Daily Archives: January 15, 2013

Bafana can win Afcon,says Zuma

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By Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana had a special visitor in President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday, 15 January 2013 at Orlando Stadium ahead of the start of the 29th edition of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations South Africa 2013 which starts on Saturday, 19 January.

Bafana Bafana will face Cape Verde in the opening match of the tournament before taking on Angola and Morocco in Group A on Saturday at the National Stadium.

Zuma took time off his busy schedule to give a word of encouragement to the national team as they go into battle with some of the best on the continent.

Also in attendance was Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, the Honorable Fikile Mbalula, his deputy Gert Oosthuizen, MEC for Sport in Gauteng Lebogang Maile, SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani and SAFA Acting CEO Dennis Mumble.

The State President had a private talk with the players before going to address the gathered media contingent.

“There are too many critics in this country, and I was telling the team that others who are critics have never touched the ball and they don’t know how it feels on the pitch. I was telling them that we are satisfied that the team is ready; we have seen it in the recent matches they have played.

“We are satisfied that the team is well prepared for the tournament and we came to say to them they must relax and not be tense and not listen to the critics. I am confident this time than any other time that we will show people what we are made of as South Africans.

“I also wanted to tell the team that the entire country is behind them, even those that are critical; it is because of the love they have for the team. I said I want to touch the cup because if it is won by another country I won’t touch it. Looking at them I can tell they are ready and confident,” said the State President.

President Zuma also had a word for the doubting Thomases about the country’s readiness.

“Critics will always be there, some of them are paid to be critics and they are doing their job. I think we have done our best. Bear in mind that this tournament was supposed to be in Libya, so this tournament was not given the normal time for preparations and people who are making criticism forget that.

“We had to start very late as a result of that. I am happy and I think we are ready and I think the country is ready. Fortunately, we have the facilities. We might not have done everything precisely because of how we got to host this edition but we are more than ready,” said President Zuma.

Bafana coach Gordon Igesund said for the state President to visit the team, it was a huge morale booster.

“It is a privilege when the number one citizen of the country comes to meet the players and give support. It is always important for the players and the whole team that he made time in his busy schedule to be with us today. We really feel honoured,” said Igesund in response.

The President showed off his dribbling skills in front of television cameras and photographers, before captain Bongani Khumalo handed him his two Bafana Bafana jerseys.

Two Somalians arrested for bringing kids illegally

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By Obakeng Maje

Zeerust-North West Organised Crime Unit of the Hawks arrested two Somalian Nationals yesterday at about 21:30 at Swartkop Port of Entry, near Zeerust. 

“The two  men were found in the border post entering South African from Botswana illegally with six children and a woman” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said. 

“The children age range between a 4 months old boy,a 10 and a 17 year-old both girls,4 year-old twin and a 14year-old boy” He adds. 

A Western Cape woman,35 who is believed to be the mother of the infant was amongst them. 

“According to information available at this stage two men originally from Mayfair,Gauteng were allegedly ochestrated the move” police said. 

“Two of the kids were found in the boot of the car. One of the two men whose 25years of age is in possession of asylum seeking documents and the other 42 year old is a refugee with an RSA ID book” He said.

The children are currently placed in a place of safety in Mahikeng while investigation continues. 

The two men are detained at Motswedi Police Station and are expected to  appear before the court tomorrow to answer on the charges of contravening the South African Immigration Act of 2002. Further charges may be added pending investigation.

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Nanny tells of couples brutal attack

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Johannesburg – The woman who was attacked and left for dead by a couple who kidnapped baby Revelation suffered a fractured jaw and has a blood clot in the brain following a vicious attack.

 

Veronica Kanda, 46, and her husband Daniel believe the attack was planned because when the couple arrived, they were armed with a rope that was later used to throttle her.

 

Veronica was carrying baby Revelation at his parents’ home in Bez Valley last Tuesday morning when the couple arrived and allegedly attacked her.

 

On Monday, a visibly shaken Veronica recounted in kiSwahili how she was attacked by the alleged kidnappers, who left her for dead.

 

“The woman came and grabbed the baby from me, and the husband started beating me up. When I fell to the floor, he kicked me in the head and the face.

 

“I tried to fight back, but he tied the rope around my neck and throttled me with it, and I became completely powerless. I do not remember anything after that,” she said.

 

Veronica was found by her boss hours after the attack and was rushed to hospital.

 

Baby Revelation was found on Thursday in Fordsburg.

 

“My throat is in so much pain. I think these people had planned to kill me. They were armed with a rope they were going to use to strangle me,” said Veronica.

 

Her husband Daniel said they were happy that the baby had been found alive, but said the attack had left his wife emotionally scarred and unable to walk.

 

“She is suffering. She is unable to eat because her throat and jaw are sore. I have to bathe her and take care of her because she can’t do anything on her own,” he said.

 

Daniel said the family were struggling to deal with the incident.

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

A reward for monkey killer

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Durban – uMhlanga residents and an animal rights organisation are still offering a R10 000 reward for the identification of a monkey killer, following the death of a female vervet monkey in the area last month.

 

The monkey was found writhing in pain on a veranda by a La Lucia resident who called Monkey Helpline. The animal had been shot in the head with a pellet gun, and was dead when assistance arrived.

 

It was discovered that the monkey had been lactating, but no infant was found until the next day, when another La Lucia resident called the helpline’s Steven Smit, who collected it.

 

Since the reward – raised by local resident Rose Darral and fellow animal lovers in the area – had been posted, Smit has received reports of at least five other instances of monkeys being shot with pellet guns in the La Lucia and Umhlanga areas. The identity of the initial culprit remains unknown.

 

Smit said the prevalence of shooting at monkeys was worrying. He said the authorities’ attitude towards such crimes and the ease with which pellet guns could be acquired were contributing factors.

 

“(Pellet guns) don’t even have to be licensed or stored securely,” said Smit.

 

“We have had police laugh at us when we have gone to report monkey shootings.

 

“They are not interested in dealing with it.”

 

 

 

Smit said although monkey shootings were common in the northern suburbs, they were not limited to this area. Other suburbs in the city dealt with similar issues.

 

The SPCA Durban and Coast’s operations manager, Claire Buisman, said that although they’d had only one call in the past year relating to a monkey shooting, Monkey Helpline took most of the calls in that area, and were aware of the problem.

Police spokesman Thulani Zwane said that any person caught shooting monkeys would be charged with animal cruelty. 

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

 

 

Chiefs wary of Wits

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Johannesburg-Kaizer Chiefs will visit Bidvest Wits in the 2013 Nedbank Cup last 32.

The two were drawn against each other on Monday night, 14th of January 2013 at the Supersport International Studios, Randburg. The draw was televised live on SS4 with PSL teams going in the bowl with the 16 winners from NFD and SAFA regional leagues. PSL General Manager Derek Blanckensee conducted the draw and the honours to pull the team names from the bowl belonged to the Nedbank Marketing, Communications.

“We are happy to draw our PSL peers in this round of the Cup. Everybody is aware of the history of the games between Wits and Chiefs” He said.

“This is most probably the pick of the last 32 draw and we will be looking at continuing to compete against another PSL side without any score to settle” Wits spokesperson said.

“As a professional outfit we approach each game as a new challenge and this is what we will be doing against Wits” said Kaizer Chiefs.

The first round ties will be played during the weekend of February 22-24 and February 27, with the exact dates, venues and kick-off times to be decided by the PSL Cup Committee.

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

Two members of SAPS arrested for selling fake cigarettes to foreigner

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By Obakeng Maje

Zeerust-North West police arrested two members of SAPS yesterday for theft and defeating the end of justice.

The arrested came after a tipp-off late last year that a Warrant Officer and Administrator Clerk were involved in crime.

“The Hawks arrested two members of SAPS after they allegedly stole 3 boxes of fake cigarettes from the police store room” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

“According to information,the two sold the fake cigarettes to a Ethopian citizen who is running a tuckshop in Motswedi village” He said.

Last year the Hawks also arrested a Station Commander after found in possession fake cigarettes allegedly stolen from the store room.

Police arrested four people in all and expect to arrest more.

“We’ve arrested four people and expect to arrested more people. We’ve been following investigations and we will never tolerate the involvement of police in various crimes” He adds.

Yesterday in Northern Cape,a Station Commander was arrested for being involved in various crimes and last week two policemen were arrested in North West after they were sold a fake diamonds.

North West premier Thandi Modise condemns the involvement of police in crime.

“You cannot hunt with hounds and run with hares. If any member of police found guilty of any involvement of crime,need to be disciplined swiftly” Modise said.

Police shot dead in Hillbrow

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HILLBROW – A police constable was killed during a shootout with a suspect in Hillbrow in Johannesburg on Monday afternoon, and in a shocking case of mistaken identity, two other officers were wounded by their colleagues.

The three officers were shot while chasing the suspect who was allegedly armed in the city centre.

It is understood the man opened fire on police when they approached him in a van.

The constable was shot in the neck and later died on the scene.

But in an unusual turn of events, two officers, who were in their plain clothes and chased the suspect on foot, were also shot and wounded by their colleagues who mistook them for criminals.

Police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini said the suspect was on the run.

The two officers who were wounded are in a serious condition in hospital.

Nedbank cup draw

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Johannesburg-The Nedbank Cup draw for last 32 was conducted on Monday night SuperSport headquarters in Randburg in Johannesburg and drew up some interesting ties.

 

A number of Premier Soccer League sides will lock horns, with Ajax Cape Town hosting Mamelodi Sundowns, Wits hosting Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United meeting Moroka Swallows. Orlando Pirates will travel to minnows Maluti FET.

 

Some of the National First Division teams have yet to be determined as the preliminary rounds must still be played.

 

“The NFD teams are yet to play their preliminary games so the draw will have two teams in other instances with the winners taking on the team they have been drawn against. NFD will play their games this month,” said PSL General Manager Dereck Blackensee.

 

Full Draw

 

Mbombela United V Vasco da Gama/Santos

 

Maluti FET v Orlando Pirates

 

AmaZulu v Temba Royal FC

 

Ajax CT V Mamelodi Sundowns

 

Black Leopards v Cape Town All Stars

 

Bloemfontein Celtic V Milano FC/Thanda Royal Zulu

 

Tuks v Maritzburg United

 

Island FC v Polokwane City/FC AK

 

United FC/Roses United v Chippa United

 

Vardos FC v Golden Arrows

 

Dynamos/Black Aces v Platinum Stars

 

BidVest Wits v Kaizer Chiefs

 

Magesi FC v Jomo Cosmos/FC Cape Town

 

Sivuta FC/African Warriors v Jacka Spears FC

 

SuperSport United v Moroka Swallows

 

Free State Stars v Witbank Spurs/Blackburn Rovers

 

The tournament will start on Friday February 22.

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

ANC hit back at Mazibuko

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Johannesburg – Ignorance lay behind DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko’s latest criticism of President Jacob Zuma, the ANC said on Monday.

 

It rejected her advice to Zuma to retract a remark that it was to the benefit of business to support the African National Congress.

 

“It is a sad fact that… Mazibuko is so naive when it comes to African traditions that she cannot relate to them,” spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.

 

“It is our tradition as Africans that if someone gives you something, in return you thank him/her and wish them prosperity and abundance.”

 

Speaking during the party’s birthday dinner in Durban on Friday, Zuma told businesspeople that those who supported the ANC would see their business “multiply”.

 

Mthembu said the ANC rejected “with contempt” Mazibuko’s stance and said that the ruling party was the only party that had policies which supported business and the economy.

 

“The implication of this reality is that if business wants to 1/8prosper 3/8 in South Africa, they have to support the ANC as their prosperity is dependent on the ANC being at the helm of South Africa’s government.”

 

Earlier, Mazibuko said she would submit parliamentary questions to Zuma so he could explain whether the remarks were in fact government policy.

 

“These remarks… have the potential to severely compromise the principle of good governance, which our constitutional democracy fundamentally depends on.

 

“They imply that by backing the ANC, businesses will be provided with financial reward, which can only be leveraged through state resources,” she said.

 

“This is further evidence of how President Zuma fundamentally confuses the role of the state and party, and how the government continues to misuse public money, which should be spent on the poor,” Mazibuko said.

 

The R250 million being spent on the upgrade of Zuma’s Nkandla residence was the most glaring example to date, she said.

 

She suggested Zuma spend more time on ways to fight corruption, instead of making dangerous and irresponsible comments that had the potential to undermine the country’s constitutional democracy. – Sapa

Mining wealth need to be shared

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Johannesburg – South Africa’s mining industry cannot continue to make “huge profits” without benefiting the country’s citizens, President Jacob Zuma said on Monday.

 

While the mining industry had shaped the country, it had a lot of shortcomings, such as the migrant labour system, he said in an interview on CNBC’s Political Exchange.

 

He sought to allay investor fears about changes to resource rents, mining royalties and taxes.

 

“People will always have some nervousness when we say things… When Zimbabwe said indigenisation people jumped all over. Today people go to Zimbabwe to be part of indigenisation.”

 

However, things could not stay the same.

 

“Mining can’t make huge profits with no benefits to the people of the country… If you are not addressing the economic need of the country, you must know we are dealing with a problem.” – Sapa