Premier Thandi Modise wishes Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs Captain Itumeleng Khune a Happy Birthday. South Africa’s number one goalkeeper who hails from Tshing Township near Ventersdorp in the North West Province is turning 26 today.  

“Khune is a role model who overcame adversity to reach the height of his soccer career. His success should inspire young people with similar backgrounds to stay away from drugs and pursue their dreams,” said Premier Modise.

In recognising Khune for his achievements as a soccer player in her speech delivered at the 37th June 16 Provincial Commemoration held last Saturday, Modise had said that all artists, sports men and women who come from the province are ambassadors of the province and they must continue to shine.She committed that the Provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture would ensure that talented young people are supported and resources are allocated to improve and erect recreational facilities in all communities in the province.

“Mmabana continues to be a good model of nourishing, developing and promoting talent in our province and I would not rest until each municipality in the province has a multi-purpose recreational centre,” the Premier had underscored. 

 Other artists that Premier Modise recognised as ambassadors of the province were MTN 2013 South African Music Awards Triple Award winner Khuli Chana and E-TV SA’s Got Talent Show 2012 winner  Botlhale Boikanyo. 

A Northern Cape farmer has threatened to stop supplying water to Victoria West because the local municipality has not paid him, according to Sunday’s Rapport newspaper.

Andrew Conroy, owner of the farm Biesjiesfontein, claimed the Ubuntu municipality owed him R350,000 for supplying water to the town from his farm. The municipality had also failed to renew its 20-year contract with him when it expired in 2006. He had been supplying water to the town for nearly 30 years.

In an advert placed in the local newspaper, the Victoria West Messenger, on Friday, Conroy threatened to shut off the water supply on August 1 if he was not paid and his contract renewed.

“In the meantime he [Conroy] is keeping the pumps working and is paying for the electricity,” Kennett Sinclair, who represents the Northern Cape in the National Council of Provinces, told Rapport.

Municipal manager Martin Fillis said the municipality would not let itself be put under pressure.

“Conroy is not the only water source. This is a water-scarce area so we retain all the sources… Leave this matter between us and Conroy; I don’t have time for stone-throwing,” he was quoted as saying.

-Sapa

Brazil superstar Neymar scored one goal and set up the other to give hosts Brazil a 2-0 win over Mexico in their Group A game and a place in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup in Fortaleza on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old took his tally to 13 goals in his last 15 games for his country with a superb left-footed volley early in the first-half, and then produced a brilliant shimmy between two Mexican defenders in second-half stoppage time to set up Jo for the second goal.

While Brazil progress to the semis, Mexico’s hopes hang by a thread after two defeats as Japan, who lost 3-0 to Brazil in their opener, must beat Euro 2012 finalists Italy later on Wednesday to give them any hope of reaching the last four.

Brazil play Italy in their final group match in Salvador on Saturday.

– Sapa-AFP