Fraud and corruption accused ANC Northern Cape Leader, John Block tops the provincial party list. The ANC repeated that Block is innocent, the party will not suspend him until he’s found guilty in court.

The Northern Cape’s list conference kicked off in Kimberley on Monday.

Four hundred delegates have an ambitious plan to garner 70% of the votes. Block faces fraud and corruption charges and two other ANC members, Yolanda Botha and Alvin Botes, are also criminally implicated.

Botes is one of the top ten candidates and Botha also features on the list. ANC secretary Zamani Saul says, “They have been charged and there are allegations that still needs to be proved in a court of law, as the ANC we have said that we believe in others’ innocence.”

The party’s amended constitution says ANC officials charged with a criminal offence must be suspended until the charges are proved or disproved.

The Northern Cape has backed Block to the hilt.
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Previously unseen video footage obtained by the Marikana Support Committee contradicts police’s statements about their role in the killings. The visuals show police drawing their pistols from their holsters before the alleged attack by miners on the scene.

The footage also shows miners walking relatively slowly, not charging or attacking the police as alleged. Citizens for Marikana believe police breached protocol by shooting the miners who were not about to attack them.

“The police narrative, media narrative at the time that the police acted in self-defence is not true and doesn’t stand up. It’s very clear from this footage that, that is a misnomer and a lie,” says Citizens for Marikana’s Rehad Desia.

Struggle Icon, Ronnie Kasrils says it will be interesting to hear government’s response to this new video.

“It will be very interesting to see what the commission makes of it, what our country makes of it, what our government makes of it, our president and the police commissioner who at the time said it was not the time to point fingers,” says Kasrils.

The footage was sent to the Marikana commission evidence leaders at the weekend.

“The evidence leading team, who are leading the cross examination, be it written format or recorded material, will then be in a position to be able to examine whatever information has been given to them as to whether it warrant being put before the commission,” says Marikana spokesperson, Tshepho Mahlangu.

Meanwhile, 270 miners arrested on that fatal day, 16th of August last year, will appear in the Garankuwa Magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

The Marikana group has called for all charges against the arrested miners to be dropped.

Post by SABC News Online.
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The ANC in the Northern Cape say they are aiming for a target of 70% votes in the upcoming 2014 general elections. This emerged at the Provincial List Conference in Kimberley, where branches across the province were nominating candidates who will represent the party in government after the elections.

The ANC’s Provincial Secretary, Zamani Saul, says this will be achieved through their intensified methods of door to door campaigning, coupled with their strategy of making politics interesting to first time voters.

Saul says they are confident about reaching their target, this despite numerous corruption charges faced by some of the candidates such as ANC provincial chairperson, John Block and Deputy Provincial Secretary, Alvin Botes, whose names are topping the nomination list.

Saul says they have been charged and there are allegations against them which still have to be proven in the court of law.

“We’ve been sending out a consistent message about them being innocent until proven guilty and as the ANC in the province – we’ve got confidence and belief in their innocence.”

“That won’t have any impact in terms of our campaign. People don’t judge us in terms of the individual conduct of members of the ANC, but what we’ll be putting in front of them is our track record in service delivery and what we’ve done to improve this country since 1994,” says Saul.
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A total of 60 young unemployed women from communities around Mahikeng, received certificates and First Aid kits after completing a short disaster management course they were doing.

The young ladies were drawn from disadvantaged communities like Ottoshoop, Tsetse, Magokgwane, Miga, Ramatlabama and Ikopeleng villages.

They were trained in disaster risk management and first aid after the local government department and the Mahikeng local municipality partnered, to equip women in poor communities.

Local government spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane said: “The purpose of the training is to provide youth especially young women with the necessary skills to deal with disaster incidents when they arise and be able to apply first aid lessons.”

One of the graduates, Bonolo Sefularo, 25, from Ramatlabama village said she had been unemployed since matriculating in 2004 and this training would give her something to do.

“I acquired a certificate of competency in first aid which covers artificial respiratory and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). With this, I will be able to save lives of residents in my community.

“I now know how to assist those who sustained different injuries including stab wounds. I’m intending to make a meaningful contribution to my community since the local clinic is not open 24 hours,” she said.

Refiloe Mooketsi, 21, from Maruping village is among beneficiaries who completed a basic disaster risk management course that was offered at the University of North West.

“I’m able to identify hazards which pose danger to residents and can come up with mechanisms to eliminate them. For instance here in Maruping village, there are a lot of trenches which are hazardous to us, especially children and animals. We can involve the community as well as the municipality to fill such trenches.”

Mapatane Kgomo, who spoke on behalf of local government MEC Manketsi Tlhape, said: “Communities are the backbone of our survival as they are the first people to respond to any incident especially when disaster strikes. This is part of our efforts to ensure that we equip them with the necessary skills to help themselves.

“Your areas were chosen after several disaster cases were identified which left you vulnerable and exposed to hazards. We expect all graduates to manage all disaster risks and bring change to your communities.”

At the same occasion, other women working for fire and emergency centres in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district, were also given certificates of recognition for their contribution in disaster management and fire services.

Kgomo said the initiative would be taken to other districts.
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University students have been urged to consider joining the armed forces so that they put their acquired skills in the defence of the country’s territorial integrity.

The call came from Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula during her recruitment drive at the North West University’s Mahikeng campus.

The Minister said the South African Army, Navy, Special Forces and military health services were areas that desperately need sharp brains from universities.

“The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) is a unique organisation that requires a unique set of individuals whose commitment to the country is above the rest.

“There is an ongoing need to rejuvenate our force and bring much-needed expertise into the different musterings of the SANDF.”

Mapisa-Nqakula said there was a lot that was unknown in areas like engineering, avionics, medical research, technology development, nautical sciences and aerospace.

“Of all the four arms of services of the SANDF, the Army, the largest of our services, is the one that is widely known.

“Not much is understood about the work of the Navy, the air force, and the military health services.

“We are keen to recruit people in scientific and technical fields to ensure that our defence force and medical services have people qualified to make the SANDF a national asset of the highest standard.

“The defence industry now requires a high level of scientific, technological and strategic expertise.

“Historically, and all over the world, the military used to be regarded as a dumping ground for those considered of low intellect.

“Today the exact opposite is the case. Advances in military technology and strategy require the best minds to lead defence forces.

“The modern soldier must be educated, not just trained, and must continue to educate him or herself to keep up with developments in the conduct of operations and the technologies involved.”

She further called on the university to consider introducing a military health services degree at the campus, a proposal the campus rector said he would seriously consider.

Students had a chance to see and get a feel of some military operations through various exhibition stalls manned by different divisions of the armed forces that were on campus.

Some of the students spoken to said they would begin to search more about armed forces because they had not been exposed to tempting prospects presented by the Minister.
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Cape Town – Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mashego says he is not putting himself under any sort of pressure to open his goal-scoring account for the Brazilians.

The former Moroka Swallows man is yet to score this season after joining the Pretoria-based outfit at the beginning of the season after a tremendous campaign last season.

“Mahoota” won the Lesley Manyathela golden boot award after grabbing 13 league goals for the Dube Birds and also got an MTN8 winners medal to his name.

The 31-year-old goal poacher also stressed that once he starts scoring for his new team, Sundowns, goals will flow.

“I’m really enjoying my time at Sundowns because we play possession football. I’m not desperate to score my first goal but helping the team do well. When the goals do come, I can assure you that there will be more,” Mashego told the Sundowns website.

‘Downs will face Dikwena in the Telkom Knockout quarter-finals at the Moruleng Stadium on Saturday evening.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about Platinum Stars being the hoodoo team for us but that doesn’t bother us at all, because the Sundowns team that will be playing is made up of totally different players and would not have experienced that hoodoo.

“Look, one might also argue that, they (Stars) are on a high especially after winning the MTN8, but that does not guarantee them a straight win against us because we are also unbeaten this season and we also drew against the very same Platinum Stars in the league.”

Mashego is yet to start a game for Pitso Mosimane’s charges this season as the striking department is very competitive this season but has made a few substitute appearances.

The game against Allan Freese’s charges will kick off at 19:30.
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Johannesburg – Defender Siboniso Gaxa says Kaizer Chiefs have suffered a stuttering start to the season, but he is confident the Soweto giants will improve as it progresses.

“Winning the league last season and also the Nedbank Cup, coming into a new season, it wasn’t going to be easy for us and everyone wants to beat the champions,” Gaxa said in Johannesburg on Thursday.

“… For Chiefs, it hasn’t been smooth…, but we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

“It’s been a roller-coaster since the start of the new season, but we’ve picked up the form, which is good. We’re not far from anybody in the league and it’s not a big difference in terms of points.”

Chiefs are preparing for their Telkom Knockout quarter-final clash against Free State Stars on Sunday and Gaxa said the Amakhosi were determined to add to the success of last season.

The Glamour Boys claimed the Premiership title before lifting the Nedbank Cup trophy to round-off a successful campaign under coach Stuart Baxter.

The form that resulted in Chiefs triumph last season has been slow to arrive this season. Chief lost out to SuperSport United in the league and missed out on a place in the final of the MTN8.

However, Gaxa was confident Chiefs could give their campaign a kick-start by edging Stars at the Charles Mopeli Stadium in Bethlehem over the weekend.

“It’s a massive game for Chiefs, not only for us but for Stars as well,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the match and on Sunday we’ll do what we normally do best and try and play some good football.

“Fortunately, we’ve picked up [form] and hopefully we stay in the form that we are in right now and continue to play good football.”

The game is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off and with temperatures already rising well past 30 degrees Celsius, Gaxa said there was no point speculating about the weather conditions in the Free State.

“The weather is the same for both teams, not only for Chiefs but also for Free State,” Gaxa said.

“Irrespective of what the conditions are, we can’t change the weather, we can’t change the heat or the cold.

“The only thing we can change is to apply ourselves and play good football.”

Meanwhile, fellow defender Tefu Mashamaite said he was looking to continue his good form in front of goal, having already bagged two goals from set-plays in Chiefs’ 3-0 victory over Polokwane City in the opening round.

“For me it’s just about what is required of a modern player,” Mashamaite said.

“I’m finding my feet and I’m just happy right now that I’m getting into the thick of things and getting into scoring positions.

“Scoring from set-pieces requires that we get good service. If balls are put into good spaces, it gives me an opportunity to attack them.

“It’s one of my strengths and I’m looking to exploit that, which maximises my chances of scoring.”
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Cape Town – A transfer fee has been paid by Bloemfontein Celtic to Maritzburg United after the move of coach Ernst Middendorp to the Free State club, the clubs have confirmed more than a week after the deal.
A compensation fee, which has not been made public, has been agreed by Celtic to buy out the existing contract of Middendorp, official said.

It was agreed almost immediately after Middendorp’s resignation last week as the German-born coach still had a binding agreement with Maritzburg.

Fees of this nature have previously been paid between South African club but are a rarity.

Middendorp jumped ship at Maritzburg on Thursday to take up the vacant Celtic job. But, in a delicious twist of irony, his predecessor at Celtic, Clinton Larsen bounced back into management just eight days after departing Bloemfontein as he was appointed coach of Maritzburg United last Tuesday.

Maritzburg kept silent for several days after Middendorp’s surprise departure but Maritzburg chairman Farook Kadodia finally made a formal response to the departure, in a tersely-worded statement on the club’s website.

“In light of the coach’s outburst in the media after the league games against Mpumalanga Black Aces and Moroka Swallows, and the fact that he was already in contact with Bloemfontein Celtic regarding their head coach vacancy before having even submitted his resignation to us, clearly showed that the coach’s commitment to the club no longer existed.

“I am really disappointed with (his) behaviour as this (is) not what is expected of a head coach. The reaction to the fans was unprofessional and this behaviour is not condoned by the club.”

Larsen and Middendorp are scheduled to go head to head when Celtic host Maritzburg at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday, November 5.
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Cape Town – Following their heroics in the CAF Champions League over the weekend, Orlando Pirates’ supporters are expected to turn out in numbers to welcome their heroes at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday afternoon.

Roger de Sa ‘s charges eliminated Esperance Sportive De Tunis from the continental showpiece after the semi-final second leg encounter ended in an ecstatic 1-all stalemate at the Stade Olympique De Radès Stadium in Tunisia.

Having played to a goalless draw at Orlando Stadium two weeks ago, the Buccaneers advanced to the final on the away-goals rule.

Defender Rooi Mahamutsa’s 52nd minute header was enough to hand the Sea Robbers a passage to the continental title decider against Egyptian giants Al Ahly – also to be played over two legs.

Al Ahly defeated Cotton Sports of Cameroon, 7-6, on penalties on Sunday after both legs ended in a 1-1 draw.

The two sides will renew their rivalry in the first two weeks of next month, having already met twice in the group stages.

Pirates triumphed 3-0 at El Gouna in Egypt before sharing the spoils in the last group game back on September 22.

The first leg of the final is scheduled for November 2 at the Orlando Stadium (15:00), with the return leg scheduled for November 9 at the Cairo National Stadium (20:00 SA time).

The Pirates players are due to land in Johannesburg at 14:30.
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Cape Town – Following the appointment of their new head coach Ernst Middendorp, Bloemfontein Celtic have revealed the appointment of former captain, Lehlohonolo Seema, as an assistant to the former Maritzburg United mentor.

Seema will fill the void left by Bobbie Solomons who departed from the Siwelele camp to take the helm of the Premier Soccer League strugglers, Polokwane City, a week ago.

“I am really looking forward to this new career path and I believe that with the likes of Ernst Middendorp to guide me, that I will rise to this challenge,” Seema told the Celtic website.

“I have always been given a leadership role at any club I was at and this is an extension of that and I would like to thank Jimmy Augousti, and the rest of the senior management for believing in me.

“I would like to tell the supporters that the technical team will work around the clock to see the team excel,” said Seema.

Celtic did not enjoy their start to the current PSL season, managing only a single victory out of the six games and are currently at the bottom half of the table.

Their next game will be against Zeca Marques’ Moroka Swallows at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday night.

Kick-off is at 19:30.
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