Johannesburg – A delegation of Christians was turned away from former president Nelson Mandela’s Qunu, Eastern Cape, home on Sunday because they were taking photographs after being warned not to, police said.

“They were taking some photos [outside the house] after they were informed not to take any,” Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said.

Two policemen turned away the missionaries, from the Reformed Church of Christ and the Apostolic Faith Mission, when they arrived at the Mandela house, to offer their prayers and support.

A Sapa correspondent reported that two members of the group, while attempting to take pictures of themselves outside the house, were temporarily arrested and held inside a security room at the gate. This resulted in a heated exchange between the group and the police.

“It was not a big issue, there were no arrests,” Fatyela said.

Apostolic Faith Mission women’s leader Nomzingisi Jonga, 44, said they went to the gate wanting to know why the two were arrested.

“We came here because we had a prophecy at our night vigil yesterday [Saturday], to… pray for Madiba in his grounds. Now we are being denied access and also we were told not to pray in front of his gate.

“I wish I could share with you the prophecy, but now it is only God who knows. Let His will be done,” said Jonga.

The group then crossed the N2 Transkei road, to pray in public. Thambisa Nomatshitshi, 21, said she was disappointed at how the police treated them.

“You cannot just arrest us because we are praying for Mandela, it’s wrong… we did nothing wrong,” she said.

One police officer accused the group of betraying the freedom Mandela fought for.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The current generation of youth face a different struggle compared to that of 1976, President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday.

“The youth is now empowered by the Constitution and the laws of the land to participate fully in building a better life,” he said at a Youth Day celebration in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, according to a copy of his speech.

“The youth of 1976 were made not to be full citizens of this country. They were made to be pariahs in their motherland and could not influence or participate in decision-making in their own country.”

What was common between the two generations was that both were building a better life for all. 

Now the fight was against drugs, substance abuse, crime, gangsterism, child and women abuse, teenage pregnancy, truancy, mob justice and xenophobia, Zuma said.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Young people are the most targeted by drug dealers, with more of them being sucked in by the illicit industry, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Sunday.

“South African youth are drug dealers’ biggest target audience, with more getting involved with drugs… whether it is experimenting, dealing, addiction or being mules or decoys. They are getting sucked into the drug industry,” Mthethwa said in a speech delivered at the Future Leaders Annual Youth Conference in Durban on Sunday.

He said a study conducted in 2009 indicated that the use of drugs among teenagers had increased over the years by more than 600%.

The average starting age of drug abuse in South Africa was 12 and younger, and drug dealers were targeting schools, said Mthethwa.

“A 2007 report indicated that Gauteng’s youngest drug dealer was an 8-year old boy from Douglasdale.” Mthethwa said South Africa was both a transit and an end-user country and that over the last year alone, 41 drug laboratories were closed down by the law enforcement agencies.

Authorities were also concerned about the links between growing gangsterism and the illicit trade in drugs.

“Our response needs to focus on production, consumption and cross border trafficking.”

The drug trade was a $300bn global industry, Mthethwa said. “In South Africa, drug abuse was costing the country R20bn a year, it could pose a bigger threat to the country’s future than the HIV/AIDS pandemic.”

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

POTCHEFSTROOM-A man was found murdered at corner Sol Plaatjie and New Market Streets on Saturday at about 21:00.

Police were summoned to the scene and found an unknown man lying on the pavement, he was stabbed twice on the left side of his chest with an unknown object. “The motive of the killing is unknown and the suspects are also unknown at this stage” captain Pelonomi Makau said. A murder case has been opened and investigation continues.

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By Obakeng Maje

Jericho-North West police arrested suspect for allegedly raping a teenager on Saturday at Reserve Section Legonyane village.

“It is alleged that a suspect,18 who is a Lesotho National was hired by the victim’s parents to look after their cattle” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

According to the information, the suspect stays in the same yard as the girl.

Police said a girl,16 who was at her home was called by the suspect to his room where he raped her. 

“The victim screamed and her grandmother came over and rescued her. She alerted her neighbour who in turn alerted the police” said police. 

The victim was taken to the hospital for medical attention and rape was confirmed.

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By Obakeng Maje

VRYBURG: Police arrested a 35 year-old suspect for allegedly knocking down a cyclist on N14, Delareyville road, on Saturday at about 16:30.

“It is alleged that the suspect who was driving a Minibus and a cyclist were travelling on the same direction” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

The cyclist allegedly was riding in front of a minibus when he was knocked down.

The deceased died on the scene. “It is alleged that the minibus driver was arrested after he failed to produce a driver’s licence” Makau said. 

A Culpable Homicide case was registered and investigation continues.

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Bafana Bafana captain Itumeleng Khune has explained his remostration with match officials in second half of the game against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

Khune was seen going up and down during the second half and after the match, he explained the reason for his restlessness.

“I hope people from home saw what happens when you play away. Their goalkeeper kept going down [to waste time] and the ball boys kept throwing the balls away but when we play at home and I do that, it is a problem,” Khune says.

“I get criticised by our own supporters so I hope they saw what’s happening when we play away.”

Nonetheless, Khune feels the boys gave their all under the circumstances. “It is not easy, but we came here [Addis Ababa] and we gave it our all,” he adds.

For more http://www.kickoff.com

By Obakeng Maje

Cape Town-Vaaltar FM finest presenter Dj Notorious show scooped an award at South African Children Radio Foundation in Cape Town on Sunday.

CRF’s journey began in South Africa in 2007 with the idea that radio is an important tool for youth empowerment in Africa. The organisation have over 1000 CRF-trained youth radio reporters at 50 project sites in 5 countries who broadcast shows in for youth in their community on a weekly basis in 25 local languages.

Vaaltar FM’s Youth Connection presenter scooped the best presenter award.

“The award was actually scooped by one of our young presenters from the foundation, Calvin Mogomotsi. I was a mentor to him and won the award on behalf of Youth Connection” Notorious Dj said. 

CRF approach a local site, radio station, and community organization partner, train community members to work as project leaders and mentors.

The project trains youth to research, produce, and broadcast.

“It also create ongoing youth-oriented radio shows that address important issues in the community, and stimulate dialogue among youth” he smiles.

The Children’s foundation support projects with resources, production tips, monitoring and evaluation, and monthly newsletters.

It also connect with the youth through an online audio sharing platform so they can exchange content, interact, and learn from each other.

“Radio requires minimal technical expertise. Young people are able to learn production and broadcast skills quickly. We address more burning issues like HIV, Unemployment, Crime,Education, Drugs and Alcohol Abuse” Dj Notorious said as he is affectionately known to the masses.

Over 80% of people in Africa have regular access to a radio, making it a crucial source of information.

Youth Connection presenter Thato Keolatotse said radio is very flexible and portable.

He said the award is dedicated to all hard-work and explains that even working with the young warriors was not that easy, but he is so previleged to work with them.

“The young ones are always anger to learn new things and it is very interesting to see them insinuating their way so well.They always glanced and I believe they will go far” said Dj Notorious.

Radio projects are suited to all settings, even remote, isolated areas where and it makes message to be conveyed very easily and better, said vavicious Dj.

Vaaltar FM presenter dedicated the award to all listeners of the station and all those who took part in this project.

“I would like to take this time and dedicate this award to the Management, my colleagues and listeners of the show. Please together we can and with discipline, determination and dedication nothing is impossible” said Dj.

Notorious also took this time to wish all the youth of today a very happy Youth day.

“To the youth of today, let’s celebrate June 16 responsibly and remember if it was not for the Youth of 1976, we would not be where we are today” he said.

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Ethiopia beat South Africa 2-1 in Addis Ababa to destroy Bafana Bafana’s chances of reaching the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Bernard Parker scored two fantastic goals – but unfortunately the second was past Itumeleng Khune to hand Ethiopia the win and the three points. 

Parker opened the scoring on 34 minutes with a textbook volley, off a long ball from Khune.

Ethiopia equalised just eight minutes later, when Getaneh Kebede hit home after some indecisive play by the Bafana defence.

The match was sealed in the 70th minute when Parker scored with possibly the beat header of his career, off an Ethiopia free-kick.

Ethiopia had the first chance of the match in the fourth minute, when Saladin Said got his head to a free-kick. Khune fumbled the ball under pressure, but managed to hold onto it at the second attempt and deny the hosts the lead.

Three minutes later Bafana had an early chance of their own, when Parker made a run into the area and found May Mahlangu with a clever ball, but Mahlangu sent his shot over the crossbar.

Ethiopia continued to run at Bafana, and Saladin had a rocket of a shot saved by Khune.

Bafana came close again, after some great build-up play from Mahlangu, Thuso Phala and Dean Furman, and Parker took a shot from close range, but it was tipped away by Jemal Tassew with nobody available to take advantage of the rebound.

The visitors then managed to calm the pace of the game to a level they were more comfortable with, and Siphiwe Tshabalala had a shot from range go wide, before Parker’s header was cleared off the line by Minyahil Teshome.

Bafana then deservedly took the lead just after the half-hour mark, when Parker showed his pace and class, out-pacing the Ethiopian defence and hitting home with one touch.

The South Africans should have made it 2-0 five minutes later, when they nearly pulled off what was clearly a training-ground drill. The ball was sent through to ‘Shabba’ in the middle of the park, who passed it to Reneilwe Letsholonyane making a late run into the box. ‘Yeye’ got a shot away but it was straight into Jemal’s hands.

Ethiopia equalised two minutes before half-time, after some extremely poor decision-making in the Bafana defence.

Addis Hintsa danced on the ball at the edge of the area, with at least four Bafana players looking on, seemingly unable to commit to the challenge. Hintsa then sent the ball square to Kebede, who made no mistake and thumped it home.

Bafana started the second half brightly, but were unable to break through the Ethiopean defence.

Igesund brought on Tokelo Rantie for Thuso Phala, and the striker nearly scored with his first touch, but after dribbling the Ethiopia defence his shot was blocked for a corner.

On the hour mark Bafana had a free-kick in a good position, but ‘Shabba’ again hit the wall. Furman squared to Mulomowandau Mathoho from the rebound, but the big defender headed wide.

A scuffle broke out after the goal, and Khune had to race over to alert referee Mohamed Farouk Mahmoud‎, who quickly calmed the situation down.

The referee was under significant pressure, however, with tackles flying in thick and fast, and the boistrous crowd was questioning his every decision.

Ethiopia took the lead 20 minutes from time, when Parker rose to meet a free-kick and head powerfully past his own keeper.

Igesund sacrificed Langerman for Katlego Mashego in the last 10 minutes, and Bafana continued to push forward in search of the equaliser that would have left them with some hope of qualifying.

Two minutes from time Segolela and Parker combined well at speed on the left, with Parker controlling well in the air. The ball ended up with Yeye, but he was unable to get the ball into the box and it was out for a corner.

Ethiopia come extremely close deep into injury time, when Said streaked down the pitch and had a shot, but the ball went just wide of the onrushing Khune’s post.

Bafana face Botswana at home on September 6, while Central African Rebublic host Ethiopia, but the results are academic, as Ethiopia top Group A with 13 points, and will stay top no matter what the results of the final round of matches.

The Waila Antelopes advance to the third round of qualifying, where the 10 group winners from the second round are drawn into five home and away matches. The five winners advance to the 2014 World Cup.

For more http://www.kickoff.com

By Obakeng Maje

Groot Marico-Police opened a culpable homicide case after two vehicles that were travelling in opposite directions allegedly collided on Friday at about 21:15. 

A man died on the scene while two other victims were rushed to the hospital as they were seriously injured” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

Police are investigating.

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