Johannesburg – A former spy boss has slammed statements made by State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele about a probe into the Gupta family, claiming a 2011 investigation into the conduct of the Guptas led to several top officials being sacked.

Gibson Njenje, former director general of the State Security Agency (then called the National Intelligence Agency), was one of those who lost his job because of the row over the Gupta probe in 2011, the Mail & Guardian reported on Friday.

Others who lost their jobs over the Gupta probe were foreign intelligence chief Moe Shaik and National Intelligence co-ordinating committee head Jeff Maqetuka.

Njenje said Cwele was “talking nonsense” when he said he had shut down an improper operation.

Concern

“The issue of the Guptas has been there for a long time,” said Njenje. “They have not been hiding their conduct. If intelligence was not concerned, we would have been foolish. The concern was how they conducted themselves.”

Cwele earlier in the week denied that Njenje, Shaik and Maqetuka were fired for probing the Gupta family.

“What was stopped was an irregular investigation which involved the use of state security assets to fight private business interests that have no bearing on our work to uphold national security,” Cwele said through his spokesperson Brian Dube. 

An angry Njenje said there was nothing irregular about the probe.

“If I were to explain [details of the investigations], I would have to go through everything. I left in 2011 and he [the minister] is talking nonsense about personal interests. In the position I held, I was able to talk to the Guptas and I did. I established certain things and I spoke to people about it. His [Cwele] attempt to protect information is provoking us…There is a lot of information we picked up from intelligence [about the Guptas].”

For more http://www.news24.com 

Johannesburg – Cosatu on Thursday rejected the claim by Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille that the trade union federation was keeping people unemployed by influencing government not to implement the youth wage subsidy.

Zille said at Orange Farm on Wednesday: “By bowing to the narrow interests of Cosatu and refusing to implement the youth wage subsidy, this government excludes young people from the economy. It cuts the youth off from opportunity.”

Zille was speaking on the anniversary of the Democratic Alliance’s march to the Congress of SA Trade Unions’ headquarters in Johannesburg on 15 May last year.

The march turned violent when rocks were thrown during a confrontation between the two. The DA asserted that Cosatu started the violence, while Cosatu was adamant DA supporters threw rocks first.

Zille said on Wednesday Cosatu thought it could scare the DA away, but it could not be more wrong.

“Today we meet again, one year on, to remind young South Africans that Cosatu is still keeping them unemployed, that it is keeping them locked out of the economy and denying them the dream of a better future,” Zille said.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said the trade union federation totally rejected “the false argument of Helen Zille”.

“The DA is trying to drive a wedge between the employed and unemployed youth by misleading the jobless into believing the myth that employed workers, especially those in Cosatu unions, are conspiring to exclude the unemployed in order to protect their ‘privileged’ position of having a job,” Craven said in a statement on Thursday.

Living in poverty

“Every survey of workers earnings exposes this as nonsense. In 2011, half of South African workers earned below R3 033 per month. Yet rough estimates for a national minimum level are around R4 500 a month. So those living below this figure – more than 60% of workers – are living in poverty.

“And most of the workers earning these low wages have to support as many as ten dependent, unemployed family members. This counters the phoney argument that employed workers have become a privileged elite, with different interests than the unemployed. On the contrary their interests are closely intertwined,” Craven said.

Cosatu had ceaselessly highlighted the unacceptable levels of youth unemployment, but insisted on looking for genuine solutions, unlike the DA strategy which was a mischievous attempt to pretend to the young unemployed that there was a quick-fix solution called a Youth Wage Subsidy.

This was based on the false premise that the cause of high unemployment was the high cost of labour and restrictive labour laws that made it too hard to fire workers.

“The DA is serving its real masters – white monopoly capital who want the taxpayers to subsidise them in order to maximise profits.

“Helen Zille’s crusade against Cosatu is a crude attempt to divert blame for the youth unemployment crisis from its real causes: the economic growth path we inherited from our colonial and apartheid past – weak infrastructure, monopolies and cartels, and an economy over-dependent on the export of raw materials.

“The DA stands four-square for the interests of the workers’ class enemies in its rich and big business constituency.”

Craven said it was an illusion that structural problems of unemployment could be solved by deregulating the labour market.

“Unemployment is not caused by the high cost of labour, nor trade unions, nor low labour productivity, nor inadequate skills of the workforce – but the nature of our economy.

“Cosatu represents the working class and the poor, while the DA speaks for big business, the wealthy and the privileged. They are not the saviours of the unemployed youth but their biggest enemy,” said Craven.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Miners at Anglo Platinum [JSE:AMS] reported for work on Friday, a company spokesperson said, despite earlier calls for a strike by some union leaders.

Amplats spokesperson Mpumi Sithole said all workers had reported for the morning shift and there had been no trouble. 

On Thursday plans for a strike over retrenchments at Amplats were suspended, the workers’ committee said.

“We decided to wait until Friday to see how the company responds to the issue,” said spokesperson Evans Ramokga.

The committee, which led a strike in September, earlier said the strike would begin on Thursday night.

Ramokga said the company was not backing down on retrenchments, and workers had taken it upon themselves to fight.

“Unions have done their part and negotiated on our behalf. Now the workers have decided to lead their cause. No one is happy about the retrenchments.”

After mass meetings at different shafts, workers had decided to go on strike.

“Workers are saying if Amplats cannot run the mines they must leave and surrender the mines to another company that will save jobs.”

For more http://www.news24.com

North West Premier Thandi Modise is to host a Special Premier’s Coordination Council for stakeholders in the province to engage with the Minister of Transport, Ben Martins on fast tracking infrastructure development to unlock economic opportunities. The stakeholder engagement meeting is scheduled to be held as from 9:30 am at the Mahikeng Hotel School on Monday. 

  The objective of the meeting with provincial stakeholders on Strategic Infrastructure Programme (SIP) 4 is intended at deepening understanding of the programme. It is primarily aimed at giving practical expression to President Jacob Zuma’s directive announced during his State of the Nation Address that infrastructure development should be fast-tracked further in the light of the huge backlogs in the province, especially electricity, schools, clinics, roads and water in the next two years.In welcoming the engagement, Premier Modise said that SIP 4 is part of the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) adopted by government last year to transform the economic landscape while simultaneously creating significant numbers of new jobs, and to strengthen the delivery of basic services. The plan also supports integration of African economies. Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan announced in his 2013 Budget Speech that 

  government will over the three years from 2013/14 invest R827 billion in the building of new and the upgrading of existing infrastructure.

 “Targeted projects for our province are aimed at acceleration of investments in road, rail, bulk water, water treatment and transmission infrastructure, enabling reliable supply and basic service delivery, facilitating development of mining, agricultural activities and tourism opportunities and opening up beneficiation opportunities” highlighted Modise.

Members of the Executive Council, The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional leaders, Executive Mayors, Mayors Heads of Departments, Municipal Managers and Chairpersons and CEO’s of State Owned Enterprises are expected to attend the session.

Cape Town – It will cost R65m to host this year’s SA Sports Awards evening.

According to Die Burger’s website, Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula confirmed the amount in parliament this week. 

“The department of sport will pay R21m and the other R44m will be covered by sponsors,” said Mbalula.

The R44m includes the worth of TV broadcast rights for the occasion.

This comes despite a few of the country’s sports institutions suffering financially. Swimming SA, for instance, said last month it was unable to cover the travel expenses of SA’s swimmers to the FINA World Championships in Barcelona in July.

SASCOC was forced to ensure the costs of at least the top swim stars would be covered. However, lesser known athletes might need to contribute some of the costs if they hope to take part.

Paena Galane, a spokesperson for the department of sport, said the financial woes of Swimming SA is not the SA Sports Awards’ problem.

“More than 30 million people watch the event on the SABC and SuperSport. Their (Swimming SA) problem is due to a lack of sponsorship,” said Galane.

The DA however feels it is a waste of tax payers’ money. Winston Rabotapi, a DA spokesperson on sport, said the department has a history of hosting extravagant gala-evenings. 

“In 2011 the department used more than 60% of the money it received from the national lottery to fund the sports awards evening, which amounted to R46m.”

R27m was spent to host last year’s event at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Chad le Clos was named Sports Star of the Year in 2012, after becoming an overnight sensation when he beat Michael Phelps by a whisker for the gold medal in the 200m butterfly at the 2012 London Olympics. He also went on to win silver in the 100m butterfly behind Phelps.

Sport24

Kaizer Motaung Jnr and Itumeleng Khune are the only surviving members of the last Kaizer Chiefs squad that last won the League eight years ago, with over half of that squad not playing top-flight football anymore.

Actually, Motaung Jnr is the only player still at Naturena to have played the last time Chiefs won the League in 2004/05.

Though Khune was part of the squad and received a medal at the end of the season, he never played a single game as Rowen Fernandez played all 30 League matches plus all 15 cup games.

The reality is that Motaung Jnr will on Saturday become the only player to have been at the club through all of their three League triumphs after picking up medals when Chiefs won the League in consecutive years in 2003/04 and 2004/05.

The 31-year-old will also stand as the only player with three championship medals for the club in the PSL era.

However, just like eight years ago, Motaung Jnr’s contribution has been a drop in the ocean this season; the same it has been through all the three championship-winning seasons.

He has started just a single game out of a possible 90 through all the three title-winning seasons.

In those three seasons that Chiefs have been champions, the ‘K’ has scored twice – once against Chippa United this season and another in the dead rubber season-ending 1-1 draw against the then Wits University in 2003/04.

While the eight-year wait for the championship has come to an end, only six other players that did duty for Chiefs that season are still active in the PSL – Fernandez, Bevan Fransman, David Mathebula, Collins Mbesuma, Tinashe Nengomasha and David Radebe – while almost half of that squad has either retired or spent the past season not attached to any PSL club.

The list of those that have since retired since Chiefs last won the League includes Nhlanhla Kubeka, Patrick Mabedi, Patrick Mayo, Fabian McCarthy, Thabo Mooki, Cyril Nzama and Arthur Zwane, while those without clubs at the moment are Derrick Spencer, Gert Schalkwyk and Rene Richards. 

Chiefs players who played in the 2004/05 season: Songwe Chalwe, Rowen Fernandez, Bevan Fransman, Junior Khanye, Nhlanhla Khubeka, Patrick Mabedi, David Mathebula,Patrick Mayo, Simphiwe Mbambo, Collins Mbesuma, Fabian McCarthy, Jabulani Mendu, Siphiwe Mkhonza, Papi Mngomezulu, Thabo Mooki, John Moshoeu, Kaizer Motaung Jnr, Kabamba Musasa, Lucky Mzizi, Tinashe Nengomasha, Emmanuel Ngobese, Cyril Nzama, David Radebe, Rene Richards, Gert Schalkwyk, Gerald Sibeko, Derrick Spencer and Arthur Zwane.

For more http://www.kickoff.com

Kaizer Chiefs striker Lehlohonolo Majoro scored the goal that clinched the league title for the Amakhosi in Wednesday night’s 1-1 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium with SuperSport United.

Majoro took his personal goal scoring tally in the league to nine for the season, and after playing a big part in the side’s championship success, he told the Siya crew that Amakhosi wanted it more and deserve the trophy.

“We wanted it more. We deserved to even win the game though it ended up in a draw. You saw how we played and everyone in the team wanted to win. 

“We could have scored more goals but that one goal gave us the trophy and we deserved it. I didn’t just score, not for myself, but for the team and I am glad I did score that goal,” the Bafana Bafana striker explained. 

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Johannesburg – Former Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela learnt he had been fired via media reports on Thursday, EyeWitnessNews reported.

“Neither my lawyer nor myself have received a letter saying I have been dismissed from the SAPS,” Polela was quoted as saying.

His dismissal is believed to be a consequence of a Twitter comment he posted last year relating to the conviction of Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye and his co-accused Themba Tshabalala for murder and attempted murder.

Sapa could not immediately reach Polela for his comment.

On Twitter on Thursday, under the hashtag #FriendsofTosh, one user asked Polela: Dude is this the end or the beginning? Have you got something up your ankle holster?

Polela responded: I’m a tenderpreneur, but did not elaborate.

Response

Earlier, The Star newspaper reported that Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa revealed Polela’s dismissal in a written response to a question from the DA in Parliament this week.

“The officer was dismissed on 27 March 2013, and the internal appeals authority confirmed the same,” Mthethwa reportedly said.

“The officer was paid R323 238.41 during the period he was on suspension,” Mthethwa said, according to the report.

Polela declined to comment to The Star.

He was suspended last year after he tweeted in October: I trust Jub Jub’s supporters gave him a jar of Vaseline to take to prison.

He was commenting after the conviction of Maarohanye and Tshabalala for killing four schoolchildren and injuring two others while drag-racing on a street in Soweto in March 2010.

They were each sentenced to serve an effective 25 years in prison.

SAPA

Rustenburg – Brigadier Adriaan Calitz gave the order for police to shoot at striking Marikana miners in August last year, the Farlam Commission heard on Thursday.

A video clip taken from a helicopter that Calitz was in during the police’s dispersal operation at Marikana was played to the commission.

“Shoot at the target, shoot at the target,” Calitz was heard saying on the clip.

In the clip, he is also heard saying: “Get out there and engage.”

Calitz was one of the commanders assigned to the Marikana operation.

Major General Charl Annandale, who was under cross-examination at the commission, confirmed Calitz’s voice was audible in the clip.

“That was Papa One, Brigadier Calitz,” said Annandale.

Annandale headed the police’s tactical response team during the wage-related unrest at Lonmin’s platinum mine last year.

He said he was at the joint operations centre listening to the police radio when the instruction was given.

The commission adjourned early on Thursday as several people were due to attend the memorial service of Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) member, Mawethu Steven, also known as Steve Khululekile. 

He was gunned down at a tavern in Marikana at the weekend.

Steven was one of several commission witnesses killed in the last few months. His memorial service will take place at the Karee mine.

Scores of mineworkers were expected to attend the service, at which Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa was expected to speak.

Crucial information

Earlier, the commission heard how police officers deployed to Marikana during last year’s wage-related unrest could have had more information about what happened.

“I cannot exclude the possibility that some of the 600 officers who were there could have other [pictures and videos on their cellphones] that they did not hand in,” Annandale said.

He said the officers were asked to hand in any information they had, but that officers were not required to use their cellphones.

“There’s no protocol for officers to use their own private cellphones and cameras, as professional people are appointed for such,” said Annandale.

Five police videographers had been deployed to take footage at the unrest. Some cellphone footage had been handed in as evidence at the commission.

Nokukhanya Jele, for the SA Human Rights Commission, said she had waited several months to get the pocket books of police officers at Marikana.

On Thursday, the SAPS handed over around 500 of the books to Jele and her team.

The commission heard the pocket books could contain crucial information.

A typical entry in an officer’s pocket book would have information on the post they held on a particular day, and the type of vehicle and firearm in their possession, Annandale said.

“In terms of Marikana, they would say when they went on duty and whether they used their firearms or not,” said Annandale.

The commission, chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam, is investigating the deaths of 44 people killed in Lonmin’s wage-related unrest last year.

Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers in Marikana on 16 August. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A Parliamentary debate on the unauthorised landing at the Waterkloof Air Force Base has been moved forward, the African National Congress said on Thursday.

It would take place on 22 May instead of during the week of 4 to 7 June, the office of the ANC Chief Whip said in a statement.

“Our proposal for the debate to take place on 22 May was accepted by all parties at today’s [Thursday] National Assembly programming committee meeting.”

The ANC said it made the proposal in view of the fact that the government’s probe into the matter had been concluded.

Earlier in the day, acting Minister in the Presidency Edna Molewa said there would be no attempt to keep secret a report from the investigation by a group of directors general.

Molewa and Cabinet colleagues endorsed preliminary findings of the probe into how the Gupta family managed to land the plane at the national key point without executive authority.

She said it was now up to the justice, crime prevention, and security (JCPS) cluster of ministries to release the findings to the public.

JCPS chairperson Justice Minister Jeff Radebe was in the country, but his colleagues in the cluster were in Russia on a working visit with President Jacob Zuma.

Radebe and the other ministers would decide in which form the outcomes of the probe would be made public.

Molewa said: “What we are really saying to you as South Africans, is that this matter… was never intended to be kept under wraps… You will be informed about it.”

The aircraft was carrying 270 guests to the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, and Indian-born Aakash Jahajgarhia at Sun City.

Government faced a storm of criticism over the incident, given the perception that the Gupta brothers are close to President Jacob Zuma.

SAPA