Health care is very important and what the South African Department of Health is doing through its doctors training programme in Cuba will have a huge impact on the poor in this country. Retired Major-General Mokgethi Radebe said this in his parting message at a farewell function organised for him by the Office of the Premier at the Mafikeng Hotel School on Friday evening,

Major-General Radebe, who is a qualified medical doctor with ample experience in the field, has been requested by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaaron Motsoaledi to oversee the training of South African medical students in Cuba. He will be based in Cuba where he will also serve as an attaché for health relations between South Africa, Cuba and Chile.

“It feels as if I am leaving the earth. Leaving the North West is very hard for me. It feels as if I am going to exile again.

“When I was requested by the Minister of Health to go and oversee the training programme in Cuba, I finally agreed because health care is very close to my heart. North West has been the biggest part of my life. In fact my mother came from Ventersdorp,” said Radebe.

Radebe has been an Acting Director-General for the North West Provincial Administration since 2012. He was appointed Head of Department of Health in 2011. Prior to this appointment, he was with the Department of Defence where he was with the South African Military Health Services. He joined South African National Defense Force (SANDF) in 1994 and rose to the rank of Major General.

He was dispatched by the African National Congress to study medicine in Cuba in 1981 and qualified as a medical doctor in that country in 1998.  Upon graduating, he worked in the MK camps in Angola in 1989.

Between 1990 and 1991, he worked in Zimbabwe. He returned to South Africa from exile in 1991, and joined the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA) for a year, after which he went into private practice till 1994 when he joined the SANDF.

Major General Radebe is from the class of 1976 that went into exile in that year. He was in MATRIC when he left South Africa during a student uprising to swell the ranks of the African National Congress (ANC) and Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK). He trained as an MK soldier in Angola and served the ANC in different capacities in the health sector until he was sent to Cuba to study medicine in 1981.

He was born in Katlehong in the East Rand, where he completed his primary school and high school.

Acting Head of Department for the Office of the Premier Oageng Mosiane said the Major-General has provided exemplary leadership.

“He has been an exemplary manager, doing his job with passion and dedication. We know that he will make us and the entire country proud in his new role,” said Mosiane.

Head of Department for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism  Abe Tlaletsi said Major-General Radebe’s departure must not be seen as a loss to the province as he will be an ambassador for the North West.

“You are going to represent the North West as an ambassador. Be focused, don’t be tempted by the sea, the beach and the Cuban cigars,” said Tlaletsi.

The farewell function was attended by prominent members of the community including traditional leaders, local priests, Members of the Mayoral Committee from Mahikeng Local Municipality, staff from the Premier’s Office and senior government officials from other provincial departments, members and some of the Cuban doctors based in the Province.

Ajax Cape Town captain Dominic Isaacs is adamant that the Urban Warriors will soon the corner and start climbing up the league table.

The Cape side are anchored to the bottom of the Absa Premiership table, with just two points from their five matches this season, while they bowed out of the Telkom Knockout at the first round stage after losing to SuperSport United.

The Urban Warriors had been hoping to build on the momentum they started enjoying towards the end of last season when coach Muhsin Ertugral came in for the last couple of months to help the club avoid relegation.

Its been tough for the Turk in 2013/ 2014, trying to find solutions for injury issues, while also looking to introduce youngsters into the side, sometimes forced, and sometimes by choice.

The likes of Keegan Dolly, Abbubakar Mobara, Toriq Losper, Bantu Mzwakali, Brandon Petersen, Michael Kwong and Travis Graham all appear to be exciting talents, set for a very bright future in the game.

But when results are the bottom line, and relegation unthinkable, the pressure on the young players’ shoulders can be huge, leaving little room for them to ease their way into the team.

It’s for this reason that experienced heads such as Lance Davids, Nathan Paulse, Franklin Cale and Isaacs are back at the club, but so far the senior players in the side have been unable to instill the confidence needed to start getting results.

Isaacs however is not shirking the responsibility and has called for improvements all over the park from his team-mates.

“We are very disappointed to be winl-ess after five games but we have only ourselves to blame,” the former Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic defender told the club website. “We are creating upfront but not converting our scoring chances, while at the back we conceding goals through silly mistakes,” he added.

Isaacs is also adamant that its too early to read too much into the league table, believing Ajax are better than the standings suggest.

“If you look at the first five league results we have lost most of our games by the odd goal, so we have to tighten up at the back and score the chances we create.

“As a team we have to take responsibility for our performances, we are a better than the results display and I am sure we will turn our season around very soon.”

The Ikamva-based side are next in action on Wednesday, 23 October, when they host Free State Stars at the Cape Town Stadium.
For more http://www.psl.co.za

Orlando Pirates have confirmed that midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo’s injury is not serious and he will resume training on Monday.

As reported by Soccer-Laduma on Friday, the player has been struggling with a recurring metatarsal injury and the Sea Robbers were sweating on the outcome of scans following the player complaining of severe pain in his foot.

The club, though, has been boosted by the news that ‘Bibo’ simply suffered a knock in their 3-1 win over Mpumalanga Black Aces in the Telkom Knockout and is clear to continue training.

A statement on the club’s official website read, “Midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo is expected to resume training with the rest of the squad on Monday.

“The hardworking midfielder underwent a series of scans and medical observations yesterday, this after complaining a severe pain on his foot.

“The latest scan results which the club received from a specialist in Johannesburg, revealed that the Free State born midfielder did not sustain any structural damage to his foot, and is therefore fit to train with the rest of the squad from next Monday.”

Quoting the report, the official site confirmed that “no damage or reoccurrence of his previous injury was picked up during the scan. The pain he felt was due to a knock he sustained which is nothing serious.”
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Bhisho – An agreement was reached between an Eastern Cape pupil, her school and the basic education department over poor conditions at the institution, Equal Education (EE) said on Friday.

“A settlement agreement signed by the parties on the 12th of August 2013 and made into an order of the Bhisho High Court today (Friday), settles the matter,” it said in a statement.

EE said the Grade 11 pupil, Palesa Faith Manyokole, initiated legal proceedings against the Moshesh Senior Secondary School’s principal, its governing body, the provincial and national education departments, and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

“Learners from the school first wrote to Equal Education in 2012 to ask for the organisation’s assistance,” it said.

EE visited the school and found that the principal had spent nine months out of school, an insufficient number of teachers, that some teachers did not come to school, a lack of textbooks, and “appalling conditions” at the hostel.

Eastern Cape education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said the department was satisfied and relieved that “common ground” was found.

“A dedicated team was placed to focus on making these rather urgent improvements. We have a very able head of that district, and we are confident that indeed the issues will be dealt with.”

EE said that in June the department said it had probed financial mismanagement at the school. It said the principal was suspended, and an acting one was appointed to improve the school.

The department said the school was underperforming and it would try to address the issue. Two months later the agreement was reached.

One of the provisions was that a month after the order was signed the department had to submit a report on progress made at the school.

Sapa

Johannesburg – A man was arrested and another wounded during a shoot-out with police in Mofolo, Soweto, on Friday, Gauteng police said.

Members of the flying squad spotted a Toyota RunX in Mofolo and the driver sped off when the police approached, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said.

During the ensuing chase the Toyota’s occupants shot at the police.

“The police returned fire. The car hit a gate and police arrested a 42-year-old man. The other man had a bullet wound and was taken to hospital.”

The car was reported hijacked in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon. The men would be charged with hijacking the car, attempted murder for shooting at police, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The arrested man was expected to appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Monday. His accomplice would be in court once he was discharged from hospital.

Sapa

While Anene Booysen, 17, did not have a boyfriend, she liked Johannes Kana, the man accused of her rape and murder, the Swellendam Circuit Court heard on Friday.

Kana is accused of raping and murdering the teenager in Bredasdorp on February 2.

Witness Patricia Leonard, a close friend of Anene’s and who described her as a sister, told the court she was heartbroken when she heard about the incident.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

A man posing as a security guard has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Saturday.

On Thursday, the woman was shopping in Pinetown when the man approached her and accused her of shoplifting, Captain Thulani Zwane said.

The man ordered her to accompany him to his office.

“As they were walking, the victim became suspicious as they approached a bush along the railway line.”

The man allegedly raped the woman at knifepoint.

As they walked back to the CBD, the woman screamed for help and her alleged rapist fled.

A few minutes later the man was arrested. He will appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a rape charge. – Sapa

Cosatu has again urged Gauteng motorists to defy the government and derail e-tolling by refusing to buy e-tags to make the “unjust system” unworkable.

The trade union federation, which is planning a renewed campaign against the implementation the system on Gauteng highways, says it is confident that e-tolling in Gauteng is “not going to work”.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Saxonwold residents are now threatening legal action should the City of Johannesburg give the green light to an illegally built mansion situated within the multimillion-rand Gupta compound.

Neighbours of the Guptas are now demanding compensation, decreed in a council building ordinance, for the “loss of value, privacy and amenity” to their homes and lifestyles, with some no longer able to enjoy their pools and gardens because of what they call the “triple-storey monstrosity”.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Marikana – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema slaughtered an ox in Marikana on Saturday ahead of the launch of his political party.

Malema, dressed in a red party T-shirt, red beret, red trousers, red shoes and dark sunglasses walked to the ox inside a trailer.

“Where is a rope? You must tie it up here,” he said pointing to a corner of the trailer.

“I am going to kill the first one, the rest is for you.”

The ox was tied and Malema stabbed it in the neck with a knife.

“I told you I am going to kill it,” he said pushing the knife deep into the animal.

The ox fell down and died.

Men pulled the ox out of the trailer and cut its throat.

“That’s that,” he said as blood streamed from the ox.

He dropped the knife washed his hands and left.

Men skinned the animal while waiting for seven others to be slaughtered.

EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said there was nothing special about the number eight.

“This is the number of cattle we have, [there is] nothing special about it.”

He explained that in African culture cattle were supposed killed in such a way that they would not suffer.

“The animal must not suffer. That is an important aspect of the tradition.”

He said the meat would be eaten on Sunday.

“A new baby is born, we are going to feast tomorrow [Sunday].”

– Were you there? Send us your eyewitness accounts and photos.

– SAPA