South Africa P.I.G.: SAFETY AND SECURITY

Showing posts with label SAFETY AND SECURITY. Show all posts

The world's least safe destinations

Online MSN Travel UK asked nearly 3,000 British holidaymakers where they feel most and least safe, based on holidays over the last three years. Read on for the countdown of top 10 places that most travellers felt least safe in. After you've finished, discover which hotspots made in onto the list of places people felt most safe in. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573357527852890818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizziK8ccgh4HC1w5mBDEWCYrdWLnxNFyhcVon6IygSHln9A1PDDuiWOgn1BU1EZ9fpPDZBe8IuooIJdSs-284Ufh14LlVhlV3vjionx6Vh1mMc43kgCGw-6T5N03c8Kczkeww6gY_9WIz/s400/bigfive-crime.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" />The countries that made it onto the top 10 list of the world's least safe destinations 10: Dominican Republic Rating: 3.9 Why: Incidents of crime and violence, credit card cloning and fraud are common. 9: Cuba Rating: 3.8 Why: Opportunistic theft is common. 8: Tunisia Rating: 3.6 Why: Recent political unrest and protests 7: Thailand Rating: 3.6 Why: Political upheaval 6: Egypt Rating: 3.5 Why: Current political turbulence 5: Dubai Rating: 3.4 Why: Cultural differences 4: Jamaica Rating: 3.2 Why: High levels of crime and violence 3: Bulgaria Rating: 2.5 Why: Over-charging and robberies 2: South Africa Rating: 2 Why: High level of crime, many fatal road accidents. 1: Mexico Rating: 1.8 Why: High level of drug-related violence, criminal activity, armed robberies & theft. The countries that made it onto the top 10 list of the world's safest destinations 10: Switzerland - Rating: 7.1 9: Singapore - Rating: 7.4 8: Italy - Rating: 7.6 7: Florida - Rating: 7.9 6: Australia - Rating: 8 5: Denmark - Rating: 8 4: New Zealand - Rating: 8.3 3: Cyprus - Rating: 9.4 2: France - Rating: 9.5 1: Spain - Rating: 9.8 WHY? For all reasons South Africa is NOT! <ul><li>safety and wellbeing are of prime importance </li><li>...has one of the world's highest personal and property safety records. </li><li>crime rates are low, good healthcare, efficient transport, multilingual locals, violent crime is virtually unheard of. </li><li>clean, organised and civil unrest is almost unheard of </li><li>relatively uncrowded streets, clean and orderly, streets and pavements are well-lit at night and muggings are rare </li><li>easy to travel around, has a stable economy and low crime rate </li><li>hospitals and airports are modern </li></ul>Source - <a href="http://travel.uk.msn.com/inspiration/adventure-activities/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=156067311">http://travel.uk.msn.com/inspiration/adventure-activities/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=156067311</a>

The world's least safe destinations

Online MSN Travel UK asked nearly 3,000 British holidaymakers where they feel most and least safe, based on holidays over the last three yea...

2:07 PM

World Cup Soccer Survival Kit

Due to the huge (apparently?) numbers of not so <strike>intelligent</strike> streetwise foreigners due to arrive on our shores, obviously their health and safety is top priority as if they get dead or something, they might say bad things about us. Yes? <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443454153097519874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-_OMIM8em4OXTVFWB1KZZ-hgLgPLKTWKB7ii1oQb0c0L-KQyGkB1p5Th76BXLKrzQFr_HwQZhbhWyxpN0emXSQCkV1X6xd6ehDof14eNiR7Pr7SdjLT052WteX2k8C93oKECkFisVl_q/s400/ghettolandbus17jw.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" />So in light of this fact before me I have decided to put together a WCSSK or WCSSK for short, to assist visiting soccer tourists survive our land of <strike>crime and corruption</strike> milk and money. Upon arrival at the chosen point of entry into SA the naïve foreigner will be able to purchase the WCSSK package at a nominal price. All WCSSK’s shall include: (Hopefully, because good hard working staff are hard to find) *1 condom, with instructions stapled to it for ease of use, there is only one coz the tourist will probably get mugged, raped or sold into the slave trade during his first sexual encounter with an SA horizontal pleasure hostess. *1 Nato type Flak Jacket for those chilly late night walkabouts in down town Jozie. The flak jacket will allow said tourist to carry large sums of foreign currency, expensive camera, and passports all whilst leaving his hands free to hold them above his head during the real African experience of being robbed at gun point by a drugged up xenophobic Nigerian refugee. (They tame and don’t kill as easily as our locals) *1 B23T Heavy armour military Kevlar vest as worn by Pope John Paul the 5 during his unexpected fall from the motorcade after being shot fifteen times by a deranged hit man. This Kevlar vest will stop all incendry rounds and lesser threats if fired at by suspected hit men during violent street protests due to poor service delivery. Ballistic helmets will be sold separately. *1 Old South African Map Book, containing all the old street and town names as some towns have failed to partake in the new unabridged renaming process. For an extra thirty five hundred dollars you can purchase a GPS to support the navigational process of getting horribly lost in the middle of Alexandra or Kayelitsha. *1 Tin of spray on Tan for those German tourists that may just wish to wear sandals WITHOUT socks whilst wandering along coastal promenades. If the German tourist wishes he might also buy an African language translation dictionary should he wish to sample the wares of a Horizontal Pleasure Hostess? *1 Duncan Fernley Willow Wood Cricket bat as used by that gay spin bowler during the last ashes five-day test, AND a complimentary 5L tin of New Improved Doom with Dphen to keep glue sniffing street kids at bay while you withdraw money from the ATM or happen to be standing around after your hire car has been hijacked. *1 Hostage Negotiation Manual with relevant phrases in all eleven official languages just in case you happen to be in the Home affairs office or Banking institution when a crazed customer loses the plot after waiting close on 5yrs for what ever document and decides to make front page news to get his story heard. *1 Stainless Steel and Titanium Vuvuzela Look a like, to put an end to the demented fool sitting next to you’s constant drone about how bad (Insert Team Name Here) have been playing. These fine works of art have been lovingly crafted by orphaned Somalian refugees that swam the Limpopo river during the 2009 floods, to look like a Vuvuzela but are in fact deadly weapons that can be used to beat blubbering soccer louts from Britain to a pulp with out looking suspicious. Obviously they can be painted in your favourite team colours. *1 Get out of Jail free card (its actually a visa gold card loaded with R1000000 credit) this can be used to bribe police officers, government ministers, and obtain highly profitable government tenders. The card can also be used at roadblocks when faced with drunk driving, driving under the influence of mind altering substances and of course driving while under a Horizontal Pleasure Hostess. (SAPS don’t take kindly to anybody getting screwed more than they do) *1 free, Anc/ Inkatha/ Cope/ DA/ Ancyl/ T shirt, a food parcel and a forced bus ride to the nearest city centre just like the ones used to bribe millions of Impressionable South African voters during the 2009 National Elections. *1 10kg bag of stones, a high-powered catapult, a box of matches, and 2 litres of unleaded petrol (depending on current fuel prices of course, it may only be 1liter, please check web site before ordering) so the tourist can also partake in South Africa’s newest national sports of Poor Service Delivery Protesting and or Violent University Fees Objection protest. The tourist will be allowed to return fire when shot at by the Police, upturn vehicles and burn all the buildings he may deem necessary to feel satisfied. (This is our top seller; do not be with out it!) *1 Pack of Long life Long Burning Candles and a top quality flint. So the tourist can make light of the expected black outs due to our national power suppliers inefficiency to comprehend that we might have just a few extra visitors. They will of course claim they were not aware of the problem. *1 Pot hole repair Kit, this ingenious package includes, 50kgs of wet tar to fix that ghastly pot hole, as soon as the vehicle recovery team have managed to extricate your vehicle, 2 free tyre and rim repairs, one R10,500 insurance excess, a two night stay in a state hospital and a complimentary front page news paper headline if you manage to roll your vehicle after hitting said pot hole at speed. *1 Parliamentary Handbook, so the tourist can figure out who is who in Government, to allow for intercontinental business dealing should said tourist have some sort of valuable merchandise to palm off into the illegal import market. Drugs, diamonds, gold and weapons are highly sought after commodities now days. Chinese tourists will not be legible for a handbook as they are in bed with the enemy and are already on first name terms with MP’s This wonderful package has been loving put together by MISA Enterprises and will be selling faster than a smash and grab artist running from an intersection, Place your orders early to avoid delays in receiving your very own WCSSK or WCSSK for short. But that’s Not All! If you order one now, you will NOT get two WCSSK’s but only one, for the price of two WCSSK’s, so don’t order it NOW!

World Cup Soccer Survival Kit

Due to the huge (apparently?) numbers of not so intelligent streetwise foreigners due to arrive on our shores, obviously their health and s...

2:45 PM

Where the hell are we going?

<div align="left">Meltdown the inevitable result of ANC policies Dr. David Klatzow <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRScjp1Iun1DIAtY9_HcWiil3HYzt7ggrkuaRzbHEqAaRsQ8vvc8zc7ic-or6dNBcxI5oSWSRwKLjdjgIQoJoU2SDYPZDHqplJ4LDCgNnPYPIlBTVLbalAg-imAGVg1NR4_N8EbA7qc1P/s1600-h/ancpastsellbydate.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQfkBLXJkBbkXPK8kSRR3vR7AceIGTQ7-0PQElUsne1WW3iXhFsFyr_7dHsguUz0AysyrtAbzny3eGz-MlOqKNAx0NqH1eJWfy8MN8qo69bBDWw17MIDPI9mQvNwg6hMmrdXOl_IrNoI1/s1600-h/ancpastsellbydate.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443727198134663122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQfkBLXJkBbkXPK8kSRR3vR7AceIGTQ7-0PQElUsne1WW3iXhFsFyr_7dHsguUz0AysyrtAbzny3eGz-MlOqKNAx0NqH1eJWfy8MN8qo69bBDWw17MIDPI9mQvNwg6hMmrdXOl_IrNoI1/s320/ancpastsellbydate.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>The ANC led alliance came to power with many stated and lofty ideals. They flowed from the American rhetoric of such greats as Martin Luther King. “An injury to one is an injury to all”; “Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere”. </div>Our government, post Madiba, has been slow to give reality to these lofty ideals. Mbeki (Mr. Delivery) turned out to be Mr. Non-Delivery. All functionaries in government were replaced by loyal party cadres. Everything became ideology driven instead of ability driven. Government interference in the universities has become much more overt and destructive than ever it was under the Nationalists. (Exemplified by the turnabout on the honorary doctorate for Thabo Mbeki). Our health system was functional to a high level, even for rural black and the urban “non-European” hospitals, whilst an abominable reflection of the apartheid system, worked well with standards high and no shortage of drugs and equipment. Now in 2010, we contemplate exactly what has been achieved in the 15 years of post Apartheid South Africa. A previous vice-Chancellor of UCT, Ramphele Mamphela, is on record as saying that Bantu Education was better than the mess we have now. Our hospitals are dysfunctional for all South Africans who are unable to afford private health care. The Johannesburg General, Groote Schuur, Pretoria Hospital and many others around the country are mismanaged to such an extent that they have become a threat to health. The hospital accounting systems are in a shambles and suppliers have cut off supplies until their bills are paid. The standards of repair and cleanliness have plummeted. The equipment, supplies and linen have been pillaged and pilfered. Recently at Groote Schuur I encountered a Neurology ward that had no toilet seats, no toilet paper, no soap and no towels. The chief neurologist there informed me that he would not use the toilets on his ward because they were too disgusting. The legacy of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang speaks for itself. Our police service is severely dysfunctional. Too many of the serving officers are corrupt. A recent PhD Thesis on the subject put it as 10% and probably higher. Out erstwhile chief cop, Jackie Selebi, stands accused of corruption whilst he was head of Interpol moreover. This is a national disgrace. The arrogance of the man to run around with the likes of the criminal gangsters that he associated with and not see the conflict of interests is astounding to say the least. The government, who should be doing all in their power to prosecute Selebi to the full, are wasting taxpayers’ money trying to keep certain witnesses out of court on the spurious basis of national interest. Our education system is a complete mess. We have the results of the OBE debacle to contend with where the only certainty is that we will produce a generation of educationally crippled youth. We have the ANC government with its ludicrous policies of “quiet diplomacy” which have allowed the stability of the region to deteriorate .The influx of refugees across our borders is fuelling xenophobic violence and is placing scarce resources under huge pressure. Our water supplies are dwindling and those that we have are polluted with faecal matter from the squatter camps along their courses. Cholera is waiting. Much of the water measuring equipment installed at key points on our rivers has been vandalized. The Cape Times (8/2/10) informs me that ‘DIRE SHORTAGE AT FORENSIC LABS STIFLES JUSTICE” What do you expect? In my private capacity as a consulting forensic scientist, I have been warning about this state of affairs for some years. Approximately 4 years ago I warned of the coming ”Melt Down”. To no avail. The analysts in the Health Department labs are appointed in terms of ethnicity and ideology and not in terms of their ability to do the work. When a previous head of the Laboratory in Pretoria, (Dr Viljoen), attempted to set an examination to regulate the incoming analysts he found that he was expected to appoint people who scored single figure results for the elementary chemistry examinations. The labs are swamped with incompetents and the work does not get done The net result was that he and the other heads of the laboratories have all left the state employ and are lost to the system. Their expertise is not even available to assist the state in pulling itself up by its bootstraps. At present there are nearly 5000 samples from the Salt River Mortuary which have not been analyzed. The talk is that they will be discarded. So much for justice. The departmental heads are not called to account for this disaster. Our courts have, for some time now, been grinding ever more to a halt because of the incompetence and disorganization of the laboratories that should be there to assist them. Morale at the police laboratories is low and the good scientists who are still there would leave if any other opportunities cross their path. Recently I became aware of a delay of 3 years in obtaining a post mortem report from the Tygerberg forensic department. This is just not good enough. I have not yet started on the disaster that is coming our way when the productive farms are taken and given to persons who cannot even use them for a proper subsistence, let alone a high technology productive farm to feed South Africa. There is only one way to stop the rot before it destroys the entire country. The government must stop the insane racist and aggressively affirmative policies that it has put in place. Corruption should be rooted out tooth and nail. All the available talent should be used in getting this country back on track. Stop the centralist interference in every aspect of our lives. It is not for the government to decide as to whether I may open a medical practice where so ever I wish. All that will happen is that the available source of doctors will dwindle as they head for greener pastures. The collective that have brought us to this pass will be blissfully prepared to blame it on the racist government. They are right there about the racism but it is their own racist policies that have brought us to the brink and not those of the previous dispensation. Education and security must take priority in government policies and non-performing ANC appointees should be kicked out forthwith. The business of suspension on full pay is an inducement to under-perform. Zuma is a national embarrassment is so many ways that it would be impossible to list them in the limited space at my disposal. However, his exuberant fecundity is the least of the issues. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v4V13oy0cq-oN9IGpLjaEKqkVSDVi8TOSlXQuJILr0jpIl37sXLfeL4RmpNGK7GRtll_Mueeah5mXbGqfIKwCZlMNY1eWIg7Pn3mJanXguaabdqPibRtgIdTlpF3QLL5AdGqh2sw_IJl/s1600-h/zumatoilet.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IxMahEzLHBiJ3oC3YfdFOOzDvy4ZI84e_cPlx4sXny_PYR2IqEj_f4tDuKZgAZDJPPqowFyEVO2HIdvVTlG0pUS1UuBqONQWAKH-79bg7tIcr9QNZqDvEz8kt6PoYv4P0iEyeRCiRj6T/s1600-h/zumastink.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441504303299291330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IxMahEzLHBiJ3oC3YfdFOOzDvy4ZI84e_cPlx4sXny_PYR2IqEj_f4tDuKZgAZDJPPqowFyEVO2HIdvVTlG0pUS1UuBqONQWAKH-79bg7tIcr9QNZqDvEz8kt6PoYv4P0iEyeRCiRj6T/s400/zumastink.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>My primary problem with Zuma is his lack of appreciation for anything other than immediate gratification without appreciation for the consequences. He says what he feels the audience wants to hear, without a jot of sincerity or any intention to perform. The appointment of Jon Qwelane as ambassador to Uganda sends the wrong message. Why send an openly homophobic man to a country where this lately achieved tolerance is under severe threat? Why appoint Menzi Simelani to his present position? The man is constitutionally and experientially unsuited to the job and in any event it kicks the notion of separation of power (enshrined in our constitution) in the teeth. One is left with the only rational conclusion that Zuma wants a pal who will not come after him in the little matter of corruption that seems to follow him like a black cloud. For a man who publicly demanded his day in court, he has gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid it. The disgraceful release on parole of Shaik is a slap in the face to our already foundering justice system. The only sense in which he was dying, was he was dying to get out and shop. Shame on you! It is high time, Mr Zuma, that you stop your philandering long enough to see that your party is systematically destroying this country. As a group, the ANC hierarchy is as racist and as corrupt as the Nationalists. History will judge you harshly. And by the way, we do not need aircraft (that nobody can fly) and corvettes to sit and rust in Simon’s Town, above education, policing and health. Maybe I could leave you as I started with two quotes from Martin Luther King: “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity”. And finally, ”A riot is at the bottom, the language of the unheard”. Dr Klatzow is an independent forensic consultant.

Where the hell are we going?

Meltdown the inevitable result of ANC policies Dr. David Klatzow T he ANC led alliance came to power with many stated and lofty ideals. The...

9:44 AM

'World Cup in SA a big mistake'

World football supremo Joseph Blatter made a big mistake when South Africa was elected host of the 2010 World Cup, Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness was quoted as saying. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bh8PU2g4CrvhWlsfV5t34ljYoBALcMntx_hVIMi09luePAttS9PMcN9IrXfGhezqf_tzURm1qesaBWXKtU06WzsYXuK5NsDEI0fOYLebKEt1eNe6xUYgh5ym_uYLirLDGflUPOAa10va/s1600-h/Blatter-001.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431540206466313202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bh8PU2g4CrvhWlsfV5t34ljYoBALcMntx_hVIMi09luePAttS9PMcN9IrXfGhezqf_tzURm1qesaBWXKtU06WzsYXuK5NsDEI0fOYLebKEt1eNe6xUYgh5ym_uYLirLDGflUPOAa10va/s400/Blatter-001.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" /></a>Hoeness told the local Muenchner Merkur daily that he will not travel to the June 11-July 11 tournament which faces new security concerns and low ticket sales. "I was never a friend of a World Cup in South Africa and Africa as long is the security issue is not 100 percent solved," Hoeness said. "Mr Blatter had to have his way, I always considered it wrong. "Now you have to make the best out of it (but) I am convinced that deep down Mr Blatter has realised that giving the World Cup to South Africa was one of the biggest wrong decisions he ever made." Security has always been a key issue around the World Cup, but it was raised again after three men died earlier this month when gunmen attacked the Togo team at the African Cup of Nations in Angola. However, South African officials insisted that everyone will be safe at the World Cup. Poor ticket sales for the World Cup have also been reported, with a news conference on the issue scheduled for later on Wednesday in Johannesburg.

'World Cup in SA a big mistake'

World football supremo Joseph Blatter made a big mistake when South Africa was elected host of the 2010 World Cup, Bayern Munich president U...

11:06 AM

Security Facts - South Africa

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428929526577575778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiKfeYcHzUALh31kAfrVWrVMWihFeSoCNFENsHsFMGSPxH-VgVO_v55Ke-5Y-Yv3AHHngHkvZjHESn_txBA2KBDJocKu6GM71vaGuE8P07vMZZWxV3SCdiGF7KS4r1TtLiJXjDT_coARd/s400/Crime%2520Crime%2520Statistics.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 385px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <ul><li>During 2008/2009 a total of 72,194 (59.5%) of all aggravated robberies were street/public robberies. In 38% of street robberies, knives were used. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428938860945934498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi63G9lsRw6TiMJ3NEvLMraFNZGYulUr4XIDYpD-w1a6o8PaLudIVGWc6PHcRkisk17DPRrT0au8HCktT7GDpRuiUKYBidJMr1MQpoL_yWcGdknWDQ5AqMpzQxkEH8Km8oF0anIY5cmfKL/s400/crime-killed.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></li><li>Knives and other sharp objects were the most common instruments used to kill victims (52,2%), followed by firearms (28,8%) and blunt objects (12,7%) according to a new analysis of a representative sample of 1 348 murder dockets linked to cases reported nationally over the period 2007/2008. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428929545606032802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLYYYII_lJEmjQIeS1TL0voQMOb3Jgnv1OGXus_rPCPacZBc8WmXbXgOUSl_UPy3g2LUyZAEcfMo_W4s5wEZSgdT4E8-0UXHMNVTl5f1FfA9OMwq5CKbDdEFhkbsWeck_SLlwvsnqxR8o/s400/crimes-10million.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></li><li>During 2008/2009 a total of 2,098,229 (approximately 2,1 million) serious crime cases were registered in the RSA </li></ul><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428938867055210946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkR8pQPkeZlgZze3uY1crA8qYOD6krRxtfRv_bOwlQgjAamFujmU3B0nLJ6QuH3Zyngti88Sb_vbE33_N2SgR2fB6e23wBJAN7ZIf48CJp5XeSbBeMzr6wwSSv4JU10xE45xPOIZxX7XCX/s400/AfrikanerSoccerFanGenocide_DnSA_480.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><ul><li>Of the approximately 2,1 million cases, roughly 686,120 (32.7%) were contact crimes and 551,000 (26.3%) were other serious crimes. </li></ul><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428929535321108242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHb_bbrX24Tq5Y_usok-EFCgfIeP8W3iLzraMEM0xoOQ39X6l86FCJxPeb31RFFOIJiuDDaC-b8K40vKLGArznDNyYVYM21zmuOPP9lcX4De8nxIUr46SANgzgagyQOmKt1f9OdNn3HJq/s400/crime_sa_reality.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Source: <a href="http://www.protektorvest.com/res/2_crime_situation_sa.pdf" target="_blank">View the official "Crime Situation South Africa" PDF</a> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428929533359569746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Sd7GqVf5lPeM4wNa_e8skAc0PWeqyeS1b69Sx303YyDM7FLuVVXe3EYQSlIGz0dAq-u9g6HxNLXcJjOqAjO7UPNu8n7jFkZltp7hIx7QDkY39tEESZQFg8GBHp9CuMXKijoAdBylocMI/s400/crime_2010_soccer_world_cup.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />

Security Facts - South Africa

During 2008/2009 a total of 72,194 (59.5%) of all aggravated robberies were street/public robberies. In 38% of street robberies, knives wer...

12:44 PM

Government warns World Cup stab vests useless against taxi fenders

A knife-proof vest being marketed to British tourists as a must-have item at the 2010 World Cup has been slammed by the South African government, which says it is completely pointless as most tourists killed will either be shot or run over by taxis. However, the country has recommitted itself to killing as few tourists as possible. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE7s7VZQmfc0IXFXhYnE7fxJQQYaT_QNapHXX4Y_dTyd7TMDfyyA4afwQa5CehzlOQ_zsKv2dkgHKye7PhC348i0bEXjjuWRaLrkd8dnElWJ0vd1o4TTn85JxE4aBwKUFliKElkHZTj-8/s1600-h/EnglandFront.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428921751894545586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE7s7VZQmfc0IXFXhYnE7fxJQQYaT_QNapHXX4Y_dTyd7TMDfyyA4afwQa5CehzlOQ_zsKv2dkgHKye7PhC348i0bEXjjuWRaLrkd8dnElWJ0vd1o4TTn85JxE4aBwKUFliKElkHZTj-8/s400/EnglandFront.gif" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 192px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 192px" /></a>According to the BBC, the so-called stab vests are being marketed in the United Kingdom as essential security wear for the 2010 World Cup and cost up to $70. However, this morning the South African government condemned the armoured items, describing them as alarmist, reactionary and discriminatory against people who earn a living through knife crime. But, said spokesman Whiplash Mahlangu, the real outrage was how ineffective the vests would be in keeping tourists alive. "We urge our visitors to remember that of the 1,500 South Africans who are murdered and the 1,100 who are killed on our roads every month, only a tiny minority succumb to knife wounds," said Mahlangu. He added that while the usual 2,600 locals would be killed during the World Cup, South Africa was committed to killing as few international visitors as possible. "If we can keep it down to around one percent of the South African average, that is 26 tourists, we'll consider that a job well done," said Mahlangu. But, he said, visitors would have to accept that stab vests would "not be of optimum utility in an average hail of gunfire from an average assault rifle, or against the earnest advances of a Toyota Hilux's front fender". He asked both South Africans and foreign tourists to remain positive about the World Cup. "The world is coming," he said. "The important thing to remember is that of the 500,000 guests coming to our shores, 499,974 will be going home alive. "Ultimately football will be the winner." hayibo.com

Government warns World Cup stab vests useless against taxi fenders

A knife-proof vest being marketed to British tourists as a must-have item at the 2010 World Cup has been slammed by the South African govern...

11:55 AM

Terror threat warning to World Cup

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVFjab73EhG8erpJnVVRZ83FXtD21UWOxJuf4M3pt3DJ3qvMmeflk4ZH8A34vp0SPo14bQ9IJJHsxlBuyItg9GDiAXqKFfCQNd3Zgz6emN93g-reVRwQMEvXgktyuUjDtHZRuHjUNHc2B/s1600-h/2010+soccer+bomb.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427473264581764898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVFjab73EhG8erpJnVVRZ83FXtD21UWOxJuf4M3pt3DJ3qvMmeflk4ZH8A34vp0SPo14bQ9IJJHsxlBuyItg9GDiAXqKFfCQNd3Zgz6emN93g-reVRwQMEvXgktyuUjDtHZRuHjUNHc2B/s200/2010+soccer+bomb.bmp" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 185px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96ckcb500TGuk1_MeGw485N9BTryj3CRZEWvYSvTREBaVGHm91aBe0T97QQy6oy5dTleFNOBsUZBrK4kB8HquocsJ64k9_DmesSUHrp3dfY_PORsKHEBbaWVywucVAjG21Lnn4_iovD8c/s1600-h/2010+WCS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427475358681924642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96ckcb500TGuk1_MeGw485N9BTryj3CRZEWvYSvTREBaVGHm91aBe0T97QQy6oy5dTleFNOBsUZBrK4kB8HquocsJ64k9_DmesSUHrp3dfY_PORsKHEBbaWVywucVAjG21Lnn4_iovD8c/s200/2010+WCS.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" /></a> <a class="headlines" href="http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=156040&sn=Detail">On terrorism and </a><a class="headlines" href="http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=156040&sn=Detail">the world cup</a> <a class="state-published visualIconPadding url" href="http://www.sairr.org.za/sairr-today/sairr-today-how-vulnerable-is-south-africa2019s-soccer-world-cup-to-a-major-terrorist-attack-14th-january-2009/">How vulnerable is South Africa’s soccer World Cup to a major terrorist attack? - 14th January 2009</a> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427452003252843730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiix5n5PFdwFtkBtaMW9QP0EyY4LqT2VU8W3No1hxpTVYxcvPahR6P_qQ9rylhlgExtGXPoBCXymZtjprGK2SZz_2TgDin-E5i-SowfpBAXFMCUHc_GbzYyrVjsJMxGarobWtGgYHtgV3E4/s400/s-o-c-c-e-r.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />A SERIOUS al-Qaeda terror threat may be facing the World Cup, but South Africa's security forces have proven themselves to be capable of securing major events, according to a think-tank, the South African Institute of Race Relations. The institute's deputy CEO, Frans Cronje, in his report on January 15 2010: “<a href="http://www.sairr.org.za/sairr-today/sairr-today-how-vulnerable-is-south-africa2019s-soccer-world-cup-to-a-major-terrorist-attack-14th-january-2009/" target="_blank">Terror Threat to WC2010 very real’</a> warns that the terror risk facing South Africa doesn't originate from "small and isolated rebel and political groups", but could be one that is a lot more serious. This warning comes soon after a terror attack last week on the Togolese soccer team in Angola's Cabinda region, in which three people were killed. A separatist group has since claimed responsibility and some of its members were arrested this week. Government leaders, including President Jacob Zuma, were quick to say the incident would not affect South Africa's hosting of the June event. The institute warned, however, that an al-Qaeda-aligned movement might want to use the soccer tournament as a "platform" upon which to launch a "massive strike" against a Western target in South Africa. "All the circumstances that would make a terror attack possible and attractive to al-Qaeda converge very neatly around the World Cup in South Africa," Cronje said. Risks such as crime, a shortage of accommodation and weak transport infrastructure would not adversely affect the tournament, he said. Terrorism is, however, not something over which the government could exercise any control, he said. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTs0nPgq8GMY1j5iS69xT1nbidz0reUv-1gJM1AA9iFhDPJ1JLbj4AX7iPB0jLsUNh-NPwq7VU5TrN2iOh5dpc61cCUlCbQx1xrZkpRR4Tk1_Sfopruy8Ff6vKdf9P9MURuu5ol9_2ijY/s1600-h/2010+WCS.jpg"></a> "In addition, one of the most effective assets that any terrorist group can possess is to convince its next target that they are no longer at risk," Cronje warned.

Terror threat warning to World Cup

On terrorism and the world cup How vulnerable is South Africa’s soccer World Cup to a major terrorist attack? - 14th January 2009 A SERIOUS ...

12:39 PM

Armed security guards, bulletproof vests for Germany's 2010 World Cup players

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9-F_StYyTN5z4QnqtpPDlZfBEVDWfTouLWPamjMVtqGetzx_jKIdyoCi4Upxl5GCJiUUnY5hGrH5qjeqcIxHOX_7zzIZY65a8yVthuEZSccOc8pb8UVLl363Lxop9bQ0Cp_3e0J-154/s1600-h/soccer-hijack.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395315305717516290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9-F_StYyTN5z4QnqtpPDlZfBEVDWfTouLWPamjMVtqGetzx_jKIdyoCi4Upxl5GCJiUUnY5hGrH5qjeqcIxHOX_7zzIZY65a8yVthuEZSccOc8pb8UVLl363Lxop9bQ0Cp_3e0J-154/s400/soccer-hijack.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px" /></a> Germany's 2010 World Cup stars were reportedly warned on Wednesday to expect to wear bulletproof vests if they venture away from the team hotel at next year's tournament in South Africa. The head of Leverkusen-based security firm BaySecur, which looks after the German Football Federation (DFB) and their guests when the national team plays away from Germany, says their stars like Michael Ballack must take extra care in South Africa. BaySecur is one of the firms expected to be employed by the DFB while the team is involved in the tournament, which runs from June 11 until July 11 when the final will be held at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium. "The possibility for the players of moving outside of the hotel boundaries should be kept to a minimum," BaySecur's Guenter Schnelle told German magazine Sport-Bild. "Otherwise there must be a full escort: armed security guards and bulletproof vests for the players." However, the Star on Thursday reported that it had contacted Schnelle on Wednesday, and he claimed the journalist who wrote the article had "invented" the comments. "He denied ever discussing bulletproof vests and bodyguards with the journalists and said he had been dragged over the coals for what emerged in the media," the Star reported. According to Business Day, "Treasurer of the German Football Federation and the CEO of Germany's 2006 Fifa World Cup organising committee Horst R Schmidt said in a statement forwarded by South Africa's local organising committee that the BaySecur spokesperson was not speaking on behalf of the DFB. The DFB is already looking to step up security around the team hotel in Pretoria for the World Cup. Because of high crime rates in the South Africa, the DFB are taking no risks with security, says their security boss Helmut Spahn, and are looking to recruit 20 extra security guards for the team's stay at their five-star accommodation. Private bodyguards will protect the players both within and around the Velmore Grande hotel in Gauteng. "We will probably use more personnel than we would normally have," said Spahn, who will spend four days in South Africa next week looking at security arrangements. "We need to first of all get an idea of what security arrangements are already in place for both the team and the media. "Then we will decide then whether to improve the security measures or whether they are sufficient." According to Spahn, there is little chance the DFB will rely only on local security guards in South Africa and Germany's federal police force is already in discussions with the DFB on the issue.

Armed security guards, bulletproof vests for Germany's 2010 World Cup players

Germany's 2010 World Cup stars were reportedly warned on Wednesday to expect to wear bulletproof vests if they venture away from the tea...

11:41 PM

Zuma has made little progress, says Sacci

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPE4qXPvpNYEZUVlEGN39Y80wE_BrOvWsOwpAk-Oe5K5j8bebdn05WATGDprjccEYNoXeGEQb33x7CZ3bIVlsk1qf2x4QlU-HFD1kdOL8FgZzBZuuwxP1zkkwnFEfkpOh_LHIHLBQ6fY/s1600-h/zuma+political+promises.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370691713966478738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPE4qXPvpNYEZUVlEGN39Y80wE_BrOvWsOwpAk-Oe5K5j8bebdn05WATGDprjccEYNoXeGEQb33x7CZ3bIVlsk1qf2x4QlU-HFD1kdOL8FgZzBZuuwxP1zkkwnFEfkpOh_LHIHLBQ6fY/s400/zuma+political+promises.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px" /></a> President Jacob Zuma had made little progress with crime, security and labour issues in his first 100 days in office, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) said on Friday. Sacci chief executive Neren Rau said the country had felt the increased belligerence on the part of labour, violence over service delivery and a sharp increase in violent cash-in-transit heists in the period. Zuma will mark his first 100 days in power tomorrow. "The level of criminal activity currently experienced is usually associated with the festive season but seems to have been drawn forward, possibly as a consequence of economic hardship," said Rau. He said the government would be expected to develop an urgent response to the emerging trend over the next weeks. "The appointment of the new police commissioner and the potential appointment of an operations officer in the police service, coupled with new ministerial leadership, would be expected to yield new, creative approaches to the crime." Rau said the chamber's assessment of the policy environment in the period leading up to the April elections had provided a sound benchmark for comparison of the developments in Zuma's first 100 days. He said the annual "strike season" of labour unions had reached record highs this year and had come at a significant cost to the economy if one considered the labour days lost . These factors were substantially harming confidence in the business environment. Regarding infrastructure, Rau said the rating of this focus area remained "tentative" as business awaited the direct benefits of the infrastructure improvement programmes. "The new government declared its support for ongoing infrastructure projects and committed itself not only to strengthening existing projects but to extending them to rural communities. These projects include the roads upgrade, Bus Rapid Transport system, construction of houses, schools, and water and sanitation infrastructure," said Rau. He added that many of these development projects had caused "hardship" to both business and consumers until their completion. Cost pressures in the business environment had been created by the recent adjustments in certain administered prices although these could also be viewed as contributing to the maintenance of infrastructure, which serviced that environment. "Government's infrastructure programmes and expenditure are crucial in leading the economy through the crisis," said Rau. <a href="http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=552&fArticleId=5125598">Business Report </a>

Zuma has made little progress, says Sacci

President Jacob Zuma had made little progress with crime, security and labour issues in his first 100 days in office, the SA Chamber of Com...

11:12 AM

Our man Bheki - “township tsotsi” “thug” and “gangster”

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgHJCa8whyphenhyphen2xycpqfQho4Jze9Rtm7eMimvc5PYwco_1spX4AQ_xYrhvEHq-6HmdGE05S00Hzm4bbKeqXgHFWZQO2ZwERTBe1uV2lBFiS9Y0xnAI5Oxr8sYejJFiRSXuvL338NGzkxe48/s1600-h/Cele-mthethwa-zuma.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365282760360808866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgHJCa8whyphenhyphen2xycpqfQho4Jze9Rtm7eMimvc5PYwco_1spX4AQ_xYrhvEHq-6HmdGE05S00Hzm4bbKeqXgHFWZQO2ZwERTBe1uV2lBFiS9Y0xnAI5Oxr8sYejJFiRSXuvL338NGzkxe48/s400/Cele-mthethwa-zuma.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" /></a> <a class="title_lk_cs" href="http://iafrica.com/news/features/1834640.htm">Look who's talking...</a>KwaZulu-Natal MEC Bheki Cele, known for his flashy suits and, well, interesting hats, is the country's new national police commissioner. Jacob Zuma, Nathi Mthethwa and Bheki Cele.But who exactly is our new top cop, a man who has even been described as a township tsotsi? Well, with Cele renowned in media circles for speaking his mind, what better way to describe the former Robben Island inmate than to examine a selection of his more captivating quotes... Whether reminding Archbishop Desmond Tutu that he is not a "vice Jesus Christ" or branding SA Roadlink busses "killing machines" and "coffins on wheels" (fair enough there, really), Cele seems to have a strong opinion on pretty much everything. Check out our pick of his best below… "All of a sudden there is a hullabaloo about blue lights. I suggest it is because some people are aware that in the blue light car today, there is a darkie inside there." Cele somehow brings race in the equation after complaints about reckless VIP cops. "They are just troublesome and everything about them stinks. Their owners' attitudes stink, their buses stink and their compliance [with labour laws] stink." This time the former teacher takes aim at the notorious SA Roadlink. "Deadly force... Dead means you will die, that's what it means. So I never used any extra word than what it is in the law." Cele explains the concept of death in response to a question about a possible 'shoot-to-kill' approach to his new position. "I am just concerned that criminals are using xenophobia as an excuse to commit crimes... Why else would they steal the foreigners' belongings? If you want someone to leave, you just tell them and then watch them leave... Why does one have to chase them and steal their goods?" Cele seemed to be asking all the wrong questions during the xenophobic attacks. "He is a self-made, arrogant, non-accountable individual who purports to be a good citizen and I will dare to argue that he is also a racist." Yip, our man Bheki whips out the race card again and lambastes an anonymous motorist who used his cellphone to film Cele's speeding convoy. "The driver of that bus was not in any state to drive because he had been turned into a complete zombie as he had driven from Johannesburg to Cape Town and while in Cape Town, he was told to drive to Durban." Cele takes SA Roadlink to task after yet another fatal accident. "Well, cowboys never cry... We need to be tough. You can't be soft and you can't be moving around kissing crime. You need to be tough because you're dealing with tough guys." Cele seems to lap up the media attention at his unveiling as the new national police commissioner. So, has President Jacob Zuma erred by selecting a politician rather than a policeman for this crucial job? Only time will tell. Source - iafrica.com

Our man Bheki - “township tsotsi” “thug” and “gangster”

Look who's talking... KwaZulu-Natal MEC Bheki Cele, known for his flashy suits and, well, interesting hats, is the country's new na...

1:28 AM

ANC nepotism blamed for crisis

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkjxMb_D4RTPSn6j0XRKb2GuY3JdQpcQ80fMpte6RE__vCBpv9F1vrmP9RJXqqazxiPewxivb2aA_p9fHVIP-BYd0S-OfofLIlr3PKGviV6Zd_-a2Rlx9jrjlreJi0O6qlfp-pOT_5rSm/s1600-h/SAPS-01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320544186651603778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkjxMb_D4RTPSn6j0XRKb2GuY3JdQpcQ80fMpte6RE__vCBpv9F1vrmP9RJXqqazxiPewxivb2aA_p9fHVIP-BYd0S-OfofLIlr3PKGviV6Zd_-a2Rlx9jrjlreJi0O6qlfp-pOT_5rSm/s400/SAPS-01.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" /></a>Police are battling to fight crime in South Africa because the ANC had appointed its own people who had no policing skills to positions of authority, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday. The party's safety and security spokesperson, Dianne Kohler- Barnard, said the ANC's policy of deploying cadres in key government jobs had seen skilled security experts replaced by political appointees. She claimed this lay at the heart of the problems in the police service. She told journalists at a briefing at Parliament the government needed to address the problems immediately before the police service collapsed. Kohler-Barnard said critical senior positions in the command chain needed to be filled, detective units beefed up and the backlog of samples at the forensic science laboratories tackled. "At the heart of these problems is the ANC's disastrous cadre deployment policy, which has seen skilled security experts replaced by political appointees. This has triggered a managerial crisis in the police service which has filtered down throughout the service to its junior ranks," said Kohler-Barnard. She said the police's command structure had been left in disarray with national police commissioner Jackie Selebi on special leave pending the finalisation of a corruption probe; two of five divisional commissioner posts vacant and another two divisional commissioners facing internal and criminal investigations. Head of police legal services Lindiwe Mtimkulu was on leave for unspecified reasons, while protection and security services chief Mzondeki Tshabalala was facing charges of negligent and reckless driving. Tshabalala's unit has been in the spotlight after a number of incidents involving VIPs' blue-light convoys and motorists. It was reported this week that a bodyguard of Umsunduzi mayor Zanele Hlatshwayo allegedly spat in the face of a motorist on the N3 highway near Umbumbulu, KwaZulu-Natal. Kohler-Barnard slammed suggestions by Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa that he would only release crime statistics annually. She said this would disadvantage citizens by leaving them in the dark about the extent of crime. "He justifies this on the basis that releasing the statistics before an election might politicise them," she said. "The minister's decision not to release half-year crime statistics means that the most recent available statistics are 13 months out of date." Another worrying factor, said Kohler-Barnard, was the growing number of firearms "lost" by police every year. More than 14 000 police service firearms have gone missing since 2001. Another critical area needing urgent attention was the increase in the number of missing dockets. Kohler-Barnard provided police figures that showed the number of dockets that go missing has risen steadily over the past six years. The government needed a back-up system of scanning dockets to guard against being lost or stolen. Backlogs at the country's forensic science laboratories contributed to the delay in the finalisation of criminal cases. Kohler-Barnard said the backlog of 20 000 samples had a severe impact on the conviction rate. "We have SAPS (members) blundering on crime scenes. I will use a phrase used by one private investigator that 'they (the police) rape crime scenes'," said the DA politician, suggesting that a solution for government would be to improve its retention policies to avoid experienced staff being poached by the private sector.

ANC nepotism blamed for crisis

Police are battling to fight crime in South Africa because the ANC had appointed its own people who had no policing skills to positions of a...

11:50 AM

R121-m spent on pvt security at South Africa's police stations

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXJkdBd5WJXwTJ1mWkWNAKTVxJIxZk_xa0mC1dzYvloRs_yo_fJdrNU3sy36WdfadLPs57Js2RxudQ8JrJHc9rq0SkbvwTlRFJWo8pPWIbhllT41VE3EI8qr9zqnIXW3bWnKX4jo6Dkw/s1600-h/fidelity+security.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313029174006444754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXJkdBd5WJXwTJ1mWkWNAKTVxJIxZk_xa0mC1dzYvloRs_yo_fJdrNU3sy36WdfadLPs57Js2RxudQ8JrJHc9rq0SkbvwTlRFJWo8pPWIbhllT41VE3EI8qr9zqnIXW3bWnKX4jo6Dkw/s400/fidelity+security.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px" /></a>More than R121-million was spent on private security guards to keep the country's police stations safe in 2008, and these contracts are set to continue. This is because private guards are cheaper and the government does not have to worry about dealing with employment issues when contracting private firms, Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in answer to a parliamentary question by DA MP Ryno King. Fifteen firms are employed on a contractual basis to provide security at the country's 1 000-odd police stations. Protea Security Services, which costs the state more than R2-million a month, and Khulani Fidelity Group Services, at R1,9-million a month, were the two biggest security service providers to the police last year. Mthethwa said the use of private security guards offered many advantages. "A comparative analysis showed that it is more cost effective to outsource this type of service than to use trained police officials," he said. Using private security guards also freed up police officers to do their work. Private security guards were contractually obliged to replace their employees when they are sick or on holiday, so there were never any staff shortages, Mthethwa said. When any losses occurred, the private security company was held responsible, he noted. <a href="http://www.praag.co.uk/news/southern-africa/225-over-8000-saps-firearms-missing.html" title="Over 8000 SAPS Firearms Missing">Over 8000 SAPS Firearms Missing</a> Mthethwa also revealed that 8 295 police pistols, rifles, shotguns and revolvers were either lost or stolen in the past three years. Of these, only 892 were recovered. See related post on I Luv SA - Link: <a href="http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2484891,00.html">We are just so screwed!</a> KwaZulu-Natal has the highest number of stolen police firearms, with more than 90 reported stolen, most of them from headquarters. Mthethwa also revealed that 15 311 firearms were owned by municipalities across the country and more than 1 300 of these were voluntarily handed in for destruction after the new firearms control legislation came into effect. Police inspections had also revealed that some municipalities were irresponsible with their firearms. In the King Sabata Dalindyebo (Mthatha) local municipality in the Eastern Cape, no inventory was kept for firearms and only two out of the 163 employees had the relevant qualifications to handle firearms. Managers in the Lesedi local municipality in Heidelberg, Gauteng, did not know that one of the municipality's guns was missing until a police inspection was done. Alarmingly, many municipal employees who handled firearms were not certified to do so. In an answer to another question by DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard, Mthethwa revealed that the backlogs at forensic science laboratories totalled more than 11 750 samples by the end of January. Most of the backlogs were in chemistry in the Western Cape, with 9 630 samples still waiting to be analysed. Chemistry analyses are normally done in drug and arson cases. The average waiting time for samples to be analysed was 68 days, with biology samples - involving bloodstains and DNA analysis - taking as long as 130 days, even though the total backlog was relatively small at 576 samples. There are 354 staff members currently trained to deal with the analyses. More than 1 000 documents were still waiting to be analysed. Forensics expert Dr David Klatzow on Friday questioned Mthethwa's statistics, saying the backlog of chemistry samples in the Western Cape was "in excess of 18 000". He said the province started falling behind with its samples two years ago at a rate of about 500 a month. "I am well aware that Mthethwa is wedded to the truth, but I would like to know how long they have been living apart," he said. Deputy Justice Minister Johnny de Lange in 2008 announced steps to deal with backlogs such as these which hold up court cases and affect the administration of justice.

R121-m spent on pvt security at South Africa's police stations

More than R121-million was spent on private security guards to keep the country's police stations safe in 2008, and these contracts are ...

5:51 AM

South Africa's worst ministers

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYy3nWgsx-9cRB_BQ2P34scdfCShGMPZXIhKOMw8goqqweuJEDbRFWP5mNtZDx1GNU5w38Ya7_yuAIFeMsoOIgqLx5Lei5NI03Tj7ZXqGijpV4-3V65nS__-QzAw8bFRBo01hziSYtsnU/s1600-h/A_N_C_Cabinet.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311675898824976018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYy3nWgsx-9cRB_BQ2P34scdfCShGMPZXIhKOMw8goqqweuJEDbRFWP5mNtZDx1GNU5w38Ya7_yuAIFeMsoOIgqLx5Lei5NI03Tj7ZXqGijpV4-3V65nS__-QzAw8bFRBo01hziSYtsnU/s400/A_N_C_Cabinet.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" /></a>The ANC (think: Alcoholics, Nepotism, Cronies) Cabinet is all about "A better life for all". More particularly, a better life for all those who happen to be sitting in Parliament... The Cabinet is littered with underperforming ministers who have been in office for over four years and each year they fail to pull up their socks. As the government is obviously oblivious to these inadequacies, here is a list of the worst ministers to help point them in the right direction. These ministers have failed to do their jobs and should be 'recalled' from office. Lulu Xingwana Position: Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs In power since: 2004 Previously: Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy Struggle cred: Member of UDF Connections: None Education: Bachelor of Science, Diploma of Econ Principles, Diploma of Rural Development Reason for recall: Staff favouritism and fiddling the numbers Xingwana made headlines in March last year when she was accused of breaking up a marriage after she allegedly had an affair with one of her senior officials Phil Mohlahlane. The wife of the official wanted R100 000 in damages, but Xingwana denied the allegations. It is alleged that Xingwana protected Mohlahlane from the consequences of acts of misconduct which he committed at work and she gave him "undue privileges" including overseas trips and "positions of undue power". Xingwana was accused in July of meddling with the running of the Land Bank. She fired the Land Bank's chairperson Themba Langa who was believed to have been working hard to turn the bank around following a series of scandals relating to the misappropriation of funds. Langa was dismissed for disregarding a collective decision of the board and because of "unilateral decision making". She also squashed findings of forensic audits into the irregularities at the bank. Following all these shenanigans, Xingwana was removed from the business affairs of the Land Bank and Trevor Manuel took over. But she still runs the Department of Agriculture. Charles Nqakula Position: Defence Minister In power since: 2002 Previously: Minister of Safety and Security Struggle cred: Exiled from 1976 to 1981, underground operative for the ANC, member of Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Connections: Married to Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (Home Affairs) Education: Matric Reason for recall: Promoting emigration As Minister of Safety and Security (up until October 2008) Charles Nqakula's job was to protect the citizens of South Africa. Instead of doing that he became fed up and told those who were "whining" about high crime levels to just go to Australia. Many people took offence to his statement because, as tax payers and voters they have every right to complain when they are dissatisfied. His comments were highly insensitive to the victims of crime. Nqakula refused to step down when he came under fire as the rate of violent crime increased. In 2007-2008 house robberies increased by 13.5 percent. Robberies at business premises rocketed by 47.4 percent and truck hijackings went up by 39.6 percent. When President Kgalema Motlanthe came into power he removed Nqakula from the portfolio of safety and security and appointed him as the defence minister. Luckily, South Africans have spread so far and wide, that an attack on our country (from the outside, at any rate) doesn't seem imminent. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Position: Home Affairs Minister In power since: 2004 Previously: Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Struggle cred: Activist (political military structures) Connections: Married to Charles Nqakula (Defence) Education: Diploma in Project Management, Diploma in Primary Teaching Reason for recall: Making it harder for South Africans to travel Home Affairs has to be the worst department ever. If they are not taking the whole year to issue an identity document (yes, one), they are failing refugees. Thousands of refugees have been sleeping outside the Lindela offices due to Mapisa-Nqakula's department's incompetence. South Africans are now required to obtain a visa in order to visit the UK. This is because there were concerns from the UK that South Africa was being used as a transit point by al-Qaeda representatives to gain entry into that country. Fraudulent South African passports were confiscated during anti-terror raids. Home Affairs was warned six months ago to improve their passport security system or face new visa requirements, as usual the department did nothing. As a result, South Africans are now required to obtain visas to visit the UK. The move will affect 420 000 South Africans who enter Britain every year. Naledi Pandor Position: Education Minister In power since: 2004 Previously: Chancellor at Cape Technikon Struggle cred: Exiled Connections: None Education: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Certificate in Education, Certificate of Civil Engineering Reason for recall: More than 200 000 students failed matric in 2008 Naledi Pandor's department is chaotic. Since Pandor took office, the matric results have declined every year. In 2005 the pass rate declined to 68.3 percent compared to 70.7 percent the previous year. Things went from bad to worse, in 2006 the pass rate dropped to 66.5 percent and it has been declining ever since, last year's pass rate was just 62.5 percent. To make matters worse the department failed to release the 2008 matric results in time and many students could not register for higher learning as they were left in limbo. OBE has not done well, although, admittedly, you cannot judge an education system on its first year. The level of literacy in this country is very low despite the huge amounts of money that the government keeps on pumping into the department. The level of violence in schools is alarming. Learners are frequently shot or stabbed on school premises. According to Centre of Justice and Crime Prevention 40 percent of educators do not feel safe in their schools while teaching. They also revealed that 20 percent of students were victims of some form of violence inside their schools. Fair enough, she isn't her department, but Pandor is responsible for running the department. That makes her accountable. Poor leadership and an inability to realise a vision for the department is reason enough to 'recall' her. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang Position: Minister in the Presidency In power since: 1999 Previously: Health Minister Struggle cred: Responsible for the health and well-being of ANC militants whilst in exile Connections: Married to Mendi Msimang (former ANC treasurer) Education: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Public Health, MD, Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Reason for recall: She's Manto When she was the Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang failed her department dismally — if it were up to her, all the HIV positive people would be stuffing themselves with beetroot, garlic and the African potato. The 'Beetroot minister' promoted vegetables over ARVs. There were calls for her to step down over incompetency, which she (and her buddy Thabo) ignored completely. In 2007 Msimang received a liver transplant and it was revealed that chronic alcoholism was the real reason why she needed a new liver. It also emerged that in the 70s she was convicted of theft at an Athlone Hospital in Botswana. She was found guilty of stealing a patient's watch, hospital blankets, linen and heaters. When President Kgalema Motlanthe took over from Thabo Mbeki (who was accused of protecting Msimang) he did the noble thing by removing her. She was appointed as the Minister in the Presidency. We are still trying to figure out what exactly the Minister of the Presidency does. President Motlanthe recently said: "The ANC never gives up on anyone." That may just explain the Manto phenomenon. So what do we have to look forward to in Jacob Zuma's Cabinet? Schabir Shaik for finance? Winnie Madikizela-Mandela for Social Welfare? Carl Niehaus for the Communication Department? And Julius Malema for... well... pretty much everything else.

South Africa's worst ministers

The ANC (think: Alcoholics, Nepotism, Cronies) Cabinet is all about "A better life for all". More particularly, a better life for ...

2:26 PM

Blue-light terror on the highway

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEhyphenhyphenGUhVykzC36gkjtfm439vqYP_EsRBij1lXMU8hNehwxcRbKG6uuxQC-APccnGDKqHHBs2HQfUCvTH09uBYzbYdiaVDqVqEQBoYYLx6eiiS7-DlxeBFZv6dJ80aGyu5TVoFUgyYSa8/s1600-h/blue-lights-protection-unit.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307215828115633410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEhyphenhyphenGUhVykzC36gkjtfm439vqYP_EsRBij1lXMU8hNehwxcRbKG6uuxQC-APccnGDKqHHBs2HQfUCvTH09uBYzbYdiaVDqVqEQBoYYLx6eiiS7-DlxeBFZv6dJ80aGyu5TVoFUgyYSa8/s400/blue-lights-protection-unit.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" /></a>Despite a stern warning from police top brass, the blue-light brigade continues to terrorise motorists on Gauteng highways. The latest incident saw a cavalcade of Mercedes Benzes and BMWs try to push a Pretoria woman driver off the road. She was also allegedly threatened with a firearm. Police management have reacted with outrage at the latest incident, barely a week after VIP Unit national commander Mzondeki Tshabalala issued a directive with strict guidelines for the use of blue emergency lights, warning of retribution for those who failed to adhere to the rules. On Tuesday afternoon shortly after 3pm attorney Kim Lovegrove was travelling along the N1 towards Pretoria after seing a client in Sandton when she saw the blue lights approaching fast in her rearview mirror. Lovegrove told the Pretoria News she could not move over as there was no gap in the adjacent lane and traffic was really busy. Instead she was forced to pick up speed, now travelling above the 120km/h limit. She finally managed to force her way into the next lane, eliciting a furious response from another motorist. The lead VIP car, a black Mercedes Benz, pulled up beside her and made as if to ram her vehicle, she said. Alongside Lovegrove, the passenger and driver of the VIP protection vehicle both hurled profanities at her - "telling me to get the f*** out the way" - before the passenger pulled back his jacket to reveal a holstered gun. "I was shaken. They were brash and very rude," said Lovegrove. She said the second car in the convoy was also a black Mercedes with tinted windows and it was followed by two big black BMWs, all with lights on and travelling at 140 to 160km/h. The VIP Protection Unit, which protects the President, cabinet members, MECs and a host of other dignitaries has repeatedly been cited for abuse of power with motorists at times forced off the road even when the principal was not in the vehicle. In an incident along the N12 last year Chase van der Walt was allegedly shot by an officer when he drove too close to the presidential motorcade. On February 1 this year a vehicle escorting ANC president Jacob Zuma allegedly hit and killed a pedestrian in Ulundi. In November last year a driver for KwaZulu Natal MEC Meshack Radebe was arrested and charged after he allegedly shot out a tyre of a motorist on the N3 highway. The driver is currently facing eight counts of attempted murder and one of malicious damage to property. Last month Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa admitted there were 111 charges faced by members of the VIP Protection Unit, including murder, attempted murder, rape, armed robbery and the abuse of power over the past four years. Over the past five years two members of the unit were dismissed and five suspended. Over the past two weeks Tshabalala has held meetings with the top management of the VIP Protection Unit, bodyguards and drivers, making it clear that the abuse of the blue light will not be tolerated. The DA plans to lay a charge with the Independent Complaints Directorate. They have also called on the immediate dismissal of Tshabalala, describing his recent directive to VIP protectors as "nothing more than window dressing". "Tuesday's incident reveals a simple, tragic truth; that instead of protecting people, officers in the VIP Unit are actively putting lives at risk'," said DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard. Senior Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said the police would not hesitate to institute criminal or disciplinary action against members of the VIP Unit who abused their position. "Our members are not encouraged neither do we condone or tolerate such behaviour by our members across the board in the police," said Naidoo. "I don't want to know who it was or what the vehicle registration is. I am not even interested in who was being transported. It's not important," the superintendent added. The bottom line was that a meeting had been held by Tshabalala to address the matter and had now seemingly been ignored, he said. Related Articles<a href="http://iafrica.com/news/sa/1313095.htm">Deal with VIP driver: FF+</a> <a class="feedlink" href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20090202002539402C683325">Blue-light car blamed as pedestrian killed</a> <a class="feedlink" href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20081121171125319C183460">Zille slams 'blue-light bullies'</a> <a class="feedlink" href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20081119181308128C879349">Scolding for blue-light drivers?</a>

Blue-light terror on the highway

Despite a stern warning from police top brass, the blue-light brigade continues to terrorise motorists on Gauteng highways. The latest incid...

12:58 PM

South Africa P.I.G.