Rihanna is no Justin Bieber. Although the coveted golden circle tickets for the Diamonds diva’s October 13 Joburg concert sold out in less than half an hour after sales opened on Thursday, many sections still had seats remaining.

In comparison, all 62 000 tickets of Bieber’s May concert sold out within three hours of opening.

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After a three-year, costly legal battle it seems that at least one government department believes Walmart’s controversial acquisition of Massmart might be good for jobs.

Launching the Industrial Policy Action Plan 2013/14 last week, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said his department had recognised that the economy needed to be more open to foreign competition with the goal of local companies getting access to other countries in return and then, according to media reports: “Walmart’s takeover of South Africa’s Massmart deal has begun to create jobs.”

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Durban – Police are searching for three suspects after CCTV footage from a Durban bank showed one of them – purporting to be an elderly client murdered days earlier – withdrawing R11 000 from the dead woman’s savings.

The decomposed body of 73-year-old Agnes Khonzaphi Maseko, was found covered with leaves under a bridge near Paulpietersburg, 22 days after she was reported missing. It was discovered by grass cutters a few kilometres from Maseko’s home.

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Cape Town – An off-duty policeman is being investigated for assaulting a woman at a petrol station  and uniformed, on-duty colleagues are accused of not doing enough to restrain him.

The charges come after television station eNCA was sent CCTV footage from a petrol station in Smithfield in the Free State last Friday.

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Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane believes South Africa’s qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil is solely in their hands.  

There are three matches left in the qualifiers, two away encounters against Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia before rounding off the programme with a seemingly easy home clash against neighbours Botswana. 

South Africa is currently on five points in second place, with Ethiopia top of Group A with seven points, while CAR and Botswana are lying third and fourth with two points and one respectively.

“If you look at the table very carefully, we have not lost a match; we drew two and won one. With three matches to go, we have to play CAR who are below us, and Ethiopia who are above us. So if we get positive results against the two, we will top the group, and come September against Botswana we will have played our part,” said Letsholonyane. 

“The exciting thing about these qualifiers is that we have to do our own job and not depend on others to do it for us. We must just win our games and qualify. No other scenario will do.”

“Playing away has always proven to be difficult, more so because we are going to play back to back matches and it doesn’t mean we cannot return with maximum points. But we have to take one game at a time – deal with each opponent at a time, get the required result and move on to the next match because in any case the planning for each qualifier will not be the same,” said the dreadlocked midfielder.

Bafana Bafana has already played a draw against Ethiopia and defeated CAR at home, but Letsholonyane says it will be a different ball game altogether playing away. 

“That we beat CAR at home does not mean they are an easy side. They showed glimpses of being a good side with quality players, so we don’t have to take them lightly based on the past result. This is a new game altogether and we have to forget about our victory over them and focus afresh. We can’t afford to take any of the remaining matches lightly. All three countries in our group have proven to be tough opponents,” said Letsholonyane. 

“But I am confident we can return from CAR and Ethiopia victorious, and finish off the job at home against Botswana because we have become a better team with each match. I believe we have the players to fight for a positive result.”

According to reports, former Bafana Bafana star Bryce Moon has been found guilty of culpable homicide.

Moon hit pedestrian Mavis Ncube in his car in Sandhurst on June 30, 2009.

Ncube later died of her injuries in hospital.

In a case continually beset with postponements, owing to the unavailability of witnesses, Moon was charged with murder, alternatively attempted murder, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless or negligent driving.

According to Eyewitness news reports on Twitter he has now been found guilty of culpable homicide, but acquitted on the other charges.

The Bidvest Wits midfielder, who turned 27 at the weekend, denied being drunk at the time of the accident, or speeding.

For more http://www.kickoff.com

Premier Modise applauds arrest of suspected farm attackers

The arrest of six suspected farm attackers around Mahikeng is commendable and should send a strong message to criminals that farming communities have had enough of farm attacks and are united against crime, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Friday.

“The operation conducted by farmers, farmworkers and police proves just how crucial trust and good relations among farming communities is to the successful implementation of the rural safety plan. Every effort has to be made to prevent farm attacks and to ensure that those feed the nation are safer on farms” stressed Premier Modise.

Modise‘s commend and call for vigilance against crime on farms follows the arrest the suspects, four of whom were arrested two hours after a woman was reportedly overpowered in her farm shop.

According to Beeld newspaper, Kotie du Toit was attacked by four men in balaclavas on Thursday morning.

After taking money from the cash register, they took her back to her home, tied her up and demanded the keys to the safe.

“They held a gun to my head… I prayed out loud the whole time. God was there. One of the robbers stroked my hair and said ‘Sorry, Ouma’.”

They left, and after she managed to free herself, Du Toit called for help.

Local security forces were mobilised, along with farmers, herdsmen and local businessmen.

“We cordoned off an area of about 500 hectares with vehicles,” local farmer Wynand Buys said.

“Farm workers were dropped off every 50m so they could see each other and spread the word if they spotted the robbers. Herdsmen patrolled the fences.”

Two suspects were spotted when they crossed a road and a farmworker spotted another hiding in the grass.

Eventually all four surrendered to police and, after they were arrested, Du Toit’s stolen belongings were found in two bags in the veld.

In a separate incident, farmers caught two thieves in the act in a local farm house last Sunday and they were swiftly arrested by police.

Since joining forces last Sunday, farmers, farmworkers and police in the Mafikeng area in North West province have apprehended six suspected farm attackers, according to a report on Friday.

On Thursday, they arrested four men just two hours after a woman was reportedly overpowered in her farm shop, Beeld reported.

Kotie du Toit was attacked by four men in balaclavas on Thursday morning.

After taking money from the cash register, they took her back to her home, tied her up and demanded the keys to the safe.

“They held a gun to my head… I prayed out loud the whole time. God was there. One of the robbers stroked my hair and said ‘Sorry, Ouma’.”

They left, and after she managed to free herself, Du Toit called for help.

Local security forces were mobilised, along with farmers, herdsmen and local businessmen.

“We cordoned off an area of about 500 hectares with vehicles,” local farmer Wynand Buys said.

“Farm workers were dropped off every 50m so they could see each other and spread the word if they spotted the robbers. Herdsmen patrolled the fences.”

Two suspects were spotted when they crossed a road and a farmworker spotted another hiding in the grass.

Eventually all four surrendered to police and, after they were arrested, Du Toit’s stolen belongings were found in two bags in the  veld.

In a separate incident, farmers caught two thieves in the act in a local farm house last Sunday and they were swiftly arrested by police. – Sapa

The Farlam Commission of Inquiry is hoping to continue as planned next week, following an attack on miners’ advocate Dali Mpofu, a spokesperson said on Friday.

“We are engaging the legal teams where Mr Dali Mpofu works from,” said Tshepo Mahlangu.

Mpofu is recovering in hospital after being attacked and stabbed on an East London beach.

Options being explored include the possibility of Mpofu’s team putting someone else in his place while he recovers, or for retired  judge Ian Farlam and the evidence leaders to meet to see whether the sequence of the inquiry’s programme can be changed.

“The commission has to continue,” said Mahlangu. “We can’t afford any more delays.”

Earlier, Eastern Cape police said Mpofu was in a “serious but stable condition” after being stabbed and robbed near Eastern Beach.

Mahlangu said the commission was shocked and saddened by the attack on Mpofu.

“He is an important member of the commission, playing a very important role. We want to wish him a speedy recovery.”

Mahlangu said the commission did not see a link between its work and the attack on Mpofu.

“Not at all. The police have said very clearly that it is robbery. There is no information that we have that seeks to suggest otherwise,” he said. – Sapa