Pupils are gearing up for one of them to be the ultimate winner of the design artwork for a helmet for Andy Green, the fastest man on earth by far.

Local schools are entering their pupils in the Bloodhound Supersonic Car Project competition in numbers, to design the helmet using the blue and orange colours on the car and to use colours which represent the Northern Cape and South Africa.

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

The national Treasury has withdrawn a total of R77m that was due to the Madibeng municipality because it failed to spend its allocated funds.

Madibeng spokesperson Lebogang Tsogang said: “The national Treasury has indeed withheld an equitable share that was due to the municipality, and in November the municipality expected a tranche of R98m but only received R35m, R63m was withheld. Again in March the municipality expected R62m and only R48m was received, withholding R14m.”

For more http://www.thenewage.com

The North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus has expressed its objection to “unfounded allegations” levelled at the university by individuals and organisations on the provisional suspension of the institution’s student representative council (SRC) chairperson, Matshediso Orapeleng, pending the finalisation of a disciplinary hearing.

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

Mahikeng-Elderly people running the Montshioa Cultural Village have expressed disappointment at the sport, arts and culture department for the deplorable state in which the institution finds itself.

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

Durban – The man who killed Durban businessman Nhlanhla Gasa was jailed for 30 years by the Durban Regional Court on Tuesday.

Mbulelo Arthur Ntlauzana, 25, was sentenced to 20 years for murder and 10 years for robbery, and malicious damage to property.

Magistrate Anand Maharaj said Ntlauzana acted coldly, cowardly and carelessly when he killed Gasa.

He said Gasa’s killing was senseless. It showed a person who had hate, rage and venom.

Earlier, Ntlauzana admitted in his statement read by his lawyer Hycenth Mlothswa that he stabbed Gasa several times after the businessman tried to kiss him on the cheek.

He said after killing Gasa he took a duvet cover and used it to wrap his body.

“I dragged his body to the garage downstairs and put the body in the boot of the Jaguar,” Ntlauzana said in his statement.

He threw the body over the Tugela Bridge and burned Gasa’s car.

Maharaj said Ntlauzana could have left when Gasa tried to kiss him.

He said Ntlauzana tried to cover up his involvement in the crime by disposing the body and burning Gasa’s car.

Maharaj said that despite Ntlauzana’s guilty plea, he doubted he was remorseful.

After Ntlauzana killed Gasa, he went to the Eastern Cape with his family, which showed that he tried to evade police.

Upon his return to KwaZulu-Natal, he did not hand himself to police.

Ntlauzana had known Gasa since 2010.

Ntlauzana said Gasa was his mentor as he wanted to start a network-marketing business.

During cross-examination Ntlauzana said he wanted Gasa to finance him and be a partner with him in business but this did not happen.

He said it never upset him that the businessman did not finance him because he understood that he was always busy and never had time.

Ntlauzana was arrested in Groutville on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast on April 13.

Gasa’s body was found floating in the Tugela River four weeks ago. Police found his burnt-out Jaguar several metres away.

Gasa is the father of South African television personality Noni Gasa.

The courtroom was packed with Gasa’s friends and family.

Ntlauzana’s mother sobbed during the court proceedings. – Sapa

Johannsburg – Teachers joining a planned SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) protest march will face disciplinary procedures, the basic education department said on Tuesday.

“Principals that do not monitor and register the attendance of teachers will (also) be subjected to disciplinary procedures,” said department spokesman Panyaza Lesufi.

“Educators that sign the register as being present at school but later leave to join protest action will be subjected to disciplinary procedures.”

The department would apply the principle of no-work-no-pay, Lesufi said.

Sadtu announced that it would hold protest marches on Wednesday.

The union said close to 25 000 of its members were expected to take part in the national marches to the Union Buildings in Pretoria and Parliament in Cape Town.

“The marches are meant to increase the pressure on Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her director general Bobby Soobrayan to resign from their… positions, in defence of collective bargaining and promotion of quality public education,” Sadtu said in a statement.

It said Congress of SA Trade Union president Sidumo Dlamini would lead the march in Pretoria, and his second deputy Zingiswa Losi the march in Cape Town.

“The federation fully supports the marches in Cape Town and Pretoria organised by Sadtu, and the demands they are making on the defence of collective bargaining,” said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven.

The SA Students Congress (Sasco) backed the march.

“Sasco fully supports Sadtu in its justifiable struggle against the unilateral withdrawal of collective bargaining agreements by the department of basic education,” said Sasco president Ngoako Selamolela.

“This unilateral withdrawal is not only mischievous but a direct undermining of our teachers and the working class in general.”

Congress of the People said the protest march posed a threat to education.

“Sadtu’s latest call for thousands of teachers to abandon classrooms and join protest action… is a serious threat which could paralyse education, especially in rural areas,” said Cope MP Willie Madisha.

“Sadtu must be ashamed of its disgraceful conduct in our school system, because once again the union is victimising the children of our country, particularly the poor children who need the most in the way of development,” he said.

On Monday, the basic education department and Sadtu failed to agree on whether the marches were legal.

Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said at the time the union had been granted permission by the City of Tshwane to march in Pretoria.

In Pretoria, marchers planned to gather at the old Putco depot in Marabastad at 9am. They would march along Cowie, Struben, and Nelson Mandela Streets to the Union Buildings.

In Cape Town, the marchers would gather at 10.30am in Keizergracht and move along Darling, Adderley, Spin, and Plein Streets to Parliament.

Sadtu members have been on a national go-slow since pupils returned from the Easter holiday.

Democratic Alliance MP Annette Lovemore said the march was an attack on pupils’ right to learn.

“Sadtu and Cosatu’s calls for Grade 10 to 12 learners and teachers to stay away from schools tomorrow and join them in their planned illegal march to Parliament and other locations across the country is a flagrant attack on the constitutional rights of our learners.”

Lovemore said she would ask the SA Human Rights Commission to investigate both Sadtu and Cosatu.

Meanwhile, Western Cape education MEC Donald Grant called on pupils to ignore Sadtu’s call.

“Parents should enquire what arrangements have been made that learners are supervised should any of their educators not arrive at work,” said Grant’s spokeswoman Bronagh Casey. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-The South African Police Service in partnership with North West Provincial Government, Mahikeng Local Municipality and Motsweding FM will be engaged in an Anti-Rape Campaign. 

The “Ambassadors of Goodwill” Campaign will be held on the 25 April 2013 in Mahikeng at the Mmabatho Convention centre, at 10h00. 

“The campaign started as a result of numerous incidents of rape that are continuously reported in the North West Province on daily basis” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

A march that will comprise of senior citizens (gogos) and junior citizens (children) of the North West will march 100 meters from Mmabana to where they will hand the vulnerable people demands to the Premier of the Province Thandi Modise, and other Senior authorities at Mmabatho Convention Centre.

“The list of demands, will entail, demands from gogos and children who are currently targeted by criminals who rape them and leave them for dead” Ngubane said. 

The SAPS with all strategic partners and Motsweding FM decided to stage this event as a call for Action. 

“Talking has proven to be cheap over a period of time as rapists continue to prey over elderly people and children” he adds.

This comes after numerous incidents of rape were continuously reported in the North West Province. 

“The rape of 11 year-old, Ofentse Mogale of Mmakau is a case in point that we have decided to use as the face of the campaign” police said.

Ofentse Mogale was kidnapped, from her mother’s shack at night while asleep. She was suffocated with a cloth in her mouth,and taken to a nearby shack by the parolee rapist who raped and suffocated the young innocent girl to her to death police said. 

She was later found by Police sniffer dogs buried under the bed in the 45 year old man’s shack 500 meters away from her home. 

The man was out on parole after serving 16 years of his 27 years sentence, for similar charges in 1995 when he broke into a house raped, robbed and murdered a lady in Brits.

The following is how the program will unfold at Mmabatho Convention Centre.

Prayer sessions, Lighting of the candle, Poetry session, Gospel, Testimony from rape survivors and prisoners arrested for rapes.

There will be a desk of FSC personnel to check on rape cases reported, and assist community members on the spot. 

There will be a DVD display of photos of identified rape victims, Launch of whistle blowing campaign , Distribution of pepper sprays to senior citizens, Performance by artists, Word from women of SAWID, Prayer for rape victims, Word from the kids, MEC of Human Settlement, Public Safety and Liaison, Mr. Maloyi, Minister of Police, Mr. Mthethwa and the North West Provincial Commissioner; Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo.

“The campaign is based on Ambassadors of Goodwill, who shares the pain of vulnerable people who are victims of rape and wants to see an end in this gross violation of women rights” said Ngubane. 

These ambassadors made it possible to host the event by donating its kind, for the campaign to be a success. Amongst the donations that the project needs for sustainability going forward is the Anti-Rape Boards, that will be erected in many areas of the North West with massage condemning rape. “Pepper sprays and whistles will be launched as part of the whistle campaign to encourage communities to come together when a victim of crime blows a whistle to signal danger, this is seen as a great endeavor to prevent rape from occurring” he said. 

Good ambassadors will also assist in the donation of a house, a solid structure to the Ofentse Mogale’s family. 

“The house is a fundamental basic security feature of any family. Ofentse Mogale was abducted in a shack and it was easy for the perpetrator to gain entry” police said. 

Ambassadors who will volunteer to look after the vulnerable groups in the North West towns and villages will be sought, to be volunteers who take the responsibilities to care for the elders and kids living in instable homes. 

The project is just going to be launched in Mahikeng, and the crusade will move through the North West province.

The Theme of the Campaign is 

Tirisano Mmogo, Unite Against Rape!!

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Rustenburg – Police radio communication in Marikana could have been compromised by a robbery before 34 striking miners were shot dead, the Farlam Commission heard on Tuesday.

Maj-Gen Charl Annandale said a police officer was robbed of his radio the Monday before the shooting on August 16 last year, a Thursday.

The individual who took the radio later tried to use it.

“It was clear that the person wasn’t an officer,” Annandale said.

He did not clarify whether the radio was taken from one of the police officers killed in Marikana that week.

Annandale said he opted to discuss the Marikana plan with the other commanders since it could have been compromised had it been shared over the radio.

He was delivering his evidence-in-chief at the commission holding public hearings in Rustenburg.

The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people killed during the wage-related unrest in Marikana last year. Police shot dead 34 mineworkers on August 16. Another 10 people were killed in the preceding week.

Annandale told the commission he received a text message from the president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction, Joseph Mathunjwa, almost two hours before police fired on the protesters.

The message read: “Since (there is) no person who is available to give feedback to, we are going back to employees to inform them no one is available. We have tried our best without co-operation from anyone. Let peace prevail.”

Annandale said he was concerned about the message and discussed it with Maj-Gen William Mpembe, who told him he also received it. Annandale said they tried to get hold of Mathunjwa but failed.

He sent Mathunjwa a text message saying police were always available and willing to help them find an amicable situation.

Mathunjwa did not respond.

The hearings continue. – Sapa

The South African Police Service in partnership with North West Provincial Government, Mahikeng Local Municipality and Motsweding FM will be engaged in an anti rape campaign. The Ambassadors of Goodwill Campaign will be held on the 25 April 2013 in Mahikeng at the Mmabatho Convention centre, at 10h00.

The campaign started as a result of numerous incidents of rape that are continuously reported in the North West Province on daily basis.

A march that will comprise of senior citizens (gogos) and junior citizens (children) of the North West will march 100 meters from Mmabana to where they will hand the vulnerable people demands to the Premier of the Province Thandi Modise, and other Senior authorities at Mmabatho Convention Centre.

The list of demands, will entail, demands from gogos and children who are currently targeted by criminals who rapes them and leave them for dead. The SAPS with all strategic partners and Motsweding FM decided to stage this event as a call for Action. Talking has proven to be cheap over a period of time as rapists continue to prey over elderly people and children.

This comes after numerous incidents of rape were continuously reported in the North West Province. 

The rape of 11 years old Ofentse Mogale of Mmakau is a case in point that we have decided to use as the face of the campaign.

She was kidnapped, from her mother’s shack at night while asleep, and suffocated with a cloth in the mouth, and taken to a nearby shack by the parolee rapist who raped and suffocated the young innocent girl to her to death. She was later found by Police sniffer dogs buried under the bed in the 45 year old man’s shack 500 meters away from her home. The man was out on parole after serving 16 years of his 27 years sentence, for similar charges in 1995 when he broke into a house raped, robbed and murdered a lady in Brits.

The following is how the program will unfold at Mmabatho Convention Centre

Prayer sessions, Lighting of the candle, Poetry session, Gospel, Testimony from rape survivors and prisoners arrested for rapes, There will be a desk of FSC personnel to check on rape cases reported, and assist community members on the spot. There will be a DVD display of photos of identified rape victims, Launch of whistle blowing campaign , Distribution of pepper sprays to senior citizens, Performance by artists, Word from women of SAWID, Prayer for rape victims, Word from the kids, MEC of Human Settlement, Public Safety and Liaison, Mr. Maloyi, Minister of Police, Mr. Mthethwa and the North West Provincial Commissioner; Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo.

The campaign is based on Ambassadors of Goodwill, who shares the pain of vulnerable people who are victims of rape and wants to see an end in this gross violation of women rights. These ambassadors made it possible to host the event by donating in kind, for the campaign to be a success. Amongst the donations that the project needs for sustainability going forward is the Anti Rape Boards, that will be erected in many arrears of the North West with massages condemning rape. Pepper sprays and whistles will be launched as part of the whistle campaign to encourage communities to come together when a victim of crime blows a whistle signaling danger, this is seen as a great endeavor to prevent rape from occurring. Good ambassadors will also assist in the donation of a house, a solid structure to the Ofentse Mogale’s family. The house is a fundamental basic security feature in the security of any family. Ofentse Mogale was abducted in a shack and it was easy for the perpetrator to gain entry. Ambassadors who will volunteer to look after the vulnerable groups in the North West towns and villages will be sought, to be volunteers who takes the responsibility to care for the elders and kids living in instable homes. The project is just going to be launched in Mahikeng, and the crusade will move through the North West province.

Media, and the public is invited to attend this event.

The Theme of the Campaign is Tirisano Mmogo, Unite Against Rape!!