Municipal literacy schock

Municipality literacy shock
Xolani Mbanjwa
August 27, 2008 Star

One in three municipal councillors cannot read or write, and more lack
basic competencies to run local government finances.

Some councillors are even embarrassed to admit they do not understand
English and are therefore unable to follow council proceedings or
training sessions.

It is recommended that adult education becomes a priority in all
municipalities.

On average, only half of local government politicians have post-matric
qualifications, while only two out of 10 understand how tariffs are set
or the cost implications of municipal services.

And more than two-thirds of councillors - including those who serve on
mayoral committees - don't understand their roles, their
responsibilities or local government legislations.
These facts are contained in a study by the SA Local Government
Association (Salga).

The depressing figures have been fingered as one of the main
contributors of poor municipal service delivery, but also expose the
legacy of apartheid in institutions of governance.

The study - conducted since the 2006 local polls and completed late last
year - evaluated 7 000 of the country's 9 300 councillors.

Salga said 32 percent of councillors required ABET training.

"Without these skills (reading and writing) they may not fully develop
their abilities and optimally contribute to council activities -
especially when affairs of council are driven by agendas, reports
submitted and minutes.

"The 32 percent of councillors who require ABET training should receive
support as a matter of priority, particularly as this report shows
councillors with higher levels of education stand a better chance to
serve in senior positions, such as mayoral committees."

Salga head of skills development Sifiso Mbatha said the illiterate
councillors "don't understand local government issues", admitting the
illiteracy rate in municipalities greatly contributed to poor service
delivery.

A number of councillors were not comfortable in conducting business or
being trained in English.

"Some councillors are not comfortable in doing business in languages
that are not their mother-tongues.

"But they keep quiet because they are embarrassed.

"This study has helped us a lot, together with the Local Government
Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) and the department of
provincial and local government in terms of service delivery," said
Mbatha.

"We need to take this (illiteracy) into consideration when we improve
capacity for councillors, for them to understand what government is
trying to do when it comes to service delivery."

He defended the appalling literacy rate of councillors and pointed to
the country's historical political system.

"We need to understand where we come from, because some of our
councillors were in the struggle and did not have a chance to go to
school. Their political parties have deployed them to municipalities.

"Not only councillors have problems, but also appointed officials."

Mbatha said R32-million had been approved to train councillors and
register some for ABET classes.

Professor Enslin van Rooyen, an expert on local government at the
University of Pretoria's School of Public Management and Administration,
said the situation had dire consequences for municipalities.

"The practical implications are that if so many of them do not have
proper reading and writing skills, then we can assume that councils end
up approving budgets they can't interpret," he added.

Cops shot robbery victims

August 30 2008 at 09:37AM

By Shaun Smillie

A couple are fighting for their lives in hospital after being mown
down in a hail of bullets in a police reaction that went horribly
wrong.

The cops, responding to an emergency call about armed robbers in the
couple's house in Meyersdal, Alberton, opened fire on the vehicle in
which the husband and wife were travelling. The couple, who are in
their 40s, were in the intensive care unit of Alberton's Union
Hospital last night.

The robbers got away, but not before gang-raping the couple's daughter.

On Friday, the parents' bullet-riddled Land Cruiser stood in their driveway.

They were shot on Thursday evening after they had reversed at speed
out of the driveway of their house and failed to stop when challenged
by police.

Officers armed with automatic assault rifles opened fire.

The shooting occurred about two hours after five robbers had broken
into the double-storey house.

According to police spokesperson Superintendent Eugene Opperman, the
robbers had entered the house at about 9pm. They tied up the son, who
was alone, and began ransacking the home, loading goods into the
family's black Toyota RunX.

When the daughter arrived home, the robbers overpowered her, tied her
up and began raping her.

Opperman said the parents then drove into the driveway, returning from
a holiday. Police said shots were fired at the couple from the garage.

"Someone in the house was able to press a panic button," said Opperman.

When the security company phoned, they could hear a woman screaming
and were told that a house robbery was in progress. They notified the
police.

"Police were in the vicinity and were able to respond quickly. They
came with their lights flashing and in totally marked cars," explained
Opperman.

As police officers approached the house, they were fired at from
inside, he said. They returned fire.

As the police approached the house, said Opperman, the couple's white
Land Cruiser came reversing from the garage at high speed, its
headlights off.

The 4x4 then sped down Izak de Villiers Street towards other police
officers. Opperman said the officers had to dive for cover to avoid
the speeding car.

A police officer at the house on Friday said the Land Cruiser had been
packed with luggage, which probably suggested to the responding police
officers that these were the robbers with stolen goods.

A resident, who lives just metres from where the incident occurred,
heard what happened next.

"Somebody said 'Stop, police', then shooting, tat tat tat tat," said
the man, who did not want to be identified.

The Land Cruiser finally came to a halt about 200 metres from the house.

"Inside the car, a male voice said 'Are you police or metro?'. A lady
was screaming inside the car. Then someone must have fallen on the
steering wheel, because [the hooter] went on for 15 minutes," said the
witness.

A policeman, processing the crime scene yesterday, said the car had
been hit 28 times. The windscreen had nine bullet holes in it and both
the driver and passenger side doors were hit. The tyres were shot out.

Netcare 911 paramedics arrived quickly and stabilised both patients at
the scene.

"The paramedic told me that both had been hit more than once," said
Netcare 911 spokesperson Nick Dollman.

Police then entered the house but found that the robbers had jumped
the back wall and disappeared into the veld.

Hospital spokesperson Laurinda Xavier said the couple were in a stable
but critical condition.

Police recovered a stolen 9mm pistol, a large knife and some clothing
believed to have belonged to the suspects.

Opperman said Meyersdal had become a prime target for house robbers in
recent times and, ironically, the police's quick reaction time on
Thursday night was in part a result of heightened awareness.

The Independent Complaints Directorate will investigate the shooting.

This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on August 30, 2008

Source:IOL

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080830091724252C382766

Helen Zille : SA Today - No way, no how, no Zuma

A weekly letter from the Leader of the Democratic Alliance 29 August 2008
No way, no how, no Zuma

Urging her supporters to unite behind Barack Obama's presidential bid
at the Democratic Party Convention on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton
declared: "No way, no how, no McCain". It is a slogan that might well
be applied to our own presidential candidate, Jacob Zuma, should he
persist in his efforts to ascend to the presidency by
anti-constitutional means.
Zuma seems determined to occupy the highest office of state by hook or
by crook. The crookery involves a so-called "political solution" to
his corruption charges, with options ranging from the National
Prosecuting Authority (NPA) being pressured to drop the charges, to
the Constitution being amended to give Zuma some form of amnesty or
immunity from prosecution.
Yunus Carrim, the ANC's chairperson of Parliament's justice committee,
has called for a political solution that is "legally and
constitutionally tenable". But this is a contradiction in terms. There
is no such thing as a "legally and constitutionally tenable" political
deal, since any attempt to delay or prevent Zuma from standing trial
on corruption charges, or to find a political way out of a legal
matter, would undermine the principle that all are equal before the
law. Once we place a politician above the law because of his status,
we irreparably undermine our constitutional democracy.
Astonishingly, the idea that Zuma should get special treatment is
gaining support, even outside of the ruling party and its alliance
partners. The proponents of this view argue that Zuma's trial (and the
possibility he may be convicted) would render our country politically
unstable.
In the Mail&Guardian last week, the chief executive of Business Unity
South Africa (which represents 80% of businesses), Jerry Vilakazi, was
quoted as saying: "This matter [of Zuma] must be brought to closure so
that the country can proceed with certainty of political leadership.
If it requires a political solution, let a political solution be
found".
The central committee of the South African Communist Party (SACP),
meanwhile, has claimed that the continuation of Zuma's trial poses a
threat to political stability in that it "unduly raise[s] the
political temperature…in a manner that can negatively
affect…stability…and democracy".
This is political blackmail, as several commentators have noted. Who
is going to threaten stability or raise the political temperature if
Zuma's trial proceeds? It is usually the very people who are warning
of instability and civil conflict. They issue threats and then piously
raise the alarm about the consequences, as if they have the country's
interests at heart. Such threats are in themselves unconstitutional.
The first duty of any citizen who wants to secure South Africa's
stability is to defend the Constitution. If Zuma and his allies are
concerned with political instability, why do they speak and act so
recklessly in defence of their leader, attack the judiciary and incite
mob behaviour? If the ANC Youth League and the SACP are concerned with
stability, then why don't they desist from these tactics and allow the
law to take its course? Indeed, why do they persist with Zuma's
candidacy?
Clearly, the best outcome for South Africa would be for Zuma to remove
himself from the presidential race until a court of law has delivered
its final verdict in the case against him.
In any event, the stability argument for a political solution is
clearly a bogus one. Firstly, a political deal would threaten
constitutional democracy in South Africa by circumventing the rule of
law and the principle of equality before the law; without which there
is a far greater risk of South Africa descending into lawlessness.
Secondly, a political solution would smash the founding compact of our
democracy by elevating the narrow interests of the ANC's ruling clique
over the sanctity of the Constitution. Democracy can only and
ultimately be safeguarded by constitutionalism, which recognises that
democratic and accountable government must be coupled with
constitutional limits on the ruling party's power.
Thirdly, a political compromise would deligitimise two key
institutions of democracy: the judiciary and the National Prosecuting
Authority. A political rather than a legal settlement would make it
extremely difficult for the NPA to prosecute politically sensitive
cases in future. By sidestepping the courts, the authority and
legitimacy of the judiciary would be permanently dented, and the
principle of separation of powers (between the legislature, the
executive and the judiciary) would be rendered meaningless.
Fourthly, by undermining confidence in public institutions, a special
deal for Zuma would cause uncertainty and instability, thereby
increasing political risk and potentially leading to foreign
disinvestment.
Finally, without actually hearing the merits of the fraud and
corruption case against Zuma, and without having seen the charges
against him tested in a court of law, we will be denied the
opportunity to assess – on the basis of a court judgment – his probity
and suitability for public office. This would set an intolerable
benchmark for public life in South Africa by paving the way for
individuals with grave allegations of public misconduct hanging over
their heads to assume office without having to answer their accusers.
Where these individuals are given the opportunity to defend themselves
in an impartial court of law, but actively avoid doing so by dragging
out the legal process through endless pre-trial appeals or by trying
to skirt the courts altogether, the cloud of public doubt will hang
particularly heavily over their heads.
Zuma and his backers are no great friends of the Constitution. In
fact, they view it as their enemy; as the one thing that stands as an
obstacle in their path to absolute power. Zuma himself has said: "The
ANC is more important than even the Constitution of the country". By
this he means that he is more important than the Constitution, since
he and his clique conflate their own personal interests with the
ANC's. This notion of "the higher law of the ruling party" taking
precedence over the law of the country and the duty of judges to
interpret that law is the greatest risk to the future of
constitutional democracy.
In short, a political deal for Zuma would amount to a rejection of the
Constitution, and accelerate the decline of constitutionalism in South
Africa. This is a far greater risk to our country's stability than
anything Zuma's backers can threaten. We must stare the political
blackmailers down, at this early stage in our democracy, and reject
their threats decisively, once and for all.
Best Wishes

Helen Zille : SA Today : A Press-ing Issue

A weekly letter from the Leader of the Democratic Alliance 22 August 2008
A Press-ing Issue

There is a popular myth developing that Jacob Zuma's ascent signals a
break with the more authoritarian aspects of President Thabo Mbeki's
tenure, and that his presidency would usher in a new era of openness.
Yet Zuma's troubled relationship with the media militates against
that, as do several laws presently making their way through the
parliamentary process.
If amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Film and Publications Act
and National Key Points Act are enacted, and the Protection of
Information Bill is passed into law, transparency and freedom of
expression – two cornerstones of the open society – will wither on the
vine.
vCoupled with various other threats from Zuma and his allies to the
values enshrined in our Constitution, this package of legislation
harks back to a darker past and bodes ill for democratic governance
under a post-Mbeki administration.
On Tuesday, the Broadcasting Amendment Bill was steamrollered through
the National Assembly by the African National Congress (ANC).
Amendments to the Broadcasting Act were first proposed by the ANC in a
Communications Portfolio Committee meeting in June. Barely two months
later, the National Assembly passed them. Why such unseemly haste? The
reasons are entirely political.
They stem from the ruling party's habit – learnt from their
predecessors in government – of treating the South African
Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as a political tool and politicising
public institutions that should remain independent of the ruling party
for the survival of constitutional democracy.
If politicians use organs of state to entrench their own power, the
inevitable result is a descent into authoritarian rule. This is
typified by President Robert Mugabe, who has manipulated the electoral
commission, the state broadcaster and the security forces to cling to
power.
When Albert Hertzog was appointed Minister of Posts and Telegraphs in
1958, one of his first deeds was to appoint his friend and political
ally, Piet Meyer, to the chairmanship of the SABC. Meyer had definite
ideas about the sectarian political role the SABC should play in
public life. He explained to the General Council of the Broederbond in
1977: "We must harness all our communication media in a positive way
in order to gather up Afrikaner national political energy in the
struggle for survival in the future ... our members must play a
leading role."
The ANC's approach takes the abuse further. Not only is the SABC
becoming a tool of the ruling party, but of a dominant clique within
the party. The internal feud between opposing camps in the ANC have
seeped into the public broadcaster, and pitted the Board against
senior management.
The SABC had long been manipulated by President Mbeki to promote
himself and to silence, marginalise and discredit his critics, both
inside and outside the party. When a list of nominees for the new SABC
Board was submitted to Parliament in October 2007, ANC MPs timidly
accepted it, despite their reservations about the inclusion of people
whose names, it had emerged, were inserted into the nomination process
through last-minute interventions by the Presidency.
Several months later, after the winds of change at Polokwane, ANC MPs
decided to take issue with a Board they had previously approved. It
would be comforting if the Broadcasting Amendment Bill was a product
of their belated self-assertiveness. In fact, it is not; it is simply
a result of their switched allegiance after Polokwane.
As it stands, the Bill offends against the constitutionally-entrenched
separation of powers, since it confers executive powers on the Speaker
of Parliament to appoint and remove Board members. The fact that the
Speaker is also the Chairperson of the ANC, and a vocal Zuma backer,
means that the hiring and firing of the SABC Board is now in the hands
of a political appointee who is directly accountable and loyal to the
party leader.
The Bill is nothing more than an attempt by ANC MPs to remove the
Board members aligned to Mbeki; to ingratiate themselves with their
new Party president and his supporters; and to pave the way for
further political deployments and dismissals. By supporting this Bill,
ANC MPs have shown themselves to be just as spineless as when they
first agreed to accept Mbeki's hand-picked candidates.
Should it be signed into law, the Bill would sacrifice media freedom
on the altar of political self-interest.
Several other laws threaten to close down the space for free
expression. Amendments to the Film and Publications Act provide for
pre-publication censorship. The Protection of Information Bill
criminalises the publication of "sensitive information", if it is
deemed to threaten the "national interest" and "prejudice the state."
But the "national interest" is broadly and loosely defined – covering,
as it does, such matters as "defence and security plans", "significant
political and economic relations with international organisations and
foreign governments" and "details of criminal investigations."
Meanwhile, amendments to the National Key Points Act would impose a
media blackout on the coverage of strikes, protests, demonstrations,
industrial accidents, criminal attacks or any event that takes place
at any site that has been declared a National Key Point, Strategic
Installation or Place of Importance. Such blanket restrictions make it
impossible for the media to perform its watchdog function, and
frustrate transparent and accountable governance.
All of this reminds me of apartheid laws such as the Publications Act
of 1974, which was used to censor "undesirable" material considered
"prejudicial to the safety of the state, the general welfare or…peace
and good order". Of this current crop of legislation, the Press
Council of South Africa has said: "These laws are contrary to the
constitutional aim of conducting governance in a transparent and open
manner, and require severe amendment".
Yet again, Zuma's ANC is demonstrating that it poses a serious threat
to Constitutional freedoms by passing laws confirming their leader's
stated belief that the ANC is more important than the Constitution. It
is the critical task of the collective opposition to defend these
constitutional freedoms.
Best Wishes

Son killed defending parents

Graeme Hosken

August 19 2008 at 07:06AM

A Pretoria man has been gunned down while trying to protect his
parents from a gang of armed robbers.

Fighting back tears, an emotional Karel Appel on Monday described how
his son, Tommy, died while tackling a gang of robbers so that they
would not harm his mother and father.

Appel and his wife Amanda were asleep in their Amandasig home in the
early hours of Sunday morning when they were awoken by two men holding
guns to their heads.

"They kept on telling us to be quiet, but I got such a fright that I
jumped up and screamed for Tommy.

"All I remember is Tommy running into our room and then flashes as the
guns were fired," said Appel.

He said that as Tommy, 30, ran into their bedroom of their Karee
Street home, one of the gunmen fired as their son tried to push them
out of the room.

The men then fled, leaving Appel bleeding to death on his parents' bed.

"When I asked him to phone the police he kept on saying that he had
been shot and then he collapsed on the bed.

"I ran outside screaming for help. It is all that I could do," the
father said. By the time police and paramedics arrived his son was
dead.

"Tommy was our everything. We loved him so much and we know that he
loved us. He saved us. He gave his life for us," Appel said.

Pointing to where the gunmen had forced open burglar bars, Appel said
the men had fled without taking anything from the house.

"The only thing they took was my son's life."

Tommy's mother was too distraught to speak about what had happened.

"I just cannot believe my son is dead," she said.

This article was originally published on page 3 of Pretoria News on
August 19, 2008

Source:IOL

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20080819054801525C936436

'Just another murder, and no one cares'

Candice Bailey

August 18 2008 at 07:01AM

Every day when Craig Mackinnon, 38, turns over the calendar, he looks
at picture of his late father, Ian, attached to it.

On Monday it may, however, be a bit more difficult for him.

Exactly four years ago to the day, his 60-year-old father was gunned
down on their Walkerville smallholding as his mother Sabine stood just
metres away.

As a result of the brutal murder, the lives of the entire Mackinnon
family changed.

His mother refused to stay in the Walkerville home afterwards.

She now lives in Germany with her brother, after first moving in with Craig.

"We had to leave our entire life on that 10-acre plot," Mackinnon said
this week.

The family also had to find homes for their six dogs.

"I lost my business. I'm unemployed because I have emotional blowouts.
My mother moved in with us. We were sleeping on the floor in the
lounge until she managed to get her own place."

But, four years after the murder, the police investigation has yielded nothing.

"And all we got from the police was 'nothing yet'. We were never
phoned once by police. We had to call them all the time. Leigh, my
common law wife, spent years trying and trying as my mother and I were
swallowed by depression. But nothing has come of it," said Mackinnon
this week.

Sitting in a dimly lit room of the highly secure Essenwood home in
Noordwyk, Midrand, which his mother bought after living with him,
Mackinnon is extremely upset that so little was done in the case.

Despite the time lapse, Mackinnon still remembers the evening clearly.

He claims that besides the police being unhelpful and leaving him to
clean up the scene of the crime, he also picked up pieces of evidence.

"On the night I had to stand with a hosepipe leading from the garden
into the house to wash away pieces of my dad's brain.

"The men had tried to shoot my mother, but the bullet missed her and
ricocheted off the wall. I picked up the casing in the driveway and I
picked up the bullet on the carpet in the living room. I handed them
over to the police because they didn't find it. I don't think they
handled this case properly at all. They just left it. It was absolute
rubbish."

Mackinnon said that although the case was registered as a robbery,
nothing was taken on the night of the shooting.

In another twist to the story, a neighbour arrested a 14-year-old, who
admitted to the murder, but the case was thrown out of court.

The Mackinnons were told that this was because he had not been
arrested at the scene of the crime that night.

Investigating officer, Inspector Kruger, said the 14-year-old was
arrested and appeared in the Vereeniging's magistrate's court but
despite the family saying he had made an admission, he could not be
connected to the crime.

Kruger said information he had at the time was that there were no
eyewitnesses as the wife was inside the house at the time of the
shooting.

Mackinnon, however, believes the youth was responsible for the murder
and said the arrest had given him hope.

"Now however, I have lost all hope."

In an angry outburst, Mackinnon said: "He was 14 at the time. That was
four years ago. He is 18 now. Juvenile or not, the bastard must go to
prison."

He criticised the police on their decisions on cases to tackle.

"They are extremely quick to track someone who has stolen something,
especially if it money related.

"But murder is such a cheap and inconsequential thing."

He referred to the case of Leigh Matthews - the Sandton teenager, who
died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

Her body was refrigerated and dumped in Walkerville a few days later.

"It happened at exactly the same time."

Matthews, a 21-year-old student, was kidnapped and her parents paid a
ransom of R50 000 for her.

Initially a task team of 10 detectives drawn from the Johannesburg
serious and violent crime unit was established.

They were assisted by private detectives and received advice from a
London-based international risk management company.

As days passed with no breakthrough, top police investigator Piet
Byleveld was assigned and the tracking unit, crime intelligence, crime
prevention and serious and violent crime units were all working on the
case.

A 24-hour call centre manned by four staffers had also been set up.

Two months later, fellow student Donovan Moodley was arrested and
charged for her murder.

"It was an absolute tragedy for them to find their daughter like that.

"But we still do not have any answers."

Mackinnon adds that there were several murders in Walkerville at the
time, but that nothing was done.

"A man who sold fresh eggs and milk was tied up and shot. He was one
of many others.

"My father's murder was treated just like all the others - just another murder.

"It's like no one wants to investigate anything in the south. It just
gets ignored," he said.

Mackinnon said he was battling to find closure.

"What still gets us is that the bugger was caught but nothing was done about it.

"Life is so damn cheap. To be killed for nothing in a place where he
was respected and considered a gentleman. My God, that's what is most
disgusting.

"And then you get turned away constantly by the police."

"It's one murder but the lives of everyone around him have been
knocked out of kilter.

"I know that it is the four year anniversary of the death of my dad.

"Everyday when I change the calendar, I look at my dad and say a few
words to him."

This article was originally published on page 5 of Pretoria News on
August 18, 2008

Source:IOL

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20080818055310453C907695

DA@WORK 18 August - Conquering fear, commanding hope - DA launches new safety policy

DA@WORK 18 August

DA LAUNCHES NEW POLICY ON CRIME
Crime is the number one issue among all South Africans across all
communities and must be stopped before it happens.

SHOCKING PRISON CONDITIONS POSE HUGE RISKS
A recent scathing performance audit by the Auditor-General on the
repair and maintenance of prisons has revealed a disturbing situation
in which prison security is severely compromised by poor maintenance.

CURRENT TREATMENT CONDITIONS LEAVE NO HOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN TB CURE RATE
Medical care is almost non-existent, even in dedicated MDR treatment centres.

SABC BOARD APPOINTMENT: ANC ABUSING DEMOCRACY
Politics is the motive for the ANC's abuse of democracy in amending
the Broadcasting Act, the Democratic Alliance said last Wednesday.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Government's willingness to admit its failures is an encouraging
sign. The tragedy is that, while government has dithered and denied,
so many lives have been lost. We must now look to the future with hope
and resolve. This is not a time to be overwhelmed, it is an
opportunity to change things for the better. If we move forward on
that basis, I am convinced we can win the war on crime."

DA Leader Helen Zille comments on Deputy Justice Minister Johnny de
Lange's admission that South Africa's criminal justice system is
dysfunctional in her weekly online newsletter, SA Today.

DA LAUNCHES NEW POLICY ON CRIME

A truly open opportunity society could never exist in South Africa
until law-abiding citizens felt safe, said DA leader, Helen Zille at
the unveiling last Tuesday of the party's new safety and security
policy 'Conquering fear, commanding hope', a policy which promises to
revolutionise South Africa's entire criminal justice system in an
endeavour to win the war on crime.

The DA's five-point criminal justice plan calls for 60 000 more police
officers, 500 more prosecutors, 30 000 more detectives, ahputting
prisoners to work to earn their keep, using the latest technology to
fight crime, and establishing a Directorate for Victims of Crime.

"Crime is the number one issue among all South Africans across all
communities and must be stopped before it happens," Zille said.

"The more competent and trained police officers we have on the
streets, the better we will be able to prevent crime."

She said the DA would employ 250 000 police officers should it be in
power - in contrast to the government's target of 190 000 - and employ
a further 30 000 detectives.

"The DA will employ police officers purely on the basis of competence,
not quotas, and we will stop top-level political appointments."

She said conviction on a charge of corruption or fraud would result in
instant dismissal and the Independent Complaints Directorate would be
empowered to come down hard on errant officers.

She said the DA would reinstate the Narcotics Bureau, as crime
prevention also required dealing decisively with drug abuse; border
security would be tightened up, and more funds would be devoted to
rehabilitation to keep children safe from drug barons.

As part of the plan, the DA would reduce backlogs at forensic science
laboratories, implement staff retention strategies and set higher
standards of training so that police investigations would no longer be
undermined by poor processing of evidence.

"Specialised units have previously been hugely successful in combating
specific crimes. Almost all have been closed down. They must be
reinstated so that the war on child abuse, narcotics and vehicle
theft, among others, can be strengthened."

She said clear plans to respond to particular problems such as rural
safety, organised crime, domestic and sexual violence, violence in
schools and metal theft would be implemented.

More police would be deployed to crime hotspots and would be given
additional resources and training.

Those charged with crimes would be prosecuted speedily, and there
would be no bail for repeat offenders for certain serious crimes,
including murder, rape and drug dealing.

The DA would create a statutory body called the directorate for
victims of crime, she said. This body would monitor the response of
officials to victims and administer a toll-free helpline for victims.

"Most importantly, this directorate will manage a victims of crime
fund to ensure that victims have access to services and assistance."

The fund would include money from various sources, including
prisoners' earnings and all bail money forfeited to the state.

"Anyone suffering physical, emotional or financial damage as a result
of a crime would be able to claim against it".

To view the full policy, click here >>>
http://www.eyeoncrime.co.za/?q=node/414

SHOCKING PRISON CONDITIONS POSE HUGE RISKS

A recent scathing performance audit by the Auditor-General on the
repair and maintenance of prisons had revealed a disturbing situation
in which prison security was severely compromised by poor maintenance,
the Democratic Alliance said last Wednesday.

DA correctional services spokesperson James Selfe said that
communities around prisons were at risk from contaminated water and
both local and international rules and laws were being violated.

"The DA will be submitting parliamentary questions to the Ministers of
Correctional Services and Public Works asking what actions their
respective departments have taken to address the Auditor-General's
criticisms regarding the repair and maintenance of prison facilities,"
Selfe said.

"These centres were found not to have proper maintenance plans, thus
leading to a virtual collapse in the structure and buildings."

In most cases, centres had failed to comply with water and sewerage
maintenance standards, thus risking contaminating rivers running
adjacent to many prisons, and putting the health of staff and inmates,
as well as the general public in the surrounding areas, in danger.

"At some centres, non-qualified staff had to operate sewerage plants," he said.

Many correctional centres had also failed to maintain their boilers
properly, a contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

"On one occasion, a boiler had exploded, causing the death of two
Correctional Services staff members, and injuring many others."

"Furthermore, these centres were found not to have fire-fighting
equipment, thereby risking the lives of staff and inmates in the event
of a fire."

In addition, security risks arose as a result of security fences which
were not properly maintained, and several security cameras and doors
which were out of order.

"In 2005 an inmate gained unauthorised access to the hospital area in
the Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre, as these security systems and
cameras were out of order. As a result two nurses were assaulted and
one nurse was raped," he said.

He said that the DA would continue in its campaign to ensure that the
Government was held to account.

CURRENT TREATMENT CONDITIONS LEAVE NO HOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN TB CURE RATE

A reply to a DA question had revealed massive disparities in the
service available at TB hospitals around South Africa, making the
treatment TB patients receive effectively a lottery, the party said on
Sunday.

"Moreover, specialised medical care is almost non-existent, even in
dedicated MDR treatment centres," said DA deputy health spokesperson,
Sandy Kalyan.

South Africa's TB cure rate of 57% still fell far behind the World
Health Organisation's target of 80% and, unless a consistent level of
care could be provided to all TB patients across the country, infected
patients would continue to spread the disease and resistant strains
would continue to grow, making an improved cure rate impossible.

"There are 33 hospitals across the country specialising in treating
TB patients, with the best being the King George V hospital in
Ethekwini, which has two specialist doctors and 16 ordinary doctors
caring for 260 patients - a doctor: patient ratio 1:14.

In contrast, the Witbank TB hospital had only one sessional doctor for
226 patients, while the Richmond Chest Hospital in KZN had only two
sessional doctors for 582 patients.

"It would be impossible for these doctors to be able to provide
anything close to acceptable care looking after the needs of this
number of patients on a part time basis," Kalyan said.

"At the Barberton Hospital in Mpumalanga, not a single doctor is
available, not even on a sessional basis, to care for 228 patients,
nor does this hospital have a pharmacist."

"This leaves these patients entirely in the care of nurses, who do not
have the training required to be able to treat these patients properly
or dispense medicines."

SABC BOARD APPOINTMENT: ANC ABUSING DEMOCRACY

Politics is the motive for the ANC's abuse of democracy in amending
the Broadcasting Act, the Democratic Alliance said last Wednesday.

The National Assembly's communications committee earlier approved the
Broadcasting Amendment Bill, which provides, among other things, for
the Assembly to play a major role in removing SABC board members from
office.

Democratic Alliance communications spokesperson Dene Smuts said the
DA would consider petitioning President Thabo Mbeki not to assent to
the bill if Parliament passed it in its current form, but to send it
back to Parliament.

"The ANC has invented an unprecedented 'appointing body' which both
appoints and removes members of the SABC board on the advice of the
National Assembly, which consists of the President acting in
consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly."

"This is surely antithetical to the constitutional doctrine of the
separation of powers. The President leads the executive authority of
the state, while the Speaker is the executive officer only for
Parliament as an institution, not the Republic," she said.

In the case of every Chapter 9 independent institution on which the
appointment and removal provisions of the SABC board were based, the
president appointed the commissioners or members chosen by Parliament.

He had no discretion in the matter, but was the appointing body
because Parliament had no executive powers.

"He can hardly be asked to perform the purely executive aspects of
this function in consultation with another arm of state," Smuts said.

She explained that, in April 2006, Mbeki sent the Icasa Amendment Bill
back to Parliament because its role was being usurped by the
executive.

This time, it was the role of the executive being usurped by Parliament.

"I also find problematic the absence of any explicit requirement for
due enquiry before the National Assembly adopts a resolution to remove
a member, or to dissolve the entire board.

"Implicit administrative justice is not enough administrative justice
when it is abundantly clear that a purge is being proposed for
political reasons.

"The proposition that the entire board may need to be removed is
offensive and will be seen for what it is: an attempt to get rid of
persons duly appointed prior to the installation of a board compliant
with the new ANC rulers," Smuts said.

DID YOU KNOW?

There are countless cases of the presence of police members within the
South African Police Service (SAPS) who have been found guilty of
offences on active duty, and who are subsequently allowed to return to
duty.

In addition, to date R90m has been spent on suspended SAPS members on
full pay, covering 12,723 working days in total. An example is one
Senior Superintendent (Division: Visible Policing) who has been
suspended for 638 days.

Among the offences listed where, after disciplinary hearings, members
returned to active duty, are:

• 13 cases of murder;
• 4 cases of rape;
• 13 cases of corruption; and,
• 1 case of armed robbery.

EYE ON CRIME

DESIGNER BULLET-PROOF CLOTHING
http://www.eyeoncrime.co.za/?q=node/413

GUEST BLOG BY PRIVATE EYE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE FAILURE
http://www.eyeoncrime.co.za/?q=node/412

THE DA UNVEILS ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLAN
http://www.eyeoncrime.co.za/?q=node/414

VIDEO: HELEN ZILLE SINGS 'NEVER GIVE UP' AT AN ANTI-DRUG VIGIL IN
BELHAR, CAPE TOWN
http://www.eyeoncrime.co.za/?q=node/415

Bethlehem PERSVERKLARING/PRESS RELEASE 15 AUGUSTUS 2008

From: Danie Eichstädt [mailto:danieeic@absamail.co.za]

AAN/TO: Nasionale Belastingbetalers Unie en mediaskakel, Plaaslike Pers
en die Volksblad.

National Ratepayers Union and media link, Local Press and
Volksblad

Geagte Vriende,

Aangeheg ons persverklaring (in Afrikaans en Engels) in aanloop tot ons
dispuutverklaring met die Dihlabeng Municipaliteit teen die einde van
Augustus 2008.

Fotomateriaal van swak dienslewering is reeds in sommige koerante
geplaas, maar ons is gereed om u verder hiermee behulpsaam te wees.

U word ook hiermee vriendelik uitgenooi na ons inligtingsvergadering op
26 Augustus 2008 om 18:00 in die skoolsaal van Voortrekker Hoërskool,
Bethlehem.

Vriendelike groete

Danie Eichstädt
(Voorsitter - Dihlabeng Inwonersvereniging)

082 336 2353

Friends,

Attached please find our press release (in Afrikaans and English) prior
to our declaring of a dispute with the Dihlabeng Municipality by the end
of August 2008.

We are willing to assist you getting photo material of poor service
delivery by the municipality.

You are also cordially invited to our public meeting on 26 August 2008,
18:00, school hall, High School Voortrekker, Bethlehem

Sincerely yours

Danie Eichstädt
(Chairperson - Dihlabeng Residents Association)

082 336 2353

Dokument hier beskikbaar / Document can be obtained here :
http://groups.google.com/group/onsstem-van-die-nasie/browse_thread/thread/b1d2fb3af8f3dc6b?hl=af

Couple tortured - for R720

14/08/2008 09:09 - (SA)

Ramsgate - A confession that three attackers burnt Kokstad farming
couple Raymond and Yvonne Fitch with molten plastic and broke their
ribs was ruled admissible evidence in the murder trial of two of the
alleged attackers in the Ramsgate High Court on Tuesday.

The confession was made by Simon Duma, 21, of Matatiele, who is
accused of the murders of 78-year-old Raymond and Yvonne, 79, who were
attacked in their lounge in July 2007.

He is standing trial with his uncle, 29-year-old Moses Duma. They also
face a charge of aggravated robbery.

Post mortem reports handed into court indicated that both victims had
many burns caused by the molten plastic burning into their skins.
Raymond's clothes were also set alight by the molten plastic after the
couple was trussed.

Walked 15km to Fitch's house

The attackers - along with a third suspect named Seya who is still
being sought - decided to rob the Fitch's and walked 15km to their
home, crossing several farms.

Simon Duma confessed: "Moses and Seya kicked the window and jumped in.
I followed. Moses and Seya caught them as they tried to run away and
threw them down.

"I used shoelaces to tie their hands behind their backs. They did not
fight back. We shouted at them, asking where the money was and Mr
Fitch said that they did not have any.

"Mrs Fitch was thrown to the floor next to him. Moses and Seya kicked
him all over his body and head. I did not try to stop them as we were
all together to do the same thing.

"He was bleeding from the head and she was woken up. Moses and Seya
took her to a room and they came back with a small revolver.

Each got R240

"Moses got a plastic bag and lit it and started burning the plastic
over Mr Fitch. His legs and upper body were burnt and his clothes also
burned. Mrs Fitch was also burnt with the plastic.

"They were not talking and we went to a spaza shop and broke the door.
We took R720 and each got R240."

The post mortem reports indicated that they died of trauma caused by
blunt force. A broken tennis racket and a broken frying pan were found
at the scene and it is believed that they were used in the assaults.

They drove away in the Fitches' Mercedes Benz, taking a vest pocket
revolver, a computer, a gunsafe, the money and other valuables. They
have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Judge Gregory Kruger adjourned the case to November.

Source:News24

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9909,2-7-1442_2375495,00.html

Worm planted on DA website

Worm planted on DA website
The Democratic Alliance website has been off-line for the past week
and is likely to stay so for the next, after a "worm" was planted by
an unknown South American hacker.
http://www.ioltechnology.co.za/article_page.php?iSectionId=2885&iArticleId=4560869

Helen Zille : SA Today - Johnny come-lately

A weekly letter from the Leader of the Democratic Alliance 15 August 2008
Johnny come-lately

In this, the week that the DA launched its plan to overhaul the
criminal justice system, Deputy Justice Minister Johnny de Lange
admitted that the system is dysfunctional. He said: "The situation is
sometimes so overwhelming that we don't know what to do about crime.
We have not necessarily taken the right decisions over the past 15
years or used resources efficiently. We have to brace ourselves now."
This frankness is a welcome departure from the knee-jerk denialism we
have come to expect, but it leaves one wondering why it has taken so
long to reach this conclusion. Two years ago, Safety and Security
Minister Charles Nqakula said that South Africa was safer than it had
ever been and that the future was "rosy." Just a year ago, President
Mbeki claimed that crime was under control.
De Lange now admits that a "large percentage" of the 2 million crimes
reported each year are never solved due to a severe lack of
detectives, forensic experts and resources. Because 50% of all crime
scenes are not being combed for forensic clues, there is often not
enough evidence to prosecute. 655,000 cases were last year thrown out
of court chiefly due to lack of evidence.
On average, only 6 cases are finalised every month in court. Some
cases have been postponed 50 times because there are not enough state
prosecutors (17% of state prosecutor posts are currently vacant) and
because regional courts sit for only three and a half hours per day.
De Lange also confirms what various victim surveys have said for years
– that a large number of cases go unreported because people have lost
faith in the criminal justice system. This, coupled with unreliable
police statistics, mean that we have no clear picture of the crime
situation. As de Lange says: "Our whole area of keeping statistics is
a completely and utterly fragmented and dysfunctional system."
De Lange's admissions are the first time that a Cabinet Minister has
acknowledged the extent of the problem. This is encouraging. So too,
is his stated urgency to complete the review of the criminal justice
system. As he said to the National Assembly, "the time-frame is
yesterday."
The DA already has a plan that would, if implemented, radically
overhaul the criminal justice system. Our plan deals with every
weakness identified by de Lange and more. In fact, it is more
far-reaching and wide-ranging than the set of proposals released by de
Lange last week.
To prevent crime before it occurs, we would increase the total number
of police officers to 250,000 – 60,000 more than government's stated
aim. To improve detection rates, the DA would employ 30,000 more
detectives, bringing the number to 52,500. To ensure that there is
sufficient evidence to prosecute cases effectively, we will increase
the number of forensic experts by eliminating all vacancies within six
months.
We recognise that quality is equally as important as quantity which is
why, under the DA's plan, all police officers will undergo rigorous
and specialised training. Those who demonstrate leadership potential
will be recruited into an elite training academy to hone their
policing and management skills. Police officers that do well will be
rewarded, those who do not deliver will not be kept on the force.
To solve the resource crisis, the DA would establish a national
register of police resources to identify those areas where shortages
are most acute. Every police officer would be issued with their own
full set of equipment.
Court backlogs would be rectified by employing 500 more prosecutors,
establishing 24 hour courts, extending the working week to six days
and encouraging legal practitioners in the private sector to do
occasional work as public prosecutors or legal aid lawyers.
We would also completely overhaul the way that information about crime
is managed and communicated. For example, we would introduce a Crime
Information Management System – a central database that would give the
police and the public access to real time information about crime
trends. Under this system, cases can be tracked, people on bail and
parole can be monitored and police station performance can be
scrutinised.
The DA's plan recognises that there are deficiencies in the system far
beyond those identified by de Lange. We understand, for example, that
the illegal narcotics trade and organised crime are increasingly
responsible for criminal activity. This is why we would reinstate the
South African Narcotics Bureau and it is why we would retain the
Scorpions. It is curious that, at the same time that a Cabinet
Minister admits that the criminal justice system is failing, his party
is doing its best to get rid of the best crime-fighting unit in the
country.
The DA would also introduce measures that put victims of crime first.
We will create a Directorate for Victims of Crime that will monitor
the response of officials to victims, administer a toll-free helpline
for victims and manage a Victims of Crime Fund to ensure that victims
have access to services and assistance. Any person suffering physical,
emotional or financial damage as a result of a crime would be able to
claim against it.
We believe that convicted criminals must serve the time they deserve.
For those serving life sentences, life will mean life, with no parole.
There will be no bail for repeat offenders for certain serious crimes,
including murder, rape and drug dealing; those who commit other
serious crimes will have to show cause as to why they should be
granted bail. No prisoner will qualify for parole unless he or she is
drug-free and has been so for at least six months.
I intend to discuss the DA's plan directly with Johnny de Lange and I
have written to him today to request such a meeting. One hopes that
his new-found resolve will make him amenable to a constructive
discussion on how crime can be eradicated in every corner of our
country.
I also intend to implement the DA's plan – as far as possible – in the
Western Cape if we win the province in next year's election. We will
show that, with the political will and the right policies, crime can
be beaten.
Some commentators have suggested that national policy will prevent the
DA from implementing our own crime policies in the Western Cape.
However, constitutional experts I have consulted confirm that policing
is a concurrent responsibility of national and provincial government
and that, in principle, there is no reason why the DA could not
formulate policy and pass legislation in individual provinces. We are
prepared to go all the way to the Constitutional Court to claim our
right to do so.
Government's willingness to admit its failures is an encouraging sign.
The tragedy is that, while government has dithered and denied, so many
lives have been lost. We must now look to the future with hope and
resolve. This is not a time to be overwhelmed, it is an opportunity to
change things for the better. If we move forward on that basis, I am
convinced we can win the war on crime.
Best Wishes

'I did not try to stop them'

Bob Frean

August 14 2008 at 08:22AM

Retired Kokstad farming couple Raymond, 78, and Yvonne Fitch, 79, were
tortured with molten plastic, which burnt into their skin, and their
ribs were broken before they died at the hands of three attackers in
July 2007.

Ugu district surgeon Lekram Alli told the Ramsgate High Court in the
trial of two men on Wednesday that the couple had extensive burns and
bruises.

Both died as a result of assault with blunt instruments.

A confession by one of the accused, Simon Duma, 21, of Matatiele,
implicating himself and his uncle, Moses Duma, 29, and a third man,
was ruled as admissible on Wednesday.

He said they had agreed to rob the Fitches and walked 15km across
other farms to the Fitch farm.

"Moses and Seya (the third man, who is still being sought) jumped
through a window and I followed. Moses and Seya caught the Fitches as
they tried to run away and threw them down.

"I tied their hands behind their back. They did not fight back. We
shouted and asked where the money was and keys for the safe. He said
he did not have any.

"Moses and Seya brought her and threw her next to Mr Fitch. We asked
for money. Moses and Seya kicked him all over the head and body. I did
not try to stop them.

"We asked them for the safe key, but they did not reply. Moses got a
blue plastic bag and lit it and started burning it over Mr Fitch's
legs and upper body. His clothing was also burning. She was (also)
burnt with the plastic."

The case was adjourned to November for a date to be arranged.

This article was originally published on page 5 of The Mercury on
August 14, 2008

Source:IOL

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20080814064334638C711118

Minorities set to be US majority

** Minorities set to be US majority **
Minorities are set to form the majority of the US population by 2042 -
eight years sooner than previous projections.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/7559996.stm >

** BBC Daily E-mail **
Choose the news and sport headlines you want - when you want them, all
in one daily e-mail
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/email >

Helen Zille unveils DA crime plan

Yesterday, DA leader Helen Zille unveiled the DA's Comprehensive Crime
Plan "Conquering Fear, Commanding Hope". The plan contains a number of
innovative and ground-breaking measures, which, if properly
implemented, hold the promise of radically reducing South Africa's
endemic levels of crime.

The launch of the Crime Plan is the culmination of the DA's two week
national Anti-Crime Campaign designed to highlight the devastating
impact that crime has on communities across the country and to send
the message that the war against crime can be won.

To read more about the DA's Comprehensive Crime Plan…please click here >>>

NEVER GIVE UP!

Last week, DA leader Helen Zille was invited to join a drug vigil in
Belhar, Cape Town. After a march through the streets and past several
drug dens, the march culminated in a candlelight vigil outside a known
drug dealers' home.

However, the vigil was by no means silent!

Watch Helen Zille singing along to the DA's anti-crime theme song
"Never Give Up"…please click here>>>

UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC RESPONSE TO SCORPIONS CLOSURE

In July, the DA presented parliamentary officials with 7 978 written
public submissions and more than 98 000 signatures from members of the
public who have either signed a written petition, an on-line petition
started by Hugh Glenister or the SMS campaign - Save the Scorpions.

This is an unprecedented public response to calls for written
submissions, which are normally counted in the tens or, at most, in
the hundreds.

To see the video…please click here >>>

Interesting story from News24 - No more two-thirds majority

No more two-thirds majority

Aug 11 2008 03:00:00:000PM

News24 User Funnybones makes an impassioned plea to the electorate to
not throw away their vote in the 2009 general elections.

Funnybones, News24 User

The "illiterate" electorate are often blamed for keeping the ANC in
power, despite its blunders. But for me the so called "educated"
amongst us are as much to blame as the people they are pointing
fingers at.

I would be living in a fool's paradise if I even began to dream that
the ruling party will lose in the next general elections. But this
does not mean we should throw our hands in the air in despair.

The next best thing we can do is to make sure that the ruling party
does not get an overwhelming majority victory in the coming elections.
The two-thirds majority rule has been a powerful tool for the ANC in
the previous years, and its now time for us to take that away from
them.

South African politics is structured in such a way that we do not have
to automatically vote for the opposition if we do not want to vote for
the ruling party. There are many small parties that one can consider
voting for, though they are a bit useless when it comes to frontline
politics.

The aim of this is to neutralise the two thirds majority that the ANC
enjoyed and abused over the previous years. Many have called for a
strong multiracial opposition party that will represent the interest
of all South Africans irrespective of skin-colour. This party seems
not to be immerging and we cannot afford to leave the future of this
country to fate.

As the so called "educated voters", we should mobilise ourselves in
order to deny the ANC the two thirds majority power rule. People
should be made aware that even if they do not have any political
affiliation they can still make a huge contribution towards taking
this country forward.

Staying away from elections is an absolute no-no as it only worsens
the current situation. Besides the ID and the DA there are other
political parties like the IFP, UDM, UCDP, etc. that we can utilise to
get the much needed balance in government.

The aim of this exercise is to protect our Constitution. We will also
be preventing the ruling party from making legislative and
constitutional changes at will, without taking the will of ordinary
people into consideration.

We need to get rid of the blame mentality of ours and play an active
role towards shaping the future of this country.

Read the story online:
http://www.news24.com/News24/MyNews24/Your_story/0,,2-2127-2128_2373824,00.html

BBC E-mail: German 'Nazi' youth camp raided

** German 'Nazi' youth camp raided **
Thirty-nine young people are returned home as a neo-Nazi youth camp is
broken up by police in northern Germany.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/world/europe/7553978.stm >

** BBC Daily E-mail **
Choose the news and sport headlines you want - when you want them, all
in one daily e-mail
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/email >

Man killed for cellphone !

August 11 2008 at 07:21AM

By Noor-Jehan Yoro Badat

His death was captured as a "man killed at Sandton intersection", and
featured a mere 94-word news brief in The Star.

But to his brother, Fritz Steyn, 53-year-old Johan Jurgens Steyn was
his best friend and his world.

Johan was shot dead in a robbery incident in Sandton last Wednesday.
When he had pulled up in his blue Toyota Tazz at the intersection of
South Road and Marlboro Drive, three robbers approached him, shot him
and made off with his valuables on foot. Johan died on the scene in
his car.

'Then the news of it slowly sunk in'

Fritz, from Haddon, south of Johannesburg, received a call later that
evening, while he was watching wrestling on TV, from his brother
Danie, who broke the tragic news.

"I told him that he was lying and that it wasn't nice to joke about
those kinds of things," Fritz said on Sunday.

"But then the news of it slowly sunk in. I just put the phone down and
burst out crying," he said with tears almost spilling from his tired
blue eyes.

The following day was harder to stomach. Reality hit him, Fritz said.

"I had lost my brother," he added, glancing at his wife Zita, who
looked sadly at him.

"I couldn't go with them to identify the body. I wanted to remember my
brother just the way he was," he added softly.

"We just feel like he lost his life for a cellphone. It's too
heartsore," interjected Zita.

Fritz, holding a photo in his hands, stared at the face that resembled
his own. Johan's face, slightly fuller, was smiling.

Johan's wife, Linda, wasn't ready to have the photo of her late
husband published in a newspaper, explained Zita.

"It's still too raw for her and their two children," she added.

Johan was the kind of man who "wouldn't harm a fly", the kind of
person who had time for everyone and the type of man who built a "love
pond" in front of his door, filling it with "love rocks" to give to
each child who came to his house.

"He was the sort of person who helped people," Zita said. Two months
before he died, she narrated, he had helped his neighbour sort out the
funeral of her husband. "But now he's dead People even lay bunches of
flowers on the pavement outside his home," she added.

Johan worked as a generator technician for The Movie Camera Company,
which supplies and services specialised equipment for the professional
production of feature films, television series, documentaries and
commercials.

Bramley police spokesperson Inspector Moses Maphakela said on Sunday
they were investigating a case of murder and armed robbery. No arrests
have been made.

The funeral service was to be held at Doves in Braamfontein at 11am on
Monday morning.

This article was originally published on page 2 of The Star on August 11, 2008

Source:IOL

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20080811055234548C689775

DA@WORK 11 August - Govt owes millions in unpaid municipal bills

ZUMA MUST ABANDON PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Zuma must now put the public interest first and announce his
withdrawal from the presidential race until his corruption trial is
resolved.

GOVERNMENT OWES CITIES MILLIONS
Replies from Minister of Provincial and Local Government Sydney
Mufamadi in response to questions asked in Parliament by the
Democratic Alliance revealed that government departments owe city
municipalities around the country millions of rands in unpaid bills.

MILITARY EQUIPMENT LYING UNUSED DUE TO SKILLS SHORTAGES
Military equipment bought as part of the arms deal is lying idle
because of a shortage of skilled personnel.

BABY DEATHS: WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT HIDING?
The department of health needs to release a full report on the deaths
of 142 babies in the Ukhahlamba district in the Eastern Cape.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"In addition to being the mothers and caregivers of the next
generation, women today are leaders in every field: education,
medicine, law, politics and business...but despite this seemingly rosy
picture, women continue to bear the brunt of the many social ills that
bedevil South Africa…we need to redouble our efforts to ensure that
poverty, unemployment and domestic violence do not hinder future
generations of women to access all available opportunities and realise
their dreams."

DA Parliamentary Leader Sandra Botha calls on South Africans to give
Women's Day the significance it deserves.

ZUMA MUST ABANDON PRESIDENTIAL RACE

African National Congress President Jacob Zuma must withdraw from the
presidential race until after his corruption trial, the Democratic
Alliance said last Monday.

"The Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association's (MKMVA) threat
of revolutionary violence should Jacob Zuma be found guilty of
corruption makes his candidacy as president of South Africa
untenable," said DA leader Helen Zille.

"Zuma must now put the public interest first and announce his
withdrawal from the presidential race until his corruption trial is
resolved," she said.

Zuma faces charges of racketeering, four charges of corruption, a
charge of money laundering and 12 charges of fraud.

His legal team has brought an application in the Pietermaritzburg High
Court to have the decision to prosecute him declared unlawful.

"The discourse surrounding Zuma's trial has shifted rapidly from the
menacing rhetoric perpetrated by ANC Youth League president Julius
Malema and others, to an all-out declaration of war by former
soldiers," said Zille.

"This is effectively a promise of a military coup if the courts find
against Zuma."

Zuma appeared to be unwilling or incapable of reining in those
threatening violence in his name, she charged.

He had never publicly stated that he was willing to respect the
outcome of the corruption trial and he had never called on his
supporters to do so either.

"As such, he is not fit to lead South Africa," she said.

"The public interest will not be served by a deal or a so-called
'political solution' that gets Zuma off the hook.

"It will be served by removing him as a candidate for the presidency
of South Africa."

Zille advised Zuma to heed the call of former president Nelson Mandela
for disciplined leaders who valued the protection and consolidation of
the country's democracy above all else and said he should remove
himself from the equation.

GOVERNMENT OWES CITIES MILLIONS

Replies from Minister of Provincial and Local Government Sydney
Mufamadi in response to questions asked in Parliament by the
Democratic Alliance revealed that government departments owe city
municipalities around the country millions of rands in unpaid bills.

DA provincial and local government spokesperson Willem Doman said the
City of Cape Town was owed more than R230-million in arrear service
fees, so there was less in the municipal kitty for delivery.

"But Cape Town is only the second-worst off municipality in the
country. The eThekwini Municipality is owed R400-million in service
fees," he said on Sunday.

The figures for Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay, Cape Town
and the City of Johannesburg were in response to the party's questions
on how much was owed to each municipality and for details of how much
was owed for residential properties, for commercial enterprises, and
for national government departments.

Cape Town's figures were supplied to the DA by city representatives, a
party spokesperson said, and all the figures were valid as at May 1
this year.

Ian Neilson, Cape Town's mayoral committee member for finance, said
unpaid municipal service charges led to the city having less to spend
on service delivery.

"We have to make provision on our balance sheet for bad debt, so we
cannot budget that amount to spend on other services," Neilson said.

He said the national Department of Public Works was the biggest
defaulter. The Department of Defence also did not pay its bills.

Doman said it was "simply unacceptable that government departments
should be contributing to the problem of unpaid debt that local
councils face".

The five metros named by Mufamadi in his response were collectively
owed R898 million by government departments, Doman said.

The amounts owed by national government departments to the cities were
eThekwini at R402 million, Cape Town at R234 million, Johannesburg at
about R77 million, Ekurhuleni at over R163 million and Nelson Mandela
Bay at R21.6 million, and this was information provided for only six
months.

Tshwane had still not provided Mufamadi's department with information
on its debts.

Doman said that if Tshwane had supplied its figure, the sum would have
taken the total owed to the six metros to well over R1-billion because
of the large number of government buildings in that metropolitan area.

"The situation is likely to be worse in local municipalities," said Doman.

"Municipalities throughout the country are plagued by high levels of
non-payment for services.

"Many of them are struggling to deliver quality services because of
insufficient revenue to finance these services."

MILITARY EQUIPMENT LYING UNUSED DUE TO SKILLS SHORTAGES

Military equipment bought as part of the arms deal is lying idle
because of a shortage of skilled personnel, the Democratic Alliance
said last Wednesday.

DA spokesperson Rafeek Shah said submarines and other military
equipment purchased as part of the R49-billion arms procurement
package were not being fully utilised.

"The Navy has denied the allegations that they are unable to operate
the submarines properly and insist that the submarines are not duds,
that the SAS Manthatisi is in dry dock as part of 'normal naval
procedure' and is being used for onboard training."

Shah said it was hard to understand how onboard training could have
taken place when this submarine had been in dry dock for the past six
months and also, that no explanation had been proffered as to what was
wrong with the submarine that necessitated it being placed in dry
dock.

"It is clear that the Navy as well as the Air Force are unable to make
proper use of the equipment bought at great expense as part of the
Arms Deal because of skills vacancies and lack of capacity," he said.

The air force was also experiencing similar problems.

"For example, in the Air Force, there are only two Gripen aircraft in
South Africa and none are yet operational, leaving South Africa
without fighter capacity to defend our airspaces, as the older
Cheetahs have been decommissioned."

Most of the equipment bought as part of the deal were neither suitable
for South Africa's local needs nor its peace keeping role throughout
Africa, Shah said.

"In addition, we experience serious skills shortages and vacancy
issues, which have resulted in our inability to properly utilise the
equipment," he said.

He said the Democratic Alliance had submitted parliamentary questions
requesting a full status review of the Arms Deal purchases, as well as
details on the plans to purchase any further equipment, such as a
fifth corvette.

BABY DEATHS: WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT HIDING?

The department of health needs to release a full report on the deaths
of 142 babies in the Ukhahlamba district in the Eastern Cape, the
Democratic Alliance said last Wednesday.

DA health spokesperson Mike Waters said the theory that the department
was covering up information about the deaths would only gain ground.

After months of pressure – including a Promotion of Access to
Information Act (PAIA) application by the Democratic Alliance - the
Department of Health last Tuesday released a 10-page summary of the
report into the deaths of the 142 children to a local newspaper.

"The full report has still not been released and the summary gives
little substantial information," said Waters.

"In the face of the monumental tragedy of these deaths, the Department
of Health has for months done nothing but deny responsibility and
suppress information; the release of this brief summary will do very
little to put the minds of the affected communities at rest."

He said that, while it should be welcomed that the Department had at
least admitted that problems with water quality had played a part in
the deaths, it was obvious that a lot of information was still being
withheld.

He said answers had not been forthcoming regarding whether criminal or
disciplinary action had or would be taken against anyone in either the
provincial health department or the water affairs department, and
whether the problem with the water had been addressed.

"Given the extent of the vacancies crisis in Eastern Cape hospitals,
and the Department's lack of progress in solving these problems over a
number of years, it is unlikely that it has suddenly been able to
rectify this problem."

"We need facts and figures about what action the Health Department has
taken before we can be convinced," he said.

DID YOU KNOW?

The lack of openness and transparency shown by government departments
is of great concern, as revealed by a Democratic Alliance study.

In the study, the DA wrote a letter to all the 28 government
departments probing the level of the skills challenges they face.

• Out of all the 28 government departments, only 51% of them
acknowledged receipt of the letter;
• Only 6 departments – namely Communications, Environmental Affairs
and Tourism, Justice, Labour, Mineral and Energy and Public
Enterprises - responded to the query;
• Only the Department of Justice responded to the letter with a
detailed answer within 30 days;
• The departments of Communication, Environmental Affairs and Tourism,
Labour, Minerals and Energy and Public Enterprises all took an average
of 38 days to respond to the letter.

FROM BELHAR TO BRYANSTON: HOW THE DRUG EPIDEMIC AFFECTS US ALL
http://www.eyeoncrime.co.za/?q=node/411

DA MAKES SUBMISSION ON SCORPIONS LEGISLATION
http://www.eyeoncrime.co.za/?q=node/410

POLICE ARREST ATM BOMBING MASTERMINDS
http://www.eyeoncrime.co.za/?q=node/409

SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS GOING ON HERE…
http://www.eyeoncrime.co.za/?q=node/407

'SA has no place for thugs'

08/08/2008 09:54 - (SA)

Malani Venter, Die Burger

Stellenbosch - Model Minki van der Westhuizen has spoken out about
crime in the country, after the murders of two of her family members
in Kleinmond.

Her grandfather's brother, Shalk van der Westhuizen, 78, and his wife
Marie, 73, were killed in their home on Sunday night.

Their bodies, each with several stab wounds, were found on Monday morning.

"We have to stand together to get rid of these savages," she said on
Thursday. "It is time they are wiped out. South Africa has no space
for thugs."

'Cowardly deed'

The model and Pasella presenter described the murders as a "cowardly
deed that brought enormous sadness to the family".

The victims' bodies were found in their pantry and living room. It is
believed they were attacked on the evening of Marie's birthday.

A neighbour found their bodies at about 09:00 the next day. The
birthday cake and teacups were still in the kitchen.

It appears as though robbery was the motive. A laptop computer, two
cellphones and a video machine are missing.

Police spokesperson Inspector André Traut said no one had been arrested yet.

Source:News24

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2372157,00.html

Interesting story from News24 - Youth leaders

Youth leaders letting us down

Aug 07 2008 08:13:54:520AM

News24 User Ndumiso Khoza wishes the youth leaders of South Africa
would understand they do not need to be militant to be popular and
effective.

Ndumiso Khoza, News24 User

Where are the true leaders of our Youth? I am sure that I am not the
only one who poses this question to themselves every time we hear
statements from our ever vocal and exuberant ANCYL leaders.

It does not matter what contentious issue they are addressing, they
just always have to err on the side of sensationalism. As I
flabbergasted as I get from any comment made by the youth league, the
thing they have over anyone else is at least we now all know who the
president of the ANC Youth League is, something that cannot be said
about any other political party youth leader.

By boosting their popularity and cementing their authority in the
country, I personally feel that they have done a great injustice to
all youths of this country who stand for integrity and
professionalism.

I keep wondering exactly who their target market is lately. Is it the
educated and working youth of this country or those who are just
interested in being swayed by a lot of noise and possibly free
handouts in future?

I admit that I might be a little hard on my comrades, but man do these
guys lose me. Before I can even get a chance to understand their line
of thinking and reasoning, I'm already put off by the tone and style
of their messaging. I am not militant and don't get overzealous or
emotionally bullied by hearing someone speak very passionately and
loudly about a matter I might take to heart.

Synpathise

As a black South African, I do sympathise with the struggle of my
fellow black brothers and sisters. Not because I feel sorry for anyone
or think I am better than any of them. Indeed I sympathise due to my
connectedness with them.

The struggle of any black person due to any racial injustice is their
own personal struggle, whether anyone admits it or not. I will never
be completely satisfied with who I am or what I have achieved until I
see every black person liberated from their unseen bondage to the
past. Without the liberation struggle I might not have achieved all
that I have and am yet to achieve.

Yet as grateful as I am, I do not have to blindly agree and conform to
anything the ANC or especially its youth league advocates. To appeal
to a more inclusive audience, they need to start applying reason and
making clear what they stand for.

Many people feel lost and despondent and are looking for leadership.
What the ANCYL is displaying is not true leadership in my opinion. A
true leader is one who sets clear guidelines and direction for the
benefit of his followers. He or she places those he leads with higher
regard than himself.

Competent leaders

I know for a fact that there are lot of more competent leaders out
there. That they don't think politics is something worth their while
is understandable. But we can no longer just sit by and be
misrepresented by those who are in these influential positions.

Unfortunately the demise of one black man is still seen as the demise
of all blacks. And the blunders of the ANCYL are unfortunately seen as
the failure of all the black youths of South Africa. I don't have to
be a card carrying member of the ANC to care about the future of this
country. And what the current leadership of the ANCYL represent cannot
be seen as nothing less than the future leadership of this country.

We have a vested interest to see leaders of such organisations tapping
into our values and affect us the most. At the rate we are going, less
people will identify or comprehend how this democracy has supporting
its people.

Something even the ANCYL should be weary of.

Read the story online:
http://www.news24.com/News24/MyNews24/Your_story/0,,2-2127-2128_2371351,00.html

Helen Zille : SA Today - From Belhar to Bryanston: How the drug epidemic affects us all

A weekly letter from the Leader of the Democratic Alliance 8 August 2008
From Belhar to Bryanston: How the drug epidemic affects us all

On Monday, Tim Cohen, writing in Business Day, opined that he was
"amazed" to see posters of me in Johannesburg exhorting the public to
"win the war against drugs". These posters are part of the DA's
national anti-crime campaign. "It's hard to think of a more bizarre
message in the midst of an economic downturn," Cohen wrote.
Tim Cohen's opinion is probably shared by suburban dwellers that have
not experienced first-hand the ravages of substance abuse in South
Africa (or at least who think they have not).
Many of them may not have been directly affected by HIV/AIDS either.
But they know how devastating this disease will be to South Africa's
future if it is not faced and curbed. It is everyone's problem.
Drug and alcohol abuse, in my view, may prove to be an even more
fundamental threat to South Africa's future than HIV/AIDS. As more and
more HIV-positive people get access to anti-retroviral treatment they
are able to live productive lives as contributing members of society.
In contrast, the growing (young) legions of substance abusers are
destroying themselves, their families, and their communities. They are
driving crime up and the economy down.
In one of the gruesome recent cases, two tik addicts admitted to
murdering a young woman by dousing her with petrol and setting her
alight in an argument over a missing cellphone. The judge reportedly
told them: "If you weren't on tik you would have acted differently.
You would not have gone and performed this insane act".
According to the South African Police Services (SAPS), 60% of all
crimes are related to substance abuse (the figure is closer to 80% in
the Western Cape). The perpetrators of these crimes are either under
the influence of substances, or trying to secure money for their next
fix. The Central Drug Authority estimates that the socio-economic
costs of drug abuse are R20 billion every year.
When I was MEC for Education in the Western Cape, I learnt that
unmanageable classrooms are often the outward manifestation of a drug
problem. Even one or two addicts could destroy a learning environment
for 40 children. Addicts soon lose the ability to learn and drop out.
Theft and drug dealing at schools has become commonplace. Drug abuse
is denying more and more children a good education, and severely
constraining their opportunities to improve their lives.
When I visited New York Police Commissioner Kelly earlier this year to
find out how they had brought down crime so significantly, I was not
surprised when he told me that beating the "crack" cocaine epidemic
was a key to their success.
Commissioner Kelly confirmed to me that winning the war against drugs
is integral to reducing crime and improving education, two factors
that are vital for economic growth.
A study released last month by the Small Business Project found that
more than half of small businesses had experienced at least one
incident of crime in the last year. Small businesses lose up to 20% of
their turnover to crime. According to the government's crime
statistics, robberies from business premises have increased by 47.4%
since last year.
Crime is also a key driver of the brain drain – over half of South
Africans who emigrate cite crime and corruption as their main reason
for leaving. When they leave, they take their skills and capital with
them and drastically reduce the prospects for growth and job creation
for the unemployed.
So, in a nutshell, drug abuse is everyone's problem.
Last night I attended an anti-drug vigil in Belhar in Cape Town. I was
invited there by concerned residents who have begun staging night
vigils outside a drug dealer's house in an attempt to stop him selling
tik to their children.
Suburban drug dealers are commonplace in many communities. Everyone
knows where they are. Residents everywhere tell stories of how
teenagers visit these dealers at all hours to buy drugs, including
young mothers with babies in their arms, in the rain and cold, queuing
to buy tik (in Cape Town) or sugars (in Durban) or the local variants
elsewhere. Taxis arrive at these houses throughout the night, full of
people looking for their next fix. Parents tell how their homes are
stripped bare by their own increasingly violent children, who steal
anything they can sell for drugs.
What makes the Belhar community different is that they took concerted
action to stop the illegal drug trade in their midst. Within a few
weeks of the vigils starting, the drug dealer bowed to pressure from
the community and agreed to stop selling drugs. This is a small, but
significant victory. The community have now begun a series of vigils
outside the houses of other drug dealers in the area in an attempt to
replicate this success.
The situation in Belhar is not unique. This year I have led anti-drug
marches in Brixton, Johannesburg; in Phoenix, Durban; in Heidedal in
the Free State; in Gelvandale in Port Elizabeth; and in Mitchells
Plein, Ravensmead and Macassar in Cape Town.
The story is the same wherever we go. People live in fear of the
gangsters who sell their drugs; they worry themselves sick about their
children falling prey to them. This fear and anxiety is not a product
of media hype, as Minister Nqakula so often likes to claim. It is the
reality on the ground, a place where our government seldom looks.
Even government should be aware of the studies that show that the
average age of drug dependency in South Africa is now 12 years old and
dropping. One in two schoolchildren admits to having experimented with
drugs.
So why does government remain in denial about our drug problem? If
government took active steps to eradicate drugs, it would drastically
reduce crime. Instead, it has done the opposite.
In 2004, government disbanded the South African Narcotics Bureau
(SANAB), a dedicated drug-fighting unit within the SAPS that had
achieved some notable successes. Since SANAB's closure, drug-related
crimes have increased exponentially -- in fact by 30%. Now, government
is disbanding the Scorpions who were highly successful in shutting
down the crime syndicates at the heart of drug production and
distribution in South Africa.
The fact of the matter is this: If we beat drug abuse, we can go a
long way to beating crime. To beat drugs, we have to take serious
action. As a start, the DA would reinstate SANAB and expand it so that
specialised anti-drug squads are based in all high drug-activity areas
across South Africa. The use of sniffer-dogs in such squads has also
proved particularly effective in locating drugs stashes.
We would then take steps to increase border security to make shipping
drugs in and out of the country more difficult.
According to the Auditor-General's assessment of our borderline
security, our land borders are under-capacitated by 71%, our sea
borders by 96%, and our air borders have no permanent staff at all. It
is not surprising that the recently released UN World Drug Report
named South Africa as one of the drug capitals of the world.
The DA supports random drug testing in schools, and the establishment
of state rehabilitation centres to make treatment more affordable for
the poor. We would require all prisoners to be tested drug-free for a
significant period before they could qualify for release or parole.
We would take a zero-tolerance approach to corruption in the police.
For every brave and hardworking police officer, there is one who
abuses his position for personal gain. It is well known that drug
lords are able to operate with impunity because of the kickbacks they
give to corrupt police officers in return for acquiescence and
information.
The DA would not have allowed National Police Commissioner, Jackie
Selebi, to draw a salary of a million rand a year after being charged
with colluding with drug kingpin Glen Agliotti. We believe that any
SAPS official found guilty of corruption – no matter how big or small
– should never be allowed to work in the force again.
For too long government has been apathetic about the drug and crime
epidemic devastating our communities and our economy. But we can win
the war on drugs and we can win the war on crime. Society depends on
its stronger members protecting the weak and the vulnerable. With the
will and the right attitude, like the law abiding citizens of Belhar,
we can take back our communities and protect the futures of our
children.
Best Wishes