IF MONEY was all that a coach needs to succeed in soccer, then Bafana Bafana would roll over their World Cup first-round opponents as their coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, is coining it despite the national team’s low position on the Fifa rankings.

The national team is ranked 83rd in the latest Fifa rankings, released by the world soccer governing body yesterday. According to financefutebol.com, Parreira’s pay package places him in ninth position on the list of the most well paid coaches who will be in charge of national teams during the World Cup.

At € 1.2million (about R11.3m) per annum, Parreira earns far more than the coaches who will lead Bafana’s first- round opponents Uruguay and France during the tournament. Only Javier Aguirre, who coaches Bafana’s other opponents, Mexico, earns the same annual salary as the Brazil-born Bafana mentor. France’s national team coach, Raymond Domenech, gets paid € 560000 while Uruguay’s Oscar Tabarez earns € 205 000. Bafana’s three first- round World Cup opponents are ranked inside the Top 20 – France (ninth), Uruguay (16th) and Mexico (17th). “If salaries were a measure of success, then I would say Bafana will walk over their opponents, but that might not be the case. Parreira is getting a lot of money and he should do a great job with Bafana. I’m sure a lot will be said about him should Bafana do badly during the World Cup,” said former national Under-23 assistant coach Kenny Ndlazi. Parreira’s salary places him on a par with some of South Africa’s top-earning CEOs. PE Corporate Services chief executive Martin Westcott said South African CEOs would typically earn between R4m and R8m annually, excluding bonuses and share incentive schemes. “He’s earning what the CEO of a top, large company could expect to earn,” said Westcott. “But then you need to remember he’s in a short-term position that comes with a tremendous amount of pressure.” Meanwhile, Brazil national team coach Dunga’s salary is far lower than his compatriot’s. Dunga is ranked 13th on the pay list – he is paid € 400 000 annually, despite his leading Brazil to the top of the Fifa standings. Five-time World Cup champions Brazil have amassed 1692 points and Bafana only 392 in the Fifa rankings. Parreira beats other top coaches in terms of pay. He also earns more than Argentina coach and soccer legend, Diego Maradona, whose team is ranked seventh by Fifa.

Parreira is, however, not the highest paid coach to lead an African team during the World Cup. Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback gets a monthly salary of € 165 000, pocketing around € 2m a year. Lagerback has only been at the helm of the Nigerian team since February, after Shaibu Amodu was fired following a disappointing run at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament held in Angola earlier this year. England manager Fabio Capello is the highest paid coach, taking home € 8.8m, while Kim Jong Hun, the coach of the North Korea team, is a poor cousin of the other coaches; he earns € 170000 a year. Ivory Coast coach Sven Goran-Eriksson – who is on a three-month contract – earns the same monthly salary that Parreira does. According to futebolfinance.com, these figures do not include earnings from perks such as bonuses and allowances. - By MONWABISI JIMLONGO

THE mother of one of the babies that died at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital’s (NMAH) neonatal ward yesterday told of her pain at losing a child for the third time in her life.

Votiswa Mbuyazwe, 37, said her daughter Mihlali (meaning “joy”) had been her last chance of having a child. Mihlali was one of at least 181 babies who have died at the hospital in Mthatha since the beginning of the year.

She said she and her husband, Mthethunzima Ntloko, 73, were devastated by their loss and were struggling to bury their only child .

The Dispatch visited the grieving couple at their home at Marhewini village in Libode.

Mbuyazwe said she gave birth to Mihlali on April 29 and was referred from St Barnabas Hospital to NMAH the following day because the baby was very small.

Mihlali was born three months premature and weighed 1.3kg, according to hospital records. On Sunday, she died at the hospital, inside a ventilator, after developing diarrhoea.

Yesterday her mother recalled the last days of her daughter’s short life.

“When we arrived at the NMAH she was very playful and she was okay and feeding well. There was nothing wrong in the first two weeks, but things changed in the third week as she started having diarrhoea and she became very restless at times.”

Mbuyazwe said her daughter had been sharing a ventilator with another child for a week before her death. “ The nurses told me there was a shortage of ventilators.”

She lays the blame for her daughter’s death on negligence on the part of the hospital staff.

“Some of the nurses there were very lazy, especially the ones who worked night shifts. One morning when I came to feed my baby at 5am I found her crying. She had not been changed, her hand was stuck on the side of the ventilator and she could not move.”

Then on Saturday, the baby’s condition deteriorated seriously.

“One of the nurses told me she was very sick. The nurse told me that anything could happen. My baby was sleeping in the ventilator at the time and appeared very restless.”

She said she had gone back to the maternity ward when a nurse came looking for her.

“When I arrived back at the neonatal ward I was told my baby had died.”

This is the third child Mbuyazwe must bury. In 1990 she lost a daughter who died only a week after birth when she started vomiting blood. In 1999, her three-year-old son died after he was knocked over by a car.

Mihlali’s father, Ntloko, said they were not able to afford to bury their daughter. The couple survive on Ntloko’s old age grant of R1080 per month, but the funeral home, where his daughter’s body is, has already charged him R1003.

Provincial Health spokesperson Siyanda Manana yesterday repeated the department’s stance on the matter: that while there might have been a shortage of ventilators, there was no direct link to suggest the shortage had caused the deaths of babies such as Mihlali. — By LUBABALO NGCUKANA, Mthatha Bureau, (a href>mailto: lubabalon@dispatch.co.za$) lubabalon@dispatch.co.za

A FORMER pastor at the Jesus Christ Family Church has made fresh claims about the church.

Nomthandazo Hazel Ngcanga said she spent six years at JCF, and was under the control of the leader of the church, Pastor Andile Myemane. She said during that time, Myemane made her quit her teaching job, donate her pension money to the church – and told her to give her family home to the church. Ngcanga recorded a conversation with Myemane in which he plotted to ditch his wife for the wife of his brother-in-law, who was a fellow pastor. Ngcanga said in 2003 she followed her husband, Thembinkosi, to the church. She had been with the Assemblies of God (AOG) church. “My husband did not go to church and to me it was great thing, so I wanted to be where he was,” she said. Later that year, Myemane assigned the Ngcangas to lead his “Couples of Heaven” project. “We became leaders and I believed that I was called for such ministry, having been an active member at AOG,” she said. She said she became more involved with JCF and came up with initiatives that benefited the church. Ngcanga said four years later, Myemane announced during a service that God had told him that she and her husband should help him lead a branch of JCF in Port Elizabeth.

“We accepted the call and we started going to PE on Sundays. He (Myemane) convinced me .... that I had been prepared to work for the church full time. I followed the orders,” said Ngcanga. After cashing in her pensions, she said the church approached her, demanding its share of the money. “They did this even though we had been tithing. They approached me to give them money for (the) church’s business. They have this tendency of coming and asking for more, and this would continue until they are sure that your money is finished,” said Ngcanga. She said she and her husband went through difficult times, and they had to rely on the help they received from friends. She said later Myemane offered to help them pay the bond on their home, but wanted them to keep it secret. A few months later, she said, she and her husband received the shock of their lives. Ngcanga said Myemane stood in front of the church and told them that God wanted them to give their house to the church. They agreed but their children asked them to reconsider their decision. Ngcanga said she and her husband then told Myemane that they had decided not to give their house to the church. Later, she said, church leaders called her to tell her that Myemane owned the house, as he had been paying the bond for it. “I asked them where were they when Myemane gave us money. Do they know the conditions (under which) he gave us the money? I then told them (church leaders) to go back to him (Myemane) and ask him to come himself, because as far as I knew, I did not owe them anything; instead it is the church that owed me monies,” Ngcanga said. She said after this, things went from bad to worse for her and her husband. They were told not to sit in the front row at the church and were allocated a seat at the back. Ngcanga said her husband was later assaulted outside the church. Myemane refused to comment on her allegations. — By XOLISA MGWATYU, xolisani@dispatch.co.za (a href>mailto: xolisani@dispatch.co.za$) xolisani@dispatch.co.za

THE King William’s Town Magistrate’s Court was under lock-down yesterday as multiple rape- accused Wonga “Bear” Biko emerged from the holding cell.

Surrounded by more than 20 heavily armed police officers, Biko was escorted to the dock, where he appeared on three counts of gang rape along with co accused Mpumezo Jaxa – and two counts of armed robbery. Both cases were postponed to June 11 for further investigation. Jaxa was released on bail, while Biko, who had his bail of R1000 cancelled when he escaped police custody last year, was remanded in custody. In December last year he failed to appear in court on the rape charges, and a warrant of arrest was issued. But Biko, who had been on the run from police for more than five months, was re-arrested at Thembalethu township in George earlier this month after police followed a tip-off. Police allege Biko and Jaxa are part of a gang which rapes victims, stabs them and leaves them to die. Biko faces charges of armed robbery after he allegedly robbed a Zwelitsha spaza shop owned by foreign nationals. He has also been accused of stealing a cellphone and money from a residence in Sweetwaters. Curious onlookers were asked to move aside as Biko, whose feet were shackled, made insulting hand gestures at the media and Jaxa tried to cover his face. Members of the community, however, were not present, unlike the large numbers at his earlier appearance a week ago.

After the case, a laughing Biko was transported in a police van to a hospital for DNA testing. Police spokesperson Captain Thozama Solani said the results could be used by the State as evidence in the rape trial. She claimed that some criminals had used Biko’s name when committing crimes and that police now hoped to be able to identify the true perpetrators. She said the rapes and armed robberies had all taken place in Zwelitsha, Sweetwaters and the Bonke administrative area. Last month, Biko’s father’s Sweetwaters house was burnt down by residents of Tshatshu village, who alleged the father had been involved in the brutal murder of a woman in the village. Solani said police were currently investigating several other charges against Biko. “We are just glad he is off the streets and that maybe now the residents can feel safer.” — By KATHRYN PARKES, Court Reporter, (a href>mailto:kathrynp@dispatch.co.za$) kathrynp@dispatch.co.za

“THE Castle”, a well-known residential landmark in East London, is on sale for a cool R9.95million. Built in 1950 by eccentric Italian Jean Baptiste Soffiantini, the stylish home is situated in prestigious Bonnie Doon.

It overlooks the Nahoon River and provides a view of the sea. There are many stories about Soffiantini, who passed away in 1978, but differentiating myth from truth has proved to be a mammoth task. According to articles published by the Dispatch over the years, Soffiantini had claimed that he was of noble descent. A hairdresser and perfumer by profession, Soffiantini built the house to resemble his original family castle in Italy. The building has seven bedrooms and five bathrooms. A marble plaque in the foyer states that the property was “conceived, designed, and built on the ruins of a lost love”. According to urban legend, Soffiantini built the house for his lover in Italy, but by the time it was completed their love affair had ended. There are only a few remnants of the original castle. The old exterior brick walls have been covered with Venetian plastering. The two kitchens and five bathrooms have been revamped to include modern fittings. The castle’s characteristic turret, the marble columns that mark the entrance, the detailed wrought iron balustrade, as well as the chapel-like painted dome are the distinguishing features that still bear Soffiantini’s signature. Pam Golding estate agent Hanlie Bassingthwaighte described the home as a “modern castle”, adding that there was nothing like it in East London. Bassingthwaighte’s business partner, Anton Coetzee, added that the castle would be suitable for a large family, or even two families. “It is perfect for children; imagine growing up here,” said Coetzee. “This place would suit a buyer who appreciates quality, someone who is looking for a big home and a place with a bit of history.” The most alluring feature of the grand building are the breath-taking views. The “Juliet” balconies provide superb views over the suburb and at the top of the turret one has a 360º view of the city. Coetzee added that the Soffiantini fortress was the tallest residential property in East London. “Nowhere else will you be able to see this view.” The current owners, who wish to remain anonymous, say they fell in love with the mystique of the building as well as its breath-taking views. They purchased the property about 10 years ago and have since relocated to Knysna. Although the asking price may seem steep, it is not the most expensive home on the market in East London. Bassingthwaighte said that although “we are still in tough times”, the property market was slowly but surely making a recovery. She said that they have had many interested parties, and hoped that the World Cup would expose the property to a buyer. — By LOIS MOODLEY, (a href>mailto:loism@dispatch.co.za$) loism@dispatch.co.za

THE East London Hospital Complex has been hit by a severe shortage of drugs, with staff and patients saying that for the past six months the hospitals did not even have basic painkillers.

Staff at the complex’s two hospitals – Cecilia Makiwane (CMH) in Mdantsane and Frere in East London – described what they called a crisis situation, where they have been forced to turn patients away without giving them their treatment. “There is nothing, and we just don’t know what to do,” a Frere Hospital nurse said. This comes just days after the department had to defend itself after it was discovered that 181 babies had died in the neonatal wards at the Mthatha Academic Hospital in the past five months. Requesting anonymity for ethical reasons, the nurse said there was evidence that the budget had been loaded at the beginning of the financial year in April, at which point the procurement process should have started. “But this has not been done. Pharmacy shelves are bare. We do not even have painkillers for minor ailments,” she said. The Dispatch has since established that the problem was much bigger than that, and could spread to other hospitals. A manager at the complex said the problem lay not in the hospitals but with the depots. “The depots at Mthatha and Port Elizabeth have nothing. Suppliers have withheld their merchandise because of delayed payments,” the manager explained, adding that while some had continued delivering, others had recently stopped because of delayed payments. “With this reputation, the department is struggling to cultivate relationships with manufacturers and suppliers,” he added. The department had not given comment by the time of going to print late yesterday. At the CMH pharmacy yesterday morning the Dispatch team caught up with unhappy patients and relatives, who described their frequent trips to the pharmacy as a great inconvenience. “We are on the verge of giving up and just dying at home,” said 60-year-old Mzimasi Ngada, who suffered multiple fractures of his limbs during a car accident in 2007. His wife, Novumasande, said they spent sleepless nights when the pain became bad, and they had no relief even when they came to the hospital. “We don’t know what to do,” she said. “I have started buying my arthritis painkillers at the chemist,” 56-year-old Lizo Nyembezi said, after last receiving them from the hospital in January. She was told her rheumatic tablets would be running out soon, too – and she would become immobile and useless without them, she added. “A painful reality I’m not looking forward to.” Nowanga Pawula, who brought her uncle Mpumelelo Madlala for his epilepsy medication, left after waiting five hours before learning that other patients had not received anything. She said: “He is very sick. As you can see he is totally lost without them.” She had to rush home to her elderly aunt, Madlala’s sister, who had relapsed after going for the past four months without her treatment, she said. “Life at home is a nightmare. If I had a way around this I would take it, but Makiwane is my only hope, and right now they are letting us down badly.” Nurses at CMH’s psychiatry unit said their patients relapsed all the time because of lack of medication, and were reduced to being invalids instead of living productive lives in their communities. “We find ourselves admitting people who would be fine if they were on their prescribed medication,” one nurse said, adding that some patients went from mild conditions to extreme mental instability, but because CMH was the only facility with its expertise reaching far into the province, patients had no choice. - By NTANDO MAKHUBU Health Reporter (a href>mailto:ntandom@dispatch.co.za$) ntandom@dispatch.co.za

THE three teenagers who brutally tortured and murdered five-year- old Rayno Ruiters near his Port Alfred home in 2008 have been sentenced to relatively hefty prison terms for youth offenders.

The ringleader, who had also raped little Rayno before torturing and murdering him, was given an effective 14 years in jail for what Grahamstown High Court acting judge Glen Goosen yesterday described as a “cruel, callous and sadistic” crime. The lightly built teen, who was only 15 at the time, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for the murder, three years of which were conditionally suspended for five years, and seven years for the rape. Goosen ordered that two years of the sentence for rape run concurrently with the murder sentence. The youngest of the three, who was only 14 at the time, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for the murder, three of which were conditionally suspended for five years. He will serve an effective seven years in jail. The oldest boy, just 16 at the time of the crimes, was sentenced to 10 years in jail, two of which were conditionally suspended for five years, meaning he will serve an effective eight years. Goosen said he had given “careful and anxious” consideration to the period of imprisonment for the teens. He said that when the offenders were children and the crimes as heinous and brutal as this one, the task of sentencing became much more difficult. “It is difficult to conceive of the horrifying ordeal (Rayno) had to endure before, mercifully perhaps, he succumbed to his injuries. What makes the crimes more shocking was that the perpetrators were just 14, 15 and 16 years old at the time.” He said Rayno’s family had been bereft and unable to come to terms with their loss. His mother, Geraldine Ruiters, remained confused about why the “son closest to her heart had been singled out to die”. Respected clinical psychologist Karen Andrews had testified that the teen who had raped Rayno remained a “highly dangerous risk to young children”. She said he “would have continued this kind of criminal behaviour” if he had not been apprehended for the murder. She recommended that all three youths be imprisoned. Goosen said that the rape of the little boy, his subsequent torture and the “brutal manner” in which he met his death were severely aggravating circumstances and required that severe sentences be handed down. The accused were all young with no previous convictions but the sentences had to take into account the gravity of the offences and the fact that society had to be protected, particularly from the young accused who manifested “dangerous anti-social conduct disorders”. He dismissed the possibility of wholly suspended sentences or correctional supervision. But he said two of the accused had acted under the direction and leadership of the first accused and had less physical involvement in the actual murder. All three young boys stood poker-faced during the sentencing judgment. However, their mothers fled the courtroom sobbing after the sentences had been handed down. A distraught Rayno’s mother took refuge in the toilets of the Grahamstown High Court. While she was too upset to comment, her nieces, Molly Evans and Lettie Freeman, said the sentences would make no difference in their lives.

Freeman said they also felt sorry for the perpetrators’ families. Goosen ordered that the name of the teen who had raped Rayno be entered into the National Register of Sex Offenders. It is likely that, at 16, he is currently the youngest person to have his name in the register. - By ADRIENNE CARLISLE (a href>mailto:adriennec@dispatch.co.za$) adriennec@dispatch.co.za

A BITTER fight is raging between the municipal manager and the Speaker of the Fort Beaufort-based Nkonkobe Municipality.

The municipality is one of the “hot spots” identified by the ANC in the province, and last week national party leaders ordered a team consisting of the ANC’s regional Amathole and Eastern Cape provincial leadership, to tackle problems there. The council, like others in the province, has seen ANC councillors divide into factions broadly associated with ANC rivals Health MEC Phumulo Masualle and Finance MEC Mcebisi Jonas. The feud between municipal manager Khanyile Maneli and Speaker Joe Ndlebe centres around who should convene council meetings. The dispute originates from failed attempts to remove Ndlebe, who is aligned to the Jonas camp, earlier this year.

In the latest drama, a meeting convened by Maneli was adjourned on Tuesday after claims by Ndlebe that it was improperly set up. Correspondence between the two show how high tensions have risen. In a letter, dated May 11 , Maneli accused Ndlebe of “flatly” refusing to sign an agenda for a special meeting. “I urge you to sign the agenda within 24 hours, failure to do so will leave me as an accounting officer with no other option but to sign the agenda,” he wrote. Maneli subsequently issued a notice on May 21 of Tuesday’s meeting. In response, Ndlebe said Maneli had no mandate to convene meetings. “You do not have a right to include or remove items on the council agenda. That is not your responsibility,” Ndlebe replied. Ndlebe said the council had, at its March 29 meeting, decided that a special meeting be held within 14 days, and had signed the agenda, which was not distributed due to a workers’ strike. “I therefore do not know which agenda you claim I did not sign,” Ndlebe wrote. Yesterday, Ndlebe accused Maneli of “pursuing an agenda”. Maneli denied tension existed between him and Ndlebe, and referred questions to the mayor, Anele Ntsangani . Ntsangani confirmed tensions had arisen from the disputed agenda, including a motion for Ndlebe’s removal. He claimed that Ndlebe did not sign the agenda so that it could be distributed to councillors. Ntsangani said they were waiting for the ANC to issue a ruling on Ndlebe’s removal. ANC regional secretary Mziwamadoda Sotshana said the councillors had been told to stop trying to vote out Ndlebe, and that the joint task team would attend to the problems there.

“We can’t allow anarchy to prevail in an ANC-led council,” Sotshana said. ANC provincial spokesperson Mlibo Qoboshiyana said a visit by the joint task team was likely to take place next week. – By MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA Senior Political Correspondent (a href>mailto:mayibongwem@dispatch.co.za$) mayibongwem@dispatch.co.za

TWO taxi operators have been shot and killed in Flagstaff, leading to fears that this could spark an outbreak of taxi violence.

They were shot and killed on Monday morning in Flagstaff’s taxi rank. The police have not released their names. According to Mthatha police spokesperson Lieutenant Mzukisi Fatyela the two were shot at by suspects who are still on the run. “Despite what is happening between the taxi industry in this region, we cannot say that the motive behind this incident was influenced by the looming taxi violence in the area,” said Fatyela. On Monday, the two taxi operators were at the taxi rank when a vehicle allegedly transporting the suspects stopped next to one of the deceased’s vehicles. A number of suspects jumped out and started shooting. They both died on the scene. Fatyela said there were no reports of other casualties.

Yesterday, an anonymous caller who described himself as taxi owner said there is a looming taxi war in the area that will leave many innocent people dead. “That must be known immediately before innocent people are murdered. This violence is between the same taxi association because of operating routes ,” said the anonymous caller. The dispute over routes is between members of the Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata) in Flagstaff and Lusikisiki who are at loggerheads over the routes on which they operate. Bata’s Thando Ndlala, from Flagstaff, said only police can solve the problem in the area. He said two of their taxis were also allegedly damaged by a group of taxi operators from Lusikisiki. “This violence is happening within one association, that we can confirm,” he said. “We’ve lost two members and we so hope that police can arrest the perpetrators before another life is lost,” said Ndlala. Attempts to get hold of the Lusikisiki Bata members were not successful. - By BONGANI FUZILE Crime Reporter (a href>mailto:bonganif@dispatch.co.za$) bonganif@dispatch.co.za

TRAINS will run between East London and Berlin – but not to King William’s Town – this week as Metrorail gets back on track after last week’s strike.

Metrorail resumed some operations this week. Working with a skeleton staff, the passenger commuter will provide trains between Berlin and East London. At the moment, trains are not running between Berlin and King William’s Town.

Metrorail Eastern Cape spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam said yesterday that basic operations had started earlier this week following agreements signed by one of the trade unions.

Metrorail East London uses both Transnet and Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) employees to operate its trains.

The United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) members agreed to the 11 percent increase offered by Transnet and the 10 percent wage offer from Prasa last week.

However, the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), which represents the bulk of striking workers, has rejected the wage increase. Satawu is demanding a 15 percent increase for Transnet workers and a 13 percent wage increase for its members working for Prasa. - By LOIS MOODLEY — Additional reporting by Sapa (a href>mailto:loism@dispatch.co.za$) loism@dispatch.co.za

A PORT Elizabeth-born opera singer chosen by Nelson Mandela to sing at the official opening of the 2010 Fifa World Cup has died just two weeks before the global event.

Siphiwo Ntshebe, 34, also known as the “black Pavarotti”, died from acute bacterial meningitis at Livingstone Hospital on Tuesday morning. Ntshebe stood on the brink of global superstardom after he was chosen to perform at the World Cup opening ceremony with his signature anthem entitled Hope. The song contains a special message from Mandela – the first time the former President has lent his voice to a record. During the song, Mandela says: “The generosity of the human spirit can overcome all adversity. Through compassion and caring we can create hope … We can create hope.” Sony BMG Africa’s Keith Lister said Ntshebe had been signed to a multi-album deal by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd, who were enthralled by the power and emotion of his world-class tenor voice. He said the label had planned to release both the single, Hope, and an album of the same name during the World Cup. Ntshebe had just finished recording the album and was preparing for rehearsals for his appearance in the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on June 11, when he was struck by the sudden illness. The album featured his version of his hero Pavarotti’s signature tune, Nessun Dorma – which became the soundtrack to the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The UK’s ITV was planning to broadcast a television special on June 6, anchored by Piers Morgan, and would probably go ahead with that. Nick Raphael, managing director of Epic, said Ntshebe’s loss was a tragedy for his family, his friends and all those who believed in the power of music. “He had a truly wondrous voice and his music was unique in its melodies and its messages of hope and compassion.” Lebo M, executive composer and producer of the World Cup opening ceremony, said Ntshebe was a true South Africa World Cup legacy, gone too soon. “May his spirit lead us to June 11, 2010. May his soul rest in peace and may his spirit of hope centre us all.” According to Ntshebe’s website, his earliest musical experience was the classical music and opera that he heard when his mother was carrying him. When Ntshebe was five years old, he used to sit on his father’s knee and sing to the guests who used to visit their house. He started to develop his musical talent in his early teens by singing in the school choir. At the age of 16, Ntshebe had his first Italian operatic experience performing with an orchestra in Port Elizabeth. His talent was noticed and he was offered a scholarship on the choral programme at the University in Cape Town. He was then offered a scholarship to study in Brisbane, Australia, in the Young Artists’ Programme and was endorsed by the South African Minster for Arts and Culture. In 2004 he was awarded a scholarship on the postgraduate course to study at The Royal College of Music in London. He completed his studies at the RCM in 2007.

His website quotes a letter written to him by ex President Nelson Mandela.

“We appreciate your efforts and we were very proud to show the world a young South African with so much talent that has, despite challenges of the past, chosen to work hard at a better future. “You made us proud with your performance,” said Mandela in his letter. - By LYNN SHAW — The Herald, Avusa Group News

A MAN carrying a placard claiming Western Cape premier Helen Zille was “evil” was removed by police from the street in front of her Cape Town office yesterday. Cape Town police spokesperson Captain Ezra October said police had received complaints that the man, wearing a Muslim robe and headgear, was “becoming a nuisance and intimidating people”. “He became stroppy and very arrogant with the public,” he said. Police tried unsuccessfully to calm him down, then took him to the Caledon Square police station. “He was not arrested,” October said. “He was allowed to go (after being taken to the station). He didn’t return to the front of the building.” The man, who said his name was Ishaaq Peters, had a second placard saying “Zille supports Shapiro”, an apparent reference to cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, who has provoked controversy with a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed. On Tuesday, Peters was in front of the Legislature with a placard proclaiming Zille was involved in the occult. He explained then that a cousin of his had stolen his astrological chart and given it to Zille, and that she had used it to destroy his business. — Sapa

A WANTED criminal shot dead by Mozambican police was also wanted by South African police . “We worked with the South African police through Interpol and he was also wanted there on charges of similar crimes, such as armed robbery of money and motor vehicles,” O Pais newspaper reported Mozambican police spokesperson Raul Freia as saying. Gang leader Agostinho Chauque was shot by police while trying to steal a car with his gang on Sunday night in Maputo. His body was found later that evening in an abandoned car in Matola, a suburb outside Maputo, where many South African expatriates live. Chauque gained a reputation for numerous bank robberies in Maputo in 2007, as well as killing police officers, reported the Mozambican press association, Aim. His right-hand man was killed in a police operation in February 2007, but Chauque escaped at the time. Since then he had been on the run, often eluding authorities because his informants had infiltrated the police service, national Mozambican police commissioner Jorge Khalau told O Pais. “We failed in many operations against this bandit because of infiltration,” said Khalau. “Plans were made and he was warned.” The gangster and four others had tried to steal a Jeep from a Portuguese citizen outside a park in Maputo at around 8pm on Sunday. Two men demanded the keys from the owner and attacked him when he refused. People in the vicinity alerted a nearby police patrol. They exchanged shots with the hijackers, wounding two. “The one who tried to take my ignition key took a bullet and fell to the ground in front of me,” the man, who was not named, told the newspaper. The gang then fled in two cars. South African police spokesperson Lindela Mashiko was not immediately reachable for comment. — Sapa

ESKOM workers gathered outside Megawatt Park in Johannesburg yester day to hand over a memorandum of demands, flouting a court interdict preventing strike action. “Unfortunately, not all the workers received the information (about the interdict),” said National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesperson Shane Choshane. “The workers will be marching to the main gate to present a memorandum to Eskom management. We have asked Eskom management to receive the memorandum…and they are going to receive the memorandum.” More than 20 buses had arrived at the Megawatt Park office in Sunninghill, Johannesburg, transporting around 1500 workers. Eskom was granted an eleventh-hour court interdict on Tuesday evening preventing the NUM workers from going on a national strike. Choshane said the union would now look at “further engagement” to resolve outstanding matters. He said weekend talks with Eskom had produced some results. The matters discussed in an attempt to prevent the strike included the rights of shop stewards, and health and safety regulations. Choshane said agreements were reached on these issues. The only outstanding matter was a housing allowance for workers. “They want a R5000 housing allowance added to their benefits,” said Choshane. Further talks with Eskom were scheduled to take place yester day and to day. These would include salary negotiations for 2010. — Sapa

Terrorist threat against World Cup ‘a bluff’ – Fifa AN ALLEGED al-Qaeda plot against the soccer World Cup was “a bluff”, Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke said yesterday. He said Interpol had investigated following the arrest in Iraq of a Saudi army officer for involvement in an alleged plot targeting the Cup. On Tuesday, in a statement published on Islamist websites, al-Qaeda denied involvement in the alleged plot. — Sapa

81 Lusikisiki strikers arrested EIGHTY-ONE striking workers have been arrested for stoning vehicles and setting fire to a building in Lusikisiki . Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said Magwa Tea Corporation workers had become violent during a wage dispute on Tuesday and started stoning vehicles on a nearby road, damaging four of them, but injuring no one.

The arrested strikers would appear in the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court to day on charges of arson and malicious damage to property. — Sapa

Train link for rugby final METRORAIL will make five trains available to transport rugby fans to Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday for the Super 14 final.

Tickets were available at Computicket from yesterday at a cost of R50 per ticket, until to day at 4pm. — Sapa

Moodley loses last appeal THE Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed a bid by killer Donavan Moodley to have his life sentence reduced . Moodley asked for leave to appeal his sentence last year, claiming that it was “shockingly inappropriate”. But the SCA dismissed the application for leave to appeal, which was Moodley’s last hope to get his sentence reduced. He was found guilty of kidnapping, extortion and murder after kidnapping and then killing Leigh Matthews, a 21 year-old student at the Bond University in Sandton, in 2004. He was sentenced to life for the murder and an additional 25 years for kidnapping and extortion. — Sapa

No decision on army unions THE ability of SA National Defence Force unions to formally approach the military bargaining council over grievances is still a contentious issue . Chief of human resources Derrick Mgwebi said an audit was under way to determine if the two registered soldier unions had enough members, a minimum 15000 each, to participate in the council. — Sapa

Better legal aid needed JUSTICE for Prisoners and Detainees Trust yesterday accused Legal Aid South Africa of assigning serious cases to candidate attorneys with not enough experience to properly represent detainees. Research showed that detainees represented by legal aid attorneys were more likely to be denied bail than those represented by private attorneys. — Sapa

A “GO-SLOW” strike at East London’s government morgue prevented a family from burying their deceased loved one this weekend.

The workers’ action has been ongoing for at least a week, but senior management at the health department said they were unaware of the situation until they were informed by the Daily Dispatch yesterday.

Inspector Michael Smith of the Buffalo Flats police station reported the matter to the Dispatch.

He said he expected a postmortem to have been done for a suicide victim last Monday, but this had still not been done by Friday, a day before the family expected to bury the deceased, Stanley Prinsloo.

Prinsloo is survived by his partner Saartjie Fortuin and their two children, a son aged 15 and a daughter aged seven. According to Smith and Fortuin, the postmortem for Prinsloo was supposed to be completed by May 17, but when Smith contacted the Woodbrook morgue he was told the morgue workers were on a “go-slow”. They apparently refused to do more than three postmortems a day, said Smith.

According to provincial health department spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, the mortuary usually processed at least nine postmortems a day.

Fortuin said that when she and other family members went to Woodbrook on Friday to confirm funeral arrangements for Prinsloo, they were told the postmortem had still not been completed. “We had to cancel the funeral ,” Fortuin said.

“I’m very sad because all the family made plans to come to the funeral and now not everyone can make it,” she said, and added that the family hoped to have the funeral on Wednesday.

“We regret and apologise for these events. It is unfortunate we were only told now. If we had been told sooner we would have sorted it out before it came to (the delaying of funerals),” said Kupelo.

He acknowledged the workers’ action, but said senior management had been unaware of the situation until it was reported by the Dispatch. — By MICHELLE SOLOMON (a href>mailto:michelles@dispatch.co.za$) michelles@dispatch.co.za

THOUSANDS of matrics throughout the province will receive a boost to their final exam preparations through study material, following collaboration between the provincial Department of Education and the Daily Dispatch.

Tomorrow each copy of the Dispatch will carry extra learning material which will be inserted into the paper.

Matrics will also receive their own question and answer (Q&A) supplement from each of the department’s 23 district offices from next week while additional copies of the supplements will be inserted in the Dispatch and The Herald.

Avusa Education publisher Patti McDonald said Grade 12 teachers from various subject fields were commissioned to compile the supplements. Their material was then sent to the national Department of Education to be ratified with curriculum advisers.

“We had overwhelming results from readers in KwaZulu-Natal. In KZN, 600000 supplements were ordered and there they had one of the highest results,” McDonald said. She also encouraged local Rotary clubs to come on board and sponsor supplements for their local schools. “These are some of the most invaluable resources you can get. The more learners practise, the more ready they are for exams.”

To pass matric, pupils are required to write at least seven subjects – Home Language, First Additional Language; Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy; Life Orientation; and three other subjects. The department’s chief director of curriculum management and professional development Suren Govender, said: “This 2010 World Cup Teaching and Learning Campaign has the potential to make a significant impact on improving learner performance.”

The supplements will include Q&As for the following subjects: English first additional language; Mathematics; Mathematical literacy; Accounting; Physical science; Life Sciences; Geography. — By ASA SOKOPO Education Reporter (a href>mailto:asas@dispatch.co.za$) asas@dispatch.co.za

EASTERN CAPE tradition leaders were shocked yesterday by the death of AbaThembu King Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima over the weekend.

Matanzima 39, ruler of the Western Thembuland Kingdom, was one of the six kings of the Eastern Cape and a grandson of the former president of then Transkei homeland, Kaizer Daliwonga Matanzima.

Matanzima died at Life St Dominic’s Hospital in East London on Saturday night.

Family spokesperson Sindile Toni said the king had complained of stomach ache on Friday morning and had been vomiting blood.

AbaThembu are divided into two kingdoms – Western Thembuland led by Matanzima and AbaThembu BakaDalindyebo led by his clan cousin, King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.

Toni said the king had been in and out of hospital recently and last year had been admitted for a week to One Military Hospital in Pretoria.

The king’s uncle, Nkosi Ngangomhlaba, who is chairperson of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders (ECHTL), described the monarch as “a young man who respected elders and his nation”.

“He loved laughter and liked to joke. He was a people’s person and a humble person who would listen to advisors.”

Toni said yesterday the Dlomo clan and the royal family would decide that evening on the date of the burial and elect someone who would be regent until the rightful heir took over.

Matanzima is survived by his mother Nosizwe and his wife Phila.

Messages of condolences from various kingdoms, politicians, church leaders and government have been pouring in.

“His Majesty died at a time when the Thembu monarchy is in trouble. We are shocked,” said Congress of the Traditional Leaders of South Africa president, Nkosi Patekile Holomisa. — BY LULAMILE FENI Traditional Affairs Reporter (a href>mailto:lulamilef@dispatch.co.za$) lulamilef@dispatch.co.za

THE Eastern Cape Social Development department is investigating why a letter was written to Home Affairs to arrange a temporary passport for a 15- year-old who had opened a case of sexual assault case against AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.

The 15-year-old girl, who together with a 19- year-old teenager, opened the sexual assault case against Dalindyebo disappeared under mysterious conditions a week after opening the case.

Her parents believe that someone organised for her to be rushed to Swaziland. The parents also allege that police refused to open a missing person’s report.

And a man who is believed to be related to the king allegedly posed as the girl’s father and applied for a temporary passport using a letter from Social Development.

Spokesperson Gcobani Maswana said they were investigating whether there had been any wrong doing . “ If someone crossed the line we will deal with them.” — By LUBABALO NGCUKANA Mthatha Bureau (a href>mailto: lubabalon@dispatch.co.za$) lubabalon@dispatch.co.za

ORLANDO in Soweto was awash with blue on Saturday as top Super 14 franchise the Bulls, “invaded” the township for an historic match, marking a first in South Africa’s sporting history.

It was indeed an invasion of a friendly kind as rugby – a sport played by the minority of Soweto’s residents – took centre stage as the Bulls blasted to a 39-24 victory over the Crusaders to reach their third Super 14 final. Never before in Orlando Stadium’s colourful 51-year history had a rugby match been hosted here at this traditional soccer venue, which has recently been revamped. And Soweto came out in numbers as Bulls support grew. Smangele Kubheka, who has lived in Orlando her whole life, said she believed it was a master stroke by Bulls management to stage a match in the township. “I have lived here all my life and I have never been to a rugby match. Bringing rugby matches here is good for our kids and hopefully they will start developing an interest in the sport,” she said while waving at the passing Bulls’ fans. Bulls fever also hit Flaxson Khumalo. “I’m not a rugby fan, but I wouldn’t miss such an event which takes place right o n my doorstep,” the Orlando West resident said. Tsepo Tsamaesi, who is still in school, said: “I want to play for the Bulls when I grow up.” Bulls fans, too, who made the trek from Pretoria’s hallowed Loftus rugby ground, gave Orlando Stadium the thumbs up. They said they’d be back next Saturday, when the Pretoria franchise faces off against the Stormers in the final. Bulls fan Louis Christoudoulo said the experience and the facilities at the stadium were “great“ but complained that it took one- and-a-half hours to get from the highway to the park and ride facilities. “I arrived halfway through the game,” he said. Some fans said they felt safer at Orlando Stadium than at the usual rugby stadium, Ellis Park. Japie Breytenbach, Jan Vorster and Spies de Beer said they would definitely return to the stadium. Earlier, Soweto residents stood on the roofs of their houses welcoming the throngs of rugby supporters walking through their streets towards the stadium. The mood was upbeat, with the main complaint that authorities were caught off guard by the heavy traffic flow. The situation was exacerbated by the nearby Nedbank Cup final between Bidvest Wits and AmaZulu played at Soccer City. “We left Randburg at 2pm,” said one supporter, walking briskly towards the stadium after 5pm, having abandoned her car.

Waldi Immink, Ruan Erasmus, Rudi van Rooyen said they were pleased the game was being held in Soweto and were enjoying the spirit of the day. “It is nice that everyone is spending time together.” In a Bulls T-shirt, jersey and sunglasses, Paul Motlhamme called it an “epic game”. - By MONWABISI JIMLONGO — Additional reporting by Sapa