Petrol Continues to rise

CONSTANT FUEL INCREASE

Petrol
hikes lead to ========>



Taxi Fare Increase



I bet all motorists are asking themselves ‘When will it end’ The price of petrol keeps increasing every month  and sadly nothing can be done about this. I find it so strange that only Gauteng motorists are affected by these constant fuel hikes. Other provinces such as Durban and Polokwane do not have to worry about ridiculous fuel prices. A litre of 95 ULP (unleaded) petrol in Gauteng costs R12.22

As usual our government continues to fail with regards to considering the Public’s opinion about the Fuel hikes, petrol increasing affects us all it has a huge impact on everyone’s lives. Public Transport has made a decision to also increase their fares, i mean would you blame them? With Petrol increasing every month what other choice do they have?

Gauteng Taxi Council (Gataco) spokesman Ralph Jones said that taxi commuters travelling long distances to and from the city must prepare for price hikes of up to R20 a single trip

Taxi’s are not the only one’s planning to increase prices, Putco and  Metrobus companies also said they will increase percentages, but this will only be confirmed in July 2012

video link: http://youtu.be/r1aUiSRsSgI

The Racist Card

THE RACIST TWEET

Jessica's Twitter Timeline.



Jessica Leandra; Picture by FHM

One thoughtless moment could cause you you’re career and reputation. Jessica Leandra  Dos Santos’s had firsthand experience of this on Thursday May 3 2012. 20-year old Johannesburg born model made a racist comment on one of the popular social networks (Twitter) her tweet read as follows ‘just, well took on an arrogant and disrespectful k***** inside Spar. Should have punched him, should have.”

This racial statement offended a lot of people, everyone started retaliating and commenting back to Jessica  Leandra’s tweet. But she defended herself and posted an apology on her blog. Although she apologised it was already too late as one of her major sponsors FHM magazine decided to distance itself from the 20-year-old, saying she would be stripped of her title as FHM model of the year in 2011. Sadly after FHM announced to the public how they will be dealing with Jessica’s incident other companies which where affiliated with Jessica also informed the public that they have decided to cut all ties with the model.

FHM’s RESPONSE

FHM was appalled by Jessica Leandra Dos Santos’ racist Tweets and would like to formally announce that she has been stripped of her title as winner of the FHM Modelbook 2011 competition with immediate effect.

It’s important to us that it is noted that she in no way represents the magazine; she was merely the winner of an online poll we ran, and that we totally distance ourselves from her blatantly racist comments. We have removed all pictures of her from our website and will have nothing to do with her in future.

FHM is a proudly South African magazine and says ‘No’ to racism.

Brendan Cooper
Editor FHM

Jessica seems to have so much hatred and anger towards blacks, earlier this year she also tweeted something of this nature. Her tweet said “Highlight of my weekend? Almost punching an Engen petrol assistant. No tolerance for rude African monkeys whatsoever!”

It saddens me to see how South African’s seem high and mighty on social networks forgetting that on social networks nothing is private, although we are  expressing of freedom of speech we need to be careful about what we say, the manner in which we say it and lastly how the public will react to what we say.

share you're views :)

A SLAP IN THE FACE FOR VICTIMS

A SLAP IN THE FACE FOR VICTIMS

After President Jacob Zuma announced the remission of sentence for prisoners. The Democratic Alliance states  how unhappy they are about this decision. DA says the above decision is a slap in the face for victims of crime and their families.

Personally i understand why the DA is reacting in this manner, The Public was only informed about this decision on April 27th 2012 and their views/opinions where not considered. our government has once again failed to communicate with the masses. It seems clear that this decision is in the process of being implemented,  according to Correctional Services Parole Board, the first group of offenders will start being released on May 14th 2012.

The issue of overcrowding in South African Prisons is out of hand, the government saw this Remission of sentences as a solution to decrease overcrowding in prisons. It is good to see that some NGO's are eager to team up with government in helping rehabilitated offenders by offering them training in skilled development programmes. Completing these programmes will enable offenders to get jobs in NGO' sectors.

Not all offenders will be benefiting from the Remission of Sentences, offenders who have been sentenced for aggressive, sexual, firearm and drug-related offences, and people declared dangerous criminals will not be granted the remission.

As the Public i think we should offer support to petty crime offenders and first time offenders if they show an interest of being better individuals.



Overcrowding in prisons



Johannesburg Medium C Prison



FREEDOM DAY WITH A DIFFERENCE FOR PRISONERS

.

Correctional Services Pretoria

Prisoners at Pretoria Central

On the 27th of April 2012 President Jacob Zuma's Freedom Day speech had a different approach. He addressed various issues which our country is faced with, however what stood out the most was his decision regarding prisoners, he decided  to grant a special remission of sentence to specific categories of sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees.

Since Zuma has been in power he has never considered deducting sentence from prisoners, he stated in his speech that 'this is the first time we have taken a decision to grant such remission under the current term of this office of this administration'

Previous president Mr Nelson Mandela granted his remission to offenders on May 10 1994, April 27th his first Freedom day as President of South Africa and lastly on July 18th 1998 this was his 80th birthday. He used to explain that granting remission to petty offenders gives them hope and second chances at being better people. Thabo Mbeki granted his remission on 30th May 2005.

Many offenders would complain on broadcast media eg;  radio voicing out their frustrations about the issue of  overcrowding in Prisons and lack of facilities to help rehabilitate themselves. Prisoners felt used because they vote for ANC but their needs are never considered. 

The categories and the lengths of reduction will be based on the decision of Cabinet in relation to the previous special remission of 2005, in terms of which the following categories will apply:

• 6 months blanket special remission of sentence to all sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees, and an additional 12 months special remission of sentence for all sentenced inmates, probationers and parolees, excluding sentenced offenders, probationers and parolees who have been sentenced for aggressive, sexual, firearm and drug related offenses. 
  
  

As a South Africans who do we feel about this decision of deducting sentences for offenders? do you think the rate of crime will increase or have these prisoners been rehabilitated, please share your opinions with me....

E-Tolls Will go ahead..

E-Tolls Will go ahead..

Government has made it clear that no matter how unhappy motorists are about the activation of e-tolls not much can be done to stop the proceedings. President Jacob Zuma said "E-tolls will go ahead" although communication has not been very effective. 

Head of communications at the GEPF, Khaya Buthelezi, says it is not entirely true that if e-tolling gets scrapped government will have to bail out the civil servants' pension fund.

“The matter from our side as an investor is very simple. When we purchase bonds in the capital market they are guaranteed. In this case, they are guaranteed by government irrespective of the e-tolls. We did not invest in the Gauteng e-tolls. We invested in Sanral.”

He further explains that the reason for the large investment in one entity is that up until last year the GEPF wasn't allowed to invest offshore

The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is scheduled to meet the DA to discuss Gauteng’s e-tolls in a hearing with the National Consumer Commission (NCC) on Wednesday (11 April 2012)

Sanral  stated that Motorists are not obliged to buy an e-tag to travel on Gauteng highways.“Sanral would like to clarify that it is not compulsory for road users to buy an e-tag for Gauteng e-tolling. Registering with an e-tag is optional,” the SA National Roads Agency Limited said yesterday.

I guess all that's left is for us to see whether this system will be active and how it will change people's financial statuses. necersarry finicial arrangements will have to be done in order for motorists to be able to afford toll payments and petrol prices

e-toll Saga continues

E-TOLL SAGA CONTINUES...

We are almost approaching the end of April and the e-tolling system which was supposed to be effective by now is still on hold.  Motorists are still anti- e-tolls because this system will put financial strain on most people. On Wednesday the price of petrol increased with 71cents per litre, petrol will now cost R11.94. Motorists travelling from PTA- JHB and vice versa have to deal with the constant fuel increases as if this isn’t bad enough they now have to budget for E-toll payments.

Our national Government hasn’t been using correct communication methods to in form the public about  how the implementation of e-tolls will affect them.  Government is not willing to consider views and concerns which are being brought forward by motorists who travel on these routes where e-tolls are to be implemented.  It would put the public at ease if they where being kept informed regarding agreements and decisions which government intends to make.

Those who are affected by this are doing all they can to show government how seriously unhappy they are about the implementation of e-tolls. Drastic measures such as  Strikes, petitions and court applications to name a few have been done in order to put emphasize on how motorists feel about this matter. 

It is unfair when a nations Government tries to force an unjust and unfavored decision into being. Share your views regarding this matter.