Pretoria – Structural deficiencies in the South African education system need to be addressed urgently, Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said on Wednesday.

He told journalists at a Sadtu protest in Pretoria the labour federation supported calls for Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her director general Bobby Soobrayan to resign.

“The protest is out of concern by Sadtu that our education in this country needs a lot of fixing. There is no time for pussy-footing. We have to deal with the mud schools in the rural areas and the low wages.

“We have to deal with the system. It is a structural apartheid system that still exists in our education system. It has denigrated the African child to the periphery,” he said.

The unions hoped government would “get to its knees and speak to Sadtu”.

Regarding criticism over the possible disruption of classes due to the protest, Dlamini said the strike was for pupils.

“This is a comprehensive strategy by the teachers; it is about the child. The system needs to be fixed for the benefit of the children of this country.

“The minister has gone on a crusade to say the protest is illegal instead of responding to issues. We hear the minister crying, saying Sadtu is sabotaging. What sabotage?” Dlamini asked.

The minister should “play along” in defence of collective bargaining instead of opposing it.

Asked what the unions would do if Motshekga and Soobrayan did not resign, Dlamini said the strikes would be intensified.

“The plan is clear; you will hear strikes. We need to focus on issues of transformation in the public service and the minister is delaying us. Let her be warned, and come back to the table about the serious issues. (What she is doing) is not helpful,” Dlamini said.

At midday, hundreds of teachers left the open space in Marabastad to make their way to the Union Buildings.

They were being addressed through a public address system set up on a truck.

Sadtu said it expected close to 25 000 of its members to take part in marches to the Union Buildings in Pretoria and to Parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday.

“The marches are meant to increase the pressure on… Motshekga and… Soobrayan to resign from their… positions, in defence of collective bargaining and promotion of quality public education,” Sadtu said in a statement.

On Monday, the basic education department and Sadtu failed to agree whether the marches were legal.

Sadtu members have been on a national go-slow since pupils returned from the Easter holiday.

The department said teachers who joined the protest march would face disciplinary action and the no-work, no-pay rule would apply. – Sapa

Johannesburg – TopTV has been given the green light by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa to broadcast three adult content channels, according to reports.

However, the company may only broadcast the porn channels – Playboy TV, Desire TV and Private Spice – between 8pm and 5am, Icasa reportedly ruled on Wednesday.

Icasa approved the application on the basis that TopTV will ensure that the programming will not be broadcast before the watershed period and that security measures, including a double pin code as outlined in the application are in place to “safeguard children’s rights”, a statement said.

Icasa’s statement said that the decision followed an extensive public consultation process and that there was “no law of general application prohibiting the production and distribution of adult content”. – IOL

By Obakeng Maje

Itsoseng-Two North West police members of the Tactical Response Team (TRT), Constable Koketso Jantjie, aged 29 and ConstableThabang Mooketsane, aged 33 who were arrested on Monday were given a bail of R2000,00 each at the Itsoseng Magistrate’s court.

They will appear again on 27 May 2013.

 “The two were arrested on Monday for allegedly robbing two Bangladesh Nationals in Mareetsane near Itsoseng” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

“They allegedly told them that  they were doing a random check for illicit cigarettes. The suspects searched and found five boxes of illicit cigarettes which contain twenty (packets of) cigarettes each. They then demanded R1000, 00 from the owner of the tuck shop” Ngubane said.

He allegedly told them that he does not have money and they searched the place and found R400. The owner called his friend to assist him with R600, 00 said police.

“According to information received, upon arrival his friend took the registration numbers of the police vehicle before entering the friend’s house. He also informed them that he does not have the money they demanded. Unsuspecting police then took R400 and left” he adds.

The victim’s friend phoned the police in Mooifontein who immediately searched the area but couldn’t find the suspects.

They phoned Mahikeng police who did roadblocks on all roads entering Mahikeng.

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By Obakeng Maje

Plooysburg-Police in the Northern Cape are investigating a culpable homicide case following an accident that happened at Schmitsdrift on Wednesday at about 06:40am. 

“It is alleged that a Patient Transport Minibus vehicle was travelling on N8 Road from Upington to Kimberly when the Minibus collided with a kudu” lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said. Ambulances and Police attended the scene. 

“There were 20 occupants in the minibus and a 34-year-old woman, who is believed to be one of the occupants, was declared dead on the scene” Mdhluli said. The driver of the minibus and other occupants were taken to hospital for medical treatment. The investigation continues.

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Rustenburg-In 2011, Executive Mayor of Rustenburg Local Municipality, Cllr Mpho Khunou, decided to embark on a campaign to collect shoes for disadvantaged children in Rustenburg after a disheartening experience he had during the handover ceremony of appliances and equipments to Ntshalleng Le Bana Care Centre held at Freedom Park on the 26th October 2011.

After a successful ground-breaking effort in 2011, the Executive Mayor, decided to continue with the project, with the objective to bringing a difference in the lives of needy children within Rustenburg.

The campaign started with a collection of 5 000 pairs in 2011, and was a remarkable success. Once again, this year, the campaign has collected 5 000 pairs of school shoes, and will be distributed to 40 schools within the jurisdiction of Rustenburg Local Municipality.

“It is against this background that companies, Institutions and individuals are every year requested to contribute towards this noble course by donating pairs of school shoes” said spokesperson Thapelo Matebesi.

On Friday,Executive Mayor Cllr Mpho Khunou, will be handing over the collected shoes to beneficiaries, namely; needy learners from underprivileged background, in all 38 Wards of the Municipality, wherein donors will be officially acknowledged during a ceremony to be held at the Paardekraal Extension 23 Community Hall. 

Proceedings start at 18:00.

“Your presence at this exciting ceremony will be highly appreciated as we together continue to inform the nation” Matebesi said. 

For further enquiries kindly contact Spokesperson, Mr Thapelo Matebesi on 014 590 3509.

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Johannesburg – The Vereeniging District Court has heard about the alleged torture and murder of a 15-year-old boy at a controversial game-ranger training camp in 2011, it was reported on Wednesday.

Raymond Buys died a month after being admitted to a Vereeniging hospital, emaciated and with, among others, skull fractures, following a 10-week stay at the camp, during which he was banned from contacting his family, according to a report in Beeld.

Camp owner Alex de Koker, 49, and his employee, Michael Erasmus, 20, have been charged with murder, child abuse, neglect and two cases of assault with intent to cause serious physical injury.

On Tuesday, Gerhard Oosthuizen, 19, reportedly testified that Buys, with whom he shared a tent during the training course, was chained to his bed every night, was refused permission to visit the toilet and forced to eat his own faeces.

According to Beeld, Oosthuizen told the court that Buys was extremely weak and unable to do the manual labour the boys were forced to perform. Buys was often beaten with planks, hosepipes and sticks when he did not do his duties properly, Oosthuizen said.

Shortly before Buys was admitted to hospital, Oosthuizen reportedly saw De Koker and Erasmus electrocuting Buys, who was naked and tied to a chair.

“He screamed… I was scared and ran away.”

Buys was later brought back to the tent and chained to his bed.

The cross-examination of Oosthuizen is expected to begin on Wednesday. – Sapa

Johannesburg – For eight months, the body of Lindiwe Ngwenya lay buried in a shallow grave in the yard of a Bramfischerville home she shared with her lover, Nkosinathi Nxumalo.

Neighbours had thought the 46-year-old woman had gone to her mother’s house in Senaoane, after her partner told them she had to take care of her sick mother. But she was buried just 3m from the main door to her RDP house.

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

Durban – Eight pupils died when their bus driver apparently lost control of the vehicle and it overturned on the R66 between Ulundi and Kwaceza, a transport spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Kwanele Ncalane said eight pupils died, five were in critical condition and 20 others sustained minor injuries.

The accident happened on Tuesday night while the bus was transporting pupils from Richards Bay to Kwaceza.

Ncalane could not immediately provide the ages of the pupils. It was not clear whether the driver was injured.

“Investigations to establish the cause of the accident have started,” Ncalane said. – Sapa

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is struggling to recruit more female entrepreneurs in the province to enter the annual Technology for Women in Business (TWIB) awards.

TWIB project coordinator, Nthabeleni Seshebedi, said compared to other provinces, the Northern Cape attracted lesser women each year.

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

Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa announced recently that South African industry and institutions with appropriate existing expertise may be eligible for financial assistance on a shared cost, shared risk basis towards participation in the SKA design phase, extending to 2016.

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