A number of Limpopo schools have not received textbooks, the Democratic Alliance in the province said on Thursday.

The principal of Duiwelskloof Primary School sent parents a letter last Tuesday apologising for the non-delivery of textbooks in core subjects, the party’s spokesman on education Jacques Smalle said in a statement.

The principal added that neighbouring schools had also not received books.

Smalle said the education department denied this on Tuesday.

On January 8, the department said at least 98 percent of textbooks had been delivered to inland schools ahead of the first day of school.

Smalle said the DA found six other schools that still had not received textbooks for critical subjects.

He challenged Limpopo education MEC Namane Masemola to meet the DA at Duiwelskloof Primary “to see for himself what the truth is”.

If Masemola was not able to attend in person, another senior official should attend in his place, or the department could schedule another time for the meeting, he said.

Limpopo education department spokesman Pat Kgomo referred questions to the national department, which could not immediately be reached for comment.

Last year, schools in the province were without books for the first seven months of the school year.

A North West woman and her 14 neighbours have emerged victorious against a municipality that wanted to build a hostel on their property.

The Constitutional Court ruled yesterday that the Rustenburg municipality acted unlawfully when it approved and started construction work on the land without the consent of Pontsho Motswagae and the other occupants.

In the judgment by now retired Justice Zak Yacoob, he said: “The work authorised by the municipality did, in my view, interfere with the applicants’ peaceful and undisturbed occupation of their homes.

And what is more, the interference is by no means slight.

“I have already said that the applicants attach photos to their papers showing the extent of the works. The intrusion was plainly so significant a disturbance to the applicants’ occupation that it constituted a form of eviction. It is serious and, in our constitutional era, unacceptable.”

Motswagae and the municipality have been in dispute since 2009 when excavation of land by a bulldozer right next to the outer wall of her home, exposing the foundations of the building, suddenly began without her knowledge. The two parties have been to the high court and the Supreme Court of Appeal but have failed to reach an agreement.

The property in question is block of flats which is now dilapidated. The land was earmarked for development in 2004.

“The question before us is whether the municipality acted lawfully in authorising this work on the property without obtaining a court order for the eviction of the applicants,” Justice Yacoob said.

“The municipality knew that it was interfering with the rights of people to occupy their homes peacefully.

“This is demonstrated conclusively by the fact that the municipality has consistently (and even in the High Court) offered those people affected by the development, including the applicants, alternative accommodation.

“The municipality would not have offered alternative accommodation unless it had concluded that the offer was reasonably necessary in the circumstances.”

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

Training for the first phase of the Rustenburg Rapid Transport North West Corridor project.

The rapid transport project is a pioneering infrastructure project of the Rustenburg local municipality for the province that is also committed to local skills development across all phases of its implementation.

The first phase of construction commenced in July 2012 and included two trunk routes on the R104 Swartruggens road from the main Rustenburg taxi rank to the R565 turn-off to Phokeng.

Starting at the rank, the construction is moving north in three sections over a 15-month period.

Since the start of construction, 15 workers have been trained in trades such as brick manhole construction, storm water pipe laying, block paving and kerb laying.

In commending the workers, Rustenburg mayor Mpho Khunou said: “The Rustenburg Rapid Transport is one of the biggest projects to have hit Rustenburg and through this training we are contributing towards the reduction of unemployment in the city.

“We consider training important to the sustainability of the local economy and one of the most important aspects of anyone’s career advancement. Hence we hope that these learners will be afforded further training so that by the end of this project, they will be fully skilled.

“We are seven months into construction work and are delighted that the public will start to see this project in a more physical form,” said Rustenburg Rapid Transport project director, Marks Rapoo.

“It is important that the workforce is recognised for the effort that they are putting into the project.”

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

r finance Johannes Mohlala requested Premier Thandi Modise to suspend the ongoing disciplinary process against the official, until investigations into the irregular appointment of a legal firm representing the department were finalised.

This comes after the provincial selected committee on public accounts (Scopa) instituted a multi-skilled task team probe against acting head of department Geo Paul, former and current finance MECs Louisa Mabe and Paul Sebogoe.

The three were cited as central to the questionable appointment and continued payment of Morake Incoporated, a legal firm that has been paid more than R13m in the department’s case against Mohlala and two other senior managers.

In a letter seen by The New Age, Lebea and Associates Attorneys gave Modise until 1pm yesterday to respond, and pointed out that they would approach the Labour Court on Monday to interdict the process if the premier failed to act.

Among other things, the lawyers said Modise should halt the process because the outcome of the investigations of Mabe, Sebegoe and Paul would directly impact on the hearing.

The lawyers further said that the disciplinary hearing being conducted against their client was unlawful because it did comply with the Public Finance Management Act of 1999, treasury regulations, Public Service Act and the Senior Management handbook.

The letter also questioned why 13 of the initial 32 charges against Mohlala were withdrawn “without explanation” last week.

Provincial government spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele confirmed that Modise had received the letter requesting the disciplinary suspension.

“The premier received the letter and is applying her mind into the matter. We will not be drawn to comment further because the matter is sub judice,” he said.

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

By Staff Reporter

Illegal sub-letting of state farms cause of conflicts among emerging farmers, Premier Modise told

Most conflicts among emerging farmers who are leasing state farms are caused by occupants who are illegally sub-letting, North West Premier Thandi Modise was told during a meeting held with representatives of the African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFSA) this week.

In welcoming 

the establishment of District Land Reform Committees, Premier Modise said that the committees would serve as representative and transparent mechanisms to assist the land reform beneficiary selection process, prevent corruption and looting of state resources. ”As an agriculture province that is positioning itself as the food basket for the country and the rest of the continent, we are excited that the recapitalisation and development programme will prioritise guidance and mentoring of emerging farmers and link them with strategic partners. The inclusion of representatives of farmers leasing state farms and other community groups will ensure that only deserving farmers benefit from the programme,” stressed Modise.Clarity provided during the meeting held with the Premier on Wednesday in Mahikeng was that allegations that state farms were being sold to some farmers while a moratorium on sale of state land declared in 2010 by the Minister of Land Affairs and Rural Development was still in place were ill-informed as only transactions that were signed off by previous Ministers were proceeded with.

Representatives from AFSA had requested the intervention of Premier Modise as they also alleged that officials from the Department of Land Affairs and Rural Development are exploiting the recapitalisation programme to evict tenants who had in some cases leased the state farms for decades in favour of their acquaintances.

The department confirmed that bush encroachment, fencing, water reticulation and basic infrastructure on state farms are to be improved during the recapitalisation.

One hundred and ninety seven thousand 

hectares farmsleased by139 farmers in Dr.Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District are to form part of the first phase of the programme to be implemented this year. AFASA President Gideon Morule welcomed 

 Premier Modise’s directive that the Department of Land Affairs and Rural Development should investigate complains of ill-treatment and rude officials who were identified by members of his organisation during the meeting and take appropriate action.

The Premier is planning engagements involving other farmers’ organisations as the provincial government is concerned about illegal game farms, unproductive and underutilised leased state farms and resale of land acquired by emerging farmers through the ELRAD programme.

Invitations will be extended to the Ministers of Land Affairs & Rural Development and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery to be part of the Land Reform Indaba that the province is planning to host later in the year.

NWest commits to employment and empowerment of more people with disabilities 

 North West Premier Thandi Modise has committed to push all provincial government departments towards meeting the 2% targets for employment of people with disabilities. This follows a meeting that Premier Modise had with the North West Provincial Disability Forum (PDF) in Mahikeng on Wednesday afternoon.The Premier also committed that her administration will review funding of organisations of/for people with Disabilities, resourcing of programmes for people with disabilities and closely monitor their implementation across all spheres of government in the province.“We will not do or think for people with disabilities but work with closely with you to mainstream disability across government work in the province because the dignity of all citizens including those of vulnerable groups is paramount,” Modise assured 20 members of the forum she met with.The PDF commented the Provincial department of Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison for its effort to meet its employment equity targets in relation to people with disabilities. The department recently recruited 15 people with disabilities some of whom are expected to assume duty at the end of this month.

 At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairperson of the Provincial Disability Forum, Moagi Kodisang expressed optimism that representation of people with disabilities in Boards and Governance Structures and their economic empowerment would improve given assurances that the Premier gave to members of his structure.

“We are encouraged by the Premier’s commitment that her office’s Bursary scheme will as part of its contribution towards skills development ring fence some bursaries for people with disabilities,” added Kodisang.

Modise also committed to look at interventions to reduce the backlog of assistive devices needed by 5132 people with disabilities across the province. Two thousand three hundred and eighty-three of the people identified as those in need of the devices are resident in Ngaka Modiri Molema District.

A follow up meetings with the MECs for Education & Training 

 and Economic Development, Environment, Conservation & Tourism to look into implementation of inclusive education policy and concretise on economic empowerment of people with disabilities-enterprises and businesses in all sectors is to be held in due course.

The 14-year-old Oaklands High School pupil who allegedly shot and injured two other pupils in a taxi took the gun to school on the day of the shooting, a report to the provincial education ministry has indicated.

“It is not clear at this stage whether other learners were aware that the learner had a gun in his possession,” said Bronagh Casey, spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant. The principal was not aware that the boy had a pistol.

“Had he known, he would have taken the necessary steps to remove it.”

In a case where a principal had been made aware that a pupil was carrying a dangerous object, or alcohol or illegal drugs, he could conduct “a search-and-seizure exercise”.

The teenager was expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday but did not do so.

Provincial police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut said the docket had been sent to court on Wednesday. But National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Eric Ntabazalila told the Cape Argus that the NPA had not yet received the docket from the police. “The case is still with the police,” he said.

The teenager will appear in court only once he is charged. He is not in police custody but police would not disclose his whereabouts.

The incident happened at about 3pm on Tuesday while all three pupils were in a taxi, about to leave school.

Both the injured pupils, who are in Grade 8 and Grade 10, were hit in the leg.

Casey said the Grade 10 pupil had surgery on Tuesday night and the Grade 8 pupil would receive further medical attention.

She said the school was “understandably shaken” by the incident and counsellors had provided support to teachers and pupils.

At the beginning of the school year metro police officers started doing duty at six Peninsula schools, but Oaklands High was not one of them.

JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security, said indications were that the pilot project had been able to help stabilise violence on school grounds, and was helping with issues like drugs in schools and criminal elements coming on to school grounds.

“Ideally, we would like to have the officers in more schools.”

Some of the recent incidents of violence at schools include:

– In February last year 16-year-old Raylinn Fortuin died after being stabbed at Beauvallon High School in Valhalla Park.

– In October, Grade 11 pupil Thabani Mntini died after being stabbed in the face during a break-time scuffle on the grounds of Hillcrest Secondary School in Mossel Bay.

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

A planned campaign by Cosatu against major retailers who “exploit” farmers by paying low prices for agricultural products would not work, TAU SA said on Thursday.

“I wish Cosatu could take a lesson in economics. That is not how economics work, there is a whole range of issues involved from the farm right up to the consumer,” general manager of the farmers’ organisation, Bennie van Zyl, said.

Western Cape Cosatu secretary Tony Ehrenreich said on Wednesday that retailers were buying products from farmers for “ridiculously” low prices.

“It is partly these practices that have seen the distorted pricing structure in agriculture,” Ehrenreich said.

Van Zyl questioned whether Cosatu’s actions were “economically driven or politically driven”.

He said calm had to prevail in order to effectively deal with this crisis in the sector. He urged Cosatu to instead campaign for more investment and job creation in the country.

-Sapa

Cape Town – The rape, mutilation and subsequent death of a 17-year-old Bredasdorp girl has shocked many, and political organisations have expressed their outrage.

Cosatu described the attack on the girl as “appalling”, while the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) said the incident left it disgusted.

Anine Booysen was raped – possibly gang-raped. She was also disembowelled but was still alive when she was found. Before she died, she was able to name one of the men she said had attacked her.

Jonathan Quinton Davids, 22, appeared in the Bredasdorp Magistrate’s Court on charges of rape and murder on Tuesday.

Police are still looking for more suspects.

Cosatu national spokesman Patrick Craven appealed to residents to “demonstrate” outside the court when Davids was set to appear.

“When a very similar incident occurred in India there was a massive protest and mass demonstrations in the streets. It was a huge story around the world. We must show that South Africa is no less angry at such crimes, and make an equally loud statement of disgust.”

In South Africa there was a tendency to accept incidents like the death of Booysen as part of daily life. “We need to unite as a nation to make criminals scared of society’s outrage when such acts are perpetrated,” Craven added.

The teenager was found in early hours of Saturday and taken to the local hospital before being transferred to hospital in Worcester and eventually to Tygerberg, where she died.

A source in the Bredasdorp told the Cape Argus that Booysen had been sliced open from her stomach to her genital area, and her internal organs and insides had been “hanging out”.

“It was one of the most gruesome things you can imagine – especially for a small platteland town,” the source said, asking not to be named.

Hospital staff had to receive debriefing counselling, “because the girl’s injuries were so horrific”, said the Health Department’s Faiza Steyn.

Bredasdorp resident Zeldie Jooste said the community was shocked and angry, Eyewitness News reported.

“It’s a big shock to the community that something so brutal can happen in a small town where our children go out walk around in the evenings.”

She told EWN that she was concerned about letting her teenage daughter go out at night.

“You’d think it’s a safe town because it’s so small and then something so brutal happens to an innocent girl on her way to a party.”

A statement released on behalf of the ANCWL by spokeswoman Troy Martens said South Africans needed to come together as a nation and declare that “enough is enough”.

“Men and women need to join hands around this issue and fight this epidemic together. The Women’s League and a few women’s NGOs can no longer be the lone voices crying out against rape.

“The scourge of rape cannot be seen as a women’s issue any longer. All South Africans of all creeds need to come together as a nation and take a stand against this vulgar and despicable sexual crime,” Martens said.

“We cannot let another girl or woman suffer like 17-year-old Anene Booysen.”

The women’s league was “baffled” by the high number of rapes in society.

“It is difficult to find reason behind the many different acts of gang rape, child rape, rape of the elderly, corrective rape and male rape.”

South Africa’s statistics agency concluded in 2000 that it had the highest reported rape rate of all 120 Interpol member countries, according to Reuters. Even when suspects are caught, only 12 percent of cases end in conviction.

* Call Detective Dollien Olivier on 082 522 1014 or 028 425 5448 with information on Anene’s rape and murder.

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

TERTIARY graduates be warned! You may soon be slapped with a “graduate tax” the minute you find a job.

CHAIRWOMAN: Naledi Pandor, the chairman of the ANC sub-committee on education, which took a resolution in Mangaung to introduce a tax on new entrants in the job market. Photo: DANIEL BORN

NOT HAPPY: Themba Masondo

A resolution on such a tax was taken at the ANC’s conference in Mangaung, Free State, in December.

Delegates participating in the education and health commission resolved that consideration “must be given to a graduate tax for all graduates from higher education institutions”.

Details on the mooted tax – as presented in the ANC’s comprehensive list of conference resolutions – are very scant, with no explanation given about time lines for implementation or the likely percentage to be levied on new job market entrants.

As yet, the said tax is only a consideration but delegates would expect that it will be made a reality since it was adopted as an official conferenceresolution.

The secretary-general of the South African Students Congress Themba Masondo, who participated in the education commission, confirmed the agreement to introduce the tax but said Sasco opposed it.

“As an organisation, we raised a number of issues with this tax. They are not so clear about how it will work,” said Masondo.

“It simply implies that those who graduate and find work will have to pay this tax but that means those who don’t find work will not.

“It’s not fair and that is why we are opposed to it.”

Masondo dismissed the “targeted tax” in favour of a general levy that would see high-income earners paying more.

And there will certainly be a lot of protestations from those who will feel they should not be taxed, Masondo predicted.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe referred Sowetan to the party’s education sub-committee chair Naledi Pandor – who is the also minister of home affairs – when approached to explain how the proposed tax would work.

Pandor had not responded to questions by the time of going to print yesterday.

According to ANC resolutions, the graduate tax looks to be a means to bolster the coffers of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which is expected to play a bigger role in the state’s plans to introduce free education to all undergraduate students.

Free education would likely be introduced next year, according to the set of resolutions.

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