EE
FR
Independent Namib
Like a newspaper, only better!
Tel: 064 200497
Issue 155 - Thurs, 02 July 2015 to Wed, 08 July 2015
“ The circulation of such video is not only unethical in the public eye, but also unlawful as it is traumatising. ”
Diamond Arrow Winner Best Community Newspaper 2014
Africa and its people are ready for accessible and affordable technology. Rojo van Wyk commenting at the signing of a new multi-billion dollar mobile and smartphone deal.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, Mr Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana, on the circulation of the video showing the late Fred Savage. See Page 3
See Page 4
Will the new mayor declare his assets?
See Page 5
Inappropriate costumes donned by party goers at the Küska Maskenball - photo credit Gerrit Vermeulen
man alleges Putting the KKK Local police brutality into Küska Jade McClune The oldest newspaper in Namibia, the Allgemeine Zeitung, found itself at the centre of a major race row over the past week following the publication of pictures of the recent Küska Maskenball where carnival-goers were seen dressed as members of the Ku Klux Klan and some with their faces painted in a style of mockery known as ‘blackface’.
In response to the publication, concerned readers set up an online petition on Tuesday, calling on the editor of the German daily paper and the event organisers to apologise for publishing such offensive material. The e-petition garnered more than 875 signatures by Wednesday afternoon. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is notorious as a movement of white supremacists driven by race hatred. The KKK became infamous
following the end of slavery when they regularly lynched and killed innocent black people in the southern states of North America. Ironically, one of the people parading in KKK costumes was a black youth. Chairman of the Küska organising committee, Reiner Piepmeyer says that the ideals of Karneval are that everyone should enjoy themselves, and no-one should get hurt: “Allen Wohl und Keinem Weh” He said there is a main theme and people are supposed to stick to the theme of the Maskenball, but they do not enforce it or have any Continued on Page 2
Sharon Brooks
A local man, Gideon Benade, was found lying in a pool of blood early Saturday morning, after a brutal attack apparently perpetrated by two police officers. According to sources, Benade has little recollection of the events, and with numerous conflicting reports surrounding the incident, the details of the assault remain unclear. Sources state that Benade was last seen next to his car in the parking lot of the Moth Club in Walvis Bay at roughly 1 am on Saturday morning.
Sources claim that he appeared to be intoxicated, and was told to sleep it off in his car before attempting to drive home. Benade reacted to this suggestion with aggression and had reportedly been involved in numerous arguments at the establishment that evening. What happened next is unknown, but at roughly 6 am the police contacted St Gabriel’s Ambulance Service to request that they respond to an apparent assault victim. The Walvis Bay Reaction Team had responded to a triggered panic Continued on Page 3
2
News
Thursday, 02 July 2015
Contact Us Tel (+264 64) 200 497 Email info@namibindependent.com.na Sales Lorna Bock 081 558 1263 lorna@namibindependent.com.na Wouter Deysel 081 437 8678 wouter@namibindependent.com.na Rita Potgieter 081 150 5455 rita@namibindependent.com.na Gareth Amos 081 129 2157 gareth@namibindependent.com.na Editorial Sharon Brooks sharon@namibindependent.com.na Design Maggie’s Attic Graphic Design sonya4maggiesattic@gmail.com 081 129 2158 Address
Construction | Electricity Plumbing | Tiles Paving(Interlocking) | Painting Carpentry | Joinery Renovations Cell: 081 624 9008 Email: oomcarloinvest@gmail.com
McCLUNE’S
127 Theo Ben Gurirab Street (MVA Office Complex), PO Box 5085, Walvis Bay, Namibia
Disclaimer: Namib Independent is published by Halfround Communications CC. All rights are reserved. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within, no liability can be accepted by the publishers or contributors for any errors, misstatements or omissions which may have occurred. The opinions expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Also, the publishers accept no legal liability regarding copyright ownership for material which was supplied directly to the publishers by any of the advertisers or contributors.
Shuttle Services
We offer a reliable shuttle service between Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay that guarantees satisfaction and channels development on internation and local scale. Our vehicles have been branded and are easy to identify, Which expresses ownership and legality as well as professionalism. Bookings are essentail. Terms & Conditions apply.
We operate 7 days a Week Prices per person (one Way); Windhoek/Swakopmund N$ 220.00 Windhoek/Walvis Bay N$ 230.00 Pensioners Special N$ 170.00 Departures are as follows
Windhoek
Contact Details Tel: +264 64 221 713 Cell: +264 81 628 5010 CELL: +264 81 128 7916 email:mcclunes@mweb.com.na
Walvis Bay
Swakopmund
Departure 1: 7:30 am
Departure 1: 7:00 am
Departure 1: 8:00 am
Departune 2: 14:45 pm
Departune 2: 14:00 pm
Departune 2: 15:00 pm
Walvis Bay Town Planning Scheme Consent: Shared Advertising CC On Erf No.: 4482
Township: WVB Ext 12
Street: Langerhein Street In terms of the above-mentioned Scheme, notice is hereby given that I/we, the undersigned, have applied to the Walvis Bay Municipality for permission to erect/establish ** Diesel/Gas Tanks on the site. Plans may be inspected or particulars of this application may be obtained Town Planning, First Floor, Rooms 101 & 106 D, Civic Centre. Any person having an objection to the approval of this application, must lodge such objections, together with grounds thereof, with the General Manager: Roads and Building Control, (Town Planning), Private Bag 5017, Walvis Bay and the undersigned, in writing, not later than* 12 Days of this Advertisement. Name and Address: Applicant(s) Jalene - 081 465 5992
NKB Blinds offer a wide range of Vertical, Aluminium and Wooden Venetian, Roller, Panel and Bamboo Blinds as well as Thermowood Shutters. FRee QuoTATioNS We come to you, qoutes provided within 24 hours Contact Ricardo on the Following numbers: 081 454 2141 081 149 0691
NKB
We’ve got y
NKB Blinds We’ve got you covered.
Your Logistics Partner in Namibia Providing you an integrated approach to supply chain management, including vessel agency and husbandry services, international freight forwarding, customs brokerage and warehousing.
Masterminding Innovative Supply Chain Solutions
Corner of 2nd Street East & John Newman Syncrolift Industrial Area P O Box 4407, Walvis Bay, Republic of Namibia Telephone: +264 64 276600 | Fax: +264 64 276601 / 602 Email: info@lssnamibia.com Website: www.Lssnamibia.com
News
Thursday, 02 July 2015
Putting the KKK into Küska Continued from Page 1
policies in place. “It is supposed to be for fun and enjoyment”, he said and he does “not know what these guys were thinking”. The organisers avoid topics such as religion and racism and would like it to be known that these men do not, in any way, represent the ideals of the organisation. One reporter, who was at the event but does not want to be named here, said however that she noticed racial jokes and jibes from the main stage were in no short supply. In response to appeals from the public that she address the problem at Allgemeine Zeitung, the First Lady, Monica Geingos (a major shareholder in Namibia Media Holdings, which owns the Allgemeine Zeitung, Republikein and Namibian Sun) said “I am a shareholder in Stimulus that has shares in NMH. I don't interfere with editorial policy, as where would it stop?” “My position on the issue is very clear. Dressing in blackface and as KKK is deeply offensive and unacceptable. I have raised my deep
issue with the description of the picture, it appears to normalise it...” The Allgemeine Zeitung had described the pictures of the KKK and blackface costumes in their 29 July 2015 edition as ‘Bunte und Lebendig’ [meaning ‘Colourful and Lively’]. Geingos further wrote on Twitter: “I'm glad it was published as otherwise it wouldn’t have come out [that] this still happens and gives us all a chance to discuss this.” The editor of AZ, Stefan Fischer, did not respond to questions sent to him on Tuesday. The General Manager of NMH, Arrie Hougaard, issued a brief statement on Wednesday saying that “Allgemeine Zeitung and Namibia Media Holdings would like to apologise unequivocally for the publication of the insensitive & offensive photos in Monday’s edition of the AZ. “We deeply regret this error of judgment and bad journalism.” He did not respond to further questions as to whether there will be an investigation to determine where
the fault lay in the editorial process, or whether NMH would take action against the responsible editor/s. The AZ failed to reflect critically on the meaning and hurtful implications of these photos. The caption to the photo by Erwin Leuschner of the partygoers in KKK costumes, was captioned only as: “A costume that needs no further explanation…” On 9 July 2015 Namibians will celebrate 100 years since the end of German colonial rule on and the issues raised by the goings on at the Küska Maskenball will surely provide food for thought in terms of how far we have come to achieve meaningful reconciliation and how far we still have to go. The fiasco over the colonial overtones of the Küska Maskenball, as well as the political undertone of the Allgemeine Zeitung, has scratched open deeper wounds endured by those who lost their land and liberty during the period of colonialism and genocide; wounds that over the past hundred years, have barely begun to heal.
Swakop Uranium launches new bus fleet Swakop Uranium’s brand new bus fleet has arrived and these bright, branded vehicles have been visible on our coastal roads since last weekend. In a recent press release issued by Swakop Uranium, the new busses were ordered as part of their company values system. Through the values of safety and caring for their employees, Swakop Uranium will use the busses for the daily transportation of staff between the Husab Mine and their respective residential areas in Arandis, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The busses arrived at the port of Walvis Bay last week, but it has not yet been confirmed when they will start fully operating. Swakop Uranium is also providing world class training to their bus drivers, who have mainly been recruited from the Erongo Region. The maintenance and servicing of the buses will be done in Swakopmund to provide economic growth and local employment to the citizens of the Erongo Region.
Local man alleges police brutality Continued from Page 1 button and arrived to find Benade lying in an office in an appalling condition. Benade was completely naked under a blanket and was covered in blood. He was hypothermic and appeared to have at least one broken rib. He had suffered a head injury and had numerous lacerations all over his body. In addition to being in severe pain, Benade was disorientated and could not recollect what had happened. Though he did say that he could remember a police boot, saying that he recognised it because his uncle
is a police officer. According to reports, Benade regained consciousness in the Police barracks and walked to his place of work after escaping through a window. He was immediately transported to the Welwitschia Hospital. As a result of the assault, Benade is said to have broken his wrist and clavicle amongst various other injuries. The indentation of a boot was visible on his forehead and his back was covered in wounds. Benade was released from hospital but is apparently still unable to remember what happened to him. Nampol have stated that an internal investigation into the matter has been launched, and as a result, no information can be provided until the investigation has been completed and a report has been filed.
Ministry warns against sharing video of fatal dog attack Staff Reporter
In a move that may spell the end of the relatively free and unfettered use of the internet, the ministry of information is threatening to clamp down on social media users who publish violent and offensive material. Following news of the horrific incident in Windhoek wherein a 13-year old boy was mauled to death by two vicious pitbulls on Saturday the government issued a warning to users of social media to desist from circulating a graphic video clip of the killing. Several incidents in recent months have demonstrated how videos of violent incidents and intimate sexual exploits, known as ‘revenge porn’, can spread across the globe at lighting speed. Information technology is clearly developing faster than the laws needed to govern its use. In the latest incident to spark national outrage, a schoolboy, Fred Savage, died in the most grievous of circumstances at Otjomuise on Saturday when two dangerous and unguarded dogs dug their way out of their owner’s yard and attacked
ENERGY SAVING TIPS Kettle • Only boil the amount of water that you need. • Keep the kettle’s element clean by boiling vinegar to remove lime scale build up.
Let’s work together and use electricity sparingly.
3
the boy as he walked by the house. People who live nearby heard the commotion and onlookers tried to frighten off the mad dogs with stones. Some tried driving at the dogs and another fired gunshots into them, but to no avail. They were unable to rescue the child from the jaws of the crazed animals. Both dogs have since been shot. The owner, who was reportedly away on holiday at Rundu, has since offered to pay compensation to the grieving parents, but the public is baying for justice. Someone has to be held to account. After a video recording of the incident was posted online an official statement signed by the permanent secretary in the ministry of information and communication technology, Mr Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana on Tuesday said he is shocked “over the circulation of a video showing the late Fred Savage, being mauled to death.” “The circulation of such video is not only unethical in the public eye, but also unlawful as it is traumatising, especially to the family…” He continued, this is not the first time videos “of violent, sexual and hateful nature have been circulated” and cautioned internet users to stop circulating such material. “Anyone found in possession and circulating videos or visuals of such nature will be dealt with by the law,” Ua-Ndjarakana warned. It is not yet clear if anyone will face prosecution in connection with the death of Fred Savage.
4
News
Thursday, 02 July 2015
Rojo and Dausab sign multi-billion dollar mobile deal Jade McClune Two prominent Walvis Baybased businessmen signed a staggering N$8 billion contract in Johannesburg this week in a move that is likely to provide a welcome boost to the local economy. The exclusive agreement between THL Africa Distributors and its partner THL Africa, gives the local firm, started by Rojo van Wyk and Michael Dausab, exclusive rights to market and distribute a new range of smartphones for four years. THL Africa is part of Shenzhen Hongjiayuan Communication Technology Company in China, a high-tech firm which specialises in development of mobile phone technology. THL Africa Distributors will now be responsible for the launch, marketing and distribution of a new range of ultra-phones across the African continent. The phones are expected to come to market in
November. The Managing Director, Clifford Lyners said this week they will be looking for business partners interested in partnering with them as sub-distributors. He pointed out that the deal is worth N$8 billion over the next two years, but will be worth twice as much over the next four years. “We will offer a range of options to local partners who want to get involved in the value-chain, either as small or large-scale distributors.” Lyners said they are aiming at various types of distribution outlets, including informal pop-up stands for smaller businesses and start-ups, as well as larger and established retail outlets. THL’s range of ultra-phones is set for a big launch in South Africa in November and the company is now looking for brand ambassadors to market their phones to Africa, Lyners said. The new range of ultra-phones
consists of 14 models, of which 12 will be available to the local market. Michael Dausab said they are proud to be bringing this new mobile technology to Africa’s people. “As African businessmen and entrepreneurs with a strong focus on aiding Africa’s economic growth, the partnership will provide THL Africa Distributors with the opportunity to deliver a positive impact in the lives of African consumers.” “We are confident that our existing reach within the African marketplace, together with our strong partnerships, will be a key factor in enabling us to add true value across the continent,” Dausab said. He notes that affordability is a key factor and therefore “our key focus will lie with Africa’s emerging market in keeping with our philosophy of providing and creating new opportunities for African consumers.”
One of the world’s foremost emerging uranium companies, Swakop Uranium, is focused on developing and operating the world's third-largest known primary uranium deposit near the town of Swakopmund in Namibia. We need energetic, self-motivated and confident people to apply for our roles and we regard you as our “Employee of Choice”.
THL Africa Distributors' MD Clifford Lyners (far left), Director Rojo van Wyk (second from left) and Director Michael Dausab (far right) are seen here with the CEO of THL Africa Distributors, Marc Themba (centre), after the signing of the agreement in Johannesburg on Monday. Rojo van Wyk said: “Africa and its people are ready for accessible and affordable technology. We are confident that this agreement will enable us to provide access to the latest smartphone technology to those who previously could not afford it, and in so doing, deliver a
positive impact on Africa, its people and most importantly, its economic growth.” Dausab concluded by saying that “We are honoured and excited to be a part of bringing this new mobile world to Africa and its people.”
Tyre recycling plant for Walvis Bay
DOCUMENT CONTROLLER
Location: Husab Mine, Swakopmund Reports to the Director of Compliance and Risk Management To implement the Swakop Uranium document management system by performing various functions related to procedure system, document control, document archiving, document imaging and document register maintenance in line with the Company’s document management procedure. Key Performance Areas: Document Center Effectiveness: • Set up and maintain the Swakop Uranium document centre; • Distribute management documents as per procedures whilst maintaining management documents lists and databases; • Ensure obsolete documents are removed from circulation and ensure proper archiving; • Maintain document control procedure and ensure all relevant employees are informed about the control procedures; • Review, align and implement consistency and compliance of the department and project management documents. Document Control Effectiveness: • Establishes and manages the flow of documents by using procedures; • Controls issuance of document numbers, including maintenance of proper document registers; • Ensure protection and security of files and records; • Maintains documents/drawings in the Document Control office under safe custody without any damage or deterioration, with easy traceability. • Provide guidance to end user departments on document management procedure; • Transfers and dispose records according to retention schedules and policies; • Receives and monitors hard copy and electronic records, creates new files and scans/inputs documents; • Ensures controlled copies of the latest approved documents and drawings are given/issued and confers with document originators to resolve discrepancies and amends the documents accordingly. Procedure System Effectiveness • Uploads all latest versions of the policies, procedures to the Document Centre of the SU Portal as required; • Drafts procedure system reports as required; • Issues all corporate level policies, procedures to all staff as required; • Co-worker effectiveness; • Safety, Health, Environmental, Radiation and Quality effectiveness. Requirements and experience: • Grade 12 with a Certificate/Diploma in document management systems. • Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Document Controller. • Experience with implementation of a document and records management system. • Computer literate with good experience on Sharepoint and added advantage. • Experience in the mining industry and understanding of ISO 9001 standards will be a distinct advantage. • Code B Driver’s License. Email: recruitment@cgnpc.com.cn Deadline: 10 July 2015
Through its commitment to its people, the company offers a competitive remuneration package and the opportunity to work alongside some of the most experienced and dedicated people in the industry. Interested persons should submit their CV and relevant supporting documents to the above email addresses OR via our fax number 064-410 9001 OR or hand delivered to Husab Tower, c/o Leutwein and Nathaniel Maxuilili street Swakopmund by the above mentioned deadline. Enquiries can be directed to the Recruitment Team at 064 410 9000. Previously disadvantaged Namibians meeting the above criteria are encouraged to apply. Clearly indicate the position you are applying for as well as your name and surname in the subject line of your application email. Applications received that do not meet this criteria will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date of this advertisement and no documents will be returned. Short-listed candidates must be willing to undergo preemployment selection assessments. For more information on the company, please visit www.swakopuranium.com
Passionately energise our World
Waste tyres discarded by the tonne loads are stacking up at the Municipal pit, and to alleviate this problem the Walvis Bay Municipality is leasing out land to establish a tyre re-cycling plant Donna Collins A tyre recycling plant is on the cards for Walvis Bay to alleviate the problem of huge numbers of tyres being dumped at the waste disposal site, which has become a major concern to the Municipality. According to statistics released, it is estimated that more than 1 500 tyres of various sizes are currently discarded at the rubbish site, with the numbers increasing daily as more cars, trucks and earthmovers form part of the town's industrial and population growth. But the green light has been given for the lease of five hectares of un-serviced land situated adjacent to the landfill, for the purpose of establishing a tyre recycling facility. The plan was outlined in the last Council Management Meeting, in the wake of the Walvis Bay Municipality inviting proposals from the public for the reduction, re-use and recycling of tyres, because in terms of good environmental practices these tyres cannot be burned or simply buried. Approval was granted for the lease of this portion of unserviced land to Green Energy Global CC, a Namibian Company in joint venture with Enviro Tyre Recycling Namibia, who submitted a proposal to establish a waste tyre recycling facility which met with council's approval. The lease period for the five hectares
for the first phase is set for ten years, as from date of signing the Lease agreement, with an option to renew the agreement for a further period as agreed upon by the Municipality and the applicant, subject to terms and conditions. The prospects of a tyre recycling facility in Walvis Bay has been met with positive response from the large tyre retail outlets such as Continental, Dunlop, Quality Tyres and Trentyre, who claim that it will be of great value to the town and a huge relief to the tyre industry. According to Jaco Louw (Branch Manager Trentyre, Walvis Bay), their company for one would make use of this facility and is certain that the 21 registered tyre outlets in town feel the same. "At the growing rate tyres are being dumped in Walvis Bay, the Municipality will soon be faced with a huge problem to manage tyre waste that is stacking up in mountainous proportions,” he told the Namib Independent. "There are about 12 tonnes of discarded tyres that are being dumped on the tip each month, and Trentyre throws away between 50 to 60 truck tyres a month alone, as the need for tyres increases in the harbour town. "I am not even including other companies, so you can imagine the enormous amounts of rubber that is being trashed, and the prospects of a tyre recycling plant will be of great relief to the local tyre industry."
Thursday, 02 July 2015
News
Will the new mayor Namport focuses on security declare his assets?
Sharon Brooks
Swakopmund Municipality celebrated the swearing in of their new Mayor Nehemiah Salomon on Wednesday morning at a special council meeting, and is seen here being welcomed in by CEO Eckard Demasius. (Photo Donna Collins)
Jade McClune Following the election of Juuso Kambueshe to the Regional Council last month, long-serving council member Nehemia Solomon was sworn in on Wednesday as the new mayor of Swakopmund. Cllr Solomon was nominated by his comrade, Swapo Cllr. Anthony Bessinger, to serve as the new mayor. Solomon also serves as chairperson of the management committee. “It is a privilege to be entrusted with mayoral duties”, Solomon said, noting that the gesture on the part of his colleagues of nominating him for the position, “demonstrates the culture of inclusivity” that exists in Swakopmund. Dressed in a silken white suit, Solomon said during his inaugural speech he would strive to eradicate every manifestation of corruption and nepotism within the municipality. The Anti-Corruption Commission meanwhile confirmed yesterday that their investigation into the case of the former mayor – who was in the audience on Wednesday – was summarily withdrawn and the filed closed after Council decided to annul the sale of a disputed piece of land to the former mayor. In Kambueshe’s place, the Swapo Party nominated Erich Shitana as their new councillor. Shitana, who seconded the nomination of the new mayor, was then immediately nominated by Solomon to serve on the management committee. Shitana has a background as a trade union organiser in TUCNA [Teachers Union Congress of Namibia], but it is not immediately clear what experience he would bring to the management committee, as he is apparently a novice in local authority affairs. The new mayor further said he wants to join in President Geingob’s war on poverty: “We have people facing starvation and poverty… we have to be soldiers of change. The strong must take care of the weak and nobody must feel left out”.
The mayor said he would focus on service delivery and making serviced land available for housing and shelter: Council remains committed to addressing the needs of the community and to delivering efficient services, he said. The new mayor was, however, not prepared to answer any questions from the media on the day. In response to a question directed to him Swapo Party’s Regional Coordinator Phillipus Heita said yesterday they are not just electing councillors to go and sit in offices, but expect them to address the burning issues facing the community. Heita supports the idea that councillors should declare their assets and interests. “We all have to follow the president’s good example and declare [our interests], even you and me,” Heita said. He further said the Swapo party’s election manifesto will soon become official government policy and councillors will be expected to implement the programme. “I want to encourage the team of municipal leaders to unite and show unity of purpose. We want our councillors not just to sit in their offices, but to report on their work. We expect them to serve the whole community and not just the party,” he said. The questions, which the Namib Independent was unable to ask on the day of his inauguration, but which the wider public would like Solomon to address, include the following: 1) Given that he says he is against corruption and nepotism, is the new mayor willing to follow the example of President Geingob and declare all his assets and demand the same of his councillors? 2) Was Solomon part of the previous Council decision to sell unserviced land to private developers leading to the loss of around N$590 million in revenue to the municipality? Coastal readers can only hope that at an occasion in the very near future the new mayor of Swakopmund will answer these and other burning questions.
On Monday this week, fifteen recruits from marginalised communities received certificates after completing a Basic Port Security Training Course through the Namibian Ports Authority. At the same event, Chief Executive Officer Bisey / Uirab commissioned the new security uniforms to be worn by all security personnel at the port. After showing off the new uniforms and newly acquired skills through impressive drill displays, the new recruits were beaming with pride as they received their certificates from CEO Bisey /Uirab. The course included topics such as ethics, criminal law, basic security skills and port specific issues such as customs and immigration. Though all the recruits will need
5
further training in areas such as fire-fighting and first aid, the event saw the group officially welcomed onto the Namibian Ports Authority Team. /Uirab said, “I am happy to see that we now also have members of the San, Ovatue and Ovatjimba communities on our security team. Young persons from these communities have been challenged and disadvantaged in the labour market for a long time. We trust that our accelerated training and development programme will inspire them to take advantage of growth opportunities and strive to achieve greater things.” “We want to enable these youngsters to fully integrate themselves into society so that they can participate at every level and so shape and have better control of their future and that of their families. It feels good to have a security force which is by and large representative of the demographics of the country.” One of the graduates, Latoya Nangolo, assured / Uirab that the team are aware of the challenges they will face in the security industry, and that they have vowed, “Never to act in any way that would bring the organisation which has given us a lifeline’s name into disrepute. Rest assured, Sir, that we are disciplined, committed and trustworthy.” Namibia Ports Authority engineer, Elzevir Gelderbloem pointed out that these fifteen recruits form part of the 38 vacancies that have been filled as part of the ports turnaround strategy, adding that this capacity building includes the construction of a new security building which is currently underway. “No matter where we come from – no matter how the job touches our lives – we all know it is important to have a home where we can feel comfortable, a home we call Namport.” The new recruits closed the event by reciting the two rules of security: 1. Never compromise on Security 2. Never forget rule one
6
News
Thursday, 02 July 2015
A healthier lifestyle with the help of Body Matrix
Julia Hango Body Matrix fitness program is on a mission to start a movement and create health awareness in Walvis Bay. Anthony Borruso and Beate Kolzing have both been on the the other end of the scale and know what it is like to be obese. Their dream is to teach community of Walvis Bay that obesity is not a death sentence. “We want to open people’s eyes and make them realize that they do not have to be content with being obese. We want to make people aware of the life style they have chosen” said Beate in an interview with the Namib independent earlier this week. Body Matrix is currently promoting their transformation challenge, which not only includes three days a week of personal training, but requires that participants follow a 30 day diet customised to suit their lifestyle and body type as well as
close monitoring of consumption. A WhatsApp chat room has been created for clients who feel the urge to backslide into old habits by allowing them to get support from trainers at any time. The next step for Body Matrix is to set up a camp for overweight children and to educate parents on correct eating habits so that, from an early age, children know what is needed in order to live a healthy life and look after their bodies. According to Beate, Body Matrix aims to teach people how to reprogram their minds and read labels on anything they buy at a supermarket, from the little things like salt to spices and pre-packaged goods. While Anthony is currently completing courses, Beate has 15 years’ experience in the fitness industry and both share a passion to help people change their lives for the better. “Overweight people always say they are big boned, “Ï am not fat I am just big boned” but it is an illusion. Even if you are big boned, you can try to look your best. Body Matrix is not just personal training and dieting, for Anthony and I this is a deeper connection to our clients, and we will take you step by step, hand in hand to make sure you feel supported.” The process begins with a personal consultation to figure out exactly where you are and what will suit your lifestyle, this is done face to face to make the client feel comfortable and more prepared for their journey to better health. For more information call Beate Kolzing on 0812437699
WALVIS BAY CONVENIENCE CEN RE Hungry? Need lunch in a hurry?
Refuel with the convenience of our daily meals and our fresh deli counter.
PO Box 43, Walvis Bay Corner of Sam Nujoma Avenue & 10th Road Tel: 064 207248 | Fax: 064 207253 Email: wvbconv.centre@iway.na
red
power to the people
ing bring f o rsary region e v i n th an e Erongo 0 1 r u th ting o eople of a r b le ly ce y to the p d u o Pr ricit elect
News
Thursday, 02 July 2015
10
New community hall for Narraville
Happy
7
th
Birthday red
Congratulations on 10 powerful years!
Sharon Brooks The ground-breaking ceremony was held last week Friday for a new community hall in Narraville situated behind the Narraville municipal offices. The state of the art building is set to be completed by June next year at a total estimated cost of N$15 million. According to the Architect, KB Designs, the building will cover an area of 360 m² and will include changing rooms, ablution facilities, a kitchen and serving area, office, entertainment area and a 125 m² stage. The hall will be wheelchair accessible and includes a parking area and will have the capacity to seat between 250 and 400 people. The community hall has been designed to international standards in terms of acoustics, logistics and functionality using local building materials. The structure has been designed in such a way as to take advantage of natural light and durable materials have been selected to allow for limited maintenance. The Mayor of Walvis Bay, Councillor Uillika Nambahu, said, “We are taking the first baby steps towards
the construction of a community asset which in many aspects is destined to be a symbol of identity with this community, a symbol of belonging, a platform through which ideas can be exchanged and a centre for the creation of lasting memorable decisions and lives’ journeys.” She went on to urge all parties involved in the construction of the building to “Ensure that the building attests to the quality of leadership available in this city and further that no compromise be exercised when it comes to delivering the completed building to the community as per project timelines.” Deputy Mayor Councillor Benson Uakumbua pointed out that the Narraville community has been looking forward to such a facility, especially seeing as all other suburbs in Walvis Bay already have community halls. He went on to say, “There is great benefit in being the last as evidenced by the design of this hall, as being in line with modern designs and attests for the high quality and regards that Council has for not only these and other community infrastructures but also for the Narraville community as a whole.”
Securing Your World Walvis Bay: +264 64 213 922
FOR ALL YOUR DSTV REQUIREMENTS, PAYMENTS AND INSTALLATIONS
select
159
N$ N$ 1299* Decoder + Dish + Installation
Swakopmund: +264 64 415 300
S
per moNth
Microsoft Lumia 435 extra payment N$143.75
Including: Explora Decoder
N$ 2999*
200 Minutes 200 MB 200 SMSs Visit website for more phone options. offer valid until 31 July 2015. 24 month contract. Connection fee N$218. terms & Conditions apply.
www.mtc.com.na
Architect's model of the new state of the art community hall to be built in Narraville
WALVIS BAY: 064-203318 SWAKOPMUND: 064-403418
Henties Bay: +264 64 500 407
News
COASTAL
Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results.
Hage's hundred
Today marks exactly 100 days since the day I was sworn in as the third President of the Republic of Namibia. It has become a common practice in some countries for new Presidents to give a self-assessment of their performance and reflect on the progress made during the first 100 days in office. While 100 days may be too short a period to meaningfully assess the effectiveness of any newly elected President or for that matter a newly appointed CEO of a company, it does provide a first opportunity for reflection on the direction the Government will take. The very fact that there is talk of 100 days has ignited the people across all sectors. The media has arranged special talks and dedicated significant newspaper coverage to this matter.
No Namibian should feel left out.
My first and foremost conjecture as newly elected President or what I refer to as the new Head of the Namibian House, was to inspire and rally the entire Nation behind the concepts of “one Namibia, one Nation” and my election mantra that “no Namibian should feel left out”. I believe that the patriotic fervor that was roused and evident to the whole world during our Independence Jubilee celebrations and has continued to be exuded by our citizenry is a clear indication that I have succeeded in these objectives of creating a feeling of rejuvenation. Across the length and breadth of Namibia, people from all walks of
life have rallied behind these concepts. Therefore the Nation has reacted to my clarion call and a psychological impact of regarding themselves first and foremost as Namibians has already taken place. It is a call that has reverberated around the globe with many African and World leaders talking about the new Namibian President. Today Namibians are feeling anew. We are moving away from the tendency to identify as close knit “families” and have embraced our diversity in a positive manner in order to buttress the foundation of the Namibian House. Namibian citizens are now referring to the Namibian House. However, this is not a once off achievement, and over the course of my Presidency, I will continue to advocate for a Namibian House that is united, a Namibian House where all have a sense of belonging and a Namibian House where no one should feel left out. Furthermore, a leader of a nation must have an overarching theme that will define his or her Presidency. In my particular case, I have chosen to tackle the issue of distribution of income headon by declaring all-out war on poverty. Namibia is not a poor nation by any means and as I have said on several occasions our problem is one of redistributing our wealth and ensuring equal access to business opportunities for all our citizens. This affirms my commitment that no Namibian should feel left out. You will recall, that I initially declared all-out war on poverty in front of a worldwide audience on March 21, 2015 while delivering my inauguration speech. This was commended
We will put in place strategies to rapidly reduce poverty. by many in attendance that day, as well as, in various messages of congratulations which I received following that event. On this occasion, I had tried to highlight the poverty conundrum which we are faced with by saying that Africa is rich, but Africans are poor. Namibia is rich, but Namibians are poor. Despite an enviable endowment of natural resources, a large majority of our people are poor. Therefore they feel left out. Yes, we know that poverty cannot be eradicated overnight; therefore we will put in place strategies to rapidly reduce poverty, especially food insecurity, while ultimately we should eradicate poverty. In creating the Ministry of Poverty Eradication, I was faced with the task of identifying a competent person to place at its helm and lead the process of eradicating poverty. There was no better person to take up this assignment than Bishop Zephania Kameeta, a man who epitomizes the spirit of compassion, knowhow, understanding and resolve needed to help our most impoverished citizens to improve their livelihoods. Bishop Kameeta will be supported by two equally competent female Deputy Ministers, one of whom is also a pastor. They are mothers and experienced leaders, who in their own right possess the acumen to solve issues related
Our President's report on his first 100 days in office to poverty. I am confident that together they will form a formidable team, with their officials and will therefore steer Namibia in the right direction in terms of eradicating poverty. I would now like to turn to some notable accomplishments of Government during the past one hundred days. However, before doing so, let me emphasize two important things. I would like to in particular thank the efforts of the top four in Government, viz. the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the entire Cabinet. As you are aware, Cabinet Ministers were selected and allocated to various ministries based on their qualifications and level of expertise after thorough analysis of their Curriculum Vitae, which I had requested. These appointments have rejuvenated the people as well as the ministries themselves. I would also like to thank our uniformed staff, who are serving the nation professionally and selflessly. Their efforts will go a long way in consolidating peace and stability in the nation. I have committed myself to consultative leadership and must say that I have benefited immensely from the views and advise of my colleagues. The account of achievements that I will come to in a moment, should be seen in the context of promises that I have made as Presidential Candidate of the SWAPO Party, outlined in my campaign statement and most notably the SWAPO Party Manifesto. Upon my election as President, I assured the Nation on my commitment towards delivering on these promises. I would like to in particular refer to my inaugural address, my
address to the first meeting of Cabinet and my maiden State of Nation Address. It is my intent to demonstrate that I regard my promises to the people of Namibia as sacrosanct, and I stand ready to be held accountable to them at any point in time.
The mark of a leader is the ability to cast a vision for his people and get them to believe in that vision. The mark of a leader is the ability to cast a vision for his people and get them to believe in that vision. It is important for people to believe in a vision because a leader cannot achieve a vision singlehandedly, but only through a collective effort in which everyone pulls in the same direction - Harambee. Therefore, a great amount of time during my first 100 days as President was dedicated towards outlining my vision to all Cabinet members as well as other important stakeholders who play an integral role in the rolling out of Government programs. In essence, this involves the entire nation. I believe that we have made significant headway and covered a considerable amount of ground over the past 100 days with regard to developing a shared vision. Some of the specific vision building activities included an induction seminar for Cabinet members, including Deputy Ministers and Permanent Secretaries. One of the key purposes of the induction seminar was to take Cabinet through key important concepts, thinking and approaches
that will mark the tenure of my Presidency. These include: good governance and ethics, poverty eradication, reduction of income disparities, accelerated economic growth, job creation and rapid industrialization. Top experts from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa engaged Cabinet members through the use of interactive sessions aimed at introducing some of the latest developments and thinking globally on these important challenges. For example, we learned how Brazil managed to rapidly reduce poverty and income disparities in a short period of time, something that we would also like to achieve in Namibia. In addition to the Cabinet induction seminar, I have requested all Ministers to prepare Declarations of Intent, which outline their promises to the public. These Declarations of Intent had to be in line with Government goals and objectives such as NDP 4 and Vision 2030. All Ministers have submitted their Statements of Intent and based on these, coupled with other cross cutting governance key performance areas, we are now in the process of developing performance contracts for all Ministers. These will be ready before the end of the second quarter of this financial year. I must, however, mention that at a civil servant level, through the Prime Minister, performance management agreements have already been effected. I have called on Cabinet Ministers to first familiarize themselves with local conditions as well as introducing themselves to Namibians before travelling abroad. In this context I undertook an introductory and familiarization visit to Tsumkwe, the second most impoverished constituency in Namibia. I used this opportunity to explain to the residents of Tsumkwe the philosophy and priorities of Government, in particular the Ministry of Poverty Eradication, and called on them to meet Government halfway in achievement these objectives, no matter how meager their resources might be. Several Cabinet Ministers accompanied me and the purpose was to introduce these Ministers to people of Tsumkwe so that they know who their national leaders are. But
News
Namibia ... the home of great governance has made good progress in developing the operational modalities of the Food Bank. As well as this the Minister of Poverty eradication was tasked to organize a national dialogue on poverty eradication and wealth redistribution as soon as possible with the aim to develop an implementable blue print for poverty eradication in Namibia. With regard to land reform, as a first measure we have doubled the resource allocation towards the purchasing on land in the current Medium Term Expenditure Framework.
it will not end there. These visits will continue on a frequent basis, because as Government, we must have our ears and eyes on the ground, and be attuned to the needs and aspirations of the people that we represent. Furthermore, I have said at many occasions, that good governance is a necessary condition for meaningful and sustainable development. One of the key elements of good governance is the importance of managing potential conflict of interest in a transparent manner. Commitment to transparency, zero tolerance of corruption and promotion of good governance start at the top. For this reason, I promised to publicly declare my assets as President of the Republic of Namibia even though I am not required to do so by law. On May 20, 2015, together with my wife, I kept the promise to declare my assets, a decision that reverberated on the African continent and elsewhere in the world. Namibia had scored a first for Africa by having a sitting President openly declaring his assets. Afterwards, there were questions about proxies to which I have replied by saying that any proxies in my name must be regarded by the proxy holder as their own. The same applies to Ministers. If you hold proxies for ministers, regard that as lawfully belonging to you. I also promised to release my health records, and this was done together with the asset declaration. I have also directed the Prime Minister to ensure that all public servants, especially permanent secretaries declare their assets. As you have seen, the Prime Minister has not wasted any time in taking action and has made good progress in developing a framework for the declaration of interest by Public Servants. As well as this, we have also set into motion the amendment of Regulation 11 under the Public Service Act of 1995 to compel public servants to declare private interest and engagement in remunerative work outside the public service. I did not lift the ban on Civil Servants doing business. This declaration just clarifies the point that there should not be any conflict of interest. Equally,
the Honorable Speaker of the National Assembly has put in motion modalities to enhance the regular declaration of assets by all members of Parliament. This has been a standing practice and what the Speaker is now doing is merely to refine this mandatory practice. So far Cabinet has held six deliberative meetings chaired by the Prime Minister and by tomorrow, six substantive meetings chaired by the President would have taken place. Due to this we were able to move fast on a number of issues, including approval of short, medium and longterm interventions for drought relief in the country; approving the establishment of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency; and approval of amendments to the State Owned Enterprises Governance Act to allow for the assignment of functions of the SOE Governance Council to the Minister responsible for Public Enterprises. In addition to the establishment of the Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, the following meaningful actions were carried out during the first 100 days of office. The old age pension was increased by 66.7 percent to N$1000 per month. Following adoption of the appropriation bill earlier this month, pensioners should soon receive the increased amounts. We are very proud about this measure, as research conducted by the National Statistics Agency shows that the old age pension is one of the most effective measures to arrest poverty, in particular childhood poverty. In the same vein, we are proud to announce that during the past 100 days an additional 12,277 children were added to the child grant system, while the number of early childhood centre caregivers receiving a monthly subsidy from Government increased 806 to 1005. In addition the Child Care and Protection Bill of 2015, was signed into law on the 3rd of June. These measures will go a long way in arresting childhood poverty. We have also made budgetary provision for the introduction of a Food Bank. The Minister of Poverty Eradication
Land reform remains a crucial, delicate and emotive issue in Namibia. Land reform must be addressed with care. Land reform remains a crucial, delicate and emotive issue in Namibia. Land reform must be addressed with care, and as noted in my State of Nation address, Government will explore all measures within the confines of the law to address this matter. To this, I have directed the Minister of Land Reform, to explore all options at the disposal of Government to fast track land distribution, including the confiscation of foreign owned land on a legal basis, as well as the subsidizing municipalities to acquire urban land for house construction. We must also aim at irrigating more land for crop production. The two Kavango regions, in particular have enormous potential for crop production. Government owns 300,000 hectares in these two regions, out of which it should be possible to utilize at least 30,000 hectares for agricultural purposes. Through this action, it should be possible to train and employ at least between 1000 and 2000 young people on a regular basis. This is a measure that Government will explore. With regard to transformation of the Namibian economy, especially transformation of ownership of the assets of production, as well as the promotion of local businesses, I have directed that the Public Procurement Bill be tabled in Parliament as soon as possible and signed into law. I am pleased to note that our Finance Minister quickly acted on this directive and that the Bill will be table in the current session of Cabinet. The revised Public Procurement act will not only stimulate the domestic business sector, especially SMEs, but will also promote transparency in Government procurement where the problem has been. Equally the Prime Minister had been driving the revised Equitable Economic Framework also known as Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment. Broad based means that wealth should not go to individuals but to go to communities. The EEF will soon be submitted to Cabinet for approval and tabled in the National Assembly before September 2015. Cabinet has finalized two Bills namely the Income Tax Amendment Bill and the VAT Amendment Bill. The Income Tax Amendment Bill is aimed at lowering the corporate tax rate to 32 percent and the withholding tax rate to 10 percent. The Vat Amendment Bill on the other hand is aimed at increasing the VAT threshold from N$200,000 to N$500,000. Through these amendments, we are reducing the cost of doing business in Namibia, making our enterprises more competitive, which is good for economic growth and job creation. All the above measures, together with our Growth at Home Industrial Implementation Strategy will go a long way in the transformation of our economy into a more diverse, resilient and representative economy. With regard to housing delivery, we have stopped the mass housing initiative due to the numerous irregularities reported. Furthermore houses, I have directed the Minister of Urban and Rural Development to provide me with proposals on this matter before the end of July. Some of the emerging measures that
will be pursued as a matter of priority include amendment of the Regional Councils Act and the Local Authorities Act, to prohibit the sale of land to and ownership by foreign nationals, as well as putting in place mechanism to prevent land speculation and other practices that prevent the majority of Namibians from accessing urban land. We will continue to implement measures to support good governance at a local level, and have institute forensic investigations into alleged irregularities and poor governance at the Omaruru Municipality. The same will apply for other municipalities where there are allegations of poor governance, and findings of reports will be released. Similarly, following concerns in the energy sector, I have directed that the Xaris project be halted until it has been reviewed by experts. Furthermore, Government is looking at all areas where we can cut costs. This will involve looking at the output or value that should be related to any costs incurred. The same applies to Government travel, especially foreign trips that must have a value. Travel must have tangible results. Travel for peace, will be considered, but sizes of delegations must be limited. When I refer to Namibia as a Child of International Solidarity, I am not making an understatement. Namibia has a record and a glowing repertoire in terms our international relations. Nothing signifies Namibia’s stature in the international arena more than the flood of well wishes and congratulatory messages I received upon my election as President of the Republic of Namibia. This flood of messages continued following my inauguration as President. Namibia is seen by many world leaders and powers as an exemplar of democratic rule and good governance and therefore despite our often referred to small population, we are still seen as carrying a large amount of weight on the diplomatic stage. Immediately upon assuming office, I was overwhelmed by a large number of invitations from Presidents and Prime Ministers from all over the world. I had to pick out the most important ones that are dealing with multilateral issues, especially issues that concern poverty and wealth. In this regard we have to look at our neighbors. First and foremost, I had to pay a visit to our strategic neighbours in the SADC region. Namibia finds itself sandwiched between two key economic powerhouses, both with whom we share a long standing history of struggle against colonial rule. It is therefore logical to assume that we will once again have to join forces with these two allies as we fight the second phase of the struggle and pursue the goal of bringing economic emancipation to our people. South Africa is a well-established economic power on the African continent while Angola is a country on the march, rising from a legacy of war and moving towards rapid economic development. It is for this reason that my first outward trip as President of the Republic of Namibia was to Angola, accompanied by several Cabinet Ministers, where I met my counterpart, President Dos Santos to discuss issues of mutual concern and of interest to the development of the SADC region as a whole. I am pleased to note that we have agreed on a number of cross border projects, including revival of the Baines Hydro Power Project, which is crucial for our energy sector. We also discussed the construction of key road infrastructure such as bridges. Shortly after this trip, I travelled to South Africa for a similar meeting with President Zuma. With regard to the AU summit, I have circulated my statement to the media and received overwhelmingly positive feedback and commentary. In conclusion the mood of nation is upbeat, the cabinet is upbeat. Now I want to introduce my A team to help me carry out these duties. They are as follows: Mr. Etienne Maritz – Executive Director in the President’s Private Office Mr. John Steytler – Economic Advisor Mr. Albertus Aochamub – State House Press Secretary Ms. Inge Zaamwani – Kamwi – Constitutional Advisor and Private Sector Interface Ms. Penny Akwenye – Policy Advisor on Implementation and Monitoring Ms. Daisry Mathias – Advisor on Youth Ms. Yvonne Dausab – Chairperson of the Law Reform and Development Commission Comrade Philemon Malima - Director General of the Namibia Central Intelligence Service.
Contact Remax for all your property needs! Our friendly agents standing by whether you are selling or buying. Give us a call! Ongwediva 065 238 342 / Swakopmund 064 464 033 / Walvis Bay 064 212 440
10
Business Focus
Business
Focus Narraville – “There’s gold in those hills” This week, the Namib Independent turned its eye towards what many envisage to be a sleepy little hollow, especially when viewed through the eye of a businessman or woman. The truth of the matter though is that, like the rest of Walvis Bay, the suburb has undergone a mini mushrooming of business activity, making it a viable option for business people to “shop” in when seeking services, products and supplies. Unless a frequent visitor to Narraville, one could easily be excused for not knowing that within her boarders lie great, well-established businesses and a number of new dynamic small businesses who have proven that there is a gap in the market for a wide array of services. Next time your business finds itself in the processes of procuring quotes for a product or service, be sure to turn your eyes towards some great establishments in Narraville including the likes of, engineering & hydraulic and salvage services, vehicle repair, panel beating and motor spares, builders, brickworks, upholstery, flowers and gifts and joinery services and a host of broader services including health, investments and even tertiary learning academies. Today we take time out to provide the details of some of the Crème de la Crème of the businesses that are well worth a call or a trip across the bridge the next time your business evaluates potential suppliers for any job. You will be surprised.
Thursday, 02 July 2015
Thursday, 02 July 2015
Business
Focus
Business Focus
11
12
News
Thursday, 02 July 2015
Coastal Dad’s are officially the coolest Sharon Brooks
The Namib Independent ran a father’s day competition to find the coolest Dad at the coast with big prizes up for grabs. Numerous entries
cellphone from Supertronix goes to Nico Le Roux and Mark Renecle will be biting into a hamper from The Belgian Chocolatique.
Alan Hartung has won a voucher from SpotOn and Charles Gabrielsen goes home with a voucher from Pennypinchers
were received, and this week we are pleased to announce the winners for World’s Best Dad. Super Dad Jermaine Isaacs has won a “Daddy Pack” from Sentrum pharmacy while Willie Koch goes home with a toolkit from Autozone. A
LANGER HEINRICH URANIUM (PTY) LTD A Member of the Paladin Energy Ltd Group of Companies (An Equal Opportunity Employer)
Willie Koch
Charles Gabrielsen
Invites suitably qualified and committed self driven candidates to apply for the following MINE SITE / TOWN OFFICE position for long term employment in SWAKOPMUND, NAMIBIA.
PRODUCTION TEAM LEADER CLOSING DATE: 17 July 2015
To apply for this position, please register on Sage Skills Map and apply online @ https://langer.jb.skillsmapafrica.com Position specifications can be viewed at above link. For any assistance, please download the job seeker’s manual. Please note that no hand delivered or emailed applications will be accepted.
Nico Le Roux
Alan Hartung
Thursday, 02 July 2015
News
competition
SMS “Aweh” to 10000 to receive the question • Answer the easy question about Aweh and stand a chance to win N$10,000 daily! • The more you know about Aweh the better your chance to win. Now that’s Aweh!
Visit mtc.com.na for more information. Terms and conditions apply.
www.mtc.com.na
PT1513
N$3 per SMS. Competition runs from 1-31 July 2015.
13
14
Worldwide
Thursday, 02 July 2015
Worldwide Teens invent condom that changes colour upon STD detection
Three UK teenagers have invented a concept for a condom that changes color when it detects sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), news.com.au reported. The condom, called the S.T. EYE, has a built-in indictor that turns different colors when it detects a strain of bacteria, including chlamydia and syphilis. S.T. EYE won the best health innovation award at the U.K.’s TeenTech awards in London on Tuesday, bringing recognition for its three inventors: Daanyaal Ali, 14, Muaz Nawaz, 13, and Chirag Shah, 14, all students from Isaac Newton Academy in Essex, England. The students won about USD 1,500 and
EU to end roaming Ozzie the Travelling Cat charges in 2017
a trip to meet Prince Andrew at Buckingham Palace later this year. “We wanted to make something that makes detecting harmful STIs safer than ever before, so that people can take immediate action in the privacy of their own homes without the invasive procedures at the doctors,” Daanyaal told news.com. au. “We’ve made sure we’re able to give peace of mind to users and make sure people can be even more responsible than ever before.” S.T.EYE is only a concept for now, TeenTech chief executive Maggie Philbin commented. Apparently the concept will need a lot more R&D before the product hits our contraceptive shelves.
Mobile roaming charges are set to be scrapped within the European Union from June 2017. Under the new rules, mobile phone users will pay the same price to make calls, send text messages and use data wherever they are in the EU, meaning calling friends or family while travelling will make no difference to bills from June 15, 2017, the European Commission announced. European negotiators have also reached an agreement on so-called net neutrality rules, which will see internet providers banned from blocking or slowing down access to particular content, services or applications. Andrus Ansip, the European Commission's vicepresident for the Digital Single Market, said: "Europeans have been calling and waiting for the end of roaming charges as well as for net neutrality rules. They have been heard." Gunther H Oettinger, commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, said: "I welcome today's crucial agreement to finally end roaming charges and establish pragmatic net neutrality rules throughout the EU. "Both are essential for consumers and businesses in today's European digital economy and society. "We will build on these important foundations in our forthcoming review of the EU's telecoms legislation." The EC said a series of technical conditions need to be fulfilled in order to abolish roaming charges, but it is "fully committed to implementing those conditions and making sure that the end of roaming charges is operational as of day one". Prime Minister David Cameron said the deal would deliver major benefits for consumers in the UK and across the EU. He said: “This deal is fantastic news for British consumers and shows that the UK, working with its partners, can deliver real change in Europe, bringing significant benefits for working people. It also shows that the EU can show the flexibility and creativity to deliver changes that benefit people in this country and across Europe."
Source: www.foxnews.com
Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
An Australian cat has ended up on the other side of the world, and no one knows how. The cat, now nicknamed "Ozzie," was found by Armagh Cats Protection wandering the streets of Armagh in Northern Ireland, looking worse for wear. In a strange turn of events, when the tomcat's microchip was checked it was registered to an owner in Sydney, Australia — more than 17,000 kilometres away. Despite attempts, the original owner has not been located. It is believed the cat was taken to London from Australia by its owner, as he turned up at a London vet in 2004 but no further details were recorded. The mystery surrounds how Ozzie made the journey across the Irish Sea in the following years. Vets were also shocked to find he was 25 years old - far older than the average age of 15 for most cats. Gillian McMullen, co-ordinator of the Armagh Branch of the Cats Protection Society, said she was called by a member of the public who was worried about a "poorly stray cat that had been hanging around her garden for several days". She said: "The poor cat was starving but obviously had been cared for in the past because it was wearing a collar." He was then taken to a vet clinic in Portadown, Northern Ireland, where the microchip was checked and the mystery of Ozzie the travelling cat was born. The rescue centre has now launched an international appeal to find out more about Ozzie and return him to his original owner and Ms McMullen says the staff have their "paws crossed". Source: www.mashable.com
Co.Reg. 21/99/271
VACANCY EXPERIENCED CAMBRIDGE ART & DESIGN TEACHER The ideal candidate will have a BA in Arts, Design & Art History, an MA in Fine Arts, experience in teaching, organizing and managing all aspects of the subject: the theory, practical lessons, examinations and be familiar with academic selfgovernance. In return we will offer the opportunity of working in an innovative & supporting school with pupils who are motivated to succeed. Only short listed candidates will be interviewed. Closing date for applications: 15 July 2015. Contact the secretary: +264 (0)64 - 203995
What did you do with your extra second? Did you notice that on June 30, there was an extra second in the day, making the hour before midnight 3,601 seconds long. Like leap years, leap seconds occur to bring our timing devices in line with nature. This is why we need a leap second: the Earth's rate of spin changes ever so slightly in response to the gravitational effect of other bodies, particularly the moon. Most days we spin a little bit slower than the one before, an average loss of 0.002 seconds/ day. If these changes were allowed to add up, we would eventually find that the whole planet would experience the midnight sun, balanced, alas, by darkness at noon.
Leap seconds are always added just before midnight Greenwich Mean Time on June 30 and December 31. We've already had 25 of them since 1972, making the three year gap since the last longer than average. But modern technology has made these adjustments harder, not easier. Numerous leading websites were derailed by the last leap second. These sorts of problems have led some to propose that we abolish leap seconds. After all, it will take centuries for our timing devices to get sufficiently out of sync with the planet for most of us to notice. Source: www.iflscience. com
Motoring
Thursday, 02 July 2015
motoring
15
Drivers thrill at Desert Raceway Donna Collins
There was nothing more touching than to hear a full stand of spectators and racing drivers singing their national anthems during the official start of the thrilling two-day SA vs. Namibia event, which was staged at Walvis Bay's Desert Raceway Mecca this weekend. This was followed by the roar of engines that filled the open air raceway as the sun melted behind the surrounding desert dunes, with a full programme of dirt oval track racing that continued under the spotlights well into the chilly night. This was the event of the season, and with the qualifying race held on Friday night setting the pace for Saturday's national championship event where 71 entries took part, racing was electric and the atmosphere amongst the huge turnout of spectators was festive. Colourful Space frames entered into the different competing classes, putting on a show as Namibians battled against their South African rivals for the best podium finish. And a nasty wind which whipped up sand in the afternoon died down in time for the driver's parade. The participation of 12 cars from Cape Town and Bloemfontein added even more excitement to the already adrenalin fuelled atmosphere. This was the first time since the track officially opened that competition was open to cross boarder racers. A crowd teaser were the four visiting spinners from Windhoek's NAMOL motor club, who took centre stage on the spinning pad, and who also entertained the crowds with their wild smoke belching antics as they spun their tyres and performed stunts. There was no stopping the Namibian championship front runners who were chasing points, with fast and fierce racing in the different categories which saw Midgets, V8's, 16-valve Hot Rods, Quad bikes and 8-valve cars getting into top gear.
Another highlight were the Midgets who, after being push started onto the raceway, were unstoppable and went like hell. Wessel Rabe pulled out a hat trick to win first overall ahead of rivals Eerick Horn and Christiaan Bekker, who continued a ding dong battle throughout the event's racing. Grant Wentzel was unstoppable in the 8-valve 4-cylinder Class and took the top podium slot ahead of Johan Botes and Werner Brand in second and third respectively. A heated dice in the contested 8-valve 16-cylinder (Hot Rod) Class saw Hansie Moore beat his rivals to take the chequered flag in first place. Barend Du Plessis took second overall, and the lime green 'Sideways' of Allen Marten took third slot. Undoubtedly the V8's are a huge crowd puller on the race track, and when the boys unleashed their super machines on the track with the thunderous roar of engines and spectacular slides into the corner, there were exuberant shouts of excitement from the stands. Dirkie Baard who is no stranger to a dirt track being
Namibia's world class enduro rider, was the driver to beat in his 'Monster', which flew the chequered, winning ahead of Phillipus Gronje and Rudi Van der Westhuizen who were hot on his bumper. One of the main organisers, competitors and the master mind behind the Desert Raceway oval track, Johan Roodt, spoke briefly about the N$200 000 event which took the Desert Raceway organising committee nearly three months of solid preparation. "A lot of logistics went into getting the South Africans up here with their cars, but we have such an amazing team everything ran smoothly," he said. "We have come a long way since we opened the raceway a year ago, and from our first race with 12 entries we can now boast 71 machines on the track. "I am really thankful to all the people who made this event possible, as well as to the drivers and the spectators who are coming out to enjoy our motorsport facility, which we believe is one of the best there is in Southern Africa."
Organisers, competitors and master minds behind the Desert Raceway Johan Roodt and Johnny-Johnson Doeseb
Ever
Executive Care
Wash ry 5th & Vac uum is F
FREE
CAR WASH
An action packed two-day Dirt Oval championships event held at the Walvis Bay Desert Raceway where Namibia challenged SA entries: (Photos Donna Collins)
Contact 081 304 0232 Email: namib.carwash@gmail.com Located next to Mega Stationers in Walvis Bay
NO DEPOSIT ● N$2100P/M 60 Months ● rv 25% ● C1 Comfort 5 Doors Air/Con ● Radio Terms and conditions apply. Image for illustration purposes only. While stocks last.
IT’S ALL ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT
NEW GOtenna
1 month’s GOtv Plus
subscribtion
N$ 60 p/m more than 19 channels N$ 90 p/m more than 30 channels
For GOeazy self-service dial *142*6688*1#
http://www.facebook.com/gotvnamibia For more details, and full Terms and Conditions of use, visit www.gotvafrica.com, or inquire from your GOtv Dealer. MultiChoice reserves the right to add or remove channels. E&OE.
As seen on GOtv
Live in a world of unforgettable GOtainment!