Social media went “lit” on the “great confessions” of former MP Vytjie Mentor. She dropped a “bombshell” this week, boldly claiming that she was offered a ministerial job at the house of the Gupta family.

Already most online publications linked to private business carried the story and similarly, known pro-white capital opinion makers such as Prof Pierre de Vos, veteran journalist Max Du Preez and others have been celebrating what amounts to finally having the proverbial “smoking gun” to support their untenable theory of “state capture” by the Gupta family.

This theory has been carefully hatched by the global white capital propaganda machine such as the Financial Times, Bloomberg, The Economist, Independent of UK, New York Times and locally taken up first by the EFF whose deputy president went further than most after their London trip and declared the Guptas “colonialists”.

In London the EFF met among others the representatives of global capital and known coup plotters and regime change agents for the British crown such as the notorious obscenely wealthy Lord Robin Renwick.

The most important meeting was held under the secretive Chatham House Rule.

The “state capture” theory has been repeated religiously without any basis by local pro-white capital publications.

When the Financial Times (FT) intimated that there was some offer to Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas for the coveted post of Finance Minster, by Sunday all the pro-white capital publications running the anti Gupta campaign had repeated the story as fact that needed no checking or verifying.

The Sunday Times relied entirely on the account of faceless sources to confirm the claims of the Financial Times. Not a single source was found to speak on record.

The Daily Maverick was more forthcoming on the fact that it believes the FT story to be credible not because it has evidence but because it trusts the FT based on its “reputation”.

The media has dropped the standard of evidence so low that we can conclude misinformation has become the creed of the trade.

We shall leave aside the real big story that never made it to the front pages or anywhere in the media.

Everyone in the media knows that Piet Rampedi of the Sunday Times has resigned under troubling circumstances.

There is talk of an explosive resignation letter which exposes how people purporting to represent Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, have made presentations to the Sunday Times to abandon the appeal it has lodged against the ruling of the Ombudsman on its SARS rogue unit story.

On the side of Rampedi, the disputed KPMG report on the unit has come out now confirming all the claims their story relied on but rejected mysteriously by the Ombudsman. Right now the gloves are off so objectivity is suspended.

The main campaign is so impatient to get rid of the Guptas that by Monday the Financial Mail (FM) was calling for a coup against President Jacob Zuma because of this perceived association with the Gupta family. Yes a coup!

The FM editorial was clear that Zuma must go and not by democratic legal means but by other means.

The rage of white capital against the Guptas and the elaborate scheme to take them out of competition seem confirmed by the London trip of Gordhan.

There are unconfirmed reports that when he toured London to account to the markets, which have literally demanded that he be given the job, among the men of global white capitalism he met was Lord Renwick or his representatives.

If this is true then it would explain the great interest in Eskom.

This goes back to white capital’s unhappiness with the Gupta family, more so after the take over of the Glencore owned Optimum Coal Mine.

Lord Renwick has deep pockets and interests in the energy sector. It would not be surprising if Eskom is privatised partially or wholly and companies linked to Renwick pick up some stakes in it.

The media is not going to ask these questions because it is not after the truth.

It is instead manufacturing its own facts to suit its propaganda about its theory of “state capture”. The simple fact is that the SA state is already captured by white capital.

This explains why the “markets” demanded and were given a Minister of Finance that they wanted. The rating agencies are the whips they use to beat the state into line.

Anyway, here are some of the questions that Mentor should answer as soon as she has some time after her holiday. It is unfortunate that she had to break her silence while on vacation.

Firstly, why has she kept quite about a matter as grave as this for this long? Secondly, why has she not opened a case of corruption against the Gupta family who she claims offered her a ministerial post?

Thirdly, why confess to a DA member and not to the relevant authorities? Fourthly, what was she doing at the Gupta family home?

(Doesn’t she say they are corrupt?). Fifth, who invited her to Saxonworld? Sixth, since she is a senior member of the ANC, has she complained to her organisation at least?

Seventh does she believe that Zuma, who was according to her in the other room, was aware of what was said between her and Guptas?

Eighth and most importantly, does she stand by her Facebook comments? Andile Mngxitama is the national convenor of then group Black First Land First.

Andile Mngxitama

BY REGINALD KANYANE
Northern Cape department of transport, safety and liaison is set to host provincial road safety strategic summit in Kimberley on Tuesday.   

The summit is in line with the Decade of Action for Road Safety vision 2011-2020 which aims at stabilising and reducing global road deaths by 2020. 

Department spokesperson, Keitumetse Moticoe said: “South Africa’s vision for road safety in line with the global goal expresses a state wherein the safety and security of people’s lives are not compromised by entering the road network system. 

“The Provincial Road Safety Strategy Summit in line with the national vision will seek to reduce the number of fatal and serious crashes in South Africa. It will ensure safety on our roads, promote responsible road usage and to save lives.”

Moticoe said the department will further seek to ensure an acceptable level of quality in road traffic management.
She said that will emphasis road safety both on rural and urban road network. 

“The department along with relevant transport sector stakeholders will engage at the Summit and customize the strategy for the province in line with the national vision for road safety and global goal to reduce deaths and creates safer roads for all,” she said.

The event will be hosted at Hoffe Park Recreation Centre, 15 Reservoir Road, Kimberley.
-TDN
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BY REGINALD KANYANE 

House of Traditional Leaders was official opened at North West legislature on Thursday. The provincial head of the house of traditional leaders, Kgosi Madoda Zibi said the role of traditional leaders within the community is imperative.

“As leaders within our communities, we need to make sure that the society is organised. We also need to promote unity, security, a strong sense of identity, and social justice. We understand that the house of traditional leaders is key in the societal organisation of many South African communities,” Zibi said.

He said that the traditional leaders are a first line of defence. Zibi said they played an important role when it comes to strengthening democracy.

“The traditional value system is built around uncompetitive wisdom, consensus and participation. The traditional leaders play a father figure within the communities. They must have the community interest at heart. We have some challenges where we experience infightings in other areas, but we believe that will be resolved soon,” Zibi said.

He said they welcome the initiative by the provincial government in supporting the traditional leaders. According to Zibi, that necessary support will make sure that rural economic development is realised.

North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo said: “The provincial government has embarked on many projects to make sure that they develop rural areas. We are working together with traditional leaders. As the government, we also encourage our councillors to interact with traditional leaders in quest to bring developments.

“We have already supplied laptops to them. Some have received cows, so it is very important to work with them. We will provide our traditional leaders with a capacity building course. They must be able to communicate with us in any medium of communication.”

Mahumapelo said they will make sure that each village has its village developmental plan (VDP).

“Traditional leaders play major role and they will help and guide us. We are highly cultural-traditional province. And we need to enhance our triangular approach through agriculture, culture and tourism. We want to use culture as a component to grow economy.

“The future and current crop must know that there is no way you can exclude traditional leadership. There are people who want to relegate traditional leadership. If we do that, we will be undermining their role,” he said.

-TDN

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The new Administrator and Chief Financial Officer were roped in by local government and human settlements inquest to rescue financial distraught, Tswaing local municipality. The municipality has been under administration since last year.

Section 139(1)(b) was invoked at the municipality after dissipation of funds. Acting MEC for local government and human settlements, Fenny Gaolaolwe said they brought in finance officials from national and provincial government for assistance.

She said the team will also ensure that the municipality is able to stick to key deadline such as submission of adjustment budget for 2015/2016, draft the budget for 2016/2017 and submit Eskom tariffs to NERSA for approval.

Gaolaolwe said she visited the municipality on Thursday to assess whether the provincial government’s Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution which was invoked last year yields any positive results.

“The mandate of the then Administrator at the time of the intervention was to ensure that there is service delivery. Water and sanitation were the primary issues. The administrator was also expected to stabilise and improve administration. Another matter was to improve the financial controls as well as investigate and take action against transgression to any applicable legislations or regulations. However, it is quite clear that none of those where realised. We are re-assessing the situation now,” she said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

North West University from Mafikeng campus has suspended the service of the security company pending investigations. The university spokesperson, Koos Degenaar said Hlanganani Security Company’ service was suspended after they allegedly used live ammunitions during a stand-off with students a month ago.

North West University students embarked on a protest after university management dissolved the SRC.

“The university has suspended the service of Hlanganani Security Company pending investigations.  According to preliminary investigations, the security guards allegedly used live ammunitions to disperse the unruly students during protest. The university will have a media briefing on Sunday regarding new developments and the outcomes at the university,” Degenaar said.

The university was shut down a month ago after the admin and laboratory premises were reduced to ashes.

More than 10 students were admitted in various hospitals after they suffered injuries during strike.  The university management inaugurated newly-elected SRC after they disbanded the previous one led by former SRC president, Linda Xavier Mabengwana. The students refused to recognise the new SRC alleging that it was elected my management not them.

According to reports, two students underwent operations where doctors confirmed live ammunitions were used.

The university will be opened on March 28.

-TDN

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The Gupta-owned New Age and ANN7 media outlets have published the names of ANC politicians its sources say are behind a political plot to have the president recalled.

At the epicenter of the report: deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, who along with Gwede Mantashe and Jeff Radebe are seen as the “generals” of the move.

On the side of president Jacob Zuma, the “premier league”, including Free State premier Ace Magashule and others, will allegedly come to the president’s defense.

According to the media group, its sources have highlighted what it calls an “all out war for control of the country”, revealing a plot from within the ANC to usurp power from president Jacob Zuma.

Following revelations this week by deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas that he was offered the position of finance minister by the politically connected Gupta family, the New Age reported that it received information of a party-wide plot against Zuma.

The group reported that a so-called “Anti-Zuma faction” inside the ANC would try to get Zuma recalled after isolating him from his “closest ally” Jessie Duarte, who was implicated in reports around the Jonas saga.

Read: Gupta media reveals “anti-Zuma plot”

Now The New Age has revealed the ‘hit list’ – the names of the ANC officials who are supposedly heading up the “Anti-Zuma Brigade” – as well as the officials who are behind Zuma.

The “anti-Zuma” brigade: includes:

Deputy President – Cyril RamaphosaMinister in the Presidency – Jeff RadebeSecretary General – Gwede MantasheDeputy Secretary General – Solly MapailaHealth Minister – Aaron MotsoalediDeputy Health Minister – Joe PhaahlaMinister of Small Business Development – Lindiwe ZuluANC National Spokesperson – Zizi KodwaMinister of Science and Technology – Naledi PandorMinister of Water and Sanitation – Nomvula Mokanyane

According to the report, “team Zuma” has held an emergency meeting to prepare a counter-strategy to “team ZumaMustFall’s” plans to have the president recalled.

Team Zuma reportedly includes:

Free State Premier – Ace MagashuleNorth West Premier – Supra MahumapeloMpumalanga Premier – David MabuzaKwaZulu Natal Provincial Chair – Sihle ZikalalaMilitary Vetaran Association Chair – Kebby MaphatsoeANC Women’s League President – Bathabile DlaminiANC Youth League President – Collen Maine
Courtesy: The New Age Newspaper

A man who masqueraded as an official from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and demanded R250‚000 from former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius to quash his murder conviction‚ has been arrested by the Hawks.

My law student daughter told me why Judge Masipa got Pistorius judgment wrong: Madonsela

Oscar’s run out of options

The scam ended with the arrest of a 33-year-old man in Pretoria on Friday afternoon‚ after the Hawks launched an operation to catch the suspect.

My law student daughter told me why Judge Masipa got Pistorius judgment wrong: Madonsela

Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said in a statement the arrest was made “soon after he received a deposit of R40‚000 for his services which included to have Oscar Pistorius’ murder case destroyed”.
For more http://www.timelive.co.za

North West Legislature Speaker takes “Basadi re aga Setshaba” Outreach Programme to Tlokwe Local Municipality on Friday.

North West Provincial Legislature Speaker, Sussana Dantjie will be hosting an outreach programme called Basadi re aga Setshaba at Trimpark Hall (Potchefstroom) Tlokwe Local Municipality at 17h00.

The spokesperson from the Office of The Speaker, Tebogo Chaane said: “The outreach programme is initiated in the spirit of educating the people of  Bokone Bophirima on the role and responsibility of the Legislature as mandated by the Constitution, Act 108 of 1996. We aim to enhance oversight function of the legislature and profile its activities,” Chaane said.

He said the main objectives of this programme is to achieve public participation in government structures and events.

“We enhance oversight function of the Legislature by educate young women. We also profile their political and business careers. The aim is to inspire young women to be great achievers, and economic empowerment and women emancipation,” he said.

Guest speakers such as Motara who is the member of parliament from the National Council of Provinces in Gauteng have been invited to facilitate discussions and presentations on the following thematic areas; Women in politics; Economic empowerment for women; Media and politics and Morale issues.

Chaane said as part of celebrating the International Women’s Day, on March 8,  Dantjie deemed it necessary and relevant to continue with the rollout of the programme in another district of the North West in line with the resolution taken during the launch.
-TDN
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The showbiz couple who went public with their relationship in April last year are no longer together.

We broke up in December and I cried up about it, I got angry about it, I tried to convince myself that it’s okay then eventually you are just like life actually continues,” said Boity.

On cheating allegations, Boity said: “Not once did I ever feel like he has cheated on me or giving someone else attention. There was never a time we fought about any girl, he was absolutely respectful towards me in terms of his female fans. Funny enough the female fans just showed me so much respect as well.

Courtesy: http://www.timelive.co.za

Zurich, Switzerland – FIFA on Wednesday demanded tens of millions of dollars in damages from the “sordid” officials now facing charges in the United States over mass bribery scandals that have rocked world football.

In a wide-ranging admission to US authorities on the scope of soccer corruption, football’s governing body openly accused South Africa of paying a $10 million bribe to secure votes for the 2010 World Cup.

FIFA also highlighted how one of the main accused, former FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, has allegedly been leading a champagne lifestyle despite agreeing to hand over millions of dollars as part of a plea deal with US authorities.

World football is at the centre of multiple inquiries into bribery and misconduct and the award of World Cup tournaments.

On top of 39 individuals facing charges seven in the United States over more than $200 million in bribes, its former leader Sepp Blatter and his heir apparent Michel Platini have both been banned.

FIFA acknowledged the widespread graft of recent decades in its most explicit manner yet. It accused the tainted officials of “brazen corruption”.

“By corrupting these tournaments, matches, sponsorships, and other football affairs through their backroom deals and secret payoffs, the defendants dragged FIFA into their sordid misconduct and tarnished the FIFA brand,” said the FIFA demand for restitution made to US authorities.”

FIFA said in a statement that it “estimates that at a minimum tens of millions of dollars were diverted from the football community illegally through bribery, kickbacks and corrupt schemes carried out by the defendants.

“This amount is likely to increase as the investigation continues.”

It will seek money from the $190 million that the United States says has been forfeited by the 39 individuals and two companies facing charges.

FIFA named 20 former executive committee members and leading officials in regional confederations that it said had taken more than $28 million in compensation, travel and other costs alone.

“FIFA as the world governing body of football wants that money back and we are determined to get it no matter how long it takes,” said Gianni Infantino, who was elected as FIFA president on February 26.

“The convicted defendants abused the positions of trust they held at FIFA and other international football organisations and caused serious and lasting damage to FIFA, its member associations and the football community,” Infantino added.

The FIFA claim said the corrupt officials “betrayed their duties and sold their powers to the highest bidder.”

Many of the bribes were paid for lucrative television and sponsorship deals in Central and South America. Most of the defendants are from this region.

World Cup bids also face mounting scrutiny however.

South Africa has strongly denied paying a bribe to secure the 2010 World Cup. But FIFA backed suspicions raised by US investigators.

– ‘sold their votes’ –

The claim says executive committee members — including Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago and Charles Blazer of the United States “sold their votes on multiple occasions”.

It said that Warner, who is fighting extradition to the United States, Blazer, who has made a plea deal with US authorities, and admitted his crimes and pleaded guilty), Warner’s son Daryan Warner and other unidentified suspects “engineered a $10 million payoff in exchange for executive committee votes regarding where the 2010 FIFA World Cup would be hosted.”

Daryan Warner was “his father’s bagman” and collected “a briefcase with $10,000 in cash from a high-ranking South African bid committee official” which he took back to his father, said the document.

“Ultimately, given defendant Warner’s strong illicit ties to the South African bid committee, the South Africans offered a more attractive bribe of $10 million in exchange for Warner’s, Blazer’s, and a third executive committee member’s votes,” it added.

Warner disguised the payment “as support for the benefit of the ‘African Diaspora’ in the Caribbean region.”

“They disguised and funnelled the bribe money through the financial accounts of FIFA, member associations, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup local organizing committee.”

It also told how Warner sold votes for the 2011 FIFA presidential election to Qatari official Mohamed bin Hammam, who has since been banned for life.

FIFA said that $353,537 was wired to a Caribbean Football Union account controlled by Warner.

After Bin Hammam addressed a CFU conference, “each attendee was directed to a room where they were handed an envelope and instructed not to discuss the envelope or its contents with anyone.

“The envelopes each had $40,000 in cash inside. Defendant Warner explained that although these funds had been disguised as payments from CFU, they were in fact payments from Bin Hammam.”

Since the scandal has erupted, FIFA has passed reforms controlling the powers of the executive committee and its members.

Experts have expressed doubts however on whether the changes will be enough to end misconduct.

– AFP