Friday 21 September 2012

Warrant of arrest for Julius Malema

South Africa youth activist and former ANC youth league president Julius Malema has been advised that a warrant  had been issued for  his arrest.

One of Malema lawyers  confirmed on Friday  that the former youth leader was informed about the warrant of arrest.

 "He was contacted about an arrest warrant," Nicqui Galaktiou of Brian Kahn Inc. Attorneys told Reuters in an interview

However Galaktiou could not immediately give further details about the warrant.

 According to sources Malema  will also face charges related to tax evasion investigated by a special task team of the South African Revenue Services (SARS).If  arrested  he is expected to be taken to Polokwane where he will be charged.
 
 The Hawks confirmed last year in August that they were investigating him for fraud and corruption. “From the information that we have, we have enough to tell us that we need to do a full investigation ... there's a lot that tells us that we have reason to worry,” Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela was quoted in the media last year.


Wednesday 12 September 2012

Libya promise US to bring envoy's killers to justice'

Libyan authorities have promised the United State government that it will do what ever it takes to  bring the killers of the US ambassador and three other personnel to justice.

 The announcement was made by the head of the national assembly, Mohammed Magarief, on Wednesday

"We confirm that no one will escape from punishment and questioning," Magarief told a news conference broadcast live on Al Jazeera television.

  Magarief also apologised to the United States for the attack on its consulate in Benghazi in which the diplomats were killed.

He further promised that all foreigners in Libya would be protected.

"Diplomatic missions, foreign companies and citizens of foreign countries in Libya are under the protection the Libyan country and security forces," he said.

Deputy Interior Minister Wanis al-Sharif earlier accused supporters of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi of carrying out the attack.

Hillary Clinton speaks on the Death of American Personnel in Benghazi, Libya

Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
September 12, 2012


It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the death of four American personnel in Benghazi, Libya yesterday. Among them were United States Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and Foreign Service Information Management Officer, Sean Smith. We are still making next of kin notifications for the other two individuals. Our hearts go out to all their families and colleagues.

A 21 year veteran of the Foreign Service, Ambassador Stevens died last night from injuries he sustained in the attack on our office in Benghazi.
I had the privilege of swearing in Chris for his post in Libya only a few months ago. He spoke eloquently about his passion for service, for diplomacy and for the Libyan people. This assignment was only the latest in his more than two decades of dedication to advancing closer ties with the people of the Middle East and North Africa which began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco. As the conflict in Libya unfolded, Chris was one of the first Americans on the ground in Benghazi. He risked his own life to lend the Libyan people a helping hand to build the foundation for a new, free nation. He spent every day since helping to finish the work that he started. Chris was committed to advancing America’s values and interests, even when that meant putting himself in danger.

Sean Smith was a husband and a father of two, who joined the Department ten years ago. Like Chris, Sean was one of our best. Prior to arriving in Benghazi, he served in Baghdad, Pretoria, Montreal, and most recently The Hague.
All the Americans we lost in yesterday’s attacks made the ultimate sacrifice. We condemn this vicious and violent attack that took their lives, which they had committed to helping the Libyan people reach for a better future.

America’s diplomats and development experts stand on the front lines every day for our country. We are honored by the service of each and every one of them.

DA warns Julius Malema on SANDF

South Africa top  opposition party The Democratic Alliance have joined the  Ministry   of Defense and Military Veterans in blaming Julius Malema's plan to address  the soldiers.

DA's Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veteran's David Maynier  said  Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is absolutely correct to take a hard line against  Malema's plan to  address soldiers outside the Doornkop/Lenz military base in Gauteng.

Maynier said  that Malema is playing a very dangerous game by trying to exploit poor service conditions in the defence force saying he is doing that for his political battles ahead of the ANC’s 2012 Elective Conference.

"We must not forget that service conditions at the Doornkop/Lenz military base were described by the National Defence Force Service Commission as “slum-like” and that the base was the epicentre of the violent protest by soldiers at the Union Buildings in 2009." said Mayneir

"We cannot allow Julius Malema to undermine the constitutional imperative that the defence force remains a disciplined military force that is politically non-partisan." Mayneir further said

  He further called upon the Defence Force to discipline any soldiers who attend the meeting addressed by Julius Malema in terms of the military disciplinary code.

 The address is as a result of requests sent by the armed forces to Malema to come and listen to their cries and demands."

Thursday 6 September 2012

Marikan a wake-up call - Cosatu

Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has described the shooting of miners at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana in the North West as  a wake-up call for everyone

In his speech prepared for delivery in the Eastern Cape Cosatu chief said   shocking levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality lie at the heart of the increasingly violent protests we are seeing in both workplaces and communities

 "It is creating what until recently Cosatu has called ticking bombs. After the events at Marikana on 16 August 2012, we now must talk of exploding bombs."

He therefore called upon South Africans to  wait for the judicial commission of inquiry to investigate and reveal what happened on the day when 34 miners were shot dead. he  was quoted by the SABC

On August 16, police fired on a group of protesting workers from Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana, North West, killing 34 and wounding 78. Another 10 people were killed earlier that week, including two policemen and two security guards.

 We need to know why the police made no attempt to meet the workers before the violence

He  said Cosatu was concerned about the police's "skiet en donner" response. "We must specifically demand answers to allegations that workers were shot in the back while running away, contradicting the police statement they faced an armed, frontal attack. "We need to know why the police made no attempt to meet the workers before the violence erupted and try to reason with them," he said.

At the same time striking workers needed to move away from taking dangerous weapons such as pangas and spears to demonstrations.

Vavi said superstitions and elements of backwardness on the part of workers also needed to be addressed. Before the shooting, protesting Lonmin mineworkers had reportedly taken muti from a renowned traditional healer that they believed made them invincible.

Miners who survived the shooting said they were made to believe that if they used muti by a traditional healer known as Nzabe in the Eastern Cape, bullets would not harm them. Vavi said trade unions could not avoid examining what lessons Marikana held for them. "We must ask what we ourselves could have done better to avert such a tragedy," he said.

Vavi bemoaned the formation of splinter unions and politicians that promoted them. "They undermine the need for unity and strength. 'United we stand, divided we fall' is not empty rhetoric, but the key to transforming workers' lives, and building a better world," he said.

Cosatu and its affiliates had to reassess whether they were operating in the best way to defend workers and stop breakaway unions, Vavi said.