Women political activists in conflict areas must be protected
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has called for the protection of women in countries affected by conflict.
Minister Pandor was speaking during a virtual event themed “Ensuring Protection for Full and Equal Participation in Peacebuilding and Political Spaces”.
“All women must be protected and should enjoy security from any form of harm. In fact, all political activists should be able to exercise their democratic right to protest and exercise all the civil and political rights we enjoy as South Africa by virtue of our Constitution,” she said.
The event was organised by the International Peace Institute and hosted in partnership with the Kenyan, South African, Swedish and the United States governments.
According to the department, the event focussed on the “protection of, and discrimination faced by women political activists, women peacebuilders, and women human rights defenders, particularly in conflict-affected environments”.
Minister Pandor said the international community has a duty to protect women and to create specific frameworks to guarantee their safety.
“We are disturbed by the inability of the international community to protect women who face threats. We believe that it’s important we look at the international frameworks that we have under the auspices of the United Nations because when we framed international law, humanitarian law, diversity was not incorporated into the key frameworks.
“So there is a need to look at how we might adjust in order to ensure that categories of persons that have not been incorporated, included or referred to in existing international frameworks enjoy reference in appropriate conventions and regulations so that there are institutions that have a legal mandate to ensure their protection,” she said.
Dr Pandor said women political activists should not have to “rely on the good graces of international friends in order to survive”.
“It must be part of the recognition of any government that it attaches to instruments of protection and that it is a requirement – by virtue of being part of the global family – that those instruments are respected not just in word but in practise. This we believe would be a means of ensuring greater protection for women activists, women peacemakers, women peace builders all over the world,” she said.
Call for law enforcement to act against perpetrators of crime
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has called on law enforcement to take action against the perpetrators of two incidents, which left two traffic officers dead, and another one injured.
This comes after two road traffic inspectorate inspectors from KwaZulu-Natal were shot and killed while on duty on the N2 on Monday.
Inspectors Sithole (46) and Lamula (36) were found dead at the scene after a community member who happens to be a member of the South African Police Services (SAPS) heard gunshots and reported the matter to the police.
In a statement on Tuesday, RTMC conveyed deepest sympathies to the families of the two inspectors.
In another incident, a female officer was assaulted by a male driver and sustained injuries to her head, face, eye and shoulder.
“The member of the JMPD K9 Unit was on patrol duty in Eloff Extension in Johannesburg South where she allegedly spotted a driver recklessly skipping a robot and almost crashing into the officer’s vehicle. The officer gave chase which lead to a confrontation with the motorist,” the RTMC said.
The RTMC has condemned abusive and inhumane behaviour towards officers.
Traffic officers are there to uphold the law and ensure our safety on the roads,” RTMC said on Tuesday.
The Corporation further wished a speedy recovery to the JMPD officer.
“The RTMC calls for swift action from law enforcement and demonstration of the full might of the law against perpetrators in both incidents.”
Alleged Deokaran murderers remanded in custody
The six suspects linked to the murder of senior finance official at the Gauteng Department of Health, Babita Deokaran, have been remanded in custody.
In a statement, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the six – Phakamani Hadebe, Zitha Hadebe, Nhlangano Ndlovu, Sanele Mbhele, Simphiwe Mazibuko and Phakanyiswa Dladla – were charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
“The accused were arrested on 26 August in Rosettenville, with a seventh suspect who was not charged due to lack of evidence against him,” she said.
Deokaran was fatally wounded on 23 August 2021 outside her home in Winchester Hills, shortly after returning from dropping off her daughter at school.
She was in the company of another person, hence the charge of attempted murder.
All accused were remanded in custody until 13 September for bail application preparations.
On Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned Deokaran’s murder, saying regardless of the circumstances behind the tragedy, the senior finance official was a hero and a patriot. He also called for a better protection of whistleblowers.
July violence instigator released on R3 000 bail
Alleged public violence instigator, Zamaswazi Zinhle Majozi, has been released on R3 000 bail.
The 36-year-old mother of two was Monday released on bail by the Germiston Magistrate’s Court after she was arrested on 28 August in Leondale on charges of incitement of public violence.
Majozi is alleged to have incited public violence in the content she circulated on her social media accounts, which resulted in the looting and burning that occurred at Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
Meanwhile, a 35-year-old suspect, who was arrested over the weekend, appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of incitement to commit public violence.
“The session was held in camera, therefore, his name cannot be divulged as yet. The case was held behind closed doors so as not to prejudice the identification parade, which is yet to be conducted,” said Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale.
The case was postponed to 6 September 2021 for possible bail application.
Thus far, about 18 suspects have been arrested by SAPS and the DPCI (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation).
Mogale said some have already appeared in various courts in Gauteng, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. While some have been granted bail, others were remanded in custody.
Majozi was granted bail of R3 000 with conditions including the surrender of her passport, reporting to the nearest police station daily and ensuring that she informs the investigating officer when leaving the province.
The case was postponed to 18 October 2021.
Mogalakwena officials, company directors arrested in R15m corruption
As part of the ongoing investigation into the allegations of corruption at the Mogalakwena Municipality, the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit has on Monday pounced on 13 suspects, among them officials and business directors, accused of defrauding the council off R15 million.
“It is alleged that the officials received gratification from service providers and that other companies were paid money for services not rendered. The municipality has suffered a loss of over R15 million due to these illegal activities,” the Hawks said in a statement.
During the operation, a BMW 1 series belonging to the girlfriend of one of the suspects was seized as an affected gift.
National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, said: “I commend the investigation team for the hard work in securing the attendance of these group before court. The message that crime does not pay will soon be appreciated.”
The operation is still ongoing and more arrests are expected.
N Cape Health officials nabbed for irregular PPE contracts
The Northern Cape Health Department has put its Chief Financial Officer and Acting Head of Department on precautionary suspension following their arrest on charges relating to the alleged irregular awarding of personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts.
Acting HOD, Dr Dion Theys and CFO Daniel Gaborone were arrested last week and subsequently appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court, where they were granted bail of R20 000 each.
Provincial Health Department spokesperson, Lebogang Majaha, said Health MEC Maruping Lekwene met with the department’s top brass following the arrests and highlighted the need to strengthen governance in the department.
“The MEC… met with the executive management team in the department, where he re-emphasised the need to urgently strengthen governance processes and internal controls. The MEC and Head of Department will be meeting next week with a joint sitting of the Northern Cape Legislature Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) and the Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development.
The purpose of the meeting is to brief the committee on these developments and explain the processes being implemented to ensure stability in the department in terms of its operations and its financial viability,” Majaha said.
Theys and Gaborone are expected to appear next in the court on 27 September.
Two more arrested for ‘inciting’ July public violence
Two more suspects are on Monday expected to appear in court for instigating last month’s widely ruinous public violence in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
This comes after members of the Hawks’ Crime against the State, working together with Crime Intelligence, arrested two suspects, aged 35 and 36, for incitement to commit public violence. The two were arrested on Saturday, 28 August 2021, in Gauteng and KZN, respectively.
The arrests are the latest in a litany of other apprehensions linked to the July unrest, which saw the two provinces sustain infrastructure losses amounting to billions of rand, and thousands of job losses.
In a statement, Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said: “It is alleged that the KZN suspect, a 35-year-old man, was involved in the incitement of public violence through social media and other platforms during the period of unrest in KwaZulu-Natal.”
Mogale said as a result of the incitement, Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg was broken into and criminal activities such as the theft of goods occurred. The mall was also set alight.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Meanwhile the Gauteng suspect, who is a 36-year-old woman who operated as Sphithiphithi Evaluator @ African Soil, with a followership of 59 900 people, was also arrested on Saturday during a search and seizure operation in Leondale, which resulted in the confiscation of exhibits for further investigation.
“The suspect is expected to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of incitement to commit public violence.
“Investigations against those who incite, instigate or conspire with others to commit crime, including public violence, are continuing,” said Mogale.
Correctional Services warns of job scam
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has warned the public of another jobs scam that is doing the rounds in various parts of the country.
“Vulnerable citizens are enticed with appointment letters, provided they make a transaction as a guarantee factor in securing permanent employment in DCS. This is a scam filtered with all elements of thuggery,” the department said on Sunday.
Correctional Services has reiterated that there is no requirement for people to pay money when applying for employment in the public service.
“In as much as harsh realities of unemployment may leave citizens vulnerable, we urge people not to fall prey to these scammers. Those posing as consultants or using online media platforms are fraudsters who must be reported to law enforcement agencies,” the department said.
The department said it has no contract with recruitment or placements agents, or social media platforms.
Employment opportunities in the department are only advertised in the mainstream media and via the departmental website http://www.dcs.gov.za/?page_id=52.
“We call upon anyone who may have information on these fraudsters to contact or report the matter to law enforcement agencies, or the anti-corruption hotline 0800 701 701,” the department said.
Seven arrested in Gauteng Health official murder
Swift police action has led to the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the recent callous murder of senior Gauteng Department of Health finance official, Babita Deokaran.
The breakthrough in the case was on Friday confirmed by National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole.
The late Chief Director was gunned down by unknown suspects in Winchester Hills as she was returning from dropping off her child at school. Deokaran was rushed to hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
In a statement, South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Colonel Brenda Muridili, said the arrests were effected by the SAPS Gauteng Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, in collaboration with SAPS Johannesburg K9, Johannesburg East Crime Intelligence, Fidelity Specialised Services and Community Active Protection.
“[This came after the team] operationalised information received and conducted a takedown operation at the suspects’ hideouts in Johannesburg. During the arrests, the police recovered two firearms and two vehicles,” Muridili said.
She said a case of murder was registered by the Mondeor Police Station and transferred to Provincial Head Office for investigation by the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit.
“The team of experienced investigators caught a break in the case when they received information that led to the arrest of the suspects from Crime Intelligence,” Muridili said.
The case docket has been transferred to the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation for further investigation. There is a possibility of more charges being added to the charge of murder when the suspects appear in court soon.
The National Commissioner has commended the investigating team’s breakthrough in the case.
“I am confident that the Hawks will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served,” said Sitole.
Bookkeeper arrested for R11m COVID TERS fraud
The Department of Employment and Labour has welcomed the arrest of a bookkeeper accused of swindling the Unemployment Insurance Fund COVID-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) of R11.1 million.
The department in a statement said the 39-year-old suspect was scheduled to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on 31 August 2021.
The bookkeeper allegedly submitted COVID-19 TERS claims on behalf of four clients but “conveniently forgot to make the clients aware” of the claims, said the department.
“Subsequently, an amount of R11.1 million was paid into the suspect’s business accounts.
“The intended clients realised something was not fine after they were harangued by their employees for not paying them TERS monies they had claimed and at this point, they reported the matter to the police,” the statement reads.
Following joint investigations between the UIF and the police, the suspect was traced and arrested in Durban on Wednesday. A luxury Audi Q2, suspected to be part of the proceeds of crime, was seized.
Acting UIF Commissioner, Advocate Mzie Yawa, has welcomed the swift arrest and commended law enforcement authorities for bringing the suspect to justice with speed.
“I hope the latest arrest sends a strong and clear message to other would-be fraudsters that the long arm of the law will catch up with you. Those who have helped themselves to the funds earmarked for workers during lockdown should always remember: The long arm of the law is creeping towards them and they will not have peace.
“Working together with law enforcement agencies, we will continue investigating every lead pointing us to suspected fraudulent activities, and we thank the public for being vigilant about the abuse of COVID-19 TERS funds.
“We cannot tolerate the siphoning off of workers’ benefits by unscrupulous individuals. All fraudsters are on notice and we hope more of these suspects will be arrested and sent straight to jail,” said Yawa.
The latest arrest comes against the backdrop of at least 17 suspects who have been apprehended and have appeared in various courts around the country for allegedly fleecing the UIF’s COVID-19 TERS Scheme.
The fund has also recovered around R827 million through the “follow the money” project and anticipates that more will be recovered as the project is extended a further 12 months.