Monthly Archives: January 2014

MEC MAINE SETS TO MARK THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN OLD AGE COMPLEX IN TAUNG


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-The establishment of a multi-million old age complex in Taung will provide residential care and protection to older people and further creates job opportunities in the area, North West MEC for Social Development Collen Maine said on Wednesday.

“Our plans are at an advanced stage to conduct a sod-turning ceremony on Thursday (23 January 2014) to mark the official construction of an old age facility at Pudumong. The facility will be comprised of 64 beds for frail care unit (32 Males and 32 Females), 30 independent rooms and 6 beds for respite care services, Maine said, adding that the project would be completed over 24 months to the tune of R73,5m.

Representatives from Older Person’s Forum, the from tribal authority Greater Taung municipal councillors, the contractor and government officials will attend the ceremony.

Another sod-turning ceremony, Maine said will be conducted on Friday at Matsheng village for the construction of a prototype early childhood development centre.-TDN
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Undisclosed amount of money stolen at Taung shoprite after break-in


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-North West police are investigating a case of business robbery after unknown criminals broke into Taung shoprite on Wednesday.

According to the police, shoprite manager entered the building and realised that his office has broken into.

“The manager allegedly observed what’s sinister in the building and heard footsteps in the shop. He allegedly ran outside and police were called” sergeant Kealeboga Molale said.

Molale said the police did not arrest any suspects and undisclosed amount of money were stolen.

A case of House(Business) breaking was launched and investigations continue.-TDN
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Amcu sings ahead of court challenge


Johannesburg – Members of Amcu sang and danced outside the Johannesburg Labour Court on Wednesday, ahead of a legal challenge to their planned strike at gold mines.

Wearing green T-shirts bearing the slogan “AMCU: entrenching economic freedom for workers”, they sang a song that included the lyrics: “Voetsek i-chamber, f… off”, referring to the Chamber of Mines which is bringing the court challenge.

As the song finished they shouted: “Phansi (down with) the chamber”.

On Monday, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union announced it would strike in both the platinum and gold sectors after issuing employers with strike notices. The union wants an entry-level monthly salary of R12 500.

But the chamber said gold producers would go to court as they believed the strike in that sector was illegal, and would seek damages from the union.

Spokesperson for the gold producers Charmane Russell said a “peace clause” in an agreement signed last year prevented Amcu from striking.

The two-tier wage agreement was concluded on September 10 with three of the four unions in the sector – the National Union of Mineworkers, Uasa and Solidarity.

The three unions represented 72% of workers in the gold sector, while Amcu represented 17% of workers at the time of the negotiations. Amcu participated in the central level negotiations but refused to accept the agreement.

“The September 2013 agreement was made applicable to all employees who form part of the bargaining unit, irrespective of trade union affiliation. These wages were backdated to July 1, 2013,” Russell said in a statement on Monday.

Amcu members had benefited from the outcome of the wage talks since then.

“In terms of the ‘peace clause’ contained in the agreement, there can be no strike action about terms and conditions of employment during the existence of the agreement,” she said.

“The issue of conditions of employment has been settled for the duration of the agreement, and no demands may be made during the course of the agreement.”

She said any strike relating to terms and conditions of employment would be in contravention of the peace clause, and illegal.

“The Chamber of Mines will request that the court rule that the union should be held responsible for any and all damages suffered as a result of strike action,” she said.

The strikes were scheduled to take place from Thursday at Sibanye Gold’s Driefontein mine, Harmony Gold’s Kusasalethu and Masimong mines, and at all of AngloGold Ashanti’s South African operations.

The court room was packed with Amcu members from 09:00, but the matter was stood down until later on Wednesday morning.

SAPA

Two teens raped while from school in Pampierstad


By Obakeng Maje
Pampierstad- Northern Cape police are investigating cases of rape after two teenagers were allegedly raped.

Police said a 13 and 14 girls were raped while on their way from school in Tlapeng village, near Pampierstad.

“The atrocity took place on Monday near BTH where two teenagers were allegedly raped by unknown men. The two were walking home from Reikamile primary school when two men allegedly pounced on them” said Pampierstad Police Station spokesperson Thuso Setumiso.

The police are investigating two cases of rape and the suspects are still at large.

According to the victims, the suspects were allegedly wearing balaclavas.

The police request anyone with information that could led to any arrests to come forward.

Police investigations continue.-TDN
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Chiefs defender Masilela ready for Sundowns


aizer Chiefs defender, Tsepo Masilela, has been back in full training, and is available for selection in tomorrow’s clash with Mamelodi Sundowns.

The 28-year-old recently signed a new contract at Naturena as they sought to reward him for his fine form, although he has spent the last few weeks recovering from injury.

Masilela was withdrawn from Bafana Bafana’s CHAN squad due to the injury, though it was always expected that he would be fit in time for tomorrow’s top-of-the-table clash.
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Voorspoed pupil, Maretela to be remembered


By Obakeng Maje
Magogong-The memorial service of Neohadi Maretela,10 who died in a fatal accident will be held at Voorspoed Primary School on Wednesday, at around 11:00am.

Maretela died last week in a fatal accident where 32 pupils from Voorspoed primary school were involved in an accident.

Police said a driver of a excavator plunged into a school bus after he lost control.

15 pupils were taken to various hospitals for medical attention and Maretela died on the scene.

A 43 year-old driver was subsequently arrested on Saturday and briefly appeared at Hartswater Magistrate Court for culpable homicide charge.

Johannes Khanye,43 was granted a bail and according to our investigations, he does not have a valid driver’s licence for the alleged hazardous vehicle.-TDN
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NWest Exco to evaluate municipal interventions


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 has been convened by North West Premier Thandi Modise. The Special Exco meeting is to be held in Mahikeng today.

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.-TDN
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‘Losers’ Bafana pocket R1.3m for Chan


Johannesburg – Despite crashing out the African Nations Championship (Chan) at the first hurdle, Bafana Bafana will pocket $125 000 in prize money for finishing third in their group, it was announced on Tuesday.

The prize money for Chan would total $3.2 million (about R34m) the Local Organising Committee (LOC) said.

The winner of the tournament would earn $750 000 (about R8.1m), the runner-up $400 000 (about R4.3m), and the third and fourth placed teams $250 000 (about R2.7m) each.

The losing quarter finalists would take home $175 000 (about R1.9m) each, the teams placed third in the group stage $125 000 each, and those placed fourth in the group stage $100 000 (about R1m) each.

The tournament, which is being hosted by South Africa, ends on 1 February.

SAPA

Sanral operating normally after powder scare


Johannesburg – Sanral was operating at full capacity on Wednesday following an evacuation of the building, the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) said.

“Employees are back at work today, and everything is running normally,” said ETC CEO Jamie Surkont.

The Tshwane hazardous material unit was called to the SA National Roads Agency Limited’s nerve centre on Tuesday afternoon after a “suspicious envelope containing a white substance” was found on the premises.

The building was evacuated and its electricity shut down.

Thirty-seven people were decontaminated and hospitalised as a precautionary measure.

All of them had been discharged by Wednesday morning, said Surkont.

On Tuesday, Sanral said the evacuation had disrupted the Gauteng highway tolling system, but Surkont said it remained operational. Biological testing revealed that the powder was not anthrax.

SAPA

N West rapists remanded in custody


By Obakeng Maje
KANANA- Two Suspects, a 19 year-old Joseph Dlomo and 21 year-old
Johannes Moabi accused of allegedly raping a 27 year-old victim from
Kanana Township near Orkney on 29 December 2013 appeared in Orkney
Magistrate’s Court on 9 January 2014 for bail application.

They are still in custody and will appear again on 10 February 2014 for further investigation.

“It is alleged that the victim and her friends were from a local tavern
when they were chased by the suspects. According to the information, the
suspects managed to grab the victim and threatened her with a knife. The suspects took the victim to an open field and took turns in raping her” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

The suspects were later arrested.-TDN
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