Aliwal X-ray Security

06/07/2016

South African government railways officials imported brand new locomotives from Europe worth R600 million rand despite explicit warnings from consutlants, engineers and specialists that the trains are not suited for our local railway lines.

It is now the country’s largest and most expensive tender blunder the country has ever seen. Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has to date, received thirteen new diesel locomotives that are too high for the long distance routes they were intended for, which are now rendered useless for local use.

Senior railways engineers and sources with first hand knowledge of the issue told reporters that Prasa had been warned time and time again that the new diesel locomotives it ordered from Spanish manufacturer Vossloh España are too tall for local use.

The locomotives exceed the height restrictions for diesel locomotives on the long distance lines Prasa intended using them on.

Source – 3rd Degree

South African government railways officials imported brand new locomotives from Europe worth R600 million rand despite explicit warnings from consutlants, engineers and specialists that the trains …

30/06/2016

Supersport.com has published a long list of South African rugby players believed to be heading overseas when the Super Rugby season ends. The website claims that at least 45 players have been confirmed as packing their bags and seeking greener pastures.

While the weak currency and the potential to earn big pay cheques is one of the biggest draw cards from players, Supersport.com also notes the following:

the change in rules by the Japanese clubs to allow an extra foreign player to be contracted by clubs as long as he has not represented his country in the past, and can potentially qualify for Japan in the future. This has seen a number of players – like the Bulls’ forwards, Grant Hattingh and Lappies Labuschagne, saying goodbye to Super Rugby and they will now play solely in the Japanese league, not returning to South Africa like a number of players in the past.

A number of players including Springboks Elton Jantjies, Warren Whiteley and Jaco Kriel will all apparently go play in Japan, but return for Super Rugby. However, Japanese clubs are on the hunt for players who aren’t interested in Super Rugby, too, meaning lucrative opportunities with a less demanding schedule could become another draw card for those seeking a change in scenery.

French clubs are also starting to target some of South Africa’s age group players in the hope of getting them into French club rugby academy systems which could, later on, see them represent France.

Supersport.com also claims that a number of South African coaches are leaving the country with the full list published below.

BULLS

Dean Greyling (Oyonnax)
Marcel van der Merwe (Toulon)
Werner Kruger (Scarlets)
Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier)
Le Roux Roets (Racing Metro)
Lappies Labuschagne (Kubota Spears)
Deon Stegmann (Honda Heat)
Grant Hattingh (Kubota Spears)
Jacques Potgieter (Fukuoka Sanix Blues – returns for Super Rugby)
Duhan van der Merwe (Montpellier)

CHEETAHS

Maks van Dyk (Toulouse)
Coenie van Wyk (Toshiba Brave Lupis)
Henry Immelman (Montpellier)
Willie Britz (NTT Shining Arcs)
Francois Uys (Toyota Verblitz – returns for Super Rugby)

STORMERS

Vincent Koch (Saracens)
Schalk Burger (Saracens)
Nic Groom (Northampton Saints)
Louis Schreuder (Kubota Spears)
Jean Kleyn (Munster)

SHARKS

Marcell Coetzee (Ulster)
JP Pietersen (Leicester Tigers)
Paul Jordaan (La Rochelle)
Joe Pietersen (Kamiashi Seawaves)
Kyle Cooper (Newcastle Falcons)

LIONS

Franco Mostert (Lyon)
Derick Minnie (Zebre)
Marnitz Boshoff (Connacht)
Warren Whiteley (Docomo Red Hurricanes, returns for Super Rugby)
Jaco Kriel (Kubota Spears, returns for Super Rugby)
Lionel Mapoe (Kubota Spears, returns for Super Rugby)
Elton Jantjies (NTT Shining Arcs, returns for Super Rugby) Lloyd Greeff (Zebre)
Warwick Tecklenburg (Kamiashi Seawaves, returns for Super Rugby)

SOUTHERN KINGS

Steven Sykes (Oyonnax)
Schalk Oelofste (Mont-de-Marsan)
Philip du Preez (Mont-de-Marsan)
Louis Fouche (Kubota Spears)
Aiden Davids (Toulon)
James Hall (Oyonnax, returns for Super Rugby)
Shane Gates (NTT Shining Arcs)
Jurgen Visser (Docomo Red Hurricanes)

SA SEVENS

Francois Hougaard (Worcester)

LEOPARDS

Bart Le Roux (Zebre)

Unattached

Gerbrand Grobler (Racing Metro, suspension ends October 8 2016)

Coaches heading overseas

Dawie Theron (Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Andre Tredoux (Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Rassie Erasmus (Munster)
Jacques Nienaber (Munster)
Frans Ludeke (Kubota Spears)
John McFarland (Kubota Spears)
Eugene Eloff (Austin Huns)
Phil Pretorius (Cayman Islands)

Springboks Elton Jantjies, Warren Whiteley and Jaco Kriel all believed to be on the list heading for overseas posts.

30/06/2016

Cape Town - Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Peterson will investigate why the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) has expressed interest in buying Chevron’s assets without her consent, the Department of Energy (DoE) said on Thursday.

The DoE is disturbed at the complete disregard for governance processes by the entity in question, DoE director-general Thabane Zulu said in a statement on Thursday.

“An offer to purchase by an entity of the Department of Energy requires express consent from the Minister of Energy as the ultimate Shareholder representative,” he said. “This was neither sought nor obtained.”

“In view of this failure to observe the correct processes, the Minister of Energy and the director general will initiate a thorough investigation into the matter in consultation with both the boards of CEF (Central Energy Fund) and SFF.”

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it was shocked at the plan by the SFF to buy Cape Town's Chevron refinery and 845 Caltex petrol service stations.

"What we need is fewer government-run businesses and not more," said Chamber Janine Myburgh in a statement on Thursday.

"The plain truth is that state owned enterprises have been a disaster. Look at Eskom and its costly attempts to build new power stations. Look at SAA, PetroSA and the Post Office which all run at huge losses. They don't contribute to economic growth, they re**rd it," she said.

"What makes this even more frightening is that the Strategic Fuel Fund would be used to buy and manage the refinery and its retail outlets. The SFF has no understanding of business. They proved this when they sold off the country's entire fuel reserves for the equivalent of $28 a barrel at a time when the world oil prices ranged between $37 and $44 a barrel. That decision looks even worse now with the oil price close to $50 a barrel."

If the government did not buy the refinery there would probably be a normal commercial sale and the refinery would continue to produce fuel and its 845 petrol stations would continue to provide a service to the public and pay taxes.

"It just does not make sense. People will soon be looking for ulterior motives," Myburgh said.

Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Peterson says she will investigate why the Strategic Fuel Fund has expressed interest in buying Chevron’s assets without her consent.

30/06/2016

Johannesburg - The outspoken Mzwanele (Jimmy) Manyi is, at the behest of the Gupta family, a strong candidate to become director general (DG) of mineral resources, Fin24's sister publication Rapport reported on Sunday.

Manyi, an ardent supporter of President Jacob Zuma, is also friends with the Guptas and even presented a talk show on their TV channel, ANN7.

He laughed when the Sunday newspaper, part of Netwerk24, questioned him on Friday about the Guptas and the position, and insisted that he knew nothing about it.

Two impeccable sources in the government however confirmed that Manyi applied for the post and that he was being considered for it.

"There is strong pressure from the Guptas that he should get it," said one of the sources.

Manyi is especially infamous for the statement he made while chief spokesperson for the government in 2011 that there was an "oversupplyof coloureds" in the Western Cape, and that they should be redeployed to other provinces.

This sparked an outcry, including from Trevor Manuel, then minister in the presidency, who called Manyi a racist in an open letter.

The DG position has been vacant since February following the unexpected resignation of Thibedi Ramontja.

Ramontja announced his resignation in December, two months after Zuma replaced mineral resources minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi with Mosebenzi Zwane.

Within days after the resignation, it was announced that the Optimum coal mine had been sold to the Gupta- and Zuma-owned Tegeta Resources.

The transaction was closed in the weeks after Zwane met with Glencore's management at the company's headquarters in Baar, Switzerland. The Guptas were at Glencore's headquarters at the same time.

It was an open secret in the corridors of the department that Ramontja was not prepared to put up with the political interference Zwane caused in the department.

Manyi has in the past held two DG posts.

The first was DG of Labour, but he was fired by the then minister Membathisi Mdladlana in May 2011 for trying to persuade the Norwegian ambassador Tor Christian-Hilden to use him as an intermediary for the conclusion of contracts with members of the Black Business Council. Manyi was the BBC chairperson at the time.

Zuma fired Mdladlana a month later.

Shortly afterwards, Manyi was appointed DG of the government's information service in place of Themba Maseko, who earlier this year revealed that Zuma had asked him at the time to help the Guptas kickstart their newspaper, The New Age, by buying advertising space for government advertising in the newspaper.

Following this, Manyi was appointed the government's main spokesperson for two years, but his contract expired in August 2013 and was not renewed.

He had been involved in several black business organisations, but resigned from these posts when he became government spokesperson.

Since then he has established a new organisation - the Progressive Professionals Forum.

He is a busy and controversial user of Twitter, which he uses mainly to praise Zuma.

Manyi has a technikon diploma in economic geology and describes himself as a "chartered marketer".

The outspoken Mzwanele (Jimmy) Manyi is, at the behest of the Gupta family, a strong candidate to become director general of mineral resources.

30/06/2016

WHAT A LOAD OF HOGWASH!!!!
Taking Kids to Church Violates Their Human Rights, Says UN
Asking children to attend Christian assemblies undermines their human rights, according to a United Nations committee.
A highly controversial new report by the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child expresses “concern” that pupils in the U.K. are legally required to take part in a daily act of collective worship, which is “wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.”
Conservative MP David Burrowes described the criticism as “ludicrous” and said the government can “respectfully put those kinds of reports in the bin where they belong.”
The committee recommended that the government “repeal legal provisions for compulsory attendance at collective worship.” Its recommendations are not legally binding.
Parents can already withdraw their children from collective worship, but the committee wants children to be able to act independently of their parents.

  Asking children to attend Christian assemblies undermines their human rights, according to a United Nations committee. A highly controversial new report by the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child expresses “concern” that pupils in the U.K. are legally required to take part in a daily act of…

30/06/2016

The Department of Transport has admitted to registering more than 2,000 dangerous "pseudo-Quantums" for use on the country's roads, despite warnings from the manufacturer that they were unsafe for human transport.
The admission was made during a hearing by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela into the conversion of panel vans into minibus taxis.
Complainant Hennie de Beer said the conversions were unsafe as the chassis and floor of the vehicles were weak because they were built to carry goods and not people.
On Tuesday the inquiry was told that private companies, with links to car dealerships, were responsible for the conversions.
Madonsela, who referred to the vehicles as "pseudo-Quantums", is trying to determine whether the department and regulatory officials failed in their duty to protect commuters.
Taxi owners, who were sold the panel vans in the taxi recapitalisation drive, thought they were buying safe new Quantum Ses'fikile models. Instead, the inquiry heard, they were sold vehicles made by Toyota to transport goods. Toyota issued a warning in 2009 to the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications to ensure the vehicles were tested to ascertain theymet safety standards.
Madonsela said Toyota refused to issue a letter of authority for its panel vans to be converted because the commercial vehicle was built to transport goods and not people.
The vans have passenger seats bolted on to the floor instead of the chassis. Seatbelts are attached to the seats instead of on the body of the vehicle. De Beer and others said these were not safe.
The inquiry heard that when the vehicles are involved in accidents passengers are often ejected from them, causing death or serious injury. ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring confirmed this yesterday, saying in a high percentage of taxi accidents passengers are ejected.
"Your chances of survival decrease if you are ejected," he said.
Asked if the department knew of Toyota's warning, deputy director-general Mathabatha Mokonyane said the department relied on the regulatory body for advice.
He said after the defective minibuses were identified in 2007 a special task team was set up to "retrofit" them, to try to make them safer.
"We legally modified, brought safety elements required for the taxi recapitalisation programme and [had them] tested by SA Bureau of Standards." He said the regulatory body was part of the process.
The safety modifications included rollover bars to stop the vehicles from crumpling in an accident.
Mokonyane admitted illegal conversions could still be happening: "We are not denying that illegal conversions are happening."
The department said a total of 2353 converted panel vans were identified but it did not know how many were refitted and issued with licences. This was because taxi drivers were reluctant to pay the additional R18000 for additional safety measures and the government would not pay the amount.
Mokonyane could not explain how the department overruled the warning of the manufacturer.
De Beer, who worked in the banking sector providing loans for the converted panel vans, complained to the Public Protector about the practice.
He said: "Lack of effective controls created a breeding ground for deception, fraud and syndication, with the ultimate purpose of exploiting the unsophisticated taxi owners for huge monetary gains."
Cutting outside panels to fit windows weakened the structure, with zero chances of survival in an accident, De Beer said. He has documented at least 200 accidents in which passengers were flung from converted vehicles.
Speaking at the inquiry, transport director-general Chris Hlabisa said: "We will co-operate with the investigation. We will look at the option of removing the vehicles from the system." - Additional reporting Shaun Smillie

The Department of Transport has admitted to registering more than 2,000 dangerous

29/06/2016

Moving Day and Home Security

Moving soon? While packing and logistics are sure to be on the forefront of your mind, don’t forget to factor a home security checklist of sorts into your plans.

The following are just a few ideas to help you maximize good home security in your new location.

Immediately Change Your Locks
One of the first rules of home security is to limit and control the access that outsiders have to your home. Most people readily agree with this logic, but overlook changing their locks when moving into a new house or apartment. A failure to do so, however, leaves new residents at the mercy of former occupants…and whomever they’ve shared keys with.

Check Your New Home’s Perimeter
While you probably knew every possible entrance, nook and cranny around your former home, you’re going to need to now focus your attention on these same areas in your new one. We suggest taking a good long look around your new home’s perimeter and specifically looking for places where a burglar may hide or enter without being noticed. Some places to pay close attention to are shrubs that surround windows and doors, as well as any crawlspaces that may be unsecured. Think for a moment, if you were a criminal, where could you most easily enter the home without calling attention to yourself?

Contact Your Home Security Company
When you move, your security system and alarm monitoring should move with you. As soon as you legally take possession of your new home, call your alarm company to begin the process of moving your alarm and other security devices, such as surveillance cameras and security lighting. Double check to be sure that your information is also updated with your alarm monitoring service, too.

Supervise Movers and Service People
Although moving takes a lot of physical energy and mental focus, it isn’t an excuse to let your guard down on home security. With this in mind, it is very important that you closely monitor and supervise all of the movers and service people going in and out of your home. In addition to watching them while they are on the premises, be sure to check for unlocked doors and windows after they’ve left. More than one person has been burglarized by a service person who purposely left a bathroom window cracked or a side door unlocked with the purpose of returning later while a homeowner is absent. Remember, burglars aren’t always bad guys hanging out in dark alleys. Many of them have day jobs with clean cut looks and crisp uniforms.

Time to Automate
Moving into a new house, apartment or condo is a good time to also think about how many home security devices you can automate. While arranging furniture and decorating rooms, consider which lighting options you can automate by pre-scheduling on and off times or even operating remotely by using your smartphone. Your burglar alarm and all of your surveillance cameras should also be updated to the latest technologies that allow you to remotely monitor each of these systems.

These are but a few useful tips and ideas to help guide you through a safe and secure moving day.

Have you recently moved? What lessons did you learn in the process and do you have any advice to share?

29/06/2016

Murdered: SA super-athlete Jan Hettema, 83, retired world-champion cyclist and rally-driver, was shot dead at point blank range in his face by two black gunmen at the front door of his smallholding in Tweedracht, Boschkop Road, outside Pretoria. He was 83 years old. He was trying to flee from two black gunmen who had ambushed him outside his home. The gunmen caught up with him and shot him in the face. SAPS capt Marissa van der Merwe confirmed that Mr Hettema was shot dead. 'According to the information we have available, one of the workers called to Hettema to warn that 'people were chopping down trees outside for firewood. Apparently this had happened several times before,' said Van der Merwe. Hettema went outside to investigate and was ambushed by two black male gunmen. He tried to run back into the house but they caught up with the old man and shot him point-black in his face. The suspects then tied up Mrs Hettema, 68, the black maid and her baby and 'ordered the women not to look into the faces of the attackers'. The women and the baby then were locked into a closet'. Reportedly the house was 'turned upside down' but 'it's not clear if there was anything robbed. Police said that Mrs Hettema also was assaulted but did not need medical attention. She did however require trauma-treatment. The police officer said that 'at this stage we do not know if there actually hád been people chopping down firewood, or if these people were involved. It forms part of our investigation', she added. The police have opened a murder docket. They are also investigating 'robbery' but will have to determine whether anything was robbed after they had spoken to the badly traumatised Mrs Hettema. Reportedly the maid and the baby remained unscathed.
http://maroelamedia.co.za/…/kleinhoewe-aanval-bejaarde-doo…/ -

29/06/2016

CHEVRON SOUTH AFRICA: Alleged CEPPAWU Strike / Fuel delivery Strike

Cape Town, June 29, 2016: Chevron South Africa is aware of incorrect information circulating on social media regarding a national fuel delivery strike. We can confirm that this information is incorrect and fuel deliveries and supplies to filling stations across the country remain normal.

Ends

Suzanne Pullinger ●●Communications Manager
[email protected]



Policy, Government & Public Affairs
Chevron South Africa (Pty) Limited
Chevron House, PO Box 714
Cape Town, 8000

Tel: +27 21 403 7911 Mobile:
+27 83 708 0089

I appreciate CSOC Feedback. My CAI is SUZP

29/06/2016

Cape Town - All three members of the Van Breda family who were murdered in their home on the De Zalze estate in Stellenbosch last year succumbed to serious cuts to their skulls.
Netwerk24 reported on Wednesday that this information is contained in forensic reports which will be used in the trial of Henri van Breda, 21, who is charged with murdering his parents, Martin and Teresa, and older brother Rudi. His younger sister, Marli, was seriously injured in the attack.
Henri faces three counts of premeditated murder, one of attempted murder and one of obstructing the course of justice. He handed himself over to police earlier this month and was granted bail of R100 000 on June 14. His trial will start in the Western Cape High Court on September 9.

The forensic reports, which were gained by Eikestadnuus, detail how Martin, Teresa and Rudi had severe cuts to the right side of their skulls and that this was the cause of their deaths. Several other wounds were also found on their bodies.
An axe, weighing 4.5kg, was used in the attack and recovered from the scene. The impact blows were about 500kg/cm². A kitchen knife was also recovered from the scene.
Henri was found at the house after the murders wearing sleeping shorts and white socks. DNA analysis of the blood found on him and his clothing matches the DNA of his dead family members.
Henri was also wounded, but these wounds were superficial and the State said it has expert medical opinion that the wounds were self-inflicted. He is also accused of tampering with the crime scene and supplying false information to the police.
The investigation into the murders lasted for more than 16 months, but the National Prosecuting Authority now believes it has enough evidence to begin the trial.
Meanwhile, Marli van Breda's advocate, Louise Buikman, did not respond to Netwerk24 questions on Marli's condition. Earlier this month, Buikman told News24 that Marli is aware that Henri had been arrested and "the news is understandably very distressing to Marli". She confirmed that Marli was in contact with her brother.

Forensic reports reveal that all three members of the Van Breda family who were murdered last year succumbed to serious cuts to the right side of their skulls.

29/06/2016

There is currently a service delivery protest at the Morgan Bay junction so any motorists intending to go to Kei Mouth or Morgan Bay please be cautious . Police are on the scene. Amathole District Municipality East London!

28/06/2016

Cape Town businessman released on R100 000 bail

Cape Town - Cape Town businessman Irshaad Laher was granted R100 000 bail in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Monday, where he appeared on charges of gun smuggling and racketeering.

The 41-year-old was arrested at his Rondebosch home on Thursday. He is accused of buying fi****ms from a former police colonel who stole them from a police armoury.

Ex-policeman Chris Prinsloo, 55, of Vereeniging, was sentenced to in effect 18 years behind bars last week, after he entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the State.

In his plea agreement, Prinsloo said he provided guns to a man in Cape Town, which eventually ended up in the hands of gangsters.

Prinsloo pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including theft, racketeering, and money laundering.

He was in charge of a police armoury from which 2400 guns were stolen over almost a decade. He raked in R2 million for stealing guns and ammunition destined for destruction.

Most of these fi****ms were believed to have been sold to gangs on the Cape Flats.

Laher, the part-owner of four businesses, lived in Gauteng before he moved to Cape Town.

In an affidavit, he said he became aware that he was being investigated for his alleged involvement in a criminal syndicate in February 2015. Since then he had been co-operating with the police’s investigation.

The father of two said he was a dedicated shooter and hunter and part of the SA Hunters Association. He had a number of competency certificates and gun licences. He said he took part in competitive shots and boasted provincial colours.

He carried a weapon for self-defence as his business interests meant he regularly drew large amounts of cash, he said in his statement.

Prinsloo apparently met Laher when he was a policeman and Laher a reservist. He told police after his arrest that he sold about 2000 guns to Laher, the State alleges.

Prinsloo allegedly made deliveries to others for collection by Laher and delivered fi****ms to him in the Western Cape. Some of the deliveries were made at the McDonald’s in Ottery, near the Spur owned by Laher.

According to the State, in their last transaction in December 2014, Laher paid Prinsloo R120 000 for a shipment of fi****ms. It never materialised as Prinsloo was arrested the following month.

The case was postponed to July 22.