Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane believes South Africa’s qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil is solely in their hands.  

There are three matches left in the qualifiers, two away encounters against Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia before rounding off the programme with a seemingly easy home clash against neighbours Botswana. 

South Africa is currently on five points in second place, with Ethiopia top of Group A with seven points, while CAR and Botswana are lying third and fourth with two points and one respectively.

“If you look at the table very carefully, we have not lost a match; we drew two and won one. With three matches to go, we have to play CAR who are below us, and Ethiopia who are above us. So if we get positive results against the two, we will top the group, and come September against Botswana we will have played our part,” said Letsholonyane. 

“The exciting thing about these qualifiers is that we have to do our own job and not depend on others to do it for us. We must just win our games and qualify. No other scenario will do.”

“Playing away has always proven to be difficult, more so because we are going to play back to back matches and it doesn’t mean we cannot return with maximum points. But we have to take one game at a time – deal with each opponent at a time, get the required result and move on to the next match because in any case the planning for each qualifier will not be the same,” said the dreadlocked midfielder.

Bafana Bafana has already played a draw against Ethiopia and defeated CAR at home, but Letsholonyane says it will be a different ball game altogether playing away. 

“That we beat CAR at home does not mean they are an easy side. They showed glimpses of being a good side with quality players, so we don’t have to take them lightly based on the past result. This is a new game altogether and we have to forget about our victory over them and focus afresh. We can’t afford to take any of the remaining matches lightly. All three countries in our group have proven to be tough opponents,” said Letsholonyane. 

“But I am confident we can return from CAR and Ethiopia victorious, and finish off the job at home against Botswana because we have become a better team with each match. I believe we have the players to fight for a positive result.”

According to reports, former Bafana Bafana star Bryce Moon has been found guilty of culpable homicide.

Moon hit pedestrian Mavis Ncube in his car in Sandhurst on June 30, 2009.

Ncube later died of her injuries in hospital.

In a case continually beset with postponements, owing to the unavailability of witnesses, Moon was charged with murder, alternatively attempted murder, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless or negligent driving.

According to Eyewitness news reports on Twitter he has now been found guilty of culpable homicide, but acquitted on the other charges.

The Bidvest Wits midfielder, who turned 27 at the weekend, denied being drunk at the time of the accident, or speeding.

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Premier Modise applauds arrest of suspected farm attackers

The arrest of six suspected farm attackers around Mahikeng is commendable and should send a strong message to criminals that farming communities have had enough of farm attacks and are united against crime, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Friday.

“The operation conducted by farmers, farmworkers and police proves just how crucial trust and good relations among farming communities is to the successful implementation of the rural safety plan. Every effort has to be made to prevent farm attacks and to ensure that those feed the nation are safer on farms” stressed Premier Modise.

Modise‘s commend and call for vigilance against crime on farms follows the arrest the suspects, four of whom were arrested two hours after a woman was reportedly overpowered in her farm shop.

According to Beeld newspaper, Kotie du Toit was attacked by four men in balaclavas on Thursday morning.

After taking money from the cash register, they took her back to her home, tied her up and demanded the keys to the safe.

“They held a gun to my head… I prayed out loud the whole time. God was there. One of the robbers stroked my hair and said ‘Sorry, Ouma’.”

They left, and after she managed to free herself, Du Toit called for help.

Local security forces were mobilised, along with farmers, herdsmen and local businessmen.

“We cordoned off an area of about 500 hectares with vehicles,” local farmer Wynand Buys said.

“Farm workers were dropped off every 50m so they could see each other and spread the word if they spotted the robbers. Herdsmen patrolled the fences.”

Two suspects were spotted when they crossed a road and a farmworker spotted another hiding in the grass.

Eventually all four surrendered to police and, after they were arrested, Du Toit’s stolen belongings were found in two bags in the veld.

In a separate incident, farmers caught two thieves in the act in a local farm house last Sunday and they were swiftly arrested by police.

Since joining forces last Sunday, farmers, farmworkers and police in the Mafikeng area in North West province have apprehended six suspected farm attackers, according to a report on Friday.

On Thursday, they arrested four men just two hours after a woman was reportedly overpowered in her farm shop, Beeld reported.

Kotie du Toit was attacked by four men in balaclavas on Thursday morning.

After taking money from the cash register, they took her back to her home, tied her up and demanded the keys to the safe.

“They held a gun to my head… I prayed out loud the whole time. God was there. One of the robbers stroked my hair and said ‘Sorry, Ouma’.”

They left, and after she managed to free herself, Du Toit called for help.

Local security forces were mobilised, along with farmers, herdsmen and local businessmen.

“We cordoned off an area of about 500 hectares with vehicles,” local farmer Wynand Buys said.

“Farm workers were dropped off every 50m so they could see each other and spread the word if they spotted the robbers. Herdsmen patrolled the fences.”

Two suspects were spotted when they crossed a road and a farmworker spotted another hiding in the grass.

Eventually all four surrendered to police and, after they were arrested, Du Toit’s stolen belongings were found in two bags in the  veld.

In a separate incident, farmers caught two thieves in the act in a local farm house last Sunday and they were swiftly arrested by police. – Sapa

The Farlam Commission of Inquiry is hoping to continue as planned next week, following an attack on miners’ advocate Dali Mpofu, a spokesperson said on Friday.

“We are engaging the legal teams where Mr Dali Mpofu works from,” said Tshepo Mahlangu.

Mpofu is recovering in hospital after being attacked and stabbed on an East London beach.

Options being explored include the possibility of Mpofu’s team putting someone else in his place while he recovers, or for retired  judge Ian Farlam and the evidence leaders to meet to see whether the sequence of the inquiry’s programme can be changed.

“The commission has to continue,” said Mahlangu. “We can’t afford any more delays.”

Earlier, Eastern Cape police said Mpofu was in a “serious but stable condition” after being stabbed and robbed near Eastern Beach.

Mahlangu said the commission was shocked and saddened by the attack on Mpofu.

“He is an important member of the commission, playing a very important role. We want to wish him a speedy recovery.”

Mahlangu said the commission did not see a link between its work and the attack on Mpofu.

“Not at all. The police have said very clearly that it is robbery. There is no information that we have that seeks to suggest otherwise,” he said. – Sapa

Mpumalanga Black Aces will appear in front of the PSL DC facing various charges: They face three charges relating to failure to honour National First Division fixtures.

The first game they failed to honour was a scheduled fixture against Cape Town FC on 23 September 2012 at NNK Stadium. The second fixture they failed to honour was on 19 September 2012 against United FC at the GWK Stadium.

The third fixture they failed to honour was against Sivutsa Stars on 15 September 2012 at Secunda Stadium.

They will appear this evening.

Courtesy of http://www.psl.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

North West- Most schools in North West are over-crowded and this affect learners as the conditions derail them.

According to reports, most learners are forced to share textbooks and do not have enough classrooms.

The sentiment shared by Sadtu secretary-general Thabo Sematle.

“Most schools in the province does not have enough classrooms and this results in overcrowding” Thabo Sematle told Sabc.

Last month Sadtu in the province plea with MEC Louisa Mabe to resign.

The department of Education has been under siege as Mabe was implicated in maladministration.

Department of Education spokesperson Brian Setswamung admits that most schools in the province are overcrowded.

“We can attest that most schools are overcrowded and the department is looking how to solve that issue” he told sabc.

Overcrowding and lack of textbooks affect learners in their studies and their progressive reports said Sematle.

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Johannesburg – Lawyer Dali Mpofu is in a serious but stable condition after being stabbed and robbed near East London’s Eastern Beach, police in the Eastern Cape said on Thursday.

Two people allegedly attacked the former South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) CEO on Esplanade Road on Thursday at around 3pm, said spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci.

The SABC reported that the attackers took his cellphone.

“He also sustained stab wounds in the upper and lower body, and was rushed to a hospital in East London,” Soci said.

No arrests had been made yet.

Mpofu is representing the miners involved in last year’s shooting in Marikana, North West. The SABC reported he was on a short break before the Farlam Commission of Inquiry into the shooting resumed next week.

The African National Congress condemned the attack.

“This act of thuggerism should not be tolerated as it undermines public safety and is a threat to lives,” spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said in a statement. – Sapa

North West acting local government MEC Paul Sebegoe was shut out of the Ditsobotla municipal chambers by angry workers as government’s action to intervene in the Lichtenburg-based municipality backfired.

Sebegoe, who came to invoke Section 139 (1) (b) of the Constitution on the municipality to put an interim administrator at Ditsobotla local municipality, was prevented from implementing the decision of the provincial cabinet.

Sebegoe ended up addressing only 11 councillors including mayor Lesego Holele as the other 31 were either shut out or failed to turn up for the scheduled meeting.

Ditsobotla is one of three local municipalities placed under administration after the provincial executive council said they had become dysfunctional.

The provincial legislature’s portfolio committee expressed reservations on the interventions and queried why it had not been consulted.

But tension against the intervention highlighted the extent of factionalism within the ANC in the province as one group of protesters is said to be aligned to ANC provincial chairperson Supra Mahumapelo, while the other to ousted provincial secretary, Kabelo Mataboge.

On Wednesday, the grounds at Ditsobotla municipal offices in Lichtenburg resembled a battlefield with police having sporadic clashes with protesting members of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and other councillors.

Samwu official Alfred Pele said: “We welcome any intervention but the way this one has been done is factional. Then Sebegoe came here and did not want to consult us, instead, police were unleashed on union members.

“We know what is at stake here, there is talk of $2bn (R17bn) sourced to revamp service delivery and the MEC and his principals want to get their hands on that money.”

Pele said an administrator sent to the municipality would not enter the municipal building.

“We will make sure everything stops here, no one will report for work because we want to bring this factional approach to its knees.

“They should have invoked Section 139 (1) (b) on Ngaka Modiri Molema district and even Tswaing, but they can’t because mayors there belong to their faction,” he said.

Cope councillor Molopi Moseki echoed Pele, saying: “What we are seeing here are factional battles and the failure by the acting MEC to adhere to procedure renders the situation worse.

“What could have been good intervention was lost in political battles.”

Mayor Holele said she welcomed the administration so that it could clear her name.

“I have been accused and even kicked out of office for alleged corruption, maladministration and other ills. This intervention is welcome because it puts things to rest,” she said.

Holele said there were sharp divisions on the move, a situation that could make it difficult for the administrator.

Spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane said contractual agreements with the administrator were being finalised.

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