Johannesburg – A 9m-high statue of former president Nelson Mandela will be erected at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile said on Thursday.

“The Union Buildings has for many years been a symbol of white minority domination,” he said in Johannesburg.

The statue of Mandela, who remained an “enduring symbol of our struggle for freedom, democracy, dignity, and equality”, would be unveiled by President Jacob Zuma on 16 December.

The bronze-plated statue was being created by sculptors Andre Prinsloo and Ruhan Janse van Vuuren. Prinsloo said the project had been a life-long dream.

He spoke about the difficulties of capturing Mandela’s image and decisions that had to be made on the pose, expression, and age the statue would depict.

“We decided we would give him a smile,” Prinsloo said.

The statue would capture Mandela as he looked about 10 years after his election as South Africa’s first democratic president.

Prinsloo demonstrated the pose the statue would assume, arms outstretched and one foot slightly forward.

The pose intended to convey “how he embraces the nation”, Prinsloo said.

Transporting the statue

The R8m statue would be transported in four sections on a flat-bed truck and assembled on the lawns of the Union Buildings.

It had to be completed by 9 December to be ready for unveiling on 16 December, Reconcilliation Day.

The statue would be 3m taller than the 6m-high Mandela statue at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Mashatile said the statue was part of efforts to establish new symbols to reflect the collective aspirations of South Africans.

“We once more take this opportunity to wish Tata Madiba well as he recovers at his home,” he said.

Thursday marked the 26th day since Mandela was discharged from a Pretoria hospital, where he spent nearly three months being treated for a recurring lung infection.

President Jacob Zuma said in a speech released on Wednesday that Mandela was responding to treatment while convalescing at his Houghton home.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Danny Jordaan and “Shoes” Mazibuko will go toe-to-toe on Saturday in a bid to succeed outgoing SA Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani.

“This is an ironical twist to the elections,” said Nematandani, who has no chance of being re-elected because he did not receive any nominations from the 52 Safa regional associations.

“I cannot deny a pang of disappointment over the turn of events. My objective when I took over as president was to unite the opposing factions that exist in South African soccer and I never wavered on this principle.

“But the job is only half done. Now, it would seem, divisions are again set to escalate. Administrators like Danny [Jordaan] and Shoes [Mazibuko] are both needed in the soccer set-up and should be working together. Not fighting each other for power.”

Mazibuko piloted Nematandani into the post of Safa president four years ago.

Apparently disillusioned by the Transformation Forum group in which Jordaan and Mazibuko were at one time both prominent influences, Mazibuko and a sizeable wing of the organisation became disillusioned with its objectives.

They courted PSL chairman and Orlando Pirates boss Irvin “The Iron Duke” Khoza to stand as a powerful candidate for the Safa presidency.

The move, however, was stymied by the disclosure of a resolution in the Safa constitution that prevents a club owner from becoming president of the national association.

Attempts to scrap the ruling faltered over the fact that it required a two-thirds majority among the Safa regions.

Mazibuko was then launched as the candidate to oppose Jordaan and the existing supporters within the Transformation Forum.

A big question now regarding Saturday’s crucial election centres round whether the considerable support that would have gone Khoza’s way will now align itself to Mazibuko.

Meanwhile, the 55-year-old Nematandani said that after 25 years of service to various segments within the Safa organisation, he did not intend to back out of the soccer set-up.

“Soccer is a significant part of my life and this is not going to change now.

“I will be ready to serve Safa, Caf, and Fifa wherever required.”

SAPA

Cape Town – More than 100 complaints of sexual misconduct were laid against teachers last year, according to the SA Council for Educators [Sace]. 

In its 2012/13 annual report, tabled at Parliament on Thursday, the council said it received a total of 556 complaints for various “alleged offences or breaches” between 1 April last year and 30 March this year.

Of these, 104 were for “sexual misconduct, including rape”.

The council was established in terms of the Sace Act. According to this legislation, no person is allowed to practise as a teacher in South Africa unless he or she is registered with the council.

Other categories of offences listed in the annual report, including the number of such complaints laid against teachers, are:

– Verbal abuse, victimisation, harassment and defamation: 83;

– Fraud, theft and financial mismanagement: 65;

– Racism: two;

– Corporal punishment and assault: 182;

– Unprofessional conduct, alcohol abuse, absenteeism and insubordination: 115;

– Negligence: nil; and,

– Murder: two.

27 teachers struck off roll

The council said 319 of the total 556 cases were “finalised in forms other than disciplinary hearings”.

A total of 57 disciplinary cases were finalised over the 12-month period.

According to the report, 27 teachers were struck off the council’s roll of educators indefinitely.

Yet another was struck off, but may re-apply after a certain period, and a further 28 were struck off, but the striking off was suspended for a certain period.

On the number of appeals received from those struck off, eight were from those struck off the roll indefinitely for sexual offences.

Of the eight, five were finalised and the appeals dismissed. The other three appeals had been postponed.

On dealing with abuse of pupils by teachers, the council said one of the biggest problems was the general lack of co-operation by the parents of the abused children.

Parents’ responsibility

Parents had refused council officials’ access to the abused children.

“In some case, the abusers would end up being referred to ‘as sons-in-law’,” the report states.

This practice had negatively affected the council’s operations.

“[E]ach year we have a lot of sexual abuse cases that are being carried over into the next financial year because they could not be closed.”

It said the battle against the abuse of pupils would not be won “until such time that parents take the responsibility to protect their children and to support the Sace cause”.

SAPA

By TDN

Mahikeng-The process towards the development of a Provincial Teacher Development

Institute to provide continous professional development to teachers has commenced in earnest and is expected to gain momentum with the recent

endorsement it has received from the Provincial Executive Council (Exco).

A R7million project for the renovation of the former Tlhabane College of Education to serve as a site for the establishment of the institute to be supported by 33 District Teachers Centres to serve as local support sites for teachers across the province is in the pipeline.

The site was identified by the Provincial Department of Education as the most suitable as it has enough space for future developments. In addition,the existing buildings used by the former college has hundred and twenty rooms for residence and a number of offices that will as residential facilities and house offices of professional teacher development officials and other relevant staff for the envisaged institute.

The other contributing factor that makes the site ideal is that it is a government property and therefore no cost will be incurred to purchase the property.

“The contribution of all stakeholders in the education sector and the role that the institute and the district centres will play towards meeting the development needs of our teachers through qualification based programmes will go a long way towards improving the quality of our public education system and overall performance that should translate into excellence” said Premier Thandi Modise.

The move to establish the institute follows the Teacher Development Summit that was held in June-July 2009 which laid the basis for a new,

strengthened, and integrated National Plan for teacher development.

The summit itself was inspired by the move to improve the ailing teacher development and training that the post 1994 democratic government

inherited.

The inherited system was characterised by poor teacher education Development and limited or lack of opportunities for quality teacher education, mismatch between demand and production, fragmented approach to

teacher education, and inefficient and poorly monitored funding mechanisms.-TDN

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North West-The Provincial Planning Commission in the Office of the Premier of the North West will kick start its series of workshops throughout the province on capacity building and population integration  for implementation of the National Development Plan with a two-day workshop that commences at the

Rustenburg Civic Centre today.

The purpose of the workshops coordinated by the Provincial Population Unit within the Planning Commission and the National Population Unit in the Department of Social Development is to support Departments and Municipalities to integrate population factors into their policies and strategic plan as part of implementation of the National Development Plan

(NDP).

“It is critical for stakeholders to have a comprehensive understanding of the salient features of the NDP for them to integrate their plans as it constitutes the new fundamental basis to reconstruct our society and improve the quality of services to the people. It is a strategic framework to build capacity in the state to address the triple challenges of poverty,

inequality and unemployment in South Africa in general and in our province in particular. With the NDP we intend to create an inclusive society,

consolidate democracy and ensure sustainable development,” says Premier Thandi Modise.

Premier Modise said that the province will intensify its effort to involve civil society in the roll out of the implementation plan and has thus far engaged traditional leaders and the business sector in its extensive

consultation programme.

Stakeholders invited for the workshop aimed at also addressing demographic

gaps in government plans and programmes include Heads of provincial government Departments, municipal managers, public participation officers and faith based organizations.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Galeshewe-Northern Cape police are investigating a business robbery case, following

an incident whereby a business was robbed on Tuesday morning. “It is alleged that the complainant was busy opening the shop for business in Kelotlhoko Street and Africa in Galeshewe when more than three suspects attacked” lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said. 

Mdhluli said it is alleged that these suspects were having

knives and firearm(s). 

Reports also indicate that the suspects fled with undisclosed amount of money, cell phones, as well as meat (as the owner has a butchery section in his business). No arrests were made yet.-TDN

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Efforts to improve Doctor patient contact in the North West Province received a major potential boost with announcement by Health MEC Dr. Magome Masike that the province will this year send 180 students to study medicine in CUBA.  This is a drastic improvement from 100 that was recruited in 2012. 

The Province has 72 medical students from poor backgrounds who successfully completed their medical studies and are now serving their communities since inception of South Africa Cuba Medical programme in 1995.

The recruitment process of 180 students who departs for Cuba in October was highly competitive. Candidates were selected on the basis of academic excellence and commitment to serve the poorest communities upon completion of their studies.

Other criteria included a history of active involvement in their communities, and the potential to be a dedicated and caring doctor.  Priority was given to students from disadvantaged communities.

Bursary recipients had undergone a week long orientation at health facilities to familiarize themselves with medical practice and to get perspective of Cuba from those who studied medicine in Cuba before boarding a flight to Cuba.

The province continues to see steady progress in addressing related challenges of scares skills and training of health professionals. “Through the South African and Cuban Medical Programme more and more medical professionals become available. The availability of extra doctors means more and more communities especially in rural areas where most of them come from are able to be seen and treated by doctors,” says MEC Masike

 “Shortage of medical professionals is a national problem but affects the poor and rural population the most. Through the South Africa and Cuba Medical Programme more and more medical professionals become available and this slowly but surely reduces doctor patient contact in health facilities mainly serving rural communities,” MEC Masike said.

MEC Masike will bid farewell to bursary recipients at Mmabatho Convention Centre tomorrow at 12h00. Members of the media are invited.

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma is satisfied with the transport laws and related matters amendment bill and sees no stumbling blocks in its implementation, presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj told Fin24.

“The president is satisfied with the bill.”

Zuma has consulted widely, including with his legal advisers and, and sees no stumbling blocks.

On Wednesday, Zuma signed the bill into law. It now sets the wheels in motion for the electronic and cross-border collection of toll fees.

The controversial electronic tolling system of highways in Gauteng has been met with tough resistance, including from ANC alliance partner Cosatu and religious organisations. 

“With the enactment of the law, the necessary legislation is now in place to enable e-tolling,” said Maharaj.

The law empowers the minister of transport to gazette regulation for the implementation of e-tolls, he said.

The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) said the signing of the bill did not come a surprise.

“We welcome the signing of the bill into law,” Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona told Fin24. 

“We have never doubted the commitment of the president to the policies and laws of the government,” he said.

The bill was passed by the National Council of Provinces in May, however e-tolling was slated to begin in April 2011.

The majority of registered motorists will pay a monthly fee of only R100 to use Gauteng’s freeways,  Sanral said in August. This after e-toll tariffs was slashed at least thrice. 

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Appeal is hearing an appeal by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) as it challenges Sanral’s decision to breathe life into tolling Gauteng highways at the expense of the public.

Mike Maritz, for Outa, argued that legislation allowed Sanral to explore options other than tolling to fund freeways, reported Sapa on Wednesday.

Sanral also suffered a credit rating downgrade in September by Moody’s Investors Service.

The ratings agency cited deterioration in Sanral’s cash flow stemming from the prolonged delay in the realisation of e-toll revenue, it said in a statement at the time.

 – Fin24