Daily Archives: February 19, 2014

Chiefs claim Celtic’ scalp


Johannesburg – Bernard Parker saw his PSL goal tally climb into double figures as he helped Kaizer Chiefs seal a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.

Parker opened the scoring with a stunning volley from his weaker foot shortly before the interval, while Knowledge Musona added the second 20 minutes from the end, as Chiefs opened up a nine point lead at the summit of the league table.

The cherry on top came in the form of an own-goal from Keagan Buchanan, who was unfortunate to put the ball into his own net a minute from the end.

Parker has been ever-present for the Glamour Boys this season and has seen his prolific scoring record take him to the top of the scoring charts with 10, while his nearest threat, Katlego Mashego of Mamelodi Sundowns, trails by three.

The hosts made a bright start and kept hold of the ball as Celtic struggled to keep up with the defending champions, who moved the ball at pace and had chances open up for Siphiwe Tshabalala and Knowledge Musona early on.

Celtic did well to keep the Soweto outfit at bay, as the defensive line cleared the danger when Chiefs came knocking and ensured that the game remained tight at either end of the pitch.

Celtic were asking plenty of question of the Chiefs defence at the set-piece, with the best of the action coming from corners and free-kicks, which were aimed at skipper Clayton Daniels, who was winning everything in the air but was unable to hit the target with his head.

But Chiefs would not be kept out, as a turnover in possession resulted in Parker’s 10th league goal of the season, as the Bafana Bafana marksman found the back of the net on the stroke of half-time.

Chiefs picked up the ball in Celtic’s half, quickly whipped in a cross for Kingston Nkhatha, who miscued a spectacular bicycle-kick effort and instead saw the ball fall kindly for an unmarked Parker.

The in-form striker unleashed a deadly left-footed volley, which beat goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb at his near post and flew into the top corner as the log-leaders took the advantage into the half-time break.

Chiefs wasted little time after the break in going on the offensive and came close to a second five minutes into the second period as a superb combination between Parker and Musona led to the latter drilling his shot at goal, but it was deflected wide of the mark from close-range.

Celtic had their best chance of the game fall to Joel Mogorosi, who was denied only by the crossbar which came to the rescue for Chiefs on the hour mark, as the playmaker thundered an effort straight at Itumeleng Khune, with the country’s number one shot-stopper guiding the ball onto the post and out of danger.

Amakhosi soaked up the pressure applied by the visitors and put the result beyond Celtic in the 70th minute when Musona’s well-timed curled strike beat a despairing Tignyemb, as the home side stretched their lead with the game headed towards its conclusion.

Buchanan would have the last say, but not in the way he would have wanted, as a corner took a deflection from the young midfielder’s head and trickled into Tignyemb’s net for the third of the night, capping a disappointing night for the Free State side.

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Waterkloof 2 to stay in custody until parole review


Johannesburg – Two of the “Waterkloof Four” will remain in custody pending a review of their parole following their jail cell party, the correctional services department (DCS) said on Wednesday.

“Following a decision of the supervisory committee, [Frikkie] du Preez and [Christoff] Becker will appear before the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board (CSPB)… for a review of their parole,” it said in a statement.

Convicted killers Du Preez and Becker were re-arrested on Sunday, four days after being released on parole.

This was after a video, reportedly taken on a cellphone, was posted on YouTube. It shows Du Preez and Becker allegedly drinking alcohol, and using a cellphone in a jail cell in Pretoria’s Kgosi Mampuru Prison.

Bekker, Du Preez, Gert van Schalkwyk, and Reinach Tiedt were released last Tuesday after being jailed for beating a homeless man to death in Pretoria in 2001.

Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele on Wednesday warned “anarchy” at correctional centres would not be tolerated.

“Any official, or offender, found guilty of any such offence will face the full might of the law,” he said.

“As DCS, we will fight fraud and corruption with vigour.”

According to the Public Service Commission Report for 2011/12 the DCS was the third best institution when it came to dealing with fraud and corruption, but more still needed to be done, Ndebele said.

The DCS said an average of 64 prisoners were granted parole in the country every day. In addition to the country’s 156 939 inmates, 65 931 were outside correctional centres living in their respective communities.

Compliance with parole conditions currently stood at 98.4%.

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Union rellies behind Amcu strike


Johannesburg – Support for the four-week wage strike by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) in the platinum mining sector increased on Wednesday as the National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu) rallied behind the union.
“We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, wish to express our dismay at the two most recent attacks on Amcu and miners who are striking for a living wage,” Nactu said in a statement.
“The decision by Amplats to sue Amcu for R591m for damages related to the ongoing strike action is another attempt by employers not only to break the miners’ strike, but also to deal a savage blow against militant unions.”
Damages and losses
Mining giant Anglo Platinum (Amplats) [JSE:AMS] said it would sue Amcu for damages and losses suffered during the work stoppage.
“The provisional quantum of the damages claim is about R591m, although as Amcu’s wrongful conduct is continuing the damages will continue to accrue,” Amplats spokesperson Mpumi Sithole said at the time.
On Monday morning, Amplats said it was losing about R100m a day because of the strike, which was in its fourth week.
“The company is losing 4000oz amounting to R100m in revenue daily,” Sithole said in an e-mail.
“Marikana massacre”
Nactu said the unwillingness of Amplats to negotiate, and instead approaching the courts, was the same approach that had led to the “Marikana massacre”.
“Workers stood firm in the face of violence by the state and capital. Now the mining companies are using other means to bring workers to their knees,” said Nactu.
On Monday, Amcu continued discussions with the CCMA to try and resolve a pay strike crippling the platinum mining sector.
“As a result of the engagement, Amcu has convened a meeting of its leadership structures to consult and explore the way forward,” the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration said in a statement at the time.
Amcu meeting
The Amcu meeting would take place on Tuesday. Amcu had agreed to provide the CCMA with feedback on Wednesday.
Members of Amcu at Lonmin [JSE:LON] , Amplats, and Impala Platinum (Implats) [JSE:IMP] went on strike on January 23, demanding a R12 500 basic monthly salary for miners.
The platinum producers proposed a three-year agreement last month. The proposal was a 9% increase for A-level workers, 8.5% for B-level and 7.5% for C-level workers in the first year.
Reasonable demands
Nactu said Amcu’s demands were reasonable and said court proceedings would be an attack on the working class in general.
“Amcu’s demand for a living wage of R12 500 is a legitimate demand that Amplats and the other platinum producers need to seriously engage in negotiations rather than sowing further divisions by attempting to bankrupt the union,” Nactu said.
Nactu said it would wait until Amcu finished discussions with its members before it planned a way forward.

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FS Stars player Nomandela signs for Sundowns


By Obakeng Maje
Johannesburg-Free State Stars midfielder luyolo Nomandela concluded a three year deal with Mamelodi Sundowns.

The enterprising midfielder will join the Chloorkop-based team at the end of the season.

Nomandela agent Tim Sukazi confirmed the news to http://www.kickoff.com.

“Last time we spoke I said the negotiations was underway, but now the deal is done” said sukazi.

The illustrious player was under Sundowns chattered eye and Sundowns official Yogesh Singh was seen hovering in Free State last week.-TDN
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SECURITY PREPARATIONS FOR THE OPENING OF THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE


North West-The South African Police Service together with security cluster departments and other role players are ready for policing during the official opening of the Provincial Legislature that will take place on Friday, 21 February 2014 in Mahikeng.

The Provincial Legislature and the vicinity will be security environment zone from 06:00 in the morning until the State of the Province Address by the North West Premier Thandi Modise.

“The community in and around Mahikeng, particularly places in the neighbourhood of the Provincial Legislature and Garona Government Complex will be affected by closure of entrances and some of the roads. The area between the Legislature and Mahikeng High Court will not be accessible as it will be closed. No unauthorised vehicles will be allowed to park at parking bays near the High Court” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

All vehicles that will be parked at unauthorised parking will be towed away.

Roads that will be closed are as follows:

•Corner Dr James Moroka and Sekame Road

•Modiri Molema Road between Convention Centre and Mahikeng Stadium

•Corner Albert Luthuli Drive and Dr James Moroka Road.

The community is urged to cooperate with the law enforcement officials to divert traffic in order to ensure safety and that daily activities that are not part of the opening of the Legislature continue without any hindrance.-TDN
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DA clears the way towards Education  


By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg-The recent blessing of much needed rain in the North-West province has brought along some issues as well, Democratic Alliance said.

“The road leading to Kloof view primary school had been flooded and covered with sand. Due to inaction from the municipality we decided to take it upon ourselves to clean and restore the road to the Primary school” DA provincial spokesperson Tiaan Kotze.

The clean-up was met with gratitude and praise from the community.

“If this is what we can do in opposition, imagine what we can do in government” outlines Kotzee.-TDN
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Police escort foreigners out of Cullinan


Pretoria – Police were on Wednesday escorting foreign shop owners out of Cullinan, east of Pretoria, to protect them from protesters.

“Vehicles are being used to transport the foreign shop owners and their belongings out of Refilwe,” spokesperson Captain Melissa van der Merwe said.

“Police had to use stun grenades to disperse the protesting residents as they wanted to stop and attack the shop owners.”

The protests started on Tuesday. Residents of Refilwe were angry after a foreign shop owner allegedly assaulted a 10-year-old child, who later died in hospital. The child was assaulted for apparently stealing sweets. Locals then looted shops owned by foreigners and barricaded the roads.

Earlier, a white Isuzu bakkie was trying to get out of the area and the occupants fired shots at protesters blocking their way.

“Luckily no one was injured or shot at,” said Van der Merwe.

Police were monitoring the area.

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Premier Modise urges police to act speedily in arresting fugitives


 

North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on police to act speedily in arresting the seven awaiting-trial prisoners who escaped from Mmabatho police station yesterday.

 

“We call on the police to act swiftly in arresting the fugitive. We will also request a full report on the circumstances which led to their escape. And we guarantee that heads will roll if any complicity or negligence is found,” said Premier Modise.

 

Premier Modise said it was especially worrying that the man suspected of being the Hammerman, who terrorised communities in and around Mafikeng by raping and killing women with a hammer, was believed to be among the escapees. 

“Failure to re-arrest the suspect swiftly will be a step back on the war against the scourge of violence against women and children,” cautioned Modise. 

It is believed that the suspects escaped through the ceiling after cutting the mesh wire of the cell.

 

Police say the escapees are dangerous and that if sighted members of the public must not confront them but instead report them to the nearest police station.

 

They faced charges that include murder, hijackings, house robberies and theft.-TDN
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Nwest to donate 14 rhinos to Botswana   


North West Provincial Executive Council (Exco) has approved the donation of 14 black rhinoceros to Botswana to assist grow the rhino population to a sustainable level, Premier Thandi Modise announced on Wednesday.

Premier Modise said that approval of the donation of 8 cows and 6 bulls was made on the understanding that once the Botswana Black Rhino population has grown and stabilised and the South African Rhino security has equally stabilised, the founder population would be retrieved in line with the Mafisa concept 50% of the offspring would be equally shared.
In line with the agreement endorsed by Exco and the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, all capture and translocation costs of the rhinos estimated to cost about R1million would be borne by the Ministry of Environment Wildlife and Tourism of the Republic of Botswana.
Exco has directed that the requisite administrative compliance 
including norms and standards, policy requirements and legislative prescripts should be adhered to by officials of the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) and Botswana Wildlife Ministry.

The Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust (KRST) made up of communities in Serowe, Mabele a Pudi and Paje villages had previously received a joint donation of 13 white rhinos from the NWPTB and the South African National Parks Board.
According to the latest report, the 13 rhinos which were donated to the KRST a while back has grown to 48 meaning that 50% of the rhino offspring ranging at the KRS are owned by the North West Provincial Government.   Modise said that the donation is informed by South Africa’s membership to the SADC Rhino Monitoring Group, SADC Black Rhino Range Expansion, SADC Enhancement of Species Conservation, the SADC Rhino and Elephant Security Group and the SADC Conservation Protocol.
It is through the collaboration of the conservation fraternity in the SADC region that the current lion population in Madikwe and the Pilanesberg were donated by the Namiba’s Etosha National Park and the Wild Dogs in Zimbabwe were donated by the NWPTB.-TDN
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ex-Sunday Independent editor joins M&G


Johannesburg – Former Sunday Independent editor Moshoeshoe Monare will join the Mail & Guardian in March.

“It’s official. Pleased to announce that ex-Sunday Indy editor #Moshoeshoe Monare joins @mailandguardian as deputy editor next month,” the newspaper’s editor Angela Quintal wrote on social networking site Twitter on Wednesday.

Monare had worked with Quintal at Independent Newspapers when she was group political editor, where she groomed him as her successor.

Independent Newspapers announced last week that Monare had resigned.

The company’s CEO Tony Howard said Monare had tendered his resignation on Tuesday and would be leaving at the end of this month.

He said it was regrettable that Monare was leaving at a critical time when the group was embarking on a new growth strategy.

“Monare would have played a large part in the growth strategy for The Sunday Independent as well as other initiatives and strategies,” he said at the time.

Howard said the company was disappointed but wished him well.

Monare replaced Makhudu Sefara as editor of the newspaper two years ago.

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