By Obakeng Maje

Orkney- A murder case of ANC Women’s League member continue in Orkney Magistrate Court tomorrow.

Mrs Flater was allegedly shot dead at her house along with her daughter.

The incident happened back in 2011.

Orkney Ward councillor was arrested in connection of the murder alongside her accomplice.

According to information received, Mosele Sefika allegedly conspired to kill Flater.

“Flater was one of leading candidates to be elected, but their infight with Ward councillor led to her detriment” said our mole.

Sefika allegedly approached the gang called SVK in the area to silence Flater and promised the R1500.

It is alleged that the gang refused the money and told Sefika that to continue with the commission of the murder,a gun is needed.

She allegedly approached two Lesotho Nationals to carry out a sanction.

“I am not quite sure about the details of that particular incident and I will try and gather information if is any tomorrow morning” Warrant Officer Sam Tselanyane said.

It is alleged that two Lesotho Nationals agreed to the deal.

They allegedly went to Flater’s house in the area and knocked.

According to information, ANC Women’s League member opened the door and two guys asked where is Flater. She responded by telling them that indeed she is the one, they allegedly pulled the tricker and killed her instantly. 

The suspects alleged also turned the gun to her daughter who was standing next to her at the door post.

Sefika was allegedly arrested on the 28 February after intensive investigations that connect her to the murder.

Mosele Sefika is due to appear before Orkney Magistrate Court tomorrow for formal bail application.

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Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa the Honourable Fikile Mbalula visited Bafana Bafana at their Cape Town hotel to wish the team well ahead of their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Qualifier against the Central African Republic (CAR).

Kickoff is at 20h15.

“We have to win this match because it is imperative for us as South Africa to go to Brazil. It is important for you, your friends and families and for the entire country. We are behind you all the way. You have a chance to engrave your names in the history books by helping this country qualify for the World Cup in Brazil, so you have to give your best,” said Minister Mbalula.

The Minister also handed the squad members their playing kit individually, urging them “to do the country proud.”

Earlier in the day Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund addressed the media in Cape Town.

“This is a must-win for us, I am aware of it and the players are also conscious of the task ahead of them. I know my starting 11 and I am confident we will do well.

“A draw will not help us, it is not an option; it will only make things more difficult for us because Ethiopia and CAR still have to play at home, so it is important to get a win. We just have to apply ourselves on Saturday and leave nothing to chance. Going away will be very challenging but my boys have shown character that they will be able to fight all the way,” said Igesund.

“CAR are difficult to beat so we cannot take them lightly. They will come here looking for just a point, but we can’t afford that. I saw them come from behind against Egypt so we have to have plan A, B and C to ensure we get maximum points.”

After initial worries that the pitch might not be in perfect playing condition at the Cape Town Stadium, the Bafana Bafana mentor is happy that it has improved significantly.

“Before we committed this match to Cape Town, we spoke to the stadium management about the pitch and they assured us that it will be ready. Two days ago I went to inspect it with my technical team and I saw a beautiful pitch, so I am very happy. I have to compliment them I was surprised with what I saw; it is very magnificent,” added Igesund.

Bafana Bafana will have their last training session on Friday morning (22 March) at the Athlone Stadium.

Defender Siyanda Xulu is one of the youthful players in the current Bafana Bafana squad that is in camp, preparing for the encounter against Central African Republic (CAR).

The match takes place on Saturday evening at Cape Town Stadium.

He was on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns before moving to the cold Russian Premier League where he plays for Rostov FC, following in the footsteps of former Bafana Bafana players Macbeth Sibaya, Matthew Booth, Japhet Zwane and the late Jacob Lekgetho.

Born in December of 1991, Xulu has made one international appearance for his country in a friendly international match against Gabon in Nelspruit last year (15 June 2012). He is one of those in contention to fill the gap left by the absence of Bongani Khumalo and Siyabonga Sangweni in central defence.

Matlhomola Morake sat down with him during the Bafana Bafana camp in Cape Town to chat about other things, including his life in Russia.

Matlhomola Morake: 

Siyanda, welcome back to Bafana Bafana, how does it feel?Siyanda Xulu: Thanks, it has been a while. I feel very honoured to be back in the team, it shows I am doing something right at my team in Russia and it feels very good to be recalled.

MM:   How did you feel like missing out on the AFCON 2013 tournament?

SX: As a player I felt very sad because I would have loved to represent my country in such a prestigious tournament, but I was really impressed with the way the guys played.  Now the tournament is behind us, we have to focus on the present, I hope I will get a chance to represent my country in another tournament in the not so distant future.

MM: Siyabonga Sangweni and Bongani Khumalo are not here, they both played at central defence in the AFCON, do you fancy your chances?

SX: Every player that is called to the national team would like to play in every match, which might not be possible, but yes given a chance I will take it with both hands. We have other capable players like Morgan Gould, Thabo Nthete and Mulomowandao Mathoho who can also do a good job in that position and I am certain whoever is picked to play will not disappoint and will have my support. At the end of the day it is the coach’s call and we will have to respect his decision.

MM:   Your take on the clash against CAR?

SX: I think it is going to be a very good game, looking at our training so far, I believe we are going to do well. We are playing at home and we are very motivated and I am almost certain we are going to win the game. We have to go all out for a win and get the campaign to Brazil back on the road.

MM:   How are things in Russia?

SM Things are going very well for me in Russia and I am happy now because I am playing. As a player you feel very good when your good work is being recognised by being included in the starting line-up at your club. I am pretty happy even though I sometimes feel lonely and miss home but it is normal because I am playing away from home.

MM:   So how do you deal with that loneliness?

SM I spend most of my time on the internet, Skype and also call home regularly.

MM: You must be spending a lot of money to keep in touch?

SM: You have to spend a lot of money because you are talking about your happiness here. When you call home you are able to talk to your parents, your friends and girlfriend and once you have been in touch with those people you are able to focus on your job.

MM: When people talk of Russia, the first thing that comes to mind is the cold….

SX: I thought the same thing as well at first, and asked myself ‘what am I getting myself into here?’ The truth is, it is extremely cold but when you love something you get used to the situation, and in life there are some sacrifices that we have to make. As a professional footballer I have told myself that I will have to forget about this weather issue and put everything into my career. At times, temperatures drop to as low as -17 degrees and at first my body had never ever experienced such extreme coldness, but I am slowly becoming accustomed to it.

MM:   And the language?

SX: It is very difficult but now that I am playing regularly I am in the process of getting myself a teacher because initially when I was not playing I didn’t even think about taking lessons, I wanted to focus on playing. There are some guys in my team that are able to speak English which makes things easy, but when you are out and about not many people can speak English, which is why it is important that I should learn to speak Russian.  Language is a serious barrier, once I get it right I think I will enjoy my stay even more.

MM: The food?

SX: Fortunately it’s the normal food that I really enjoy. I don’t like cooking so I am always eating out. I am staying alone in an apartment. Also I have a driver provided for by the club and he takes me everywhere I need and want to go, and I am comfortable with that.

MM:   Any big name players playing in your league?

SX: Yes we have players like Samuel Eto’o from Cameroon, Hulk from Brazil, Diarra who used to play for Real Madrid to mention but a few, and it’s a very competitive league with all those players around.

MM:   Is Russia the end of a journey for you?

SX: Not at all hey, I still have ambitions of furthering my career in other countries. I just hope I do well enough in Russia to get a move to a country like Spain, which is my favourite destination, or even England or Germany. But I first want to establish myself at my club before I can think of making another move.

MM:   Any difference between the Russian League and the PSL?

SX: There is no doubt that players in the Absa Premiership have loads of skill, I believe not many leagues can match South Africa in terms of skill, but in Russia there is a lot of aggression, in a positive way, a lot of passion, the fans are always filling the stadia which makes the atmosphere great every time you play there. Also their development structures are in place, the facilities are awesome. They have Under-6 leagues which do wonders for their players because they start at an early age and grow up in the game with the correct development.

MM:   A very sensitive question for you Siya, is there racism there?

SX: To be frank, I have never experience that. The club has been good to me, so have my teammates as well as the fans. I am also lucky because Matthew Booth and Japhet Zwane have also played in the same club before, so for now I haven’t come across anything like that and so I am quite comfortable playing there.

MM:   Any advice from Booth?

SX: He is a very good friend of mine from back in our days at Mamelodi Sundowns, so every now and then I get in touch with him and he tells me more about the club, the city, the people and the culture. So I have very good information from someone who spent a couple of years there.

By Obakeng Maje

Lichtenburg: North West police have arrested two Lesotho Nationals for dealing in dagga.  

It is alleged that on Wednesday at about 16:00,police were conducting a roadblock on the road R503 between Lichtenburg and Coligny when a silver Toyota Cressida sedan with two occupants was stopped police said.  

“The vehicle was searched and 19 bags of dagga wrapped in plastic bags were found hidden in the engine compartment and the passenger seats of the vehicle” warrant officer Sam Tselanyane said.  

“Dagga estimated to the street value of R11 500,00, two cellular phones and an unroadworthy vehicle were confiscated” he said.  Police said the suspects were allegedly from Lesotho en route to Mahikeng. The two suspects aged 28 and 37 respectively were immediately arrested and charged with possession of and/or dealing in dagga.      

They are expected to appear before Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday and investigation continues.

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Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sá has played down suggestions that injuries to his most experienced and on-form players are threatening the team’s title defence.

Pirates have reported a number of player injuries, with influential players like Siyabonga Sangweni, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Sifiso Myeni, Rooi Mahamutsa and Robyn Johannes on the injury list.

But the former Bidvest Wits coach refused to concede the league title as yet.

“We will absolutely retain the title. If that is the last thing we have to do, then we will,” De Sá said.

“Of course it will be difficult playing without all these guys, but we just have to rely on the ones that are available to do the job.

“We still have Lucky (Lekgwathi) who can always guide the young players in the center-back role. Sangweni is showing good progress and he will be back soon. For those that will have long layoffs, we just have to learn to do without them.”

The Buccaneers are trailing Kaizer Chiefs by five points on top of the league standings with a game in hand.

Having already failed to defend their other two trophies this season, it is hard to picture Pirates defending the league as they still have tough fixtures against the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Free State Stars.

The Sea Robbers also have to play all the relegation candidates in the form of Black Leopards, Chippa United, AmaZulu and Ajax Cape Town in their last matches, a task that De Sá himself is weary of.

The majority of players who are hit by injuries are well over 30 years old. Benni McCarthy and Moeneeb Josephs are two of the players who have also had niggling injuries and their ages suggest that their bodies may be starting to find it hard to adapt to the competitiveness of the PSL.

Mahamutsa and Sangweni have all celebrated their 30th birthdays, with Mbuyane celebrating his in August, but De Sá has defended his charges, insisting that they are not over the hill and that their experience is still needed to guide the young players.

“It’s true that they are not youngsters any more, but you have to look at their contribution and the experience that they add to the team,” De Sá said. It is immense.

“We also have young players like Jali, Segolela, Manyisa, and Matlaba. The fact that they are injured does not mean we should discard them. They have a huge role to play and there is still a lot that we can get out of them.

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

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday declined to “discuss the details” of the Public Works Department’s R206-million security upgrade to his Nkandla residence.

The outcome of pending reports on the matter should be awaited instead, he told the National Assembly during question time.

Zuma was asked by Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko whether he was informed of the upgrades at his private home in Nkandla in November 2010.

He replied, among other things: “Naturally, I was informed that improvements needed to be made at the family residence to enhance the security of the head of state.

“The nature and form of the improvements was decided upon by the relevant officials through their departments.

“As already indicated, such information would not include details on the specifics of what would be done, by whom and at what cost,” he said.

In a follow-up question, Mazibuko said Zuma was “tap-dancing around the issue”, and must have known the cost and extent of the upgrade.

“I have a letter that shows he must have known. A letter addressed to him by former public works minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, setting out the details of the project, including that money was being spent on non-security items.

“How is it that the president didn’t know about or act upon a letter addressed to him by one of his own cabinet ministers?” Mazibuko asked.

Zuma replied: “Firstly, I never received any letter. No letter has ever been received by me. Very clear, straight answer.”

Secondly, the report of the Public Works Department’s task team appointed to probe the spending was before Parliament and still had to be discussed by MPs.

“And I’m sure those details will come there. Wherein you look at these items and deal with them, whether they were security-related or not. I don’t think I should pre-empt your discussion by discussing the report that is before Parliament. If there was no report before Parliament, it would be a different matter.

“I am also informed that the public protector is also either conducting an investigation, or about to conduct it.

“So, I don’t think, besides saying I never received the letter, I should discuss the details,” he said.

Pressed by more follow-up questions by the opposition, Zuma repeated that “no house of the president was ever built by government”.

“I’ve said so at the beginning, I’ve repeated it”.

“And I’ve said, secondly, the report is coming, which will clarify all of this. And I’m saying you’ll discover no house was built by taxpayers’ money of the president.

“Security departments said they needed to put security features in my houses that I built. Security features and houses are not one and the same… wait for the report. That will help you a great deal, so that you can ask more intelligent questions.” – Sapa