It is "irresponsible" of the mayoral committee to support carving up the land in Philippi, say civic and farming organisations.

Cape Town - It is “irresponsible” of the mayoral committee to support carving up the city’s “hidden jewel” of agricultural land in Philippi to private developers for a quick buck, because the poor will suffer, say civic and farming organisations.

On Tuesday mayco recommended that council approve an application to amend the urban edge at the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) to make way for a commercial and housing development.

Schaapkraal Civic and Environmental Association secretary Nazeer Sonday said consumers could pay between three and five times more for vegetables if the city lost the land as produce would have to be transported from other regions.

“The poor will suffer and it is an injustice, yet we have a city that says it is working for its people, but they do the exact opposite,” he said.

“Some 80 percent of the city’s citizens don’t have enough food to eat because of poverty, unemployment and inequality. Over 20 percent of fresh produce from the area is sold by hawkers and spaza shops in the poor areas while the rest is sold to major companies like Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Woolworths and Fruit and Veg City.” With rising fuel costs, the PHA was ideally located and was an important insurance policy against runaway food prices, Sonday said.

The area has been earmarked for GAP and subsidised housing after an application by Exclusive Access Trading 570, a subsidiary company of MSP developers who propose to build a commercial node and approximately 6 000 homes.

This is the second time the city has supported amending the urban edge, going against its own development policies, after it adopted the Cape Town Spatial Development Framework last year.

The framework defines the urban edge and restricts development outside of it in order to protect agricultural land and keep infrastructure costs down. The PHA, prime agricultural land, produces about 48 vegetable types, making up over half the fresh vegetables consumed in Cape Town.

According to a 2012 African Food Security Urban Network study, the PHA produces an estimated 100 000 tons of fresh produce annually.

Sonday said it was “perplexing” that mayor Patricia de Lille and mayco “suddenly found urgent reasons to carve up the PHA and sell (it) off to private developers whose only aim is to make a quick buck”.

Mayco member for economic, environmental and spatial planning, Garreth Bloor, said: “The city has to balance at times competing needs… rapid urbanisation into the city has necessitated that we urgently identify suitable land for housing. The recommendation to council is to include certain erven in the PHA into the urban edge. This does not apply to the entire PHA, in which agriculture will continue.”

Farmers and several civic organisations near Schaapkraal agree there is a dire need for housing and formed a sub-committee which developed a PHA Vision Plan.

The plan offers marginal agricultural land of approximately 800ha for urban development on the northern side of the PHA which would protect the valuable farmland on the south. The plan was presented to the local sub council and De Lille last year.

Sonday said the plan was brushed aside and that it seemed De Lille “had already made up her mind” in November to support development on the south of the PHA.

Rob Small, founder of the Farm & Garden Trust, said it was appalling that mayco simply ignored the real options such as the PHA Vision Plan. Small said the city’s mandate did not give them the right to “damage, even destroy, the future food and ground water system sustainability of Cape Town”.

zara.nicholson@inl.co.za

Cape Times

The former manager of a fishing company hopes to negotiate a plea-bargain on multiple fraud charges involving the creation of "ghost" crew members.

Cape Town - The former manager of a fishing company hopes to negotiate a plea-bargain on multiple fraud charges involving the creation of “ghost” crew members.

Dalton Glenville Randall appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Cape Town on Thursday, before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg. The case was postponed to September 26.

A plea bargain is an agreement negotiated with the State, in which all parties involved agree to the sentence to be imposed.

If no deal can be reached the case goes on trial in the normal manner.

Randall faces 486 counts of fraud, and one framed in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

Prosecutor Derek Vogel alleges the embezzlement took place over eight years.

According to the charge sheet, Randall was the manager at Flantrade Fishing, a company that provides management and operational services to fishing vessels.

His duties included authorisation and payment of expenses and supplies, the purchase of bait and the payment of salaries and commissions to crew members.

Randall had to prepare written schedules reflecting the names of crew members and the amounts to be paid to them. The State alleges the schedules Randall submitted to financial manager Craig Myburgh, for the payment of crew salaries and commissions, contained fictitious names referred to in the charge sheet as “ghost” crew members.

Randall then allegedly channelled salaries and commissions of R2.5 million for “ghost” crew members into two private bank accounts, for his own personal use.

Randall also allegedly submitted fake invoices totalling R1.2m for bait purchased, to Myburgh. - Sapa

Two men were caught outside Uniondale with 2 813 illegal perlemoen (abalone) in their possession.

Cape Town - Two men were caught outside Uniondale with illegal perlemoen (abalone) in their possession on Thursday, Western Cape police said.

The men were arrested on the N9 after their vehicle was stopped for a routine check 10km outside Uniondale.

“The occupants appeared very nervous and were hesitant to disclose their whereabouts or baggage to the members, and 2813 abalone concealed in 57 big plastic bags was discovered,” police said.

The men would appear at the Uniondale Magistrate's Court on Monday. - Sapa

It was meant to be an apology, but the writers who made jokes about "corrective rape" have only fuelled the fire.

Cape Town - It was meant to be an apology, but an open letter by the FHM writers who were suspended after making jokes about “corrective rape” on Facebook has only fuelled the fire.

Users on social media have accused the pair of using their public apology as nothing more than a platform to “play the blame game” and to justify their comments.

The initial furore was sparked earlier this week after a Facebook conversation involving FHM’s features editor Max Barashenkov and colleague, writer Montle Moroosi, was circulated on Twitter.

“I propose correctional rape and sterilisation for any white person who twerks,” wrote Barashenkov in a status update, referring to a type of dance.

Moroosi later joined in on the conversation: “I think rape can be quite fun if executed in a romantic manner. Like saying ‘I love you’ before slipping a roofie in her Earl Grey tea.”

After other users challenged the pair on their comments, Barashenkov wrote that he had been a victim of “corrective rape” and was entitled to make jokes about it.

“Corrective rape” is a common hate crime, in which a person is raped because of their perceived sexual orientation. The intention of the attacker is to “correct” the victim’s behaviour.

Local charity and support group Luleki Sizwe says at least 10 lesbians are raped or gang-raped every week in Cape Town. It is believed many of these attacks are “corrective rapes”.

Barashenkov and Moroosi’s comments were met with outrage on Twitter, and FHM suspended the pair.

On Thursday, the writers posted an apology on their shared blog.

“We apologise sincerely for our distasteful and insensitive comments and would especially like to extend our apologies to anyone who has ever gone through the horror of rape,” they wrote.

But the pair also challenged the way they were “publicly lynched for engaging with a taboo subject in their private capacity”, questioning why actual incidents of rape were not met with the same public outcry.

“In the morning, the rape will go on, the rapists will walk free, the media will remain indifferent, but the country will feel better because the real dirt is now under the carpet.

“The fact that our private joke eclipsed other content on South Africa’s media outlets, the fact that we trended above Mandela for the day, points to a problem far greater.”

However, most users were not happy with the apology.

@FreshGrndEarth tweeted: “Only you could turn an apology into a lecture, pointing fingers at others. This equals the shame of your jokes.”

“So because we are unable to prevent every rape in this country, we should not react to jokes that perpetuate rape culture… um, okay,” added @Frances_Hobden.

Rachel Jewkes, director for the Medical Research Council’s Gender and Health Unit said she was horrified when she saw the writers’ initial comments.

“But the apology is even worse.” She said despite assertions by the writers that the comments were made in jest, the pair were part of the country’s rape problem.

“They are basically encouraging rape… By making light of such a violent and brutal crime, they are inciting it.”

Jewkes said the unit’s research had found that many men found guilty of raping someone, did so because in their minds it was a social norm and not a serious offence.

“It is absolutely critical that the media are responsible not only in the way that they report rape, but also the way they react to rape.” Jewkes said she could see no situation where the pair should be allowed to return to their jobs.

FHM editor Brandon Cooper told the Cape Argus the writers had been charged, and would remain suspended until Media24’s internal disciplinary process had been completed.

“I’m not sure whether their apology will have any bearing on this but it will definitely get people chattering.”

While Moroosi said he would be in contact with the Cape Argus today, attempts to reach Barashenkov were unsuccessful.

kieran.legg@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

A mom, her daughter and grandson remain in a critical condition after a suspected gas leak in their home.

Cape Town - A mother, her daughter and toddler grandson remain in a critical condition after a suspected gas leak in their Grassy Park home that killed three other members of their family.

The bodies of Keanan Manuel, 54, and his children Ashley, 6, and Caitlyn, 9, were found in their backyard home on Tuesday. Keanan’s wife, Deborah, her daughter Chandre, 21, and grandson Jordan, 2, were rushed to hospital.

On Thursday, Groote Schuur Hospital said Deborah Manuel’s condition had worsened. Her daughter’s condition was unchanged and

her grandson was recovering.

Kevin Robertson, of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association, said he believed it was more likely that the family had been affected by a build-up of carbon monoxide.

He said when using gas, the room should be ventilated and the appliance should comply with the national standard.

Cadet News Agency

Cape Argus

Murdered brothel owner Pedro Lopez was stabbed 20 times, allegedly by the partner of his drug-addicted make-up artist.

Cape Town - Murdered brothel owner Pedro Lopez was stabbed 20 times inside his Oranjezicht home, the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court has heard.

This was the evidence of investigating officer Constable Mechelace Adams, who testified in the bail application of Octavia Mulder, who worked for Lopez as a make-up artist.

Mulder, 20, and her boyfriend, Trevor Daries, 26, both of Mitchells Plain, pleaded not guilty to murder and aggravated robbery.

It is alleged they went to Lopez’s house on May 8.

In a confession, which Mulder claims she made while on drugs, she said she asked Lopez for the money that he owed her.

Mulder testified on Thurday that she was introduced to Lopez by a school friend when she was 17, and worked as a make-up artist for the prostitutes during the June 2010 school holidays. She worked for him five days a week, earning R100 for each girl. She told her parents she was working in an antiques shop.

The court heard Mulder has been addicted to heroin since 2007 and has been in and out of rehab since 2011. Asked why she wanted bail, Mulder said: “I didn’t kill the man, and I would really like to go to rehab. I won’t run away… and I want to be with my family.”

The States alleges that when Lopez, 38, refused to give Mulder the money she’d come for, there was a scuffle and Daries, who had a knife, stabbed Lopez in the back, chest, arm and feet.

Lopez also had a bite mark on his shoulder. Dental impressions of the couple’s teeth were taken and will be compared with the bite mark found during the autopsy.

The duo had allegedly demanded access to Lopez’s safe inside but only made off with Lopez’s cellphone.

Mulder was arrested in the house the next day and Daries, who had fled, was arrested shortly afterwards.

Adams said he opposed Mulder’s release on bail because of the seriousness of the crime and the fact her heroin addiction could lead her to commit further crimes.

But Gilbert Jose, for Mulder, said she had no criminal record, had a fixed address and would abide by conditions to ensure her court attendance.

Daries has abandoned his bail application.

Magistrate Alfrieda Lewis is expected to decide whether Mulder may be released on bail on Friday.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Police are searching for three suspects who robbed a Pick n Pay Family supermarket in Cape Town of R250 000.

Cape Town - Police are searching for three men who robbed a Pick n Pay Family supermarket in Plumstead of R250 000 on Thursday.

Police spokesman Keith Chandler said one of the men, who wore balaclavas, had put a gun to the assistant pay clerk’s head demanding money.

Chandler said the incident had taken place at the supermarket’s pay office, which is not inside the store but in the same centre.

He said the three men

had burst into the office.

“They went directly to the assistant pay clerk who was busy with the wages and put a pistol against her head,” he said.

The men allegedly said, “gee die geld” (give the money).

The robbers had stolen a box containing about R250 000 and a cellphone from the desk, he added.

They fled.

Within minutes of the robbery, specialised units were summoned to the scene.

A street away, in Windsor Road, police found the abandoned car which had red tape on its rear windscreen.

Police cordoned off the scene while curious residents asked what had happened.

“It’s scary, we are not safe anywhere,” said one.

Another resident said he had seen the car parked in the road the night before.

A security guard, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had had seen the car drive off.

“One of the cleaners shouted that the store had been robbed. I saw the people drive off in the car,” he said.

“I ran after the car, but it drove away.”

Regional manager of Pick n Pay Western Cape Abdurahman Hamdulay said no one had been injured during the robbery.

“The store was not closed. Pick n Pay is working with the police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Arnold Bosch at 021 710 7321.

This is not the first incident to take place at the store. In November 2002, a cashier, who worked at the supermarket, was gunned down inside the store by her estranged husband.

Faye Pratt, 42, a packer and cashier, was murdered in full view of shoppers.

Her estranged husband, Timothy Pratt, 40, walked into the shop and shot her in the head before turning the gun on himself.

natasha.bezuidenhout@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Doctors and staff at 2 Military Hospital are calling for improved security after a gun-toting man walked into the hospital.

Cape Town - Doctors and staff at 2 Military Hospital signed a petition calling for improved security after a gun-toting man walked into the hospital’s casualty ward about six weeks ago.

But the plea was completely ignored by the hospital’s management, the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) in the Western Cape has said. Tim Flack, the provincial organiser for Sandu, says staff are still too scared to put their criticism on record to the media.

On Tuesday, the Cape Argus reported that Wynberg Military Base and 2 Military Hospital (which is located at the base) had not had access control or security guards for a number of months. In addition to the hospital, the base primarily consists of housing units for defence force employees. Sandu has confirmed complaints about break-ins and home invasions at the base, and thefts inside the hospital.

In one case, a man carrying a firearm entered casualty during the night. Flack said he was the husband of a woman who had been injured in a shooting, and who was being treated there.

In the absence of security, a lone medical intern had to calm the man down while she waited for the police.

A visit to the base on Thursday confirmed that the base remained unguarded. The defence force promised to respond to media queries about the base’s and hospital’s apparent lack of security, but failed to do so.

Spokesman Lieutenant Romeo Mabote said on Thursday the inquiry was receiving the “priority that it deserves with the relevant respondents”.

Flack lashed out at the department’s tardiness in responding, accusing it of being arrogant and having an “above the law” mentality. Defence analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman said the lack of security was less likely to do with funding and more likely to do with a “sloppiness and lack of will” that was pervasive throughout the force.

A R600 million upgrade of the base this year suggested that money was available.

daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

After a frantic 24-hour search, the baby who was kidnapped in Wellington has been found.

Cape Town - After a frantic 24-hour search, the baby who was kidnapped in Wellington on Wednesday evening has been found.

When two-month-old Jashmea Albertus went missing from her home in the Boland town, her mother, Meagan, suspected that the child’s carer, a 17-year-old girl, was behind the abduction.The Pink Ladies, a local non-governmental organisation which assists the police with missing person cases, identified the girl only by the name Bronwin.

Bronwin had apparently left Albertus’s home indicating she would take the baby to her aunt’s house.

When Albertus went to the aunt’s house later, neither the aunt, Bronwin nor Jashmea were there.

She immediately alerted the police.

Police asked the public to look out for Bronwin who they described as being of light complexion, short, full-figured with curly hair and with blonde streaks in her hair.

Earlier, investigating officer Constable Yolanda Wildschut said the police had been searching in the Wellington area and had had very little to go on when the child had been reported missing by her mother on Wednesday evening .

She said the latest information had placed the girl and child in Delft.

However, on Thursday afternoon police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut said the baby had been found in Wellington.“

She was found in good health and will be reunited with her mother shortly.”

Albertus told the Cape Argus she was relieved her daughter had been found.

The 17-year-old who allegedly took the baby has been charged with kidnapping and will be detained until she is due to appear in court.

Pink Ladies spokeswoman Dessie Rechner thanked the police and online users for helping with the search.

kieran.legg@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

The new R500 million Mitchells Plain Hospital was built without the required zoning and building approvals.

Cape Town - The new R500-million Mitchells Plain Hospital was built without the required zoning and building approvals - and now the City of Cape Town’s planning portfolio committee wants to know how the provincial government managed it.

Councillor Brian Watkyns, of the city’s spatial planning, environment and land-use management committee, said the city should have declared a dispute with the provincial government.

Two issues have been flagged: the province’s failure to apply for the rezoning of the property, and not submitting building plans.

Garreth Bloor, mayoral committee member for economic, environmental and spatial planning, confirmed that the city had received an application to change the zoning of erf 21763 from rural to amenities and that it was being processed.

But construction started in 2010, and the doors opened in June.

Bloor said in terms of the National Building Regulations, government departments were only required to submit courtesy plans to the relevant authority. These did not have to be approved before construction.

He dismissed the concerns raised during the planning meeting, saying: “I note that the discussion on this matter arose as part of the outstanding items list. It needs to be noted that some incorrect statements were made during the deliberations by the committee.”

The report in question noted that a number of conditions set out in the application for rezoning “were not capable of performance in view of the fact that the hospital had already being built”.

Fiona Ogle, city head of legislation and enforcement, said the matter had been raised with the relevant provincial authorities who conceded things were done in an “unauthorised manner”.

However, Bloor said: “When and where there is a need to discuss compliance aspects the authorities use the inter-governmental relations route. Thus far, there has not been a need for this.”

anel.lewis@inl.co.za

Cape Times

The Western Cape Education Department has condemned the "disruptful" actions by Proudly Manenberg chairman Mario Wanza.

Cape Town - The Western Cape Education Department has condemned the “disruptful” actions by Proudly Manenberg chairman Mario Wanza after he and some pupils jumped over the school fence in a bid to rally pupils to join a march against gang violence.

Proudly Manenberg, along with pupils from schools in the area, had decided on an “impromptu” march against gangsterism in Manenberg on Thursday. The march date was later changed to Friday.

Manenberg High School was forced to end the day an hour earlier when the group of pupils and Proudly Manenberg members forced their way on to the school grounds.

Manenberg is on high alert after several people were killed and wounded in recent gun battles, allegedly between the Hard Livings and the Americans gangs.

Wanza said they were forced to jump over the school fence after the principal locked the gates.

“We wanted to help the students because they wanted to take action and help stop the gang violence and march for peace. They have had enough of the shooting,” he said.

Wanza, who is also the United Democratic Front leader, said the principal was not a Manenberg resident and therefore did not experience the challenges in the community.

“When we went to speak to the principal, the principal refused to speak or meet with us. All we wanted to do was address the children on the issues they are facing, so we climbed over (the fence) to try and speak to them (pupils),” he said. Wanza said the group had since rallied pupils from other schools in Manenberg and planned to march in the area at 8am on Friday.

Education MEC Donald Grant’s spokeswoman, Bronagh Casey, said the principal had the right to refuse the group entry.

”The principal rightly refused for a variety of reasons, mainly because it was still school hours and it posed a safety risk for the learners.

“According to the Western Cape Provincial School Education Act 46B, the principal may not allow a political party or a member to conduct political party activities at a school during school time,” she said.

Casey said officials would monitor the school today to ensure that there were no further disruptions.

barbara.maregele@inl.co.za

Cape Times

The Western Cape High Court has ordered the shutdown of a Blue Downs bottle store - at least for now.

Cape Town - The Western Cape High Court has ordered the shutdown of a Blue Downs bottle store - at least for now.

Ernie’s Liquor Store in Blue Downs Way is positioned next to a church, opposite a mosque and near a crèche and a high school, sparking outrage in the community.

A group of residents, organisations and local representatives applied to the court on Monday seeking an urgent, interim interdict to stop Ernie’s from trading until the court reviewed the decision to grant the outlet a liquor licence.

This was on the same day that the outlet first opened.

Judge Dennis Davis granted an interim order yesterday - by agreement between several of the parties involved in the court application - restraining the bottle store from operating for the time being.

He noted that even though Ernie Fell, the outlet’s liquor licence holder, had been properly served with the court papers this week and had an opportunity to respond by either submitting an affidavit or making an appearance at court, he had not done so.

Among the other 21 respondents are the Western Cape Liquor Authority, several local councillors, Premier Helen Zille and mayor Patricia de Lille.

Fell, along with any of the other respondents who wished to do so, had until September 11 to show why an order should not be granted stopping the bottle store from trading until the review had been finalised.

After court proceedings, a small group of Blue Downs residents welcomed the outcome.

“I feel elated and vindicated,” said community leader Ridwaan Davids.

“We didn’t just do this by going on emotions. It was about the impact it would have on our area.”

Local residents said Davids had been objecting to the outlet since 2007 when they had first started sending letters of objection to the authorities.

“He (Fell) disregards the community. He knew as far back as 2007 that the community was against it, but he went ahead with it very quietly,” he added.

He said a community meeting would be scheduled for tonight at the crèche near Ernie’s to discuss the court outcome and what would happen next.

Councillor Achmat Williams, who has been assisting the applicants, said the community had “fought hard” to prevent the liquor store from opening its doors for business and would now take the matter forward by “getting the place permanently closed”.

In one letter dated November, 2007, the Tuscany Glen Ratepayers’ Association objected that liquor would be sold next to a church, opposite a mosque, “less than 100m” away from a child-care centre and “less than 500m” away from Tuscany Glen High School.

According to the association, it would impact on other businesses in the area because crime levels would “increase with more readily available alcohol and elements hanging around”.

leila.samodien@inl.co.za

Cape Times

One of the first responders to the 1996 Worcester bombing has called on President Zuma to launch a fund for the surviving victims.

Cape Town - A Worcester anti-apartheid activist and one of the first responders to the 1996 Christmas Eve Worcester bombing has called on President Jacob Zuma to launch a fund for the surviving victims.

Harris Sibeko, husband of the town’s then deputy mayor, Linda Sibeko, spoke on Thursday at the launch of a book on the reconciliation process following the blast which left four people dead - two of them nine-year-old children - and nearly 70 injured.

Sibeko said the families of those killed and injured were still struggling to come to terms with the trauma of the blast nearly 17 years ago. He said while some had forgiven one of the bombers, Stefaans Coetzee, a “deep sense of hurt” remained. “Some of the victims are still paying off doctors’ bills,” Sibeko said.

“Shortly after the bombing, there were promises of a R4 million fund. We never heard about it again. All we want from the government and the president is a fund from which victims can be refunded for medical costs. It won’t heal the mental scars, but it will make the healing process a bit easier.”

Sibeko recalled how pieces of flesh were scattered across the floor in Worcester’s Shoprite centre after the blast.

“I went in there to look for my wife, but she had already left. I was one of the first on the scene. It was a bad sight.”

The coffee table book A Journey of Hope, which includes a collage of photographs, was compiled by the Reverend Jan Ungerer and Paul Briers of the Worcester Hope and Reconciliation Process, a partnership between residents, the Restitution Foundation and the Khulumani Support Group.

Ungerer said they had chosen to launch the book on Nelson Mandela’s birthday because “reconciliation is what he stood for”.

clayton.barnes@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Two FHM writers who joked about corrective rape on Facebook have been fired.

Cape Town - Two FHM writers who joked about corrective rape on Facebook were fired on Friday, the magazine said.

“FHM would like to announce that following a disciplinary hearing held on Friday the 19th July 2013, presided over by an independent chairperson, former FHM employees Maxim Barashenkov and Montle Moorosi have been dismissed with immediate effect,” said a brief statement posted on the website of the men's magazine.

Earlier this week, FHM said it was “horrified to learn of the incredibly offensive comments made by two of our staff members”.

A status updated posted on Barashenkov's Facebook page started a social media storm on Tuesday.

The update read: “I propose correctional (sic) rape and sterilisation for any white person who twerks (dances).”

One of Barashenkov's female friend's rebuked him saying corrective rape should never be condoned.

Moorosi then commented: “I think rape can be quite fun if executed in a romantic manner. Like saying ‘I love you' before you slip a roofie (Rohypnol, a sedative) in her Earl Grey tea.”

Facebook friends derided the comments to which Barashenkov replied: “I myself was a victim of correctional rape, so I can make jokes about it.”

The pair published an open letter on Thursday, which started off with an apology but then went on to complain about the “media madness” around their “private conversation” on Facebook. - Sapa

A 77-year-old man accused of sexual exploitation has appeared in the Goodwood Magistrate's Court.

Cape Town - The bail application of a 77-year-old man accused of sexual exploitation was postponed in the Goodwood Magistrate's Court on Friday, Western Cape police said.

“He appeared this morning but the magistrate postponed the application until next week Tuesday,” said spokesman Nathan Ladegourdie.

The man has not yet pleaded.

He is being charged for crimes allegedly committed against two 14-year-old girls, a 15-year-old girl, and a 20-year-old woman between 2010 and this year.

The four were rescued from a house in Richwood in a joint police operation last Friday.

“(They) had previously been recruited from Dunoon and taken to Richwood, where they were sexually abused and exposed to pornography and prostitution,” he said.

They were taken into protective custody, Ladegourdie said. - Sapa

A police captain was arrested in Worcester for allegedly raping a 46-year-old woman in his official car.

Cape Town - A police captain was arrested in Worcester for allegedly raping a 46-year-old woman in his official car, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said on Friday.

“The complainant alleges that on June 20 at about 11.30pm she was raped by the suspect who was driving a marked SAPS vehicle while he was on duty,” spokesman Moses Dlamini said.

“The suspect allegedly threatened to shoot the victim and her son if she reported the matter to anyone which resulted in her not reporting it immediately after the incident.”

He said the 46-year-old man was arrested on Thursday after the woman opened a case against him.

“The Ipid conducted an investigation and decided to arrest the suspect on the same day based on the evidence uncovered.”

The man would appear in the Worcester Magistrate's Court on Monday on a charge of rape, Dlamini said. - Sapa

New developments for the V&A Waterfront’s for Granger Bay could include land reclamation, new luxury housing, and a hotel.

Cape Town - Major new development is on the cards for the V&A Waterfront with plans for Granger Bay already at the public participation stage, and possibly including land reclamation, new luxury housing, a hotel and the connection of the Waterfront pedestrian routes with existing city walkways such as the Sea Point promenade.

Although tight-lipped about the specifics, the V&A has admitted that a zoning application for the Granger Bay precinct has been submitted.

They have promised that other Granger Bay operators, who have in the past clashed with Waterfront owners over the future of the precinct, will be filled in on all the details if the plans are approved.

Waterfront spokeswoman Carla White confirmed they were at the “public participation stage”.

The goal was to improve the area, improve access to the Waterfront, and “stabilise and reinforce the dynamic coastline”, she said.

While the plans of previous owners, first mooted in 2005, included reclaiming huge chunks of land from the sea, creating man-made islands for the super-rich and closing the Oceana Power Boat Club, it is understood the new plans might include the reclamation and reinforcement of the bay area near Granger Bay.

The mixed-use plan would include development on Beach Road with MyCiTi bus stops and the possibility of connecting the Waterfront’s pedestrian routes with existing city walkways.

Of the 660 000m2 of land owned by the Waterfront, about 200 000m2 has yet to be developed and plans for the Granger Bay precinct currently include a mixed use development of about 34 000m2.

Its development by previous owners of the Waterfront ran into controversy eight years ago because they required the removal of the Oceana Power Boat Club which has been in Granger Bay for more than 30 years.

The club’s commodore, Colin Wolfsohn, said this week he was aware of the new plans, but was unable to elaborate further except to say that details would be revealed at a later stage.

Waterfront business development manager Mike Brokenshire said they had got the ball rolling in the long process of gaining permission to develop more land, with a view to improving the Granger Bay precinct.

But the development was unlikely to take place in the “short to medium term”, he said, adding that Granger Bay had always been listed in the development framework as “primarily residential” – which could include a hotel and/or small-scale retail or commercial opportunities.

The V&A Waterfront had already applied for approval of a broad precinct plan, which formed part of the “overarching V&A Waterfront development framework”.

Brokenshire said it was too early to determine the impact the approved plans would have on other operators in the area.

If the plans were approved, he said, “all information will be shared with these businesses”.

The Waterfront did not respond to questions about the costs associated with the expected development.

Cheryl Walters, the director of planning and building development management for the City of Cape Town, told Weekend Argus in April that no plans for development of the Granger Bay precinct had been submitted by the Waterfront but a “precinct plan proposal” had been submitted in terms of the “package of plans for the V&A Waterfront”.

This proposal detailed a “waterfront residential marina”, with a total floor area of 34 000m2. The envisaged land uses included residential, hotel, office and retail land uses, Walters said.

The city has not responded to further questions on the plans.

Meanwhile, Jane Lello, the marketing manager for The Grand Beach restaurant, said that despite persistent rumours of their closure, they had not been served notice. Their lease runs until 2017.

She believed the proposed developments would benefit the business.

Anya Ponton, the general manager of the upmarket apartment and yacht harbour complex, the Water Club, which is next to undeveloped Waterfront land extending to the seafront, said the Water Club could to an extent be affected by any potential developments.

She confirmed there had been discussions.

Brokenshire said that the impact of development at the V&A Waterfront had always been positive “in terms of value-add and job creation”.

When the PIC and Growthpoint bought the Waterfront in 2011, the R9 billion deal included all the undeveloped bulk, which at the time was more than 200 000m2, with flexible rights for use.

Since taking ownership, the new owners have focused heavily on development, investing in the Clock Tower, the Silo Precinct as well as the redevelopment of the food court.

The Silo 1 building, a commercial office space, is under construction and will house Allan Gray as the main tenant. The Silo 2 project will be a residential development, while the announcement for the use of the actual grain silo, a heritage building, has yet to be made, with construction on that building starting next year.

“The Clock Tower precinct currently houses No 1 and No 2 Silo respectively, and completion of these two projects is imminent,” Brokenshire said.

Focus would then shift to the Portswood Building, which was set for a residential development.

Work was likely to start around September.

The Cape Argus reported on Friday that the City of Cape Town had heeded concerns about the proposed development of the Clock Tower Precinct and its historic grain silo complex, by laying down strict conditions.

Many of the 30-odd objections lodged about the development, it said, referred to fears that additional buildings would obscure the grain silo complex.

The Waterfront confirmed that they were currently exploring a number of ideas and options for the grain silo and surrounding areas.

Weekend Argus

About 100 people protesting against portable toilets were undeterred by the cold and rain as they marched to the Western Cape High Court.

Cape Town - About 100 people protesting against portable toilets were undeterred by the cold and rain on Friday, as they marched from Cape Town station to the Western Cape High Court to hand over a four-page memorandum.

The marchers said they were also there to voice their unhappiness over the fact that seven of their leaders were being held in custody, without a chance of bail.

Earlier this month seven men, Andile Lili, Loyiso Nkohla, Yanga Njingwana, Ben Dyani, Jaji Diniso, Bongile Zanazo and Thembela Mabanjwa, were denied bail by the Bellville Magistrate’s Court. The court deemed that they were likely to repeat the offence after they were arrested for throwing faeces around Cape Town International Airport.

The marchers sang songs laden with expletives directed at Premier Helen Zille and magistrate Jannie Kotze, who made the bail ruling, as they made their way through the city centre.

The group stopped en route at the provincial government offices, where faeces had also been strewn last month, and were addressed by leaders over a loudspeaker.

“Madam, we’ve come back to your building, you racist. You’re going to feel our wrath and we will not be intimidated by you at all. Do you think we’re mad for marching in the rain?” declared Sithembele Majova, spokesman for the group, who call themselves the Cape Town informal settlements task team.

He continued for some minutes, before the group moved on to the High Court.

The police had cordoned off the street, but the protesters broke the tapes and threatened to barge in.

Outside the court, Mongami Mbhele, who said he was the chairman of the task team, urged Zille and Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille to visit areas where the bucket system was in use.

“After this, we’re going cause trouble if they don’t attend to our needs immediately. From now on, we’re not going to shy away from trouble,” Mbhele said.

After protesting outside the court for more than two hours, the group made their way back to the station.

soyiso.maliti@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus

The Constantia Uitsig wine estate, in which businessman Tokyo Sexwale has a stake, is up for sale, a report said.

Cape Town - The Constantia Uitsig wine estate, in which businessman Tokyo Sexwale has a stake, is up for sale, the Sunday Times reported.

“We decided it's better to sell and concentrate on our agricultural investment in which we are operationally involved,” Piet Niemand, who is agricultural portfolio manager at Sexwale's Mvelephanda Holdings, reportedly told the newspaper.

The estate was also reportedly owned by a company run by former merchant banker Dave McCay.

According to the newspaper, Constantia Uitsig chairman Lawrie McIntosh said the decision to sell was based on McCay and his wife wanting a more restful life after his kidney transplant last year.

“It is exhausting to run an estate this size,” McIntosh was quoted as telling the newspaper.

New vines were planted at the estate in 1988. There are also reportedly acclaimed restaurants, a boutique hotel, a spa, stables and a cricket pitch on the property. - Sapa

The ANC is set to hand a dossier about Dan Plato’s alleged involvement with Cape gang bosses to the Hawks.

Cape Town - The ANC is to hand a dossier of information about Community Safety MEC Dan Plato’s alleged involvement with notorious Cape Town gang bosses to the elite crime-fighting unit the Hawks, and the Public Protector this week, in the latest twist in the murky battle being waged between DA politicians and the province’s top cops.

The seemingly bizarre allegations against Plato come against a background of Plato having compiled his own dossier replete with equally bizarre allegations against some of the province’s top police officers in what insiders describe as a “climate of distrust”.

Relations between the police and the Community Safety Department have deteriorated to such an extent that insiders claim Plato hired private investigators to spy on those cops with links to the ANC.

The ANC last week called for a probe into Plato and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille over what the party described as a “fabricated campaign founded on the concoction of fictitious facts” to discredit the national government in general, and the South African Police Service in particular.

A source alleged Plato even approached a former colleague of the ANC’s provincial chairman Marius Fransman – also the deputy minister of international relations and co-operation – to provide dirt on the ANC leader.

The ANC’s provincial secretary, Songezo Mjongile, confirmed the party’s legal team was wrapping up information on Plato, and that they were likely to hand their information to the relevant authorities by Tuesday.

Plato dismissed the allegations that his department had private investigators on its payroll, saying he could not turn away people who willingly came forward with information on alleged illegal activity.

“If some of that information alleges criminal activity, I am obliged to treat the information as serious, and, as such, hand it over to the relevant authorities to be investigated – the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), the Public Protector, or the provincial police commissioner’s office,” he said.

Plato said he was open to any full-scale investigation on him because the allegations against him were all lies.

“I reject their claims with the contempt that they deserve. These are all false claims about spying. I’ve never spied on anyone, and the DA has never paid for such nonsense,” he said, adding that when particularly sensitive information was given to him, he advised those people to go to the police.

While the MEC denied having any ill-will towards the provincial police, it is common cause that since taking office in the Western Cape, the provincial police chief, Arno Lamoer, has faced a fair bit of flak from the provincial government. Lamoer declined to comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, several intelligence insiders claimed there was evidence to back the allegations about Plato spying on the cops.

A source claimed there were taped conversations of meetings at the offices of a group posing as an NGO in Rondebosch but later found to be a front organisation.

Police insiders also confirmed they had been looking into Plato’s alleged ties with the gangs.

It is common knowledge Plato has been waving his own dossier around for two years, threatening to expose corruption within the ANC and police service.

From the start Plato has been upfront about his meetings with “community-based gangsters”, mainly youths.

He has also defended controver-sial efforts at peace-brokering on the Cape Flats.

Plato has even accused the ANC of conspiring with gang bosses, claiming he had received “reliable information” that senior ANC leaders had met numerous top gang bosses in the Western Cape.

Weekend Argus