Pietermaritzburg – Delays in an inquiry into fatalities during a KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) fitness test was sharply criticised on Friday.

“We are unhappy with the way things are turning out.

“We’re here because people are paying for us to be here,” said commission of inquiry chair Thandi Norman.

“We have to utilise public money usefully.”

The commission is probing the deaths of eight people who took part in a 4km run at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg in December.

This formed part of a fitness test for job applicants.

More than 40 000 people had qualified to apply for 90 advertised RTI trainee posts.

Of these, 20 000 applicants attended a fitness test on 27 December and a similar number on 28 December.

Norman said two hours were wasted on Tuesday because of an early adjournment.

“This is undesirable,” she said.

It was unacceptable that lawyers were unprepared.

“I also do not condone parties not being told about witnesses that are going to be called…it creates this kind of problem.”

Evidence leader Sithembiso Kunene, health department lawyer Thulani Khuzwayo and Nomusa Khuzwayo, for the families, told the inquiry that they were not ready to cross examine Ntombenhle Ndlovu, who was a participant at the RTI fitness test.

Ndlovu was called by the transport department to give evidence, but the three lawyers told the inquiry they did not know who she was and what her evidence would be as they did not have her statement.

Transport department lawyer Ravenda Padayachee said it was not a requirement to lead evidence with a statement.

He was then allowed to lead Ndlovu’s evidence.

Ndlovu testified about how well organised the fitness test was on 28 December.

She said each group that ran was escorted by traffic police and an ambulance.

Ndlovu said that when she ran there was no danger of vehicles knocking down participants.

Traffic police officers were also stationed at different points on the route ensuring the road was clear of traffic.

Ndlovu said there were taps and toilets at the stadium.

The inquiry continues on 16 September.

SAPA

ABSA Premiership

Result: Swallows 3-2 MP Black Aces

Date: 30 August 2013

Venue: Dobsonville Stadium

Edward Manqele didn’t have to wait long to prove his potential as the forward struck a hat-trick to inspire Moroka Swallows to a 3-2 win over Mpumalanga Black Aces on Friday night.

The striker, who is currently on loan at the Dube Birds after struggling to secure regular game time at Mamelodi Sundowns, looked to be back to his best with a well-taken treble.

Aces gave a good account of themselves and were given some hope through a goal from Thabo Qalinge in the 28th minute which brought the score to 2-1, but Manqele restored the two-goal cushion after the break. Aces went on to bag a second goal deep into stoppage time but it proved nothing more than a consolation as the full-time whistle was blown moments later.

AmaZayoni started the game the brighter of the two and thought that they had opened the scoring 14 minutes only for Onyekachi Okonkwo to be denied by the offside flag in a controversial decision.

Swallows responded just three minutes later when Manqele was on hand to gobble up a rebound after Siyabonga Nomvethe had seen his shot stopped by Bafana Nhlapo.

Manqele was at it again in the 22nd minute – this time the forward buried a terrific volley after being found by the lively Nomvethe.

Aces restored some calm after the quick-fire double as Qalinge thumped his shot into the roof of the net from inside the area.

The visitors were playing with restored confidence after the goal but their failure to turn their good work into goals would be punished after the interval as Manqele buried Dikgang Mabalane’s ball to make it 3-1.

Swallows stood firm for the remaining minutes but Aces would eventually breach their defence in the fifth minute of stoppage time as Clifford Ngobeni beat Greg Etafia but it was too little too late as the Dube Birds flew off with the spoils.

Swallows: Greg Etafia, Luvhengo Mungomeni, Rudi Isaacs, Larry Cohen, Levy Mokgothu, Asavela Mbekile, Lefa Tsutsulupa, Dikgang Mabalane, Lerato Chabangu, Siyabonga Nomvethe, Edward Manqele.

Aces: Bafana Nhlapo, Omar Hendricks, Eduardo Ferreira, Method Mwanjali, Abel Mabaso, Thabo Qalinge, Sandile Zuke, Ofentse Nato, Themba Zwane, Onyekachi Okonkwo, Mabhuti Khenyeza.

Source: http://www.soccerladuma.com

Johannesburg – The government has made significant progress in education and health in its current term, says Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor.

She said in a speech prepared for delivery on Friday: “The basic education sector performed well during this term of governance. 

“Participation rates in compulsory education have greatly improved.

“In our evaluation of progress, it is encouraging that the education sector has been able to complete its mandate, except the first priority which is teachers in class, on time, teaching using textbooks and programmed lesson plans.”

In her role as chair of the ANC national executive committee sub-committee on education and health at the SA Medical Association (SAMA) congress in Pretoria, Pandor said that certain problems remained.

“Systems have been put in place to deal with these challenges during the current financial year.”

She said the African National Congress-led government had established the department of higher education, which had performed “exceptionally well” during its first term of existence.

Pandor said that in this term of governance the health sector “achieved a lot of successes.

“The most notable being that it has succeeded to unite all stakeholders behind plans of the ANC to work together towards a better health for all. The animosity that characterised this sector is history,” she said.

“The health sector has done extremely well in its fight against HIV and Aids. This is attributable to South Africa’s bold leadership in turning the tide against the HIV and Aids epidemic.”

The fight against tuberculosis still posed a problem.

SAPA

Pretoria – A summit of alliance partners, the ANC, SACP and Cosatu, should produce an outcome which unites the parties, Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said on Friday.

“We have been involved in the preparations for this summit for quite a long time and all Cosatu affiliates participated in the preparations.”

The summit got underway in Pretoria on Friday.

Dlamini downplayed the reported widening rift between the leadership of Cosatu’s biggest affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), and alliance partners the African National Congress and SA Communist Party.

“We are not in the business of competing with a Cosatu affiliate in the media or internally,” he said.

“Cosatu leadership is here to engage in critical matters…I’m not going to say whether what Numsa is saying is right or wrong.

“Cosatu has come here to engage on issues of the NDP (National Development Plan) and macro-economic issues,” he said.

Asked what Cosatu would be proposing on contentious issues such as e-tolls and the NDP, Dlamini said positions would be known at the conclusion of the summit.

“What I will avoid to do is, even before the summit begins, is to then say what the outcome would be.

“We will be united towards an outcome that unites everybody.”

The summit ends on Sunday.

Earlier this month, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe urged Cosatu to focus on its principles.

“Once you close your eyes to those fundamental principles you are going to see the battles that are running now,” he told Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) members at their second national political school in Benoni.

“Those battles are a function of many things.”

Mantashe said one was the development of personalities in the trade union federation.

“When you begin to worship individuals then you are going to kill the thing [Cosatu].”

Cosatu has been divided following allegations of sexual harassment, made by a junior employee, against its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, and his suspension. The allegations were later withdrawn.

Cosatu announced that Vavi had been put on special leave pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing into an affair he had with the junior employee.

Vavi has vowed to challenge his suspension.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Fochville-One person passed on in a horrific accident outside Fochville.

Two sedan vehicles were allegedly involved in an accident and two people were left critically injured while one person died on the scene.

“The accident took place 8km outside Fochville and two people were taken to local hospital for medical attention” ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said.

The accident took place on Friday on a “head on” collision at Fochville crossing.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Marikana-The police are investigating a case of attempted murder after a 33-year-old employee of Lonmin was shot at the Wonderkop taxi rank at approximately 21:00 on Thursday.

“It is alleged that the victim, who is also a taxi owner, was standing next to his vehicle at the taxi rank when an unknown suspect approached him. According to information that was received, the suspect allegedly shot the victim several times in the chest and the stomach” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. The suspect allegedly fled the scene while the victim was taken to hospital for medical treatment.

“The motive of the incident is still unknown. Preliminary crime scene investigation revealed that a 9 mm pistol was used” Mokgwabone said. 

The police found one bullet head, two sharp ammunition and four cartridges at the scene. 

The investigation regarding the incident continues and nobody has been arrested.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Hartswater-Hartswater Stock Theft Unit are investigating a case of stock theft which allegedly took place on Tuesday at approximately 18:00. Lieutenant Sergio Kock said members from the unit immediately followed up on information received and found three men transporting seven stolen cows in a bakkie and trailer on the N12 near Warrenton. 

“Two of the three men were charged with stock theft while the third was released” he said. 

Police said the cows were stolen from a farm near Warrenton and is valued at R37 000,00. 

The two suspects known as Godfrey Kabelo Afrika(26) and Hans Wegern(30) appeared briefly before the Warrenton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and the case was remanded for 03 September 2013 for a formal bail application.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Hartswater-Vigilant Police in Hartswater recovered stolen goods before the owner realised that his property was stolen. Police reacted on information of a suspicious looking man in possession of two bags in the Utlwanang Township in Hartswater on Wednesday at approximately 15:00pm. 

“Minutes after following upon the information, police found the suspect hiding at a dumping site and in possession of two stolen laptops” lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

The man was questioned and further recovery of a Nokia 2690 cellular phone and a GPS at his shack.  

“The owner was delighted when while reporting the case of housebreaking and theft at the police station, he was informed that the property was recovered and that a 36 year old suspect was also arrested” Kock said. 

All his property except a gold wedding band was recovered. 

Kock said the total value of the recovered goods is R13 300,00. The suspect will appear in the Hartswater Magistrates’ Court on Monday for house breaking and theft. 

“The actions of the police is commendable and their quick response towards the safekeeping of our society and the protection of property is an example of the kind of service delivery expected from our police officers.” commented the Hartswater Cluster Commander, Colonel Lekhu.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley’s Vehicle Identification and Safeguarding Unit is urgently trying to locate a 48 year old man by the name of Andre Knoetze who can assist them in their investigation of two theft of motor vehicle cases.

“It is alleged that the man alias Andrea Roux befriended a Kimberley man and convinced him into releasing a VW Golf into his possession and promised the complainant that he would sell the vehicle for him. Once the money of over R20 000 is paid to him, he would give the owner of the vehicle his money back. However, Knoetze sold the vehicle to a person in Boshoff during August 2013” colonel Priscilla Naidu said. 

Naidu said the man did not pay the owner his money but instead further convinced him into releasing a second vehicle, a 1994 White Toyota Corolla to him. Knoetze has since disappeared.

Knoetze allegedly informed the complainant that he is a phychologist with a practice in Kimberley, but this is not the case. 

“Anyone who can assist police in tracing Knoetze is asked to contact D/Const Reginald Magou at Kimberley on 053 807 9550 or 072 4611 588” she said. 

All information supplied to police will be treated as confidential. Police believe that Knoetze is operating between Kimberley and Bloemfontein.-TDN

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