Daily Archives: May 8, 2014

Modise: Matric top spot climax of the good story of the North West Province


The final 2013 matric results that is inclusive of supplementary exams represents the climax of the good story that the ANC led government in the North West province has delivered on key priorities in the last term, Premier Thandi Modise said on Thursday.The final National Senior Certificate Supplementary Examination Results announced by Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga last week placed the North West at the top spot ahead of the Free State that led with the preliminary results.

“The phenomenal performance from 79, 5% to 89.0% has given expression to the commitment of our Provincial Department of Education and Training to be a portrait of excellence. It is through the united action of our educators, learners, officials in the department and all stakeholders who have proved their unsurpassed commitment that this historic milestone will be sustained,” Premier Modise underscored. 

Modise said that the provincial administration has turned the tide and that its achievements have given citizens reasons to celebrate 20 years of freedom and democracy.

“Having stabilised departments to respond to the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality, the challenge for the new administration will be on intensifying the fight against crime and turning our municipalities around to respond to the basic service delivery needs of our communities,” she stressed.-TDN
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Half-naked ‘witch’ runs out of power, crashes into stranger’s house


A suspected witch ran out of her powers and found herself at a stranger’s house.
According to myzimbabwe.co.zw, 52-year-old Ellen Khayiya Mpofu, from Bulawayo, was picked up by police after she invaded Patricia Tshabalala’s house just before 2am and claimed that her friends “dumped her”.

Tshabalala said she was asleep when she heard someone scratching the main door from outside and she rushed to check, suspecting that thieves were trying to break into her house.

“I heard what sounded like a pet scratching the door at about 2am. I listened carefully and the sound continued until I rushed to the door and asked who the visitor was. Before I could get an answer, the door was flung open and a half-naked woman, carrying a plastic bag stood before me,” said Tshabalala.

The woman, who kept on falling into a trance and changing voices, claimed she inherited the witchcraft from her sister.
For more http://www.timelive.co.za

IEC official found marking ballots for the ANC- report


“Agang knows exactly what they are supposed to do [when they have a complaint],” IEC spokeswoman Kate Bapela said.

“There is no political party in this day and age [that does not know that], that’s why all political parties that come to the IEC become part of the party liaison committee.”

The party had tweeted a photo of its leader Mamphela Ramphele where she confronted an IEC officer carrying ballot papers.

The caption with the photo read: “Citizen @MamphelaR busted an official with ballot papers in her hands. #IECMustAnswer.”

The party claimed that ballot boxes were not sealed at a station in Gauteng and an IEC official was found marking ballots for the African National Congress.

Bapela would not comment on the individual claims but said Agang SA was well aware of the procedures parties could follow when they had complaints.

She said complaints were dealt with first at local level at the particular voting station.

When it could not be resolved, it was referred to the national results centre in Pretoria where it was dealt with by a political party liaison committee. The IEC also had a legal team at the results centre.

“What they do in the event that they pick something up undesirable they lay a complaint,” Bapela said.

“If there is a complaint at a local level they can deal with it, every political party has a representative at a provincial and national level.

At national level we have a chief operating officer and deputy and a big legal team,” she said.
-Sapa

ANC reaches 1 million votes


Pretoria – The African National Congress passed the million vote mark after 04:30 on Thursday morning in the fifth democratic election in South Africa.

The early results at 04:40 showed the ANC had 1 100 891 votes, the Democratic Alliance had 623 234 votes, the Economic Freedom Fighters 73 723 votes and the United Democratic Movement 19 883 votes.

Representatives of the various political parties remained at the centre to keep an eye on the results as they continued to be updated.

The Freedom Front Plus had 26 271 votes, the Congress of the People 14 510, Inkatha Freedom Party 39 046, Agang SA 4 437 and the National Freedom Party 26 608.

The Workers Socialist Party had 1 007 votes, the African Christian Democratic Party 13 721, the African Independent Congress 11 244 and the African Peoples Convention had 3 353 votes.

Al Jama-Ah had 4 501 votes, Azanian Peoples Organisation 2 030, Bushbuckridge Residents Association 1 234, First Nation Liberation Alliance 491 and the Front National 662.

The Independent Civic Organisation of SA had 3 397 votes, Keep It Straight and Simple 414, Kingdom Governance Movement 752, Minority Front 1 135, and Pan Africanist Congress of Azania had 3 293 votes.

The Pan Africanist Movement had 435, Patriotic Alliance 3 732, Peoples Alliance 226, the Ubuntu Party 980, the United Christian Democratic Party 1 661, and the United Congress had 313 votes.-Sapa

Zuma’s private palace irks voters


Nkandla – S’thandiwe Hlongwane’s brick house lies only a stone’s throw from South African President Jacob Zuma’s private home but the two hardly belong in the same country, let alone the same village.

Like most homes in Nkandla, in the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal, Hlongwane’s is concrete and basic.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

North West voting secure – police


Johannesburg – Voting in Wednesday’s general elections was “safe and secure” in the North West, provincial police said.
“Since voting began this morning voters in the province have gone to the polls in a safe and secure environment ensured by the dedicated joint security forces,” police spokesperson Thulani Ngubane said.

This also applied to areas previously identified as “hot spots”.

He said there had been media reports about people being told not to vote in Bloemhof, which created “unnecessary panic” among voters.

Earlier, Business Day Live reported that the number of police deployed in Bloemhof created an impression that violence could break out there. Recent protests in the area led police to identify Bloemhof as a potential risk for the elections and police presence was beefed up there.

Ngubane assured Bloemhof voters that they should feel free to visit their voting stations.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo reiterated the police’s commitment to protect citizens’ democratic right to vote.

“If any person feels intimidated the matter should be urgently brought to the attention of our security forces.”

Ngubane urged the public to respect the rule of law once vote-counting began.

Security forces would continue to monitor the situation in various areas throughout Wednesday night.

He appealed to the public to respect IEC officials.

– SAPA

Zille concerned by ‘incompetent’ IEC


Pretoria – DA leader Helen Zille has raised concerns about the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s handling of the 2014 elections.

Speaking to News24 at the IEC’s national results operations centre in Pretoria after polls closed on Wednesday, Zille said she was concerned by the IEC’s lack of organisation, especially in Cape Town.
For more http://www.news24.com

Election debutantes cautious


Pretoria – Three election debutantes voiced concerns over what they termed serious irregularities at polling stations around the country on Wednesday.

Agang SA, Economic Freedom Fighters, and the National Freedom Party, which contested the national and provincial elections for the first time this year, were circumspect about the day’s polls.

The NFP contested local government elections in 2011.

The EFF’s Gauteng premier candidate Dali Mpofu said the party had received complaints from voters about irregularities at voting stations and would assess the seriousness of claims.

“There have been many, many complaints, what we will assess is the gravity of the complaints,” Mpofu said at the Electoral Commission of SA’s (IEC) results centre in Pretoria.

“If these are things we think can be ignored in the overall picture then obviously we will still pursue them without contesting the election results.

“But if they are grave complaints, even if they one or two that we think might affect the outcome, then obviously it is our duty to take it up to the highest level.”

Mpofu was nevertheless upbeat about his party’s chances in the elections and predicted they would govern in Gauteng.

“There is a new kid on the block obviously and the people are very enthusiastic about our entering the scene and they should be because we are bringing something completely new to the political scene,” he said.

“We call ourselves the Economic Freedom Fighters so we must govern the economic hub of the country. That’s not negotiable.”

Agang SA chair Mike Tshishonga believed the results would show that their party had largely been underestimated.

He said the party picked up some issues at polling stations and hoped they were isolated incidences.

“Things are going on well, except for two or three serious incidents, but we don’t know if it is the tip of the iceberg,” Tshishonga said.

“We also attracted newcomers, and those who didn’t vote previously are starting to see some sense in voting. The elections this time around will be different and that is why there are so many parties because they are seeing the gap.”

NFP national chairperson Maliyake Shelembe said it was difficult to trust the IEC.

“As the NFP I can say without doubt that the elections are not to the standard we are looking at to be free and fair. If we say it’s not fair it’s because of consequences from these voting stations,” he said.

Shelembe said his party had received complaints from supporters at voting stations. He complained that presiding officers were not well trained.

“We are not happy, but let’s see what is the value of the outcome of the results.”

On a positive note Shelembe said the NFP was happy it was contesting national elections for the first time. The party is a break-away from the Inkatha Freedom Party and contested local government elections in 2011 for the first time.

“In local government we did very, very well as we managed to obtain 227 councillors throughout the country… It shows the NFP is a national party and we understand the needs of the country at large.

“We are glad the NFP is going to be represented in the National Assembly and all provincial legislatures,” he said.-Sapa

ANC is leading the pack


PARTY VALID VOTES SEATS %VOTE
ANC 835 971 0 54,93%
DA 494 947 0 32,52%
EFF 54 829 0 3,60%
IFP 24 906 0 1,64%
VF Plus 21 495 0 1,41%
-TDN
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