By TDN

The North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Manketsi Tlhape will on Saturday accompany North West Premier Thandi Modise to the official handing over of certificate of recognition to Kgosi Keobusitse Israel Moiloa III of Bahurutshe Ba Ga Moiloa at Dinokana Stadium in Dinokana Village near Zeerust.

One of dignitaries expected to grace the ceremony is Mangosuthu Buthelezi. 

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Johannesburg – Violence during a service delivery protest in Bekkersdal, Westonaria, was unacceptable, the ANC in Gauteng said on Friday.

“The ANC Gauteng condemns the persistent violent protest and burning of municipal buildings in Bekkersdal at West Rand,” spokesman Dumisa Ntuli said in a statement.

“Any violent conduct to highlight grievances is unacceptable and inexcusable.”

Police spokeswoman Constable Thembi Mhlangu was not able to confirm whether any municipal buildings were damaged in the protest.

“It is quiet now,” she said on Friday around 3pm.

Further details were not immediately available.

Ntuli said the protesters’ professed grievance of poor sewerage infrastructure was a “disguise”.

“The protesters are making more political demands which would be impossible to discuss or address.

“It is an indication that there is more to the protest than what is at appearance level.”

Constable Evelyn Matabane said last Wednesday protesters had blockaded major roads and also demanded the resignation of some councillors and municipal employees.

Ntuli called on police to bring violent protesters to book.

“Any violent conduct to highlight certain demands cannot be accepted because it is tantamount to anarchy and disorder.”

Sapa

Johannesburg – The University of SA should apologise for withdrawing permission for an EFF seminar on land reform at its Pretoria main campus, the party said on Friday.

“We call upon Unisa management to apologies for creating the conditions for EFF’s right to freedom of association to be undermined…” spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said in a statement.

The university should also apologise for failing to “defend its student”, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, who wanted to “participate in the open learning and debate on campus”.

Malema on Thursday ignored a Unisa management decision to cancel his talk on land distribution. Instead he addressed students outside the hall.

The SA Students’ Congress (Sasco) and National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) at Unisa were apparently unhappy with Unisa hosting the event.

On Thursday, members of the EFF and Sasco insulted one another, and a scuffle resulted in Sasco members being injured.

Unisa declined to comment on Friday, except to reiterate its previous message that permission had been withdrawn over fears that the meeting would turn into an EFF political rally.

The initial permission for the seminar did not extend to this, and “other formations on campus were opposed” to an EFF rally without the requisite permission, Unisa said on Thursday.

It had taken the decision to withdraw permission “to prevent possible damage to our property and to safeguard lives”.

Ndlozi said the EFF had taken a decision to proceed with its gathering at Unisa, despite the cancellation of permission.

“We had to arrive and demonstrate that we take the message we gave to our people seriously.

“…EFF is prepared to defend its ideas and the freedom to advance them in public platforms.

“Many indeed try to stop us, silence us or wish us away because our ideas are fire and resonate with the popular classes.”

Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-A woman survived a crash after her Double Cab Nissan veered off the road and ended up in a canal nearby.

The accident took place on Friday at around 16:00 in Maphoitsile village, near Taung. A woman who was allegedly drunk crashed her car.

A woman between 30-35 was allegedly driving towards Maphoitsile when she lost control of her vehicle.

Emergency Service were not yet at the scene and she survived with minor injuries.

According to bystanders, a woman lost control of her vehicle and ended up in an empty canal that is nearby.

“She was driving a blue Double Cab Nissan and she veered off the road. She was visibly drunk and stammering when she got out of the vehicle” said eyewitness.

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Johannesburg – Retired Paralympic swimmer Natalie du Toit has been awarded an honorary MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), the British High Commission said on Friday.

“Her Majesty The Queen has announced that South African Olympic and Paralympic medal-winning swimmer Natalie du Toit has been awarded an honorary MBE for her services to Paralympic sport,” the commission said in a statement.

Du Toit said upon hearing of the award: “I find myself extremely humbled and honoured to be receiving this auspicious award. To those that have made it possible I thank you for believing in me and by having stayed by my side.”

British Acting High Commissioner Martin Reynolds said: “Natalie has achieved great success in her sport, demonstrating an ability to compete with the best in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines at numerous international sporting events.

“Natalie is an inspiration to up and coming athletes throughout the world and I am delighted she has been recognised for her achievements.”

The UK was proud to have helped shape Du Toit’s career, with her first competition being the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, said Reynolds.

Du Toit retired after the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, where she won three gold and one silver medal.

“She has been an inspiration for a generation of Paralympians and we are delighted that her contribution has been recognised,” he said.

Du Toit would be presented with the award at a ceremony by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex in October in Pretoria.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (Numsa) announced on Friday the union is willing to accept the offer by the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) and Fuel Retailers Association (FRA) of an 11,6% wage increase in 2013.

According to a Numsa statement released on Friday workers in the fuel retail sector will return to work on Monday.

Workers in the sector have been on strike for more than three weeks. On Monday Labour Minister Mildred Olifant intervened in negotiations between the union and employer bodies to help reach an agreement and bring an end to the strike.

Employers offered the striking workers an increase of 11.6% in 2013, followed by annual increases of 9% for 2014 and 2015.

“This is a victory given the 7.5% offered by motor bosses at the point of deadlock,” said Numsa General Secretary Irvin Jim in the statement.

The strike in other sectors of the motor industry, such as panel beaters, spares shops, car and parts dealerships, is set to continue. Negotiations on wages and employment conditions in other sectors of the motor industry resumed on Friday afternoon.

“Numsa salutes all striking Numsa members in the motor industry for having sacrificed their income for 3 weeks to champion a better life for their families. We are proud of you,” said Jim.

About 70 000 workers are reported to have been on strike.

For more http://www.breakingnews.co.za

Los Angeles – Katie Holmes has joined the cast of The Giver.

The Dawson’s Creek star is the latest name to join Phillip Noyce’s adaptation of Lois Lowry’s 1993 sci-fi novel, which will also star Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Giver is set in a dystopian society which is disturbed when a 12-year-old boy named Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) is selected to learn from an elderly man, The Giver (Bridges), about the pain and strife of the real world. 

Streep’s alter-ego, the Chief Elder, is in charge of keeping order in the society, but that authority is put in danger when the youngster is chosen to be the receiver of memories of life before the ‘sameness movement’, which froze the population and created conformism.

Holmes will play the mother of Thwaites’ teenage character, who is described as being a strict, law abiding citizen. 

It was recently reported that singer Taylor Swift has been cast in the movie, while True Blood actor Alexander Skarsgard is also eyeing a role.

The film will shoot in South Africa and will be produced by The Weinstein Company and Walden Media. 

BangShowBiz

By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-The sewerage crisis in Matlosana continues while council is in denial as usual,says Democratic Alliance.

Sewerage is running from Tigane across and next to a provincial road and runs all the way down into Hartbeesfontein. 

This flow of sewerage originates from different sewer connections next to a secondary school in Tigane and learners are continuously exposed to the health risks involved. 

“Besides the health hazard, it has serious consequences for a chicken abattoir which has HACCP regulations to adhere to.  Delivery trucks cross a stream of sewerage twice before entering the gates of the abattoir and again when leaving” DA Tiaan Kotze said.

The DA said they have reported the problem on a weekly basis for months despite the ANC council’s ignorance.

“In fact, without investigating, council blames the abattoir for the blockage which is not even on their sewerage line” Kotze said. 

Two weeks ago a cow was found lying dead in the sewerage spill. 

“Lies by council about their obvious incompetence will not make the problems disappear.   The public are no fools and the evidence is clear” he said. 

The DA said council must immediately remedy this Human Rights and Environmental violation.-TDN

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Klerksdorp-North West Premier, Mme Thandi Modise has urged the people

of her province to work together in order to succeed in reviving the

domestic tourism potential for their own benefit and the future

generations.

Speaking at the Gala Dinner held n Klerksdorp on Thursday evening ahead of

the 33rd World Tourism Day, Premier Modise highlighted that the North West

has the potential to grow its economy through tourism.

“I can safely say the North West province offers excellent opportunities

and prospects in various industries, particularly within the fabricated metal,

transport equipment, food and beverage industry. As we are joining the rest

of the world in celebrating the 33rd year of the World Tourism Day, people

must know that our province has a rich tourism heritage,” Premier Modise

said.

She further acknowledged that until recently, the travel and tourism

industry were not taken seriously.

“As a country and indeed the North Wes province, we fully embrace the

realization and announcement that tourism is one of the priority sectors

that could positively contribute to the growth and development of our

economy and be in a position to create the much needed job opportunities as

well as alleviate poverty,” cited the Premier.

Through studies it is estimated that by 2030 there will be more than 1, 8

billion tourists in the world.

Premier Modise said through tourism sector there are ample job

opportunities for the people of the province and the country at large.

She further stressed that tourism create jobs at a higher rate than many

other sectors.

“We all know that tourism is one of the most labour intensive sectors, yet

it is one that creates jobs at a competitively higher rate.

It is therefore means that there is a possibility that the annual growth

rate of employment in the tourism sector will always be higher than the

growth rate of the total employment,” she said.

Premier Modise further encourage people around the globe to visit the North

West province.

“I want to urge people to visit the province because I can really tell you,

there is unbelievable tourism potential in the North Wes province.

The province is well positioned as a gateway to Gauteng and the SADC region

and it offers a variety of tourism products, ranging from water activities,

adventure, wildlife viewing, leisure, business and most of all the cultural

and heritage offerings,” she said.

The Gala Dinner which was hosted by Premier Modise was attended amongst

others by the Minister of Tourism Martinus Van SchalkwyK who was marking

the end of Tourism Month and celebrating 33RD World Tourim Day.

Minister Van Schalkwyk said tourism month 2013 would herald a new era for

domestic tourism in South Africa.

“it an era in which the whole nation will get out and experience the fun

and sheer wonder of a South African holiday,” he said.-TDN

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