By Obakeng Maje

In an effort to improve adherence to HIV/AIDS treatment and patient outcomes in the North West province, the Department of Health has to date initiated a total number of 6342 eligible HIV positive patients on new Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) pill treatment since its introduction in April 2013.

The number includes 2882 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, 3229 new infections and 231 patients that were switched from the three drugs to FDC due to side effects or adverse events.

“The new pill is a combination of all three antiretroviral pills – emtricitabine, efavirenz and tenofovir. It is being administered to all newly diagnosed patients that are eligible to be put on ARV treatment, pregnant women and HIV positive breastfeeding mothers” departmental spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said. 

The Department of Health said the pill is easy to take, highly effective with fewer or no side effects and it is in no way inferior to taking three individual drugs.

“A significant number of clinical health professionals in the province have already been trained on the FDC to rollout to eligible groups in 315 health facilities currently providing antiretroviral treatment” MEC Magome Masike said. 

Health MEC Dr. Magome Masike has expressed his contentment with the department’s progress in rolling out FDC.

“We are also happy with the progress we are making in the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, I must say that there is more that needs to be done especially in getting more men to test,” says MEC Magome Masike.

The North West Province is currently providing antiretroviral treatment to about 186 777 patients.

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Pretoria – The so-called Modimolle monster, Johan Kotze, and his three co-accused Andries Sithole, Piet Mohlane and Sello Mphaka have been found guilty of the gang rape of Ina Bonnette, Kotze’s ex wife.

They were all four also found guilty on charges of robbery, kidnapping and assault with the intention of bodily harm.

Kotze and Sithole were also found guilty of the murder of Bonnette’s son Conrad.

The verdict was handed down in the Pretoria High Court by Judge Bert Bam.

The court is set to adjourn again at 8.30 am on Tuesday for sentencing arguments.

Bam called Bonnette a believable witness.

“It wouldn’t have been strange if she was at times unsure of events,” Bam said in his judgment.

Kotze had denied guilt, and has claimed he cannot be held accountable for his actions that day.

Sithole, Mohlane, and Mphaka claimed Kotze threatened to shoot them if they did not co-operate.

Bam said Bonnette was cross-examined by three experienced attorneys. He said this must have been traumatic and painful for her.

“She is just a human being. Any person makes mistakes,” Bam said.

He said it was not uncommon for a witness, who was as emotional as Bonnette, to be unsure at times. He said she was not a perfect witness, and that it was not realistic to think such a person existed.

“There was a sound of truth .”

One of many examples of this was her testifying that, after the rape, she pleaded with her eyes for Kotze’s three co-accused to help her.

“It is unlikely that any witness would think of something like that,” said Bam. – Sapa

Kaizer Chiefs will be going into their 2013/14 title defending season with a new jersey, with the Nike having unveiled the PSL’s champions new home kit.

Having replaced last season’s league and cup double winning home jersey, the new kit is a minimalist design, with the return of of the gold.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Durban – Disposing of harmful electronic waste (e-waste) with everyday refuse is harmful to the environment and a waste of money that could be made through recycling.

For http://www.iol.co.za

The recent sharp increase in cases before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) was an early warning indicator that the economy was heading for extremely tough times, Nerine Kahn, the executive director of the statutory body, said last week.

She also said that for the first time in its 17-year history skilled professionals were referring cases to the CCMA.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

An application by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) to stop platinum miner Lonmin [JSE:LON] from de-recognising it was struck off the roll by the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Monday.

“The matter is struck off the roll for lack of urgency. The applicant is ordered to pay the costs,” Judge Rob la Grange said.

“NUM did not need to wait until it saw the notices before raising the alarm about the situation. In any event, it could have pressed for notices as soon as it was advised orally of the membership situation at the beginning of April this year,” he said.

NUM wanted the court to stop Lonmin from de-recognising it, claiming it had detected irregularities in the transfer of its members to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

The NUM also wanted the court to reverse the membership of those who had joined Amcu.

NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the ruling was a minor setback.

“We are meeting at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on Wednesday. We knew from last week that the court has no jurisdiction.”

He said the NUM would speak to its lawyers about what would happen to the offices it occupied at Lonmin’s Marikana operations near Rustenburg, North West.

The NUM had until July 16 to recruit more members and retain its majority union status, or vacate the offices.

Source: http://www.news24.com

A man appeared in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning for allegedly setting alight his ex-girlfriend, resulting in her death.

Roger Lucas, 24, wearing a blue tracksuit top and khaki pants, was led into courtroom A after being kept in custody.

He was told that the charge against him had been changed from attempted murder to murder, after Nazeema Terreblanche died in hospital at the start of the month.

He told the court it was the first time he had heard of the new charge.

The case was postponed until 31 July for Lucas to get a lawyer and for further investigation.

Lucas allegedly attacked Terreblanche on 14 June. The Daily Voice reported that Lucas and Terreblanche had been arguing. 

He allegedly poured petrol over her – while she carried a friend’s baby – and struck a match. The baby sustained minor burns to his feet.

It was believed that Terreblanche was pregnant at the time of the attack.

SAPA

Pretoria – There was little activity outside the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria on Monday, where former president Nelson Mandela is being treated for a recurring lung infection.

The anti-apartheid icon is spending his 38th day in the private hospital since being admitted on 8 June.

Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe Mandela arrived at the Park Street entrance shortly after Surgeon General Aubrey Sedibe.

At the Celliers Street entrance the display of well-wishes on the wall continued to grow. Hand-made cards, balloons, flowers, and flags of different countries covered the wall.

Handful of reporters

Tshwane metro police continued to cordon-off Celliers Street, restricting traffic to residents, hospital visitors, and cars belonging to media. Police at both entry points searched cars entering the hospital premises.

Outside broadcast vehicles remained parked on the Celliers Street pavement, and a handful of reporters were doing live crossings.

On Sunday, it was reported that former president Thabo Mbeki said he believed Mandela would be discharged soon to recuperate at home.

Mbeki reportedly said he knew the ailing elder statesman’s doctors and they were doing an excellent job.

The last update from the presidency said Madiba was responding to treatment and still in a critical but stable condition.

SAPA

Pretoria – North West deputy police commissioner William Mpembe on Monday faced questions regarding police interaction with striking mineworkers during the Marikana unrest.

Mpembe was on the witness stand at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry, which is probing the events that led to the deaths of 34 miners shot by police on 16 August. It is also looking into what led to the deaths of 10 people, including two police officers and security guards, the preceding week.

Evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga showed Mpembe several videos and asked him to explain the methods police employed in managing thousands of protesting mineworkers.

Madlanga asked: “General, that police officer we see in the video with his back to the camera is you, isn’t that so?”

Mpembe said he was not sure.

“I would know myself general, even if I was facing the other side. Was that not you?”

Mpembe conceded it could have been him, judging from the other police officers at the scene.

Running away

Some of the videos showed protesters running away after police fired stun grenades and teargas in a veld.

Madlanga asked: “From what we can see [in the videos] the people started running around only after stun grenades have been thrown and exploded. It’s only then that they start to run around, do you see that?”

At that point, Tebogo Mathibedi, SC, for the police, objected.

“We are not able to see clearly in the video. There is some interruption being caused by the trees. We don’t see what’s happening on the other side,” he said.

Mpembe said it was not possible to ascertain whether the smoke seen in the video was from teargas canisters or stun grenades.

The hearing continues.

SAPA

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DEPUTY President Kgalema Motlanthe has warned that the ANC faces a tough election next year when its “glorious history” will not be an automatic attraction to voters.

“It’s definitely not going to be an easy election as people assess a party not on the basis of its glorious history but on the basis of what they experience,” Motlanthe told the London business daily Financial Times.

For more http://www.sowetanlive.co.za