Cape Town – Students marched to Parliament on Wednesday, calling for free education.

SA Students’ Congress (Sasco) provincial secretary Sello Nkatho said the students marched from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town.

The group intended to hand over its memorandum to a representative of the education commission.

Nkatho said the students wanted education to be free for every young person who qualified as poor, according to a government means test.

He envisioned the education assistance taking the form of a bursary.

“There is a body of evidence gathered that shows where government has a political will and correct administration, education can be made free for the poor, the disenfranchised, and the destitute,” he said.

It was unacceptable that higher learning institutes increased their fees between eight and 12% every year, said Nkatho.

Sasco would continue with marches and “other alternatives” should government not respond to its call.

Marches were taking place on Wednesday in all provinces except the Free State, where a march had been postponed.

A national march was planned on Thursday and would start at the Tshwane City Hall in Pretoria.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Former chief justice Pius Langa played a crucial role in laying the foundation for South Africa’s democracy, former state president FW de Klerk said on Wednesday.

“During his tenure at the Constitutional Court, but also after his retirement, he worked tirelessly to help build – in a balanced and fair manner – a non-racist, non-sexist and just society founded on the values of human dignity, equality, supremacy of the Constitution and the Rule of Law,” said De Klerk.

“Justice Langa’s legacy as constitutionalist and jurist will continue to serve as a sterling example of independence of mind for generations to come.”

Langa died at the Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg at the age of 74.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu described Langa as “servant leader”.

“Former chief justice Pius Nkonzo Langa was among a group of exceptional men and women honed in the crucible of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle who, when liberation came, were willing and able to selflessly serve their country and their people,” said Tutu.

“We thank God for Pius Langa, and send our deepest condolences to his children and grandchildren. His was a life well lived. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.”

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said South Africa had lost a legal stalwart who dedicated his life to human rights and law.

“His commitment to human rights and the rule of law was demonstrated through his relentless participation in various organisations and structures advocating for the practice of government regulated by a Constitution,” he said.

He played a major role in the transition from apartheid to a constitutional and democratic era and contributed immensely in strengthening the independence of the judiciary and asserting its role as the cornerstone of the country’s democracy.

“The country will miss his cogent contribution to the transformation of the judiciary,” said Radebe.

‘A remarkable legacy’

President of the National Freedom Party (NFP), Zanele KaMagwaza Msibi, said Langa ensured during his tenure that the judiciary was independent from the control of the state, and congratulated him for not being influenced by the “powers that be”.

“The whole world’s justice fraternity needs judges like him, who, despite coming from the background of political activism, managed to be impartial when appointed to hold such an important office as the chief justice,” she said.

The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said his work on the Press Freedom Commission and jurisprudence while he was at the Constitutional Court for protection for freedom of speech and media, was greatly appreciated.

“Justice Langa helped to articulate the crucial role of a free media in sustaining other constitutional rights and democratic values, and to cement a legal framework that will secure it in years to come,” Sanef chair Nic Dawes said.

“We celebrate that remarkable legacy even as we mourn his passing.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A third of young South Africans believe honesty is the best policy for presidential hopefuls, according to a study released on Wednesday.

“It’s clear that young people are looking for a president they can trust – someone who will be honest with them and follow through on their promise,” said the researchers.

Consumer insights company Pondering Panda conducted cellphone interviews with 4 360 people aged between 18 and 34 across South Africa over four days.

The study found President Jacob Zuma was the politician with the most good qualities, compared to Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, and DA leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.

About 31% of black people held this view. Twenty-four percent felt Malema had more positive attributes.

Zille was seen to have the most good qualities by young whites (47%) and coloureds (44%).

Of the three politicians, Malema was the most highly regarded by respondents in Limpopo, the North West, and the Free State.

While he tied with Zuma in Gauteng and the Northern Cape, Zuma came out tops in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

Zille was viewed most positively in the Western Cape.

Pondering Panda spokesperson Shirley Wakefield said people’s perception of potential presidential candidates’ characters would have a significant impact on next year’s election.

“The question now becomes whether any candidate can establish themselves as the honest, trustworthy, humble individual that young people want as their leader,” she said.

– SAPA

The North West Province will close its Mandela Month programme with a Provincial Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration Summit aimed at carrying forward the nation building and reconciliation legacy of former President Nelson Mandela. The two-day summit to be addressed by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is scheduled to be held as from 9:00am at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng on Monday 29-30 July 2013.

“The closure of Mandela Month presents us with an opportunity to fast track implementation of the resolutions adopted at the national summit held last year and deal with the challenges of moral decay, scourges of corruption, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, crime, racism, violence against women and children that we are facing in the province,” said Premier Thandi Modise ahead of the summit.

“The summit will contribute towards the realisation of non-sexism, non racism and good citizens in the province,” Premier Modise added.  

Other speakers to address the summit to be held under the theme” “working towards creating a caring, just and humane society”with Deputy President Motlanthe who is the patron of the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) include Minister of Paul Mashatile and Chairperson of the MRM Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa. 

Issues to be discussed at the summit will include the role of the judiciary, parliament and traditional leadership in promoting fundamental human rights particularly the right to human dignity, equality and justice, preservation of indigenous culture and knowledge systems and problems of xenophobia.

Stakeholders invited to be part of the summit include the business sector, private sector, academics from institutions of higher learning, traditional leaders, Churches, Faith based organizations, business sector, Non-Government Organisations, women and youth organisations, people with disabilities, provincial government departments and municipalities. 

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Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter believes Jimmy Tau’s decision to retire from football was premature, but adds the former defender’s decision must be respected.

London – Lawyers for honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani intend to appeal his extradition to South Africa to stand trial, the British Press Association reported on Wednesday.

“Lawyers acting for Shrien Dewani will review today’s judgment and lodge an appeal during which time Shrien will remain in the UK,” Dewani’s family said in a statement after the ruling.

“Shrien Dewani remains unfit to be extradited or to face trial. Shrien remains committed to returning to South Africa when his health would permit a full trial and when appropriate protections are in place for his health and safety.

“The legal process is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further,” the statement reportedly read.

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle made his ruling in the Westminster Magistrate’s Court despite arguments by Dewani’s defence team that he could suffer setbacks in his mental health if sent back now.

They wanted the decision delayed by six months. The 33-year-old British businessman had earlier been diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The courtroom was packed with murdered Anni Dewani’s relatives, who wore photographs of her pinned to their clothes, decorated with pink ribbons.

Riddle said: “It is not in question that Shrien Dewani will be returned to South Africa. The treating clinicians continue to state that Mr Dewani will recover.

“There has been recovery, but it has been slow. It may be a long time before Mr Dewani is fit to plead, but he may be closer to that point.

“It is not impossible that if returned now, then after a reasonable period of further treatment and assessment he will be found fit to plead and a trial can take place.”

Dewani has undergone treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression since his wife’s death.

Dewani is suspected of ordering the killing of his new wife Anni, 28, who was shot as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010. – Sapa

The Office of the Premier of the North West Province has noted with disappointment and serious concern a vitriolic attack that described Premier Thandi Modise as “a wounded lioness” who is playing a dirty political game at the expense of sports development in Matlosana Local Municipality.

The unwarranted attack attributed to the Sports, Arts and Culture Officer in the municipality, Hunter Morebodi as published on page 23 of The New Age Newspaper of Wednesday 24 July 2013 not only undermines the Office and person of the Premier but seek to divert public attention from prudent financial management which was the Premier’s concern.

While Premier Modise had called for an urgently investigation as to whether the R2,4 million expenditure that the municipality was alleged to have earmarked towards the Mayoral Soccer Challenge was justifiable.

“We wish to put it on record that she has not instructed that the tournament be cancelled or postponed as alleged. The Premier had welcomed not the postponement of the tournament but the assurance that municipal resources were not going to fund the shortfall of the tournament organised by a private entity outside the municipality” Premier spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said.

“We have noted however that Morebodi’s ill-timed comments suggest that the event was organised by the municipality and that the tournament was continuing even though no sponsors were secured a week before the tournament .

“We wish to dismiss as nonsensical the assertion that Premier has enemies within the municipality and reiterate she had acted promptly in the interest of good governance and our communities” Kgwele said.

They sais Premier had acted within her rights and constitutional obligation and could not have ignored allegations of financial mismanagement which were brought to her attention by the media. 

Had the municipality responded to the media enquiry, the Office of the Premier would not have known of the allegations or statement issued in this regard.

Premier Modise is confident that she had acted in the best interest of the ratepayers and residents after the municipality had not responded to media enquiries regarding the matter.

The seriousness of the allegations demanded for prompt action and for the Premier not to tarry. 

“Delayed interventions have caused our communities a lot and in this case, the directive for an investigation has resulted in reactions that raises more questions than provide answers” Modise concludes.        

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