Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma has signed a proclamation to give effect to changes to government departments since the 7 May general elections, the presidency said in a statement on Thursday.

“President Jacob Zuma has signed a proclamation to establish or abolish national departments, as well as to designate such departments and their heads, following the announcement of new portfolios of ministers that the president made on 25 May 2014,” spokesperson Mac Maharaj said.

Although the departments had already been restructured when Zuma announced the new portfolios, this proclamation was needed to sign them into law.

The proclamation officially established the new department of small business development, and replaced the department of performance monitoring and evaluation with the department of planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

The department of water and sanitation would replace water affairs, while the department of women would replace the department of women, children, and people with disabilities.

The communications department would replace the government communications and information service (GCIS).

The proclamation also provided for the establishment of the department of telecommunications and postal services.

The department of justice and correctional services was unaffected by the proclamation.

“The two portfolios remain separate and self-standing, with their own heads of department and their own budgets. The only thing that has happened is that a single individual has been appointed as minister of both portfolios,” Maharaj explained.

“President Zuma will, as a next step, transfer the administration of legislation, powers and functions to the relevant ministers in terms of Section 97 of the Constitution of South Africa, 1996,” Maharaj said.

SAPA

Johannesburg – An East Rand woman charged with child abuse, attempted murder, assault, and defeating the ends of justice will learn on Friday whether she will be granted bail.

The 36-year-old mother of five was scheduled to appear before the Springs Magistrate’s Court.

In her bail application, her lawyer Isabella van Eck said her client could not read or write and was subjected to filthy living conditions.

Van Eck said her client was beaten by her husband.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her children, had initially claimed her husband raped her.

Van Eck said the woman now denied this and said she was intimidated by police.

She was arrested last week, a month after her husband was held for child abuse, assault and attempted murder.
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Johannesburg – Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and eight others are expected to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Friday for alleged conspiracy to kill police colonel Nkosana “Killer” Ximba and forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan.

During their last appearance, the matter was postponed to allow the State to amend its indictment against all eight and to transfer the matter to the High Court in Johannesburg.

Krejcir, Siboniso Miya, Owen Serero, Zodumo Biyela, ex-crime intelligence Sergeant Nandi Nkosi, Welcome Nkanyiso Mafunda, Siphiwe Memela, and Mike Grigorov appeared, while Jacob Nare was not present and was expected to become a State witness once the trial began.

Prosecutor Lawrence Gcaba said the addition of a new suspect had delayed the completion of the indictment and he asked for three weeks to finalise it.

Bulgarian national Grigorov, who is believed to be Krejcir’s accountant and right-hand man, was the last person to be arrested in the matter.

He was arrested in June when he reported to the Benoni police station as part of his bail conditions on a separate fraud case. He had been out on bail of R30 000.

Police said another man, the owner of a security company, had been arrested in connection with the case.

Magistrate Renier Boshoff granted the postponement despite opposition from the lawyers of the accused.
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