Tag: Jeff Radebe

Marikana residents accuse police of shooting at them with rubber bullets

Police officers assigned to disperse protesting Lonmin mineworkers were accused of shooting residents of Nkaneng informal settlement in Marikana on Saturday morning.

Several community members emerged with bleeding wounds, which they claimed were caused by police rubber bullets.

Two women sat in a narrow path in the informal settlement, surrounded by sympathetic residents.

One of the wounded, Melita Ramasedi, said they were shot at while watching the police breaking up the crowd of protesters.

“I am deeply hurt by this situation. A police nyala drove past us, we were a group of women and others ran away.

“I just stood there, watching and they shot me in my leg,” she said showing her bleeding leg.

Another victim Ntombe Ncence was visibly upset as she told journalists that she was at the entrance of a spaza shop when she was shot with a rubber bullet.

“I do not understand why the police officers shot me. I was knocking at the door of a shop and police officers inside a nyala shot my leg.”

The bleeding woman said she did not know where her two children had fled to when the skirmishes between mineworkers and police began in the morning.

Earlier, a 24-year-old man said police officers shot him with a rubber bullet while he was repairing his shack in the informal settlement.

Xolisa Ntshantha said he does not work for a mine and had never been part of the protests.

“I was working on my shack and suddenly I was shot from behind. I did not realise where the police officers came from,” said Ntshantha.

“They manhandled me and threw me into the nyala. I was assaulted by police officers inside the truck,” he claimed.

Ntshantha raised his shirt and torn jacket to reveal a large red blister on his back.

Earlier, the protesters gathered at an open veld next to the koppie, where 34 people were killed in a violent confrontation on August 16. They sang, waving weapons, before the police arrived.

At least seven police nyalas drove into Nkaneng, causing workers to scamper in different directions.

The crowd ran into the informal settlement as the nyalas followed them on narrow foot paths.

A cloud of pepper spray filled the area causing protesters and journalists to shed tears and cough.

Earlier, police raided a nearby hostel. Five people were arrested and weapons were confiscated.

Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the people were arrested during a disarmament operation at a hostel where hundreds Lonmin mineworkers .

Police confiscated a large number of knobkerries, pangas and other dangerous weapons.

Ngubane could not give an exact quantity of arms confiscated, but said “truck loads” of contraband weapons were seized.

On Thursday, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe told journalists in Pretoria that government would “deal very swiftly” with illegal protests.

The situation at the mines did not warrant a declaration of state of emergency, he said. – Sapa

‘Put down your weapons,’ asks South African Justice Minister

Put down your weapons and stop committing violence, or face the full might of the law, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe warned striking miners on Friday.

In an announcement made in Pretoria, following a meeting of security cluster ministers and other Cabinet members, he said government would no longer tolerate the violence, threats and intimidation taking place in the mining sector.

“The South African government has noted and is deeply concerned with the amount of violence, threats and intimidation that is taking place in our country, particularly in the mining industry.

“These acts… clearly undermine our government’s efforts of ensuring economic and security stability,” Radebe said.

Government recognised that if the current situation continued unabated, “it will make it even harder to overcome our challenges of low economic growth and high unemployment”.

“Our government will not tolerate these acts any further.”

He announced measures to be put in place to ensure the situation was brought under control.

These included that “illegal gatherings, the carrying of dangerous weapons, and incitement, as well as threats of violence against anyone in the affected areas, will be dealt with accordingly”.

Radebe said law enforcement agencies “will not hesitate to arrest those who have been found to have contravened the law”.

Government was making a “clarion call” on all South Africans to desist from such illegal acts.

Asked if he was declaring a state of emergency, Radebe responded: “No, but we want stability; we want to bring about normality in the mining sector in South Africa. We can no longer tolerate acts of intimidation, illegal gatherings, and the carrying of dangerous weapons.”

Those who wanted to go to work had to be allowed to do so without any intimidation.

Speaking at the briefing, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele said the “key” issue was the deaths caused by dangerous weapons.

“What is key is… these dangerous weapons kill our citizens. They are not just decorative things, or traditional things, but they actually have killed our people.

“Carrying dangerous weapons and firearms [and] participating in illegal gatherings is not going to be tolerated by law enforcement officers,” he said.

Asked if the police would use live ammunition to enforce the law, Radebe responded: “The question of live ammunition — that’s an operational matter, so we will not answer that.”

He said the measures announced applied to affected mining areas only, and not the rest of the country.

Asked if the announcement was a warning to expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema — who has called on miners to stage a mass national strike — Radebe said the measures were not aimed at specific individuals.

“This statement… is not directed at any specific individual or individuals.”

It sought to ensure stability in the country.

He then added: “But all those who break the law, regardless of who they are, they will be dealt with the full might of the law. That’s the message we want to present today.”

Cwele told journalists: “No more incitement of violence will be tolerated.”

Asked if the army would be deployed to help police, Radebe, after noting that it was the police who were responsible for security in South Africa, said: “That will be an operational matter. Who they want to be reinforced with.”

The decision would be taken by the national commissioner.

He said law enforcement agencies “will not hesitate to arrest those who have been found to have contravened the law”. – Sapa

National Prosecuting Authority’s decision on Marikana miners welcomed

The Justice Ministry on Sunday welcomed the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) decision to withdraw murder charges against 270 Lonmin mineworkers.

“We welcome the decision but will await formal report as requested,” said Justice Minister Jeff Radebe.

The workers were initially charged with murder, attempted murder and public violence following the unrest that left 34 people dead and 78 others injured on August 16.

The NPA said the group would be issued with warnings concerning the murder charges on their next court appearance on September 6.

The other charges would remain.

The African National Congress has also welcomed the move.

“This decision will allow the Commission of Inquiry established by the President to do its work and for police to continue with their investigations,” said party spokesman, Jackson Mthembu.

Meanwhile, the ‘Friends of the Youth League’ which is associated with axed ANC Youth League head, Julius Malema blamed the Lonmin tragedy on the country’s leadership.

Floyd Shivambu of the group said : “If there was leadership in South Africa, the lengthy unreasoned, horrible and inhuman incarnation and imprisonment of mineworkers who survived the massacre would have been avoided.”

The ‘Friends of the Youth League’ have vowed to stand behind the workers who continue to demand higher wages.

White minority still feels racially superior – ANC minister

If South Africa is to achieve social cohesion some people cannot continue feeling superior to others, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Wednesday.

“It is very divisive when a minority wants to be treated separately to the majority,” she told the national social cohesion summit in Soweto, Johannesburg.

For real social cohesion, equality must be understood and practised, she said.

“It doesn’t augur well if there are people who still feel superior to others… There are people who still feel superior by the mere fact that they belong to a different race.”

Earlier, Freedom Front Plus MP Corne Mulder called for a ministry for minority affairs.

Dlamini-Zuma called for increased state participation.

“The state must not be a passive state… because you can’t transform with a state that is standing by and leaving everything to uncertain markets. Markets cannot transform society.”

The summit was being held in Kliptown, where 3000 delegates of all races met in 1955 to draft the Freedom Charter, which calls for a non-racial South Africa that belongs to all who live in it.

Delegates explored the role of the judiciary, Parliament, political parties and traditional leaders, among others, in building an inclusive society.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said independence of the judiciary was guaranteed by the Constitution.

“As a government we have no intention of interfering with its independence.”

He said the establishment of an Office of the Chief Justice was the first step towards the total independence of the judiciary.

Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile, whose department was hosting the two-day event, said the summit would not be a mere talk shop.

“Out of it must come decisive steps,” he said. These included a clear plan of action to heal the wounds of the past and strengthen social cohesion.

Political parties, business leaders, and civil society and government representatives attended the summit.

Among them were National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu, former Speaker Frene Ginwala, and Zanele Mbeki, wife of former president Thabo Mbeki.

The summit’s theme is: “Working together to create a proud and caring society”.

President Jacob Zuma first called for such a summit in 2009. – Sapa