A Joint Infrastructure Expenditure Steering Committee to monitor spending on infrastructure across departments in the North West Province is to be established, the Provincial Executive Council (Exco) resolved in its bi-weekly meeting held in Mahikeng on Wednesday.

Exco reaffirmed that the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport should as per its legislative mandate and custodian of infrastructure development continue and be solely responsible for implementing infrastructure projects.

As per resolution, all departments responsible for infrastructure and conditional grants must implement infrastructure delivery management system.

Premier Thandi Modise has expressed optimism that establishment of the committee and implementation of the infrastructure delivery management system will assist and guide proper planning, procurement processes for prudent spending of allocated funds to improve job creation, alleviate poverty, reduce unemployment levels in the province and improve on delivery on essential service delivery areas.

The Joint Committee to meet on a monthly basis is to be chaired by the MEC for Finance.

There is very little to separate Banyana Banyana and neighbours Zimbabwe going into Saturday’s friendly international encounter at Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton. However, following a 5-0 mauling of Mozambique last Sunday, coach Joseph Mkhonza is brimming with confidence and hoping to continue with his winning streak.

Head-to-head, there is very little to separate the two teams having met five times in the last two years with each winning two and drawing the other.

“Encounters between Banyana Banyana and Zimbabwe are always tight but we hope to take a lead in our overall victories over them on Saturday. We want to make the nation proud and set the tone for Sunday’s Bafana Bafana match against Ethiopia,” said a confident Mkhonza. “But with Zimbabwe, it won’t be easy and we are expecting a tough encounter.”

Zimbabwe is ranked 88th in the Fifa ranking, 35 places below the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana but Mkhonza is not looking at rankings as a barometer for Saturday’s game.

“These are like derby matches. Zimbabwe normally does not want to lose against South Africa hence matches between the two sides in the last two years have always gone to the wire.”

Banyana Banyana were on song in the match against Mozambique and while Mkhonza is confident that the team will do well, he knows that Zimbabwe will be much tougher opponents.
Zimbabwe will be coming off a very inspirational 3 -1 away victory against Zambia so the team’s confidence will be high leading up to their clash with Banyana Banyana.

“Zimbabwe are a different ball game altogether from Mozambique so we are not expecting anything similar to last Sunday’s match against Mozambique. Our last few encounters with Zimbabwe have been highly contested and very close and this one will be no different. This game will give us the opportunity to look at and test the combinations that we selected in the game against Mozambique,” said Mkhonza.

Mkhonza will be relying on the experience of some of his older players to guide the new players in the squad.

Banyana Banyana captain Janine van Wyk said while her squad was like a well-oiled machine last Sunday, there are a few things that needed correction going into the match with their old rivals.

“As a team we are hoping to emulate Sunday’s performance when we play Zimbabwe. There were a few things that we could have done better in our game against Mozambique which we hope to have corrected by the time we play on Saturday,” said Janine van Wyk.
Follow us on Twitter@Taung-DailyNews

Mineworkers union, National Union of Mineworkers (Num) says its members will stay away from work for their own safety if rival union, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) carries out its threat on strike.

Amcu is expected to serve Lonmin Platinum Mine in Rustenburg on Tuesday with a 48-hour notice that it plans to embark on a protected strike which will start on Saturday.

Num and Amcu have been at loggerheads over the ”recognition” issue. A Num shop steward was shot and killed at the mine last week.

Amcu members have voted to strike despite Lonmins application for arbitration which is expected to take place later this month.

Amcu demands to be declared the majority union and wants NUM offices to be closed at the mine.

Num spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka says Lonmin will have to guarantee its members’ safety if it wants them to go to work.

“We have persuaded management that if it wants anyone to be at work, it will have to provide adequate security. In the absence of that security, we are unable to guarantee anyone that there will be any workers coming to work because many workers fear for their own safety,” says Seshoka.

He says that many people lost their lives during strikes in the past while on their way to work.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Remuneration: negotiable basic salary
Province: Gauteng
City: Midrand
Education level: Diploma
Job level: Mid/Senior
Own transport required: Yes
Travel requirement: Often
Job policy: Employment Equity position
Type: Permanent
Reference: #jourmid

Job description
Reporting to the Managing Editor: News and Sport, you will represent the Jacaranda FM newsroom by providing listeners and target audience with current and accurate news content.

Key Performance Areas Include:

Monitoring available sources on a daily basis to ensure that the newsroom is covering all relevant events. Research and verification of content. Build and maintain a contact data base. Be accurate with a legal compliance of news content. Writing and reading of news bulletins.

Company Description
Jacaranda FM broadcasts in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. The station is well known for creating radio that is both innovative, informative and entertaining. Visit http://www.jacarandafm.com for more information.

Requirements
Relevant qualification in Journalism or equivalent experience;
Fluency in English and Afrikaans;
Valid driver’s licence;
Burly software, Radio recording equipment;
Exceptional writing skills/a broad general knowledge and general computer literacy.

Contact details
Jacaranda FM
newsintern@jacarandafm.com

Talented young left-back, Simphiwe Mtsweni, has joined Kaizer Chiefs on a three-year deal and is expected to go straight into their first team.

The 19-year-old Stars of Africa academy graduate has been a target of the Amakhosi for a long time now, and the Siya crew has previously reported that his signing was imminent.

Now, after weeks of training with Chiefs’ academy, crew can reveal that the strong defender has put pen to paper at Naturena on a three-year deal, with a source revealing that the club rate him very highly and, despite his age, have decided that they will put him straight into the first team set-up rather than the academy.

Mtsweni attracted the attention of Chiefs’ youth coach, Donald Khuse, whilst playing in a youth tournament last year, and the crew reported back in July 2012 that he was a potential target for the Amakhosi.

With the player having finally signed his deal with the club after months of speculation he can now focus on continuing his development as a player at Naturena.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Orlando Pirates’ wing wizards, Tlou Segolela and Mark Mayambela, are expected to report for pre-season training next week, despite their futures remaining in doubt.

Segolela and Mayambela have both been linked with moves away from the Buccaneers during the upcoming transfer window, with the former yet to have a loose option on his contract extended and the latter due to see his deal expire at the end of June.

However, despite the fact that both players could well leave the club, their representative, Tim Sukazi, has confirmed to Soccer-Laduma that, for now, they are still contracted to Pirates and are therefore obliged to attend pre-season training when it begins on June 18th.

The crew recently revealed that Segolela has been invited for a trial with an unnamed English Championship club, though it remains to be seen whether he would get a permit to go there.

Meanwhile, Mayambela has struggled for game time at Pirates since joining from Bloemfontein Celtic and his future has been in doubt for a while now.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Johannesburg – ANC branches in the Eastern Cape are in the midst of an intense leadership race as the province prepares to hold its elective conference later this month, Dispatch Online reported on Wednesday.

Only the position of provincial chairperson looked likely not to be contested, according to the report.

Two line-ups had emerged with both groups wanting incumbent Phumulo Masualle to retain his position.

However, the position of deputy chairman could be contested by OR Tambo district mayor Dingaan Myolwa and Amathole regional chairperson Sakhumzi Somyo.

The position of provincial secretary was also reportedly hotly contested between African National Congress MPL Michael Peter and incumbent Oscar Mabuyane.

Helen Sauls-August and Ten-Ten Pikinini were likely to contest the position of deputy secretary.

Zukiswa Faku and MECs Pemmy Majodina and Thandiswa Marawu would contest the position of treasurer.

According to Dispatch Online, ANC Youth League Eastern Cape chairperson Ayanda Matiti’s ambition of leading the ANC in the province was dealt a blow at the weekend when the branch in his home town of Mdantsane did not nominate him for the provincial executive committee (PEC).

However, Raymond Mhlaba branch member Thembi Maseti reportedly said Matiti had been nominated.

During a meeting last week it was found that Matiti’s membership in the branch was not in good standing.

This was confirmed by Buffalo City regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo.

– SAPA

Durban – Two school pupils were seriously injured and 10 others sustained minor injuries when a taxi they were travelling in overturned on Wednesday morning in Gillitts, near Pinetown, paramedics said.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said the accident happened on Stockville Road at about 07:00.

The cause of the accident was not known. The pupils had been taken to various hospitals in Durban.

In another accident, a 6-year-old pupil was in a critical condition at the Albert Luthuli Hospital after being hit by a vehicle.

Botha said the girl was hit while she was crossing Briardale Road in Newlands West, Durban, at around 07:00.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they placed her on a ventilator, he said.

– Were you there? Send us your eyewitness accounts

– SAPA

Pretoria – Numerous media houses remained outside a Pretoria hospital on Wednesday as former president Nelson Mandela spent his fifth day there being treated for a recurring lung infection.

More than ten outside broadcast vehicles were parked close to one of the hospital’s entrances.

Security remained tight at the facility, with six police officers manning each entrance. All cars entering the facility were searched.

By 08:00, no family members of the elder statesman had been seen entering or leaving the hospital.

Visitors

On Tuesday, Mandela’s ex-wife, African National Congress MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, left the hospital before 18:00.

She and her daughter Zindzi were driven off in a black Audi, escorted by a white Mercedes Benz. Both cars had flashing blue police lights.

Mandela’s other two daughters, Makaziwe and Zenani, who is South Africa’s ambassador to Argentina, were also seen at the hospital on Tuesday.

On Saturday, the presidency announced that the ailing icon had been admitted to hospital in the early hours of the morning and was in a “serious but stable” condition.

His condition had remained unchanged since then.

The presidency said on Tuesday that the doctors treating Mandela had given President Jacob Zuma a thorough briefing on Monday night.

“President Zuma has full confidence in the medical team, and is satisfied that they are doing their best to make Madiba better,” spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

Mandela was still in a “serious but stable” condition.

This is the third time this year the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been hospitalised.

At the end of March and in April, he spent nine days in hospital receiving treatment for recurring lung problems.

Earlier in March, he was admitted to a Pretoria hospital for a scheduled check-up and was discharged the following day.

– SAPA