Johannesburg – Stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV/Aids persists, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday.

“This can have a devastating effect on the lives of people living with HIV and on those closest to them,” he said in a speech prepared for delivery at a World Aids Day event in Welkom, in the FREE State.

“It also undermines our efforts to tackle the epidemic.”

It was because of this that people were reluctant to be tested and to disclose their status to access treatment, care and support.

Efforts to fight against prejudice, stigma and discrimination needed to be redoubled.

“Like racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of intolerance, the stigmatisation of HIV is driven by ignorance and fear,” Ramaphosa said.

Despite the decline in the incidence of HIV there was a significant number of new infections every day.

A quarter of these were in women between the ages of 15 and 24.

Ramaphosa said more needed to be done to promote prevention, as it was within the power of the individual.

“Everyone, especially young people, should use condoms consistently, stick to one sexual partner and delay the age at which they first have sex,” he said.

“All leaders – whether in government, the religious sector, traditional leadership or business – need to speak about safer sex practices.”

Ramaphosa said government was concerned about the number of people who did not know their HIV status.

Referring to a recent SURVEY, he said about two million South Africans were living with HIV but did not know their status, which meant they were not getting the medical help they needed or protecting their partners.

“We must ensure that every South African tests for HIV and is screened for TB [Tuberculosis] annually.”

“Despite the progress that we have made in the past five years, the end of Aids is not as near as we would like,” Ramaphosa said.

At the International Aids Conference in Australia earlier this year a global target was announced.

These were the 90, 90, 90 targets.

This meant the country needed to test 90% of people for HIV, put 90% of those on treatment and ensure 90% of those on treatment were virally suppressed by 2030, he said.

Reaching this target was affordable over the mid-term.

However, a major barrier to achieving these targets was the stigma which still existed in the country.

“It is irrational. It is hurtful. It is unacceptable,” Ramaphosa said.

“While HIV has had an unprecedented impact on GLOBAL HEALTH, it is like any other disease. There should be no shame and no blame.”

– SAPA

Ventersdorp- In a bid to help municipalities to strengthen ties with communities in the North West Province and assist capacitate community members, the Department of Local Government and Human Settlements together with Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality held a ceremony to hand Ward Committee Offices and Certificates to honour ward committee members in Ventersdorp.

Ward committee members who were trained in different fields will be assisting and empowering community members in municipal affairs and therefore improving the standard of living through their inputs and guidance. A total number of 1881 ward committee members have been trained in the program, candidates had to pass 8 modules before receiving their certificates.

Only four provinces were identified for this project and North West was fortunate to be among the chosen. The project which has been a success through its pilot stages in the North West aims to arm community members with skills that enable them to assist other community members. The project was funded by European Union through the Department of Cooperative Governance.

The speaker of Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality Mbulelo Zephe officially opened the offices and handed them over to ward committees, committed to assist with the facilitation of the committees and make it easier for them to interact with community members.

Pule Moipolai, Director for Municipal Administration in the Department of Local Government and Human Settlement said the program is unique in its nature as community members will be helping other community members “There is no other project like this in the North West all thanks to Mr Eshmael Lesabe who led the project, all though it has not been smooth sailing all along, we are overwhelmed that the program has picked up” remarked Moipolai.

He continued that successful candidates who received the certificates were encourage to serve their communities with efficiency and be accountable. “It’s very important that communication with the community is maintained, and it should be transparent. Reporting back to the community is also equally vital, whether it is good or bad news” concluded Moipolai.

Cape Town – Anni Hindocha’s parents have revealed they will sue her murder-accused husband because he had not told her of his bisexuality and she wouldn’t have married him if she had known about it.

Vinod and Nilam Hindocha say they did not know of Dewani’s sexuality and the revelation that he paid for gay prostitutes and believe their daughter certainly would not have married him if she had known, reported the UK’s Daily Mail.

For more http://www.news24.com

Kimberley – A fight between two best friends over 50 cents resulted in the death of a 17-year-old teenager at the weekend.

John More was stabbed to death, allegedly by his close friend Collen Mthembu, 19, at Easy Tavern in Ritchie around 1am on Sunday morning.

Mthembu appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Gladys More, John’s devastated mother, on Monday questioned why her son had to lose his life over 50 cents.

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

Kimberley – The naked body of a five-year-old girl was found with multiple stab wounds not far from the Galeshewe Police Station on Sunday morning.

A screwdriver was found about 10 metres from the ditch where two community members made the gruesome discovery. It is possible that the girl was raped before she was murdered.

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

Johannesburg – The department of correctional services would INVESTIGATEallegations that murderer Don Steenkamp had flouted rules in the Kimberley prison, it said on Saturday.

“Should there be a serious allegation that’s made against him, we will investigate and act accordingly,” said FREE State and NorthCape Regional Deputy Commissioner Grace Molatedi.

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

Rustenburg – A 29-year-old man was arrested after fatally stabbing a Mozambican man in a fight over a girlfriend at Borolelo in Swartruggens, North West police said on Sunday.

Captain Pelonomi Makau said the man would appear in court on Monday to answer to a charge of murder.

In a separate crime in Mahikeng, police arrested a 29-year-old man for stabbing a woman believed to be his girlfriend to death.

The 24-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck and breast in Lonely Park village.

In a tavern in Madibogo, a 24-year-old man was stabbed to death during an argument, and his assailant was arrested.

On Friday, a 38-year-old SECURITY OFFICER was stabbed in the back of the head at Modimole village.

The owner of the shop he worked at had called for him after four people had tied him up.

The SECURITY GUARD died as a result of the stabbing and the robber ran off with his firearm, airtime voucers and the shop owner’s cellphone.

Police asked that anybody with information that could help them call Detective Constable Senokonyane on 076-766-3780 or Mmabatho police on 018-387-7500.

Sapa