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12-08-2008, 12:43 AM #3501
Regering moenie wit armes miskyk, sê wegbrekers
Arm wit mense moenie deur die regering misgekyk word wanneer daar oor armoedeverligting gepraat word nie, het die Congress of the People (Cope) gesê.
Hulle is deel van die wyer probleem van ongelykhede en armoede, het dié ANC-wegbreekparty in sy beleidsdokumente gesê wat hierdie naweek deur sy lede op provinsiale vlak bespreek is (sien kassie hiernaas).
Die Cope beklemtoon ook in sy beleidsdokument die staat se rol in die beskerming van landsburgers teen misdaad, maar steun skynbaar nie die stigting van die omstrede straatkomitees wat tans deur die ANC voorgestaan word nie.
Die beleidsdokument wat dié naweek bekend gemaak is, rep niks oor die lot van die Skerpioene nie, maar dit is bekend dat die Cope die Skerpioene se voortsetting ondersteun.
Hoewel “maatskaplike belegging” in die dokument genoem word, blyk daar nie soveel klem op maatskaplike toelae te wees as wat die ANC daarop plaas nie.
Daar is die naweek berig dat mnr. Tito Mboweni, Reserwebank-goewerneur, me. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, oud-adjunkpresident, en dr. Mamphela Ramphele, oud-akademikus en konsultant, almal as moontlike gesigte van die party genoem is.
Woordvoerders het egter gesê die kwessie van leierskap sal waarskynlik vandeesweek eers in alle erns bespreek word in aanloop tot die party se stigtingskonferensie wat die naweek begin.
Intussen het Cope-leiers weer eens berigte ontken dat oudpres. Thabo Mbeki sy seën vir die party gee.
City Press het gister berig dat verskeie bronne bevestig het dat mnr. Mluleki George, ’n Cope-leier van die Oos-Kaap, tydens ’n vergadering in Oos-Londen kort voordat dié party uit die ANC weggebreek het, gesê het Mbeki staan agter die nuwe party en sal hom later daarby aansluit.
Mbeki se woordvoerder, mnr. Mukoni Rat****anga, het gister gesê Mbeki het al verskeie kere gesê hy bly ’n ANC-lid.
Mbeki weier egter om aan die ANC se verkiesingsveldtog deel te neem.
Mnr. Smuts Ngonyama, een van die Cope se woordvoerders, het gesê toe hy met Mbeki gaan praat het oor sy voorneme om die ANC te verlaat, het Mbeki hom probeer ompraat om te bly.
Ngonyama het met Mbeki gaan praat in sy kapasiteit as bestuurslid van Mbeki se beplande leierskapsakademie aan Unisa.
George kon nie gister bereik word nie, maar hy het vroeër ontken dat hy gesê het Mbeki ondersteun die Cope.
. Sapa het vroeër berig dat die Cope ’n terugslag beleef het toe slegs 10 Vrystaatse boere uit ’n verwagte 300 verlede week in Trompsburg opgedaag het vir ’n vergadering met mnr. Mosiuoa Lekota, ’n Cope-leier.
Cope se 'nuwe weg':
Die Congress of the People (Cope) het die naweek sy beleid vir sy “nuwe weg” op provinsiale vlak bespreek in aanloop tot dié party se stigtingskonferensie in Bloemfontein volgende week. Hier is die belangrike punte:
’n Meer “buigbare” benadering tot swart ekonomiese bemagtiging wat uitgebrei moet word tot ’n breër basis.
Arm wit mense moet aandag geniet as deel van die wyer probleem van stygende ongelykhede en armoede.
Vervaardigings- en dienste-sektore wat baie arbeid absorbeer, moet deur die regering ondersteun word.
Staatsnywerhede moet beter bestuur en gereguleer word en daar moet na hul mededingendheid gekyk word.
Dit is die staat se plig om burgers teen misdaad te beskerm, en onderliggende maatskaplike probleme moet aangespreek word. Gemeenskapspolisiëringsforums en Sakelui teen Misdaad speel ook ’n belangrike rol in misdaadvoorkoming.
Landbou moet ondersteun word sodat voedselsekuriteit verseker kan word. Infrastruktuur soos paaie en elektrisiteit vir landelike gemeenskappe moet verbeter word.
Lewensverwagting moet verleng word deur regeringsgeld vir die voorkoming en behandeling van MIV/vigs, tuberkulose en ander siektes. Beter behuising en dienste sal ook lewens verleng.
Die kiesstelsel moet hersien word sodat daar ’n mengsel is van direkte en proporsionele verteenwoordiging om verantwoordbaarheid te vergroot. Die president, adjunkpresident, premiers en uitvoerende burgemeesters moet direk deur kiesers verkies word.
Die party noem verskeie probleme met die uitvoering van uitkoms-gebaseerde onderwys.
Staatsamptenare moenie aangestel word op grond van die politieke party waaraan hulle behoort nie, maar op grond van hul vaardighede.
Suid-Afrika moet ’n leidende rol speel in die bevordering van vrede en stabiliteit in die vasteland.
12-08-2008, 12:44 AM #3502
‘Ons wil stem, al is ons oorsee’
Londen. – Jong Suid-Afrikaners wat in Londen woon en werk, het die naweek deelgeneem aan ’n optog om te eis dat hulle toegelaat word om in die buiteland te stem.
Die Onafhanklike Verkiesingskommissie (OVK) oorweeg tans ’n versoek daaroor en kan na verwagting aanstaande maand ’n besluit neem.
Sowat 100 Suid-Afrikaners het die volkslied en “Shosoloza” gesing terwyl hulle van buite Temple-stasie tot by Trafalgarplein gestap waar hulle gehoop het om ’n petisie by die Suid-Afrikaanse hoë kommissariaat te oorhandig. Die groepie, wat deur die polisie begelei is, het egter voor dooiemansdeur te staan gekom ná diplomatieke personeel hulle al vooraf ingelig het dat daar niemand op ’n Saterdag aan diens sal wees nie.
Een van die betogers, wat al 11 jaar in Londen woon, mnr. Neil Walsh, het gesê hulle lewer steeds ’n belangrike bydrae tot hul vaderland.
“Talle van ons hou gesinne by die huis aan die lewe.
“Hierdie gaan ’n baie belangrike verkiesing wees en ons wil deelneem daaraan.”
Nog ’n optogganger, me. Heidi Hansen, wil “bitter graag” terugkeer Suid-Afrika toe na sewe jaar in Londen, maar nie voor sekere veranderings, insluitend ’n vermindering in misdaad, teweeg gebring word nie.
Tans maak die OVK slegs vir Suid-Afrikaners wat oorsee wil stem, voorsiening as hulle tydelik met vakansie buite Suid-Afrika is, met sakebesoeke is, of oorsee in ’n militêre hoedanigheid diens doen of deel van die diplomatieke korps is.
“Dit beteken dat tot ’n miljoen Suid-Afrikaners wat vir langer tydperke oorsee woon, effektief van hul stemreg ontneem is,” het adv. Paul Hoffman, direkteur van die Sentrum vir Grondwetlike Regte, vroeër gesê.
“In ’n toenemend globaliserende wêreld word verlengde verblyf oorsee nie gesien as ’n teken van dislojaliteit nie, maar as ’n weerspieëling van die groeiende internasionale integrasie.”
Die optog is gereël deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Jeugforum. Sy president, mnr. Xolani Xala, het gesê hulle vind dit “onaanvaarbaar” dat talle ander lande, insluitend die VSA en Italië, sy burgers in die buiteland toelaat om te stem maar Suid-Afrika laat dit nie toe nie.
“Demokrasie hou nie by die lughawe op nie.”
Die DA het verlede maand ’n formele versoek by die OVK ingedien om diegene wat vaste voornemens het om na Suid-Afrika terug te keer, toe te laat om in die buiteland te stem.
12-08-2008, 04:47 PM #3503
Cholera cases surge in Limpopo
Johannesburg - The number of cholera cases continued to increase in Limpopo over the weekend, the provincial health department said on Monday.
"We are not in charge. The cholera is not in South Africa. The breakout is in Zimbabwe. We don't know how many may decide to come," said Seloba.
"We believe we are coping. It's a problem of Zimbabwean authorities. Cholera is a waterborne disease. People are drinking water that is not treated."
He said once Zimbabwe implemented the management of water services, "we don't anticipate any problems".
On Monday, national health department spokesperson Fidel Hadebe said information about the impact of the cholera outbreak across the country was being collated.
The department planned to hold a media briefing about the situation on Tuesday in Musina.
Also on Monday, a South African and Southern African Development Community delegation was expected to depart for Zimbabwe.
The delegation was expected to assess the situation, determine the level of assistance required and consult various representatives, including the World Health Organisation.
A report-back was expected to be held on Thursday when health and water affairs ministers from the SADC Troika - South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia - would meet in Johannesburg.
Last week, Zimbabwe government and United Nations figures showed that more than 560 deaths and 12 500 cases of cholera had been recorded in Zimbabwe since August.
12-08-2008, 04:53 PM #3504
Unknown thousands dying in Zimbabwe
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Thousands of Zimbabweans are dying, uncounted and out of sight in a silent emergency as hospitals shut, clinics run out of drugs and most cannot afford private medical care, health groups say.
Even as deaths from a cholera epidemic climbed into the hundreds, international and local organizations say many more are dying needlessly in a disaster critics blame on President Robert Mugabe's government.
The toll will never be known, according to Itai Rusike, executive director of the Community Working Group on Health — a civil society network grouping 35 national organizations.
"When you look at people who are already weakened by hunger, many already weakened by HIV and AIDS, and with rainy season comes malaria, and we know anthrax is spreading, it's really just a recipe for disaster," spokeswoman Caroline Hooper-Box said in neighboring South Africa.
As businesses collapse, unemployment has risen to 80 percent with the majority of the population depending on handouts from a growing diaspora; more than a third of a population has fled, many to South Africa and former colonizer Britain, but some as far as New Zealand.
The report was dedicated to two of the group's own leaders who it said died needlessly. One was Thembelani Lunga, a 32-year-old in Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo who was HIV-positive and had problems accessing life-preserving antiretroviral medication.
Lunga died after being jailed for four days in Bulawayo Central Police Station, where she was denied access to AIDS medication, the organization said.
To the cholera deaths, the report said, it was necessary to add people with diabetes who run out of insulin, appendicitis cases, asthma attacks, bleeding ulcers and septicemia — "all treatable conditions from which thousands of deaths are now occurring."
Last week, Health Minister David Parirenyatwa appealed for help from international organizations.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the U.S. would continue to press the international community to take action on Zimbabwe but also stressed the importance of pressure from the country's African neighbors.
"We made extensive efforts in the (U.N.) Security Council to get the international system to act. And we're going to continue those efforts," McCormack told a press briefing on Monday.
Mugabe's government took control of water supplies from city and town councils when the councils were taken over by opposition politicians in elections three years ago.
Rusike said the government officials fired water engineers and other staff and replaced them with "friends and relatives with no qualifications in water management."
Last week, water authorities cut all supplies in Harare, the sprawling capital of about 2 million people and the epicenter of the cholera epidemic, saying they had no purifying chemicals and feared piping contaminated water would help spread the disease.
12-10-2008, 12:42 AM #3505
SA won't tighten border controls
Pretoria - South Africa will not tighten border controls despite many illegal immigrants entering the country, Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said on Tuesday.
"Economic migrants will always find a way of moving into areas where they shouldn't be," she told reporters in Johannesburg.
"You are not going to be able to prevent that."
The worst thing South Africa could do was "to go back to the past where we had electric fences meant to restrict people".
She was speaking at a media briefing on immigration logistics for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and how African countries would be accommodated to attend the event.
Encourage illegal migration
Referring to Beit Bridge, South Africa's border with Zimbabwe, she said it was originally developed in a manner that "allows little movement between South Africa and the rest of the continent.
"But we are talking of free movement of people," said Mapisa-Nqakula.
Tighter border controls would "actually encourage illegal migration."
"Our emphasis is on facilitation of movement rather than tighter border control... then you know who is in the country and what they are doing."
There are no official numbers available on illegal immigrants in South Africa, but some estimates are as high as two million, a situation exacerbated by the socio-economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe.
12-10-2008, 01:10 AM #3506
Swift arrest of mafia men
NELSPRUIT - Within moments of Lowvelder hitting the streets Tuesday morning, the private investigator in a year-long national search for two wanted mafia members, was inundated with phone calls from the public and the subsequent swift police reaction led to the arrest of both men.
Mr Leon Rossouw said for the past year his team had been investigating the murder of four men in Clocolan. On Tuesday the newspaper reported on their search because it was believed the men could be hiding in the Lowveld.
An excited Rossouw said, "Every-thing fell into place mere hours" after the newspaper had hit the streets. He received more than 35 phone calls and SMSes from concerned people with reliable information on the whereabouts of the two wanted men, Ali Tenveer and Rehmad Khan, and this led to the arrest of the two suspects within 24 hours.
Head of the Barberton detective branch, Supt Rudi Neethling received a call from a local businessman who informed him that one of the suspects was working for him.
Neethling, with Capt Barry Rudolph and Insp Essie Esterhuizen arrested Ali Tenveer on the premises in Barberton when he arrived for work shortly before 09:00.
The investigating officer in the case had in the meantime rushed from Bloemfontein to Barberton while Neethling followed up on more positive information that indicated that Khan was working in Lydenburg.
Neethling and his team left for Lydenburg early on Wednesday and on their way they were informed that Khan’s employer had phoned Rossouw to say that he had the suspect with him and was prepared to give himself up
Khan was arrested less than an hour later at Valbros Enterprises and both suspects had already been taken to Bloemfontein under heavily guarded escort where they would remain until their trial.
Rossouw said Khan was giving his full cooperation and was willing to provide information regarding some of the murders in which they were involved.
Both men are believed to be members of a Pakistani gang which seems to specialise in the kidnapping and blackmailing of wealthy businessmen and using intimidation to achieve its goals.
The police have learnt that most of the gang members also belong to a radical Pakistani politicial movement, Muttahida Quami.
Rossouw said yesterday, "Khan was one of the men who lived in the same house as the four who went missing and have as yet not been found. He is now prepared to show us where the bodies have been buried."
At the time of going to press a forensic team along with the relevant role players, were on their way to the site in Clocolan at which Khan alleged the bodies were buried and Rossouw was still awaiting positive identification.
"I am grateful to members of the Mpumalanga public for their assistance, because now, after more than a year, I will be able to provide answers to the families of the murdered men."
12-10-2008, 01:17 AM #3507
Killer disease on the rise
NELSPRUIT - The Mpumalanga Department of Health's annual report indicated a 400% increase in meningococcal infection from 2003/04 to 2007/08.
Meningococcal disease is a high-fatality noti-fiable disease and all cases have to be reported to the medical board for monitoring in case of an outbreak.
During 2003/04, eight cases were reported whereas 43 were reported during the 2007/08 financial year. Ten cases were reported in 2004/05, 45 in 2005/06 and 47 in 2006/07, showing a sudden increase as of three years ago.
Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacteria neiseria meningitides and causes two very serious diseases namely meningitis, an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord and meningococcemia, an infection of the blood.Infection is spread by direct contact with droplets from the nose or throat on an infected person.
According to a Canadian health report, many people carry the bacteria without ever becoming ill, but in a few illness can occur between two and 10 days after contact with the bacteria, causing meningitis.
"The disease can develop in all age groups, but are more prevalent among children under five and young persons between 15 and 19.
Its starts with symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and feeling unwell, progressing quickly to a bad headache, stiff neck or a tiny reddish-purple bruise-like rash. In young children, sleepiness or excessive crying may occur, the report reads.
It further states that if symptoms are detected, it is critical to see a doctor early as a patient is no longer infectious within 24 hours of taking antibiotics. But even with early detection and treatment, the disease can be fatal and long-term complications include deafness, brain damage and seizures.
Spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Health, Mr Mpho Gabashane said that any increase of a disease is investigated by the department, but he could not provide the outcome of the investigation in this case at the time of going to press.
In England, however, it was recently found from analysis of data that there could be possible causal links to air quality and large temporal changes of relative humidity in cases of increased meningococcal infections.
Although the research were not conclusive, it did indicate the need for further clinical research into the likelihood of disease triggers generated by atmospheric smoke, dust and moisture.
Earlier this year, reports of a meningitis outbreak did the rounds in the Lowveld and several cases were reported with two fatalities in Nelspruit - no outbreak was declared however.
Leader of the DA, Mr Anthony Benadie said that the DA is highly concerned about the rising meningitis cases in Mpumalanga and therefore has questioned the MEC for further clarity.
"We want to know from the MEC whether any precautionary measures have been put in place and whether the Mpumalanga hospitals have the means to contain this disease (quarantine facilities)," he said.
12-10-2008, 04:45 AM #3508
'Hate camp' man in court
Johannesburg - A 44-year-old man who allegedly kidnapped a 15-year-old boy to teach him to hate black people at his "hate camp", appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, national police said.
The case was postponed to December 17 to allow for further police investigation, said spokesperson Captain Dennis Adriao.
"We cannot reveal the name of the man, so we do not jeopardise investigations."
The teenager was allegedly kidnapped from his home in Silverton on Thursday. He claimed to have been taken to the man's farm in Limpopo and taught to hate black people.
It was reported that the boy spoke about how he was given hate lessons at the camp. He was allegedly taught to use firearms, plant bombs and not to care about death.
The purpose of these lessons was to kill blacks as soon as former president Nelson Mandela died.
It was also reported that the man was thought to be part of an underground movement that kidnapped white teenagers to teach them these lessons.
"We are still investigating the allegations made by the boy... from the side of police, I want to say that we monitor all sorts of camps... I don't wish to elaborate further as this is a sensitive investigation," Adriao said.
'Hate camp' claims 'rubbish'
Pretoria - The so-called training of "right-wing child soldiers" is basic defence training, which has been approved by the police.
"If there is something wrong with that, then every adventure camp and weapon's training course is also suspicious," said an upset "commander" Franz Jooste, executive head of the Commando Corps on Tuesday.
One of the organisation's members appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on a charge of kidnapping after a 15-year-old boy was apparently abducted from his parents' home in Pretoria last Thursday and taken to a training camp.
It was alleged that children were being trained for a war against black people. They were apparently shown how to make bombs and use firearms.
Jooste said these allegations were rubbish. No firearm training at all.
According to him, the past weekend's camp at Mookgopong (Naboomspruit) was entry-level where basic discipline such as drilling was taught to the boys.
There was no firearm training at all and the only kind of explosives used at the camp were crackers used with fishing line to rig booby traps.
The Commando Corps was registered as an Article 21 company and according to Jooste, the idea was that it in a way would replace the now defunct army commandos. The structure and training of the corps was approved by the army and the police.
"We teach the children - all high school kids - how to react in certain situations where their or their family's safety is being threatened.
"We are not that irresponsible that we'd straight away put weapons in children's hands. Only after the fourth weekend camp, we give them certain defence-orientated weapons training.
"Nobody is taught to attack certain groups and at the beginning of each camp, we make it very clear that we will not tolerate any talk of illegal actions," said Jooste.
"We teach the kids and adults to defend themselves better and not be vulnerable to criminals. Nobody is forced to do anything."
According to him, the children's parents give permission for them to attend the camps. The particular 15-year-old boy slipped away from his home under false pretences, said Jooste. He also lied about his age.
In future, parents will have to sign letters of permission for the camps in the presence of witnesses rather than faxing them.
There were 29 other children at the weekend's camp and 10 instructors supervised. Jooste denied categorically that any of them were abducted.
The boy's parents called the organisers and asked them to bring back their son. A drill instructor, "sergeant" Wentzel Laubscher dropped off the boy on Sunday evening, but he wasn't chased away as was earlier reported, said Jooste.
Laubscher was arrested for abduction after the boy's parents laid a charge with police.
National police spokesperson, captain Dennis Adriao, confirmed that Laubscher had appeared in court for alleged abduction.
"The case has been postponed to December 17 for a bail application. Police are aware of the camps. Until now, there has been no reason to link anything illegal to the camps. But police are investigating all allegations."
12-10-2008, 04:53 AM #3509
Man shot, wife raped - but cops don't pitch
Paramedics and a Pretoria motorist who fought to save the life of a critically injured man shot in a hijacking in which his wife was raped have blasted the police, accusing them of incompetence.
The accusations come after the couple, who were returning home to Atteridgeville, were forced off Church Street by a group of men and attacked on Sunday night.
The hijackers are alleged to have launched their attack after placing rocks near the Church Street and Schurveberg Road intersection.
As the couple stopped, the gang attacked and forced them to drive into an open field where the husband was shot in the chest and right thigh.
The gang then dragged the woman out of the vehicle and raped her in the full view of her husband.
The gang is believed to have fled after being disturbed by a passing vehicle.
The woman dragged herself through the field to Church Street, where she flagged down passing security supervisor, Frans Mathibela, who alerted the police, and tow truck operator, Chris Grobbelaar.
Grobbelaar also called the police as well as LifeMed Ambulance Service.
While paramedics rushed to the scene, the police were nowhere to be seen, even after the ambulance service's control room operators called them for assistance.
"The response from the police was absolutely pathetic.
"In fact, it was non-existent," said Mathibela, describing how both he and paramedics had repeatedly called the 10111 emergency call centre.
He said by the time the paramedics left for hospital, "which was after more than an hour on the scene", the police had not yet arrived.
"I contacted the police twice through the MTN emergency call centre and was told that police were on their way, but they never arrived.
"We waited until paramedics left with the patients, which was more than an hour later, but they never came," he said.
LifeMed Ambulance Service spokesperson Willie Lightfoot confirmed that several of their personnel had called the police to request assistance.
He said three calls had been made to 10111 and that one of the calls had been to a control room supervisor.
"The supervisor told our paramedics that they had sent a vehicle, but they had not been able to find the scene.
"This is rubbish because our ambulance and life support vehicle were parked in the road with their lights flashing," he said.
Lightfoot said by the time they left the scene, over an hour later to take the patients to 1 Military Hospital, police had not yet arrived.
However, police spokesperson Captain Louise Reed said they knew nothing about the allegations. She said a case of rape, attempted murder and attempted armed robbery were being investigated.
"This is the first time we are hearing that police did not respond.
"Once a complaint is laid, the allegations will be investigated," she said, adding that such complaints must be laid immediately with police.
She said police had been unable to take a statement from the man as he was in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit.
Reed said no arrests had been made.
12-10-2008, 04:55 AM #3510
Do you have SMS bank alerts?
As I've been saying a lot lately, in these days of rampant bank fraud, you can't afford not to have your bank send you an SMS every time there's activity on your bank account.
All the banks and banking organisations are also madly issuing warnings about card skimming, swopping, phishing and all those other nasty tricks the fraudsters pull off in order to get their hands on our money.
If you get caught, your only hope of getting all or some of your money back is if your bank's failure to follow procedure helped the baddies pull off the crime.
And so it was that the Ombudsman for Banking Services (OBS) was able to reunite Bernie Dickson with R209 000 of the R331 200 he was swindled out of by fraudsters.
The OBS is jointly funded by the banks, who've come to appreciate its role and abide by its decisions, 58 percent of which, incidentally, went in favour of complainants - that is, against the banks - in 2007.
Annoyingly for journalists, the OBS is fond of trotting out case studies in order to illustrate its successes, but the good office never, ever names the banks involved.
And this case is no exception. So back to Bernie.
Picture the scene. He's walking along the beachfront with his wife on the morning of Saturday October 20 2007 when he gets an SMS alerting him that R1 050 has been transferred from his cheque account into an account he doesn't recognise.
While still trying to figure out what's going on, a second SMS beeps. Another R1 050 has gone in the same way.
He decides to rush home and phone his bank's call centre. On the way, he gets another nine SMSs, advising him of 27 transfers out of his cheque account into strange accounts.
Plus R230 000 had been transferred from his home loan access account into his cheque account.
When Bernie gets home he makes that call to his bank, and a hold is put on his accounts.
He tries to call his business partner to tell him what's happened, but he is told his SIM registration has failed. He later learns he's been the victim of a SIM swop.
(Fraudsters, often with inside help, go to cellphone customer care desks, claim to have lost their cellphones, and apply for new ones, using their victim's cellphone number.)
So the bank's automatically generated one-time-password - required for all new beneficiary payments - was sent to the fraudster instead of Bernie.
In all, a total of R331 200 was fraudulently transferred from Bernie's current account, cheque account and credit card.
How did they get his details? He'd fallen victim to a phishing scam, which means he received one of those emails claiming to be from his bank, asking him to enter all his banking details, and personal details, in order to update his Internet banking security, irony of ironies.
But the email was from a fraud syndicate, who then had all the information they needed to help themselves to not only all Bernie's money, but all his available credit as well.
So given that Bernie fell for the phishing email, despite all those warnings, how did the OBS manage to get the bank to refund him R209 097?
Banking Ombud Clive Pillay says the bank's system was too slow in notifying Bernie of the transfers, which meant the crooks got most the cash before he could put a hold on the accounts.
Also, Pillay said, a bank is required to immediately halt activity on a customer's account when a fraud complaint is received, and notify all banks where the beneficiary accounts are held, to do likewise. "That did not happen in this case," he said.
Thirdly, the accounts which the fraudsters set up into which to deposit their ill-gotten gains were not all Fica compliant.
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