Not even doves of peace could defuse the tension at Marikana on Monday as relatives of the victims of last year’s massacre gathered for a cleansing ceremony.

Firstly, three of the 44 families of the miners, policemen and security guards who died in August last year would not take part in Monday’s ceremony, which was marked by the slaughtering of 41 sheep, because the koppie was not the scene of their deaths.

The family of a Lonmin security guard, Hassan Fundi, slaughtered their sheep according to Islamic tradition on a spot separated by a dusty road from where families of the miners were slaughtering theirs.

About 2 000 people attended the ceremony, where a group, some dressed in Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union T-shirts, attempted to disrupt the event by demanding that police leave the koppie.

To keep the peace, the police moved their vehicles out of sight behind the koppie.

Some miners then sang a distance away from the marquee as they boarded buses destined for Impala Platinum mines, where they attended a rally organised by United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa.

The widow of one of the slain miners reflects as a ritual is performed during the cleansing ceremony. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

The Star

The miners said they were not going to be part of an event where the ANC was present.

Once they left, the ceremony, attended by North West Premier Thandi Modise and the ANC’s chairman in the province, Supra Mahumapelo, continued uninterrupted.

Families of the deceased were later called to the front, where they were each given a white dove to release.

This was preceded by prayers delivered by various religious leaders for peace, forgiveness and stability in the troubled mining sector, which has been marred by violence and bloodshed since early last year.

Andile Yawa, who lost his son Cebisile, 24, made an appeal for the violence and killings to stop.

“Since last year, people are continuing to die. This must stop, enough is enough. Forgive each other because violence won’t take you anywhere,” he said.

When the ceremony was over, Bojanala district municipality mayor Louis Diremelo, whose council organised the ceremony, said arrangements would be made for the families who were not part of Monday’s event to hold their own ceremony.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – The PAC has distanced itself from a statement by Pan Africanist Youth Congress spokesman Sello Tladi calling former president Nelson Mandela a “sell-out”.

“The PAC would like to distance itself from the reckless statement issued on the Youth Day by some cranks parading themselves as youth leaders of the PAC,” general secretary Narius Moloto said on Tuesday.

“In their statement, they callously wished that the former president should die. As the PAC, we are sad that such a reckless statement was issued in the first place, and that the persons who issued such foolish and reckless statement attached the name of the PAC to (the) statement.”

Moloto said the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania did not know the source of the statement and said Tladi was not part of the youth leadership.

On Monday, the Citizen reported that Tladi said Mandela was a sell-out and greedy.

“He betrayed us by rubber-stamping the 1913 Land Act through the adoption of (the) Freedom Charter,” Tladi was quoted as saying.

“The problem with the Freedom Charter is that it made African people to be landless.”

Tladi was reportedly addressing PAC, Azanian People’s Organisation, and Socialist Party of Azania supporters at the Regina Mundi church in Soweto at a Youth Day event on Sunday.

Moloto said the PAC regretted that such a statement was made on the organisation’s behalf.

“We hold the former president in high esteem as a struggle icon who helped this country gain its freedom from the shackles of oppression and apartheid rule,” he said.

“We also take this opportunity to wish him well as he recovers from his illness.”

Mandela was admitted to a Pretoria hospital on June 8 with a recurring lung infection. – Sapa

South African Football Association (SAFA) President Kirsten Nematandani has swiftly moved to dampen speculation on Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund’s future saying the coach had a contract that runs until next year.

Only then, said SAFA President, would the coach’s future come up for discussion. The SAFA President has in the past told the media about his admiration for Igesund and again reiterated the same sentiments when the team arrived home on Monday from the World Cup qualifying assignments where they beat Central African Republic (CAR) and lost to Ethiopia.

The 2-1 defeat to Ethiopia effectively knocked Bafana Bafana out of contention for a place to Brazil 2014. That defeat led to speculation that Igesund’s contract would be reviewed and that he would meet his employers soon to chat the way forward.

However, Nematandani who was with the team on the two assignments said the Association would not meet Igesund with regards to his contract because that item ‘is not on the agenda’.

“We are aware of the media reports doing rounds about Gordon’s future,” said Nematandani. “One thing must be made clear here, the coach’s future is not under discussion. He (Igesund) is the Bafana Bafana coach and we have a contract with Gordon until next year and I don’t know where the media is picking the story that we would meet the coach to talk about his contract. There is nothing like that.”

Bafana Bafana trail Ethiopia by five points in Group A of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers with one match to go (against Botswana).

The SAFA president said it was important to stay focused on the challenges at hand which included the outstanding World Cup match against Botswana.

“We still have that (Botswana) match to play and also the Cosafa Cup next month. Once we are done with that we have to start looking at the CHAN as well as the qualification for the 2015 Afcon,” Nematandani said.

The SAFA President said he was very impressed with the fighting spirit and commitment shown by the players despite some travel logistics nightmare in Cameroon.

“We have to commend Bafana Bafana for their fighting spirit against CAR and Ethiopia. If anything, our players can never be accused of not trying especially against Ethiopia. They went down fighting and were just unfortunate on the day. We have to give credit to Gordon and his technical team for instilling that kind of fighting spirit,” said Nematandani.

Meanwhile, the SAFA President said he was aware of reports that Ethiopia is facing Fifa sanctions after fielding a suspended player in their qualifier against Botswana. “In all fairness, this has nothing to do with us,” he said. “It is a matter between Botswana and Ethiopia, but we will wait and see.”

Mark Mayambela will have just over a week’s pre-season training with Orlando Pirates before jetting out of the country for trials.

The 25-year-old midfielder will report back for duty with the rest of the squad tomorrow at Rand Stadium, despite his contract expiring at the end of the month.

ALSO READ: Roger de Sa preparing for new season

His agent, Tim Sukazi, confirms his client will link up with the Buccaneers before heading off to Turkey.

“Mark will report for duty as instructed, before heading to Turkey for trials early in July,” Sukazi tells KickOff.com. “It actually suits us fine … it means he will have a little bit of fitness under his belt when he gets to Europe.”

ALSO READ: Fatau Dauda at Pirates for medical

Mayambela has failed to make any impact at Pirates after joining from Bloemfontein Celtic in 2010 and will be relishing some game-time at a new club.
For more http://www.kickoff.com

The transfer of Ghanaian goalkeeper, Fatau Dauda, to Orlando Pirates took a step closer to finalisation today, after he underwent a medical with Bucs.

It was revealed by the Siya crew last week that the 28-year-old was due to have his medical with the club this week, after arriving in South Africa yesterday, with his current chairman explaining that his check-up went well.

Kudjoe Fianoo, the chairman of Ashanti Gold, said that, once the medical report has been filed, ‘serious negotiations’ can begin.

Fianoo told the Siya crew, “It went okay, we’re now just waiting for a report from Orlando Pirates. I spoke to him this morning, he’s finished and he’s on his way back to Ghana.

“Pirates are waiting for the medical report, and then when the coast is clear we can enter into serious negotiations. No personal terms have been agreed yet.”

It is thought that the talented shot-stopped favours a move to Parktown and that his transfer to the Buccaneers should be completed within the next week, if all goes according to plan.

Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will clash on July 27, with the title of 2013 Carling Black Label Cup champions up for grabs.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Durban – Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s sometime speech writer joined the African National Congress on Tuesday.

Roman Liptak, who represented the IFP in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, was presented by the ANC, along with the IFP’s former provincial health spokesperson Usha Roopnarain, at a news conference in Durban.

Roopnarain was also a member of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature. Pat Lebenye, a former IFP Youth Brigade leader, was also presented as a new ANC member.

Provincial ANC chairperson Senzo Mchunu said none of the three had been promised positions in the party.

The IFP said it would comment later.

– SAPA

Rustenburg-
Police were told about the danger they would face at a hill in Marikana during mining unrest last year, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday.

Vuyani Ngalwana, for the police, read a statement by Warrant Officer Rapheso Masenya to North West deputy police commissioner General William Mpembe.

Masenya was part of the operations on 16 August and recorded events with a video camera.

He said in his statement that he and his team were told by Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa not to get close to the protesters because they would get hurt.

“He advised we should not get closer as they [miners] were angry and would injure us… he said it in isiXhosa: bazonilimaza la babantu… [these people will hurt you].” Mathunjwa had addressed the protesters just after midday.

Police spokesperson Dennis Adriao told Masenya and his team: “You are being identified as police spies and you should withdraw from this place as miners said they would kill you.”

Masenya said he and his team, who were filming the scene, went back to the operations centre.

Asked whether he had received Masenya’s information at that time, Mpembe said he only knew about it after the shooting.

Mpembe said he was not aware that Mathunjwa was addressing protesters at the hill at that time. He told the commission police were already deployed along the hill immediately, after the move to launch a dispersal plan was agreed upon at a police task team meeting.

Protestors

Earlier, he said he made the decision to disperse the protesters, and that his superior, provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo, and the rest of the team agreed.

As he was getting ready to leave the police command centre and board a private security helicopter to the scene, Mpembe said he heard on the police radio that protesters were moving towards the police line.

Police did not have footage of the shooting because Masenya and his team had left the scene, said Ngalwana.

Commission chairperson, retired Judge Ian Farlam, asked Mpembe why those tasked with filming did not make use of the police safe line meant to protect other officers and the media.

“Why didn’t they go there so that they can carry on filming and taking pictures?” he asked Mpembe.

Mpembe said the information he received indicated it was dangerous for some of the officers to remain there.

The commission, sitting in Centurion, is probing the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during an unprotected strike at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, in August.

The hearing continues on Friday.

– SAPA

Pretoria – A Marikana shop owner ran out of pangas and axes, after demand for the items increased during unrest in the area, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.

“There was a sudden great demand for pangas, axes, and hatchets from 11 August,” Marikana general dealer Mohammed Cassim said in a statement.

Vuyani Ngalwana, for the police, read the statement to the commission.

“I usually kept at least 30 pangas in the shop at a time, but they ran out in no time and I had to go buy more stock.”

The commission, chaired by retired Judge Ian Farlam, is probing the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people during an unprotected strike at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, in August.

Cassim’s statement, together with that of a “Mr Y”, was submitted to the commission on Tuesday. Cassim said it was the first time he had sold so many weapons.

“From the time I had been operating this business, this was the first time I had sold so many pangas, axes, and hatchets within a week.”

He said customers usually wrapped the pangas in newspapers before leaving the store.

At that time the buyers, however, snuck the weapons into their pants and jackets.

Attacks

Mr Y’s statement detailed how he was attacked on his way to work, stabbed several times, and left for dead on 13 August.

He survived and identified two of his attackers.

“These statements are meant to supplement [North West deputy police commissioner] General William Mpembe’s latest testimony to this commission about how people in the area continued to be attacked and robbed during the unrest,” Ngalwana said.

Farlam said the commission would decide whether Cassim would be called to testify.

The hearing continues.

– SAPA

Pretoria – Police officers on duty in Marikana during last year’s mine unrest came under attack from protesters, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Tuesday.

“Regarding the 13 August tragedy, as I was there… police were charged at and they defended themselves and their colleagues,” North West deputy police commissioner William Mpembe said.

Two police officers were hacked to death during unrest on 13 August.

“I was not at the scene on the 16th [of August], but when I looked via a video, for what is called scene one, I could see that there was a group charging at police. That I can also attribute to self defence.”

The commission, sitting in Centurion, is probing the circumstances of the deaths of 44 people during an unprotected strike at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, in August.

Thirty-four striking miners were shot dead when police tried to disperse them on 16 August.

Ten people, including two policemen, died in strike-related violence the preceding week.

Vuyani Ngalwana, for the police, asked Mpembe on Tuesday to explain to the commission the violence of 13 and 16 August.

The hearing continues.

– SAPA