Durban – A 37-year-old man was fined R30 000 on Tuesday for his role in stealing shipping containers worth millions from Durban’s port.

Terence Pillay pleaded guilty in the Durban Regional Court to 21 counts of theft.

Magistrate L Ndlovu said she decided on a fine as she thought imprisonment would “muzzle the accused” when it came to helping the police.

“The accused has been instrumental in uncovering a lot of alleged [illegal] activities,” Ndlovu said.

The court was told that Pillay handed himself to police and agreed to help them solve the crime.

Pillay was the manager at a storage company whose owner, Yusuf Omarjee, had been charged with stealing containers, fraud, and money laundering. Omarjee is out on R10 000 bail.

Half of Pillay’s sentence was suspended for five years, meaning he only had to pay R15 000.

If convicted of theft or attempted theft during that period he faces a six-year jail term.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A Johannesburg couple was arrested on Tuesday for killing their child, after previously reporting her as missing, Gauteng police said.

The couple reported the 3-year-old girl missing on 10 July, but the dog unit found the child’s body on Friday in the basement of the block of flats where they lived, police spokesperson Xoli Mbele said.

“She was wrapped in plastic and her body was in a decomposing state.”

Mbele said the child’s mother told the investigating officer the child had died after an illness.

She said that when she told the child’s father, he wrapped the body in a plastic bag and threw it into the basement.

The couple would appear soon in Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

– SAPA

Cape Town – An SAA plane has been involved in a second “hijacking” incident in as many months.

Flight SA 417 was en route from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth on Tuesday when the airline received the alert.

The plane was met by armed police and other emergency response teams, Algoa FM reported.

“SAA is deeply concerned about a false hijack alert involving one of its aircraft,” said spokesperson Tlali Tlali.
For more http://www.news24.com

By TDN

Mahikeng-About 300 dancers from across the country and the neighbouring Botswana converged at Mmabana Mahikeng over the past weekend during the Superstars Dance Festival, that was hosted jointly by the South African Dance Foundation North West (SADF – NW) and Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation. 

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.

“Dancers from the age of six up to the professional level illuminate the dance floor with Cha Cha, Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Rumba and Jive moves that kept audience asking for more. To ensure an inclusive participation and excitement for dance sport fanatics, the Superstars Dance Festival incorporated traditional, Hip Hop and street dance styles” Mmabana spokesperson Trinity Bogosi said.

Amongst the judges was Salome Sechele, a Latin American champion, adjudicator, choreographer and a reality TV judge who has represented South Africa at an international level.

“The next edition of the competition, which is envisaged to be even bigger, will be hosted in 2014 in Mahikeng” concludes Bogosi.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_Daily_DailyNews @IceT_

Johannesburg – Cosatu leaders have reportedly decided to call a special meeting to decide whether general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi should face a disciplinary hearing.

Eyewitness News reported on Tuesday that top Congress of South African Trade Unions leaders called a special Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on the matter.

Although there is no official confirmation of the meeting, insiders told EWN that Vavi will have to face Cosatu leadership over the matter of his affair with a junior worker.

Vavi denied a claim of rape by the worker, and she later withdrew the complaint against him.

According to EWN, the meeting could be a stand-off between Vavi’s supporters and those he believes are trying to oust him.

For more http://www.news24.com

By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-North West police arrested one of their own on Friday, when lieutenant colonel policewoman was arrested for allegedly stealing mascaras worth R130 at Mooi River Mall at clicks shop, in Potchefstroom.

Police spokesperson Kelebogile Moiloa said a police woman was off-duty.

“Police arrested a lieutenant colonel who allegedly stole mascaras worth R130. She will appear at court soon” she said.

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Bafana Bafana head coach, Gordon Igesund, has named his national team squad that will take on Nigeria in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on August 14.

The most notable inclusion is the return of Orlando Pirates midfielder, Andile Jali, after months of being overlooked by Igesund.

The game will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, with ticket prices ranging between R50 and R100.

The 28-man squad named by Igesund is:

Goalkeepers:

Itumeleng Khune, Senzo Meyiwa, Wayne Sandilands.

Defenders:

Erick Mathoho, Tshepo Gumede, Thabo Nthethe, Anele Ngconga, Bevan Fransman, Tsepo Masilela, Siboniso Gaxa, Innocent Mdledle, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabo Matlaba.

Midfielders:

Siphiwe Tshabalala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Dean Furman, Hlompho Kekana, Oupa Manyisa, Andile Jali, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Bongani Zungu, Thuso Phala, Daine Klate, Lerato Chabangu.

Strikers:

Tokelo Rantie, Bernard Parker, Lebogang Manyama, Luyolo Nomandela.

For more http://www.socceladuma.com

By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-Minister of Social Development , Bathabile Dlamini allegedly instructed that a further 400 food parcels must be distributed in Tlokwe Ward 9 today, less than 24 hours before voting will start in the ward. This amounts to one food parcel for 10 voters in the ward.

“This is a continuation of last week’s abuse of state resources and government officials in the desperate ANC campaigning in Ward 9 lead by Dlamini in person” DA Chris Hattingh said.

Hattingh said Dlamini’s absurdly exaggerated statement that there are 17000 child-headed households in Potchefstroom, one out of every three households, in her motivation for the “intervention” is indicative to which levels the ANC will stoop in their abuse of state resources for political gain.

The DA said deliberate distribution of food parcels as an electioneering tool can be regarded as stealing from the poor to return an ousted ANC mayor implicated in fraud and corruption to his former position.

“The DA will not only urge the neglected and impoverished voters in Ward 9, mostly living in informal dwellings, to take whatever is being offered by the Minister in her cheap political showcasing” he said. 

“During our campaign it has become clear that even the poorest of the poor jobless people in Ward 9 have seen through this electioneering stunt.

The DA will put formal questions about the irrational and selective election-driven abuse of food parcels. The abuse, personally driver by Dlamini, highlights the lack of planning and fair and sustainable care for the vulnerable sections of the community by the Minister” DA Hattingh concludes.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-North West police rescued another man from mob justice in Magogong village, near Diplakeng this morning.

A man was cornered by community members and given the wrath of the mob justice.

The community members alleged that a man aged between 30 and 40 is one of the gang members terrorising the community.

One of the community members who would like to remain anonymous for the fear of victimisation said since the gang escaped from custody, they have been terrorising the community.

“Two weeks ago a man was allegedly stabbed and his intestines were hanging outside. The gang rape,commit crime and do as they please” he said.

Police were allegedly called and rescued the alleged suspect from the mob.

The incident took place in Diplankeng village,near a bus stop this morning.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @Icet_

By TDN

The Office of Premier of the North West Province is to establish a special committee to oversee implementation of resolutions adopted at the recent Provincial Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration Summit and also establish a permanent Monitoring and Evaluation Unit in the Office of the Premier, Premier Modise announced on Tuesday.

Hailed as the trendsetter for other provinces, the provincial summit resolved among others to continue to fight any forms of discriminations, which are threats to social cohesion and nation building and to accelerate change in improving the quality of life of all people, with special attention to the needs of the youth, women and people with disability. 

Delegates endorsed that the provincial government must continue to build capacity to drive the socio economic agenda in the province, including absorbing young people and women into economic activity, employing professionals, investing in skills required by the economy, and investing in research and development to respond to the demands of the knowledge economy.

They resolved to mobilise communities to work together to build a caring and proud society based on shared values and a vision informed by constitutional democracy, Ubuntu , human rights and equality, non-racialism, non-tribalism and non-sexism.

Inclusivity and social justice, redress and transformation, intercultural and community cooperation, social solidarity, empowered, fair, inclusive and active citizenship, Civic responsibility, unity in diversity, National consciousness and identity were adopted as guiding principles that should knot society together.

Stakeholders committed to work towards the implementation of the recommendations of the 2030 National Development Plan as a long term vision which should serve as a basis for partnerships across society to attain the South Africa and North West Province of their dreams, eloquently articulated in the constitution.

They also undertook to ensure that social cohesion and nation building underpins all  provincial and local government strategic priorities, inclusive of integrated economic and social development, education, health, human settlement, land and rural development, safety and security, immigration policies and programmes, arts, culture, language and heritage development and preservation, technological innovation, research and development.

Delegates from across all sectors also agreed to promote and preserve all indigenous cultures and knowledge and further to accelerate change in improving the quality of life of all people, with special attention to the needs of the youth, women and people with disability. 

In her closing address to the summit, Premier Modise had reminded delegates that social cohesion is not about new concepts. Modise had emphasised that it is about renewal of values and standards, respecting other people’s cultures and beliefs, being our brothers keepers and loving our neighbours. 

She said that a lot still needs to be done to protect whistle blowers and that the public service should be intolerant to people who are unable to serve with a smile.

“Rural development is not about tractors or the number of fowls. It is about making the lives of people residing in those areas better by providing the kind of services and resources that are found in urban areas. It is not about the erosion of culture or values,” said Modise in proclaiming that Mahikeng and Taung are among areas that are targeted for development that should turn them into modern cities.

The Premier encouraged young people to take their studies seriously saying that there will be no place for the uneducated in the future. “There is absolutely no excuse for the youth of today not to be educated,” she stressed.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_