Monthly Archives: March 2014

ANC submits Top 10 candidates list


Pretoria – The ANC submitted its list of candidates for Parliament and provincial legislatures to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Tuesday, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said.
“We are comfortable [with the list]… we looked through it carefully,” he told reporters in Centurion.

Mantashe said the ANC national list committee was ready to respond to any issues the IEC might raise.

The deadline for political parties to submit their lists ahead of the national elections is Wednesday at 17:00.

The top 10 names on the ANC’s list are:

 Jacob Zuma

 Cyril Ramaphosa

 Malusi Gigaba

 Naledi Pandor

 Jeff Radebe

 Fikile Mbalula

 Blade Nzimande

 Bathabile Dlamini

 Lindiwe Sisulu

 Collins Chabane

– SAPA

Oscar loved guns- witness


Pretoria – Oscar Pistorius asked for a friend’s gun at a restaurant shortly before the firearm went off, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard on Tuesday.
“The accused asked me to pass my firearm to him,” Darren Fresco said to questions from prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

Pistorius took the Glock pistol from Fresco under a table, at Tasha’s restaurant in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, in January 2013.

Boxer Kevin Lerena and a British sprinter were with Pistorius and Fresco at the time.

When Nel asked Fresco why Pistorius asked for his gun, Fresco said he did not know.

“I thought he was competent. We had been to the shooting range before and I know he had a big love for guns,” said Fresco.

He said there was a bullet in the chamber and he saw Pistorius make a “shoulder gesture”, which he assumed was Pistorius sighting the existing bullet out of the chamber.

Fresco said the gun had no “specific safety clip”.

The gun fired and a bullet went into the tiled floor under the table.

During cross-examination by Advocate Barry Rouw, Fresco said Pistorius would have heard him when he said there was a bullet in the chamber.

 “The acoustics in that restaurant are terrible, particularly at lunchtime, but because of the proximity of our heads it is impossible that he could not have heard me say the gun was ‘one up’,” he said.

“One up” means there is a bullet in the chamber.

Fresco and Pistorius were sitting diagonally across from one another and leaned towards each other as the gun was passed.

Pistorius is accused of the murder of model and law graduate Steenkamp on 14 February last year.

He is also charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and two counts of discharging a firearm in public.

He allegedly fired a shot from a Glock pistol under a table at a Johannesburg restaurant in January 2013.

In September 2010, he allegedly shot through the open sunroof of a car with his 9mm pistol while driving with friends in Modderfontein.

SAPA

Miners targeted by criminals, says The Hawks


By Obakeng Maje
Lehurutshe-A syndicate specialising in the theft of motor vehicles in the mining areas of Rustenburg was uncovered, says Hawks spokesperson in North West, captain Paul Ramoloko.

“Five suspects were arrested, and eleven vehicles and a quad bike to the value of R606 000,00 were recovered in the Lehurutse, Rustenburg, Bethanie, Tlhabane and Klipgat areas” Ramoloko said.

The suspects will appear in the GaRankuwa Magistrates’ Court today.

The syndicate targeted unsuspecting mine workers driving old model cars to get underground before they steal their vehicles. 

“This is a major success for us. We have been working on these projects for some time and we are confident that this breakthrough will bring some relief to the people who were victimized by these criminals. We will continue to identify and dismantle organised crime syndicates,” said Head of the Hawks in the North West, Major General Ntebo Mabula.  
Police investigations continue.-TDN
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Nine suspects arrested with drugs value R40m in Rustenburg


By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg-A Nigerian syndicate dealing in drugs was shut down and two Nigerian ringleaders were arrested.

“During the arrest, R36 000 in cash, a vehicle and drugs to the value of R60 000 were seized” Hawks Paul Ramoloko said.

Ramoloko said as part of this project, nine suspects have been arrested in Johannesburg and Rustenburg leading to the seizure of drugs to the value of more than R40 million, five vehicles to the value of R816 000,00 and R149 796,55 in cash.
Police investigations continue.-TDN
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The Hawks arrested Drug-Lord in North West


By Obakeng Maje
North West-A week-long operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks has resulted in the arrest of 16 people belonging to three syndicates operating in and out of the province. 

During the operation, drugs valued at more than R40 million, vehicles valued at more than R1,4 million and cash amounting to R186 000,00 were seized.

“These syndicates were under surveillance for months before they were arrested” Hawks Paul Ramoloko said.

The first syndicate specialised in fictitious tenders, whereby they allegedly instructed victims to pay them in return for being awarded provincial government tenders.

Ramoloko said this syndicate mostly operated in Mmabatho.

“The Hawks arrested nine suspects in Mahikeng on Friday, recovered one vehicle, two laptops and eight cellular phones. Victims in this ring involve prominent persons who would not want to report their ordeal for the fear of prosecution or embarrassment” Hawks Ramoloko said.

Approximately 24 victims brought their ordeal to the Hawks.

This syndicate conned people out of a little more than R12 million.
The suspects,Dingaan David Selabe,45 a ringleader and a Bishop of Cornerstone Ministries in Signal Hill, Mahikeng, Petrus Andries Byleveld,42, James Sizwe Mulaudzi,52, Patrick Thipe,45, Jan Qhete Masire,41, Dipetso Jopie Esau,39, Jack Seleke Medupi,32, Itseng Boitheko Mathube,44 and Boitumelo Nancy Kweetsane,30 appeared in the Mahikeng Magistrates’ Court the same day and their case was postponed to 14 March 2014 for bail application.

They remain in custody. More arrests are expected.-TDN
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DSAC CELEBRATES CULTURE WITH THE BATLHAKO BA MATUTU


Mabe’skraal-The North West Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) will next week host two events in honour of the community of the Batlhako Ba Matutu of Mabeskraal.

Over the past few months, DSAC has been hosting community events with Magosi around the Province as part of a drive to enhance moral regeneration, preservation of culture and highlighting issues of heritage.

“This is important for our Department to engage with the Magosi in order to fulfil our mandate,” said MEC Mme Tebogo Modise.

“We aim to celebrate the lives, culture and history of our communities and heroes and heroines who played an important role in the liberation struggle.

“Vast numbers of people from the Mabeskraal community were banished by the Apartheid order to areas such as Driefontein and Phaposane. They subsequently returned to Mabe’s Kraal after the end of Apartheid. We don’t want that to go unnoticed in our history.”

A history of the banishment of the people of Mabe’s Kraal has been recorded in two forms. In written form, it is part of a book by Dr Saleem Badat (Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University), titled The Forgotten People, which was published recently.

The Freedom Park has also documented the banishment through the placement of the names of all those banished on the walls of the institution.

The North West Province continues to showcase its efforts in unearthing critical elements of the liberation struggle. Through these efforts of we bring to the fore the role people of the Province played in the fight for our liberation struggle.

Through its Museums and Heritage Unit, DSAC continues to provide extensive support to rural communities and their traditional leadership. This helps the Department identify heritage sites, places of significance, historical buildings, graves of heroes and heroines amongst others. These will also be included in a database for declaration.

Details of the event on March 15 are:
Venue: Mabeskraal Primary School

Time: 09h00
-TDN
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Gordon Igesund Snr passes on


By Obakeng Maje
Johannesburg-The South African Football Association (SAFA) would like to send out its heartfelt condolences to Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund on the passing on of his father, Gordon Igesund Snr.

Igesund Snr passed away on Monday. He was 81.

He is survived by his wife, four children, several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

“This is a massive loss. He was the rock of my life,” said Bafana Bafana coach.-TDN
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ACTING MEC MOHONO DELIVERS 300 HOUSES TO MMATAU AND SIGA FAMILIES


By Obakeng Maje
Mmatau-Ms Ellen Matshaba of Mmatau village in the Moses Kotane local municipality has every reason to celebrate after receiving a house from government.

Matshaba has been living in a mud house for the past 52 years, which has been exposing her to hazardous environment and compromised her health and that of her family members.

Ms Matshaba is one of the 300 beneficiaries in Mmatau and Siga villages of Moses Kotane who benefited from government’s low cost housing programme. The 70 year old Matshaba, who also lives with disability and other beneficiaries, could not stop singing praises when the acting MEC of the Department of Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison, Desbo Mohono handed keys to their new houses.

Receiving keys to her house Matshaba could not contain her excitement and further shared a tier of joy, as she thanked government for rescuing her from the mud house that compromised her health. She lives with her daughter and two grand children. Her family survives on her pension money and that of the two grand children.

“I am so delighted I can’t even tell. My life and that of my family will change for the better and my family will have a home forever. May God bless this government and let it grow from strength to strength,” said Matshaba.

According to Acting MEC Mohono, the Department has made sure that the houses which were handed over were of quality and safe to live in. She said that government will continue to make sure that it delivers houses where they are mostly need.

“This important government programme will make sure that the dignity of our people is restored and that they enjoy the fruits of democracy. I am sure that we will all celebrate the 20 years of democracy with pride as we look back where we come from and what government has achieved. We made a promise as government, to make sure that we house our people and we will continue to do that,” said Mohono.

MEC Mohono congratulated Gogo Matshaba and other beneficiaries and urged them to take care of their houses and make them homes.  The handing over of 8000 houses which started in February will continue until the end of March. The MEC will among others hand over low cost houses, rental stock, financially linked individual subsidy programme and Community residential units.-TDN
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Khenyeza banned for 6 games


By Obakeng Maje
Johannesburg-The Arbitrator into the Mabhuti Khenyeza matter has ruled that the Mpumalanga Black Aces striker be suspended for six competitive games under the auspices of the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

The ruling brings to an end the long standing saga involving the player that has dragged on for months.

“The PSL had referred the Khenyeza matter for Arbitration on August 29 last year following the decision by the SAFA Appeals Board to change his earlier punishment from a 12-month ban to a R50 000 fine, half of which was suspended” Safa spokesperson Matlhomola Morake said.

Khenyeza, while playing for Ajax Cape Town last season, was found guilty of swearing and spitting at a linesman, and suspended for 12 months by a PSL disciplinary committee.

But the player successfully appealed his sentence to the mother body which reduced his 12-month ban to an effective R25 000 fine.

“The PSL in turn appealed against what they termed a light sentence resulting in the latest ruling by an independent Arbitrator” Morake said.

Apart from the 6-game ban, the Arbitrator also fined the player R100 000 which is wholly suspended for the current season on condition the player is not found guilty of the same offence during the period of suspension.

Each party will have to pay 50% of the hearing costs as well as the arbitration costs.-TDN
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Rebel with Khoza


Durban – We’re driving out of Wilson’s Wharf after interviewing the EFF’s Vusi Khoza when photographer Jacques Naude gets an epiphany. “Hey, I know that guy. I remember I took a photo of him in court and this big, fat woman jumped on me. It was very funny actually, everyone laughed.”
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