Cape Town – The creation of a specialised gang unit for the Free State should set an example for the Western Cape, the province’s Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said on Wednesday.

Plato said he wanted to ask provincial police commissioner Lieutenant Genearl Arno Lamoer why he still refused to set up a gang unit for the Western Cape, which had 13 times more drug-related crimes than the Free State.

“The latest crime statistics [2012/13] reveal that there were 6 168 drug-related crimes in the Free State, whereas in the Western Cape there were 82 062 drug crimes for the same period,” he said.

“Despite this, Lamoer has responded to my calls for these units by saying they are not necessary… With this latest development, the commissioner will have a lot of explaining to do.”

Plato said Lamoer would have to “explain himself” at a provincial executive meeting in a week’s time.

Lamoer was not immediately available to comment.

Gang unit

On Friday, Free State police commissioner Thabetha Mpembe said a gang unit was being created because of the gang activities that had plagued Bloemfontein, Virginia, Welkom, Botshabelo and rural towns in recent years.

Youth gang activities in Botshabelo had also led to school closures.

Mpembe said gangs and gang activities had been identified as an issue to be addressed by the local police.

The focus on gangs would also lead to measures against drug use, drug smuggling and illegal firearms.

Plato said the National Development Plan (NDP) recommended the re-establishment of specialised units to respond to changing crime trends.

“The best way to make the people of the Western Cape safe from drugs and gangs is through targeted, sustained and specialised interventions.”

– SAPA

Cape Town – Developments in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) tribunal on allegations against Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe constitute a crisis, DA leader Helen Zille said on Wednesday.

In her weekly newsletter, Zille said the delay in the tribunal’s proceedings had left the Bench divided.

On Tuesday, the tribunal postponed the hearing into misconduct allegations against Hlophe.

The postponement followed a request by the advocate representing Constitutional Court judges Chris Jafta and Bess Nkabinde – the two who alleged in 2008 that Hlophe had sought to unduly influence them in a corruption case against President Jacob Zuma.

Jafta and Nkabinde have indicated they will approach the high court for a review of the decision to continue with the hearing.

They want to be excused from appearing and testifying pending the finalisation of the review, despite tribunal chairperson, retired Judge Joop Labuschagne’s ruling that Hlophe has a case to answer to.

Zille said Tuesday’s postponement and the pending court case meant the tribunal hearings could drag on for a few more years.

“Until it is cleared up, none of the judges involved can regain credibility and public trust. This includes a judge president, and many of the judges of the Constitutional Court, as well as some retired judges,” she said.

The Hlophe case would be the biggest test of the credibility of South Africa’s courts.

“It is not possible for judges to adjudicate cases with authority and public respect if there is a possibility that they may have lied in a case that could result in the impeachment of a colleague,” Zille said.

“It is equally untenable that a judge president may have committed an impeachable offence, which his judicial colleagues agree to cover up.”

– SAPA

Bloemfontein – Management of the privately-run maximum security Mangaung Correctional Centre, outside Bloemfontein, was on Wednesday taken over by the department of correctional services.

Acting national commissioner Nontsikelelo Jolingana said a special management team, under the leadership of Gauteng correctional services deputy commissioner Zacharia Modise, to run the facility.

Jolingana said the management of the facility were informed on Wednesday morning that they would take over the management of the prison.

Inmates and staff members were also told of the change.

The main reason for the intervention was concern for the safety of inmates and workers, she said.

Last week a number of prison staff were stabbed and last Wednesday, four inmates held an official hostage for 13-hours at the prison.

– SAPA

Cape Town – The ANC on Wednesday ruled out a comprehensive rewrite of the protection of state information bill.

The party said it confined itself to correcting two technical errors in the draft law.

It took this position after state law adviser Enver Daniels said President Jacob Zuma had effectively ruled out far-reaching changes when he sent the bill back to Parliament last month.

“No room exists in the referral for issues not raised by the president,” Daniels told the National Assembly’s ad hoc committee reviewing the contested draft law.

Daniels proposed changes to sections 42 and 45.

These were singled out by Zuma as problematic when he sent the bill back to the legislature instead of signing it into law, saying he believed it was unconstitutional.

Due to the way the president phrased his referral to Parliament, there has been confusion for the past four weeks as to whether he had instructed MPs to review all of the bill or merely rewrite those two sections.

DA wants clarity

DA MP Dene Smuts said this made it impossible for the committee to proceed with the review and asked that the chairperson write to Zuma to ask for clarity.

The ANC rejected the call as an insult to the president and agreed to the changes put forward by Daniels.

Smuts and African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) MP Steve Swart said though they not only agreed with these amendments, but had in fact requested them in a letter to Zuma, they could not support them.

“Even though we asked for these changes we cannot agree to them because the process is so flawed,” Smuts said.

The ANC is expected to adopt the amendments by vote when the committee meets on Thursday, for possibly the last time, before referring the amended bill back to the National Assembly.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – An in-loco inspection of a pub in Bredasdorp, Western Cape, was conducted on Wednesday as part of the rape and murder trial of Johannes Kana, the SABC reported.

The pub was the last place 17-year-old Anene Booysen was seen before she was raped and disembowelled in February. She died in the Tygerberg Hospital on the afternoon of Saturday, 2 February.

Kana’s trial began in the Swellendam Circuit Court on Monday.

According to the broadcaster, witness Chrisna Mentoor pointed out areas outside the pub where Kana and Booysen were seen before leaving together.

There was reportedly a strong police presence as the court contingent, which included Kana, his lawyer, Judge Patricia Goliath, and the prosecution, made its way around the scene.

The Star reported that the State rejected Kana’s plea on Monday, in which he had admitted leaving the pub with Booysen, hitting her and raping her, but denied killing her.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Sharing information about a military tribunal’s preliminary probe into the landing of private jet at Waterkloof Air Force Base is against the law, the SANDF said on Wednesday.

“In accordance with… the Military Discipline Supplementary Measures Act 16 of 1999, the proceedings at a preliminary investigation are held in camera,” SA National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said in a statement.

“Those who are responsible for discussing in the media the preliminary investigation proceedings must refrain from such as it is in contravention of the… act. The SANDF military courts regard this matter as sub judice.”

It was reported at the weekend that seven helicopters carrying Gupta family wedding guests were authorised to fly from the base to Pilanesberg to meet President Jacob Zuma,

This was reportedly contained in the tribunal’s preliminary investigation report.

The tribunal is investigating five SANDF members in connection with the landing.

Zuma implicated

Beeld reported on Thursday that two of the five members had implicated Zuma in affidavits.

According to the newspaper, an excerpt from Lieutenant Colonel Christine Anderson’s statement read: “On or about 17 April 2013, Mr [Bruce] Koloane phoned me and he informed me that he had returned from the president and that the president wanted to know ‘if everything is still on track for the flight’.”

Koloane has since been demoted.

Anderson reportedly confirmed that Zuma was referred to as “number one” for security reasons.

A chartered commercial aircraft, Jet Airways flight JAI 9900 from India, ferrying more than 200 guests to the wedding of Vega Gupta and Indian-born Aakash Jahajgarhia, landed at the base in April.

The landing sparked widespread criticism and several investigations were launched.

A government investigation exonerated Zuma and his ministers, and found that the landing was the result of “collusion by officials”.

– SAPA

Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa says he is glad Lennox Bacela got his name on the scoresheet at last again last night.

Bucs beat Mpumalanga Black Aces 3-1 to make their way to the quarter-final of the Telkom Knockout, with De Sa bagging a brace, and Oupa Manyisa getting a third in injury time.

“I am glad Lennox could score two goals – it is good for him as the goals had dried up a bit for him. Let us hope we can maintain this form – it was a good match in my opinion,” ‘RDS’ tells Bucs’ official website.

The coach says his team’s concentration was not where he wanted it to be in the first half, adding that a stern half-time talk brought them back into the game.

“Like I said last week – we want to go far in this tournament and after starting the game well, we conceded a goal which got us again on the back foot.

“Going to half time with the score at 1-1, gave us a chance to talk to the guys. The attitude was right from the second half – we pushed hard and forced them to make mistakes in their half and fortunately for us we got the win.

“Now we will have some rest and prepare for the upcoming games.”

Pirates face Golden Arrows in the last 8, at a date still to be confirmed.
For more http://www.kickoff.com

Kaizer Chiefs say they are unlikely to accept any offers for Willard Katsande, or Lucky Baloyi, who has attracted strong interest from AmaZulu.

Chiefs insist they will be hanging onto Katsande and are not worried that the hard-tackling player’s contract runs out at the end of June.

AmaZulu, who are eager to rope in the services of Baloyi, hope the assurance of more game-time will persuade the midfielder to come on board.

Katsande’s agent – Edzai Kasinauyo – will also start weighing up the player’s options soon, with many clubs expected to come knocking on the door of the Soweto giants.

But Chiefs are not willing to part ways with the two – or any of their other players – and insist it will be “very difficult” for any club to lure them from Naturena.

“These two players [Baloyi and Katsande] are very important to the club so it will be very difficult for any team to take them from the club,” Chiefs’ corporate communications manager Vina Maphosa tells KickOff.com.

“The official position of the club is that Baloyi and Katsande are not for sale. Actually we are not talking to any clubs at the moment,” he adds.

Unlike Katsande, Baloyi’s contract with the club will only run out at the end of June 2015.

“The issue of the contracts of the two players will only be discussed when the right time comes. So for now, this is not an issue,” Maphosa explains.
For more http://www.kickoff.com

The Telkom Knockout last 8 venues, dates and times were released by the PSL with the first games starting on October 19.

TELKOM KNOCKOUT – LAST 8 FIXTURES

Saturday, 19 October
SuperSport United vs Moroka Swallows (Lucas Moripe Stadium) 15h00
Platinum Stars vs Mamelodi Sundowns (Moruleng Stadium) 19h00

Sunday, 20 October
Free State Stars vs Kaizer Chiefs (Charles Mopeli Stadium) 15h00

Wednesday, 23 October
Orlando Pirates vs Golden Arrows (Orlando Stadium) 19h30
For more http://www.kickoff.com

By Obakeng Maje
Springbok- It is alleged that on Tuesday, 8 October 2013, a local school was busy with a project on a private road between Carolusberg and Okiep when the learners stumbled on suspicious bags hidden under a causeway about 4km from Okiep.
Springbok K9 unit was contacted and upon investigating, Capt Barend Murray found that the bags containing dagga, Northern Cape police said.
“Thirteen bags were confiscated with dagga weighed about 249kg, with a street value of approximately R1 241 500,00. Police suspect that the cannabis was destined for an area known as ‘Mzala’ in Okiep. No arrests have been made” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.
The Springbok Cluster Commander, Lt Col Bowers extends his appreciation to the learners who were alert and attentative.
“The police cannot win the war against drugs alone, therefore there is a need to deepen our partnership with communities in the fight against illicit drugs and it’s abuse” Segio said. –TDN
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