Wednesday, 2 March 2011 PAGE 3
News
Wallis’s items auctioned
Lingerie, handbags and luggage once owned by Wallis Simpson, the
American divorcée who married British king Edward VIII, will be
auctioned off in London next week. Items to be sold include a scarlet
chiffon nightdress, complete with a full-length cape. – Sapa-AP
Cops take
right to
strike fight
to highest
court
Dudu Dube
The dispute between the South
African Police Service and the
Police and Prisons Civil Rights
Union (Popcru) over who should
be allowed to strike and who
should not was the centre of argu-
ment in the Constitutional Court
yesterday.
SAPS had lodged an application
for leave to appeal against a ruling
made by the Labour Appeal Court
which stated that only police offic-
ers whose services are considered
essential and are employed under
the South African Police Service
Act should be banned from going
on strike.
Those who work within the
SAPS, and are referred to as “non-
member employees” – such as
clerks, call centre agents, admin-
istrators and others – should be
given the right to go on strike
because they are employed under
the Public Service Act and do not
render essential services.
Counsel for the SAPS Senior
Advocate Gilbert Marcus argued
that more than 18 000 people are
involved in the SAPS operations
every day, whether they are police
officers or staff, and each one of
them plays a role in providing
essential services.
The police argue that if “certain
links in the chain are missing”, the
mandate to combat crime will be
disturbed and therefore endanger
the lives of the public. They want
the judgment set aside and the
court to declare all employees of
the SAPS essential service pro-
viders.
“In the context of this particu-
lar case, it would be inappropri-
ate to say the 10111 call centre is
filled with civilians, that they are
excluded from employees who
provide essential service to the
society,” said Marcus.
However, Popcru is opposing the
application, saying the differentia-
tion done by referring to some as
“employees” and others as “mem-
bers” as it means that they should
be treated differently.
“The act differentiates when
it talks about employees of the
service, that they are not part
of the service but they work for
the service. I will submit that it is
not such a strange thing to have
employees who are not considered
part of the structure,” said Pop-
cru’s lawyer, senior counsel Hans
van der Riet.
He said a police officer has the
power to enforce the law while an
“employee” does not.
“Members who are designated
in other sections of the SAPS
should not be banned from strik-
ing,” he said.
Constitutional Court Justice
Sandile Ngcobo reserved judg-
ment.
Case against Kalahari hijack plotters
postponed for psychologist’s report
THE fraud case against four peo-
ple accused of collaborating with
deceased businessman Sandile Majali
to hijack mining company Kalahari
Resources was postponed to April
4 in the Specialised Commercial
Crimes Court in Johannesburg yes-
terday.
“We are still awaiting a psychiat-
ric report for one of the accused,”
National Prosecuting Authority
spokesperson Mthunzi Maga said.
“We also still have to determine the
mental status of the other accused.
“A trial date will not be set until
that has been done.”
Harry Sferopoulous, Elvis Bongani
Ndala, Stephen Khoza and Linda
Dlamini allegedly worked with Majali
World Cup was a pot
of gold for SA tourism
BIG BUCKS: SA Tourism says that hosting the soccer World Cup boosted the economy by R3.6bn last year.Picture: Gallo Images
Tournament brought an increase of a million visitors last year
Siyabonga Mkhwanazi
The hosting of the 2010 soccer
World Cup was a bonus for South
Africa as the tournament attracted
an additional 300 000 tourists.
Revealing the number of foreign
tourists who set foot on these shores
last year, Tourism Minister Marthi-
nus van Schalkwyk described 2010
as an exceptionally good year for the
country as it recorded more than
eight million tourists.
This was a million more visitors
compared to the number of tourists
who visited the country during 2009,
said van Schalkwyk.
While tourism authorities were
busy finalising the figures with regard
to the revenue generated by the visi-
tors last year, the 2010 soccer event
boosted the economy by R3.6bn, said
Only a handful turn up for press hearings
It WAS thought that more ordinary
South Africans would talk to the
Press Council of South Africa during
its ongoing series of public hearings,
press ombudsman Joe Thloloe said
yesterday.
“I was hoping that more public
members would come to speak,”
said Thloloe, after only a handful had
come forward. The council ended its
local two-day public hearings, in a bid
to review its system, in Bloemfontein
yesterday.
The review was intended to help
improve the quality of journalism in
the country. The council was looking
at possible changes to the press code,
its procedures and constitution.
to hijack Kalahari Resources by list-
ing themselves as its directors on the
company registry, Cipro.
The group allegedly removed direc-
tors Brian Amos Mashile and his sis-
ter Daphne Mashile-Nkosi from the
Cipro database in August.
The High Court in Johannesburg
later ruled that Cipro reinstate the
siblings as directors of the company.
Kalahari Resources owns a 40%
stake in Kalagadi Manganese, the
mining company developing an R11bn
manganese sinter plant in the North-
ern Cape and a smelter at Coega.
The Industrial Development
Corporation owns 10% of Kalagadi
Manganese, while steel producer
ArcelorMittal owns the remaining
South African Tourism’s chief mar-
keting officer, Roshene Singh.
“The World Cup revenue was
R3.6bn to the economy and in 2009
we had a revenue contribution of over
R105bn. We are going to do the fig-
ures for 2010 and I am sure that,
because the volumes are higher we
will see that this figure will rise,” said
an optimistic Singh.
Van Schalkwyk said in spite of
the global event, the country had
done well in attracting more tour-
ists and he attributed this success
to the marketing campaign, which
targeted emerging economies in Asia
and South America.
“The 15.1% growth in tourist arriv-
als in South Africa outperformed that
of every other region in the world,
including the arrivals growth of 13.9%
for the Middle East, 12.6% for Asia
Thloloe said he had the idea that
many ordinary citizens thought the
hearings were of a technical nature.
“They are reluctant to come forward.”
In Bloemfontein a member of the
public admitted that he was scared to
come forward because he might make
a fool of himself. Thloloe said press
freedom was vital for each citizen and
the public should take advantage of
the current public hearings.
The council had received various
written submissions which had con-
tributed to the “depth” of the issues
identified. At the public hearings the
council wanted to hear the voice of
ordinary citizens, along with those
of academics, media institutions and
50% stake.
A mental assessment report on
Sferopoulous by a Sterkfontein psy-
chiatrist found him to be suffering
from a bipolar disorder and unfit to
stand trial.
Ndala and Khoza still have to
undergo their assessment. Dlamini
was previously released on bail.
Majali came into the public eye fol-
lowing his role in the Oilgate saga that
saw him “donate” R11m of PetroSA’s
funds to the ANC ahead of the 2004
elections.
He was arrested in October before
being found dead in a Sandton hotel
in December.
His memorial service was attended
by senior ANC members. – Sapa
and the Pacific, 7.7% for the Ameri-
cas, 6.4% for Africa and 3.2% for
Europe. We are delighted with these
strong growth figures, particularly as
it comes so soon after a global eco-
nomic recession,” said the minister.
He described the double-digit
growth in tourist visits as exceptional
work done by South Africa.
“The World Cup is a huge bonus,
but even without the World Cup we
had exceptional growth. We had
growth across all 12 months of the
year and not only in June-July when
the World Cup was on. We had
growth of more than a million tour-
ists. Even if we subtract the World
Cup tourists – 309 000 – we had over
700 000 in terms of the hard num-
bers. We recorded increases from
all our markets,” he said.
Most of the visitors came from
media activists.
So far the only group of students
attending the hearings was a group
of Masters students in Port Elizabeth.
But Thloloe said there was no con-
cern about the levels of public interest
shown. “We are happy, we gave them
a chance.”
The next round of public hearings
will take place in Durban tomorrow
and on Friday. Written submissions
can still be made to the council until
March 15.
The submissions will be consid-
ered during a two-day workshop of
the Press Council of SA. A report
will be tabled before the council on
March 24. – Sapa
Estate Agency Affairs
Board fires its CEO
The CEO of the Estate Agency
Affairs Board (EAAB) had lost her
job, the board said yesterday.
“The EAAB wishes to announce
that the employment contract
between itself and Mrs Nomonde
Mapetla, the erstwhile CEO, has
been terminated with immedi-
ate effect due to an irreconcilable
breakdown in the working rela-
tionship between the parties,” it
said. Mapetla’s contract was due
to expire on July 15.
“The board is steadfastly confi-
dent that, in the interim, the EAAB
will continue to fulfil its statutory
regulatory functions and duties in
legend jane russell dies
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes star Jane Russell died on Monday at the
age of 89. The stunning beauty, whose eye-popping curves made her
an icon for a generation of American troops at war, was discovered
while working as a receptionist. – Sapa-AFP
Central and South America (109%)
followed by Asia (39.1%) with North
America (22.5%) and Middle East
at 19.3%. The increase from Africa
was recorded at 12.8% and Europe
at just 8.1%.
Van Schalkwyk admitted that
the number of visitors from South
America had increased because of
the soccer tournament.
But he pointed out that they had
started moving into the emerging
economies because the traditional
market in Europe had stagnated as
a result of the economic downturn.
“We had a much more focused
marketing. It was much more tar-
geted. We started to realise that even
if we spend on the traditional market
the numbers are starting to stagnate.
We must move to the new markets,”
he said.
Joe Thloloe Picture: SAPA
an effective and efficient manner.”
Deloitte has been appointed to
undertake a forensic investigation
into all operational and governance
issues affecting the organisation
“as is usual under circumstances of
this nature”, the board said.
“The board, in the light of recent
events, also intends to draft and
adopt a transparent policy pertain-
ing especially to its inspection and
investigation activities.
“The proposed policy will be pub-
lished on the EAAB website for the
information of all stakeholders.”
Mapetla was suspended on Feb-
ruary 17. – Sapa
NEWS SHORTS
Kuli Roberts apologises
for ‘racist’ column
Sunday World columnist Kuli Roberts
has apologised for writing a “racist”
column about coloured people.
Roberts wrote on social network
Twitter: “I am truly sorry to all those I
upset. No harm was intended.”
The column was discontinued after
the Sunday World and owner Avusa
Media acknowledged the outcry over
the column, headlined Jou Ma se
Kinders (Your mother’s children).
Sunday World editor Wally Mbhele
took full responsibility. – Sapa
Policemen re-enlisting
The Ministry of Police is going to re-
enlist suitable former police officers
as part of its plans to bolster its intel-
ligence and detective services, the
ministry said yesterday.
Preference will be given to those
who fill representive requirements
in the area in which they are apply-
ing. Anyone who left under dubious
circumstances, or is at retirement age
or has medical issues, need not ap-
ply, the ministry said. It is hoped this
move will reduce crime in the country.
– Sapa
No SA victims in quake
There were still no reports that any
South Africans were affected by the
recent earthquake in New Zealand, the
department of international relations
and cooperation said yesterday.
Spokesperson Clayson Monyela said
the department continued to moni-
tor the situation in Christchurch by
checking and verifying information
with authorities on the ground every
day. – Sapa
Lights must go
on and stay on for
Energy Indaba
Scott Smith
The last few weeks have seen a number of coun-
tries in northern Africa and the Middle East experi-
ence increased demand for radical political change.
Many of these are oil producing lands.
Countries whose historical events, such as those
in Egypt or Libya, affect the stability of those around
them call into question the security of oil production
and the world’s energy producing capacity.
In South Africa, our petrol price increased by
46c per litre last night with suggestions that it may
increase by another rand soon.
What better time to be holding an energy indaba
in the heart of South Africa’s economy – Sandton,
Johannesburg.
Delegates from around the world have descended
on the Sandton Convention Centre from March
1-3 to discuss and tackle one of the most pressing
questions of our time: “How do we keep the lights
on?” or more particularly in the African context,
“How do we put them on?”
As Vicky Basson, KZN Energy Services says,
“Access to modern energy does not guarantee
economic growth but it is a prerequisite for it.”
Chairman of the Energy Indaba, Brian Statham
said that the indaba was launched in 2009 and set
out to create an event that would focus on the issues
affecting energy sectors across Africa. He said they
wanted to tackle the multitude of problems around
the delivery of energy in Africa.
Secretary General of the World Energy Council
in London, Christoph Frei, says this forum is the
social network of global energy. A hive of minds
working together to deliver cheap, clean and deliv-
erable energy.
Discussions over the next three days include: the
impact of energy on African businesses, South Afri-
can power system status, the relationship between
government and private sector in offering solutions,
a focus on renewable energy, addressing climate
change, alternative energy sources for Africa, and
energy management for Africa.
One obvious point that was taken away from the
first day of roundtables and discussions was that
a robust energy policy is required in Africa that is
cheap, accessible, and sustainable.
With oil costs and prices of commodities such as
wheat, maize and cotton exploding, the need for real
solutions for Africa has never been more urgent.