Johannesburg – The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is delaying the release of the final Nkandla report and trying to find a diplomatic way to present it, the DA charged on Friday.

DA MP James Selfe said reports that the SIU had delayed the release of its final report on the R246m upgrade of President Jacob Zuma’s private homestead at Nkandla, in KwaZulu-Natal, was concerning.

“It is equally suspicious that the SIU has now noted ‘certain circumstances which are outside of its control’ as the reason for this delay…,” Selfe said in a statement.

“South Africans deserve access to the full report, so that they can interrogate its findings, and its accuracy. Especially since the provisional report was a complete whitewash.”

Investigations followed the release of a report by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, which found Zuma unduly benefited from the upgrade. She recommended that Zuma pay for some of the improvements out of his own pocket.

Zuma said he would respond once the SIU’s investigation was completed.

On 12 June, the SIU confirmed it had submitted a provisional report to Zuma.

The unit said it had until recently indicated it hoped its report would be completed by the end of June.

“Regrettably, as a result of certain circumstances which are completely outside its control, the unit will no longer be able to meet this deadline,” spokesman Boy Ndala said.

The SIU said it hoped the report would be released soon.

Selfe said if the public did not get access to the report, this would point to a continuation of the cover-up of the Nkandla scandal.

“The DA will not let this happen. I will urgently write to the head of the SIU Mr Vasantrai Soni, and request that he furnish me with all the reasons for the delay, including ‘the special circumstances’ that was referred to… as well as clarify whether or not the full report will be made public,” he said.

SAPA

North West Premier Mahumapelo has committed to implement a reconciliation, healing and renewal programme to stabilize the social situation in Marikana.

Premier Mahumapelo welcomed the settlement of the wage dispute in the platinum belt in his State of the Province Address delivered on Friday and applauded organizations and individuals who took the initiative to clothe and feed people of Marikana during the five-month strike that ended on Wednesday.

“We hope that we have all learnt some lessons from this protracted strike and that all role players will in future do everything possible to avoid recurrence of such developments,” Mahumapelo highlighted.

He also applauded the National Department of Social Development for the initiative they have taken through the service delivery blitz to be conducted in Marikana over the coming weekend.

The Premier proclaimed that a Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal Day of Prayer on Reconciliation Day that will bring all people of the province from different religious persuasions together to pray for the reconciliation, healing and renewal of the province will be commemorated on Reconciliation Day on 16 December 2014.
-TDN
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A call by North West province communities for clinics to expand operating hours has received attention of Premier Supra Mahumapelo. 

The Province will soon revise the policy governing operating hours of all clinics particularly in rural areas, Premier Mahumapelo said during the delivery of his maiden State of the Province Address in Mahikeng on Friday.

A partnership with the Belgian Government for the introduction of Electronic Health Records that will see patients accessing medical records through a click a button as part of the e-health initiatives will be launched, the Premier announced.

Mahumapelo said government will be implementing and extending safety nets to orphans and vulnerable children infected and affected by HIV & AIDS and providing home community based care services to 98 140 beneficiaries.

“This will also include linking the affected and infected to poverty alleviation and psycho-social support programmes. Social mobilisation and behaviour change programmes will be rendered to 210 000 beneficiaries and 330 Child and Youth Care Workers will benefit from Isibindi programme.

A total of 79 Non Profit Organisations will be funded at a tune of R36 464 000 for delivering HIV & AIDS Social protection services,” he said.
-TDN
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The North West Provincial Government is to establish satellite offices at all major and properly zoned taxi ranks across the province in an effort to bring services closer to communities, Premier, Supra Mahumapelo, pronounced during his State of the Province Address delivered in Mahikeng on Friday.

Premier Mahumapelo said that the provincial government is planning in the long-term to have permanent presence through government offices in these taxi ranks to bring services rendered by all government departments.

“We also recognise the strategic importance of taxi ranks as viable economic zones and we intend to enhance and grow this potential. In this regard we will consult with all taxi associations and all stakeholders doing business at the taxi ranks,” said Mahumapelo.

According to the Premier, the satellites will be established by the beginning of the next financial year.-TDN
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Mahikeng- All state owned farms across the North West Province are to be allocated to community and youth cooperatives, Premier Supra Mahumapelo announced in his State of the Province Address delivered at the Mmabatho Convention Centre on Friday.
 

Premier Mahumapelo said that the allocation will be part of the provincial government’s strategy to revive agriculture as a priority sector for economic development and addressing youth unemployment.

“Government will provide seeds and implements, and ensure that state hospitals procure all their required supplies from these cooperatives,” Mahumapelo stressed.

The Premier highlighted that the rollout of the allocation is planned for roll-out over three years.

Other programmes to benefit youth announced by the Premier include the introduction of the Ikatisong Youth Training & Incubation Programme to reinforce the Expanded Public Works Programme. 

“This approach will ensure that the youth programmes are not only sustainable but also expose the young people to enterprise based skills which will allow them to migrate into gainful employment or self-employment beyond government programmes,” Mahumapelo said. 

Youth mobilisation programmes will also benefit 7 600 youth who will also be linked to Community Development Work opportunities and skill development programmes.

The Premier also announced that IBM (ICT Company) will be piloting a programme in partnership with both Provincial Government and the North West University (Mafikeng Campus) to roll-out E-Skilling to the young people in the Province.
The project will start in Mafikeng before being rolled out to other parts of the Province.
A  Provincial Youth Skills Development Centre is to be launched by the end of the year in the Dr.Kenneth Kaunda District to absorb a 1000 young people to be trained in various trades. 

Upon completion of training, trainees will be linked to job opportunities in the market.-TDN
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Johannesburg – A man has been sentenced to life in prison for raping his 12-year-old granddaughter, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Thursday.

The 77-year-old man from Glendale appeared in the KwaDukuza Regional Court on Thursday, where he was convicted and sentenced, said police spokesperson Thulani Zwane.

Between January 2008 and February 2013, the man repeatedly raped the 12-year-old, gave her money and said he would kill her should she tell anyone.

The girl was staying with her grandparents at the time.

“The matter was reported to Glendale police last year after the child’s aunt noticed the behaviour of the little girl and questioned her,” he said.

KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, welcomed the sentence.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The report commissioned by the North West University (NWU) council into initiation practises at the university must be made available to AfriForum Youth, it said on Thursday.

“AfriForum Youth instructed its legal team to address a legal notice to the council of the NWU-Puk in which they request that the report… be made available to them,” national chairperson Henk Maree said in a statement.

If this was declined, it would use the Promotion of Access to Information Act to get the document.

Earlier on Thursday, the council said in a statement it would not tolerate human rights infringements at the university.

“While serious efforts were made in the past to prevent initiation practices, the independent investigation revealed the reality and magnitude of the challenges facing the entire university community in this regard,” it said.

Further management intervention needed

The council submitted a report to the minister of higher education and training in February after some students reportedly used the stiff-armed Nazi salute during an initiation ceremony.

In May, vice chancellor Dr Theuns Eloff stepped down. He was replaced by Prof Dan Kgwadi.

The council said further management intervention was needed because despite policies and procedures being in place “offensive practices” occurred, which violated human rights.

Maree said AfriForum Youth was told the report could not be made available as further investigation was necessary.

“It is unheard of to hand a report over to the minister if further investigation is still necessary,” he said.

AfriForum Youth was concerned about the university’s future following statements reportedly made by Kgwadi at a press conference on Wednesday.

‘Transformation cannot be forced’

“Kgwadi straightforwardly told the media that now is the time for transformation and that no initiation will be tolerated,” Maree said.

“Transformation is [the] ANC’s politically afflicted idea. Transformation cannot be forced, and if it is indeed forced, it will surely lead to uprising among students.”

The university was not opposed to transformation merely because most students on campus were Afrikaans.

“We agree that no student’s human dignity should be affected, but the good shouldn’t be pushed aside with the bad,” Maree said.

“There is a difference between a healthy student life and initiation, the council must realise that.”
SAPA