Johannesburg – Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi on Friday accepted the censure imposed on him by Corruption Watch.

“I have accepted that censure, humiliating as that may be. I am not above the discipline of our organisations,” he said in a speech prepared for delivery.

Vavi was addressing members of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) during their regional biennial general meeting in Buffalo City, East London.

The censure came after Vavi admitted the impropriety of having a relationship with a woman employed by the Cosatu.

He said he was determined not to allow the events of the recent past and the wrath it has invited from all angles, whether genuine or malicious, to sway his focus.

Vavi said he had to draw important lessons from the unfortunate experience.

Stand against injustice

Corruption Watch said in a statement earlier that Vavi would remain on their board.

“The board has met with Mr Vavi and after a consideration of the facts, and after Mr Vavi had recused himself as he did not wish to influence the deliberations, the board has unanimously agreed that Mr Vavi will remain on the board.”

Last week, the woman withdrew her sexual harassment grievance against him during a hearing.

Vavi also called on the public to stand against all forms of injustice faced by women and girls.

“Patriarchy, gender based violence, poor access to skills development and decent employment,” he said. Despite the many advances the country had made since 1994, women were still economically triply oppressed and exploited.

“They bear the brunt of the crisis of poverty, unemployment and inequality, in a society in which white males still dominate the economy and women form the majority of those without jobs and living on the breadline,” he said.

Vavi said women suffered from outrageous levels of gender-based violence, and claimed that a woman is murdered by her male partner every six hours. He estimated that at least 150 women are raped each day.

Unemployment

“We saw a grotesque example this week in Ceres, where a 4-month-old baby girl was raped. It is hard to find words to describe such depravity,” he said.

Vavi said as teachers, Sadtu members had a special responsibility to wage war on sexism and inculcate humane values and attitudes in future generations.

Vavi said as the country would be celebrating the end of the second decade of democracy, the economy of the country has not been radically transformed to benefit the majority of South Africans.

He said an aspect of the problem, which must concern the teachers, was that an estimated 72% of the unemployed are young people between 15 and 36 years of age.

“The stark reality is that most of the learners in your classes today, particularly in the poorer areas, have next-to-no chance of finding a job.

“Even the 5% minority who get access to higher education are not assured of employment,” he said.

Earlier, Corruption Watch said it took into account the fact that any sexual relationship between a senior staff member and a junior member “is almost inevitably infected by the relationship of power that exists between them”. It said senior staff members had a responsibility to avoid such relationships. The organisation said it also took into account the “deplorable level” of gender violence and abuse in South Africa.

SAPA

Cape Town – Hospitalised former president Nelson Mandela is becoming more alert by the day, even managing to sit up in a chair, his youngest daughter Zindzi Mandela told the SABC on Friday.

“He’s fine, Tata now manages to sit up, like now he sits up in a chair for a few minutes in a day, every day you know he becomes more alert more responsive. Tata is determined not to go anywhere anytime soon, I cannot stress this enough. People must stop saying to the family let go let go, we are just looking at this man who is saying I’m not going anywhere,” said Zindzi.

For more http://www.news24.com

By Lesedi Setlhodi

Taung-Another political party has erupted just before the 2014 National Elections.

A newly formed the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) show its fangs and prepared to insinuate its way and change political landscape.

It is yet another party formed after a bitter break up from the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) that has the entire country talking and deliberating what it may bring to South Africans.

Former ANC Youth League leader, Julius Malema now the Commander-in-chief of his new political party (EFF) was euphoric to have welcomed 1 100 new members on the first day of recruitment and said that if this was to become a trend, then they will be getting 1000 members daily throughout the country.

Support base for EFF surely seems to be escalating as recruits are recorded daily. A third branch will be launched today in Taung, at Dryharts primary school – North West province.

Omphile Morwaagae (pictured) pointed out that they anticipate hundreds of people to show up from Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and surrounding areas to join the red-headed beret movement EFF.

“It is anticipated that more branches will to be launched.

The EFF plans on contesting in the 2014 elections and bring South Africans to a different era in the history of politics” Omphile Morwaagae said.

Their policy amongst others includes, free education, health care, houses and sanitation. Malema surely did not leave out the nationalization of mines in their policy and it also consists of building state government capacity – presenting the abolishment of tenders.-TDN

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Johannesburg – The Farlam Commission of Inquiry into the Marikana shootings has been postponed, the commission said on Friday.

“A decision in respect of possible funding for the legal team representing the injured and the arrested miners has not been finally determined,” it said in a statement.

“This decision is now expected within the next few days.”

Hearings would resume on Wednesday.

The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest in Marikana last year. Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on 16 August. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.

Dali Mpofu, representing the mineworkers wounded and arrested at Marikana, wanted the funding for his legal team.

He previously signalled his intention to file papers with the Constitutional Court for a ruling on whether the state should fund their work at the commission. He made a similar request in the High Court in Pretoria earlier this month, but it was dismissed.

Commission chair retired judge Ian Farlam said: “Though it is regrettable that we have to once again postpone the commission’s sitting time by two more days, in addition to the days already lost, it is however desirable that we continue with efforts we are making to ensure a process as inclusive as possible.”

SAPA

Johannesburg – EFF leader Julius Malema is stealing the values that the PAC stands for, acting PAC president Alton Mpheti said on Friday

“The way Julius Malema is portraying himself gives us a problem because he is stealing what we have stood for as a party,” Mphethi told delegates at the Pan Africanist Congress’s two-day conference in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

“It is interesting that he is now the one advancing our policies after he called us ‘ghosts’. We want to remind him that the PAC is the one championing these policies.”

He said opportunism was the reason for the formation of new political parties and that these parties lacked proper political grounding.

There was a proliferation of political parties and very few had any political foundation, said Mpheti.

The progressive organisations were sinking.

“The social conditions of our people are such that they live in hopelessness.

“They do not know what is hitting them. They cannot identify their real enemy. They consequently are in conflict with one another…blaming one another, rather than the real cause of their pain,” he said.

Mpheti conceded that his party was not visible enough and that this was the reason why parties such as Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters had taken the political limelight.

“We have placed ourselves underground and do not go to the people to talk to them.

Mphahlele may appeal

“We have the motivation to stand up, spurred by the fact that many of our people died for… the struggle but we do not use that motivation.

“Those who died for the cause are not here any more and what are we doing to cover their space?”

In a statement on Thursday, the PAC said it was expecting its expelled president Letlapa Mphahlele to appeal his expulsion from the party.

Mphahlele did not attend the conference.

The party’s national executive council (NEC) expelled him in May for financial impropriety, bringing the party into disrepute and failure to raise its profile.

The High Court in Johannesburg later nullified this decision. The NEC is appealing the ruling.

Mphahlele said the PAC’s conference was nothing but “a clown’s kangaroo court”.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-Four people were left injured after the car they were travelling in lost control and plunged into a wall.

The accident took place on Friday at Prinsloo street in Klerksdorp this afternoon.

“Four occupants were taken to hospital for medical attention after their car veered off the road at Prinsloo street in Klerksdorp and plunged into a wall” Er24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said.

Jackson said one person was in critical condition and all were taken to a local hospital.

The cause of the accident is yet unknown, however it seems the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-A 14 year-old teen has been knocked down by a speeding car in Klerksdorp.

The accident took place at Tirisano road in Klerksdorp on Saturday.

The paramedics were called and certified the pedestrian dead.

“We attended a scenerio at Tirisano road, in Klerksdorp were a 14 year old pedestrian was allegedly knocked down by a car. A teen was confirmed dead by paramedics” ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said.

Police are investigating a culpable homicide case.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

MTN8 Quarter-final

Result: Wits 3-0 Bloem Celtic

Date: 9 August 2013

Venue: Bidvest Stadium

Wits booked their place in the semi-finals of the MTN8 after a 3-0 win at home to Bloemfontein Celtic on Friday night.

Sibusis Vilakazi and Getaneh struck in the space of two first-half minutes before Papy Faty wrapped up the result on the counter in the dying minutes.

The Students did not have it all their own way though, with Keamogetse Wolff being sent for an early shower after earning two yellow cards in quick succession around the hour mark.

Phunya Sele Sele created some chances to get back into the game but poor finishing allowed Wits to secure a comfortable win.

The Students started the game brightly and after a warning shot from Getaneh Kebede, as well as a disallowed goal, the hosts would finally get the breakthrough.

Sibusiso Vilakazi hit the back of the net in the 21st minute when he volleyed home a rebound and just two minutes later they would be celebrating again.

Ryan Chapman fed the ball to Faty who quickly slipped a pass through to Kebede and he hammered his finish past the goalkeeper.

The strikes stunned Celtic and Matthew Pattison almost put the match to bed before the break but his venomous strike was straight at the goalkeeper late in the half.

Musa Nyatama should have pulled one back for the visitors moments earlier but he missed a sitter as Wits held their comfortable lead at the break.

Celtic started the second period brightly and Vuyani Ntanga should have got their reward when he beat the offside trap only for his poked effort to go wide.

They would be given further encouragement on the hour mark as Wolff went in for a second silly tackle in as many minutes to earn a sending off.

Wits were still dangerous on the counter though and saw Tinashe Nengomasha lash a shot just wide of the angle while Musa Bilankulu produced a superb clearance to keep out Celtic at the other end.

Celtic were struggling to create clear chances and their hopes were completely dashed just into stoppage time when Calvin Kadi slipped the ball through for Faty who took the ball around the goalkeeper and rattled the empty net – confirming Wits’ progress.

Wits: Moeneeb Jospehs, Katlego Pule, Musa Bilankulu, Matthew Booth, Keamogetse Wolff, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Papy Faty, Tinashe Nengomasha, Matthew Pattison, Getaneh Gibeto, Ryan Chapman.

Celtic: Patrick Tignyemb, Wandisile Letlabika, Motsere Motlhaping, Thabo Nthethe, Tsietsi Mahoa, Auguston Leonard, Musa Nyatama, Limbikani Mzava, Lyle Lakay, Vuyani Ntanga, Joel Mogorosi.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Johannesburg – Women in South Africa are still fighting for gender equality and justice, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Friday.

“This generation of women is still fighting for gender equality and justice,” she said in a speech prepared for delivery.

“They are fighting because they know that freedom cannot be deferred.”

Zille was speaking at the DA’s Women’s Day rally in Ekurhuleni.

She said the women who took part in a march against apartheid’s pass laws on 9 August 1913 were of every colour, political creed, way of life, and corner of South Africa.

“They rejected apartheid by affirming that much more unites the South African people than divides the country.”

The rally also marked the re-launch of the DA’s Women’s Network (Dawn).

Zille said the party needed to remain committed to the emancipation of women across South Africa.

“We need to ensure that women in leadership don’t forget about the daily struggles of women on the ground.”

“Dawn is a network of DA women that helps us to connect easier and faster.

“Together, we will take forward the fight started by Helen Joseph and Lilian Ngoyi on this day over half a century ago,” she said.

SAPA

Lawyers for Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s party filed an appeal in the constitutional court today against the results of the elections which gave veteran President Robert Mugabe another five-year term.

“The Movement for Democratic Change has filed its election petition,” party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora told journalists outside the court.

– Sapa-AFP