Johannesburg – Women in South Africa are still fighting for gender equality and justice, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Friday.

“This generation of women is still fighting for gender equality and justice,” she said in a speech prepared for delivery.

“They are fighting because they know that freedom cannot be deferred.”

Zille was speaking at the DA’s Women’s Day rally in Ekurhuleni.

She said the women who took part in a march against apartheid’s pass laws on 9 August 1913 were of every colour, political creed, way of life, and corner of South Africa.

“They rejected apartheid by affirming that much more unites the South African people than divides the country.”

The rally also marked the re-launch of the DA’s Women’s Network (Dawn).

Zille said the party needed to remain committed to the emancipation of women across South Africa.

“We need to ensure that women in leadership don’t forget about the daily struggles of women on the ground.”

“Dawn is a network of DA women that helps us to connect easier and faster.

“Together, we will take forward the fight started by Helen Joseph and Lilian Ngoyi on this day over half a century ago,” she said.

SAPA

Lawyers for Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s party filed an appeal in the constitutional court today against the results of the elections which gave veteran President Robert Mugabe another five-year term.

“The Movement for Democratic Change has filed its election petition,” party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora told journalists outside the court.

– Sapa-AFP

By Obakeng Maje

Makapansstad-Five suspects have been arrested by North West police after a Business Robbery.

The incident took place on Wednesday at Cyferskuil, near Makapansstad where five suspects aged 19 to 23 stormed into a tuck-shop owned by Ethopian National and allegedly pointed him with a firearm.

“The police arrested five suspects after a dog-cat chase. It is alleged that they pounced on a tuckshop owned by Ethopian,35 and threatened him with a firearm and knives” captain Pelonomi Makau.

Police said the suspects tied the owner’s hands and legs with a cord before robbing him airtime vouchers and undisclosed amount of money.

“They allegedly fled with a gateway car(golf) and police were called. They were allegedly arrested and will appear before Themba Magistrate Court on Monday for robbery and being in possession of a firearm.

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South Africa has every reason to be proud as a country with regard to improving the status of women in Society. That’s according to North West Premier Thandi Modise who was speaking at the opening service of the three-day Remarkable Women’s Conference hosted by the Crystal Ministries International in Johannesburg on Friday morning.  

Premier Modise said despite numerous challenges South Africa has been able to make a remarkable achievement in improving the lives of women.

“We are very proud that as a country South Africa has registered significant progress in the promotion of women empowerment and gender equality. Women occupy influential positions in government and play an important role in decision-making processes. The living conditions of the majority of ordinary women have improved significantly. Women now have access to housing, water, electricity, education, social services, health-care and other services, said Premier Modise.

In her sermon titled “A love beyond comprehension”, renowned International speaker and American Pastor Dr Gina Stewart who shared the stage with Premier Modise also paid tribute to the role played by women in the liberation struggle and encouraged women to love and support one another.

Modise urged the church to join hands with government and intensify efforts to create a better society free of crime, drugs and other social ills.

“The church must stand up and speak against the abuse of women and children, care for the elderly, pray for the sick and be the epitome of our communities,” said the Premier.

“We salute women across the world for solidarity accorded to women of our country who stood side-by-side, black and white, demanding a non-racist, non-sexist and democratic South Africa. We celebrate because we know that when women stand up against crime, abuse and other social ills, nothing will stop them,” added the Premier.

Modise also echoed the words of Nelson Mandela who said that freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression, she said that  women were a powerful force to be reckon with as envisioned  by the slogan ”Wathintha bafazi, Wathinthu umbokodo , you strike a woman you strike a rock”

North West MEC for Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Collen Mokone Maine, today handed out school shoes to 100 children from underprivileged children at the Olebile Primary School at Magogong village in the Greater Taung Local Municipality.

Accompanied by senior departmental officials and local councillors, MEC Maine said that the department has an inherent responsibility towards all children and their welfare in the North West province.

“We, as government, are building a united nation and these children are the very foundation on which we are building the future of this country”, MEC Maine said.

“This is part of our Social Relief of Distress Programme and we are committed to ensure that all children have school uniform and shoes in each and every deprived ward of the province. As part of our War on Poverty interventions in the Greater Taung Local Municipality, we will identify all schools with needy children and those adversely affected by poverty to provide them with school uniforms before the 2014 school calendar year begins”, he added.

Local councillor, Mr Sonnyboy Phatshwana thanked the MEC and departmental officials for embarking on a programme that seeks to ensure that children are well taken of and further striving to create an environment conducive for teaching and learning.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Taung-North West police are investigating a case of murder after an inmate was allegedly killed by other inmates in Taung police holding cell.

The incident took place on Monday after a 18 year-old man engaged in a fight with other awaiting-trial inmates.

“A 18 year-old inmate was murdered by other inmates at the Taung cells. He was allegedly assaulted by 10 inmates by suffocating him with a blanket” captain pelonomi Makau said. 

The suspect was supposed to appear before Taung Magistrate’s Court in cases of Robbery with aggravating circumstance and Attempted murder. 

A case of murder has been registered.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-North West police have arrested a 28 year old suspect who is mentally challenged after he hijacked a 66 year old victim on Thursday at about 10:30 in the morning at a car wash next to Mahikeng Provincial Hospital.

“It is alleged that the victim was inside her vehicle at the car wash when the suspect opened the door and pushed her outside” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

The suspect allegedly fled the scene with the victim’s vehicle. 

Community members who saw the incident assisted the victim to chase the suspect. 

The suspect was later found involved in a car accident with another vehicle in Mahikeng town. “According to the information, police were summoned to the scene and the suspect was arrested” she said.

Police said that the suspect was still a patient at the hospital. 

“It is alleged that he escaped from the hospital wearing his clothes on top of the hospital clothes” Makau said. 

The ambulance was called and the suspect was transported back to Mahikeng Provincial hospital for treatment where he is still under police guard.

Both vehicles sustained damages but owners were able to drive them again.

A case of Hijacking, Reckless and Negligent Driving was registered and investigations continue.

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Johannesburg – Former communications minister Dina Pule should face criminal charges for her misconduct, Corruption Watch said on Thursday.

“It is important to note that Pule is not an ordinary member of Parliament, but held a Cabinet post vital to South Africa’s well-being and economic prospects,” spokesperson David Lewis said.

“While welcoming the findings of Parliament’s ethics committee against Pule, criminal charges must be laid against her in line with the anti-corruption laws.”

The committee said on Wednesday that Pule had failed to disclose the business interests of her romantic partner Phosane Mngqibisa.

He benefited financially from the sponsorship of last year’s information and communications technology event, the ICT Indaba, which her department hosted in Cape Town.

The committee recommended that Pule be fined a month’s salary and that she be reprimanded by National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu.

Lewis said the committee’s limited powers needed to be augmented to enable it to impose heavier penalties on corrupt MPs.

“We understand that the committee used all powers at its disposal and we commend them for that. This is all the more reason for the criminal justice authorities to act, including action to recover the public funds plundered.”

SAPA

Three hundred million rand has been budgeted for 504 houses, access to free medical service and access to education for military veterans and their dependants, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thabang Makwetla announced at the handover of houses to two military veterans at Kraaipan near Setlagole in the North West Province on Wednesday.

Deputy Minister Makwetla commented the North West Provincial government for leading in implementation of the housing programme that he launched with the handover of houses to Jacob Modise, 97 and Phillip Sebopelwa, 94 who fought in the World War II. The two were given keys to fully furnished houses, making them the first beneficiaries of a national housing programme for military veterans across the country.

Makwetla said the programme targeting 38 houses per province and an additional 200 in the Eastern Cape is part of the government to recognise the efforts of the military veterans who fought to protect and preserve their country.

“We are here to correct the wrong and injustices of the past. The few who are still around must be appreciated. They made huge sacrifices to protect and preserve humanity against fascism,” said Makwetla.

“The partnership with the North West Provincial Government, best performing Provincial Department of Human Settlements and Ratlou Local Municipality that has made it possible for us to be here today for this historic launch must be duplicated throughout our communities to make sure that the Department of Military Veterans is successful in its effort,” he said.

In her address, North West Premier Thandi Modise appealed to the youth to emulate military veterans by taking volunteerism or “letsema” seriously as a way to make a meaningful contribution in their communities

Premier Modise said she was pleased that government was able to fulfill its promise to build houses for military veterans who were not compensated and had no direct benefit for defending their country. She said that the country should always remember those fell in the line of duty in defense of South Africa and celebrate those who are still alive as heroes and heroines.

 She said she was particularly proud that the programme is starting in the Ratlou Local Municipality. “It is one of the municipalities that get clean audit. We are proud that’s why we start this programme here. All the veterans who are here volunteered and self selected to serve without expecting anything in return,” said the Premier.  

Jacob Modise’s son Molusi Modise said the family was very happy that the government has decided to honour their father for his contribution.

“We are glad that the government is making an effort to correct the injustices because at least now he will have a descent place to call home,” said Molusi Modise.

Umkhonto We Sizwe Military veteran Simon Senna also expressed confidence that the gesture will give hope to those who have been waiting in the wings.

“This is a milestone that should make sure that the two world war veterans enjoy their best of lives in the remaining years of their lives,” said National Deputy Chairperson and North West Provincial Chairperson of Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO) Unity Association, Dr Moeletsi Leballo in echoing Senna’s view.

The Department of Military Veterans is also in the process of rolling out a programme that will enable the veterans to have free access to public transport,

 free healthcare and counselling which will also extend to family members.

Premier Modise has called for the preservation of indigenous cultures, languages and knowledge systems. Premier Modise made the call on International Day of the World’s Indigenous People which is celebrated each year on 9 August.

The day has been celebrated since 1982 following the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations.  

“Our constitution guarantees the protection of human rights. Our indigenous people have historically suffered some of the worst injustices. We must embrace their unique culture and way of life as part of our social cohesion drive. Their cultures, languages and knowledge systems must be preserved,” said Premier Modise.

However, in spite of their diversity, indigenous people of the world share a history of injustice. Premier Modise said the North West, as a province that is serious about social cohesion, is determined to ensure that all the people of the province enjoy all the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the constitution irrespective of race, ethnic or other status.According to the United Nations’ Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Indigenous communities are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems.