Xola Stanley Zembethe, 35, of Solundwana Street, is facing a charge of kidnapping following the incident in Motherwell.

The state opposes granting bail to Zembethe, who will now have to bring a formal bail application on February 26.

Zembethe allegedly threatened to douse his girlfriend‘s house with petrol following a long standoff with members of the police.

Police negotiators tried in vain to convince the Uitenhage man to hand himself over after he had earlier taken his girlfriend‘s sister and her two children hostage in Ndlovu Street.

Source :   The Herald

FBI agents in the US state of Virginia have served Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford with civil legal papers from the US financial watchdog, the SEC.

Sir Allen, who disappeared from public view on Tuesday when he was accused by the SEC of an $8bn (£5.6bn) fraud, is believed to be in the Richmond area.

The SEC filed a civil case in court describing the case as a “fraud of shocking magnitude”.

He is not in custody and has not been charged with any criminal violations.

But officials from the US justice department, which handles criminal prosecutions, have made clear they are proceeding with their own investigation. FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said that FBI agents, acting at the request of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), had served the papers on Sir Allen in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

The Texan cricket impresario is accused of luring investors with promises of improbable and unsubstantiated high returns on certificates of deposit and other investments.

The SEC needed to serve the papers to ensure that he turned in his passport and was made aware of the proceedings against him, the BBC’s Richard Lister reports from Washington.

‘Very depressed’

Stressing that Sir Allen had not been arrested, Mr Kolko said he did not know if he had actually surrendered his passport. Giving few details, he said that agents from the FBI’s office in Richmond, Virginia, had “located and identified Stanford Financial Group chairman Allen Stanford in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area”.

The papers were served about 1345 local time (1845 GMT) on Thursday as Sir Allen sat in a car, and the authorities do not believe he had been purposely hiding from them, an unnamed law enforcement source told the Associated Press.

ABC News quoted one of the billionaire’s lobbyists, Ben Barnes, as saying that Sir Allen had been “very depressed”.He had sought to end a federal manhunt for him by directly approaching officials at the US justice department, Mr Barnes added.

Sir Allen’s father, James Stanford, told AP in Mexia, Texas, that he hoped the allegations against his son were untrue.

“I have no earthly knowledge of it,” said the 81-year-old, listed as chairman emeritus and a director for Stanford Financial Group.

“I would be totally surprised if there would be truth to it. And disappointed, heartbroken.”

Asked what advice he would give his son, he said: “Do the right thing.”

States intervene

Earlier, Peru and Venezuela became the latest countries to intervene in local banks controlled by the Stanford group.

Peru’s securities regulator suspended local operations of the Stanford Financial Group for 30 days and Venezuela said it would take control of Stanford Bank Venezuela.

Panama, Ecuador and Antigua also took action after the accusations against Sir Allen were reported.

Regulators were hoping to calm customers worried about investments as queues of worried investors have formed at banks associated with him in the US, the Caribbean and Latin America.

A civil court judge in the US has frozen the assets of Sir Allen and those of the Stanford Group, its Antigua-based subsidiary Stanford International Bank (SIB), and another subsidiary, investment adviser Stanford Capital Management.

This was the view of magistrate NK Dungane when he jailed herbalist Garry Saum Ssempija for 15 years for defrauding a Uitenhage pensioner of R540000.

The victim, Jurie Chessman Harris, had worked for VW for more than 30 years and received a substantial pension from the car manufacturer.

In sentencing Ssempija, Dungane agreed with the investigating officer, Inspector Glen van Eck, who had testified that it was not uncommon for foreigners to be involved in criminal offences and the locals who accommodated them feeling cheated.

“This may be a factor which led to the xenophobic phenomenon on foreigners. It is not the first case of a similar nature that I have dealt with,” he said.

Harris‘s woes started in April 2007 when he was introduced to “Professor” Ssempija, who promised to heal his stomach ailment.

A gardener had referred Harris to the Ugandan herbalist who operated from the Bears building in Caledon Street, Uitenhage.

During a consultation Harris mentioned his pension payout and immediately Ssempija created the impression that ancestors wanted to bless him.

In May 2007, Ssempija convinced Harris that he had spoken to the “ancestors”, who were keen to make Harris a “successful businessman”.

He told Harris the “ancestors” wanted to speak to him in person. He was then led into a dark room where a voice identified itself as the “head ancestor”. The voice instructed him to open a bank account and to hand the card and pin number to the herbalist.

He also claimed to hear the voices of “ancestors” and to have seen a big brown coffin placed in a dark room containing an alleged R2-million which could be his at a later stage.

On four occasions between May 12 and June 22, 2007, Harris withdrew R540000 from his bank account and handed it to Ssempija to be blessed.

He did not get his life savings back. The state suspects it was the work of a syndicate.

“The complainant was cheated of part with his life savings under the pretext that he would be blessed by ancestors.

“He worked hard hoping that when he retired he would have something for the remainder of his life,” Dungane said.

Source: The Herald

Superintendent Priscilla Naidu said Alan Desmond Germond of Melkhoutkraal tried to get the bull back into its pen around 09:00.

The bull charged and flung Germond into the air. He sustained an open wound to his stomach.

He died on scene.

The bull was shot and killed on the instruction of Germond’s son who was on his way to the farm from Grahamstown, said Naidu.

- SAPA

source news 24

CONSTRUCTION of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Nelson Mandela Bay has been thrown into disarray following new demands by taxi associations.

Operators want the project to be completely redesigned to allow taxis free reign in the city and that new bus lanes be built in certain areas, including Uitenhage and Motherwell.

The transport system, which is a national project and a Fifa prerequisite for all cities hosting World Cup matches next year, has been the cause of a series of transport strikes that have crippled the city during the past four months.

Last week, taxi associations called off the strike after the municipality agreed to negotiate on a possible redesign of the BRT system.

The radical new demands follow a meeting between the municipality and taxi associations on Monday, at which they presented a redesigned plan.

A dedicated BRT committee has until March 2 to study its impact.

Any change of plan is bound to further delay the key 2010 project, which is already behind schedule.

The taxi industry wants both bus and taxi operators to have equal access to BRT infrastructure in the central business district (CBD).

The associations also oppose the idea that they be “feeders” to buses.

Port Elizabeth and District Taxi Association chairman Melekile Hani said they had also suggested that dedicated bus lanes be incorporated in the plan for areas like Motherwell, Uitenhage, Stanford Road and Kempston Road to curb congestion.

“But nothing much was discussed regarding the regulation of the industry and other key areas we are in opposition to. The municipality has agreed to pay, on our behalf, for the drawing up of a business and operational plan.”

Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron confirmed the taxi bodies had submitted their report, but alterations could always be integrated into the current BRT plan. “If the situation constitutes that extra manpower should be brought in to meet the deadline, we will do exactly that.”

However, the municipality could not say when the project would be completed or how far behind schedule it was.

On Monday night, taxi representatives faced the wrath of residents at a meeting organised by the SA National Civics Organisation (Sanco).

Taxi operators were grilled and forced to publicly apologise by angry Motherwell residents for the hardships caused to commuters during last week‘s strike.

Some even insisted Hani be called to the meeting to be reprimanded.

Transport was disrupted and two clinics in Motherwell were also destroyed by fire during the strike.

A Motherwell community leader, Mxolisi Mani, insisted that the taxi representatives give the public reasons for the destruction of their facilities.

“Why must it be us the people who suffer?” he asked. “Why, each time there is a taxi strike, must it be the poor people who are the victims?”

The meeting, attended by councillors, political parties and civic bodies, saw sparks fly as residents threatened to boycott the taxi industry, which they described as being “infiltrated by thugs”.

The situation, which could have got out of hand, was saved by the arrival of councillor Fikile Desi, who urged the residents to “also understand the plight facing the taxi operators, who see the BRT as a means of forcing them out business”.

“Taxi operators are asking for forgiveness. They did that by cutting last Friday‘s taxi fares by half. We should instead say that the next time there is a strike, we should be consulted and that we do not want to see any violence,” Desi said.

Sanco chairman Toni Duba moved the attention of the residents away from the taxi drivers to mayor Nondumiso Maphazi, who he said had failed to attend the meeting although she had been invited.

“We wanted the mayor to come and address the residents. All the problems surrounding the whole BRT system have been caused by her,” said Duba.

In Johannesburg, Transport MEC Ignatius Jacobs said the BRT system would be introduced in Gauteng in time for the Confederations Cup kick-off in Johannesburg on June 14, despite opposition from taxi owners.

Jacobs said taxi owners had been included in the BRT planing process with the City of Johannesburg for the past two years.

“Now, at the stage of implementation, they are asking us to hold on?”

source The Herald

The stadium’s renovation has been completed, including the installation of a new roof on one of its four stands, ahead of the World Cup finals next year, South African organising committee officials said on Wednesday.

Its capacity has been increased from 45,000 to 50,000.

The venue, first built in 1906, is also one of four stadiums to be used for the Confederations Cup, the eight-team warm-up event to be hosted in South Africa from June 14-28.

Renovations at the other three venues — Ellis Park in Johannesburg and stadiums in Bloemfontein and Rustenburg — were supposed to be completed last year but are still weeks away from being operational, officials said.

Loftus Versfeld will host Saturday’s match between Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows. It is also the home ground of rugby’s Blue Bulls and is the venue for a test between the touring British Lions and South Africa’s Springboks on June 27.

The six other 2010 World Cup stadiums are due to be completed by the end of this year.     source sports 24

The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is confident that the stadium in Port Elizabeth will be complete by the March 2009 deadline set by Fifa, after the city’s readiness to host the 2009 Confederations Cup was brought into question earlier this year.

“Although the initial target set for completion of the stadium was set for December 2008, it has been extended to March 2009 and we are on track,” Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s 2010 World Cup executive director Errol Heynes told fellow host city representatives, the French Trade Commission and members from the French Embassy in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

Heynes said outstanding development included roadwork around the stadium, the general finishing off of the west wing, insulation of information technology (IT) items, and landscaping and fencing.

The municipality will host eight matches during the world cup at the 48 000-seater stadium, which is situated about one kilometre from the beach front and right on the banks of a lake, which he said.

This allowed for enormous potential for growth and development, he said.

“We see the stadium as a catalyst for the building of a new economic node in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality,” Heynes said, adding the World Cup would significantly benefit small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in terms of job creation, economic and skills development.

Public transport legacy

As for creating a public transport system capable of dealing with the influx of thousands of visitors, Heynes said the municipality would procure 450 buses as well as 2 000 mini-buses for the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system, which involves the creation of a dedicated bus lane within the city.

To avoid creating tension with existing taxi bosses, the municipality came up with a unique idea of giving taxi organisations ownership in the BRT system in order to avoid people losing their livelihood and in the interests of harmonising existing business with infrastructure development.

Five road projects in and around Port Elizabeth have been completed, and a tender has been put out for an access road project, while a public transport operations plan was also firmly in place.

Heynes pointed out that some of the challenges facing the municipality included the limited number of contractors within the municipality, securing environmental impact assessments for projects and capacity constraints in the delivery of the BRT system.

Source: BuaNews

SPCA Uitenhage Inspector Mariska Herselman said she responded to an anonymous call alleging that chickens were starving at the centre on Thursday. She said what she found was “shocking and horrendous”.

“Chickens had been without food for so long that they were eating their own feathers and flesh, having already eaten the shavings in their enclosures and were beginning to eat themselves and each other in desperation,” she said in a statement.

“It was obvious that large numbers of chickens had to be slaughtered to put them out of their misery. I saw chickens with their insides hanging out – such was their desperation to eat.”

She said the correctional services facility has chicken houses and its own on-site chicken abattoir.
“As a result of the horrific findings, 7400 chickens were emergency-slaughtered.”

Herselman said she re-visited the facility on Friday and confirmed that the two-week-old chicks had food.

“It was claimed by personnel at the facility that food was due to be delivered during the day. The SPCA Uitenhage inspector will remain on the premises to check that food is delivered.”

She said criminal charges would be laid. – Sapa

Source I O L

The meeting comes after the municipality and taxi associations agreed last week that the Bus Rapid Transit system would be redesigned to accommodate all modes of transport instead of only buses.

PE and District Taxi Association chairman Melekile Hani said the taxi association did not want to be restricted to certain areas in the city.

The associations would also meet a business expert to draft a business and operational plan that would be submitted to the municipality.

Other issues still needing to be discussed included the collection of fares, permits, and the choosing of the appropriate type of entity, for example co-operatives.

Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron said negotiations with the taxi association were ongoing. Construction on the BRT was continuing.

This follows an agreement between the municipality, taxi associations, the department of transport, the PE Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Algoa Bus Company.

The SACP‘s Zukile Jodwana said redesigning the BRT did not mean all construction would stop for a new design, but all relevant stakeholders would look at options for accommodating both taxis and buses, using the same infrastructure.

Eastern Cape Roads and Transport MEC Gloria Barry said at the weekend that, should the strike resume, the conditions of taxi operating permits would be looked into.

Operators who had been arrested and those whose taxis had been impounded would find their permits withdrawn.

Source The Herald

One of the three men was killed on Saturday evening following a squabble with his friend in Hankey, said Inspector Gerda Swart.

A 29-year-old man was arrested shortly after the 5pm incident.

“It is alleged that they were arguing when the arrested man grabbed a knife and stabbed his friend on the chest. We were called to the scene after the stabbed man died and made an arrest,” said Swart.

The man is expected to appear in the Hankey Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing a charge of murder.

In another incident a 33-year-old man was stabbed to death in Kwanobuhle.

His body was found in Lawrence Vinqi street on Saturday around 4pm, Swart said.

“He was stabbed in his forehead, chest and right shoulder. The motive of the killing is unknown.”

No arrest has been made and Swart urged those with information to call the investigating officer on 041-978-8600.

Three hours before the Kwanobuhle murder, another man was stabbed to death in Jeffreys Baby, allegedly by his friend.

“When the two were fighting they were with a woman who went to call for help. When she arrived with the police, they found one man on the bed with stab wounds on his back and neck,” she said.

A 30-year-old man was arrested and is expected to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. He faces a charge of murder. – Sapa

Source  I O L

Rhodes University psychology Professor David Edwards says more often than not, people find themselves in financial difficulty at this time of the year.

January‘s money woes are compounded by the typical over-indulgences of the Christmas period – many families have gone into debt by forking out for gifts, going on holiday and entertaining.

To make matters worse, January brings the reality of having to pay school and university fees and buy stationery and uniforms.

Last year‘s credit crunch is lingering while some families – such as those employed in the beleagured motor industry – have been forced to spend more time on holiday with less pay.

A snap survey by Weekend Post revealed many Eastern and Southern Cape residents were feeling the pressure – but the current economic climate had also forced them to be more budget-savvy.

Government employee Belinda Buck, from Bethelsdorp in Port Elizabeth, said January was “a stressful month for me. We got our December salaries at the end of November already (and) before it was even Christmas, you noticed that your pockets were empty”.

But she had been disciplined enough to set aside money for school expenses for her child.

Melany Bellingam, a Uitenhage sales consultant, said her family always overspent over the festive season. She was worried about money “because I have to buy school- clothes for my daughter and son”.

“The first two quarters of the year are definitely going to be tough. However, I did my level best to pay off my debts (at the end of last year). I‘m starting the year with a clean slate.”

Unemployed Harish Chavda, from Uitenhage, said because of festive- season expenses he‘d have to “take out a loan to pay my son‘s college fees”.

Single mom Patricia Roos, of East London, said her “biggest financial outlay” this month was high water and electricity bills. However, Roos, said: “I don‘t mind paying for school fees and stationery because education is the future for our kids.”

Back in Port Elizabeth, self-employed Themba Mosi, of Central, said past experience had made him “cautious” of how he spent his money. “I started 2008 on shaky ground because I didn‘t budget very well. That taught me a lesson … you‘re skating on thin ice if you don‘t budget.”

Mosi said he‘d already bought uniforms and other school necessities for his two daughters, adding: “I decided to do everything in advance for this year. I didn‘t go anywhere during the festive season … I stayed in PE and saved money”.

Angie Hewu, a stock controller from Zwide, Port Elizabeth, said: “I always plan ahead for January because I know things get hectic with finances.”

Forest Hill security officer Qondiswa Kalipa said she‘d countered festive-season overspending by buying her children‘s school clothes, stationery and other necessities early in December when they were more affordable.

Felicia Young, who moved to Knysna eight months ago from Humansdorp, said: “With the high food prices it really is a headache. We have a baby and a 12-year-old daughter. It is better with the petrol prices (coming down), but food is still so expensive.”

Peggy Dlephu, an artist living in Knysna, said January was a battle.

“I don‘t have children but I‘m responsible for a child whose father died. I pay for everything because the mother can‘t afford it.”
source Weekend Post