The South African Football Association (SAFA) has noted with concern reports from certain sections of the media that it is dictating to the government issues related to the impending independent judicial commission of enquiry into match fixing.

For the record, in the meeting held on Friday, 5 April 2013 at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, attended by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani and Minister of Sports and Recreation SA, Honourable Fikile Mbalula, the three parties reached a concrete conclusion to set up an independent judicial commission of enquiry.

According to the agreement by the three parties, ‘the mandate of this judicial investigation will be limited to matters related to the case of irregularities related to friendly matches of SAFA in the build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup’ 

(click here for Friday, 5 April 2013 FIFA match-fixing media release).

In the same meeting, ”FIFA also proposed that the judicial body of the FIFA Ethics Committee, represented by its independent Chairman Michael J Garcia, should be part of this special commission. This proposal is backed by SAFA as well as the Minister of Sports but is subject to constitutional approval by the government”.

It is therefore disturbing, malicious and inaccurate to see certain reports insinuating that SAFA is dictating to the government with regards to the scope of the imminent independent judicial commission of enquiry.

What the SAFA NEC did in its meeting on Saturday, 6 April 2013 was merely to ratify the accord reached in Zurich without making any amendments to that agreement.

“We as SAFA are highly disturbed by some members of the media who seem intent on pushing certain agendas. As gatekeepers of society, we expect journalists to be objective and non partisan,” said SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani.

By Obakeng Maje

Taung- North West police arrested a 23 year-old man in connection with robbery and theft.

Police said a man was sleeping in his house in Maphoitsile when he heard his window thumped.

He ran for his life when he was allegedly confronted by two suspects.

“Two suspects allegedly forcefully entered a house in Maphoitsile, near Taung and found a man asleep” captain Adele Myburgh said.

The suspects allegedly stole TV set, blankets and other house belongings including groceries said police.

“A victim return to his house the following day(today) and found his house belongings stolen” Myburgh said.

The police arrested a 23 year-old man after he was traced. 

The house belongings were allegedly found in his possession.

He will appear at Taung Magistrate Court soon and police investigations continue.

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Durban – More than 6 000 junior and senior police officers in KwaZulu-Natal do not have driving licences.

Provincial statistics show that 2 896 constables, 614 sergeants, 2 896 warrant officers, 888 captains, 256 lieutenant colonels and 103 colonels were not licensed drivers.

In reply to a parliamentary question by DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said 16 584 police officers nationally did not have licences.

For more www.iol.co.za

Gauteng Government is training people for free,for a 4years Diploma in General Nursing(Psychia­try,Community) and Midwifery with Universityy of Witwatersrand (UJ),students will be paid a stipend of +-R5000 per month and qualify for any other Government employees benefits like medical aid,etc.All you need to do is make atleast 3 certified copies of all your qualifications.­Matric is a prerequisite.Ma­ke certified copies of all certificates after matric even if irrelevant to nursing,id copies,marriage­ certificate if married and take them to The Department of Labour in town(JHB) to apply.If still in matric,take your certified copies of Grade 11 report and ID copies to the Gauteng Government Colleges which are Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College at Soweto,Diepkloo­f,SG Lourens Nursing College at Pretoria (at HF Hospital),Ann Latsky Nursing College at Auckland Park,Johannesbu­rg.

closing date is this Friday 12/April/2013 @ 12 noon

Visit your nearest department of labour: https://­www.labour.gov.z­a/

Free State – “I worship the ground Madiba walks on – why would I wish him dead?” This is the question asked by Professor Jonathan Jansen, rector of the University of the Free State, reacting to a report in Beeld on Monday quoting him as saying he wishes Nelson Mandela would die.

“Do you honestly think I would say something like this, knowing my deep admiration for the man?” he asked.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-The residents of Veertien in Taung went beserk after accusing their councillor of hiring Manokwane people in the project meant for them.

According to reports, there is a water project that is going on and those who are employed put water pipes in place from Taung Dam to destined areas.

There are pipes that pass through Veertien and the community alleged that they were supposed to be hired in that project.

According to some residents who spoke to community radio station, Vaaltar FM news the agreement was set between their ward councillor and the community.

The residents allegedly went to Sedibeng Water offices in a protest.

They want some clarity from the councillor mr Vuyisile sibinda.

“We agreed with a councillor that Veertien residents will be part of the project and up to so far we see only few people benefit from the project” one resident said.

However the ward councillor refutes the claim and said the agreement between the community of Veertien and the municipality stands.

“We can assure the residents that nothing has changed. We solved that problem last month with the community” Vuyisile Sibinda told Vaaltar FM news.

The ward councillor outlined that he explained to the residents of Veertien that not only them will benefit from the coming project, but all communities that are affected.

For more news go to http://www.vaaltar.co.za and listen live or tune in to 93.6 mhz if around Taung.

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Johannesburg – Slack security at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital has staff members disturbed, with most saying worried thoughts occupy their minds as they attend to patients, fearing thieves could be  stealing or breaking into their cars.

Exacerbating their fears was the fact that the hospital was busy, making it easy for thieves to blend in with the workers and patients, they said. Some are now forced to leave their cars at home when they work night shift.

For more www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – She sat on the floor, staring at the coffin, as a tear trickled down her cheek.

In the coffin in Naturena Primary School hall on Saturday lay Thandeka Madonsela, her older sister and friend, who once spoke to her about her dreams and aspirations of becoming a doctor.

At the funeral service, Prudence spoke of the good relationship the sisters had.

For more www.iol.co.za

The Kaizer Chiefs duo of Stuart Baxter and Itumeleng Khune have landed the Q-Innovation Coach and Player Awards for the third quarter, following their side’s impressive 13 game unbeaten streak in the PSL.

Baxter won his first award in Q1 of the current Absa Premiership season, and has now added another piece of silverware to his locker ahead of the final quarter of the campaign.

Chiefs topped the Q3 table with 18 points for the quarter, and are now well on their way to landing their first PSL title since 2005.

Meanwhile, Khune has been in fine form for the Amakhosi this season and has now been rewarded for his recent displays by being named as the Player of Q3.

Khune and his defence conceded just four goals throughout the duration of Q3, helping them secure a +10 goal difference for the penultimate PSL quarter.

Chiefs’ Q4 started slowly with a 0-0 draw against Golden Arrows, although lead the overall log standings.

By Obakeng Maje

North West-Following a concentrated recruitment drive, three Chief Executive Officers have been appointed to serve three major hospitals in the North West Province. 

Mr Adrain Lourens will service Mahikeng Provincial Hospital while Mr Polaki Mokatsane has been appointed to manage Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex.

Ms Gloria Tlhapi has been retained as chief executive of Potchefstroom hospital. 

The hospital was upgraded to a regional hospital.

“The executives have all undergone a compulsory training at the Academy of Health and Leadership Management in Health Care, which the national Department of Health started in November 2012” Health department Tebogo Lekgethwane said. 

“Mr Lourens and Ms Tlhapi commenced their duties on 1 March while Mr. Mokatsane only started on 1 April” said Lekgethwane. 

The CEOs were amongst the 102 new hospital CEOs  announced by Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in January.

Mafikeng Provincial Hospital CEO, Mr Lourens is aiming to strengthen good practices and address less good practices, to ensure better health outcomes for all clients.

“This is an effort to contribute to the proverbial bigger picture, by ensuring that the people within the catchment area of Mafikeng Provincial Hospital receive good, quality and sustained services that will not only make them more healthy but also to keep them healthy and thus increase life expectancy for all,” said Mr. Lourens about the future of the hospital.

Mr Lourens says he plans to identify and develop the available leaders in order for them to develop their sub-ordinates to the extent that they function optimally within the parameters of the current health system. 

“This will ultimately nurture employee loyalty, improve/increase employee productivity, improve service values, excellence and quality and promote client/patient satisfaction at the highest level” said Tebogo Lekgethwane. 

Mr Lourens holds a National Diploma in Public Health and B Tech in Environmental Health and he held various leadership positions in various public health facilities in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province.

The appointments followed well-thought out processes and were made in accordance with the law and labour procedures. 

This was after new criteria for hospital chief executives were published in the Government Gazette. 

“CEOs needed to be from healthcare backgrounds and needed at least five years experience in middle and top management of a health institution” said Lekgethwane.

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