Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address failed to address sex worker issues, the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) said on Thursday.

The omission was despite Zuma acknowledging that crimes against women, children and marginalised groups remained high, Sweat director Sally-Jean Shackleton said in a letter addressed to Zuma and Minister of Women in the Presidency Susan Shabangu.

This was even though such crimes had decreased in the last five years, according to police statistics.

“The commitment to improving workers’ rights is applauded but excluded a recognition of the fact that sex workers have limited labour law protection due to the criminalised status of sex work,” Shackleton said.

Steps that would reduce assault, rape, harassment, and intimidation of sex workers by police were needed.

Shackleton said sex workers were mistreated and discriminated against at public healthcare facilities, and by the courts.

Zuma’s silence on sex work undermined the safety and well-being of sex workers, whose human rights were compromised under the current legal dispensation.

This was despite sex workers having rights which the Constitution purported to respect and protect.

She said no progress had been made regarding the SA Law Reform Commission’s project 107, on adult prostitution, a situation that had remained the same for the last 13 years.

This was despite Zuma, in replying to a parliamentary question in October 2013, stating seven commissioners had been appointed to deal with the matter.

Shackleton said a recent study by the Women’s Legal Centre showed that 30% of sex workers in South Africa’s five biggest cities experienced abuse by police officers.

“Criminalisation accordingly drives sex workers even further to the margins of our society,” she said.

She called on Zuma to prioritise addressing human rights violations against sex workers, via a law-reform process that would decriminalise adult, consensual sex work.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Residents of Botlokwa in Limpopo pelted cars with stones and barricaded the N1 on Wednesday, Limpopo police said.

Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said residents wanted to remove the chairman of the traditional council.

He said on Monday a group called Botlokwa Community Safety wanted to march, but the municipality declined the request because due processes were not followed.

“Today [Wednesday] at 09:00 they gathered at traditional council with the view of removing the chairperson forcefully.”

He said public order police dispersed the crowd, which went to the N1 to barricade the freeway between Polokwane and Louis Trichardt.

Shops belonging to foreign nationals were looted and cars were stoned.

“The situation is now under control. Cars are able to move in and out of the area.

“We however want to emphasise that anarchy in communities will not be allowed and we will not hesitate to arrest those taking the law into their hands.”

Mulaudzi said the cluster commander was facilitating dialogue between the municipality, the traditional council and the concerned group to find a solution to the issue raised.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The body of a police officer was found in an open veld in Randfontein, west of Johannesburg, on Wednesday, Gauteng police said.

Warrant Officer Thabo Abednigo Mahlaba’s body was found in a decomposed state by mineworkers, Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said.

The 50-year-old, who was allegedly kidnapped, was reported missing by his wife on 6 June.

The officer, who was last seen alive on 5 June at the Kagiso Police Station, allegedly went to withdraw money from an ATM in Krugersdorp on the day and had not returned home.

He was last seen wearing a black cap, blue denim jeans, a denim jacket, and a formal pair of shoes, said Dlamini.

The cause of his death was unknown and no arrests had yet been made.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A charge of murder and attempted murder relating to the 1999 killing of Oupa Ramogibe will not be reinstated against former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, Freedom Under Law (FUL) said on Wednesday.

Charges that had been reinstated by the National Prosecuting Authority against Mdluli included assault, intimidation and defeating the ends of justice, said FUL chairman Johann Kriegler.

“The information from the National Director of Public Prosecutions [NDPP] is that… in respect of the violence charges related to the murder, the prosecution is being reinstated in respect of all of the charges except for the murder charge,” he said.

“The murder and attempted murder charges are not proceeding.”

FUL was also informed that the NDPP had instructed senior prosecutors to review the possibility of reinstating fraud and corruption charges against Mdluli.

“But that hasn’t happened yet. That is the only information I can give you. I have no idea when things are likely to happen.”

On Tuesday night, the NPA confirmed that some charges had been reinstated against Mdluli, but could not reveal which ones.

Mdluli was suspended amid allegations of fraud and corruption, and charges relating to the murder of his ex-lover’s husband Ramogibe in February 1999.

In the 15-year-old case, Mdluli and three others were initially accused of killing Ramogibe, as well as charges of intimidation, kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.

Ramogibe allegedly received death threats after marrying Mdluli’s former girlfriend and was told to leave her or he would be killed. He opened an attempted murder case before his death. At the time, Mdluli was the station commander of the Vosloorus police station in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, and was accused of sabotaging the investigation.

Charges withdrawn

The charges of kidnapping and assault relate to allegations that he intimidated and assaulted the family and friends of his ex-lover to find out where she had moved when she got married.

The fraud and corruption charges, meanwhile, relate to a different time in Mdluli’s life in his capacity as head of the crime intelligence unit. He is accused of employing family members and friends as intelligence operatives, and misusing police funding to buy luxury cars.

The fraud and corruption charges were withdrawn on 14 December 2011, and in March 2012, Mdluli was reinstated as head of crime intelligence.

A month later, the NPA provisionally withdrew the murder charges, pending an inquest into the matter.

In May that year, then police minister Nathi Mthethwa announced Mdluli would be transferred from crime intelligence to the office of the deputy national police commissioner for operations.

Later, he was suspended for a second time when allegations emerged from the inquest into Ramogibe’s murder. In November 2012, the inquest cleared him of any involvement in the murder.

In April, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) upheld a high court ruling against the withdrawal of fraud and corruption charges against Mdluli.

The SCA said it could not immediately order the reinstatement of criminal prosecution and disciplinary proceedings, as this would constitute undue interference with the executive and a transgression of the separation of powers.

FUL had sought an order in the High Court in Pretoria to set aside the decisions and reinstate the charges against Mdluli.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A Limpopo municipality has procured laptops from a filling station registered in the name of a councillor’s son while another has paid a company R700 000 for recording a single disciplinary session, City Press reports.
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Johannesburg – A charge of murder and attempted murder relating to the 1999 killing of Oupa Ramogibe will not be reinstated against former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, Freedom Under Law (FUL) said on Wednesday.

Charges that had been reinstated by the National Prosecuting Authority against Mdluli included assault, intimidation and defeating the ends of justice, said FUL chairman Johann Kriegler.

“The information from the National Director of Public Prosecutions [NDPP] is that… in respect of the violence charges related to the murder, the prosecution is being reinstated in respect of all of the charges except for the murder charge,” he said.

“The murder and attempted murder charges are not proceeding.”

FUL was also informed that the NDPP had instructed senior prosecutors to review the possibility of reinstating fraud and corruption charges against Mdluli.

“But that hasn’t happened yet. That is the only information I can give you. I have no idea when things are likely to happen.”

On Tuesday night, the NPA confirmed that some charges had been reinstated against Mdluli, but could not reveal which ones.

Mdluli was suspended amid allegations of fraud and corruption, and charges relating to the murder of his ex-lover’s husband Ramogibe in February 1999.

In the 15-year-old case, Mdluli and three others were initially accused of killing Ramogibe, as well as charges of intimidation, kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.

Ramogibe allegedly received death threats after marrying Mdluli’s former girlfriend and was told to leave her or he would be killed. He opened an attempted murder case before his death. At the time, Mdluli was the station commander of the Vosloorus police station in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, and was accused of sabotaging the investigation.

Charges withdrawn

The charges of kidnapping and assault relate to allegations that he intimidated and assaulted the family and friends of his ex-lover to find out where she had moved when she got married.

The fraud and corruption charges, meanwhile, relate to a different time in Mdluli’s life in his capacity as head of the crime intelligence unit. He is accused of employing family members and friends as intelligence operatives, and misusing police funding to buy luxury cars.

The fraud and corruption charges were withdrawn on 14 December 2011, and in March 2012, Mdluli was reinstated as head of crime intelligence.

A month later, the NPA provisionally withdrew the murder charges, pending an inquest into the matter.

In May that year, then police minister Nathi Mthethwa announced Mdluli would be transferred from crime intelligence to the office of the deputy national police commissioner for operations.

Later, he was suspended for a second time when allegations emerged from the inquest into Ramogibe’s murder. In November 2012, the inquest cleared him of any involvement in the murder.

In April, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) upheld a high court ruling against the withdrawal of fraud and corruption charges against Mdluli.

The SCA said it could not immediately order the reinstatement of criminal prosecution and disciplinary proceedings, as this would constitute undue interference with the executive and a transgression of the separation of powers.

FUL had sought an order in the High Court in Pretoria to set aside the decisions and reinstate the charges against Mdluli.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The Electoral Court’s recommendation on Wednesday that IEC chair Pansy Tlakula be removed from her position was welcomed by three of the parties who brought the application.

The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC), however, said in a statement it noted the ruling, but could not immediately comment further as it needed to study it.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said: “We welcome the decision by the Electoral Court. It is long overdue. She has been wasting everybody’s time.”

Economic Freedom Fighters spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said: “The South African people can rest assured that EFF will support her removal in order to restore dignity and confidence in the office of the IEC.”

Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele said in a statement that her party felt vindicated and believed the ruling bolstered democracy.

In a written judgment on Wednesday, Judge Lotter Wepener recommended Tlakula be removed from her post. He concluded Tlakula had committed misconduct to an extent warranting her removal from office.

The relevant committee of the National Assembly would consider the court’s recommendation and decide on further steps.

Holomisa said: “She [Tlakula] should have read the signal from the word go when the public protector found she was involved in a conflict of interest transaction.”

Holomisa said Tlakula’s arrogance did not help her.

“She flatly refused to co-operate with forensic auditors.”

Behaved improperly

The UDM, EFF, Agang SA, Christian Democratic Party, and the Congress of the People approached the court seeking Tlakula’s removal from office.

They believed Tlakula had behaved improperly over the leasing of the Electoral Commission of SA’s (IEC) headquarters in Centurion in 2009.

Ndlozi said in a statement the IEC’s integrity needed to be defended at all costs, as such institutions were the cornerstone of democracy.

“It is regrettable that a court had to rule on such an obvious matter in order for the political leadership to act… The coming local government elections will indeed be safe without Pansy Tlakula at the helm.”

Ramphele said in a statement that Agang SA awaited action from Parliament following the court’s recommendation.

She questioned why the two largest parties, the ruling African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance, had not joined the application.

Tlakula’s lawyers could not be reached for comment.

Romantic relationship

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela last year recommended that Parliament consider action against Tlakula for her “grossly irregular” role in the building’s procurement.

Madonsela found, among other things, that Tlakula had a relationship -possibly of a romantic nature – with the then chair of Parliament’s finance portfolio committee Thaba Mufamadi.

Mufamadi was a shareholder in Abland, which owns the building and was awarded the R320m contract to lease it.

The Electoral Court found Tlakula had compromised the IEC and that her actions could have detracted from public confidence in it.

“In my view, the respondent compromised the independence and integrity of the commission to such an extent that her actions complained of constitute misconduct within the meaning of the Electoral Commission Act,” Wepener said in the written ruling.

The ANC noted reports on the judgment and that the court’s recommendation would be referred to Parliament.

“The ANC will await the outcome of these processes before making any statements on this matter,” spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said in a statement.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The debate on President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address was characterised by the contrasting debuts of the young leaders of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema, and Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane in the National Assembly, City Press reports.
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Rio de Janeiro  – Defending champions Spain have slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Chile and crashed out of the World Cup on Wednesday after their second defeat in five days.

As it happened: Chile v Spain

Chile’s victory — through goals from Eduardo Vargas and Charles Arranguiz — made the South Americans and the Netherlands the first teams to go through to the second round.

After a golden era that saw them win the European Championships in 2008 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2010, Spain have suffered a dramatic fall from grace. They equalled Italy’s unwanted record in 1950 of being booted out of the World Cup after just two games.

It was Chile’s first win over the Spanish in 11 meetings.

Spain’s confidence seemed to have evaporated after their 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands in their first Group B game on Friday.

Coach Vicente del Bosque dropped established stars Gerard Pique and Xavi Hernandez but it had no impact in the charged atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium.

Chile pressed forward from the start. Vargas’ shot in the second minute was narrowly deflected wide of the goal by a defender.

Spain also pushed up, but errors soon proved costly.

Xabi Alonso gave the ball away in the 20th minute and the ball reached Arranguiz in the penalty area who slipped it inside to Vargas who smashed the ball past Spain’s captain Iker Casillas, making a Spanish record 17th appearance in a World Cup finals match.

Spain’s defence was in disarray.

The game carried on at a furious pace as the defending champions sought a way back into the game.

But in the 43rd minute, Casillas clumsily punched away a free kick by Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez. The ball went straight to Arranguiz who struck it into the net.

Casilllas seemed shell-shocked as he walked off at half-time. Defender Sergio Ramos and other Spanish players also shook their heads in disbelief.

Spain’s pitiful state seemed to be epitomized by misses in the second half. Diego Costa had a shot deflected wide and in the 53rd minute Sergio Busquets’s was clear in front of goal but a seemingly simple tap in went wide.

Chile’s goalkeeper Claudio Bravo pulled off a brilliant reflex save to stop an Andres Iniesta shot in the 84th minute.

The historic Maracana stadium erupted into a riot of red and blue as Chilean supporters started noisy celebrations. Thousands crossed the Andes in special convoys to watch Chile’s games.

Chile play Netherlands to decide top place in Group B on June 23. Spain play their final game against Australia on the same day.

– AFP