Cape Town – The City of Cape Town has warned the Mother City will experience cold and wet weather conditions for the next few days, a city official said on Tuesday.

“The weather warning issued indicates that heavy rain is expected over the Cape Metropole overnight on 27 August and 28 August 2013,” disaster and risk management spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said.

A cold front was due to set in, bringing very cold and wet conditions accompanied by gale-force north-westerly winds between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas.

“We urge resident to exercise caution,” he said.
Sapa

Johannesburg – Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said the Constitutional Court’s finding that Parliament must correct its rules within six months to allow for a no confidence debate was a victory.

The Constitutional Court dismissed an application by the DA to compel Parliament to debate a vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.

The ANC said in a statement that this was a triumph for itself.

However, the court also ruled that rules regulating the Assembly were inconsistent with the Constitution and invalid.

“The rules of the Assembly must permit a motion of no confidence in the president to be formulated, discussed and voted for… within a reasonable time,” he said.

‘Correct the defect’

The court ordered that Assembly “correct the defect” in its rules so that members or political parties could debate a motion of no confidence. Parliament was given six months to do this.

Zille tweeted after the ruling: “This is a victory for the DA: once the rules are changed, as [the] ConCourt requires, then the DA will be able to bring a no confidence motion.”

The DA’s parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko also tweeted that once the rules had been changed, an MP will be able to bring a motion of no confidence without ANC hindrance.

DA chief whip Watty Watson told reporters the opposition was vindicated by the court order that Parliament remedy the absence of a rule on no confidence within six months.

“This was the principle we believed was worth fighting for and we are vindicated in our belief… today was a victory for our constitutional democracy and the right of Parliament to hold the executive to account.”

But ANC chief whip Stone Sizani said the case should never have been taken to court, and the ruling party read the outcome as a victory for the democratic separation of powers.

“The judiciary should not be placed in an uncomfortable position of interfering in internal affairs of an independent arm of the state, unless so directed by the Constitution,” he said.

Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke said according to Parliament’s rules, Speaker Max Sisulu did not have the power to schedule a motion of no confidence in Zuma.

“…The Speaker acting alone has no residual power to schedule a motion of no confidence in the president to be debated and voted on in the Assembly, and that in any event the relief sought in the appeal has become moot.”

No consensus reached

Moseneke said the primary purpose of a motion of no confidence was to ensure that the president and the national executive were accountable to the Assembly.

Mazibuko, supported by seven other opposition parties, tabled a motion of no confidence in Zuma in the Nationl Assembly on 8 November.

However, Sisulu later adjourned a programming committee meeting without the debate being scheduled, on the basis that no consensus had been reached.

The DA took the matter to the Western Cape High Court where it was dismissed by Judge Dennis Davis.

Davis ruled that it was any MP’s right to request a no confidence debate, and that such requests were “by their very nature” urgent.

Parliamentary rules

But, because the Assembly’s rules did not provide for no confidence debates, Davis could not tell Sisulu when and where the debate should take place.

The high court held that Parliament had the obligation to give effect to the right to debate and vote on a motion of no confidence, but that only the Constitutional Court could hear this matter.

It was argued by Mazibuko’s lawyer in the Constitutional Court in March that the high court erred in finding that the Speaker did not have the power to schedule the motion in the event of a deadlock in the programme committee.

Mazibuko submitted that the Assembly rules were inconsistent with the Constitution.

The DA said it was now up to Mazibuko to decide whether she wanted to reintroduce the motion of no confidence in Zuma and she was currently abroad.

“I can’t say what Lindiwe will do but the reasons for bringing the motion in November last year are as valid, even more valid, today,” Watson said, citing the growing controversy over millions spent on security upgrades at Zuma’s home in Nkandla, in KwaZulu-Natal.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – As many 72 000 workers at South Africa’s petrol stations and car dealerships will go on strike for higher wages from next week, the country’s leading manufacturing union said on Tuesday.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa said in a statement that workers will go on strike from Monday “in demand of a living wage and improved conditions of employment and service”.

South Africa’s headline consumer inflation breached the ceiling of the central bank’s target band in July, overshooting market expectations as higher fuel prices weighed on consumer prices.

Headline inflation in July hit 6.3% year-on-year, accelerating from 5.5% in June, data from Statistics South Africa showed.

This adds to a wave of strikes in already impacting the South African economy, from the mining industry to construction.-Reuters

By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-North West police arrested a 26 year-old inmate after he allegedly bludgeoned another inmate to death on Monday.

Police said a fight broke between inmates yesterday at Klerksdorp Correctional Services and close to eight inmates were involved.

Sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said police received a call from a prison warder who informed them about the fight.

“Almost eight inmates were allegedly involved in a fight and this resulted to a murder of a 25 year-old inmate” Moiloa said.

Police could not confirm what was the fight all about and all injured inmates were taken to Tshepong Hospital for medical check.

A 25 year-old man died on arrival after he was bludgeoned with a sharp object.

“Police arrested a 26 year-old inmate and charged him with murder” she said.

He will appear before Klerksdorp Magistrate Court soon for murder and police investigations continue.-TDN

Follow on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Johannesburg – Bafana Bafana will play Zimbabwe in an international friendly on September 10 at a venue yet to be confirmed.

According to the supersport.com website, the match will be played three days after the crucial 2014 FIFA Soccer World Cup against Botswana scheduled for Durban on September 7.

While the venue for the Zimbabwe game is yet to be confirmed, it is likely to be taken to Polokwane.

Johannesburg – Gordon Igesund has named his 23-man squad for next month’s crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Botswana.

According to the Soccer-Laduma website, Bafana need to claim victory over their opponents and hope that Ethiopia drop points against the Central African Republic, if South Africa are to keep their hopes of making it to Brazil 2014 alive.

A number of international-based players such as Bongani Khumalo, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Thulani Serero and Kamohelo Mokotjo have made the cut, despite a number of months out of Igesund’s squad.

Meanwhile, Andile Jali has once again been given the nod by Igesund, as has Kermit Erasmus, following his impressive start to life with Orlando Pirates.

KV Kortrijk goalkeeper, Darren Keet, has been called up to the squad for the fixture, although will only train with the team and won’t feature in the game. However, Keet will remain in the squad for the friendly against Zimbabwe three days later.

Goalkeepers:
Itumeleng Khune, Senzo Meyiwa, Wayne Sandilands.

Defenders:
Anele Ngcongca, Tsepo Masilela, Thabo Matlaba, Bongani Khumalo, Thabo Nthethe, Siyanda Xulu, Buhle Mkhwanazi

Midfielders:
Thulani Serero, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Dean Furman, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Bongani Zungu, Daine Klate, Kamohelo Mokotjo

Forwards:
Bernard Parker, Tokelo Rantie, Kermit Erasmus
For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – The Constitutional Court on Tuesday dismissed the Democratic Alliance’s application on whether a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma should be debated in Parliament.

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko, supported by seven other opposition parties, tabled the motion on 8 November, but National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu later adjourned a programming committee meeting without the debate being scheduled.

This was because no consensus had been reached.

The DA took the matter to the Western Cape High Court where it was dismissed by Judge Dennis Davis.

But the Constitutional Court also found that the rules of the National Assembly must allow for a vote of no confidence to be debated in reasonable time.

The court gave the National Assembly six months to correct its rules.

– News24

Johannesburg – Two serial rapists who appealed against their prison sentences of 20 years, have been given life sentences, Beeld reported on Tuesday.

The North Gauteng High Court ruled that sentences handed down by a magistrate had been too lenient.

In the appeal judgement, Acting Judge Jan Hiemstra said he got the impression that the magistrate had treated the matter as just another ordinary case.

Samuel Lucky Msimanga, Samkele Welcome Sibeko and two other accused had been convicted in the Springs Regional Court of raping a 24-year-old woman.

Msimanga and Sibeko pleaded guilty and appealed against their sentences.

The magistrate gave them each 20 years in prison after finding that there were factors that justified a lighter sentence.

These factors were that the two had pleaded guilty and that they had consumed alcohol, although they were not drunk when they committed the crime.

Hiemstra said the two had only pleaded guilty because they realised their case was hopeless because of conclusive DNA results.

The new sentences were backdated to 17 October 2012.
– SAPA

Johannesburg – Former chief justice Pius Langa had ensured prosecutorial independence from the executive, acting NPA head Nomgcobo Jiba said on Tuesday.

“As the leader of that institution [National Prosecuting Authority] I can confirm… that it discharges its functions without any interference by the executive, contrary to media reports,” she said at a special sitting of the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg to pay tribute to Langa.

“The Constitution that the late chief justice fashioned required that we discharge our functions without fear, favour or prejudice.”

She said the NPA remained “true” to this constitutional imperative.

“It is unfortunate that some uninformed media houses… sometimes make unfounded statements that seek to undermine and erode public confidence in such an important institution,” said Jiba.

“I am sure that those comments do not serve to deepen the ideals that the former chief justice would have liked to see.”

A gentle giant

Jiba said the NPA would always treat each person fairly and equally, regardless of whether they were rich or poor, a politician or not.

“Any attempts to pressurise the NPA into taking decisions… will not succeed.”

National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu said Langa was a gentle giant, brilliant jurist, and a principled and modest man.

“I personally got to know him as a person with a sharp and brilliant mind and a keen sense of humour,” said Sisulu.

“He made such a significant contribution to our country that it is not surprising that so much praise has been attributed to Pius.”

Sisulu regarded Langa as his older brother, through a friendship with Langa’s younger brothers.

He said Langa was a great listener, who chose his words carefully.

“Pius lived up to his name. He was Pius by name, but also truly pious in life.”

Great love

Langa had exhibited great love for his people and used law to make his greatest contribution to uplift and protect the oppressed.

“During the apartheid era, his legal practice reflected his deep-seated conviction to protect the oppressed from a brutal system that used the law as a sword to cut down the rights and freedom of its people.

“Again during the transition to democracy, Pius played a key role in shaping our constitutional dispensation,” Sisulu said.

Langa died on 24 July at the age of 74 after a month-long hospital stay due to a long illness.

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng thanked the Langa family for sharing him with the world.

“You had a precious gift. Thank you for sharing that with the world… even in circumstances where his health was fading.”

Mogoeng said the judiciary would never betray Langa’s legacy, and was working on communicating more effectively with South Africans, possibly through social networking sites.
– SAPA

Johannesburg – Nelson Mandela remains in a critical but stable condition, President Jacob Zuma said Tuesday, more than two months after the former president was hospitalised with a recurring lung infection.

“Former president Mandela is still in hospital receiving treatment and remains in a critical but stable condition,” Zuma said.

Mandela, 95, has been receiving treatment for a recurring respiratory illness at a private hospital in Pretoria since 8 June.

He was previously said to be on life support, but his condition has been lately described as serious but improving.

Early this month, his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela told Sky News that he was “now breathing normally” and that doctors had kept draining fluid from his lungs.

Award

Zuma gave the latest health update during a visit to Malaysia, where he received an award on Mandela’s behalf.

The southeast Asian nation honoured the ailing statesman with the inaugural Mahathir Global Peace Award, named after the country’s former prime minister.

Zuma said South Africans were humbled to share South Africa’s revered peace icon with the world.

“While wishing him good health, we also have to celebrate his legacy and learn from it, in order to build a better world.”

Mandela has been in and out of hospital since last year, with lung related complications.

In December, he spent nearly three weeks in hospital where he was treated for a lung infection and gall stones. This is his longest hospitalisation since he was released from jail in 1990.

Political leaders from across the world and the South African public have been sending Mandela messages of support since his admission.

– AFP