Rustenburg-A North West regional organiser of trade union Amcu was shot dead in Rustenburg on Saturday, eNews Channel Africa reported.

According to the report, police said four men approached the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) official at a tavern near Amplats’ Khomanani shaft.

The man, who cannot be named until his family have been told of his death, was reportedly shot four times.

He was expected to testify before the Marikana Commission of Inquiry into the deaths of 44 people killed in violence related to a strike at Lonmin’s Marikana mine in August last year.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The DA has stood for the truth and reconciliation in South Africa, the party leader Helen Zille said on Saturday.

“We have always stood for truth, freedom and reconciliation. We fought apartheid, and we are working tirelessly now for a better future for South Africa,” Zille told a Democratic Alliance rally in Mzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal.

Zille commended local councillor Jabulani Chiya who left the African National Congress and joined her party.

She said there were many people like Chiya across the country who wanted their lives to improve.

“They want the best for their families and children. But many of these pioneers are intimidated and are told that if they do not vote for the ANC they will be betraying the history of the struggle for freedom,” she said.

“That is why the DA recently launched the Know Your DA campaign to tell South Africans that supporting us is no betrayal of the past.”

Zille reminded the crowd that “a man of principle”, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, recently wrote an opinion piece carried by the Mail&Guardian in which he said he would not vote for the ANC at the next election.

SAPA

Following losses for Orlando Pirates and Platinum Stars, Kaizer Chiefs have managed to put one hand on the league trophy on a Saturday where they didn’t even have to take to the field.

Dikwena were unable to find their way past a motivated Golden Arrows, but only had themselves to blame after spurning a number of chances in the rain.

Siphiwe Sithole and Norman Smith struck in each half and although Robert Ng’ambi pulled a goal back, it was not enough for Stars.

In Soweto, Orlando Pirates enjoyed the better of play against fellow giants Mamelodi Sundowns but a stoppage-time diving header from Alje Schut saw Pirates go down 1-0.

The results made a major impact to the title challenge. Pirates, on 49 points with two games to play, are out as they could only collect a maximum of 55 points – one less than Chiefs already have.

The only team mathematically capable of matching Amakhosi is Stars, but they would need a dramatic string of results to occur for them to get back into the race.

Chiefs have two games left and both are possibly tricky against Pretoria opposition in SuperSport United and Tuks – but a single point for the leaders will be enough for them to clinch the crown.

They only way they could lose the title would be to lose both games, while Stars would need to hand Matsatsantsa a significant beating on the final day of the season.

Chiefs have a positive goal difference of 28, 10 more than Stars who are on 18. This means that even if Chiefs lost both of their games, the defeat would need to be quite severe and Stars would need a big win on the final day to edge Amakhosi on goal difference.

At an average goal ratio of 1.55 per game for Stars, a hefty win is unlikely – especially against draw kings SuperSport. Stars’ biggest wins this season were both 4-0 at home to Free State Stars and Black Leopards.

All eyes will certainly be watching events unfold at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday as Chiefs host SuperSport at 19:30. The first round match between the two saw Chiefs grab a 2-1 win away at the very same venue in November.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

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Johannesburg – More than R7m has been raised towards the R16m former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema owes the tax man, the SA Revenue Services said on Friday.

“Outstanding is slightly more than R9m,” said Sars spokesperson Adrian Lackay.

The legal process will continue as Sars works on recovering its money, following a court judgment on the matter.

“We will stand by the comment that we will pursue all legal steps to recover what tax debts are still outstanding,” said Lackay.

On Thursday, Malema’s half-built mansion in Sandown, Johannesburg, fetched R5.9m on auction, arranged by a curator for Sars.

Malema has since issued a statement saying he does not know the buyer Norman Tloubatla, CEO of the company Magnified Designs.

“I want to place it on record that I completely have no dealings with the buyer of the house in Sandown, and have no business, personal, or political association with him,” Malema said.

The home had been attached by a court to help cover Malema’s tax bill.

On 19 March his Limpopo farm, worth approximately R4m, was also seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Medupe Simasiku said at the time that the property was allegedly acquired with the proceeds from fraud, corruption, theft, and money laundering.

The alleged crimes were perpetrated against the Limpopo department of roads and transport, Simasiku said. Alternatively, the property had been used to launder money.

Malema also faces charges of fraud and racketeering related to the irregular awarding of a R52m tender to On-Point Engineers in Limpopo.

A verdict has not been delivered on those charges.

SAPA

Welkom – Unity and discipline have helped the ANC to beat its enemies in the past, the party’s deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa said on Saturday.

“Unity and discipline combined constitute the cornerstone on which our movement was founded and sustained,” he told delegates at the rerun of the Free State ANC’s elective conference.

“The conference must lead to unity in the ANC.”

Ramaphosa urged delegates to strive for values supported by the African National Congress’s leaders in the past.

He said members should understand that divisions within the party would inevitably undermine the effective functioning of the organisation to the benefit of its enemies.

Court order

Ramaphosa said the lack of unity and discipline in the province was evident by the court order that declared the Free State leadership illegal in 2012.

“Taking the ANC to court must be discouraged and must end.”

The ANC leader said even the courts themselves had indicated that they did not want to get involved in how the ANC was run.

Ramaphosa said members had to allow the views of the majority and the decisions of higher structures to prevail at all times.

He told delegates the ANC wanted to run its own organisation and invited those members who felt to be outside it, back so that problems could be resolved.

Referring to leadership elections, Ramaphosa said leadership in the ANC must not be seen as a vehicle to self-enrichment.

Negative trends

He said the ANC, due to its popularity, had attracted people who did not share its vision of creating a better life for all.

He said those members were only interested in self-enrichment programmes which came about through corruption, patronage, political killings, careerism, factionalism and ill-discipline.

“We must take bold action to reverse these negative trends.”

Ramaphosa told the Free State members that normal people were not interested in factional battles or who their leaders would be.

“They are only looking for answers on how service delivery could be accelerated [for] water [and] electricity and how their schools could work better.”

Ramaphosa said normal people pinned their hopes on delegates to elect people who were servants of the people, not their bosses.

“Today, go into that booth, choose people you know would deliver what the community wants,” he said.

Conference rerun

A provincial task team was appointed by the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) in December to rerun the conference after the Constitutional Court held that the province’s 2012 conference was illegal.

A group of six local ANC members successfully challenged the legality of the previous Free State leadership after the last conference.

The group succeeded in getting the Constitutional Court to declare the provincial executive committee’s (PEC) decisions and resolutions unlawful and invalid, because the ANC had not addressed certain irregularities about the conference.

As a result, the PEC was dissolved.

Earlier this week, the provincial task team and NEC members deployed to the province announced that they were ready to rerun the conference.

SAPA

Absa Premiership

Result: Golden Arrows 2-1 Platinum Stars

Date: 11 May 2013

Venue: Princess Magogo Stadium

Goals from Gift Sithole and Norman Smith ended Platinum Stars’ title ambitions as Golden Arrows beat the Rustenburg outfit 2-1 in an Absa Premiership at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.

The result sees Platinum Stars still in second place on the log, but three points adrift of Kaizer Chiefs who have a far superior goal difference and two games to play.

For Arrows, the win sees them up to 13th on the league table, six points clear of the relegation zone.

Stars certainly saw more of the ball early on, but they were made to pay from some poor finishing in front of goal.

Dikwena were on the attack from the word go and created their first chance on goal in the seventh minute as some good build up play saw Mogakolodi Ngele in space 16-yards out from goal, but his shot was superbly saved by Siya Mngoma, diving low to his left to make the fingertip save.

Two minutes later and some more impressive passing saw Innocent Mkhabela through on goal and with only the keeper to beat, but Mngoma produced a great one-on-one save to deny the Platinum Stars man.

In the tenth minute Stars were made to rue those missed opportunities as Arrows took the lead from a set-piece.

A corner was whipped into the box and Gift Sithole rose highest to meet the cross with a powerful header from six-yards out to give his side the lead, 1-0.

After taking the lead Arrows sat back in defence as Stars applied pressure on their goal.

In the 26th minute Siphelele Mthembu came close to equalising when he headed a corner-kick narrowly over the crossbar.

Platinum Stars should have equalised five minutes from time when Mthembu missed two sitters in front of goal.

Initially, Mthembu set-up Solomon Mathe who saw his 16-yard effort strike the post. The ball, however, rebounded into the path of Mthembu six-yards out from goal, but he saw his first attempt blocked on the line by Sithole. The ball, though, fell into his path for a second time but again he wasted the chance by firing over from four-yards out.

The half ended 1-0 in favour of Arrows.

The second 45 again saw Platinum Stars dominating the possession stakes, but for all the time spent in the opposition half they could not create a decent clear-cut chance on goal and were unable to find the back of the net.

Instead, it was at the other end where we saw goal mouth action.

In the 58th minute Nkanyiso Madonsela almost doubled Arrows lead when he worked his way into the box and unleashed a low shot which was well saved by Kabelo Dambe, diving low to his left. The keeper, though, was lucky not to concede after that as he palmed the ball into the path of Bongi Ntuli, but he fired wide with an open goal at his mercy.

Arrows, though, were not forced to rue that miss as Norman Smith did double Arrows lead two minutes later after firing a clinical volley into the bottom right-corner from just inside the box, 2-0

In the 76th minute Arrows were afforded the perfect opportunity to seal the victory as the referee awarded them a penalty after Ntuli was brought down inside the box. Musa Bilankulu, however, skied the penalty high over the crossbar.

Seven minutes from time Platinum Stars set-up an exciting finish as Robert Ng’ambi pulled one back for the visitors, 2-1, but it was not to be for Dikwena as the loss ended their title ambitions.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg-A game between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns started like a house on fire at Orlando stadium, soweto. Pirates maneuvered their way into Sundowns half.

Pirates attacked with delicacy as they knew an early goal could send them rising to greater heights, to the pinnacle of their dreams.

The visitors were more cautious as they were shadows of themselves.

However Pirates strikers were under a chattered eye of Sundowns defence.

The visiting team started to rummaged into Pirates half and were nearly rewarded when Modise’s shot hit a crossbar.

Pirates Rooi Mahamutsa threw a long shot into Sundowns 18 yard, but a shot was blocked by Wayne Sandilands.

Sundowns skipper Teko Modise ochestrated a move and the ball ended at Richard Henyekane’s feet who saw his shot blew over the bar in disbelief.

Senzo Meyiwa was called on duty again when he saved Nasha Mushekwi’ shot.

On the 18th minutes Pirates illustrious midfield Ntshumayelo launched an attack and lost his marker Tebogo Langerman, but his effort outside the 18 yard goes way over the bar.

Pirates Collins Mbesuma hit a thurnderbolt, but his shot went wide.

The game started to pick up the tempo and both teams launched attacks.

The game went to interval both teams in stalemate.

The defiant Orlando Pirates came back gun-blazing from the interval. Collins Mbesuma was unlucky after he turned upside down Mamelodi Sundowns defence and took a thunderbolt shot that went over the bar.

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane subsequently brought in Jabulani Shongwe for Nashwa Mushweki who was inept. 

The game continues and as the results remain unchanged. 

Pirates knew that the results as they stand, bring their hopes crashing to earth.

The reigning champions confidence grew stronger, going almost five minutes running on the adrenaline of ambition without Sundowns touching the ball.

Pirates launched attack in the last minutes of the game and sundowns buyoed defence was forced to put their body in line.

Manyisa remain a thorn on Sundowns flesh and Roger De Sa was forced to bring on Ndumiso Mabena for injured Mbesuma.

“We needed three points more than them, and the game was tough and playing Orlando Pirates at their turf, is not easy” Pitso Mosimane said.

Sundowns coach without being outsmart, he brought in Katlego Mphela for Richard Henyekane. 

Sundowns started to attack Pirates and Mahamutsa was forced to concede a corner-kick on referee’s extra-time.

Orlando Pirates dreams and ambition of contesting for a league title came crumbling when Sundowns Schut headed home a contoversial goal that looked like offside.

Pirates maestro Okonkwo scooped man of the match accolade and he said their focus now change to championship. 

“We played so well today and we knocked the ball around. We now focus on Champions League” Roger De Sa said.

Orlando Pirates 0- Mamelodi Sundowns 1

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KwaMhlanga – A man accused of murdering Happy Sindane appeared in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court on Friday, Mpumalanga police said.

Colonel Leonard Hlathi said the case against Khuano Simon Mthimunye, 58, was postponed to June 21. His R10 000 bail was extended.

Sindane’s body was found in Tweefontein, near KwaMhlanga, on April 1.

The 29-year-old made headlines in 2003 when he claimed he was a white boy who had been kidnapped by black people.

After a four-month inquiry to establish his identity, the Bronkhorstspruit Children’s Court found in September 2003 that Sindane’s real name was Abbey Mzayiya, and that he was the son of a black domestic worker, Rina Mzayiya.

The court found that his father was probably a white man, Henry Nick, who employed Mzayiya in 1984, the year Sindane was born. – Sapa

Johannesburg – The SA Policing Union on Friday demanded an apology from Gauteng police chief Lt-Gen Mzwandile Petros for purported sexist remarks.

“To say women have themselves to blame for not being promoted because they are concentrating on their husbands and children is the worst insult to women in a democratic dispensation,” Sapu general secretary Oscar Skommere said.

Skommere said Petros made the comment this week while briefing the media on the appointment of 14 station commanders. Eight of the commanders were promoted to the rank of colonel and the other six to that of brigadier.

Police spokesman Neville Malila said 15 of the 24 officers promoted were women. Malila said if Petros indeed made the remarks, it was strange journalists at the briefing had not picked them up immediately.

“At least seven different media house(s) were present; they would not miss something like this.”

He said there would be no apology from the general.

Sapu said Petros’s comments were unacceptable and uncalled-for and the union expected an apology in seven days.

“We call upon General Petros to withdraw this statement and apologise unconditionally to women officers and women in the country in general.”

Sapu challenged gender activists to call the general to order. – Sapa

Johannesburg – The Hawks seized the assets of a 30-year-old security guard in Makhado, Limpopo on Friday, spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said.

A house and two luxury cars belonging to Prince Manyuma were seized in the morning.

Ramaloko said Manyuma was allegedly handed 10 cash boxes containing more than R300 000 to deliver to a commercial bank in February last year.

“When he arrived at the bank he signed a delivery note for 10 boxes, but later realised that only eight were listed on the inventory note. He then cancelled the delivery slip and changed the number of cash boxes to eight.”

He allegedly took the remaining two boxes for himself, bought two luxury cars, and built a house.

Manyuma was arrested in March last year for theft and released on a warning.

He was expected to appear in the Makhado Magistrate’s Court on June 10 for trial.

“While the criminal case is continuing in court, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the Hawks applied to the High Court to seize the assets, which are proceeds of crime,” Ramaloko said. – Sapa