Nine men were arrested for allegedly possessing over 3000 fake Bafana Bafana jerseys with an estimated street value of R2-million on the border of South Africa and Mozambique, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Monday.
"Nine men were allegedly found throwing the jerseys over the fence bordering the South Africa and Mozambique border on Saturday.
The street value of the goods is estimated to be about R2-million," said Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge.
Mdunge said it was believed that the gang leader was from Chesterville and had driven to Mozambique where he boarded a plane to China.
"The man came back from China and hired a bakkie in Manguzi. He allegedly off-loaded the goods on the border. Eight men were found throwing the goods over the fence," Mdunge said.
The porous 54km border fence was notorious for the smuggling of goods from South Africa to Mozambique.
Mdunge said the nine men were due to appear in the Manguzi Magistrate's Court on Today.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION IN TENDERING
KZN officials have their hands full trying to get rid of corruption within government's tender processes.
Earlier this month, Finance MEC Ina Cronje announced that they were doing a complete revamp of local government's "suppliers database." This means that all companies which were given tenders in all provincial departments will be evaluated over the next few months, to ensure that they meet the proper requirements and that there isn't any corruption involved. The process has started and officials have been holding meetings with business in northern KZN over the past few days. Finance spokesperson, Joyce Msutu says today they're in the Illembe district and they're also giving information to interested companies on how to go about getting on the database."We've got a new system that will be starting in July and we want to ensure that all suppliers of goods and services for provincial departments are registered on the supplier database. We've been to Zululand to Umkhanyakude District, Amajuba district and Sisonke District."
Earlier this month, Finance MEC Ina Cronje announced that they were doing a complete revamp of local government's "suppliers database." This means that all companies which were given tenders in all provincial departments will be evaluated over the next few months, to ensure that they meet the proper requirements and that there isn't any corruption involved. The process has started and officials have been holding meetings with business in northern KZN over the past few days. Finance spokesperson, Joyce Msutu says today they're in the Illembe district and they're also giving information to interested companies on how to go about getting on the database."We've got a new system that will be starting in July and we want to ensure that all suppliers of goods and services for provincial departments are registered on the supplier database. We've been to Zululand to Umkhanyakude District, Amajuba district and Sisonke District."
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tembe Brothers at Loggerhead with Ismangaliso (Bangnek Beach Camp)
A battle between iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the developers of an illegal tourism development in the park resulted in the demolition of the buildings yesterday. The development was undertaken by Madolwane Mthembu and Simon Mlabane Tembe (who are referred to as the Tembe brothers) at the Bhanga Nek Beach Camp in the coastal forest reserve.
Last year, park officials, with the support of the KZN Nature Conservation Board and the minister of water and environmental affairs, secured high court orders against developers, including the brothers, who were building holiday cottages in the park. The developers were ordered to stop building, demolish what had been built and to rehabilitate the areas.
If the developers failed to do this, the park was given the authority to do the work and claim costs.The Tembes were given until April 30 this year to vacate the land on which they had already started trading.While the other developers complied with the court orders, the Tembe brothers continued building after the April 30 deadline.Park officials then applied in the Durban High Court in March this year for the Tembe brothers to be found in contempt of court and to be jailed. In his affidavit, the park's senior conservation compliance manager Peter Hartley said the Tembe brothers had been "confrontational and self-righteous", making death threats against officials and saying in a letter that no one would stop them from building.
A letter said: "No matter we are arrested... we will proceed developing on our land (sic)."The Tembe brothers opposed the application and Judge Chris Nicholson reserved judgment in the case last Friday. The brothers claim in papers before the court that they had the permission of the late acting chief Phasula Tembe and councillors of the KwaNgwanase administrative area to build on the site. iSimangaliso said on Tuesday that the demolition had been done according to a responsible demolition and restoration plan and the Tembes had been given prior notice on May 8. iSimangaliso board chairman Mavuso Msimang said demolition had been the last option.
Last year, park officials, with the support of the KZN Nature Conservation Board and the minister of water and environmental affairs, secured high court orders against developers, including the brothers, who were building holiday cottages in the park. The developers were ordered to stop building, demolish what had been built and to rehabilitate the areas.
If the developers failed to do this, the park was given the authority to do the work and claim costs.The Tembes were given until April 30 this year to vacate the land on which they had already started trading.While the other developers complied with the court orders, the Tembe brothers continued building after the April 30 deadline.Park officials then applied in the Durban High Court in March this year for the Tembe brothers to be found in contempt of court and to be jailed. In his affidavit, the park's senior conservation compliance manager Peter Hartley said the Tembe brothers had been "confrontational and self-righteous", making death threats against officials and saying in a letter that no one would stop them from building.
A letter said: "No matter we are arrested... we will proceed developing on our land (sic)."The Tembe brothers opposed the application and Judge Chris Nicholson reserved judgment in the case last Friday. The brothers claim in papers before the court that they had the permission of the late acting chief Phasula Tembe and councillors of the KwaNgwanase administrative area to build on the site. iSimangaliso said on Tuesday that the demolition had been done according to a responsible demolition and restoration plan and the Tembes had been given prior notice on May 8. iSimangaliso board chairman Mavuso Msimang said demolition had been the last option.
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