Johannesburg – A man was sentenced to 19 years in jail for rape, housebreaking and robbery by the Butterworth Regional Court, Eastern Cape police said on Saturday.

Ntsikelelo Mpongwana, 38, was sentenced on Friday, spokesperson Captain Jackson Manatha said.

“[Mpongwana] did wrongfully and unlawfully fully commit house robbery at Ibika township, Butterworth on 24 January during the night and robbed a cellular phone of a man and later raped a woman who was also in the same house,” said Manatha.

He said Mpongwana was sentenced to four years imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery and an additional 15 years for rape.

The sentences would not run concurrently.

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Johannesburg – A man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly murdering his uncle in Centare, Eastern Cape, police said.

The man, 23, allegedly murdered his uncle, 42, on Thursday around 21.40, said Captain Jackson Manatha.

“The two had a misunderstanding that led to the fatal stabbing of the 42-year-old [uncle].”

The man was expected to appear in the Centane Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

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The number of complaints to the Press Ombudsman by aggrieved newspaper readers and newsmakers has jumped by 225% since 2009, a meeting of the SA National Editors’ Forum was told on Saturday.

While a total of 151 complaints were received in 2009 the tally expected for 2013 was put at 490, Ombudsman Johan Retief told the quarterly editors’ meeting at Umhlanga, north of Durban.

Previous ombudsman’s reports have attributed the growing number of complaints to greater public awareness of the Press Council’s steps to increase the effectiveness of dealing with complaints about inaccurate or unfair newspaper reporting.

A revamped system of independent co-regulation, introduced in February, provided for a public advocate to assist complainants in lodging their cases and also to try and have them resolved via direct contact with editors.

The newspaper industry’s previous system of self-regulation had come under attack, especially from the governing African National Congress, for being “toothless” and it threatened to introduce a statutory tribunal to adjudicate complaints.

It later endorsed the industry’s own revamped system.

Retief said the introduction of the public advocate’s position had made a clear difference.

From mid-August to mid-November, the public advocate received 192 complaints, so far referring 58 of these to the Ombudsman and resolving 23.

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Oupa Manyisa, who scored Orlando Pirates’s first goal as they beat Supersport 2-1 after extra-time in the Telkom Knockout Cup semi-final, said that they knew the goals would come if they remained patient.

After the game at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Manyisa said it was a nice open game, and that SuperSport are a difficult team to play.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

Oupa Manyisa, who scored Orlando Pirates’s first goal as they beat Supersport 2-1 after extra-time in the Telkom Knockout Cup semi-final, said that they knew the goals would come if they remained patient.

After the game at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Manyisa said it was a nice open game, and that SuperSport are a difficult team to play.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

The South African U17 Women’s National team (Bantwana) are 90 minutes away from realising their World Cup dream when they take on Zambia in a vital qualifier against Zambia on Sunday, 24 November 2013.

The do-or-die FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier will be played at the Bidvest Wits Stadium. Kick-off is at 15h00.

Bantwana put final touches to their preparations for the Zambia encounter and go into the return leg as hot favourites for one of the two slots still available on the continent. They secured a 3-3 draw against the Zambians in the first leg played two weeks ago and will aim to build on that.

Head coach, Sheryl Botes said the girls responded positively to instructions during training sessions this week and are well aware of the importance of maintaining their composure and taking a positive approach to the match.

“We had an Amisco session this morning (Saturday), just highlighting certain aspects going into the qualifier on Sunday. The girls are excited, the morale is high and they are raring to go. We have been reminding them over again about the mission that lies ahead of us and what we need to do in 90 minutes.

“We also need to realise that our job is not done yet. This match is a great opportunity for us to do it and go to the World Cup. We cannot take this game for granted. We need to go out there and fight to the end and give 200% in the game to beat Zambia,” said Botes.

“We will have home support behind us and it will be great if the stadium can be packed to encourage the girls,” she added.

Bantwana left-winger Gabriella Salgado, who netted two goals for the South Africans in the first leg, said the team is ready for the challenge.

“We are almost there and I am feeling a bit nervous but I believe we can do it. We need to go out there and win and do our supporters proud. Qualifying for the World Cup is everyone’s dream and we would all love to have the experience of playing at the world stage,” said Salgado.

The Bantwana coach does not expect to make too many changes from the team that secured a 3-3 draw away from home.

“We are not going to make drastic changes to the starting eleven. We want to give the girls the same confidence starting with the same line up and maybe make some positional changes in the same line up. Zambia are probably doing what we are doing. They could change the formation and perhaps bring in other players, a taller goalkeeper or even any other player that would suit their game, ” said the Bantwana mentor.

TKO Semi-final

Kaizer Chiefs vs Platinum Stars

Date & Time: 23 November 2013, 20h15

Venue: FNB Stadium

Kaizer Chiefs will be looking to progress to the final of the Telkom Knockout in pursuit of their first piece of silverware this season. 

It will be far from easy though, with Allan Freese’s Platinum Stars having started the season on a high by lifting the MTN8 title, while they are up in third place on the league table – three points ahead of sixth placed Chiefs, though the latter do have a game in hand.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

Pretoria – Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir and an associate will appear in the Alberton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Saturday.

“We will be in court on Monday and should there be an application for bail, we shall oppose it,” she told reporters in Pretoria.

“We will also be looking at any involvement of our own members.”

The name of Krejcir’s associate, who was arrested with him on Friday, would only be disclosed in court.

In a statement issued on Friday, the police said that although they did not usually name suspects before they appeared in court, “it was decided on the basis of the existence of an arrest warrant and public interest that the suspect [Krejcir] in this instance will be identified”.

On Friday, police said Krejcir had been arrested on charges of attempted murder and kidnapping.

However, Phiyega on Saturday said he was arrested on charges of kidnapping and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Pressed for further particulars, Phiyega said she did not want to prejudice the State’s case.

She also would not mention the details of the complainant, other than saying “it’s a South African male”.

Phiyega said the assault happened in June.

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Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma on Saturday expressed sadness at the death of African National Congress stalwart Reggie September.

“The country has lost one of its most revered revolutionaries,” Zuma said in a statement.

“He was one of the staunchest revolutionaries the country has ever seen, fiercely opposed to racism even from as early as 15 years of age… May his soul rest in peace.”

September died over the weekend in Cape Town.

He was a former trade unionist, member of Parliament and former executive committee member of the ANC.

September was one of the first non-Africans to be elected onto the ANC’s national executive committee at the Kabwe Conference in Zambia in 1985.

Zuma sent condolences to September’s wife Melissa Steyn, their children and his entire family.

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A dog which had fallen down into Kimberley’s Big Hole in the Northern Cape was rescued on Saturday, paramedics said. 

“The dog has been rescued, it is on surface and it will be assessed,” said ER24 spokeswoman Vanessa Jackson.

She said the rescue team worked for five hours to save the dog.

Earlier, Jackson said rigs had been erected to help stabilise the operation.

“A rescue team of seven will go down. They will stabilise one another and provide support.

“Only one person will go down the final couple of metres and rescue the dog,” she said.

The depth of the hole was equivalent to the height of a 50-storey building.

She said because of the distance and terrain it was not possible to throw food down to the dog.

On Friday, ER24’s Christo Venter said the dog had been in the hole for a couple of days.

“The dog had been swimming around in an attempt to find a way out and fortunately found a ledge to rest at, which probably saved him thus far,” he said.

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