Tournament hosts, Al’s Puk Tawana booked a place in the quarter-finals in the fifth edition of the Sasol League National Championships following an overwhelming victory over Royal Wizards on Wednesday in the City of Matlosana, North West province.

Al’s Puk Tawana will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the second quarter-final clash on Thursday, 28 November after a 16-0 lashing of Royal Wizards in the final Group A match played.

Tawana kicked off their final group stage campaign with guns blazing against the Northern Cape side, scoring eight goals in each half to secure a convincing victory in the first game of the day.

Royal Wizards showed fighting spirit but the hosts proved too strong with a first-half hat-trick from Mmamdodu Nkosi.

Nondumiso Shelembe and Selina Schalwyk each scored four goals in either half to signal the end of Royal Wizards in the Sasol League National Championships.

Emily Molapo contributed to Tawana’s goal tally with a second half brace with Elderene Janties, Khumo Sefako and Queen Ramaila adding a goal each to seal an impressive 16-0 victory.

The second match of the day kept fans on their feet as they cheered City Lads, who defeated Empumalanga Ladies 5-2 to book their place in the quarter-finals. But the battle between the two got off to a slow start under the intense heat of the North West sun.

Empumalanga Ladies were first on the score sheet with a goal from Ella Mandonsela as the City Lads defence was caught napping. However, City Lads were soon back in it as they levelled matters before the break.

City Lads returned from the break the stronger of the two with a hat-trick from Phakama Duru and Andisiwe Ndesi finishing it off to give her side a 5-2 victory and the best runner up spot in Group C. They will meet Ma-Indies in the first quarter-final on Thursday, 28 November.-TDN
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Johannesburg – First year University of Johannesburg (UJ) students will have to have either a laptop or a tablet for their studies in 2014, the university said on Wednesday.

“Technology will be an integral part of UJ students’ learning process and with this, UJ graduates will have the competitive edge and be able to vie for top positions nationally and internationally,” it said in a statement.

According to the UJ website, the university had negotiated a deal with a service provider so that students would pay about R2 000 for a tablet and the necessary dongle.

Eduloan could arrange funding for students to buy the tablet and pay it off at R500 a year or a lower monthly instalment. It also offered online resources to help students compare prices of other providers.

The university had been preparing for the move to digital learning by preparing the necessary infrastructure, learning resources, and interactive systems. Campus-wide Wi-Fi connectivity and charging points would be available.

Prof Elizabeth de Kadt, executive director of academic development and support, said the technology would bring immediacy, collaboration, and ease of access to studies.

“Students will be able to respond when lecturers ask them to find information online, take an in-class quiz, or to let lecturers know when they need to make their explanations clearer.

“It puts students’ learning in their own hands and allows them to actively participate in their education.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Two men were arrested after they were found in possession of drugs with an estimated street value of R75m, the Hawks said on Wednesday.

The men, a Nigerian and a Tanzanian, were allegedly found with 20kg of heroin, 15kg cocaine, and 15kg of tik during a police operation on Wednesday, said police spokesperson Paul Ramaloko.

The two are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court soon to face charges of drug possession.

– SAPA

Cape Town – Parliament’s public accounts committee (Scopa) is a toothless watchdog and its chairperson ineffective, says the Democratic Alliance.

“The sad truth is Scopa has become a side show,” DA MP Dion George, the party’s representative on the committee, told journalists at Parliament.

Releasing a report on wasteful government spending – which the DA pegs at a “conservative” R9.57bn since 2009 – he said Scopa chairperson Themba Godi did not take a strong enough stance against government corruption.

“We need to put the teeth back into Scopa… until we’ve [done this]… the people’s money will continue to be stolen,” George said.

Scopa was set up to act as a watchdog over the way taxpayers’ money is spent by the executive. Among its powers is the committee can recommend to the National Assembly that corrective action be taken against wasteful spending and financial mismanagement.

‘Undermines effectiveness of Parliament’

DA MP Ian Ollis said Scopa, under Godi’s chairmanship, had been unable and unwilling to take the necessary and punitive steps to ensure that government ministers were made to answer for wasting public money.

“It has been completely toothless and has undermined the effectiveness of Parliament,” he said.

The DA’s Sej Motau said Scopa needed a stronger, more independent chair if it was to properly fulfil its mandate.

His party would formulate a plan “to turn Scopa around” in the next few weeks, he said.

According to the DA, government’s wasteful spending over the past five years – over and above the wasteful and fruitless expenditure of R5.780bn identified by the Auditor General earlier this year – includes:

– R1.45m on credit cards;

– R47.08m on new cars;

– R333.40m on catering and entertainment;

– R9.49m (since 2012) on car rentals;

– R5.28m (2013 only) on budget vote cocktails; and

– R165.84m on flights and accommodation.

Gordhan ‘diverting attention’

George took a dim view of the misuse and waste of taxpayers’ money by some government departments.

“There are many accounting officers who should be jailed if you look at what they’ve been doing with public money,” he said.

Ollis was dismissive of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s announcement last month – on the occasion of his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement – that government was set to cut costs and abuse of funds.

While Gordhan should be lauded for trying, the announcement was essentially a “five-month belt-tightening exercise” done ahead of next year’s election, and aimed at diverting attention from five years of wasteful spending.

– SAPA

Bloemfontein – The SA Police Service (SAPS) is empowered to investigate alleged human rights violations in Zimbabwe, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruled on Wednesday.

The SCA dismissed an appeal by the national police commissioner and national director of public prosecutions in the matter.

The SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) appealed against a judgment of the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria which set aside a decision by the SAPS not to investigate complaints by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre.

That court held South Africa was obliged under international law to probe atrocities allegedly committed by officials in Zimbabwe. It found the NPA could prosecute the Zimbabweans concerned if they ever set foot in South Africa.

The Zimbabwean officials are accused of masterminding crimes against humanity by instituting a state-sanctioned reign of terror in their own country.

The SCA rejected a police submission that crimes against humanity were only deemed to have been committed once the perpetrators set foot in South Africa.

The court held police could investigate, irrespective of whether the alleged perpetrators were in the country.

It further found the SAPS was obliged to initiate an investigation under international law into the alleged offences.

The court found that on the police’s own version there was enough evidence to initiate an investigation.

This included determining whether the alleged perpetrators were in South Africa.

Witnesses from Zimbabwe could be interviewed in South Africa without necessarily affecting Zimbabwe’s sovereignty.

“No doubt, in conducting that investigation, the police will consider issues such as the gathering of information in a manner that does not impinge on Zimbabwe’s sovereignty,” the judgment read.

“The police are free to consider whether a request should be made to Zimbabwean authorities for a prosecution to be initiated there.”

The full Bench found there was no universal rule or practice against the initiation of investigations in the absence of the alleged perpetrators.

The court said it could not tell the police how to investigate such issues.

– SAPA

Cape Town – Playwright Lara Foot has released a statement in reaction to the controversy surrounding a matric drama exam question relating to her play Tshepang, which deals with the rape of a baby in 2001.

Parents and educators voiced their shock after pupils were asked how to represent the rape of a baby symbolically, with the use of a broomstick and bread, The Witness reported on Wednesday.

According to the basic education department, the question relating to Foot’s play was designed to assess their understanding of the concept of “action metaphor”.

Inappropriate

Foot stated she was unsure of the particulars of the exam question, but said it would be “totally inappropriate and frankly appalling” if it was set as an unseen extract from the work, or if the play had not been studied or seen by the pupils.

Even if the play had been studied by the matric pupils, Foot pointed out that the question “is unsuitable and entirely problematic in that it appears to miss the stylistic choices of my play”.

“We have performed Tshepang to 14 000 learners over the past 10 years with very successful and rewarding question and answer sessions afterwards. The exam question as it is presented indicates that there is a misinterpretation on the part those who set this question.

“Given the history and statistics of rape in this country, it is imperative that the matter is dealt with, but dealt with sensitively and responsibly.”

Foot said the last time she had contact with the education department was six years ago, when she was approached to use the play as a set work.

In a statement on Wednesday, the basic education department said it would consider excluding the question if it becomes apparent that any pupils had been negatively affected by the question.

– News24

By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo will launch the 16 Days of Activism in Taung, Magogong village on Friday.
The 16 Days campaign is an annual awareness campaign raising drive that is observed globally. It will be celebrated from 25 November to 10 December 2013.
“Its purpose is to address policy and legal issues as well as campaign for the protection of survivors of violence and to call for the elimination of all forms of gender violence” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign continues the theme of “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!” in 2013.

 
The North West South African Police Service selected the provincial celebration to be in Taung, Ikageng, near Potchefstroom and Boitekong in Rustenburg as these places have a high rate of crime against women and children.

 
“The 2013 16 Days Campaign advocates for awareness and action on the multi-faceted intersections of gender-based violence and militarism, while highlighting the connection between the struggle for economic and social rights and ending gender-based violence”.

 
“The theme focuses on militarism as a creation and normalization of a culture of fear that is supported by the use or threat of violence, aggression, as well as military intervention in response to political and social disputes or to enforce economic and political interests” said Ngubane.

 
Police said militarism is a system of structural violence that infringes upon the human rights and human dignity, safety, and security of women, men, and children in nearly every country and region of the world.[2] The impact of militarism can be seen in the way national budgets are allocated for health services, education, and public spaces versus military budgets; in legislation and policies that marginalize women and minorities; in discriminatory policies and acts enforced or condoned by state authorities; and in military response versus diplomacy to political and social issues.

 
The Campaign emphasizes that women’s rights are human rights, and acknowledges the role of patriarchal systems that embody harmful traditions and legal policies that normalize violence against women, and deny women their right to a life of dignity. Ending violence against women and children is up to all of us.
The focus for the 2013 16 Days campaign period is prevention, addressing roots causes of violence directed at vulnerable groups (women, girls and boys, the elderly, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and intersex (LGBTI) communities, people with disabilities, etc.). These include addressing cultural and other practices that are harmful to women and children.

 
The event will take place as follows:
Venue: Magogong Village ( Diplankeng), Taung
Time: 10h00
Date: 29 November 2013-TDN
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North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi has ordered traffic officers to stamp authority on the roads during this year’s annual sixties party in Mahikeng.

Maloyi said they have partnered with the Municipal Traffic Authorities; SAPS and all other law enforcement agencies in the province to curb road accidents, fatalities and criminal activities during the weekend.

MEC said there will be roadblocks for 24 hours in all major roads of the province particularly those liking to Mahikeng.

“We have realized that it is during these kind of events where people chooses to disregard road rules, and participate in a number of criminal activities. In keeping the law and order in our capital city, we are going to work 24/7 over the weekend and will turn the heat on those reckless and drunken drivers.”

“We are definitely ready for the event, we have enough Breathalyzers, our traffic officers are well energized and committed to make sure that we do have a crime free 2013 sixties annual party,” said Maloyi.

The Jaws special operations and Highway patrollers will mainly focus on drunken driving, reckless, negligent driving, speeding, vehicle and driver fitness.-tdn
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The stage is set for the five teams that will compete for the quarter-final spots at the fifth edition of the Sasol League National Championship at the Alabama Stadium in Klerksdorp, North West.

Tournament hosts, Al’s Puk Tawana will be aiming for victory to book themselves a spot in the last eight when they face Royal Wizards in the first fixture of the day.

Royal Wizards and Al’s Puk Tawana went down 12-0 and 1-0 respectively to Group A log leaders, Ma-Indies, who will face the runner-up of Group C in the first quarter-final clash to be played at Alabama Stadium on Thursday (28 November). Kick-off is at 10h00.

This will be followed by a Group C clash between Empumalanga Ladies and City Lads to determine the team that will play Ma-Indies in the first quarter-final.

Bloemfontein Celtic will be looking to finish high in the final Group B encounter against Cape Town Roses in the final fixture of the day to determine the team that will take on Durban Ladies in the third quarter-final.

Two quarter-final spots will still be up for grabs and these will be completed by the best 2nd runners up in the three groups.

The Sasol League National Championship semi-finals will take place at the Matlosana Stadium on Friday, 29 November and the tournament finals will be staged at the same venue on Sunday, 1 December. -tdn
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It was a festival of goals on Day 2 of the Sasol League National Championships at the Alabama Stadium in Klerksdorp, North West on Tuesday, 26 November 2013.

Top teams Mamelodi Sundowns, Ma-Indies and Durban Ladies managed to book quarter-final spots.

The Chloorkop-based Mamelodi Sundowns started off as firm favourites against Bloemfontein Celtic and it was no surprise when they clinched a 3-nil victory to go top of Group B courtesy of a first-half brace by Agnes Nkosi and a goal from Bongiwe Thusi.

In hot weather conditions at the Alabama Stadium, Celtic tried to turn the result around in the second half but they found ‘Banyana ba Style’ holding firm.

In the second fixture of the day, Ma-Indies were the second to book themselves a place in the last eight as they taught Royal Wizards a football lesson with 12-nil drubbling to move to the top Group A.

It was one-way traffic for Ma-Indies from the first whistle, signaling their return to the tournament after missing out on the 2012 edition held in Durban. This was the second win for the Limpopo-based side following their 1-0 victory over Al’s Puk Tawana on Monday (25 November).

A goal each from Lebohang Ramalepa, Fulufhelo Munzhedzi, Thanyani Phumudzo and Noko Matlou led proceedings for Ma-Indies to go to the break with a 4-nil lead.

Wizards came back rejuvenated from the interval, and showed some fighting spirit but they rarely unsettled Ma-Indies who scored a further eight goals in the second half to clinh the match with a 12-nil win.

Durban Ladies held their own against Empumalanga Ladies to walk out 4-nil victors – rounding off day two at the National Championships.

Silindile Ngubane got on the score sheet 28 miutes into the half for Durban Ladies to give the coastal side a 1-0 lead. Nozipho Nyathikazi and Nondyebo Mgudu scored goals four minutes apart to make it 3-nil.

Empumalanga Ladies tried to contain their opponents after the break but fell short in defence, giving former Banyana Banyana captain, Amanda Dlamini a chance to score the only goal in the second half to seal a 4-nil victory for Durban Ladies.

The battle is on for the remaining quarter-final spots which will be contested by championship hosts Als’s Puk Tawana, Royal Wizards, Cape Town Roses, Bloemfontein Celtics, City Lads and Empumalanga Ladies in the final group stage matches on Wednesday, 27 November at the Alabama Stadium.

Day 3 Fixtures:

Day 3 – 27 Nov 2013 (Wednesday)

Host

Visitor

Time

Stadium

Match No.

Royal Wizards

vs

Al’s Puk Tawana

10:00

Alabama Stadium

7

Empumalanga Ladies

vs

City Lads

12:30

Alabama Stadium

8

Bloemfontein Celtics

vs

Cape Town Roses

15:00

Alabama Stadium

9

Day 4 – 28 Nov 2013 (Thursday) Alabama

First Quarter Final

Winner GA

vs

1st Runner-up GC

09:00

Alabama Stadium

10

Second Quarter Final

Winner GB

vs

1st Runner-up GA

11:00

Alabama Stadium

11

Third Quarter Final

Winner GC

vs

1st Runner-up GB

13:00

Alabama Stadium

12

Fourth Quarter Final

2nd Runner up

vs

2nd Runner up

15:00

Alabama Stadium

13

Day 5 – 29 November 2013 (Friday)

Host

Visitor

Time

Stadium

Match No.

1st Semis

Winner 1st QF

vs

Winner 3rd QF

12:30

Matlosana Stadium

14

2nd Semis

Winner 2nd QF

vs

Winner 4th QF

15:00

Matlosana Stadium

15

Day 6 – 30 November 2013 (Saturday) – REST DAY

Day 7 1 December 2013 (Sunday)

Host

Visitor

Time

Stadium

Match No.

…
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