Pretoria – Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says he is afraid for his life after receiving death threats, but will not stop speaking truth to power.
Vavi, who confirmed on Monday that he had stepped up security at his home and had two bodyguards watching him, said he was worried about his safety, but would not stop standing up for what was right.
“This is the second death threat I have received in the past two years. I’m disappointed that nothing came of the report into the first ] I received in 2010,” he said.
He had been told by acting crime intelligence head Major-General Chris Ngcobo that there was a plan to poison him to death to cause chaos before Mangaung.
According to Vavi, who also mentioned these death threats during his address at the International Anti-Corruption Day at Unisa and at a press briefing afterwards, the latest threats came shortly after he contested the leadership of Cosatu.
Vavi said he was still waiting for a report into the 2010 threat, but added that it was impossible that any union member would plot with foreigners to have him killed.
“Scared? That I am. But I turn my back on what is right? No I wouldn’t. If I was not scared I would not have two bodyguards,” said Vavi.
He said his bodyguards were two shop stewards who had forgone everything to protect him. He had been advised to take out insurance for his children. “These are the hazards of speaking truth to power.”
Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said the labour federation was shocked to learn about threats to Vavi’s life.
“Such reports of a death threat must always be taken seriously. They cause fear and worry for Comrade Vavi and his family, especially as this is not the first such threat. The federation sends a message of support and solidarity to the family and pledges to take every possible measure to ensure their safety and security,” he said.
Craven said the union was concerned that Ngcobo had not reported back two months after informing Vavi of the threat, except for one SMS in which he said the situation was being monitored.
Vavi said he would continue speaking for what was right, as he did in calling on Monday for delegates at Mangaung to adopt a resolution to ban all public officials from doing business with government, and to extend this to political leaders in the ANC and its alliance partners.
“The principle here is that if you are a leader in your organisation, whether it’s the ANC or the union, you must not do that and be in private business at the same time.
“It is inevitable that there will be conflict of interest. Even if you have left those private businesses, you must not allow your family to be in there as well.
“I hope there will be enough support for this at the conference .”
Vavi said, however, that he expected resistance from comrades who were involved in business.
“Of course there will be resistance from people who are benefiting from the status quo,” he said.
According to Vavi, the public no longer believed the ANC and its alliance partners when they spoke about fighting the scourge of corruption.
“People have started not believing us when we speak about corruption,” he said.
“It has become impossible to counter this when there are daily reports about senior leaders facing allegations of corruption.”
Mathews Phosa, ANC treasurer and chairman of the council of Unisa, which hosted the International Anti-Corruption discussion, said delegates at Mangaung would definitely discuss the issues raised by Vavi about officials doing business with government.
“When we are in Mangaung we will be discussing and debating the issue of organisation renewal, and this is part of it, along with other policy issues,” said Phosa.
For details go to http://www.iol.co.za
By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- North West provincial government closed the ceremony of 16 Days o Activism against Women and Children with a stern message to all potential perpetrators. TThey warn that drastical measures will be put in place for those who find themselves at the end of the law.
“We will not tolerate any abusers within our communities. So women and children need to be protected not abused. We encourage all women to come forward and report any abusive deeds against them” Minister Lulu Xingwana said.
South Africa was celebrating 16 Days of Activism against Women and Children and domestic violence is one of the burning issues the country experiences.
According to crime statistics most women are likely to be killed by their partners than stranger.
The event was graced Deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe who echoed same sentiment.North West premier Thandi Ruth Modise was part of the initiative and also encourages women to stand up and fight back the epidemic.
“We got nothing to lose and to all women must report the abuse” she said.
By Obakeng Maje
Banyana Banyana finished off a highly successful 2012 women’s football campaign, by thrashing Botswana 3-0 in an international friendly played at the Moruleng Stadium near Rustenburg on Monday, 10 December 2012.
The Sasol-sponsored national senior women’s team were 2-0 at halftime, in a match staged to mark the North West Provincial Government’s campaign aimed at raising awareness during the 16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse.
Tall Mamelodi Sundowns (Sasol League Gauteng) striker Andiswe Mgcoyi opened the scoring from a tight angle on the left hand side of the Botswana penalty area in the 11th minute. Mgcoyi’s club-mate, midfielder Refiloe Jane, celebrated her 17th national cap by scoring her first goal for Banyana Banyana, by way of a header from a corner-kick in the 22nd minute.
Second half substitute, striker Noko Matlou made her presence felt by scoring from close range 15 minutes into the second half.
Banyana Banyana national coach Joseph Mkhonza used the match played in hot conditions, to give as many players game time as possible with midfielders in Presocious Matabologa and Maile Makola both earning their first international caps.
This was the first time that the Southern African neighbours had met since last year’s All-Africa Games qualifiers, which saw Botswana stun the South Africans 1-0 in Polokwane before Banyana Banyana crushed their opponents 4-0 on an artificial pitch in Gaborone to advance to the African showpiece held in Mozambique in September 2011.
The South Africans, without the services of captain Amanda Dlamini (who was given some time off) and Amanda Sister (family commitments) dominated all phases of the 90 minutes of play.
“The match was the perfect platform to try out some of the newcomers to the Banyana Banyana team and Safa and Sasol need to be commended for the support shown to women’s football in a year which has seen the national team compete at the London Olympics and make the final of the CAF African Women Championship 2012 held in Equatorial Guinea last month,” said Mkhonza.
“The players will get a well-deserved break over the Festive season and return refreshed next year to prepare for the 12-nation Cyprus Women’s Cup tournament to be in March.”
By Obakeng Maje
Former Bafana Bafana team manager, Philemon ‘Mr Jones’ Setshedi has been found guilty on match fixing charges by the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court in Cape Town.
Mr Setshedi was convicted last Friday, 7 December 2012 after being found guilty of an attempt to unduly and improperly influence the outcome of one of the 2011 Vodacom play-off matches in Cape Town.
He was arrested on 8 June 2011 after making representations to SAFA officials in a bid to influence the outcome of one of the matches.
Court proceedings commenced at Bellville Commercial Crimes Court in November 2011 and concluded last Friday when the accused was convicted of contravening section 15 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004.
The matter has been postponed to 11 February 2013 for pre-sentence hearings.
This is the first time the South African Football Association (SAFA) has secured such a historic conviction.
SAFA President, Mr Kirsten Nematandani said the conviction of Mr Setshedi would send out a clear message to other potential corrupt elements that such behaviour has no place in the ‘Beautiful Game’.
“This is a strong statement to anyone who might intend to tarnish the good name of the sport through match fixing or other unsporting behaviour. In accordance with FIFA and SAFA’s zero tolerance to corruption and match fixing, we would like to warn other potential criminals that the long arm of the law would not spare you,” said Mr Nematandani.
The SAFA President also praised the National Prosecutions Agency (NPA) and the South African Police Services (SAPS) for their hard work in securing the conviction.
“This conviction is a clear example that the work we are doing with Government Agencies and FIFA Security Department to root out corruption in football is starting to yield positive results”.
Members of the public, players, football administrators and members of the media are encouraged to report suspicious activities in football on the 24 hour anti-corruption hotline number 0800 777228.
SASOL as the official sponsor of the Banyana Banyana team is sponsoring the Gala Dinner to honour the girls’s achievements for the year. This will be attended by the Province’s political leadership, available Ministers, Magosi Ba Kgafela, Municipalities and other stakeholders and SAFA Executives.
Johannesburg – An anonymous letter purportedly written by SABC reporters, producers and presenters indicated concerns of political interference at the state broadcaster, according to a report on Monday.
The Times reported that in the letter there were complaints that journalists were “taken to task” for not giving adequate coverage to President Jacob Zuma.
The letter was unsigned, apparently because the authors feared they would be victimised, and was addressed to the SABC board and acting news head Jimi Mathews.
“The climate of uncertainty and fear has created a state of paranoia in both the television and radio news rooms and has lowered morale,” the letter reads.
According to the newspaper, it contained allegations that some programmes were cancelled after the content was announced on air, and when talk show guests had already arrived.
Political journalists were allegedly removed from their posts and analysts from their regular shows without explanation.
There were also complaints that stories about expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema were “treated differently”.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago denied to The Times that Mathews or the board had received the note and said the SABC had received no complaints about the issues it raised. – Sapa
This year marks the 13th anniversary of the campaign, which is being held under the theme: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!” As a sub-theme, South Africa is focusing on the theme for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW): “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and children.
The event will take place as follows:
Date: Monday, 10 December 2012
Venue: Ben Marais Hall, Rustenburg, North West Province
Time: 9:00
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is a United Nations campaign which is observed annually from the 25th of November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to the 10th of December (International Human Rights Day).
The National Council Against Gender-Based Violence is a platform for meaningful participation by all sectors of civil society in co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation of a national response to violence against women and children. The Council will help to ensure that gender-based violence is observed on a daily basis and that the awareness is incorporated into our 365 Days Action Plan.
The department believes that the success of the 16 Days of Activism campaign is dependent on the partnership between government and all sectors of society.
BY Obakeng Maje
Lack of complete and reliable information results in learners from historically disadvantaged communities overlooking the possibility of a career in aviation, North West Premier Thandi Modise said over the weekend.
In her keynote speech delivered at the International Civil Aviation Day (ICAD) annual event held under the theme: “Aviation: Your reliable Connection to the World” at the Mahikeng Airport on Saturday, Premier Modise expressed appreciation that 3 120 learners and 200 educators from across the province were exposed to different careers available in aviation during the two days preceding the event.
Learners who participated in the Joint Aviation Awareness Programme (JAAP) were empowered by different by different aviation experts through presentations about various careers in the industry and also participated in flips courtesy of the South African Air Force and South African Police Service Air Wing. They were also granted an opportunity to build model aircrafts which they took home.
Although acknowledging that for the first time in the history of ICAD, learners living with disabilities were involved in the JAAP, Modise said that there is a need to put more effort to improve the limited participation of previously disadvantaged individuals in the aviation industry.
“Aviation is a lucrative business that provides some 56, 6 million jobs worldwide and 2.2 trillion dollars of the global domestic product,
The industry should benefit everybody including those of our people from rural communities. Improving teaching in mathematics and science should start at Early Childhood Development Centre to prepare our young people to opt for careers in aviation for them to claim and dominate their skies,” The Premier emphasised.
She highlighted that aviation has its own unique virtue of bringing people closer together, promotes economic growth, facilitate trade and also plays a significant role in the wider economic development of society, within Africa and other continents.
“In South Africa, the industry has played an extremely essential role in the achievement of our sustainable growth, adding to the expansion of domestic and international air services and has become a prerequisite for the development and growth in our various sectors such as business, tourism and trade facilitation,” she added.
Acting Director of Civil Aviation at South African Civil Aviation Authority, Poppy Khoza in appreciating partners that participated in the programme said that South Africa’s scheduled flights have a proud record of many safe landings and that it is one of the authority’s most important goal to assist in keeping alive this reputation of reliable aviation transport.
The objective of the ICAD annual celebration is to establish and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of States. The celebrations rotate among the provinces.
Meanwhile, Modise outlined plans by the provincial government to pursue the license of Mahikeng Airport as regional goods and passenger airport that should serve as a gateway into Southern African Development Community and Africa.
In supporting the Premier, MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Raymond Elisha announced that his department will be spending R50 million to revamp the airport to bring it to the desired state of functionality.
By Obakeng Maje
Taung-Losasaneng residents barricade road between Losasaneng and Pampierstad with burning tyres and stones after they alleged that the North West Provincial government ignores their plea.
According to their leader April Sethula,48 they have been requesting for the road to be tarred,but with no success.
“We urged the North West government to tar the road between Losasaneng and Pampierstad as the road is no go” April Sethula said.
“We protesting because our plea has fallen in deaf ears. The NW government promised that the road will be tarred after the World Cup 2010 as they claim lots of money has been injected in the event” He said.
The protesters were chanting and singing and hauling stones at passingby cars which makes it impossible for drivers to drive-through the area without any hassle.
There were no police visibility around the area to monitor the situation.
“We are not aware of any incident that is taking place and we will check on it” Sergeant Philani Nkwalase said.
This is not for the first this turn of event taking place as back then the residents launched a bid to be moved to Northern Cape province claiming North West government fails them.
The Guardian 