Programme News
23 May 2014
(News)
If all goes according to plan – and this is murky territory because it depends on whose plan we’re talking about – the Arms Procurement Commission, appointed by President Jacob Zuma and headed by Judge Willie Seriti, appears to be finally gearing up for the main act when the big guns - the main players who signed off on the deal - including former Deputy Minister of Defence,...
21 May 2014
(Press release)
Featuring:
Gloria Bosman, Paul Hanmer (piano), Sydney Mavundla (trumpet), Mthunzi Mvubu (sax), Bernice Boikanyo (drums) and Thembinkosi Mavimbela (bass), plus eminent poets
South African platinum mine workers have been on strike for 4 months with no pay. The bosses and companies have been intransigent. We are living in a society where our CEO 's are the 3rd highest paid in the...
20 May 2014
(News)
South Africa’s police service on Monday resumed its fight against court orders to probe crimes against humanity, committed in Zimbabwe.
Two previous South African courts have ruled that the country’s prosecuting authority and the police have a duty to investigate such crimes, because South Africa is a signatory to the international Rome Statute.
The Statute is the foundation for the...
20 May 2014
(News)
The South African Police Service (SAPS) did not have the power to investigate claims of crimes against humanity committed in Zimbabwe if the perpetrators were not in SA, it was argued in the Constitutional Court yesterday.
The case centres on whether the government is legally allowed to investigate such crimes outside SA’s borders.
The court heard arguments on whether the Implementation of...
20 May 2014
(News)
The Constitutional Court on Monday heard arguments by the South African Police Service (SAPS) asking it to overturn a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that compelled South African authorities to investigate alleged crimes against humanity which occurred in Zimbabwe.
The court’s decision could provide “practical content” to South Africa’s domestic and international...
19 May 2014
(News)
The Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the 1999 arms deal was adjourned on Friday, a spokesman said.
The commission would resume on Monday when Admiral Jonathan Kamerman would start his testimony, spokesman William Baloyi said.
Former secretary for defence Pierre Steyn completed his testimony on Friday.
Other witnesses expected to testify in June included former president Thabo Mbeki, former...
16 May 2014
(Press release)
On Monday, the Constitutional Court will hear arguments in the Zimbabwe torture case, brought by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and Zimbabwean Exiles Forum – represented by Lawyers for Human Rights - to compel South Africa to abide its domestic and international legal obligations to investigate and prosecute high level Zimbabwean officials accused of crimes against humanity....
16 May 2014
(News)
Lieutenant-General Pierre Steyn resigned as secretary for defence before the 1999 arms deal was signed because he thought it was a dodgy deal.
Steyn pointed a finger at the then minister of defence, the late Joe Modise, and the then department of defence’s chief of acquisition, Chippy Shaik, as key people involved in manipulating the Strategic Defence Procurement Package (SDPP)....
15 May 2014
(News)
The 1999 arms deal procurement was irregular and unjustified, the cabinet flouted the law and there was collusion between some top people.
This is according to former secretary for defence Lieutenant-General Pierre Steyn, who started giving evidence on Wednesday morning before the Arms Procurement Commission’s public hearings in Pretoria.
The commission is investigating the 1999 arms...
8 May 2014
(News)
Richard Obidima’s scissors fly over little Heath Prior’s head. The barber has gently placed a big, strong hand on the 2-year-old’s back. It’s a bit of comfort as he swops swiftly between blades to shape a mohawk above a pair of small ears.
As he swivels the boy around to see the top of his head in the mirror, Obidima starts to tell a brief history of his life. He’s...