Sanef, kabinet gaan praat

Sanef, kabinet gaan praat
2010-08-28 23:45
Johan Eybers in Johannesburg
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Redakteursforum (Sanef) gaan vroeg in September met die kabinet vergader oor die ANC se omstrede planne vir ’n mediatribunaal, maar dit is onseker of pres. Jacob Zuma daar gaan wees.

Die tribunaal, wat sterk steun in die ANC geniet, loop nou saam met ’n konsepwet om toegang tot inligting te beperk en word wyd gesien as ’n poging om die Suid-Afrikaanse media te muilband.

Mnr. Mondli Makhanya, hoofredakteur van die Avusa-groep en voorsitter van Sanef se aksiekomitee wat bedreigings vir mediavryheid moet beveg, sê die doel van die vergadering is om dialoog tussen die partye te bewerkstellig en om die regering in te lig oor die media se vrese.

Mnr. Zizi Kodwa, Zuma se segsman, sê egter die president se dagboek is “verskriklik vol”. Sover hy weet, het Zuma geen planne om redakteurs in die nabye toekoms te ontmoet nie.

Sanef vergader ook môre met nie-regeringsorganisasies en ander rolspelers om ’n gesamentlike plan van aksie op te stel om druk op die ANC te plaas om van sy mediatribunaal-plan af te sien, sê Makhanya.

“Ek kan nie praat oor die plan nie, want ek wil nie Maandag (môre) se vergadering vooruitloop nie,” het hy gesê.

* Intussen het die vakverbond Cosatu hom eergister gedistansieer van die mediatribunaal en die inligtingswetgewing.

Die voorgenome Wet op die Beskerming van Inligting kan nie in sy huidige vorm gesteun word nie, het Cosatu in ’n verklaring gesê.

“Cosatu kan nie iets ondersteun wat sal verseker dat korrupte individue beskerm word nie,” het mnr. Zwelinzima Vavi Donderdag aan joernaliste gesê.
“Dit is vir Cosatu baie eienaardig dat die regering nou soveel tyd hieraan bestee, terwyl baie belangriker kwessies… aandag verg.”

Húlle staan op vir vryheid van spraak

Persone en organisasies wat hul teenkanting uitgespreek het teen die ANC se beplande mediatribunaal en voorgestelde nuwe wetgewing wat toegang tot inligting sal beperk:

Skrywers en akademici

* Nadine Gordimer, Nobelpryswenner; * JM Coetzee, Nobelpryswenner; * André P. Brink; * Deon Meyer; * Zakes Mda; *Braam de Vries; *Chris Barnard; *Breyten Breytenbach; *Marlene van Niekerk; *Zoë Wicomb; *Damon Galgut; * Mandla Langa; *Etienne van Heerden; *prof. Hermann Giliomee; *Fred Khumalo, joernalis en skrywer; *Justice Malala, politieke kommentator; * prof. Ampie Coetzee; * John Miles; *Pieter Haasbroek; *Hein Willemse; *Jeanette Ferreira;
* dr. Charles Malan; letterkundige.

Organisasies

* Algemene Balieraad van Suid-Afrika; *Prokureursorde van Suid-Afrika; *Suid-Afrikaanse Kamer van Handel en Nywerheid; *Bobby Godsell, namens Besigheidsleierskap Suid-Afrika (BLSA), wat hoof uitvoerende beamptes van 80 van Suid-Afrika se grootste sake-ondernemings verteenwoordig;*Kaapse sakekamer; *Gareth Ackerman, Pick n Pay-voorsitter.

Politiek, die kerk, aktiviste en internasionaal

* Emeritus aartsbiskop Desmond Tutu; * kardinaal Wilfrid Napier, aartsbiskop van Durban; *Moeletsi Mbeki, broer van oudpres. Thabo Mbeki; *mnr. Tokyo Sexwale, minister van huisvesting (ANC); *dr. Mamphela Ramphele, aktivis en sakeleier; *oudpres. F.W. de Klerk; *dr. Pallo Jordan, oudminister van kuns en kultuur; *mnr. Pik Botha, oudminister van buitelandse sake; *mnr. Donald Gips, Amerikaanse ambassadeur in Suid-Afrika; *mnr. Betrand Pecquerie, direkteur van die Wêreld-redakteursforum (WEF); *mnr. Tali Nates, direkteur van die Holocaust and Genocide Centre in Johannesburg; *Fe­de­rat­ion of Unions of SA (Fedusa); *Treatment Action Campaign (TAC); *SANGONeT, internet-inligtingswebtuiste vir nie-regeringsorganisasies; *Instituut vir Sekerheidstudie (ISS); *DA; *PAC; *OD; *ACDP; *Azapo; *Cope; *VF+.

Media

*Mnr. Joe Thloloe, persombundsman; *Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Redakteursforum; *Nasionale Persklub; *Instituut vir Vryheid van Spraak (IVS); *mnr. Joel Simon van die komitee om joernaliste te beskerm (CPJ); *Vereniging vir Professionele Joernaliste in Suid-Afrika; *Internasionale Persinstituut (IPI); *29 spotprenttekenaars, o.a. Jonathan Shapiro, John Curtis, Jeremy Nell, Mark Wiggett en Brandan Reynolds; *Max du Preez, veteraan-joernalis;
* Har­vey Tyson, oudredakteur van The Star; * mnr. William Bird, direkteur van Media Monitoring Africa; *prof. Anton Harber, hoof van joernalistiek, Wits; *mnr. Raymond Louw, mediakenner van die Suid-Afrikaanse Redakteursforum; *Media-instituut vir Suider-Afrika (Misa); *mnr. Ton Vosloo, nie-uitvoerende hoof van Nas­pers; *Ainsley Moos, redakteur van Volksblad; * Alan Dunn, redakteur van Daily News; * Alide Dasnois, redakteur van Cape Times; * Andrew Koopman, redakteur van Son en Sondag Son; * Andrew Trench, redakteur van Daily Dispatch; * Angela Quintal, redakteur van The Mercury; * Barney Mthombothi, redakteur van Financial Mail; * Bongani Keswa, redakteur van Sowetan; *Bun Booyens, redakteur van Die Burger; *Charles Mogale, redakteur van Sunday World; * Chiara Carter, redakteur van Week­end Argus. * Chris Whitfield, redakteur van Independent Newspapers Cape; * Clyde Bawden, redakteur van The Independent on Saturday; * Dirk Lotriet, redakteur van Sondag; * Ferial Haffajee, redakteur van City Press ; * Fikile Ntsikelelo Moya, redakteur van The Witness ; * Jeremy McCabe, redakteur van Weekend Post ; * Gasant Abarder, redakteur Cape Argus; * Heather Robertson, redakteur van The Herald; * Jovial Rantao, redakteur van The Star; * Liza Albrecht, redakteur van Rapport; * Makhudu Sefara, redakteur van The Sunday Independent; * Martin Williams, redakteur van The Citizen; * Moegsien Wil­liams, redakteur van The Star; * Mondli Makhan­ya, redakteur van Avusa; * Nic Dawes, redak­teur van Mail & Guardian; * Peet Kruger, redakteur van Media24; * Peter Bruce, redakteur van Business Day; * Philani Mgwaba, redakteur van Sunday Tribune; * Phylicia Oppelt, redakteur van The ­Times; * Ray Hartley, redakteur van Sunday Times; * Thabo Leshilo, redakteur van Avusa; * Themba Khumalo, redakteur van Daily Sun; *Tim du Plessis, redakteur van Beeld; * Thulani Mbatha, redakteur van Isolezwe; *Zingisa Mkhuma, redakteur van Pretoria News.

Air Marshal Norman Walsh

Air Marshal Norman Walsh
Air Marshal Norman Walsh, who has died aged 77, was a courageous pilot during Rhodesia's bush war and then appointed by Robert Mugabe, when he came to power in 1980, to command the first Zimbabwe Air Force.

Published: 5:50PM BST 22 Aug 2010


Walsh (front row, fifth from left) with members of the No 7 squadron, Royal Rhodesian Air Force, in 1968
Walsh's hopes of maintaining the long, proud tradition of the old Rhodesian Air Force under the new regime were dashed when a new fleet of British Hawk fighters acquired by the Zimbabwe government was blown up at base and his entire superstructure of white officers arrested on suspicion of sabotage. After being jailed and tortured they were eventually brought to trial.

Walsh was horrified by the treatment of his senior men, most of them close friends, especially when the Zimbabwe High Court acquitted them after a long trial only for Mugabe to order their immediate rearrest outside the courtroom. He resigned his command and moved to Australia.


Related Articles
Zimbabwe's destitute Britons to be repatriated
Wing Commander Les Harland
Group Captain Everett Baudoux
Serious abuse continues in Zimbabwe, says Amnesty
Amnesty chief attacks Zimbabwe government on Harare visit
Lt-Cdr Sammy MearnsNorman Walsh was born in South Africa's Eastern Cape province to a family with a long air force tradition. After leaving the Queen's College in Queenstown, South Africa, he moved to the neighbouring British colony of Southern Rhodesia to enrol in the air force officers' cadet force, which had been established with the help of the Royal Air Force.

The RAF had a long association with Southern Rhodesia, which had provided a squadron (No 237 Rhodesia Squadron) that had seen action in East Africa during the Second World War. More than 10,000 Allied airmen, among them Tony Benn, were trained for war service in Southern Rhodesia from 1940 to 1945, many of them choosing to return to settle in the country after the war.

Norman Walsh, demonstrating what his instructors described as "a natural aptitude for flying" rose rapidly through the ranks in the Southern Rhodesian Air Force, becoming a pilot attack instructor and later instrument rating examiner. By 1964 he was a squadron leader with No 1 Squadron flying Hawker Hunter FGA9 ground attack fighters.

He switched to helicopters – which he loved flying – becoming commander in 1968 of No 7 Squadron operating Allouette 111s used for troop transport, casualty evacuation and battlefield support. In an operation against an early guerrilla incursion from Zambia, he was awarded the Bronze Cross for conspicuous gallantry for his skilful low-level flying at night among the cliffs and rocky gorges of the Zambesi Valley.

The guerrillas had established themselves in a deep gorge and engaged the Rhodesian security forces with heavy automatic fire, machine guns and bazookas. Walsh provided close support from his helicopter and, under heavy fire, landed in broken terrain to rescue a wounded soldier.

While never happier than when behind the controls of an aircraft, Walsh also showed great ability in administration and planning. He was promoted wing commander, and then, as the bush war against nationalist guerrillas intensified, to group captain on the Joint Planning Staff.

The Rhodesian Air Force played a key role in the bush war, adapting most of its ageing fleet of aircraft, including Canberra bombers and Dakota transports, to be deployed in tracking and attacking the elusive groups of insurgents operating from within the depths of the African bush. Walsh, by now an Air Commodore and a director general in the Joint Operations Command, was instrumental in organising and maintaining the fighting capability of the "blue jobs" – as air force personnel were affectionately known.

With his friend Lieutenant General Peter Walls, the officer commanding the entire counter-insurgency, he would often take to the air in the Command Dakota to oversee operations from low-level in Rhodesia and neighbouring Mozambique, despite the growing threat from Sam-7 ground-to-air missiles which the Soviet Union had supplied to the guerrilla forces.

When Robert Mugabe came to power in 1980, Walsh was surprised to be offered the command of the newly-named Zimbabwe Air Force. He readily accepted, however, as he hoped to maintain the high standards of the Rhodesian Air Force, especially with the promise of new aircraft. He was also keen to recruit and encourage new talent from within the ranks of the former guerrilla fighters.

He was initially rewarded with the acquisition of the first of eight British BAE Hawk jet trainer aircraft, then the latest of its type, which was to replace the ageing Hunters of No 1 Squadron at Thornhill, the main air force base near Gwelo (Gweru) in the Rhodesian Midlands. Walsh personally led the British Aerospace ferry team which flew the new aircraft from Britain.

On a quiet night in July 1982, just 10 days after the Hawks had arrived, saboteurs cut through the perimeter wire of the Thornhill base, made their way to the hangar where the aircraft were stored and placed bombs with timing devices in the engines. Bombs were also planted in eight Hunters and a Cessna aircraft parked on the apron outside.

By the time the saboteurs had disappeared into the darkness a series of explosions followed by a massive fire destroyed the hopes and dreams of the new Zimbabwe Air Force.

All the evidence pointed to an expert operation by special forces, almost certainly from South Africa – which was not keen to have a potentially hostile black government on its borders with an air force equipped with modern jets. Mugabe's fury, however, was directed at the senior white officers who, like Walsh, had in fact remained in service specifically to build a proud new air force.

One by one, they were rounded up by operatives from the sinister Central Intelligence Organisation, taken to remote spots and tortured and beaten into "confessing" to sabotaging their own air force. They included Walsh's close friend and deputy, Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Slatter, Air Commodore Philip Pile (who had been instrumental in organising the purchase of the Hawks), and two wing commanders.

It took nearly a year of international pressure before the men emerged from their ordeal and were finally brought to trial in the High Court in Salisbury. After a protracted hearing, they were all acquitted – but immediately rearrested by CIO men outside the courtroom and held for weeks more before being released and deported following an international outcry.

The episode helped destroy the confidence remaining whites had held in the new regime and thousands fled the country. Norman Walsh was bitterly disillusioned and chose the first opportunity he could find to resign his command. He left the country shortly afterwards and emigrated with his family to Australia.

Norman Walsh died at his home in Queensland on August 3 of an illness exacerbated by an old rugby injury. He is survived by his wife, Merilyn, and a son and a daughter.

( telegraph.co.uk )

Lieutenant-General Peter Walls

Lieutenant-General Peter Walls

Lieutenant-General Peter Walls, who has died aged 83, was the last commander of Ian Smith's Rhodesian armed forces; his otherwise distinguished military career ended in humiliation when he became involved in the political turmoil that surrounded Robert Mugabe's accession to power in Zimbabwe in 1980.

Published: 6:30PM BST 27 Jul 2010

13 Comments
Walls seemed to adapt readily to the prospect of black majority rule. At Mugabe's request he undertook to help supervise the moulding of his own armed force with the motley legions of guerrilla fighters who had emerged from the bush after the protracted and ugly war.

But Mugabe was soon increasingly perturbed by reports that Walls was plotting a coup against him and his new regime. When he summoned Walls to ask him why he was planning to kill him, the general denied the reports vehemently, offering the most obvious evidence that any plotters were nothing to do with him: "If they had been my men you would have been dead."


Related Articles
Zimbabwe's destitute Britons to be repatriated
Zimbabwe coalition in crisis as MDC threatens 'disengagement'
Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe military 'profiting from diamond massacre'
Lieutenant-Commander Max Shean
Cabinet reshuffle: Andy Burnham moves from best job in the world to the hospital ward
What Barack Obama's announcement of more US troops means for British in AfghanistanThe mood of suspicion prevailed, and Walls found his position in the new Zimbabwe untenable. He took himself into exile in South Africa, where he found groups of his disgruntled former Rhodesian security forces openly accusing him of having personally thwarted two attempts by special forces to assassinate Mugabe shortly after he had been elected.

A further bitter blow was the revelation that Ian Smith, a man he had supported throughout the lead up to the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) and who had appointed him to lead the Rhodesian forces through the war, had been blaming Walls for many of the failures of the transition and had actually accused him of "traitorous activities".

Peter Walls was born in Rhodesia in 1927 into family with military tradition. His father, George, had been a pioneer pilot in the colony and had volunteered for service with the Royal Air Force shortly after its formation. When Peter left Plumtree school, one of the most distinguished in Rhodesia, he already had his sights set on an army career.

He volunteered for the British Army during the Second World War and attended the Staff College at Camberley, which welcomed students from the Commonwealth. When the war ended he joined the Black Watch and was appointed Assistant Adjutant in the Highland Brigade Training Centre.

He resigned his commission when the Army decided to transfer him, choosing, in his own words, "to return to my beloved Rhodesia rather serve in any regiment other than the Black Watch". He could not stay away from soldiering for long, joining the Southern Rhodesian Staff Corps in the rank of corporal. With his experience and application he was promoted rapidly through the ranks and was soon commissioned again.

He went to Malaya during the military operations against the communist insurgency from 1951 to 1953 as a commander of what was known as "The Far Eastern Volunteer Group" (which became "C" Squadron of the British SAS). It was composed entirely of Rhodesian officers and men, who gained much valuable experience in fighting a guerrilla war in wild and hostile terrain.

Walls continued to shine, and in 1964 assumed command of the 1st Battalion, the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI), a unit of tough young professional soldiers which was to become famous in the bush war. He was the ideal commander for "troopies", as the soldiers of the RLI were known. Walls was tall, broad-shouldered and a man of action who liked to lead from the front.

He was also a convivial and personable man who surprised those who served under him with an amazing memory of names and family circumstances. The sentiment in favour of UDI was growing among whites, alarmed by what they perceived as determination by the colonial power to hand over power to black majorities throughout its African territories.

Walls shared the mood, and allowed his men to wear paper hats inscribed with the words "RLI for UDI" on them, an act which won him a rare reproach from Brigadier Rodney Putterill, his commander at the time. The move made him even more popular, particularly among the politicians of the newly-elected Rhodesian Front party led by Ian Smith. When the first tentative incursions were made by nationalist guerrillas crossing from Zambia, the RLI went into action with swift success.

In 1972 Ian Smith approved the appointment of Walls as General Officer Commanding the Rhodesian Army, a promotion that came as no surprise. Smith liked Walls and, as a former RAF pilot himself, had known his father. In any event, he was preparing for his momentous declaration of independence and needed an army commander he could trust to support him.

Walls was quick to realise that UDI would mean an intensification of the guerrilla war from neighbouring countries, specifically from Zambia and Botswana by Joshua Nkomo's largely Matabele ZIPRA, and from Tanzania and Mozambique by ZANLA, drawn from the majority Shona people. He put his troops on full counter-insurgency readiness.

He knew from his Malayan experience that a key element in any anti-guerrilla war strategy would be the gathering of intelligence from within the enemy ranks. He summoned his old friend and colleague from the Malayan emergency and the RLI, Ron Reid-Daly, and asked him to form the Selous Scouts, a unit that ostensibly would be for tracking but would operate clandestinely behind and within guerrilla ranks.

It was a crucial move as, the following year, following a bloodless coup in Lisbon, Portugal withdrew from its two vast African territories, Angola and Mozambique, leaving Rhodesia's eastern and western borders open to mass infiltration by black nationalist forces trained and fully equipped by the Soviet Union and Cuba. Efficient and experienced as they were, the Rhodesian forces knew that sooner or later they would be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the nationalists, backed by a world which perceived them to be gallant freedom fighters opposed to an oppressive white supremacist regime.

Walls was made head of Joint Operations Command (JOC) in 1977 and, as Rhodesia desperately tried to bolster its numbers, assumed command of more than 45,000 men. It was not enough, and he knew it. Many farms were attacked, villages were infiltrated throughout the rural areas, landmines were laid in the dirt roads and military convoys were attacked with rocket-propelled grenades. Two civilian airliners were brought down by SAM-7 missiles. The bush war turned increasingly ugly, with atrocities being committed by both sides.

For a time, Rhodesian special forces attempted to take and hold key areas of Mozambique to halt the unceasing flow of guerrillas into Rhodesia. Walls, typically, once parachuted into an area of northern Mozambique at Christmas with a consignment of roast turkey for his men. The turkey helped to bolster the troops morale – as did the fact that the general landed in a large deep puddle and emerged covered in mud.

Ian Smith and his Rhodesian Front party also realised that their only hope of survival rested in political negotiations. With Margaret Thatcher in power in Britain, anxious to rid herself of "this tiresome Rhodesian problem", Smith sought British mediation in the hope of political salvation.

The resulting Lancaster House conference resulted in a British interregnum in Rhodesia, with Lord Soames as governor backed by a team of top Foreign Office officials and a small force of British troops. Walls, as head of the highly-trained and experienced Rhodesian forces, found himself drawn inexorably into the political process.

Contingency plans for the elections which resulted from the Lancaster House agreement were drawn up by the military in consultation with the Lord Soames. The hope was that Bishop Muzorewa, the moderate Shona politician who had surprisingly won a previous election, would be able to hold Mashonaland while Joshua Nkomo, the moderate leader of the Matabele people, would comfortably hold his homeland in the west of the country.

The officially-approved safety net beneath this hastily-arranged scheme was that Robert Mugabe would be "eliminated" should he win the election. But the contingency plan was never implemented in the confusion that arose after Mugabe's ZANU party swept the board with a convincing majority.

Walls immediately wrote to Mrs Thatcher calling for a new election, claiming that the imperfect "assembly point" plan for guerrillas to gather and hand in their weapons had not worked and that the insurgents had infiltrated most rural areas. His plea was in vain. Mrs Thatcher wanted the long-running issue solved quickly, and Lord Soames was instructed to embrace and welcome a new black leader of an independent Zimbabwe.

Salisbury was suddenly awash with recriminations among white political and military leaders and most of the white population. As Mugabe's guerrillas rode through the streets of the capital brandishing their weapons, Walls became a main target for the blame. The beleaguered general decided that the best option was to opt immediately to serve the Mugabe regime by organising the amalgamation of the rival armies, believing this would offer the best future for the many thousands of professional officers and men who had fought for him for so long and with much sacrifice.

Mugabe, in the spirit of reconciliation he affected at the time, agreed. Walls went on national television to warn that troublemakers among his former forces "will not be tolerated". It was too late. Disaffected Rhodesian security forces fled to South Africa and elsewhere, along with many thousands of whites. Mugabe, who as new president of Zimbabwe was inundated with various "intelligence" reports, became convinced that Walls was secretly organising a coup and fired him.

Peter Walls went into exile in South Africa, settling at Plettenburg Bay, a fashionable resort on the Western Cape coast. He never wrote his memoirs but remained in seclusion with his second wife until he collapsed and died on July 20 while on his way to a holiday in the Kruger National Park. He is survived by his wife and by four children from his first marriage.

Aantygings oor Afrikaner-volksmoord "verspot"

Aantygings oor Afrikaner-volksmoord "verspot"
2010-08-24 14:40
Verwante skakels
Malema-saak: Lys van name bekend
Webblad monitor nou plaasmoorde
ANC-jeugliga beskuldig Afrikaners van volksmoord
Johannesburg - Die regering het Dinsdag aantygings van Afrikaner-volksmoord as "verspot" bestempel.“Daar is geen grootskaalse poging of proses aan die gang om ‘n Afrikaner-volksmoord teen boere te pleeg nie. Alhoewel ons erken dat misdaad boere beïnvloed, hanteer die regering alle misdaadsvoorvalle, nie net dié op plase nie,” het Themba Maseko, ‘n woordvoerder, gesê.Maseko se stelling kom nadat ‘n onbekende man die ANC-jeugliga se leier, Julius Malema, by die internasionale strafhof in Den Haag van volksmoord en misdade teen die mensdom verkla het.“Dit is belaglik, heeltemal belaglik,” het Maseko oor die aanklagte gesê.Die ANC-regering en ander hooggeplaastes word ook in die klag aangevat.Die Rustenburgse man was nie ’n misdaadslagoffer nie, maar het uitgebreide boerderybelange, het sy prokureur, Fanie van der Walt, gesê.Volg Nuus24 op Twitter.
- SAPA
Gee jou mening oor hierdie gesprek - lewer hieronder kommentaar
Lees meer oor: hof volksmoord afrikaners

Nege Renosterstropers Aangekeer in Limpopo !

Nege Renosterstropers Aangekeer in Limpopo

23 Aug 2010[In English]
Nege mans is die afgelope paar weke weens beweerde renosterstropery in Limpopo deur die veediefstaleenheid van Modimolle vasgetrek."In die mees onlangse voorval is vier verdagtes gearresteer terwyl hulle onderweg was om na bewering renosters in ‘n privaat wildtuin naby Lephalale te gaan skiet," het die SAPD se woordvoerder, lt-kol Ronel Otto, die media meegedeel.Nadat hulle inligting oor ‘n moontlike skietpoging in die gebied ontvang het, het die polisie die mans in ‘n padblokkade naby Vaalwater gearresteer.Hul voertuig, ‘n byl en ‘n .303-jaggeweer is gekonfiskeer. "Daar is intussen vasgestel dat die geweer in ‘n huisbraak by Kameeldrift buite Pretoria gesteel is," het sy gesê.Drie van die vier is van Zimbabwe en die ander een van Mosambiek. Hulle verskyn eersdaags in die landdroshof op Lephalale.In ‘n ander voorval sowat drie weke gelede is vyf mans gearresteer omdat hulle na bewering gepoog het om renosters uit ‘n privaat wildtuin te stroop.Otto het gesê die eienaars van die wildtuin het mensspore op die plaas gevind en die polisie daarvan in kennis gestel. Polisiespoorsnyers en privaat helikopters is ingeroep en het hulp verleen met die soektog na die stropers."Vyf verdagtes, almal van Zimbabwe, is in die veld gearresteer. Twee vuurwapens, ‘n .308- en ‘n .303-jaggeweer is gekonfiskeer," het sy gesê. Die mans het reeds in die hof verskyn en die saak is uitgestel. Sy het vervolg dat die mans ook verbind kan word aan huisinbrake in Lephalale en Stockpoort, vanwaar vuurwapens na bewering gesteel is.Inmiddels is ‘n witrenoster dood en met albei horings verwyder in die Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Ezemvelo, gevind het KZN Wildlife verlede Donderdag gesê.Veertien renosters is reeds vanjaar deur diewe in KwaZulu-Natal gestroop, insluitende ‘n witrenoster in Ophathe-wildtuin op 9 Augustus.AfriForum se James Kemp meen die styging in renosterstropery is gedeeltelik daaraan te wyte dat die spesialis-polisie-eenhede ontbind is. "Die spesialiseenheid is in 2003 ontbind sonder dat ‘n doeltreffende alternatiewe in die plek daarvan daargestel is,” het hy gesê.Afri-Forum het die daarstelling van ‘n taakspan verwelkom om renosterstropery te ondersoek, maar die eenheid is nog nie ten volle funksioneel nie. Daar is ook ‘n gebrek aan hulpbronne vir werknemers van provinsiale natuurreservate en die mense wat stropery op grondvlak in Limpopo moet bekamp.Die gemiddelde ouderdom van werknemers in Limpopo se wildtuine is 55. “Die wildtuine het nuwe bloed in die beroep nodig. Ons benodig jongmense wat aktief is, lang afstande kan aflê en die stryd eendag kan oorneem,” het hy gesê.

Comments:
Posted by Ronnie Jacobs on 24 August 2010 at 10:57
Ek will graag 'n beroep doen aan die volgende mense / partye / organisasies om hulle maligheid te laat staan en te erken dat daar 'n probleem is wat onherroplike skade gaan he aan alle nageslagte van die land.Soos die englse se "Lets be emotional mature" wanneer ons die en ander probleme probeer op los.1: Regering, beheer die toegang tot die land se grense. kry jou verantwoordelike departemente bevoeg en opgelei. Kry trots terug.a: Gebruik die Weermag in same werking met die SAPD en belangstenede organisasies (Soos die een wat Radio 702 gereel het)b: Ons Howe- Strawer maatreels teen die bowe wat stroop steel, moor ens. (Daar is nie respek vir die land reels of vrees vir die stawe wat uitgedeel word nie)c:Aan alle vuurwapen eienaars - PAS JULLE WAPENS OP! Kom ons wees meer verantwoordelik as die SAPD / WEERMAG wat duisend wapens verloor en geen / min optrde teen die lede is nied: ALMAL Saam kan die probleme verlig of opgelos kry (Kyk na die groter prentjie- weet hier kan ' ander debat volg)Dan laastens: Gebruik die anonieme "Crimeline' initiatief en rapporteer enig bedrog, stroopery ens https://www.crimeline.co.za / sms tip off 32211 - wees spesifiek met detail
Posted by Peet on 24 August 2010 at 07:04
In albei gevalle was dit "Illegal immigrants". Ek wonder hoefeel van die misdaad in die land en veral in die stede toegeskryf kan word aan die groep en hoekom daar nie baie strenger opgetree word om dit te vookom en skuldiges uit te skop?
Posted by Jagter on 24 August 2010 at 06:47
Plaas anoniem inligting by www.antipoaching.co.za en help die aanslag teen wildstropers!

Poachers feed then kill tame rhinos

Poachers feed then kill tame rhinos
2010-08-25 10:13

Related Links
Police hunt rhino poachers
2 rhinos killed on Limpopo farm
'Open season' for poachers
Rhino calf found with dead mom
Rhino poaching: Lack of police blamed
Poachers de-horn live rhino
'Rhino poachers' held in Limpopo
Rhino owners 'at wits end'
Elise Tempelhoff, Beeld
Johannesburg – Two white rhinos, which were so tame that children could ride on them, were fed lucerne before being shot 17 times using assault rifles.Police in Limpopo are looking for a gang of between five and eight poachers, who shot and killed the two rhinos and sawed off their horns on Monday afternoon, on a farm between Vaalwater and Mookgophong (Naboomspruit).Herman Lubbe of the Modimolle (Nylstroom) police's cattle theft unit said on Tuesday the attackers overpowered and tied up two workers on the farm Elandsfontein.They then scattered lucerne in the camp where the rhinos are kept.R5 assault rifles usedAccording to police spokesperson Ronel Otto, the poachers presumably used R5 assault rifles to shoot them."The police picked up 17 shells in the area where the animals were shot," said Otto.Farmers on a neighbouring farm said the animals were "executed" while they were peacefully eating lucerne.The owner of the rhinos, who reportedly only spends time on the farm over weekends and holidays, is apparently severely traumatised. The rhinos were so tame that children could ride them. Dr Sam Ferreira, mammal expert at SANParks and one of the co-ordinators of the action group against rhino poaching which was launched on Monday, said this kind of poaching has a severely negative impact on civil society in South Africa."It appears to be ordinary poaching, but in the context of broader society it can be linked to arms smuggling, prostitution and other crimes."
- Beeld
Read more on: animals poaching polokwane sanparks

Lyfwag-moord ruk ANC

Lyfwag-moord ruk ANC

2010-08-22 23:51
Pieter Steyn
Nóg ’n vermeende politieke sluipmoord in die binnekring van die erg verdeelde ANC in die Vrystaat het die regerende party die naweek geruk.
Die moord op ’n lyfwag van die adjunk-burgemeester van Mangaung is moontlik bedoel as “’n boodskap” kort voor die plaaslike verkiesing volgende jaar.
Dit is die mening van ’n ingeligte na aan die ANC, nadat mnr. Mlungisi Sekhasa (36), lyfwag van mnr. Mxolise Siyonzana, adjunk-burgemeester, Vrydag omstreeks 19:00 by sy huis doodgeskiet is.
Dit is die derde vermeende politieke sluipmoord in die ANC die afgelope vyf jaar.
Volgens sers. Mmako Mophiring, polisiewoordvoerder, het Sekhasa saam met sy 27-jarige vriendin in sy huis in Khotseng naby Bloemfontein televisie gekyk toe twee keer aan sy voordeur geklop is.
Sekhasa het glo opgestaan en voordat hy die deur behoorlik kon oopmaak, is hy drie keer geskiet. Hy is twee keer in die bors en ’n derde keer deur sy hand geskiet.
Hy is op die toneel dood.
Mophiring sê daar word niks uit die huis vermis nie en die polisie kon nog nie vasstel wat die motief vir die moord is nie.
Volksblad het betroubaar verneem die moord op Sekhasa is moontlik politiek gemotiveerd en ’n boodskap van een van die faksies binne die ANC voor die plaaslike verkiesing volgende jaar.
Die ANC in die Vrystaat is in Mei geruk deur die moord op die Naledi-burgemeester, mnr. Motlatsi Motloi, voor sy huis in Wepener.
Motloi is vermoor te midde van erge spanning en wedywering binne dié munisipaliteit.
In 2005 is mnr. Noby Ngombane, vertroueling van die voormalige premier, me. Beatrice Marshoff, ook in ’n vermeende politieke sluipmoord voor sy huis in Bloemfontein doodgeskiet.
Mnr. Werner Horn, leier van die DA in die Mangaung-raad, het gister gesê die ANC moet sy voorkeure regkry voor die plaaslike verkiesing.
“Die DA neem met kommer kennis van die moord, asook die gerugte dat dit politiek gemotiveerd is.
“Die enigste ding wat op die ANC se agenda moet wees, is die verbetering van dienslewering en al is dit net ’n gerug dat die moord politiek gemotiveerd is, dui dit daarop dat die ANC se prioriteite nie reg is nie,” het Horn gesê.
Mnr. Qondile Khedama, munisipale woordvoerder, het gister aan Volksblad gesê hy is nie in die provinsie nie en het nie al die feite om kommentaar te kan lewer nie. Hy was wel bewus van die moord op Sekhasa.
Volksblad het kommentaar van verskeie senior ANC-lede in die Vrystaat soos mnr. William Bulwane, premier Ace Magashule se woordvoerder, probeer kry, maar nie een was beskikbaar nie en het ook nie op SMS-boodskappe gereageer nie.
- Volksblad

Vuurpyl-lanseerders, mortiere soek by weermag

Vuurpyl-lanseerders, mortiere soek by weermag

2010-08-23 14:09
Ses vuurpyl-lanseerders en vier mortiere tel onder die wapentuig wat die afgelope jaar by die weermag verdwyn het.Die lanseerders sluit in drie 88mm-anti-tenk-wapens wat 'n gepantserde voertuig onskadelik kan stel, het die minister van verdediging, Lindiwe Sisulu, Maandag gesê.Sy het 'n geskrewe antwoord by die parlement ingedien oor wapens wat gesteel is of vermis word.Dit is skokkend, het mnr. Pieter Groenewald van die VF+ gesê."Dit is ontstellend, want die vuurpyllanseerders kan gebruik word teen tenks en voertuie.Die vraag is: Waarvoor wil hulle dit gebruik?"Daar is ook onder meer 87 7.62mm-gewere en 47 5.56-gewere gesteel sedert 2007."As ons na transitorooftogte kyk, is dit presies die soort wapens wat gebruik word," aldus Groenewald.Hy het gesê die verlies aan die wapens is weens "swak bestuur en beheer" in die weermag.Sisulu het gesê "alle moontlike stappe is gedoen" om te sorg dat wapens veilig gestoor word. - Sapa

‘Tribunaal is onkeerbaar’

‘Tribunaal is onkeerbaar’

2010-08-19 23:26
Verwante skakels
Mbeki swyg ná vrae oor ANC se planne vir die media
Pieter du Toit
Kaapstad. – Die regering het gister erken hy sal niks kan doen om die instelling van ’n mediatribunaal te keer as die regerende party daarop besluit nie.Mnr. Themba Maseko, kabinetswoordvoerder, het ook gesê die regering ondersoek tans modelle waarop so ’n liggaam geskoei kan word en dat “een of twee lande” se weergawes as gevallestudies oorweeg word.Hy wou egter nie sê in watter demokratiese lande die pers aan sulke instellings onderwerp word nie. Prof. Anton Harber, hoof van die departement joernalistiek aan die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand, het gesê die enigste lande met sulke instellings waarvan hy weet, is Zimbabwe en China. “Dis egter moeilik om te sê of die mediatribunaal soos dié lande s’n gaan wees omdat die ANC-planne onduidelik bly.”Maseko het uitlatings van mnre. Jackson Mthembu, ANC-woordvoerder, en Zizi Kodwa, pres. Jacob Zuma se segsman, beaam dat die media minder histeries moet wees, moet ophou om beledigings rond te gooi en moet begin om beredeneerd aan die debat oor ’n tribunaal deel te neem.“Ek kan egter nie nou aan spesifieke voorbeelde dink waar beledigings deur skrywers, redakteurs of politieke joernaliste rondgegooi is nie.”Hy het ná die kabinet se gebruiklike tweeweeklikse vergadering herhaal Zuma is daartoe verbind om met redakteurs te vergader sodat alle brandpunte ter tafel gelê kan word. So ’n vergadering moet volgens die kabinet help om ’n omgewing te skep waarin rasioneel gedebatteer kan word.Planne vir ’n vergadering is al twee weke gelede aangekondig, maar Zuma se vol dagboek het nog nie tyd daarvoor moontlik gemaak nie. Hoewel Maseko herhaal het die regering beplan nie om die media se beweegruimte in te kort nie, het hy gesê as die ANC ’n beleidsbesluit neem, is “die kanse is goed” dat dit uiteindelik in wetgewing beslag sal kry.Hy weet nog nie van ’n wetsontwerp wat voorberei word om ’n tribunaal te vestig nie, maar “die normale proses is dat die ANC ’n beleidsbesluit neem, dit omgesit word in regeringsbeleid en die proses van daar af natuurlik vorder”.Maseko het die versekering gegee dat hoewel ’n ANC-besluit byna onomkeerbaar is, so ’n wetsvoorstel steeds parlement toe sal gaan en die publiek wel bydraes sal kan lewer.Die negatiewe beeld wat nuusberigte oor die ANC en regering se planne in die buiteland skep, kwel die regering egter. “Die regering het nog nie besluit om die Wetsontwerp op die Beskerming van Inligting te onttrek nie. Dit sal egter oorweeg word as oortuigende, sterk argumente voorgelê word.”pdutoit@beeld.com

Legendes van Rhodesiese weermag sterf

Legendes van Rhodesiese weermag sterf
2010-08-16 22:44
Oudlt.kol. Ron Reid-Daly. (Foto uit Selous Scouts Top Secret War deur Peter Stiff en Ron Reid-Daly.)
Foto's · Lesersfoto’s · Nuus in Foto's Stuur vir ons jou foto's · Stuur vir ons jou foto's
Erika Gibson
Die stigter van die Selous Scouts en nog twee legendariese lede van die destydse Rhodesiese weermag is binne twee weke dood.Al drie was vroeg in die 80 en is aan natuurlike oorsake dood. Saam verteenwoordig hulle die einde van ’n era in wat nou Zimbabwe is.Oudlt.kol. Ron Reid-Daly (82) is die afgelope week ná ’n lang stryd teen kanker in Simonstad dood. Hy was die laaste drie dae in ’n koma, het mnr. Tom Thomas, ’n oudmakker en voorsitter van die Selous Scout-vereniging, gesê.Reid-Daly was die stigter van die Selous Scouts, een van die gedugste spesialemag-eenhede van die Rhodesiese insurgensie-oorlog.Kort voor hom is oudlugmaarskalk Norman Walsh, wat van 1981 tot 1983 hoof van die Rhodesiese lugmag was, in Australië dood.Enkele dae voor Walsh se dood het oudlt.genl. Peter Walls (83) op George se lughawe inmekaargesak kort voordat hy in die Krugerwildtuin sou gaan vakansie hou het. Hy is op die toneel dood. Walls was hoof van die gesamentlike veiligheidsmagte in die bewindstyd van mnr. Ian Smith.Saam was die drie ’n gedugte span van gesoute en deurwinterde soldate wat geen nonsies geduld het nie, het Thomas vertel.Walls en Reid-Daly het in die 1950’s as C-eskader in die Britse Special Air Service (SAS) in wat deesdae onder meer Maleisië is teen kommunisme geveg. Albei was in Rhodesië lede van die Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI).Rhodesië was in daardie tyd nog ’n Britse kolonie en dié eskader het hoofsaaklik uit Rhodesiërs bestaan.Toe Walls in 1973 iemand gesoek het om ’n teen-insurgensie-eenheid teen die toenemende instroming van nasionalistiese guerrillas in Rhodesië op die been te bring, het hy hom tot Reid-Daly gewend. Die Selous Scouts het in pseudo-oorlogvoering gespesialiseer en die vyandelike magte in die geheim geïnfiltreer. ’n Groot aantal van die eenheid se soldate was swart.Namate dit duidelik geword het dat onafhanklikheid in Rhodesië onafwendbaar was, het Walls in samewerking met mnr. Robert Mugabe al die gewapende magte in die land probeer saamsnoer.Erge teenkanting het uit die geledere van sy ondergeskiktes gekom en ’n groot aantal van die soldate het na Suid-Afrika of elders uitgewyk. Walls het tou opgegooi en ook Suid-Afrika toe getrek. Hy het nooit oor sy wedervarings geskryf nie. Reid-Daly was volgens Thomas nooit iemand wat stilgebly het as hy sterk oor ’n saak gevoel het nie. Hy het later bevelvoerder van die Transkeise weermag geword voordat hy sy eie veiligheidsonderneming in Suid-Afrika bedryf het. “Ron het altyd sy soldate en die taak op hande eerste gestel. Politiek het hom koud gelaat. Sy leierseienskappe het hom van die meeste soldate onderskei,” het Thomas gesê.’n Gedenkdiens vir Reid-Daly word Vrydag in Newlands, Kaapstad, gehou.

Gran lets shotgun do the talking

Gran lets shotgun do the talking

2010-08-17 22:41
Email article

Mrs Louise Jacobs stands behind the security gate from where she shot and wounded an attacker who broke into her farmhouse. (Denvor de Wee, Beeld)
Galleries · User Galleries · News in Pictures Send us your pictures · Send us your stories
Related Links
Farm attack - killer shot dead
Farm attack gun used for poaching
Jack Russells protect battered owner
Wolfram Zwecker, Beeld
Johannesburg – “I’m going to shoot you,” 77-year-old Louise Jacobs warned her attacker. When he swung his firearm toward her, she didn’t hesitate and let her shotgun do the talking.The shot, which wounded one attacker and made the rest run away brought an attack, which according to Jacobs’ husband, Peet, 81, started on the Friday already, to a stop.“On Saturday morning I realised things had been stolen from my bakkie and that our one dog was sick. We gave him some milk and he was better after a while, but I knew something was going on,” Mr Jacobs said on Tuesday on their farm, about 12km outside Heidelberg on the Vereeniging road.On Monday morning he went to the Heidelberg police station to report Friday night’s theft, when his wife phoned him and said she had just been attacked on the farm and shot one of the attackers.“One of the policemen just said: ‘Go, I’ll organise everything.’ When I got to the farm, they were waiting for me. The police were here, members of the community policing forum and neighbours, the helicopter was in the air and they even had the dogs out here. The police really deserve congratulations for their level of service and how quickly they responded,” said Mr Jacobs.'Enough is enough'According to Mrs Jacobs, one of their workers first said she suspected there were strangers behind the house.“I told her to jump over the electric fence and run, and I went to the bedroom to fetch the shotgun.“The next moment I heard them breaking open the security gate at the front door with a pick axe. Then one of them broke the window next to the front door with a firearm and climbed in.“He was still busy pointing the gun around when I shot – from here, from the security gate at the bedrooms. You can look straight at the front door from here.“He shouted to the others to run and they left in a hurry. Then I phoned my husband,” she says.“A little voice in the back of my head told me to ‘load the shotgun with buckshot’ the previous night,” said Mr Jacobs.According to Thivhulawi Tshilate, police spokesperson at Heidelberg, a 33-year-old Zimbabwean suspect was apprehended in the area. He wasn’t the wounded man.The Toyota Venture in which the five other suspects fled was later found deserted in Rondebult at Dawn Park, Boksburg. The police also found a trail of blood near the vehicle.Mrs Jacobs’ fearlessness in the midst of danger also showed itself a few years ago. A snake was lying next to the dogs bowl, and when she tried to chase it away with stones, it spat in her eye.“But that’s when I decided enough is enough and killed it with a rock before I went to the doctor,” she said.
Read more on: crime farm attacks

Illegal border crossings flourish

Illegal border crossings flourish
2010-08-17 22:33
Related Links
Zim border: Sexual assault up
Musina - Since the beginning of this year, 14 795 illegal immigrants have crossed into South Africa from Zimbabwe over the Limpopo river at Beitbridge, the SA Army said on Tuesday.
"This borderline needs a comprehensive borderline plan," SA Army Colonel Johan Herbst said during a media visit to the border town.
All stakeholders in government departments needed to be on board.
Herbst said there had been arrests every day since the army was re-deployed to the area earlier this year to help the police combat illegal immigration.
The home affairs department and its one-year permits for illegal immigrants was repeatedly identified as a hindrance to efforts to stop foreigners crossing the game-filled bush and crocodile and hippopotamus-infested river to get to South Africa.
Fences
Another obstacle was the out-of-use electric fence on the border and constant sabotage of the barbed-wire fences.
The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was trying to find a contractor to take over the operation and improvement of the fences.
Herbst said illegal crossings formed only part of the tactical hurdles the army faced: there was also smuggling of animal and plant products.
He said bulk supplies of contraband cigarettes could be smuggled over the border for between R5 000 and R10 000.
Last month, perlemoen with a street value of R4m was seized in Musina after being offered to a soldier for about R200 000.
"It’s easy to bribe your way through, even our own soldiers can be bribed," he said.
There were also people-peddlers known as the "Gomma-Gommas", who received a fee to get people safely over the border.
"It’s a system handed down from father to son," said Herbst.
This was often linked to violent crimes such as rape and murder if the fee was not paid or the authorities were tipped off.
Stray and smuggled animals were also a concern, as contagious diseases such as anthrax and foot-and-mouth disease were prevalent in the area. Despite the difficulties, Herbst was optimistic that strides were being made.
On the road to the Musina army base, about 25km from the border post, soldiers could be seen patrolling the fences and returning with immigrants arrested earlier in the day.
In the back of one truck were a woman and her children. They joined 135 people arrested on Monday. On Sunday, 34 of the people caught were children.
- SAPA
Read more on: southern africa zimbabwe sandf

AfriForum Youth to probe Malema

AfriForum Youth to probe Malema
2010-08-17 20:01


Related Links
Malema singing a different tune
Malema's man loses out
Malema-linked firm cleared in probe

Johannesburg - AfriForum Youth will be launching an independent investigation into the municipal tenders awarded to the company that ANCYL president Julius Malema was involved in, the organisation said on Tuesday.

"Malema plays a senior role in the ruling party and that the awarding of municipal tenders to a company of which he is a director, is unethical, irrespective of what the Public Protector or any law may say in this regard", spokesperson Ernst Roets said.

Roets said the organisation decided to launch their own investigation after the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, said on Monday nothing could be found amiss with the Malema tenders.

Madonsela said she could not find any irregularities in the company, SGL Engineering Projects. Malema was involved in this company until November 2009, but earlier claimed he had resigned all directorships when he assumed the presidency of the ANCYL in 2008.

She said all the tender documentation of six of the municipalities investigated had not been up to date, saying there was "no verifiable information or evidence" that the tenders were awarded to the company through "improper influence, comradeship, nepotism, political affiliations, or any other impropriety".

One of the contracts was awarded to SGL by the Makhado Local Municipality, four were awarded to the company by the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality and one by the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality.

Roets said AfriForum Youth would be studying the Public Protectors report and investigate the matter further.

"If this investigation were to find that no irregularities occurred, we will accept this," he said.


- SAPA


Read more on: corruption afriforum ancyl julius malema

Rugby | Krieket | Sokker | Ander

Markte | Ekonomie | Opinie

Rubrieke

Briewe | Stories

Foto's

Beeld | Die Burger | Volksblad | Rapport | Sondag

Drienasies | 2010

29 klagtes van marteling teen polisie-eenheid

2010-08-16 15:53

Verwante skakels

• Vier VS-polisielede gevang oor vee
• R500 milj polisie-huurkontrak "ondersoek"
• Polisieman, twee ander vas vir moord

Kaapstad – Die Onafhanklike Klagtedirektoraat (OKD) ondersoek 29 klagtes van marteling, een wat glo na ‘n persoon se dood gelei het, teen die eenheid teen georganiseerde misdaad in Bellville-Suid in die Wes-Kaap.

Thabo Lehola, die hoof van die OKD in die Wes-Kaap, het Maandag in ‘n persverklaring gesê dat 14 lede van die eenheid ondersoek word.

“Hierdie 29 klagtes van aanranding met die doel om ernstig te beseer en marteling kom uit dieselfde eenheid,” het hy gesê.

“Die marteling het tot die dood van een persoon gelei en twee ander is beseer.”

Leholo het gesê dat die OKD aanbevelings aan die polisie se bestuur gemaak het dat dissiplinêre stappe teen die lede geneem moet word.

Meeste van die sake is na die direkteur van openbare vervolgings verwys om ‘n besluit te neem, het hy gesê.

“Ons wag nog dat ‘n besluit geneem word om te bepaal of daardie lede vervolg sal word of nie,” het Leholo gesê.

Dis in die polisie-bestuur se hande om te besluit of hulle daardie aanbevelings aanvaar en iets daaromtrent sal doen.

"Ons kan hulle nie dwing om op ‘n spesifieke manier op te tree nie," het hy gesê.

Volg Nuus24 op Twitter

- SAPA

Gee jou mening oor hierdie gesprek - lewer hieronder kommentaar

Lees meer oor: misdaad | aanrandings | polisie

SAPS paying 'R100m too much' for lease
Money could instead have covered the salaries of 260 constables for 10 years
Aug 15, 2010 12:00 AM By STEPHAN HOFSTATTER and MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Property mogul Roux Shabangu will receive more than R100-million over the market rate, thanks to a dodgy lease for the South African Police Service's new headquarters.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


'The actions are based on sound business ... he was not involved in any underhand dealings' The money that would likely have been saved had the R521-million lease followed normal tender procedures could have been used to pay hundreds of new police recruits to patrol our streets for 10 years.

Instead, it was awarded directly to Shabangu, a personal friend of President Jacob Zuma.

Documents in the Sunday Times's possession show Shabangu's company, Roux Property Fund, will be paid a gross rental of R110/m², escalating at 10% a year, for the Middestad building in Pretoria.

Neither the SAPS nor the Department of Public Works has disputed this figure.

But until this week JHI, the company which is managing Middestad, was advertising office space as being vacant from August 1 and September 1 for a gross rental of R55.36/m².

JHI confirmed the offices were previously used by the Road Accident Fund, which was paying the listed price, and would now be occupied by the SAPS.

Gross rental is the standard commercial property industry benchmark, defined as the total rent payable including operating costs, but excluding VAT, water and electricity.

Another recent bid for a government lease for the Middestad building, seen by the Sunday Times, offered a gross rental of R85/m² with an escalation rate of 8%. This deal would have saved the SAPS about R130-million - enough to pay 260 constables their annual salary of about R50000 for 10 years.

Shabangu has admitted his relationship with Zuma but denied using "any political influence of whatsoever description" in getting the deal approved, his lawyer Natalie Visagie said.

"The actions of my client are based on sound business principals and he was not involved in any underhand dealings," Visagie added.

The Sunday Times revealed last week that the deal was likely to face two probes - by the Public Protector and by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

This week the presidency announced the SIU would probe tender irregularities in five departments, including public works and the SAPS. The probe would look into irregularities in "contracting for goods, works or services, including leased accommodation" by public works on behalf of the SAPS.

Nedbank, which is financing the Shabangu deal, said office space in Pretoria's CBD was at a premium because of high demand from government departments.

"A gross rental of R110m² for a long-term government lease in a large building in Pretoria is (therefore) not out of line with the market," said Ken Reynolds, Nedbank's Gauteng property finance executive.

Asked whether Nedbank was worried about the controversy surrounding the lease, Reynolds said: "For this deal and other similar deals it is the bank's policy to ensure that correct procedures have been followed and if there is any suspicion of irregularities, we do not do the business."

But property analysts, recent property reports and actual listings for the Middestad building all suggest the SAPS rental is inflated.

A commercial leasing consultant at a leading Pretoria company, who did not want to be identified, said gross office rentals of buildings such as Middestad averaged R55/m²-R65/m². "R65/m² is for brand-new renovated stock - the kind of stuff advocates like, near Church Square," she said.

This is supported by two recent reports. The latest SA Property Owners Association office vacancy survey puts average rentals for B-grade buildings in the Pretoria CBD, like Middestad, at R57.5/m².

The B grading is based on industry norms, including location, quality of finishing and the number of parking bays.

The Rode report, released by Rode & Associates in June, which the company says is used "intensively" by banks, puts the average rental at R57.33/m².

•hofstatters@sundaytimes.co.za; Mzilikazi@sundaytimes.co.za

2 cops fired over alleged rape

2 cops fired over alleged rape

2010-08-14 11:00
Related Links
Man sentenced to 28 years for rape
Sunday Times slams police

Two Kempton Park policemen were fired on Friday after an internal disciplinary inquiry found them guilty of allegation of rape, corruption and defeating the ends of justice, Gauteng police said.A criminal case against the warrant-officer and constable was with the Independent Complaints Directorate for further action, said Lieutenant-Colonel Eugene Opperman.He said the two had 10 days in which to appeal the disciplinary finding.One of the men was accused of raping a woman after her husband committed a traffic violation on October 25, said Opperman.While a policeman locked the woman's husband in the back of a police van and took him to the Kempton Park police station, the other drove the couple's car to the police station with the woman inside.The man was taken out of the van about 30 minutes after arriving at the police station. It was then that his wife alleged that she had been raped by the policeman who drove her there.Opperman said the police immediately opened a criminal case and initiated the internal disciplinary investigation.The inquiry found the warrant-officer guilty on a charge of defeating the ends of justice, and the constable guilty of rape and corruption charges. "Sanction was handed down on Friday afternoon during which both men were summarily fired from the South African Police Service (SAPS)," said Opperman.The presiding officer had reminded the policemen that, under the police code of conduct, they were expected to show integrity,honesty and professionalism, but they had "clearly have broken that code".Opperman said this sanction would send a clear message to other police officials who might have similar ideas or who thought they could break the law or even conduct themselves in a way unbecoming a professional police official. "No mercy will be shown to those who transgress the law or SAPS code of conduct," Opperman said.
Read more on: crime johannesburg

Victim charged with killing hijacker

Victim charged with killing hijacker

2010-08-11 23:03
Related Links
2 held for Joburg hijacking
Man shot in suspected hijacking
Gang goes on hijacking spree

Johannesburg - A hijacking victim shot and killed one of his three attackers, using their own gun, and was charged with murder, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.
Three men tried to hijack the man's red Toyota Hilux bakkie in Ivory Park, near the Ivory Park police station around 20:30 on Tuesday night, Tembisa police spokesperson Constable Neldah Hlase said.
"The steering of the car was locked and he started to fight with them. He overpowered them and took the gun and shot two of the suspects," said Hlase.
He was alone in the car at the time. The third man ran away.
One of the men was wounded in the upper body and died in the Tembisa hospital on Wednesday morning.
The other one was still in a "bad" condition, Hlase said.
Police opened a case of murder against the victim.
"It is the responsibility of the state to open a murder case. We don't know if he shot lawfully or not, it is for the court to decide."
The wounded man would appear in court on charges of attempted robbery and possession of an illegal firearm if he recovered.
- SAPA
Read more on: hijackings crime

Media watchdog slams reporting rules

Media watchdog slams reporting rules

2010-08-12 18:21

Related Links
Zuma urged to address press concerns
Sexwale supports media freedom
Zuma: Media overboard at times
SA journos fight proposed media laws
Concern over media freedom
Fears for ANC media plan

Vienna - Proposed media regulations in South Africa pose a threat to the independence and vitality of the country's journalism, a leading international watchdog said on Thursday.The Vienna-based International Press Institute said in a statement it had sent an open letter to President Jacob Zuma "expressing concern" over plans by the ANC for a Media Appeals Tribunal (MAT) and a protection of information bill.In a letter signed by IPI's interim director Alison Bethel-McKenzie, the watchdog expressed concern that the planned regulations "will endanger the independence and vitality of the South African media."We believe that plans for a government-appointed Media Appeals Tribunal, as well as a draft protection of information bill, if enacted, will endanger the South African media and thereby threaten the people of South Africa's right to information and rigorous political debate," Bethel-McKenzie said.The ANC argues that the media tribunal, first mooted in 2007, is needed to adjudicate complaints on media reports in a bid to make journalists legally accountable.And the protection of information bill will classify information deemed to be of national security and make publication of classified information punishable with up to 25 years in jail.IPI argued that there is already a "vigorous and successful system of self-regulation in place" via the Press Council, in the form of a press ombudsman and an appeals panel.The tribunal however "will not be independent," IPI said."If the MAT is appointed by Parliament, it will face an inherent conflict of interest that will skew its rulings in favour of public and party officials and essentially amount to government oversight of the media - which is unacceptable."IPI said the protection of information bill "provides for a very low threshold for the classification of information, but at the same time imposes draconian penalties on those who reveal that information".
- AFP
Read more on: media legislation anc

Kasrils slams information bill

Kasrils slams information bill
2010-08-10 18:30

Related Links
Kasrils: NIA still credible
Editors appeal to ANC over tribunal
ANC's tribunal stance unchanged



Cape Town - Former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils has called on the government to rethink the controversial protection of information bill and the ruling party's proposal for a media tribunal that reports to Parliament.
Kasrils, in an interview with Talk Radio 702, said the government must fight a tendency among ministers to clamp down on transparency and "improve" the bill that is seen as an attack on media freedom and a return to apartheid-era repression.
He took aim at Cecil Burgess, the chair of the ad hoc committee handling the bill, as well as Parliament's joint standing committee on intelligence, for saying South Africa was going overboard in pursuit of openness.
"Let's hear critique of the bill and lets improve it," he said.
"I was appalled when I heard a report that (...) the chair of the intelligence oversight committee said that we are becoming obsessed with openness.
"I was appalled and that's the message that unfortunately we tend to get from some government ministers and government must fight against that tendency."
Whistleblowers
Kasrils said the government must go back to the drawing board and include safeguards to protect the media he insisted on working into the bill when an earlier version was drafted on his watch.
"What we decided in the closing days of the Mbeki government (...) they were redrafting and they strengthened this particular factor of giving coverage for investigative journalists in search of the corrupt and (to) the whistleblowers."
He was referring to the so-called public interest defence which allows journalists to argue they disclosed classified information for the general good.
The bill currently before Parliament imposes penalties of up to 25 years in prison for journalists who publish information classified as top secret.
Kasrils said he believed South Africa needed a bill prescribing the classification of information to protect national security, but said the administration of former president Thabo Mbeki never intended a media clampdown.
'A valid concern'
The government last week insisted there was no attempt to muzzle the media but Kasrils, who served as intelligence minister from 2004 until Mbeki was recalled in 2008, said he believed this was "absolutely a valid concern".
He added that he believed there was a need for a media tribunal but insisted it must be independent.
"It is the same thing (...) It is very important that we have something, but the big argument is that is absolutely independent from government. How on earth can people have confidence if they feel that ministers, that government are going to control it?"
Opposition MPs sitting on the ad hoc committee on the information bill committee on Tuesday recalled that during Kasrils's tenure he asked the drafters of the bill to rework it to include the public interest defence.
"The minister was in favour of the public interest defence," the Democratic Alliance's Dene Smuts pointed out, and asked that the earlier deliberations be taken into account.
Burgess said it would be "inappropriate" to look at the two versions of the bill together and reminded MPs that "we have a new minister".
But he concluded that he could not stop MPs from raising arguments that were used some two years ago when the other version, which also stirred controversy, was being debated.
The draft legislation was reintroduced under the new administration.
- SAPA
Read more on: media ronnie kasrils

SA braces for "total shut-down"

SA braces for 'total shut-down'

Aug 10 2010 06:40

Related Articles
All systems go for national strike
Stop strike, pleads Azapo
Strike to hit car production
'Teachers' on strike standby
Automotive sector gears up for strike
Date set for public workers strike

Johannesburg - The state braced itself for a shut-down of the public service on Tuesday as 1.3 million public servants planned to stay away from work to demand better wages.
Both members of the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Independent Labour Caucus (ILC) supported the strike after dismissing a seven percent salary increase offer.
"More than 1.3 million public servants will on Tuesday take part in marches and demonstrations right through the country leading to a total shut-down of the public service," Cosatu earlier warned in a statement.
National marches would take place in Cape Town and Pretoria, as well as provincial marches in other cities.
Schools and hospitals had made contingency plans for the strike, while the department of correctional services said warders would not participate.
The unions last week rejected government's revised wage offer of a seven percent increase and a R630 housing allowance, as well as a 1.5% fixed pay progression.
Workers were demanding an 8.6% wage increase and a R1 000housing allowance, backdated to April 1.
- Sapa

Greenleader....Greenboots ...Whiskey Echo ....Tango Romeo ...Bossies

Greenleader
There are heroes who walk among us never looking for glory or praise They don't seek recognition for their thoughtful, caring ways. Living lives of deep commitment providing for those they hold dear Steadfast with a quiet strength through times of laughter and tears. You are a person like that to me the most selfless man by far. So Greenleader I'd like to thank you for being the HERO that you are.
In memory of our Buddy ....... James RIP !

Financial Planning

Financial planning...

The little story tells all Dan was a single bloke living at home with his Dad and working in the family business.

When Dan found out that he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed to find a wife with whom to share his forthcoming fortune.

One evening, at an investment meeting, he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away.

"I may look like just an ordinary bloke," he said to her, "but in just a few years, my widower father will die and I will inherit $200 million."

Impressed, the woman asked for his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.

Women are so much better at financial planning than men.