Kimberley – The Northern Cape government entered into lease agreements with the Trifecta Group without advertising any tenders, a court heard in Kimberley on Tuesday.

Northern Cape High Court Judge Mathebe Phatshoane was hearing evidence in the case against Northern Cape ANC heavyweights John Block, Alvin Botes, Yolanda Botha and Trifecta director Christo Scholtz.

They face charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

The State called it first witness – Trevor White, a PWC forensic auditor form KwaZulu-Natal.

White spent most of the afternoon explaining the background and composition of the first of three forensic reports before the court.

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

As a result, the Trifecta Group received, or would receive, rentals of R57m at the end of the lease agreements.

There were also leases involving two other government departments.

White explained the Jyba Trust, with beneficiaries to be named by Botha, acquired 10% shares in Trifecta Investment Holdings for only R100, while the shares were worth millions.

Scholtz and a deceased Northern Cape businessman Sarel Breda were the directors of Trifecta Investment Holdings through their own trusts.

Breda died in an aircraft crash in the Northern Cape in March 2009.

White told the court that the National Treasury appointed PWC to investigate the various lease agreements entered into involving Trifecta in January 2012.

Pleading not guilty

Earlier, all the accused handed in plea explanations to the court after pleading not guilty to all the charges.

Scholtz explained he asked Breda to help with a business opportunity after it was identified there was a massive shortage of infrastructure in the Northern Cape.

This included office space in Kimberley and surrounding towns.

Scholtz told the court he had very little knowledge of Trifecta transactions in the Northern Cape done by Breda.

He denied any alleged attempt to give the other accused money as a reward for getting government leases.

Botha, in her plea explanation, also denied that the 10% shares she received in Trifecta Investment Holdings was gratification.

In his plea explanation, Block said at the time of the alleged offences he was not employed by a government department and he had to fend for himself as a businessman.

Referring to some payments to him, Block said those were payments for work done in his personal capacity.

Contested renovations to an Upington guesthouse, apparently done with Trifecta money, were done through a loan from Breda. Block was paying the loan, the court heard.

He further denied he had committed unlawful acts of corruption or influenced anybody to act unlawfully in regard to leases for Trifecta.

Botes, in his plea explanation, said he denied any unlawful act such as efforts to convince the department of social development to take a rental contract with Trifecta.

Referring to certain payments from Trifecta, Botes said those were salary payments for a period while not employed by a government department.

The trial continues.

SAPA

Cape Town – The showing of a cellphone video clip of an apparent vigilante attack in Khayelitsha was provisionally disallowed during proceedings at the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The “graphic” clip was to be shared by a former Harare Community Policing Forum (CPF) member, Chumile Sali, during day nine of the hearings, held at Lookout Hill, Khayelitsha.

Sali joined the CPF in 2011, and testified about his experiences as a member.

“It was a bad experience,” he told commissioners.

Sali said when he joined the CPF there were little resources, prompting him to use his own laptop and printers.

“You have a police station with little support for police members, hence the low morale,” he said.

In addition, police vehicles were often parked in the police precinct and not used to patrol the area.

Evidence leader Thembalihle Sidaki tried to show the commission the video clip Sali received depicting a vigilante attack. Norman Arendse, for the police, however objected.

Commission chairwoman, retired Constitutional Court judge Kate O’Regan, agreed with Arendse.

“We won’t see it right now. We don’t think it’s appropriate at this stage,” O’Regan said.

Earlier during proceedings, social anthropologist Vicky Igglesden testified about the treatment of foreigners living in Khayelitsha. Adding to an already recurring theme throughout proceedings, Igglesden said police often disregarded the human rights of Khayelitsha-based foreigners, including Somali shop owners.

Foreigners had reported abuse at the hands of officers.

The commission was established by Western Cape premier Helen Zille to probe accusations by civil society formations that police inaction was leading to an increase in mob justice killings in the area.

The commission was delayed for some time when Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa tried to have it scrapped. Mthethwa lost his legal bid to stop the commission in the Constitutional Court in October last year.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Hartbeesfontein-A 35 year-old accused, Jimmy Lebogang Sebendwane appeared in the Hartbeesfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of murder and rape of a 60 year -old woman on Sunday at Tigane township in Hartbeesfontein. 

“He is still in custody and will appear again on 11 February 2014 in Klerksdorp Magistrates Court for bail application” said captain Pelonomi Makau.

Police said the victim allegedly went to another house in the same section and joined members of that family for drinks. 

“It is further alleged that at about 22:00, the victim asked to be accompanied home. According to the information, the suspect volunteered to accompany the victim but instead of accompanying her to her place, the suspect took the victim to another room, raped and stabbed her several times with a knife at the back of her head, then dragged her outside the house” she said.

On Monday at about 06:00 in the morning, the deceased’s neighbour informed the police after noticing the deceased body outside the suspect’s house.

After investigations, it was discovered that the suspect was the last person to be seen with the victim and his clothes had bloodstains on them. The suspect was then arrested at his place. 

Investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Hartbeesfontein-Four accused appeared at Hartbeesfontein Magistrate Court for kidnapping on Tuesday.

Mangaliso Bonde (29), Zamani Bonde (26),George Bonde (32),Thembi Xandibe (23) and William Sitele(19) appeared in Hartbeesfontein  Magistrates Court on Tuesday on allegations of kidnapping and attempted murder of a 22 year-old victim, Jan Lephadi at Tigane Township.  

They will appear again on 6 February 2014 for Regional Court decision. 

“It is alleged that the accused went to Lephadi’s house and accused him of breaking into their house. They searched his house and when they could not get anything, they allegedly assaulted the victim with fists and a knobkerrie and dragged him out of his home to his grandmother’s place to give them the alleged stolen property” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

Police said when they could not find anything again, two of the five accused locked the victim in the boot of the car and drove with him to the nearest bush in the area where they allegedly  poured petrol over him and thereafter set him alight. 

“The victim managed to take off his t-shirt, rolled on the ground to extinguish the fire that had consumed him. It is alleged that the victim was badly burnt from his head and back” concludes Makau.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Swartruggens-North West police are looking for the family of an unknown body of a woman that was found after a car accident that happened on 24 January 2014 on Koster and Swartruggens road.

Captain Pelonomi Makau said the deceased who is between the ages of 35 and 40 hitch-hiked from a vehicle which was from Koster to Swartruggens. 

“It is alleged that the driver of the vehicle also died in the accident  after losing control of the vehicle, while the other passenger survived with minor injuries” Makau said.

The driver was identified by his family and the woman could not be identified. According to the information, the woman had a maroon handbag, a 2 Litre of home brewed beer with her. She was light in colour. 

“At the time of the accident she had a white short pants and a white T-shirt on” said Makau.

Any person with any information of a missing person should contact Swartruggens police on 

014 544 0002 or Detective Constable Boyise on 072 452 5115.-TDN

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Cape Town- Dr. Danny Jordaan, President of SAFA, has announced that after a three-day Lekgotla of NEC members, SAFA is to embark on a major overhaul.

Key messages are:

∙An increased emphasis on the development of youth teams and women’s football.

∙The reintroduction of inter-provincial tournaments for men and women.

•Tightening of lower league regulations to improve standards.

∙The creation of football academies in all nine provinces.

∙A major training programme for scouts and coaches to enhance their abilities to improve talent identification across the country.

∙A greater emphasis on scientific research to improve player performance. Part of this programme will be in partnership with the University of Johannesburg and other institutions of higher learning.

∙The strengthening our club licensing system to ensure proper governance and to promote development within the club itself. 

“We have thrown away the drawing board and starting on a new slate,” said Dr. Jordaan.  

“If we are to have a national team that can compete with the best in the world, then we have to strengthen development at all levels in order to produce players capable of beating the best in the world.”

He said that the lekgotla had acknowledged that Women’s football has not been receiving the attention it deserved. “We will be working harder to identify and develop promising young women to help them achieve their full potential,” he said.

Jordaan said that the lekgotla had decided on several steps to ensure the success of the programme.

A top SAFA team will engage with the Minister of Sport, universities and school sports governing bodies to decide on practical steps to strengthen youth teams. “We intend to place considerable emphasis on school sport and junior leagues,” he said. 

The first of the new inter-provincial tournaments will take place from March 28 to March 31 in Moruleng in the North West.  This will be for under-17 boys.

The Under 19 boy’s tournament will take place in Bloemfontein between April 27 and May 2 (Under 19 boys).

Under 19-Women will take place between August 4 and August 9 in Modimolle, Limpopo.

SAFA intends to create footballing academies in all nine provinces. “We are able to do this with the co-operation of government at all levels,” said Jordaan. 

“The first of these academies is already established in Kwa-Zulu Natal.”

Jordaan said: “I am aware that there is speculation surrounding Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund.  

“I read in the news that this coach or that coach is coming to take over from Gordon.  Well, I want to say that, at the moment, there is no vacancy.”

Dennis Mumble, SAFA’s chief executive, who has been charged with implementing the changes said that it will be a costly exercise.  “We will fund this by approaching our sponsors, working with government at all levels, by seeking assistance from FIFA and CAF and the National Lotteries Board.  

“We are confident that this money will be found because it is so obviously important to all of South Africa. The future of South African football is riding on this if we are to achieve our objective of consistently being among the top 3 teams in Africa and the top 20 in the world.”-TDN

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Abuja – Nigerian police on Monday said they had arrested a 28-year-old man wanted in connection with the death of an Australian woman and for defrauding her of $90 000 in an online dating scam.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told AFP that Orowo Jesse Omokoh was arrested on 28 January in Nigeria.

The graduate, who attended the University of Ibadan, in the southwest of the country, will be brought before court for extradition proceedings, a spokesperson said.

Omokoh is alleged to have struck up a fake online romance with Jette Jacobs, but five days after he moved to Johannesburg, to meet her in February last year, she was found dead.

Some of her valuables were missing and Omokoh had returned to Nigeria.

“The South African police, which are investigating the mysterious death, are suspicious that Omokoh has a hand in the demise of Jacobs,” the EFCC said.

The organisation, which investigates money-laundering and online scams, said Australian Federal Police informed officers in March that Omokoh had allegedly defrauded Jacobs of $90 000.

Jacobs, a grandmother from Western Australia, reportedly sent tens of thousands of dollars to Nigeria during her four-year “romance” with a man known as “Jesse”, according to Australian media.

The 67-year-old is said to have previously met him in Johannesburg in 2010 without incident.

Her body was found on 9 February. 

The EFCC said Omokoh had given “useful” information and “efforts are on to track his accomplices”.

AFP

Perpetrators of sexual violence against the vulnerable, particularly elderly women should have no place in society, North West Premier Thandi Modise said in calling for no bail for the suspect arrested in connection with the rape and murder of a 60-year-old woman in Tigane township near Hartbeesfontein. 

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the callous and ghastly act which is alleged to have been committed by a 35-year-old man who has since been arrested and call on real men to protect our elderly against the twin demons of rape and gender based violence,”stressed Premier Modise expressed shock and reiterated her call for intensified united action against crime and the scourge of rapeModise said that when the elderly are living in fear of being raped by those old enough to be their children and grandchildren, society should stand up to stamp the tide of the scourge of rape and say enough is enough.She added that crime was eroding the moral fibre and needs to be fought on all fronts.According to police, the woman had been drinking with a relative in another part of the township and asked to be walked home around 10pm on Sunday night.

“According to the information, the suspect volunteered to accompany the victim but instead of accompanying her to her place, allegedly took her to another room, raped and stabbed her several times with a knife at the back of her head, then dragged her outside the house,” said Captain Pelonomi Makau.

On Monday morning, neighbours saw the woman’s body lying outside the suspect’s house and called the police.

“He was the last person to be seen with the victim and his clothes had blood stains on them,” said Makau.

The man was arrested and charged with rape and murder. He was scheduled to appear in the Hartbeesfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.-TDN

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