Monthly Archives: April 2013

Mandela to receive a Home-Based care

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Johannesburg – Former president Nelson Mandela has been discharged from hospital after spending nine days recovering from pneumonia, the Presidency said on Saturday.

 

“Former president Nelson Mandela has been discharged from hospital today, April 6, following a sustained and gradual improvement in his general condition,” spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

 

“The former President will now receive home-based high care.”

 

Maharaj said President Jacob Zuma was grateful to hospital staff for taking good care of Madiba.

 

“President Zuma thanks the hard working medical team and hospital staff for looking after Madiba so efficiently,” said Maharaj.

 

Zuma also extended his gratitude to all South Africans and people around the world for their support, he said.

 

Mandela was admitted to hospital on March 27.

 

Since then the 94-year-old former statesman has had fluid drained from his lungs to ease his breathing.

 

African National Congress spokesman Jackson Mthembu was happy to hear the news on Saturday.

 

“We join President Jacob Zuma in thanking the hospital and medical staff for good care they provided to President Mandela,” he said in a statement.

 

“We also thank all South Africans, various organisations and the world community for their prayers and support.”

 

Mthembu said he acknowledged the important role played by Zuma and his office in keeping the nation and the world informed about Mandela’s progress and treatment on a regular basis.

 

“Let us continue to keep President Mandela and his family in our prayers as he continues to receive treatment from home.”

 

Mandela has fought back from lung ailments before.

 

Early in March, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was admitted to a Pretoria hospital for a scheduled check-up. He was discharged the following day.

 

In December last year, Mandela underwent an operation to remove gallstones and to treat the recurring lung infection. He was discharged after an 18-day stay and placed under home-based high care at his Houghton, Johannesburg, residence.

 

In January, the presidency said Mandela had made a full recovery from the surgery and continued to improve.

 

In February last year, he was admitted to hospital for a stomach ailment.

 

At the time, the presidency said Mandela underwent a diagnostic procedure to investigate the cause of a long-standing abdominal complaint.

 

In January 2011, Mandela was taken to Milpark Hospital for routine tests relating to respiratory problems.

 

Mandela’s last major public appearance was in July 2010, at the final of the Fifa World Cup at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

 

Since then he had spent his time between Johannesburg and his ancestral village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

 

According to the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1988, after he had been transferred out of Robben Island to Pollsmoor Prison. – Sapa

Mandela discharged from hospital

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Johannesburg – Former president Nelson Mandela has been discharged after spending nine days in hospital, the Presidency said on Saturday.

 

“Former president Nelson Mandela has been discharged from hospital today, April 6, following a sustained and gradual improvement in his general condition,” spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

 

“The former President will now receive home based high care.”

 

Maharaj said President Jacob Zuma extended his gratitude to all South Africans and people around the world for their support.

 

“President Zuma thanks the hard working medical team and hospital staff for looking after Madiba so efficiently,” he said.

 

Mandela was admitted to hospital on March 27 with pneumonia.

 

Since then the 94-year-old former statesman has had fluid drained from his lungs to ease his breathing.

 

Mandela has fought back from lung ailments before.

 

According to the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1988, after he had been transferred out of Robben Island to Pollsmoor Prison.

 

His most recent treatments for lung ailments included a hospital stay in December last year. – Sapa

ANC North West fails to register candidate for By-Election

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The North West ANC has failed to register a candidate to contest a by-election in the Tswaing municipality, the party said on Thursday. ”The ANC in the province was unable to comply with a deadline on the registration of a candidate for the affected ward,” spokesman Kenny Morolong said.

 

The provincial working committee (PWC) resolved to institute an investigation through an independent team.

 

It was expected to give a report to the PWC within seven days. The PWC would meet ward 14 residents and formally apologise for not registering a candidate for the April 24 election.

 

“The PWC noted the enormity of this setback and believes that this development has serious implications for the image of the ANC, which contests elections as a registered political party drawing its electoral support from all sections of South African society.”

 

It was not the first time the ANC failed to register a candidate. In the 2011 municipal election it failed to register candidates in seven wards in the Tlokwe municipality.

 

Morolong said after the Tlokwe incident, the party agreed that those who were responsible for not registering candidates should be held responsible.

 

Organisational processes had been undertaken and an announcement would be made once these had been completed.

 

The by-election in ward 14 is being held because the DA ward councillor resigned. http://www.timeslive.co.za

 

 

Liphoko: We ready for Chiefs

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Absa Premiership: Golden Arrows v Kaizer Chiefs Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban Time: 15h00 Channel: SuperSport 4 Golden Arrows will be looking to take a big step away from the PSL relegation zone when they take on league leaders, Kaizer Chiefs, this weekend, denting their oppositions title hopes at the same time. Manqoba Mngqithi’s side have had a tough season in the PSL this campaign and currently find themselves hovering just above the relegation zone and far from clear of the drop. However, a 2-1 win in their last game over Chippa United will have boosted confidence at the club and they will now look to build on that result as they attempt to climb up the PSL table. Tshepo Liphoko, a young midfielder on loan with Arrows from Orlando Pirates, told Soccer-Laduma that they are looking forward to facing the Amakhosi. He said, “The win against Chippa really gave us a boost and the boys are now ready for anything. We’re not looking 100% forward to the Chiefs game. They’re top of the log and with games like this you don’t need to be motivated, you motivate yourself. I still believe we can give more as a team.” Abafana Bes’thende have been inconsistent on home turf so far this campaign, only using their home advantage to their benefit five times, losing six of their other 12 games. The two teams have met 25 times since the 2000/01 season, with Chiefs having a heavy upper hand, winning twelve of the encounters to Arrows’ six.

 

League Form: Arrows: D-W-L-L-W Chiefs: D-W-D-W-D

 

Player to Watch: Arrows: Norman Smith Chiefs: Reneilwe Letsholonyane  

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

FS Rugby Union boss death shocking: Union

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The South African Rugby Union (SARU) was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Gerda von Solms, the chief executive of the Free State Rugby Union, SARU announced on Saturday. Mrs von Solms passed away suddenly on Friday after being admitted to hospital complaining of abdominal pain.

 

Mrs von Solms, 58, was an institution at the Free State Rugby Union having joined the organisation in 1976 as a typist and risen to the rank of chief executive in more than a quarter of a century at the union.

 

“We were shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Gerda’s sudden passing,” said Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of SARU.

 

“She was the smiling, welcoming face of Free State rugby for as long as I have been involved in rugby and she will be sorely missed. I would like to pass on the condolences of the whole rugby community to her family and friends as well as the Free State Rugby Union.

 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.”

 

       

-Sapa

Why ammunition was refused?

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Johannesburg – Government must explain why it did not provide ammunition to South African troops in the Central African Republic when they had asked for it, the Workers International Vanguard Party said on Friday.

 

“Why, when our troops in CAR requested more ammunition and supplies in the weeks before the attack, was this refused?” spokesman Shaheed Mahomed asked in a statement on Friday.

 

The Mail & Guardian reported on Friday that SA National Defence Force soldiers in the CAR had asked for more ammunition for over a month because they knew Seleka rebels were advancing on them near Bangui.

 

Thirteen South African troops were killed in an ambush on March 23. Another 27 were wounded. A survivor told the newspaper no ammunition was sent to them.

 

Mahomed demanded the names of South African soldiers reportedly missing in the CAR, and that their colleagues deployed to other countries be withdrawn.

 

The party said it had no confidence in the heads of the defence force and wanted justice for those who had died. – Sapa

UCT race article “problematic”

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Cape Town – A student newspaper piece about love and race, which sparked a complaint, is problematic in many ways, the University of Cape Town (UCT) said on Friday.

 

“UCT respects the right of all to express themselves, and the right of a student newspaper, like Varsity (which has editorial independence), to print what it wants,” spokeswoman Pat Lucas said.

 

“(However), the article in the April 2, 2013 edition of Varsity newspaper, titled “Is love colour-blind?” is problematic in many instances.”

 

Lucas said it was incorrect to use the headline “UCT votes on most attractive race” for a pie-chart that reflected the views of only 60 students.

 

She said the most worrying matter was the thinking behind the article.

 

“One would have hoped that a more informed, enlightened view would have guided those involved to understand the offensiveness of the question that was asked, namely: ‘Which race is more attractive?’,” she said.

 

The university appreciated that the piece had created discussion, even if it was sometimes offensive and uncomfortable.

 

Such an experience could serve to change people’s perspectives and become educational, she said.

 

“UCT wishes for its student newspaper to be an example of outstanding editorial quality. In this case, perhaps the journalist and the paper disappointed.”

 

The opinion piece was written by UCT student Qamran Tabo and explored interracial dating.

 

Tabo surveyed sixty students, ten of each who said they considered themselves to be white, coloured, Indian, East Asian, “mixed” (bi-racial), or black.

 

A pie-chart accompanying the piece surmised that 38 percent of students apparently thought whites were the most “attractive” race, followed by coloureds, and Indians.

 

The lowest percentage by race was blacks (eight percent).

 

Varsity news editor-in-chief Alexandra Nagel issued an apology in a press release on Thursday afternoon.

 

She said the newspaper’s role was to act as a mediator and platform, and that the intention of the piece was for students to engage on a very prevalent topic.

 

It did not sanction hate speech, but endorsed the right to have an opinion and create a forum for response.

 

The Young Communist League of SA UCT branch, in a statement on Friday, rejected the newspaper’s response and retraction of only the pie chart heading.

 

It stated that the article had incited racial division and caused psychological harm to students.

 

“We all deserve a 1/8full 3/8 retraction and an apology from all concerned with the publication of this filth,” the statement read.

 

“The article and its alleged survey were always leading to inculcate a culture of one race being the jewel of all others. It is despicable to read and should not have been published, even more so that we were without the full details of the survey.”

 

It called on the university to dedicate a month to “race relations building” programmes and for the newspaper to dedicate a full page to racial issues in every issue until the end of year.

 

“If the editorial team is not able to fulfil the above requested feature of the newspaper, we as the YCLSA of UCT are prepared to do such an article.”

 

The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) confirmed that the YCLSA lodged a formal complaint.

 

“We confirm we received a complaint on Thursday and we are busy looking into it. The respondents in this matter are the Varsity newspaper, the editorial staff, and UCT,” said SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena.

 

The commission would study the complaint, list the allegations in letters to the respondents, and give them an opportunity to respond.

 

The commission would then deliberate and deliver a ruling timeously, depending on the co-operation of all parties.

 

Lucas said the university would co-operate fully with the SAHRC investigation. – Sapa

Swallows and Wits in a stalemate

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Moroka Swallows and Bidvest Wits drew 1-1 in a League match on Friday night.

 

Bennett Chenene’s goal gave Swallows the lead until was cancelled out by Sibusiso Vilakazi’s strike nine minutes from the end.

 

With three minutes gone in the match, Swallows were awarded a free-kick from just outside the box. Their skipper Lefa Tsutsulupa stepped up and his shot went through the wall, but Wits keeper Jackson Mabokgwane swiftly moved to handle the ball after the set piece was taken quickly.

 

Tsutsulupa and Mabokgwane again resumed their rivalry from a dead ball situation in the 20th minute. The midfielder’s strike from just outside the box and dipped into the target but Mabokgwane was on hand to flick the ball over the bar.

 

In the 27th minute Wits had their first real sight at goal when Sibusiso Vilakazi’s shot went wide of goal after brilliant link up play with striker Ryan Chapman. Wits were applying pressure on Bird’s defence.

 

In the 50th minute of the match the Dube Birds fluffed a crucial opportunity to take the lead. Veteran attacker Siyabonga Nomvete’s trickery down the left wing saw him send a decent cross into the box which was met by his pint-sized teammate Dikgang Mabalane, but the winger headed wide from six yards with the Wits defence at his mercy.

 

In the 64th minute of the match the home side took the lead through Chenene. Joseph Makhanya made an intelligent run down the right flank into the box and dragged the ball back for his former Orlando Pirates colleague to tap home from close range.

 

Swallows could have doubled their lead in the 79th minute when Chenene’s shot was blocked from close range by the Wits keeper after a nice through back-heeled ball by Tsutsulupa. But two minutes later at the end the Dube Birds were made to pay.

 

Second half substitute Calvin Kadi found Vilakazi with an inch perfect pass and the midfielder poked his effort with power to make it 1-1 as he beat Swallows keeper Greg Etafia at his near post.

For more details http://www.kickoff.com

“Facebook Rapist” get sentence reduced

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Pietermaritzburg – The 50-year jail term imposed on the so-called “Facebook Rapist” Thabo Bester was cut to 30 years on appeal in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday.

 

Bester, 25, pleaded guilty to raping and robbing two women he lured to Durban with promises of modelling photo shoots, and was sentenced to 50 years by the Durban Regional Court in October 2011.

 

On Friday, Judges Gregory Kruger and Fikile Mohgohloa reduced four 15-year sentences for two rapes and two aggravated robberies to 10 years each, with 10 years running concurrently with the other sentences.

 

Bester admitted that he advertised for potential models on a website. A victim contacted him and they drove from Johannesburg to Durban and booked into a hotel, where he tied the victim with duct tape and raped and robbed her.

 

He said he felt remorse after the rape and went to another hotel to commit suicide, but another person saw him and threw him out of the hotel.

 

A week later, he raped another woman in the Durban area.

 

Bester was sentenced in the Western Cape High Court to life last May for the murder of Johannesburg model Nomfundo Tyhulu. – Sapa

Chiefs eye to break blatant Arrows

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Kaizer Chiefs will be looking to open a 10 point lead at the top of the ABSA Premiership when they square up against Golden Arrows in what promises to be an entertaining clash at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban on Saturday, 06 April 2013. 

 

The Glamour Boys have lost only once this season and collected 51 points with six games to go in the 2012/13 PSL season. 

 

The Glamour Boys are aware that the trip to Kwa-Zulu Natal will not be an easy one despite brushing Arrows aside back in November 2012 with the rampant Chiefs scoring three times without any reply from Golden Arrows. Arrows will will be buoyant by their midweek win over Chippa United. 

 

Stuart Baxter following a 1 1 all draw against Maritzburg United on Wednesday at Peter Mokaba Stadium told kaizerchiefs.com on Friday morning. 

 

“There are no easy games at this time of the season and Arrows will come out with all guns blazing especially playing in front of their home crowd. I felt even when we met earlier in the season their log position was not a true reflection of their game. They will definitely be tough.” 

 

Baxter continued: “We are not lacking motivation either going to this game. We always go to each game with a winning mentality and it will not be any different on Saturday.” 

 

Baxter hinted that he might have to reshuffle his team for the Arrows game: “We are always looking to refresh the squad and always put a competitive team to do the job. 

 

Kickoff for the game is at 15:00.

-Kaizer Chiefs