Category: Africa,South Africa,MBC

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: South Africa : Killing Of Police Officers Saddens Committee

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Francois Beukman, has expressed sadness at the passing of South African Police Service officers in Khayelitsha and Mount Frere, in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape respectively.

The continued killing of police officers remains a serious concern for the committee and must be dealt with urgently. “The killing of officers is a direct affront to the authority of the state and constitutional order,” Mr Beukman said.

The committee calls on the community to assist the police with any information on both incidents, to ensure speedy arrests.

The committee extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased officers. “May they find strength at this difficult time,” Mr Beukman said. The committee also wishes the injured officer in Khayelitsha a speedy recovery.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: South Africa: Rooting Out Corruption within South African Police Services Welcomed

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Francois Beukman, welcomes the arrest of two senior officers in the Western Cape on allegations of accepting a bribe. The arrests add impetus to the necessary drive to eradicate corrupt elements and tendencies within the South African Police Services (Saps).

“The fight against crime has to start with removing the enablers within the police service, especially at station level. The Saps must be served by committed and honest officers who have a passion for ensuring the safety and security of the country, which is a foundation for economic growth,” Mr Beukman said.

The committee is worried that the alleged bribe was in connection with obtaining a certificate to own a firearm. The issue of firearm control has been identified as being central to the fight against crime by the committee. Saps management must continue to strengthen internal control measures and the vetting of officers in the specific environment.

The committee again calls on members of the public to report any alleged corrupt activity of members to the relevant provincial commissioners and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

The committee urges the National Commissioner and provincial commissioners to intensify efforts to weed out corrupt elements within the police.     

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: South Africa: Standing Committee on Public Accounts Shocked at Forensic Data Analysts Holding Country to Ransom

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) is shocked and disappointed with the fact that one man can hold the whole country to ransom by having the power to switch off the criminal justice system. This raises the question of whether the South African Police Service (SAPS) is renting this equipment from Forensic Data Analysts (FDA) or owns it because from what the committee understands FDA is said to be handling the maintenance of this system only. Therefore, it is really puzzling as to why one man can have such power over equipment that is owned by the government. If this equipment has been bought by the government, what gives FDA the right to switch it off?

Scopa is also wondering what kind of contracts were entered into with FDA because this arrangement is a betrayal of the national interest. The committee believes that this matter should be attended to expeditiously if SAPS and government are serious about national security.

Secondly, the call Scopa made not to continue with the payments of the contract arose from the fact that the officials themselves were questioning the legality of the contracts. Scopa then said if there is illegality, the officials should not pay. Scopa did not just make the call in a vacuum, the call was informed by the concerns from the officials.

Scopa is scheduled to meet with SAPS to clarify matters relating to various contracts including the FDA contract. Scopa is going to prioritise the meeting with SAPS in the light of these shenanigans by FDA.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: United Nations head in South Africa expresses her sadness over the death of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

The United Nations in South Africa joins all South Africans in mourning the death of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela who passed away yesterday.
 

Affectively known as “MaWinnie” or the Mother of a Nation, the late icon will be remembered for her heroism and dedication in the fight against injustice and oppression during South Africa’s apartheid era and her continued fight against poverty.
 
Expressing her shock and sadness on behalf of the United Nations in South Africa, UN Resident Coordinator, Nardos Bekele-Thomas, said the death of Ms. Madikizela-Mandela was a huge loss to the people of South Africa and all those who fight for freedom and human rights around the world.
 
“She risked her life and everything else that mattered to her by standing up against the apartheid government,” said Ms. Bekele-Thomas, adding, “It takes great courage and strong commitment to go through what she went through; but she never gave up. MaWinnie was a symbol of bravery, courage and tenacity.”
 
Ms. Bekele-Thomas echoed the sentiments and condolences of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who upon hearing of the news, said he was “saddened by the passing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a leading figure at the forefront of the fight against apartheid in South Africa. She was a strong and fearless voice in the struggle for equal rights and will be remembered as a symbol of resistance”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Information Centre in Pretoria (UNIC).

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: South Africa: Presiding Officers shocked and saddened at the passing of the Mother of the Nation

The Presiding Officers of Parliament, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Thandi Modise, have expressed shock and collective grief at the passing-on of a veteran Member of Parliament and struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela today. uMam’uMadikizela-Mandela, affectionately and widely known as Mother of the Nation, passed on at the age of 81 at the Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg after a long illness.

Speaker Mbete and Chairperson Modise said as a struggle icon in her own right during years of colonial and apartheid repression, Ms Madikizela-Mandela curved her niche role in shaping the struggle for freedom and in efforts to realize the new free and democratic South Africa. She defied the repressive laws and associated patriarchy, embodied a brave character of an unflinching woman in the wake of all odds against her throughout her life. She was a solid rock, a defender of the vulnerable and defenceless.

Together with many contemporaries of her time, she was a torch bearer to gender mainstreaming, and an inspiration to millions of down-trodden women across the length and breadth of the country, across the continent and the world. She was one of her generation of struggle stalwarts that survived to be Founding Members of the democratic Parliament of South Africa in 1994. As one of the pioneer Members of Parliament and our parliamentary democracy, Ma-Winnie, as she was affectionately known, paved the way for what Parliament of South Africa has since become. Her vibrancy, unending inner and outer beauty, her passionate connection with ordinary citizens, and her witty and critical mind had contributed in keeping the critical solidarity of the women of South Africa in every facet of life. 

Our Mother has not died, she has just passed-on the baton to us, both men and women in Parliament, in government, and in the society at large, so that the ideals she lived and struggle for, can be realized in our lifetime. The challenges of poverty, inequality from a gender and race perspective, under development and many societal ills facing South Africa today, are problems she fought tirelessly eradicate, as a contribution to building a truly socially just country where all people can enjoy a great quality of life. 

She will be greatly missed, and Parliament trusts that together we will cherish and celebrate her life. Today we have indeed lost a great leader, a champion of freedom and development, a people’s hero, and a Mother, and a defender of the down-trodden.

May her soul rest in peace.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.