Header image     John 8:7  ...."He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."   John 8:11   ....."Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."  
   

» NEWSPAPER-NW (Archives)

» JOBS
» TENDERS
» CLASSIFIEDS
» HOME/MAIN PAGE
07-Jun-2011 Tel:  014-592 3257      Fax:  011-252 6669    Rustenburg, NW    Submit News: news@platinumweekly.co.za  Request Quote:  ads@platinumweekly.co.za
       Northern Cape News                  
Your Latest Northern Cape News

Supreme Court ruled against Block

      
Upington - The Supreme Court of Appeal this week ruled against Northern Cape ANC chairperson and MEC for economic affairs John Block’s salt mining company, which has for years been mining with a forged permit.
Judge Azhar Cachalia scolded the SAPS for not investigating the forged mining licence and the DMR (Department of mineral resources) for not holding anyone accountable for the corruption.
According to the SAPS, their investigation into the forged mining licence was nearly complete.
The illegal mining activities has been going on at Vrysoutpan near Upington.The Supreme Court charged costs to be shared by the DMR and SA Salt.
The saga began in July 2005 when Saamwerk applied for a mining licence, which the regional manager of the DMR accepted as there was no record of anyone else holding a right or permit to mine salt on Vrysoutpan property. Only when Saamwerk submitted its labour and social plan in December 2006, did SA Salt claim the right to mine the property.
It appeared the DMR initially insisted that SA Salt’s permit had expired and the public works department demanded it to vacate the property in favour of Saamwerk. Later on the DMR changed its position. It now said it “had no record of having issued” the permit SA Salt claimed to have, contradicting its earlier position that the permit had expired.

  In November 2006 Block and then ANC mayor and regional chairperson for Upington, Gift van Staden, became SA Salt directors.
Judge Cachalia described how in 2007 the minerals department had arranged a high-level meeting – including both the regional manager and an official from its head office in Pretoria.
Block, attending for SA Salt, produced the original permit with which they claimed to be mining. After the meeting, the DMR declared the permit valid.
Saamwerk turned to the Northern Cape High Court.
In its affidavit the minerals department said it had approved Saamwerk’s application “through bona fide error” because SA Salt’s “permit” had not been captured on the computer system.
At the 2009 high court hearing Saamwerk’s handwriting expert proved SA Salt’s permit false and judge Hennie Lacock declared it invalid and Saamwerk to be the holder of the right.
Judge Cachalia said: “At the very least one would have expected Block, who on SA Salt’s behalf had produced the permit ... to have explained where he had got it.”
Saamwerk lodged a claim of forgery with the Saps two years ago & never got any feedback. Saamwerk will now proceed with their salt mining plans.

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Your latest Kuruman, Upington, Kimberley, Prieska, De Aar, Springbok, Colesberg, Richmond, and Victoria West news
Platinum Weekly Newspaper Rustenburg