No subject

itself as “an oasis of democracy in a sea of despotism,” an outpost of
pluralism surrounded by tyranny. While that equality never fully applied
to the country’s Arab citizens, Israel was, for the most part an open
society. But today political rights are under siege by right-wing
legislators, militant settlers, and a growing religious divide in the
Israeli army, all of which threaten to silence internal opposition to
the policies of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. Since that may
include a war with Iran—and the probable involvement of the U.S. in such
a conflict—the move to stifle dissent should be a major concern for
Americans.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2573 )  (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2573 ) 
General News


A Call for Solidarity with CSAAWU

DLF 17 February 2012

Stand in solidarity with Robertson Abattoir workers to defend our
rights to speak-out & struggle for decent living & working conditions
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2552 )  
 
 

Anonymous is shutting down the internet
Michelle Atagana (Yahoo News) 16 February 2012

Everyone’s favourite hacktivist group is back again and this time its
target is bigger than ever. Anonymous has declared war on the internet,
yes save all your files now, download all those movies you keep
pretending you’re not downloading because, the internet is about to be
shutdown.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2548 )  (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2548 ) 


Kazakhstan: immediate threats to safety of comrades in Moscow
CWI 15 February 2012

An appeal from comrades of our Committee for a Workers' International
(CWI) sister organisation in Kazakhstan, trade union leaders who suffer
brutal persecution under the Nazarbayev police regime. They have been
forced to leave the country and are currently in Russia. There now
appears to be an imminent threat of Kazakh and Russian intelligence
ganging up on them and they may be abducted by Kazakh agents and
arrested on false charges any time. We fear for their lives. We
therefore appeal for your solidarity - please take a few minutes to send
a letter of protest to the Kazakh and Russian authorities to let them
know that such an operation would not go down quietly.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2549 )  (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2549 ) 


Portugal: Massive demonstration against cuts and austerity
Jorge Martin 13 February 2012

February 11 saw 300,000 people march in the Portuguese capital Lisbon
against the reform of the labour law and the austerity measures proposed
by the government as part of the bailout agreed with the troika. The
CGTP trade union, which organised the demonstration under the slogan of
“no to exploitation, inequality and impoverishment”, described it as
the largest in 30 years.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2546 )  (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2546 ) 


Greeks strike against neoliberalism 
Vast Minority 12 February 2012 

GREEK unions have called a 48-hour strike in protest at the latest
punitive measures imposed on the country by the IMF and EU.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2547 )  (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2547 ) 


UK prepares chemical war on dissent
The Vast Minority 9 February 2012 

THE BRITISH state is planning to use chemical warfare against its own
population, it has been revealed.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2545 )  (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2545 ) 


Damning Durban fraud report
Gugu Mbonambi (IOL News) 8 February 2012 

Former eThekwini municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe failed to report
fraud and corruption in the municipality to the police and did not take
“reasonable” steps to prevent irregular expenditure, say the authors
of a report into affairs at the eThekwini municipality.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2543 )  (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2543 ) 


The alternative economy in Greece
Jeffrey Andreoni 4 February 2012

Athens - Despite the crisis in Greece, there are a plethora of
sustainable, ecological and ethical initiatives being offered throughout
the country. 
Already in Athens the alternative economy is starting to catch on.
People who have had to sacrifice many of life's little pleasures because
of financial constraints are discovering that you don't always need
money to get what you need. 
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2539 )  (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2539 ) 


New SA bill to allow bugging of citizens 
Yahoo News 3 February 2012 

A storm is brewing over a draft Bill to be processed by Parliament this
year that will legalise the bugging of citizens without a warrant in
some circumstances 

 
South African Protest News 
 
Congolese protesters toyi-toyi in DBN
Lungelo Mkamba 17 February 2012 

Fed up with “unfair” and “unlawful” treatment by the Department of Home
Affairs, about 400 Congolese nationals protested and toyi-toyied at the
Durban City Hall on Thursday. They had a memorandum addressed to mayor
James Nxumalo. 

Emmanuel Emmix, a spokesman for the Congolese community, said arrests –
which Home Affairs in Moore Road have been making since November – were
unlawful. The most recent arrests were of two people on Wednesday. 

“We have been quiet for too long. It is time we took action and
approached the mayor to help us. We really do not understand why people
are being treated unfairly,” he said. 

“Today (yesterday) we made our children miss school because this
affects them as well.” 

According to Emmix, the biggest concern they had with Home Affairs was
when trying to renew their permits to be in the city and country. 

“The officials ask us for bribes of R7 000 or they arrest and deport
you. If one does not have that money then deportation is imminent.” 

The protesters sang songs and toyi-toyied peacefully, monitored by
police. Some of the posters read: “Where is the human rights? Our
country (Congo) is not safe. Where is the Ubuntu? Let’s find a solution
peacefully.” 

According to the memorandum, which was received by Belinda Mhlongo of
the municipality, the people are afraid to go back to Congo. 

“ 

Being deported is equal to death by the ruler (Joseph Kabila),” said
Emmix. “The army is killing people as people kill mosquitoes. We appeal
to the mayor to find a solution to the problem of the arrests.” 

Municipal spokeswoman Sindy Mtolo said the protesters’ issues would be
taken up with the Department of Foreign Affairs “based on memorandums of
understanding and in terms of relationships with their country”. 

Home Affairs spokesperson 

Manusha Pillai had not got back to the Mercury with a comment by late
on Thursday. - The Mercury 
www.iol.co.za


S.Africa police fire tear gas at rioting platinum miners

South African riot police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water
cannon on Thursday at hundreds of striking miners who went on the
rampage at Impala Platinum's Rustenburg plant, the world's single
biggest platinum mine.

At least 50 officers, backed by armoured vehicles and two helicopters,
moved into a shanty town near the mine after the miners torched homes in
a dramatic escalation of a month-long strike that has hit the company
and global platinum prices.

Police said one man had been killed overnight after a mob stripped him
naked and beat him during a demonstration outside the plant, which
accounts for as much as 15 percent of world platinum output.

Up to 5,000 miners blocked the road leading to the plant, which lies
120 km (80 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, and hurled stones at
police, provincial police spokeswoman Adele Myburg said.

"This morning they regrouped, started intimidating people who wanted to
go to the mine. There were people assaulted, vehicles were stoned," she
said, adding that one female police officer had been injured by flying
stones.

"The road was barricaded, vehicles travelling on that road were stoned,
private vehicles as well as heavy-armed policed vehicles."

She said that police had made eight arrests, but the situation was
still "very tense and hostile".

Production at Rustenburg, which accounts for 60 percent of Implat's
output, came to a halt a month ago after the company sacked 17,000
employees following a January 12 wildcat strike over bonuses.

Since then, the price of platinum, a key ingredient in catalytic
converters in cars, has climbed 7 percent, in part because of fears
about supply disruptions. South Africa is home to 80 percent of global
platinum reserves.

60,000 OZ LOST

At a results conference in Johannesburg on Thursday, Implats bosses
said the firm had lost 1.2 billion rand in revenue and warned that total
output and earnings for the remainder for the financial year would also
take a hit.

Chief Executive David Brown told reporters the company had re-hired
6,000 of the dismissed workers but added that he had no idea when work
at the mine would resume. The 35-day strike is costing the company an
average of 3,000 ounces a day.

"If workers don't come back to work, we'll have to hire new people.
It'll take two to four weeks to get back to operational normality,"
Brown said.

Putting up with lengthy and often costly strikes is familiar terrain
for investors in South Africa, home to some of the world's deepest and
most dangerous mines.

Miners are increasingly looking for better pay in return for the
hazardous jobs and the government is pushing for an industry-wide
improvement in safety.

"The government is quite correctly very concerned around safety issues
and until those issues get fixed it is going to cost these guys a lot of
money," said Nic Norman-Smith, a portfolio manager at Lentus Asset
Management in Johannesburg.

Shares of Implats tumbled 3.1 percent to 159.69 rand, the worst
performers in Johannesburg's benchmark Top-40.

Implats said it had lost an additional 33,000 ounces in the final four
months of 2011 from government-ordered safety stops. Some industry
executives have criticised the safety push as too restrictive.
za.news.yahoo.com


Section 77 Notice of intention to proceed with protest action against
e-tolling
Cosatu 16 February 2012

On 13 May 2011 the Congress of South African Trade Unions submitted a
notice under Section 77 of the labour Relations Act on Open Road Tolling
(ORT) to Nedlac. Subsequently two plenary meetings to consider the
notice were held, the first on 31 August 2011 and the second on 22
September 2011.

At the first meeting we tabled our demands, including the rescinding of
the decision until the matter had been engaged at Nedlac, because it is
a socio-economic issue. Government committed to go back and consult.

At the second meeting government indicated that, although it might have
erred in not engaging Nedlac constituencies on the ORT, it acted within
the Department of Transport policy framework adopted after consultation
with all stakeholders, including labour.

Government further indicated that Sanral would suffer a “reputational
risk” if government were to announce that it would look into alternative
forms of funding. Other state-owned entities hat go out into the markets
to borrow money would also suffer the same risk and their credit ratings
would be affected.

Government indicated at the 2 September Section77 Plenary meeting that
the ORT will kick-start on 1 February 2012. COSATU) notes that
government has since postponed the implementation of the system
indefinitely.

COSATU wants the system to be abandoned completely and is now of the
view that the requirements of Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act
have been met for protected socio-economic protest and that this action
is necessary for the effective resolution of this matter.

The forms of protest action, and action in contemplation and
furtherance of the protest action will involve:

§ Work stoppages

§ Rallies, marches, demonstrations pickets (including lunch-time
pickets), placard demonstrations, siyalalas at or near the offices of
Sanral and the Department of Transport, both national and provincial,
from 29 February 2012.

§ Engagement with motorists and other members of the public to inform
them of the reasons for the protect action and to persuade them to
support the action.

§ Calls to motorists not to b e-tags 

The protest actions that will involve time away from work are:

§ Rallies, marches, demonstrations pickets, placard demonstrations and
siyalalas at or near the offices of Sanral and the Department of
Transport, both national and provincial.

§ A national stayaway or socio-economic strike on 7 March 2012. 

The specific activities above will take place during working hours. The
socio-economic strike will commence at 00h00 and end at 24h00 on 7 March
2012, except that shift workers will be away for the duration of one
whole shift and it will be the shift that has the majority of hours on
the day in question.

Following the socio-economic strike on 7 March 2012 the federation will
assess the programme of action and decide on the way forward. It
reserves the right to extend the programme of action. The federation
action also reserves the right to amend the programme of action should
this be necessary.

Tolling forces drivers to pay huge amounts of extra money just to
travel on the province’s highways. Workers will face having to pay out
thousands hundreds of extra rands every month just to travel to and from
work. Consumers face massive price increases as a result of the extra
cost of transporting goods to the shops being passed on to the
shoppers.

We urge the cabinet to take note of the mass opposition to these tolls
and instruct Sanral to abandon them for good. Meanwhile we continue to
urge motorists not to register with Sanral or buy e-tags, and our
members remain mobilised for a campaign of mass action if e-tolling is
not scrapped. The federation calls upon government to prioritise the
roll-out of efficient, reliable, affordable and safe public transport
for all the people of South Africa. 

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets
Braamfontein
2017
P.O.Box 1019
Johannesburg
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24
Fax: +27 11 339-5080 / 6940
Mobile: +27 82 821 7456
E-Mail: patrick at cosatu.org.za


WESTVILLE CAMPUS - STATUS UPDATE

URGENT COMMUNIQUE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE
RELATIONS 15 February 2012

Dear Colleagues and Students

Lectures on the Westville Campus will resume tomorrow, Thursday 16
February, after a two day suspension due to student protest action.

The University was granted an urgent interdict by the High Court
yesterday which was served to the Central SRC and all the local (campus
based) SRCs.

The interdict prohibits any form of protest action, intimidation and
damage to property on any of its five campuses. Furthermore, the
University has implemented with immediate effect the eviction of any
unregistered student from its residences. Strict access control at all
entrances to the five campuses is in place.

On Tuesday 14 February four students were arrested for public order
disturbance and malicious damage to property (MI2P). Three were released
because of a lack of evidence and one that is being held in custody is
not a UKZN registered student.

On the evening of 14 February, students stoned the RMS building and the
front glass doors and windows of the Main Admin Block. The Westville SRC
President, Mr Lucky Nkalanga was arrested on an assault charge that was
reported earlier in the week.

This morning sporadic incidences of burning were reported. RMS and SAPS
responded and controlled the situation. During that incident, students
threw stones and bottles at the police. To disperse the crowd, police
used teargas and water cannons and the students took cover in the
residences. No reports of injuries sustained by students were received.

During the past two days we have been dealing with severe racist
remarks posted on our face book wall. The University has concluded the
investigation into this and is finalising the charges. The individual
that started this verbal attack is not a UKZN student.

We are extremely disappointed at the level of racist comments by our
students in response to the posting. We encourage all students to
embrace the diversity of cultures in our rainbow nation and promote
tolerance and mutual respect as articulated in the UKZN PACT. The
University is committed to the principles enshrined in our Constitution,
notably non-racialism and non-sexism. The University’s Transformation
Charter serves as a reminder to all staff and students to contribute to
a socially cohesive institutional culture. 

Executive Management sincerely regrets the inconvenience, and in some
instances pain and suffering experienced by some staff and students that
did not participate in the protest action. At no point did we close our
doors to the Wesville SRC. During the protest action, the President of
the Westville SRC refused to attend a meeting with the Executive
Director Student Services that led to the rest of the SRC refusing to
engage.

In an attempt to avert a protest we have held several meetings with all
the SRCs to try and address their issues. As we had committed, we are
engaging with government to seek additional funding for financially
needy and academically sound students. Accommodation has been made
available for all sponsored students, provided that they provide an
original copy of a letter from the sponsor or an affidavit from a parent
or guardian.,

Every attempt will be made to catch up on lost time.

Issued on behalf of Executive Management


Bapong protests turn violent
IOL News 18 February 2012 

Johannesburg - Police arrested 62 people in connection with various
crimes committed during protests in Bapong, North West, police said on
Saturday. 

Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said 28 people were arrested for public
violence, two for being in possession of suspected stolen property and
three for possession of dagga on Friday. 

Other arrests included being in the country illegally and drinking in
public as well as the unlawful sale of alcohol. 

He said on Thursday protesters burnt down the local post office. No
arrests were made. 

On Wednesday protesters stole meat from a delivery truck. 

Ngubane said R5000 worth of meat was stolen. 

Another truck was set alight by protesting residents on Tuesday. 

Ngubane said the protesters, mainly young people, were protesting about
unemployment. 

He said residents were concerned about unemployment and were reportedly
angry with local companies, including Lonmin's platinum mine, claiming
it had failed to create jobs for them. 

The protests have been going on since August last year. - Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Truck burnt in Bapong protest
IOL news 15 February 2012 

A truck was set alight in Bapong during a protest by residents, North
West police said on Wednesday. 

Some roads were also barricaded with burning tyres during the
demonstration on Tuesday, Captain Adele Myburgh said. 

No injuries were reported and a case of malicious damage to property
had been opened. 

“This has been an ongoing protest since before August and police are
monitoring (the situation). It is quiet now during the day, but the
problem is at night.” 

The residents were concerned about unemployment and apparently angry
with local companies, including Lonmin's platinum mine, claiming it had
failed to create jobs for them. - Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Chappies activist calls off march
KOWTHAR SOLOMONS (IOL News) 18 February 2012

Civil group meets Chappies stakeholders 
The woman who has been on a hunger strike for 13 days in protest
against proposed construction on Chapman’s Peak was so weak on Friday
that she was forced to call off a planned march to the provincial
legislature. 

Bronwen Lankers-Byrne, accompanied by environmental campaigner Lewis
Pugh, had planned to march to the legislature from Plein Street to
coincide with premier Helen Zille’s state of the province address. 

But Pugh cancelled the protest, saying that Lankers-Byrne’s 13 days
without food had weakened her considerably. 

The protesters are campaigning against the construction of a toll plaza
and office block development worth R54 million on the world-renowned
scenic drive. Construction was halted late this week after two people
chained themselves to equipment at the building site. 

The protesters believe a less expensive and more environmentally
friendly toll booth should be built. 

Before the cancellation, Lankers-Byrne addressed a small crowd gathered
at the Louis Botha statue outside Parliament who had come out in support
of her cause. 

“We have received a great amount of support against the construction,
but are shocked by the provincial government’s refusal to listen to the
people. 

“We are not against the toll road, but the exorbitant costs which,
instead, could be used to provide desperately needed housing, medical
care and better schools in other areas,” she said. 

Lankers-Byrne added that Chapman’s Peak was a world heritage site on
which the planned two-storey toll plaza should not be built. 

“We have even submitted proposals for the tolling system, such as an
automatic tolling system, which would come in under R5m – a fraction of
the cost.” 

On Thursday, the Civil Rights Action Group (Crag) met various
stakeholders and the transport department to discuss alternatives to the
toll plaza. 

Crag suggested that cash transactions from the toll control points on
Chapman’s Peak Drive be moved to sites in Hout Bay, Noordhoek and others
in the Cape Peninsula. 

The transport department’s Hector Elliot was quoted as saying
afterwards that they were pleased to have Crag’s input, and would
discuss the alternatives presented. 

Charlie Gorton, one of the two women who chained themselves to the
construction equipment, joined Lankers-Byrne at the protest on Friday,
out of concern for her friend’s health. 

She said that despite the “supposed” halt to work on the site,
construction had continued around the women. 

Lankers-Byrne left the protest to resume sitting in her spot opposite
the construction site. - Weekend Argus 
www.iol.co.za


Protesters cuffed to Chappies toll plaza
Stuart Graham 15 February 2012 

Protesters handcuffed themselves to scaffolding on the construction
site of a toll booth on scenic Chapman's Peak drive, on Table Mountain,
in Cape Town on Tuesday. 

Workers in hard hats sat idle as the two protesters and a hunger
striker negotiated with Hector Eliott, the Western Cape's transport and
public works department head. 

“We can build something that is less expensive and more environmentally
friendly,” Bronwyn Lankaers-Byrne, who has been on an 11-day hunger
strike against the R54 million toll plaza, told Eliott. 

“I am willing to leave when these workers down their tools and there is
a serious discussion,” she said. 

Lankaers-Byrne pointed to a diagram of a far smaller and “more
environmentally friendly” toll booth which she said could be constructed
for a mere R2m. 

“The alternative is less expensive and more environmentally friendly.
This is not necessary.” 

She said the public had shown overwhelming support for the protest
against the toll booth by donating money, flowers and even massage oil.


She said “94 percent” of the people who had stopped to speak to her
supported the protest. 

Eliott told Lankaers-Byrne the department was prepared to look at the
R2m proposal. 

“This is a sales pitch, this is what this boils down to,” he said. 

Fiona Hinds, who had handcuffed herself to the scaffolding, said she
would remain where she was every day if necessary. 

“They know what they're doing is illegal,” said Hinds, who sat above a
placard reading: “Over My Dead Body”. 

“This site is part of a United Nations World Heritage Site. The UN has
asked for Table Mountain to be taken care of, but here we are allowing
them to put up an offensive building. 

“Cape Town has been named as the World Design Capital in 2014. We can
do better than this.” - Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Mini skirts paralyse Joburg
IOL News 17 February 2012 

The ANC Women's League led a march to the High Court against sexual
harassment and gender-based violence after two women were hassled at a
taxi rank. 

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe signed a memorandum of understanding at
the court, pledging that the justice system would support efforts to
curb violence against women and children. 

The ANCWL decided to hold the march to highlight its indignation over
the treatment of two young women who were chased by a group of men at
Noord street taxi rank in December. 

The men groped and shouted at the women because of their clothing - one
wore a miniskirt and the other had her bra strap showing. 

Radebe said those who told women what to wear were not freedom
fighters. 

“The struggle for freedom has always been the struggle for human
rights, the struggle for women's empowerment.” 

He said he came out in support “because I like miniskirts”, amid
laughter and loud applause from the crowd. 

Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane said no one could enjoy human rights
while women and children lived in fear of potential abuse. 

The taxi industry in particular needed to join the fight against sexual
harassment. 

“It is their duty to respect human rights... taxi drivers, taxi
commuters: no one should allow violence against women and children,” she
said. 

“As women, we are proud of our bodies, we are proud of our mini skirts.”


Minister of Women Lulu Xingwana said the march was in support of the
women's movement and gay rights. 

“No one has the right to (commit) corrective rape. Rape is rape.” 

Xingwana threatened that the Noord Street taxi rank would be closed if
the situation did not improve. 

“Real men don't rape women, real men love and respect women,” she said.


She said the Women's League would work to free the streets of South
Africa of sexual harassment, city by city. 

Another march would be held in Sunnyside, Pretoria on the evening of
March 08 to spread the message. 

ANCWL president Angie Motshekga thanked all those who came to support
the cause. 

“Women have the right to dress how they want to dress, forward with
mini skirts!” 

The miniskirt march began at Bree street taxi rank around 1.30pm under
the watchful gaze of a heavy police contingent. 

Mokonyane, Xingwana and one of the Noord Street victims led the march.


Xingwana wore a skirt, but it was not a mini. 

The crowd sang “when you strike a woman, you have struck a rock” and
chanted “Viva mini skirts, Viva”. 

The women's league was joined by the Congress of SA Trade Unions and
Women and Men Against Child Abuse for the march. 

The Commission for Gender Equality also pledged support for the sexual
harassment awareness event. 

Women and several men wore mini skirts for the march, and proudly shook
their bottoms for the assembled news cameras. 

As they sang and danced, they waved ANC flags and banners, such as “I
am proud of my miniskirt”, and “Freedom for mini skirts in our
lifetime”. 

People watched and shouted their support from the high apartment blocks
in the city centre. 

A marcher who carried her son for the length of the route said she had
brought him to teach him from a young age the importance of respecting
women. 

Men who watched the procession had mixed reactions. Most said they
supported the initiative and chanted along with the crowd “Viva
Nkosikasi (women), Viva!”. 

“Everybody has rights to wear whatever they want,” said one. 

“It has nothing to do with culture, it is about the working class
struggle and conscientising the masses about human rights,” said another
man. 

One man said he was not convinced the mini skirt march was the best way
to tackle the issue. 

“We like to see the young women in the minis, but the old ones - Ag,
shame!” - Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


People gather for miniskirt march
IOL News 17 February 2012

Bree street taxi rank in Joburg's CBD was bustling with people
gathering for a march organised by the ANC Women's League on Friday. 

At the start of the march at least 300 people gathered, waving ANC
banners. 

Women and several men wore miniskirts in bright colours and sang “the
leadership is greeting” and “mini skirt we love you”. 

The march was to protest against the harassment experienced by two
young women when they went shopping in the Noord Street taxi rank in
December. 

The women have been identified only as Zama and Nomthandazo because of
the nature of their harassment. 

Nomthandazo had worn a black miniskirt and Zama a black top with white
bra straps showing. 

A group of men taunted them about their clothes while groping them,
pulling at their clothing, and taking photos with their cellphones. 

The march was intended to emphasise that women had the right to wear
what they wished and should not be demeaned or victimised over their
choice of clothes. 

The women's league was joined by Cosatu and Women and Men Against Child
Abuse for the march. The Commission for Gender Equality also pledged
their support for the sexual harassment awareness event. – Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


ANCWL organises mini‑skirt march againts women abuse
Troy Martens ANCWL 14 February 2012

League to march from Bree Street taxi rank through notorious Noord taxi

rank

RE: JOIN ANC WL MINI SKIRT MARCH AGAINST WOMEN ABUSE

The ANC Women's League are calling upon all women who feel the rate of

women abuse in South Africa is too high, to join us in a mini skirt 
march this Friday the 17th of February.

Recent incidents of abuse highlighted in the media have spurred the 
Women's League to say enough is enough; we will no longer tolerate the

abuse of our women on the streets or anywhere.

Many women feel frustrated and hopeless due to the high prevalence of 
abuse. Despite the freedoms of our democracy which gives equal rights
to 
all sex groups, it is sad that many women remain victims of violence in

taxi ranks, homes and in the work place. Women are abused and raped due

to their sexual orientation all these violent acts against women cannot

and will not be tolerated by the ANC WL!

We want to make a strong statement letting the perpetrators know that 
abuse in any form will not be tolerated and are inviting those who wish

to wear mini‑skirts as an act of defiance to do so with pride.

Anyone who is outraged by the continued violence against women and 
children is welcome to join in, we extend this call to unions, NGO's, 
students, churches and the youth to rise up in protest against the 
rampant violence against women and children in our communities.

We will march from the Bree Street taxi rank, through the Noord taxi 
rank and hand over a memorandum to the Justice Minister or his 
representative at the equality court in Pritchard Street.

16 days of activism against women and children is clearly not enough! 
The ANC WL is calling for an all year round campaign and dedication
from 
authorities to put an end to this social scourge.

Women refuse to be victims any longer and every woman and child has the

right to live in a society free of violence and discrimination. We will

take our queue from the women of 1956, their bravery and militancy will

spur us on to continue the struggle for the emancipation of women from

the clutches of abuse.

Join the ANC WL on Friday and say no to ABUSE!! You strike a woman, you

strike a rock!

DATE: 17 ‑ 02 ‑ 2012
TIME: 14H00
DEPART: BREE STREET TAXI RANK
DESTINATION: HIGH‑COURT PRITCHARD STREET

DRESS CODE: Women can dress as they feel comfortable, but are
encouraged to wear mini‑skirts!

Statement issued by Troy Martens, ANC Women's League national 
spokeswoman, February 14 2012


COSATU Limpopo march against corruption and maladministration
COSATU Limpopo media statement for immediate release 15 February 2012

DATE : 15 February 2012.
TO : All media houses

COSATU LIMPOPO Province calls upon all its affiliated trade unions ,
the ANC-led Tripartite Alliance plus SANCO , PWMSA , business, religious
formations, traditional healers and leaders, youth and women`s
formations and civil society in general to :

1. Join and support the protest march organized by the progressive
youth alliance in Limpopo today, 15th February 2012 @ 09h00 , to the
Premier`s office , as they press forward for their demands on improved
access to tertiary education as a right protected in the constitution of
RSA , and fight against corruption and maladministration in the
provincial government.
2. Join and support employees in the Premier`s office , led by our
union NEHAWU , in their lunch hour demonstrations that have lasted for
over two weeks without their grievances being responded to, leading to
them calling on the Premier and the Director – General to resign or be
fired.
Tonight, from 18h00, NEHAWU will stage a night vigil at the Premier`s
Office, and we call also and in the main, all members of COSATU unions
to join and support this noble course.
3. COSATU, in its Provincial Executive Committee, held on 09 February
2012, after a thorough assessment of the governance crisis in Limpopo,
noting investigations on allegations of rampant corruption, fraud and
maladministration, resolved that the Premier and his entire Executive
must resign or be recalled immediately, and that forensic audits be also
carried out in all municipalities and state owned enterprises, in
particular, in the mining and agricultural sectors.

Further protest action will be announced through our Campaigns
Committee meeting, every Monday , 14h00 @ SADTU offices , Biccard
Street, Polokwane.

For further information, kindly contact the COSATU Limpopo Provincial
Secretary, Cde. Dan Sebabi on 082 779 2421 or 072 515 6699


Students arrested for varsity violence
IOL News14 February 2012 

Four students were arrested during a protest at the University of
Durban-Westville on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, KwaZulu-Natal police
said. 

The students went on a rampage around 7.30am after they were informed
about a court interdict against protests and disruptions at the
university as seen in the past weeks, said Colonel Vincent Mdunge. 

“Students then got angry and barricaded roads with burning tires and
rocks, preventing vehicles from coming in and out of the institution,”
said Mdunge. 

“They also threw stones at police who had been called to monitor the
situation. Police used water cannons to disperse the crowd.” 

Mdunge said tensions had died down by Tuesday evening. 

Three students were injured and another three were arrested for public
violence. 

Two weeks ago, students brought the university to a standstill
protesting against residence tariff hikes, among other things. 

Those arrested would appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court on
Wednesday, February 15, 2012. - Sapa 
 (
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/students-arrested-for-varsity-violence-1.1234413
)


DA stages anti-corruption march
IOL News 14 February 2012 

The DA marched to the Polokwane office of Limpopo premier Cassel
Mathale to protest against corruption.

The DA marched to the Polokwane office of Limpopo premier Cassel
Mathale on Tuesday to protest against corruption. 

“Today, the good name and reputation of our province is tarnished
because of the scourge of corruption, irregular awarding of tenders, and
jobs for pals, among others,” provincial DA leader Desiree van der Walt
said. 

Party members marched along Hans Van Rensburg Street carrying placards
stuck to brooms, meant to symbolise the party's hope of sweeping the ANC
out of power in the province. 

The messages on the placards called for clean water, clean schools,
clean hospitals, and a clean audit. 

The marchers said Mathale and his executive should step down after five
provincial government departments were placed under administration last
year. 

“We demand clean governance in all government departments,
municipalities, and parastatals. We demand clean financial management
with no wasteful and irregular expenditures,” Van der Walt said. 

They wanted “clean and professionally managed schools”. 

“We demand an open and transparent tender awarding system,” she said. 

Agriculture MEC Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba received the memorandum and told DA
members their concerns would be responded to. 

Members of National Education, Health, and Allied Workers' Union also
demonstrated at the gate of Mathale’s office. – Sapa 
://www.iol.co.za (
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/limpopo/da-stages-anti-corruption-march-1.1234216
)


STUDENT PROTEST: UPDATE - WESTVILLE CAMPUS 
CORPORATE RELATIONS 15 February 2012

Dear Colleagues and Students

As a precautionary measure, lectures have been suspended today
Wednesday 15 February, and students will not have access to the
Westville campus. Students have been informed of this via SMS and
Facebook.

The University has obtained an interdict against the SRCs that prevents
any form of protest action, intimidation, disruptions, damage to
property and harassment. There is a strong police presence on campus to
enforce the interdict.

Students are requested to submit outstanding documents that are due
this week to the respective College office on the Howard College campus.
Howard College staff are urged to attend to these student queries.

If you have any specific issues of concern kindly send an email to
corporaterelations at ukzn.ac.za and we will respond to your enquiry. 

Nomonde Mbadi
Executive Director
Corporate Relations
Issued on behalf of Executive Management


COMMUNIQUE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE
RELATIONS 14 February 2012

STUDENT PROTEST: UPDATE - WESTVILLE CAMPUS
COMMUNIQUE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE
RELATIONS 14 February 2012

Dear Colleagues and Students

Lectures , tests, Practicals and Tutorials are suspended on the
Westville campus until further notice.

The Westville campus has been chaotic since this morning with students
blockading entrances with boulders and burning tyres.

A heavy police presence is on campus. 

This morning most staff and students have not been allowed on campus. 

Students and staff will be notified through the LAN, face book and sms
on the status of the campus.

The University management sincerely apologises for the inconvenience.

Regards
Nomonde Mbadi
Executive Director
Corporate Relations
Issued on behalf of Executive Management



STUDENT PROTEST: UPDATE - WESTVILLE CAMPUS 
COMMUNIQUE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE
RELATIONS 13 February 2012

Dear Colleagues and Students

The Westville campus experienced a peaceful start this morning.

We have since received reports of lectures being disrupted by a group
of students at the G Block and boulders that were thrown from the 3rd
floor from around 12:45. 

Since last year, several meetings were held between the SRCs and the
University management to reach mutual agreements so as to circumvent a
strike. Despite these agreements in place, the Westville SRC is leading
students to protest.

The Westville campus has been disrupted since last week that has
resulted in students losing out on valuable time in lectures. 

I wish to place on record that at no point did the University
management decline to meet with the students to address their
grievances. 

The University is also aware that some of the SRC members leading the
strike at the Westville campus are not UKZN students as they have not
registered and as such should not be negotiating on behalf of bona fide
students.

In assessing the situation on the ground, the Deans and Heads of
Schools must take a decision with regards to the continuation of
lectures.

Regards
Nomonde Mbadi

Issued on behalf of Executive Management


Mpumalanga protesters arrested
ILO News 14 February 2012 

Mpumalanga police arrested 51 service delivery protesters in Masoyi,
south of Hazyview, on Tuesday. 

They were charged with public violence, theft, and malicious damage to
property, Captain Leonard Hlathi said. 

“They broke into shops belonging to foreign nationals and looted them,”
he said. 

More police had been sent to the scene. Earlier, he warned motorists to
avoid the road from Masoyi to Hazyview, which protesters had dug up and
littered with stones and burning tyres since Saturday night. Cars had
also been damaged. 

“Motorists should rather take the Kiepersol road to Hazyview,” Hlathi
advised. 

Those travelling to the Kruger National Park should take the Kruger
Park Road in Hazyview. – Sapa 
://www.iol.co.za (
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/mpumalanga-protesters-arrested-1.1234080
)


Masoyi protesters block road
IOL News 14 February 2012

Mpumalanga police warned motorists on Tuesday to avoid the road from
Masoyi to Hazyview, as it had been barricaded by service delivery
protesters. 

The road had been dug up and littered with stones and burning tyres
since protests started on Saturday night, said Captain Leonard Hlathi.
Cars had also been damaged. 

“It is not acceptable. Motorists should rather take the Kiepersol road
to Hazyview.” 

Those travelling to the Kruger National Park should take the Kruger
Park Road in Hazyview. – Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Woman killed in protest
SAPA 13 February 2012 

A woman was killed and 10 people were arrested during service delivery
protests in Masoyi, south of Hazyview, Mpumalanga police said on Monday.


The woman was killed on Sunday afternoon after a truck accidentally
reversed into her on a road barricaded by protesters, Sergeant Gerald
Sedibe said. 

Police were searching for the driver. 

The protesters were arrested that afternoon, reportedly for public
violence and destruction of property. They were expected to appear in
court on Tuesday. – Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


MAN-TRUCK STRIKE ENTERS ITS THIRD WEEK!
NUMSA 13 February 2012

The KwaZulu-Natal National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa
(NUMSA), a reliable and trusted affiliate of the Congress of South
African Trade Unions (COSATU) is deeply infuriated by the failure of
Man-Truck ruling oligarchy to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute at
its Westmead, South of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Our members have been on a
protected strike since 23 January 20122 amidst the apartheid Bantu
Labour Relations imposition to workers by Man-Truck.

The spurious actions by Man-Truck bosses of reneging or undermining a
duly signed Collective Bargaining Agreement with the union, is a direct
assault of workers rights to collective bargaining as promulgated by the
nascent democratic state as led by the African National Congress (ANC).
This newly-found total disregard of workers rights to bargain, as also
personified or expressed by the anti-workers and anti-trade union party
the Democratic Alliance (DA), is a threat to workers hard won rights
encoded in Chris Hani’s name in various labour legislative laws passed
by the ANC of Elijah Barayi. 

We strongly believe that these demands by workers can be achieved by
Man-Truck, given the fact that Man-Truck has bloated millions of rands
in rewarding its executives. These demands by workers are consistent
with the Freedom Charter, the over-arching policy document of our
revolutionary ANC which called for work and security for all.

These are our demands:

· We demand an equal pay for equal work with an intention of closing
the existing income disparities;

· The Medical Aid and Provident Fund benefits should be extended to all
workers as per the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement;

· All workers employed under Labour Brokers and have been working over
a period of six (6) months should be employed permanently by the company
as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2009; And

· All new intakes of workers should not be recruited by Labour Brokers,
but must be recruited directly by the company and there must be entitled
to all the company’s benefits, such as Medical Aid and Provident Fund
benefits.

Our members have been on strike action for three (3) full weeks without
any concrete offer or proposal from the filthy rich Man-Truck hyenas to
resolve the strike or industrial dispute. 

As NUMSA we will intensify our action by calling on other Man-Truck
plans to embark on a solidarity strike with the intention of our
exerting pressure until our demands are met. We will never conform to
apartheid Bantu Labour Relations at the point of production whilst our
members are being turned into slavery conditions.

Contact: Mbuso Ngubane, Regional Secretary – 079 502 3242


Police quell xenophobic violence
Noni Mokati 11 February 2012 

Police have doused the fires and quelled the panic in Welkom in the
Free State after last week’s spate of xenophobic attacks on Bangladeshi
nationals. 

Alphonse Munyaneza, a senior regional community service officer from
the UN Human Rights Council yesterday said the police had increased
their visibility in both Thabong township and neighbouring Odendaalsrus
where the violence took place. 

“The security response in both these areas has improved drastically.
All that we are dealing with now are isolated cases of robbery and no
longer mob justice. We have also embarked on supporting the municipality
which seeks to implement the reintegration of the Bangladeshi
businessmen in their respective communities,” said Munyaneza. 

A total of 60 shops were looted in 18 of Welkom’s townships, many in
Thabong. Five shop owners were injured as community members protested
against the lack of jobs. 

Munyaneza said the council and police had held workshops aimed at
educating people about the rights of refugees, among other things. 

During the turmoil, the Gift of the Givers stepped in and donated food,
blankets and hygiene products to 250 Bangladeshi and Pakistani shop-
keepers who sought refuge from the unrest at a storeroom in the region.


Gift of the Givers spokesperson Emily Thomas said the organisation had
donated about a week’s supply of necessities to the shop owners. 

“We are back in Johannesburg but will return to Welkom on Tuesday where
we will speak to community members and educate them about such
incidents,” Thomas said. 

She said the xenophobic attacks resulted from poverty and that
residents had to understand that poverty was the main enemy, not the
foreign nationals. 

Gift of the Givers will donate 20 000 food parcels to elderly and young
residents in Honey Park on Tuesday. -Saturday Star
www.iol.co.za


Gautrain bus strike halted
Mail & Guardian 10 February 2012

About 320 Gautrain bus drivers were fired this week in the climax to an
intermittent strike that started on January 9, and centred on transport
allowances, according to the lawyer representing the drivers. 

Kevin van Huyssteen said the drivers, who work for bus management
company Mega Express, were fired after a dispute over their demand for
transport to and from work.

He said the drivers insisted they had not gone on strike but had been
unable to turn up for work in the absence of transport -- given that
their shift started at 3.30am and ended at 10.30pm. He alleged that
drivers were not given meals, tea breaks or intervals and were also not
paid overtime.

Kelebogile Machaka, spokesperson for Bombela Concession Company, said
that new drivers were being trained to replace the dismissed workers. Of
the 23 routes only five -- four from Sandton station and one from
Rosebank station -- were operational.

Machaka said the strike had stranded 12 000 passengers a day. They
could not use the train because they relied on the Gautrain feeder bus
network to carry them either to or from the stations. The disruption had
resulted in a 10% drop in passengers.

The bus drivers worked on a shift basis, which meant one person did not
work from 3:30am to 10pm, Machaka said. "Their main demand has been the
provision of transport between work and home by their company, Mega
Express.

Unaffiliated 
"Their conditions of service comply with the recommendations agreed to
at the sector's bargaining council in 2011. At present the drivers are
not affiliated to any union," she said.

The strike was the latest in a string of woes to have hit the
high-speed train service between Johannesburg and Pretoria and OR Tambo
International Airport. Cable theft, water leakages and problems with the
electricity supply to the locomotives have also led to temporary
disruptions of the service.

This week irate commuters complained on Facebook and to the Mail &
Guardian that they had purchased monthly and weekly tickets, but because
of the strike had been forced to cough up extra for other forms of
public transport. Some commuters said that the company was unwilling to
refund or extend their tickets.

A Centurion IT consultant, who asked to remain anonymous, said he used
the train from Centurion to Midrand every day and relied on the bus
service to take him to Sunninghill. "I had to pay more than R1 500 for a
35-day pass, which includes the train ride," he said. 

"My card will expire soon and I still have money in it but won't be
able to use it. I've phoned and emailed Gautrain asking for a refund,
but they were not willing."

'Astonished'
Lucas Senatore wrote on the Gautrain Facebook page: "I am completely
astonished with the fact that you refuse to refund people who are not
able to use the Gautrain because of the bus strike. My girlfriend takes
the train from Rosebank to Hatfield and then to the CSIR by bus. Are you
telling me that you will not refund the R1 000+ 35-day pass?” 

Machaka confirmed that passengers had contacted the company for
guidance on refund procedures. She said management was working on a plan
"that will be fair and equitable for customers affected". 
mg.co.za


KZN varsity protests gather steam
(Leanne Jansen) IOL News 10 February 2012 

Student protests which started at the Mangosuthu University of
Technology in Umlazi last Friday have spread and intensified at other
tertiary education campuses in KwaZulu-Natal. 

On Thursday, at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), six people
were arrested for public violence after three vehicles were damaged,
while the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Westville campus became
the latest site of mass action. 

Accommodation and financial aid remain the primary grievances. 

Despite DUT’s high court interdict prohibiting protests, and a
continued police presence, the institution confirmed that lectures had
been disrupted at the Steve Biko, ML Sultan and Ritson Road campuses.
However, the academic programme had not been suspended. 

According to DUT spokesman Alan Khan, the protests were not being
driven by the students representative council, but rather by the SA
Students’ Congress (Sasco). 

Sasco provincial chairman Mfanafuthi Ngobo confirmed this. 

Khan said that DUT management would only negotiate with the SRC, “and
not entertain individual clubs and societies. We have reiterated the
need for the police to enforce the court interdict to protect our
students and staff,” he said. 

At Mangosuthu, after compromising on matters such as the cost of
student transport and financial exclusions, accommodation remained a
sticking point. Yesterday, tyres were burnt and chairs broken at the
university, spokeswoman Mbali Mkhize said. 

SRC president Sifiso Mvuyane said the protests would only be halted
once housing was provided for at least 500 students at the Lonsdale
Hotel in Pixley KaSeme (West) Street. 

At UKZN, a crowd of 100 to 200 students chanted as they converged on
university buildings, but protested peacefully under the eyes of campus
security and police. University spokeswoman Nomonde Mbadi advised
students to contact faculties for information on the rescheduling of
lectures. - The Mercury 
www.iol.co.za


Sonderwater protesters released
IOL News 9 February 2012 

Charges against 25 people arrested during a protest in Sonderwater were
withdrawn in the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court on Thursday, North
West police said. 

The group was arrested on Wednesday night for public violence and
malicious damage to property, said Captain Pelonomi Makau. 

They were part of a larger group of residents in extension 11 that
barricaded roads and damaged police vehicles during a protest against
alleged corruption at the Tlokwe municipality. Police were called and
arrested 25 people around midnight. 

The protest continued through Thursday morning, in the presence of
police. Makau said the situation calmed after residents met a municipal
official. 

The African National Congress recently recalled Tlokwe mayor Andrew
Maphetle and his counterpart Boitumelo Moloi from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda
district municipality, following corruption allegations. - Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


COMMUNIQUE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE
RELATIONS STUDENT PROTEST: WESTVILLE CAMPUS
Corporate Relations UKZN 9 February 2012

Dear Colleagues and Students
We have received reports from RMS that there are groups of students
moving
around the Westville campus disrupting lectures at various venues. RMS
and
SAPS are present on the campus to monitor and control the situation.
The management of the Student Services Division has held several
meetings with
the Westville SRC to create an open and amicable platform for
discussion with a
view to find solutions to the issues raised. Management is awaiting
the
availability of some members of the Westville SRC to attend a meeting
that has
been called to understand and address their issues.
The University management is committed to open dialogue with the SRC
and in
this regard management engaged the SRC last year to discuss and
collectively
address their concerns so as to avert strikes. The doors are still open
for such
engagements to take place.
Students are urged to contact their respective Schools for information
on the
rescheduling of the lectures that have been disrupted or to get
information on
the status of lectures.
As Management, we are committed to assisting the students within the
rules,
regulations and policies that govern the University as set out by
Council.
We trust that this matter will be resolved and that the academic
programs will
continue as scheduled.
Regards
Nomonde
Issued on behalf of Executive Management


Sri Lanka’ protest moves to Lenasia
Fakir Hassen 8 February 2012 

The Tamil Federation of Gauteng (TFG) has moved their protest against
the persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka, to Lenasia, south of
Johannesburg. 

This was done after a last-minute withdrawal of permission to stage a
peaceful protest opposite the Pretoria hotel where the Sri Lankan High
Commission was celebrating the country’s 64th Independence Day. 

Local community leaders, surrounded by scores of placard carrying
supporters, joined officials of the TFG to lay a symbolic wreath at the
Signet Terrace in Lenasia on Saturday. 

It was in memory of the estimated 100 000 Tamil people killed during
the three-decade civil war. 

“Today, February 4, 2012, Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day and
projects to the world that it has a stable country with a democracy. But
while it looks fine from the outside, within the country it has
inequality among its citizens, no freedom of speech or association,
people in transit camps, and no meaningful democracy,” TFG President
Nadas Pillay, told those gathered. 

“With this oppressive regime we see a ray of hope that comes from the
United Nations report. 

“We in particular would like to emphasise the fundamental
recommendation from the report that highlights the call for an
international investigation within Sri Lanka.” 

Said Pillay: “Today we lay this wreath for all the people that have
lost their lives, people that were persecuted, mercilessly killed, and
for those people that to date have families who don’t know if they are
dead or alive. Our role is to create awareness to the people of South
Africa and the world.” 

He called for Sri Lankan leaders responsible for atrocities against
their fellow citizens to be brought to justice. 

“Therefore we are asking the South African Government and other
governments that are part of the Security Council to vote in favour of
an international investigation. This fight is not about the
Tamil-speaking people but a fight for humanity.” 

Palestinian Solidarity Organisation representative, Naazim Adam,
pledged support for the call by the TFG. 

Sri Lankan High Commissioner Shehan Ratnavala, who is himself of Tamil
origin, said that such protests were not helpful at a stage when his
government was making every effort to win the peace back. 

He invited the leaders of the TFG and other protesters to visit Sri
Lanka and see for themselves the efforts that are being made to
establish peace. - Post 
www.iol.co.za


Anti-Joseph Kabila protesters urge DRC boycott at Indaba
Mail & Guardian 8 February 2012

Congolese protesters who dispute the recent re-election of Joseph
Kabila as president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
picketed on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba in Cape Town on
Wednesday, calling on investors to steer clear of the country's mineral
resources.

They also claimed that South Africa had only endorsed Kabila's
re-election because prominent South Africans had business interests in
the countries' mining sector. 

Chanting in French and Kikongo, approximately 30 protesters cradled
placards and the DRC's flags while they toyi-toyi'd along Coen Steytler
avenue outside the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

"Kabila is a killer and rapist"; "Help save the DRC"; and "DRC in deep
political crisis -- Illegal delegation as Indaba," read some of the
placards.

The protests form part of a larger campaign by DRC citizens residing in
South Africa who believe the presidential elections in December were
illegitimate and fixed in favour of incumbent president Joseph Kabila.

'Kabila stole the elections and is stealing the wealth'
"There is no government representative of the people at the moment in
the DRC. Kabila stole the elections and is stealing the wealth of our
country -- he must go," Iko Ikotela from Kinshasa told the Mail &
Guardian.

Most of those protesting outside the Indaba say opposition leader
Etienne Tshisekedi is the rightful leader of the country and was
defeated by Kabila only "through fraud".

As part of their remonstrations, the protesters are encouraging
investors to steer clear of the country's mineral sector, which they
believe is "tainted".

"Hey! Please don't invest in the DRC -- you are supporting a murderer
and a rapist and buying blood diamonds -- don't do it," shouted one
Protester to a bemused looking delegate as he exited the Indaba.

Besides diamonds, other primary minerals mined in the country include
cobalt, gold and copper. 

Despite widespread international condemnation, the South African
government ratified Kabila's victory in late December.

'Zuma and his cronies have mines in the DRC'
Ikotela alleges the support from the South African government is solely
based on business interests in the DRC, held by prominent South African
politicians.

"Your President Zuma and his cronies have mines up in DRC, that's why
you are supporting Kabila," he told the M&G.

Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj dismissed claims of Zuma's
business concerns in the DRC as "far-fetched" and would not comment any
further on the matter.

While there is no overt evidence to suggest President Zuma is involved
in any business concerns -- mining or otherwise -- in the DRC, his
nephew Khulubuse Zuma is involved in the country's mineral and energy
sector.

Emergency number
In response to the protests, the DRC's minerals and energy delegation
at the Indaba have set up an emergency number for the country's
representatives to contact should picketers threaten them.

"They have been a little aggressive but nothing too hectic. If I think
it is bad I will use the number," Alessaine Kwatanga, a businessman in
Lubumbashi told the M&G.

Indaba organisers have described the protests as "unfortunate" but say
they recognise the rights of DRC citizens to protest against their
government and leaders.

"The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the South African
Constitution. The Mining Indaba would like to apologise to our delegates
and anyone who might have been inconvenienced," read a statement
released on Wednesday. 
mg.co.za


Magashule condemns xenophobia
IOL News 8 February 2012 

Xenophobic violence in the Welkom area during the past week was
condemned by Free State premier Ace Magashule on Wednesday. 

A number of shops owned by foreigners, mainly Bangladeshis, were broken
into, set alight and looted in Thabong, Welkom and Odendaalsrus. 

Magashule said the attacks were a clear violation of the rights of
immigrants and foreigners. He said it appeared “criminal elements” had
taken advantage of the situation. 

“These attacks violate the fundamental principles of our Constitution,
which rejects discrimination and intolerance on the basis of race, creed
or geographic origin.” 

Free State police said Thabong and Kutloanong (Odendaalrus) were quiet
on Wednesday. 

About 40 people have been arrested in Thabong since groups of youths
took to the streets last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 

Warrant Officer Malebo Khosana said a group of jobless youths were
unhappy after talks with local mines about jobs and took to the streets.
They wanted mines to recruit local people first. 

Twenty-four businesses were damaged in the three-day rampage in
Thabong. 

Captain Stephen Thakeng said Kutloanong was quiet on Wednesday. Seven
people were arrested after youths started to attack foreigners and their
businesses on Monday. 

Sixteen shops were damaged and looted. Police had to escort foreigners
out of the township. 

Police said the violence in Kutloanong seemed to be related to the
public violence and looting in Thabong last week. 

Magashule urged residents in the area to condemn the violent attacks on
innocent people, whose lives were threatened because of their geographic
origins. 

“We call upon our people to refrain from participating in such violent
acts.” 

He said the provincial government would continue to work with all
concerned parties to find solutions to some of the problems facing
citizens. 

Police said those arrested in the two towns would begin appearing in
courts from Wednesday to Monday next week. – Sapa 
://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/magashule-condemns-xenophobia-1.1229879
(
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/magashule-condemns-xenophobia-1.1229879
)


MUT student protest halts lectures
Lungelo Mkamba and Mbali Shezi February 7 2012

The marchers, led by SRC president Sifiso Mvuyane, said they were
protesting against a shortage of residences. He said 700 students did
not have accommodation for the year. 

In 2011, a fire broke out at the Lonsdale Hotel, in Dr Pixley KaSeme
(West) Street, prompting the Mangosuthu management to decide that it was
unsafe for students. 

Mvuyane said the hotel was safe and the 700 students should stay there.


“We will not agree to any other accommodation besides Lonsdale.” 

Other concerns raised by Mvuyane were that transport fees had increased
from R900 to R1 500 annually and that students with fee debts were not
being allowed to register. 

According to university spokeswoman Mbali Mkhize 

transport costs had increased because the university needed to clear
its debt. She said a meeting between the management and the SRC, held on
January 30, had resolved that final-year students who had applied and
qualified for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding
would be allowed to register. 

Students in other years of study who applied and qualified for NSFAS
funding would be allowed to register if they had balances of R8 000 or
less. 

Cash-paying students owing R5 000 and below would be allowed to
register after paying registration deposits of a minimum of R1 000. 

However, Mvuyane said the SRC proposed that final-year students owing
up to R10 000 be allowed to register. 
www.iol.co.za


Protesters demand that city manager quit
Laea Medley and Zama Nene 7 February 2012 

About 300 protesters gathered at the Durban City Hall on Monday
carrying placards demanding the resignation of municipal manager
Sibusiso Sithole. They also threatened to sleep outside the building. 

The protesters were Umlazi residents who had been left homeless after
the eThekwini municipality suspended a housing contract held by
millionaire businesswoman Shauwn Mpisane in November. 

The R176 million contract promised to house 200 families in Umlazi. 

On Monday, the residents handed over a memorandum to Joe Nene, a policy
adviser to the mayor, who received it on behalf of Sithole. 

The angry residents wanted to know why the contract was suspended, as
neither they nor their councillors were informed. 

They demanded the reinstatement of the contract so that their promised
houses could be built. 

They also declared their support for Mpisane. 

The displaced residents branded Sithole, who became city manager at the
beginning of the month, “uncaring”, and accused him of being arrogant. 

A spokesman for the residents, S’bu Cirha, said they were unhappy with
the way the matter was handled. 

“We are fighting for the development of the houses, which were promised
to the people,” he said. 

“We were never consulted about why the contract was cancelled, so we
demand answers.” 

One of the residents, Mqondisi Jali, said: “We just want houses. We
have been waiting for houses for so long, we’re sleeping outside. Our
area is neglected. How do they expect us to live our lives properly?” 

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said she did not care
who the contract was given to, but just wanted a roof over her head. 

The residents have planned another march to the city hall on Wednesday
in the hope of meeting the city manager. 

Mpisane was quoted as saying she did not know why the contract had been
suspended, but believed it was because of her 2005 fraud conviction –
for which she was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five
years. 

Housing Settlements MEC Ravi Pillay said on Friday that the department
had a duty to look at the interests of the 200 families affected, and
that authorities would ensure that the houses were built. 
www.iol.co.za


Woman begins hunger strike over Chappies
Zara Nicholson 6 February 2012 

A Hout Bay resident and member of the Civil Rights Action Group (Crag)
started a hunger strike at the Chapman’s Peak toll plaza and office
block site on Sunday, saying she would stop only if the construction was
halted. 

With temperatures of 35º on Sunday, Bronwen Lankers-Byrne was strong
and vowed to carry on until authorities were prepared to have
transparent discussions and take residents’ feelings on the development
into account. 

Lankers-Byrne, who is almost 60, sat alone under a small tree opposite
the construction site on Chapman’s Peak where she started her hunger
strike at 7am. 

“I will do this for as long as it takes,” she said. 

Earlier in the day a few environmentalists were also at the site where
they spray-painted containers and road signs near the site. The group
sprayed messages like: “We are still gatvol” and “a precedent for one
office block, then another and another”. 

Lankers-Byrne said she was only drinking water and was feeling strong
except for a “pounding headache”. 

She was the march co-ordinator for the protest last month when more
than 2 000 people voiced their opposition to the construction of a toll
plaza and office block for the toll operator, Entilini. 

Residents say the building does not match the plans they commented on
during the public participation processes. 

Lankers-Byrne said: “When I was interviewed in 2009 at a protest, I was
really angry and I told a reporter, ‘Over my dead body will they build
this plaza,’ That’s where the hunger strike thought started and then I
also thought about what Gandhi would do in this situation and I thought
about a passive but strong resistance that’s effective.” 

Lankers-Byrne was particularly outraged that building continued despite
a showing by more than 2 000 people who disagreed with the plan. 

Various civil groups are opposing the R54 million development with the
Hout Bay Residents Association busy finalising documents to file an
interdict to stop the construction from continuing. 

Lankers-Byrne did not have any breakfast and by 2pm she said:
“Spiritually I feel fine. I’ve resolved myself to the fact that I am
not going to put anything past my mouth except water until they stop
building and we sit around a table to discuss the data and a simple way
forward.” 

Premier Helen Zille cycled on Chapman’s Peak yesterday morning and
Lankers-Byrne stopped her and explained what she was doing. Zille took
her details and said she would be in contact. 

“I am just tired of politicians. We vote for them, we pay their
salaries and they do what we don’t want, with our money,” she said. 

Local actress Vanessa Haywood stopped as she was driving past and took
a picture of Lankers-Byrne. 

She posted the picture on Twitter and tweeted: “And the morons have
already started building on Chappies.” 

Haywood, who has more than 5 000 followers on Twitter, said she wanted
to rally support for Lankers-Byrne and signed the petition at the site
opposing the development. 

Transport and Public Works MEC Robin Carlisle said: “We can talk as
soon as we can. I don’t want her to do anything drastic. I’ve had
several long talks with people on Crag’s committee and I’m happy to talk
to anyone about Chapman’s Peak. The purpose of discussion is to see what
solutions we can come to and if they want to have a discussion, they
must look at all the possibilities. We all want to find the least
objectionable solution.” 

He did not speak for other stakeholders, but was sure they would also
make time to talk, Carlisle said. - Cape Times 
zara.nicholson at inl.co.za 
www.iol.co.za


Unions not behind Kruger Park strike
(IOL News) 2 February 2012 

Two unions with representation at the Kruger National Park (KNP) have
denied being behind a strike by over 300 employees, planned for Friday.


“As far as we are concerned, our members have not indicated themselves
that there is any strike,” said Ivan Molefe, SA Commercial Catering and
Allied Workers' Union negotiator on Thursday. 

“They are doing it on an individual basis,” he said. 

The Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa)
said no current members were involved. 

Some former members who had recently resigned were among those planning
to strike over pay at the park on Friday, it said. 

“They are striking for legitimate issues, but they did that as
individuals. They did not consult with us,” said Hospersa spokesman
Dumisani Mthalana.. 

“They are fighting something we are also fighting,” he said. 

Earlier, KNP spokesman William Mabasa said a notice giving 361people
permission to strike from Friday was issued by the Commission for
Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. 

Of these, 248 were rangers, sparking concern over the protection of the
animals from poachers, particularly rhino. 

In 2011, 448 rhinos were killed in South Africa. 

The park employs about 400 rangers out of around 2500 staff. 

“It is indeed unfortunate that our rangers have decided to go on strike
at the time when we are at the peak of our war against rhino poachers,”
Mabasa said in a statement earlier this week. 

“These are the men and women that we rely on in our fight against the
poachers, but nevertheless management would like to assure our guests
and the public in general that all contingency measures are in place to
adequately deal with the situation.” 

Mabasa said workers believed some employees got more money than others
for doing the same job. 

In previous discussions, management explained that salary differences
could be due to factors such as experience, or a longer term of
employment. 

KNP had put contingency plans in place, which included using the SA
National Defence Force, the police, and volunteer rangers. 

Mabasa said visitors could continue with their plans to visit the park.


Mthalane and Molefe said both unions had seen resignations among
members at the park in what Mthalana called “union hopping”. 

Saccawu had lost its majority at the park when members left to join
Hospersa. Another union was apparently campaigning in the park for
members, who had in turn resigned from Hospersa , they explained. 

“It is their right to belong or not to belong, but it is a trend in SA
National Parks: they are just hopping from one union to another,” he
said. 

Saccawu and Hospersa had not been asked to join the strike. 

Comment from the people intending to strike was not immediately
available. - Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Protesting metro cops stop traffic
Bongani Hans 3 February 2012 

The eThekwini council’s executive committee is expected to hold an
emergency meeting on Friday to find a solution to the grievances of
protesting metro police officers. 

Mayor James Nxumalo made the promise after accepting a memorandum from
hundreds of officers who marched from Berea to the city hall yesterday.


They brought traffic in Dr Pixley KaSeme (West) Street to a standstill
and hurled insults at metro police head Eugene Nzama. 

Businesses along the route closed until the marchers passed by. 

Nxumalo said he was committed to addressing the officers’ grievances
and would give them feedback within 48 hours. 

He said their grievances were legitimate and were among many issues at
the municipality that needed to be corrected urgently. 

“Since I have signed this memorandum, I will call an urgent executive
committee meeting to sit at 10am (today). You will get your feedback
before the end of the day,” he said. 

Some of the officers said they had joined the force at the age of 18
and worked without being given the training required for permanent
employment. 

They said they were disqualified from attending the training when they
reached the age of 30, and deprived of permanent employment and benefits
such as medical aid. 

Unhappy with his response to their grievances, the officers demanded
that Nzama be reassigned to another department. 

They also wanted the city to investigate the qualifications of Rajen
Chin, head of the metro police’s specialised units. 

Late last month, former eThekwini municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe
suspended Chin and promised to start an investigation, which the
marchers said had not commenced. 

The officers also demanded the suspension of metro police human
resources manager Monty Naidoo, who they accused of signing Chin’s
employment contract. - The Mercury 
www.iol.co.za


Invaders to vacate Wallmanstal
IOL News2 February 2012 

The High Court in Pretoria has ordered illegal occupants of
Wallmansthal, north of the city, to vacate government-owned land within
15 days. 

In his ruling on Thursday, Judge Joseph Raulinga issued a court order
compelling the occupants of Wallmansthal to demolish their structures
and remove their belongings. 

“I understand that the land issue is a very emotive one in our country
and there is a genuine need. Government has put policies in place with
regards to land restitution. We have to respect those policies,” he
said. 

“We cannot take the law into our own hands. We have instances where
greedy elements take advantage of the poor. That is lack of respect for
the law.” 

The application was brought by the rural development and land reform
department, which was busy transferring the land to successful
claimants. 

According to an earlier court order no one was allowed to settle on the
land until infrastructure had been installed. 

Large numbers of people nevertheless started moving in, setting up
informal dwellings on plots that were apparently unlawfully sold at R400
a piece to members of the public. – Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Students, unions to strike
Leanne Jansen 2 February 2012 

Angry over registration policies, students as well as workers’ and
teachers’ unions have threatened to strike at all four major tertiary
institutions in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday. 

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union; the SA
Students Congress; the SA Democratic Teachers Union and the Young
Communist League said that rather than destabilising the higher
education system, they were “restoring order” where crisis existed. 

The unions have set tomorrow as the deadline by which to reach
agreement with the senior management of the Durban University of
Technology, Mangosuthu University of Technology, University of Zululand
and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. 

Last week, the chairman of the National Assembly’s higher education
committee, Ishmael Malale, urged Mangosuthu student leaders to reach out
to him and other MPs before embarking on protest action. 

National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union KZN secretary Zola
Saphetha said there were common problems across the campuses, including
inadequate residences, the number of points needed for admittance being
“unilaterally” increased, students incurring debt because of poor
distribution of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, and students
being excluded from certain fields of study on the basis of race. 

The institutions have denied acting in bad faith and said they were
unaware of the looming protests. 

Sapetha said that everyone from cleaning staff to lecturers would join
the protests. 

The Durban University of Technology said that if necessary, it would
implement an interdict awarded to it last year, which prohibited
students from participating in protest action. 

The University of Zululand responded that while people had the right to
strike, its management was “always willing” to hold talks. 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal said only its medical school had
targets for admission according to race. It had provided R16.2 million
from its own funds where the aid scheme fell short this year and,
although two new residences had been completed, there were plans to
increase on-campus residences. 
www.iol.co.za


Implats sacks 13 000 striking workers
Mail & Guardian 2 February 2012 

Impala Platinum, the world's second largest platinum producer, said on
Thursday that it had dismissed 13 000 employees, bringing to 17 200
those sacked since the start of a labour dispute almost two weeks ago. 

Workers were given until Wednesday to return to work at its Rustenburg
operations or face dismissal.

A process of rehiring, which could give the fired workers a chance to
reapply for their jobs, would be "undertaken in due course", the company
said in a statement.

The stoppage is costing Implats 3 000 platinum ounces a day in lost
production.

The dispute centres on retention bonuses awarded to only part of the
workforce. The latest round of dismissals follows the firing of drill
operators who initiated a stay-away a fortnight ago that was declared
illegal by a court.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it was disappointed that
the company had resorted to firing-and-rehiring.

Intimidation
NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the process of rehiring took a
long time and the longer it took, the harder the operations would be
hit.

The trade union believes that many of those dismissed were not on
strike but prevented from reporting for work due to intimidation.

"Workers could simply not get to work safely," he said.

Safety stoppages have also hit platinum output across the sector in
South Africa, which accounts for about 80% of the global supply of the
precious metal.

Platinum's spot price is up over 15% since the start of the year to
over $1 600 an ounce.

Implats' share price was down 2.4% at 12:54 GMT, underperforming the
benchmark top 40 index, which was 0.7% higher. -- Reuters 
mg.co.za


SATAWU PLANNED MARCH AGAINST METRORAIL CALLED OFF
SATAWU 2 February 2012

The planned march on Friday 3, February, 2012 has been called off after
the CCMA was granted Metrorail an Interim Court Interdict against any
strike action or intention to strike by members of SATAWU. That being
the case we can confirmed that all SATAWU Metrorail workers would be
reporting for duty and continue to work as normal. 
We respect the court ruling and we call on all our members who work for
Metrorail to do the same. There are serious problems within Metrorail
and they will continue to be there unless they are addressed. SATAWU
will continue to raise this issue in line with the given to us by our
members. 
We expect our members to report on duty tomorrow. 
Issued by:
SATAWU President
Ephraim Mphahlele
072 111 8131


Pennyville residents protest over Absa eviction
Mail & Guardian 1 February 2012 

Angry Pennyville residents staged a demonstration outside Absa
buildings in Johannesburg on Wednesday, protesting against their
eviction by the bank. 

Those living in the Absa-owned flats in the mixed housing complex in
Soweto have been served with an eviction notice for March, but the
residents refuse to go down without a fight.

The protesters picketed and sang outside, while employees were stuck
inside the Absa building in the Johannesburg city centre. Witnesses told
the Mail & Guardian the protest started after 10am and lasted little
more than half an hour, when protesters were permitted through the doors
to hand over a memorandum.

But it is unlikely to be the last Absa will hear from the Pennyville
community.

Last year residents hit back against an eviction order they claimed was
illegal. The New Age reported that when residents were evicted for
non-payment of rent or bonds early last year, others participated in a
rent boycott in protest against poor and hazardous living conditions and
double billing for electricity.

A further eviction effort by the Red Ants in November resulted in only
10 residents being evicted out of the 50 scheduled, when the community
resisted by barricading the building and surrounding streets.

Many residents facing eviction insisted they had paid their rentals
consistently and in full.

Absa told the M&G that, following unsuccessful efforts to amicably
resolve the non-payment matter with Pennyville residents, Diluculo
Investments, Absa's division to finance commercial property, approached
the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court to recover the arrear amounts
involved.

"It is important to note that the eviction orders were obtained on
legitimate grounds with all factors having been taken into account," the
bank said. "Absa will always try to amicably resolve matters which
pertain to our customers and will only resort to evictions as a last
resort." 

Absa said it received the memorandum from a group representing the
community of Pennyville and that the matter is with their legal team. 
mg.co.za


STUDENT PROTEST: EDGEWOOD CAMPUS
COMMUNIQUE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE
RELATIONS 1 February 2012

Dear Colleagues and Students
A number of students on the Edgewood Campus embarked on a protest
yesterday and this morning and attempted to disrupt the registration
process of
students that was in progress.
The School of Education has the capacity to accommodate 650 students
for the
first year BEd programme. Due to the high demand for the programme
with
more than 14 000 applications, the School has made offers for admission
to 900
students. The required matric points for the BEd degree programme is
within the
range of the maximum points of 48 to the minimum of 24 points.
Unfortunately due to limited resources, both in terms of infrastructure
and
academic staff, the School cannot further increase admission numbers
into this
programme. The cut-off point for the Bed degree is 28.
The Edgewood SRC have demanded that the School of Education admit 18
students who are outside the cut-off point.
2
Members of Executive Management, the College of Humanities and the
School
Management engaged the SRC to try and resolve the impasse and to
impress
upon them the rules of the University and the penalties that we face
when we
enroll more students. Furthermore, the SRC were informed that our
enrollment
plan has been agreed to by Senate and is implemented according to the
targets set by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
The matter remains unresolved as the local SRC walked out of the
meeting.
Further discussions were held with the Central SRC and it has been
agreed to
meet today – the meeting is still in progress.
UKZN is serious about excellence and does not discriminate the schools
that we
recruit students from. It is important to note that all degrees have a
limited
number of spaces available. The best qualified applicants are chosen
first and
selection continues until the cut-off point has been reached and or all
places
have been filled. It is unlikely that students below the cut-off point
are selected.
It should also be noted that demand exceeds available places, and not
all
applicants meeting the requirements will be offered places.
Regards
Nomonde Mbadi
Executive Director
Corporate Relations
Issued on behalf of Executive Management


NUM condemns Impala Platinum
NUM 1 February 2012

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is highly perturbed by the
unpleasant situation at Impala Platinum in Rustenburg where over 25 000
workers had stayed away from duty. The NUM believes that Impala Platinum
applies underhand tactics to incite workers into strike, obtain an
interdict and fire them. This conclusion is informed by the fact that
Impala reneged from an agreement it had with the NUM where it commited
to further negotiations on other conditions of service and emphasised
that it will not enter into talks which will have monetary implications.
Contrary to that, the company went ahead and increased by 18% wages for
miners excluding rockdrill operators and other categories, thus
triggering the current illegal strike. Secondly, the NUM always applies
for permission to conduct meetings with its members within the premises
but the company has allowed people who do not work there to come and
have several meetings with workers in the company premises. The NUM has
raised the issue and appealed on the company to provide security for the
over 23 000 members that want to go to work. Impala Platinum now refuses
to meet the NUM, which is the sole representative of mineworkers at the
operations and refuse to provide security. The company has opted to
obtain interdict after the other.

The NUM is of the view that Impala Platinum CEO ‘s sudden departure and
the strike are interlinked and suspect that the company intends to
restructure its workforce. In pursuit of its restructuring, the company
wishes to fire a whole lot of workers so it can persuade them to
re-apply and reject some of them in line with its restructuring
objectives.

The National Union of Mineworkers calls on the company to return itself
to sanity and follow proper procedures if it is its intention to
restructure. The NUM fears that the volatile situation within Impala may
lead to violence as those who want to go to work may eventually confront
those who prevent them from doing so.

Lesiba Seshoka- (NUM National Spokesman)- 082 803 6719
011 377 2047


3 wounded in protest
IOL News 31 January 2012 

Three people were wounded, 10 arrested, and two police vans damaged
during a service delivery protest in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape police said on
Tuesday. 

About 500 people barricaded Mgwali Road with stones and burning tyres
on Monday, Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said. 

“They uprooted road signs in a protest against a lack of electricity
and houses. When police arrived the protesters threw stones at their
vehicles severely damaging two vans in the process.” 

The officers fired rubber bullets to disperse the residents and
arrested 10 people. Fatyela said the situation was calm on Tuesday
morning but police were still patrolling the area. 

Three people were taken to a local hospital with rubber bullet
injuries. Those arrested were expected to face charges of public
violence and malicious damage to property in the Ngcobo Magistrate's
Court on Wednesday. 

The Chris Hani district municipality, under which Ngcobo fell, was not
immediately available for comment. – Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Blikkiesdorp residents fed up
NATASHA BEZUIDENHOUT (IOL News) 31 January 2012 

A group of Blikkiesdorp residents set tyres alight and barricaded parts
of Symphony Way in protest over inadequate housing on Monday. 

Police tried to disperse the crowd, but they demanded to see their ward
councillor. 

On Tuesday morning at least three metro police vehicles were patrolling
the area, which had calmed down after Monday night. 

Residents say they are fed up with their living conditions. 

Jacqueline Hendricks said she would fight to get a house of her own. 

“Some people have been on a housing waiting list for 29 years. We are
tired of it and will fight for our houses.” 

Anther resident, Ricardo Joshua, said people were frustrated and sick
and tired of living in Blikkiesdorp. 

“They are just dumping people here. (Premier Helen) Zille designed
Blikkiesdorp and put up more shacks. When are we going to get out?” he
asked. 

Faldelah Damons said the city made promises, but nothing was ever done.


“Enough is enough. Children are warned by gang members and we don’t
want violence. We don’t want to live in blikkies anymore.” 

Shamiela Jassien said they lived in disgusting conditions. 

“The toilets are disgusting and women have so many infections. We come
here healthy and people leave here in a coffin. Blikkiesdorp is a health
risk.” 

Another resident said drains were blocked. 

Marshell Wolhuter said: “ 

Crime is getting worse and children are becoming ill.” 

Shameeg Damons said he had been living in the settlement for almost
five years. “I have been on a housing waiting list for 10 years already.”


Ward 106 councillor Khayalethu Makeleni said he had held a meeting with
residents. 

“A committee from the community handed me a memorandum addressing all
the issues last week. 

“I will respond to the memorandum this weekend, after my meeting with
the city council,” he said. 
natasha.bezuidenhout at inl.co.za - Cape Argus 
www.iol.co.za


Ficksburg protesters to be tried
IOL news 31 January 2012 

The State will press ahead with public violence charges against 15
Ficksburg residents who demonstrated alongside slain protester Andries
Tatane, an official said on Tuesday. 

Free State National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Medupe Simasiku
said the director of public prosecutions in the Free State had decided
to prosecute in the matter. The group appeared in court on Monday. 

The case was postponed to February 10 for the group members to arrange
legal representation. 

The 15 were among a group of more than 40 people arrested during
protests after a service delivery march in April 2011 in Ficksburg.
Charges were withdrawn against the others. 

The group was arrested in Meqheleng during the protest where resident
Andries Tatane was killed, allegedly by public order police. Video
footage showed riot police beating Tatane during the march to the
Setsoto municipal offices in Ficksburg. Over several days, roads were
blocked with stones and bricks, and tyres set alight. 

The Independent Complaints Directorate was handling the investigation
into Tatane's murder. 

Two policemen were charged with murder and another six faced charges of
assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The eight policemen's
case would be heard in the Ficksburg Regional Court over four days from
April 23. – Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Rival factions face off at ET murder trial
OMPHITLHETSE MOOKI (IOL News) 31 January 2012

Supporters of slain right-wing leader Eugene Terre’Blanche and his
alleged killers antagonised each other by singing emotionally charged
songs outside the court on Monday. 

Police had to be called in to defuse the situation as tensions flared
near the Ventersdorp High Court, where Chris Mahlangu and a teenager are
on trial. 

Dressed in camouflage, a small group of AWB members descended on the
small North West town at about 8am. 

They set up a gazebo, stuck posters on tree trunks and hoisted their
flags atop their 4x4 vehicles. 

They braaied boerewors and sang Afrikaans songs like Bok van Blerk’s De
la Rey, which blared from loudspeakers. The situation threatened to turn
nasty when the song Bobbejaan Klim die Berg (baboon climbs the mountain)
started playing. 

Tshing residents took offence and retaliated by singing President Jacob
Zuma’s favourite song, Umshini Wam (bring me my machinegun). 

A clash between the two groups threatened, and police stepped in. 
www.iol.co.za


Implats: Rustenburg mine still shut
Business Report30 January 2012 

South African miner Impala Platinum said on Monday its Rustenburg
operations remained shut after the majority of workers staging an
illegal strike over wages failed to return to work. 

Implats said it had been granted a further court order declaring the
strike illegal. 

“The failure of the workforce to report for work this morning is due to
an alternative union ... who have, despite no formal process in place,
attempted to gain recognition at the Rustenburg operation,” it said in a
statement. 

About 5,000 drill operators downed tools on January 20. The company
dismissed them after the stoppage was declared illegal. The workers have
been told to reapply for their positions. - Reuters
www.iol.co.za


Residents march over ‘killer cop’
Kutlwano Olifant 30 January 2012

As the police celebrated National Police Day in central Joburg,
hundreds of residents of Soweto marched to demand the suspension of a
cop charged with murder. 

The piercing sound of vuvuzelas echoed through the streets as residents
of Nomzamo marched to the Orlando police station in protest against the
non-suspension of Constable Ndivhoneni Malele. 

Malele allegedly shot and killed Thamsanqa Samane-Radebe two weeks ago
after Samane-Radebe had told him to “voertsek”. 

The killing happened while the police were trying to enter Radebe’s
shack at about midnight. 

Samane-Radebe had apparently been irritated by the loud knocks when he
uttered the word “voertsek”, according to his cousin Mzuvukile. 

Mzuvukile said Malele had shot Radebe despite him (Mzuvukile)
apologising. He added that Malele then pepper-sprayed Samane-Radebe in
the face. 

Malele was arrested five days later and appeared in court on the same
day. He was granted bail on the same day and resumed duty the following
day – a decision that has outraged Nomzamo residents. 

On Friday, they called for his suspension. 

Young and old sang and danced outside the police station as a
memorandum was handed over. The residents were joined by Orlando ward
councillor Sechaba Khumalo and his predecessor Ruby Matang. 

In the memorandum, residents complained about the “unfair” and “lenient”
ruling that saw Malele being released on R1 000 bail. 

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Bongani Mhlongo said the station
commander was still awaiting feedback from the Gauteng provincial office
regarding Malele’s suspension. - The Star 
www.iol.co.za


AWB supporters outside ET trial
IOL News30 January 2012

A small group of Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging supporters were gathered
outside the High Court in Ventersdorp on Monday morning. 

The group, dressed in camouflage uniforms, were awaiting the resumption
of the trial of two farmworkers for the murder of rightwing leader
Eugene Terre'Blanche. 

Cars were draped in AWB regalia and flags and the group played
Afrikaans music including the controversial song De La Ray. 

The case was postponed in October last year. 

Chris Mahlangu and a minor are accused of beating and hacking the
former AWB leader to death in his farmhouse in North West in April 2010.


Both have pleaded not guilty to murder, housebreaking, and robbery with
aggravating circumstances. 

Mahlangu claims he acted in self defence. The teenager has denied
involvement in the crime. - Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Occupy Rondebosch: Charges against protesters withdrawn
Mail & Guardian 30 January 2011 

Public violence charges against 41 Cape Town protesters have been
withdrawn following their arrest on Friday, when police dispersed an
unsanctioned protest being held on Rondesbosch Common. 

The 41 demonstrators group appeared in the Wynberg magistrate's court
on Monday morning, after they were arrested last week while taking part
in what was deemed by authorities to be an illegal protest, but
described by organisers as a "summit" on land, jobs, housing and other
issues pertinent to Cape Town's poor. 

To underscore their issues, participants had decided to meet at
Rondebosch Common, a public space they said was seen to be the exclusive
property of a moneyed and predominantly white elite of the southern
suburbs.

The protest itself emerged from encounters between several grassroots
organisations, including Proudly Mannenberg. The protesters, unlike in
previous Occupy South Africa protests, which had been criticised for
being attended mostly by white, middle-class demonstrators, were mostly
black and coloured, and from working class backgrounds.

Police had been waiting along the route, for the protesters who were
marching to the Common from as far away as Athlone, Mitchells Plain and
Kraaifontein.

A total of 41 protesters -- of whom 26 were women -- were jailed,
including organiser Mario Wanza, who was arrested at around 10am while
still in Mannenberg. All were released soon afterwards -- except Wanza,
who had previously been singled out as an instigator by Cape Town mayor
Patricia de Lille, and remained in jail until his Monday morning court
appearance.

At the common itself, protesters were significantly outnumbered by a
police presence of about 200 officers, who used water cannons loaded
with blue dye to disperse the gathering. When protester Niall Reddy
questioned the police about which law was being violated, police cited a
court order, but were apparently unable to produce any documentation. 

According to the Freedom of Expression Institute's Na'eem Jeenah, the
Democratic Alliance-run Cape Town has a history of denying citizens the
right to assemble. 

Christopher McMichael, who has written on both the DA's response to
dissent and "securitisation" in the country, said the Cape Town
authorities' actions were "indicative of the police response to the
Occupy phenomenon throughout the world". 

"They have shown how they can keep up with the 'world class' standard
set in Oakland or New York," said McMichael. "The response was based
upon a militarised outlook of pre-emption."

Jane Duncan of the Rhodes University Journalism and Media Studies
department said that such attitudes towards public gatherings were not
exclusive to a single party: "It has become patently obvious that local
authorities are manipulating the RGA [Regulations of Gatherings Act] to
frustrate gatherings, rather than enable them, and that this cuts across
ANC and DA-controlled municipalities". 

'Agents of division'
While supporters of the protest argued that their meeting posed no
threat to public safety, the city had declared the movement a threat.

De Lille described the protesters as "agents of division" and singled
out Wanza, as someone who will "act destructively, who will undo the
good work of others to pursue selfish political motives", describing him
as a "would-be but failed public servant who claims to speak on behalf
of the people of the Cape Flats".

De Lille further claimed that Wanza was allied to her former mayoral
rival in last year's municipal election, councillor Tony Ehrenreich.
Ehrenreich, who also leads Cosatu in the province, later showed up at
the protest offering to help to those arrested, before being shouted
down by angry protesters who claimed he was attempting to hijack the
protest on behalf of Cosatu and its alliance partner, the ANC.

According to protesters, neither Cosatu nor Ehrenreich was involved
until he showed up on the day of the protest. Organisers had decided not
to back any particular political party. 

'Excessive force'
Video footage (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqQ_bmszt5c&context=C31008b2ADOEgsToPDskLrJ-paX8YUN1qZX7ePVqPS
) purports to show the police employing excessive force in their
handling of several female protesters.

Richard October, a Cape Town-based community activist and member of
Occupy Cape Town was among those taken into custody: "I got arrested
when four big policemen were being brutal to a 19-year-old girl, I
confronted them about their excessive behavior and they arrested me."

Fiery Khayelitsha pastor Xola Skonsana claimed that he had "escaped
imprisonment by the skin of my teeth, saved by the clerical shirt and
the religious look ... they sprayed some blue substance on our clothes,
I'm tempted to say that's DA Blood."

Organisers of the protest said they would lodge a complaint with the
South African Human Rights Commission on Monday, claiming that the
city's show of force was "overkill" and "illegal". -- Additional
reporting by Sapa 
Benjamin Fogel is a freelance writer, he can be contacted at
benfogel at hotmail.com
mg.co.za


Outrage over arrests on Rondebosch Common
Babalo Ndenze (IOL News) 30 January 2012 

A storm has erupted after protest action at Rondebosch Common, with
organisers planning to lodge a complaint with the SA Human Rights
Commission, claiming the city’s show of force was “overkill” and
“illegal”. 

About 40 protesters, including chief organiser Mario Wanza, were
arrested during a demonstration by campaigners who had not obtained
permission to protest. Police, who outnumbered protesters, sprayed blue
dye on the crowd to disperse them on Friday. 

Organisers said Wanza remained behind bars at Manenberg police station
over the weekend ahead of his court appearance in Athlone on Monday.
Other protesters were released and are to appear in court on Monday. 

Police would not confirm or comment on Wanza’s incarceration but
defended the use of force. 

The City of Cape Town said the actions on Friday were the police’s
decision and responsibility. Speaking on behalf of mayor Patricia De
Lille, mayoral committee member Grant Pascoe said arrests were not
carried out on her instructions. 

“Our guys were there as back-up. It’s difficult to say why SAPS reacted
the way they did. But in this instance Wanza failed to meet the
requirements of the Gatherings Act. But I want to categorically state
that (De Lille) said our law enforcement guys must not act
heavy-handedly. (The) mayor said ‘no physicality’,” said Pascoe. 

The defiant group plans a second week of protest action, with a
“renaming” of the open space this weekend. 

Occupy Rondebosch Common claims to have the backing of the SA Council
of Churches, Cosatu, the SA NGO Coalition and the Institute for the
Restoration of Aborigines of SA. 

Organisers are reprinting UDF banners in a bid to revive the mass
anti-apartheid organisation of the 1980s. 

On Sunday, one of the organisers, Richard October, accused De Lille of
having a hand in Wanza’s incarceration and for “personalising” the
campaign. 

Saying the group would approach the HRC on Monday, October said: “One
person is still under arrest and that’s (Wanza). From what we understand
it is De Lille who is personalising this matter and making it about
Wanza.” 

October said the SAPS and metro police contingent and the arrests were
“overkill”. 

De Lille singled out Wanza during her speech at last week’s council
meeting and dedicated a large part of her weekly newsletter to him,
branding him and his supporters “agents of destruction”. 

De Lille wrote that occupations, illegal actions and invasions were all
“side-paths. But they lead nowhere. All that remains at the end of these
short diversions is more pain, suffering, conflict and violence. And
when we descend there, we will forget where we were going, forever.” 

SAPS spokesman Andre Traut told the Cape Times: “The march was illegal.
They had no permission and the South African police cannot tolerate
lawlessness.” 

He said 26 females and 14 males were arrested. 

“They did not adhere to the instruction to disperse and that’s why they
were arrested,” said Traut, who refused to disclose how many police were
at the scene. Weekend reports stated that there were “hundreds” of
police officers and six Casspirs. 

Jared Sacks of Communities for Change claimed that police acted in
contravention of the Gatherings Act. 

“We will come back to the common next Sunday for a renaming ceremony
and we will occupy District Six and golf courses,” Sacks said, adding
that they didn’t need permission to conduct a renaming ceremony on open
space. 

Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said there would be “war”
on the common. “Police stopped people at many points and some from
boarding trains. But Cosatu filed an application on Friday for a protest
on the common on Saturday.” Organisers would call on “all white
communities to join us”. 

SAHRC spokesman Vincent Moaga could not be reached for comment. - Cape
Times 
babalo.ndenze at inl.co.za 
 (
http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/outrage-over-arrests-on-rondebosch-common-1.1223023
)


Rondebosch common protesters in court
IOL News 30 January 2012 

A backyarder group, who had their protest on Rondesbosch Common in Cape
Town dispersed by the police last week, are due to appear in court on
Monday. 

The 41 Mandela Park Backyarders demonstrators will appear in the
Wynberg Magistrate's Court on charges of public violence. 

Cape Town mayor Patricia de Dille had promised to down come hard on the
group if their protest went ahead. 

Organisers of the protest said they would lodge a complaint with the SA
Human Rights Commission, claiming that the city’s show of force was
“overkill” and “illegal”. 

“We were with the help of some dedicated lawyers, able to secure the
release of 41 of the people arrested,” the group said in a statement. 

“The police are still refusing to release one protester however,
possibly because Patricia de Lille has been gunning for him.” 

According to the Cape Times newspaper, the police, who outnumbered the
small group of protesters, sprayed blue dye on the crowd to disperse
them. The group had not obtained permission to protest. 

According to the organisers, Mario Wanza, leader of the backyarder
group, remained behind bars at Manenberg police station over the weekend
ahead of his court appearance in Athlone on Monday. 

Mayoral committee member Grant Pascoe said the police dealt with
matters of public order and the arrests were not carried out on De
Lille’s instructions. 

“Our guys were there as back-up,” he told the Cape Times. 

“It’s difficult to say why SAPS reacted the way they did. But in this
instance, Wanza failed to meet the requirements of the Gatherings Act,”
Pascoe said. 

“But I want to categorically state that (De Lille) said our law
enforcement guys must not act heavy handedly. 

“(The) mayor said ‘no physicality’,” Pascoe said. 

One of the Mandela Park Backyarders' organisers, Richard October, said
the group would approach the HRC today. 

“One person is still under arrest and that’s (Wanza). From what we
understand, it is De Lille who is personalising this matter and making
it about Wanza,” he said. – Sapa 
www.iol.co.za


Battle of the Common
Junior Bester (IOL News) 28 January 2012 

A usually peaceful Rondebosch Common was turned into a war zone on
Friday as protesters, outnumbered by a huge police contingent, were
sprayed with blue dye, arrested and thrown into the back of police vans.


With many still behind bars at the time of going to press on Friday
night, they were, however, undeterred – and warned that Mowbray Golf
Club would be next. 

Earlier this week mayor Patricia de Lille branded Occupy Rondebosch
Common organiser Mario Wanza and his supporters “agents of destruction”.
And she had the police out in force from early on Friday in a bid to
stop the marchers before they got anywhere near Rondebosch. 

Wanza was himself arrested by police in Manenberg early in the day.
But, said Farouk Davids, a protester who was with him at the time, he
urged the others to continue. 

The original plan was to march from various Cape Flats areas such as
Mitchells Plain, Manenberg and Hanover Park, gathering at about 2pm at
Athlone Stadium and then proceeding to the Common. 

The protesters had warned they would “reclaim our right to the city”,
occupying the Common to raise awareness about the lack of housing and
jobs. 

When they arrived at the stadium on Friday, a police function was under
way, so they continued on the road to Rondebosch – to be met by a
blockade of police who fired water cannons filled with blue dye before
any of the group of just less than 40 people even made it off the
pavement. 

Scenes of chaos followed as police arrested the group, throwing people
into the back of police vans, Casspirs and even a police minibus. They
were taken to police stations at Mowbray, Claremont and Rondebosch. 

Late on Friday night police spokesman Lieutenant Andre Traut said they
would appear in court soon. 

Amelia September, of Proudly Manenberg, said their initial plan to
occupy the Common was changed on Wednesday “to show police that we were
going to be peaceful”. 

“We were going to march to the Common to raise awareness and make
authorities aware that we are now pursuing other ways to make ourselves
heard.” 

Traut was adamant, however, that the event was illegal and said the
organisers had not followed procedures. “Police had to act swiftly as
lawlessness will not be tolerated anywhere,” he said. 

Grant Pascoe, mayoral committee member for tourism, events and
marketing, said on Friday night he was was also unaware of any change in
the protester’s plan to occupy the Common. He added that the city had
always intended respecting their right to protest. 

“The unfortunate thing is that they are trying to address the issue of
housing, which we are also concerned about,” said Pascoe. 

“We would love them to come and discuss it with us through community
forums and various other channels. We do not want to see people
resorting to illegal activities as we have seen today,” Pascoe said,
adding that the city wanted to help people by working with them,
“through the community”. 

But Jared Sacks, of Communities for Social Change which was helping
drive the protest, warned they would “not be deterred”. 

“We will occupy every golf course, we will occupy every piece of vacant
land until both the DA and ANC governments listen to the people instead
of the corrupt business people and big corporates who fund their
election campaigns, and dictate land, economic and fiscal policy,” he
said. 

He even ended in a slanging match with Cosatu’s Tony Ehrenreich, leader
of the ANC in the city council, who was among the protesters. 

Ehrenreich condemned the police’s decision to use force on the crowd,
accusing local government of failing the community. 

“The police’s reaction was inappropriate. I am not sure if it is
because black people cannot come and protest on the Common.” 

He revealed, too, that Cosatu had already applied to gather on the
Common next Saturday. He promised that 1 000 protesters would be
present. 

Daniel Ras, from the Mitchells Plain Forum, added his voice to the
anger. 

“How can this amount of force be available for a peaceful march?” he
asked. “Why do police not implement this much manpower to come and sweep
crime off the streets of our communities?” - Weekend Argus 
www.iol.co.za


PRESS STATEMENT: RELEASE ALL ARRESTED FOR OCCUPYING RONDEBOSCH COMMON 
DEMOCRATIC LEFT FRONT (WESTERN CAPE)
27 January 2012

The Democratic Left Front (DLF) in the Western Cape calls for the
immediate release and dropping of all charges against tens of activists
arrested in today’s march to, and occupation of the Rondebosch Common.
Many were arrested outside the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in a clear
attempt to stop them from reaching the Rondebosch Common. We condemn the
SA Police Services for their anti-democratic action. 

As Khayelitsha’s Pastor Xola Skosana said from the march: “I have
escaped imprisonment by the skin of my teeth, saved by the clerical
shirt and the religious look, I guess. They sprayed some blue substance
on our clothes, tempted to say that's DA Blood. Most of our people were
manhandled and thrown into police vans. I have never seen so many
police. Now I know you don't mess with stolen white property, DA and ANC
police will crush you! Watch the news, the writing is on the wall. I
salute the mothers and young girls from Mitchell’s Plein who looked the
men in blue and dared them to arrest them. Everything was blue, it's
truly DA land". 

The DLF condemns the City of Cape Town and the provincial government
for their use of the police to stop mass action against their anti-poor
policies, and to suppress dissent and maintain social control. This
naked attack on the freedom of assembly has been preceded by sustained
political attacks by Patricia De Lille (the Mayor of Cape Town), Helen
Zille (the Premier of the Western Cape) and the Democratic Alliance on
individual organisers of the Occupy Rondebosch Common movement. The
individualised attacks and today’s arrests are a direct attack on the
interests and rights of poor and working people. 

We call on all poor and working people, people’s organisations and
other progressive forces in Cape Town to use the moment of the Occupy
Rondebosch Common to intensify unfolding people’s struggles to push back
neo-liberalism, and anti-poor policies of the City of Cape Town, the
provincial government and the national government. Clearly, all these
governments are promoting post-apartheid capitalism which is leaving a
trail of hunger, poverty, anger and misery. Politicians and the
government they lead protect the wealthy elite who refuse to concede a
single inch to the urgent needs of the majority. 

FOR COMMENTS, CONTACT: 
Mazibuko K. Jara – 083 651 0271 
Thembi Luckett – 082 909 3203 
Yushra Adams – 083 404 1279 
Website – 


Lottery protesters demand answers
IOL News 27 January 2012 

More than 400 protesters from several NPOs marched to the National
Lotteries Board (NLB) offices in Arcadia, Pretoria.

Funding from the National Lotteries Board (NLB) is inconsistent and
unreliable making it impossible for non-profit organisations to budget
or plan, a spokesman for an NPO said on Friday, January 27, 2012. 

More than 400 protesters from several NPOs were marching on the NLB in
Arcadia near Pretoria on Friday morning to hand over a memorandum
protesting at the way the board allocated grants and its lack of
transparency. 

Germaine Vogel, advocacy manager for Women and Men against Child Abuse,
said the NLB was reluctant to release funds and offered no clarity on
how to apply for a grant. 

“This is public money that is supposed to be handed over to NPOs
rendering the bulk of essential social services, which are mostly
statutory in nature, like child protection services,” Vogel said. 

The protesters are claiming that suspended ANC youth league leader
Julius Malema was given a NLB allocation for a function just two weeks
after he applied. 

“Quite frankly we have had enough,” said Vogel. 

The protesters set off around 10am led by a police vehicle as they
marched along Arcadia Street to Hatfield Gardens where the NLB is housed
across the road from the Canadian High Commission. 

At the closed entrance, manned by security guards, the protesters burst
into a chorus of “We want the money” and “Awulethi imali yami” songs and
chants, blowing vuvuzelas. 

“We are going there not to throw any stones or burn any cars. This is a
peaceful march,” Sandra Miller, march organiser, told the crowd. 

“Let's go there in unity and make a statement; this is a worthy cause,”
she said. 

Some placards read, “Lotto le utswetsa bahloki”; Shame on National
Lotteries Board”; Moenie steel deel!” And “Help the poorest”. 

A memorandum was expected to be handed to the NLB representatives. 

The NLB is expected to hold a media conference in response later on
Friday. - Sapa 
www.iol.co.za
  
 

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<DIV><BIG><STRONG>The Class War in Europe</STRONG></BIG></DIV>
<DIV><BIG><FONT size=3D3>Steve McGiffen and Ed Lewis <SMALL>16 February =
2012</SMALL></FONT><BR><BR><FONT size=3D3>Steve McGiffen has had a long =
involvement with left politics in Europe. He is a former official of the =
United European Left Group in the European Parliament and has been =
associated in various capacities with the Socialist Party of the Netherland=
s since 1999. He is also the editor Spectrezine. He spoke to Ed Lewis =
about the class politics driving both the euro and the ever-deepening =
austerity in Europe, Neo-Nazism in Greece, and how to frame a left =
response to the EU.<BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?=
2,40,5,2590"><FONT size=3D3>More</FONT></A><FONT size=3D3>&nbsp;</FONT><A =
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NT></A><FONT size=3D3> </FONT></BIG></DIV></TD></TR>
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<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Fuel scarcity and =
renewable energy option for Nigeria=E2=80=99s South-South</STRONG></BIG></T=
D></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Fidelis =
Allen First Published in <A href=3D"http://www.pambazuka.org/">Pambazuka</A=
> <SMALL>17 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>The fuel crisis in Nigeria proves =
the truism that no government ever voluntarily pursues the public good =
without some form of struggle by the governed. It ought not to be =
so.<BR><BR>The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, announced on =
its 7:00am network news of 14 February 2012, perhaps, as a Valentine gift =
to the people of Rivers State, that the nearly four days of painful =
experience of staying without fuel for transportation and power generating =
sets in homes and businesses, now waiting for full deregulation of the =
power sector before seeing electricity, is the result of conflict between =
Eleme youths and petroleum tanker drivers. The intensity of the scarcity =
and the attendant pain to road users and households clearly speak volumes =
about the existing huge vacuum in governance, with regards to responsivenes=
s of government to the plight of poor Nigerians, who often are the victims =
of the greed and evil of fossil fuel politics and conflict. It speaks =
volumes about how few decision makers can influence self-serving decisions =
that bring pain to the generality of Nigerians without themselves =
considering the outcome on their sisters, brothers, fathers and mothers =
and so on. It portrays a country without adequate enforcement of relevant =
laws and rules for the good of citizens. It further exposes how enslaved =
Nigerians are to hydrocarbon, when alternative renewable energy sources =
such as solar and wind can be explored, at least to take care of household =
energy needs of cooking, electricity and so on.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.uk=
zn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2588">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.=
ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2588"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAG=
E_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG =
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<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Global Sustainability=E2=
=80=99 Wilts In South Africa=E2=80=99s Political Hot Air</STRONG></BIG></TD=
></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Patrick Bond =
<SMALL>16 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Durban =E2=80=93 The latest acts in =
this country=E2=80=99s intensifying political drama include a sizzling =
summer-long battle between young and old within the African National =
Congress (ANC), last week=E2=80=99s State of the Nation speech by =
president Jacob Zuma, and the release of the ANC=E2=80=99s =E2=80=98researc=
h=E2=80=99 on alternatives to mining nationalization, a demand by the ANC =
youth which is now one of the main wedge issues dividing the ruling =
party.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2589">More</A=
>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2589"><IMG =
border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A>=
 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" =
width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
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<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Zambia: Strike wave =
continues, workers on the offensive</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Gavin =
Jackson <SMALL>15 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>In Zambia the lightning =
offensive of the workers has thundered on as the strike wave rolled into =
the New Year, drawing in broader layers of the class and demonstrating the =
strength of the workers in action. Undeterred by attempts to victimise =
striking workers =E2=80=93 including the sacking of 200 miners by China =
Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Group (CNMMG), who were reinstated under =
government pressure the very next day =E2=80=93 the strikes have continued<=
BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2587">More</A>&nbsp;=
<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2587"><IMG border=3D0 =
src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR>=
</TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 =
height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
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<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Hot air from Pretoria</STR=
ONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft><B>President =
Zuma=E2=80=99s =E2=80=98sustainability=E2=80=99 talk rebutted by his =
pro-pollution walk</B><BR>Patrick Bond (Eye on Society column, The =
Mercury) <SMALL>12 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Swept under carpet last =
week, in the drama of old versus young within the African National =
Congress, the State of the Nation speech, and the release of the =
ANC=E2=80=99s alternatives to mining nationalization, were some extraordina=
ry socio-economic and environmental problems.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn=
.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2580">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac=
.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2580"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_=
6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG =
src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>An Excess of Democracy</ST=
RONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Hilary =
Wainwright <SMALL>14 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>The ability of the =
Occupy movement to create platforms outside our closed political system to =
force open a debate on inequality, the taboo at the heart of the financial =
crisis, is impressive. It is a new source of political creativity from =
which we all have much to learn.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/defaul=
t.asp?2,40,5,2586">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.a=
sp?2,40,5,2586"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" =
width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYT=
RGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Has Greece Entered Its =
Argentina Moment?</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>J=C3=A9r=C3=
=B4me E. Roos <SMALL>13 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Greece=E2=80=99s =
political establishment trembles as banks and government offices burn amid =
violent anti-austerity riots. Has the country finally reached a tipping =
point?<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2584">More</A=
>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2584"><IMG =
border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A>=
 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" =
width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>The Seed Emergency</STRONG=
></BIG> </TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft><B>The =
Threat to Food and Democracy</B><BR>Vandana Shiva <SMALL>12 February =
2012</SMALL><BR><BR>The seed is the first link in the food chain =E2=80=93 =
and seed sovereignty is the foundation of food sovereignty. If farmers do =
not have their own seeds or access to open pollinated varieties that they =
can save, improve and exchange, they have no seed sovereignty =E2=80=93 =
and consequently no food sovereignty.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/d=
efault.asp?2,40,5,2585">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/defa=
ult.asp?2,40,5,2585"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" =
width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYT=
RGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>The Rise and Fall of the =
Anti-Privatisation Forum</STRONG></BIG> </TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Dale T. =
McKinley <SMALL>11 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>One of the questions I am =
sure many in South Africa (and abroad) have been asking themselves more =
recently is how the state of the nation more generally and of the ANC =
itself more specifically has gotten to this point? Let=E2=80=99s face it; =
there is a huge amount of disillusionment and disappointment out there, of =
varying measure, intensity and origin, which cut broadly across our =
sizeable societal divisions.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.as=
p?2,40,5,2583">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2=
,40,5,2583"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11=
 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IM=
AGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Stop SOPA, PIPA and =
ACTA!</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Mauro =
Vanetti <SMALL>10 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>The Stop Only Piracy Act =
(SOPA) and the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and =
Theft of Intellectual Property Act (PROTECT IP Act, PIPA) are two bills =
that were put before the US House of Representatives and Senate in 2011. =
The two bills are supposedly designed to defend owners of copyrighted =
content, trademarks and pharmaceutical patents in their long-standing =
struggle against =E2=80=9Cpirates=E2=80=9D. But there is a lot more to it =
than that!<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2582">Mor=
e</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2582"><IMG =
border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A>=
 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" =
width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Without women there is no =
food sovereignty</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Esther Vivas =
<SMALL>9 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Systems of food production and =
consumption have always been socially organized, but their organization =
has varied historically. In the last few decades, under the impact of =
neoliberal politics, the logic of capitalism has been imposed upon the =
ways in which food is produced and consumed (Bello, 2009).2<BR><A =
href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2581">More</A>&nbsp;<A =
href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2581"><IMG border=3D0 =
src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR>=
</TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 =
height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>The Formerly Advanced =
Economies</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Robin Hahnel =
<SMALL>8 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Just as the European settler =
economies in North America grew to eclipse the economic power of =E2=80=9CO=
ld=E2=80=9D Europe during the twentieth century, at least some of the =
BRICS =E2=80=93 Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa =E2=80=93 =
were already on a trajectory to rise relative to both North America and =
Europe in economic power during the twenty-first century. However, a =
natural process that would have taken five decades or more may now be =
shortened to only a decade or two as the elites in charge of economic =
policy in the North Atlantic region seem hell bent on committing economic =
suicide.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2579">More<=
/A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2579"><IMG =
border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A>=
 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" =
width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Mubarak=E2=80=99s state =
machine behind football stadium massacre</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>David =
Johnson, Socialist Party (CWI England and Wales) <SMALL>7 February =
2012</SMALL><BR><BR>The mostly young and working class football fans =
killed in the 1 February massacre played a crucial role during the Tahrir =
Square uprising. Parts of the old regime seem, through this massacre, to =
be trying to take revenge. Also in this way, the SCAF (Supreme Council of =
the Armed Forces) tries to use the fear of chaos to justify its role. But =
new demonstrations are developing. Below, David Johnson, Socialist Party =
(CWI England and Wales) reports.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/defaul=
t.asp?2,40,5,2577">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.a=
sp?2,40,5,2577"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" =
width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYT=
RGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft><STRONG></STRONG></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Popular protests still =
far from posing a genuine threat</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Patrick =
Bond, Ashwin Desai and Trevor Ngwane (Eye on Civil Society) <SMALL>6 =
February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>As we enter a 2012 politically bookmarked by =
the African National Congress 100th birthday in January and its potentially=
 dramatic =E2=80=93 but more likely boring =E2=80=93 leadership conference =
in December, let us first acknowledge that our society is among the most =
consistently contentious places on earth, with disruptive protests on a =
nearly constant basis.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40=
,5,2578">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,=
2578"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 =
height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMA=
GE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Victims of Agrochemicals =
Break their Silence</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Raul Zibechi =
<SMALL>4 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>=E2=80=9CMy wife washed her face =
with rain water the day after they fumigated farmland about three =
kilometers from here and she started getting rashes on her arms and her =
body. That was a year ago. Now she=E2=80=99s very affected, she=E2=80=99s =
been diagnosed with lupus and is undergoing chemotherapy.=E2=80=9D Jorge =
M=C3=A9rola, a farmworker from Villa del Carmen in the middle of Uruguay=E2=
=80=99s soy region, speaks from the depths of a pain that is easy to =
understand, but almost impossible to relay to others.<BR><A href=3D"http://=
ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2576">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs=
.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2576"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUV=
M.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG =
src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>The IMF and Tunisia</STRON=
G></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft><B>Will =
Neoliberalism Make a Comeback in Africa?</B><BR>Patrick Bond and Khadija =
Sharife <SMALL>3 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>With International Monetary =
Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde visiting Tunis today, the =
stage is set for ideological war over the progress of democratic revolution=
s. Until 27 year-old fruit seller Mohamed Bouazizi committed suicide by =
immolation in the provincial town of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia was packaged as =
an IMF success story. In 2008, dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was =
embraced by Lagarde=E2=80=99s predecessor, Dominique Strauss-Kahn: =
=E2=80=98Economic policy adopted here is a sound policy and is the best =
model for many emerging countries.=E2=80=99<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.a=
c.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2574">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.z=
a/default.asp?2,40,5,2574"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.=
gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:=
OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Belgium: January 30 =
General Strike</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft><B>A strike =
corresponding to the level of anger over austerity programme</B><BR>Eric =
Byl, LSP/PSL (CWI in Belgium) <SMALL>3 february 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Rail =
infrastructure was completely paralysed. Only one out of five buses was on =
the roads. The ports of Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge came to a halt, as =
did the airport in Charleroi and all major steel, metal and car industries,=
 including subcontractors. With the exception of security teams, nobody =
worked in the major chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Hundreds if =
not thousands of picket lines were set up. This was the way the Belgian =
working class answered the smears, lies, threats and intimidations poured =
out massively by the media, the bosses and the politicians over the past =
weeks in the run up to the general strike on 30 January. <BR><A href=3D"htt=
p://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2575">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http:/=
/ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2575"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIA=
JHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><I=
MG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>What Happened to =
Canada?</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Chris Hedges =
<SMALL>2 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>What happened to Canada? It used to =
be the country we would flee to if life in the United States became =
unpalatable. No nuclear weapons. No huge military-industrial complex. =
Universal health care. Funding for the arts. A good record on the =
environment.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2571">M=
ore</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2571"><IMG=
 border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A=
> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" =
width=3D1 height=3D18><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Israel=E2=80=99s War On =
Democracy</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Conn =
Hallinan <SMALL>1 February 012</SMALL><BR><BR>From its birth more than 60 =
years ago, Israel has always presented itself as =E2=80=9Can oasis of =
democracy in a sea of despotism,=E2=80=9D an outpost of pluralism =
surrounded by tyranny. While that equality never fully applied to the =
country=E2=80=99s Arab citizens, Israel was, for the most part an open =
society. But today political rights are under siege by right-wing =
legislators, militant settlers, and a growing religious divide in the =
Israeli army, all of which threaten to silence internal opposition to the =
policies of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. Since that may include a =
war with Iran=E2=80=94and the probable involvement of the U.S. in such a =
conflict=E2=80=94the move to stifle dissent should be a major concern for =
Americans.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2573">Mor=
e</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2573"><IMG =
border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A>=
 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" =
width=3D1 height=3D18></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3D5>General News</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3D4><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" =
width=3D1 height=3D18></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3D4>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>A Call for Solidarity =
with CSAAWU</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft>
<DIV>DLF <SMALL>17 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Stand in solidarity with =
Robertson Abattoir workers to defend our rights to speak-out &amp; =
struggle for decent living &amp; working conditions<BR><A href=3D"http://cc=
s.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2552">More</A>&nbsp; </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>&nbsp;</TD></=
TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Anonymous is shutting =
down the internet</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Michelle =
Atagana (Yahoo News) <SMALL>16 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Everyone=E2=80=
=99s favourite hacktivist group is back again and this time its target is =
bigger than ever. Anonymous has declared war on the internet, yes save all =
your files now, download all those movies you keep pretending you=E2=80=99r=
e not downloading because, the internet is about to be shutdown.<BR><A =
href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2548">More</A>&nbsp;<A =
href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2548"><IMG border=3D0 =
src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR>=
</TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR></=
DIV>
<DIV>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D480>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Kazakhstan: immediate =
threats to safety of comrades in Moscow</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>CWI =
<SMALL>15 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>An appeal from comrades of our =
Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) sister organisation in =
Kazakhstan, trade union leaders who suffer brutal persecution under the =
Nazarbayev police regime. They have been forced to leave the country and =
are currently in Russia. There now appears to be an imminent threat of =
Kazakh and Russian intelligence ganging up on them and they may be =
abducted by Kazakh agents and arrested on false charges any time. We fear =
for their lives. We therefore appeal for your solidarity - please take a =
few minutes to send a letter of protest to the Kazakh and Russian =
authorities to let them know that such an operation would not go down =
quietly.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2549">More<=
/A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2549"><IMG =
border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A>=
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<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Portugal: Massive =
demonstration against cuts and austerity</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Jorge Martin =
<SMALL>13 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>February 11 saw 300,000 people =
march in the Portuguese capital Lisbon against the reform of the labour =
law and the austerity measures proposed by the government as part of the =
bailout agreed with the troika. The CGTP trade union, which organised the =
demonstration under the slogan of =E2=80=9Cno to exploitation, inequality =
and impoverishment=E2=80=9D, described it as the largest in 30 years.<BR><A=
 href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2546">More</A>&nbsp;<A =
href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2546"><IMG border=3D0 =
src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR>=
</TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
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<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Greeks strike against =
neoliberalism</STRONG></BIG> </TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Vast =
Minority <SMALL>12 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>GREEK unions have called =
a 48-hour strike in protest at the latest punitive measures imposed on the =
country by the IMF and EU.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?=
2,27,3,2547">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,2=
7,3,2547"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 =
height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR></=
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<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>UK prepares chemical war =
on dissent</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>The Vast =
Minority <SMALL>9 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>THE BRITISH state is =
planning to use chemical warfare against its own population, it has been =
revealed.<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2545">More=
</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2545"><IMG =
border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A>=
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<DIV><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR></=
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<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>Damning Durban fraud =
report</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Gugu =
Mbonambi (IOL News) <SMALL>8 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Former =
eThekwini municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe failed to report fraud and =
corruption in the municipality to the police and did not take =E2=80=9Creas=
onable=E2=80=9D steps to prevent irregular expenditure, say the authors of =
a report into affairs at the eThekwini municipality.<BR><A href=3D"http://c=
cs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2543">More</A>&nbsp;<A href=3D"http://ccs.=
ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2543"><IMG border=3D0 src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM=
.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR></=
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<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>The alternative economy =
in Greece</STRONG></BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Jeffrey =
Andreoni <SMALL>4 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Athens - Despite the crisis =
in Greece, there are a plethora of sustainable, ecological and ethical =
initiatives being offered throughout the country. <BR>Already in Athens =
the alternative economy is starting to catch on. People who have had to =
sacrifice many of life's little pleasures because of financial constraints =
are discovering that you don't always need money to get what you need. =
<BR><A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2539">More</A>&nbsp=
;<A href=3D"http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2539"><IMG border=3D0 =
src=3D"cid:JJHILIAJHUVM.IMAGE_6.gif" width=3D11 height=3D12></A> </TD></TR>=
</TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV><IMG src=3D"cid:OFCYTRGHJPTM.IMAGE_7.gif" width=3D1 height=3D18><BR></=
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<TBODY>
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<TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DsubTitle width=3D"100%"><BIG><STRONG>New SA bill to allow =
bugging of citizens</STRONG> </BIG></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft></TD>
<TD class=3DleadCopy vAlign=3Dtop width=3D"100%" align=3Dleft>Yahoo News =
<SMALL>3 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>A storm is brewing over a draft =
Bill to be processed by Parliament this year that will legalise the =
bugging of citizens without a warrant in some circumstances </TD></TR></TBO=
DY></TABLE></DIV></FONT></STRONG>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3D4></FONT></STRONG>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3D5>South African Protest News&nbsp;</FONT></STRONG=
></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Congolese protesters toyi-toyi in DBN<BR></STRONG>Lungelo =
Mkamba <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>17 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Fed up with =
=E2=80=9Cunfair=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cunlawful=E2=80=9D treatment by the =
Department of Home Affairs, about 400 Congolese nationals protested and =
toyi-toyied at the Durban City Hall on Thursday. They had a memorandum =
addressed to mayor James Nxumalo. <BR><BR>Emmanuel Emmix, a spokesman for =
the Congolese community, said arrests =E2=80=93 which Home Affairs in =
Moore Road have been making since November =E2=80=93 were unlawful. The =
most recent arrests were of two people on Wednesday. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe =
have been quiet for too long. It is time we took action and approached the =
mayor to help us. We really do not understand why people are being treated =
unfairly,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CToday (yesterday) we made our =
children miss school because this affects them as well.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Ac=
cording to Emmix, the biggest concern they had with Home Affairs was when =
trying to renew their permits to be in the city and country. <BR><BR>=E2=80=
=9CThe officials ask us for bribes of R7 000 or they arrest and deport =
you. If one does not have that money then deportation is imminent.=E2=80=9D=
 <BR><BR>The protesters sang songs and toyi-toyied peacefully, monitored =
by police. Some of the posters read: =E2=80=9CWhere is the human rights? =
Our country (Congo) is not safe. Where is the Ubuntu? Let=E2=80=99s find a =
solution peacefully.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>According to the memorandum, which =
was received by Belinda Mhlongo of the municipality, the people are afraid =
to go back to Congo. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9C <BR><BR>Being deported is equal to =
death by the ruler (Joseph Kabila),=E2=80=9D said Emmix. =E2=80=9CThe army =
is killing people as people kill mosquitoes. We appeal to the mayor to =
find a solution to the problem of the arrests.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Municipal =
spokeswoman Sindy Mtolo said the protesters=E2=80=99 issues would be taken =
up with the Department of Foreign Affairs =E2=80=9Cbased on memorandums of =
understanding and in terms of relationships with their country=E2=80=9D. =
<BR><BR>Home Affairs spokesperson <BR><BR>Manusha Pillai had not got back =
to the Mercury with a comment by late on Thursday. - The Mercury <BR></FONT=
><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/congolese-protesters-toyi-toyi=
-in-dbn-1.1236400">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>S.Africa police fire tear gas at rioting platinum =
miners</B><BR><BR>South African riot police fired tear gas, rubber bullets =
and water cannon on Thursday at hundreds of striking miners who went on =
the rampage at Impala Platinum's Rustenburg plant, the world's single =
biggest platinum mine.<BR><BR>At least 50 officers, backed by armoured =
vehicles and two helicopters, moved into a shanty town near the mine after =
the miners torched homes in a dramatic escalation of a month-long strike =
that has hit the company and global platinum prices.<BR><BR>Police said =
one man had been killed overnight after a mob stripped him naked and beat =
him during a demonstration outside the plant, which accounts for as much =
as 15 percent of world platinum output.<BR><BR>Up to 5,000 miners blocked =
the road leading to the plant, which lies 120 km (80 miles) northwest of =
Johannesburg, and hurled stones at police, provincial police spokeswoman =
Adele Myburg said.<BR><BR>"This morning they regrouped, started intimidatin=
g people who wanted to go to the mine. There were people assaulted, =
vehicles were stoned," she said, adding that one female police officer had =
been injured by flying stones.<BR><BR>"The road was barricaded, vehicles =
travelling on that road were stoned, private vehicles as well as heavy-arme=
d policed vehicles."<BR><BR>She said that police had made eight arrests, =
but the situation was still "very tense and hostile".<BR><BR>Production at =
Rustenburg, which accounts for 60 percent of Implat's output, came to a =
halt a month ago after the company sacked 17,000 employees following a =
January 12 wildcat strike over bonuses.<BR><BR>Since then, the price of =
platinum, a key ingredient in catalytic converters in cars, has climbed 7 =
percent, in part because of fears about supply disruptions. South Africa =
is home to 80 percent of global platinum reserves.<BR><BR>60,000 OZ =
LOST<BR><BR>At a results conference in Johannesburg on Thursday, Implats =
bosses said the firm had lost 1.2 billion rand in revenue and warned that =
total output and earnings for the remainder for the financial year would =
also take a hit.<BR><BR>Chief Executive David Brown told reporters the =
company had re-hired 6,000 of the dismissed workers but added that he had =
no idea when work at the mine would resume. The 35-day strike is costing =
the company an average of 3,000 ounces a day.<BR><BR>"If workers don't =
come back to work, we'll have to hire new people. It'll take two to four =
weeks to get back to operational normality," Brown said.<BR><BR>Putting up =
with lengthy and often costly strikes is familiar terrain for investors in =
South Africa, home to some of the world's deepest and most dangerous =
mines.<BR><BR>Miners are increasingly looking for better pay in return for =
the hazardous jobs and the government is pushing for an industry-wide =
improvement in safety.<BR><BR>"The government is quite correctly very =
concerned around safety issues and until those issues get fixed it is =
going to cost these guys a lot of money," said Nic Norman-Smith, a =
portfolio manager at Lentus Asset Management in Johannesburg.<BR><BR>Shares=
 of Implats tumbled 3.1 percent to 159.69 rand, the worst performers in =
Johannesburg's benchmark Top-40.<BR><BR>Implats said it had lost an =
additional 33,000 ounces in the final four months of 2011 from government-o=
rdered safety stops. Some industry executives have criticised the safety =
push as too restrictive.<BR><A href=3D"http://za.news.yahoo.com/africa-poli=
ce-fire-tear-gas-platinum-mine-riot-131523471.html">za.news.yahoo.com</A><B=
R></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Section 77 Notice of intention to proceed with protest =
action against e-tolling</B><BR>Cosatu <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>16 February =
2012</SMALL><BR><BR>On 13 May 2011 the Congress of South African Trade =
Unions submitted a notice under Section 77 of the labour Relations Act on =
Open Road Tolling (ORT) to Nedlac. Subsequently two plenary meetings to =
consider the notice were held, the first on 31 August 2011 and the second =
on 22 September 2011.<BR><BR>At the first meeting we tabled our demands, =
including the rescinding of the decision until the matter had been engaged =
at Nedlac, because it is a socio-economic issue. Government committed to =
go back and consult.<BR><BR>At the second meeting government indicated =
that, although it might have erred in not engaging Nedlac constituencies =
on the ORT, it acted within the Department of Transport policy framework =
adopted after consultation with all stakeholders, including labour.<BR><BR>=
Government further indicated that Sanral would suffer a =E2=80=9Creputation=
al risk=E2=80=9D if government were to announce that it would look into =
alternative forms of funding. Other state-owned entities hat go out into =
the markets to borrow money would also suffer the same risk and their =
credit ratings would be affected.<BR><BR>Government indicated at the 2 =
September Section77 Plenary meeting that the ORT will kick-start on 1 =
February 2012. COSATU) notes that government has since postponed the =
implementation of the system indefinitely.<BR><BR>COSATU wants the system =
to be abandoned completely and is now of the view that the requirements of =
Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act have been met for protected =
socio-economic protest and that this action is necessary for the effective =
resolution of this matter.<BR><BR>The forms of protest action, and action =
in contemplation and furtherance of the protest action will involve:<BR><BR=
>=C2=A7 Work stoppages<BR><BR>=C2=A7 Rallies, marches, demonstrations =
pickets (including lunch-time pickets), placard demonstrations, siyalalas =
at or near the offices of Sanral and the Department of Transport, both =
national and provincial, from 29 February 2012.<BR><BR>=C2=A7 Engagement =
with motorists and other members of the public to inform them of the =
reasons for the protect action and to persuade them to support the =
action.<BR><BR>=C2=A7 Calls to motorists not to b e-tags <BR><BR>The =
protest actions that will involve time away from work are:<BR><BR>=C2=A7 =
Rallies, marches, demonstrations pickets, placard demonstrations and =
siyalalas at or near the offices of Sanral and the Department of Transport,=
 both national and provincial.<BR><BR>=C2=A7 A national stayaway or =
socio-economic strike on 7 March 2012. <BR><BR>The specific activities =
above will take place during working hours. The socio-economic strike will =
commence at 00h00 and end at 24h00 on 7 March 2012, except that shift =
workers will be away for the duration of one whole shift and it will be =
the shift that has the majority of hours on the day in question.<BR><BR>Fol=
lowing the socio-economic strike on 7 March 2012 the federation will =
assess the programme of action and decide on the way forward. It reserves =
the right to extend the programme of action. The federation action also =
reserves the right to amend the programme of action should this be =
necessary.<BR><BR>Tolling forces drivers to pay huge amounts of extra =
money just to travel on the province=E2=80=99s highways. Workers will face =
having to pay out thousands hundreds of extra rands every month just to =
travel to and from work. Consumers face massive price increases as a =
result of the extra cost of transporting goods to the shops being passed =
on to the shoppers.<BR><BR>We urge the cabinet to take note of the mass =
opposition to these tolls and instruct Sanral to abandon them for good. =
Meanwhile we continue to urge motorists not to register with Sanral or buy =
e-tags, and our members remain mobilised for a campaign of mass action if =
e-tolling is not scrapped. The federation calls upon government to =
prioritise the roll-out of efficient, reliable, affordable and safe public =
transport for all the people of South Africa. <BR><BR>Patrick Craven =
(National Spokesperson)<BR>Congress of South African Trade Unions<BR>1-5 =
Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets<BR>Braamfontein<BR>2017<BR>P.O.Box 1019<BR>Johann=
esburg<BR>South Africa<BR>Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24<BR>Fax: +27 11 339-5080 =
/ 6940<BR>Mobile: +27 82 821 7456<BR>E-Mail: patrick at cosatu.org.za<BR></DIV=
></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>WESTVILLE CAMPUS - STATUS UPDATE<BR></B><BR>URGENT =
COMMUNIQUE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE RELATIONS =
<FONT size=3D2><SMALL>15 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Dear Colleagues and =
Students<BR><BR>Lectures on the Westville Campus will resume tomorrow, =
Thursday 16 February, after a two day suspension due to student protest =
action.<BR><BR>The University was granted an urgent interdict by the High =
Court yesterday which was served to the Central SRC and all the local =
(campus based) SRCs.<BR><BR>The interdict prohibits any form of protest =
action, intimidation and damage to property on any of its five campuses. =
Furthermore, the University has implemented with immediate effect the =
eviction of any unregistered student from its residences. Strict access =
control at all entrances to the five campuses is in place.<BR><BR>On =
Tuesday 14 February four students were arrested for public order disturbanc=
e and malicious damage to property (MI2P). Three were released because of =
a lack of evidence and one that is being held in custody is not a UKZN =
registered student.<BR><BR>On the evening of 14 February, students stoned =
the RMS building and the front glass doors and windows of the Main Admin =
Block. The Westville SRC President, Mr Lucky Nkalanga was arrested on an =
assault charge that was reported earlier in the week.<BR><BR>This morning =
sporadic incidences of burning were reported. RMS and SAPS responded and =
controlled the situation. During that incident, students threw stones and =
bottles at the police. To disperse the crowd, police used teargas and =
water cannons and the students took cover in the residences. No reports of =
injuries sustained by students were received.<BR><BR>During the past two =
days we have been dealing with severe racist remarks posted on our face =
book wall. The University has concluded the investigation into this and is =
finalising the charges. The individual that started this verbal attack is =
not a UKZN student.<BR><BR>We are extremely disappointed at the level of =
racist comments by our students in response to the posting. We encourage =
all students to embrace the diversity of cultures in our rainbow nation =
and promote tolerance and mutual respect as articulated in the UKZN PACT. =
The University is committed to the principles enshrined in our Constitution=
, notably non-racialism and non-sexism. The University=E2=80=99s Transforma=
tion Charter serves as a reminder to all staff and students to contribute =
to a socially cohesive institutional culture. <BR><BR>Executive Management =
sincerely regrets the inconvenience, and in some instances pain and =
suffering experienced by some staff and students that did not participate =
in the protest action. At no point did we close our doors to the Wesville =
SRC. During the protest action, the President of the Westville SRC refused =
to attend a meeting with the Executive Director Student Services that led =
to the rest of the SRC refusing to engage.<BR><BR>In an attempt to avert a =
protest we have held several meetings with all the SRCs to try and address =
their issues. As we had committed, we are engaging with government to seek =
additional funding for financially needy and academically sound students. =
Accommodation has been made available for all sponsored students, provided =
that they provide an original copy of a letter from the sponsor or an =
affidavit from a parent or guardian.,<BR><BR>Every attempt will be made to =
catch up on lost time.<BR><BR>Issued on behalf of Executive Management<BR><=
/DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Bapong protests turn violent</B><BR>IOL News <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>18 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Johannesburg - Police =
arrested 62 people in connection with various crimes committed during =
protests in Bapong, North West, police said on Saturday. <BR><BR>Brigadier =
Thulani Ngubane said 28 people were arrested for public violence, two for =
being in possession of suspected stolen property and three for possession =
of dagga on Friday. <BR><BR>Other arrests included being in the country =
illegally and drinking in public as well as the unlawful sale of alcohol. =
<BR><BR>He said on Thursday protesters burnt down the local post office. =
No arrests were made. <BR><BR>On Wednesday protesters stole meat from a =
delivery truck. <BR><BR>Ngubane said R5000 worth of meat was stolen. =
<BR><BR>Another truck was set alight by protesting residents on Tuesday. =
<BR><BR>Ngubane said the protesters, mainly young people, were protesting =
about unemployment. <BR><BR>He said residents were concerned about =
unemployment and were reportedly angry with local companies, including =
Lonmin's platinum mine, claiming it had failed to create jobs for them. =
<BR><BR>The protests have been going on since August last year. - Sapa =
<BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/north-west/bap=
ong-protests-turn-violent-1.1237327">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
<CENTER>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Truck burnt in Bapong protest</B><BR>IOL news <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>15 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>A truck was set alight in =
Bapong during a protest by residents, North West police said on Wednesday. =
<BR><BR>Some roads were also barricaded with burning tyres during the =
demonstration on Tuesday, Captain Adele Myburgh said. <BR><BR>No injuries =
were reported and a case of malicious damage to property had been opened. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThis has been an ongoing protest since before August and =
police are monitoring (the situation). It is quiet now during the day, but =
the problem is at night.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>The residents were concerned =
about unemployment and apparently angry with local companies, including =
Lonmin's platinum mine, claiming it had failed to create jobs for them. - =
Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/north-wes=
t/truck-burnt-in-bapong-protest-1.1235017">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Chappies activist calls off march</B><BR>KOWTHAR SOLOMONS =
(IOL News) <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>18 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Civil =
group meets Chappies stakeholders <BR>The woman who has been on a hunger =
strike for 13 days in protest against proposed construction on Chapman=E2=
=80=99s Peak was so weak on Friday that she was forced to call off a =
planned march to the provincial legislature. <BR><BR>Bronwen Lankers-Byrne,=
 accompanied by environmental campaigner Lewis Pugh, had planned to march =
to the legislature from Plein Street to coincide with premier Helen =
Zille=E2=80=99s state of the province address. <BR><BR>But Pugh cancelled =
the protest, saying that Lankers-Byrne=E2=80=99s 13 days without food had =
weakened her considerably. <BR><BR>The protesters are campaigning against =
the construction of a toll plaza and office block development worth R54 =
million on the world-renowned scenic drive. Construction was halted late =
this week after two people chained themselves to equipment at the building =
site. <BR><BR>The protesters believe a less expensive and more environmenta=
lly friendly toll booth should be built. <BR><BR>Before the cancellation, =
Lankers-Byrne addressed a small crowd gathered at the Louis Botha statue =
outside Parliament who had come out in support of her cause. <BR><BR>=E2=80=
=9CWe have received a great amount of support against the construction, =
but are shocked by the provincial government=E2=80=99s refusal to listen =
to the people. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe are not against the toll road, but the =
exorbitant costs which, instead, could be used to provide desperately =
needed housing, medical care and better schools in other areas,=E2=80=9D =
she said. <BR><BR>Lankers-Byrne added that Chapman=E2=80=99s Peak was a =
world heritage site on which the planned two-storey toll plaza should not =
be built. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe have even submitted proposals for the =
tolling system, such as an automatic tolling system, which would come in =
under R5m =E2=80=93 a fraction of the cost.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>On Thursday, =
the Civil Rights Action Group (Crag) met various stakeholders and the =
transport department to discuss alternatives to the toll plaza. <BR><BR>Cra=
g suggested that cash transactions from the toll control points on =
Chapman=E2=80=99s Peak Drive be moved to sites in Hout Bay, Noordhoek and =
others in the Cape Peninsula. <BR><BR>The transport department=E2=80=99s =
Hector Elliot was quoted as saying afterwards that they were pleased to =
have Crag=E2=80=99s input, and would discuss the alternatives presented. =
<BR><BR>Charlie Gorton, one of the two women who chained themselves to the =
construction equipment, joined Lankers-Byrne at the protest on Friday, out =
of concern for her friend=E2=80=99s health. <BR><BR>She said that despite =
the =E2=80=9Csupposed=E2=80=9D halt to work on the site, construction had =
continued around the women. <BR><BR>Lankers-Byrne left the protest to =
resume sitting in her spot opposite the construction site. - Weekend Argus =
<BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/c=
happies-activist-calls-off-march-1.1237339">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Protesters cuffed to Chappies toll plaza</B><BR>Stuart =
Graham <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>15 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Protesters =
handcuffed themselves to scaffolding on the construction site of a toll =
booth on scenic Chapman's Peak drive, on Table Mountain, in Cape Town on =
Tuesday. <BR><BR>Workers in hard hats sat idle as the two protesters and a =
hunger striker negotiated with Hector Eliott, the Western Cape's transport =
and public works department head. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe can build something =
that is less expensive and more environmentally friendly,=E2=80=9D Bronwyn =
Lankaers-Byrne, who has been on an 11-day hunger strike against the R54 =
million toll plaza, told Eliott. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CI am willing to leave =
when these workers down their tools and there is a serious discussion,=E2=
=80=9D she said. <BR><BR>Lankaers-Byrne pointed to a diagram of a far =
smaller and =E2=80=9Cmore environmentally friendly=E2=80=9D toll booth =
which she said could be constructed for a mere R2m. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThe =
alternative is less expensive and more environmentally friendly. This is =
not necessary.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>She said the public had shown overwhelming =
support for the protest against the toll booth by donating money, flowers =
and even massage oil. <BR><BR>She said =E2=80=9C94 percent=E2=80=9D of the =
people who had stopped to speak to her supported the protest. <BR><BR>Eliot=
t told Lankaers-Byrne the department was prepared to look at the R2m =
proposal. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThis is a sales pitch, this is what this boils =
down to,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR><BR>Fiona Hinds, who had handcuffed herself =
to the scaffolding, said she would remain where she was every day if =
necessary. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThey know what they're doing is illegal,=E2=80=
=9D said Hinds, who sat above a placard reading: =E2=80=9COver My Dead =
Body=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThis site is part of a United Nations =
World Heritage Site. The UN has asked for Table Mountain to be taken care =
of, but here we are allowing them to put up an offensive building. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CCape Town has been named as the World Design Capital in =
2014. We can do better than this.=E2=80=9D - Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"htt=
p://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/protesters-cuffed-to-chapp=
ies-toll-plaza-1.1235051">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Mini skirts paralyse Joburg</B><BR>IOL News <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>17 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>The ANC Women's League =
led a march to the High Court against sexual harassment and gender-based =
violence after two women were hassled at a taxi rank. <BR><BR>Justice =
Minister Jeff Radebe signed a memorandum of understanding at the court, =
pledging that the justice system would support efforts to curb violence =
against women and children. <BR><BR>The ANCWL decided to hold the march to =
highlight its indignation over the treatment of two young women who were =
chased by a group of men at Noord street taxi rank in December. <BR><BR>The=
 men groped and shouted at the women because of their clothing - one wore =
a miniskirt and the other had her bra strap showing. <BR><BR>Radebe said =
those who told women what to wear were not freedom fighters. <BR><BR>=E2=80=
=9CThe struggle for freedom has always been the struggle for human rights, =
the struggle for women's empowerment.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>He said he came out =
in support =E2=80=9Cbecause I like miniskirts=E2=80=9D, amid laughter and =
loud applause from the crowd. <BR><BR>Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane =
said no one could enjoy human rights while women and children lived in =
fear of potential abuse. <BR><BR>The taxi industry in particular needed to =
join the fight against sexual harassment. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CIt is their =
duty to respect human rights... taxi drivers, taxi commuters: no one =
should allow violence against women and children,=E2=80=9D she said. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CAs women, we are proud of our bodies, we are proud of our =
mini skirts.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Minister of Women Lulu Xingwana said the =
march was in support of the women's movement and gay rights. <BR><BR>=E2=80=
=9CNo one has the right to (commit) corrective rape. Rape is rape.=E2=80=9D=
 <BR><BR>Xingwana threatened that the Noord Street taxi rank would be =
closed if the situation did not improve. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CReal men don't =
rape women, real men love and respect women,=E2=80=9D she said. <BR><BR>She=
 said the Women's League would work to free the streets of South Africa of =
sexual harassment, city by city. <BR><BR>Another march would be held in =
Sunnyside, Pretoria on the evening of March 08 to spread the message. =
<BR><BR>ANCWL president Angie Motshekga thanked all those who came to =
support the cause. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWomen have the right to dress how they =
want to dress, forward with mini skirts!=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>The miniskirt =
march began at Bree street taxi rank around 1.30pm under the watchful gaze =
of a heavy police contingent. <BR><BR>Mokonyane, Xingwana and one of the =
Noord Street victims led the march. <BR><BR>Xingwana wore a skirt, but it =
was not a mini. <BR><BR>The crowd sang =E2=80=9Cwhen you strike a woman, =
you have struck a rock=E2=80=9D and chanted =E2=80=9CViva mini skirts, =
Viva=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>The women's league was joined by the Congress of SA =
Trade Unions and Women and Men Against Child Abuse for the march. =
<BR><BR>The Commission for Gender Equality also pledged support for the =
sexual harassment awareness event. <BR><BR>Women and several men wore mini =
skirts for the march, and proudly shook their bottoms for the assembled =
news cameras. <BR><BR>As they sang and danced, they waved ANC flags and =
banners, such as =E2=80=9CI am proud of my miniskirt=E2=80=9D, and =
=E2=80=9CFreedom for mini skirts in our lifetime=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>People =
watched and shouted their support from the high apartment blocks in the =
city centre. <BR><BR>A marcher who carried her son for the length of the =
route said she had brought him to teach him from a young age the importance=
 of respecting women. <BR><BR>Men who watched the procession had mixed =
reactions. Most said they supported the initiative and chanted along with =
the crowd =E2=80=9CViva Nkosikasi (women), Viva!=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>=E2=80=
=9CEverybody has rights to wear whatever they want,=E2=80=9D said one. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CIt has nothing to do with culture, it is about the =
working class struggle and conscientising the masses about human rights,=E2=
=80=9D said another man. <BR><BR>One man said he was not convinced the =
mini skirt march was the best way to tackle the issue. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe =
like to see the young women in the minis, but the old ones - Ag, =
shame!=E2=80=9D - Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/sout=
h-africa/gauteng/mini-skirts-paralyse-joburg-1.1237224">www.iol.co.za</A><B=
R></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>People gather for miniskirt march</B><BR>IOL News <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>17 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Bree street taxi rank in =
Joburg's CBD was bustling with people gathering for a march organised by =
the ANC Women's League on Friday. <BR><BR>At the start of the march at =
least 300 people gathered, waving ANC banners. <BR><BR>Women and several =
men wore miniskirts in bright colours and sang =E2=80=9Cthe leadership is =
greeting=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cmini skirt we love you=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>The=
 march was to protest against the harassment experienced by two young =
women when they went shopping in the Noord Street taxi rank in December. =
<BR><BR>The women have been identified only as Zama and Nomthandazo =
because of the nature of their harassment. <BR><BR>Nomthandazo had worn a =
black miniskirt and Zama a black top with white bra straps showing. =
<BR><BR>A group of men taunted them about their clothes while groping =
them, pulling at their clothing, and taking photos with their cellphones. =
<BR><BR>The march was intended to emphasise that women had the right to =
wear what they wished and should not be demeaned or victimised over their =
choice of clothes. <BR><BR>The women's league was joined by Cosatu and =
Women and Men Against Child Abuse for the march. The Commission for Gender =
Equality also pledged their support for the sexual harassment awareness =
event. =E2=80=93 Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south=
-africa/gauteng/people-gather-for-miniskirt-march-1.1237057">www.iol.co.za<=
/A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>ANCWL organises mini=E2=80=91skirt march againts women =
abuse</B><BR>Troy Martens ANCWL <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>14 February =
2012</SMALL><BR><BR>League to march from Bree Street taxi rank through =
notorious Noord taxi <BR>rank<BR><BR>RE: JOIN ANC WL MINI SKIRT MARCH =
AGAINST WOMEN ABUSE<BR><BR>The ANC Women's League are calling upon all =
women who feel the rate of <BR>women abuse in South Africa is too high, to =
join us in a mini skirt <BR>march this Friday the 17th of February.<BR><BR>=
Recent incidents of abuse highlighted in the media have spurred the =
<BR>Women's League to say enough is enough; we will no longer tolerate the =
<BR>abuse of our women on the streets or anywhere.<BR><BR>Many women feel =
frustrated and hopeless due to the high prevalence of <BR>abuse. Despite =
the freedoms of our democracy which gives equal rights to <BR>all sex =
groups, it is sad that many women remain victims of violence in <BR>taxi =
ranks, homes and in the work place. Women are abused and raped due <BR>to =
their sexual orientation all these violent acts against women cannot =
<BR>and will not be tolerated by the ANC WL!<BR><BR>We want to make a =
strong statement letting the perpetrators know that <BR>abuse in any form =
will not be tolerated and are inviting those who wish <BR>to wear =
mini=E2=80=91skirts as an act of defiance to do so with pride.<BR><BR>Anyon=
e who is outraged by the continued violence against women and <BR>children =
is welcome to join in, we extend this call to unions, NGO's, <BR>students, =
churches and the youth to rise up in protest against the <BR>rampant =
violence against women and children in our communities.<BR><BR>We will =
march from the Bree Street taxi rank, through the Noord taxi <BR>rank and =
hand over a memorandum to the Justice Minister or his <BR>representative =
at the equality court in Pritchard Street.<BR><BR>16 days of activism =
against women and children is clearly not enough! <BR>The ANC WL is =
calling for an all year round campaign and dedication from <BR>authorities =
to put an end to this social scourge.<BR><BR>Women refuse to be victims =
any longer and every woman and child has the <BR>right to live in a =
society free of violence and discrimination. We will <BR>take our queue =
from the women of 1956, their bravery and militancy will <BR>spur us on to =
continue the struggle for the emancipation of women from <BR>the clutches =
of abuse.<BR><BR>Join the ANC WL on Friday and say no to ABUSE!! You =
strike a woman, you <BR>strike a rock!<BR><BR>DATE: 17 =E2=80=91 02 =
=E2=80=91 2012<BR>TIME: 14H00<BR>DEPART: BREE STREET TAXI RANK<BR>DESTINATI=
ON: HIGH=E2=80=91COURT PRITCHARD STREET<BR><BR>DRESS CODE: Women can dress =
as they feel comfortable, but are encouraged to wear mini=E2=80=91skirts!<B=
R><BR>Statement issued by Troy Martens, ANC Women's League national =
<BR>spokeswoman, February 14 2012<BR></DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>COSATU Limpopo march against corruption and maladministrati=
on</B><BR>COSATU Limpopo media statement for immediate release <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>15 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>DATE : 15 February =
2012.<BR>TO : All media houses<BR><BR>COSATU LIMPOPO Province calls upon =
all its affiliated trade unions , the ANC-led Tripartite Alliance plus =
SANCO , PWMSA , business, religious formations, traditional healers and =
leaders, youth and women`s formations and civil society in general to =
:<BR><BR>1. Join and support the protest march organized by the progressive=
 youth alliance in Limpopo today, 15th February 2012 @ 09h00 , to the =
Premier`s office , as they press forward for their demands on improved =
access to tertiary education as a right protected in the constitution of =
RSA , and fight against corruption and maladministration in the provincial =
government.<BR>2. Join and support employees in the Premier`s office , led =
by our union NEHAWU , in their lunch hour demonstrations that have lasted =
for over two weeks without their grievances being responded to, leading to =
them calling on the Premier and the Director =E2=80=93 General to resign =
or be fired.<BR>Tonight, from 18h00, NEHAWU will stage a night vigil at =
the Premier`s Office, and we call also and in the main, all members of =
COSATU unions to join and support this noble course.<BR>3. COSATU, in its =
Provincial Executive Committee, held on 09 February 2012, after a thorough =
assessment of the governance crisis in Limpopo, noting investigations on =
allegations of rampant corruption, fraud and maladministration, resolved =
that the Premier and his entire Executive must resign or be recalled =
immediately, and that forensic audits be also carried out in all municipali=
ties and state owned enterprises, in particular, in the mining and =
agricultural sectors.<BR><BR>Further protest action will be announced =
through our Campaigns Committee meeting, every Monday , 14h00 @ SADTU =
offices , Biccard Street, Polokwane.<BR><BR>For further information, =
kindly contact the COSATU Limpopo Provincial Secretary, Cde. Dan Sebabi on =
082 779 2421 or 072 515 6699<BR></DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Students arrested for varsity violence</B><BR>IOL =
News<FONT size=3D2><SMALL>14 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Four students =
were arrested during a protest at the University of Durban-Westville on =
Tuesday, February 14, 2012, KwaZulu-Natal police said. <BR><BR>The =
students went on a rampage around 7.30am after they were informed about a =
court interdict against protests and disruptions at the university as seen =
in the past weeks, said Colonel Vincent Mdunge. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CStudents =
then got angry and barricaded roads with burning tires and rocks, =
preventing vehicles from coming in and out of the institution,=E2=80=9D =
said Mdunge. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThey also threw stones at police who had =
been called to monitor the situation. Police used water cannons to =
disperse the crowd.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Mdunge said tensions had died down by =
Tuesday evening. <BR><BR>Three students were injured and another three =
were arrested for public violence. <BR><BR>Two weeks ago, students brought =
the university to a standstill protesting against residence tariff hikes, =
among other things. <BR><BR>Those arrested would appear in the Durban =
Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. - Sapa <BR></FONT><A =
href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/students-arrested-for-varsit=
y-violence-1.1234413"></A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>DA stages anti-corruption march</B><BR>IOL News <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>14 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>The DA marched to the =
Polokwane office of Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale to protest against =
corruption.<BR><BR>The DA marched to the Polokwane office of Limpopo =
premier Cassel Mathale on Tuesday to protest against corruption. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CToday, the good name and reputation of our province is =
tarnished because of the scourge of corruption, irregular awarding of =
tenders, and jobs for pals, among others,=E2=80=9D provincial DA leader =
Desiree van der Walt said. <BR><BR>Party members marched along Hans Van =
Rensburg Street carrying placards stuck to brooms, meant to symbolise the =
party's hope of sweeping the ANC out of power in the province. <BR><BR>The =
messages on the placards called for clean water, clean schools, clean =
hospitals, and a clean audit. <BR><BR>The marchers said Mathale and his =
executive should step down after five provincial government departments =
were placed under administration last year. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe demand =
clean governance in all government departments, municipalities, and =
parastatals. We demand clean financial management with no wasteful and =
irregular expenditures,=E2=80=9D Van der Walt said. <BR><BR>They wanted =
=E2=80=9Cclean and professionally managed schools=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>=E2=80=
=9CWe demand an open and transparent tender awarding system,=E2=80=9D she =
said. <BR><BR>Agriculture MEC Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba received the memorandum =
and told DA members their concerns would be responded to. <BR><BR>Members =
of National Education, Health, and Allied Workers' Union also demonstrated =
at the gate of Mathale=E2=80=99s office. =E2=80=93 Sapa <BR></FONT><A =
href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/limpopo/da-stages-anti-corru=
ption-march-1.1234216">://www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>STUDENT PROTEST: UPDATE - WESTVILLE CAMPUS</B> <BR>CORPORAT=
E RELATIONS <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>15 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Dear =
Colleagues and Students<BR><BR>As a precautionary measure, lectures have =
been suspended today Wednesday 15 February, and students will not have =
access to the Westville campus. Students have been informed of this via =
SMS and Facebook.<BR><BR>The University has obtained an interdict against =
the SRCs that prevents any form of protest action, intimidation, disruption=
s, damage to property and harassment. There is a strong police presence on =
campus to enforce the interdict.<BR><BR>Students are requested to submit =
outstanding documents that are due this week to the respective College =
office on the Howard College campus. Howard College staff are urged to =
attend to these student queries.<BR><BR>If you have any specific issues of =
concern kindly send an email to corporaterelations at ukzn.ac.za and we will =
respond to your enquiry. <BR><BR>Nomonde Mbadi<BR>Executive Director<BR>Cor=
porate Relations<BR>Issued on behalf of Executive Management<BR></DIV></FON=
T>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>COMMUNIQUE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR =
CORPORATE</B> RELATIONS <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>14 February 2012</SMALL><BR><=
BR><B>STUDENT PROTEST: UPDATE - WESTVILLE CAMPUS</B><BR>COMMUNIQUE FROM =
THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE RELATIONS <SMALL>14 =
February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Dear Colleagues and Students<BR><BR>Lectures =
, tests, Practicals and Tutorials are suspended on the Westville campus =
until further notice.<BR><BR>The Westville campus has been chaotic since =
this morning with students blockading entrances with boulders and burning =
tyres.<BR><BR>A heavy police presence is on campus. <BR><BR>This morning =
most staff and students have not been allowed on campus. <BR><BR>Students =
and staff will be notified through the LAN, face book and sms on the =
status of the campus.<BR><BR>The University management sincerely apologises=
 for the inconvenience.<BR><BR>Regards<BR>Nomonde Mbadi<BR>Executive =
Director<BR>Corporate Relations<BR>Issued on behalf of Executive Management=
<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>STUDENT PROTEST: UPDATE - WESTVILLE CAMPUS</B> <BR>COMMUNIQ=
UE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE RELATIONS <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>13 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Dear Colleagues and =
Students<BR><BR>The Westville campus experienced a peaceful start this =
morning.<BR><BR>We have since received reports of lectures being disrupted =
by a group of students at the G Block and boulders that were thrown from =
the 3rd floor from around 12:45. <BR><BR>Since last year, several meetings =
were held between the SRCs and the University management to reach mutual =
agreements so as to circumvent a strike. Despite these agreements in =
place, the Westville SRC is leading students to protest.<BR><BR>The =
Westville campus has been disrupted since last week that has resulted in =
students losing out on valuable time in lectures. <BR><BR>I wish to place =
on record that at no point did the University management decline to meet =
with the students to address their grievances. <BR><BR>The University is =
also aware that some of the SRC members leading the strike at the =
Westville campus are not UKZN students as they have not registered and as =
such should not be negotiating on behalf of bona fide students.<BR><BR>In =
assessing the situation on the ground, the Deans and Heads of Schools must =
take a decision with regards to the continuation of lectures.<BR><BR>Regard=
s<BR>Nomonde Mbadi<BR><BR>Issued on behalf of Executive Management<BR></DIV=
></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Mpumalanga protesters arrested</B><BR>ILO News <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>14 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Mpumalanga police =
arrested 51 service delivery protesters in Masoyi, south of Hazyview, on =
Tuesday. <BR><BR>They were charged with public violence, theft, and =
malicious damage to property, Captain Leonard Hlathi said. <BR><BR>=E2=80=
=9CThey broke into shops belonging to foreign nationals and looted =
them,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR><BR>More police had been sent to the scene. =
Earlier, he warned motorists to avoid the road from Masoyi to Hazyview, =
which protesters had dug up and littered with stones and burning tyres =
since Saturday night. Cars had also been damaged. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CMotorist=
s should rather take the Kiepersol road to Hazyview,=E2=80=9D Hlathi =
advised. <BR><BR>Those travelling to the Kruger National Park should take =
the Kruger Park Road in Hazyview. =E2=80=93 Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http=
://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/mpumalanga-protesters-arrested-1.1234080=
">://www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Masoyi protesters block road</B><BR>IOL News <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>14 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Mpumalanga police warned =
motorists on Tuesday to avoid the road from Masoyi to Hazyview, as it had =
been barricaded by service delivery protesters. <BR><BR>The road had been =
dug up and littered with stones and burning tyres since protests started =
on Saturday night, said Captain Leonard Hlathi. Cars had also been =
damaged. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CIt is not acceptable. Motorists should rather =
take the Kiepersol road to Hazyview.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Those travelling to =
the Kruger National Park should take the Kruger Park Road in Hazyview. =
=E2=80=93 Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa=
/mpumalanga/masoyi-protesters-block-road-1.1233883">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></=
DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Woman killed in protest</B><BR>SAPA <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>1=
3 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>A woman was killed and 10 people were =
arrested during service delivery protests in Masoyi, south of Hazyview, =
Mpumalanga police said on Monday. <BR><BR>The woman was killed on Sunday =
afternoon after a truck accidentally reversed into her on a road barricaded=
 by protesters, Sergeant Gerald Sedibe said. <BR><BR>Police were searching =
for the driver. <BR><BR>The protesters were arrested that afternoon, =
reportedly for public violence and destruction of property. They were =
expected to appear in court on Tuesday. =E2=80=93 Sapa <BR></FONT><A =
href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/woman-killed-in-protest-1.12=
33191">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>MAN-TRUCK STRIKE ENTERS ITS THIRD WEEK!</B><BR>NUMSA <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>13 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>The KwaZulu-Natal National =
Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), a reliable and trusted =
affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is deeply =
infuriated by the failure of Man-Truck ruling oligarchy to resolve the =
ongoing industrial dispute at its Westmead, South of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.=
 Our members have been on a protected strike since 23 January 20122 amidst =
the apartheid Bantu Labour Relations imposition to workers by Man-Truck.<BR=
><BR>The spurious actions by Man-Truck bosses of reneging or undermining a =
duly signed Collective Bargaining Agreement with the union, is a direct =
assault of workers rights to collective bargaining as promulgated by the =
nascent democratic state as led by the African National Congress (ANC). =
This newly-found total disregard of workers rights to bargain, as also =
personified or expressed by the anti-workers and anti-trade union party =
the Democratic Alliance (DA), is a threat to workers hard won rights =
encoded in Chris Hani=E2=80=99s name in various labour legislative laws =
passed by the ANC of Elijah Barayi. <BR><BR>We strongly believe that these =
demands by workers can be achieved by Man-Truck, given the fact that =
Man-Truck has bloated millions of rands in rewarding its executives. These =
demands by workers are consistent with the Freedom Charter, the over-archin=
g policy document of our revolutionary ANC which called for work and =
security for all.<BR><BR>These are our demands:<BR><BR>=C2=B7 We demand an =
equal pay for equal work with an intention of closing the existing income =
disparities;<BR><BR>=C2=B7 The Medical Aid and Provident Fund benefits =
should be extended to all workers as per the 2009 Collective Bargaining =
Agreement;<BR><BR>=C2=B7 All workers employed under Labour Brokers and =
have been working over a period of six (6) months should be employed =
permanently by the company as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement =
signed in 2009; And<BR><BR>=C2=B7 All new intakes of workers should not be =
recruited by Labour Brokers, but must be recruited directly by the company =
and there must be entitled to all the company=E2=80=99s benefits, such as =
Medical Aid and Provident Fund benefits.<BR><BR>Our members have been on =
strike action for three (3) full weeks without any concrete offer or =
proposal from the filthy rich Man-Truck hyenas to resolve the strike or =
industrial dispute. <BR><BR>As NUMSA we will intensify our action by =
calling on other Man-Truck plans to embark on a solidarity strike with the =
intention of our exerting pressure until our demands are met. We will =
never conform to apartheid Bantu Labour Relations at the point of =
production whilst our members are being turned into slavery conditions.<BR>=
<BR>Contact: Mbuso Ngubane, Regional Secretary =E2=80=93 079 502 3242<BR></=
DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Police quell xenophobic violence</B><BR>Noni Mokati <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>11 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Police have doused the =
fires and quelled the panic in Welkom in the Free State after last =
week=E2=80=99s spate of xenophobic attacks on Bangladeshi nationals. =
<BR><BR>Alphonse Munyaneza, a senior regional community service officer =
from the UN Human Rights Council yesterday said the police had increased =
their visibility in both Thabong township and neighbouring Odendaalsrus =
where the violence took place. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThe security response in =
both these areas has improved drastically. All that we are dealing with =
now are isolated cases of robbery and no longer mob justice. We have also =
embarked on supporting the municipality which seeks to implement the =
reintegration of the Bangladeshi businessmen in their respective communitie=
s,=E2=80=9D said Munyaneza. <BR><BR>A total of 60 shops were looted in 18 =
of Welkom=E2=80=99s townships, many in Thabong. Five shop owners were =
injured as community members protested against the lack of jobs. <BR><BR>Mu=
nyaneza said the council and police had held workshops aimed at educating =
people about the rights of refugees, among other things. <BR><BR>During =
the turmoil, the Gift of the Givers stepped in and donated food, blankets =
and hygiene products to 250 Bangladeshi and Pakistani shop- keepers who =
sought refuge from the unrest at a storeroom in the region. <BR><BR>Gift =
of the Givers spokesperson Emily Thomas said the organisation had donated =
about a week=E2=80=99s supply of necessities to the shop owners. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe are back in Johannesburg but will return to Welkom on =
Tuesday where we will speak to community members and educate them about =
such incidents,=E2=80=9D Thomas said. <BR><BR>She said the xenophobic =
attacks resulted from poverty and that residents had to understand that =
poverty was the main enemy, not the foreign nationals. <BR><BR>Gift of the =
Givers will donate 20 000 food parcels to elderly and young residents in =
Honey Park on Tuesday. -Saturday Star<BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.c=
o.za/news/south-africa/free-state/police-quell-xenophobic-violence-1.123207=
9">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Gautrain bus strike halted</B><BR>Mail &amp; Guardian =
<FONT size=3D2><SMALL>10 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>About 320 Gautrain =
bus drivers were fired this week in the climax to an intermittent strike =
that started on January 9, and centred on transport allowances, according =
to the lawyer representing the drivers. <BR><BR>Kevin van Huyssteen said =
the drivers, who work for bus management company Mega Express, were fired =
after a dispute over their demand for transport to and from work.<BR><BR>He=
 said the drivers insisted they had not gone on strike but had been unable =
to turn up for work in the absence of transport -- given that their shift =
started at 3.30am and ended at 10.30pm. He alleged that drivers were not =
given meals, tea breaks or intervals and were also not paid overtime.<BR><B=
R>Kelebogile Machaka, spokesperson for Bombela Concession Company, said =
that new drivers were being trained to replace the dismissed workers. Of =
the 23 routes only five -- four from Sandton station and one from Rosebank =
station -- were operational.<BR><BR>Machaka said the strike had stranded =
12 000 passengers a day. They could not use the train because they relied =
on the Gautrain feeder bus network to carry them either to or from the =
stations. The disruption had resulted in a 10% drop in passengers.<BR><BR>T=
he bus drivers worked on a shift basis, which meant one person did not =
work from 3:30am to 10pm, Machaka said. "Their main demand has been the =
provision of transport between work and home by their company, Mega =
Express.<BR><BR><B>Unaffiliated</B> <BR>"Their conditions of service =
comply with the recommendations agreed to at the sector's bargaining =
council in 2011. At present the drivers are not affiliated to any union," =
she said.<BR><BR>The strike was the latest in a string of woes to have hit =
the high-speed train service between Johannesburg and Pretoria and OR =
Tambo International Airport. Cable theft, water leakages and problems with =
the electricity supply to the locomotives have also led to temporary =
disruptions of the service.<BR><BR>This week irate commuters complained on =
Facebook and to the Mail &amp; Guardian that they had purchased monthly =
and weekly tickets, but because of the strike had been forced to cough up =
extra for other forms of public transport. Some commuters said that the =
company was unwilling to refund or extend their tickets.<BR><BR>A =
Centurion IT consultant, who asked to remain anonymous, said he used the =
train from Centurion to Midrand every day and relied on the bus service to =
take him to Sunninghill. "I had to pay more than R1 500 for a 35-day pass, =
which includes the train ride," he said. <BR><BR>"My card will expire soon =
and I still have money in it but won't be able to use it. I've phoned and =
emailed Gautrain asking for a refund, but they were not willing."<BR><BR><B=
>'Astonished'</B><BR>Lucas Senatore wrote on the Gautrain Facebook page: =
"I am completely astonished with the fact that you refuse to refund people =
who are not able to use the Gautrain because of the bus strike. My =
girlfriend takes the train from Rosebank to Hatfield and then to the CSIR =
by bus. Are you telling me that you will not refund the R1 000+ 35-day =
pass?=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Machaka confirmed that passengers had contacted the =
company for guidance on refund procedures. She said management was working =
on a plan "that will be fair and equitable for customers affected". =
<BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://mg.co.za/article/2012-02-10-gautrain-bus-strik=
e-halted">mg.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>KZN varsity protests gather steam</B><BR>(Leanne Jansen) =
IOL News <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>10 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Student =
protests which started at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in =
Umlazi last Friday have spread and intensified at other tertiary education =
campuses in KwaZulu-Natal. <BR><BR>On Thursday, at the Durban University =
of Technology (DUT), six people were arrested for public violence after =
three vehicles were damaged, while the University of KwaZulu-Natal=E2=80=99=
s (UKZN) Westville campus became the latest site of mass action. <BR><BR>Ac=
commodation and financial aid remain the primary grievances. <BR><BR>Despit=
e DUT=E2=80=99s high court interdict prohibiting protests, and a continued =
police presence, the institution confirmed that lectures had been =
disrupted at the Steve Biko, ML Sultan and Ritson Road campuses. However, =
the academic programme had not been suspended. <BR><BR>According to DUT =
spokesman Alan Khan, the protests were not being driven by the students =
representative council, but rather by the SA Students=E2=80=99 Congress =
(Sasco). <BR><BR>Sasco provincial chairman Mfanafuthi Ngobo confirmed =
this. <BR><BR>Khan said that DUT management would only negotiate with the =
SRC, =E2=80=9Cand not entertain individual clubs and societies. We have =
reiterated the need for the police to enforce the court interdict to =
protect our students and staff,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR><BR>At Mangosuthu, =
after compromising on matters such as the cost of student transport and =
financial exclusions, accommodation remained a sticking point. Yesterday, =
tyres were burnt and chairs broken at the university, spokeswoman Mbali =
Mkhize said. <BR><BR>SRC president Sifiso Mvuyane said the protests would =
only be halted once housing was provided for at least 500 students at the =
Lonsdale Hotel in Pixley KaSeme (West) Street. <BR><BR>At UKZN, a crowd of =
100 to 200 students chanted as they converged on university buildings, but =
protested peacefully under the eyes of campus security and police. =
University spokeswoman Nomonde Mbadi advised students to contact faculties =
for information on the rescheduling of lectures. - The Mercury <BR></FONT><=
A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/kzn-varsity-protests-gathe=
r-steam-1.1231361">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Sonderwater protesters released</B><BR>IOL News <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>9 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Charges against 25 people =
arrested during a protest in Sonderwater were withdrawn in the Potchefstroo=
m Magistrate's Court on Thursday, North West police said. <BR><BR>The =
group was arrested on Wednesday night for public violence and malicious =
damage to property, said Captain Pelonomi Makau. <BR><BR>They were part of =
a larger group of residents in extension 11 that barricaded roads and =
damaged police vehicles during a protest against alleged corruption at the =
Tlokwe municipality. Police were called and arrested 25 people around =
midnight. <BR><BR>The protest continued through Thursday morning, in the =
presence of police. Makau said the situation calmed after residents met a =
municipal official. <BR><BR>The African National Congress recently =
recalled Tlokwe mayor Andrew Maphetle and his counterpart Boitumelo Moloi =
from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district municipality, following corruption =
allegations. - Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-c=
ourts/sonderwater-protesters-released-1.1231038">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV=
>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>COMMUNIQUE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR =
CORPORATE RELATIONS STUDENT PROTEST: WESTVILLE CAMPUS</B><BR>Corporate =
Relations UKZN <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>9 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Dear =
Colleagues and Students<BR>We have received reports from RMS that there =
are groups of students moving<BR>around the Westville campus disrupting =
lectures at various venues. RMS and<BR>SAPS are present on the campus to =
monitor and control the situation.<BR>The management of the Student =
Services Division has held several meetings with<BR>the Westville SRC to =
create an open and amicable platform for discussion with a<BR>view to find =
solutions to the issues raised. Management is awaiting the<BR>availability =
of some members of the Westville SRC to attend a meeting that has<BR>been =
called to understand and address their issues.<BR>The University management=
 is committed to open dialogue with the SRC and in<BR>this regard =
management engaged the SRC last year to discuss and collectively<BR>address=
 their concerns so as to avert strikes. The doors are still open for =
such<BR>engagements to take place.<BR>Students are urged to contact their =
respective Schools for information on the<BR>rescheduling of the lectures =
that have been disrupted or to get information on<BR>the status of =
lectures.<BR>As Management, we are committed to assisting the students =
within the rules,<BR>regulations and policies that govern the University =
as set out by Council.<BR>We trust that this matter will be resolved and =
that the academic programs will<BR>continue as scheduled.<BR>Regards<BR>Nom=
onde<BR>Issued on behalf of Executive Management<BR></DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Sri Lanka=E2=80=99 protest moves to Lenasia</B><BR>Fakir =
Hassen <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>8 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>The Tamil =
Federation of Gauteng (TFG) has moved their protest against the persecution=
 of Tamils in Sri Lanka, to Lenasia, south of Johannesburg. <BR><BR>This =
was done after a last-minute withdrawal of permission to stage a peaceful =
protest opposite the Pretoria hotel where the Sri Lankan High Commission =
was celebrating the country=E2=80=99s 64th Independence Day. <BR><BR>Local =
community leaders, surrounded by scores of placard carrying supporters, =
joined officials of the TFG to lay a symbolic wreath at the Signet Terrace =
in Lenasia on Saturday. <BR><BR>It was in memory of the estimated 100 000 =
Tamil people killed during the three-decade civil war. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CTod=
ay, February 4, 2012, Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day and projects =
to the world that it has a stable country with a democracy. But while it =
looks fine from the outside, within the country it has inequality among =
its citizens, no freedom of speech or association, people in transit =
camps, and no meaningful democracy,=E2=80=9D TFG President Nadas Pillay, =
told those gathered. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWith this oppressive regime we see a =
ray of hope that comes from the United Nations report. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe =
in particular would like to emphasise the fundamental recommendation from =
the report that highlights the call for an international investigation =
within Sri Lanka.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Said Pillay: =E2=80=9CToday we lay this =
wreath for all the people that have lost their lives, people that were =
persecuted, mercilessly killed, and for those people that to date have =
families who don=E2=80=99t know if they are dead or alive. Our role is to =
create awareness to the people of South Africa and the world.=E2=80=9D =
<BR><BR>He called for Sri Lankan leaders responsible for atrocities =
against their fellow citizens to be brought to justice. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CTh=
erefore we are asking the South African Government and other governments =
that are part of the Security Council to vote in favour of an international=
 investigation. This fight is not about the Tamil-speaking people but a =
fight for humanity.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Palestinian Solidarity Organisation =
representative, Naazim Adam, pledged support for the call by the TFG. =
<BR><BR>Sri Lankan High Commissioner Shehan Ratnavala, who is himself of =
Tamil origin, said that such protests were not helpful at a stage when his =
government was making every effort to win the peace back. <BR><BR>He =
invited the leaders of the TFG and other protesters to visit Sri Lanka and =
see for themselves the efforts that are being made to establish peace. - =
Post <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/sri-lanka=
-protest-moves-to-lenasia-1.1229711">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Anti-Joseph Kabila protesters urge DRC boycott at =
Indaba</B><BR>Mail &amp; Guardian <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>8 February =
2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Congolese protesters who dispute the recent re-election=
 of Joseph Kabila as president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo =
(DRC) picketed on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba in Cape Town on =
Wednesday, calling on investors to steer clear of the country's mineral =
resources.<BR><BR>They also claimed that South Africa had only endorsed =
Kabila's re-election because prominent South Africans had business =
interests in the countries' mining sector. <BR><BR>Chanting in French and =
Kikongo, approximately 30 protesters cradled placards and the DRC's flags =
while they toyi-toyi'd along Coen Steytler avenue outside the Cape Town =
International Convention Centre.<BR><BR>"Kabila is a killer and rapist"; =
"Help save the DRC"; and "DRC in deep political crisis -- Illegal =
delegation as Indaba," read some of the placards.<BR><BR>The protests form =
part of a larger campaign by DRC citizens residing in South Africa who =
believe the presidential elections in December were illegitimate and fixed =
in favour of incumbent president Joseph Kabila.<BR><BR><B>'Kabila stole =
the elections and is stealing the wealth'</B><BR>"There is no government =
representative of the people at the moment in the DRC. Kabila stole the =
elections and is stealing the wealth of our country -- he must go," Iko =
Ikotela from Kinshasa told the Mail &amp; Guardian.<BR><BR>Most of those =
protesting outside the Indaba say opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi is =
the rightful leader of the country and was defeated by Kabila only =
"through fraud".<BR><BR>As part of their remonstrations, the protesters =
are encouraging investors to steer clear of the country's mineral sector, =
which they believe is "tainted".<BR><BR>"Hey! Please don't invest in the =
DRC -- you are supporting a murderer and a rapist and buying blood =
diamonds -- don't do it," shouted one Protester to a bemused looking =
delegate as he exited the Indaba.<BR><BR>Besides diamonds, other primary =
minerals mined in the country include cobalt, gold and copper. <BR><BR>Desp=
ite widespread international condemnation, the South African government =
ratified Kabila's victory in late December.<BR><BR><B>'Zuma and his =
cronies have mines in the DRC'</B><BR>Ikotela alleges the support from the =
South African government is solely based on business interests in the DRC, =
held by prominent South African politicians.<BR><BR>"Your President Zuma =
and his cronies have mines up in DRC, that's why you are supporting =
Kabila," he told the M&amp;G.<BR><BR>Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj =
dismissed claims of Zuma's business concerns in the DRC as "far-fetched" =
and would not comment any further on the matter.<BR><BR>While there is no =
overt evidence to suggest President Zuma is involved in any business =
concerns -- mining or otherwise -- in the DRC, his nephew Khulubuse Zuma =
is involved in the country's mineral and energy sector.<BR><BR><B>Emergency=
 number</B><BR>In response to the protests, the DRC's minerals and energy =
delegation at the Indaba have set up an emergency number for the country's =
representatives to contact should picketers threaten them.<BR><BR>"They =
have been a little aggressive but nothing too hectic. If I think it is bad =
I will use the number," Alessaine Kwatanga, a businessman in Lubumbashi =
told the M&amp;G.<BR><BR>Indaba organisers have described the protests as =
"unfortunate" but say they recognise the rights of DRC citizens to protest =
against their government and leaders.<BR><BR>"The right to peaceful =
protest is enshrined in the South African Constitution. The Mining Indaba =
would like to apologise to our delegates and anyone who might have been =
inconvenienced," read a statement released on Wednesday. <BR></FONT><A =
href=3D"http://mg.co.za/article/2012-02-08-antikabila-protesters-urge-drc-b=
oycott-at-mining-indaba">mg.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Magashule condemns xenophobia</B><BR>IOL News <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>8 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Xenophobic violence in the =
Welkom area during the past week was condemned by Free State premier Ace =
Magashule on Wednesday. <BR><BR>A number of shops owned by foreigners, =
mainly Bangladeshis, were broken into, set alight and looted in Thabong, =
Welkom and Odendaalsrus. <BR><BR>Magashule said the attacks were a clear =
violation of the rights of immigrants and foreigners. He said it appeared =
=E2=80=9Ccriminal elements=E2=80=9D had taken advantage of the situation. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThese attacks violate the fundamental principles of our =
Constitution, which rejects discrimination and intolerance on the basis of =
race, creed or geographic origin.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Free State police said =
Thabong and Kutloanong (Odendaalrus) were quiet on Wednesday. <BR><BR>About=
 40 people have been arrested in Thabong since groups of youths took to =
the streets last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. <BR><BR>Warrant Officer =
Malebo Khosana said a group of jobless youths were unhappy after talks =
with local mines about jobs and took to the streets. They wanted mines to =
recruit local people first. <BR><BR>Twenty-four businesses were damaged in =
the three-day rampage in Thabong. <BR><BR>Captain Stephen Thakeng said =
Kutloanong was quiet on Wednesday. Seven people were arrested after youths =
started to attack foreigners and their businesses on Monday. <BR><BR>Sixtee=
n shops were damaged and looted. Police had to escort foreigners out of =
the township. <BR><BR>Police said the violence in Kutloanong seemed to be =
related to the public violence and looting in Thabong last week. <BR><BR>Ma=
gashule urged residents in the area to condemn the violent attacks on =
innocent people, whose lives were threatened because of their geographic =
origins. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe call upon our people to refrain from =
participating in such violent acts.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>He said the provincial=
 government would continue to work with all concerned parties to find =
solutions to some of the problems facing citizens. <BR><BR>Police said =
those arrested in the two towns would begin appearing in courts from =
Wednesday to Monday next week. =E2=80=93 Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://=
www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/magashule-condemns-xenophobia-1.1229879">:/=
/www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/magashule-condemns-xenophobia-1.1229879</A=
><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>MUT student protest halts lectures</B><BR>Lungelo Mkamba =
and Mbali Shezi <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>February 7 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>The =
marchers, led by SRC president Sifiso Mvuyane, said they were protesting =
against a shortage of residences. He said 700 students did not have =
accommodation for the year. <BR><BR>In 2011, a fire broke out at the =
Lonsdale Hotel, in Dr Pixley KaSeme (West) Street, prompting the Mangosuthu=
 management to decide that it was unsafe for students. <BR><BR>Mvuyane =
said the hotel was safe and the 700 students should stay there. <BR><BR>=E2=
=80=9CWe will not agree to any other accommodation besides Lonsdale.=E2=80=
=9D <BR><BR>Other concerns raised by Mvuyane were that transport fees had =
increased from R900 to R1 500 annually and that students with fee debts =
were not being allowed to register. <BR><BR>According to university =
spokeswoman Mbali Mkhize <BR><BR>transport costs had increased because the =
university needed to clear its debt. She said a meeting between the =
management and the SRC, held on January 30, had resolved that final-year =
students who had applied and qualified for National Student Financial Aid =
Scheme (NSFAS) funding would be allowed to register. <BR><BR>Students in =
other years of study who applied and qualified for NSFAS funding would be =
allowed to register if they had balances of R8 000 or less. <BR><BR>Cash-pa=
ying students owing R5 000 and below would be allowed to register after =
paying registration deposits of a minimum of R1 000. <BR><BR>However, =
Mvuyane said the SRC proposed that final-year students owing up to R10 000 =
be allowed to register. <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/mercury/=
mut-student-protest-halts-lectures-1.1228499">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Protesters demand that city manager quit</B><BR>Laea =
Medley and Zama Nene <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>7 February 2012</SMALL> =
<BR><BR>About 300 protesters gathered at the Durban City Hall on Monday =
carrying placards demanding the resignation of municipal manager Sibusiso =
Sithole. They also threatened to sleep outside the building. <BR><BR>The =
protesters were Umlazi residents who had been left homeless after the =
eThekwini municipality suspended a housing contract held by millionaire =
businesswoman Shauwn Mpisane in November. <BR><BR>The R176 million =
contract promised to house 200 families in Umlazi. <BR><BR>On Monday, the =
residents handed over a memorandum to Joe Nene, a policy adviser to the =
mayor, who received it on behalf of Sithole. <BR><BR>The angry residents =
wanted to know why the contract was suspended, as neither they nor their =
councillors were informed. <BR><BR>They demanded the reinstatement of the =
contract so that their promised houses could be built. <BR><BR>They also =
declared their support for Mpisane. <BR><BR>The displaced residents =
branded Sithole, who became city manager at the beginning of the month, =
=E2=80=9Cuncaring=E2=80=9D, and accused him of being arrogant. <BR><BR>A =
spokesman for the residents, S=E2=80=99bu Cirha, said they were unhappy =
with the way the matter was handled. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe are fighting for =
the development of the houses, which were promised to the people,=E2=80=9D =
he said. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe were never consulted about why the contract =
was cancelled, so we demand answers.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>One of the residents,=
 Mqondisi Jali, said: =E2=80=9CWe just want houses. We have been waiting =
for houses for so long, we=E2=80=99re sleeping outside. Our area is =
neglected. How do they expect us to live our lives properly?=E2=80=9D =
<BR><BR>Another resident, who did not want to be named, said she did not =
care who the contract was given to, but just wanted a roof over her head. =
<BR><BR>The residents have planned another march to the city hall on =
Wednesday in the hope of meeting the city manager. <BR><BR>Mpisane was =
quoted as saying she did not know why the contract had been suspended, but =
believed it was because of her 2005 fraud conviction =E2=80=93 for which =
she was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years. =
<BR><BR>Housing Settlements MEC Ravi Pillay said on Friday that the =
department had a duty to look at the interests of the 200 families =
affected, and that authorities would ensure that the houses were built. =
<BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/protesters-demand=
-that-city-manager-quit-1.1228844">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Woman begins hunger strike over Chappies</B><BR>Zara =
Nicholson <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>6 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>A Hout Bay =
resident and member of the Civil Rights Action Group (Crag) started a =
hunger strike at the Chapman=E2=80=99s Peak toll plaza and office block =
site on Sunday, saying she would stop only if the construction was halted. =
<BR><BR>With temperatures of 35=C2=BA on Sunday, Bronwen Lankers-Byrne was =
strong and vowed to carry on until authorities were prepared to have =
transparent discussions and take residents=E2=80=99 feelings on the =
development into account. <BR><BR>Lankers-Byrne, who is almost 60, sat =
alone under a small tree opposite the construction site on Chapman=E2=80=99=
s Peak where she started her hunger strike at 7am. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CI will =
do this for as long as it takes,=E2=80=9D she said. <BR><BR>Earlier in the =
day a few environmentalists were also at the site where they spray-painted =
containers and road signs near the site. The group sprayed messages like: =
=E2=80=9CWe are still gatvol=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Ca precedent for one =
office block, then another and another=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>Lankers-Byrne =
said she was only drinking water and was feeling strong except for a =
=E2=80=9Cpounding headache=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>She was the march co-ordinator=
 for the protest last month when more than 2 000 people voiced their =
opposition to the construction of a toll plaza and office block for the =
toll operator, Entilini. <BR><BR>Residents say the building does not match =
the plans they commented on during the public participation processes. =
<BR><BR>Lankers-Byrne said: =E2=80=9CWhen I was interviewed in 2009 at a =
protest, I was really angry and I told a reporter, =E2=80=98Over my dead =
body will they build this plaza,=E2=80=99 That=E2=80=99s where the hunger =
strike thought started and then I also thought about what Gandhi would do =
in this situation and I thought about a passive but strong resistance =
that=E2=80=99s effective.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Lankers-Byrne was particularly =
outraged that building continued despite a showing by more than 2 000 =
people who disagreed with the plan. <BR><BR>Various civil groups are =
opposing the R54 million development with the Hout Bay Residents Associatio=
n busy finalising documents to file an interdict to stop the construction =
from continuing. <BR><BR>Lankers-Byrne did not have any breakfast and by =
2pm she said: =E2=80=9CSpiritually I feel fine. I=E2=80=99ve resolved =
myself to the fact that I am not going to put anything past my mouth =
except water until they stop building and we sit around a table to discuss =
the data and a simple way forward.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Premier Helen Zille =
cycled on Chapman=E2=80=99s Peak yesterday morning and Lankers-Byrne =
stopped her and explained what she was doing. Zille took her details and =
said she would be in contact. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CI am just tired of =
politicians. We vote for them, we pay their salaries and they do what we =
don=E2=80=99t want, with our money,=E2=80=9D she said. <BR><BR>Local =
actress Vanessa Haywood stopped as she was driving past and took a picture =
of Lankers-Byrne. <BR><BR>She posted the picture on Twitter and tweeted: =
=E2=80=9CAnd the morons have already started building on Chappies.=E2=80=9D=
 <BR><BR>Haywood, who has more than 5 000 followers on Twitter, said she =
wanted to rally support for Lankers-Byrne and signed the petition at the =
site opposing the development. <BR><BR>Transport and Public Works MEC =
Robin Carlisle said: =E2=80=9CWe can talk as soon as we can. I don=E2=80=99=
t want her to do anything drastic. I=E2=80=99ve had several long talks =
with people on Crag=E2=80=99s committee and I=E2=80=99m happy to talk to =
anyone about Chapman=E2=80=99s Peak. The purpose of discussion is to see =
what solutions we can come to and if they want to have a discussion, they =
must look at all the possibilities. We all want to find the least =
objectionable solution.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>He did not speak for other =
stakeholders, but was sure they would also make time to talk, Carlisle =
said. - Cape Times <BR></FONT><A href=3D"">zara.nicholson at inl.co.za</A> =
<BR><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/woman-be=
gins-hunger-strike-over-chappies-1.1228297">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Unions not behind Kruger Park strike</B><BR>(IOL News) =
<FONT size=3D2><SMALL>2 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Two unions with =
representation at the Kruger National Park (KNP) have denied being behind =
a strike by over 300 employees, planned for Friday. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CAs =
far as we are concerned, our members have not indicated themselves that =
there is any strike,=E2=80=9D said Ivan Molefe, SA Commercial Catering and =
Allied Workers' Union negotiator on Thursday. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThey are =
doing it on an individual basis,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR><BR>The Health and =
Other Service Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa) said no current =
members were involved. <BR><BR>Some former members who had recently =
resigned were among those planning to strike over pay at the park on =
Friday, it said. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThey are striking for legitimate issues, =
but they did that as individuals. They did not consult with us,=E2=80=9D =
said Hospersa spokesman Dumisani Mthalana.. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThey are =
fighting something we are also fighting,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR><BR>Earlier,=
 KNP spokesman William Mabasa said a notice giving 361people permission to =
strike from Friday was issued by the Commission for Conciliation, =
Mediation and Arbitration. <BR><BR>Of these, 248 were rangers, sparking =
concern over the protection of the animals from poachers, particularly =
rhino. <BR><BR>In 2011, 448 rhinos were killed in South Africa. <BR><BR>The=
 park employs about 400 rangers out of around 2500 staff. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9C=
It is indeed unfortunate that our rangers have decided to go on strike at =
the time when we are at the peak of our war against rhino poachers,=E2=80=
=9D Mabasa said in a statement earlier this week. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThese =
are the men and women that we rely on in our fight against the poachers, =
but nevertheless management would like to assure our guests and the public =
in general that all contingency measures are in place to adequately deal =
with the situation.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Mabasa said workers believed some =
employees got more money than others for doing the same job. <BR><BR>In =
previous discussions, management explained that salary differences could =
be due to factors such as experience, or a longer term of employment. =
<BR><BR>KNP had put contingency plans in place, which included using the =
SA National Defence Force, the police, and volunteer rangers. <BR><BR>Mabas=
a said visitors could continue with their plans to visit the park. =
<BR><BR>Mthalane and Molefe said both unions had seen resignations among =
members at the park in what Mthalana called =E2=80=9Cunion hopping=E2=80=9D=
. <BR><BR>Saccawu had lost its majority at the park when members left to =
join Hospersa. Another union was apparently campaigning in the park for =
members, who had in turn resigned from Hospersa , they explained. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CIt is their right to belong or not to belong, but it is a =
trend in SA National Parks: they are just hopping from one union to =
another,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR><BR>Saccawu and Hospersa had not been asked =
to join the strike. <BR><BR>Comment from the people intending to strike =
was not immediately available. - Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.=
co.za/news/south-africa/mpumalanga/unions-not-behind-kruger-park-strike-1.1=
226289">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Protesting metro cops stop traffic</B><BR>Bongani Hans =
<FONT size=3D2><SMALL>3 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>The eThekwini =
council=E2=80=99s executive committee is expected to hold an emergency =
meeting on Friday to find a solution to the grievances of protesting metro =
police officers. <BR><BR>Mayor James Nxumalo made the promise after =
accepting a memorandum from hundreds of officers who marched from Berea to =
the city hall yesterday. <BR><BR>They brought traffic in Dr Pixley KaSeme =
(West) Street to a standstill and hurled insults at metro police head =
Eugene Nzama. <BR><BR>Businesses along the route closed until the marchers =
passed by. <BR><BR>Nxumalo said he was committed to addressing the =
officers=E2=80=99 grievances and would give them feedback within 48 hours. =
<BR><BR>He said their grievances were legitimate and were among many =
issues at the municipality that needed to be corrected urgently. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CSince I have signed this memorandum, I will call an =
urgent executive committee meeting to sit at 10am (today). You will get =
your feedback before the end of the day,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR><BR>Some of =
the officers said they had joined the force at the age of 18 and worked =
without being given the training required for permanent employment. =
<BR><BR>They said they were disqualified from attending the training when =
they reached the age of 30, and deprived of permanent employment and =
benefits such as medical aid. <BR><BR>Unhappy with his response to their =
grievances, the officers demanded that Nzama be reassigned to another =
department. <BR><BR>They also wanted the city to investigate the qualificat=
ions of Rajen Chin, head of the metro police=E2=80=99s specialised units. =
<BR><BR>Late last month, former eThekwini municipal manager Michael =
Sutcliffe suspended Chin and promised to start an investigation, which the =
marchers said had not commenced. <BR><BR>The officers also demanded the =
suspension of metro police human resources manager Monty Naidoo, who they =
accused of signing Chin=E2=80=99s employment contract. - The Mercury =
<BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/protesting-metro-c=
ops-stop-traffic-1.1226754">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Invaders to vacate Wallmanstal</B><BR>IOL News<FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>2 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>The High Court in Pretoria =
has ordered illegal occupants of Wallmansthal, north of the city, to =
vacate government-owned land within 15 days. <BR><BR>In his ruling on =
Thursday, Judge Joseph Raulinga issued a court order compelling the =
occupants of Wallmansthal to demolish their structures and remove their =
belongings. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CI understand that the land issue is a very =
emotive one in our country and there is a genuine need. Government has put =
policies in place with regards to land restitution. We have to respect =
those policies,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe cannot take the law =
into our own hands. We have instances where greedy elements take advantage =
of the poor. That is lack of respect for the law.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>The =
application was brought by the rural development and land reform department=
, which was busy transferring the land to successful claimants. <BR><BR>Acc=
ording to an earlier court order no one was allowed to settle on the land =
until infrastructure had been installed. <BR><BR>Large numbers of people =
nevertheless started moving in, setting up informal dwellings on plots =
that were apparently unlawfully sold at R400 a piece to members of the =
public. =E2=80=93 Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crim=
e-courts/invaders-to-vacate-wallmanstal-1.1226242">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></D=
IV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Students, unions to strike</B><BR>Leanne Jansen <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>2 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Angry over registration =
policies, students as well as workers=E2=80=99 and teachers=E2=80=99 =
unions have threatened to strike at all four major tertiary institutions =
in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday. <BR><BR>The National Education, Health and =
Allied Workers Union; the SA Students Congress; the SA Democratic Teachers =
Union and the Young Communist League said that rather than destabilising =
the higher education system, they were =E2=80=9Crestoring order=E2=80=9D =
where crisis existed. <BR><BR>The unions have set tomorrow as the deadline =
by which to reach agreement with the senior management of the Durban =
University of Technology, Mangosuthu University of Technology, University =
of Zululand and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. <BR><BR>Last week, the =
chairman of the National Assembly=E2=80=99s higher education committee, =
Ishmael Malale, urged Mangosuthu student leaders to reach out to him and =
other MPs before embarking on protest action. <BR><BR>National Education, =
Health and Allied Workers Union KZN secretary Zola Saphetha said there =
were common problems across the campuses, including inadequate residences, =
the number of points needed for admittance being =E2=80=9Cunilaterally=E2=
=80=9D increased, students incurring debt because of poor distribution of =
the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, and students being excluded =
from certain fields of study on the basis of race. <BR><BR>The institutions=
 have denied acting in bad faith and said they were unaware of the looming =
protests. <BR><BR>Sapetha said that everyone from cleaning staff to =
lecturers would join the protests. <BR><BR>The Durban University of =
Technology said that if necessary, it would implement an interdict awarded =
to it last year, which prohibited students from participating in protest =
action. <BR><BR>The University of Zululand responded that while people had =
the right to strike, its management was =E2=80=9Calways willing=E2=80=9D =
to hold talks. <BR><BR>The University of KwaZulu-Natal said only its =
medical school had targets for admission according to race. It had =
provided R16.2 million from its own funds where the aid scheme fell short =
this year and, although two new residences had been completed, there were =
plans to increase on-campus residences. <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.io=
l.co.za/mercury/students-unions-to-strike-1.1225597">www.iol.co.za</A><BR><=
/DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Implats sacks 13 000 striking workers</B><BR>Mail &amp; =
Guardian <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>2 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Impala =
Platinum, the world's second largest platinum producer, said on Thursday =
that it had dismissed 13 000 employees, bringing to 17 200 those sacked =
since the start of a labour dispute almost two weeks ago. <BR><BR>Workers =
were given until Wednesday to return to work at its Rustenburg operations =
or face dismissal.<BR><BR>A process of rehiring, which could give the =
fired workers a chance to reapply for their jobs, would be "undertaken in =
due course", the company said in a statement.<BR><BR>The stoppage is =
costing Implats 3 000 platinum ounces a day in lost production.<BR><BR>The =
dispute centres on retention bonuses awarded to only part of the workforce.=
 The latest round of dismissals follows the firing of drill operators who =
initiated a stay-away a fortnight ago that was declared illegal by a =
court.<BR><BR>The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it was =
disappointed that the company had resorted to firing-and-rehiring.<BR><BR><=
B>Intimidation</B><BR>NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the process of =
rehiring took a long time and the longer it took, the harder the operations=
 would be hit.<BR><BR>The trade union believes that many of those =
dismissed were not on strike but prevented from reporting for work due to =
intimidation.<BR><BR>"Workers could simply not get to work safely," he =
said.<BR><BR>Safety stoppages have also hit platinum output across the =
sector in South Africa, which accounts for about 80% of the global supply =
of the precious metal.<BR><BR>Platinum's spot price is up over 15% since =
the start of the year to over $1 600 an ounce.<BR><BR>Implats' share price =
was down 2.4% at 12:54 GMT, underperforming the benchmark top 40 index, =
which was 0.7% higher. -- Reuters <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://mg.co.za/art=
icle/2012-02-02-implats-sacks-13-000-striking-workers">mg.co.za</A><BR></DI=
V>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>SATAWU PLANNED MARCH AGAINST METRORAIL CALLED OFF</B><BR>SA=
TAWU <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>2 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>The planned =
march on Friday 3, February, 2012 has been called off after the CCMA was =
granted Metrorail an Interim Court Interdict against any strike action or =
intention to strike by members of SATAWU. That being the case we can =
confirmed that all SATAWU Metrorail workers would be reporting for duty =
and continue to work as normal. <BR>We respect the court ruling and we =
call on all our members who work for Metrorail to do the same. There are =
serious problems within Metrorail and they will continue to be there =
unless they are addressed. SATAWU will continue to raise this issue in =
line with the given to us by our members. <BR>We expect our members to =
report on duty tomorrow. <BR>Issued by:<BR>SATAWU President<BR>Ephraim =
Mphahlele<BR>072 111 8131<BR></DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Pennyville residents protest over Absa eviction</B><BR>Mail=
 &amp; Guardian <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>1 February 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Angry=
 Pennyville residents staged a demonstration outside Absa buildings in =
Johannesburg on Wednesday, protesting against their eviction by the bank. =
<BR><BR>Those living in the Absa-owned flats in the mixed housing complex =
in Soweto have been served with an eviction notice for March, but the =
residents refuse to go down without a fight.<BR><BR>The protesters =
picketed and sang outside, while employees were stuck inside the Absa =
building in the Johannesburg city centre. Witnesses told the Mail &amp; =
Guardian the protest started after 10am and lasted little more than half =
an hour, when protesters were permitted through the doors to hand over a =
memorandum.<BR><BR>But it is unlikely to be the last Absa will hear from =
the Pennyville community.<BR><BR>Last year residents hit back against an =
eviction order they claimed was illegal. The New Age reported that when =
residents were evicted for non-payment of rent or bonds early last year, =
others participated in a rent boycott in protest against poor and =
hazardous living conditions and double billing for electricity.<BR><BR>A =
further eviction effort by the Red Ants in November resulted in only 10 =
residents being evicted out of the 50 scheduled, when the community =
resisted by barricading the building and surrounding streets.<BR><BR>Many =
residents facing eviction insisted they had paid their rentals consistently=
 and in full.<BR><BR>Absa told the M&amp;G that, following unsuccessful =
efforts to amicably resolve the non-payment matter with Pennyville =
residents, Diluculo Investments, Absa's division to finance commercial =
property, approached the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court to recover the =
arrear amounts involved.<BR><BR>"It is important to note that the eviction =
orders were obtained on legitimate grounds with all factors having been =
taken into account," the bank said. "Absa will always try to amicably =
resolve matters which pertain to our customers and will only resort to =
evictions as a last resort." <BR><BR>Absa said it received the memorandum =
from a group representing the community of Pennyville and that the matter =
is with their legal team. <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://mg.co.za/article/201=
2-02-01-pennyville-residents-protest-over-absa-eviction">mg.co.za</A><BR></=
DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>STUDENT PROTEST: EDGEWOOD CAMPUS</B><BR>COMMUNIQUE FROM =
THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CORPORATE RELATIONS <FONT size=3D2><SM=
ALL>1 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>Dear Colleagues and Students<BR>A =
number of students on the Edgewood Campus embarked on a protest<BR>yesterda=
y and this morning and attempted to disrupt the registration process =
of<BR>students that was in progress.<BR>The School of Education has the =
capacity to accommodate 650 students for the<BR>first year BEd programme. =
Due to the high demand for the programme with<BR>more than 14 000 =
applications, the School has made offers for admission to 900<BR>students. =
The required matric points for the BEd degree programme is within =
the<BR>range of the maximum points of 48 to the minimum of 24 points.<BR>Un=
fortunately due to limited resources, both in terms of infrastructure =
and<BR>academic staff, the School cannot further increase admission =
numbers into this<BR>programme. The cut-off point for the Bed degree is =
28.<BR>The Edgewood SRC have demanded that the School of Education admit =
18<BR>students who are outside the cut-off point.<BR>2<BR>Members of =
Executive Management, the College of Humanities and the School<BR>Managemen=
t engaged the SRC to try and resolve the impasse and to impress<BR>upon =
them the rules of the University and the penalties that we face when =
we<BR>enroll more students. Furthermore, the SRC were informed that our =
enrollment<BR>plan has been agreed to by Senate and is implemented =
according to the<BR>targets set by the Department of Higher Education and =
Training.<BR>The matter remains unresolved as the local SRC walked out of =
the meeting.<BR>Further discussions were held with the Central SRC and it =
has been agreed to<BR>meet today =E2=80=93 the meeting is still in =
progress.<BR>UKZN is serious about excellence and does not discriminate =
the schools that we<BR>recruit students from. It is important to note that =
all degrees have a limited<BR>number of spaces available. The best =
qualified applicants are chosen first and<BR>selection continues until the =
cut-off point has been reached and or all places<BR>have been filled. It =
is unlikely that students below the cut-off point are selected.<BR>It =
should also be noted that demand exceeds available places, and not =
all<BR>applicants meeting the requirements will be offered places.<BR>Regar=
ds<BR>Nomonde Mbadi<BR>Executive Director<BR>Corporate Relations<BR>Issued =
on behalf of Executive Management<BR></DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>NUM condemns Impala Platinum</B><BR>NUM <FONT size=3D2><SMA=
LL>1 February 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) =
is highly perturbed by the unpleasant situation at Impala Platinum in =
Rustenburg where over 25 000 workers had stayed away from duty. The NUM =
believes that Impala Platinum applies underhand tactics to incite workers =
into strike, obtain an interdict and fire them. This conclusion is =
informed by the fact that Impala reneged from an agreement it had with the =
NUM where it commited to further negotiations on other conditions of =
service and emphasised that it will not enter into talks which will have =
monetary implications. Contrary to that, the company went ahead and =
increased by 18% wages for miners excluding rockdrill operators and other =
categories, thus triggering the current illegal strike. Secondly, the NUM =
always applies for permission to conduct meetings with its members within =
the premises but the company has allowed people who do not work there to =
come and have several meetings with workers in the company premises. The =
NUM has raised the issue and appealed on the company to provide security =
for the over 23 000 members that want to go to work. Impala Platinum now =
refuses to meet the NUM, which is the sole representative of mineworkers =
at the operations and refuse to provide security. The company has opted to =
obtain interdict after the other.<BR><BR>The NUM is of the view that =
Impala Platinum CEO =E2=80=98s sudden departure and the strike are =
interlinked and suspect that the company intends to restructure its =
workforce. In pursuit of its restructuring, the company wishes to fire a =
whole lot of workers so it can persuade them to re-apply and reject some =
of them in line with its restructuring objectives.<BR><BR>The National =
Union of Mineworkers calls on the company to return itself to sanity and =
follow proper procedures if it is its intention to restructure. The NUM =
fears that the volatile situation within Impala may lead to violence as =
those who want to go to work may eventually confront those who prevent =
them from doing so.<BR><BR>Lesiba Seshoka- (NUM National Spokesman)- 082 =
803 6719<BR>011 377 2047<BR></DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>3 wounded in protest</B><BR>IOL News <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>=
31 January 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>Three people were wounded, 10 arrested, =
and two police vans damaged during a service delivery protest in Ngcobo, =
Eastern Cape police said on Tuesday. <BR><BR>About 500 people barricaded =
Mgwali Road with stones and burning tyres on Monday, Lieutenant-Colonel =
Mzukisi Fatyela said. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThey uprooted road signs in a =
protest against a lack of electricity and houses. When police arrived the =
protesters threw stones at their vehicles severely damaging two vans in =
the process.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>The officers fired rubber bullets to =
disperse the residents and arrested 10 people. Fatyela said the situation =
was calm on Tuesday morning but police were still patrolling the area. =
<BR><BR>Three people were taken to a local hospital with rubber bullet =
injuries. Those arrested were expected to face charges of public violence =
and malicious damage to property in the Ngcobo Magistrate's Court on =
Wednesday. <BR><BR>The Chris Hani district municipality, under which =
Ngcobo fell, was not immediately available for comment. =E2=80=93 Sapa =
<BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/3-wounded-in-p=
rotest-1.1224262">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Blikkiesdorp residents fed up</B><BR>NATASHA BEZUIDENHOUT =
(IOL News) <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>31 January 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>A group =
of Blikkiesdorp residents set tyres alight and barricaded parts of =
Symphony Way in protest over inadequate housing on Monday. <BR><BR>Police =
tried to disperse the crowd, but they demanded to see their ward councillor=
. <BR><BR>On Tuesday morning at least three metro police vehicles were =
patrolling the area, which had calmed down after Monday night. <BR><BR>Resi=
dents say they are fed up with their living conditions. <BR><BR>Jacqueline =
Hendricks said she would fight to get a house of her own. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9C=
Some people have been on a housing waiting list for 29 years. We are tired =
of it and will fight for our houses.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Anther resident, =
Ricardo Joshua, said people were frustrated and sick and tired of living =
in Blikkiesdorp. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThey are just dumping people here. =
(Premier Helen) Zille designed Blikkiesdorp and put up more shacks. When =
are we going to get out?=E2=80=9D he asked. <BR><BR>Faldelah Damons said =
the city made promises, but nothing was ever done. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CEnough =
is enough. Children are warned by gang members and we don=E2=80=99t want =
violence. We don=E2=80=99t want to live in blikkies anymore.=E2=80=9D =
<BR><BR>Shamiela Jassien said they lived in disgusting conditions. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThe toilets are disgusting and women have so many =
infections. We come here healthy and people leave here in a coffin. =
Blikkiesdorp is a health risk.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Another resident said =
drains were blocked. <BR><BR>Marshell Wolhuter said: =E2=80=9C <BR><BR>Crim=
e is getting worse and children are becoming ill.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>Shameeg =
Damons said he had been living in the settlement for almost five years. =
=E2=80=9CI have been on a housing waiting list for 10 years already.=E2=80=
=9D <BR><BR>Ward 106 councillor Khayalethu Makeleni said he had held a =
meeting with residents. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CA committee from the community =
handed me a memorandum addressing all the issues last week. <BR><BR>=E2=80=
=9CI will respond to the memorandum this weekend, after my meeting with =
the city council,=E2=80=9D he said. <BR>natasha.bezuidenhout at inl.co.za - =
Cape Argus <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/wes=
tern-cape/blikkiesdorp-residents-fed-up-1.1224196">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></D=
IV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Ficksburg protesters to be tried</B><BR>IOL news <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>31 January 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>The State will press ahead =
with public violence charges against 15 Ficksburg residents who demonstrate=
d alongside slain protester Andries Tatane, an official said on Tuesday. =
<BR><BR>Free State National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Medupe =
Simasiku said the director of public prosecutions in the Free State had =
decided to prosecute in the matter. The group appeared in court on Monday. =
<BR><BR>The case was postponed to February 10 for the group members to =
arrange legal representation. <BR><BR>The 15 were among a group of more =
than 40 people arrested during protests after a service delivery march in =
April 2011 in Ficksburg. Charges were withdrawn against the others. =
<BR><BR>The group was arrested in Meqheleng during the protest where =
resident Andries Tatane was killed, allegedly by public order police. =
Video footage showed riot police beating Tatane during the march to the =
Setsoto municipal offices in Ficksburg. Over several days, roads were =
blocked with stones and bricks, and tyres set alight. <BR><BR>The =
Independent Complaints Directorate was handling the investigation into =
Tatane's murder. <BR><BR>Two policemen were charged with murder and =
another six faced charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily =
harm. The eight policemen's case would be heard in the Ficksburg Regional =
Court over four days from April 23. =E2=80=93 Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"ht=
tp://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/ficksburg-protesters-to-be-tried-1.122=
4035">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Rival factions face off at ET murder trial</B><BR>OMPHITLHE=
TSE MOOKI (IOL News) <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>31 January 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>S=
upporters of slain right-wing leader Eugene Terre=E2=80=99Blanche and his =
alleged killers antagonised each other by singing emotionally charged =
songs outside the court on Monday. <BR><BR>Police had to be called in to =
defuse the situation as tensions flared near the Ventersdorp High Court, =
where Chris Mahlangu and a teenager are on trial. <BR><BR>Dressed in =
camouflage, a small group of AWB members descended on the small North West =
town at about 8am. <BR><BR>They set up a gazebo, stuck posters on tree =
trunks and hoisted their flags atop their 4x4 vehicles. <BR><BR>They =
braaied boerewors and sang Afrikaans songs like Bok van Blerk=E2=80=99s De =
la Rey, which blared from loudspeakers. The situation threatened to turn =
nasty when the song Bobbejaan Klim die Berg (baboon climbs the mountain) =
started playing. <BR><BR>Tshing residents took offence and retaliated by =
singing President Jacob Zuma=E2=80=99s favourite song, Umshini Wam (bring =
me my machinegun). <BR><BR>A clash between the two groups threatened, and =
police stepped in. <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-co=
urts/rival-factions-face-off-at-et-murder-trial-1.1223853">www.iol.co.za</A=
><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Implats: Rustenburg mine still shut</B><BR>Business =
Report<FONT size=3D2><SMALL>30 January 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>South African =
miner Impala Platinum said on Monday its Rustenburg operations remained =
shut after the majority of workers staging an illegal strike over wages =
failed to return to work. <BR><BR>Implats said it had been granted a =
further court order declaring the strike illegal. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThe =
failure of the workforce to report for work this morning is due to an =
alternative union ... who have, despite no formal process in place, =
attempted to gain recognition at the Rustenburg operation,=E2=80=9D it =
said in a statement. <BR><BR>About 5,000 drill operators downed tools on =
January 20. The company dismissed them after the stoppage was declared =
illegal. The workers have been told to reapply for their positions. - =
Reuters<BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/business/companies/implat=
s-rustenburg-mine-still-shut-1.1223433">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Residents march over =E2=80=98killer cop=E2=80=99</B><BR>Ku=
tlwano Olifant <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>30 January 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>As the =
police celebrated National Police Day in central Joburg, hundreds of =
residents of Soweto marched to demand the suspension of a cop charged with =
murder. <BR><BR>The piercing sound of vuvuzelas echoed through the streets =
as residents of Nomzamo marched to the Orlando police station in protest =
against the non-suspension of Constable Ndivhoneni Malele. <BR><BR>Malele =
allegedly shot and killed Thamsanqa Samane-Radebe two weeks ago after =
Samane-Radebe had told him to =E2=80=9Cvoertsek=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>The =
killing happened while the police were trying to enter Radebe=E2=80=99s =
shack at about midnight. <BR><BR>Samane-Radebe had apparently been =
irritated by the loud knocks when he uttered the word =E2=80=9Cvoertsek=E2=
=80=9D, according to his cousin Mzuvukile. <BR><BR>Mzuvukile said Malele =
had shot Radebe despite him (Mzuvukile) apologising. He added that Malele =
then pepper-sprayed Samane-Radebe in the face. <BR><BR>Malele was arrested =
five days later and appeared in court on the same day. He was granted bail =
on the same day and resumed duty the following day =E2=80=93 a decision =
that has outraged Nomzamo residents. <BR><BR>On Friday, they called for =
his suspension. <BR><BR>Young and old sang and danced outside the police =
station as a memorandum was handed over. The residents were joined by =
Orlando ward councillor Sechaba Khumalo and his predecessor Ruby Matang. =
<BR><BR>In the memorandum, residents complained about the =E2=80=9Cunfair=
=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Clenient=E2=80=9D ruling that saw Malele being =
released on R1 000 bail. <BR><BR>Police spokesman Warrant Officer Bongani =
Mhlongo said the station commander was still awaiting feedback from the =
Gauteng provincial office regarding Malele=E2=80=99s suspension. - The =
Star <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/residents=
-march-over-killer-cop-1.1223136">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>AWB supporters outside ET trial</B><BR>IOL News<FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>30 January 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>A small group of Afrikaner =
Weerstandsbeweging supporters were gathered outside the High Court in =
Ventersdorp on Monday morning. <BR><BR>The group, dressed in camouflage =
uniforms, were awaiting the resumption of the trial of two farmworkers for =
the murder of rightwing leader Eugene Terre'Blanche. <BR><BR>Cars were =
draped in AWB regalia and flags and the group played Afrikaans music =
including the controversial song De La Ray. <BR><BR>The case was postponed =
in October last year. <BR><BR>Chris Mahlangu and a minor are accused of =
beating and hacking the former AWB leader to death in his farmhouse in =
North West in April 2010. <BR><BR>Both have pleaded not guilty to murder, =
housebreaking, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. <BR><BR>Mahlangu=
 claims he acted in self defence. The teenager has denied involvement in =
the crime. - Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-afr=
ica/north-west/awb-supporters-outside-et-trial-1.1222878">www.iol.co.za</A>=
<BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Occupy Rondebosch: Charges against protesters withdrawn</B>=
<BR>Mail &amp; Guardian <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>30 January 2011 </SMALL><BR><=
BR>Public violence charges against 41 Cape Town protesters have been =
withdrawn following their arrest on Friday, when police dispersed an =
unsanctioned protest being held on Rondesbosch Common. <BR><BR>The 41 =
demonstrators group appeared in the Wynberg magistrate's court on Monday =
morning, after they were arrested last week while taking part in what was =
deemed by authorities to be an illegal protest, but described by organisers=
 as a "summit" on land, jobs, housing and other issues pertinent to Cape =
Town's poor. <BR><BR>To underscore their issues, participants had decided =
to meet at Rondebosch Common, a public space they said was seen to be the =
exclusive property of a moneyed and predominantly white elite of the =
southern suburbs.<BR><BR>The protest itself emerged from encounters =
between several grassroots organisations, including Proudly Mannenberg. =
The protesters, unlike in previous Occupy South Africa protests, which had =
been criticised for being attended mostly by white, middle-class demonstrat=
ors, were mostly black and coloured, and from working class backgrounds.<BR=
><BR>Police had been waiting along the route, for the protesters who were =
marching to the Common from as far away as Athlone, Mitchells Plain and =
Kraaifontein.<BR><BR>A total of 41 protesters -- of whom 26 were women -- =
were jailed, including organiser Mario Wanza, who was arrested at around =
10am while still in Mannenberg. All were released soon afterwards -- =
except Wanza, who had previously been singled out as an instigator by Cape =
Town mayor Patricia de Lille, and remained in jail until his Monday =
morning court appearance.<BR><BR>At the common itself, protesters were =
significantly outnumbered by a police presence of about 200 officers, who =
used water cannons loaded with blue dye to disperse the gathering. When =
protester Niall Reddy questioned the police about which law was being =
violated, police cited a court order, but were apparently unable to =
produce any documentation. <BR><BR>According to the Freedom of Expression =
Institute's Na'eem Jeenah, the Democratic Alliance-run Cape Town has a =
history of denying citizens the right to assemble. <BR><BR>Christopher =
McMichael, who has written on both the DA's response to dissent and =
"securitisation" in the country, said the Cape Town authorities' actions =
were "indicative of the police response to the Occupy phenomenon throughout=
 the world". <BR><BR>"They have shown how they can keep up with the 'world =
class' standard set in Oakland or New York," said McMichael. "The response =
was based upon a militarised outlook of pre-emption."<BR><BR>Jane Duncan =
of the Rhodes University Journalism and Media Studies department said that =
such attitudes towards public gatherings were not exclusive to a single =
party: "It has become patently obvious that local authorities are =
manipulating the RGA [Regulations of Gatherings Act] to frustrate =
gatherings, rather than enable them, and that this cuts across ANC and =
DA-controlled municipalities". <BR><BR><B>'Agents of division'</B><BR>While=
 supporters of the protest argued that their meeting posed no threat to =
public safety, the city had declared the movement a threat.<BR><BR>De =
Lille described the protesters as "agents of division" and singled out =
Wanza, as someone who will "act destructively, who will undo the good work =
of others to pursue selfish political motives", describing him as a =
"would-be but failed public servant who claims to speak on behalf of the =
people of the Cape Flats".<BR><BR>De Lille further claimed that Wanza was =
allied to her former mayoral rival in last year's municipal election, =
councillor Tony Ehrenreich. Ehrenreich, who also leads Cosatu in the =
province, later showed up at the protest offering to help to those =
arrested, before being shouted down by angry protesters who claimed he was =
attempting to hijack the protest on behalf of Cosatu and its alliance =
partner, the ANC.<BR><BR>According to protesters, neither Cosatu nor =
Ehrenreich was involved until he showed up on the day of the protest. =
Organisers had decided not to back any particular political party. =
<BR><BR><B>'Excessive force'</B><BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.youtube.co=
m/watch?v=3DjqQ_bmszt5c&amp;context=3DC31008b2ADOEgsToPDskLrJ-paX8YUN1qZX7e=
PVqPS">Video footage</A> purports to show the police employing excessive =
force in their handling of several female protesters.<BR><BR>Richard =
October, a Cape Town-based community activist and member of Occupy Cape =
Town was among those taken into custody: "I got arrested when four big =
policemen were being brutal to a 19-year-old girl, I confronted them about =
their excessive behavior and they arrested me."<BR><BR>Fiery Khayelitsha =
pastor Xola Skonsana claimed that he had "escaped imprisonment by the skin =
of my teeth, saved by the clerical shirt and the religious look ... they =
sprayed some blue substance on our clothes, I'm tempted to say that's DA =
Blood."<BR><BR>Organisers of the protest said they would lodge a complaint =
with the South African Human Rights Commission on Monday, claiming that =
the city's show of force was "overkill" and "illegal". -- Additional =
reporting by Sapa <BR>Benjamin Fogel is a freelance writer, he can be =
contacted at benfogel at hotmail.com<BR><A href=3D"http://mg.co.za/article/201=
2-01-30-charges-against-occupy-rondebosch-protesters-withdrawn">mg.co.za</A=
><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Outrage over arrests on Rondebosch Common</B><BR>Babalo =
Ndenze (IOL News) <FONT size=3D2><SMALL>30 January 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>A =
storm has erupted after protest action at Rondebosch Common, with =
organisers planning to lodge a complaint with the SA Human Rights =
Commission, claiming the city=E2=80=99s show of force was =E2=80=9Coverkill=
=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cillegal=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>About 40 protesters, =
including chief organiser Mario Wanza, were arrested during a demonstration=
 by campaigners who had not obtained permission to protest. Police, who =
outnumbered protesters, sprayed blue dye on the crowd to disperse them on =
Friday. <BR><BR>Organisers said Wanza remained behind bars at Manenberg =
police station over the weekend ahead of his court appearance in Athlone =
on Monday. Other protesters were released and are to appear in court on =
Monday. <BR><BR>Police would not confirm or comment on Wanza=E2=80=99s =
incarceration but defended the use of force. <BR><BR>The City of Cape Town =
said the actions on Friday were the police=E2=80=99s decision and =
responsibility. Speaking on behalf of mayor Patricia De Lille, mayoral =
committee member Grant Pascoe said arrests were not carried out on her =
instructions. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9COur guys were there as back-up. It=E2=80=99s=
 difficult to say why SAPS reacted the way they did. But in this instance =
Wanza failed to meet the requirements of the Gatherings Act. But I want to =
categorically state that (De Lille) said our law enforcement guys must not =
act heavy-handedly. (The) mayor said =E2=80=98no physicality=E2=80=99,=E2=
=80=9D said Pascoe. <BR><BR>The defiant group plans a second week of =
protest action, with a =E2=80=9Crenaming=E2=80=9D of the open space this =
weekend. <BR><BR>Occupy Rondebosch Common claims to have the backing of =
the SA Council of Churches, Cosatu, the SA NGO Coalition and the Institute =
for the Restoration of Aborigines of SA. <BR><BR>Organisers are reprinting =
UDF banners in a bid to revive the mass anti-apartheid organisation of the =
1980s. <BR><BR>On Sunday, one of the organisers, Richard October, accused =
De Lille of having a hand in Wanza=E2=80=99s incarceration and for =
=E2=80=9Cpersonalising=E2=80=9D the campaign. <BR><BR>Saying the group =
would approach the HRC on Monday, October said: =E2=80=9COne person is =
still under arrest and that=E2=80=99s (Wanza). From what we understand it =
is De Lille who is personalising this matter and making it about =
Wanza.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>October said the SAPS and metro police contingent =
and the arrests were =E2=80=9Coverkill=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>De Lille singled =
out Wanza during her speech at last week=E2=80=99s council meeting and =
dedicated a large part of her weekly newsletter to him, branding him and =
his supporters =E2=80=9Cagents of destruction=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>De Lille =
wrote that occupations, illegal actions and invasions were all =E2=80=9Csid=
e-paths. But they lead nowhere. All that remains at the end of these short =
diversions is more pain, suffering, conflict and violence. And when we =
descend there, we will forget where we were going, forever.=E2=80=9D =
<BR><BR>SAPS spokesman Andre Traut told the Cape Times: =E2=80=9CThe march =
was illegal. They had no permission and the South African police cannot =
tolerate lawlessness.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>He said 26 females and 14 males =
were arrested. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThey did not adhere to the instruction to =
disperse and that=E2=80=99s why they were arrested,=E2=80=9D said Traut, =
who refused to disclose how many police were at the scene. Weekend reports =
stated that there were =E2=80=9Chundreds=E2=80=9D of police officers and =
six Casspirs. <BR><BR>Jared Sacks of Communities for Change claimed that =
police acted in contravention of the Gatherings Act. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe =
will come back to the common next Sunday for a renaming ceremony and we =
will occupy District Six and golf courses,=E2=80=9D Sacks said, adding =
that they didn=E2=80=99t need permission to conduct a renaming ceremony on =
open space. <BR><BR>Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said there =
would be =E2=80=9Cwar=E2=80=9D on the common. =E2=80=9CPolice stopped =
people at many points and some from boarding trains. But Cosatu filed an =
application on Friday for a protest on the common on Saturday.=E2=80=9D =
Organisers would call on =E2=80=9Call white communities to join us=E2=80=9D=
. <BR><BR>SAHRC spokesman Vincent Moaga could not be reached for comment. =
- Cape Times <BR></FONT><A href=3D"mailto:babalo.ndenze at inl.co.za">babalo.n=
denze at inl.co.za</A> <BR><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/outra=
ge-over-arrests-on-rondebosch-common-1.1223023"></A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Rondebosch common protesters in court</B><BR>IOL News =
<FONT size=3D2><SMALL>30 January 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>A backyarder group, =
who had their protest on Rondesbosch Common in Cape Town dispersed by the =
police last week, are due to appear in court on Monday. <BR><BR>The 41 =
Mandela Park Backyarders demonstrators will appear in the Wynberg =
Magistrate's Court on charges of public violence. <BR><BR>Cape Town mayor =
Patricia de Dille had promised to down come hard on the group if their =
protest went ahead. <BR><BR>Organisers of the protest said they would =
lodge a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission, claiming that the =
city=E2=80=99s show of force was =E2=80=9Coverkill=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cil=
legal=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe were with the help of some dedicated =
lawyers, able to secure the release of 41 of the people arrested,=E2=80=9D =
the group said in a statement. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThe police are still =
refusing to release one protester however, possibly because Patricia de =
Lille has been gunning for him.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>According to the Cape =
Times newspaper, the police, who outnumbered the small group of protesters,=
 sprayed blue dye on the crowd to disperse them. The group had not =
obtained permission to protest. <BR><BR>According to the organisers, Mario =
Wanza, leader of the backyarder group, remained behind bars at Manenberg =
police station over the weekend ahead of his court appearance in Athlone =
on Monday. <BR><BR>Mayoral committee member Grant Pascoe said the police =
dealt with matters of public order and the arrests were not carried out on =
De Lille=E2=80=99s instructions. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9COur guys were there as =
back-up,=E2=80=9D he told the Cape Times. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CIt=E2=80=99s =
difficult to say why SAPS reacted the way they did. But in this instance, =
Wanza failed to meet the requirements of the Gatherings Act,=E2=80=9D =
Pascoe said. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CBut I want to categorically state that (De =
Lille) said our law enforcement guys must not act heavy handedly. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9C(The) mayor said =E2=80=98no physicality=E2=80=99,=E2=80=
=9D Pascoe said. <BR><BR>One of the Mandela Park Backyarders' organisers, =
Richard October, said the group would approach the HRC today. <BR><BR>=E2=
=80=9COne person is still under arrest and that=E2=80=99s (Wanza). From =
what we understand, it is De Lille who is personalising this matter and =
making it about Wanza,=E2=80=9D he said. =E2=80=93 Sapa <BR></FONT><A =
href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/rondebosch-common-protesters=
-in-court-1.1222880">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Battle of the Common</B><BR>Junior Bester (IOL News) <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>28 January 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>A usually peaceful =
Rondebosch Common was turned into a war zone on Friday as protesters, =
outnumbered by a huge police contingent, were sprayed with blue dye, =
arrested and thrown into the back of police vans. <BR><BR>With many still =
behind bars at the time of going to press on Friday night, they were, =
however, undeterred =E2=80=93 and warned that Mowbray Golf Club would be =
next. <BR><BR>Earlier this week mayor Patricia de Lille branded Occupy =
Rondebosch Common organiser Mario Wanza and his supporters =E2=80=9Cagents =
of destruction=E2=80=9D. And she had the police out in force from early on =
Friday in a bid to stop the marchers before they got anywhere near =
Rondebosch. <BR><BR>Wanza was himself arrested by police in Manenberg =
early in the day. But, said Farouk Davids, a protester who was with him at =
the time, he urged the others to continue. <BR><BR>The original plan was =
to march from various Cape Flats areas such as Mitchells Plain, Manenberg =
and Hanover Park, gathering at about 2pm at Athlone Stadium and then =
proceeding to the Common. <BR><BR>The protesters had warned they would =
=E2=80=9Creclaim our right to the city=E2=80=9D, occupying the Common to =
raise awareness about the lack of housing and jobs. <BR><BR>When they =
arrived at the stadium on Friday, a police function was under way, so they =
continued on the road to Rondebosch =E2=80=93 to be met by a blockade of =
police who fired water cannons filled with blue dye before any of the =
group of just less than 40 people even made it off the pavement. <BR><BR>Sc=
enes of chaos followed as police arrested the group, throwing people into =
the back of police vans, Casspirs and even a police minibus. They were =
taken to police stations at Mowbray, Claremont and Rondebosch. <BR><BR>Late=
 on Friday night police spokesman Lieutenant Andre Traut said they would =
appear in court soon. <BR><BR>Amelia September, of Proudly Manenberg, said =
their initial plan to occupy the Common was changed on Wednesday =E2=80=9Ct=
o show police that we were going to be peaceful=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9C=
We were going to march to the Common to raise awareness and make authoritie=
s aware that we are now pursuing other ways to make ourselves heard.=E2=80=
=9D <BR><BR>Traut was adamant, however, that the event was illegal and =
said the organisers had not followed procedures. =E2=80=9CPolice had to =
act swiftly as lawlessness will not be tolerated anywhere,=E2=80=9D he =
said. <BR><BR>Grant Pascoe, mayoral committee member for tourism, events =
and marketing, said on Friday night he was was also unaware of any change =
in the protester=E2=80=99s plan to occupy the Common. He added that the =
city had always intended respecting their right to protest. <BR><BR>=E2=80=
=9CThe unfortunate thing is that they are trying to address the issue of =
housing, which we are also concerned about,=E2=80=9D said Pascoe. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe would love them to come and discuss it with us through =
community forums and various other channels. We do not want to see people =
resorting to illegal activities as we have seen today,=E2=80=9D Pascoe =
said, adding that the city wanted to help people by working with them, =
=E2=80=9Cthrough the community=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>But Jared Sacks, of =
Communities for Social Change which was helping drive the protest, warned =
they would =E2=80=9Cnot be deterred=E2=80=9D. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe will =
occupy every golf course, we will occupy every piece of vacant land until =
both the DA and ANC governments listen to the people instead of the =
corrupt business people and big corporates who fund their election =
campaigns, and dictate land, economic and fiscal policy,=E2=80=9D he said. =
<BR><BR>He even ended in a slanging match with Cosatu=E2=80=99s Tony =
Ehrenreich, leader of the ANC in the city council, who was among the =
protesters. <BR><BR>Ehrenreich condemned the police=E2=80=99s decision to =
use force on the crowd, accusing local government of failing the community.=
 <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThe police=E2=80=99s reaction was inappropriate. I am =
not sure if it is because black people cannot come and protest on the =
Common.=E2=80=9D <BR><BR>He revealed, too, that Cosatu had already applied =
to gather on the Common next Saturday. He promised that 1 000 protesters =
would be present. <BR><BR>Daniel Ras, from the Mitchells Plain Forum, =
added his voice to the anger. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CHow can this amount of =
force be available for a peaceful march?=E2=80=9D he asked. =E2=80=9CWhy =
do police not implement this much manpower to come and sweep crime off the =
streets of our communities?=E2=80=9D - Weekend Argus <BR></FONT><A =
href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/battle-of-the-common-1.12223=
50">www.iol.co.za</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>PRESS STATEMENT: RELEASE ALL ARRESTED FOR OCCUPYING =
RONDEBOSCH COMMON</B> <BR>DEMOCRATIC LEFT FRONT (WESTERN CAPE)<BR><FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>27 January 2012</SMALL><BR><BR>The Democratic Left Front =
(DLF) in the Western Cape calls for the immediate release and dropping of =
all charges against tens of activists arrested in today=E2=80=99s march =
to, and occupation of the Rondebosch Common. Many were arrested outside =
the Red Cross Children=E2=80=99s Hospital in a clear attempt to stop them =
from reaching the Rondebosch Common. We condemn the SA Police Services for =
their anti-democratic action. <BR><BR>As Khayelitsha=E2=80=99s Pastor Xola =
Skosana said from the march: =E2=80=9CI have escaped imprisonment by the =
skin of my teeth, saved by the clerical shirt and the religious look, I =
guess. They sprayed some blue substance on our clothes, tempted to say =
that's DA Blood. Most of our people were manhandled and thrown into police =
vans. I have never seen so many police. Now I know you don't mess with =
stolen white property, DA and ANC police will crush you! Watch the news, =
the writing is on the wall. I salute the mothers and young girls from =
Mitchell=E2=80=99s Plein who looked the men in blue and dared them to =
arrest them. Everything was blue, it's truly DA land". <BR><BR>The DLF =
condemns the City of Cape Town and the provincial government for their use =
of the police to stop mass action against their anti-poor policies, and to =
suppress dissent and maintain social control. This naked attack on the =
freedom of assembly has been preceded by sustained political attacks by =
Patricia De Lille (the Mayor of Cape Town), Helen Zille (the Premier of =
the Western Cape) and the Democratic Alliance on individual organisers of =
the Occupy Rondebosch Common movement. The individualised attacks and =
today=E2=80=99s arrests are a direct attack on the interests and rights of =
poor and working people. <BR><BR>We call on all poor and working people, =
people=E2=80=99s organisations and other progressive forces in Cape Town =
to use the moment of the Occupy Rondebosch Common to intensify unfolding =
people=E2=80=99s struggles to push back neo-liberalism, and anti-poor =
policies of the City of Cape Town, the provincial government and the =
national government. Clearly, all these governments are promoting =
post-apartheid capitalism which is leaving a trail of hunger, poverty, =
anger and misery. Politicians and the government they lead protect the =
wealthy elite who refuse to concede a single inch to the urgent needs of =
the majority. <BR><BR>FOR COMMENTS, CONTACT: <BR>Mazibuko K. Jara =
=E2=80=93 083 651 0271 <BR>Thembi Luckett =E2=80=93 082 909 3203 <BR>Yushra=
 Adams =E2=80=93 083 404 1279 <BR>Website =E2=80=93 <AHREF=3D"HTTP: =
www.democraticleft.za.net?>
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<DIV><BR><BR><B>Lottery protesters demand answers</B><BR>IOL News <FONT =
size=3D2><SMALL>27 January 2012</SMALL> <BR><BR>More than 400 protesters =
from several NPOs marched to the National Lotteries Board (NLB) offices in =
Arcadia, Pretoria.<BR><BR>Funding from the National Lotteries Board (NLB) =
is inconsistent and unreliable making it impossible for non-profit =
organisations to budget or plan, a spokesman for an NPO said on Friday, =
January 27, 2012. <BR><BR>More than 400 protesters from several NPOs were =
marching on the NLB in Arcadia near Pretoria on Friday morning to hand =
over a memorandum protesting at the way the board allocated grants and its =
lack of transparency. <BR><BR>Germaine Vogel, advocacy manager for Women =
and Men against Child Abuse, said the NLB was reluctant to release funds =
and offered no clarity on how to apply for a grant. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CThis =
is public money that is supposed to be handed over to NPOs rendering the =
bulk of essential social services, which are mostly statutory in nature, =
like child protection services,=E2=80=9D Vogel said. <BR><BR>The protesters=
 are claiming that suspended ANC youth league leader Julius Malema was =
given a NLB allocation for a function just two weeks after he applied. =
<BR><BR>=E2=80=9CQuite frankly we have had enough,=E2=80=9D said Vogel. =
<BR><BR>The protesters set off around 10am led by a police vehicle as they =
marched along Arcadia Street to Hatfield Gardens where the NLB is housed =
across the road from the Canadian High Commission. <BR><BR>At the closed =
entrance, manned by security guards, the protesters burst into a chorus of =
=E2=80=9CWe want the money=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9CAwulethi imali yami=E2=80=
=9D songs and chants, blowing vuvuzelas. <BR><BR>=E2=80=9CWe are going =
there not to throw any stones or burn any cars. This is a peaceful =
march,=E2=80=9D Sandra Miller, march organiser, told the crowd. <BR><BR>=E2=
=80=9CLet's go there in unity and make a statement; this is a worthy =
cause,=E2=80=9D she said. <BR><BR>Some placards read, =E2=80=9CLotto le =
utswetsa bahloki=E2=80=9D; Shame on National Lotteries Board=E2=80=9D; =
Moenie steel deel!=E2=80=9D And =E2=80=9CHelp the poorest=E2=80=9D. =
<BR><BR>A memorandum was expected to be handed to the NLB representatives. =
<BR><BR>The NLB is expected to hold a media conference in response later =
on Friday. - Sapa <BR></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-afr=
ica/lottery-protesters-demand-answers-1.1221992">www.iol.co.za</A><BR>&nbsp=
;&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></FONT></DIV><BR>

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