Cape Town – Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has refused to respond to a parliamentary question regarding the cost of the 1999 arms deal, saying she cannot do so while the procurement process is under scrutiny by the Seriti Commission.

The minister said in reply to a question from the Freedom Front Plus that supplying the figure could compromise the defence department’s testimony to the judicial commission of inquiry.

“It is the view of the department and its legal representatives that such information, in so far as it relates to the matters under consideration by the commission, has the potential of compromising the department of defence witnesses and their evidence during the commission’s proceedings.”

‘Unaffordable’

Democratic Alliance defence spokesperson David Maynier said he had twice asked the minister the same question and she refused to respond on both occasions.

“It is important to probe the whole question of the life cycle cost because it is likely to prove that the defence department knew that the equipment purchased as a result of the arms deal was unaffordable, given the projected defence budget. If this proves to be true it will be evidence of a monumental failure in the defence acquisition process,” Maynier added.

The commission was appointed by President Jacob Zuma in 2011 to investigate allegations of corruption in the multi-billion-rand arms deal.

It is in its third month of hearings, but these have been suspended until next week to give Armscor time to have documents declassified by the defence department.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The case of two people accused of involvement in the murder of a man whose body was found in the boot of his car at Montecasino in Fourways was postponed by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The case was postponed to 6 November for further investigation and to allow newly-appointed lawyer Mark van Schalkwyk to acquaint himself with the case. He is representing former stripper Maruschka Robinson.

Robinson and Jean-Pierre Malan, believed to be her boyfriend, were arrested last month after security guards found Dustan Blom’s decomposing body in the casino’s parking garage. They investigated the car after noticing a bad smell coming from it.

Robinson had allegedly rented a room from Blom, the widowed father of infant twins.

On Wednesday, a clean-shaved Malan stepped into the dock, wearing a brown shirt and tan jersey. He paid hardly any attention to his co-accused, Robinson. The black-haired ex-stripper wore a black top and blue jeans.

Both paid little attention to the cameras pointed at them before court began.

During their last appearance, they reserved the right to apply for bail. It was unclear whether they would try to get bail at their next appearance.

Prosecutor Yusuf Baba said the case was expected to be transferred to the high court later.

– SAPA

Pic:(Source: http://www.sundayworld.co.za) Kelly Khumalo posing for camera

By Obakeng Maje

Hillbrow-A case of a singer Kelly Khumalo was postponed on Wednesday after she appeared in court.

Khumalo was embroiled in a fight with Orlando Pirates goalie Senzo Meyiwa’s wife Mandisa and that led to court case.

It is alleged that Khumalo along with her sister attacked Mandisa, Meyiwa’s wife after she allegedly confronted her regarding their romance with Meyiwa.

All the drama took place weeks ago at Empire road where Khumalo and Meyiwa were sitting in a car chatting.

According to media reports, all hell broke lose and bystanders were forced to intervene.

Qinisela fame singer allegedly spent a night at Hillbrow police station after she handed herself over for assault charges.

The case was postponed until 31 October 2013.

The virgin Khumalo is out on bail and police investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-The ANC runs City of Matlosana municipality’s best stunt is playing political games challenging the legal system to its limits, says DA. 

 

“They have no respect for the law and are always trying to get away with technical issues” DA caucus leader, Dr Chris Bester said.

 

Dr Bester said this has been under administration since April 2013 after they complied in full to Sec 139(2)(a)(i) and Sec 139 (2)(a)(ii) of the Municipal Finance Management Act. 

 

The MEC for Local Government took the administration process further and appointed an Administrator,  Mr Paul Serote (Salary R72 684 pm plus S&T up to R50 000 per month) and two Financial Experts Mr Themba Hlongwane and Mduduzi Nkosi (Salaries each R59 500 pm plus S&T up to R30 000 per month).

 

“Since April, these appointees never showed up. Why? The answer lies with the Executive Mayor of the City of Matlosana who ducks and dives questions put to him on this issue in Council” DA said. 

 

Bester said the executive mayor purely relies on technicalities as reasons why administration cannot be applied to the City of Matlosana. 

 

We contacted departmental spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane and said she will respond to us later as she was in meeting.

 

“This compelled the DA caucus to abstain from voting on financial issues in Council but not from taking a stance on any financial issues not in compliance with the MFMA” he said.

 

In the meantime the City of Matlosana is managed in terms of crisis management. 

 

There is hardly money available to pay salaries, Eskom and Midvaal Water. 

 

“Neither are funds available for service delivery. Yes there are votes available but no money to fund it”.

 

The Province will have to act very fast if they want to save the City of Matlosana from bankruptcy, alleged DA. 

 

The DA will continue to safeguard the citizens of Matlosana if notable improvement does not occur we will notify the Auditor General of our findings” concludes DA.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-The Traffic Department in Matlosana has a shortage of at least 10 Drivers License and Learner License Examiners.

These posts have been vacant for more than two years and as a result Council is losing money on a daily basis.

“The remuneration package offered is lower than other smaller municipalities which results in no interest in the posts advertised.  The ANC led council takes no interest in solving the problem causing flammable situations at testing stations on a daily basis” DA councillor Maritha Coetzee said.

Some testing stations are not functional and where business is continuing, only four people can be tested per day, says Coetzee.

It is alleged people are sleeping on council property, pay someone to queue for them.

Taung DailyNews contacted Department of Human Settlement,Public Safety and Liaison MEC Nono Maloyi spokesperson Ben Bole who said he haven’t received any concern regarding the matter, but will check with relevant authorities and respond.

DA said during their inspection it was discovered that a security guard was paid to secure space in the front.

They said this means a member of the public is making money on council property.

“While the Public Safety Department bleeds to death, the Mayor advertises for posts in his office which will not improve service delivery.   The salaries on these advertised posts should be spent on critical posts which should have been filled years ago” DA said.

The continued problems at the Matlosana Traffic Department are indicative of the declining levels of service delivery in the Municipality, alleged DA.

“The DA will continue to pursue these challenges and other delivery failures in order to bring a relief to the embattled Matlosana citizens” said DA.

The DA said they will report the decline at the licensing office to the MEC for Public Safety and Transport, MEC Nono Maloyi.-TDN

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South Africa’s deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe chaired the SA National Aids Council (Sanac) on Tuesday in Rustenburg, the presidency said.

The meeting discussed issues including a report on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan 2012/2013.

“South Africa has met the ten global targets set by the United Nations aimed at reducing HIV infections by 50 percent by 2015, Motlanthe said.

Motlanthe said South Africa’s anti-retroviral treatment programme now reaches more than two million people making it the largest HIV treatment in the world.

“South Africa is also on track to achieve the target of further reduction and eventual elimination of HIV transmission from mother to child by 2015.”

Motlanthe informed the meeting that South Africa had received R3 billion from the Global Fund, earmarked for supporting HIV and TB programmes.

“The fund will provide support to antiretroviral treatment for 350,000 patients and screening for more than 400,000 miners and communities in the surrounding areas,” Motlanthe said.

Sanac would also intensify efforts in HIV-counselling and testing to encourage more people to know their status.

– Sapa

By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley- Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a cyclist collided with the trailer attached to a white Toyota bakkie on Monday. The accident allegedly occurred at approximately 19:15pm at the intersection of North Circular and Bultfontein Road in Kimberley.

“Although the exact cause of the accident is still under police investigation it is at this stage alleged that the cyclist collided into the side of the bakkie’s trailor. The unknown cyclist succumbed to his injuries and died on the scene” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.
The deceased is dark in complexion, slender build, approximately 1, 6 meter tall and could be between 20 and 25 years old. The deceased was dressed in a blue vest, blue jeans and blue Nike sandals (push-ins), says Northern Cape police.
The navy blue mountain bike that the deceased was travelling with is booked in at the Kimberley Police Station.
The police request that anyone with information about the incident or the identification of the deceased should contact Detective Warrant Officer Patrick Dibebe at 082 331 4712.
The investigation continues. – TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley-The Galeshewe Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit is looking for a man who allegedly raped an 18 year-old girl in a taxi that was travelling from Kimberley to Galeshewe.
“It is alleged that on Saturday at about 14:00, the teenager boarded the taxi at the North Cape mall” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.
There were other passengers in the taxi and while she was inside, one of the men asked for her Blackberry cellphone. The teenager was instructed to go and sit at the back. The suspect then raped her while other passengers watched and cheered on, says Kock.
The girl was allegedly dropped off and she had to board another taxi home.
She reported the matter to her aunt who alerted the police.
“The suspect is about 25 years old, light in complexion and has a slender build. He is fluent in Afrikaans and Tswana. At the time of the offence, he was wearing a red and white striped T-shirt, black Nike track pants. He is about 1,7m tall” Kock said.
Anyone who can assist police in their investigation in tracing the suspect is asked to contact D/Cst Bongani Gumede on 082 302 0468.-TDN
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Cape Town – The last will of acting judge Patrick Maqubela is legitimate, his widow Thandi Maqubela’s lawyer told the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.

“What this document is, as inelegant as it is, is a will,” Marius Broeksma said in closing argument.

Thandi Maqubela and her co-accused Vela Mabena have pleaded not guilty to suffocating the acting judge with cling-wrap in his Sea Point, Cape Town, apartment on June 5, 2009.

Maqubela has also pleaded not guilty to forging her husband’s signature on his will, and then fraudulently presenting it at the Johannesburg office of the Master of the High Court.

The forgery charge on the indictment was recently amended from “making of the signature” to “making of the will”.

On Monday, the State said no will was lodged at the time of Maqubela’s death and his financial adviser was adamant there was no will.

It was only on 23 April 2010 that the Master’s Office received a letter from his widow stating she had found a will among some documents and that it was dated March 2009.

Prosecutor Bonnie Currie-Gamwo said the document did not look like a will that a person with legal knowledge would have drafted.

Broeksma said there was no evidence to suggest Maqubela had much experience with estates and the writing of wills.

Judge John Murphy raised the point that Maqubela had been SA Airways’ chief legal adviser and would likely have drafted “some pretty big contracts”.

However, Broeksma said the State had not proved any proficiency in that regard.

He suggested that the sloppiness of the document could be explained by the possibility of the acting judge writing it while drinking whisky with friends.

Murphy said the strongest point regarding the will seemed to be the acting judge’s phone call to his insurance company asking that the beneficiary be changed.

“The inference which can be drawn from that… is that he didn’t have a will,” Murphy said.

The State alleged on Monday that Maqubela had a monetary incentive to kill her husband because of a R20 million Liberty Life policy he took out a month before his death.

Currie-Gamwo said his widow would have gained R11m with the will and R7.2m without it.

Broeksma said the two had been living apart to a great extent.

“Obviously, as far as accused number one [Thandi Maqubela], it is apparent that she was a successful businesswoman, while the deceased was in financial trouble,” he said.

– SAPA