Monthly Archives: April 2014

Parties step up election campaigns


Johannesburg – With two weeks to go until the general elections political parties campaigned around the country on Saturday in a bid to get people to vote for them on 7 May.

The Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters held rallies in Cape Town.

The DA held a slick rally at the Bellville Velodrome, where party leader Helen Zille sang and danced as sparklers were set off.

She urged the crowd of mostly coloured people to vote for the DA so that the party could retain the Western Cape.

“We will never allow the ANC to bring corruption back to the Western Cape.

“The ANC talks a lot at election time but they do nothing except steal your money in between elections.”

‘Every week is a step closer to Pretoria’

Zille said it was essential that the DA retain power in the province to show the rest of the country that it governs better than the ANC.

Retaining the province was a step towards claiming others and eventually governing South Africa.

“Every week is a step closer to Pretoria,” she said.

On the eve of Freedom Day, when South Africa will be celebrating 20 years of democracy, EFF leader Julius Malema asked his supporters in Mitchells Plain to stage a stay away from all celebrations.

“You don’t have freedom people of the Western Cape, therefore you have nothing to celebrate,” he said.

“For as long as you don’t have your dignity back, you have nothing to celebrate.”

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa was well received in Freedom Park near Rustenburg, North West.

About 2 000 party supporters dressed in yellow T-shirts ululated and clapped hands as they welcomed him.

March for ANC

Most of the people living in Freedom Park near the platinum mines were believed to be from his home province of the Eastern Cape.

In Durban, SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande told the crowd oppositions parties’ campaigns were limited to reports by the public protector.

Nzimande made the comments after he had addressed supporters in Durban’s Gugu Dlamini Park following a march through the city centre in support of the ANC.

About 8 000 people marched from Durban’s Curries Fountain Stadium to the park in the midday heat.

The joint march saw a memorandum from the SACP and the Congress of SA Trade Unions being handed over to ANC national executive member Joe Phaahla.

Speaking to the media after addressing supporters, Nzimande said he was concerned at the “hypocrisy” of the opposition parties and “sections” of the media when it came to the office of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

“They can’t say that eight years ago it was correct to attack the public protector, but today it is not correct to criticise the public protector.”

Buthelezi thanks loyal supporters

Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi was at a campaign rally in Lindelani township. He thanked members of the party for remaining loyal.

“Many of those who believed in the IFP are in this stadium today. You were faithful to the cause of the IFP. For that, I thank you. You are the strength of our party.

“But now we are seeing others coming back to the IFP. Those who were led astray or became confused are heading back home, disillusioned by the new party they followed based on empty promises and empty words.”

President Jacob Zuma met with ANC veterans in Johannesburg.

In Limpopo, members of Cope were expected to campaign in the Vhembe district in Makhado. Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele was also expected to campaign in the area.

ANC Women’s League President Angie Motshekga hosted a national prayer day in Tzaneen.-Sapa

Tutu: I’m glad Mandela is dead


Johannesburg – Archbishop Desmond Tutu is glad former president Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters are not alive to witness the slow pace of transformation in South Africa, the Sunday Times reported.

“I’m glad that Madiba is dead. I’m glad that most of these people are no longer alive to see this,” Tutu was quoted as saying by the paper.

Tutu made the comments when he was interviewed ahead of the release of a book he wrote with his daughter, Reverend Mpho Tutu this week.

“I didn’t think there would be a disillusionment so soon,” he said.

ANC secretary Gwede Mantashe was quoted by the paper saying: “The problem in this country, in general, is everyone speaks for Nelson Mandela, but the people who speak for him do not do so efficiently.”

Tutu said at a briefing on Wednesday that he no longer supported the African National Congress’s leadership as he did when he first voted on 27 April 1994.

“I have sought to support a party that would be as close as possible to the sorts of things we would love to see. On the whole the ANC was that,” he said.

“Have you noticed the past tense?” he added.-Sapa

Nxesi queries timing of Nkandla report release


Cape Town -Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi has stopped just short of accusing Public Protector Thuli Madonsela of releasing her report on Nkandla on the eve of the elections in order to hand opposition parties ammunition to use against the ANC.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Stars, Pirates share spoils


Platinum Stars were denied a penalty late in the second-half as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Orlando Pirates in an Absa Premiership match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon

Siphelele Mthembu put the Rustenburg outfit in the lead after half an hour played, but couldn’t keep their lead in tact after Lennox Bacela came off the bench to salvage a point.

Stars were in desperate to end their disappointing run of only one win in their previous league five encounters, while Pirates uncannily held the same record coming into the game.

It was a disappointing start for Dikwena as they found themselves pegged back for the first quarter of an hour unable to break through into Pirates’ half.

The next 15 minutes saw a midfield battle unravel in the middle of the park, but there was sadly no goalmouth action that occurred to even raise the blood pressure at the slightest.

Allan Freese’s side then took a shock lead on 31 minutes when Siphelele Mthembu nodded in a cross from a short corner towards goal, bouncing between the post and the gloves of the diving Senzo Meyiwa.

Mogakolodi Ngele then had his own crack at goal minutes later when he struck a stinging snapshot from 20-yards out. Meyiwa looked surprise at the midfielder’s audacious attempt, but fortunately for him it sailed wide of the post.

Siyabonga Mpontshane, who had little to do in the opening 45, was tested immediately at the restart through Tlou Segolela. The wide sided player turned on the ball and curled in an effort that went straight into the ‘keeper’s arms.

The visiting goalkeeper pulled off a great save on 55 minutes to deny Daine Klate in a strange manner. The former SuperSport United man was on the receiving end of some great one-touch play and he sliced in a low drive that saw Mpontshane save by sitting on top of it.

Stars were guilty of failing to clear their lines and they saw Lennox Bacela restore parity on the hour mark. The striker rose up above Vuyo Mere and turned the ball into the back of the net with the top of his shoulder.

The majority of the play was coming through Pirates in the second half and it so nearly could have been 2-1 to the home side minutes later. Klate delivered in a precise free-kick into the box only to see Lucky Lekgwathi direct the ball narrowly over the target.

Pirates were lucky not to concede a penalty eight minutes from time when Mduduzi Nyanda burst into the box and was brought down in the area, however, the referee waved play on.

Orlando Pirates: (0) 1 (Bacela 60’)

Platinum Stars: (1) 1 (Mthembu 31’)

Teams:

Orlando Pirates: Meyiwa, Matlaba, Jele, Lekgwathi, Sangweni, Klate, Segolela (Bacela 57’), Ntshumayelo, Manyisa, Makola (Masuku 76’), Erasmus

Platinum Stars: Mpontshane, Mere, Sithole, Semenya, Mpeta, Nyanda, Ng’ambi, Sarr, Ngele (Mathe 87’), Tshabalala (Msomi 70’), Mthembu S – Backpage

Sundowns must back their youngsters


Mamelodi Sundowns have what it takes to become the Barcelona of South African football, but they do not seem to acknowledge the potential their youth development have.

Barcelona for years have led by example, preferring to promote players from their development structures who go on to become world stars.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Dying teen raises record sum for charity


London -A terminally-ill teenager has broken all records on the JustGiving fundraising website by breaking the £2.5 million ($4.2

million, three million euro) mark Saturday in donations to charity.

Stephen Sutton, 19, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 15, but despite surgery, the cancer spread, and doctors concluded it was incurable.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

No complaints in this peaceful suburb


Johannesburg -Washington Drive in Northcliff is the perfect place to live.

Residents have nothing to complain about.

The trendy suburb in the north of Joburg has little crime, refuse is collected on time, there is always water, and there are seldom power cuts.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Freedom Day anguish for Martins’ family


Like many South Africans, Andre Balutto grew up under the dark shadow of apartheid. The child of an Italian father, and a coloured mother, he and his family spent their lives running from the Group Areas Act.

If they travelled by train, the lighter-skinned Balutto and his father would sit in first-class. His mother and siblings would be relegated to the back: third-class citizens.

So when democracy was born on April 27 1994, a new brighter future lay ahead and an end to running. Freedom Day was a time of celebration.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Toddler bound and gagged: Crèche owner, worker get bail


Johannesburg- The owner of a creche in Rosettenville, where a toddler was bound and gagged, and her employee were granted bail by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court, The Star reported on Saturday.

Labeeba Truter and Nomthandazo Majeke were granted bail of R3 000 each by Magistrate Paul du Plessis on Friday. The matter was postponed to 19 May.

Du Plessis reportedly warned the women that part of the bail conditions were that Truter could not run any business which involved caring for children and Majeke could not teach any children.

The women have been charged with assault and child abuse following a video of a 21-month-old toddler who was gagged and tied up, went viral.

The Petite Bumper Daycare came under the spotlight three weeks ago when the Daily Sun reported the story of the toddler tied up in a bathroom at the crèche, allegedly by Truter, so that she could watch television.

The child was recorded, allegedly by Majeke, and in the video she tries to free herself by moving around on the floor until she gets stuck between the toilet and the wall.

Truter told Daily Sun she was aware of the incident, but had not reported it to police.

She claimed she was not responsible for the abuse and she did not know it was child abuse.

SAPA

Motlanthe: ANC faces dishonest wealth accumulation challenge


Johannesburg – The dishonest means of accumulating wealth is a challenge many societies including South Africa face through exercising state power, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said.

In a speech prepared for delivery at the University of Oxford on Friday night he said the African National Congress also faced that challenge.

“… An observer cannot miss the point that the exercise of state power throws up its own challenges in all societies. Indeed post-colonial history is choking on such cases, South Africa included.

“This is shown by the huge appetite for the dishonest means of wealth accumulation that has emerged over the twenty years of our exercise of state power.”
Motlanthe said the phenomenon was called “the sins of incumbency”.

“By this I am not suggesting a mechanical view that says we are trapped in a rotten post-apartheid life about which we cannot do anything. Indeed change is possible.”

He said it would take the courage of leadership to come to terms with the malady, in ways that would help the organisation cleanse itself of those conditions.

“It cannot be a matter of wishful thinking, steps have to be taken to bring up a generation of committed cadres with a singular purpose to help move society forward.”
Motlanthe said one of the biggest challenges was the state’s capacity to deliver services to society. Often times government had found itself between a rock and a hard place, he said.

“Government has had to rely on the bureaucratic machinery to implement its programme of social transformation. However, this has not always been easy.

“Democracy is a process. More importantly, democracy is embedded in social conditions, and its thriving presupposes social justice and expanding floor of human comfort.”

Motlanthe said he was confident that South Africans would elevate their experience in a democracy to the level where democratic practice became second nature.-Sapa