Bloemfontein – Officials at the Mangaung Correctional Centre outside Bloemfontein have confirmed there is a hostage situation at the prison.

G4S Africa head Andy Baker said prison management was dealing with the incident, but did not give more detail.

He said contingency measures designed to deal with hostage situations had been put in place.

Earlier, a local radio station reported that four inmates took a female guard hostage on Wednesday morning.

Two inmates took a doctor and a nurse hostage at the Mangaung Maximum Security Prison in December 2012. The hostage drama lasted 48 hours.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A Kruger National Park environmental monitoring officer and a villager are being treated in hospital after they were attacked by animals in two separate incidents on Tuesday, SANParks said.

In the first incident, official Amos Muhlovu fell on to a rock while trying to escape from a charging buffalo at Punda Maria, north of the park, said acting SANParks spokesperson Rey Thakhuli on Wednesday.

“The… officer managed to escape but fell on a rock and sustained injuries. He is receiving treatment at the Malamulele hospital,” he said.

In the other incident, Biyamirhi Maluleke was attacked by a leopard between Maphophe and Josefa villages outside Punda Maria, but managed to escape.

Thakhuli said Maluleke was being treated at a nearby hospital.

It was suspected that the leopard had escaped from the park.

“Rangers were deployed to trace the leopard and tracked it back into the park. We are making sure it does not go back to the community,” he said.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje
Tlokwe-The ANC today again tried to take control of Tlokwe illegally by switching council agendas and sneaking in a motion of no-confidence in the DA Executive Mayor, DA said.

“An independent councillor was forced to leave the council chamber in an artificial attempt to achieve a majority in the council” Democratic Alliance Chris Hattingh said in a statement.

DA said the meeting to remove the DA mayor could not be constituted since it was not quorate.

It is alleged that the ANC councillors proceeded, without the council being quorate, to debate
the salaries of MMC members.

“They also put reasons forward to the North West MEC for Local Government to conduct a Section 139 intervention into the Tlokwe municipality and to appoint an administrator to take control of the council” Hattingh said.

ÐA said this is an obvious attempt to re-instate ANC control by stealth.

“It is all part of sustained attempts by the ANC to destabilise the council in the run up to the by-elections on the 23rd of October” he said.

DA outlines that since it took over in Tlokwe, the ANC has done everything in its power to destabilise the council and prevent real service delivery from happening.

“DA will continue working to make sure that Tlokwe is a corruption-free and effective municipality that delivers services to its people”.

They said ANC’s delaying tactics, together with the persistent attempts at vote-buying by ANC and government officials form the backbone of the ANC’s election strategy for the upcoming by-elections.

“The ANC has been forced to resort to these tactics because they know that they have no service delivery record to run on in the Tlokwe municipality” Hattingh said.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-A truck lost control and overturned and collided with a minibus taxi and two other oncoming vehicles on the N12 this morning. 

A female driver of one of the two light vehicles was fatally wounded while the driver of the minibus was taken to the local hospital with serious injuries.

“Passengers from other vehicles including the driver of the truck escaped without injuries” spokesperson Ben Bole said. 

The accident happen right on the entrance of Alabama on the N12, leaving the Freeway closed since seven o’clock this morning. 

Traffic has been diverted to alternative routes while the rescue operations and clearing of the road is underway.

Traffic officials on the scene confirmed that the truck was traveling from Wolmaranstad while the three vehicles were from Klerksdorp. 

Police and traffic officials are still investigating the cause of the accident. 

MEC for Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi appealed to motorists travelling on the N12 to be patient while authorities are assisting in clearing the road. 

“Maloyi said that it’s unfortunate that the accident happens when the country is observing this month as transport month and his department embarking on series of road safety campaigns” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said. 

He appealed compliance and adherence to road rules.-TDN

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By TDN

MAHIKENG – North West Premier, Mme Thandi Modise has commended the National Lotteries Board (NLB) for taking part in nation building and improving the quality of lives in various communities especially that of women, children and people who are living with disabilities.Speaking at the NLB Post Indaba Stakeholders Engagement (PISE) held at Mmabatho Convention Centre on Tuesday, Premier Modise said her provincial government welcomes with both hands any help which intend to build socio economic agenda of the province and the country at large.

“We really appreciate the funding that is being injected by the NLB to the province, we believe that the monies received from the National Lottery are of worthy causes and will contribute to national socio-economic development.

 As the provincial government, we will always welcome with both hands any assistance that shares the same goal that is of improving the lives of our people,” she said.

The NLB was established in terms of the Lotteries Act (No 57 of 1997) to regulate the National Lottery, as well as other lotteries to raise funds and promotional competitions.

Members of the NLB are appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry and NLB members are also trustees of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), into which national lottery proceeds that are intended for allocation to good causes are deposited.

Premier Modise thanked the NLB for the good work they have being doing since it was established.

She further congratulated applicants in the North West Province approved for grant funding as beneficiaries by NLB for the current financial year.

“We really hope that the funding that you receive here will benefit your communities and also help government to achieve its goal of reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality.

We believe that government will achieve its objectives when working in partnership with its various stakeholders,” she said.

NLB Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Charlotte Mampane said it has being many years since the National lotteries was established in the year 2000.

She said so much has being accomplished but more remains to be done in the area of funding.

“Our rationale resonates from the fact that National Lottery should be seen as development agency.

Its current and future practice should align itself to the democratic project whereby its task is essentially about giving an effective voice to many groups and interests whose voices are rarely heard in our country due to vast disparities of power, income or wealth,” she said.

Thus far, more than R13. 5 billion has been allocated to 16 000 beneficiaries, but it is not clear how many people have benefited from the money through job creation.

One of the projects that received funding from NLB is Thusanang Adventures from Masutlhe village of Mahikeng Local Municipality.

Thusanang adventure has received a funding of R 9 million to pursue its dream of starting a film school in their village.

A business partner in the project, Oratile Marumo said they intend to use the whole of the funding in building a reputable film school in their village.

“We are very excited because our dreams are becoming a reality, in no time there will be a film school which will benefit mostly the youth in our village.

We will ensure that this project does not fail but becomes one of the best in the country,” he said.

Touch Community Network from Rustenburg Local Municipality is another beneficiary project that has received funding of about R 647 000.

Their already existing project is a home to more than 1500 of children living with HIV/AIDS.

They also provide training to community members who are intending to provide care to vulnerable children.

Angela Meuwsen, who works at the centre also expressed gratitude after receiving funding.

“We really appreciate the money because we believe that it will take part in changing the lives of the children at the centre and the community at large,” she said.-TDN

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