After a memorable 2012/13 season for Platinum Stars, the team is looking to carry their form from last season into the new campaign.

With the Absa Premiership staring this weekend, where Dikwena take on Wits, they will face Free State Stars at the quarter-final stage of this year’s MTN8, on August 10, at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Stadium.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Orlando Pirates will face SuperSport United in the quarter-finals of the MTN8 at the Mbombela Stadium, on Sunday August 10, as they begin their quest for silverware in the 2013/14 PSL campaign.

Bucs last clinched the trophy in 2011, on the back of triumphant 2010 campaign, which saw them win the lucrative MTN8 in two consecutive years.
Source: http://www.soccerladuma.com

The Chamber of Mines has declared a dispute with the trade union AMCU, after talks on a new pay deal stalled, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

This meant the talks now fell under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and two facilitators, the newspaper reported.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) had reportedly tabled a 150% increase for entry-level underground workers.

“It was quite clear that we were at a stage where we could say we were not making progress from either side,” the chamber’s chief negotiator Elize Strydom was quoted as telling the newspaper.

“We were not going to move on our offer and they have no further proposal, so we declared a dispute with AMCU and we’ll refer the matter to the CCMA.”

AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa reportedly said that he was not aware the chamber had declared a dispute, and that AMCU believed it was “premature to run to the CCMA”.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela has paid a surprise visit to the Butterworth Community Clinic in the Eastern Cape.

The sister in charge of the clinic has highlighted some of the challenges facing them.

There is a shortage of staff, medicine and equipment, she said.

The clinic, which sees an average of 300 patients a day, plays a key role in taking care of the local people who would otherwise
have to seek medical attention at hospitals.

Madonsela is in the area to hold National Stakeholder Dialogue and Public Hearings.

The dialogue aims to strengthen government’s ability to deliver on the Millennium Development Goals, with particular focus on
health and poverty eradication.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Construction has not yet resumed at Eskom’s multi-billion rand power plant, Medupi, in Lephalale, Limpopo.

Workers downed tools last week in protest over travel allowances.

The trouble-hit Medupi power station had its timeline to provide electricity postponed from December this year to mid next year.

The delays were brought about by work stoppages related to labour unrests and shoddy work by some contractors.

The usually busy Medupi site is deserted – with only unmanned cranes visible.

The site has been closed for construction since Wednesday last week. During last weeks’s violent protest, about 20 workers were injured, five vehicles burnt and cranes damaged.

The unions’ representatives and the Medupi site management are in a meeting to resolve the dispute.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

The presidency has appealled to the public to help realise Madiba’s wish for the establishment of a special hospital for children.

It says the Nelson Mandela Children’s hospital project will be one of the most inspiring legacies of Mandela and therefore society is invited to support it.

Former president Nelson Mandela has been in hospital since June 8.

The presidency says he remains in a critical but stable condition at a Pretoria hospital and continues to show improvement.

It says there are plans in place to establish a children’s hospital in honour of the former statesman who loves children and wants to have the best for them.

The presidency is calling upon the business community and the public to support this project and make it a success.

Meanwhile, President Zuma has urged the public to continue praying for Madiba and to continue taking his good work forward.
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Lawyers for injured and arrested Marikana mineworkers have filed an urgent appeal in the Constitutional Court over a funding dispute involving the Commission of Inquiry.

In court papers, the lawyers request that the court hear their appeal in two weeks’ time. The lawyers lost a North Gauteng High Court application to compel the state to pay for the miners’ legal representation in the inquiry.

“Yes I can confirm that we have today filed an urgent appeal with the Concourt against the whole judgment of the honourable judge Raulinga of the North Gauteng High Court on 18 July. And why we lodged the appeal? -Because we believe that another court looking at the same facts that before honorable judge would arrive at a different conclusion,” says the attorney representing the miners, Henry Msimang.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Johannesburg – Two men accused of robbing and stabbing lawyer Dali Mpofu appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Eastern Cape police said.

Chuma Komani and Thulani Simon, both 23, would be back in court on 23 August, police spokesperson Mluleki Mbi said.

They remained in police custody.

The two were arrested in May when police found the weapon used in the attack. Items taken from Mpofu were also found.

Mpofu, who is representing miners involved in last year’s police shootings in Marikana, was walking on a beach in the East London when he was attacked on 11 April.

The former SABC CEO was released from hospital three days later.

Police had established that both arrested men were out on bail of R500 each in connection with a robbery in October.

In that crime, a tourist and a police reservist were robbed of their cellphones.

– SAPA