Motorists travelling on the Muizenberg/ Kalk Bay Main Road are likely to have to travel at the speed of a bicycle if a new law is passed.

Cape Town - Motorists travelling on Main Road between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay are likely to have to travel at the speed of a bicycle if the 1.5m overtaking distance between a cycle and a motor vehicle becomes law.

This could be as slow as 20km/h. This is because the road is too narrow to allow 1.5m between the vehicle and the cyclist without the motorist breaking the law by crossing the solid white line in the centre of the road.

Cyclist Sivuyile Same, of Masiphumelele, was killed on this stretch of road last month when he was hit by a bus.

At St James, where Same was killed, the road is 3.3m, measured from the edge of the tar to the edge of the white line. If the cyclist rides about 25cm from the edge of the tar, and the distance from his wheel to the end of his elbow is about 30cm, that puts him 55cm from the edge of the tar.

If one adds the mirror-to-mirror width of a car at an average of 2m, and adds the 1.5m overtaking distance, this comes to just over 4m. That means the vehicle could overtake the cyclist only if the motorist unlawfully drove across the solid white line.

The Cape Times asked Transport MEC Robin Carlisle if it were feasible to introduce the 1.5m overtaking legislation, given the narrowness of some roads favoured by cyclists.

Carlisle replied: “If the road is too narrow for a vehicle to overtake a cycle at a distance of 1.5m, then that vehicle must travel behind the cycle until it is able to overtake it lawfully.”

The speed that the motorist will have to travel behind a cyclist would vary, but would probably be between 20km/h to 35km/h.

This section of Main Road is one of three routes, with Boyes Drive and Ou Kaapse Weg, that connects the southern Peninsula with the southern suburbs.

According to Gail Jennings, a non-motorised transport consultant, about 19 000 vehicles use the Kalk Bay/ Muizenberg road daily, and about 30 to 40 “utility cyclists”.

Steve Hayward, chairman of the Pedal Power Association, said motorists did drive behind cyclists at their speed in some overseas countries that have the 1.5m overtaking distance legislation.

“I don’t know how the authorities will deal with this in those cases where the road is narrow. They may have to delimit certain areas to a 1m overtaking distance. We maintain the only safe distance is 1.5m. I’ve been on a bus in London and it waited for the cyclist, driving behind it. But we are too impatient in this country, too violent,” Hayward said.

The proposed law has still to be considered by the standing committee in the provincial legislature.

Andrew Wheeldon, managing director of the Bicycling Empowerment Network, suggested that signs could be erected to state that motorists should pass cyclists only when safe, and that they could cross the white line when doing so.

“Most do that already anyway,” he said.

It is common to see cyclists riding two or three abreast.

Hayward said: “Cyclists are not all goody-two-shoes. The police must get out there and fine those people. A cyclist does not have the right to ignore traffic rules. In Australia they confiscate your bike until you’ve paid the fine.”

Cape Times

The SA Students’ Congress has distanced itself from an election poster which has been labelled as “hate speech”.

Cape Town - Sasco, the SA Students’ Congress, has distanced itself from an election poster which has been labelled as “hate speech”.

The poster was put up at both the Cape Town and Bellville campuses of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology on Wednesday.

DA Youth reported Sasco to the Human Rights Commission on Thursday after a third-year quantity surveying student, who asked not to be named, spotted the poster on the Bellville campus on Wednesday.

The poster, which features a photo of former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and ANC and Sasco logos, said: “We as Sasco lament with all words possible the racism coupled with white tendencies in the faculty of engineering, and we further say that those white pigs must leave.

“We further say that we support that our people must multiply in this province to curb this white dominance (Zille tendency).”

It continues: “We have long foreseen that you want to control our country again, that is why as Sasco we support and sing with our president Malema when he sings ‘Kill the Boer, kill the racist’.”

The student had immediately taken a poster, one of about four he had seen, to the judicial affairs office. “I have laid a complaint with the judicial office and I’ll have to see where that goes. They were very shocked. It was the first time they had seen it. They said they would investigate.”

The student said everyone he had spoken to had reacted similarly to the poster. “They were all pretty shocked. Everyone was disgusted. It is clearly hate speech. I just want CPUT to act swiftly and catch the people involved. Racism is not acceptable.”

Sello Nkhatho, Sasco provincial chairman, denied the poster had been created by Sasco members. “We are of the view that this is a concerted effort to dent our image as an organisation.

“We distance ourselves completely from that poster.”

He said it was not known who would have made the poster, but suggested it could have been CPUT management.

“Everyone has a stake to gain out of that. There is an effort to undermine our organisation.”

Nkhatho said Sasco would be taking legal action.

Makashule Gana, DA Youth leader, said they had reported the poster to the Human Rights Commission on Thursday.

He said information had been received which indicated the poster had been created by Sasco. “If these are the kind of young leaders that the ANC is grooming, then South Africans should be extremely concerned.”

The Human Rights Commission’s Isaac Mangena said: “We have registered this complaint, and it will be taken through our processes to see if it warrants an investigation… ”

ANC provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile said he had not seen the poster.

He would discuss the poster with Sasco and urge it to destroy it if they had been responsible for it.

CPUT spokesman Thami Nkwanyane did not respond to queries.

michelle.jones@inl.co.za

Cape Times

Hollywood star Forest Whitaker has thrown his weight behind the rebuilding of the Hangberg community in Hout Bay.

Cape Town - Hollywood star Forest Whitaker has thrown his weight behind the rebuilding of the Hangberg community in Hout Bay.

The informal settlement was a hotbed of protest action and clashes between police and eviction authorities and residents in 2010.

Hangberg leaders and other stakeholders brokered a ceasefire through a mediator, resulting in the drafting of a peace and mediation accord.

In the two years since, the accord had been used as the framework for the community to start “rebuilding itself”, said Brian Williams, who acted as mediator in 2010. Shortcomings in housing, as well as facilities for sports and recreation, health and community safety had been addressed.

Whitaker, pictured, a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation goodwill ambassador for peace and reconciliation and founder of the Peace Earth NGO, met community leaders two weeks ago.

The star of The Last King of Scotland, who is shooting a film in Cape Town, was not available for comment on Friday but Shanaaz Halim, spokeswoman for Hangberg’s Peace and Mediation Forum, described him as a “humble person with a genuine heart”.

“So many people in South Africa don’t even know Hangberg’s story and the groundbreaking work that is being done by and for the community,” she said. “To have someone with such international acclaim show interest is really like a dream come true. We trust and hope that connections between our community and Mr Whitaker will continue even after he has returned to America.”

daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

After he tucks his kids into bed Sean Davison starts the precarious business of advising people on how to die.

Cape Town - Every evening, after he’s tucked his kids into bed, Sean Davison closes the door of his study and starts the precarious business of advising people on how to die.

Since returning to Cape Town from New Zealand - where a high-profile arrest, trial and conviction saw Davison sentenced to five months house arrest for assisting in the death of his terminally ill mother - he has been inundated with calls and e-mails from people who wish to “die with dignity”.

Davison’s case has seen draft legislation to legalise assisted suicide brought before parliament in New Zealand. In South Africa, assisted suicide for the terminally ill is still illegal.

Davison’s DignitySA campaign seeks to change that before the end of 2013. The campaign has drafted a policy document which could potentially form the basis for a draft bill.

DignitySA is consulting lawyers about the possibility of bringing a class action before the Constitutional Court to force a change in law, if it is not willingly adopted by Parliament.

On another front, Davison tours the country, addressing audiences on the reasons why a change in law is a moral imperative that implicates us all. On Thursday, he spoke at Dementia SA’s annual conference in Cape Town.

Away from his public campaign, Davison engages in private conversations with terminally ill South Africans almost every night. He talks them through his and his mother’s experience, and listens to theirs.

After a background check (Davison only helps people with a prognosis of less than six months to live) he advises them on the process of liaising with the Dignitas in Switzerland - a group that assists in voluntary euthanasia. If their applications are accepted by the Dignitas clinic, they catch a one-way flight to Zurich.

“I realised that when I came back from New Zealand, my life would not return to normality. How could it until we have succeeded in our campaign? You never get desensitised, no matter how many people you advise. Every person, every life comes with its own story,” says Davison. “It is always uncomfortable - to deal with death on a daily basis. But, I see this as my humanitarian obligation.”

Davison says many doctors in South Africa have taken this obligation one step further, by illegally assisting their terminally ill patients to die. It’s a revelation he first shared at a Cape Town Press Club meeting in July.

At the time a group of doctors, calling themselves Doctors For Life, openly opposed Davison’s campaign, proving that his stance remained controversial. Davison, however, stands firm in his convictions and the moral integrity of DignitySA’s campaign.

* Davison’s new book will be launched in Cape Town next week. In his words, it tells “the story behind the story” and explains his personal commitment to a changing the law in South Africa. It is called After We Said Goodbye.

daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

MEC Alan Winde was mugged while on his bike on his way to work, had the last laugh as his bodyguard arrested the assailant.

Cape Town - MEC Alan Winde was mugged while on his bike on his way to work on Friday morning.

But the finance, economic development and tourism minister had the last laugh as his bodyguard tracked down and arrested the assailant within an hour.

Speaking to the Cape Argus soon after the drama, Winde, pictured, praised the superb work by his police protector. “We left my home in Durbanville at 6am. At around 7.10 we were riding on the bicycle lane through Paarden Eiland, near where the lane passes under the N1.

“There was a man standing in the road, and as we rode past he grabbed my arm and pulled me off my bike, also knocking my protector off his bike.”

The bodyguard was not named as he is a member of the police’s VIP protection services unit.

“[The mugger] leaned over, and pulled my cellphone out of my cycling shirt’s back pocket,” Winde said. “My protector kicked him, but he ran away.”

Winde and his bodyguard cycled to his office and tracked his cellphone.

“My phone is an iPhone, so we immediately tracked it to Woodstock.”

Apple iPhones are equipped with self-tracking technology using GPS locators.

“My protector and driver jumped in the car, and using a second iPhone, tracked the guy and arrested him. We are at the police station now laying charges,” Winde said mid-morning.

Asked about any injuries, Winde laughed: “At worst, I have a bit of a sore bum.”

Winde said he would raise the incident with the province’s and city’s teams working on cycling safety projects, and also report the incident to the City’s Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, to discuss any possible further safety measures for the route, if they were deemed necessary.

In a statement this morning, Winde said: “To the man who stole my cellphone, your actions will not deter me, and the many others who enjoy cycling in our city, from returning to my bike.

“Next week, I will be back on my bike. You [the mugger], on the other hand, will be in jail.”

Cape Argus

Gift of the Givers will build a hospital, buy medical equipment and supplies, and send ambulances to aid civilians in war-torn Syria.

SA disaster relief organisation the Gift of the Givers will build a hospital, buy medical equipment and supplies, and send ambulances to aid civilians in war-torn Syria, thanks to a massive cash injection from a Cape Town-based charity.

The R750 000 donation from the Al Iqlaas Foundation, for the Gift of the Givers’ Syria Humanitarian Aid project, was handed over yesterday at the relief organisation’s Athlone headquarters.

Gift of the Givers Foundation is the largest disaster relief organisation of African origin on the African continent, and its founder Imtiaz Sooliman said they had been part of several international relief efforts, including those in Somalia and Japan.

But he expressed concern that there was “virtually no international aid or media coverage on the atrocities being carried out by the Syrian government on its own people”.

Syria is wracked by a civil war between the Syrian army and rebels trying to depose the government, under the leadership of President Bashir al-Assad. Between 35 000 and 40 000 people have reportedly been killed, and countless more injured since the uprising began in March last year. Sooliman said yesterday an estimated 98 percent of the victims of the war were women and children.

“The rebels are not soldiers, as reported in the media, but normal people like teachers and students who have taken up arms to protect themselves and their families.”

During an address at the Masjidul Quds mosque in Gatesville before the cheque handover, Sooliman described the nightmare of the aftermath of the massacres.

Abdul Kader Peers, representing the Al Iqlaas Foundation, said he was on the verge of tears by Sooliman’s stories.

Pretoria News Weekend

Matrics are feeling confident after writing their first mathematics and mathematical literacy exams.

Matrics are feeling confident after writing their first mathematics and mathematical literacy exams, with most saying they expected the papers to be more difficult.

Mandilakhe Khedeni of Chris Hani High School said yesterday’s exam had motivated him for the second mathematics exam on Monday.

“It wasn’t difficult, it was manageable. I’m sure I passed. I’m all ready for paper 2 now,” Mandilakhe said.

Ovayo Wotshele, who is rewriting maths and physical science to improve her results from last year, said the exam was challenging, but “not that difficult”.

Aphiwe Matyila, of Fairbairn College, said the mathematical literacy paper 1 was “a breeze”.

More than 15 000 matric pupils wrote mathematics paper 1 and more than 29 000 mathematical literacy paper 1.

This year 1 321 more pupils are writing mathematics, and 3 776 more writing mathematical literacy than last year.

Bronagh Casey, spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant, said the department expected an increase in the pass rates.

“In 2011 we had a 68.7 percent pass rate for mathematics, and a 93.3 percent pass rate for mathematical literacy.

“In our 2009 strategic plan we had set a target of 13 500 passes. But given that there are 15 625 candidates writing this year, we do not believe we will reach that target.

“However, we are expecting an increase,” she said.

Casey added that the department was working hard to encourage more pupils to take maths and science, launching a mathematics and physical science strategy in May.

“In the next five years the WCED will be investing about R113 million in this strategy, with R12.4m being budgeted for the current financial year,” she said.

The strategy would be rolled out to schools in stages and was also aimed at encouraging schools to increase the number of Grade 10 pupils taking mathematics and physical science.

l In Limpopo the education department is investigating claims that three schools received unsealed matric exam scripts. Limpopo DA leader Jacques Smalle said the unsealed scripts were delivered to two schools in Blouberg and one in Makhado.

sibongakonke.mama@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus

The Contego Wines2Whales MTN Adventure bike ride from Lourensford to Hermanus kicked of with stunning weather.

Beautiful weather was the order of the day as 2 500 riders set off from Lourensford in Somerset West for the ride of their lives on the second Contego Wines2Whales MTN Adventure bike ride.

By 2.30pm yesterday, half had completed the first day, reaching Elgin after 70km.

“This event is more of a fun race, filled with competitors just looking to take in as much of the great scenery as possible,” said Michal Meyer, W2W director.

Today, riders were back in the saddle from 7am, leaving according to their finishing times yesterday, and facing a 65km circular track, again ending in Elgin.

“The track will feature mountainous terrain, single tracks, and it will also have an elevation of 1 175m. This means that there will be an element of climbing,” Meyer said, adding that the route would take in a winding path known as the Pofadder, introduced during last year’s event.

The race ends tomorrow at the Onrus Caravan Park just outside Hermanus.

The Wines2Whales Mountain Bike race takes place over the same route next weekend, but the field will be for professionals for whom there will be no stopping for the scenery.

“In the adventure event we have [former Springbok] Victor Matfield joining us. We will have many professional riders, which makes the event quicker and more exciting,” Meyer said.

Weekend Argus

Patricia De Lille, responding to rumours that her husband was arrested for reckless driving, said he had suffered a stroke while driving.

Cape Town - Cape Town mayor Patricia De Lille, responding to claims that her husband was arrested yesterday for reckless and negligent driving, said he had, in fact, suffered a stroke while driving in Pinelands.

She confirmed the arrest, but added that the same officials had called an ambulance after the arrest, when it became clear that her husband, Edwin de Lille, was disorientated and confused.

She had been

forced to abandon a meeting in Stellenbosch when she learnt of the incident.

He was arrested by City of Cape Town traffic officers, but no city spokesmen were yesterday available or prepared to comment, in spite of repeated attempts by Weekend Argus.

De Lille said the law should take its course.

“This was his second stroke in three weeks,” she added.

On the issue of her husband’s confused state at the scene, De Lille said:

“The officers who arrested him said my husband did not know where he was. I took him to our house doctor who in turn managed to stabilise my husband’s blood pressure.

“He received medication and will be back for a check-up next week.”

Word of the incident spread quickly through the city corridors.

Media inquiries to the city’s traffic services were referred to the city’s Safety and Security executive director Richard Bosman, who could also not be reached for comment despite several attempts.

Police had no record of an arrest.

warda.meyer@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus

Former residents of District Six may be able to start returning to their suburb, flattened four decades ago by apartheid bulldozers.

Cape Town -

Former residents of District Six may be able to start returning to their suburb, flattened four decades ago by apartheid bulldozers, land reform minister said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Cape Town ahead of a meeting in the city’s convention centre with District Six land claimants, Minister Gugile Nkwinti said he wanted a February deadline on negotiations, so matters could start to move forward “on the ground.”

Saturday’s meeting - the third the minister has held this year with claimants - is set to get a report-back from two task teams.

One is the so-called technical group, the other a social integration team.

“Today, we get the report, we assess (it) and get a way forward.”

“In February 2013, I want a meeting, where they will elect a vehicle - a trust or company or special purpose vehicle, whatever claimants want - so we can start working. That is my deadline with them.”

There were 1060 District 6 claimants.

“We want matters to be concluded. Those who want to go back to District Six must go back to District Six.

“Those who want to be compensated - remember, you either go back, or you get financial compensation or alternative land - must get this.”

Nkwinti said “a number” of claimants had indicated they wanted compensation, rather than return to District Six.

He did not indicate how many of the claimants wanted compensation. Government had budgeted for this, but it would not release money until claimants had proper legal representatives.

“We have budgeted R700 million for this year and next year. Money is available but it is not going to be released until a legitimate structure is put in place.”

The city and the province was ready for the February deadline. - Sapa

A shack fire has killed two people at Joe Slovo Park in Cape Town.

Cape Town - A shack fire has killed two people at Joe Slovo Park in Cape Town, Western Cape emergency services said on Saturday.

“At 1.13am on Saturday a fire destroyed two informal structures at the 70 Hlungulu Rd, Joe Slovo Park in Milnerton.

“The blaze resulted in the displacement of four persons in the area. Ayanda Thuso, 27, and Mbongeni Siwa, 35, were declared dead on the scene by paramedics after failing to escape the blaze,” said spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.

He said bystanders who worked tirelessly to extinguish the blaze but failed to save the lives of the victims would undergo trauma counselling.

The City of Cape Town had conducted assessment and made arrangements for provision of food parcels, clothing, blankets and building material for the victims.

“The cause of the fire is not yet known, the police have opened an inquest docket to investigate the incident.” - Sapa

A series of highway roadblocks and car chases led to the downfall of one of the country’s biggest suspected abalone syndicates.

Cape Town - A series of highway roadblocks and car chases, which saw suspected poachers flee their cars, snitch on one another when they were caught, and make fatal errors, led to the downfall of one of the country’s biggest suspected abalone syndicates.

The alleged leader of the enterprise, Chinese national Ran Wei, has been charged in absentia.

But yesterday three other alleged syndicate leaders, Frank Barends, Christiaan Crous and Donovan Dickson, were among 25 accused in the dock in the Western Cape High Court, where they face 534 charges – including illegal possession of abalone, racketeering and corruption.

The case against the 25, which also includes three police officers, a former police officer, Barend’s wife Josephine and his bookkeeper Sarah Dunsdon, was postponed to November 12.

The enterprise was based in Gansbaai but allegedly operated nationwide. Arrests were effected in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, North West province and the Free State.

The State has revealed in court papers in its asset forfeiture applications how the Hawks infiltrated the syndicate, and chased, caught and questioned suspected abalone poachers, mostly on the N1 and N2 highways, but also on side roads between smaller towns.

The Hawks also convinced some of the arrested members to turn State’s witness, with Alton Dickson, Jan de Waal and Ebraim van Tonder pleading guilty and already sentenced.

Two Hawks officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Lise Potgieter and Warrant Officer André Potgieter, who are not related, emerged as key police officers involved in bringing down the alleged syndicate.

Barends allegedly paid his divers R340/kg of abalone delivered, and drivers between R5 000 and R10 000 per return trip to Johannesburg.

On average, Barends allegedly paid out R374 000 per poaching trip to 16 divers, with each diver earning about R22 000 per trip. The divers, operating in three boats, took out an average of 1.1 tons on each trip, the court papers show.

l De Waal was caught for speeding in Uniondale in the Eastern Cape in July 2005. When police searched his car, they found 850kg of abalone. He told police he drove the car on personal instructions from Barends.

l Barends and a co-accused, Freddie Matthews, drove a white Toyota bakkie, followed by an Isuzu bakkie carrying abalone, from Gansbaai to Cape Town in January 2010. When police signalled them to stop, the bakkie obliged, but the Isuzu sped away. A high-speed chase ensued and police eventually arrested two other co-accused, Walter Delport and Gabriel van Wyk. They found 7 345 unshucked abalone in the Isuzu.

l In August last year, Barends, who was out on R100 000 bail at the time, allegedly ordered the transportation of 11 998 shucked abalone in two bakkies and a Nissan X-trail from Gansbaai to Johannesburg. Four people were also arrested. A month later, Barends was arrested for allegedly ordering the trip.

l When police stopped a maroon Colt near the Strand on May 18 last year, four suspected poachers fled. But two were caught and arrested for possession of 41 bags filled with 3 676 shucked abalone.

l When Alton Dickson drove from Hawston to Gansbaai in September 2009, he was pulled over in a brown Toyota Cruiser, in which police found R110 000 in cash. He told police: “I’m not going down for the money, Frank will have to come and explain.” At the police station, he again told officers the cash belonged to Barends. Soon afterwards, police got a call from Crous claiming the cash was his.

l When police pulled burly former Stanford police officer Jody Behr off on the N2 near Riviersonderend, they seized a red-and-white backpack containing R400 000 in cash. Behr told them the cash belonged to Barends. Behr claimed he withdrew the money from his own account, which he said was a Royal Albatross Investment Account, but the court papers say Lieutenant-Colonel Potgieter was aware that this account belonged to Barends.

l In 2007, police searched a plot in Killarney Isles, Camperdown, near Pietermaritzburg, and confiscated 3 250 shucked and 66 035 dried abalone allegedly belonging to Barends and his enterprise.

l Police found out that Crous rented two smallholdings in the Rustenberg/Marikana area to be used as abalone drying facilities. In May 2006, they searched the smallholdings and confiscated 18 255 dried and 7 834 shucked abalone on one of the plots, and 31 107 dried abalone on the other.

l At various times between 2006 and 2010, police officers at the Beaufort West police station allegedly helped the enterprise members by securing safe passage for vehicles carrying abalone, for which they were allegedly paid by Wei, Barends, Crous and Donovan Dickson.

Other arrests were effected in Brackenfell, Struisbaai, Bredasdorp, Gansbaai, Stanford, Genadendal, Hopefield, Touwsrivier, Darling, Nieuwoudtville and Upington.

henriette.geldenhuys@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus

Chaos erupted after a boy and a cop were shot and wounded, and several vehicles and the premises were petrol-bombed.

 Cape Town - Chaos erupted in Hawston where a 13-year-old boy and a policeman were shot and wounded, and several vehicles and the premises of the police dog unit were petrol-bombed.

The violent clashes saw residents barricade the road between Hermanus and Bot River with burning tyres.

By late on Saturday night public order police had been sent from Cape Town to the fishing community in a bid to help bring running gun battles between the police and the community under control.

The town erupted in violence shortly after the funeral on Saturday morning of a suspected poacher, Steven “Sai” Figaji, 19, who is believed to have drowned at Breakfast Bay in Vermont last week, while allegedly harvesting perlemoen illegally.

But residents are disputing the cause of death, suggesting he was a victim of police brutality.

Residents took to the R43 highway to vent their anger, with locals blocking off all entrances to Hawston. They hurled petrol bombs and stones at police, and set fire to police and private vehicles.

Lionel Adendorf, agriculture, forestry and fisheries department spokesman, said on Saturday night eight of their officers had received death threats following Figaji’s death.

A bystander said :

“Poachers threw petrol bombs and pelted police with stones.

“People in general are fed up with the law enforcement officials’ bullying tactics.”

Figaji’s relatives refused to comment, but said they were unaware of any protest plans following the funeral.

Police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said at least one police vehicle, a traffic police vehicle and several private cars were petrol-bombed during the violence that ensued.

“A police officer was injured when members of the community opened fire on the police,” he said, adding that the police dog unit had also been attacked.

By late on Saturday evening he was still awaiting details of the extent of the damage, including any injuries to the unit’s dogs.

“We cannot get into or out of the area so we don’t know any details of the 13-year-old who was also believed to have been shot,” Van Wyk said.

Several residents told Weekend Argus they took matters into their own hands after word spread that police officials allegedly assaulted divers suspected of perlemoen poaching on Saturday.

“We were told that police were busy beating divers. People have had enough of the way the law enforcers have been handling people suspected of poaching,” a resident said.

Hawston community leader Jan Gelderblom said he returned from Cape Town on Saturday afternoon to find “the fishing village in flames”.

He acknowledged the rumours that police had assaulted poachers, and that the community had retaliated.

“Tempers are flaring. I haven’t seen Hawston in this state in a very long time. The R43 is on fire, the police dog unit offices in Hawston are in flames, everything is burning,” Gelderblom added.

They were planning to meet police later today to discuss the community’s concerns.

Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa confirmed the R43 had to be closed to traffic on Saturday because of the protests. The road was still closed at 6pm on Saturday night.

warda.meyer@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus

A paroled prisoner is expected to appear in court for allegedly raping a warder's wife.

Uniondale, Western Cape - A paroled prisoner is expected to appear in the Uniondale Magistrate's Court, Western Cape, on Monday, for allegedly raping a warder's wife, according to Sunday's Rapport newspaper.

The 27-year-old was arrested last week after he allegedly broke into the prison warder's home in the early hours of the morning. He had been released on parole the previous week. The warder was not home at the time.

He reportedly got into bed with the woman. When she realised he was not her husband, she tried to get away, but he overpowered and allegedly assaulted and raped her. - Sapa

The ANC is facing eviction from its Sahara House offices after the building's owners served a notice of demand on the party for outstanding rent.

Cape Town - The ANC in the Western Cape is facing eviction from its Sahara House offices on the Foreshore after the building’s owners, the billionaire Gupta family, served a notice of demand on the party for outstanding rent.

Weekend Argus understands that if the ANC does not pay the three years’ back rent owing, within the next two weeks, they will be forced to vacate the seventh floor offices.

The ANC leadership in the Western Cape, elected in February last year, has been battling with bad debt left by their predecessors.

In recent months, the party has had its office furniture attached by the Sheriff of the Court, and its phone lines cut for non-payment.

The party’s biggest outstanding debt is for about R1.8 million owed to the Cape Town International Convention Centre, after the party held its provincial elective conference at the centre in February last year.

And the party’s financial woes continue to escalate, with the latest thorn in its side the Gupta family, which has close ties with President Jacob Zuma.

It’s understood that the rent at Sahara House has not been paid for three years.

Insiders say the Western Cape ANC received a letter demanding rent payments dating back to 2009, about a fortnight ago.

“The letter was addressed to former ANC Western Cape leader Mcebisi Skwatsha, who was still in charge of the ANC affairs in 2009,” the source said.

The letter of demand, dated October 18, also says that if the ANC fails to comply, they must move out within 30 days.

ANC provincial treasurer Fezile Calana acknowledged receipt of the letter, and said the issue was being dealt with “together with the national office”.

Calana would not be drawn on how much money was owed,

saying only that the party was dealing with the matter internally.

However, senior party members have questioned the timing of the move, saying it appears to be connected to the national leadership race, and the fact that several ANC members on the provincial executive committee are supporting a leadership change.

“This is just too bizarre. Why threaten to kick out the ANC now, this is all about Mangaung,” a senior member said.

When Weekend Argus contacted the lawyers acting on behalf of the building’s owners, Johan Schalkwyk said he was waiting for instructions from his client, Islandsite Investments One Hundred and Eighty.

A deed search revealed that the company has four active directors, including Atul Kumar Gupta, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Chetali Gupta and Arti Gupta.

Atul Gupta is said to be close to Zuma.

E-mails to the Gupta’s Sahara Holdings went unanswered.

Weekend Argus

A police sergeant was arrested for corruption following a sting in the Cape Town central police station.

Cape Town - A police sergeant was arrested for corruption following a sting in the Cape Town central police station, Western Cape police said on Sunday.

On Friday afternoon, police placed an undercover agent, under the alias “James Andrews”, in the cells of the Cape Town central police station.

A second undercover agent was sent in with a food parcel for Andrews, and asked the sergeant to deliver the parcel. The parcel contained four, small plastic bags of dagga.

The sergeant, 48, was asked to ask Andrews for his attorney's contact details. The sergeant took the parcel and returned several minutes later with a lawyer's phone number.

The sergeant then accepted a R100 bribe from the second undercover agent.

A senior duty officer confronted the sergeant and took him to Andrews' cell. The duty officer then had the food parcel, in Andrews' possession, opened. The sergeant was disarmed and the marked R100 bill was found in his pocket. He was arrested on a charge of corruption and detained at Camps Bay police station.

In addition to the criminal charges, the sergeant would face internal disciplinary proceedings. - Sapa

Efforts are afoot to strike last-minute back-room deals and secret caucuses are being held as the ANC leadership race turns into a bruising affair in the Western Cape.

Cape Town - Efforts are afoot to strike last-minute back-room deals and secret caucuses are being held as the ANC leadership race turns into a bruising affair in the Western Cape.

With supporters of Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe dreading a purge if the Jacob Zuma camp is victorious at Mangaung, compromises are being sought between

competing factions over the top six positions.

So far 92 branch general meetings to nominate party leaders have been held in the province, with 79 still outstanding.

And the Zuma camp appears to be leading the way.

Figures indicate that 62 branches have so far voted for Zuma and 30 for Motlanthe.

If the current trend holds, it seems the Western Cape will opt to change only three of the top six posts: this would see Zuma remain party president, Cyril Ramaphosa become his deputy, Gwede Mantashe remain secretary-general, with Jesse Duarte as deputy secretary, Baleka Mbete remaining national chairwoman, and Jeff Radebe becoming treasurer.

But Motlanthe supporters said the pronouncements were premature, with the true figures likely to show a 50/50 split.

Meanwhile, senior party members say factionalism is delaying the process and branches, particularly those in the Dullah Omar region, have failed to achieve quorums. In the metro region, only 20 branches have met, with 35 outstanding.

“Getting a quorum for the branch meetings has proven to be a near-impossible task. In order to go to a branch meeting, you must know who your branch members are. But in most cases the attendance lists in many areas were never received, and this is causing major problems at branch level,” a member revealed.

The party has deployed all its MPs, MPLs and other senior party members in the province to branches to ensure that the meetings have quorums.

Western Cape branches have been given until Tuesday to finalise their nominations, before the provincial general council meets to consolidate nominations before Mangaung.

The deadline is expected to be extended to accommodate those branches that have battled with quorums.

The Western Cape will send only 178 branch delegates to the conference.

The Southern Cape appears to be the only ANC region backing Motlanthe outright for president.

The ANC’s Putco Mapitiza said they had had 20 successful meetings in all sub-regions, but Knysna and Oudtshoorn had fallen behind. A few branches had struggled to get a quorum, but had employed strategies to intensify the process.

“It’s in the interest of the regional leadership to ensure all branches go to Mangaung. Where elements of disruption occur, as leadership we respond promptly,” he said.

The region had decided to lobby for change and wanted to see Motlanthe as president, Tokyo Sexwale as his deputy, Thandi Modise as national chair, Fikile Mbalula as secretary-general, Phoebe Potgieter as his deputy, and Matthews Phosa as treasurer.

On the West Coast, 16 branches are heading to Mangaung, with 13 having already held their branch general meetings and only three outstanding.

ANC regional secretary in the Overberg, Themba Tebele, said that of the 19 branches that will go to Mangaung, 16 had already held their meetings.

He would not divulge details, but said Zuma supporters were dominating.

Opposing groups claimed however there was a 50/50 split in the region between Zuma and Motlanthe branches.

The three outstanding branches are Grabouw, Caledon and Cape Agulhus.

Sources say the results from the Karoo region indicate that Zuma is leading seven to one, with only one branch meeting outstanding.

Members in the Boland region said of the 20 branches that had met, 15 had voted for Zuma and 20 branches still had to meet.

warda.meyer@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus

Well-known vintage car enthusiast, Ron Peffers, died after he was shot during an apparent robbery at his smallholding.

Cape Town - A well-known vintage car enthusiast died on Friday morning after he was shot during an apparent robbery at his smallholding near Atlantis.

Ron Peffers, 74, belonged to the Wynberg-based Crankhandle Club, South Africa’s largest and oldest car club.

He was shot in the shoulder during an attack at his home in the early hours of Friday, apparently after intruders broke in through a window.

Peffers was taken to the Wesfleur Hospital in Atlantis, where he later died.

His wife, Amanda, was apparently visiting her daughter in Hout Bay when the shooting occurred. She spoke to her husband in hospital shortly before he died.

Police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said one person had been taken in for questioning over the shooting, which police believed had occurred about 3.30am.

Peffers often wrote for the Crankhandle Club’s newsletter.

His daughter, Siobhan, is married to Gavin Alford, who took over ownership of the Concorde Cars motor dealership in Buitenkant Street after his own father, Colin, was shot and killed in Hout Bay in 2008.

Alford confirmed Peffers was his father-in-law, but did not want to comment further.

Peffers is survived by his wife and two children.

Weekend Argus

The Hawks are offering a substantial reward for info leading to the arrest of the alleged mastermind of one of the biggest suspected abalone-smuggling syndicates.

Cape Town - The alleged mastermind of one of the biggest suspected abalone-smuggling syndicates in South Africa, who has evaded Interpol and the Hawks for more than a year, has reportedly been spotted in Cape Town.

The Hawks are offering a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest of 47-year-old Chinese Ran Wei, and have called on their informers and the general public to be on the lookout for him, and alert them to his whereabouts.

Details of Wei, who is wanted for abalone-related racketeering, have also been circulated worldwide by both the Hawks and Interpol.

Now a

source who knows Wei, and works for some of his associates locally, says he saw him in Sea Point about three weeks ago.

The source said he heard that Wei flew to Joburg on Wednesday, but was to return to Cape Town on Friday.

A Hawks investigator, who cannot be named in terms of police protocol, said: “The reward is substantial. Let’s just say, whoever informs us where he is will have a great Christmas.”

However, while Wei remains at large, 24 members of the suspected abalone-smuggling syndicate, including alleged leader Frank Barends of Gansbaai, appeared in the Western Cape High Court on Friday for a pre-trial conference in connection with 534 charges, including corruption and racketeering.

It is alleged that the syndicate made R2 billion over a period of 13 years, from 1998, operating in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern Cape and the North West province.

At least 34 State witnesses are expected to testify in what will be a marathon trial, set to start in April and continue for several years.

Most of the accused were arrested in July last year, but Wei eluded capture at the time.

Two of the alleged syndicate members – Barends and another alleged leader, Donovan Dickson – are in custody. The others are out on bail.

The accused will be back in court on November 12.

Meanwhile, Weekend Argus understands that a reliable source has told the Hawks that Wei fled South Africa for the southern coastal Chinese city of Macau, a gambling haven that rivals Las Vegas.

The Hawks investigator said he believes it’s highly unlikely that Wei is in SA, saying that would be an “extremely high risk” for him because “there’s a good chance he will be caught if he’s in South Africa”.

Hawks spokesman Paul Ramaloko said: “We don’t want to say whether he’s inside or outside the country. We are following positive leads, and believe the information we have will lead to his capture. However, if there is any person that can help us catch him, they are asked to please contact us.”

Weekend Argus has established from its source and from the Hawks that Wei, known by his nickname “Uncle Bennie” and also known as “Peter” in some circles, is about 1.62m tall, and wears specially-made shoes to make him appear taller. He has become a familiar face in various Chinese restaurants in Sea Point over the years, also spending a lot of time in Midrand in Joburg, where he owned a home, and in Rosettenville and Randburg.

The Weekend Argus source said Wei was “well-known in Chinese mafia circles as a doer, and not a speaker”.

“He’s the king of the abalone trade, and is considered a top-class economist. He’s a master of disguise and you can pass him in the street without knowing it’s him, thinking it’s another Chinaman, not the notorious Uncle Bennie,” he said.

The State alleges that Wei “is the main figure in the criminal enterprise involved in the illegal poaching, purchasing, processing and selling of abalone”.

Wei was found guilty of possession of abalone in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Joburg in 2006, and fined.

Details of Wei’s involvement in the trade emerge in various court papers detailing successful applications by the State to have the assets of suspected local syndicate leaders and members frozen.

Allegations against Wei include that he:

* Ordered and paid for three abalone drying facilities or processing plants, one in Boegoeberg in Groblershoop, in the Northern Cape.

* Bought the abalone the syndicate poached, then prepared it for export in its dry form, shrunk to a tenth of its original size and weight. For example, a ton of wet abalone converted into 100kg of dried abalone.

* Employed and spent time in the company of a State witness, Jan de Waal, who managed his processing facility in Groblershoop on his behalf for several years. Barends allegedly told De Waal the reason why they had to build processing plants so far away was because “the Chinese had been caught at their present processing facilities and were looking for suitable alternatives”.

* Gave De Waal cash to buy smallholdings for the establishment of two more processing plants.

* Told De Waal to get some of the cash for the purchase of the smallholdings from Barends, claiming Barends owed him money.

* Paid police officers at the Beaufort West police station at various times between 2006 and 2010 to ensure that the alleged syndicate’s abalone-heavy vehicles were not searched as they drove through the area.

* Was due to receive 3 936 shucked abalone from a Mercedes Benz and trailer allegedly belonging to Barends in July 2005.

But police bust alleged members of Wei’s enterprise on the N9 near Uniondale and confiscated all the abalone, thwarting the planned drop-off at Wei’s premises in Joburg.

henriette.geldenhuys@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus

The quiet town of Hawston was plunged into chaos after the latest clashes with alleged members of the "Slaan Squad".

Cape Town - A Western Cape town was turned into a battlefield after fed up residents declared war on local cops.

The quiet town of Hawston was plunged into chaos after the latest clashes with police officers who locals say are members of the notorious “Slaan Squad” (Hit Squad).

In a weekend of drama:

* Shots and tear gas were fired at residents in running pitched battles;

* In one incident, an innocent 13-year-old boy was shot in both legs;

* Community members set fire to several police vehicles and the Overberg K9 Dog Unit headquarters in the town;

* Almost the entire town – young and old – rose up against the cops.

Two suspects will appear in court on Monday charged in connection with the violent disturbances.

People went on the rampage on Saturday following the funeral of a suspected poacher, Steven “Sai” Figaji, 19, and a separate incident in which two alleged poachers were arrested.

Figaji is believed to have drowned at Breakfast Bay in Vermont last week, while allegedly harvesting perlemoen illegally. However, people who were with him claim law enforcement officials played a role in his death. This will now be investigated.

There has been repeated claims over the years that law enforcement officials dealt heavily with alleged poachers.

The weekend’s violence was also sparked by a dramatic cop car chase through the town as alleged members of the “Slaan Squad” pursued two suspected poachers.

One of the men got away, but local sources say his accomplice was taken away and allegedly beaten up by the “Slaaners”.

“They took him into the bushes and roughed him up and the community got upset because of this,” one 50-year-old man, who did not want to be identified, explained.

A thick cloud of smoke hung over Hawston on Saturday as the mob blocked the R43 between Botrivier and Hermanus with burning tyres.

Shots were fired between police and members of the public as the cops called for back-up.

This quickly escalated out of control.

Some residents set fire to police vehicles outside the K9 Dog Unit headquarters, which was also set ablaze.

One SAPS officer was hurt as he tried to save the dogs from the flames.

Hawston community leader Jan Gelderblom said he returned from Cape Town on Saturday afternoon to find “the fishing village in flames”.

He acknowledged the rumours that police had allegedly assaulted poachers and that the community had retaliated.

“Tempers are flaring. I haven’t seen Hawston in this state in a very long time. The R43 is on fire, the police dog unit offices in Hawston are in flames, everything is burning,” he said.

Hawston resident and local councillor Maurencia Gillion added: “We condemn the violence and damage to state property, but there must be looked at the source of the problem which caused it.

“This is not about politics or religion, this is about the violation of human rights and it affects the whole community.”

Deputy Provisional Police Commissioner Major-General Peter Jacobs travelled to Hawston as cops desperately tried to restore calm.

During a press conference, Jacobs claimed the attack on the K9 Unit was “planned in advance” by criminal elements who wanted to exploit the deepening tensions for their own “agenda”.

“The speed at which the attack on the dog unit happened shows fine planning,” Jacobs said.

“To flip four vehicles and get petrol for petrol bombs so fast is not easy.”

Jacobs added that two suspects “specifically connected to the incident” were arrested late on Saturday night following a shootout with cops.

The top cop also vowed that the Independent Police Investigation Directorate would take over the investigation into Figaji’s death.

And he promised that any complaints of alleged police brutality would be fully investigated.

Meanwhile, cops also confirmed that two local suspects, aged 21 and 27, were arrested in possession of 55 abalone and 12 crayfish.

“The estimated street value is about R2 000. The suspects will appear in the Hermanus Magistrates’ Court on Monday,” said police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk.

Charges of arson, public violence and malicious damage to property are now under investigation.

“One SAPS member was injured and his private vehicle damaged while he tried to save the dogs after the K9 Unit was set alight,” he added.

“Various private vehicles were damaged – one was burned and others damaged by rock throwing.”

Daily Voice with additional reporting by the Cape Argus