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Frail and elderly patients at Huis Davidtz Retirement Home take on role of nurses after yet another service disruption at the home

Frail and elderly patients at Huis Davidtz Retirement Home take on role of nurses due to strike action

Pretoria – The frail and elderly patients at Huis Davidtz Retirement Home assumed the role of nurses, while they cleaned dishes and swept the floor, after yet another service disruption at the home.

Some did not receive their daily chronic medication, while others were cleaned and fed late.

One patient who has arthritis lay with a urine filled and unchanged diaper, which further gave the room a strong scent.

The person was one of many patients at the troubled centre in the CBD, who have been left unattended while staff, who have worked there for decades without work contracts, went on strike.

The issue of contracts date back to two decades ago with staff claiming they have worked at the home for more than 20 years without employment contracts.

They also made allegations of racism, the abuse of patients by management, being underpaid, and more.

In August, disgruntled nurses, volunteers, chefs and cleaners went on a three-day strike, led by the EFF with police keeping watch.

It came on the heels of another protest in March. Only four staff nurses are currently volunteering to look after more than 1000 patients but said they were barely coping.

One volunteer said she resorted to asking some of the patients to assist with duties.

One of the workers who has also downed tools said they feared the Life Esidimeni tragedy would repeat itself at the centre.

They vowed not to go back to work until something was done.

“We don’t want another Life Esidimeni incident here, but we also don’t have a choice because we want to see these issues get resolved.

The government if fully aware of what’s happening here but no one wants to assist us, so we are not going back to work until we get the help we need,” she said.

The Social Development MEC, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, called for an urgent investigation into the home in August last year.

Mayathula-Khoza asked for a full report with solid evidence on all allegations labelled against the centre, which led to employees going on strike.

She asked for the report during her visit to the centre. She said she could only come up with an action plan to resolve the issues once a report has been compiled.

Pretoria News
This report does not necessarily reflects the opinion of SA-news.


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Nuwe burgemeester van Tshwane kanselleer GladAfrica-kontrak – firma wat tender onregmatig ontvang het was onder meer daarvoor verantwoordelik om dienslewering te monitor

Nuwe burgemeester van Tshwane kanselleer GladAfrica-kontrak- firma wat tender onregmatig ontvang het was onder meer daarvoor verantwoordelik om dienslewering te monitor

Die metroraad in Tshwane het met die ingenieursfirma GladAfrica ooreengekom om hul omstrede multimijoenrandkontrak te beëindig.

Stevens Mokgalapa, uitvoerende burgemeester van die Tshwane-metro, het dié aankondiging Maandag op ‘n mediakonferensie in Tshwane-huis in Pretoria gemaak.

Mokgalapa is vroeër die maand as die stad se nuwe burgemeester aangewys.

Die ouditeur-generaal het bevind dat die tender wat in November 2017 aan GladAfrica toegeken is, onreëlmatig was.

Hy het ook bevind dat die stadsbestuurder, dr. Moeketsi Mosola, met die toekenning van die tender die Wet op die Bestuur van Munisipale Finansies oortree het.

Werksaamhede tussen GladAfrica en die munisipaliteit sal op 30 Junie tot ‘n einde kom.

“Ons gee hulle kans om die werk waarvoor ons hulle reeds betaal het, klaar te maak,” sê Mokgalapa.

“GladAfrica was besorg oor hul reputasie wat weens die sage skade lei en was bereid om die kontrak te kanselleer. Daar is nie noodwendig iets fout met die werk wat GladAfrica doen nie, dit gaan eerder oor hoe die tender aangewys is.”

Die metroraad het reeds byna R500 miljoen op die GladAfrica-kontrak spandeer.

Die firma was onder meer daarvoor verantwoordelik om dienslewering te monitor. Mokgalapa het onderneem om al die aanbevelings van die ouditeur-generaal te implementeer.

Mosola word steeds deur die metroraad ondersoek.

Deur: Netwerk24
Hierdie berig weerspieël nie noodwendig die mening van SAUK-nuus nie.


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HUGE LAND CLAIM IN CENTURION – Alarmingly the land claim also includes Laerskool Rooihuiskraal and a piece of the Danie Joubert N1 highway, property affected is estimated at over R4Billion

HUGE LAND CLAIM IN CENTURION - Alarmingly the land claim also includes Laerskool Rooihuiskraal and a piece of the Danie Joubert N1 highway, property affected is estimated at over R4Billion

As we reported before, land claims in suburban areas are becoming the norm. The stark reality is that people should realize that these land claims are a far greater threat than what they initially thought.

Front National attended a meeting on 19 February 2019, held by Afriforum at Leriba Lodge, pertaining to the pending land claim in Centurion. The land claim stretches over 4000 hectares and it effects more than 2000 households. This includes areas such as: Zwartkop, Doornkloof, Rooihuiskraal, Olievenhoutbosch, Hoekplaats, Trigaardspoort, The Reeds, Brakfontein, Heuweloord, Louwlardia, Kosmosdal and Midstream. Some properties have up to seven claims on the same property and each claim must be dealt with individually. Alarmingly the land claim also includes Laerskool Rooihuiskraal (with 2000 Afrikaans pupils) and a piece of the Danie Joubert N1 highway. The total value of all the property affected is estimated at over R4Billion. The attendance was huge and more than 1000 people attended the meeting. Front National stands in solidarity with their members who are also affected by these land claims and Front National supports any initiative that will appose these questionable land claims.

Kallie Kriel, CEO of Afriforum, says that political leaders have created unrealistic expectations about land and that Afriforum will not stand back and allow legal owners of land pay the price for this.

As we reported before, the claim was lodged in 1998 on behalf of 39 members of the Mahlangu family, but only gazetted 20 years later, in June 2018. In the meantime all the original claimants passed on. That alone raises many question marks why the claimants waited a full 20 years before the claim was gazetted. A similar claim is also pending in Pretoria-East.

Ian Cameron, head of safety for Afriforum, says that since the 1st of January 2019, over 70 land-grabs were reported. Irresponsible comments by politicians and frivolous land claims is setting the tone for these kind of land-grabs. Afriforum have drafted and outlined a comprehensive 13 point plan to fight these land claims in Centurion.

Willie Spies, form Hurter & Spies Attorneys, says that property ownership in South Africa is severely under threat. The looming changes to Sec25 of the Constitution, compounds the problem. Currently, any person who wants to sell their property, or rent out their property or make any changes on the property must first give 30 days notice to the Land claims Commissioner. Government have given an extension on all land claims until June 2019. Indications are that there is another 15 pending land claims in the Centurion area and will be submitted before June 2019.

These claims have a direct influence on property values. But it not only influences the properties directly affected by the claims, but it also effects the value of neighboring properties as well.

Residents have formed a civic rights group called ReThRo. Both Afriforum and ReThRo have taken hands to address this land claim together. Any person who would like to find out if their property is affected by the land claim can visit their website and see on the maps if their property is on the list. Their website is: www.rethro.org.za

These land claims have set the tone of what we can expect in the future. Suburban areas, including schools and highways are under threat and we need to take heed of what is happening. Land claims are not just limited to farms or empty pieces of land anymore.

We encourage our members to submit their mandates and objections on the allocated Afriforum website. Even if you are not affected by the land claim, you can still object to the land claim as these land claims directly influence property rights and property values. You can also find out more about the land claims and what they entail. Go to: www.grondeis.co.za
People can also submit queries to: [email protected]

Front National agree that property rights are fundamental rights that are protected by International Law. We also encourage our members to fight these dubious land claims collectively. Every legal remedy should be used to protect your property rights. BUT, we do not know for how long can our people stave off these land claims and land grabs indefinitely. We have seen what happened in Zimbabwe and we see many similarities happening here in South Africa. We need to keep in mind that the Land Claim Commissioners are political appointees and the mere fact that these kind of questionable and dubious claims are even considered and the looming changes to Section 25 of the Constitution, should serve as a serious warning.

Front National maintains that the only sure way that we can guarantee our future and guarantee the protection of our property rights, is to have self-determination in our own self-governed area. We have the right to self-determination in terms of trite International Law, several International Treaties and Section 235 of our Constitution. It is time that we claim our right.

Front Nasionaal
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Civil rights organisation, ’AfriForum tackles 4 000 hectare residential land claim in Centurion

civil rights organisation’

AfriForum announced at a media conference in Centurion on 5 February 2019, that the civil rights organisation’s legal representatives had informed the Land Claims Commission in writing of the organisation’s intent to oppose a land claim that had been instituted on about 4 000 hectares residential land in the Centurion area.

“AfriForum already has the necessary resources to take immediate action against this claim. We want to ensure our members and the affected community that this attack on their property will not pass unobserved. AfriForum already has an action plan in place and is taking the necessary steps to oppose this attack on private property rights,” says Ian Cameron, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety.

AfriForum will hold a community meeting on 19 February 2019 at 19:00 at the Leriba Lodge to address community members who own immovable property in Centurion. The organisation will inform the community at the meeting of all the facts surrounding the land claim, as well as the steps to be taken, the organisation’s action plan and what has already been done.

“It is important that the community knows all the facts and that it presents AfriForum with a written mandate to enable the organisation to fight this battle on their behalf,” Cameron says.

Read the original article in Afrikaans on AfriForum


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SAPS is looking the other way as no active steps are being taken to prevent the wave of crime that is ravishing parts of Kameeldrift, East in Pretoria

SAPS is looking the other way as no active steps are being taken taken to prevent the wave of crime that is ravishing parts of Kameeldrift, East in Pretoria

Despite a wave of crime that ravages Kameeldrift East in Pretoria, it seems that the SAPS is simply looking the other way, as no active steps are being taken to provide badly needed relief for this agricultural community.

AfriForum launched several actions to support this besieged area in its battle to call the SAPS to account to ensure that the local police station functions properly to effectively help the community.

Among other, AfriForum launched a court application to compel the community to send reservists for the prescribed training to enable them to supplement the understaffed police station. AfriForum also monitors the investigation of various cases, among them that of former Springbok Naka Drotské, who was injured during a farm attack on his brother’s smallholding.

Another is that of Manie Entres, whose wife was murdered in his presence. In both cases, the SAPS investigative abilities were shocking. AfriForum has already voiced its dissatisfaction in a letter to Gen. Wiese, Cluster Head of the area. Gen. Wiese has not yet replied to the letter, despite follow-up letters in this regard.

“AfriForum shares the frustration of the Kameeldrift East community and will continue to launch actions to compel the SAPS to fulfil its constitutional mandate,” says Hillel Coetzer, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety for the northern region.

“As civil rights watchdog, AfriForum succeeds time and again in calling law enforcement authorities to account through its initiatives. AfriForum will continue to do so,” concludes Marnus Kamfer, Legal and Risk Manager at AfriForum’s Community Safety division.

Read the original article in Afrikaans on AfriForum
This report does not necessarily reflects the opinion of SA-news.


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Pretoria train collision: Four dead, 620 injured – Prasa please explain to us how on earth did this happen!

Pretoria train collision: Four dead, 620 injured - Prasa please explain to us how on earth did this happen!

Four people died and 620 other commuters were injured when two trains collided near Pretoria’s Mountain View train station, Netcare911 said on Tuesday afternoon.

Netcare911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst told TimesLIVE that injuries suffered ranged from minor to moderate.

“All the people have been removed. One person sustained critical injuries.”

Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng said the two trains were both travelling on the same line towards Pretoria from Mabopane.

Two trains collided in Pretoria on January 8 2019 during the early-morning rush-hour commute. Four people have been killed and hundreds injured.

Mofokeng said a board of inquiry would be instituted to determine the root cause of the accident.

Trains running between Pretoria, Mabopane and Dewildt are temporarily suspended until further notice.

All commuters in possession of valid weekly and monthly tickets will be transported by bus until the line is reopened.

Metrorail said it would set up a walk-in centre at Pretoria station to assist commuters involved in the accident.

“We urge commuters to bring the relevant documents with for processing,” Mofokeng said.

Gauteng MEC for roads and transport Ismail Vadi has called on the Passenger Rail Agency of SA and the Railway Safety Regulator to “urgently investigate” the cause of the crash.

Vadi said urgent measures must also be implemented to improve commuters’ safety on trains.

“We are deeply shocked by this tragic accident so early in the new year.

“We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” Vadi said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa sent his condolences to the crash victims.

“Our thoughts are with those who lost their lives and their families. To the injured I would like to wish you all a speedy recovery,” Ramaphosa said.

“I would like to also encourage emergency services team on the scene to do all in their powers to help those who are still trapped under the train.”

Transport minister Blade Nzimande, Prasa and the Railway Safety Regulator will host a media briefing on Tuesday at 5pm.


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Prasa will completely close Pretoria Railway Station with no trains accessing the station for 40 days

Prasa will completely close Pretoria Railway Station with no trains accessing the station for 40 days

Prasa will completely close Pretoria Railway Station with no trains accessing the station for 40 days with effect from December 14 until January 22.

The work will involve the replacement of old signals, turnouts and points machines as part of Prasa’s modernisation programme. The benefits of a new modernised infrastructure will be a safer, faster, smoother and world class train service with improved traveling times.

An occupation will be taken during this period and trains will be monitored to ensure safe movement. During the construction phase the following train service will apply:

1. Trains from the Saulsville corridor (00), De Wildt corridor (44) and Mabopane (18) will turn around at Bosman Station.

2. All trains on the northern side will terminate at Bosman Station and Mears Street Station.

3. A shuttle train service (31s) will run between Mears Street Station and Koedoespoort. Buses will ferry commuters to Bosman Station.

4. Another shuttle train service (81s) will run between Pienaarspoort to Bosman via Capital Park route.

5. All Johannesburg – Pretoria trains (06s) will turn at Centurion Station, buses will ferry commuters to Bosman Station.

6. The only tickets that will be sold are to commuters traveling between listed stations.

Commuters are advised to adhere to the service announcements made at stations during this period to be familiar with the revised train timetable.

The final testing and commissioning of the newly installed electronic signalling system in the Park Station complex is going well. Many platforms had been turned back to operations running with the new system, proving that the transition from the old system to the new electronic interlocking system had been a huge success.

By: kemptonexpress


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Shock at costly funeral for Tshwane ANC councillor where taxpayers had to fork out a whopping R576 000

Shock at costly funeral for Tshwane ANC councillor where taxpayers had to fork out a whopping R576 000

Tshwane council Speaker Katlego Mathebe has been mired in controversy after allegations surfaced that her office unlawfully forked out a whopping R576 000 for catering at a late ANC councillor’s funeral.

The matter, which has baffled even the official opposition ANC, came to light during the ordinary council sitting last Thursday.

At the meeting, Mathebe’s office submitted a report detailing how it was forced to deviate from the Supply Chain Management Act when it procured services for funeral preparations.

Winterveldt ANC councillor Esther Matumane, who was afforded a civic funeral, died outside her home after being shot several times in September.

Senior ANC councillor Mapiti Matsena expressed shock at claims that the City parted with R500 000 to cover aspects of the funeral costs. “An amount of R576 000 is extremely high for procuring a service provider.”

The amount was probably spent on buying groceries for the bereaved family, given that civic funeral policies didn’t make provision for purchasing a coffin, he said.

The City hand-picked a service provider because it didn’t have a panel of service providers from which to choose one at a reasonable cost.

Matsena estimated that funeral costs should have been in the region of R200 000 if the City had obtained quotes from various service providers.

He called for a probe to be instituted into the alleged rot, saying exorbitant costs were unjustifiable.

Matsena, who was strategic executive head in the Speaker’s office when the ANC governed the City, said there had never been instances where funeral costs sky-rocketed to that amount.

High costs incurred by the City was despite the fact that there had been no groceries bought for the affected family on the eve of the funeral.

Matsena said corruption and fraud might have been committed when procuring services for the funeral of his late comrade.

“If we can go to the family of the deceased and disclose that close to R600 000 was spent on their daughter’s funeral, they would be surprised.

“They would say we should have instead given them at least R150 000 to give their daughter a proper burial,” Matsena said.

Mathebe concurred that an investigation ought to be undertaken by the chief audit executive into the procurement of services for the funeral.

Matsena suggested the probe outcome be submitted to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee for scrutiny. Should the investigation uncover wrongdoing, those implicated must be forced to pay back the money, he said.

By:iOl News

This report does not necessarily reflects the opinion of SA-news.


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EFF warns Rosslyn companies during protest: Police won’t be able to protect you – demand a basic minimum wage of R12 500

EFF warns Rosslyn companies during protest: Police won’t be able to protect you - demand a basic minimum wage of R12 500

Thousands of EFF members, some who work in the area, marched on Thursday to demand a basic minimum wage of R12 500 and worker ownership and control to the South African Breweries, PRAGA Technical, BMW, Nissan, Afrit Trailers and Coca-Cola.

Tshwane Secretary Nqobile Mhlongo told BMW that workers will close down the area if their demands are not met.

“There is no political or police force which will protect companies in Rosslyn area from thousands of workers. Companies must not wait until there is no time and there is social instability which will collapse business in the area until they extend ownership of companies to workers. The sooner we realise economic freedom for workers, the better for Rosslyn to grow economically.”

The party’s deputy chairperson Leofi Leshabane said workers have complained to Nissan about being on night shift for several years without any rotation but nothing has been done.

There are also complaints of racism at Afrit Trailers and Praga Technical.

“We demand an immediate end to continues intimidation and racial attacks on workers, the majority of whom are black. We demand that all former employees must receive their pension and provident fund payouts without any further delays. We demand a proper response within seven days,” said Leshabane.

By: Jakaranda FM / Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile


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South Africa’s first clear-water lagoon is Pretoria’s new ‘beach’

South Africa’s first clear-water lagoon is Pretoria’s new ‘beach’

Landlocked Pretoria just got a new ‘beach’ thanks to South Africa’s first clear-water lagoon.

It took Balwin Properties two years to make history in Sub-Saharan Africa, by constructing the first ‘beach’ of its kind. The Blyde, which officially opened on 8 September, is an exclusive housing estate in Pretoria East, which features 1.5-hectare The Blyde.

Cost of construction
While it’s unlikely to replace the seasonal exodus to coastal hotspots, Pretoria’s new ‘beach’ and residential complex provides an unusual oasis for residents of The Blyde. The project, which was spearheaded in partnership with Crystal Lagoons in 2016, cost an estimated R4.2 billion to construct and is only accessible to residents of The Blyde.

While The Blyde’s lagoon is definitely the main attraction, other facilities include a restaurant, gym, spa, concierge, laundromat, and multi-purpose sports fields. Residents can enjoy swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing on the lagoon.

Environmental impact
The lagoon, which is equivalent to more than two rugby fields combined, promises to be an eco-friendly attraction. Alastair Sinclair, regional director at Crystal Lagoons, explains that the development uses less water than an average golf course, saying:

“Crystal Lagoons’ technology addresses the concerns around the use of water and the energy needed to maintain conventional swimming pools. Also, any type of water can be used – ground water, salt water and even brackish water are all suitable to fill a beach-like Lagoon.”

Water saving technology developed by scientist Fernando Fischmann, aims to reduce upkeeps costs and allow for the use of rainwater. Water evaporation has also been minimised thanks to micro-film technology.

Technology now available to other African countries
State of the art filtration systems also cut down on energy consumption, while still keeping the water crystal clear.

Sinclair states that the development is an ecological and scientific phenomenon which is just the first of many to be implemented across South Africa:

“We are delighted with the inauguration of this crystalline lagoon at the Blyde in Pretoria, as it will not only provide tremendous value to our partners, Balwin Properties, and the residents of this development, but it also means that our company’s technology is now present on all five continents.

By: The South African