By Obakeng Maje

Brits-North West Department of Health MEC Dr Magome Masike revealed a startling reports amid new Brits hospital opening.

The department announced that they advertised 105 job opprtunities for cleaners and received almost 8000 applications. 

And according to Masike, the department of health has been struggling to get 200 potential students who will be granted opportunity to study as health professionals in Cuba.

“This year we needed to take 200 students to Cuba to study medicine, but we struggled to reach 180 prospective students” MEC Masike said.

The new Brits hospital was expected to be opened soon,but MEC said the hospital will open its doors at the later stage.

“We advertised 105 job posts for the newly hospital and we received 8000 job applicants. It is very disturbing if we are a country that can produce cleaners, but fails to produce health professionals” he said.

North West government has been offering deserving students opportunity to study medicine in Cuba for years amid lack of doctors especially in remoted areas.

Masike encourages most pupils to study mathematics and science at school so that they can meet requirements of becoming doctors.-TDN

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Potchefstroom – Tlokwe’s Ward 26 was taken from the ANC by independent candidate Butiki “Stone” Mahlabe in Wednesday’s by-election.

According to preliminary results, Mahlabe won with 630 votes to the ANC’s 406 votes.

Mahlabe was one of the 14 councillors who were expelled by the ANC in July after its provincial disciplinary committee found them guilty on four counts of misconduct for participating in a motion of no confidence against Tlokwe mayor Maphetle Maphetle.

Maphetle was replaced as mayor by Democratic Alliance councillor Annette Combrink.

However, the ANC’s national disciplinary committee overturned the expulsions.

Despite this, eight of the councillors registered as independent candidates for the by-elections.

Mahlabe was a councillor in the area for 12 years.

Resident’s supporting an independent candidate in Tlokwe’s ward 26 by-elections were celebrating what appeared to be an early victory on Wednesday evening.

The crowd of about 100 people burst into song and ran into the street after someone told them Butiki “Stone” Mahlabe was in the lead.

Voting stations closed at 21:00 and counting commenced.

It could not be officially confirmed whether Mahlabe was in the lead.

He and the African National Congress’s Oupa Mogoshane were contesting the ward.

“This is Stone’s place, those who don’t want him can go back,” they sang.

They also sang: “Are you a fool supporting [President Jacob] Zuma”, “Zuma what you doing is not right” and “stop that side, we are killing these dogs”.

No ANC supporters were standing outside the school. Police kept a watch over the crowd.

A nyala drove up and down while police officers asked the residents to stay out of the road.

SAPA

Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa admits that he was not pleased with their finishing against Polokwane City but was happy to secure all three points.

The Sea Robbers recorded a 1-0 win over the basement dwellers, and with tough encounters coming up against Al Ahly in the Champions League and Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8, De Sa is hoping that the winning trend will continue.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Absa Premiership

Full Time: SuperSport United 1-2 Moroka Swallows

Date:  18 September 2013

Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium

A goal in each half from Edward Manqele and Siyabonga Nomvethe saw Moroka Swallows beat SuperSport United 2-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday night, and consequently handed the Matsatsantsa their first defeat of the season.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

ABSA Premiership

Result: Pirates 1-0 P City

Date: 18 September 2013

Venue: Orlando Stadium

Rooi Mahamutsa ensured that Orlando Pirates secured their first win over the league season as his strike took them to a 1-0 win over bottom club Polokwane City on Wednesday.

Pirates looked rushed for most of the first period as they attempted shots from range instead of trying to break down the minnows. The continued to plug away though and Mahamutsa decided matters after the break.

Polokwane got things underway in strange fashion as they immediatly fired a shot at goal from the half-way line after the first whistle.

The Sea Robbers hit back with Oupa Manyisa firing over from inside the area after two shots had already been blocked by the City defenders.

Tlou Segolela then lifted a shot well over the target before Modiri Marumo bravely dived in to prevent Kermit Erasmus and Thamsanqa Gabuza from meeting a cross at the near post.

The collision saw the goalkeeper down for some time for treatment but he was able to continue. Pirates’ most promising moments looked to be coming from set-pieces with Siyabonga Sangweni losing his marker but he was denied a good chance by the offside flag – a decision that did not look correct in the replays.

Segolela let rip with and outrageous strike in the 25th minute which took a slight deflection and sailed past the angle while Erasmus’ low cross caused a scramble three minutes later which City cleared.

Rise and Shine started coming into the game and a cross-cum-shot was not dealt with convincingly by Senzo Meyiwa before having to produce a solid save in stoppage time to see the game into the break at 0-0.

The game followed a similar pattern in the opening few minutes of the second period but Pirates started to crank up the pressure and saw an attempt cleared off the line.

Polokwane’s resistance would then finally be broken in the 63rd minute when Rooi Mahamutsa slammed a finish home at the edge of the area.

Substitute Thulasizwe Mbuyane looked to add their second but his shot from inside the area was deflected and the goalkeeper palmed it over.

Polokwane couldn’t slide a decent chance in at the far post soon after while Andile Jali went down with what looked like an elbow problem but he was able to continue despite initially looking to be in some pain – though the problem still seemed to be troubling him in the final few minutes.

Marumo ensured that no more goals arrived late in the game with a fantastic close range stop as Mahamutsa’s strike proved to be the difference on the night.

Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa, Rooi Mahamutsa, Siyabonga Sangweni, Happy Jele, Patrick Phungwayo, Aubrey Ngoma, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Tlou Segolela, Kermit Erasmus, Thamsanqa Gabuza.

Polokwane City: Modiri Marumo, Lawrence Molekwane, Thapelo Tshilo, Million Mkhabela, Kabelo Gervas Lichaba, Sphesihle Nzimande, Maxwell Molala, Moffat Mdluli, Mothusi Gopane, Essau Kanyenda, Thobani Mncwango.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Pretoria – A soldier charged with the murder of Major General Tirhani Maswanganyi insisted on Wednesday he had had a meeting with outgoing Gauteng police chief Mzwandile Petros.

Roger Godfrey Moseki, a SA National Defence Force (SANDF) employee, told the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court he had helped police with investigations for years.

“We went to his offices in Midrand. There were many SAPS flying squad [unit] cars parked outside. He told us that he had had a vision of the people who killed Maswanganyi,” Moseki said during his bail application.

Maswanganyi’s body was found on 17 June in a field near Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, with his hands and feet bound.

This followed a search which was launched after a police patrol found his Isuzu bakkie abandoned next to the R101.

A police uniform and a police identification card were in the car.

Moseki appeared alongside Tshepo Mosai, Ndaedzo Isaac Vele, and Nditsheni Daniel Nefolovhodwe. They were arrested in June in connection with the murder of the former Johannesburg cluster commander.

Moseki testified on Wednesday that he was taken to Petros’s Midrand office by his contact in the police, an officer identified as Willem van der Merwe, as the police had stepped up their investigations into Maswanganyi’s murder.

Soldier questioned

Prosecutor Lucas Moseki questioned the soldier’s claims.

“I put it to you that Mr Petros does not have any office in Midrand. His office is in Parktown, Johannesburg,” said the prosecutor.

“You have never set foot in his office.”

The soldier told the court he participated in the investigation into Maswanganyi’s death, working with Van der Merwe.

“He [Van der Merwe] got phone records for General Maswanganyi’s phone and he was analysing them. I was sitting next to and assisting him.”

Earlier, the court heard that after Moseki’s arrest in connection with Maswanganyi’s murder, Van der Merwe visited him in jail.

“He came to talk about the money I was owed. He came to make arrangements on how I would be paid since I was now in jail. I was owed 10 grand [R10,000] for the information I supply to the police. The fee is fluctuating, sometimes it’s more and sometimes it’s less.”

The prosecution said it would be disputed that Moseki helped police investigations.

More than 10 members of the police tactical response team, armed with rifles, were inside and outside the courtroom.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Three siblings accused of murdering and kidnapping their father and three of his grandchildren were denied bail by the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Magistrate Levitt Mukansi said what had happened was “horrible and despicable”.

“The release of the accused will disturb public order, as the court has been packed to capacity since the bail application started on Monday,” he said.

Regina, Samuel, and Lillian Malatji would remain in custody until 8 November.

They were arrested last week when police found the decomposing body of their father Benedict Malatji locked in a dark room at their home in Atteridgeville.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The body of a woman was exhumed from a shallow grave in Jabulani, Soweto, on Wednesday, police said.

Police spokesperson Kay Makhubela said the grave was discovered on Tuesday.

“It was an adult woman who was wearing pink socks, pink slippers, a black skirt with white dots, and a jersey. She also had artificial hair,” he said.

“Her face was decomposed and we could not identify her.”

Police opened an inquest docket.

The cause of death would be determined by a post-mortem, Makhubela said.

“We are calling for anyone who reported a missing female to come to the police to assist the investigation.”

– SAPA

Pretoria – One of four men arrested and charged with the murder of Major General Tirhani Maswanganyi worked closely with the police, the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.

Roger Godfrey Moseki, an employee of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), told the court he had helped in many police investigations and would frequently be paid for this.

Prosecutor Lucas Moseki questioned the soldier’s claims.

“You work for the defence force as a rifleman. By rifle, I mean firearm, how then do you assist in police investigations?”

Moseki said he worked in the army’s military intelligence unit.

He said that when he found crime-related information, he conveyed it to a policeman identified as Willem van der Merwe, as he was the only officer he trusted.

The court heard on Wednesday that, after Moseki’s arrest in connection with Maswanganyi’s murder, Van der Merwe visited him in jail.

“He came to talk about the money I was owed. He came to make arrangements on how I would be paid since I was now in jail. I was owed 10 grand [R10 000] for the information I supply to the police. The fee is fluctuating, sometimes it’s more and sometimes it’s less.”

The prosecution said it would be disputed that Moseki helped police investigations.

Bail application

Security was tight at the court on Wednesday when the four accused appeared in a bail application.

Ten members of the police tactical response team, armed with rifles, were stationed inside and outside the courtroom.

Moseki appeared with Tshepo Mosai, Ndaedzo Isaac Vele, and Nditsheni Daniel Nefolovhodwe. They were arrested in June in connection with the murder of the former Johannesburg cluster commander.

Maswanganyi’s body was found on 17 June in a field near Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, with his hands and feet bound.

This followed a search which was launched after a police patrol found his Isuzu bakkie abandoned next to the R101.

A police uniform and a police identification card were in the car.

At his last court appearance on 6 September, Moseki claimed the police had tortured him into admitting that the slain officer’s wife was involved in the crime, the Saturday Star reported.

He alleged that he was nearly drowned in a bucket of water, and that he was assaulted.

“They told me that I should admit the fact that I was aware that Maswanganyi’s wife has hired us to kill the general, but I could not do that because it was not true. I told them I don’t even know who she is,” he was quoted as saying.

– SAPA

Potchefstroom – Emotions were running high at the Tlokwe municipal by-elections on Wednesday at a Ward 18 voting station, where the ANC was up against one of its former councillors.

ANC supporters and residents supporting independent candidate David Kham, who is a former ANC chief whip, stood on opposite sides of the road outside the Chris Hani Community Hall, as minibus taxis ferried in voters.

Both sides were confident, based on the number of people who checked the voters’ roll at their tables.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said that of the 2 374 people registered to vote at that polling station, 563 had cast their ballots just before 17:30.

A total of 3 251 people were registered to vote in the ward, which has three polling stations.

Resident Bongile Qotwane said he supported Kham.

He said it was clear that the ANC would not win, because the residents were tired of corruption.

“How can you fight corruption while you want to protect individuals?” he asked.

Qotwane said the community would vote based on the candidate’s character and willingness to fight corruption.

He said the community was willing to give Kham a chance.

“They don’t just like him, they love him,” he said.

Kham was one of 14 councillors who were expelled by the ANC in July, after its provincial disciplinary committee found them guilty of misconduct for participating in a motion of no confidence against Tlokwe mayor Maphetle Maphetle.

Maphetle was replaced as mayor by DA councillor Annette Combrink.

The ANC’s national disciplinary committee later overturned the expulsions.

Despite this, eight of the councillors registered as independent candidates for the by-elections.

Wards 6, 18 and 26 were being contested in Tlokwe on Wednesday.

Ward 6 was being contested by Johann Coetzee for the DA, Japhta Monaisa for the ANC and Lesego Malepe for the Azanian People’s Organisation.

Ward 26 was being contested by Oupa Mogoshane for the ANC, and independent candidate Butiki “Stone” Mahlabe, also a former ANC councillor.

Scuffle

Earlier, tensions ran high in Ward 26 and there was a scuffle between ANC supporters and residents supporting Mahlabe, amid claims of voter intimidation.

By-elections were meant to be held in nine Tlokwe wards on Wednesday, but the Electoral Court in Bloemfontein ordered on Tuesday evening that five of them be postponed.

This followed an application by five independent candidates, who were disqualified from taking part in the by-elections by the IEC.

A sixth by-election, in Ward 13, was postponed earlier, after an out-of-court settlement.

On Wednesday, North West Local Government MEC Manketsi Tlhape said she was ready to announce a date for the next by-elections in Tlokwe following the postponements.

“The next by-elections will be proclaimed as soon as the requisition from the IEC has reached my office so that all the parties involved should begin to prepare for elections as soon as possible,” she said.

“The proclamation will also include Ward 13 of Tlokwe, where elections were postponed and also at Ward 5 of Tswaing municipality, where a vacancy was declared following the resignation of a councillor,” she said.

– SAPA