Former gang leader Rashied Staggie was on Monday granted day parole as a second chance given to him by the Pollsmoor Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB).

This after he violated his earlier parole conditions, which he was granted on 23 September 2013. His parole was, however, revoked in December because he met members of gangs and made unauthorised visits.

“This phase and privilege of day parole begins today and would end 17 September 2014, after which he would qualify for full parole placement up to the completion of his sentence in 2017,” the Department of Correctional Services said on Monday.

The offender has stricter conditions this time, which include: securing of a job to which he will be released on a daily basis from 6am to 7.30pm; tagging for electronic monitoring to ensure compliance and confinement to his local district; no commitment of any crime or use of drugs or alcohol; and no contact or involvement in any gang activities.

Staggie will, however, remain in custody, pending the securing of a job.

The department said day parole is used to ensure that high risk offenders, eligible for placement on parole, are given a trial period with strict conditions, which include returning to sleep at the correctional centre on a daily basis.

The Pollsmoor CSPB approved his day parole on 14 February 2014, subject to stricter conditions. When Staggie completes his day parole, he will be have to do community service for a period of 18 months, with effect from September 2014.

He will need permission to leave the prescribed magisterial district or to visit gangster hot spots such as Mannenberg.

“The Department of Correctional Services treats non-compliance with parole conditions very seriously and any violation or failure to report back could mean an escape and is a criminal offence which can net a fine or an incarceration period of up to 10 years or both, in terms of section 117 of Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 as amended.

“This is therefore a warning to would be culprits to honour their parole conditions,” said the department.

It reported that compliance with parole conditions continues to improve, as it moved from 72% in 2009 to 84% in 2013/14 financial year. Minister Sibusiso Ndebele says he expects this to further improve with the introduction of electronic monitoring. – SAnews.gov.za

Machadodorp - Mpumalanga Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration MEC Violet Siwela has urged emerging livestock farmers to make good use of the Nguni cattle that they receive on loan.

Siwela handed over 30 pregnant Nguni heifers and one bull to the Nhlapho Livestock Project in Machadodorp as part of the department's Masibuyele Esibayeni (back to the kraal) programme.

“I am happy that the cattle have already started to reproduce, as I can see 19 calves. Please take good care of the cattle so that they can continue to multiply. By doing so, you will be able to return the loan,” said Siwela.

The Masibuyele Esibayeni Nguni cattle programme was introduced in 2011 by the department in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the University of Limpopo. The aim of the project is to enhance food security, community upliftment and address the shortage of good quality breeding animals in the province.

Siwela said the programme also addresses agrarian reform as part of government's Zero Hunger Strategy.

“When we come back to the farm, we must find more cattle because livestock is not like a car, it does not depreciate annually but multiplies because the bull is here,” she said, adding that the Nhlapo Livestock Project successfully applied for the Nguni programme in 2013.

Project chairman Ara Nhlapo said livestock farming was a childhood dream that came true.

"I have always seen myself as a livestock farmer. When I was a boy, I enjoyed being a herd boy and today I am very thankful that we are part of this programme. We can assure the department that next time when they visit us, there will be no space in the kraal because the cattle would have multiplied,” said Nhlapo.

The department's project manager, Theo Ngemtu, said the programme affords farmers an opportunity to be loaned cattle for three years or five years.

"Those who apply for small stock have three years to return the loan and those who apply for large stock have five years to return the loan," said Ngemtu.

He said for farmers to participate in the programme they should have at least 150ha of land or at most 350ha available to accommodate livestock numbers at the recommended rate.

Ngemtu said the department also provides the farmers with skills and also trains them about the use of natural resources.

“We strongly believe that with the support that they receive from veterinarians and other role players, the farmers will achieve their dream of becoming commercial farmers,” Ngemtu said. – SAnews.gov.za

The North West Department of Health has bought 10 well equipped obstetric ambulances, which will be used to transport high risk pregnant women to health care facilities.

The ambulances, which cost R5.9 million, are expected to be procured within the 2014/15 financial year.

The procurement of ambulances follows the launch of the Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in May 2012. At the time, he recommended, among other things, the procurement of obstetric ambulances in response to MDG 5: reducing maternal mortality and achieving universal access to reproductive health.

Despite challenges, the North West Health Department has made some progress. The provincial maternal mortality rate has decreased from 229 per 100 000 live births in 2008 to 145/100 000 live births in 2011.

The province had also seen a decrease in the infant mortality rate, from 40 deaths per 1 000 live births in 2009, to 30 deaths per 1 000 live births in the same reporting period.

The figures are expected to decline drastically following the establishment of 16 maternity waiting homes, to bring pregnant women closer to birthing places two weeks prior to delivery. Maternity waiting homes cater for pregnant women with complications or those that are far from health care facilities.

Health MEC Dr Magome Masike will unveil the ambulances in Rustenburg on Wednesday.

The event will coincide with a two-day Provincial Health Consultative Forum to be attended by health stakeholders in the province.

The aim of the forum is to involve both internal and external stakeholders to participate and advise the department on its policies and programmes targeted at improving the provision of health care services. – SAnews.gov.za

  The National Treasury has published two papers on retirement reforms and non-retirement savings to help consumers get maximum returns when they retire without their savings being eaten up by schemes’ charges. The publishing of the two papers follows an announcement by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan during his 2014 Budget Speech last month. In a [...]Retirement reforms to help consumers is a post from: South Africa Business

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Skukuza – An amount of R1 million has been added to the South African National Parks’ (SANParks) war on rhino poaching. Unitrans Volkswagen divisional chief executive Kevin Gillmer recently handed a R1 051 720 cheque to SANParks Honorary Rangers national executive committee deputy chairman, Louis Lemmer, in Skukuza. “Unlike many fundraising initiatives, the SANParks Honorary [...]
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Gauteng residents will on Tuesday get an opportunity to celebrate the South African under 19 cricket team, who made history by winning the Under 19 Cricket World Cup in the United Arab Emirates recently.

The Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula and the team will take part in an open bus parade through the streets of Johannesburg. The trophy will also be showcased during the parade.

The bus will leave from Park Station, make a stop at Gandhi Square and end at Nelson Mandela Square.

The bus route is as follows:

- Park Station in Wolmarans Street

- Turn left into Harrison Street

- Turn left into Marshall Street

- Turn left into Rissik Street and enter Gandhi Square

- Depart Gandhi Square into Rissik Street

- Turn right into Albertina Sisulu Street

- Turn left into End Street

- Continue to Joe Slovo and past St John’s College

- Turn right into Houghton

- Continue to M1 North

- Off-ramp at Corlett Drive

- Turn left in Corlett passed Wanderers stadium

- Turn right into Rudd Street

- Turn right into Rivonia and continue to Sandton

- Turn left into West Street

- Turn right into Grayston Drive

- Turn right into Rivonia

- Turn right into Maude street

- Turn left into West Street

- Turn right towards the library in Nelson Mandela Square

According to the Department of Sport and Recreation, the event is aimed at mobilising the whole country to support, motivate and celebrate the young talented team, popularly known as the Baby Proteas.

“This victory speaks directly to the objectives of National Sport and Recreation Plan in addressing the development and transformation agenda in sport and of recognising excellence in sport,” said the department. – SAnews.gov.za

The Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant has urged domestic workers to register for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to ensure they have a cushion in the event they find themselves out of work.

Speaking at a Domestic Sector Imbizo, organised by the Department of Labour, in Durban on Sunday, the minister said the number of domestic workers currently registered with the UIF was not a true reflection of the total number of domestic workers in the country.

There are currently 652 676 domestic workers on the UIF register.

Institutions like the UIF have played a critical role protecting workers against poverty by providing unemployment insurance and other benefits to workers, said the minister.

“We know that some employers of domestic workers do not register their employees with UIF. The department has set in motion the legislative framework for [domestic workers] to be registered.

“However, in order for us to enjoy the benefits of a better life for all, you as domestic workers need to assist government to ensure that you are registered with UIF,” said Minister Oliphant.

The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (Coida) is currently being reviewed by legal experts with a possibility of expanding this to the domestic sector and public hearings would be held soon on the planned review.

The domestic sector’s current sectoral determination came into effect from 1 December 2013 and will end on 30 November 2014.

The minimum wages apply for domestic workers who work more than 27 hours per week applies as follows:

- Mainly urban areas - R9.63 hourly, R433.35 weekly (for a 45 hour week) and R 1877.70 monthly (for a 45 hour week)

- Mainly rural areas - R8.30 hourly, R373.50 weekly(for a 45 hour week) and R1618.37 monthly(for a 45 hour week)

Sectoral determination regulates employment conditions in the vulnerable sectors of the economy. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has wrapped up his visit to Poland, saying the two countries are committed to furthering relations.

“We renew our commitment to continue building on our transitional experiences and strengthen complementary and mutually beneficial bilateral relations that will contribute to the advancement of our national development priorities, the African Agenda and a more democratic and equitable global governance system,” said Deputy President Motlanthe.

He was speaking at a joint media briefing with the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, on Friday.

Deputy President Motlanthe said South Africa and Poland would strengthen cooperation in trade and economic relations, science and technology, education and skills development, maritime cooperation, agriculture and rural development and mineral resources and energy.

“We look forward to the convening of the Joint Economic Committee in the second semester of this year, which will elaborate action plans for each of these areas.”

Deputy President Motlanthe said a delegation of South African business leaders had accompanied him to Warsaw in order to strengthen commercial relations between Poland and South Africa.

“These business leaders have already met with their counterparts involved in similar sectors and have made site visits to some of the factories and businesses with the aim of exploring reciprocal business opportunities,” he said.

Deputy President Motlanthe and Tusk also exchanged views on priorities for the forthcoming Africa-EU Summit, as well as Africa’s Agenda 2063, the United Nations Post 2015 Development Agenda and cooperation on Human Rights within the context of the United Nations Human Rights Council. – SAnews.gov.za

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 15 March 2014 – With the Arabian sun beating down on another stunning Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, Australian triathlon sensation, Melissa Hauschildt successfully defended her title in style and Bermudan Tyler Butterfield rode and ran his way through the field to notch up his first UAE capital win. Butterfield’s triumph comes two [...]Hauschildt defends Abu Dhabi title is a post from: Time-to-Tri

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Abu Dhabi, UAE, 15 March 2014 – With the Arabian sun beating down on another stunning Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, Australian triathlon sensation, Melissa Hauschildt successfully defended her title in style and Bermudan Tyler Butterfield rode and ran his way through the field to notch up his first UAE capital win. Butterfield’s triumph comes two [...]Hauschildt defends Abu Dhabi title is a post from: Time-4-Sport


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