The historical fabrics of the Motor City and the City of Gold are not so different, say Terence McNamee and Madelynne Wage.

Johannesburg – When the city of Detroit filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history last month, the earth didn’t move in Joburg. Not even a tremor. It was just another news story about a city that seemed as dissimilar in politics as it was distant on the map.
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Durban – Julius Malema’s new party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), introduced itself at a press conference in KwaZulu-Natal, President Jacob Zuma’s home province, on Wednesday.

Mpho Ramakatsa, national co-ordinator for the party whose members address each other as “fighter” and not “comrade”, told reporters in Durban that the party already had members across the province.

This was in spite of only releasing membership applications the week before last.

He could not say how many “fighters” had joined, but several members from the organisation’s regional, provincial and national “command teams” were present at the press conference.

Ramakatsa, himself a former Umkhonto we Sizwe cadre and former ANC member, said at the press conference the party did not solely consist of disgruntled ANC members.

He described its members as being opposed to a “military state” that used state institutions to silence its opponents.

Malema, the ANC Youth League’s former president, has previously claimed he was expelled from the ruling party for voicing opinions critical of Zuma and his government.

Ramakatsa said the party would campaign everywhere in the province, including Nkandla, where Zuma had his homestead.

Ramakatsa accused the country’s political leaders of using the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to achieve its aims.

“Sars is being used by those in power to deal with its opponents,” he said.

He questioned why Sars became so efficient in dealing with Malema only after he was expelled from the ANC.

He said a number of other people in the EFF, including himself, had recently received letters from Sars enquiring into their business affairs.

“Sars is being used to victimise EFF,” he claimed.

EFF’s principles

Reggie Ncgobo, the EFF’s KwaZulu-Natal co-ordinator read a statement highlighting the party’s main principles.

These are: the expropriation of land without compensation; the nationalisation of banks, mines and other strategic sectors of the economy without compensation; improving the state’s ability to create infrastructure to eliminate the need for tenders; free education, housing, healthcare and sanitation; industrialisation, job creation and the elimination of the wage gap between rich and poor; development of the African economy; and an open, corruption-free government without fear of victimisation by state agencies.

Sipho Mbata, another member of the EFF’s “national command team”, said that since the country’s first inclusive elections in 1994, both the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) had been silent on the question of land.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A 60-year-old woman was murdered in Groendal, Eastern Cape police said on Wednesday.

The woman was attacked next to a road in Groendal on Tuesday morning and taken to hospital in Uitenhage where she later died, police spokesperson Gerda Swart said.

“No arrests have been made and the name of the woman will be released once the next of kin is informed,” said Swart.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The body of a woman, who went missing last month, was found in Ohrigstad, Limpopo police said on Wednesday.

The woman was identified as Tshepo Pholoto, 32, of Modubeng village, who went missing on 17 July, police spokesperson Ronel Otto said.

Her body was found on 9 August and she was identified on 12 August by members of her family.

Pholoto’s husband returned from night duty on the morning of 17 July and found traces of blood in the bedroom and his wife missing.

A case of kidnapping was opened the same day at Mecklenburg police station.

Police said a post mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death and no arrests have been made.

– SAPA

Cape Town – Fourteen schools in Manenberg, Cape Town, will be closed the next two days because of gang violence threats, Western Cape Education MEC Donald Grant said on Wednesday.

“Unfortunately, the safety of our learners and educators has continued to be threatened in Manenberg. Some of our educators have reported to [the] metro central district office for duty instead of their schools,” he said in a statement.

Grant said the decision to close the schools was made after consulting teachers.

Provincial government leaders would meet on Thursday with a representative group of these teachers to discuss a way forward.

Grant said his department had directed a great deal of resources and support to Manenberg since the outbreak of gang violence.

“The department is doing all it can to protect learners and educators in school, but it is unfortunately unable to ensure peace and safety within the community,” he said.

“Our officials and educators are not law enforcers. Law enforcement is the responsibility of the SA Police Service [SAPS].”

Grant said schools and the department relied on the police to maintain order.

“Our learners’ and educators’ safety remains our primary concern, along with the longer term loss of teaching and learning time.

– SAPA

Pietermaritzburg – A Verulam man stabbed his mother to death after she scolded him for drinking and reneged on a promise to give him money, he told the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

Thandaxolo Khumalo, 27, said he was angry, went to his mother’s kitchen and fetched a knife, which he used to stab her several times on a day in July this year.

He left his fatally injured mother, Thokozile Khumalo, 70, on the floor of her house and fled when he realised what he had done, he said.

She died later.

He tried to hide clues to his actions by burning his bloodied clothes.

Khumalo said he acted out of anger.

According to the post-mortem report she was stabbed in both lungs, her liver, face, and upper arm. She also had bruises on her face.

Acting Judge Enthias Xolo convicted him of the murder.

Sentencing procedures start on Thursday.

– SAPA

Cape Town – Zwelinzima Vavi has been suspended on Wednesday evening as Cosatu general secretary according to unconfirmed Twitter reports. But official word is “neither confirm nor deny”.

It would appear that he has been given a “leave absence”.

City Press tweeted: “Unconfirmed reports that Vavi has been suspended. More to follow Cosatu”

Hajra Omarjee said: “Zwelinzima Vavi has been suspended as Cosatu general secretary. “Leave of absence” will be in official statement tomorrow Vavi”

Steven Groote tweeted: “@StephenGrootes: #Vavi We’re told that an official statement will be issued tonight or tomorrow. SG”

Carien du Plessis of City Press reports “there has been no official confirmation, but sources with close information about the special Cosatu central executive committee meeting at Cosatu House today confirmed this.”

The special meeting was called to discuss Vavi’s future after he admitted to having an affair with a woman he appointed.

The meeting went on for almost 10 hours and ended just before 21:00.

This could signal the end of the 50-year-old labour federation leader’s 14-year stint in his current position, or at least a significant weakening of his position according to City Press.

It is understood that an official statement will follow either overnight or tomorrow.
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Johannesburg – American R&B singer R Kelly will no longer be performing at the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day, the arts and culture department said on Wednesday.

“We apologise to R Kelly’s many South African fans for this unfortunate situation, but remain confident that our current line-up will do justice to Madiba’s legacy of peace, unity, and reconciliation,” the department said in a statement.

The day will see Bafana Bafana play against Burkina Faso in a friendly match, while the Springboks open their Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina on Saturday afternoon.

The department said it had entered negotiations with the promoter of the R&B singer’s recent tour to South Africa. It was subsequently announced that the star was on the bill for the music concert that would follow the day’s sport events.

“Soon afterwards, however, the department learned that R Kelly’s management had not been made aware of this agreement, and that he had departed the country as planned,” the statement read.

“We are taking legal advice on this matter.”

The rest of the line-up for the concert includes DJ Black Coffee, Zahara, Toya Delazy, Mafikizolo, Kurt Darren, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Salif Keita, and Elvis Blue.

Sapa

Pietermaritzburg – A Verulam man stabbed his mother to death after she scolded him for drinking and reneged on a promise to give him money, he told the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday.

Thandaxolo Khumalo, 27, said he was angry, went to his mother’s kitchen and fetched a knife which he used to stab her several times on a day in July this year.

He left his fatally injured mother, Thokozile Khumalo, 70, on the floor of her house and fled when he realised what he had done, he said. She died later. He tried to hide clues to his actions by burning his bloodied clothes.

Khumalo said he acted out of anger. According to the post-mortem report she was stabbed in both lungs, her liver, face, and upper arm. She also had bruises on her face.

Acting Judge Enthias Xolo convicted him of the murder.

Sentencing procedures start on Thursday.

Sapa

Johannesburg – Thirty-five people were arrested during unrest in the Vaal Triangle, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.

“The protesters were arrested for public violence when they barricaded the R59 freeway after they were dismissed by a local company,” Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.

Those arrested would appear in the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on charges of public violence.

Sapa