Johannesburg – Criminals seeking to thwart crime prevention efforts by making police officers suffer will not succeed, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Tuesday.

“Those who seek to derail our crime-reduction efforts, merciless criminals whose intention is create anguish among us, shall not succeed,” Mthethwa said in a statement.

“The war on crime is a people’s war and as history has indicated, the people become victorious in the end.”

Mthethwa was reacting to the killing of a policeman on patrol in Nyanga on Monday night. Another officer was wounded in the shooting.

Police said two men shot the officer in the head as he and his partner were getting out of their police car.

The minister described the shooting as an “ambush”.

“We urge South Africans to rally behind our police officers,” said Mthethwa.

“We can all begin to make a practical declaration by exposing those who kill our officers and not harbour them.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The ANC on Tuesday called on Cosas not to take the law into its own hands by castrating rapists.

“Our position is that we have law enforcement agencies in this country and anybody who commits crime must face the might of the law,” said ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza.

“It is not the responsibility of Cosas to do that. We call on Cosas to recognise that there are law enforcement agencies. Where crime has been committed people must not take matters into their own hands,” he said.

Earlier, the Congress of SA Students (Cosas) threatened to castrate rapists.

“We are going to take the law into our hands… starting from cutting off private parts of those who rape our brothers and sisters, not to forget removing drug dealers in our communities because we know where they live,” said Cosas president Thlologelo Malaji.

“Our community members must stop living in fear and assist us to remove all the ills of society,” he said.

Malaji said Cosas had decided not to sit back and watch the future of the youth taken away by the “ills of society”.

“We call upon all stakeholders in the education sector… to take part and contribute in the struggle to improve the education of our country, ensuring that our students receive the best education,” he said.

Cosas would call mass meetings of parents, pupils, and others to discuss the state of education in the country.

“Core to these discussions… is the continuous disruptions of the culture of teaching and learning due to protests.”

Feeding scheme

Malaji said Cosas was also concerned about the number of schools, especially high schools, which did not have feeding schemes.

“If a child in a primary school has been depending on the feeding scheme, in high school their background is still the same. Where will that child get assistance if the feeding scheme is no longer there?” he asked.

He said the quality of the food being served in the feeding scheme was concerning.

Malaji said Cosas would also continue to oppose the publication of matric results in newspapers.

“As a students’ organisation, we still maintain that matric results should be a private matter between the matriculant and the department of education.”

– SAPA

The South African Dance Foundation North West (SADF – NW) in collaboration with Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation will on the 3rd August 2013 host the second annual SUPERSTARS DANCE FESTIVAL at Mmabana Mahikeng Gymnasium.
“While it is hosted as a provincial competition, the Superstars Dance Festival is a prestigious event where dancers are awarded points that qualify them for national colours and thereby stand a chance to be selected to represent the country at international competitions sanctioned by World Dance Council (WDC), of which SADF is a member” Mmabana spokesperson Trinity Bogosi said.
Over 400 participants from across the country, in provinces like Gauteng, Western Cape and Free State will join their North West counterparts to illuminate the dance floor with Cha Cha, Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Rumba and Jive moves. To add flavour to this already exciting occasion, the competition will incorporate traditional, Hip Hop and street dance styles.
“Having produced the crème of South African dance sport, the luminaries who until today continues to grace the stages and small screens; Mmabana Foundation is an accredited member of SADF and will be fully represented during the competition, hence a partnership with SADF NW to bring such an august dance event. The province will host the national championships later this year” Bogosi said.
Some of the Foundation’s products currently on television are Tebogo Kgobokoe, Mary Martins and Nombulelo Hlathi, who are judges and participants in Strictly Come Dancing reality show on SABC 3 respectively. Others are Salome Sechele, Frans Sema and Khutso Khunou who will judge the competition.
Proceedings start at 10H00, 3rd August 2013 at Mmabana Mahikeng Gymnasium. Admission is R80 all ages.
(Edited by Obakeng Maje)
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The process to develop the rebranding and positioning strategy for the North West Province is to be launched by Premier Thandi Modise at the Provincial Rebranding and Positioning Stakeholder Conference to be held as from 9:00 am at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng on Friday.

Informed by the objectives of the National Development Plan, the Stategy Development Process is expected to have as an outcome the creation of a new brand reality, rooted in the culture of service delivery, and the promise of improved, world class livelihoods and infrastructure and ultimately a better life for the citizens of the Province.

“The new Brand Architecture and Brand Reality has to be based on research and Public Consultation. Only on the basis of a comprehensive understanding of the current perceptions about the North West Province’s Brand health, can informed decisions be taken as to defining a new provincial brand personality,” said Premier Modise ahead of the stakeholders conference.

“Though the strategy will deliver two key outcomes namely the new identity (name and image) of the province and new brand architecture, the Rebranding and Positioning process is more than just changing the name and logo of the Province,” added Modise.

The overall key strategic thrust of the Rebranding and Positioning Strategy is to cultivate specifically designated Marketing and Communications platform which will permit the province to articulate the wealth of its national endowment namely its rich heritage, culture and history to the various publics.
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Kermit Erasmus has revealed why he decided to quit SuperSport United for Orlando Pirates.

Erasmus was the most eagerly-awaited transfer of the off-season, and Pirates confirmed that has he signed a three-year deal with them this morning.

The 23-year-old was reportedly unhappy at United, but he denies any bad blood.
Source: http://www.kickoff.com

The Siya crew can reveal that Golden Arrows have parted ways with Sibusiso Hadebe.

According to a source close to the player, coach Manqoba Mngqithi has not been impressed with the Standerton-born defender’s performances, leading to the decision to release the player.
Source: http://www.soccerladuma.com

Word coming out of the Orlando Pirates camp is that defender Siyabonga Sangweni is responding well to treatment and is expected to make a return to full fitness before the start of the 2013/14 season.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

News reaching the Siya crew is that Orlando Pirates are hoping to secure Paul Koulibaly’s signature before the start of the 2013/14 PSL season in August.

Bucs, who have already made a number of additions to their squad in preparation of the new season, are keen on adding the Burkina Faso defender to their roster as they aim to add depth to their squad.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com