Blitzbokke in it to win it

The buzz in the city has been clear to see, with tickets for both Saturday and Sunday sold out as coach Neil Powell's men look to win their third straight tournament on home soil. The Blitzboks are one of the favourites going into the second leg of the 2015-16 series with Fiji, England and New Zealand the other major threats, even though they lost in the quarterfinals in Dubai last week. South Africa are aiming for their third consecutive title on home soil after winning the last two in Port Elizabeth‚ but they will have to do it without current World Player of the Year Werner Kok and experienced play-maker Cecil Afrika‚ who are both out injured.

In Cape Town, South Africa are drawn in Pool B alongside last week’s finalists in Dubai, England, as well as Kenya and Zimbabwe. Brown said: “Nothing special is planned but there is a little more excitement bubbling under the surface than usual. “I’m keen to get on to the field to see how that plays out.”  And while it is shaping up to be a special weekend for Brown, he is underplaying his milestone ... like any good captain would. 

"I’m going to go and play some rugby … some good rugby, hopefully," Brown said."Nothing special, I feel like I’m just privileged enough to have played in this team for a long period of time and that’s special enough for me."\Brown did acknowledge that there was something different in the air this time around, though."I’m really excited. There’s a little more excitement bubbling under the surface than usual so I’m looking forward to getting onto the field and hopefully we can deliver the goods," he said.

On the face of it the Blitzboks have a favourable pool and should cruise into the last eight, but as last weekend showed, nothing is easy in Sevens any more. The US upset SA 21-19 in the quarterfinals last weekend and Kenya and England, in particular, could ruin the home team’s party if they are complacent or over -confident. South Africa and Kenya have met 42 times on the circuit,with the Blitzboks enjoying 37 wins and only four losses to the East Africans in that time. Against England the head-tohead is much tighter. In 62 clashes South Africa have won 33 and England 29 times. The last time they met was in April in the final of the Tokyo leg, which England won 21-14. “Our goal is always to top the pool after day one, but it won’t be easy because England, Kenya and even Zimbabwe will be tough,” Powell said.

Batsman who needs runs – South Africa

After a dismal series with the bat against India, there are a number of Proteas willow-wielders who are desperate for runs against England this summer.  Nobody other than AB de Villiers – and even that is a push by his standards – excelled in what was a disastrous Test series against India. Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy did not deliver in conditions that screamed for leaders to stand up and be counted, and they return to home conditions for four Tests against England knowing that they must prove their worth.

But there is surely nobody hungrier for runs than Stiaan van Zyl, who has been backed as an opening batsman once more for the first two England Tests. Van Zyl was dropped for the fourth Test against India after his Ravichandran Ashwin-induced hypnosis saw him stutter to 56 runs in five knocks. Ashwin had dismissed him in all of those innings. “We asked Van Zyl to open the batting for us in the sub-continent conditions. It is only fair that we back a player and give him a run in South Africa and then we’ll assess it from there,” convener of selectors Linda Zondi told Sport24

"We still have the options of Cookie (Stephen Cook) and Reeza (Hendricks). We all know that Stiaan has done well in his position in the middle order so when we asked him to open, it is only fair to have a real look."  The fact that Zondi mentioned Stephen Cook and Reeza Hnedricks (both in the SA A squad that will take on England in a warm-up before the Test series starts) should be a loud enough warning to Van Zyl that he needs to get some runs, and quickly. But it was the failures of the experienced campaigners in India that would have been most concerning.

"In as much as we know that these guys haven’t played as we hoped they would in India, we can’t just disregard experience like that," said Zondi.

The markets react harshly to Nene sacking

David Van Rooyen replaced Nhanhla Nene, who was sacked on Wednesday evening by President Jacob Zuma. The move was condemned by many, with some questioning the logic behind Zuma’s decision. “I have decided to remove Mr Nhlanhla Nene as minister of finance, ahead of his deployment to another strategic position,” Zuma said in a statement. The markets reacted with shock to the news of Nene’s appointment at the time, but not nearly to the extent that greeted the announcement that he would be replaced by Van Rooyen. The new finance minister takes over the portfolio when the economy is in a much more fragile state and when a firm hand is needed more than before.

Van Rooyen, 47, has been a loyal member of the ANC for decades but has nowhere near the experience of his predecessor to boost his credibility – and the markets have judged him harshly. DA finance committee member Alf Lees said Van Rooyen’s lackluster performance on the committee did not inspire confidence that he had what was required to be finance minister. “He is a lightweight within the ANC,” Lees said. Van Rooyen served as the Whip of the Standing Committee on Finance and as Whip of the Economic Transformation Cluster.

He was also a former executive mayor of Merafong Municipality and a former North West provincial chairperson of the South African Local Government Association. “I have full confidence that he will be able to execute the task ahead of him,” finance standing committee chairman Thaba Mufamadi said. “He is focused, with close attention to detail and is a pragmatist. He can be very stubborn.” According to DA MP David Ross, Van Rooyen always subordinated strictly financial questions to the ANC’s political agenda.

This was confirmed by Van Rooyen himself yesterday after his swearing in at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. He emphasized that the government’s development agenda would be the axis of policy making. He also said he wanted the Treasury to become well known to people living in rural areas, which is arguably not a top priority in these economically difficult times.

 “I was surprised that someone who did not leave any great mark on the area could be appointed finance minister,” Shilowa said. “He was ineffective and did not make a difference so how can he make a difference for the whole country? “However, Johan Swartz, a DA councilor in Merafong since 2000, had more positive views. “He was a very solid character with good leadership qualities,” Swartz said. “I think he was one of the best executive mayors we have had and I have seen them all.”

There has been speculation that more reshuffles were on the cards with Radebe, Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande and Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said to be in the firing line. Radebe however refused to comment on the issue, and said the decision ultimately rested with Zuma.

Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi jumped in to respond to the question.

“At no stage is Cabinet ever told if there is going to be a reshuffle. We learn about it as you do. It is never announced to Cabinet. We are appointed as ministers at the behest of the president and we are removed if he decides otherwise he does,” he said.

Van Rooyen has diplomas in business management and municipal governance; certificates in municipal governance, finance, economics and public finance, investment analysis and portfolio management; and a master’s degree in public development and management as well as an MSc in finance (economic policy) from the University of London.

Traditional healers adapt to modernity

 By Ayabonga Nkalitshana

‘Unity is strength’- is the slogan used by the Traditional Healers Association, which held a workshop at the University of Fort Hare, to educate and create awareness about some of the challenges being faced by traditional healers in the Eastern Cape and South Africa at large. “Our slogan is important because it says strength is unity, we conquer as one, meaning unity gives us strength as traditional healers,” said Mrs. Celiwe Dicalmo, who was part of the workshop and a traditional healer.

The workshop was to educate traditional healers about what is expected of them by society and what conduct or actions are not acknowledged by society and other traditional healers. The organisation’s aim is to ensure that traditional healers are familiar with society and get right of entry to areas, in which they are restricted to enter and get traditional medicine, areas like forests which require consent to gain access. It was also to help traditional healers to be registered and be able to enter hospitals and heal people with traditional medicine.

Abongile Sam, who is one of the traditional healers, said, “The workshop and organisation helps us learn to value and treat our patients properly, and also accepted ways of behaving as traditional healers”. The organisation encourages traditional healers together with initiators and other health practitioners to work together and support each other because the main purpose is to heal people, and their health is more important than money. One of the many things which were predestined in the workshop is the killing of people in the name of healing with human organs.

 The event was organised with the help of Mrs Sandlana, who is part of Psychology Department at Fort Hare University, together with the head office of Traditional Healers Association (THA), “This was as a consequence of a study done by students, which showed that many traditional healers in the Eastern Cape are not registered which prevents them from practising in hospitals and provide quality health care services,” said Sandlana.

Internship and learnership programme to help increase skills and employability opportunities for Nkonkobe youth - NEDA

BY: Ayabonga Nkalitshana

The municipality together with its entity, NEDA identified the rampant lack of skills as one of the contributing factors to the high unemployment rate amongst the youth, therefore by embarking on the learnership and internship programme in partnership with services SETA, the municipality is tackling the scourge of unemployment and lack of skills in the municipal area said Mr Mandisi Mali Chief Executive of the Nkonkobe economic development agency.

He said this at the workshop of induction held by NEDA together with services SETA at the University Of Fort Hare through its programme to empower and equip the unemployed and unskilled youth within the Nkonkobe area with skills that would increase their chances of employability. The main aim of the programme is to build a wide skills base among the youth to enable mass participation in the local economy.

  The program is to offer about 510 youths which were chosen out of over a thousand applications learnerships and internships which will give them the opportunity to get on the job experience and increase their chances of employability as skilled workers and also entrepreneurs.” Nkonkobe is faced with massive unemployment and the youth continue to be affected by the challenge” said Mr Mali. He continued to say”in order for nkonkobe to achieve its vision of being ‘self sufficient’ it means that the youth must be given opportunities and be empowered”

The programme will run for a period of 12 months (1year), within that period learners will be exposed to actual work environment and also be taught theoretic knowledge. They will also be given a monthly stipend of R1500 each month until the end of the programme. 440 youths are going to be enrolled in a learnership programme; those are the people who have gone up to matric as a qualification. And then the internships will be awarded to 70 people who have higher education qualifications.

DM HANDS OVER A MEDIA CLASSROOM

 

Alungile Tshekula in a white vest demonstrating to the Deputy Minister Pamela Tshwete, wearing a black coat on the right –hand side, how the computer is working

The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pamela Tshwete in collaboration with MTN SA Foundation, OR Tambo District Municipality and Mhlontlo Local Municipality handed over an MTN media classroom to Zibungu Junior Secondary School in Tsolo.

The media classroom comprises of 20 computers, a multifunction printer, 1 data projector, R1000 worth of internet service subsidy for 24 months, an air conditioner and an interactive white board for the learners.

In addition, the department awarded Zibungu Junior Secondary School an amount of R6 000 of which half of it went to the school and the other to Alungile Tshekula for his educational needs.

Speaking at Zibungu Village during the hand over ceremony the Deputy Minister said that she would not ignore the silence concerns of their community on issues of drought. “There is drought in most parts of the country and the rain is scarce therefore we encourage you to use water sparingly. We encourage children to study mathematics and Physical Science so that they can become engineers and scientists because our country is in need of them”, she added.

Furthemore, the country is on a campaign to train young people as water agents to create awareness on water conservation, artisans and plumbers who will fix damaged water infrastructure and address water leaks currently experienced in most communities. Consequently, she pleaded with the community to speak out against illegal water connections because they negatively affect water supply and it’s theft of the worst kind.

RISE. ACT  AND PROTECT – THE WORLD CELEBRATES WORLD AIDS DAY

By: Ayabonga Nkalitshana

For the past 27 years the World AIDS Day has been celebrated as a way to create awareness against the pandemic and also to encourage people and government to be active participants in the fight against aids and also know the risks involved, in engaging in unprotected sex and be abler to fight it until the end. The theme for this year is: RISE, ACT AND PROTECT which emboldens people to be liable citizens to combat the spread of the virus and fight it to the end.

It is apparent with the campaigns that have been ran around the world  that the main objective by all governments and people is to have a zero percent existence of AIDS and its virus on the global scale. One of the touching things involved in the campaign for AIDS, is the contribution of the infected people to be part of the awareness campaigns, and also show that having the disease is not the end of the world, and for them to have courage and publicly admit to be infected. The also form part of an important cause to fight the disease up to its end.

Research has shown that the mostly infected and affected people in South Africa are the youth which engage in unsafe practice of intercourse and are exposed to it through the danger of being raped, because of the participation in the night life entertainment. It has also shown that the number of infected children during birth has decrease due to massive concentration on education about the virus and other effects which are part of it.