Daily Archives: September 24, 2014

‘Review not because of EFF excitement’


Johannesburg – The recent “excitement” in Parliament was not the reason why its rules were being reviewed, National Council of Provinces chair Thandi Modise said on Tuesday.



“It (the review) is not because of the excitement and the young blood, it is because honestly there are rules we need to look at,” she told a meeting between the SA National Editors Forum and Parliament’s presiding officers in Johannesburg.

“The review of the rules of the NCOP, the rules of the NA (National Assembly) and the joint rules is something we are doing so that at all times Parliament is alive to current conditions.”

Independent Newspapers

Parliament in Cape Town. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete said the recent disruptions and “drama” in Parliament had not affected the way it did its work.

“The drama is really for your eyes, which is only in the chamber. That is where the drama is confined because that’s where everybody will see what they are doing,” she said.

“Committees continue with their work. The colleagues from those red benches (the Economic Freedom Fighters) are there in all the committees in Parliament… where a lot of the things they scream about in the House are actually discussed.”

The EFF said earlier on Tuesday they would go to court to challenge disciplinary charges against 20 MPs stemming from their heckling of President Jacob Zuma to repay state funds spent on his Nkandla home.

“After careful consideration, the Economic Freedom Fighters has decided to urgently approach the country’s courts to interdict the intention of the ANC to exclude the EFF from Parliament,” spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said.

This is the second time the EFF has threatened legal action over the threat of expulsion arising from the party’s unprecedented protest in the National Assembly during presidential question time last month.

EFF MPs chanted “pay back the money” after EFF leader Julius Malema asked Zuma when he would heed Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendation that he reimburse the state for non-security upgrades done to his KwaZulu-Natal homestead.

They ignored a threat from Mbete to have them physically removed from the House and she adjourned the house with the remainder of Zuma’s questions unanswered.

Mbete said on Tuesday that she “lost it” during that session.

“However to reduce the cause of what went on that day to the Speaker is to really get it wrong.”

On September 16 opposition leaders walked out of Parliament leaving the ANC to easily defeat the vote of no confidence in Mbete. – Sapa

‘Review not because of EFF excitement’


Johannesburg – The recent “excitement” in Parliament was not the reason why its rules were being reviewed, National Council of Provinces chair Thandi Modise said on Tuesday.



“It (the review) is not because of the excitement and the young blood, it is because honestly there are rules we need to look at,” she told a meeting between the SA National Editors Forum and Parliament’s presiding officers in Johannesburg.

“The review of the rules of the NCOP, the rules of the NA (National Assembly) and the joint rules is something we are doing so that at all times Parliament is alive to current conditions.”

Independent Newspapers

Parliament in Cape Town. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete said the recent disruptions and “drama” in Parliament had not affected the way it did its work.

“The drama is really for your eyes, which is only in the chamber. That is where the drama is confined because that’s where everybody will see what they are doing,” she said.

“Committees continue with their work. The colleagues from those red benches (the Economic Freedom Fighters) are there in all the committees in Parliament… where a lot of the things they scream about in the House are actually discussed.”

The EFF said earlier on Tuesday they would go to court to challenge disciplinary charges against 20 MPs stemming from their heckling of President Jacob Zuma to repay state funds spent on his Nkandla home.

“After careful consideration, the Economic Freedom Fighters has decided to urgently approach the country’s courts to interdict the intention of the ANC to exclude the EFF from Parliament,” spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said.

This is the second time the EFF has threatened legal action over the threat of expulsion arising from the party’s unprecedented protest in the National Assembly during presidential question time last month.

EFF MPs chanted “pay back the money” after EFF leader Julius Malema asked Zuma when he would heed Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendation that he reimburse the state for non-security upgrades done to his KwaZulu-Natal homestead.

They ignored a threat from Mbete to have them physically removed from the House and she adjourned the house with the remainder of Zuma’s questions unanswered.

Mbete said on Tuesday that she “lost it” during that session.

“However to reduce the cause of what went on that day to the Speaker is to really get it wrong.”

On September 16 opposition leaders walked out of Parliament leaving the ANC to easily defeat the vote of no confidence in Mbete. – Sapa

Man gets 25 years for rape, murder


Johannesburg – A man was sentenced to 25 years in jail by the Nongoma Regional Court on Tuesday for raping and killing his girlfriend, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Mandla Zulu raped his 19-year-old girlfriend on 25 December last year, police spokesperson Thulani Zwane said.

When she threatened to report him to the police, he strangled her.

He was arrested on the same day and charged.

He had been in custody since his arrest.

SAPA

Man gets 25 years for rape, murder


Johannesburg – A man was sentenced to 25 years in jail by the Nongoma Regional Court on Tuesday for raping and killing his girlfriend, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Mandla Zulu raped his 19-year-old girlfriend on 25 December last year, police spokesperson Thulani Zwane said.

When she threatened to report him to the police, he strangled her.

He was arrested on the same day and charged.

He had been in custody since his arrest.

SAPA

Zuma signs legal practice bill


Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma has signed into law the legal practice bill, the presidency said on Tuesday.

“This brings to fruition many years of discussions, negotiations and even concessions that began in the time of the late Dullah Omar, democratic South Africa’s first minister of justice,” spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

“While the time taken to promote and enact this historical statute might seem overly long, the time taken has been well spent.”

The lengthy deliberations during the bill’s passage through Parliament ensured that its many provisions had been thoroughly considered.

This was aimed at ensuring a legal profession that was not only transformed, but also independent, and promoted the values underpinning the Constitution and upholding the rule of law.

“The transformation of the legal profession, like the transformation of the judiciary and our court system, is crucial for our young constitutional democracy,” Maharaj said.

“Transformation of the legal profession is a constitutional imperative. The legal profession constitutes part of the judicial machinery that provides services aimed at promoting access to justice.”

As a result of the bill, all lawyers, being advocates and attorneys, would for the first time fall under a single regulatory body, the SA Legal Practice Council.

The council would be assisted by provincial councils in its daily operations.

“This Council will consist mostly of legal practitioners but also of other important role players whose expertise and experience will enhance the objects of this body,” Maharaj said.

“While there is a single regulatory body, the Legal Practice Act allows for advocates and attorneys to continue in their respective areas of specialisation.”

Attorneys vs advocates

The council, when carrying out its regulatory functions, would bear in mind and recognise the differences and similarities between attorneys and advocates where appropriate.

“Legal practitioners, being officers of the courts, will continue to be admitted as such by the courts and the courts will continue to remove them from practice should this be necessary,” said Maharaj.

“The council will also play a crucial role in the professional conduct of legal practitioners and develop a single code of conduct that applies to all lawyers.”

One important feature of the bill would see disciplinary bodies that adjudicated on cases of alleged misconduct being open and transparent.

Beyond consisting of lawyers, they would also consist of lay persons.

Another important feature would see a legal services ombudsman established.

The ombud’s mandate would be to protect and promote the public interest relating to the rendering of legal services, and ensure fair, efficient and effective investigation of alleged misconduct complaints against legal practitioners.

The bill’s full implementation would only take place after the National Forum on the Legal Profession had completed its mandate, for which a period of three years had been given.

“The mandate of this Forum is to put systems and procedures in place for the full implementation of the legislation,” Maharaj said.

“It is trusted that the deliberations of the Forum will facilitate consensus on the remaining issues that are still required to be dealt with as set out in the Act.”

SAPA

Man who stole from lover under house arrest


Cape Town – A man who disappeared with jewellery worth R85 917, stolen from his lover, was sentenced to three years’ house arrest on Tuesday, when he pleaded guilty to theft in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court.

Steven Billington, 43, of Claremont in Cape Town, also pleaded guilty to stealing equipment worth R14 000 from his former employer, Cradle Technologies.

In addition to the house arrest, he was given a five-year suspended prison sentence.

He was sentenced in plea-bargain proceedings, before Magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.

According to the plea-bargain document, he started a romantic relationship with victim Natasha Wilmot in September last year, and the same month moved into her home.

They lived together for about six months, until Billington disappeared without explanation, and kept his cellphone switched off.

The victim’s aunt, Daphne Hildebrant, also stayed with the couple briefly, and when she left she discovered that her two valuable earrings as well as an unspecified amount in British currency were missing.

Soon afterwards, Wilmot discovered that she too was missing jewellery and British currency that she had kept in a safe.

Wilmot reported the thefts to the police, after Billington denied any knowledge or involvement.

Wilmot, meanwhile, did her own private investigation, to find that two gold dealers in Claremont, three Cash Crusaders outlets and one Cash Convertors had recently bought jewellery from Billington, as well as weeding equipment that Wilmot had stored in her garage.

In the plea document, prosecutor Thersia du Toit-Smit states that Billington started stealing from Wilmot in September last year, “while their relationship was still new”.

Defence attorney Mike Jennings pointed out that Billington had given Wilmot a car as compensation, which she had sold for R8 000.

Billington has to pay back the value of the items stolen, to Wilmot, Hildebrant and Cradle Technologies, in monthly instalments, as a condition of his suspended prison sentence.

SAPA

I lost it with EFF – Mbete


Johannesburg – National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete has admitted she “lost it” on the day that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) disrupted President Jacob Zuma’s question time in Parliament.

The City Press reported that addressing journalists at an outreach meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday, she said: “I’ll tell you about 21 August [when Zuma fielded questions] where I thought I lost it that day. Alright? It’s out there,” she said.
For more http://www.news24.com

I lost it with EFF – Mbete


Johannesburg – National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete has admitted she “lost it” on the day that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) disrupted President Jacob Zuma’s question time in Parliament.

The City Press reported that addressing journalists at an outreach meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday, she said: “I’ll tell you about 21 August [when Zuma fielded questions] where I thought I lost it that day. Alright? It’s out there,” she said.
For more http://www.news24.com

Front National takes Derby-Lewis case to UN


Johannesburg – Right-wing political party Front National will approach the United Nations’ (UN) Human Rights Commission over the handling of Clive Derby-Lewis’s medical parole application, it said on Tuesday.

“In spite of having been examined for the medical parole board again on 9 July and another case for release on medical parole consequently submitted, no reply has been received from the department of correctional services,” it said in a statement.

Derby-Lewis was convicted of conspiring to kill SA Communist Party general secretary Chris Hani by providing the gun Polish immigrant Janusz Walus used to kill him in the driveway of his home in Boksburg, on the East Rand, on 10 April 1993.

The 78-year-old former Conservative Party MP, who was sentenced to 25 years behind bars, has served more than 20 years of his sentence.

Derby-Lewis was initially sentenced to death, which was commuted to life imprisonment when the death penalty was abolished in 1995. He first applied for parole in June 2010.

According to Derby-Lewis’s wife Gaye, he has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Front National said that it visited Derby-Lewis on Tuesday and that he was expected to undergo an operation on Friday.

It would seek a meeting with Justice Minister Michael Masutha “to demand an explanation for his avoidance of the issue”.

“At the same time, a formal complaint about the South African government’s handling of the issue will be presented to the Human Rights Commission of the UN.”

Derby-Lewis’s lawyer Elsabe Juin said in June that the correctional services department had promised to give Derby-Lewis’s application for medical parole urgent attention.

SAPA