Paris – France’s First Lady Valerie Trierweiler will meet a lesbian couple in South Africa on Monday, the first day of an official visit to the country by President Francois Hollande.

Despite having some of the world’s best legal protections for gay people, South Africa has seen numerous cases of homophobic violence, including deadly attacks on lesbians, who also risk falling victim to what is known as “corrective rape”.

Trierweiler will have lunch with activists from women’s and gay and lesbian rights groups in Johannesburg before meeting a lesbian couple, her entourage said.

She will be accompanied by Justice Minister Christiane Taubira.

Trierweiler will also visit a hospital housing children with psychological and mental problems and meet South African President Jacob Zuma’s wife.

On Tuesday, she will visit Sky, an orphanage in Soweto.

After that, Trierweiler will join Hollande for a visit to the former Soweto home of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, which has been transformed into a museum.

– AFP

24 road infrastructure projects for which the North West Provincial Government has budgeted R1, 49 billion for implementation in the current financial year is on track, the North West Executive Council (Exco) has noted.

Although Exco has expressed concern about the delay caused by legal processes on the Koster-Lichtenburg, Mmamutla-Kgomotso and Maphoitsile-Magogong roads, it also noted that close to R325 million has thus far been spent on the road infrastructure development projects in this financial year.

MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Raymond Elisha reported that 3 projects consisting of repairs to 10 bridges are at procurement stage, four projects are at bid specification stage while 2 projects are to be implemented through District Term Contracts.

According to MEC Elisha, progress on rehabilitation of roads P231 (R504) from N12 at Wolmaranstad to P12/1 at Schweizer-Reneke, P54/1 from Matooster to Ruighoek, D215 Manthe to Cokonyane is advanced.

Work to rehabilitate, reseal the D114 Boshoek to Phella via Lindleyspport, Afrikaner roads D842,D860 and R507,P13/2 from Lichtenburg to Ottosdal including intersection and section of P28/0 to Coligny,P117/1 Rostraville to Sannieshof is proceeding well.  

Adjacent roads on the light rehabilitation project of the12 kilometers of Road D623 from Swartdam to Makapanstad are also being assessed for upgrade while a contractor has established site for rehabilitation and resealing of 8 kilometer road P1/3(R107) from Maubane to Carousel.

 Elisha also informed Exco that 24 consultants have been appointed to start design of new projects to be implemented during the 2014/2015 financial year.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg-The highly-employable personality, Pearl Thusi will leave the Real Goboza show at the end of November after a ruined relationship with her boss.

According to Sunday Sun, Pearl Thusi and her boss Sydney Matlaku does not see-eye-to-eye.

It is alleged that the working relationship between two has reached irreparable phase and that caused the sassy presenter to seek cover elsewhere.

“Pearl has down-played rumours and said she is leaving because she has more on here plate” source told Sunday Sun.

Isidingo actress is a new presenter for Tropika Island Treasure show where she was a former competitor.

Sabc 1 portfolio Marketing Manager Dichaba Phalatse did not confirm nor deny the news as Palatse said “We will inform you should be there any talents in the shows” told the newspaper.

According to media reports, Pearl Thusi will be replaced by Sinazo Yolwa who is currently presenting Sabc 1 So You Think You Can Dance show.

An attempts to get respond from Pearl Thusi was futile.-TDN

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Johannesburg – Cable theft caused a number of flights to be delayed on Sunday at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, the airport said.

“We don’t have a fuel shortage. We have three severely damaged power cables that has prevented us from refuelling aircraft at the airport,” said Airports Company SA spokesperson Unathi Batyashe-Fillis.

“This was due to an attempted robbery of the cables. It’s just outside the perimeter of the airport.”

Police were investigating, and airport technicians had been working since around 11:00 to restore power to the cables.

“Once that is done we can then start operations as soon as possible,” she said.

“Operations are not at a standstill. Flights are still departing but many are still on the ground and delayed. Refuelling is taking place but at a very slow rate.”

Once the cables had been replaced and power restored, the process of clearing the flight back log would begin.

This would be done on a first-come-first-serve basis as determined by Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS).

“Flights couldn’t take off from around 10:00. At the last count, it was roughly around 20 flights that couldn’t depart,” said Batyashe-Fillis

“They were mainly local flights but a few international flights were also affected. We are hoping to get everything running before the majority of international flights begin departing later this [Sunday] afternoon.”

SAPA

Cape Town – Thanks to money left over from a Public Works project, Parliament has built a new wine cellar to the tune of R3m and has stocked up on 3 000 bottles of South Africa’s finest.

According to the Sunday Times, MPs will now be able to buy themselves a bottle of Delheim Sauvignon Blanc 2013 or a 2008 Hartenberg Estate Shiraz, under the Speaker’s Choice label, at parliament’s main restaurant for a moderate R33 or R100 a bottle respectively.

However, the rest of the cellar is for VIP occasions only – such as visits by foreign dignitaries. Cape wine master Bennie Howard was roped in to stock the cellar. 

For more http://www.news24.com

By Obakeng Maje

Pampierstad-Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred a month ago at approximately 09:00am in Pampierstad. 

The owner of the tuck-shop was allegedly busy opening his business when four men pounced on him. 

“They allegedly pointed him with a firearm, robbed and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, airtime and groceries” lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

The police followed up on leads and managed to arrest three men last Wednesday in Pampierstad. 

The firearm used during the incident was also recovered, said Kock. 

The suspects, known as Daniel Oageng Kopi(25), Johannes Olebogeng Moremi(29) and Justice Tshiamo Gopane(26) appeared before the Pampiersatd Magistrates’ Court and the case was postponed for 14 October 2013. 

The investigation continues.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

The Kimberley police reacted to a business burglary in progress and due to lightning fast reaction managed to arrest four men. 

The police received a complaint of a business alarm at a cell shop at the New Park Shopping Centre on Saturday,at approximately 03:55am. 

“The Flying Squad arrived at the scene within 2 minutes and a chase ensued between the suspects(who were on foot) and police. The police arrested the first male at a business in Sydney Street” lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

The Kimberley Crime Prevention Unit and the K9 unit assisted and searched the yard of an empty business premises(The old ZAR pub) and found the three males hiding in an old vehicle wreck. 

“Two of the stolen cellular phones were found on the suspects. The police searched the yard of a Church next to the old ZAR pub and found four more of the stolen cellular phones” Kock said. 

It is alleged that the suspects stole a total of 20 cellphones ranging from Blackberries, Samsung S4’s and I phones from the display cabinet after breaking through the businesses’ front door. 

“The shop suffered several break- ins to date and the police will definitely look at possibly linking the suspects to prior similar incidents at this shop and other businesses in the vicinity” he said. 

The police are still searching for the other stolen cellular phones and two male suspects who are still at large. 

The police request that anyone with information please call the Kimberley Detectives at 082 495 4646 or 053 838 4100.-TDN

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Durban – Marie Swanepoel, who played a key role in the conviction of drug trafficker Sheryl Cwele, the then wife of State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, has died at the age of 61.

The Sunday Times reported that Swanepoel, the mother of convicted drug-mule Tessa Beetge, fell ill on 3 October with a perforated stomach and was taken to Queenstown Hospital. She was put on life support but went into organ failure. She was transferred to Frere Hospital in East London but died on Thursday night.

Swanepoel’s sister Margie Olsen, said the family was devastated by her death. She said her sister had been a very strong and courageous woman who had not been afraid to take down a minister’s wife.

Beetge was arrested at Sao Paulo International Airport in 2008 after being caught carrying nearly 10kg of cocaine. At the time, Swanepoel approached the Sunday Times with damning evidence including cellphone messages and emails between her daughter and Cwele, who set Beetge up for the drug mission. Cwele and her co-accused, Frank Nabolisa, were convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in May 2011.

By Obakeng Maje

Koster-The Police are investigating a case of murder after an unknown male victim was stabbed to death at approximately 02:45 at Reagile Location, in Koster. 

“It is alleged that the unknown victim broke into the house of a 35 year-old suspect with intention to rob him. The suspect fought with the victim and allegedly stabbed him in the chest with a knife” sergeant Kealeboga Molale said.  

According to the information the victim died on the scene.  

The suspect was arrested and he will appear at the Koster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.-TDN

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