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Price: R 11 600 per month in THATCHFIELD ESTATE, CENTURION, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA 3.0 BEDROOM HOUSE TO LET IN THATCHFIELD ESTATE |
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Price: R 900 000 in FAERIE GLEN, PRETORIA, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA 2.0 BEDROOM HOUSE FOR SALE IN FAERIE GLEN |
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1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. In large bowl, whisk egg, oil, Truvía® Baking Blend, yogurt and 2 Tbsp. orange juice.
3. In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Stir flour into liquid mixture, mixing until dough clings together. Stir in orange peel and ginger.
4. On floured surface, toss dough lightly with additional flour until no longer sticky. Knead 12 to 15 times.
5. Pat into 9-inch circle with top slightly rounded; cut into 10 pie-shaped wedges to make scones.
6. Brush each scone with additional orange juice, sprinkle with Truvía® Baking Blend.
7. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.
Johannesburg – The beleaguered Gupta family received much-needed relief this week in the form of a R70 million value-added tax (VAT) refund payment that raised serious eyebrows and concern in the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
News24 and City Press have learnt from four independent sources that the payment caused a huge fallout in SARS that necessitated the intervention of tax boss Tom Moyane.
SARS refused to comment on the matter and did not deny Moyane’s personal involvement in the Guptas’ windfall.
In the same week that the extent of the family’s capture of the state was laid bare through a massive email leak, SARS paid more than R70 million for the benefit of Oakbay Investments in a transaction that insiders say was far from regular.
The payment went through after various legal consultations both within and outside SARS caused by the closure of the Guptas’ bank accounts in South Africa. The family allegedly wanted the money to be paid into an overseas bank account or into the trust account of a lawyer.
VAT refunds are normally only paid into a taxpayer’s account, and not into the account of any proxy, SARS insiders say.
Closed accounts
The Gupta family has had issues with their banking after numerous South African banks closed their accounts citing “suspicious transactions” and reported them to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC). South Africa’s four biggest banks closed accounts linked to the Gupta family more than a year ago, citing the need to comply with international banking rules when dealing with customers and concern over their reputations.
The family, led by brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh, asked then finance minister Pravin Gordhan to stop the banks from terminating their accounts, spurring Gordhan to seek a court order in October stating that he cannot prevent lenders from cutting clients. Judgment was reserved in March.
Gordhan’s application included a document from the FIC, listing 72 reports of suspicious transactions totalling R6.8bn ($520m) that implicated members of the Gupta family and their companies. The court ruled that the document was not relevant to the application.
In September last year Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, who has been at the receiving end of the Guptas’ largesse, announced a judicial commission of inquiry into the banks’ actions. This was later denied by Cabinet and President Jacob Zuma rebuked Zwane.
In March this year the Bank of Baroda’s South African branch also started closing accounts of companies controlled by the Gupta family.
The Mumbai-based lender was said to be winding down its relationship with companies related to the Gupta family to ensure it is in compliance with banking rules.
– Read more: Bank of Baroda SA closing Gupta accounts
It is unclear which bank account the family is currently using to trade and pay employees from. The Guptas originally requested the money to be paid into a bank account abroad.
“SARS officials refused because this would be contrary to the law and SARS procedures,” said one inside source. “SARS got an in-house legal opinion which confirmed it may not be done.”
Oakbay then allegedly asked if the money could be paid into a lawyer’s trust account.
This time SARS sought a legal opinion from an external senior counsel. Again the legal opinion came back saying the refund could not be paid in this way.
SARS officials then refused to make the payment on the basis that it wasn’t lawful and SARS policies didn’t allow it to happen.
Moyane intervention
At this point Moyane allegedly intervened and secured the payment to the Guptas. According to sources the refund was made begrudgingly by SARS staff and left tax employees feeling despondent and angry.
News24 and City Press was given a name of an unknown private company into which the VAT refund payment was finally made, but couldn’t confirm the veracity of the claim.
The Gupta family and their businesses are handled by the VIP taxpayer unit within SARS. This unit is intended for politicians, political parties, past and former senior government officials and their families and certain top business people considered strategic.
SARS spokesperson Sandile Memela would not confirm or deny anything, citing Section 69 of the Tax Administration Act, 2012, that doesn’t allow SARS to discuss or divulge information about the tax affairs of a taxpayer or trader.
“This includes comments on possible refunds paid to a taxpayer or trader.”
Gert van der Merwe, the lawyer for the Guptas, said he was not aware of any refund, but if any money from a refund was paid into a lawyer’s trust account, it wasn’t his.
“I haven’t received any payment from SARS.”
Media queries sent to Oakbay on Friday remained unanswered.
JOHANNESBURG – The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) has called for Democratic Alliance Western Cape premier Helen Zille to be fired.
Zille’s suspension by the DA federal executive (FedEx) “is a sham”, Sanco national spokesman Jabu Mahlangu said on Saturday.
“We are unimpressed with Zille’s suspension because DA disciplinary processes are cover-ups,” said Mahlangu.
“As they have done with the Dianne Kohler-Barnard, Chris Roberts and Ramsay cases, the federal executive council is simply going to deliver a verdict that will massage her racist ego and reassure the right-wing inner circle that the party is still their comfort zone,” he said.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane announced Zille had been suspended from all DA-related activities pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.
Briefing the media following the DA’s two-day FedEx meeting in Johannesburg, Maimane said the meeting had considered the matter concerning Zille that was currently before the DA’s federal legal commission (FLC).
READ: Helen Zille suspended; refuses to apologise for comments
The DA’s leadership has charged Zille with violating the DA constitution.
The FLC has found that Zille, a former DA leader, has a case to answer over her tweets earlier this year in which she said colonialism had had some benefits for the country.
Maimane said that to ensure the DA focused on building one nation with one future, he had been working to resolve this matter using all available means.
Zille responded to her suspension by saying it contradicted the DA’s constitution.
She said had received from the chairman of the party’s federal executive, James Selfe, which had given her until 6 June to give reasons she should not be suspended until the outcome of her disciplinary hearing.
The DA responded by saying she had been notified of its “intention to temporarily suspend her from party activities”.
African News Agency
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London – South Africa captain A.B. de Villiers praised opener Hashim Amla and leg-spinner Imran Tahir in South Africa’s huge 96 run win over Sri Lanka in their Champions Trophy opener.
The Proteas posted 299 at The Oval on Saturday thanks to former captain Hashim Amla, who scored his 25th ODI century. He was the fastest to the milestone having got there in 151 innings.
“It was an amazing innings by Hashim. He did really well to assess the conditions, and communicated well with us what kind of score is going to be good,” De Villiers said.
Sri Lanka were cruising at 116 for two when Imran Tahir was introduced to the attack and the momentum swung South Africa’s favour immediately.
Tahir was Man of the Match after finishing with four wickets for 27 runs.
“It was close to ten out of ten,” said De Villiers.
“Not only with the ball in hand but that run out, it always shows me where the player is at when he shows that kind of dedication and commitment in the field. He is a great asset for us.
“He takes wickets and he is also economical most of the time. He had a fantastic performance today.”
South Africa’s fielding was outstanding as they produced two run outs through direct hits while the catching was top class.
“It’s always important to take those moments. Those little opportunities that come your way, which we did.
“So I was very happy with the way we fielded. We worked really hard at that part of our game, and very happy with the way it went today,” De Villiers added.
London – Just minutes before Saturday’s terror attack in London, pubs were crammed with revellers enjoying a balmy night out in a trendy part of the city, many of them watching the Champions League final on big screens.
And then terror struck yet again at London’s heart as a van smashed into pedestrians before its occupants went on a stabbing rampage, bringing bloodshed to the streets of the British capital.
Within minutes, six people had been killed and three attackers shot dead by armed police. Dozens more were wounded.
People enjoying their evening out near the River Thames told of how their night became a nightmare in seconds as they witnessed the attack unfold.
‘I saw her bounce up in the air’
First, a white van veered wildly into pedestrians crossing London Bridge, with those who managed to avoid the attack rushing to aid those who were hit.
The van deliberately swerved into groups of people at speed, eyewitnesses said.
“I saw this van going left and right, left and right, trying to catch as many people as he could,” Alessandro told BBC radio.
“There were five or six people that we tried to help, they were young people.”
Mark, another witness, was in the middle of London Bridge, taking pictures of Tower Bridge downstream.
“It was swerving from side to side. I could see it hitting people,” he said of the van.
“It hit one person about 20 foot (six metres) in the air. Poor girl. I just saw her bounce up in the air.
“There must have been about five or six people on the ground, they must have been seriously injured,” he told BBC radio.
London resident Dee, 26, said she was sure it was a terror attack as the van careered southwards over London Bridge.
“And then there was a man with a knife, he was running, he came down the stairs and went to a bar,” she told AFP.
After the van crashed right by Southwark Cathedral, the stabbing spree began, with the attackers descending into Borough Market, a popular area of trendy bars and eateries on the south side of the bridge.
Taxi driver Chris told LBC radio he saw men brandishing long knives emerging from the van.
“Three men got out with long blades, 12 inches (30 centimetres) long and went randomly… stabbing people.”
Witness Eric saw the trio get out of the van and thought they were going to help those who had been hit.
However, they were “kicking them, punching them, and took out knives. It was a rampage.”
They then ran towards Borough Market with a shout of “this is for Allah”.
A van ploughs into pedestrians and several people are stabbed in central London, leaving at least 20 casualties pic.twitter.com/jQzuo2cTlX
— AFP news agency (@AFP) June 4, 2017
Bleeding from the mouth
Alex Shellum, who was in The Mudlark pub near London Bridge said he saw a young woman stagger in.
“She was bleeding heavily from the neck and from her mouth,” he said.
“It appeared to myself and to my friends that her throat had been cut,” he told the BBC.
Police held people inside bars and restaurants for their own safety, telling them to get under the tables.
They were later asked to leave with their hands on their heads.
Frightened people were led away as police officers screamed at them to run. Many were in tears, with friends supporting each other along the road.
Roads were closed off and stations evacuated as police shouted at people to flee the scene.
Three attackers wearing hoax suicide vests caused mayhem, repeatedly stabbing one of the first police officers on the scene.
Within eight minutes of the first calls to the emergency services, the three assailants were fatally shot by armed police.
Blood on chef’s uniform
Gerard Kavanar, 46, who lives by Tower Bridge, told AFP: “There was lot of chefs in white costumes, one had blood on his shoulder”.
Police boats scanned the Thames in the dark while helicopters circled overhead and streets were cordoned off, AFP reporters said.
An emergency response helicopter landed on London Bridge, while emergency service workers rushed people on trolleys to waiting ambulances, AFP photographers saw.
Members of the public were seen leaving the scene wrapped in foil emergency blankets while armed police patrolled the scene.
Debris could be seen on the bridge where people had fled.
Several people on Twitter offered their homes for anyone left stranded by the attack.
One of those was Bea Corkhill, 17, who told AFP her boyfriend was chased by a man with a knife.
“I want to go home but I don’t know how,” she said.
At least 20 casualties in London ‘terrorist’ attack https://t.co/eEIf8wfnAa pic.twitter.com/m582YM6zy1
— AFP news agency (@AFP) June 4, 2017
• Editor’s note: This article is updated each time new information becomes available.
JOHANNESBURG – President Jacob Zuma has a mansion in Dubai, bought by the Guptas. That’s according to a Sunday Times report.
The paper says it has proof to back up claims of the mansion.
It says its reporters were told of the house while on a visit to Dubai last year.
READ: Leaked emails implicate Guptas in claims of state capture
They established from independent sources that the home had been bought by the Guptas.
The additional detail, that it was bought for Zuma, has now been confirmed in the leaked emails.
The house is in a luxury complex in Emirates Hills and is worth around R300-million.
The 10 bedroom, 13 bathroom mansion is apparently near to a home belonging to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
The Presidency has disputed the Sunday Times report, saying Zuma does not own any property abroad.
“President Zuma does not own any property outside South Africa and has not requested anybody to buy property for him abroad,” said the Presidency in a statement.
“The President has also not received or seen the reported emails and has no knowledge of them.”
eNCA
