Ousted North West ANC chairperson Supra Mahumapelo wants a “political solution” to the impasse in the province, the Sunday Times reported. This follows two court victories by Mahumapelo, the last one ordering the ANC to immediately reinstate him.

A previous court victory ordered that the disbanded North West Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) should be reinstated. Complicating matters, however, is that the PEC’s term expired last week.

In August last year, following violent protests against Mahumapelo’s provincial government and the premier himself, the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) disbanded the PEC and removed Mahumapelo. North West premier Job Mokgoro was appointed as interim convener of the province, News24 reported.

On February 13, the North Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of Mahumapelo and four others, who wanted an urgent order reinstating the former chairperson, News24 reported.

Mahumapelo argued in court last year that the NEC acted unlawfully when it disbanded the PEC.

News24 revealed on Friday that a “rapid response team” put together by the NEC to deal with the North West problem will table four proposals for the NEC to consider. One of these is the proposal to establish a new task team made up of equal numbers of each pro-and-anti-Mahumapelo factions.

Another proposal is to allow the PEC to carry on but with 17 more members co-opted from the interim structure.

According to the Sunday Times, Mahumapelo and the members of his disbanded PEC had a meeting with ANC deputy secretary general Jesse Duarte, to ask for a political solution. They reportedly want the Provincial Task Team (PTT) put in place in the province to be disbanded, and for an interim structure to be put in place that would comprise 15 members from either faction.

No decisions were apparently taken at the meeting but the issue will reportedly be discussed at a meeting of the ANC’s national executive committee on Sunday.

Mahumapelo was conspicuously absent from the North West state of the province last week, despite his court victory, according to IOL. This was reportedly despite the fact that all former premiers were invited to the event.

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There was a time when he didn’t want to live anymore.

He’s not embarrassed to admit it. After being shot in a home invasion and spending weeks in hospital at death’s door, he was ready to give up.

That was two months ago. Now Naka Drotské (48), hooker of the legendary 1995 Springbok rugby team, is delighted to be alive. And he’s making the most of each day.

It’s been more than 10 weeks since robbers struck at his brother Tinus’ smallholding in Kameeldrift, Pretoria. Naka is still amazed that he’s lived to tell the tale.

When YOU spoke to him after the incident, he was much less positive about his prospects. “Within days [after the attack] I’d lost my fighting spirit. Without fully knowing what I was saying, I begged God to come take me.”

After a setback – he got pneumonia and sepsis and was put on a ventilator – his spirits hit rock bottom. Unsure whether the former Bok was going to pull through, doctors called his family to the hospital.

But now Naka is in better shape than ever, his wife, Marzanne (42), assured YOU on the phone on Thursday.

“In life you have a choice: you can be the victim or victor. With God in our life, my family and I are grateful to say we choose to be victors every day from now on,” she said.

Naka is receiving physiotherapy to regain the full use of his right arm. But the wound drain he’s had attached to him is long forgotten. So are the plaster cast, stitches and dark moods he suffered after the attack.

“The physiotherapist is happy with Naka’s progress,” Marzanne says. “The bullet that penetrated his arm caused a lot of damage and full recovery will take a lot of time and effort.”

Naka is positive and facing each day with renewed courage and vigour, she says.

“Six weeks on antibiotics caused him to lose weight and he’s a bit skinny but we’re working on it. For the most part, our lives are back to normal – yet two months ago we didn’t imagine ever reaching this point.”

Since he’s arrived home on 6 January, Naka has also been receiving trauma counselling.

But Marzanne says neither of them have symptoms of trauma or anxiety related to the incident.

“It’s a miracle. He has no anxiety, no nightmares, flashbacks or night-time terror. We were warned it could return at a later stage . . . But we’re hopeful it won’t.

“The time in hospital, being connected to all those machines, was almost worse for Naka than the actual shooting.

“It really helped to talk about it so soon after getting home. He’d tell people the story in the greatest detail – I believe that’s what helped him heal emotionally.

“Now we’ve put it behind us. We’re just so grateful he’s alive.”

Thankfully, Naka’s sons, Allen (15) and Tristan (11), and Marzanne’s daughters, Jeazanne (19) and Annica (15), also seemed to have been spared the effects of post-traumatic stress.

“The kids are fine – we’re very grateful for that,” Marzanne says. “We were especially worried the boys would be scared when they get back from America [where they’d been visiting their mom, Liske, when the incident happened]. But they do realise that these things happen everywhere. They know we’re lucky still to be intact as a family.”

Kameeldrift police confirmed to YOU that no arrests have been made. The investigation continues.

The suspension of the Sans Souci Girls’ High School pupil, who was slapped by a teacher in a video that went viral, was upheld at her disciplinary hearing on Thursday.

The pupil’s mother, in clear distress, addressed a crowd that gathered outside: “They (Sans Souci) never cared about my daughter. They never consulted her. They don’t care. The suspension of my daughter continues.”

She said the principal called her aside before the hearing and “advised” her to take her daughter to another school. 

The pupil was suspended after a video of the slapping incident circulated on social media.

In it, the pupil can be seen shoving the teacher, who retaliates by slapping the teenager across the face.

On Thursday night, the pupil’s mother said she did not want to speak to the media because she was “very emotional” because “my daughter was not given a fair chance”.

“The Constitution provides that every child has a right to education, but this school is depriving my child of an education,” she said.

The pupil faces numerous charges, including intimidation by verbal and physical threat intended to harm a person; ignoring or failing to carry out specific instructions; actions which bring the school’s name into disrepute; violating the rights of other learners to receive education by disrupting classes, preventing teachers from teaching; and violating the rights of the teacher to carry out their task to the detriment of the school, staff, teacher and fellow learners.

Earlier, Chamber of Legal Students representatives – the student’s legal team – told News24 that they took on the case because they felt the school treated the pupil unfairly from the onset.

Kwanda Mkalipi, co-founder and director of the legal group, said the teacher had no business getting into an altercation with a pupil.

“There are procedures in place to deal with situations like that. To just suspend the pupil without giving her an opportunity to give her side of the story is unfair.

“The pupil was meant to be writing a test today yet, because of her suspension she has been without learning material.”

Outside the school premises, a small group of supporters, mainly dressed in EFF regalia, defended the pupil and held placards which read: “No to child abuse.” They danced and sang as proceedings took place inside.

We are under the astute leadership of the President of Salga, who also serves as the President of United Cities and Local Government. I represent the local fraternity of our country.

I’m a living testimony that we are living and enjoying the right of life, dignity and liberty.

As organised local government, we must start by acknowledging the massive progress that we have made over the past 18 years of our democratic dispensation. This includes the provision of basic services to so many of our people.

It further includes the rapid development and quality of infrastructure, the increased mobility investment in social amenities and massive progress in financial management and institutional resilience.

This is highlighted clearly in the 2017 StatsSA non-financial census of municipalities, which confirms the numbers of consumers receiving services from our municipalities increased in the provision of sanitation, electricity, water and solid waste.

3.6 million indigents benefit from this. They receive 6 kilolitres of water for free, 50 kilowatss of free electricity. This is meant to benefit the poor.

Municipalities are under extreme cash flow constraints with over 123 municipalities collecting less than 80% on a monthly basis. The aggregate municipal consumer debt amounts to R158 billion.

2019-02-12 12:00

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor is expected to face cross-examination from legal counsel representing parties implicated in her testimony at the judicial commission of inquiry into state capture.

WATCH LIVE: State Capture Inquiry 

(Courtesy of SABC)

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Former Zuma adviser and Hawks official to cross-question Mentor at Zondo commission 

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor will return to the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture on Tuesday for a question and answer session.

It will be day two of her cross-examination at the inquiry, looking into claims that members of the controversial Gupta family used their close relationship with former president Jacob Zuma to capture the state and loot billions from South Africa.

Legal counsel for two people are expected to cross-examine Mentor. Zuma’s former adviser Lakela Kaunda, and Hawks official Mandla Mtolo, had applied to quiz the former parliamentarian.

Mentor had claimed Kaunda was the person who called to set up her meeting with Zuma, which turned out to be one with the Gupta brothers. Mentor also accused Mtolo of once telling her that a case she opened against the controversial family and Zuma would not be investigated, unless she removed the former president’s name.

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ICYMI: 

State capture inquiry: Mentor insists flight details are accurate despite discrepancies 

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor remains adamant that she caught an SAA flight to Johannesburg and back to Cape Town on a Monday sometime between September and October in 2010.

This is despite records before the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture reflecting that she caught a return flight to Gauteng via SAA on Friday, October 15. 

Mentor is being cross-examined at the commission following her testimony in August 2018. She posted on her Facebook account that she had been offered the position of public enterprises minister by the Gupta brothers if she stopped SAA’s direct flights to India.

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ICYMI: 

Guptas want their own video of in loco inspection shown at state capture commission

The Guptas, through their legal representatives, have told the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture that they want their own video of an inspection of the family’s Saxonwold home to be submitted as evidence.

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor is back for cross-examination at the commission after giving testimony in August 2018. 

Before evidence leader Mahlape Sello managed to delve into Mentor’s testimony, Mike Hellens, SC, acting on behalf of the Guptas, made the request.

“The credibility of Ms Mentor is brought sharply into focus in the in loco inspection,” Hellens told Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on Monday.

Three tapes exist: One shot by Mentor and her lawyers; a second by the commission, and a third by the Gupta family’s representatives. 

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ICYMI: 

Vytjie Mentor finds support as she prepares for Zondo commission cross-examination 

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor has found support as she prepares to return to the Zondo commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture on Monday.

According to a statement by the commission, Mentor will return to the witness stand to complete her evidence and be cross-examined by those who were granted leave to do so.

Duduzane Zuma, son of former president Jacob Zuma, as well as businessman Fana Hlongwane will cross-examine Mentor. 

She appeared to be tired from all the preparation, posting a photo of herself on Facebook on Sunday with the caption: “Taking a little break from scouring through documents”.

One wrote: “Vytjie remember millions of people who love you for your bravery. Stand firm girl and know South Africans have your back. Brave girl.”

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ICYMI: 

State capture inquiry conducts ‘in loco’ inspection at Gupta compound – report 

Investigators and evidence leaders for the Zondo commission into state capture are at the Gupta compound in Saxonwold with former ANC MP Vytijie Mentor to carry out an on-site inspection, according to Business Day. 

According to the report, lawyers for the Gupta family and the inquiry arrived at the property just before 09:00 to conduct an “in loco” inspection. The inspection, which is being videotaped for the commission, is closed to the media. 

It is being conducted after Ajay Gupta claimed Mentor fabricated her evidence and incorrectly described the layout, interior and exterior of the property. 

During her testimony in August, Mentor gave extensive details of the décor inside the house and elicited some quips from the audience when she said she was offered “Indian curry and chai tea”, which she did not enjoy but accepted as a courtesy, News24 reported. 

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ICYMI: 

#StateCaptureInquiry: Vytjie Mentor does an about-turn on Fana Hlongwane 

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor has admitted that she may have incorrectly identified a man she was introduced to by Duduzane Zuma as Fana Hlongwane during her testimony at the Zondo commission into state capture.

In a letter sent by law firm Webber Wentzel to the commission, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Mentor states that after having given testimony, she decided to view images of Fana Hlongwane on the internet.

She states that after reflecting on the images she had come to realise that they were “not of the person [she] was introduced to by Mr Duduzane Zuma on the Emirates flight as ‘Chairman'”.  

In August Mentor testified to the commission that Transnet had booked her a first-class ticket to China on Emirates via Dubai. 

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ICYMI: 

#StateCaptureInquiry: Mentor breaks down over fears for her safety 

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor broke down at the end of day five of the inquiry into state capture, telling the commission she feared for her safety at the hotel where she is currently staying.

“I don’t want to sound alarmist,” Mentor told chairperson of the commission Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo as broke down in tears.

She said two nights ago when she went to sleep she discovered that the latch of her hotel room door was not working.

“I had stayed in that room ever since I have been coming for business of the commission,” she said, adding that “the commission has gone out of the way to make me comfortable in terms of my condition that I discussed with them.”

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ICYMI: 

#StateCaptureInquiry: Mentor describes her encounter with Zuma at Gupta’s Saxonwold home 

Former president Jacob Zuma did not address the issue of the Guptas offering former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor a ministerial job, but instead tried to calm her down, the commission of inquiry into state capture heard on Tuesday.

Mentor continued with her testimony on day five of the inquiry headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. She said that Zuma was more interested in her regaining her composure than in the fact that the Guptas had offered her a Cabinet post. 

She detailed her encounter with Zuma at the Gupta compound in Saxonwold in 2010, weeks ahead of a reshuffle in which public enterprises minister Barbara Hogan was fired.

Mentor told the commission that Zuma had walked in while she was in an altercation with the eldest of the Gupta brothers, Ajay, after she rejected the offer of a Cabinet position in exchange for dropping the SAA Johannesburg-Mumbai route in favour of Gupta airline JetAirways.