Daily Archives: February 1, 2014

A cop died doing what he loved- Phiyega


Johannesburg – A KwaZulu-Natal policeman who was killed in a cash-in-transit robbery died doing what he loved, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Saturday.
Speaking at the funeral of the Sergeant Thamsanqa Zondi, Phiyega hailed him as a hero.

“We find solace in the fact that he died doing what he loved so much and he died fighting for what he believed in,” Phiyega said in a statement she delivered at the funeral.

“There cannot be a death nobler than dying whilst fighting for the ideals and principles of your country. He was a true hero and we have lost a dedicated soldier in the fight against crime.”

Zondi had been part of the SA Police Service for 11 years.

He, a security guard and three suspected robbers were shot dead following the foiled heist in Richmond on Monday.

Another police officer and two suspected robbers were wounded in the shoot-out.

They were all in hospital.

An AK-47 rifle and a 9mm pistol were recovered from the men.

Phiyega said the incident showed that SAPS was full of individuals who were willing to lay down their lives to protect the country and its citizens.

“Despite the comments of some of our critics, we should never underestimate the role we play in keeping this country from falling into anarchy,” said Phiyega.

“Especially in this period during the run up to the election we will see all manner of so called ‘experts’ claiming that we are not winning the war.

“We will not allow what they say to destroy the moral of our members,” she said.

SAPA

TUT SRC wins interdict against eviction


Johannesburg – The Socialist Youth Movement (SYM) and the Tshwane University of Technology’s Student Representative Council (SRC) on Saturday won an interdict against the unlawful eviction of students from the institution’s residences.
The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ordered TUT’s management to immediately allow students back to their residences, said SYM national convenor Elmond Magedi.

The university was also ordered to pay the costs of the court application.

“The university millionaires must back off and let students enjoy their right for dignity,” Magedi said.] Students were sent packing on Friday following the institution announcement that it was shutting down until further notice as students protested against a shortfall in money from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said they were shutting down in a bid to protect lives and property.

Earlier on Saturday, the SA Students Congress (Sasco) and the university’s SRC launched an appeal to the ANC Regional Parliamentary Constituency Office on Saturday to find accommodation for students who came from distant parts of the country and had no resources to immediately travel home.

The St George’s hotel in Irene, Centurion then donated rooms and meals for 45 students, Gauteng MPL Jacqueline Mofokeng said.

On Friday, the university obtained a court order to stop protests at its campuses.

“In view of the ongoing student unrest, TUT… obtained an interdict to prevent anyone from participating in protest action on any of TUT’s campuses, to disrupt TUT activities or cause damage to TUT property,” De Ruyter said at the time.

Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande on Thursday announced that R1bn would be added to the NSFAS.

On Saturday, De Ruyter said there was no protest action at the campus.

She said all campuses would be monitored throughout the weekend and once management was satisfied that it was safe for people to return to campus, an announcement would be made.

SAPA

ANC takes their campaign to Zuma’s hometown


Taung-The ANC took their election campaign to President Jacob Zuma’s hometown, Nkandla, on Saturday to showcase their support and service delivery progress in the area, the party said.

ANC chair Senzo Mchunu said around 5 000 people attended the rally which was held at the Mnyakanye Sports Ground.

He said the number of people who attended the rally was a clear indication that the ANC enjoyed support in the KwaZulu-Natal village.

“We have in the past few months seen a number of opportunistic political parties coming to Nkandla and claiming that they have a big following here,” Mchunu said in a statement.

“That is not correct and they are just opportunists who mislead the public [through] the media.”

Zuma owns a multi-million rand homestead in Nkandla.

SAPA