Daily Archives: May 14, 2014

Tlhwahalang High: Teachers clash over dismissed head


By Obakeng Maje
Jan Kempdorp- The disgruntled students of a local high school at Valspan in Jan Kempdorp say they are sick and tired of shenanigans taking place at Tlhwahalang High School.

The situation was unrest since Monday.

According to Congress Of South African Students(cosas) Deputy president Tshepo Louw, things are very tense at school and no classes are taking place.

The issue came after the suspension of the embattled former school principal who was subsequently relieved off his duty by Northern Cape Department of Education over fraud and maladministration allegations leveled against him.

Aubrey Modiakgotlha was suspended then fired by department and his dismissal allegedly sowed division between teachers to such extend that some of teachers come to school armed with firearms.

“We would like the department of education in the province to scrutinise the situation closely as the chicanery affects the students and their education” Cosas deputy president Tshepo Louw told the media.

It is believed that some of the teachers want Modiakgotlha back as they claim his dismissal was unfair and the case against him lack precision.

The department of education said the infights at school need to be sorted out soon as that affects the students education in the process.

“We will make sure that the situation is sorted out in euphony as this affects the education of the pupils” Sydney Stander said.

The students will meet with all stakeholders on Thursday to try and get rid of the bad situation and classes get back to normal again.

Last year the pupils were taunting and singing struggling songs showing unhappiness. They also held placards depicted with this word “We want to write”.

Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Sydney Stander said they will meet with Cosas to try and put the differences to bed and lambast Cosas for running to the media without following proper channels.- TDN
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‘The current state of NWest roads under spotlight’


By Obakeng Maje
Zeerust- The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province wants to be on record that it will not suspend its action until the solution is found on the most expensive toll gate which continues to increase poverty to the people of the North West, including the users of the N4 toll gate.

“We want to confirm and appreciate that the office of the minister and that of acting DDG was able to convene the first task team meeting on Tuesday to deal with the challenges that both the federation and SANCO have raised in our memorandums” Cosatu provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said.

The task team meeting agreed to take up the issues to a subcommittee that will deal with the following issues:

•The reduction of the fees.
•The proposed provincial government reduction from R75 to R58 linked to COSATU’s demand.
•The alternative roads for those who will not be able to pay the fees.
•The current state of our North West roads.
•The consultation processes that was flooded by certain individuals
•The current state of the discount that is benefiting few people, in particular farmers in the surrounding area, and how it can be extended to the rest of the poor working class and the daily users of the expensive toll gate.

The issues in dispute are the following:

•Government to release the concession contract to the public;
•Government to investigate how the concession contract was awarded, who are the beneficiaries and how did it come to the building of the expensive toll gate.
•The government refused to investigate the allegation of the R11milion given to the municipality of Kgetleng.
•The issue of suspending the payment of the toll gate until a solution is found.
•COSATU refuses to suspend its action against the toll until a solution is found.
•The termination of the contract and hand over the road to government

“We are happy that the minister has established the task team to deal with issues we raised and we are happy that there will be no increase to the Swartruggens expensive toll gate until solution is found on the demands of the federation” Phetoe said.

He said this confirms that the toll gate is a burden to the poor working class and is expensive to the workers.

The task team and its subcommittee members are given two months to give the progress report to the broader team.

Cosatu said they will continue with the fight until they see the commitment of the Department of Transport and the Provincial Government in responding positively to their call in particular for the reduction of the toll gate fees.

“We are proceeding with our planned action on 16th May 2014 from 14h00 until 17h30” he outlines.

“We call on the media to support our program. We are calling on all the motorists to support our program, as they will also benefit from the demands. Our communities in Gatling municipality must continue to support our program.”

Phetoe said they are also requesting the police to allow their action to proceed peacefully and stop to provoke the protesters.
He also calls on the Provincial Commissioner to deploy police who will respect the masses of the people so that they are also able to respect the police.

“Those who come to our marches with instructions to arrest or to shoot workers and communities or protesters must not come. We are pleading for a peaceful picket and demonstration as we have been granted permission to proceed under the Gatherings Act.
Let us all meet at the toll gate 14h00 to 17h30” he concludes.-TDN
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Premier Modise condemns torching of Implats cars   


North West Premier Thandi Modise has condemned the destruction of private and public properties in the platinum belt. This follows the torching of three stationary cars at Impala Platinum’s Rustenburg operations on Wednesday morning.

Premier Modise said that those behind acts of violence and intimidation of non-striking workers associated with the AMCU strike need to be unmasked and put behind bars
.

“Our communities have had enough of the violence and the devastating impact of the four months old strike on their livelihood. They are yearning for peace and stability to be restored,” Modise highlighted.

She expressed confidence that the deployment of more police in the area will bring the situation under control.
Implats spokeswoman Alice Lourens confirmed the there were no injuries during the incident as no one was in the vehicles which were parked on the mine’s property.
Police are investigating a case of arson and malicious damage to property.-TDn
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Banyana Banyana captain happy to be back


Johannesburg- Sasol Banyana Banyana captain and central defender Janine van Wyk looks set to return to the starting 11 for the friendly match against Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday, 18 May 2013. The match is scheduled to kick off at 15h00.

Janine van Wyk who has been out for almost three months due to a collateral knee ligament strain, missed the clash against Zimbabwe last month.

“It’s the first time I am training with the team again, and it feels really good to be back. I have been out for 13 weeks without playing football and doing rehabilitation. There are still a few areas I need to work on and get the injury out of my mind. But I am sure I will be ready in the next couple of days,” said van Wyk.

“I cannot wait to take the field against Ghana which I believe will be a much tougher opponent than Zimbabwe. They are more physical, but I think we can compete with them. The last time we faced the Black Queens, we were able to pip them through a penalty shootout and we are looking to do one better for the fans by defeating them within the allotted 90 minutes,” she concluded.

Sasol Banyana Banyana are preparing for the upcoming African Women’s championship qualifiers match against Comoros at the end of the month, and coach Vera Pauw is impressed with the team’s performance thus far. She believes that the match against Ghana will assist in building a strong team.

“Preparations are going well, we have only had three training sessions together. We had the first explosive training session yesterday, to gain more power and after that we had game time. I am impressed by what I saw,” said Pauw.

“We have reviewed the previous match against Zimbabwe and feel that we made it easy for them. It was not the individual mistakes that were a concern but the whole team lacked cohesion in the first 45 minutes. The match against Ghana could not have come at a better time as we look to intensify preparations ahead of the African Women’s Championship qualifiers against Comoros,” she added.

Defender Letago Madiba, who plies her trade for Tshwane University of Technology in the Sasol League remains the only injury scare for the team ahead of the match after sustaining a knee injury during today’s training session.-TDN
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Award-winning journo Mohlahlana promoted to eNews Prime Time


eNCA (DStv 403) reporter Cathy Mohlahlana is officially becoming a news reader and anchor for eNews Prime Time from tonight, Monday 12 May, at 19:00 on e.tv, and is also getting a weekday co-anchor position on eNCA with Joanne Joseph from Thursday 15 May between 09:00 and 13:00.

It’s been self-evident to eNCA viewers that Cathy Mohlahlana is getting upped to anchor status – viewers saw her sitting in over weekends in timeslots to do screen tests and to get experience and training.

Cathy Mohlahlana will now read the news on eNews Prime Time on e.tv on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Following the promotion Cathy Mohlahlana will soon disappear from South African TV screens however – next month she will join fellow South Africans like telenality Romy Titus who will study in Washington D.C. in the United States from June as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative Fellowship.

“We are very delighted to have Cathy Mohlahlana on eNews Prime Time and with her field reporting experience we have no doubt our audience will enjoy her news delivery,” says Phathiswa Magopeni, the head of terrestrial news services at e.tv’s eNews division.

“She is a highly motivated and energetic individual and we believe her experience will add value to our news service,” says Phathiswa Magopeni.

Cathy Mohlahlana joined eNCA four years ago and reported extensively last year on the death of Nelson Mandela, and this year on the Oscar Pistorius murder trial, as well as the recent national elections.

“Her work in the field and ability to think on her feet makes her the perfect choice as an anchor,” says eNCA.

“I love news and this is an overwhelming opportunity for me,” says Cathy Mohlahlana. “Being in the studio is a different environment and I really look forward to that change of pace and perspective”.
For http://www.eNCA.com

Court strikes Ofentse’s killer with life sentence


By Obakeng Maje
Mmakau- The Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court sentenced a 41 year-old, Strike Thulare to life imprisonment on Tuesday for murder and rape of an 11 year-old Ofentse Mogale of Mmakau village.

Ofentse Mogale was kidnapped from her home on 01 February 2013 by the accused and was found murdered and buried at the accused shack on 2 February 2013.

“It was also discovered that Ofentse  was raped by the accused” brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo commended the good job done by the police. She said that this is a proof that crime does not pay and that criminals will face the full might of the law.-TDN
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Police won’t withdraw from Marikana – Mthethwa


Marikana – The police will continue to restore peace in the troubled platinum mining belt of North West, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Wednesday.
“Anarchy will not be allowed, whether disguised as industrial action or not,” he told reporters at the Marikana police station.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Lonmin, Impala Platinum, and Anglo American Platinum in Rustenburg and at Northam in Limpopo downed tools on 23 January, demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
The strike has cost the companies over R17.8bn in revenue and workers have reportedly lost more than R7.9bn in earnings.

Friction
The platinum producers recently resolved to approach striking mineworkers directly about their latest pay offer, in a bid to end the strike, but Amcu objected, raising fears of friction between striking mineworkers and those who wished to return to work.
Three miners and one of their wives were killed in separate incidents in Rustenburg since Sunday, prompting police to deploy reinforcements in the area.
Mthethwa said on Wednesday that more than 5 000 people had been arrested in the platinum belt in the past year.

He said those who had been instigating violence in the Marikana area would be arrested.
“We have names of those instigating violence and within hours we should be on top of them.”

Weapons
National police commissioner Riah Phiyega said the police would remain in the Marikana area as long as the situation warranted their presence.
“We have adequately deployed diverse units in this area.”
She denied the police were afraid to act after the Marikana shooting of August 2012, when police shot dead striking mineworkers.
“We have acted over a period of 20 months and more than 5 000 had been arrested for various crimes.”

Forty-four people were killed during the wage-related strike in 2012.
Mthethwa said on Wednesday that it was the responsibility of union organisers to ensure their gatherings were peaceful and that no one carried dangerous weapons such as knobkerries and pipes.

He said police disarmed some of the people who attended an Amcu rally at the Wonderkop stadium in Marikana earlier in the day.
“Some agreed to leave their weapons behind and we understand some managed to get into the stadium with their knobkerries,” the minister said.

SAPA

MEC Maloyi to hand over 914 homes to Wolmaranstaad families


Wolmaransstad- MEC for Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi will on Friday hand over about 914 houses to legible beneficiaries in Wolmaransstad in the Maquassie hills municipality.

The hand over is part of the department’s endeavor to reduce housing backlog and making sure that legible beneficiaries receive quality houses.

“Most of the beneficiaries have been staying in informal settlements while others have been staying in rural villages of Maquassie Hills municipality” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.

According to Maloyi the programme is part of the government’s endeavor to restore the dignity of the Maquassie Hills community, as well as to Celebrate the 20 years of democracy.

The handover will be held as follows:

Date: 16 May 2014

Time: 14H00

Venue: Wolmaranstad EXT 15 Open space
-TDN
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Three cars torched at Implats


Johannesburg – Three stationary cars were torched at Impala Platinum’s Rustenburg operations in the North West on Wednesday.
“Yes, I can confirm that. The three cars were set alight but there were no injuries,” said Implats spokesperson Alice Lourens.

No one was in the cars at the time.
The vehicles were parked on the mine’s property.

Criminal

Meanwhile Limpopo police spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said that striking mineworkers had been hiding in a veld outside Anglo-American Platinum’s Northam mine at night and possibly plotting criminal activities.

“People are hiding and ducking in a bushy area or veld outside Northam mine in the evenings.
 
“The have been doing that from last week…every night they do that.”

Mulaudzi said it was a small group of mineworkers and it was unclear whether they were from the North West or Limpopo.

Patrolling

“It is striking mineworkers in the bushy area and they have muthi people [traditional healers] with them,” he explained.

“They are probably using muthi to help them be invisible [in the strike] or something.”

He said police were trying hard to remove those hiding in the veld.

“We are pushing them away…they must get out of that area. I think we do disturb them because police are patrolling there all the time.

Amcu members at Lonmin [JSE:LON], Impala Platinum [JSE:IMP] and Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS] downed tools on 23 January, demanding a basic salary of R12 500 per month.

SAPA

Don’t fall for e-toll ‘carrot’ – Outa


Johannesburg – The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) on Wednesday warned Gauteng e-toll road users to think before being “seduced” by the SA National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral) offer to register for e-tags.
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