BY Obakeng Maje

The South African Senior Women’s national team (Banyana Banyana) will play a School of Excellence Select Squad in a practice match on Friday 22 February as part of the preparations for the Cyprus Women’s Cup scheduled to take place from 6-13 March 2013.

The match will take place at the School of Excellence and kicks off at 16h00.

The practice match will give head coach Joseph Mkhonza an opportunity to assess the 22 players he will select to travel with to Cyprus on Monday 25 February 2013. The practice match will replace the proposed international friendly match that was due to be played on Saturday 23 February 2013.

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will then play an international friendly match against Group A side New Zealand on Saturday 2 March at the Alpha Sports Centre in Larnaca, Cyprus. Kick off for that match is 15h00.

Banyana are in Group C together with South Korea, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland while New Zealand are in Group A with England, Italy and Scotland.

Coach Mkhonza says he is impressed by the players showing since training got underway on Monday (18 February 2013) and feels he has a bunch of players that are ready to take on the world.

“All the players have been giving their best at training; I suppose the competition for places is making them go all out, which is good to see. This will make the job of picking the final squad a demanding task. I will have to make my selection all the same and as I have already said those who don’t make the cut will be called up for future camps.

“It is unfortunate that we couldn’t get official opponents for the friendly match ahead of our departure but I know the boys at the School of Excellence will give us a good match like they have always done. This practice match will give me a chance to assess the players in a more practical match situation,” said Mkhonza.

Banyana Banyana are currently camping at the North West University, High Performance Centre in Potchefstroom preparing for the annual Cyprus tournament.

The North West Provincial Government is to spend R200 million on the rollout of 30 road road rehabilitation and maintenance projects during the 2013/14 financial year, Premier Thandi Modise declared  in her State of the Province Address delivered in Mahikeng on Friday.

Premier Modise reported that 25 routine patrol and emergency repairs projects that include road clearance, pothole repair, signage, shoulders, grass cutting and drainage clearance.

The projects are part of the Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP 4) that the province had increased after consultation with various stakeholders during District road summits that culminated in the Provincial Road Summit that was held last year. They include the initial 10 that were announced by the President during the 2012 State of the Province Address.

Twenty-four building projects that include schools, clinics, libraries, sports and recreational facilities were also announced by the Premier for implementation as part of infrastructure development projects.

The premier also reported that the province has completed the Provincial Transport Master Plan, Provincial Rural Transport Strategy, Integrated Transport Plans for District Municipalities and the Provincial Land Transport Framework in order to improve road infrastructure development, management and maintenance programme.

Pretoria – Oscar Pistorius’ alleged intention to kill a burglar could not be turned into an intention to kill his girlfriend, his lawyer said on Friday.

“The question here is how would a reasonable person have acted under the circumstances?” asked Barry Roux at the bail hearing of his client in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

The paralympian is charged with the murder of Reeva Steenkamp in a toilet at his home on February 14. Pistorius has denied this, saying he thought an intruder was in his house when he fired into the cubicle.

Magistrate Desmond Nair asked if an intruder behind the toilet door had posed a threat, what would Roux ask for.

“We would ask for culpable homicide,” replied Roux.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has argued that Pistorius had intended to kill when he fired his weapon, even if he thought he was shooting at a burglar.

The court has adjourned so that the magistrate can make his ruling. The announcement is expected at 2.30pm. – Sapa

By Staff Reporter

NWest to support land restitution to celebrate 100 years of the Land Act

The North West Provincial government will provide post settlement support to beneficiaries of land restitution as part of the commemoration of 100 years of the Native Land Act of 1993 to ensure that acquired land is used productively.

In making the announcement in her State of the Province Address delivered in Mahikeng on Friday, Premier Thandi Modise said that this would ensure that acquired land is used more productively.

“Poverty, inequality and unemployment are direct results of the Native Land Act of 1913. That is why we are supporting farms to do well to ensure food security for all. Though there are challenges, we getting there,” Modise highlighted in her speech.

She said in June 2013, the Native land Act of 1993 would be 100 years and the millions of South Africans are still living in poverty in the areas which their forefathers were banished.

The Premier said although there have been numerous successes on the issue of land redistribution, the province still has backlogs of applications.

Modise said that her administration will provide infrastructure and technical support to the beneficiaries of six land reform farms which are Syferlaagte Trust, Tutubala CPA, Seven Season CPA, Mogakabe CPA, Ikageng CPA and Emarantia farm.

“The ANC –led government is the product of the people and that is why we are always listening to their needs and responding to their cries,” she stressed.

BY Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-The Campbell Police are investigating a murder and rape which allegedly
took place in Campbell on Saturday.

The naked body of Monica
Bloukop(32) was found in a small thorn bush in the veld in Campbell on Monday at approximately 18:00pm police said.

” Local boys were apparently playing
in the veld when they made this gruesome discovery.It appears that the suspects raped the woman,slit her throat and then dumped her in the veld” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

Police said the deceased also had
several burn marks on her back, buttocks and left legs.

The police were immediately
formed a manhunt and managed to arrest four male suspects in the proceess.

They were arrested on Tuesday at approximately 02:00am at their homes in Campbell.

“The Kimberley
Cluster Commander, Major General Jean Abrahams commended the policemen and
women of Campbell for their commitment which led to the arrest of the alleged
perpetrators. The community is also lauded for their assistance with regards to
the information they availed to the police in this regard” said Kock.

“Three suspects aged 20, 28 and 30 years old and one suspect is a minor
aged 15 years old. The suspects are known as Godfrey Titus(20), Allie
George(28), Stanley Morolong(30) and the 15 year old minor cannot be named” police said.

“The suspects appeared before the Douglas
Magistrate Court on Thursday and the case were remanded in jail” police said.

They will appear on 12 March 2013 for a formal bail application.

The minor was sent to a place
of safety while the other 3 suspects will remain in custody.

The police request
that all information regarding the incident please be forwarded to Detective
Capt Doggy Magugu at 074 580 7338 or to Detective Constable Algean Son at 084
272 5651.

All information will be treated with the strictest of confidence. The
investigation continues.

BY Obakeng Maje

The North West Province is aiming to achieve 100% access to water for all households in the new financial year, North West Premier Thandi Modise announced in her State of the Province delivered in the Provincial legislature on Friday.

Premier Modise reported that thus far 920 000 households in the province have access to basic water and that aging water infrastructure had resulted in shortage of water in some parts of the province last year and even in the beginning of the year 2013.

Modise said that the province is in engagements with Botshelo and Magalies Water Boards and all municipalities who are affected to find solution to the challenge.Water treatment works are also considered to alleviate water shortage.

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Pretoria – Oscar Pistorius’ coach was hoping the Olympic athlete would be granted bail on Friday.

“We feel the truth must come out and we feel very positive and we just want him at home,” said Ampie Louw, ahead of Pistorius’ bail application at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

“At this stage it is a priority,” he said.

He was not able to comment on how Pistorius was managing as he had not been able to visit him and had only seen him at court.

Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend, model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp, on February 14 in a shooting at his home.

Pistorius has denied deliberately shooting her and has said, in an affidavit, he thought there was a burglar when he fired shots at the bathroom door, killing her.

Asked how Pistorius seemed to him, Louw said: “He is sad. He is very sad.”

Pistorius is a double amputee and competed in the Olympic Games in London last year, running on carbon fibre blades with the nickname “Blade Runner”.

He has won several gold medals at Paralymic Games in Athens, Beijing and London.

Louw has been training Pistorius since he began training at the Sports Science Institute at the University of Pretoria while in his teens. – Sapa