Daily Archives: April 1, 2014

Segolela- VV’s getting it right


Johannesburg – Tlou Segolela believes new coach Vladimir Vermezovic’s decision to rotate the Orlando Pirates players has helped bring the best out of squad.

According to the Football411.com
website
, the Buccaneers kept their top-three ambitions in the PSL on track after edging Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows 1-0 on Saturday, with Segolela heading home the only goal of the game.

The result left the Sea Robbers fourth in the standings, four points behind Bidvest Wits, who currently occupy the final CAF Confederations Cup qualifying position, and Segolela has lauded the new coach’s impact for helping the team progress as a unit.

“I think the coach is doing something great. No one gets a guaranteed place in the team and you can see that those who get to play are giving their all to justify their inclusion in the squad,” he told Pirates’ official website.

“You can only improve your game if you play – the new coach is giving me a chance to play and that is why I’m able to do the business for the team.”

Pirates are virtually out of the running in the PSL this term, with 12 points separating them and leaders Kaizer Chiefs with only eight games remaining, although Segolela insist the team will not give up fighting for the crown until the final whistle is blown in May.

“The race will go until the last day. We will play with all we have and we will see how it ends. Our fans have to be with us all the way,” he concluded.
-News24

Court order to fix pipes invalid-SCA


Bloemfontein – A court order forcing the Capricorn district municipality to repair and replace water pipes in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, was set aside in the Supreme Court of Appeal on Monday.
The SCA upheld an appeal by the Capricorn district municipality and Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality against a court decision in which they were ordered to repair and replace water pipes and faulty water meters in Lebowakgomo Zone A in Limpopo within 12 months.

The high court order had also forced the municipality to charge each household in the area not more than R70 per month for the water consumed.

Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality is located about 50km south of Polokwane and includes predominantly rural areas as well as Zebediela.

On Monday, the SCA found the high court order not competent as it violated the doctrines of legality and separation of powers.

The unanimous judgment found the lower court’s order contravened the legal framework which reserved the functions in question for the municipalities.

The SCA said laying water pipes and the repairing faulty water meters fell within the executive and legislative powers of the municipality.

The SCA upheld the appeal with costs and set aside the mandatory interdicts issued by the high court.

SAPA

Acting DG appointed


Johannesburg – Former special adviser to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will become the acting director general (DG) of basic education, the department said on Monday.
Panyaza Lesufi would replace former DG Bobby Soobrayan, and assume the position in an acting capacity until the end of April, spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said.

Soobrayan had been redeployed to “other responsibilities in government”, said Mhlanga.

“Soobrayan leaves the sector that is fairly stable and has already started to implement the goals of the National Development Plan,” he said.

Soobrayan had been accused of signing an agreement on behalf of the department without a proper mandate, and misusing funds from the Education Labour Relations Council during April 2012.

Mhlanga said reports from the Public Service Commission and Judge Willem van der Merwe had cleared Soobrayan.

“Soobrayan said now that his name has been cleared it would not be fair to allow the sector to be held to ransom in his name.”

Mhlanga said there had been significant achievements in the education sector since Motshekga and Soobrayan started working together since 2009.

“The upward trend in the National Senior Certificate results is but one example that can be mentioned,” he said.

SAPA

Doctor, mid-wives fired for malpractice


Johannesburg – Gauteng’s health department has fired a doctor and four nurses for professional misconduct and medical malpractice.
“The dismissed staff members include three midwives who neglected a pregnant mother leading her to give birth in a street outside a clinic in the Tshwane district,” department spokesperson Phume Khumalo said on Monday.

A midwife from a Soweto community health centre was fired after failing to properly diagnose a pregnant mother, as was a doctor who refused to provide care to a pregnant mother.

“Cases involving five other professionals were referred to the health professions council for further investigation and disciplinary action, while 13 cases were handled internally by the department’s labour relations unit.”

The department investigated complaints and allegations of poor patient care and “serious adverse events” in provincial hospitals and clinics.

According to Health MEC Hope Papo, in 2012, 373 cases were recorded, and between January and September last year, 532.

The majority of these were at Gauteng’s main hospitals – Chris Hani Baragwanath (39 cases), Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg (25), Dr George Mukhari (16) and Steve Biko in Pretoria (seven).

The complaints involved included negligence, sexual assault, a lack of skills, system failures, and errors.

The department had also begun reviewing midwifery practice standards to prevent litigation in this area.

“Our own experience has also taught us most medico-legal cases emanate from obstetrics and gynaecologists,” Papo said.

Training was being provided to improve attitudes and communication between staff and patients.

In the 2012/2013 financial year the department trained 188 doctors and 203 nurses to manage obstetric emergencies.

Nurses were trained to use early warning charts.

In 2012, the department trained 120 nurses in midwifery while 79 received training in advanced midwifery and neonatology.

SAPA

Rustenburg woman mistook rapist for boyfriend


Johannesburg – A man who got into bed with a woman and raped her, with her thinking he was her boyfriend, appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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.

She initially thought he was her boyfriend.

He fled when she realised her mistake.

SAPA

Siulu to table Nkandla report- FF Plus


Johannesburg – National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu has promised to table the public protector’s Nkandla report in Parliament, the FF Plus said on Monday.
“This will clear the way for an urgent debate… about the Nkandla report and [Jacob] Zuma’s reaction to it,” FF Plus MP Pieter Groenewald said in a statement.

“The FF Plus will keep the Speaker to his undertaking and as soon as 14 days have passed, Zuma has to react and the FF Plus will insist on an urgent debate about it.”

Groenewald said the debate would have to take place before the general elections as the matter was of “great public importance”.

“The Speaker will have to make an exception and will even have to call a special session of the National Assembly,” he said.

The DA wanted Zuma impeached over the R246m upgrades at his KwaZulu-Natal home.

Last Tuesday, Sisulu responded to DA MP Lindiwe Mazibuko’s request for a motion for Zuma’s impeachment.

In a letter, Sisulu told Mazibuko the matter would be tabled once Zuma had submitted the report to Parliament with his comments and a “report on any remedial steps taken or intended to be taken”.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found Zuma and his family improperly benefited from security upgrades to his private home.

These included a cattle kraal, a swimming pool, and an amphitheatre.

On Monday, Zuma told a crowd in Gugulethu, Cape Town, he would not repay the money because he did not ask for the upgrades.

Instead he blamed government officials.

“They did this without telling me,” he told ANN7.

“So why should I pay for something I did not ask for?”-Sapa

NFP accuses ANC of starting bar fight


Durban – The National Freedom Party (NFP) intends laying charges with police after party members were attacked, allegedly by ANC members, while campaigning on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast.
ANC provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala, however, said in a statement that, according to the party’s information, patrons at a local tavern took umbrage at being disturbed by NFP members handing out orange NFP T-shirts.

“While in their campaign train in the area, NFP members entered into a tavern and distributed their T-shirts. It is alleged that an altercation between NFP members and patrons in the tavern ensued which led to a serious confrontation,” he said.

The ANC would investigate the allegations and if it was found that the tavern patrons were members of the ANC, action would be taken against them.

NFP leader Zanele KaMagwaza Msibi condemned the attack.

She said NFP campaigners were injured and two cars were set alight by people, some of whom were wearing ANC T-shirts.

“We are living in a free country where every political party has a right to campaign at any part of the country. I condemn the attack on our supporters by ANC members.

“Such incidents are against the electoral code of conduct signed by all political parties that are going to contest the elections,” she said, adding that local NFP members would open a case with the police.-Sapa

Employment Equity rules racist- DA


Durban – Draft employment equity regulations announced by Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant amount to nothing short of racial discrimination, the DA said on Monday.
KwaZulu-Natal DA leader Sizwe Mchunu told reporters in Durban much of the province’s Indian population would be left jobless.

Under the draft regulations, companies with more than 150 employees would have to use “national economically active population” demographics to determine the racial mix of their top and senior management and professionally qualified staff.

An average of national and regional demographics for the three lower levels – skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled technical – should be a guide when determining equity targets.

Companies employing fewer than 150 people would have to use the “national economically active population” demographics for two upper levels and an average of national and the regional demographic for four lower levels.

“The new regulations… amount to racial discrimination. If adopted, it will put Indian South Africans out of jobs almost immediately. It will make our economy less competitive and will kill jobs for everyone over time,” said Mchunu.

He said the biggest problem was that national demographics were being forced on the province when its demographics differed substantially as a result of the large Indian population.

“The problem is that KZN’s demographics are very different from the national demographic profile. There are more Indian South Africans in KZN than the national average,” he said.

“This means that Indian South Africans will not be able to get promotions, and those in management positions will be at risk of losing their jobs.”

Mchunu said the DA would seek to have regional demographics used to determine equity targets. He expressed concern that the regulations might be unconstitutional and had never been debated by Parliament.

– SAPA

Ancient drug may prove wonders for a heart


Washington – A drug that was used in the time of the pharaohs for rheumatism has proven highly effective in treating recurrent bouts of pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, according to findings of a new clinical trial.

The ancient medicine, colchicine, which has also been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory agent for acute gout, was tested against placebo in a 240-patient pericarditis trial.

The rate of recurring pericarditis was nearly halved for those taking colchicine compared with placebo, according to data presented on Sunday at the annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology in Washington.

The condition, which causes sharp chest pain, recurred in 42.5% of those taking dummy pills, compared with 21.6% of those who got colchicine.

Moreover, after three days of treatment, 19.2% of patients taking the drug had symptoms, compared with more than 44% of those given placebos.

And those taking placebos, on average, had 0.63 recurrences, compared to 0.28 recurrences for those on colchicine.

With such fewer recurrences, the drug reduced the rate of hospitalisations to 1.7%, from 10% in the placebo group, potentially cutting healthcare costs at a time when pressure is mounting to limit costly hospital readmissions.

Although colchicine has been used for decades to treat pericarditis, following favourable trends seen in earlier trials, this was the first large formal multi-centre study to examine use of the drug for multiple recurrences of the condition.

The favourable results will increase confidence in use of the medicine for pericarditis, researchers said.

Patients in the study received 0.5 milligrams of the drug either once or twice daily depending on their weight in addition to commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

No serious side effects were associated with use of colchicine, researchers said, but gastrointestinal issues were reported in about eight percent of patients.

The reasons for pericarditis that repeatedly recurs once the original cause has been treated are not well understood, but potential causes are infections, kidney disease, cancer and heart surgery, researchers said.

“Health care providers should feel confident with the use of colchicine as a first line drug in patients with multiple recurrences of pericarditis”, both for its safety and effectiveness, said Dr Massimo Imazio, a cardiologist with Maria Vittoria Hospital in Torino, Italy, who led the trial.

Imazio said the study affirms that colchicine can be added to traditional treatments, such as anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids, and thereby provide an affordable treatment with few side effects.
Reuters

Credit cleasing for consumers


Johannesburg – The removal of adverse consumer credit information and information relating to paid up judgments, commonly referred to as the credit amnesty, will be implemented from  April 1 2014.
From this date, all registered credit bureaus (listed below) will have to remove adverse consumer credit information.
The adverse consumer credit information that credit bureaus will have to remove includes:
1) Subjective classifications of consumer behaviour such as: delinquent, default, slow paying, absconded or not contactable;
2) The adverse classification of enforcement action, i.e. those that are related to enforcement action taken by credit providers including classifications such as: handed over for collection or recovery, legal action or write off;
3) Details and results of disputes lodged by consumers irrespective of the outcome of such disputes; and
4) Adverse consumer credit information contained in the payment profile represented by means of any mark, symbol, sign or in any manner or form.

Process
Paid up judgments, which means civil court judgment debts, including default judgments where the consumer has settled the capital amount under the judgment, should also be removed from the credit bureau records said National Credit Regulator CEO Nomsa Motshegare.
Consumers are urged to approach credit bureaus to check their credit records and to settle amounts owed on judgments as quickly as possible so that they can benefit from the process.
Motshegare said the main purpose of the removal of adverse consumer credit information is to allow consumers to start with a clean slate.
“We want to encourage them to maintain a clean credit record to allow them to regain access to affordable credit, rental accommodation and employment.

Profile

“This initiative does not seek to remove the consumers’ obligations to repay their debts, but rather seeks to create the incentive for consumers to repay their debts more diligently and in a more timely fashion.”
The payment profile on the consumer’s credit report will remain, Motshegare confirms.

Only adverse consumer credit information contained in the payment profile represented by means of any mark, symbol, sign or in any manner or form will be removed. The payment profile information remains to assist credit providers when assessing consumers’ applications for credit.
Consumers should check their credit reports to see if they are eligible for the removal of adverse consumer credit information and information relating to paid up judgments.

If consumers find that they have judgments on their credit reports, they should settle the debts first and then send the proof of payment to the credit bureaus. This will allow the credit bureaus to first verify and then remove the information where applicable.

Registered
A credit record contains information to assist a consumer in keeping track of his or her payments on a monthly basis, which in turn helps him / her to manage his / her debts better in the future.

The consumer is, by law, entitled to one free credit report per year, and consumers are urged to get the free credit reports from any of the registered credit bureaus.

There are 13 registered credit bureaus.
The NCR will be monitoring the implementation of these regulations on an ongoing basis.

Consumers and all stakeholders who require clarity with regards to the regulations can contact the National Credit Regulator at: 0860 627 627; and email address: complaints@ncr.org.za or info@ncr.org.za .
A consumer that requires information relating to his or her credit record can contact the credit bureaus below:
– TransUnion – 0861 482 482
–  Experian S.A – 0861 105 665
–  Xpert Decisions Systems (XDS) – (011) 645 9100
–  Compuscan – 0861 514 131
–  Consumer Profile Bureau – 010 590 9505
–  CreditWatch (Pty) Ltd – 011 483 0086
–  Crosscheck Information Bureau (Pty) ltd (previously known as MLCB) -0105 909 505
–  Inoxico – 010 001 0540
–  LexisNexis Risk Management – 011 245 6500
–  Managed Integrity Evaluation (Pty) Ltd – 012 644 4000
–  Robertsons International Reports (Pty) Ltd – 011 777 4000
–  Tenant Profile Network (Pty) Ltd – 086 187 6000
–  Tenant Watch Business Activities (Pty) Ltd – 011 394 6828 Escalation of matters
–  Credit Ombud – 0861 662 837
–  National Credit Regulator – 0860 627 627.