New York – Former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has been tapped to head gender equality body UN Women, diplomats said on Wednesday, replacing former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, who stepped down to pursue another presidential bid in Chile.

Mlambo-Ngcuka, 57, was deputy president between 2005 and 2008.

Bachelet stepped down in March after leading UN Women, a body for gender equality and the empowerment of women, since it was created in 2010 by the UN General Assembly.

– Reuters

Bloemfontein – Four Free State municipalities have violated the human rights of citizens in not providing water and sanitation, the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said on Wednesday.

“It shows that apartheid’s redress was not done as it could have been, with proper co-operative governance,” commission deputy chairperson Pregs Govender said.

The commission earlier released reports of investigations conducted into five complaints about water and sanitation at four Free State municipalities.

The five reports cover the municipalities of Dihlabeng (Bethlehem), Setsotso (Ficksburg), Masilonyana (Brandfort), and the Mangaung Metro (Bloemfontein). There were two reports on the Masilonyana muncipality.

Govender said the complaints focused on access to clean water, sanitation, a clean environment, access to information, and dignity.

Most of the findings indicated that municipalities had no meaningful consultations with affected residents.

The commission said the reports should be seen in the context of existing discussions with national government on implementing earlier recommendations made after the SAHRC’s provincial hearings.

SAHRC Free State manager Buang Jones said the Mangaung complaint was from people living near Sibuyile Park.

“[The] Mangaung metropolitan municipality failed in its constitutional and statutory obligations to, among others, provide basic services such as sufficient water, sanitation and refuse removal since 1989.”

Similar findings

The Dihlabeng municipality failed to adequately conceptualise, plan and implement the Maseko section informal settlement at Paul Roux.

Govender said the findings were similar to findings at other municipalities across South Africa.

In Mpumalanga and Limpopo, the commission was looking into 11 complaints in each province about a lack of access to water and sanitation in various districts.

In the Western Cape, an investigation was recently launched in informal settlements in Gugulethu.

The commission said it would ensure that recommendations were implemented.

“We prefer not to have to take a municipality, department or government to court,” said Govender.

She said they would if it became necessary.

– SAPA

Bafana Bafana have departed for Zambia to play in the 2013 edition of the COSAFA Cup.

South Africa left on Wednesday afternoon (10 July 2013) without two players – Mzikayise Mashaba and Bevan Fransman.

Mashaba had a problem with his passport which was declined by Home Affairs at the airport and was unable to board. But the matter has since been sorted out and he will be on the 19h00 flight to Zambia tonight. He is expected to land just after 21h00.

Fransman will only join his compatriots on Monday, 15 July as he will be playing for his club Supersport United on Sunday (14 July) against Manchester City at Loftus Versfeld in a pre-season warm up match.

Head coach Gordon Igesund is travelling with 18 players.

“I have confidence in these players, they are a talented bunch and this is an opportunity for them to show what they are capable of and I am hoping that happens. We will be very competitive, and the players will go in there with a lot of passion and commitment. We are very positive about the task ahead,” said Igesund.

“We spent a year trying to get an identity for Bafana Bafana, and we are almost there. The regular players are programmed to behave in a certain way on the field, whereas the players that we are travelling with are new to the system and we can’t get it right in just two days. We have a good game plan, we know our opposition but it’s going to be difficult to perform as a team as the players will be coming together for the first time. But we will do well.

The Bafana Bafana mentor believes that participation in the COSAFA Cup needs to be treated in a different way in future.

“What is clear is that this exercise has taught us that we need to sit with all the stakeholders to discuss this tournament in detail so we are well represented in future. Unfortunately this event comes on a non-FIFA calendar date, but there is a serious need to ensure that our participation becomes a fruitful one, rather than put together a group of players to go and play. Clubs have been very helpful in providing us with players and we really appreciate that taking into consideration that this is also a difficult period for them. Pre-season is the most important time for any club,” said the head coach.

Bafana Bafana will be captained goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands at the COSAFA Cup, who will be making his debut with the armband.

“It’s a great honour for me and would like to thank the coach for the faith he has shown in me, and I would also like to thank God for allowing me this chance to be here and lead this team. It’s the first time for me being in this position even though I have captained my club on numerous occasions but I am really looking forward to the challenge. We have a lot of new faces but there are no excuses, we will be representing our country and we just have to do our best,” said Sandilands.

The Mamelodi Sundowns’ number one believes they can do well in Zambia despite the challenges they faced before departure.

“As players when you represent your country you have to be the face of the national team, be the ambassador and the guys don’t need that much motivation. We just need to bond and unify quickly so we can do the business on the field, because there is not a lot of time. We just need to remind the guys of the importance of being here and the opportunity that we have. This is a chance for many players to show the coach they want to be part of the team going forward, so we need to have the right frame of mind,” concluded Sandilands.

Bafana Bafana are expected to have their first training session on Thursday morning (11 July).

Johannesburg – The city of Johannesburg has been ordered to stop running part of its “world class African city”, campaign by the advertising authority, which ruled it was “misleading”.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint by resident Steven Haywood, who argued the city’s long-running marketing campaign “contain blatant untruths”.

Johannesburg, population 4.5 million, is sub-Saharan Africa’s richest city and the region’s economic hub.

While many parts of the city are leafy, urbane and well-to-do, its inner-city and poor townships are plagued by unemployment, crime, poor housing and limited public utilities.

Haywood took issue with one particular radio advert that implored listeners to imagine themselves living in a recession-busting environmentally friendly “world class African city”.

“Imagine a city where you can rest assured, knowing that it is financially stable; that there is on-going electrification of homes.”

“A city that is saving the environment through different energy-efficient interventions. A city that continues to create new jobs despite the economic downturn. Can you imagine living in such a city? You do.”

Misleading

Haywood argued that the advert was misleading, since the city’s finances had received three consecutive qualified audits and was struggling to repair roads, while garbage often lies uncollected.

The advertising authority on Monday agreed and ruled that the commercial should be withdrawn immediately “in its current form”.

It said it had “no option but to find that the commercial appears to be communicating a misleading message.”

Fred Mokoko, a spokesperson for the mayor of Johannesburg, told AFP on Wednesday they would appeal the ruling.

“Our lawyers are busy preparing the appeal documents, we are appealing… we were never offered a chance to state our case,” said Mokoko.

He said the “world class” statement was the city’s 2040 growth vision, coined in 2005, and can be seen on billboards and glossy in-flight magazines.

This year, Johannesburg unveiled a $10bn 10-year infrastructure development plan, which includes housing and roads improvement.

– AFP

CAPE TOWN – Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said an investigation will be launched into the alleged assault of a blind musician allegedly at the hands of Metro Police officers.

The entertainer was apparently manhandled by the officers on Tuesday afternoon at Greenmarket Square apparently because he didn’t have a permit to busk at that particular time.

Eyewitnesses said the man, who regularly performs in the square, was forcibly removed and his guitar damaged.

Plato said the incident is being viewed in a serious light.

“For five, six or seven officers to act against a blind person is not on. However, we don’t want to draw our own conclusions and anticipate the outcomes. Let’s have a full scale investigation.”

He said vulnerable residents should be protected.

“If their well-being is being infringed upon or they feel unsafe they can complain to government and we will investigate and make sure that we make them as comfortable as possible.”
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

Johannesburg – The Congress of the People on Wednesday welcomed President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle.

Zuma announced a the reshuffle on Tuesday, axing three ministers – Communications Minister Dina Pule, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi.

“Minister Pule became the epitome of greed and abuse in Zuma’s Cabinet,” Cope spokesperson JJ Abrie said.

“We called for minister Pule’s axing since last year.”

‘Forces of change’

Abrie said the axing of Sexwale embedded fear among African National Congress members who still harboured ambitions to challenge Zuma’s rule.

“Since his return to active politics Sexwale never covered up his ambitions to wrestle power away from Zuma and his faction in the ANC.

“The Congress of the People will not be surprised if the close proximity between Tokyo Sexwale and the Economic Freedom Fighters of Julius Malema might now develop into a fully fledged and well-funded coalition of the wounded.”

Sexwale was said to be part of the “forces of change” which resisted Zuma’s re-election as ANC president at the party’s elective conference in Mangaung last year.

Sexwale lost his bid for the position of ANC deputy president and his seat on the party’s national executive committee.

The removal of Baloyi was a “breath of fresh air”, as he was a “non-starter”.

“Baloyi never managed to steer his department through stormy waters and… he went down as one of Zuma’s failed projects. He will be remembered as a hopeless underperformer,” said Abrie.

Cope was disappointed that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi escaped being fired.

Concern over communications ministry

The Media Workers’ Association of SA (Mwasa) expressed concern at the frequency of change in the communications ministry.

“Except for the forced replacement of late honourable Roy Padayachie, the other personnel changes have not served to enhance the performance of the ministry and its portfolio organisations,” general secretary Tuwani Gumani said in a statement.

“It is overwhelmingly concerning that such a critical portfolio has accounted for serious opportunity-costs in a world economy…”

Mwasa urged Yunus Carrim, who replaced Pule, to use his experience as an academic and a legislator to turn the ministry around.

SAPA

Franklin Cale has completed his moved to Ajax Cape Town by signing a three-year deal.

The winger’s manager, Glyn Binkin, confirms the news to KickOff.com after the player passed his medicals.

“It’s a done deal; he has signed a three-dear deal,” he says.

Cale left Ajax for Mamelodi Sundowns before another unhappy spell at SuperSport United.

Meanwhile, Binkin also confirms that Nazeer Allie is still doing his medicals at Bidvest Wits.

For more http://www.kickoff.com

The North West Provincial Government will embark on a number of service delivery activities in Mokgalwaneng village near Northam as part of the Provincial Africa Public Service Day (APSD) celebration to be held on Friday 12, July 2013. “The conversations and exhibitions that are part of the outreach are aimed at reviving the spirit of effective, efficient, accountable and transparent public service. They are also intended at strengthening citizen participation, enhancing integrity and access to information,” says Premier Modise who is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the event.

Communities from Matlametlo, Disake, Kraalhoek, Modikela, Matsinyane and Mokgalwaneng villages are expected to access on site Home Affairs Services, health services, social grants, information on SMME development, cooperatives. employment opportunities and other government services.

The theme adopted for the 2013 Africa Public Service Day Celebration across the continent is:  “African Public Service in the Age of Open Government: Giving Voice to Citizens”.The day gives practical expression to the implementation of the Batho-Pele Revitalisation Strategies and gives due recognition to men and women within the public service who devote their lives to serving the people of Africa diligently and selflessly.The event details are as follows:

Date:  Friday 12 July 2013

Place: Mochudi Middle School Sports Ground in Mokgalwaneng Village

Time: 8H00           

TlokBy Obakeng Maje

Pretoria-The former Executive Mayor of the Tlokwe Municipality, Mr Maphetle Maphetle, and the Tlokwe Speaker, Barei Segotso, this morning served papers on the 48 Councillors (26 ANC 19 DA 2 FF+ and 1 Cope) as respondents in an application to be filed in the Supreme Court in Pretoria. 

Maphetle and Segotso’s application wants the Council meeting of the 2nd July during which the second motion of no-confidence in Maphetle was unanimously accepted, to be declared invalid and all resolutions taken at the meeting to be reversed.

The DA will, on behalf of its Councillors, fully respond to the application and is also considering a counter-application.

“It is clear that even after the ANC’s acknowledgement that the ANC was slow to deal with the allegations of fraud and corruption, an euphemism for sweeping it under the table, the ANC will stop at nothing to frustrate democratic processes” DA Chris Hattingh said.

The ANC campaigning in Potchefstroom during the past two days emphasised that residents are only regarded by the ANC as voting fodder with no hope to receive the frequently promised services or even responses on the community’s concern about fraud, corruption and maladministration.

“While we proceed with our efforts to end Maphetle and his former mayoral committee’s illegal occupation of the Municipal Offices, we will also continue with our planning and endeavours to have the Tlokwe Municipality restored back to delivery mode” DA said.

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