PRETORIA NEWS 3 TUESDAY AUGUST 11 2009 News Children of Fire charity takes on e.tv’s Patta Trust’s founder wants R5m, says she was defamed in a 3rd Degree programme HANTI OTTO for R2 million for damages to her charity’s care. The programme also asked Jones why 1 200 victims of neglected children and exploited the COURT REPORTER reputation. alleged that Jones handed out fires in Johannesburg that year did goodwill and generosity of the pub- Patta and e.tv have until Thurs- expired food. not receive blankets. Jones replied lic for personal gain. HE CHILDREN of Fire day to respond. Patta started the programme, that they were not asked for 1 200 In addition, it feared that the pub- Trust and its founder are e.tv spokesman Vasili Vass con- saying: “With blankets, food or blankets. lic would believe Children of Fire suing e.tv and Debora firmed that they had received the money, South Africans are known The court papers quoted Patta: was lying and collected charitable Patta of the programme summons and would defend it in for their generosity. A generosity, in “That is a complete bald-faced lie. donations under false pretence. T3rd Degree for R5 million court. the case of tonight’s story, that was You were supposed to distribute The additional “sting” was that after alleged defamatory pro- Children of Fire takes care of sadly abused (by Jones and/or Chil- them”, and, later in the programme: the charity was inefficient, could grammes were aired in August and burn victims by supplying medical dren of Fire).” “You are lying again. You collected not be trusted and that the public December, 2006. help and education. Some of the The presenter continued that blankets, you pretended to be this should not co-operate with the According to papers filed in the children are also housed at the char- while some saw Jones as a saint, oth- saint…” organisation. Johannesburg High Court, the char- ity while receiving treatment. One ers accused her of “hoarding dona- Jones again said emergency serv- The charity said in a press ity felt that due to the image por- of their well-known cases is Seiso tions meant for the needy”. Patta ices did not ask them for aid. release that it first went to the trayed by 3rd Degree, and statements Ratswana (4), who was burnt in an said 3rd Degree uncovered “shock- The charity stated that the pro- Broadcasting Complaints Commis- made by Patta during the pro- attempted murder by two teenagers ing evidence that blankets and dona- gramme was wrongful and defama- sion of South Africa but was gramme, the Trust lost donations when he was a baby. tions meant for burn victims are col- tory to Jones and the trust. It argued informed that if it pursued that and suffered damages to its goodwill In court documents the charity lecting dust” in Jones’s house. that the context of the programmes route, it would have to sign a waiver and name of R3 million. claimed that during the nationally- Former employees were also was intended to mean, and was not to pursue a civil claim. Bronwen Jones, a trustee and viewed programme, 3rd Degree quoted as saying the children were understood by viewers, that the “The Trust decided in the inter- e.tv’s Debora Patta allegedly aired a founder of Children of Fire, who alleged that Jones was not distribut- cold and hungry. Trust and/or Jones were guilty of est of justice, that a civil action Bronwen Jonesis suing e.tv for defamatory programme. was interviewed by Patta, is suing ing donations to children in the During the programme Patta fraud, engaged in wrongful conduct, would be lodged,” it said. damages to her reputation. Fresh call for TWO’S COMPANY… Numeracy, literacy calm as swine flu tightens grip level shock at varsities BARRY BATEMAN JO-ANNE SMETHERHAM uted to universities in recent weeks. The participating universities HEALTH practitioners and experts SHOCKING new tests results show were Cape Town, Western Cape, have reiterated their call for calm as most first-year students at universi- Stellenbosch, Witwatersrand, swine flu continues to sweep across ties across the country do not have KwaZulu-Natal, the Mangosuthu the country. the literacy skills, and only a tiny University of Technology, and Only two people have been con- proportion have the mathematical Rhodes. More than 300 academics firmed casualties of the H1N1 virus, skills required in higher education. participated in the project. while the National Institute for The final pilot phase of the Only about 7% of the students Communicable Diseases (NICD) is National Benchmark Tests Project who wrote the maths tests, were investigating two more. (NBTP) is a damning indictment of found to be proficient, meaning they Ruan Muller, a 22-year-old Stel- the implementation of Outcomes would not need extra help to pass lenbosch University student, was Based Education, and raises ques- their first year. The test assessed the the first death directly linked to the tions about the validity of National skills needed to study first-year H1N1 virus based on laboratory con- Senior Certificate results. maths at university. firmation by the NICD. It also explains the high failure About 73% had “intermediate” Symptoms of the disease are a rate at tertiary institutions. Previ- mathematical skills, and would need high fever – 38°C and over – body ous research has shown that fewer to take part in extended or aug- aches, runny nose, sore throat, nau- than one in three of students at all mented programmes to pass univer- sea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fast technikons and universities gradu- sity mathematics. The remaining breathing or trouble breathing, sud- ate after five years. 20% had only “basic” skills, and den dizziness, and pain or pressure The principal investigator of the would need long-term support. in the chest or abdomen. NBTP, Professor Nan Yeld, dean of This finding “provides some sup- It was reported last week that at higher education development at port for doubts about the large num- least four Pretoria public schools the University of Cape Town, said ber of students achieving over 70% had about 16 cases of swine flu. the tests showed “the school system in the NSC examination in this sub- A general practitioner in Hat- is not able, at this stage, to deliver ject”, the study’s authors wrote. field said he had ordered tests on six the ambitious new curricula, partic- The challenges universities faced patients suspected to be infected ularly in mathematics”. regarding mathematics were “enor- with swine flu, but only three tested She emphasised, however, that mous”, they said, and universities positive. The doctor said they were “this is not the same as saying that mathematics curricula should adapt not testing all patients for the H1N1 the curriculum is the problem”. to help the struggling students. virus, but only those who showed The findings largely confirmed About 47% of the students who severe symptoms. All other cases what the researchers had known wrote the tests on academic literacy were treated like seasonal flu. about student competence, she said, were proficient, 46% had intermedi- NICD director Lucille Blumberg although “some have been angry ate skills, and 7% had basic skills. said the institute was recommend- For most residents, the Women’s Day long weekend was a quiet, lazy affair. This couple enjoyed an afternoon chat by the lake at Irene Country Club, that the National Senior Certificate This test assessed ability in English, ing that not all patients be tested while others enjoyed free music at concerts held at various venues in the city. A handful ventured out to the council’s resorts, which were trouble-free, results gave a different picture”. the medium of instruction. for the virus, saying: “This is a mild according to authorities. PICTURE: MASI LOSI About 13 000 students wrote the The student sample was repre- illness that should be treated like assessments in February. The sentative in gender and demograph- seasonal flu.” results of the tests have been distrib- ics, the project leaders said. Family honour Maths guru’s last wish BALDWIN NDABA Yesterday his family and friends provide proof of his death to his son,” Lulama said. gathered at the Braamfontein lawyers before his wish could be Kambule’s death has saddened THE FAMILY of one of South Cemetery to pay their last respects fulfilled. Mdwaba said his family his former pupil, musician Sipho Africa’s greatest mathematicians before he was cremated. honoured his wish and he was cre- “Hot-stix” Mabuse. and educationists, Professor Tham- Family spokesman and grand- mated at 9am yesterday. Mabuse was a pupil at Orlando sanqa Wilkinson Kambule, fulfilled son Mthunzi Mdwaba said his “The family will later decide High School when Kambule was his last wish by cremating him grandfather had left a written what to do with his ashes,” the principal. “He was a resolute within 48 hours of his death. instruction with his lawyers that Mdwaba said. and steadfast man. He was very Kambule, 88, succumbed to a he had to be cremated within 48 Kambule’s son, Lulama, practical as a principal and that Professor Thamsanqa Kambule, who lung infection on Friday at Unitas hours of his death. According to described his father as a “caring was why most of us enjoyed going was cremated yesterday. Hospital in Centurion. the instruction, his children had to person”. “He was a people’s per- to school,” Mabuse said. FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR PRETORIA Min Max oC Today 11th Wed 12th Thurs 13th Fri 14th Sat 15th Crackdown on illegal taxis under way 8 9 7 3 3 25 26 25 22 24 BARRY BATEMAN made to seem legitimate by the to be on the road.