Publish Date: 2017-08-01
Category: Shareholders Index report
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Link full article: Shareholder Index Database as at 31 July 2017
Category Archives: South African News
News24.com | South Africans can no longer be ‘free riders’ of democracy – Gordhan
Johannesburg – South African citizens can no longer be “free riders” of democracy and need to actively work to secure state institutions, former finance minister Pravin Gordhan said on Monday evening.
He urged South Africans to either become whistleblowers or “find different forms of resistance”.
“In today’s South Africa, there isn’t time for free riders, there isn’t time to sit on the fence, it is time to make decisions about what is right and what is wrong,” Gordhan said.
“It is time to become actively involved and engaged and have the courage and the convictions of one’s conscience, to either become a whistleblower or find different forms of resistance to the wrong things that are happening in many of our state institutions at the moment.”
Gordhan joined former public protector Thuli Madonsela at the Wits school of governance at a Democracy Works talk under the theme, “Democracy Defenders”.
The event was live streamed on Democracy Work’s Facebook page. During his keynote address, Gordhan called on civil society to “take to the streets” in “their masses” to keep government accountable.
“I am a firm believer… that it is the masses that make history and it is the masses that can stop history from moving in the wrong direction, but also strengthen the right directions in what we do,” he said.
Gordhan expressed concern over the rapid decay of state institutions, but said the balance of favour is still on the side of “good guys”.
“There seems to be no end to some people’s greed, a hundred million today is not enough. It has to be in the billions and it has to be stashed far away in some foreign account.
“Building institutions takes 10 to twenty years, if not more… destroying them, six months is enough as we have seen and we’ve got evidence of that in South Africa.” He said, “the corrupt and greedy” are walking on a dangerous ground.
Discrimination
“They are starting to reintroduce racism in our debate, starting to reintroduce ethnicity and tribalism in our debates and in our political conduct …
“There is a new sophistication that has accompanied these people as well as a fake narrative, fake digital media, fake twitter accounts…”
Fake news has entered a new stage where “storm troopers” are hired by the “corrupt” to fight against narratives they disagree with, Gordhan said.
“The second addition to fake narratives is storm troopers of the corrupt, so if they don’t like what you are going to say at a meeting like this, they’ll come here and disrupt or they’ll come to your house … that’s how the media was tackled and engaged … and that’s putting it very politely.
“So we are into that phase as well where in order to defend the wrong thing, we have to hire guns and the guns might not necessarily be the physical gun but the word of mouth which is loosely applied and freely applied, you even have a free channel for that purpose as well.”
An AmaBhungane discussion was disrupted on Thursday when members of Black First Land First (BLF) started shouting at event organisers when their leader Andile Mngxitama was allegedly punched. During a panel discussion, Madonsela explained the “lonely journey” whistleblowers walk in South Africa.
Also read: BLF opens case following amaBhungane disruption
“They are going to strangle you financially; they are going to strangle you socially,” she said.
Madonsela shared various examples of public protector cases where whistleblowers would get charged once disclosing information or where evidence was destroyed following the emergence of the disclosure of information.
The office of the public protector found cases where evidence was still sealed while the National Prosecuting Authority said there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute, Madonsela said.
At the end of his address, Gordhan thanked former Social Development Director General Zane Dangor and former SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) CEO Thokozani Magwaza who stood with integrity.
He also thanked Ivan Pillay and his colleagues at the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
“[They] were chased out because they were standing in the way of things that I think are soon going to emerge; wrong things that are happening at that institution,” he said.
Gordhan called on civil society to educate South Africans on the dangers of a state run reserve bank.
“There’s a new campaign going on to undermine the South African Reserve Bank and this is the one where we have to tell our citizens what price are we going to pay, even if we disagree with monetary policy, don’t undermine the institution. Have a constructive debate on monetary policy,” Gordhan said.
“Debate it in a way where we don’t destroy institutions, but come up with better answers that will serve all of the citizens of South Africa.”
News24.com | Duo allege coffin was used frequently to ‘scare’ mielie thieves
Delmas – The coffin that Victor Mlotshwa was forced into was allegedly used frequently as a means to scare people from stealing mielies on the farm, the High Court in Delmas has heard.
The advocates for the two accused, Theo Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen, argued that the coffin had been used before by farm owner Johannes de Beer.
De Beer, who employed Jackson, took the stand on Monday.
During cross examination, advocate Wayne Gibbs for Oosthuizen said the very reason that Oosthuizen had thought of using the coffin after apprehending Mlotshwa was because De Beer had told him about an occasion when he had used it to scare people who were stealing mielies on the farm.
“He thought it would be opportune to scare Mlotshwa to not steal and not carry out threats,” Gibbs said.
De Beer confirmed that he and Oosthuizen had caught people who were taking mielies and that Oosthuizen had left De Beer with those that had been apprehended. He, however, denied the use of the coffin.
De Beer said he told them that he wouldn’t open a case if they told him who was buying the mielies.
Advocate Org Basson for Jackson also put it to De Beer that it was common knowledge that the coffin had been used before to scare people on the farm. De Beer again vehemently denied this.
De Beer did, however, admit that he had lied under oath when making his affidavit to the police concerning where the coffin was.
Earlier on Monday while being cross examined by the state, De Beer said he had told Jackson that the coffin belonged to him now and that he wanted nothing to do with it.
But, when under cross examination by the defence, he then admitted that he had told Jackson to get rid of it.
The defence pointed out that he had said this before he made his affidavit to the police saying that, as far as he knew, the coffin was in storage.
Both accused have pleaded not guilty to all the charges and have offered certain admissions which include that they both allege Mlotshwa was found trespassing and in possession of suspected stolen property, identified as copper cable.
The charges that both the accused face are possessing of an unlicensed firearm, kidnapping, intimidation, defeating the ends of justice, two charges of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and attempted murder.
Both the accused, who are foremen on different farms in Middelburg, said after they arrested Mlotshwa, they informed him that they would take him to the police.
Mlotshwa then allegedly threatened to burn down the farm’s crops and murder the wives and kids of both accused. Both have made the admission that this was when they decided to not take Mlotshwa to the police and instead take him to a remote area in order to “convince” him not to go through with his alleged threats.
They then admit to forcing him into the coffin in an attempt to threaten and scare him. The incident happened in August 2016 and was caught on video.
The trial is expected to continue on Tuesday morning where an inspection-in-loco will take place on the farm where the incident happened.
eNCA | South Africa’s population on the rise
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s population now stands at nearly 57 million.
Statistics South Africa’s mid-year population report shows an increase of nearly one million people from last year.
The report also shows that life expectancy has improved for people living with HIV.
Approximately 51 percent of the population is made up of females.
Gauteng comprises the largest number of people, followed by KwaZulu-Natal.
The Northern Cape remains the province with the smallest share of the population.
In terms of work opportunities, Gauteng remains the most preferred destination for both international and inter-provincial migrants.
The data also shows that females are living longer than males.
Life expectancy is estimated at about 61 for males and 66 years for females.
The numbers also show that people in the Western Cape live for longer.
eNCA
eNCA | DA wants Shaik back behind bars
CAPE TOWN – The Democratic Alliance wants President Jacob Zuma’s former financial adviser Schabir Shaik back behind bars.
The party plans to write to Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha, asking him to take the matter to court.
Shaik was released on medical parole in 2009.
He had served just two years and four months of his 15-year sentence for fraud and corruption.
Medical parole is normally given to terminally-ill prisoners, based on written evidence provided by a medical practitioner.
The DA pointed out that Shaik remains alive and well, eight years after being released.
eNCA
eNCA | Call Muthambi to explain ‘taxpayer-funded’ trip: DA
CAPE TOWN – Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthumbi needs to account to Parliament for wasting hundreds of thousands of rands of public money on a “family junket”, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday.
The party said it would ask Public Service and Administration portfolio committee chairwoman Makhosi Khoza to summon Muthambi to account for wasting R300,000 of taxpayers’ money on flying 30 people to watch her give a speech in Parliament, DA spokeswoman Desiree van der Walt said.
The DA’s @Desiree_DALim will write to the Chair of the Public Service PC, Dr Makhosi Khoza for Muthambi to be summed to Parly to explain. https://t.co/NzaZoKZCjK
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) July 30, 2017
Muthambi’s alleged extravagance was reported in the Sunday Times newspaper.
“Muthambi must be made to repay every cent she spent on making sure people would come to watch her speak. Her guests included her son, sister, aunt, and mother, and former SABC board chairwoman Ellen Tshabalala,” Van der Walt said.
“A Limpopo police constable was employed by Muthambi as her personal assistant and former SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s daughter was also hired by her,” the DA MP said.
The reports surfaced on the back of revelations that the wealthy, politically connected Gupta family had received highly confidential cabinet meeting information from Muthambi in May.
“Meddling” Muthambi, who was seemingly deeply compromised and who was the very same person who oversaw the demise of the SABC, was clearly at it again in her new portfolio, Van der Walt said.
“The DA will not stand for this. Muthambi must appear to account before the public service and administration committee and be made to pay back every cent of wasted taxpayers’ money,” she said.
African News Agency
News24.com | UJ investigation underway into alleged fraud by officials
Johannesburg – The University of Johannesburg on Sunday confirmed that two senior managers have stepped down pending the outcome of an investigation – which the Sunday Independent reported was about allegations of fraud.
“There is a full forensic investigation of the allegations,” the university’s spokesperson Herman Ersterhuizen told News24.
He declined to identify what the allegations were about.
However, the Sunday Independent reported that the two senior managers were accused of fraud in relation to R25m.
The newspaper alleged that the money was apparently used to benefit the two officials’ personal business.
eNCA | Ramaphosa slams ‘blessers’
JOHANNESBURG – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised the phenomenon of blessers, older men who entice young women with financial rewards.
Launching a national campaign against women and child abuse, Ramaphosa said blessers were fuelling an increase in HIV infections among young women.
“As we are making progress in reducing the incidents of HIV in our land, there is another frightening process that’s under way: an increase of HIV among young girls aged 14 to 25. And that is increasing at an alarming rate of about 200 every week.
Ramaphosa: Blessers prostitute young women , they intice them and give them the HIV. #NotInMyName
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) July 30, 2017
“This is happening in that age group because these are young women who are some of the most vulnerable in our societies and are contracting from blessers, from older men. Because older men are the ones who entice them with smart phones, fancy shoes, money and everything else. They entice them and then give [them HIV]. ”
Rhema Bible Church during the Launch of the National Campaign against Violence towards Women and Children. #NotInMyName pic.twitter.com/ZDDVaUeSZc
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) July 30, 2017
Ramaphosa launched the campaign at the Rhema Bible Church in Johannesburg on Sunday morning.
READ: Gender-based violence: Government steps up, but Department of Women limps along
He said it was time to get to the root cause of violence against women and girls.
#NotInMyName Ramaphosa:Patriarchy is not natural, its constructed by people and can be destructed by us.”
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) July 30, 2017
“Gender-based violence, in the end, is not caused by a virus. It’s not a disease that’s transmitted through coughing or physical contact. It has spread in the same way that attitudes and modes of behaviour are transmitted. There should be no man in our land who should ever believe that because of their being, their existence and manhood, they should have dominion over any woman in our country,” he said.
eNCA
News24.com | Soweto stampede fake ticket claims to be investigated
Johannesburg – Police on Sunday confirmed that an allegation of fake ticketing in connection with a deadly stampede at the Soweto Derby will be investigated.
“We have opened a case of inquest. In our inquest we will try and establish what caused the stampede,” said Captain Mavela Masondo, adding that “there is that allegation [around fake tickets]” that would be investigated.
Michael Sun, MMC for Public Safety for the City of Johannesburg, first mentioned allegations that a possible cause of the stampede might be linked to the selling of fake tickets at the entry gate.
On Sunday he said that these claims came from information on the ground but the matter was now in the hands of the police.
Stadium Management SA’s Jacques Grobelaar told Eyewitness News (EWN) that CCTV footage revealed that a group of supporters tried to forcefully gain access to the stadium moments before the stampede happened.
Grobelaar is quoted as having said, “A group of people were trying to reach a perimeter over a period of 20 minutes, they breached one of the emergency gates and in the process, they fell down and people walked over them.”
Masondo said that while police would not yet release the names of the two people who were killed during the stampede, he could confirm that they were both men, one aged 30 and the other 31.
He said of the several people that were injured, two remained in critical condition.
On Sunday morning, some of those hospitalised had been discharged.
On Saturday, a stampede broke out at Gate J at the Soweto Derby during a match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates as part of the Carling Black Label Cup.
Grobbelaar previously said “solid security plans” had been put in place.
SA Football Association (SAFA) president Dr Danny Jordaan said he would “ask for a full report and institute a full investigation on what transpired and the cause for the stampede”.
“A football match is supposed to be a place of entertainment. What happened at FNB Stadium is very unfortunate,” he added in a statement issued on the SAFA website.
Both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates expressed their condolences to the affected families.
Orlando Pirates said on Twitter it was “deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life and injury”, while Kaizer Chiefs expressed similar sentiments on their social media account, declaring that they were “deeply affected by this incident and [we] would also like to wish all those injured in the stampede a speedy recovery”.
The SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) urged for a review of security and evacuation plans at the stadium.
“One would have assumed that lessons were learned from the April 11, 2001, Ellis Park stampede that claimed 43 lives and the January 13, 1991 incident that claimed 42 lives at Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney,” said Sanco national spokesperson, Jabu Mahlangu, in a statement.
“It is tragic that what was a thriller between the two Soweto giants ended with loss of lives.”
The Democratic Alliance also extended condolences, adding to a call for a full investigation.
“The DA stands together with the families and sports community as they mourn the passing of their loved ones,” said MP Tsepo Mhlongo in a statement.
eNCA | CATCH IT LIVE: EFF celebrates 4th anniversary with ‘festival of the poor’
* Editor’s note: This event will be broadcast live on eNCA.com and is expected to start at 1pm.
DURBAN – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will celebrate its fourth anniversary with a rally at Curries Fountain in Durban on Saturday.
Party leader, Julius Malema has dubbed the event ‘the festival of the poor’.
WATCH: EFF has exceeded expectations: Malema on party’s 4th birthday
The sometimes controversial party was founded in 2013, and since then a number of members have left the party.
One such member is Black First Land First leader Andile Mnxgitama, who was expelled in 2014.
IN PICTURES: Four pregnant cows and a bull for King Zwelithini
The party was officially launched in Marikana a year after the massacre at the Lonmin mine.
eNCA