Johannesburg – An earth tremor of 2.2 on the Richter scale occurred early on Wednesday morning on Johannesburg’s East Rand, the Council for Geoscience (CGS) said.
“We were alerted to it this [Wednesday] morning. It was in the Boksburg area at about 05:00,” said lead competency manager Michelle Grobbelaar.
“It was about a magnitude of 2.2. It’s very surprising that people felt it. It appears it [the tremor] was quite shallow.”
12:30 – Vavi: The door for engagement has now been shut. Dismissing me if airily and illegally without a mandate from members. (Tweet by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:30
BREAKING NEWS: Expelled Cosatu leader Zwelinzima Vavi is considering hauling the federation’s remaining leaders to court.
— The Daily Dispatch (@Dispatch_DD) April 1, 2015
12:29 – Vavi: Do I have money to keep running up and down in courts? We are dealing with people who’ve decided to prosecute a political opponent. (Tweet by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:29 – Vavi: I know when a decision is unfair. You can’t dismiss someone without an independent hearing. You’re the judge & prosecutor. It’s wrong. (Tweet by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:29 – Vavi: That audit report is exceedingly damaging. The Cosatu CEC is populated by a faction which has Byrd for my blood since 2012. (Tweet by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:28 – Vavi: It’s a deliberate political game to hollow out organs of people’s power & institutions which are supposed to hold leaders to account. (Tweet by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:28 – Vavi: We will special NEC meetings and meet as many unions, including Cosatu unions, to unfold a Programme of mass mobilisation. (Tweet by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:27 – Vavi: While workers thought they were fighting for the soul of the ANC, a hidden agenda was being hatched by forces hostile to workers. (Tweet by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:27 – Vavi says he and the 7 unions will not attend the Cosatu congress if Numsa is not in attendance (tweet by Genevieve Quintal).
12:27 – Vavi: “The priority now is not to get drawn into tit-for-tat arguments and exchanging insults”. (Tweet by Genevieve Quinta)
12:26 – Vavi: It is a crisis that this country is not reading. The information is all there. Blow by blow.
12:26 – Vavi: We are a nation of headlines. We are not a reading nation.
12:26 – Vavi says the #Cosatu CEC has been “baying for my blood since 2012” – Genevieve Quintal
12:25
#Vavi Cosatu’s spokesperson Patrick Craven controlling the Vavi Presser… pic.twitter.com/xBG1ytyWvY
— Karin Labuschagne (@KarinLaB) April 1, 2015
12:25
Patrick Craven at Vavi’s presser. I think he was the only one who voted against his expulsion at the Special CEC meeting on Monday.
— Black Panther (@De_Imperial) April 1, 2015
12:25
So do I still call Patric Craven for interviews or he’s effectively a free agent? Tjo. The newsroom has never been so interesting
— Nomfundo Sibanyoni (@MilaMfundo) April 1, 2015
12:24 – Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven has quit and has now joined Vavi’s camp.
12:23 – Vavi: We are retain the reason why the other unions don’t want a congress is because they fear members will revolt in the ballot. (Tweeted by City Press’s Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:23 – Vavi “I have no doubt that the dismissal is unfair and illegal> I have been dismissed without a hearing conducted by an independent chair” (Tweeted by News24’s Genevieve Quintal)
12:22 – Vavi: A Cosatu congress will not be attended by unions that called for it because it’s going to be a farce, a betrayal. We won’t attend. (Tweeted by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:22 – Vavi: We are effectively out of Cosatu now, voted out to the exclusion of other unions. Numsa with 365 000 have been booted out. (Tweeted by Rhodes Mbanjwa).
12:21
Vavi adresses the media following his expulsion from #Cosatu pic.twitter.com/oe4PCznPRp
— sabelo ndlangisa (@Bhintsintsi) April 1, 2015
12:21 – Vavi says he is in consultation on whether he should challenge his expulsion from Cosatu.
12:19 – Vavi says the Cosatu CEC knowingly decided to adopt the forensic audit report with all its flaws.
12:19 – Vavi says he objects to to the “unprofessional and unethical” behaviour of forensic auditors SizweNtsalubaGobodo. – News24’s Genevieve Quintal.
12:18 – Vavi: I shall participate fully in this programme of mass mobilization and consultation Cosatu. (Tweet by Sabelo Ndlangisa)
12:18 – Vavi: I’m not a banned person I’m a free man. This is not an apartheid state. Anyone who doesn’t like that can go jump. (Tweeted by SABC’s Vuyo Mvoko)
12:16 – Vavi: We are going to be very busy. This weekend has a full programme to ask the members questions.
12:16 – Vavi: “I remain firmly convinced that I did nothing wrong, let alone break the law, in the execution of my duties as Cosatu GS”
12:15 – Vavi: But the priority now is not to et drawn into tit-for-tat arguments & exchange insults but to direct energy to class struggle. (Tweeted by Rhodes Mbanjwa )
12:15 – Vavi: I remain firmly convinced that I did nothing wrong, let alone break the law in the execution of my duties as GS.
12:14 – Vavi: All the unions listed in his statement will meet soon.
12:14 – Vavi: The working class needs to respond decisively to these challenges. Don’t mourn, exercise.
12:13 – Vavi: I did nothing wrong.
12:13 – Vavi: “These decisions will have a huge impact on the struggle for a strong united workers’federation.”
12:13 – Vavi also condemns the decision to close the door on Numsa’s readmission to Cosatu, the acceptance of Limusa and lack of notice of a SNC.
12:13 – CWU, Numsa, Fawu, Saccawu, Sasawu, Denosa, Safpu supporting Vavi
12:12 – Vavi says he condemns the CEC’s decision to dismiss him, a GS “who was democratically elected by the 2012 national congress”
12:12 – Vavi : We have tried to avoid this scenario at all costs
12:12
We are about to start with the Zwelinzima #Vavi press conference. pic.twitter.com/paXHlB2Q8Q
— Rhodes Mbanjwa (@mbanjwax) April 1, 2015
12:12 – Vavi: This all reflects the drive by predatory elite to exercise control over all areas of society to advance their narrow control. (Tweeted by Rhodes Mbanjwa, City Press)
12:12 – Vavi: This is also behind the disarray at SABC, SAA, SARS, Eskom, Parliament, SAPS, Intelligence, NPA, SAPO using fake intelligence reports. (Tweeted by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:11 – Vavi: Underlying unemployment, crime & corruption is endangering all formations in society incl democratic institutions. (Tweeted by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:11 – Vavi: The decisions to allow LIMUSA union, a shelf union & expel me will have huge impact & it’s a crisis for working class as well. (Tweeted by Rhodes Mbanjwa)
12:10
#Vavi: But those inside and outside of Cosatu have been ruthless to purge any individual that stands in their way.
— Rhodes Mbanjwa (@mbanjwax) April 1, 2015
12:10
#Vavi: I, together with the 7 unions, have been trying for many months to achieve unity and cohesion at Cosatu.
— Rhodes Mbanjwa (@mbanjwax) April 1, 2015
12:10 – Watch the conference live on eNCA:
A man was injured following an accident on Garsfontein Road near Solomon Mahlangu Drive in Moreleta Park, Pretoria.
Netcare 911 paramedics and other services arrived at the scene and found that two vehicles were involved in a side impact collision.
Upon assessment of the occupants, paramedics found that a man had sustained serious injuries during the crash. The man was found still seated in his vehicle.
“The injured man was treated at the scene and transported to hospital for further medical care” Netcare 911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann said.
The occupants of the other vehicle were not injured during the accident and did not require hospitalisation.
Exact detail surrounding the cause of the accident and preceding events will remain the subject of a police investigation.
Traffic was affected as a result of the accident.
-TDN
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A man was injured following a motorcycle accident on the N14 near the R55 in Olievenhoutbos this morning.
Netcare 911 paramedics and other services arrived at the scene and found a twenty-six-year-old man was sitting next to the roadway after he came off his motorcycle.
Exact detail surrounding the cause of the accident and preceding events are still unclear. Reports from the scene however indicate that the motorcycle drove through a pothole causing the driver to come off the motorcycle.
“Upon assessment of the injured man, paramedics found that he had sustained serious injuries and after receiving treatment at the scene, the injured man was transported to hospital for further medical care” Netcare 911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann said.
Traffic was slightly affected by the accident.
-TDN
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Koster: The Premier of Bokone Bophirima Province Mr Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo has reassured the community of Reagile location in Koster of government’s commitment to ensuring that the kidnappers and killers of Kegomoditswe Boikanyo (9) face the full might of the law. Speaking today at the memorial service which was attended by hundreds of Reagile location residents, Premier Mahumapelo urged communities and traditional healers to work together with the police in finding these criminals, describing those criminals as heartless and irresponsible.
“”We need to make it our responsibility to find out who those people are and why did they do this. They do not deserve to be amongst us as they are also defeating the objectives of the reconciliation, healing and renewal programme initiated in the province”, said Premier Mahumapelo who added that all must have hope that the other missing girl, Basetsana Octavia Modumo who is a cousin to the late Kegomoditswe Boikanyo, will one day be found alive.
Speaking on behalf of the bereaved family, Mr Fistus Boikanyo expressed the family’s gratefulness for the support provided by government, saying they find solace in knowing that the provincial government is with them throughout this difficult time.
“We also reiterate the call made by the Premier for the community to help in finding those ruthless people. It hurts us even worse to think that they are still out there, walking freely.
The two girls went missing on 24 September 2014, and Kegomoditswe Boikanyo’s naked and decomposed body was found floating in Kgetleng River at Finfoot farm near Brits on Sunday, 28 September 2014, with missing parts including the head, hands, breasts and private parts.
Following the discovery of this body, the DNA tests were performed by the International Commission on Missing Persons, the results of which confirmed the body to be that of little Kegomoditswe Boikanyo. Her body will be buried tomorrow, 01 April 2015 at Reagile location.
-TDN
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Johannesburg – A woman was killed when her car collided head-on with a truck on the M7 near Durban on Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal paramedics said.
“She was declared deceased on the scene,” Rescue Care spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said.
“At this stage it is unclear what caused the collision. However, it is alleged that the car had somehow lost control and collided head-on with the truck in the opposite [lane].”
The accident occurred on the M7 east-bound before the Bellville bridge.
Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma is aware of developments in the NPA, the Hawks and SA Police Service (SAPS), his spokesperson said on Tuesday.
“With regards to the Hawks, the minister of police has informed the president that he has to act on certain reports alleging wrongdoing on the part of some senior officials,” Mac Maharaj said in a statement.
He was referring to the suspension of Gauteng Hawks head Shadrack Sibiya and the unit’s national head Anwa Dramat.
The two were allegedly involved in the rendition of five Zimbabwean suspects in 2010.
“Minister [Nathi] Nhleko has assured the president that he would ensure that due process is followed when dealing with the matter,” Maharaj said.
Nhleko and Justice Minister Michael Masuthahad assured Zuma they were addressing concerns about the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and SAPS.
Last week, the NPA said it had issued a summons for Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions (DNDPP) Nomgcobo Jiba to appear in court on 21 April on charges of fraud and perjury.
This related to her failed attempt to lay murder and racketeering charges against suspended KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major General Johan Booysen.
Booysen, who was head of the now-disbanded Cato Manor serious and violent crimes unit, had been charged, along with his former colleagues, of running a criminal enterprise.
At the end of February last year, KwaZulu-Natal High Court Judge Trevor Gorven condemned a decision by Jiba to prosecute Booysen, saying the charges did not meet even the barest of minimum requirements.
NDPP Mxolisi Nxasana told reporters last week he was concerned about national police commissioner Riah Phiyega‘s involvement in the summons served on Jiba. He said he had received a call from Phiyega stating that the summons on Jiba had not been properly issued.
Johannesburg – Nearly half of all school pupils in Gauteng walk to school, Statistics SA said on Tuesday.
According to its national household travel survey for Gauteng, 42.5% of pupils walked all the way to their school.
A total of 22.4% used taxis, while 21.2% were passengers in a car or truck.
“Only, 2.3% of learners used trains as their mode of travel in the province.”
Those who attended higher education institutions were more likely to use a car or truck, as the driver (32.5%), and taxis (32.2%) to reach their destination.
According to the survey, around 3.2 million people attended educational institutions in Gauteng, ranging from pre-school to higher education facilities.
Those in metropolitan areas (83.7%) were more likely to attend institutions than those living in urban (14%) and rural areas (2.3%).
Regarding the province’s working population, around 85.2% of workers were found in metropolitan areas, with 13% in urban areas.
Around 43% of workers in Gauteng used public transport as their main mode of transport to work, whereas around 44% used private transport, and 12.2% walked to work.
“Out of about two million workers who used public transport, the majority used taxis (70.9%), followed by those who used trains (17.2%) and those who used buses (12%),” Stats SA said.
There were around 313 000 households with at least one bicycle in working order in Gauteng, and 23 000 of those owned more than three bicycles and lived in metropolitan areas.
Around 39% of households had access to or owned cars, and 4.4% had access to a company car.
Nearly 40% of people aged 18 years and older had a driver’s licence. The City of Tshwane (42.7%) had the highest proportion of people with driver’s licences.
The non-availability of buses (12.5%), reckless driving by taxi drivers (10.3%), and taxis being too expensive (9.5%) were the three leading transport-related problems faced by households in Gauteng.
Around 58.4% of households that used taxis complained about the behaviour of taxis drivers, followed by the facilities at taxi ranks (58.1%).
Of the households that made use of buses, 43.6% were dissatisfied with facilities at bus stops and 38.3% with overcrowding on buses.
Johannesburg – The presidency has received the report by the Farlam Commission of Inquiry into the violence at Marikana, it said on Tuesday.
“President Zuma is currently in Algeria on a state visit and will prioritise the consideration of the report on his return,” spokesperson Mac Maharajsaid in a statement.
“The president wishes to thank the chairperson of the commission, Judge Farlam, and commission members advocate Bantubonke Tokota SC and advocate Pingla Hemraj SC as well as all witnesses who participated in the commission.”
The commission investigated the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, near Rustenburg, North West.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead in a clash with police, over 70 were wounded, and another 250 arrested on August 16 2012.
Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them. In the preceding week, 10 people, including policemen and two security guards, were killed.
The Guardian 