PEFM 87.6 News: September 2014

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

NEWS: SA ranked 80th in AgeWatch rank

South Africa has been ranked 80th out of 96 countries in the Global AgeWatch Index this year, HelpAge International said on Wednesday.

"The latest results from the Global AgeWatch Index 2014 provide a great opportunity for governments in southern Africa to think about implementing universal social pensions and access to health services for all people aged 60-plus," Southern Africa regional director Necodimus Chipfupa said in a statement.

The Global AgeWatch Index 2014 ranks 96 countries according to the social and economic wellbeing of older people.

Norway was the highest ranked country in the index, followed by Sweden.

According to statistics used in the index, 92 percent of South Africans aged 65 and older received a pension.

Sixty-year-old South Africans could expect to live 16 years more on average, compared with the an average 17 more years, which their peers in other index-ranked African countries could expect.

According to the global index, 60-year-olds could expect to live another 20 years on average.

Eighty-three percent of older South Africans surveyed said they had someone to turn to in a crisis, indicating they felt socially connected.

South Africa was ranked 19th for elderly income security, and 83rd for an enabling environment, but the index revealed that personal security of the elderly remained an area of concern.

The best-performing African countries were Mauritius, ranked 38th, followed by South Africa, Ghana, ranked 81th, and Morocco, ranked 83th.

Most African countries were ranked low in the index. These countries had predominantly young populations and ageing issues did not often enjoy priority on domestic policy agendas.

Few African countries were included in the index because they lacked internationally comparable data sets on older people.

(SAPA)

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: Curtain call for Generations

Johannesburg - Seven million fans of SA's most popular soap opera will be cut off from their daily dose of drama this week after the entire cast was sacked for demanding better pay.

-Will you be watching the last episode of Generations tonight?'

The last available episode of Generations - which has been running for 20 years - will be screened on Tuesday night, the SABC announced.

It will be at least two months before a "revamped" version of the show is broadcast - with a completely new group of 16 actors, MMSV Productions said.

The cast walked off the set in August to demand better pay and royalties. Weeks later they were fired, and the SABC has now run out of episodes.

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: US ambassador warns against censorship in South Africa

South Africa has to be wary of attempts to censor the media such as SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng's recent suggestion that journalists be licensed, US ambassador Patrick Gaspard said on Tuesday.

"I was stunned that all of you weren't outside of the SABC headquarters the next morning," he said at the Nieman Society AGM in Johannesburg.

"Governments around the world are looking to control any story they can."

Motsoeneng recently suggested all journalists be licensed and that government revoke these licences should they behave unprofessionally.

Gaspard quoted journalist and writer Nat Nakasa, who died in exile in New York in 1965, saying people should speak up in a "loud and thunderous voice" should anyone or any government hint at censorship.

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: South Africa sees a huge increase in access to electronic communications devices and infrastructure

The Institute of Race Relations, or IRR, says access to electronic communications devices and infrastructure and the use of electric communications have increased far faster than the delivery of any other type of basic service in South Africa.

The finding is contained in an IRR report which tracks what it calls the communications revolution that has swept across the country.

As an example it says the number of cellphone subscriptions in South Africa grew
from eight-point-three-million in 2000 to over 68-million in 2012, or by 720-per cent.
(NewsFlash)

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: Bus crash preacher died while preaching, says wife

A car dealership driver, whose passion was preaching the Gospel to his fellow passengers while travelling to work by bus, is sorely missed after his death in last week’s KwaMashu bus tragedy.

Petros Rodgers Ndlela, 60, of Ntuzuma, was one of the four passengers who died when the Durban Transport bus left the road and tumbled 50m down an embankment on Tuesday.

The staunch Catholic died while preaching, his grieving wife, Thabile Ndlela, 54, told the Daily News, and probably had his Bible still clenched in his hand.

She said the father of three and grandfather of 16 had been preaching on buses for more than 10 years.

Thabile, who works for a clothing factory in Mount Edgecombe, said the night before his death, Ndlela had woken her up complaining that he could not sleep.

“We had a lengthy conversation based on his plans to extend our house. My husband told me that after the house extension is completed I should resign from work because he would be able to take care of me,” said a sobbing Thabile, who suffers from arthritis.

On that fateful day, Thabile and her husband had walked to the bus stop. “He carried my handbag that morning when we both walked to the bus stop as we often do, although our destinations are not the same. He was full of jokes.”

Thabile said she was on another bus travelling to Mount Edgecombe when passengers pointed to the debris of the bus her husband had been travelling in.

“I panicked and tried to call my husband on his phone but there was no answer. I thought he was busy preaching at the time and calmed down. But a few minutes later my phone rang,” she said. “An unknown caller with a female voice on the other side told me to come to the accident scene.”

At that stage she was puzzled and immediately got off the bus to find transport back to KwaMashu.

Her son was already at the scene. “I ran after him but he got there first. I saw him screaming with both hands on his face. I felt a sharp pain in my heart because I realised my husband was no more,” she said.

Thabile said Durban Transport had promised buses for transport to the funeral today and city officials had come to comfort the family.

The distraught wife was angry that people had taken to Facebook to post pictures of her husband’s body at the accident scene.

“I am asking them to stop this despicable act. Those who have these pictures should delete them. It is inhumane and this has affected my family,” she said.

“We are in mourning after the loss, and I do not think anyone in our position should be treated this way. We have grandchildren who are very young to be exposed to such gruesome pictures.”

SAPS spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, confirmed a case of culpable homicide was being investigated in connection with the crash.

(SAPS)

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

BREAKING NEWS: Port Elizabeth residents are warned against possible flooding

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has warned residents of possible floods due to downpours expected until tomorrow morning.

Spokesperson Kupido Baron says a joint operations centre is in place. He has also warned motorists that they will be arrested if they remove or vandalise road barriers intended to protect the public from harm during flooding.

Baron says the municipality’s locks were cut in the dip area of Third Avenue, Newton Park, and the barriers in Main Road, Kleinskool, were also moved.

(NewsFlash)

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

Monday, September 29, 2014

NEWS: SA 4th in African governance index

South Africa ranks fourth out of 52 countries in this year's Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), released on Monday.

This was compared to the country's previous ranking, in fifth place, last year.

Mauritius ranked first, followed by Cabo Verde, and Botswana ranked third in this year's index.

The IIAG found that overall governance on the continent improved between 2009 and 2013, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation said on Monday.

"Africa is progressing but the story is complex and doesn't fit the stereotypes," chairman Mo Ibrahim said in a statement.

"Even if the overall picture looks good, we must all remain vigilant and not get complacent."

The IIAG revealed that in the continent overall, between 2009 and 2013, progress was driven in the categories of participation and human rights, and human development.

The previous period, from 2005 to 2009, the main driver was sustainable economic opportunity, which stalled between 2009 and 2013.

NEWS: Global wildlife numbers 'halved in four decades

A WWF study has found that the world's wildlife population has dropped by more than a half in the past four decades - a far greater drop than identified in a previous report. Human numbers, meanwhile, have doubled.

The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) found in its latest survey that there was a 52-percent decrease in the global head count for more than 10,000 different animal populations across Earth.
The 2014 Living Planet Report, released on Tuesday, looked at the change in population numbers for 3,038 of what it considers to be the most representative animal species.

It revealed a 39 percent fall in numbers across a representative sample of land-dwelling species from 1970 to 2010, with the same depletion in marine species. In freshwater populations, the drop was more marked - at 76 percent.

"The number of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish across the globe is, on average, about half the size it was 40 years ago," the report said.

Marine decline matched that on land, while freshwater populations were worst-hit

"Given the pace and scale of change, we can no longer exclude the possibility of reaching critical tipping points that could abruptly and irreversibly change living conditions on Earth," it added.

A previous report from the WWF looking at similar populations between 1970 and 2008 had found the level of decline overall to be far lower - at 28 percent. Improved measuring methods explained the huge difference, the group said.

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: Human Settlements to build 1.5 million houses by 2019

The Department of Human Settlements says it plans to build one-and-a-half million housing units over the next five years.

This after Western Cape Premier Helen Zille questioned the current housing model in the country.

She said at the South African Housing Foundations' International Conference at Somerset West, that it is unrealistic to expect the State to provide free housing for all. “In no country in the world, least of all a country with challenges like ours, can the State provide a free house to everyone who wants one.

A report by the Financial and Fiscal Commission estimates that around R800 billion will be needed if the country's housing needs are to be addressed by 2020.

Deputy Director General for Human Settlements Mbulelo Tshangana says they have a mandate to ensure that South Africans have access to a house saying that “the right to housing is a constitutional right".

He also explains that the reason many people are not receiving houses is because of the increase in unemployment. “Currently you have a number of people who are unemployed, and if you look at our policy you qualify for free housing if you earn less that R3 500, which means that we have a lot of people who earn less that R3 500."

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: A new banking scam surfaces

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre, or Sabric, is warning bank customers to be wary should they be told that a certain supplier has changed its banking details. Sabric chief executive Kalyani Pillay says people need to thoroughly verify if the details have indeed changed.

According to Pillay, scammers include details of the so-called new account and the recipient is then asked to make future payments into the new account.

(NewsFlash)

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

#NEWS: Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi is shocked by the loss of 3.5 billion in irregular expenditure

The public works department has lost almost R35 billion to wrongful and wasteful construction or
leasing of state buildings in the last five years, The Star reported on Monday.

Billions of rand in misspent money by the public works department is shocking, Public Works Minister Thula Nxesi said on Monday.

The public works turnaround has uncovered R34,9 billion irregular expenditure, some of which goes back as far as 2001,"he told reporters in Pretoria.

The losses were uncovered during the department's review of around 1,3 million transactions of the Property Management Trading Entity (PMTE) dating back to 2009.

The losses were revealed in a confidential report that The Star reported it had seen.

The losses were... "a result of supply-chain management processes not adhered to ." It revealed however, that there was a steady decrease in the losses of public funds in the last five years.\

Around R22 billion was lost in the 2009/10 financial year, R4,9 billion was lost in 2010/11, while R3,8 billion was lost in the 2011/12 period.

The figure was R3,1 billion in the 2012/13 and R600 million in the last year.

Around R1,1 billion was lost to the fraudulent activities.

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEW: Solar power could supply more than half of global electricity by 2050

The International Energy Agency has concluded that the various forms of solar power could provide more than half of the world's electricity by 2050, according to a new publication released today. (1) Solar and wind technology already accounted for one-third of all new power plants worldwide built in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The IEA's in-depth research focused on power generation technologies and their future economic potentials. Solar photovoltaic panels alone could provide around 16% of global power demand with a total installed capacity of 4600 gigawatts (GW).

Commenting on the report, Sven Teske, senior energy expert for Greenpeace International said:

"Greenpeace welcomes the IEA's conclusion that solar energy will be the dominant form of power generation within 35 years. Following last week's UN Climate Summit, it is precisely the kind of good news that everyone concerned about climate change will want to hear.

"The IEA's findings confirms the results of Greenpeace's Energy [R]evolution - a global energy concept that was published in June 2012. (2) Notably, this arrived at the same projection for solar photovoltaics of 4,548 GW by 2050.

"Wind and solar power will continue to dominate the renewable energy market as the cheapest ways of generating power.

"Greenpeace calls on global energy policy makers to accept the reality of renewable energy and adapt the energy market accordingly. Phasing out fossil and nuclear fuels is an environmental and an economic necessity, and not a burden. The stellar economic performance of solar and wind power means that those who back coal-fired power plants seriously risk stranded investments."

For further information:

Sven Teske, Senior Energy expert, Greenpeace International

tel: +49 171 878 7552

e-mail: steske@greenpeace.org

Notes to Editors:

(1) "Energy Technology Perspective 2014"

www.iea.org/W/bookshop/472-Energy_Technology_Perspectives_2014

(2) Energy [R]evolution www.energyblueprint.info/

Mbong Akiy Fokwa Tsafack

Communications Manager

Greenpeace Africa

10Aand 10B Clamart Road

Richmond 2092

Johannesburg, South Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 11 482 4696

fax: +27 (0) 11 482 8157

Email: makiy@greenpeace.org

Skype: mbong.akiy

www.greenpeaceafrica.org

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: Fed-up locals pray for rains

Residents living near Durban's Blue Lagoon yesterday turned to God to save them from yet another loud concert.

And within hours of their prayers the heavens opened up, threatening a washout of the open-air Good Sundae concert.

Residents said the city and police had failed to stop noisy concerts from continuing past midnight at Moses Mabhida Stadium and the Blue Lagoon's People's Park.

Cheryl Jaganath said she prayed for rain because her rights had been ignored.

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NEWS: Ebola: Doctor saves 13 patients with HIV drug

A doctor in Liberia has turned to HIV medication to combat a deadly outbreak of Ebola.
CNN reports Gobee Logan has found Ebola patients treated with Lamivudine exhibit signs of recovery within a day or two.
It’s believed he got the idea after reading in scientific journals that HIV and Ebola replicate in the body in a similar way.
Upon hearing of Logan’s apparent successes, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the
United States, Anthony Fauci, says Logan’s approach has some merits, as the HIV drug is similar to other drugs already
being studied to combat Ebola. Further tests will need to be conducted to gauge the drug’s real effectiveness.
(NewsFlash)
----------------------
A doctor in rural Liberia, who has been inundated with Ebola patients, says he has had good results with an HIV drug.

Doctor Gobee Logan has given the drug, called lamivudine, to 15 Ebola patients and 13 have survived.

Logan says he was left with no choice.

“In a situation like this, I have to use every brain cell to save lives.”

The death toll from an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has risen to at least 3,091 out of 6,574 probable, suspected and confirmed cases, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.

Liberia has recorded 1,830 deaths, around three times as many as in either Guinea or Sierra Leone, the two other most affected countries, according to WHO data received up to 23 September.

An outbreak that began in a remote corner of Guinea has taken hold of much of neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone, prompting warnings that tens of thousands of people may die from the worst outbreak of the disease on record.

The WHO update said Liberia had reported six confirmed cases of Ebola and four deaths in the Grand Cru district, which is near the border with Ivory Coast and had not previously recorded any cases of Ebola.

The district of Kindia in Guinea also reported its first confirmed case, the WHO said, a day after it said the spread of Ebola appeared to have stabilised in that country.

Nigeria and Senegal, the two other nations that have had confirmed cases of Ebola in the region, have not recorded any new cases or deaths in the last few weeks.

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: Spy Tapes reveal shocking Zuma and ANC kickbacks

President Jacob Zuma and the African National Congress benefited significantly from dealings with French arms company, Thales.

This is according to the Sunday Times, which today announced it had managed to secure copies of the so-called Spy Tapes, revealing multi-million-Rand backroom deals between Zuma and Thales’ South Africa lawyer and fixer, Ajay Sookla.

This included lavish clothes, hotel stays in Europe and bribes.

The paper claims Zuma used the code word, “Eiffel Tower”, for a 500-thousand-Rand bribe from Thales to ensure the company’s political protection in the arms deal. The ANC is also alleged to have received a one-million-Euro cheque from Thales, which was deposited into a Dubai-based account.

When approached for comment, Presidential spokesperson, Mac Maharaj, referred all inquiries to the Seriti Commission, which he says has been established specifically to deal with allegations and rumours surrounding the arms deal.

(NewsFlash)

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: MEC takes swipes at pastors

Gauteng Infrastructure Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza on Sunday criticised a local pastor and Nigerian pastor TB Joshua, while warning of "harmful religious practices".

Mayathula-Khoza, speaking at the Father Masango St John Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Soshanguve, west of Pretoria, prayed for the South Africans who died in a building collapse in Nigeria on September 12.

"We ask the Creator to assist us to deal with the loss. We send our heartfelt condolences to their loved ones," she said.

"But I don't understand why the likes of TB Joshua should claim the sole ability to heal and prophesise ability to perform miracles."

Around 115 people, among them 84 South Africans, were killed and dozens trapped when a multi-storey guesthouse attached to the Synagogue Church of All Nations, run by Joshua, collapsed in Lagos.

Some 350 South Africans were thought to be visiting the church when the accident happened.

Last week, French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that rescue workers said the building collapse was likely due to the addition of extra floors to the three-storey building without reinforcing its foundations.

But Joshua, a charismatic pastor known to his followers as "The Prophet" or "The Man of God" and who claims to work miracles, suggested it was a deliberate sabotage against his ministry.

Building collapses are frequent in Nigeria because of lax regulations and substandard construction materials, AFP reported.

Mayathula-Khoza, speaking on behalf of the Gauteng Premier David Makhura, criticised a Pretoria-based pastor who reportedly made his congregation eat grass and drink petrol.

"If you go about feeding people grass and petrol, you must know that you are not a good shepherd. You are misleading the folk," she said.

"Some amongst us seem to think that we can't tell the healing power of faith and the medicinal value of faith from harmful religious practices."

On September 24, it was reported that Rabboni Centre Ministries pastor Lesego Daniel told his Ga-Rankuwa congregation to drink petrol and said it tasted "sweet".

In a video posted to YouTube, members of his congregation are seen drinking the petrol as Daniel preached.

Mayathula-Khoza said humans cannot digest grass because it required special enzymes, such as in herbivores, which humans do not have.

She said petrol should not be ingested and posed a danger for the breathing system and could result in breathing difficulty and aspiration pneumonia.

"Ingestion of fuel is corrosive and not only does it affect the intestinal territory, but also the nervous system," she said.

"It causes excitement [a high], as though someone who took on drugs. That would explain the strange behaviour reactions after ingestion in the people who drink petrol."

The MEC said petrol also posed a danger for the breathing system, resulting in difficulty breathing, aspiration pneumonia, among other symptoms.

NEWS: Reduction of salt intake can prevent heart diseases: WHO

Governments and people around the world are being urged by the World Health Organization (WHO) to take action to reduce the intake of salt.

On World Heart Day, observed annually on 29 September, WHO is warning that consuming too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and greatly increase the risk of heart problems.

According to WHO, non-communicable diseases, including heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of premature death in the 21st century.

Dr Temo Waqanivalu is a non-communicable disease expert at WHO.

"We need salt in our body. Currently, we get a lot of salt from processed foods and that has increased the consumption of salt to the stage that it's linked to these diseases. That's why the WHO Member States have come together and, based on the science and the evidence of its link to heart diseases, it has put out the recommendation that the population should reduce the average intake of salt per person to less than five grams of salt per day, which is about a teaspoon of salt." (29")
WHO is supporting governments to implement a global action plan that includes the reduction of salt intake by 30 per cent by 2025.

The agency says one of the actions that can be taken at an individual level is to read food labels when buying processed food to check the level of the ingredient.

Daniel Dickinson, United Nations

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Thursday, September 25, 2014

NEWS: More than half of South Africans earn less than R10,000

More than 55 percent of the working population earns less than R10,000 a month, according to the latest BankservAfrica Disposable Salary Index (BDSI) released on Thursday.

The average South African's disposable income had declined for the first time since January.

BankservAfrica head of corporate reputation Michael Rubenstein said the average disposable salary came in at R12,224 in August.

It was slightly lower than July but remained 6.1 percent up on a year ago.

"The BDSI shows that real salary increases are once again becoming constrained," he said.

It was time to tighten the belt even more.

Economist Mike Schüssler said the total value of salaries saw an increase of just over seven percent to R44.8 billion.

According to the BDSI the number of people receiving between R50,000 and R100,000 in disposable income per month grew by 24.5 percent year-on-year.

The next highest category, between R25,000 and R50,000, grew by 18 percent.

People receiving less than R4000 in their bank account grew by 10.8 percent.

However, the largest category, those earning between R4000 and R10,000, declined by nearly 2.5 percent year-on-year.

Schüssler said people earning between R4000 and R10,000 per month now made up 2.6 percent of the total, while those earning between R10,000 and R25,000 made up 35.3 percent of the sample in the BDSI.

Those earning between R25,000 and R50,000 was estimated to be 8.1 percent and those taking home over R50,000 up to R100,000 1.5 percent of the total BDSI. People earning below R4000 reflected just over 13 percent.

"More people are earning higher salaries, while the bottom end of the middle class -- those earning between R4000 and R10,000, is de-populating," he said.

"It is also quite clear that the growth in the number of accounts receiving over R10,000 is growing in double digits."

He said that although the BDSI did not include people earning over R100,000, it was interesting to note that this category had grown by 27.2 percent in August year-on-year.

"The trend of more people entering the higher income brackets is partly due to above-inflation increases within these categories," Schüssler said.

-SAPA

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: A million people in Sierra Leone are in an Ebola lockdown

In the largest lockdown in West Africa’s deadly Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone has ordered the quarantine of three districts and 12 tribal chiefdoms.

The measure affects more than a million people. In a national televised address, President Ernest Bai Koroma said the northern districts of Port Loko and Bombali were closed off, along with the southern district of Moyamba.

With the eastern districts of Kenema and Kailahun already under quarantine, more than a third of the population now finds itself unable to move freely.
(NewsFlash)

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

NEWS: South Africa ready for private medical school

To speed up the country's delivery of qualified doctors, Western Cape Health MEC Theuns Botha says private medical schools are necessary.

South Africa is ready for its own private medical school where doctors can be trained without the help of the state, said Western Cape Health MEC Theuns Botha at the 18th Rural Health Conference in Worcester on Tuesday. “I intend addressing the issue on national level. Why can the country have privately run courses for almost all other professional fields, but not for medicine?” Botha asked.

Private medical schools are currently prohibited by the National Health Act – only public universities are allowed to train doctors. Medical students can therefore only do their practicals at public hospitals under the supervision of doctors employed at state hospitals and clinics.

According to the national health department South Africa’s eight medical schools have been producing an average of 1 200 doctors per year for the past decade. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has told the Mail & Guardian previously that he plans to “at least” triple this number to 3 600 doctors per year for the implementation of government’s National health Insurance Scheme.

According to the government’s White Paper on human resources, South African medical schools will have to double their output of general practitioners over the next 15 years just to maintain the current ratios to population.

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

NEWS: Fighter jet on highway surprises motorists

Puzzled - and amused - commuters took to Twitter this morning after spotting a jet being towed on the N1 South near Midrand.

@Nadiagerber80, who took a photo of the plane, confirmed it was being towed on its wheels on the highway.

@Pigspotter tweeted: "It's real. N1 South, Mirage F1 Jet on the Highway. Wonder if it'll pay etolls?"

@GlynnЯyan‏Glynnryan quipped: "Maybe (the pilot's) doing his learners licence and needs to operate it under supervision?".

With ‏@Buzzy14 explaining, "Yes, it's a fighter jet, just borrowed from Zwartkop Airbase for the day! Happy Heritage Day!!!", humour returned.

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*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.