Johannesburg – South African coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has been appointed head coach of Bafana Bafana, the South African Football Association (SAFA) have announced on Saturday.

As reported on Sport24, Mashaba was linked to the post after reports emerged slowly emerged his availability for the post.

“As we speak Shakes Mashaba is the senior national team’s coach,” SAFA president Danny Jordaan told reporters at SAFA House in Nasrec, Soweto.

“We ask for patience from the public and the media. Let us watch Shakes grow into this role.”

Mashaba, 63, replaces outgoing boss Gordon Igesund, whose contract, which runs until the end of August, has not been renewed.

The Soweto-born mentor is no stranger on the local scene, having previously held the Bafana position in 2002, before he was appointed head coach of the Swaziland national team four years later.

Saturday’s announcement means Mashaba leaves his role as national under-20 and under-23 coach.

Mashaba did not attend the SAFA announcement on Saturday because he was with the South African men’s under-20 team on a tour of West Africa.

The team was scheduled to play an international friendly against Mali in Bamako on Saturday.

Bafana Bafana coaches since 1992:

June 1992: Stanley Tshabalala
October 1992: Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba (caretaker coach, one match)
December 1992: Augusto Palacios
March 1994: Clive Barker
January 1998: Jomo Sono (interim)
March 1998: Phillipe Troussier
October 1998: Trott Moloto
October 2000: Carlos Queiroz
March 2002: Jomo Sono
August 2002: Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba
May 2003: Jomo Sono (caretaker coach, one match)
July 2003: Kenneth Kubheka (caretaker, one match)
December 2003: April ‘Styles’ Phumo
April 2004: Stuart Baxter
December 2005: Ted Dumitru
May 2006: Pitso Mosimane (caretaker coach, seven matches)
February 2007: Carlos Alberto Parreira
May 2008: Joel Santana
October 2009: Carlos Alberto Parreira
July 2010: Pitso Mosimane
June 2012: Steve Komphela (interim, two matches)
June 2012: Gordon Igesund
July 2014: Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba

SAPA

Johannesburg – The body of 4-year-old Taegrin Morris will be laid to rest on Saturday at a funeral in Johannesburg.

The little boy was killed a week ago in Reiger Park when his boy was dragged along for a few kilometres when hijackers took his parents’ car.

A memorial service held for Morris was attended by thousands of people including Ekurhuleni Mayor Mondli Gungubele, councillors and police officials.

His parents have thanked the country for its support, according to Eyewitness News.

No arrests have been made. News24

Johannesburg – Three KwaZulu-Natal health department employees were killed in an accident involving a car and two trucks in Colenso on Thursday morning, the department said.

“A nursing sister and four pharmacy assistants were travelling in a state vehicle from Dundee to a workshop in Durban when they were involved in an accident with two trucks,” spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said in a statement.

The nurse and one of the pharmacy assistants died at the scene, while the third died on arrival at hospital.

The two remaining pharmacy assistants were critically injured.

“The KZN MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo and the KZN health [department head] Dr Sibongile Zungu have expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery.”

SAPA

Johannesburg – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) claim to represent working class men and women yet looted their shops when they “stormed” the Gauteng provincial legislature, Premier David Makhura said on Friday.

“I want to join the deputy speaker in condemning the incidents that happened on Tuesday, where members of the EFF stormed the legislature and caused extensive damage to state property,” he said in his budget speech.

“They have looted from the ordinary women and men selling food in the streets of Johannesburg. Yet they claim to represent ordinary working class men and women.”

Makhura said the EFF needed to decide whether it was part of a democratic institution or not.

“You cannot be a public representative and undermine the very democratic institutions you are meant to protect and respect,” he said.

“We look forward to the legislature taking strong action against this unacceptable conduct.”

On Tuesday, EFF leader Julius Malema led about 2 000 red-clad members to the legislature to protest over the ejection of their MPLs from a sitting because they wore red overalls bearing slogans.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse EFF supporters at the legislature on Tuesday evening. Stun grenades were thrown inside the foyer.

Several people, including Malema, were injured. Malema was hit by an object thrown from the crowd.

Hijacking

Makhura also called on police to find those responsible for the death of 4-year-old Taegrin Morris during a hijacking in Reiger Park, on the East Rand.

“Tomorrow [Saturday], we shall lay to rest our dear Taegrin Morris to support the family and the community of Reiger Park,” he said.

Morris died when he was caught in his seat belt and dragged alongside his parents’ hijacked car in Boksburg on Saturday night.

Makhura said one of five priorities for his office would be strengthening the executive council system by re-introducing a cabinet cluster system.

“Three cabinet clusters have been established, namely governance and planning sector, economic sector, and social sector,” the premier said.

“Each will be chaired by an executive member supported by a technical committee.”

The second priority was strengthening planning, co-ordination and integration capacity, and the third improving performance monitoring and evaluation.

The fourth priority was advancing and protecting the rights of youth, women, people with disabilities, the elderly, and military veterans.

The fifth priority was improving the provincial government’s communication with citizens.

“We believe there should be… better communication with broad sectors of our population, not only about our plans and programmes, but also how we can work together to implement our programmes,” he said.

“This is at heart of how we relate as government to the people.”

This would include broadening the use of new communication tools, particularly in social and community media.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The Constitutional Court has appointed three women as acting judges, it said on Friday.

North West Judge President Monica Leeuw will act in Justice Thembile Skweyiya’s position. He retired in May, spokesperson Lulama Luti said.

Her term would be from 1 August to 31 December.

Supreme Court of Appeal judges Zukisa Tshiqi and Leona Theron will also serve as acting judges.

Tshiqi will act in place of Justice Chris Jafta, who will be on holiday from 1 November until 31 March.

Theron will act in place of Justice Johann van der Westhuizen who will also be on holiday. She will serve from 1 February until 31 May.

At the moment only two of the court’s 11 judges are women – judges Sisi Khampepe and Bess Nkabinde.

Only three other women have previously been appointed as acting judges, Luti said.

SAPA

“Your winning is our winning” was the message from public protector Thuli Madonsela yesterday when she met with the North West premier Supra Mahumapelo, in the Madibeng local municipality.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

The mostly white Afrikaner student march that was scheduled for yesterday afternoon received huge criticism from education stakeholders.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

Two Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlats) employees were injured in an explosion at its Styldrift excavation project in North West, the company said on Friday.

“A gas cylinder exploded at Styldrift, two employees have been taken to hospital and we are monitoring their progress,” said spokesman Mpueleng Pooe.

“The whole area has been evacuated, the minerals and resources department has been informed and will do their inspections in due course.”

All employees who were in the vicinity were being assessed for possible gas inhalation, he said.

According to the RBPlats website, the Styldrift project will be at steady production in 2018 and is expected toó increase RBPlats production by 230,000 tonnes a month.
       
-Sapa

Criminal charges against National Council Of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise are to be laid on Friday following allegations of neglect of animals on her North West farm, the NSPCA said.

“The charges are to be laid at Buffelshoek police station in Potchefstroom in a couple of hours,” said National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) executive director Marcelle Meredith.

The charges are against Modise as the owner of the farm and any people who lived at the premises, she said.

Modise reportedly bought the multi-million rand farm Modderfontein, near Potchefstroom in North West, about three years ago.

Earlier this month, police and SPCA officials found starving and dead animals on the farm.

About 85 live pigs had begun cannibalising 58 dead pigs, and were reportedly drinking their own urine. Sheep, geese, goats and ducks were also among the more than 100 dead animal. Others had to be euthanised.

It appeared the animals had been without water and food for a week, possibly two. There were no farmworkers on the property, no electricity, and the water pumps were broken.

The Mail & Guardian and Beeld newspapers reported that the vet who performed the post mortems on several pigs’ carcasses refused to have anything more to do with the case.

Dr Sameer Abbas, a veterinary surgeon practising in Potchefstroom, also refused to hand over his report.

Meredith said although the SPCA had its own report on the discoveries at the farm, Abbas had post mortem reports after he took carcasses and animal tissue for tests.

“He just told us he doesn’t want any correspondence with us. This after he was specifically asked to do autopsies on the animals,” Meredith said.

“The question is why is he withdrawing from the case without giving any reasons? Who got to him? I am sure veterinarians are embarrassed by his conduct.”

She said the local SPCA in Potchefstroom had worked with Abbas, and had encountered no problems before.

Modise’s spokesman Neo Moepi said Modise was concentrating on getting the farm back to normal again.

“We do not have any more comment regarding the farm. The [National Council of Provinces’] chairperson’s statements have been distorted at least three times by the media.”

-Sapa