Category Archives: South African News

News24.com | #GuptaEmails: DA lays charges against Eskom CFO

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Cape Town – DA leader Mmusi Maimane has laid further charges in the wake of revelations contained in the leaked Gupta emails.

On Thursday, DA MP Natasha Mazzone said a chain of the leaked emails reveal that Anoj Singh, currently Eskom’s CFO, was whisked off on at least four suspiciously timed Gupta-funded

trips to Dubai. This happened during the period Transnet awarded a R1.8bn tender to Neotel, resulting in a R36m kickback to a Gupta company.

Singh was Transnet’s CFO at the time.

On Friday, further emails brought to light that he was also treated to a nine-day trip to Dubai in December 2015, shortly after the Guptas’ Tegeta obtained Optimum Coal Holdings, which  supplies Eskom with coal, from Glencore. The deal was worth more than R2bn.

“This is a textbook example of bribery and corruption,” Maimane said.

Earlier this week, he laid charges of treason and corruption against President Jacob Zuma, the three Gupta brothers, and eight others.

“I have therefore brought charges of corruption against Mr Anoj Singh, in addition to the criminal charges I laid earlier this week against President Zuma, members of the Gupta family, and several Cabinet ministers and executives of SOEs.

“The ANC has captured our state in order to make themselves very rich, and has long abandoned the project of building a united, non-racial and prosperous South Africa. The ANC cannot self-correct, and must be removed in 2019.”

Mazzone added an affidavit on Singh to the corruption and racketeering charges the DA laid earlier in the week.

Guptas pay the bills 

Booking confirmations contained in the leaked emails reveal:

From June 6 to 9, 2014, Singh stayed at the Oberoi Hotel in Dubai with Tony Gupta. According to Mazzone, this was during the time when bidding for the Neotel deal was open, and no preferred bidder accepted.

From August 7 to 12, 2014, Singh again stayed at the Oberoi Hotel. During that month, Transnet notified Neotel that it was the new preferred bidder.

From November 7 to 9, 2014, Singh was back in the Oberoi Hotel. Weeks later, Neotel was awarded the contract concerned, worth R 1.8bn. It paid Homix, a letterbox company allegedly connected to the Guptas, R41m.

Singh was in the Oberoi from February 24 to 26, 2015. The Guptas again picked up the bill.

After he became Eskom CFO, Singh stayed in the Oberoi from December 16 to 24, 2015. The bill was sent to the Gupta’s Sahara Computers. This trip started two days after the Optimum deal was concluded.

Brian Molefe was Transnet’s CEO until March 2015, and become Eskom’s interim CEO the following month.

The ANC on Friday said it was concerned by the emails, and that they contained worrying claims about the relationship between government and private interests. It called on government to investigate their veracity.

The Guptas had not yet denied the information contained in the leaked emails. Their lawyer Gert van der Merwe said it was a political smear campaign. He had advised his clients to lay criminal charges against the media houses and journalists who published the “tampered” emails.

eNCA | Zuma welcomes decision to appeal reshuffle order

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CAPE TOWN – President Jacob Zuma on Friday night welcomed the decision of the North Gauteng High Court to grant him leave to appeal its judgement by Judge Bashir Vally ordering the President to submit the record and reasons of the decision to reshuffle his Cabinet on 31 March 2017.

Read: BREAKING: Judge allows Zuma to appeal reshuffle ruling

In his application for leave to appeal, the President had contended that there was a reasonable prospect that another court would come to a different decision from that of the High Court and that the matter was one of considerable importance to the parties and the country.

In a statement the Presidency said: “The application for leave to appeal was argued today, 02 June 2017, before Judge Vally and he agreed that the President be granted leave to appeal his judgement to the Supreme Court of the Appeal.

“In handing down judgement, the court emphasised that the public interest in this case post issuance of the judgement has been wide, deep and intense and warranted that the the issues raised by this particular matter be considered by the Supreme Court of Appeal.

“Further, the court agreed that there is merit in the contention by the President that the order had far-reaching implications and therefore warranted the attention of a higher court.”

Zuma may now approach the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Earlier on Friday, the South Gauteng High Court granted Zuma leave to appeal but Judge Vally said he remained sceptical and believed there were no reasonable prospects that another court would come to a different conclusion. However, he conceded that there might compelling reasons to appeal.

“The president’s contention is not without merit. The president contends further that the order fundamentally impacts on the manner in which the office of the Presidency operates. The DA was not able to dispel or discredit these claims. In these circumstances this matter should be brought to the attention of a higher court.”

Read: Cabinet reshuffle to benefit young leaders, says Zuma

Last month, the Democratic Alliance approached the court to compel Zuma to hand over all records which supported his reasons for sacking former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas during a midnight reshuffle in March.

In his first ruling, Vally ordered Zuma to provide all documents and electronic records, including correspondence, reports, contracts, memoranda, evaluations, advice received and recommendations that related to his decision.

Zuma has continuously maintained that he is empowered through the constitution to hire and fire members of his cabinet and that the decision to axe Gordhan and Jonas was an executive one.

African News Agency

News24.com | SCA rules that Durban’s ‘monstrosity’ 9-storey building will remain

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Durban – It can stay.

That was the ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday in a widely-watched court battle over the fate of the almost completed R61m high-rise apartment block on Durban’s Berea.

The court overturned a previous ruling by KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban Judge Esther Steyn that the building must be partially demolished in order to comply with the original zoning of the 317 Currie Road site.

This, Steyn said, was because the eThekwini Municipality had conceded that, as required by law, not all neighbours had been properly notified of the intended rezoning allowing – what neighbours then described as – a “monstrosity” nine-storey building looming large over them, blocking their views and infringing on their privacy.

The ruling on Friday will bring relief to the developers Serengeti Rise, which always maintained it was blameless and had built with all the requisite permissions.

It will also be a relief to the city which could have faced a massive damages claim from the developers if the building had to be torn down.

READ: Anger as case over R61m ‘monstrosity’ stalls again

Bitter blow

But it will be a bitter blow for neighbours, especially Advocate Tayob Aboobaker who led the legal charge against the development and who is now facing a hefty costs bill.

In the judgment, Judge Nambitha Dambuza commented on the time taken for the neighbours to approach the High Court.

“They launched the challenge in October 2014… by then the building had reached six storeys. Construction only ceased when the shell of the building was seven storeys and the concrete slab of the eighth storey had been cast.”

The judge said the developers and the city had labelled the demolition order “draconian” and had argued that Steyn had failed to exercise her discretion, disregarding the fact that the approved building plans conformed to the new zoning of the property.

“The High Court did not review and set aside the rezoning and plan approval. The court made a finding and granted a demolition but did not grant the primary relief.

“The order also lacks certainty and clarity. On a plain reading of the order, only a portion which exceeds the initial zoning would have to be demolished. There is no description of that portion. No evidence was led in this regard. There was also no evidence on whether the structural integrity of the building could survive the execution of the partial demolition order.

“It would appear that the only way it could be executed would be the demolition of the entire building… and the court below did not give any consideration to the constitutional proportionality of that remedy.”

‘Shocker’

Dambuza said the High Court had wrongly relied on a previous SCA decision in which Professor Matthew Lester was ordered to tear down his luxury home in Kenton-on-Sea.

“The reliance on this was misplaced. In that matter, the building had been constructed without any approved plans.”

Dambuza said the neighbours had not litigated in the public interest “but were motivated by a desire to protect their property rights and advance private interests”.

“I can find no reason as to why the costs of the appeal should not follow the result.”

Save Our Berea, a lobby group which has supported the neighbours, described the judgment as a “shocker”.

Founder Cheryl Johnson said the court did not deal with the “pertinent issues” and had upheld the appeal on a perceived technical defect in the original court order.

“The criticism was based on the fact that the order does not specifically state that the plans and rezoning were declared invalid.

“In the same breath, the court acknowledges that these findings were made. We have great difficulty in understanding what was actually troubling the court. We have great difficulty with the reasoning and ruling on such a petty issue which trivialises the massive efforts made in bringing a detailed court application exposing serious irregularities in zoning and planning issues.

“We hope the residents will shoulder on and proceed to the Constitutional Court.”

On the issue of costs, Johnson said the order was “totally unjustifiable” as Aboobaker had acted in the public interest.

“Courts should encourage members of the public to take up issues of concern.”

eNCA | Trump withdraws US from Paris climate deal

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Thursday announced America’s withdrawal from the Paris climate deal, signaling a policy shift with wide-ranging repercussions for the climate and Washington’s ties with the world.

In a highly anticipated statement from the White House Rose Garden, Trump said the United States would abandon the current deal, but was open to negotiating a new one.

“As of today, the United States will cease all implementation of the non-binding Paris accord and the draconian financial and economic burdens the agreement imposes on our country,” Trump said.

“We’re getting out but we’ll start to negotiate and we will see if we can make a deal that’s fair. And if we can, that’s great. And if we can’t, that’s fine.”

Although details and the timeframe are still unclear, Trump argued that the agreement was a bad deal for Americans and that he was keeping a campaign promise to put American workers first.

“I cannot, in good conscience, support a deal that punishes the United States, which is what it does,” Trump said.

The White House has told allies the 2015 deal was signed by President Barack Obama out of “desperation.”

Trump faced last-minute pressure from business tycoons, foreign allies and from inside his own White House not to pull out of the 196-party accord.

Ever the showman, the 70-year-old gave his decision a reality-TV-style tease, refusing to indicate his preference either way until his announcement.

His decision could seriously hamper efforts to cut emissions and limit global temperature increases. The United States is the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China.

Opponents of withdrawal — said to include Trump’s own daughter Ivanka — have warned that America’s reputation and its leadership role on the world stage are also at stake, as is the environment.

Nicaragua and Syria are the only countries not party to the Paris accord, the former seeing it as not ambitious enough and the latter being racked by a brutal civil war.

Diplomatic pressure

Trump’s long wind-up prompted fierce lobbying, with his environmental protection chief Scott Pruitt and chief strategist Steve Bannon urging the president to leave.

A dozen large companies including oil major BP, agrochemical giant DuPont, Google, Intel and Microsoft, have also urged Trump to remain part of the deal.

Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk said he would have “no choice” but to leave White House-backed business councils if Trump pulls out.

On the diplomatic front, German Chancellor Angela Merkel led the “remain” camp, publicly describing the deal as “essential,” and suggesting other countries would press ahead regardless.

Trump raised alarm bells when he refused to sign up to a pledge on the deal at last week’s G7 meeting in Italy.

Merkel on Saturday labelled the result of the “six against one” discussion “very difficult, not to say very unsatisfactory.”

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was less diplomatic, all but accusing the US president of being ill-informed.

“I am a transatlanticist. But if the US president in the next hours and days says that he will get out of the Paris accord, then it’s the responsibility of Europe to say: that’s not acceptable.”

He noted that it would likely take three or four years to exit from the Paris deal, and revealed that world leaders had sought to explain that to Trump at the G7 summit.

“As it appears, that attempt failed,” said Juncker.

China pledge 

Hours ahead of Trump’s announcement, China’s Premier Li Keqiang also pledged to stay the course on implementing the climate accord, and urged other countries to do likewise.

“China will continue to implement promises made in the Paris Agreement, to move towards the 2030 goal step by step steadfastly,” Li said in a Berlin joint press conference with Merkel.

“But of course, we also hope to do this in cooperation with others.”

China has been investing billions in clean energy infrastructure, as its leaders battle to clear up the choking pollution enveloping its biggest cities, including Beijing.

China and the US are responsible for some 40 percent of the world’s emissions and experts warn is vital for both to remain in the Paris agreement if it is to succeed.

The leader of Asia’s other behemoth, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said this week failing to act on climate change would be “morally criminal”.

Contradictory signals

Trump’s announcement comes less than 18 months after the historic climate pact was adopted in the French capital, the fruit of a hard-fought agreement between Beijing and Washington under Obama’s leadership.

The Paris Agreement commits signatories to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, which is blamed for melting ice caps and glaciers, rising sea levels and more violent weather events.

They vowed steps to keep the worldwide rise in temperatures “well below” two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial times and to “pursue efforts” to hold the increase under 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Since taking office on January 20, Trump, who has called climate change a “hoax”, has sent contradictory signals on the Paris deal.

When asked on Tuesday whether Trump believes human activity is contributing to climate change, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters, “Honestly, I haven’t asked him that. I can get back to you.”

AFP

News24.com | Franziska’s killer blames ‘evil spirit’

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Cape Town – “I didn’t mean for things to turn out that way – that a girl had to lose her life. It was not my intention, my intention had been to rob her of her cellphone. I don’t know what evil spirit took hold of me.”

That’s what Howard Oliver, 28, wrote in a letter of apology to the family and friends of Franziska Blöchliger, who he raped and murdered in Tokai Forest in 2016. The letter was read in the High Court in Cape Town on Thursday by Oliver’s legal representative, Advocate Henk Carstens, in mitigation of sentence, Netwerk24 reported.  

“I want to ask the victim’s family and next of kin, as well as the greater Westlake community to forgive me for what I did. I know it won’t bring back their daughter.”

Carstens said Oliver had written the letter two months after the murder, showing that he’d shown remorse from the start.

Oliver was found guilty of rape, murder and theft on Wednesday. He’d initially denied guilt, but on Tuesday confessed via Carstens.

Judge Kate Savage wanted to know what had led to “things getting out of hand” and him raping and killing Franziska.  

Carstens said Oliver had had financial problems and had asked his employer for a loan. His family also pressurised him to pay his daughter’s crèche fees.

“Is there any explanation as to what drove him to go into the forest and rape and kill a young woman?” Judge Savage wanted to know. “No,” said Carstens. He said his client himself had been shocked by his behaviour when he grabbed her.  

Oliver’s wife, Shannon-Lee, 23, said after the sentencing proceedings that she wasn’t ready to talk about Horward yet. She was supported at court by her mom and other family members.  Franziska’s family was not in court.

Oliver will appear in court for sentencing on June 7. 

eNCA | Zuma appoints new acting police commissioner

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JOHANNESBURG – President Jacob Zuma has appointed Lieutenant-General Lesetja Mothiba as the Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service with immediate effect.

The Presidency said in a statement on Thursday evening that Khomotso Phahlane’s tenure had come to an end.

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula also announced that Phahlane has been asked to motivate why he should not be suspended, in light of serious allegations brought against him.

Mbalula said since Riya Phiyega’s term would come to end on June 10, that the process to appoint permanent commissioner would soon start.

READ: Gauteng police chief Mothiba, redeployed

“The President has thanked Lt-Gen Phahlane for the leadership of the Police during his acting tenure, Lt-General Mothiba is currently the SAPS Divisional Head of the Management Intervention Unit,” the Presidency’s said.

eNCA

eNCA | Pretoria man pushed out of flat window after sex

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TSHWANE – Police in Sunnyside, on the eastern part of Pretoria Central, on Wednesday, arrested a 27-year-old woman for allegedly pushing a man off the second floor of a building following an argument regarding payment over a sexual encounter.

READ: Sex workers interrupt deputy justice minister’s meeting

“It is believed that the victim had gone to Tambotie [a block of flats in Sunnyside] to visit a friend when he met an unknown 27-year-old woman.”

“The two proceeded to the woman’s flat after they had reportedly agreed to do “business” — explained as a consensus to have sex in exchange for cash,” said Captain Daniel Mavimbela, spokesperson for the Sunnyside police station.

“According to reports [information in the docket], the victim handed the woman an amount of R30. She allegedly insisted on more and subsequently searched his pockets.” 

“It is believed that the suspect [the arrested woman] later demanded the victim’s backpack, which had a laptop inside. When he resisted, the suspect allegedly pushed the victim out of the flat through an open window.”

Mavimbela said the man has suffered injuries believed to include a broken wrist and was receiving medical attention at a local hospital on Wednesday.

“The suspect will be charged with attempted murder and is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court soon,” said Mavimbela.

African News Agency

Sport24.co.za | Junior Boks rescue draw at World Champs

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Cape Town – The Junior Boks have drawn their first game of the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Georgia after fighting back in a 23-23 thriller against France on Wednesday.

The Junior Boks had started strongly and scored the first try of the game inside two minutes through Juarno Augustus. 

When flyhalf Curwin Bosch slotted a penalty just five minutes later things were looking good for coach Chean Roux’s men, who led 10-0. 

But it all fell apart after that and the French hit back with two tries before half time to go into the break with a 12-10 lead. 

It got even better for them after the break when scrumhalf Baptiste Coilloud scored France’s third. 

Bosch then slotted another penalty, but when French flyhalf Romain Ntamack struck two drop goals in six minutes, the Junior Boks were 23-13 down. 

A third Bosch penalty made it 23-16 with 20 minutes to play, and while the South Africans threatened in that final quarter, handling errors crept in at crucial times.

That was until the final play of the game, when Augutus scored his second after a lineout 5 metres from the French line. Bosch converted to draw the scores level at 23-23.

The Junior Boks still have to play against Georgia (June 4) and Argentina (June 8) – games that they now have to win to qualify for the semi-finals. 

Scorers:

South Africa 23

Tries: Augustus (2)

Conversions: Bosch (2)

Penalties: Bosch (3)

France 23

Tries: Buros, Dufour, Couilloud

Conversion: Ntamack

Drop goals: Ntamack (2) 

Junior Springboks:

15 Manie Libbok, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Brits, 11 Wandisile Simelane, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 6 Zain Davids, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp

Substitutes: 16 Kwenzo Blose, 17 Daniel Jooste, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Hendre Stassen, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Francois de Villiers, 22 Damian Willemse, 23 Gianni Lombard