Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma’s answer on his process for pardoning people with criminal records was not accepted by the DA in Parliament on Thursday.
During a questions sitting, DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach had asked a supplementary question to another MP’s follow-up question on the written reply Zuma had given about Presidential Pardons.
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Tonga – Two Mozambican nationals accused of robbing a shop belonging to an Indian national walked free when the case was provisionally struck from the court roll on Thursday.
Paito Khumbane, 30, and Jordaan Lazaro Nhanthumba, 26, had been kept in custody since January 26 and couldn’t hide their happiness when Magistrate Edgar Moletsane called out their names and told them to go home.
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Cape Town – Missing probation reports on Thursday caused a postponement for the second time in the sentencing proceeding of nine men who transgressed the Civil Aviation Act by dumping human waste in the departure hall at the Cape Town International Airport nearly two years ago.
Eight of the nine men appeared in the Bellville Regional Court on Thursday, before Magistrate Nonkosi Saba.
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Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma issued strong words against xenophobic attacks on Thursday, following a display by the EFF that almost got its leader thrown out of the National Assembly.
The president condemned a spate of attacks on foreigners in Durban and other areas, calling it “shocking and unacceptable”.
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Johannesburg – A former stripper colleague of murder accused Maruschka Robinson, who was dating Dustan Blom at the time of his death, told a Johannesburg court on Thursday that she saw both Robinson and fellow accused JP Malan take drugs a day prior to Blom’s disappearance.
The former stripper, before she began her testimony, requested and got a court order granted by Judge Delize Smith that her name not be published due to personal reasons.
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Johannesburg – International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will meet ambassadors and diplomats from other African countries on Friday to discuss the latest wave of xenophobic attacks in the country.
Five people have died during violent confrontations in KwaZulu-Natal since last Friday, and thousands have been displaced. A peace march was held in Durban on Thursday, attended by thousands of people, including the province’s premier, religious leaders and celebrities.
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Johannesburg- The South African Football Association (SAFA) has condemned in the strongest terms the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals being perpetrated by what it called criminal elements.
“What is happening in certain parts of the country whereby fellow Africans are being subjected to all sorts of hate and abuse is quite unacceptable.
“This is not what the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy was all about. When we hosted the 2010 showpiece, it was an African World Cup, to unite the continent, speak and relate as a united family,” said SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan who was the CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“What is happening now in some parts of the country is quite the opposite. It is like undoing all the good work and legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. South Africa is part of this great continent and we should not alienate ourselves with these regrettable and barbaric actions.”
The SAFA President said after years of isolation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had played a critical role in South Africa being readmitted into the FIFA family.
“CAF and the entire continent were at the forefront of telling the world that apartheid had no place in the sport and that unless it was abolished, South Africa should remain isolated. If it was not for them, it could probably have taken many more years for this country to enjoy the fruits of the abolition of apartheid.
“So instead of embracing our brothers from across the continent as part of us, we are making them feel unwelcome. This is unfortunate and unacceptable. It must stop. Everyone must say no to xenophobia (where fellow Africans are being attacked) because it is some sort of apartheid in reverse. It has no place in modern society,” added the SAFA President.
South African national teams and clubs participate in various competitions on the continent and the SAFA President warned those who promote xenophobia that they risk putting our teams in a very risky position when they play away from home.
“It is like saying to Africa it is us versus you. Such actions only help to isolate us from the rest of the continent. It goes against the spirit of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“We as SAFA are saying these barbaric actions must end; and end now. We fought against apartheid because it segregated society and xenophobia has the same apartheid tendencies.”
Dr Jordaan concluded by saying that during the fight against apartheid, most of our freedom fighters sought refuge across the continent and around the world.
“As a country, we should never forget where we come from. During the days of the struggle, who took us in and accommodated us? Why are we today turning against the very same people who were vital in the fight against apartheid? Our leaders fled to Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Angola, among other countries and were treated well. We are humans before we are South Africans, and that must be in the forefront of our existence,” concluded Dr Jordaan.
-TDN
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Following a 30- minute statement from President Jacob Zuma to the National Assembly (NA) this afternoon on the violence against foreign nationals in KwaZulu Natal, all parties represented in Parliament made statements condemning the violence and calling for an end to it.
The debate preceded the President’s second session of oral replies to questions for this year.
During the 84 minute debate in the NA Chamber, a small group of students gathered outside the main entrance to Parliament to protest against Afrophobia.
Initial reports indicate that the students did not have permission for their gathering and that stun grenades were thrown into the crowd. There are no reports of anyone being injured.
The Secretary to Parliament will be requesting a full report from the Provincial Commissioner of Police about what occurred and the reasons for any action that may have been taken by the police.
-TDN
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Bokone Bophirima Premier, Supra Mahumapelo, has expressed sadness and shock at the murder and alleged rape of a grade 12 learner that took place in Jouberton, Klerksdorp at the weekend.
Police believe that Kelebogile Noge (18) was murdered on Saturday night.
Her half-naked body was found in an open field in Jourberton in the Matlosana Local Municipality on Sunday morning, April 12.
In condemning the incident, Premier Mahumapelo urged the police to act swiftly and arrest the perpetrator to prevent perpetuation of such barbaric acts.
“On behalf of the government and people of Bokoni Bophirima, I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of Kelebogile Noge. I want them to know that we are with them during this difficult time in their lives. We appeal to police to act speedily in arresting the suspect in this case because we cannot allow these inhumane and barbaric acts to happen in our province,” said Premier Mahumapelo.
Mahumapelo also urged members of the community who may have any information pertaining to this heinous crime to approach the nearest police station.
Kelebogile’s funeral is being planned for Saturday April 18 in Vetport near Leeudoringstad.
-TDN
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The Guardian 