Verkeer in Pretoria sentraal is tot stilstand gebring laas week deur protesoptogte van van vullisverwyderaars wat aan SAMWU vakverbond behoort.
Die werkers kla dat hulle in onveilige werkstoestande verkeer en vrees vir die moontlike opdoen van siektes. Persoonlike beskermingstoerusting word geis vir alle werkers, terwyl hulle ook nuwe vullisverwydering vragmotors eis.
THE two black women at Unisa who complained that the white professor was racist were actually the perpetrators of harassment, bullying, abuse of power and intimidation of junior staff members, said a group of academics at the institution.
The group of professionals of different races – including black – claimed the women had charges laid against them by junior staff members, but the university had been reluctant to deal with them because the alleged perpetrators were black.
Last week, the women told the media that the white professor, who the Pretoria News opted not to name, was racist and aggressive.
They alleged he made their lives miserable on campus.
One of the woman claimed she was harassed and suspended by the professor, but later won a case at the CCMA and was reinstated.
However, the academics now allege the woman did not win the case on substance, but rather due to a technical issue.
“It must be noted that the professor accused of racism had not played any part in initiating any disciplinary against the complainant. He inherited the case from the previous executive director when the directorate was moved
“The woman had already been suspended and thus the professor had nothing to do with this case whatsoever. Any insinuation that he did is a lie,” the academics said.
The group said it did not understand why the Black Forum and the EFF student command demanded the professor’s removal from the university on allegations of racism during protests at the main campus last Tuesday. They stated that they were confused because the two organisations had in fact engaged with people who claimed to have been badly treated by the two women.
Unisa has meanwhile invited the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to intervene and help resolve racial conflicts at the institution. University spokesperson Martin Ramotshela said all these complaints formed part of submissions by stakeholders at the hearings.
“It is the university‘s view that the commission must be given space to listen to and interrogate all submissions.
“It must then make a determination after listening to all sides.
“We cannot pre-empt the outcome of this process,” he said.
The next session of the hearings has been scheduled for May 7, 8 and 9, and staff members have until April 18 to make submissions.
Residents of the quiet suburb of Gezina in East Moot, Pretoria, this week discovered a nasty infestation of mango fruit flies, also known as mango flies, Pretoria North Rekord reports.
Charmaine Jacobsz asked for help on the ‘Moot se Mense’ Facebook page, after discovering 26 mango flies on her Maltese Poodle.
“My husband saw mango flies in our garden a while back, but didn’t think much of it at the time. Shortly after this my Maltese Poodle began to look uncomfortable, and I could see she was in pain. A friend of mine who is a pharmacist assisted me in removing all 26 worms from her body,” she explained.
Petra Odendaal’s 10-year-old daughter has bumps all over her body.
According to Dr Jaco de Jongh from the Wilgers Animal Hospital, this is not the first case of mango flies.
“We have seen an increase in dogs that have come into contact with mango flies recently. The flies lay their eggs under the animal’s skin, a larvae grows under the skin, and after a while it appears as a big white spot. The bump on the skin can and be felt, and looks like a pimple,” explains De Jongh.
“Most of the time, I squeeze the bump until the head of the worm is visible, then pull it out with a tweezer.”
Petro Odendaal explained to Pretoria North Rekord that mango flies are not only presenting problems with her pets, but have also bitten her 10-year-old daughter 16 times.
“I washed my daughter’s bedding and hung it outside. After sleeping in her clean bedding that night, she awoke the next morning covered in red bites. I immediately took her to the doctor, who put her on antibiotics and prescribed her Allergex,” Odendaal explains.
“The problem only worsened from there. I took her back to the doctor, who discovered the mango fly larvae under her skin. He slowly began to squeeze until all five came out. We have to go to the doctor every day until all the flies have been removed from her skin.”
Dr De Jongh has appealed to residents that if they do find a pimple-like mark on their pets, they must seek medical attention immediately.
“With animals, we prescribe Advantex, but pet owners must be prepared to shave their pets’ fur and keep them clean. It is very difficult to identify the bumps, especially if the animal has long hair. People must also make sure to dry their washing in the tumble dryer, or to iron it, if it is hung outside.”
“The increase in rainfall in Pretoria over the past few weeks has definitely contributed to mango flies breeding in gardens.”
In most cases, a doctor will prescribe both the pet and its owner antibiotics, to rid the body of infection.
For more information, contact Dr Jaco De Jongh at the Wilgers Animal Hospital, on 012 807 5043.
The original article was translated from Afrikaans and can be found on Pretoria North Rekord .
A Sowetan journalist who reported how a Pretoria building houses both a mortuary and a food storage facility for a local Pick n Pay store has described his shock upon discovering the premises.
Isaac Mahlangu on Monday morning exposed how the retailer’s branch in Rayton shares a building with a morgue.
He goes on to describe how the food is separated from bodies only by a four-metre wall.
The food stored there includes soft drinks and cooking oil.
Mahlangu says that he received a tip-off from community members.
“On Friday we decided to head out and when we got to Rayton we were really surprised to see this one structure behind Rayton Park Mall and the doors were opened.
“You could see food that was stored in that storeroom and just behind it, a mortuary, all under one roof.”
By: EWN/ 2018-04-09
Die bal is nou behoorlik aan die rol gesit om die Hoërskool Hendrik Verwoerd in die Pretoriase Moot eersdaags ʼn nuwe naam te gee.
Volgens Olga Veldsman, voorsitter van die skool se beheerliggaam, is daar ʼn paar name op ʼn kortlys geplaas wat hierdie week aan die departement van onderwys gestuur is vir goedkeuring. Die skool het sedert 19 Februarie voorstelle vir ʼn nuwe naam ingevorder en die proses is op 19 Maart afgesluit.
“Leerlinge, onderwysers, ouers, oudleerlinge en die gemeenskap kon voorstelle vir ʼn nuwe naam vir die skool maak,” het sy gesê.
Veldsman wou egter nie in hierdie stadium oor enige van die voorstelle wat die kortlys gehaal het uitbrei nie en het enige verdere navrae oor die name na die onderwysdepartement verwys. Dit is ook nog nie seker wanneer die nuwe naam van die skool bekengemaak sal word nie.
Sy het wel benadruk dat die skool en die beheerliggaam verbind is tot die waardes en doelwitte wat deur die onderwysdepartement uiteengesit word.
“Die skool het oor baie jare bewys dat ons ten volle toegewyd is om ons gemeenskap te dien in ʼn geïntegreerde en nierassige samelewing.
“Die belangrikheid van dié transformasie vir ons skool, ons kinders en die gemeenskap as ʼn geheel, kan nie genoeg beklemtoon word nie,” het sy bygevoeg.
Hoërskool Hendrik Verwoerd se beheerliggaam het ʼn verklaring met die voorneme om die skool se naam te verander reeds in Julie 2016 by die onderwysdepartement ingedien.
Die onderwysdepartement het die skool se aansoek in Februarie 2017 goedgekeur maar die skoolhoof, Hennie du Toit, het in dieselfde jaar besluit om af te tree.
Volgens Veldsman het die skoolbeheerliggaam besef sy aftrede sal ʼn reuse-impak op die skool en die gemeenskap hê.
“Groot veranderinge gaan gewoonlik met ʼn tydperk van onsekerheid gepaard. Vir die skool om ʼn nuwe karakter rondom ʼn nuwe naam te bou sal sterk leierskap van ʼn hoof en die hele skoolbeheerliggaam as ʼn eenheid vereis en daarom was dit vir die beheerliggaam belangrik om eers te wag totdat ʼn nuwe hoof aangestel is,” het sy gesê.
Debré Bam, die nuwe skoolhoof, is in Oktober 2017 aangestel en die skool kon daarna met die naamsveranderingsproses voortgaan.
Die besluit om die skool se naam te verander volg nadat die Gautengse onderwysdepartement in 2016 ʼn omsendbrief uitgestuur het waarin hy skole “met ʼn naam wat aanstoot kan gee” gevra het om dié name te heroorweeg.
Skole wat vernoem is na ʼn persoon wat voor die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in 1994 bygedra het “tot die ondermyning van menseregte” is destyds gevra om daaroor te besin, asook skole waarvan die naam “ʼn negatiewe betekenis het vir enige lid van die publiek of wat ʼn embleem of slagspreuk het wat aanstoot gee”.
Panyaza Lesufi, die LUR vir Gautengse onderwys, het in Maart 2016 gelas dat enige skoolnaam of -wapen moet verander wat met onderdrukking of rasse-oppergesag verbind kan word.
Cosas, ʼn studenteliggaam, het aan die einde van 2016 verder druk op Lesufi geplaas om skole se name te verander wat volgens die organisasie steeds apartheid vereer. Dié studenteliggaam het destyds sy visier hieroor op talle skole in Pretoria gestel. Die Hoërskool Hendrik Verwoerd, asook Pretoria High School for Girls is onder meer oor hulle name gekap.
Die Gautengse onderwysdepartement was teen die plasing van hierdie artikel nog nie beskikbaar vir kommentaar oor die kwessie nie.
Die Tshwane-metro het gewaarsku dat talle woonbuurte in Pretoria Dinsdag moontlik sonder watertoevoer gaan wees.
Lindela Mashigo, woordvoerder van die metro, het gesê die metro se waterverskaffer, Rand Water, het die raad kennis gegee dat die Garsfontein-reservoir in die ooste van die stad afgeskakel gaan word vir beplande instandhoudingswerk.
“Watertoevoer sal van 09:00 tot omstreeks 23:00 afgeskakel wees om ʼn ou watermeter met ʼn moderne een te vervang. Voor dié tydperk sal die reservoir tot sy maksimum kapasiteit gevul wees om water aan die woonbuurte te voorsien, maar inwoners word egter versoek om water spaarsamig te gebruik om te verhoed dat dié water opgebruik word, anders sal dit tot wateronderbrekings lei,” het Mashigo gesê.
Die woonbuurte wat geraak sal word indien wateronderbrekings plaasvind, is Bergtuin, Colbyn, Derdepoort, East Lynne, Ekklesia, Jan Niemandpark, Kenley-kleinhoewes, Kilnerpark, Koedoespoort, Montana, Môregloed, Queenswood, Rietfontein, Rietondale, Villieria, Waverley, Waltloo, Eersterust, Meyerspark, Silverton, Val de Grace, Murrayfield, Lynnwood, Die Wilgers, Wapadrand, Equestria, Faerie Glen, Garsfontein, Pretoriuspark, Mamelodi, Samcorpark, La Montagne, Moreletapark, Elarduspark en Rietvalleirand.
Selby Bokaba, woordvoerder van die metro, sê busbestuurders het Woensdag omstreeks 12:00 opgehou werk en alle hekke by al die busdepots gesluit om busse te verhinder om die depots te verlaat.
“Hulle weier om redes te verskaf waarom hulle staak.”
Die stakende busbestuurders is lede van die Suid-Afrikaanse Munisipale Werkersunie (Samwu).
“Ander busbestuurders van ander vakbonde soos Imatu (die Municipal and Allied Trade Union) wil werk, maar het uit vrees vir hul lewe ook nie vir werk opgedaag nie.”
Die metro sal dringend met die stakende werkers vergader om ’n oplossing te probeer vind om hul “onbekende griewe” te hanteer.
“Die bestuur van die metro meen onderhandelings is die beste en enigste oplossing om die griewe van die werknemers op te klaar, wat dit ook al mag wees.
“Ons vra ons buspendelaars om verskoning vir die ongerief wat hulle weens die staking ervaar. Ons doen ’n beroep op hulle om ander reisreëlings te tref. Ons sal hulle op die hoogte van sake hou.”
Dié busdiens is in die verlede verskeie kere weens arbeidsgeskille ontwrig.
Deur: Netwerk 24
On Friday, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa gave a report-back on work being done to transform South Africa’s heritage landscape.
He noted it was necessary to continue to dismantle the apartheid social structure, including the removal of colonial and apartheid-era monuments and place names.
The process initiated by Mthethwa in 2015 was a response to incidents surrounding statues in public spaces, after the demand for the removal of a statue of Cecil John Rhodes at the University of Cape Town. It sparked a national debate over the transformation of the heritage landscape to foster a new national identity.
Among the resolutions taken was that there was a need to create civic awareness and national consciousness using shared symbols such as the flag and national anthem, while offensive names and other “symbols of hate” should be removed.
However, this did not mean every old name and statue had to be removed. Where such symbols reflected separate histories, an idea was mooted to create public spaces where they may be retained but grouped with others – such as heroes of the fight for justice and freedom – to offer a narrative of our shared history.
This approach has led to the decision to retain the bronze statue of Paul Kruger, which has stood on Church Square for more than 60 years, as part of the redevelopment currently underway with lawns, trees and benches, making it a more welcoming public space.
Residents can expect to see, as part of the plan, new statues in conversation with Kruger, starting with Kgosi Mampuru II, who was hanged at the former Pretoria prison in 1883 (the year Kruger became president of the South African Republic), and after whom the city prison was renamed in 2013.
The compromise position can be seen in Pretoria, where streets such as Hans Strijdom and Hendrik Verwoerd have been renamed; we have Steve Biko Hospital and Sefako Makgatho University; new monuments such as Freedom Park and the Living Women’s Monument.
The debate around symbols and names is by no means over, and we should continue to embrace change which can lead to dignity and social cohesion.
False information on social media following a daring heist on the N4 on Friday was hampering investigations, police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said on Monday.
He said some dishonest social media users were spreading misinformation that three suspects were later caught, shot and killed by the police.
He warned that some people were misleading the public by posting photographs on social media.
“Concerned citizens who sought justice need not be entertained by such reports, but work with the police to help catch the culprits.”
Masondo was speaking on the incident which happened last week in which nine men armed with rifles shot at a G4 Security vehicle, forcing it to stop, on the N4 between Ga-Rankuwa and the R80.
The suspects then overwhelmed three security officers out of the vehicle before using explosives to destroy the truck.
Masondo said the security officers were not harmed in the process and the private companies involved in the cash-in-transit heist were responsible for the provision of counselling for their staff.
An undisclosed amount of money was taken from the vehicle, and the police were determined to continue investigations until the suspects were arrested.
“The information being spread is misleading, considering that the suspects are still on the run; the police did not shoot and kill any people in relation to the heist.
“We need the public to help us catch the culprits by calling our offices to provide information and tips,” Masondo said.
While the police may not speak of ongoing investigations, it is believed that one of their leads was that the suspects were spotted fleeing in two Audi A4 vehicles.
Cash-in-transit heists remained one of the criminal activities targeted by former Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula.
Attackers are usually heavily armed and often travel in hijacked vehicles, which they later dump.
Anyone able to assist the police with their manhunt for the suspects should call 0860 10111.
The Star
Eers het die Pretoria Boeremark by die Pioniersmuseum in die slag gebly, toe is dit Tant Miertjie se kombuisrestaurant by die Willem Prinsloo-museum wat sy deure moet sluit.
Nou is die nuutste slagoffer van Ditsong Museums van Suid-Afrika glo The Rose Garden-teetuin by die Sammy Marks-museum, wat sy deure ná 25 suksesvolle jare moet sluit.
Volgens Werner Weinbeck (74), eienaar van die teetuin, is dit vir hom vreeslik hartseer om sy deure nou ná al die jare te sluit omdat Ditsong Museums glo besluit het om die teetuin op tender uit te sit.
Werner Weinbeck, eienaar van The Rose Garden-teetuin by die Sammy Marks-museum, moet sy gereelde klante nou ná 25 suksesvolle jare groet.
“Hierdie was my plek. Dis so mooi en rustig hier by die museum. Ek het elke dag met ’n lied in my hart kom werk. Dis die einde van ’n baie goeie hoofstuk in my lewe. Ek is verpletter, maar ek het nie ’n ander keuse as om aan te beweeg nie,” sê Weinbeck.
Benewens die teetuin het Weinbeck ook baie eksklusiewe sesgang-etes in die museum aangebied.
“Die etes was gewild. Ek het ook piekniekmandjies gepak vir mense wat hier wou kom piekniek hou en het gereeld werksfunksies aangebied. Dit is nou als op ’n einde.”
Volgens Alana Bailey, adjunk- uitvoerende hoof van AfriForum, is dit wêreldwyd ontsettend moeilik om finansiering vir erfenisinstansies te kry en is dit hartseer dat suksesvolle museums op hierdie manier skade berokken word.
“As iets soos ’n mark of restaurant by ’n museum is en dit werk, moet jy nie daaraan torring nie. Pretoria is nie soos Kaapstad wat jaarliks honderde duisende toeriste lok nie,” sê Bailey.
As daar suksesvolle markte of restaurante by ’n museum is wat voete lok, hoekom wil jy dan daaraan karring?
“Dit is op die ou end grotendeels tot nadeel van die museum. Hierdie mark en restaurante het baie voete na die museums gelok, wat ontsettend belangrik is vir die oorlewing en sinvolle bestaan van die museums,” sê Baily.
“Tenders is ook nie altyd ’n vreeslike deursigtige proses nie. Ons sal moet kyk hoe dit bestuur word. Ek hoop van harte dit word nie toegeken aan mense wat op die ou end nie die pyp kan rook nie.”
Volgens Johan van Wyk, organiseerder van die Pretoria Boeremark, het Ditsong Museums tot vandag toe nie vir hom terugvoering oor die tenderproses gegee nie.
Dít nadat Ditsong Museums verlede jaar besluit het om die huurkontrak met die Pretoria Boeremark ná 13 jaar te beëindig en om ’n tender uit te sit vir diensverskaffers om die perseel te huur.
“Hulle het my nie eens laat weet dat ek nie die tender gekry het nie. Al wat ek weet is dat die museum nou die R6 000 per week, die bedrag wat ek per week betaal het om die perseel te huur, verloor het.
“Ons is nou ses maande daar weg. Dit beteken die museum het sowat R144 000 aan huurinkomste verloor. Om nie eens te praat van al die mense wat weekliks die mark bygewoon het nie.
“Besoekers aan die mark het dan gesien dat dit ’n oulike perseel is en gereeld kinderpartytjies ens. by die museum kom aanbied oor naweke. Die partytjies het nou opgedroog en so ook die besoekers aan die museum. Doodeenvoudig omdat daar nie meer ’n trekpleister is wat besoekers daarheen lok nie,” sê Van Wyk.
Volgens Lemohang Zincume, woordvoerder van Ditsong Museums Suid-Afrika, was die rede om nuwe kontrakte toe te ken by die Willem Prinsloo-, Pioniers-, en Sammy Marks-museum om oop en mededingende kompetisie te bewerkstellig.
Die Boeremark se huurkontrak met Ditsong het in 2017 verstryk. Die kontrak was uit op tender, maar daar was ’n dispuut tydens die kontrakfase.
Die geleentheid moet ook ten voordeel van die ontwikkeling van klein-, middelslag en mikro-ondernemings (KMMO’s), vroue en gestremde mense wees.
“Die kontrak vir die huidige diensverskaffer by die Sammy Marks-museum het al op 1 Junie 2008 verstryk.
“Van daardie tydperk af het die diensverskaffer op ’n maand-tot-maand-grondslag gewerk. Ditsong is besig met ’n tenderproses,”sê Zincume.
Volgens haar is die huurkontrak van die diensverskaffer by die Willem Prinsloo-museum nie hernu nie, weens kontrakbreuk.
“Die kontrak was uit op tender, maar is weens ’n dispuut nie gefinaliseer nie. Die Boeremark se huurkontrak met Ditsong het in 2017 verstryk. Die kontrak was uit op tender, maar daar was ’n dispuut tydens die kontrakfase.
“Die kontrak sal weer op tender uitgesit word om ’n nuwe diensverskaffer aan te stel,” sê sy.
Foto: Werner Weinbeck, eienaar van The Rose Garden-teetuin by die Sammy Marks-museum, moet sy gereelde klante nou ná 25 suksesvolle jare groet.
Deur: Netwerk 24
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