Bafana Bafana skipper Itumeleng Khune has defended his team’s reaction to Central African Republic’s ‘hand of God’ goal, which was disallowed this evening.

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

North West –

The ANC’s North West provincial executive committee (PEC) has decided to revoke its decision to suspend the membership of David Kham chief whip of the Tlokwe municipality, it said on Saturday.

“The PEC resolved to rescind it’s decision to temporarily suspend the membership of comrade David Kham. This decision was taken in the aftermath of NEC resolutions on the Tlokwe matter,” said acting provincial secretary Gordon Kegakilwe.

“The PEC further resolved to expedite the process of the resignation of comrade Kham as the whip of the Tlokwe local municipality, a PEC decision endorsed by the NEC (national executive committee).”

The decision to rescind Kham’s suspension was taken by the PEC at a special meeting held in Mafikeng on Thursday.

Last year the PEC decided to disband the ANC Ngaka Modiri Molema regional executive committee (REC) by suspending Mataboge and Tlokwe municipality council chief whip Kham.

Last month the NEC visited the province and took a decision that Maphetle Maphetle should be re-instated as mayor of Tlokwe municipality.

Fighting ANC factions had passed a motion of no confidence in Maphetle in November. He was replaced by Annette Combrink Ä the first DA mayor in the province.

But following the NEC decision, Maphetle reclaimed his seat as mayor in February after he won by 31 votes to 21.

The municipal council passed a vote of no confidence in Combrink before the voting took place.

In other matters discussed at the Thursday meeting, three PEC members resigned following their election to the ANC NEC during the elective conference held in Mangaung in December.

These were Philly Mapulane, Pinki Mokoto and Pinki Moloi.

Kegakilwe said the PEC had filled the vacancies with Ntombi Koloti, Suzan Tsebe and Fenny Motladiile.

“These replacements are subject to ratification of the provincial general council whose date will be decided by the next PEC,” he said.

At its next meeting, the provincial working committee (PWC) would also appoint the acting provincial treasurer after consultation with the NEC.

Three members of the Mahikeng Local Municipality who were removed by mayor Lenah Miga were reinstated with immediate effect.

The PEC said the decision by the mayor was taken without proper consultation of the PEC.

The ANC said it was ready to contest the by-election to be held in ward nine in Rusternburg and ward 14 in Tshwaing. – Sapa

Johannesburg – South Africans should brace themselves for what could be the most difficult winter as electricity supply remained constrained, the Public Enterprise Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Saturday.

“We need to worry about how we are going to go through this winter,” Gigaba said.

He was speaking to residents in Kliptown, Soweto where he was encouraging community members to pay for their electricity and to report illegal connections.

This was part of the 49M energy saving campaign.

Gigaba urged the public to continue with basic electricity saving habits like switching off geysers between 5pm and 9pm.

“We need to change our behaviour… instead of using heaters people should rather use blankets.”

He told residents that with Eskom reaching 40 million new connections last year, it meant by 2017, South Africa would have to have more power stations to meet the growing demand.

“We are still confident that we will, in partnership with all South Africans and with more business joining the partnership, succeed to keep the lights on until we get out of this difficult situation,” said Gigaba.

He finally asked residents to observe Earth Hour on Saturday evening by switching off lights and appliances between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. – Sapa

Premier Modise expresses shock and condemns farm murder discovered after a week

North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed shock that the incident in which a well known dog breeder Eric Labuschane was murdered and his 78-year-elderly mother was locked in the bathroom was only discovered after a week.

In condemning the heinous crime and conveying condolences to the Labuschane family, Premier Modise said that the incident highlights the need for farmers to keep in regular contact with each other as part of crime prevention strategy and in support of the rural safety plan.

“An effective communication network with farmers should be maintained by rural safety coordinating structures in order to prevent farm attacks and improve response time in the event attacks occur,” emphasised the Premier who was also concerned that the mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s from was found dehydrated and in a state of shock a day after her son’s body was removed from the scene.

“We wish Labuschane’s elderly mother a speedy recovery and pray for her strength to deal with her loss as she mourns the tragic death of her son,” Modise said.

She called on police not to leave any stone unturned until those responsible are behind bars. 

 According to the report, Eric Labuschane who had been renting a four-bedroom house on Olifants Hoek farm, about 23km outside Rustenburg 

 since August last year was allegedly stabbed and bludgeoned with a rock.

Labuschane’s body was discovered after his landlord, Peter Roberts,son of herbalist Margaret Roberts noticed a strong smell and flies and summoned police who broke down the front door to gain access into the house and discover Labuschane’s decomposing body in the main bedroom.

Roberts’s curiosity to enquire on Labuschane whom he had last seen last Wednesday night 

  was drawn by his dogs which were growing thin.

Roberts purportedly said that Labuschane was a recluse and he was not worried that he had not seen him or his mother .

North West police spokesperson Colonel Emelda Setlhako said Labuschane had also been strangled and that t did not look like there was forced entry into the house.

Setlhako also confirmed that Labuschane had a worker who was also last seen last Wednesday and that a Volkswagen bakkie and two cellphones were missing.

By Obakeng Maje

Cape Town-Bafana Bafana maneuver their way to the top of the group after walloping Central African Republic 2-0 in a world cup qualifier.

South African national team is leading the pack by five points and kept their hopes of qualifying for Fifa World Cup that will be hosted in Brazil next year alive.

The game started like a house on fire as Bafana’s prose has the merits of simplicity,euphony and precision.

Bafana started asking questions to the visitors in the early minutes.

Bafana striker Tokelo Rantie was supposed to put Bafana in the driving seat after he received a pass from Letsholenyane,but his shot went over the bar.

The CAR defence was buyoed and denied Bafana any opportunity.

CAR strikers imposed pressure on Bafana’s back four,but found them sturdy.

Bafana influential Defender Thabo Matlaba took a shot from a distance that left CAR goalkeeper in no man’s land.

The stadium erupted and commentators stuttered when Matlaba scores for Bafana.

“I am very happy after scoring for Bafana and what went through my mind was to score a goal” Matlaba said.

“The coach told us to play with confidence and take our chances. We believed in ourselves and taking that shot from a distance was marvellous” said man of the match.

The Central African Republic strikers Foxi shot was saved by skipper Itumeleng Khune who was more gingerly between the poles.

“I am very disappointed by the referee as he allowed the goal and succumbed to pressure from south African players who refuted the goal. Even the linesman did not acknowledged a hand ball to say the list” CAR coach said.

“Bafana won in front of their supporters and we expecting cracker game when they come to our backyard. We will show them when they visit on the 08th of June” said the coach.

Bafana international Parker unleashed a wonderful shot on the 70th minute to make it 2-0 in favour of Bafana.

“We played well today and improving game by game. We kept our clean sheet and our back four was more sturdy” igesund said.

Bafana midfielder Furman was substituted after he was left blurred by CAR player.

Bafana was so delicate and showed some improvements since the Afcon.

They won the game 2-0 and with an advantage.

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By Obakeng Maje

Madibogo: Two members of Madibogo SAPS Visible Policing Unit were driving along Madibogo-Setlagole road when they noticed a group of community members gathered at a nearby Shop at Tlhaping Section in Madibogo North West police said. 

The two officers then stopped to investigate the matter. 

“They were informed that a robbery just occurred at the Shop and that one shot was fired outside that shop by the fleeing suspects” warrant officer Sam Tselanyane said. 

The officers were given the direction that the suspect took after the robbery and also informed that the three suspects were riding on horses. 

“It is alleged that the three suspects came riding horses and left them outside and entered the shop where they found the owner, 31-year-old Indian man. One of the suspects pulled out a firearm and pointed the owner and ordered him to give him the money” police said. While the owner was terrified and shocked, the suspect hit him with a firearm on the forehead and he fell on the ground.  

“Another suspect took out a knife and also threatened the victim, whilst the other suspect took cash estimated at R500, Airtime vouchers to the value of R350, R420,00 worth of cigarettes and cellular phone to the value of R700,00” Tselanyane said. 

Police said all the items were thrown in the bag and thereafter the suspects fled the scene. 

The two policemen followed the direction that they were given and all three suspects aged 16, 19 and 20 were arrested not far away from the scene.  

All stolen items including a firearm and knife that were used for the robbery were recovered. “According to the information received, it is believed that one of the accused stole his father’s firearm and was used for the robbery” police said. 

It is also suspected that the horses were also stolen at Setlagole.  

All three suspects will be charged with armed robbery.  

They are expected to appear before Atamelang Magistrate’s Court on Monday  

Investigation continues.

The Northern Cape cabinet has expressed their heartfelt apology to a Rietfontein mother, who gave birth to her baby on the street two weeks ago.

The new mother was forced to deliver her baby on the streets as the health facility that was supposed to open 24 hours was closed due to salary disputes.

The acting Premier Grizelda Cjiekella and Health MEC, Mxolisi Sokatsha visited Veronica Brown at her home to formally apologise.

Cjiekella says they take responsibility for what has happened, she says it was a mistake that will never be repeated.

“I think it’s really a blessing to have him healthy. I spoke to the health staff that was here they said there’s nothing wrong with the baby.  We came here to apologise to the parents and take responsibility but we have addressed the issues, because the problem was overtime problem. But the department has addressed this matter, so we hope that now in the future this will never happen again but also that our people will not be punished when we got challenges to be addressed as government,” says Cjiekella.

The mother, Veronica Brown, has welcomed the apology; “I thank them because they cared enough to come here and I welcome their apology.”

However, Rietfontein community members were not impressed. “For me the disappointment lies in why should this thing turn so ugly before people could fix it, it means the money was there the equipment was there but it is dragging feet and they are not sincere with the people of the Mier region,” says Community spokesperson  Meris Kocks.

Johannesburg – The police and their management are covering up events surrounding the Marikana shooting, the SA Humans Rights Council (SAHRC) claimed on Friday.

It accused national police commissioner Riah Phiyega of failing to mention a statement by police officer Hendrich Wouter Myburgh, which contradicted her assertion that police acted in self-defence.

“At best, the national commissioner was dishonest in saying that she had received no information to cause her to question the truth of her press statement that the police had acted only in self-defence,” SAHRC representative Bonita Meyersfeld, director of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, said in a statement.

“At worst, the fact that the police have never mentioned this evidence is indicative of a deliberate cover-up.”

Phiyega told the Farlam Commission of Inquiry investigating the events surrounding the shooting in North West on August 16 that she stood by her stance that police acted in self-defence when they shot the miners.

Approached for comment from Phiyega, her consultant Makhosini Nkosi indicated this would be forthcoming before the end of the afternoon.

However, no response had materialised by early evening.

During cross examination of Phiyega at the commission, evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga read a statement into the record by Myburgh about the shooting.

Myburgh said that after most of the shooting had stopped, he found three wounded people on the ground on the hill and continued to search for “other suspects”.

“I suddenly heard a gunshot behind me. As I turned, I saw a NIU 1/8national intervention unit 3/8 constable who is unknown to me putting his side firearm in his leg holster while he was standing next to the injured…,” he said in the statement.

“I asked him 1/8the NIU 3/8 constable what is going on. He replied by saying: ‘They deserve to die’ and he moved away.”

The commission heard that the constable could not be identified or named.

Madlanga asked Phiyega whether, if Myburgh’s evidence was indeed true, she would continue holding the view that the officers fired shots in self-defence.

“I’m consistent in my view that, given the sensitivity of the issue… I would be very, very cautious to answer such a question… It is difficult to say on this or that hypothesis,” answered Phiyega.

The commission’s chairman, retired judge Ian Farlam, warned Phiyega that her “deliberate attempt to not answer a question” led to inferences being drawn.

Phiyega said she and her commanders had wanted to understand what had happened, but Myburgh could not give them more details to find or identify the NIU constable.

On August 16, 34 striking Lonmin mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were wounded when the police opened fire while trying to disperse a group which had gathered on a hill near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana.

Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed near the mine in the preceding week. – Sapa