Kimberley-Assets of the accused in a Northern Cape fraud and corruption case involving the Trifecta Group were provisionally frozen on Monday.

Northern Cape NPA spokesman Mashudu Malabi said the court confirmed a provisional restraint order on Friday was obtained by the Asset Forfeiture Unit against most of the parties involved.

The court would decide later whether the order should be made final against the parties who opposed the order.

The National Prosecuting Authority alleges the Trifecta Group entered into a number of lease agreements with the provincial department of social development in which the rentals, or rental space, were grossly inflated.

As a result, the Trifecta Group received or would receive, at the end of the lease agreements, rentals of R57 million.

The freezing order means payments received by a number of Northern Cape politicians and official of the department of social development from the Trifecta Group would remain frozen pending the outcome of the court proceedings.

The Trifecta Group, the trustees of the Shosholoza Trust, and government official Palesa Lebona opposed the restraint order.

The other accused in the case are the director of Trifecta Alfeus Scholtz and Northern Cape ANC heavyweights John Block, Alvin Botes and Yolanda Botha.

Social development officials Rodney Saal and Cecil Ryland were also arrested in connection with the case.

Malabi said the order was made final against the individuals on Friday.

He said the court found that there were reasonable grounds to believe that payments to the entities and individuals were corrupt payments or kickbacks and that inflated rentals were paid as a result of corruption.

Earlier, the case against the group was postponed to August this year.

-Sapa

The notion that the ANC appoints criminals to positions is wrong, the party’s deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte has said.

“Once you have a criminal record of any kind, you can’t be appointed in the African National Congress, it’s not possible,” Duarte told Sapa in an interview this week.

“You can’t get into the governing structures of the ANC.”

At its national conference in Mangaung last year, the ANC resolved to take a hard line on party discipline.

It resolved that any of its members found guilty of wrongdoing in other institutions of society would be subjected to internal disciplinary processes.

As part of the resolution, the ANC appointed an integrity committee to look into matters of discipline.

The committee was looking at whether the resolution could be applied to ANC members charged or found guilty before December.

Duarte said the committee had to take into account that there might be people who were still under investigation from before Mangaung.

She referred to ANC Northern Cape chairman John Block and two others who faced charges of fraud, corruption, and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act.

Duarte said the party believed in people being innocent until proven guilty.

“What we are concerned about is the question of integrity within the party.

“So, the resolution gives people the opportunity to take their own decision to step down,” she said.

If they did not step down, it would be the committee’s task to decide what should happen.

“If the integrity committee finds there are a number of people facing charges right now, and they would like to talk to them, and in their view there is a problem, then we are not going to tell those people [on the committee] what to do,” said Duarte.

However, this was not the only remit of the committee. It would also look at matters reported in the media, and could receive information from anonymous sources.

The integrity committee is chaired by Rivonia trialist and former Robben Island prisoner Andrew Mlangeni.

Other members include: Frene Ginwala, Nelson Diale, Gertrude Shope, Ahmed Kathrada, Rashida Abdullah, Mendi Msimang, Sophie De Bruyn, Jethro Ndlovu, Dennis Goldberg, Lindelwe Mabandla, and Nokukhanya Jele.

“I’ve been in a room with them a couple of weeks ago, and myself and the [secretary-general Gwede Mantashe] we walked out there and we said ‘we made the right decision’.

“They’re ANC core. They are the strongest stalwarts in the organisation. They are very clear…: if you mess up, this is where you going to get dealt with in a proper way.”

She said no one in the party was above the integrity committee.

“We are all going to answer to those senior cadres of the movement. I think it’s very good, it’s encouraging.”

-Sapa

Gauteng government must prioritise safety in the rural areas in order to stop attacks on farms, the DA said on Thursday.

“The study showing that Gauteng is the most dangerous province in the country in terms of farm attacks again underscores the urgent need to prioritise rural safety in Gauteng,” said Democratic Alliance MPL John Moodey.

He said Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane must back the DA’s rural safety policy as a blueprint for ensuring the safety of all people in rural Gauteng.

The DA policy proposed formation of:

– a specialised rural safety division within the police;

– a rural intelligence centre to monitor criminal activity;

– rural reaction units to respond to crimes; and

– support for police reservists and community policing forums.

According to a new book released on Thursday, Gauteng was the most dangerous province in the country in terms of farm attacks.

Nearly 20% (about 663) of the 3319 farm attacks recorded in the country between 1990 and 2012 occurred in Gauteng, according to publishing company Kraal Uitgewers.

Within the rest of the country, 15.3% of attacks happened in Mpumalanga, 15.2% in the North West, and 12.7% in Limpopo.

The Free State recorded 11.8%, KwaZulu-Natal 11.5%, the Eastern Cape seven percent and the Western Cape 4.7%.

The Northern Cape was the safest province, with only 1.6 percent of farm attacks happening in the province.

The study is included in a book called “Treurgrond: Die Realiteit van Plaasaanvalle” [Place of Sorrow: The Reality of Farm Attacks] 1990-2012, released on Thursday.

Kraal Uitgewers said the figures were based on the number of attacks in each province, and were not related to the number of residents or the number of farms or smallholdings in the provinces.

The study found an average of three attackers were involved in each case. In some attacks there were as many as 10 assailants.

According to the book, 42.6% of farm attack victims were aged 61 or older. People 51 and older represented 62.7% of all victims.

The book was compiled by Dirk Hermann, deputy general secretary of trade union Solidarity, Ilze Nieuwoudt from the union’s publishing house Kraal Uitgewers, and Chris van Zyl from the Transvaal Agricultural Union.

-Sapa

Rustenburg-The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has condemned the “senseless killing” of its North West regional organiser at Lonmin, Mawethu Joseph Steven in Rustenburg at the weekend.

The union has called for calm and appealed to its members to refrain from avenging his death. Stevens was a former branch secretary of rival National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

He was killed at a local tavern and was due to testify at the Farlam Commission into the killing of 44 people, including 34 mineworkers, during the violent strikes at Marikana last August.

Amcu president, Joseph Mathunjwa, on Monday expressed outrage at the killing. “We condemn these senseless killings of our members in the strongest terms possible. We hope this time that our police will find the killers and that justice will be served in the same way it would, were it not an Amcu member.”

He called on their members to “remain calm and allow the law to take its course”.

He said: “People did not like his departure (from NUM) to Amcu. Allegations were made that all the chaos in the platinum belt was because of Steven. His name was mentioned many times during the Farlam Commission. Lonmin and NUM were accusing Steven that he was behind the violence in Marikana.”

NUM spokesperson, Lesiba Seshoka, said Steven was never axed from the union: “He was voted out by members. He was not re-elected after his three-year term, that’s the nature of a democracy.”

North West police spokesperson Brig Thulani Ngubane said that the police were looking for four suspects linked to Steven’s murder.

Meanwhile, the SA Communist Party (SACP) has called for a specialised police task team to be deployed to Rustenburg.

SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande said police should go deep in probing the incidents and that law enforcement agencies should put special focus on the area so as to avoid a repeat of such incidents.

The ANC has condemned Steven’s death and had called on law enforcement agencies to bring those involved to book over the incident.

Spokesperson for the Farlam Commission, Tshepho Mahlangu, said while there was no evidence or any suggestion that the killing was related to the commission, they had informed all witnesses to come forward if they felt that they might be in danger.

“The witnesses are protected under the Witness Protection Act so we have an obligation to adhere to it,” Mahlangu said. – Additional reporting by Dudu Dube.

For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

 A mother and her 14-year-old daughter were killed yesterday morning when their car smashed into another vehicle in Schoemansville, Hartbeespoortdam.

ER24 spokesperson, Vanessa Jackson, said paramedics arrived on the scene and found that the girl was already dead.

Her mother and eight-months-old sister, were in a critical condition. Her four-year- old brother sustained moderate injuries.

“Paramedics immediately began efforts to stabilise the two critically injured. The eight-months-old girl with suspected head injuries was airlifted to Unitas hospital in Pretoria.

As the second medical helicopter was being activated, the mother’s condition deteriorated to the point where paramedics had to initiate resuscitation efforts, but nothing more could be done to save her life. She died on the scene.” The four-year-old little boy and the woman who was driving the second vehicle were both transported by ambulance to a clinic in Brits.

Vanessa said they were both in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, Netcare 911 paramedics and other services responded to an accident on the R59 near Highbury.

Netcare 911 spokesperson, Santi Steinmann, said upon arrival they found that a vehicle had overturned.

“There were three occupants in the vehicle and one of them had sustained serious injuries. After being treated on the scene, they were both transported to nearby medical facilities for further medical care.”

The cause of the two accidents were not known but police were investigating.

For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

The three awards that Khuli Chana scooped at the 19

th MTN South African Music Awards (SAMA) should inspire youth to work hard in pursuit of their dreams and contribute towards a province that focuses on its well being in all spheres, Premier Thandi Modise said on Monday.

In congratulating hip hop artist, Khulane Morule aka Khuli Chana from Mmabatho Unit 2 in Mahikeng whose album “Lost in time “won in the album of the year category at the annual music awards held at Sun City Superbowl over the weekend, Premier Modise told Khuli Chana that he has done the province proud and is maturing with age since his first album was launched in 2001.

Modise said that the province will be intensifying its effort to turnaround Mmabana so that it is able to unearth the abundant talent in the province as it positions itself to continue to export art, creativity and work towards regaining its peacemaking identity.

Thirty- year- old Khuli Chana who is a Mmabana talent show product also won the best rap and best male artist categories. His album is the first hip hop album to scoop the album of the year since the inception of the SAMAS.

Khuli Chana whose motto is: “Inspiration exists but it must find you working” is encouraging upcoming artists to take their craft seriously.

Khuli Chana’s sterling performance at the SAMA follows the 2013 Metro FM award he won in March for his collaboration with Kabelo Oageng aka Notsi with the title song “Tswa Daar”

Plans are already afoot to organise a function for the hip hop artist to celebrate his achievement with his fans and well-wishers on the 1

st of next month in his hometown of Mahikeng.

By Obakeng Maje

PRETORIA – Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa has expressed his condolences to the family of a 14-month toddler who died at Mooiplaas, outside Centurion who was allegedly hit by a stray bullet during scuffles between the police and community yesterday.

“I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased during this difficult period. No amount of words can begin to describe my saddened emotions following the loss of an innocent young life” Minister Nathi Mthethwa said.  

He said he have now tasked the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to investigate this incident and to provide with answers on what led to this tragic death.

Interim reports indicate that police were responding to a call out on alleged mob justice. Upon arrival at Mooiplaas, they were allegedly prevented from entering the area by community members and began attacking the police.  Chaos ensued and in between the altercations, a warning shot was fired by one officer and it is alleged it mistakenly struck and killed the toddler.  

Two officers were injured.

Coincidentally, on Friday during the official opening of the Lamberts Bay Police Station, Minister Mthethwa cautioned against some members of society who often take the law into their own hands. 

He stressed that there is no reasonable justification for any member of the public to take the law into their own hands and further warned that any such perpetrators will face the full might of the law.  

“He stated that no matter how angry communities are, government will not tolerate any kangaroo courts” said Ministry spokesperson Zweli Mnisi. 

“Any attempt to hamper a police investigation is a punishable criminal offence and we discourage members of society from doing so. Society’s task is to report the perpetrators of crime to the police and in turn police have a duty to apprehend those who torment society,” added the Minister. 

“As the ministry we have strengthened oversight on police, particularly on those who police the police, which is the IPID, to ensure that as police fight crime they do so within the law.  Whilst at times we can understand the community’s frustrations and unhappiness with some of the police, there are proper and legitimate channels to be followed in reporting such matters.” Mthethwa said.

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A pay deal is in sight to end a nationwide strike by bus drivers, the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union has said.
“We are very close to an agreement. We will be convening at around lunch time to finalise,” said South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) secretary general Zenzo Mahlangu on Monday.

He said it was likely the strike would be officially declared over after their meeting with employers.

“I might be telling the strike is over after lunch.”

Thousands of commuters were left stranded across the country since the strike started four weeks ago.

Last week, the Commuter Bus Employers’ Association chief executive Barry Gie said that most of the other issues had been worked out.

He indicated there was a big chance that unions might agree to the recent wage offer.

Employers were offering a 9% increase, up from their original offer of 6.5%.

The unions had decreased their wage demand to 10%.

Wage negotiations deadlock
On April 19, Satawu announced the strike and said it was a result of a wage negotiations deadlock.

Errol Braithwaite, spokesperson for the Gautrain company Bombela Concession, said none of the Gautrain buses were operating.

“We are waiting to hear what comes out of the negotiations at the bargaining council,” Braithwaite said at the time.

Jo’burg Metrobus spokesperson Esther Dreyer said on April 19 that municipal buses were operating across the city.

Workers were demanding an 18% wage increase at the time and the employers had offered only 2.5%, said Satawu spokesperson Vincent Masoga in April.

However, Gie said employers had put a 6.5% offer on the table.

On April 19, he said the unions’ claim of a 2.5% offer was “misleading”.

“Negotiations are a two-way process; both parties need to compromise in order to resolve the dispute … the unions are misleading the public.”

Workers were also demanding a minimum wage of R6 000 a month across the industry, a R1 000 housing allowance and an increase in medical aid contributions, said Gie at the time. – Sapa

CAPE TOWN – A Parliamentary debate about the so-called Guptagate scandal is scheduled for June, but Members of Parliament (MPs) are already butting heads about how it should be held.

The ANC’s chief whip has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of wanting to make President Jacob Zuma the main focus of the upcoming debate about the influential family’s use of the Waterkloof Air Force base.

Eyewitness News revealed on 30 April that a jet chartered by the Gupta family controversially landed at the Waterkloof Air Force base with nearly 200 wedding guests on board.

DA Parliamentary Leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said, “The DA has been calling for the President to come to Parliament because this is a golden opportunity for him which we believe he should take up. It’s an opportunity for him to set the record straight.”

However, the ANC’s Moloto Mothapo said Zuma should not be the focus.

“He’s not supposed to be in Parliament when this matter is debated precisely because he is not a Member of Parliament in terms of the constitution and the rules of Parliament.”

National Assembly speaker Max Sisulu earlier granted the DA’s request that the issue be discussed as a matter of national importance.

The landing of the Guptas at the air base has created controversy throughout the country.

Opposition parties and the Congress of the South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) have condemned the incident citing security issues.

Meanwhile, government departments are currently investigating the saga.

Last week, Indian High Commissioner Virendra Gupta shrugged off several questions about the scandal, but did re-iterate that an application for landing authorisation was submitted in February.

The high commissioner said all the relevant details of the landing were handed over to the Department of International Relations and that an application was submitted at the end of February for the plane to land at the base as the aircraft was carrying government ministers.

DRUGS ON A PLANE

Meanwhile, Tshwane Metro Police said on Sunday they were now investigating the possibility of a video which allegedly shows what is believed to be drugs being off-loaded from a plane used by the controversial Gupta family.

According to the Sunday Independent, 11 metro police officers who were suspended for moonlighting as VIP security for the Gupta family, were in possession of the video.

The report suggests the officers had planned to use this video to blackmail police into dropping the charges against them, but the Tshwane Metro Police’s Console Tleane said they have yet to prove the existence of such a video.

“We don’t want to comment on this because we are doubting its existence their motive.”

Tleane said the internal processes against the 11 officers implicated in the Gupta wedding scandal will continue and criminal charges may be laid by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

PROPERTY TAXES

Meanwhile, the Gupta family on Sunday landed in hot water again as allegations that they received a massive property tax cut on their R26,5 million home in Saxonwold.

The City Press reported that the home had been valued for less than a third of its actual worth, and the Guptas are paying a fraction of the taxes on the property.

The report said that if the valuation of the home had been correct, the Guptas would have paid an extra R100,000 in property taxes per year.

DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS

Media reports emerged on Sunday that the Guptas’ had tried to bully their way into receiving diplomatic passports.

International Relations at the weekend said if the Gupta family had applied for diplomatic passports they would have been denied such a privilege.

The family allegedly argued that they deserved these passports because they often travelled with President Jacob Zuma on trips to promote South Africa.

But the Department of International Relations’ Clayson Monyela said they have no record of such an application.

“We’ve got no record of such an application. Generally speaking, I can tell you that any individual that wants to ask for a diplomatic passport when they don’t qualify, our response will be that they cannot get a diplomatic passport if you are not a diplomat.”
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

JOHANNESBURG – Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa had on Monday revealed the union’s slain North West Regional Chairperson Mawethu Stevens, had received several threats because miners in the area disagreed with his association, Amcu.

Stevens used to be a member of rival union National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and was an employee at Lonmin.
The slain Amcu member was killed by four men on Saturday while sitting at a tavern in Rustenburg.

He was due to give evidence at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating last year’s Marikana shooting which left 34 miners dead.

Mathunjwa has appealed for calm as tensions rise in Marikana following the deaths of three people over the weekend.

The Amcu regional chair was gunned down on Saturday and two other miners were killed in their shack in Marikana just a few hours later.

He added that it is still unclear if the other two victims were members of their union, but he is relying on the police to find the culprits.

The organiser’s death brings the number of Marikana witnesses who have been murdered to three.

A leader from the National Union of Mineworkers was killed last year and a sangoma was gunned down outside his home earlier this year.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za