Construction has not yet resumed at Eskom’s multi-billion rand power plant, Medupi, in Lephalale, Limpopo.

Workers downed tools last week in protest over travel allowances.

The trouble-hit Medupi power station had its timeline to provide electricity postponed from December this year to mid next year.

The delays were brought about by work stoppages related to labour unrests and shoddy work by some contractors.

The usually busy Medupi site is deserted – with only unmanned cranes visible.

The site has been closed for construction since Wednesday last week. During last weeks’s violent protest, about 20 workers were injured, five vehicles burnt and cranes damaged.

The unions’ representatives and the Medupi site management are in a meeting to resolve the dispute.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

The presidency has appealled to the public to help realise Madiba’s wish for the establishment of a special hospital for children.

It says the Nelson Mandela Children’s hospital project will be one of the most inspiring legacies of Mandela and therefore society is invited to support it.

Former president Nelson Mandela has been in hospital since June 8.

The presidency says he remains in a critical but stable condition at a Pretoria hospital and continues to show improvement.

It says there are plans in place to establish a children’s hospital in honour of the former statesman who loves children and wants to have the best for them.

The presidency is calling upon the business community and the public to support this project and make it a success.

Meanwhile, President Zuma has urged the public to continue praying for Madiba and to continue taking his good work forward.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Lawyers for injured and arrested Marikana mineworkers have filed an urgent appeal in the Constitutional Court over a funding dispute involving the Commission of Inquiry.

In court papers, the lawyers request that the court hear their appeal in two weeks’ time. The lawyers lost a North Gauteng High Court application to compel the state to pay for the miners’ legal representation in the inquiry.

“Yes I can confirm that we have today filed an urgent appeal with the Concourt against the whole judgment of the honourable judge Raulinga of the North Gauteng High Court on 18 July. And why we lodged the appeal? -Because we believe that another court looking at the same facts that before honorable judge would arrive at a different conclusion,” says the attorney representing the miners, Henry Msimang.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Johannesburg – Two men accused of robbing and stabbing lawyer Dali Mpofu appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Eastern Cape police said.

Chuma Komani and Thulani Simon, both 23, would be back in court on 23 August, police spokesperson Mluleki Mbi said.

They remained in police custody.

The two were arrested in May when police found the weapon used in the attack. Items taken from Mpofu were also found.

Mpofu, who is representing miners involved in last year’s police shootings in Marikana, was walking on a beach in the East London when he was attacked on 11 April.

The former SABC CEO was released from hospital three days later.

Police had established that both arrested men were out on bail of R500 each in connection with a robbery in October.

In that crime, a tourist and a police reservist were robbed of their cellphones.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Cosatu should not have released the name of the woman who accused General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi of rape, the Sonke Gender Justice Network (SGJN) said on Tuesday.

“We urge the union to redact her name from the organisation’s website,” the SGJN said in a statement.

“[Although] the name of [the] Cosatu employee alleging rape is already in the public domain, we think this important symbolic gesture would demonstrate the union’s commitment to fighting gender-based violence.”

The SGJN said it was also concerning that some media outlets had identified the woman, despite the fact that it was not permissible in terms of the SA National Editors’ Forum’s (Sanef) media ethics code.

“We are also mindful that the issues reported in the media cannot provide the basis for any conclusions about the guilt or innocence of any party,” it said.

“As an organisation committed to gender justice, we call for the speedy and fair resolution of this matter, and an appropriate handling of the case by Cosatu, the media, and the police.”

Vavi admitted having an extramarital affair with a married woman who worked for the Cosatu.

He claimed she later tried to extort R2m from him. He denied raping her, and said the sex was consensual.

However, she brought a complaint of sexual harassment against him. The complaint was withdrawn during the internal grievance proceeding that started on Monday morning.

– SAPA

Pretoria – The new ID smart cards will provide a sense of citizenship and belonging to all South Africans, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

Zuma received his card from Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, and then went on to name the four machines printing the cards after struggle heroines Sophie de Bruyn, Rahima Moosa, Helen Joseph, and Lilian Ngoyi.

The four women led the march by 20 000 women in 1956, against the pass laws, to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Speaking at the government printing works in Pretoria, Zuma said: “This gesture is intended to further immortalise their contribution to the struggle for liberation and of building a better South Africa, which is home to all who live in it, black and white.”

The pass laws dictated where people should live, work, and the schools their children should go to.

“Carrying a pass then was an insult and an affront to the dignity of our people,” he said.

Zuma said 2013 marked 100 years since Charlotte Maxeke led the women’s march against the pass laws in Bloemfontein in 1913.

“The introduction of the new smart ID cards thus remind[s] us of the courage and zeal by women in 1913 and 1956.”

In the 1913 march, about 600 women went to the Bloemfontein City Council in the Orange Free State to voice their disapproval of the laws of the time. During the march 34 women were arrested and convicted for not having passes.

“Given the important role of women in the struggle against pass laws in this country, it is befitting that we name machines printing identity documents after stalwarts who fought for justice, human rights and dignity for all,” Zuma said.

Anti-fraud

The current bar-coded green ID book had limited security features and had been prone to fraud and identity theft, he said.

The new ID smart card had biometric features that would enable individuals to prove their identity with 100% certainty.

Zuma urged South Africans without identity documents to apply as the nation prepared for next year’s general elections.

“By the time you vote next year, you must be a smart South African,” he said.

One of the first people to receive the new ID card was former president Nelson Mandela, who received his on his birthday, on 18 July.

Smart card IDs have also been issued to Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, his wife Graça Machel, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, and former president Thabo Mbeki.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, former president FW de Klerk, and struggle veterans Sophie de Bruyn, Andrew Mlangeni, Ahmed Kathrada, and Dennis Goldberg also received theirs.

Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor said the new smart cards would be available to the rest of the public once all the department’s offices had the required technology.

– SAPA

Rustenburg-The North West High Court in Mahikeng has dismissed an appeal by former Rustenburg mayor Matthew Wolmarans and his former bodyguard, Cosatu said on Tuesday.

“Cosatu North West welcomes the outcome of [an] appeal of the accused in the murder of Moss Phakoe, passed by a panel of judges yesterday [Monday],” said Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesperson Solly Phetoe.

“Cosatu has always believed in the country’s justice system and said we would comment after the appeal case had been heard by the high court.”

Wolmarans’s former bodyguard Enoch Matshaba was sentenced to life imprisonment last year, after the court found he had pulled the trigger and killed Phakoe in the driveway of his Rustenburg North house on 14 March 2009.

Wolmarans, then an ANC North West provincial executive committee member, was sentenced to 20 years for masterminding the hit.

The two men were granted leave to appeal against their convictions and were released on R100 000 bail each in May pending the outcome.

“Cosatu hopes that the judgment brings some relief to the family of comrade Moss and that the sentences will be instituted quickly,” Phetoe said.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-An unknown man who is believed to be in his 40’s knocked down by a goods train in Kimberley. 

The incident happened on Tuesday at approximately 16:45pm at Aristotle bridge. 

“It is alleged that the victim jumped over the Aristotle Bridge and threw himself in front of the goods train” lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said. 

The train was moving from South to North direction of Kimberley. “Apparently the man was contemplating to commit suicide, he sustained serious bodily injuries, right side hip is dislocated from the joint, left leg fractured, fractured shoulder and also head injuries. He has been transported to the Kimberley Hospital to receive medical treatment” Tawana said. The Kimberley police are investigating the cause of the incident at this stage.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Pic:(From Left to Right: Lehlogonolo Mathamele and April Pienaar on the dock)
By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley-The Galeshewe Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual offences Unit are investigating a case of house breaking, theft and rape which allegedly took place on the 11 March 2013 at approximately 01:00am.
“It is alleged the two suspects gained entrance into a house in Club 2000, Kagisho by entering through a broken bedroom window” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.
A 13 year old girl was allegedly alone at home at the time. The suspects were surprised by the girl and she was allegedly raped by both men.
Thereafter, the suspects helped themselves with a TV and a Tedelex DVD player.
“The stolen items were recovered by police in the neighbour’s yard the following day” Kock said.
On the 13 March 2013, investigations led to the arrest of one suspect in Kagisho. The second suspect was found already in police custody for another attempted rape.
“The suspects appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application on the 15 March 2013. Police opposed bail and the suspects remained in custody” Kock said.
The two suspects, known as and April Pienaar(30) and Letlhogonolo Mathamele(29) made another court appearance on the Tuesday and the case once again remanded for 8 August 2013. The suspects will remain in custody until their next court appearance.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_