Nineteen more traditional leadership disputes would have been concluded and a report presented to North West Premier Thandi Modise by the 28th of this month., the North West Provincial Executive Council noted during its forth-nightly meeting held in Mahikeng on Wednesday.

In appreciating progress registered by the Provincial Committee of the Commission of Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims towards resolution of the 36 outstanding cases targeted for the current financial year, Exco noted that the conclusion of the cases will bring to 121 cases which have been finalised by the Provincial Committee since its establishment.

The Commission for Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims was established in terms of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act 41 of 2003 to restore the dignity and integrity of the traditional communities and the entire institution of traditional leadership across the country.

Disputes which were investigated by the provincial committee from April to June 2013 include those of the Bahurutshe Ba-Ga-Lencoe in Mankaipaa Village,Barolong Boo-Ratlou in Madibogo, Barolong Boo-Rapulana in Lotlhakane village,Bakgatla Ba-Ga-Mosetlha in Makapanstad village, Batlhaping Boo Marumo Borra Seleke in Madipalesa village, Barolong Ba-Ga- Mariba Boo Maiketso in Morokweng Village, Royal Bafokeng in Phokeng, Bakwena Ba-Modimosana in Tampostad(Phela)village.

The request for recognition of a headmanship by Bakone Ba Matlala-Boikhutsho in Madidi Village will also form part of the committee’s first quarter report.

Research at provincial achives and institution of higher learning and joint meeting with claimants and respondents are being conducted before the report is finalised, adopted and presented to Premier Modise.

Other ten cases which overlapped from the previous financial year due to unavailability of stakeholders and pending court cases which are being finalised to be part of the first quarter report include that of Bahurutshe Ba-Moiloa in Dinokana village,Bakgatla Ba-Kgafela in Moruleng and Motlhabe villages, Bakgatla Ba-Mmakau in Mmakau and Baphalane Ba-Ramokoka in Ramokokastad.

In the case of the Bahurutshe Ba Moiloa, Exco also noted from the committee’s report that research was also conducted in Botswana and further research is being conducted locally before the provincial committee concludes its report and present it to the Premier for her to issue a recognition certificate to the rightful heir.

Lonmin Platinum Mine says it is fully committed to concluding a new recognition agreement with the mining labour union, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

Lonmin spokesperson Sue Vey says there is no agreement yet, but the company will continue to pursue an amicable settlement. She said the company had not received a notice of intent to strike.

On Wednesday Amcu claimed to have handed in a 48-hour notice to embark on a strike.

According to labour legislation a labour union can’t embark on a strike if arbitration on an outstanding issue was still continuing. Should Amcu therefore decide to strike, it would be unprotected and would endanger its members.

Amcu wants to be recognised by Lonmin as the majority union at its mines and it also wants to bring forward the implementation date of the next round of wage agreement to July, 1 from October, 1.

Deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe will meet parties in the mining sector tomorrow in an attempt to settle the volatile industry.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

The National Press Club says journalists should be allowed to do their work. This follows an alleged attack on a Pretoria News photographer.

He was assaulted by a security guard outside the hospital where former President Nelson Mandela is being treated.

The attack happened on Monday. Phil Magakoe was trying to get a picture of Madiba’s former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, when the incident happened. Magakoe has since laid charges of common assault and malicious damage to property against the security guard.

Club chairperson Jos Charle said journalists are only serving the world, who wants to know how the elderly statesman is doing.

“The media that is camped outside the hospital where Mandela is being treated was taking pictures when Winnie Mandela arrived. They took pictures from the outside of the hospital and then after Winnie walked in, apparently a security guard approached the media threatened them and swore at them and in the processes a photographer at the Pretoria News was struck in the face and he had his camera kicked out of his hands.”

Meanwhile, journalists together with the rest of South Africa and the world appear to be cautiously optimistic this Thursday morning after President Jacob Zuma announced that Mandela is responding to treatment.

It seems most international media delegations are starting their day later than usual outside the hospital where Madiba is receiving treatment. The usually busy street seems strangely desolated compared to previous mornings – with closed broadcast vans, covered trailers and silent generators.

It is expected that Madiba’s family members will again visit him in hospital throughout the day. Only a limited number of people are allowed as he is in intensive care.

Mandela is starting his sixth day in the intensive care unit of a Pretoria hospital. He is being treated for a recurring lung infection.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Pretoria – A woman and four teenage boys appeared in a Sasolburg court on Thursday on charges of burglary, theft and the intention to commit theft.

– http://www.News24.com

Johannesburg – The so-called Economic Freedom Fighters described former ANC Youth League deputy leader Ronald Lamola as a “narrow-minded careerist” on Thursday.

“[Lamola] will do anything in his power, including begging dictators for his personal freedom, thus sacrificing the cause for economic freedom in our lifetime,” former league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said in a statement on behalf of the EFF.

“Mr Lamola must basically shut up, because he does not know what he talking about and in any way, no one takes him serious (sic).”

New party

Shivambu was reacting to Lamola calling on the youth not to support Julius Malema’s proposed new party.

In an interview with The Star newspaper, Lamola said the expelled African National Congress Youth League leader’s forum of “radical militants” was nothing but “misguided militancy”.

He also accused Malema of hijacking the ANCYL’s resolutions on economic freedom taken at its national conference in Midrand in 2011.

Shivambu in turn said Lamola had drifted away from those resolutions and joined the chorus of “neo-liberal reformists”.

“His zigzagging on principle is evidence enough that he can never be trusted with any task, because he is only concerned about individual progress at the expense of the struggle for economic emancipation,” Shivambu said.

“True economic freedom fighters will not listen to Lamola’s faint call because they know that he is a misguided, narrow-minded, and opportunist careerist, who cannot separate between interests of a generation and his personal interests.”

‘Shenanigans’

Shivambu warned that if Lamola continued to make such comments, the EFF would “expose him” for the many “individual dealings and shenanigans” in the lead up to the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung last year.

“Mr Lamola makes hilarious comments… he believes that this struggle can be pursued through the [President Jacob] Zuma National Task Team (ZNTT), which replaced the elected structures of the ANC Youth League…”

The ANCYL’s national executive committee was disbanded by the ANC earlier this year and replaced with a national task team.

During his interview with The Star, Lamola dismissed Malema as an “expert of insults”.

“I am not going to entertain that man. I don’t take him serious and I have never taken him serious,” he was quoted as saying.

– SAPA

Cape Town – A Cape Town man fell more than 15 metres to his death after he was pushed off a bridge, the Daily Voice reported on Thursday.

The 42-year-old man reportedly had an argument with his friend on Wednesday. The friend then allegedly pushed him off the R300 bridge near the N1 highway.

People who lived in bushes near the bridge in Brackenfell told police they had witnessed the man being pushed, according to the report.

Captain Frederick van Wyk told the newspaper that the man was from Table View.

“An inquest docket was opened… to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.”

The incident reportedly caused a delay on the busy road.

– SAPA

Cape Town – The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is on standby after a top secret contingency plan kicked into gear when former president Nelson Mandela took ill.

Beeld reported on Thursday that it is not clear what the plan entails, but one commander apparently told his troops to keep their cellphones on them at all times and “get their uniforms ready”.

Soldiers were warned to prepare themselves about 10 days ago, before Mandela was even hospitalised. Nearly 1 200 soldiers are believed to be involved in the plan.

1 Military Hospital is also on standby should the need arise for him to be treated in an alternative hospital.

Airports ready

Meanwhile, the Mthatha airport and airports around Pretoria have made preparations for at least 2 000 planes landing in the country when the former president dies, according to Beeld.

The Mthatha airport has been managed by the defence force for the past five years, and has been upgraded to the extent that even a Boeing 747 can land on the runway.

The Mthatha airport is expected to see the most traffic and planes may have to let passengers disembark and go elsewhere to park.

A luxury VIP arrival hall has also been added to the airport.

All the upgrades were part of a R55m project that was partly paid for by the department of defence.

It has been generally accepted that the real reason for the upgrade was that Mandela’s home town Qunu is close to the Mthatha airport.

The defence force has also assisted in the creation of facilities and infrastructure such as water and electricity supply in the area.

The army is currently involved in an exercise with the US Army, but there is provision for soldiers to be moved to the Eastern Cape should the need arise.
For more http://www.news24.com

Bafana Bafana have completed their first leg of preparations in Yaoundé, Cameroon ahead of the match against Ethiopia.

They had their last training session in Yaoundé on Wednesday and will reserve Thursday to travel to Douala where they will catch a connecting flight to the Ethiopian capital on Friday. They will then have their last training session at the match venue, the National Stadium on Saturday, 15 June 2013.

The two nations then lock horns in an all-important 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Sunday, 16 June in what has been billed a winner takes all encounter.

Bafana Bafana have not conceded a goal in their last three games against the Central African Republic (CAR) in Cape Town and Yaoundé and against neighbours Lesotho in an international friendly.

“As defenders, it was good that we finished the last three games without conceding a goal. This has given us more confidence to tackle the next match against Ethiopia with great confidence. Now we want to continue with that form because we are aware that if we don’t concede we won’t lose the game. I think we have that quality to deliver again and help the team to victory,” said Thabo Nthethe.

Head coach Gordon Igesund is also pleased with the work put in and the results of the past few months.

“We cannot ask for more than that from the defenders. We scored seven goals in three games and did not concede, that is remarkable. I am proud of the team for the work they have been doing. What works for us is that we defend as a team and attack as a unit and results are there for all to see,” said Igesund.

Bafana Bafana have also spent time watching the videos of last weekend’s match between Ethiopia and Botswana where the East Africans won 2-1.

“We watched the tapes quite a few times. They are a formidable side and can pass the ball nicely, but for me the challenges will be the altitude and the condition of the pitch. I know we are up for the challenge and the boys have the mental strength to deal with any situation because they are fully focussed on the task ahead,” said Igesund.

“We can’t wait for the game because we have worked so hard. We find ourselves in a situation where we started badly but we are back on track now. We should beat Ethiopia and take that confidence to the match against Botswana where we still cannot afford to take things for granted. We really want to go to the World Cup.”

The strikers have also hit good form at the right time.

“Scoring five goals (over two legs) against CAR and not conceding has increased the level of confidence in the team. I believe given the calibre of players we have, there is a good chance that we will be able to score more goals (against Ethiopia and Botswana),” said Katlego Mashego who netted the third goal in Yaoundé.

“We have to win because this match is vital not only for us but for all the South Africans, we know what this game means to them. They have been behind us, encouraging us to bring back positive results, so we must just continue doing what we have been doing and I do not see any reason why we cannot get maximum points. We are not going there for a draw because we are aware, with that result; it will be over for us. We know it is going to be a difficult game but we are ready for the challenge.”

Defender Ricardo Nunes was rested at training on Wednesday as a precautionary measure after he complained of tight thigh muscles. He is expected back at training with the rest of his teammates on Saturday.
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Former ANC Youth League deputy leader Ronald Lamola has called on the youth not to support Julius Malema’s proposed new party, The Star reported on Thursday.

Lamola accused Malema of hijacking the youth league’s resolutions on economic freedom taken at its national conference in Midrand in 2011.

In an interview with the newspaper, he said the expelled African National Congress Youth League leader’s forum of “radical militants” was nothing but “misguided militancy”.

Lamola said he should have waited until he was “rehabilitated” and admitted back into the ANC rather than behave as if he was the only leader who had sacrificed for the ruling party.

He dismissed Malema as an “expert of insults”.

Malema on Wednesday dismissed Lamola as a political nonentity.

Lamola said: “I am not going to entertain that man. I don’t take him serious and I have never taken him serious.”

It was reported earlier this week that Malema was preparing to form a new political party.

He accused President Jacob Zuma of purging and destroying political opponents, including ANCYL leaders aligned with him, “because of pure political jealousy, paranoia, and fear of the unknown”.

-Sapa

A crowd of people rushed to steal pigs from an overturned truck near Badplaas in Mpumalanga, Beeld reported on Thursday.

NSPCA inspector Petro Oosthuizen said the truck, carrying 139 pigs to an abattoir, overturned near the town on Tuesday afternoon.

The driver was seriously injured and transported to hospital.

She said she and four colleagues had euthanased 53 injured pigs, and the owner of the animals, a farmer from the Vryheid district, was informed of the accident.

“We decided to wait with the remaining pigs, until the owner arrived.”

A shocked Oosthuizen said that suddenly, “as if out of nowhere”, a crowd of people descended on the accident scene.

Some of the animals were picked up by their back legs and others were dragged off.

All the pig carcasses and the 86 live pigs were carried off, while the local police reportedly declined to intervene.

“We begged them to help us to protect the pigs but they said they were powerless against such a large crowd,” Oosthuizen said.- Sapa