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

Cape Town – The ANC voiced moral outrage on Wednesday about the imminent opening of a sex shop across the road from Parliament’s side entrance.

ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani’s office noted “with grave concern the re-emerging of the adult shop that trades in pornographic material in front of the buildings of Parliament on Plein Street in Cape Town”.

A branch of Adult World has moved in between two fast-food restaurants, Shah’s and The Entertainer, both frequented by politicians and parliamentary officials.

It has yet to open, but a sign on the door indicates it will trade seven days a week. From Mondays to Saturdays, it will be open until 22:00 and on Sundays until 20:00.

The group tried to open a branch on the same street in 2004, but met sustained opposition, spearheaded by ANC MP Patrick Chauke.

Sizani’s office said it would take legal advice on the lawfulness of such a shop operating close to the legislature, and called on the city council, run by the DA, to explain why it was granted a licence.

His spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said its proximity might discourage people from visiting Parliament.

“Since 1994 this Parliament has transformed into an open and accessible institution which daily welcomes scores of people from all walks of life – including schoolchildren, religious communities and tourists.

“Having stores of this nature next to Parliament may offend certain people’s moral sensibilities or belief systems and discourage them from visiting Parliament.”

Parliament’s spokesperson Luzuko Jacobs said the shop had not been discussed by the legislature’s staff.

Adult World’s CEO Francois Joubert declined to comment.
SAPA

Johannesburg – A mother, whose daughter was accidently switched the day of her birth four years ago, said she wants her biological child back, while the other prefers to keep the girl she raised.
A court will rule on the future of the two 4-year-old girls, officials involved in the case said on Wednesday.

One of the mothers wants to get her biological daughter back, while the other prefers to keep the girl she has raised.

The babies were born on the same day in 2010 at the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Johannesburg but ended up being taken home by the wrong mother, the hospital confirmed, without giving an explanation for the accident.

The families were unaware of the mix-up until one of the mothers underwent tests when her ex-husband refused to pay child maintenance because he believed he was not the father.

“They did a paternity test and it was established that neither party was the parent of the child. They went back to the hospital and it was confirmed they had been swapped at birth,” Henk Strydom, the lawyer of one of the mothers, told Reuters.

“She was absolutely devastated. She was traumatised,” Strydom added. “My client wants her baby back. She is the biological mother of the child.”

But the other mother in the case does not want to exchange the girls, leaving the North Gauteng High Court to decide if the children should be returned to their biological mothers. The names of those involved cannot be published for legal reasons.

The mothers met each other and their biological daughters last year and have been attending joint therapy sessions arranged by the hospital since December.

The court has asked the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Child Law to investigate what would be in the best interests of the children and report back to the judge in 90 days.

“We have been authorised to investigate the matter and to give our report and recommendations. It will be up to the court to make the final decision,” a spokesperson at the centre said.

Strydom compared the case with a story in the Hebrew Bible when King Solomon unveils the truth after two women claim to be the mother of a child.

“Someone has to make a very difficult decision. It really is a situation on a biblical scale,” Strydom said.

Reuters