Pretoria dismissed an application on Friday to relocate convicted Nigerian terrorist Henry Okah from a prison in KwaZulu-Natal to one in Pretoria, said the department of correctional services.

Okah had asked the court to set aside internal disciplinary committee findings and sanctions that resulted in him being moved to the Kokstad Super Maximum Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.

The committee’s decision followed allegations that Okah had repeatedly tried to escape from custody, said department spokesperson Manelisi Wolela.

Okah wanted to be transferred to the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria.

“The department of correctional services’ submission argued against the urgency, the failure of the applicants to exhaust internal remedies and the absence of a cogent reason for requiring the declaration of actions taken by the department invalid,” Wolela said in a statement.

Okah was sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment in March last year after being convicted on 13 counts of terrorism, including engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activities, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.

The charges related to two car bombs detonated in Abuja, Nigeria, on 1 October 2010, the anniversary of the country’s independence. Twelve people were killed and 36 were injured.

Another bombing took place in Warri on 15 March 2010, at a post-amnesty dialogue meeting. One person was killed and 11 were seriously injured.

In both bombings, two car bombs went off minutes apart. The cars were parked in close proximity to each other.

Okah made threats to the South African government after his arrest here in 2010.
SAPA

Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma is considering concerns from various disability organisations over his decision to move functions related to disability to the department of social development, the Presidency said on Friday.

Organisations and activists have sent a letter to his office over the matter.

“The President is considering the matters presented in the letter and feedback will be provided in due course,” spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

“The concerns were also raised with deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa during the Youth Day commemoration in Kimberley on 16 June 2014.”

During the announcement of the new national executive last month, President Zuma reconfigured the ministry of women, children and people with disabilities into a ministry in the presidency focusing on women.

Maharaj said the functions related to the support of children and people with disabilities were transferred to the department of social development.

“President Zuma reiterates that government recognises and addresses the human rights issues of those with disabilities and it will continue to integrate people with disabilities into all aspects of the country’s socio-economic development,” he said.

SAPA