Capetonians gathering on the Grand Parade watched in awe as Barack Obama spoke at the memorial for Nelson Mandela.

 Cape Town - US President Barack Obama's tribute to former president Nelson Mandela resonated most with Capetonians gathered on the Grand Parade on Tuesday.

People watched in awe as Obama spoke at the official memorial service for Mandela at the FNB Stadium, in Soweto.

The footage was screened live on the Parade, in Darling Street.

“I think Barack Obama really nailed it. He put a lot of thought into it and he's always just such a moving speaker,” said Ryan Robinson.

Claremont resident Ndikho Fani was equally impressed.

“I think he connected with the South Africans in many respects, especially drawing comparisons between the racial struggles in America and South Africa,” he said.

Asked why many on the Parade booed Zuma, Fani said: “I think Zuma has lost touch with the masses and I think his support, in my personal view, is waning.”

Bubele Skweyiya, of Khayelitsha, said he remained a steadfast African National Congress supporter because of his loyalty to Mandela, despite joining in when Zuma was jeered.

“Barack Obama, he killed it, because he is currently my Mandela now that Madiba is gone, while Zuma is doing the complete opposite of what Madiba fought for. That's why I was part and parcel of the people who booed him.”

Alice Parenzee said she did not have a favourite speaker.

“We all feel Madiba's loss and I don't want to compare the tributes,” said the Bellville South resident.

Other Capetonians said that while they did not boo Zuma, as it was inappropriate to do so during Madiba's memorial service, they understood why people reacted the way they did.

“Currently, the Nkandla issue is hanging over him and you could see the public is tired of his mistakes,” said Parklands resident Elijah Ngqondoyi.

China's Vice-President Li Yuanchao and Obama found favour with Tolane Kotsi.

“He (Obama) was reminding us that there was a Madiba in all of us and we need to find that Madiba and go out and prosper,” said Kotsi.

Mandela's contribution to cementing ties with China was also hailed, and Kotsi thought this could bring investment and jobs to South Africa.

“You pay respects to great heroes, but Zuma is sorely lacking in this respect,” Kotsi said of the crowd's response to Zuma's speech.

Charles York, of Kraaifontein, said Obama spoke from the heart and did not read from prepared speech, as Zuma had.

“You can fool people once, you can fool people twice, you can fool some people some of the time, but not all of the time,” he said.

Shortly before Zuma started speaking, half the crowd left after spending hours in the searing heat. - Sapa

Najwa Taliep 49, the former personal assistant to well-known auctioneer Julius Buchinsky, has been granted bail.

Cape Town - A mother of three charged with embezzlement was released on bail of R10 000 on Tuesday.

Najwa Taliep 49, was personal assistant to well-known auctioneer Julius Buchinsky, now 83.

Taliep, who was previously out on a warning, appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court, before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.

She convicted Talip on 631 counts of fraud last week. Taliep embezzled R961 081 from Buchinsky over a period of two years.

The bail conditions were that Taliep attend the sentencing proceedings, surrender her passport to the police, and not leave the Western Cape without the investigating officer’s permission.

Sapa

A man dubbed "the top child maintenance defaulter in the Western Cape" has been tracked down.

Cape Town -

A Cape father dubbed “the top child maintenance defaulter in the Western Cape” has been tracked down and forced to appear in court.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in the Western Cape named the 20 top alleged defaulters on child maintenance on December 2, in a campaign named “Operation Isondlo”.

Western Cape Department of Justice head Hishaam Mohamed reported on Tuesday that the employer of one of those named had heard his employee’s name on the radio – as part of the media campaign – and the defaulter had arranged to hand himself in.

This took place on Tuesday morning, at the Strand Magistrate’s Court, when the man took to the dock.

The court heard he owed R223 000 in outstanding maintenance payments and a warrant of arrest had been issued after he failed to appear in court on July 23.

The Justice Department’s Nico Geldenhuys told the court the province had worked closely with the police to apprehend three types of defaulters: those whose warrants of arrest had been sent by courts to the relevant police stations, but were returned to the courts marked “untraceable”; those whose warrants of arrest remained at police stations gathering dust; and those defaulters for whom warrants of arrest had been issued in the first six months of this year.

The man who appeared on Tuesday was among the latter, the court heard.

The court heard that a Somerset West police detective had tried in vain to locate the defaulter, until the radio campaign had named him.

The defaulter’s attorney, JP Joubert, told the court that his client had not known he was meant to appear in court on July 23, as he had phoned the court the previous day to advise that he would not contest an interim order, granted on April 23.

This order had prescribed that the father pay R500 a fortnight for each child, another R500 every fortnight towards the R223 000 arrears, and half their school fees and medical bills.

The court heard that the defaulter had been due to appear on July 23 for the order to be made formal, but he had not shown up.

He had also not paid the monies prescribed by the interim order. The defaulter was found guilty of contempt of court and given a suspended sentence of a R1 500 fine, or three months behind bars, suspended for four years on condition that he not repeat the offence. He was also ordered to pay his ex-wife R10 000 immediately, before he would be released.

A formal maintenance hearing would be held on December 17.

Mohammed reported: “To date, since December 2 we have with the help of Police Search Operations been able to trace and arrest 39 of the 296 alleged maintenance defaulters.”

Tuesday’s appearance by the “top defaulter” coincided with the final day of the “16 days of activism”.

Cape Argus

The car that carried Mandela to freedom was later sold at book value and simply vanished.

When struggle comrade Dawood Khan travels to Robben Island he is playfully heckled by the former prisoners who are now custodians of Nelson Mandela’s legacy on the island.

“Why did you sell Tata’s car, uncle? Are you crazy?” They ask him jokingly.

“Where is it now? C’mon, you must know.”

Every year Khan has callers at his Kensington home. They have one question: “What happened to the Cressida, the one that carried Mandela to freedom on 11 February 1990?”

Khan says millionaires from all around the world would pay buckets of cash for a lead that could help track it down.

“I wish we could find it again.”

“I don’t think the owner knows what he has in his possession,” says Khan, 83. He says the car was sold at book value shortly after Madiba’s release.

In the days before Mandela’s release Khan, a member of the ANC and then chairman of the Western Cape Traders Association, was tasked by Essa Moosa (now a retired judge) to organise a fleet of Mercedes Benz’ for Mandela and his entourage.

The fleet would carry them from Victor Verster prison to the Grand Parade, where Mandela was due to address the nation.

Khan spent days phoning business contacts and friends to ask them whether they would be willing to lend their cars to Mandela for a day or two. They all agreed.

“It was the night before Mandela’s release and we went to sleep,” he went on. “Then, well after midnight, the phone rang. It was somebody from the ANC. The voice on the other end said the Mercedes would no longer do. The ANC wanted Toyotas. Not one, not two, but more than a dozen.”

Again, frantically this time, Khan started calling his friends.

By dawn, a mismatched fleet of Toyotas was ready for action. The Cressida that carried Mandela was sourced from Khan’s family - it belonged to his daughter-in-law Gadija Khan.

Khan travelled with the ANC entourage to Paarl and still has vivid memories from that day of Mandela’s release.

One in particular illustrates what may well be Mandela’s first public display of the reconciliation and forgiveness that would become his trademark.

“Everywhere we went there were huge crowds lining the street.”

Khan said: “The first crowd we came to was a group of white people. Mandela got out of Gadija’s car. The air was tense. You could tell the white people were nervous and maybe a little fearful.

“Mandela walked up to a young mother. He asked to hold her baby and spent a few seconds playing with the child. It absolutely finished me. I mean, here was a group of white people - to us they represented the enemy who had put Mandela in prison.”

The motorcade continued to Cape Town, where Mandela gave his famous address from the balcony of City Hall. - The Argus

Sixteen gang members have been convicted in the Western Cape High Court of murder, gang association and drug dealing.

Cape Town -

Sixteen members of the Fancy Boys gang, which operates in Atlantis, have been convicted in the Western Cape High Court of murder, gang association and drug dealing.

Judge Elize Steyn convicted the men of most of the 50 crimes committed between 2004 and 2010, including the murders of Shelton Gouws, Gabriel Davids, Andrew Lloyd, Leon Pietersen and David Davids – all of Robinvale.

Other charges included assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, dealing in drugs and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The court found that the first accused, Mallick Petersen, was the leader of the Fancy Boys in Atlantis and that he had put hits out on rival gang members in 2009.

At the time there had been a bloody turf war between the Fancy Boys, Americans, G-Force and Rasta gangs.

On Tuesday, Judge Steyn said on the 10th day of delivering her judgment, that most of the State witnesses had created a good impression on the court and that their version of events were probable.

The judge described one accused-turned-State-witness, Reginald Valentine, who had knowledge of the inner workings of the gang, as “phenomenal”.

Judge Steyn said his evidence was believable and there was nothing to substantiate claims that he falsely implicated the men in a vendetta against them.

He also did not falter during cross-examination, despite being in the witness box for 12 days during the two-year trial.

Valentine told the court that Petersen had given him instructions to kill three people. One was killed and the other two survived.

While Petersen was identified as the leader, Rushdien Koeberg was the “operations manager” in charge of drug money when Petersen was not available.

Judge Steyn said Petersen’s evidence was not impressive.

She said that his answers were vague and she rejected his version that he was a builder and knew his co-accused because they worked for him or were relatives of his employees.

The other gang members are Heinrich van Wyk, Moeneeb Pietersen, Juliano Williams, Jerome Pieterse, Deraco Pieterse, Moegamat Nazeem Davids, Moegamat Waleed Davids, Aloysius Gaslin, Roedolf Cloete, Elrico Thompson, Wayne Valentine, Isaac Lotz, Brandon Rhodes and Leandro Johannes.

The men will remain in custody until their next appearance on February 3.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Nine men who allegedly dumped human waste at Cape Town’s airport must report to the police station nearest to their homes.

Cape Town -

Nine men who allegedly dumped human waste at Cape Town International Airport were ordered by the Bellville Regional Court on Tuesday to report to their closest police station this month and next.

Loyiso Nkohla, Andile Lili, Yanga Mjingwana, Ben Dyani, Jaji Diniso, Bongile Zanazo, Thembela Mbanjwa, Bantubakhe Mqobodiya and Wandisile Mkapa appeared in court on charges under the Civil Aviation Act.

They allegedly dumped 10 buckets of faeces at the airport’s departures terminal in June.

ANC councillor Nkohla, former councillor Lili, Mjingwana and Mbanjwa indicated to the court that they would be be in the Eastern Cape this month and next and were ordered to report to police stations there.

The rest of the accused, who will remain in Cape Town during the two months, were told to check in at the police stations nearest their homes.

Seven of the men were initially denied bail but were later released following an application in the Western Cape High Court.

Earlier this year, the court ordered them not to convene or attend a protest without authorisation, to refrain from threatening, intimidating or interfering with members of the public and not to damage public property.

Lili was expelled in March from the City of Cape Town council after being found guilty of taking part in the illegal demolition of houses and for making derogatory comments to Khayelitsha residents.

The nine are due back in court on April 2.

natasha.bezuidenhout@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

A malnourished dog that was rescued after being used by children in a “game” of tug-of-war is starting to heal.

Cape Town - A dog which was rescued after being used by children in a cruel “game” of tug-of-war may have found a new home.

Dubbed “Freeway”, he was rescued last Tuesday by the city’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, who spotted a group of children torturing the dog.

“They appeared to be trying to pull the dog apart like in tug-of-war with one rope tied around its neck and the other around its leg,” said Smith.

Smith had been travelling from a meeting with an official and had just turned on to the N2 from the R300.

“I saw them thrashing the dog aggressively (with sticks). I charged them and separated the dog from the boys and then they even started to threaten us as well.”

It was only when the police arrived on the scene that the children retreated, but the damage had already been done with Freeway sustaining multiple injuries to his body, including a gash to his eye.

The dog was collected by the city’s animal control unit and taken in by the Animal Welfare Society in Philippi, where according to Smith he is making a remarkable recovery.

“I thought he was going to die because he was struggling for oxygen, but since the last time I visited the Animal Welfare Society the injuries have healed nicely and he was wagging his tail,” said Smith, adding that he had brought Freeway a collar encrusted with gems to make him look like a “celebrity”.

Chief executive of the Animal Welfare Society in Philippi Hilary Henderson said that when she first saw Freeway it was as if he had given up the will to live.

“He was just lying there on the floor as if he was dead.”

He was severely malnourished and had mange.

“He is responding so quickly to the care here and what I find amazing is that he is still accepting of humans,” Henderson said.

Smith said that Freeway’s case was just one of many in the city and that he would be addressing the mayoral committee for additional funds for animals that are in welfare. He said this incident was shocking and that he was worried about the city’s youth and their behaviour.

“It was distressing; you can’t believe that children can do such a thing,” he said.

Freeway is still recovering at the Animal Welfare Society, but is already in the process of adoption into a loving home with the facilitation of Adopt-a-Pet’s Cicely Blumberg.

warren.fortune@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

A domestic dispute might have been the cause of a devastating fire that swept through a section of the Kosovo informal settlement in Philippi.

Cape Town - A domestic dispute might have been the cause of a fire that swept through a section of the Kosovo informal settlement in Philippi on Tuesday night, leaving some 380 people homeless.

A fresh south-easter helped to fan the fire while a team of 48 firefighters in a large squadron of vehicles battled the flames from 9pm to the early hours of this morning.

“We were called out at 9pm and by 1am it was extinguished,” said fire services spokesman Theo Layne.

“We do not have the final tally yet, but we estimated about 100 shacks were destroyed and 380 people were left without shelter. We took them to the community hall in Kosovo and put them up there.

“Disaster Risk Management staff are out there this morning to help the people. They will be issued with their starter-home packages, among other things.”

Layne said fire department investigators were told by members of the community that the fire was caused by a man who had had a domestic dispute with a woman.

In a fit of anger, he set their shack alight and the fire spread to the shacks downwind of theirs.

Cape Argus

Ten Cape Town advocates received a third of R58m the Western Cape Government spent on legal matters since 2009.

Cape Town - Ten Cape Town advocates have received a third of R58 million the Western Cape provincial government spent on legal matters since 2009.

The province has spent over R20m on these advocates.

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille gave this information in a written reply to a question by ANC MPL Lynne Brown in the provincial legislature.

Zille said that the provinces had centralised legal services.

All matters are referred to one unit instead of having individual departments dealing with it on their own.

She said as a rule the province dealt with most legal matters internally and only referred matters to external firms when legal services lacked capacity or needed specialised expertise.

Between April 2000 and March this year 3 737 requests were made to the legal services unit for advice or opinions.

In the last two years, only 50 out of the 1 758 requests received were referred to external firms.

The province made 1 803 payments to legal firms, advocates or companies that transcribe.

The biggest earner was advocate Jan Heunis SC, who was paid just under R4m.

Advocate Nazreen Bawa, with R3.3m was the second-biggest earner.

She received the most payments, 105, compared to any other advocate.

Bawa also currently serves as an evidence leader on the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry into allegations of police inefficiency and a breakdown in relations between the community and the police.

She was admitted to the Bar in February 1998 and is a member of Advocates for Transformation.

The Cape Bar website says she specialised in administrative, commercial, constitutional, medical negligence, fishing, local government and procurement law among others.

Most of the payments made to Bawa were for when she represented the Health Department.

Health spent just under R12m, while Transport and Public Works spent just over R12m on legal matters.

The single biggest payment was when local government paid R900 000 to Webber Wentzel Attorneys in the 2011/12 financial year for a matter concerning the Overberg District Municipality.

The case related to the provincial cabinet’s decision to dissolve the municipality which was challenged by 11 ANC and NPP councillors.

The province took the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, but the court confirmed an earlier judgment by the Western Cape High Court that the cabinet acted illegally.

Zille said the province’s legal bill was far less compared to other provinces like the Eastern Cape that spent R50m in the last financial year on private legal firms - almost as much as the Western Cape spent in a four-year period.

cobus.coetzee@inl.co.za

Cape Times

SA Airways (SAA) will deploy bigger aircraft to fly to and from Johannesburg, Cape Town and East London, it said in a statement.

Johannesburg - SA Airways (SAA) will deploy bigger aircraft to fly to and from Johannesburg, Cape Town and East London, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

The number of people wanting to travel on these routes had increased, said spokesman Tlali Tlali.

“The beginning of the festive season coincided with school holidays and most people tend to travel to go on vacation,” he said.

“We have seen a spike in demand for seats and have consequently decided to deploy more capacity to accommodate as many passengers as possible.”

The airline operates daily flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town, and Johannesburg and East London.

“The frequencies on these routes will remain the same. What has changed, is that we have deployed bigger aircraft on specific days, thus increasing capacity and enabling us to meet the demand,” said Tlali.

He said special flight arrangements had been made for the funeral of former president Nelson Mandela, in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, on Sunday.

The government had organised a charter service for its guests.

“(We) would like to clarify that the special air transport arrangements to the funeral service of former president Nelson Mandela are handled through a separate mechanism,” said Tlali.

Sapa

Burglars broke into the home of Archbishop Emiritus Desmond Tutu while he was attending Nelson Mandela's memorial.

Cape Town - Burglars broke into the Cape Town home of Archbishop Emiritus Desmond Tutu when he was away speaking at Nelson Mandela's memorial, an aide said Wednesday.

“I can confirm that there was a burglary last night,” said Tutu aide Roger Friedman.

“We are not able to tell exactly what was stolen, the archbishop and his wife were not at home. The house was not pillaged.”

Tutu had used the memorial to call on South Africans to follow Mandela's example.

“I want to show the world we can come out here and celebrate the life of an icon.”

The timing of the incident is embarrassing for South Africa - the latest in a series of unflattering episodes to occur when the eyes of the world are on the country.

It earlier emerged that the sign language interpreter at Mandela's memorial had been “faking” his signing.

It is second time in five months that Tutu's home in the Milnerton area of Cape Town had been hit.

In August criminals broke into the home while the archbishop emeritus and his wife Leah were at home sleeping.

The couple was unharmed.

So-called home invasions are common in South Africa and are frequently accompanied by violence.

Those who can afford it live behind high walls, electrified fences and with panic buttons that rapidly summon heavily armed private security guards.

Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is revered for playing a pivotal role in the battle to end former white racist minority rule.

He is still regarded as the voice of South Africa's moral conscience.

Since retiring as archbishop in 2010, Tutu has remained in the public eye, criticising the ruling ANC government and berating religious intolerance toward gays.

He is also well-known for his air of playfulness and humour.

Known fondly as “the Arch”, Tutu once told AFP that most of his life had “been a bonus”.

He survived an illness believed to be polio as a baby, battled tuberculosis as a teenager and prostate cancer, with which he was diagnosed in 1997.

Sapa-AFP

Police major general Jeremy Vearey tells of the day Nelson Mandela managed to diffuse a potentially explosive situation with the AWB.

Cape Town - Nelson Mandela managed to diffuse a potentially explosive situation when about 80 armed AWB members stormed his hotel in Beaufort West, intent on taking him hostage - an incident that has never before been publicised.

He calmed the situation by meeting the leader of the AWB unit and in less than half an hour the man “left with his tail between his legs”.

Jeremy Vearey, now a police major general who had been a member of Mandela’s bodyguarding contingent in the 1990s, described how instead of cowering, Mandela insisted on talking face to face with those who viewed him as a bitter enemy.

In June 1990, Vearey had been released from Robben Island where he had been held as a prisoner and afterwards became part of the ANC’s intelligence wing.

“I was part of a group of people that was then trained outside of the country to be part of a bodyguarding team especially for (Mandela),” Vearey said.

Vearey was among 15 out of 200 who graduated from the course.

He said early in 1994, during election canvassing time, the right wing and the AWB in particular had a campaign to disrupt ANC campaign meetings.

Vearey said Mandela had been keen on addressing the Beaufort West community as part of his election planning.

But before the time they got wind that a group from the AWB, members of the elite Ystergarde (Iron Guard) unit, planned to prevent this.

Vearey said an AWB leader in the Boland was in charge of the planned Beaufort West action.

“They’d try and lay siege to Beaufort West to stop (Mandela) entering and, if he should enter, they’d occupy the hotel he was in and hold us hostage,” Vearey said.

“Madiba decided despite this he would go to Beaufort West. He decided this: ‘We will not step back’.”

He and his colleagues were instructed to deal with the situation.

“We managed to get into Beaufort West with the old man through the barricades and got to the hotel,” Vearey said.

He declined to reveal how they got Mandela into the town.

Vearey and his colleagues had planned an operation which involved people in the town starting to talk to AWB members who were “taking (up) post” in the area.

This was to try to neutralise the situation on the ground.

However, Vearey said AWB members, headed by the Boland leader, forced their way into the hotel Mandela was staying in.

“There were about 75 to 80 of them, and they were all armed…

“They stormed in. We confronted them,” he said.

“We said we’d shoot them if they tried anything.”

The AWB members retorted that police officers were present to witness whatever happened, but Vearey said Mandela’s bodyguarding contingent was still prepared to shoot the AWB members.

“We were fully armed with our weapons,” he said.

Despite the commotion outside, Mandela remained quietly in his hotel room.

“We reported to Mandela. He decided to meet (the AWB leader). We did necessary strip searches on the whole of the Iron Guard.”

Vearey was present at the meeting between Mandela and the AWB heads, but would not divulge what was said.

“All I can say is that after 25 minutes (the AWB leader) left there with his tail between his legs,” he said.

The rest of the AWB men followed.

Taffy Shearing, 76, who lived in Beaufort West at the time, said she had been invited to Hotel Oasis in the area that morning as she was a member of a committee meant to ensure a peaceful election.

Mandela was set to address the committee.

Shearing recalled sitting down to eat, but breakfast had not been served.

She said a waiter, Robert, explained that the Ystergarde had arrived in lorries and was “standing in squads all around the hotel”.

“We found that suddenly, to our horror, we were in the middle of potential violence…

“We didn’t see Mr Mandela. He was in a room upstairs,” Shearing said.

The waiter then told her and other guests that Mandela had asked to see the AWB leader, she said.

“He had a huge black plume on his khaki hat… We could see the ostrich feather bobbing as he went up the stairs,” Shearing said.

“After (meeting Mandela) his hat was off and he was creeping meekly down the stairs.”

Shearing said Mandela arrived soon afterwards.

“He said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I’m so sorry I’ve been delayed. I’m hungry, what about breakfast?’ We burst out laughing,” she said.

Hotel Oasis employee Belinda Pienaar, now a receptionist there, recalled Mandela’s visit.

“There was a lot of commotion at that time. The police got dogs and searched the place,” she said.

“The police, everybody was here to see him. It was like the whole world came.”

Pienaar said Mandela had made a point of greeting her and the other staff.

“He talked to us. He said we must keep up the good work and that we must never let anyone or anything stand in our way.”

Of his visit, Pienaar said: “It was like God was here.”

AWB member Paul Visagie said he had never before heard of the Beaufort West incident.

He said there were a number of people who did unfavourable things, then blamed the AWB.

caryn.dolley@inl.co.za

Cape Times

A woman accused of hacking into the computer of Parliament's chief operations officer appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court.

Cape Town - A woman accused of hacking into the computer of Parliament's chief operations officer appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court, Cape Town, on Wednesday.

Cleopatra Mosana, who failed to appear in court at her previous appearance, would be back in court on February 20, a court official said.

She was out on a warning. A warrant of arrest would have been authorised had she not appeared in court following her no-show on November 15.

Mosana faces 33 charges of violating legislation involving the protection of internet-related communications.

In September, prosecutor Juan Agulhas told the court Mosana's lawyer Greg Duncan had asked that she be excused from attending the November proceedings as she now lived in Centurion, Pretoria.

According to the charge sheet, Mosana allegedly hacked into Tango Lamani's work computer between April and June 2011.

According to the charge sheet, Lamani had confidential and sensitive information, and personal information, on his parliamentary computer.

Hacking describes the gaining of access via the internet into another system, without the permission of the other system's owner.

According to the charge sheet, Parliament's IT department informed Lamani that his system had been hacked. Mosana was at that stage in the employ of home affairs in Cape Town, where one of the “infringing” computers was located.

Sapa

A Cape Town man who tried to pay for groceries with a cloned bank card appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court.

Cape Town - A Cape Town man who tried to pay for groceries with a cloned bank card appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday, a court official said.

The case against Moegamat Farouk Martin, 42, from Lansdowne, in Cape Town, was postponed until January 21, because his lawyer was not available, the official said. He remained in custody.

At his previous appearance on December 4, prosecutor Denver Combrink said Martin would probably plead guilty on Wednesday to charges of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

Martin was arrested on August 12 when he tried to pay for groceries worth R13 811 at the Pick n Pay, in Kenilworth, Cape Town.

Kenilworth branch manager John Lendoor was told Martin's credit card payment had been declined.

Store managers had been warned that fraudulent bank cards were in circulation. Martin was allegedly found in possession of a grey Master Card, supposedly issued by the Bank of America.

Lendoor recognised the card as counterfeit and alerted the police. An investigation revealed that the card was issued by Europay Belgium SCRL.

Martin is also charged with violating the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.

At his first appearance last month, Combrink told the court Martin had been refused bail by the Bellville District Court. He said he had already informed defence counsel N Jaftha of the sentence that would be acceptable to the State.

If Martin disagreed with the proposed sentence, plea negotiations would collapse and the State would proceed to trial in the normal manner.

Sapa

Former Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois is considering legal action following her dismissal from the newspaper.

Cape Town - Former Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois is considering legal action following her dismissal from the newspaper, she said on Wednesday.

“In my opinion, I was unfairly dismissed from my position at the Cape Times,” she said.

“I have taken legal advice and we are considering referring a dispute to the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) or the Labour Court.”

It was reported on Friday that Dasnois had been fired and that she was informed of her dismissal the same day.

Independent News and Media SA (INMSA) chairman Iqbal Surve said in a statement on Monday that Dasnois had not been fired, but had been offered alternative positions in the company.

“Ms Dasnois was not fired,” Surve said in a statement.

“When she was removed as executive editor she was offered various other positions in the company to which I still await a response.”

He was responding to concerns voiced by the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) and Cape Town Press Club that Dasnois may have been fired after the newspaper ran a story on Friday which painted Sekunjalo in a negative light.

The story was about a Public Protector finding that the awarding of a fisheries tender by the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries department to Sekunjalo Marine Services Consortium was improper.

The consortium is a subsidiary of Sekunjalo Holdings and acquired a controlling share in INMSA earlier this year.

INMSA owns a number of media properties including Independent Online (IOL), Cape Times, The Star and Pretoria News.

Sekunjalo Investments subsequently sent a lawyer's letter to the Cape Times stating that the story was inaccurate.

Surve said that since Sekunjalo had joined INMSA, it had been clear that there would be changes in Independent's print titles and other platforms to boost competitiveness and ensure sustainability.

“While it is not the practice to discuss staff changes in public because of how it could affect the integrity and privacy of my employees, the sustained campaign to vilify me and INMSA has forced me to outline some aspects of the strategic repositioning of the business publicly,” he said.

He categorically denied that Dasnois's replacement was due to the fisheries tender story.

“Given the distorted picture now being peddled in the public about the motives for the changes at the paper, it is necessary to remind everyone of the wholly unsatisfactory sales performance of that title over the last few years.”

Surve said the Cape Times's compounded loss of sales, between 2008 and 2012, amounted to 28 percent.

“Under these circumstances, the new owners of the paper have every right and an obligation to make changes aimed at arresting the situation.”

He said Gasant Abarder had been appointed editor of the Cape Times in place of Dasnois.

“In conclusion, I want to state for the record that I, together with the leadership of this group, remain fully committed to the editorial independence of all our journalists and editors.”

On Monday, the staff of the Cape Times issued a statement indicating their “deep anger and protest” at the dismissal of Dasnois.

“Although Dasnois was told three days ago (Friday) not to return to work, staff have still not been officially informed of the reason for her sudden dismissal,” they said in the statement.

“The staff's concern, from the sequence of events, is that the new owners of the newspaper, Sekunjalo Independent Media, are attempting to compromise the editorial independence of the Cape Times.”

If this was the case, it was a direct threat to the standing and independence of the newspaper.

“Dasnois has asked staff to continue with normal production of the newspaper, especially this week, as a sign of respect to Nelson Mandela. We respect her wishes,” staff said.

Sapa

Tears and cheers filled the Cape Town stadium as the crowd sang the national anthem during a memorial for Nelson Mandela.

Cape Town -

Tears and cheers filled the Cape Town stadium on Tuesday as a swelling crowd sang the national anthem during a memorial for former president Nelson Mandela.

Thousands of people waved the national flag while others battled to hold tears back.

The city's official memorial, titled “Nelson Mandela: a life celebrated”, was expected to draw 53 000 people and the stadium was three-quarters full by 5pm.

A variety of musical acts were planned for the evening, including Scottish singer and philanthropist Annie Lennox and local bands Freshlyground and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Popular local hits, such as “Jabulani” and “Asimbonanga”, bounced off the stadium's walls as the crowd responded to artists' calls to raise their voices.

A notice was flashed on one screen informing deaf concert-goers of a special room where they would have speech interpreted.

Mandela's face smiled down from several large television screens above the masses.

One attendant, Athlone resident Bernadette Simpson, said Mandela's loss had been as painful as the loss of her father four years ago.

She had drawn political inspiration from him when she was a student leader in Bridgetown, Athlone, in the Eighties.

As an 18-year-old matric pupil at the time, the police falsely arrested her for burning a bus and she spent two days in jail before the case was withdrawn.

“I know what it's like a little bit to be sitting in a van, looking out of that window and seeing everybody free,” she said.

“I noticed people go to work and you have to sit in this prison, not that you did anything but just for what you believe in.” Simpson said she was treated like a criminal and did not eat or drink in that time because she was suspicious of police.

“Psychologically and emotionally, I was prepared to die because that is just how it was going to be.” - Sapa

Thousands of people from across the Western Cape flocked to Cape Town for an official memorial event to celebrate the life of their hero.

Cape Town -

Thousands of people from across the Western Cape flocked to Cape Town on Wednesday for an official memorial event to celebrate the life of their hero, former president Nelson Mandela.

Around 53 000 people are expected to pack the stadium after free tickets were snapped up in a day.

The queues at the stadium gates started growing well before the event started at 4pm.

Many die-hard African National Congress supporters, who had travelled from deep rural areas in the province, entered the gates singing struggle songs and dancing in circles.

“As a disciplined member of the ANC, I'm here to celebrate his life,” said Hout Bay branch member Man-O-Man Mazele, who had a large party flag wrapped around him.

“You can see it's a rainbow nation country. It shows the values and principles that he planted here.”

Victoria Letswalo, from Parklands, said she was given time off from the provincial government to attend, and was pleased to enjoy all the opportunities for which Mandela fought.

“Mandela meant so much to us so we come to celebrate his life and our freedom,” said Monique Joseph, who came all the way from Ceres in the Koue Bokkeveld.

Larry Jackson, from Green Point, said the memorial was a fitting tribute to Madiba.

“It's a day of reflection, I suppose, and togetherness. All cultures and colours coming together, and I think that's the most important thing, the unity,” Jackson said.

Sibongile Bango, from Nyanga East, said he was excited to join in the celebrations.

“I'm not here to cry or anything, but to celebrate his achievements in uniting black and white people,” Bango said.

He added that Cape Town still had a long way to go to reflecting a true rainbow nation.

Scottish songstress and political activist Annie Lennox confirmed her attendance at the last minute and will likely join other big names on stage.

They include Ladysmith Mambazo, Johnny Clegg and Freshlyground. - Sapa

Madiba looked at peace, Western Cape premier Helen told Capetonians shortly after arriving from Pretoria where she viewed the late struggle icon's body.

Cape Town - Madiba looked at peace, Western Cape premier Helen told Capetonians on Wednesday shortly after arriving from Pretoria where she viewed the late struggle icon's body.

“I saw him today, his face at peace, a face that must symbolise both in its physical features, and its spiritual features everything that we must become as nation,” she shared with tens of thousands of people gathered at the Cape Town stadium for the Mother City memorial event.

Zille contrasted this with the photographs of Mandela's smiling face plastered across the country.

“That (smile) must have masked such a deep pain over a vast number of years when he sacrificed to bring us freedom and to bring us a constitution that defends us today.”

A small group of people, dressed in ANC t-shirts booed Zille but their voices were drowned out by the crowd, who cheered as Zille shared her sentiments.

“When we look at this great natural wonder of the world, we think of the great wonder of humankind symbolised in Madiba's capacity to forgive and to build one nation with one future,” she said.

Zille urged the crowd to now take up the same struggle and sacrifice.

“His face symbolised what we must become - one nation at peace with ourselves and the world. Seeing his wonderful face was one of the most momentous and moving moments of my life. I will never forget it.”

Zille began and ended her tribute with songs sung in isiXhosa.

Earlier, former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar described Mandela as a “spiritual coach and captain” to sportsmen and women Ä drawing a loud response of approval from people, many of whom travelled long distances from the deep rural areas of the Western Cape to be at the memorial.

“In 1967 I was born into apartheid... 27 years later, as the fortunate leader of the Springboks, I had the opportunity to meet the father of the nation. My life changed forever,” he said.

Pienaar spoke about the ability sport had to bring change to people's lives, and recalled how Mandela had recognised this.

“Armed with these lessons, Madiba urged his comrades to keep the Springbok emblem,” he said of the symbol which to many represented a divided sporting community.

“We became one team, playing to one country,” Pienaar said, prompting more loud cheers from the over 50,000 crowd.

Speaking of the Springboks' 1995 rugby world cup victory, he said: “For the first time we were world champions together.

“Pienaar conveyed condolences to the Mandela family on behalf of the sporting fraternity.

Earlier, tears and cheers filled the stadium when a swelling crowd sang the national anthem and thousands of people waved the national flag.

The city's official memorial, titled “Nelson Mandela: a life celebrated”, was expected to draw 53 000 people.

A variety of musical acts was planned for the evening, including Scottish singer and philanthropist Annie Lennox and local bands Freshlyground and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Popular local hits such as “Jabulani” and “Asimbonanga” bounced off the stadium's walls as the crowd responded to artists' calls to raise their voices.

A notice was flashed on a screen informing deaf concert-goers of a special room where speeches would be interpreted.

Mandela's face smiled down from several large television screens above the masses.

Athlone resident Bernadette Simpson said Mandela's loss had been as painful for her as the loss of her father four years ago.

She had drawn political inspiration from him when she was a student leader in Bridgetown, Athlone, in the 80s.

As an 18-year-old matric pupil at the time, the police had falsely arrested her for burning a bus, and she had spent two days in jail before the case was withdrawn.

“I know what it's like a little bit to be sitting in a van, looking out of that window and seeing everybody free,” she said.

“I noticed people go to work and you have to sit in this prison, not that you did anything, but just for what you believe in.”

Simpson said she had been treated as a criminal and did not eat or drink during her time in custody because she was suspicious of the police.

“Psychologically and emotionally I was prepared to die, because that is just how it was going to be.”

Sapa

The Nelson Mandela Tribute has been hailed as among the best concerts yet staged at Cape Town Stadium.

Cape Town - The Nelson Mandela Tribute has been hailed as among the best concerts yet staged at Cape Town Stadium.

First it was the fan walk again, but named the remembrance walk, with thousands walking to the Cape Town Stadium to pay tribute to democratic South Africa’s founding president on Wednesday.

No vuvuzelas or painted faces, but many Madiba T-shirts in all shapes, sizes and colours, just as there were people in all shapes, sizes and colours.

Cool drink sellers were doing a brisk trade as thousands packed into the stadium. Some held newspaper posters with Madiba’s smiling face. Some sported ANC T-shirts, and others rosettes bearing Madiba’s face.

As the crowd waited for the performers on stage, music blasted through the speakers, photographs of Madiba flashed on giant screens and there was one Mexican wave after another. Then the deep opening notes of Shosholoza boomed out and the crowd stood up and sang, their raised arms swaying to the beat.

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Marius Fransman said the nation mourned Mandela’s death, but on Wednesday people celebrated his long walk to freedom. Mandela’s memorial service in Gauteng had been attended by 100 heads of state from across the globe.

“That could happen only because Nelson Mandela brings us together in that way,” Fransman said. “We all ask what we want our children to be like. We want them to be like Madiba.”

Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille quoted what Mandela said in 1997 when he was given the Freedom of the City: “In Cape Town resides part of the souls of many nations and cultures, priceless threads in the rich diversity of our African nation… it was the people of Cape Town who welcomed me on my first day of freedom.”

South Africans had been adrift for some time. It had taken Madiba’s death to remember what unity and reconciliation meant, De Lille said.

“South Africa today was at a crossroads: would we return to a time of bitterness, racial obsession and greed, or would we choose non-racism, humility and personal commitment to make a better country? I say we must not let the spirit of reconciliation and freedom be buried in Qunu on Sunday.”

Former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar spoke of being born under apartheid in the 1960s and the moment that made him cry – Mandela handing him the Webb Ellis Trophy in 1995: “I will never forget how proud Madiba was and his beautiful smile.”

National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel said: “We know where Madiba belonged and that is not important. He was a South African, he belonged to all of us and we will celebrate him together.”

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille began her tribute to Mandela with a song nguMadiba lo abamaziyo abazange bambone (To those who know him, this is Madiba. They never saw him). She praised his nation-building efforts and said those left behind must continue these.

With bongo drum in hand, singer-songwriter Annie Lennox praised Mandela’s dedication to the fight against HIV and Aids.

The event was shown on big screens on the Grand Parade, where 2 000 people gathered. They sang and danced as the Bala Brothers belted out the late Miriam Makeba’s famous song Pata Pata.

“I’m thrilled how this nation can come together because of one man,” said Sharon Jonkers of Woodstock.

Shaheer Aboobaker said: “It is in the spirit of Mandela. It makes me proud to be South African.”

melanie.gosling@inl.co.za

xolani.koyana@inl.co.za

aziz.hartley@inl.co.za

Cape Times

Two of the men involved in the murders of Richard Bloom and Brett Goldin are to be released on parole.

Cape Town -

Two of the men involved in the murders of fashion designer Richard Bloom and budding actor Brett Goldin are to be released on parole.

Convicts Jade Wyngaard and Nurshad Davids were initially sentenced to 15 years each for robbery, kidnapping and possession of an unlicensed firearm, but three years were taken off because they agreed to testify for the State at the trial – which never happened because their co-accused submitted plea bargains.

Bloom and Goldin’s bodies were found next to the Klipfontein off-ramp of the M5 highway in April 2006.

The pair were given 12-year sentences, which they have served at Drakenstein prison, and have launched three unsuccessful attempts to be granted parole.

On Wednesday they were advised they will be “conditionally released” on June 26, but under house arrest.

The victims’ families were represented by professor of criminology and forensic studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Robert Peacock.

He told the Cape Argus on Wednesday: “They will have served more than two- thirds of their sentences. I presented the Parole Board with information around the victims’ concerns for their safety and the safety of society in general.

“I was very pleased to see the applicants will be under house arrest, and will also have to complete community service, as well as participate in ongoing rehabilitation, such as family reconstruction through therapeutic intervention.”

He was satisfied the Parole Board had “applied its mind thoroughly”.

Goldin’s mother, Denise, said: “It’s a harsh reality to face. We knew that the time would come when they would be released. We just hope that it’s the right decision and they will be correctly integrated, and not return to drugs and crime.”

The murdered men’s killers, Shavaan Marlie and Clinton Davids, remain behind bars serving 28 years each.

Cape Argus