Bloemfontein – The Democratic Alliance urged state power utility Eskom to reconsider the planned disconnection of bulk electricity supply to two Free State municipalities.

Free State DA leader Patricia Kopane said on Monday that Premier Ace Magashule and Eskom should immediately take steps to prevent cutting electricity to paying consumers.

“Premier Ace Magashule established a committee in September 2010 to address the non-payment of municipal accounts,” she said.

Eskom was a member of this committee.

Last week, Eskom published a notice that it was planning to disconnect electricity to the Maluti-A-Phofung municipality, which failed to settle a bill of more than R205m.

Some of the money was outstanding for more than 90 days.

Eskom planned to disconnect power to the municipality on 4 December 2013. Towns and municipal areas affected would be Harrismith, QwaQwa, Kestell, Tshiame, Phuthaditjhaba, Tsheseng, and Witsieshoek.

A similar notice was published for the Ngwathe municipality, which apparently owed more than R188m.

Towns and areas which would be affected by this notice were Edenville, Heilbron, Koppies, Parys, Phiritona, and Vredefort.

Eskom wants submissions on why it should not cut the power to Maluti-A-Phofung and Ngwathe respectively on 6 November and 8 November.

Kopane said due to the urgency of the matter Magashule and Eskom should attend to the issue without delay.

– SAPA

Durban – The trial of Joseph Ntshongwana, the former Blue Bulls player accused of killing four people with an axe, was postponed in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court on Monday after his legal representative failed to arrive at court.

Acting Judge Irfaan Khalil said he had received an e-mail informing him that Themba Mjoli could not make the case on Monday as he was himself an acting judge in a matter being heard in Pietermaritzburg.

Khalil said Mjoli’s failure to inform the court timeously of his ability to attend Ntshongwana’s trial caused “a great deal of inconvenience and prejudice” as well as “fruitless expenditure” that resulted from witnesses and attorneys arriving at court for a case that could not proceed.

Khalil said Mjoli would have to explain his “default” at not being in court on Monday.

The case was postponed to Tuesday.

Ntshongwana is charged with the murder of Thembelenkosini Cebekhulu in Montclair on 20 March 2011, Paulos Hlongwa two days later, Simon Ngidi the following day, and an unidentified man sometime that week.

All were hacked to death with an axe.

He is also accused of kidnapping and raping a woman on 28 November 2010, and of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

He also faces two charges of attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

The woman, who cannot be named, was kidnapped in central Durban and held captive for three days.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Over 300 cases of corruption in schools have been reported in a survey via instant messaging service Mxit, Corruption Watch said on Monday.

Seven out of 10 respondents claimed school principals were responsible for misusing money or school property, spokesperson Patience Mkosana said.

Six out of 10 respondents said teachers were responsible for soliciting favours in exchange for better marks.

Consumer insights company Pondering Panda was commissioned to conduct a survey in August, using a sample of 3 284 people aged between 13 and 34.

The survey concluded that teachers were often responsible for selling exam and test papers to pupils.

“Half of the respondents were pupils at a school, or at Further Education and Training Colleges,” Mkosana said.

The rest of the respondents included teachers and school governing body members.

Comment from the education department could not immediately be obtained.

– Corruption Watch report.

– SAPA

Cape Town – The DA’s court application to compel government to hand over a report on the upgrade of President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead is “opportunistic and attention-seeking”, ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani said on Monday.

“We have become accustomed to the DA’s tendency to undermine the constitutional functions of Parliament by constantly calling on the judiciary to interfere in matters before the institution,” Sizani said.

He was responding to news that Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko approached the Western Cape High Court on Monday for an order overturning Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi’s decision to classify the report detailing the over R200m upgrade to Zuma’s private KwaZulu-Natal homestead.

The report was currently before Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence (JSCI).

“We are confident that the parliamentary committee’s work on this report will not be distracted by the DA’s shenanigans,” Sizani said.

Application

Earlier on Monday, Mazibuko said she went to court in her personal capacity and as leader of the opposition in Parliament.

“When the DA submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia) application to obtain this report in an effort to make it public, minister Nxesi’s department gave no reply to our application,” Mazibuko said.

“In terms of the Paia, the application is thus deemed rejected as per section 28(1)(b).”

Nxesi rejected a subsequent appeal, saying it was premature as the report had already been sent to the JSCI. The JSCI meets behind closed doors.

“We have long held that the classification of the report is invalid, and constitutes yet another attempt to shield President Zuma from public accountability,” Mazibuko said.

She was asking the court to declare the rejection of the DA’s Paia application and appeal unlawful and invalid.

Should she succeed, Mazibuko wanted the so-called “Nkandlagate” report handed over within five days of a court order.

“Alternatively, that the court orders that the parts of the report pertaining to state security be severed and the report then be made public,” Mazibuko said.

– SAPA

Pretoria – Counsel for several of the Boeremag members convicted of treason argued on Monday that their clients were not dangerous criminals.

They contended that life imprisonment for them would be shockingly inappropriate.

The State has asked the court to sentence eight of the 20 accused in the country’s first post-apartheid treason trial to life imprisonment, and 11 to between five to 15 years in jail.

The State has not asked for the imprisonment of Fritz Naude, who is in a nursing home after a series of strokes.

Coup plot

The charges result from a right wing coup plot to violently overthrow the African National Congress-led government.

A Soweto mother was killed, a plot to murder former president Nelson Mandela nearly carried out, and damage of millions of rands caused in a series of explosions forming part of the coup plan.

Paul Kruger, for Pieter van Deventer and Gerhardus “Oom Vis” Visagie, argued that the State had a “witch hunt mentality”, evident in the “draconian” sentences it sought.

“The State wants the court to punish the accused for the potential results of their deeds,” he said.

Kruger said if the State was correct, someone caught driving at 200km/h should be punished for potentially killing someone.

“This cannot happen in a civilised legal system. An accused should be punished for what he already did,” he said.

He argued that rehabilitation ought to be possible without the person becoming a supporter of the government of the day, or going on a “foot-washing expedition”.

He was apparently referring to apartheid-era police minister Adriaan Vlok washing the feet of Rev Frank Chikane, former head of the SA Council of Churches, who survived an attempt on his life in the 1980s, in August 2006.

‘Deaf ear to calls for Volkstaat’

Kruger said the State’s argument that the Boeremag members could have used political avenues to realise their aim of self-determination was not true, as the ANC government had turned a deaf ear to repeated calls for a “Volkstaat” (a Boer state).

He said it was clear the elderly Visagie, a retired top civil servant turned farmer, had never been a criminal, but could simply not live with the change the country.

“As an elderly man who’s had several heart operations he’s been through a living hell for the last 10 years of his life. Direct imprisonment could lead to his death,” Kruger added.

Louisa van der Walt, for Andre du Toit, argued that the State did not have rehabilitation in mind, only retribution and prevention. She said the State’s argument that thousands of people would have been driven out of the country if the Boeremag’s plans had worked out was “ridiculous”.

Lawyer Piet Pistorius argued that the State’s argument on sentencing made no sense. It sought, for example, life imprisonment for Lets Pretorius, a dedicated medical doctor who served the community and saved lives, while asking for only 10 years imprisonment for another accused who played a far greater role.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

Cape Town – A painting commenting on President Jacob Zuma’s perceived role in the Marikana shooting has been sold for R89,000, gallery director Greg Dale said on Monday.

“We did not alter the selling price of the [Ayanda Mabulu] work that we were asking before the controversy,” said Dale, a curator of the Commune.1 art gallery in Cape Town.

Some of Mabulu’s other pieces are displayed at the gallery.

“The work was sold on Saturday evening at the fair. The seller is a local private buyer.”

The artwork – Yakhali’inkomo – Black Man’s Cry – was pulled from the FNB Joburg Art Fair last week.

It was reportedly put back up after photographer David Goldblatt, this year’s featured artist at the fair, took down his work in protest.

The fair’s creative director, Cobi Labuschagne, told the Sunday Independent that they had wanted the opening night to be about celebrating the government’s work, rather than attracting attention to an “overtly political work”.

Ross Douglas, the fair’s director, was quoted as saying that the work was not censored because of government pressure.

The painting depicts a kneeling miner with horns on his head. He is being attacked by a dog Zuma is holding on a leash, while stepping on another dying miner’s head.

A white man dressed as a matador stands over him, holding a South African flag as a cape and about to stab him with his sword.

Britain’s Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth look on, laughing. In the background is an ANC logo with blood dripping from it.

– SAPA

A report that the ANC had asked former president Thabo Mbeki to help capture Gauteng’s middle class voters was queried by the party on Monday.

“The journalist… made three fundamental misrepresentations [in the report],” the Gauteng African National Congress said.

“Firstly, the journalist insinuates without any basis in fact that President Jacob Zuma is unpopular among the middle class. This impression is based on media speculation and is not borne by research.”

The Sunday Times reported that the strategy arose out of fears of Zuma’s unpopularity with the middle class. Zuma would instead be used to woo the poor and working class voters in the province.

ANC provincial secretary David Makhura was quoted as saying the ANC would hold house meetings and public dialogues headed by Mbeki, the country’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The president is leading our direct contact with the people,” Makhura was quoted as saying.

“He is not going to be in those house meeting [in the suburbs]. We are using him for big community meetings and door-to-door work.”

The ANC in Gauteng said on Monday its request that Zuma be deployed to help “consolidate and grow ANC support in our traditional strongholds is based on the need to first consolidate the core support of the movement in our strongholds”.

It said the report “invoked” the idea that the use of other party members was proof the ANC was afraid of losing Gauteng.

“The ANC has always utilised all its experienced cadres, including former leaders and former ministers who are willing to carry out voluntary work for the movement during election campaigns and various political programmes.”

It said its campaign in the suburbs was different in every election and the report made no reference to the provincial secretary’s extensive criticism of the opposition campaign in Gauteng.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said in a briefing on Sunday that the provincial ANC’s comments regarding Mbeki were “unfortunate”.

“They have just run ahead of themselves,” he said.

Mantashe said deployment of leaders to provinces would be done centrally and the party would send its leaders anywhere.

“There is no constituency and profile of constituency that suits a particular individual. We will send a person whom we think will be able to deal with the audience that will be attended by that leader,” he said.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje
Brits- A 33 year old man was arrested for over speeding this afternoon for driving at 158 km per hour on a 60 km zone in the Wagpos road outside Brits. The speedster, who was driving a metallic gray Mercedes bens C280 was arrested on the spot and is expected to appear before the Brits Magistrate court on Tuesday.
“The man, who is said to be a professional accountant, was traveling from Pretoria to Rustenburg at the time of the arrest. Traffic officials said that the man allege that he was rushing home to attend to his sick child” MEC Nono Maloyi said.
He is expected to be charged for over speeding.
MEC for Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi has called on motorist to be extra careful on the roads. He said that speed remains one of the main critical elements that contributed to road crashes and fatalities.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
North West- The success of the recent North West Cultural Calabash augurs well for the future of the visual and performing arts in the Province, says MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Tebogo Modise.
The event returned to Taung with a bang after a two-year absence amid joy among music, dance, theatre and art lovers.
On show were artists, poets and crafters from all four corners of the Province, alongside greats such as Zahara, HHP and Quincy K. Also showcasing their talent were a number of SATMA nominees from the North West Province as well as I want to sing gospel as Khotso who shook the stage with his performance.
“I am very happy with the way the Calabash went with such a success,” says Ms Modise.
“It is a tribute to all who worked hard and the talented artists who graced it”.
“There are many reasons we want the Calabash to be such a success. One of them is that it puts our province on the map and helps us display talent from both urban and rural communities in our province.
“Further, it provides opportunities for our artists to rub shoulders with and learn from much more successful artists from around the country and beyond. One of the most important aspects of the Calabash is that we are asserting our commitment to the national notion of the Arts as a source of economic empowerment, through the Mzansi Golden Economy drive.” MEC said.
Among the guests was Paramount Chief Tshepo Mankuroane of the Batlhaping-boo-Phuduhucwana in Taung and the Mayor of Greater Taung, Councillor Kaone Lobelo.
A key element of the North West Cultural Calabash is the competitions among winners from all four Districts in wide range of genres such as music and dance.
The winners of the various categories at the North West Cultural Calabash 2013 are:
CRAFT
POSITION NAME OF ARTISTS/GROUP
1 ITIRELENG KA DIATLA
2 PHOROTLHO BEAD PROJECT
3 SEMPHETHE POTTERY

DRAMA
POSITION NAME OF ARTISTS/GROUP
1 ARTS IN
2 MAMUSA PRODUCTION HOUSE
3 MELODY THEATRE PRODUCTION

POETRY
POSITION NAME OF ARTISTS/GROUP
1 THABO MOTSILANYANE
2 STANZA MMOKI
3 PALAGANWE THATO

ACAPELLA
POSITION NAME OF ARTISTS/GROUP
1 INKOSI IVUMILE
2 MAMUSA UNITED VOICE
3 BANA BA LESEDI

INSTRUMENTAL
POSITION NAME OF ARTISTS/GROUP
1 A DI BOELE SAKENG
2 MELLORY NEUWENHOUDT
3 JACOBS AND KARLOOS

TRADITIONAL DANCE

POSITION NAME OF ARTISTS/GROUP
1 DINYETSE CULTURAL GROUP
2 SERUBI SA NGWAO
3 MAILA GO LATLHA NGWAO

TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTAL
POSITION NAME OF ARTISTS/GROUP
1 A DI BOELE SAKENG
2 MELLORY NEUWENHOUDT
3 JACOBS AND KARLOOS

By Obakeng Maje
Klerksdorp-Hundreds of locals and residents from nearby areas gathered in Tigane near Klerksdorp on Sunday for a Provincial celebration of heritage.
The day marked a climax in a month-long series of heritage-related events organized by the North West Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Two weeks ago the Province hosted the North West Cultural Calabash, which included not only traditional music and dance groups, but also such high-profile artists as Zahara and HHP. Crafts and paintings were also on display.
“The activities we put together this month are aimed at ensuring that the people of South Africa are reminded of their history and heritage,” said MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Tebogo Modise.
“South African history is rich and diverse. It dates back to pre-colonial times and has interesting epochs that continue to shape the county’s future.”

This year’s theme is “Reclaiming, Restoring and Celebrating our Living Heritage”.
The events of the day featured diverse groups such as gospel, traditional music and dance groups as well as art exhibitions.
The aim of the event is to encourage all South Africans to celebrate their cultural traditions in the wider context of the diversity of cultures, beliefs and traditions.
MEC Modise also called on the citizens of the South Africa to vote for the Provincial groups in the forthcoming South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA).
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