By Obakeng Maje

Swartruggens-Police arrested a 24 year-old man after a 50 year-old man was stabbed to death in a farm at Swartruggens provincial police said.

“A 24 year-old man was allegedly arrested after he was found directly at the scene where a 50 year-old man found lying in a pool of blood allegedly from stabbing” Captain Botman said.

“According to information received a suspect is a son in law of the victim” She said.

A case of murder was opened and the suspect appeared brieftly before Swartruggens Magistrate court on account of murder.

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-North West police are investigating a culpable homicide case after two people died while others were injured when a Nissan bakkie overturned.

The accident took place at Mokgareng village yesterday and according to police a 45 year-old woman lost control of the vehicle before it overturned provincial spokesperson said.

“Police were called at the scene in Mokgareng village after allegedly a 45 year-old woman lost control of the bakkie and resulted in two people’s death” Captain Aafje Botma said.

“George Sebogodi(20) and Boitumelo Tshuku(16) perished in the accident while other passengers including a driver were transferred to Taung District Hospital” She said.

It is alleged that close to 22 people were allocated behind the bakkie. Three passengers were later transferred to Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp after their conditions deteriorated.

A case of culpable homicide was opened and investigations continue.

By Obakeng Maje

Olifantshoek-Northern Cape Department of Education took a drastical steps by opening schools classes at Olifantshoek before all schools in the province.

This is been caused by unrest situation and delay the area experienced last year when the residents boycotted against the mayor and preventing learners for attending classes in the process.

“We will open schools before scheduled time in Olifantshoek because of the unrest we experienced last year where schools were not running for six months” said provincial spokesperson Sidney Stander.

“We have align some “team building” exercise for teachers and learners who were traumatised by the whole debacle” Stander said.

Department of Education has brought more mobile classes to help the situation as they outlined that no student will be moved to the next grade as they didnot write any exams.

The area will experience a backlog especially for grade 1s.

Safa will ask the government to institute a judicial commission of inquiry into the match-fixing scandal that has divided the beleaguered association.

Days after the Africa Cup of Nations curtains comes down next month, Safa head of legal department will seek government intervention to get to the bottom of the scandal that saw its suspended president, Kirsten Nematandani, and four other officials reinstated last week.

Nematandani, interim CEO Dennis Mumble, head of referees Adeel Carelse, head of national teams Andile “Ace” Kika and Bafana Bafana manager Barney Kujane have all resumed their positions after Safa national executive committee members nullified the emergency committee’s decision to suspend them after they were implicated in match-fixing by a Fifa report.

The decision to reinstate the suspended officials also means that a commission of inquiry that had been proposed to look into the alleged match-fixing will no longer take place.

The inquiry was to have been headed by a retired judge

However, an investigation into the matter by the Hawks and police is still continuing.

“The Hawks are continuing with the investigations and at the moment I cannot disclose to the public what we have managed to dig.

“Match fixing is a serious crime and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that we get to the bottom of this issue,” Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramaloko said.

Safa’s legal and security committee is also set to meet in the next few days to unpack the damning Fifa report.

“If we find enough evidence that says the five officials were part of a syndicate that worked with convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal, then we will ask the government to establish a judicial commission of inqury,” said Safa head of legal department Poobalan Govindasamy.

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

The thwarted decision to shut down a number of Cape schools had further ramifications when the matric results were announced last week.

Three of the schools earmarked for closure achieved better matric results than in previous years, the ANC in the Western Cape said.

When the results were announced, Western Cape ANC leader Marius Fransman said they had been “vindicated” in their efforts to halt the local education department from shutting the schools down.

He pointed out that three of the schools due for closure, including Beauvallon Secondary, which was an applicant in the Cape High Court urgent interdict, came through with flying colours.

The application last month was brought against the Western Cape education department’s MEC for education, Donald Grant, to stop him from shutting down some 20 schools.

The MEC announced the school closures because, he said, they had dwindling numbers and were not benefitting from multi-grade teaching.

In a serious blow to the local education department, the high court overturned the decision on December 21, 2012. Presiding Judge Siraj Desai said it was not good practice to shut down schools that were having difficulties and that they should be assisted instead.

“These matric results are proof that all our efforts to halt this process are vindicated,” Fransman told The New Age.

He visited the schools last week when the matric results were announced to congratulate principals, teachers and pupils.

He said the results were proof that the ANC position was right from the start and that it was correct that the schools stayed open to service the needs of families in their areas.

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

JOHANNESBURG – The Presidency has announced that former president Nelson Mandela has recovered fully from his surgery.

Mandela spent two weeks at a Pretoria hospital in December, 2012.

Madiba underwent an operation to remove gallstones and battled a lung infection.

The Presidency’s Mac Maharaj said Mandela’s doctors are optimistic.

“The Presidency would like to inform the public that former president Nelson Mandela has recovered from his surgical procedure and lung infection, according to his doctors.”

Maharaj also said President Jacob Zuma has wished Mandela well.

Mandela will continue to receive high care at his Houghton home, but his routine will be re-established.

It is not clear how much longer the former president will be at his Houghton residence, before going home to Qunu, in the Eastern Cape.

Pic: Party-goers shaking what’s their mums gave them.

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-28 December 2012 was one of the best day that will be cheerished by residents of Taung and its surrounding.

Just to relish the moment Dj Nation’s Annual Bash has been engraved in many people’s heart and will remain one of the best events to grave the remoted area of Taung.

The event has more than five years in existence and it has grown in leaps and bounds over the years.

The event organiser, Blondie “Dj Nation” Mokgwabone took this time to thank all those who attended the event and showed support.

“A big thank you to everyone who attended the DJ NATION ANNUAL BASH 28 December Taung, it was a spectacular success” He said.

“I also want to thank 8ta for making this possible” Nation adds.

Even though there were some obstacles at the show where we saw gate entrance came to the fore,he promises to look at that.

“Biggest thanks of all goes to our TEAM who worked tirelessly for making this event possible” He smiles.

“I apologies for making an entrance that could not accommodate the multitudes of people at the event. I have noted the problem and I promise this year there would not be a problem of such” Nation outlines.

Dj Nation promise that 2013 will be bigger and better. The event was graced by world renowned musicians and top Djs.

We saw the likes of BlackCoffe leaving the crowd begging some more and HHP letting party revellers eat from his lap.

“And for those who didn’t attend in 2012, thanks in advanced for even a bigger party in 2013.

28 DEC 2013 DJ NATION ANNUAL BASH TAUNG SPORTS GROUND.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

BY Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-South African mineworkers union (NUM) praised their member Sylvia Benjamin who was buried today in Klerksdorp.

Sylvia Benjamin died after long illness and she was laid to rest today.

“We learnt a lot from Benjamin and she showed the spirit of togetherness and put minerworkers need first before hers” Vavi said.

Sylvia Benjamin will be solely missed as she showed lot of leadership skills  within the organisation said ANCWL spokesperson Pinky Moloi.

Education MEC in the North West, Louisa Mabe, has committed school principals and managers to accounting for learning and teaching to steer the province, which achieved a 79.5% pass rate for 2012, towards achieving a 100% pass rate in 2013.

The province showed a 1.7% improvement from the 77.8% achieved in 2011.

“There is no excuse and we will work hard. As part of the school improvement plans, targets will be reviewed and adjusted by the schools during this month.

“The target-setting process started at provincial level, determining provincial targets. The districts followed and in the end the schools will set their own targets,” said the MEC when announcing the 2012 matric results at Vryburg High School yesterday.

The province came third in the country in 2011 after Western Cape and Gauteng and fourth this year after Gauteng, Western Cape and Free State.

“Unfortunately, we could not maintain third position or achieve above 80% as a result of poor performance in the Greater Delareyville and Greater Taung areas offices. This pass percentage does not come as a surprise and it is clear the province has improved steadily from 2006, with only a 0.5% drop in 2012.

“During my engagement with school principals I said that I support a 100% pass which should be qualitative in nature. We are convinced the intervention strategies put in place for the past couple of years are bearing fruit.

“Priority should be given to township and rural schools. If there is no foundation at primary school level, then teacher.

For more details go to http://thenewage.co.za

Kimberley – A man has been arrested in Kimberley in connection with the rape of an 82-year-old woman, Northern Cape police said on Friday.

The rape took place on Wednesday at 11.30pm in Santa Centre, Galeshewe, Lt Donald Mdhluli said in a statement.

The 49-year-old man was arrested immediately following the attack. He was expected to appear in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court on Monday. – Sapa