Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi warned workers at the provincial shop stewards council in Galeshewe, Kimberley, on Saturday that corruption in government will lead to the ANC losing votes in the upcoming election.

He said corruption is not only rampant in government “but also in the unions”.

“We have corrupt individuals, who if not confronted head-on, they will kill this organisation,” he said.

“Don’t put corruption on ice. Corruption is corruption, no-matter who is involved. Whether it is Mandela or Zwelinzima Vavi, when they are corrupt expose them,” he said to loud cheers.

He spoke frankly about recent media reports that Cosatu was investigating him, after he allegedly sold the federation building at a non-market related price of R10m.

“There is process in the federation to check if there is truth in all these allegations. Once allegations against everyone are made, there must be processes to check if those allegations are true.

“No matter how important you think you are, you must submit yourself to be scrutinised.

“If anyone can produce any evidence that can prove the allegations that I have stolen money from the purchase of the building. If that person can produce that evidence, the day that happens, I will walk away. I will have betrayed the workers,” he said.

Vavi also took a swipe at the “rampant corruption” which he said was common in the Northern Cape.

“In your province you go to court every day, not saying that anyone is guilty but the perception that we are corrupt will hold us in the country’s elections next year,” he said in Xhosa.

He said the country was still very far away from reaching its service delivery promises. “I doubt if we will be able to reach it in our life time.”

Vavi said Cosatu preferred an ANC that would give a better life to all.

“We want the ANC to appreciate the pressure from the ground. People want better life now, not tomorrow.”

Vavi urged the workers to support the ANC prepare for the general elections next year.

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Johannesburg – The Department of Minerals and Energy could implement a retail petrol price cut of about 71c/l on May 1‚ provided the daily over-recovery remains near the April 12 level. The wholesale diesel (0.05% Sulphur) price could fall by a more subdued 49c/l.

The daily petrol price over-recovery was 97.703 cents per litre (c/l) on April 12 after reaching an under-recovery of 100.661c/l on January 29.

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Bloemfontein – Four Grootvlei awaiting-trial prison inmates and two of their co-accused released on bail last month are suing Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa for damages relating to brutal apartheid-era interrogation and torture tactics allegedly employed by Bloemfontein’s Organised Crime Unit (OCU).

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JOHANNESBURG – Trade union federation Cosatu on Sunday said it condemns reports that it will this week hold an inquiry into allegations of corruption against its General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

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Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says his side will focus on finishing in the top eight after the Brazilians were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Despite taking the lead through a Teko Modise goal, Mosimane saw his side conceded two goals in 16 minutes as Thuso Phala and Robert Ng’ambi scored for Platinum Stars to win the quarterfinal match at Loftus Stadium 2-1.

Mosimane admitted his players were not at their best on the day, but they will now focus on finishing in the top eight of the Absa Premiership.

“We are out of the cup now and that is the way it goes. We will turn our attention to the league and finishing inside the top eight,” said Mosimane after the match.

Referring to the game and the goals his side conceded, Mosimane added, “I think my players were ball watching, I could not see clearly but it looked that way.

“They scored from a set-piece which SuperSport did yesterday,” he said of defending champions SuperSport United who beat Maritzburg United 2-1 in their quarter-final clash on Saturday.

“But that is how it goes, that is how teams can win or lose games and you can see why they are second on the league.”

“We had our chances to win the game too but it did not go our way. I am happy for Teko because he scored but the result did not go our way, but his confidence is back and he is a good player for us.”

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Girls must be empowered to become future entrepreneurs and business leaders said the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Thabethe.

She was speaking at the workshop dubbed “techno-girl entrepreneurship”, at the Mitta Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberley at the weekend.

Thabethe said the government was keen to promote women in science. The initiative saw 100 pupils from 10 high schools in the province take part in the workshop, where they presented business ideas to a panel of judges.

The workshop, a part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Technology for Women in Business, is aimed at introducing girls to career opportunities in various sectors of the economy.

“We are investing in developing young girls in order to ensure they do not become a liability, and a burden to the state, but contribute meaningfully in the country. This they can do that by establishing their own businesses and creating employment. We want to create youngsters who will be creators of jobs and not seekers’ of jobs,” Thabethe said. She told the girls that they had to be innovative in order to become successful entrepreneurs.

“You can do this by coming up with workable business ideas that can be turned into successful businesses.

“We want to encourage young girls to become creative thinkers and inventors, and to consider science and technology in their studies and careers.

“The programme has been a success and we want to take it to the next level.” 

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Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi has expressed concern that municipalities bleed millions of rands because of water lost through leaking pipes and taps.

She was addressing residents at the National Water Week awareness programme in Kareeberg local municipality in Carnavon at the weekend.

“Water leaks are a major cause of concern. If not stopped early they might lead to disaster. Today we are here to declare war on leaks,” she said.

South Africa is one of the 30 driest countries in the world, she said.

“Though the country’s water supply is adequate to meet the current needs, there could be a problem in meeting future needs if we do not act now to secure effective and timeous smart water-management options.”

Earlier this year, President Jacob Zuma called for the reduction of water losses by half in 2014.

“We have therefore declared war on leaks. This project aims to eradicate leaks at household level, educate users about water conservation, fixing leaks, creating jobs for young people and skills development.

“South Africa is already faced with scarce water resources and is further threatened by high levels of pollution in dams and rivers.

“We are also faced with water wastage that occurs in our homes, schools, and businesses as a result of leaking taps and pipes,” she said

Mabudafhasi said this programme would continue to educate pupils about integrated water resource management, climate change and environmental control, including water-related careers.

She said her department was encouraging all South Africans to focus on the need to restore and preserve the integrity of the most precious resource, water.

“South Africans must take responsibility to make sure this scarce resource is managed in an effective and sustainable manner.

“Remember to report the misuse of water and other faults to the nearest municipal offices or call the department’s toll free number, 0800200200.”

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Management at Brits district hospital is asking the community to help identify two patients admitted to the hospital who are failing to provide information on where they come from.

Communications officer at the hospital Tshepo Mokono said the two adult male patients were admitted early this month.

“The first patient is allegedly a homeless man known as William Sefatsa and he was picked up on the streets in Brits by emergency officials and brought to the hospital on April 3. Sefatsa has a history of confusion and disorientation.

“The patient cannot state exactly where his place of residence is. He said he comes from Sebokeng, QwaQwa, Makaunyana, Ga-Rankuwa and Botswana,” Mokono said.

This has made it difficult for the hospital to trace his relatives and community members are called to assist.

“The second patient, known as Cornelius van Deventer, was allegedly renting a room in Brits and working as a car guard. Van Deventer brought himself to the hospital after he had been referred by the Madibeng Clinic.

“He was admitted on April 4 and has been discharged. He has a history of internal bleeding,” Mokono said.

In the case of Van Deventer, the hospital cannot release him because there is no information on where his relatives are.

“Anyone with information about these two patients’ relatives, friends and families, please contact Brits District Hospital’s social worker, Ben Mageza, on 0734879953 or 0122523311.”

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Disabled people in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Momphati district expressed happiness that they could now manage to move from one point to the next after they received assistive devices at Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg, on Thursday last week.

The devices were procured by the provincial social development department in partnership with Epilepsy South Africa as part of intervening in the lives of those living with disabilities.

Some of the beneficiaries received wheelchairs, others got crutches and artificial legs that would help them move by themselves. The department said that about R700000 was spent on the assistive devices and they were handing out the first batch.

One of the beneficiaries, Bennet Wynberg, 40, received an artificial leg and he said that his life was bound to change. “I count myself lucky to be among the first group of people with disabilities to receive this device.

I will, from now on, be free to attend funerals and other public gatherings without looking down on myself,” he said. Wynberg is a father of one child and depends on the disability grant for a living.

Other beneficiaries also expressed gratitude that they had benefited in the exercise and would be able to lead decent lives. Social development, women, children and people with disabilities MEC Mosetsana gape Mokomele-Mothibi said that her department had seen fit to sign a service level agreement with Epilepsy South Africa to provide assistive devices so that disabled people could also have a chance at mobility and other things.

“Earlier this year, we provided funding to the tune of R700 000 in accordance with the service level agreement we entered into with Epilepsy South Africa to provide assistive devices to five service points in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and this is the beginning of that exercise,” she said. Mokomele-Mothibi added that a total of 75 people with disabilities had received the assistive devices since Wednesday.

Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital chief executive Zack Esterhuizen applauded the department’s partnership with Epilepsy South Africa.

“This partnership will continue to benefit many people.

“We can’t adequately provide for these devices due to budget constraints,” he said.

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