Cape Town – Government is confident the controversial youth wage subsidy, now called the youth wage incentive scheme (Yeti), will work, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Wednesday.

Replying to questions in the National Assembly, Motlanthe dismissed a notion by DA MP Tim Harris that the Yeti was similar to its namesake, the Himalayan mythical creature, also known as the abominable snowman.

“We all hear it exists, but no one sees it,” Harris said.

Motlanthe responded by saying the government acknowledged youth unemployment was a tinderbox that it intended addressing through various schemes and projects.

“We are aware that there are about 2.8 million of the cohort of 18-24 year-olds who are not in any institution of learning, who are not in any job,” said Motlanthe.

The youth employment tax scheme was one of many ways the government hoped to tackle the problem.

“The youth tax incentive will work… and we will employ it.”

Harris asked the deputy president how the scheme would become a reality when union federation and ANC alliance partner the Congress of SA Trade Unions spent three years blocking it, and remained opposed to the idea.

“We are quite confident… that working people inside and outside of Cosatu will come to understand that this is an important instrument to address this burning problem of youth unemployment,” Motlanthe said.

The incentive scheme was re-tabled in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s budget earlier in March.

It would take the form of a tax credit, meaning employers would get money back through the Pay As You Earn system for hiring unemployed young people.

By Staff Reporter

Banyana Banyana lost their opening 2013 Group C Cyprus Cup match 2-0 to South Korea but the gallant Sasol-sponsored warriors were far from being disgraced. The match took place at the Ammacostos stadium in Cyprus.

Having lost 2-1 to the same opponents last year and coming into the tournament highly confident that they would avenge the defeat against the Asians girls, it proved not to be as the speed and skill of the Koreans proved too much for Banyana.

Two goals at the beginning of each half was the difference between the two sides in the freezing city of Larnaca as Joseph Mkhonza’s charges allowed their opponents too much space and time on the ball while coming off second best in midfield.   

The African Women championship runners up found themselves a goal down following a terribly-taken goal kick by stand in goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.

Dlamini, deputising for Thoko Mndaweni, was given an opportunity to keep goals for the first time at a tournament with Banyana but lacking in confidence, she would not have been happy with her debut.

Her awful goal kick fell straight onto the path of dangerous Korean striker Ji Soyun who easily controlled the ball, shrugged off central defender Lebogang Mabatle before firing a low shot past the stranded Dlamini to make it 1-0 inside the opening 10 minutes of the game. That was the terrible start for Banyana as it set the tone for the rest of the game.

They easily lost possession and failed to close down their opponents and they paid a heavy price against the tactically astute Koreans. The midfield duo of Amanda Dlamini and Refiloe Jane didn’t make matters any easier as they struggled to have a firm grip in the middle of the park.

Towards the end of the first half, Mkhonza’s charges slowly got back into the match, thanks to some neat interplay between winger Mary Ntsweng and Noko Matlou but the latter’s effort was well saved by Korean goalie Kim Jungmni.  The agile keeper was to be tested later again by interim captain Janine van Wyk’s long range effort and Jermaine Seoposenwe’s low strike but on both occasions she brilliantly smothered the two efforts.

At the start of the second half, a through ball from the middle found Jeoun Eunha, who had time and acres of space to beat a poorly devised offside trap to lob the ball over Dlamini to make the score 2-0 and shut the match as a contest.

Despite an outstanding performance by Van Wyk, the two defensive mistakes were to prove the difference between the two sides. As the match went on and with Dlamini slowly growing in confidence, she pulled off some brilliant saves to make up for her earlier errors to keep the score at a respectable 2-0.

Banyana Banyana will have to vastly improve when they face Republic of Ireland in their second match of the tournament on Friday, 7 March.

In the evening kickoff after the SA and Korea game, fellow Group C opponents and neighbours Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland were set to face each other.

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By Obakeng Maje

Noupoort-The accused appeared briefly before the Noupoort Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of Brendon Tarentaal’s murder. 

“However the matter has been postponed for the 19 March 2013 for formal bail application” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

“Suspects as minors were referred to a place of safety until their next court date appearance” police said

Kaizer Chiefs have appointed Goodnews Cadogan as their acting managing director, replacing Bheki Shongwe who stepped down a few months ago.

Little, if anything at all, is known about Cadogan but KickOff.com has been informed that Chiefs will introduce the man to the Amakhosi faithful after the Soweto Derby.

Cadogan has a Masters degree in Management from Wits, if his Facebook profile is anything to go by.

“They have been trying to keep it a secret until at least after the Derby,” a source says.

Chiefs’ Corporate Communications Manager Vina Maphosa couldn’t immediately comment on this latest development at the club.

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

By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Members of flying squad unit together with Bravo relief member nabbed three men and two women aged between 25 and 48 in the city after they fraudulently hit hard cellphones retailers in the city yesterday. 

“When they were asked about their origins they told the police that they are from Gauteng. They only came here yesterday to hit hard the retailers around Northern Cape, more particularly Kimberley” Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said. 

“Furthermore after they allegedly committed fraud in the city, they will be heading to Bloemfontein to continue their evil deeds there” Tawana said. 

“The suspects were in possession of more than five fraudulent Identity Documents, which they have been using to open credit accounts in many retailers including cellphones retailers” police said. 

“One of the suspects was in possession of two Identity Documents, which she depicted her ID photos with totally different names and ID numbers” Tawana adds.

One of the retailers alerted the police after becoming suspicious of an Identity Document which one of the suspects used to make a new application to upgrade the existing contract phone. 

The vigilant service provider noticed that something is not up to standard with the ID that the client had presented, and the applicant had already made a successful application from another retailer earlier during the day with the very same ID. 

The suspect was arrested inside the retailer while he was still waiting for the application to be processed. 

When the police interrogate him, he told the police that he is not solo in this scam.

 “He is together with his crew and they are waiting for him outside in a white Nissan Hard Body bakkie with GP registration number plates” police said. 

The police arrested his accomplices in a Nissan bakkie on the N12 just outside the Northern Cape Mall. Thorough investigation and search was conducted inside the bakkie, four fraudulent Identity Documents were found hidden inside the speaker box.

Expensive cellphones such as Blackberry Z10, I Phone 5, Motorola as well as Samsung SIII Galaxy phone, still sealed in boxes which they obtained from the retailers using the fraudulent Identity Documents were consficated. 

More than ten second hand cellphones, bank debit cards and credit cards also found in their possession were also confiscated as well as the Nissan bakkie.  

The suspects are due to appear the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court soon on fraud charges.  

Investigation continues.

Pirates have lost their last two competitive outings on the domestic football front, having been eliminated from the Nedbank Cup by Maluti FET College and subsequently losing 3-2 to Moroka Swallows in the Absa Premiership.

Despite their aggregate 9-0 thrashing over Djabal FC in the CAF Champions League preliminary round – read the full match report here – Bucs’ form of late has come into question. However, midfielder Oupa Manyisa is confident that the side will regain their championship form.

Tonight Bucs host Bloemfontein Celtic at the Orlando Stadium for their midweek league tie and Manyisa has targeted all three points on offer. He told Soccer-Laduma that although Siwelele are in good shape, they have to win these sort of fixtures if they are to defend their league crown.

He said, “We need to start winning again and keep on fighting for the defence of our league title. It won’t be easy from now as every team wants the three points. Yes, we lost to them in the first round game and we wouldn’t like that to happen tonight.”

“We want to make sure we start winning again and keep on the fight to defend our league title,” Manyisa concluded.

Follow all the PSL action tonight in the Live Scores section!

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

Stuart Baxter insisted, speaking to kaizerchiefs.com, that Orlando Pirates is not on the agenda as the Glamour Boys gear themselves up for a tough battle away in the Mother City, Cape Town, against Chippa United on Wednesday, 06 March 2013. 

Kick-off for the Absa Premiership clash is at 19h30 at Athlone Stadium. 

The Phefeni Glamour Boys have a tricky week ahead with a trip to Cape Town and on Saturday, 09 March they will host rivals Orlando Pirates in a mouth-watering top of the table clash. 

Preparations for this game have been all about recuperation. We are missing quite a number players due to injuries and suspensions but we are going there to fight for three points, said Head Coach Stuart Baxter speaking to kaizerchiefs.com on Monday evening. 

The Briton who has been credited as a catalyst for the consistency the Club has shown in the league this season believes that Chippa United will be a different side to the side that came through and left the FNB Stadium empty handed back in September last year. 

They have made quite a number of changes to their squad, new players, new coach and their approach to games has also changed. They will be totally a different and tricky playing in front of their fans. We have to be at our best. 

Baxter revealed his players are only focused on Chippa, The focus is on Chippa United. Our next game is against Chippa United. 

Chippa will get the attention they deserve. We are professionals it is expected that we show professionalism in our approach to each and every game we play. 

We are coming back from a game against Bidvest Wits where we dropped points which makes our next game against Chippa even more important than any other game this season, added Baxter.

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

Acting Northern Cape Premier Grizelda Cjiekella said the Northern Cape Government finances show a positive bank balance after paying down debt inherited from the previous administration. “We inherited a bank overdraft of R357, 736 million of which First National Bank was owed R109,765 million and the Reserve Bank R247, 971 million. The Province was on […]

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

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Trouble seems to follow social development MEC Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi after she apparently failed to meet her own deadline to return R174000 of state money used on a private trip.

Mokomele-Mothibi was arraigned before the provincial select committee on public accounts (Scopa) on February 19, where she conceded to have used the money and apologised.

She set out to return the money over a seven working days period. This lapsed on Thursday. In a media statement the MEC refuted wrong-doing.

Mokomele-Mothibi is quoted saying: “Nothing could be further from the truth as I only accepted political responsibility for the actions of my department’s officials – that of including themselves in my travel bookings without my knowledge and approval.”

She added: “I am committed to good governance, clean administration and accountability. Hence, when confronted with the allegations, I accepted responsibility as the head of the department and apologised. While I ensured implicated officials reimbursed the state, I (also) instructed that disciplinary action be taken against all of them.”

She also reversed her submission before Scopa that her friend, Mavis Kgosing, had benefited from trip.

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