Archives

Non-striking miners attacked in Rustenburg


A non-striking mineworker was attacked at his home and another had his car set alight in villages near Rustenburg, North West police said on Wednesday.
A 38-year-old man was attacked at his home in Mfidikwe on Tuesday night, police spokesperson Emelda Setlhako said.

The man, a non-striking employee and former Amcu member, worked at Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats) Thembelani shaft in Bleskop.

The man woke up when he heard someone throwing stones at his shack.

“Upon investigation, the victim noticed that his curtains were alight. Three gun shots were allegedly fired at his shack,” said Setlhako.

He screamed for help and neighbours came to his rescue.

In a separate incident, a 38-year-old man’s car was set alight in Thekwane in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The man, also an Amplats employee, worked at the company’s Siphumele mine.

“The victim was asleep at his place when he realised that his vehicle was on fire. Neighbours managed to extinguish the fire but the vehicle had already been damaged,” said Setlhako.

No arrests had been made in either incident and police were investigating cases of attempted murder, arson, and malicious damage to property.

Setlhako said striking and non-striking workers were urged to respect the rule of law.

Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members at Lonmin, Amplats, and Impala Platinum downed tools on 23 January to push for a basic monthly salary of R12 500. They had so far rejected a wage increase of up to nine percent.

The companies, in turn, rejected Amcu’s revised demand that the R12 500 could be achieved over four years.

Last week, mining bosses said the strike had caused irreparable harm, and had caused an estimated R10bn in revenue to be lost.

SAPA

E-toll bills won’t stop licence renewals


Cape Town – Unpaid e-toll bills cannot lead to the withholding of vehicle licence registrations.

This clarification was given by the director of licensing and prosecutions of the Johannesburg metro police department, Gerrie Gerneke.

Speaking on Talk Radio 702 earlier this week, he explained that “there’s no legislation which prohibits motorists from renewing their vehicle licences if they have outstanding e-toll bills”.
For more http://www.news24.com 

Vandalism costs Metrorail R167m


Johannesburg – Prasa Rail, a division of Prasa says it will, with immediate effect, take strong action against any commuter found hanging on the outside of Metrorail trains, including clinging onto the front of the train.

Metrorail Operations have issued a safety directive that trains will no longer leave the platform if commuters are hanging on the outside of the trains.

Prasa Rail CEO Mosenngwa Mofi said in a statement: “We have taken a decision to strengthen our enforcement against commuters hanging on the outside of our trains putting their lives at risk and opening Metrorail to unsafe operating practices.

“We will now insist that our trains will only depart the platform once all the doors have been closed with no commuter hanging on the outside of the train.

“We will arrest and prosecute anyone caught hanging on the outside of the train.  This includes those people that ride our trains in between stations hanging on the outside.”

Unsafe
He admitted that set shortages as a result of the age and high prevalence of breakdowns have resulted in overcrowding, but said this did not justify operating under perilous conditions.

“We have on many occasions been candid about the chronic shortage and unreliability of our train sets which is why the new trains in 2015/16 will provide such a welcome relief.

“We are however making no concessions when it comes to unsafe travelling practices which have become prevalent on our system” said Mofi.
Prasa Rail is currently addressing train set shortages for its operator Metrorail through its maintenance interventions where old sets are refurbished and where train set reliability is improved.

Metrorail operators have introduced express trains and shuttle train services for short and intermediate trips to alleviate overcrowding.
This means that train services, at high commuter volume corridors, will cater for two specific commuter needs – those travelling from the furthest distances to the end or change station and those taking shorter trips or stations positioned closer to the end or change station.
Express trains will not stop at each and every station, but will collect commuters at the furthest stations to their end or change stations.

The shuttle train service will be used for those commuters departing from stations nearer to the end station or change station. This increases the availability of train sets and alleviates overcrowding.

Overcrowding
Prasa Rail operations had also implemented a closed door policy, but it was not as successful as some commuters continued to vandalise the doors and keep them open while the train is in motion.
“Thousands have already been spent fixing broken doors and windows on our sets, further diminishing the already small number of operational sets as they have to go for replacement.

“The acute vandalism of our assets in the name of overcrowding is, however, unacceptable as no other transport system has allowed such a practice on its service.

“This is a culture spanning many years which we attribute to plain bad behaviour and we are calling for an immediate end to it,” said Mofi.

Metrorail is currently undergoing a major modernisation exercise with rail tracks being repaired, as well as signalling and other critical areas.

Various speed restrictions have been introduced which have added to commuter travel time.

Security

“Our service is undergoing modernisation on critical areas of our operations both in preparations for the new trains but also to improve our operational safety and customer experience.

“However, while we are modernising, our operator Metrorail will experience delays and added journey times which further compound the prospect of overcrowding in the regions,” advised Mofi.
Metrorail commuters can look forward to a heightened security presence as Metrorail enforces safe travelling.

Commuters are also encouraged to take responsibility for their safety and not put their lives in danger by hanging on to trains or leaning outside open train doors, including breaking train windows and general vandalism.

In the past financial year, Metrorail operators experienced the following:
– Asset vandalism (train sets/train doors/broken windows)

– Cable theft
– Interference with electrical overhead wire
– Vandalism of its sub-stations.

Reported incidents of vandalism:
– 238 fatalities were reported and among those were 221 people struck by trains while walking on the tracks. It accounts for 93% of the fatalities. A total of 17 of those were people falling while hanging outside the trains or vandalising train doors.
– 2 178 asset-related crimes were reported which account for theft and vandalism. This amounted to 189 incidents per month and around seven incidents per day.
The direct cost of vandalism due to repairs and replacements amounts to R167m.
For more http://www.news24.com

North West residents blockade roads in protest


Residents of Mokgola village near Zeerust have blockaded roads during a protest for water, North West police said on Sunday.

Captain Pelonomi Makau said the protests began on Friday and had been peaceful so far.

“We have not made any arrests but police are present and are diverting traffic from the site, keeping a close eye on the situation,” Makau said.

Residents had blockaded roads around the village, about 20km from Zeerust, and part of the N4 leading to a nearby border post to Botswana.

“What I know is that they have so far used rocks, tree trunks and water tanks to blockade the road,” Makau said.

A motorist told Sapa that two large JoJo water tanks were blocking the road. She said police had told her the road had been blocked for the past three days.

Police said the residents refused to be addressed by the local mayor on Saturday. They wanted Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa speak to them.

Makau said there were no reported damages or injuries. Officials of the Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality and Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipality were not immediately available for comment.

 

-Sapa

Malema renews attack on ANC


EFF leader Julius Malema castigated the ruling ANC for presiding over Mahikeng which he said had turned into “a rubbish dump”.

Malema told thousands of supporters on Saturday at the Montshiwa stadium during a provincial manifesto rally that Mahikeng residents were left with no option but to yearn for the good old days when their city used to be clean.

“People look back and say Mangope was better because the city was then full of life and pristine. Now all that’s left are potholes, some as big as the swimming pool at Nkandla,” he said to loud applause.

Malema, who had been campaigning in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district for the whole week said it was time for people to entrust in the EFF with their vote because the ANC had “betrayed the aspirations of those who fought for freedom”.

“When you cast your votes on May 7 remember our heroes who fought for political freedom. Let’s work and conduct door to door campaigns as we don’t want to be the opposition party. We want to govern and be able to implement our own policies and turn around the desperate situation communities find themselves in,” he said.

The firebrand leader took aim at President Jacob Zuma who he accused of abusing tax payers’ money in the security upgrades done to his Nkandla homestead in Kwazulu-Natal.

“Police called me to provide them with additional evidence on the theft of public money and I will do so because I have the information. He (President Zuma) steals like a young child and must step down and rot in jail.

“Nkandla must be converted into a museum of corruption so that people know about it,” Malema said.

He said that a march to the Union Buildings would be organised to make sure Zuma stepped down as the president of the republic.

Meanwhile, the EFF promised to support miners in their fight for a monthly basic wage of R12500.

The fledgling party said this wage package would be a way to redistribute the wealth of this country.

“We will fight corruption and ensure that the working class don’t earn less than R4500. We will increase child support grants and make sure that our pensioners also get an increment. As for criminals, they must be isolated as they destroy the economy and innocent lives. All of us must come together as one and fight social ills. Those who rape must rot in jail.”

The Botswana National Front (BNF) came to support the EFF.

“We are here to give solidarity to EFF economic liberation. Malema remains loyal to the founding principles of the liberation of South Africa.

“In Botswana we want genuine political economic independence,” BNF leader Kago Mokotedi said.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

The province set to meet its skills needs


The secretariat for the Human Resource Development Council has expressed satisfaction that the North West is on course to meet its human resource and skills needs in both the public and private sectors.

Head of the secretariat, Brenda Ntombela, said that province was doing well in artisan development – including the production of academics, learnerships and other scarce skills and worker development goals.

Ntombela said this after meeting with the provincial coordinating forum in Mahikeng on Friday.

“The council set out a five-point plan setting out the production of professionals including artisan and technician development and the

alignment of the provincial resource development strategy to the New Growth Path, technical vocational education and training colleges, production of academics and industry/university partnerships, worker education and foundational learning.

“North West has recorded progress in all these, particularly in artisan development and bursary schemes for scarce skills development,” Ntombela said.

She added that the council sought to align skills development with the ideals captured in the National Development Plan.

She said the secretariat was working closely with the Ministry of Higher Education and Training to realise the decade-long artisan development theme: “it’s cool to be a 21st century artisan.”

Director of Human resources utilisation and capacity development in the office of the premier Tselane Letseli said that the province had awarded certificates to 141 artisans in 2013 and was targeting to produce more than 500 artisans during the course of this year.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

De Sa- Too many errors


Johannesburg – Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa has acknowledged the uphill battle his team faces and concedes there is plenty more work to do after watching them succumb to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mpumalanga Black Aces at Athlone Stadium on Friday night.

According to the Football411.com
website
, the Urban Warriors haven’t managed to claim all three points since their 2-0 win over Polokwane City back in February, having only picked up two points in the four games that followed.

“I wasn’t happy with a lot of things, there were too many basic individual errors that we have got to get better at,” de Sa said when quizzed on the loss to Aces.

“It wasn’t pretty today, I don’t think we were fluid, I thought we gave the ball away again, we have got to be better.

“It was a disappointing performance from the first mistake we made -where we conceded a goal – it was always going to be uphill,” he added.

“You can’t make those mistakes at this level and have it easy against a team like Aces.

“Disappointing from some players and these are the areas we have got to improve on, even if it’s replacing those players, if it’s got to come to that.” Sport24

Mosimane- Title chase exciting


Johannesburg –  Having gone level on points with Premiership-topping Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane insists his players are thriving under the pressure of challenging for the league title.

“We need to keep the league exciting and if we drop the ball, it’s not nice,” Mosimane said after the game at Loftus Versfeld.

“My players love the stress, they love the pressure and they feel like they can’t lose.”

Anthony Laffor put Sundowns ahead in first-half injury time, before Tuks drew level midway through the second period, courtesy of Atusaye Nyondo’s header in the 63rd minute.

The Brazilians held their nerve and took the lead once more through Lebohang Mokoena shortly after and held on for their fifth successive league victory, and sixth in all competitions.

Three points were enough for Sundowns to keep Chiefs on their toes, but they still trail the Soweto outfit due to an inferior goal-difference.

Mosimane insisted Sundowns were content with the points and not going top of the log, heaping praise on a resilient Tuks outfit that came close to spoiling their party.

“Hard-earned points, we were sweating, we really fought for it,” the former Bafana Bafana mentor said.

“Our opponents showed what they said before the game, that we [Sundowns] were not going to get it for free, we have to fight for it and earn it.

“In all the games that we’ve played here [at Loftus], this was the most difficult one to take.”

Sunday’s result put the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Chiefs, who welcome the Brazilians to a potentially title-deciding Premiership fixture at FNB Stadium next weekend.

The pair are deadlocked on 49 points, although Amakhosi have two games in hand and could restore a six point lead over Mosimane’s men.

However, Mosimane believed his charges were up for the challenge and they would make a serious charge for the title.

“My team has integrity and the will to go for it,” he said.

“Whoever wins it [the league] will earn it, we’re not going to give it to anybody on a silver platter.

“We have a game on Saturday, we will give our best, we will fight.”

SAPA

Segolela- VV’s getting it right


Johannesburg – Tlou Segolela believes new coach Vladimir Vermezovic’s decision to rotate the Orlando Pirates players has helped bring the best out of squad.

According to the Football411.com
website
, the Buccaneers kept their top-three ambitions in the PSL on track after edging Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows 1-0 on Saturday, with Segolela heading home the only goal of the game.

The result left the Sea Robbers fourth in the standings, four points behind Bidvest Wits, who currently occupy the final CAF Confederations Cup qualifying position, and Segolela has lauded the new coach’s impact for helping the team progress as a unit.

“I think the coach is doing something great. No one gets a guaranteed place in the team and you can see that those who get to play are giving their all to justify their inclusion in the squad,” he told Pirates’ official website.

“You can only improve your game if you play – the new coach is giving me a chance to play and that is why I’m able to do the business for the team.”

Pirates are virtually out of the running in the PSL this term, with 12 points separating them and leaders Kaizer Chiefs with only eight games remaining, although Segolela insist the team will not give up fighting for the crown until the final whistle is blown in May.

“The race will go until the last day. We will play with all we have and we will see how it ends. Our fans have to be with us all the way,” he concluded.
-News24

Court order to fix pipes invalid-SCA


Bloemfontein – A court order forcing the Capricorn district municipality to repair and replace water pipes in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, was set aside in the Supreme Court of Appeal on Monday.
The SCA upheld an appeal by the Capricorn district municipality and Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality against a court decision in which they were ordered to repair and replace water pipes and faulty water meters in Lebowakgomo Zone A in Limpopo within 12 months.

The high court order had also forced the municipality to charge each household in the area not more than R70 per month for the water consumed.

Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality is located about 50km south of Polokwane and includes predominantly rural areas as well as Zebediela.

On Monday, the SCA found the high court order not competent as it violated the doctrines of legality and separation of powers.

The unanimous judgment found the lower court’s order contravened the legal framework which reserved the functions in question for the municipalities.

The SCA said laying water pipes and the repairing faulty water meters fell within the executive and legislative powers of the municipality.

The SCA upheld the appeal with costs and set aside the mandatory interdicts issued by the high court.

SAPA