JOHANNESBURG – The SanWild Rhino Sanctuary has endorsed an academy that will train rangers to physically protect rhino from being poached in South Africa.

The specialised wildlife protection academy will start training candidates from January next year.

At the same time, the world celebrates World Rhino Day on Sunday, it was started by the World Wide Foundation in 2011.

A total of 688 rhino have been killed in South Africa this year alone.

The SanWild Rhino Santuary’s Louis Joubert said, “We’ve teamed up with the specialised wild life protection academy that have managed to get the first endorsement for the training of professional counter poaching rangers to physically protect rhino.”

Meanwhile, The World Wildlife Fun (WWF) South Africa is targeting some of the world’s most influential people to pledge their support for rhino, asking for 1million tweets tagged “I am for rhinos”.

There are a number of events and initiatives happening this year and the focus is on creating awareness.

The Private Rhino Owners Association Pelham Jones said “We are trying to get every South African to become a rhino ambassador.”

The misguided perception that the rhino horn is a status symbol or has medical benefits has left activists dismayed that efforts to stop poaching has had little effect on the illicit trade.

219 people have been arrested this year in connection with rhino killings.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

JOHANNESBURG – Paramedics have confirmed that two people have been killed after a head-on collision between a truck and a VW Jetta on the R30 near Odendaalsrus in the Free State last night.

It’s still unclear what caused the accident.

Paramedics say heavy duty rescue services had to be called to the scene to lift the truck as the vehicle was found underneath it.

ER24’s Werner Vermaak said, “Paramedics arrived at the scene and found the front of the car and the back under the truck and there were four people in the vehicle. Fatalities can’t be confirmed but it looks like four people lost their lives.”

This comes after 23 people were killed in an accident earlier this month involving a truck which crashed into four taxis and two vehicles at an intersection in Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

JOHANNESBURG – Gauteng police say they’re investigating a case of murder after a decomposed body was found in the boot of a car in Monte Casino.

It’s understood that security guards who were patrolling, identified the vehicle which had been parked at the casino since Friday.

Officials say they are still trying to identify the person who parked the car there.

The police’s Lungelo Dlamini said, “The body has not yet been identified but we are continuing with the investigation to identify the body.”

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

By TDN
Mahikeng: The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development calls on all domestic animals owners to join forces in preventing the spread of the deadly Rabies disease, by ensuring that their animals get vaccinated. The call comes in the wake of the month-long awareness and vaccination campaigns, which the Department has embarked upon throughout the Province.
During these campaigns, the Department’s Veterinary Animal Health Technicians and State Veterinarians are vaccinating pets like dogs and cats against the disease, and educating communities about how rabies is spread, how it is treated, and the preventative measures available for both humans and animals.
“When people know about rabies, understand how it is transmitted and what to do when a person is exposed to the virus, lives are saved”, says MEC for Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono.
Rabies is a preventable yet fatal viral disease, which is found in domestic and wild animals, and occasionally in humans. The rabies virus which is found in the saliva of an infected animal is transmitted from animals to humans/animals through bites, licks and scratching.
Humans can be infected through the broken skin or mucous membrane, after coming into contact with an infected animal.
According to Dr Langa Madyibi, Director for Veterinary Services within the Department, domestic animals should be vaccinated at three months of age and have their first booster between one and nine months, after which they must get the booster vaccinations every year, as required by the Animal Disease Act (Act 35 of 1984).
Madyibi advised communities to look for behavioural changes in their animals like, aggressiveness, dumbness, paralysis or partially paralysis, or excessive salivation, as they are common signs and symptoms of rabies.
“In humans, flu-like fever, headache and fatigue which progress to involve respiratory, gastrointestinal or central nervous system are common symptoms of infection. Signs of hyperactivity in a furious form or paralysis are also common” explained Dr Madyibi who maintains that human beings die during the first seven days of illness.
Owners are urged to ensure that they observe the legal requirement of vaccinating their domestic animals, more so the vaccination is administered at a free cost.
For more information on where vaccination will be carried out in different areas of the Province, communities are encouraged to contact the Department’s State Veterinary offices found in all the Districts. World Rabies Day will be commemorated on the 28th of September.-TDN
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In keeping up with the heritage month theme, “Reclaiming, restoring and celebrating our living heritage”, Bataung Boo Selale saw the long awaiting official enthronement of Kgosi Bokagantsho Justice Sefanyetso which recently took place in Moubane village (Ga Sefanyetso) near Madikwe. .

North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Manketse Tlhape who handed over a certificate of recognition to Kgosi Sefanyetso on behalf of Premier Thandi Modise, said that it is not government’s mandate to control traditional leaders.

“Government is not here to regulate traditional leaders, instead government is there to support and facilitate functional institutions of traditional leaders and ensure that its existence remains part of our living heritage, MEC Tlhape said.

“As government we do as much as we can so that our heritage remains intact and recognized and traditional leaders play a pivotal role in restoring our heritage”, MEC Tlhape added.

MEC Tlhape wished Kgosi Sefanyetso well in his official leadership role and also urged the community to support him in his journey as their chief.
“We also would like to extended our overwhelming gratitude to Mr. Felix Sefanyetso who has been acting as chief of Bataung Boo Selale on behalf of his brother since 1985. You have been an exceptional leader and we hope that you will be able to pass on the baton to the current Kgosi to continue with the affairs of Bataung Boo Selale” said MEC Tlhape.
Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosi Madoda Zibi extended his well wishes to Kgosi Sefanyetso, his family and the whole community of Bataung Boo Selale

“Our wish is that the lord blesses you richly as you commence with your responsibilities. Always remember that although we are able to solve our problems through communication and consultation, fearing God is the beginning of all wisdom. We shall give you all the support you need from the house of traditional leaders and we know that you are going to make a meaningful input in the deliberations of the house”, Kgosi Madoda Zibi said.-TDN
Source: North West Government

The Public Protector has confirmed receiving a complaint from the DA about Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini handing out food parcels in Tlokwe.

“The complaint was received on Wednesday, September 18,” spokeswoman Kgalalelo Masibi said on Friday.

The Democratic Alliance has accused the minister of trying to buy votes ahead of Wednesday’s municipal by-election in Tlokwe, North West, by dishing out food parcels.

Her visit came a few days before a by-election in Tlokwe’s (Potchefstroom) Ward Nine. At the time, Dlamini denied this was the reason for the relief efforts and said there were more than 17 000 child-headed households in Tlokwe.

On September 13, the DA said it had written to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela asking her to investigate Dlamini’s distribution of food parcels.

“The minister’s conduct is at the very least unethical and a violation of the executive ethics code of conduct,” DA MP Mike Waters said at the time.

“The distribution of food parcels just before nine by-elections can only be construed as the dishonest use of public office to further a party-political agenda.”

However, government said Dlamini’s visit was part of a service delivery improvement initiative aimed at improving access to the department and its entities.

By-elections were held on Wednesday in Tlokwe in Wards One, Four, Six, 11, 12, 13, 18, 20 and 26.

Tlokwe’s ANC mayor Maphetle Maphetle was unseated twice when African National Congress councillors voted to replace him with DA councillor Annette Combrink.

The ANC’s North West provincial disciplinary committee expelled the 14 councillors concerned, resulting in them losing their seats. Their expulsion was however overturned by the ANC’s national disciplinary committee.

The ANC won seven of the 11 municipal by-elections, according to results released by the Independent Electoral Commission.

The DA retained three wards, and an independent candidate took the highly contested Ward 26 from the ruling party.

Sapa

Johannesburg – A 35-year-old man has been arrested for business robbery in Meadowlands, Soweto, Gauteng police said on Sunday.

The man was arrested on Friday for a robbery at a tavern in Zone 11 on September 9, said Constable Sibusiso Chauke.

Four armed men stormed into the tavern after midnight, ordered everyone to lie on the floor and took money, airtime, liquor and cigarettes before fleeing.

“The owner of the tavern was later killed at his house by four unknown men,” he said.

Police were searching for the other men. The arrested man would appear soon in the Protea Magistrate’s Court soon. – Sapa

Cape Town – The 41-year-old man suing the minister of correctional services for damages after he contracted HIV when he was raped in Allendale Prison, in Paarl, in 1999, fits the typical profile of inmates who are at heightened risk of sexual abuse in detention.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Cape Town – A Paarl man has given the Western Cape High Court a chilling account of his experience in a local prison, which started with him being raped by a leader of the 28s Gang in an overcrowded cell he shared with about 70 inmates, a nurse’s later refusal to treat him, and a priest’s advice that he should repent for his sins.
For more http://www.iol.co.za