Weekend Argus Saturday Saturday, October 10, 2020

TRANSPORT Farmers ‘held to ransom’ Taxi operators strong-arming businesses ASANDA SOKANYILE asanda.sokanyile@inl.co.za HENK KRUGER THOUSANDS of farmworkers could be left stranded if an alleged extortion and racketeering scheme by taxi operators continues. Farmers in the Joostenbergvlakte area and surrounds have raised the alarm and say they are being extorted when transporting their workers to and from work. Several other businesses, including private and scholar transport, have also been affected. Wine farmer Jaco Lourens said they offer transport to their workers as a benefit because most of the farms are in rural areas. “I witnessed taxi operators demanding a fee for use of their routes”Tyrrel Myburgh Farmer “It would be inhumane of us to expect people to walk 15km to and from work every day, but, at this rate, we just…

I P I D Probe into rise in police brutality cases SHANICE NAIDOO THE Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) are investigating several police brutality cases. Ipid spokesperson Ndileka Cola said there was a backlog in cases that the directorate is working on and there’s a plan in place to eradicate the rising number of police misconduct cases. “Ipid condemns this conduct. Furthermore, the directorate is working with SAPS (about) the professionalism of police officers through station lectures, educating the police of the mandate of Ipid and implications of transgressing the laws,” said Cola. In the most recent case, police in Heidelberg were being investigated after two prisoners died in custody. Henry Oktober, who died in hospital from alleged police brutality, named the…

COMMISSION Zondo compels Zuma to appear THE battle-lines were drawn yesterday after state capture inquiry chairperson Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, issued a summons compelling former president Jacob Zuma to appear before the commission next month. Following arguments, presented by evidence leader advocate Paul Pretorius, outlining reasons why Zuma had to appear before the commission, Judge Zondo resolved to order him to appear before the commission between November 16 and 20. Last month, Zuma, through his lawyers, asked Judge Zondo to recuse himself on the grounds that the former president believed that Judge Zondo had already adopted a biased disposition towards him and could not bring an impartial mind to the issues and evidence that relate to him. In his submission, Pretorius told Judge Zondo that there were about 34…

COURT Mkhwebane loses bid to halt impeachment Court rules Parliament has right to hold Chapter 9 institution office bearers to account SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI PUBLIC Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has lost her court application to stop Parliament from instituting a process to remove her from office. Yesterday, Speaker Thandi Modise welcomed the decision of the Western Cape High Court. But Mkhwebane was still considering her next course of action following the judgment. The application was heard before a full bench of the court recently and Judge Vincent Saldanha delivered the scathing judgment. Saldanha said Mkhwebane failed to state her case in court to halt the process to remove her. “Moreover, a process for the impeachment of an office bearer of a Chapter 9 institution is not lightly taken and is a serious…

TRADITION Matric ball: better late than never Schools go ahead with Grade 12 farewell events despite calls not to KEAGAN MITCHELL keagan.mitchell@inl.co.za BRENDAN MAGAAR African News Agency (ANA) A NUMBER of high schools have decided to go ahead with their matric balls, despite a call from the Western Cape Education Department to put on hold the farewell occasion. For Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard, Hoërskool DF Malan and Scottsville High School, the dream of going to their traditional school farewell is still alive. Reddam will have their matric ball at the Two Oceans Aquarium today. Design teacher at Reddam, Candice du Toit said: “We have 32 matriculants, which has allowed us the opportunity to have a matric dance. Although no partners are allowed, they are a tight-knit grade and are happy…

SERVICE Ex-gangster uses chess to give back to community CHELSEA GEACH SUPPLIED OCEAN View resident Vasco Vigis is teaching children life lessons through the game of chess in a brand-new chess club on Saturday mornings, hosted at the Cape Flats Wellness Centre. With two meetings under his belt, Vigis is committed to feeding the children a solid meal and giving them a safe place to play and learn for at least one weekend morning. He is on a mission to make up for the bad choices of his gangster days. “One of the reasons I got into gangsterism and drugs is because I had nothing constructive to do with my time,” he said. “I feel like I owe it to the community for how destructive I was in my youth.…