Pic: (sabc)
Production came to a standstill at six shafts of Anglo Platinum Mines in Rustenburg in the North West province. The 450 miners have been on an illegal strike since yesterday about a 10% wage increase.
They claim that mine management has reneged on the 10% wage increase agreed upon between the employer and employee. The mine workers have been gathering at the Rustenburg town hall since yesterday, singing in protest.
For more details go to http://www.sabc.co.za
Pic: (sabc)
Eastern Cape residents face a bleak next few days as mopping up operations continue. Heavy rains and snowfall left over two thousand homeless in Nelson Mandela Bay alone.
Two people are still missing presumed drowned in the metro area and one person is confirmed drowned. Two others died as a result of the freezing temperatures in the Transkei area. While the worst of the weather might be over, for thousands it has become a case of survival.
With so many people needing help, the metro emergency services are spread thin. This means that there are some groups that fall through the cracks.
For more go to http://www.sabc.co.za
Pic: Reuters
The National Working Committee of the ANC today met with the Provincial Executive Committee in the North West to assess the state of the organisation in the province.
ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe has told the SABC in the North West that the party is plagued by infighting and divisions in its ranks. Mantashe says members of the party are more focused on grouping themselves rather than working for the organisation.
“You’ll find that in some regions, the most dominant is the question of divisions and the problem is that they are locked into factions, instead of working for the ANC – that is the biggest challenge. So, we are going to be dealing with that in detail,” says Mantashe.
For more details go to http://www.sabc.co.za
Pic: AP
Johannesburg – A limited poll of magistrates around the country has revealed a sceptical attitude towards the value of prison time.
The National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (Nicro) said on Monday it received responses from 49 magistrates in a voluntary survey.
About 80% of respondents did not agree that all offenders in prison were dangerous and needed to be locked up.
About 65% said even violent offenders could be rehabilitated.
Most – 57% – did not believe criminals were being rehabilitated in prison. Instead, 41% believed prison trained criminals to be more serious offenders.
For more details go to http://www.news24.com
Pic: Independent Newspapers
About 50 people protested outside the Western Cape provincial government building in Cape Town on Monday to demand the sacking of provincial education MEC Donald Grant.
Leading the protest were the ANC in the province and the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu). They wanted Grant to withdraw closure letters he sent to 27 under-performing schools, or face possible litigation.
They also wanted him to admit to what they claimed was his lying about a lack of textbooks and workbooks at various schools in Kraaifontein.
For more details go to http://www.iol.co.za/
BY Obakeng Maje
South African Senior Women’s National Team (Banyana Banyana) remains in high spirits following the two matches they played on their tour of Germany and England ahead of the 2012 London Olympics stage.
The South Africans, ranked 61st in the world, won one match and lost the other – going down by three goals to one (3-1) against Olympic hosts, Great Britain. The match was played in Birmingham, England on Sunday, 15 July 2012.
Russia-based midfielder Nompumelelo Nyandeni’s international experience came in handy as she scored South Africa’s only goal.
With the few remaining days before their departure for London, the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will brush up on the lessons learnt on tour.
“It’s unfortunate that we went down to Great Britain before the start of a major tournament but we remain optimistic that we will play our hearts out when we the Games begin next week. But it was a good exercise in that it has given us an indication of what to expect in London, and we are under no illusions that we will have to fight hard,” said Mkhonza.
“We should now use the time we have to prepare ourselves mentally as we now know what lies ahead. The defeat hasn’t damped our spirits, and we still believe we will be highly competitive against the top women’s football nations, and make our country proud. The players should now be able to build from their last encounter and focus on doing well in the upcoming tournament.”
The Great Britain Olympic team compromises of players from across the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
In their first match on tour, Banyana Banyana defeated German Women’s League side, Bayer 04 Leverkusen by the same score-line in a practice match played at Sportschule (Hennef) in Germany on Thursday (12 July 2012).
South Africa will compete in Group F as part of Team SA at the Olympics. They will face Sweden (No 4 in the world) in Coventry on 25 July, Canada (No 7 in the world) in Coventry on 27 July and Japan (No 3 in the world) in Cardiff on 31 July.
The other African representative at the Olympics, Cameroon, is in Group E alongside hosts Great Britain, New Zealand and Brazil.
Banyana Banyana are expected back in the country on Tuesday, 17 July 2012 to round up preparations before departing for the Olympics as part of Team SA.
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The best gift to give former president Nelson Mandela on his 94th birthday would be to act like him, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said on Monday.
“The greatest gift our nation could possibly give uTata Nelson Mandela for his 94th birthday this week would be to emulate his magnanimity and grace,” Tutu said.
“Mr Mandela taught us to love ourselves, to love one another and to love our country. He laid the table so that all South Africans could eat; we must ensure all members of the family are invited.”
For more go to http://www.iol.co.za
BY Obakeng Maje
Wolmaranstad-Three suspected who were arrested in connection of a missing head briefly appeared before magistrate today in Wolmaranstad. A Sangoma and his two compliances were arrested after a head of Ezekiel Motloung went missing two days after his burial.
Thabang Rampai, 20 Daniel Letlhoma, 24 and a 32 year-old Sangoma, (Motlatsi Phiri) weree arrested.
They were granted bail of R1500 each today at Wolmaranstad Magistrate Court.
” The suspects were granted bail today and they will appear at the later stage” Colonel Emelda Setlhako.
The gruesome event unfolded last week after a municipal worker were busy working at the graveyard for maintenance and so that the grave of Ezekiel Motloung who was buried two days ago was tempered with.
He saw the body still in the coffin, but the head was missing. He immediately inform the deceased’s family and a case was opened.
That led to the arrested of three suspects after a tip-off.
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Banyana Banyana’s Olympic preparations moved up a gear with a convincing 3-1 win over German Premier League ladies side Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Sportschule in Hennef, near Cologne, Germany on Thursday, 12 July 2012.
The Sasol-sponsored South African Senior Women’s National Team will play their final preparation match when they face Great Britain in an international friendly fixture in Birmingham, England on Sunday, 15 July 2012.
Playing against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, captain Amanda Dlamini headed home the opening goal in the 6th minute from a free-kick taken by defender Janine van Wyk. Fifteen minutes later, Palace Super Falcons (Sasol League Gauteng) striker Portia Modise collected a through pass from midfielder Mary Ntsweng, before striking home the second goal from 30 metres out, helped by a goalkeeping fumble.
In the second half, the Germans reduced the deficit with a well-taken shot put wide of Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Roxanne Barker. Bloemfontein Celtics (Sasol League Free State) striker, substitute Sanah Mollo restored the two-goal advantage for the visitors after a powerful run down the right wing, which ended with her bullet-like shot finding the goal-net off the far upright post.
“The spirit in the camp is high with all of the 18 Olympic bound players, and the six reserves who will remain on standby in South Africa in case of injuries to the travelling players, working hard in training,” said Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza.
“SASCOC, SAFA and Sasol need to be thanked for making this training camp in Germany possible and the team is committed to doing their best when Banyana Banyana makes its Olympic Games debut in London later this month.”
The South Africans were further greeted by news of the confirmation of the teams to compete at the African Women Championship 2012 in Equatorial Guinea from November 4-18.
Banyana Banyana, whose best finish in the competition was as runners-up in 1995 and 2008, will be part of the action along with hosts Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Senegal.
Brits Police arrested a 33 year old Nigerian Nationalist yesterday, 12 July 2012 for dealing in drugs and failing to comply with the instruction of police. The police got a tip-off about the delivery of the drugs at De Kroon Primary School and they kept observation, where a silver Toyota Corolla was spotted approaching the school.
The suspect noticed the car and made a u-turn. The police officer approached him and he drove off. The police car chased him but could not stop until the police fired a warning shot at his car. He still did not stop and the police officer called back – up, the suspect continued to sped off until the police fired two shots again , which hit the right rear tyre and the suspect stopped.
He refused to get out of his vehicle and was the police forced him to get out. They searched him and in his possession they found R1 319-00, bank plastic packet containing 13 green tablets ( Ecstasy tablets, drugs) , 18 pieces of rock wrapped in tin foil, 12 pieces of chat in bank plastic packet, 6 pieces of chat wrapped up separately in a black plastic, Nokia 2700 and Nokia 2330. The drugs were found under the driver’s seat. No injuries were sustained during the shooting incident and the investigation continues.
The suspect will appear in Brits Magistrate court on Monday, 16 July 2012 , charged with dealing in drugs and failing to comply with the instruction of police.
The Guardian 