Category Archives: NEWS

NWest allocates R30 million towards recapitalisation of busses -Premier Modise

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Stakeholders in the transport industry will be afforded a chance to participate in the recapitalization and redistribution of busses to serve rural communities, Premier Thandi Modise assured in her response to the Debate of the State of the Province Address on Tuesday.

Premier Modise made the commitment in announcing that R30 million has been allocated to the North West Transport Investment (NTI) towards the recapitalization process.

“The recapitalization is necessary as some of the busses are over 40- years- old. New busses would be prioritized for learner transport and expand access to public transport for disadvantaged communities in our province,” Modise said.

The NTI bus fleet of 600 busses includes the Batswana Gare Transport, Botlhaba Transport Service and the Attridgeville Bus Service and operates mostly outside the province. -TDN
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SA Army: Training Programme open


SA Army: Training Programme

Location: ALL PROVINCES, South Africa

Closing Date: 31 March 2014

The SA Army, through its Military Skills Development System (MSDS), is offering young South African citizens an opportunity to serve in uniform over a two-year period. The Military Skills Development System is a two-year voluntary service system with the long term goal of enhancing the SA National Defense Force’s deployment capability.

MSDS Candidates will be appointed in a specific corps career and will be called up to a Training Unit, where members will complete their Basic Military Training, Corps Functional Training, in the first year and be utilized and deployed in the second year of the MSDS.

Requirements

Be a SA Citizen
MSDS Applicants must be between the ages of 18-22 years
MSDS Graduates up to the age of 25 years
Successfully completed Grade 12
Not be area bound
Have no record of criminal offense
Preferably Single
Comply with medical fitness requirements for appointment in the SANDF
Be prepared to serve in uniform, undergo Basic Military and Functional Train
Training

The SA Army’s mandate focuses on the provisioning of combat ready forces and plays a leading role in landward operations. Training will be decentralized to operational units where members will be appointed to undergo Basic Military Training, Corps training and deployment. MSDS applicants must be between the ages of 18 to 22 to be considered. Applicants who are in possession of a post Grade 12 qualification (Degree, Diploma or N6) must be between the ages of 18 to 25 may also be considered.

Successful applicants will be required to serve in uniform and undergo Military Training. Incomplete forms will not be considered. Only applicants who have passed Grade 12 may apply and must not be older than the age as stipulated above on the date of reporting for training.

How To Apply

Download Application Form (after the link opens, please click File | Download)

Certified copies of ID document, Grade 12 certificate or Post grade 12 qualifications and CV must accompany this application form to SA Army Recruiting, Private Bag X 981, Pretoria 0001

Enquiries

Administrative enquiries can be directed to the SA Army Recruitment Center at (012) 355 1438 or (012) 355 1420. If you are interested in the Military Skills Development System in the SA Army, please complete the coupon with the requested documentation enclosed and post it to

SA Army HQ, Dir Army HR, SA Army Recruiting Centre, Private Bag x981, Pretoria, 0001.

Specific related enquiries can be directed to (012) 355 1420 or (012) 355 1438. Further information can be obtained on http://www.dod.mil.za, http://www.army.mil.zaShould you not hear from the Department of Defence by 31 October 2014 please assume that you application has been unsuccessful.

The Department of Defence reserves the right to employment.-TDN
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Pistorius Trial: Saayman testimony to be disputed


PRETORIA – It will now be up to an expert witness to dispute the findings of the state pathologist after Professor Gert Saayman dismissed attempts to discredit his testimony.
Saayman gave an extensive account of the injuries suffered by Reeva Steenkamp on the night she was shot dead by the ‘Blade Runner’.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

1.8bn alcohol litres seized in a year


Johannesburg – Around 1.8 billion litres of illegally sold alcohol were seized around the country in the 2012/13 financial year, police said on Tuesday.
Thousands of illegal shebeens were also shut down during this period, said national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.

Following a press briefing in Isando, on the East Rand, she and Gauteng acting police commissioner Lieutenant General Joel Mothiba poured out thousands of litres of alcohol.

The two were joined by other police officials as they emptied different beer, cider, wine, and whisky bottles into a make-shift drain.

The stench of alcohol filled the air as the different coloured liquors frothed in the drain.

“Alcohol is socially acceptable but has a negative effect on families and communities,” said Phiyega.

People who owned illegal shebeens operated until the early hours of the morning, and patrons walking home from these shebeens at those hours became a target of crime.

“We want to decrease the amount of crime [which stems from] the illegal use of alcohol,” said Phiyega.

Mothiba said in Gauteng alone, 97 000 bottles of liquor were confiscated from illegal shebeens during the festive season.

About 350 000 illegal DVDs and CDs were also taken off the streets.

Most of the illegal goods were seized in Hillbrow in Johannesburg and in Pretoria.

Mothiba and Phiyega crushed the CDs and DVDs on Tuesday.

‘Crime is our enemy’

Phiyega said police were clamping down on people who operated their businesses illegally, as they hampered the growth of the country’s economy.

“We are not friends to crime, crime is our enemy,” said Phiyega.

She said illicit trading was not just limited to alcohol, CDs and DVDs, but included clothes, shoes, and even medicines.

“People selling counterfeit goods think it’s violentless crime,” said Phiyega.

The illegal traders also did not pay tax, and infringed on design and copyright, among other laws.

Phiyega said that in June 2013, police raided the premises of two Chinese nationals in Sunnyside, Pretoria, where they found illegal medicine worth R7m.

Police seized sexual enhancement medicines, contraceptives, slimming tea, and high blood pressure medication.

“Some of these products contained dagga,” said Phiyega, who added that consumers could not tell as the products’ lists of ingredients were in Chinese.

Phiyega called on the public to alert police about people who operated their businesses illegally.

SAPA

Oscar’s trial bigger than World Cup


Johannesburg – Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial is bigger than the Fifa World Cup, according to figures by media monitoring group Data Driven Insight (DDI).

“Unbelievable, worldwide the Oscar trial is bigger in media than the Fifa 2014 World Cup,” said DDI spokeswoman Tonya Khoury on Tuesday.

DDI said despite restrictions on reporting, media coverage of the paralympian’s trial skyrocketed.

The social media platform Twitter added to the Pistorius news coverage of the trial in the High Court in Pretoria, DDI said.

On Monday, Judge Thokozile Masipa banned blogging and tweeting of graphic evidence by pathologist Gert Saayman. She reversed this decision on Tuesday morning.

DDI said this temporary restriction prompted about 2500 articles.

In the past 24 hours, news and social media hit over 106 000 unique inserts relating to the Pistorius trial, Khoury said.

Pistorius having retched in court was carried in 2300 news articles.

“The press in nine days hit the 750,000 mark,” she said.

“In a remarkable media frenzy, DDI has seen the media interest rise from an astonishing 8800 articles an hour (on day one) to 9200 in the 3pm hour on Friday. Seems the media , despite the critics, is on the rise.”

DDI also measured South Africa’s news headlines against the Pistorius trial and found that “nothing can move the media attention from Oscar”.

The data was compiled from 6.2 million social media platforms including blogs, forums, social networks and commentary, 60 000 global online newspapers, 2000 South African print publications, and 66 radio and television stations.

Sapa

Floods claim four victims


Johannesburg – Eleven people drowned in Mpumalanga in the past week because of heavy rains and 12 were rescued, police said on Tuesday.

Persistent rain and flooding had hit large parts of the province, including in Tonga, Nelspruit, Greylingstad, Piet Retief, and Badplaas, said police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi.

Three children, aged between 2 and 11 years old, were among those who had drowned from last Tuesday.

“The 2-year-old boy from Piet Retief fell into a hole that was dug for erecting a pit toilet,” said Hlathi.

Several people drowned when they attempted to cross flooded rivers in the area.

Two of the bodies had not been retrieved because of the dangerous condition of the rivers.

The 12 people, including motorists whose vehicles were swept away in flood water while they attempted to cross flooded bridges, were rescued by the Inland Water Police and Diving Service, said Hlathi.

Mpumalanga Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Simon Skhosana had handed over relief supplies to residents affected by flooding in the Nkomazi local municipality near Badplaas.

Skhosana, accompanied by Nkomazi Mayor Thulisile Khoza, handed over food parcels and blankets to the 38 affected families on Monday, department spokesperson George Mthethwa said in a statement.

“The provision forms part of the government’s relief effort for the affected families,” Mthethwa said.

Skhosana also visited several bridges in Mzinti, Tonga and Mlumati, to determine the extent of the damage caused by heavy rain and flooding in the area.

He said the department was co-ordinating reconstruction of the damaged bridges and the matter had been discussed with sector departments.

Motorists in the area were urged to avoid flooded rivers, bridges or dams.

“Parents are also urged to look after their children and discourage them from playing around rivers and dams because of the inherent dangers,” said provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela.

SAPA

Corruption worse under Zuma- DA


Johannesburg – Progress made since South Africa’s first democratic elections has been reversed under the leadership of President Jacob Zuma, the DA said on Tuesday.
“It is clear that the nation’s current leaders are not able to provide the leadership required to continue that progress,” the DA leader Helen Zille said in a statement.

Zuma released the country’s 20-year review document in Pretoria earlier in the day.

Zille said he highlighted progress made since 1994 under the leadership of former president Nelson Mandela and former president Thabo Mbeki, but failed to show what he himself had achieved.

“[He] disingenuously bracketed his term in office with that of his predecessors because he knows that the Jacob Zuma presidency is not a good story to tell,” said Zille.

She said the country’s political economy was now marred by corruption and declining accountability.

Unemployment and corruption became worse since Zuma took office and the gross domestic product had shown a decline, Zille said.

“The problem is not South Africa – the nation is strong, but the government is weak.”

Zille said her party had the ability to turn things around.

SAPA

Maritzburg United finally beats Stars


Pietermaritzburg – Maritzburg United have registered their first ever PSL win over Free State Stars when they defeated them 3-2 at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Tuesday night.
 
Rheece Evans netted a brace and Bongolwethu Jayiya scored the third for the Team of Choice, before Ea Lla Koto fought back late through a deflected strike from Danny Venter and an own goal from Ruben Cloete.
 
United broke the deadlock in the 6th minute when Evans volleyed home at the far post after Frank Sarfo-Gyamfi’s corner was flicked into his path.
 
Henyekane had a chance to equalise for the visitors in the 14th minute when he got behind the United defence, only to be denied by a brilliant stop from Shu-aib Walters.
 
Evans then grabbed his brace in the 21st minute, making a late run into the far post to head past Tshepo Motsoeneng, connecting with a corner from Bongolwethu Jayiya.
 
Henyekane had another golden opportunity in the 27th minute when he found himself one-on-one with Walters, but this time he dragged his shot narrowly wide of the post.
 
The Free State Stars forward did get another effort on target in the 35th minute, but his dipping freekick was superbly kept out by Walters.
 
Daniel Cardoso then redeemed himself well in the 44th minute when he cleared Jayiya’s goalbound effort of the line after he had been guilty of losing possession to Orlando Smeekes on the left.
 
Ea Lla Koto tried to pull a goal back early in the second half but Salmaan King drew a routine save from Walters in the 54th minute, before Angelo Kerspuy missed the target two minutes later.
 
Six minutes later Sarfo-Gyamfi had a great chance to extend the lead when a long ball was headed into his path on the right side of the box, only to rush his shot effort wide.
 
Smeekes used good pace and skill to skip past his marker on the left in the 64th minute before drilling a low shot which was gathered comfortably by Motsoeneng.
 
However, the Stars goalkeeper was left rooted on his line in the 73rd minute as Jayiya curled his freekick into the top right corner for Maritzburg’s third goal of the match.
 
Venter then had an effort saved by Walters in the 79th minute but six minutes later he did find the back of the net after his shot ricocheted off Robyn Johannes.
 
There was more drama in added time when Stars reduced the deficit through a headed own goal from Cloete, but it was too little too late as United held on for maximum points.

Scorers:

Maritzburg United: (2) 3 (Evans 6’ 21’, Jayiya 71’)
Free State Stars: (0) 2 (Venter 85’, Cloete o.g. 94’)
 
Teams:
Maritzburg United: Walters, Cloete, Johannes, Evans, Smeekes (Mandaza 66’), Booysen D, Sarfo-Gyamfi (Zulu 74’), De Jongh, Jayiya, Sekotlong (Hartog 82’), Morton
 
Free State Stars: Motsoeneng, Masehe, Ouro-Akoriko, Cardoso, Thlone, Kerspuy, Abraw (Basit 56’), King (Venter 59’), Basie, Yende (Nomandela 73’), Henyekane
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Malema takes on Judge, Tlakula and IEC


Pretoria – Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said his party would not allow the 7 May elections to be presided over by people with “questionable credentials”.
Malema was addressing supporters on his party’s failed bid for an interdict relating to the payment of financial deposits to the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC).

“This is the beginning of many battles to start,” he said.

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria dismissed the EFF’s application with costs earlier in the day.

Political parties are required to pay a deposit of more than R600 000 – R45 000 per province, and R200 000 to contest the polls nationally.

The EFF was seeking to have this requirement removed or greatly reduced.

Malema said his party would seek to have a forensic report said to be implicating IEC chair Pansy Tlakula released without delay.

The EFF would approach courts to compel the IEC to issue the report.

“What if after the elections the report confirms that indeed there was corruption and the chairperson of the IEC was involved?” he asked.

“We don’t want our elections to be presided over by people who have a credibility crisis.”

Forensic investigation

A forensic investigation commissioned by the IEC reportedly found that Tlakula and IEC commissioners did not act with due diligence when they secured a lease for the IEC headquarters in Pretoria.

This followed a probe by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who came to similar conclusions.

Malema said Tuesday’s decision by Judge Joseph Raulinga confirmed his long-held assertion that courts are there to rubber-stamp decisions of capitalists.

“We told you that the role of the courts is to reinforce capitalism. The court has just confirmed that. The court says elections are only for the rich… they must be ashamed, and shame on the justice system of South Africa,” he said.

Raulinga said his full judgment would be ready on Wednesday.

“Costs in this case include the costs attended in the payment of two counsels [for the IEC]. The judgment is ready but I still have to cross the Ts and dot the Is,” he said.

The IEC has set a deadline of 17:00 on 12 March for the submission of parties’ candidate lists and the payment of the deposits required to contest the elections.

Malema said his party would submit its candidates’ list on Wednesday.

– SAPA

Motlanthe bids tearful farewell to Parliament


Cape Town – A visibly emotional Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe bid farewell to MPs in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Motlanthe wiped tears from his face with a white handkerchief at the end of his farewell speech which saw MPs giving the deputy president a standing ovation.

“After six years of history, I am running the whole gamut of human emotions… from melancholy to elation. Humanity is conditioned to experience emotions attuned to the peculiarities of the moment,” he told MPs.

Motlanthe will be retiring from government and Parliament this year after serving as deputy president of the country from 2009.

He was promoted to president of the country in 2008, just months after being appointed minister without portfolio in the presidency.

“For one thing, I am disconsolate for parting ways with members of the party I come from, the African National Congress,” Motlanthe said as he thanked MPs on his side of the house.

“You will know that my presence in this House is attributable to the ANC, which has, for all this time, been my extended family.”

Motlanthe reflected on his rise to the presidency, which preceded an uncertain period in post-democratic South Africa.

“No sooner had we disarmed Afro-pessimists with a smooth transition to democracy than this difficult historical period emerged, seen in some quarters as sounding a death knell to our nation,” he said.

“In the event, we proved the doomsayers wrong.”

A calm Motlanthe

Over the almost six years of observing heated debates and loud heckling in the National Assembly, Motlanthe mostly sat calmly watching the discourse.

Speaking about the nature of politics inside the chamber, Motlanthe said: “While bare-knuckle engagements were par for the course, with bruising exchanges that went beyond the pale not uncommon, I have found this House to be an epicentre of rational and level-headed discourse that left many bloodied but unbowed.

“I dare say, at the end, we are all the richer for it.”

While he was sad to be leaving Parliament and government, Motlanthe indicated it was time to hand over the reins to younger hands and minds.

“The truth is our nation is replete with luminous talent,” he said.

“Not only that, at some point serving leadership must give way, so that new blood, fired up with life-changing ideas, can take society to a higher level of development.”

Prior to taking the podium, MPs from across the political divide paid glowing tribute to Motlanthe and his contribution to the country.

Political school

Motlanthe is set to head up the political school of the ANC.

“I can think of no better leader for the ANC political school,” Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor said.

Pandor reflected on Motlanthe’s dedication to the liberation movement as a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe, and later to the union movement.

Motlanthe is a former general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers.

“That is why he continues to work today to create stability in the mining sector and is trusted by workers in it as an honest broker,” Pandor said.

“We are proud of this servant of the nation.”

Rivonia trialist and ANC stalwart Andrew Mlangeni revealed a secret to Motlanthe and those in the house.

“What you don’t know is that the late Walter Sisulu had always wanted you to be the president of this country. When you became the president I’m sure his dreams were fulfilled,” Mlangeni said.

Motlanthe was imprisoned on Robben Island for 10 years from 1977.

“The honourable deputy president helped turn the lemon that was the harsh conditions of Robben Island into the lemonade of political… and intellectual development,” said Mlangeni who is also a former island inmate.

“He was instrumental [in ensuring] that newcomers especially the young that came to Robben Island were welcomed and put through an appropriate political education.”

Tributes

DA MP Wilmot James, who first met Motlanthe during his union days, said Motlanthe’s example should be emulated.

“He exemplifies the qualities of personality that are rare in the world of politics such as honour…,” James said.

The way Motlanthe carried himself reminded James of the Nelson Mandela presidency, not the “self-serving, crass materialism of today”.

It was Motlanthe’s contribution to ending the denialist approach to the HIV pandemic that was singled out by most MPs.

“The role you played in championing the supply of anti-retrovirals… yielded positive results for the country,” said Cope MP Thozamile Botha.

United Democratic Movement MP Stanley Ntapane described Motlanthe as a “true gentleman”, while Freedom Front Plus MP Corné Mulder said the deputy president reminded him of the word dignity.

SAPA