Daily Archives: May 19, 2014

Krejcir witness questioned over injuries


Johannesburg – The man kidnapped and assaulted, allegedly by Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and five others, was on Monday questioned about permanent injuries he said he sustained.
Annelene van den Heever, for Krejcir, questioned State witness Bheki Lukhele in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge, on injuries he said he sustained, allegedly at Krejcir’s hands.

Krejcir, Desai Luphondo, warrant officers Samuel Modise Maropeng and George Nthoroane, Jan Lefu Mofokeng, and Siboniso Miya are charged with dealing in drugs, and the attempted murder and kidnapping of Lukhele.

“Did you sustain permanent injuries or marks from this assault on you with boiling water?” she asked.

“Yes, there were some,” he answered.

He pointed to his left shoulder and said there were marks underneath his clothes. He earlier told the court that Krejcir poured boiling water over his head while he was being held captive in June last year.

Judge Collin Lamont asked the interpreter if he could see marks where Lukhele was pointing. The interpreter, after briefly looking, responded: “No my lord, I can’t see the marks.”

Van den Heever continued her cross-examination of Lukhele by asking him what kind of marks he had and if they were visible. Lukhele described his marks as black spots and said they were visible on his shoulders and back.

When Van den Heever continued to ask about visible marks, Lamont asked if she wanted Lukhele to be examined by the district surgeon. She said yes.

Lamont said Lukhele should be examined and a report compiled.

Skin peeling off

Lukhele said he was injured on top of his head and his skin peeled off.

“It [the peeling] was bit by bit, it was just peeling off.”

He said he wore a hat to cover it up.

Van den Heever asked Lukhele about the doctor he went to see after he was released following his kidnapping.

Lukhele earlier told the court he was kidnapped from his Katlehong home on 25 June last year by Krejcir and his five co-accused.

Lukhele’s brother Doctor worked for a cargo company at OR Tambo International airport. He apparently disappeared with 25kg of crystal methamphetamine (tik) he was supposed to help transport to Australia, allegedly for Krejcir.

Lukhele was allegedly held at Krejcir’s Money Point gold exchange business in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, in June last year, and tortured in a bid to have him reveal his brother’s whereabouts.

Lamont ordered that images of Lukhele not be published because he is in witness protection.

SAPA

DA announces Gauteng caucus leader


Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance Gauteng caucus elected John Moodey as its leader on Monday.

“I am proud to serve the citizens of Gauteng as caucus leader in the provincial legislature,” Moodey said.

“The 23-member caucus aims to continue to play a leading role as the alternative government and hold the ruling party to account on matters that affect Gauteng.”

Moodey has been an MPL since 2004.

Former DA youth leader Khume Ramulifho was elected as caucus chairperson unopposed.

“Moodey and Ramulifho bring with them a wealth of expertise having served at the legislature in previous terms,” the party said in a statement.

The whippery has yet to be announced.

– SAPA

ESKOM: Learner Intern Technical (Pupil Technician Chemical Services) x5


The closing date is drawing near for a Learnership in power plant operations so make sure you don’t miss out by applying today.

Position : Learner Plant Operator X10 Vacancy type: External/Internal

Task Grade : TR5

Area of Speacialization : Operating

Department : Operating

Business Unit : Matla Power Station

Location : South Africa (Mpumalanga)

Reference Number : 329-1643969NZ

Closing Date : 5/22/2014

Minimum Requirements

Qualification(s):

• Grade 12 / N3 with Physical Science and Mathematics
• Languages include English as second language (50%)
Skills and Competencies

• Ability to apply Maths and Science knowledge
• Good understanding of thermodynamics
• Technical, electrical equipment and energy conversion process understanding
• Self-motivation, analytical, cognitive thinking and good communication skills
Key Responsibilities

• Complete Learnership in power plant operations successfully as per set standards
“If you have not been contacted within 28 days after the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.”

The appointment of the candidate is at the Manager’s sole discretion, taking into account factors which Eskom consider relevant including but not limited to Eskom’s Employment & Occupational Equity Policies, Strategies & Guidelines. Also note that Eskom supports a smoke-free environment.

Link to Apply Online Click Here to Apply http://www.careersportal.co.za/learnerships/3416-eskom-learner-plant-operator-x10.html
-TDN
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Boskuil and Oersonskraal communities benefit from housing project


By Obakeng Maje
Boskuil and Oersonskraal communities to benefit from housing project,says MEC Nono Maloyi.

“The North West province is not recognised as the best performing province to no vain. The recent handing over programme of more than 8000 housing units across the province by Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, MEC Nono Maloyi bears testimony to that” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.

Following the three month programme, Maloyi further went on to introduce two newly appointed contractors for construct of 914 housing units to the communities of Boskuil and Oersonskraal.

In his speech, Maloyi indicated that the province has launched the new look RDP house that will be the common feature of all houses to be build in the North West with effect from this year.

The house has more features than the previous houses that were build in the province but same in size. The house was launched during the recent provincial Govan Mbeki awards held in Phokeng outside Rustenburg.

“The New look house will be 45 square meters, with big windows, phase brick, or maxi bricks, plastered from inside, with gutters and basin inside. The houses will be of quality and will further enhance the face and the dignity of RDP houses build in the province” said Maloyi.
 
Furthermore, the MEC called on communities to support the contractors during the construction period since they will also benefit from the project by being employed.

“I humbly appeal to the appointed contractors to use local labour to further create employment and develop skills among the community members. Please make sure that you gain proper training and safe guard the material in order to stall the project by stealing the goods”, Maloyi concluded.

The project is expected to start as soon as applications are finalized.-TDN
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Premier Modise: Strike afftect miners with chronic diseases


Marikana- North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed concern at reports that miners who are on chronic medication in the platinum belt are defaulting on Anti-Retroviral treatment due to acts of violence and intimidation that prohibit them from accessing health services at their workplaces.

“We appeal to workers on strike to be mindful that their colleagues on chronic medication for HIV-Aids, TB ,Hypertension and Diabetes need to access wellness care facilities for chronic medication that is life sustaining. Preventing them from accessing health facilities at their workplaces is putting their health at great risk,” Premier Modise said.
Modise has urged workers to visit their nearest public health facilities to access their chronic medication, family planning support, prenatal care, Free TB and HIV/Aids testing and counseling.
She reiterated that ending the strike which has now entered into its 17th week will be the first step to avert possible job losses and restoring peace and stability as the protracted strike by AMCU has degenerated into a vicious cycle of violence that has resulted in the brutal killings of non-striking workers, destruction of private and public properties.-TDN
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Minister Motshekga to investigate job racketeering


Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has met unions to discuss an alleged racket in the appointment of school jobs, she said on Sunday.

“All the unions have agreed to co-operate with the investigation to root out the alleged practice and take strong action against those found to be involved,” she said in a statement following Friday’s meeting.

Reports emerged recently that SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) members were selling principal and deputy principal positions at schools for upwards of R30,000 each.

The unions represented at the meeting were Sadtu, the National Teachers’ Union, National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA, the Professional Educators’ Union, and the Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie.

Motshekga would meet school governing bodies next week to discuss establishing a ministerial task team to investigate the matter.

The Public Service Commission, justice and basic education departments, as well as external education, law, and human resources experts would be involved in creating the task team. Motshekga said the team’s members would be announced as soon as its terms of reference were finalised.

“It is envisaged that the task team will be led by a retired judge or an independent education expert.”

On Sunday, City Press reported that a Johannesburg teacher claimed a union secretary had asked her for sex in exchange for ensuring she would be given a school principal post.

Earlier this month, the newspaper reported that two school principals, one from Durban and the other from Mpumalanga, were kidnapped and told they would be killed if they returned to their jobs.

The principals said they were told the positions had been earmarked for Sadtu-controlled appointments. Sadtu has consistently denied involvement in the kickbacks scandal.

In a statement on Sunday, the union’s general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said the scam was run by individuals misusing Sadtu’s name.

“The union has no powers to hire people and has never taken a resolution at any level of the organisation sanctioning such an act,” he said.

“We are not in a position to sell what does not belong to us. The union has never received a cent from the proceeds of this scam.”

He said it was “humanly impossible” to micro-manage all its 257,000 members.

– Sapa

MEC’s R940,000 car purchase with left-over funds


Left-over funds were used to buy a R940,000 vehicle for North West health MEC Magome Masike, his department said on Friday.

Spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane rejected as misleading a report in the Mail&Guardian that the car was purchased with money meant for ambulances.

It reported that R200,000 was taken from funds intended for mobile clinics and R740,000 from those for patient transport acquisition.

“We had a target of how many ambulances we wanted to buy for the financial year,” said Lekgethwane.

“Those were bought and distributed. This money (which was used to buy the car) was a surplus fund remaining in the account,” he said.

He said the budgets for ambulances, pool cars for officials and patient transport fell into the same category, and were divided among them.

Lekgethwane acknowledged that there was a shortage of ambulances in the province. “There will always be a shortage of ambulances. You will never have enough emergency vehicles,” he said.

This is the second car bought for Masike within three years.

Lekgethwane said this was because the MEC’s old vehicle was faulty.

“When a car gets to 120,000km, it gets out of the service plan and it starts becoming costly to maintain,” he said.

“His old car, which was on 169,000km, started to give him problems and… left him stranded on the side of the road a lot.”

The Mail&Guardian reported that the department did not put the vehicle purchase out to tender, despite a directive by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan last year that this be done for any purchase above R500,000.

Lekgethwane blamed the public works department for this.

“The department of health doesn’t buy cars,” he said. “There is currently a contract with Mercedes and we can’t overstep that and buy cars for the MEC on the side.”

Asked what would happen to the MEC’s old car, Lekgethwane said this was not for the department to decide.

He said the public works department could use it elsewhere. “They could even auction it,” he said.
      
-Sapa

Parents: Please help us find our child


The parents of the child who went missing on Saturday have made a plea to the nation to help them find their four-year-old son.

Kuyinhlanhla Mnguni was attending a family function with his parents at 2388 Zone A, Ikhutseng, when he went missing at about 9pm. He apparently wandered out through an open gate.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

Kimberley Marimba band is going places with music


The well-known Marimba Ensemble band in Kimberley, which was established in 2000, is making international headway with their traditional marimba music.

The ensemble has travelled as far as Mexico, Spain, and Portugal. In February this year, the band was privileged to be chosen to represent South Africa at the World Tourism Exhibition Week in Turkey. In their 14 years of existence, the seven band members are still working together.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

Nothing wrong with voting EFF: Orania resident


Orania residents in the Northern Cape said on Thursday there was nothing wrong with residents of the right-wing town voting for the Economic Freedom Fighters.

“We don’t really care if people living in Orania voted for the EFF, it’s okay… it’s a free choice because we are not opposed to any political party,” said spokesman Jaco Kleynhans.

The EFF garnered four (1.37 percent) national votes in Orania, according to the latest election results.

Kleynhans said the four EFF votes could have come from anyone.

“It could be people who live around Orania and chose to vote in the voting station in Orania,” said Kleynhans.

EFF leader Julius Malema had visited the community and they had welcomed him with open arms.

Kleynhans said party politics formed a small part of their lives.

“People in Orania are less focused on party politics, we are trying to build a solid community.

He said he did no know why the Freedom Front Plus was losing ground in this year’s elections.

The Freedom Front Plus is the leading party in the town with 224 of the vote (76.98 percent), while the ruling African National Congress won five votes nationally (1.72 percent) in Orania.

-Sapa