Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Hammanskraal residents rebuild after day of violence

SOUTH AFRICA
Tuesday 24 May 2016 - 1:34pm

Hammanskraal residents are refusing to move from the land, saying government promised it to them many years ago. Photo: eNCA / Lirandzu Themba

HAMMANSKRAAL - Angry residents in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, are rebuilding their demolished shacks.

Violence erupted on Monday following attempts to remove thousands of residents from the land they currently occupy.

Two people have been killed and several others injured.

Five people were arrested in connection with attacks.

Residents are refusing to move from the land, saying government promised it to them many years ago.

Gauteng officials have condemned the violence in the area.

The demolition process has stopped and police are investigating the two deaths.

Meanwhile, a radio journalist claims he was threatened with a firearm in Hammanskraal this morning.

Moloko Moloto says he was taking a picture when two men accosted him, and took his equipment.

"I arrived there to find a group of journalists doing their jobs. The first thing they did was brief me not to take pictures of people and also don’t interview them on record," said Moloto.

"Everybody was happy until I attempted to take a picture of a car on the road. That is when two guys were very angry... one of them pointed a gun at me, insulting me.

"The other one pushed me and confiscated my equipment. Luckily some of the locals who I spent time with came to my rescue."

Man arrested during R93m drug bust in Limpopo

SOUTH AFRICA
Tuesday 24 May 2016 - 10:24am

SAPS Police discovered drugs with a street value of R93 million and cash, including foreign currency, hidden in the panels of a Nissan bakkie in Limpopo. Photo: SAPS

POLOKWANE – A Tanzanian man is expected to appear in the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after police discovered drugs worth R93-million and cash, including foreign currency hidden in his vehicle.

Limpopo police spokeswoman Colonel Ronel Otto said detectives received a tip-off about a suspicious vehicle from the Groblersburg border post with Botswana.

“A look-out for the bakkie ensued. It was spotted and thoroughly searched by (police) members. They confiscated R139,900 and $10,000 (R157,667) hidden in the door panels,” said Otto, crediting officers from the Bulgerivier SAPS who intercepted the bakkie in nearby Wilgerivier.

Police searched the vehicle seats and panels, where they discovered 93 bags of heroin with a street value of R93m.

The 33-year-old man, who was travelling on a Lesotho passport, is expected to appear in the Lephalale Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of smuggling, possession and dealing in drugs.

SA tap water not being cleaned properly: Experts

SOUTH AFRICA
Tuesday 24 May 2016 - 10:20am
Contributors: Theresa Taylor

JOHANNESBURG, 24 May 2016 - Across the country, raw sewage spills into dams and rivers that are used for drinking water. It is estimated that almost 160 tons of ARVs reach South Africa’s rivers every year. Video: eNCA

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is a water-scarce country, and must protect its water sources.

Experts warn, however, that our water isn't being cleaned properly, and is increasingly polluted with everything from sewage to prescription medication.

Despite hearing time and again that South Africa apparently has some of the best drinking water in the world, this is actually not true.

The UN Environment Programme ranked our water 47th out of 122 countries it monitored -- but that was almost 15 years ago.

Ironically, our confidence in the quality of local water has increased in recent years: 88-percent of South Africans think tap water is safe. That’s up from 81-percent, five years ago.

However, our water quality has in fact dropped by eight percent since 2012.

This is due to the manner in which it's meant to be cleaned.

Forty-percent of sewerage plants, for instance, aren’t functioning correctly and need urgent repairs. Across the country, raw sewage spills into dams and rivers that are used for drinking water.

The Vaal Dam supplies drinking water for millions of people, but activists say numerous rivers flowing into it are not tested for their quality.

When pollution becomes excessive, authorities simply dilute it with clean, expensive water from Lesotho.

It's also estimated that almost 160 tons of ARVs reach South Africa’s rivers every year.

Last year, researchers tested water in major cities across the country. They found traces of 34 drugs and pesticides, including ARVs and anti-depressants.

These changes to our drinking water quality are what scientists call a slow disaster -- an occurrence that is hardly noticeable so the problem fails to get noticed, until it's too late.

Standard Bank to absorb losses from Japan fraud

MONEY
Monday 23 May 2016 - 11:11am

CAPE TOWN, 23 May 2016 - Cloned credit cards were reportedly used to withdraw cash from ATMs across Japan in a coordinated operation. eNCA speaks to forensic executive at ENSafrica, Steven Powell for more insight. Video: eNCA

JOHANNESBURG – Standard Bank customers will not be affected by the ATM fraud in Japan, the bank has confirmed.

On Sunday, the Japanese daily The Mainichi reported that $12,7-million (about R197,6m) was withdrawn from about 1,400 ATMs across Japan using fake credit cards on May 15. Other reports estimated the loss to the bank at around R300m, but eNCA was unable to confirm exact amounts involved.

“The target of the fraud has been Standard Bank and there has been no financial loss for customers,” Standard Bank spokesperson Ross Linstrom said in a statement on Monday.

"The South African banking operations of Standard Bank Group have been the victim of a sophisticated, co-ordinated fraud incident. This involved the withdrawal of cash using a small number of fictitious cards at various ATMs in Japan," he said.

"Standard Bank has taken swift action to contain the matter and the gross loss to the bank is estimated at R300m. This is prior to any potential recoveries that may serve to reduce the loss.

"The relevant authorities have been alerted. Investigations are at a sensitive stage and further information will be provided as appropriate."

Senzo Mchunu resigns as KZN Premier

SOUTH AFRICA
Monday 23 May 2016 - 3:49pm

JOHANNESBURG, 23 May 2016 - Senzo Mchunu has resigned as KwaZulu-Natal premier. eNCA’s reporter Xoli Mngambi unpacks the story. Video: eNCA

DURBAN, 23 May 2016 – Senzo Mchunu's political career has been hanging in the balance after he was unseated by Sihle Zikalala as head of the ANC in KZN last year. Mchunu has been accused of defying the party’s leadership on governance issues. Video: eNCA

EMPANGENI, 24 MAY 2016 KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu confirmed his resignation on Monday to journalists at his home in Empangeni. Mchunu says he will co-operate with decisions made by the ANC's national working committee. Video: eNCA

eNCA's Judith Subban interviews Senzo Mchunu about his decision to step down as KZN Premier. Photo: eNCA / Nkanyiso Mdlalose

DURBAN - Senzo Mchunu has resigned as KwaZulu-Natal premier, following mounting pressure.

It emerged over the weekend that the ANC's leadership in the province gave him until today (Monday) to step down.

He's accused of defying the party’s leadership on governance issues.

ANC divisions in the province have been visible since Mchunu lost his position -- as the party’s KZN chairperson -- to Sihle Zikalala last year.

Mchunu was due to attend the National Day of Prayer in Durban yesterday, but instead, veteran MP Willies Mchunu stood in for him.

There have also been reports of a looming provincial cabinet reshuffle.

R8m worth of crystal meth found at OR Tambo

SOUTH AFRICA
Tuesday 24 May 2016 - 1:05pm

The bag of narcotics was from Chennai India travelling via Abu Dhabi.

JOHANNESBURG – Sars Customs officials intercepted an unaccompanied bag from India containing five plastic packets of crystal meth valued at around R8,1-million at the OR Tambo International Airport on Friday.

The bag, from Chennai India travelling via Abu Dhabi, was scanned by officials and revealed a suspicious sugar-like substance that was confirmed to be crystal meth.

Sars spokesperson Sandile Memela told eNCA on Tuesday that the bag was handed over to the police for further investigation.

"The bag was still with police and I very much doubt there will be anyone willing to come forward to claim (it)," Memela said.

MORE NEWS

ANC is panicking - DA

Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance claims that Gauteng Premier David Makhura's "attack" on its Johannesburg mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba is a sign that the ruling party is panicking.

"Makhura's attack on Mashaba shows that the ANC in Gauteng is panicking about losing Johannesburg to the DA," the opposition party's Gauteng leader John Moodey said in a statement on Tuesday.

"According to the ANC's own research, the party's support in Johannesburg has dropped to 37%. As one ANC leader said: 'We looked at those figures and said what do we need to do ... it is worrying'."

He was referring to a Sunday Times article that an internal report showed that the ANC's support in Johannesburg had dropped as low as 37%.

It reportedly showed that the approval rating in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni stood at below 50%.

However, at the time the ANC in Gauteng said this was "untrue".

"We remain confident... that we will not only retain our municipalities where we currently govern, but also reclaim Midvaal," ANC Gauteng spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said.

On Monday night Makhura, addressing an ANC Gauteng dialogue in Johannesburg, said DA members had told him they lacked confidence in Mashaba.

He claimed that opposition members had told him it would be hard for the DA to win Johannesburg in the August 3 local government elections because the ANC and Mayor Parks Tau were doing a good job.

Makhura told ANC supporters that some DA leaders had told him Mashaba could not run the DA caucus.

"The DA caucus is very difficult to run. You must ask Mmusi Maimane. It's not the same as running Black Like Me. I think Mashaba's biggest problem is not the ANC, it's running a DA caucus," he said.

Mashaba, an entrepreneur, started the Black Like Me range of haircare products in 1985.

Moodey said Makhura had resorted to a personal attack on Mashaba because of his "desperation".

"The ANC is full of career politicians who only know how to put themselves first. Herman Mashaba, on the other hand, is a self-made entrepreneur who knows how to run and manage a successful organisation," he said.

Moodey said Mashaba had a plan for Johannesburg.