Malema denies involvement in alleged plot to remove former intelligence inspector-general
via The Namibian3 min read
Economic Freedom Fighters EFF leader Julius Malema has denied allegations of conspiring to remove former intelligence inspector-general Setlhomamaru Dintwe. Malema's denial comes in response to an affidavit submitted to the Madlanga Commission, addressing questions about WhatsApp exchanges between suspended head of crime intelligence Feroz Khan and businessman Muhammad Sayed, where Malema's name was mentioned. The commission heard that Khan allegedly used Sayed as an intermediary to communicate with Malema and channel draft parliamentary questions through the EFF leader. Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson suggested this arrangement raised concerns about a possible quid pro quo, where Khan might have used the EFF to attack rivals in parliament and gain protection, while Malema was allegedly assisted in procuring contracts through the Bertobrite company. Malema stated he could not confirm the authenticity of the WhatsApp exchanges and denied orchestrating Dintwe's removal. He also defended receiving information from various sources as part of his work as an MP, citing examples like public disclosures about donations to the EFF and his wife's residence, as well as meetings with law enforcement officials like KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi regarding the AKA murder investigation. Malema maintained that receiving information to hold public officials accountable was not inherently improper and denied knowledge of the specific exchanges between Sayed and Khan, a
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Former Namibian Olympian cyclist Dan Craven, founder of Onguza Bicycles, recently launched Africa's first 32-inch bicycle in Windhoek. This new oversize wheel standard is emerging in the mountain bike and gravel cycling markets, and Craven believes it is the future for Namibia, offering a smoother ride on rough terrain. The bicycle was developed in collaboration with King Price Insurance. Craven highlighted the craftsmanship of master builders Sakeus Mufenge, Petrus Mufenge, and Sackaria Nkolo, who hand-build Onguza's bicycles using traditional methods. Onguza Bicycles, established four years ago in Omaruru, recently received international recognition, winning the best bicycle award at the Monocle Magazine Design Awards for their custom-built 'Bliksem' model. The company has expanded its reach, with bicycle shops in London, New York, and Amsterdam, and customers in various global cities, demonstrating that products handcrafted in Namibia can achieve international demand.
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Must ReadPortia Anyamba, a former South African Air Force brigadier general, has been sentenced to six months in jail in the United States for acting as a foreign agent and providing false information during a security clearance application. Anyamba, 59, pleaded guilty to these charges, which included making false statements about her contact with foreign government representatives. She had been working at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, described as the US's largest science and energy laboratory. The US Attorney鈥檚 Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee stated that Anyamba, while seeking a US government security clearance, was in regular contact with an intelligence officer from South Africa's State Security Agency SSA. FBI agents observed Anyamba meeting with this individual, identified in court documents as OI-1, who was also affiliated with the South African Embassy in Washington. During an interception by FBI personnel, a laptop computer was retrieved from Anyamba prior to a planned meeting with OI-1. The FBI's Special Agent in Charge of the Nashville Field Office, Terence Reilly, commented that Anyamba's actions as an agent for South Africa "placed national security at risk." Anyamba was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and fined $9,500. The case has been reported in the US but has not yet featured prominently in South African news.