Johannesburg – Moroka Swallows have confirmed that former Golden Arrows striker Nkosinathi Ogle has joined the club on a two-year deal.

Soccer Laduma’s website reports that Swallows coach Zeca Marques, who confirmed that the Dube Birds were on the verge of signing Ogle last week, say that the 28-year-old has now confirmed the news, saying that he penned a two-year deal at the Dobsonville-based club.o

“It’s true that I have finally signed a deal with Swallows.

“It’s a two-year deal with an option to renew for a further year,” said Ogle.

“I’m really happy to have joined a club like Swallows, which has a lot of potential. 

“I guess my hard work finally paid off and now what’s left is for me is to repay the faith that coach Zeca Marques and the management have on me. 

“I’m looking forward to a happy stay at Swallows,” Ogle added.

Swallows’ next match is away to AmaZulu on September 14. 

Sport24

Johannesburg – A policeman accused of corruption and of using a state vehicle without consent, appeared in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Mpumalanga police said.

The case against Constable Ronald Mmatlou was postponed to 13 September, said police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi.

He remained in custody, he said.

Mmatlou was arrested in Bronkhorstspruit on Friday.

SAPA

Durban – Bafana Bafana have arrived in Durban on Monday ahead of their must-win World Cup qualifier against Botswana this week, with coach Gordon Igesund admitting they had little choice but to go all out for the three points.

Thirteen players were already in camp, while the balance of the 23-man squad, for the Group A encounter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, were expected over the next 24 hours.

“This is the first time since I’ve been in charge of Bafana Bafana — and still holding thumbs between now and the game — that I’ve had no injuries,” Igesund said.

“Everyone seems to have pulled through nicely and I think it’s the first game where I haven’t had to change three or four players at the last minute. So I’m very happy about that but there are six days to go, ahead of a very important game for the country.”

Dutch-based duo Thulani Serero and Kamohelo Mokotjo as well as Anele Ngcongca from Belgian club Genk, would arrive in Johannesburg later on Monday and link up with Tokelo Rantie and Siyanda Xulu in Durban on Tuesday morning.

The five players from Orlando Pirates in the squad — Senzo Meyiwa, Thabo Matlaba, Oupa Manyisa, Andile Jali and Kermit Erasmus — were due to complete the full list later Tuesday after returning from Egypt where they were involved in CAF Champions League action against Zamalek on Sunday.

South Africa were lying second in their group, two points behind leaders Ethiopia, but with a superior goal difference.

They must win the match and hope the east Africans either draw or lose against the Central African Republic in their game which kicks off simultaneously in Brazzaville, Congo.

“I am not going to be concerning myself with what’s going on in the other match,” Igesund said.

“All I know is that we need to win and we’ll be going all out to do that. I am not going to entertain any other thoughts.”

If Ethiopia win, though, Bafana would miss out on the final round of qualifying for the global showpiece in Brazil next year.

“I will be absolutely gutted if we win the game and don’t qualify,” Igesund said.

“As the coach, I don’t think I could have done much more than playing four qualifying matches and winning three of them and not make it.

“If you win three out of four games, you’ve got to go to the World Cup.”

The match represents a second chance for the national side after they expected to be eliminated from qualifying following a 2-1 loss in Addis Ababa in June.

However, Ethiopia were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player against Botswana earlier in the qualifying competition.

SAPA

Florida – Diana Nyad has become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the help of a shark cage.

The 64-year-old Nyad stepped ashore in Key West on Monday just before 14:00 EDT, about 53 hours after she began her swim in Havana on Saturday.

As she approached the shore, spectators surrounded her in the water, taking pictures and cheering her on.

She swam within a couple dozen feet of the beach and walked on to dry land. She looked dazed and sunburned.

It was Nyad’s fifth try to complete the approximately 110-mile swim. She tried three times in 2011 and 2012. She had also tried in 1978.

Her last attempt was cut short amid boat trouble, storms, unfavourable currents and jellyfish stings that left her face puffy and swollen.

AP

Johannesburg – Cosatu has been served with legal papers challenging the suspension of its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, its affiliate Numsa said on Monday.

“We can confirm that (the) Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Fawu) and SA Football Players’ Union (Safpu) are co-applicants to Numsa’s court application,” National Union of Metalworkers of SA general secretary Irvin Jim said in a statement.

He said they wanted the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) to rescind and uplift the “unconstitutional and unprecedented” suspension of Vavi.

Vavi was suspended three weeks ago for bring the federation into disrepute after he admitted to having an affair with a Cosatu employee.

Jim said Numsa had been forced to take legal action as “Cosatu’s internal and democratic processes are being undermined and flouted”.

He said the decision to legally challenge Cosatu had not been made lightly, and it was not their preferred option of engagement.

“(However)… the sequence of events since the 11th National Congress of Cosatu held in September 2012 shows a clear agenda to have the democratically elected Cosatu general secretary removed.”

He said people had called for Vavi’s suspension in the February and May central executive committee meetings.

“We now know that Cosatu has been paralysed since September 2012 by the agenda to drive out comrade Vavi.”

He said the union would no longer publicly comment on the matter as it was now in the courts.

“We will only comment once court process has been concluded.”

Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said it was not commenting on the matter at the moment. – Sapa

By TDN

Brits-A husband, wife and a one-year-old child died on the scene when a bakkie collided with a truck on the road between Rankelenyane and Baresba villages in the Brits area this morning.

According to the North West traffic authorities, two passengers from the truck survived with severe injuries and were airlifted to the nearest hospital as the driver survived with minor injuries.

Meanwhile, the three deceased bodies were removed with jaws of lives from the bakkie.

“It is alleged that the driver of the bakkie was driving on the opposite lane facing the oncoming traffic when the accident occurred” department sposperson Ben Bole said.

North West MEC Nono Maloyi sends his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those admitted in hospital.

He further pleaded with motorists to drive with caution and to obey road rules at all the time.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Hartswater-A man appeared briefly before Warrenton Magistrate Court for alleged rape.

Hartswater Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit are investigating a rape which allegedly took place two weeks ago. 

The accused, Johannes Maphelle(52), employed as a general worker at a primary school in Warrenton, allegedly raped a 7 year old school boy in the school toilets. 

“The victim’s mother noticed that something was wrong while bathing the boy and questioned him about his peculiar actions. The boy then revealed to his mother that he was raped by the general worker during the school interval, earlier that day” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

The suspect was arrested and made his second appearance in the Warrenton Magistrates’ Court on Monday and the case was remanded for 10 September 2013. 

“The suspect will remain in custody. The investigation continues” he said.-TDN

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Pretoria – The Hawks and Gripen aircraft acquired through the 1999 arms deal have proven highly deployable and adaptable, the Seriti Commission of Inquiry heard on Monday.

The aircraft were flexible enough to meet requirements, said SA Air Force (SAAF) combat systems director Brigadier General John William Bayne.

“The Gripen we acquired was what was termed the export baseline. In other words, it was not the same aircraft that the Swedish air force flew originally… This aircraft was designed and adapted for worldwide climatic conditions,” he said.

“It was designed to operate in different environments and different equivalent areas… The Gripen is well-suited for the African battle-space for the future to support the country as strategic natural asset.”

He said people had questioned the SAAF buying aircraft from Sweden, where the climate and operating conditions were different.

The aircraft were thoroughly tested before they were acquired, and were flown in harsh conditions, including snow and rain.

The Gripen was the SAAF’s only full-fighter aircraft, while the Hawk was primarily a fighter-trainer aircraft.

Ownership

Bayne said the SAAF had taken over full ownership and delivery of the Hawks, and that ownership of the Gripen was expected to be concluded only in early 2015.

“There was adequate proof that the system [the Hawks] met the requirements.”

The Gripen had completed 85% of its tests and evaluation, but there were still steps which needed to be completed before the SAAF took full ownership.

On Monday morning, the commission heard that the SAAF had to adapt to all budget cuts to fit in with the realities.

Bayne said that after the 1994 elections, South Africa was seen as a highly successful and peaceful country, and that this had played a role in budgeting, particularly the budget cuts in 1997.

He said the risks of putting a young pilot into a high performance and high cost aircraft had been considered when it came to the costs of continuing the three-tier training system.

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission, which is chaired by Judge Willie Seriti, in 2011 to investigate alleged corruption in the 1999 multi-billion rand arms deal.

The commission resumes on Tuesday morning, when Bayne will give evidence on the utilisation of the systems.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Jan Kempdorp-Police are investigating an inquest into the death of Daniel Mokae(an adult male) who was found dead on a farm near Jan Kempdorp on Monday. 

The brother of the farm owner found the deceased(an employee on the farm) lying face down on the ground when he visited the farm at approximately 07:20am. “Daniel Mokae was employed to feed the livestock while the farm owner was out of town for the weekend. It is at this stage alleged that the three bull terriers might have mauled him to death” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

Kock said the deceased was covered with blood, both his ears are missing and his clothes were in tatters when the police arrived on the scene. 

“Several paw prints were found surrounding the place where the deceased was discovered. An autopsy will be done to confirm the exact cause of death” Kock said. 

The three Bull Terriers have not been removed from the farm but are kept in locked kennels as the investigation continues.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Groblershoop-Six men appeared in the Groblershoop Magistrates’ Court today on charges of dealing in dagga. 

“It is alleged that on Friday at about 16:00, police were engaged in special operations when they stopped at an accident  scene on the Upington/Groblershoop road” colonel Priscilla Naidu said.  

Naidu said the drivers of a Ford Sierra and a bakkie allegedly lost control of their vehicles causing both to overturn. 

“In total there were six men in the vehicles. No serious injuries were sustained. When police stopped to assist, the men informed police that they were fine and that they did not need any assistance however police officials at the scene insisted in helping” police said. 

When they inspected both vehicles, they discovered that the vehicles were packed with dagga. 

The vehicles were bound for Keimoes from Bloemfontein. 

All six men aged between 35 and 60 were arrested and charged for dealing in dagga. 

The dagga weighed in at 287 kg with a street value of R1,4 million.-TDN

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