Daily Archives: May 12, 2014

SAFA President mourns late Dick Nkuna


Johannesburg-The South African Football Association President, Dr Danny Jordaan has expressed profound grief at the passing on of former SAFA NEC member Dick Nkuna.
The Welkom-based Nkuna passed away last Saturday of heart problems and will be buried on Friday.

“I would like to convey my condolences on behalf of the South African Football Association to the Nkuna family, friends and the entire football family at the passing on of this football giant.

“Mr Nkuna was one of the pioneers of football administration after SAFA’s acceptance into the FIFA family and played a key role in football administration and development. The country has lost a man who dedicated his life to the game of football,” said the SAFA President.

Nkuna was a SAFA NEC member from 1995-2003.

Before then, he played and later owned Welkom Real Hearts Stars. He was also president of SAFA Northern Free State before the current demarcation of the SAFA Regions.
-TDN
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Veteran journalist Andrew Molefe dies


North West Premier Thandi Modise is saddened by the death of veteran journalist, Andrew Molefe who suffered a stroke during an interview with her at the Premier’s official residence in Mahikeng two weeks ago.

The 52 year-old Molefe who was intervening Premier Modise on Saturday evening for a news profile with the editor of Mafikeng Mail, Bobby Saul and The New Age North West Correspondence, Elfas Torrerai was immediately rushed to Mahikeng Provincial Hospital in an ambulance.
Molefe passed away at the Flora Clinic in Roodepoort on Friday.
“The untimely death of Molefe has robbed the North West Province and South Africa of a patriot and a community builder who had a passion for journalism and served as a fact checker, watchdog, story teller and an investigative reporter. The objectivity and selflessness of this great journo should serve as an example for journalists, aspiring or established, mainstream or alternative,” Premier Modise said.

Modise said that Molefe’s indelible mark and legacy is enshrined in his articles, in the newspapers he helped establish, and in the generations of journalists that he inspired.

Molefe who started his illustrious career as a journalist with Mafikeng Mail and later established Taxi Mate, Vibe Magazine and The North West Economist had long stints with City Press, The New Nation, Sunday World and Sowetan both of which he served as an assignment editor. His popular column at the Sowetan, Andrew Molefe’s People shared views of opinion makers with readers.

The well travelled Molefe also served as provincial editor and columnist for The New Age.
 
The Soweto Chamber of Commerce Magazine, Township Gazette, Capital Mail, Westrand Mail, Eastern Mail and Randburg Post are among the 18 publications that Molefe helped establish in Limpopo, Gauteng and the North West Province.

A memorial service in honour of Molefe is to be held at the Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation Studio 3 as from 14:00-16:00 on Thursday.

The funeral service for Molefe who is survived by his Lydia and two daughters Amogelang, 22 and Atlegang, 18 is to be held at his Horizon View home in Roodepoort on Saturday.He is to be laid to rest at the West Park Cemetery later on the day.-TDN
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Lonmin attacks investigated


Police in Rustenburg in North West say it has not been confirmed if all the victims of attacks near the Lonmin mine outside Rustenburg are mine workers.

The National Union of Mineworkers has reported that three of its members have been hacked to death.

It says this includes two workers who were killed while on their way to work.

Provincial police spokesperson, Thulani Ngubani says on Monday morning, next to the Safi shaft, a 60 year-old mine worker had sustained multiple stab wounds.

“In the very same vicinity, two men, one of them was very critical with stab wounds as well as another one sustained minor stab wound injuries.”

He says there are allegations that these are not mine workers.

Not far from that incident, four other men were found with serious stab wounds and it is also alleged that they are not mine employees.

Lonmin’s chief executive, Ben Magara, has confirmed one employee has been kil…led.  

Mom starves son, 4, for 12 days


Sydney – An Australian mother was Monday ordered to stand trial for allegedly starving her son, 4, who was kept in his filthy bedroom for 12 days and fed with food pushed under the door.

The 23-year-old faced the District Court in South Australia charged with criminal neglect and endangering the life of the child, who survived the ordeal.

The woman, whose name cannot be published, denied endangering the youngster’s life and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of neglect.

But prosecutors rejected her plea and she will be tried on the higher charge.

A neglect charge was dropped against the boy’s 27-year-old father after he pleaded guilty last month to endangering his son’s life.

Disturbing and distressing scene

The court previously heard that the boy, who weighed just 8.3kg, was taken to hospital after being found malnourished in the family’s Adelaide home in October in what police called a “very disturbing and distressing scene”.

A police witness statement said the boy was “unable to stand” when he was found and “appeared to struggle to speak and shook as he did”, the Advertiser newspaper reported.

The father said in a police interview that his son was allegedly locked up because he was naughty.

“Nothing bad,” he told police, according to the Advertiser, adding that they were “not negligent parents or anything”.

“Um, the time just flies past that fast… It’s hard to explain,” he said on why the boy had been there so long.

The father said the son was fed with food sachets, biscuits and long-life custard, but was given no water.

“He hasn’t learnt to drink out of a sippy cup yet,” the father said in response to police questions. “We tried teaching him, he just won’t snap to it.”
AFP

Motlanthe’s mom passed on


Johannesburg – Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe’s mother has died, the presidency said on Monday.

“Masefako Sophia Motlanthe, the mother of Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, passed away on Friday, 9 May of natural causes at her home in Meadowlands, Soweto. She was 89 years old,” the presidency said in a statement.

A memorial service would be held on Thursday, and a funeral service on Saturday.

She died a day before Motlanthe’s wedding to long-term partner Gugu Mtshali in Houghton, Johannesburg.
SAPA

Premier Modise shocked by Stilfontein elderly woman’s murder


North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed shock at the incident in which a 84 year-old man is alleged to have bludgeoned his wife to death over the weekend.

“We wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible this heinous act which highlights the need for intensified effort to fight the scourge of gender based violence,” Premier Modise said.

Modise said that while she had made the call to men in insecure relationships to seek counseling and professional advice instead of taking matters in to their own hands, the age of the suspect arrested in connection with the alleged crime is a matter of grave concern as it raises many questions regarding gender relations in our society.

“We are deep in shock and asking ourselves what would drive a man of that age to such extremes?” she asked.

According to police, the suspect who is in police custody was arrested on Saturday in Stilfontein connection with the fatal stabbing of his 69 year-old wife.  

“The elderly man was allegedly involved in an argument with his wife which ended in a fight,” said Captain Pelonomi Makau said.

Makau said that at this stage the cause of the atrocity is still unknown but police investigations are continuing.

The man is expected to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrates Court today.
-TDN
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Thousands to celebrate ANC victory in Taung


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- Thousands of African National Congress supporters were on Saturday night singing and dancing in the Johannesburg CBD to celebrate the party’s victory in the 2014 election.

Fists and posters were held aloft as musicians entertained the crowd on stage. Some supporters climbed on top of walls to get a better view of the stage and two big screens on either side.

Young children could be seen on their parents’ shoulders as the festivities continued.

ANC president Jacob Zuma addressed the crowd and holds to punches as he took a pot shots at opposition.

ANC North West continues with its celebrations at Montshioa stadium on Sunday and their last celebrations will end at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati on Monday.

ANC retains North West and won eight provinces.-TDN
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Two naabed for murder in Atamelang


By Obakeng Maje
Atamelang- Police have arrested two suspects aged 26 and 30 respectively for an alleged murder of a 28 year-old victim at Rakgwedi village on, Saturday, North West police said.   

Captain Pelonomi Makau said the suspects and the victim had an argument which led the suspects stabbing the victim with a knife.

“Police were summoned to the scene and the suspects were later traced and arrested” she said.

They will appear in Atamelang Magistrate’s Court on Monday and police investigation continues.
-TDN
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A man,84, killed bludgeoned wife to death


By Obakeng Maje
Stilfontein-A 84 year-old man has been arrested after he bludgeoned his wife to death, captain Pelonomi Makau said.

A 84 year-old man was allegedly involved in an argument with his wife in Stilfontein township, Klerksdorp on Saturday and precipitated to a fight.

“A 69 year-old woman died from stabbing wounds and her husband was arrested by police. The cause of the atrocity is yet unknown” Makau said.

He was arrested and will appear at Stilfontein Magistrate Court on Monday for murder.

Police investigations continue.-TDN
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