The North West University (NWU), Potchefstroom campus, has introduced a collection of faultless Afrikaans texts known as Afrikaanse SkryfGoed 4, available for individuals wishing to write excellently in one of South Africa’s 11 languages.

Such a collection of Afrikaans electronic proofing tools has been developed by the Centre for Text Technology (CTexT®), a research and development centre at the university.

The collection is also described as the most recent version consisting of four tools for Microsoft Office including Afrikaans spelling checker, grammar checker, thesaurus and hyphenator, and was entirely compatible with Microsoft® Office 2013 and Windows 8.

The grammar checker and thesaurus are one of a kind in Afrikaans for Microsoft Office, and the spelling checker was the only “so-called” second-generation spelling checker currently existing for Afrikaans.

A statement from the university said the most recent technology and advanced processing were used to deliver better results, also that the proofing tools have already generated positive reactions from several language experts and language practitioners.

Chairperson of the Afrikaanse Taalkommissie Tom McLachlan said: “I really no longer want to work on an Afrikaans text without my SkryfGoed.

“The grammar checker often helps me to see mistakes that I have made due to hurried typing.”

McLachlan is a writer, academic and businessman.

Prof Franci Greyling, a lecturer in creative writing at the university, said the Afrikaans spelling checker was a useful method to swiftly spot spelling as well as typing errors.

Greyling further said she frequently use the thesaurus to enhance her writing.

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

Lindani Magade, the only medical student from the province to return home from Cuba after a hunger strike in February, has apologised for letting the government and community down.

Officials from the department of health in partnership with the Mnquma local municipality, organised an event in Butterworth yesterday aimed at encouraging the 22-year-old student who has decided to return to Cuba to finish his medical training, and said they still supported him.

Unconfirmed reports are that Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has forgiven four of the six students who chose to return to the country following the strike.

Magade from Chebe, Centane, who started studying in Cuba in 2011 said he was grateful for the second chance he has been given by the department of health.

“I promised that I will conduct myself in a good manner in Cuba and be the star of my community. Once I finish my studies in Cuba, I will never abandon my community,” Magade said.

He said he had felt the pain of his family and community when news about their return broke out.

“Our intentions were to come here and explain to health authorities what happened in Cuba,” he said.

Mphumzi Mdledle, a doctor at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, who studied in Cuba came to offer moral support to Magade. He said conditions in Cuba were tough.

“It was never easy studying there. We once thought of gathering a strike after we went for three weeks without food.”

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

Expressed confidence that they would be able to grow their businesses and plan better after they received financial management training.

The training was sponsored by the provincial department of economic development as part of its contribution in empowering small businesses and promoting responsible liquor trading.

More than 50 traders have so far benefitted from the course that has been run in Mahikeng, Khuma and Jouberton townships, in Klerksdorp.

Economic development spokesperson Dumisa Seshabela said that liquor traders were important stakeholders who played a vital role in the provincial gross domestic product.

“The liquor industry is estimated to have created about 109000 direct employment opportunities, with an estimated number of 95000 jobs existing within the formal liquor retail sector. The decision to embark on a financial management training course focusing on tavern consumption was meant to help them improve their businesses,” she said.

Seshabela added that the course would be extended to traders in other centres in the province that were not covered in the first round.

“The objective of the training was to equip licencees with the financial management skills which would assist them to run their business effectively. It would furthermore ensure sustainability in order to create more job opportunities and grow the economy of the province. The training was offered by Taletso FET College in Mahikeng and was managed by Thuto ya Setshaba working in partnership with Ratidzo Training Solution, which is accredited by Agri-Seta,” she said.

A resolution to train and empower traders was taken at a liquor lekgotla, held in Mahikeng on February 15 this year.

One of the tavern owners, Molato Charles Moqhai of King Lucky’s Place in Stilfontein said: “This training has equipped some of us with skills to analyse income and expenditure statements. It will go a long way in helping us to make informed financial decisions that promote a sustainable and responsible liquor industry.”

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

Madibeng welcomes support and criminal investigations against Councillors and Officials 

 A two person support team is to be deployed to implement the close-out report of the previous Section 139 intervention in Madibeng Local Municipality, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Richard Baloyi announced on Thursday.

Minster Baloyi said that the deployment of the two officials, one from the National Department of Cogta and the other to be nominated by the Provincial Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs will be in accordance with Section 154 of the constitution in order to strengthen and support the municipality.

The findings of the Ministerial task team report presented by Baloyi to the council were that there is no need for Section 139 intervention to be instituted in the municipality but that the recommendations of the close-out report by the previous administrator which had lapsed with the end of term of the previous council should be implemented. 

 The report recommended that all issues of impropriety must be subjected to indepth investigation within shortest time-frame and criminal charges be laid against councillors and officials implicated.

The PIC loan that the municipality has been battling for years to service is to be investigated as well.

Premier Thandi Modise, Acting MEC for Local Government and traditional Affairs, Paul Sebegoe and Madibeng councillors unanimously welcomed the report and pledged to support its implementation in the spirit of cooperative governance.

Minister Baloyi appealed to councillors to work together for the benefit of communities and put their constituencies first. He stressed that no wrong doers would be protected.

 A Public Participation Programme to brief communities on the findings of the Ministerial Task team and the wayforward is to be organised in due course.

Johannesburg – Two construction workers are killed a week in South Africa, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi said on Thursday.

“The safety of employees must be an absolute priority. It is unacceptable that, on average, two South African construction workers die every week,” he said at a construction conference in Midrand.

“We expect every employer, in partnership with labour, to ensure that health and safety regulations are implemented and enforced.”

Among the delegates was Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel and Ghana’s Public Works Minister Abraham Byandala.

Nxesi said the construction sector needed to deal with procurement, over-pricing, fraud and corruption.

“We will fail if we don’t get on top of this challenge.”

He called on professionals within the sector to promote ethical practices.

It was important for the country to get more construction management professionals.

Nxesi said programmes needed to be taken to schools to provide support for promising pupils.

“We need to expedite the training and mentoring of graduates so that they attain full professional status in a shorter timeframe.”

Nxesi said more black people were needed in the sector.

“It cannot be right that after nearly 20 years of democracy, still only approximately 25 percent of built environment professionals are black,” he said. – Sapa

Cape Town – A Western Cape Rastafarian pupil who was ordered to stay away from school until he cut his dreadlocks has been allowed to return,  Equal Education (EE) said on Thursday.

The non-governmental organisation met the principal of Siphamandla High School in Khayelitsha, the school’s governing body  (SGB), and staff on Wednesday to discuss the pupil’s grievances, said EE chairwoman Yoliswa Dwane.

“It was agreed that the learner would be allowed back into school and that a catch-up plan would be provided,” said Dwane.

He would not have to cut his hair.

The Cape Times reported last week that the Grade 10 pupil Sikhokele Diniso was told to leave the school last month.

The education department said at the time Diniso could return to  school as he had not been suspended.

Department spokeswoman Bronagh Casey said that according to the school principal, the pupil was asked to bring his parents to discuss the matter.

“The boy returned with his brother. The principal insisted on discussing the matter with the parents.

“The parents eventually met the principal and agreed that the son should clean, comb, and tie his hair. The boy did not want to do this,” said Casey.

The EE said on Thursday it had dealt with similar cases in the past and had found that the education department failed to properly  address the situation.

“While learners are eventually allowed back into school, to date  there has been no official apology by the principals or by the Western Cape education department to affected learners for the violations to their dignity,” said Dwane.

She said the department had failed to respond to requests to release a circular to all schools providing clarity on the legal position that schools reasonably accommodate pupils’ religious beliefs.

“This is unacceptable because affected learners are forced to lose out on crucial learning and teaching time and are also subjected to verbal abuse and prejudice because of their religion,”  she said.

However, the education department said it had addressed the matter.

“Schools may ask parents to submit a letter from a religious teacher or organisation to substantiate a request to deviate from the dress code,” said Casey.

“The department has (also) provided training to school governing bodies on their roles and responsibilities following the SGB elections last year.

“These roles and responsibilities include drafting codes of conduct and dress codes, and disciplinary procedures, in line with constitutional values and the law,” said Casey. – Sapa

Johannesburg – Politicians are not being held properly accountable because of the country’s strong masculine political culture, Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele said on Thursday.

“At the heart of the problem in our country is a political culture – found among all political parties – which privileges men at the expense of other social groups, and which privileges political parties at the expense of individuals,” Ramphele said in speaking notes prepared for delivery.

“In our male-dominated and party-oriented democracy, the link between political parties and citizens is extremely weak and in some instances non-existent.”

Ramphele was speaking at a round-table seminar on electoral reform at the University of SA (Unisa).

When Ramphele launched her party political platform, Agang SA, in February she called for a new system in which voters in geographic constituencies could choose their MPs directly, instead of having MPs chosen by party bosses.

“Political loyalty supersedes individual or human rights.

“The loyalty problem is complicated by factors such as race, ethnicity, and religion,” she said.

This explained why it was possible for Parliament to table and pass the traditional courts bill, which blatantly violated human and gender rights.

Only when there was a fundamental change in South Africa’s political culture would the country be able to build meaningful accountability in its political system, Ramphele said.

“Changing the electoral clause of our Constitution is long overdue.

“Agang SA is determined to pursue this electoral clause change in order to transform the politics of South Africa into a caring political culture which puts the country and its people ahead of leaders,” she said.

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Wilfred Mugeyi (Gallo)

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Johannesburg – Chippa United have fired their fifth coach of the season, with Wilfred Mugeyi becoming the latest casualty at the club.
According to the Soccer-laduma website, the crew reported last week that the coach was on thin ice at the club. A string of poor results has kept the Chilli Boys firmly rooted at the bottom of the PSL, and after a meeting on Thursday it was decided that both Mugeyi and technical director, Roger Sikhakhane, would be relieved of their duties.
Mugeyi confirmed his exit from Chippa with Soccer-Laduma, “Unfortunately, there’s no more going forward because I got sacked today. You are the first to know that. I wasn’t told the reason.
Chippa sent Wanda (Mbenguzana) to tell me the news. Roger has been fired as well.”
It remains to be seen who will be brought in to replace Mugeyi at the helm of the club. However, whichever man is given the poisoned chalice, will no doubt understand that the club, who have 16 points from 24 games, are probably on their way out of South Africa’s top tier of football.
Mugeyi was brought into the club in January to replace Farouk Abrahams after he had become the fourth coach to be fired by the club.

Fore more www.news24.com

Johannesburg – The mental health of British businessman Shrien Dewani, who is wanted in South Africa in connection with the honeymoon murder of his wife Anni, has significantly improved, a court heard on Thursday.

The UK-based Press Association reported that this had been conveyed to the Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London.

Dewani, 33, is being treated at a hospital in Bristol for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Dewani’s 28-year-old wife Anni was shot when a taxi in which she and her husband were travelling was hijacked in Gugulethu, in November 2010.

On Thursday, prosecutor Ben Watson told the court: “He has improved, and improved significantly.”

However, he said the businessman remained “moderately depressed” and was suffering from PTSD in the moderate range.

Doctors had reported that Dewani had “neither plans nor thoughts to kill himself”, but that spontaneous self-harm always remained a risk.

Defence lawyer Julian Knowles told the court: “There has indeed been an improvement, but just to underline, Mr Dewani is still in the moderate range for both depression and PTSD.”

A further hearing was planned in the same court on 15 May, and extradition proceedings were expected to resume in July.

Dewani was excused from attending Thursday’s hearing because of the risk to his mental health.

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said although Dewani had improved it was felt that “the stress of coming to court today might set back that process”.

He said Dewani would be “most welcome” to attend the next hearing, but would be excused from doing so if his doctors felt he was unfit to do so.

Johannesburg – Little has been done to reduce road deaths in South Africa, the Automobile Association (AA) said on Thursday.

“While South Africa is a signatory of the United Nations Resolution on the Decade of Action, it is clear that little has been done to create change or prevent road deaths during the busiest times of the year,” AA spokesperson Gary Ronald said.

The number of road deaths over Easter had been increasing since 2011.

“Despite the claim that the number of crashes on major routes declined, the number of deaths… has increased year-on-year since 2011,” said Ronald.

The AA said 241 people were killed on the roads over the 2013 Easter holiday, from 28 March to 1 April, up from the 217 lives lost in 2012 and 151 in 2011.

“Figures show 60% of those killed are pedestrians,” Roland said.

“The UN Decade of Action was launched two years ago, and yet we are still waiting for the South Africa strategy to be formulated and introduced to the public. The question is why it takes so long to get the strategy in place” he said.