WINSTON-SALEM – American author and poet Maya Angelou, who is best known for her groundbreaking autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” has died at age 86 in North Carolina, her publisher confirmed on Wednesday.

The prolific African-American writer penned more than 30 books, won numerous awards, and was honored last year by the National Book Awards for her service to the literary community.
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Jerusalem- South Africa’s last president under white rule has suggested that Israel risks heading toward apartheid if it does not reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.

The comments by F.W. de Klerk echo warnings made by Palestinian, American and dovish Israeli officials. But his words carry special meaning, given his role in South Africa’s painful history of race relations.
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Johannesburg – Congress of SA Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi’s right to be heard was being violated, his spokesman John Dludlu said on Wednesday.

This followed media reports about a leaked forensic audit report by auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo regarding his involvement in the selling of the old Cosatu building and the purchasing of the new one.

Dludlu said the leak was unethical.

“This conduct is both unethical and contrary to principles of fairness and justice that define the work of the auditing profession.”

Earlier in the day, The Star newspaper reported that the report fingered acting Eskom CEO Collin Matjila for the debacle but the buck would stop with Vavi as he was supposed to have overseen the process.

The report said the trade union movement overpaid R6.3 million on its new building while the old one was undersold by at least R9 million.

Dludlu said Vavi would not subject himself to a media trial – where his accusers selectively fed the media with leaks.

“We wish to place on record that since his return to his elected post after the lifting of his illegal suspension, Vavi has seen and read the SNG report.

“The report confirms our worst fears that his rights to be heard were violated. His inputs were either ignored or misunderstood and the effect of this has been flawed conclusions and adverse findings,” he said.

Vavi was suspended from the trade union federation for having an affair with a junior employee.

He was put on special leave in August last year, pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing relating to the affair. He returned to work on April 7.

Vavi would challenge the manner the audit was being handled.

“Consequently, to assert his rights, Mr Vavi will be challenging this concerning conduct by the firm through appropriate professional standards channels,” said Dludlu.

Sapa

Johannesburg – A man accused of assaulting and keeping his wife and five children captive in his Springs home appeared in the Springs Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, Gauteng police said.
The man, 36, was kept in custody and the matter was postponed to 4 June, police investigator Rudi Jansen said.

He said he was not in a position to give any further information related to the case.

Johan du Preez, the regional control prosecutor, said the man’s next appearance would be for a bail application.

Police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini said: “The name of the man cannot be revealed for the sake of the children.”

News agency AFP reported that the court ordered the man not be named to protect the children.

Earlier on Wednesday, spokesperson Johannes Ramphora said the man was arrested on Thursday last week after his 11-year-old son apparently fled the house in Springs and went to a neighbour’s house next door.

“Five children were found in the house, between the ages of 2 and 16. Police were contacted by the man’s neighbours,” said Ramphora.

“He is being charged with assault and kidnapping. His wife was in the house when he was arrested but she is one of the alleged victims.”

It appeared the children had been kept in unfit conditions and were abused.

Police were investigating.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A manhunt has been launched for a man who allegedly killed a 2-year-old boy by slashing his throat with a broken bottle in Seshego, Polokwane, Limpopo police said on Wednesday.

“The suspect allegedly bashed his girlfriend’s 2-year-old child against the wall, cut his throat with a broken bottle, and when a teenager tried to interfere he was stabbed on the head,” said spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

The incident happened on Monday.

Mulaudzi said the man broke a window to gain access to the house, wherein an argument ensued between him and his 27-year-old girlfriend.

The woman’s 2-year-old son and her two siblings, aged 10 and 14, were in the house.

“As the argument heated up, the woman managed to escape and went to her aunt’s house to seek help, leaving her son and two siblings in the house,” Mulaudzi said.

The man threw the toddler against the wall and stabbed the 14-year-old in the head when he tried to stop him.

The toddler died in Polokwane Provincial Hospital on Tuesday. The teenager is receiving medical treatment in the same hospital.

“We plead with parents to leave children out of their domestic squabbles. We are pursuing positive leads and with assistance from the community, our breakthrough is imminent,” said provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola.
SAPA

Johannesburg – Newly appointed Minister for Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu has promised to fast-track the delivery of “decent” houses as she takes up her new role.
She said the provision of housing was not only about chasing numbers.

It was about ensuring that all houses built by government were of high quality that afforded beneficiaries decent accommodation.

“Our primary task is to ensure that we provide decent housing and create an environment whereby the private sector will invest in low-income housing projects… ,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

It will be Sisulu’s second stint in charge of the ministry. She headed the portfolio in 2004.

Sisulu said her office would play a critical role in implementing and delivering on the promises made by the ANC of improving people’s living conditions.

“The president has made it clear to all of us that the next five years are about fast-tracked service delivery, and I am happy that I have been given this task of leading such a critical service delivery department,” she said.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Newly appointed Minister for Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu has promised to fast-track the delivery of “decent” houses as she takes up her new role.
She said the provision of housing was not only about chasing numbers.

It was about ensuring that all houses built by government were of high quality that afforded beneficiaries decent accommodation.

“Our primary task is to ensure that we provide decent housing and create an environment whereby the private sector will invest in low-income housing projects… ,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

It will be Sisulu’s second stint in charge of the ministry. She headed the portfolio in 2004.

Sisulu said her office would play a critical role in implementing and delivering on the promises made by the ANC of improving people’s living conditions.

“The president has made it clear to all of us that the next five years are about fast-tracked service delivery, and I am happy that I have been given this task of leading such a critical service delivery department,” she said.

SAPA