Johannesburg – The DA has neglected Cape Town’s poor communities in the storms and severe cold weather of the past few days, Cosatu said on Monday.

It accused city mayor Patricia de Lille and premier Helen Zille of ignoring the devastation.

“The Congress of SA Trade Unions extends its condolences to all the people who are facing incredible hardships as a result of the Democratic Alliance refusing to prioritise the needs of the poor,” it said

It accused the DA, which runs the province, of failing to plan ahead.

“They know when bad weather is going to hit, but they only send relief the next day. Whatever happened to preventive action?” Cosatu asked.

Cape Town’s disaster risk management centre said it had helped thousands of people affected by the floods since the rain started on Saturday.

In collaboration with the non-governmental organisations HDI Support, the Mustadafin Foundation and the SA Red Cross Society, the centre had given 26 490 people hot meals and handed out 28 518 blankets in the worst affected areas since Saturday.

Spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said those displaced by the floods were being accommodated at community halls until other arrangements could be made.

Emergency workers continued to keep watch on informal settlements and the city’s electricity, water and sanitation departments would try to restore services.

“With further rains expected over the next few days, the city will continue with its efforts to minimise the discomfort and inconvenience experienced by its citizens,” said Solomons-Johannes.

– SAPA

Pretoria – Eight of the 11 Tshwane metro police officers accused of providing unofficial security to Gupta wedding guests pleaded guilty on Monday, an official said.

Two pleaded not guilty and one would be charged only when he returned from sick leave, municipal spokesperson Blessing Manale said in a statement.

The internal disciplinary hearing would resume on 27 June.

Last month, Tshwane metro police executive director Console Tleane said the extent of the damage caused by the officers’ involvement in the fiasco was being investigated.

“We need to ask to what extent has the integrity of the police department, and indeed the City of Tshwane, been compromised,” he said at the time.

“It is a matter of common cause that this matter has caused anxiety within the entire country, and therefore, any association with the said developments would have the potential to compromise the municipality,” he said.

Unauthorised escort

The metro police officers allegedly provided wedding guests with an unauthorised escort and security from Waterkloof Air Force Base, in Pretoria, to Sun City, in North West.

The guests were on board a jet, chartered by the Gupta family, which landed at the military base.

Without revealing the charges the officers faced, he said a probe would examine whether they violated municipal policy, which prohibits external work without the chief of police’s permission.

“That policy also states that an employee may not engage in private work that is similar, or almost similar, to what their official work entails,” said Tleane.

The officers allegedly fitted blue lights and false number plates to their private vehicles to escort guests to the Gupta family wedding.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Senior public works official Sam Vukela has been found guilty of charges relating to a police lease deal with businessperson Roux Shabangu, an official said on Monday.

“He was charged for being neglectful and for not applying his mind to the matter of the lease agreement,” said Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi’s adviser Philip Masilo.

Parties to the disciplinary matter now had until June 11 to file papers on the sentencing of Vukela, who was the department’s former deputy director general, he said.

In her report on the lease debacle, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommended that disciplinary action be taken against Vukela.

She found he had acted in breach of his duties by directing the department to follow a negotiated process as a procurement strategy for the lease agreement.

Vukela reportedly awarded the R500m lease to Shabangu in May 2010.

Former national police commissioner Bheki Cele was also implicated in the deal.

President Jacob Zuma fired Cele after a board of inquiry, headed by Judge Jake Moloi, found he was not fit to hold office.

Moloi’s inquiry was mandated by Zuma to establish whether Cele had acted corruptly, dishonestly, or with an undeclared conflict of interest in relation to two police lease deals he signed with Shabangu.

In May last year, the department and Vukela were at odds about an application to set aside the lease agreement with Shabangu.

Vukela had previously deposed an affidavit in support of the department’s application.

However, he allegedly slipped an additional affidavit into the court file in which he defended the decision not to call for tenders prior to the conclusion of the agreement.

In his additional affidavit, Vukela described himself as “the proverbial sacrificial lamb”.

He claimed former public works minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde had treated him “unfairly and unlawfully” by putting him on special leave.

He also claimed she had “directed” him to sign the founding affidavit, which did not place a full picture of the facts before the court.

According to Vukela, the process of compiling the founding affidavit was not been characterised by openness, and was the equivalent of being forced to sign at “gunpoint”.

He said that of the 2 950 lease agreements concluded by the department between 2008 and September 2011, 2 415 were negotiated and only 226 were put out to tender.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will investigate allegations of racism at a Free State school, it said on Monday.

“There were complaints that some of those kids [in the school] have been called kaffirs,” said spokesperson Isaac Mangena.

The old South African flag and a picture of expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema alongside that of a monkey were also reportedly put up on a classroom wall.

The SAHRC said it conducted an on-site inspection of the Wilgehof Primary School, in Bloemfontein, after a white pupil’s parent laid a complaint.

“We have opened a file to investigate charges of racism and inequality,” said Mangena.

He said the SAHRC would work with the basic education department on the matter.

“After opening the file, we will be speaking to the respondents; the school, the principal and the teachers.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Murder-accused Oscar Pistorius will be back in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for his pre-trial hearing.

The Paralympian, who has kept out of the public eye, faces a life sentence if found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot dead in his house on Valentine’s Day.

The world will probably only be given a brief glimpse of Pistorius as he appears for the first time since being whisked away from court and into a near four-month period of reclusion after being freed on bail.

Prosecutors say the hearing will probably last only minutes and be postponed until another date in August as police investigators continue to gather the evidence that will be presented at his trial.

“The proceedings will be an unopposed postponement”, the justice and constitutional development department said in a statement.

Pistorius is facing a charge of premeditated murder.

During a bail hearing, Pistorius’s defence read out a statement in which he said he thought Steenkamp was an intruder.

He was released on a R1m on 22 February, but under conditions which he later challenged in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

Several of the conditions were relaxed, including bans on international travel and alcohol consumption.

On Sunday night, Pistorius’s uncle Arnold Pistorius said a leaked photograph, purportedly showing the scene where Steenkamp was shot dead, had “shaken” the family.

“We were shaken by the graphic images, leaked into the public domain this week, of the accident scene at Oscar’s house,” he said in a statement.

The picture was posted on the SkyNews website on Friday.

The photograph shows blood on a toilet seat, and a pool of blood on the floor.

Bullet holes in the bathroom door are marked with tape, and a panel near the door handle is taped-up.

Uphill battle

Pistorius’s defence team will have a difficult task on their hands, experts said.

Lawyers familiar to the case, but not representing Pistorius, said he was claiming “putative self-defence”.

“The fact that he has admitted that he has killed her by pulling the trigger means the state has a prima facie case and it is expected of the accused to come and convince the court otherwise,” Marius du Toit, a former prosecutor, magistrate and now defence attorney with over 20 years’ experience in South Africa’s justice system told CBC News.

He said that Pistorius’s account would be scrutinised in the finest detail.

Even with the principle of innocent until proven guilty, for any defendant in Pistorius’s circumstances, “it’s on you to come and show to the court that what [you] did was not so unreasonable”, Du Toit said.

Martin Hood, a firearm lawyer, told CBC News: “I do not see how Oscar Pistorius could have concluded that a closed door constitutes danger to such an extent that his life is in danger.”

He has predicted an “uphill battle”, as putative self-defence is “extremely difficult” to prove.

“I do not see how Oscar Pistorius could have concluded that a closed door constitutes danger to such an extent that his life is in danger, bearing in mind that he had gone into that situation,” Hood said.

“So, it begs the question why did he go looking for trouble?”

Why didn’t he check where Steenkamp was, or just leave the room and the perceived danger? Simply, “what he should have done is… got out the bedroom,” Hood said.

Family support

Pistorius’s family continued to support him ahead of his appearance on Tuesday.

“We believe in him, love him and will support him every step of the way in what lies ahead,” said Arnold Pistorius.

The family asked that the legal process be allowed its run its course with integrity.

“The leaking of evidential material into the public domain, before the court case, does not advance this process. We continue to have great faith in the South African legal justice system and believe that Oscar’s account of what happened on that terrible night in February will be borne out by the evidence that the defence team will lead in court,” he said.

When asked about the photograph, Pistorius’s legal team said it would discuss the issue.

“We will take this up among ourselves. Beyond that I cannot comment at this time,” his lawyer Kenny Oldwage said on Friday.

National police spokesperson Phuti Setati said on Friday the police could not comment on the photograph because it did not know how it came to be in SkyNews’s possession.

“We don’t want to be distracted by these deliberate tactics. All that we want to do is secure a conviction, so we are working throughout and investigating professionally,” he said.

– SAPA

The conduct of the police should at all times be above reproach and deviant behaviour that suggest that some members of the service stood idly while a man was being stoned to death by a mob should be investigated by the Independent Police Directorate, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Tuesday.

“The police officials captured on the video that has surfaced should account for allowing lawlessness to take place and for the man to be brutally murdered while they were spectators to the horrific and barbaric incident,” said Premier Modise in agreeing with Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo that those involved should be brought to book.

General Mbombo said that the video presented contradicting information from the initial information that was received from the report that was sent by the station that alleged that police arrived at the scene after the incident had already happened and found the man already dead.

Thirty-four -year-old Boytjie Molefe was stoned to death by community members after allegedly stabbing his 24 –year old girlfriend Motlalepula Matlala, in the chest and running away on May 25. She died at the scene.

The couple who were allegedly breaking up was buried by their respective families over the past weekend.

Mbombo said people should allow the law to take its course, and not take it into their own hands.

The Provincial Commissioner moved to assure the public that lawlessness would not be tolerated, and that those responsible would be arrested.

“The SA Police Service has systems in place to deal with police officers who do not take their jobs seriously such that a life is lost,” she emphasised.
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North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) to denounce violence and commit themselves to peaceful coexistence at Lonmin and other mines around Rustenburg.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the violence that has claimed the life of an NUM shop steward and left another injured after a shooting incident at Wonderkop hostel earlier today. There is no place for strong arm tactics and the use of violence in our labour relation regime that allows freedom of association,” stressed Premier Modise on Monday.

Modise called on workers to remain calm and assist police in their investigations in order to unmask those behind the recent spate of violence.

“Those stoking the violence have lost sight of the need for workers to act in unison to address the challenges facing the mining sector. Acts of intolerance and violence can only serve to weaken them when taking up genuine issues against their employers,” she highlighted.

According to police, one of the two men died at the scene and one was taken to hospital after the shots were fired between 11am and noon.
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By Obakeng Maje
The Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness, SA National Council for the Blind’s Eye Care Services Division, has just celebrated 60 years of mobile outreach service to South Africa.
To mark this, Council and our Bureau are launching a dedicated eye care facility in the North West.
Due to the need for eye care services in this province, a special Parkhome is earmarked to become a permanent eye care facility in the North-West Province at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital. This is where pre and postoperative care will be provided” MEC Magome Masike said.
The department said The facility will be opened by the SA National Council for the Blind in association with the North West Provincial Department of Health and funded by the Allergan Foundation.
“The launch will be held by North West Provincial Department of Health and the SA National Council for the Blind at the Mafikeng Provincial Hospital Complex.
80% of blindness is avoidable either through prevention or through treatment – we hope that this dedicated facility helps to meet the challenges of urgent eye care treatment for those in need” said Masike.
The event starts at 2pm on 5 June 2013 at the Bophelong Mafikeng Provincial Hospital Complex Recreational Hall and will be attended by the MEC.
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By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom-The DA has received confirmation from Public Protector Thuli Madonsela that she will investigate Tlokwe Mayor Maphetle Maphetle. This is in addition to an investigation by the Hawks after the DA formally laid charges at the SAPS concerning the Tlokwe Council adminstration and Mapethle Mapethle.
The DA commissioned the forensic audit as part of the party’s campaign against corruption during our short time in charge of the Tlokwe municipality.
Fraudulent transactions involving more than R3,2million tax payers funds relating to shares in the Mooiriver Mall is included in the investigation
“In addition, the report found Mayor Maphetle to be involved in fraudulently siphoning R300 000 from the municipality’s Poverty Relief Fund to sponsor a jazz festival” DA Tiaan Kotze said.
“Further abuse of the Disaster Management Fund by Mayor Maphetle are also documented by forensic auditors” said Kotze.
These findings indicate that Mayor Maphetle appeared to have been led by personal gain to abuse funds meant to assist impoverished residents with disasters such as shack fires said DA.
Democratic Alliance said The ANC’s Tlokwe leadership has already showed that it is not serious about fighting corruption as they have dismissed the forensic report’s findings outright. This is despite the report being handled by a reputable firm – Nexus forensic services.
“The DA trusts that the Public Protector will come to a fair conclusion about the suitability of Mr Maphetle to hold office and the ANC’s overall mismanagement of Tlokwe municipal funds” said DA.
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The North West recorded a marked increase in the number of participants at this year’s Comrades Marathon, with the tally of medals equally on the rise.
Compared to last year, when only one out of the 15 participants did not finish the race, the number at this year’s 88th edition of the world-famous Marathon was more than 80 participants with an impressive tally of medals up to more than 26.
There were three Silvers, 15 Bill Rowans, 25 Bronze and nine Vic Claphams.
“The medals at the Comrades are classified as follows: Gold for first ten men and women, Wally Hayward medal for position 11 to sub 6 hours, Silver is for 6 hours to sub 7 hours 30 minutes; Bill Rowan medal for 7 hours 30 minutes to 9 hours; Bronze is for 9 hours to sub 11 hours; and the Vic Clapham for 11 hours to sub 12 hours” Department of Sports, Art and Culture in the province said.
This year the marathon was run by more than 18 000 athletes from around the world with the official distance being 86,863 km.
The race started at 05:30 am on Sunday June 2 at the Durban City Hall and finished at 17:30 at the Cricket Oval in Pietermaritzburg. It alternates in terms of start and finish between the two cities, meaning next year will be the “down-run”, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
“Eighty four of the runners from the North West were sponsored by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture for their trip to the race and accommodation. Of the North West athletes who finished nine were female’s athletes and 49 males” said Vusi Kama.
MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Tebogo Modise was ecstatic about the Province’s performance.
“What we need now is to build on the success of these athletes,” she said. “We commit ourselves to supporting our athletes so that the pool becomes even bigger” MEC Tebogo Modise said.
David Gatebe of Impala Plats was the first North West runner to cross the finish line, coming in at number 24 with a time of 06:19 minutes and earned himself Silver.
The Two Oceans champion said he was slightly disappointed with his position although he ran a fairly good race.
“I was expecting to do much better, but the race was fast,” he said. “I will continue to work hard” David Gatebe said.
Gatebe said the North West had great potential in athletics and that he was encouraged by the spirit shown by the young athletes he trained in Zeerust and Lichtenburg.
The other Silver medalists were Tshidiso Karaka (7:21:18) and Festis Mokgabisi (7:22:15), both of Ottosdal’s Diamond Marathon Club.
Nomvula Molaba of Tlokwe Athletics Club was the first North West lady to finish the race winning a bronze with a time of 10:23:55.
She was followed by Matshidiso Mochobo of Bert’s Bricks in Potchefstroom, also with a bronze at a time of 10:39:45.
“The first Comrades Marathon was run on May 24, 1921 when 34 runners lined up before the Pietermaritzburg City Hall to commence a race to Durban to commemorate the spirit and camaraderie of the soldiers who fought in the Great War.
(Edited by Obakeng Maje)
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