By Obakeng Maje

Mmabatho-A 19 year-old man has been arrested by North West police after he allegedly threatened some residents with a hammer.

The incident took palce on Friday at a church in Seweding and police were allegedly summoned to the scene and arrested him.

“Police in Mmabatho allegedly arrested a 19 year-old man who intimidated residents with a hammer at a church” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

A week ago, a 15 year-old girl was allegedly being killed by unknown suspect and her naked body was found by passerby.

The atrocity took place at Sikha Lekhekhe and police confirmed that a womna was bludgeoned to death.

Makau said a 19 year-old man will appear before Mmabatho Magistrate Court, but he could not be linked to incident that tool place in past weeks.

More than 10 people were allegedly admitted at local hospital for medical attention after being allegedly hit by ‘hammerman’.

Police investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Vryburg-North West police are investigating a case of Inquest, following the death of two men, aged 24 and 56 respectively who were from Huhudi Township near Vryburg. 

“It is alleged  that both victims( allegedly a father and his son) on Friday,went inside the sewerage main hole which is next to the old dumping side to unblock the sewerage” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

According to information, victims suffocated inside after inhaling a strong smell of methane.

Both the deceased worked for Naledi Local Municipality in Vryburg. 

Emergency services were alerted and the two bodies were removed. 

Police investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg-Former Chippa United coach Mark Harrison has been appointed as PSL Golden Arrows coach.

The coach of Arrows Manqoba Mngqithi handed in his resignation letter yesterday allegedly amid disagreement with management.

Mngqithi has resigned after the Kwazulu-Natal based team started on a wrong foot after they lost four games, drew one and only one win in their quest to kept buoyed in the elite league.

Arrow did not waste any time and appointed Harrison as their new coach.

Golden Arrows won their last game against Bidvest Wits to qualify for quater-finals of prestigious Telkom Knock-out competition.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

North West police arrested through various operations a total of 695 suspects in the past seven days between 29 September and 06 October 2013 for Contact, Contact related, Property related, trio and other crimes.

“The arrested suspects include 107 for Assault GBH and common, 37 for Burglary residential and business, 2 for Murder, 21 for robbery Aggravating, 30 for Rape, 43 for Drug related, 12 for driving under the influence of liquor, 14 for possession of suspected stolen property” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

The police also arrested 67 undocumented persons.  

“The operation also led to confiscation and recovery of 2 vehicles, 200 DVD players, 02 firearms.  13 fines for liquor and 57 for road traffic contraventions were also issued” she said. 

In most of the cases, suspects have already appeared in various courts while others are expected to appear tomorrow, Monday 07 October  2013.-TDN

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The North West Provincial Administration is hard at work and will reach each and every corner of the province to ensure that all residents of the province receive the best health care possible, MEC for Health, Dr Magome Masike said on Friday.

MEC Masike said his department has so far made a number of achievements which include building fully equipped clinics in various villages to ensure that citizens receives proper health care services.

He said his department is serious about developing youth based in rural areas to ensure that they have best skills they need serve their communities. He cited a staggering increase in the number of youth that have been awarded bursaries to study medicine in Cuba this year.

“This year we have increased the number from 100 in 2012 to 180 for 2013. Initially only 30 students were recruited for this programme and this is a substantial improvement. It’s a huge percentage,” said MEC Masike.

MEC Masike was speaking at Welgeval village near Moruleng in the North West, where Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Thandi Tobias-Pokolo, accompanied by MEC for Economic Development Motlalepule Rosho and the Mayor of Moses Kotane Local Municipality,Councillor Fetsang Mokat-Thebei handed out certificates of registration to cooperatives owned by young entrepreneurs from the Moses Kotane Local Municipality, as part of the Youth Economic Empowerment Outreach Programme. Earlier in the day, MEC Rosho was at Bakgatlha Gate where she briefed a sectoral parliament on improving socio-economic condition of the province through tourism.

In addressing the outreach attended by over 500 young people from Welgeval and neighbouring villages, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Thandi Tobias-Pokolo said she was encouraged by the commitment and interest shown by the youth in Welgeval, adding that she saw a lot of potential in them and hoped they will be a good example to other young people in the area.

“The youth in this area have for the past two weeks been in contact with the dti and other stakeholders in an effort to formalise themselves and get their businesses off the ground.

“Our department, together with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), and Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) have done a lot in this area to make sure that young people are assisted in order to realise their dreams of formalising themselves into a business and become fully-fledged entrepreneurs,” said Tobias-Pokolo.

“I am accompanying DTI to tell you what the ANC-led government is doing for you,” said the Deputy Minister as she presented certificates to the budding entrepreneurs at the outreach meant to encourage the youth to establish businesses, particularly cooperatives, in an effort to create employment for themselves and other members of the community. 

Municipal Manager of Moses Kotane Local Municipality Nono Dince, said the initiative was part of the second economy which is defined as an economy that is mainly informal, marginalised, unskilled and populated by unemployed and those likely to be unemployable in the formal economy.

Dince said those that are mainly affected by unemployment were women and youth in rural areas. She said the second-economy opportunity was crucial in municipalities such as Moses Kotane which comprises of 109 rural settlements.

“The rurality of the economy cannot provide sustainable job opportunities and has therefore limited potential for growth, hence the second economy intervention,” reiterated Dince.

Morena Pilane who represented Kgosi Nyalala Pilane of the Bakgatla Traditional Council  said it was absolutely important that the government and traditional leaders cooperate if they hope to develop rural areas, create jobs and alleviate poverty.

“We need to find a way of working together to prepare our youth to take advantages of opportunities available, said Morena Pilane.

Precious Tau of Bontle Cleaning Service and Banking, one of the cooperatives that received the certificate of registration said she is ready for the challenge.

“This certificate means that our company is now dully registered and we can now begin to operate. I am confident that we will succeed and empower other youth as our business grows,” said the 21-year old Tau from Mositwane village.

Natasha Mabe (27) of Tswelelopele Internet Cafe and Catering Services said:  “I am so excited about our company because it’s an opportunity to render much-needed services to our community and progress in life like the name Tswelelopele suggests.”

“We hope to empower other youth by creating job opportunities through our venture. We have identified a service that we know will benefit our community,” said 24-year old Thabang Ditshwene of Iketleng Car Wash and Cafe.

Various government departments and agencies were also available to provide first hand information and services including information on how register a company, how to form a cooperative, funding opportunities, business plans, bursaries, access to markets, training and mentoring opportunities and internship programmes-TDN

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North West Premier Thandi Modise has called for no bail and  the toughest sentence against the man accused of killing his 19-year old girlfriend in Lehurutshe.

According to police, the 27-year-old man allegedly assaulted the 19-year-old school pupil at a tavern with a brick, after accusing her of being unfaithful in their relationship.

The victim died later in hospital.

“No person has the right to assault or kill another irrespective of the situation. The scourge of violence against women is alarming and that is why we call for the toughest sentence possible against those who commit gender-based crimes. Those who abuse and kill their partners have got no place in our society and must rot in jail,” said Premier Modise in condemning the murder, ahead of next week’s court appearance.

The man is scheduled to re-appear in the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.-TDN

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Johannesburg – Orlando Pirates were held to a goalless draw by Esperance in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semifinal at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers dominated the match but found the Blood and Gold a superbly organised team that was difficult to break down. Scoring chances were few and far between for the Soweto giants, who only bothered the visitors’ goalkeeper late in the game.

A goalless draw is not the worst result in the first leg for Pirates, who can at least take solace in not having conceded an away goal. The second leg will take place in Tunisia in a fortnight’s time.

Pirates coach Roger De Sa sent out a line-up clearly designed to dominate the midfield, with the trio of Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa and Thandani Ntshumayelo in the engine room.

The result was that striker Lennox Bacela was left isolated, as neither of the wide men – Daine Klate and Sifiso Myeni – was really able to provide adequate support in attack.

Esperance threatened an early away goal, with Yannick N’Djeng looking particularly dangerous. He sent one long range effort just over the crossbar, while another forced a sharp save from Senzo Meyiwa.

Pirates lacked real urgency and penetration in their play and created only one good chance in the first half: a 36th minute cross from Klate found the head of Myeni, but his effort bounced just wide of the target.

The Buccaneers continued to dominate possession in the second half, but they rarely threatened goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifa. In fact, the Esperance glove man only made his first save in the 85th minute, easily catching an effort direct from a free kick by substitute Mpho Makola.

Four minutes later Ben Cherifa pulled off an excellent save to palm away a super long range hit from Thabo Matlaba that looked destined for the back of the net.

Orlando Pirates 0

Esperance 0

Pirates: Meyiwa, Jele, Mahamutsa, Sangweni, Matlaba, Jali, Manyisa, Ntshumayelo (Makola 78’), Klate, Myeni (Segolela 63’), Bacela

Esperance: Ben Cherifa, Ben Mansour, Derbali, Chemmam, Dhaouadi, Mouelhi, Ragued, Afful, Darragi (Msakni 66’), N’Djeng (Akaichi 79’), Belaili (Ben Akremi 90+3’)

SuperSport

Polokwane – Tefu Mashamaite scored a brace as Kaizer Chiefs defeated Polokwane City 3-0 in their Telkom Knockout Last 16 encounter at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.

The central defender scored a goal in each half before Knowledge Musona added a third goal with less than 15 minutes left on the clock.

The first chance fell for the visitors in the third minute when George Lebese left the ball for Reneilwe Letsholonyane, but Nkueni Mayala made a good save at the near post.

Then in the 16th minute Itumeleng Khune was forced into action at the other end to tip a powerful strike from Thabo Rakhale over the crossbar.

Amakhosi took the lead in the 34th minute when Mashamaite met Bernard Parker’s corner at the near post to nod past as stranded Mayala.

Mayala did stop Chiefs from taking a two-goal lead into the break when he denied Musona from close range in the first minute of added time.

The visitors threatened to double their lead in the 53rd minute, but Kingston Nkhatha volleyed over the crossbar after the ball fell for him at the far post from a corner.

Siphesihle Nzimande had a chance at the other end six minutes later but his header was blocked by Morgan Gould, while his second effort went straight to Khune.

Then on the hour mark Million Mkhabela did well to clear the ball over the line after Tsepo Masilela had chipped the ball over Mayala, while Letsholonyane missed a sitter six minutes later.

However, Mashamaite gave Amakhosi some breathing space in the 66th minute with another headed goal from Parker’s corner.

Chiefs put the result beyond doubt in the 74th minute when Musona beat Mayala with a lobbed effort after running onto a long pass from Gould.

Polokwane City 0

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 3 (Mashamaite 34’ 67’, Musona 74’)

Teams:

Polokwane City: 

Mayala, Molekwane, Hlela, Mkhabela, Lichaba, Rakhale, Molala (Mdluli 46’), Motsiane, Moyana (Gopane 88’), Nzimande, Mncwango (Tlolane 51’)

Kaizer Chiefs: 

Khune, Gaxa, Gould, Mashamaite, Masilela, Katsande, Letsholonyane, Lebese (Masango 79’), Nkhatha (Nkosi 71’), Parker, Musona (Motaung 82’)

  Backpagemedia

Pretoria – A secret Financial Services Board report has found Kopano ke Matla, Cosatu’s investment arm, has plundered millions of rands from an employee provident fund.

According to the Sunday Times, this latest development is likely to heap more pressure on suspended federation leader Zwelinzima Vavi, who is also a board member of Corruption Watch.

The report states that Vavi was alerted to the problem in 2010 but chose not to act. Instead, along with Cosatu president, Sidumo Dlamini, he apparently sanctioned a R2m settlement to make the matter go away.

FSB investigators found that Cosatu officials plundered the retirement savings of 400 000 former Bophuthatswana employees. Over three years, more than R123m was paid to Kopano companies – R53m of that to Nasieyah Basadien, the managing director of Kopano Employee Benefits (KEB), a company under Kopano ke Matla.

News24

The conduct of the police officer who is alleged to have raped a Sannieshof woman while on duty is a betrayal of his oath of office and calls for his speedy arrest, said North West Premier Thandi Modise in expressing shock and condemning the despicable and heinous act.

“The heartless and opportunistic criminal who preys on the vulnerable and the weak should have no place within the ranks of the police service and in our society as he has not only compromised the name of the police service but also tainted its image within th broader society that looks up to police officers as protectors,” underscored Premier Modise.

“It is courageous women like the victim in this case who come forward to reclaim their dignity and amplify the call for united action against the scourge of rape in our courts that should inspire others to break their silence and speak out against perpetrators,” added Modise.   

It was reported in the media that a North West policeman raped the 29-year-old woman on Thursday, after tricking her into believing he was going to assist her with the case of her Tanzanian boyfriend, who faced charges of housebreaking.

According to police, the officer took the woman to his grandmother’s house and allegedly raped her three times.

It was also alleged that the officer asked the woman for money to assist her in the case.

Though the police officer is said to be still at large, the matter has also been reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.