The National Assembly has endorsed the nomination of 12 people for the new SABC board despite criticism from opposition parties.

The DA, Congress of the People and Inkatha Freedom Party opposed the move, forcing a vote.

The ANC had its way as the ballot saw 203 MPs voting in favour of the 12 nominees, while 78 voted against them. There was one abstention.

Earlier, loud heckling was heard from opposition benches when Parliament’s communications portfolio committee chairperson Sikhumbuzo Kholwane took to the podium and defended the appointment of ANC-aligned nominees.

“I’m convinced that the calibre of candidates is testament to the quality of depth our country is blessed with,” he said.

“It (the proposed board) reflects the kind of patriotism needed to drive our country forward,” he said.

On the skills of board members, Kholwane said he was convinced they chose the “right people for the job”.

“They are experienced enough … and this is a very strong team.”

Kholwane said there was no problem with ruling party members being on the board.

“We deliver as a ruling party that’s why labour is supporting this bill,” he said.

DA MP Marian Shinn responded by saying the ANC members on the committee “betrayed South Africans”.

“The ANC would not compromise … it refused to consider any name submitted by opposition parties. It does not represent the best choice of appropriate skills available,” she said.

The fact that the committee did not choose board members from a broad cross-section of South African society was also a concern.

“We are about to hand over control of the SABC to the ANC,” said Shinn.

Cope MP Juli Killian said the ANC again resorted to “cadre deployment”.

“They refused point blank to accept even one name supported by the opposition,” Killian said.

IFP MP Liezel van der Merwe was equally dissatisfied with the ANC’s choices for the board, going as far as to say its composition was open to legal scrutiny.

“It’s now uncertain whether the SABC sinking ship can be rescued,” she said.

The list of nominated board members will be sent to President Jacob Zuma, who makes the appointments.

The list includes the current interim chairperson of the board, Ellen Tshabalala, her deputy, Noluthando Gosa, and a past member of the broadcaster’s board, Vusumuzi Mavuso.

The others are Ronnie Lubisi, Thembinkosi Bonakele, Rachel Kalidass, Nomvuyo Mhlakaza, Bongani Khumalo, Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe, Krish Naidoo, Aaron Tshidzumba and Hope Zinde.

Parliament dissolved the SABC board earlier this year after infighting caused mass resignations.

– Sapa

Port Elizabeth – Several Somali-owned shops re-opened for business on Thursday as a wave of looting and xenophobic violence in Port Elizabeth was brought under control.

More than 150 small grocery shops were looted in four days of violence which was sparked by the killing of a 19-year-old local boy by a Somali shop owner after an argument over cellphone airtime on Sunday.

“No incidents of looting have been reported since last night (Wednesday),” police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said.

She added that “police will continue to maintain a high presence” in a number of affected areas.

Police arrested 111 people in connection with the pillaging. The man accused of killing the South African teenager was arrested but later released due to lack of evidence.

Violence spread to several townships in the eastern coastal town.

“Engagements with representatives of the foreign nationals, the community and other stakeholders will continue to make sure peace and calm returns to the area,” said Mills.

But some Somalis said they were still nervous.

“I am still nervous but the police have promised us protection, and some members of the community are supporting us and that is why I am back,” Aran Adbikarin.

Amid widespread poverty and unemployment, frustration in South Africa’s run-down neighbourhoods often boils over into anti-immigrant violence.

An explosion of deadly attacks in 2008 killed more than 60

people and displaced thousands into refugee-style camps.

Locals often accuse foreigners from other African countries of stealing their jobs and women.

Foreign-owned shops are also accused of uncompetitive business, selling their wares at lower prices than their South African counterparts.

South Africa plays host to millions of asylum seekers and refugees from across the continent.

Sapa-AFP

Cape Town – The National Prosecuting Authority on Thursday welcomed the two life terms and five-year sentencing of Namibian national Fabianus Fillipus, convicted of killing two police constables in Cape Town last year.

“As the NPA we will continue to play our part to ensure that those who kill police officers who are doing their duties to protect our society, are prosecuted successfully and pay dearly for their actions,” NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said in a statement.

Ntabazalila said although the sentence would not bring back the loss both families had suffered, he hoped they would find solace knowing Fillipus would not hurt other people.

Fillipus, 29, was convicted last week of murdering constables Pindiwe Nikani, 26, and Mandisi Nduku, 27.

The constables were shot dead while on duty at Imizamo Yethu, in Hout Bay, last October.

Nikani died on the scene and Nduku, who was seriously wounded, died later in hospital.

After being questioned by the judge, it was established that Fillipus had a Grade Seven education, had worked as a boilermaker for about a year and had left for South Africa in 2004 when he lost his job.

He settled in the Mandela Park informal settlement in Hout Bay and bought a home there when he met his girlfriend.

At the time of the shooting, he was selling goods to people on the street.

On Wednesday, Fillipus maintained his innocence in a room packed with relatives of the policemen and off-duty police officers at the Western Cape High Court.

He took the stand to convince Judge Patricia Goliath that he should not be given the minimum prescribed sentence of life in prison for police killings.

“I’m worried I’ve been found guilty of something I didn’t commit. I’m also worried at leaving my (three-year-old) child behind and my girlfriend,” he said through his Oshiwambo-speaking interpreter.

Samantha Raphaels, for the State, asked the court on Wednesday to impose two life sentences for the murders, and five-year sentences for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Raphaels said both officers were killed “execution style” which was an aggravating factor, that Fillipus had not shown any remorse and that nothing was taken from the officers after they were killed.

“It is clear that the accused was purely there to shoot and kill. There was a direct intention to kill those officers,” Raphaels said.

Sapa

Witbank – A teacher was arrested in Witbank on Thursday for possession of dagga, Mpumalanga police said.

The 45-year-old was caught after a schoolboy was found selling it for him earlier this month, said Colonel Leonard Hlathi.

The 14-year-old was found on September 3 with 18 “pokes” (a finger-sized quantity) of dagga. He told police he was working for the teacher.

“Police investigations showed that the teacher was allegedly supplying dagga to learners.”

Police recovered 138g of dagga with an estimated street value of R1100 in the teacher’s room.

He would appear in the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Sapa

Port Elizabeth – Heavy winds blew off the roofs of three hospitals in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, the province’s health department said.

They were the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, Glen Grey Hospital in Lady Frere and Cofimvaba Hospital, said spokesman Sizwe Kupelo.

A team of building experts had been sent to assess the damage.

“No injuries were reported, patients are still safe,” said Kupelo.

Eastern Cape health MEC Sicelo Qgobana would visit the hospitals on Friday, he said.

Sapa

Johannesburg – Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile is expected to launch “Freedom Fridays” in Soweto, government said on Thursday.

He would launch it on Friday to mark the lead up to the country celebrating 20 years of freedom and democracy, said government communications spokeswoman Phumla Williams.

Citizens were encouraged to use every Friday from September 20

until the end of December 2014 to celebrate the milestones of the country’s freedom.

“Freedom Friday is a call on the nation to wear anything that expresses their pride in being South African on Fridays.

“They can wear anything from a jersey of a favourite football or rugby team to traditional wear to show their unity in celebrating this important landmark in our country’s history.”

Williams said the main aim of Freedom Fridays was to mobilise collective ownership of 20 years of democracy by all sectors of society, to “promote social cohesion and a national identity that is representative of our rich and diverse culture”.

Parents and teachers were urged to educate children about how democracy was achieved.

Sapa

Kimberley – A Kimberley mother blames herself after her husband allegedly fathered two children with their eldest daughter and also raped the youngest one.

Speaking to the media for the first time about the daily trauma her family endured at the hands of the man who was supposed to protect them, the woman said on Tuesday that she was still haunted by the memories of her husband raping the children.

“I can still see him sneaking into the bed where my daughters were sleeping and forcing himself on both of them.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Potchefstroom – At least 24 state-owned cattle have disappeared from a facility in North West, supposedly to benefit people attending President Jacob Zuma’s imbizo, which never took place.

In September last year, the cattle were taken from the Potchefstroom Agriculture College, where they were used to help students with their practical training. The college is owned by the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development.

Unionists and other insiders said the dairy cattle were valued at about R300 000.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Women are usually the first line of defence in every family and play a central role in holding the family unit together and instilling good behaviour, North West Premier Thandi Modise told over 1000 women gathered for the Provincial Women’s Day of Prayer at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng on Thursday.

Premier Modise said that women cannot just sit back and fold our arms while our communities are ravished by social ills such as gender based violence, corruption and lack of respect.

“Let us pray for the province without talking about politics. Let’s pray for good manners, dignity, trust, honesty, respect and care for each other, love for our children, treasure our parents, respect every religion, pray for an to the drought, unhappiness in the province and for the whole South Africa.” Premier Modise urged the women in outlining the purpose of the prayer service.

“God never gives you a responsibility if He thinks you will not be able to carry it. We have to support each other as women as we journey together to build a better society,” said Premier Modise.

The interfaith prayer meeting convened under the theme “Building Faith Through Prayer” was part of the World Prayer Day Celebration.

This spiritual warfare was held amidst the scourge of gender-based violence, including rapes and spousal abuse that have ravished the province and the country in recent days.

The prayer assembly attended by women from various denominations was also intended at strengthening ties between the provincial government and faith based organisations towards moral regeneration and social cohesion and to among others.

Amongst those in attendance was MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Desbo Mohomo and Gospel sensation Winnie Mashaba who thrilled the congregation with hymns such as Re tla mo rorisa, Ha Modimo a Le Teng, and Kena Le Modisa.

Durban – Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mpisane will stand trial in the Durban Commercial Crime Court in January.

Magistrate Nalini Govender refused a State application for a six-week postponement so it could write up an indictment to have Mpisane tried in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban.

Handing down her decision on Thursday, she said: “I am not persuaded by the reasons of the State to grant such a long adjournment.”

Prosecutor Wendy O’Brien earlier told the court the State was seeking a six-week postponement to obtain a forensic report, and to allow the deputy director of prosecutions time to examine the case documents in nine lever arch files.

She said KwaZulu-Natal director of public prosecutions (DPP) Sophy Moipone Dinah Noko had authorised that the case against Mpisane proceed in the high court.

Mpisane, who is out on R100 000 bail, faces 53 charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering of a forged document.

She is accused of submitting forged documents to obtain Construction Industry Development Board gradings, which were then used to win five public works department tenders worth R140m.

Govender said the State had failed to take any action since Mpisane’s 13 August court appearance, when the prosecution first announced it intended taking the matter to the high court.

There was no “satisfactory explanation” for the State’s inaction.

Govender said there was no justification for the six-week postponement the State requested, and Mpisane would be prejudiced by the “inordinate delay”.

The trial was scheduled to start on 21 January. The State had to finalise the charges against Mpisane by 18 October.

O’Brien asked that the case be heard by another magistrate in another court.

Govender said if the State was unhappy with her hearing the case, it could bring an application for her to recuse herself when the trial starts.

– SAPA