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

Skateboarding frenzy


Another action-packed weekend at the Kumba Skate Plaza found the Kimberley locals along with a group of skaters from Bloemfontein competing in the highest Ollie contest, two stair best trick jams and even a day-long filming session for the new SA Saturday’s video.

Stuart Walker of Bloemfontein is notorious in the country for his high pop and he definitely lived up to his expectations at the highest Ollie contest, where he jumped over 10 complete skateboards.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

Wits skipper bags staggering R550 000 at PSL Awards


By Kgatliso Ramose
Johannesburg- Sibusiso Vilakazi won big at the glitz and glam Premier Soccer League Awards 2014 that was held at Sandton Convention Centre last night.

The 24-year-old Bidvest Wits captain who is in the wanted list of the big teams walked away with the Footballer of the season which carries R250 000, player’s player of the season R150 000 and the Nedbank Cup player of the tournament award worth R150 000,banking a total of R550 000 in one night.

The footballer of the season award was voted by the PSL coaches while player’s player of the season was voted by the PSL players.

Ajax Cape Town player Keagan Dolly won the ABSA young player of the season.Hlompo Kekana’s goal against Orlando Pirates won him ABSA goal of the season.

On the award that set tongue lashing, last season’s footballer of the season Itumeleng Khune bagged ABSA Goalkepper of the seasons.

Other winners are:

Telkom Knock Out player of the tournament-
Mogakolodi Ngele (Platinum Stars)

MTN8 Last Man Standing- Robert N’gambi (Platinum Stars)

Nedbank Cup
Most promising player -Wanda Mngonyama (Bidvest Wits)

Nedbank Cup
Player of the tournament- Sibusiso Vilakazi (Bidvest Wits)

National First Division
Top Goal Scorer- David Zulu (Black Leopards)

ABSA Premier League
Assistant referee of the season- Edward Madidilane

Referee Of The Season- Zolile Mthetho

Coach of the season- Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Top Goal Scores- Bernand Parker (Kaizer Chiefs)

Chairman Award- Mato Matlala (Golden Arrows)

Multi awards winner and BET Awards nominees Mafikizolo and Zahara were there to entertain.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @Kgatliso_Ramose


By Kgatliso Ramose
Johannesburg- Sibusiso Vilakazi won big at the glitz and glam Premier Soccer League Awards 2014 that was held at Sandton Convention Centre last night.

The 24-year-old Bidvest Wits captain who is in the wanted list of the big teams walked away with the Footballer of the season which carries R250 000, player’s player of the season R150 000 and the Nedbank Cup player of the tournament award worth R150 000,banking a total of R550 000 in one night.

The footballer of the season award was voted by the PSL coaches while player’s player of the season was voted by the PSL players.

Ajax Cape Town player Keagan Dolly won the ABSA young player of the season.Hlompo Kekana’s goal against Orlando Pirates won him ABSA goal of the season.

On the award that set tongue lashing, last season’s footballer of the season Itumeleng Khune bagged ABSA Goalkepper of the seasons.

Other winners are:

Telkom Knock Out player of the tournament-
Mogakolodi Ngele (Platinum Stars)

MTN8 Last Man Standing- Robert N’gambi (Platinum Stars)

Nedbank Cup
Most promising player -Wanda Mngonyama (Bidvest Wits)

Nedbank Cup
Player of the tournament- Sibusiso Vilakazi (Bidvest Wits)

National First Division
Top Goal Scorer- David Zulu (Black Leopards)

ABSA Premier League
Assistant referee of the season- Edward Madidilane

Referee Of The Season- Zolile Mthetho

Coach of the season- Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Top Goal Scores- Bernand Parker (Kaizer Chiefs)

Chairman Award- Mato Matlala (Golden Arrows)

Multi awards winner and BET Awards nominees Mafikizolo and Zahara were there to entertain.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @Kgatliso_Ramose

Ombudsman dismisses DA complaint


Johannesburg – The Press Ombudsman has dismissed a complaint by the Democratic Alliance that a story printed in The Star newspaper was inaccurate.

Ombudsman Johan Retief, in a ruling released on Monday, said the complaint was about a story printed on 22 April this year, and syndicated across Independent Group titles, headlined “Reserve Bank ‘does endorse DA economic plans’ “.

“The DA complains that the story inaccurately stated that: the party were running a radio advertisement that the SA Reserve Bank had ‘endorsed’ its economic plan and had “agreed” with it…” said Retief.

“…And party leader Helen Zille said at a rally in Kroonstad that the Reserve Bank had ‘modelled’ its economic policy.”

The story stated that the DA was “continuing to claim that the SA Reserve Bank has endorsed the party’s economic politics, despite both the bank and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan rejecting the claims several months ago”.

Endorsement

This was even though DA leaders were careful to attribute the endorsement of their manifesto to “a Reserve Bank consultant”.

“The journalists claimed that the DA’s radio adverts ‘repeat[ed] the claims’,” Retief said.

“They also reported that Zille said at a rally outside Kroonstad that this consultant ‘did an economic model of the DA’s policies and stated it would lead to eight percent growth and six million real, sustainable jobs’.

“Gordhan reportedly said that the Bank had not endorsed the consultant’s ‘working paper’.”

The text of the advert included: “It’s clear that our country needs jobs. More jobs means less crime and a better life for everyone. The DA will carry out a plan that the South African Reserve Bank [SARB] says will create six million real, permanent jobs…”.

The ombudsman said the journalists also stated the advert said the SARB ‘agreed’ that the DA’s economic plan would lead to an eight percent growth rate and the creation of six million jobs,” Retief said.

Retief said the questions confronting him was whether the story misrepresented the DA’s position and, if so, whether it had likely caused it unnecessary harm.

Zille interview

While Retief believed that the story was technically inaccurate, he referenced an interview Zille had done with eNCA, which The Star had also cited, where she said: “We know we can get six million jobs if we have a proper economic policy that can grow the economy at eight percent per year.

“The Reserve Bank has modelled the DA’s policy and has concluded that indeed we can achieve eight percent growth.”

Retief said if Zille never said those words, he would have found the statement in the story to be essentially untrue and an apology would have been appropriate.

“However, I have evidence that she did make that statement. Even though the story inaccurately stated that the DA’s advert said the SARB had endorsed its policy, I therefore do not believe that this mistake may have caused it unnecessary harm of any kind.”

Retief said he had no evidence that Zille stated the SARB had “modelled” or “endorsed” the DA’s policy, at the rally near Kroonstad.

“The newspaper also did not provide me with any proof to this effect,” he said.

“However, even if it was inaccurate to have stated that she made this statement near Kroonstad, Zille had made the very same assertion elsewhere.

“I therefore again do not believe that this mistake was material and that it would have caused her or her party any unnecessary harm.”

Regardless of the above, Retief was concerned the journalists got the when and the where of Zille’s statement wrong on both occasions.

“This is a cause for concern, and should urgently be addressed by the powers that be at The Star,” he said.

“Secondly, if I ask the newspaper to correct the inaccuracies, the message would still be that Zille was on record as saying that the SARB had modelled the DA’s policy – which is exactly what the party does not want.”

– SAPA

Court to hear ANCYL debt case


Johannesburg – Gallagher Estate Convention Centre will attempt to recover more than R4m the ANCYL allegedly owes it when it goes to the South Gauteng High Court on Monday.

Atterbell Investments, trading as Gallagher Estate, said the ANC Youth League owed it more than R4m for four events at the centre in June 2011.

In April it asked the court to place the ANCYL under final liquidation or provisionally sequestrate it.

According to an affidavit by the convention centre’s chief executive Adolf Venter, a default judgment was handed down on the matter in September 2011.

In March, another liquidation case against the league was settled out of court. High Court Judge Phillip Boruchowitz discharged a provisional liquidation order made in November last year.

The original liquidation order against the league was applied for by Bloemfontein events company Z2 Presentations, which had originally been tasked with running the ANCYL’s 2008 national conference in the Free State. The conference left the company R15m out of pocket after the league did not pay its bill.

A hotel, trading as Palanquin Hospitality Management and based in Bloemfontein, claimed R1.5m from the ANCYL, lawyer Steven van Rensburg said during a new court application in January.

Palanquin, which is in liquidation, provided accommodation for the conference delegates.

SAPA