WINNIE ANSWERS QUESTIONS
WINNIE MADIKIZELA MANDELA spent the entire day on Monday before a closed session of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. TRC officials would say only that she had answered all questions, and that no witnesses had yet been called. The hearing, into eight murders allegedly linked to Madikizela-Mandela, is in preparation for public hearings in late November. Meanwhile, former cabinet ministers Pik Botha and Adriaan Vlok have been subponaed to appear today to explain the functioning of the State Security Council.
KOEBERG EXERCISE
The annual emergency exercise conducted by the Council for Nuclear Safety at the Koeberg nuclear power station near Cape Town will be held on Wednesday, the station said on Tuesday. The exercise will not affect the public or the operation of the power station and no sirens will be used.
STILFONTEIN RESCUE CONTINUES
RESCUE attempts to reach three miners trapped under a rockfall at the Hartebeestfontein mine continued on Tuesday, but “hopes are fading” that the miners will be found alive, mine spokesman Julian Gwillim said. The mine, near Stilfontein in the North West province collapsed on Saturday during an earth tremor, killing three miners and injuring 41.
THE TAXMAN COMETH
THE South African Revenue Service (SARS) began a national blitz on tax evasion on Tuesday, after declaring the day Tax Day. Receivers of revenue spent the day tracking down tax dodgers and unregistered businesses, as part of the SARS’s newly launched programme to cut down on evasion. An SARS press release said the move has been done in an effort “to make certain that everyone contributes”.
SA WOMAN GETS UN HONOURS
THE United Nations Development Programme announced on Tuesday that a member of the SA Homeless People’s Federation will receive an award in New York on Friday — the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Patricia Matolengwe, 42, will be presented the award for her efforts in helping the poor through the Victoria Mxenge Housing Savings Scheme on the Cape Flats.
SUSPECTS NOT CALLED TO TESTIFY
The defence team for the three men accused of last year’s Christmas Eve Worcester bombings did not call them up to testify in the Cape High Court on Tuesday. The suspects are accused of planting two bombs at a shopping complex, killing four and injuring more than 50 people. The three men — Jan van der Westhuizen, Cliffie Barnard and Abraham Myburgh — have pleaded not guilty to 18 counts including four of murder, as well as attempted murder, sabotage and terrorism.
KAUNDA FACES EVICITION
FORMER Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda has allegedly not been paying the rent for his residence in Kalundu in Lusaka, and may soon be evicted, if landlord Mathew Chanda has his way. Kaunda allegedly owes Chanda over $500 000. Chanda said on Tuesday: “My patience is running out and I may soon be forced to lock out the old man. This will be a sad thing to do, but I may be left with no other option.”
BORDER PATROLS
A JOINT effort by Angolan and Namibian police was launched on Monday to crack down on cross-border smuggling rings. Patrols will be set up on the border between the two countries to deal with the smugglers and increasing violence and attacks on cars in the area.
WINNIE WANTS TO SUE
WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA is considering suing Fred Brigland, Katiza Cebekhulu and British Peer Emma Nicholson, for defamation over allegations made in the book Katiza’s Journey. The book, authored by Brigland, contains allegations that Madikizela-Mandela committed murder, that she stabbed teenage activist Stompie Seipei. Her lawyers say Madikizela-Mandela has not yet decided whether she will sue in South Africa or the United Kingdom.
OAU AGAINST REFERENDUM
ORGANISATION of African Unity chief Salim Ahmed Salim on Tuesday pleaded with separatist leaders on the Comoran island of Anjouan not to go ahead with their plan to hold a referendum on self-determination, saying it will complicate the efforts to solve the Comoran crisis. The referendum has been scheduled for October 26, and Anjouan’s self-proclaimed president Abdallah Ibrahim said: “We’re going to show the world that the whole of Anjouan wants independence [from the Moroni government].” The OAU warned last week it will not heed the results of any referendum.