By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-The police in the North West are investigating death threats allegations on North West Premier,Thandi Modise.

The Police were tasked to investigate after a complaint was received from the Office of the Premier. 

“At this stage, preliminary investigation is underway. Once the investigation is concluded, the police will make a determination based on evidence, whether to open a case or not” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

Modise received death threats and decided to open a case.

According to North West provincial government spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele, Modise knew long time ago about a plot against her.

“Premier Modise was shocked after she heard the news that there are some fiction planning to gag her forever. She decided to launch a case with police” Kgwele told Sabc.

North West experienced political unrest last year after regional secretary of Kenneth Kaunda District was shot and killed by unknown men. 

Chika was killed at his house in Alabama, Klerksdorp a day before ANC Elective Conferenc in Mangaung.

Kabelo Mataboge also was allegedly shot at by unknown suspects and escaped death.

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Bafana Bafana will be without Sweden-based midfielder May Mahlangu and striker Tokelo Rantie as well Russia-based defender Siyanda Xulu in the international friendly match against Lesotho on Sunday, 2 June 2013 at the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru, Lesotho.

 

Mahlangu and Rantie will be playing for their clubs on Saturday, 1 June, while Xulu is a late call-up who replaced the injured Siboniso Gaxa. The trio is expected in South Africa on Monday, 3 June, in time to travel to Cameroon with the national team.

 

The three players were notable absentees at Bafana Bafana’s first training session held at the Germiston Stadium on Thursday, 30 June. Twenty one (21) players reported for national team duty including overseas-based defender Anele Ngcongca, midfielder Dean Furman and defender Ricardo Nunes.

 

South Africa travels to Yaoundé, Cameroon on Tuesday, 4 June to play the first of two Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. In the first match Bafana Bafana face the Central African Republic (CAR) on Saturday, 8 June. The second clash will be against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa a week later on Sunday, 16 June at the National Stadium.

 

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund is not perturbed that the players could be fatigued after a long and gruelling season.

 

“The players are a little bit tired but that can be expected at the end of a long season. So we have devised a training programme that will ensure that we don’t burn them out but have them ready for the two crucial matches against CAR and Ethiopia. That’s the situation and we can’t change that but I am positive they will be on top of their game by the time we face CAR. We can’t look for excuses as the players around the world have been playing just as many games,” said Igesund.

 

At the first training session, the Bafana Bafana mentor was working on possible combinations following a spate of injuries that have rocked the national team. Kagisho Dikgacoi (who has not been replaced), Siboniso Gaxa and Tsepo Masilela (replaced by Nunes) all withdrew from the squad before the start of the camp.

 

“Injuries happen all the time in football and I am not one to complain about injured players. So we are working on combinations especially in defence where the players haven’t really played together in the national team. Of course we want to win the match against Lesotho but the most important thing is to get the combinations right and take the confidence to the matches against CAR and Ethiopia.

 

“Nthete and Mathoho have played together at Bloemfontein Celtic and Mathoho and Mashamaite play together at Chiefs – but that doesn’t mean we should go that route, we cannot afford guess work in that department. We have to make sure we get it right. The truth is whatever combination we use might or might not work against Lesotho, but we must get it right for the CAR and Ethiopia matches,” added Igesund.

 

“I believe we have players that are capable of holding their own in the national team, it’s just a matter of getting those combinations right. But yes it is trying times for us, and the guys will have put up their hands and given us a good showing.”

 

Bafana Bafana leave for Lesotho on Friday, 31 May after their training session in the morning.

 

They will be minus the eight Kaizer Chiefs players in the squad as they will be attending their season-end club awards which will take place on Friday night (31 May).

 

“It is important for the players to be at the prize giving. They have worked hard all season and deserve to be recognised by their club and sponsors. I want the players to be there and they also want to be there. After a meeting I held with their club we decided this was the best solution. The players will join us in Lesotho on Saturday morning (1 June), so they won’t miss any training session as we are only training in the afternoon,” concluded the Bafana Bafana coach.

 

  UPDATED BAFANA BAFANA squad v LESOTHO, CAR, ETHIOPIA  NO.

 

  PLAYER’S NAME

 

  CLUB

 

  GOALKEEPERS:

 

  1.

 

  ITUMELENG 

 

KHUNE Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  2.

 

  WAYNE 

 

SANDILANDS Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

 

  3.

 

  SENZO 

 

MEYIWA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

       

DEFENDERS:

 

      

4.

 

  ERIC 

 

MATHOHO Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  5.

 

  TEFO 

 

MASHAMAITE Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  6.

 

  THABO

 

NTHETHE Bloemfontein Celtic (SA)

 

  7.

 

  ANELE 

 

NGCONGCA Racing Genk FC (Belgium)

 

  8.

 

  BEVAN 

 

FRANSMAN Supersport United FC (SA)

 

  9.

 

  RICARDO 

 

NUNES MSK Zilina (Slovakia)

 

  10.

 

  SIYANDA 

 

XULU Rostov FC (Russia)

 

  11.

 

  TEBOGO 

 

LANGERMAN Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

 

       

MIDFIELDERS:

 

      

12.

 

  DEAN 

 

FURMAN Doncaster Rovers FC (Eng)

 

  13.

 

  RENEILWE

 

LETSHOLONYANE Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  14.

 

  OUPA

 

MANYISA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  15.

 

  MAY 

 

MAHLANGU Helsingborg IF (Sweden)

 

  16.

 

  THANDANI 

 

NTSHUMAYELO Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  17.

 

  RICHARD 

 

HENYEKANE Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

 

  18.

 

  THUSO 

 

PHALA Platinum Stars FC (SA)

 

  19.

 

  SIPHIWE

 

TSHABALALA Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  20.

 

  DAINE 

 

KLATE Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  21.

 

  TLOU 

 

SEGOLELA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

       

STRIKERS:

 

      

22.

 

  BERNARD

 

PARKER Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  23.

 

  TOKELO

 

RANTIE Malmo FF (Sweden)

 

  24.

 

  KATLEGO

 

MASHEGO Moroka Swallows FC (SA)

 

   

 

By Obakeng Maje

The assistance of the Upington K9 unit was sought after attempts to find a 55 year old woman who went missing five days ago seemed futile.  Members of the Law Enforcement Municipality in Upington engaged the expertise of the police dog, Bobby and his handler Sgt Mitch Diedericks in an attempt to find Magrieta Gooi from Paballelo.

“According to police information, Gooi and her husband were last together on Friday at about 22:00” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.  

They hitched a lift to visit family on one of the farms in Upington, however they were mistakenly dropped off at the gate of the wrong farm. 

Police said the couple sat under a tree and was drinking alcohol which they had carried with them. Due to their intoxicated state of mind, the husband wandered off in the dark without taking his wife with him. Magrieta Gooi then wandered off in a different direction.

 

“The next day, Magrieta found herself walking in a barren and dry land. She did not know where she was. The woman continued walking for five days without any food or drink. Her husband reported her missing the following day” police said.  

The couple were last together about 40km from Upington on the Namibia main road. 

A massive search was launched which included the air wing, trackers, members from SAPS Upington and lastly the search and rescue dogs.  

The search parties combed the area over six farms travelling on foot and vehicles over uninhabited and treacherous terrain. 

“The sand dunes and rocky areas slowed the search considerably.  The K9 dog, Bobby picked up the footprints(’ spoor’) of the missing woman and followed her scent for up to 105km’s on foot. At some point of the search, the air wing was called in to assist” Kock said.

On Wednesday at about 17:00 Magrieta was found alive by police. 

She was found near Areachap farms on the Askham main road. “When police found her, she was bare footed and had walked out of her shoes. She informed police that she did not know where she was and just continued walking” he said. 

Police and Rescue workers could not believe how she managed to survive, considering the terrain she trodded on.

 

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By Obakeng Maje

Ratlou-The Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the ANC in the North West will take its monthly rotational activities to Ratlou Sub-region in Ngaka Modiri Molema region.

The activities will take place tomorrow at Ratlou Local Municipality.

“The Provincial Working Committee (PWC) will discuss the reports and the current political challenges” Oupa Matla said.

The activity is called “Forum for Festival of Ideas” and will take place at Letsapa Community Hall in Ratlou.

“Instill ANC Principle using Moses Kotane as an example. And that will be our objective” said Matla. Matla said instilling ANC principles and values,conduct of an ANC cadre with specific reference to cde Moses Kotane as this is the month to celebrate his life is their priority.

The keynote address will be opened by NEC presenter and this will be followed by Door to Door (Mobilization) campaign on Saturday.

“All wards in Ratlou will be attended to. PEC members will do recruitment work and also attend to any challenges that affect communities in various wards in Ratlou” said Matla.

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North West Premier Thandi Modise has ordered an urgent intergovernmental intervention to find alternative accommodation for over a thousand households against whom there is an impending eviction from the Meiringspark/Ratanang informal settlement in Klerksdorp.

 

“An eviction that will result in thousands of people being thrown to the streets during a year in which the country is commemorating the100thAnniversary of the 1913 Native Land Act would be repulsive and undermine the strides we have made towards restoring the dignity of the homeless,” emphasised Premier Modise.  The intervention is to be coordinated by the Provincial Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.

 

  Modise said that everything should be done to ensure that the relocation of the community as per Gauteng North High Court ruling is as humane as possible and not reminiscent of the humiliation of the apartheid era evictions.

 

  “We respect our courts and will redouble our effort and support Matlosana Local Municipality to find an urgent and amicable solution that will not necessitate an eviction,” she added.

 

 

Rustenburg – The African National Congress in the North West will investigate an alleged plot to assassinate Premier Thandi Modise, the party said on Thursday.

“The ANC will investigate the validity of these allegations and pursue this matter with law enforcement agencies,” spokesman Kenny Morolong said in a statement.

“The ANC will, inter alia, appeal to law enforcement to investigate these allegations and bring (the) perpetrators of this hideous act to book.”

Morolong said the ANC had heard about the alleged plot through the media.

According to reports on Wednesday, Modise confirmed through her spokesman, Lesiba Kgwele, that she was aware of the assassination plot.

This came as infighting continued to dog the ANC in the province.

Last year, ANC secretary in the Kenneth Kaunda region, David Obuti Chika, was murdered and in 2009, former ANC councillor Moss Phakoe was killed.

Early this year, the Hawks launched an investigation into a report of a murder plot against North West ANC politician Patrick Chauke.

Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said on Thursday that he could not comment on whether the unit was investigating the alleged plot to assassinate Modise. – Sapa

Johannesburg – Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng questioned on Thursday whether there was a need to criminalise sexual conduct between adolescents.

At a Constitutional Court hearing on the issue, he questioned why authorities did not rather focus on educating children about potential problems related to having sex at a young age.
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Johannesburg – South Africa’s rand breached 10 to the dollar for the first time in over four years on Thursday, sliding nearly 3 percent after President Jacob Zuma failed to allay concerns about the impact of labour unrest on the economy.

The rand hit a session trough of 10.0901 to the greenback, its weakest since March 2009, from Wednesday’s close of 9.82.

Analysts and traders said Zuma’s media address disappointed investors by failing to outline concrete steps to resolve the persistent labour strife which has hit mining output in the world’s largest platinum producer.

“Zuma failed to inspire any confidence in their approach to the mining issue, he merely highlighted what everyone knew,” a currency trader in Johannesburg said.

“This has caused everyone to rush for the door. Once we went through 9.8500, stops were triggered in a very thin market.”

The rand extended losses after Glencore Xstrata said as many as 1,500 South African workers had gone on an illegal strike at three of its chrome mines.

Zuma appealed for a fair and speedy outcome to tense wage talks in the mining sector, saying a stable and growing mining sector was required to boost growth, floundering below 3 percent after a 2009 recession.

The rand, vulnerable to sudden swings in foreign portfolio flows due to the highly liquid nature of local markets, has lost more than 11 percent against the dollar this month.

The domestic currency is on track for its worst performance in a month since September 2011 and is down nearly 19 percent since the start of 2013, the third steepest decline among world currencies.

The sharp fall will worry the South African Reserve Bank – which has held off loosening policy further since cutting interest rates by 50 basis points in July last year – as it eyes rising imported inflation pressures.

“We don’t expect any real forex intervention from the SARB unless the market functioning breaks down,” said Nomura analyst Peter Attard Montalto.

“Verbal intervention is entirely possible from SARB and government though they will have to do better than Zuma’s speech this morning which fell flat with zero new policies or reassurances to the market.” – Reuters

Johannesburg – The SABC will use its broadcast platforms to create fund-raising awareness for Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, the hospital said on Thursday.

The public broadcaster and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust signed a memorandum of understanding in this regard at the SABC offices in Johannesburg on Thursday morning, hospital trustee Tiny Mhinga said in a statement.

The hospital would be built with the support of donors from across the world in honour of former president Nelson Mandela.

He said it would be a 200-bed world-class dedicated children’s hospital that would serve children in Southern Africa.

A total of R1 billion was needed to make the hospital a reality.

Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust CEO Sibongile Mkhabela said: “All children in Southern Africa need care, especially those most vulnerable. In most cases proper medical care is simply not available to them. This is a very serious problem.”

She said the hospital would address a great need, as there were only four children’s hospitals in Africa to serve nearly 450

million children.

“Millions of these children suffer from life-threatening illnesses and have little or no chance of receiving the specialised care they need.”

SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo said the company was delighted to announce the formal partnership, which would see the SABC generate significant awareness for the hospital. – Sapa

North West – A four-year-old boy was run over and killed outside his school in the North West town of Koster, Beeld reported on Thursday.

Barend Porter died at the scene on Wednesday while his weeping mother pleaded with him not to “go”.

Barend was allegedly knocked down by a grandmother driving a bakkie, who had come to fetch her grandson from the Koster Combined School.

Barend was standing next to his sister Angelique, 7, while they waited to be collected by their mother, when they were both hit by the car.

Angelique sustained only a minor shoulder injury.

Landi Joubert, whose children attend the school, said that when she arrived to collect her children on Wednesday, the injured child was lying on the ground.

“One of the teachers wrapped a bandage around his head, but blood was coming out of his nose, ears, and mouth. He was unconscious.”

Barend and Angelique’s mother, Katryn Porter, arrived at the scene, and became hysterical, according to Joubert.

She spoke to her son and performed CPR on him, but he died at the scene.

North West Education MEC Louisa Mabe said she was shocked, and expressed her sympathy.

Police Captain Aafje Botma said the accident would be investigated. – Sapa