Rustenburg – National police commissioner Riah Phiyega showed a “tough luck” attitude to families of the dead Marikana workers, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.

“The families of the deceased understand that you think those who were killed were not angels, and that police were protecting themselves. If any of those miners died in the process, tough luck,” Dumisa Ntsebeza, for the families of the miners police shot dead, put it to Phiyega.

“Words such as tough luck were far from the statement I made,” Phiyega responded, in rejecting the statement.

“As a leader, I had no intention of applauding death; neither did I ask the police to applaud the tragedy,” she said.

Ntsebeza asked Phiyega why she told police to applaud themselves four days after the Marikana shooting, in which 34 people were killed on August 16.

“What I (was) saying was that you’ve been here many days, worked overtime – day and night – and we’ve experienced this tragedy. They were equally traumatised like all citizens. They too needed to be spoken to.

“The nation was mourning, we were mourning too. The de-contextualising of what I said (telling police to applaud themselves) is the saddest thing of this commission. Being a human being, I would never applaud death.”

Ntsebeza said his clients rejected Phiyega’s apology because they felt it was insincere.

About eight relatives of the dead miners walked out of the auditorium while Phiyega was answering Ntsebeza’s questions. One of  them cried hysterically.

Ntsebeza asked Phiyega whether she had perhaps felt under pressure to appease the police, and that was why she had endorsed their actions in public.

“You were under pressure following the largest post-apartheid massacre,” said Ntsebeza.

Phiyega said she had not been under pressure and that this was his interpretation of her actions.

Ntsebeza pointed out that Phiyega was appointed commissioner just 65 days before the Marikana unrest. He said she had acted irresponsibly in the way she addressed the police after the shooting.

The commission, led by retired judge Ian Farlam and sitting in Rustenburg, is investigating the deaths of the 34 miners and those of 10 other people killed during protests the preceding week. – Sapa

Johannesburg – “I wish the bastard dead.” These words were allegedly uttered by a scorned woman, triple-murder accused Nomshado Mdluli, in the wake of a heated argument with her husband’s lover, Tshepiso Sekwati.

The “bastard” in question was the love child of Mdluli’s husband, Ndumiso Mbatha.

For more www.iol.co.za

World football governing body, FIFA, has today (18 April 2013) written a letter reminding all parties (SAFA and Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa) of the 5 April 2013 meeting and agreement in Zurich by all parties regarding the setting up of the Independent Judicial Commission of Enquiry into match fixing.

During the meeting, it was decided and agreed that an Independent Judicial Commission of Enquiry would be set up by the South African Government. The mandate of the Commission would be limited to investigating the irregularities related to friendly matches prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Additionally, FIFA proposed that one of the members of the Commission be Mr Michael J. Garcia, the Chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee.

“Herewith we would like to emphasise that any other issues not related to the above should be handled entirely by the South African Football Association (SAFA), as otherwise this would constitute interference in the internal affairs of the SAFA affairs by a third party and would clearly violate the principles contained in articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes,” read part of the letter sent to all parties concerned.

“We thank you for respecting the terms of our agreement,” concluded the letter signed by FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke.

The North West Provincial Executive Council (Exco) has endorsed the establishment of a waste buy back centre and waste transfer stations for a cleaner Mahikeng. The establishment of the Keep Mahikeng Clean Steering Committee was approved by Exco in its meeting held on Wednesday.

Premier Thandi Modise says that the waste buy back centre will help keep the provincial capital clean, reduce waste that reaches the landfill site through recycling and also create income for individuals and groups through collecting recyclable material and sell it back to the buyback centre.

“An extensive education and awareness campaign, tightened law enforcement, joint operations between municipal health, environmental management inspectorate from province and traffic officials at periodic intervals should curb illegal dumping of refuse in the residential areas of Mahikeng,” Premier Modise.

The buyback centres are to be served by drop off centres strategically located around the municipal areas and waste management.

Funding for development of waste transfer stations for green waste is to be made available through the Provincial Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs’ Municipal Infrastructure Grant.

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-Taung Youth Forum in conjuction with other non-profitable organisations around Taung will be hosting educational programme, whereby they will be teaching school children and community at large about daily issues affecting them.

According to co-ordinator of Emang-Basha Youth Forum Tebogo Motsebe, the aim of the initiative is to bring awareness in the communities.

He said they will be providing information on issues like alcohol and drug abuse, unemployment and socio-economic issues that affect the youths.

“Our aim is very simple, we need to teach the youths of Taung and make them aware of issues that affect their daily lives” Motsebe said.

The pilot project is a brainchild of those organisations, they want to make a difference in the area.

The event will take place at Bagamaidi primary school in Khudutlou village near Taung.

“Satanism is rife at schools and prayers will be provided to fight against the scourge of satanism, rape, unemployment, alcohol and sunstance abuse including crime” Tebogo Motsebe adds.

Other organisations to be part of the initiative are Agang Molelema Youth, SAPS and Social Developments will grace the event.

“I am not aware of the event,but surely I will receive invitation when the day goes by. It is a good idea to have initiative like this in the area” ward councillor Mogoje Ditshakame said.

The co-ordinator urges the communities within Khudutlou village and its surroundings to attend the event and support the initiative.

Kgosi Keseokile Phakedi is also expected to be part of the event.

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With the 2012/13 Absa Premiership campaign well into its business end, Kaizer Chiefs are leading the table standings after 25 rounds of league action. However, the title contenders are only four points clear of second placed Platinum Stars and six ahead of Orlando Pirates, who are in third spot.

With only five league fixtures left in the current season, 15 points are at stake for each team, and although the Amakhosi are leading the chasing pack with 52 points, the PSL is far from over.

Chiefs defender, Tefu Mashamaite, admits that seeing out the campaign at the top of the log will be a challenging task, although is confident that they do have the quality to go all the way.

The Soweto giants will face SuperSport United, Moroka Swallows, Platinum Stars, Ajax Cape Town and University of Pretoria in their final five league fixtures of the season.

“We have five games to finish the season and all these games will be tough. You know we are aiming for the top spot and win the league, and at this point in time the higher we go the tougher it becomes.

“The good things is that we have a team that will be able to sustain the pressure,” the 28-year-old told Soccer-Laduma.

For more www.soccerladuma.com

By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-Two people who died in an accident when aircraft crashed into Modimola dam, near Mahikeng has been identified.

A local aircraft crashed on Tuesday after it allegedly experienced mechanical problems.

The police divers were brought in from Potchefstroom to help and retrieve the bodies of victims.

“The search was adjourned on Tuesday after poor visibility in the area. Police resumed the search yesterday and two bodies were recovered late yesterday” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

The wreckage was also brought to the surface.

“Victims were identified as Marthinus Steyn(54) who was instructor and Narco van Straaten(23) who is believed to be a pilot learner” Ngubane said.

The cause of the crashed is yet unknown and police are investigating.

Civil Aviation company also launched their own investigations to discover the cause.

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Johannesburg – A lecturer at the University of Johannesburg has been stabbed to death in his home, Gauteng police said on Thursday.

A house helper discovered the body of Carl Mischke in his bedroom at around 10.50am on Monday, said Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini.

“It is suspected that a sharp object was used to stab him. He was found lying on his bed in a pool of blood. His head was covered with a pillow. No murder weapon was found at the scene,” said Dlamini.

Police believed his killers might have gained access to his house and then taken his vehicle and other valuable items.

“The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage… we are also appealing to anyone who might have information about the killing of Mischke to come forward,” said Dlamini. – Sapa

A police report confirms that officers shot dead 34 striking mineworkers at Marikana, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Wednesday.

Dumisa Ntsebenza, for the families of the deceased, said the report showed that the police did not dispute shooting dead the miners, and that the argument was about the circumstances behind the killings.

According to the report, 30 of the miners died on the scene and four died in hospital, Ntsebenza said.

Earlier, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said it had not been confirmed that police killed the miners.

For more www.iol.co.za