Johannesburg – Wage talks between the striking Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and platinum producers are expected to resume on Thursday.
The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) said on Monday that individual engagements with the parties had initially been set for February 11 and 12. Employers had requested additional time to consider and consult their constituencies.
The mediation process was aimed at resolving the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union’s (Amcu) strike at Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum, and Impala Platinum.
CCMA director Nerine Kahn said the CCMA was confident a mediated solution could be found.
Amcu is demanding a R12 500 basic salary for miners. Around 80 000 miners downed tools on January 23.
The platinum producers proposed a three-year agreement last month. The proposal was a 9% increase for A-level workers, 8.5% for B-level and 7.5% for C-level workers in the first year.
The CCMA has been mediating talks between the union and the platinum companies since January 24.
SAPA
Monthly Archives: February 2014
All Eyes On Zuma’s State Of The Nation Address
Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation address in Parliament on Thursday evening.
The address will be his last as president of the current government, before the elections on 7 May this year.
Analysts were widely expecting Zuma to focus on the ANC government’s achievements in the 20 years since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.
Expectations
Expectations for Zuma’s address varied, with Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota saying Zuma had been a “walking disaster” and would probably “piggyback” on the achievements of his predecessors.
“The president should confess in Parliament that he has failed the nation and should announce his resignation from active politics with immediate effect,” Lekota said.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) said Zuma should focus on the “critical challenges” facing the country.
These included addressing the problem of apartheid-era spatial planning.
“Twenty years since the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa as a Rainbow Nation has made steady progress in the areas of education, health, HIV and Aids, economic growth, employment creation, income distribution, rural development, housing, access to water, sanitation and electricity. However, not much has changed in the townships where the majority of our citizens reside,” said Fedusa general secretary, Dennis George.
Zuma needed to give clear direction on how government intended to deal with the economic and social impact of service delivery protests, George added.
Trade union Solidarity cautioned Zuma against making “expensive promises” on greater government spending which will put pressure on the country’s taxpayers.
“The more President Zuma promises to do and spend, the greater the pressure will be on the taxpayer, a pressure that will also result in increases in government debt,” spokesperson Piet le Roux said.
Finishing touches
On Wednesday, workers were putting the finishing touches in place for the address.
Members of the army, navy, and air force had largely completed their rehearsals for the ceremony preceding the speech.
Workers were setting up speakers and makeshift stages for the various local performers who will entertain those invited to the event.
MPs and members of Zuma’s Cabinet, as well as special guests, would start arriving at 16:00. From 17:00, premiers, members of the judiciary and heads of missions, among others, would start making their way to the National Assembly up Parliament Street.
They would precede Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and Parliament’s presiding officers. Zuma would follow, before taking the national salute on the podium of the National Assembly steps while the navy band played the national anthem. There would be a 21-gun salute and a fly past by the air force before Zuma would make his way into the Assembly to deliver his speech at 19:00.
Motorists should expect delays in the Cape Town city centre as dozens of roads in the vicinity would be closed for hours. Some of the busiest roads, including Adderley, Strand, and Wale streets would be closed between 16:00 and 22:00.
Parking restrictions would also apply.-News24
A cop jailed after a road rage murder
Johannesburg – A police constable was jailed for 24 years by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday for killing a colleague, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate said.
The court – sitting in Palm Ridge on the East Rand – sentenced Constable Benson Lwayiphi Lufele to 18 years for murder and six years for attempted murder, said IPID national spokesperson Moses Dlamini.
“The sentence follows the accused’s conviction by the same court in December 2013,” said Dlamini.
Lufele, 35, killed 48-year-old Captain Mthembeni Walter Sibisi, while they were both off duty, on 19 August 2012.
Lufele was driving his private vehicle along Enoch Sontonga street in Katlehong on the East Rand. Sibisi was driving with his son along the same street in his private vehicle at the time.
The two vehicles then collided at an intersection, which led to an argument between the policemen.
Both men were unaware that they were both policemen at the time, said Dlamini.
Lufele allegedly shot Sibisi in the leg and when Sibisi tried to take away Lufele’s car keys, he fired multiple shots at Sibisi.
Sibisi died at the scene, said Dlamini.
SAPA
Half of SA adults say Zuma not doing well- poll
Johannesburg – Half of South African adults believe that President Jacob Zuma and his government are not doing their jobs well, market research company Ipsos said on Wednesday.
These were the results of face-to-face interviews with 3 564 randomly selected adult South Africans who were interviewed in their homes and home languages, Ipsos SA’s director of public affairs Mari Harris said in a statement.
The interviews were conducted in November last year.
Fifty four percent of respondents said Zuma was not doing well.
Of the remaining 46%, 17% said Zuma was doing very well and 29% said he was doing fairly well.
“On Thursday evening South Africans will listen to President Zuma’s State of the Nation speech with interest, as they would like to hear… some clear direction regarding the way in which the government plans to address the issues the electorate are concerned about, how the government will rebuild credibility, consolidate resources and deliver on the plans that exist, and make new plans to create some hope for the future,” Harris said.
South African public perception of how well government was doing had declined in the past three years, Harris said.
“Only about a third of South Africans are of the opinion that the country is going in the right direction. It should come as no surprise that the public are not impressed with government performance in most of the policy areas we measure.”
This was according to the “Ipsos Government Performance Barometer” which measures public perceptions about the government’s performance in handling key policy areas as well as the views on the performance of the president, deputy president and the national government.
Harris said the polls were done every six months.
The results indicated that in the five years since the previous election, the proportion of South Africans who said the country was moving in the right direction had steadily declined.
“Currently almost half of South Africans (48%) feel that the country is moving in the wrong direction.”
Twenty-five government policy areas in economy, social issues and governance and administration areas were evaluated by the public and measured by Ipsos.
Harris said in the last three years the “traffic light measurement” rating for the 25 policy areas in the “red light” zone had increased from 15 to 22.
Red light areas (50% and below) needed immediate attention and action.
Orange light areas (from 51% to 74%) needed urgent attention, and green light areas (75% and above) needed maintenance, Harris said.
In November 2011, 15 of the 25 policy areas fell in the “red light:” category.
A year later 17 into the category, and in November last year, 22 were in the red light category, Harris said.
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Biff’s plan that…It nearly worked
Centurion – There is a particularly infamous instance of a Test captain spurning the chance to get immediate runs on the board and his “bowl first” decision under a dazzling blue sky then failing in spectacular fashion.
In the first Ashes Test of 2002/03 at the Gabba in Brisbane, England’s Nasser Hussain chose the latter option after calling correctly against an Australian side in the midst of a heyday period.
For more http://www.news24.com
Premier Modise appeals to Madibeng communities to remain calm
The North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on communities in Madibeng Local Municipality to remain clam and exercise restraint while the impasse between the provincial government and councillors who are opposed to their council being placed under provincial administration is resolved.
“The appointment of Blake Mosley-Lefatola as administrator and deployment of a team of experts in Madibeng was done in the interest of good governance to ensure that our communities receive services which they deserve. Though the obstruction and defiance momentarily delays the intervention, we are confident that the unfortunate setback will be speedily resolved,” Premier Modise stressed.
In appealing to councillors in the municipality to put the interest of communities above their personal vested interests, the Premier said that the provincial government will not abdicate its constitutional responsibility of ensuring that the municipality is turned around to be clean, effective, responsive and accountable so that it meets the basic service needs of its communities.
Modise added that councillors in the municipality seem to prefer Section 154 support as it does not withdraw executive and legislative powers and puts those implicated in fraud, maladministration and corruption in a position to obstruct efforts to rid the municipality of the scourges that need to be uprooted.“The Province is amenable to the concurrent implementation of Section 139(1) (b) with Section 154 national routine support as the latter brings dedicated support to the provincial intervention. Both sections of the constitution are not mutually exclusive and can be used to give integrated support while exercising executive authority to realise implementation of decisions,” stressed Modise.-TDN
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DA: Dissolve Zuma’s corrupt ANC now
By Obakeng Maje
Matlosana-The DA is concerned at Jacob Zuma’s ANC that is driving Matlosana Municipality to bankruptcy.
This was revealed when the municipality tabled its reports and financial statements for 2012/2013 where the council received eight successive disclaimer from the Auditor General.
“According to the AG report, instead of improving the financial affairs of the municipality are radically worsening on annual basis. Records are in such a mess that the AG is unable to express an Audit Opinion” Democratic Alliance North West spokesperson Tiaan Kotze said.
It further reveals that municipal debt increased from R1205 to R1361 million.
Disclosed unauthorised expenditure(unbudgeted) was R833 million and a further R113 million was undisclosed.
“Irregular expenditure is R397 million and yet nobody had been held liable or reported to the police for prosecution” Kotzee said.
Democratic Alliance said Matlosana residents deserves a better government who cared for their needs.
“It is time to dissolve Zuma’s corrupt ANC and employ qualified and competent staff who will ensure that the municipality is run like an efficient business” he concludes.-TDN
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Madibeng was informed of impending intervention
Madibeng-The North West Provincial Government has dismissed allegations that Madibeng Local Municipality was not notified that it was to be placed under provincial administration as a fabricated fairy-tale.
The provincial government respects the intergovernmental relations framework and would not have announced the intervention without engaging with the municipality and council.
The Executive Mayor, Councillor Matshediso Mangoathe was informed telephonically of the Executive Council (Exco) resolution by the MEC for Local Government & Traditional Affairs,Manketse Tlhape last Thursday.
The decision was then formally communicated in a letter requesting a council meeting on Monday at 2pm to introduce the administrator,
The Executive Mayor’s objection to the intervention was received through a letter from her office received on the same day.
It is unfortunate that councillors in the municipality were denied the opportunity to engage with the Premier and members of the Provincial Executive Council Task Team that is assessing performance of municipalities when they were at the municipality to introduce the administrator as the requested council meeting was unilaterally postponed to Tuesday by the leadership of the municipality.
Premier Modise had earlier appealed to councillors in the municipality to put the interest of communities above their personal vested interests.
“The provincial government will not abdicate its constitutional responsibility of ensuring that the municipality is turned around to be clean, effective, responsive and accountable so that it meets the basic service needs of its communities,” she had stressed.
Modise called on communities in the municipality to remain clam and exercise restraint while the impasse between the provincial government and councillors who are opposed to their council being placed under provincial administration is resolved.-TDN
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No protection order for ANC against DA
Johannesburg – The South Gauteng High Court has not granted a protection order for the ANC against an alleged threat by the DA who are marching in Johannesburg’s CBD on Wednesday.
The ANC filed the urgent application because it said it had a “duty to protect our headquarters, protect our member, and protect our assets”.
“We are not saying they should not march, but if they pose a threat to our headquarters, what do we do?” ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said earlier on Wednesday morning.
He said this was necessary as the Democratic Alliance had secured the services of a security firm “armed to the teeth” with batons, helmets, and shields.
Mthembu said the ANC was confident of winning the application.
Cameron Arendse, spokesperson for DA leader Helen Zille, said the party would have representatives at the court, and would fight for their democratic right to march.
In a statement on Tuesday, Arendse said the DA had repeatedly said it would hold a peaceful march in downtown Johannesburg for “real jobs”.
“Any security precautions we are taking are defensive, not offensive.
“These precautions are based on a responsible assessment of the risk to our own members and activists,” he said.
“We are all too mindful of the inability of the SA Police Service and the Johannesburg metro police department to protect our members.”
He said the application by the ruling party was a last ditch attempt to stop the march, as the ANC was afraid that the DA would show how the ruling party had failed unemployed South Africans.
– Sapa and News24
Pistorius settles 2009 assault case
Johannesburg – Oscar Pistorius has reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement with a woman who accused him of assault following an incident during a party at his house in 2009.
Eyewitness News reported on Wednesday that Pistorius was involved in a four-year legal battle with Pretoria blogger Cassidy Taylor-Memmory.
She attended a party at Pistorius’s house in September 2009, while he was dating a friend of hers.
Pistorius was arrested after allegedly punching a door, which resulted in her leg being hurt. She claimed his behaviour was aggressive and unreasonable, while he accused her of being drunk and aggressive – which she denied. Pistorius launched a R2.2m counter claim against her.
Taylor-Memmory told EWN that her lawyers had reached a settlement with Pistorius’s legal team in December, which included him paying her legal fees. She said she did not receive an apology, but agreed to the settlement because she wanted to put the incident behind her. She did not give further details of the settlement.
Pistorius’s lawyer, Brian Webber, confirmed to Sapa that the matter was settled last year, but declined to give details of the settlement.
Meanwhile, Pistorius’s legal team is believed to still be in talks with the parents of his late girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, regarding an out-of-court settlement following her death.
Media reports in January indicated that Pistorius could pay in the region of R2m to Steenkamp’s family.
Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp in his Pretoria home on 14 February last year. His murder trial is due to start on 3 March.-News24
The Guardian 