Daily Archives: April 1, 2014

Premier Modise: More still needs to be done to entrench human rights

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Though significant gains in the promotion, development and protection of human rights have been made since the advent of democracy, more still has to be made to ensure that human rights, equality and freedom is permanently entrenched in the lives of ordinary South Africans, Premier Thandi Modise said on Saturday.

Premier Modise urged over a thousand people, traditional leaders, faith leaders and cultural groups that attended the Provincial Human Rights Celebration commemorated at the Mmabatho Stadium in Mahikeng under the theme” 20 Years of Freedom and Democracy; Our Future; Make it work!” not to take their freedom and human rights for granted.

The Premier said that the bill of rights is a cornerstone of our democracy as it enshrines the right of all people in the country and affirms the democratic value of human rights, equality and freedom and enjoin government to respect, protect and fulfill the rights in the bill of rights.

“We commemorate Human Rights Month to reinforce our commitment to the Bill of Rights enshrined in our constitution and celebrate the right to life, to equality before the law, human dignity, freedom and security of the person, freedom from slavery, servitude or forded labour, the right to privacy, freedom of movement, religion, belief and opinion as well as the right of workers, women and children,” Modise emphasised.

She said that South Africans should be proud to be living in a wonderful country that is a much better place to live in now that it was twenty years ago despite challenges in some areas.-TDN
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Human Rights and Struggle icon Mama Mompati honoured with Platinum Award

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Ruth Mpati
Mahikeng- Human Rights activist and struggle icon Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati was presented with a platinum coin handcrafted in her image in recognition of her extraordinary lifelong contribution to freedom and human rights in Africa, South Africa and the North West Province.

Mama Ruth Mompati as she is affectionately known received the special award from North West Premier Thandi Modise at the Premier’s Small Business Awards & Gala Dinner held on the last day of the four-day North West Province BRICS Expo and International Trade and Tourism Conference that ended on Saturday.

In presenting the one ounce platinum award manufactured by the SEDA Platinum Incubator together with an oil painting of the stalwart, Premier Modise said that Mama Mompati has been a role model, mother and a mentor to many young women and men who joined the struggle for freedom like herself.

“Like JB Marks and Moses Kotane who were also from our resourceful province, we are forever indebted to you for the invaluable lessons you taught us on selflessness, respect for human rights, reconciliation and on loving our compatriots irrespective of the pain and the suffering we endured under apartheid,” said Modise.

“I am happy and moved by this recognition. Women are hardly recognised for what they do, but if a woman loses one inch of a step the world gets to know about it. If you are a man, u make one kick, they write two books, but for women you made one kick they write one book,” said an emotional Mompati battling to hold back tears of joy.

Mompati who is turning 89 this year expressed an appreciation that the majority of small businesses that received awards for excellence from the Premier are owned by women.

She called on parents to encourage their children to strive to be the best in whatever they do.

“We all have a patriotic duty to put a brick on the wall of the nation that we are building and to stand up to be counted. I will continue to do best that I can till the day I say goodbye to all of you,”she added.-TDN
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DA: Tlokwe mayor must be investigated for drunk and driving

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By Obakeng Maje
Tlokwe-The Tlokwe mayor was allegedly arrested by Cape Town police for drink and driving on the weekend, Democratic Alliance Chris Hattingh said in a statement.

“Kgotso Khumalo has allegedly been caught driving drunk in Cape Town over the weekend. It is completely inappropriate for the mayor to drive drunk. This incident again confirms that Mr Khumalo is not an appropriate individual to act as Mayor of Tlokwe. We will submit a request to the Speaker’s office in Tlokwe to ask that the mayor be investigated by the Tlokwe council and that the disciplinary steps are taken against the mayor” DA Chris Hattingh said.

DA said there are also concerns here as the mayor must explain what he was doing in Cape Town in the first place.

“And indeed, if he was there to attend to Jazz Festival whether he paid it out of his own pocket as a personal holiday trip. We can only hope that municipal funds were not being used to fund the mayor’s getaway to the Jazz Festival. We must make sure that all municipal funds are spent to deliver services to the people and make life better for Tlokwe residents. In any event, the mayor has shown that he is not the right person to take the municipality forward” outlines Hattingh.

DA said they are look forward to the Speaker’s investigation to get to the bottom of what happened and whether any council funds are involved.-TDN
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Rustenburg alleged rapist denied bail

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By Obakeng Maje and Sapa
Rustenburg-A man who got into bed with a woman and raped her, appeared before Rustenburg Magistrate Court on Monday and remanded in custody until his next appearance on the 08 April 2014 for bail application.

Thabang Maci,26, allegedly raped a woman after he slept with her thinking he was her boyfriend.

The 26-year-old would be back in court for a formal bail application on 8 April, police spokesperson Pelonomi Makau said.

“He allegedly raped a 41-year-old woman in her house on Saturday morning on the farm Bochfontein, near Rustenburg, after forcing a door open and getting into her bed” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

She initially thought he was her boyfriend.

He fled when she realised her mistake.

– SAPA

UCDP North West top official realign to DA

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By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng-The Democratic Alliance North West welcomes the Organiser of the UCDP in Mahikeng and another 80 UCDP members to our fold yesterday, says DA Chris Hattingh.
Hattingh said the realignment of opposition parties in the NW has increased greatly with 100 UCDP members last week, 70 UCDP members Saturday and another 80 UCDP members yesterday joining the DA.

“We welcome them and all South-Africans who believe in the Constitution of South-Africa and the DA. We believe in a better future for the decaying NW province where no community gets ignored, but the tangible improvements in our people’s lives. The DA cares for the NW province and its children and given a chance to govern we will bring change to this province” said Hattingh.

DA said they are together for change and together for jobs in the North-West province.-TDN
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North West residents blockade roads in protest


Residents of Mokgola village near Zeerust have blockaded roads during a protest for water, North West police said on Sunday.

Captain Pelonomi Makau said the protests began on Friday and had been peaceful so far.

“We have not made any arrests but police are present and are diverting traffic from the site, keeping a close eye on the situation,” Makau said.

Residents had blockaded roads around the village, about 20km from Zeerust, and part of the N4 leading to a nearby border post to Botswana.

“What I know is that they have so far used rocks, tree trunks and water tanks to blockade the road,” Makau said.

A motorist told Sapa that two large JoJo water tanks were blocking the road. She said police had told her the road had been blocked for the past three days.

Police said the residents refused to be addressed by the local mayor on Saturday. They wanted Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa speak to them.

Makau said there were no reported damages or injuries. Officials of the Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality and Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipality were not immediately available for comment.

 

-Sapa

Malema renews attack on ANC


EFF leader Julius Malema castigated the ruling ANC for presiding over Mahikeng which he said had turned into “a rubbish dump”.

Malema told thousands of supporters on Saturday at the Montshiwa stadium during a provincial manifesto rally that Mahikeng residents were left with no option but to yearn for the good old days when their city used to be clean.

“People look back and say Mangope was better because the city was then full of life and pristine. Now all that’s left are potholes, some as big as the swimming pool at Nkandla,” he said to loud applause.

Malema, who had been campaigning in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district for the whole week said it was time for people to entrust in the EFF with their vote because the ANC had “betrayed the aspirations of those who fought for freedom”.

“When you cast your votes on May 7 remember our heroes who fought for political freedom. Let’s work and conduct door to door campaigns as we don’t want to be the opposition party. We want to govern and be able to implement our own policies and turn around the desperate situation communities find themselves in,” he said.

The firebrand leader took aim at President Jacob Zuma who he accused of abusing tax payers’ money in the security upgrades done to his Nkandla homestead in Kwazulu-Natal.

“Police called me to provide them with additional evidence on the theft of public money and I will do so because I have the information. He (President Zuma) steals like a young child and must step down and rot in jail.

“Nkandla must be converted into a museum of corruption so that people know about it,” Malema said.

He said that a march to the Union Buildings would be organised to make sure Zuma stepped down as the president of the republic.

Meanwhile, the EFF promised to support miners in their fight for a monthly basic wage of R12500.

The fledgling party said this wage package would be a way to redistribute the wealth of this country.

“We will fight corruption and ensure that the working class don’t earn less than R4500. We will increase child support grants and make sure that our pensioners also get an increment. As for criminals, they must be isolated as they destroy the economy and innocent lives. All of us must come together as one and fight social ills. Those who rape must rot in jail.”

The Botswana National Front (BNF) came to support the EFF.

“We are here to give solidarity to EFF economic liberation. Malema remains loyal to the founding principles of the liberation of South Africa.

“In Botswana we want genuine political economic independence,” BNF leader Kago Mokotedi said.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

The province set to meet its skills needs


The secretariat for the Human Resource Development Council has expressed satisfaction that the North West is on course to meet its human resource and skills needs in both the public and private sectors.

Head of the secretariat, Brenda Ntombela, said that province was doing well in artisan development – including the production of academics, learnerships and other scarce skills and worker development goals.

Ntombela said this after meeting with the provincial coordinating forum in Mahikeng on Friday.

“The council set out a five-point plan setting out the production of professionals including artisan and technician development and the

alignment of the provincial resource development strategy to the New Growth Path, technical vocational education and training colleges, production of academics and industry/university partnerships, worker education and foundational learning.

“North West has recorded progress in all these, particularly in artisan development and bursary schemes for scarce skills development,” Ntombela said.

She added that the council sought to align skills development with the ideals captured in the National Development Plan.

She said the secretariat was working closely with the Ministry of Higher Education and Training to realise the decade-long artisan development theme: “it’s cool to be a 21st century artisan.”

Director of Human resources utilisation and capacity development in the office of the premier Tselane Letseli said that the province had awarded certificates to 141 artisans in 2013 and was targeting to produce more than 500 artisans during the course of this year.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

De Sa- Too many errors


Johannesburg – Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa has acknowledged the uphill battle his team faces and concedes there is plenty more work to do after watching them succumb to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mpumalanga Black Aces at Athlone Stadium on Friday night.

According to the Football411.com
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, the Urban Warriors haven’t managed to claim all three points since their 2-0 win over Polokwane City back in February, having only picked up two points in the four games that followed.

“I wasn’t happy with a lot of things, there were too many basic individual errors that we have got to get better at,” de Sa said when quizzed on the loss to Aces.

“It wasn’t pretty today, I don’t think we were fluid, I thought we gave the ball away again, we have got to be better.

“It was a disappointing performance from the first mistake we made -where we conceded a goal – it was always going to be uphill,” he added.

“You can’t make those mistakes at this level and have it easy against a team like Aces.

“Disappointing from some players and these are the areas we have got to improve on, even if it’s replacing those players, if it’s got to come to that.” Sport24

Mosimane- Title chase exciting


Johannesburg –  Having gone level on points with Premiership-topping Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane insists his players are thriving under the pressure of challenging for the league title.

“We need to keep the league exciting and if we drop the ball, it’s not nice,” Mosimane said after the game at Loftus Versfeld.

“My players love the stress, they love the pressure and they feel like they can’t lose.”

Anthony Laffor put Sundowns ahead in first-half injury time, before Tuks drew level midway through the second period, courtesy of Atusaye Nyondo’s header in the 63rd minute.

The Brazilians held their nerve and took the lead once more through Lebohang Mokoena shortly after and held on for their fifth successive league victory, and sixth in all competitions.

Three points were enough for Sundowns to keep Chiefs on their toes, but they still trail the Soweto outfit due to an inferior goal-difference.

Mosimane insisted Sundowns were content with the points and not going top of the log, heaping praise on a resilient Tuks outfit that came close to spoiling their party.

“Hard-earned points, we were sweating, we really fought for it,” the former Bafana Bafana mentor said.

“Our opponents showed what they said before the game, that we [Sundowns] were not going to get it for free, we have to fight for it and earn it.

“In all the games that we’ve played here [at Loftus], this was the most difficult one to take.”

Sunday’s result put the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Chiefs, who welcome the Brazilians to a potentially title-deciding Premiership fixture at FNB Stadium next weekend.

The pair are deadlocked on 49 points, although Amakhosi have two games in hand and could restore a six point lead over Mosimane’s men.

However, Mosimane believed his charges were up for the challenge and they would make a serious charge for the title.

“My team has integrity and the will to go for it,” he said.

“Whoever wins it [the league] will earn it, we’re not going to give it to anybody on a silver platter.

“We have a game on Saturday, we will give our best, we will fight.”

SAPA