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.

Johannesburg – Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula on Saturday denied putting pressure on the justice system to arrest former National Youth Development Agency chairperson Andile Lungisa.

“I am shocked and dismayed at Andile Lungisa’s unprovoked attack and diatribe against me,” Mbalula said in a statement.

He was responding to allegations made by Lungisa and his lawyer after his court appearance at the Specialised Crime Court in Johannesburg on Friday. Mbalula vowed to testify before the courts about events that involved Lungisa in the R Kelly saga.

Lungisa was arrested along with his wife Ursula Sali, Thabo Shogolo, and Xolisile Guquza for allegedly accepting and sharing among themselves R2.5m paid by the arts and culture department for the Nelson Mandela Sports Day concert.

They allegedly promised that United States singer R Kelly would perform at the concert, but he did not.

The three were arrested after handing themselves over to the Hawks on Friday. After being granted bail, Lungisa launched a scathing attack on Mbalula and accused him of instructing the prosecution to oppose bail.

He claimed Mbalula was waging an old vendetta against him arising from his opposition to Mbalula’s nomination as African National Congress secretary general at the party’s elective conference in Mangaung last year.

Lungisa claimed that since then, Mbalula had, among other things, ensured his removal as ANC Youth League deputy president.

Mbalula refuted the claims and said it was laughable for Lungisa to believe he had power within the ANC.

“His claims that I have an axe to grind with him because he opposed my candidacy as secretary general of the ANC at the Mangaung conference, are at best laughable, and at worst smack of blatant political opportunism.

“Lungisa is no kingmaker in the ANC and to suggest that he wields such political power to sway the fate of individual leaders is nothing short of delusions of grandeur,” he said.

Mbalula said it was unfortunate that Lungisa chose to drag his name into what was clearly a criminal matter in an attempt to add a political flavour for expediency.

“I find it rather nave to the extreme for Lungisa to suggest that I brought pressure to bear on the law enforcement agencies to charge and arrest him because of some political differences.”

Mbalula said the merits and demerits of the case was something that should be ventilated before the courts where his innocence or guilt would be proven.

He said Lungisa’s antics were laughable and clearly demonstrated calculated actions of an individual who seeks political refuge from his situation.

Mbalula said he was weighing his options on whether to sue for defamation.

SAPA

Johannesburg – More than 2000 residents of Kanana Section in Hammanskraal were on handed title deeds on Saturday.

“I want you to regard this piece of paper as another step towards your total emancipation and economic freedom, it must be kept in a safe place as proof of ownership,” Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said in a speech prepared for delivery.

He was accompanied by the deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe.

He further announced the development of a central business district in the Temba area.

Ramokgopa said the work which started in 2008 was bearing fruits.

Thabete congratulated the move to develop a town centre in the area.

She said the establishment of a bigger development node in Hammanskraal was long overdue.

“As the department of trade, we will support SMME [small, medium and micro-sized enterprises] development, supplier support, investment promotion and incentives for anyone who wants to bring money and keep jobs in Hammanskraal,” she said.

The City of Tshwane has recently purchased the former University of Pretoria land in Hammanskraal for the purposes of releasing it for private retail development projects aimed at resuscitating the economy of the area which has been in the decline in the last 15 years.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The DA will raise over R150 000 in relief donations for those whose shacks burnt down in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg, the party said on Saturday.

“The reality of devastating fires is all too common for people who live in settlements like Cleveland,” Democratic Alliance Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane said in a statement.

“These people, who on a daily basis struggle to get ahead, are left to face the dangers of fire, with little protection from the government.”

New building materials and clothing would be donated to those affected by the fire.

Over 100 shacks were gutted by a fire at the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland on Thursday. Between 200 and 300 people were displaced.

Maimane visited the area on Saturday.

He said he was running for Gauteng premier because he believed he could change the state of affairs in the province.

“I believe we can create hundreds of thousands of jobs that can give people an opportunity to improve their living circumstances.”

“I pledge to improve emergency service response time. And I pledge to improve material support for those affected by fires,” said Maimane.

SAPA

Durban – Despite “lots of acts of intimidation” many people were still turning out for DA rallies in their hundreds, party leader Helen Zille said on Saturday.

“The intimidation remains the same and in many instances it’s getting much worse, but what is new is that people refuse to be intimidated and that is really important,” she said at the Ntuzuma community hall in KwaZulu-Natal.

Zille claimed that at two events earlier this week in the Eastern Cape, African National Congress supporters had attempted to prevent two DA rallies from taking place – one near Mthatha and another at Fort Hare University in Alice.

“The ANC is intimidating us more and more because they are scared that they are going to lose.”

“They are very worried about the way the DA is growing, very worried indeed. The more worried they get the more intimidation we will see.”

She said the DA would not back down in the face of intimidation.

Zille praised the police whom she said had upheld the party’s democratic right to hold meetings.

She said she saw no reason why the DA could not win control of the eThekwini Metro [Durban] in the 2016 local government elections.

Zille said the party won 23% of the vote in 2011 and had been in a similar situation in Cape Town before it gained control of that municipality in 2006.

“KwaZulu-Natal must be the place for the most opportunity for a coalition. All things are possible here.”

She received a rousing welcome from supporters in Durban’s Ntuzuma area.

Zille, who arrived in the Lindelani area of Ntuzuma was welcomed by about 100 supporters in blue shirts before she visited the homes of two disabled people living in RDP housing.

Hand written banners with the slogan “Zille, Our Only Hope” were waved as supporters danced in the street.

Dean Macpherson, the DA’s deputy chairperson for the eThekwini region said Zille visited the two disabled people because she wanted to hear from them how they had received their RDP houses that did not have water.

Zille promised Nono Ntuli, 72, that she would take her plight to the province’s Premier Senzo Mchunu.

Zille received another warm welcome at the Ntuzuma community hall.

The hall was packed with about 400 people wearing blue T-shirts.

Zille’s visit to the area comes the day before the ANC’s opening rally of its 2014 election campaign on Sunday.

Kwamashu and Ntuzuma have for the past decade been ANC strongholds, although in the 1990s the Lindelani area was an Inkatha Freedom Party stronghold.

SAPA