African leadership: Black skin, white masks

February 20, 2017, 2:00 pm

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African leadership: Black skin, white masks By Joseph Tobias

Think of the famous "black" Wole Soyinka, Henry Luis Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, African leaders like Alassane Ouattara of Côte d'Ivoire, Joyce Banda of Malawi, Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and others. There is one thing the majority of them have in common. They are all famous because they have been approved by the white power world to be notable "blacks". And this should be cause for serious concern. The icons are named and approved by the forces of oppression. They are commodities in the system of capitalism, and, African people didn't pick them; they were picked for us. Unfortunately, most do not see that very few of them are just representatives. So, they may look African, but it does not mean they are working for Africans. The role is to give the illusion of inclusion.

The likes of Wole Soyinka are tools which are moved into place to give authenticity to whatever beef the West has with Islam, African politicians, homosexuality, etc. They have built up his bag of credentials so that he becomes iconised and sold off as authentic; even if he makes no sense, shows no impartiality, or serves no pan-African purpose. Henry Louis Gates Jr., is just a degraded version of Wole Soyinka located in the politics of the diaspora who is using his dark skin as a tool for bashing African Americans over the head. He is able to say all the things his pay masters wish they could say.

They are tools of control, of seeding agendas directly into the African diaspora, a distraction, which Fanon described as Black Skin, White Mask. Even when they mean well, they are not qualified to speak. So, whichever way you cut it, how did they get to speak so loud? If it is between a real historian with something progressive to say and a diluted confused black historian, they prefer to give the career to the weaker one. So, when African history is being digested after 40-plus years, it still starts with slavery.

And because people need to see "successful" images of them, most of us are desperate to absorb these people as icons. The sad news is most of them are famous because of their loyalty to white power structures. Some of them, namely people like Wole Soyinka have a career of insulting other Africans and as a result he is the West’s go-to to give black approval to everything they need said. You would struggle to see him insult the Eurocentric power structure - only other Africans.

So, the loves (Mandela) and hates (Gaddhafi, Mugabe) of the white world are a reflection of the prejudices and preference of the African world. Because through the influence of the media, the European world has the power to tell African people who their icons should be and who they shouldn’t be.

Meles Zenawi was an oppressive puppet of western imperialism, yet his obituary read out like that of a glorious king. He was called a visionary, a model for all of Africans to follow, a true friend of Zionist Israel, an inspirational spokesman for Africa. Meles was instrumental in giving support for everything the West wanted to do in Africa. Drones, Somali invasion, Africom, Gulf War support, support for Israel etc. Of course the Western papers would call him a "great man", great for them but not for Africa. His atrocities and brutal practice of killing his own people seemingly expunged from his record and the memory of Africans. I forgot how quickly Africans can be convinced by rumours.

Some are so blinded they think a non-critical approach to their leaders is some sort of patriotism, some way of expressing national pride. It is not. Not to challenge the policies of leadership is to engage in passive tyranny and bring about the beginning of the end for African leadership.

Whites have become blacks in different ways, through the economy and especially through the influential people in Africa and beyond. We are personally liberated and evidently free of colonialism but not collectively or theoretically free from the Western oppression - they still control us directly or indirectly. The instrumental way of doing this is by exploiting leaders. It’s not Africa that benefits, but the whites from the West.

There is no denial that the problem of leadership is one of the major problems in Africa, if not in the entire world. Africa is a rich continent; we have the capacity to end poverty, hunger and develop our economies and match the economies of the Western world. What really is lacking is the will to do so. And that will is largely locked in the hands of those who call themselves leaders; business or political. And there is only one path, organise, use numbers to create civil societies that hold leadership accountable. Have clear policy pushed into government. Peer review your peers and peer review your leaders. Make it so that any leader that has a hint of corruption, tribalism, nepotism, cronyism, Western choir boy-ism, non-Pan-Africanism, or anti-Africanism on their breath has no hope of getting into office. The solution must come from the people.

As Africans we do not understand what the criterion of leadership is. We do not know ourselves what is of our interest and what is not. So, we have a sellout giving our African leaders to the ICC. Would Israel do it? Would America do that? We need to first discuss the aims and objectives of Africa, then we know who is really a puppet (Joyce, Zenawi, Jonathan), a puppy (Jacob Zuma), and who is just a good old dictator (Bashir). And, dictators are better than puppets.

*Joseph Tobias is a student in Department of Political and Administrative studies at the University of Namibia.

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Chinese investments in Africa unearthed

February 20, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Chinese investments in Africa unearthed By Joseph Kalimbwe

Over the past two decades, the Chinese have overtaken the West's involvement in Africa with lightning speed. Africa has become a training field for the Chinese to practice corruption without heavy criticism or complete stoppage from those holding the reign of power. From west Africa to east Africa to southern Africa, their presence is increasingly visible but their main intention continues to be an unknown, whether to develop sub-Saharan Africa or to take the most precious resources found in the region.

In its quest to secure resources, China engages in a form of commercial diplomacy that most African countries can't match. For example, Beijing pitches vast trade, aid and investment deals on frequent trips to resource-rich countries, and retains an almost unparalleled ability to provide low-cost financing and cheap labour for infrastructure projects. China has also pursued exploration and production deals in smaller, low-visibility countries, like Gabon, Namibia, Zambia, Ghana and Angola.

And the fact remains there is a lot of considerable confusion surrounding what China really wants in Africa. Several economic analysts some from the famous UK based “The Economy” accounts, conflate investment with multi-billion dollar loans from China to African governments that often use the loans to build infrastructure by Chinese construction companies. These loans tend to go to resource rich countries such as Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ghana and are usually repaid by shipping natural resources back to China. Shockingly, these loans are not Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) instead they are commercial deals, often with a concessionary loan component. Therefore, it is critical that as Africans, we should draw a sharp distinction between the true wants of China's involvement on the continent and its perpetuated need to develop the continent.

Since the start of the 21st century 17 years ago, close to 2 000 Chinese companies have invested in the African continent. Most of the investments have gone into energy, mining, construction and manufacturing. China's state-owned oil companies are active throughout the continent. The China National Petroleum Corporation, for example, invested up to US$6 billion in Sudan's oil sector. The China Power Investment Corporation plans to invest US$6 billion in Guinea's bauxite and alumina projects. Privately-owned Huawei and publicly-traded ZTE have become the principal telecommunications providers in a number of African countries. While most of their activity is sales, their operations are so large in some countries that they have established huge local offices. Increasingly, Chinese companies are moving into finance, aviation, agriculture and even tourism. In 2007, for example, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China purchased 20% of South Africa's Standard Bank for US$5.5 billion. Ever since, China has invested increasingly in the financial sector of African countries.

What raises concerns about the Chinese involvement in Africa is their ability to come to the continent and pay handsome amounts of money to those in power in order for them to carry on with their activities of exploiting the continent. For example, China has a fertile corruption field in Africa. Due to weak leadership which our continent has suffered from for many years, Africa has long suffered from rampant corruption. A shocking discovery was made by journalists in Uganda and Gold Coast (Modern Day Ghana) after they reported that politicians were bribed by Chinese nationals to allow (the Chinese) to dig many uncovered pits in search of mineral resources.

In August 2014, the Obama administration invited close to 50 African heads of state and government to Washington to discuss possible west investments in Africa. During that conference, then US vice-president Joseph Biden was blunt in his remarks about corruption endemic prevalence on the African continent. “Corruption is a cancer in Africa,” he said. “It not only undermines but prevents the establishment of genuine democratic systems. It stifles economic growth and scares away investment. It siphons off resources that should be used to lift people out of poverty.” Biden's words are a true testament of the Chinese involvement in Africa.

However, some leaders have slowly begun to open their eyes on China's true reflections in Africa. Grievances range from poor compliance with safety and environmental standards to unfair business practices and the flouting of local laws. For example, Chad, which built new roads and public buildings with Chinese financial assistance, took a hard line with China National Petroleum after the company dumped excess crude oil in ditches near the capital of N'Djamena in 2013. Gabon also was quick to withdraw an oil field permit from a subsidiary of the Beijing-based oil and gas company Sinopec in 2013 due to environmental concerns.

Other African countries have voiced concern over China's continued use of its own labour and equipment in its projects on the continent. In the past two decades, more than one million Chinese citizens have moved to Africa. The impression that China has exploited resources without building up local African economies and society has triggered fierce criticism from some leaders. One of the delegates attending the US-Africa Summit in 2014 stated that, “US companies can never 'sweeten' a deal in Africa, but they do offer African partners quality, responsiveness, financing, training and a long-term business relationship,” he explained. “After years of getting to know Chinese poor quality, we find that African companies are seeking out known American quality and reliability.” The question of whether the Chinese are allowed to continue exploiting Africa lies entirely in our hands. We can choose to continue accepting their brides and let them take ten times what they left under our negotiation tables or we can educate ourselves and begin to provide for ourselves that which the Chinese have always beaten us on, the hard working spirit.

*Joseph Kalimbwe is a student at the University of Namibia's Department of Political and Administrative studies. He also serves as president of the Unam SRC.

Illegal weapon amnesty ends

February 20, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Illegal weapon amnesty ends Close to 100 000 rounds of illegal ammunition and more than 1 000 illegal firearms were handed over to the police during the past six months.

On 18 August last year, the police announced an amnesty for Namibians to surrender illegal firearms, ammunition and explosives following a surge in arrests for the possession of such contraband.

On Sunday, Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi said during the six-month amnesty a total of 1 274 illegal firearms, 99 509 rounds of ammunition and 81 explosive devices were handed in by the public.

The public is reminded that whoever is found in possession of illegal firearms, ammunition or explosives after the amnesty will be prosecuted.

Anyone found in contravention of the Arms and Ammunition Act faces steep fines or jail time.

The law provides for prison sentences of 10 years or more, or fines amounting to thousands of Namibian dollars.

Shikwambi commended those who responded to the government's plea to surrender all illegal and unwanted firearms to the police.

In August, Police Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga said the amnesty was declared in order to motivate the public to hand over illegal weapons without fear of retribution.

He said many of the illegal firearms in Namibia originated from the Angolan and South African conflicts where war materials were acquired by many citizens.

Between 2013 and 2015, the police confiscated 560 illegal firearms.

-NAMPA

Winter and summer time in parliament today

February 20, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Winter and summer time in parliament today Home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana will table a bill today that stipulates whether Namibia will stick with different time zones in winter and summer.

She announced this in the National Assembly last week.

For years business owners and members of the public have complained about the twice-yearly time changes, arguing that they promote unproductivity.

Many Namibians who make use of taxis and buses to and from work have also said that during winter it gets dark very early, making them vulnerable to robbery and other crimes while walking home.

In 2015 the government announced that it would hold public consultations on whether to do away with winter time.

Very little is known about the outcome of these consultations, but a number of towns have voted in favour of retaining winter time. The ministry has remained tight-lipped about the possible outcome of the consultations and the bill.

Winter time is not applicable to the Zambezi Region, which means that for five months of the year there are two time zones in Namibia. In winter the rest of the country is an hour behind the Zambezi Region.

In accordance with the Namibian Time Act of 1994, Namibia enters summer time at 02:00 on the first Sunday in September, and switches to winter time, one hour back, at 02:00 on the first Sunday of April.

The debate in the National Assembly was started by former DTA member of parliament Anna Frank in 1992.

Shortly afterwards, the National Assembly unanimously adopted two motions supporting a time change in principle.

Frank took issue with the fact that children had to go to school in the dark during winter. She said that was unsafe, as children could get raped on their way to school.

The following year the late Nangolo Ithete, who then served as deputy home affairs minister, said that in the past Namibia had been forced to use the same time zone as South Africa.

JEMIMA BEUKES

National Council rejects PPP Bill

February 20, 2017, 2:00 pm

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National Council rejects PPP BillOnly a policy needed, NC feels The Public-Private-Partnership Bill has been referred back to the National Assembly. The Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Bill of 2016 was rejected by the National Council yesterday.

Many members of parliament in the National Council preferred a PPP policy instead of an Act of Parliament.

Based on the recommendations of a select committee of the National Council tasked to review the impact of the bill, MPs felt that the bill was not inclusive of all communities and raised questions of affordability for low-income earners who would be affected.

The committee unanimously agreed that the National Council should object to the principle of the PPP Bill, following public hearings that took place in the Kavango East, Oshana, Otjozondjupa, Erongo, Hardap, //Karas and Khomas regions from 23 January to 6 February 2017.

The committee said the report was a true reflection of what was said at the public hearings, thus the recommendation to reject the principle of the bill emanated from the concerns raised during the hearings.

They said regional councils, local authorities, tertiary education institutions, trade unions, the business community and the public, who made submissions before the committee during the public hearings on the bill, were not consulted by the Ministry of Finance when the bill was drafted.

Hardap Regional Councillor Nico Mugenga raised several questions during the review of the report on the formulation of the bill, questioning if there was a similar piece of legislature in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that Namibia could draw lessons from.

He said looking at Namibia's economic situation; the country was not in a position to enact a law on PPP.

“Every law that will come out should have a clear-cut component of decentralisation to address the issue of governance at local and regional level,” Mungenga said.

Hardap Regional Councillor Simon Dukeleni said the bill could have been a good law if it had empowered small and medium enterprises.

The bill also overlooked the constitution by establishing a PPP unit in the Ministry of Finance before the bill was enacted, which could lead to a bureaucratic system, he said.

Zambezi Regional Councillor Cletius Sipapela was concerned that institutions such as local authorities and regional councils were excluded in the process of formulating laws.

Sipapela said the intention of the bill was clear, but its consequences were unclear.

“We do not need an Act to regulate PPPs but a policy. Government could face lawsuits from private investors, but with policies, we can negotiate our way out,” Sipapela said.

He also raised concern over the affordability of services that would be provided by a PPP venture to ordinary citizens.

The bill will be referred back to the National Assembly.

The NC adjourned until further notice.



NAMPA

Hardap sluices open

February 20, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Hardap sluices openDineo blesses Namibia with rain The sluices of the Hardap Dam at Mariental were opened yesterday, while other dam levels showed lesser increases in the last week. JANA-MARI SMITH



NamWater opened the Hardap Dam sluices yesterday after the dam level reached close to 70% following heavy rains in recent days.

The sluices were opened yesterday after 14:00 at a release rate of 200 cubic metres per second, with possible increases of up to 400 cubic metres per second predicted. The decision to open the sluices was made as a precaution after NamWater stations calculated that the inflow was expected to increase to 350m³ per second by midday.

The dam level was at 68% of capacity when the sluice gates were opened and was expected to rise to 73% later yesterday. In mid-January the dam level had stood at 35.4%.

Following the 2006 Mariental floods, the dam level has not been allowed to exceed 70%.

Currently the town faces no danger of flooding. Flooding only occurs if more than 500m³ per second is released.

NamWater is keeping a close eye rainfall in the Ai-Ais area, which is the catchment of the Naute Dam.

The latest dam bulletin released yesterday before noon indicated that the Von Bach Dam’s level had reached 42.8%, up from 32.7% a week ago. One year ago today the dam had reached 21.5% of full capacity.

The Swakoppoort Dam was at 12.1% yesterday, up from 9.8% a week ago but still below the level of 14.5% at the same time last year.

The Omatako Dam reached 31.5% yesterday, up from 6.8% a week ago. The sub-total for the three central dams was 27.1%, up from 16.1% last week and 14.4% at the same time last year.

On January 23, the Swakoppoort Dam stood at 5.4%, the Von Bach Dam at 15.3% and the Omatako Dam at 0.9%.

Rains lashed the country over the past few days as a result of a low-pressure system created by Cyclone Dineo, which had barrelled through neighbouring countries.

Widespread showers and thundershowers were reported over much of Namibia, including the drought-stricken Kunene and Erongo regions, yesterday.

Rain reports shared on social media over the weekend indicated that 80mm was measured at a farm between Steinhausen and Summerdown in the Omaheke Region on Sunday.

A resident of the Zambezi Region wrote that a total of 680mm had fallen near their plot in the Kwando area since Christmas.

Rainfall figures released by the Meteorological Service yesterday showed that Rundu had received more than 40mm of rain on Sunday.

Farm Fanara, in the /Karas Region, reported 70mm on Sunday.

Bomb blast survivors cry foul

February 20, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Bomb blast survivors cry foulStill no compensation for victims The survivors of the 1988 Oshakati Barclays Bank bombing insist that they deserve compensation from the Namibian government. Twenty-nine years after the Oshakati Barclays Bank bomb blast that killed 27 people, victims of the tragedy are still waiting for compensation from the government.

“Why do you remember the day and commemorate it if those who suffered as result of it are not looked after? It has been 29 years now and we haven't been compensated.”

These are the words of Asteria Shivute Ampweya, 53, one of the survivors of the 19 February 1988 bombing.

Ampweya has not attended the commemoration of the day for a number of years, as she feels bitter that the Namibian government has not shown any sign of caring for the survivors.

“I stopped attending the commemoration event or going to the mass grave because we just stand there and feel pain. We want to be compensated or else they should stop remembering us. It's very painful because our lives changed for the worse on that day and now we are suffering,” Ampweya said.

She said the bombing left many of them disabled, with chronic injuries and pain which required regular medical attention.

“When you look at my body (pointing to the burns on her hands and scars on her legs) the bombing left me with serious problems and injuries that prevent me from doing normal work like any other woman,” she said.

“With the expensive medication I have to take, my medical aid does cover all costs and I am forced to pay extra in cash which is not fair. Why remember us then if you don't want to recognise us,” she complained.

The explosion claimed 27 lives and injured more than 70 people and to date the bomber has not been identified.

Both the Swapo Party and the South African regime were blamed for the attack but no one claimed responsibility.

Ampweya was 24 years old at the time of the event and was only discharged from the hospital ten months later because of the severe injuries she sustained.

Talking about her chronic pain she explained that during the rainy season her movement and consequently her ability to work are limited.

“Like right now if it rains and I get into contact with the rain, my body reacts very badly and I can get very sick. I can't work during the rainy season,” Ampweya said.

Ampweya added that she was saddened by a remark made on a radio show which aired on Sunday morning, when one of the survivors who was being interviewed indicated that there was no need for compensation.

“The reason why that person said so on radio is because he was an employee of the bank at the time and escaped uninjured. Also, he was compensated for his involvement in the liberation struggle for fighting the enemy from within,” she said.

Human rights activist Phil Ya Nangoloh is one of those who argue that the Namibian government should compensate the survivors and the families of those who died.

Ya Nangoloh made reference to Article 140, Subsection 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Namibian Constitution, under the principle of state succession, which he said meant that the Namibian government was liable for paying compensation for even those war crimes committed by apartheid forces.



“Namrights believes that all the victims, regardless of who the perpetrators were during that war, are entitled to compensation by the Namibian state,” he said.



Vice-president Nickey Iyambo and others who spoke at Sunday's commemoration said the bombing victims had played a meaningful role in the liberation struggle. However, none of them elaborated as to what contribution they had made.

People who attended the event had mixed feelings about whether the victims had contributed towards the liberation struggle or whether it was just a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.



Mass grave

The state of the mass grave at the Elcin cemetery at Ongwediva, where 17 of the bombing victims were buried, was another concern raised by the survivors.

The grave has been in a dilapidated state for years now and the lack of maintenance is obvious.

It was erected by the families of the victims and community members who raised funds, but the issue of who should maintain it has never been addressed. Some, such as Ya Nangoloh and Ampweya, claim it is the government's responsibility.

Namibian Sun was informed that Swapo's regional coordinator in the Oshana Region and the regional governor are looking into the matter.



KENYA KAMBOWE

Early bird catches the worm

February 20, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Early bird catches the worm Since the start of the rainy season hordes of men and women have been spotted with colourful buckets along the road between Rehoboth and Omeya, hunting for mopane worms.

According to Cornelia Geronimos, one of the early birds who arrive at the turn-off to Oamites at dawn every day, the worms disappear by the end of February. This green mopane worm lives on a bush named okadilanghono, which is commonly known in the central and southern parts of the country as the wag-'n-bietjie (buffalo thorn) bush. Geronimos, like most of the harvesters, collect the worms in ten-litre paint buckets which they then take back to Windhoek for their own consumption or to sell.

Namibian Sun found her climbing a tree to get to some of the juiciest worms, each of which measures about 4cm. “I can sell them to people that want them, but for now I am collecting for my house and my family to eat.

If I do sell it then I charge N$20 for a 250ml glass container,” she explained as she removed the guts of the caterpillars.

The women who arrive at around 05:00 usually retire to a nearby tree at noon to monitor their catch and to start cleaning the worms.

“We must start early because at a certain time they go into the ground where they eventually turn into a butterfly which we have no use for. So we must just catch them while they are still in the trees,” she explained.

She pointed at a brown-and-yellow butterfly, which according to her is what these particular green worms morph into.

The Gonimbrasia belina, which is commonly known as the mopane worm, is the larva of a species of emperor moth which is native to the warmer parts of southern Africa.

Namibia is home to 14% of the mopane worm's range in the region.

The moth's edible caterpillar feeds primarily but not exclusively on mopane tree leaves.

In Namibia the trees are commonly found in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country where the caterpillars are regarded as a delicacy.

The mopane worm has incredible nutritional value and around 80 of these caterpillars can provide 192% of a person's daily protein requirements, 360% of daily calcium needs and over 15 000% of the iron requirements. It is also low in fat.

The caterpillars, whether mopane worms or not, are generally served dried or cooked and sold at open markets. They are mainly eaten with pap.



JEMIMA BEUKES

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Multi-million fines for wildlife crimes

February 21, 2017, 6:59 am

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Multi-million fines for wildlife crimes
Parliament this afternoon approved an amendment to the Nature Conservation Ordinance to increase fines related to rhino and elephant poaching from the current N$200 000 maximum penalty to a maximum penalty of N$25 million.
The period of imprisonment for convicted poachers of rhino or elephant was increased to a maximum of 25 years, up from 20 years.
These changes are a milestone for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, under the leadership of Pohamba Shifeta who has long campaigned for harsher penalties for anyone found guilty of illegal hunting of these protected and endangered species.
The amended Nature Conservation law includes an increase of fines related to all other specially protected species from the current maximum of N$20 000 to N$10 million and an imprisonment period of five to ten years.
Moreover, the amendments include a fine related to all protected species from the current maximum of N$4 000 to N$500 000 and an imprisonment period from four to five years.
The fines related to illegal hunting of all other species was increased from N$2 000 to N$500 000 and an imprisonment period of five years, up from two years.
Shifeta explained that the new fines were based on studies and comparisons with penalties in neighbouring countries.
JANA-MARI SMITH

Bhubesi Pride to visit Nam in July

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Bhubesi Pride to visit Nam in July Retired rugby legend Jacques Burger is looking forward to hosting the Bhubesi Pride foundation in Namibia later this year.

Burger, who recently visited Kenya as part of the Bhubesi Pride Foundation to promote the game of rugby, said his visit to that country was an eye-opener.

Bhubesi Pride Foundation has been leading community rugby development missions in Africa since 2012 and assembles teams of committed volunteers to carry out annual rugby coaching expeditions, using the sport as a tool for education and development in Africa. The foundation visits nine countries, namely Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. “My visit to Kenya was really an eye-opener as we went to the rural areas in Nairobi and worked with kids who do not have the opportunity but are enthusiasts of rugby,” Burger said. He indicated that the programme would be in Walvis Bay in July. “I will focus on Namibia because locally I think that is where I can make a big difference, so I am excited about being involved in this programme, as this is what I had always wanted to do when I retired from rugby,” he said. Burger, who plans to start his own programme to promote the sport in Namibia, is optimistic that children from less-privileged areas will soon benefit from his skills.

“I have always wanted to do this, just invest in the kids, because there is so much potential out there but I do not think there are many people who come back to invest in the game of rugby. “I am currently working on setting up a similar programme in Namibia were I can go up to the poor areas in Namibia, go into the townships and work with the small kids and not just teach them the skills of the game but also give them the tools to be successful human beings,” he said. He said the planned programme was not far from becoming reality. “In the near future, maybe in this year or the beginning of next year, I am going to start with this programme so that I can work with kids and go around and add some proper value.”

KAINO NGHITONGO

Inquiry report accuses Kaperu

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Inquiry report accuses KaperuInvestigation's details revealed It is claimed that Joe Kaperu faces a tough hearing after an investigation ordered by the boxing control board implicated him in allegations of wrongdoing. Sources close to the Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Board claim that an investigation into the conduct of suspended chief administrator Joe Kaperu justified the board's suspicions.

In November last year, the boxing board suspended the long-serving administrator for alleged insubordination.

The board then hired an independent private investigator to investigate Kaperu.

It was announced at a press conference last month that the investigation report was ready, but the board still had to discuss it.

Namibian Sun has been reliably informed that the report implicates Kaperu in alleged dodgy operations.

The sources further claim that the boxing board is planning a disciplinary hearing for Kaperu.

“I believe the dates of the hearing have not been planned yet at the moment seeing that the board chairman, Ellison Hijarunguru, has not been in town.

“But I can confirm to you that the investigation report has found Kaperu guilty of insubordination,” the source said.

Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Board vice-chairperson Philip Mwandingi denied the claim.

He did confirm that the board was waiting for Hijarunguru before a decision would be made.

“I will not be able to confirm anything at the moment because the board still has to sit and look into the matter.

“The chairperson has not been in town for some time now and that is what has delayed these meetings.

“People will now about Kaperu's fate, whether he will be reinstated or not, as soon as all the processes have been completed,” Mwandingi said.

Hijarunguru declined to comment on the matter. He said he had been out of town and would peruse the report as soon as he was back in office.

Kaperu said the board had not communicated anything to him.

“I will not panic because I know that I am innocent and my lawyer and I will make a statement as soon as what you are saying is official.

“I was advised not say too much to the media because of my position at the moment,” Kaperu said.



JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Ton-up Walcott ends Sutton's FA Cup dream

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Ton-up Walcott ends Sutton's FA Cup dream NAMPA/AFP

Theo Walcott scored his 100th Arsenal goal as Arsene Wenger's side ended non-league minnows Sutton United's FA Cup fairytale with a 2-0 victory in the FA Cup on Monday.

The England forward added to Lucas Perez's opener as Arsenal returned to winning ways following their 5-1 drubbing by Bayern Munich last week and set up a home quarter-final with another non-league team, Lincoln City.

But the narrow margin of victory belied the 105 places that separate the two teams in England's football pyramid, with Sutton currently 17th in the fifth-tier National League.

"We did the job," Arsenal manager Wenger told BBC Sport.

"It was not an easy game at all. We have to give them credit because every error we made they took advantage of on this pitch. They played very well."

South London club Sutton had hoped to emulate their famous 1989 win over Coventry City, FA Cup winners 19 months previously, but there was no disgrace in defeat in their first ever fifth-round game.

Arsenal were given several uncomfortable moments on the 3G pitch at Sutton's 5 000-capacity Gander Green Lane ground, which was full to bursting with fans in yellow Sutton T-shirts, hats and scarves.

The home supporters almost had a goal to cheer as well, but Roarie Deacon, who began his career at Arsenal, saw his 25-yard effort cannon back off the bar in the second half.

"It was a dream to watch my team play against Arsenal. I'm very, very proud," said Sutton manager Paul Doswell.

"This was our cup final and these players will go down in history at the end of the day."

Wenger will continue to face questions about his future but, for now at least, his dream of winning a record seventh FA Cup remains intact.

He made seven changes to the team humiliated by Bayern in the Champions League, with only goalkeeper David Ospina, Shkodran Mustafi, Granit Xhaka and Alex Iwobi keeping their places.

For all the international players in Arsenal's ranks, there was no distinct gap in quality between the sides in the early exchanges as the visitors slowly got to grips with the unfamiliar surface.

Arsenal's first shot, a Mohamed Elneny effort that sailed miles off-target, drew hoots of derision from the home fans, but in the 26th minute the visitors went ahead.

Perez swapped passes with Xhaka and then cut in onto his left foot from the right flank before sending in a skidding low cross that evaded everyone to nestle in the bottom-left corner.

Briefly, Arsenal threatened to make their experience count, with Nacho Monreal drawing a smothering save from Sutton goalkeeper Ross Worner and both Walcott and Alex Iwobi going close.

But Arsenal's over-confidence at the back twice almost gifted Sutton an equaliser.

Rob Holding nearly had his pocket picked on the edge of his own box and shortly before half-time Ospina passed the ball straight to Sutton's Adam May, who fired wide with his left foot.

An overhit Holding back-pass that sent Ospina scrambling had Arsenal's fans holding their breath again within seconds of kick-off in the second half.

They gave themselves breathing space in the 55th minute, however, when Monreal crossed low from the left and Walcott turned in his milestone goal from close range.

But if Arsenal thought their second goal would put the game to bed, they were mistaken as Sutton produced their best spell of the game.

Maxime Biamou shot straight at Ospina, captain Jamie Collins powered a header over the bar at a corner and Deacon, the ex-Arsenal trainee, cracked a shot against the crossbar from distance.

The closing stages yielded the surreal sight of Arsenal's Chilean star Alexis Sanchez, one of the world's most feared forwards, making his entrance as a replacement for Iwobi.

"Who are ya?" chanted Sutton's fans, their sense of mischief intact until the end.

Henle wins enduro championship

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Henle wins enduro championshipGood start to the season The first enduro event of the year saw Namibia’s experienced riders taking on the bumpy roads of farm Omakwara. SPORTS REPORTER



The 2017 Bank Windhoek Namibia Enduro Championship started with a thrilling show when Marcel Henle won the opening race of the competition.

Close to 70 motorbikes and quad-bikes entered the first race of the year on the farm Omakwara.

Fifteen riders entered the most competitive open motorbikes class, and one of the most interesting duels of the championship went into the first round in the division.

Each rider had to complete three laps of approximately 50km, with only a few seconds between Marcel Henle (KTM) and Henner Rusch (KTM) throughout the race.

In the end Henle managed to build a gap of 41 seconds ahead of Rusch at the finish line to take victory in this first event.

Ruhan Gous (KTM), known for his exquisite motocross skills, had to settle for third.

The senior motorbike riders’ championship class saw Jörn Greiter (KTM) taking victory ahead of Derrick Clark (KTM) and Werner Wiese (KTM).

The 2016 women’s quad championship saw Claire Brendal scooping first place, while Jolly Fourie came second.

Shannon Rowland (Honda) had an excellent start to the race in this category, recording the fastest lap.

Namibian motocross and enduro has produced a number of very promising riders in the last few years.

Youngster Liam Gilchrust (Husqvarna) illustrated his exceptional skills at the Omakwara enduro.

In the Clubman’s Class, he showed one of the best performances of the day, to take victory ahead of Sigi Pack (KTM) and Jürgen Gladis (KTM).

In the Beginners’ Bike Class, Teddy Kausch (KTM) won ahead of Duard Oosthuizen (Suzuki) and Hauke Visher (KTM).

Dylan Hilfiker (KTM) won the under-nine race ahead of Levin Quinger (KTM) and Charl Marais (Kawasaki).

The next event will take place on 11 March on farm Lichtenstein, close to Windhoek.

Lyeenda ongula, olyo ha li toola ohima

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Lyeenda ongula, olyo ha li toola ohima Okuza petameko lyoshikako shomuloka omwaanawa, kakele komeya moondama, omuloka ogweetelele wo omagungu – sho osho uwete aalumentu naakiintu taya monika ya kakanya omano yatya omahemele mooha nondjila pokati kaRehoboth naOmeya taya likola omagungu.

Pahapu dhaCornelia Geronimos, gumwe gwomwaamboka haya piti ongula oku ka likola omagungu ,okwa popi kutya ethimbo lyokulikola omagungu lyoopala okushininga manga Februali ina sa oshoka oha gashuna kehulilo lyomwedhi nguka. Omagungu ogehole kiihwa nokomiti dheno lyOmudhilankono”, ha li adhika unene kiitopolwa yo pokati oshow kuumbugantu woshilongo no lyatseyika nawa melaka lyoshimbulu nedhina wag –‘bietjie (tashi ti tegelela kashona/inweendelela) ohali ithanwa woo buffalo thorn bush.

Geronimos, ngaashi naana yakwawo yalwe ohaya likolele momahemele gopainda goolita 10, ngoka mokugalukila kOvenduka ha yeya okukalanditha nenge okukalya yoyene.

Sho oshifo shoNamibia Sun shathiki osha a dha a londa komuti ta tonona nokulikola omagungu pombanda, ngoka gakoka nogena uule woocm 4.

“Otandi vulu oku ke gaanditha kwaamboka yegahala ihe ngashiingeyi otandi likolele aanegumbo lyandje ya kalye. Mokulanditha ohandi pula ooN$20 mokakopi koomililita 250,” Geronimos ta ti, omanga ta tonona oshigungu komuti.

Aakiintu mbaka oha yathiki aluhe pehala ndika lwopotundi onti-05:00 nokuzimbuka pokati komutenya opo ya tala kutya oya likola shi thike peni, omanga ina yatameka nduno oku opaleka omagungu gawo. Aluhe otuna okweendelela omanga ina gashuna mevi ga kashitukile molupe lwomambilimbili, ngoka tse kaatuna oshilonga na go, onkene otuna oku gakwata manga geli komiti, ta yelitha ngaaka.



Omapuka ngaka ga tseyika nedhina Gonimbrasia belina, ohaga adhika miilongo yomUumbugantu waAfrika moka muna onkalo yuupyu wopokati. Namibia okuli egumbo lyomaludhi lwomapuka ngaka ta ga tengenekelwa poopresenda 14.

Omapuka ngaka ohaga li unene omafo gomiti dhomisati, nomiti ndhika unene moNamibia ohadhi adhika muumbangalantu oshowo muumbangalantu-zilo woshilongo, nomagungu oga talikako kutya iikulya yasimana niitoye koyendji.

Oshakolekwa nawa kutya omagungu ogena ongushu yiitungithi yolutu nomaludhi gago gathika lwopo-80 oge na oopresenda 192% mo protein esiku kehe, oshowo oopresenda 360% dhiimongwa (calcium) omanga oopresenda dhi vulithe po-15 000% odho dhoiron, ndjono yasimana mokukoleka omasipa, omagungu omawaanawa oshoka ogena ondjele yomagadhi yili pevi (ano o cholesterol.

Omagungu unene ohaga landithwa ga kukutikwa nenge ga telekwa no hagalandithwa unene momatala gaayehe na unene oha galiwa noshithima.

JEMIMA BEUKES

VAT's the way forward

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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VAT's the way forwardSouth African expert believes it's best for upping revenue Experts in South Africa say that increasing VAT by 2% would cover the deficit better than increasing wealth tax. Increasing the VAT rate could be more effective in closing the tax gap than an increase in taxes for the wealthy, says an expert.

Speaking at a pre-budget briefing, head of tax at Norton Rose Fulbright Andrew Wellsted explained that VAT was a more inclusive approach to raising tax revenue.

“VAT is transactional. Everyone transacts so everyone raises taxes,” said Wellsted. An income tax comprises a limited tax base, whereas VAT accounts for the entire population.

Wellsted added that a 2% increase in VAT could raise R30 billion - this would cover the current deficit of R28 billion.

However, there is great political resistance to a VAT increase. Fin24 previously reported that trade unions were not on board with such a move and there was resistance from the ANC ahead of the national elections in 2019.

An increase in a VAT rate should also be accompanied by concessions. This involves including more goods in the zero-rated category, or by increasing social grants, added Wellsted.

“The increase in VAT should outweigh the redirection of funds to social grants,” he added.

Choosing to increase taxes on the wealthy would be a more acceptable compromise, said Wellsted.

He added that the controversy with a wealth tax is that “the wealthy” would have to be defined. Once they are defined, then a decision should be made on what should be taxed and if it would achieve anything.

“That end of the tax base is already under pressure and already carrying the burden.”

Wellsted said it was likely the “truly wealthy” would have structures in place to “side-step” taxes in any event. A wealth tax would be difficult to implement for those reasons.

In a separate briefing on the budget, Beatrie Gouws, associate director of global mobility services and employment tax advisory at KPMG, explained that a wealth tax would only “hit” the perceived wealthy.

She said it was important to be mindful on whether a wealth tax would discourage people to live and work in South Africa.

Kyle Mandy, PwC's tax policy leader, said it was unlikely a new tax bracket would be added, in addition to the current margin set at 41%. PwC expects personal income tax to increase by one percentage point on each of the brackets except the lowest one.

Raising the rate on the highest bracket would only yield between R5 billion and R6 billion. “It's not a great contribution,” he said.

Sharing Wellsted's views, Mandy said the wealthy would have the greatest ability to avoid tax through means of immigration and other tax-avoidance measures.

“Treasury will be cautious on increasing tax burden too much on highest income earners, who already bear a major portion of the tax burden,” he said.

A possible increase in capital gains tax (CGT) is expected from 40% to 50%, and this could raise R1.5 billion in additional tax revenues.

There is also a possibility of estate duty reforms, which would include a rate increase to 25% for estates in excess of R30 million. Mandy added that this would not raise significant revenue; expectations are at R500 million.

FIN24

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Gimme all your money

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Gimme all your money Innovation in the banking sector can be accompanied by threats of online banking fraud across the world and southern Africa is no exception.

Given the prevalence of banking scams consumers need to be more vigilant and must be aware of online banking fraud in order to protect themselves.

It has been said by commercial banks countless times that they will never ask for your username, password or PIN in an email, SMS, social media or phone call. Never select a link to a bank's website that was sent via email. These are some scams to look out for:

Flight purchase debit scams: This scam works by sending an SMS informing a consumer of a flight purchase debited to his or her account. Fraudsters will request the consumer to select a link in the SMS to revise the transaction. “When you select the link, you will be redirected to a fake FNB website. You are then redirected to an 'Update and Confirm Details' screen requesting more information to be verified.

The fraudsters will now be in a position to access your banking profile,” said Steyn.

Social media scams: Beware of fraudsters pretending to represent your bank or representative on social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and others. “We will never ask for your credit or cheque card number, account number, online banking login details or password or One Time PIN (OTP) on social media platforms,” warned Steyn.

Change of banking details scam: Here a consumer receives an email that pretends to come from one of his or her suppliers. The email will request an update on banking details. “Beware of this even if it is on the supplier's letterhead,” warned Steyn.

Copy of payment notification scam: A consumer will receive an email requesting him or her to open a copy of their payment notification. Fraudsters will prompt you to login via the email attachment. When the consumer opens the attachment in the email, he or she will be redirected to a fake bank website. In an attempt to steal the consumer's banking details, the consumer will be requested to login. As soon as the consumer enters their login details on the screen, he or she will be redirected to a successfully logged out screen. This will give fraudsters access to the consumer's banking profile.

419 scams: The consumer will receive an email making an offer for a loan. The details vary and large amounts of money are usually involved. However, the consumer's banking details and deposits of money are required in advance in order to release the payment of the funds. The promised money transfer never happens, and fraudsters may use the consumers' banking details to withdraw more money.

Vishing and smishing scams: Consumers receive a call or SMS from a scammer pretending to be a bank representative or from other companies. The scammer gets the consumer to disclose personal information such as his or her ID number, address, account number, username, login details, password and PIN. This information can also be used to gain unauthorised access to your banking account online.

OTP email fraud: Scammers try to get access to the consumer's email accounts, such as Gmail or Yahoo. Using phishing to obtain personal information of consumers such as their email username and password, they can access emails. The scammer can also intercept OTPs that are sent to emails.

OTP SIM swap fraud: If scammers have the consumer's username and password, they can easily access their online banking accounts.

They can also contact your service provider to do a SIM swap which basically means that they hijack your SIM and have access to your SMS.

Online love scams: Consumers should remain vigilant when using online dating sites, as criminals use those too.

NEWS24

Treasury must stick to its budget guns

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Treasury must stick to its budget gunsConsistency is key In Gordhan’s address, and specifically in the official 2017/18 Budget Review document, economists and other analysts will be looking for stability and consistency. MONEYWEB

KPMG South Africa’s theme for budget 2017 is “managing disruptions”. It is an apt theme for current global economic and political conditions: in a period characterised by financial market volatility, political flux, and exponential leaps in innovation and technology, businesses need to be agile, flexible and founded on clear strategy to survive disruption.

And in the business of running the country’s economy, National Treasury must pursue a similarly clear and consistent trajectory. This is where the steadfast approach of National Treasury in recent years has proved so reliable. “More of the same” would be a welcome premise in the upcoming 2017 budget speech.

‘Boring’ promises stability

A seemingly “boring” budget speech is a very welcome thing. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is a confident public speaker, and over the years he has worked to inject some life and even stirring rhetoric into his addresses to parliament. He always makes time in the budget speech to share the progress made in various spheres of government spending and service delivery, and to give hope to citizens that government funds will be well spent in the next financial year.

In Gordhan’s address, and specifically in the official 2017/18 Budget Review document, economists and other analysts will be looking for stability, consistency and incremental change towards a healthier fiscus. A predictable approach to the budget, building on the strong economic principles Gordhan and the Treasury are known for, is what will steady jittery observers, including ratings agencies and foreign investors.

Seeking growth

The biggest challenge facing Gordhan is, arguably, economic growth, or the lack thereof. In 2016, South Africa is estimated to have seen 0.4% growth in real gross domestic product (GDP). Robust economic growth is critically important to addressing the numerous problems our country has, including profound income inequality, poverty and unemployment.

Gordhan is expected to forecast economic growth of around 1.3% this year, but this is likely to be an optimistic view. KPMG’s projection for economic growth in 2017 is closer to 1%. Although this is an improvement on the preceding year, it remains way below the above 5% rate that the National Development Plan (NDP) requires.

In a low growth environment, there is weakness in the labour market. For those who are employed, a weak economy means wage increases closer to or below inflation as companies struggle to make ends meet. For corporates, revenue and profits are under pressure. Profits, in turn, determine the kind of interest that investors have in companies, so this has a knock-on effect on investment, both coming into the country and within the country.

Additionally, a weak economic environment puts pressure on tax revenues, the primary funding source for infrastructure development and service provision. If South Africa could grow its economy faster, we would see a corresponding growth in tax revenues. This would give both National Treasury and taxpayers – corporate and individual – some breathing room from the higher tax rates required to match government revenue to government spending.

So where do we look for growth? The primary answer is that South Africa needs to create more jobs. Employment growth is good for the economy in general, good for tax revenue collection, and promotes household spending, which feeds money back into the economic system. But that presents us with a conundrum: needing jobs for growth, and growth for jobs. Where National Treasury can exert some influence, though, is on the regulatory environment that supports or hinders job growth, reducing the bureaucratic red tape, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and incentivising the transformation of our economy.

Policy certainty drives growth

Another area in which Treasury has some influence is policy, and specifically reducing perceived economic policy uncertainty. Although the government’s official stance is that there is no policy uncertainty in the country, almost all other stakeholders report a strong perception of policy uncertainty across industries including agriculture, mining, and tourism. The ugly truth is that policy uncertainty suppresses investment. That is part of the economic growth problem. If we solve the policy uncertainty problem, then people can invest confidently, with more confidence about potential returns they can expect in the medium and long term, and that itself will help create jobs.

Moreover, investors want to see government “putting their money where their mouth is”, so to speak. What does this mean? It is not enough to say we want and support more manufacturing growth, for example. There must be tangible efforts made to back these policies. Automotive manufacturing is a good example of where government stepped in with significant support, good planning and real effort. This industry is a shining example of what South Africa could achieve through policy certainty and collaboration between government and business.

Keep on keeping on

National Treasury is under pressure – financially and ideologically to carry the country through turbulent times, and find that elusive balance between the demands of a developmental state and the accepted principles of a capitalist economy. Gordhan is not expected to offer us any big surprises or U-turns in his 2017 speech and that should be seen a measure of a good budget speech, rather than a failing one.

Paratus Telecom brings wireless broadband to Zambia

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Paratus Telecom brings wireless broadband to Zambia Paratus Telecom recently installed cutting-edge wireless broadband technology that reduces signal interference and enables greater coverage with less infrastructure.

The JET Bi-Directional Beamforming PtMP base station system supplied by global wireless broadband provider Radwin provides high-capacity last-mile connectivity to residential and enterprise users in Lusaka as well as in various other provinces.

Paratus Telecom has also installed RADWIN 2000 point-to-point for high-capacity backhaul while Beacon Telecom, Radwin's partner in Zambia, was responsible for project design and implementation.

Marius van Vuuren, country manager for Paratus Telecom in Zambia, said the company selected JET after a thorough competitive evaluation.

“JET is a quick-to-market solution at a fraction of the cost of fibre. One of the biggest network challenges is interference, mainly in densely populated areas. This is largely due to many of our points of presence and high sites being shared sites with other operators.”

JET's unique Bi-Directional Beamforming technology fights interference and allows Paratus Telecom to provide greater coverage with less infrastructure. With JET PtMP, it can deliver up to 50 megabits per second at ranges of up to 15 kilometres, even in challenging non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions where direct line-of-sight is obstructed by buildings or trees.

Radwin's rugged units operate in harsh weather, providing the high-speed connection customers require. The combination of Radwin's advanced technology and the presence of a partner like Beacon Telecom led to the successful fruition of this project. As the network continues to grow, JET will easily scale to accommodate more subscribers and deliver greater capacity.

“Telecom service providers that we work with truly value Radwin's carrier-grade solutions. Features such as JET's multi-band support, NLOS and long-distance provisioning are appealing. More importantly, the fact that JET is extremely simple to install and maintain, thanks to its intuitive planning tools and simple operation position, makes it the perfect solution,” added Beacon Telecom technical director Helit Bauberg.

Jet's sales director for the Southern African region, Nicholas Ehrke, said JET carrier-grade systems are adopted by leading service providers in the world, based on their commercial and technical merit. “Our equipment is built to last and allows operators to roll out high-speed broadband fast and reach areas where fibre cannot reach or is not financially viable.”

“Powered by Bi-Beam, our revolutionary bi-directional beamforming technology - JET dramatically reduces interference and gives service providers the optimal solution for providing high speed broadband to their residential and business customers,” he concluded.

RADWIN is a provider of Point-to-Multipoint and Point-to-Point broadband wireless solutions. Incorporating the most advanced technologies such as a Beam-forming antenna and an innovative Air Interface.

STAFF REPORTER

Progress made with SOE reform policy

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Progress made with SOE reform policySOEs urged to toe the spending line Call also made for SOEs to align buying to the recently introduced Procurement Act. The minister of public enterprises, Leon Jooste, recently announced that his ministry had finalised the much-anticipated remuneration policy guidelines, while finance minister Calle Schlettwein called on state-owned enterprises to cut unnecessary spending.

The two ministers recently addressed the heads of SOEs, who were given an opportunity to give their input on the national budget that is expected to be tabled in the first two weeks of March.

“First of all, the new remuneration guidelines have been finalised. Consultations with both chief executive officers and chairpersons have been completed and we are currently looking into the recommendations,” Jooste said. He did not put timelines on their implementation though.

Jooste also called on state-owned enterprises to align their procurement policies to that of the government by following the recently introduced Procurement Act.

Schlettwein also appealed to SOE bosses to cut unnecessary spending and aim for greater efficiency in their organisations.

“There are a number of inefficiencies that can be addressed. We can do more to cut on expenditure on non-core items, we must appeal that we are a bit careful. Take note for the next two financial years, we are in a complicated financial situation,” Schlettwein said.

He called on SOEs tAo make use of the recently introduced tax reprieve to settle any outstanding taxes they may owe. “There is a huge amount of tax arrears. I hope the SOEs that have huge arrears make use of the opportunity to clear the books. This will give the fiscus the necessary revenue.”



OGONE TLHAGE

How to get 'em

February 21, 2017, 2:00 pm

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How to get 'emAdvice on how to catch and arrest poachers on your land Private landowners are advised on how to go about capturing and arresting poachers on their land. Poaching on private land is on the increase as the police and military step up their presence in government national parks and game reserves. To this end, the Namibia Agricultural Union, along with the professional hunting association compiled a list of 'to-do's' if confronted with poachers on their land.

Firstly, contact your neighbour or the police station, whichever is the nearest. Do not attempt to approach the poachers when unassisted, because they could be armed.

Members of the public are allowed to make arrests and can therefore arrest poachers. Section 42(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, provides as follows: “The owner, lawful occupier or person in charge of the property on or in respect of which any person is found committing any offence, and any person authorised thereto by such owner, occupier or person in charge may without warrant arrest the person so found.” It is vitally important however, that the arrested persons should immediately be handed over to the nearest police station. Farmers or landowners should not assault or torture the arrested persons. However it is advised that preferably arrests should be done by the police, only if such is under the circumstances not possible, a member of the public can arrest as aforesaid.

In terms of section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, members of the public are allowed to use force when the suspected poacher(s) resists the attempt to be arrested or flees when it is clear that an attempt to arrest is made, provided that the force used to affect the arrest is reasonably necessary. This means that members of the public should not just shoot from the onset - they should firstly fire a warning shot and in the event that it is reasonably necessary, fire additional shots in order to arrest the persons, then only may the farmer or landowner shoot. Persons who shoot and kill may be charged with murder therefore they are advised not to shoot unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. Shooting should be a last resort.

Furthermore, establish the identity of the suspected poacher, if possible; take photos of the poacher and/or the registration number of the means of transport used by them in the commissioning of the crime. Establish the type of game and/or game bird that have/has been poached; report the crime of illegal hunting of game and/or game birds to the nearest police station and finally, it is advisable to report the said crime within 48 hours from date of the crime.

When reporting the crime to the police station give a detailed statement to the police officer who is assisting you, such as to give all the particulars of the suspected poacher if it is known and give a full description of the type of game and/or game bird that has been poached and what was discovered on the scene – thus generally a detailed and comprehensive statement.

Remember to not only make a case of illegal hunting of game and/or game birds, also press charges of trespassing (if the person entered the property of the member by unlawful means), damage to property (if any property was damaged), etc. When making the statement at the police, inquire from the police officer, having regard to what transpired, what are the various offences for which the person could be charged and ensure that they are so listed by the police as cases against the person(s).

Follow up with the police regularly and when the matter is heard in a court, try to bring it under the attention of the public prosecutor dealing with the matter that a specific type of game and/or game bird has been poached and that a specific sanction/penalty should be imposed and ascertain that the prosecutor is aware of the maximum penalties that can be imposed for the specific situation.

Also ensure that the specific prosecutor has all the evidence. Thus the statement made, photos, documentary evidence, witness statements and other evidence relating to the case. Also check with the prosecutor that all relevant witnesses know of the court date and are indeed summoned to be at court. The better the preparation for the case, the better the chances of a successful conviction. In essence, be actively involved in assisting the police and the prosecution with the case.

STAFF REPORTER