Cape Town launches Highway Ghost Squad and department's new 26-wheel "Hulk".

The Highway Ghost Squad has recorded just under 2000 offences on Cape Town’s major roads in just five weeks.

It started operating in October and has already issued 1972 fines on roads including the N2, N1, R300 and M5.

In just one week last month, more than 700 offences were recorded.

Focus areas of the new unit will include the R300 between the N1 and Vanguard Drive and the M5 between the N1’s Koeberg Interchange and Sunrise Circle.

The M3 between Jutland Avenue and Steenberg Road will be another focus area, as well as the N2 from Sir Lowry’s Pass to Hospital Bend, including Nelson Mandela Boulevard.

BEWARE OF THE HULK

The city yesterday officially launched the Highway Ghost Squad as well as the traffic service’s new 26-wheel vehicle, the “Hulk”.

JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security, said there had been an increase in the number of motorists on the roads. In turn there were more traffic offences.

Maxine Jordaan, head of the Highway Ghost Squad, said motorists driving in the N2’s bus lane and failing to wear seatbelts were some of the biggest problems on highways.

She said people driving over the barrier lines was another common offence.

There were 477 bus lane offences, 254 fines for people not wearing seat-belts, and 229 motorists were caught without driving licences.

Smith said officers found around 30 000 unlicenced drivers on city roads every month.

At yesterday’s launch along the M5, motorists were pulled over so that officers could check driving licences and whether vehicles were roadworthy. Several drivers with outstanding warrants were also nabbed.

One of these, an Athlone man, was arrested. He had five arrest warrants worth over R4000 to his name.

The new “Hulk” vehicle will soon be processing cases like this. It is fitted with computer systems which link to the eNatis database. This means it will be able to check the validity of driving licences and process warrants.

Smith said there would also be a nurse on board for blood tests in drunk-driving cases. It was donated to the city and will be used at roadblocks and in special operations. -Cape Argus

A Western Cape professor has appeared in court on charges of raping his mentally disabled foster son, a report said.

Cape Town -

A Western Cape professor has appeared in the Oudtshoorn Regional Court on charges of raping his mentally disabled foster son, the Daily Voice reported on Thursday.

The professor, 68, was granted R500 bail on Wednesday and told to return to court on December 7.

He was also ordered not to make contact with his 31-year-old son. He has pleaded not guilty to raping and sexual assaulting the man between December 2010 and February this year.

According to the report, clinical psychologist Tjaart van der Linde told the court the son had poor communication abilities and the mental capacity of a 10-year-old child.

The professor was the former head of an education centre for adults. - Sapa

The R1.5 billion fraud case against J Arthur W Brown has been set down for trial nine times in the past two years.

Cape Town - The R1.5 billion fraud case against former Fidentia boss J Arthur W Brown has been set down for trial nine times in the past two years - but delayed each time.

Brown, who was arrested in connection with investment fraud just over five years ago, is yet to hear the State’s case against him.

He has appeared in the High Court about 18 times in the past two years. These appearances included pre-trial conferences, preliminary postponements and trial dates.

Brown was arrested on March 6, 2007 in connection with the allegations that he defrauded widows and orphans of millions of rand while he was the chief executive of Fidentia.

He appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court and was released on R1 million bail. Brown was charged in three separated cases until they were consolidated.

He now faces nine counts including fraud, corruption, theft and money laundering. The high court indictment alleges that Brown defrauded people of about R1.5bn.

* R8m from Fundi Projects.

* R200m from the Transport, Education and Training Authority (Teta).

* R1.2bn from Mercantile Asset Trust Company (Matco) - the asset trust account that looked after miners’ pension funds.

* R12.6m of Fidentia investors’ money was used to buy a farm, Thaba Manzi, in the Humansdorp area.

* R5m from Infinity.

* R40m from the Antheru Trust.

Meanwhile, Brown is expected to defend himself when he argues two applications on Monday. The applications involved the full disclosure of the State’s case docket and the other is about problems Brown has with the indictment.

Brown is expected to appear in the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday in connection with another matter.

It is alleged that he stole R800 000 from Fidentia and laundered it through an associate and investment broker, Jacobus Theart, for the benefit of his wife who has fled to Australia.

The trial had been set down for January next year.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Striking farmworkers defied a government call to return to work, demanding action against a police captain.

Cape Town - Striking farmworkers defied a government call to return to work Thursday, with labourers demanding action against a police captain over the death of one of their colleagues during clashes.

Workers in the Western Cape town of Wolseley - earlier the scene of deadly violence -marched through the town early on Thursday, chanting and singing, despite government announcements that the strike had been suspended.

The government and Cosatu had earlier announced that workers would freeze the strike for two weeks while the sector's R70 minimum wage is reviewed.

But protesters have insisted they will not return to the fruit-growing region's farms until they receive a daily wage of at least R150.

“It's not over for us. We are continuing no matter what. We are going forward no matter what,” said 19-year-old seasonal fruit farm worker Mandla Betshe.

“It's just a wish for them (for it) to be over.”

“The strike is not finished,” insisted Pieter Opperman, 38, who earns R80 a day

“If we get that settlement of R150, I will go back to work with all my heart. Because then I know I can put food on the table for my family and I can sort myself out.”

The scene early Thursday was tense, with a heavy police presence.

A worker delegation handed a list of demands to police including the suspension of the local police captain, after 28-year-old Michael Daniels was killed in clashes.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) had opened an investigation into the matter.

“The most important thing is... who gave the order to shoot. Obviously someone has to take a responsibility,” said Lamie Mqungquthu, part of the worker delegation.

“Our aim today is to make peace with the police, they must leave the people because all of us have a right” to protest, he said.

Police described the situation as “volatile,” with disturbances in the towns of De Doorns, Ceres and Swellendam.

“Police officers are deployed at all affected areas to maintain law and order, and to protect the public,” said Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut of the Western Cape police.

Cosatu said on Thursday that it would take a bit more time to inform all farmworkers to suspend their strike.

"We have in many towns deployed our organisers and those of other organisations to go report back and speak to workers," organiser Mike Louw said.

"Unfortunately sporadic pockets of protests are still happening, and the behaviour and actions of police have exacerbated the situation.

"Our attempt really is to gather information now and deploy people further to go back and inform people. We are calling on farmers to be lenient and allow workers to return, even though they may return late." - Sapa, AFP

Helen Zille must approach ministers directly to assist in farmworker labour unrest, President Zuma said.

Cape Town - Western Cape premier Helen Zille must approach national ministers directly to assist in provincial farmworker labour unrest, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

“We wish to point out that the premier has access to all line function national ministries that are working on the matter, such as labour, agriculture, forestry and fisheries and the SA police services,” Zuma's spokesman Mac Maharaj said.

“The premier should thus work with her colleagues, the ministers in the relevant portfolios, to discuss the assistance she needs.”

Zille wrote a letter to Zuma on Tuesday, asking him to intervene in the De Doorns wage dispute.

“The consequences of the current crisis will be very severe for the Western Cape and South Africa as a whole if they are not immediately addressed,” she said in the letter at the time.

She asked him to delegate Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant, who was out of the country, to address the situation.

Table grape harvesters began protesting in De Doorns last week with a wage demand of R150 a day. Most earned between R69 and R75 a day, with R80 being the highest and only offer from farmers so far.

The unrest spread to other rural areas and protest action took place in 16 towns.

The labour department announced on Wednesday that farmworkers would suspend their protests over wages and living conditions in 16 towns for two weeks.

Acting Labour Minister Angie Motshekga said the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) had consulted workers and it was agreed they would return to work on Thursday and stop violence and vandalism.

The suspension was on condition that the sectoral determination for agriculture be looked at by the Employment Condition Commission next Wednesday.

This meant the R70 a day minimum wage for farmworkers would be renegotiated.

Indications on Thursday were that there were still protests in certain areas. Western Cape police spokesman Lt-Col Andre Traut said a number of rural areas were being closely monitored.

“Although no serious acts of violence have been reported as yet, the matter is regarded as volatile.

“Areas affected this morning are De Doorns, Ceres and Swellendam, with sporadic situations in other areas as well. The most recent protest action is occurring in Swellendam, and although there is no indication that it is farmworker related, there could be a link.”

He confirmed a farmworker was killed in Wolselely on Wednesday. He dismissed allegations that a farmer was killed in Wellington and a police officer in Ceres the same day.

The Food and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu) president Attwell Nazo would address workers in Robertson, Bonnievale and De Doorns on Thursday.

The union said it had a “successful visit” to farmworkers, farm dwellers and township residents in Ceres and Robertson on Wednesday.

“The success was characterised by the release of those arrested, following the negotiations between Fawu and the police, as well as the reception of the call for restraint from engaging in violence while maintaining peaceful protests.”

Between 20 and 30 workers were apparently released by police in those areas.

“While workers have rejected a call to return back to work for the next two weeks, a promise from workers to restrain from violent actions is welcomed by Fawu leadership,” the union said.

Cosatu provincial organiser Mike Louw told Sapa on Thursday that it would take a bit more time to inform all farmworkers to suspend their strike and they were deploying people to areas which had not been informed.

Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich listed five issues that needed to be tackled before there was a resolution.

The first was that politicians had to stop “grand-standing” and start working together on a solution.

The second and third were both applicable to farm employer body AgriSA.

“The AgriSA must take its head out of the sand and stop undermining the workers' desire to join a union. AgriSA must add their voice to the national call for an urgent increase in the minimum wages.”

Ehrenreich said the fourth point was for government to speed up the convening of a negotiations forum for the minimum wage.

Lastly, he said workers had to organise themselves by joining unions which represented their grievances. - Sapa

Cosatu has denied busing protesters to the Cape’s farming towns - but confirms it is trying to play “a leading role” in the protests.

Cape Town - Cosatu has vehemently denied busing protesters to the Cape’s farming towns - but readily confirms it is trying to play “a leading role” in the mass action.

Provincial Cosatu head Tony Ehrenreich said: “The percentage of the protesters who are union members is very, very low, so Cosatu and its affiliates have sought to give structure to the action.”

The Cape Argus was sent a copy of a letter signed by Cosatu and various member unions and community organisations which urged farm workers across the province to stand in solidarity with their fellow workers in De Doorns.

Numerous sources said small numbers of instigators had been responsible for igniting violence in towns, by allegedly threatening permanent workers on farms that their houses would be torched and they would be hurt if they did not down tools.

One source, who did not wish to be named, alleged that the violence had typically taken place in towns with large communities of seasonal or contract workers.

“To those who actually live on the farms, burning a vineyard would be the same as burning their own house down, because they know that that is where their income comes from.”

Deputy provincial commissioner General Sharon Jafta was quoted last night as saying they had requested the SANDF for assistance.

Cape Argus

About 400 farmworkers marched to the Wolseley municipal offices to meet community leaders, following days of protest.

Cape Town - About 400 farmworkers marched to the Wolseley municipal offices on Thursday morning to meet community leaders and police following unrest over wages.

A resident in the area, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, said he watched the protesters walk over the bridge from Pine Valley around 10.30am and gather at the building.

He said police were watching the group and that no shots had been fired or stones thrown.

Protests over wages and living conditions started in De Doorns last week and had spread to 15 other towns in the Western Cape by Wednesday.

The main road in Wolseley, Voortrekker Street, was the scene of violent protests on Wednesday. A stand-off between police and protesters resulted in the death of 28-year-old tractor driver Michael Daniels.

The Cape Times reported that Daniels had been walking past protesters to get to the shops. Farmworker Deon Conradie told the newspaper a senior police officer gave the order for officers to open fire.

“She said 'skiet die goed vrek' (shoot the things dead). We got frustrated with police and some protesters threw stones and swore at them,” Conradie said. He said the crowd ran when shots were fired.

The Wolseley resident who spoke to Sapa said police had warned protesters about firing live ammunition. Initially protesters attempted to negotiate with police officers.

A second group of protesters came from another direction and started throwing stones at the police, who respondeed by firing rubber bullets.

“They turned a police vehicle on its side. A farmer came down over the bridge with his pick-up truck. The same guys started throwing stones at the bakkie,” the resident said.

“The 82-year-old man, Tienie Crous, was hit in the head and arms. He's in Ceres hospital in a stable condition and they are checking for a head injury and a broken or cracked jaw.”

A local resident helped the elderly man from his car and got him away from the crowds.

“After a while, a policeman told a resident to tell the protesters that they must please just move back and stop throwing stones because they don't have rubber bullets.”

The group retaliated by throwing stones. Police fired a few shots to protect themselves, he said.

The latest march on Thursday followed a call by the government and the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Wednesday to suspend the strike for two weeks pending a review of a bargaining council agreement.

Provincial police confirmed there was still unrest in De Doorns, Ceres and Swellendam on Thursday morning.

Cosatu organiser in the province Mike Louw said it would take some time to tell all farmworkers to suspend the strike.

He said resources were stretched, but the union federation was confident it could enforce the suspension, despite some workers' organisations rejecting it.

Sapa

A Western Cape man died after being swept off the rocks in Pringle Bay, the National Sea Rescue Institute said.

Cape Town - A Western Cape man died on Thursday morning after being swept off the rocks in Pringle Bay, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.

NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said the man and his friend were believed to be cray-fishing from the rocks at The Point before 8.30am, when a wave swept them out to sea.

“On arrival on-scene we found one man, an adult, being attended to in a private ambulance. It is reported that he had managed to swim to shore,” Lambinon said.

A helicopter spotted the second man in the surf and a rescue swimmer jumped into the water to hoist him in with a static line.

He was declared dead on his arrival at the shore. - Sapa

Amid strikes and protests, a businessman has tightened his belt to help struggling employees with a significant wage increase.

Cape Town - Amid wildcat strikes, wage talk deadlocks and violent protests, a local businessman has tightened his belt on personal expenses to help struggling employees with 50 and 80-percent wage increases.

And his efforts have paid off, with an increase in productivity and happier staff.

Vic Warrington, who runs the outdoor furniture factory Bench and Patio World, has been in the business for 23 years. The family business started in a garage and today comprises a store in Paarden Island and another in Joburg.

“We are not really wealthy,” he said. “But I drive a decent car, we live comfortably and we have no debt in our business. But we do run a cash business and sometimes we struggle to pay wages, but we are trying to live properly,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Warrington had an “eye-opening experience” when workers at one factory went on strike.

“I’ve seen what has been happening in the mining and farming industry in the Cape and then I suddenly had a wildcat strike at my little factory in Joburg,” he said.

To prevent similar wage disputes in the furniture industry, Warrington sat down with staff to find out where the problem lay. He looked at how much staffers were earning, what their expenses were and what they took home.

“I thought, I can’t live my lifestyle and here are guys earning above 30 percent of the minimum wage, but in debt, with loan sharks on their backs and clothing loans.”

Warrington has since affected changes to his business. On the advice of his employees, he has decided not to hire any new casual staff for the season. “They said they are going to put shoulders to the wheel, and they’ve really upped their game.”

He said most employees were given a 50 percent increase while some were given an 80 percent wage increase.

“Some guys have been with me for a long time, but I also listened to their commitments,” he said.

“The happier they are, the more productive they are and I have seen that.”

Charles Chiuriri, a machinist at the factory, used to earn R850 a week and now earns R1 500 a week. Chiuriri said he had to send money home to his family in Zimbabwe. “

If you’re not expecting something and it comes as a surprise, you put in more effort.”

He said that the furniture bargaining council and the trade unions were to blame for low wage increases.

Warrington called into the Kieno Kammies show on 567CapeTalk on Wednesday to speak of how happy his workers were after the increases.

Cape Argus

A human foetus was found in a rubbish bin in Cape Town, paramedics said.

Cape Town - A human foetus was found in a rubbish bin in Cape Town on Thursday, paramedics said.

A man discovered the dead baby while going through the bin's contents at the corner of Loop and Church Streets, Netcare 911

spokesman Chris Botha said on Thursday.

Paramedics were alerted, but found that the child was already dead, he said.

The body had been handed over to the police for further investigation. - Sapa

The situation was quiet in De Doorns following days of protests by farmworkers, said Western Cape police.

De Doorns, Western Cape - The situation was quiet in De Doorns on Thursday, following days of protests by farmworkers, said Western Cape police.

“I haven't heard reports of anything happening this evening,” said Lt-Col Andre Traut.

Earlier, about 400 farmworkers marched to the Wolseley municipal offices to meet community leaders and the police following unrest over wages.

The march came after a call by the government and the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Wednesday to suspend the strike for two weeks pending a review of a bargaining council agreement.

Workers agreed to suspend the strike on condition that the sectoral determination for agriculture be looked at by the Employment Condition Commission next Wednesday.

Protests about wages and living conditions started in De Doorns last week and had spread to 15 other towns in the Western Cape by Wednesday.

The protests started with Table grape harvesters, who were calling for wages of R150 a day. Most earned between R69 and R75 a day.

The main road in Wolseley, Voortrekker Street, was the scene of violent protests on Wednesday.

A stand-off between police and protesters resulted in the death of 28-year-old tractor driver Michael Daniels.

The Cape Times reported that Daniels had been walking past protesters to get to the shops.

Farmworker Deon Conradie told the newspaper a senior police officer gave the order for officers to open fire.

“She said 'skiet die goed vrek' (shoot the things dead). We got frustrated with police and some protesters threw stones and swore at them,” Conradie said.

He said the crowd ran when shots were fired.

An unnamed Wolseley resident said the police had warned protesters about firing live ammunition, and that protesters had initially tried to negotiate with the police.

A second group of protesters had come from another direction and started throwing stones at the police, who responded by firing rubber bullets.

“They turned a police vehicle on its side. A farmer came down over the bridge with his pick-up truck. The same guys started throwing stones at the bakkie,” the resident said.

“The 82-year-old man (the farmer), Tienie Crous, was hit in the head and arms. He's in Ceres hospital in a stable condition.”

A local resident helped the elderly man from his car and got him away from the crowds.

“After a while, a policeman told a resident to tell the protesters that they must please just move back and stop throwing stones because they don't have rubber bullets.”

The group retaliated by throwing stones. Police fired a few shots to protect themselves, he said.

Municipal officials earlier this week put the damage caused by protesting workers at over R500 000. - Sapa

Cosatu’s message that farmworkers should return to work has become a bloody fault line between strikers.

Cape Town - Cosatu’s message that farmworkers should return to work has become a bloody fault line between strikers.

Cosatu issued a statement on Wednesday that the strike would temporarily be suspended for two weeks - the time deemed necessary for Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant to review the minimum wage for farmworkers.

“The farmers will laugh at us if we return to work, they’ll throw it back in our faces. People have gone hungry for two weeks, they will go hungry for another two,” said Rosemarie Filander, a farmworker and member of the Hex Valley Community Interest Group.

Hunger has become a serious concern for many strikers, who also have not been paid for two weeks.

Many workers who have heeded Cosatu’s call to return to work have been severely assaulted with machetes by diehard strikers.

Criminal and violent elements - looting, vandalism and arson - still accompany the strike.

“What we need now is communication, unity and consensus among the people. It would be a tragedy if the strike rips into two,” said Jesaja Louw, leader of the Food Allied and Workers Union in the region.

Louw admitted that the various unions’ communication to strikers about the two-week interim agreement had been inadequate.

“There is a lot of confusion right now. Many opinions and versions of what should happen next are flying about,” said Louw.

Adding to the woes of De Doorns residents is that the local clinic has been closed for the last two weeks because of the strike. Chronically ill patients were prevented from accessing life-saving medications, said Joanne Otto, Cape Winelands Health spokeswoman.

Cape Argus

Protest action flared up in Swellendam after residents heard that the DA would reclaim the municipality.

Cape Town - The N2 near Swellendam was closed off to traffic after 8 on Thursday night as protesters burned tyres, threw stones, barricaded roads and looted foreign- run shops as they vented their anger over a court order granting the DA interim relief to take back the local municipality.

This followed a hostile takeover by the ANC and ACDP last month.

Protest action flared up late on Wednesday night after word spread that the DA-led municipality had sacked the municipal manager appointed by the ANC.

The riots have since exposed deep social and political divides that residents claim will only unleash more violence.

Police encircled the impoverished suburbs of Railton and Smartie Town on Thursday while other officers stood guard in Swellendam’s central business district, where demonstrating commuters blocked intersections with burning tyres.

Shops were forced to close, while some owned by foreigners were boarded up as looters went on the rampage.

Basic services such as clinics and schools were also forced to close.

Angry protesters only calmed down once word spread that national Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi was expected to visit the area.

By late on Thursday night, however, the minister sent word that he would only be able to visit the area next week.

People who waited the entire afternoon in anticipation of the minister’s visit, became anxious, vowing to go back to the streets until their plight was heard.

Railton community leader Mcgegan Anthony said people were unhappy because of the court ruling which enabled the municipality to fall back into the hands of the DA.

“The protests followed after the DA’s newly reinstated municipal manager unfairly suspended the acting municipal manager, Mervyn Steenkamp, who was appointed by the ANC when they snatched control from the DA,” Anthony said.

He said the majority of people in the Railton community took to the streets and gathered on the N2, blocking the highway and burning tyres. They isolated the town and prevented businesses from opening their doors.

He said the community had vowed to continue the protest action until Steenkamp was reinstated and the municipality was back in the hands of the ANC. Locals said they could no longer tolerate the corrupt ways in which the DA-led council was allowed to run the municipality.

“If you are not white in Swellendam the municipality will overlook you for jobs and services. Our people are nothing to them, they own the town, but they do not own us,” one resident said.

Police spokesman Lieutenant- Colonel Andrè Traut said police were closely monitoring the situation.

Cape Argus

The City of Cape Town received 6 251 applicants for the 32 vacancies. Out of these, just over 1 900 passed the first tests.

Cape Town - More than 6 000 city residents have applied for just 32 metro police positions.

This new batch of officers will bring the Metro Police team to just over 600 members.

JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security, said the trainee constables would be appointed in January.

And although thousands applied, very few made the cut. Less than half passed the first round of tests.

Smith said successful applicants would complete an 18-month training course at the metro police training college, after which they would become constables.

He said the city had received 6 251 applicants for the 32 vacancies. Out of these, just over 1 900 had passed the first tests.

The successful applicants will earn R7 600 a month, including benefits. This works out to just over R96 000 each year.

He said the large number of applications was not unusual for the safety and security directorate.

Smith said between 8 000 and 10 000 applicants were expected to apply for the new round of Fire Services vacancies which were set to open soon. The tests for that department are set to start early next month.

In the law enforcement division, just 15 percent of those who applied made the cut.

Smith said the safety and security department offered “competitive” salaries and that people had a good attitude towards the metro police.

“The metro police are held in positive regard, there is a desirable career path.”

He said many Further Training Colleges were offering courses in law enforcement.

bronwynne.jooste@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Fraud accused J Arthur Brown’s newest lawyer has for the second time this week failed to show up in court.

Cape Town - Fraud accused J Arthur Brown’s newest lawyer has for the second time this week failed to show up in court, saying she no longer wanted to represent him because her life was in danger.

June Marks was supposed to argue against the State’s application that Brown was causing unnecessary delays in the R800 000 fraud case pending against him and co-accused Jacobus Theart in the Cape Town Regional Court.

But Marks, based in Joburg, did not come to court, instead sending a letter with State advocate Max Orban. In the letter, Marks apologises for not coming to court to formally withdraw as Brown’s attorney, but said she would rather avoid a confrontation with him.

“I have been subjected to a vicious campaign of e-mail threats by an associate of Mr Brown and I cannot be in such a situation where such a person may physically harm me. I have been very ill from this and I would prefer not to be placed in an awkward situation of a confrontation with Mr Brown,” Marks said in her letter.

But Magistrate Wilma van der Merwe did not accept the withdrawal saying Marks knew it was trite law that a lawyer had to come to court and withdraw from a case personally.

Van der Merwe decided to roll the case to Friday

Earlier this week, Marks withdrew, in person, from representing Brown in a R1.5-billion fraud, theft and corruption case before the Western Cape High Court.

Brown is now representing himself while the State-funded Legal Aid body decides whether it will represent him at no cost.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Western Cape principals will each receive a PC tablet to improve communication between schools and the Education Department.

Cape Town - The province’s 1 500 principals are each receiving a PC tablet to improve communication between schools and the provincial Education Department.

The roll-out of the R4.8 million project started on Thursday and all tablets were expected to be delivered by the end of Friday.

In his budget speech in March, Education MEC Donald Grant said it was hoped the tablets would help principals “work smarter”.

On Thursday, the first three were delivered to the principals of Phandulwazi High, Oaklands Secondary and Greenfield Girls’ Primary.

“It is so important that we communicate more effectively with the leaders in our schools and that our districts and ourselves are there to back up our schools, especially regarding issues like the new school improvement plans,” Grant said.

Principals could also use the devices to network with one other.

The devices have 3G and wireless capability and 500MB of data will be loaded monthly.

Applications include e-mail, sound recorders, video players, navigation, maps and an e-reader.

“In addition applications such as Skype, Kingsoft Office, Adobe Reader and WhatsApp have been downloaded to assist Western Cape Education Department officials and principals to maximise their opportunities for communication between themselves as well as to create professional learning communities.”

ilse.fredericks@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Cape farmers should decide on the most appropriate action against workers on an illegal strike, Agri SA said.

Johannesburg - Farmers whose workers are on an illegal strike across the Western Cape should be allowed to decide on the most appropriate action against them, Agri SA said on Friday.

“Lawlessness and criminal activities cannot be tolerated and the culprits must be held accountable via normal prosecution processes,” Agri SA labour committee chairman Anton Rabe said.

Employers should decide on what to do with striking workers, as the protest was not protected under the Labour Relations Act.

“Agri SA has also not agreed that no disciplinary action should be taken against striking workers and agitators.”

Protesters looted shops and set buildings alight in Swellendam in the Hex River Valley in the Western Cape, police said on Friday.

“We have received reports of unrest and torching of businesses, but the situation is under control,” Western Cape police spokesman Lt-Gen Andre Traut said.

He said police officers were monitoring the situation.

According to news reports on Friday morning, roads in the area, including the N2, had been blockaded with rocks and burning tyres. eNews Channel Africa (eNCA) reported that shops were being set alight, protesters looted a bottle store and a butchery was torched in Swellendam on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Rabe welcomed discussions aimed at bringing the strike to an end.

“We are committed to constructive discussions that will ensure the profitability and sustainability of commercial agriculture in the long term.”

He said interested parties had to work together to restore business confidence and peace of mind so the country's image could be restored. - Sapa

Farm-owner Gerhard de Kock, of De Doorns, says that he refuses to be intimidated by strikers who set his vineyards on fire.

Cape Town - Farm-owner Gerhard de Kock, of De Doorns, says he refuses to be intimidated by strikers who set his vineyards on fire last week.

De Kock, 60, is chairman of the Cape Orchard Company and Grape Alliance Group Companies, which own 13 farms and export a few million crates of grapes annually. He was born in the Hex River Valley.

He explained to the Cape Argus his interpretation of the strikes that have brought the Boland farming industry to a standstill.

“They are anarchists, many of them illegal immigrants - people with nothing to lose, who are being used as pawns in a political game to make the Western Cape ‘ungovernable’,” he said.

Labour relations on his farms had been good before these “anarchists” started intimidating his staff to stay away, he said.

Many of the farmers sent their families away last week and now armed themselves before turning in for the night, said a member of De Kock’s camp, who listened in on the interview.

De Kock said he had been close to brokering a deal with local community leaders. “But that all changed when the top brass of the ANC and Cosatu arrived in De Doorns. On that day, they told the people that R150 was the only acceptable settlement.” This was not sustainable, he said.

De Kock said grape farming was one of the most labour-intensive sectors in commercial agricultural.

“Each grape, millions of them, need to be carefully worked with the hand. Labour accounts for 40 percent of our input costs.”

De Kock said he had always paid above the minimum legal wage, and was willing to settle on a R95-a-day minimum for unskilled permanent labourers.

Cape Argus

Tow-truck drivers turned into heroes when they sped after hijackers and cornered them in their high-powered vehicles.

Cape Town - Tow-truck drivers turned into heroes on Thursday when they sped after hijackers and cornered them in their high-powered vehicles.

The drama unfolded just after midday in Main Road, Diep River.

The owner of Speedy Towing and Spares, Frans Conradie, explained: “A British American Tobacco company truck was hijacked outside the 7-Eleven by four armed guys.

“They took the truck down a side street, locked the two drivers in the back, loaded the contents into their vehicle and sped off.

“One of my drivers heard what was going on and sped after them.”

The tow-truck driver was soon joined by four fellow drivers in their superfast bakkies, and the five drivers caught the getaway car.

“They cornered it, forced it to stop, kept one in his car with his hands up, then called the police. They caught one, but three ran away on foot.”

Conradie said: “There are four armed guys, yet my team put their lives in danger. They did so because it’s in our neighbourhood and we do not allow criminals to run free here in our community.

“We are on the roads here 24 hours a day and end up catching 90 percent of the thieves in this area.

“We are very happy to offer a public service like this.”

Conradie said it had also been the drivers who discovered the BAT employees locked in the back of the truck.

The company had later phoned with its thanks.

BAT spokeswoman Itumeleng Langeni said the company “would like to commend the tow-truck drivers for their quick response which ultimately prevented the hijacking”.

A witness said the boxing in of the hijackers’ car had “looked like something out of a movie”.

Cape Argus

Veteran ANC MP Ben Turok has spoken about he and his wife’s ordeal with criminals after they were robbed at knifepoint.

Cape Town - Veteran ANC MP Ben Turok has spoken about the ordeal he and his wife underwent when they were robbed at knifepoint at their home.

The couple woke at 1.30am on Tuesday in their Noordhoek home to find three men with balaclavas and torches standing over them.

“They were armed with knives and told us to keep quiet,” Turok, pictured, explained.

“They then ransacked the room, but they found very little. The found a camera, a BlackBerry and took a ring, which my father gave me 40 years ago.

“I gave them some money - I had R600 in my wallet and my wife, Mary, had R100.

“They were remarkably focused. They wanted my laptop, which I didn’t have, my iPad, which they couldn’t find. They did not take my cellphone, for which I’m grateful. “They said they wanted ‘the big money’. “They said: ‘Where’s your safe?’ They wanted big money and guns.”

Turok said he and his wife had been ordered to stand up and their hands were tied.

“My attitude was sullen obedience. Did not fight, did not quarrel,” he explained.

“They then took us downstairs - and the alarm went off. They locked us in the study and ran away.”

Cape Argus