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Cape Town – Plans to buy a new jet for President Jacob Zuma are in the “preliminary” stages, says Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and routine maintenance on the existing plane has cost upwards of R60 million.

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

New York – A rare 19th century 55-carat diamond has gone on temporary view at New York’s American Museum of Natural History.

The Kimberley Diamond gets its name from the mine in South Africa where it was found sometime before 1868.

It was cut from a 490-carat crystal. It was turned into a 70-carat gem in 1921 and recut to its present form in 1958 to improve its brilliance and proportions.

The champagne-colored, emerald-cut diamond will be on display through the end of June 2014.

Curator George Harlow says the rectangular diamond is about 1.25 inches in length and virtually flawless.

It is on loan from Bruce F. Stuart Trust. – Sapa-AP

Johannesburg – Following a plethora of withdrawals from the Bafana Bafana soccer squad due for duty in the Cosafa Cup in Zambia, coach Gordon Igesund says his troops are well prepared.

Bafana, after being given a bye into the knockout stages, face Namibia in a quarter-final clash at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday.

As the tournament falls outside a FIFA sanctioned date, local clubs were not obliged to release players, and Igesund had to make changes to over half the original squad of 20.

“I am happy to be in this situation, because most players do well under pressure and this might be a good thing for us,” Igesund said on Friday.

“I am just hopeful that the selected players get to show the country what they are about,” he said.

“We have a group of very talented and hungry players who are ready to prove themselves.

“Even though we have had only two training sessions, I have seen the passion and determination in these players. I believe they can do it.”

South Africa comes up against a Namibian side which has scored six goals in two matches in the Cosafa Cup tournament so far.

Namibia defeated Mauritius 2-1 and downed the Seychelles 4-2 to reach the quarter-finals.

The two sides have met five times before. South Africa has won twice, Namibia once, and the other two matches were draws.

SAPA

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter is not giving away anything away to the public regarding their pre-season training.

This after Amakhosi announced that their pre-season friendly against Swazi champions Mbabane Swallows at Ngwenyama Lodge in Nelspruit on Saturday will be played behind closed doors.

The Phefeni Glamour Boys decided to invite Swallows for a match after their international friendly against Egyptian side Ismaily was cancelled recently.

“It was Chiefs’ decision to allow the game only to be played behind closed doors,” Swallows CEO Sibusiso Manana confirms.

“We are leaving tonight for Mpumalanga and we are looking forward to an exciting game against Kaizer Chiefs.

“We are champions, they are also champions, and that makes the game more exciting.”

Source: http://www.kickoff.com

Rural communities experienced the spirit of an effective, efficient, accountable and transparent public service that underpin Batho Pele during the North West Provincial Africa Public Service Day event that was held in Mokgalwaneng village near Northam on Friday.

Residents from Matlametlong, Disake, Kraalhoek, Modikela, Matsinyane and Mokgalwaneng received a range of services including identity document and passports applications, social grants applications and information on Housing.

Roberta Tselapedi of Mokgalwaneng who came to apply for a child support grant for her child had this to say: “At least they have saved us time and money for transport by bringing these kinds of services to us.”

Rona re siame, ba refile tsotlhe, re tswa le kwa ngakeng, ba refile dipilisi, re amogela le penshene – We are happy, we have been given everything, we have also been to the doctor [mobile clinic] and they have given us medication. We are also getting pension,” said 71-year old granny Segakweng Moeng.

Her friends Lehan Serudi, 79 and Velminah Kotsedi, 85, said that they were delighted that government dedicated the day by reaching out and celebrating with them. Fifty-four year old Abrahm Morua was also able to renew his passport on site. Over seventy ID applications and enquiries were processed on site.

One of the projects visited Senior Government Officials during the event was the Makgalwaneng Information Centre.

According to Moses Kotane Local Municipality Acting Mayor Councillor Caroline Motshabi, the Sun City Management had visited the centre as part of their Corporate Social Investment and plans are at an advanced stage to establish a bakery with modern equipment to empower the local community. Cooperatives are to be established among the locals to share and maximise benefits to be derived from the bakery project.

Residents also received information on small business development, the provincial bursary scheme, tertiary studies, employment opportunities and a host of other government services.

Premier Thandi Modise had earlier said that the provincial outreach programme is aimed at strengthening citizen participation, enhancing integrity and access to information.Modise has also said that the programme was intended at giving practical expression to the implementation of the Batho-Pele Revitalisation Strategies and giving due recognition to men and women within the public service who devote their lives to serving the people of Africa diligently and selflessly.

North West Provincial Committee on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims presented its much awaited report on the investigation into the Bahurutshe Ba-Moiloa Boo Ramotshere Chieftaincy dispute to Premier Thandi Modise in Mahikeng today. Receiving the report from the Chairperson of the Provincial Committee, Commissioner Joe Mafereka and members of his committee, Premier Modise highlighted that the provincial governmenthas never had interest and or preferences to any of the parties involved disputes as government’s role is to unite communities and not to put them as under. In terms of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework (TLGF) Act 41 of 2003, Premier Modise who was with MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Manketse Tlhape has up to 60 days to study the report and apply her mind to the findings and recommendations of the committee before issuing a recognition certificate to the successor to the late Kgosi Monnaamere J Godfrey Moiloa and rightful heir to the chieftaincy.  Meanwhile, Premier Modise is scheduled to meet with the committee on Monday to pronounce on the recommendations of the102 traditional leadership disputes whose report she had received from the committee two month ago.  

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

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Pic:By (Zandisile Luphahla)

Tears of joy were spotted on Leratong Park resident Patrick Meza’s face after he was given a brand new paraffin stove by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) in Kimberley yesterday.

A tearful Menza told The New Age that this was the beginning of a healthy lifestyle as he and his wife suffered from tuberculosis due to smoke inhalation from their old paraffin stove.

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

Former NPA boss Menzi Simelane is part of a government team sent to the North West to help turn around embattled municipalities, eNCA reported on Friday.

Simelane lost his job as national director of public prosecutions after the Constitutional Court found his appointment by President Jacob Zuma was unconstitutional and invalid.

Tlokwe municipality, where ANC mayor Maphetle Maphetle was unseated last week, was on the list of towns to be visited by the team.

It would also attend to Madibeng, Maquassi Hills, Ditsobotla, and Matlosana.

North West Premier Thandi Modise this week asked the public service and administration department to help the troubled municipalities.

Department spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya said the team would look at “reviewing organisational structures, departmental performance, and efficiencies” in the municipalities.

“The request from the premier is for us to assist in resolving immediate governance and administration challenges,” Mabaya was quoted as saying.

“The team is led by the [director general Mashwahle Diphofu]… and two of our advisers, Mr Silumko Sokupa and advocate Menzi Simelane, who will focus on addressing issues related to fraud, corruption, and maladministration.”

SAPA

Pretoria – A court application for miners wounded and arrested in Marikana last year was not about their legal representation, a government lawyer said on Friday.

“This case is not about the right to legal representation. This is a case about public funding,” Marius Oosthuizen told the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

He is representing President Jacob Zuma and Justice Minister Jeff Radebe in the matter.

Lawyer Dali Mpofu brought the urgent application in court on Thursday and argued the miners were entitled to legal representation at the State’s expense.

Mpofu, who is representing the miners at the hearings of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry, wants Zuma and Radebe to approve payment for the mineworkers’ legal team.

“Nobody said they can’t have legal representation,” Oosthuizen said.

“This case is whether the public purse should be opened up for the applicant.”

If the application was granted, it could set a precedent for public funding.

“This is something not to be rushed into in a matter of days,” Oosthuizen said.

The Farlam Commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 34 striking mineworkers shot by police on 16 August at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, North West.

It is also investigating the deaths of 10 people in strike-related violence the previous week.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Schweizer Reneke-Two men sentenced to prison accused were sentenced 10-15 years in prison for robbery aggravating by Schweizer Reneke Regional court.

Teko Erens Baard (20), and Sello Lekgetho (21) were found guilty of robbery and sanction 10 and 15 years into prison respectively.

“Both suspects appeared before Schweizer-Reneke Regional Court on 03 July 2013 and were found guilty of Robbery Aggravating” captain Pelonomi Makau said. Teko Erens Baard was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment whilst Sello Lekgetho received 10 years imprisonment.

“It is alleged that the suspects robbed a 31-year- old victim off his two cellphones as well as an undisclosed amount of cash at Ipelegeng Township near Schweizer- Reneke after threatening him with a knife. 

The police said a victim managed to grab one of the suspects with the assistance of the community members while the other suspect fled.

“Police were summoned to the scene and arrested the suspect after they found a cellphone and cash in his possession. He gave the police the description of his accomplice who was arrested the same day during the night and found in possession of another cellphone” Makau said.

The two appeared before magistrate and were sanctioned.

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