Malema renews attack on ANC


EFF leader Julius Malema castigated the ruling ANC for presiding over Mahikeng which he said had turned into “a rubbish dump”.

Malema told thousands of supporters on Saturday at the Montshiwa stadium during a provincial manifesto rally that Mahikeng residents were left with no option but to yearn for the good old days when their city used to be clean.

“People look back and say Mangope was better because the city was then full of life and pristine. Now all that’s left are potholes, some as big as the swimming pool at Nkandla,” he said to loud applause.

Malema, who had been campaigning in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district for the whole week said it was time for people to entrust in the EFF with their vote because the ANC had “betrayed the aspirations of those who fought for freedom”.

“When you cast your votes on May 7 remember our heroes who fought for political freedom. Let’s work and conduct door to door campaigns as we don’t want to be the opposition party. We want to govern and be able to implement our own policies and turn around the desperate situation communities find themselves in,” he said.

The firebrand leader took aim at President Jacob Zuma who he accused of abusing tax payers’ money in the security upgrades done to his Nkandla homestead in Kwazulu-Natal.

“Police called me to provide them with additional evidence on the theft of public money and I will do so because I have the information. He (President Zuma) steals like a young child and must step down and rot in jail.

“Nkandla must be converted into a museum of corruption so that people know about it,” Malema said.

He said that a march to the Union Buildings would be organised to make sure Zuma stepped down as the president of the republic.

Meanwhile, the EFF promised to support miners in their fight for a monthly basic wage of R12500.

The fledgling party said this wage package would be a way to redistribute the wealth of this country.

“We will fight corruption and ensure that the working class don’t earn less than R4500. We will increase child support grants and make sure that our pensioners also get an increment. As for criminals, they must be isolated as they destroy the economy and innocent lives. All of us must come together as one and fight social ills. Those who rape must rot in jail.”

The Botswana National Front (BNF) came to support the EFF.

“We are here to give solidarity to EFF economic liberation. Malema remains loyal to the founding principles of the liberation of South Africa.

“In Botswana we want genuine political economic independence,” BNF leader Kago Mokotedi said.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

The province set to meet its skills needs


The secretariat for the Human Resource Development Council has expressed satisfaction that the North West is on course to meet its human resource and skills needs in both the public and private sectors.

Head of the secretariat, Brenda Ntombela, said that province was doing well in artisan development – including the production of academics, learnerships and other scarce skills and worker development goals.

Ntombela said this after meeting with the provincial coordinating forum in Mahikeng on Friday.

“The council set out a five-point plan setting out the production of professionals including artisan and technician development and the

alignment of the provincial resource development strategy to the New Growth Path, technical vocational education and training colleges, production of academics and industry/university partnerships, worker education and foundational learning.

“North West has recorded progress in all these, particularly in artisan development and bursary schemes for scarce skills development,” Ntombela said.

She added that the council sought to align skills development with the ideals captured in the National Development Plan.

She said the secretariat was working closely with the Ministry of Higher Education and Training to realise the decade-long artisan development theme: “it’s cool to be a 21st century artisan.”

Director of Human resources utilisation and capacity development in the office of the premier Tselane Letseli said that the province had awarded certificates to 141 artisans in 2013 and was targeting to produce more than 500 artisans during the course of this year.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

De Sa- Too many errors


Johannesburg – Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa has acknowledged the uphill battle his team faces and concedes there is plenty more work to do after watching them succumb to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mpumalanga Black Aces at Athlone Stadium on Friday night.

According to the Football411.com
website
, the Urban Warriors haven’t managed to claim all three points since their 2-0 win over Polokwane City back in February, having only picked up two points in the four games that followed.

“I wasn’t happy with a lot of things, there were too many basic individual errors that we have got to get better at,” de Sa said when quizzed on the loss to Aces.

“It wasn’t pretty today, I don’t think we were fluid, I thought we gave the ball away again, we have got to be better.

“It was a disappointing performance from the first mistake we made -where we conceded a goal – it was always going to be uphill,” he added.

“You can’t make those mistakes at this level and have it easy against a team like Aces.

“Disappointing from some players and these are the areas we have got to improve on, even if it’s replacing those players, if it’s got to come to that.” Sport24

Mosimane- Title chase exciting


Johannesburg –  Having gone level on points with Premiership-topping Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane insists his players are thriving under the pressure of challenging for the league title.

“We need to keep the league exciting and if we drop the ball, it’s not nice,” Mosimane said after the game at Loftus Versfeld.

“My players love the stress, they love the pressure and they feel like they can’t lose.”

Anthony Laffor put Sundowns ahead in first-half injury time, before Tuks drew level midway through the second period, courtesy of Atusaye Nyondo’s header in the 63rd minute.

The Brazilians held their nerve and took the lead once more through Lebohang Mokoena shortly after and held on for their fifth successive league victory, and sixth in all competitions.

Three points were enough for Sundowns to keep Chiefs on their toes, but they still trail the Soweto outfit due to an inferior goal-difference.

Mosimane insisted Sundowns were content with the points and not going top of the log, heaping praise on a resilient Tuks outfit that came close to spoiling their party.

“Hard-earned points, we were sweating, we really fought for it,” the former Bafana Bafana mentor said.

“Our opponents showed what they said before the game, that we [Sundowns] were not going to get it for free, we have to fight for it and earn it.

“In all the games that we’ve played here [at Loftus], this was the most difficult one to take.”

Sunday’s result put the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Chiefs, who welcome the Brazilians to a potentially title-deciding Premiership fixture at FNB Stadium next weekend.

The pair are deadlocked on 49 points, although Amakhosi have two games in hand and could restore a six point lead over Mosimane’s men.

However, Mosimane believed his charges were up for the challenge and they would make a serious charge for the title.

“My team has integrity and the will to go for it,” he said.

“Whoever wins it [the league] will earn it, we’re not going to give it to anybody on a silver platter.

“We have a game on Saturday, we will give our best, we will fight.”

SAPA

Segolela- VV’s getting it right


Johannesburg – Tlou Segolela believes new coach Vladimir Vermezovic’s decision to rotate the Orlando Pirates players has helped bring the best out of squad.

According to the Football411.com
website
, the Buccaneers kept their top-three ambitions in the PSL on track after edging Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows 1-0 on Saturday, with Segolela heading home the only goal of the game.

The result left the Sea Robbers fourth in the standings, four points behind Bidvest Wits, who currently occupy the final CAF Confederations Cup qualifying position, and Segolela has lauded the new coach’s impact for helping the team progress as a unit.

“I think the coach is doing something great. No one gets a guaranteed place in the team and you can see that those who get to play are giving their all to justify their inclusion in the squad,” he told Pirates’ official website.

“You can only improve your game if you play – the new coach is giving me a chance to play and that is why I’m able to do the business for the team.”

Pirates are virtually out of the running in the PSL this term, with 12 points separating them and leaders Kaizer Chiefs with only eight games remaining, although Segolela insist the team will not give up fighting for the crown until the final whistle is blown in May.

“The race will go until the last day. We will play with all we have and we will see how it ends. Our fans have to be with us all the way,” he concluded.
-News24

Court order to fix pipes invalid-SCA


Bloemfontein – A court order forcing the Capricorn district municipality to repair and replace water pipes in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, was set aside in the Supreme Court of Appeal on Monday.
The SCA upheld an appeal by the Capricorn district municipality and Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality against a court decision in which they were ordered to repair and replace water pipes and faulty water meters in Lebowakgomo Zone A in Limpopo within 12 months.

The high court order had also forced the municipality to charge each household in the area not more than R70 per month for the water consumed.

Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality is located about 50km south of Polokwane and includes predominantly rural areas as well as Zebediela.

On Monday, the SCA found the high court order not competent as it violated the doctrines of legality and separation of powers.

The unanimous judgment found the lower court’s order contravened the legal framework which reserved the functions in question for the municipalities.

The SCA said laying water pipes and the repairing faulty water meters fell within the executive and legislative powers of the municipality.

The SCA upheld the appeal with costs and set aside the mandatory interdicts issued by the high court.

SAPA

Acting DG appointed


Johannesburg – Former special adviser to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will become the acting director general (DG) of basic education, the department said on Monday.
Panyaza Lesufi would replace former DG Bobby Soobrayan, and assume the position in an acting capacity until the end of April, spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said.

Soobrayan had been redeployed to “other responsibilities in government”, said Mhlanga.

“Soobrayan leaves the sector that is fairly stable and has already started to implement the goals of the National Development Plan,” he said.

Soobrayan had been accused of signing an agreement on behalf of the department without a proper mandate, and misusing funds from the Education Labour Relations Council during April 2012.

Mhlanga said reports from the Public Service Commission and Judge Willem van der Merwe had cleared Soobrayan.

“Soobrayan said now that his name has been cleared it would not be fair to allow the sector to be held to ransom in his name.”

Mhlanga said there had been significant achievements in the education sector since Motshekga and Soobrayan started working together since 2009.

“The upward trend in the National Senior Certificate results is but one example that can be mentioned,” he said.

SAPA

Doctor, mid-wives fired for malpractice


Johannesburg – Gauteng’s health department has fired a doctor and four nurses for professional misconduct and medical malpractice.
“The dismissed staff members include three midwives who neglected a pregnant mother leading her to give birth in a street outside a clinic in the Tshwane district,” department spokesperson Phume Khumalo said on Monday.

A midwife from a Soweto community health centre was fired after failing to properly diagnose a pregnant mother, as was a doctor who refused to provide care to a pregnant mother.

“Cases involving five other professionals were referred to the health professions council for further investigation and disciplinary action, while 13 cases were handled internally by the department’s labour relations unit.”

The department investigated complaints and allegations of poor patient care and “serious adverse events” in provincial hospitals and clinics.

According to Health MEC Hope Papo, in 2012, 373 cases were recorded, and between January and September last year, 532.

The majority of these were at Gauteng’s main hospitals – Chris Hani Baragwanath (39 cases), Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg (25), Dr George Mukhari (16) and Steve Biko in Pretoria (seven).

The complaints involved included negligence, sexual assault, a lack of skills, system failures, and errors.

The department had also begun reviewing midwifery practice standards to prevent litigation in this area.

“Our own experience has also taught us most medico-legal cases emanate from obstetrics and gynaecologists,” Papo said.

Training was being provided to improve attitudes and communication between staff and patients.

In the 2012/2013 financial year the department trained 188 doctors and 203 nurses to manage obstetric emergencies.

Nurses were trained to use early warning charts.

In 2012, the department trained 120 nurses in midwifery while 79 received training in advanced midwifery and neonatology.

SAPA

Rustenburg woman mistook rapist for boyfriend


Johannesburg – A man who got into bed with a woman and raped her, with her thinking he was her boyfriend, appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The 26-year-old would be back in court for a formal bail application on 8 April, police spokesperson Pelonomi Makau said.

He allegedly raped a 41-year-old woman in her house on Saturday morning on the farm Bochfontein, near Rustenburg, after forcing a door open and getting into her bed.

She initially thought he was her boyfriend.

He fled when she realised her mistake.

SAPA

Siulu to table Nkandla report- FF Plus


Johannesburg – National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu has promised to table the public protector’s Nkandla report in Parliament, the FF Plus said on Monday.
“This will clear the way for an urgent debate… about the Nkandla report and [Jacob] Zuma’s reaction to it,” FF Plus MP Pieter Groenewald said in a statement.

“The FF Plus will keep the Speaker to his undertaking and as soon as 14 days have passed, Zuma has to react and the FF Plus will insist on an urgent debate about it.”

Groenewald said the debate would have to take place before the general elections as the matter was of “great public importance”.

“The Speaker will have to make an exception and will even have to call a special session of the National Assembly,” he said.

The DA wanted Zuma impeached over the R246m upgrades at his KwaZulu-Natal home.

Last Tuesday, Sisulu responded to DA MP Lindiwe Mazibuko’s request for a motion for Zuma’s impeachment.

In a letter, Sisulu told Mazibuko the matter would be tabled once Zuma had submitted the report to Parliament with his comments and a “report on any remedial steps taken or intended to be taken”.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found Zuma and his family improperly benefited from security upgrades to his private home.

These included a cattle kraal, a swimming pool, and an amphitheatre.

On Monday, Zuma told a crowd in Gugulethu, Cape Town, he would not repay the money because he did not ask for the upgrades.

Instead he blamed government officials.

“They did this without telling me,” he told ANN7.

“So why should I pay for something I did not ask for?”-Sapa