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R39.95 X1Q36KRH-VI140515
DONDERDAG 14 MEI 2015
WWW.VISTANEWS.CO.ZA
Land owner shot
GRATIS
Gives statement about zamazamas Alet van der Walt AFTER four years of phoning the police, laying charges, hiring security guards and losing millions of rands, Ron Mizen (57) was hospitalised with a gunshot wound. On Friday, 8 May, Mizen’s statement was taken by police in his hospital bed in the Mediclinic Welkom. He said his troubles all began about four years ago when illegal miners started to look for gold on the old mine property he had bought in 2007. Mizen bought the property, known as the FSG head office and golf course, from a mining company. He had to enlist the help of security guards to prevent illegal miners and scrap metal thieves from literally carrying away everything on the land between Welkom and Odendaalsrus. The zama-zamas are interested in the gold dust which can be found around the old railway line and the area where a gold plant used to be. The thieves stripped old buildings and stole the corrugated roof of an entire building in a single night.
Mizen knew he had to flee the scene. He managed to still walk a distance after phon ing for help. Mizen laid at least two charges per month at the local police station. However, none of the cases were ever solved. At times he had to chase 30 to 40 illegal miners off of his property. The illegal miners, who are Sesotho speaking, are washing gold dust on the small holding and to get water, they damaged the municipal water pipe which supplies water to the property. As a result of this, a water bill of R200 000 was added to Mizen’s woes. He said since December the illegal miners had become more aggressive and shots were even fired at the guards. His workers were also threatened. In April the invaders started to shoot at Mizen – he was fortunate
enough to escape death. He said he had tried to lay charges of attempted murder, but the police said since he had not been hit by a bullet, it was not attempted murder. On Wednesday, 6 May, none of the guards who worked the night shift reported for duty and Mizen decided to patrol the property himself. At 22:00 he was patrolling his land. He suddenly heard a noise in the area where the men usually washed the gold dust. He decided to investigate and walked right into the deadly ambush of the zama-zamas. Suddenly he could see people moving around in the bush and shots were fired at him. A bullet hit him just below his right knee. Mizen knew he had to flee the scene. He managed to still walk a distance after phoning for help. His security company rushed to the scene, while also calling an ambulance. A charge of attempted murder was laid, and the police are investigating the matter. Mizen was discharged from hospital on Tuesday (12/05).
RECOVERING from a gunshot wound which could have crippled him for life, Ron Mizen gave his statement to the police from his hospital bed. Photo: Supplied
CFO of Matjhabeng in court on fraud charges Marti Will THE chief financial officer (CFO) of the Matjhabeng Municipality was arrested by the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Commercial Crimes Unit and appeared in court on charges of fraud recently. The charges levied against Thabiso Tsoaeli implicate him in tender rigging amounting to R6 million. This involved a company called Round Strategies from Randburg, and was committed over a period of five months. Tsoaeli was previously the chief financial officer (CFO) of the West Rand District Municipality.
He then worked in the Dihlabeng Municipality, before coming to Matjhabeng. Vista asked the Matjhabeng Municipality for an official comment on this matter. In the press enquiry Vista stated that although presumed innocent until proven guilty, the CFO is in a position of trust. Vista asked if he should not be removed from his position as CFO until the case had been finalised. Furthermore, Vista understands that the CFO is still staying in a guesthouse at about R20 000 per month. The municipality is paying for this.
The policy of council is that he can only stay in a guesthouse for three months after appointment. He has now been staying there for 12 months. Kgojane Matutle, official spokesperson for the municipality, says: “We can confirm that the chief financial officer, Thabiso Tsoaeli, notified the municipal manager, the executive mayor and the speaker prior to his court appearance. He wrote a letter to inform his principals following a call from the SAPS to appear in court. “He has since made a brief appearance in court and he is still awaiting charges.
“Tsoaeli is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. “We can also confirm that the CFO is paying for his accommodation and therefore the allegations thereof are untrue,” the municipality stated. ) Last week (07/05) Vista reported that the former mayor of Matjhabeng, Mathabo Leeto (who is now the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture), and the former municipal manager of Matjhabeng, Dr Benny Molokoane (who is now the MEC for Health), again appeared in the Bloemfontein Supreme Court on charges of fraud and corruption involving R13 million.
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