All news items
8 November 2013
The second civilian given permission to cross-examine witnesses before the arms deal commission says their testimony risks being "perjury by omission" because he has been forbidden from asking them important questions.
Richard Young, a losing bidder in the arms procurement process and an outspoken critic of the deal, has applied to cross-examine a witness at the commission.
This week...
8 November 2013
In an unprecedented development at the arms deal commission, critics are stepping forward to cross-examine witnesses they believe have had an easy ride from legal teams. Author Paul Holden questioned a witness on October 21, amid fears those giving testimony were being allowed to deliver a one-sided narrative on behalf of government.
It was an abrasive encounter, with the commission and its...
7 November 2013
The arms deal commission has come under fire again from a noted critic for its handling of government witnesses.
Dr Richard Young, a losing bidder to be a supplier in the arms procurement process and outspoken critic of the arms deal, has applied to cross-examine witnesses at the commission.
Young has locked horns with commission chairperson Judge Willie Seriti on when he will be allowed to...
6 November 2013
South Africa, soon to celebrate 20 years of freedom, owes much to its African neighbours for political and economic support during our anti-apartheid struggle. However, close historical relations have often not translated into considered bilateral co-operation with regard to our migration policies after 1994.
It is to South Africa’s economic and social detriment that we have not been able...
4 November 2013
Judgment was reserved by the Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday in the appeal hearing on South Africa’s obligation under international law to probe alleged atrocities by officials in Zimbabwe.
A full Bench heard there was no suggestion from any party that the South African police should go and investigate alleged crimes against humanity on Zimbabwean soil.
“Do an investigation here,...
1 November 2013
In September, an application was brought against the Limpopo provincial government and several departments, submitting that refugees and asylum seekers legally in the country were "entitled to trade and operate business to earn a living in circumstances where they had no other means of livelihood".
Foreign shopkeepers are taking their battle to run businesses freely in townships...
1 November 2013
Migrant and refugee experts have warned that xenophobic violence in South Africa appears to be on the increase - this at a time when a high court has declared an Ekurhuleni township a disaster zone.
The Johannesburg High Court ordered in an October 16 ruling that the Ekurhuleni municipality address the plight of victims of xenophobic violence after Somali, Bangladeshi and Ethiopian communities in...
28 October 2013
An identity document crisis has left the family of a matric pupil in despair.
Amogelang Ngakane, 18, may not be able to begin her final exams on Monday because she does not have a South African ID. Her guardian, Thuli Msingatha, has spent the past year trying to get Home Affairs to issue Amogelang with a birth certificate in order for her to get an ID.
Amogelang was born in South Africa. Her...
27 October 2013
The arms deal commission has moved to sack eight of its lawyers because, sources say, they are not considered to be loyal to Judge Willie Seriti.
Eight staffers – two senior legal researchers, an assistant legal researcher, four legal practitioners and the head of legal research – were given letters on Thursday saying their contracts would not be renewed.
The commission says in its...
22 October 2013
Ali Omar Mohamed fled Somalia’s civil war two years ago to seek a better life in South Africa. Now after being robbed at gunpoint and seeing scores of his countrymen murdered in xenophobic violence, he’s ready to leave.
Mohammed, a 21-year-old shopkeeper, is part of a growing tide of immigrants who say they prefer returning to a war zone rather than face the hatred and jealousy they...