Daily Archives: May 29, 2012

Family mourn after tot dies in Doha fire

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iol news pic SA boy Doha fire may 29

Doha, Qatar – Investigators in Qatar have opened a state-ordered probe into a mall fire that killed 19 people, including 13 children, at a daycare centre catering to the Gulf nation’s expatriate communities.

The inquest began on Tuesday amid questions by Qatari commentators and others about permitting such child care centres in commercial buildings.

Rescue crews had to hack through the roof of the vast Villaggio mall on Monday to reach the child care facility.

Among the victims were two-year-old New Zealand triplets, four children from Spain and a 15-month-old toddler from South Africa.

Another South African – Shameega Charles, a 29-year-old teacher from Mitchells Plain in Cape Town – was one of four teachers who died.

Earlier on Tuesday the South African international relations department confirmed the two deaths.

IOL news may 29 Mideast Qatar-Fire~4

The unidentified father of a child killed after a fire took hold of the Villaggio Mall, in Doha’s west end is comforted in the Qatari capital of Doha.

AP

“The two (South Africans were) a female teacher who worked at the mall’s day care centre and a … toddler who was at the day care centre,” said spokesman Nelson Kgwete in a statement.

 “The South African government would like to express its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Qatar, and especially the families of the deceased…,” Kgwete said.

 According to the Cape Argus, Charles’s family could not be reached on Tuesday morning. However, online tributes and condolences poured in on social networks.

“I’m still at a loss for words,” reads a blog post from a friend who identified himself as PJ “I can’t believe someone that I have never seen without a beautiful smile on her face is gone for good.

“They say the good die young and Shameega, you were as good as they come. I just pray your son and your mom have the strength to carry on without you.”

Moeneeb Emeran, father of 15-month-old Umar, who died in the fire told the Cape Argus in a brief telephone interview early on Tuesday that he and other family members were at the mortuary in Doha trying to get the bodies of Umar and Charles released.

Emeran, who is from the Bo-Kaap, said he was confident that the bodies would be released, but there was a problem because Charles’s passport had been destroyed in the fire.

He said they had not yet received news about the cause of the blaze.

Emeran told the Cape Argus that his family was coping under the difficult circumstances and were receiving support from the SA embassy in Doha.

Earlier on Tuesday a Cape Times report quoted the father as saying: ”My 18-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter are pretty cut up about it. They are not taking it well. The younger ones, 11 and 10, are immature and haven’t absorbed it yet.

“I’m holding up well, but it is very tough having to identify the body. My wife, on the other hand, is not taking it well. She carried him for nine months and spent a lot of time with Umar.”

Umar had been at the Gympanzee nursery on and off for about 20 days.

According to the Cape Times, Emeran described his son as compassionate and said he would miss his tantrums. The toddler loved hugging his mother.

“One minute he was hugging my wife, the next he is throwing his dummy or bottle on the ground.

“He was fantastic. He was naughty, but everybody loved him.”

 Residents have described the fire as Qatar’s greatest tragedy in recent years.

Of the 17 people injured, 13 remained in the hospital on Monday night.

The Qatari health minister said suffocation due to smoke inhalation caused the deaths.

Thick smoke and heat and malfunctioning sprinkler systems severely inhibited rescue efforts.

Firefighters eventually had to go in through the roof, officials said, adding that rescue teams had not been initially alerted to the fact that many of those trapped inside were children.

“We tried our best, but when we got there, the children were trapped inside. We are sorry for what happened. We tried as much as we could to save these people,” the minister of state said. – IOL

Baby Wade death: doctors to be quizzed

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baby wades mother

By ZELDA VENTER

A Pretoria High Court judge will call doctors who were on duty at the Pretoria West Hospital at the time when two-month-old Baby Wade was treated there – a week before he died in another hospital of brain and other injuries – to establish whether his parents could be held responsible for his death.

Judge Cynthia Pretorius wanted to know from accused Marissa Rudman and her former lover Nolan Schoeman whether they blamed that hospital for the death of their son. The judge said she battled to understand the couple’s defence regarding Baby Wade’s injuries.

The baby died in the Steve Biko Hospital. He had such extensive brain injuries that the court was told that part of his brain had already died by the time he was admitted. The baby also had 22 fractured ribs, two broken forearms which were in the process of healing and bruises all over his body.

A doctor who examined the body after his death on April 7, 2009, said the bruises and injuries were so severe and visible that anyone could see them with the naked eye.

Yet both Rudman and Schoeman, who bathed the baby and cared for him, swore under oath they never saw any injuries – apart from a few bruises around his face and head.

They explained that they were under the impression the marks they noticed on the baby’s face were a result of the treatment he had received at Pretoria West Hospital.

The baby was taken to that hospital a week before his death, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Rudman, however, discharged the baby as she believed “the doctors did not know what they were doing”.

The nurses and doctors at one stage held the baby down to enable them to insert a drip into his head, she said.

Judge Pretorius said on Monday that after she had read through all the evidence, it was still unclear whether the parents are blaming the Pretoria West Hospital for their child’s fate.

She asked the counsel for each accused whether their clients felt that the staff at Pretoria West Hospital were to blame for the baby’s “horrendous” injuries, especially the brain damage which caused his death.

Rudman, through her advocate, said she believed the hospital was responsible for some of the marks on the baby’s face, but not for the other major injuries, such as the brain damage.

Schoeman was vague on this point earlier in his evidence. He claimed he was under the influence of drugs and could not remember everything clearly, but now said he blamed all the injuries on the Pretoria West Hospital.

The judge said she was going to re-call the doctor who treated Baby Wade at the Pretoria West Hospital and any other doctor there who treated him at the time.

This would be to the advantage of the accused, she said, after they had tried in vain to obtain a paediatrician to testify on their behalf that the injuries of the baby were not clearly visible.

Judge Pretorius turned down an application by the State to have two child abuse charges against the couple amended. It emerged that they were charged under the previous Child Care Act.

The judge only gave her ruling and said she would deliver her judgment on this later.

The prosecution will still try to obtain a guilty verdict on these charges. The accusations levelled against the accused basically remained the same as what they would have been under the new act.

The murder charge is not affected.

Members of the Child Abuse Action Group attended Monday’s hearing. Lucy Redivo, spokeswoman for the group, said they would keep an eye on the trial until the end.

“The facts are just shocking and we would like to see justice done,” she said.

The case will resume on Wednesday.

Pretoria News


Uncle of Spear defacer travels for march

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defacer Louis Mabokela

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 The uncle of one of the men who defaced The Spear a week ago has travelled from Limpopo to Johannesburg to join the march against the work and was one of the first to arrive at the protest on Tuesday.

Stephen Sefofa, uncle of Louis Mabokela who was caught by television cameras smearing black paint across the work of President Jacob Zuma, said he came to Johannesburg to support the protest.

“An insult is an insult…let us be one,” he said.

Sefofoa was speaking on behalf of his nephew who was with him at the march but deferred to his uncle when questioned by journalists.

Mabokela laid a charge of assualt against the security guard who subdued him in a struggle after he damaged the painting.

Paul Molesiwa, 36, appeared in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the assault.

In video footage of the incident Molesiwa can be seen headbutting and flipping Mabokela onto the ground where he cable ties his hands behind his back.

Sefofa said he was glad City Press had withdrawn the work and apologised. A member of the public, Sipho Mweli, said he came from Mpumalanga to join the protest and to support President Jacob Zuma.

Around his neck he had hung a cardboard on which he had written, “Draw your white father naked not our president.”

He said the placard was aimed at Brett Murray and he challenged him to draw a white man in the manner he has drawn Zuma.

Elijah Tauraza, also from Mpumalanga, said the painting was intended to belittle Zuma.

“How do you portray the president exposed when you have not seen him that way, even when he grew up?” he said.

The painting by Murray needed to be destroyed, he said.

“Keeping it in any form was an insult to Zuma and South Africans,” he said.

The crowd at Zoo Lake numbered several hundred mid-morning. The group was singing liberation songs and dancing to music played over speakers on the back of a truck. – Sapa


Bafana Bafana start week two with a full squad of players

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BY Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana started their second week of camp with a full contingent of 27 players following the arrival of six players from Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United who missed the first week of preparations due to the Nedbank Cup final played on Saturday (26 May).

Bafana Bafana will face Ethiopia in a 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualifier on Sunday, 3 June 2012.
Kickoff is at 15h00.

The three players who were on standby – Luvhengo Mungomeni, Lehlohonolo Masalesa and Thami Sangweni – have been released.

Striker Lehlohonolo Majoro, who was a late call-up as a precaution to the non-arrival of Eleazar Rodgers who was involved in the National First Division play-offs, will continue with camp.
Three other players who started camp with niggling injuries – Siyabonga Sangweni, Siyabonga Nomvethe and Oupa Manyisa – have rejoined their teammates at full training after recovering from their injuries.

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane told the media that he was still waiting for an official word from Moeneeb Josephs regarding his non-arrival in camp.

“This is now an administrative issue, but as the technical team we also have to apply our minds because we have a camp to run. We haven’t received any official correspondence from the Football Association or the player, we only heard about his retirement in the media but would still like to meet the player and get to the bottom of this so we can all move forward. As Bafana Bafana we haven’t closed the door on Moeneeb and he is most welcome to be part of the national team. We need to give him a hearing before we can rule him out. I love Moeneeb’s passion and he always gives his all when he is in the national team,” said Mosimane.

“Today is the official start of camp according to FIFA rules, but should he not be able to arrive, we will not bring in any replacement as we have three goalkeepers. But I need to bring to your attention that this is a very crucial week for us and for the country as we embark on the road to 2014 Brazil, and we would like to focus on players who are in camp as we approach the match against Ethiopia on Sunday. I think that’s where we will leave this issue until we get correspondence from either the player or the Football Association.”

Bafana Bafana captain Steven Pienaar believes the squad now needs to focus as this is the final week before the match.

“The first week of training went very well and now that we have all the players it’s time we focus and go for the maximum six points against Ethiopia and Botswana. We know what lies ahead for the team and the country especially after the failure of 2012 AFCON. Right now we have to enjoy our game and have a smile when we get onto the park so we can leave them on the faces of our supporters following a win,” said Pienaar.

“As for me, I have had a great second half season after moving clubs and I hope it will rub off on the national team. I was rejuvenated after coming back from injury, I came back more hungry. I know Ethiopia will not be an easy side but we know what we need to do, what is expected of us. What makes the game even more difficult is that we go in as favourites, but we know it is 11 v 11 and we are not playing amateurs so we have to work for victory – but we have the capability to do so,” said Pienaar.
On a sad note, midfielder Thulani Serero has been released from camp following the passing away of his father on Sunday (27 May) night.

“Our deepest condolences to Serero during these trying times, and we ask him to stay strong as he deals with his sad loss. Our heartfelt condolences also go to his family and we pray that they find comfort in prayer. Serero has been requested to take as much time as he wants during this difficult time and he has our support because it is not easy to lose someone close to you,” said Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane.

Brazil cruise to victory over KENYA

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BY Obakeng Maje

Kenya proved no match for Brazil as the South Americans cantered to a 4-0 win in an 8-Nation International tournament Group B game played at the Athlone Stadium on Monday night.

It took Brazil just five minutes to turn their early dominance into a goal, when central defender Luan Teixeira got up high to head home a corner kick.

Two minutes later and the South Americans were close to adding a second when midfield playmaker Misael Bueno curled a shot into the cross-bar from 18-yards out.

The team in yellow continued to dominate proceedings, with some very neat triangle football making Kenya work hard, while entertaining the crowd.

The east African side’s task was made all the more difficult after 20 minutes when their numbers were cut to 10 following a second yellow card for Tairus Omondi.
Things got worse for Kenya in the 19th minute when Bueno forced his way through the centre of the Kenya defence.

Goal-keeper Joel Bataro made half a save, but the ball rolled towards goal, where Kenyan defender Vincent Otieno couldn’t do much else than walk the ball into his own net.

Again a near miss followed the goal as from the next attack Bruno Mendes strode forward and sent in a low drive, which was tipped onto the post by Bataro.

There was time in the first half however for a third goal when three minutes before the interval Kenya’s weakness in the air was again exposed as Wellington dos Santos headed home from a free kick.

The second half saw Brazil taking the foot off the pedal somewhat as they made three second half substitutions, the game very much already in the bag.

They dominated most of the possession in the second half, but didn’t get too much in the way of goal chances.
Until the 70th minute, that is, when dos Santos got his second goal of the night, again a header from a free kick.
With 15 minutes to go the Kenyans were reduced to only nine men, this time due to a straight red card for Collins Shivachi.

Brazil was close to a fifth goal when Mendes’ header crashed into the upright.

Unfortunately there was not even to be a consolation goal for the African side when in injury time right back Islam Omar struck an excellent low drive from 30-yards out, but Brazil keeper Mattheus de Oliveira dived across his goal to tip the ball around the post.

Classy Japan edge out spirited Cameroon

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BY Obakeng Maje and SAFA

Japan picked up their second successive win in the 8-Nation International Tournament at Athlone on Monday (28 May) night with a 2-1 victory over Cameroon.

The second game of the evening served up a dish of high quality football, with Japan leading the way with some scintillating soccer on the night.
The Japanese managed to find their rhythm and combinations early on, looking sharp and inventive on the ball.

After five minutes an intricate and quickly executed move inside the Cameroon box saw the ball worked to Ryuji Hirota, but from a tight angle he shot across goal.

It was a reward for their excellent early play that the Asian side took the lead in the 14th minute.

The goal arrived when Shuto Minimi found a moment of inspiration to play the neatest of through balls to Hirota.

Huirota found himself one-on-one with goal keeper Kerrido Haschou, who was wrong-footed as the Japan striker held his nerve to clinically side-foot into the bottom corner.

Japan continued to dominate the game with their decisive and intelligent passing and nearly doubled their advantage on 26 minutes when Minimi crashed a free kick into the wall.

Cameroon had managed a few efforts from long range, but finally got a proper chance on goal in the 31st minute when Charles Etoundi burst goal-wards, but his low shot was well saved by Matatoshi Kushibiki.

Three minutes before the break Japan had their second when Minimi scored from 12-yards out on the left after Shinya Yajima’s clever assist.

The west African side needed something to get back into the contest after the break and it duly arrived in the 52nd minute when Emmanuel Ewangue’s shot flew into the arm of Alberto Manchi and a penalty was awarded.
The initial spot kick from Yazid Emane was saved, but a retake was ordered after Kushibiki was ruled to have moved to early; this time the Cameroon number 10 making no mistake.

Japan’s outstanding ability was however soon to come to the fore again when after 65 minutes Takuno Arano attempted the audacious: a 45-yard chip on goal, which was only kept out by a last ditch save by the back-pedalling Cameroon keeper Haschou.
Two minutes later Arano was again nearly on the score-sheet, this occasion being denied by a brave close-range block by Haschou.

By the time Shinya Yajima had a near-post shot saved, the lively Cameroon support in the stands died now as they realised the Asian side had retained their dominance once again.
But to Cameroon’s credit they never gave up trying – Etoundi remained full of running down the right wing, but never managed to properly threaten the Japan goal with three shots in 10 minutes.
But in the end Japan had no problems holding on for what was a deserved win from what may rank as the game of the tournament thus far.
 

I love him…. but he wants to have affairs

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(R)__IndecentProposal(2)

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QUESTION: Fifteen years ago, I fell madly in love with a charismatic artist. He said at the time that he could never swear to be faithful, but I was so smitten I didn’t listen. A year later I discovered that he’d been seeing another woman, so I left him. Nobody else in the intervening years has come close to filling that void and two months ago we reconnected and ended up in bed. He says he wants me to move in with him, but also that he still can’t promise fidelity, as he doesn’t believe in it. I feel – at the age of 49 – that maybe I should live with the hurt in order to be with the man I love but my friends say I’m mad. What should I do?

 

ANSWER: I suppose an honest adulterer is better than the lying variety, but neither make easy bed-mates. I think such people are best suited to partners who will behave with equal recklessness, so no one person shoulders all the pain. It’s clear you don’t want leeway to sleep with other people, so there will always be an imbalance.

Every time he’s away from home for a long time, you will fret about who he’s seeing, while he will not have to live with that anxiety.

However, it is also true that there are people who would rather experience an overwhelming passion – whatever the painful consequences – than choose a steadier and less ardent path. A surprising number of women value living with a fascinating man over living with a faithful one.

It’s interesting to note you feel far more able now – at the age of 49 – to tolerate the artist’s wandering eye than when you were in your 30s. Evidence seems to suggest that people’s romantic priorities change as they age.

A recent survey for Saga Zone showed that only 36 percent of respondents aged 55 and over felt that sexual infidelity was totally immoral, compared with 42 percent in a younger age group.

Older people seem to feel more pragmatic about straying. They know that ‘nobody’s perfect’.

The real questions here concern respect and resilience. Will your self-esteem drop through the floor if your lover has other girlfriends? If so, you will be living the life of a whipped dog, cringing in humiliation and despair. Surely no amount of passion is worth that suffering?

If, on the other hand, you can find sufficient self-worth in your day-to-day achievements, your friends and your relationship, then his trysts with other women may, with an effort of will, prove tolerable – but only if you do truly ‘share’ great love with your man. This painter is clearly the man of your dreams, but do you know for sure that you are the woman of his?

Yes, he has asked you to move in with him, but that might just be because then he’d have sex on tap and a free rein to hook up with anyone else who takes his fancy.

The bottom line is that this relationship – in its proffered form – can only work if your boyfriend feels that you are as alluring and worth prizing as you believe him to be. You need to know that he has sufficient powers of commitment to remain in a long-term relationship because he values your spiritual, intellectual and emotional connection over your sexual one.

If this is not the case, you could easily be replaced by someone else he suddenly believes to be more compelling company. What could be more humiliating than to behave like a doormat and then find yourself discarded? – Daily Mail

Madiba moving back to Qunu

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IOL pic may11 nelson mandela

 

Former president Nelson Mandela is moving back to his home in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, on Tuesday, President Jacob Zuma has announced.

Mandela was in good health, Zuma said on Monday.

“We constantly assure him of the love, support and good wishes of millions of South Africans and people around the world,” he said.

In a statement, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said Mandela recently relocated to his Houghton home while his Qunu residence was being refurbished.

He said Mandela resided in both residences interchangeably, depending on his wishes at any particular time.

“He has indicated his wish to go back to Qunu at this point.”

The presidency used the opportunity to remind all of the need to respect the privacy of Mandela and his family during the relocation. – Sapa

ANC, gallery held ‘consultations’

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goodman gallery

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ANC and Goodman Gallery officials had “consultations” on the eve of a march to protest against a painting depicting President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

“We are not in a position to deal with details now,” African National Congress spokesman Jackson Mthembu told SABC radio news.

“All we are prepared to say is, yes, indeed there have been consultations between the ANC and the Goodman Gallery last night and we are quite happy with the outcome of those consultations.”

A strong police presence was expected outside the gallery in Tuesday. The march was organised to “advance the need for unity as a nation and to register a need for common and acceptable values”, Mthembu said earlier.

“At the end of the march, the alliance will make important announcements following extensive interaction with all parties involved,” he said.

The protest is against the “The Spear”, a painting by Brett Murray, which was defaced last Tuesday. It was part of Murray’s “Hail to the Thief II” exhibition on show at the gallery.

The march was expected to start from Zoo Lake park at 10am and proceed down Jan Smuts Avenue. About 15,000 protesters were expected, Johannesburg metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said. – Sapa

Girl’s body in freezer: mom’s lover in dock

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Copy of girls body in freezer

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An Eersterus man allegedly behind the death of his girlfriend’s nine-year-old daughter is said to have made certain confessions about the killing.

This was revealed during the first court appearance of Gerald Martin Kibidoe, 47, in the Correctional Services Court on Monday.

State prosecutor Nkosinathi Katshelo told the court, without revealing details, that Kibidoe had made a written confession.

Kibidoe faces a charge of murder. It is alleged that he is responsible for the death of Danielle Gaysman.

Danielle’s body was found in her mother’s fridge on Sunday.

She had been reported missing on Saturday afternoon.

Pamphlets on Danielle were distributed in Eersterus shortly after she disappeared from the front garden of her mother’s Begonia Street home.

She was formally reported missing at about 3pm on Saturday.

Kibidoe was arrested late on Saturday afternoon after allegedly having helped the police search for Danielle the entire afternoon.

 

He told the court that he wanted to apply for Legal Aid.

The prosecutor asked the court to grant an order for Kibidoe to be detained at the Mamelodi West police station as he had yet to do a “pointing out”.

Kibidoe indicated to the Legal Aid lawyer – who had not formally been placed on record – that he refused to do any pointing out.

Magistrate Chris Chokoe advised the State to negotiate with Kibidoe’s lawyer about this.

“I suggest you resolve the matter through negotiations,” the magistrate said.

“If need be, make a formal application to the court.

“It is (Kibidoe’s) constitutional right to refuse to do the pointing out. The application by the State is then formally ruled down pending the outcome of the negotiations.”

Kibidoe is to be detained at Pretoria Central Prison until his next appearance.

The case was postponed to June 4 for profiling and further investigation.

While Kibidoe was making his brief appearance in court, relatives of the girl were grappling their loss and questions about what could have driven someone to commit such a hideous crime.

Meanwhile a relative who asked not to be named said it seemed there had been an argument.

According to the relative, Kibidoe had been like a concerned parent throughout the search for the child.

“He was comforting my cousin and telling her that Danielle would come back home to her,” the man said.

“When everybody went out to search, he remained behind and said he was waiting for (Danielle) to return home.”

It is said Kibidoe did not act suspiciously. He spent the night with Danielle’s mother and two other siblings, giving them words of encouragement. But the following day, someone asked for water with ice.

“The day before, (Kibidoe) had not allowed anyone entry into the house,” the relative said.

“He would get everything that we asked for.

“A police officer asked for water with ice. When my aunt said the person should open the freezer for the ice, (Kibidoe) stood up and went to the door.

“When my cousin started screaming after discovering the body in the deep freezer, Kibidoe bolted. We gave chase.”

The enraged community was baying for his blood but did not catch Kibidoe. He was eventually arrested by the police.

It is alleged that police have not informed the family or community where Kibidoe is being held.

The relative said the family did not even know he was appearing in court on monday.

“We wanted to be in court so that he can look us in the eyes and explain what he did.

‘We always thought he was a good father because when we were here he would make food for the children and when it got late, he would call them to come take a bath. We just don’t understand why it has happened.”

Pretoria News