http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,487841,00.html
Putin's Radar Gambit
By Ralf Beste and Alexander Szandar
Russian President Vladimir Putin has put Bush on the back foot over the US's planned European missile defense system with his offer of a radar station in Azerbaijan. But experts say the proposal is technically unfeasible.
DPA
Putin has offered Bush the use of the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan for the US's planned missile defense system.George W. Bush is normally a man of plain words. But last Thursday afternoon, at the G-8 summit in sunny Heiligendamm, the US president seemed uncharacteristically undecided.
He was smiling, as he usually does, but Bush seemed incapable of producing a clear statement as he stood next to Vladimir Putin and attempted to report the conversation the two men had just had.
The Russian president had "made a few interesting suggestions," Bush said, adding that the two men would now engage in "a strategic dialogue" on the matter. "This will be a serious set of strategic discussions," he said. "This is a serious issue." But as far as clarity went, that was the extent of it.
FROM THE MAGAZINE
Find out how you can reprint this DER SPIEGEL article in your publication. Then it was Putin's turn. In a few words, the Russian president explained the offer that had apparently rendered his American counterpart speechless. Russia, he said, was offering the Americans a radar station in Azerbaijan, where the two countries could jointly operate an early warning system against missile attacks by rogue states like Iran. The system will cover "the entire Europe, without any exception," Putin said, and added that the president of Azerbaijan would be "glad to contribute to the cause of global security and stability."
After a months-long aggressive war of words between Washington and Moscow, Putin's surprise proposal brings new movement into the dispute between the two superpowers. Until then, the Russians had flatly rejected American plans to build a missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland to protect the United States and large parts of Europe from a possible Iranian missile strike.
THIS YEAR'S G-8 DECISIONS
Climate Politics
REUTERSAfter a long tug-of-war, the G-8 came to a unanimous agreement on fighting climate change -- and this under UN criteria, which the US has not accepted until now. The UN climate report, which states that the increase in greenhouse gas emissions must be stopped and reduced, were explicitly acknowledged. There is no binding commitment which aims for reducing CO2 yet, but the EU, Canada and Japan are said to be seriously considering an agreement to reduce worldwide emissions by half by 2050. Their most pressing task will be convincing other nations to sign on.
Dialogue with Developing Nations
Until now, the discussion with economically strong and politically influential emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa, has depended on the will of the G-8 members. Beginning this summer, though, talks with these countries will take place regularly. The new cooperation will be called the "Heiligendamm Process." The G-8 hope to concentrate on important issues, including: technology for climate protection, collective commitments for aid in Africa, and protection of innovations and investment freedoms. Leaders of the emerging countries were at the summit on Friday to take part in talks.
Intellectual Property Protection
The G-8 says they urgently need to forge a collective strategy against copyright piracy with developing nations. They want to create better cooperation between customs and penalties, and build a worldwide electronic information system for customs authorities.
No Restrictions on Hedge Funds
Chancellor Angela Merkel had to accept defeat on the controversial issue of hedge funds -- but she expected this. The US and the UK refused to agree on a voluntary code of conduct. The G-8 spoke of greater transparency and urged better risk management through banks, investors, and regulatory agencies -- but came to no firm agreements. There are more than 9,000 hedge funds worldwide, with an estimated value of $16 billion. Berlin fears that the collapse of these funds could have worldwide effects in the financial sector. The German government remains tough on this issue and the finance minister plans to address the issue again in October.
Robust World Economy
The worldwide economic boom was judged positively, with G-8 leaders saying the global economy is in "good condition."
Worldwide Investment Freedom
The G-8 has asked that developing and newly industrialized nations review their investment politics. They oppose unnecessary restrictions and say investment freedom is critical for growth, prosperity, and employment.
North Korea and Iran
Though the G-8 has expressed concern over the North Korean and Iranian atomic programs, they have not provided any detailed decisions on the topic.
Putin's initiative has Europe's foreign policy experts puzzled over his true intentions. Could it be a "tactical reversal" and possibly even a "trick," as Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a foreign policy expert for the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), suspects? Or is it a step that at least has brought "movement into the discussion," as Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier believes? Most of all, could a radar facility in the Azerbaijani town of Gabala even be capable of intercepting Iranian missiles?
Almost all observers agree that Putin's proposal is a skillful political chess move. The Russian president, who has spent the last few months on the defensive, has now re-gained the upper hand. Now it's the Americans' turn -- the Americans, who have been consistently calling upon Moscow to cooperate. This in itself eliminates the option of rejecting Putin's proposal outright.
DPA
This undated file picture shows the control room of the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan.From a technical standpoint, however, the Russian suggestion has serious problems. Experts in Washington, at NATO and in Berlin know little about Gabala. But there was one thing that they did notice right away: Putin had failed to mention that the facility is currently being used to keep track of American missiles that could be launched from US submarines in the Indian Ocean, fly over Iran and continue to Russia.
The "Daryal" early warning system at Gabala first went into operation in 1985, during the Cold War. After the fall of the Soviet Union and Azerbaijan's independence, the Russians now pay about $7.5 million a year to lease the facility, which is part of the early warning system for Russia's strategic missile units. The agreement with Azerbaijan expires in 2012, at which point the radar system would likely be ready for the scrap heap. Western experts assume that it has not been upgraded in recent years.
With its Gabala proposal, Moscow intends to frustrate US plans to station missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic. In reality, however, the radar in Azerbaijan and the system planned for the Czech Republic serve completely different functions. The Gabala facility is purely an early warning system, whereas the principal purpose of the radar in the Czech Republic would be a so-called fire-control system. Iranian missiles would be monitored in flight and their coordinates sent to the 10 interceptor missiles stationed in Poland. Hence the US radar would be more than a warning system; it would also be a guidance system for the missiles.
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Military experts doubt that the Russian radar facility could be made compatible with the American missile system. The two countries' electronic data exchange standards are completely different -- not to mention strictly guarded secrets on both sides.
NATO military officials know from bitter experience just how much this secretiveness can get in the way of cooperation. NATO and Russia have long intended to network together the various anti-aircraft and missile defense systems meant to protect their own troops during joint foreign missions. But when it comes to disclosing technical data, one German NATO official claims, "both sides end up stonewalling."
Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Russian Agents Plot to Steal German Military Technology
Russian Agents Plot to Steal German Military Technology
By Holger Stark
Russian intelligence agents have recently been trying to steal German military technology with an intensity unknown since the end of the Cold War. But the spies who have been arrested so far have got off scot-free -- thanks to their diplomatic immunity.
AP
The Russians allegedly want to get their hands on blueprints for Eurocopter's Tiger combat helicopter.Vladimir Vozhzhov thought he was on safe territory as he waited in his Salzburg hotel on June 11. After all, the 50-year-old Russian citizen had been commuting between Moscow and Vienna for many years. But this particular visit to Austria took an unusual turn.
Austrian police officers arrested Vozhzhov around 7:00 p.m. They confiscated €13,000 ($17,483), two CD-ROMs and one USB flash drive. The police officers took him to Vienna's Josefstadt prison along with an Austrian military officer thought to have cooperated with Moscow. Vozhzhov is suspected of working as an agent for the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU.
A German citizen -- Vozhzhov's contact man, known only as Werner G. -- was also temporarily arrested, by Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), in the course of the same operation. Werner G. is an experienced helicopter pilot who flew for the EADS subsidiary Eurocopter, whose Tiger model is considered one of the world's most modern combat helicopters.
Vozhzhov is said to have offered the German as much as €20,000 ($26,895) over the years in return for internal company documents and civilian operating manuals from the Franco-German high-tech company. The secret blueprints of the combat helicopter were what the Russian was really after, the investigators believe.
A Hostile Act
For years, German investigators and intelligence agents have been engaged in a clandestine defensive battle against Russian spies. But this time their measures resulted in a scandal. Austria's ambassador to Russia, Martin Vukovich, was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow. Putin's diplomats issued an official statement branding the arrest a "hostile act" that caused "damage" to the relations between the two countries.
And yet the Salzburg case is only the most spectacular example so far out of an entire series of attempts by the Russian intelligence agencies to steal German military technology. The GRU has been especially active, attempting to recruit informers in the German military and in military companies with an intensity unknown since the end of the Cold War, as two other spy scandals show.
Alexander Kuzmin, a GRU agent with accreditation as a consul at the Russian general consulate in Hamburg, had to abruptly leave Germany in December 2004. Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, had caught him red-handed using a member of the German military as a source. In the course of 22 meetings in southern Germany, Kuzmin had purchased classified German military documents for about €10,000 ($13,449). The documents mainly concerned long-distance radio communication and weapons systems.
The diplomatic row between Moscow and Berlin had barely calmed down when the cover of another alleged Russian spy was blown: Alexander Parfentiev, a diplomat officially accredited as part of the staff of the military attaché at the Russian embassy in Berlin.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution had shadowed Parfentiev for months, observing his meetings with a German military officer from whom he purchased classified documents. But the German officer had only appeared to have gone along with the deal; in fact, he had gotten in touch with the Federal Armed Forces Counterintelligence Office (MAD).
On March 10, 2005, while on the way to a clandestine meeting in Berlin, Parfentiev was stopped on the street by officers of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and accused there and then of spying for the GRU.
Tit For Tat
The following day, the German government summoned the Russian ambassador and presented the diplomat with an ultimatum: They gave Parfentiev seven days to leave the country, threatening to create a diplomatic scandal if he failed to do so.
The Russians struck back. First they complained to the chancellery about the "ill-mannered style" of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's agents. Then they withdrew their spy from the country, but avenged themselves using the tit-for-tat approach typical of intelligence agencies: Half a year later, the Kremlin extradited the deputy German military attaché at the German embassy in Moscow.
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The cases of Kuzmin and Parfentiev, who both enjoyed immunity thanks to their diplomatic status, were settled discreetly between Germany and Russia. But the situation is more complex in the case of Vozhzhov. Although he was an accredited member of Russia's trade mission in Vienna during the 1990s, he was not carrying a diplomatic passport when he was arrested. During questioning, he claimed he had participated in a meeting of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) as an employee of the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA). He also stated that his relation to the German was simply one of personal friendship.
However, a request by Germany's Office of the Federal Prosecutor that Vozhzhov be transfered to Germany had to be rejected by the Austrian ministry of justice last Thursday -- because an expert opinion swiftly produced by the UN Legal Counsel in New York concluded that every participant at the conference enjoyed diplomatic immunity. Vozhzhov was handed over to the Russian embassy the same day.
But, without immunity, the alleged spy will not be able to show his face in either Germany or Austria in the future. The European arrest warrant is still in effect -- and Vozhzhov's German friend Werner G. has already admitted having leaked company documents.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,490759,00.html
By Holger Stark
Russian intelligence agents have recently been trying to steal German military technology with an intensity unknown since the end of the Cold War. But the spies who have been arrested so far have got off scot-free -- thanks to their diplomatic immunity.
AP
The Russians allegedly want to get their hands on blueprints for Eurocopter's Tiger combat helicopter.Vladimir Vozhzhov thought he was on safe territory as he waited in his Salzburg hotel on June 11. After all, the 50-year-old Russian citizen had been commuting between Moscow and Vienna for many years. But this particular visit to Austria took an unusual turn.
Austrian police officers arrested Vozhzhov around 7:00 p.m. They confiscated €13,000 ($17,483), two CD-ROMs and one USB flash drive. The police officers took him to Vienna's Josefstadt prison along with an Austrian military officer thought to have cooperated with Moscow. Vozhzhov is suspected of working as an agent for the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU.
A German citizen -- Vozhzhov's contact man, known only as Werner G. -- was also temporarily arrested, by Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), in the course of the same operation. Werner G. is an experienced helicopter pilot who flew for the EADS subsidiary Eurocopter, whose Tiger model is considered one of the world's most modern combat helicopters.
Vozhzhov is said to have offered the German as much as €20,000 ($26,895) over the years in return for internal company documents and civilian operating manuals from the Franco-German high-tech company. The secret blueprints of the combat helicopter were what the Russian was really after, the investigators believe.
A Hostile Act
For years, German investigators and intelligence agents have been engaged in a clandestine defensive battle against Russian spies. But this time their measures resulted in a scandal. Austria's ambassador to Russia, Martin Vukovich, was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow. Putin's diplomats issued an official statement branding the arrest a "hostile act" that caused "damage" to the relations between the two countries.
And yet the Salzburg case is only the most spectacular example so far out of an entire series of attempts by the Russian intelligence agencies to steal German military technology. The GRU has been especially active, attempting to recruit informers in the German military and in military companies with an intensity unknown since the end of the Cold War, as two other spy scandals show.
Alexander Kuzmin, a GRU agent with accreditation as a consul at the Russian general consulate in Hamburg, had to abruptly leave Germany in December 2004. Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, had caught him red-handed using a member of the German military as a source. In the course of 22 meetings in southern Germany, Kuzmin had purchased classified German military documents for about €10,000 ($13,449). The documents mainly concerned long-distance radio communication and weapons systems.
The diplomatic row between Moscow and Berlin had barely calmed down when the cover of another alleged Russian spy was blown: Alexander Parfentiev, a diplomat officially accredited as part of the staff of the military attaché at the Russian embassy in Berlin.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution had shadowed Parfentiev for months, observing his meetings with a German military officer from whom he purchased classified documents. But the German officer had only appeared to have gone along with the deal; in fact, he had gotten in touch with the Federal Armed Forces Counterintelligence Office (MAD).
On March 10, 2005, while on the way to a clandestine meeting in Berlin, Parfentiev was stopped on the street by officers of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and accused there and then of spying for the GRU.
Tit For Tat
The following day, the German government summoned the Russian ambassador and presented the diplomat with an ultimatum: They gave Parfentiev seven days to leave the country, threatening to create a diplomatic scandal if he failed to do so.
The Russians struck back. First they complained to the chancellery about the "ill-mannered style" of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's agents. Then they withdrew their spy from the country, but avenged themselves using the tit-for-tat approach typical of intelligence agencies: Half a year later, the Kremlin extradited the deputy German military attaché at the German embassy in Moscow.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up for Spiegel Online's daily newsletter and get the best of Der Spiegel's and Spiegel Online's international coverage in your In- Box everyday.
The cases of Kuzmin and Parfentiev, who both enjoyed immunity thanks to their diplomatic status, were settled discreetly between Germany and Russia. But the situation is more complex in the case of Vozhzhov. Although he was an accredited member of Russia's trade mission in Vienna during the 1990s, he was not carrying a diplomatic passport when he was arrested. During questioning, he claimed he had participated in a meeting of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) as an employee of the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA). He also stated that his relation to the German was simply one of personal friendship.
However, a request by Germany's Office of the Federal Prosecutor that Vozhzhov be transfered to Germany had to be rejected by the Austrian ministry of justice last Thursday -- because an expert opinion swiftly produced by the UN Legal Counsel in New York concluded that every participant at the conference enjoyed diplomatic immunity. Vozhzhov was handed over to the Russian embassy the same day.
But, without immunity, the alleged spy will not be able to show his face in either Germany or Austria in the future. The European arrest warrant is still in effect -- and Vozhzhov's German friend Werner G. has already admitted having leaked company documents.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,490759,00.html
Die verskil tussen Vlok en PW
Die verskil tussen Vlok en PW
Geskryf deur Anton Barnard
Woensdag, 27 Junie 2007
Die voorgenome vervolging van oud-minister Adriaan Vlok bied 'n waardevolle les vir alle gatkruipers en meelopers. PW Botha het geweier om voor die bobbejaan in sy pers rok by die WVK te verskyn, en is dus in vrede gelaat. Gekonfronteer met 'n bietjie vasberadenheid, sluip die regime stert tussen die bene weg. Vlok, daarenteen, gooi alle waardigheid oorboord en kruip letterlik voor die vyand, en word vir sy moeite beloon met vervolging.
Dieselfde met naamsveranderinge. Afrikanergroepe praat en soebat oor naamsveranderinge, maar Tshwane en Tlokwe bly. Inkatha blokkeer egter 'n paar deurpaaie, en die regime skrik hom boeglam oor Durban se naamveranderinge. Skielik is die deure vir gesprekvoering in Durban weer oop.
Ek wonder hoe lank gaan die linkses en liberales nog neem om te verstaan dat Afrikane glad nie swakheid en kruiperigheid respekteer nie? Vir wie het die ANC die meeste respek, te oordeel aan sy optrede - Vlok of PW Botha?
Dis duidelik dat Afrikaners toenemend begin verstaan hoe om met die vyand te handel, terloops - vanoggend teem, skree en huil dit verskriklik op SAFM radio omdat "rassiste" glo 'n klomp padtekens wat na die regime se "helde" vernoem is, in die Vaalrivier gaan gooi het, en ek lag my vrek vir die regime se hoogheilige gekerm. Tog snaaks hoe ferm optrede soos 'n paar padtekens se verwydering kon regkry wat redelikheid, soebat en smeek nie kon nie, of hoe? Skielik is woordvoerders van Potchefstroom se stadsraad beskikbaar om oor die radio te praat, waar hulle in die verlede bloot op die verdrukking van die massas oor die minderheid in die naam van "demockracy" aanspraak gemaak het.
http://www.praag.org/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=623&Itemid=37
Geskryf deur Anton Barnard
Woensdag, 27 Junie 2007
Die voorgenome vervolging van oud-minister Adriaan Vlok bied 'n waardevolle les vir alle gatkruipers en meelopers. PW Botha het geweier om voor die bobbejaan in sy pers rok by die WVK te verskyn, en is dus in vrede gelaat. Gekonfronteer met 'n bietjie vasberadenheid, sluip die regime stert tussen die bene weg. Vlok, daarenteen, gooi alle waardigheid oorboord en kruip letterlik voor die vyand, en word vir sy moeite beloon met vervolging.
Dieselfde met naamsveranderinge. Afrikanergroepe praat en soebat oor naamsveranderinge, maar Tshwane en Tlokwe bly. Inkatha blokkeer egter 'n paar deurpaaie, en die regime skrik hom boeglam oor Durban se naamveranderinge. Skielik is die deure vir gesprekvoering in Durban weer oop.
Ek wonder hoe lank gaan die linkses en liberales nog neem om te verstaan dat Afrikane glad nie swakheid en kruiperigheid respekteer nie? Vir wie het die ANC die meeste respek, te oordeel aan sy optrede - Vlok of PW Botha?
Dis duidelik dat Afrikaners toenemend begin verstaan hoe om met die vyand te handel, terloops - vanoggend teem, skree en huil dit verskriklik op SAFM radio omdat "rassiste" glo 'n klomp padtekens wat na die regime se "helde" vernoem is, in die Vaalrivier gaan gooi het, en ek lag my vrek vir die regime se hoogheilige gekerm. Tog snaaks hoe ferm optrede soos 'n paar padtekens se verwydering kon regkry wat redelikheid, soebat en smeek nie kon nie, of hoe? Skielik is woordvoerders van Potchefstroom se stadsraad beskikbaar om oor die radio te praat, waar hulle in die verlede bloot op die verdrukking van die massas oor die minderheid in die naam van "demockracy" aanspraak gemaak het.
http://www.praag.org/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=623&Itemid=37
Friday, June 22, 2007
Spread of HIV in Africa outpaces treatment efforts
If you the Guts to read between the lines , you will see that ARV’s are only giving people more time to infect more Klip Gooiers.
The ARV effort is now helping the Aids Epidemic giving it that potential to even infect more people than would have been possible under natural conditions
When Dealing with something like this Isolation should have been done in the early years and ………..Now Huston has n very very Big probelmo
Lets see how XDRTB is going to play the field along with it’s buddy AIDS
Spread of HIV in Africa outpaces treatment efforts
June 22, 2007Although "billions of dollars are spent" on expanding access to antiretroviral drugs in Africa, the "goal of controlling" the spread of HIV on the continent "remains remote," the Washington Post reports. The "problem is not the medicine, which is among the most powerful in the world," according to the Post. Prevention programs in places like the US and Europe already were successful against smaller-scale HIV and AIDS epidemics when antiretrovirals became available and created a "turning point in the battle against AIDS," the Post reports. However, prevention programs in sub-Saharan Africa "have mostly failed to curb the behavior - especially the habit of maintaining several sexual partners at a time - that drives the epidemic," according to the Post. International health officials and HIV and AIDS advocates "once predicted" that expanding treatment access would improve prevention efforts by promoting openness about the disease and facilitating education efforts, the Post reports. But among the African countries most affected by the disease, only Zimbabwe - which has one of the region's smallest treatment programmes - has reported a recent decrease in HIV cases. Expanded Treatment Access According to the Post, the positive results seen among HIV-positive people who began taking antiretrovirals around 1997 "spurred a wave of optimism about treatment that eventually swept away political resistance to a mass rollout" of the drugs in Africa. Francois Venter, president of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society, said that although antiretrovirals became increasingly available relatively quickly, he never saw signs that expanded treatment access contributed to a decrease in new HIV cases. According to Venter, who works at Johannesburg Hospital's AIDS clinic in South Africa, sex drives often return as antiretrovirals begin to work. He added that an increasing proportion of women at the clinic became pregnant, which he interpreted to mean that the clinic's efforts to distribute condoms were not effective. Although access to antiretrovirals has increased, waiting lists for the drugs in South Africa and other countries often are months long. Stigma also means that many people die of Aids-related illnesses without acknowledging that they have the disease, the Post reports. In addition, people living in remote areas often "struggle to find doctors who have access to antiretrovirals," according to the Post. Promoting adherence to treatment regimens, many of which require taking drugs twice daily, also has proven more difficult than health officials predicted (Timberg, Washington Post, 6/20).
http://www.iolhivaids.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3897494
The ARV effort is now helping the Aids Epidemic giving it that potential to even infect more people than would have been possible under natural conditions
When Dealing with something like this Isolation should have been done in the early years and ………..Now Huston has n very very Big probelmo
Lets see how XDRTB is going to play the field along with it’s buddy AIDS
Spread of HIV in Africa outpaces treatment efforts
June 22, 2007Although "billions of dollars are spent" on expanding access to antiretroviral drugs in Africa, the "goal of controlling" the spread of HIV on the continent "remains remote," the Washington Post reports. The "problem is not the medicine, which is among the most powerful in the world," according to the Post. Prevention programs in places like the US and Europe already were successful against smaller-scale HIV and AIDS epidemics when antiretrovirals became available and created a "turning point in the battle against AIDS," the Post reports. However, prevention programs in sub-Saharan Africa "have mostly failed to curb the behavior - especially the habit of maintaining several sexual partners at a time - that drives the epidemic," according to the Post. International health officials and HIV and AIDS advocates "once predicted" that expanding treatment access would improve prevention efforts by promoting openness about the disease and facilitating education efforts, the Post reports. But among the African countries most affected by the disease, only Zimbabwe - which has one of the region's smallest treatment programmes - has reported a recent decrease in HIV cases. Expanded Treatment Access According to the Post, the positive results seen among HIV-positive people who began taking antiretrovirals around 1997 "spurred a wave of optimism about treatment that eventually swept away political resistance to a mass rollout" of the drugs in Africa. Francois Venter, president of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society, said that although antiretrovirals became increasingly available relatively quickly, he never saw signs that expanded treatment access contributed to a decrease in new HIV cases. According to Venter, who works at Johannesburg Hospital's AIDS clinic in South Africa, sex drives often return as antiretrovirals begin to work. He added that an increasing proportion of women at the clinic became pregnant, which he interpreted to mean that the clinic's efforts to distribute condoms were not effective. Although access to antiretrovirals has increased, waiting lists for the drugs in South Africa and other countries often are months long. Stigma also means that many people die of Aids-related illnesses without acknowledging that they have the disease, the Post reports. In addition, people living in remote areas often "struggle to find doctors who have access to antiretrovirals," according to the Post. Promoting adherence to treatment regimens, many of which require taking drugs twice daily, also has proven more difficult than health officials predicted (Timberg, Washington Post, 6/20).
http://www.iolhivaids.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3897494
And The Cupboard Was Bare...
Friday, June 22, 2007
Do you know what I really love about TAU...They never buckled under and changed their name to Gauteng Agricultural Union! This report from them is rather alarming, but how many people would really take it seriously when they go into their local Pick n Pay and everything is there? Well..I know what it's like to go to the supermarket and its empty, and looks as if they are closing down...! Really..it happened in Zambia in the late 60's to early 70's..you could go to the supermarket and all there was, was a row of shelving with only one product..maybe cooking oil...maybe margarine..if you were lucky, maybe both..so you would buy a whole large stock, because..it may be 6 to 8 months before you ever saw it available again! This I would imagine is the present situation in Zimbabwe...this report by TAU is NOT just scare mongering..!Transvaal Agricultural Union of SA is the oldest agricultural union in South Africa and has been in existence since 1897. The mission of the union is to ensure a productive and safe existence for its members on the land they own. Current reality in South Africa indicates that this is not possible at the moment due to a variety of actions and threats against commercial farmers.Your comment regarding the Bulletins and other information provided to you is valuable and will be appreciated. info@tlu.co.za.AND THE CUPBOARD WAS BARE ...Old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboard to find her good dog a bone. the old nursery rhyme still resonates throughout the world of children. Her cupboard was bare, we were told - a scenario seemingly remote from our current lives. Yet is it so implausible?Today, millions throughout the world still do not have enough to eat.The World Food Program (WFP) continues to distribute food to hungry people, particularly in Africa. The organization frequently sources much of its stock from South Africa.In Lesotho, for example, WFP estimates nearly 150 000 people will need food aid within the next few months and much of this will be purchased in South Africa. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people from nearby African countries regularly enter South Africa to purchase food.But can our country continue to be the breadbasket of southern Africa under conditions which make commercial farming so difficult?There is talk in some farming circles that the South African government really doesn't care about local, sustainable food production - that they see the importation of food as a realistic alternative. Their political objective of the transfer of productive farms to their voters could be implemented, we are told, and if these farms collapse - which they will if the past is anything to go by - well, food can be purchased overseas. So far, 30% of productive farmland has been earmarked for redistribution by the year 2014, but there will be further demands and these will always outstrip availability.Even if every remaining white farm in South Africa is handed over - and there are only around 45 000 remaining - this will never satisfy the numbers clamouring for land.So what is the food availability situation in South Africa today?SELF SUFFICIENTA country which is self sufficient in food is a strong country. Only six countries in the world produce enough to feed their populations, and South Africa is one of them. But this status is being whittled away by the enormous hurdles now placed before commercial farmers whose numbers continue to decrease. Certain food items are now scarce or intermittently unavailable in South African stores.In a hard-hitting paper recently presented to a national university, Major General Chris van Zyl, TAU SA's manager for Safety and Security declares that food security can be measured by both the number of people who are chronically hungry as well as the availability of foodstuffs on the shelves of retailers.In a sample taken over a period 7 December 2006 to 25 January 2007 at a well-known supermarket, at least twenty items were unavailable, from corned meat to milk powder and baby food. The causes of the current state of affairs, according to Van Zyl, range from the loss of agricultural land, to the expansion of arid and semi-arid areas - every year, deforestation in the Northern Cape and North West province increases by 50 000 to 60 000 hectares and the resultant overgrazing eventually leads to desertification.As well, South African water is increasingly threatened by serious contamination. In central Gauteng, the hub of South Africa's commercial and industrial activity, streams and rivers are seriously polluted, while subterranean water sources are being threatened by uncontrolled burials and effluent from growing squatter camps.Another scourge contributing to the decrease in food production is crime, especially in the country's rural areas. Over the past ten years or so, there have been more than 32 000 farm attacks (an average of almost nine per day), and 2 000 farmers have lost their lives.In the case where a landowner has been murdered, current estimates indicate that as much as eight years could pass before the land is productively utilized again. The level of theft of not only produce - livestock or cash crops - but also of property - tools, fuel, implements, chemicals, and so forth - is reason for concern. A 2005 calculation indicates that the reported annual loss is about R1,2 billion - about R27 000 per farmer per annum.Stock theft alone amounts to about R230 million per annum, and it has become impossible to farm with certain types of livestock, such as sheep or goats, in certain areas because of theft.OTHER FACTORSSouth Africa is in the unique position of producing a variety of foodstuffs ranging from staple foods to produce which satisfies even the most fastidious international tourists. However, agriculture is a victim of factors beyond human control such as weather patterns, soil composition and the presence or not of biological and micro-elements. In any other sector, additional production can be achieved via cash incentives, or extra hours of work, or a greater work force.This is not readily applicable to the agricultural sector. South Africa competes in a heavily subsidized global market. It is generally accepted that within the countries having a commercial agricultural capability, South Africa is the second worst country as far as government subsidies are concerned.Emphasis on the role of agriculture in, particularly, southern Africa can never be strong enough. In the case of Zimbabwe, the collapse of the agricultural sector took down the rest of the economy.Political interference in that sector led to malnutrition, starvation, homelessness and the complete disintegration of the country's economic structure. As in the case of pre-war Germany, inflation is now so bizarre that suitcases of cash are needed to buy a loaf of bread.The practice of communal land ownership also contributes to food insecurity. Van Zyl quotes Mr Moeletsi Mbeki, brother of the State President, as saying "the reason Africa was not matching the agricultural successes of India and China lay in politics.Land tenure systems that don't give incentives to farmers to improve their land promote desertification".It is indicative of the folly of South Africa's land redistribution program that many productive farms are handed over to hundreds of people. The "communal" approach thus kicks in, there is no management, nobody wants to work and the farm becomes an informal settlement, a South African euphemism for a squatter camp.Thus, says van Zyl, the care and subsequent responsibility to maintain arable land (only 13% of South Africa's land is arable!) is a pre-requisite for agricultural production. This entails the recognition of a sector in the national economy - the agricultural sector - which has been lambasted and marginalised over the last two decades.(As a corollary to the above, our next bulletin will outline the pitfalls involved in the dependence of a country like South Africa on imported food.) harking back to theWeimar
(Thanks to '10' for throwing the bone..)
http://southafricasucks.blogspot.com/
Do you know what I really love about TAU...They never buckled under and changed their name to Gauteng Agricultural Union! This report from them is rather alarming, but how many people would really take it seriously when they go into their local Pick n Pay and everything is there? Well..I know what it's like to go to the supermarket and its empty, and looks as if they are closing down...! Really..it happened in Zambia in the late 60's to early 70's..you could go to the supermarket and all there was, was a row of shelving with only one product..maybe cooking oil...maybe margarine..if you were lucky, maybe both..so you would buy a whole large stock, because..it may be 6 to 8 months before you ever saw it available again! This I would imagine is the present situation in Zimbabwe...this report by TAU is NOT just scare mongering..!Transvaal Agricultural Union of SA is the oldest agricultural union in South Africa and has been in existence since 1897. The mission of the union is to ensure a productive and safe existence for its members on the land they own. Current reality in South Africa indicates that this is not possible at the moment due to a variety of actions and threats against commercial farmers.Your comment regarding the Bulletins and other information provided to you is valuable and will be appreciated. info@tlu.co.za.AND THE CUPBOARD WAS BARE ...Old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboard to find her good dog a bone. the old nursery rhyme still resonates throughout the world of children. Her cupboard was bare, we were told - a scenario seemingly remote from our current lives. Yet is it so implausible?Today, millions throughout the world still do not have enough to eat.The World Food Program (WFP) continues to distribute food to hungry people, particularly in Africa. The organization frequently sources much of its stock from South Africa.In Lesotho, for example, WFP estimates nearly 150 000 people will need food aid within the next few months and much of this will be purchased in South Africa. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people from nearby African countries regularly enter South Africa to purchase food.But can our country continue to be the breadbasket of southern Africa under conditions which make commercial farming so difficult?There is talk in some farming circles that the South African government really doesn't care about local, sustainable food production - that they see the importation of food as a realistic alternative. Their political objective of the transfer of productive farms to their voters could be implemented, we are told, and if these farms collapse - which they will if the past is anything to go by - well, food can be purchased overseas. So far, 30% of productive farmland has been earmarked for redistribution by the year 2014, but there will be further demands and these will always outstrip availability.Even if every remaining white farm in South Africa is handed over - and there are only around 45 000 remaining - this will never satisfy the numbers clamouring for land.So what is the food availability situation in South Africa today?SELF SUFFICIENTA country which is self sufficient in food is a strong country. Only six countries in the world produce enough to feed their populations, and South Africa is one of them. But this status is being whittled away by the enormous hurdles now placed before commercial farmers whose numbers continue to decrease. Certain food items are now scarce or intermittently unavailable in South African stores.In a hard-hitting paper recently presented to a national university, Major General Chris van Zyl, TAU SA's manager for Safety and Security declares that food security can be measured by both the number of people who are chronically hungry as well as the availability of foodstuffs on the shelves of retailers.In a sample taken over a period 7 December 2006 to 25 January 2007 at a well-known supermarket, at least twenty items were unavailable, from corned meat to milk powder and baby food. The causes of the current state of affairs, according to Van Zyl, range from the loss of agricultural land, to the expansion of arid and semi-arid areas - every year, deforestation in the Northern Cape and North West province increases by 50 000 to 60 000 hectares and the resultant overgrazing eventually leads to desertification.As well, South African water is increasingly threatened by serious contamination. In central Gauteng, the hub of South Africa's commercial and industrial activity, streams and rivers are seriously polluted, while subterranean water sources are being threatened by uncontrolled burials and effluent from growing squatter camps.Another scourge contributing to the decrease in food production is crime, especially in the country's rural areas. Over the past ten years or so, there have been more than 32 000 farm attacks (an average of almost nine per day), and 2 000 farmers have lost their lives.In the case where a landowner has been murdered, current estimates indicate that as much as eight years could pass before the land is productively utilized again. The level of theft of not only produce - livestock or cash crops - but also of property - tools, fuel, implements, chemicals, and so forth - is reason for concern. A 2005 calculation indicates that the reported annual loss is about R1,2 billion - about R27 000 per farmer per annum.Stock theft alone amounts to about R230 million per annum, and it has become impossible to farm with certain types of livestock, such as sheep or goats, in certain areas because of theft.OTHER FACTORSSouth Africa is in the unique position of producing a variety of foodstuffs ranging from staple foods to produce which satisfies even the most fastidious international tourists. However, agriculture is a victim of factors beyond human control such as weather patterns, soil composition and the presence or not of biological and micro-elements. In any other sector, additional production can be achieved via cash incentives, or extra hours of work, or a greater work force.This is not readily applicable to the agricultural sector. South Africa competes in a heavily subsidized global market. It is generally accepted that within the countries having a commercial agricultural capability, South Africa is the second worst country as far as government subsidies are concerned.Emphasis on the role of agriculture in, particularly, southern Africa can never be strong enough. In the case of Zimbabwe, the collapse of the agricultural sector took down the rest of the economy.Political interference in that sector led to malnutrition, starvation, homelessness and the complete disintegration of the country's economic structure. As in the case of pre-war Germany, inflation is now so bizarre that suitcases of cash are needed to buy a loaf of bread.The practice of communal land ownership also contributes to food insecurity. Van Zyl quotes Mr Moeletsi Mbeki, brother of the State President, as saying "the reason Africa was not matching the agricultural successes of India and China lay in politics.Land tenure systems that don't give incentives to farmers to improve their land promote desertification".It is indicative of the folly of South Africa's land redistribution program that many productive farms are handed over to hundreds of people. The "communal" approach thus kicks in, there is no management, nobody wants to work and the farm becomes an informal settlement, a South African euphemism for a squatter camp.Thus, says van Zyl, the care and subsequent responsibility to maintain arable land (only 13% of South Africa's land is arable!) is a pre-requisite for agricultural production. This entails the recognition of a sector in the national economy - the agricultural sector - which has been lambasted and marginalised over the last two decades.(As a corollary to the above, our next bulletin will outline the pitfalls involved in the dependence of a country like South Africa on imported food.) harking back to theWeimar
(Thanks to '10' for throwing the bone..)
http://southafricasucks.blogspot.com/
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Bok emblem could disappear--- Eish dit ook ,
Bok emblem could disappear21/06/2007 22:15 - (SA)
DisplayDCAd('300x250','1','');
'Celebrate the Bok emblem'
Bok emblem celebrates centenary
'Keep the Springbok'
Bok lives to leap another day
Bok emblem can stay on jersey
Athletes want Bok emblem back
DisplayDCAd('220x120','1','');
Gert Coetzee, Die Volksblad
Cape Town - A proposal to discard the Springbok and accept the Protea as the only emblem for all South African sports teams will be discussed at the ANC's policy conference in Midrand next week.
This could lead to the disappearance of the Springbok emblem that has been used since 1906.
Cedrick Frolick, ANC chief whip in the parliamentary sports portfolio committee, confirmed on Thursday that the disappearance of the Springbok would be raised at the conference.
"It's not only about the Springbok emblem but about uniform colours for all national teams in the interest of nation building," Frolick said.
"Some teams do not look like South African teams when they're on the field. The soccer team have a different strip every time they play.
"It has been decided twice that the Protea should be the only national sports emblem. The last time was in 1998. Talks about the application will now begin in earnest."
The DA rejected the idea, saying that the ANC, unlike former President Nelson Mandela, wrongly tried linking the Springbok with apartheid and ignored the Springbok story since 1994.
"The rejection of the Springbok emblem is like throwing away a treasure from our national heritage," DA spokesperson on sport Donald Lee said.
He said the ANC was deliberately forgetting the black, brown and Indian Springbok supporters.
Nothing distasteful about the emblem
"When Bryan Habana's mother thinks about the Springbok emblem it will certainly not be because of apartheid but because of her son's unbelievable performances for the Springboks.
"If Nelson Mandela could proudly wear a Springbok jersey with number six on the back there could be nothing distasteful about the emblem.
"When the players sing the national anthem with their hand on their heart, it is clear that the emblem shows how far we have come as a nation," Lee said.
Frolick said the power to decide on national sports colours was in the hands of the minister of sport.
The delegated power for execution rested with the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) that, in accordance with the new Sports Law, had to establish a national colours board for the awarding of all national colours.
Frolick had earlier told Rapport that the Springbok should disappear to complete transformation in rugby.
But it was more important that the SA Rugby Union should change its constitution first to have more say in managing transformation at provincial level.
"The Springbok still represents the old (racially divided) past. We should start looking at replacing the emblem," he said. News24 is now available on your cellphone.
-->http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_2134534,00.html
DisplayDCAd('300x250','1','');
'Celebrate the Bok emblem'
Bok emblem celebrates centenary
'Keep the Springbok'
Bok lives to leap another day
Bok emblem can stay on jersey
Athletes want Bok emblem back
DisplayDCAd('220x120','1','');
Gert Coetzee, Die Volksblad
Cape Town - A proposal to discard the Springbok and accept the Protea as the only emblem for all South African sports teams will be discussed at the ANC's policy conference in Midrand next week.
This could lead to the disappearance of the Springbok emblem that has been used since 1906.
Cedrick Frolick, ANC chief whip in the parliamentary sports portfolio committee, confirmed on Thursday that the disappearance of the Springbok would be raised at the conference.
"It's not only about the Springbok emblem but about uniform colours for all national teams in the interest of nation building," Frolick said.
"Some teams do not look like South African teams when they're on the field. The soccer team have a different strip every time they play.
"It has been decided twice that the Protea should be the only national sports emblem. The last time was in 1998. Talks about the application will now begin in earnest."
The DA rejected the idea, saying that the ANC, unlike former President Nelson Mandela, wrongly tried linking the Springbok with apartheid and ignored the Springbok story since 1994.
"The rejection of the Springbok emblem is like throwing away a treasure from our national heritage," DA spokesperson on sport Donald Lee said.
He said the ANC was deliberately forgetting the black, brown and Indian Springbok supporters.
Nothing distasteful about the emblem
"When Bryan Habana's mother thinks about the Springbok emblem it will certainly not be because of apartheid but because of her son's unbelievable performances for the Springboks.
"If Nelson Mandela could proudly wear a Springbok jersey with number six on the back there could be nothing distasteful about the emblem.
"When the players sing the national anthem with their hand on their heart, it is clear that the emblem shows how far we have come as a nation," Lee said.
Frolick said the power to decide on national sports colours was in the hands of the minister of sport.
The delegated power for execution rested with the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) that, in accordance with the new Sports Law, had to establish a national colours board for the awarding of all national colours.
Frolick had earlier told Rapport that the Springbok should disappear to complete transformation in rugby.
But it was more important that the SA Rugby Union should change its constitution first to have more say in managing transformation at provincial level.
"The Springbok still represents the old (racially divided) past. We should start looking at replacing the emblem," he said. News24 is now available on your cellphone.
-->http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_2134534,00.html
Nóg stakingswolke pak saam
Nóg stakingswolke pak saam
20/06/2007 21:18 -
(SA) Jan de Lange Loononderhandelinge op twee van die land se grootste bedingingsforums het gister onheilspellend nader aan enorme stakings beweeg.In die loononderhandelinge tussen die Kamer van Mynwese en vakbonde oor lone in goudmyne is ’n dispuut verklaar in die eerste onderhandelingsronde.En in die staal- en ingenieursbedryf is ’n stakingsertifikaat aan die vakbonde uitgereik, wat beteken dat die 270 000 werkers in dié sektor binne 48 uur kan begin staak.Die Kamer van Mynwese, wat die land se drie groot goudprodusente, Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti en Harmony verteenwoordig, het gister geen teenaanbod gedoen aan die drie vakbonde wat sowat 140 000 werkers in die goudmyne verteenwoordig nie.Pleks van ’n teenaanbod op ’n stel van 61 eise, het die myngroepe die vakbondverteenwoordigers gevra om hul eise te “prioritiseer” sodat ’n ordentlike teenaanbod geformuleer kan word.Dit het die vakbonde egter omgekrap en in ’n koukusvergadering het twee van die vakbonde, die National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) en Solidariteit, besluit om dadelik ’n dispuut te verklaar.“Die kamer het met leë hande onderhandelingstafel toe gekom. Ons het weke gelede al ons mandate gekry en eise skriftelik aan die kamer oorgedra. Dit is jammer dat die kamer só ’n houding aanneem,” het mnr. Frans Baleni, hoofsekretaris van die NUM, gesê.Dr. Elize Strydom, die kamer se hoofonderhandelaar, sê die vakbonde het voortydig in ’n dispuut ingestorm. “Ons is verras en teleurgesteld, veral omdat die partye nie kans gehad het om mekaar behoorlik te betrek nie.”Volgens Strydom word die bedingingsforum vanjaar deur bepaalde uitdagings in die gesig gestaar. “Ons moet ’n balans vind tussen werknemerverwagtinge en die langtermyn-lewensvatbaarheid van die bedryf,” het sy gesê.Die vakbonde eis verhogings van 15% asook ’n rits ander voordele, waaronder hoër behuisingstoelaes en begrafnisversekering van R30 000.Die bedingingsraad vir die staal- en ingenieursbedryf het ’n stakingsertifikaat aan die vakbonde uitgereik omdat ’n klein taakgroep nie in staat was om enige vordering in die loononderhandelinge te maak nie. Die werkgewers het verhogings van tussen 7% en 7,5% aangebied, maar vakbonde eis verhogings van tussen 14% en 15%.Die vakbonde het verskeie ander voordele geëis waaraan die werkgewers sê hulle nie kan voldoen nie, het mnr. Brian Angus, uitvoerende direkteur van Seifsa, die werkgewersorganisasie, gesê.Hulle eis dat arbeidsmakelaars aan dieselfde diensvoorwaardes as gewone werkgewers onderworpe moet wees, maar volgens Angus sal werkgewers nooit daartoe instem nie. “Ons kan nie die plooibaarheid van makelaars prysgee nie,” sê hy.Die vakbonde eis ook seggenskap oor die saamstel van werknemer-aandeleskemas.Mnr. Thulani Nthiyane, hoofonderhandelaar van Numsa, sê egter ’n staking sal oor ’n raps meer as ’n week uitgeroep word indien daar geen vordering is nie.
20/06/2007 21:18 -
(SA) Jan de Lange Loononderhandelinge op twee van die land se grootste bedingingsforums het gister onheilspellend nader aan enorme stakings beweeg.In die loononderhandelinge tussen die Kamer van Mynwese en vakbonde oor lone in goudmyne is ’n dispuut verklaar in die eerste onderhandelingsronde.En in die staal- en ingenieursbedryf is ’n stakingsertifikaat aan die vakbonde uitgereik, wat beteken dat die 270 000 werkers in dié sektor binne 48 uur kan begin staak.Die Kamer van Mynwese, wat die land se drie groot goudprodusente, Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti en Harmony verteenwoordig, het gister geen teenaanbod gedoen aan die drie vakbonde wat sowat 140 000 werkers in die goudmyne verteenwoordig nie.Pleks van ’n teenaanbod op ’n stel van 61 eise, het die myngroepe die vakbondverteenwoordigers gevra om hul eise te “prioritiseer” sodat ’n ordentlike teenaanbod geformuleer kan word.Dit het die vakbonde egter omgekrap en in ’n koukusvergadering het twee van die vakbonde, die National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) en Solidariteit, besluit om dadelik ’n dispuut te verklaar.“Die kamer het met leë hande onderhandelingstafel toe gekom. Ons het weke gelede al ons mandate gekry en eise skriftelik aan die kamer oorgedra. Dit is jammer dat die kamer só ’n houding aanneem,” het mnr. Frans Baleni, hoofsekretaris van die NUM, gesê.Dr. Elize Strydom, die kamer se hoofonderhandelaar, sê die vakbonde het voortydig in ’n dispuut ingestorm. “Ons is verras en teleurgesteld, veral omdat die partye nie kans gehad het om mekaar behoorlik te betrek nie.”Volgens Strydom word die bedingingsforum vanjaar deur bepaalde uitdagings in die gesig gestaar. “Ons moet ’n balans vind tussen werknemerverwagtinge en die langtermyn-lewensvatbaarheid van die bedryf,” het sy gesê.Die vakbonde eis verhogings van 15% asook ’n rits ander voordele, waaronder hoër behuisingstoelaes en begrafnisversekering van R30 000.Die bedingingsraad vir die staal- en ingenieursbedryf het ’n stakingsertifikaat aan die vakbonde uitgereik omdat ’n klein taakgroep nie in staat was om enige vordering in die loononderhandelinge te maak nie. Die werkgewers het verhogings van tussen 7% en 7,5% aangebied, maar vakbonde eis verhogings van tussen 14% en 15%.Die vakbonde het verskeie ander voordele geëis waaraan die werkgewers sê hulle nie kan voldoen nie, het mnr. Brian Angus, uitvoerende direkteur van Seifsa, die werkgewersorganisasie, gesê.Hulle eis dat arbeidsmakelaars aan dieselfde diensvoorwaardes as gewone werkgewers onderworpe moet wees, maar volgens Angus sal werkgewers nooit daartoe instem nie. “Ons kan nie die plooibaarheid van makelaars prysgee nie,” sê hy.Die vakbonde eis ook seggenskap oor die saamstel van werknemer-aandeleskemas.Mnr. Thulani Nthiyane, hoofonderhandelaar van Numsa, sê egter ’n staking sal oor ’n raps meer as ’n week uitgeroep word indien daar geen vordering is nie.
Die land begin Brand, weer!!!
Hierdie bring herrineringe van 1976 vir my
Protesters, cops clash in Mamelodi
June 21 2007 at 09:41AM By Graeme Hosken and Barry Bateman
Violence flared in Mamelodi on Wednesday as thousands of violent protesters took to the streets and railway lines to demonstrate over housing shortages and other service delivery problems.Barricading streets with rubble, burning tyres and street light poles, demonstrators turned entire sections of the township into no-go zones as they stoned cars, ambulances and trains, looted bread delivery trucks and torched taxis.Dozens of people were arrested for public violence offences following clashes with police throughout the day as officers battled to regain control over strategic roads and areas in the eastern section of the township rendered ungovernable by protesters.'We thought Adrian Vlok's rule was over' Protesters were seen hurling a fire bomb at a police nyala as law enforcers tried to disperse crowds from Hans Strijdom Drive and Hector Pietersen Street - a major intersection in the township.Police armed with shotguns fought running battles, firing rubber bullets at stone-throwing residents as they fought to wrest back control of a railway line bridge running over Tsamaya Road which had been taken by demonstrators. Tension escalated and subsided throughout the day as raging battles moved from place to place in the township. Nyalas raced back and forth between police bases and the flashpoints as officers went to collect extra ammunition.Several intersections were littered with blue casings from the rubber bullets used to disperse the angry crowds.A furious KB Ndlovu, whose three-year-old son Mathimbe was shot in the side with a rubber bullet, said he could not understand why police had shot his child.'The majority of the troublemakers are schoolchildren' Mathimbe was standing inside his father's shack behind a security gate when police opened fire."I was sleeping and then I heard him screaming. We were inside and the gate was locked."Why did they shoot him?" yelled Ndlovu, whose son was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.Tshwane Emergency Services paramedics who raced to the township to treat scores of injured were pelted with stones and forced to turn back.Early morning trains picking up passengers at Pienaarspoort station were also forced to turn back as rioters pelted them with stones, forcing hundreds of commuters to walk along the tracks to the next station.Community leaders Jimmy Ntuli and Lebese Jacob blamed the council for the violence."This is their doing. If councillor Absalom Ditshoke (housing MMC) had kept his promise of meeting us to discuss our concerns, none of this would have happened," Jacob said.Brandishing a council document, Jacob showed that Ditshoke had agreed to meet residents after they handed over a memorandum to him at council headquarters at Munitoria on May 28."He agreed to meet us three weeks after that meeting, but he is nowhere to be seen. We want him to address us."We want him to tell us how he is going to provide us with housing promised to us every time we vote for the government."We want him to tell us what he is doing to fire corrupt councillors selling RDP houses and stands and we want these answers now," he said.Ntuli said they had been promised a better life, but were not living it. "All we want is what was promised to us." He said they needed services not politics. "Once we have houses then we will worry about politics."We have been running from pillar to post when it comes to handing over memorandums about our housing crisis. "We are the people who voted for government. When authorities needed votes, they came running to us, but when we need housing they send the police. We thought Adrian Vlok's rule was over," he said. Resident Penny Mahlangu, who was unable to go to work because of the unrest, said none of this would have happened if corrupt councillors were rooted out by the city authorities."Corrupt councillors are to blame for this. The police can come and kill us but this will not stop until the bad councillors are taken away and residents told when they are getting houses," she said.Julia Namusi, of Mahube Valley, said they wanted permanent stands, water and electricity."Council has been promising us these things for years, but they are nowhere," she said.Danisa Maswanganyi, of Extension 11, said she was forced to join the protest. "They grabbed my handbag and burnt it while I was on my way to work. Who is going to give me my money, cellphone and ID book?" she asked.Maswanganyi was part of a group of about 200 residents who were angry at the demonstrators for the way they were protesting. "This is the wrong way to do this," she said.Sipho Gwababa said the ongoing public sector strike added to problems in the area. "The majority of the troublemakers are schoolchildren."We are aware of democracy but it has limitations. "It does not mean that people can vandalise state assets. It is all right to demonstrate, but you must go about it the correct way," he said.Police said they would maintain a heavy presence throughout Wednesday night and on Thursday to ensure peace prevailed.This article was originally published on page 3 of Pretoria News on June 21, 2007
Protesters, cops clash in Mamelodi
June 21 2007 at 09:41AM By Graeme Hosken and Barry Bateman
Violence flared in Mamelodi on Wednesday as thousands of violent protesters took to the streets and railway lines to demonstrate over housing shortages and other service delivery problems.Barricading streets with rubble, burning tyres and street light poles, demonstrators turned entire sections of the township into no-go zones as they stoned cars, ambulances and trains, looted bread delivery trucks and torched taxis.Dozens of people were arrested for public violence offences following clashes with police throughout the day as officers battled to regain control over strategic roads and areas in the eastern section of the township rendered ungovernable by protesters.'We thought Adrian Vlok's rule was over' Protesters were seen hurling a fire bomb at a police nyala as law enforcers tried to disperse crowds from Hans Strijdom Drive and Hector Pietersen Street - a major intersection in the township.Police armed with shotguns fought running battles, firing rubber bullets at stone-throwing residents as they fought to wrest back control of a railway line bridge running over Tsamaya Road which had been taken by demonstrators. Tension escalated and subsided throughout the day as raging battles moved from place to place in the township. Nyalas raced back and forth between police bases and the flashpoints as officers went to collect extra ammunition.Several intersections were littered with blue casings from the rubber bullets used to disperse the angry crowds.A furious KB Ndlovu, whose three-year-old son Mathimbe was shot in the side with a rubber bullet, said he could not understand why police had shot his child.'The majority of the troublemakers are schoolchildren' Mathimbe was standing inside his father's shack behind a security gate when police opened fire."I was sleeping and then I heard him screaming. We were inside and the gate was locked."Why did they shoot him?" yelled Ndlovu, whose son was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.Tshwane Emergency Services paramedics who raced to the township to treat scores of injured were pelted with stones and forced to turn back.Early morning trains picking up passengers at Pienaarspoort station were also forced to turn back as rioters pelted them with stones, forcing hundreds of commuters to walk along the tracks to the next station.Community leaders Jimmy Ntuli and Lebese Jacob blamed the council for the violence."This is their doing. If councillor Absalom Ditshoke (housing MMC) had kept his promise of meeting us to discuss our concerns, none of this would have happened," Jacob said.Brandishing a council document, Jacob showed that Ditshoke had agreed to meet residents after they handed over a memorandum to him at council headquarters at Munitoria on May 28."He agreed to meet us three weeks after that meeting, but he is nowhere to be seen. We want him to address us."We want him to tell us how he is going to provide us with housing promised to us every time we vote for the government."We want him to tell us what he is doing to fire corrupt councillors selling RDP houses and stands and we want these answers now," he said.Ntuli said they had been promised a better life, but were not living it. "All we want is what was promised to us." He said they needed services not politics. "Once we have houses then we will worry about politics."We have been running from pillar to post when it comes to handing over memorandums about our housing crisis. "We are the people who voted for government. When authorities needed votes, they came running to us, but when we need housing they send the police. We thought Adrian Vlok's rule was over," he said. Resident Penny Mahlangu, who was unable to go to work because of the unrest, said none of this would have happened if corrupt councillors were rooted out by the city authorities."Corrupt councillors are to blame for this. The police can come and kill us but this will not stop until the bad councillors are taken away and residents told when they are getting houses," she said.Julia Namusi, of Mahube Valley, said they wanted permanent stands, water and electricity."Council has been promising us these things for years, but they are nowhere," she said.Danisa Maswanganyi, of Extension 11, said she was forced to join the protest. "They grabbed my handbag and burnt it while I was on my way to work. Who is going to give me my money, cellphone and ID book?" she asked.Maswanganyi was part of a group of about 200 residents who were angry at the demonstrators for the way they were protesting. "This is the wrong way to do this," she said.Sipho Gwababa said the ongoing public sector strike added to problems in the area. "The majority of the troublemakers are schoolchildren."We are aware of democracy but it has limitations. "It does not mean that people can vandalise state assets. It is all right to demonstrate, but you must go about it the correct way," he said.Police said they would maintain a heavy presence throughout Wednesday night and on Thursday to ensure peace prevailed.This article was originally published on page 3 of Pretoria News on June 21, 2007
Held van die DAG! ----- 4x4 flattens hospital robber
4x4 flattens hospital robber21/06/2007 22:58 - (SA)
DisplayDCAd('300x250','1','');
Shoot-out in hospital heist
Guards charged with heist
Cop arrested for cash heist
Guard killed in cash heist
Heist car rammed, gang flees
Gang robs cash van
Heist suspect had dollars
Cash-heist gang hits garage
Cash heist at Gauteng mall
DisplayDCAd('220x120','1','');
Christel Raubenheimer, Beeld
Pretoria - A visitor to a Gauteng hospital used his 4x4 to run down a gunman during an attempted cash heist - "It was him or me," he said.
Rudi Jansen van Vuren of Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal had barely warned his wife, Monami, about their visit to Gauteng when armed robbers struck in the parking area of Pretoria East Hospital.
"I told my wife we should be wide-awake: it looks kind of rough here."
Monami had been to see a doctor, and Rudi was waiting for her in the parking area.
He heard a woman screaming hysterically and saw a few men running.
He saw something in one man's arms and, judging from the screams, he thought it was a baby.
"It looked like a child to me and instinct just took over," he said.
He gave chase in his 4x4 and stopped to pick up a security guard from Woodhill Golf Estate, to help catch the men.
Drew R28 000 from bank
"One of the gunmen pointed his firearm at me, so I drove over him. It was him or me.
"He had a cool drink in one hand and was changing it to his other hand before pointing the gun at me."
More security guards came to help and they kept an eye out for the two who had fled into the estate.
Meanwhile, Rudi had seen a police vehicle in the street and he drove to them to get reinforcements.
He said a passer-by had picked up the injured man's weapon and later handed it to the police.
Members of the flying squad, and Garsfontein and Brooklyn police arrested two suspected robbers in the estate.
Eugene van der Watt, whose wife, Jean, had been robbed, said she was not injured during the robbery.
She may have been followed to the hospital from a bank where she had drawn R28 000.
According to him, there were three men in the parking area and three more were waiting in a white car outside the parking area.
It was not clear if they also wanted to hijack her luxury vehicle.
By Thursday afternoon, the key to the vehicle was still missing.
Van der Watt said: "One man pointed a firearm at her and took her handbag."
"She began to scream and they ran away. Thank the Lord she wasn't injured."
The fleeing robbers shot at security guards and members of the public, but no one was hurt.
Her handbag was later found.
Seized two firearms
Police spokesperson Paul Ramaloko said all the money had been recovered.
The man who had been run over was taken to hospital for treatment because something in his pocket apparently had cut him.
The police also seized two firearms, both of which had had their serial numbers filed off.
Ramoloko said the police were investigating charges of attempted murder and armed robbery
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2134535,00.html
DisplayDCAd('300x250','1','');
Shoot-out in hospital heist
Guards charged with heist
Cop arrested for cash heist
Guard killed in cash heist
Heist car rammed, gang flees
Gang robs cash van
Heist suspect had dollars
Cash-heist gang hits garage
Cash heist at Gauteng mall
DisplayDCAd('220x120','1','');
Christel Raubenheimer, Beeld
Pretoria - A visitor to a Gauteng hospital used his 4x4 to run down a gunman during an attempted cash heist - "It was him or me," he said.
Rudi Jansen van Vuren of Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal had barely warned his wife, Monami, about their visit to Gauteng when armed robbers struck in the parking area of Pretoria East Hospital.
"I told my wife we should be wide-awake: it looks kind of rough here."
Monami had been to see a doctor, and Rudi was waiting for her in the parking area.
He heard a woman screaming hysterically and saw a few men running.
He saw something in one man's arms and, judging from the screams, he thought it was a baby.
"It looked like a child to me and instinct just took over," he said.
He gave chase in his 4x4 and stopped to pick up a security guard from Woodhill Golf Estate, to help catch the men.
Drew R28 000 from bank
"One of the gunmen pointed his firearm at me, so I drove over him. It was him or me.
"He had a cool drink in one hand and was changing it to his other hand before pointing the gun at me."
More security guards came to help and they kept an eye out for the two who had fled into the estate.
Meanwhile, Rudi had seen a police vehicle in the street and he drove to them to get reinforcements.
He said a passer-by had picked up the injured man's weapon and later handed it to the police.
Members of the flying squad, and Garsfontein and Brooklyn police arrested two suspected robbers in the estate.
Eugene van der Watt, whose wife, Jean, had been robbed, said she was not injured during the robbery.
She may have been followed to the hospital from a bank where she had drawn R28 000.
According to him, there were three men in the parking area and three more were waiting in a white car outside the parking area.
It was not clear if they also wanted to hijack her luxury vehicle.
By Thursday afternoon, the key to the vehicle was still missing.
Van der Watt said: "One man pointed a firearm at her and took her handbag."
"She began to scream and they ran away. Thank the Lord she wasn't injured."
The fleeing robbers shot at security guards and members of the public, but no one was hurt.
Her handbag was later found.
Seized two firearms
Police spokesperson Paul Ramaloko said all the money had been recovered.
The man who had been run over was taken to hospital for treatment because something in his pocket apparently had cut him.
The police also seized two firearms, both of which had had their serial numbers filed off.
Ramoloko said the police were investigating charges of attempted murder and armed robbery
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2134535,00.html
Is it Popcru or Potcrew?
Is it Popcru or Potcrew?21/06/2007 22:58 - (SA)
DisplayDCAd('300x250','1','');
Flying dagga lands on squad car
State can't attach 'drug haven'
'I needed cell to feed family'
2 nabbed with dagga worth R10m
Man found with 1 980kg dagga
Seized dagga to reach new high
'New year' crackdown starts
Car had 55 black bags of dagga
Cops hold family for dagga
DisplayDCAd('220x120','1','');
Antoinette Pienaar, Beeld
Pretoria - Is it Popcru or Potcrew? This is what Christian doctors' organisation Doctors for Life (DFL) want to know after a proposal on Thursday by the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) to legalise dagga.
Among other points was the argument that the weed had been around in Africa "since before the settlers came".
The doctors had heard about the proposal, which was made after Popcru's annual congress in Cape Town. The organisation draws its members from the police and correctional services.
One of the members felt that South Africans should be able to decide if dagga should be legalised, because the country was a democracy and, in any case, the use of dagga could not be regulated.
Another said he would never have been where he was now, but for the dagga that his family had cultivated in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal.
A third claimed that "most of our children are educated, thanks to the money generated from dagga".
Popcru president Zizamele Cebekhulu said it (dagga) generated a percentage of the gross national product, and he suggested that there should be research on the dangers of dagga.
10 times more damaging than smoking
Doctors for Life said this argument was old as the hills.
"We are shocked and amused by this debacle. Is it Popcru or Potcrew?" they said in a statement.
The (most recent) decision not to legalise dagga was in 2002.
DFL said that, according to research by the British Lung Foundation, dagga caused 10 times more damage to lungs than cigarette smoke.
"The fact that cultivating dagga is a lucrative industry is irrelevant. So is selling children or heroin." News24 is now available on your cellphone.
-->
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2134603,00.html
DisplayDCAd('300x250','1','');
Flying dagga lands on squad car
State can't attach 'drug haven'
'I needed cell to feed family'
2 nabbed with dagga worth R10m
Man found with 1 980kg dagga
Seized dagga to reach new high
'New year' crackdown starts
Car had 55 black bags of dagga
Cops hold family for dagga
DisplayDCAd('220x120','1','');
Antoinette Pienaar, Beeld
Pretoria - Is it Popcru or Potcrew? This is what Christian doctors' organisation Doctors for Life (DFL) want to know after a proposal on Thursday by the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) to legalise dagga.
Among other points was the argument that the weed had been around in Africa "since before the settlers came".
The doctors had heard about the proposal, which was made after Popcru's annual congress in Cape Town. The organisation draws its members from the police and correctional services.
One of the members felt that South Africans should be able to decide if dagga should be legalised, because the country was a democracy and, in any case, the use of dagga could not be regulated.
Another said he would never have been where he was now, but for the dagga that his family had cultivated in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal.
A third claimed that "most of our children are educated, thanks to the money generated from dagga".
Popcru president Zizamele Cebekhulu said it (dagga) generated a percentage of the gross national product, and he suggested that there should be research on the dangers of dagga.
10 times more damaging than smoking
Doctors for Life said this argument was old as the hills.
"We are shocked and amused by this debacle. Is it Popcru or Potcrew?" they said in a statement.
The (most recent) decision not to legalise dagga was in 2002.
DFL said that, according to research by the British Lung Foundation, dagga caused 10 times more damage to lungs than cigarette smoke.
"The fact that cultivating dagga is a lucrative industry is irrelevant. So is selling children or heroin." News24 is now available on your cellphone.
-->
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2134603,00.html
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
SA skills 'in deep trouble'
20/06/2007 13:29
DisplayAd("C1");
Skills shortage real - survey
Skills aren't welcome
Skills aren't welcome
SA struggles to understand its skills shortage
Eskom: We're not anti-white
Eskom needs its whites: union
White staff want to leave Eskom
Govt: We're not anti-white
Johannesburg - Interviews with senior company officials have confirmed that shortages of skills is one of the most costly and troublesome issue affecting the management of South African businesses over the last two years, said the Centre for Development and Enterprise on Wednesday.
The recent CDE survey included a cross section of 40 businesses recruiting skilled labour in Gauteng. Only CEOs or other senior company representatives were interviewed.
Says CDE director Ann Bernstein: "In order to confront the full reality of our skills crisis we have to face the fact that South African education and training is in deep trouble.
"Fixing this will take a generation. But the question no one wants to deal with in the current discussion on the skills shortage is: What do we do in the meantime?"
'Re-think EE plan'
Bernstein points out that the findings of this survey provide immediate options for addressing the skills crisis.
"While we are grappling with fixing our struggling education and training system," Bernstein argues, "immediate responses available are the speedy restoration of the apprentice system, opening up of immigration and a government re-think on the pressures for employment equity".
Nearly half of the businesses surveyed were in manufacturing with the remainder spread across mining, retail and services.
One quarter had fewer than 100 employees; three had over 10 000 employees, with the rest spread fairly evenly in size between these extremes.
"SA becoming more skills intensive"
"The responses of these businesses made it clear that the South African economy is becoming more skills intensive. The companies were asked what percentage of their staff fell into the category of 'scarce skills'.
"Two thirds responded that more than half of their staff could be described in this way," said the CDE.
"The survey's findings also revealed that formal technical qualifications are not the only skills in short supply. For the majority of businesses in the sample the greatest shortfall is in experience and breadth of judgment, as well as people and social skills.
"The shortages felt by business are occurring in an increasingly competitive global skills market, where pressures are exacerbated by emigration, ageing and promotion of skilled staff.
'Transformation hurting the market'
Moreover, government's insistence on ambitious transformation goals is constricting the skills market further, driving competition for skilled black staff in a situation where whites - the largest available pool of skilled people - are no longer freely employable."
Difficulties reported in recruiting skilled black staff, included problems of poaching, along with the salary premium required to retain skilled black personnel.
These reported problems suggest that the skills shortage is being driven, in part, by the unintended consequences of empowerment policies, said the researchers.
"The most significant finding of the report was that the skills shortage was primarily driven by the failure of the public education system at all levels to deliver quality - consistently and in enough quantity," said the CDE.
"Business in South Africa recognises that it has a role to play in developing skills. Skills shortages are, however, costly and difficult to remedy when the educational system does not provide a good platform for skills development as is the case in South Africa today," said the CDE.
Bernstein concludes: "Unless there is strong leadership to recruit, retain and utilise all the skills available to us in the domestic as well as the global markets, the private sector will struggle to expand capacity and the South African economy will be held back."
fok die AA en BEE dis die probleem!!
http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/economy/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&lvl2=econ&ArticleID=1518-25_2133350
DisplayAd("C1");
Skills shortage real - survey
Skills aren't welcome
Skills aren't welcome
SA struggles to understand its skills shortage
Eskom: We're not anti-white
Eskom needs its whites: union
White staff want to leave Eskom
Govt: We're not anti-white
Johannesburg - Interviews with senior company officials have confirmed that shortages of skills is one of the most costly and troublesome issue affecting the management of South African businesses over the last two years, said the Centre for Development and Enterprise on Wednesday.
The recent CDE survey included a cross section of 40 businesses recruiting skilled labour in Gauteng. Only CEOs or other senior company representatives were interviewed.
Says CDE director Ann Bernstein: "In order to confront the full reality of our skills crisis we have to face the fact that South African education and training is in deep trouble.
"Fixing this will take a generation. But the question no one wants to deal with in the current discussion on the skills shortage is: What do we do in the meantime?"
'Re-think EE plan'
Bernstein points out that the findings of this survey provide immediate options for addressing the skills crisis.
"While we are grappling with fixing our struggling education and training system," Bernstein argues, "immediate responses available are the speedy restoration of the apprentice system, opening up of immigration and a government re-think on the pressures for employment equity".
Nearly half of the businesses surveyed were in manufacturing with the remainder spread across mining, retail and services.
One quarter had fewer than 100 employees; three had over 10 000 employees, with the rest spread fairly evenly in size between these extremes.
"SA becoming more skills intensive"
"The responses of these businesses made it clear that the South African economy is becoming more skills intensive. The companies were asked what percentage of their staff fell into the category of 'scarce skills'.
"Two thirds responded that more than half of their staff could be described in this way," said the CDE.
"The survey's findings also revealed that formal technical qualifications are not the only skills in short supply. For the majority of businesses in the sample the greatest shortfall is in experience and breadth of judgment, as well as people and social skills.
"The shortages felt by business are occurring in an increasingly competitive global skills market, where pressures are exacerbated by emigration, ageing and promotion of skilled staff.
'Transformation hurting the market'
Moreover, government's insistence on ambitious transformation goals is constricting the skills market further, driving competition for skilled black staff in a situation where whites - the largest available pool of skilled people - are no longer freely employable."
Difficulties reported in recruiting skilled black staff, included problems of poaching, along with the salary premium required to retain skilled black personnel.
These reported problems suggest that the skills shortage is being driven, in part, by the unintended consequences of empowerment policies, said the researchers.
"The most significant finding of the report was that the skills shortage was primarily driven by the failure of the public education system at all levels to deliver quality - consistently and in enough quantity," said the CDE.
"Business in South Africa recognises that it has a role to play in developing skills. Skills shortages are, however, costly and difficult to remedy when the educational system does not provide a good platform for skills development as is the case in South Africa today," said the CDE.
Bernstein concludes: "Unless there is strong leadership to recruit, retain and utilise all the skills available to us in the domestic as well as the global markets, the private sector will struggle to expand capacity and the South African economy will be held back."
fok die AA en BEE dis die probleem!!
http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/economy/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&lvl2=econ&ArticleID=1518-25_2133350
On The Outters - Homeless In The City
On The Outters - Homeless In The City
I was amazed at the response to my post a week or so ago on the poor white plight in South Africa, and that so many of the readers here showed so much concern for the less fortunate in the community. You are great folks..!There were also some enquiries as to Afrikaner welfare organisations who are involved in charity work with poor whites.So, as a follow up, I 'm posting this article up to draw your attention to the Operation Winter Hope drive that is collecting blankets, clothing and food countrywide for distribution to the freezing and hungry who will be sleeping on the streets tonight...
Christiaan and Jenny
We don't even eat any more" says a blind and homeless Mr Christiaan Venter.Christiaan and his wife Jenny, have been homeless and living on the streets of Pretoria city centre for the last eight months.
"I can't even remember when last we ate a meal. Everything is absolutely grim. Since I was blinded, my whole world has fallen apart and I have lost everything. said Christiaan.In October last year Christiaan was shot in the right eye with a dart shot from a moving vehicle, his left eye was blinded some years ago, thus leaving him completely blind. " I was admitted for treatment at the Academic Hospital in Pretoria after the shooting, and four hours later I was told by the doctors that I was now permanently blinded and there was nothing further they could do for me, he explained yesterday.
The couple previously lived in Minnaar Street."One night thieves broke into the house and robbed us of the few possessions we had left. The took everything, even the clothes we were wearing at the time. We then moved to living on the street, looking for some safety at Visagie Street Tshwane Metro Police's verandah."It's safe here, just freezing cold, and we don't even have a blanket at night. said Christiaan.He explained that they had applied at various welfare organisations, but were told they could not be given assistance without a fixed address.Christiaan was left unemployed when the computer company he worked for closed down.
Operation 'Winterhoop'/ Winter Hope – is a nation wide drive initiated and promoted by Beeld, Die Burger, Rapport and Volksblad – as well as RSG, kykNET, Radio Rippel en Radio Kansel in co-oporations with various churches and charities .
They are collecting clothes, blankets and non perishable foodstuff for distribution among the homeless on the streets and at night shelters around the country.
There are many white South Africans that are receiving help from the various organizations involved in this drive. I have to say, that from experience with night shelters in the Cape, many of them take in women and children first, and there are many whitey's among them, don't think it's just hotties and darkies in there...a lot of the men are leaving the wife and kids in the shelter and themselves spending the night on the streets when there is no more place in the shelter. Kids are able to wash and dress there, and are getting a breakfast before they go off to school..Concerned citizens who wish to help out can deliver donations of clothes blankets and non-perishable food to the following collection points:
Isinkwa Setheku: mnr. Pat Potgieter 031 700 3816;
KwaZulu-Natalse Maatskaplike Dienste: Marlise Saayman 033 342 7900;
NG Kerk Welsyn Noordwes en Gauteng: me. Anette Degenaar 018 297 3928;
AGS Welsyn: me. Susan Carles 012 332 0599;
Heartbeat: Venter 012 803 3970;
Christelike Maatskaplike Raad: me. Edelwiess Schieke 012 460 9272;
Christelike Welsynraad Gauteng-Oos: me. Dina Bosch 012 460 1674;
PEN: Mariaan Scheepers 012 323 6688;
Nederduits Hervormde Kerk: dr. Wilhelm Coetzer 012 322 8885;
Solidariteit se Helpende Hand-fonds: me. Mariana Kriel 012 644 4388;
Christelike Maatskaplike Raad Hoëveld: me. Alet Viljoen 011 403 5190;
en MES: ds. Johan Krige 011 725 0001.
http://www.news24.com/Beeld/Suid-Afrika/0,,3-975_2132988,00.html
I was amazed at the response to my post a week or so ago on the poor white plight in South Africa, and that so many of the readers here showed so much concern for the less fortunate in the community. You are great folks..!There were also some enquiries as to Afrikaner welfare organisations who are involved in charity work with poor whites.So, as a follow up, I 'm posting this article up to draw your attention to the Operation Winter Hope drive that is collecting blankets, clothing and food countrywide for distribution to the freezing and hungry who will be sleeping on the streets tonight...
Christiaan and Jenny
We don't even eat any more" says a blind and homeless Mr Christiaan Venter.Christiaan and his wife Jenny, have been homeless and living on the streets of Pretoria city centre for the last eight months.
"I can't even remember when last we ate a meal. Everything is absolutely grim. Since I was blinded, my whole world has fallen apart and I have lost everything. said Christiaan.In October last year Christiaan was shot in the right eye with a dart shot from a moving vehicle, his left eye was blinded some years ago, thus leaving him completely blind. " I was admitted for treatment at the Academic Hospital in Pretoria after the shooting, and four hours later I was told by the doctors that I was now permanently blinded and there was nothing further they could do for me, he explained yesterday.
The couple previously lived in Minnaar Street."One night thieves broke into the house and robbed us of the few possessions we had left. The took everything, even the clothes we were wearing at the time. We then moved to living on the street, looking for some safety at Visagie Street Tshwane Metro Police's verandah."It's safe here, just freezing cold, and we don't even have a blanket at night. said Christiaan.He explained that they had applied at various welfare organisations, but were told they could not be given assistance without a fixed address.Christiaan was left unemployed when the computer company he worked for closed down.
Operation 'Winterhoop'/ Winter Hope – is a nation wide drive initiated and promoted by Beeld, Die Burger, Rapport and Volksblad – as well as RSG, kykNET, Radio Rippel en Radio Kansel in co-oporations with various churches and charities .
They are collecting clothes, blankets and non perishable foodstuff for distribution among the homeless on the streets and at night shelters around the country.
There are many white South Africans that are receiving help from the various organizations involved in this drive. I have to say, that from experience with night shelters in the Cape, many of them take in women and children first, and there are many whitey's among them, don't think it's just hotties and darkies in there...a lot of the men are leaving the wife and kids in the shelter and themselves spending the night on the streets when there is no more place in the shelter. Kids are able to wash and dress there, and are getting a breakfast before they go off to school..Concerned citizens who wish to help out can deliver donations of clothes blankets and non-perishable food to the following collection points:
Isinkwa Setheku: mnr. Pat Potgieter 031 700 3816;
KwaZulu-Natalse Maatskaplike Dienste: Marlise Saayman 033 342 7900;
NG Kerk Welsyn Noordwes en Gauteng: me. Anette Degenaar 018 297 3928;
AGS Welsyn: me. Susan Carles 012 332 0599;
Heartbeat: Venter 012 803 3970;
Christelike Maatskaplike Raad: me. Edelwiess Schieke 012 460 9272;
Christelike Welsynraad Gauteng-Oos: me. Dina Bosch 012 460 1674;
PEN: Mariaan Scheepers 012 323 6688;
Nederduits Hervormde Kerk: dr. Wilhelm Coetzer 012 322 8885;
Solidariteit se Helpende Hand-fonds: me. Mariana Kriel 012 644 4388;
Christelike Maatskaplike Raad Hoëveld: me. Alet Viljoen 011 403 5190;
en MES: ds. Johan Krige 011 725 0001.
http://www.news24.com/Beeld/Suid-Afrika/0,,3-975_2132988,00.html
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