Richard Seleke. Image: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

The embattled Gupta-linked public enterprises director-general Richard Seleke is finally leaving the public service after reaching a settlement on his exit.

This brings to an end a deadlock between Seleke and his employer. He had, over two months ago, accepted a R3-million settlement but refused to sign on the dotted line unless a condition preventing him from working for government until 2020 was scrapped. He vowed at the time to challenge this in the labour court.

The public enterprises department announced this week that Seleke‚ who was suspended by minister Pravin Gordhan in March‚ was officially vacating his position following a settlement reached with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office as well as the department.

It was not clear whether Seleke’s exit meant he had accepted a revised settlement offer or the initial one with a cooling-off period. Attempts to get hold of him were unsuccessful.

His departure‚ according to the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) is not the end of it for Seleke‚ who was implicated in the leaked Gupta emails.

The anti-corruption activist group said it was “preparing a detailed submission on the outgoing public enterprise director-general Richard Seleke’s relationship with Gupta family to be handed to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture”.

Gordhan is known to have suspended Seleke over his alleged links with the Guptas.

Serious allegations against Seleke are contained in an affidavit by Outa chief operations officer‚ Ben Theron‚ who alleged that the then director-general leaked inside business information of state-owned enterprises to the Guptas and thus helped them secure major contracts with Eskom and Transnet. Theron further alleged in the affidavit that:

• Seleke had an unlawful and improper relationship with the Gupta family since at least the start of 2015.

• He used an anonymous email address (infoportal1@zoho.com) from which he conducted Gupta-related business under the pseudonym “Businessman”.

• Seleke’s CV was emailed to former president Jacob Zuma’s son‚ Duduzane‚ who is a Gupta business associate‚ before his appointment as director-general in December 2015.

Outa welcomed Seleke’s departure but promised to “continue to pursue its charges of fraud‚ corruption and treason against him.

“We welcome the news of Seleke’s removal from office which is the result of a settlement stemming from investigations into his involvement with the Gupta family. However‚ this does not mean we will back down from our criminal complaint and our legal team will continue to apply pressure on the Hawks and NPA to investigate and take this matter to court‚” said Outa’s portfolio manager‚ Rudie Heyneke.

Source: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za

Baxter took issue with Strasbourg’s apparent vague notification and delay in submitting proof that their new signing Mothiba is injured.

The frustrated Brit on Monday threatened to report the Ligue One club to FIFA over the matter, but has since softened his stance with a view to future dealings with the French side.

Baxter called up Bidvest Wits attacker Mxolisi Macuphu the following day as a replacement for Mothiba ahead of Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier with Libya at Moses Mabhida Stadium (15h00).

“No. I mean, look, you talk about Lebo Mothiba’s team; we got an email from them saying that they objected to the complaints that we made,” said Baxter when asked if he is pursuing the Mothiba matter with FIFA.

“But the truth is, we had Amiens [Bongani Zungu’s club] calling us, mailing us during the game about Bongani Zungu’s injury and we get a letter directly from the doctor.

“[With Strasbourg] we had to wait three days before we got the doctor’s [letter] and Lebo was not here. We only had one contact from the club secretary saying, ‘Lebo couldn’t come here because he had a physical problem’. We didn’t know what that problem was, three days later we got the scan.

“I’m questioning they way that was done and they are questioning possibly what we did. But I think, in terms of going forward, we need to have relationships with every club.

“We ought to be given respect in that we are trying to do a job here. Not just they bought a player with a lot of money and he’s their property, no, he’s not.

“He’s our player as well and we need to do a job here. We need information about our players as quickly as possibly, as soon as they are injured. We are trying to get that with South African clubs. Amiens, they did that and some others do that.

“So we are getting there, but this is a new relationship with Strasbourg … I don’t know the people there. But I just know that we need to have immediate information about players, open and honest information. And then there’s no problem.”
Source: http://www.kickoff.com

Picture: (Taung-born doctor, Dimpho Moepeng)

By BAKANG MOKOTO

Dimpho Moepeng (24) is in a process of become a medical doctor after she embarked on the Mandela/ Fidel Castro Collaboration Programme studying medicine in Cuba. Moepeng, who spent six years in Cuba, said it was worth it even though there were challenges along the way.

“I am grateful that I made it thus far. We had extraordinary moments of fear, anxiety, and doubt because of the environment we found ourselves in. Imagine just a village girl like me from Rooiwal village in Taung found herself in a foreign country with different life-style altogether.

“It was a bit challenging to adapt to the environment. We had to learn to speak the Spanish language as no one spoke English there except those who come from English-speaking countries like South Africa,” she said.

Moepeng said she applied for the Cuban programme through the North West Health department after she passed her matric with flying colours at the Batlhaping High School back in 2011.

“I always wanted to become a medical doctor and being around my sick grandmother impelled that dream. I also wanted to contribute to assist sick people and give them hope. Remember that, medicine bridges the gap between science and society.

“In most cases, you will find long queues at our public healthcare centres especially in far-flung areas like Taung,” Moepeng said.

She said the Cuban programme is necessary for primary healthcare. Moepeng said almost the whole world is in Cuba studying medicine.

“So, I would like to encourage those aspiring students to study harder. There are many challenges along the way as some of our fellow students passed away, while others were diagnosed and became psychopathic.

“You are going to experience various challenges in Cuba including the food, weather, language and life-style. However, it is possible through discipline, dedication and determination. I left South Africa while I was only 17 and imagine being in a foreign country all by myself?” she said.

Buoyed Moepeng said she learnt to pull herself together and reminded herself why she was in Cuba in the first place. She said it was difficult to cope after her two family members past away and she could not come to their funerals.

“It is imperative to have support from family members. So, my grandmother, Mathuso Moepeng, my mother, Ntebogeng Tharipe and Boipelo Lecwe whom I regard as my father that I never had were always there for me. I also want to commend my friends who were there for me when I needed them most.

“South African embassy in Cuba was also helpful towards us while we were there. I will continue with my studies at Wits University to finish my course. We will embark on an 18-months programme before we could graduate,” she said.

Moepeng said she would like to specialise on cardiothoracic surgery. She said a journey worth 1000 miles begins with only one step.

“Young people should draw inspiration from that. We have many challenges facing our youth in a daily basis like teenage pregnancy, HIV and Aids, alcohol and drug abuse, crime and unemployment.

“However, we need to be responsible and ensure that we become better leaders of tomorrow. I finished my matric at high school back in 2011 and applied for various universities. Unfortunately I could not secure bursary and registration fee was also too expensive, but I never gave up,” she said.

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North West ANC chairman Supra Mahumapelo is accused by fellow provincial executive committee (PEC) member Mmoloki Cwaile of pushing ahead with a “bogus and two-hour sermon” regional conference.

Cwaile on Saturday night charged that Mahumapelo organised a regional conference of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (RSM) region in the province with “fake delegates” and blocked legitimate delegates from accessing the venue at All Seasons Resort in Christiana.

According to Cwaile‚ the conference “did not even last two hours” as delegates were beaten up‚ shot at with rubber bullets and tear gas and chased out of the venue.

To this end the excluded group proceeded to convene a parallel conference of the “real delegates” at the PH Moeketsi High School in Taung on Saturday night‚ said Cwaile.

“The legitimacy of the conference is not dependent on the presence of the NEC but its correctness in the context of principles of the ANC‚ not the two-hour sermon Supra facilitated today at All Seasons in Christiana‚” said Cwaile who added that he and other “progressive” PEC members would preside over the Taung conference to legitimise it.

Thapelo Galeboe‚ representing the group of ANC members who allege they were chased out from Christiana‚ said they were going ahead with the parallel conference and that Luthuli House would have to rule on which one was legitimate.

Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za

Actress Enhle Mbali Maphumulo has been hospitalised after she was robbed yesterday afternoon by three armed men in a suspected hijacking in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.

Maphumulo was driving the new Porsche which her husband DJ Black Coffee had recently purchased for her when she was attacked.

Gauteng police spokesman Captain Kay Makhubele last night confirmed the robbery.

“We are aware that she was robbed because the police attended the scene … we’re still to obtain a statement from her as to what happened,” Makhubele told Sowetan.

Makhubele, however, could not immediately reveal what was taken. But according to Sowetan’s sister publication TshisaLIVE, Maphumulo was accosted by three armed men, two with guns and one with a hammer, who stopped in front of her car, pulled her out and took her jewellery.

The actress was rushed to hospital shortly after the incident.

“It was very traumatic. She was hyperventilating and her body froze during the incident. She’s in a lot of shock and is still in hospital,” said her friend Jarred Doyle, who was with her at the scene. It’s understood the incident happened just after 4pm. – Addition reporting by Mpho Sibanyoni

Source: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za