By Obakeng Maje

Taung- The countdown has began for Pudumong Annual Spring Fes.

With just less than five days left to the first annual Spring Fes Party, the excitement is brewing for what promises to be the biggest party extravangaza Taung ever seen.

Also featuring in this year’s event is Chymamusique and other local artists.

Burgersfort-born pionist has rocked crowds with world renowned musicians and has been featured on rocking sold out shows. 

He has been spreading his jazz house music brand across the country.

“He is one of the artists who will appear at the weekend at Pudumong Hall where the event will take place” said Dj Sphere.

South Africa’s cream of the crop CHYMAMUSIQUE, Linda, Bizza, Baxcha, Pine, Notorious, Mr Buzz, Sphere 24Dec, Tdo, Soulfreak, Uncle T and Oak The Champ. 

Live Performance by Tu-Klaps Mr Sea Mr Chabzen Lerole and KatMaks. 

The pre-party to be hosted on September 20 at Shimmy’s Place.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to share the music with the people of Taung which is the paradise of biodiversity and fun” Sphere said.

Pudumong-born Dj said Domestic destination is the backbone of any successful tourism in any country. 

“We will utilise tourism month (September) to highlight the importance of local travel. The event will benefit the people of Taung economically” he said.

The event is expected to be a blasting one and revellers will get their money worthy performance from ecstatic performers.-TDN

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Johannesburg – A 4-year-old child burnt to death when a shack caught fire at the Witsand informal settlement in Atlantis on Sunday, said the City of Cape Town.

Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said 20 people were left homeless after their homes were destroyed in the blaze.

“It is suspected that an occupant dropped a light or [an] open flame device [fell] over resulting in the fire, said Solomons-Johannes.

The damage caused was estimated to be to the value of R36 000. 

SAPA

Rustenburg-An Eyewitness News investigation has lifted the lid on the shady world of dog fighting, which is widespread in South Africa. 

The illicit sport, on an organised level, reportedly involves secret communication on social media with some bets including sexual acts and drugs. 

Eyewitness News has obtained a graphic video of two bloody Pitbull puppies mauling each other in a park somewhere in the Cape Town metro. 

The Cape of Good Hope Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)’s Allan Perrins says the blood sport is prevalent throughout the province involving a number of clubs with racial admission criteria and rival kennels battling it out.

“We also know that Huskies are thrown into the pit having been drenched in blood and used to offset the blood lust of some of these fighting dogs.

”But the National Animal Welfare Task Team’s (NAWTT) Mariette Hopley says the problem is not just limited to the Western Cape.

“There was a dog fight that came up in Rustenburg where the bet on a dog was R1.5 million.” She says dog fighting and cross–border dog smuggling is also often linked to drug trafficking and money laundering. Last month seven boys, all under the age of 15, were arrested in Muizenberg in connection with dog fighting.

For more http://www.ewn.co.za 

Government denied on Friday reports that Tlokwe in the North West is receiving food parcels because of upcoming by-elections.

“There is nothing untoward with Tlokwe being one of the recipients of government services,” acting government spokeswoman Phumla Williams said in a statement.

“The imbizo at Tlokwe forms part of Project Mikondzo, which is a service delivery improvement initiative aimed at improving access to the department and its entities.”

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini visited Tlokwe on Friday.

Earlier this week her office said the visit was part a service delivery improvement initiative and a follow-up to her visit to the area last month.

Williams said: “Minister Dlamini is currently doing a follow-up in the Tlokwe area, as she promised during her last visit to the area.

“Handing out food parcels is in-line with attending to the concerns raised during the general household survey of 2010, and is a small initiative to assist in the alleviation of poverty in the area.”

After Dlamini’s last visit the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and the Democratic Alliance accused the minister of trying to buy votes in Tlokwe with food parcels.

Her visit came a few days before a by-election in Tlokwe’s ward nine.

At the time, Dlamini denied that this was the motivation behind the relief efforts and said there were more than 17,000 child-headed households in Tlokwe.

The DA on Friday said it had written to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela asking her to investigate the distribution of food parcels in Tlokwe by Dlamini.

“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 in a statement.

“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,” he said.

By-elections will be held on September 18 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.

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

Members of the ANC’s national working committee were deployed to wards in Tlokwe on Monday to campaign ahead of the by-elections.

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko, party leader in the North West Chris Hattingh, and constituency head Juanita Terblanche will be campaigning in wards four, six, 12 and 13 ahead of next week’s by-elections.

-Sapa

Johannesburg – The Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the 1999 arms deal has been postponed to Wednesday because chairperson Judge Willie Seriti is ill.

“The chairperson of the commission, Judge Seriti, has fallen ill over the weekend and has been booked off to recuperate until Wednesday,” spokesperson William Baloyi said in a statement on Sunday.

He said the commission would resume on Wednesday.

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission in 2011 to investigate alleged corruption in the multi-billion rand arms deal.

The government acquired, among other things, 26 Gripen fighter aircraft and 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainer aircraft for the SA Air Force as part of the arms deal.

The defence and military veterans’ department, arms procurement parastatal Armscor, and the National Treasury are expected to make presentations to the commission on the rationale behind the armaments acquisition.

SAPA

Auckland – South Africa left New Zealand early on Sunday heading for home quietly seething about a decision they publicly refused to condemn and no doubt thinking they had learned some valuable lessons about how to negate the All Blacks at home.

The Springboks were on a nine-match winning streak and had arrived in New Zealand confident of tipping over the All Blacks at their Eden Park fortress in Auckland.

The match was touted as the most important in New Zealand since the 2011 World Cup final and the visitors bristled with aggression, most notably hooker Bismarck du Plessis whose no-nonsense style resulted in a red card in the 29-15 loss to the world champions.

Both coach Heyneke Meyer and captain Jean de Villiers refused to be drawn on the decisions of referee Romain Poite with De Villiers particularly hard on his own side despite their numerical disadvantage for 50 minutes of the game.

“We have to look at the way we performed because that was not a performance that was good enough to compete with them,” de Villiers said after the game on Saturday.

“This performance goes 100% towards the players, myself as captain and I have to take the fault for that. 

“It’s disappointing and I felt we let our country down.”

The nature of the match and the way in which the All Blacks soaked up the Springboks’ pressure suggested they may have won the game even if du Plessis had not been sent off, however, the visitors learned some valuable lessons for the return clash at Ellis Park on October 5.

The Springboks’ direct approach of trying to bludgeon the All Blacks into submission was negated by the home side’s defence, with their forwards refusing to take a backwards step.

The tactic however cut down on their attacking options because the South Africans’ first instinct was to take contact when a better choice may have been to commit a defender and put a team mate into space.

Du Plessis’ dismissal not only reduced the visitors to 14 man, but affected the balance of their attack.

Loose forward Willem Alberts was also forced to sit on the sideline while replacement hooker Adriaan Strauss was on the field and Meyer suggested that better discipline should allow them to launch from a more stable base.

“You can’t play with 14 men, especially if it’s your hooker because you can’t scrum, you can’t drive in the lineout and it affects your defence as well,” Meyer said in obliquely agreeing the red card may have affected the result of the match.

“We were always short in the driving mauls because we didn’t have a loose forward there and a lot of our plays are based around the loose forwards.”

Despite the numerical advantage, the All Blacks said they felt they were comfortable the game would have been won anyway but were expecting a massive backlash when the two sides meet again in South Africa.

“Bismarck will be disappointed, the first one was probably not a yellow but he knew he had already been yellow carded and what he did the second time was dumb,” Hansen said after the match. 

“You can’t elbow someone in the throat.”

Hansen and centre Conrad Smith said that attitude of matching their intensity had been spoken about all week, with the side reminded the Springboks were on a nine-match winning streak and the game was likely to be the most important in New Zealand since the 2011 World Cup final.

“Both teams knew what we were in for,” Smith said. 

Both were quietly confident heading into the game. 

“Both teams back their physicality and that was the way it turned out.”

It was that attitude that allowed the All Blacks to refuse to buckle, to soak up the pressure the Springboks were able to exert and to pounce with their fast-paced game punching holes out wide, where the dynamic Kieran Read in particular was prolific.

The ability to put players into space allowed the All Blacks to create mismatches and momentum while greater care of the ball allowed them to generate quick phase ball when on attack.

“What we delivered on the scoreboard was pretty impressive,” Smith said.

“I think we have played more clinically and accurately in the time since the World Cup but in terms of a pure result against a quality side it was probably our best.”

New Zealand next travel to La Plata to face Argentina, while the Springboks host an Australian side who are looking out of sorts and unable to compete at the same intensity as the top two sides in the world.

Should both sides win on September 28, the game in Johannesburg would be a title decider and the South Africans will be confident the cauldron of Ellis Park will give them a boost.

“It will be a physical battle again,” All Blacks centre Conrad Smith said on Sunday.

“They will know what is coming and I think they will be prepared better than they were last night … (and) I think it will be even more intense.” 

Reuters

Johannesburg – The ANCYL needs to work with the government to help the youth to obtain employment and training opportunities, President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday.

“The National Youth Accord that was negotiated and signed between business, government, labour and the community sectors, especially the youth, in April this year, is designed to help alleviate the question of youth training and employment,” he said.

“Government is also processing the employment tax incentive bill through which, when it becomes law, employers will benefit from tax incentives when hiring young workers, but without displacing older workers.”

Zuma was making a speech, prepared for delivery, at the African National Congress Youth League’s 69th anniversary celebration in Seshego, Polokwane, in Limpopo.

The bill was still being discussed by the Cabinet, but the ANCYL was urged to work closely with the government, the National Youth Development Agency and employer organisations on the project.

Zuma said the youth needed to be reminded of affirmative action and Black Economic Empowerment, which had successfully benefited many black business people and professionals.

These needed to be used further as transformation tools.

“The ANC government has put before Parliament a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Amendment Bill to further enhance transformation,” he said.

“Amongst the proposals put forward is the introduction of a commission that will oversee, supervise and promote adherence to the B-BBEE Act and codes in the interest of the public.”

The ANC-led government had also put in place progressive laws such as the employment Equity Act.

“Let us use these instruments to change our country for the better.”

Returning the dignity and discipline within the ANCYL was important in rebuilding the trust and respect of the people, said Zuma.

“We congratulate the national task team [NTT] on the work done thus far in rebuilding the structures of the ANCYL.

“The anniversary reminds us of the need to build the type of ANCYL that young people and the country as a whole can look up to with admiration, inspiration and respect.”

On Tuesday, the ANCYL apologised to everyone it had wronged and insulted in the recent past.

NTT convenor Mzwandile Masina, who was speaking at the ANCYL’s anniversary celebration in Johannesburg, called on members to refrain from making “reckless” statements in the name of the ANCYL.

“Being militant for the sake of being militant does not help us, comrades. We apologise because we think that it is revolutionary that we do so.”

SAPA

Paris – A French jeweller who shot dead a teenage robber last week has sparked an intense national debate in France, with a Facebook page supporting him attracting more than 1.5 million “likes”.

Stephan Turk, 67, shot an 18-year-old in the back on Wednesday as he and another robber were fleeing on a scooter with gems stolen from the jeweller’s shop in the French Riviera city of Nice.

His actions have divided France, with supporters arguing for the right to self-defence amid a general climate of insecurity, while critics condemn the use of violence and vigilantism.

A Facebook page created anonymously several days ago in support of Turk – who on Friday was charged with murder – had garnered 1.53 million likes by Sunday evening.

“He did what the justice system isn’t able to do! These days, if you want something done right, do it yourself,” user Fanny Duvergt wrote.

But on Twitter, where debate over the issue is also raging, doubts have emerged about the huge swell of Facebook support, with some saying many of the “likes” may have been bought.

A Facebook page against the jeweller and the use of force has also emerged over the past few days, though it has a comparatively meagre 17 800 “likes”.

“Shooting someone who is escaping in the back, that’s murder. It’s not self-defence… We’re not in the Wild West taking justice in our own hands,” Facebook user Katia Chipolina wrote on the page.

French law allows for killers to escape conviction for murder if they can show they acted in “legitimate defence”.

But the prosecutor who recommended Turk be charged with murder does not believe this can be applied as the jeweller’s life did not appear to be in immediate danger when he fired an unlicensed semi-automatic pistol.

If convicted of voluntary homicide, the jeweller could spend the rest of his life in prison.

On Sunday, French President Francois Hollande waded into the fray, saying in a televised interview that he recognised “exasperation and anger” in the case but insisting that “it’s up to justice to do justice and not anyone else.”

The case has also been seized upon by the far-right Front National (FN).

“When people feel obliged to defend themselves with such dramatic consequences, it is a sign that they no longer have any confidence in the state or the forces of order,” FN leader Marine Le Pen said on Saturday.

And in a photo published in the Journal de Dimanche newspaper on Sunday, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the FN party, was shown brandishing his fist at the camera.

“I would have done the same thing,” he was quoted as saying in the paper.

AFP

Cape Town – The NPA will not respond to a request for comment regarding a BBC documentary questioning the police case against Shrien Dewani, Western Cape director of public prosecutions Rodney de Kock said on Sunday. 

Shrien’s wife Anni was shot dead in an apparent fake hijacking in Khayelitsha on 14 November 2010.

The programme, titled The Honeymoon Murder: Who killed Anni? claimed to have obtained “secret police files” and commissioned forensic experts to review all the evidence.

According to the online preview, the experts plan to expose “fundamental mistakes” in the police investigation and the interpretation of forensic evidence.

The programme is set to air on Thursday.

“… It would be improper for the NPA to engage on the merits of the case,” De Kock told the BBC’s Panorama editor, Tom Giles, in a letter, sent at the beginning of September, and shown to the media on Sunday. 

“To do so will be to subject Mr Dewani to a trial by media, a concept foreign to the Republic of South Africa and a practice that will violate Mr Dewani’s right to a fair trial.” 

De Kock said the matter was sub judice. 

“The proper forum to address this matter is a court of law, not the media.” 

Accident

The Mirror reported on Saturday that Shrien could be cleared after experts claimed that Anni had been shot by accident. 

The bullet that killed the 28-year-old hit her left hand, went into her chest and through her body, causing fatal neck injuries.

Ballistics experts at the Forensic Firearms Consultancy in London reviewed case documents, the Mirror said. It quoted a source as saying the evidence would appear to support the theory that Anni Dewani was shot during a struggle.”

Three men are already serving sentences for her murder. 

Shrien, 33, who has repeatedly denied masterminding a plot to kill his wife, is undergoing treatment in the UK for post-traumatic stress disorder. 

He has been fighting extradition to stand trial in Cape Town for over two years. 

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle ruled in 2011 that Dewani should be extradited, but he successfully appealed against this order, on mental health grounds. 

The British Press Association reported in July that Riddle had ordered for Dewani to be extradited on the basis of a slow but steady recovery. 

“It may be a long time before Mr Dewani is fit to plead, but he may be closer to that point,” he was quoted as saying. 

“It is not impossible that if returned now, then after a reasonable period of further treatment and assessment he will be found fit to plead and a trial can take place.” 

Agence France Press reported last month that Dewani launched an attempt to take his extradition case to the Supreme Court, arguing his mental health was too fragile.

SAPA

Johannesburg – A small aircraft carried out an emergency landing on the N1 south in Limpopo, between Mokopane and Polokwane, on Sunday, the provincial roads and traffic department said.

It was believed that there was a mechanical problem with the aircraft, said departmental spokesperson Jimmy Machaka. 

No one was injured in the landing.

“Two lanes of the highway have been re-opened, with officials regulating the flow of traffic until the plane has been removed from the road,” he said.

He urged motorists to exercise patience when travelling along that section of the road.

SAPA