Johannesburg – An application by the State for leave to appeal the bail granted to a teenager accused of murdering the Steenkamp family on their farm will be heard on Thursday.

The 16-year-old boy appeared briefly in the Griekwastad Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Prosecutor JJ Cloete contended that the magistrate erred in finding that the boy was not dangerous to those around him.

In his motion of notice, Cloete said that during his bail application, the boy gave no indication whether he was innocent, and that he lied to the police.

The State has contended that it has a strong case against him.

Cloete submitted that the magistrate had under-emphasised the violence contained in the charges and had overemphasised the boy’s interests as a child.

National Prosecuting Authority Northern Cape spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the trial was set down to start on March 11.

The teenager was arrested for the murder of Northern Cape farmer Deon Steenkamp, 44, his wife Christelle, 43, and daughter Marthella, 14, who were shot on their family farm Naauwhoek on April 6. 

Sapa

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Cape Town – Some Western Cape police officers have sided with gangsters and other criminals, provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer said on Wednesday.

He told the Cape Town Press Club that 87 officers were arrested in the last financial year alone for corrupt activities such as selling drugs to gangsters and participating in armed robberies.

Of these, 20 had been dismissed. The rest were still involved in criminal procedures.

“We also know that some of our police officers hire their guns out to people to commit crimes,” Lamoer said.

The department had registered all service firearms on a database to combat this trend.

Lamoer told reporters the province was afflicted by gang-related violence, substance abuse and illegal firearms.

The latest crime statistics released for the province showed a leap in drug-related crime between 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, from 70 588 reported cases to 77 069.

Illegal possession of firearms dropped slightly in the same period from 2 551 cases to 2 395 cases.

Gang-related crime was not indicated in national crime statistics.

Lamoer said the perceptions of communities were a more reliable indicator of crime than national statistics.

“I don’t believe in decreases and increases of crime of more than 10% to 15%, to 30%, 40% because something must be seriously wrong in crime [statistics] for it to fluctuate that way,” he said.

“We can celebrate the decreases in crime, but what difference does it make to a baby girl of 18 months who was raped? It doesn’t make any sense.”

He said the job of the police was to ask how they could go back to a community and change the perceptions of where they lived, or of the government that was tasked with protecting them.

Partnerships with various non-governmental organisations played a key role in keeping an ear to the ground and identifying victims, especially women and children.

Lamoer said these crimes were “sad and also very serious”, with victims of sexual offences getting younger.

He said on Wednesday morning alone, he had heard of three girls, aged four, five and 10, who were raped in separate cases.

“It is with people that they know: their fathers, their step-fathers.”

He said the police had “excellent partnerships” with non-governmental organisations such as Rape Crisis and The Pink Ladies, but more was needed to fight such crimes.

The partnership with the provincial social development department, for instance, was “not up to scratch” when it came to abuse.

– SAPA

File photo:(Car owners removing tree branches to find their way)

By Obakeng Maje

Manokwane- The public violence is something that is normal nowaday in South Africa. Manokwane residents, near Taung went on the rampage today protesting for poor service delivery.

More than three hundred residents embarked on strike on Tuesday North West pice said.

“Police were called on Tuesday night at around 19:46 at Mokwane after residents allegedly went on illegal strike for poor service delivery” Captain Funani said.

“No one has been arrested yet and police monitored the situation and left afterwards. The situation was stable and was back to its normal” she yelled.

The residents are demanding a tar road that link their area to town.

They barricaded a main road that links Manthestad and Taung Station with tree branches and stones.

This morning(Wednesday) were chanting and singing struggle songs heading to The Baga-Phuduhutswana Tribal Authority to hand in their grievances to their chief, Tshepo Mankoroane. 

“We will never give up until our grievances are heard.It is been four years demanding tar road, ut seems our plea falls in deaf ears” one of strikers who did not want to b named.

According to information received,some of strikers are facing arson and public violence charges after they allegedly burnt their headmaster’s house and their councillor few months ago.

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By Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza is set to be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting the 21 players who will represent South Africa at the CAF African Women Championship 2012 in Equatorial Guinea from 28 October to 11 November.

The Sasol-sponsored women’s senior national team has been hard at training at the national camp which started in Johannesburg on Monday, 01 October. With overseas-based players in goalkeeper Roxanne Barker, and midfielders Kylie Ann Louw and Nompumelelo Nyandeni set to arrive in South Africa next Tuesday, the race for places in the team is hotting up.

“The Banyana Banyana players realise the importance of doing well at the CAF African Women Championship 2012 which will have a healthy impact on our current world and African ranking and nobody wants to miss out on competing in Africa’s showpiece event,” said Mkhonza.

Banyana Banyana are currently ranked No 56 in the world and No 4 in Africa. The national team finished as bronze medallists at the CAF African Women Championship 2010 held in Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg with Nigeria pipping Equatorial Guinea for top spot.

“Safa and our team sponsor Sasol need to be thanked for making this national camp possible, and I can see the passion and discipline that is being displayed in training. None of the ladies want to be left out of the national team so the competition for places is fierce,” added the national coach.

All the players are fit and out to impress the technical team – except for central defender Janine van Wyk, who has been side-lined with a bronchitis infection for the remainder of the week, and midfielder Mary Ntsweng (absent due to tertiary exams).

“We realise that we need to beef up the strikeforce and have invited some new faces to the camp in the hope of unearthing talent that can add value to our current crop of players,” said Mkhonza.

Durban Ladies (Sasol League KwaZulu Natal) striker Silindile Ngubane, with 11 goals, was the leading goal-scorer at the Sasol League National Championships held in Umlazi, near Durban in July – she has reported for national team duty.

Maluti Ladies defender Zanele Dlamini (Sasol League Free State) is equally at home playing as a striker. Dlamini was identified by the Banyana Banyana coaches at the Sasol League Road Show held in Welkom earlier this year.

The third new attacker in camp is Letsete Ladies (Sasol League Free State) speedy striker Makhanya Makhalala.

Other news faces in the Banyana Banyana squad are City Lads (Sasol League Eastern Cape) holding midfielder Andisiwe Ndesi, Durban Ladies (Sasol League KwaZulu Natal) central defender Charlotte Mshenge,Midfielder Precious Matabologa from Kanatla Ladies (Sasol League Limpopo) and goalkeeper BJ Dladla (KwaZulu Natal Police team) are the other newcomers called to camp by Mkhonza.

Banyana Banyana camp in Johannesburg (1 to 8 October 2012)

Goalkeepers:

Thokozile Mndaweni  (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

Andile Dlamini   (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng)

BJ Dladla   (KwaZulu Natal Police)

Defenders:

Nothando Vilakazi        (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng)

Amanda Sister             (Liverpool Ladies, Eastern Cape)

Janine van Wyk            (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng)

Zamandosi Cele           (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal)

Zanele Dlamini              (Maluti Ladies, Free State)

Charlotte Mshengu       (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal)

Refiloe Jane                 (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng)

Lebogang Mabatle       (Hallelujah Zebra Force, Gauteng)

Midfielders:

Leandra Smeda          (Cape Town Roses, Western Cape)

Nocawe Skiti                 (Cape Town Roses, Western Cape)

Amanda Dlamini         (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

Gabisile Hlumbane      (Kovsies Ladies, Free State)

Yola Jafta                       (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

Precious Matabologa  (Kanatla Ladies, Limpopo)

Andiswe Ndesi              (City Lads, Eastern Cape)

Strikers:

Jermaine Seoposenwe     (Spurs WFC, Western Cape)

Noko Matlou                       (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng)

Portia Modise                     (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng)

Andiswe Mgcoyi               (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng)

Silindile Ngubane               (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal)

Makhanya Makhalala         (Letsete Ladies, Free State)

Sanah Mollo                       (Bloemfontein Celtics Ladies, Free State)

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By Obakeng Maje

Forty-one thousand five hundred and forty-three households benefitted from water related projects in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality during the past three financial years. The North West Executive Council Extended Lekgotla that commenced on Wednesday morning at the Mmabatho Civic Centre noted that R384 million was spend in 14 projects to address water backlog in the district.

Fifteen thousand six hundred and thirty-nine jobs have thus far been created since 2009 to-date in the district through infrastructure programme and other local economic initiatives.

Insufficient bulk water supply compounded by population growth and immigration increase the water backlog identified as a challenge.

Centralising the planning and implementation of regional bulk at the district level to umbrella all the five local municipalities during planning of bulk services.

Seven trucks have been bought to assist with water shortages, outbreaks and disaster relief and distributed to Madibeng (2), Moses Kotane (2), Moretele (2) and Kgetleng Local Municipalities (1).

Premier Modise has said that the key objective of the one-day Lekgotla is to ensure that government remains accountable to the service delivery needs of communities and to do an introspection on the delivery of promised quality service since 2009 in order to assist finalise an implementable intervention plan to fast track the realization of pending promises before the end of the 5 years term.

MECs, Mayors, Heads of departments, CEO’s of parastatals as well as municipal managers and Chief Financial Officers are focusing on accelerating the pace and quality of service delivery as well as synergy in implementing delivery programmes in order to create jobs and strengthen government’s capacity to speed up the provision of services and infrastructure development.

Johannesburg – A leading gold mine in South Africa started evicting thousands of its striking workers from company dormitories on Tuesday as work stoppages spread to more gold and platinum mines.

Gold Fields ordered 5 000 workers who have been on strike for three weeks to vacate the mine hostels, saying striking workers there were intimidating their fellow employees.

Workers at another mine, belonging to Anglo American Platinum, downed tools on Tuesday, and the firm held disciplinary hearings for the strikers.

And at a southern African miner, Gold One, the bulk of 1 800 workers have also embarked on an illegal strike since Monday night.

Gold Fields, the world’s number four producer of the precious metal, said it had decided to throw out the strikers from the company hostels as these places were becoming increasingly violent and were being used by the strikers to intimidate, plan and co-ordinate illegal activities.

“The hostels are effectively becoming lawless, and so we decided to put an end to that and close them down for the miners who live there,” Gold Fields spokesperson Sven Lunsche told AFP.

In a copycat move of the deadly Lonmin Marikana mine strike, Gold Fields’ protesting workers on Tuesday gathered on a nearby hill and kept a vigil there, with some planning to spend the night there.

The Lonmin mine strike ended with hefty pay hike last month.

Gold Fields’ KDC West mine – near Johannesburg, which employs 15 000 people – has been crippled since September 9, slowing production by 1 400 ounces of gold a day.

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

Pic:(File photo)

by obakeng maje

Twelve schools from previously marginalised rural communities around Mahikeng received sporting outfits from North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise’s discretionary programme.

The handover of the outfits including distribution of blankets,clothing and food parcels to fifty needy households was held at Setumo High School in Majemantsho village outside Mahikeng this afternoon.

The initiative by Premier Modise is intended at encouraging young people to participate in sports and is part of her discretionary programme aimed at assisting poor communities.

The elderly, people with disabilities, victims of the scourge of violence and sexual abuse against women and children from poor communities have thus far benefitted from Premier Modise’s discretionary programme.

“Just last week,a foundation slab was laid, material delivered and construction of my house has commence as part of government’s effort to eradicate informal settlements.I had lost hope after my shack burned to ashes in 2003.We appreciate what we have received through the compassion of Premier Modise,”said 82 year-old Johanna Mokoena, a widow and mother of nine after receiving her consignment. 

Ward Councillor Daddy Moepi surrounded by some of the beneficiaries who are supported by Tlamelang Bagodi Old Care Centre is receiving part of the groceriesl worth R1 500 that each of the beneficiaries received.

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