Convicted killer Thandi Maqubela helped many people in her personal capacity and as a business woman, the court heard.

Cape Town - Convicted killer Thandi Maqubela helped many people in her personal capacity and as a business woman, the Western Cape High Court heard on Monday.

Called as a defence witness in mitigation of Maqubela's sentence, Beatrice Khakhaza, 71, described the impact she had had on her employees and others.

She was being questioned by Maqubela's lawyer Thomas Tyler.

Khakhaza had managed her leather goods store in Claremont, Cape Town, and then her hair salons around Cape Town.

She said Maqubela had wanted to open a retirement home in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

“She said she wanted to assist the aged people who are being ill-treated by their children. She didn't like to see anyone struggling,” Khakhaza said through a Xhosa interpreter.

Maqubela helped her employees pay for their children's school uniforms and goods without deducting it from their salaries, the court heard.

When she changed her business focus, she gave a hair salon away to a loyal employee as a gift and closed the others.

Khakhaza said Maqubela took out retirement policies for her.

When Maqubela travelled to her late husband's homestead in the Eastern Cape, she was dissatisfied with the conditions his mother and two sisters were living in and had building material delivered to them from Johannesburg.

When Khakhaza went there for a funeral, she saw the “beautiful house” and “mansion” that had been built there.

The former manager said Maqubela had helped many with her Forever Living health products scheme, which she was passionate about.

“Whenever she opened her mouth, she would talk about Forever and she had thousands and thousands of people 1/8working underneath her 3/8.

“I mean to say that people are having businesses today and they started off with Forever,” she said.

Khakhaza became emotional when asked how the trial had affected Maqubela, saying it had “disabled” her.

“She is not herself. That is why I am so upset.”

As with the other defence witnesses called on Monday, prosecutor Bonnie Currie-Gamwo did not cross-examine Khakhaza was she excused from the stand.

In November 2013, the same court found Maqubela guilty of killing her acting judge husband Patrick Maqubela in June 2009, despite not having conclusive medical evidence pinpointing a cause of death.

She was found guilty of forging her husband's will and committing fraud by causing potential prejudice to his estate.

The judge was based at the Western Cape High Court at the time of his death.

On Monday, a Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital report was handed up following Maqubela's 60-day observation.

Judge John Murphy declared she was fit to understand the proceedings and conduct her defence.

Tyler indicated he would call more witnesses when sentencing proceedings resumed on Wednesday.

Sapa

Three men have been arrested following a botched robbery at a cellphone shop in the Cape Town CBD.

Cape Town - Three men have been arrested following a botched robbery at a cellphone shop in the Cape Town CBD on Monday, Western Cape police said.

Four men entered the shop and held the owners and customers at gunpoint, Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said.

People outside noticed a commotion in the shop and caught three of the men. Police found two cellphones, a gun and ammunition in their possession. The fourth man fled in a white Toyota Etios. Nobody was hurt.

The three were expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court soon on charges of business robbery.

Sapa

A vehicle tracking company followed a hijacked car to a house in Durbanville, where police found a robbery in progress.

Cape Town - Six men were arrested during a house robbery in Durbanville, Cape Town, on Monday morning, Western Cape police said.

A vehicle tracking company followed a hijacked car to a house in Franshoek Road around 11am and called police, Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said.

Police found a house robbery in progress and a domestic worked that had been tied up. Three men were arrested and a firearm confiscated. Another three men were arrested in a rented car and a second gun was confiscated.

The six would appear in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on charges of house robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and of a hijacked car.

Sapa

The City of Cape Town’s enforcement agencies came under a series of attacks during operations in Phillippi last week.

Cape Town - The City of Cape Town’s enforcement agencies came under a series of attacks during operations in Phillippi on Friday, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith revealed on Monday.

“The events in Philippi are a blatant attack on the State and cannot be tolerated. I want to make it very clear that we will not be intimidated by criminals,” said Smith.

The City’s Metro Police Department were carrying out one of several operations in Philippi on Friday when members were threatened and attacked by illegal taxi operators.

An Metro officer was mobbed by a group of approximately 20 people while driving an impounded vehicle Smith reported. He was assaulted and the group tried to grab his service pistol before members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) fired a warning shot, forcing the crowd to disperse.

An hour later, another crowd attacked two Metro Police vehicles at the intersection of Stock and Rochester Roads in Philippi.

“When the department’s Tactical Response Unit arrived, they were met with bricks and stones before two rubber rounds were fired to disperse the crowd,” Smith added. “That evening, a Metro Police officer was leaving the department’s Philippi depot when an unknown man pointed a gun at him. The officer then requested an escort to transport him, driving just a few metres before three shots were fired at the police vehicles.

“Officers at the Philippi East station also found a bullet hole in the door of one of their vehicles.

“Our job is to enforce the laws and it is very unfortunate that those who believe that they are above the law have the temerity to react in this manner,” said Smith.

The Philippi operation formed part of a series of operations carried out by the City’s enforcement agencies last week.

“I want to commend the officers for staying the course during this operation. We are thankful that there were no serious injuries,” said Smith.

The operations yielded many successes, including:

– Nearly 90 arrests

– 19 vehicles impounded

– 23 traffic fines issued

– Arrests of 33 motorists for drunk driving

– Arrests of 40 suspects for various crimes including murder, attempted murder, possession of drugs and stolen property

– Confiscation of various quantities of tik, dagga and mandrax, a Norinco Star pistol and various types of ammunition.

The City’s enforcement agencies’ successes also extended to that of the Traffic Services’ Ghost Squad who arrested six civilian motorists for reckless and negligent driving.

These were as a result of an operation focused on illegal street racing in Athlone and Ottery.

One of the suspects was found to be twice over the legal alcohol limit Smith said.

The Ghost Squad had also conducted a pre-operation briefing outside the Milnerton police station when a speeding vehicle was spotted on Koeberg Road.

The driver had almost collided with a traffic post before he proceeded into the police station premises. On approach, officers discovered the driver in full police uniform, smelling of alcohol. The officer, who was nearly three times over the legal limit, was the seventh motorist arrested for reckless and negligent driving.

“This arrest is really disappointing. When the people who are meant to uphold the law are the ones breaking it, it is no surprise that some residents have no regard for the law or those who enforce it,” added Smith.

ANA

Western Cape MEC Dan Plato and Durbanville residents are hailing what they believe is a breakthrough in the crowbar gang case.

Cape Town - Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato and residents of Durbanville are hailing what they believe is a breakthrough in the crowbar gang case, although police are being tightlipped.

On Monday, six people were arrested, three as they were ransacking a house in Kenridge.

The arrests were made in Durbanville when a tracker company following a hijacked vehicle alerted police to its whereabouts.

Flying Squad members arrived at Franschhoek Street in Kenridge where they found a white Golf GTI parked in an open garage, a domestic worker tied up and three suspects in the house with a firearm.

Three more armed suspects were arrested in a bakkie nearby.

Although police said they could not confirm that the men were linked to the crowbar gang, Plato said on Monday: “I welcome any arrest, but particularly this one as this gang has been terrorising the community for quite some time. This group has operated like a syndicate and they know just when to strike…”

Police spokesman Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said the three suspects on the Franschoek Street premises had a firearm, and stolen property worth R75 000 was recovered.

The three suspects arrested in the rented bakkie with a firearm “moved with the other three suspects”.

Kinana said the suspects would appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on numerous charges including house robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of a hijacked vehicle.

“This office cannot confirm whether these incidents are linked to the crowbar gang at this stage. The investigation is continuing.”

Since 2013 the gang has been using crowbars to break into houses across the city.

Plato said: “Previously there were no breakthroughs with this case. It has been a top priority for police since the first attacks. So making six arrests now is a massive breakthrough for the police…”

The police were assisted in the arrest by members of CN Security Installations, a private security company.

Stephen Swartz, the company’s response supervisor, said: “When we arrived, police were about to apprehend the five suspects so we just made sure that they got all the support they needed. There were about six vehicles from the Flying Squad and they quickly surrounded the suspects in the white GTI and the bakkie.”

Meanwhile, reports emerging from Kuils River via Facebook were of a man who was shot dead while trying to break into a house on Aloe Street.

Lowellan West posted: “One of the homeowners was in his house while the Crowbar gang tried to break in Aloe Str. Needless to say he walked into a firearm and died on the scene. The others left in a hurry leaving their vehicle and the deceased behind.”

Police declined to confirm this.

Comments from the Kendal Road Community Facebook page:

Bev Hardy: “Fantastic news, well done! It will be even better if they don’t get released to carry on with their activities, sadly they do”

Catherine Ann Roomes: “Great but they will be out tomorrow doing the same damage!!!”

Stuart Grobbelaar: “Hope they are charged. To often an owner doesn’t feel the need to even visit the police station and lay charges, which means they’re often kept overnight and let out the next day.”

Izak BokforLife Du Plessis: “Job well done! Proud of those involved.”

Johan Badenhorst: “Excellent work, SAPS and all those involved!”

junior.bester@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Sanef says it is appalled by the Western Cape government's call for its departments to stop subscribing to the Cape Times.

Johannesburg - Sanef on Monday said it was appalled by the Western Cape government's call for all provincial departments to stop subscribing to the Cape Times.

“Sanef finds it appalling that the executive committee of the Western Cape government, led by a former journalist, Ms Helen Zille, interferes at this level in the affairs of provincial department heads, who should have the freedom to choose which news mediums they find useful or not,” SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) chairman Mpumelelo Mkhabela said in a statement.

In a letter to all department heads, director general Bert Gerber issued a directive for the departments not to renew their subscriptions or start subscriptions with the paper.

“Cabinet has discussed with concern the ongoing decline in the quality of reporting in the Cape Times. As we get newspaper cuttings every day, Cabinet considers it to be fruitless expenditure to renew Cape Times subscriptions,” Gerber wrote.

Mkhabela said the issue could have been handled differently.

“If the Western Cape government has an issue with the quality of content in the Cape Times, they should address it with the editor of that newspaper or through complaints to the office of the Press Ombudsman, and not by effectively calling for a government boycott of the Cape Times,” he said.

Sanef's management committee intended to send a letter of protest to the Western Cape government. It called for the decision to be rescinded.

Zille, however, said the provincial government had done nothing wrong.

“No newspaper has the right to demand that anyone subscribes to it. Everyone, including governments, make informed consumer choices,” she said.

The provincial cabinet had taken a unanimous decision not to renew its subscriptions and this in no way threatened press freedom, she said.

“Is Sanef suggesting that if we, as government, get poor service from a caterer (for example) that we should not switch to another service provider? Must we rather lay a complaint at the consumer council and continue using an inferior service provider?”

Zille said newspapers had no special product status for consumers.

“Publishers can publish what they like, readers can read what they like. That seems to me a logical starting point in an open society,” she said.

Independent Media, the owner of Cape Times and IOL, said it was concerned with the directive.

Independent Media group executive for marketing and communication Lutfia Vayej said:

“While we respect any reader or organisation’s right to choose to consume the publication of their choice for whatever reason, the manner in which this directive from Helen Zille’s provincial government’s cabinet has been issued is an unprecedented abuse of power and completely unacceptable.

“The nature of the top-down instruction and deliberate move by Zille, the leader of the opposition and the premier of the Western Cape, to dictate the position she personally holds to all her departments, on the basis of editorial quality which she has not directly engaged us on, is particularly disturbing,” Vayej said.

She added that: “Zille supposedly values editorial independence and freedom of expression in the media, yet chooses to dictate to her departments what their position should be, which we find extremely problematic and hypocritical.

“All the editors in the Independent Media stable are open to engagement with its readers and subscribers.

“It is a pity that Helen Zille and her officials did not use this opportunity before embarking on their decision, which we believe goes against the promotion of a free press. It is our hope that other provincial governments do not take such actions against other media.

On Tuesday morning Zille explained her decision during an interview on Radio 702.

Sapa and Cape Times

The Cape Flats family who hun an apartheid-era South African flag at their house have taken it down.

Cape Town - The Cape Flats family who hung an apartheid-era South African flag at their house have taken it down.

The family says media attention has put the spotlight on their home in Heathfield.

Mishkah Jappie told the Daily Voice: “We have since taken the flag down because it draws a lot of negative attention from the public, and especially in the neighbourhood.”

The mom of six said her husband Thabiet decided to fly the orange, blue and white flag in protest of the “new South Africa” which has done nothing for them.

“We don’t have water or electricity here, and nothing seems to be better in our lives,” Mishkah said .

Neighbours complained about the flag, which they said reminded them of the dark days of apartheid.

Meanwhile, a family member has contacted the Daily Voice and made shocking allegations against the couple, claiming they are drug addicts and shoplifters.

Mishka has vehemently denied the allegations, and police could not confirm to the Daily Voice if they were true or not.

The family member, whose identity is known to the Daily Voice, says Thabiet was a convict: “[He] landed up in jail for selling stolen goods at Cash Crusaders.

“He does drugs with his wife Mishkah, who also has a criminal record for shoplifting.

“Their kids were removed from them as the school that their daughter was attending contacted the social workers as the kids were hungry and dirty.”

The family member said Thabiet lost his job as a paramedic because he stayed out of work a lot due to his drug habit.

“Being druggies they sold their mom’s appliances to buy drugs.

“He had a house fully paid up which they sold to get money,” the source claimed.

“They walk around begging and now that people are closing their doors, they look for another way to get attention so that they can scheme people out of money.

“They blame everyone around them but don’t look to the real culprits, them. Now the kids have to suffer.”

But Mishka denied the allegations, and instead accused the family member of spreading vicious rumours in order to get his hands on her house.

“It’s one of my family members who want this house which I inherited from my mom,” she said.

“We don’t have criminal records and we don’t do drugs and I just wish my husband was here to speak for himself.

“He is a considerate man who wakes up every morning to look for a job to feed his children.”

A neighbour said the Jappies’ house is “very busy” over weekends.

“There’s lot of people going in and out there,” the neighbour said.

“Yes, they are struggling, but we don’t know exactly what’s happening. We are just worried for the children.”

Police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana says they are looking into the matter.

“We will continue to search from our records to determine if the couple does indeed have criminal record,” says Kinana.

Daily Voice

Golden Arrow has decided to divert its buses on certain routes in parts of Khayelitsha as a “precautionary measure”.

Cape Town - Following the torching of a Golden Arrow bus and a bakkie on Sunday in Khayelitsha, the bus company has decided to divert its buses on certain routes in parts of Khayelitsha as a “precautionary measure”, spokesperson Bronwen Dyke has confirmed.

As a result of the redirecting of the buses, according to Dyke, “there have been no delays and we are operating normally”.

“Diverting just means that we skip a part of the route or go around a part of the route – so in this case, all the buses are running as per the normal route, just slightly differently,” she said.

Dyke added that “our passengers are all made aware of this, so the impact on them is minimised”.

On Sunday, a Golden Arrow bus had stopped to offload passengers near BM informal settlement when a group of people suddenly appeared and demanded that the driver get off the bus.

The passengers were forced to climb off before the bus windows were destroyed and the vehicle set alight.

Nine hours later, a bakkie that was deployed by the company to direct buses in the area was also set alight after the driver was doused with petrol and the group had allegedly threatened to set him alight.

Dyke said both the bus and the bakkie were completely gutted. No one was injured.

“We are not sure why our vehicles have been targeted, but it may have something to do with service delivery protests in the area.”

She said there have been no further reports of incidents in the area since the bakkie was torched on Sunday evening.

Police spokesperson André Traut said a case of public violence has been registered.

“Officers were deployed to the area to maintain law and order,” said Traut.

Cape Times

Controversy over the Rhodes statue at UCT reached boiling point when the SRC staged a walkout during talks with management.

Cape Town - Controversy over a statue of Cecil John Rhodes at UCT reached boiling point on Monday when the university’s student representative council (SRC) staged a walkout during a discussion with members of the institution’s management.

The SRC has demanded the statue be removed.

UCT vice-chancellor Max Price told the Cape Times that talks about removing the statue from the university campus were at a “stalemate”.

The SRC has taken a hardline stance, refusing to partake in any discussions on the matter and simply demanding that a date be set for the statue’s removal.

During a protest last week, student Chumani Maxwele flung human excrement on the statue, calling for the monument to be taken down.

Maxwele and his followers called for transformation of the university’s infrastructure, including the renaming of campus roads and buildings.

Following the protest, more than 2 000 students gathered at the university campus on Thursday, when many called for the statue to be removed.

The statue of Rhodes is on the upper campus, overlooking the university’s rugby fields on Madiba Circle, formerly known as Rugby Road.

The university’s upper and middle campuses are on land that was bequeathed to the nation by Rhodes as the site for a national university.

SRC chairman Ramabina Mahapa was seen leading the charge on Monday as SRC members and supporters walked out of a discussion on heritage, signage and symbolism.

The meeting was the first in a series of discussions which university management insists will take place throughout the year.

“We are not at a point where management wants to meet with us in a fruitful way. There are a number of things we are upset about,” Mahapa said.

“The charges brought against Chumani Maxwele for throwing poo on the statue need to be dropped.”

Mahapa detailed the SRC’s demands before he and other SRC members walked out of the meeting, which had been arranged earlier.

“This is something we’ve been speaking about since last year. They cannot say we we have not been engaging with them. The university has serious issues about transformation that it hasn’t dealt with,” he said.

“The statue is really a symbol. The issue is bigger than the statue.

“If one looks at the paintings on walls here, they depict the poverty of black people, the naked black body of black people and other aspects we don’t identify with as our history.

“Other things like black staff being marginalised and readdressing affirmative action and promotions. These are our issues,” said Mahapa.

“Once we are given a date for the removal of the statue, it will give a firm indication that management is ready to address these issues,” he said.

Mahapa said the SRC and its supporters would hold a march on Friday to protest over the lack of transformation at the university.

“The SRC wants the statue removed and they are not willing to discuss it. They are not willing to meet with us until we give them a date,” Price said.

The UCT management was “totally open” to discussion and open to proposals about the matter, he said.

“There are various stakeholders at play here, but we need to be inclusive.

“If the statue is one of the things that makes people feel isolated, then we need to address it, but we will continue our discussions with or without them,” Price said.

He denied that the university had laid charges against Maxwele, saying the charges were lodged by a private entity.

UCT spokeswoman Pat Lucas would not be drawn, while Maxwele could not be reached.

carlo.petersen@inl.co.za

Cape Times

Three men who robbed a cellphone shop in Cape Town’s CBD were handed over to police by members of the public.

Cape Town - Three men have been arrested after they held staff at gunpoint during a robbery at a cellphone shop at the corner of Long and Strand streets on Monday.

The men, aged 34, 36 and 37, were handed to the police by members of the public who were at the scene.

Police are appealing to the public not to attempt to arrest the fourth suspect, who fled in a white Toyota Etios, as he is considered dangerous.

“Some of the suspects are believed to have been dressed in police uniform and were carrying two firearms, one of which had its serial number scraped off. Police confiscated two cellphones, one firearm and ammunition,” police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said.

Kinana said the men would remain in police custody as the police continue with their investigation and, once charged, they are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on charges of robbery and attempted murder.

In a social media message, mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said shots were fired during the chaos that erupted during the robbery.

“Although unconventional and technically illegal, the public took matters in their own hands in apprehending the suspects and leaving them battered, to say the least. CCID security and City Law Enforcement helped detain the men. It is great to know we have such efficient security in the city. This could have escalated for the worse and thankfully nobody got injured except for the perps (sic).”

Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact Warrant Officer Denver van Sitters at 082 302 9938 or call the Crime Stop number 08600 10111. Alternatively send an SMS to Crime Stop at 32211.

Cape Times

A fly-past and a slow march were part of the tribute to helicopter pilot Bees Marais, who was killed fighting a fire at Cape Point.

Cape Town - Five aircraft, including two helicopters, a spotter plane and two fixed-wing water bombers flew over a crowd of mourners at the N1 City His People’s Church on Monday in tribute to helicopter pilot “Bees” Marais who was killed fighting a fire at Cape Point nine days ago.

During the aircraft’s second fly-past, one of the helicopters peeled off, representing the “Missing Man” formation to symbolise the death of Huey pilot Hendrik Willem Marais.

Marais, 71, died during a forced landing while fighting a fire at Olifantsbos.

Working on Fire national spokesman Linton Reinsburg said the “Missing Man” formation dated back to the World War I.

“Pilots who did not have radio communications would fly back to base leaving gaps in their formation representing missing colleagues.”

Among the mourners on Monday were Working on Fire firefighters who did a slow march of respect outside the church, the same team who were working with Marais the day that he died.

“I often spoke to Bees on the phone when I called to ask him how the fires were, and no matter how bad the situation each time I called he would give me the same response: ‘easy as pie’.”

Reinsburg said he met Marais two weeks before he died. He was always smiling, “a hard worker who was always accommodating”.

Watching the Missing Man tribute, Marais’s wife Jackie sobbed, comforted by relatives.

Marais’s mother, Babsie Marais, attended the service in a wheelchair.

In a message to her son, printed in the service pamphlet, she wrote: “How can I bid you farewell, my child? Thank you for the unconditional love you gave me abundantly for 71 years.

“However busy you were, you made time for me. I always saw the peace of the Lord in you. I will love you to the end.”

Marais’s niece Ronelle Engelbrecht said her uncle lived his life to the fullest.

“No matter how sad he was he always had a joke.

“His timing was always right.”

Engelbrecht flew to Cape Town from Rustenburg to attend Monday’s service.

She joked about how Marais always jerked his knees when standing, as if he was stretching for a race.

“He would do this thing with his knees, stretching out to face every challenge, grabbing every opportunity every minute.”

Helmut Henskok, a friend of 32 years said Marais was a man who gave good advice.

“He always had time for everyone, always shared interest in how the children were doing and how life was.

“He was a multitasker.”

zodidi.dano@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Free passes to the District Six Museum have been offered to Worcester residents in response to the "dompas" controversy.

Cape Town - Free passes to the District Six Museum have been offered to Worcester residents in response to the green card “dompas” controversy.

This District Six Museum and Ogilvy Cape Town initiative targets Boland residents.

Museum director Bonita Bennett said the green cards were a reminder of the country’s “harrowing past”.

The Green Cards Reference Project came to light earlier this month.

It was allegedly introduced by the area’s Sector 4 Forum to alleviate crime, whereby those seeking employment in the neighbourhood had to apply at the police station to get the cards.

Each card carries a mugshot of the holder and their personal details.

Sector 4 comprises 10 upper-class neighbourhoods, including Panorama, Fairy Glen and Somerset Park.

“The green card system is eerily reminiscent of the pass laws system, which spanned more than a century and which was abolished only in 1986,” Bennet said.

Implementing such a system was of great concern.

“It is a system of segregation which marks people as not belonging in certain areas, needing their presence to be legitimised on the basis of having or seeking jobs in those areas. We have to be always mindful of the insidious creeping of prejudice-based systems which contradict our rights-based constitution.”

The advert for the free museum pass reads: “Dear Citizens of Worcester, we’d like to offer you a free pass.

“We’d like to invite you to visit the museum, and we’ll waive our usual ticket price, because we believe the lessons you’ll learn inside are priceless.

“For instance, the history of the pass laws and the misery, indignity and severe infringement of the right of free movement they caused for several hundred years.

“We’d like you to visit us, so that you know what we hold dear: That those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it.”

The green card system was abolished by national police commissioner Riah Phiyega last week.

Bennet said the museum wanted to raise awareness of South African history among local and international visitors.

“We want to remind South Africans that under our progressive construction we are all equal.”

zodidi.dano@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

South Peninsula High principal Brian Isaacs is facing suspension after “serious allegations” were made against him.

Cape Town - South Peninsula High School principal Brian Isaacs is facing suspension by the Western Cape Education Department after “serious allegations”, including assault of a pupil, were made against him.

But Isaacs has accused the department of a witch-hunt against him, and denies the allegations.

He received a letter from the department last week saying he had “allegedly made yourself guilty of serious misconduct in that you assaulted a learner and made yourself guilty of victimisation and improper conduct against learners” at the school.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations the department was considering suspending him with full pay in terms of the Employment of Educators Act.

He was asked to provide reasons his suspension shouldn’t be confirmed by last Friday.

Isaacs said he had received a number of threatening letters from the department over the past 30 years.

This was because his school had opposed many policies and decisions by education authorities, including school closures and outcomes-based education.

“I believe it (the possible suspension) is a scurrilous attempt by the department to silence the school by targeting an individual. Suspension is becoming a means of defaming people.”

Isaacs said he was well aware of the regulations around corporal punishment, and had not assaulted or victimised any of the pupils.

He didn’t know how the department expected him to defend himself since it hadn’t named the pupil who had allegedly been assaulted or said how many pupils had allegedly been victimised.

In a letter to parents on Monday, Isaacs said his attorneys had written to the department denying the allegations against him.

“There is a possibility that I will challenge the suspension in the labour or high courts,” he wrote.

He added that the school was compassionate towards the needs of students “but when they constantly disrupt the education of the majority of students we will discipline them”.

Department spokesman Paddy Attwell confirmed that the department was considering suspending Isaacs, saying the decision would be based on Section 28(2) of the constitution, which states that “the best interests of all minor children are of paramount importance”.

He said the department could not release the names of the pupils at this stage.

“The department will give Mr Isaacs the names when it is deemed necessary, should he need to defend himself.”

Attwell said the case was sub judice, adding that there was no witch-hunt against Isaacs.

Isaacs has made headlines several times over the past few years.

In 2009 he was among the teachers and principals who called for the Common Tasks for Assessment, which were written by Grade 9 pupils, to be scrapped.

The tests were later scrapped by the Department of Basic Education

Last year he contacted the Cape Argus to request that the school’s matrics’ names be published with their results in the newspapers. This was against a decision by the Council of Education Ministers that only exam numbers and not pupils’ names be published.

Last April the Cape Argus reported that Isaacs had been threatened with disciplinary action after his school refused to let a pupil who had failed Grade 10 and then failed Grade 11, to move to Grade 12, against national policy.

In the same month it was also reported that, following a noise complaint, Isaacs had been cautioned by municipal court, sitting at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court, to use the school’s intercom exclusively for school-related announcements.

In 2012 he led a “gradual takeover” of an unused primary school after his school could not get the go-ahead from the government to use it.

He later reported that the Western Cape Education Department had told him prefabricated classrooms at his own school would be replaced.

ilse.fredericks@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

The stand-off between forensic expert David Klatzow and the Table Mountain National Park may be resolved soon.

Cape Town - The stand-off between forensic expert David Klatzow and the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) may be resolved at a high-level meeting with the City of Cape Town and SANParks on Tuesday.

Klatzow has been appointed by the city to investigate the recent South Peninsula wildfires but says he has been told he can’t go onto parks property without a permit.

Executive director for safety and security Richard Bosman said they had informed TMNP fire manager Philip Prins, in an e-mail on March 10, that Klatzow had been appointed.

But TMNP manager Paddy Gordon said there were conflicting reports about what Klatzow had been appointed for.

“For example, Klatzow demanded access to the helicopter crash site, even before the Civil Aviation investigation was completed. And yet he says that he wants to help identify the origin of the fire.”

He added that the fire records and data at their Newlands fire base were legal data that he did not have the power to release it to anyone.

Gordon also pointed out that the park had appointed fire expert Rob Erasmus from Enviro Wildfire Services several months ago on contract to investigate the many wildfires that occur in the park.

He said Erasmus had more than a decade of experience in fynbos fires.

“What would have been the correct procedure is that the city should have approached SANParks corporate informing them of the appointment of Dr Klatzow, providing both the letter of his engagement and the terms of reference for what he is investigating; as well as request to work with our investigator and make records available.”

Gordon said this may still happen and would be discussed at Tuesday’s high-level meeting.

“SANParks desires to get to the truth behind the origin of the fires and will do what is legally required to achieve this. However, the engagement of another entity without legal foundation could lead to confusion in the complex legal challenges that will follow after the fire.”

Meanwhile, Bosman said they had not given Klatzow a specific time frame to conduct his investigation but had asked for it to be dealt with as speedily as possible.

The cost to the city could not be determined at this stage. “It will depend on billable hours as well as whether any additional tests are required.”

In 2009, Klatzow was hired by then mayor Helen Zille at a cost of R350 000 to the city to identify what caused a series of fires in TMNP and the Helderberg. He found that some of the fires had been started accidentally but that there had been human intervention in others including youngsters smoking a hookah (hubbly bubbly) pipe at Jonkershoek and a group of children chasing ants out of a log in Welcome Glen Valley above Glencairn.

He also found that a fire on Devil’s Peak, which killed two homeless people, was “almost certainly” started deliberately.

The city said its investigation would seek to determine the point of origin and how the fire started, whether there was malicious intent or negligence, and whether anyone could be held accountable.

The city was still assessing the financial impact of the fire.

helen.bamford@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Marli van Breda who barely suvived a horrific axe attack has been advised to not have contact with her brother Henri.

Cape Town - Marli van Breda is being kept away from her brother, Henri, after she survived a horrific axe attack on her family.

The 16-year old is undergoing rehabilitation after she suffered severe head injuries and a severed jugular in the attack.

Martin and Theresa van Breda, along with their 22-year-old son Rudi, were hacked to death at their home in Stellenbosch in January.

Henri, 20, survived the attack with minor injuries.

Meanwhile Marli is reportedly making progress after weeks in hospital, and is said to be in good spirits.

Marli’s attorney, Martin Coetzee, said her caretakers have advised that there should be no contact between Marli and Henri.

“They know what is best. At this stage they will also inform her of the circumstances around her parents’ death and the speculations that are going about.”

Coetzee said Marli has also not asked to see Henri.

Coetzee confirmed that a trust had been set up to take care of the siblings.

Marli and Henri are reportedly the main beneficiaries of an estate valued at about R200 million.

A source close to the family said legal experts have been appointed to wrap up the estate of Martin and Teresa van Breda, according to a Sunday Times report.

Daily Voice

Chapman's Peak Drive and toll plaza in Cape Town has been closed until further notice due to strong winds.

Cape Town - Chapman's Peak Drive and toll plaza in Cape Town has been closed until further notice due to strong winds, the provincial transport department said on Tuesday.

“Entilini, the concessionaire managing the drive on behalf of the Western Cape government, will be monitoring the situation until winds subside,” spokesman Byron la Hoe said.

The drive would be re-opened once deemed safe for motorists.

Sapa

Lucinda Evans was so furious when a thief tried to break into her home, she ran after him and lashed him with a sjambok.

Cape Town - So furious was a fearless female fighter against violence against women, children and the elderly that when a thief tried to break into her Lavender Hill home, she lashed him with a sjambok.

Lucinda Evans, who founded the Philisa Abafazi Bethu (PAB) women and children’s safehouse programme in Lavender Hill, said: “A guy jumped over our fence and tried to break into Philisa’s van on Friday morning, but the dog disturbed him.

“On Saturday morning he jumped over our fence (again), but I saw him. He ran, but I drove after him. I hit him with my sjambok.

In December, he had tried to steal my children’s portable pool. I don’t want to be violent, but how do I protect my family from people who repeatedly jump over my fence? In the past two weeks, 10 houses were broken into in our area.”

She reported the break-in attempts and sjambokking, but could not make a case as nothing was stolen.

Evans began protecting and empowering abused women and children after witnessing a crowd passively observing a man beating his wife in the street. “People were watching, yet no one was doing anything to stop the violence.”

She described PAB as the only safehouse in the Western Cape to provide an emergency overnight and five-day stay for women in dire need of protection and shelter, without subjecting them to drug tests as part of the intake criteria, as well as services for lost and abandoned children in need of emergency protection.

“Its objectives are to provide a safe space for women and children who are victims of sexual and domestic violence to live freely and without fear, while supporting and educating them about their rights and freedoms.”

They also plan to encourage entrepreneurial skills through income-generating activities, hands-on projects and vital skills. Literacy, numeracy, skills development and psychological support are offered to child and female victims of violence.

“We often encounter women and children who have to deal with issues of domestic violence, drug abuse or addiction, and poor self-esteem. Counselling and psychological services for these individuals is also provided to help them overcome obstacles, plus court support,” says Evans.

“Another programme involves teaching women how to grow organic vegetables, and they hope to start co-ops for the community women.”

Lavender Hill has high rates of violence, especially violent crimes against women and children. Rape is used as a form of gang initiation, but women report rape to the PAB more often than to the police. Emergency older-person abuse, where the older person has to be removed from an abusive circumstance, is also part of PAB’s mandate.

Older-person abuse is rife in the community, with little or no services to report cases to.

The Philisa Amagogo programme provides a weekly programme with wellness, safety, sport, counselling and an educational excursion to older people. The project is seeking bigger property from Pollsmoor Prison to start a larger community garden that will generate income for familiesexperiencing family violence.

Kevin Southgate, a DA proportional representative councillor and former chairman of Steenberg CPF for over 10 years, said: “Because of my long association with Evans, I have a huge respect for her and PAB for their work in the community, against all odds.”

* Evans was nominated for a national Woman of the Year award in 2013 and founded PAB in August 2008, registering it as an NPO in 2012.

Cape Times

Up to 30 illegal firearms get confiscated every month during flare-ups of gang violence on the Cape Flats, police say.

Cape Town - Up to 30 illegal firearms get confiscated every month during flare-ups of gang violence in certain areas on the Cape Flats, police say.

Reliable police sources in two of the worst communities racked by gang wars, Manenberg and Hanover Park, told the Cape Times on Monday that during a spate of gang violence in those areas during November, more than 60 illegal firearms were confiscated.

In gang-infested neighbourhoods, at least one gun is seized every day, police said. “It’s difficult to control. There has always been availability and the criminals easily obtain guns due to a number of reasons.

“There’s theft, robbery and maladministration in government, where officials don’t look after firearms properly, or cannot account for confiscated firearms that are lost to criminals when they are to be melted or destroyed.

“Government bodies possess a huge amount of firearms. The SANDF and police stations are becoming one-stop crime shops,” said a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

However, while the SA Gun Owners’ Association (Saga) feels guns in good hands could curb crime, Gun Free SA (GFSA) believes tighter gun control laws are the best way forward.

GFSA spokeswoman Claire Taylor said: “With the high number of guns lost and stolen, particularly by and from civilians, one obvious way of reducing the diversion of legal guns to the illegal pool is to strictly regulate the gun licensing process, thus ensuring only responsible people are granted firearm licences.”

Saga spokesman John Welch said recent proposed amendments to the Firearms Control Act have caused quite an uproar among many firearm owners.

“Saga promotes the lawful, safe and responsible possession and use of firearms by people who are competent to possess them.

“Unfortunately, many of the proposals in the Amendment Bill will place a heavy burden on law-abiding firearm owners without really having an effect on crime.

“In fact, the opposite may be true - some firearm owners might find the new provisions impractical and financially too cumbersome, and then decide to rather not comply, hence becoming criminal,” he said.

According to the GFSA, in the last year, a total of 12 373 guns were reported by civilians as having been lost or stolen, which is an average of 34 guns a day. Taylor said 343 174 firearms have been reported lost or stolen by the police and civilians since 1994.

“This is an average of over 19 000 guns each year or 52 guns every day,” she said.

Taylor also revealed that about 12 times as many guns are lost by or stolen from civilians than police officers.

“The police reported the loss or theft of an average of just over 2 000 firearms each year or six guns a day.”

Cape Times

The home of Western Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer was broken into this morning.

Cape Town - The man in charge of fighting crime in the Western Cape has himself become a robbery victim.

Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer confirmed that thieves had broken into his home in Plattekloof on Tuesday morning.

The Cape Argus was alerted to the robbery by a neighbour who phoned in saying several police cars were parked outside Lamoer’s home.

According to police, the robbers had gained entry by cutting a window open and took items including electronic equipment.

Lamoer and his family were home at the time, but only discovered what had happened in the morning once they woke up.

Lamoer urged people to ensure their doors and gates were locked at all times and to use alarm systems. 

In a study published by the SA Institute of Race Relations last year, the organisation found that the Western Cape was the most dangerous province in the country.

The study, which measured crime rankings according to murder, assault and robbery statistics, showed that the province fared poorly when it came to protecting its residents from harm.

Cape Argus and Sapa

A spate of robberies reportedly committed by the so-called Crowbar Gang were most likely the work of copycats, police have said.

Cape Town - A spate of robberies reportedly committed by the so-called Crowbar Gang were most likely the work of copycats, police said on Tuesday morning.

On Monday six burglars were arrested, three as they were ransacking a house in Kenridge. The arrests were made in Durbanville when a tracker company following a hijacked vehicle alerted police to its whereabouts.

Flying Squad members arrived at Franschhoek Street in Kenridge where they found a white Golf GTI parked in an open garage, a domestic worker tied up and three suspects in the house with a firearm. Three more armed suspects were arrested in a bakkie nearby.

Community Safety MEC Dan Plato and residents in the area are hailing what they believe is a breakthrough in the Crowbar Gang case. But on Tuesday morning Traut said this was far from a certainty.

“There is no indication that these crimes are committed by the so-called Crowbar Gang, but rather by a groups of suspects using the same modus operandi to gain access to property.” He said police investigators were making “good progress”.

Plato said on Monday: “I welcome any arrest, but particularly this one as this gang has been terrorising the community for quite some time. “This group has operated like a syndicate and they know just when to strike…”

Police spokesman Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said the three suspects on the Franschhoek Street premises had a firearm, and stolen property worth R75 000 was recovered. The three suspects arrested in the rented bakkie with a firearm “moved with the other three suspects”.

Kinana said the suspects would appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on numerous charges including house robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of a hijacked vehicle.

“This office cannot confirm whether these incidents are linked to the Crowbar Gang at this stage. The investigation is continuing,” Kinana added.

Since 2013 the gang has been using crowbars to break into houses across the city.

The police were assisted in the arrests by members of CN Security Installations, a private security company. Stephen Swartz, the company’s response supervisor, said: “When we arrived, police were about to apprehend the five suspects, so we just made sure that they got all the support they needed.”

Meanwhile, reports emerging from Kuils River via Facebook were of a man who was shot dead while trying to break into a house on Aloe Street.

Lowellan West posted: “One of the homeowners was in his house while the Crowbar Gang tried to break in Aloe Street. Needless to say he walked into a firearm and died on the scene. The others left in a hurry leaving their vehicle and the deceased behind.” Police declined to confirm this.

Cape Argus