Port Elizabeth – A man has died after a shark attack at Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Friday.

“At approximately 11:30 NSRI Jeffreys Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a shark incident at Lower Point, next to Albatros Beach, Jeffreys Bay,” the NSRI said.

A body, believed to be an adult male, was recovered from the water and handed to police and forensic pathology services.

According to Algoa FM, the man was believed to have been snorkelling when he was attacked.

There were reports that two sharks were involved, but this was apparently due to the large size of the shark involved in the attack, which was estimated to be four metres long.

The beaches in the area have reportedly been closed.

Witnesses took to social media to describe the situation.

Surfer Carel Olivier tweeted: “Just saw NSRI carry the body of a shark attack victim in bag. Hectic man. No surfing today.”
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Cape Town – The ANC’s alliance with trade unions has created a culture of impunity that is wreaking havoc in the public sector, Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele said on Friday.

“The government cannot regulate trade unions because they use them as voting fodder,” she told business leaders at the Accelerate Cape Town Thought Leaders’ breakfast.

“That’s why our education system is a mess, because the biggest unions are public sector trade unions, the teacher unions.”

Education system

She was referring to the African National Congress’s alliance with the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), which has as an affiliate the largest teachers’ union, the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu).

“Teachers are professionals, not factory workers. Yes, they have rights but what about the rights of those children?

“Our government is in bed with Sadtu and not willing to challenge that…”

Ramphele said the ANC’s biggest failure was the education system. She proposed measures her party would put in place if elected into power.

She said 15 000 more teachers would be hired from a pool of unemployed graduates with bachelor’s degrees. Allowances would be given to those teaching in rural areas.

Pupils achieving above 70% averages would be rewarded with additional social grants.

Seta system ‘ineffective’

The “wasteful, ineffective” Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) system would be abolished because it was creating bottlenecks in the economy.

“It absorbs, every year, R5bn to R6bn. Many of you have given up trying to get any rebate for the training you do.

“We need to remove that middle layer, because all that money is going into the pockets of the politically-connected who are heading all these Seta’s with zero return.”

Agang SA would make teacher training a priority by implementing specific subject competency tests.

“When you are a pilot, every three months or so you get your competency test. Why are we not testing the competencies of people who are flying the most precious cargo, our kids?”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A satanist teenage girl who confessed to killing her friend was sentenced to in effect eight years in juvenile prison by the South Gauteng High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, on Friday.

Judge Geraldine Borchers imposed a sentence of 10 years, two of them suspended, and ordered that it be served in the juvenile section of the Leeuwkop prison.

In a statement, the teenager confessed to killing Keamogetswe Sefularo on 1 March, near Randfontein, after Sefularo decided to leave a cult.

The girl stabbed Sefularo in the chest, neck and stomach, egged on by her 19-year-old boyfriend.

“The deceased was touching her, pleading with her and asking her why she was doing this,” Borchers said in her judgment.

Sefularo later died of her injuries in hospital.

Financial gain

The court heard that the girl had hoped to gain financially from satanism.

She believed her spirit would be able to get into key holes and into a bank where she could steal money, said Borchers.

It was horrific that such a young person could be lured into satanism because of a desire for money, she said.

She said nothing suggested that the girl was not in control of her actions when she killed her friend.

“Had the accused been 10 years older, I would have imposed life imprisonment,” said Borchers.

Outside court, Sefularo’s family wept. One woman collapsed in the corridor and wailed on the floor.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi accompanied by the Mahikeng Local Municipality Executive Mayor Lina Miga, will officially launch the Mahikeng Community Residential Units (CRU) at Extension 39.

“The 100 units’ project is expected to improve the living conditions of the people of Mahikeng and further reduce the housing backlog in the province” MEC Nono Maloyi said.

This project is yet another service delivery target set by MEC Maloyi during his budget policy for this financial year.

The CRU’s are aimed to facilitate the provision of secure, stable rental tenure for lower income earners and provides a coherent framework for dealing with many different forms of existing public sector residential accommodation.

“It targets persons and households earning between R800 and R3200 per month who are not able to be accommodated in the formal private rental and social housing market” departmental Ben Bole said.

The event will unfold as follows:

Date:12 October 2013

Venue:Project site – Mahikeng (next to Extension 39)

Time:9H00am

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Johannesburg – The ANC and DA are in a dispute over the excessive spending on Nando’s meals in the Mahikeng municipality, The Star reported on Friday.

The Democratic Alliance’s North West leader Chris Hattingh reportedly said that during a discussion at Mahikeng’s municipal public accounts committee (MPAC) it was revealed that the African National Congress had spent R132 585 of council money on Nando’s food between 15 March and 18 April.

According to Beeld, it is unclear exactly what this was for, and who ate the chicken meals.

Mahikeng’s mayoral committee member on communication and marketing, Pontsho Tabane, said the DA’s figures were wrong and that the municipality had only spent R45 000 on 2 300 volunteers over 10 days.

According to the newspaper, the ANC claimed that the “black people” of Mahikeng deserved to be fed Nando’s after volunteering to clean their town for free.

“We had to rope in 2 300 volunteers to assist in restoring the glory of the city,” Tabane reportedly told the paper.

Hattingh said he had flagged the matter with the Auditor General who conceded that it was a serious concern, the paper reported.

“This is without doubt the most excessive and pointless instance of fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the North West province’s history,” Hattingh reportedly told the paper.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The Tshepisong informal settlement in Leratong, on the West Rand, was quiet early on Friday following a protest over an electricity cut, Johannesburg metro police said.

“Nothing is happening. It is quiet there,” said Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

On Thursday, protesters from the settlement had torched a truck.

Police said residents were protesting because they had been without electricity since last Saturday.

No arrests were made.

SAPA

Kimberley – South Africa ‘space scientists are recognised internationally and they play a big role in the development of space science technology.
These were the remarks of Dr. Woodrow Whitlow, an Associate Administrator for mission support at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Washington DC. He was speaking during the space science open day in Kimberley recently. He said South African scientist have played a huge role in the US space missions.
“South Africa is way beyond the norm with regard to the space science; we have so many well recognised space scientists coming from this country. Also it’s great honor to see how many young people are interested in this field today in this country, I’m optimistic that this country will have more space scientists in coming years judging by the interest from young South Africans”, Whitlow added.
Dr. Whitlow was addressing more than 500 learners from schools around Kimberley. The event was held at Diamantveld High School.
Since the advent of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project in Carnarvon, more learners from the surrounding schools have shown interest in the both Maths and Science subjects. Currently, there are more than 10 500 learners between Grade 10, 11 and 12 who are taking physical science subject at school.
This annual event which was organised by the Department of Science and Technology, South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement and provincial Department of Education, celebrate the contribution of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.
This year’s theme is “Exploring Mars, Discovering Earth. Learners experimented with water rocket and CANSAT demonstration and a mobile planetarium.
One of the attendee’s learners Masego Mosala representing the Maths and Science leadership Academy said: “I’ve learned a lot in this open day, I’ve also learned that it will take me 8 years to become a qualified Astros expert”.-TDN
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Rustenburg- The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) congratulates the swift arrest of the suspect in the murder case of a woman miner at Aquarius platinum outside Rustenburg yesterday. The 36 year old miner was found dead at the Aquarius mine yesterday whilst a 26 year old male suspect was nabbed later the same day.
“The NUM appeals to the police to ensure the successful prosecution of the culprit and to move further in their investigations into the death of Pinky Mosiane who was killed at Angloplatinum two years ago.
“We appeal on the police to crack down on those responsible for the escalating intimidation, threats and violence in the Rustenburg area” says Frans Baleni, the NUM General Secretary.
“As a union, we abhor violence and call on the law enforcement agencies to act without fear or favour. It is regrettable that the escalating violence against women in particular seeks to reverse the gains the country made in relation to the employment of women in the mines” says Baleni.
The NUM objects to the intentions made by some to try and turn the mining industry into a “men only” enclave. The NUM further calls on Anglo platinum to reveal the outcome of its independent investigations into the death of Pinky Mosiane. – TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Klerksdorp- North West police arrested two suspects aged between 25 and 26 respectively. The incident took place at a farm between Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp on Wednesday.
Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said two suspects allegedly robbed a farmer and his wife three firearms and a vehicle.
“Two suspects were allegedly arrested on Wednesday after they robbed and killed a farmer’s wife and left the farmer in critical condition” Mokgwabone said.
Emergency Service was called after neighbours heard gunshots. A farmer, 76, was allegedly taken to a local hospital with severe head injured and is in critical condition.
“Police found a used cartridge in the house and a bullet next to the back door. A body of a woman, 73, who was a farmer’s wife, was allegedly discovered by paramedics with head injuries. Police with Neighbourhood Watch launched a man-haunt.
The launch yields some results as two suspects were allegedly busted at a near farm.
“Two suspects were allegedly found being in possession of three firearms and a vehicle belong to the farmer were robbery took place” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.
Two suspects were nabbed and they will appear at Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court soon with murder and house robbery charges.
Police investigations continue. – TDN

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-A man was allegedly arrested after he raped a 80 year-old gogo, North West police said.

The incident took place on Monday morning at Khudutlou village, near Taung where Zachariah Tselampe,35, allegedly entered a house of a 80 year-old woman who is a relative to.

Police said Tselampe gained entry through unlock door of the house and assaulted an older woman before raping her.

“A suspect, who was on parole for rape allegedly assaulted a woman before raping her. An older woman allegedly screamed for help after the ordeal” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

It is alleged that Tselampe ran like confused dinasours fleeing Jurisan park after he heard woman screams.

He was later arrested and appeared before Taung Regional Court on Monday for rape and GBH assault.

“Tselampe’s case was postponed and he was remanded in custody. He will appear in court again on the 11th of October 2011” Makau concludes-TDN

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