Johannesburg – Struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela expressed disappointment on Wednesday evening at the media’s interference with the matters of the Mandela family, her spokesperson said.

“Furthermore, she rebukes unambiguously the attitude of the media towards the Mandela family, their mischievous innuendoes and newsroom slugs designed to disgrace the family through their apartheid-style Stratcom tactics,” Thato Mmereki said in a statement.

“Numerous articles, op-eds, reports and editorials in outlets such as The Citizen, The Times, The Sunday Tribune and The Star have hammered on the idea that the Mandela family is at war with itself since the news first broke that Madiba is no longer with us.”

Madikizela-Mandela said these reports had done nothing but use half-truths to cast a shadow on the Mandela family during their time of bereavement.

Madikizela-Mandela is the former wife of global icon Nelson Mandela, who died on 5 December  in his Houghton home in Johannesburg. Mandela was buried in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.

Dissolute media outlets were last to prescribe “family behaviour” to the Mandelas, Madikizela-Mandela said.

“This recent pattern is all the more worrisome in light of certain editors’ decision to negatively use the Mandela name on the front pages of their newspapers to draw revenue,” Mmereki said.

Furtive and invasive behaviour 

“Mrs Madikizela-Mandela has a wonderful relationship with the media and has been accessible to the media at all times. There is no reason for this furtive and invasive behaviour.”

Madikizela-Mandela requested that all media running these “discourteous media commentaries” refrain from doing so, and she placed it on the record that there was no succession or dynasty debate in the Mandela Family.

Mandela was survived by his three daughters Makaziwe Mandela, Zenani Dlamini-Mandela and Zindziswa Mandela and in accordance with customary law and tradition the eldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, would head the family and would make decisions with the support of her two sisters.

“To this end there is no misunderstanding, or debate. Mr Mandla Mandela is respected as one of Nelson Mandela’s grandchildren, the next generation of the Mandela family,” Mmereki said.

“Mrs Madikizela-Mandela and the family thank Ms Makaziwe Mandela for the leadership qualities and strength of character that she has demonstrated.”

Madikizela-Mandela said now was not the time for the media to debate relevant questions about the Mandela family’s historical role, their legacy and fate, the morality of their actions and the meaning of information they chose to disclose.

The family was mourning the loss of the former statesman and should be afforded time and space, she said.

“Madikizela-Mandela thanks the nation for messages of comfort and support and requests that her family’s time of mourning be respected,” Mmereki said.

Upholding the legacy 

The Times reported on Tuesday that locks at the Mandela Qunu homestead were changed days after he died and that Mandla was locked out.

According to the report, Mandla’s found his home on the Mandela estate without electricity and water on the day of his grandfather’s burial.

Makaziwe Mandela ordered the locks to be changed after she arrived while Mandla was keeping vigil next to his grandfather’s coffin while the anti-apartheid icon’s body lay in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria for three days, the newspaper said.

Approached for comment on the report on Wednesday, Mandla Mandela’s spokesperson, Freddy Pilusa, told The Associated Press: “He [Mandla] doesn’t want to confirm nor deny the report. He wants to focus on promoting and upholding the legacy of his grandfather going forward.”

Mandla and Makaziwe have reportedly been involved in a bitter public spat over the control of Mandela’s legacy and leadership of the fractured family.

A further outbreak of hostilities was expected over Mandela’s will, the contents of which had not been made public, AP reported on Wednesday.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The ANC-led government has failed to decrease unemployment, poverty and inequality, suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Wednesday.

“It is obvious that the post-Polokwane administration has spectacularly failed to reverse the crisis of unemployment,” Vavi said in a speech at the memorial service of former Numsa president, Mthuthuzeli Tom.

The service took place at the Numsa special national congress at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.

“It is also obvious that this administration has failed to deliver on one of the basic promises of the 52nd Conference of the ANC, which was to create decent work.”

Vavi said he was speaking as someone who knew Tom and not as the suspended general secretary of the Cosatu.

Tom, he said, would have urged the National Union of Metalworkers SA (Numsa) to play a leading role in ensuring that South Africa did not end up as a “predator state”.

The alliance was at a crossroads.

“The status quo in the alliance is not politically sustainable. We need the ANC to move into a new direction… an uninterrupted struggle to build a truly united, democratic, non-racial, non sexist and prosperous South Africa.

“There is an urgent need for a radical shift to the left, on to a path to economic and social emancipation for the poor majority who have not benefited economically from the first 19 years of our freedom,” said Vavi.

Changes

The ANC must change course and demonstrate that it was committed to radical economic transformation.

Vavi said unless drastic changes were effected, the liberation movement ran the risk of falling out of favour with the majority of the working class.

“The biggest challenge facing the ANC and the rest of the democratic forces is not a lack of ideas but our failure to implement what has been agreed to and to have the political will to implement what we know is politically and morally correct.”

Vavi said Tom would have been “extremely concerned” about the state of the trade union movement.

“He would be shocked at how leaders have abandoned the interests of members to pursue anyone threatening their narrow interests – interests that can be best served if the status quo is maintained,” Vavi said.

Tom would have been worried that some workers had turned their backs on unions and were taking their own initiative to represent themselves, leading to massive instability in many workplaces.

Vavi said the economic crises from 2008 caused the country some problems but it did not have the answers to the “unfolding catastrophe”.

Government policies

The government had continued with inappropriate neoliberal policies, notwithstanding the 52nd ANC policy package that promised that all policies would centre on the need to create decent jobs as the deliberate policy choice to attack poverty and inequalities, he said.

“These failures have occurred within the context where Cosatu proposals have been ignored and the alliance is practically dysfunctional,” Vavi said.

Vavi said there were positive achievements since the advent of democracy – workers had enjoyed a range of constitutional guarantees such as the right to fair labour practice, to form and join unions, strike and picket, and the right to collective bargaining.

He said more people had access to electricity, sanitation services, housing and other social needs, and despite the problems with the quality of services and two-tier education system, access to education had increased.

“These are strides and marks of progress we must celebrate, as they are products of our strife and determination,” said Vavi.

“But comrades, we have to be more frank in declaring that democracy has so far benefited the previous ruling classes more than it has benefited the primary motive forces of the liberation struggle.”

Vavi said that in 1995 youth unemployment stood at 38%, in 2005 it was 45% but now sat at 55%, while total unemployment was 31% in 1995, and was now 37%.

Inequality

To translate the levels of inequality to practical figures – each of the 20 highest paid directors in Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed companies earned 1 728 times the average income of a South African worker.

He said agricultural land-ownership also remained concentrated and colonial. And to make matters worse, it was estimated that more than 70% of redistributed land became unproductive after the reform process, due to the absence of post-redistribution support.

“It is no wonder that South Africa is failing to even get out of racism,” he added.

There was rampant corruption which had made all the above problems even worse.

With corruption, Vavi said, the elite in society stole from the poor. Corruption had become endemic in the country.

This, Vavi said, was becoming a matter of life and death, literally and metaphorically, because people were being intimidated or killed for exposing or preventing corruption.

South Africa might face a “nightmare future” where the country was up for auction to the highest bidder and a society where no one would be able to do business without going through “corrupt gatekeepers”.

Factions were formed around access to government power, bringing leaders closer to state tenders, and not around ideologies or political views, said Vavi.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-A taxi owner is expected to appear briefly before Taung Magistrate Court after he was subsequently arrested last week Tuesday.

Xolani Lloyd Nkonyane was arrested after he was allegedly being involved in a shoot-out with police in business robbery at Molelema village, near Taung.

“It is alleged five suspects entered a chinese shop in Molelema and robbed it groceries, airtime and undisclosed amount of money” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

The community members helped in chasing the suspects after a shop owner screamed for help.

They helped in chasing the suspects who were allegedly traveling in a minibus taxi belonging to Nkonyane.

“The suspects allegedly opened fire towards the community members and police were called. The five suspects allegedly fled and ran towards Picong village” said Makau.

Police cornered the suspects, but four of them escaped and Nkonyane was arrested.

He appeared before court and charged for business robbery and attempted murder.

Nkonyane was remanded in custody and will appear today for bail application.

Although police did not find anything that connects Nkonyane to the case, the investigating officer thinks they have a solid case against him.

Nkonyane has previous cases and police investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Colville-Northern Cape police are investigating a case of rape after a 14 year-old girl was allegedly rape in Colville.

The atrocity took place at AB Abass stadium, in Colville on Monday after a girl was raped on her way to school.

“A 14 year-old girl was allegedly raped by an unknown coloured man between 30 and 35 after she took short-cuts at mine dumps near AB Abass stadium on her way to school” lieutenat Sergio Kock said.

Police said an alleged rapist was heavy-built with two golden teeth. He has a small star designed on on of his teeth.

“He allegedly pounced on a girl and ordered her to undress. He raped her and fled afterwards” said Kock.

At the time of rape, he was allegedly wearing blue overall and black boots.

“Anyone with information that could lead to any arrested can call investigating officer, detective sergeant Niela Antonie on 0823020468 or 053 838 4307” concludes Kock-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Two men have been arrested after they were allegedly found in possession of illicit cigarettes, Northern Cape police said.

Liutenant Sergio Kock said Kimberley Visible Policing Unit received a tip-off about a maroon Chevrolet Aveco parked next to Stockdale street with illicit cigarettes on it.

“Police responded to the call and allegedly searched the vehicle and found boxes filled with illicit cigarettes” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

The driver,27, was allegedly arrested and led the police to a shop in De Beer where another boxes were allegedly found.

“A 22 year-old shop owner was allegedly arrested too and will appear briefly at Kimberley Magistrate Court for being in possession of illicit cigarettes” Kock said.

Police said a Aveco was also consficated as it was used in commission of crime and forms part of investigations.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Groblershoop-Northern Cape police arrested four suspects with 13 bags of dagga last week Tuesday in Groblershoop.

Violet Lepebele,39, Derrick Qwesha,49, Malame Pamadi,36 and a 17 year-old Lesotho National boy appeared briefly before Groblershoop Magistrate Court for dealing with dagga.

“Police allegedly received a tip-off from a community member about a newspaper delivery truck that has dagga worth over R1m on it” lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said.

Northern Cape police acted swiftly and found the truck on N8 road.

“The truck was allegedly searched and 13 bags of dagga were recovered whilst four people being arrested. They briefly appeared at Groblershoop Magistrate Court” he said.

They will be back in court again on 20th of January 2014 after being granted bail.

A 17 year-old boy who is suspected to be Lesotho National was remanded in custody under parental guidance.

Police investigations continue.-TDN

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Pretoria –  Wouter Basson’s long fight to prove to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) that he did not breach medical ethics when he manufactured and provided poisonous substances to apartheid security forces, has come to an end.

For more http://www.news24.com

The ferocious stabbing and rape of two Klerksdorp women call for an intensified effort to fight the scourge of gender-based violence that continues unabated in the province, North West Thandi Modise said on Wednesday.

Premier Modise’s reaction follows media reports that two women from the Khuma location in Stilfonein near Klerksdorp  were severely beaten and repeatedly stabbed before being raped by two men.

“These cruel and rapacious acts call into question our own moral uprightness as a society. It is even more disconcerting that these deeds were committed at the same time as we were busy in Orkney not far from Klerksdorp paying our respects to the world’s greatest icon Tata Nelson Mandela,” said Modise calling for a speedy arrest of the suspects..

Premier Modise, who wishes to extend her heartfelt condolences to the family of the victims said she was baffled that gender-based violence continued unabated in spite of intensified efforts and various initiatives to curb the scourge.

The first incident reportedly took place at around 5pm when a 23-year old woman was accosted by the suspects who allegedly stabbed her 32 times before raping her and having her private parts cut-off. She is currently being treated in an Intensive Care Unit, in critical condition.

The second incident happened about three hours later when a 29-year old woman was attacked and raped.

 “We want these women to know that we are keeping them in our prayers and wish them speedy recovery. We are also requesting our police officers to do everything in their power to apprehend the suspects. They cannot be allowed to roam our streets,” reiterated Modise.-TDN

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Mbombela – Residents who were left homeless when a storm tore through their town on Thursday night believe it was the hand of late president Nelson Mandela passing over them.

Two people were killed and more than a dozen people injured in the storm in Matsulu, in Mpumalanga.
For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – “Critical but stable” was the phrase that defined much of 2013 in South Africa.

During multiple stays in hospital it was the only phrase used by the government to describe Nelson Mandela’s health, the only clue about the status of a man revered by millions.

Although so vague as to be meaningless, it was readily repeated by a media desperately trying to slake intense public interest in Mandela’s health.
For more http://www.news24.com