Daily Archives: July 11, 2012

Winnie blasts ANC

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Pic:The Times

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has, in a furious letter, attacked the ANC, accusing the party of “shabby treatment” and abusing the Mandela name.

The struggle veteran, in a letter addressed to party spokesman Jackson Mthembu, blasted the ANC, saying: “We [the Mandela family] only matter when we have to be used for some agenda.”

A clearly hurt and livid Madikizela-Mandela wrote the letter in response to a request by Mthembu for a meeting to discuss the ANC’s centenary celebrations, which involve former president Nelson Mandela during his birthday month.

SAFA appoints Bafana Bafana Technical Team

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BY Obakeng Maje

The South African Football Association (SAFA) today (Tuesday, 10 July 2012) announced the Bafana Bafana technical team that would surround new Head Coach, Gordon Igesund, in his quest to take the South African Senior Men’s National Team to success in the Africa Cup of Nations 2013 and in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2014.

The position of Bafana Bafana full-time Assistant Coach has gone to long-serving Supersport United Assistant Coach, Thomas Madigage. Madigage was Igesund’s first choice for the position, as he wanted to work with an assistant coach who has achieved great success in that position and who would complement his own style and strengths.

“There were many great candidates that I considered,” said Igesund, “but I am delighted that Tommy has accepted this position, and I look forward to working with him with immediate effect.”

SAFA CEO, Dr Robin Petersen, thanked Supersport United for their willingness to release Madigage at short notice for national duty.

“We are grateful to the club for allowing us to take Tommy into our National team structures. We realize that this has a negative impact on them, but we applaud them for allowing us to put the country first,” said Dr Petersen.

Other key appointments to the Technical team are as follows:

Mr Serame Letsoaka  – Second Assistant Coach (for national team camps)
Mr Alex Heredia  – Goalkeeper Coach
Mr Zak van Heerden  – Physiologist/Physical Trainer
Dr Carl Tabane   – Team Doctor
Mr Godfrey Sepuru  – Physiotherapist
Mr Thabiso Moshane  – Masseur
Video Analysts   – AMISCO

Chairman of the SAFA Technical Committee, Mr Fanyana Sibanyoni, also announced that the Bafana Bafana’s Head Coach had requested that a Reference Group, consisting of Mr Jomo Sono, Mr Clive Barker and Mr Shakes Mashaba, be appointed by the Association to provide input and support.

“We are delighted with this ‘brains trust’,” said Mr Sibanyoni. “They will assist the coach as needed by him.  Gordon recommended this panel to us, and we are convinced that this panel will provide him with the necessary support he needs in getting the best out of the team.”

President of SAFA, Mr Kirsten Nematandani, expressed his delight at the finalization of the technical team.

“Now that the Coach has concluded this critical matter in line with his preferred choices, we pledge the Association’s full support to him and his team as they undertake this exciting and challenging journey. We ask the nation to rally around them and carry them to anticipated success.”

Nyandeni believes Banyana Banyana have a hunger for success

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BY Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana’s Russia-based midfielder Nompumelelo Nyandeni believes the national team’s secret recipe is the hunger for success which wasn’t present to this extent in the team four years ago.

The former Detroit Ladies (Sasol League Mpumalanga) playmaker, who these days wears the colours of FC Rossiyank in the Russian women’s league, has already joined her team-mates at the national team training camp in Hennef, Germany.
She expressed her excitement about being a part of Banyana Banyana’s first appearance at the Olympic Games later this month in London.

“I have been a part of the Banyana Banyana set-up since 2002 and there has been a new vibe in the squad and in the Sasol League over the past four years, and SAFA and Sasol need to be commended for the efforts being made to take women’s football in South Africa to a new level,” said Nyandeni.

The twenty-four year-old has 93 Banyana Banyana caps to her name, and has scored 27 goals.

“SAFA and Sasol have made us feel like champions since the partnership began four years ago and so many new players have come to the fore thanks to the platforms put in place,” she added.

Nyandeni’s passion for coaching and helping the next era of rising stars to reach their potential is close to her heart.

“I would like to see more women becoming involved in football in South Africa, in particular as coaches. In Russia many of the clubs in the women’s league are coached by women, but in South Africa it’s different,” said Nyandeni.

“When I retire from playing football, I would like to be involved as a coach or a referee and I encourage women in this country, who have a passion for football, to get involved with the Beautiful Game, beyond just being football players.”

Nyandeni described each Banyana Banyana call up as a special moment for her, saying, “I am always pleased to be called up to represent the nation. The vibe in the camp is great as we want to seize the moment and do our country proud at the Olympics. Yes, we are going into unknown terrain, a level of play that we have never experienced before, but I am sure that the nerves will settle quickly once the action kicks off.”

Banyana Banyana will play against German Women’s Premier League side Bayer 04 Leverkusen in a practice match on Thursday, 12 July 2012 (19h30 kick-off).

They also have an international friendly match lined up against Great Britain before returning home.
The encounter will take place in Birmingham, England on Sunday, 15 July 2012 (14h00 SA time).

POLICE RESCUE A SUSPECT FROM MOB JUSTICE

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BY Obakeng Maje

Rustenburg- Police were summoned to attend a complaint of possible mob justice at Thekwane village near Rustenburg on Monday. It is alleged that the complainant pointed out the 33 year old man as one of the suspects who robbed him at his house in the early hours of Monday.

 

“On arrival, the police found the suspect already being assaulted by the community members. They were in disagreement whether to hand him to the police or take the law into their own hands”Captain Makau said.

The group that wanted mob justice started to be very vocal.

 The police tried to calm the situation down by agreeing with members of the community to gather at a local school in order to explain and clarify the procedure. When the police arrived at the school they found the gate blocked with stones. While trying to clear the gate the community started attacking the police by throwing stones.

 

“The police retaliated with warning shots trying to disperse the volatile community members”Captain Makau continues.

Five police vehicles were severely damaged and no injuries were reported.

 

The 33-year old suspect was arrested and charged with house-robbery and will appear in Bafokeng magistrate’s court today.

 Communities are warned  not to take the law into their own hands and urged to work hand in hand with the Police.

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MISSING TEENAGER FOUND!!!

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BY Obakeng Maje

The teenager, Catherine  Caroline Williams from Barseba village  who went missing  on Wednesday, 4 July 2012 has been found.

“According to the information received her grandmother found her sleeping in their outside shack on Monday morning, 09 July 2012. She reported that she was with her friends” Captain Pelonomi Makau said.

She returned home unharmed.  

 

Slain MK cadres to be exumed for reburial

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BY Obakeng Maje

The remains of two African National Congress ‘s military army ,Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) cadres are to be exhumed for reburial in Mahikeng in the North West Province on Friday.

The two formed part of a unit that crossed into South Africa from Botswana in 1978 and were killed after a skirmish with apartheid security forces.

Forensic experts had conducted DNA tests to determine the identities of the two as their remains were fragmented in an explosion. Their skeletal remains had mingled as they were squeezed into a single coffin when they were secretly buried there.

Locating the actual grave in which they were buried was not easy as no records of their burial was kept.

North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise who is to be part of the exhumation which is part of the programme for Mandela Month says that the reburial of the cadres will allow their families to put closure to decades of anxiety and reconcile with a painful past.

“As we celebrate the legacy of selfless service of former ANC President and Commander in Chief of Umkhonto We Sizwe, we owe it to the memories of fallen heroes and heroine of our liberation struggle to recognise the sacrifices and heroic deeds of those who paid the supreme price contributing towards attainment of our freedom and democracy. Their blood nourished the tree of liberty,” said Modise herself a former MK commander and political commissar.

The Premier had in launching the programme for Mandela Month said that activities for this year will include unveiling of tomb stones of former freedom fighters, cleaning of graves, beautification of schools and old age homes, flying the South African flag in schools, holding, developmental workshops for emerging artists, handing out of blankets, assisting in maintaining back yard food gardens, donation of books to communities and immunization programme.

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