Cape Town – The winter weather lashing the Cape claimed its first victim on Wednesday.

Two unidentified men were found huddled under wet cardboard boxes on Main Road in Kuilsriver.

ER24’s Vanessa Joubert said the one man had already died when the paramedics arrived at the scene.

The other man, barely clinging to life, was treated at the scene and then rushed to Tygerberg Hospital by ambulance.

He has already shown signs of improvement and is moving his limbs.

The man is still receiving treatment in hospital, according to Joubert.

Disaster Risk Management said on Wednesday that several areas across the Peninsula had been affected by flooding due to the heavy rains.

They are currently assisting those affected by the weather in informal settlements around the city.

News24

Cape Town – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s decision to probe a complaint against the government task team, which probed the irregular landing of a private jet by the politically connected Gupta family, was welcomed on Wednesday.

“We welcome the fact that the public protector will effectively be investigating the investigation into ‘Guptagate’,” DA MP David Maynier said.

“However, it is obviously very disappointing that the public protector will not be investigating the role of President [Jacob] Zuma and his Cabinet in ‘Guptagate’.”

The complaint was lodged by Waterkloof Air Force Base official Lieutenant Colonel Christine Anderson, who was implicated by the team in its report.

SA National Defence Union (SANDU) secretary Pikkie Greeff said in May the findings against Anderson, the base officer commanding movement control, were not objectively reached.

Anderson was accused of giving the go-ahead for the landing without following proper protocols, and of dereliction of duty.

Maynier said he had received a letter from Madonsela stating that there was not sufficient evidence to probe Zuma.

Madonsela and her spokesperson could not be reached to confirm this.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Parliament will table a report by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson Pansy Tlakula, it said on Wednesday.

“Parliament has today [Wednesday] received the report…. The report will now be tabled and, thereafter, referred to a relevant oversight committee for consideration,” it said in a statement.

“The committee is required to report back to the National Assembly [NA] and recommend a course of action.”

Parliament said the IEC was a “state institution supporting constitutional democracy” and reported on its activities to the NA.

“Until the NA adopts the report and recommendation of the committee, the Speaker, in terms of the Constitution, legislation and the rules, is not in a position to embark on any other course of action.”

Madonsela recommended on Monday that Parliament consider taking action against Tlakula.

She said Tlakula had played a “grossly irregular” role in procuring the Riverside Office Park building in Centurion for the IEC’s head office.

In a probe into the matter, Madonsela found improper conduct and maladministration on Tlakula’s part, and a conflict of interest involving a co-director, with whom she was accused of being romantically involved.

“The speaker of Parliament… [should] consider whether action should be taken against advocate Tlakula for her role in the procurement… in light of the undisclosed and unmanaged conflict of interest and her contravention of the procurement laws and prescripts,” Madonsela said in her report.

She recommended that the IEC review its agreement with Abland, which was awarded the contract to lease the Riverside Office Park building.

Romantic affair

Tlakula is accused of having a romantic relationship with Parliament’s finance portfolio committee chairman Thaba Mufamadi, who owns a 20% stake in Abland by virtue of co-directorship in Lehotsa Investments.

Allegations about their romantic involvement were not investigated as there was no “tangible” evidence.

A whistle-blower employee denied the allegation when interviewed by the Protector’s office.

However, Madonsela found that Tlakula had failed to disclose her business relationship with Mufamadi to the bidding team, which had compromised her independence and objectivity.

The office of ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani said on Wednesday that political parties in Parliament had to stop commenting on Tlakula.

“It makes a mockery of parliamentary processes and undermines the institutional role,” it said in a statement.

“Parliament recommends the appointment of the IEC chairpersons. It is therefore irresponsible for parliamentary parties to make public judgements… on a matter that they would still deliberate on [in parliamentary committees] and take a decision [as part of National Assembly].”

SAPA

The conditions of the two Members of the North West Executive Council (MEC’s) have improved to the extend that one of them has been discharged from hospital, North West Premier Thandi Modise announced on Wednesday.

Premier Modise is hopeful that both MEC’s will be fit soonest to carry on with their official duties.   

MEC for Sport, Arts & Culture, Tebogo Modise was discharged over the past weekend while MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Motlalepula Rosho was transferred to a hospital outside Mahikeng as the number of visitors she received at the local hospital did not give her sufficient time to rest and recuperate.    

Last week’s bi-weekly Exco meeting was adjourned for about 45 minutes for MEC for Health, Dr Magome Masike and the Acting Director General, Major General Dr. Mokgethi  Radebe to attend to both MEC’s  before they were rushed to Mahikeng Provincial Hospital.

The incident started when MEC Rosho complained of a back pain and collapsed as she was being led out of the meeting to see her private doctor. MEC Modise who was escorting her collapsed minutes later.

Stress and fatigue was suspected to have led to their collapse.

Johannesburg – Political parties in Parliament must stop commenting on IEC chairperson Pansy Tlakula, who was found guilty of improper conduct and maladministration by the public protector, ANC chief whip Stone Sizane said on Wednesday.

“It makes a mockery of parliamentary processes and undermines the institutional role,” he said.

“Parliament recommends the appointment of the Independent Electoral Commission chairpersons. It is therefore irresponsible for parliamentary parties to make public judgements… on a matter that they would still deliberate on [in parliamentary committees] and take a decision [as part of National Assembly].”

Sizane said political parties should not “prejudge” the matter.

Irregular conduct

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Monday recommended that National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu consider taking action against Tlakula after it was found she had played a “grossly irregular” role in the procurement of the Riverside Office Park building in Centurion for the IEC’s headquarters.

Madonsela’s report also revealed there was a conflict of interest between Tlakula and a company co-director, with whom she was accused of being romantically involved.

The co-director, Thaba Mufamadi, is Parliament’s finance portfolio committee chairperson. He also owns a 20% stake in Abland, which was awarded the contract to lease the office park premises.

“In line with parliamentary procedure on matters such as this, the speaker would refer the report… to the relevant parliamentary structure, which will apply its mind and then make recommendations for consideration by the House,” said Sizane.

“The House is the final arbiter on this matter… We call upon all parliamentary political parties to respect this process.”

SAPA

By TDN

The North West Provincial Government will be hosting the National Skills Authority (NSA) Provincial Consultative Workshop in Mahikeng on Friday, 30 August 2013.

Using the theme “Taking the National Skills Development Strategy to the People,” the consultative workshop is expected to bring together stakeholders from business, government, community and labour organisations.

The workshop is intended, among others, to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate on the national skills development strategy and examine challenges facing the province with regard to post school education and training needs.

Premier Thandi Modise, who is scheduled to open the worship on Friday morning, says the workshop comes at the right time.  

“We are prioritising skills development as an integral part of our effort to empower our people. We are hopeful that delegates attending this consultative workshop will emerge at the end of their sessions with recommendations that will enable us to fast-track the implementation of the national skills accord,” said Premier Modise ahead of the one-day workshop.

The event that is scheduled to commence at 08h30 on Friday morning at Cookes Lake, Mahikeng.-TDN

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Leaders of Cosatu unions held a meeting this week to determine who would chair the disciplinary process against embattled general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven refused to be drawn into details yesterday, saying it was an internal matter.

Sdumo Dlamini, the union federation’s president, said the meeting did not discuss who would chair the disciplinary process into Vavi’s sex scandal.

He said an announcement would be made “as soon as possible”.

Vavi was suspended recently after admitting he had sex in an office with a married junior employee at Cosatu’s headquarters in Johannesburg. This has created division, with some supporting and some against Vavi.

Vavi, who has since apologised, took to Twitter on Saturday, posting: “At the centre of the divisions are these issues – the state of the revolution not the mistake I committed.”

Following his suspension, Vavi lashed out at Dlamini and accused him of circulating an intelligence report to discredit him.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe warned against the developing “personality cult” within Cosatu, saying it would destroy the labour federation.

Sources have said there are moves afoot to heal the divisions.

Meanwhile, Craven said Cosatu would be part of the tripartite alliance summit starting on Friday.
Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za

The North West High Court sentenced a 35-year-old man to an effective 18-year jail term after he was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend.

Acting judge Tebogo Djadje, who delivered the sentence against Thapelo Mmolawa in Mahikeng on Friday, said the harsh sentence was expected, considering the outcry caused by the callous murder.

Mmolawa was also convicted on two additional counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He was sentenced to five years and three years respectively for these crimes, which will run concurrently with the main sentence.

The court heard that Mmolawa fatally shot his girlfriend, Keneilwe Nakedi, 30, on July 19 last year in Zeerust. He accused her of seeing another man.

Mmolawa pleaded guilty to the murder charge and apologised to Nakedi’s family.

On that fateful day, Mmolawa went to the deceased’s workplace carrying a 9mm gun, looking for her. After realising that she had not yet arrived he left, only to return an hour later.

It is said that when Nakedi arrived at her workplace, she was talking on her cellphone and had to go outside to finish the conversation.

She returned running and screaming into the building saying that someone was shooting at her outside.

She locked the door behind her.

However, Mmolawa shot through the glass door, then entered the building and fatally shot Keneilwe in the chest.

Arguing in mitigation of sentence, advocate Isaac Phetoe, who represented Mmolawa, said his client loved the deceased very much and was not happy about her conduct, hence the emotions that pushed him to commit the crime.

“My client is a first offender, no pending cases against him and a responsible father.

“He pleaded guilty, showed remorse and apologised to the family.

“The court must consider this and give him a minimum sentence as he must come back and apologise to the community.

“It is my submission that he had no right to take someone’s life. He was confused and angered by the conduct of the deceased,” Phetoe said.

“In passing sentence, Djadje said: “Murder is a very serious offence and time in jail cannot bring a life back.

“The family lost a loved one. The deceased was young and had a good future ahead of her. She was killed in a brutal manner, judging by the photos submitted.

“There is a huge outcry about unlicensed firearms, therefore the sentence must be just and fair. In murder cases there is always the expectation of harsh sentences.”

Keneilwe’s sister Kefilwe Nakedi said the family expected a stiffer penalty because Mmolawa had admitted to the crime.

“We still miss Keneilwe, she did not deserve to die like that. We are not happy with the court verdict. A stiffer sentence was needed since the accused admitted that he committed murder. As for the said apology, we don’t accept it at all.

“We are still battling to come to terms with the untimely departure of my younger sister,” she said.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

Senior management at the provincial education department is trying to create a post that does not appear on their organogram in a bid to appease an official who successfully challenged the appointment of a human resources director at the department.

The appointment of Ompile Motang last year caused a lot of grumbling, not only among those who had applied for the post and other staff members, but among the political leadership of the province.

Now a new post is being created for him after his irregular appointment was challenged.

Apparently, the incumbent did not have the qualifications or necessary experience related to human resources management or administration as required by the advertisement for the post.

The only excuse the department had for the appointment was that Motang had briefly acted in the post. However, many believe the offer had deliberately been made to act as caveat for him to finally get appointed when he did not have a clue of what the post required.

One of the applicants who felt short-changed, Kealeboga Moepedi, decided to challenge the appointment through the bargaining council and in a ruling delivered in May this year, he won the case. Moepedi has more than 10 years experience and a relevant tertiary qualification.

Part of the ruling reads: “It is submitted two factors illustrate the irrational choice of Motang instead of Moepedi by the interviewing panel. The first is that Moepedi has 17 years experience in human resources, nine of which are in middle management, whereas all the experience Motang had at the time of the interviews was a mere four months.

The second is that Motang had failed an assessment test whereas Moepedi had passed.”

The bargaining council further pointed out that the department had committed an unfair labour practice in appointing Motang at the expense of Moepedi. The department was then ordered to place Moepedi on salary level 13 starting from January 1 this year and give him all the benefits that go with the position.

Documents seen by The New Age show that some allowances amounting to more than R70000 have been paid to Moepedi and indications are that he could soon be paid the level 13 salary.

Departmental spokesperson Brian Setswambung said it was unlikely that Motang’s appointment would be reversed but a new post would be created for him (Motang).

“The official has been appointed but the department is still in talks and looking for a suitable alternative post for (Motang),” he said.

One department official who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “We are sick and tired of the labour practices at the department. Most of the people are hugely demotivated because unqualified and inexperienced officials are foisted upon them.

“We want the appointment of Motang reversed because it has created hell for officials in that directorate.”

The official added that if a qualifications audit was performed at the department, the public would be shocked at the flawed labour practices afflicting the department.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za