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More expectant mothers go for checkups – infant mortality rate drops

South Africa’s infant mortality rate is at its lowest in almost two decades‚ having fallen by 32% between 2002 and 2017.

This finding is contained in the 2018 South Africa Survey published by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR).

The institute said this improvement aligned with a sharp increase in the rate of antenatal first visits by pregnant women.

Analyst Tawanda Makombo said the drop in the infant mortality rate – which measures the deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births in a year – coincided with a 96% improvement in the rate of antenatal first visits since 2006.

The rate of antenatal first visits measures the proportion of pregnant women who visit antenatal clinics for the first time before 20 weeks of their pregnancy over the number of women who had at least one antenatal visit before delivery.

The institute said between 2002 and 2017‚ the infant mortality rate decreased from 48.1 per 1,000 live births to 32.8 per 1 000 live births. It also said the rate of antenatal first visits increased from 31.3% to 61.2% between 2006 and 2016.

Makombo said more can be done to further reduce the infant mortality rate.

“The national Department of Health must intensify public awareness efforts‚ and persuade more pregnant women to visit health practitioners for regular check-ups before and after giving birth‚ as this is essential for their babies’ health‚” Makombo said.

Krugersdorp killers’: Mother gets 11 life terms behind bars for murders

High school teacher Marinda Steyn in the dock of the High Court in Johannesburg on May 16, 2018, where was sentenced to a lengthy jail term for her involvement in a killing spree on Gauteng’s West Rand.
High school teacher Marinda Steyn in the dock of the High Court in Johannesburg on May 16, 2018, where was sentenced to a lengthy jail term for her involvement in a killing spree on Gauteng’s West Rand.
Image: Nomahlubi Jordaan
The South Gauteng High Court on Wednesday imposed 11 life sentences on former school teacher Marinda Steyn for the Krugersdorp murder spree. Her son Le Roux Steyn was earlier today sentenced to an effective 25-year prison term.

Steyn received 11 life terms for the murder charges and life for racketeering. She was also sentenced to 115 years for various charges including robbery‚ fraud‚ accessory after the fact‚ unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

She was sentenced after having entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the state.

All the sentences are to run concurrently.Judge Colin Lamont asked her if she understood the consequences of having entered into a plea agreement

“Ms Steyn‚ you understand that part of the agreement contains a series of punishment to be imposed upon you and that if you agree to life imprisonment‚ it means life?”

To which Steyn said: “One has choices‚ one has to bear the consequences”.

“I accordingly convict you on all charges in the sentence agreement which you and your counsel and the prosecution have signed‚” Lamont said.

The Krugersdorp murder accused in the dock are, from left to right, Marinda Steyn, Cecilia Steyn (no relation), Marcel and Le Roux Steyn (Marinda’s children) and Zak Valentine.
The Krugersdorp murder accused in the dock are, from left to right, Marinda Steyn, Cecilia Steyn (no relation), Marcel and Le Roux Steyn (Marinda’s children) and Zak Valentine.
Image: Nomahlubi Jordaan
Earlier on Wednesday‚ Steyn’s son Le Roux was also sent to jail after pleading guilty to more than 18 counts including murder‚ robbery and racketeering.

The two were among a group of friends and family members accused of murdering 11 people from 2012 to 2016‚ robbery‚ aggravated assault‚ racketeering‚ possession of an unlicensed firearm‚ fraud and identity theft.

The other accused are Cecilia Steyn (no relation to the other Steyns)‚ Zak Valentine and Marcel Steyn – Marinda’s daughter‚ who is Le Roux’s sister. She was a teenager at the time of the murders.

A sixth person‚ John Barnard‚ a 40-year-old printmaker‚ confessed to involvement in some of the murders last year and was sentenced to 30 years in jail‚ with 10 suspended‚ on condition that he testify against the other accused.

The case against Cecilia‚ Valentine and Marcel has been postponed to October 8 for trial.

Contractor killed in Shoprite transformer explosion

An electrical contractor was killed and two colleagues seriously burnt when a transformer exploded and caught fire during an inspection at a Shoprite distribution warehouse in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The Shoprite Group said the explosion happened at its Cilmor Distribution Centre in Brackenfell.

“An electrical contractor tragically lost his life this morning in an explosion while inspecting an electrical transformer… Two other contractors suffered serious burn injuries and were rushed to hospital. A further four people are being treated for smoke inhalation‚” the group said in response to media enquiries.

“The fire that broke out as a result of the explosion was extinguished within an hour and was contained in a small area of the Returns Centre. A full investigation is under way to determine the cause of the explosion and extent of the damage. At this stage it seems that operations will not be affected for a prolonged period of time.”

The Shoprite Group expressed its sincere condolences to the families and colleagues of the deceased and injured. Trauma counselling was being provided to those who witnessed the accident‚ it said.

Cape Town Fire and Rescue spokesman Theo Layne said earlier: “The City’s Fire and Rescue Service responded to Cilmor Street in Brackenfell (to) a Shoprite warehouse where we had a transformer room that was alight.

“As a result of the fire one adult male had sustained fatal burn wounds and one adult male sustained serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to hospital.”

Private ambulance service Resq Medix said in a Facebook post that patients were treated for smoke inhalation.

“Cape Town fire and rescue services managed to contain the fire within seconds while medical staff and attended to the injured‚ thank you ER24‚ Cape Town Fire and Rescue‚ SJC security‚ Titanium security and Metro Rescue for their assistance on scene.”

Drama in KZN legislature as Zuma’s presence leads to opposition walkout

The DA and NFP staged a walkout from the KwaZulu-Natal legislature in Pietermaritzburg in protest against the presence of former president Jacob Zuma at the provincial department of agriculture and rural development budget vote on Tuesday.

Zuma was invited by agriculture and rural development MEC Themba Mthembu as his special guest‚ but the move backfired when the two opposition parties said they could not tolerate the former president’s presence in the legislature.

The DA and NFP accused of Zuma of being part of the looting of the country’s economy‚ saying they could not share the same house as him as he was part of state capture with the Gupta family.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu’s attempt to intervene by explaining that Zuma was just a guest and not scheduled to speak fell on deaf ears.

Of the opposition‚ only the IFP rem

TimesLIVE has reliably learnt that Mthembu was warned by his officials against inviting Zuma as his special guest but he would have none of it.

DA provincial spokesman on agriculture and rural development‚ Sizwe Mchunu‚ posted on his Facebook page shortly after the walkout: “We‚ @DA_KZN in the KZN Legislature have staged a walkout in protest of Jacob Zuma’s presence in the chamber. Kwashuba!!! AKONAKELE”

He later told TimesLIVE that they were taken by surprise when the MEC opened his presentation by acknowledging Zuma’s presence in the chamber and not in the gallery.

“He was ushered into the legislature and allowed to sit where usually the HOD [head of department] or His Majesty [Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini] would sit. We protested primarily on the basis that the country is at this stage of a weak economy because of him and the challenges that face our government in general are as a result of his leadership in the country.

“So therefore we couldn’t stand or tolerate his presence in the house hence we opted to walk out. But fundamentally we are saying the state of our country is because of him‚” said Mchunu.

NFP chairman in KZN‚ Vikizitha Mlotshwa‚ said they decided to walk out because the former president is not “an honourable member of the house” but was seated where only honourable members are allowed.

ained for the budget vote.

Gang in cop uniforms raid Cape Town poached abalone store

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The robbers allegedly loaded the abalone into three bakkies at the Paarden Eiland store before making their getaway. File photo.
Image: Supplied

Five men in police uniform raided the government poached abalone store in Cape Town early on Tuesday.

Police said the men‚ driving a double-cab bakkie‚ robbed security guards of their guns and bulletproof vests at the Department of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries store at 3am.

“The suspects also took an undisclosed quantity of abalone and fled the scene. Fortunately no one was injured during the incident‚” said police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut.

A source at the Marine and Coastal Management branch of the Department of Environmental Affairs said the robbers loaded the abalone into three bakkies at the Paarden Eiland store before making their getaway.