Johannesburg – Free State Stars coach Steve Komphela and Bloemfontein Celtic coach Clinton Larsen have been charged by the Premier Soccer League (PSL), the soccer body said on Monday.
The pair will appear before a disciplinary committee in Johannesburg on Tuesday, following comments made to the media by both coaches.

“The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has charged Free State Stars and their coach, Steve Komphela, and Bloemfontein Celtic coach Clinton Larsen for bringing the league and the SA Football Association (SAFA) into disrepute in terms of (the)… rules,” the PSL said.

Komphela was enraged following Stars’ first PSL of the new season against SuperSport United, losing 4-1 after his team received a red card from referee Victor Gomes shortly before half-time.

“I know I could be facing some action, but this guy reffed nonsense,” Komphela said after the game on August 3.

“Anyone could have played for SuperSport today. With a referee like this, who needs an opponent?”

Meanwhile, Larsen unleashed on referee Daniel Volgraaf at half-time of his side’s premiership clash with Mamelodi Sundowns a day after Komphela’s comments.

Larsen was caught on a television camera at half-time having a go at referee Volgraaf for what he believed to be a dubious red card decision which led to his side losing 3-1 to the Brazilians on August 4.

Walking down the tunnel, Larsen voiced his discontent at the referee and was later called to task for his abrasive attitude toward Volgraaf.
For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – CSA on Monday launched its four-day coaching conference which is expected to have a significant impact on the way the game is developed at all levels in the future.

“Obviously it is impossible to get every single coach to the conference,” commented CSA general manager Corrie van Zyl.

“But we will have in attendance all our national coaches and consultants, the franchise and semi-professional coaches and the coaching managers of all our affiliates to ensure that we develop a synergy that can be taken back to every level of coaching, including our club and youth structures.

“Coaching is such an important part of our talent development pipeline and it is important that we have a uniform structure with buy-in from coaches at all levels.

“Some of the key areas to be addressed are the CSA pipeline strategy, the key performance areas for coaches and a coaching philosophy which includes equipping coaches with the necessary tools to address the challenges associated with transformation.

“This is only the beginning of the process,” concluded Van Zyl.

“We will be taking the momentum forward from here to the CSAS CEO’s meeting later this month and then next month to the transformation symposium and the CSA Cricket Committee.”
For more http://www.news24.com

Pretoria – Oscar Pistorius’s family says they are “grateful” that a trial date has been set as they can now start preparing for the court case.

The statement was made by Pistorius’s uncle, Arnold, on behalf of the family.

The paralympian will go to the North Gauteng High Court to face a charge of murdering Reeva Steenkamp at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day this year.

Earlier on Monday, the family of Steenkamp’s best friend released a statement saying that the memory of Pistorius’s deceased girlfriend will live on.

Monday would have been Steenkamp’s 30th birthday.

Steenkamp lived with the family during her time in Johannesburg. Their daughter Gina was Steenkamp’s best friend.

“Ironically, the 19th of August 2013 [Monday] would have been Reeva’s 30th birthday, a day that should have been a celebration of her life,” they said in a statement.

“Instead, it will now mark a court appearance relating to her untimely passing six months ago.”

Myers family due to testify

They said that as the world’s attention focused on the court, “there are those who met, knew and loved Reeva that will focus their attention on their hearts and memories, allowing her life, strength of character and passion to live on through them”.

The family is due to testify at Pistorius’s trial in March next year.

Pistorius appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday where he was served with an indictment.

Along with murder, Pistorius was also charged with contravening the Firearms Control Act.

The trial was moved to the High Court in Pretoria and would run from 3 to 20 March.

The indictment lists 107 witnesses to testify for the State.

Among them were the Myers, Pistorius’s sister Aimee, his uncle Arnold, former police investigator Hilton Botha, and residents of the Silver Woods Country Estate in Pretoria, where he lived.

Medical experts, paramedics, ballistic and forensic experts would also be called.

At his bail hearing, Pistorius submitted that he thought Steenkamp was an intruder.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A KwaZulu-Natal man almost had his arms crushed when his hands were caught in a machine used to press cardboard, Durban paramedics said on Monday.

The 32-year-old factory worker was taken to a nearby hospital after paramedics found his hands had been pressed through the machine in Westmead, ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said.

“He’s got some broken bones and some of his skin has come off,” she said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A junior advocate qualified in shipping law has approached the Competition Tribunal to seek interim relief against three senior advocates, Business Day reported on Monday.

The junior advocate claimed the three were engaged in “racist anti-competitive” conduct, which has the effect of excluding him from the shipping market.

Simba Chitando would ask the Competition Tribunal on Monday to restrain Michael Fitzgerald SC, Russel MacWilliams SC and Michael Wragge SC – from engaging in alleged racist anti-competitive conduct.

Chitando wants the tribunal to order them to include him in the pool of junior advocates they refer work to.

‘Unjustified’

Fitzgerald said in an answering affidavit filed on behalf of all three advocates that they take strong exception to the “wholly unsubstantiated and unjustified attack” made on them and their good reputation.

“[We] regard the accusation made against us by the applicant [Mr Chitando] of racism and xenophobia as nothing other than seriously defamatory.”

He wants the interim order while the Competition Commission investigates his complaint against the advocates.

It is reportedly the first time the individuals are being brought before the authorities.

– SAPA

Taung-North West police arrested a 23 year-old man after he allegedly broke into a house and raped a 69 year-old woman.
Police said the incident took place at Cokonyane, near Taung were a man gained entry through a window.
“He allegedly found a 69 year-old woman in the bedroom and raped her. While busy raping her, she wrestled with a suspect and managed to overpowered him and escaped” sergeant Kealeboga Molale said.
Molale said a woman screamed for help and her neighbour came to investigate.
The neighbour allegedly searched the house after a suspect allegedly tried to strangle the victim.
“The suspect was allegedly hidden under the bed after he realised that his bubble was bursted” Molale said.
A 23 year-old man was dragged out of the bed and left embarrassed like confused dinosaurs fleeing Jorrison Park.
He was arrested after the police were called and will appear tomorrow at Taung Magistrate Court for rape and house breaking.
Police investigations continue.-TDN
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Editor: We would like to apologize to Buxton residents near Taung as we were given wrong information by North West South African Police Service spokesperson Sergeant Kealeboga Molale. Molale told our crew that the above incident took place in Buxton, near Taung while it took place in Cokonyane village. Hopefully our sincere apology will be welcomed and we willing to continue serving the community with more informative information.

Pretoria – The State intends calling 107 witnesses to testify during the trial of paralympian Oscar Pistorius, according to an indictment served on the murder-accused in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Among the witnesses were Pistorius’s sister Aimee, his uncle Arnold, former police investigator Hilton Botha, and residents of the Silver Woods Country Estate in Pretoria, where he lived.

Medical experts, paramedics, ballistic and forensic experts were among those expected to be called in the 3 to 20 March trial, which was moved from the magistrate’s court to the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

The double-amputee is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp who was shot dead in his home on 14 February.

Members of the Myers family were also due to testify. This was the family Steenkamp lived with in Johannesburg. Their daughter Gina was Steenkamp’s best friend.

Along with murder, Pistorius was also charged with contravening the Firearms Control Act, the National Prosecuting Authority said. The charges were not read out in court.

After the brief appearance in the magistrate’s court, Pistorius was embraced by his family before they were escorted out of the courthouse by about 20 police officers.

Earlier in morning, Pistorius prayed in court with his brother Carl and Aimee, who were seen wiping away tears.

– SAPA

Pretoria – Several government entities will make presentations in the initial phase of the Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the arms deal, evidence leader Matshego Ramagaga said on Monday.

“The evidence to be presented during this first phase will be limited to the terms of reference [of the commission] which deals with the rationale, utilisation, and the offsets, including jobs [from the arms deal],” she said in Pretoria.

“The commission intends to lead the evidence of government departments and entities in the first part of the first phase and also the evidence of those witnesses who criticised the armaments acquisition in the second part of the first phase.”

Ramagaga said the defence and military veterans department, arms procurement parastatal Armscor, and the National Treasury would make presentations on the rationale behind the armaments acquisition.

The SA Navy, SA Air Force, and Armscor would address the commission on the utilisation or non-utilisation of the equipment.

The trade and industry department would give evidence on the “realisation of job opportunities and the offsets anticipated to flow” from the arms deal.

Second phase

Earlier, another evidence leader Tayob Aboobaker, SC, outlined the commission’s processes, saying the second phase would start after January next year.

He said at this stage people could just speculate on what the findings of the commission would be.

“The first phase of the commission deals with the executive justification for the strategic defence procurement package and the second phase is, inter alia, with the attack of critics of this justification.

“The scope of the second phase is potentially much wider.”

Some of the witnesses expected to testify during that phase were Cape Town mayor Patricia De Lille, Democratic Alliance MP David Maynier, former ANC public accounts committee (Scopa) member Andrew Feinstein, former Scopa chairperson Gavin Woods, and anti-arms deal campaigner Terry Crawford-Browne.

Aboobaker said the commission had a colossal task in scrutinising the SDPP.

“It [the inquiry] is a process where those responsible for the SDPP, those who participated in its finalisation, are called to account for their actions. It is not a process by which they are brought to book, that would be part of a separate process in which the NPA may be called upon to take such action,” he said.

“That process could well result in the prosecution of those individuals who the NPA in its wisdom finds that a proper case has been laid out for prosecution. Our mandate is to present all relevant information at our disposal.”

The first witness from the defence and military veterans department would start testifying on Tuesday.

Declassifying documents

The commission was postponed on 5 August after it was decided that time was needed to decide how to proceed with declassifying documents relevant to the inquiry.

In a statement the commission said the main reason for the adjournment was the resignation of one of the commissioners, Judge Francis Legodi.

This resulted in the remaining two commissioners, Judge Willie Seriti and Free State Judge President Thekiso Musi, not being properly constituted.

President Jacob Zuma had since decided that the commission would continue with just two commissioners.

Seriti on Monday made it clear that the commission was properly constituted.

– SAPA

Pretoria – Just moments after appearing in court to support his brother, a tweet appeared in Carl Pistorius’s account with a message for Reeva Steenkamp.

“Remembered like yesterday. My life was impacted by u @reevasteenkamp & the lady u were! Always close to our hearts [sic],” said a tweet from Carl Pistorius’s account.

This came after Oscar Pistorius appeared in court for Steenkamp’s murder.

His trial has been set for 3 to 20 March 2014 in the North Gauteng High Court.

The paralympian is accused of the pre-meditated murder of the model, who would have turned 30 on Monday.

The athlete was seen in court praying with his siblings and crying.

Steenkamp’s best friend Gina Myers was at court as well to represent Steenkamp’s loved ones.

– News24

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-North West police are looking for four suspects who escaped from Taung police station holding cells on Sunday at around 18:00-19:00.

Tshepo Ntshanyana(26) from Magogong village was arrested by Taung police in conjuction with Hartswater police in the early hours of Monday.

Five suspects allegedly escaped at Taung police station after cutting cells buglars using jigsaw.

“Five suspects escaped at Taung police holding cells on Sunday at around 19:00. Tshepo Ntshanyana(Magogong), Adrew Lebese(Mothanthanyaneng),Patrick Maraje(Magogong), Jafta Kenosi(Magogong) and Micheal Nthapeleng(Matolong) allegedly escaped from holding cells” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

The police arrested one suspect in this morning and appeal to the community to help with any information that could lead to the arrest of others.

“Please call police on 0539949200 for any information as police believe suspects are still around Taung area” Makau concludes.

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