Yearly Archives: 2012

Bafana Bafana assistant coach died in a fatal car accident


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BY Obakeng Maje

Limpopo- South Africa woke up to rather disturbing news of losing one of Mzansi’s finest products in soccer.

The soccer fratenity are shocked to hear that unfortunately South Africa lost yet another talent when the death of Bafana assistant, Thomas Madigage was announced.

Madigage was pronounced death after being involved in a fatal car accident last night while travelling from Burgersfort to Polokwane.

Even though the details surrounding the death of former Supersport assistant coach still sketchy Limpopo SAPS Provincial spokesperson, Mulaudzi confirmed the news.

“Mr Madigage was involved in a horrible accident where three animals were also involved. There was also another car in the accident too” Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

A 41 year old former player was born in Pretoria, North of Johannesburg. He assistant former Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane while still at Supersport.

Tommy as he was known to masses was elected by current Bafana coach Gordon Igesund assistant coach.

Madigage once played for Bafana and will be remembered for his ZCC trademark hat.

He last played for Bafana back in 1997 under watchful eye of Clive Barker. His was game was against Netherland.

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Marikana miners stay away from work


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Johannesburg – Gold Fields said most miners returned to work at its strike-hit South African operations on Thursday but a new walkout at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine dampened hopes of an end to the worst labour unrest since apartheid.

 

More than 80 000 miners have downed tools since August in often violent strikes that are hitting growth and investor confidence in the economy and raising questions about President Jacob Zuma’s leadership.

 

In a surprise move, 4 000 workers at Lonmin’s Marikana mine stayed away from work on Thursday, disrupting operations once again at a plant where police killed 34 striking miners in August.

 

“There have been disruptions at various shafts since yesterday,” Lonmin spokesperson Sue Vey said. The company later said it believed the workers were protesting against the arrest of three miners as part of a police investigation.

 

Only a month ago, the Marikana strikers returned to work after being granted pay increases of up to 22 percent following a six-week strike.

 

Kumba Iron Ore is expected to resume operations at its giant Sishen mine soon after clearing away strikers who had been occupying the pit for nearly two weeks, but other companies have reported fresh incidents.

 

Petra Diamonds said production at its Cullinan mine had been hit after a fifth of workers went on strike. Forbes and Manhattan Coal also reported disruptions at two of its mines.

 

Gold Fields, the world’s fourth-largest bullion producer, said all of the 9 000 workers at its Beatrix mine and 90 percent of the 14 300 workforce its KDC West shafts had clocked in, suggesting most of the 12 500 wildcat KDC West strikers had heeded an ultimatum to turn up or face the sack.

 

“Approximately 1 500 employees who did not report for work before the deadline are deemed dismissed,” the company said in a statement, adding the fired workers had 24 hours to appeal.

 

Gold Fields has said it may issue a similar ultimatum to 8 500 strikers at KDC East.

 

More and more mining companies in South Africa have resorted to threats of mass dismissals to tackle the strikes gripping the sector.

 

Around 15 000 workers have been sacked in the last two weeks, although experts say it is more a hardball negotiating tactic than outright dismissal.

 

“It’s largely a tactical move,” said a labour lawyer, who asked not to be named as he is involved in talks to resolve the strikes. “They don’t expect to be able to run a mine with a completely new labour force.”

 

While most of the workers will be rehired when the protests end, weeks of strikes have pushed some already struggling shafts into the red, meaning some jobs will be lost.

 

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) said it would not fire any wildcat strikers at its relatively profitable Union and Amandelbult mines for now, as it seeks to engage unions to resolve the disputes.

 

The world’s No. 1 platinum producer also said it was open to discussing the fate of the 12 000 miners already dismissed at its Rustenburg operations, which are known to be struggling.

 

“While it remains our stated position that we will not reinstate the 12 000 dismissed Rustenburg employees, we have agreed with our recognised unions that we are willing to discuss their status as part of this engagement,” it said, without elaborating. Attendance at those mines remains below 20 percent.

 

AngloGold Ashanti, the world’s third-largest gold producer, said it would make a decision next week on whether to issue an ultimatum to workers.

 

Two months of unrest, in which more than 50 people have been killed, are taking its toll on South Africa’s reputation.

 

Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s have both lowered South Africa’s credit rating, citing a lack of political leadership and rising pressure on the government to throw money at the social problems underscored in the mines. – Reuters

North West-born Botlhale scoops whopping R250 000 after winning SA got talent competition


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BY Obakeng Maje

North West- Botlhale Boikanyo, born and bred in Mafikeng, is 11 years old and the eldest of three children. She is now in grade 6 and loves school and church. Her philosophy in life is “Education + Jesus = Success”.

She continually finds herself in leadership positions at school and at church.

She has been the top performing student in every grade and has been awarded for being the most confident learner in her school. She is also a member of Mmabana arts, culture, and sports club.

“I am very grateful and with God by my side,I knew this will be possible. And to my fans out there,thank you for voting for me really appreciate that” she said.

 Botlhale began reading and writing poetry at the age of 6 and says that it just came naturally to her. She has performed at school, church, weddings, government events, on radio, and in other television competitions.

She aspires to be like Lebo Mashile because of her strong personality. In July this year she represented her school in a municipal book day poetry competition that was entered by 21 schools and took second place, from this her poem was published in the newspaper The Mail.

She has now entered SAGT because she wants to share her passion for poetry with the world.

Botlhale’s other interests include reading, acting, and dancing. Her dream job is to become an entrepreneur because she believes that to change the world; you need to change one person’s life and the best way to achieve that is by creating jobs.

She would also like to be in the entertainment industry and own an international company.

Her greatest ambition is to change the world.

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Talented Botlhale raised the bar for the aspirant poets,say North West premier


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By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng- E-TV SA’s Got Talent Show 2012 winner Botlhale Boikanyo has not only raised the bar for aspirant poets across the country but has undoubtedly claimed the status of the North West Province as the home of talented artists, Premier Thandi Modise said in congratulating the 11 year old 

 

 for scoping the coveted R250 000 price on Thursday night.

 

   “Botlhale is a jewel that we should nurture for the world stage because the world is her oyster. Her passion, talent, inspirational poetry, self-confidence and with which she performed before millions who watched the talent search show distinguished her as a professional in the making destined for greater heights. She really did us proud. The sky is the limit for her. The provincial government will do everything possible to support her to achieve her dreams. ”said the overjoyed Premier Modise.

 

“As we celebrate Botlhale and thank all the viewers who voted for her, we should salute her single mother for teaching her to believe in herself and for encouraging her reach for the sky. In her we have a special mother with a special child. ” added Modise.

 

Runners up to the grade six learner at Sol Plaatjie Primary School who said that her ambition is to “Change the world” were the PJ Twins from Bonteheuwel and 3rd place went to Donlynn and Cameron, also from Cape Town.

 

The young Botlhale from Imperial Reserve in Mahikeng won herself thousands of admirers who who ensured that she makes it into the finals when she competed against and beat boxers” Drumkit and Evo”,tap dancers “T Squared”,singers

 

  “Melanie Adams, Iziqhaza” and owner-and-dog act Xandre and Finn in the semi-finals.

 

Her performance received a standing ovation from the entire audience and judges in the semi finals and finals. One of the judges, Shado Twala had cried openly in admiration of the young poet’s talent.

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SAWID:Women ready to lead the country

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Recent vibrant debates in the press and the media regarding the readiness of women to lead political parties and the country have again reminded us of the powerful role women can play in transforming political dynamics based on power to collaborative, participative dialogues based on consensus.

 

South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID), an independent, non-partisan South African Women’s Forum committed to improving the status of every individual woman by engaging national government, the private sector, civil society organisations (NGOs, CBOs and FBOs) and donors; and forming partnerships to shape development agendas, applauds the women who have come out in support of nominating women to the highest positions of power in the country.

 

It is abundantly clear that it is time for a leadership change beyond musical chairs, and that women and men of integrity need to support the selection and election of women of substance, moral courage and emotional fortitude to take South Africa in the direction of the inclusive democracy, the culture of human rights and the economic prosperity that so many South Africans have lost their lives over during the many years of the struggle against apartheid.

 

It will take inspired, moral, transformational servant leadership to undo the combined effects of patriarchy and apartheid and to empower women to continuously conquer their daily struggles against   poverty and  inequality  in order to reach their full human potential.

 

SAWID therefore urges women everywhere to step up their support for women in elected positions, including the presidency of political parties and the country, but also cautions women not to wait until women leaders are elected to the highest decision-making positions, but instead to demand that women become agents of their own development by creating the world as they would like to see it. 

 

South African Women in Dialogue has been at the forefront of piloting an action learning poverty eradication approach in three municipalities that honours the perspectives and realities of women by building on the centrality of the family in women’s lives, by professionalising work women often do for free, and by offering a holistic, grass-roots solution that imbeds self-reliance and resilience at the household level, were humans live.

Let the people govern themselves and deliver their own services, in a model of cooperative governance that teaches self-reliance, collaborative decision-making and compassionate economics.

 

 

 

Only when women have reproduced the patterns, textures and rhythms of their lives in the institutional arrangements that govern them, will we truly be able to say, Malibongwe! For women not only want a woman president, but each individual woman also wants to be the agent of her own development and the architect of a more caring and kinder world, informed by the  values of cooperation, service and human dignity. The women of South Africa are indeed ready. 

 

Elect them, so that they may lead. 

 

 

 

Issued by South African Women in Dialogue

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Banyana Banyana aiming high

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BY Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana will be looking to further climb up the FIFA world rankings and end a busy 2012 football year on a successful note when they compete at the CAF African Women Championship 2012.

 

The showpiece will be held in Equatorial Guinea from 28 October to 11 November.

 

The 21-member squad is scheduled to fly out of Johannesburg on Friday, 19 October 2012 to continue their preparations in hot, climatic conditions in Cameroon, before flying to Equatorial Guinea on Thursday, 25 October 2012.

 

Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group A and will face hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on 28 October, Senegal in Malabo on 31 October, and will travel to Bata for their encounter with DR Congo on 3 November.

 

A good run of form will see the Sasol-sponsored Senior Women’s National Team play in the semi-finals in either Malabo or Bata on 7 November, with the 3rd/4th place playoff and the title decider both scheduled for Malabo on 11 November.

 

Banyana Banyana obtained their best placed finish at the CAF African Women Championship 2000, in going down 2-0 to hosts Nigeria, and lost 2-1 in the final of the 2008 African showpiece to hosts Equatorial Guinea. At the CAF African Women Championship 2010 held in Ekurhuleni near Johannesburg, the South Africans ended third.

 

The travelling party includes most of the players who represented South Africa at the London Olympics in July, plus three new caps in the Durban Ladies (Sasol League KwaZulu Natal) pair of striker Silindile Ngubane and defender Charlotte Mshengu, plus Women’s Under 17 National Team goalkeeper Katlego Moletsane (High Performance Centre, Tshwane).

 

Ngubane, who netted the equaliser in South Africa’s 1-all draw with Zimbabwe in an international friendly played in Daveyton near Johannesburg on Tuesday, 16 October 2012, has proved her worth with a high work rate and goal-scoring keenness during her two caps as a second half substitute over the past week.

 

She was drafted into the national team camp at the start of October, after being identified at the Sasol League National Championships held in Durban in July where she finished as the tournament’s top goal-scorer, having netted 11 goals for Durban Ladies.

 

“Banyana Banyana go to the CAF African Women Championship 2012 ranked 56th in the world and 4th in Africa with our world ranking having improved by five places after our matches played at the Olympics,” said Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza.

 

“Safa and Sasol need to be thanked for their commitment in allowing the Banyana Banyana players to stay in camp for the entire October to prepare for the CAF African Women Championship 2012, and we hope that we can do South Africa proud and move a few further spots up the world rankings.”

 

 

 

Banyana Banyana team

 

Goalkeepers:

 

Thokozile Mndaweni          (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

 

Andile Dlamini                   (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng)

 

Katlego Moletsane           (High Performance Centre, Tshwane)

 

Defenders:

 

Nothando Vilakazi            (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng)

 

Amanda Sister                 (Liverpool Ladies, Eastern Cape)

 

Janine van Wyk  (v.c)       (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng)

 

Zamandosi Cele             (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal)

 

Refiloe Jane                     (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng)

 

Lebogang Mabatle          (Hallelujah Zebra Force, Gauteng)

 

Charlotte Mshengu         (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal)

 

Midfielders:

 

Leandra Smeda               (Cape Town Roses, Western Cape)

 

Nocawe Skiti                     (Cape Town Roses, Western Cape)

 

Amanda Dlamini (c)        (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

 

Gabisile Hlumbane        (Kovsies Ladies, Free State)

 

Yola Jafta                          (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng) 

 

Strikers:

 

Noko Matlou                      (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

 

Portia Modise                    (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng)

 

Andiswe Mgcoyi                (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng)

 

Silindile Ngubane            (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal)

 

Sanah Mollo                      (Bloemfontein Celtics Ladies, Free State)

 

Jermaine Seoposenwe  (Spurs WFC, Western Cape)

 

 

North West gov to tighten Liquor Laws before Festive season

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BY Obakeng Maje

Ñorth West- A provincial liquor bill needs to be expedited to reduce the contribution of liquor towards crime, North West Executive Council(Exco) resolved on Wednesday.

 

According to the 2011/2012 Crime Statistics presented by Provincial Police Management to Exco, liquor has shown to have a direct negative impact on contact crimes.

 

 Nineteen murder, 465 assault grievous bodily harm and 212 rape cases reported in the last financial year could directly be linked to murder

 

Selling of liquor to underage patrons, trading beyond operation hours stipulated in liquor licenses, taverns and shebeens located within close proximity of schools and churches were identified as areas that need to be strictly enforced.

 

Police management gave Exco an undertaking that they would clamp down on illegal liquor trading,illegal gambling and gangsterism in Khuma, Orkney and Klerksdorp after MEC’s expressed concern about high prevalence of this phenomenon in the areas.

 

Meanwhile, Premier Thandi Modise has raised concern with regard to the slow progress registered towards solving outstanding muti-murder cases in Tlokweng village.

 

“We cannot fail the community. Young people in the area are scared and traumatised to the extent that most are afraid to venture out at night or even go to school. The butchering of our children has to stop. Justice must be seen to be done and the perpetrators arrested,” said Modise in calling for in-depth investigation and for the cases to be concluded before Christmas.

 

 

 

 

More than 800 cases including rape withdrawn

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BY Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng- North West premier, mme Thandi Modise sent a stern warning to perpetrators who think they can get away with murder.

“Men who have money should not find it easy to abuse women and children and pay them off to withdraw cases against them.” North West Premier Thandi Modise said in expressing shock at the high withdrawal rate of rape cases.

The annual crime statistic presented by Provincial Police Management to the Executive Council (Exco) at its forthnightly meeting held yesterday revealed that of the 3959 cases reported across the province during the 2011/2012 financial year, 801 cases were withdrawn by victims.

Premier Modise said that as a victim of rape during her teens, she knows too well that the pain of rape never goes away. She called on police to do everything in their power to ensure that perpetrators of this heinous crime do not get away scot free.

Exco called for an intensified campaign to discourage victims of sexual abuse from withdrawing cases to be embarked upon as part of moral regeneration and for outstanding rape cases to be pursued so that victims should find closure.

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ANC leader accused of raping a teen

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Johannesburg – An ANC member of the Limpopo legislature, Maxwell Nemadzivhanani, has been arrested and charged with rape after a teenage girl complained to the police.

He appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old alleged victim is from Malamulele, about 170km from Polokwane.
Police say she arrived in Polokwane to meet Nemadzivhanani, who had allegedly promised her a job.
“He met her in Polokwane on Sunday and he took her to the lodge, where the alleged rape took place,” said Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.
The Star understands that this happened at Zororo Lodge, outside Polokwane.
Mulaudzi said the teenager had opened the case and Nemadzivhanani was arrested at his home on Monday.
In court on Wednesday, the former PAC secretary-general appeared apprehensive in the dock.
The State and his lawyer, Mashile Mokono, agreed that magistrate Janine Ungerer postpone the case to tomorrow for a formal bail application.
As he returned to the holding cells, Nemadzivhanani nodded to acknowledge the presence of Miriam Ramadwa and Patricia Mahlo, his fellow MPLs, in the court gallery.

Jan Tsiane, the ANC chief whip in the legislature, later said the party caucus had yet to discuss the matter.

For more details go to http://www.iol.co.za

Cator Manor squad searches illegal- Minister

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Durban – Searches conducted at the homes of the alleged “death squad” policemen attached to the former Cato Manor organised crime unit were “unlawful”, the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, has conceded.

 

And, in terms of a written agreement signed by P Kevan, senior assistant state attorney, all items which were in the lawful possession of the policemen will be returned to them.

 

The concession by Kevan, “on behalf of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development”, came as a result of a legal challenge launched in the Durban High Court by 18 of the arrested policemen to what they said was a “general ransacking” of their homes on the day of the arrests in June this year.

 

The men, tipped off about their impending arrests by the Hawks and Ipid (Independent Police Investigative Directorate) on the death squad allegations, had gathered at their office, their lawyer telling those in charge of the operation that they could be arrested there.

 

But they were instructed to go to their homes where, they say, policemen disregarded the law and common decency by going through personal items, including underwear, and seizing things which belonged to their children.

 

In their application before the court, they described the search warrants applied for by investigating officer Lieutenant-Colonel Frans Kola as “breathtaking in their scope” and unconstitutional. And they attacked the magistrate “who rubber-stamped them”, allowing the searchers to “roam at large” through their homes, going through their wives’ underwear, seizing children’s computers and cameras belonging to spouses.

 

The application was to have come before the court at the end of this month.

 

Now it will be removed.

 

According to the letter from Kevan to Carl van der Merwe, the lawyer representing the policemen, the matter has been settled, with the minister of police, being the first respondent, conceding that the warrants were invalid and that the searches were unlawful.

 

In terms of the settlement agreement, the items seized will be returned along with their licensed private firearms.

 

State firearms and ammunition will be returned to the station commander.

 

The minister will pay the costs of the application, including the cost of engaging two counsel.

 

Approached for comment, Mthethwa’s spokesman Zweli Mnisi said all operations carried out were under the control of the police management.

 

“The minister does not give orders to say on this or that day police must target a certain area or individual.”

 

Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela referrered questions to the police ministry.

 

Ipid spokesman Tiyani Sambo said: “This does not affect our investigation in any way. We don’t want to make any further comment.”

 

DA safety and security spokeswoman Dianne Kohler Barnard said: “More and more there is an indication that this is a political case, but I don’t know who is behind it.

 

“If this was illegal, what other processes are being carried out in this way? The police seem to be prejudging this case and treating these men like criminals when they have not yet been found guilty.”

 

One of the arrested policemen, who did not wish to be named, said: “We knew all along that this was a witch-hunt and this concession confirms our suspicions.

 

“Fortunately we have an independent judicial system which can deal with matters such as this. We believe this is the first step to proving our innocence.”

For more details go to http://www.iol.co.za