, in 2008, Zuma drove through a roadblock, and when he was found, officers believed he was over the alcohol limit.

A portable breathalyser showed he was far over the legal limit, but when officers wanted to take him to their head office for a blood alcohol test, Zuma escaped.

He evaded an officer who tried to handcuff him, and could not be found until two hours after he went through the roadblock.

By then it was too late to subject him to a blood alcohol test that would stand up in court.

In his decision on Tuesday, Abrahams said there was no evidence that Zuma had consumed alcohol or that his faculties were impaired, despite testimony that Zuma’s breath smelt of alcohol.

On 31 August, Zuma was appointed as Gauteng’s new police commissioner, replacing Mzwandile Petros.

Hours later, he was removed from the post after it emerged that the criminal case against him was pending.

The case continues.

– SAPA

Cape Town – Cope’s former parliamentary national treasurer appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court, Cape Town, on Tuesday.

Hilda Ndude, 58, was not asked to plead to 23 counts of fraud, six of money laundering, and one of theft.

With her in the dock was her personal assistant in Parliament, Irene Motha, facing three fraud charges. She was also not asked to plead.

Cited in the charge sheet as accused number three is the company Sithaba Holdings, of which Ndude was one of the two directors.

It is charged with three counts of money laundering.

According to the charge sheet, the Cope has two main sources of funding: Parliament, pro rata to the number of seats that Cope occupies in Parliament; and the Independent Electoral Commission. Both sources consist of taxpayers’ money and each have to have their own bank accounts.

Ndude was the principal signatory for both accounts, together with Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota.

According to the charge sheet, Ndude was Cope’s financial political head and, as the national treasurer, had to ensure the transparent management of the party’s affairs.

Prosecutor Zama Matayi alleges that she and Motha manipulated Cope’s electronic system to divert payments meant for suppliers into their own personal bank accounts, between April 2010 and May 2011.

At the request of defence attorneys Ed Booth, representing Ndude and Sithaba Holdings, and Legal Aid lawyer Hayley Lawrence, acting for Motha, the case was postponed to 3 February.

Both are out on warning.

– SAPA