By Obakeng Maje

Pampierstad-The Pampierstad police are investigating a murder, armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and four counts of assault which allegedly took place in between 29 April 2013 and 4 May 2013 in Pampierstad.

“It is alleged that eight men robbed the first tuck shop in the Sekhing Village near Pampierstad on 29 April 2013 at approximately 19:15pm” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

The owner of the tuck shop was threatened with a gun and the suspects took cash and airtime vouchers to the value of approximately R2000,00. 

The suspect fired one shot through the roof and fled the scene.

“The suspects pulled-off the second armed robbery on 01 May 2013 at a tuck shop in the Pampierstad Township at approximately 19:15pm. The suspects also threatened the tuckshop owner with a firearm but was apparently disturbed by entering customers. The suspects again fired their signature gun shot through the roof of this tuck shop and fled the scene without taking anything” Kock said.     

The alleged thugs carried on raging discomfort and instilling fear in the Pampierstad Township when they robbed a third tuck shop on Saturday, 4 May 2013 at approximately 19:15pm. 

The suspects allegedly took an undisclosed amount of cash and groceries from the tuck shop. Upon exiting the tuck shop the suspects met with a neighbour who came to enquire about the noise coming from the tuck shop. “It is alleged that one of the suspects fired that “signature shot” but this time wounded the 22 year old neighbour. The male victim known as Isaac Pico, suffered a close range gunshot wound in his head and died on the scene” police said. 

“The suspects fled the scene and allegedly visited a local tavern and assaulted four persons on separate occasions at the premises” he said. 

The police launched a manhunt and managed to arrest seven males at their homes in Pampierstad on Sunday, 5 May 2013. 

The police also managed to retrieve the firearm that was allegedly used during the murder and robbery at a residence in Pampierstad. 

The police arrested the eighth male suspect in Pampierstad on Friday, 10 May 2013.   

The eight male suspects are known as James Thladi(23), Malebo Mahadika(22), Serami Bosvark(21), Lebogang Pilane(24), Olebogeng Ndineni(19), Otsile Monamudi(20), Dumisani Mocumi(23) and Charles Olyn(25) appeared for a formal bail application in the Pampierstad District Court on Tuesday and application will continue on the 15 May 2013. 

The suspects will remain in custody.

The police members of Pampierstad are lauded for the swift arrests and the Pampierstad community is commended for their assistance with information in this regard. The SAPS is committed is to creating a safe and secure environment for all people and will not allow lawlessness in our society. 

The police request that information regarding the incident be forwarded to Detective Capt Frans Moratiwa at 082 443 8640. 

The investigation continues.

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Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi is hoping to bring his club form to the national team should he be selected for the away crucial World Cup qualifiers against  Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia next month.

The big midfielder was in a splendid form on Monday night ((13 May 2013) when he helped his Crystal Palace side to a 2-0 victory over Brighton to reach the Championship final where they will face Watford at Wembley Stadium on 27 May. The winners will be promoted into the English Premiership, meaning if all goes well he might be just 90 minutes away from realising his dream.

“I must admit this has been my best season since coming to England. I have played over 40 games for Crystal Palace and I must admit I am a very happy man. I hope that next season, irrespective of where we finish in the league, I will play just as much,” said Dikgacoi from England.

“I also hope the form I am in, I will be able to bring it to the Bafana squad that is if I am fortunate to be selected for the forthcoming matches. 

“But what I need urgently after a long season is a bit of a break to see my family before I join the team in camp. I hope by that time Palace would have clinched a Premier League spot so I can bring the excitement to the national team.”

The midfield strongman is excited about playing at Wembley.

“Playing at that wonderful venue is a huge occasion for me as it will be for the first time I play at that magnificent stage. Most big matches are played at Wembley which goes to show the importance of the venue.

“I am excited about playing there and hope things go our way. We are playing a really good team in Watford, perhaps one of the most difficult sides to play against in the First Division. We have played them before and drew 2-2; so we have to double our efforts to beat them to the finishing line,” said Dikgacoi.

“We need a good game plan to stop them. We have about two weeks to the match so we will be well-rested when we get to the final and hope to give a good account of ourselves.”

Not only was the Bafana Bafana midfielder in sublime form the entire evening but he capped a good evening by creating a second goal that completely took the fighting off Brighton.

“We were expecting a tough match and we really got a good encounter. We were aware it could go either way having drawn the first leg 0-0 at home but we had no pressure as we went in as underdogs. 

“But now we should not get carried away because we still have a job to do. We wanted to get automatic qualification but we dropped off the race in the closing stages. Now that we are back in contention, we need to make the best of it because we should have wrapped it much earlier,” concluded Dikgacoi

Mahikeng-A taxi driver was arrested and fined R3 500 for loading 26 school children in a vehicle certified to carry 9 passengers. The driver was arrested along the Vryburg road during the Jaws special operations focusing on overloading, taxi/vehicle and driver fitness.

The North West Traffic Authorities issued about 38 summonses worth R28 900 to those found overloading and other offenses such as driving without driver’s licenses and PdPs during the operation which started as early as 4am this morning and lasted for six hours.

More than hundred commuters were left stranded and inconvenienced as their drivers had to be taken to different police stations to pay spot fines and those taxis were impounded. About four taxis were also impounded for being unroadworthy.

North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi said the department has realised that most of taxi drivers overload school kids and Traffic Authorities will definitely work hard and deal harshly with those found on the wrong side of the law.

“Most of overloading cases are registered in the morning more especially to school transport drivers. We will continue to monitor school transport on daily basis and those found overloading will be penalised,” said Maloyi.

MEC Maloyi further pleaded with parents to monitor their children’s transporters by making sure that they travel safe to and from school. “Parents must ensure that their children are transported with roadworthy vehicles and that they are not overloaded because that exposes them to danger.”

Maloyi said overloading is one of the contributory factors that lead to high number of fatalities on our road.

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A safari lodge company based at the Kruger National Park says a field guide who was filmed while charging on foot towards an elephant has been dismissed.

The announcement came after the online posting of a video that showed a man running at an elephant in the game reserve while his friends cheer and laugh. In the video, the elephant stands its ground, ears flapping, and then retreats.

The Singita company posted a statement on its Facebook page on Monday, saying it investigated the video and has dismissed the guide who ran at the elephant. It says disciplinary measures are “in progress” against others involved in the incident.

Video footage of the apparently inebriated man lunging out of his car and charging the elephant caused an uproar on Monday.

The footage, posted on wildlife site Latest Sightings (www.latestsightings.com), showed the unidentified guide charging towards the startled animal, with friends cheering and encouraging him.

The man runs towards the elephant, falls to the ground but gets up again and bolts in the direction of the animal.

“Run at him right now, run,” another voice is heard over the footage, which appeared to have been filmed by his colleagues.

The elephant initially swings its trunk towards the man, but soon makes its escape.

The man returns to his cheering friends.

Latest Sightings said on its Facebook page that it received the video at the weekend but it was unclear when the incident occurred.

Wild animals in the two-million-hectare park sometimes attack visitors and elephants have been known to overturn the cars of sightseers. – AFP, AP

Johannesburg – The drug problem in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, had reached “abnormality”, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

“I read the letter and I was shocked. The degree of the problem and the description is unheard of… this is a crisis, an abnormality,” Zuma told residents on a visit to the area.

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

The draw for the 2013 CAF Champions League Group Stages was conducted on Tuesday, May 14, at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Orlando Pirates, who are representing South Africa in Africa’s most prestigious club tournament, have been drawn into Group A, alongside AC Leopards (DRC), Zamalek (Egyptian) and Al Ahly (Egyptian).

Group B comprises of Recreativo Libolo (Angola), Esperance (Tunisia), Sewe Sport (Ivory Coast) and Coton Sport (Cameroon).

The Group Stages consists of eight teams, parted into two groups of four teams each. Each team in their respective group will play each other twice, in a home and away leg, whereafter the top two sides from each group will qualify for the semi-final stage.

Bucs, who won the CAF Champions League title in 1995, are looking to go all the way with their current crop of players and earn a second star for the Soweto giants.

By reaching the Group Stages, Bucs are guaranteed $400 000 (+/-R3.6 million), while the winners of the overall competition will bag $1.5 million (+/-R13 million).

Group A

AC Leopards

Zamalek

Al Ahly

Orlando Pirates

Group B

Recreativo Libolo

Esperance

Sewe Sport

Coton Sport

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

By Obakeng Maje 

Johannesburg-According to media reports,Kaizer Chiefs are reportedly not keen on participating in Africa.

A local soccer magazine reported early today, but the reports were squashed by Kaizer Chiefs Communication Manager Alpheus Maphosa who told TDN that all that is untrue as no officially statement has been released by the club.

By virtue of being PSL

champions, Amakhosi would be eligible to participate in Africa’s premium competition, but recent reports suggest they could boycott the 2014 CAF Champions League.

“The reports are not correct as the chairman of the club, Kaizer Motaung haven’t decided on whether to take part or not. Kaizer Chiefs has not been crowned Premier Soccer League champions yet, so after winning the league then that’s when the club will exercise its options” said Maphosa.

However, Khumalo is hoping the club will use the opportunity to test themselves against the continent’s best.

“Well, I’m not too sure whether we would go for it but participating in Africa means the team and the country will benefit,” the legendary midfielder told kickoff.com. 

“I would love to see Kaizer Chiefs playing in Africa, because we would be putting the country on the map.” He said.

Back in 2005, CAF slapped Chiefs with a $1,500 fine when they withdrew from the Confederation Cup, after they had been eliminated in the third round of the Champions League by Tunisian side Esperance.

Clubs that are eliminated in the third round of the Champions League drop to the Confederation Cup.

In addition, Chiefs were slapped with a three-year ban.

In 2001, Chiefs won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup – now of course called the CAF Confederation Cup, after it was merged with the CAF Cup.

“The mood in the camp is electrifying and everyone is upbeat. So tomorrow’s game will be awasome and we looking at earning three points” Maphosa said.

He said Chiefs want to win the league outright not through goal difference.

“We targeting three points and that all. On our injury list we have Jambo and Morgan Gould, but except that all players are ready” said Maphosa.

For more http://www.kickoff.com

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Mamelodi Sundowns defender Alje Schut is confident that the team will end the season in the top eight.

In what has been a lackluster season for the Chloorkop-based side, Sundowns moved into the top half of the Absa Premiership table last weekend, following their 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Three of the four teams in action tomorrow night will have a key member of their side missing in what will be their penultimate games of the PSL season.

Kaizer Chiefs coach, Stuart Baxter, will serve the first of his two-game suspension this week after being sent from the field of play during his club’s 2-1 Nedbank Cup win over United FC, with Doctor Khumalo set to fill the void left on the Amakhosi’s bench. Baxter will also miss the game against University of Pretoria on the weekend.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

With the CAF Champions League draw set to go ahead at 14:00 this afternoon, Soccer-Laduma has taken a closer look at the seven teams that Orlando Pirates could face when the two groups of four are selected.

Recreativo Libolo – Angola

The two-time Angolan league winners have had a difficult season in Angola in their current campaign and after 10 games are sat mid-table in 11th place. Their attendance in the Group Stages of the CCL this year is the furthest they’ve ever reached.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com