Pirates confident of win in Champions League match


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ORLANDO Pirates remain confident of getting a convincing win against Zambian
kings Zanaco in the African Champions League at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka
tomorrow despite resting their ever reliable defender and occasional scorer
Siyabonga Sangweni.

At the same time, veteran striker Benni McCarthy and reserve goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs are also available for selection after they were given the green light by Pirates’ medical team to start playing competitive soccer again after recovering from injuries.

Sangweni, who brought stability to their defence in the goalless draw against Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby last weekend, was not part of the team that arrived in Lusaka yesterday.

Prior to the Soweto derby, Pirates’ defence had been leaking as Sangweni was still injured, resulting in the club conceding eight goals in three games – 4-1 to Maluti FET College, 3-2 to Moroka Swallows and a 1-1 draw with Bloemfontein Celtic.

“Siyabonga has played many games for Pirates and Bafana Bafana. We just felt he needed some rest after the injury,” said joint assistant coach Teboho Moloi.

“I was in Swaziland to watch Zanaco play against Mbabane Swallows two weeks ago. They are a very good side with our former player Davies Mwape serving as their chief striker. We did our homework and are in Zambia to win to make South Africa proud. We want to go all the way to the final and win the tournament again to restore the pride of Pirates on the continent,” said Moloi.

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

 

Mayala: Chiefs Under Pressure


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Polokwane City lost four players in a car accident late last year, but they have defied all odds, both in the National First Division and in the Nedbank Cup, where they have reached the last 16 stage. On Saturday, they face another challenge when they meet Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Captain and veteran goalkeeper Makweni Mayala acknowledged Chiefs’ good form this season, but told Soccer-Laduma that his team is prepared to compete.

He said that with 22 players on the field, both playing good football, anyone can win the game.

“For now I can’t say who is going to win because the game is won on the day. Chiefs are a big team and they are expected to win this game so they will be under pressure to do so. For us our main focus is on the NFD and winning this game and doing so would just be a bonus for us. We would love to win as it is a good competition for the team but we are not under pressure to win compared to Chiefs,” the DRC born goalkeeper concluded.

Can Polokwane cause another upset in the Nedbank Cup? Have your say in Express Yourself!

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

Tembu v Maritzburg Postponed


ImageThe Nedbank Cup last 16 game between Tembu Royals and Maritzburg United that was scheduled for this weekend has been postponed until further notice.

The postponement comes as a result of the complaint brought forward to the league by AmaZulu, that Tembu player Zukisa Ginya allegedly used false identity in the last 32 game between the two sides.

A statement from the league said, “The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has postponed the Nedbank Cup fixture involving Tembu Royals and Maritzburg United scheduled for Sunday, 17 March 2013.

“The Nedbank Cup Organising Committee met this morning to deliberate on the matter and decided that it was in the best interests of the competition to postpone the fixture. This is in the wake of the on-going arbitration between Tembu Royals and AmaZulu. AmaZulu are contesting the eligibility of a Tembu Royals player who played against them during the Nedbank Cup last 32 fixture on 27 February 2013.

“PSL general manager of football, Derek Blanckensee, said that the league will advise on the future date for the fixture pending the outcome of the arbitration. The PSL has advised fans who have purchased tickets to hold onto their tickets until further notice. The PSL will advise on the outcome of the arbitration process when the arbitrator makes his award.”

For more details go to www.soccerladuma.com

Debate over liquor shutdown on Sundays continues


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The debate around the sale of alcohol on Sundays being banned and that liquor outlets should close early has raised concerns to many South Africans. With the draft Gauteng Liquor Act expected to be introduced during an official sitting of the Gauteng Legislature today, President of the South African Liquor Traders Association, Saint Madlala, says this is a huge mistake.

Two years ago around this time, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane warned that excessive alcohol consumption might force liquor outlets in her province to close on Sundays. Mokonyane also expressed concern then, over the trading of alcohol near schools and places of worship, and further warned of reducing trade times.

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

Fourth suspect in Sanders case located


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The fourth suspect in the former boxing champion Corrie Sanders’ murder case has been located in Zimbabwe.  The state announced it in the Brits Magistrate’s court, where the other three are appearing today. State advocate Matric Lephondo says they also believe the man will be able to tell them where the gun, which Sanders was shot with, is.

 

He says they have contacted relevant authorities to start negotiations to get the man and the firearm to South Africa. The case has been postponed until August. The other three suspects remain in custody.

 

Sanders was killed in a robbery at a restaurant in Brits. Saunders and his family were at the restaurant to celebrate his nephew’s 21st birthday. He died after surgery at Kalafong hospital in Atteridgeville.

The trial of three men implicated in the murder resumes in the Brits Regional Court today. The three allegedly shot and wounded Sanders during a robbery at the Thatch Haven Country Lodge outside Brits last year.

 

Paida Fish, Samuel Mabena, and Chris Moyo each face a count of murder and three charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances. They were arrested in the Oukasie informal settlement, near Brits, in September after police received a tip off.

 

Sex Therapist talks about her rape ordeal


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Johannesburg – Sex therapist “Dr Eve”, whose real name is Marlene Wasserman, has for the first time spoken out about being raped 11 years ago, it was reported on Friday.

 

“I felt, for me, like it was the right time to go public with it,” she told The Times.

 

Wasserman spoke about the rape at an Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) public hearing in Johannesburg on Thursday. The hearings were about TopTV’s application for three porn channels.

 

She was there in support of the application, and said it would help adolescents understand their own sexuality.

 

Wasserman told the newspaper she began entertaining the idea of going public at the beginning of last month’s “Stop Rape” campaign, but wanted to protect her family.

 

“I discussed it with them and decided that I would feel and know when the time was right and… where I wanted to do it,” she said.

 

The report has details of when and where the rape took place.

 

Wasserman said after such a traumatic experience, she found that it was difficult to recover.

 

“No matter how many self-defence classes you take, no matter how much protection or barriers you put into your house, there’s something that shatters inside a woman or man, and stays shattered forever, and you have to learn to live with that.” – Sapa

Basic Education Ministry calls for views on schools’ draft


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Basic Education Ministry spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi says the ministry only put the most basic draft on how schools should look  deliberately. He says this is to give the country the space to communicate how they want their schools to look and not for the department to be seen as prescribing the final product.
He says the final draft will take into consideration all views.
“What we are saying is that ‘South Africans, this is your laager, this is your state, express your views’. On the basis of the views that have been expressed by South Africans we will be in a position to consolidate and present a document that we believe will be acceptable for all South Africans, but to accuse the state of being minimum with information is unfair and unfortunate. Anyone who is contributing their views, their views will be taken into consideration.”
A number of learners have decried the Minister of Basic Education’s recent draft on school infrastructure. The learners, brought together by non-governmental organisation Equal Education, have called the draft shoddy.

Most of the learners attending have expressed the same reservations, saying the minister was not specific on what a typical South African school should look like

Equal Education is holding public hearings on the draft. Most of the  learners attending have expressed the same reservations, saying the  minister was not specific on what a typical South African school should  look like.
Pretty Mvelase is one such learner, “55 in one class, we don’t have textbooks, 6 kids have to share one textbook and each one wants to take the book home. Last year, they didn’t deliver maths  textbook. We had to share textbooks from other classes now. I am history student. We don’t have textbooks.”

Police Exec, IPID to be summoned over latest dragging incident


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North West Parliamentary committee on Public Safety says it will call the provincial police executive and the Independent Police Investigation Directorate, to appear before them next week. This, after a policeman allegedly dragged and injured a civilian at Setlopo Village in Mahikeng on Wednesday.
The committee’s chairperson, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng says they also want to know how the police management dealt with two cases of police brutality, where it was alleged that two civilians died in Klerksdorp and Mahikeng last year as a result of police action.
“We are very disappointed by what is alleged to be the brutality by SAPS in that you would be aware that there has been a matter relating to the police brutality in the Daveyton area and this, we think, cannot be tolerated.”
The Independent Police Investigations Directorate has confirmed that a case of police brutality has been opened.
IPID spokesperson Moses Dlamini says, “We’ve received the case. Investigations are still on-going. We’ve arrested the suspect. He’s appearing at the Mmabatho Magistrate Court today.”

That’s basic management principles… (you) cannot be Station Commander and manage a station from a laptop at home

The Department of Police says Station commissioners should demonstrate  leadership at police stations.  Police Department spokesperson, Zweli  Mnisi, says station commissioners are empowered to provide guidance on  the ground.
“Police officers must accede to the code of conduct  and how do you ensure that day to that. You cannot send an e-mail from  Pretoria to stations and say these are the rules. A Station Commander  must be at the station every morning, command a parade, check if systems are place, check whether members have their firearms intact and so  forth. That’s basic management principles… (you) cannot be Station  Commander and manage a station from a laptop at home.”
North West Premier, Thandi Modise, says police officers who undermine the rights  of ordinary citizens should be reminded that they have no place in the  South African Police Service.
The premier’s spokesperson, Lesiba Kgwele says, “The premier calls on police officials who are still true  to upholding the rights of citizens and the pledge to serve and protect  the community to blow the whistle on the few rotten potatoes, who are  giving the police service a bad name.”

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

North West police-dragging case likely to be postponed


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MAHIKENG – A North West policeman is expected to step into the dock on Friday, to face charges relating to the dragging an off-duty court interpreter behind a police vehicle.

The arrest of the sergeant comes less than two weeks after the torture and murder of Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia, who was dragged through the streets of Daveyton in Gauteng while handcuffed to a police van.

In the latest incident, the victim claims he was assaulted and dragged while trying to protect a youngster who was being harassed by two officers in the Setlopo village last week.

The sergeant was arrested on Wednesday, and is due to appear in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court later today.

There has been widespread condemnation of this latest incident of alleged police brutality.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating what happened in the North West last week Thursday, when the court interpreter suffered extensive injuries.

It is believed the man, who is still in hospital, was grabbed by the neck and dragged for around 100 metres.

North West Premier Thandi Modise is shocked and concerned such incidents are gaining momentum in the country.

Her spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said “Incidents of police brutality and violence unleashed on citizens by members of the police service have the potential to antagonise communities against the police and should be stamped out before it is too late.”

It remains to be seen whether the community will gather outside court as the police officer makes his first appearance.

The case is likely to be postponed for further investigation.

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

ZCC rape accused HIV-positive, court told


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Johannesburg – A Zion Christian Church member accused of raping a woman during a prayer session at the church’s headquarters in Moria could be charged with attempted murder.

Molefe Moatshe, initially thought to be a prophet at the church, dropped a bombshell in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, announcing he was HIV-positive.

This comes a month after Limpopo police vowed to charge all HIV-positive rape accused with attempted murder.

The 35-year-old revealed his status while requesting the court to release him from custody on Monday next week so that he could go to apply for a disability grant.

 

“He feels that he needs to go on Monday, and he is HIV-positive, so he also needs his medication,” said his lawyer, who is only known as Ms Makhomisa.

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