COSATU Media Monitor, 20 May 2013

[Norman Mampane]

COSATU Media Monitor   

Monday, 20 May 2013

 

COSATU E-toll Campaign goes ahead in 2013;24^th and 31^st May 2013 in Johannesburg & Ekurhuleni respectively

 

COSATU National Collective Bargaining, Organizing and Campaigns Conference Special Declaration

 

http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=7062

 

COSATU has served a Section77 Notice at Nedlac on the 11^th December 2012

http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=6785

 

COSATU E-toll Campaign goes ahead in 2013.

http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=6793

 

Stop Commodification of public goods!

 

The articles in the Media Monitor do not represent the views of COSATU. They are selected because we believe they deal with topics of interest to our readers, who will then be informed on how the media is reporting and commenting on these topics. It will enable them, if necessary, to respond to inaccurate, misleading or biased reports or comment.

If we have excluded other articles which readers wished could have been picked, this was not intentional but because of tight time-frames. If you have seen article worth to be shared email it.

 

COSATU is on Twitter and also has a Facebook Page!

 

To participate and follow the Federation debates hashtag on Twitter #cosatu and/or search for Cosatu Today after logging.

 

 

Contents

 

Workers’ Parliament

Ø  NUM Seeks 15-60 percent wage rises from gold, coal producers

Ø  Gold & coal miners to begin wage talks

Ø  Poll finds traffic police ineffectual

Ø  Mercedes-Benz workers on strike

Ø  Cause of 23 initiates’ deaths still not explained

Ø  Time to dig deep, NUM warns mining houses

Ø  The invisible women in silicosis class action suit

Ø  Amcu, CCMA hearing expected to resume

 

South Africa

Ø  Son with Mbuli during collapse

Ø  Vuyo Mbuli leaves legacy: Mokhobo

Ø  Mbuli will be missed by all

Ø  Mandela daughters sue father

Ø  Tariff 'will hike chicken prices'

Ø South Africa could run out of water: Molewa

Ø  Economic week ahead: A great deal of talk

Ø  'Gap' for HIV vaccine efforts after latest setback

Ø   ‘Reitz Four’ victims left in the cold

Ø  Guptagate report: Many questions, few answers

Ø  FIVE MINUTES: South Africa

 

Alliance

 

Ø  ANC disciplinary action for Gupta

Ø  The Times Editorial: ANC needs to save itself from the Gupta buffoonery

 

International

Ø  Bangladesh Factory Banned By Wal-Mart Still Makes Wrangler Shirts

Ø  Exclusive: Bangladesh factory banned by Wal-Mart still makes Wrangler shirts

Ø  Karabus considers suing UAE govt

Ø  Germans Blame Euro Zone Crisis For Eurovision Debacle

Ø  EU Leaders Struggling With Economic Growth to Turn to Tax Policy

Ø  Tsvangirai vows to reverse Mugabe’s takeover drive

 

Comment

 

Ø  COSATU E-toll Campaign goes ahead in 2013;24^th and 31^st May 2013 in Johannesburg & Ekurhuleni respectively

Ø  COSATU Section77 Notice served at Nedlac on the 11th December 2012

Ø  Dear spindoctors, dear journalists, let’s talk frankly...

Ø  Media racism alive and well in SA?

Ø  They don't come any sharper

Ø  KZN University Decision Will Build More Bridges

__________________________________________________________

1.                  Workers’ Parliament   

NUM Seeks 15-60 percent wage rises from gold, coal producers

Reuters , Daily Maverick, 20 May 2013

 

South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers said it would seek pay rises of up to 60 percent from gold and coal producers, raising the prospect of fresh strikes as firms battle higher costs and falling prices in an already heated labour climate. By Ed Stoddard.

Africa's biggest economy is hoping to avoid the 2012 wildcat strike action at platinum and gold mines that cost billions in lost revenue and production and killed over 50 people.

Mineworkers are mobilizing to assert themselves, with the NUM fighting a challenge to its once near monopoly in the shafts from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), which has poached tens of thousands of platinum miners from it in a violent struggle for members.

NUM said it was seeking an entry-level minimum monthly wage of 7,000 rand ($750) for gold and coal surface workers and 8,000 rand for those underground in a submission to the country's Chamber of Mines, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.

Elize Strydom, the industrial relations adviser at the Chamber of Mines, said the minimum wage for surface workers is currently 4,700 rand and for underground miners it is 5,000 rand, so the demands for the latter are a 60 percent increase.

NUM also said it wanted 15 percent increases for "all other wage categories," or more experienced and skilled workers.

The chamber of mines said in a statement it had received the "proposals" from NUM and urged all parties to compromise in the talks which will begin around the middle of June.

"We appeal to all parties to explore every option in trying to reach settlement without resorting to damaging industrial action, and to reach agreements that will strike a balance between what is affordable to the companies and meets the expectations of the employees," the chamber said in a statement.

It gave no further details.

Sliding precious metals prices have raised the pressure on miners as they ready for pay talks. Spot platinum on Friday closed at $1,450 an ounce, down around 35 percent from a record high of $2,240 hit in March 2008, and most South African shafts are losing money at this price.

Gold is down about 19 percent this year, losing its safe haven allure on concern the U.S. central bank will end its extensive stimulus for the U.S. economy.

INFLATION PRESSURE

Mining companies have been awarding above-inflation wage rises over the past decade but with labour now accounting for over half their costs in South Africa, they are reaching a point where this is no longer sustainable for their income statements, especially as power and other costs climb steeply.

But even increases above inflation do not go far for workers at the bottom end of the pay scale who on average have eight dependants and are mostly drawn from poor rural areas.

South African inflation is currently running at just under 6 percent and looks set to accelerate given recent weakness in the rand currency, which investors have sold off because of concerns about labour unrest in the mining sector. Rising inflation especially for food will harden the resolve of workers.

The NUM still represents most workers in the gold and coal sectors, and to head off any challenge from AMCU in those shafts it will need to be seen taking a hard line with management.

The rivalry between the two unions triggered violence that killed over 50 people last year and tensions are running high. An AMCU organiser was murdered last weekend, prompting a 2-day strike at platinum producer Lonmin.

AMCU has not yet submitted its wage demands to platinum producers, who negotiate with unions on a company-by-company basis. But they can ill afford to be generous given current prices for the precious metal.

Anglo American Platinum, the world's top producer, now plans to cut 6,000 jobs from an initial target of 14,000 as it seeks to restore profits after falling into a loss last year. It is hardly in a position to give big pay rises after scaling back its original plan under government pressure.

Gold and coal producers negotiate through the country's chamber of mines. South African gold companies include AngloGold Ashanti, Africa's top bullion producer, Gold Fields , Harmony and Sibanye. Coal producers include Anglo American and Exxaro.

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Gold & coal miners to begin wage talks

Govan Whittles , EWN, 20 May 2013

JOHANNESBURG - As miners on the platinum belt face union rivalry and potential job cuts, gold and coal mining companies will on Monday receive the first demands of the wage talks season.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) tabled its demands of up to a 60 percent to the Chamber of Mines last week.

Trade union Solidarity also submitted its demands of 10 percent across the board.

For the first time in history of collective bargaining, NUM has opted to negotiate for wage hikes in rands as opposed to percentages.

The union wants a minimum wage of R7,000 for surface workers and R8,000 for underground miners who are currently being paid R5,000. 

The Chamber of Mines chief negotiator, Elize Strydom said the demands would be presented to companies this week.

“Chamber will be engaging with unions looking at possible dates to commence negotiations.”

Strydom said they had not yet received wage demands from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which has become a key player with gold miners since the past year. 

Meanwhile, the mining industry prepared for what could be the toughest year of wage talks yet.

NUM lashed out at Sibanye Gold CEO Neal Froneman for saying workers do not have an appetite to strike.

The CEO said that a double-digit wage hike would not happen.

But NUM said premature pronouncements on wage talks were tantamount to giving workers the middle finger.

NUM’s Lesiba Seshoka said the union was determined to achieve a double-digit salary hike for workers in 2013.

Wage talks in the sector are likely to get off to a rocky start later this month following the negative reaction from mining bosses.

Failed wage talks in 2013 could result in violent strikes and loss in production. 

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Poll finds traffic police ineffectual

Sapa, Sowetan, 20 May 2013

 

The policing of South Africa's road laws is largely inefficient, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) study reported in Beeld.

The study found that South African traffic officials were lax in enforcing seatbelt laws and those pertaining to the safe restraint of children, the newspaper reported.

It found that only 59 percent of drivers and seven percent of front seat passengers wore safety belts.

It did not supply statistics for back seat passengers, but a 2007 Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) study reportedly found only eight percent of back seat passengers wore safety belts.

The WHO study found that South African law enforcers scored badly when it came to drinking and driving laws, and fared only slightly better on the policing of speeding.

Beeld reported that according to the Medical Research Council of SA, alcohol played a role in 55 percent of the country's road deaths.

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Mercedes-Benz workers on strike

SAPA, Sowetan, 20 May 2013

 

Thousands of workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in East London have embarked on an illegal strike, the Daily Dispatch reported.

The car manufacturer was expected to approach the court if the 1600 workers at its East London plant did not return to work by end of Monday, it was reported.

The workers embarked on the strike on Friday, bringing production to a halt.

Mercedes-Benz had not experienced a strike in more than 24 years, the Daily Dispatch reported.

The company told th newspaper it had a good working relationship with the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa).

Workers told the Dispatch that a recognition agreement between the company and Numsa in 1989 allowed them to embark on an unprotected strike for 72-hours.

The strike came amid tensions about the company's mooted plans to outsource its logistics department, which it said were not finalised.

Shop steward Phumezo Tonisi told the Daily Dispatch the union would meet with workers to decide whether to proceed with the strike.

"The company interprets the recognition agreement in a way that suits them, and we told them as much in our meeting on Friday," Tonisi was quoted as saying.

 

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Cause of 23 initiates’ deaths still not explained

Steven Tau, Citizen, 20 May 2013

IT’S still not known what caused the deaths of 23 initiates in Mpumalanga last week.

The deaths were in the district towns of Ekangala, Kwaggafontein, Siyabuswa, Verena, Belfast, Middleburg, Evander and KwaMhlanga.

The provincial spokesman for the department of Corporate Governance and Traditional Affairs, Simphiwe Kunene, said there had not been new developments regarding the deaths at the weekend.

“We are still waiting for a report from the police who are busy with the investigations,” he said.

Police spokesman Leornard Hlathi confirmed the investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) has lashed out at provincial health MEC Candith Mashego-Dlamini for not intervening in the initiation procedures at the initiation schools. 

The MEC said she could not intervene as she is a woman and that this is a traditional matter.

Nehawu spokesman Sizwe Pamla was quoted  describing the MEC’s remarks as “absurd” and irresponsible. 

“As Nehawu we condemn the death of the initiates, and we are calling for the national department and the provincial government to intervene because we were shocked and very disappointed to hear that the MEC for health is not prepared to intervene because of traditional sensitivities. 

“We feel the MEC needs to be dismissed as she is not fit to be in charge of the portfolio that she has been given in the province,” he said.

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Time to dig deep, NUM warns mining houses

Reuters, M%G, 19 May 2013

 

·          

The National Union of Mineworkers said on Sunday it would seek pay hikes of up to 60% from the country's gold and coal producers in wage talks.

NUM said it was seeking an entry-level minimum monthly wage of R7 000 for surface workers and R8 000 for those underground in a submission to the country's Chamber of Mines, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.

Elize Strydom, the industrial relations adviser at the Chamber of Mines, said the minimum wage for surface workers is currently R4 700 and for underground miners it is R5 000, so the demands for the latter are 60%.

NUM also said it wanted 15% hikes for "all other wage categories", which would refer to more experienced and skilled workers.

Impala Platinum meanwhile said on Friday that the country's mining industry could ill afford wage rises during talks that were about to start with a new and unpredictable union, so it may well face fresh strikes.

South African mining companies are due to embark on one of their toughest periods of wage talks in the next one or two weeks, with increasingly radicalised unions.

The world's biggest platinum producing country is hoping to avoid the 2012 wildcat strike action that cost billions in lost revenue and production.

Mining companies are hurting from a nearly 20% drop in platinum prices in the last two years, as the supply disruptions failed to offset weakness in demand for the metal used chiefly in motor vehicle catalysts.

'Difficult to afford'

Workers are hoping the unions can deliver deals like the 11-to-22% pay rise Lonmin gave illegal strikers after 34 were shot dead by police at its Marikana mine.

"I don't think we have a mandate yet for wage levels, I just know from the mines' point of view that any kind of increase is going to be difficult to afford," Derek Engelbrecht, Impala's group executive marketing, told Reuters in an interview on Friday.

"I think there certainly is potential for further industrial action in the form of strikes," he added.

Over the past year the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has poached tens of thousands of members from the once dominant NUM, which has been hurt by a view that its leaders had become too close to management.

Amcu leader Joseph Mathunjwa on Friday threatened to bring Africa's biggest economy to a standstill and the rand extended its slide after tumbling to a four-year low against the dollar on Thursday on fears of a strike at Anglo American Platinum.

More than 50 people have been killed in more than 12 months of unrest stemming from a turf war between the two unions.

"We are now going into uncharted territory," Engelbrecht said. "We are going to negotiate with a new union that we have never dealt with before on wages, so trying to predict the outcome would be foolhardy."

The negotiations will start against a backdrop of jobs cuts and approaching elections.

Impala is looking at plans to cut capital and operational expenses, including staffing numbers, Engelbracht said.

"The whole thing has been reviewed to try and reduce both absolute and unit costs and improve productivity," he said.

The world's largest platinum miner Amplats plans to cut 6 000 jobs and mothball two unprofitable mines near the platinum belt city of Rustenburg. - Reuters

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The invisible women in silicosis class action suit

Mandy De Waal, Daily Maverick, 20 May 2013

 

As lawyers consolidate the biggest silicosis class action suit Africa has seen, pioneering work by women’s rights activists investigates how to change policy and law for caregivers of sick or dying miners. Historically the wives and daughters of miners affected by silicosis have had no recourse in terms of compensation for the care and support work they do, but rights workers want to change this. By MANDY DE WAAL.

Miner Thembekile Mankayi died too soon - the AngloGold Ashanti worker took his last breath in March 2011, a week before the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled in his favour, in his case against the mining giant he had worked underground for from 1979 to 1995. The ruling was ground-breaking; it opened the door to miners to seek compensation for occupational injuries.

“Prior to the Constitutional Court decision on Mankayi vs. AngloGold Ashanti, it was a given that an employee could not sue his employer for any occupational injury or disease. Now the court has said that this isn’t correct and that employees are entitled to instruct civil proceedings against their employers, which is why the silicosis class action has arisen,” explains Richard Spoor, who was Mankayi's lawyer, and who is working with Cape Town’s Abrahams Kiewitz Attorneys and the Legal Resource Centre to consolidate tens of thousands of silicosis claims into what will be the country’s biggest class action suit.

Spoor says that there were three class actions, but states that the matters are being consolidated into one. “An application of the consolidation will happen in the next week or two, so we’re talking about a single class action,” he says.

In terms of the class action suit, Spoor’s firm holds instructions for over 20,000 mineworkers and widows, while Abrahams Kiewitz Attorneys and the Legal Resource Centre have a smaller, but significant, number of instructions that brings the class to about 26,000 direct instructions. “A class action is on behalf of everyone, of course, and here the class itself would constitute between 100,000 and 200,000 mineworkers. That’s about as narrow as I can make it,” says Spoor, in a telephonic interview with Daily Maverick.

Silicosis is a fibrotic-type lung disease that is caused by the breathing in of crystalline silica dust. An occupational sickness that is caused by workplace environments where exposure to silica is high and constant, silicosis causes scarring and lesions in the lungs and puts sufferers at greater risk of developing active tuberculosis.

The lung disease can be debilitating, and at times deadly. It is incurable. Mail & Guardian has done a series of profiles on miners with silicosis – in one, Mtobeli Elson Vapi describes how the most activity he can now manage is “treading lightly”.

When it comes to workers’ compensation, South Africa has two sets of laws – one for mineworkers and then another set for everyone else. This has made it extremely difficult for miners to get compensation for occupational diseases, never mind trying to get damages claims for the women who care for these sick workers in rural areas after they are sent back home by the big mining companies.

“The position of the wives of men with occupational diseases is difficult,” says Spoor, who sets about explaining the legal situation. The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (Coida) – which is colloquially known as the ‘workmen’s compensation act’ has a provision for a carer’s allowance, but miners aren’t covered by this law.

“Under the legislation that governs mineworkers (the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act) there is no such compensation,” Spoor says, adding: “The compensation for these mineworkers is completely unjust – it is unfair and unreasonable. Something needs to be done about it and it must be fixed. There was a Cabinet decision dating back to 1998 that says that the discrimination against mineworkers in terms of this separate legislation is unjustifiable, and they need to get at least the same benefits that other industrial workers get, but nothing has ever happened about this,” Spoor adds, explaining this is largely because government and mines haven’t been able to see eye-to-eye about who’d pick up the bill.

What this means is that while miners are locked out of getting compensation, so too are the women who care for these miners when the ailing men are sent home. “The legal issues regarding women are very complex because our common law is poorly developed and it is pretty damn difficult to make these kinds of arguments,” says Spoor.

“We haven’t made special provision for a novel or original point around women because the case is difficult enough as it is, so we haven’t filed a claim for the wives of living miners who are looking after their husbands. However, as part of the damages of these miners who can’t look after themselves it would be possible to claim an amount of money for someone to care for them when they can’t care for themselves,” Spoor states.

Enter the Women's Legal Centre, which wants to set legal precedent by changing this. “The women who take care of miners are doing unpaid care work. At the moment we are developing a strategy around what would be the best way to litigate around this, but for now we are saying that unpaid care work should be recognised in the context of damages claims, but also in government planning and budgeting,” says Jennifer Williams, the director of the non-profit legal centre.

“There needs to be recognition that women contribute towards the economy in that they are working for free, which means that there is a saving,” she says. Williams believes that this saving should be given a monetary value and that women should receive compensation for this work. “In other words, where you had to hire a nurse to look after the sick person, you would have the wife or daughter doing this for free,” she says.

“In terms of this class action suit, what we are proposing is that part of the damages award is a trust that is set up that acknowledges the saving that the mining companies would have by virtue of the fact that these men’s partners and daughters are going to look after them. What is important to us is that the case doesn’t just talk to the men’s losses from the silicosis, but takes into account that these men are part of a larger family unit and that in many cases it is women who are going to spend their time - but who also give up other opportunities - to take care of the miners. This ‘price’ should not be paid by the family and women, but should be a part of the award made by the court when it looks at this,” says Williams and continued:

“Women seem to be performing caregiver roles, which means that girls that have to look after family members may have to miss out on educational work or employment opportunities in addition to doing that work unpaid. The court should take that into account when they look at the damages claim because the person doing the harm is actually benefiting from the woman’s unpaid care work.”

But a recent legal case showed that government was hardly sympathetic to this view. Hawker Queen Mpinga lost her leg when a small injury became septic because of incompetence at various hospitals administrated by the Gauteng Department of Health. MEC for health Hope Papo’s view (despite the amputation being caused by negligent state doctors) was that Mpinga had daughters, and that these daughters could care for the amputee because “girls are generally much better than boys at cleaning and cooking”.

Mpinga filed a R1.6 million claim for damages from Papo for medical negligence, after a state doctor failed to stitch a wound on Mpinga’s leg closed, causing it to become infected. Mpinga was given the go-ahead from the Johannesburg High Court to sue Papo for a prosthesis, loss of income and domestic help.

“Our feeling is that unpaid help and care contributes to the feminisation of poverty. Women are increasingly becoming the poor in the majority, as well as the poorest of the poor. As a result poverty is not gender neutral. By not recognising the unpaid care work, the unpaid care workers don’t get the opportunity to improve their circumstances and by not valuing the roles of women you are only further disempowering them,” says Williams, who believes that if the role and value of women care workers were considered during policy formation and planning, proper resources for women would be allocated and that women’s economic status in this country could be improved.

The legal work is just one aspect of this pioneering effort which seeks to impact political discourse and policy formation as well. “Women’s unpaid work is completely invisible in South Africa,” says women’s rights activist, Samantha Hargreaves.

“My hope is that we can draw this question of unpaid women’s work into rural women’s movements and peasant movements of women, and into women’s movements generally. It is an issue that has been terribly neglected, even in the eighties when the feminist movement started examining this question. In South Africa it hasn’t been put on the agenda, while globally it has completely dropped off,” says Hargreaves.

“We’re currently looking for funding to determine a strategy about how we take this case forward, and our thinking is that we should look at a separate legal claim that follows the silicosis class action suit, so that part of what this work does is to raise awareness of the issue of unpaid women’s work,” she adds.

“This is extremely significant because this issue isn’t on the political agenda, and if we can set a precedent around this - and if we are very clever about how we think about compensation - we could force policy and legal change in the mining sector,” says Hargreaves.

The legal and policy change would mean that mining companies would be forced to consider the unpaid labour needs of women who support miners. “Potentially the impact is quite radical because it could mean that corporations need to now start looking at subsidising or providing support for health services or for paid care givers,” she adds.

The women who have cared for ailing miners debilitated by silicosis have been mostly invisible to South Africa and the world. Hopefully the pioneering work done by Williams, Hargreaves and their teams will help them walk out of shadows.

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Amcu, CCMA hearing expected to resume

SABC News, 20 May 2013

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) hearing involving the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and Lonmin platinum mine management is expected to continue on Monday in Pretoria.

 

Amcu is demanding recognition as the majority union at Lonmin in North West. They also demand that rival union, the National Union of Mineworkers (Num), should vacate offices at the mine. There has been unrest at the platinum mine. In one instance AMCU regional organiser Mawethu Stevens was gunned down.

 

Stevens was due to testify at the Ian Farlam Marikana Commission held to determine why 34 miners lost their lives in August last year. AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa said on Friday that they have tabled their demand to which mine management tabled a counter offer. The hearing was adjourned on Friday as the union had funeral arrangements to attend to.

 

Meanwhile, on Sunday Mathunjwa denied that his union invited any political parties to the funeral of murdered Stevens, held at Mthatha in the Eastern Cape on Sunday. United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader, Bantu Holomisa, was among those attending. The yellow t-shirts of his party among the mourners raised some eyebrows.

 

The UDM is largely based in the Eastern Cape. Mathunjwa has reiterated his union's stance that it does not align itself with any political party.

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2.    South Africa

Son with Mbuli during collapse

Mogomotsi Selebi, Sowetan, 20 May 2013

 

TELEVISION presenter Vuyo Mbuli's 13-year-old son watched as his father collapsed while they were at a rugby match in Bloemfontein at the weekend.

Quick-thinking spectators took his son, Sithenkosi, away from the scene but, according to Mbuli family spokeswoman Rowena Baird, he had already seen enough to traumatise him.

Mbuli, who co-anchored Morning Live on SABC2 with Leanne Manas, died on Saturday night in Bloemfontein following a rugby match at the Free State Stadium between the Cheetahs and the Reds.

The 46-year-old father of two had gone with his son and a friend to watch the rugby match.

Paramedics rushed to his aid and he was transferred to Mediclinic Bloemfontein, where he later died.

At the hospital yesterday, Sowetan was referred to Baird who confirmed that the charismatic presenter, who also worked for SAfm, had passed away.

"Yes indeed he was rushed to the Bloemfontein Mediclinic," Baird said.

"If I am not mistaken, he arrived after 9pm and passed away at 9.50pm."

She said that as soon as the paramedics arrived at the stadium, they had desperately tried to save Mbuli's life.

"From the stadium, the medics had been trying to resuscitate him until they arrived at the hospital," she said.

Asked if Mbuli was still alive when he had arrived at the hospital, Baird said: "That's correct."

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago confirmed this, saying: "Mbuli was treated on the scene and taken to the Bloemfontein Mediclinic where he later died."

Baird said funeral arrangements had not yet been made.

"It is still early, we haven't made arrangements yet because we are still trying to find our feet."

Mbuli, known for his trademark "Sharp Sharp" at the end of Morning Live, leaves behind his two children, Sithenkosi and 15-year-old daughter Siphosihle, and his estranged wife Savita.

"The family was very devastated," Baird said.

Baird said the family was waiting for a postmortem to determine the cause of death.

Tributes poured in for Mbuli from shocked colleagues who were saddened by his sudden death.

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Vuyo Mbuli leaves legacy: Mokhobo

Sapa, Sowetn, 20 May 2013

 

SABC radio and television presenter Vuyo Mbuli has left a legacy for the country's youth, the public broadcaster's CEO Lulama Mokhobo said.

 He was somebody who was so dedicated and professional. It didn't matter what it was, if Vuyo had to do it, he did it with absolutely the best of his ability 

"He leaves a tremendous legacy and I think for the young people that have watched him and followed him..., this is a time for them to say 'I potentially could be the next Vuyo'..., somebody who is completely fearless," Mokhobo said in a Morning Live interview with Leanne Manas.

"He was somebody who was so dedicated and professional. It didn't matter what it was, if Vuyo had to do it, he did it with absolutely the best of his ability," Mokhobo said.

Manas broke down and cried on camera at the start of the programme on Monday.

The SABC reported that Mbuli, 46, collapsed while watching a rugby match between the Cheetahs and the Reds at the Free State Stadium on Saturday night.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to the Bloemfontein Mediclinic, where he later died.

Mokhobo said a memorial service would be held at the SABC on Wednesday, and that the Mbuli family had informed the broadcaster that his funeral would be held on Friday.

Details of the two events would be released later in the week.

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Mbuli will be missed by all

Steven Tau, Citizen, 20 May 2013

‘The SABC will always be grateful of the ever-joking Mbuli who came up with the catch phrase ‘Sharp Sharp’. – SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago

VUYO Mbuli was very naughty and yet a consummate professional.

This is according to SABC’s Morning Live presenter Leanne Manas, who was reacting to the death of Mbuli (46) at the weekend.

Mbuli collapsed while  watching a rugby match between the Cheetahs and the Australian Reds on Saturday night. He was rushed to the Mediclinic hospital in Bloemfontein where he later died.

Reliving the memories she has of the veteran TV and radio broadcaster, Manas said he (Mbuli) made her feel at home when she first arrived at the public broadcaster.

“I’m devastated ... I’m not sure how am I going to do it without him. 

“I will miss him so much and will always remember his amazing sense of humour,” Mannas told The Citizen.

Mbuli’s last tweet read: “8 mins gone in 2nd half. 21-6 Cheetahs lead.”

More tributes from all walks of life continued to pour in for Mbuli   who was on Morning Live since its inception in 1999 until the time of his death.

President Jacob Zuma said it’s hard to think of a more patriotic and positive person than Mbuli.

“He was always cheerful and the whole nation will miss his smile and encouraging words,” said Zuma.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu described Mbuli as a constantly reassuring presence on our TV screens.

“With gentle and genteel style, perfectly suited to morning television and radio, his was for many people the first and most trusted analysis of the daily news,” Tutu said in a statement.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago described Mbuli as someone who always remained dedicated to serving the country.

“The SABC will always be grateful for the ever-joking Mbuli who came up with the catch phrase ‘Sharp Sharp’,” he said.

Sports and Recreation minister Fikile Mbalula said Mbuli was a giant of broadcasting, and a true sportsman who ran his race.

Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesman Mmusi Maimane said Mbuli was always fair and a pleasure to work with.The ANC said Mbuli’s death was a loss to the broadcasting community, particularly to the SABC and the country at large. 

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said professionalism best described Mbuli.

Other messages on twitter read: “Mbuli was a versatile broadcaster.”  – SAfm station manager Dennis O’Donnell.

“To the children, family and friends of Vuyo, my deepest condolences. such a sad loss” – Peter Ndoro (Vuyo’s colleague).

“I’m shocked and devastated and shocked by the death of Vuyo Mbuli. I believe journalism and SA is waking up poorer today.” – Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi.

Mbuli’s biography:

Mbuli was a teacher before pursuing a career in journalism.

His TV career began in 1993 as a continuity presenter on SABC 3.

He started his radio career in 1995 on SAfm. Vuyo also worked for Talk Radio 702 as a reporter

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Mandela daughters sue father

Sapa, The New Age, 20 May 2013

Nelson Mandela's daughters are suing him for the rights to his artworks and control of his millions, The Star reported on Monday.

According to the newspaper, Zenani and Makaziwe Mandela intend fighting an April 2004 Johannesburg High Court order which gave Mandela the right to instruct Ismail Ayob, his then lawyer, to stop managing his financial, personal and legal affairs.

The court order barred Ayob from selling any of Mandela's artworks.

The Star reported that Mandela's current lawyer, Bally Chuene, filed an affidavit last week in response to a lawsuit brought by the sisters, who are represented by Ayob.

Last month the sisters filed papers asking for Chuene, George Bizos SC and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale to remove themselves as directors and trustees of the Mandela Trust and as directors of Harmonieux and Magnifique (Pty) Ltd with immediate effect.

In his replying affidavit, Chuene reportedly said he, Bizos and Sexwale had, in 2011, refused to release the trust's money to the daughters without a legal justification.

The Star reported that Chuene was adamant Ayob was behind the women's court action.
       
-Sapa

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­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Tariff 'will hike chicken prices'

Nompumelelo Magwaza, Business Report, 20 May 2013

Increasing customs duties on imported chicken would result in chicken prices rising by between 30 percent and 50 percent, Association of Meat Importers and Exporters chief executive David Wolpert warned on Friday.

This view was supported by Pick n Pay, which said any significant increase in the tariff would have a direct and serious impact on the price of chicken.

Wolpert was responding to complaints by poultry producers that their margins were being hurt by a rise in imports and high feed input costs.

Wolpert believes the sector is blaming imports for its own poor operational performance.

Pick n Pay director of food merchandise Peter Arnold said that although the retailer sourced the large majority of its poultry from local producers, the industry was unable to fully satisfy demand.

“The total quantity of imports represents approximately 12 percent of the total poultry sold in the industry,” he said.

He said any increase in import tariffs, as proposed by the SA Poultry Association, would have a serious impact on the price of chicken.

“Chicken is one of the primary sources of protein and it is important to remember that poultry products include all parts of the bird,” Arnold said.

Given that the retailer was concerned with food security at all levels, as well as providing its customers with the best possible prices, he said: “We are opposed to this tariff increase.”

However SA Poultry Association chief executive Kevin Lovell has said the influx of chicken imports was causing a “crisis” that might result in job losses if it was not curtailed.

The association has called for import duties be raised from 27 percent to 82 percent.

Lovell told Business Report on Friday that the association wanted the government to balance the volume of imports and local poultry products.

He said the industry believed the price of chicken for consumers would only increase by 10 percent to 15 percent if the tariff was increased as chicken was the most popular animal protein and retailers would not increase the price by more.

But Wolpert maintained that should the government approve such a tariff increase, the costs would be passed directly to the consumers.

When Shoprite was asked if higher import tariffs would affect chicken prices, it said it sourced all its chicken from local poultry producers and would refrain from speculation about chicken prices. Massmart refused to comment.

Two of the largest fast food chains, KFC and Famous Brands, said they also only used locally produced chicken.

Woolworths said more than 90 percent of its chicken was sourced locally. However, the retailer did use a small amount of imported chicken for certain recipes. “We are currently assessing the impact of the tariffs,” it said.

Recent interim and year-end results by major chicken producers Rainbow Chicken, Astral Foods, Sovereign Foods and Afgri showed that margins remained flat or declined.

Rainbow described the six months to December last year as the “toughest in its history”.

Afgri also did not hide the fact that it was continuously monitoring the valuation of the poultry business unit due to the distressed industry.

Astral Foods chief executive Chris Schutte said the company’s inability to recover the high input costs was caused by higher stock levels in the poultry industry as a result or record poultry imports from Brazil and Europe.

Astral said its interim results to March, published last week, were the worst in the company’s history.

Wolpert disagreed with the blame being placed on imports, saying the poultry companies’ recent financial reports showed numerous problems with their operating models which, if not addressed, “will necessitate large price increases”.

He said his association was sympathetic to some of the problems faced by the industry, such as high input costs.

“We keep on hearing about these imports but chicken imports have increased by about 32 percent over seven years, an average of 4.5 percent a year,” he said.

Wolpert said without the imports the local industry would not be able to satisfy demand.

Lovell had previously told Business Report that the industry was gearing up to supply the local market and would need to ramp up production if import volumes declined.

“We have the capacity to do this,” he said.

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South Africa could run out of water: Molewa

Sapa , Times Live, 20 May 2013

 

There could be a shortage of clean water if South Africans do not work to conserve it, Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said.

"If we continue with this trend of using water as if it is an infinite resource, we may find ourselves in some form of trouble," she said at a New Age breakfast briefing.

"There have been many predictions and pronouncements in the past... that say South Africa will run out of [clean] water."

She said this was a possibility if South Africans did not help to prevent it.

"We are, however, confident... because our water strategy and our plans for the future are all geared towards sustainability and security of supply," Molewa said.

"We are not sitting back and we want to rely on you as South Africans to work hard. Everyone of us must contribute to ensure this statement that is always made is not a reality."

She said her department was dealing successfully with the problem of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Witwatersrand area.

"The cynics have previously told us that Johannesburg will drown in a sea of mine water and that government is folding its arms while the future of the people of Gauteng hangs in the balance," Molewa said.

She said the department had successfully stopped the "uncontrolled decant" of AMD in the western basin.

"We are currently busy with the second phase of upgrading the Rand Uranium plant which will further increase the capacity to treat AMD in that basin," Molewa said.

"We don't need to panic. We are on top of the issue."

AMD is the flow, or seepage, of polluted water from old mining areas.

Depending on the area, the water often contains toxic heavy metals and radioactive particles, or is acidic. Contact with it can affect the health of humans, animals and plants.

Molewa said infrastructure development remained vital part of the government's plan.

"As Water Affairs, we have conducted a study from which a wide infrastructure plan has been developed," she said.

"According to this plan we will need about R671 billion over the next 10 years."

She called on the private sector to invest in the plan.

"The plan identifies a number of gaps with regard to the ageing infrastructure that we have to fix, the operation and maintenance and the issue of the lack of skills at our municipalities."

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Economic week ahead: A great deal of talk

Matt Quigley, M&G, 20 May 2013

·          

·          

Stock markets, which have been pushing to record levels as central banks flooded the world with cash, stumbled last week.

Over the coming days, global markets will take their cues from speeches by the heads of the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan along with a series of closely followed data releases. Here is your guide to the week ahead.

United States
America's central bank will feature prominently in this week's economic news. Federal Reserve chairperson Ben Bernanke will testify about the central bank's outlook for the world's biggest economy to Congress on Wednesday. Minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting will be released the same day.

Markets will pay close attention to both events. The big question on everyone's mind is when the Fed will begin to reduce its latest quantitative easing programme, an $85-billion per month bond buying initiative.

Beyond the Fed, investors will be paying close attention to a series of housing-related data releases this week. The National Association of Realtors will release last month's existing home sales data on Wednesday. April's new home sales figures will follow from the government on Thursday.

Economists expect existing home sales to have risen to a seasonally adjusted annualised rate of 5-million units in April from 4.92-million in March. New home sales likely rose to 425 000 from 417 000 over the same period.

Home improvement retailers Home Depot and Lowe's will also report earnings this week, offering additional insight into housing-related demand. Analysts surveyed by Reuters expect Home Depot to report an 18% increase in earnings per share (EPS) and a 5% rise in revenue on Tuesday. Lowe's is forecast to report 15% growth in EPS and a 2.0% rise in revenue on Wednesday.

America's data week will close with April's durable goods orders report on Friday. Consensus is for a 1.1% monthly increase, 0.4% excluding transportation.

Europe
Euro zone data released last week was terrible, adding to speculation that the European Central Bank (ECB) will lower rates or otherwise act to stimulate the continent's moribund economy during the second quarter. More disappointing data is expected this week.

On Thursday, flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) readings for Germany, France and the euro zone are expected to show that the continent's two largest economies and 17-member common currency zone will continue to lose ground as 2013 rolls on.

Germany's services PMI is expected to edge up to the 50.0-mark separating expansion from contraction from 49.6 in April. Europe's largest economy's manufacturing PMI is also expected to rise, from 48.1 to 48.5.

France's services' PMI is forecast to remain largely unchanged at 44.5, an abysmal reading.The manufacturing PMI for Europe's number two economy is expected to fall slightly, from 44.4 in April to an even worse 44.0 in May.

The euro zone's flash manufacturing PMI is predicted to rise slightly, to 47. The region's services PMI is also expected to climb, to 47.2. The region's composite PMI – below the 50-mark for more than a year – will undoubtedly remain so in May. Economists expect the index to rise to 47.2 from 46.7 in April.

Beyond these data points, markets will be paying close attention to a speech by the ECB's Mario Draghi in London on Thursday. The last time Draghi spoke in London, in July, he pledged to do "whatever it takes" to protect the euro zone from collapse.

Asia 
All eyes will turn to the Bank of Japan's governor, Haruhiko Kuroda, at the conclusion of the bank's policy meeting on Wednesday. Since assuming office in March, Kuroda and his colleagues have pursued aggressive policies aimed at winning the country's decades-long battle with deflation and igniting growth in the world's third largest economy.

The question on everyone's mind is whether or not he will announce further policy easing this week. Most economists expect the bank to leave its benchmark rate on hold at a record low 0.1% but, despite a recent increase in bond yields, to step-up its bond purchases.

Elsewhere in the region, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will release the minutes of its most recent meeting on Tuesday. Policymakers surprised many economists earlier this month by cutting the bank's overnight cash rate target by 25-basis points to 2.75%, a record low. This month's rate cut was the seventh in the past 19-months.

Australia's current account has been in deficit since 1975. As a result, policymakers at the RBA have historically kept rates at higher levels than other developed economies in order to attract overseas capital.

Money markets expect officials to keep rates on hold at their next meeting, but cut rates at least once more in the third quarter. According to an analysis of rate futures by Bloomberg, contracts show a 68% chance that officials will keep rates on hold in June, but indicate that the benchmark rate will fall to 2.5% or lower by September.

Africa 
Wednesday's release of consumer inflation data is the big item on South Africa's economic calendar this week. Consensus is that the consumer price index (CPI) in Africa's largest economy eased to 0.2% month on month growth in April from 1.2% in March.

On an annual basis, inflation probably slowed to 5.7% last month from 5.9% in March. However, current weakness in the rand – driven principally by fears over labour unrest in the mining sector – will add to price pressures moving forward.

Policymakers at Nigeria's central bank will announce their rates decision on Tuesday. Their colleagues in Ghana will follow with their latest monetary policy announcement on Wednesday.

Despite statistics released last week by Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics showing that real GDP growth slowed in the first quarter of 2013 relative to the previous quarter and that consumer inflation increased in April, most economists expect Nigeria's monetary policy committee to leave the bank's 12.0% benchmark interest rate unchanged.

Inflation will be forefront in the mind of Ghana's central bankers as well. Ghana's CPI inflation has increased sharply since February, driven primarily by an upsurge in fuel prices and depreciation in the local currency. Despite rising price pressures, most analysts believe that officials will not change the country's 15.0% benchmark rate this month.

Elsewhere on the continent this week, Morocco will release April's CPI figures. Ghana is expected to release producer price inflation readings. Nigeria will report overseas remittances, private sector credit growth and money supply data.

Matt Quigley writes the Mail & Guardian's weekly economic preview. 

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'Gap' for HIV vaccine efforts after latest setback

The New Age, 20 May 2013

The hunt for an HIV vaccine has gobbled up $8 billion in the past decade, and the failure of the most recent efficacy trial has delivered yet another setback to 26 years of efforts.
               
With the next attempts expected to be years away, top researchers now say there is a "void" or a "gap" in current clinical trial efforts to test whether a vaccine may be safe and effective in people.
               
A kind of ongoing autopsy of the last four major bids to make an HIV vaccine has informed the field as to what does not work, with the latest casualty being a trial called HVTN 505 that was halted early because it did not prevent HIV.
               
"It leaves us with a gap in several years before we have another HIV vaccine efficacy trial under way, and that is unfortunate," said James Kublin, executive director of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network.
               
Another concern for researchers is that two vaccine trials, HVTN 505 and a previous trial known as STEP that ended unsuccessfully in 2007, both revealed apparent increases in the number of vaccinated patients who got HIV.
               
HVTN 505 showed 41 cases of HIV were acquired in the vaccine group, compared to 31 in the placebo group. Among some 2,500 participants, the difference was not statistically significant, and so researchers found that no harm was caused by the trial.
               
"But the number is in the wrong direction," said trial leader Scott Hammer, who described the trial's outcome as a "disappointment."                

Researchers are still investigating why this may have happened, but some theorize the cold virus known as Ad5 that served as a vector to deliver the vaccine may have somehow caused more infections by making it easier for HIV to penetrate the body.

"You scratch your head," said Hammer, a professor of medicine at Columbia University, adding that Ad5 may now be considered too risky and other options are being investigated.
               
"No one is going to want to a do a major trial with this sort of vector in the future," he told AFP.
               
The key puzzle in the vaccine search has been the nature of the human immunodeficiency virus itself, which has managed to fool modern medicine by changing its genetic makeup so often that a single weapon cannot silence it.
               
"The virus is a very elusive foe," said Wayne Koff, chief scientific officer at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
               
"It is more variable than almost any other virus that a vaccine has been attempted for. So if one wants to make antibodies against a virus that is variable, one has to have a broadly reactive antibody," he told AFP.
               
A small number of HIV-positive people have been found to produce antibodies that can neutralize a broad range of HIV variants, but scientists have not yet figured out how to make a vaccine from that information.
               
"Lots of people are working on that very hard. I would have thought we would have that immunogen to test in phase I trials by now, but hopefully soon," said Hammer, a leading HIV researcher.
               
About 34 million people are infected with HIV worldwide, and AIDS has killed 30 million people since the epidemic began 30 years ago.
               
The vaccine field has fallen short of expectations since 1984, when Margaret Heckler, who was then US secretary of Health and Human Services, declared a vaccine would be ready for testing in about two years' time.
               
The first phase I trial of a vaccine began in 1987 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and included 138 healthy volunteers. The first large-scale trials did not begin until the late 1990s.
               
The sole success story to date has been a trial in Thailand known as RV144, which in 2009 saw a modest, 31 percent rate of protection, still far below the 50 percent threshold needed in order to license a vaccine.

Researchers are continuing to study the results for clues as to why it worked in some cases but not others, and why it appears the protective effects may have waned over time.
               
A similar vaccine modelled for South Africans is expected to enter human trials in the next couple of years. Other approaches for increasing T-cell immunity are also on the horizon.

"I am an optimist. I think we are at least halfway there, hopefully further," said Hammer. "The world needs an HIV vaccine." - AFP

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‘Reitz Four’ victims left in the cold

Thabiso Thakali, Business Report, 19 May 2013

The five victims show their joy after appearing back in court to hear the final judgment and how monetary compensation was to be paid to them. Picture: Antoine de Ras

An agreement that saw cleaners at the University of the Free State reconcile with their tormentors after the infamous racist Reitz video five years ago was left hanging by a thread this week.

This followed a fallout between the five former cleaners and the university over its failure to fulfil some of its promises made to them more than two years ago.

The agreement preceded a reconciliation ceremony between the “Reitz Four” students and the workers they humiliated in a videotaped initiation-type ceremony in protest against integration at the university.

The controversial video showed the five black cleaners - Mothibedi Molete, Mankoe Naomi Phororo, Emmah Koko, Nkgapeng Adams and Sebuasengwe Mittah Ntlatseng - on their hands and knees eating food that had apparently been urinated into by one of the white students.

At his inauguration in 2009, Professor Jonathan Jansen said the university had pardoned four former Reitz students, Danie Grobler, Johnny Roberts, Schalk van der Merwe and Roelof Malherbe, who filmed the video in 2007.

This was followed by a reconciliation in June 2011 headlined by American media icon Oprah Winfrey who described the process as “nothing short of a miracle”.

But the process meant to deal with the university’s troubled history has been jolted by a series of setbacks recently.

The Sunday Independent understands that the five former cleaning staff had been left frustrated and angry by the university after it failed to provide them with among others a key undertaking on job security as part of the deal.

Their deed of settlement committed the university to help them establish a cleaning company with funds, training and a five-year tender at the institution.

This was meant to ensure the five did not return to the university as cleaners to suffer more humiliation.

But despite their company being registered and established, the training scheduled to start in January and end in December last year did not take off.

Other promises yet to be fulfilled include the establishment of a centre for human rights at the university as part of remedial measures to eradicate the culture of racism and gender intolerance.

Koko told The Sunday Independent this week that “there was a lot of frustration and anger among us after this long time we spent doing nothing at home”.

She said they had hoped that by now they would be running a profitable business that could not only sustain itself but help them support their families.

“Even now I still think I will raise my hopes when I see things we were promised being delivered to us or at least when there is some action. When all this is done we will call the media to come see how we have turned our lives but we cannot do it now while there is nothing.”

The workers confirmed that a meeting was held this week between them and the university to recommit to the implementation of the outstanding terms of the deed of settlement.

The parties put the blame for the delay in the workers’ company taking off on “a misunderstanding between the university and a service provider contracted to train the workers on how to run a cleaning business”.

“The university has recommitted to continuing with the original agreement to help the workers set up their own company and as we speak now things are back to normal,” said the workers’ legal representative, Mothusi Lepheana. “Generally the workers’ lives have changed for the better but it would have been even better had things happened as agreed in the beginning.”

UFS spokeswoman Lacea Loader had not responded to questions at the time of going to print. - Sunday Independent

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Guptagate report: Many questions, few answers

Greg Nicolson, Daily Maverick, 20 May 2013

 

Early in May, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster promised an investigation into the scandal around the Gupta wedding guests arriving in a private plane at Waterkloof Air Force Base. The cluster delivered in time and indicated that prosecutions would result. According to the justice minister, there’s a problem with “name-dropping”, a rogue worker at the Indian High Commission and middle-level government officials. The Guptas, president, and ministers, however, seem to have been cleared of wrongdoing. Anyone surprised? Anyone? By GREG NICOLSON.

Reading from an autocue, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe listed a number of laws that were broken and cases referred to police. They related mainly to the security detail that accompanied guests to Sun City for the Gupta wedding. The state deployed 194 people and 88 vehicles “in the interest of the safety of all road users” to escort the wedding party to Sun City.

“However, due to the lack of vigilance of the SAPS members deployed for escort duty, who did not identify the drivers [of hired cars] as non-SAPS members, they placed the reliance on those drivers. This made it possible for the cars fitted with illegal blue lights to push people off the road, cause delays and inconvenience other road users,” Radebe told media. The convoy of vehicles included three cars with false registrations and moonlighting Metro Police carrying firearms outside of their jurisdiction.

Radebe was reporting back on the investigation conducted by a team of directors-general into the landing of Flight JAI 9900 carrying guests to the wedding of Vega Gupta and Aakash Jahajgarhia.

Crimes reported to the SAPS include inducing the police to perform acts in conflict with their duty, pretending to be a police officer, use of false registration, breaches of the Firearms Control Act, and conducting security services against the regulating act. Radebe, who was the main speaker at the press conference attended by International Affairs and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, wouldn’t say whether the Gupta family is being investigated for any criminal offences.

The justice minister mentioned transgressions of the Companies Act related to providing misleading information for fraudulent purposes and common law crimes relating to “fraud, falsely pretending or misrepresenting the existence of a company” but none of the listed cases referred to the police include those crimes. Sunday’s briefing suggests officials, security members and police involved in escorting the Gupta guests will be charged for relatively minor discretions, while those paying them may get off the hook.

Radebe provided no details of who was responsible, however, telling journalists to wait for the release of the investigation this week. The question remains: What motive did those who undermined the rule of government and the law have for their actions? He said neither the executive nor the relevant ministers were found to have been involved in approving the Waterkloof landing or the subsequent improper security detail.

The landing of the flight at Waterkloof “could have caused severe reputational damage to the state itself”, said Radebe. “The activities of some of the persons involved were driven by the undesirable practice of the exercise of undue influence, and abuse of higher office,” he added, essentially admitting that the Guptas are capable of getting officials to circumvent the law.

“It posed a threat to the culture of professionalism that ought to characterise a caring and professional public service rooted in the Batho Pele principle. It undermines the quest to build a capable state and the requirement that it be served by professional public servants with foresight to understand the implications of their conduct for the reputation of the state.”

The “manipulation of processes” was not only caused by rogue government officials but an individual in the Indian High Commission, said Radebe. The investigation confirmed that after the defence minister rejected the Gupta family’s requests to help with the landing they approached the Indian High Commission, which then designated the guests as a diplomatic delegation. The Mail & Guardian has reported that the Free State government gave the Gupta guests a diplomatic alibi. No note verbale was issued from the Indian High Commission, which is due process for diplomatic guests, and the individual employee communicated directly with individuals directly in the Air Force Command Post to approve the flight clearance.

Radebe fingered Department of International Relations chief of state protocol Vusi Koloane, suspended for his role in the matter, and the officer commanding movement control at Waterkloof, Lieutenant C. Anderson, for working with the Indian official. He said they were working as “various persons who shared a common purpose” but he didn’t describe what that purpose was. No motive has been given for why the middle-ranking officials would go against protocol to benefit the Guptas.

Responding on Sunday, the South African National Defence Union’s Pikkie Greef said the report defended the Gupta family while the names of others, including union members’ names, were “brazenly thrown about”.

Ministers said the details of the allegations would be provided in the report. But according to Radebe, the whole issue might be as simple as name-dropping. The investigation recommends government launch a campaign against name-dropping and include name-dropping as an act of gross misconduct for government employees. He didn’t elaborate but said someone trying to subvert proper protocol had mentioned the names of the president, defence minister and transport minister to achieve their goals.

One of the more bizarre comments included in the press release on the investigation was that the Waterkloof Air Force Base is not a national key point and instead has more stringent security measures under other legislation.

The press conference was another show of force from the government, with multiple ministers present, including some not in the investigating cluster, such as Naledi Pandor and Pravin Gordhan. But more questions were raised than answered as it remains unclear why these officials decided to circumvent protocol, whether the Guptas will face any censure for undermining the state, and how the ministers and the president can escape accountability for the scandal when it is obvious that the ANC’s relationship with the Gupta family allowed the plane to land at Waterkloof – whether ministers gave direct orders or officials believed that they had the government in their pocket.

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FIVE MINUTES: South Africa

Daily Maverick Staff Reporter, 20 May 2013

 

A round-up of the day’s news from South Africa.

WEDDING JET LANDING MADE UNDER COVER OF ‘DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGE’

The landing of the jet at Waterkloof Air Force Base carrying wedding guests to a Gupta family wedding was the result of manipulation of processes and collusion, says justice minister Jeff Radebe. Addressing a media briefing on a preliminary report into the scandal, Radebe said the “breach in this instance was a consequence of manipulation by the responsible persons, who contemptuously manipulated the system to advance the wedding objectives at all costs”. Two previous requests to the defence and transport ministers respectively had been turned down. Radebe said the Guptas then turned to diplomatic channels, with an “individual” in the Indian High Commission who “re-designated the wedding entourage as an official delegation to enable them to use the Waterkloof Air Force Base under the cover of diplomatic privilege”.

THE NAME GAME BEHIND GUPTAGATE

Justice minister Jeff Radebe says “names were dropped” in the process of clearing the landing of a chartered jet ferrying guests to a Gupta family wedding at Waterkloof Air Force Base. Speaking at a media briefing on a report into the ‘Guptagate’ affair, Radebe said, "No minister, nor the president, was involved in the landing of this plane. The president does not sanction the landing of planes”. But Radebe told journalists, "It was not a name that was dropped, but names. The defence minister's name [Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula], the transport minister's name [Ben Martins] and the president's name were all used”. State protocol chief Bruce Koloane and the officer commanding movement control at the Waterkloof base, Lieutenant-Colonel Christine Anderson as well as Waterkloof base commanding officer Brigadier-General Sam Madumane are among the senior government officials already put on compulsory leave.

SHARP SHARP. SOUTH AFRICA MOURNS DEATH OF VUYO MBULI

South Africans have reacted with shock and sadness to the news that veteran SABC television and radio presenter Vuyo Mbuli had died. Mbuli, the anchor of Morning Live, collapsed at a rugby match between the Cheetahs and the Reds in Bloemfontein. He later died in hospital. President Jacob Zuma said the whole nation would miss his smile and encouraging words. "It is hard to think of a more patriotic and positive person than Vuyo,” Zuma said. DA spokesman Mmusi Maimane said he was “incredibly sad” at the news, saying Mbuli “personified what it meant to be a warm, engaging and tolerant South African”. ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said,  "In this, the last time, his signature sign off - Sharp Sharp - came too soon and he will be sadly missed”.

JUSTICE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE WANTS MADONSELA TO EXPLAIN HERSELF

Members of parliament sitting in the portfolio committee on justice will write to pubic protector Thuli Madonsela this week to ask her to explain comments she made in a story in The Times. In the report, Madonsela spoke of the “underhanded manner” in which her staff had been manipulated for political gain. She said “people” were being “unreasonable, indifferent to human suffering" because they were more concerned with protecting the image of a political party or friends. City Press reported that DA MP Dene Smuts said the committee was “unanimous” that Madonsela should clarify what she’d said. Chairperson Llewellyn Landers said he would be writing to Madonsela on Monday.

NUM LOOKING FOR LARGE WAGE HIKES IN GOLD, COAL SECTORS

The National Union of Mineworkers is looking for wage hikes of up to 60% from South Africa’s gold and coal producers at upcoming pay negotiations, expected to take place under tough conditions. The NUM said it wanted an entry-level minimum monthly wage of R7,000 for surface workers and R8,000 for those underground in a submission to the country's Chamber of Mines, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. Elize Strydom, the industrial relations adviser at the Chamber of Mines, said the minimum wage for surface workers is currently R4,700 and for underground miners it is R5,000. The mining union said it wanted 15% hikes for "all other wage categories", which would refer to more experienced and skilled workers.

SA WOMAN ARRESTED IN MUMBAI FOR BIG DRUGS HAUL

A South African woman has been arrested at Mumbai Airport in India for carrying 26 kilograms of drugs. The woman, identified as Sity Lentin, was about to board an Ethiopian Airways plane to South Africa, the SABC reported. After a tip off, customs officials searched her luggage, finding a false pocket concealing cocaine, methamphetamine (tik) and ketamine. Indian media reports said the bust was one of the biggest in the country in recent times. The SABC said Lentin was believed to work for an event management company, which has operations in India, Canada and Singapore.  The Indo Asian News Service reported that investigations had shown Lentin to be a regular visitor to Mumbai and officials suspected that she could be a regular drug courier.

LIMPOPO POLICE MAKE R18 MILLION COCAINE BUST

Limpopo police have arrested a man at Beit Bridge border post for trying to smuggle R18 million worth of cocaine over the border. Spokeswoman Captain Ronel Otto said the drugs were discovered during a “routine search” of the traveller’s bags. Otto said in a statement police had found “exceptionally heavy” rollers with yarn inside the man's bag. A police sniffer dog was called in, and “reacted positively”. The yarn was removed from the rollers and plastic bags containing the cocaine were then removed. Otto said more cocaine was found in a false compartment inside the man’s bag. He will appear in the Musina magistrate’s court on charges of smuggling and drug possession.

ANC TO CHARGE ATUL GUPTA FOR MISCONDUCT

The ANC branch to which Atul Gupta belongs has brought disciplinary charges against him for misconduct and for embarrassing the ANC. This follows the national outcry over the landing of a private jet, hired by the Guptas to ferry guests to a wedding in South Africa, landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base. Branch secretary Tebogo Khaas of Ward 117 in Johannesburg, said the branch executive would go ahead with charges. Khaas said in a letter to branch chairperson and businessman Sipho Sithole that Gupta has “intentionally, or through wilful negligence encouraged others to use his association and close proximity to the senior leadership of the ANC” to effect the landing, which was irregular.

KARABUS CONSIDERS ACTION AGAINST EMIRATES AIRLINES

Professor Cyril Karabus is considering taking action against Emirates Airlines, the company with whom he was flying when he was detained in Dubai. Karabus, speaking from Cape Town a day after his return to South Africa after nine months in Abu Dhabi, told the Sunday Argus the airline knew there was a problem before Karabus and his wife left Canada. He said the airline had told him there was a problem with his visa, but that they would check with management. “But they came back and said everything was fine,” he told the newspaper. Karabus was arrested as soon as the plane landed in Dubai on its 10-hour stopover. He was told he was a “murderer” and taken way. He was accused in the death of a young patient 10 years ago but to this day, still has no idea who laid the charge against him. 

_______________

3.    Alliance

ANC disciplinary action for Gupta

Shain Germaner , EWN, 17 May 2013

JOHANNESBURG - Businessman Atul Gupta is in hot water with the African National Congress (ANC) after it agreed to institute disciplinary proceedings against him.

The branch in charge of the Saxonwold Ward accepted the request and it could mean the expulsion of Gupta from the party if disciplinary action does not go his way.

The request was lodged by branch secretary Tebogo Khaas, allegedly over the scandal at the Waterkloof Air Force base.

Eyewitness News revealed on 30 April that a privately chartered plane carrying almost 200 guests for a Gupta wedding had landed at the military air base without following proper procedures.

It’s understood Khaas believes the act has brought the ruling party into disrepute and Gupta should be expelled.

A branch disciplinary committee made up of senior party members has already been set up to examine the application.

Khaas was unwilling to speak on the application.

The Gupta family spokesman, Gary Naidoo, was also unavailable for comment. 

_________

The Times Editorial: ANC needs to save itself from the Gupta buffoonery

The Times Editorial ,20 May 2013

 

The Times Editorial: Although the government failed to meet its self-imposed deadline to share the Guptagate report with the public, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe made encouraging noises yesterday.

The Gupta plane fiasco is now in the hands of the National Prosecuting Authority and we will know shortly who will be prosecuted for the irregular landing of 270 wedding guests at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria last month.

The Guptagate scandal could not have come at a worse time for President Jacob Zuma and the ruling ANC government as the 2014 national elections approach.

South Africans expect Zuma to show all and sundry that there is a limit to what money and political influence can get you.

If all that happens to the civil servants, Air Force personnel and metro policemen who escorted the Indian wedding guests to Sun City is a slap on the wrist, millions of South Africans will remember the incident as they make their crosses in April next year.

The Guptagate buffoonery should not be allowed to blot the ANC's proud record of fighting injustice and being on the side of the working class.

The three Gupta brothers, Ajay, Atul and Rajesh, should not be allowed to tarnish the unblemished record of Walter Sisulu, Solomon Mahlangu and Ruth First of fighting for a just and free society where everyone is equal despite the size of their bank balances.

If Zuma does not show leadership, ordinary members of the ruling party need to make their feelings known when polling opens next year.

The public must not allow itself to be cowed into silence. South Africans would be betraying the spirit of all those who laid down their lives if they allow the Guptagate fiasco to be swept under the carpet.

The dropping of names and the abuse of state office has in recent years benefited a few at the expense of the majority. The time has come to draw the line.

_______________________ 

4.    International

Bangladesh Factory Banned By Wal-Mart Still Makes Wrangler Shirts

 Reuters , Daily Maverick, 20 May 2013

 

A Bangladesh factory where Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Inditex SA inspectors spotted cracks in the wall this month is still making Wrangler shirts for the world's largest apparel maker, US-based VF Corp. By Serajul Quadir and Rafiqur Rahman.

VF confirmed on Saturday it was still using Liz Apparels to make its clothing following an inspection ordered by the factory owner, Nassa Group, on May 12. VF, whose other clothing brands include North Face, Timberland and Nautica, said its philosophy was to "stay and improve" working conditions.

"We are in daily contact with the facility and VF's leadership is closely monitoring the status in this facility and others in our Bangladesh supply chain," the company said in a statement to Reuters.

VF's continued relationship with Liz Apparels stands in stark contrast to the approach by some of the world's best-known retailers, who immediately severed ties with the same factory.

The differing views show how Western retailers and brands are struggling to assess safety risks at thousands of Bangladesh garment factories after the April 24 collapse of Rana Plaza in another Dhaka suburb, which killed 1,127 people.

Their task is made tougher by a lack of robust safety rules, a severe shortage of trained building inspectors and equipment needed to make proper safety assessments, and widespread concerns about corruption.

"RED LIST"

Wal-Mart told Reuters on Friday that Liz Apparels in Gazipur, near the capital Dhaka, had previously made clothing for its stores but was now on its "red" list of unapproved suppliers after a safety audit in early May found the cracks.

Wal-Mart has not published the full findings of that audit, conducted by testing and inspection company Bureau Veritas , which also included checks for fire hazards and a review of building plans. It has asked the Bangladesh government to investigate what it called "potentially dangerous conditions" in the building.

Inditex, which owns the Zara clothing chain, said it sent inspectors to the factory on Wednesday after seeing Wal-Mart's report, and they too saw wall cracks, which the company plans to report to the Bangladesh authorities.

But VF said the building was cleared for "normal operations" after the May 12 inspection. VF, headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, later said it would pay for its own inspections which had not yet been completed.

"The cracks that developed here are not really dangerous, not dangerous for the structure," said Mohammad Jasim Uddin, an executive director of the Nassa Group. He said he had studied civil engineering and was responsible for looking after structural safety of all the factories owned by the group.

The day before Rana Plaza crumbled, the building's owner dismissed concerns over cracks in the wall and insisted the structure would stand for a century. The 8-storey building had three additional floors added without proper approval. There was no indication that the building housing Liz Apparels deviated from its approved plans.

Reuters Television video taken inside Liz Apparels on Wednesday showed a vertical crack running up one wall, which appeared to have been re-plastered recently. Other cracks were visible near the ceiling. Reuters could not independently assess whether the cracks posed a structural risk, and it was not clear how they compared with those seen at Rana.

NORMAL OPERATIONS

Liz Apparels, which is not currently making clothes for Wal-Mart or Inditex, is one of 34 factories owned by Nassa Group, a major player in Bangladesh's fragmented $20 billion garment industry with annual sales volume of $270 million.

Inside the factory on Wednesday, rows of workers stitched denim-coloured fabric into long-sleeved shirts, adding Wrangler labels and price tags. Nassa has about 3,500 employees working in the 7-storey building, which was built in 2003.

Liz Apparels was inspected on behalf of Nassa Group by Shaheedullah and New Associates Ltd, which VF called "one of the top three engineering companies in Bangladesh." The third-party engineering consultant examined all the columns and beams on all floors and found "no significant or impermissible foundation settlement has taken place."

"We also certify that the building can continue to be used for normal operation," Shaheedullah wrote in a letter dated May 14, a copy of which Nassa officials gave Reuters.

Sultan Mahmud, a civil engineer who works for Shaheedullah, said he inspected the building on his own and spent two hours taking measurements, studying soil reports and structural and architectural drawings. He also used a hammer to knock on columns to listen for any void and to gauge the strength.

On Wednesday, VF said based on Shaheedullah's inspection and a review by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Export Association, "it has been determined that normal operations can continue at this facility."

Two days later, in response to further questions from Reuters, VF said it was paying for additional inspections but provided no details on who would conduct the reviews or when they would take place.

"VF will continue to be diligent about following up on any concerns in relation to structural integrity, fire safety and any issues where we determine there is a concern of worker safety," the company said, adding that it had increased the frequency of unannounced inspections in Bangladesh.

Inditex declined to comment on the inspection done for Nassa. Wal-Mart said its ethical sourcing team had asked to see the entire Shaheedullah report and will review it.

$10,000 AUDITS

Jamilur Reza Choudhury, a former professor of civil engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said Shaheedullah's founder was a "very reputed engineer" but that a proper inspection required machines such as Ferro scanners which are used to check for steel reinforcement in concrete. Visual inspections were not enough.

"To complete a proper, thorough and dependable inspection it requires up to two months, not two hours," he said.

Because Bangladesh is prone to earthquakes, groups such as the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center recommend Ferro scans. However, a review of Bangladesh's building code posted on its website found no requirement for these scans.

Wal-Mart has asked Bureau Veritas to examine the 279 Bangladesh factories that make clothing for its stores, part of its response to a series of garment factory disasters including a fire that killed more than 100 people in late November.

Wal-Mart said the review conducted at Liz Apparels included thermal circuit imaging to check for possible electrical faults, a comparison of approved building designs against the actual building construction, and a visual inspection.

It was not clear whether this audit included a Ferro scan. The retailer has so far released only a few details of the inspection, but said it intends to start publishing results from its Bangladesh factory audits on its website starting in June.

Bangladesh has only about 200 trained building inspectors and should have 200,000, said Emdadul Islam, the chief engineer of the state-run City Development Authority. The country's population is above 160 million, making it the world's eighth largest, according to the CIA World Factbook.

"There are 1.25 million buildings in the capital city alone and there are no statistics on how many buildings there are in the country," Islam said.

Jay Jorgensen, Wal-Mart's chief compliance officer, said Veritas sends in a small team of engineers to conduct fire, electrical and structural reviews at the Bangladesh factories. It takes between 8 and 20 days to complete each safety audit at a cost that can exceed $10,000 per factory, he said.

"The audits that we're doing now, with this special focus on safety, I still don't know anybody else who does that level of detail," Jorgensen told Reuters on Thursday.

When a review turns up safety concerns, Wal-Mart notifies the factory owner and the local authorities, and also calls other companies that may use the same supplier.

After Rana Plaza collapsed, Nassa Group voluntarily shut down three of its factories for safety reasons, said Khandaker Mohammed Saiful Alam, managing director of the group.

But it left Liz Apparels operating because "the tiny and hair-like crack lines are only on plaster and not the bricks on the main wall," Alam said.

__________

Exclusive: Bangladesh factory banned by Wal-Mart still makes Wrangler shirts

Serajul Quadir and Rafiqur Rahman, 19 May 2013

 

·         GAZIPUR, Bangladesh 

(Reuters) - A Bangladesh factory where Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Inditex SA inspectors spotted cracks in the wall this month is still making Wrangler shirts for the world's largest apparel maker, U.S.-based VF Corp.

VF confirmed on Saturday it was still using Liz Apparels to make its clothing following an inspection ordered by the factory owner, Nassa Group, on May 12. VF, whose other clothing brands include North Face, Timberland and Nautica, said its philosophy was to "stay and improve" working conditions.

"We are in daily contact with the facility and VF's leadership is closely monitoring the status in this facility and others in our Bangladesh supply chain," the company said in a statement to Reuters.

VF's continued relationship with Liz Apparels stands in stark contrast to the approach by some of the world's best-known retailers, who immediately severed ties with the same factory.

The differing views show how Western retailers and brands are struggling to assess safety risks at thousands of Bangladesh garment factories after the April 24 collapse of Rana Plaza in another Dhaka suburb, which killed 1,127 people.

Their task is made tougher by a lack of robust safety rules, a severe shortage of trained building inspectors and equipment needed to make proper safety assessments, and widespread concerns about corruption.

"RED LIST"

Wal-Mart told Reuters on Friday that Liz Apparels in Gazipur, near the capital Dhaka, had previously made clothing for its stores but was now on its "red" list of unapproved suppliers after a safety audit in early May found the cracks.

Wal-Mart has not published the full findings of that audit, conducted by testing and inspection company Bureau Veritas, which also included checks for fire hazards and a review of building plans. It has asked the Bangladesh government to investigate what it called "potentially dangerous conditions" in the building.

Inditex, which owns the Zara clothing chain, said it sent inspectors to the factory on Wednesday after seeing Wal-Mart's report, and they too saw wall cracks, which the company plans to report to the Bangladesh authorities.

But VF said the building was cleared for "normal operations" after the May 12 inspection. VF, headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, later said it would pay for its own inspections which had not yet been completed.

"The cracks that developed here are not really dangerous, not dangerous for the structure," said Mohammad Jasim Uddin, an executive director of the Nassa Group. He said he had studied civilengineering and was responsible for looking after structural safety of all the factories owned by the group.

The day before Rana Plaza crumbled, the building's owner dismissed concerns over cracks in the wall and insisted the structure would stand for a century. The 8-storey building had three additional floors added without proper approval. There was no indication that the building housing Liz Apparels deviated from its approved plans.

Reuters Television video taken inside Liz Apparels on Wednesday showed a vertical crack running up one wall, which appeared to have been re-plastered recently. Other cracks were visible near the ceiling. Reuters could not independently assess whether the cracks posed a structural risk, and it was not clear how they compared with those seen at Rana.

NORMAL OPERATIONS

Liz Apparels, which is not currently making clothes for Wal-Mart or Inditex, is one of 34 factories owned by Nassa Group, a major player in Bangladesh's fragmented $20 billion garment industry with annual sales volume of $270 million.

Inside the factory on Wednesday, rows of workers stitched denim-colored fabric into long-sleeved shirts, adding Wrangler labels and price tags. Nassa has about 3,500 employees working in the 7-storey building, which was built in 2003.

Liz Apparels was inspected on behalf of Nassa Group by Shaheedullah and New Associates Ltd, which VF called "one of the top three engineering companies in Bangladesh." The third-party engineering consultant examined all the columns and beams on all floors and found "no significant or impermissible foundation settlement has taken place."

"We also certify that the building can continue to be used for normal operation," Shaheedullah wrote in a letter dated May 14, a copy of which Nassa officials gave Reuters.

Sultan Mahmud, a civil engineer who works for Shaheedullah, said he inspected the building on his own and spent two hours taking measurements, studying soil reports and structural and architectural drawings. He also used a hammer to knock on columns to listen for any void and to gauge the strength.

On Wednesday, VF said based on Shaheedullah's inspection and a review by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Export Association, "it has been determined that normal operations can continue at this facility."

Two days later, in response to further questions from Reuters, VF said it was paying for additional inspections but provided no details on who would conduct the reviews or when they would take place.

"VF will continue to be diligent about following up on any concerns in relation to structural integrity, fire safety and any issues where we determine there is a concern of worker safety," the company said, adding that it had increased the frequency of unannounced inspections in Bangladesh.

Inditex declined to comment on the inspection done for Nassa. Wal-Mart said its ethical sourcing team had asked to see the entire Shaheedullah report and will review it.

$10,000 AUDITS

Jamilur Reza Choudhury, a former professor of civil engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said Shaheedullah's founder was a "very reputed engineer" but that a proper inspection required machines such as Ferro scanners which are used to check for steelreinforcement in concrete. Visual inspections were not enough.

"To complete a proper, thorough and dependable inspection it requires up to two months, not two hours," he said.

Because Bangladesh is prone to earthquakes, groups such as the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center recommend Ferro scans. However, a review of Bangladesh's building code posted on its website found no requirement for these scans.

Wal-Mart has asked Bureau Veritas to examine the 279 Bangladesh factories that make clothing for its stores, part of its response to a series of garment factory disasters including a fire that killed more than 100 people in late November.

Wal-Mart said the review conducted at Liz Apparels included thermal circuit imaging to check for possible electrical faults, a comparison of approved building designs against the actual buildingconstruction, and a visual inspection.

It was not clear whether this audit included a Ferro scan. The retailer has so far released only a few details of the inspection, but said it intends to start publishing results from its Bangladesh factory audits on its website starting in June.

Bangladesh has only about 200 trained building inspectors and should have 200,000, said Emdadul Islam, the chief engineer of the state-run City Development Authority. The country's population is above 160 million, making it the world's eighth largest, according to the CIA World Factbook.

"There are 1.25 million buildings in the capital city alone and there are no statistics on how many buildings there are in the country," Islam said.

Jay Jorgensen, Wal-Mart's chief compliance officer, said Veritas sends in a small team of engineers to conduct fire, electrical and structural reviews at the Bangladesh factories. It takes between 8 and 20 days to complete each safety audit at a cost that can exceed $10,000 per factory, he said.

"The audits that we're doing now, with this special focus on safety, I still don't know anybody else who does that level of detail," Jorgensen told Reuters on Thursday.

When a review turns up safety concerns, Wal-Mart notifies the factory owner and the local authorities, and also calls other companies that may use the same supplier.

After Rana Plaza collapsed, Nassa Group voluntarily shut down three of its factories for safety reasons, said Khandaker Mohammed Saiful Alam, managing director of the group.

But it left Liz Apparels operating because "the tiny and hair-like crack lines are only on plaster and not the bricks on the main wall," Alam said.

(Additional reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago and Sonya Dowsett in Madrid; Writing by Emily Kaiser; Editing by David Greising and Ian Geoghegan)

________

Karabus considers suing UAE govt

Graeme Raubenheimer , EWN, 20 May 2013

CAPE TOWN - Retired Cape Town doctor Cyril Karabus' legal battles may be far from over.

Karabus had on Sunday said he was considering taking legal action against Emirates Airlines, the Hospital Group and the Abu Dhabi government.

The 78 year-old returned home on Friday following his harrowing nine month ordeal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The professor was held in Abu Dhabi on a manslaughter charge and even though he was eventually acquitted, he struggled to return home due to several delays.

His lawyer Michael Bagraim said Karabus wanted to sue Emirates Airlines because it did not inform him of his imminent arrest last August. 

Bagraim said they were also looking at taking the Hospital Group to court as it did not let Karabus know about his guilty verdict in the UAE in 2002.

Speaking to Talk Radio 702, Karabus said was never informed about the charges.

“I knew nothing about this at all, they lied, and the court report had a record. I have a copy of it in English which claimed that they had informed me about the case, I was totally shocked when it happened.”

The retired doctor said even though he went through so much over the past nine months, it had not changed him much.

“I think I’m just a nicer guy as I ever was and modest as well. But I know there is a change and I thank the people who helped me there.”

Karabus spent the weekend relaxing and catching up with his family.

He was arrested in August while in transit in Dubai to South Africa en route from his son’s wedding in Canada.

The retired doctors’ lawyers said he had paid more than R1 million in legal fees.

Karabus received his passport back from officials in the UAE last Tuesday but had to resolve visa issues on Wednesday which cleared him to finally leave the country.

On a lighter note his lawyer said Karabus was thinking of returning to work as a locum.

“I don’t believe he'll ever go back to the UAE, but he might locum in England.” 

____________

Germans Blame Euro Zone Crisis For Eurovision Debacle

Reuters, Daily Maverick, 20 May 2013

 

Germans lamented their unexpectedly poor showing at the Eurovision Song Contest, blaming Chancellor Angela Merkel's tough stance in the euro zone crisis for their failure to win any points from 34 of the 39 countries voting.

Denmark's Emmelie de Forest won the event, watched by around 125 million people across Europe, with 281 points while German act Cascada was 21st out of 26 countries, getting just 18 points from Austria, Israel, Spain, Albania and Switzerland.

"There's obviously a political situation to keep in mind - I don't want to say 'this was 18 points for Angela Merkel'," said Germany's ARD TV network coordinator Thomas Schreiber. "But we all have to be aware that it wasn't just Cascada up there on stage (being judged) but all of Germany."

Merkel is popular in Germany for her firm position during the euro zone crisis. But she is loathed in parts of Europe for her insisting on painful austerity measures in countries such as Greece, Spain and Italy in exchange for rescue packages.

"It's unexplainable," said ARD expert commentator Peter Urban on Sunday after Cascada singer Natalie Horler was 21st even though German media had touted her as a favourite. More than 8 million Germans watched, a 44 percent market share.

"Is it that people just don't like us?" Urban was asked on ZDF TV. "There's some truth to that," he said.

"There will be two German soccer teams in the Champions League final next week and maybe people didn't want Germany to win Eurovision too." 

_________

EU Leaders Struggling With Economic Growth to Turn to Tax Policy

Patrick Donahu, Bloomberg, 20 May 2013

 

European Union leaders struggling to find a consensus on how to overcome the debt crisis and revive economic growth will use a summit meeting this week to focus on fighting tax evasionand on the bloc’s energy policy.

The leaders of the 27-member bloc will meet in Brussels May 22 to agree on a plan governing how EU countries share tax data after finance ministers last week failed to reach a decision. They’ll also examine energy costs and investment, as the euro-area economy continues to be in a recession.

As receding borrowing costs wrested the single currency from the threat of collapse, the euro area’s economy extended a recession to a record sixth quarter. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have championed competing views on how to jump-start growth, including the scale of the bloc’s austerity measures.

 

May 16 (Bloomberg) -- Janet Henry, London-based chief European economist at HSBC Holdings Plc, talks about the region's economies and debt crisis. The euro-area economy shrank more than economists forecast in the three months through March, extending a recession to a record sixth quarter and increasing pressure on the currency bloc’s leaders to spur growth. Henry speaks in Hong Kong with Susan Li on Bloomberg Television's "First Up."

 

May 17 (Bloomberg) -- James Goundry, Europe analyst at IHS Global Insight, and Xavier Denis, an economist and strategist at Societe Generale Private Banking, discuss Francois Hollande's first year as French President. Denis, from Paris, and Goundry, from London, speak with Francine Lacqua and Guy Johnson on Bloomberg Television's "The Pulse."

 

“In the current economic context we must mobilize all our policies in support of competitiveness, jobs and growth,” the group said in a May 17 draft of their conclusions.

As receding borrowing costs wrested the single currency from the threat of collapse, the euro area’s economy extended a recession to a record sixth quarter. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have championed competing views on how to jump-start growth, including the scale of the bloc’s austerity measures.

The euro fell 1.2 percent last week against the dollar, retreating to $1.2839 on May 17, as gross domestic product in the 17-nation bloc fell 0.2 percent in the first quarter, more than economists had forecast.

The agenda for this week will include stepping up the fight against tax evasion after finance ministers from Luxembourg and Austria last week blocked efforts to reach agreement on sharing tax data. The accord aims to set standards for how countries collect data on income residents earn in other nations.

“Priority will be given to efforts to extend the automatic exchange of information at the EU and global levels,” according to the draft.

Information Exchanges

The renewed rules will require member states to participate in information exchanges after a transition period. The original accord, passed in 2005, offered Austria and Luxembourg an exemption from automatic information exchange requirements. Those nations now have agreed to revise their policies.

Leaders will also call for attention to “the supply of affordable and sustainable energy” and its effect on EU economies. They will pledge to study energy prices, revisit state aid rules for energy investments and investigate ways to boost financing for energy-efficient projects, according to the draft.

The region’s economic slowdown has reached the euro area’s core, with the German economy expanding less than forecast in the three months through March, France slipping into a recession and Italian GDP contracting more than forecast. TheEuropean Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low of 0.5 percent this month as its president, Mario Draghi, said the central bank is ready to act again if needed.

Debt Fight

This month’s summit will foreshadow a June meeting of leaders to tackle the bloc’s economy and the debt crisis. As Germany and France team up to work on a plan for youth unemployment, the two governments have struggled to resolve differences over the scale of debt-fighting polices.

Merkel and Hollande’s governments won’t issue a joint paper ahead of the June summit as they had previously done because the gap between the two remains too wide, Der Spiegel reported, without saying where it obtained the information.

_______

Tsvangirai vows to reverse Mugabe’s takeover drive

City Press, 20 May 2013

 

Harare – Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has wrapped up his party’s post-election plan meeting vowing to overturn President Robert Mugabe’s controversial indigenisation drive if he wins upcoming general elections.

He wound up the meeting with a rally yesterday attended by thousands of supporters of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) at a sports ground in Harare’s working class suburb of Highfield.

“We will reverse indigenisation laws and create empowerment laws for the majority of the people of Zimbabwe,” said Tsvangirai.

“We cannot all share a small cake. We can’t share the existing wealth so we will have to create a bigger cake.”

Mugabe introduced the indigenisation law in 2010 which, forces foreign-owned companies – including mines, banks and retailers – to cede 51% ownership to black Zimbabwean investors.

He has threatened to take over firms that fail to comply.

Tsvangirai is uneasy with the law which he says has driven away desperately needed foreign investment just as the country is recovering from a decade-long economic collapse.

He bemoaned “lack of transparency in the distribution of wealth in Zimbabwe”.

“Every Zimbabwean must be able to point out that they benefited under this or that programme,” he said.

The rally marked the end of a conference by MDC officials which unveiled an outline of its programme and projects if it wins elections.

Zimbabwe will hold elections later this year to choose a successor to the shaky power-sharing government formed four years ago by Tsvangirai and Mugabe.

No election date has been set yet, but Mugabe, who is 89, is pressing for them to go ahead as soon as possible.

Tsvangirai, who is confident of winning the vote, said elections would be held before October 30.

“There are things that need to be done … reforms we need to have before elections,” he said.

- Sapa-AFP

_________________________________________________       

5.    Comment

COSATU E-toll Campaign goes ahead in 2013; 24^th & 31^st May at Johannesburg & Ekurhuleni

 

For more information, contact COSATU Offices

                                

Come one…..Come All!

 

Stop Commodification of public goods!

____________

COSATU Section77 Notice served at Nedlac on the 11th December 2012

___________

Dear spindoctors, dear journalists, let’s talk frankly...

 Onkgopotse Jj Tabane , Daily Maveriick, 20 May 2013

 

That there is an overall negative narrative about government in the media is undeniable. However, to lay the blame for this solely at the door of journalists is disingenuous. Both journalists and politicians are responsible for this narrative.

Dear spindoctor and journalists,

The debate on the racism in the media between top spindoctors and editors last week failed to  isolate the culprits. It cannot be generalised. This is the only gripe I have with the arguments of Panyaza Lesufi and Lumka Olifant, both very competent government communicators. Similarly, I have a beef with anyone who wishes to deny that there is an overall negative narrative in the media about government and, when this is pointed out, accuses, as Ferial Hafajee has done, those who make this point of being bullies.  I believe, nevertheless, that if any editor were to venture into summarising all government communicators as incompetent and aloof  I will, equally, take umbrage. Let’s be frank, to sum up all black editors as puppets is simply not true. Fortunately, we know these editors and do not have to rely on Lesufi’s judgement alone to make up our minds. We met some of them, such as Jovial Rantao and Makhudu Sefara, when the likes of Panyaza and I were junior spokesman in the late 90s. We worked with them in getting our stories out there and they worked hard to be at the helm of their publications today.  It would be very strange if some of them suddenly stopped thinking and resigned this attribute to their white bosses.

Yes, indeed, some of them have taken questionable decisions and it is those decisions that we must take issue with and not sweeping generalisations about all things “black editor”. Nor should we excuse them from their editorial decisions by blaming their white bosses. I know that some people may be under the illusion that some unwritten mandate may exist, from somewhere, about attacking the media to excuse all the terrible coverage that our movement tends to attract. I am quite sure that no such mandate exists. The reality is that as we deal with the narrative that appears in our media we need to be sober about identifying the root of such a narrative so that we can deal with it firmly and effectively. A wrong diagnosis of where this narrative comes from will lead to a wrong decision about what to do about it.  My view is that both journalists and politicians are responsible for this narrative.

A number of newsrooms are a still haunted by Apartheid, as is the case with all parts of society. We can expect, therefore, that some of their stories will be influenced by this, as pointed out by Olifant. There is still a lot of work to be done to transform the newsroom, including the transformation of ownership of the media. If the ownership is not changed we cannot really hope for more investments in the newsroom to deal with the second issue I want to highlight in that regard: capacity, or more specifically, the lack thereof in the newsrooms. Gone are the days of specialist journalists who knew their subject matter thoroughly. These days journalists have to double up as specialist in broad subject matters such as the economy or politics – stuff that has numerous categories of comprehension. Detailed features by journalists, say who are specialist in education, are few and far between. It is clear that a bad narrative is therefore a result of a combination of factors, not just racism. Incompetence in the newsroom is hardly written about because the platform is owned by the selfsame people who would have to point this out and, sadly, communicators, both private and public, do not bother to take up issues regularly where journalists are not doing their jobs properly for fear of coverage victimisation or placing their companies on the spotlight of a journalist scorned. What we saw this week was a rarity.

The role of communicators in placing their story out there must also be blamed for the poor narrative against their organisations or, more specifically, their government. Very few now take the time to reach out to journalists in a consistent and thorough manner. Of the 3,000 public sector communicators, very few influence the opinion pages of the more than 30 newspapers that exist. Editors don’t have their doors broken down with offers of well written and argued pieces that place the perspective of the ruling party in these pages regularly. This is more the preserve of the opposition parties and their spokespeople, who bore us to death with their perspectives. A narrative of the successes of government is not the responsibility of the journalist in the main. It is the responsibility of the government communicator, who must wake up every day ensuring that the good news of success occupies the free space that is given out there in numerous papers across the country and the world. The tactics of well-placed adverts and advertorials as part of the arsenal of unmediated communications is also key, but less sustainable than the grind of media relations that will result in the media carrying your perspective regularly. This is not an exact science but the recent emerging tendency where attacking the media with generalisation seems to be preferred is not helpful at all.

The role of politicians cannot go unnoticed. Communications and, therefore, a good narrative, follows good action. The government reacted well on the Gupta scandal eventually. This has made communications on this mitigate what was a bad action – allowing this plane to land at a wrong airport in the first place. No amount of spin can fix wrong actions by politicians such as corruption and maladministration or even pure cluelessness. The narrative of corruption in particular is not an invention of the media. It is the making of the corrupt and the media cannot be expected to ignore this. At the same time the media must be challenged always to see the actions of the government against corruption. But, if we are honest, we will agree that the reality is these actions are few and far between. Try and find someone who has lost his job over corruption, even against a damning report of the Auditor General G that 95% of municipalities are dying of corruption. Frankly, you will struggle. You don’t have to be a so-called “clever black” to agree with this. Three years ago the AG pointed out 2,000 civil servants who were caught doing business with themselves. Name one who is in prison for that? This is the narrative that is not the fault of the media. The media is not a PR arm for anyone; it is up to those who are in PR to wake up and ensure they can use these platforms effectively by doing their work of communicating the message of their organisations.

I like my friend Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya and I am angry that he has left City Press. There are things that Media 24 must look at to create a conducive environment for journalists. But I am not about to write off the entire crew at City Press – we need to be circumspect in lumping entire institutions because of  incidents  we don’t like. Similarly, I like Panyaza Lesufi but I am not obligated to agree with all his arguments about the media and his belief that there is a racist conspiracy in all newsrooms against all that is black, ANC or government. Because I know for sure there are card-carrying members of our movement who are journalists, yet they too are equally frustrated at the poor communications that comes out of many government departments even where good stories can be told.

Is there racism in the news room? Yes, as there is in any other corner of our society. Is there a policy of racism in the newsroom where journalist in general are asked to go and find only negative stories about government? No. Are all black editors puppets? No, not even by a stretch of revolutionary thinking. I am sure if we look hard enough we may find some lacklustre editor, but I would never paint editors with a brush like that  – at least not the current crop. Is there a need for a thorough transformation in the press? Absolutely. The ownership leaves much to be desired and the content needs more and more improvement.

The debate is important but, more importantly, there is a gnawing need to build bridges between the state and the fourth estate in order that both can see the errors of their ways and commit to fixing these. The tensions are, however, healthy and if balanced can take us all forward as we build a new nation. So, come on dear spindoctors, dear journalists, let’s reach out one to another.

Yours frankly,

Onkgopotse JJ Tabane

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Media racism alive and well in SA?

Ferial Haffajee, Business Report, 19 May 2013

Our founding father, Nelson Mandela, first nudged the media in the right direction soon after he was released from prison. He cajoled: how could an industry that reported on society and enjoyed the privileged position of a Fourth Estate not look like the society it reported on?

It was more a shove than a nudge and it paved the way for people like the editor of The Sunday Independent, myself and a generation of us to realise our dreams of becoming editors. Until then, the industry had been like a Milky Bar. The media made visible changes in its leadership corps and I would argue that our newsrooms are largely representative, the goal we use to reach non-racialism.

In fact, a print industry report reveals this to be so – newsrooms have transformed in racial terms. I would guess that broadcasting is even further ahead.

But if you add a gendered lens, it’s clear we have work to do. The report goes further to find that a lot of transforming remains necessary in management and to empower women, in general. But while people like me, woman editors, were rare, now there are many.

The country’s newsrooms are like Liquorice All-sorts, lots of sweet black, some white, pink and, yes, even yellow and a bit of blue.

Is the work done? Not at all, but to argue that the media are an untransformed beast can’t be sustained, not in numbers at least. It is up to a generation of us to continue the work Mandela started, but it is not the work of government apparatchiks for reasons I set out below.

I don’t have kids, but if I did, I guess they would have been at private schools. Like yours, yours and yours, I guess. And like the children of the leaders of the Department of Basic Education. One reason our schools and hospitals are in dire straits is that the people who run them don’t use them. When we tried to ask cabinet members if their children went to public schools and if their families used public hospitals, the Government Communication and Information System advised each minister not to answer. The information dragnet was an answer in itself.

In this accountability gridlock, at City Press we’ve tried to invert the pyramid of political reporting to tell the story from the bottom up – from within communities, schools and hospitals.

My definition of media transformation is to reduce reporting of the elite agenda and to take reporting to the pulse.

We had been following the Limpopo textbook story for months when we first learnt, with Equal Education, that books were months late last year. At the heart of the issue was the contract with EduSolutions, a company that has cornered a lucrative market in textbook procurement and distribution. There are many questions to be answered about how little bang the government gets for its EduSolutions buck and why we employ 10 different sets of education officials if so much of their work is outsourced.

From the time we started asking these questions, we have had a long set of altercations with the Department of Basic Education and with its public representative, Panyaza Lesufi. We do not follow the government’s reporting agenda nor do we easily accept Lesufi’s courier slips to prove receipt of textbooks; we check and often find an information gap and little ones without books.

We also regularly find, as a group of eminent elders did last month, hundreds of young people squeezed like sardines into terrible classrooms. Or, as we reported last week, hundreds of schools deserted by pupils in the Eastern Cape as their parents whisk them away for the decent education we all seek.

The system’s failing. The valiant efforts of the department are failing. And, let’s be frank, it’s failing working-class black children. The work of transformation in these classrooms is surely more pressing than the transformation of the newsroom, for so senior a leader as Lesufi.

A failed transformation is there to report every week and, for us, the reporting is done to assist transformation, not to embarrass the government. But it’s not the story Lesufi wants us to write and so we stand at the hard cusp of accusations of being untransformed.

Lumka Oliphant of the Social Development Department also wants the media to write differently about her issues, be it alcohol advertising or the contract to deliver grants to almost 15 million South Africans.

That contract, won by a subsidiary of Cash Paymaster Services, was found to be irregular in court, but the judge did not order the deal to be rescinded because of the impact on grant payments. AllPay, the losing bidder, did not succeed on appeal – a judgment Oliphant feels should have been given greater prominence.

It wasn’t covered as Oliphant wanted, but does this mean the media are unreconstructed racists and untransformed, as she has argued? Imagine if all PR people adopted such an analysis because their stories are not placed? It’s simply untenable and strikes me as an abuse of power to keep peddling this narrative. I’d argue that South Africa’s tjatjarag media which keep the glare on education, health and welfare are a symbol of successful transformation. And, I’d argue, we are over the hump of being critics, not patriots. Most large media groups have campaigns and projects to show off our country and to help it to a shared prosperity. Independent Newspapers has started a work project; it runs the LeadSA initiative with Primedia; the Times Media Group has wonderful education material distributed free; Media24 gives millions of rand in space to organisations doing good work. The Mail&Guardian hosts bridging discussion panels. At City Press, we run a series on philanthropy and published our World Class booklet on South Africans cracking the world stage.

It’s a small effort to affect the national mood – to be critical but true patriots.

I’ve seen Oliphant’s campaigns and lobbies against alcohol abuse receive good coverage (including in City Press where we worked with her) and there’s hardly a news medium that takes an ideological stance against grant payments. The minister of social development gets generally good coverage. There isn’t an opinion page editor who would turn down an article from political leaders – and I know because I read or publish them all the time.

None of this is to argue that the work of transformation is done. It’s not.

But it is not the task of employed civil servants to level unwarranted accusations of racism because they are not getting the coverage they desire or because their friends may have quit the newsroom. Talented black people can call their price and title. I thought Oliphant and Lesufi came pretty close to being bullies this week and they hitched a range of disaffected media players to their wagon.

The thing about their fellow travellers is they talk a lot but do little. As one complainer said on Twitter: “I’ll write my book one day, but right now I need to put my kids through school.” He had been an executive on a magazine and was complaining about the news values he encountered.

I am often astounded by this kind of cowardice. Why don’t people speak up and speak out? I’ve been a unionist and lobbyist in four newsrooms and I’ve not been fired once and occasionally my lobbies have succeeded. In my experience, his stance is fairly common in newsrooms where black people complain and leave, but do not stay to challenge and change.

Imagine if Mandela had waited until retirement to write about his oppression – we’d probably still be in chains. Or if he had run his law firm to pay the school fees? In my years of campaigning for transformation, I’ve taken pages from doers, not talkers. Chief among them is the chief executive of the Media Diversity and Development Agency, Lumko Mtimde, from whom I have learnt to change things that felt less than fair or constitutional.

At the SA National Editors’ Forum we are doing a fresh study on the state of transformation in newsrooms, planning a master class for a generation of woman leaders, and I believe we should hold a summit with owners to discuss transformation once the findings of Mathatha Tsedu’s task team on the print industry’s diversity and transformation is complete.

Proponents of media transformation are often knocking on open doors. I do hope they will make their voices heard and stop thinking the studios of Metro FM or the elite media like Twitter are agents of activism. They are not. Never have been and never will be.

n Haffajee is editor-in-chief of City Press.

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They don't come any sharper

Ryland Fisher, EWN, 20 May 2013

Vuyo Mbuli, the voice and face of breakfast TV, passed away after collapsing at a rugby match on Saturday afternoon. The affable, thoroughly professional co-anchor of the SABC’s “Morning Live” show came as close to being the perfect presenter as you could get.

What makes a perfect radio and television presenter in a country as complicated as South Africa, where getting the demographics right often overrides all other considerations?

I’m sure when the powers that be at the SABC decided in 1999 to use Vuyo Mbuli as one of the co-hosts of Good Morning South Africa, which later became Morning Live, demographics played a role in his appointment. One cannot get away from the fact that over the years he has always been accompanied by a white woman as co-host.

In this way the SABC probably hoped to gain new, mainly black, viewers while holding onto old, mainly white, viewers.

Mbuli would have taken this in his stride and, as the years went by, he showed the big bosses at the SABC that he was much more than just a demographic: he came as close being to the perfect television host as you could get.

In the end, he became the main face and voice behind the success of Morning Live.

I never got to know Mbuli as a friend but, because the media industry is so small, our paths invariably crossed and I was interviewed by him a few times over the years in my various guises, whether it was to talk about media issues as editor of the Cape Times or as deputy chairperson of the South African National Editors’ Forum, or to talk about issues related to race in South Africa because of my writings.

The last time I spoke to him was a few months ago at a function in Sandton that he co-hosted with Leanne Manas, his co-presenter on Morning Live.

And like so many other South Africans, I woke up most mornings to Mbuli’s vibrant personality. I have never been able to understand how anyone could be so bubbly so early in the morning, especially when you are already at work before 6am.

Being in the media space often requires one to work abnormal hours. When I worked at the Sunday Times, I never knew what it was like to have Saturdays free, and when I worked at the Cape Times and later The New Age, I was at work every Sunday.

For Mbuli and his team, a normal working day would start while most ordinary people were still ensconced in their beds. They would not normally be able to enjoy going out at night because they had to be up before the crack of dawn every weekday morning.

After I woke up yesterday (Sunday) morning to the shocking news that Mbuli had passed away after collapsing at a rugby match in the Free State on Saturday afternoon, I found myself thinking most of the day about why there was such a public outpouring of grief and what it was that made him such a gem in South Africa’s broadcasting landscape.

Mbuli had the ability to make people feel at ease and to give the impression that he was really interested in their story. He would get them to tell him things that they might not have intended to share. But that is what great interviewers do.

A few weeks ago I saw him interview a man who was promoting a new soap powder under the guise of setting a Guinness world record. The man put a box of soap powder on the desk in front of him. Mbuli asked to see the box, appeared to look at it and put it on the floor next to him, out of sight of the television cameras. He dealt with this bit of ambush marketing professionally and diplomatically.
Part of what made Mbuli endearing to people across South Africa’s racial divide was his fascinating ability to understand different languages and cultures. He would often start a news cast with a greeting that seemed to last a few minutes, but included everyone in South Africa, whether you spoke one of South Africa’s 11 official languages or even Arabic and Hebrew, among others.

He seemed to understand that one of the ways of making people feel wanted and included is by acknowledging their language, so he would often make statements in languages that are not normally acknowledged in public spaces, even on the public broadcaster.

Mbuli had the rare ability to make people feel comfortable with him, irrespective of their racial, social, religious or other backgrounds. His laugh was infectious, but he often made his co-presenters feel uncomfortable when he tried to get them to do stuff that came naturally to him, like getting them to say his trademark “Sharp, sharp” at the end of broadcasts.

In a country as divided as South Africa, those in the media have the added responsibility of understanding the complexity of our society and trying to portray this in as sensitive a manner as possible.

Mbuli was a master at doing this and the SABC will struggle to replace him. It was not just about being able to speak all the different languages, or at least snippets of them, or his infectious laugh, or his ability to make those around him feel like they were all his closest friends, or his consummate professionalism. It was about all of the above and more.

South Africa is poorer without Vuyo Mbuli.

This column appeared in The Daily Maverick.

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KZN university decision will build more bridges

Justice Malala, Times Live,  20 May 2013

 

His name was Bubhesi (Lion). He was my best friend. I don't remember much about his family. We were kids, five years old at the time. He spoke isiZulu and I spoke only Sotho.

But we were best friends and I have wonderful memories of the wordless games we played in the mining village we lived in.

Then my family left Johannesburg to live in Hammanskraal, a Setswana-speaking area, and I never saw Bubhesi again. But I have carried him with me all my life, that young boy, and he has made me a better man, a better human being, a better South African, than I could otherwise ever have been.

He first came back to me when, in the early 1980s, "black television" was introduced. Suddenly, on TV2 and TV3, we were watching black people speaking Setswana, Sepedi, isiXhosa and isiZulu. Most of it was dubbed from German and American series, but there were our languages on the screen.

Whereas everyone else in my village watched TV3, which broadcast in the Sotho languages, my family also loved the Nguni language programmes on TV2. Only about five families in the village had television sets, so we would all go to our neighbours to cluster around their set.

My brother "Johannes" would say to the young lad whose lounge we were packed into: "Please can we watch Senzekile?"

The 20 or so kids would moan: "But we don't understand isiZulu or isiXhosa."

That is when I realised that Bubhesi was with me and would always be with me. Senzekile was an isiXhosa drama on TV2 and only my family and I understood the Nguni languages. We understood them because we grew up with Bubhesi and his family around us.

I did not realise until then that I could speak some isiZulu and isiXhosa. Yet when the language was spoken my brain just clicked into gear and I understood.

Being able to speak a language other than my parents' has been one of the greatest gifts I have ever been given. In Johannesburg, a multilingual melting pot, I have been able to interview people I would never have been able to.

In the early 1990s I reported on the trouble spots of the East Rand. I spoke to hundreds of war-hungry hostel dwellers aligned to the Inkatha Freedom Party, angry young malcontents of the ANC and many others.

An ability to speak both Sotho and an Nguni language was my best friend.

Crucially, it allowed me to enter my interviewees' worlds. They were not "other" objects of my reporting. I like to think that I wrote about them as my fellow countrymen and women, that they were part of us, wretched as their lives and conditions were.

From the age of nine I was taught Afrikaans at school. We hated it. Yet the other day I came across some new Afrikaans poetry and I was moved. I once heard businessman Patrice Motsepe speak at a function in Afrikaans, and I knew he had entered another world, a world of empathy that his audience - most of whom could not understand a word of Setswana - would never understand. I felt deeply sorry for them. They were millionaires, and yet they were poor.

So I support the decision by the University of KwaZulu-Natal to make isiZulu a must for all first-year students from next year.

There are many reasons to applaud this decision but, for me, the key one is that our country needs more understanding, more bridges across the language divide. I have been saddened by doctors who treat patients and yet cannot explain to them their ailments; journalists who try to speak to a grieving mother and yet cannot have a stab at her language; people who cannot greet each other and, in so doing, humanise each other.

On Friday I had lunch with a friend. He greeted me: "Sawubona, Justice."

What a beautiful way to start a conversation. The greeting, literally translated, means "I see you". Much more is embedded in there: "I recognise your humanity; you are alive to me". I spent three hours with him.

En route to New York 12 years ago I learnt some Spanish. They say: "Hola! Como esta?" (Hello! How are you?). Just knowing that made my life meeting Hispanic Americans a joy.

I know that the young ones in Soweto and elsewhere say "Hola!" in greeting too.

I don't use my isiZulu, or my native Sotho, or Shangaan or Afrikaans, much. Yet when I do, even if it is once a year, the world is complete. This is what UKZN is trying to achieve for our children.

____________

Norman Mampane (Communications Officer)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street

Braamfontein

2017

 

P.O.Box 1019

Johannesburg

2000

South Africa

 

Tel: +27 11 339-4911 or Direct 010 219-1342

Mobile: +27 72 416 3790

E-Mail: mam...@cosatu.org.za