Detail:

Interested in research on China-Africa? You could qualify for a bursary.
Wits Journalism’s China-Africa Reporting Project is offering bursaries for Masters students interested in focussing on China-Africa research within one of the department’s other specializations (Investigative/Financial/Media and Politics/Development Communication). See the degree overview page for Masters entry requirements.

To Apply:

Email a motivation letter to africa-china@journalism.co.za along with your transcripts and CV or apply online via this link. You may also download the application form, complete it accordingly and submit to the address specified on the form.

Enquiries:

Click the following link here to read more details about this opportunity or contact Brigitte Read on (011)717-4692 for further information.
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Johannesburg – People waited for news about Nelson Mandela on Monday after the Presidency said his condition was critical.

“The condition of former president Nelson Mandela, who is still in hospital in Pretoria, has become critical,” the Presidency said on Sunday night.

The 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon has been in hospital since June 8, fighting a lung infection.

The announcement followed a visit by President Jacob Zuma and African National Congress deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, who were told by the medical team that Mandela’s condition had become critical in the past 24 hours.

They also met Mandela’s wife Graca Machel to discuss his condition.

“The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is well looked after and is comfortable,” Zuma said. “He is in good hands.”

Zuma asked that everybody pray for Mandela, his family and the medical team caring for him.

The ANC, which Mandela once led, noted the news “with concern”.

“The ANC joins the Presidency in calling upon all of us to keep president Mandela, his family and his medical team in our thoughts and prayers during this trying time,” it said.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s condition was soon trending on Twitter.

News crews returned to the hospital and to his home in Houghton to be in place for any updates.

The Presidency said Zuma and Ramaphosa had been assured that when the ambulance carrying Mandela broke down, “all care was taken to ensure that his medical condition was not compromised”.

He had “expert” medical care, with seven doctors in the convoy and a fully-equipped military ICU (intensive care unit) ambulance with staff and nurses.

The doctors dismissed media reports that Mandela had suffered cardiac arrest.

“There is no truth at all in that report,” said Zuma.

Meanwhile, Mandela’s eldest daughter Makaziwe Mandela told CNN the family was taking one day at a time.

“All we do every day is take one day at a time and pray to the good Lord,” she told CNN.

“All I pray for as a daughter is that the transition is smooth… He is at peace with himself. He has given so much to the world. I believe he is at peace.”

The family was unsettled by some media reports.

“Nelson Mandela’s blood runs through these veins. Our veins. Give us the space to be with our father. Whether these are the last moments for us to be with our dad, or (if) there is still longer, they must back off.”

CNN reported that she also addressed how much medical treatment her father should receive.

“In our culture, the Tembu culture, you never release the person unless the person has told you: ‘Please my children, my family, release me.’ My dad hasn’t said that to us.

“So these people who want to talk about, you know, release him: he hasn’t said we should release him and we haven’t come to the end yet. It is only God who knows the end.” – Sapa

Petros reportedly calls in investigative help from the spirit world.

Gauteng police chief Lieutenant General Mzwandile Petros has allegedly roped in a sangoma to investigate after a break-in at his Parktown, Johannesburg, office this week.

Captain Nomathemba Mgwebile, the sangoma who works as an executive secretary in Petros’ office, was brought in to “sniff out” those responsible for the burglary on Monday.

Petros’ office was broken into on the eve of Major General Tirhani Maswanganyi’s murder this week, but nothing was stolen from it.

The suspects dug a hole through the ceiling of one of the toilets and walked into the police chief’s office.

Three independent sources told City Press that Petros called Mgwebile to perform sangoma rituals in an attempt to identify those responsible for the incident.

Mgwebile, who is known as “Vumani Mahosi” and moved with Petros to Gauteng when he was appointed from the Western Cape in 2010, told a team of investiga-tors she smelt “the smell of a wet dog” in Petros’ office.

“But we don’t know what she meant by that. I think it’s sangoma language,” said a police officer with direct knowledge of the investigation.

The officer said Petros had refused to use his office since the incident as he suspected spy cameras were planted and his office line was bugged.

Detectives combed the entire office looking for any spy cameras, but found nothing.

“They did not find spy cameras and nothing was stolen from his office. They did not find fingerprints, but found footprints,” the officer said.

When the detectives reported to Petros that they did not find anything, the dog- and crime-intelligence units were summoned to the office.

Telkom officials were allegedly also called in to check whether Petros’ telephone line was bugged.

Investigators also questioned the security personnel guarding the building about the incident, who told them they believed it was an inside job.

The officer said: “This is what worried Petros, as everything points to an inside job. He is unpopular among many police officers and this justifies his suspicion that those opposed to him might be behind this incident – also because it happened a day before Maswanganyi’s murder.”

Speculation about Mgwebile doubling as Petros’ sangoma has been a hot topic of discussion among Gauteng police officers since his arrival in the province in 2010.

In 2011, the Sunday Times reported that Petros cancelled a crime-fighting strategy meeting attended by about 200 senior police officers after Mgwebile warned they were plotting against him.

Mgwebile allegedly arrived at the meeting, shouted “Vumani bo” (The ancestors are speaking) and knelt down.

Petros then ordered everyone to leave the boardroom, consulted with Mgwebile and told the officers the “spirits” had told Mgwebile that some of the generals and brigadiers were plotting to kill him. He then cancelled the meeting.

City Press understands that Mgwebile was called in to another meeting of senior police officers in recent months.

Petros’ spokesperson, Brigadier Neville Malila, didn’t respond to specific questions about Mgwebile’s role, her involvement in criminal investigations and whether part of her job is to advise Petros.

Referring to the Sunday Times article, Malila said: “It is not the first time that these allegations surfaced, and we thought it was dealt with before in 2011 and has been dealt with as there was no basis for the allegation.”

Malila confirmed that Petros’ office was broken into.

“The office can confirm that an office door was found open on Tuesday morning, June 18 2013, and, upon further investigation, footprints were found. As we are duty-bound to report incidents of this nature, it was reported.

“It is unknown if anything was taken. Investigations are under way,” said Malila.

Malila confirmed that Petros did not report for duty this week, but said it was because he was mourning Maswanganyi’s death.

He also denied that there was a link between the burglary and Maswanganyi’s murder.

“This office and the SA Police Service . . . are mourning the death of one of our most respected generals and there is no evidence or reason to suggest that there are linkages between this incident and the death of (Maswanganyi),” said Malila.

“The provincial commissioner was out of office for the better part of the week as he is mourning, not only the loss of a colleague but the loss of a relative.” – Additional reporting by Adriaan Basson

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

By Obakeng Maje
Lehurutshe-North West police are in possession of 61 goats and urge residents of Lehurutse and its surrounding to come forward and identify their livestock.
“If you have lost any goats, please come forward and identify your livestock. The goats were discovered since May and if you lost your goats during that period come forward” sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said.
Police said the livestock might belong to people of lehurutse and Botswana borders.
“Please call Lehurutshe police station on 018 363 3553 or contact Detective Sergeant Monyadi on 082370 7269 or 082 370 7239 for more information” said Moiloa.
Livestock theft is rife in North West province and livestock owners are urge to be more vigilant regarding their livestock.
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A brace from Jordi Alba and a comprehensive team performance from Spain saw them beat Nigeria 3-0 in their Group B 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup match at the Estadio Castelao on Sunday night, and consequently sent the Africans home.

The result sees Spain top the group and into the semifinals where they will face Italy.

For Nigeria, they knew nothing but a win over the Spaniards would see them with a chance of qualifying for the semifinals.

The writing, though, seemed to be on the wall from as early as the third minute when Alba gave Spain the lead.

Some slack defending from the Nigerians saw Alba skip past a number of players to leave himself with just the keeper to beat and he made no mistake with a clinical finish, 1-0.

After going behind, however, Nigeria pulled up their socks and managed to hold their own for the rest of the half. Still, they struggled to create chances in front of goal as Spain’s defence proved hard to crack.

The second 45, though, saw Nigeria’s concerted effort come to an end as Fernando Torres doubled Spain’s lead with a clinical header after latching onto a Pedro cross, 2-0.

The result was put beyond doubt two minutes from time when Alba completed his brace after breaking the offside trap before rounding the keeper and slotting home, 3-0.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Promotion/Relegation Play-offs

Full Time: Santos 0-1 Chippa

Date: 23 June 2013

Venue: Cape Town Stadium

A single goal from Andile Mbenyane saw Chippa United beat Santos 1-0 in a Promotion/Relegation Play-off match at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The result sees Chippa up to four points in the mini-league format and still in with a chance of making it to the Absa Premiership next season as they sit two points behind MP Black Aces. For Santos they will play another season in the National First Division.

Chippa certainly got off to the better start and came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute as William Twala shot narrowly wide from 25-yards out.

Santos, though, were not sitting back and had their first attempt on goal two minutes later as Vuyisile Wana let fly from long range but his effort went over the crossbar.

In the 12th minute Chippa were unlucky not to take the lead as Phumelele Bhengu curled a 22-yard free-kick inches wide of the left-hand post.

The opening goal came in the 19th minute courtesy of a brilliant run by Twala. The Chippa United attacker pressed down the left flank, beating one defender on his way into the box and towards the by-line before cutting the ball back for an unmarked Mbenyane who produced a clinical finish from ten-yards out, 1-0.

Santos tried to it back and came closest to levelling matters in the 35th minute as Tobogo Masoale was on the end of a low left wing cross, but he fluffed his effort over the bar from six-yards out.

The half ended 1-0 in favour of Chippa.

The second 45 saw Santos applying all the early pressure as they tried to find the equaliser.

Wana came bitterly close to finding that goal in the 53rd minute as he saw his stinging shot from just inside the box take a deflection and strike the crossbar.

Three minutes later and Nasief Morris pulled the best out of the Chippa goalkeeper as Tashrique Goldman dove full stretch to his left to tip a 30-yard free-kick around the post.

As the game drew to a close Santos threw men forward and left themselves exposed at the back, but Mbeyane could not take advantage as he fired a 20-yard shot over the crossbar in the 79th minute.

Three minutes from time a goal line clearance from Rudiger Gilbert, heading a Morris bicycle-kick away from danger, kept Chippa in front.

It was that kind of stubborn defending that saw Chippa hold onto their lead and still in with a chance of making it into the PSL while the loss for Santos sees them in the NFD for another season.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Chippa United coach, Mark Harrison, admits it was a tough game as his side ran out 1-0 winners over Santos in a Promotion/Relegation Play-off match at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and is now hoping his local rivals can do them a favour.

The result saw Chippa up to four points in the mini-league format and still in with a chance of making it to the Absa Premiership next season as they sit two points behind MP Black Aces.

For Santos they will play another season in the National First Division, but despite that fact Harrison is hoping they can do his side a favour when they meet Aces next weekend.

Chippa, though, will first have to do the business when they meet Aces this coming Wednesday where a loss would signal the end of their promotion hopes.

“It was a tough game – a local derby as well as a relegation/promotion scrap,” said Harrison after the match.

“It was a battle for 90 minutes and both teams gave everything they had.

“They might have had most of the possession but we created the better chances. We got the goal and that made them come at us, but we stood our ground and defended the box very well.

“We deserved the win.

“We have another massive game coming on Wednesday night and we have to win that one.

“We have to win that one, it is that simple and if we do we are in with a fighting chance. After that we have to hope that Santos can go to Aces and do a professional job.”
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

News reaching the Siya crew is that Mamelodi Sundowns have completed the signings of Rodney Ramagalela, Tiyani Mabunda and Raymond Monama from relegated Black Leopards.

Soccer-Laduma can confirm that the players have all committed to the Brazilians, and put pen to paper on contracts with the Premier Soccer League side. Though the length of the contracts and transfer fee is unknown at present, it is known that all three joined Downs as part of a package deal.

The Siya crew had previously revealed that Sundowns were keen on luring the players away from the relegated side, though at one stage it was thought that the deal was close to being called off.

A source close to the club has now confirmed the news, saying that the transfers have been completed and the trio will turn out for the Pretoria side next season.

Monama was one of the standout performers for Leopards in a difficult season that saw them struggle for clean sheets – which ultimately led to their automatic relegation to the National First Division.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Cosatu General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi says workers are also to blame for corrupt activities taking place within Government. He says workers kept quiet on the problems related to non-delivery of textbooks at schools.

Vavi made his comments while addressing the Limpopo Cosatu Workers Forum in Polokwane, stating that people are afraid to talk about corruption.

“Not only in Limpopo, everywhere books were not delivered. It’s like this corruption there is no response from us.”

“We push our heads in the sand not because we suddenly do not know the difference between the right and wrong we push our heads in the sand, long enough for the storm to pass because we fear to be dealt at personal level. So I’m waiting to hear whether minister will confirm this thing,” says Cosatu General Secretary.

Vavi also says it has now become difficult to comply with all Cosatu principles unlike when it was first established some years ago.

“At this moment of great difficulties if we do create the balance then there will be trouble in the house. Cosatu is not a political party nor is vanguard of working class struggle for socialism. Cosatu is a union; it seeks to united all workers irrespective of the ideological political race.”

Vavi says it is wrong for workers to trust leaders and compromise the federation’s integrity. He says labour movements’ main responsibilities include serving workers and communities needs like protecting their jobs and other essential services.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za