Monthly Archives: December 2013

Not the time to settle scores- Zuma


Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma on Saturday berated politicians who might use Nelson Mandela’s death to try and settle scores.
“Comrades, I would be very happy that as we mourn and celebrate Madiba, we do not abuse his name,” he said at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, in Pretoria.

We should not think that Madiba’s passing is a time for settling scores,” Zuma said at an ANC ceremony before Mandela’s body would be flown to the Eastern Cape for his state funeral on Sunday.

“[If you try settle scores], it means you do not understand Madiba and you will never understand him, because he was a man of honesty.”

Zuma said Mandela was great because he was a thinker and a doer.

“He [Mandela] combined two things that are not easy to do: to combine theory and practice.”

This week eNCA news reported that former president Thabo Mbeki suggested South Africa needed better leadership after Mandela.

“Exactly because we are dealing with this more complex struggle, we need to raise the level of the quality of leadership,” Mbeki told a memorial service for Mandela at the Calvary Church, in Midrand, on Wednesday night.

“To accelerate this progress that we need, we’ll come back to this matter about the quality of leadership,” Mbeki said.

Mandela died last Thursday at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, at the age of 95.

SAPA

‘Stay Away From Drugs Or Die Young’


Coffin
By Boineelo Molebiemang
Taung-There is a growing recognition that Taung is one of the regions with a growing population of drug addicts.

Statistics shows that the place is awash with drugs and concerned residents and the police are trying to curb out the pandemic.

The department of social development and other organizations systematized a march on Friday at Taung complex, raising the alarm about the dangers of abusing drugs.

Thato, 25 whose identity cannot be fully disclosed stood bravely amongst the crowd and shared his moving story about being one of the victims of substance abuse. He eventually received help from the department of Social Development and SANPARK Rehabilitation centre and withdrew from those substances.

“With the current proliferation of substance abuse, the consumption of alcohol and drugs is horrifying”, said Chief Director of Specialists and Social Services Onkemetse Kabasia.

“Drugs can damage your body and they can also damage your reputation and future” he said.

Mr Kabasia stated that young people are being taught about drugs, however, the pressure they receive from friends and ignorance are the reasons why young people engage in these risky behaviours.

Vela Ntuli from Fatlhogang Youth Support Organization said that parents should be extra vigilant of the behaviour of their children. “Children should be monitored at all times and they should have curfews. Our aim as a Youth Support Club is to teach young people of Taung about the menaces of substance abuse”, said Ntuli.

A quote from SANPARK Rehabilitation Centre encouraging young people to be more prudent of what they are doing to their bodies. “Alcohol is barren- the word a man speaks in the night of drunkenness fade like the darkness itself at the coming of day”.-TDN
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Graca wips tears away as she receives SA flag


Johannesburg – Nelson Mandela’s widow Graca Machel wiped away tears on Saturday as she was given the ANC flag which had been draped over her husband’s coffin.

Machel repeatedly dabbed her eyes with a tissue and looked down after receiving the carefully folded black, gold, and green flag during a special ANC tribute ceremony at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria.

Struggle heroes Ahmed Kathrada and Andrew Mlangeni were among the pallbearers who carried former president Nelson Mandela’s coffin out, ready to be loaded onto an awaiting aircraft.

The frail-looking long-time friends of Mandela took their places alongside the coffin and helped to wheel it out of the hangar. It would be flown to the Eastern Cape, ahead of the state funeral in Qunu on Sunday, the rural area where Mandela spent much of his childhood.

Earlier, two of Mandela’s grandsons thanked members of the African National Congress for the ceremony.

Ndaba Mandela called the ANC “the greatest African political organisation” without which “we would not have known Nelson Mandela”.

Mandela, who was South Africa’s first democratically-elected president, died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, last Thursday, at the age of 95.

SAPA

Some snooze during ceremony


Johannesburg – Some members of the audience began to nod off during President Jacob Zuma’s speech during the ANC send-off for former president Nelson Mandela in Pretoria on Saturday.

Some struggled to stay awake during the lengthy speech, which included a history of the ANC, while others looked at their phones and tablets, at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.

By 09:00 he had been speaking for 30 minutes. Zuma was addressing an African National Congress ceremony before Mandela’s body is to be flown to the Eastern Cape for his state funeral on Sunday.

Earlier, he said Mandela was great because he was a thinker and a doer.

“He [Mandela] combined two things that are not easy to do – to combine theory and practice.”

Mandela died last Thursday at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, at the age of 95.
SAPA

‘We will meet again’- Mandla Mandela


Johannesburg – Watching the public pay homage to former president Nelson Mandela showed the future is bright, his grandson Mandla Mandela said on Saturday.

“For the past three days I have sat with my grandfather while he was lying in state [at the Union Buildings in Pretoria].

“I have witnessed his army. I have witnessed his people. I have witnessed ordinary citizens… and I can assure the ANC that the future of this country looks bright,” Mandla Mandela said at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria during a special ANC ceremony to pay tribute to the global icon.

“There is still a long way to go and we will meet again on freedom day.”

Mandla Mandela also recited his grandfather’s clan names and gave a royal salute at his coffin, reciting “Aaah! Dalibhunga”, the traditional royal greeting, three times.

Earlier, in a move characteristic of his grandfather, he began his address with a joke, telling the audience that when he was nine-years-old he believed himself to be very popular because people were always shouting “Amandla” and “Viva Mandela”.

He then greeted President Jacob Zuma, former president Thabo Mbeki, the leadership of the ANC, the tripartite alliance, his grandfather’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandla, and widow Graca Machel.

He read the official obituary of his grandfather, who died at his Houghton home in Johannesburg last Thursday, at the age of 95.

Machel at times followed a printed version of the obituary as Mandla Mandela read it.

Golden diamond

Madikizela-Mandela sat with her hands on her lap, looking down throughout.

Poet Mzwakhe Mbuli recited a poem in honour of Mandela and other struggle stalwarts.

Mbuli called Mandela a golden diamond that had gone through the fires of time and also thanked the women who had waited for their men during apartheid, trapped in the “dungeons of hell”.

Earlier, SA National Civic Organisation representative Ruth Bhengu thanked both Machel and Madikizela-Mandela, saying “We thank Mama Winnie for the support she gave to Tata. We also want to thank Mama Graca for caring for Tata until the end”.

Addressing Mandela, Bhengu said: “You have taught us to be responsible citizens… Those are the things that you taught us Tata and we will carry on where you left off”.

SA Communist Party second deputy general secretary Solly Mapaila said Mandela would always be remembered as a revolutionary servant.

Mandela’s body will be flown from the base to the Eastern Cape later on Saturday morning. He will be buried in Qunu, where he spent most of his childhood, on Sunday.
Friends, colleagues, comrades and family of Nelson Mandela are invited to share their memories and tributes, and to light a candle for him, on his profile at Remembered.co.za.

SAPA

North West police arrested for corruption


By Obakeng Maje
Hebron-A 44-year old policeman, Warrant Officer Vusimuzi Sibiya stationed at Hebron police station appeared in Brits Magistrates’ Court for Corruption and Fraud on Wednesday. 

The police official was arrested on Monday, while allegedly trying to collect unauthorized donation money from one of the local businessmen. 

“The member allegedly went to the manager of one of local businesses on Tuesday under the pretext that he was sent by a senior police official to request donation for year-end function” brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

According to information, in the process the manager called the police without the knowledge of the member to confirm the request.  The Manager was informed that nobody was sent to request for donations, and he requested the member to come back later.

“It is alleged that the member did not come back as requested and only went back to the businessman few days after. Upon his arrival the businessman informed the senior police official that the member came to collect the donation” Ngubane said.

The senior official went to the businessman and took the official to Brits Police Station and opened a case of corruption and fraud.

Further investigations were conducted and it is alleged that the member had successfully collected money under the same pretext.

The official is still in custody and he is expected to appear in Brits Magistrates’ Court again on the 17 December 2013 for formal bail application. 

“Internal disciplinary investigation has also been instituted against the member” he said. 

The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo has condemned the action of the official and said that no amount of corruption will be tolerated.  “We will not allow this kind of conduct, and we will do anything to ensure that members like this one are dealt with effectively”, said the Provincial Commissioner. 

She further appreciated the cooperation of the business community with the police in exposing dishonest members.

The Provincial Commissioner is dedicated that the manner that the member used is against South African Police Service policy regarding donations in case of need.-TDN
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SAFA President to lead high profile delegation to Qunu


Qunu-SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan will lead a powerful delegation to the burial of the late global icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela at his Qunu homestead on Sunday.

The SAFA President will be accompanied by his deputies, Elvis Shishana, Irvin Khoza (who is also Premier Soccer League chair) and Lucas Nhlapo and will include NEC members Ria Ledwaba, Xolile Nkompela, Anastasia Tsichlas and Pooby Govindasamy.

“We as SAFA believe that the high-profile of our delegation is a sincere recognition of the role Nelson Mandela played within our sport,” said Dr Jordaan.

“This is the man who played a significant role in South Africa being readmitted back into the FIFA football family soon after his release,” he said.

Dr Jordaan said Madiba had also played key roles in the country hosting the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations tournament as well as influencing delegates to vote for South Africa for the successful 2010 World Cup bid.

“Most countries would talk about their magnificent stadiums and modern airports and roads but we had Nelson Mandela. Other countries used to complain that it was unfair and not equal.”

He said it was somewhat a sad ending because come the 2010 World Cup, the world icon was already ill to enjoy the fruits of his labour but his appearance at the Soccer City waving to the crowd is still one of the most moving moments ever witnessed.

“We told him to just go out on the car, wave to the people and go back and rest.”-TDN
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Closure of businesses patriotic and an honour to Madiba -Premier Modise


The decision by retail stores to close their businesses during former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s funeral on Sunday is not only patriotic and an honour that the world’s greatest freedom fighter and father of our nation deserves but affords those employed by them to mourn and celebrate his life, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Friday.

In expressing appreciation for the dignified manner in which members of the public conducted themselves at the provincial memorial service held in Orkney on Thursday, Premier Modise said that the people of the province have displayed the spirit of Ubuntu, which is the cornerstone of our democracy.Modise confirmed that as with the national memorial service, four public viewing areas have been arranged in the province for former President Nelson RolihlahlaMandela’s funeral service to be held on Sunday.She emphasised that the public viewing areas have been arranged to afford the public opportunity to converge for a celebration of the life of South Africa’s first democratically elected President while they follow the proceedingsin Qunu.“The decorum shown during this mourning period is a true reflection of the love for the father of our nation which should also be displayed at these public viewing areas as our last respect to Tata Mandela,” said Premier Modise. 

Members of the public are advised that doors will open at 9:30 at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng, Pheela Community Hall in Moses Kotane Local Municipality, Govan Mbeki Hall in Ikageng Township in Tlokwe and Huhudi Hall in Vryburg.-TDN
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Mandela changed S.A history and political landscape


Penn-Kekana
By Obakeng Maje
Johannesburg- The world cast eyes on South Africa and took notice of the severe and organized repression of black South Africans.

The world came together on Tuesday at FNB stadium to pay tribute to the former statesman Nelson Mandela who passed away two weeks ago.

South Africans and people at large have a fond memories they shared with Mamdela.

Loveday Penn-Kekana,44 shares a fond memory with Nelson Mandela.

The memory will stays in her mind as long as she lives.

Our crew met Loveday Penn-Kekana,44 and her daughter Nobantu Penn-Kekana,9 on a train to FNB stadium to pay tribute to Mandela.

“It was only through Mandela that the world would learn the spirit of endurance, the triumph of forgiveness and the beauty of reconciliation” smiles Kekana.

Kekana from United Kingdom, London came to pay her last tribute to the man she describes as the father of the nation.

“I met Mandela in London back in 1993 during fund-raising event. He came to us in the kitchen, greeted everyone and shook our hands” Kekana said.

“Mandela brought some of the most significant and remarkable changes in South African history and political landscape” smiles Kekana.

Mandela will be buried on Sunday at his homestead in Qunu, Eastern Cape.

Close to 70 Heads of State descended to South Africa to pay tribute to the world iconic man Nelson Mandela.-TDN
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE DOOR TO DOOR CAMPAIGN DEDICATED TO MADIBA YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS


Taung-Government officials and non-profit organisation representatives in the North West undertook a door to door campaign at Lokaleng in Taung on Thursday to highlight the danger of substance abuse in honour of the late world icon Nelson Mandela who passed on on the Thursday 5 December 2013 in his Houghton home in Johannesburg at 95.

Substance abuse co-ordinator Mfana Tsotetsi said,  borrowing from the late father of the nation Nelson Mandela: “For too long too many people considered the drug problem as a remote
one affecting someone else or occurring somewhere else. The reality, as we all know, is that this problem affects all communities, in particular the youth. If we really want to do something about the threat we will have to act decisively now. To do this we need to stand together and face the problem head-on,” (extracted from the speech delivered by the late stalwart of apartheid Nelson Mandela at the United Nations International Drug Control Programme on Legal Workshop on Sub-Regional Co-operation Against Drug Trafficking on the 14th November 1994).

“This is a fact-finding campaign aimed raising awareness about the knowledge and abuse of substances among community members.” Mfana said, adding that various government departments and entities will on Friday participate in the motorcade and a march to Taung shopping complex. SAPS, local drug action committee, ex-drug addicts and community members will join the march  to demonstrate their stance on substance abuse.

Details of the campaign are as  follows:-

Date: Friday, 13 December 2013
Time : 09h00
Activity: motorcade to start from Taung Hospital through Lokaleng village to Taung complex.
Venue: Taung Complex, in front of Boxer Store.-TDN
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