The voices of mine workers featured little in media reports on last year’s strike-related unrest at Lonmin’s Marikana mine in North West, academic Jane Duncan said on Monday.

“Most journalists relied on official sources of information, such as spokespersons and from big business,” said Duncan, who is chairperson of the Highway Africa Chair of Media and the Information Society at Rhodes University.

“Quite a few journalists engaged the miners themselves to hear what they had to say.”

She was presenting a report on how the unrest in Marikana was covered by media.

The seminar was hosted by the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism and titled “Reporting South Africa’s policing crisis: Marikana one year later”.

Duncan did her research by going through media reports that covered the unrest.

She said reports, including editorials, were laden with judgements which indicated that the striking miners were the most violent compared to police.

“The reports showed that the workers’ violence was of great proportions compared to that by the police… which is not true.”

Reporting behind the police line made journalists see the events the same way police saw them.

“In this way, most journalists could not see that more of the workers were being brutally killed behind the koppie, as it later emerged.”

Friday marks a year since the shooting at Lonmin’s Marikana mine.

On 16 August, 34 people, almost all miners, were killed in a clash with police.

Ten people, including police officers and security guards, died in the unrest during the week before.

– SAPAThe voices of mine workers featured little in media reports on last year’s strike-related unrest at Lonmin’s Marikana mine in North West, academic Jane Duncan said on Monday.

“Most journalists relied on official sources of information, such as spokespersons and from big business,” said Duncan, who is chairperson of the Highway Africa Chair of Media and the Information Society at Rhodes University.

“Quite a few journalists engaged the miners themselves to hear what they had to say.”

She was presenting a report on how the unrest in Marikana was covered by media.

The seminar was hosted by the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism and titled “Reporting South Africa’s policing crisis: Marikana one year later”.

Duncan did her research by going through media reports that covered the unrest.

She said reports, including editorials, were laden with judgements which indicated that the striking miners were the most violent compared to police.

“The reports showed that the workers’ violence was of great proportions compared to that by the police… which is not true.”

Reporting behind the police line made journalists see the events the same way police saw them.

“In this way, most journalists could not see that more of the workers were being brutally killed behind the koppie, as it later emerged.”

Friday marks a year since the shooting at Lonmin’s Marikana mine.

On 16 August, 34 people, almost all miners, were killed in a clash with police.

Ten people, including police officers and security guards, died in the unrest during the week before.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – An 8-month-old baby girl was abducted in Thabong, near Welkom, on Monday, Free State police said.

The baby was taken by a woman who promised the mother a job in Welkom’s business district, police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng said.

The woman apparently sent the 21-year-old mother to buy her airtime and offered to look after the baby.

When she returned the woman and the baby were gone.

She is about 1.67m tall and speaks South Sotho, and was wearing a black scarf.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The DA has launched a plan to tackle youth unemployment in South Africa, the party said on Monday.

“The DA’s youth employment plan focuses on proposals to alleviate youth unemployment and create opportunities for young people,” the Democratic Alliance said in a statement.

“But we will never make significant steps towards tackling youth unemployment unless we fix South Africa’s failing basic education system.”

It said the plan had a number of proposals, which the party would “implement as far as we can where we are elected into government”.

The proposals included implementation of a youth wage subsidy, and a voucher scheme.

“The voucher will provide funding to young adults who would like to start their own businesses, or further their education and skills development.”

It also planned to introduce a government internship programme, a nation-wide bursary scheme for 50 000 “academically talented learners”, and a reimbursement for employers on money spent on “approved” training.

“This will ensure that employees’ skills are better matched with market demand. This policy would replace the bureaucratic and ineffective Seta [Sector Education and Training Authority] system.”

The party also planned to expand the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and open specialised secondary schools that focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

“The DA will establish a number of colleges of higher education across the country that will offer two to four-year qualifications. They will award undergraduate degrees and a range of other qualifications,” it said.

“The DA will put in place a range of interventions to give youth at risk an opportunity to find direction and make the most of their lives.”

– SAPA

The Siya crew can confirm that Orlando Pirates have signed Golden Arrows striker Thamsanqa Gabuza.

The Siya crew revealed last week that a deal between Gabuza and the Buccaneers was imminent, after the striker was spotted at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Thursday morning, en route to Bucs’ headquarters in Parktown.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

After drawing Platinum Stars in the MTN 8 semifinals, Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt said all the three teams in the semis are tough.

He said they have to welcome the draw as it is because whoever they draw they have to play and win.

He told the Siya crew that this is a cup game and that it will be different ball game all together as compared to a league match.

“All the teams at this stage are tough,” said Hunt.

“We need to focus on one game at a time.
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Kaizer Chiefs and arch rivals Orlando Pirates will play each other in the semifinals of the MTN8 and coach Stuart Baxter says this is a high profile semifinal.

He said in any derby game whether in a cup match or in the league or even a friendly, there is emotions and bragging rights involved.

He told the Siya crew, though, that it will be a balanced affair as it is a home and away encounter.

“We know what to expect in such games,” explained Baxter.

“It is a high profile semifinal that both teams take seriously.

“We have to go out there and make sure that the supporters enjoy the game more than ourselves.

“It is a good draw and it is always fair in such cases. We are ready for the game.”
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

This weekend, of the three Absa Currie Cup openers, there was no team that was separated by more than 2 points.

The competition with a R1.8 million winners cheque started on Friday with Griquas taking on the Sharks in Durban.
The Sharks ill-discipline dealt a huge blow to their hopes of a strong start to the competition.

A try after the final whistle by Griquas replacement loose forward Carel Greeff, which Nico Scheepers converted, however, sealed the 32-30 victory.

On Saturday, the Cheetahs, despite dominating possession, trailed the Lions 16-13 at halftime. Johann Sadie then helped the Cheetahs to regain control with their bonus point try. The lions however came with on point, the match ended 30-29.

Defending champions Western Province were held to a 24 all draw by the Blue Bulls. Jean Cook scored the levelling try 2 minutes from time.

Young fly half Tony Jantjies missed a conversion in the dying seconds which denied them a victory.
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The Presidency on Monday reports that former president Nelson Mandela continues to receive treatment at the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria.

It’s now more than two months since Madiba was admitted to the hospital to be treated for a recurring lung infection.

According to the Presidency, doctors have indicated to President Jacob Zuma that Madiba is making slow, but steady progress.

The medical team also reiterated that although his health is improving, Madiba still remains in a critical condition.

On Friday, Mandela’s daughter Zindzi Mandela told media that her father is responding positively to treatment.

Zuma has once again thanked South Africans for their prayers and for keeping the former statesman in their thoughts.
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A paramedic saw a man cutting his own throat after he failed a KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) fitness test, an inquiry heard on Monday.

“He told me he was a failure and he deserved to die,” Emergency Medical Rescue Services supervisor Agrinette Shoba said.

“He was lying on his right side… holding a broken beer bottle in his right hand, and he had grabbed his throat with his left hand, and he was continuing to cut himself; at that stage, he was bleeding profusely,” Shoba said.

Shoba was testifying before a commission of inquiry in Pietermaritzburg about the death of Sanele Ngcobo, who was found with a 13cm wound across his neck after taking part in the fitness test.

The commission is probing the deaths of eight people who took part in a four kilometre run at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.

There were no signs indicating that there was a struggle. He had the bottle neck on his neck, half of the bottle was behind him.

The race formed part of a fitness test for RTI job applicants. More than 34 000 people qualified to apply for 90 advertised RTI trainee posts. Of these, 15 600 attended a fitness test on December 27, and a similar number on December 28.

Shoba said she was called by a young man, who told her there was someone outside the stadium who was screaming and bleeding.
She went to investigate and found Ngcobo.

“There were no signs indicating that there was a struggle. He had the bottle neck on his neck, half of the bottle was behind him,” Shoba said.

“I commented on how he was smartly dressed and how he did not seem to come from a poor family. I said I see no reason for him to do something so painful.”

At the time of his death, Ngcobo was in his final year of study for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Zululand. He was also the father of a three-month-old boy.

Shoba said when she spoke to Ngcobo he was cutting himself and he could understand what was going on.

His eyes were open, he could respond to instructions and he was verbally responsive.

“I could see how deep his wound was as he was talking, I could see bubbles coming out of his wound, his trachea was cut,” she said.
In July, Ngcobo’s aunt ,Thembi, told the commission that her nephew was desperate to find a job because he wanted to take over raising his son.

Shoba described the participants treated at the stadium as being dehydrated, hysterical and disorientated.

“They were seeing things that no other people could see. Others claimed to see their men coming to fetch them,” she said.
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Mpumalanga community safety MEC Vusi Shongwe sent condolences on Monday to the relatives of nine people who died in road accidents in the province at the weekend.

He said the province was concerned about the number of fatal accidents that continued to happen on weekends. “We continue to strengthen law enforcement and education on our roads. However, we can never win the battle of curbing the scourge of road accidents if road users are still ignoring and violating traffic rules.”

The first accident happened on Friday between Badplaas and Carolina near Buffalo Valley Farm. The driver of a Renault sedan lost control and three of the four occupants, the driver and two passengers, died. The fourth passenger was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Shongwe said the second accident happened on Saturday when two cars collided head-on at Zakheni Bridge between KwaMhlanga and Moloto Roads on the R573. The two drivers and a passenger died and two passengers were seriously injured.

On Sunday afternoon, a Toyota Quantum travelling between Standerton and Morgenzon left the road after a tyre burst, leaving three passengers dead and 12 others seriously injured.
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