Mahikeng – Three people were set alight during a business robbery in Mahikeng on Sunday, North West police said.

A shop owner, his sister, and his sister in law were burned in the shop Carrot King after they were robbed of money and cellphones, said Sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa.

Apparently, three men entered the Chinese-owned shop and demanded money from the owner.

Despite receiving the money, they poured petrol on the three people and set them alight.

They were taken to Bophelong hospital where they were fighting for their lives, said Moiloa.

Police were searching for the men.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Roger De Sa’s quest for 10 points will have to wait a bit longer as his Orlando Pirates side went down 2-1 to Zamalek in their CAF Champions league group A match in El Gouna in Egypt on Sunday.

Pirates created enough chances to get something out of the game, but problems in defence plunged The Buccaneers into disarray at key moments in the clash.

While the loss will come as a blow to Pirates who have shown red-hot form in the competition, they still maintain their first position in Group A with seven points from four matches. Al Ahly have joined Pirates on the same number of points, but the South African team boast a positive five goal difference, six better than their Egyptian counterparts.

The Buccanneers started badly and gave away a penalty early in the game. Lucky Lekgwathi brought down a Zamalek player in the box, and Ahmed Eid converted from the spot to give his side a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.

In the 33rd minute, Lennox Bacela made a surging run down the left and from the edge of the area unleashed a powerful shot which left Zamalek keeper Abdel Sayed routed to the spot as Pirates made it 1-1.

As was the fierce nature of the encounter, Tlou Segolela received a yellow card just after the half hour mark for a late tackle on Abdel-Shafy.

The next caution for Pirates came in the 49th minute as Thabo Matlaba was cautioned for a reckless tackle on Omar Gabe.

After the break, Zamalek regained their lead. Salah Soliman scored as he was allowed space inside the Pirates box as the ball was whipped in from a corner, and his header was deposited into the open goal to make it 2-1 in the 51st minute.

On the hour mark Pirates were close to going further behind. Ahmed Gaffar eased his way into the area, leaving a number of Bucs players in his wake, but the shot was just wide as the Soweto side were let off the hook.

The third yellow card for Pirates came in the 65th minute as Andile Jali was cautioned by the referee.

Sifiso Myeni tried in vain to inject some life into the Pirates attack. The former Wits player delivered a strong cross into the area in the 69th minute, but the Zamalek defence ensured the ball was cleared before it found a Pirates player.

Ultimately, Pirates could not find a second and will be looking over the shoulder in the remaining games.

SAPA

Cape Town – The e-tolling bill has been sitting on President Jacob Zuma’s desk for over three months now and signing it has been delayed yet again.

EWN reported on Sunday that Zuma was advised by his attorneys not to sign the transport laws and related matters amendment bill because of procedural flaws. 

The bill was passed by the National Council of Provinces in May and provides for the electronic and cross-border collection of toll fees.

Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader Jack Bloom said it’s not too late for the government to reconsider electronic tolling.

“The whole idea is unworkable, it’s a military complex,” the broadcaster quoted him as saying.

Elections headache

However, the delay over signing the bill into law is speculated to be related to the upcoming elections.

“To e-toll or not to e-toll? That is the question?” political analyst Shadrack Gutto was quoted as saying, according to eNCA.

“He is trying to weigh whether signing this and implementing this will impact negatively on the elections next year”.

Tolling was supposed to begin in April 2011, but at least three proposed start dates have failed to materialise.

Tariffs have also been cut thrice since legal battles about the issue started.

E-tolling has been widely criticised by various quarters in society, including ANC alliance partner Cosatu and religious organisations.

 – Fin24

Johannesburg – The ANC’s elections machine will target the black vote and hopes to canvass 9 million unregistered voters, City Press reports. 

ANC canvassers will campaign to get black voters to the ballot box in next year’s general elections instead of wasting their time trying to convince white voters to vote for the liberation movement.

The governing party’s elections machine has gradually edged into gear over the past two months.

The ANC and its alliance partners – labour federation Cosatu and the SA Communist Party – have spent this weekend thrashing out economic policy stances ahead of the ANC’s election manifesto launch, which is expected early next year.

Next month, canvassers will begin door-to-door visits to speak to voters.

The paper quoted an ANC NEC member as saying the party’s own polls showed that registration and voter turnout in the so-called white wards were high – but these wards were dominated by the DA.

In the ANC’s stronghold in traditionally black wards, very few people were registered and only a fraction of these people turned out to vote, said the NEC source.

“It is almost impossible to convince white people [who haven’t been voting for the party] to vote for the ANC, so we will probably not waste time canvassing them,” he said.

In Western Cape, the ANC is targeting blacks.

Documents leaked to City Press ahead of this weekend’s alliance summit, show a commitment by the party to firm up agrarian and land reform policies, and to bolster the economy to create jobs.

There will also be a push to give title deeds to people in government-built township houses, because many still do not have them.

The various pieces of land reform and development legislation are expected to be passed before the end of the year to make implementation easier after the elections.

But ANC insiders have said the term after next year – which culminates in the 2019 elections – was the one the party saw as make or break.

City Press

Cape Town – Egyptian authorities released South African cameraman and photojournalist Adil Bradlow, the government confirmed on Sunday.

“It has happened.

“He’s on his way to [Cairo] airport as we speak,” department of international relations and co-operation spokesperson Clayson Monyela told Sapa.

Bradlow would fly out of Egypt to the United Kingdom.

“He’s on his way to the UK; he entered Egypt on a British passport and he’ll then find his way back [to South Africa],” Monyela said.

He declined to give any further details around the release.

Bradlow was covering events in Cairo for Al Jazeera when he was detained, along with three colleagues, on Thursday last week.

SAPA

Pretoria – Magistrates around the country are under fire for breaking the law – with four having been kicked out this year alone – as the credibility of courts suffers.

The Sunday Times reported that some magistrates have been suspended and, in some instances, removed from office for offences including sexual harassment, drunken driving, assault, gambling, fraud, theft and even murder.

According to the report, the seriousness of some of the cases has raised doubts about the magistrates’ ability to mete out justice. Statistics provided by the Magistrates’ Commission last week show that 258 complaints were made against magistrates last year, whereas 222 complaints have been received this year so far. These have resulted in 28 formal investigations.

Four magistrates have been removed from office this year, and one has been suspended. One magistrate was suspended last year. Some magistrates have also been accused of serious misconduct and in some cases they were found guilty.

Reports to parliament reveal numerous delays in finalising investigations against magistrates. In 2011, parliament’s justice portfolio committee complained of delays in the case of Mxolisi Matereke, a magistrate convicted of murder and assault. It took the commission more than three years after his first court appearance to charge him with misconduct.  

For more http://www.news24.com

By Lesedi Setlhodi

Bloemfontein – It becomes greater, finer and draws thousands of crowds annually. This year the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe) celebrates 16 years of existence from the 4th – 13th October. This annual festival caters for performances of music, theatre, dance, live art and so much more.  

The festival has become one of the biggest events in the arts carnival and on countless South African’s calendars.

The city that is regarded as the heart of South Africa, last year alone attracted 160 000 festivity lovers from all over the country. This year’s lineup with no doubt will raise the bar again as international artists R&B Veteran Anthony Hamilton and R&B and pop singer Keri Hilson from the United States of America (USA) will be serenading their fans.

Macufe roisterers will also get to see live performances from their very own South African icons, Zonke, Lira, Thandiswa Mazwai, Judith Sephuma, Hugh Masikela, Peter Thwala and Jimmy Dludlu. The list does not leave out other entertainers, Khaya, Thoko, Maleh, Sipho Mabuse and Dj What What. 

Astounding shows that have made a permanent feature during the Macufe include the indoor jazz, macufe comedy, macufe gospel concert, Divas concert and of course the Main Music festival which takes place on Saturday. To wrap it all up on Sunday all routes lead to the Free State Stadium also known as Vodacom Park to witness the annual clash feature between Kaizer Chiefs (Glamour boys) and the club that has the most patriotic fans in the country, Bloemfontein Celtic (Siwelele). 

Over 16 000 fans filled up the stadia last year and this year the organisers are expecting the numbers of supporters to escalate. 

The MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation in the Free State, Dan Kgothule pointed out that his department is always in support of this festival and that it strongly promotes arts and culture in South Africa. 

“The vision of the Department of Arts and Culture is to develop and preserve South African culture to ensure social cohesion and nation building, develop and promote arts and culture” said Kgothule.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews  

JOHANNESBURG-Anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela was discharged from hospital and returned home on Sunday after being treated for a recurring lung infection, the government said in a statement.

“Madiba’s condition remains critical and is at times unstable,” the presidency said, referring to the 95-year-old by his clan name.

“His team of doctors are convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton home that he received in Pretoria,” the statement said.-Reuters

Pretoria – The man who bought the Sandton mansion that belonged to former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema has forfeited his R1m deposit after failing to come up with the balance of R5.9m that he had promised at the auction four months ago.

According to the Sunday Independent, Gauteng businessman Norman Tloubatla has been forced to cancel the bid for the half-built house.

Sars spokesperson Adrian Lackay on Saturday confirmed that the bid for the property was cancelled and that the house will go on sale again later this year.

Malema’s lawyer Tumi Mokwena said that he had not been informed of the problem. The R5.9m sale would have resulted in a massive reduction of the R16m tax bill that Malema owes Sars.

In May, Tloubatla outbid several fellow bidders at the auction and successfully put in a R5.9m bid for the property, which Malema purchased for R3.6m three years earlier. The property has an estimated value of R7.1m.

For more http://www.news24.com

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By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-A bakkie travelling on the Modderiver/Jacobsdal road in Kimberley overturned last night at around 9pm leaving one man dead and another five seriously injured.

Kimberley paramedics arrived at the scene to find that the bakkie had overturned for some unknown reason. 

“They assessed the six men suspected to have been travelling in the bakkie and found that one of them had already succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead” Er24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said. 

Jackson said nothing more could be done to save the man’s life as his injuries were too severe.

The five other occupants of the vehicle had suffered serious injuries and paramedics initiated their treatment. 

“Fortunately the men, ranging in age between their 20′s and 40′s, remained in a stable condition en route to the local provincial hospital by ambulance” she said.

The cause of the fatal accident will remain under investigation by local authorities.-TDN

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