Johannesburg – The security cluster of ministers submitted its response on Friday to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s provisional Nkandla report, government communications said.

“These comments reflect that government has acted in good faith to uphold national security and the security of the president of the Republic of South Africa,” the Government Communication and Information System said in a statement.

“Government will await the public protector’s process around this report and notes that the public protector indicated in court that a clear process will be outlined publicly.”

The report on the R206 million upgrade of President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal was given to the security cluster on 1 November, following a special request for access ahead of all other parties to establish whether its contents would compromise Zuma’s security.

The cluster wanted more than five days to study the document but Madonsela declined the request.

The cluster then filed an urgent application in the High Court in Pretoria last week for more time to peruse the report before it was given to the affected parties.

The court postponed the matter to Friday.

On Thursday, the cluster withdrew the urgent application, saying it had already obtained – through the court process – the extra time it needed to study the report.

On Friday morning, the State said it would pay the legal costs.

Got what they wanted

“As a result of this withdrawal, government undertook to pay legal costs in this matter, in accordance with the rules of the court,” justice department spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said.

In their affidavit on Thursday, the ministers said they would abandon their action opposing the release of the report.

The ministers said it would be academic to persist with the court action as they had already secured the extension of time they had wanted.

Madonsela on Friday welcomed the cluster’s withdrawal of the application. Her office said she had received the formal notice on Friday.

“The public protector hopes that a co-operative relationship with all parties involved in the investigation will be restored and subsist, without the incurrence of yet further legal costs to be borne by the taxpayer,” spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi said in a statement.

– SAPA

Cape Town – South Africa will use its experience in democracy in the UN Human Rights Council, Deputy International Relations Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said on Friday.

He said the country was committed to strengthening international human rights through government’s principled position on democracy.

This position affirmed the inextricable link between economic, social, and cultural rights with civil and political rights.

“South Africa has pledged to use its position within the council to advance a rules-based, just and equitable human rights system that is dedicated to the respect for the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights, and to ensure that the UN human rights system affords maximum protection to victims of human rights violations.”

The country was elected to serve on the council with 14 other member states of the UN.

South Africa received 169 votes out of 193 votes.

The council deliberates on the development, promotion, protection, and fulfilment of international human rights law, norms and standards.

Ebrahim said the country had previously served two consecutive terms on the council as a founding member, from 2006 to 2010.

The new term begins on 1 January next year.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A man has been arrested for allegedly pouring petrol over his wife in Kagiso on the West Rand earlier this year, police said on Friday.

Police spokesperson Solomon Sibiya said the woman was asleep at home with her daughter in April when the man entered the bedroom and poured petrol over her.

He said it was not clear if he wanted to set her alight.

“She jumped out of her bed, pushed the suspect, and escaped through the bedroom window.”

Sibiya said the 37-year-old man fled the scene and had been on the run until his arrest on Thursday. He was charged with attempted murder and would appear in the Kagiso Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

– SAPA

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Deputy International Relations Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said.

He said foreign ministers and heads of state would form partnerships and focus on how to make economic growth more inclusive and sustainable.

South Africa’s position was underpinned by the National Development Plan, which aimed to eradicate poverty and inequality by 2030.

Next Thursday, Zuma would host Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama in South Africa for an inaugural bi-national commission.

“The objective of the visit is to strengthen and deepen the existing historical and fraternal relations that exist between South Africa and Botswana,” Ebrahim said.

Botswana imported many of its commodities from South Africa.

South African companies were also involved in housing, food and beverages, construction, retail, hotels and leisure, banking and medical services in Botswana.

Ebrahim said Zuma would then travel to Ghana on 26 and 27 November for his first state visit to the country since becoming president.

Three memorandums of understanding would be signed on transport, air services, and electricity.

The SA-Ghana Business Forum would take place at the same time, Ebrahim said.

At the beginning of the month, Ebrahim visited North Korea to hold political consultations and review the 15-year-old bilateral relation between the two countries.

“During the engagements, we shared South Africa’s experience of de-nuclearisation, highlighting the great benefits that accrued to South Africa from the decision to dismantle its nuclear weapons in 1994,” he said.

“In this regard, we also related our experience of resolving conflict through negotiations and dialogue, and encouraged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to resume participation in the six-party talks at the earliest opportunity.”

– SAPA

The South African Football Association (SAFA) coach education department together with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will offer the first ever CAF A Licence course to 60 qualified Level 3 coaches and SAFA instructors.

The A Licence coaching course will be held at SAFA House from Friday, 15 – 19 November 2013 and will be conducted by Ben Koufie of Ghana and Tanzania’s Sunday Kayuni.

This course is in line with the CAF Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme to empower the group of elite coaches with the highest CAF coaching qualifications.

Some of the big names attending the course are Doctor Khumalo, Manqoba Mnqithi, Steve Khompela, Ian Gorowa, Ian Palmer, Sheryl Botes and Farouk Khan.

“The Equivalence coaching course is the CAF recognition of prior learning (RPL) programme aimed at recognising the qualification of our Pro/Level 3 coaches. It will fill in the gaps and align their qualification with the highest CAF coaching qualification,” said Serame Letsoaka.

SAFA’s Acting Technical Director, Fran Hilton-Smith said she was excited that the course has arrived and added that the course was a step in the right direction to empower the country in its endeavour to get back to the top.

“It is a milestone in our coaching history to have so many top level coaches finally doing the CAF A licence. This will put us among the top coaches in Africa as far as coach education is concerned,” said Hilton-Smith.

Senior instructor Koufie said with so many brains in the coaching industry, there is no reason why South Africa should not be the shining example on the African continent.

“I can’t comprehend this. But during our deliberations, we are going to come up with solutions and all you gathered here should drive this process forward.”-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Lichtenburg- The Democratic Alliance’s candidate for the Ditsobotla Ward 6 by-election on the 27th of November will be Mr Agust Schnepel. The seat became vacant after the passing of DA councillor Andre Behm, says DA Chris Hattingh.
“We will contest the ward in full force on the 27th of November and aim to retain the ward with an increased majority” Hattingh said.
Mr Schnepel was born in Lichtenburg and has lived in Burgersdorp since 1965. He matriculated in 1983. He started his own business in 1993.
DA says Schnepel has always been a loyal supporter of the Democratic Alliance.
“As a garden designer, Mr Schnepel empowers many men and women by equipping them with basic gardening skills and jobs. By serving as a councillor for the DA, Mr Schnepel will strive to create a transparent local government that serves the interests of all the people in Lichtenburg” DA said.

Hattingh said they are proud to have him on as a candidate and look forward to working with him if elected to make life better for the people of Lichtenburg.
“We are confident that he will perform well in his duties if elected as councillor” concludes DA.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

South Africa cannot proudly say it has attainted full emancipation if its populace is ignorant about gender issues, North West Premier Thandi Modise said at the Provincial launch of the Commission on Gender Equity’s (CGE) report on Employment Equity and Gender Transformation in the workplace in Mahikeng today.

“We must all stand up and be counted in the call to confront gender imbalances without necessarily being feminists. The Employment Equity Act can be seen as a tool for the advancement of upwards mobility of women in the labour market to break the proverbial glass ceiling that have prevented women from identifying and exploiting opportunities for economic empowerment,” said Modise.

Modise said her administration is steadfast in promoting employment equity and will stop at nothing to ensure that women and people with disability are not given a raw deal.

“We are now going to reserve certain positions for women. We are not just going to employ them because they are women, they must be fully qualified for the job and we are certain that we have those women in the Province,” reiterated Premier Modise, adding that the Act can empower society to change the stereotypes and transform the workplace if used correctly.

Elaborating on the rationale for hosting the Provincial Hearings on Employment Equity and Gender Transformation, Acting Chairperson Mfanozelwe Shozi said the Commission on Gender and Equality Act gives the Commission the power to monitor and evaluate the policies and practices of government, the private and other organisations to ensure compliance with the promotion and protection of gender equality in the country.

“The purpose and rationale of conducting the hearings was not to interrogate but to present the Commission with an opportunity to understand the challenges faced by the government departments and private companies when implementing measures for the advancement of women. We also wanted to gather information on best practices and lessons learned,” reiterated Shozi.

According to the Employment Equity Commission 2010 Annual Report, Black women made up 23, 1 percent of top management in the public sector and only 3, 4% of top management in the private sector. Black women constituted 19,4% of senior management in the public sector while they constituted 3.8 % in the private sector.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Potchefstroom-North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs Manketsi Tlhape has proclaimed 

11 December 2013 as the date for the by-elections in Tlokwe Local Municipality at Potchefstroom.

This is in terms of Section 25(4) of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act, 1998, (Act no. 117 of 1998) which dictates that the MEC for Local Government in the province, after consulting the Electoral Commission must by notice in the Provincial Gazette, call and set a date or dates for the by-election which must be held within 90 days of the applicable date.

The elections have been gazetted and they will take place in ward 1, 4, 11, 12, 13 and 20 of the Municipality on the 11 of December 2013.

“The set date should give enough time to all parties concerned to prepare thoroughly for the by-elections and allow a conducive environment for free and fair elections” said MEC Tlhape.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Johannesburg-Senior ANC member Pule Mabe has been arrested for fraud. Mabe was arrested along with two other people on charges ranging from theft, fraud and money laundering. Mabe is the former ANCYL treasure general and now a member of the party’s decision making body, the NEC. His co-accused are Paseka Letsatsi, head of communications of the South Africa Social Security Agency as well Surprise Kabedi Ramosa. 

“It is alleged that Letsatsi illegally solicited funds from the Agency which were given to companies owned by Mabe and Ramosa” eNca news reports.

For more http://www.enca.com