Johannesburg – South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers said on Thursday one of its members was stabbed to death on his way to work at an Anglo American Platinum mine, the fifth such killing in the past two weeks.
NUM’s rival, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), is leading a 17-week strike against Amplats, Impala Platinum and Lonmin.
Reuters
By Obakeng Maje
Pampierstad- A 36 year-old driver will be laid to rest this weekend after he lost control of his vehicle.
The accident took place on Saturday in Pampierstad where a driver and his two passengers were involved in a car accident.
Northern Cape police said three people were allegedly from Tlapeng village, near Pampierstad.
The accident took place at around 04:00 am and left occupants strewn across.
Two people were taken to a local hospital with injuries.
A case of inquest has been launched and investigation continues.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Taung-A 39 year-old man who is accused of killing Maphoitsile-man at Blue Flame tarven at Lokgabeng village, near Taung appeared before court on Monday.
A case of Moses Goitsemodimo,39, was postponed after he re-appeared before court.
He was subsequently arrested almost three weeks ago after he was involved in a fight with Thebe Bogaleboile,45, tha left him dead.
Police said both men were allegedly playing dice at a local tavern when a fight erupted over a R4 change.
It is alleged that one of the men owed a R4 change and demanded it. The argument led to a fight and Goitsemodimo allegedly stabbed Bogaleboile with a knife on a shoulder.
Bogaleboile bled profusely and was rushed to Taung District Hospital were he died the following day. The community of Lokgabeng cornered Goitsemodimo and handed him to police.
He firstly appeared before court and was handed down a bail of R800. Court ordered Goitsemodimo to relocates from Lokgabeng village and should not interfer with witnesses.
He was back in court on Monday and his case was remanded until the 17 June 2014 for further investigations.-TDN
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Former North West premier Thandi Modise was elected chairwoman of the National Council of Provinces on Thursday.
Modise, who was elected unopposed, paid tribute to her predecessor Mninwa Mahlangu.
“Just as I and the outgoing chairperson might be buying the same shoes from the same brand of the ANC, it is quite clear that I do not have to fit my feet into these shoes, but must continue to make sure his legacy, his aspiration to take this house somewhere, will remain committed to,” Modise said.
The new NCOP chairwoman told MPs that because 80 percent of delegates in the House were new to Parliament, they should attend training programmes.
“The NCOP has a unique and important role to play. It represents provinces to ensure that provincial interests are taken into account in the national sphere of government,” Modise said.
“As permanent delegates to the NCOP, I must implore you to look beyond your party politics and unite in the pursuit of better responses to the vexing challenges that are facing our people,” she said.
Raseriti Tau was elected as her deputy, also unopposed.
Earlier, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng swore in the 54 permanent delegates to the NCOP.
The NCOP comprises 90 delegates altogether.
Fifty-four of these are permanent delegates, who are appointed by provincial legislatures, and 36 are special delegates. The 36 special delegates are members of provincial legislatures.
The 54 permanent delegates -six from each province -are not members of provincial legislatures.
They are designated by their parties to serve in the NCOP as permanent delegates and the provincial legislatures appoint them to do so.
The African National Congress has 33 permanent delegates and 27 special delegates; the Democratic Alliance 13 permanent and seven special delegates; the Economic Freedom Fighters six permanent and one special delegate; the Inkatha Freedom Party one permanent delegate and no special delegates; the United Democratic Movement one permanent delegate and no special delegate; and the National Freedom Party has no permanent delegates and one special delegate.
-Sapa
Mahikeng- North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has expressed optimism that mediation by the Labour Judge will assist to break the wage dispute deadlock and lead towards ending the four months old strike in the platinum belt.
“The resolve by AMCU and the Platinum Producers to subject their dispute to mediation is encouraging. Ending the strike will be the first step to avert possible job losses and restoring peace and stability and bring to an end the vicious cycle of violence that has resulted in the brutal killings of non-striking workers, destruction of private and public properties,”
Premier Mahumapelo said.
Mahumapelo has expressed his concern about the impact of the strike on the economy, the livelihood of miners and their families and appreciation to Non-Government Organisations like the Gift of the Givers, church leaders and individuals who had responded to the plight of the starving miners. He said that the provincial government will engage mining houses on possible interventions to address the human catastrophe caused by the protracted strike.-TDN
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Non-striking workers in Rustenburg in the North West are suffering, trade union Solidarity said on Wednesday.
The trade union’s Helping Hands project handed out baby formula and other supplies to mothers affected by the platinum mining sector strike.
“We help non-striking workers; it is not their decision to be on strike,” Helping Hands deputy director Christine Breet said.
“You can cut on other things, but, unfortunately, you cannot cut back on babies’ needs.”
Sixty mothers in Rustenburg and Mooinooi were each give a box of nappies and baby milk that could last for a month. The hamper also contained energy bars, skin cream, and magazines.
“For a month the mothers will have their children’s needs covered. They can now focus on other household needs.”
She said between April 22 and May 21 the organisation had spent over R7000 helping mothers affected by the strike.
“We give people dried food which is rich in protein and does not need to be refrigerated,” Breet said.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) downed tools at Impala Platinum, Lonmin, and Anglo American Platinum on January 23 demanding a basic monthly salary of R12,500.
They rejected the companies’ wage offer which would bring their cash remuneration to R12,500 by July 2017.
The remuneration includes a living out and holiday leave allowances, but excludes medical and retirement benefits, and any bonuses.
Mediation talks to end the strike are underway at the labour court.
Cecelia du Plessis, who runs a feeding scheme at an NG Church in Rustenburg, said she had helped about 750 households since the beginning of the strike.
“People have lost cars and houses.”
Some were forced to move in with children or parents.
“They do not have benches, fridges, or cellphones any more because they have had to pawn them,” she said.
-Sapa
A Hawks’ probe into the multimillion-rand theft of rhino horns in Mpumalanga is at an advanced stage.
The horns went missing after a burglary at the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) offices that saw 112 pieces of rhino horn weighing 80.135kg stolen from a secure safe last month.
Security personnel on site discovered the break-in.
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Pietermaritzburg – The KwaZulu-Natal Speaker’s office is increasingly becoming a dumping site for failed MECs and other discredited officials, opposition parties said on Wednesday.
They were reacting to the election of Dr Meshack Radebe as the new deputy speaker of the KZN Legislature during the first sitting of the house in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
Official leader of the opposition Sizwe Mchunu (DA) said they were concerned about Radebe’s appointment.
Radebe was agriculture and environmental affairs MEC in the previous term, and had also held the position of social development MEC.
“What we are witnessing here, is a trend whereby failed MECs from the ruling party come to the legislature to take up positions at the speaker’s office, it cannot be good for this house,” said Mchunu.
In the previous term the DA was one of the staunchest critics of Radebe, often questioning the rolling out of projects in his department.
IFP leader Blessed Gwala said Radebe’s new appointment illustrated the extent of the rot within the ruling party.
“When current speaker Lydia Johnson failed she was sent here, Mtholephi Mthimkhulu also from the same department came to the speaker’s office. This is clearly a dumping site for the ruling party’s failed individuals,” said Gwala.
Professor Gabriel Ndabandaba was the first MEC to be demoted to the speaker’s office under Sbu Ndebele’s administration, Peggy Nkonyeni was also deployed to the office after problems as health MEC and was followed by Mthimkhulu and Johnson.
Reacting to his new position Radebe said he was not bitter.
“The ANC is always right,” insisted Radebe who vowed to work hard in his new position.
– SAPA
Rustenburg – The North West province will prosper under the leadership of new premier Supra Mahumapelo, the North West legislature said on Wednesday.
“We are confident that under your leadership, the North West province will be a great force for good governance,” said Mamokoena Gaoretelelwe, secretary of the legislature.
“Your organisational skills as well as your easy-going personality will take this province far. You will be greatly missed in the legislature and I speak for the whole team in wishing you all the best,” she said.
Mahumapelo was elected premier of the North West on Wednesday, replacing former ANC deputy secretary Thandi Modise.
He becomes the second male premier in the province after Popo Molefe.
Molefe headed the province in 1994. He was replaced by Edna Molewa followed by Maureen Modiselle and then Modise.
– SAPA
Johannesburg – Members of the JMPD on Wednesday seized dagga with a street value of approximately R1m in Roodepoort and arrested a 48-year-old man in the process, a spokesperson said.
“Officers received a tip-off and discovered the dagga,” Johannesburg Metro Police department spokesperson Wayne Minnaar told Sapa.
The dagga was discovered in a greenhouse that was equipped with special lights and an electric fence which created ideal conditions for the plants to grow.
Minnaar said the man would appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of possession of and dealing in drugs.
SAPA
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