How to Get Off the Sofa and Sing Like a Professional (Opera) Singer is by the author, broadcaster and singer Robert Little. Robert says: “It’s now some time since I decided I wanted to learn how to sing. It took me about ten years to pluck up the courage and find the opportunity to begin…
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British furniture designer, William Garvey, celebrates handmade quality design and presents a kitchen portfolio like no other. Complete with inspirational and bespoke wooden furniture for the kitchen, William Garvey’s collection ranges from standard and bespoke wood sinks through to an all-wood, tailored kitchen interior. For the height of luxury, opt for a bespoke freestanding kitchen [...]Kitchens like no other is a post from:


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Business has welcomed President Jacob Zuma’s sixth State of the Nation Address (SONA). “Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) is pleased at the...

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The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has welcomed President Jacob Zuma’s announcement that more schools are to be built to replace mud schools and those made from unsuitable structures.

In his sixth State of the Nation Address on Thursday evening, Zuma said new schools were being built in partnership with the Basic Education Department and the private sector through the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery (ASIDI).

To date, 370 new schools have been delivered throughout the country.

Sadtu General Secretary Mugwena Maluleke told SAnews that more schools were needed especially in the rural areas.

“We welcome the announcement by the President that more schools are to be built. We are pleased that there is now progress being made,” he said.

Mugwena said more focus should be placed on provinces like Limpopo as this was where more schools were needed.

He said it was difficult to teach children under trees and was something that should not be happening in a democratic country.

The ASIDI programme forms part of government’s Strategic Infrastructure Projects – under SIP 13, which involves the rebuilding of schools. It also addresses basic services backlogs and the provision of water and electricity at schools.

The programme is in full swing in the Eastern Cape were towards the end of last year, a new school was being handed over at least every week.

Touching on other developments in education during his address last night, Zuma said eight million children were now exempted from paying school fees and nine million children were getting food at school under the National School Nutrition Programme.

Zuma said government had been investing in teacher training and would be re-opening teacher training colleges to meet the demand of learners.

He added that the number of children attending Grade R had more than doubled, moving from about 300 thousand to more than 700 thousand between 2003 and 2011. – SAnews.gov.za

East London – Wind and solar-generated power will form the backbone of a provincial government programme to provide disadvantaged people in rural Eastern Cape with electricity. Provincial Local Government and Traditional Affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the Eastern Cape government will work with Eskom to provide these areas with free non-grid electricity (electricity that isn’t [...]
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Government has set a target to enrol at least 4.6 million people on its national Anti-Retroviral (ARV) programme.

President Jacob Zuma made the announcement while delivering the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) under the current administration, in Parliament, on Thursday.

He highlighted the milestones made by the country’s ARV programme, including the sharp decline in the mother-to-child HIV transmission rate.

South Africa has doubled the number of people who are receiving anti-retroviral treatment, from one million to 2.4 million people in 2013.

More than 20 million South Africans have taken the HIV test since the launch of the HIV, Counselling and Testing (HCT) in 2010. This, the President said, indicates confidence in the health system.

Zuma said the turnaround in the HIV and AIDS programme was one of the biggest achievements of this administration, and the country was being used as a model by the United Nations Aids Programmes (UNAIDS).

“Life expectancy is now firmly on an upward trend. South Africans are now living longer. We acknowledge the contribution of the South African National Aids Council for the hard work.

“While celebrating our success, we must not be complacent. The prevention work must still continue so that we can reach that goal of zero HIV infections sooner,” Zuma said.

The President noted that the country would soon enter a new phase in the implementation of the National Health Insurance programme, which will extend quality healthcare to the poor.

Other improvements over the past five years include 300 new health facilities, which have been built, including 160 new clinics.

“Ten new hospitals have been built or refurbished in Ladybrand, Germiston, Mamelodi, Natalspruit, eThekwini, Zola, Bojanala, Vryburg District, Swartruggens, Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain,” Zuma said, naming a few. – SAnews.gov.za

From traditional African attire to the latest high-end designer wear, the opening of Parliament is a glitzy affair this year.

President Jacob Zuma will deliver his 6th State of the Nation Address in just over an hour.

The red carpet, leading up to the National Assembly in the parliamentary precinct, has been transformed into a runway with Members of Parliament, dignitaries and invited guests showing off their outfits.

They are dressed by the country’s most accomplished designers, including David Tlale and Khensani Mangani of Stoned Cheri.

Dali Tambo and his wife Rachel smiled and posed for a few pictures as photographers hustled to get the best image of the famous couple. He was wearing a black suite and Rachel adorned a green and turquoise Africa-inspired dress with a matching fascinator.

Deputy International Relations Minister Marius Fransman arrived wearing a black suite and a silver tie and his partner wore a fitted lilac dress, while International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabanelooked stunning in a blue fitted dress.

For his part, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba took a leap of faith and flew the flag high for SAA, as he came dashingly attired in a flight captain's uniform, in demonstration of his support for State Owned Enterprises.

The late former President Nelson Mandela’s eldest grandson Mandla Mandela and his wife Nodiyala were dressed in their finest royal traditional Xhosa attire.

Madiba’s former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was dressed in a black dress suite with lace detail.

Valentine’s Day also seemed to have left an imprint on the day’s fashion with many dressed in pink and red. – SAnews.gov.za

Businesses around the Parliamentary precinct have been profiting throughout this week, ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to be...

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Minister in the Presidency: National Planning Commission, Trevor Manuel, has inaugurated the new Statistics Council that will serve for a period of three years.

The council, said Statistics SA, is appointed in terms of Section 8 of the Statistics Act. The council will advise the Minister or the Statistician General and may also advise an organ of state that produces statistics on matters referred to the council by the Minister.

Ian Assam; Faldie Esau; Prof Jacky Galpin; Prof Maseka Lesaoana and Dr Khangelani Zuma were reappointed to the council. They will be joined by Kenneth Brown; Prof Philippe Burger; Dr Rashad Classism; Dr Jaya Josie; Ettienne le Roux; Prof John Luiz; Prof Julian May; Dr Ariane Neethling and Prof Sarah Radloff.

The provinces will be represented on the council by Prof Daniel Plaatjies; Monde Nkasawe; Glen Robbins; Zeenat Ishmail; Mveli Maphanga; Lizell Henney and Prof David Everatt.

Manuel said the council needs to guide the Minister and the Statistician-General on the components of a complete and relevant set of statistics in a developing country, and what the data sources should be.

He further thanked the members for taking on the challenges that come with shaping the development of the country through numbers.

Former Chairperson Howard Gabriels handed over his end of term report and highlighted the key issues that were dealt with during the term. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Labour has denied claims by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) that it intends to deregister the union.

The allegations were made by AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa in an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

The department said the office of the registrar of Labour Relations within the department has written to AMCU asking for explanations in relation to compliance with legal requirements and compliance with the union’s constitution.

The department explained that the types of questions are routinely asked of trade unions as part of the department’s monitoring of compliance with legal requirements in terms of section 100 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA).

“The LRA requires every registered trade union to provide the Registrar with audited financial statements and other legal requirements. The Registrar may also ask for an explanation of anything relating to the auditor’s report or the financial statements of such union.

“Letters of this nature are routinely sent to many trade unions and AMCU is not being singled out by the department. Moreover, an investigation by the department does not necessarily lead to cancellation of the registration of a trade union,” the department said in a statement.

The department has reassured AMCU that its letter has nothing to do with the efforts of the department to assist the negotiations between Amplats, Lonmin and Impala Platinum and AMCU.

It said it would invite AMCU to a meeting to discuss the matter and to clarify any misunderstanding that may exist. – SAnews.gov.za