Embattled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has come out swinging in a speech to the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in the Eastern Cape, again apologising for his affair with an Eastern Cape employee, the subsequent rape allegations and lambasting government for adopting the national development plan (NDP).

Last weekend, shocking claims emerged that Vavi had raped a Cosatu employee. The accuser did not lay criminal charges against him but brought an internal complaint against Vavi to Cosatu. Vavi laid extortion charges against her, and alleged that the 26-year-old woman asked him for money in exchange for her silence.

Vavi admitted to having sex with her, but insisted it was consensual. The accuser withdrew her complaint to Cosatu on the first day of the inquiry.
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The former principal legal researcher at the Arms Procurement Commission, attorney Kate Painting, has broken her silence to reveal she resigned in March after a disturbing “second agenda” emerged at the commission.

“When the commission’s work commenced in earnest I was one of two legal professionals. We were virtually tasked with setting up the commission. I went on fact-finding trips overseas and initially believed we would fulfil our mandate; another agenda soon emerged, as did an obsessive control of information, family relationships and incompetent administration,” Painting said in a statement she released to the Mail & Guardian. “Fear is a common theme at the commission and any non-compliance with the second agenda is met with hostility.”
For more http://www.mg.co.za

President Robert Mugabe’s party has won at least a two-thirds majority in parliament, enough to amend the country’s constitution, according to a tally of official results.

With over 180 seats declared by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Mugabe’s Zanu-PF had won 142 seats in the 210-member chamber.
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A Mpumalanga man who shot dead his ex-girlfriend in front of her colleagues was jailed for 30 years on Friday, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Steven Johannes Malumane, 25, of Chochocho outside Hazyview, was sentenced by the Nelspruit Circuit of the North Gauteng High Court for murdering Cynthia Mashego, 30, on the third floor of the Sanlam building in Mbombela on 22 March last year.

Mashego’s colleagues testified that Malumane entered their office around 08:00 and asked to speak to her.

Minutes later, he dragged her into the corridor and a gunshot went off.

When her colleagues tried to see what had happened, another shot was fired, forcing them to close the door and hide in their office.

Judge Mmonoa Teffo noted that Malumane had insisted on speaking to her even though she was scared and had tried to avoid him.

“You found her with her two colleagues and she refused to speak to you. You insisted until her colleagues allowed her to speak to you,” Teffo said.

“She was very scared. She came and you spoke to her from the reception, went with her to the corridor where you shot her and left the building.”

A few minutes later, Malumane hijacked Vusimuzi Mabuza, threatened him with a gun, and forced him to drive to Chochocho, where police later arrested him.

“These offences you committed were serious and the circumstances were bad,” said Teffo.

“You shot a defenceless woman where she thought she was safe. Your actions have traumatised her co-workers and you never showed respect. If they knew you were going to kill her, they would not have allowed her to speak to you.”

Guilty plea

Teffo said the State had pointed out that Malumane had pleaded guilty only when he realised there was overwhelming evidence against him.

He sentenced Malumane to 25 years’ imprisonment for murder, 10 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, seven years for possession of an unlawful firearm, and three years for possession of ammunition.

Five years of the robbery sentence would run concurrently with the murder sentence.

“All other sentences will run concurrently, meaning you will serve 30 years imprisonment,” Teffo said.

She granted him leave to appeal against the sentence.

– SAPA

The ANC in the North West vowed on Friday to pull out all the stops to win the forthcoming by-elections in Tlokwe municipality and elsewhere in the province.

“[We] continue to intensify our efforts to mobilise members and support in Tlokwe for the forthcoming by-elections,” said party spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi.

“In other regions the African National Congress is content that we will emerge victorious as well.”

Tlokwe’s ANC mayor Maphetle Maphetle has been unseated twice when ANC councillors voted with the opposition to replace him with DA Councillor Annette Combrink.

The ANC’s North West provincial disciplinary committee expelled the councillors concerned, resulting in them losing their seats.

Mnisi said Tlokwe municipality was one of the eight municipalities where the ANC intended winning by an overwhelming majority.

The elections would take place on 7 August.

“The people of the North West know the good work the ANC does to better their lives. Our people will vindicate us next week and moving forward by ensuring our overwhelming victory during these by-elections.”

– SAPA

A traffic officer and a security guard have been arrested for shoplifting in Heidelberg, police said on Friday.

Police spokesperson Mathews Tshabangu said they were arrested on Thursday after being were caught on camera stealing clothes at Edgars.

The officer, in full uniform, was filmed entering the fitting room, leaving it with a plastic bag full with clothes, and proceeding straight to the entrance, where she spoke to a female security guard.

She left the shop without being searched, said Tshabangu.

The stolen clothes, still with the price tags on, were found at the officer’s house.

The women would appear soon in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court, he said.

– SAPA

With the 2013/14 PSL season starting this evening, former Orlando Pirates fan favourite Mark Mayambela is yet to secure a new club.

Mayambela was released by Pirates at the end of last season, after making only one substitute appearance for the Buccaneers. The talented Khayelitsha-born midfielder then trained with Moroka Swallows in the hope of earning himself a deal with the Birds, but Swallows decided against signing him.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

The Siya crew has been informed that Orlando Pirates have made an official offer for Ajax Cape Town winger, Khama Billiat, and are locked in negotiations in an attempt to bring the player into the Bucs camp.

The Zimbabwean has been linked with an exit from the Urban Warriors for some time, with Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United having both declared their interest in the 22-year-old.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Word reaching the Siya crew is that Chippa United and defender Mbulelo ‘Old John’ Mabizela have parted ways.

Contrary to media reports indicating that the tough tackling defender has gone AWOL, Mabizela has been allowed to leave the Chilli Boys.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

ABSA Premiership

Result: Black Aces 0-1 Chiefs

Date: 2 August 2013

Venue: Mbombela Stadium

Kaizer Chiefs got their season off to a winning start with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over newly promoted Mpumalanga Black Aces at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday night.

Before the game got underway, Doctor Khumalo came onto the pitch with a protest letter which Chiefs had addressed to the PSL regarding Mabhuti Khenyeza’s inclusion in the starting XI.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com