North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed shock at the untimely death of the Interim Chairperson of the North West Provincial Council of Aids Dr. Danile Favourscent Gcinumkhonto who was certified dead on arrival at a hospital in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Premier Modise said that Dr Gcinumkhonto’s premature death a week before his wedding on Saturday and less than three weeks after she had announced him as Interim Chairperson of the newly appointed council is tragic loss that has robbed communities across the province and institution of a selfless medical professional whose passion and desire was to serve and give of himself of the course to uplift others was inspirational.

“We wish to convey our condolences to his loved ones, colleagues in the medical fraternity, staff at Victoria Private Hospital and fellow board members and shareholder partners on Itokolle Clinix Board. In him we have lost a champion for health, a man for all seasons and many talents, an intellectual, a development activist and a community builder whose immense contribution will be sorely missed,” emphasised Premier Modise.

Dr Gcinumkhonto had obtained his Bsc Degree from Fort Hare University and acquired his medical degree from University of the Transkei in 1995.

Gcinumkhonto had worked briefly at the Klerksdorp-Tshepong Provincial Hospital before opening his private practice in Mahikeng in 1997 and worked part time at Thusong Provincial Hospital.

He had obtained a Degree in Masters of Philosophy in Applied Ethics from Stellenbosch University in 2001 and a Diploma in Advanced Computer Course from North West University.

He was nominated by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to serve as Member of the Medical Portfolio for Ring Physicians in Boxing South Africa and served as a board member of the North West Economic Development Board and a member of the subcommittee of Invest North West Board.

Dr Gcinumkhonto had worked as a casualty officer at Victoria Private Hospital in Mahikeng from 2006 and was a Director and Shareholder of the Itokolle Clinix Board. 

A memorial service in his honour is planned for 10:00 am on Thursday at Unibo Chapel opposite North West University Mahikeng Campus prior his funeral on Saturday.

London – Taken at face value it was an innocent enough remark, encouraging friends to explore “a belief system to apply to day-to-day life to attain peacefulness”.

But when Peaches Geldof chose to share her “religious” convictions with her 148 000 followers on Twitter, it lifted the lid on a much more sinister world than first impressions would suggest.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – Communications Minister Dina Pule must provide evidence that the Sunday Times was involved in a smear and blackmail campaign against her, editor Phylicia Oppelt said on Monday.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

The South African Football Association’s (SAFA) Referees Review Committee says that referee Lwandile Mfiki acted in a correct manner during the fiery encounter between Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows which was marred by crowd disturbances. 

The Review Committee comprising chairman Bruce Mphela and committee members Steve Goddard, Frans Boshilo and Moses Hleza viewed the recording of the match extensively and concluded that the referee had handled the match appropriately in a hostile environment. 

“The Review Committee confirms that the decision to dismiss Reneilwe Letsholonyane of Kaizer Chiefs in that match, for serious foul play, was correct.     

“The cautioning of Kaizer Chiefs’ Tefo Mashamaite, in the first 25 seconds of the match set the tone for the proceedings of the tense game. It gave the referee a clear indication of what was to come,” read the statement from the review committee. 

The statement goes on to say: “Mfiki should also have sent off Lucky Baloyi of Kaizer Chiefs, as his foul was a clear dismissal offence instead of a plain caution. 

“The match officials must be complimented on their calm approach to all the incidents throughout this match,” concluded the Review Committee. 

The Committee said the attempted attack on Mfiki by a spectator will be dealt with by the PSL. 

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-North West Department of Health, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District will for the first in history show-case it’s EMRS Helicopter that will service critically injured patients in the District.

Department of Health in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District is show-casing its newly acquired EMR helicopter service.

The show-case is scheduled to take place on Monday, 22 April 2013 (TODAY) at the following venue:

“Helicopter landed at Taung Sun at 10:00 – 11:00 am and Vryburg Aerodrome at 12:00 – 13:00 pm. Doctors, EMRS and Hospital casualty personnel given a briefing on the sites by helicopter attached medical team” said District communication officer, Sthembiso Mkhize.

“All our hospital shall construct heli-pads for landing and collection of patients. However it shall use alternative available landing sites on varying Sub-Districts” Taung Hospital CEO Ompolokilwe Cwaile said.

Medical guidelines for use of air transport include but not limited to Head injuries with Glassco Coma Scale (GSC)  of more than 6 but less than 12 and low BP; Spinal Injuries where road transportation exceed 20km ( and or bad roads), threatening or real amputation above knee/elbow and severe respiratory distress cases he said.

The Helicopter services are a two year RT 79 National Contract and the District is contracted to fly 30 hours per month. This kind of service is expected to improve and most importantly save lives of our people.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

Details of the LAUNCH are as follows:

Venue : Vryburg Aerodrome

Date    : 22 April 2013

Time   : 12:00 – 13:00 pm 

Venue : Taung Sun  

Date    : 22 April 2013

Time   : 10:00 – 11:00 am

Johannesburg – More black, coloured, and Indian South Africans speak Afrikaans at home than white South Africans, the SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) said on Monday.

According to a recent SAIRR study, based on data from the 2011 census, only 40% of those who speak Afrikaans at home are whites.

This means that out of 6.9 million people who speak the language at home, 2.7 million are white, while the rest are from other racial groups.

English is the home language of almost five million South Africans; of these, 1.6 million (or 34%) are white.

Almost 1.2 million black South Africans have English as their mother tongue, while coloured people and Indians accounted for nearly 950,000 and 1.1 million, respectively.

SAIRR researcher Thuthukani Ndebele said English was only the fourth most-spoken home language, but was the preferred language of learning in South Africa.

“About 64% of the 11.5 million pupils in public schools in 2010 chose to be taught in English, reflecting a global trend for the preference of the language.”

Internationally, at least one-in-four people speak English with some level of competence.

IsiZulu was the most common home language in South Africa, with 11.6 million South Africans listing it as their mother tongue.

Rustenburg – Police numbers in Marikana had been declining in the week that 34 striking mineworkers were shot dead, the Farlam Commission on Inquiry heard on Monday.

There were around 550 officers in Marikana on 13 August last year.

The number increased to around 750 by the 15th, but decreased to around 600 on 16 August – the day of the shooting, SAPS Major General Charl Annandale said.

Officers brought in from other provinces during the course of the week had returned to their posts prior to the main shooting.

Annandale was under cross-examination by Ishmael Semenya, for the SAPS.

He said though he had attended to big operations before, he never attended to one that needed such extensive crowd control where most of the crowd was armed.

Annandale was heading the police special tactical operations team during the Marikana unrest.

The Farlam Commission is holding public hearings in Rustenburg, North West, as part of an investigation into the deaths of 34 miners shot dead in a wage-related strike at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine on 16 August.

Another 10 people were killed in the preceding week.

The hearings continue.

Platinum Stars have taken an early lead in Q4, with University of Pretoria in second and Kaizer Chiefs third, on goals scored.

Springbok fullback Zane Kirchner will join Irish side Leinster later this year after signing a two-year contract with the club.
The 28-year-old has opted to move to Ireland rather than extend his contract with the South African Bulls franchise beyond its expiry at the end of October.    It is unclear when Kirchner will join his new team, with Bulls high performance manager Xander Janse van Rensburg hinting that the player could request a release before his current deal ends. “We understand that an earlier release might be requested, but it is up to the board to approve that or not,” Van Rensburg said in a media statement release by the franchise on Monday.

“We have been in talks with Zane and his agent since November and although it is very disappointing to lose his services, we wish him well.”

Kirchner joined the Bulls franchise in 2007 from Currie Cup side Griquas and was part of the squads that won the Super Rugby competition in his first year and later in 2009 and 2010. He made his Springbok debut in 2009 and has made 24 appearances.

For more www.sabc.co.za