Tlokwe-The Department of Social Development will host a community Imbizo (public participation programme) in Tlokwe, Potchefstroom, on Friday, 2 August 2013.

On the day of the Imbizo, the Minister and her officials will also visit a number of child-headed households which have been identified for urgent and continuous social assistance by the Department.

The Minister will also visit the Potchefstroom Crisis Centre and the National Youth Service Project to assess how her Department can assist in improving the services offered by these institutions to the people of Potchefstroom.

“The Minister for Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini is required through the Performance Agreement she signed with the President of the Republic to undertake public participation programmes throughout the country.The Minister and her Department undertook sixty nine public participation programmes in the 2012/13 fiscal year” departmental spokesperson Vuyisile Ngesi said.

The department said the Imbizo promotes participative governance and will allow the community of Tlokwe to have a say in decision-making processes affecting their future, as well as make them aware of the services available from the Department and its agencies, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and National Development Agency (NDA).

The details of the Imbizo are as follows:

Date: Friday, 2 August 2013

SITE VISITS

10h30: Potchefstroom Crisis Centre
11h00: National Youth Service Project
11h30: Child-Headed Household

MAIN EVENT
Time: 12h15
Venue: Boitshoko School Sports Playground, Tlokwe

(Edited By Obakeng Maje)

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By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley-In a joint operation various policing units namely, the Provincial Crime Prevention Unit, the Tactical Response Team Public Order Policing unit, Crime Intelligence unit, Galeshewe SAPS, Kagisho SAPS and NC SAPS Polmusca members raided nine high schools in the Galeshewe area.
The surprise operations were conducted on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning at the request of school principals and parents of scholars from some of these schools.
“Approximately 10 000 scholars as well as suspicious looking persons lingering outside the school premises were searched. Classrooms, toilets and storerooms on the school premises were searched and the police confiscated several knives, pangas, broken mirrors and other dangerous weapons” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. Kock said the scholars were allegedly found in possession of dangerous weapons. “Those who were found in possession of Dangerous weapons were referred to the school principals to be dealt with internally and according to the disciplinary processes of the Education Department” Kock outlines.
Police also followed up on information of hot-spot areas surrounding the schools where drugs are allegedly being sold.
Police confiscate 31 fingers of dagga allegedly buried in a hole outside one of the mentioned houses. The dagga has a street value of R3000, 00” police said.
No arrests were made.
“The operation forms part of Safer Schools Project and the No Knife Campaign and similar operations will be conducted in on-going basis. Police also intensified patrols in and around schools to ensure that all scholars and the community are safe and secure” Kock said.
Police said violence and crime do not only occur in the school premises as some of the worst causes of violence for youth lie outside of school, in the family, the neighbourhood and in broader society.
“A number of youth–oriented prevention strategies have shown that crime prevention programmes in schools both help to turn youth away from a life of crime and help to prevent younger children from choosing a path of crime” said police.
In other words, for younger children (or those not yet involved in crime) crime prevention programmes stop them from becoming involved Kock concludes.-TDN
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Pretoria – The Farlam Commission of Inquiry bade farewell to chief evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga on Wednesday.

The commission’s chairperson, retired judge Ian Farlam, wished him well in his new position as a Constitutional Court judge, which he was expected to take up on Thursday.

“We are grateful to him for the great contribution he has made to the commission. We not only wish him well, but… we know the whole country will benefit from his contribution… at the Constitutional Court,” Farlam said.

Other lawyers at the commission said Madlanga was a pleasure to work with and a good human being. They described him as lawyer who worked hard, and had great integrity and wisdom.

Another evidence leader, Geoff Budlender, said Madlanga had all the qualities of a good Constitutional Court judge.

Madlanga thanked Farlam and all those who had contributed to the commission.

“This is a touching moment,” he said.

He wished all them all the best for the duration of the hearings.

The Farlam Commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana in August 2012.

– SAPA

Pretoria – It was quiet on Wednesday outside the Pretoria hospital where former president Nelson Mandela is being treated.

A handful of journalists remain stationed at the entrances to the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital.

Throughout the morning, a trickle of people visited the hospital to take pictures of the perimeter wall, which was covered with messages and flowers for the former statesman.

Police were still stationed at both entrances to the hospital. They searched each car before it was allowed to enter the grounds.

The ailing anti-apartheid icon was spending his 54th day in the hospital, where he was admitted on 8 June with a recurring lung infection.
SAPA

Cape Town – A decision to close 17 Western Cape schools at the end of last year was set aside on Wednesday.

Western Cape High Court Judges Andre le Grange and Nape Dolamo ruled that the reasons given for the closures were brief and that the public consultation process that followed was inadequate.
For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – DA Gauteng leader Jack Bloom and party spokesperson Mmusi Maimane will vie for selection as the party’s preferred candidate for premier, it was announced on Wednesday.

“Coming from a background of business and the non-government sector, I know I can do the job,” Maimane said on Wednesday in announcing his intention to stand, just a day after Bloom did the same.

“Speaking to the society about what it really needs is key,” said Maimane.

He said people needed jobs, and there was also a need to help small businesses grow.

“There might be me and Bloom or a whole lot of other people too who join the race by midnight,” he said.

Bloom said the DA was open regarding the nomination of candidates.

“This is how the DA does things… our process should be an example to other parties. May the best one win.”

DA members had until midnight on Wednesday to submit their candidacy.

The preferred candidate would be announced on 9 August, said Bloom.

– SAPA

BY TDN

North West Premier Thandi Modise has commended MEC for Human Settlement & Public Safety, Nono Maloyi for his prompt intervention that will ensure that construction of a house for Granny Lina Mahlalela of Lekojaneng village outside Rustenburg commences by next week Tuesday.

Granny Mahlalela’s desperate situation was highlighted on the front page and page 10 of today’s Sowetan Newspaper where upon Premier Modise called for MEC Maloyi’s intervention.

A technical team was speedily dispatched by MEC Maloyi to Lekojane to assess Granny Mahlalela’s situation.

“The positive and quick response of a contractor who was on the instruction of MEC Maloyi  approached to support the Each-One-Settle-One programme is encouraging and gives us confidence that with the support of partners within the housing industry, the plight of the elderly like that of Koko Mahlalela are speedily addressed,” said Premier Modise.

The Premier who was touched by Koko Mahlalela’s desperate called on municipalities to work with the Human Settlement Department to ensure that the elderly are prioritised for housing provision to redress the housing backlog that was inherited by the democratic government.

“While we are mindful of the huge housing backlog we have inherited, as a caring and compassionate government we would wish to see similar cases across our province resolved to restore the dignity of our aged,” added Modise.      

The Each-One-Settle-One Campaign was launched by the Ministry of Human Settlements with the intention of mobilising stakeholders, private sector/institutions, agencies and business to assist government towards reducing the backlog of Human Settlements.

The programme will also assist in achieving the millennium development goals to eradicate informal settlements by 2014.-TDN

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Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs will fittingly kick-off the new Absa Premiership season next week and have an opportunity to lay down their marker at least a day before some of their main rivals taste any action.

Amakhosi will travel to newly-promoted Mpumalanga Black Aces on Friday and have the opportunity to give themselves a three-point head start.

Coach Stuart Baxter has already urged his players to remain “humble” as they bid to claim back-to-back league titles, just as they did eight years ago when they had won the championship for two seasons running.

Their opponents for the opening game, to be played at the Mbombela Stadium, have already recruited heavily in the off-season with 16 new signings to date and a new coach in veteran Clive Barker.

The ex-Bafana Bafana boss has reiterated that their ambition is top-flight survival.

Eight other clubs begin their campaigns on Saturday, including Aces’ fellow promotion foes, Polokwane City.

The Limpopo club defied the tragic circumstance of losing four players in a motor vehicle accident last season to win the National First Division and their reward is Premiership football with a debut against Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

University of Pretoria, a club both Aces and City will be aiming to emulate after they ended in the top eight after their own elevation last year, kick off their season against Moroka Swallows at the Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium.

The Birds missed out on a top half finish in 2012/13 and will disappointingly not have the chance to defend the MTN8 title they had won at the start of last term.

Similarly, Ajax Cape Town were absent from the top eight and will begin their new campaign with the long journey to the King Zwelithini Stadium where they will play Lamontville Golden Arrows in round one.

The other game on Saturday sees SuperSport United, who will be without the familiar feature of Gavin Hunt in the dugout for the first time in over half a decade, host Free State Stars at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.

Cavin Johnson is the new coach at Matsatsantsa and the ex-Platinum Stars boss will be desperate to career with a bang.

Johnson’s former club are amongst the four in action on Sunday with Dikwena and their interim manager Allan Freese hosting a new-look coaching team of Bidvest Wits at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

The ambitious Students appointed Hunt as their boss in the off-season and he too will be keen to start his new job on a positive note.

Also on the same day, Bloemfontein Celtic and Mamelodi Sundowns clash in possibly the tie of the round.

Siwelele ended fifth last year, while the Brazilians will be determined to start out well after ending a poorly 10th in 2012/13 – their joint-worst finish in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) era.

That match takes place at the Free State Stadium.

The final match of the opening round is delayed until the following week due to Orlando Pirates’ involvement in the CAF Champions League.

The Buccaneers will start out their domestic season by hosting AmaZulu at the FNB Stadium on August 7.

Roger de Sa’s team will be keen to put a tough past 12 months behind them and improve on their third-place league showing and general overall challenge in 2013/14.

For more http://www.psl.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

Tlokwe-During the meeting requested by the NW ANC Chair, Supra Mahumapelo, earlier today, the DA was informed that the former Tlokwe Executive Mayor, Maphetle Maphetle and his former mayoral committee will vacate the municipal offices immediately. 

“He said that they will invite DA Executive Mayor Annette Combrink to welcome her in the offices and to do a formal handover” DA Chris Hattingh said.

“He further said that the ANC will formally withdraw their High Court application for leave to appeal against a judgment handed down on Monday by Judge Tuchten” said DA.

The DA welcomes this decision by the ANC.

“It vindicates our position (also strengthened by the high court judgment) that the ANC had no justification for their occupation of the offices other than to frustrate the DA and the municipal administration – all at the cost of the community that it was elected to serve” Hattingh outlines.

The DA’s Annette Combrink and her team are ready to start with their task. 

Hattingh said the first priority is to bring stability and sound administration back to the municipality. 

Committees that have become dysfunctional must be revitalised and the backlog of neglected issues must be cleared DA concludes.-TDN

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Cape Town – Despite entering into the election race with a “heavy heart” and the odds heavily stacked against his favour, Zimbawe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has refused to back down from the election contest.

Mail&Guardian reported that the MDC leader cast his vote just before 11:00 on Wednesday.

Months leading to the national election, President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party resisted key political reforms as outlined by the power sharing agreement signed in September 2008, while the military’s top brass publicly lent its support to Mugabe.

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