Cape Town – Egyptian authorities released South African cameraman and photojournalist Adil Bradlow, the government confirmed on Sunday.

“It has happened.

“He’s on his way to [Cairo] airport as we speak,” department of international relations and co-operation spokesperson Clayson Monyela told Sapa.

Bradlow would fly out of Egypt to the United Kingdom.

“He’s on his way to the UK; he entered Egypt on a British passport and he’ll then find his way back [to South Africa],” Monyela said.

He declined to give any further details around the release.

Bradlow was covering events in Cairo for Al Jazeera when he was detained, along with three colleagues, on Thursday last week.

SAPA

Pretoria – Magistrates around the country are under fire for breaking the law – with four having been kicked out this year alone – as the credibility of courts suffers.

The Sunday Times reported that some magistrates have been suspended and, in some instances, removed from office for offences including sexual harassment, drunken driving, assault, gambling, fraud, theft and even murder.

According to the report, the seriousness of some of the cases has raised doubts about the magistrates’ ability to mete out justice. Statistics provided by the Magistrates’ Commission last week show that 258 complaints were made against magistrates last year, whereas 222 complaints have been received this year so far. These have resulted in 28 formal investigations.

Four magistrates have been removed from office this year, and one has been suspended. One magistrate was suspended last year. Some magistrates have also been accused of serious misconduct and in some cases they were found guilty.

Reports to parliament reveal numerous delays in finalising investigations against magistrates. In 2011, parliament’s justice portfolio committee complained of delays in the case of Mxolisi Matereke, a magistrate convicted of murder and assault. It took the commission more than three years after his first court appearance to charge him with misconduct.  

For more http://www.news24.com

By Lesedi Setlhodi

Bloemfontein – It becomes greater, finer and draws thousands of crowds annually. This year the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe) celebrates 16 years of existence from the 4th – 13th October. This annual festival caters for performances of music, theatre, dance, live art and so much more.  

The festival has become one of the biggest events in the arts carnival and on countless South African’s calendars.

The city that is regarded as the heart of South Africa, last year alone attracted 160 000 festivity lovers from all over the country. This year’s lineup with no doubt will raise the bar again as international artists R&B Veteran Anthony Hamilton and R&B and pop singer Keri Hilson from the United States of America (USA) will be serenading their fans.

Macufe roisterers will also get to see live performances from their very own South African icons, Zonke, Lira, Thandiswa Mazwai, Judith Sephuma, Hugh Masikela, Peter Thwala and Jimmy Dludlu. The list does not leave out other entertainers, Khaya, Thoko, Maleh, Sipho Mabuse and Dj What What. 

Astounding shows that have made a permanent feature during the Macufe include the indoor jazz, macufe comedy, macufe gospel concert, Divas concert and of course the Main Music festival which takes place on Saturday. To wrap it all up on Sunday all routes lead to the Free State Stadium also known as Vodacom Park to witness the annual clash feature between Kaizer Chiefs (Glamour boys) and the club that has the most patriotic fans in the country, Bloemfontein Celtic (Siwelele). 

Over 16 000 fans filled up the stadia last year and this year the organisers are expecting the numbers of supporters to escalate. 

The MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation in the Free State, Dan Kgothule pointed out that his department is always in support of this festival and that it strongly promotes arts and culture in South Africa. 

“The vision of the Department of Arts and Culture is to develop and preserve South African culture to ensure social cohesion and nation building, develop and promote arts and culture” said Kgothule.-TDN

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JOHANNESBURG-Anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela was discharged from hospital and returned home on Sunday after being treated for a recurring lung infection, the government said in a statement.

“Madiba’s condition remains critical and is at times unstable,” the presidency said, referring to the 95-year-old by his clan name.

“His team of doctors are convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton home that he received in Pretoria,” the statement said.-Reuters

Pretoria – The man who bought the Sandton mansion that belonged to former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema has forfeited his R1m deposit after failing to come up with the balance of R5.9m that he had promised at the auction four months ago.

According to the Sunday Independent, Gauteng businessman Norman Tloubatla has been forced to cancel the bid for the half-built house.

Sars spokesperson Adrian Lackay on Saturday confirmed that the bid for the property was cancelled and that the house will go on sale again later this year.

Malema’s lawyer Tumi Mokwena said that he had not been informed of the problem. The R5.9m sale would have resulted in a massive reduction of the R16m tax bill that Malema owes Sars.

In May, Tloubatla outbid several fellow bidders at the auction and successfully put in a R5.9m bid for the property, which Malema purchased for R3.6m three years earlier. The property has an estimated value of R7.1m.

For more http://www.news24.com

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By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-A bakkie travelling on the Modderiver/Jacobsdal road in Kimberley overturned last night at around 9pm leaving one man dead and another five seriously injured.

Kimberley paramedics arrived at the scene to find that the bakkie had overturned for some unknown reason. 

“They assessed the six men suspected to have been travelling in the bakkie and found that one of them had already succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead” Er24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said. 

Jackson said nothing more could be done to save the man’s life as his injuries were too severe.

The five other occupants of the vehicle had suffered serious injuries and paramedics initiated their treatment. 

“Fortunately the men, ranging in age between their 20′s and 40′s, remained in a stable condition en route to the local provincial hospital by ambulance” she said.

The cause of the fatal accident will remain under investigation by local authorities.-TDN

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Pretoria – South African soldiers have been at the forefront of attacks on rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and were instrumental, along with a UN force, in repelling the M23 rebels as they rained rockets on the town of Goma.

The Sunday Times reported that a visit to the front line at Kibumba on Saturday, made it possible to piece together the events of last week. South African National Defence Force commander Colonel Patrick Dube also confirmed that his troops played a leading role in repelling the rebels.  

Congolese troops said support from South African troops had been invaluable. “We fought with the South Africans yesterday and today,” said one soldier near the frontline on Thursday.

Local commanders said the number of South African soldiers wounded had risen to five, but SANDF spokesperson Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said yesterday the official figure remained at three.

After a lull of almost a month, fresh fighting broke out recently when the rebels attacked Congolese army positions outside Goma. The battle erupted in earnest on Wednesday when the rebels launched another bid to take Goma. Throughout Wednesday, Russian Hind attack helicopters, supported by South African Oryx helicopters, flew sorties over the enemy positions.

The air attacks were supported by Tanzanian artillery and South African mortar and reconnaissance teams. South African snipers reportedly killed six rebel commanders. Later in the day, a South African C130 Hercules transport aircraft landed at Goma, bringing in more ammunition.

The region is reportedly on a knife-edge, which is threatening to escalate into an all-out war.  

Source: http://www.news24.com

Polokwane – A Limpopo man has been arrested in Burgersfort, Polokwane for allegedly raping his step-daughter repeatedly for six years, police said on Saturday.

“The suspect allegedly sexually abused the woman several times starting when she was 17 years-old,” Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

“The woman [now 23] has two children and is allegedly expecting a third child from him.”

The 46-year-old man was arrested on Friday after the woman reported him to the police.

“He allegedly threatened to kill his stepdaughter and her children if she reported the matter to the police,” Mulaudzi said.

The man would appear in the Lydenburg Regional Court on Monday on charges of rape and abuse.

SAPA

ABSA Premiership

Result: SuperSport 3-1 Chiefs

Date: 31 August 2013

Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium

Defending league champions Kaizer Chiefs let their first-half lead slip as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat away to SuperSport United on Saturday evening.

Knowledge Musona won a spot-kick when his shot struck the hand of Edwin Gyimah and Bernard Parker slotted his third goal of the season – and his second from the spot. SuperSport responded with aplomb after the break though, netting three times to turn the result around.

Both coaches made some surprising changes to their squad with Stuart Baxter opting to field his three main centre-backs while the on-form Mame Niang was left on the bench in favour of Bradley Grobler by Cavin Johnson.

Chiefs started the game in composed fashion and although clear-cut chances were hard to carve out – a fascinating tactical battle ensued.

Amakhosi had a superb chance in the fourth minute when Musona touched the ball to the edge of the area for the on-rushing Lucky Baloyi but his rushed finish bobbled wide of the target.

Matsatsantsa were unable to find a way through an organised Chiefs defence and saw Grobler blast a free-kick into the wall before smashing the rebound well wide.

Itumeleng Khune’s only work of the first-half was a clearance on the flank after he had come off his line to get into the action.

Siphiwe Tshabala got the ball inside the area in the 18th minute but Ronwen Williams was on hand to make the save before the penalty arrived on the half-hour mark – with Parker sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

SuperSport started to get onto the ball a little more in the dying minutes of the half but there were no real chances created by both sides as Chiefs held their lead.

Tshabalala sent a free-kick straight at Williams early in the second-half but SuperSport hit back in stunning fashion when David Mathebula found Enocent Mkhabela with a stunning flick and the latter thumped an emphatic finish into the top corner.

The goal brought Matsatsantsa to life but Chiefs somehow failed to restore their lead when Musona was denied at point-blank range by Williams.

SuperSport would then hit the front through Bennett Chenene who squeezed home the rebound after Thuso Phala had drawn a save from Khune.

The hosts had hardly finished celebrating when Chenene went down in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Grobler stepped up to take the penalty and sent Khune the wrong way as Chiefs found themselves 3-1 down.

Chiefs were unable to find a response in the last few minutes as SuperSport wound down the clock and Cavin Johnson will be ecstatic as they move to the top of the table – remaining unbeaten after three games.

SuperSport: Ronwen Williams, Davies Nkausu, Mor Diouf, Thabo September, Innocent Mdledle, Edwin Gyimah, Enocent Mkhabela, Thuso Phala, David Mathebula, Bennett Chenene, Bradley Grobler

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Morgan Gould, Tefu Mashamaite, Eric Mathoho, Tsepo Masilela, Willard Katsande, Lucky Baloyi, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bernard Parker, Knowledge Musona.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Pretoria-Public Protector Thuli Madonsela met with Bapo Ba Mogale community to discuss the way forward regarding their so-called “D account”.

According to the reports, only R16 millions left in Bapo Ba Mogale account after allegations that some people masquerading as administrators withdrew cash from the account.

Madonsela said she asked North West government to provide her with documents,but so far she have received nothing.

“I wrote to North West premier Thandi Modise to close down the Bapo Ba Mogale account until lawful traditional council has been appointed. The only money that will be paid out will be for salaries and administration” Madonsela said.

Lonmin has allegedly paid alsmost R370m into Bapo Ba Mogale community account since 1994.

The disgruntled community members say no water reticulation, dirt roads and large scale of unemployment are not true reflection of the minerally-rich community.

The Community lawyer Hugh Eiser said the North West government refuse to acknowledge the new authority.

“The premier Modise refuse to acknowledge the new authority because it did not suit them. It knew it would not be able to manipulate it for its own purposes” Eiser told Mail & Guradian newspaper.-TDN 

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