BY Obakeng Maje

The North West Department of Health MEC, Dr Magome Masike has learnt with shock of the death of former MEC for Health in the province Mme Onewang Rebecca Kasienyane.

She passed on over the weekend at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital where she was admitted.

She died of a lung cancer complication which has been troubling her for some time.

“We are saddened by the loss of this humbled human being who was my predecessor in the North West Department of Health and a fellow comrade in the African National Congress.  She laid the ground for the good work that we continue to do to improve the health of our people,” said MEC Dr Magome Masike.

“We share the loss that is deeply felt by the family and hope that they will find solace in knowing that God is with them in these trying times and we wish for her soul to rest in peace.” he said.

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Johannesburg – Former Bafana Bafana player Bryce Moon has been fined R60 000, or two years’ imprisonment, for culpable homicide, according to reports.

His licence has also been suspended for six months.

Earlier this month, Moon was convicted of culpable homicide for the June 2009 incident in which he hit Zimbabwean domestic worker Mavis Ncube with his Mercedes-Benz on Katherine Road in Sandton.

Ncube had been with her cousin, Thandi Sibanda, and both were on their way to work.

Ncube died later in hospital.

On April 12, Magistrate Vincent Pienaar acquitted the soccer star of attempted murder, negligent and reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court. – IOL

Kimberley – A senior staff member at the Noupoort Combined School, who was charged for coercing a young teacher into perform oral sex on him in the computer room on Monday, has since tendered his resignation on two occasions.

The accused, Rudy Reed, was granted R1 000 bail in the Noupoort Magistrate’s Court late on Thursday afternoon. 

Police spokesman, Lieutenant Sergio Kock, said the 38-year-old man was arrested by the police at his home in Noupoort on Wednesday evening on charges of sexual assault.

Educators at the school had requested that the school be closed until further notice, although lessons continued as normal on Thursday, according to the Department of Education. 

The complainant on Thursday gave details to the department on how she was allegedly taken by force by the staff member after she was summoned to bring him the class list. 

“When I entered the computer room he was already inside waiting behind the door. He locked the door but I was not aware of what was happening. He then hugged and kissed me by force. I refused and wished to know what was happening because I don’t have any relationship with him.

“I screamed, but he told me that it was no use because nobody could hear me.

“He touched my breasts, rubbed my body and told me that I was cute and that he wanted to have sex with me for a long time. He loosened his belt and forced me to perform oral sex on him.

“I cannot cope with anything my life is a mess.” 

She also related how she was sexually abused by her uncle and was threatened with a pistol when she was very young.

“I don’t know where to go. I request your immediate intervention in this regard,” she told the Department of Education. 

Spokesman for the department, Sydney Stander, said that Reed was suspended with immediate effect.

“In this case, because we deem his action of resigning after being suspended as a way of avoiding due process, the Employment of Educators Act empowers the employer to block such an employee on the Persal system.” 

He indicated that the necessary steps were taken to protect the victim and safeguard the interests of women and children. 

“The department is continuing with internal investigations. The district has sent a multi-disciplinary team that will provide support to affected learners and female educators. There is no crisis in terms of attendance and there no truth in suggestions that the school will be closed indefinitely.”

He added that, according to their records, the staff member resigned on Wednesday, withdrew his resignation almost immediately, and then tendered his resignation again on Thursday morning.

Stander explained that a staff member is granted 30 days in which to retract a resignation. 

“Once a resignation is submitted to the district director, it is forwarded with recommendations to the head office of the Human Resources Unit for a final decision.” 

The police have requested that any information regarding the case be forwarded to Detective Sergeant Melany Oliphant on 053 632 9627.

Diamond Fields Advertiser

When Luyanda Ngcombolo*, 28, was told to attend an identity parade and point out the two men who had raped her in a taxi, she knew that relying on her eyes would be useless.

She didn’t know what her rapists looked like. She had just knocked off one night and flagged down the taxi, not paying attention to the two people at the front.

For more www.iol.co.za

The SA Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has denied reports that the entity has targeted numerous major roads across the country for further tolling.

This is after the DA said yesterday that Sanral had revealed new plans to toll numerous roads at a closed parliamentary portfolio committee meeting last week.

For more www.iol.co.za

South African households are poorer than they were in 1975, largely due to recessionary factors, according to the Momentum/Unisa Wealth Index for the fourth quarter of 2012.

Economists and scholars who compile the wealth index said on Friday that in real terms, the estimated average wealth of households was lower in 2012 than in 1975.

Their analysis indicates that real wealth per household on average decreased by 0.04 percent a year over the period, declining from R326 000 in 1975 to R287 000 in 2012.

A further breakdown shows that between 1975 and 1994, real net worth per household on average decreased by 1.8 percent a year.

“The decrease in the real net worth per household over the period 1975-2012 is a real cause for concern and policymakers, the private sector, trade unions and households themselves should all take responsibility in ensuring a larger emphasis on households’ asset accumulation,” said Bernadene de Clercq, the head of the personal finance research unit at Unisa’s Bureau of Market Research.

The report says that the impact of the 2008 economic recession on households was severe, taking five years of accumulation off their wealth, which “might force households to postpone their retirement or start saving more”.

The methodology for the index deviated from expressing wealth in terms of income as is usually done, but rather considered households as possessing balance sheets comprising assets and liabilities, which are checked against each other.

For example, the index said, many households were income-poor but rich in assets, indicating the importance of also monitoring household wealth to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the true financial health of households in the country.

In terms of the fourth quarter, collectively households experienced a second consecutive strong increase in their nominal wealth due to a strong increase in the value of household assets, despite mining strikes that dented confidence, mediocre domestic growth and a slow international economy.

Johannesburg – An MP has brought charges against Johannesburg metro police for allegedly crashing into her car and insulting her, The New Age reported on Monday. 

She thought she was being hijacked when metro police officials confronted her in Sandton on Friday, arts and culture portfolio committee chairwoman Thandile Babalwa Sunduza told the newspaper.

After telling them she would park her car to avoid blocking traffic, Sunduza reportedly said she “heard a big bang” and realised a metro police 4×4 had crashed into her car. About 10 metro police surrounded it.

“It was traumatic… The female officers were calling me ‘isifebe’ (a “whore”) and a dog,” she was quoted was telling The New Age.

She said she was threatened with arrest for talking on her cellphone while driving, but reportedly claimed both her cellphones were in the car boot.

Sunduza had brought charges of intimidation and malicious damage to property against the metro police officials.

Police spokeswoman Captain Kym Cloete told the newspaper no arrests had yet been made, and Johannesburg metro police spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane said a separate, internal investigation had been launched.

“If [the metro police] are in the wrong, action will be taken against them,” she said. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Makgobistad-A 20 year-old cyclist died after he was allegedly knocked down by a VW golf(silver) in Disaneng village, near Makgobistad.

According to police a victim was crossing the road when he collided with a car.

“A 20 year-old man was declared dead by paramedics in disaneng village after he was knocked down by a car” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

The police found the driver on the scene and a case of culpable homicide was opened.

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By Obakeng Maje

Morokweng-A 34 year old man perish in an accident after the car they were travelling with overturned in Morokweng.

The accident took place at Morongwa/Lennisdale road in Morokweng, near Ganyesa on Saturday.

“A white hilux bakkie overturned after its tyre burst. Three occupants were taken to a local hospital for after they sustained injuries” captain Aafje Botma.

“Unfortunately a driver perished in the results of accident and was declared dead on their arrival at the hospital” said police.

Police investigations continue and a case of culpable homicide opened.

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By Obakeng Maje

Bethanie- North West police are investigating a case of murder after a woman was found dead in her bedroom in Bethanie.

Police said a 57 year-old woman was found lying on a matress with stains of blood on it.

“A 57 year-old woman was found dead on saturday at around 04:30” captain Aafje Botma said.

According to information received,her legs were tied together and she suffered bruises around her neck police said.

Police could not declare if she was raped and are still waiting for postmoterm results.

Investigations continue and no one has been arrested yet.

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