Johannesburg-SAFA president Danny Jordaan has promised a new era for the South African national football team that will see a new name, new technical staff and a new technical sponsor.  He stressed this was not a witch hunt because Bafana Bafana lost to Nigeria in the CHAN tournament on Sunday but part of a process he began when he was elected to the presidency late last year.

“I am fully aware that the national team needs urgent attention and we are dealing with the situation.  We have a meeting already scheduled in early February where the team name, technical staff and technical sponsorship will be addressed.

“Big changes are underway at SAFA, not just at the national team level but at grassroots.  If we want to build a winning team for the future we have to have efficient structures in place right from school level.”

Jordaan said he understands the criticism that the team and SAFA are receiving over the loss to Nigeria but added that fans should remember that many of our top players were not allowed to take part in the tournament.  “CHAN rules restrict the competition to home-based players and some teams refused to release the players who might have made a difference to the result,” he said.  “This is not an excuse it is the reality of the situation.  We could not field our best team because of restrictions.”

Since Jordaan took over he has begun a sweeping review of all SAFA management. “Things will change and sooner rather than later. We are going to create a new era where South Africa takes its rightful place as a top African football nation and one that is respected in world football,” he said.  “This is the task I have undertaken and I will not rest until we can hold our heads up in pride.”-TDN

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SAFA president Danny Jordaan has promised a new era for the South African national football team that will see a new name, new technical staff and a new technical sponsor.  He stressed this was not a witch hunt because Bafana Bafana lost to Nigeria in the CHAN tournament on Sunday but part of a process he began when he was elected to the presidency late last year.

“I am fully aware that the national team needs urgent attention and we are dealing with the situation.  We have a meeting already scheduled in early February where the team name, technical staff and technical sponsorship will be addressed.

“Big changes are underway at SAFA, not just at the national team level but at grassroots.  If we want to build a winning team for the future we have to have efficient structures in place right from school level.”

Jordaan said he understands the criticism that the team and SAFA are receiving over the loss to Nigeria but added that fans should remember that many of our top players were not allowed to take part in the tournament.  “CHAN rules restrict the competition to home-based players and some teams refused to release the players who might have made a difference to the result,” he said.  “This is not an excuse it is the reality of the situation.  We could not field our best team because of restrictions.”

Since Jordaan took over he has begun a sweeping review of all SAFA management. “Things will change and sooner rather than later. We are going to create a new era where South Africa takes its rightful place as a top African football nation and one that is respected in world football,” he said.  “This is the task I have undertaken and I will not rest until we can hold our heads up in pride.”

By Obakeng Maje

By Obakeng Maje

Mmakau-A 49 year-old suspect arrested for alleged rape of his 74 year-old mother at Mapetla township in Mmakau. 

Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said that the victim was allegedly asleep when her son entered her bedroom. 

“The victim informed her sister who alerted the police. She was taken to the hospital for medical examination where the rape was confirmed” Ngubane said. 

The suspect will appear in the Garankuwa Magistrate’s on 7 February 2014 for bail application. 

Investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Boitekong-North West police are searching for four men who allegedly raped a 35-year-old victim in Sondela informal settlement,near Boitekong at about 02:30.  

Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said a man and his girlfriend were allegedly asleep when they were awoken by two suspects wearing balaclavas. 

“The suspects allegedly threatened them with knives and robbed them undisclosed amount of money. One of the suspects took the complainant’s girlfriend to the other room where he raped her” brigadier Thulani Ngubane said. 

The suspects fled the scene on foot and are still at large. 

A case of rape and house robbery is being investigated.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Marikana-Police are investigating a case of rape after a 5 year-old girl was allegedly raped at about 17:00 in one of the RDP houses near Marikana.  

“It is alleged that a 5 year-old girl went to a local tuck shop to buy sweets and she was confronted by an unknown suspect who took her to an abandoned RDP house where the atrocity took place” brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

The suspect is still at large and police request anyone with the information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to come forward.

Police investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Zeerust-Twenty two suspects between the age of 18 and 57 who were arrested in Zeerust for public violence, malicious damage to property and arson on 29 January 2014 in Kruisrivier appeared in Zeerust Magistrate’s Court on Monday. 

The suspects will appear again on 10 February 2013 for bail application.

“It is alleged about 300 community members stoned and set alight a local businessman Tshepo Kraai’s house and tuck shop accusing him of the alleged child kidnapping and ritual killings in the township. Five of his vehicles were also torched” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

The police said the victim and his wife were transported to the hospital with burnt wounds.-TDN

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North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed concern about incidents of violence and called on AMCU to respect its earlier commitment to a non-violent strike action.

“We wish to express our disappointment that acts of violence have emerged amid allegations of intimidation of non-striking workers, barricading of some routes and pelting of motorists with stones. We wish to appeal to striking AMCU members to respect the rights of other citizens, their freedom of movement and their properties,” Premier Modise emphasised. 

Modise reminded AMCU that while workers’ right to strike is protected by the constitution, the rule of law has to be upheld and peace maintained to ensure protection of life, property and the advancement of the rights of all.

“Incidents that might lead to violent confrontation have to be avoided at all costs and efforts intensified by parties for a settlement to be arrived at before the situation gets out of hand,” she added.

The Premier’s plea follows reported incidents that according to police occurred in Mmantsere near Mogwase, route between Zinniaville and Khuseleka mine.

A bus transporting an Impala Platinum mine soccer team from Olympia Park stadium was allegedly stoned by a group of people at Freedom Park.

Spokesperson for the police, Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said that no injuries were reported and no arrests were made.

Amcu rejected a new wage offer tabled by Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum on Wednesday as it was not close to the workers’ demand of a R12 500 monthly salary.

Amcu’s national co-ordinator Evans Ramokga said workers earned R5 000, and the union suggested that the R7 500 gap be closed over three years, after which workers would ultimately earn the proposed R12 500.

Amcu had proposed to table a new proposal to the platinum companies on Friday after receiving a mandate from its members.

The strike in the North West platinum belt is in its second week. The platinum companies said hundreds of millions of rands had already been lost as a result of the strike.-TDN

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The Mahikeng Aerotropolis will position the North West Province as a gateway into the Southern African Development and Economic Community (SADEC), Premier Thandi Modise told investors and stakeholders during the roundtable discussion on the repositioning of Mahikeng towards an Airport city at the Mmabatho Palms Resort in Mahikeng on Friday. 

“We want to leave a legacy of Mahikeng as a city that will challenge established exports sites. The development of the freight hub will ensure that the number of trucks transporting cargo to as far out as Zambia that is damaging our roads network is reduced,” said Premier Modise. 

Modise told delegates including investors that her administration was committed to the empowerment of youth, women and people with disability.

“We want development in every sector of our lives in the North West. We are upfront as the province to say that, because of the rich history of the province, we want women, youth and people with disability to benefit as we reposition Mahikeng as an Airport city and create a vibrant economy in the province,” reiterated Modise.

The roundtable dialogue followed a site visit of the Mafikeng International Airport where R45 million infrastructure upgrade project is in its final stages of completion for the rejuvenation of the airport. 

The airport boasts a landing strip of 4.8 km which make it the second longest in Africa.

The runaway is wide enough for an aircraft of any magnitude to land and it is equipped with the state of the art instrument landing system allowing it to handle aircraft during severe climatic conditions.

Another major strength of the airport is that it is located very close to the railway line that links Africa from Cape to Cairo.

It is envisaged that the airport will resume scheduled flights and attract chartered freight aircraft in the next few months.

“This is a major economic development project and an investment that is going to impact on the lives of the people and replicate benefits for investors,” said Chairperson of Future Investment Holdings and local businessman Abel Naphtaly who was part of the airport tour and the roundtable discussions.

“The interest shown by local and overseas investors in the development that is going to unlock our economic potential and create much needed jobs through the proposed free special economic zone (SEZ) is heartening,” said an upbeat MEC for Economic Development, Conservation, Environment and Tourism, Matlalepula Rosho. 

Premier Modise was accompanied by MEC Rosho, MEC Desbo Mohono of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kgosi Jeff Montshiwa of the Barolong Boo Ratshidi and MMC for in Mahikeng Local Municipality, Councillor Pontsho Tabane.-TDN

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Every facility under control of government will be made accessible to People with Disabilities, North West Premier Thandi Modise said at the closing of a two-day Provincial Disability Rights Conference that ended in Mahikeng on Friday.

“Every municipality must make sure that its buildings are accessible to People with Disability. We will make sure that every facility under the control of government is accessible to people with disability. Clinics and other buildings must all be wheelchair friendly,” said Premier Modise.

Premier Modise also echoed Representative of the North West House of Traditional Leadership, Kgosi Anthea Seatlholo’s concern that the current disability grant needed to be increased as People with Disability often needed more support which tend to increase their financial burden, saying that her administration will raise the matter with the national government.

Delegates emerged from the conference convened under the theme “Breaking barriers, open doors for an inclusive society for all,with key priority areas for the disability rights sector that will inform the work of the Provincial Government over the next five years.

“We have singled-out education, health, universal access, economic empowerment, governance, institutional support, decent jobs and employment as critical areas that should be given urgent attention by government,” read the declaration. 

The conference also resolved that the Provincial Government should lobby for the health policy to be reviewed to include other types of disabilities such as Albinism.

Delegates were also resolute that 2% employment target must be achieved by all departments in the next two years and that the government must take action against those that fail to achieve this target.

“We congratulate Premier Thandi Modise and her team in the Provincial Administration for convening this important conference and wish that they use their evident energies to ensure effective implementation of the resolutions of this conference,” said delegates in the declaration.  

The delegates closed by paying a fitting tribute to the late former President Nelson Mandela.

“We remain indebted to Madiba as he laid a firm foundation for a united, democratic, prosperous and an inclusive South Africa that disregards any form of unfair discrimination. We will continue to pursue the ideals that he represented. Our conference is therefore the first step in defending the legacy of Nelson Mandela.”-TDN

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