DEFECTION BY CERTAIN PARLIAMENTARIANS MEANS NOTHING

DEFECTION BY CERTAIN PARLIAMENTARIANS MEANS NOTHING

By BRIAN KAJENGO

COPE in Mpumalanga has noted with contempt the defection by certain parliamentarians from the party.

They in essence had the guts to use COPE’s opportunity to find themselves in Parliament where they even failed to utter a single word during their stay.

“These are the people who wanted to use their failure to stay afloat and they pretend as if Gwende Mantashe,the secretary of the ANC, is some kind of God that they need to worship.” Sizile Ndlovu said.

COPE’s provincial premier candidate Sizile Ndlovu said the party was not worried about the defection at all.

“We do not have a place for lazy people in our party. These people who left had their hidden agenda but we are just not worried about them at all,” said Ndlovu.

LAZZY PEOPLE LEAVE COPE

LAZZY PEOPLE LEAVE COPE

By BRIAN KAJENGO

Congress of the people has no regret about the people who left their party to reconcile with the ruling party.

COPE believe that those people that left their party where cat’s paw within its organization from ANC.

“Cope’s the constitutional mandate to uphold higher discipline congruent with its founding principles. The membership and supporters will always get short end of the stick if our party continue to wharf corrupt and ill-discipline individuals.

“We have learnt with no shock that COPE public representatives, Nikiwe Num and Victor Kheswa in the North West legislature have defected to the ANC. They were from the word go deployed agents of the ruling party to destroy the Congress of the People which they dismally failed to achieve and they are now going back to their masters with their tails turked.” Kenneth Maduna said.

Kenneth Maduna says they never had COPE’s best interests at heart and served their own selfish, parasitic greed selves and they were never true, honorable COPE members, hence they are hopping out to look for parties that are like themselves.

“When the river is overflowing, people being washed away desperately hold on the banks of the river, nevertheless they wash away because the river hits the banks. In the past few days stooges from Shilowa camp who disapproved joining UDM were paraded to the ANC in a spectacle manner. COPE North West want to set the record straight that these factory faults individuals who beat the drum in favour of the ANC and UDM are not COPE members in good standing.” Says COPE in North West.

Kenneth Maduna COPE Spokesperson in North West says the members of the legislature who scavenged in its party now use media platform to misinform the public and dirty tricks to badmouth COPE. They shamefully project our party as a failed project. What they do not tell them is that they have embezzled the party constituency and party political accounts.

“The arm of the law is too long. They will still come and account for embezzlement of public funds. They were very, very happy to continue to collect huge salaries based on their association to Cope and waited until the last week to change --that speaks volumes about the character of those people,” Maduna said.

He says ANC and UDM must tread very careful because they have just welcomed agents’ provocateurs, but the ruling party it is normal to accept the corrupt elements like the whole lot in their ranks, as it is their culture.

“COPE is alive and getting stronger by the day, hence we are contesting all nine provinces and nationally, while this handful selfish individuals leaves our beloved COPE, we gain hundreds of new members, who sees the worth and credibility of our leaders and the organization.” Maduna said.

COPE concerned with the tension situation in Thulamahsahe

COPE concerned with the tension situation in Thulamahsahe

By BRIAN KEJNGO

COPE in Mpumalanga says the deteriorating state of the once sparkling Thulamahashe Township in the Bushbuckridge area is totally unacceptable.

COPE has noted with great concern the story that was published by one of the local newspapers explaining how bad the township has become.

People in Thulamahashe have pointed out that the township was the pride of Bushbuckridge during the time when it was still under the then Gazankulu government.

“Our township used to be the pride of Bushbuckridge. Things started changing when the ANC took over from the then Gazankulu government. We do not have development and the municipality has failed to give us the necessary services expected from it, there are sewerage spills all over the township,” said one of the community members of Thulamahashe.

COPE previously visited the township for a fact finding mission who coincided with a community service delivery protests about lack of services such as water, roads and other infrastructure development.

COPE calls upon members of this township to come together and vote out the ANC from power for all these challenges to be sorted out.

“We are calling upon all the people in Thulamahashe to vote for COPE if they are serious about the expected changes,” said COPE Mpumalanga premier candidate, Sizile Ndlovu.

MORE THAN 50 SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES REPORTED OVER EASTER WEEKEND

MORE THAN 50 SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES REPORTED OVER EASTER WEEKEND
By BRIAN KAJENGO
Nelspruit – on Tuesday 22 April 2014, the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela with his management has noted with great concern the escalating number of sexual assault cases in the province.
The concern of the General emanates from more than 50 sexual assault cases reported only during the Easter weekend from 18 to 22 April 2014. 
These cases reported at the police stations across the province with Masoyi near Hazyview topping the list with six cases.
“What perturbed us so much is the fact that some of the perpetrators are biological fathers who are alleged to have raped their own children. The other worrying factor is that some of the victims are as young as 14 years old, accosted in the streets during the night.
“”This is a clear indication that no matter how hard we try to warn these children not to linger on the streets during the night, our warning seem to be falling on deaf ears, hence 28 of these victims are minors,” said General Ntobela.
In one of the victims, it appeared that a father alleged to have raped his biological daughter since she was six years old up until the age of 18 when she decided to break the silence.
General Ntobela also sends a stern warning to family members who have a tendency of concealing sexual assault cases especially when committed by close relatives of the victims.
“It’s a criminal offence to do so and such people themselves are committing crime which is punishable by law. He warns that a case of accomplice to commit crime registered against such people.” General Ntobela said.
Amongst the people who also became victims, is a six-year-old boy who sodomised by an unknown male in Calcutta. This shows that some people within the society lack morals.
Ntobela said, “Even though 22 suspects were apprehended in connection with the crimes, however  what aggravates the point of lack of morals is the fact that some of the suspects are minors themselves.”
Ntobela told Bvunzamutupo news that parents therefore requested to instil discipline to their children as we all know that charity begins at home. As a parent, there is a lot more that done to help your child grow up as a responsible man or woman.
“Another call is hereby directed to the liquor outlet owners to heed to the prescripts of the law by not selling liquor to under age children. Such conduct is not appreciable as it does orchestrate sexual assault cases, therefore be warned not to be found operating against the law”, concluded General Ntobela.

AT LEAST 713 IMPOUNDED DURING THE EASTER WEEKEND.

AT LEAST 713 IMPOUNDED DURING THE EASTER WEEKEND.

BY BRIAN KAJENGO

The Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport has stamped its law enforcement authority on public transport over the Easter weekend as 713 public transport operators were busted for failing to abide by the rules of the road.

The vehicles were bust during operations conducted from Thursday the 17^th to the 21^st of April 2014. Amongst the impounded vehicles are taxis, meter taxis and buses which operated for rewards without operating licenses which is in contravention of the National Land Transport Act.

The impounded vehicles have been issued with notices and they can only be released once a fine of between R2000 and R2500 has been paid. The Department will continue with public transport operations beyond the Easter weekend to ensure that all public transport operators abide by the rules of the road and would ensure that all those who contravene the transport act face the full might of the law.

The Department would like to urge taxis, buses and any other public transport operator to apply for temporary operating licenses, if they are taking special trips ferrying passengers on the routes which are outside their operating licenses in order to avoid inconveniences in the future.

Department’s Operating License Board Offices can be found in various parts of the province. There is an office in Ehlanzeni District in Nelspruit and the contact number is 013 755 1200, In the Bohlabela District in Thulamahashe on 013 773 0334, Gert Sibande District in Ermelo on 017 801 4000/5600 and Nkangala District on 013 947 2593. The offices are opened from 7:45 to 16:00 during week days.

GOD HAS GOD PLAN FOR COPE

GOD HAS GOD PLAN FOR COPE

By BRIAN KAJENGO

A Mpumalanga pastor who has only been identified as Pastor Molemi of the Regeneration Church in Acornhoek prayed for COPE to be successful during the National Elections.

Church prays for COPE’s success during the coming National Elections.

COPE’s delegation was led by the provincial premier candidate, Comrade Sizile Ndlovu and included Comrades Rachel Mashego, Dikeledi Nonyane, Hope Morema as well as other comrades.

The pastor assured COPE that GOD knew what the outcome of the elections would be and applauded the party for decided to include him in prayers.

The pastor called the delegation to the front where together with other church leaders prayed and asked God to intervene.

“In everything we do as COPE we include God. He is the one who knows everything including our future. We as COPE are next to God and that is why we make sure we specialise in honesty, accountability and reliability” said Ndlovu after the Easter church service.

He said the visit to the church formed part of the ongoing elections campaigns that political parties were currently engaged in.

Ndlovu added that COPE will continue to engage with churches so as to make sure that the party stayed within the love of the Lord.

SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES TO BOOST ZIMBABWE ECONOMY DURING THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR 2014

SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES TO BOOST IN ZIMBABWE ECONOMY DURING THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR 2014

By BRIAN KAJENGO

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will lead a group of South African companies to the 2014 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), taking place in Bulawayo from 22-26 April 2014. The fair held under the theme “New Ideas, New Heights”.

The companies assisted by the dti through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA) which aims to develop export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country. This done through the provision of marketing assistance to develop new export markets and grow existing export markets, and identification of new export markets through market research, amongst others.

Speaking ahead of the fair, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, said export sales resulting from the participation in the fair as reported by South African companies amounted to R6. 6million - R7.1 million, and R55. 6 million from 2011 to 2013.

“Last year, South Africa was voted the best foreign exhibitor stand due to its quality and design.  South African firms took up the largest single exhibition space of 800 square metres followed by China with 600 square metres, clinching export deals valued at R55.6 million up from R6.6 million recorded at ZITF 2011,” she said.

Thabethe added that the department is looking forward to assist the companies to come back with increased market knowledge about the Zimbabwean market, regional and international business contacts and export orders of more than 10 million amongst other things.

According to Deputy Minister Thabethe, the fair is an important mechanism to pursue intra-Africa trade as well as to strengthen relations between South Africa and its SADC counterparts and the rest of the world.

Thabethe described Zimbabwe as one of South Africa’s key strategic countries in the region.

Countries represented in the fair include China, Brazil, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Poland, Bangladesh, India and Nigeria. The United States of America will also participate in this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) after a long absence from the annual trade showcase.

This year’s exhibition will feature product groups such as machinery and expertise for infrastructure, manufacturing processes and equipment, innovation, automation and supplies for agro-processing, among others.

MPUMALANGA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, ROADS AND TRANSPORT BUST 176 PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS FOR BREAKING THE LAW.

MPUMALANGA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, ROADS AND TRANSPORT BUST 176 PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS FOR BREAKING THE LAW.

By BRIAN KAJENGO

The Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport is out in full force during this Easter Weekend to ensure that all public transport operators abide by the rules of the road. Since the start of the Easter weekend between the 17^th of April 2014 and the 18^th of April 2014, a total of 176 public transport vehicles that includes amongst others, taxis, meter taxis and buses have been impounded for operating for rewards without operating licenses which is in contravention of the Transport Act.

The impounded vehicles have been issued with notices and they can only be released once a fine of between R2000 and R2500, depending on the offence committed, has been paid.

The Department would like to urge all public transport operators to ensure that they abide by the rules of the road to avoid any road accidents and being penalized for not obeying the rules of the road. The Department will not tolerate law unbinding transport operators and would ensure that all those who contravene the transport act will face the full might of the law.

A MULTI-MILLION RAND CHEMICAL BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTRE LAUNCHED BY MINISTER ROB DAVIES

A MULTI-MILLION RAND CHEMICAL BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTRE LAUNCHED BY MINISTER ROB DAVIES

By BRIAN KAJENGO

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies has launched an about R8-million Durban branch of the South African Chemical Technology Incubator (Chemin) at the Westville Campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in Durban today.

Minister Davies says the business Incubation centre is assisting a number of chemical technology businesses in the region by offering free support services to small business owners. The current incubated enterprises are mainly focusing on chemical detergent, cosmetics, and hear care products.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Davies said that Chemin's focus is on developing the downstream chemicals manufacturing industry in South Africa.

“These sectors include relatively high value pure chemicals that are typically used as active ingredients in formulated speciality chemicals used in industrial and non-consumer applications (e.g. paints, mining chemicals, textile specialities, paper chemicals), but does not exclude the production of other downstream chemicals. The aim of this project is to recover heavy metals by removing mercury, and europium. This technology has already been patented, furthermore millions of households are now using CFL bulbs, which were distributed by Eskom as an endeavour to reduce power consumption in the country,” said Davies.

The Minister indicated that incubated enterprises are also receiving access market information in the Chemical sector and external clients at a negotiated fee as well as a state-of-the-art laboratory containing specialised analytical equipment.

Davies also announced that as at 31 March 2014, forty two (42) applications to the value of about R682 million approved over a three year. The total value of investment be leveraged is R1.1 billion.

“Surely this is a good story to tell, as these 42 incubators spread across all 9 provinces and new 4 ones have been approved but will be fully established during the 2014/15 financial year. Manufacturing, Agriculture, ICT, and Construction are the leading sectors”, he added.

One of the incubates Stanley Zulu says they taught how to manage business and finances and not mix it with personal life. According to Zulu, every aspirant entrepreneur is able to reach his dream.

‘We are all capable of being entrepreneurs, but we need to be disciplined and do research regarding any type of business that one is aspiring. Above all, we need to know the market and the competitor. Aspirant entrepreneurs should not go in business with an intention of getting reach quick or overnight”, said Zulu.

The Durban branch of the South African Chemical Technology Incubator established partnership with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) Eskom Foundation, Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDEAT) and the University of KwaZulu Natal.  It was set up in December 2012 to develop entrepreneurs in the chemical business in Durban and the surrounding areas.

Both Seda and Eskom Foundation fund the centre. The funding collectively contributes to the Centre establishment, operations, laboratory and the manufacturing pilot plant.

CAPTION:Minister Rob Davies, UKZN Prof Vice Chancellor Ramjugernath and Seda's Acting CEO Sipho Zikode

COPE Vice President teamed up Mpumalanga leadership to campaign

COPE Vice President teamed up Mpumalanga leadership to campaign

By BRIAN KAJENGO

COPE’s deputy president, Comrade Willy Madisha and the party’s Mpumalanga Treasurer, Comrade Mathews Masilela, are expected to meet with chiefs in the Nkangala District of Mpumalanga on Thursday 17April 2014.

This is a follow-up meeting to one that the province’s COPE Premier candidate, Comrade Sizile Ndlovu, had with the chiefs last week.

Ndlovu promised the chiefs that he would bring the national leadership to them so that they would again divulge their challenges that they had explained to him.

The challenges include that their area was seriously being neglected by the provincial government.

“It is as if the province of Mpumalanga is only in the Lowveld and ends at Waterval Boven as the provincial government seems to have forgotten us in the Highveld,” one of the chiefs told Ndlovu in the previous meeting.

Meanwhile Comrade Ndlovu will take the elections campaign to Witbank on Thursday 17 April 2014.

The two visits come shortly after Comrade Madisha and COPE’s head of elections Comrade Dennis Bloem visited a few areas in Bushbuckridge on Tuesday.

COPE took the two national leaders to Goromani, Madras. Marongwana before Madisha had a one on one radio interview with Promise Moripe of Bushbuckridge community radio station about the visit.

“COPE discovered a number of poverty stricken members of the community an example of which was a family of nine which survives on an old lady’s pension grant,” said Hlatshwayo.

Madisha ordered the provincial leaders of COPE to make sure that social worker were sent to the family for an urgent assessment that would have to result into assistance for the family.

COGTA COMMENDS SECTOR DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITIES FOR PAYMENT OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES

COGTA COMMENDS SECTOR DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITIES FOR PAYMENT OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES

By BRIAN KAJENGO

MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in Mpumalanga, Hon. Simon Skhosana has expressed hope that the campaign for payment of municipal services is yielding the desired results.

This follows the payment of R514 million between January 2011 and March 2014, owed by government departments and communities in Mpumalanga.

MEC Skhosana says the settlement of the amount is also due in part to the establishment of a task team by COGTA and the Provincial Department of Finance, assigned to collect outstanding government debts and co-operation by the municipalities.

“The teams have assisted with identification of direct deposits from departments and the allocation thereof into the correct consumer accounts. Municipalities reviewed their property rates schedules and included properties which were not on the schedule for payment. Tenants occupying government properties were also pursued for the recovery of outstanding revenue,” says Mr Skhosana.

The department is currently assisting municipalities to improve their billing systems. In this regard some municipalities are implementing smart meter systems to ensure that consumers correctly billed and that distribution losses are minimised.  Credit control measures strengthened to deal with illegal connections and harsh penalties affected against consumers tempering with pre-paid and conventional meters. 

Mr Skhosana further urged all government departments and communities to continue paying for municipal services in support of government’s initiative to make local government everybody’s business.

Partnerships with private sector is key to road safety

Partnerships with private sector is key to road safety

By BRIAN KAJENGO

Those were the words of Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe.  

MEC Vusi Shongwe says government needs to strengthen partnerships with the private sector in order to achieve its goals, including enhancement of road safety.

 Shongwe was speaking on Tuesday 15 April 2014 during a ceremony where Anglo American’s Zibulo Coal Mine donated two law enforcement vehicles to the department.

He said that these kinds of partnerships are also needed by the department to enhance law enforcement operations while improving traffic officers’ visibility on the road.

He further explained that the reduction of deaths and injuries resulting from road crashes is not only the responsibility of government  but corporate citizens like Anglo American and other businesses should play a role hence the gesture is greatly appreciated.

“The two vehicles, which were already branded, were donated to assist with patrols and point duty in Nkangala Region where traffic volumes are usually experienced during peak hours. Shongwe said that the vehicles will not only assist in that specific area, but will contribute in other law enforcement operations in the province.”

“This would go a long way towards enhancing law enforcement operations leading to improved road safety in the province,” said MEC Vusi Shongwe.

He thanked the management of the mine and promised them that the vehicles will be used optimally to assist with improving law enforcement.

Zibulo Coal Mine’s General Manager Bheki Khumalo said that it is clear that the department is determined to win the battle against road accidents; hence the company is also making a contribution to compliment the department’s efforts.

Khumalo explained that as a company they also have responsibility towards ensuring road safety because their company utilizes trucks to transport coal on the road. “We are committed as a private sector to assist government by contributing to service delivery initiatives that include maintaining conducive environments for our communities. We will continue to support initiatives which will benefit us and the community we serve,” said Khumalo.

Earlier on the day, MEC Shongwe handed over drums and traditional attire to a traditional group of dancers who are learners at Sizofunda Primary School in Sundra near Delmas. He also donated R2500 from his pocket to the school management.

COPE CONCERNED ABOUT PATIENTS WHO HAVE TO DRINK DIRTY WATER AT THE BONGANI HOSPITAL

COPE CONCERNED ABOUT PATIENTS WHO HAVE TO DRINK DIRTY WATER AT THE BONGANI HOSPITAL

By BRIAN KAJENGO

COPE in Mpumalanga is seriously concerned about the fact that patients at the Bongani hospital in Hazyview are subjected to drinking dirty water.

Riot Hlatshwayo say COPE has exclusively discovered that the provincial department of health has failed to avail chemicals used for water purification at the hospital’s plant since.

Bongani hospital did not have a water purification plant at least until 2011 when it was built.

He said, “Patients at this hospital are bound to drink brown water which obviously has water-bound bacteria that are not fit for human consumption.”

COPE in Mpumalanga feel this is totally unacceptable and therefore calls on the department of health to deal with the crisis as a matter of urgency.

“This problem is one of those that discredit the ANC led government of South Africa hence we call on the voters to vote for COPE if they do not want this type of problems to continue.” Riot Hlatshwayo said.

MINISTER DAVIES TO LAUNCH CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR IN DURBAN

MINISTER DAVIES TO LAUNCH CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR IN DURBAN

BY BRIAN KAJENGO 

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies will officially launch the Durban branch of the South African Chemical Technology Incubator (Chemin) at the Westville Campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in Durban tomorrow, 16 April 2014 from 9H00. The media invited to attend and cover the event.

The business Incubation centre will assist a number of chemical technology businesses in the region by offering free support services to small business owners. Chemin's focus is on developing the downstream chemicals manufacturing industry in South Africa.

These sectors include relatively high value pure chemicals that are typically used as active ingredients in  formulated speciality chemicals used in industrial and non-consumer applications (e.g. paints, mining chemicals, textile specialities, paper chemicals), but does not exclude the production of other downstream chemicals.

Incubated enterprises will also be able to access market information in the Chemical sector and external clients at a negotiated fee as well as a state-of-the-art laboratory containing specialised analytical equipment.

 The branch established in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) Eskom Foundation, Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDEAT) and the University of KwaZulu Natal.  It was set up in December 2012 to develop entrepreneurs in the chemical business in Durban and the surrounding areas.

The manufacturing pilot plant forms part of the incubation centre based on a process of recycling bulbs.  The aim of the project is to recover heavy metals by removing mercury, yuttrium and europium. This technology already been patented; furthermore millions of households are now using CFL bulbs, which were distributed by Eskom as an endeavour to reduce power consumption in the country. 

We are on course to see these incubators increasing as more small enterprises go the technology incubation route. In the year ahead Seda expects to support more incubators through the dti’s Incubation Support Programme and currently more incubators considered for support for the 2014/15 period.  This can only bode well for our government’s drive to create employment,” said Seda Acting CEO Mr Sipho Zikode.

Amended Electronic Communications Act create an enabling environment for Community Broadcasting

Amended Electronic Communications Act create an enabling environment for Community Broadcasting

BY BRIAN KAJENGO

April 14, 2014 – The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) welcomes the amendments to the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005 (Act No.36 of 2005) and in particular of section 89 exempting community broadcasting service licensees from making payments of the prescribed contributions to MDDA.

ICASA prescribes the basis and manner of determination of such contributions, which currently are 0.2% of the licensee’s annual turnover. It is our considered view that the non-exemption regime that existed was unintended during the 2005 enactment.

The new amendment is now in line with the objectives of the White Paper on Broadcasting and the legislative framework aimed at promoting and supporting a three tier broadcasting industry, media diversity and creating an enabling environment for the growth of community broadcasting. This is indeed part of the good story told as we celebrate 20 years of our democracy.

His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma has, in terms of Section 84(2) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, signed into law the Electronic Communications Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No.1 of 2014).

The Act seeks amongst others to amend the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 so as to align it with broad-based black economic empowerment initiatives and specifically Section 89 is amended to exempt holders of community broadcasting service licences who have been granted licenses by ICASA from paying the prescribed annual contributions of the licensee’s licensed activity to the MDDA and/or Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF).

The Act also provides that Broadcasting Service Licensees contributing to the MDDA will have their annual MDDA contribution set off against their prescribed annual contribution to the USAF. MDDA will only collect the prescribed contributions from the other Broadcasting Service Licensees in terms of its agreement with the Broadcasting Service Licensees, who have continued to partner and support the MDDA in pursuit of its mandate as enshrined in the MDDA Act No. 14 of 2002.

COUPLE APPEARS FOR POSSESSION OF SUSPECTED STOLEN ARVs DRUGS

COUPLE APPEARS FOR POSSESSION OF SUSPECTED STOLEN ARVs DRUGS

By BRIAN KAJENGO

Kanyamazane – A couple, Joseph and Betty Mathonsi both aged 48, appeared in the Kanyamazane Magistrate’s Court today, 14 April 2014, facing a charge of possession of suspected stolen property.

Their appearance follows a swift action by police who were executing crime prevention duties around Kanyamazane area on Friday, 11 April 2014, when they received information about a huge number of tablets that were allegedly scattered on the grass of a certain house around Kanyamazane. Police went to the mentioned house to investigate the allegations.

Upon arrival, they noticed the tablets on the grass and proceeded further inside the house for a search and that is when they found a number of boxes containing Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. The woman named Betty found occupying the house nabbed immediately.

It believed that antiretroviral drugs allegedly used for making nyaope by the syndicates.

The husband, Joseph allegedly handed himself over to the police who was not in the house on Friday, and he alleges that the boxes belongs to other people who requested him to deliver them to a certain address.

He stated that he found no one at the given address and then decided to take them to his house so that they can pay him for his transport money. However, and he detained for further investigation.

The couple were granted R1 000 bail each and the case was postponed to 23 May 2014, pending further investigation.

EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME (EPWP) TO CONTINUE CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES

EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME (EPWP) TO CONTINUE CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES

§         Delegates at the three-day Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Social Sector conference have reiterated the programme’s commitment to provide work opportunities for unemployed and unskilled people.

§         The EPWP Social Sector achieved over 800 000 work opportunities by December 2013 against the set target of 750 000.

§         Since the implementation of the EPWP phase 2 in 2009, the programme has made a significant impact within our South African communities, through the different programmes, in the upliftment of the socio-economic conditions of the unemployed

§         The sector has an obligation to create 1 038 929 work opportunities, as a set target towards the overall EPWP Phase 3 target of six million work opportunities.