UCDP chairperson Tshegofatso Beatrice Motshegare has called on women to speak out against abuse to recognise the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Child Abuse.

“I would like to appeal to all South Africans to come out of their secluded corners and speak out. We can participate as family members, neighbours, friends and relatives.

“Our silence perpetuates the abuse. As mothers we should be at the forefront to protect our children from abusive partners, relatives and strangers.

“In most cases, the mother is the closest person to the child and she is the first to notice when something is wrong. Let us all stand up and stop these criminal acts against women and children. We appeal to government for tougher laws against the perpetrators,” Motshegare said.

The event in the North West took place in Rustenburg last week, with Deputy Minister of Education Enver Surty in attendance.

“It is essential for all our citizens to know their rights and take responsibility for protecting them; however this also means that we all have to respect the rights of others. As part of 16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children, we condemn bullying and killings in our schools,” Surty said.

He said although South Africa’s constitution was regarded as one of the best in the world, particularly on the rights of women and children, the prevalence of violence in South Africa continued to demand urgent attention.

He said the government had taken strides to ensure that women and children were protected.

The deputy minister urged the youth to desist from sexual activities at an early age and for focus on the education.

For more details go to http://thenewage.co.za

The North West’s education department expressed disappointment at the poor showing by pupils in the foundation phases following the dismal performances in the annual national assessment (ANA) results.

The province was ranked eighth, with most of the grades scoring way below the national average marks.

The results were released during a press conference in Mahikeng yesterday and department officials said much work had to be done to improve education in the province.

The most worrying factor is the progressive decline in mathematics marks.

Kids in Grade1 managed to score an average of 63.3% against the national average of 68.1% while those in Grade9 managed a paltry 11.2% against an equally appalling national average of 12.7%.

Education MEC Louisa Mabe said the department was hugely disappointed in the results and would bid to devise ways to improve in the coming year.

“We have not performed well and this situation needs more effort on our part – and we would look at ways of monitoring classroom activities to see what is really happening,” she said.

Mabe said the trend where subject marks declined, the higher the grade, would spell disaster for the province if not addressed urgently.

“We have been putting more effort on the first phase and the grade 12 level but it is time we begin to apply intervention across the board because the results of our Grade9 class are very bad.

“This means we need a crop of managers who go down to assess and monitor activities in schools to make an impact and turn around this situation,” she said.

The MEC also called on school principals to make a better effort, adding that those who failed to show leadership would be forced out.

“We need principals who instil discipline and a good ethos at their schools because dedicated leaders can make a difference.

For more details go to http://thenewage.co.za/

ORLANDO Pirates coach Roger de Sa has raised some concerns about the absence of Sifiso Myeni and Siyabonga Sangweni for tonight’s league fixture against Chippa United.

But De Sa’s spirits should be lifted by the possible return of Benni McCarthy and Thulasizwe Mbuyane from injury.

De Sa should feel further relief that both Myeni and Sangweni, who are both serving suspensions, will be available for the Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.

The Buccaneers visit Chippa at Athlone Stadium and kickoff is at 7.30pm.

Although many among the Bucs fans probably view the Chippa match as nothing but a hors d’oeuvre before the main course on Saturday, De Sa knows how victory would raise confidence levels ahead of the derby.

“We’ll definitely miss Myeni and Sangweni. They’ve been key players to us so far this season,” De Sa was quoted as saying on the club’s website.

“Myeni has been playing extremely well and as a coach you always need your key players for every game.

“But we’ve had such situations before and I trust those available will step up.”

Adding to De Sa’s concerns is the possible absence of Takesure Chinyama, the Zimbabwean striker who injured his ankle last week.

Bucs have won five and drawn one of their past six matches and, on their current form, are unlikely to lose that impressive record to lowly Chippa, who have been battling to find their feet in the top flight.

For more details go to http://www.sowetanlive.co.za

The school’s owner, aged 59, and its principal, who is 27 years old, were arrested after Kamohelo Pitso, 17, was found dead.

His mother, Makhotso Pitso, said the family wanted to know why her son was killed.

She said her son disappeared from her Botshabelo, Free State, home last month. The boy’s body was found on Monday in a veld. Police found 14 initiates aged between 16 and 25 at the initiation school.

“I waited for him to return and three hours later three young men arrived at my house and told me that Kamohelo has joined other initiates at their school,” said the mother.

“A week later the school’s owner came to my house demanding R1500 for Kamohelo’s release and later demanded R3500 after he had graduated.”

Pitso said she was shocked because Kamohelo’s father had told the school’s owner that he was opposed to the boy attending the initiation.

Police spokeswoman Constable Consolation Mokoale said Kamohelo’s body was found near a hill outside Botshabelo.

“He had sustained serious injuries to his body,” Mokoale said.

“There was blood in his mouth, his left elbow has a burn wound. We suspect that he could have died on Sunday and we were only informed on Monday by his principal.”

In the suspects’ possession, police found fake permits allowing the children to attend the initiation school.http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/

Johannesburg – Five cities, 23 days, 32 matches… and half-a-billion rand.

By the time the final whistle blows on the Africa Cup of Nations on February 10, government departments will have spent at least R542m on everything from “creative programmes” for the opening ceremony to immigration control, law enforcement, communications and T-shirts.

Although the soccer tournament is not really a surprise, most of the funding is listed as “unforeseeable and unavoidable expenditure” in October’s adjusted national Budget.

South Africa was due to host Afcon 2017, but last year swopped with the original 2013 host, Libya.

The first two matches and the final are in Joburg; the opening match on January 19 and the final on February 10. Other matches will be played in Port Elizabeth, Mbombela, Rustenburg and Durban. The matches will be played in the stadiums used for the 2010 World Cup.

Not all the spending is noted in the Budget, only the additional spending in the adjusted Budget.

There may be other spending as well. For example, the Department of Transport last week advertised for a service provider to help it develop a transport operation plan for Afcon; this is not specified in the department’s budget.

Last week The Star reported that the City of Joburg has started spending its share, which comes from the Sport and Recreation conditional grant. A Budget document on the revised spending warns that municipalities must have an operational plan that is approved by their council and complies with the hosting minimum requirements.

Joburg’s spending plans include advertising to boost ticket sales, safety brochures for spectators, and branded wristbands, T-shirts, soccer jerseys, golf umbrellas and caps.

City of Joburg spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said the city was “ready and able to provide all of the support services” needed.

“Joburg has proved itself to be Africa’s sporting capital of choice,” said councillor Chris Vondo, the MMC responsible for community development in the City of Joburg.

“Afcon offers us another opportunity to showcase our world-class sporting facilities, including the FNB Stadium and the four training venues, the Orlando, Milpark, Rand and Dobsonville stadiums. It’s also an opportunity to showcase our city and to demonstrate our readiness to host events of this nature.”

Vondo said a capacity crowd was expected for the opening and closing matches at the 94 700-seat stadium on the edge of Soweto. Bafana Bafana play Cape Verde in the opening game.

Modingoane said spectators would be able to use the Gautrain, Rea Vaya buses, an extra 135 buses and passenger trains to get to and from the stadium. Park-and-ride facilities will be set up.

Vondo said safety was a priority. “Emergency services at the games will be particularly strong, and will consist of fire engines, operations controllers, disaster management specialists, event safety officers and medics on bikes.

“The City of Joburg and its people made the key matches of the 2010 Fifa World Cup into events to remember, and we’re looking to creating more lifetime memories with the visitors to our city during the Afcon tournament,” he said.

For more details go to http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – Convicted murderer Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye told the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday his trial has been media-driven, and that the media had misled the public.

“This case has been driven by the media and the media has misled a lot of people,” Maarohanye said while on the stand during his sentencing procedure.

“A lot of what is said in the media is wrong – it’s the truth, the media knows it themselves.”

Maarohanye told the court the media reported he was drunk and driving under the influence of drugs even before he was tested.

On October 16, Magistrate Brian Nemavhidi found Maarohanye and Themba Tshabalala guilty on four counts of murder, two of attempted murder, using drugs, racing on a public road, and driving under the influence of drugs.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala were drag-racing in Protea North on March 8, 2010 when they crashed into a group of schoolboys, killing four and severely injuring two.

Maarohanye told the court he was never given an opportunity to apologise to the boys’ families.

Prosecutor Raymond Mathenjwa, asked Maarohanye why he had stated under oath during the trial that he never used drugs and only saw it on television, but told a social worker he used ecstasy.

“I had a lot of time to reflect on what happened when I was in correctional services… I took ecstasy once or twice a long time ago,” Maarohanye said.

“I said I never took the drugs that were found in my urine.”

Mathenjwa said Maarohanye blamed everyone for what happened and never took responsibility for his actions.

“You are in constant denial, and [are] not remorseful,” Mathenjwa said.

He went on to question Maarohanye on the difference between being regretful and remorseful.

Maarohanye responded: “It has been brought to my attention that I have not been remorseful.”

Mathenjwa asked why he was apologising on Wednesday.

“I’m apologising because I’m human — I have feelings and feel bad about the tragedy,” said Maarohanye.

There were a few comments from the packed public gallery when Maarohanye apologised, with a few family members shaking their heads.

The courtroom was packed, with many people standing. A few schoolchildren, dressed in uniform, were present in court as well.

Earlier, the emotional musician told the court that if he was given a suspended sentence he would establish a trust fund to benefit the families of the schoolboys.

Maarohanye, lead by his attorney Rudi Krause, read an affidavit that was drafted while in prison.

He told the court that the nation was hurt by the accident and that he never planned for the accident to happen.

“The incident changed my life forever and would continue to do so,” Maarohanye read.

Tshabalala’s defence indicated they would not call any witnesses.

Sentencing procedures continue, with the State calling witnesses. – Sapa

The Western Cape High Court jailed Xolile Mngeni for life on Wednesday for the “callous slaughter” of honeymoon tourist Anni Dewani.

Judge Robert Henney handed down 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, which would run concurrently with his life term.

The judge said Mngeni, 25, had come across as a merciless and evil person who consistently showed no remorse.

He went shopping for branded clothing mere hours after the murder, lied to the court, wasted time with a protracted trial and had maintained his innocence throughout despite overwhelming evidence.

“The deceased in this matter did not suspect anything untoward when taken into Gugulethu to be callously slaughtered. She was totally defenceless and left to the mercy of Mziwamadoda Qwabe and the accused to be killed, after she was abandoned by her husband,” the judge said.

Anni’s father Vinod Hindocha, visibly emotional, nodded his head at this remark.

“It’s difficult to imagine the absolute terror and horror she must have endured when she stared down the barrel of the gun… it was an act of shameless cowardice when the accused shot her at point-blank range.”

Dewani, 28, was killed in an allegedly faked hijacking on November 13, 2010, while on honeymoon with her husband Shrien. Her slumped body was found the next day on the backseat of the car.

Mngeni’s accomplices, Zola Tongo and Qwabe, were serving 18 years and 25 years respectively for their roles in the crime, in terms of a plea and sentencing agreement.

British businessman Shrien Dewani, 32, who allegedly organised the hit on his wife, is in the process of being extradited from the UK to stand trial in Cape Town.

A full extradition hearing was likely to be held in July.

Shrien Dewani has repeatedly denied the allegations, and is undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

In an order, Henney said the hotel receptionist who acted as the middleman in the supposed contract killing would not be prosecuted, following his testimony in Mngeni’s trial.

He said Monde Mbolombo was far from the perfect witness and had struggled to comprehend his role, but he was satisfied he had answered frankly and honestly nonetheless.

Mngeni seemed shocked when his sentence was handed down, and stood wide-eyed, with his mouth agape.

He propped up his skinny body by placing an arm on the dock.

Hindocha and his son Anish stared at Mngeni, but he did not make eye contact.

When considering Mngeni’s health – he has a brain tumour – Henney said that in a constitutional democracy, the court should not lose sight of the element of mercy.

“The element of mercy is based on one of our constitutional values, and that is human dignity.”

However, his medical condition in the case of a contract killing was not a substantial and compelling circumstance to deviate from the minimum sentence for premeditated murder.

The court had kept in mind the brutality of the crime, the “absolute arrogance and heartlessness” of Mngeni, the suffering of the Hindocha family, the message to other potential criminals and the country’s tarnished image.

“The perception is easily created that in this country, one can randomly, at a price, approach any person and such a person, without hesitation, would agree to commit such a murder,” Henney said.

“I want to send home the message that the life of a human being at whatever cost is not cheap, no matter what the circumstances may be.” – Sapa

BY Obakeng Maje

Skilpadshek Border post Police recovered 2 657 packets of 20’s Seville illicit cigarettes yesterday at about 10h15 North West police said.

According to information received the police were conducting a search at the arrival searching point at Skilpadshek border post when they noticed a pack of illicit cigarettes hidden underneath a carpet in the boot of a vehicle.

“A thorough search was conducted and more cigarettes were found hidden under the front bumper, rear bumper, under the dashboard, and in a false compartment in the boot next to the petrol tank” Colonel Emelda Setlhako said.

“After completion of the search 2 657 packets of 20’s Seville cigarettes with an estimated value of R37 940.28 were discovered hidden with the intention of smuggling them into the country” She continues.

One suspect a Zimbabwean man aged 24, was arrested and detained and a case of illicit trade in tobacco and tobacco products was opened at Motswedi police station.

He will appear in court soon.

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Rustenburg –

The purpose of the weapons striking miners wielded before the deadly August 16 shooting in Marikana was debated at the Farlam Commission, in Rustenburg, on Tuesday.

Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, for the families of 34 workers shot dead, was cross-examining Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa.

Ntsebeza said the families he represented believed the SA Police Service and Lonmin mine management were responsible for the Marikana shooting.

He asked Mathunjwa: “Is it your evidence that if people are armed with assegais and pangas, it does not necessarily make them a violent people?”

Mathunjwa responded: “That is correct.”

Ntsebeza asked Mathunjwa why he was “unperturbed” by the crowd of armed protesters and their singing and clashing of weapons.

Mathunjwa said: “It is because of where I am coming from. In my culture, it is December now and we will be going back home where I will take my sharpened stick.

“As we sing and dance, we do the clashing of the weapons every time.”

Ntsebeza said that in the Xhosa culture, people attended initiation ceremonies armed to the teeth, but that nothing happened. Sometimes there were stick fights in which people were injured.

Mathunjwa agreed.

Ntsebeza then referred to a song which was led by Amcu national organiser Dumisani Nkalitshana, in Mathunjwa’s presence, during a visit to a hill where workers had gathered on August 16.

The lyrics say: “le NUM sizoyibulala kanjani, iNUM siyayizonda (How can we kill NUM? We hate NUM).”

Ntsebeza asked Mathunjwa to explain the role of songs in cultural events.

At that stage, Lonmin counsel Schalk Burger SC, objected.

“Can my colleague (Ntsebeza) explain what he means by cultural event? What is the meaning of a cultural event? I want to be following but I can’t,” said Burger.

Ntsebeza then asked Mathunjwa to explain the role of songs at ceremonies.

Burger objected again: “What ceremony was it at the koppie (hill)? I don’t know whether he is referring to an event at Loftus (rugby stadium), the gathering at the koppie or a wedding. What kind of gathering is he (Ntsebeza) referring to?”

The commission’s chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, said there was a need to distinguish between the songs and the events.

Ntsebeza said that at stadiums, fans sang songs suggesting that they wanted “to kill and finish off” their opponents.

“When (Orlando) Pirates and (Kaizer) Chiefs play, words like ‘Wafa wafa’ are used. (Die, die, you are going to die),” said Ntsebeza.

“In intense situations, these songs are meant to give courage to those who face confrontation. Students used to do it when they were surrounded by police with dogs.”

The three-member commission is probing the deaths of 44 people in strike-related violence at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, North West.

They include 34 people shot dead by the police, who opened fire while trying to disperse a group of strikers gathered on a hill near the mine on August 16.

In the preceding week, 10 people, among them two policemen and two security guards, were hacked to death near the mine.

President Jacob Zuma announced the commission in August, saying it would complete its work within four months, and would have to submit its final report a month later. – Sapa

Rustenburg –

Amcu leaders did not do enough to warn police about the threat of violence and prevent bloodshed at Marikana, the Farlam Commission heard on Tuesday.

Takalani Masevhe, for the family of Warrant Officer Tsietsi Monene, said Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union president Joseph Mathunjwa did not act responsibly after hearing the threats of violence made at the hill where striking workers had gathered.

Monene and his colleague, Warrant Officer Sello Lepaaku, were killed near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, Rustenburg, on August 13, allegedly by striking workers.

Masevhe asked Mathunjwa about his visit to the hill on August 16, and striking mineworkers’ reaction.

The commission has already seen video evidence of Mathunjwa’s trip.

It shows a mineworker standing near Mathunjwa taking a megaphone and addressing the crowd.

“If the police claim to have safety, they should go and apply that safety to the employer. We are not leaving this place unless we get what we want,” he tells the crowd.

“Let them (police officers) go immediately. Those police brought here are going to remain here. They will not be able to get back into that hippo (the armoured police Nyala vehicle). We will finish them here,” he said to laughter from his audience.

Masevhe asked Mathunjwa what he did after hearing the threats.

“I did not only address the crowd. I reprimanded them, but not specifically that speaker. We then left for the JOC (joint operations centre),” Mathunjwa replied.

Masevhe said Mathunjwa had met North West deputy police commissioner Maj-Gen William Mpembe, but had not alerted him to the threats.

“Why didn’t you find it important to warn the police that the protesters are saying police officers will be finished at that koppie (hill)?” Masevhe asked.

Mathunjwa responded: “We had waited for some time for Gen Mpembe. As he came out of a room, he said to me: ‘Mr Mathunjwa I have explained to you that I am no longer in charge of this operation’.”

He said Mpembe showed he was not willing to listen.

“All those things happened in a short space of time. He showed that he didn’t want to take anything from me. He then said let me call her (North West police chief Lt-Gen Zukiswa Mbombo). He went away and didn’t come back,” said Mathunjwa.

“There was protocol which had been laid down (for reporting) and it had to be followed.”

Masevhe then asked Mathunjwa why he had not raised the matter with other officers.

“There was an exchange of text messages between you and other senior police officers. Why did you not include this vital piece of information to the officials?”

Mathunjwa said it had not crossed his mind as he was supposed to report to the provincial commissioner.

Masevhe said: “Let me inform you, Mr Mathunjwa, that at the end of this commission we are going to argue that you did not act responsibly by not telling police officers that there was a threat looming at the koppie. You had heard the protesters.”

She said the people killed were breadwinners and fathers.

Mathunjwa said: “I will dispute that. Subsequently, there were no police officers killed on that day, after I had left. Only the workers were killed.”

The commission’s chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, adjourned the hearings until December 12.

The three-member commission is probing the deaths of 44 people in strike-related violence at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, North West.

They include 34 people shot dead by the police, who opened fire while trying to disperse a group of strikers gathered on a hill near the mine on August 16.

In the preceding week, 10 people, among them the two policemen and two security guards, were hacked to death near the mine.

President Jacob Zuma announced the commission in August, saying it would complete its work within four months, and would have to submit its final report a month later. – Sapa