Category Archives: South African News

eNCA | SAA’s Myeni under fire

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JOHANNESBURG – The Companies Tribunal will hear on Monday whether or not SAA board chair Dudu Myeni breached the Companies Act.

The matter is in connection with the plan to purchase planes from Airbus.

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission made adverse findings against Myeni in 2016.

READ: DA calls for Dudu Myeni’s head over SAA R1.16bn

She was found guilty of contravening two sections of the Companies Act.

Myeni wants those findings declared invalid, citing that proper processes were not followed.

SAA has endured tough financial problems since Myeni began her tenure in 2012.

The airline recorded a loss of nearly a billion rand in the 2016/17 year.

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News24.com | Train vandals must be treated like murderers, rapists and treasonists – union

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Cape Town – People caught vandalising transport infrastructure deserve to spend the rest of their lives in jail, the United National Transport Union (Untu) has said. 

This comes as vandalism caused delays on Metrorail’s Cape Town commuter lines on Monday morning.

“Untu has no choice but to demand from the legislature to impose life imprisonment for these crimes – similar to that imposed for offences of premeditated murder, gang rape, serial rape and treason,” said Steve Harris, Untu general secretary.

Untu said the serious damage to the economy and the risk to people’s lives that flows from continuing vandalism and theft warrants stricter sentencing, however felt magistrates seem loathed imposing the maximum sentence of 30 years that the Criminal Matters Amendment Act allows.

On Monday morning Metrorail in the Western Cape again reported delays of up to 50 minutes due to vandalism.

The transport company said last week it was already down 66 coaches since March 2016, which hampers its ability to provide its usual service.

“The result is that the situation has completely gotten out of hand. Our railway lines have become a war zone, but our criminal justice system simply turn a blind eye,” says Harris.

The latest incidents include:

– Railway tracks stolen on the line between Machadodorp and Carolina on Saturday causing a derailment;

– Two weeks ago, cable theft contributed to two Metrorail trains colliding near the Elandsfontein station in Gauteng. One commuter was killed and over 50 were injured;

– In March, sleepers were stolen from the tracks between Cullinan and Pretoria, leaving nearly 500 people stranded;

– Eight coaches were set alight at Cape Town station last Monday due to an electrical fault;

– Last Thursday a coach was set alight at Muldersvlei near Stellenbosch;

– Last Friday a coach was torched near Koeberg railway station.

 

News24.com | London: Muslims going to mosque urged to be vigilant

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London – The chairperson of the Finsbury Park Mosque has urged Muslims going to mosques to be vigilant after a van ploughed into worshippers leaving prayers.

One person was killed and 10 injured in what Prime Minister Theresa May has described as a potential terrorist attack.

The driver of the van was arrested.  

Mohammed Kozbar said the attack early on Monday morning was no different than the recent attacks on London Bridge and Manchester Arena and said the Muslim community is “in shock”.

Kozbar complained that the “mainstream media” was unwilling to call the attack a terrorist incident for many hours.

Video filmed in the immediate aftermath of the van striking worshippers showed a Caucasian man being detained by police.

Someone in the crowd yelled to others not to harm the man while he was taken into custody.

“No-one touch him! No-one, no-one!”

News24.com | Cosatu, SACP taken to task on Zuma snub

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The ANC and President Jacob Zuma have taken a tough stance on Cosatu and the SA Communist Party (SACP), saying that it was pointless to sit in a meeting with them if they were not prepared to listen to Zuma anywhere else.

City Press has learnt that plans to hold an important alliance political council a fortnight ago ground to a halt after Zuma persuaded officials to instead seek a bilateral meeting to clear the air on ongoing leadership squabbles.

Zuma apparently wanted to know why the ANC’s alliance partners would listen to him at that meeting when Cosatu has banned him from speaking at its events and the SACP has publically called on him to step down.

On the back of Zuma’s protest, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe met with alliance secretaries who accepted the decision to seek clarity.

“[Zuma] persuaded us to say, let us engage the alliance partners before we go there, rather than … walking away from each other in the political council.

“Let us engage them bilaterally and remove the obstacles.”

Mantashe said it was incorrect to suggest that Zuma had said he would not attend the political council.

“We want to understand their thinking. They have taken decisions, but they have not spoken to us,” Mantashe said.

However, insiders in Cosatu and the SACP this week dismissed the proposal for separate meetings as a fruitless exercise intended to “nurse Zuma’s feelings”.

A sign of disrespect

Both organisations this week publicly said the priority should be to reschedule the alliance council, which is now two weeks past due.

The ANC’s unilateral decision to cancel the meeting was also seen as a sign of disrespect, reigniting the long-held view that the ANC treated Cosatu and the SACP as junior partners in the alliance.

There was a sentiment that Zuma was “running scared” because he thought that he was “going to be ambushed” with Cosatu and the SACP in the same room.

Alliance insiders said that, instead of cancelling the political council, “which was in the first place not supposed to be the ANC’s decision to make”, Zuma should have stayed away if he was reluctant and sent the remainder of the top six officials.

They said that, even if the bilaterals were to take place, the ANC’s top six did not have the constitutional power to review any decisions taken by the party’s allies, including the call for Zuma to step down and banning him from attending their events.

“They called for bilaterals pandering to Zuma’s whims. Everyone must meet as mandated by their structures under the alliance political council banner to debate,” said an insider.

Cosatu owed its decision not to attend the bilateral meeting with the ANC to the fact that its general secretary, Bheki Ntshalintshali, was out of the country.

Its spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla, said that they would accept another invitation from the ANC should it propose another date.

“We will meet the ANC for a bilateral. They just have to give us a date [and] we will meet them because we want the alliance political council to take place.”

But City Press understands that there was no appetite from the majority of Cosatu’s national office bearers and that such a meeting would also be snubbed until the ANC convened the alliance political council.

In addition, the SACP took a decision at its central committee meeting to reject any attempt by the ANC to drag it into a bilateral.

The party, which, like Cosatu, has become a staunch critic of the ANC and particularly Zuma, is said to have written a letter giving notice to this effect.

The SACP said it did not need a bilateral as there had been many of those recently.

Cosatu has upped the ante, taking a resolution at its recent central committee that the alliance political council must be reconfigured and be given new powers, making it a strategic centre of power.

This would mean political decisions, deployments and the passing of ANC manifestos would be managed and approved by the alliance council.

The reasoning is that too much power is centralised in the ANC and in an individual (Zuma).

Sport24.co.za | Bok ratings: It’s sizzling Siya!

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Cape Town – The 2017 Springboks are showing signs of plenty more, but the recapturing of their collective self-respect is the best feature of all in two Tests thus far.

Warren Whiteley’s urgent, passionate team put the three-match series against France to bed early as they opened up a 2-0 lead by way of a pleasingly multi-layered 37-15 triumph in Durban on Saturday.

Against a stronger visiting XV than started the first Test (a 37-14 outcome) in Pretoria, the score-line was virtually identical but the Bok performance actually better in several respects.

Not only did they take their own opportunities clinically and sometimes attractively, but they were put to a really searching, prolonged examination of their defensive mettle and ticked that box outstandingly on a day when they were forced into nearly three times as many tackles as their opponents.

There were standouts galore in the Springbok ranks – how often could you say that in miserable 2016? – but Siya Kolisi was official player-of-the-match and headed the Sport24 card compellingly as well.

Here’s how I rated the Boks out of 10 at Kings Park:

Andries Coetzee: 6

Few opportunities to be properly influential. Defensive alignment left bit to be desired as French struck with early try, but otherwise did basics competently enough.

Raymond Rhule: 7

Little came his way … so went looking for work, and pretty illuminatingly. One dangerous early snipe, and then got stuck into earnest defensive chores, including key intercept with Boks under huge pressure, and committed track-back tackle on flying French wing Virimi Vakatawa. 

Lionel Mapoe: 6.5

Once again, on his 12th Bok appearance, stopped just a bit short of announcing “here to stay”. One or two handling lapses, but also ran a couple of shrewd lines, and adhesive in the tackle department.

Jan Serfontein: 8

One of his best Bok games; former national captain and inside centre Jean de Villiers went so far as to brand him “sublime” at No 12. Heartening organisational presence, fiercely committed, and scorer of possibly SA’s most easy-on-the-eye try.

Courtnall Skosan: 6.5

French kept their game-plan stubbornly tight, so not much regular activity for anyone in wider channels. But one deft dart during second half, and usually well alert to danger on retreat.

Elton Jantjies: 7

Belatedly beginning to show he CAN play with polish and composure for a South African team that isn’t the Lions. Tenacious and calm at flyhalf, despite one missed touch from a penalty, kicked his goals to near-perfection and on hand to apply finishing touches for final Bok dot-down.

Ross Cronje: 7

Long way to go yet before he becomes a Fourie du Preez, but budding signs of the type of sensible game management overdue at scrumhalf from Boks. Some decent box kicks, crisp service at right times, and one try-saving last-ditch tackle.

Warren Whiteley: 7.5

When the whole team plays with such gusto, you have to assume at least some credit to the captaincy, yes? Individually, Whiteley shone in this one too, with lovely occasional running lines, vigorous kick chasing, lineout assuredness and energetic work over the ball at breakdowns.

Oupa Mohoje: Not rated

Fairly innocuous in the difficult Bok first few minutes before his game-ending injury in 13th, but just too little time for a justifiable rating, in fairness.  

Siya Kolisi: 9

Absolute humdinger. Arguably even superior to his famous 2013 debut against Scotland at Nelspruit, where he was a fifth-minute “supersub” for luckless Arno Botha. Classic opensider’s performance: eternally industrious at breakdown, marvellous handling, cunning opportunism, and some quite thrilling spells of linking and stretch-the-legs play.

Franco Mostert: 8

We always knew he was a tight-five workaholic for the Lions; underlined here in just his second Test start. Ran a tight lineout ship, hit rucks, and above all put in untiring defensive shift – best evidenced when French applied long periods of nail-biting goal-line pressure in second period. Somehow almost seems to lift a notch while others tire as the sands run out …

Eben Etzebeth: 7.5

Easily the more senior of this budding new lock firm, the big bruiser played his part in ensuring a commendable tackle count from the SA second-rowers. Has had more assertive days on the rampage and in lineouts, but that’s not saying he lacked endeavour in any way.

Frans Malherbe: 7

Good to see bits of “mongrel” from the tighthead not always demonstrated during Super Rugby for Stormers thus far. Robust presence at close quarters in general play, made an aggressive steal, and no special problems at the set-piece.

Malcolm Marx: 7.5

Just a little less barnstorming than at Loftus a week earlier, but another dynamic, muscular display from the emerging hooker. Fast losing that Super Rugby reputation for lineout-throw yips, too.  

Tendai Mtawarira: 6.5

Conceded two penalties (one for pulling scrum down, another for tackling man without ball) so must be marked down a tad. But also won a scrum penalty back, and celebrated animatedly to demonstrate how up for this Test he was, too.

Standout substitute:

Jean-Luc du Preez: 7

Energetic second-half stuff from Steven Kitshoff, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Coenie Oosthuizen as well, but the strapping Sharks blind-sider got on in the 13th minute and grabbed this extended chance with both hands. Fine leg drive, brawny hold-up tackles, broad enthusiasm … should become a starter imminently.

*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing

eNCA | Kolisi powers South Africa’s 37-15 win over France

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JOHANNESBURG – South Africa beat France   37-15 on Saturday at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Saturday to win the series.

They had led 23-7 at half-time.

The Springboks’ defence laid the platform for the series-winning performance in front of 40 000 fans. For a large part of the second half, France laid siege to the Springbok tryline, but the Boks held their own for long spells even though the opposition were able to string multi-phase plays together with increasing intensity.

To crown their brave efforts, the Boks ran the French ragged at the end to sign off in style for a series, following their first Test win at Loftus.

In early play, both sides looked to carry the ball up with short bursts up the middle of the field until France sprung a raid down the left channels where the Springbok defence was caught napping. Some crisp inter-passing was splendidly rounded off by French fullback Scott Spedding despite the desperate last-gasp tackling attempt at the corner flag by Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth.

Referee Ben O’Keeffe of New Zealand called on television match official Rowan Kitt of England to review Spedding’s effort as it initially seemed that the Frenchman may have had a foot in touch. Once the try was confirmed, scrumhalf Baptiste Serin added the conversion from the touchline (7-0).

The Boks struck back almost immediately with a fifth-minute penalty by flyhalf Elton Jantjies (7-5).

The French again managed to breach the Bok defence out wide in the left channel and came close to scoring but a kick ahead evaded the touchdown effort of Spedding.

Rightwing Raymond Rhule and outside centre Lionel Mapoe had the Bok supporters on the edge of their seats when they sparked an attack from their own 22m line. The French defence eventually checked the Boks 10 metres from the tryline and averted danger.

The Boks lost Oupa Mohoje, their openside flanker, through injury and he was stretchered off the field. He was replaced by Jean-Luc du Preez.

Midway through the first half, the Springboks grabbed the lead for the first time in the match after a Jan Serfontein try, which Jantjies converted after his conversion attempt hit the upright and bounced over the crossbar. It was a fine team effort with Mapoe and flanker Siya Kolisi providing the finishing touches before sending Serfontein clear (10-7).

Three minutes later, there was some more adventurous play from the Boks with eighth man Warren Whiteley leading the charge but an infringement on the ground won France relief with a penalty, 15 metres from their tryline.

A period of sporadic play followed as both sides looked to attack without any success and the passage of play came to an abrupt end when Kolisi held on to an ankle-high intercept and sprinted clear of the French defence. Jantjies landed the conversion, and then four minutes later, added a second penalty (20-7).

In the remaining first-half play, the Boks managed to pin Les Bleus down in their own half and three minutes from the end won a scrum penalty which Jantjies guided through the posts for a 16-point lead (23-7).

Just after the halftime break, each team spurned penalty opportunities after which France held out for a 28-phase movement in the opposition’s 22m area but the Boks defence stood firm in the face of a series of pick-and-gos.

France followed up that up soon afterwards with a nine-phase move but still couldn’t breach the stubborn Bok rearguard.

However, they should have made their ascendancy count when they were awarded a five-metre penalty which they opted to run. A mere metre from the whitewash, they lost the ball after a wild pass which the Boks gratefully scooped up.

Once the Boks bravely weathered the storm, managed to transfer play to the opposite end of the field without really threatening a further score. However, once the Boks were driven back into the own half, flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc goaled a penalty to reduce the deficit to 13 points in the 64th minute (23-10).

Before the restart, the Boks made a raft of changes and the impact was almost immediate. One of the replacements, prop Coenie Oosthuizen, broke through two tackling attempts for the side’s third try. Jantjies converted (30-10).

The French responded with telling effect after the Boks failed to gather from the kick-off. The Boks battled to contain the raid and 70′ outside Damian Penaud made it count when he dashed in for an unconverted try (30-15).

At the end, Man of the Match Kolisi again intervened with great authority and sent Jantjies in for the side’s fourth converted try (37-17).

eNCA

eNCA | US judge declares mistrial in Cosby sex assault case

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NORRISTOWN – A US judge declared a mistrial on Saturday in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case after the jury remained deadlocked on whether the fallen star was guilty of drugging and molesting a woman in 2004, but prosecutors vowed to seek a retrial.

It was a stunning development — and a momentary victory — for the 79-year-old pioneering black entertainer who had risked spending the rest of his life in prison if convicted of assaulting Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia mansion.

READ: Cosby told police he gave accuser pills before ‘petting’

Prosecutors announced immediately that they would retry the case, leading to the prospect of the now frail and disgraced comedian, once adored by millions as “America’s Dad”, could yet return to court.

For now, Cosby is free on bail.

About 60 women have publicly accused the Emmy-winning actor in recent years of being a serial sexual predator, alleging that he drugged and assaulted them over a span of 40 years across the United States.

But Constand’s allegations were the only criminal case brought against him as most of the alleged abuse happened too long ago to prosecute.

Her case was initially settled by a civil suit but re-opened in 2015 when prosecutors claimed that new evidence had come to light.

The sequestered seven-man, five-woman panel spent 52 hours deliberating in the Philadelphia suburb of Norristown, Pennsylvania — far longer than the amount of time dedicated to testimony and legal arguments.

They first informed Judge Steven O’Neill on Thursday that they were deadlocked, but were instructed to keep trying.

Less than 48 hours later, and working into the weekend on the 11th day of the trial, the panel informed the judge that they were still deadlocked on all three counts of indecent aggravated assault.

Overtly ambitious

Legal experts had always warned that the “he said, she said” nature of the case was always going to be difficult to prove in court, not least because it happened so long ago and due to a lack of physical evidence.

But the trial has irrevocably damaged his legacy as a towering figure in US popular culture, once adored for his seminal role as a lovable father and obstetrician on the hit TV series “The Cosby Show”.

The actor, who says he is now legally blind, hung his head or looked up to the sky as he stood outside the courthouse flanked by his defence lawyers and representatives, but made no public comment.

“We came here looking for an acquittal, but like that Rolling Stones song says, ‘You don’t always get what you want, sometimes you get what you need’,” defence lawyer Brian McMonagle told reporters.

Cosby’s wife, Camille, who attended just one day of the trial, issued a fierce statement on Saturday, read out by a representative.

She condemned the district attorney as “heinously and exploitatively ambitious”, the judge as “overtly arrogant”, lawyers for the accusers as “totally unethical” and “many” in the media as “blatantly vicious”.

“I am grateful to any of the jurors who tenaciously fought to review the evidence, which is the rightful way to make a sound decision,” her statement said.

Cosby declined to testify and the defence spent just minutes presenting their case, calling one witness and arguing that the evidence just did not exist to convict their client.

The prosecution spent five days, painstakingly trying to build its case, calling Constand to the stand, her mother and another woman who alleged that Cosby also drugged and assaulted her in Bel Air in 1996.

Humiliated

The slew of allegations has disgraced Cosby, who was lauded as a hero by African Americans and revered by whites for smashing through racial barriers over a five-decade career in entertainment.

Cosby attained his greatest fame for his role as Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” from 1984 to 1992.

One of the most popular television series in history, it propelled a man raised by a maid and a US Navy cook into a life of fame and wealth.

Constand was composed on the stand under a fierce barrage of cross-examination from the defence, which sought to portray their relationship as consensual, and Cosby’s accuser as a liar.

At the time director of women’s basketball at Temple University, where the actor sat on the board of trustees, she said the assault left her “humiliated” by someone she had thought of as a friend and mentor.

Cosby maintained in a 2005 deposition that he gave Constand the antihistamine Benadryl to relieve stress and had consensual relations. But he admitted obtaining sedatives with a view to having sex.

Gloria Allred, an attorney representing more than 30 Cosby accusers, welcomed the prosecutors’ decision to seek a retrial.

“It may not be over yet,” she told reporters.

“Sometimes a second jury will render a different outcome than the first jury and sometimes that’s conviction.”

AFP

News24.com | UDM, Cope criticise ANC on #YouthDay

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Cape Town – The United Democratic Movement (UDM) and Congress of the People (COPE) on Friday sharply criticised the ruling African National Congress (ANC), calling the party a “corrupt ruling elite”.

In a statement, Mosiuoa Lekota for Cope, said corruption and bad governance by the country’s current leaders are betrayal of the ideals of the youth of 1976.

“They flout and undermine the Constitution, for which the 1976 generation paid the supreme sacrifice, which is the framework to attain the socio-economic rights as contained in the Bill of Rights.”

Lekota said the majority of the youth are suffering the brunt of poverty, unemployment, lack of opportunities and economic exclusion.

“Today, half of the cohort of learners who enter the schooling system drop out without a trace. The majority lack proper infrastructure in schools, adequate learner support material as well as quality teaching and proper support for teachers.

“Students in colleges and universities constantly sacrifice their valuable lessons time to engage in protests to force an uncaring government to accede to their demands for bursaries, accommodation and inclusion,” he said.

Speaking to UDM members in Nelson Mandela Bay, Bantu Holomisa said the core issue facing youth in the country is corruption.

“Especially when it comes to those charged with the task of governance and ensuring that the dividends of democracy filter down,” Holomisa said.

“The UDM’s youth must be aware that far too many people, who were in the vanguard of the struggle, have let the country down by lining their and their families’ pockets.”

Holomisa referenced the so-called Gupta leaks as proof of corruption in the country.

“These, now infamous, emails have so far proven authentic and nobody has outright claimed that they are fabrications. This should send a strong message to you, that you cannot fold your arms,” he said.

Holomisa ended his speech by telling UDM members that the coalition government in Nelson Mandela Bay is stable. 

“If you are not aware, a three-member committee scrutinised the situation and found that the Executive Mayor and the Deputy Executive Mayor were both at fault in many respects,” he said.

“We [the coalition partners] therefore took the stance that they either should shape up or ship out. Everyone must do their work, and follow the law and rules of the municipality.”

The Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan municipality is governed by a three-party coalition between the Democratic Alliance (DA), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and UDM.

Youth Day commemorates a mass protest against the Apartheid government’s policy of Bantu education in Soweto on June 16, 1976.

It is estimated that between 3000 and 10 000 students marched on the day and a heavy police response resulted in at least 176 causalities. The apartheid government claimed only 23 students were killed.

News24.com | The ANC is like an animal that is kicking hardest before death – Maimane

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Durban – The ANC is in its death throes while the DA is the party that will lead the country into the future, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Friday. 

Speaking outside the Phoenix police station in Durban on Youth Day, he said the DA was the only party with the most amount of young people in Parliament, and that the party, civic associations, and churches had one common enemy.

“The enemy is anybody who steals opportunities from young people and provides them for their corrupt friends. In 2019, there’ll be a DA-led coalition in South Africa,” said Maimane.

He also took a swipe at deputy police minister Bongani Mkongi. 

“The ANC has only got one person under 35, and if I’m not mistaken it’s Mkongi. Hey, that one is a drunkard,” Maimane claimed. 

The DA leader likened the ANC to an animal that “kicks the hardest” when it’s about to die.

“That’s why we are sick and tired of reading emails about Gupta’s and listening that people are fighting everywhere – let them fight. The DA will fight for the future of South Africa.” 

He said the country would still be the same if deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa former African Union commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma become president of the ANC at the end of the day, and president of the country in 2019. 

“That’s why we want change,” said Maimane.

He said the was dead and is the party of the past, while “the DA is the party of the future”. 

He said that when the DA talks about the youth and young people, “we’re talking about future leaders – not people who are here to become defenders of leaders but defenders of young people”.

Youth Day marks the anniversary of protest action on this date in 1976, by black schoolchildren against the oppressive Bantu education.  The demonstrations were marked by police brutality and violence against the youth.

“Young people have never been satisfied with status quo, in 1976 young people said we want equality before this rubbish education you are giving us,” Maimane said.

They took to the streets with the hope that one day, when South Africans talk about freedom, we will talk about an equal education for all, he said.

“You can’t say that Jacob Zuma represents the young people of 76, how can you say that? You’ll be insulting those young people. These young people today are asking the question, who do we give the baton to? They know they can’t give the baton to criminals. ,” said Maimane.

“To the generation of 76, if we agree that young people need a good education, if we agree that young people need work, need a future in South Africa, well hand over the baton to the blue machine,  the DA, for we want to take the future of SA,” he added.

“Under the DA, we will make sure that young people at least get a year after school for free, so that they can learn skills, they can get apprenticeships, they can be interns and be also empowered to create work. We want young people that are entrepreneurs that will start small businesses,” he said.

Maimane said that when the DA takes over national government, they’ll put a fund together for young people who want to start their own businesses.

On Friday the DA handed over a memorandum to police containing names of about 51 alleged druglords from the area.

“Our children should not speak about the drug Bluetooth but the Bluetooth that is for connected people that know how to use the internet and trade with anybody in the world – then we can say we are talking about the freedom that young people can use.”

The swapping of blood between users of Nyaope is called “Bluetooth”.

eNCA | NUM wanted higher black ownership targets

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CAPE TOWN – The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)  said on Friday that while it welcomed the reviewed Mining Charter gazetted this week, the government-set targets for black ownership of the country’s mineral wealth could have gone further.

In a statement, the union welcomed the introduction of a 30 percent black-ownership target for all mines.

WATCH: Mining charter’s a mess from start to end, says researcher

“Even though the department and the minister did not implement the incremental targets as per our submissions, thus industry achieving 35 percent as a minimum target by 2022. We do nonetheless appreciate the increase from the initial 26 percent to the 30 percent minimum BEE shareholding in the industry,” NUM said.

The union was, however, disappointed that Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane had not increased the economic benefit for mine workers and mining communities to 10 percent.

“Unfortunately, to our disappointment on this aspect, the minister limited employees’ and communities’ ownership to 8 percent each on the designated 30 percent BEE ownership in mining companies, thus BEE entrepreneurs and current institutional owners remain with 84 percent  (with a minimum of 14 percent in the hands of black entrepreneurs).”

READ: Sibanye Gold fires 1,500 mineworkers over illegal strike

The Union slammed the Chamber of Mines of South Africa’s intention to interdict government from implementing the charter, saying this was “regrettable and regressive”.

“Especially in the light of the Chamber of Mines own admission that they have far achieved the contemplated 30 percent ownership target, this leaves us with this question: in whose interest is the chamber opposing transformation in the mining industry?

“They might be taking the government to court, but from where we are standing, they are against South Africans benefiting and sharing in the profits emanating from our mineral wealth.”

NUM said it would mobilise communities against mining houses opposed to the reviewed charter.

African News Agency