Daily Archives: March 28, 2014

Musician: Those “booing” Zuma represent my voice


Dear ANC

 

Re: The issue of the BOO

 

BOO, a sound made to show disapproval or contempt. A sound made to show disrespect. People BOO when they don’t like someone.

 

I write this letter as a fed up citizen of South Africa.

 

ANC is the organisation I entrusted with my vote and support in 1994. Being the biggest political organisation at the time, ANC had paid its dues to be the organisation that governed our people.

There were many political parties who liberated us…a fact you like to blatantly ignore.

The liberation of black people in this country happened because black people as a whole had had enough and not because ANC was our ’messiah.’

You are the organisation we CHOSE to lead us…something you have now taken for granted.

 

I have never been at any of the stadiums where (hopefully soon to be ex) President Zuma has been booed lately, but I can tell you that those BOOs represent my voice. Every time I hear of another booing, in my heart I say ‘THANK YOU those people are Booing on my behalf!’

 

What is disturbing though, is how you keep coming up with excuses to pretend as if the BOOing isn’t happening. You are starting to create an awkward moment where you look like the kid with chocolate on his face, denying to have eaten the chocolate. Please save us from the embarrassment of having a government that doesn’t take responsibility for its actions?

 

As you know, African people are a conservative nation, so for them to start BOOing at memorial service of the ‘Greatest man of our time,’ it SAYS something. That first and most memorable BOOing was a spontaneous reaction from the PEOPLE. And since then, a number of provinces have also BOOed him in their stadiums. Stop being in denial, the BOOings ARE happening and they need to be addressed.

 

I don’t believe that EVERYBODY in the ANC has been ‘corrupted,’ it is to these people that I make an appeal. The time has come for you to show yourselves and step up as true leaders in this situation.

 

There is a loud enough Anti Zuma sentiment for this issue to be brought to the table. The BOOing is telling us that A LOT of South Africans want a new president.

 

South Africans are yearning for a chance to start on a new page. We want a leader that will inspire us and make us the great nation we were starting to be before Zuma’s term.

Yes, we agree, we are not all politicians and you know better…..but we have reached a stage where having Jacob Zuma has affected the morale of the country. We are the people of this country and we should also have a say in who we want to lead us.

 

At Madiba’s memorial service you said we would address the BOOing after the visitors had left. They have been gone for over 3 months and still no word from you about our grievances.

 

When it comes to this matter, you, ANC members have been your worst enemy…you have given rise to not only competition but also distrust. The way in which you have handled yourselves in the 20 years of freedom leaves us wondering if we gave our Power to the right people.

 

There are MANY reasons why the Zuma administration has upset the people of South Africa. The people have been disrespected on many different levels on many different occasions. In future, please ANC, be conscious as to the kind of character you put on a pedestal and make us call president. Here are a few points:

Can your candidate not have any criminal charges against them? Yes, politics are a dirty game but please can we also consider that you are leaders and must thus set an example.

Should your candidate be a polygamist, please can it be in the true African form- not ‘polygamy’ that has MANY girlfriends and children in and out of wedlock. This sends out the wrong message to our sons.

Can spousal allowance only cover ONE wife, if a man chooses to have more, may that be his own personal affair and not affect our taxes.

Can your candidate not allow rich friends to land at national key points? When the president does not see this as a threat to our security as a country, then I become worried.

Can your candidate be well read on Black Consciousness? At this stage of Africa’s liberation from the west we need a president who has an agenda to unify Africa. Ignorant comments about other African nations are inappropriate.

Can your next candidate have ubuntu and compassion? R260 million on 1 property when people are living in shacks is disturbing. The fact that a man can have animals living in a million rand kraal while his people live in corrugated iron is sickening. So its okay for your people to live emazenkeni as long as your family is sorted?

Can your next candidate be inspiring?

Basically, the BOOing is South Africa asking president Zuma to step down.-TDN
For more http://www.ntsikimazwai.wordpress.com
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Mahikeng To Host Last Leg Of EFF Provincial Manifesto Launches


By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng-The North West will go down in history as the province that ushered EFF into the political arena as a vanguard of the poor and the poor working class. It is fitting that the province will once more host another momentous event by hosting the last leg of EFF provincial manifesto launch, says EFF spokesperson Seitebogeng Nkitseng.

The event is scheduled to take place on the 29 March 2014 at Montshioa stadium in Mahikeng.

“EFF Commander In Chief Julius Malema is to address a full capacity crowd as Mahikeng will be turned into a sea of red as fighters converge on the North West capital” Nkitseng said.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Reeva and Zanele’s parents share grief


Pretoria – The parents of two women both killed by their boyfriends met in the High Court in Pretoria on Friday for mutual support.

“We obviously share the same pain… Theirs is fresh, it’s about a year old, ours is almost three years old,” said Themba Khumalo, father of murdered teenager Zanele, after meeting Reeva Steenkamp’s mother June.

“Only time will heal.”

Steenkamp was shot through the locked toilet door of paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s Pretoria home on February 14 last year. He said he had mistaken her for an intruder. However, the State contends the murder was premeditated.

A pregnant Zanele Khumalo was found dead at her parents’ home in Garsfontein, Pretoria East, in April 2011.

Her naked body was discovered under a blanket on her bed when her parents arrived home from work. They rushed her to hospital, but she had by then been dead for about six hours.

Thato Kutumela was sentenced in the High Court in Pretoria on Friday to 20 years in prison for her murder and rape.

Themba Khumalo, his wife Busi, and their two daughters met Steenkamp on Friday morning before Kutumela was sentenced and after Pistorius’s case was postponed in a nearby court room.

The shook hands, prayed together, consoled each other and shared some “wise words”, he said.

“We know exactly what they are going through… In more ways than one – the pain is one. They lost their daughter through a boyfriend, we lost our daughter through a boyfriend – it is an unbelievable pain and experience.

“Reeva’s family is still hurting… We will remember them in our prayers,” he said.

Khumalo said their criminal had been taken away and this made it easier for the family.

Judge Johan Kruger sentenced Kutumela to 20 years in prison for murder, 10 years in prison for rape, and six months in prison for theft, to run concurrently.

“I’m of the view that the sentences that I have instituted meet the proportionality test,” he said.

As Kruger read out the sentencing there were people saying “yes” and “amen”.

As Kutumela made his way down to the cells the people in court started clapping hands. A member of the ANC Woman’s League said a prayer in court afterwards.

Khumalo’s family, including her parents, sat in the front row of the public gallery wearing black t-shirts bearing her face with the words “Nothing was in vain” printed on the back.

In November last year, Kutumela was found guilty of murdering and raping the mother of his unborn child. He was also found guilty of stealing the teenager’s nightclothes and underwear to hide the fact that he had raped her.

Kutumela did not testify, but claimed in his plea explanation they had consensual sex that morning and that she was alive and well when he left.

On Friday, Kruger said Kutumela was within his rights when he chose not to testify but said this made deciding on an appropriate sentence much more complicated.

Meanwhile, the case against Pistorius was postponed on Friday to April 7 because one of the assessors was ill.

He has pleaded not guilty and in his plea statement denied he had argued with his girlfriend shortly before the shooting.

He also faces two charges related to contraventions of the Firearms Control Act.

Sapa

Food parcel registration at ANC Offices


Durban – The use of ANC offices to register beneficiaries for state-sponsored food parcels has raised eyebrows, with opposition councillors crying foul.

The SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) was this week signing up scores of Bluff residents at the ANC councillors’ offices near Tara Road. They would receive parcels valued at R1 270.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Khune expected for Sundowns clash


JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is expected to be fit for the top of the table clash against Mamelodi Sundowns next Saturday.
The skipper injured his ankle during warm up before the CAF Champions League first leg game against Liga Muculmana de Maputo.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

BRICS must be on the lips of the business sector –Premier Modise


 

BRICS must be on the lips of the business sector as it is a vehicle through which the aspirations of people are carried, North West Premier Thandi Modise said in her opening keynote address delivered at the 2

nd Annual North West BRICS Expo and International and Tourism Conference on Thursday.

 

“The country as well as the continent ought to be reminded from time to time to have dialogue among them on what benefits could be harvested from our involvement with this world structure,” Premier Modise said.

 

Modise said that increased investment in the economy by both the private and public sector is at the heart of creating jobs and sustainable growth.

 

“This gives impetus to our desire to move away from full reliance on the primary sector to value addition and beneficiation both in agriculture and mining,” she added.

 

The conference ends tomorrow with a BRICS Charity Golf Day in Aid of Breast Cancer Awareness, Provincial Human Rights Day Celebrations and Premier’s Small Business Awards & Gala Dinner with special performance by Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

 

North West protestors denied bail


By Obakeng Maje
Orkney-Twenty accused of the thirty five protestors arrested on Thursday for public violence, arson and malicious damage to property appeared in the Orkney Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

They are still in custody and will appear again on 4 April 2014 for bail application.

Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said that on 26 and 27 March 2014 respectively, protestors partially burnt the local municipality offices and pelted windows with stones.

“The protestors allegedly barricaded roads with burning tyres and looted several shops belonging to foreign nationals. It is further alleged that one shop and a bottle store were also burnt down” he said.

According to the information, protestors damaged two police vehicles by breaking their windscreens.  

“The protestors allegedly went to schools in the township in the morning today, disrupted classes and forced learners to join the protests.  Police are currently monitoring the situation” Mokgwabone said.

The suspects, 13 females and 22 males, with ages ranging between 19 and 39 appeared in Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Two of the suspects are allegedly minors with ages 15 each.   

“We would like to issue a stern warning to the protestors that criminal activities and gangsterism  will not be tolerated and the police will deal effectively with those who take advantage of community protest to commit crime”, said Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.  

The community is advised to consult with relevant authorities in case of any dissatisfaction on any matter affecting them. It is advisable that the rule of law is respected at all times and that proper procedures are adhered to when raising complaints. Investigations continue.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

 

NWest goes all out to commemorate Human Rights Day


North West Provincial Government is committed to ensuring that all residents of the province’s rights are protected as enshrined in our Constitution, which has been hailed as the best in the world, Premier Thandi Modise said today.

 

Modise was speaking ahead of the Provincial Human Rights Day that is to be commemorated at the Mmabatho Stadium

 tomorrow Saturday 28 March 2014, under the theme, “20 Years of Freedom and Democracy; Our Future; Make it work!”

 

“We commemorate Human Rights Day to solidify our commitment to a free and fair democratic South Africa wherein everyone has the right to equality, human dignity, freedom of movement. That’s why we are vocal in the province about those people that want to deprive others of the fundamental rights,” said Premier Modise.

 

Human Rights Day is a national day that is commemorated annually on 21 March to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa.

 

This year’s National Human Rights Day celebrations were held on

 21 March at

 the Sharpeville Cricket Grounds in Gauteng, hence the provincial event is only being held

 tomorrow.

 

“South Africa is a country that leads by example. That’s why we take

 the promotion and protection of human rights and will continue to right against the scourge of rape, xenophobic attacks, intimidation and attacks of non-striking employees and all other acts that deprive other human beings of their fundamental rights,” reiterated Modise.

 

 

“We are proud that we have accomplished more as we celebrate our twenty years of democratic rule during which we have made commendable progress in addressing social ills and bringing about the South Africa we envisaged in the Freedom Charter many years ago. Our record speaks for itself, for instance, we are one of the first countries in the world to have outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation and legalised same-sex marriage,” highlighted Modise adding that such an achievement made her very proud to be South African.

 

Twenty cultural groups from all municipalities are to showcase their cultural heritage at the event.

 

Renowned artists that will also perform at the event include Tshidi Moholo of the Malaika fame and KB Motsilenyane, both from the North West.

 

The event will commence at 9’o’clock with a one-hour interfaith programme, which will be followed by a formal programme wherein Premier Modise will deliver a key note address.

 

The event is open to all members of the public.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

 

Harties Cableway attracted over 30 000 visitors -Premier Modise


The Harties Cableway near Hartbeespoortdam outside Brits has attracted over 30 0000 visitors within its first year of opening, North West Premier Thandi Modise declared  on Thursday.

 

Reporting on the growth of the tourism sector in her opening address delivered at the 2

nd Annual North West BRICS Expo and International and Tourism Conference underway at the Mmabatho Convention Centre

, Premier Modise said that the facility which was revamped at a cost of R49 million has stimulated tourism activities in the area and created about 45 jobs.

 

“The development of the Madikwe landing strip to create more access to one of the province’s prime wildlife destination has also contributed to the high volumes of tourists to the Madikwe Game Reserve, increased employment to 700 people and contributed to the economy of the area especially the surrounding villages,” Modise said.

  

The Premier said that15 new tourism products were established in the tourism sector which generated R2.2 billion during 2012 to the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP).-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Economists predict moderate petrol hike


Cape Town – The petrol price would probably increase by 8 cents per litre on Friday, Mike Schüssler of economists.co.za told Fin24.

He said although the price could be lowered by 16 cents per litre due to oil prices being down and the rand a little stronger at the moment, taxes of 20 cents – the fuel tax and RAF levy combined – plus about a 4 cents increase in transport costs as announced, will come into effect.
For more http://www.news24.com