EFF pose as Parliament’s protection services to protect Malema (Youtube-Clip)

“The DA has received reports that two of the so-called white shirts in the National Assembly (NA) during this week’s oral questions to the President session were in fact Julius Malema’s personal bodyguards posing as members of parliamentary protection services. Further, that Parliament is currently investigating these claims and currently formulating charges against the relevant culprits.Close examination of video footage of Tuesday’s sitting shows what appears to be a man in a white shirt rush to Malema’s side during the EFF’s ejection from the NA and fight off other members of Parliament’s protection services, in an effort to protect him” (Democratic Alliance, 19.05.2016).

Press Statement: Rumours of Finance Minister’s arrest are a disaster for SA (15.05.2016)

The arrest of the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, would be a disaster for South Africa. It would cause an economic earthquake and make “9/12” look like a minor economic tremor.

Rumours reported today suggest that the Minister may be arrested, together with eight other officials, to face charges relating to the SARS “rogue unit”.

However, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Luvuyo Mfaku, reportedly claimed no decision has been made to prosecute and that the matter remained under investigation.

The timing of the rumours could not be worse and will not only cause further turmoil in the markets, but also compromise efforts to avoid a ratings downgrade in South Africa.

What is worrying is that authorities are reportedly waiting for the “political go ahead”before ordering the arrest of the Minister, and eight other officials, to face charges relating to the SARS “rogue unit”.

This suggests that the investigation is politically motivated and part of President Jacob Zuma’s fight back campaign and attempt to neuter National Treasury.

The only option, with any hope of avoiding mutually assured destruction, is to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry, in terms of Section 84 of the Constitution, to investigate all the allegations surrounding the so-called SARS “rogue unit”.

“SA’s jobs supercrisis demands a bold new strategy” – Bokamoso by Mmusi Maimane

“There are now 8.9 million jobless people in South Africa, according to the latest StatsSA quarterly labour force report, released this week. This is the highest jobless number ever recorded in our country It is easy to regard these just as numbers – but we can’t forget that this number represents people – fathers, mothers, young people – all without work, and fast losing hope in a shrinking economy. SA’s jobs crisis is not just the aggregation of 8.9 million individual lives in crisis. It puts our whole country critically at risk – socially, economically and politically, impacting the fate of all South Africans for generations to come” (Democratic Alliance, 2016).

Press Statement: DA Reports Judge Jansen to the Judicial Services Commmission (09.05.2016)

What she said on Facebook:

My two-cents: 

She might ask for forgiveness for her actions.. but this is not the way a judge should speak or express their views. It’s horrific and proves the fragile faith of the system; When a person as racist as this says this about other people (and is a judge!). I am white and I am pissed as she does not have right to speak this way or address fellow brother’s and sister’s in this way, period. 

I am disgusted and disappointed to know that this one is a Judge at a well-established court; who takes stand on court cases and take decisions on official matter in court of law. She should know her place and her posistion. Secondly be a human being who respect other human being, not making anybody criminals, before their evidence and affidavit are proven in court. This here is just so wrong and spiteful.  Peace. 

EFF Forcefully Removed From Parliament AGAIN! (Youtube-Clip)

“Chaos in Parliament again. Debate on Vote 1: “Presidency”. The EFF rejects Jacob Zuma the right to deliver his speech and are forcibly removed by Police” (My Africa, 2016)

Maimane points on struggle for jobs on Workers’ Day (Youtube-Clip)

“On this Workers’ Day…Spare a thought for the 8-point-2 million South Africans struggling to find work. That was the request of DA leader Mmusi Maimane. He spent the day in Cape Town, celebrating the repeal of over 300 by-laws and policies which he claimed stifled the growth of small and medium businesses” (SABC Digital, 2016)

My Letter to President Zuma after the “Spy Tapes” verdict of late was recently deemed “irrational” time to rethink you position Mr. President!

Oslo, 30^th April 2016.

Dear His Excellency President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma!

I still hope you are okay in your grand home and travelling still like the President of the Republic of South Africa. I know that you’re still having lots of hot soup and getting more time to spend in court or fellow hired lawyers to represent you and your lordship.

I am writing to you again as the allegations of corruption is becoming the envy of reign. Not that you have written and made progress, policy even of magnitude for the South African people. You are in the headlines because of the acts of corrupt behaviour and intended conspiracy of using the Executive branch to gain monetary gains. That is not Statesman supposed to do. Parts of you know that right?

“President Zuma improperly benefited from the measures implemented in the name of security which include nonsecurity comforts such as the Visitors’ Centre, such as swimming pool, amphitheater, cattle kraal with culvert and chicken run”. (Public Protector Report 10.5.3, p 431)

I am also pouring my heart to you as the Nkandla scandal is just fresh in mind and the Constitutional Court case was not in favour and you have to pay-back to the tax-payers the money you used on the fire-pool and amphitheatre in Kwa-Zulu Natal homestead. So it’s not like you have had breathing space between the allegations and even verdicts entailing the trailing prospects to your name. Not that you are famed for Nobel approach to life or deceive in the matter of economic prosperity and education of your fellow citizens. Your last name Mr. President is synonymous with Corruption. In the next Merriam-Webster dictionary your photo will be right under the word “Corrupt”. And “Acts like a Zuma” and the word in google will be “Corrupt”.

This is not easy to write to you as I am the man who you hire to clean your pool in Nkandla. As I am not even a ANC Stalwart or ANC member, I am foreigner with squat to say really. I only have my word and my mind. So I still don’t expect you or any of your loyal men in the National Assembly to take my words into account. But I might show you the opinion and demeanour the rest of world has of you.

But today, I don’t write the letter because of the Nkandla, have already addressed to you and think you should consider the proposal I had when I wrote it back then. So I will not readdress it and repeat myself to much. As that is something more than often do, as you constantly gets you name caught up in court and get petitions against your actions. Even cases that been dismissed, gets back to life and hunts you.

As the Democratic Alliance Versus Acting National Director of Public Prosecution and others (19577/2009) ZAGPPHC 255 (29.04.2016) that was on the 29^th April the current decision on the big spy tape case of 2009 is now here:

“Having regard to the conspectus of the evidence before us we find that Mr Mpshe found himself under pressure and he decided to discontinue the prosecution of Mr Zuma and consequently made an irrational decision. Considering the situation in  which  he  found himself, Mr Mpshe ignored the importance of the oath of office which demanded of him to act independently and without fear or favour” (…)”It is thus our view that the envisaged prosecution against Mr Zuma was not tainted by the allegations against Mr McCarthy. Mr Zuma should face the charges as outlined in the indictment” (…)”This Court, for the reasons stated above, finds that the decision of 1 April 2009 by Mr Mpshe to discontinue the prosecution of the case against Mr Zuma is irrational and should be reviewed and set aside” (North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, 29.04.2016).

This must be a slap on the His Excellency the ghost of the corrupted past hits back at you. That another judge calls the former verdict a irrational one and deem it unfit; as the judge see the case upon fresh review and new process to get into the facts of the matter. That cannot be a great look, you have to pay-back the tax-payers for the fire-pool and now you have to again go through a public view of the old “Spy Tapes”. As you don’t have enough on your plate as your son have quit his job at Oakbay Investments, as the ties to the Gupta Family supposed to not be entangled in your political vision. That as much as the triple finance minister brawl of December 2015, had nothing to the with the use of money for a private plane or other procurement that the state did not have funds for.

So the controversy around never get muted Mr. President. This continues to pressure you position, just as much ever before. At this point you have again a review and over 700 counts of alleged conspiracy of corruption. That must be hurting as you are supposed to be an Executive and the grand leader of the country. The statute of the Presidency, the head honcho and the Commander-in-Chief isn’t supposed to be this much in the court room or have your name synonymous with corruption.

If you are not supposed be a thief or a gangster I would have understand Mr. President. But you have not planned for this. You thought this chapter was done and you could continue with being the leader and grand master with some flash. Instead the Democratic Alliance and the Higher Court have pulled more gasoline on the fire. The one burning sensation that does not cured with taking a shower.

Mr. President, Jacob Zuma you have now more counts on you than the worst criminals. You have now had more cases had more allegations then anybody I know who actually are a current President and also a majority party President. That is in an achievement and not a positive one. All the other issues and trade-agreements that have hunted you; they are following your shadow no matter where you walk.

So His Excellency Jacob G. Zuma, you are the man who still is the head of the ruling party ANC and also the President, means you are the Markie man in the National Assembly. You should be man of honour and man of valour of justice as you represent the chamber; that set the standard for laws and regulations. That makes your position valuable and also significant. Something you already know as you have had for few years now already. You should consider resigning or start seeking for succession as the dishonour you put into the courts, national assembly and your own party says it all Mr. President.    

This is just written to you as a consideration and a kind reminder. As I know you won’t directly read any of my letters, but I hope some of your advisors will. And parts of me wish that you would step down as you tarnish the reputation of the ANC. The ANC who was a benchmark and was a party to look up to for guidance and inspiration as he leaders had character and was men of integrity and solidarity towards fellow citizens. That is what is missing in the ANC and you Mr. President is symptom of what the party is missing. Peace.

Best regards

The Writer of Minbane

Press Statement – ANC-EFF War: Only DA can move SA forward (26.04.2016)

The intensifying conflict between the ANC and the EFF, on the eve of South Africa’s 22nd Anniversary of our first democratic elections, demonstrates clearly that both parties are determined to put their own interests first and those of South Africa and our precious democracy, last.

The ANC’s intent to have EFF leaders jailed for treason, and the EFF’s threat of violence can quickly escalate tensions. Their utterances are politically immature but nonetheless seriously dangerous.

We accordingly urge both the ANC and the EFF, on the eve of Freedom Day and in honour of our late President Nelson Mandela, to put South Africa first and cease with their increasingly dangerous war of words.

The truth is the ANC and EFF are merely different sides of the same coin. The EFF is driven by hatred, and cannot be trusted to govern with policies that have been proven to fail; and the ANC cannot be trusted to move a democratic South Africa forward again, with corruption and unemployment on the increase.

The DA will this week continue to spread our message of hope: that we are one nation, with one future – united in our diversity. We believe that we can bring real and positive change to municipalities across South Africa by creating jobs, delivering better services and stopping corruption.

We will continue to spread this message because we believe that Change and not Violence is the best way to ensure that South Africa moves forward again.

Submitted by Phumzile Van Damme

VFS Global rejects DA claims of Gupta alignment (25.04.2016)

BREAKING: Ghaleb Cachalia, son of struggle stalwarts Amina & Yusuf Cachalia has been unveiled as the DA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate.

“Throughout my life, I believed the ANC embodied these values. It was where I put my faith for a better life for all South Africans. It was the party that enshrined my values when Nelson Mandela signed our constitution into law in 1996.

But sadly, after 22 years of ANC government, we have been betrayed. The ANC has changed, and the ANC of Jacob Zuma is not the ANC of Nelson Mandela.

I accept this DA nomination, not just because I’m leaving the ANC, but because the ANC has left me.

The time has come for change and the DA is the vehicle to deliver that change.”

– Ghaleb Cachalia