Durban – A rural KwaZulu-Natal high school was forced to close for a week because children from three villages decided to settle old scores at the school, the community safety department said on Wednesday.

The Ukukhanyakweze High School in KwaMaphumulo, near KwaDukuza (Stanger), had to be closed when stick-fighting during traditional ceremonies spilled over into the school, MEC Willies Mchunu said in a statement.

The school had since reopened, he said.

“I am disturbed to learn that some parents are happy and supportive of this conflict,” said Mchunu, who visited the area on Tuesday.

“Those who do this thing are wrong and they should know that. Nothing productive comes out of fighting. Violence begets death, graves and endless hatred.”

He was particularly concerned about the future of matric pupils who should be preparing for examinations in a peaceful environment and not in a conflict-ravaged school.

– SAPA

Cape Town – One “Indian elephant” and an unusual bottle opener are among the gifts disclosed by MPs in the 2013 Register of Members’ Interests, released at Parliament on Wednesday.

While at least a dozen of them declared they had “nothing to disclose” – including no house, land or property, no pension, no shares, and no directorships, benefits or other financial interests – other members were more forthcoming.

These include Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, who in the course of his efforts to promote the country as a holiday destination, was given one Nguni cow and a “sabre for opening wine bottles”, the last from the Cape Wine Academy.

His Cabinet colleague, International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, declared over 60 gifts, including more than R2 500 worth of “gin and bitters” from the Ghanaian High Commission.

Former human settlements minister Tokyo Sexwale, who was axed from his portfolio by President Jacob Zuma in July, also received many gifts, including a book titled 52 Secrets of Success for Business and Personal Leadership.

He was given a “set of surgical scrubs” by the CEO of the Smile Foundation, and a “small, three-year-old bonsai tree” by banking group Absa.

Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko, whose fashion sense was the focus of African National Congress interest in the National Assembly earlier this year, let show on her disclosure form that she received two sponsorships for beauty treatment.

These included “regular nail grooming” from the Zebra Nail Bar, and “regular hair styling and maintenance” from Wade & Co.

She was also among the scores of MPs who declared they had no pension scheme.

The man in charge of the country’s spies, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, was given a R1 300 hat by his Botswanan counterpart, to be worn, presumably, when travelling incognito. Other gifts of Cuban cigars and rum, as well as Russian vodka and chocolates, will no doubt go down well on his next visit to a safe house.

Among those members who disclosed they had a part share in homes and apartments was DA MP Mike Waters, who over and above his two local properties, owns half of a three-bedroomed house in Australia.

African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe revealed that his family had chipped in to buy him a R7 000 suit, while a friend had given him a R350 pair of cufflinks.

Other unusual gifts include the “silver braai utensils”, value unknown, given to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who also received a “hand-blown glass bird” from the prime minister of Finland.

The register, notorious for its misspellings and strange descriptions, is hopefully wrong when it comes to Deputy Speaker Nomaindia Mfeketo’s gift list.

Among those listed is “1 Indian elephant”, of unknown value, given to her by an “Indian delegation”. It is not known where she might keep it – under the form’s land and property section she has declared “nothing to disclose”.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – One person was killed and another injured when a heavy duty truck collided with multiple vehicles, including two minibus taxis, in Durban on Wednesday evening, paramedics said.

“One person tragically lost their life, while multiple people sustained various injuries ranging from moderate to critical,” said Netcare911 spokeswoman Santi Steinmann.

She said all the injured people were treated on scene before they were transported to various hospitals in the area for further medical care.

The cause of the accident was not yet known.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – There were inaccuracies in the version of events given by the mother of the two toddlers found dead in an open field in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg on Wednesday, Gauteng police said.

“Preliminary investigations have proved there might be discrepancies in the mother’s version of the events,” acting provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba told reporters in Johannesburg.

The two girls, aged one and three, were found dead in a field near Zonkizizwe, Katlehong on Wednesday morning by a resident.

Their 26-year-old mother, who is a Mozambican national, was found with them and taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Mothiba said the mother told police she and her husband had an argument after she found him in bed with another woman.

Earlier, Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said the mother alleged that she and her children were from Witbank and her husband had dropped them off in the field.

“She did not know where they were.

“She further alleged that her husband left them with a cold drink which they drank last night. When she woke up this morning two of her children were already dead,” he said.

It was suspected that the toddlers were poisoned.

The exact cause of death would be known once a post mortem had been done, said Dlamini.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The DA has challenged ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman’s claim that 98% of all properties the province’s government was renting in Cape Town were privately owned.

“Not only are these statements 100% wrong, but Mr Fransman knows they are wrong, as he either signed and/or dealt with most of the leases himself,” transport and public works MEC Robin Carlisle said in a statement on Wednesday.

Fransman told the Cape Town Press Club on 10 October that ethnic division in Cape Town was a reality if one looked at property and land ownership. He said the reality was that 98% of the land and property owners were white and, in particular, Jewish.

“That is not an ethnic mobilisation; that is the reality. The question is how do we move from that to make sure we get shared ownership?”

In an interview with the Voice of the Cape radio station in February, Fransman alleged that the Democratic Alliance had given Jewish businessmen building contracts previously held by Muslims in two Cape Town suburbs.

The SA Jewish Board of Deputies lodged a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission, which arranged a mediation process.

The complaint was that Fransman had made demeaning and inflammatory remarks that could create animosity between Muslims and Jews.

According to Carlisle, the leases the province had in the Cape Town CBD were:

– Protea Assurance Building, owned by Oasis, a black-owned entity which was also Sharia compliant;

– Waldorf Building, privately owned by Moosa Baba of Cameroon;

– Golden Acre, owned by Growthpoint Properties, a JSE-listed company;

– Grand Central Building, owned by Ascension Properties, a black-managed and substantially black-owned, JSE-listed company;

– Atterbury House, also owned by Ascension Properties;

– Norton House, also owned by Baba; and

– 11 Leeuwen, owned by the Benjamin Family Trust.

Race not recorded

“Mr Fransman would have signed and/or dealt with every one of these leases in some regard at some time during his tenure as MEC for transport and public works,” Carlisle said.

Africa Check, a non-partisan organisation promoting accuracy in public debate, said in an article that the claims could not be verified.

It reported that when it asked Fransman if he had done an audit of the race of property owners in Cape Town and if so, how, Fransman had replied that the number was correct.

The organisation quoted Debra Gouws, a Cape Town lawyer who specialises in property law, as saying it was impossible to identify the race of a property owner based on deeds issued after 1994.

“In the case of older deeds it is possible to ascertain the race of the owner, although I have seen some older deeds in which it is not recorded,” she said.

SAPA

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund has sent a get-well message to former Manning Rangers striker Keryn Jordan who is battling cancer.

“It is with great sadness that I have heard that Keryn Jordan’s health has taken a turn for the worse.

I have known Keryn since he first started playing for Manning Rangers as a teenager when I was coaching the club. Keryn played an important role in the team as we won the inaugural Premier League title in 1996.

I have very fond memories of Keryn during that time and took great interest in his further career that took him to Supersport United and Moroka Swallows, as well as to New Zealand, where he starred for Auckland City and twice participated in the FIFA World Club Cup.

He also played for Bafana Bafana.

Keryn has been – and is – an inspiration to thousands of football fans in South Africa and New Zealand and has bravely fought his illness.

My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family in these trying times and I call on all South African football fans to pray for him and his family,” said Igesund.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordond Igesund has wished Orlando Pirates well in their CAF Champions League second leg semi-final fixture against Esperance of Tunisia.

The clash will take place on Saturday, 19, October 2013 at the Stade Olympique in Rades, Tunisia.

Pirates leave for the North African country tonight (Wednesday, 16 October).

The two sides played to a goal-less draw in the first leg at the Orlando Stadium on October 5.

Pirates will need to win the match to advance. A scoring draw will also be sufficient to see Pirates to the final where they will face either Al Ahly of Egypt or Cotonsport of Cameroon. The two are scheduled to play their semi-final second leg on Sunday, 20 October.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish Pirates all the best in their tough encounter against Esperance. To coach Roger de Sa, his technical team and the entire Pirates players, you have shown that you can mix it with the best when you played the first leg. I believe that the whole country is behind you so go out there and make us all proud. We know it is not going to be easy but we have confidence that you will return victorious,” said Igesund.

Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, the Honourable Fikile Mbalula, visited Pirates at their training camp to also wish them well.

Meanwhile, Gabonese officials will be in charge of the clash between Pirates and Esperance.

Eric Otogo will be the man in the middle, and will be assisted by Theophile Vinga and Jean Engone, while Yves Roponat is the fourth official.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Pic:(A lifeless and naked body of Sasa Manye,15, who was allegedly raped and killed by ‘Hammer-man’) 

North West MEC for Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi urged communities around Mahikeng join hands with the police in fighting crime within their respective areas. 

MEC Maloyi said this during the cleansing ceremony at the murder scene, where a 15 year old Sasa Manye of extension 39 in Mahikeng was murdered.

Manye was found dead by a passerby in the early morning of September 27, in an open space in Extension 39. 

She was allegedly raped and murdered by a man known as “hammer man” who’s currently terrorizing the communities around Mahikeng.

According to investigations, the deceased was hit several times on the head by an object. The brutal murder has left residents of Mahikeng in fear that their lives might be in danger because the perpetrator is still on the loose. 

Police reported that several cases of this magnitude are being investigated in Mahikeng and other areas like Itsoseng.

 “As long as the perpetrator is still on the loose, we are going to have sleepless nights. We are going to leave no stone unturned to arrest this monster,” said Maloyi.

Maloyi further emphasized that the police needs community support and cooperation. “We must not just depend on the police but also come on board as communities and work with police. In that way we will be able to defeat this monster. But that does not mean that the communities should take the law into their own hands,” pleaded Maloyi.

Provincial Commissioner Mbombo confirmed that the police are making every possible move to arrest the perpetrator. 

She said that police will continue patrolling areas identified as hotspot, however pleading with the communities to ensure their safety by not walking alone at night to avoid being victims of the “hammer man”. 

She said they have introduced more investigators on the case to add more manpower.

An interfaith ministry which involves pastors from different churches conducted a prayer session and traditional healers performed rituals as a sign of cleansing the side where the body was found.-TDN

(Edited by Obakeng Maje)

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Pretoria – There will still be space for press freedom even when the protection of state information bill becomes law, former press ombudsman and director of the Press Council Joe Thloloe said on Wednesday.

“Is the protection of state information bill a threat, or does it mean the end of media freedom as we know it now? The answer is, no. We have a Constitution that protects us,” he said in Pretoria while delivering the third annual Percy Qoboza memorial lecture.

“It is a Constitution agreed on by all South Africans in 1997. In this one round in Parliament we still have lots of fighting space until we get to the Constitutional Court.”

Public interest clause

He said media industry roleplayers, and many South Africans, merely wanted a public interest defence clause included in the bill.

“We are asking for one small item in the bill, that there should be a public interest defence built into the bill. We believe that the onus to prove the public interest will be on the person claiming that he did whatever he did because of the public interest.

“That decision, on whether it is in the public interest, should be taken by the courts, not by politicians, not by bureaucrats. That is all we are asking for and we find it difficult to understand why that wasn’t inserted when the bill was sent back to Parliament,” said Thloloe.

Earlier this month, lobby groups said Parliament’s plan to review the bill in two days made a mockery of its duty to correct the highly contentious draft law.

Unconstitutional

The Right2Know campaign said President Jacob Zuma had rightly referred the bill back to the National Assembly on advice that it was unconstitutional.

Opposition parties and activists said the wording of Zuma’s letter to Parliament, outlining what changes he wanted made, was too vague. They had urged him to say whether MPs had the authority to undertake a comprehensive redraft or merely focus on two sections.

The president failed to respond to a written request by the Democratic Alliance for clarity.

Critics’ hopes for a comprehensive overhaul dimmed last week when Parliament scheduled the ad hoc committee handling the review to meet on Wednesday, and to finalise its report on the bill on Thursday.

Critics say it still creates the spectre of excessive state secrecy reminiscent of the apartheid era.

The two clauses Zuma mentioned when he announced his decision contain technical errors that, if corrected this week, were unlikely to alter the bill’s content and allay those concerns.

The Qoboza memorial lecture is held in conjunction with the University of South Africa. Qoboza was a South African journalist, author, and outspoken critic of the apartheid government.

SAPA