By Libuseng Nyaka

QWA QWA – The department ofhealth in the Free State has admitted failure to reduce maternal and child mortality deaths in the province.

However,a provincial specialist in paediatrics maternal and child health Dr Sepele Matela said there was room for improvement, especially if experts from University of Free State are roped into the programme aimed at attaining Millennium Development Goals.

“We are aware that some of the deaths could have been avoided if we had adequate staff. In order to accelerate our efforts towards the attainment of MDGs, we have enlisted professors from UFS who are helping us to find ways of reducing maternal mortality deaths regardless of challenges of shortages of staff,” Dr Matela said on Wednesday, September 5 during her tour of Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Hospital.

She said the dedication displayed by nurses and other stakeholders in improving the maternal and child health care was a good sign.

BLOEMFONTEIN – The Super Sport producer who was assaulted at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein at the weekend was allegedly with another man’s girlfriend when he was attacked, according to a report on Wednesday.

Bloemfontein businessman Andre Knipe, 48, appeared briefly in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday in connection with the alleged assault of Jacques van Schalkwyk, 44.

Van Schalkwyk was the producer of the outside broadcast of the match between the Cheetahs and Western Province on Saturday.

According to Beeld, Knipe’s girlfriend disappeared after the match while they were socialising in one of the suites at the stadium.

When Knipe asked a security guard if he had seen his girlfriend, he was told that “they” were in the toilet for the disabled.

Knipe reportedly found his girlfriend in the toilet with Van Schalkwyk, after which an argument and a physical altercation ensued.

A spokeswoman for the Rosepark Hospital in Bloemfontein, Esmarie Cronje, said Van Schalkwyk was in a satisfactory condition after undergoing surgery to repair a torn bladder.

Cronje said Van Schalkwyk had made it clear that he did not want to talk about the incident – “not today, not tomorrow, never”.

On Monday, Beeld quoted Van Schalkwyk as saying he could not remember much about the attack, and did not see his assailant.

“The guy appeared out of nowhere and attacked me,” he reportedly said. - Sapa

By PE Correspondent

BLOEMFONTEIN – “A journey of a million miles starts with only one step, and being part of this Matric Revision Programme was my first step towards achieving prestigious results”.

These were the words of Ntseki Jeffrey, a former student of Lenyora La Thuto Comprehensive School in Botshabelo, who achieved top honours in last year’s matric exams. Jeffrey scored an astounding five distinctions in Life Orientation (86 percent), Sesotho (83 percent), Mathematics(91 percent), Physical Science (94 percent), and B aggregates in English (FAL).

The 18-year-old was among 195 students who attended the 2011 revision classes organised by a public relations company, in collaboration with love Life centres and supported by a major local bank.

According to Jeffrey, the programme offered textbooks, laboratory accessories and quality teachers who were passionate about the work they do. “These classes reduced my work load from 75 percent to 50 percentand this really made studying easier,” he said.

His quest for a good education however, came at a heavy price to his grandmother, Julia Ntseki and his mum, Jane Ntseki, a single parent who worked as domestic worker to pay for her son’s education.

“Irrespective of the circumstances we as a family were in, my mum persevered and her sheer courage,strength and nurturing spirit prevailed,” he said.

Jeffrey is a first year BSc Actuarial Science Student at the University of the Free State.  When asked why he chose this particular field, he explained that it ishis love for numbers and the challenge that came with entering such a dynamic field.

“I want to be a qualified actuary which is not an easy thing. I want to be recognized as one of the successful entrepreneurs in years to come and use my career to benefit my family,” he explained.

Jeffrey’s intensive study time-table included waking up at 3am to study for two hours before school, doing his homework during study time, leaving his weekends free for revision and assignments.

Jeffery emphasised that coming from an underprivileged background did not stand in his way of achieving his goal.

“I told myself that nobody would do things for me, if I give up, it means that I have failed my plan on earth.God has been a great source of strength to me. Nothing beats hard work so I was driven by this and self-motivation,” he said.

The revision programme has been active since 2010 and is committed to providing both educational materials and tutors to students. The programme has grown and continues to deliver promising results, for students who work as diligently.

By Libuseng Nyaka

Madala Ntombela

QWA QWA – The controversy surrounding Madala Ntombela’s appointment as new Municipal Manager (MM) at Maluti A Phofung (MAP) Municipality has deepened with opposition parties threatening to oppose the appointment in the courts and lodge complaints with the Pubic Protector’s office.

Opposition parties in the Maluti A Phofung council say the appointment was unlawful as Ntombela was appointed MM although he had failed to fulfil educational requirements for the post.

Supporting their objection, the president of Dikwankwetla South Africa party Moeketsi Lebesa said Ntombela did not apply for the post as his name was not among shortlisted candidates for interviews by the August 3 deadline.

“Ntate Ntombela was smuggled in. The fact that he did bring along certificates during the interview is evidence enough. His certificates were only faxed on September 4, a month and a day after the August 3 closing date. The certificates were unacceptable as they were not certified but were just copies.

“During the interview I made it clear that Mr Ntombela should provide certificates before a special council sitting. But still he did not. We were only shown faxed copies contrary to stipulated requirements for the post. Only certified copies are official,” Lebesa said.

He added:  “I would suggest the Mayor nullifies his appointment because it flouts the Act which disqualifies candidates for administrative posts in government while they still hold a political position. Mr Ntombela is a treasurer of ANC at Fezile Dabi.”

Lebesa backed his arguments by citing the Local Government Municipal Act which stipulates in Section 51 (A) that: “A municipal manager may not hold political office in a political party, whether permanent, temporary or acting capacity.”

Lebesa advised Executive Mayor Mofumahadi Mathokoana Mopeli to withdraw the appointment to allow Mr Ntombela to resign as treasurer of Fezile Dabi or risk being challenged in the public Protector’s office for flouting provisions of the Municipal Structures Amendment Act which outlaws people holding political office from being appointed municipal managers.

Lebesa’s sentiments were echoed by a member of the Congress for the People (Cope), Dieke Jack Mokoena who expressed dissatisfaction with Ntombela’s appointment.

“We are filing a court interdict challenging the legality of Ntombela’s appointment. This is not an appointment but a deployment.Mr Ntombela is a mayor of Mafube Local Municipality where he was known for poor performance. He always receives a disclaimer. He does not qualify for post of MM.

“How can we trust him to run our municipality? We are not a dumping ground. This is purely a political decision because he is the husband to MEC for Social Development Sisi Ntombela.   So Premier Ace Magashule is building his team for the coming general election by 2014,” Mokoena fumed

The Democratic Alliance’s Leon Kleymhans also registered her concern about the appointment.

“MM is a key administrator in the municipality. The post holder should not be appointed based on political affiliation but the person must be qualified to do the job. Mr Ntombela is a teacher and has no qualification or skills for the post,” Kleymhans said.

“There were other candidates who were highly qualified than him for the post. I have already written a letter to our shadow cabinet minister for local government about this matter.”

Lebesa said he would also ask candidate who had applied and hold the requisite qualifications for the post to lodge a complaint with the authorities.  The acting MM Stephen Kau also applied but did not qualify because he failed to produce a matric certificate plus a three year diploma or degree.

Eight candidates who met the requirements were VJ Matshila, Mokhethi MJ, Maboya MB, Leforaw, Setitisho MB, Mutshinyali IP and Shakwane T.

But ANC councillor Shashapa Joshua Motaung said the Local Government Municipal Act Section 57 allows for “Ntombela’sappointment as long as he resigns from being ANC treasurer within 60 days”.

He also said members of opposition party were free to go to the Public Protector’s office if they were not satisfied with the appointment.But Lebesa derisively dismissed Motaung’s argument because “of his low level of education”.

By PE Reporter

BLOEMFONTEIN – Traffic Officers in the Motheo region arrested a Free State Private Engineer for speeding at 246km/h on N1 near Glen north of Bloemfontein. This happened on Tuesday, September 4 at approximately 18h50.

The engineer said he was rushing to catch a plane which he was to board only the following day, Police, Roads and Transport spokesman Zolile Walaza said.

The MEC: Police, Roads & Transport, Butana Komphela expressed “shock and utter dismay that despite all the campaigns on road safety, that there are people who violate the rules and regulations of the road with such impunity.

“Rogue drivers such as this one will face the full might of the law. Traffic Officers and SAPS are in full swing and there is no one who will escape the radar” said Komphela.

He suggested that people committing such offences are liable to have their licences suspended because it’s obvious that they have absolutely no regard for the law. “Just imagine if this irresponsible person were to crash into a fully laden minibus? That would be disastrous”.

The MEC urged all motorists to behave appropriately on the roads so as to curb unnecessary grief caused by road carnage.

By Palesa Motshabi

BLOEMFONTEIN – College authorities at Motheo FET College are worried about the rate of truancy and indiscipline among students that has resulted in a low pass rates over the years.

Authorities say parents need to get more involved in the running of the institution which is a university affiliate, to curb indiscipline and rein in on students who bunk off classes.

“We have a problem with students at the Bloemfontein Campus who do not attend classes.  The majority leave home pretending they are coming to school but they go truant, campus manager Paul Makokoe said.

He said students lack respect for authority and the smoking rate was high among students adding: “One should not be surprised when Motheo’s students fail. Most importantly the use of alcohol on campus and dagga (marijuana) which is a criminal offence is becoming a serious issue because some parents protect their kids,” he lamented.

Despite such indiscipline, there are some good students who have enabled the college to hold graduation ceremonies every year.

He also said getting a 15 per cent pass rate is difficult to achieve due to student indiscipline.

On Saturday, September 8 college authorities called a meeting at Commerce Hall at the campus for lecturers and parents to come together and work out possible solution regarding students’ absenteeism and indiscipline and the low pass rate.

By Andre Grobler and PE Reporter

Tokyo Sexwale

BLOEMFONTEIN – Three more senior provincial officials have been suspended after irregular payments to housing contractors, Free State human settlement MEC Olly Mlamleli said on Thursday, September 13.

“The payments relate to incomplete projects,” said Mlamleli.

This brings to nine the number of senior officials suspended in the provincial department.

The department announced in July it would investigate various alleged irregularities in the department.

Soon afterwards six senior officials; two chief directors and four directors were put on precautionary leave.

The six officials are Mamiki Mokhele Chief Director Housing Programme Management, Coyney Twala Director Priority and Interventions programmes, Fifi Makahaotse Housing subsidies and development, Kaizer Maxatshwa, Housing Development planning and monitoring, Kabelo Koloi Director Management and technical services and Loyiso Ndenze Director Informal settlement and land tenure.

The alleged irregularities related to the manipulation of the individual subsidy system, the allocation lists of contractors, advance payments done on work by contractors and poor or no inspections done by technical staff.

Mlamleli said the disciplinary hearings of the first six officials had already begun.

The extent of the alleged irregularities and the amounts involved were not immediately clear.

However, Mlamleli said 20,000 outstanding projects (individual houses) had been identified, and of these 9000 had been completed since her administration moved into office.

She said the irregularities were found to be in all governmental subsidised housing programmes.

“Wherever there is a incomplete housing programme, it affects all: cities, towns and rural areas,” the MEC said.

Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale recently told the Portfolio Committee on housing that wrongful housing allocations by senior Free State managers and irregular expenditure had so far amounted to R500 million.

Head of the Free State Human Settlements department Nthimotse Mokhesi said the money had not disappeared.

“We are following where it had gone, it’s advance payments done. We were able to reconcile material and work-in-progress of R57 million up to now.”

Mlamleli said she was not aware of Sexwale’s threat to put her department under administration.

“It is not on my desk (documents), there has been no email. I have seen no threat.”

Earlier this year, Mlamleli said the Free State would not build any new houses this financial year and would rather focus on completing and rectifying existing housing projects.

A budget of R960 million had been allocated for the department’s total housing responsibility.

The Special Investigating Unit has also started new investigations regarding payments made to certain building material suppliers, the department said.

Free State Premier Ace Magashule in a recent interview with SABC said local government would go after contractors who had been paid but had abandoned their projects before completion.

While acknowledging that there were many incomplete houses in the province, Magashule said it was incumbent upon the administration to try and recover the money, some of it paid to ANC aligned contractors.

“I know people complain about incomplete house,” Magashule said. “We are addressing this problem. Since 1994 people have been given ‘happy letters’ but they don’t own those houses.

“Continue blaming us, we are addressing it (housing). This year we are not building any houses but are focusing on those incomplete houses.” - Sapa

By Libuseng Nyaka

QWA QWA – Nothing could console 18-year-old Mosia Thembeka whose hopes were shattered when she lost her mother while writing her Matric in 2010.

Little did she know that Providence would answer her prayers to fulfil her ambition to train as a doctor.Mosia is among 148 students going to Cuba to study medicine.

“This is exactly what my mother would have wanted me to do. She would always advise me to be independent, disciplined and to work hard. But when she died two years ago my hopes to get educated were shattered,” Mosia said.

Mosia had to stay with my mother‘s sister in QwaQwa.

“Little did I know that God had been watching over me and had a plan for me. I applied for a scholarship to study in Cuba and was lucky enough to be among those who were selected,” Mosia said.

She said the loss of her mother had taught her to be responsible at a tender age and she had learnt that if problems could not kill you they turn one into the resilient woman she is today.

Her aunt Ditlhare Mosia praised God’s Grace forgiving them Premier Ace Magashule who has interest of children‘s education at heart.

“I am still overwhelmed.  I think it is God who is looking after thiskid and I hope the same God will see her through her four years of studying medicine in Cuba,” Ditlhare told Public Eye in an interview on Wednesday, September 2012.

Mosia matriculated at Immaculate Secondary School in Soweto where she was staying before her mother died but had to move to QwaQwa to joint her aunt who is now her guardian.

Another learner from Moladitoe Secondary school in Thabo Mofutsanyane District, Ramotobo Matsietsi attributed her success to her ambition and determination.

“I am very ambitious and always set myself goals. I refuse to let my poor background pull me down. Instead I used it as a motivation to study even harder,” Ramotobo said.

“I want to make sure that my family will not continue to live in poverty. It is this persistence that has yielded me these good results. I will never change when I am in Cuba. I will use the same approach as it is my principle,” Ramotobo said.

Bidding the group farewell, Executive Mayor of Maluti A phofung (Map), Mathokoana Mopeli warned them against indiscipline as they no longer represented their families but the province and the country.

The 148 learners will be studying medicine in Cuba. Beneficiaries of the programme are spread across the province.

Addressing the students during the farewell event Free State premier Ace Magashule said the province’s health care system will receive a boost of human resources after students have graduated.

Magashule said the Free State, like other provinces faced serious skills shortages especially in the fields of medicine and engineering.

He said the province had taken a conscious decision to invest in education as the first priority. The provincial government drastically increased the number of bursaries in fields like mathematics, science, technology and accountancy. His administration was currently sponsoring 4 432 students’ studies through bursaries.

He said beneficiaries would play an important role in the implementation of the National Health Insurance system in the province.

For the 2012 academic year, government had allocated an additional 1 500 new bursaries to deserving students to study at various universities and colleges throughout South Africa.

…But Municipal officials argue move is detrimental

By More Matshediso

BLOEMFONTEIN – Part of Bloemfontein’s beautiful scenery will be captured on video when Nhlakanipho Cele of the “I want to sing Gospel” fame shoots scenes for his live DVD later this year.

The 29-year-old songster said he had spotted a perfect place in Vista Campus when Joyous Celebration held its concert there. “I would love to shoot my Live DVD at Vista but I haven’t decided yet, I’m still checking out other provinces”.

Cele was in Bloemfontein on Wednesday, September 13 as part of his 20-day national tour to identify a perfect place for shooting the video

The gospel sensation released a 12-track album titled Wethembekile on March, 30 this year and it is available at music stores together with its DVD.

The native Umlazi singer said he started singing in church marquees and on local tours in Kwa-Zulu Natal with his mother.

After Matric he got a job as a cleaner for nine months in Durban in 2001, but quit and to focus more on singing gospel. Nhlakanipho was part of his church’s “Praise and worship” team for 15 years.

“For all these years I was singing without any anticipation of gaining fame as a gospel artist until last year when I auditioned for the I Want to Sing Gospel contest with 7000 other contestants from Free State, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.  It was a challenging experience but exciting as well,” Nhlakanipho said.

He said only 31 contestants were selected from the initial 7000 at the SABC, Auckland Park last year in August. “I felt very blessed to be counted among those who made it to the second phase of the auditions, and even better to make it to top ten,” he said.

The top ten contestants had an opportunity to record an album together, titled “I want to sing gospel duets” which is also available in music stores on CD and DVD.

Seven aspirants were eliminated each day until only ten contestants were left. From top ten he made it into top three through votes from his fans. He said he had to sing his lungs out in front of the judges where Lindelani Mkhize of Joyous Celebration was the main judge.

His prize for winning the competition was R150 000, a recording deal, and a trip to Israel for three weeks.

“I enjoyed every minute in Israel. You get to align yourself with God, to meditate properly and it gave me a wonderful feeling. It really was amazing,” said Nhlakanipho.

He toured Israel and explored places like the King David City, Tel Aviv, the capital city Jerusalem and many more. He then recorded his debut album which he composed and arranged after his Israel tour.

“The album is doing very good and it is rated among the top five in the Musical charts. People love my music. The response I receive during ministry and live performances is amazing. People would tweet and post on my Facebook wall to share their breakthroughs and deliverances, their lives are changed and revived through ministry and worship,” said Cele.

Cele said he was often invited for motivate and minister to young people. He will be on his magic tour in his province, Kwa-Zulu Natal this weekend. He said he is planning to overlap the magic tour into the Free State in the near future.

By PE Correspondent

BLOEMFONTEIN – Some of Mzansi’s most accomplished musicians wowed a select group of revellers at a popular restaurant on Saturday, September 8.

Theo of the Mafikizolo fame, Zonke and dance music maestro’s Liquideep put up a stunning show that had fans gulping for more.

The lucky guests, media and celebrities were treated to the rich sounds while enjoying a full-flavoured Castle Milk Stout.

Guests who were dressed to impress were treated to this musical delight in the stunning setting of Coco C.

This beautiful night began with the ever so elegant and incredibly talented Zonke performing her hit songs from her award-winning album Ina Ethe.

The ladies couldn’t stop screaming when Liquideep joined Zonke on stage to “Talk about Feelings”.

Theo then hit the stage and showed off his smooth moves while performing his greatest hits.

Zonke leaped back on stage and joined him in performing Thinking about you.

Overcome with excitement and clearly savouring the moment, Liquideep also jumped on stage and got the crowd on the dance floor in what was undoubtedly the anthem of the night.

The last set of the night came from the dynamic duo Liquideep.

Their rendition of George Michael’s I Can’t Make You Love Me had the crowd dancing and singing in awe. When they performed one of their biggest hits Fairytale that got the group in a romantic mood for a while.

Liquideep released their debut artist album, Fabrics of the Heart, in the middle of 2010 – and it became an undisputed sensation. Theo stepped on stage and treated the audience to the vernac rendition of the song.

It was indeed a moment worth savouring which left the audience out of breath from the singing and dancing.

The Castle Milk Stout Unplugged Sessions have now visited Johannesburg and Pretoria, with each session proving to be a musical wonderland, filled with up-close-and-personal live performances, delicious beer and an exquisite food-pairing experience.

The next Castle Milk Stout Unplugged Session is scheduled for September 22in Port Elizabeth’s McArthur Baths and promises to be yet another moment worth savouring, with superstars like Mi Casa, Kabomo, Khuli Chana and Afro’traction.

Themusical experiences are ‘by-invite-only’. Lucky fans will be able to win tickets via Facebook (CastleMilkStout.SAB), during the Castle Milk Stout Unplugged Sundays radio show (Metro FM, 12:50-13:20pm) throughout the duration of the campaign and at several national events that will be advertised on www.castlemilkstout.co.za.

Expelled ANC Youth League President Julius Malema appears in the Polokwane Magistrates Court

For Julius Malema, any tragedy, societal ill or leadership vacuum – real or imagined – is an opportunity that must be grabbed to further political aims and objectives.

With a sharp eye to spot that opportunity, the shrewd and smart political operator knows exactly what to do with it and what to say to the disenchanted.

Until August 16, when the police massacred 34 LonminMarikana miners, you could have been forgiven for thinking that the axed ANC Youth League leader had retired from politics.

He was probably sitting in his home town of Seshego in Limpopo, pondering his next move.

The gunshots of the last police officer’s R5 had hardly fallen silent on the killing fields of Marikana when the firebrand was on the scene armed with his charm, brass neck and a loudhailer.

“Jacob Zuma does not care about you,” he told the angry miners, adding that the police killed them to protect the mining interests of ANC national executive member and businessman Cyril Ramaphosa, who has shares in Lonmin.

Within days, he was dictating terms in Marikana through his Friends of the ANCYL.

He ordered a team of cabinet ministers out of his memorial services, helped miners lay criminal charges against the police and demanded the resignation of Zuma and his ally, Police Minister NathiMthethwa. That wasn’t all.

Seeing how most of the miners had warmed to him, he promptly ramped up his “mining revolution” to other mines, including Gold Fields KDC West in Carletonville, south of Joburg.

Disenchanted soldiers, who had been at loggerheads with the government over poor working conditions and low wages, were his next target.

Over the past fortnight, the self-styled commander-in-chief of economic freedom fighters told miners that Ramaphosa chose to pay R18 million for a buffalo but refused to pay them R12 500 a month.

He rubbished the National Union of Mineworkers, the dominant union in the mining sector and Cosatu’s biggest affiliate, and demanded the resignation of its secretary, FransBaleni.

The easy, superficial view is that Malema is opportunisitically hogging the limelight after being expelled from the ruling party for misconduct early this year.

But there is a bigger picture here – and an overarching strategy too – Zuma himself.

Malema’s endgame is to mobilise anybody and everybody against Zuma before Mangaung, weaken him beyond repair, convince not just the party, but the entire country and the world that Zuma cannot lead, and drum up support that might spare him prison after his arrest on charges of alleged tender fraud and corruption. A study of Malema’s statements and actions point to a well-crafted political programme, sponsored by senior members in the ANC national executive committee, to convince anyone who will listen that Zuma has no leadership capacity in the midst of rolling crises and protests.

The country is “leaderless”, as Malema repeatedly says, with the corollary being that it was a mistake to elect Zuma in Polokwane five years ago.

It is no coincidence that the people and organisations Malema has targeted since Marikana have something in common: they are all backers of Zuma’s bid for a second term at the ruling party’s elective national conference in December.

Malema wants Deputy President KgalemaMotlanthe to take over as ANC president.

Ramaphosa, who chaired the party’s national disciplinary appeals committee that confirmed Malema’s expulsion, holds a stake in Lonmin.

Ramaphosa was ordered to share his profit with the poor. Surprisingly, other prominent mine bosses, such as Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, seen as Malema’s ally, have been spared the same demands or public insults.

The NUM has publicly endorsed Zuma’s second term ambition – and just as quickly found itself as a key target for Malema’s vitriolic anti-Zuma attacks after Marikana.

Malema, who desperately wants his ANC membership back, is also trying to show Zuma and other party members that he is more dangerous outside the party than inside.

He is hoping to force them to apply former US vice-president Lyndon B Johnson’s saying, that “I’d rather have the guy inside my tent p***ing outside, rather than outside my tent p***ing in”.

He wants to force the party’s leaders to agree that he is causing more damage when not tied by the ANC constitution and code of conduct.

Already, some in the ANC are privately saying it was a mistake to sack Malema because he has become so dangerous.

By showing up at almost every anti-government or service delivery protest, he is creating a wedge between the government and the poor, especially the youth.

In a country where nearly 70 percent of the unemployed are between 18 and 35 years old, any instigation of a rebellion by the jobless spells disaster for authorities and Zuma in particular.

Furthermore, it will be difficult for the government or ANC politicians to rubbish him in the eyes of ordinary people if he is seen to be the one leader standing at the forefront of the struggle against poverty, inequality and unemployment.

However, Malema has a pressing personal issue: the Hawks are said to have been ready for weeks to pounce on him on charges of alleged tender fraud and corruption. One way of staying the president’s hand could be to build a reliable support base outside the league to defend him if and when he gets arrested.

And that claim, if made, may find resonance among some, including the miners themselves. The irony of course is that Malema won’t be the first to play on the emotions of the masses. Zuma himself did so with such success in the months he spent in the political wilderness before Polokwane.

Malema said last year that he was “preparing for life outside the ANC, and possibly even jail” as it became clear that the party’s disciplinary committee would find against him.

The mistake Malema’s detractors seem to make, just as Zuma’s detractors did and continue to do, is to cling to the myth that he is just an ordinary man, a simple, uneducated man. He is not.

Malema is intelligent, smart, brave and articulate. He knows how to exploit the emotions of the disenchanted for personal benefit.

The question is what he will do at Mangaung if his allies fail to dislodge Zuma, or in his words, if “Mangaung fails to liberate us”.

History has not been kind to those who defy the ANC by breaking away and forming their own organisations, as Robert Sobukwe’s Pan Africanist Congress in 1959 and Cope in 2008 will attest.

But most importantly, Malema, like Zuma and former president Thabo Mbeki, is an ANC ideologue.

For him, it is the party of Chief Albert Luthuli and Oliver Tambo or nothing.

He grew up in the ANC from the age of 13 and his blood is simply too “green, black and yellow” to leave the movement, as he likes to boast.

If he fails at Mangaung, expect more of the same. He will ramp up the pressure on Zuma until the president is either ousted or Malema is behind bars. There simply isn’t any middle ground. - This article first appeared in Pretoria News

The key thing about democracy is that you get what you vote for. The winners may not be the most competent or honest, but they are the most popular. Perhaps people are easily misled or believe false promises. But what’s the alternative?

As Winston Churchill observed “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried.” America’s founding fathers were concerned about the “tyranny of the majority” in a pure democracy. Thomas Jefferson warned that “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.”

While the American Constitution spoke of “We the people” it also had a Bill of Rights that no majority could over-ride. Its brilliant innovation was the separation of powers between the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.

So the elected members of Congress pass the laws that are implemented by the President. These laws can be challenged in the Supreme Court to determine if they are in line with the Constitution Instead of one centre of power there are checks and balances.

These slow down the process, but decrease the likelihood of extreme policies driven by populist demagogues. America is actually a republic, which means that its highest law is the constitution.

South Africa is also a constitutional republic, with separation of powers and a Bill of Rights.

This was recently put to the test when the Constitutional Court lifted the interim interdict against the controversial e-tolling on Gauteng highways.

It ruled that “Courts should only grant an interim interdict preventing the national executive from exercising its statutory power in exceptional circumstances, and when a strong case is made out for the relief sought.”

High Court Judge Bill Prinsloo was accordingly lambasted for his “deafening silence” on the separation of powers issue. This is not the end of the e-tolling saga, as the merits of the tolls will be argued before the High Court in November. But I am intrigued that the previous ruling was struck down by a unanimous Constitutional Court verdict.

How could a senior judge like Prinsloo make such an apparently obvious error? Or maybe the Constitutional Court judges were mistaken? I would disagree, for instance, with their contention that Gauteng motorists would not suffer more harm than SANRAL if the interim interdict was lifted. And SANRAL is unlikely to implement the tolls before the November court case because enforcement legislation and regulations are not in place.

The lesson is that judges are not infallible, and many decisions could go either way. This makes it all the more important that politicians are restrained from appointing judges biased towards government.

The Judicial Services Commission that chooses judges is less independent than it used to be from ruling party interference. Judges who are overly deferential to executive authority are a great threat to the separation of powers.

Where government policy implementation is irrational, irregular or without proper consultation, the public must be able to turn to courts that adjudicate fairly and objectively.

Government is pushing the tolls in the teeth of public opposition. But if public pressure and the courts don’t stop them, voters should boot them out at the next election.

** Jack Bloom MPL is DA Leader in the Gauteng Legislature. This article first appeared in The Citizen.

Godfrey Simons

BLOEMFONTEIN – The Department of Education in Free State on Friday, September 28  lost an appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal with costs against Welkom and Harmony high schools in Welkom that suspended two pregnant pupils had in 2007 and 2011.

The court heard that on November 20 2008, the governing body at Welkom High School adopted a policy on the management of learner pregnancies that took effect on 1 January 2009.

Harmony High School adopted a similar policy on January 29, 2009 in line with the National Department of Education’s Measures for the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy which were published in 2007.

The family of the Welkom school girl complained to the Minister of Education and MEC for education in the Free State after her suspension. Although the Head of Department in Free State wrote a letter to the school principal to allow the learner back in class the principal refused.

Another 17-year-old named M, from Harmony High School was suspended while in Grade 11 in 2010. The head of Department again wrote to the principal asking him to rescind the decision to suspend the learner.

Justice Leona Theron ruled that: “The HOD, in issuing such instructions to the principal, was in effect substituting his own pregnancy policy for that of the respective schools.

The HOD does not have the power, in terms of the Act, to determine pregnancy policies for the schools. Whether the governing bodies have such power is irrelevant, and so is the constitutionality of the policies, the question addressed by the amicus curiae.

It suffices, for the purpose of this appeal, to hold that the HOD failed to adhere to the principle of legality and that his conduct is accordingly unlawful, for the reasons given by the high court.

“The HOD had to outright legislative power to determine or to abolish the learner pregnancy policy for the school all on his own and against the popular and democratic will or resolution of the school governors.”

By More Matshediso

BLOEMFONTEIN – A month long visit to tourist attractions in the Free State has revealed the potential for greater cooperation between government and artists in promoting the sector.

The tour in September during tourism month was in response to MEC Mamiki Qabathe’s challenge to creative artists in the Free State to come up with unique works that could promote the Free State as a tourist destination.

“Our local artists have done their homework and they are already on the move in promoting the Free State province, and they should be motivational enough to those who haven’t started,” Qabathe said.

At the beginning of September the chairperson of Free State Tourism Authority, Mudau Netshivhodza encouraged Free Sate residents to participate in Kasi Tourism and explore the beauty of their own province.

Free State is endowed with natural beauty fauna and flora of aesthetic value as to offer peaceful spiritual rebirth through its wonderful environmental views.

The Thabo Mofutsanyane District was a hive of activity recently with MEC Qabathe hosting a large contingent of guests that included Deputy Minister of Tourism, Thokozile Xasa and artists from all over the Free State to expose them to tourism offerings in the area.

Thabo Mofutsanyane is known as the jewel of tourism in the Free State. The visit included a fly over attraction points such as the wetlands at Memel Seekoei Nature Reserve, a visit to one of the highest lodges in the Drakensburg mountains owned by the Batlokoa Community. The Witsieshoek Hotel presents a spellbinding view of the Sentinel Peak covered with snow where one could be forgiven for thinking that they are in Switzerland.

The lodge accommodates mostly mountain hikers and travellers. The other stopover was at Dinosaur inside the Golden Gate National Park.

A visit to the eastern Free State is never complete without a visit to the Basotho Cultural Village. The place traces the history and life style of the Basotho Nation and how it evolved to a modern day Mosotho. Kasi tourists got in touch with their cultural roots and enjoyed the traditional cuisines and washed them down with freshly brewed African beer.

From Qwa Qwa to the Lionsrock, the Big Cats Sanctuary situated in north east of Bethlehem, which is the only one in Africa is home to lions, cheetahs, tigers, caracals, hyenas, springboks and ostriches collected all over the world where they were rescued from abuse, together with wildebeests, zebras, waterbuck and a range of antelope species for game lovers.

Lionsrock also serves as Guesthouse for those fascinated by the scope of fauna and flora that can be found in the park. At the Lionsrock guests were thrown into frenzy when the contemporary band group Allah Yen belted out what has become the Free State tourism signal ‘’Woza Free State’’.

Free State possesses not only outrageous tourist attractions but it is also full of artistic talent.

“We can host back to back festivals every week in our province with local artists only. Free State province has got enormous talent,” Qabathe said.

The journey continued to through the southern tip of the Free State.

Xhariep was the next stop with a visit to the Boyden Observatory where the group enjoyed watching stars and planets and astronomy lectures about the universe.

The first stop in Xhariep was the Philipolis van der Post Museum then the Philippolis N G Kerk (church) and then the old Philipolis Jail found in the town of Philipolis, where a short history of these three places was recounted.

The interesting story about the church is that the oldest bible in the province is found in this church. The bible was once stolen and returned to the church.

At the Labyrinth, believed to have healing powers that can reduce personal stress levels if you pray before stepping on it visitors can go into meditation.

Along the tour at Gariep, kasi tourists participated in a boat cruise around Gariep dam whilst others took 1 000 steps down to the belly of monstrous Gariep Dam.

The last leg of the month long programme with activities to promote kasi tourism was the official opening of Koppies Dam Nature Reserve.

On Saturday, September 29, Premier Ace Magashule inaugurated 10 new chalets during accompanied by musical performances, drama, poetry

and dances all telling the story of tourism in the Free State. More than 1 000 people from all over the Free State descended on Koppies Dam Nature reserve to bring the curtain down on a very exciting tourism journey that criss-crossed the length and breadth of the province. Qabethe expressed her sincerest gratitude to “all our friends who accepted our invitation to journey with us to ‘Discover the Free State of Mind’ and to make Tourism Month 2012 a memorable one.”

“We believe that all the exciting activities during this month ushered in a whole new travelling and tourism culture in the Free State that calls on all of us to appreciate the scenic beauty, the majestic mountains, the flat lands and the tranquillity of our beautiful province” she added.

By Godfrey Simons

BLOEMFONTEIN – Four men convicted of armed robbery and murder will between them spend more than a century in prison for murder and armed robbery among other charges after the Bloemfontein High Court sentenced them to long spells behind bars on Friday, September 28.

Khethani Mbuisi Nkabinde, 46, Orapeleng Lawrence Mokgoje, 32, Aubrey Mmusi Dikobe, 35, and Jabulani Elliott Makhene, 36, were charged with 28 counts of murder, armed robbery, theft, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Nkabinde was convicted on 18 counts and sentenced to life in prison and an additional 152 years in jail for other related charges. Mokgoje was sentenced to life for murder and 147 years for other 16 related charges.

Dikobe was given a life sentence for murder and 147 years in prison for other 16 related charges. Makhene was also given an identical sentence.

Passing sentence, Justice Jaap Ciliers said: “It is clear that the attack on the cash-in-transit vehicle was well planned and executed. Attackers were 20 in number using different getaway cars and had different roles. Others’ duty was to cause the accident, while others

would divert and control traffic flow. Other men were to blast open the safe with bombs after they failed to open it with the grinders.”

The court heard that a police flying squad responded quickly on August 28 2008 to foil the robbery of R2.5 million after being alerted by a farmer. When the robbers realised that they had been cornered by the police they sped away but a police helicopter chased after an Audi Q7 and arrested four men at Bulfontein.

Pieter Jacobus De la Rey a motorist was shot dead by the armed robbers while travelling with his son on that day. His son JPE de la Rey survived the shooting. The robbers were found with two AK 47 rifles while two 9mm pistols and 6 LM5 rifles were thrown out of their Audi Q7 during the helicopter chase.

A cell phone, sim-card belonging to one of the Fidelity security guards was found in the Audi Q7 car. The accused men had apparently robbed 6 guards of their guns, cellphones and money. “Airborne police were attracted by an Audi Q7 and Bantam bakkie driving at 160 Km/h which failed to stop when ordered by the police to do so.

The Bakkie disappeared in the dust. Police followed the Audi Q7 and came to fly on top of the Audi Q7. The escapees shot at the helicopter and the police were ordered to return fire,” Ciliers said.

Ciliers further said that the keys to the safe were in Kimberley where it would be opened by the bank. The vehicle was from Bloemfontein.

Guns and grinders were dumped from the Audi Q7 during the chase. Mokgoje was shot on his buttock while in the car. The police arrested them after they tried to flee on foot.

Justice Ciliers said it was not true that the accused men were going to Upington Northern Cape to buy vehicle spares from a scrapyard as they alleged in their defence.

The accused were represented by Advocate Hendrik Potgieter and the state was represented by Advocate Danie Pretorius.

By Molefi Sompane

KROONSTAD – Municipal workers here on Monday, October 1 staged a wildcat strike pressing for the resignation of both the mayor and the municipal manger.

The workers – who are affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) – said they had been driven to boycott work by unclear promotion procedures and called for transparency in the municipality.

Although the controversy-riven Moqhaka Local Municipality (MLM) condemned the workers’ decision to down tools as an illegal job action, workers counter-claimed that the municipality had ignored their grievances for too long.

Some of the workers who asked for their names to be withheld said they had been compelled to stage a work stoppage to force management to clarify promotion procedures.

“There are no promotions here. We work hard but our efforts are not being recognised,” one of the strikers complained.

Another one added: “We are pleading with the mayor and municipal manager to vacate their office swith immediate effect. They are promoting only their close allies without following laid down procedures.”

When Public Eye arrived at the municipality building on Monday workers had abandoned the protest but sources close to the temporary stand-off, revealed that workers had decided to return to work and embark on a ‘go slow’.

“We have decided on a ‘go slow’ and we have left our leaders to meet

with the MM,” he said. Communication officer Mandisa Titi confirmed the strike.

“This morning; (Monday, October 1) a few workers from the ranks of SAMWU and IMATU, abandoned their duties and embarked on a spontaneous, unprotected and therefore illegal strike,” she said

“As is the nature of illegal industrial action, the (legal) required procedure was not followed resulting in management not being aware as to the reasons for such drastic action.”

She said the municipality was considering taking measures against all workers who participated in the unprotected strike. “In the interest of honouring our service delivery mandate to the communities who might be negatively affected by this action,

management has issued an ultimatum urging those involved to resume their duties with immediate effect or face possible corrective or disciplinary action. Strikers have further been advised that an illegal strike attracts a ‘no work no pay principle’.”

Mayor Jihad Mohapi, in a statement said he had called on the parties to negotiate legally with related offices. Mohapi apologised to the communities of Moqhaka for encountering problems of service delivering during the protest.

“As much as we respect the constitutional right of workers to engage in industrial action, we expect this right to be exercised with the respect, responsibility and discipline. It is unfortunate that over and above embarking on an illegal strike action, these workers decided to burn tyres and thus endangering life and property.”

By Gabi Khumalo

JOHANNESBURG – It’s all systems go for the Grade 12 matric examinations with the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, Umalusi, declaring that it is ready to quality assure the final examinations for 2012.

“Umalusi is satisfied with the preparations for the end of year exams, and it is confident that the general education system is adequately prepared to run these assessments successfully,” said Umalusi Senior Manager for Quality Assessment Vijay Naidoo on this week.

Umalusi did, however, have some outstanding concerns regarding the status of readiness in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape provinces, which the Basic Education Department has put under administration.

“Umalusi has recommended to the Department of Basic Education that intensive monitoring of these provinces needs to be instituted to mitigate possible unintended consequences of this situation. For its part, Umalusi will also intensify its monitoring, where it deems necessary to do so,” Naidoo said.

Despite the problems which have affected schooling in these provinces, including the closure of schools in the Northern Cape, the exams results would not be standardised and the examinations would not be cancelled or postponed in these provinces.

Umalusi CEO Dr Mafu Rakometsi noted that the delay in delivery of textbooks in Limpopo had not affected matriculants – only the Grade 11s who were doing CAPS for the first time. “There’s no way we can cancel the exams because of the [delay in the delivery of] textbooks or where learners have not been to schools due to protests. All learners will be in a same position and will not be singled out because they did not attend school for four months.

“Umalusi is not artificially increasing the results of learners or bringing them down because of the circumstances. We only look at standardation and we check that there is consistency from one year to the other and not because of other things,” Dr Rakometsi said, adding that the standardisation process was done at national level not provincial level.

About 620 000 Grade 12 learners will sit for the NSC 2012 examinations, set to take place in more than 6 500 examination centres and to be overseen by 65 000 invigilators. Over 35 000 markers in 123 marking centres across the country will be marking the papers.

Meanwhile, Umalusi has announced that the provisional accreditation status of the Eksamensraad vir Christelike Onderwys (ERCO) has lapsed with effect from 1 October 2012. The body will not be able to administer examinations this year.

This will affect 60 exams centres have been affected, including those who have been home schooled.

The NSC examinations are administered by two private assessment bodies – the Independent Examinations Board (IEB), ERCO and the Department of Basic Education.

Umalusi said among the reasons for the none-extension of ERCO’s accreditation were its on-going poor and unstable management since 2008, which has seen four different CEOs from 2008 up to the beginning of this year.

“It has not been successful in establishing a viable body with sufficient numbers of learners or the professional management capacity to run credible examinations. ERCO had obtained a large number of national papers from the department and didn’t manage the security risk sufficiently through insecure practices, they posed the whole national NSC exams at risk.

“While it appointed another new CEO, head of exams in 2012 and claimed to have beefed up its board with expertise, the management risk still remains critical. They continue not to meet the provisional education planning, as evidence in the recent 2011 examination saga.

“Since 2008, ERCO has struggled to set exam papers to the acceptable standard and relied on the department to supply 38 of its papers,” Dr Ramoketsi explained.

All candidates, who were supposed to write their examinations under ERCO, have been accommodated by the Department of Basic Education. – SAnews.gov.za

By More Matshediso

BLOEMFONTEIN – Members of the ANC in Motheo region together with small businesses in the region on Tuesday, October 2 gathered at City hall for a gala dinner with Gwede Mantashe, party secretary-general to discuss an altered version of the second transition policy document as it enters a second phase of its policy implementation.

The ANC is spitting and polishing final preparations for the historic Mangaung conference to be held in December seen as a defining chapter in its history.

The Mangaung conference is set to review progress regarding the ANC’s strategic objectives, review its policies, assess the state of the organisation, and elect the national leadership.

Already, there are signs of jostling for positions at the conference that has witnessed several names touted as front runners, including Kgalema Mothlante viewed as the ANCYL favourite.

Mantashe said after 18 years the ANC has made progress in consolidating political and democratic transformation and they have established an institution of democracy.

“On the socio-economic front, we have not made sufficient progress and therefore resolve that we will have to step up our game on the socio-economic transformation,” said secretary general,” he said.

“When we talk of sharing in the wealth of our country, the State has one rule called redistribution of wealth. It is about conveniently improving access to basic facilities, education-quality thereof, health-quality thereof, and transport- public transport. That is the duty of the State,” Mxolisi Siyonzana, Motheo regional chairperson of the ANC said the party had gained enough ground to take the electorate and the country through the Second Phase of Transition.

He warned party delegates against electing people without credentials. “We need to be vigilant on how we elect especially pertaining to the character of those vying for leadership” Siyonzana said, in reference to leadership that does not comply with the mandate of the movement but push their own agendas.

Siyonzana said working together with the allies in the South African Communist Party and the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the ANC’s Leagues – both the ANC Youth League and the ANC Women`s League and the MKVA, ANC remain steadfast in championing the cause of a better life for all.

“Having characterised the first eighteen years of our young democracy as constituting the First Phase – a period which predominantly focused on the democratisation of the state, we are now content that the state machinery is well oiled to take us through the Second Phase of Transition,” he added.

The second transition policy states that the structure of this discussion paper is aimed at helping members to identify and debate the key issues – both theoretical and practical – that will help them to answer the difficult questions about the future of South Africa and our movement of ANC.

Siyonzana said the centenary celebration unleashed in them the spirit of service and volunteerism that has made the ANC what it is today, a broad church of their people and the true.

“Undoubtedly, we would not have achieved a thing without a sterling contribution of some progressive members of the business community. Even now, we need a strong and vibrant business community. And, this distinguished audience can attest to this fact,” said Siyonzana.

Businesspeople donated various amounts towards hosting the conference.

The second transition policy states that the structure of this discussion paper is aimed at helping members to identify and debate the key issues – both theoretical and practical – that will help them to answer the difficult questions about the future of South Africa and our movement of ANC.

By Libuseng Nyaka

QWA QWA – The resilience of 15 women who used to depend on hand outs and social grants but later started a small-scale shoe factory in 2010 has paid off as they are now set to reach dizzy heights after receiving 16 sewing machines worth R600 000 from government and the National Development Agency NDA.

The timely donation was made as part of Social Development month activities. Connie Ramoana one of the pioneers of Ntswaki Molefe shoe factory said the donation had ended her group’s reliance on child social grants that fell far short of its basic needs as grants were meant to sustain children and not families.

“We started a small business as a group of five using hand sewing needles before we approached an expert from Europe to teach us how to make shoes using animal skin. We were able generate R5 000 which we shared after saving the profit for restocking. Later on we were joined by 11 people, “said Ramoana.

She said raising two children on her own and three grandchildren no longer presented a challenge to her owing to her membership of the income-generating project unlike in the past when she relied on a R280 child grant.

“We think demand for the leather products we make such as shoes and bags is going to increase and there is a possibility that we may have to employ more people from our area. The MEC and Minister for Social Development have promised that they will source markets for us,” Ramoana said.

Rutha Kitsi another worker at the factory said she did not believe her luck when she took home R1 000 and was able to buy groceries like her affluent and educated neighbours. Kitsi said she could only read and write and count money but she did not acquire a formal education.

“I have more reason to celebrate the launch of social development month because I see that development here at our factory with this donation of machines. We have been empowered,” Kitsi said.

Another project aimed at empowering the community of Qwa-Qwa was the establishment of an Early Childhood Education centre.

The MEC for Social Development Sis Ntombela said building of childhood school was going to generate employment for residents. They centre hire teachers, cleaners and gardeners.

In an interview with Public Eye Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini said greater hope and self-esteem had been restored to beneficiaries. He hoped that these projects would be sustained.

“The projects will sustain because they are the brain child of the community. They have identified their passions. We did not impose these projects on the community,” she said.

Dlamini said government had chosen to launch Social Development month in Qwa Qwa Free State because it is one of rural poor areas among those government is targeting.

“The campaign is anchored on the staunch belief that community development will never take off the ground unless there is intimate interaction between government and the people we serve.” Dlamini said.

The campaign aims to create greater public awareness of the Department’s programmes and services to tackle socio-economic challenges such as poverty, HIV and AIDS, social exclusion, child protection and substance abuse amongst others.”

The campaign also seeks to strengthen and mobilize communities, strengthen service delivery partnerships through promotion of constructive engagement between the department, its agencies as well as communities.

“During this month the Department will work with our rural communities, to listen and understand what their plight is but most importantly, to ensure that we unlock that which may serve as an obstacle in meeting their long declared need of emancipation, empowerment and self-sustenance,” Dhlamini said.