Johannesburg – Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele was suspended as president of the party on Sunday, with a disciplinary hearing pending, deputy president Andries Tlouamma said.

“She is suspended pending the disciplinary hearing. That should be within 14 days,” he said.

Ramphele was suspended because she allegedly made major decisions without consulting the national executive committee (NEC).

“She [Ramphele] appointed a task team and dissolved the NEC without consulting. She also made a decision of who should go to Parliament without consulting.”

Agang interim spokesperson Philip Machanick said the suspension had no standing.

“I don’t think really anyone has standing to suspend her [Ramphele]. The process to reconstitute the NEC was constitutional. The discipline committee to deal with a matter like that was not consulted,” he said.

“It seems these people created their own NEC and disciplinary committee on the fly without consulting anyone. The meeting they called is very unprocedual.”

Bussed in

Machanick said it was believed people were bussed in that were not even Agang SA members.

“If you are going to do something on a democratic level, you don’t just find a location and bus in supporters.”

Tlouamma said Ramphele was implicated in a fraud case therefore she was unfit to lead the party until she was cleared.

“She will be served with the suspension letter tonight [Sunday] pending the date of the disciplinary hearing.”

The decision to suspend Ramphele was taken at a NEC meeting which was held in Alexandra, Johannesburg, he said.

Machanick said the claim Ramphele opened the bank account had not been backed up by any evidence.

“This whole thing originally broke with allegations of fraud which has never been substantiated,” he said.

“The claim she [Ramphele] opened the bank account is simply a smoke screen or prelude to set up all this chaos.”

Tlouamma said party chair Mike Tshishonga would be acting president until the charges against Ramphele were dealt with.

Early Sunday morning in a statement, Machanick said the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg was approached to stop the meeting, where the decision to suspend Ramphele was taken, from happening.

Tloumma said: “They got an interdict, which we quickly went to court, and reversed it.”

Machanick said the problem with the faction against Ramphele was that they had nothing to lose.

“Even if the party collapses, two of the people we are fighting against are MPs,” he said.

“So, the MPs can pretty much sit in Parliament sleeping for five years since they don’t have anyone to account to.”

On the other hand, those in the party had its dignity and that of its supporters to think about, and keeping true to Agang SA’s founding values, Machanick said.

Earlier this month, Ramphele and Tshishonga opened separate fraud cases with police over the bank account opened to receive a refund from the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC), believed to be around R200 000.

The New Age newspaper had reported Tshishonga accused Ramphele of having direct access to party funds, and that she opened the account to access the IEC deposit without a mandate from the party.

Tshishonga claimed his signature appeared on the bank account’s paperwork without his knowledge.

On 13 June, Ramphele warned that members who tarnished her image in the media would be suspended. She criticised members involved in factionalism.

On 15 June, a meeting was held in Johannesburg by a faction of the party to cast a vote of no confidence in Ramphele.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley Crime Prevention police have vowed to keep the streets of Kimberley clean from drugs and illegal substances. Police received information on Friday about a man who was carrying dagga in the vehicle.

Police made follow-up and a white Toyota Tazz, which had one occupant, was stopped. The incident took place at Boschoff Road in Kimberley.

“A 30-year-old driver was arrested after a black plastic bags containing dagga were found inside the vehicle. The dagga weighs about 87 kilogram and valued at about R450 000” lieutenant Donald Mdhlusi said.

The driver was immediately arrested and his vehicle was confiscated. The suspect is facing a charge of possession of dagga and is expected to appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Major-General Jean Abrahams applauded the police for their hard work and the swift response to the information. She further encouraged the community members to continue with providing such information as her members will treat such information with confidentiality.

According to General Abrahams ‘‘there is no criminality that is going to be tolerated in this area’’.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley- A 28-year-old man arrested for armed robbery at Modeliefe Avenue, Square Hillpark in Kimberley.

Lieutenant Donald Mdluli said two suspects allegedly entered a shop and threatened a owner with a gun.

The two suspects wearing balaclavas demanded cash and one one of the suspects allegedly took the shop-owner’s cellphone.

“The two men fled the crime scene afterwards and the shop-owner followed them. They alleged ran to the nearest bushes where they parked their car” Mdhluli said.

The suspects were disturbed and could not reach to their car and decided to fled on foot.

One suspect was arrested by shop-owner and police were called.

The police arrested a 28 year-old man who they suspect is of foreign nation. The suspect will appear before Kimberley Magistrate Court on Monday for armed robbery and police investigations continue.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje 
Kimberley- Police are investigating a case of armed robbery following a business robbery where a 34-year-old shop-owner was robbed on Saturday at about 12h30.

The incident took place at Modeliefie Avenue, Square Hill Park-Kimberley.

“It is alleged that two male suspects entered the shop, wearing balaclava, and demanded cash. The shop-owner was threatened with a firearm” lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said.

Mdhluli said one of the suspects took a cellphone from the complainant whilst the other suspect jumped over the counter where he took undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspects then fled the scene on foot to nearest veld. It is further reported that the shop-owner followed them with his bakkie. Police said they believe suspects might have left their Ford Leisure bakkie in the veld so that they could use it to get away.

“The complainant somehow managed to disturb these suspects which led them to get out of the vehicle and ran on foot. The shop-owner succeeded in apprehending one suspect and the other one managed to get away” he said.

Members of the Kimberley Crime Prevention Unit acted swiftly in ensuring that the suspect is detained. The arrested suspect is a 28-year-old male, who is a foreign national. Major-General Jean Abrahams thanked the members for their hard work and she trusts that the members will arrest the outstanding suspect soon.

General Abrahams also indicated that the arrest of a suspect is a positive thing and hope that it will help in addressing the Business and armed robberies in the area. Detective Warrant Officer Patrick Dibebe has been tasked to investigate this case.

Anyone with information that can assist in the whereabouts of the other suspect is requested to contact D/WO Dibebe on 082 302 0407 or contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Sms’s can also be sent to 32211. The investigation continues.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje
North West police arrested a total of 702 suspects through various operations in the past seven days between 22 June and 29 June 2014 for Contact, Contact related, Property related, trio and many other crimes.

The arrests include 5 for Murder, 12 for Rape, 118  for Assault GBH and assault common,  33 for burglary residential and business, 20 for shoplifting, 14 for robbery aggravating, 19 for driving under the influence of liquor and 81 for drug related crimes.   

“The police managed during the operations to seize goods such as 1 vehicle, counterfeit cigarettes, a number of drugs, 9 knives and various electrical appliances.  Most of the suspects have already appeared in different courts while others are expected to appear on Monday, 30 June 2014” colonel Emelda Setlhako said.

-TDN
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Mahikeng – Hundreds of people working at the Sun City resort in the North West protested outside the resort’s premises on Saturday, said Cosatu.

The trade union federation’s North West regional secretary Solly Phetoe said the protesters were demanding the immediate re-instatement of between 200 and 250 of their colleagues, who were fired during the week.

“The protesters allege that management has placed video cameras in toilets and in the kitchens to monitor them,” said Phetoe.

Some workers were fired for allegedly spending too much time in the kitchen and rest rooms, while others were alleged to have been filmed stealing, Phetoe said.

He called on the resort’s management to provide proof of this by showing the material it had.
The workers have been on an unprotected strike since Friday.

Sun International spokesperson Michael Farr denied the protesters were Sun City employees.

“They are employees of one of four of our service providers who have decided to take disciplinary action against them with respect to theft at Sun City.”

Farr said it was up to their employer to deal with the matter and Sun International and Sun City could not intervene as none of their direct staff was involved in the matter.

Phetoe said the protesters had damaged some vehicles and assaulted workers who had chosen to report for duty.

“The Congress of the SA Trade Union (Cosatu) was there to try to prevent any violence.

“We are here with police and they are trying to get management to talk to the people,” said Phetoe.

“They say if management doesn’t address them, they will sleep here,” he said.

“My presence here is to ensure that we do not see another Marikana,” said Phetoe.

He was referring to the events of 16 August 2012, where 34 people, mostly striking mineworkers, were killed in a confrontation with police at Marikana.

“Rustenburg police are known for shooting,” said Phetoe.

While Phetoe had said around 3 000 people were part of the protest, however Farr said they were aware of only around 100.

Police were keeping watch over the situation.
SAPA

Cape Town – Media24 joined DA leader Helen Zille, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and others in paying tribute to Professor Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, who died at his home on Friday evening.

Botman, 60, was a board member of Media24.

Media24 CEO Esmaré Weideman said Botman was “a highly regarded member of our board whose quiet authority and sharp intellectual and philosophical insight into the role and strategic course of Media24 were deeply valued”.

“His death, so shortly after the passing of Professor Jakes Gerwel, our previous chairperson, comes as a double blow for Media24,” she said.

Botman served as a director of Media24 since April 2005.

His wife had a regular column in Kuier magazine in which she answered parents and pupils’ questions.

Media24 chair Professor Rachel Jafta, who knew Botman well, both as a fellow board member and a colleague at the university, also conveyed her sadness at his passing.

Jafta said she would never forget his “respectful, warm and approachable nature and delightful sense of humour”.

Professor Botman was rector and vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University since 2007 and was reappointed for a second five-year term in 2012.

During his early career he made his mark as a church leader and champion of socioeconomic rights. He served as dean of the University of the Western Cape’s theology faculty before joining Stellenbosch University in 2000 where he was vice-rector of the Centre for Teaching and Learning until 2007.

He served on many boards and was the motivating force behind the university’s HOPE Project which drives its transformation and positioning in the 21st century. Under his leadership Stellenbosch University has made three rankings of the world’s top universities.

“We have lost a true mentor and role model. Our thoughts are with Beryl and their children. We will miss him,” said Weideman.

– News24 is a part of the Media24 group. News24

Johannesburg – A man caught allegedly stealing valuables from a house he had broken into was killed by the home owner in Mbewuleni location in Dutywa, Butterworth police said on Saturday.

Yolisa Dindili, 24, was severely assaulted by the house owner and died upon arrival at Dutywa Health Centre on Friday, Captain Jackson Manatha said.

“The suspect aged 35 was inside the house when he allegedly caught the deceased stealing some groceries [and] valuables of the house.”

The man is expected to appear in the Dutywa Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a murder charge.
SAPA

Cape Town – The ANC on Saturday paid tribute to Stellenbosch University Vice-Chancellor and Rector Professor Russel Botman who died at the age of 60.
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