Johannesburg – As Nelson Mandela turned 95 on Thursday, still in hospital after being admitted on 8 June with a recurring lung infection, there was another upbeat account of his condition.

His daughter Zindzi told Britain’s Sky News he was making “remarkable progress” and was even able to watch television, she said on Wednesday, the eve of the anti-apartheid icon’s 95th birthday.

“He is making remarkable progress,” said Zindzi.

Zindzi said she visited Mandela on Tuesday and saw him “watching TV with his headphones”.

“You can see he is there in his eyes, the same energy and strength,” she said, and hopes he will be released “soon”.

He “gave us a huge smile, and he responds very well… with his eyes, and he nods and sometimes he lifts his hand like to shake your hand,” she told the broadcaster.

Earlier in the week, Mandela’s successor, Thabo Mbeki, also suggested he might be going home soon.

So far, the government’s official word on the elder statesman’s condition was that he was critically ill, but stable.

Zindzi, Mandela’s youngest daughter with his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, confessed that earlier on the family was deeply worried about his condition.

“There was a time that we were all extremely anxious and worried, and we were prepared for the worst,” she said. “But he continues to amaze us every day.”

Mandela’s wife Graça Machel last Friday said he was responding to treatment and that she was less anxious now about his health than she had been in previous weeks.

Sharing

Meanwhile, Madiba’s grandson, Mandla, said on Wednesday that the spirit of giving will make the former president smile, despite him being critically ill.

“It is [the] spirit of giving and sharing that will change our world,” he said in a statement.

“It is this changed world that will make Madiba smile, always.”

He was referring to the acts of kindness expected to take place across South Africa on Thursday to celebrate Madiba’s birthday.
Every year on 18 July, many South Africans spend 67 minutes of their time doing charitable work – one minute for every year of Mandela’s public service to the country.

He expressed admiration for his grandfather’s strength.

“The fact that my grandfather is with us to this day, when doomsday people predicted his demise, makes me proud of his fighting spirit which he has demonstrated over the many years of his life,” Mandla said.

Birthday party

Zindzi said the family will hold a birthday party for Mandela, and take him some of his favourite foods.
The family is also planning a special present for the former president on his birthday, which many relatives feared he might not see.

Zindzi Mandela said: “Naturally it’s very difficult to come up with an ideal gift … so normally we just do huge, huge picture frames of all the family events and members of the family.

Legacy

President Jacob Zuma said all thoughts will be focused on Mandela’s legacy.

“Let us return Madiba’s sacrifices and contributions through our own efforts to build a better society.

Make every day a Mandela day.”

Zuma will mark the day by overseeing the donation of houses to poor white families in the Pretoria area in line with Cabinet’s theme to celebrate Mandela Day by focusing on food security, shelter and literacy.

– AFP

South Africa has almost the same number of people living in informal settlements now as it did in 1994, Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel said on Wednesday.

“This is in spite of the fact that government has provided nearly three million houses during the period,” he said in a speech prepared for delivery at the 2013 metropolis annual meeting in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Urban populations in Africa had almost trebled in the past 50 years, and according to the Census 2011 results, Johannesburg increased by 1.2 million people between 2001 and 2011.

In his 2012 state-of-the-city address, Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau put the city’s population at 3.6 million.

“This significant rate of growth, the largest in our South African cities, is a signal of a trend, rather than of the uniqueness of Johannesburg,” Manuel said.

Most of the urbanisation was taking place in informal settlements or slums.

“What this means is that people who migrate to the cities find city life alienating in all forms.”

People were unable to find suitable accommodation in the city closer to their work, and resorted to informal activities on its physical and economic periphery.

A smaller percentage of new arrivals were able to afford city life.

“Even people who hold formal jobs battle to live in our cities. The poor tend to live on marginal land, in unplanned areas that are consequently poorly serviced; distances are huge and transport costs expensive.”

Transition difficult

The meeting heard that cities were places of creation, wealth, opportunities, and of new ideas.

“We need to recognise that there is much wrong with the expansion of our cities in the developing world. Consequently, issues of spatial design, efficiencies, and management become extremely difficult.”

Many of South Africa’s older cities were designed for small groups of expatriates, he said.

“The requisite skills, especially in areas such as planning, were not readily available, so governance priorities tended to focus on what was exigent and possible, given available skills and finance,” he said.

“In a country like South Africa, cities were designed for the colonial elite, albeit that they were resident, rather than expat, and for those who were needed to maintain that elite in style.”

The rest of the population were hidden and controlled by the “perversion of influx control legislation”.

Manuel said he had a “fair idea” of what the distant future ought to look like, but the transition would be difficult.

“We must be bold in reversing these trends.”

Government needed to act and plan ahead, he said.

“We need to urgently devise and implement credible plans to intervene and make our cities inclusive; and bring the majority of citizens of our cities into the mainstream and not the periphery.”

He said people needed to be educated and equipped with skills to take advantage of opportunities in cities.

Documents for the vision of the country and the continent had been drawn up. These included the National Development Plan, provincial plans, and the African Union plan.

– SAPA

PRETORIA –Thorough and meticulous investigation conducted by the South African Police Service detective team has ensured that Johan Kotze and his co-accused receive life sentences.  

For this reason, we hope this sentence will serve as a warning to all the perpetrators of gender violence that their acts will be severely punished. This was stated by the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa as he congratulated the police who were involved in the case and welcomed the life sentences in prison which were handed in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria today. 

Kotze received a life sentence for the murder of his stepson Conrad Bonette, a life sentence for the rape of Ina Bonette and 25 years for kidnapping and assault.  

His co-accused Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlake and Sello Mphaka also received life sentences.

“I have consistently stated that we shall be channeling police resources and capacitating our detectives, so that police do not only arrest those who are on the wrong side of the law, but mainly secure convictions”.  

“In order to achieve these objectives, we needed to re-enforce our detective and investigative arms,” stated the Minister.

“For this reason, currently all members of the police are introduced to basic detective work, whether in the final analysis they end up operating in detectives or not” said Mthethwa.  

He said the convictions in this case indicate that their investments are beginning to yield the desired results.  

“We are therefore immensely proud of our members’ contribution to the successful convictions in this regard.” He said. 

During his Budget Vote in Parliament this year, Minister Mthethwa emphasized that gender-based and domestic violence not only affect the most vulnerable in society but can also contribute to a mentality that violence is an acceptable and valid means of self-assertion.  He stressed that protection of communities was therefore central to our strategies aimed at reducing incidences of gender-based violence.

The Minister reiterated that a victim-oriented police service is thus an important part of the overall criminal justice response to crimes against vulnerable groups in society.  

“This approach will also encourage victims to report incidents of crime and ultimately contribute to building confidence and trust in the police” Mthethwa concludes.

(Edited by Obakeng Maje) 

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

North West Premier Thandi Modise says the two life sentences given to Johan Kotze will send a strong message to men who perpetuate violence against women and children.

Kotze was sentenced to life imprisonment in the North Gauteng High court in Pretoria on Wednesday July 17, 2013. 

Dubbed Modimolle Monster, Kotze was found guilty for the murder of the murder of his step-son Conrad Bonnette, 19 and for organizing the gang-rape of his ex-wife Ina Bonnette.  He was given two life sentences for both charges and a further 25 years for assault and kidnapping.

His three co-accused, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlake and Sello Mphaka were also given life sentences.

Their testimony that Kotze coerced them to gang-rape Bonnet was rejected by the court. They claimed that he threatened to shot them if they did not cooperate.

The crimes took place at the couple’s house in Modimolle, Limpopo on January 3, 2012.

Judge Bert Man said Kotze did not show any remorse for his involvement in the crimes.

Premier Modise called on all men in the province to refrain from any form of violence against women and children including rape and domestic violence and to support the one million Anti-rape signature campaign.

“It is very critical that each and every man commits himself to play his part to prevent any form of violence against women especially as this month has been declared “Men’s month,” said Premier Modise.

Pretoria – Judge Bert Bam, in sentencing Johan Kotzé to life for murder, kidnapping and rape, said on Wednesday the “Modimolle Monster” seemed inherently evil. 

Kotzé and his three co-accused were handed life sentences by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. 

Kotzé  and Andries Sithole were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Conrad Bonnette, 19. He was the son of Ina Bonnette, Kotzé’s ex-wife.

Both also got 10 years for kidnapping.

“It was a senseless act,” Bam said.

Kotzé and Sithole were found guilty on Monday of killing Conrad Bonnette.

Pieta Mohlake and Sello Mphaka were acquitted on the murder charge. However, each of the four was convicted of kidnapping, and of four charges relating to the rape of Ina Bonnette.

Mohlake and Mphaka received 10 years for kidnapping.

All four men were each given a life sentence on the rape charges.

For assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, Kotzé received 15 years, and the other three eight years each.

Ina Bonnette was attacked and tortured in Kotzé’s Modimolle home on 3 January 2012. Her son was shot and killed in the house on the same day.

Pre-meditated 

Bam said there were three aspects which needed to be taken into account when deciding on a sentence. These were the nature of the crime, the personal circumstances of the accused, and the community’s interests.

Bam said certain crimes, such as premeditated murder and gang rape, had a mandatory life sentence.

“Conrad’s murder was planned. It was a pre-planned murder.”

He said the accused’s personal circumstances were less important than the aggravating factors in the case.

Conrad Bonnette was killed within earshot of his mother. Despite pleading for mercy, he was still killed.

“This contributed to Ina Bonnette’s trauma.”

He said she was badly injured and raped by a man she trusted, accompanied by three masked men.

“A more shocking and traumatic experience is unfathomable.”

The trauma and humiliation she underwent would be difficult to describe, Bam said.

Her assault had to be seen in a serious light.

No remorse

“The injuries were serious and also left her psychologically scarred,” Bam said.

He briefly touched on the mitigating aspect of remorse during sentencing. Remorse could only act in mitigation of sentence, not in aggravation, he explained.

“However, in this case there was no sign of remorse from any of the accused.”

There was no reason to deviate from the prescribed sentences. The aggravating circumstances in the case were overwhelming.

Bam said it appeared Kotzé was excessively jealous over Ina Bonnette.

Bonnette, who was in court on Wednesday, started crying as the sentence was read out. She was supported by family and friends.

“A person just has to stand strong,” she said after the sentencing.

She urged victims of abuse to report the crime and ensure they followed the right channels.

Justice done

“Jesus put each of us on this earth for a purpose, and that purpose is not to abuse,” Bonnette said.

“Justice has been done. [Kotzé] deserves his sentence.”

She said the sentencing marked the start of a new phase of her life.

“Time will heal the humiliation, but the hurt will never go away.”

She said she would go to her son’s grave and have a long talk with him afterwards.

“And I can tell him: ‘My son, justice has prevailed.’.”

Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana welcomed the sentence.

“Justice has been done,” she said, holding Bonnette’s hand.

“We hope that this sentence will bring closure and peace to [Bonnette] and her family to know that those who have violated her and murdered her son are finally behind bars,” Xingwana said.

“We hope the monster and his co-accused will rot in jail.”

After the sentence was handed down, family members of Kotzé’s co-accused cried. One woman started wailing.

Kotzé declined to speak to the media and hurriedly made his way down to the cells.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Tlokwe-The Democratic Alliance calls on ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to ensure that the ANC vacates the Tlokwe municipal offices after his visit today.

The ANC’s occupation of the municipal offices is in direct opposition to calls from residents and the no-confidence motion against their former mayor DA said.

“It is unacceptable that the ANC is prepared to go to court to protect Mr Maphetle against forensic audit findings of corruption against him while important delivery projects such as dealing with dangerous housing conditions due to unsafe dolomitic rocks need to be delayed” DA Chris Hattingh said. 

There should be no need for the DA to seek a court order next week to begin our programme of delivery and good governance in Tlokwe municipality, says Hattingh. 

The opposition party said the truth is that the DA had formally laid charges based on a forensic investigative report on these allegations with the SAPS (CAS 426/5/2013 Potchefstroom). 

The SAPS then transferred the docket to the HAWKS who are continuing with the investigation.

Therefore, contrary to the ANC’s spin, Mr Maphetle, has not been cleared of all possible charges by the prosecuting authority, a court of law or the Public Protector.   

“Should any information proving the opposite exist, the ANC is challenged to make this information available to the DA, the HAWKS, the media and public” DA said.  

Hattingh said The ANC should rather shift its focus to vacating the municipal offices they are illegally occupying to allow the elected DA Mayor to drive delivery and stability in the municipality.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Johannesburg – Former president Nelson Mandela’s daughter says Madiba is making “dramatic” progress.

On the eve of his 95th birthday, Zindzi Mandela said in an interview that her father might be going home soon.

Mandela turns 95 on Thursday.

Zindzi said that her father was watching television with headphones in his bed in the Pretoria Medi-Clinic heart hospital and that he smiled frequently at family members and raised his hand.

The latest description by Zindzi, who is one of Madiba’s daughters by his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, was a significant improvement from court documents from the family that said earlier that he was on life support and near death.

Mandela has been in hospital since 8 June and officials say his condition is critical but stable.

AP

North West Premier Thandi Modise has instructed the Provincial Department of Local Government & Traditional Affairs to urgently investigate whether the R2,4 million expenditure that Matlosana Local Municipality is alleged to have earmarked towards the Mayoral Soccer Challenge is justifiable.

“Expenditure towards the venture should be measured against service delivery challenges facing communities and whether the municipality which was unable to meet its financial obligations a few months ago can now afford to host the challenge without sponsorship,” said Premier Modise.

It has come to the Premier’s attention that the City of Matlosana is planning to host the Soccer Challenge involving Free State Stars, Bloemfontein Celtics, Platinum Stars and Super Sport United on the 28

th of this month at a cost of R2.4 million while expecting an income of only R192 000-00 from the event. Participating team are reportedly expecting to be paid an appearance fee of R300 000-00 per team.

The municipality has since April been opposed to Section 139 intervention limited to control of finances and deployment of administrators and experts after it failed to honour its statutory, financial obligations and incurred a long-standing debt with Eskom and MiDVAAL water board which resulted in two bulk services accounts being in arrears in excess of R100 million.Matlosana is among municipalities in the province that are earmarked for support by the intervention team deployed by Minister of Public Service and Administration, Lindiwe Sisulu to turnaround ailing municipalities.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @Icet_

By Obakeng Maje

Madibeng-The Democratic Alliance is exasperated by the task teams’ inability to make any changes or inroads into the management of Madibeng. 

“It is more than a month ago that a task team was appointed by the then Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Richard Baloyi, and still are they unknown to most of the Officials, but shine in their absence on any progress reports” Democratic Alliance Tiaan Kotze said.

Kotze said the silence and seemingly no progress from the task team can be due to resistance from the Madibeng management. 

There are numerous complaints regarding accounts and clearance certificates not issued.

“The ruling party in Madibeng is scared of opening a can of worms by implementing the report of the task team that investigated the affairs of the municipality” DA said. 

The report contains far-reaching recommendations to inter alia prosecute senior municipal officials and take steps to counter corruption and maladministration in the municipality. 

“It was accepted by Council with the recommendation that another committee be appointed to investigate the issue and make further recommendations” DA said.

The committee’s investigation will be the sixth into the affairs of Madibeng and that none of the previous reports were acted on. DA said there is no reason for another committee and investigation as the recommendations and reports by competent bodies are clear and only need to be implemented.

The DA is ready to deliver clean governance in Madibeng as we are doing in the Tlokwe Municipality.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_