Platinum producer Lonmin has finally recognised the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) as a majority union at its mines. The two parties signed an Employee recognition agreement on Wednesday.

This comes ahead of the commemoration of the Marikana tragedy on Friday.

Both parties say the deal marks the beginning of a new era at the mine. Amcu says it shows the Marikana deaths last year were not in vain, while Lonmin says the agreement sets the company on a good footing operationally.

Lonmin CEO, Ben Magara says, “As an employer, we do not choose a union, our employees, the majority of them, in excess of 60% as a total company, have elected Amcu as their union.”

The deal comes into full effect next year. Smaller unions like UASA and Solidarity will still be allowed at the negotiating table this year. But from next year they will need a minimum of 30% representation to participate.

Lonmin says it has agreed to sacrifice production on Friday. That’s to allow workers to commemorate the deaths of their colleagues. But the no-work no-pay principle will apply, meaning those who want to participate will have to sacrifice their day’s salaries.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Orlando Pirates midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo will undergo a fitness test on Thursday to determine whether or not he will be ready for Saturday’s CAF Champions League clash against Egyptian giants Zamalek.

Ntshumayelo injured his foot in last Sunday’s MTN8 clash against his former team SuperSport United.

It was thought that he had shaken the injury off, but it seems that he is not 100% fit.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

The South African Football Association (Safa) have confirmed that Mabhudi Khenyeza’s appeal against his ban will be heard tomorrow.

Khenyeza was handed a 12-month ban by the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee after he was found guilty of spitting at assistant referee Zakhele Siwela.

The incident happened during a game between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns on 2 April. The controversial striker was still playing for the Urban Warriors then and has since joined Mpumalanga Black Aces.

“Yes, I can confirm that Khenyeza’s case will be heard tomorrow. I don’t know the venue or the time, but the appeal is definitely scheduled for tomorrow,” Safa’s Communications Manager Dominic Chimhavi told the Siya crew.

Khenyeza’s case caused the PSL some embarrassment recently when the League misinterpreted its own rule regarding a suspended player, who is appealing his sentence.

The League was forced to apologise to Aces and Khenyeza after realizing the mistake.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

The PSL have finally announced the dates and venues for this season’s MTN8 semifinal fixtures involving Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Platinum Stars and Wits.

The draw for this round of the draw was made earlier this week, however there were no dates given for the fixtures involved.

Now it ws been revealed that the first legs of the semis will take place this month, with the second legs being played late in September.

The statement from the PSL also said:
“PSL General Manager of Football, Derek Blanckensee also revealed that there will be some changes in the Absa Premiership fixtures. The block fixtures scheduled for 24-25 September 2013 will now be played on 17-18 September 2013. Another block fixture that will be affected is the 27-29 September 2013. It will be brought forward and will be played on 20-22 September 2013.”

MTN 8 SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES

Saturday, 24 August 2013
Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates – 15:00
FNB Stadium

Sunday, 25 August 2013
Platinum Stars v Bidvest Wits – 15:00
Royal Bafokeng Stadium

Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Orlando Pirates v Kaizer Chiefs – 15:00
Orlando Stadium
Bidvest Wits v Platinum Stars – 19:30
Bidvest Stadium
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Nelson Mandela Challenge

Teams: South Africa 0-2 Nigeria

Date: 14 August 2013

Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium

South Africa lost 2-0 to African champions Nigeria in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge on Wednesday night.

Bafana Bafana, who host AFCON finalists Burkina Faso in another friendly on Saturday, were undone by substitute Uche Nwafor’s second-half brace at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.

It was Bafana’s sixth defeat in eight meetings with the west African giants.

The Super Eagles threatened first in the tie, as Nnamdi Oduamadi almost beat goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune to a ball over the top 11 minutes in. The national captain, however, bravely put his body on the line to snuff out the danger.

Five minutes later Uwa Echiejile ballooned a volley over from inside Khune’s box.

Soon after, Kaizer Chiefs forward Bernard Parker skied an effort from range at the other end.

Parker nearly teed up the in-form Siphiwe Tshabalala midway through the stanza, but his low cross narrowly failed to find his club teammate’s outstretched boot.

Nigeria’s John Ogu then came agonisingly close to scoring the opener in the 26th minute. The towering 25-year-old’s curling shot beat a diving Khune but not the woodwork.

Malmo FF hitman Tokelo Rantie had a powerful shot on target just past the half-hour mark, but Austine Ejide was well positioned to comfortably gather.

The sides traded shots just before the break, as Khune dropped down smartly to keep out a dipping Ogu strike, while Rantie fired into the side netting.

The hosts started the second period brightly, as Thabo Nthethe had an overhead kick scrambled away by Ejide after Parker’s free-kick into the area caused problems.

However, Nwafor netted the opener in the 48th minute with a quick-thinking back-heel from close range soon after replacing Newcastle United hitman Shola Ameobi.

South Africa coach Gordon Igesund sought a change on the hour, handing Free State Stars midfielder Luyolo Nomandela his debut, with SuperSport United’s Thuso Phala the man to come off.

Bafana struggled with their long-range shooting all evening, as Reneilwe Letsholonyane drilled another effort over in the 65th minute.

Igesund’s men were punished for their poor finishing three minutes later, as Nwafor tapped into an open net after fellow replacements Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses combined superbly down the right flank.

Soon after, Igesund introduced Moroka Swallows playmaker Lerato Chabangu at the expense of Amakhosi’s Letsholonyane.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns man came close to making an impact in the 77th minute, as his venomous drive flew inches over the cross bar.

Parker, likewise, threatened when his free-kick narrowly cleared the target a minute later.

It was Parker’s final contribution, as he was replaced by Ajax Cape Town’s Lebogang Manyama in the 80th minute.

Tshabalala and Manyama both tried their luck from promising positions in the dying stages without reward, as Stephen Keshi’s outfit recorded a deserved victory.

South Africa: Itumeleng Khune, Eric Mathoho, Thabo Nthethe, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Dean Furman, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thuso Phala, Bernard Parker, Tsepo Masilela, Tokelo Rantie.

Nigeria: Austine Ejide, Efe Ambrose, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Godfrey Oboabona, Uwa Echiejile, John Ogu, Ogenyi Onazi, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Sunday Mba, Victor Obinna, Shola Ameobi.

By Soccer-Laduma

South Africa coach Gordon Igesund feels Nigeria made better use of the ball in the final third on Wednesday night.

Bafana Bafana were beaten 2-0 in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge, with Super Eagles substitute Uche Nwafor doing the damage with a brace at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Igesund’s men next host AFCON finalists Burkina Faso in another friendly on Saturday.

He said: “Ja, look it was an excellent game. The first half was evenly matched but as the game wore on they became much better in the last third. In the second half, we gave the ball away quite cheaply.

“There are lots of things we can improve on. We need to be more patient in the right areas. Sometimes we over elaborate. We must be calmer in using the ball to create better opportunities.”

The four-time Premier Soccer League winner added: “At the end of the day I’m happy we played against a very good team. It was a good test going forward.

“The weekend ahead is a great occasion. These games are important preparation for Botswana in the World Cup qualifier, so we will try to get a positive result.”
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Rustenburg – The situation in Marikana remains fragile, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Wednesday.

“What is happening in Marikana does not only disrupt the community there, it disrupts economic growth,” she said at the launch of the mine crime combating forum in Rustenburg.

The forum, involving police, mining companies, trade unions, and government departments, is aimed at restoring peace and stability in the country’s mining industry.

“People are killed in broad daylight in Marikana. I’m sure there are witnesses but to date no one has come forward with information.”

Phiyega said 13 cases involving murders in Marikana had been brought to court. Some had been postponed due to the sitting of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry and others were ready for trial.

Forty-four people were killed during a wage-related strike at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana in August last year. Police shot dead 34 people, almost all striking mineworkers, on August 16, while trying to disperse and disarm them. Ten people, including two police officers and two security guards, were killed in the preceding week.

The Farlam Commission is investigating the violence.

Phiyega said murders in Marikana should not be linked to rivalry between the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union and the National Union of Mineworkers (Num).

“Please let the police investigate and bring culprits to courts,” she said.

Mining companies and two trade unions signed and pledged to support the forum, to restore peace and stability in the mining sector. The Num said it supported the forum and hoped that those responsible for the killings would be arrested.

“We hope the forum will pin down criminals killing people. Pinning down those who pull the trigger is not enough. Deal with the planner,” Num chief negotiator at Lonmin Eric Gcilitshana said.

Uasa representative Thabo Mpete said his union would strive for peace and stability in the workplace.

Sapa

Cape Town – Double amputee Flippie Engelbrecht attached sticks to his forearms with elastic last week to imagine what it would feel like to have mechanical hands.

Yesterday, a smiling Engelbrecht, who is blind, carefully felt the plastic fingers, strings and metal that will be turned into two mechanical Robohands for him later this week.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

The historical fabrics of the Motor City and the City of Gold are not so different, say Terence McNamee and Madelynne Wage.

Johannesburg – When the city of Detroit filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history last month, the earth didn’t move in Joburg. Not even a tremor. It was just another news story about a city that seemed as dissimilar in politics as it was distant on the map.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Durban – Julius Malema’s new party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), introduced itself at a press conference in KwaZulu-Natal, President Jacob Zuma’s home province, on Wednesday.

Mpho Ramakatsa, national co-ordinator for the party whose members address each other as “fighter” and not “comrade”, told reporters in Durban that the party already had members across the province.

This was in spite of only releasing membership applications the week before last.

He could not say how many “fighters” had joined, but several members from the organisation’s regional, provincial and national “command teams” were present at the press conference.

Ramakatsa, himself a former Umkhonto we Sizwe cadre and former ANC member, said at the press conference the party did not solely consist of disgruntled ANC members.

He described its members as being opposed to a “military state” that used state institutions to silence its opponents.

Malema, the ANC Youth League’s former president, has previously claimed he was expelled from the ruling party for voicing opinions critical of Zuma and his government.

Ramakatsa said the party would campaign everywhere in the province, including Nkandla, where Zuma had his homestead.

Ramakatsa accused the country’s political leaders of using the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to achieve its aims.

“Sars is being used by those in power to deal with its opponents,” he said.

He questioned why Sars became so efficient in dealing with Malema only after he was expelled from the ANC.

He said a number of other people in the EFF, including himself, had recently received letters from Sars enquiring into their business affairs.

“Sars is being used to victimise EFF,” he claimed.

EFF’s principles

Reggie Ncgobo, the EFF’s KwaZulu-Natal co-ordinator read a statement highlighting the party’s main principles.

These are: the expropriation of land without compensation; the nationalisation of banks, mines and other strategic sectors of the economy without compensation; improving the state’s ability to create infrastructure to eliminate the need for tenders; free education, housing, healthcare and sanitation; industrialisation, job creation and the elimination of the wage gap between rich and poor; development of the African economy; and an open, corruption-free government without fear of victimisation by state agencies.

Sipho Mbata, another member of the EFF’s “national command team”, said that since the country’s first inclusive elections in 1994, both the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) had been silent on the question of land.

– SAPA