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17 - 24 September 2015 Fax: 086 609 8601
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Health technology to improve service ‘All clinics and hospitals in the province would benefit from the R300-million investment in new health technology’
SAHTAS Chairperson Dr Ntombi Mutshekwane
Braamfontein - At the launch of the inaugural eHealth Conference at the School of Public Health at Wits University on Friday Mayor Parks Tau said the health information system (HIS) digitisation pilot project, launched in September 2014, has made positive gains. The two-day conference was jointly hosted by the City and the Southern African Health Technology Assessment Society (SAHTAS). “Patients’ comments included the positive effects of the project and the much-improved and streamlined processes, as well as the quality of service,” he said. A result of the partnership between the City and Anglo-American, the digitisation project seeks to establish a single body of patient records easily accessible to health practitioners in the public and private healthcare sectors. Gauteng Department of Health Director Dr Ernest Kenoshi said all clinics and hospitals in the province would benefit from the R300-million investment in new health technology. “The department is also strengthening the numbers of personnel
responsible for maintaining health technology by an additional 50 trainee technicians to complement the current 24 technicians,” said Dr Kenoshi. He added that the process to transfer patients’ records onto the eHealth platform would complete within the next 24 months. A partnership between the City, the Gauteng Department of Health and SAHTAS will ensure that investment in health technology benefits the patient the most. Speaking on the second day of the inaugural eHealth Conference on Saturday, Mayor Tau said eHealth technology would soon be a reality in all City of Joburg healthcare facilities to improve service delivery and access to healthcare. “A city cannot be referred to as a Smart City unless it improves the health of its citizens. Our health system is a social determinant of health and the City has embraced technology to improve our health system,” said Mayor Tau. The Gauteng Health Department is investing R300 million in new health technology for all facilities throughout the province.
SAHTAS Chairperson Dr Ntombi Mutshekwane said the investment can change the face of health in Gauteng. “As SAHTAS we will act as a non-partisan entity to assist the Gauteng Health Department with decision-making and technological assessments of equipment for the procurement of devices and pharmaceuticals that will have the greatest impact on patients. Decisions on which technology to invest in need to be justifiable against all options,” said Dr Mutshekwane. Dr Kenoshi said the optimal use of technology requires proper assessment by a multidisciplinary team of experts. “SAHTAS, as a professional body with a mission to support the development and use of HTA in Southern Africa, is working with us to ensure optimal investment choices.” Other Smart City initiatives being spearheaded by the City include the Jozi Digital Ambassador Programme, which takes digientrepreneurs into communities to improve digital literacy; the rollout of 1 000 Wi-Fi hotspots and the Massive Open Online Varsity courses available at all City libraries.
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Inner-city Gazette
17 - 24 September 2015
City to scrap apartheid-era by-laws
MMC Ruby Mathang
Braamfontein - The City of Joburg is to introduce a raft of radical measures, including the abolition of apartheid-era bylaws to create conditions conducive for small businesses to thrive. Speaking at a small business development workshop at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein on Tuesday, Economic Development MMC Ruby Mathang said the City would do everything in its power to assist small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) operating in the city to prosper. The workshop was attended by scores of owners of SMMEs. Also in attendance were representatives of the Gauteng Provincial Government, banking institutions and other stakeholders. The aim of
the workshop was to assist fledgling businesses on how to access markets and procurement opportunities. MMC Mathang said SMMEs were the answer to economic challenges facing the city, the province and the country. He said the City had, through its Growth and Development Strategy 2040 (GDS 2040), identified the importance of SMMEs in the city’s economic development and the role they could play in job creation and poverty alleviation. “We’re in the process of amending some of the legislation and bylaws we believe are a stumbling block to the growth of SMMEs. We’re today still
sitting with apartheid-era regulations and bylaws. In terms of some of the current bylaws, most township businesses are illegal. There needs to be a legislative shift,” the MMC said. He made the example of a car wash operator who employed six people being told to close shop. “The poor chap is trying to make a living and those six other people are putting food on the table for their families. Who knows, they could have turned to car hijacking and other serious crimes to survive but then the Johannesburg Metro Police Department pounces on them and tells them about a bylaw infringement,” the MMC said. He said though legislation was important in that it regulated how citizens needed to conduct themselves, it should be relevant and sensitive to the current situation. MMC Mathang also announced that the awarding of tenders would be fundamentally overhauled. “We’re going to break them up into small cakes. For instance, it will no longer be necessary for a R100-million tender to be awarded to just one company. We’re going to make sure we break it up into small pieces, so many people can access that pie.” He also announced that his department would soon set up a number of SMME hubs to assist businesses to write business plans, access funding and draw up marketing plans. He appealed to SMMEs and cooperatives to speak in one voice.
17 - 24 September 2015
Inner-city Gazette
Wellington Court residents back home Hillbrow - Residents of Wellington Court in Joubert Park have returned to their homes after they were evicted two weeks ago, after the South Gauteng High Court reversed their eviction. Socio Economic Rights Institute SA (SERI) Director of Litigation, Nomzamo Zondo said the residents included registered owners of flats in the building, and were evicted after the City of Joburg sold the building to recover outstanding rates. “However, the residents were given no notice of the sale, or of the application
for their eviction, and no notice of the date to appear in court. An eviction order was granted in their absence,” she added. Judge Piet Meyer said the residents were to be restored to their homes while they challenged the eviction order. He criticised the failure to ensure that the residents were notified that they were under threat of eviction. The residents slept on the streets while they waited for the hearing of their case. Zondo said: “It is wilful blindness on the part of the City to sell a building full
of poor people to recover debts, without a thought to what will happen to them when the purchaser tries to evict them. Almost four years ago, the Constitutional Court ordered the City of Joburg to provide alternative accommodation to anyone rendered homeless by eviction. Yet, in this case, the City again confirmed that it has not developed plans and policies to do so, and would not lift a finger to help the residents of Wellington Court.” She added that SERI is also concerned that laws requiring the residents to be
given effective notice of the application for their eviction were not complied with. “SERI calls on property owners, their attorneys, and the Sheriff to ensure that they scrupulously comply with laws governing notice of eviction hearings.” SERI counsel Irene de Vos argued the matter on behalf of the residents in Court. City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane however distanced the City from the matter. “That had been a private eviction that had nothing to do with the City of Johannesburg,” he said.
News
SERI litigation director Nomzamo Zondo
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17 - 24 sepTember 2015
NEws BriEFs From aroUND sa
Probe into power station accident Mbombela - An investigation is underway to establish the cause of a crane accident that killed one employee and critically injured two others at Eskom’s Kusile power station in Witbank. The construction of the multibillion rand station has been suspended, to mourn Piet Masemola’s death. The National Council of Provinces visited the Kusile Power Station to observe progress made in the construction of the
station. The MPs expressed shock at the death, raising question about safety. However work resumed on Wednesday. Meanwhile, one of the units is expected to kick start its operations by 2017. According to the Director of Projects in Eskom Abram Masango (pictured), the project was delayed by two years. Construction was started in 2008. However due to financial challenges there were delays lasting almost two years. The cost of the project is estimated at R118 billion. It will consist of six units, one to be operational by 2017. SABC
Minister Michael Masutha
Admin flops keep
parolees in jail Residents looted and burned this tavern during the rioting.
PIC: LIMPOPO MIRROR
Violence erupts over ritual murder allegations Taverns and other businesses were looted and set alight, and many roads were barricaded
Thohoyandou - Violence erupted at Tshidzini outside Thohoyandou following the disappearance and discovery of the body of a local schoolgirl last week. Ntshengedzeni Mabada, 18, a Grade 12 pupil at a local school, went missing and was found dead in bushes almost a week later. The girl’s aunt Sylvia Thavhakhulu said the family believed that she had been ritually murdered. “The flesh on her leg was peeled off and one of her breasts was also cut.” Local civic leader Fhatuwani Tshamano called for calm. The discovery the body has led the community to believe that the ‘ritual murder season is open again’. A month ago, the body
IMPORTANCE
of a man was found floating in a local river. Residents went on the rampage. Businesses were looted and burnt and roads were barricaded. Residents claim nine people have either gone missing or have been ritually murdered. They allege police are not doing their work or are in cahoots with alleged ritual murderers. The cases are being investigated by a task team at cluster level. Destruction of property in Gaba, Tshidzini, Tshaulu and Matsika included two taverns and other businesses looted and set alight. Police spokesperson Major Mashudu Malelo said there were no arrests, but police would hunt for those involved. Limpopo Mirror
Durban - Offenders eligible for parole, including those serving life sentences for politically motivated crimes, are deprived of their freedom by administrative inefficiencies. This was revealed by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha at Westville Prison on Tuesday. Masutha is visiting prisons to ‘reach out’ to life-serving offenders whose crimes were politically motivated, and thereby eligible for the presidential political pardon. He had a closed session with the offenders before addressing the media. “Some parole applications are turned down due to administrative bungles. I find myself having to decline the whole lot of them for administrative reasons. It doesn’t give me joy that an inmate should stay a day longer than they should in our correctional centres because of administrative inefficiencies.” Parole applications by life-serving inmates make about 10% of all the parole applications in the country. Among the inmates that Masutha had a closed session with was former prison boss and ANC stalwart, Russel Ngubo who was jailed for 25 years in 2005 for the murders of IFP leader Nash Ngubane in Impendle in 1995, and IFP supporter Amon Mshengu in the same year. Masutha said he had received a list of 33 applicants from the National Council of Correctional Services. All of them belonged to different political parties. Daily News
OF TEETH AND NEED TO CARE FOR THEM
Saturday 12 September was World Oral Health Day and Netcare Rand Hospital was actively involved in educating the local community, especially children. The essence of oral health day is to make people aware about the importance of our teeth and how we need to take care of it. Maintaining good oral health habits now is especially important because unhealthy germs in the mouth not only harm your teeth and gums, but may be associated with serious medical conditions. Research has shown that infections in the mouth may be associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia and other health problems that are common in older adults. Many systemic diseases and nutritional deficiencies can show signs in the mouth first prior to other signs and symptoms in the rest of the body. A simple way to maintain and keep a good oral hygiene routine, which can help prevent most dental problems is to: * Brush in the morning and before you go to sleep at night with a fluoride toothpaste daily
* Flossing must be done at least once per day to ensure areas between the teeth are cleaned * Good eating habits – eating healthy and having sugary foods and drinks less often. * Visiting your dentist once every six months for regular dental check-ups. Although most people brush regularly, many don’t clean between their teeth or their technique may be incorrect. Also some people don’t visit the dentist regularly. A few small changes in your daily routine can make a big difference in the long term. By visiting the dentist Your dental team can remove any build-up on your teeth, treat any gum disease that has already appeared or pick up any problems during a routine check-up. Thus the dental team are able to identify potential problems before they become painful, worrisome and potentially expensive to resolve. Also they are very important as they can assist you in learning techniques to maintain good oral health before it’s too late. Dr F Navlakhi Dentist
17 - 24 sepTember 2015
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FOCUS
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AFRICA
Fund to boost scientific output
Part of the court sitting during the trial of ex-president Hissene Habre.
Grim torture claims in dictator’s trial Dakar, Senegal - In the trial of ex-Chadian dictator Hissene Habre last Tuesday prosecutors spelled out some cruel abuses meted out to detainees, including a grim method of tying all four limbs behind their backs. Habre’s war crimes trial heard how the punishment; known as the ‘Arbatachar’ torture method, that causes agonising pain and paralysis; was a preferred technique of his secret police. The bill of indictment indicates that of all the players in the repression system, Habre is most worthy of blame. The lengthy document detailed his alleged complicity in the abuses of the Documentation and Security Directorate (DDS), described as “the eyes and the ears of the president”. Torture of suspects under his regime included electric shocks, gas sprayed into eyes, spice rubbed into their private parts and waterboarding, the tribunal heard. Hab-
re, once backed by France and the US as a bulwark against Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, is accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture between 1982 and 1990. An estimated 40 000 people were killed under his regime, and the Extraordinary African Chambers, whose authority Habre refuses to recognise, will rule on whether the dictator is personally responsible. Once dubbed “Africa’s Pinochet”, Habre has been in custody in Senegal since his arrest in June 2013 at the home he shared in a plush neighbourhood of Dakar with his wife and children. He can expect a sentence ranging from 30 years to life if convicted by the special court established by the AU under an agreement with Senegal, led by a judge from Burkina Faso. After sentencing, a second phase of the hearings would rule on civil compensation claims. AFP
Nairobi, Kenya - An African reKariuki said. Scientists funded by search fund has been launched AESA will work towards creating new vaccines, products and serto raise the quality of scientific output and tackle diseases like vices for diseases that primarily affect Africans, he said. HIV, malaria and Ebola. “It is our responsibility as The Alliance for AcceleratAfrican scientists and goving Excellence in Science in ernments to ensure we are Africa (AESA), at the African Academy of Sciences in Naiprepared for such emergencies,” said Kariuki. robi, aims to draw more funding AESA has announced a from the West and African grant of $70m to support governments to set up scientific excellence centres. seven African researchAESA director Tom Kariuki ers working on mental AESA Director Tom Karihealth in Zimbabwe, HIV uki said: “We hope to look and TB in South Africa and malaria in Mali. at the major diseases that are already epidemics, the neglected tropical diseases and WHO has called on countries which are home to 17 neglected tropical diseases, such challenges like Ebola and build capacities as sleeping sickness, rabies and bilharzia, to deal with them. We want good scientists affecting 1.5 billion people worldwide, to trained and retained on the continent, and invest more in overcoming them. All the rewarded to do the work they do.” Africa has the smallest number of scientists diseases are hard to diagnose and have few drugs available for treatment, and there is no per capita of any continent as professionals vaccine for them, Kariuki said. Reuters often move abroad to further their careers,
Renamo leader escapes police gunfire
THE NEW DOORNFONTEIN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Afonso Dhlakama
Maputo, Mozambique - Opposition Renamo party leader Afonso Dhlakama escaped unhurt when his convoy was hit by gunfire while returning from a rally in Manica province, in what police said was crossfire. Police said the bullets that hit three cars in his convoy were not aimed at the convoy but a motorist who refused to stop at a road block. Manica police spokesperson Manuel Lourenço said police ordered a car, which was not in the Renamo convoy, to stop, but the car did stop, so they opened fire. “However, as the Renamo convoy was passing they received some bullets.” But Dhlakama believes the attack targeted him. “This was a planned attack, Frelimo is behind it,” he said. Dhlakama’s car was not hit, but three of those following his were hit, leaving three wounded, according to a journalist. Renamo waged a 16-year civil war against the Frelimo government, which ended in 1992 after a million people had been killed. Renamo began a low-level insurgency in late 2013 after government forces raided Dhlakama’s bush hideout. A deal was reached last year to end that conflict. Despite that skirmishes between Renamo and the army resumed recently in Tete province, forcing some people to flee to Malawi, according to local reports. AFP
Acclaimed journalist Nhial Bol
Journo quits in fear for his life Juba, South Sudan - Respected journalist Nhial Bol, who set up the country’s first independent newspaper printing press, has quit journalism after threats, reports say. Bol, editor of The Citizen newspaper and TV station, shut by security forces in August, was among the most fervent supporters of South Sudan’s independence in 2011, now a fearless critic of the current civil war. “I suffered and endured everything because of the dream I had. My safety has been threatened, and I choose to leave,” Bol told the Sudan Tribune. Seven journalists have been killed so far this year in South Sudan, including a reporter last month shot in an apparently targeted attack, days after President Salva Kiir publicly threatened to kill journalists who reported ‘against the country’. Kiir’s spokesperson has since said the comments were taken out of context. “It was a difficult choice to make, but I have finally decided to quit journalism after my family and I have concluded that I should stop due to security and safety reasons,” Bol added. Bol was repeatedly jailed by the Khartoum government before South Sudan broke away. In one editorial Bol wrote that “Kiir and Riek have no ability to stop this war,” likening the issues to Somalia following the collapse of government there in 1991. Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that security forces have cracked down on journalists, suffocating debate on how to end a civil war in which tens of thousands of people have been killed. AFP
Bad Boyz Security personnel on patrol in the area.
The New Doornfontein Improvement District is run by the Specialised Area and Improvement District (SAID). Bad Boyz Security Company offers security services in the New Doornfontein Improvement District area. For crime related incidents residents in the Doornfontein area can call 079 140 2157 or Control Room on 078 499 1910.
A member of the New Doornfontein Improvement District cleans the street.
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Acc:FPM15/PRPACC-018
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Horizon High School hosted its very first Maths and Science Challenge (HMSC) on the 26th of August where 8 primary schools competed in a quiz that tested their science and mathematical skills at Horizon High school. The schools did extremely well in each of the rounds and we wish to thank each and every
school that participated. In 4th place - E P Baumann, 3rd place - Nizamiye Mayfair, 2nd place - Bellevue Primary and in first the outstanding ladies of Laerskool Suideheuwels. In addition, Horizon High school will be hosting a soccer tournament for Primary schools on the 12th of September and an inter-debate for High schools on the 15th of September.
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Chiefs players to continue Bafana duty
Rivaldo Coetzee
Ernest Fakude
K
aizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela says his team will continue to give players to Bafana Bafana despite an injury to defender Erick Mathoho and another issue surrounding Tsepo Masilela. Amakhosi were without defender Erick Mathoho for the trip to Polokwane to face SuperSport United on Saturday past after he picked up an injury while on Bafana duty. Mathoho’s injury came soon after his Chiefs teammate Masilela failed to honour a national team call-up, claiming he was injured. But Komphela says his team will not complain to the national team about Mathoho’s injury and are mindful of the fact that Masilela could have been handed a suspension. “We are not crybabies at Chiefs, we take things
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as they come,” says Komphela. “It’s unfortunate that we lost one of our strongest defenders, but at the back of that Lorenzo Gordinho got an opportunity to play and I think he performed very well. Maybe one has to respond to the Mathoho question in relation to Tsepo Masilela’s issue because clearly if we were to say Masilela would be out because he didn’t honour the match, which were valid reasons from the medical department, then as Chiefs we have no right to complain that ‘Tower’ is coming back injured from national team duty, and that’s the way to approach things. “We give a lot of players to national teams, we are one of those and again the injuries, we don’t want to see players coming back injured. We have to get him back very soon.” Meanwhile former Orlando Pirates striker Jerry Sikhosana backs the club
‘We have no right to complain that our player is coming back injured from national team duty, and that is the way to approach things’ to take revenge against Al-Ahly and go on to win the CAF Confederation Cup. The Sea Robbers went down 3-1 to the Egyptian giants in the 2013 Champions League Final. Eric Tinkler’s men will now revive hostilities with the Red Devils in the semi-finals of the second-tier continental event. Pirates were paired with Ahly after finishing second to Group B winners Zamalek following a 4-1 loss in Cairo on the weekend. “The players need no motivation but to motivate themselves,” says Sikhosana, who scored in Bucs’ Champions League Final triumph in 1995. “They missed the chance to beat AlAhly in the Champions League Final in 2013. This is now their second chance. It’s up to the players to grab this chance. They know each other’s weaknesses and strengths. It’s going
to be an open game,” he added. Christopher Maqashu reports that Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa says Rivaldo Coetzee will be available for Saturday’s MTN8 Final against holders Kaizer Chiefs. Coetzee missed Ajax’s 2-1 victory over Polokwane City on Saturday evening after picking up a knock in Bafana Bafana’s 3-1 loss to Mauritania in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on September 5. However, the centre-back is set to return against the Glamour Boys in Port Elizabeth. He will be fine and I think he’ll go through a full session on Monday,” De Sa said. “It was just a little bit too soon after his injury so he will be ready to play. It was to give him a proper rest. Playing on the artificial surface can be very testing on the joint but he will be ready this week,” coach de Sa added.
Hurdles runner Wenda Nel
Runner relieved by end of season Athletics Correspondent he outh African finalist in the recent World Championships in Beijing, Wenda Nel, completed her marathon hurdling season on Tuesday a 3rd place finish in the 400-hurdles at the IAAF World Challenge Meeting in Zagreb. Cassandra Tate of the US won in 55.16s and her compatriot, Georganne Moline, was second in 55.38s. Nel, who finished in 55.63s, was quite relieved that her racing season has ended. “I would have loved to represent South Africa at the African Games in Brazzaville next week, but I think it would be foolish to do it. My Achilles heel has started to act up after last week’s Diamond League Meeting in Zurich and it again flared up last night. I think it would be foolhardy of me to keep on racing, especially considering the Olympic Games in Rio next year. The best I can do now is to ask the experts at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria to find out what causes my injury. I am confident that they will be able to help me sort out the problem before I seriously start preparing for the Games. “I am happy with my performance. It was slightly better than my race in Zurich and I was competitive up to the last hurdle even though my legs showed signs of going on strike so that I had to battle to get enough lift to clear the last hurdle. I guess it was my body’s way of telling me that it was time to stop. Actually it will be nice not to spend hours on training every day and do the things that ordinary people do for a change.”
T