Johannesburg – Opposition parties in Mpumalanga called for the suspension of community safety, security and liaison provincial head Thulani Sibuyi on Wednesday.

Sibuyi, 37, who was convicted of drunken driving in 2008, appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday on new charges of drunken driving, impersonating a police officer and resisting arrest.

The DA and the Congress of the People (Cope) said keeping Sibuyi at work set a bad example.

“As the head of the provincial task team implemented to fight drunk driving in the province, Sibuyi must lead by example and, therefore, should be suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of investigations into his criminal case,” said DA Mpumalanga leader Anthony Benadie.

“If found guilty, he must be fired,” he said.

The DA also called for an internal investigation into Sibuyi’s alleged use of blue lights on his vehicle.

“According to reports, Sibuyi left the accident scene by using the blue lights on his car, which allowed him to portray himself as a policeman,” said Benadie.

“By law, the use of blue lights is strictly for law enforcement officers and political officials. Sibuyi is neither,” he said.

Cope MP leader Zale Madonsela questioned Sibuyi’s ethics.

“What message is he sending as head of department and an important individual? What message is he sending about his entire department and the provincial government?” he asked.

He also questioned the provincial government’s reluctance to act against Sibuyi.

“When he was arrested in August on a tender fraud related case, the provincial government refused to comment on his fate and said he was innocent until proven otherwise.

“With the seriousness of impersonating a police officer and resisting arrest, does our government still believe in that cliché?”

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Sibuyi and his co-accused, Vusi Mashaba, 41, who own the company implicated in the fraud, are out on bail of R50 000. They are scheduled to appear in court again on 23 November.

Provincial government spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbatha said Sibuyi would continue to work until the criminal cases were concluded.

“We will make any pronouncements in due course, because for now, this matter is sub-judice,” she said.

“The [head of department] was arrested, appeared in court and was granted bail. For now, it’s important to respect the court processes.”

She would not comment on the use of blue police lights in the drunk driving matter.

Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale told a Sapa correspondent Sibuyi was arrested on the new charges early on Sunday, after he was involved in an accident in Gauteng.

He was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court and he was released on bail of R1 000.

– SAPA

The body of a woman was found in a shaft at the Kroondal Platinum Mine in Rustenburg, North West on Wednesday, the Aquarius Platinum mining company said.

“The employee’s name is being withheld out of respect for her family. The board and management of Aquarius extend to them their deepest condolences,” the company said.

“While the circumstances of the incident cannot be disclosed, it was apparent during the initial investigation that the woman may have been assaulted.”

Blasting activities at the Kwezi shaft, where the body was found, had been suspended until police investigations were completed.

Police could not immediately be reached for comment.

– SAPA

Cosatu in the North West expressed shock and anger on Wednesday at the deaths of a father and son while they were unblocking a municipal sewer.

“The municipality must take responsibility for all the cost for the funeral and making sure that the family is not exposed to poverty,” said Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) North West provincial secretary Solly Phetoe.

The two died when they inhaled toxic fumes while trying to unblock a sewerage system at Huhudi township, in Vryburg, on Friday, police said.

“It is alleged that both victims went inside the sewerage main hole which is next to the old dumping site to unblock the sewer,” police spokesperson Pelonomi Makau said at the time.

Batlhaleheng Mohumapelo, 60, was a permanent municipal worker. His son Monnapula, 24, was a contract worker.

Cosatu conveyed its condolences to the family.

“There is nothing more painful than losing a parent and a child on the same day.”

It said the deaths were apparently as result of a lack of the correct tools and protective clothing for workers, and this had become a trend in the province.

Cosatu urged Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant to ensure that municipalities complied with health and safety standards.

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Lechesa Tsenoli should intervene before the situation worsened, Phetoe said.

– SAPA

Cape Town – Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has refused to respond to a parliamentary question regarding the cost of the 1999 arms deal, saying she cannot do so while the procurement process is under scrutiny by the Seriti Commission.

The minister said in reply to a question from the Freedom Front Plus that supplying the figure could compromise the defence department’s testimony to the judicial commission of inquiry.

“It is the view of the department and its legal representatives that such information, in so far as it relates to the matters under consideration by the commission, has the potential of compromising the department of defence witnesses and their evidence during the commission’s proceedings.”

‘Unaffordable’

Democratic Alliance defence spokesperson David Maynier said he had twice asked the minister the same question and she refused to respond on both occasions.

“It is important to probe the whole question of the life cycle cost because it is likely to prove that the defence department knew that the equipment purchased as a result of the arms deal was unaffordable, given the projected defence budget. If this proves to be true it will be evidence of a monumental failure in the defence acquisition process,” Maynier added.

The commission was appointed by President Jacob Zuma in 2011 to investigate allegations of corruption in the multi-billion-rand arms deal.

It is in its third month of hearings, but these have been suspended until next week to give Armscor time to have documents declassified by the defence department.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The case of two people accused of involvement in the murder of a man whose body was found in the boot of his car at Montecasino in Fourways was postponed by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The case was postponed to 6 November for further investigation and to allow newly-appointed lawyer Mark van Schalkwyk to acquaint himself with the case. He is representing former stripper Maruschka Robinson.

Robinson and Jean-Pierre Malan, believed to be her boyfriend, were arrested last month after security guards found Dustan Blom’s decomposing body in the casino’s parking garage. They investigated the car after noticing a bad smell coming from it.

Robinson had allegedly rented a room from Blom, the widowed father of infant twins.

On Wednesday, a clean-shaved Malan stepped into the dock, wearing a brown shirt and tan jersey. He paid hardly any attention to his co-accused, Robinson. The black-haired ex-stripper wore a black top and blue jeans.

Both paid little attention to the cameras pointed at them before court began.

During their last appearance, they reserved the right to apply for bail. It was unclear whether they would try to get bail at their next appearance.

Prosecutor Yusuf Baba said the case was expected to be transferred to the high court later.

– SAPA

Pic:(Source: http://www.sundayworld.co.za) Kelly Khumalo posing for camera

By Obakeng Maje

Hillbrow-A case of a singer Kelly Khumalo was postponed on Wednesday after she appeared in court.

Khumalo was embroiled in a fight with Orlando Pirates goalie Senzo Meyiwa’s wife Mandisa and that led to court case.

It is alleged that Khumalo along with her sister attacked Mandisa, Meyiwa’s wife after she allegedly confronted her regarding their romance with Meyiwa.

All the drama took place weeks ago at Empire road where Khumalo and Meyiwa were sitting in a car chatting.

According to media reports, all hell broke lose and bystanders were forced to intervene.

Qinisela fame singer allegedly spent a night at Hillbrow police station after she handed herself over for assault charges.

The case was postponed until 31 October 2013.

The virgin Khumalo is out on bail and police investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-The ANC runs City of Matlosana municipality’s best stunt is playing political games challenging the legal system to its limits, says DA. 

“They have no respect for the law and are always trying to get away with technical issues” DA caucus leader, Dr Chris Bester said.

Dr Bester said this has been under administration since April 2013 after they complied in full to Sec 139(2)(a)(i) and Sec 139 (2)(a)(ii) of the Municipal Finance Management Act. 

The MEC for Local Government took the administration process further and appointed an Administrator,  Mr Paul Serote (Salary R72 684 pm plus S&T up to R50 000 per month) and two Financial Experts Mr Themba Hlongwane and Mduduzi Nkosi (Salaries each R59 500 pm plus S&T up to R30 000 per month).

“Since April, these appointees never showed up. Why? The answer lies with the Executive Mayor of the City of Matlosana who ducks and dives questions put to him on this issue in Council” DA said. 

Bester said the executive mayor purely relies on technicalities as reasons why administration cannot be applied to the City of Matlosana. 

We contacted departmental spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane and said she will respond to us later as she was in meeting.

“This compelled the DA caucus to abstain from voting on financial issues in Council but not from taking a stance on any financial issues not in compliance with the MFMA” he said.

In the meantime the City of Matlosana is managed in terms of crisis management. 

There is hardly money available to pay salaries, Eskom and Midvaal Water. 

“Neither are funds available for service delivery. Yes there are votes available but no money to fund it”.

The Province will have to act very fast if they want to save the City of Matlosana from bankruptcy, alleged DA. 

The DA will continue to safeguard the citizens of Matlosana if notable improvement does not occur we will notify the Auditor General of our findings” concludes DA.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-The Traffic Department in Matlosana has a shortage of at least 10 Drivers License and Learner License Examiners.

These posts have been vacant for more than two years and as a result Council is losing money on a daily basis.

“The remuneration package offered is lower than other smaller municipalities which results in no interest in the posts advertised.  The ANC led council takes no interest in solving the problem causing flammable situations at testing stations on a daily basis” DA councillor Maritha Coetzee said.

Some testing stations are not functional and where business is continuing, only four people can be tested per day, says Coetzee.

It is alleged people are sleeping on council property, pay someone to queue for them.

Taung DailyNews contacted Department of Human Settlement,Public Safety and Liaison MEC Nono Maloyi spokesperson Ben Bole who said he haven’t received any concern regarding the matter, but will check with relevant authorities and respond.

DA said during their inspection it was discovered that a security guard was paid to secure space in the front.

They said this means a member of the public is making money on council property.

“While the Public Safety Department bleeds to death, the Mayor advertises for posts in his office which will not improve service delivery.   The salaries on these advertised posts should be spent on critical posts which should have been filled years ago” DA said.

The continued problems at the Matlosana Traffic Department are indicative of the declining levels of service delivery in the Municipality, alleged DA.

“The DA will continue to pursue these challenges and other delivery failures in order to bring a relief to the embattled Matlosana citizens” said DA.

The DA said they will report the decline at the licensing office to the MEC for Public Safety and Transport, MEC Nono Maloyi.-TDN

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South Africa’s deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe chaired the SA National Aids Council (Sanac) on Tuesday in Rustenburg, the presidency said.

The meeting discussed issues including a report on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan 2012/2013.

“South Africa has met the ten global targets set by the United Nations aimed at reducing HIV infections by 50 percent by 2015, Motlanthe said.

Motlanthe said South Africa’s anti-retroviral treatment programme now reaches more than two million people making it the largest HIV treatment in the world.

“South Africa is also on track to achieve the target of further reduction and eventual elimination of HIV transmission from mother to child by 2015.”

Motlanthe informed the meeting that South Africa had received R3 billion from the Global Fund, earmarked for supporting HIV and TB programmes.

“The fund will provide support to antiretroviral treatment for 350,000 patients and screening for more than 400,000 miners and communities in the surrounding areas,” Motlanthe said.

Sanac would also intensify efforts in HIV-counselling and testing to encourage more people to know their status.

– Sapa