Hoe ernstig the aantygings werklik is (sien die artikel aan die einde van my kommentaar), sal 'n mens eers leer as die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag (die staatsliggaam wat strafregtelike vervolgings in ons howe orkestreer) reageer op die aantygings. Dit word in die artikel gesê dat die liggaam se begroting R1.8 biljoen is. As my somme my nie in die steek laat nie is dit amper R2000 miljoen. Die beweerde onreëlmatighede is in die omgewing van so R500 miljoen - 'n yslike stuk dus van die totale begroting. Dit laat 'n mens wonder of die *onreëlmatighede" nie bloot 'n tegniese punt behels nie want dit bring 'n enorme deel van die totale begroting ter sprake.
'n Mens moet ook nie vergeet dat ons wagtende kroonprins, mnr Zuma, nie 'n baie groot liefhebber van aanklaers is nie.
Alles in ag genome, nog 'n onverkwiklike ontwikkeling in die hart van ons regstelsel wat volg kort op die hakke van die proses wat die Skerpioene tot niet gaan maak . Waar het jy nou al gesien dat misdaad bekamp word deur die mees suksesvolle eenheid (gebaseer op 'n unieke samewerkingsresep tussen ondersoekbeamptes, regsgeleerdes en ander deskundiges) in 'n stelsel te skrap. As hulle nou nog die polisie onder die Skerpioene se gesag geplaas het, dan is daar miskien ook nog iets te sê voor - maar anders om? Die gepeupel juig natuurlik oor die afskaffing en die ANC doen sy bes om skadebeheer toe te pas.
Voeg hierby die polisie se onvermoë om selfs hul huidige pligte uit te voer soos blyk uit hul pogings om sekuriteitsfirmas te betrek by die bekamping van misdaad en dit is duidelik dat ons getransformeer is na 'n totale piesangrepubliek toe.
State auditors unearth rotten NPA tenders
Wisani wa ka Ngobeni Published:Oct 26, 2008
The auditor-general, Terence Nombembe, has slammed the National Prosecuting Authority after uncovering widespread tender-rigging and financial irregularities involving more than R500-million.
The unlawful expenditure was uncovered during a routine audit of the NPA’s finances.
Nombembe has now ordered a “full-scale” investigation into the awarding of tenders in the NPA.
The Sunday Times has established that several NPA officials have been suspended while others are facing criminal charges for tender-rigging and taking bribes from service providers.
A senior NPA official confirmed that the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit, which forms part of the NPA, is conducting its own investigation. Some officials could face criminal charges within weeks.
Some NPA officials have resigned in the wake of the investigation, which comes at a time when the NPA is under pressure from the ANC for pursuing its president, Jacob Zuma. This week parliament voted to disband the Scorpions.
In a report to parliament, Nombembe said he had decided to conduct a “full-scale” investigation because of “possible fraudulent activities”.
Nombembe said that because of the extent of the irregularities he could not even express an audit opinion on the NPA’s financial statements.
The NPA, Nombembe said, had disclosed an amount of R423-million in irregular expenditure in the year to March 2008.
Audit evidence obtained by the auditor-general showed that the R423-million figure had actually been “understated by a potential R86-million”.
The Sunday Times has established that the R86-million irregular expenditure included R30-million given to a company to conduct surveillance operations on behalf of the NPA.
The NPA has an annual budget of R1.8-billion.
In the report, Nombembe said his audit had found complete disregard of the law in the NPA in the awarding of tenders.
Listed among the irregular tenders were:
# R54-million worth of tenders to various consultants, including forensic auditors and intelligence companies, to help the Scorpions with their investigations;
# R66-million paid to the rental company, Rentworks, to rent vehicles;
# An R11-million tender awarded to a security and intelligence company in KwaZulu-Natal. Three NPA officials have been suspended for taking kickbacks from the company;
# R62-million paid to a facilities management company for the NPA’s headquarters in Silverton, Pretoria;
# An additional R35-million paid to the same facilities management company for services not in terms of the contract; and
# Tenders worth R113-million approved without proper delegation of powers.
According to the auditor-general’s report, the NPA flouted the law by awarding tenders to suppliers who did not qualify and were not on the approved database of suppliers.
In some instances the NPA deviated from regulations by awarding contracts worth millions of rands to service providers without putting the contracts out to tender.
Some contractors were appointed and paid millions despite not having been approved by the “authorised official”.
The auditor-general also took a swipe at the NPA for failing to account for criminal assets forfeited to the state.
He said the NPA unit responsible had “failed to disclose forfeiture assets and monies from confiscation and forfeiture orders in the financial statements”.
NPA spokesman Tlali Tlali had not responded to written questions at the time of going to press.
http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=870734
Die berig wat ek hier onder aanhaal bevorder nie juis die debat oor die verband tussen armoede en misdaad nie. Dit is hoofsaaklik 'n spieëlbeeld van wat die man in die straat glo - en hoe armer hy is, hoe meer skuil hy agter armoede vir sy oortredinge. Armoede word waarskynlik eintlik verwelkom want dit regverdig die hool waarin ons leef: Ons kan 'n vinger na iets behalwe ons self wys...en wie hou nou eintlik van 'n *ryk* man? Selfs die Bybel sê dat die rykes met moeite die hemel sal inkom. Dit maak dit maklik om die blaam te verplaas na iets buite ons self. Ons kan dus maar voortgaan met ons misdadige lewens (en CD's en DVD's onwettig gebruik), welgeluksalig in ons wete dat ons nie te blameer is vir ons *afwykings* nie!
Ek het veral aan die begin van hierdie blog heelwat ruimte aan die armoede-kwessie bestee en herhaal maar net dat die verband tussen misdaad en armoede nie eenvoudig is nie en dat ons opvoeding en kultuur ook ter sake is.
Let op die stukkie breedsprakigheid wat apartheid ook hierby insleep:
"Sociologists feel that the unusual violence associated with crime here
has to do with cultural 'depersonalisation' which has been the net
outcome of the repression associated with apartheid. The culture then
becomes self perpetuating and worsens. Perpetrators see the victims as
'other' and not as a part of their culture...."
Ek wys veral in my opmerkings oor Swart Kultuur dat ook hierdie punt nie so eenvoudig is nie.
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4646812
NEWS
Poverty singled out as the cause of escalating crime
October 6, 2008
Johannesburg - Most South Africans believe that poverty is the root cause of escalating crime levels in the country, a survey by TNS Research Surveys revealed on Monday.
"Three quarters of the 2000 adults from the seven major metropolitan areas of South African cities agreed that crime was mainly caused by poverty," The company's director of Innovation and Development Neil Higgs said.
While this view was held by the majority of people from various cultural, economic and religious spheres, it was those living in informal settlements and backyard dwellings who strongly agreed.
Eighty-four percent of those living in shacks held this view, followed closely by hostel residents and backyard dwellers at 72 and 77 percent respectively.
"The extreme differences in perspective on poverty as a root cause amongst shack dwellers show the desperate circumstances in which these people feel that they are and the possible desperate measures they see happening all around them by those who want a better life. The urgent need for service delivery, at the very least, is tangible here," Higgs said.
The survey also looked at perceptions held by South Africans regarding the impact of racial discrimination from the past on crime.
Only 51 percent of those surveyed blamed past injustices as the root cause of crime. The majority of white people (30 percent) surveyed disagreed on this while 65 percent of Indians and 55 percent of blacks and coloureds agreed.
"Sociologists feel that the unusual violence associated with crime here has to do with cultural 'depersonalisation' which has been the net outcome of the repression associated with apartheid. The culture then becomes self perpetuating and worsens. Perpetrators see the victims as 'other' and not as a part of their culture," Higgs said.
While the study generally found that most South Africans believed that crime was not going down, they were hypocritical in that they continued to buy pirated DVD's and CD's and refrained from reporting those they knew to be buying stolen goods.
"Over eight out of ten people feel that crime levels are not dropping, yet a fifth of these very people admit their willingness to buy pirated goods. A quarter of people surveyed know others who have bought stolen goods. Had these people been reported to the police, the market for stolen goods would disappear," he said. - Sapa