BY Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza has dedicated his SA Sports Awards Coach of the Year honours to hard work, coaching passion and the support from his colleagues.
The annual SA Sports Awards function took place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Sunday, 4 November 2012.

Speaking from Bata, Equatorial Guinea where Banyana Banyana are preparing for Wednesday’s semi-final against Africa’s No 1 ranked side Nigeria at the CAF African Women’s Championship, Mkhonza said: “I am honoured to be named as the SA Sports Awards Coach of the Year and see it as  much of a privilege as it is a privilege to coach Banyana Banyana.”

The coach, who wore the colours of top SA clubs such as Kaizer Chiefs and African Wanderers in his playing days in the 1970s, added: “Coaching is a calling in life and needs to be backed by passion for the task at hand. I am delighted to be recognized for my efforts and need thank Safa, Banyana Banyana team sponsor Sasol, the Banyana Banyana players and my technical staff colleagues for their contributions made which play a role in helping me win an award of this nature.”

Experienced Banyana Banyana striker Portia Modise was a finalist in the SA Sports Woman of the Year category, won by Olympic 800 metres athlete Caster Semenya, while the Olympic rowing team won the Team of the Year honours in a category in which Banyana Banyana were nominated as finalists.

BY Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund has named a 24-man squad to face Zambia in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Wednesday, 14 November 2012.

The clash will take place at Soccer City. Kickoff is at 20h00.

The two teams clashed in the inaugural Nelson Mandela Challenge back in 1994 and the ‘return’ clash next week promises fireworks. The visitors lost that epic encounter at Ellis Park 2-1.

This annual tournament has a lot of CSI feel to it; the South African Football Association (SAFA) will donate a huge portion of the proceeds to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

In his fifth game in charge of the national team, coach Gordon Igesund has made eight changes to the squad that travelled to Poland and Kenya last month, with seven of the players selected based overseas.

Itumeleng Khune retains his place in goals and is joined by Darren Keet of KV Kortrijk (Belgium) as the only two goalkeepers in the squad.

In defence, another Belgium-based player Anele Ngcongca returns to the squad for the first time under Igesund after recovering from injuries.

Also back in the squad after a long absence are Thanduyise Khuboni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Thuso Phala (Platinum Stars), Kermit Erasmus (Supersport United) and Katlego Mashego of Moroka Swallows.

“This is probably the last chance for a lot of players, especially the overseas-based players to impress because we don’t have a FIFA date anymore between now and the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

I am happy with the progress we are making and the squad is taking shape nicely; a number of players and clubs are showing passion towards the national cause and this is giving me a good ‘headache’,” said Igesund.

“I now have most of the squad I need for the tournament, but I am left with about 20 percent with the likes of Thulani Serero, Siboniso Gaxa, Daylon Claasen, Benni McCarthy, Davide Somma and Morgan Gould, to mention but a few, still to fight for the remaining places. The truth is they have a lot of work to do because they need to show me that not only have they fully recovered from their injuries and are fit, but also that they are playing regularly for their clubs.”

Igesund will have Serame Letsoaka as his only assistant following the passing away of Thomas Madigage last month.

“I believe Serame and I have what it takes to take this team forward. For the moment we won’t be replacing Tommy and I don’t think there is a need to find a replacement,” said the Bafana Bafana head coach.

Bafana Bafana will assemble for camp on Sunday, 11 November 2012 at the Southern Sun Monte Casino Hotel in Fourways.

On Monday, 12 November they will have a gym training session, and the next day (Tuesday, 13 November) will travel to Soccer City to have final preparations.
 

The Squad:

Police in the North West Province will embark on series of Imbizos from November 2012 to March 2013. The first Imbizo will be on 8 November 2012 at Tlhabane Community Hall in Rustenburg at 17:00.

The primary objective of these imbizos is to address challenges that are being experienced by police and community members in their respective areas, to create awareness, to encourage community participation in crime fighting through structures like Community Police Forum. The community will have the opportunity to raise their challenges with the South African Police Service. This is also to build good relations with communities as one of our key stakeholders.  

The province is experiencing a high rate of crime, ranging from contact crime, property related crimes and other crime categories. Our crime pattern analysis shows that Rustenburg has more crime compared to other areas in the province.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo urges all communities to work together with the Police in the fight against crime in our townships, suburbs, rural places including farms. She further emphasizes that police will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to expose and apprehend all those who happens to be on the wrong side of the law. “We humbly would like to urge everyone in the community to support this massive campaign by been part of these Imbizos in their areas” she concluded.

Media is invited to attend the imbizos which will be held as follows:

BY Obakeng Maje

The North West Executive Council and stakeholders in the province are to make inputs on the implementation of the National Development Plan (NPA) and Vision 2030 during the National Planning Commission’s provincial outreach programme to be held at the Mmabatho Convention Centre tromorrow.

The objective of the engagement to be led by the Minister of National Planning in the Presidency, Trevor Manuel and six members of the commission is to popularise the NDP so that it is translated into targets to be incorporated into future performance and delivery agreements and ensure that its aspects are incorporated into their own long- term planning exercises and implementation plans.

“Though the National Development Plan is a product of consultative process, the provincial engagement affords us broad stakeholder and citizen ownership towards the implementation process,” says Premier Thandi Modise.

The first session to commence at 8:00 am will be with the Provincial Executive Council (Exco) while the second session to commence at 10:00 am will involve invited representatives of the business sector, labour, traditional leadership, civil society, political parties, chairpersons of portfolio committees of the legislature, youth formations, etc.

Premier Modise has following on the establishment of the National Planning Commission established a Provincial Planning Commission and appointed former MEC Darkey Africa as fulltime Commissioner. Additional commissioners were advertised in the print media and appointments are to be made in due course.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

BY Obakeng Maje

TAUNG: A 37-year-old man was arrested on Monday following a shooting incident in Taung.It is alleged that on Sunday at about 14:00a fight ensued between the two ANC factions in Magogong Village.

“According to information at our disposal, one of the two fighting groups had a meeting at Magogong Primary School. It is alleged that the other group was not invited to the meeting which was aimed at amongst others, discussing the delegation to the ANC’s Conference in Mangaung” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said,

“Whereas there was a prior agreement between the two groups that they will jointly hold a meeting for that purpose the other group continued anyway” He added..

 “It is alleged that whilst the other group was continuing with a meeting the uninvited group arrived at the school only to be confronted by “armed security guards” at the gate” Ngubane said. 

They were told that they were not invited to that meeting therefore they are not allowed to go inside.

A quarrel started between the two groups.  

According to information one of the “security guards” inside the school yard allegedly drew a firearm and pointed at one lady who was amongst the locked-out group, but no shot was fired. 

Few moments after that, a shot was fired and that was when a 39-year-old Ogopoleng Semao was hit in the right of his chest through the ribs and fell to the ground. 

The victim was rushed to Taung Provincial Hospital and later transferred to Kimberly Provincial Hospital where he was admitted in a serious but stable condition.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews 

Police were informed and a case docket was registered.  Allegedly the suspect fled the scene after the shooting and on Monday, 05 November 2012, the 37-year-old suspect was arrested in Vryburg.  He will be charged with attempted murder, pointing of firearm and unlawful possession of firearm.  The suspect is expected to appear before the Taung Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 06 November 2012.  Investigation continues.

BY Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana will adopt a ‘no fear’ approach’ when they face Africa’s No 1 ranked women’s football team Nigeria, in the semi-finals of the 8th CAF African Women Football Championship, to be played at the Nkoantoma Stadium in Bata on Wednesday, 7 November 2012.

Kick-off 17h30 (18h30 SA time).
 
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana have played the Nigerians twice this year in international friendly matches, which ended 1-all in Rustenburg and goal-less in Lagos.
 
Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza said: “The stage is set for an epic battle between the two sides and the power of African women’s football is clear, with all four of the top ranked teams on the continent in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and SA having made the semi-finals,” said Mkhonza.
“Safa and our team sponsor Sasol need to be thanked for the continued support given to the national team which has turned our players into heroines in the eyes of sports fans across our country.”
 
Experienced Banyana Banyana midfielder Portia Modise, who scored for SA in the international friendly played in Rustenburg on June 3, said the Nigerians fielded their full strength team during the international friendly matches against SA and Banyana Banyana can break the mental block to record their first-ever win over the Super Falcons.

“The Banyana Banyana players are so keen to get the win over Nigeria and give South African football fans lots to be proud of as the win will allow our team to make the final, which is one step further than what we achieved at the CAF African Women Championship 2010 held in Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg,” said Modise.
 

Banyana Banyana finished as the bronze medallists at the African showpiece event two years ago, going down to Equatorial Guinea in the semi-finals, but beating Cameroon in the playoff match for third spot.
 
At this year’s tournament, the South Africans finished second on the Group A log, recording wins against Senegal (1-0) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (4-1) and went down (1-0) to the hosts, Equatorial Guinea in the opening fixture.
 
With Equatorial Guinea having topped the Group A log at this year’s tournament, the hosts will take on Cameroon in the second semi-final to be played in Malabo on Wednesday (07 November 2012 (kick-off: 14h30)).

BY Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund has named a 24-man squad to face Zambia in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Wednesday, 14 November 2012.

The clash will take place at Soccer City. Kickoff is at 20h00.

The two teams clashed in the inaugural Nelson Mandela Challenge back in 1994 and the ‘return’ clash next week promises fireworks. The visitors lost that epic encounter at Ellis Park 2-1.

This annual tournament has a lot of CSI feel to it; the South African Football Association (SAFA) will donate a huge portion of the proceeds to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

In his fifth game in charge of the national team, coach Gordon Igesund has made eight changes to the squad that travelled to Poland and Kenya last month, with seven of the players selected based overseas.

Itumeleng Khune retains his place in goals and is joined by Darren Keet of KV Kortrijk (Belgium) as the only two goalkeepers in the squad.

In defence, another Belgium-based player Anele Ngcongca returns to the squad for the first time under Igesund after recovering from injuries.

Also back in the squad after a long absence are Thanduyise Khuboni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Thuso Phala (Platinum Stars), Kermit Erasmus (Supersport United) and Katlego Mashego of Moroka Swallows.

“This is probably the last chance for a lot of players, especially the overseas-based players to impress because we don’t have a FIFA date anymore between now and the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

I am happy with the progress we are making and the squad is taking shape nicely; a number of players and clubs are showing passion towards the national cause and this is giving me a good ‘headache’,” said Igesund.

“I now have most of the squad I need for the tournament, but I am left with about 20 percent with the likes of Thulani Serero, Siboniso Gaxa, Daylon Claasen, Benni McCarthy, Davide Somma and Morgan Gould, to mention but a few, still to fight for the remaining places. The truth is they have a lot of work to do because they need to show me that not only have they fully recovered from their injuries and are fit, but also that they are playing regularly for their clubs.”

Igesund will have Serame Letsoaka as his only assistant following the passing away of Thomas Madigage last month.

“I believe Serame and I have what it takes to take this team forward. For the moment we won’t be replacing Tommy and I don’t think there is a need to find a replacement,” said the Bafana Bafana head coach.

Bafana Bafana will assemble for camp on Sunday, 11 November 2012 at the Southern Sun Monte Casino Hotel in Fourways.

On Monday, 12 November they will have a gym training session, and the next day (Tuesday, 13 November) will travel to Soccer City to have final preparations.
 

The Squad:

Government should pay the legal fees of the miners injured or arrested in the Marikana shooting, the Black Lawyers Association (BLA) said on Friday.

“We are of the firm, unwavering belief that in order to guard against either perceived or real travesty of justice and in order to promote parity of arms, there is a positive duty on the State to fund both the victims and their lawyers at the Commission,” BLA’s Pritzman Busani Mabunda said in a statement.

“It can’t be countenanced in a constitutional democracy that funding is construed to be selective at the expense of the poor and downtrodden.”

Legal Aid SA had said earlier in the week it would not help the miners who were injured or arrested during the shooting in Marikana.

It would however continue to provide support to the families of the 34 miners killed on August 16, but not to the 78 people who were wounded, or the 275 who were arrested.

Given that the police and other government representatives making submissions to the commission were being represented by teams of eminent legal experts at the expense of the taxpayer, Mabunda said fairness dictated the same benefits should apply to the miners and their families.

“There is no good or sound reason why the police…should enjoy upper class representation at the expense of the taxpayer while the same rights are not accorded to the poor victims in the Commission,” he said.

“We implore on the government to take a lead and employ positive measures to ensure there is justice to the victims and not create an impression of apparent justice to the perpetrators.”

While the policy on provision of legal aid, contained in the Legal Aid Guide, did not make provision for Legal Aid SA to make available legal representation at commissions of inquiry, Mabunda said it was no excuse for government not to assist.

“The legislative impediment constraining the government from making provision of both legal and logistical support…should not serve as a defence for not doing so,” he said.

“This is so bearing in mind that the situation in Marikana is of its own kind. It was never anticipated that the nation would find itself in this kind of commission of inquiry as it has manifested itself.” – Sapa