Mahikeng-Political figures from two opposition parties and the ANC have raised questions about Premier Thandi Modise’s multimillion-rand infrastructure projects set for this year.

Modise announced during her state of the province address that R200m would be spent on the roll out of 30 road rehabilitation and maintenance projects during the 2013-14 financial year.

She said that the R200m was earmarked for roads rehabilitation and maintenance, some of which would be contracted to small to medium enterprises.

“Thirty road projects will be under construction in 2013-14 as well as 24 building construction projects,” she said.

Last year President Jacob Zuma said that 10 road projects in the province were to be done by the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral). The number has been increased this year.

“I’m pleased to announce that the roads have been increased to 25 as gazetted on September 28, 2012, that will be part of the strategic infrastructure project. Sanral is the appointed implementing agent,” Modise said.

DA provincial leader Chris Hattingh said the announcement by Modise simply meant that the province had abdicated its duty to develop roads.

“What would the public works department do and where would the budget for roads go?

“This confirms that there is no capacity in the province for us to do our own roads because while 10 roads were acceptable, increasing them to 25 simply does not add up,” he said.

Other politicians serving on the portfolio committee on public works also raised the same concerns.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one member queried: “What is the status of the Koster-Lichtenburg and the Wolmaransstad to Schweizer-Reneke roads? People in those areas have long been waiting for these roads to be completed yet the public works department keeps on making unfulfilled promises.

“Last year, most of the staff in the department was doing nothing on the roads after a bungle in the procurement of diesel.”

Work on the Koster-Lichtenburg road is yet to resume since the provincial government paid off Down Touch Investments last year. Farmers and residents who use the road have been waiting for its completion since rehabilitation work started in 2008.

They also cited the issue of Mahikeng revitalisation where roads in the city are in a state of disrepair.

“The premier was silent on the Mahikeng revitalisation project and yet funds are allocated to the public works department. We are likely to see massive roll-overs because nothing was done in the previous financial year on the roads budget,” another member said.

http://www.thenewage.co.za

Echoes of ululations from parents, students and the academic staff reverberated off the walls of the North West University (NWU) Mahikeng campus Great Hall in celebration of the achievement by seven students who obtained distinctions in their first 2012 academic year.

Among the students was Kesaobaka Perserverance Mothobi, who got a standing ovation for recording a 91% average and 12 distinctions from 12 modules in the extended BCom in economics.

Other students were Thabang Nthaudi, who scored 80% and 11 distinctions in the BCom in chartered accountancy and Rebecca Maumau who got 81% and 10 distinctions in the extended BSc in chemistry and physics.

Others were Ingutu Mutemwa with 89% and nine distinctions in the BSc in statistics and mathematics, Lebogang Jabosigo with 82% and eight distinctions in the bachelor of social work, Tebogo Sathekge with 75% and eight distinctions in the BEd foundation phase and Abigail Beenzu with 76% and five distinctions in her LLB.

“I hope your stay in this institution will not only benefit you academically but prepare you for professional growth and emotional intelligence. Acquaint yourself with available services within the university and always keep reminding yourself of why you are here,” NWU academic vice-rector Prof Mashudu Maselesele said.

She said the next step was to grow as a campus and focus on science, engineering and technology programmes as well as research on rural development specifically.

“Hard work and sacrificing time has paid dividends to me. Success is for everyone,” Mothobi said.

NWU vice-chancellor Theuns Eloff said: “We have good foundation to build on.”

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

SuperSport edge Tshwane Derby

Posted: 26 February 2013

Time: 09:32 pm

Mogogi Gabonamong scored the only goal as SuperSport United beat University of Pretoria in a Tshwane Derby.

The defeat means AmaTuks extend their winless streak to six games, while Matsatsantsa claimed only their fourth victory of the campaign.

The game started off cagey, and dynamic winger Aubrey Ngoma created the first chance in the 22nd minute when he burst down the left flank but his shot was comfortably saved by Ronwen Williams.

Thokozani Sekotlong then had a brilliant chance to put his side in the lead five minutes before the break.

Williams had found himself in no man’s land after clearing a ball and was nearly caught out by a quick throw in from Ngoma but Sekotlong could not manage to lob the stranded Matsatsantsa keeper.

SuperSport came out the stronger side after the break, but it was Tuks again who created the first real chance of the second half.

A ball into the box found an unmarked Ngoma, but he failed to beat a rushing Williams.

Finally Gabonamong found the net, heading in a free-kick from Kermit Erasmus.

Warren Bishop nearly denied SuperSport the three points in the final minute of the match, but the defender’s header was saved by Williams.

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

Parliament, Cape Town – Women’s lives are far cheaper now than those of blacks in the years of slavery, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Tuesday.

Opening a debate on gender-based violence in the National Assembly, Motshekga drew links between gender relations in South Africa and the “persistent scourge of violence, abuse and femicide”.

“It cannot be right that women, who are in the majority at 51.7

percent, continue to be wantonly abused, defiled, raped and murdered as if they were sub-human, in the African Decade of Women, nogal 1/8more so 3/8,” said Motshekga.

Recent developments showed gender relations needed to be transformed in South African communities and families.

“What we do in defence and empowerment of women and the girl child will really demonstrate how serious we are about building a progressive, equal and prosperous country, in a better world.”

Motshekga singled out the gang rape and murder of 17-year-old Anene Booysen in Bredasdorp on February 1, and the killing of model Reeva Steenkamp, allegedly by paralympian Oscar Pistorius, on St Valentine’s Day.

“Recent events have brought into sharp focus the most inhuman treatment of women.”

Motshekga said gender equality and women’s empowerment was key to ending violence.

“We need a new breed of men to help lay a solid foundation of a non-sexist society.”

The minister also reminded the house that President Jacob Zuma would join over 10 million of the country’s pupils, when they were asked on Friday to pledge never to involve themselves in crime.

“They will protect women, children, people with disabilities and respect and uphold everybody’s rights.”

The minister called for unity to “dismantle the oppressive reality making women and girls second-class citizens, sex objects, the wretched of the earth and the rejects of life.

“Something has to give, fellow South Africans. The few evil among us must not be allowed to make the life of the many law-abiding and peace-loving South Africans a nightmare that it currently is.” – Sapa

A Provincial Interfaith Prayer Service in response to the scourge of rape, violence in the mining sector, muti-killings, satanism in schools, road fatalities, brutal killing of farmers and farmworkers and moral decay that manifests itself through strive, greed and corruption is to be hosted at the Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg on Sunday.

The prayer service hosted by the National Interfaith Council of South Africa (NICSA

-North West Chapter) in partnership with the North West Provincial Government is expected to attract thousands of believers from all faiths.

The theme adopted by the Provincial Chapter of NICSA for the prayer service scheduled to commence at 9:00 am is “Working together as people of faith in partnership with government towards service delivery, nation-building, peace, unity and moral regeneration in the North West Province.”

“We appreciate the partnership of NICSA and call on all our social partners, churches, faith based organisations, non-government organisations, men’s organisations, youth and women’s organisations, and all our people to join us in prayer. Lets us join hands in  working towards building a moral and caring society, conscious of its obligations to uphold the core values of respect for human rights, human dignity and the enjoyment of human liberties guaranteed by our constitution,” appealed Premier Thandi ModiseThe Premier says that fervent prayer and divine intervention should propel the province to reclaim the spirit of Ubuntu, social cohesion which is underpinned by the existence of shared moral values, social practices and a strong sense of unity within structures and our communities

ABSA Premiership

Result: Swallows 3-2 Pirates

Date: 26 February 2013

Venue: Dobsonville Stadium

Moroka Swallows bounced back from two goals down to complete a league double over Orlando Pirates after claiming a thrilling 3-2 win at Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Sea Robbers got off to a blistering start and just 58 seconds in Sifiso Myeni was slipped in perfectly by Takesure Chinyama and he produced a clinical finish past Greg Etafia.

Daine Klate then forced the goalkeeper to tip his downward volley wide before the winger lashed a wild finish well wide after cutting inside.

Chinyama followed with a similar effort in the 10th minute before some rough tackles came flying in from both sides.

Klate and Thulasizwe both needed a little treatment on the sidelines but continued, while Katlego Mashego missed a great chance to equalise after being found by the lively Siyabonga Nomvethe only for the ball got stuck in his feet and it was eventually cleared.

The referee was forced to dish out yellow cards to calm the game down as the tackles continued but he got a bit card-crazy after showing Larry Cohen a caution for a superb tackle on Myeni. He then allowed a tough tackle on Klate to go unpunished later on.

Myeni should have played Chinyama in for a goal in the 34th minute but took too long to make the pass. The visitors would get their second soon after though as Roger da Costa was punished for a handball in the area, though the ball hit his trailing arm which was close to his side.

Andile Jali took responsibility and calmly sent Etafia the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-0.

Swallows had struggled for chances throughout but finished brilliantly when Dikgang Mabalane was played in on the flank and he cut the ball back for Mashego who calmly side-footed it into the bottom corner.

Oupa Manyisa should have added a third for Pirates three minutes into the second period but he failed to produce a decent touch when he had time and space to pick a finish.

Meanwhile, the Dube Birds had carried their momentum into the half and after a solid start they would grab the equaliser on the hour mark. Lerato Chabangu’s stunning strike came back off the woodwork and Lefa Tsutsulupa was on hand to dive a header over the line.

The turnaround was then completed in the 67th minute when Chabangu flicked on a free-kick and Senzo Meyiwa was unable to get enough on the ball to keep it out.

Pirates pushed hard for an equaliser in the remaining minutes, while Swallows looked dangerous on some of their counter-attacks, but the Birds saw out the remainder of the game to complete a double over Pirates.

The result sees Pirates fail to regain top spot as they remain two points behind Kaizer Chiefs.

Swallows: Greg Etafia Roger da Costa, Shere Lekgothoane, Gilbert Mapemba, Larry Cohen, Sibusiso Khumalo, Lefa Tsutsulupa, Dikgang Mabalane, Katlego Mashego, Lerato Chabangu, Siyabonga Nomvethe.

Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa, Lucky Lekgwathi, Thabo Matlaba, Happy Jele, Ayanda Gcaba, Oupa Manyisa, Andile Jali, Sifiso Myeni, Daine Klate, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Takesure Chinyama.

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

Even if Oscar Pistorius is acquitted of murder, firearms and legal experts in South Africa believe that, by his own account, the star athlete violated basic gun-handling regulations and exposed himself to a homicide charge by shooting into a closed door without knowing who was behind it.

Particularly jarring for firearms instructors and legal experts is that Pistorius testified that he shot at a closed toilet door, fearing but not knowing for certain that a nighttime intruder was on the other side. Instead of an intruder, Pistorius’ girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was in the toilet cubicle.

Struck by three of four shots that Pistorius fired from a 9mm pistol, she died within minutes. Prosecutors charged Pistorius with premeditated murder, saying the shooting followed an argument between the two. Pistorius said it was an accident.

South Africa has stringent laws regulating the use of lethal force for self-protection. In order to get a permit to own a firearm, applicants must not only know those rules but must demonstrate proficiency with the weapon and knowledge of its safe handling, making it far tougher to legally own a gun in South Africa than many other countries where a mere background check suffices.

Pistorius took such a competency test for his 9 mm pistol and passed it, according to the South African Police Service’s National Firearms Center. Pistorius’ license for the 9 mm pistol was issued in September 2010. The Olympic athlete and Paralympic medalist should have known that firing blindly, instead of at a clearly identified target, violates basic gun-handling rules, firearms and legal experts said.

“You can’t shoot through a closed door,” said Andre Pretorius, president of the Professional Firearm Trainers Council, a regulatory body for South African firearms instructors. “People who own guns and have been through the training, they know that shooting through a door is not going to go through South African law as an accident.”

“There is no situation in South Africa that allows a person to shoot at a threat that is not identified,” Pretorius added. “Firing multiple shots, it makes it that much worse. …It could have been a minor – a 15-year-old kid, a 12-year-old kid – breaking in to get food.”

The Pistorius family, through Arnold Pistorius, uncle of the runner, has said it is confident that the evidence will prove that Steenkamp’s death in the predawn hours of Feb. 14 was “a terrible and tragic accident.”

In an affidavit to the magistrate who last Friday freed him on bail, Pistorius said he believed an intruder or intruders had gotten into his US$560,000 (?430,000) two-story house, in a guarded and gated community with walls topped by electrified fencing east of the capital, Pretoria, and were inside the toilet cubicle in his bathroom. Believing he and Steenkamp “would be in grave danger” if they came out, “I fired shots at the toilet door” with the pistol that he slept with under his bed, he testified.

Criminal law experts said that even if the prosecution fails to prove premeditated murder, firing several shots through a closed door could bring a conviction for the lesser but still serious charge of culpable homicide, a South African equivalent of manslaughter covering unintentional deaths through negligence.

Johannesburg attorney Martin Hood, who specializes in firearm law, said South African legislation allows gun owners to use lethal force only if they believe they are facing an immediate, serious and direct attack or threat of attack that could either be deadly or cause grievous injury.

According to Pistorius’ own sworn statement read in court, he “did not meet those criteria,” said Hood, who is also the spokesman for the South African Gun Owners’ Association.

“If he fired through a closed door, there was no threat to him. It’s as simple as that,” he added. “He can’t prove an attack on his life … In my opinion, at the very least, he is guilty of culpable homicide.”

The Associated Press emailed a request for comment to Vuma, a South African reputation management firm hired by the Pistorius family to handle media questions about the shooting.

The firm replied: “Due to the legal sensitivities around the matter, we cannot at this stage answer any of your questions as it might have legal implications for a case that still has to be tried in a court of law.” Vuma said on Monday it referred the AP’s questions to Pistorius’ legal team, which by Tuesday had not replied.

Culpable homicide covers unintentional deaths ranging from accidents with no negligence, like a motorist whose brakes fail, killing another road user, “to where it verges on murder or where it almost becomes intentional,” said Hood. Sentences – ranging from fines to prison – are left to courts to determine and are not set by fixed guidelines.

The tough standards for legally acquiring a gun were instituted in part because of a wave of weapons purchases after the end of racist white rule in 1994, said Rick De Caris, a former legal director in the South African police. Under South Africa’s white-minority apartheid regime, gun owners often learned how to handle firearms during military service. Many of the new gun owners had little or no firearms training, which brought tragic results, De Caris said.

“People were literally shooting themselves when cleaning a firearm,” said De Caris, who helped draft the Firearms Control Act of 2000.

Prospective gun owners must now take written exams that include questions on the law, have to show they can safely handle and shoot a gun and are required to hit a target the size of a glossy magazine in 10 of 10 shots from seven meters (23 feet), said Pretorius of the Professional Firearm Trainers Council.

In his affidavit, Pistorius said he wasn’t wearing his prosthetic limbs “and felt extremely vulnerable” after hearing noise from the toilet.

“I grabbed my 9 mm pistol from underneath my bed. On my way to the bathroom, I screamed words to the effect for him/them to get out of my house and for Reeva to phone the police. It was pitch-dark in the bedroom and I thought Reeva was in bed,” he testified.

Legal experts said they are puzzled why Pistorius apparently didn’t first fire a warning shot to show the supposed intruder he was armed. Also unanswered is why, after he heard noise in his bathroom that includes the toilet cubicle, Pistorius still went toward the bathroom – toward the perceived danger – rather than retreat back into his bedroom.

“He should have tried to get out of the situation,” said Hood, the attorney.

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

Kimberley – An investigation that exposes large-scale corruption in the learner transport industry in the Northern Cape, has uncovered how learners’ lives are being endangered by rickety vehicles.

The document marked “secret” was compiled by the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison’s office in the Frances Baard District in August 2012.

While it was advised that criminal charges be laid against the service providers, no apparent action has been taken so far.

The investigation delves into how the transport scheme of learners to Nazareth House School in Warrenton, the Northern Cape Agricultural School as well as Tadcaster Primary School in Jan Kempdorp and Motswedi-Thuto Primary in Hartswater, was open to abuse.

Despite being paid hundreds of thousands of rands per month, the vehicles of the service providers were declared unsafe, were found to be heavily overloaded while false travel claims were submitted to the department for payment.

Learners at Tadcaster Primary School in Jan Kempdorp embarked on a strike, last year, refusing to be transported in buses that were leaking oil and emitting large, black clouds of smoke.

They were also at times, loaded into the back of a Ford Bantam bakkie.

The task team that was appointed to investigate these transport irregularities interviewed the service provider, who admitted that he only had one bus, instead of the specified eight vehicles.

He denied that he was acting as a front for his uncle, who was also the principal of a high school in Jan Kempdorp.

He received R192 044,60 every month from the department and admitted that he made use of subcontractors to transport learners.

The vehicles belonging to another service provider operating in Warrenton, Jan Kempdorp and Hartswater, had expired roadworthy licences on most of his buses.

Invoices submitted to the department amount to R562 076 during April and May 2012.

Instead of making use of eight vehicles as stipulated in the contract, he was only making use of one.

An inspection at his house in August last year revealed that there were no vehicles parked on his premises, except for a red Honda and that he did not possess a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP).

The operator indicated that roadworthy tests were done at a private testing station in Kimberley, although Jan Kempdorp is equipped with its own testing station.

The dossier detected a breach in the service level agreement signed on April 22 2012.

It reported and advised that his contract be terminated and that the money be recovered for services that were never rendered.

The principals of the schools and parents complained to the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison that learners were arriving late for school since February 2012, where there was often no transport services available.

The report highlighted how 190 learners were transported to Nazareth House School in Warrenton in a 53-seater bus.

The driver had to make three trips to transport learners to school from Warrenton, Vermeulen’s farm and Ikhutseng Community Hall.

This resulted in learners being late since October 11 2011 to date.

The service provider made use of vehicles owned by his uncle as the only form of back-up transport and did not have any other standby vehicles. His uncle also did not possess a valid PrDP.

Learners at the Northern Cape Agricultural High School were continually arriving late since February 2012 due to inconsistencies in the provision of transport.

They would only arrive at home between 5.30pm and 6pm and were often inconvenienced by the non-arrival of the driver as well as vehicle breakdowns.

On August 6 and 7 2012 learners were dropped off in Jan Kempdorp and were required to walk from town to school.

The principal had requested that another service provider be appointed because he was not satisfied with the quality of services offered.

The buses that were registered in the name of this service provider were not the same vehicles that were used to transport the learners.

Some of the vehicles that were listed in his name had broken down or were parked at the mechanic for repairs.

An inspection that was conducted on August 21 2012 at Nazareth School, discovered that a bus offloaded seven learners on the corner of the street while another 31 learners were dropped off at the school. The bus was overloaded where 38 learners were transported in a 26-seater bus.

Several other service providers in these districts, including a principal at Hartsvaal School, were also not compliant with the safety regulations and did not possess the necessary roadworthy certificates.

Spokesman for the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, Lebogang Majaha, stated that the department remained steadfast on service delivery.

“We uphold the Batho Pele principle as part of maintaining an open door policy for service delivery issues.

“However, our office wishes to study the nature of the allegations. We will respond promptly thereafter, on our findings.”

Daimond Fields Advertiser

Maphetle Maphetle has been returned as mayor of the Tlokwe municipality in the North West on Tuesday.

He won by 31 votes to 21 votes for former DA mayor Annette Combrink.

As the results were announced ANC members in the council erupted  into applause and cheers.

Earlier a vote of no confidence in Combrink was passed by the municipal council.

The vote and the motion of no confidence was passed by 30 votes to 22.

As Combrink left the desk at the front of the council house, Councillor David Legoete who brought the motion, gave her a mock standing ovation.

Combrink pulled a face and gave him a thumbs down sign.

Legoete brought the motion, on behalf of the African National Congress caucus in Tlokwe city council, to have Combrink removed from office with immediate effect.

In the motion, Legoete said Combrink was a member of the Democratic Alliance and as such was bound by the policies of the DA.

“The major constituents within the jurisdiction of the Tlokwe City Council voted for the ANC and therefore expect the executive mayor to abide by the national, provincial and local policies, and manifestos of the ANC to be implemented for purposes of service delivery to them,” he submitted.

“It is  1/8untenable 3/8 for the Tlokwe city council, which has the majority of councillors representing the ANC,  1/8to be 3/8 led by a member of the DA in the executive.”

Fighting ANC factions passed a motion of no confidence in party-aligned mayor Maphetle in November.

He was replaced by Combrink — the first DA mayor in the province — when she defeated ANC candidate Lucky Tsagae by 20

votes to 19 for the mayoral position.

Sapa