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Edward Mothibi and Mpho Mabuza shook up the field at the 2014 FNB Platinum Trail Run presented by ISUZU at the ATKV Buffelspoort (North West Province) on Sunday, 25 May 2014. Road runner Edward Mothibi claimed an unsuspected victory in the 24km FNB Platinum Trail Run presented by ISUZU crossing the finish line in an [...]Mothibi, Mabuza cruise to Platinum wins is a post from: Trail Running South Africa


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Newly inaugurated South African President Jacob Zuma says radical socio-economic transformation policies and programmes will mark his second term of...

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In a momentous occasion for South Africa, President-elect Jacob Zuma will later this morning take to the podium at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre at the Union Buildings and promise to serve his country for another five years.

A number of events have lead up to this moment – the country voting in the free and fair general elections, the first sitting of Parliament and the election of a President-elect. Today will see the conclusion of the successful electoral process.

Months of planning have gone into the Presidential Inauguration, where the amphitheatre has been dressed, a podium has been constructed and numerous National Flags are flying proudly.

Hundreds of people have begun queuing at the park-and-rides at the Tshwane Events Centre and Pretoria Art Museum from the early hours of the morning to secure their spot on the Southern Lawns. A large stage and screen have been erected and the ceremony will be broadcast live.

The invited Heads of State and Government are expected to start arriving at the Union Buildings from 10:30am.

The amphitheatre will be the scene of the official ceremony presided over by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.

The ceremony commences at 11am, with inter-faith prayers and a recital of the Preamble to the Constitution of South Africa. The swearing-in of the president by the Chief Justice will follow.

The President will take the Oath of Office before signing the swearing-in certificate. This will be followed by a congratulatory item by imbongi Zolani Mkiva.

After this, the President will take the National Salute and address the Nation from the stage in the amphitheatre.

Once he has concluded his speech, there will be a rendition of the National Anthem and a civilian fly past by South African Airways and the President will depart for the Southern Lawns.

Around 20 000 members of the public are expected to converge at the Southern Lawns, bussed in from various park-and-ride points in Tshwane.

A cultural programme will signal the start of celebrations, with the likes of the Mzansi Youth Choir, Bothlale Boikanyo, Zahara, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Matthew Mole and many more taking to the stage.

President-elect Zuma will host a luncheon for invited guests at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House.

The event will not only be broadcast live on SABC, but numerous public viewing areas have been set up across the country. – SAnews.gov.za

Captain Eric Manentsa has been appointed as the first black chief pilot at South African Airways (SAA).

The announcement was made on Wednesday by Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

Manentsa’s appointment is effective as of 1 June 2014. It follows the retirement of captain Johnny Woods who was the chief pilot and head of flight operations.

Minister Gigaba described his appointment as a proud moment for the airline and a ‘milestone decision’ coinciding with the country celebrating 20 years of democracy.

Manentsa has been flying for SAA for 20 years and has been the fleet captain on the A319/A320 fleet for the past six years.

As the chief pilot, he will be responsible for the airline’s 800 pilots in terms of their day to day function, ensuring the company remains compliant to local and international regulations and to continue supporting the company in fulfilling its mandate.

Manentsa has 30 years of experience in aviation in South Africa and has to date amassed approximately 14 000 flying hours.

He obtained his Commercial License in 1987 and has worked for the Department of Transport in the former Ciskei, the SA Department of Defence and completed Officer Forming and Junior Command staff courses at the South African Air Force College.

He joined SAA in 1994 as an in-flight relief pilot on the Boeing 747 for nine months before flying as a First Officer on the Boeing 737 on the domestic and regional network. He has also flown the Airbus A320s and when these were phased out he flew as Senior First Officer on the Airbus A340s.

Manentsa played a key role in the formation of the original SAA Cadet Pilot Programme.

He has also been a key figure in the airlines further efforts towards transforming the flight deck in that he was a member of the committee that was tasked by SAA and SAAPA (the SAA Pilots Association) to address the seniority of those pilots from non-white groups who got their licenses prior to 1994 and subsequently joined SAA after 1994. - SAnews.gov.za

Leading South African artists from all genres, cultures and backgrounds are set to showcase their talents and get the 20 000 or more crowd jamming on the Southern Lawns of the Union Buildings on Saturday.

Selaelo Selota, Mafikizolo, Phuzekhemisi, Uhuru, Kurt Darren and DJ Oskido are among the 18 artists expected to strut their stuff at what is billed to be a momentous event to inaugurate President-elect Jacob Zuma, as the country’s President for the next five years, at the Union Buildings.

The cultural programme will provide a platform for local artists to showcase their talent whilst entertaining the throngs of people expected to attend the Inauguration.

Briefing the media on the cultural programme of the Inauguration, Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the 2014 Presidential Inauguration, Collins Chabane, revealed that there will be a combination of music genres and other cultural and artistic performances that will have a cross-over appeal to reflect the country’s achievements of the past 20 years of democracy.

According to the days’ programme, the cultural programme will start at 8am and end at 11am, when the formal ceremony commences at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre.

“A 90 minute choreographed show will start at 12.30pm until 2pm. The afternoon cultural programme will last from 2pm until 4pm, which will signal the end of the event,” Chabane explained.

Other artists expected to mesmerise and charm the crowd include Mzansi Youth Choir, Bothlale Boikanyo, Zahara, Matthew Mole, The Soil, Rebecca Malope, Claire Johnston, Ihashi Elimhlophe, Chomee as well as DJ Vetkoek and Mahoota.

An elated Rebecca Malope said she was humbled and honoured to be part of the greatness that is South Africa.

“I’m humbled to be amongst the artists that would be performing. For me, this means that after so many years in the industry, I’m still doing something that South Africa enjoys,” she gushed.

Although Malope did not want to let the cat out of the bag on her line-up, she promised that it was going to be the best. “It’s a secret! It will be the best of Rebecca Malope and the greatness of South Africa!”

Artist Selaelo Selota said the inauguration was a big occasion for him. He was excited that he would be celebrating it with the nation, especially youngsters who were born in to a democratic country.

“I’m very glad that I will be able to see, engage and measure their excitement of experiences that are pre-and post-1994.” – SAnews.gov.za

A new terminal at Brazil’s Guarulhos International Airport has been officially opened with the involvement of Airports Company South Africa (Acsa). Acsa has had extensive involvement in the expansion, maintenance and management of the airport with Terminal 3 officially being opened by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday. The opening of the terminal formed part [...]Acsa assists Brazil to open airport terminal is a post from: South Africa Business


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The Reserve Bank on Thursday kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.5% per annum.

“The committee [Monetary Policy Committee] decided to keep the repurchase rate unchanged at 5.5% annum at this stage. Future actions will be data dependant and determined by developments in the inflation outlook and inflation expectation,” said Governor Gill Marcus.

Analysts had expected the repo rate to remain unchanged.

However, the committee continued to hold the view that it is a rising interest rate cycle.

“The committee continues to hold the view that we are in a rising interest rate cycle, and interest rates will have to be normalised in due course,” she said.

The bank hiked interest rates at its first meeting of the year in January. At the time the repo rate -- which is the scale at which the bank lends money to commercial banks -- had up until January 2014 left the repo rate unchanged at 5% since July 2012.

“At this stage the pace and timing of normalisation in the advanced economies appears to have been pushed out further and may be more moderate than previously believed. We are also aware that this can change very quickly,” she added.

The decision to keep rates unchanged was not a unanimous one, added the governor.

Data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) yesterday showed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) breached the central bank’s 3 to 6% inflation target range coming in at 6.1%.

“The MPC continues to face the difficult dilemma of dealing with upside risks to inflation and a deteriorating domestic economic growth outlook. Although the breach of the upper end of the inflation target band was in line with the Bank’s forecast, the risks to the forecast remain on the upside,” noted the committee.

This dilemma is increased by the fact that inflation is seen to be driven primarily by supply side factors while demand in the economy remains subdued.

Additionally food prices, said the governor, remain a risk to the inflation outlook.

The growth forecast for 2014 has also been revised downwards to 2.1% and the first quarter growth outcome is anticipated to be the lowest quarterly growth rate since 2009’s recession.

Stats SA will release figures of gross domestic product on Tuesday.

In a research note earlier today, Standard Bank said it expected the bank to keep rates steady, adding that the bank would be reluctant to tighten monetary policy further as long as growth remains weak.

Nedbank economists also expected the repo rate to remain unchanged. - SAnews.gov.za

North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo on Thursday expressed optimism that the mediation efforts by Labour Court Judge Hilary Rabkin-Naicker will assist in breaking the four-month strike in the platinum belt.

Mineworkers affiliated to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) downed tools at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin mines 17 weeks ago over wages.

On Tuesday, the Judge persuaded labour and platinum 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 held a meeting with the parties behind closed doors. The three days of mediation talks started on Wednesday.

“The resolve by Amcu and the platinum producers to subject their dispute to mediation is encouraging,” said the newly-elected premier.

“Ending the strike will be the first step to avert possible job losses and restoring peace and stability and bring to an end the vicious cycle of violence that has resulted in the brutal killings of non-striking workers, destruction of private and public properties,” Premier Mahumapelo said.

Premier Mahumapelo said he was concerned at the impact of the strike on the economy, especially the livelihood of miners and their families.

He thanked NGOs like the Gift of the Givers, church leaders and individuals who had responded to the plight of the starving miners. Gift of the Givers handed out food parcels to miners this week.

The premier assured that the provincial government will engage mining houses on possible interventions to address the challenges caused by the protracted strike. – SAnews.gov.za

The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) and the National Library of China (NLC) have on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the two institutions cooperating in various areas and exchanging ideas on cultural issues.

The memorandum of understanding will remain valid for a period of three years, renewable for another three-year term unless one of the parties decides not to renew the agreement.

Newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the NLSA Professor Rocky Ralebipi-Simela said China was a strategic partner and she embraced the strategic partnership.

“It is truly befitting to engage in partnership, cooperation and collaboration with the National Library of China in our quest to promote access to the world’s information and knowledge resources.

“The cordial relations between the National Library of South Africa and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China have since been mutually beneficial and advancing continuously,” she said.

The NLSA and NLC engaged in successful collaborations under their memorandum of understanding signed in 2007 and 2010 and continued to enjoy close and cordial relations.

“Today, we sign the MoU to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two institutions, in order to continue exchange of experiences and expertise in our respective institutions,” Ralebipi-Simela said.

Speaking on behalf of the National Library of China, Yin Yali, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, said South Africa and China have a long history of cooperation.

“The two have a duty to continue to promote and exchange their cultural activities,” he said, adding that the two will play positive roles in their respective countries,” said Yali.

According to Yali, the National Library of China has about 32 000 books.

The NLSA situated in Pretoria holds a collection of South African published books, rare manuscripts, maps, newspapers, technical reports as well as official foreign and government publications.

The NLSA strives to grow and maintain literary culture in South Africa and has many databases and a huge archive promoting writing, publishing and reading as well as distribution of books in all the official South African languages. - SAnews.gov.za