Monthly Archives: May 2014

SANDF denies 2nd Guptagate probe


Johannesburg – The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) on Wednesday denied reports that a second investigation has been launched into the Gupta family’s landing of a private aircraft at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.

“It is not true,” said SANDF spokesperson Brig-Gen Xolani Mabanga.

“I don’t know anything about that.”

He further denied speaking to the journalist who penned the article published in The Sowetan.

Report

In the report, Mabanga is quoted as saying an additional investigation is under way, while another was pending.

“The charges against one accused were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence,” he was quoted as saying.

“An application to consider charges against an additional accused was forwarded to the director of military prosecutions for consideration. The decision is pending.”

A chartered commercial aircraft, Jet Airways flight JAI 9900 from India, ferrying more than 200 guests for the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, and Indian-born Aakash Jahajgarhia, landed at the base in April last year.

The passengers were then transported, either by light aircraft, helicopter, or in police-escorted vehicles, to the ceremony at Sun City’s Palace of the Lost City.

The landing sparked widespread criticism and several investigations were launched. President Jacob Zuma reportedly has close ties with the Gupta family.

‘Collusion’

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

In October, four SANDF officials – Colonel Nomsa Khumalo, Lieutenant Colonel Christo Van Zyl, Lieutenant Colonel Christine Anderson, and Warrant Officer Thabo Ntshisi – appeared in a military court at the Thaba Tshwane military base in Pretoria over the scandal.

They were charged with contravening various sections of the military defence code.

In October, a trial date had not been set down and it was to be decided by the military’s prosecuting authorities.

The SANDF was unable to provide a date. At the time, media were not allowed to enter the court.

SAPA

Dad blows maintenance, state to repay


Pretoria – A father of two squandered a pension payout at a casino and now the state must make up for maintenance he failed to pay for his two children.

The minister of justice and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will have to pay R24 500 in maintenance arrears to the children’s mother because maintenance officers failed to attach the pension payout received by the father.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

100 years old and still best friends


Johannesburg – Ouma Settie and Ouma Tielie have been alive for 100 years, and have spent 80 of those years as best friends.

They were born in the same month, married in the same year and each had nine children. They also share an equal love for going to church and attending funerals.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Madiba opera funding a blame game


Johannesburg – They turned down jobs in an industry that doesn’t guarantee a steady salary to be part of a production that was the first of its nature in South Africa.

Now, about 150 people – 18 soloists, a 45-member orchestra, 60 choir members, five actors and technical crew – who had immersed themselves in Madiba: The Opera are shattered.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Mines minister to try end platinum strike


Johannesburg – The new mining minister will meet with the world’s largest platinum producers after they and the main union at their mines failed to reach an accord to settle an 18-week pay strike.

Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi met with the leadership of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) yesterday, he told Power FM today.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Armed, dangerous and on the run


Johannesburg – Gauteng police are hunting for five awaiting-trial prisoners who escaped through the roof of a truck while being driven to Modderbee Prison. The incident happened near Putfontein in Ekurhuleni on Monday afternoon while they were being transported from the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini asked anyone with information on the five to report their whereabouts.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

North West Top Cop Killers Sanctioned To Life Imprisonment


By Obakeng Maje
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation(The Hawks), Lt Gen Anwa Dramat commended members of the Hawks in the North West Province for their hard work and commitment which led to a good conviction and sentence of the murderer of a member of the Hawks in the North West.

“The late Warrant Officer Othusitse Ganenang was shot and killed on 4 September 2011 at his home in Mocoseng village, outside Mahikeng. Gananeng’s girlfriend was also shot and admitted at a local hospital due to serious injuries she sustained during the incident” captain Paul Ramoloko said.   

On Friday the North West Division of the High Court in Mahikeng sentenced Ronney Mashi(28) and Donald Khuma (25) to life imprisonment for the murder of Gananeng.  

“After this gruesome attack, Mashi and Khuma took two laptops, Gananeng’s service pistol, cash and cellular phones” Ramoloko said.   

Khuma was also sentenced to another 95 years imprisonment for 4 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder and discharge of a firearm in a public place.  

Mashi was also sentenced to another 75 years imprisonment for 4 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder and discharge of a firearm in a public place.

All sentences for both accused will run concurrently.  

“The accused were arrested a day after the attack, on 5 and 9 September 2011 respectively . The Hawks investigating team managed to recover the member’s service pistol, two other firearms, stolen cellular phones and laptops during arrest.” He said.

Ramoloko said their members are going beyond the call of duty in their day to day, they ensure that criminals are hold accountable for their involvement in crime.

“The investigating team in this case has done exactly what Gananeng would have liked them to do ” said Lt Gen Anwa Dramat.-TDN
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Shock over Springs ‘house of horrors’


Johannesburg – A Springs man who allegedly held his family captive for years is due to appear in court on Wednesday to apply for bail, after being arrested on charges of attempted murder, child abuse and obstruction of justice.

Sapa reported on Wednesday that the man will appear in the Springs Magistrate’s Court.

Beeld reported that the 36-year-old businessman also allegedly assaulted and tortured his wife and his five children between the ages of 2 and 16. The children were not allowed to leave the house and did not attend school.

According to the report, neighbours were not even aware that any children lived in the “house of horrors”. A neighbour said she was shocked that she had lived next door to a “monster” for years, adding that the man always looked smart and tidy and wore expensive clothes.

Escape

However, an 11-year-old boy escaped from the house last week Monday, fleeing to neighbours, who called the police. They also called the boy’s father, who took him back home and allegedly severely assaulted him.

Police officers visited the house the next day, and discovered the other four children and their equally abused mother. The injured boy had been hidden in the ceiling.

A warrant officer told Beeld that the house was dirty and there were rats scurrying about. Their suspicions were raised and they removed the wife and four children, launching a search for the missing boy. In the meantime, the father had taken the boy to a family member in the North West.

Beeld reported that the mother then found the courage to speak out against her sadistic husband, and told police where the boy was. The man was arrested on Friday.

According to the woman, the man repeatedly assaulted and tortured her and the children, including with electric wires and a blowtorch.

She and the children are staying with family members.

AFP reported that the man appeared in court on Monday and will appear again on Wednesday to apply for bail.-AFP

Socceroos plot SWC ‘shock’


Sydney – Veteran Mark Bresciano said on Wednesday the Socceroos plan to “shock the world” as they departed for Brazil to headlines asking: “Will Australia be the worst team at the World Cup?”

The inexperienced Australians, the lowest ranked team in the World Cup at 59, face a daunting task against Spain, the Netherlands and Chile in Group B.

Bresciano, the 34-year-old former Parma and Lazio midfielder, said he was excited about heading to his third World Cup and believed the team could hold its own.

“It’s always a dream going to a World Cup, regardless if it’s your first or third,” he told reporters at Sydney airport where hundreds of fans saw off Ange Postecoglou and his squad.

“I guess the expectation is maybe a little bit high (this time) because, in the last nine or 10 years, we’ve been very successful as a nation.

“Saying that, we know that we are going to Brazil in a very tough group but we’re going to go there and just try and do our country proud and do ourselves proud and try and shock the world.”

His confidence is in stark contrast to the nation’s media which has largely written off their chances with the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday suggesting the Socceroos would be the worst team in Brazil.

“The bookmakers regard Australia’s World Cup possibilities as something worse than a snowball’s survival chances in hell,” said chief football writer Michael Lynch.

“As do the world rankings, which place Australia last of the World Cup qualifiers in 59th spot (between Mali and Burkina Faso).

“And judging by the social media response to the Socceroos’ stuttering 1-1 draw against a less-than-fearsome South Africa on Monday night, large numbers of the Australian public share that pessimistic view.”

The Australian newspaper’s Ray Gatt said the team were leaving “with the sound of doom and gloom ringing in their ears” and bookmakers offering in excess of 750-1 for Australia to win the tournament.

“One former captain (Paul Wade) believes they’ll be smashed, few fans hold out any hope they’ll get through the knockout stage and the critics believe they’ll be lucky to score a goal, let alone get a point,” he said.

The Socceroos will be one of the first teams to arrive in Brazil ahead of the showpiece tournament and Bresciano believes it will work in their favour.

“I think it’s worth getting there as early as possible – just to get the feel of the World Cup, get a feel of the atmosphere and get to know where we’re travelling … so you can focus on your training leading up to the friendly game and obviously the World Cup,” he said.

Australia’s squad of 27 will be reduced to 23 on June 2, before they face Croatia in a warm-up on June 6 ahead of their World Cup opener against Chile on June 13.

AFP

Voting stations open for by-elections


Johannesburg – Voting stations opened at around 07:00 for municipal by-elections across four provinces on Wednesday, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said.

Twenty candidates representing nine political parties in six wards are set to contest the by-elections in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Western Cape, IEC spokeswoman Kate Bapela said.

Voting stations would close at 21:00.

Two by-elections would take place in Gauteng.

Ward 27 in Tshwane metro [Pretoria] would be contested by the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC).

Ward 58 in Tshwane metro would be contested by the African Independent Congress, the ANC, the DA, and the PAC, Bapela said.

In KwaZulu-Natal, one by-election in ward two in Umvoti [Greytown] municipality would be contested by the ANC, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and the National Freedom Party (NFP).

Limpopo would only have ward four in Lephalale [Ellisras] municipality contested by three candidates from the ANC, the Congress of the People (Cope) and the DA.

In the Western Cape, ward 25 in the City of Cape Town would be contested by the ANC, the DA, the First Nation Liberation Alliance (Finla), and the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

Ward 6 in Matzikama [Vredendal] municipality would be contested by the ANC, the DA, and the PA.

A total of 58 053 people were registered to vote.

SAPA