Addressing a predominantly Zimbabwean audience in Yeoville following the murder of two Zimbabweans during armed robberies early this week, ANC Councillor Phineas Madisha said the way some police officers were harassing, mocking and demanding bribes from foreigners was against the constitution. He called on Zimbabweans to attend crime-fighting initiatives and community meetings to familiarise themselves with their rights, adding that the lawmen were riding on foreigners’ ignorance of their rights to continue the harassment.
Copper theft: Zims arrested
Three Zimbabweans were last week remanded in custody in Botswana, after they were allegedly arrested for alleged copper theft. Media reports from that country are that Toendepi Mazuru (41), Tafadzwa Monongerwa (38) and Zvisinei Monongerwa (34), were remanded in custody to July 12. They are now being accused of being architects of a syndicate that steals copper cables stealing in that country. They are all undocumented foreigners and could not be given bail.
DA challenges Sisulu
The Democratic Alliance has challenged SA’s former Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, to produce documentary evidence on the controversial purchase of President Jacob Zuma’s R2bn jet. David Maynier, the opposition party’s Spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, said Sisulu should prove that finance minister Pravin Gordhan approved the “deviation” from normal competitive bidding processes required by National Treasury regulations and the Public Finance Management Act for the procurement process of the Boeing 777-200 Long Range business jet.
Zambia spends billions
The Zambian government will spend $5.8 m on the construction of houses for the three former heads of state after Kenneth Kaunda. Francis Kamanga, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Works Supply Transport and Communication, said the total estimate for construction of each of the former presidents’ houses complete with all ancillary structures was $1.9m. Works on all the houses had begun, with electrical boundary fences, construction of three staff houses, and water and electrical supply already done, he said. Zambia spent about $1.4m on Kaunda’s house, completed in 2007.
No Israeli boycott
SA’s Department of Trade and Industry has denied that the country was calling for a boycott of Israeli products. This followed the march on the DTI in Pretoria and in Parliament last week under the banner of the African Christian Democratic Party, Inkatha Freedom Party and Shembe Church to handover a petition.
This was not about government calling for a boycott against Israel, but ensuring that consumers in South Africa were provided accurate country of origin information so that they could exercise their own informed choice.
Kenya in centre of conflict
Kenya became a centre of international conflict this week, after Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday accused Iran of plotting attacks against Israel in the African country. This follows the recent arrest of two Iranians in possession of explosives in Kenya. Netanyahu’s office was quoted as having issued a statement that “Iranian terrorism knows no borders”. The allegation comes after the US last year said Iran had plotted to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States. On June 25, a Kenyan court charged two Iranians with illegal possession of 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of the powerful explosive RDX, according to the charge sheet presented in court.
Post published in: Africa News