North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on the independent police investigative directorate to investigate the alleged harassment, assault and arrest of Daily Sun journalist Ricky Dire who reportedly took pictures of police taking a bribe in Rustenburg on Saturday.

“Police have to work very hard on their image to inspire and regain public confidence after recent tragedies experienced in our province viewed by some as acts of police brutality. They should realise that their conduct is under public scrutiny and strive to be above reproach,” stressed Premier Modise.

In condemning the incident, Modise said that skirmishes with citizens who are purportedly determined to expose corrupt activities of a few rotten potatoes within the police service will not serve to improve the image of the police.

Dire allegedly took pictures of police receiving bribes from the owners of Red Dragon Trading who had phoned him before he was spotted by the police who bundled him into their police van, confiscated his cellphone and deleted the pictures. This however happened after he had send one picture to his friend.  

Police spokesperson Sergeant Kealeboga Molale confirmed that charges of intimidation, crimen injuria and resisting arrest were laid by the arresting police against Dire who had since been released from police custody.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-During a crime intelligence driven sting operation, R300 000 worth of suspected counterfeit goods were seized and 8 fines to the value R8000,00 were issued to suspects in the Kimberley Central Business District. 

The operation took place on Thursday between 11:00 and 15:00 with members from Kimberley Cluster Crime Intelligence, Kimberley Cluster Visible Policing unit, Kimberley Station Visible Policing unit and Brand investigators acting on behalf of Adams and Adams/Spoor and Fischer from Pretoria. 

“Five clothing stores were raided and alleged counterfeit brands such of Nike, Adidas, Lacoste, Guess, Polo, Converse and Puma were seized. The brand Investigators acting on behalf of the mentioned brands alluded that these companies lose millions of Rands because of this illegal trade” lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

Some of the clothes sold at this shops are priced at a quarter of the price of the original product. 

The investigation continues.-TDN

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North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on authorities to take action against a farmer who is alleged to have closed a water valve resulting in water interruption to Swartruggens town and Borolelo Township on Sunday.

“We appeal to our communities not to be provoked to anger by this supposed act of sabotage and racism that need to be thoroughly investigated.” emphasised Premier Modise who is awaiting a written comprehensive report on the incident.

Modise who has proposed that an urgent court interdict prohibiting the farmer from intimidating the operator be applied for if necessary added that it is not justifiable for water to be cut off for communities for the benefit of the environment and animals and for any person to tamper with municipal infrastructure supply water to communities.  

It is alleged that the farmer accompanied by a police officer instructed the operator on site not to pump water to allow water to reach his animals downstream.

Premier Modise has called on municipalities to tighten security at their water pumps given to avoid acts of sabotage that will result in water supply to communities.

Swartruggens and Borolelo are among the areas that are to benefit from reprioritised short term water project intervention plan for which close to R34 million has been budgeted for implementation in Kgetleng Rivier Local Municipality.

As per the Memorandum of Understanding and the project implementation plan signed by the Premier Modise and the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs close to R14 million is to be spent on water projects interventions in Swartruggens & Borolelo Township. Other areas that are to benefit Derby, Borolelo ,Koster, Reagile and Mazista.-TDN

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Johannesburg – Suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is accused of having splashed out R35 000 of the federation’s money on flying his wife and ex-wife around South Africa.

According to the Sunday Times, this is one of the nine charges that will form part of his disciplinary hearing. The 33-page charge sheet was handed to him last week and shows that a Cosatu credit card was used on several occasions to pay for flights and accommodation for his family and for a “body therapist” at a hotel in Braamfontein.

For more http://www.news24.com

Durban – The controversial “spy tapes” that got President Jacob Zuma off the hook in 2009 do not contain the kind of evidence that could bring the president down, suggests KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu.

Mchunu, who is also the ANC provincial chairman in Zuma’s home province, said that “maybe when (the tapes) come out, I hope we will not be shocked realising that there is nothing (in them) after all”.

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

By Obakeng Maje

Matlapaneng-Some of the community members in Matlapaneng village, near Taung are up in arms after a half-built community hall fell and injured one of the employees on the site.

Kagiso Kgopane suffered minor injuries on a shoulder and back after the wall fell on him.

According to some reports, the community hall was built out of its structure and it would stand the hands of time.

“The hall was built out of its structure and its foundation is not sold. The contractors did not built a wall from the concrete embedded on the floor” community representative Freddy Seruteng said.

However Tshegofatso Samonne,39, dispute Seruteng statement and said is dillusional and imbecile.

“The wall’s falling was caused by torential rain and a strong wind we experience. The wall was newly-built and it was only one line of bricks. The inspectors, consultants and contractors came to inspect the site and gave it 100%” said cllo Samonne.

The councillor Kedumedi Tjalimpi also attests to the statement made by Semonne.”We guarantee the community that the community hall is stable and was not built out of structure. Those who made wrongful statement are trying to impede the project” she said.

The completion of the hall is expected soon and the project continue. 

Kgopane was taken to Taung hospital for medical attention and will be back at work on Monday.-TDN

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North West Premier Thandi Modise has convened an urgent meeting of the Provincial Executive Council (Exco) to evaluate progress in implementation of Section 154 intervention in Madibeng Local Municipality, Section 139 interventions in Ditsobotla, Maquassi Hills and Matlosana Local Municipalities. The Special Exco meeting is to be held in Mahikeng on Wednesday.

Premier Modise said that the meeting is aimed at determining urgent appropriate interventions where progress has not been registered since administrators and experts were deployed to the four municipalities.

“Obstruction and resistance to provincial intervention and hand-on support that is part of our local government turnaround strategy had delayed progress that needed to be registered for the benefit of our communities,” stressed Modise.   

She added that the meeting will also consider an update report on performance of all municipalities across the province. 

Johannesburg – ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and not President Jacob Zuma will deliver the party’s Gauteng provincial manifesto on Sunday at a rally scheduled to be held in Atteridgeville near Pretoria.

According to the Sunday Independent, the move comes after recent events including the booing of President Jacob Zuma late last year and Gauteng provincial secretary David Makhura’s statements that the province would seek election help from former president Thabo Mbeki.

For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance is determined to unravel the mystery of the whereabouts of a R1.2bn satellite that South Africa commissioned from a Russian company eight years ago.

According to the Sunday Times, the deal was struck in May 2006 and was known as Project Flute. DA MP David Maynier told the newspaper that he suspects the project will turn out to be one of the biggest scandals to hit SA.

For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa is to lead an ANC delegation to Perth, Australia, to woo South African voters living there and possibly establish a branch of the party, The Sunday Times reported.

“The ANC is a non-racial organisation, and obviously we will not leave out any voters that are likely to vote for us,” African National Congress international relations subcommittee head and deputy minister in the presidency Obed Bapela told the newspaper.

“So we will be targeting Australia because of the number of South Africans that are there.”

According to the report, an estimated 80 000 South Africans lived in Australia.

He said that the South Africans in Australia are those who left when they said the crime was too much, and 20 years into democracy, they had reconnected with South Africa.

“It’s more a fact-finding mission in Australia, unlike the UK… When we get the numbers that we think are encouraging,, we might ask them to establish an ANC branch.”

The ANC was also planning a rally in London next month, where it had set up a branch.

SAPA