Sowetan

MK veteran wants Nyanda to answer for Nokuthula 

Simelane's disappearance

By Naledi Shange | Feb 06, 2017 

An uMkhonto WeSizwe veteran on Monday called on his former general‚ 

Siphiwe Nyanda‚ to divulge his part in the disappearance of Nokuthula 

Simelane.

 The activist disappeared in 1983 while on a mission to the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg.

 “During that time‚ people were paid by the apartheid regime and that is why they are rich today. They were paid. We went to Robben Island because they were paid. Who sold out this woman?” said Kid Sogovu.

 He ambushed Nyanda during a media conference held at Luthuli House.

 Wearing a cap‚ the short chubby man who had a placard hung around his neck was dragged out of the news conference by security officers after he disrupted the proceedings‚ seeking answers from Nyanda.

 His placard read: “Tell us about Nokuthula Simelane‚ Siphiwe Nyanda.”

The MKVA and the MK National Council had called the conference to brief the media on their meeting
held last week in Sandton.

 Sogovu accused Nyanda on focusing on problems in the ruling party instead of first addressing the
military veterans’ issues.

 “He has never called any conference about our fight‚ fighting against apartheid‚ but he can call a
press conference and talk about other things which don’t need him‚” Sogovu told reporters outside
Luthuli House.

 “He must explain what happened to this lady. Those are my cries. He must explain. Who sold out?
Who was paid when we were fighting against apartheid? Who was paid so that this lady could be
arrested?” he said.

 Sogovu claimed he had landed in jail during the apartheid era after following a false lead by Nyanda.

 “I committed acts of sabotage in 1982 with other comrades and we went back and reported to [Nyanda]
 in Swaziland. From Swaziland we went to Mozambique.

 “Then in 1983‚ he sent us back again to come and commit further acts of sabotage as members of
MK and that is when I was arrested‚” he said.

 Sogovu said Nyanda had sent him and other freedom fighters to meet with a contact but they were
instead met by security officers.

 He has not received an explanation from Nyanda on how they were arrested.

 Questioned on whether he had been planted to disrupt the meeting‚ Sogovu dismissed the claims.

 “No‚ I am a former freedom fighter‚” said Sogovu.

 He vowed to attend every meeting where Nyanda would be present to press him for answers.

Simelane was a 23-year-old university graduate when she disappeared.

 She was a courier for UMkhonto we Sizwe (MK)‚ the armed wing of the African National Congress‚
 moving between Swaziland and South Africa.

 Reports suggest that she fell into a trap set by one of her own and was allegedly abducted and brutally
tortured by the Security Branch of the former South African Police. She was never seen again.

Willem Coetzee‚ Anton Pretorius‚ Frederick Mong and Msebenzi Radebe were prosecuted for her murder last year.

Daily Sun

NATIONAL

Yesterday

WOMEN LINE UP FOR PAYMENT FROM MOREKI

   

By  Stephens MolobiMonday, February 06, 2017 12:01

A screen grab from a Facebook video shows the apparent mystery moreki dishing out money to queuing mums with their babies. ~ 

HE POPS up with bundles of cash and hands out money to people.

Nobody knows who this moreki is or why he does it. 

BUT NOBODY IS ASKING QUESTIONS EITHER. 

Like the song says, Ska Bhora Moreki! 

And the message is clear. Don’t bore or bother the buyer.

As long as he is buying the drinks and doing the blessing, don’t ask questions.

This mystery moreki is happy to bless and give a helping hand to the needy.

On a video posted on Facebook the man is seen dishing out one hundred and two hundred rand notes to queueing women, most of them holding children.

On his Facebook page, Moreki Finder, he declares: “I should give out to my charity tomorrow. I will give each person R400 because the government only gives people R350 with which they have to feed kids.”

While he doesn’t seem to mind people making videos and there are lots of pictures of him on his Facebook page, he does not want to identify himself.

He said whoever needs help can contact him and he will give them a lift in life.

And he invites people to come to him for a hand-out.

“If you also want money, please share and like my page and inbox me.”

He claims that he will check to see if the person really needs help.

“Send me a WhatsApp with your picture and location and I will connect you with Moreki, who will care for you.”

Moreki seemingly moves between Limpopo and Gauteng.

“Moreki is around Gauteng, waiting,” he said.

Social media is going crazy with women trying to locate the blesser, while others praise him for helping the needy.

Kerometsoe Xaba wrote on Facebook: “At least you are doing something great by giving to those who can’t even afford bread. We thank you for being kind. God will always bless you.”

Phindile Semenya’s post said: “I need help. We lost our parents, we are not working. We need money, electricity and water. If we don’t pay they are going to cut it off and the groceries we buy don’t last for the whole month.”

Daily Sun managed to track down the man people call moreki on the phone.

He would not disclose his real name or where he came from, but insisted what he is doing comes from the heart.

“Yes, I do like to help the needy and help make people’s dreams come true.”

Asked for more comment he said: “Well, I’m not yet ready for an interview. We will have to wait.”

Immunization in Africa on the table

THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

"We, African Ministers of Health, Finance, Education, Social Affairs, Local Governments attending the Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa, which took place from 24 to 25 February 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and convened by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the African Union Commission, are committed to continued investment in immunization programs and a healthy future for all people of the African continent."

On Tuesday, last week, Heads of State from across Africa adopted a Declaration on Universal Access to Immunization in Africa.

They endorsed the Addis Declaration on Immunization which is a historic and timely pledge to ensure that everyone in Africa,  regardless of who they are or where they live, will receive the full benefits of immunization. 

The endorsement was issued during the 28th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In a summit statement, it is reported that while Africa has made impressive gains over the last 15 years toward increasing access to immunization, progress has stagnated, and the continent is falling behind on meeting global immunization targets. 

At least one in five children in Africa still does not receive basic life-saving vaccines and, as a result, vaccine-preventable diseases continue to claim too many lives. Measles alone accounts for approximately 61,000 preventable deaths in the African region every year, it has bee found.

The Addis Declaration on Immunization calls for countries to increase political and financial investments in their immunization programmes. It includes 10 commitments, including increasing vaccine-related funding, strengthening supply chains and delivery systems, and making universal access to vaccines a cornerstone of health and development efforts. The full declaration can be found below.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa noted, “Vaccines are among the most effective public health tools available,” said Dr Moeti,  “When children are given a healthy start, communities thrive and economies grow stronger. This show of support from Heads of State is a significant step forward in our efforts to achieve universal access to immunization and, ultimately, improve child health and drive sustainable development across Africa.”

It has also been found that fewer than 15 African countries fund more than 50% of their national immunization programmes. As Africa nears polio eradication, critical funding for immunization through the polio eradication programme is expected to ramp down. Additionally, countries approaching middle-income status will transition away from Gavi support for immunization in the coming years. Consequently, governments must redouble their efforts to make universal immunization coverage a national priority.

Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean commented, “As long as even one child in Africa lacks access to immunization, our work remains unfinished,” said Dr Alwan, “With the right mix of political will, financial resources and technical acumen, Africa can – and will – stem the tide of vaccine-preventable diseases across the continent.”

Also revealed was that with strong leadership and investment, increased access to immunization is within reach. For example, in 2010, Ethiopia built 16,000 new health centres, purchased 2,000 battery-free solar refrigerators for vaccine storage, and built a network of millions of health extension workers and volunteers at community level to increase access to immunization throughout the country. Since these investments were made, Ethiopia has made remarkable gains, with immunization rates soaring from 61% in 2010 to 86% in 2015.

Professor Yifru Berhan Mitke, Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, “Immunization is one of the smartest investments a country can make in its future,” said Professor Mitke, “We must do more to protect all our children from preventable diseases – not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it makes economic sense. When our children are healthy, our families, communities and countries thrive.”

In addition, the Addis Declaration on Immunization was signed by Ministers of Health and other line ministers at the Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa (MCIA) in February 2016 in Addis Ababa. MCIA was the first-ever ministerial-level gathering with a singular focus on ensuring that children across the continent can access life-saving vaccines. To guide the implementation of the ADI, a roadmap is being developed in close collaboration with the WHO offices in the African Region and Eastern Mediterranean Region, the African Union Commission and immunization partners.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance board remarked, “African leaders are showing outstanding leadership by endorsing this landmark commitment which will allow more African children to be reached with life-saving vaccines no matter where they live,” said Dr Okonjo-Iweala, “We must now ensure that the commitments translate into sustainable financing for immunization. Gavi stands ready to support African countries in their efforts to implement equitable health approaches and maintain strong immunization coverage so we can create together a more prosperous future for communities across our continent.”

Income inequality still haunts South Africa

THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

Black South Africans still earn way below their white counter-parts 22 years after SA became a democracy.

With all the expectation of transformation and racial equality, the road ahead seems to long to achieve this objectives, when you consider that white South African still earn five times higher than black people.

This is confirmed by latest Living Conditions of Households in South Africa survey, conducted by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), which is detailing the average annual income of South Africans.

According to Stats SA, he LCS has two primary objectives, firstly to provide statistical information on household consumption expenditure patterns to inform the updating of the consumer price index (CPI), and secondly to report on poverty levels and patterns."

The information presented was collected from 23,380 households across the country over a period of 12 months (2014/2015). The total figures are therefore an estimate based on the data provided.

According to the LCS report, the average income in South Africa is approximately R138,168 per annum, with the biggest portion derived primarily from work. Other income sources include capital gains, pensions and allowances, and rent.""

In addition, the data provided shows that white South Africans still command the highest average incomes in the country at approximately R444,446 a year. And this is over 1.5 times greater than Indians/Asians at R271,621 per year. And almost 5 times more than black South Africans, at R92,893 per year.

Moreover, black South Africans make up 80% of the country’s population. And whites accounted for 8%.

Stats SA’s data showed that despite the large wage inequality,  the gap has narrowed since the previous LCS report in 2011, which found that the average white South African earned six times higher than the average black South African.

Previous global studies on SA's income inequality have found that South Africa is the most unequal country in the world followed by Brazil.

News24

TOKOLOSHES ‘HAVING SEX WITH TEACHERS’!

   

By  News24Monday, February 06, 2017 15:01

 ~ 

‘TOKOLOSHES’ are having sex with female teachers at a school in Zimbabwe's eastern Manicaland province, a state-run newspaper has claimed.

The Manica Post reported that the attacks by the tokoloshes started at Chishuma Primary School in Odzi last June and are ongoing.

Two female teachers confirmed the attacks and said a pastor from a local church had conducted prayers to try to get to the bottom of the drama. He did not succeed, apparently.

"Mysterious human-like objects, believed to be tokoloshes are allegedly having forced sexual intercourse at night with female teachers at Chishuma Primary School in Odzi in a real-life drama whose script reads like folklore plucked from Gothic literature," the Manica Post said. The head of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers' Association George Kandiero told the paper: "The solution comes when the people affected find a genuine traditional healer who can cleanse that."

Tokoloshis have been reported before, often in connection with money-making enterprises.

In 2014, a Mutare MP was forced to deny publicly that a tokolosh had been found at his business premises. Three years earlier, the Chronicle said that the demand for tokoloshes (some of them imported from South Africa) was "outstripping supply" in Bulawayo and the eastern city of Mutare.

http://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/bizarre-goblins-having-sex-with-teachers-in-zimbabwe-school-20170204

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Black History Month

Marie Van Brittan Brown: Home Security System Inventor

Marie Van Brittan Brown and her husband, Albert, created an early closed-circuit television system to be used for home monitoring.  That security system was the forerunner of all advanced home security technology in use today.

 How Marie Van Brittan Brown Became an Inventor

Marie Van Brittan (1922-1999) was born and raised in Jamaica, Queens. She became a nurse, who like most nurses, did not work regular 9-5 hours. Her husband, Albert Brown, was an electronics technician.  When she was home alone at odd hours of the day or night, she sometimes felt concerned. The crime rate in their neighborhood had increased, and everyone in the neighborhood knew that police response time in their area was notoriously slow.  Marie wanted a way to feel less vulnerable.   
Working with her husband, Albert, the two began devising a home security system. One issue that bothered Marie was having to answer the door to identify a visitor. Soon they had a plan for a motorized camera that was attached to a cabinet added to the door.  The camera could move up and down to take views through four separate peep holes. The top spot would reveal the identity of a tall person; the lowest one would show if a child was at the door. The other peep holes could capture any person between these two heights.
A television monitor was placed in the Browns’ bedroom, and Albert used a radio-controlled wireless system to feed the images seen at the door back to the monitor. A two-way microphone also permitted conversation with the person at the door.
If the homeowner was concerned about the person at the door, a button could be pushed that would sound an alarm to signal a security firm, a neighborhood watchman, or it could alert a nearby neighbor.  If, however, the person was a friend, a button could be pushed that would unlock the door remotely so that the visitor could come in.
As anyone who has visited an apartment in recent times knows, units exactly like the one the Browns invented are used in multi-dwelling buildings throughout the country.  Today the technology for such a system has shrunk drastically, but the invention is just the same.

 Patent Application Filed in 1966

The patent application was filed on August 1,1966 under the names of Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown, both of 151-58 135^th Avenue, Jamaica, New York.  The  application states that the invention being described is “a video and audio security system for a house under control of the occupant thereof.  Occupant can see who is at the door…” An audio system permits the occupant to converse with the person at the door.
In the mid-1960s no one was creating home surveillance systems.  Therefore, Marie and Albert were applying for a patent on what would truly be a “first.”  In citing the patents that their application relied upon in order to create the system, the Browns noted only three previous patents: the invention of the television system by Edward D. Phinney (approved February 7, 1939), an identification system created by Thomas J. Reardon (approved November 24, 1959), and a remotely-operated control of the scanning system (approved June 28, 1966).
Today the Browns’ patent is referenced by 13 subsequent inventors who trace their own creation back to having made use of some aspect of the Browns’ closed-circuit system. The most recent patent that referenced the Browns’ invention was in 2013.

 Marie Van Brittan Brown Featured in The New York Times

In a column in The New York Times (December 6, 1969) that was devoted to writing about approved patents, the reporter led with the Browns’ December 2, 1969 approval for Patent #3,482,037: “The patent drawings show a receiver resembling a small bedside television set, with a screen displaying a video picture of the visitor….A microphone and speaker permit voice communication with the person at the door, and then one button can sound an alarm; another can open the door if the resident determines that’s a safe course of action.”
In an interview with the Times, Mrs. Brown pointed out that with the patented system, “a woman alone could set off an alarm immediately by pressing a button, or if the system were installed in a doctor’s office, it might prevent holdups by drug addicts.”
The article noted that the Browns did not yet have a manufacturer for the system but they intended to install one in their own home, and then would try to interest home builders.
Unfortunately, the media stories on the Browns end after the patent approval was announced in 1969. Marie Van Brittan Brown did receive an award from the National Scientists Committee for her work but no year for the award can be identified.
Next/Market Insights reports that the do-it-yourself home security sector will be a 1.5 billion business by 2020. Whether or not the Browns made a profit from their invention was not reported in the press, but what we do know is they laid the groundwork for a very important form of home security.
Marie Van Brittan Brown died in Queens on February 2, 1999 at the age of 76.  She had two children, one of whom went on to be both a nurse and an inventor; the daughter holds almost a dozen patents, many having to do with aids to help people with health issues.

SOURCE: America Comes Alive