Pretoria – An Atteridgeville man will know on Friday whether he will be held accountable for the death of retired nurse Connie Chauke, who was found strangled, tied up and gagged in her home.
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Metro cops asked for R12m, says Cosatu
Johannesburg – The Congress of SA Trade Unions was asked to make an upfront payment of R200 000 for the planned protest against e-tolls and not R2 million, the Johannesburg metro police said on Friday.
“It was R200 000 not R2 million,” said spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.
Minnaar said the charge was a monetary guarantee for protection against potential damage.
He said they did not always charge for protests.
“We charge only if we are of the view that there might be damage or injury during the protest.”
The decision to charge Cosatu was based on their previous protest against e-tolls.
Cosatu Gauteng secretary Dumisani Dakile told protesters on Friday that the JMPD had asked for an upfront payment of R2 million for the e-toll protest to go ahead.
“We have never paid money in order to exercise our constitutional right. We are not prepared to pay even half a cent… let them go to hell.”
According to Dakile metro police also told Cosatu it had a sworn statement stating there would be violence at the march.
“We have had many marches, peaceful marches. That is their plan to stop us.”
Cosatu’s application to embark on a drive-slow protest on the city’s highways was dismissed by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Cosatu approached the court after the JMPD refused it permission for the protest.
In December, the N3 highway was briefly closed when protesting motorists parked their cars and danced during a similar drive-slow motorcade.
Earlier this week, Dakile said the motorcade was planned for the M1 north, N1 south, N12, and M2 north highways in Johannesburg.
The march was called off. – Sapa
NWest skills development initiatives empowers youth
Six hundred and six unemployed graduates have been appointed by provincial government departments across the North West Province in internship programmes for them to gain much needed workplace experiential learning, Premier Thandi Modise reported in the 2013/2014 Departmental Policy and Budget Vote Speech for Office of the Premier she tabled in the provincial legislature on Thursday.
In announcing that 170 bursaries will be awarded to needy and deserving students to address the provincial priority skills needs, Premier Modise urged provincial departments to employ 35 beneficiaries of her Department’s Talent Management Enhancement Programme.
R11,9 million has been budgeted for Provincial bursary scheme for the 2013/2014 financial year.
Modise reported that universities have confirmed that 35 bursary holders have recently completed their degrees in the medicine, other health fields of studies, Engineering, Economics, Accounting, Social Work, Information Technology and Agriculture as their skills
“Twenty unemployed youth from Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District have completed their engineering learnership programmes, are qualified and permanently employed by various municipalities as artisan,” Premier Modise added
Modise further said that the milestone brings to 40 unemployed youth that benefitted from the partnership between the Office of the Premier, Anglo Gold Ashanti Limited and the District municipalities. Thirty-five of the 40 beneficiaries are also permanently employed.
The Office of the Premier is also hosting 18 graduates with disabilities who are part of the internship programme for People with Disabilities implemented in partnership with Disabled People South Africa and the Services Sector Education and Training Authority.
The programme is aimed at increasing the chances of employability and ultimately absorption of the graduates into the labour market.
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MEC to visit Christiana School For The Blind
By Obakeng Maje
Christiana-The North West Department of Education MEC mme Louisa Mabe announced that she will visit Christiana School for the Blind to address embattled students.
A month ago, pupils protest against alleged treatment dished by a principal.
They claim even their living condition at the hostels are not so conducive.
“We met yesterday and discussed that issue. We will now visit the school to address the issue. We will also hire a deputy principal who will help the principal on overseeing things there” Jimmy Baloyi told sabc.
The department said the situation will be more eminently.
“I’ve received the report from our representatives and I can’t say much about that issue as I still need to visit the school myself” Mabe said on Tuesday.
The department met yesterday at Vryburg and reached solutions how to solve challenges encountered by partially-blind students.
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Cosatu’s e-toll protest go ahead
Johannesburg – Cosatu plans to go ahead with a go-slow protest against e-tolling on Friday, despite failed attempts at getting permission.
On Thursday night, the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court dismissed an application by the trade union federation for authorisation on the highway motorcade.
Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesperson Patrick Craven said the protest would go ahead, despite the ruling.
“We will be going ahead with the protest…We urge all people to assemble at Cosatu house tomorrow [Friday] at 08:00.”
The union federation approached the court after failing to get permission from the Johannesburg metro police.
Law enforcement agencies on standby
Metro police chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said authorisation was not granted because at Cosatu’s previous motorcade, protesters had stopped and walked along freeways, which was in contravention of the National Road Traffic Act.
Minnaar said all law enforcement agencies would be on standby on Friday to ensure the protest did not go ahead.
Earlier this week, Cosatu’s Gauteng secretary Dumisani Dakile said the planned motorcade was to be held on the M1 north, N1 south, N12, and M2 north highways in Johannesburg.
In December, the N3 highway was briefly closed when protesting motorists parked their cars sideways and started dancing on the road during a similar drive-slow motorcade.
Electronic tolling is due to be implemented soon.
On 11 April, the SA National Roads Agency Limited announced it would be rolled out within the next two months.
In April last year, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria granted the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) an interdict approving a full judicial review before e-tolling could be put into effect.
The interdict prevented Sanral from levying or collecting e-tolls pending the outcome of the review. Sanral and the National Treasury appealed the court order.
In September, the Constitutional Court set aside the interim order, and in December the North Gauteng High Court dismissed Outa’s application to scrap e-tolling.
On 25 January, the court granted Outa leave to take the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein.
The SCA hearing will take place in September.
SAPA
Gang report “a serious allegations”
Johannesburg – Reports of collusion between police and criminals in the Western Cape are a serious allegation, the police ministry said on Thursday.
“Should they be proven true, they could compromise and derail efforts of crime reduction, not only in the Western Cape but the whole country,” spokesman Zweli Mnisi said in a statement.
The department was responding to a report that gangsters on the Cape Flats were shielded by an army of foot soldiers, as they used their wealth to buy information from authorities.
Hanif Loonat, chairman of the Western Cape Community Policing Forum, reportedly said gangsters’ intelligence gathering was up to 10 times better than the police’s.
“There are police officers who give them information, (who) tell them what the police’s plan are…They have people at ministerial level, in Parliament, in local government. These guys pay for information,” Loonat was quoted as saying.
Criminologist Eldred de Klerk reportedly agreed with Loonat, saying there were “corrupt agents” within the police.
“The police should be subjected to polygraph tests,” De Klerk said.
The ministry called these allegations “worrying” and “image-tarnishing”.
“I view these remarks in (a) serious (light) and challenge both Loonat and De Klerk to come forward with evidence to back up their claims,” Mnisi said.
“Indeed if the claims are true, the law would have to take its course irrespective of whoever is involved.”
Mnisi cautioned against generalisations when making allegations.
“Police are not immune to criticism as much as civilians are not. However we want to caution against grandstanding,” he said.
“If there are any allegations of collusion between police and criminals, government has various oversight structures such as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the Civilian Secretariat for Police (and) the presidential hotline which they can utilise to report such matters.” – Sapa
Lucas elected new Northern Cape premier
Bloemfontein – Northern Cape acting Premier Sylvia Lucas was officially elected and sworn in as new premier, said a legislature official on Thursday.
“She will deliver her inaugural speech on 30 May 2013,” said Mpho Marina, spokesperson in the Speaker’s office.
Former premier Hazel Jenkins resigned as a member of the provincial legislature and Northern Cape premier this week.
Jenkins collapsed while delivering her State-of-the-Province address last year after suffering a brain aneurysm.
Two African National Congress members in the Northern Cape legislature had served as acting premiers while Jenkins was recuperating.
Lucas acted as premier since the beginning of May this year.
– SAPA
Premier’s Risk Management Unit rated tops
The Risk Management Unit in the Office of the Premier has been rated as excellent by the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, North West Premier Thandi Modise reported on Thursday.
Premier Modise committed in her 2013/2014 Departmental Policy & Budget Speech delivered in the Provincial legislature that her department will strive to strengthen its financial management systems and enhance internal controls in order to maintain the status quo.
Modise said that her department has requested access to the CIPRO database to ensure that government officials do not conduct business with the Office of the Premier by linking the database to its supply chain management process.
Niang has unfinished business
Pretoria – Having signed a new three-year deal with SuperSport United, Senegalese striker Mame Niang says he has a point to prove when he returns to the Pretoria outfit.
Niang was sent out on loan to cross-town rivals the University of Pretoria at the beginning of the season, but he agreed to a new contract and will join up with the Matsatsantsa squad for pre-season preparations in July.
Niang scored 10 goals in 25 appearances for AmaTuks – three less than the league’s top striker, Katlego Mashego – helping the top-flight newcomers to a top-eight finish in the PSL.
“I love challenges. I feel like I have unfinished business with SuperSport,” Niang said at the AmaTuks awards evening in Pretoria on Wednesday night, where the lanky attacker walked away with the golden boot award for the most goals of the season for the club.
“For me to score two goals in a whole season (at SuperSport in 2011/12), I don’t feel it’s right for a striker of my standard.
“I have to go back there and show them that they didn’t make a mistake by signing me back.”
With plenty of interest shown in the attacker’s post-season movements from the likes of Orlando Pirates, Bloemfontein Celtic and Moroka Swallows, Niang said he selected United based on their style of play.
“I chose SuperSport because I felt it was the kind of team that might play to my strengths,” he said.
“I didn’t want to go to a team that played different football and I end up being nowhere.
“I would rather go to a team that plays to my strengths. I’m a different kind of player.”
Niang said he was delighted to leave Tuks knowing he had scored goals that helped them qualify for next season’s MTN8 competition.
“It’s always nice to win the golden boot award.
“It’s always sweet to win it – it means you’re doing your job well – and I’m pleased to have won it for AmaTuks for the very first time (since being in the PSL).
“I’m leaving the club, which is sad, so it’s special because it’s the first time the team is in the top league and I’m the first player to win it.
“I’m glad I have 10 goals because it’s a good achievement for a striker.
“My aim is always to get to double figures. I feel that I can always get to double figures, and as soon as I get there, I can target something more.”
Niang won the 2005/06 Premiership top goal-scorer award, netting 14 times for Moroka Swallows, and he was looking to end his career in South Africa with another successful stint.
“I’m going to SuperSport knowing that I have to fight for my position, which I like.
“I’m 29 and I have to look after myself now. I’m not going to play for the next 10 years.
“This is a good deal and SuperSport is a club that I’m looking to win titles with.
“I feel like this season I have improved so much in my game. I feel like next season I can lift mountains.”
SAPA
Zuma condemns abuse of name
Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma has condemned the practice of using his name and that of Cabinet Ministers to secure privileges or flout government procedures.
“It is unfortunate that some officials and members of the public would resort to that practice of using and abusing the names of members of Cabinet in this manner to further their own ends, as alleged,” Zuma said in a statement on Thursday.
“We call for vigilance and urge all our officials who are entrusted with managing state institutions not to succumb to pressure from name-droppers… they should immediately report anyone who behaves in this manner to their superiors and to law enforcement agencies.”
The full report on the landing of the Gupta family’s private jet on 29 April at the Waterkloof Air Force Base was released on Wednesday, just before the debate in the National Assembly.
The jet landed at Waterkloof, carrying 270 guests for the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, and Indian-born Aakash Jahajgarhia at Sun City.
The landing sparked widespread criticism.
Spokesperson Mac Maharaj said Zuma did not speak to or authorise any government official to process or approve the landing of the private plane at Waterkloof, as alleged.
“The report has found that the name of the President [Jacob Zuma] was used to flout procedures.”
Zuma welcomed the report, said Maharaj.
“President Zuma urges law enforcement agencies to press ahead with any investigations that would be necessary, arising from the report.”
– SAPA
The Guardian 