THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA 3

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE Results of a national survey in South Africa of more than 11 000 women aged under 50 years--detailed in a research letter in the January 2002 issue of THE LANCET--suggest that child rape is becoming more common, with a third of rape of girls perpetrated by school teachers. Of the reported child rape, 85% took place in children aged 10--14 years, and 15% between 5 and 9 years. School teachers were the largest group of rapists, and were responsible for a third (33%) of rapes.  Rachel Jewkes comments: "Our findings confirm that rape of girls, especially in school, is a substantial public-health problem in South Africa. Effective action to address rape and sexual harassment of girls in schools is needed. South Africa has only recently made sexual relations, consensual or otherwise, between staff and students a serious offence that results in dismissal of staff. Enforcement still presents a substantial challenge." Rape, including child rape, is increasing at shocking rates in South Africa. Sexual violence against children, including the raping of infants, has increased 400% over the past decade. According to a report by BBC news, a female born in South Africa has a greater chance of being raped in her lifetime than learning how to read. When South Africa became a democracy in 1994, there were already 18,801 cases of rape per year, but by 2001 there were 24,892.  Various cultural beliefs in South Africa regarding rape hinder the problem of decreasing and reporting rape. It is difficult to impossible for a woman to say no to sex. Many girls and women believe that if they know the boy or it is a boyfriend who rapes them, they cannot say no to sex, even forcible sex. Many men believe they are entitled to sex or even believe that women enjoy being raped. In a study done in the Gauteng area, 8 in 10 men believed women were responsible for causing sexual violence and 3 in 10 "asked for it". Approximately 50% of male youth believed no to sex meant yes, and nearly one third said forcing sex on someone they knew was not sexual violence. A majority of men thought "jack rolling" ("recreational" gang rape) was bad, but boys between the ages of 15 and 19 thought it was "good" or "just a game"  The raping of infants and/or children may also be due to the belief that sex with a child or baby will cure AIDS. A survey in East London by the University of South Africa found that 18% of 498 workers believed that sex with a virgin could cure AIDS. In Gauteng, 32% of those interviewed believed this myth.  Sifiso Khoza, a teacher at the Mayibuye school in Gauteng, was on trial for sexual assault against five primary school students, and whilst on bail was again arrested on a new charge of rape in November 2002. At least two teachers at the school say school principal Sam Mthembi had acknowledged on at least two occasions after the crisis at his school broke open that he had reason to suspect Khoza was acting inappropriately. But he did nothing.

THE GOOD OLD DAYS Polygamist King Goodwill Zwelithini, king of the Zulu nation, is already married to six wives. According to the tabloids, he impregnated his latest teenage bride (to be wife number seven) before paying lobola (or brideswealth) - something which is unheard of in the Zulu culture. On inquiring about the matter from the household of The Office of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini, they replied as follows by fax: “It is not cultural for His Majesty to answer questions regarding his intentions of marriage to his future queens. The office of His Majesty views with a lot of disdain the audacity of anyone to comment on the health status of any queen — including whether or not she is pregnant. Any enquiries into such matters are preceived by Zulus as gross disrespect and un-African. Probing into the King’s private affairs is an abominable act and in olden times would lead to severe punishment.” Mecifully, in modern times, abominable acts only lead to a severe fax. Also, in modern times, it is good to know that impregnating a virgin before paying lobola was only "severely punished" in olden times. - Sunday Times, 2004-12-05

Lobola is the brideprice traditionally paid in the African community by the bridegroom to the parents of the bride. A new twist to the practice was highligted when Albert Mokoena (right), disgraced Chief Operations Officer of the South African Football Association (SAFA) claimed back the R20 000 "lobola" he paid to his male lover, Herbert Rasekhula, after Rasekhula deserted him to move in with a female Faith Ramoupi. He also claims back all the clothes that his ex-lover took when he moved in with Ramoupi.
Mokoena first achieved notoriety when, as Director General of Home Affairs, he was forced to resign the position in September 1999 before president Thabo Mbeki dismissed him. He was accused of using his office to run a professional basketball team without approval, using state funds, and was found guilty after an investigation. He was subsequently appointed as Chief Operations officer by SAFA, with SAFA vice-president Rueben Mahlalela defending his appointment "because of his capabilities and experience in administration. All he did at the Department of Home Affairs was to run a basketball team and he now has a chance to run football. He did not kill nor rob anyone." SAFA dismissed Mokoena in 2004 after a controversial career.
Moekoena's lover Rasekhula, for whom he allegedly paid the R20 000 "lobola", then dumped him and moved in with Faith Ramoupi. She herself was dismissed from SAFA as a secretary, whilst SAFA's financial committee is investigating Rasekhula's appointment as Mokoena's driver and personal assistant at SAFA.

WHITE MEN CAN'T STAND THE HEAT With warmer weather approaching during the spring of 2004, civil servants in a government department building in Pretoria were asked to close their windows because the air conditioning was about to be switched on to cool down the building. An irate National Educational Health and Allied Workers Uniom member took exception and wrote in outrage in the staff magazine: "We must not forget that not all people feel comfortable with this cold air from air conditioning, especially blacks.... Sometimes it makes us wonder as to whether the comfortable environment is meant for a certain group of people." - Sunday Times, 2004-10-17

It's interesting what lawyers claim to be their best assests and claim to fame when they seek promotion to the Bench at the Judicial Services Commission.
Among the more interesting applications in June 2004 is one by Judge Nkola John Motata of the Johannesburg High Court, who seeks appointment to the Appeal Court in Bloemfontein.
Asked what his most significant contribution to the law was, the good judge said (wrote, actually) with a straight face: "Abolition of the death penalty."
Sorry judge, but serving as national treasurer of the Society for the Abolition of the Death Penalty from 1988-1989, does not qualify you to make this claim.
In addition to speaking all South Africa's official languages, Dimheletse Stanley Seun Moshidi listed another qualification that must make him a certainty for appointment to judicial office.
Under "Past positions and professional achievements", his CV actually reflects the following: "Head prefect, Thusanang Lower Primary School, Middelburg, Transvaal."
Then again, Daniel Vuminkosi Dlodloa motivated for a spot on the Bench with this line: "I was chosen to be a prefect and manager of the school tuckshop."
And Moroampholo Tsoka (photo at left) said the Bench needed him because he had eight Two Oceans, six Comrades and two 94.7 cycle races to his credit.

Statistics South Africa has been plagued by a long series of faulty statistics released about South Africa, most of which were attributed to faulty calculations.
In June 2004 Statistics Africa's head, Pali Lehohla,  publicly took the Reserve Bank to task for publishing employment figures that were too negative, the newspaper Business Day reported.
Lehohla pointed out that the Bank's claim, in its Labour Market Frontiers report, that non-agricultural employment fell by 400 000 jobs between 1980 and 2001, was faulty.
The reason, according to Lehohla? The 2001 statistics were faulty.
Who was to blame for the faulty statistics? Any guesses?

On the website of the South African mission to Indonesia, he described himself as someone who was involved in the "death defying political struggle against the brutal system of monster apartheid... " and "a gallant revolutionary cadre" who "did not stop from continuing his fight for the freedom of his people and liberation of his country". Despite having only "read for National Technical Certificate (NTC III) on Boilermakers", Norman Manuel Mashabane has been appointed South African Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia from 2001.
However, on May 3rd, 2003, Mashabane cornered embassy official Lara Swart after a function at his official home and suggested that they alone "go together to the Aceh province. Do you understand what I am saying?", according to a written affidavit by Swart after the event. He embraced her, fondled her breasts, forcibly kissed her and put his tongue into her mouth, despite her objections. Swart fainted, and when she came by, Mashabane again kissed her repeatedly, stroking her leg, asking her not to tell her husband but to come to his office on the next Monday.
On May 5th, 2003 Swart lodged an official complaint for sexual harassment against Mashabane, who boasted that nothing will come of it, since he is a "personal friend of State President Thabo Mbeki". At that stage he was already found guilty of 21 charges of sexual harassment against female staff of the embassy in December 2001. As a result of the Swart complaints, an investigation under Mr Mxolisi Nkosi (chief director: Northern Africa, in the Department of Foreign Affairs) found Mashabane guilty, recommending on November 30th 2003 that he be dismissed from his position as ambassador.
Nothing came of it and the whole investigation was kept under blankets. Thirty months after the episode, and ironically on Freedom Day April 27th 2004, it was announced by Ronnie Mamoepa of the Department of Foreign Affarins that an "internal appeals investigation" found Mashabane not guilty and was allowed to continue in his position.
Swart was moved to the South African embassy in Seoul, South Korea, on October 30th 2003 at the insinstence of the Society for Civil Servants.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nkosazana Zuma, confirmed in Parliament that she has personally pardoned Mashabane of the the 21 charges of sexual abuse of which he was found guilty.
After being recalled to South Africa, the same thing happened again: he was convicted for sex pestilence. To everyone's surprise, Mashy was appointed as special adviser to Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto, but after a public outcry the appointment was revoked. Then, in March 2007, he's been appointed to the Limpopo provincial legislature. Fortune appears to favour the dingbat who won't keep it in his pants.

Before the 2004 election, much was made of how cash-strapped the ANC was. But instead of raising funds, three senior  ANC leaders recently found themselves doing quite the opposite.
While canvassing near George, Deputy President Jacob Zuma, Western Cape leader Ebrahim Rasool and national executive committee member Naledi Pandor took time out to chat to a 105-year-old woman over coffee at her home - a publicity stunt carefully arranged previously.
Touched by her hospitality, Zuma spontaneously handed over R200 for the refreshments. The elderly lady pointedly looked at the other two, holding out her hand, and said: “Qabane [Comrade] ...” — setting off an embarrassed scramble for wallets.

The King Hintsha Bravery Awards ceremony were held at Unisa in Pretoria during March 2004.
“These awards celebrate heroes of the struggle, bravery, excellence and outstanding service and contribution to our fledging democracy. This year’s recipients are:
“1. Oliver Tambo — A post- Humourous honour for the Gallant fighter; 2. Albertina Sisulu — Freedom fighter and great heroine of South Africa; 3. Justice Dikgang Moseneke — Legal eagle and powerful business man.”
The guests present  failed to see the funny side in the death of a national hero such as Oliver Tambo.

Voters beware! If the ANC is voted back into power in Wednesday's (April 14th, 2004) election, there could be major re-arrangement of South Africa's geographic landscape.
This amazing pre-election slip of the tongue came from ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe at a gathering of ANC supporters to commemorate the death of Communist Party chief Chris Hani ten years ago.
Motlanthe declared that a struggle greater than the anti-apartheid effort was about to commence. "The next struggle will continue until each province has its own sea so that people will not die in road accidents heading to the coast," said he.

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (left) is better known as "Dr Garlic" due to the fact that she prescribed the use of garlic as a "cure" for Aids, which according to her is not caused by the HIV virus. What's more, she refused to pay for a meal at an upmarket Cape Town restaurant because she could smell cigarette smoke in the air.
Tshabalala-Msimang, with bodyguards in tow, left the Hatfields restaurant (right) near Parliament in early December 2003 without settling the R310 bill for her and her entourage. She complained that the restaurant had not complied with anti-smoking legislation.
Tshabalala-Msimang sat at her usual table with her assistant while her bodyguards had lunch and drinks in the restaurant's adjacent smoking area.
General manager of the restaurant, Ernie van Wyk, said the minister was sitting about 5m away from the nearest smoker.
"It was either at the start of the meal or halfway through it when she came to me and complained about the environment," Van Wyk said this week.
"It wasn't like it was right next to her. The wind was blowing that evening and it blew the smoke into the non-smoking area. She wasn't prepared to pay for her meal. She didn't storm out or anything ."
Van Wyk said he didn't argue with Tshabalala-Msimang because he agreed that she had a valid complaint. "I accepted her refusal to pay with the greatest of pleasure and I apologised for the inconvenience of the smoke."
"I wasn't about to argue with her because her department introduced the smoking regulations and it is her job to complain about the smoking," he added .
The owner of the restaurant, who asked to not be named , said: "Unfortunately everything just went wrong on that day. We had a very busy day with about 70 people packed into the restaurant. Our air-conditioning system wasn't working and on top of that the minister of health was sitting at her table."
The owner said that although the smoking area was at the bar, which is separate from the non-smoking area, complying completely with anti-smoking legislation would require major renovations of up to R100 000.
"We're a small restaurant and we simply don't have that kind of money," she said.
Sibani Mngadi, Tshabalala-Msimang's spokesman, confirmed that she had complained and that the restaurant had "offered to waive the bill".
"If the restaurant wanted payment, it would have sent the bill to our offices for payment. The minister was a regular there," he said.
The owner said that in the 17 years she had occupied the building, she had never encountered anyone complaining about smoking, even after the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act came into force three years ago.
"We can't completely comply with the regulations. If we did, we'd have to close our business," she said.
The owner added that she feared Tshabalala-Msimang might have laid a complaint with the city's environmental health authorities.
But Cape Town city council environmental health manager, Alex Godden, said he had received no complaint from the minister or anyone in her department. However, health inspectors of the City Council paid a visit to the restaurant on February 9th, 2004 to investigate whether it complies with smoking regulations

An extract from a story by one Pearl Rantsekeng in the Sowetan newspaper during the first week of February 2004:
"I begged the man not to cut the electricity to a point where I was even prepared to offer him a bribe (something which is a definite no-no with me as you can see from the number of traffic fines I pay). He pointed me to the bottom part of the slip. It read: 'Bribery is a criminal offence. Please do not make any offers to technicians.' I just said 'My brother, you and I are African. For us it is not a bribe. It is just money for you to buy a drink while I run to the nearest bank to make the payment.' I must say that I was taken aback by his reaction."
Honest. Verbatim.

Cape High Court Judge Siraj Desai (photo left) had never been as lonely as on the first terrible nights he spent in an Indian police cell in Mumbai' s Colaba district during the second week of January 2003. Judge Desai's life changed forever the minute he was hauled out of his luxurious Taj Presidency Hotel room and driven in a police Jeep to Colaba where he was ordered to sit on a straight, hard-backed wooden chair and questioned in broken English about the rape accusation against him.
Salomé Isaacs (26) (photo right), an Aids activist from Limpopo, accused Desai of raping her on a Sunday morning at 03:00 in his hotel room.  Isaacs and Desai, deputy chairman of the Human Rights Foundation of South Africa, were amongst eleven South Africans attending the World Social Forum.
According to Mark Isaacs, husband of the accuser, his wife was having a drink in Desai’s room when he, a diminutive man, overpowered the well built Isaacs who weighs 86 kg.
“When I realised I was to be raped, I convinced Desai to put on a condom which I always carry in my purse,” Isaacs later explained. After the alleged rape, her husband phoned her on her cellphone, and she informed him of what had happened. Her husband Mark spoke with Desai, asking him to ask forgiveness, and when Desai  refused, instructed his wife to lay rape charges with the police.
Police arrested Desai, and his request for bail was refused by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate BA Shellar who remanded him in custody as the police wanted to interrogate the "foreigner". Isaacs returned to South Africa, and after strong pressure, including intevention by Winnie Mandela, withdrew the rape charges. Desai claimed that consensual sex took place between him and Isaacs, although Desai’s attorney denied vehemently that any sex took place.
After spending five days in jail, the judge was released on bail and returned to South Africa, quite unrepentant about what had happened. He refused to comply with requests that he should resign as a judge since his behaviour was regarded as unbecoming a judge.
He was put on indefinite "special leave" with full pay from January 2004, a situation which will be "reviewed every three months", until the court case in India has been settled.
In April 2004 the court in Indian found Desai "not guilty" because the case could not proceed due to the fact that Isaacs withdrew the complaint.

In November 2003 it was announced that former convicted murderer and death row inmate Robert McBride has been appointed chief of the East Rand municipality's Ekurhuleni Metro Police Force.
McBride was found guilty of planting a car bomb on  June 14th, 1986, in front of Magoo Bar and the Why Not Restaurant in Durban which killed civilians Julie van der Linde, Marchelle Gerrard and Angelique Pattendon, and injured seventy-three civilians but no soldiers. He was  sentenced  to death and 82 years imprisonment together with co-accused Aboobaker Ismail. McBride had been a cadre of Umkhonto we Sizwe, but carried out the operation against the Magoo Bar and Why Not Restaurant in the belief that these were frequented by soldiers of the SADF.
In 1999 McBride was released from death row and was granted amnesty for the killings by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) due largely to the fact that the ANC claimed it had ordered McBride to attack the pubs, contrary to its initial denials that it was involved in the bombing. He was subsequently appointed as a cadet in the Department of Foreign Affairs, despite an uproar in the public, and was involved in gun-running allegations in Mozambique the same year, which had never been satisfactorily explained.
Despite being a rookie in police matters and having only experience in the making of bombs and in the Department of Foreign Affairs, he was appointed chief against six other candidates who were short-listed for the job, all of whom have extensive police experience at high level.

President Thabo Mbeki was delighted when South AFrican author J M Coetzee's  Nobel Prize for Literature was announced in October 2003. Said the President's spokesman, Bheki Khumalo: "We take off our hats to and salute our latest Nobel Laureate and bask with him in the glory radiating from this singular recognition."

A mere three years earlier however, the ANC's submission to the Human Rights Commission on racism in the media also concerned Coetzee. The ANC said of the author's book Disgrace: "JM Coetzee represents as brutally as he can, the white people's perception of the post-apartheid black man . . . It is suggested that in these circumstances, it might be better that our white compatriots should emigrate because to be in post-apartheid South Africa is to be in 'their territory', as a consequence of which the whites will lose their cars , their  weapons, their property, their rights, their dignity. The white women will have to sleep with the barbaric black men."  Coetzee subsequently emigrated to Australia because of his "concern for the high level of violence" inherent in South Africa.

And what about the tough guys from the Gauteng Education Department who wanted a Coetzee work banned from the syllabus? They are yet to issue a press statement on Coetzee's achievement.....

Alie van Jaarsveld, NNP member of parliament, acknowledged that his marriage of 30 years to his wife Annemarie (herself an NNP member of the Nelson Mandela Metropole in Port Elizabeth) was over after his extra-marital affair with a young coloured worker in his office, Ms Renee Thompson (25), became public knowledge.
Alie hit the headlines when he inadvertently sent an amorous SMS text message meant for his mistress to his wife's cellhone instead. It read: "I long for you. We can't sleep apart. Renee, I am more in love with you than I was with anyone in my life. Come sleep with me please".
But a slip of the finger sent the message to his wife of 30 years, Ms Annemarie van Jaarsveld, who said she was shocked and revolted by the message.
"I was devastated and still am," a reporter for the Herald newspaper quoted Ms van Jaarsveld as saying when she found out about the affair. "My self-respect and self-esteem have been cut to shreds."
Alie van Jaarsveld declined to comment.

COSATU (the Council of South African Trade Unions) held it's 6th congress in September 2003 at the posh international conference centre Galagher Estate in Johannesburg.
During the previous conference, delegates were upset because the T-shirts that were made available were manufactured in China. They complained that imported products take jobs away from South African workers.
During the 2003 conference the fedration made damn sure that the T-shirts were made in South Africa. Only, they were so expensive that Cosatu canvassed sponshorship from, of all organisations, the Old Mutual insurance company.
Capitalist. You can't live with them. You can't live without them.

A report during 2003 of the Auditor General on the ongoings in the Department of Labour, revealed that 80 workers were classified as "surplus to requirements" during a "rationalisation exercise" in 1996 in the department. This followed after the departements of manpower of the former homelands were integrated into the Department of Labour in 1994.
The department claims that it could not, due to a "special offensive" by the surplus staff, re-employ them elsewhere. The surplus staff could only offer to retire voluntarily!
The excess staff stayed at home since then, receiving full salaries and subsequent increases. "The number of surplus staff has gradually reduced since 1996, but in March 2003 there were still 36 of them left". A total amount of R31,2 million has been paid out since 1996 to these "surplus staff".

The beloved country notched up a small but significant victory over the all-conquering Yanks during a visit by president George W Bush during July 2003 to South Africa. An aeronautically literate chommie explained that every aircraft has a call sign — a code it uses when communicating with air traffic control. So when SAA flight 356 calls in, it will introduce itself on air not as SAA356, but with whatever code it’s been assigned — Foxtrot 1221, for example. When Pres Bush's Air Force One approached Pretoria’s Waterkloof Air Force base, it announced itself to the air traffic controllers as “Air Force One”, no doubt expecting that hushed awe, humble salutations and respectful invitations to grace our soil would follow. But South African controllers are made of sterner stuff. No, the controllers said, you can’t use that: we own the air force here. Apparently the Americans were pissed off but had to back down and were assigned a less impressive call sign: kilo alpha kilo one. The inhabitants of the rainbow nation's hearts swelled with patriotic pride.

As a member of Parliament, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (former wife of former president Nelson Mandela) earns a salary of some R300 000 per year. However, during the whole of the year 2002 she attended only five sittings of the national assembly: the opening ceremony and four of the national assembly's 76 sessions, and none of any of the committee meetings. She had six leave for nine days and was awol (absent without leave) for the other 63.
Yet, she occupies room 444, one of the largest offices in the parliamentary buildings, despite the fact that it is intended as a common room and situated directly opposite the party boardroom. She initially occupied the room without permission because she wanted more space for the "bodyguards" who are always at her side.
ANC Parliamentary spokesman Cuba Mahaye said: "It is public knowledge that comrade Winnie is president of one of our leauges (the ANC Women's League), which has huge responsibilities. In terms of determining office space, the ANC takes into account the needs and the responsibilities of the member." During 2003 she only attended one sitting of parliament - the opening session - and for the rest her office is locked and unused.
Winnie is on "extended leave" granted until the end of the trial in which she and broker Addy Moolman stand accused of 60 counts of fraud and 25 of theft. During 2002 she became the first MP to be found guilty of contravening parliament's code of conduct for failing to disclose information in the register of members' interests.
Parliamentary speaker Frene Ginwala said Madikizela-Mandela had 10 days to provide a date when she would attend a sitting to be publicly reprimanded and fined.
"To tell you the honest truth", Madikizela-Mandela recently told a local radio station after her car was reposessed and her credit card withdrawn by ABSA bank, "I don't give a damn. Whatever they do to me, it's like water off a duck's back. I am the ANC. I will lead the ANC Women's League until I die. I will continue to fight for women in this country until God calls me."
Madikizela-Mandela offered herself as a "human shield" in Iraq during February 2003 when pres George Bush of the United States threatened to declare war on Iraq.

Officials in charge of the Zulu royal household in KwaZulu-Natal have requested a 30% increase in their budget so that they can keep King Goodwill Zwelithini "in the style to which he has become accustomed". He is quick to correct anyone referring to his five wives to tell him that they are his "five queens." (Since then the number has grown to seven after exercising his right to choose a wife during the annual  reed dance of young maidens.)
Bethuel Ngcobo, spokesman for the king, said another R7,1 million was needed on top of the household's R21,5 million budget for the year 2002/2003. The additional amount would be allocated as follows, said Ngcobo:
"(We need) R3,4 million for personnel, domestic workers and support staff; and R2,5 million for equipment including the repair and replacement of vehicles, office furniture and leases; while R1,2 million will be used for professional services to cover the costs of fencing at the king's palaces, and day-to-day repairs and maintenance."
According to the royal household's financial statements, R10,6 million was spent during 2002 on personnel, R2,5 mnillion on administration, R494 000 on stores and livestock, R829 000 on equipment and R6,4 million of "professional and special services". Miscellaneous expenses were R733 000.
Chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal finance committee Cyril Xaba said his department would look at the portfolio committee's budget presentation to try to find out why the king's farms were not generating any income.
No less than 102 guards are used to "protect" king Zwelithini. 500 beehives on the palace grounds provide fresh honey for the king, his five wives and many children.
All of his expenses are paid by the taxpayers of South Africa.

Deputy Minister of Minerals and Energy Susan Shabangu repeatedly set off the metal detectors at the departure lounge of Johannesburg International Airport in March 2003, despite efforts to remove all jewelry, rings, bangles and a watch. The security officer insisted that she should pass through the metal detector without triggering it’s alarm. In desperation Shabangu lifted her dress, exposing everything below, to prove that she was not hiding anything.  She is facing charges of public indecency.
Shabangu was in the news earlier when her wayward son was charged with detonating a smoke bomb in Sunward Park High School toilets, and threatened with expulsion. Gauteng Education MEC Ignatius Jacobs had to step in to prevent his expulsion, describing the boy as “a scientist in the making.”