BY Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg-Minister of Home Affairs Naledi Pandor announced that smart cards will be in use from August 2013.

The Home Affairs is doing away with green bar-coded ID book. According to South Africa Police Service(SAPS) and statement received from Home Affairs department, fraudsters have made life difficult for ID documents holders as the steal abiding-citizens IDs and commit fraud using their IDs.

“We want to do away with green barcoded IDs and the new ones will be effective from August 2013” Naledi Pandor said.

Police arrested seven suspects on wednesday after they were committing fraud using other people’s ID numbers and birth certificates” she continues.

Last week Northern Cape police arrested five suspects who were opening accounts using false IDs in retail shops around Kimberley.

Minister Naledi Pandor addressed the residents of Barkly West and encourages women to register their children for birth certificates.

“The new cards will be very difficult for criminals to duplicate. It will have your fingerprints and your face embedded on it unlike current ones where your picture is pasted that is why we call them smartcards” Pandor said.

According to Home Affairs minister, the smartcards are more efficient and save.

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Johannesburg – Former President Nelson Mandela was admitted to hospital for a scheduled medical check-up on Saturday afternoon, the presidency said.

“Doctors are conducting tests and have thus far indicated that there is no reason for any alarm,” said spokesperson Mac Maharaj.

He said the check-up was to manage existing conditions that came at his age.

“We appeal for privacy for Madiba and his family.”

– SAPA

ABSA Premiership

Result: Chiefs 0-0 Pirates

Date: 9 March 2013

Venue: FNB Stadium

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates couldn’t be separated as they played out a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the Soweto derby at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The match lacked clear-cut chances for both sides in the opening 45 minutes as they lost possession constantly in midfield while the second period followed a similar patter – though Senzo Meyiwa was forced into a few good saves.

Amakhosi enjoyed the first chance of the half with a free-kick at the edge of the area. Bernard Parker whipped it in and it took a deflection off the head of Ndumiso Mabena but dropped just wide of the far post.

Daine Klate sent a free-kick straight at Itumeleng Khune in the 15th minute and the Sea Robbers would be forced into an early substitution five minutes later as Tlou Segolela came on for the injured Thulasizwe Mbuyane.

Collins Mbesuma then scuffed a shot straight at the goalkeeper while Siphiwe Tshabalala drew a great save from Senzo Meyiwa with a set-piece.

Thabo Matlaba had Khune worried in the 35th minute when he let rip from far out but his dipping strike fell just over the crossbar.

Klate had a great chance when latching onto the ball in the area but he slipped his shot straight at the goalkeeper as a tense half came to an end.

Thsbalala brought another great save from Meyiwa in the 58th minute after Collins Mbesuma had wasted a chance in the 52nd minute after the ball had fallen kindly for him.

Tefu Mashamaite couldn’t get enough power on a header in the 76th minute while Tlou Segolela was denied a penalty after seemingly being fouled by Tshabalala.

Amakhosi looked to finish the game strongly as Willard Katsande flashed a header just over the crossbar with three minutes to go while Sthembiso Ngcobo worked Meyiwa into another terrific save.

Ngcobo then saw a pass come off his shin after Chiefs had got in behind in the dying seconds as the game ended in a stalemate.

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Eric Mathoho, Tefu Mashamaite, Morgan Gould, Tsepo Masilela, Willard Katsande, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bernard Parker, Kingston Nkhatha.

Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa, Happy Jele, Thabo Matlaba, Lucky Lekgwathi, Siyabonga Sangweni, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Daine Klate, Ndumiso Mabena, Collins Mbesuma.

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Afriforum has said it plans to approach the ANC and initiate a dialogue to discuss “continued offensive utterances” about Afrikaners and Christianity.

“We continuously hear offensive statements from senior ANC members … and then they apologise and think it is okay,” said Afriforum’s deputy chief executive Ernst Roets.

“We want an undertaking that they will stop making these statements as this is not acceptable.”

Once a dialogue began, the first issue on the table would be the matter relating to Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana, who made remarks about Afrikaner men and their “Calvinistic religion.”

Roets said her apology was not satisfactory.

“Xingwana’s utterances should be seen in the broader ANC context,” he said.

“Her remark is, as a matter of fact, just one offensive utterance in a series of utterances made recently by senior ANC leaders against Afrikaners and even Christians.”

Roets said dialogue would form part a settlement agreement reached between Afriforum and the African National Congress last year relating to the “Shoot the Boer” hate-speech case.

The out-of-court agreement on the singing of the song was made by a court order in the Supreme Court of Appeal in November last year.

Part of the settlement was that there would be continued formal dialogue in order to promote mutual understanding for respective cultural heritage and aspirations.

The struggle song containing the words “Dubul’ iBhunu” (shoot the boer) was declared hate speech by Judge Colin Lamont in the Johannesburg High Court.

AfriForum took the matter to court after Julius Malema who was ANC Youth League leader at the time repeatedly sang the song at rallies. – Sapa.

Football headquarters and police club set ablaze in Egypt

The headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association and a police officers’ club were torched following sentencing over a football riot last year.

Firefighters were working to put out the fire which spread through the building located in the same neighbourhood as the officers’ club, an AFP reporter said.

Football officials were holding emergency talks in Cairo to discuss upcoming fixtures around the country, state television reported.

The unrest comes hours after a court upheld death sentences for 21 defendants over a deadly football riot in Port Said last year and handed down life sentences to five defendants, with 19 receiving lesser jail terms and another 28 acquitted.

In Cairo, fans of Al-Ahly football club, whose members were killed in the February 2012 stadium riot in Port Said in which 74 people died, had warned police that they would retaliate if the defendants, including nine police officers, were exonerated.

Several buildings in a police officers’ club complex in the Egyptian capital were in flames on Saturday, an AFP reporter said.

According to a senior security official, hardcore football fans known as the Ultras stormed the complex and set fire to the buildings.

Residents of the affluent island where the club is situated were using garden hoses to try to extinguish the flames. Other buildings in the complex had their windows smashed.

Several hundred members of the Ultras were also making their way towards the interior ministry, state television reported.

The court sentenced two senior police officers to 15 years each – former head of police security, general Essam Samak, and brigadier general Mohammed Saad, who at the time of the riot was responsible for the stadium gates, which were locked.

Seven remaining police defendants were acquitted.

During sentencing, the judge read out a string of names without identifying their position, leading to much confusion.

“First we were happy when we heard the 21 death sentences. We were cheering and didn’t hear the rest of the verdict,” one football supporter told AFP. “Then we were very angry.” – Sapa-AFP.

Johannesburg – The derby between Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United could prove crucial in deciding the top eight Premiership spots by the end of the season, United coach Gavin Hunt said.

With only two points separating Matsatsantsa in ninth place and Sundowns in 11th, either side have the opportunity to climb into the top eight by claiming maximum points at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.

“We can’t seem to get our way out of there (mid-table) at the moment, we’re not losing but we’re not winning,” Hunt said on Friday.

“It’s going to be tough, they have a lot of good players, certainly individually they have better players than we’ve got.

“Collectively we are a good unit, we work hard, our shape will always get us into good positions on the field.”

With 13 draws from their 20 fixtures, Hunt added that he was pleased with the intent shown by the players.

However, Hunt said he was left frustrated by the lack of match-winning goals that could have seen the team in the top three, having lost less games than third-placed Platinum Stars.

“We drew our last game and won the one before that, so it has been frustrating, but it’s so tight a league that from top to bottom anyone can win or lose at this point in time.

“If you’re creating chances then I’m happy. We can’t do anything different, we are creating lots of chances.

“You see people at training putting the ball away and then in a game we miss tap-ins.

“The final ball has let us down, the cross or the pass or the shot but we certainly have been dominant in games and that’s important for me.”

Looking at the injury list, Hunt said United have had a bad run of luck, especially in defence, where the team have been without the likes of Bevan Fransman, Grant Kekana and Roscoe Pietersen.

In attack, Hunt believed the team had too many options.

“That (injuries) always coincides with a bad run of form, but I don’t think we’re playing that badly at all.

“We’ve got too many up front. At the back we’ve got problems in terms of numbers, so that’s been a bit of a problem for us.”

Meanwhile, Sundown coach Pitso Mosimane – who takes on United for the first time as a coach at club level – said he was aware that many considered SuperSport United to be the club that shaped his career.

“Everybody knows my story with SuperSport United… I coached there for seven years and so we made each other,” Mosimane said.

“It’s not only SuperSport that made me, but I also made the team as well.

“We are playing a good team and they also have a good coach. We respect them as they won three league titles in succession. Our aim is for a Top 8 finish and I believe we can get it.”

SAPA

By Kgatliso Ramose

FNB Stadium- From Nyelele to Umlazi, from Phumlane to Nelspruit,Taung to Kimberly,the country will come to a standstil as they wait with bated breath for the kickoff of one of the biggest derbies in the world,”The Soweto Derby”.

With less that two hours left before the kickoff at Soccer city Stadium in Johannesburg,the country is arguable divided and social networks are fans words battlefield.

Kaizer Chiefs is the favourite to win today’s encounter judging by their recent form, but our reader Phanuel Moroe,a die-hard Khosi fan have a different view.

 “With Chiefs and Pirates statistics and history between the two giants are meaningless. Pirates think will give us a tough game, but this is not a game we are going to loose” he warned” Moroe asserted.

This game is one Pirates desperately need to win to restore their dignity after loosing to the minnows Maluti FET in the Nedbank Cup encounter. 

Letting Moroka Swallows to bounce back from 2-nil to win 3-2 in their league game and also letting Celtics to equalise in the dying minutes in their last league game. 

Orlando Pirates is now number two on the league,only five points adrift from their bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs,but have game in hand. 

Is the Buccaneer glory days over?

“No there is no such thing. Pirates is just off-form just like any other team.

“Yes we may be down after letting Celtics exit Orlando Stadium with a point,but the Pirates I support will bounce back come saturday game” the optimistic Orlando Pirates supporter Moeketsi Lloyd Ramose said.

However Neo Modihapula put his faith on the English man Stuart Baxter. 

“I forsee a great game between the two Soweto giants. In the past few seasons,we have seen that after if Kaizer Chiefs win their midweek game,they will have a bad game against their rivals” Modihapula said.

“Since the arrival of Baxter things have changed. He brought a new method at Kaizer Chiefs. We play with five defenders,and attack with our full backs” he adds. 

“So the Sea Robbers won’t know how to plan against us” he concluded.

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Absa Premiership: Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates

Venue: FNB Stadium, Soweto

Time: 15h30

Channel: SABC 1, SS4

This afternoon South Africa’s two biggest football clubs lock horns for the 55th time in league competition as Kaizer Chiefs look to cement their place at the top of the Absa Premiership and Orlando Pirates aim to gain some ground on their biggest rivals.

The game will be the second time that the two head coaches, Stuart Baxter and Roger de Sa, will meet while at the helm of their Sowetan clubs, and as it stands neither has got one up on the other after their first encounter finished in a draw.

Having lost just one game all season and sitting atop the PSL log, Chiefs certainly go into this game on the better form. Their last match saw them claim a 2-0 victory over the Wilfred Mugeyi’s struggling side, Chippa United, and while the result was a convincing one, the performance was not up to their usual standards.

The Amakhosi are yet to lose a game at home this season, winning eight of their games as the home team, and are the top scorers in the league, bagging 39 goals so far. They’re also unbeaten in their last nine games.

Baxter, speaking about the Soweto derby following his side’s win over Chippa said, “It’s hard, but I’ve tried to try and concentrate on our games and not look at our competitors, but any points that we move ahead are positive. I’d like to see positive football on show that reflects how the two teams play. I’m looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Pirates go into this game having won only one of their last four league games and on the back of a 1-1 draw with Bloemfontein Celtic.

The Buccaneers have struggled to find their title winning form so far this season, however they are still within touching distance of their rivals, sitting five points and one place behind them, but with a game in hand.

Should De Sa’s men come away from the derby with three points, then a victory in their extra game could see them take their place at the top of the league.

Pirates’ away form this season has been fairly impressive, winning six of their games on the road, losing two and drawing two of their four others. However, it is pointless to talk of home and away stats when it comes to Chiefs against Pirates, with both sets of fans turning out in numbers.

De Sa told Soccer-Laduma that he’s hoping that a win against their rivals can help turn around their difficult run. He said, “It’s an important game, we’ve been looking for the game to help us turn it around after the result of the last two games. A win could be huge, it could be the impetus for us to go on. I don’t have to do any kind of motivation for the players, the game is big enough.”

Of the 54 league games that have been played out between the two teams, Chiefs are comfortably the most successful side, although 20 of the games have ended with the points shared.

The Amakhosi have won 22 of the 54 league encounters, with Bucs taking maximum points on only 12 occasions, although last season finished with each team getting one win over each other in the season.

Form:

Chiefs: D-W-W-D-W

Pirates: W-W-W-L-D

Players to Watch:

Chiefs: Bernard Parker

Pirates: Collins Mbesuma
Courtesy of www.soccerladuma.co.za

In the first round of the Absa Premiership Soweto derby Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs played to a one all draw.

This time around, both teams are fighting for the league title and can’t afford to drop points. Both teams will do everything they can to come out tops!

Orlando Pirates striker Collins Mbesuma scored in the first round and hopes to emulate that performance and spur his team on to victory.

“We want to close the gap. We have to score more goals today and win the game so that we cut the points difference. We have to make sure that we attack as a team and defend as a team so that we don’t give them a chance to counter us and score. If we can have two early goals I think we can wrap up the game. What we need is a win,” the former Kaizer Chiefs striker concluded.

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Kaizer Chiefs striker Kingston Nkhatha has been in fine form for Amakhosi and he is expected to lead the team’s striking force this afternoon when they meet their Soweto rivals, Orlando Pirates, at the FNB Stadium.

The Zimbabwean international tells Soccer-Laduma that both teams want a win from this fixture.

He said that both team needs the three points to keep alive their respective hopes of winning the Absa Premiership title this season.

“Both teams need a win today. For us we don’t want to think what will happen if we lose so we will go for a win. For us it is not about who scores but us winning. I would be happy to score but the most important thing is a win for Chiefs,” the former Black Leopards striker said.

For more details go to www.soccerladuma.co.za