Durban – A man trapped in a water-filled trench at a residential property in Orient Hill in Isipingo was freed on Saturday night after an 11-hour rescue operation, paramedics said.

The 29-year-old man was rushed to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital after his ordeal, ER24 spokesperson Luyanda Majija said.

“The man is in a stable condition and is now being treated for his suspected severe pelvic fracture and leg injuries.

“ER24 paramedics, fire department personnel and SAPS Search and Rescue worked for approximately 11 hours to rescue the man.”

It was believed that the man was building a retainer wall, when his leg got stuck in debris at the bottom of a deep trench around 09:00.

Rescue workers had to contend with difficult circumstances, as water kept pouring into the trench as quickly as it could be drained out.

The man was submerged up to the waist at times during the rescue, Majija said.

SAPA

Cape Town – Over a quarter of toilets inspected in four Khayelitsha informal settlements are not in working order, Social Justice Coalition (SJC) said on Saturday.

This was one of the preliminary findings of a week-long social audit on the janitorial service for communal flush toilets, the SJC said.

A social audit is a tool that enables community participation in monitoring government service delivery and spending.

On Saturday the SJC and Ndifuna Ukwazi hosted a public hearing to report back to communities on the social audit.

“At the public hearing… participants presented their evidence and community members gave testimonies of their experiences of this service,” the SJC said.

Dirty

The social audit also found that almost half of the toilets inspected were “either dirty or very dirty”.

Not all areas had enough janitors to service the toilets, and janitors did not have the required cleaning equipment or receive the required training.

The preliminary report also indicated that janitors were not being inoculated against disease and did not have the required protective personal equipment, the SJC said.

The SJC made headlines in September when 18 of its members were arrested along with Treatment Action Campaign founder Zachie Achmat after they chained themselves to railings of the Cape Town civic centre to demonstrate their frustration over sanitation provision in Khayelitsha.

SAPA

Pretoria – The government has thanked South Africans for their good deeds in honour of Nelson Mandela on Mandela Day.

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi said on Saturday that every person had the ability and responsibility to make a positive change.

“No matter how small the action, the aim was to practice a healthier and cleaner way of living.

“This Mandela Day South Africans showed a spirit of selflessness, unity, volunteerism and dedication by participating in clean-up initiatives.”

Thanks

Earlier, the Nelson Mandela Foundation thanked the world for carrying out good deeds in memory of the former president, whose birthday was celebrated on Friday.

“We have been heartened by the number of sustainable projects still thriving. At the same time it has been inspiring to see the range of innovative new projects to emerge,” foundation spokesperson Danielle Melville said.

“We welcome the degree to which structures of the state, of civil society and in the private sector are working together for the campaign.”

Melville said people in 126 countries participated in Mandela Day, and more 1 200 positive deeds had been registered on their website.

Melville said in South Africa almost half a million food parcels had been distributed to needy people, and more than a million sanitary towels handed to schoolgirls.

Habitat for Humanity in South Africa built 67 houses in one week for the poor.

More than 15 000 books were also donated to school libraries.

Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday, when people are encouraged to give 67 minutes of their time and of themselves to help those less fortunate.

Mandela spent 67 years of his life working for social justice.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The SABC has paid around R42m in bonuses to its staff and middle management, the Sunday Times reported.

According to the report, bonuses of R8 000 after tax were paid to 3 007 workers as part of a wage agreement with unions.

The bonuses were reportedly a gesture of gratitude for hard work during former president Nelson Mandela’s funeral and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Can afford to pay bonuses

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago defended the move, saying the SABC had overcome its financial difficulties and could afford to pay the bonuses.

“I don’t know why it should be an alarming thing that we are paying staff,” he was quoted as saying.

He told the Sunday Times that the SABC now had R1.2bn in the bank.

Kganyago distanced chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng and SABC board chairperson Zandile Tshabalala from the bonus deal.

In February, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela released a report on Motsoeneng, while he was acting COO. She found that his salary increased from R1.5m to R2.4m in one year, that he had purged senior staff, and misrepresented his qualifications – that he had passed matric – to the SABC.

At the time, Madonsela recommended that a new COO be appointed to the SABC within 90 days.

Earlier this month Communications Minister Faith Muthambi announced Motsoeneng’s permanent appointment as COO, saying the decision was taken following a recommendation by the SABC board.

She said he had been cleared of all wrongdoing by a legal firm before being appointed permanently.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje
Reivilo- North West police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a woman died in a horrific accident.

The accident took place on Saturday at around 17:00 near Reivilo.

A green Venture with three passengers and a driver, was allegedly towing a white double cab towards Reivilo from Taung.

The white double cab lost control and that forced a Venture to capsized. A woman died on the scene and two girls aged 10 and 16 were rushed to Taung hospital for medical attention.

Police investigation continues and full details will follow.-TDN
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