Johannesburg – Protest and violence overshadowed President Jacob Zuma‘s State of the Nation address on Thursday night as the Economic Freedom Fighters carried out a threat to confront him on misspending on his Nkandla home and were manhandled by police in the National Assembly.

As riot police dragged EFF MPs out of the chamber and down the corridor, the Democratic Alliance walked out and accused the ANC of becoming as oppressive as the apartheid regime.

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Cape Town – Questions remain over the security personnel sent in to forcibly remove EFF MPs from the National Assembly.

Clad in white shirts and black pants, the men – whom EFF MPs alleged were armed – moved in through both entrances of the National Assembly just as Speaker Baleka Mbete ordered that EFF leader Julius Malema and his fellow MPs vacate the House.

For more http://www.news24.com

Cape Town – Parliament should take stern action against members of the Economic Freedom Fighters who disrupted President Jacob Zuma’s state-of-the-nation address, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said on Thursday night.

“Such behaviour and conduct cannot and must not be tolerated and we urge Parliament to apply the rules and take stern action against those members,” Radebe said at a media briefing held shortly after Zuma ended his speech.

“The government of the Republic of South Africa is deeply disappointed and disgusted at the despicable conduct of some elected public representatives who are hell-bent on holding our democratic institutions, the electorate and our country at ransom.”

The National Assembly descended into chaos and violence when EFF MPs refused to leave the chamber when National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete order them to.

Mbete ordered the legislature’s protection officers to enter the chamber, adding “the security forces must come in in terms of the powers and privileges act”.

The security officers clashed with the EFF MPs who tried to stand their ground.

EFF leader Julius Malema was one of the last to be dragged out of the House after fist fights broke out between party members and the security officers.

Radebe said the actions of Malema and his MPs were aimed at rendering Parliament ungovernable.

“The events that unfolded before our eyes…were aimed at bringing our hard-earned democracy into serious disrepute,” he said.

“People of this great land died for this great democracy. Their actions… dishonour the lives of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

Durban – A suspected armed robber has been shot dead and two others arrested following a robbery in Durban North, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Thursday.

A man was hijacked at gunpoint outside his home in Durban North on Wednesday, Colonel Jay Naicker said.

A local security firm was alerted to the hijacking and spotted the alleged hijackers in Glen Anil, Durban.

Shoot-out

“The suspects allegedly opened fired on the security officials and there was an exchange of gunfire resulting in one suspect being killed.”

The other two men fled the scene and were later arrested by the police K9 unit. The police took possession of two firearms and the vehicle used in the robbery.

“Initial investigations indicate that suspect’s vehicle was hijacked in Phoenix,” said Naicker.

The two would appear soon in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They were also expected to be linked to the Phoenix hijacking.

“The confiscated firearms will be sent to ballistics to ascertain whether they had been used in the commission of any other crime in the country,” Naicker said.

‘We are at war with criminals’

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the K9 unit officers and security guards on the arrests and confiscation of firearms.

“We are at war with criminals in KwaZulu-Natal and they must expect police to meet fire with fire,” she said.

“Police will never back down when confronted by heavily armed criminals and we will do whatever it takes to remove these thugs from our streets.”

Pretoria – The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has increased security at all its campuses following protests, it said on Thursday.

“Activities at all our campuses are continuing,” spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said.

This was after protest action which resulted in the suspension of business at the Soshanguve north and south campuses last week spilled over to other campuses.

De Ruyter said additional security had been put in place to ensure the safety of students and staff.

It was important for students to attend classes to begin the academic year on a good footing, she said.

Student funding

University management met student leaders on Wednesday evening in an attempt to resolve points of contention, primarily student funding.

“Although progressive proposals from the university’s side were tabled, these were rejected by the student leaders,” said De Ruyter.

The SA Students’ Congress criticised university management last week for failing to help needy students.

“It is outrageously irresponsible for university management to provide students with no alternative than sending them home,” Gauteng deputy chairperson Sthembiso Ndlovu said in a statement at the time.

“Students are cancelling their academic courses due to outstanding fees and NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] budget cuts.”

De Ruyter said on Thursday that although the student leaders had rejected TUT’s proposals, management remained committed to continue engaging to resolve the problems.

In September, the university was forced to close some of its campuses when protests about student funding became violent. The protests lasted almost three weeks and 18 cars were torched.

Johannesburg – Efforts by former tennis champion Bob Hewitt to have his case struck from the roll failed in the South Gauteng High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, on Thursday.

Hewitt’s lawyer Terry Price had submitted that, among other things, the evidence of the three women who accused Hewitt of sexual assault and rape could not be accepted.

“I’ve considered the relevant issues and listened to the arguments,” said Judge Bert Bam.

“None of it comes as a surprise. As far as the application is concerned, it is without merit and is refused,” he ruled, without giving reasons.

Wearing a blue knee-length dress, Hewitt’s wife Delaille stood and left the courtroom once the ruling had been delivered.

She has remained by her husband’s side as one by one his accusers took the stand.

Tears

At the back of the courtroom, one of Hewitt’s alleged victims Suellen Sheehan broke down and cried.

She testified that Hewitt raped her in 1982 in his car before tennis practice when she was 12 years old.

Another of Hewitt’s accusers Theresa Tolken told the court Hewitt touched her inappropriately and forced her to perform oral sex on him 34 years ago when she was 12.

A third alleged victim, who may not be named, testified that Hewitt rubbed himself against her back in an inappropriate way during private tennis lessons.

The Australian-born Hewitt has pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape and one of indecent assault.

He took the stand on Thursday to give his evidence-in-chief.

Cape Town – Economic Freedom Fighters parliamentarians are determined to disrupt President Jacob Zuma‘s State of the Nation address on Thursday, but may they?

Here’s what the official rules of a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces say, and how things might play out between the EFF and the Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete.

For more http://www.news24.com

The North West Department of Economy and Enterprise Development in partnership with Seven Colours will be hosting the Stokvel Bokone Bophirima Exhibition for the first time in the province. The exhibition is set to ignite interest in the rich heritage of Stokvel in South Africa when it open doors on 20-21 February 2015, at Mmabatho Convention Centre.

The two day event will create a platform for Stokvel organisations, cooperatives, financial institutions, funeral undertakers; wholesalers and other related companies will drive growth, investment and development within the South African Stokvel landscape. It will also highlight the role played by Stokvel clubs and how they can contribute towards increasing share in trade and investment within Bokone Bophirima.

Enterprises across all the districts of the province will also be afforded an opportunity of showcasing their best product during the exhibition which will attract people from as far as Botswana and the other surrounding provinces.

This is the first time in the history of Stokvels in which members will be given access to a variety of avenues and solutions to stay competitive and gain access to opportunities available in government especially on cooperative development

Divided into two sections – the trade and public halls – the expo will provide innovative solutions tailored to the size and scope of operation of all participating stokvel groups, cooperatives, individuals and associations through an open exhibition of various products and brands.

Furthermore, this will encourage networking with other like-minded individuals in a casual and comfortable environment. Admission to the venue will be free of charge, and this will essentially enable many more stokvel organisations and members of the public from the four districts of the North West province the opportunity to visit the exhibition.

‘’Stokvels was initiated as a means of survival in hard times especially amongst black people. According to research conducted by University of Cape Town in 2003, one in every South Africans are members of at least one of 89 000 stokvels. It further estimated that approximately R12 billion is invested through stokvels yearly, therefore as government we want to tap in to expose members to cooperative development initiatives to create jobs through establishment of enterprises within Bokone Bophirima, said MEC Wendy Nelson.

North West is amongst four provinces dominating the stokvel distribution within South Africa hence we felt it’s proper to formalize the sector to contribute in improving the economy of the province, said Nelson.

She said all members belonging to any kind of stokvels within Bokone Bophirima are invited to come and grasp opportunities available and forge strong partnership with other clubs and corporate companies with one common goal of increasing and promoting economic valiability in underserved markets.

-TDN

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A 90 minute strike from Kermit Erasmus helped Orlando Pirates break AmaZulu hearts as they snatched a come-from-behind 2-1 Premiership win at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Wednesday.

New Usuthu signing Mbulelo Mabizela had given basement club Usuthu the lead when he headed them ahead after 66 minutes.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Cape Town – The EFF’s threat to disrupt President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday night could have serious political implications for the country if it went ahead.

It could lead to frosty relations between the ANC and EFF inside and outside Parliament, forcing the ANC to completely isolate the EFF.

While Speaker Baleka Mbete has decided to adopt a wait-and-see attitude, the ruling party could take a tougher stance against the EFF if the annual event is disrupted.

For more http://www.iol.co.za