ANNAN: ICC SHOULD ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Former head of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, says he is concerned over efforts by some African countries to portray the International Criminal Court (ICC) as targeting Africa. “I know this is not the case,” he said at the annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture at the University of the Western Cape. The Desmond and Leah Legacy Foundation produces a peace lecture on the occasion of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s birthday. Annan said on too many occasions, Africa has “failed the victims of the worst crimes by neglecting to bring the perpetrators to justice”. He said African countries, where judicial systems are weak and divisions run deep, had provided strong support for the Court. “Let me stress that it is the culture of impunity and individuals who are on trial at the ICC, not Africa,” Annan said.

TUTU TURNS 82, AND THE WORLD CELEBRATES

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu turned 82 to a storm of good wishes on Twitter and in the media. President Jacob Zuma wished Tutu a “joyous occasion”, and said he hoped he would enjoy “good health and a long life so that he can continue contributing to nation building and social cohesion, which he continues to do even in retirement”. Leader of AgangSA, Dr Mamphela Ramphele congratulated Tutu on 82 years of leadership. “You represent the aspirations for the great society we ought to be,” she said. Even the ANCYL said it was “happy for our grandfather who has always stood in defence of human rights and equality for all. We wish him a happy birthday full of happiness and joy”.

AGANG URGES POLICE TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED IN MURDER INVESTIGATION

AgangSA has urged the police to act urgently and “leave no stone unturned” in their investigation into the murder of Nyako Masenya. Masenya was killed when he attended the launch of the party’s branch in Uitkyk, Bochom in Limpopo. The village is AgangSA leader Dr Mamphela Ramphele’s home. “We are helping with investigations, but what we know is that Nyako, who was wearing an AgangSA T-shirt, had taken a break from the meeting to visit the local shop, when the assailant struck,” the party said in a statement. Earlier, Limpopo police refused to confirm the victim was a member of AgangSA but police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said a case of murder had been opened and a man arrested. “

TRANSPORT MINISTER LASHES OUT OVER COWARDLY BILLBOARDS

The transport minister has lashed out at the Democratic Alliance over a series of billboards along Gauteng highways where e-toll gantries are positioned that read, ‘E-tolls. Proudly brought to you by the ANC’. Dipuo Peters said the billboards were “the work of cowards”. Speaking a breakfast briefing hosted by The New Age, Peters said the DA wanted to “focus on one aspect and turn an important infrastructure of the economic hub of South Africa into a gimmick”, Sapa reported. Earlier, DA national spokesman Mmusi Maimane said e-tolls were “conceived under the watch of an ANC minister, supported by an ANC executive in Gauteng, passed into law by an ANC majority Parliament and signed, sealed and delivered by an ANC president”.

E-TOLLING BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR

Transport minister Dipuo Peters has confirmed the implementation of the e-tolling system on Gauteng’s freeways will go live before the end of the year. She said her department would start publicising the tariff structure this week before opening it up to public comment after President Jacob Zuma signed into law the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill. Peters said alternative routes had been created for those opposed to paying the tolls. “The objective of the e-tolling system is to decongest our road networks and I would like to say, they have done a good job,” she said. Sanral CEO Nazir Alli said there has been an increase in the number of people buying e-tags.

ANENE BOOYSEN MURDER TRIAL STARTS, GUARD HEARD SCREAMS

The man accused of raping and murdering Bredasdorp teenager Anene Booysen has been formally charged with her murder. The trial of Johannes Kana started at the Swellendam Circuit Court on Monday, eight months after Booysen’s death at a building site in Bredasdorp in February. The Argus reported the first of the state’s witnesses, security guard Eben Merts, told the court he had been doing his rounds at the construction site when he had heard a scream and found someone lying between two houses. Kana has admitted raping Booysen, and kicking and hitting her, but denies murdering the young woman.

SELEBI: PUBLIC IS SCEPTICAL OVER ‘MEDICAL PAROLE’

The Democratic Alliance says given the degree of public scepticism over medical parole, it is essential that the department of correctional services monitors released criminals to ensure their parole conditions remain valid. The party’s correctional services spokesman, James Selfe, was responding to reports in Beeld that former police commissioner Jackie Selebi was spotted shopping this weekend. Selebi, who was sentenced to 15 years for receiving bribes from a drug dealer, was given medical parole as he was said to have end-stage renal disease and that his condition was terminal. Another well-known convict, Schabir Shaik, was also released on medical parole, but is often seeing playing golf. “There cannot be one law for the politically connected and another for the rest of us,” Selfe said.

GAUTENG EDUCATION PROBES SEX PEST TEACHER

The Gauteng education department has launched an investigation into the teacher at the Hyde Park High School who sent naked photographs of himself to a pupil in his class. “The teacher is currently out on bail,” said department spokesman Gershwin Chuenyane, adding that the teacher had been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. He said the department’s probe would also look in to how the school handled the case. The Star and Eyewitness News earlier reported that the teacher had engaged in a late-night WhatsApp chat with the boy’s mother, thinking it was the learner. DM

Photo: Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu (REUTERS)