Yearly Archives: 2012

Abused girls to share R240 000

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

KwaZulu-Natal – Five KwaZulu-Natal girls, including orphans who were abused by a US Peace Corps volunteer, will be given about R240 000 to share – as a form of compensation by the US government and the family of their perpetrator.

 

This emerged after Jesse Osmun, 31, appeared in the US District Court in Hartford, Connecticut, last week after pleading guilty to engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children.

 

Osmun’s attorney, Richard Meehan, said the money was made up of $20 000 (R160 000) from the Peace Corps and $10 000 (R80 000) to be donated by Osmun’s family.

 

“We have agreed with the government to create a fund to benefit these specific children and the Peace Corps has graciously agreed to voluntarily contribute,” Meehan said.

 

“The fund will be administered by a US law firm pro bono under the supervision of the court. It is an attempt by my client and his parents to provide for some services for these children,” he said.

 

Osmun was on assignment at the Umvoti Aids Centre in Greytown last year when he abused five girls aged between three and five years old.

 

Two months ago, he pleaded guilty to illicit sexual conduct with children. He faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment in a US federal jail. Osmun will be sentenced on October 10.

 

Joan Dutton, director of the Umvoti Aids Centre, said she was initially sceptical about the children receiving “blood money”, but she changed her mind after realising the good it could do for their future.

 

She said that while she had not been told the exact amount, she had been in touch with US investigators who had spoken to her about offering the children compensation.

 

High food prices to crippled the poor

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

Rising food prices, particularly of maize and wheat, which are the staple diet of the poor in South Africa, have posed serious problems for the urban and rural poor.

 

Based on recent information from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO 2009), supported by independent sources (Heady & Fan 2008), food prices will continue to increase steadily over the next decade.

 

Due to the current drought in the United States of America, a very hot summer in Russia and excessive rain in Brazil there are severe constraints placed on the global food chain which are pushing up prices around the world.

 

The (FAO 2012) indicated that its index of global food prices rose 6% in July, the biggest increase since November 2009.  Hunger continues to be one of the greatest challenges in the new South Africa and one of the key driving forces exacerbating the problem is the rising cost of food.

 

According to the General Household Survey (GHS 2010) it is estimated that 21,9% of South African households have inadequate or severely inadequate access to food. The rural areas of South Africa bear the brunt of living without the fundamental security of regular meals, with unemployment levels as high as 70% in some rural communities. (The national average is 25.7%). 

 

A study done by the Human Science Research Council in 2009, revealed that 19% of households reported skipping meals, and 20% ran out of money to buy food, 35% to 70% of expenditure goes to food in poor households, 50% to 80% of households could not afford an acceptable nutritional balance and based on current prics and levels of fortification only 20% of households could afford a minimum nutritionally adequate diet.

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

Department of Education officials face suspensions


Durban – At least 10 KwaZulu-Natal education officials are facing “imminent” suspension related to corruption in the department’s school nutrition programme.

Provincial education department head Nkosinathi Sishi made the announcement in Durban.

This followed the suspension of two department officials in June.

Some 2.2 million pupils in KwaZulu-Natal benefit from the national school nutrition programme, which costs the province R1.2bn a year.

For more details go to http://www.new24.com

Facebook rapist back in court

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

By Obakeng Maje

Cape Town- Facebook rapist set to appear in Cape Town Magistrate Court today. Thabo Bester was arrested two years ago after string of rapes,robbery and murder.

A 27 year-old man was dubbed “Facebook Rapist” after he lured his unsuspecting victims on facebook under false pretences.

Thabo Bester,27 will appear today in court for murder.According to report,he wil allegedly promise his victims a modelling contracts and take tm to various hotels where he will rob and rape them.

Judge Andre Le Grange postponed the case for today in his lst appearance, however o clear if the cse will underway he is facing another similar case in Johannesburg. 

ANCYL “delirious” over Semenya medal

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg- African National Congress Youth  League could not hide their excitement after Caster Mokgadi Semenya scooped a silver medal in the 800m marathon.

They released a statement a minute after Semenya finished in position two after a Russia runner.

 “We are very delighted after she bagged a sixth medal for TeamSA in London Olympics. After trials and tribulations she experienced, we are very pleased and that really shows how strong she is” They said in a statement.

Caster Semenya came under scrutiny back in 2009 after she won a 800m gold in the last edition of Olympics in Beijing.

Follow us on twitter@Taung_DailyNews 

 

 

ANC riddled with corruption-Phosa

NEWS Leave a comment

By Obakeng Maje

Mpumalanga- ANC in Mumalanga had a gala dinner at White River yesterday and invited top brass of the party.

ANC general treasure, Matthews Phosa took a swap on his colleagues and send a stern warning to them that the ruling party will not tolerate those who serve their personal interests at the expense of ANC  its people.

“The ANC branches does not owe any its NEC member a econd term. If the ANC does not need any member to serve a second term so be it” he said.

According those who are close to the ANC NEC Members, the decision to out Jaco Zuma might be on te card and most members are against Zuma second term.

The gala dinner was a preparation to Mangaung, even though I was not directly said.

The gala dinner was supposed to continue as other ANC Provincial members were against it.

However Ndinisa vehemently refutes that some of  members were against the gala dinner.

“How cn we b aainst omething that we were not aware of. We were not informed that a gala dinner will take place, so we didn’t even know that it will take place” he said. 

ANC does not care about the youth-DA

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

by obakeng maje

Soweto- Yesterday DA were campaigning is South Africa’s biggest township, Soweto.

The party’s Mmusi Maimane said the ruling party does not care about the youth and abandoned them.

“A clear pattern emerged. Almost every family visited had young member who could not find job, or who was concerned about not bg able to fnd work in the future” he said.

Unemployment is one of the burning issues in the country as unemployment rates sitting on 25% and mostly amongst the youth.

DA outlined that they having a sustainable plan that can be implemented to create job opportunities n is working tremedously in Western Cape.

We saw te official opposing party marching to Cosatu Headquaters to convince them to agree into the gvernment initiative plan, but the march eventually turned into bloodshed where members of both organizations hauled stones at each other.

S.A Heavy Vehicle Drivers scoop five awards

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

By Obakeng Maje

Rustenburg- South Africa heavy drivers have scooped five awards in various categories at the 28th World Professional Drivers Championships.

The awards ceremony which was hosted by the Traffic Management Corporations(RTMC) and the Department of Transport was held at Sun City Resort near Rustenburg on Friday.

“Driving trucks is my passion,said Vishnu Naidoo from Kwazulu Natal who ws very excited for being position one in the rigid category.

“Winning this award is a serious encouragement to me because we usually work hrd on the road and do not get the necessary recognitions”.

Simon Motsepe of Mmakau village, near Brits received an award for emerging position one in the bus category.

“Driving buses is part of my life and so to tell the truth I am very good at driving buses”.

“My hard work and the passion for my work helped me to receive tis big recognition” he said.

Lettah Mokhutswane of Mabopane Township, a woman employee at the City oTshwane Bus Service is one of the two South African women who participated in The World Driver Championship.

She is the only woman who received an award for third position in the bus category.

In the category, Team South Africa managed to get four awards while Finland,Germany and Switzerland took other awards.

Speaking on behalf of Premier Thandi Modise, MEC for Human Settlements Public Safety and Lason, Nono Maloyi sid the champion will improve the moral of heavy vehicle in the country.

“I would like to thank and congratulate everyone who participated in the champion and those who emerged as winners” she said.

 

 

North West Government to honour late stalwart

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

By Obakeng Maje

Swartruggens- North West Premier mme Thandi Modise will delivery a keynote address at Monument House handover at Phela village near Swartruggens today.

The premier will handing over an office and a block to the community as part of centary monument to the late ANC and SACP struggle icon Moses Kotane.

“It has always been mrs Kotane’s wish who turned 100 on February this year to establish a foundation in honour of her late husband”said Lesiba Kgwele.

Moses Kotane died in 1978 while in exile. The ANC and SACP struggle icon was buried in Moscow,Russia.

The monument office will serve as the rural head office.

Follow us on twitter@Taung_DailyNews 

 

Premier abused travel claims – report

NEWS Leave a comment

Polokwane – Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale allegedly abused his office’s travel claims system, according to a report on Friday.

The Star reported that Mathale had parked his official cars so that he could use his private car for official duties and claim for it.

Auditor General Terence Nombembe estimated that the amount irregularly accrued to Mathale from March 1 to August 30 last year was R466 000, the newspaper reported.

In his 2011/2012 audit report, Nombembe declared the payment to Mathale wasteful and fruitless expenditure.

According to the report Mathale’s office flouted the government’s policy on the use of official vehicles by disposing his official car, a BMW 750i worth R1m, before it had reached 120 000 km or five years.

Chapter five of the ministerial handbook stated that government departments could purchase official vehicles directly from the manufacturer or their dealerships only when the current car provided for that office had reached 120 000km or after five years, “whichever comes first”.

The policy allowed the premier to claim for a travel allowance if he had indicated in writing that he would like to take this option and his office does not buy an official car for him.

The premier’s office admitted to the newspaper that it had purchased a BMW 750i for the premier when he took office in May 2009. It also confirmed the existence of three other vehicles. A fourth car was written off in an accident.

– SAPA