Monthly Archives: December 2013

Jomo Sono: Madiba was like biblical spiritual leader

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South Africa’s arguably greatest soccer player, Jomo Sono has described the late Nelson Mandela as an equal of the great biblical prophets.

 

“I know some will consider this as profane but this is my honest opinion. This man was Africa’s Jesus Christ,” said Sono of the late Tata Mandela.

 

The former Orlando Pirates striker who was popularly known as Trouble Maker during his heydays said Mandela might have been born of an ordinary human being but God sent this man to free our African continent from bondage.

 

“He did what Moses did to the Sons of Israel when he led them from the Egyptian bondage. What Mandela did was a miracle right in front of our eyes. He was like those great biblical prophets.

 

“I feel blessed and a sense of fulfilment for having lived during the times of this extraordinary man. I shared a few breakfasts, lunches and dinners with him. This is a privilege enjoyed by the ‘chosen few’ and I am glad I was one of those few.”

 

Sono said unknown to most South Africans, Madiba and the current SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan had appointed him to be the national team coach in 2002 during the World Cup in Korea and Japan.

 

 

All systems go- Mnisi


Johannesburg – All security plans are in place as South Africa gets ready to host a memorial service in honour of global icon Nelson Mandela, the police ministry told ENCA news on Tuesday morning.

“We are talking about Madiba here, so there is no margin for error,” spokesperson Zweli Mnisi told ENCA television news.

“We are quite pleased with the process.”

He said the various heads of state expected at the service – to be held at the FNB stadium in Soweto – were due to arrive an hour before proceedings began at 11:00.

Besides police officers, private security had also been deployed.

“Everything is on track,” Mnisi said.

On a rainy Tuesday morning, the stadium began rapidly filling up as many people sang, blew vuvuzelas, and danced in remembrance of Mandela.

Two stages were set up on the side of the pitch.

Mandela died surrounded by family at his Houghton, Johannesburg, home on Thursday, at the age of 95.

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

Mugabe arrives for Mandela memorial


Cape Town – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has arrived in South Africa for the memorial service of former president and struggle icon Nelson Mandela.

Mugabe who is accompanied by his wife Grace and two of their children arrived last night and was welcomed at Waterkloof Airbase by Ambassador to South Africa Cde Phelekezela Mphoko, a Herald report said.

Mandela died on Thursday at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg. He was 95.

Mugabe described Mandela as “the greatest icon of African liberation”.

Ties between Zimbabwe and South Africa run “long and deep” and after independence in 1980, Zimbabwe hosted South African liberation fighters and supported its struggle against apartheid.

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.

Obama arrives for Mandela tribute


Centurion – President Barack Obama has arrived in South Africa to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela, the iconic leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner who died Thursday at age 95.

Obama will deliver a 20-minute speech during Tuesday’s service in Johannesburg, where tens of thousands of South Africans and dozens of foreign dignitaries are expected to pack a sports stadium.

Obama is expected to speak of Mandela’s influence on South Africa and on his own life, while also reflecting on the complexity of Mandela’s rise from anti-apartheid fighter and prisoner to president and global icon.

Obama, former President George W Bush and their wives arrived on Tuesday morning at a military base near Johannesburg after a 16-hour trip from Washington.

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.

AP

Taung joins the world in mourning of Mandela


By Obakeng Maje
Condolence books will be made available at the four public viewing areas for the national memorial service for members of the public to write their messages of sympathy to the Mandela Family, the Office of the Premier for North West Province has confirmed.

Doors will be opened as early as 9:30 am so that attendants are seated by 10:30 to follow pre-event activities that will be broadcast live from the FNB Stadium.

“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 proceedings at the national memorial service” premier spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said.

The province is hosting public viewing areas at University of the North West Mahikeng Campus Great Hall in Mahikeng, Matlosana Municipality Auditorium in Klerksdorp, Mmabana Taung and Ben Marais Hall in Rustenburg.-TDN
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Crowd starts to enter FNB Stadium


Johannesburg – People have started entering the FNB Stadium where former president Nelson Mandela’s memorial will be held.

A large crowd was singing and blowing whistles earlier, while waiting for the gates to open.

“Agenda ya makapitali asiyifune ya bulala u Madiba [Agenda of capitalists we do not want it, it killed Madiba],” they sang.

Aphiwe Mkhalani from Soweto said he woke up early to be among the first into the stadium.

“It is sad that Tata is no more, though he was no longer active he had done a lot for us. South Africa is a better country because of him,” he said.

He said Mandela would be remembered for his values of love and peace.

“I will always remember him as a great man of peace.”

Phillip Kganyago from Sasolburg in the Free State said he would remember Mandela as a man of peace and reconciliation.

“He was a freedom fighter. He knew that you have to surrender or fight. He opted to fight to free South Africa.”

Other people were standing under trees and other under umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain.

Yellow ANC posters with Mandela raising a clinched fist with words, “We love you Madiba 1918-2013”, were put on the fence around the stadium.

In the stadium flags were flying at half mast.

Police are controlling access into the stadium and marshals dressed in orange coat took their positions.

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

Killer wants bail as ‘jail is difficult’

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Pretoria – He is ill, suffers from insomnia and fears his cancer may have returned. He finds life in jail difficult, especially now that he has been told he is due to be transferred to a cell he will share with 40 inmates.

These are some of the reasons advanced by wife killer Cobus Prinsloo motivating why he should be granted bail pending an appeal against his conviction and 25-year jail sentence.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Court sets aside RAF cap for high earners

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Pretoria – In a groundbreaking but highly technical judgment for Road Accident Fund (RAF) victims, the Western Cape High Court has ruled on how the annual estimated loss of income should be actuarially calculated to benefit higher-income accident victims.

This was prompted by a multimillion-rand claim by Elizabeth Sweatman, who was 15 when she was severely injured in a car accident. While the parties settled most of the disputes, the actuaries of Sweatman and the RAF adopted slightly different methodologies, resulting in substantially different awards.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Dad in dock over death of boy, granny

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A Stellenbosch man is to go on trial in the Western Cape High Court for murdering his eight-year-old son and the boy’s grandmother after he allegedly petrol-bombed their home four days before Christmas last year.

Ettiene Meyer appeared in the high court for the first time last Thursday for a pre-trial hearing. His trial is expected to start next year.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Moepi murder case postponed

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Johannesburg –

A man accused of killing forensic auditor Lawrance Moepi appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The case against Remember Siphoro was postponed to December 17 for a bail application.

Dressed in a brown T-shirt and sporting a clean-shaven head, Siphoro stood with a hand behind his back.

He nodded to people in the public gallery as he went down to the court holding cells.

Moepi was shot dead in October in the parking lot of auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo in Houghton, Johannesburg, when he alighted from his car. – Sapa