Sowetan

Ajay Gupta denies under oath he ever met Jonas

By Ernest Mabuza | Feb 10, 2017

Businessman Ajay Gupta has denied under oath ever meeting or speaking to Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas.

Gupta made this assertion in his affidavit dated February 9 in a Pretoria high court case involving Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments.
Gordhan seeks an order declaring that he is not by law empowered or obliged to intervene in the relationship between Oakbay companies and the banks.
The allegation that Jonas met Gupta is contained in the public protector’s report on State Capture‚ which was prepared by the previous incumbent Thuli Madonsela but released by the current Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane in November last year.
Gordhan also mentioned the efforts allegedly made by Gupta to induce Jonas to commit an unlawful act in his replying affidavit in the present case‚ which was filed last month.
In that affidavit‚ Gordhan said the Public Protector report stated that Jonas was taken to the Saxonwold home of the Guptas where he was offered money and promotion as minister of finance.
The Public Protector report mentions that Jonas claimed President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane and businessman Fana Hlongwane met Gupta at his home on October 23 2015.
In his affidavit accompanying a supplementary affidavit submitted by Oakbay‚ Gupta said his affidavit was meant to clarify a serious distortion of facts which caused him and his family severe hardship and negative publicity.
Gupta said he was disturbed by allegations Gordhan presented as fact without even attempting to obtain a confirmatory affidavit from Jonas‚ who was – in all likelihood – occupying an office right next to the minister.
Gupta said the “incident” with Jonas was created in order to support the wave of adverse media attention and to achieve the political advantage gained from creating a media hype from an incident which never occurred.
Gupta said it was important to deal with this allegation to ensure nobody could ever say he kept quiet when he was confronted with these allegations.
“Let me commence … to clearly and unambiguously state under oath that I have never met Mr Mcebisi Jonas‚ not as alleged or at all‚” Gupta said.
Gupta said Jonas was blatantly dishonest when he suggested he met with him.
“I have challenged Mr Jonas‚ and I do so again‚ to prove that he met with me as alleged.”
Gupta said to support his denial of ever meeting Jonas‚ he approached Duduzane Zuma and Hlongwane to depose affidavits regarding his involvement at the meeting in October 2015.
Both businessmen‚ in separate affidavits‚ said Gupta was not present at any time during the meeting with Jonas held on 25 October 2017.

Daily Sun

News

Yesterday

PUNANI MAGIC IN DEMAND!

By  Mavi NgcoboThursday, February 09, 2017 06:02

Nomthi Gcwensa shows her punani warmers. Photo by Jabulani Langa  ~ 

WHEN SunGirl Mavi Ngcobo needed to pee on Tuesday she rushed into a women’s toilet – only to find there was a long, slow queue.
But the women weren’t waiting to use the toilet!
As Mavi was standing in the queue for the toilet in Isipingo, KZN, a woman told her: “This is for punani warmers, not to pee.”
Another woman was sitting at a table in a corner of the room. The table was covered in powders, pills and some tablets that looked like sweets.
As Mavi approached the table, a woman stopped her.
“Sorry sisi, it is not your turn. I’m here to buy the powder that saved me from losing boyfriends.
“I will buy extra today, as Valentine’s Day is near. I want my boyfriend to have it hotter.”
The hawker, Nomthi Gcwensa (30) from Umbumbulu, said: “These are punani warmers.
“They help women to keep their punanis hot and dry during sex. Some women have wet
punanis that drive men away.”
She said she sold her products from the toilet because it is private and restricted to women only.
“I don’t want men to see women buying these products.”
Nomthi said she heard that men love hot punanis.
“Not every woman has that.”
She mixes traditional herbs she gets in rural Umbumbulu, and gets the sweets and pills from Chinese shops.
A happy 32-year-old customer said the warmers really work.
“I can sleep with two men in one day and both will be happy,” she said.

Daily Sun

Sport

An hour ago

SEMENYA SET FOR OLYMPIC GOLD AFTER RIVAL BANNED

By  AFPFriday, February 10, 2017 15:46

Caster Semenya (Supplied)  ~ 

South Africa's Caster Semenya could receive her second Olympic gold medal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport stripped Russia's Mariya Savinova-Farnosova of her title.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday stripped Savinova-Farnosova of her 2012 London Olympics 800m gold medal and banned her for four years for doping.
The women's 800m race was won by Savinova-Farnosova in 1:56.19 with Semenya finishing second with a time of 1:57.23. Another Russian, Ekaterina Poistogova was third.
However, in November 2015, after an investigation, a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recommended that Poistogova be given a life-time ban.
If the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decides to reallocate the medals from the 2012 final, Semenya will receive the gold medal, to go along with her gold from Rio in 2016.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said there was "clear evidence" that Savinova was involved in doping from the eve of the European Championship in Barcelona in 2010 until the 2013 world championships in Moscow - including the 2012 London Games.
The ban was back-dated to start on August 24, 2015. CAS said all prizes won between July 26, 2010 and August 19, 2013, are forfeited.
The CAS acted as the main tribunal in the case as the Russian athletics federation is suspended by the world body, the International Association of Athletics Federations because of its doping controversy.

Daily Sun

National

Yesterday

WATCH: SANGOMA TEACHER IN CLASSROOM!

By  Kgalalelo TlhoaeleThursday, February 09, 2017 13:31

A screen grab from a video shows a teacher at Ikeleng Primary School pretending to throw the bones in the classroom. Screenshot from supplied video  ~ 

THE VIDEO clip lasts only a few seconds, but it has caused a huge stir.
Parents whose children attend Ikeleng Primary School in Tshwane are angry because a video of a teacher pretending to be a sangoma in class started doing the rounds. In the video, the teacher is seen kneeling on the floor, making actions, with the children responding.
Nobody knows who started circulating the video but it has prompted parents to demand disciplinary action.
The teacher from the school in Lebanon, Mabopane, is seen bending over, pretending to throw sangoma bones.
Then she starts shouting: “Vumani bo! Vumani bo!”
The pupils respond: “Siyavuma!”
She repeats it three times and then she stands up, laughing and someone gives a high five to the kids. The person taking the video also laughs back and says to the teacher: “O bosepa wena.”
The video was trending on WhatsApp, opening fresh debate about religion in the classroom on the social network.
Parents are not happy. One of them said the teacher not only insulted their tradition but used their children for her jokes.
“Our kids are not toys. We send them to school to study the curriculum, not to learn about sangoma things.”
She said the children listened to everything their teachers told them.
“They trust the teachers more than us. When they are taught curtain things at school they also want to do them at home,” she said.
Another parent said the teacher should be disciplined.
“If we want our children to learn such things there are proper ways to do that.
“She should also have taken into consideration that some children’s families don’t believe in such practices,” he said.
Oupa Bodibe, Gauteng Department of Education acting spokesman, said they were aware of the matter.
“We strongly condemn the alleged conduct of the teacher. The district has been requested to investigate.
“The outcome will determine the action to be taken against the teacher.”

Daily Sun

Entertainment

3 hours ago

MONA MONYANE LEAVING MUVHANGO!

Friday, February 10, 2017 13:31

Mona Monyane  ~ 

Mona Monyane has decided to resign from her role as Dr Nthabaleng on SABC 2's popular soapie Muvhango.
The local actress confirmed the news, saying "I have decided to explore other avenues within the industry and growing as an actress. I also want to focus on building a legacy for our daughter. I thank my fans and hope that they will continue to support my career going forward."
Mona has not spoken out about her resignation on Twitter but has posted this adorable picture of her daughter.
Source - The Juice/Channel24

Daily Sun

Entertainment

9 hours ago

BLESSER CHALLENGES MOREKIS

By  Margaret MlangeniFriday, February 10, 2017 07:01

From left: Blesser Serge Cabonge and singer King Monada. Photo by Samson Ratswana  ~ 

SELF-PROCLAIMED international blesser Serge Cabonge is at it again.
The prominent businessman has invited Ska Bhora Moreki hitmaker King Monada to join him on stage.
The two will host the International Blesser vs Moreki party at Polokwane Shisa Nyama in Limpopo next Saturday.
Khanyi Mbau will MC at the event.
Serge said the event is aimed at celebrating the blesser trend.
He added that he has invited a number of blessers and morekis to join him at the event.
However, he did not want to reveal their names.
“It’s a surprise.
“But I promise those who attend the show will have an unforgettable experience.
“Those who don’t understand how blessers and morekis work will get a glimpse of our lifestyle.
“The event will create an opportunity for fans to interact with me and their favourite celebrities,” said Serge.
King Monada said he cannot wait for the party.
“The blessers must watch out for morekis.
“We will steal the show.”
Serge said he plans to host a lot more events outside Gauteng.
He said the reason he chose to host his latest event in Limpopo is because the province has a lot of talent.
The businessman added that King Monada was a perfect example of the province’s talent.
The event will feature performances by King Bash, Kwela Tebza, The Vibe and DJs Sumbody, Ali, Jahbza and Deeleemash.

Sowetan

MK veteran wants Nyanda to answer for Nokuthula 

Simelane's disappearance

By Naledi Shange | Feb 06, 2017 

An uMkhonto WeSizwe veteran on Monday called on his former general‚ 

Siphiwe Nyanda‚ to divulge his part in the disappearance of Nokuthula 

Simelane.

 The activist disappeared in 1983 while on a mission to the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg.

 “During that time‚ people were paid by the apartheid regime and that is why they are rich today. They were paid. We went to Robben Island because they were paid. Who sold out this woman?” said Kid Sogovu.

 He ambushed Nyanda during a media conference held at Luthuli House.

 Wearing a cap‚ the short chubby man who had a placard hung around his neck was dragged out of the news conference by security officers after he disrupted the proceedings‚ seeking answers from Nyanda.

 His placard read: “Tell us about Nokuthula Simelane‚ Siphiwe Nyanda.”

The MKVA and the MK National Council had called the conference to brief the media on their meeting
held last week in Sandton.

 Sogovu accused Nyanda on focusing on problems in the ruling party instead of first addressing the
military veterans’ issues.

 “He has never called any conference about our fight‚ fighting against apartheid‚ but he can call a
press conference and talk about other things which don’t need him‚” Sogovu told reporters outside
Luthuli House.

 “He must explain what happened to this lady. Those are my cries. He must explain. Who sold out?
Who was paid when we were fighting against apartheid? Who was paid so that this lady could be
arrested?” he said.

 Sogovu claimed he had landed in jail during the apartheid era after following a false lead by Nyanda.

 “I committed acts of sabotage in 1982 with other comrades and we went back and reported to [Nyanda]
 in Swaziland. From Swaziland we went to Mozambique.

 “Then in 1983‚ he sent us back again to come and commit further acts of sabotage as members of
MK and that is when I was arrested‚” he said.

 Sogovu said Nyanda had sent him and other freedom fighters to meet with a contact but they were
instead met by security officers.

 He has not received an explanation from Nyanda on how they were arrested.

 Questioned on whether he had been planted to disrupt the meeting‚ Sogovu dismissed the claims.

 “No‚ I am a former freedom fighter‚” said Sogovu.

 He vowed to attend every meeting where Nyanda would be present to press him for answers.

Simelane was a 23-year-old university graduate when she disappeared.

 She was a courier for UMkhonto we Sizwe (MK)‚ the armed wing of the African National Congress‚
 moving between Swaziland and South Africa.

 Reports suggest that she fell into a trap set by one of her own and was allegedly abducted and brutally
tortured by the Security Branch of the former South African Police. She was never seen again.

Willem Coetzee‚ Anton Pretorius‚ Frederick Mong and Msebenzi Radebe were prosecuted for her murder last year.