The North West Provincial Government shares the concern of communities regarding the negative impact of the protracted strike in the platinum belt, acts of violence and intimidation of non-striking workers, Acting Premier and MEC for Finance, Paul Sebegoe assured the Provincial leadership of COSATU on Wednesday.
“We have always respected the right of workers to exercise their right to strike within the framework of the Labour Relations Act but equally maintained that a protracted strike is not in the best interest of anyone as it will result in undesired repercussions which everyone is beginning to feel,” Acting Premier Sebegoe said after meeting with COSATU in Rustenburg.
“Reaching a settlement to end the strike that has undoubtedly contributed towards escalating crime levels calls for parties that have deadlocked to review their positions in the interest of sustainable mining ,peace and stability,” stressed Sebegoe.
He committed that the provincial government will take up allegations of disruption of court proceedings, intimidation of witnesses without consequence, defeating the ends of justice, repeated granting of bail to murder suspects facing multiple charges with the National Prosecution Authority, law enforcement and other relevant authorities.-TDN
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Monthly Archives: April 2014
Floods damage estimated at R535m
Johannesburg – The cost of damage caused by floods in Mpumalanga is estimated at R535m, the provincial government said on Wednesday.
“Cabinet has since approved the declaration of a state of disaster in the province,” said spokesperson Zibonele Mncwango.
The affected municipalities were Nkomazi, Mkhondo and Bushbuckridge.
Mncwango said the floods damaged major infrastructure such as roads, bridges, housing, schools, and agriculture and water quality.
The province recorded 12 deaths, and 254 houses were reportedly flooded.
The province had earlier sent a team to assess the extent of the damage caused by the rain to affected areas.
The team provided blankets, collapsible structures, tents and food parcels.
SAPA
Buxton’s newly-built clinic worth R13.4m open
Buxton-The opening of a new R13.4-million clinic in Buxton village, in the North West, will mark an end to the days when residents used to travel long distances to access health care.
“The facility is a replacement clinic, which has seen the demolition of the old dilapidated structure in November 2012, to give way for the state-of-the-art building” Premier’ spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said.
The clinic has more consulting rooms and waiting areas which will allow for more community members to be served quicker.
Mmathapelo Phathe, 29, could not hide her excitement during her recent visit to the clinic. Phathe, who recently gave birth in an ambulance en route to Taung Hospital, said the new facility restored hope for better healthcare.
“The clinic is now bigger and can accommodate more people unlike before where it would be overcrowded and people queuing outside which was a problem especially during rainy, cold and very hot weather conditions,” she said.
The developments in Buxton village, follows MEC Dr. Magome Masike’s visit to various clinics in the province soon after his appointment to assess the state of healthcare.
Speaking after the inspection of the new Buxton Clinic this week, MEC Masike said the new clinic will help the department to achieve its goal of improving the health profile of the nation by rendering basic primary healthcare services.
The services that the new clinic offers, includes treating communicable and none communicable diseases, emergency cases, family planning, Tuberculosis, maternal and child health, minor ailments and chronic illnesses among others.
Seventeen clinics and seven Community Health Centers have been completed in the province since 2009. Ten primary health care facilities have also received essential upgrade from 2011 to 2013; and an extensive health infrastructure programme was fully underway in a number of the facilities including Sekhing Community health center, Lekgopung, Madibe A Makgabane and Tweelingspan clinics.
Facilities maintenance audits were also done under the hospital revitalization projects at Moses Kotane, Joe Morolong Memorial (Vryburg), Swartruggens and Brits hospitals. The province spent over R1.2 billion on these completed facilities.-TDN
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Zuma dodges graft allegations
Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday dodged damaging allegations that R246m of taxpayers’ money was spent unlawfully upgrading his private home, prompting opposition calls for his impeachment.
Facing a 2 April deadline to respond to a scathing report by the public protector, just weeks before the elections, Zuma’s office said he would respond fully at a later date.
Instead, a terse statement said “the President remains concerned about the allegations of maladministration and impropriety around procurement in the Nkandla project.”
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found the upgrades – which include a helipad, swimming pool, amphitheatre, private clinic and visitors’ centre – were unlawful and said Zuma should refund taxpayers.
Zuma, 71, whose popularity is flagging, pointedly put the public protector’s findings on an equal basis as two other reports into the scandal which critics claim may be more favourable, including one by his own ministers.
Zuma indicated he would not comment in full until the third report, by the Special Investigating Unit – a body established by presidential proclamation – was completed.
A statement said Zuma would then give “full and proper consideration” to the reports and inform parliament about “decisive executive interventions.”
Impeachment motion
The DA accused Zuma of “playing games with the parliament” and said on Wednesday’s statement was “nothing more than a delaying tactic.”
“The truth is that President Zuma is running away from accountability. We won’t let this happen without a fight,” said the party’s parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko.
The DA has launched a criminal corruption case against Zuma and plans impeachment proceedings.
“We will continue to push on with our impeachment motion, and we will continue to seek legal advice on what steps can be taken to force the President to abide by these recommendations,” said Mazibuko.
Given the ANC’s vast parliamentary majority, the bid for impeachment is likely to fail. But it could prove politically embarrassing ahead of elections.
Zuma will seek a second five-year term on 7 May, in what are expected to be South Africa’s most fiercely fought elections since 1994, when apartheid ended.
The ANC’s chief whip welcomed Zuma’s response saying it “illustrates the seriousness with which he regards the matter.”
Earlier this week Zuma shifted blame for the overspending to government officials.
“They did this without telling me,” he told local television channel ANN7. “So why should I pay for something I did not ask for.”
Despite being Africa’s largest economy, South Africa still has widespread poverty and 10 million people live on government aid.
– AFP
Baxter: ‘My players deserve a pat on the back’
By Obakeng Maje
Johannesburg-Kaizer Chiefs extended their lead on Premier Soccer League standing after emphatic 2-0 against relegation-bound Golden Arrows.
Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter said his players warranted a pat on the back after a dramatic win.
“I think my players deserve a pat on their back after a win. This was not an easy game after we crashed out of African Championship” Baxter said.
He said Supersport lost their game after they were also knocked out of Confederation cup.
“Yo do not just win by making an order you know. This is no easy times” said Baxter.
Kaizer Chiefs lost against AS Vita on aggregate (2-3) and were eleminated.
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande also praises his fellow players and coach alike.”I am very glad as my game is improving, all thanks to the coach as he said I must check my passing. I now know when and how to make a long and short passes at which areas” said Katsande.
Chiefs will host their closest rival Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday at FNB stadium.
On top-of-the table clash will see if Chiefs extend their lead to six points or Sundowns will narrow the gap to three points adrift.-TDN
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T-mobile to stop selling BlackBerry
Ottawa – Struggling Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry said it will not renew an accord allowing wireless carrier T-Mobile to sell its smartphones in the United States.
When the current license expires 25 April, T-Mobile, a unit of Deutsche Telekom and the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the United States, will no longer offer BlackBerry phones on its US network.
The two companies’ strategies are no longer complementary, although BlackBerry hopes to work again with T-Mobile once their commercial strategies are back in sync, said CEO John Chen.
The end of the contract will have no effect on current users of BlackBerrys on the T-Mobile network.
BlackBerry said it would continue to provide support to existing T-Mobile BlackBerry users and to anyone who may buy a BlackBerry smartphone from T-Mobile’s remaining inventory.
BlackBerry’s share price on the Nasdaq stock exchange, meanwhile, edged up less than one percent in morning trading to $8.17, following the announcement.
The split between the two companies comes after an “outraged” Chen six weeks ago publicly chided T-Mobile for coaxing its customers to switch from BlackBerry to Apple’s newest iPhone in a promotion described by T-Mobile as a “great offer for BlackBerry users”.
Chen said in a blog post that he was puzzled why longtime business partner T-Mobile had not spoken to BlackBerry “before or after they launched this clearly inappropriate and ill-conceived marketing promotion”.
Loyal BlackBerry users also expressed their displeasure with T-Mobile, which apologised.
The Canadian manufacturer pioneered the smartphone market but has struggled to keep up with competitors in recent years.
Last year, the company introduced the BlackBerry 10 operating system and new smartphones in an effort to regain ground lost to rivals such as Apple and others using the Google Android operating system.
In December, BlackBerry unveiled a manufacturing partnership with Taiwan-based Foxconn and a revamped organizational structure. The deal transfers to Foxconn the manufacturer and inventory management and allows BlackBerry to focus on software and services.
But it has continued to lose money, posting last week fresh losses of $5.9bn for the period ending 2 March.
AFP
R50m drought relief for Northern Cape
A R50m fund has been set up by the National Disaster Management Centre for drought relief in the Northern Cape, the provincial agriculture department said on Wednesday.
The fund would be used to provide animal fodder for farmers affected by drought in the province, spokesperson Phemelo Manankong said in a statement.
“The process of relief fodder will start as soon as possible. District agriculture managers would give the farmers details of the distribution once they are made available.”
He said the department was finalising minor details and still busy buying the fodder.
Manankong said the districts most affected were John Taolo Gaetsewe, Namakwa, and Francis Baard.
SAPA
Non-striking miners attacked in Rustenburg
A non-striking mineworker was attacked at his home and another had his car set alight in villages near Rustenburg, North West police said on Wednesday.
A 38-year-old man was attacked at his home in Mfidikwe on Tuesday night, police spokesperson Emelda Setlhako said.
The man, a non-striking employee and former Amcu member, worked at Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats) Thembelani shaft in Bleskop.
The man woke up when he heard someone throwing stones at his shack.
“Upon investigation, the victim noticed that his curtains were alight. Three gun shots were allegedly fired at his shack,” said Setlhako.
He screamed for help and neighbours came to his rescue.
In a separate incident, a 38-year-old man’s car was set alight in Thekwane in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The man, also an Amplats employee, worked at the company’s Siphumele mine.
“The victim was asleep at his place when he realised that his vehicle was on fire. Neighbours managed to extinguish the fire but the vehicle had already been damaged,” said Setlhako.
No arrests had been made in either incident and police were investigating cases of attempted murder, arson, and malicious damage to property.
Setlhako said striking and non-striking workers were urged to respect the rule of law.
Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members at Lonmin, Amplats, and Impala Platinum downed tools on 23 January to push for a basic monthly salary of R12 500. They had so far rejected a wage increase of up to nine percent.
The companies, in turn, rejected Amcu’s revised demand that the R12 500 could be achieved over four years.
Last week, mining bosses said the strike had caused irreparable harm, and had caused an estimated R10bn in revenue to be lost.
SAPA
E-toll bills won’t stop licence renewals
Cape Town – Unpaid e-toll bills cannot lead to the withholding of vehicle licence registrations.
This clarification was given by the director of licensing and prosecutions of the Johannesburg metro police department, Gerrie Gerneke.
Speaking on Talk Radio 702 earlier this week, he explained that “there’s no legislation which prohibits motorists from renewing their vehicle licences if they have outstanding e-toll bills”.
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Vandalism costs Metrorail R167m
Johannesburg – Prasa Rail, a division of Prasa says it will, with immediate effect, take strong action against any commuter found hanging on the outside of Metrorail trains, including clinging onto the front of the train.
Metrorail Operations have issued a safety directive that trains will no longer leave the platform if commuters are hanging on the outside of the trains.
Prasa Rail CEO Mosenngwa Mofi said in a statement: “We have taken a decision to strengthen our enforcement against commuters hanging on the outside of our trains putting their lives at risk and opening Metrorail to unsafe operating practices.
“We will now insist that our trains will only depart the platform once all the doors have been closed with no commuter hanging on the outside of the train.
“We will arrest and prosecute anyone caught hanging on the outside of the train. This includes those people that ride our trains in between stations hanging on the outside.”
Unsafe
He admitted that set shortages as a result of the age and high prevalence of breakdowns have resulted in overcrowding, but said this did not justify operating under perilous conditions.
“We have on many occasions been candid about the chronic shortage and unreliability of our train sets which is why the new trains in 2015/16 will provide such a welcome relief.
“We are however making no concessions when it comes to unsafe travelling practices which have become prevalent on our system” said Mofi.
Prasa Rail is currently addressing train set shortages for its operator Metrorail through its maintenance interventions where old sets are refurbished and where train set reliability is improved.
Metrorail operators have introduced express trains and shuttle train services for short and intermediate trips to alleviate overcrowding.
This means that train services, at high commuter volume corridors, will cater for two specific commuter needs – those travelling from the furthest distances to the end or change station and those taking shorter trips or stations positioned closer to the end or change station.
Express trains will not stop at each and every station, but will collect commuters at the furthest stations to their end or change stations.
The shuttle train service will be used for those commuters departing from stations nearer to the end station or change station. This increases the availability of train sets and alleviates overcrowding.
Overcrowding
Prasa Rail operations had also implemented a closed door policy, but it was not as successful as some commuters continued to vandalise the doors and keep them open while the train is in motion.
“Thousands have already been spent fixing broken doors and windows on our sets, further diminishing the already small number of operational sets as they have to go for replacement.
“The acute vandalism of our assets in the name of overcrowding is, however, unacceptable as no other transport system has allowed such a practice on its service.
“This is a culture spanning many years which we attribute to plain bad behaviour and we are calling for an immediate end to it,” said Mofi.
Metrorail is currently undergoing a major modernisation exercise with rail tracks being repaired, as well as signalling and other critical areas.
Various speed restrictions have been introduced which have added to commuter travel time.
Security
“Our service is undergoing modernisation on critical areas of our operations both in preparations for the new trains but also to improve our operational safety and customer experience.
“However, while we are modernising, our operator Metrorail will experience delays and added journey times which further compound the prospect of overcrowding in the regions,” advised Mofi.
Metrorail commuters can look forward to a heightened security presence as Metrorail enforces safe travelling.
Commuters are also encouraged to take responsibility for their safety and not put their lives in danger by hanging on to trains or leaning outside open train doors, including breaking train windows and general vandalism.
In the past financial year, Metrorail operators experienced the following:
– Asset vandalism (train sets/train doors/broken windows)
– Cable theft
– Interference with electrical overhead wire
– Vandalism of its sub-stations.
Reported incidents of vandalism:
– 238 fatalities were reported and among those were 221 people struck by trains while walking on the tracks. It accounts for 93% of the fatalities. A total of 17 of those were people falling while hanging outside the trains or vandalising train doors.
– 2 178 asset-related crimes were reported which account for theft and vandalism. This amounted to 189 incidents per month and around seven incidents per day.
The direct cost of vandalism due to repairs and replacements amounts to R167m.
For more http://www.news24.com
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