Monthly Archives: April 2014

Guard of honour for Holomisa


Mahikeng – United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa was well received in Freedom Park near Rustenburg on Saturday.

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

Marshals formed a guard of honour as he walked into the tent.

He was in Rustenburg to canvass votes for his party in the 7 May election.

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

The large crowd wielding Holomisa election posters had been waiting for his arrival since 11:00.
-Sapa

Zille: ANC does nothing but steal


Cape Town – The ANC did nothing between elections but steal taxpayers’ money, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille told her party’s final rally in Cape Town on Saturday before the 7 May elections.

“We will never allow the ANC to bring corruption back to the Western Cape,” Zille told a mostly coloured crowd at the Bellville Velodrome, before urging them to ensure that the party retained power in the province.

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

Accusing the ANC of graft was a refrain from party leaders at the slick rally, as the DA awaits a ruling from the Election Court on the text message it sent to millions of people, stating that President Jacob Zuma stole public money to build his home at Nkandla.

‘A corrupt and arrogant ANC’

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko told the crowd of several thousand that the R243m spent on improvements at Nkandla should have been used to uplift the poor and described Zuma’s dismissal at ANC rallies of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s findings that he reaped undue benefit from the project as arrogant.

“These are the laughs of a corrupt and arrogant ANC under President Jacob Zuma,” she said.

“These are the laughs of an ANC in permanent decline… You can only fight corruption by voting for the DA.”

Zille said the controversy summed up the current state of the ruling party.

“Nkandla is just a symbol of what the ANC has become. It is a party that is seeking to get as much as it can for itself and its leaders,” she told reporters.

“Jacob Zuma deploys his loyal cadres into every top job. He looks after them and they… look after him.”

Zille condemned the ruling on Friday by the Independent Communications Authority of SA’s (Icasa) complaints and compliance committee upholding a complaint by the police on a DA election advert that contains a photo of a police officer shooting rubber bullets.

“It really is an incomprehensible ruling to me. We’re going to seek a review,” she said.

“The bottom line is we cannot accept that this president should stand, if you take material that is freely available in the public domain and prevent a political party showing it because it has an impact, then we are right in the realm of censorship.”

‘Every single DA vote’

Earlier, after singing and dancing as sparklers were set off, Zille reminded supporters that the DA had won the Western Cape by a whisker in 2009, securing just more than 50% of the vote.

“We need every single DA vote to come out on 7 May and keep the Cape blue,” she added.

Zille said it was essential that the DA retain power in the Western Cape 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.
-Sapa

Life sentence for NWest wife murderer appropriate –Premier Modise


North West Premier Thandi Modise has welcomed the life sentence imprisonment imposed on a man who murdered his wife by dousing her with petrol and setting her alight as appropriate. The North Gauteng High Court on Friday concluded that the act committed by Godfrey Mamabalo of Letlhabile was cold, cunning and remorseless.

“Justice has been served with the removal of the heartless murderer from society. We trust that the family finds closure to what was a horrendous act that had left us numb with shock,” Premier Modise said.
In welcoming the sentence, Modise reiterated her call for communities to unite against the scourge of gender based violence and urged men who are insecure in their relationships to seek urgent counselling and professional help instead of resorting to violence which results in dire consequences for all parties involved.
She emphasised that the prevention of violence against women should be supported by real men who understand it to be key to achieving gender equality for women to fully enjoy their freedom and democracy.
Forty-six-year old Mamabolo was sentenced by Juge Ellem Francis for murdering his wife Gladys, attempting to murder his three-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son, and breaching a protection order in February last year.Mamabolo was found guilty of murder despite his claims that his wife’s death was an accident after a candle and container with petrol accidentally fell over in his lounge while they were shoving each other during an argument.
 

Francis said Mamabolo, a paramedic, was a defenceless hard-working woman who did not deserve to die an agonising death.

 

The judge accepted the evidence of the couple’s domestic worker, Mmaletsatsi Matshona, that she saw Mamabolo wearing only her panties, on her knees with her arms above her head, begging her husband for forgiveness while he poured petrol over her. Matshona escaped by breaking a window moments before the house was engulfed in flames.

 

The couple’s son had testified that he saw his father pour petrol on the bedroom floor and saw his mother catch fire while she was running down the passage.

 

Despite being on fire, she managed to call her children to the bathroom where she made them sit in a tub of water. Neighbours rescued them through a bathroom window after breaking the burglar bars.

 

Mrs Mamabolo’s brother, Ronnie Masilo, testified that he had to intervene when his brother-in-law threatened to kill his sister with a spanner at her workplace the day before her death.

He took his sister to the police station where she obtained a protection order to stop her husband from assaulting, threatening, and insulting her. The order was served on Mamabolo hours before he attacked his wife.

 

Francis said it was clear Mamabolo set his wife alight because he was furious about the protection order and suspected her of having an affair.

 

Mamabolo’s mother cried after sentence was passed, and her brother Ronnie said he was “super happy” with the sentence.-TDN
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DA ordered to remove ‘cop scene’ on their ad


The photo used in the DA’s televised election advert was misleading, police said.

“In fact, the advertisement’s footage is inaccurate and misleading as the two people shown in the image were never killed or shot at and no live ammunition was used,” SA Police Service spokesperson Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said yesterday.

The SA Police Service welcomed the Independent Communications Authority of SA’s (Icasa) ruling late yesterday that its complaint about the DA’s advert was valid. Icasa ordered the DA to remove the offending part from the advert.

The televised advert shows the DA’s Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane standing in front of a mirror, talking about the current state of the country. At one point he states that “the police are killing our people”. This is accompanied by a photo of a police officer firing rubber bullets at close range at two unarmed people.
For more http://www.citypress.co.za

EFF Up In Arms After Being Denied Stadium


Economic Freedom Fighters condemns the ANC-run Tshwane Municipality’s sudden decision to withdraw permission to use the Lucas Moripe Stadium for its final elections rally. The decision is indeed unfair and illegal,says EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

“The municipality had first argued that there was a PSL match. However the PSL had agreed to move its match upon being requested by the EFF” he said.

According Economic Freedom Fighters, the municipality then granted permission, EFF paid for the stadium and signed the lease agreement.

Posters were printed and buses for EFF supporters were paid, including other logistical requirements.

“This morning, the municipality sent a communique indicating that the permission has been withdrawn as the day of the rally was scheduled for maintenance” Ndlozi said.

The EFF say they a hold a strong view that this has nothing to do with maintenance but political instructions that merely seek to deny EFF the right to gather. If 4 May 2014 was scheduled for maintenance, then why was PSL going to use the stadium on that day, asked Mdlozi.

EFF has approached the court for an urgent application to compel the municipality to stick to its signed agreement. The court must force the municipality to comply.-TDN
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North West top official suspended over milk


Mahikeng-Following preliminary investigation into the procurement of baby formula milk and subsequent failure to distribute the milk to worthy recipients until expiry, the North West Department of Health has placed Director Advocacy, Social Mobilisation and Communication, Mr. Cornelius Lebeloe on precautionary suspension with effect from Friday.

Mr. Lebeloe, the then director responsible for HIV and AIDS in the province was suspended for his alleged role in the procurement of baby formula milk.

“The department has written to Mr. Lebeloe and two more senior managers to explain their role in the procurement and processes that led to baby formula milk being incinerated. Based on what the preliminary investigations revealed a decision was then taken to suspend Mr. Lebeloe” departmental spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said.

The investigation continues and the findings thereof will inform further action that the department will take with regard to other two senior officials.-TDN
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He will remain on suspension while a full investigation continues.

However, it is important to note that Mr. Lebeloe has not been found guilty.

North West top official suspended


Mahikeng-Following preliminary investigation into the procurement of baby formula milk and subsequent failure to distribute the milk to worthy recipients until expiry, the North West Department of Health has placed Director Advocacy, Social Mobilisation and Communication, Mr. Cornelius Lebeloe on precautionary suspension with effect from Friday.

Mr. Lebeloe, the then director responsible for HIV and AIDS in the province was suspended for his alleged role in the procurement of baby formula milk.

“The department has written to Mr. Lebeloe and two more senior managers to explain their role in the procurement and processes that led to baby formula milk being incinerated. Based on what the preliminary investigations revealed a decision was then taken to suspend Mr. Lebeloe” departmental spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said.

The investigation continues and the findings thereof will inform further action that the department will take with regard to other two senior officials.-TDN
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He will remain on suspension while a full investigation continues.

However, it is important to note that Mr. Lebeloe has not been found guilty.

Nissan invents self-cleaning car


ROLLE, Switzerland – Washing a car can be a chore – and a costly one at that. And anyway, who really wants to mess up a sunny Sunday morning by having to wash the family car?

Nissan has started testing a superpaint that repels mud, rain and dirt, meaning drivers may never have to clean their car again.

The specially engineered super-hydrophobic and oleophobic paint, which repels water and oils, has been applied to the
all-new Nissan Note
to create what is believed to be the world’s first self-cleaning car.

…AND SELF-CLEANING CAMERA

To assess the paint job’s real-world effectiveness as a potential aftermarket application, engineers at Nissan Technical Centre Europe will be testing the self-cleaning Note over the coming months in a variety of conditions.

VIDEO: Watch the self-cleaning Note in action

Nissan is the first automaker to apply the technology, called Ultra-Ever Dry, on automotive bodywork. By creating a protective layer of air between the paint and environment it effectively stops standing water and road spray from creating dirty marks on the car’s surface.

It’s not the first time ‘self-cleaning’ technology has been used on the Note. The car already features a ‘wash and blow-dry’ function on its rear-view camera. This uses water and compressed air to clean the camera’s lens automatically and ensure the Notes’ safety sensors work in all conditions.

So far the coating, being marketed by UltraTech International, has responded well to common use – rain, spray, frost, sleet and standing water. While there are currently no plans for the technology to be applied to new cars on the production line, Nissan will continue to consider the coating technology as a future after-market option.

Geraldine Ingham, chief marketing manager for Nissan, said: “Nissan engineers are constantly thinking of new ways to make families’ lives easier.” Millions of teenagers will also be relieved that their Sunday chore might be no more…

The Nissan Note has other technology to make driving safer. Lane departure warning, blind spot warning and moving object detection combine to form a virtual shield. There’s also a 360°view monitor which relies on the self-cleaning rear camera.
For more http://www.news24.com

The rich will pay – Mpofu


Johannesburg – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng will focus all its energy on improving the lives of the poor, the party’s premier candidate Dali Mpofu said on Thursday.
“Our constituency is the poor and we make no shame about that,” he told reporters in Johannesburg.

“We are not going to balance, the development of our people is going to happen at the expense of the rich, full stop.”

Mpofu was speaking during a media briefing setting out the EFF blueprint for the province, “Formula 777”.

It outlines the seven pillars the party was founded on – seven values and priorities for the first 100 days in office.

He said the upliftment of the poor had to happen through rigorous taxation of the rich. He compared the flourishing economy and lifestyle of Sandton, Johannesburg, with the abject poverty of neighbouring Alexandra.

“It’s a shame that we can have Sandton being so prosperous and Stjwetla [in Alexandra] next door where people don’t have sanitation.”

Mpofu said government might have to integrate the tax base of Sandton with that of Stjwetla at the expense of Sandton residents.

“Stjwetla must be developed, it’s as simple as that. We are tired of this diplomatic thing of trying to please everybody.”

Asked if such a move would not alienate the rich and make them vote for other parties, Mpofu said those who had the country’s best interests at heart would support the party.

“If the business people do not realise that, it is in their own long-term interest that the poor are developed. Those who are wise and patriotic will vote for us because they will know that in the long run this will be in their best interest.”

Mpofu said no one wanted to live in a country of inequality, as this bred instability, crime, corruption, and social decay.

“You can’t be an island of profit making while surrounded by people who are hungry. Those people are going to revolt and cause trouble for you.”

Mokoena: Title race isn’t done


Johannesburg – Former Bafana Bafana captain, Aaron Mokoena, has expressed his opinion on where he feels the direction of the PSL title race is going.

According to the soccerladuma
website
, the 33-year-old, who starred for the likes of Ajax Amsterdam, Germinal Beerschot, Genk, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers during his playing career in Europe, last spent time playing in the PSL for Wits in 2012/13.

The tough-tackling central defender has not ruled out a return to playing in South Africa’s domestic top flight, however he has in earlier times revealed to the Siya crew he will only reach a decision at the end of the current campaign.

Nonetheless, the Boipatong-born star still retains a keen interest in this season’s battle for the Absa Premiership crown, and he gave his view on what he thinks might happen as the league race reaches its final stretch.

‘Mbazo’ told the crew, “It’s still a race! It’s not done as yet. It’s quite interesting the way it is at the moment. I think now it’s a mental game. It’s about who is going to crack more. This title race will go to the last day. Of course, it will be a bit difficult for Kaizer Chiefs at the moment – I mean they’ve dropped crucial points in the past few games. But, knowing Stuart Baxter as I do, he’s going to prepare the boys as best as possible. Against Wits they looked a bit tired perhaps because of the games in Africa and what-not. For me, it’s all about a test of mental strength now. This is why I’m saying, mate, this title race is not done.”   

Sport24