Pretoria – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu visited former president Nelson Mandela in the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria on Friday.

Afterwards, he spoke of how the ailing elder statesman had united the nation.

“We have a special gift in a man who can unite not only South Africa but the world, even from his sick bed.”

Tutu visited a wall featuring messages of support for Mandela before speaking to media gathered outside.

He said the country needed to give thanks to God for the gift of an incredible man like Madiba who inspired a nation.

“He inspired us to become a great country and the world to become compassionate,” he said.

He said the iconic leader who was spending his 41st day in hospital due to a recurring lung infection was asleep but he managed to touch him and hold his hand.

Tutu praised Mandela’s current and ex-wives.

“I am humbled by the relationship and give thanks to a wonderful Graça in giving him joy in later years. I also salute Winnie for being extraordinary during hard times. I salute her and she knows,” said Tutu.

He described the Mandela family as wonderful. Speaking about Mandela’s 67 minutes, Tutu said the country could give one gift to Madiba.

“The gift is to stop littering for the entire year,” he said as he chuckled.

Speaking about Mandela, he said Friday was not as busy other days outside the hospital.

The large media contingent that has come to be associated with the area has decreased. A few pupils visited the wall to read messages from well-wishers.

Celliers Street which was a hive of activity the previous day was relatively empty.

– SAPA

Bloemfontein-“I refused to give him sex so instead he raped my daughter”.

That is what a 45-year-old mother from phase 9 in Mangaung, Free State, said.

This was after her 42-year-old boyfriend allegedly raped her daughter.

“On Friday morning he demanded sex before I went to work. I refused because he had drunk a lot the night before.

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Durban – Two KwaZulu-Natal policemen were jailed for 15 years each for murder by the Richards Bay Regional Court, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said on Friday.

Freeman Masikane and Bhekuyise Dladla of the Hluhluwe uniform branch were sentenced on Tuesday, spokesperson Moses Dlamini said.

The officers lied about the events that led to the death of a man during a chase. On 16 September 2009 the officers claimed to have received a report of a stolen vehicle.

They gave chase and claimed that the driver, Sandile Dube, 22, refused to stop.

“The members fired shots directed at the driver.”

The car veered off the road and overturned, flinging Dube and his passenger out.

“The police alleged that the driver died as a result of the accident. The Ipid took over the investigation and after investigation found that the police’s version was not true,” he said.
– SAPA

Pretoria – Calm returned outside the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria on Friday following birthday celebrations for former president Nelson Mandela.

Just after 09:00 a group of less than 20 people were singing, dancing and taking pictures next to the section of the hospital’s boundary wall which had been filled with well-wishes for the ailing Mandela.

The group was part of the South African NGO Coalition, which was holding a general meeting in the city.

President of the organisation, Jimmy Gotyana, said they could not come to the city and not pay their respects to Mandela.

“We came here to pay homage to our great grandfather and respected leader. We wish him a speedy recovery.”

He said the country still embodied and embraced everything Mandela stood for. The previous day thousands of people gathered outside the hospital to sing and dance to mark his 95th birthday.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said Mandela was responsive, opening his eyes and nodding. He was admitted to the hospital on 8 June with a recurring lung infection.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – NPA prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach’s application to be reinstated to her job was dismissed by the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Friday.

“The application was dismissed,” Breytenbach said after proceedings. She declined to comment further.

Earlier in July Judge Hilary Rabkin-Naicker heard arguments from lawyers representing the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Breytenbach.

Andrew Redding SC, for Breytenbach, submitted that her new job was not the same as the one she had before her suspension in April 2012.

“The position to which she has been transferred is in no way the equivalent of the position she used to hold,” he said.
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North West-While the world celebrated Nelson Mandela’s Birth Day, Traffic officers in the North West had a different approach in celebrating the day. They changed their law enforcement approach by getting motorist to sign a pledge to commit that they will forever put on their safety belts when driving. 

“More than 380 motorists signed pledges during road blocks on the main road of the North West Province on Thursday” departmental spokesperson Simon Mmope said.

MEC Maloyi said the main aim of the gesture was to get the motorist to assist traffic authorities in saving lives and further prevent deaths on provincial roads. 

Motorists travelling between Lichtenburg and Koster were encouraged to give Mandela a birthday gift of a life-saving commitment by signing a pledge to put on their safety belts all the time, which most agreed and endorsed.

According to the Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison MEC Nono Maloyi, the department has realised that most motorists and passengers don’t put on their safety belts when traveling and that contributes to the high number of deaths on the road.

“Most of our beloved die as a result of not putting on their safety belts. Therefore we would like them to commit to save their lives and that of their family members” Maloyi said. 

MEC said this will be the greatest gift to the former president Nelson Mandela who valued life. 

“We appeal to our people to live with this commitment as it will definitely saves lives which Mandela fought for,” said Maloyi.

Meanwhile officials within Public Safety also spend their 67 minutes in honouring Mandela’s legacy by painting pedestrian crossings in some parts of Mahikeng and further spread the message of safe driving and comply with the law. 

“This is a lifetime legacy that will save the lives of our people in these roads. The humps will assist in getting motorists to reducing their speed in residential areas,” said departmental MEC Maloyi.

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