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.