NEWS: Bomb-sniffing elephants trained in South Africa

In the South African bush, elephants are being trained in the art of “bio-detection” to see if they can use their exceptional sense of smell to sniff out explosives, landmines and poachers.



Supported by the United States Army Research Office, the project looks promising.
During a recent test run, a 17-year-old male elephant named Chishuru walked past a row of buckets. A swab laced with TNT scent had been stapled to the bottom of one.

Sticking his trunk into each bucket, Chishuru stopped and raised a front leg when he came across the one with the swab. He got the bucket right each time.

And like a sniffer dog, he was rewarded with a treat: marula, a fruit that elephants love.

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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.

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NEWS: South Africa tackles human trafficking

Social welfare experts have called for improved co-ordination and integration of services between various role players to give better support to victims of human trafficking.

At a roundtable held by the Department of Social Development, the stakeholders looked at ways to implement the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, as well as find new ways to combat human trafficking. The Act was signed into law in July 2013. The meeting highlighted the importance of improving the co-ordination of victim support services throughout the support spectrum and referral system. Other recommendations included:

• The fast-tracking of integrated information management systems between role players;
• A rapid finalisation of issues in order for the Act to be fully implemented – although it has been signed into law, putting it into practice is dependent on regulations, national directives and instructions that need to be made by several departments;
• Continuous research to make more data available for better understanding of human trafficking;
• This research will also help in capacity building for practitioners;
• The government must make sufficient resources available to fight human trafficking; and
• Programmes must emphasise prevention of human trafficking through public education initiatives.

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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.

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NEWS: SAA: We will continue to fly all SA routes

In January, acting SAA CEO Nico Bezuidenhout noted that SAA's domestic routes were loss-making, while the regional routes were profitable.



SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali told Traveller24, the comment was made in context of a discussion, referencing the aforementioned trend taking place globally, but as it stands no decision on the matter has been taken.

When asked if implementing this trend formed part of SAA’s 90-day turnaround strategy, Tlali said, “This is not the case at all. There is no decision by SAA to pull out of its domestic market and short haul routes.

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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.

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NEWS: SAA may give up its domestic service

Cape Town - Low cost airline Mango could be taking over all local and short-haul "full-service" flights for South African Airways.

Times live reports Nico Bezuidenhout, the acting SAA CEO said SAA's average break-even fare for domestic and short-haul flights was R1700, while Mango's was below R900.

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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.

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NEWS: Youths fired up by a love of reading

In the wake of protests that saw their only library burned down, book-loving youths in Mohlakeng township in Randfontein on the West Rand have started their own “underground library”.

Twenty-three-year-old Lebogang Thabeng sits in his room, one of two built behind his grandparents’ four-roomed house in Mohlakeng. A bed takes up most of the room. On the bed are engineering textbooks. There is no table. He is a third-year student at Westcol FET college in Randfontein and is preparing to write his final exams at the end of February.




“I am forced to study here now,” he says, pointing at the bed. A prepaid electricity meter on the wall shows he has run out of power.

“I can’t afford to go to Randfontein and use the library there. I still can’t believe our community burned down our library,” he says, referring to protests two weeks ago in which Mohlakeng protesters burned down the municipal building, the maternity clinic and the library.

“The municipal building is next to the library and the fire spread. Most of us used to go to the study section of the library to prepare for exams because there is no space to work at home and it is hard to focus.”

Thabeng tells the Mail & Guardian that, even though the old library had only a few old encyclopaedias, it always had electricity and the youth could sit at tables and study.

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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.

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NEWS: Students raise R1m to fund others' fees

An ambitious plan of the Wits University Student Representative Council to raise R1-million for fellow students' tuition became reality yesterday.

This was after an individual donor gave R553000 to help students from poor families who cannot get funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.




Basetsana Thokoane, in a letter to SRC president Mcebo Dlamini, said she shared a similar background to the students in need.

"I was educated by the ANC in exile, [am] a proud graduate of Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College in Tanzania, various universities and colleges in the UK through ANC scholarships and support. People of these countries and many more did so much for us.

"I will always make sure that young people who work hard are supported to achieve their dreams as so many did with me," she said.

The SRC embarked on the #1Million1Month campaign earlier this month, challenging students, parents, staff, alumni, corporates and the general public to donate at least R100 towards a target of R1-million by the end of February.

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Phone: 010 500 8203 (in South Africa) (Available 3-5pm SAST weekdays)
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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.

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Habitat for Humanity and The Desmond Tutu International Build Week

In partnership with Power Construction, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government, Habitat for Humanity is calling on all active citizens to come together and join them in their Desmond Tutu International Build Week in Pelican Park from the 2 – 6 March 2015.

Responding and putting into action the request in the words of their patron Archbishop Desmond Tutu “Do your little bit of good where you are – it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world’.

Teams from as far afield as the USA and Ireland will be joining the build event together with 18 of Habitat’s International Board of Directors from across the 70 countries in which Habitat operates as they have chosen Cape Town as their venue for their Board meeting this year.

If you or your company are interested in getting involved contact Habitat’s Head Office on 021 657 5640.


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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.

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1 in 5 South African teens wants to die

All threats of suicide should be taken seriously, said the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), marking Teen Suicide Prevention Week that runs from 14 - 21 February.






"Teen Suicide Prevention Week is a campaign aimed at promoting and creating awareness around teen depression and suicide prevention," Sadag said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We run the only Suicide Crisis Centre in South Africa and offer support, counselling, information and referrals to those who are feeling depressed and or who are thinking about suicide."

Sadag revealed the following findings:
- 1 in 5 youths attempts suicide.
- Age 10 - 19 group is one of the highest risk groups for suicide.
- 38.3% felt so hopeless they needed to see a doctor.
- 29.1% had attempted suicide and needed medical treatment.
- 9.5% of all non-natural teen deaths are due to suicide.
- Fewer than 1% of mental hospital beds are allocated for children and adolescents.
(SADAG)

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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.

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Youth can improve world through radio

Radio can help to create a more inclusive and prosperous society especially if young people are more represented in the medium.

That's according to UN cultural agency, UNESCO, on the fourth annual World Radio Day.





It says too few programmes are devoted to, or designed, by young people.
Stephanie Coutrix reports.

Radio reaches more people in more places than any other medium.

The UN says radio is a bridge of communication for remote communities, developing regions and vulnerable populations, sometimes with no other connection to the outside world.

On this year's World Radio Day, one challenge in particular is being highlighted.

The voices of the generation under 30 years old, which accounts for more than half of the world's population, are not present enough.

Irina Bokovo is the Director-General of the UN cultural agency, UNESCO.

"By giving young people a voice, we can catalyse new energy to rejuvenate and develop societies. By supporting young people through education and training in the media professions, through media content, we can help create more inclusive and prosperous societies."

Ms Bokova added that every day, radio shapes our outlook and our imagination.

But she said UNESCO's main message is that radio can help change the world.

Stephanie Coutrix, United Nations.

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Spiritual cleansing of Parly to take place ahead of Sona

With just a day to go until President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address (SONA) a group of religious leaders are planning a spiritual cleaning of Paliament today.




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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.

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Religious leaders mediated over SONA: EFF

Religious leaders of the National Religious Leaders Council tried to mediate between the ANC and the EFF over the state-of-the-nation address in Parliament, the EFF said on Tuesday.

"We made it very clear to the religious leaders that the commitment of the EFF MPs to ask questions during the state-of-the-nation address (Sona) remains intact," the organisation said in a statement.





The party said it would ask President Jacob Zuma questions during the Sona because it did not believe that Zuma would come to be held accountable in Parliament.

Leader of the Rhema church, Ray McCauley, reportedly chaired the meetings which sought to prevent the interruption of Zuma by EFF MPs.

Zuma is due to deliver his state-of-the-nation speech in Parliament on Thursday.

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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.

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Zuma: Religious groups helped shape SA

Johannesburg - Religious groups helped shape South Africa into the country it is today, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.

"I wish to reiterate the gratitude of our people for the role you played for making us the country that we are today," Zuma said in a speech prepared for delivery at the first interfaith working group meeting in Pretoria.



"It is these historic bonds of partnership born of a collective struggle for justice that we are meeting today to reaffirm."

The president said six decades ago, the Freedom Charter was developed with a vision for a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa where all citizens would live in peace and prosperity.
"The faith-based sector was at the forefront of the struggle to realise the vision of the Freedom Charter," Zuma said.

"Last year we met at the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto to celebrate 20 years of our freedom and democracy. I had the opportunity to thank religious leaders and the faith-based community for the sterling role they played in the liberation of our country."

The purpose of the working group was to ensure government and the faith-based community worked together to create a South Africa as envisioned in the Freedom Charter and National Development Plan.

"The faith-based sector plays an important role in the development of society, bringing together people and instilling important values of respect, caring, compassion and selflessness," Zuma said.
"You play an important role as in assisting us to reach many communities throughout our country."
Many religious leaders alerted government when there were child-headed households, orphans, vulnerable children, the sick, and the poor in their communities so that government could intervene.
"Last year in September I announced the establishment of various presidential working groups, including the interfaith working group," said Zuma.

"The purpose of the working groups is to promote and strengthen partnerships between government and important stakeholders in society in order to work together for development and prosperity for all."

- 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.

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Op-Ed- SA Religious freedom is not at stake

This past week long-time African Christian Democratic Party MP Cheryllyn Dudley called for the creation of a multiparty parliamentary committee focused on protecting religious freedom. This issue is becoming a hot topic among conservative politicians the world over, with numerous South African organisations such as Errol Naidoo’s Family Policy Institute (FPI) claiming to champion religious freedom as well.





Naidoo’s organisation claims that it promotes “faith, family and freedom”. It would be more accurate to say that the FPI pursues only one faith and one conception of family, while standing up for unfreedom.

Where the FPI decries the death of the “natural family”, it remains blind to the families that exist (and have always existed) outside of this narrow conception of family. Love, community, belonging and care are powerful and important values. One conception of family destroys the capacity for individuals to experience these values. It also removes the freedom of individuals and already existing families.

Despite FPI’s incessant fear-mongering in respect of religious freedom, these constitutional rights (which all of us share) remain untouched. Religious freedom is not being eroded by any kind of “sexual rights agenda”, as the FPI claims. If anything, the FPI is a testament to the ongoing freedom of right-wing groups.

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International Correspondent Scott Congdon can be reached at:
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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.

© PEFM 87.6