Johannesburg – The SABC will use its broadcast platforms to create fund-raising awareness for Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, the hospital said on Thursday.

The public broadcaster and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust signed a memorandum of understanding in this regard at the SABC offices in Johannesburg on Thursday morning, hospital trustee Tiny Mhinga said in a statement.

The hospital would be built with the support of donors from across the world in honour of former president Nelson Mandela.

He said it would be a 200-bed world-class dedicated children’s hospital that would serve children in Southern Africa.

A total of R1 billion was needed to make the hospital a reality.

Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust CEO Sibongile Mkhabela said: “All children in Southern Africa need care, especially those most vulnerable. In most cases proper medical care is simply not available to them. This is a very serious problem.”

She said the hospital would address a great need, as there were only four children’s hospitals in Africa to serve nearly 450

million children.

“Millions of these children suffer from life-threatening illnesses and have little or no chance of receiving the specialised care they need.”

SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo said the company was delighted to announce the formal partnership, which would see the SABC generate significant awareness for the hospital. – Sapa

North West – A four-year-old boy was run over and killed outside his school in the North West town of Koster, Beeld reported on Thursday.

Barend Porter died at the scene on Wednesday while his weeping mother pleaded with him not to “go”.

Barend was allegedly knocked down by a grandmother driving a bakkie, who had come to fetch her grandson from the Koster Combined School.

Barend was standing next to his sister Angelique, 7, while they waited to be collected by their mother, when they were both hit by the car.

Angelique sustained only a minor shoulder injury.

Landi Joubert, whose children attend the school, said that when she arrived to collect her children on Wednesday, the injured child was lying on the ground.

“One of the teachers wrapped a bandage around his head, but blood was coming out of his nose, ears, and mouth. He was unconscious.”

Barend and Angelique’s mother, Katryn Porter, arrived at the scene, and became hysterical, according to Joubert.

She spoke to her son and performed CPR on him, but he died at the scene.

North West Education MEC Louisa Mabe said she was shocked, and expressed her sympathy.

Police Captain Aafje Botma said the accident would be investigated. – Sapa

Durban – She endured years of abuse, public humiliation and repeated lies, and when she had finally decided she had had enough, he plotted to end her life.

This was the testimony of Zinhle Rosemary Ngcobo, who was viciously stabbed by her boyfriend in a mall.

The incident was captured on camera and the footage was used to convict him.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

Upington-Police Organised Crime Unit in the Northern Cape succeeded in securing a sentence for three copper theft criminals. The three suspects are Linda James Malope(31),Nkopadi Moses Tladi(24) and 38-year-old Calitos Marcos Paulino (from Mozambique). 

“The three suspects were subsequently arrested on 15 November 2011 in possession of stolen copper wire” lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said. 

This comes after Police stopped a vehicle at Tellyriepan Road in the Kalahari area. 

The vehicle was searched together with its occupants. “During the search, Police managed to recover a copper wire of about 13.9 kilometres to the estimated value of about R39 000” Mdhluli said. 

The three were arrested and pleaded guilty. 

They were sentenced yesterday at Upington Regional Court to 18 months imprisonment or pay R10 000 fine plus further 18 months imprisonment suspended for 3 years with conditions to each. “The SAPS would like to appreciate its members for the job well-done and also send a message to criminals that criminal activities will not be tolerated in this country. Anyone that is found to be on the other side of the law will face the full might of the law” said police.

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Johannesburg – US actor and activist Danny Glover surprised Popcru members gathered at Mary Fitzgerald Square in central Johannesburg on Thursday.

He told the crowd he supported them.

“I’m here on behalf of all the workers in Mississippi. We are all supporting each other, we must stand together. Amandla!” he said.

He was accompanied by the president of the United Automobile Workers’ Union of America (UAW) Bob King.

King and Glover were invited by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa).

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union members in all provinces, except Mpumalanga, are taking to the streets to demand that the SA Police Service honours an agreement to change administrative staff salary grades.

SAPA

Abia Nale’s future with Kaizer Chiefs is hanging in the balance after KickOff.com got an update from Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter about the player.

Nale was loaned out to Ajax Cape Town in January at his request after failing to break into Chiefs’ starting XI.

Baxter says the Sebokeng-born midfielder asked for the move because he wasn’t happy to be a squad member, and the Briton suggests Nale could be making a permanent switch – possibly to Ajax, who have expressed interest to keep him.

“We gotta sort out his situation. First we gonna look at who heads out and who comes, then look at what Abia wants,” Baxter explains.

“At this moment I’m not involved in that yet. We are just waiting to see what Ajax are doing – what Abia is thinking, but we have not made any big decisions on it yet. We still have to talk to him.

“He is a good player, but the only thing is Abia wasn’t really happy to be on the bench the last time and we can’t guarantee anybody a place in the team. So if he comes back and he is still unhappy to be on the bench, then it would create problems. We have to speak to him and make a careful decision.”

For more http://www.kickoff.com

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday South Africa needs faster economic growth and a stable and growing mining sector is needed to accomplish this.

The government cannot deliver this on its own, he said at a media briefing about the economy and developments in the mining industry. 

“We need all South Africans to play their part to promote our country to enhance economic growth in any possible way,” he said. 

Zuma said the country needs a stable and growing mining industry, a key feature of the economy for more than 130 years. 

Even though it is now smaller relative to the size of the bigger economny, mining remains a cornerstone of economic growth, he said. 

He said in addition to its contribution to GDP, the mining sector is responsible for 60% of export revenue and is a valuable contributor to corporate taxes. 

It also provides jobs for about one million South Africans and nationals of neighbouring countries. 

He urged organised labour, business and the government to help stabilise the sector in order to reassure investors and local society. 

Referring to last year’s deadly labour unrest in the mining sector, Zuma said it is against this background of economic and social difficulties that the government has embarked on various initiatives to stabalise mining sector and the greater economy.

By Obakeng Maje

Kathu-The South African Police Service welcomes the murder sentencing that was handed down in Kathu Periodical High Court to a 43 year-old Postmasburg man. Thando Patrick Phillips was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday for the murder of a Evelyn Marumo(55). 

“The murder took place at the deceased’s home in Skeyfontein near Postmasburg, during the night of the 2nd and 3rd March 2012” liutenant Sergio Kock said.

“Marumo and Phillips were in a relationship at the time. The motive for the murder was jealousy” Kock said. 

Evelyn Marumo was beaten to death by her lover with an electric cord, broom stick and a hammer. 

She was repeatedly assaulted with fists and he also kicked her. 

“Police found her half-naked and lying in a pool of blood. Phillips was arrested and charged for the murder” police said. 

He remained in police custody until the finalisation of the case.

In passing judgement, the Magistrate commended the investigating officer Detective Warrant Officer Patrick Morolong on his excellent investigation on this case.

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CAPE TOWN – Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi believes senior staff in mining companies are still earning too much while workers’ wage demands are being ignored.

The National Union of Mineworkers has been criticised by government for its call for pay rises of up to 50 per cent for employees at gold and coal producers.

For more http://www.ewn.co.za