Johannesburg | South Africa News
Filed under Suid-Afrika Tagged with Cape Argus, Cape Times, Dublin, Independent News & Media, Johannesburg, Pretoria News, South Africa, Star, The Pretoria News, The Star
Vodacom heading for cultural crises and suicide
Filed under South Africa Tagged with business, first right of refusal, Internet, Johannesburg, Law, MyBroadband, Shameel Joosub, South Africa, Technology, Vodacom, Vodafone, WirelessG
“Big Black Braai” – Westdene bus crash wounds reopened
Funny that this only get’s published to the public now that the racist “regrets” this in public. Why, has he now become the “victim” and trying to draw attention?
A Facebook user has called for a celebration of the drowning of 42 white children 28 years ago, The Times newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Zama Khumalo, 24, told his 493 friends on the social website he would send out an invitation to a “Big Black Braai” to celebrate the deaths of 42 white children when their school bus plunged into Westdene dam, Johannesburg, on 27 March 1985.
Zama Khumalo, 24, (about 5 years old when apartheid ended in 1994) told his 493 friends on the social website he would send out an invitation to a “Big Black Braai” to celebrate the deaths of 42 white children when their school bus plunged into Westdene dam, Johannesburg, on 27 March 1985.
The braai would be on the anniversary of the disaster and there would be DJ’s and fireworks, the newspaper reported.
According to the newspaper, Katherine Shaddock was shocked to learn that the death of her half-sister, Mary-Ann Miles, would be celebrated.
‘Full of hatred for another race’
Khumalo posted the names of the 24 of the 42 victims with the comment that their deaths were “much appreciated, my Lord!”
He claimed to be a journalist for the Daily Sun newspaper. The paper’s management distanced itself from Khumalo and said he was no longer employed there.
SA Human Rights Commission spokesperson Isaac Mangena told The Times the commission had not received a formal complaint, and that the post was “on the face of it, full of hatred for another race”.
Khumalo changed his tune on Saturday and apologised.
“I have taken time to consider and reflect on the Westdene post that I made earlier this week… the matter has been such huge pressure… I received inbox threats,” he wrote on his page.
“I heartily apologise and deeply regret the post.”
Westdene bus crash wounds reopened
Filed under South Africa Tagged with Big Black Braai, Black Racism, Facebook, Johannesburg, Times, Westdene
Hy is slagoffer van komplot, sê ‘diamantdief’
’n Beweerde bedrieër wat daarvan beskuldig word dat hy ’n kolossale Suid-Afrikaanse diamant ter waarde van R56 miljoen gesteel en in die VSA verkoop het, vertel nou dat hy deur ’n vriend en adviseur van pres. Jacob Zuma in ’n lokval gelei is.
Dennis van Kerrebroeck (33), wat Kanadese en Belgiese burgerskap het, word steeds in Johannesburg aangehou nadat hy glo ’n geel diamant van 143 karaat vasgelê en dit toe in New York se bekende Fifth Avenue verkwansel het.
Die gesogte edelsteen is nou die middelpunt van ’n strafsaak in Suid-Afrika én ’n regstryd in ’n Amerikaanse hof terwyl aanklaers in Suid-Afrika die diamant in die land probeer terugkry as ’n bewysstuk.
Die strafsaak hervat binnekort in die Johannesburgse handelshof. Van Kerrebroeck beweer hy was die slagoffer van ’n sameswering en dat die skuld op hom geplaas is om belastingbedrog te pleeg.
Hy sê Sandile (Gwabs) Zungu (45), een van die land se rykste en mees invloedryke sakelui, sit agter alles.
Zungu, oudhoof van Denel en direkteur van byna 100 maatskappye, is glo ’n sleutelfiguur in Zuma se binnekring.
Zungu sê Van Kerrebroeck is “’n vyand van die staat” wat hom “astronomiese bedrae geld” laat verloor het.
“Ons diamant is weg,” sê ­Zungu. “Tot vandag nog het ons nie ’n sent daarvoor gesien nie.”
Die diamant is in November 2008 deur die Jasper-mynmaatskappy, waar Zungu destyds ’n direkteur was, naby Hopetown in die Noord-Kaap ontgin.
Van Kerrebroeck wou eers self die diamant koop, maar kon nie en het gereël dat dit aan ’n Amerikaanse maatskappy verkoop word waarvan hy die alleen-eienaar was.
Hy het intussen glo vals dokumente aan die verkopers gegee en die diamant via Switserland na die VSA gesmokkel.
Die staat sê Van Kerrebroeck het die diamant onder die neuse van doeanepersoneel by die JF Kennedy-lughawe verwyder nadat hulle daarop beslag gelê het.
Hy het dit toe vir slegs R8 miljoen aan Taly Diamonds verkoop wat dit in ’n aantal kleiner stene gesny het. Die grootste daarvan is 68 karaat.
Die Amerikaanse owerhede het intussen daarop beslag gelê.
Van Kerrebroeck is vroeg verlede jaar in Sandton gearresteer en van diefstal en bedrog aangekla.
Hy het in sy borgtogaansoek skuld ontken en amptenare van Jasper van bedrog en geldwassery beskuldig.
Hy sê in sy verklaring David Griffiths, Jasper se hoof, moet aangekla word.
Beeld het korrespondensie gesien waarin Van Kerrebroeck beweer Griffiths se mede-direkteur by Jasper, Zungu, “sit agter alles”.
Africa Confidential en ander publikasies beskryf Zungu as ’n geldinsamelaar vir Zuma se regsaksies. Hy is ’n familievriend van die president.
“Die man is ’n skurk en ek is baie bly hy sit in die tronk,” sê Zungu. “Ek hoop hy bly daar vir ’n baie lang ruk.”
Deur Jacques Pauw
Filed under Suid-Afrika Tagged with Corruption, Crime in South Africa, Jacob Zuma, Johannesburg, Korrupsie, New York, South Africa
ANC sidelining non-blacks
Grassroots members of the African National Congress (ANC) believe the party is sidelining non-black supporters, according to a potentially politically explosive study published on Wednesday.
Research by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation showed ANC members who are not black feel left out because of their race.
“Generally speaking branch members have deep seated concerns with non-racialism in the ANC and in society more broadly,” said the report posted on the foundation’s website.
One respondent told the researchers that “in the ANC racism is still very strong and it can be proven any day anywhere”.
Another said “the ANC is more racist than any political party at the moment”.
The ANC “preaches about being non-racist… but is doing the opposite”, added another party member.
“Indeed the perception [whether real or imagined] that the ANC is advancing only the interests of Africans has led to loss of electoral support in ‘minority areas’.”
Respondents were sampled from four main groups – blacks, whites, Indians and coloureds.
Branch members in the predominately coloured Eldorado Park neighbourhood and those in the highbrow and mainly white suburb of Sandton “are frustrated with the party and feel much anger about the way they are treated”, the report said.
The results of the study showed that the party which prides itself as an example of democracy in Africa, has fewer members of the minority races occupying leadership positions at branch level.
“Many branch members are disillusioned about the manner in which members are awarded senior positions,” said the study, with many believing these are “only open to Africans”.
ANC accused of sidelining non-black members
Filed under South Africa Tagged with african national congress, ANC, Gwede Mantashe, Jacob Zuma, Johannesburg, Sandton, South Africa
Policeman Charged with Numerous Counts of Rape and Kidnappings
A suspended Johannesburg policeman, who has been formally charged with 14 counts of rape, allegedly committing some of the crimes while on duty. 31-year-old Mokolo Molekoa is facing 37 charges in total. The constable appeared in court on Tuesday.
Filed under South Africa Tagged with Crime in South Africa, Johannesburg, Kidnapping, Police officer, Rape
JHB father killed in front of his children
The Bedfordview Community Policing Forum confirmed a man was gunned down at his Senderwood home in what appears to be a failed robbery on Monday night.
The incident also left two armed robbers dead.
Police’s Julia Claassens said, “It’s been alleged the men gained access through a window. When they pointed their firearms at the owner of the house, he also drew his firearm. A shootout ensued in which all three were shot.”
She said the family is devastated.
“They are all traumatised. The children and wife of the deceased have been sent for counselling.”
CPF Chairperson Marina Constas sent condolences to the man’s family.
She said the shooting happened in front of the man’s three children.
Constas also called on the community to get more involved in bringing an end to home invasions.
By Alex Eliseev (Edited by Tamsin Wort)
Filed under South Africa Tagged with Bedfordview, Crime in South Africa, Firearm, Gauteng, Government, Home invasion, Johannesburg, Murder, Police, Robbery
Transformasie in universiteite
‘n Oorsigkomitee wat sal fokus op transformasie in universiteite is aangestel, het Blade Nzimande, minister van hoër onderwys, Woensdag gesê.
“Ek het vandag die voorreg om die aanstelling van die ministeriële oorsigkomitee oor transformasie in die Suid-Afrikaanse openbare universiteite aan te kondig,” het hy aan joernaliste in Johannesburg gesê.
“Dit is ‘n lang naam, ons moet nog ‘n geskikte afkorting daarvoor soek.”
Nzimande het gesê die aanstelling van die komitee is een van die aanbevelings wat gemaak is ná ‘n ondersoek na diskriminasie in universiteite. Dít volg ná ‘n rassisme-saak by die Universiteit van die Vrystaat in 2008.
Die minister het gesê die oorsigkomitee sal die vordering van transformasie in universiteite monitor en raad gee oor beleid om rassisme, seksisme en ander vorme van diskriminasie uit te roei.
Lede van die komitee is vir drie jaar aangestel en kan heraangestel word deur die minister.
“Die aanstelling van die komitee is van krag vanaf die dag van publisering in die Staatskoerant, wat kort ná dié aankondiging sal plaasvind,” het Nzimande gesê.
Die komitee bestaan uit prof. Malegapuru Makhoba, vise-kanselier van die Universiteit van KwaZulu-Natal, Mvuyo Tom, vise-kanselier van die Universiteit van Fort Hare, Nazeema Mohamed, transformasie-direkteur van die Universiteit van Witwatersrand en Zingiswa Losi, tweede adjunkpresident van Cosatu.
Proff. André Keet van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat, Shirley Walters van die Universiteit van die Wes-Kaap en Joe Mpisi, eerste adjunkpresident van Nehawu, is ook deel van die komitee.
Filed under Suid-Afrika Tagged with Blade Nzimande, Congress of South African Trade Unions, Free State, Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Shirley Walters, Universiteit