Newly-appointed Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramathlodi says he has set up a task team to look into resolving the platinum mine strike that has dragged for more than four months.

The minister, who was sworn into office on Monday, has hit the ground running and is scheduled to meet with mining bosses at 10am today.

In a radio interview on Wednesday morning, Minister Ramatlhodi said he had on Tuesday met with three unions that are involved in the mining strike – the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), United Association of South Africa (Uasa) and Solidarity – in a bid to begin a process of mediating the industrial action.

“I have tasked my deputy [Minister Godfrey Oliphant] yesterday afternoon to put together an inter-ministerial team, technical team so that it gives me the capability to begin the process of mediating with the parties.

“So that team will be inaugurated today at my office,” he said.

Minister Ramatlhodi says while his job is to facilitate talks instead of negotiating with the parties, he decided it was time that government got involved after mediation talks that were being facilitated by a labour court judge appeared to have fallen through, although he was still waiting for confirmation.

Labour Court Judge Hilary Rabkin-Naicker last week persuaded labour and the mining companies to enter into mediation headed by herself.

She had been scheduled to hear an urgent application by Amcu to interdict the platinum companies from smsing employees directly regarding their wage offers, but instead held a meeting with the parties behind closed doors. The three days of mediation talks started on Wednesday at an undisclosed location.

Stats SA announced on Tuesday that the country’s GDP slumped by an annualised rate of 0.6% in the first quarter of 2014 compared with an increase of 3.8% during the fourth quarter of 2013.

Statistician General Pali Lehohla said the mining (-1.3%) and manufacturing (-0.7%) sectors were the main contributors to the decrease in economic activity, and added that the growth was worse than that of the second quarter of 2009 (-0.6%) when recession was at its peak.

“…The economy is almost knocking into the doors of the recession, and we should not allow that to happen to ourselves. The damage takes many years to repair. So ending the strike will contribute a hundred fold to the economy,” said Lehohla.

The minister added that during the meeting with the unions on Tuesday, the President of Amcu, Joseph Mathunjwa, had given him the assurance that while his members were still on strike, “they were doing everything possible to reach an agreement with the mining houses”.

The union is demanding a basic salary of R12 500 a month. – SAnews.gov.za

Johannesburg, 23 May 2014 – Two weeks ahead of elections for the new Athletics South Africa (ASA) board, the federation’s ad hoc committee has confirmed everything is in place to ensure a fair democratic vote at Olympic House on June 7. The ad hoc committee was mandated to prepare for elections when it was appointed [...]Two weeks till ASA elections is a post from: Time-to-Run South Africa


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The seasonally adjusted Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at market prices slumped at an annualised rate of 0.6% for the first quarter of 2014,...

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Former Beatle Paul McCartney, who cancel led his Asian concert tour and was treated at a Japanese hospital after falling ill in Tokyo, has recovered...

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Newly appointed Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane says her tenure as minister will be characterised by ensuring rural communities have access to water, upgrading water infrastructure and working with residents to conserve the precious resource.

“We will be going to all the affected communities to mobilise them to become partners in finding the solutions to the problem of access to water,” said the minister after taking her oath of office, along with other Cabinet ministers at a ceremony in Pretoria on Monday night.

According to the minister, rural communities will get attention from government.

“Both issues of water and sanitation are a priority because we have to ensure that people in the rural areas have access to water including in the areas where you find that there is economic development and water goes across those villages, we have to deal with that.”

The minister said it was important that government teaches people how to use water sparingly.

“We also have to look at issues of preservation and recycling. We must we use water sparingly and, most importantly, in an effective manner.”

Minister Mokonyane added that it will be important for government to work together with communities.

Old bulk water infrastructure was another aspect that required attention, especially in informal settlements. She said her department will work closely with the Department of Human Settlements in this regard.

President Jacob Zuma announced his new Cabinet on Sunday evening. – SAnews.gov.za

Today is the last day on which parents can submit forms and documents back to schools for the registration of learners for the 2015 academic year.

The Gauteng Education Department launched the Public School Admissions Campaign on 7 April 2014 to encourage parents to apply early to avoid the last minute rush in 2015.

Parents, who want to register their children for admission in a public school, have until today to go to their nearest school to pick up application forms for learners who want to start Grade 1 or Grade 8 in this province in 2015.

These application forms should be returned to the school from 15 April 2014 to 27 May 2014.

Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi thanked parents who adhered to the admissions period and applied early.

“We would like to thank all the parents for cooperating during the registration period. Your timeous response will enable us to ensure all our schools are ready to operate from the first day of school in 2015,” said MEC Lesufi.

The MEC also indicated that the department would explore ways of improving the admissions, including the role that ICTs can play in this process.

Gauteng has over 2 000 public ordinary schools that accommodate 1.9 million learners. The province is also prone to a high demand for space. Applying early affords the department to plan better for the next academic year and put parents at ease.

“Starting the admission process early affords us ample time to plan adequately for learners coming in 2015. This involves providing adequate school infrastructure, learner and teacher support material and furniture and allocating it to schools on time,” MEC Lesufi said.

The department remains committed to complying with its Constitutional obligation to place all those who need space in public schools in Gauteng.

This means that the department will assist parents with late applications. However, applying late reduces the chances of parents getting the school of their first choice where they meet the criteria.

This also means that learners will be placed at a school where there is space available, this might not be close to where their parents work or reside. – SAnews.gov.za

The struggle to increase the number of graduating software engineers has been an ongoing challenge throughout the last two decades. The Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) Director and Head of Software Engineering at Wits University, Prof Barry Dwolatzky says that while there are improvements, South Africa’s matric maths and science results remain poor.Â* He [...]Where are tomorrow’s software engineers? is a post from: Teach-the-Brain


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Newly appointed Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene has his eye set on growing the South African economy.

Minister Nene spoke moments after being sworn into office in a ceremony presided by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng held at the Presidential Guesthouse, on Monday.

He said the National Development Plan (NDP) dictates ways of improving unemployment and tackling underdevelopment in a capitalist state.

“The work has begun in growing the economy; we would like to look at investing in infrastructure. We have a solid team working within the Department of Treasury and we will continue to work as a collective.”

Minster Nene says he is happy that his appointment has been met with positivity. “The reason why there is that positivity is because it signals continuity and stability especially that the appointment is from within the department.”

He added that the newly appointed cabinet was a force to be reckoned with.

Minister Nene said in terms of the international community, Africa was the next big economy when looking at growth.

He added that South Africa would be working with the rest of the countries on the continent in economic growth.

He stated his department was strong and he looked forward to the task set before him.

On Monday, the Ministry of Finance warned the public that a Twitter account, set up in the name of Minister Nhlanhla Nene, was a counterfeit.

Minister Nene said he was aware of the fake Twitter account and joked about the account, saying he does not get upset easily.

Minister Nene has been a Member of Parliament since 1999; in 2002 he was co-chairperson of the budget committee, until 2005.

He became Deputy Minister of Finance in 2008 and was also a Member of the Local Organising Committee during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

He was also Chairperson of the Public Investment Corporation.

On Sunday night, President Jacob Zuma announced his new Cabinet, which includes new and old faces. While some departments were changed, new ones were introduced.

The President retained International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and Economic Development Minister Ibrahim Patel in his Cabinet.

There have been a few surprises in the Cabinet announced by the President, with Minister Nene named the Finance Minister and Minister Pravin Gordhan moved to the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Ministry.

Former National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele has been brought in and named Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

President Zuma moved former Police Minister Nathi Mthwethwa from the security cluster to the Arts and Culture Portfolio, while Nkosinathi Nhleko – a former Director-General in the Labour Department takes up the Police Ministry portfolio. – SAnews.gov.za

Lowes Court Gallery is thrilled to announce that Helen Greenop, local lass and renowned botanical illustrator will open Lowes Court’s Summer Exhibition, which runs from 3-27 June 2014. Lowes Court Gallery Summer Exhibition Helen grew up in Thornhill and studied at Carlisle College of Art and Design followed by training at the Royal College of... Read MoreHelen Greenop for Lowes Court Gallery is a post from: ArtnSpire


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A year ago Denmark’s men of Sparta AM and the French women from CA Montreuil 93 suffered the despair of relegation from senior Group A of the European Champions Clubs Cup. On Saturday in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, they secured their places back in the top flight by winning the Group B competition. But for both, [...]Sparta AM find success at Clubs Cup is a post from: Time-4-Sport


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