LIMPOPO – A two-month-old rhino was hacked at least 18 times on the face earlier this week after poachers targetted the baby’s mother for her horn.

Eyewitness News cannot reveal the park where the incident occurred due to the sensitivity of the investigation.

The baby rhino apparently approached the poachers after they had dehorned its mother, when the attack occurred.

The poachers are believed to have used axes and machetes to keep the calf at bay.

Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Karen Trendler says the baby rhino is recovering.

“She is doing amazingly well. It is actually a miracle. She is very small and she was injured very badly and she still has the panga wounds on her face.”

The female calf is being cared for at a special orphanage for baby rhinos near Mokopane, 250 kilometres north of Pretoria.

By Obakeng Maje

Pampierstad-The residents of Losasaneng village,near Taung gathered outside court at Pampierstad to show support of one of their own who appeared before magistrate today for public violence.

This came after six residents were arrested during protest and were granted bail of R400 each yesterday.

Bogosi Leburwane,29 remained in custody for further investigations and he appeared today where he was granted a bail of R300.

Elias Thole,20

Lebogang Gemba,26

Kagiso Sesing,21

Lebogang Ntimeng,19

Salomon Mongale,20 

“All of them were released on bail and will appear before magistrate again on the 22nd of January. They all facing public violence along with Bogosi Leburwane” Captain Makau said.

The residents unleash a protest move after they accuse Department of Public Works of ignoring their plea. 

They demand a tar road that link Losasaneng and Kgomotso village,near Pampierstad as they say the road is in bad condition.

April Sephula outlined early that they will never back off until their plea being heard.

“We’ve engaged the office of Public Protector mme Thuli Madonselela for assistance and we very delighted about the developments” He said.

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By Obakeng Maje

Christiana-The Young Communist League party today handed a memorandum to North West Department of Education Mec mme Louisa Mabe. The party outlined their concerns regarding overcrowded schools in the area and lack of transport for learners who attend school at nearby farm.

The memorandum will be handed over to mme Mabe and the league spokesperson Gaolatlhwe Kgabo(23) said they brought the grievances to department attention since last year.

“We sent our concerns to the department since last year,but nothing was done” Kgabo said.

The department dignataries will address the learners and give them a green light regarding way forward.

Most schools are overcrowded in the area and most of learners are forced to walk miles to attend school at nearby farm.

The department of education once provided learners with transport,but that never last.

“We also demand a FET college in the area as we only have Vuselela FET college which is based in Taung,so most learners cannot access it” He said.

The Department of Education could not reply before going to print as they were still busy addressing the learners.

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Gauteng – The Gauteng education department plans to act against a school in Bramfischerville, Soweto, after a Grade seven pupil who achieved 29 percent was promoted to Grade eight, Beeld reported on Friday.

Education department spokesman Charles Pahlane said the school’s decision was in conflict with education policy, and that the department’s legal division was considering possible measures against the school.

The department’s area manager would also pay a visit to the school to determine how and why they promoted the boy, Pahlane said.

Education experts told Beeld that the practise was especially common in township and rural schools, where classrooms were overcrowded.

According to national guidelines, Grade 7-9 pupils have to take nine subjects, and in order to pass, should achieve 50-59 percent in their home language, and 40-49 percent in their second language, Maths and in three other subjects. – Sapa

Orlando Pirates midfielder Mark Mayambela has not concluded a deal with Chippa United, despite reports suggesting otherwise.

It was revealed in Wednesday’s edition of Soccer-Laduma, issue 803, that a loan deal which would see Mayambela join the Chilli Boys from the defending PSL champions is imminent.

It was reported that the left-footed player has agreed terms with the Cape-based side, although the two respective clubs still need to agree on the deal.

As it stands this morning, Friday January 11, the deal has not yet been concluded. Soccer-Laduuma sources close to the deal have explained that there have been no changes since Wednesday.

The source said that Pirates and Chippa have yet to finalise the contract that will see the 25-year-old join the Farouk Abrahams-coached side on a six-month loan deal.

However, the source went on to say the deal remains imminent and that it could be concluded later today.

For more details go to http://www.soccerladuma.com

BY Obakeng Maje

Taung-The residents of Losasaneng village,near Taung were embarked on a strike protesting about the road between Losasaneng and Kgomotso village near Pampierstad to be tarred.

According to residents spokesperson April Sephula, since the requested the provincial road department to tar the road in 2010.

“Since we requested the Department of Road & Transport to tar the road because it is in bad condition” Swphula said.

“The raod is “no go” and that affect our daily routine as residents. We were told that the budget for the road was used during 2010 World Cup and now the government does not want to fulfill their promises” He said.

Acoording to Sephula,they spoke with different departments in the province but their plea falls in deaf ears.

Some unconfirmed reports outlines that school children were prevented to attend school on Monday and were forced to be part of strike.

Five of those who were arrested during protest were granted bail yesterday by Taung Magistrate Court and one person is due to appear today due to other crimes he allegedly committed.

“We will be supporting our comrade who will appear before court today.We spoke with Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela’s office and they promised to look into the situation” Sephula said.

We could not reach the provincial department of public works before going to print.

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Johannesburg – A six-month-old baby boy kidnapped from his parents’ home in Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg, was found safe on Thursday, Gauteng police said.

The child was “found in good health in Fordsburg”, Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.

Police arrested the Pakistani couple who allegedly kidnapped him and allegedly tried to slit his nanny’s throat on Tuesday. The couple had rented a room in the family’s house.

Dlamini said the couple would face charges of kidnapping and attempted murder when they appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court within 48 hours.

E-News Channel Africa named the child as Revelation Jones and reported that police found the couple following a tip-off from the public. The nanny was recovering in hospital.

Earlier on Thursday, Dlamini said: “The father received an sms late yesterday (Wednesday) saying that they (the kidnappers) were demanding R100 000 for the baby”.

The couple had three children of their own, and were apparently expecting a fourth.

According to a report in The Star on Thursday, the father, Ifeanyi Jones, pleaded with the couple to return his child.

“Please bring my son back. You say you are Christian, and this baby has done nothing to you.”

Jones claimed the couple had tried to poison their food.

“I think now that their motive was to come and do harm.” – Sapa