By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The Greater Taung Municipality heeded a call from the residents regarding Kolong Bridge that was too dangerous to motorists especially to those who are not familiar to it.

The wall barrier was embedded at the mouth of the bridge to reduce fatal accidents that ended in deaths. Many people lost their lives due to danger hovering at the bridge.

“We decided to build a wall barrier and put hazardous signs so motorists could see when approaching the bridge. So far no accidents have been reported and we would like to urge our drivers to be extra careful when approaching the bridge” Ward councillor Nonteto Tefane said.

The Kolong bridge is a “one way” which makes it very difficult for motorists to control their vehicles when they find themselves in no man’s land and some eventually plunge into the river.

The truss that were designed on the bridge were forcefully removed either due to accidents or theft.

Most residents said they wish the bridge could be two way as that will minimise accidents and death experienced in the past.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Taung- North West department of Art, Sport and Traditional Affairs held ‘A writers Workshop’ to empower all aspiring writers and poets in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region. The workshop took place at Mmabana Taung and according to the Language practitioner in the area Pinky Qutsu, most writers need to be equipped to survive the mammoth task that comes along with being a writer.

“We have embarked on an initiative program to show more support to our upcoming writers and teach them more dynamics of what it takes to be a writer and how they can make sure they deliver quality work” Qutsu said.

This project started at Mamusa region and will be spread across the North West province. Language practitioners are entrusted with a task to uphold all language related aspects and to ensure that mostly indigenous languages and cultural dimension does not perish.
“We want to promote upcoming poets, praise singers and writers in the area; we want to see storytelling to exist within our societies. We have experience some decline especially in Setswana language as not many libraries have more setswana books. Our aim is to share basic knowledge and the insight on various approaches in writing” she said.

The department works hand-in-hand with North West University and brings tutors to come and share their equitable knowledge with writers.
Qutsu said by bringing experts from the university, that will help aspiring writers to gain more knowledge in their writing and how the transition works from paragraph to paragraph, but still keep your reader intrigued.
-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Hartswater- The housing project that took place more than four years ago in Sakhile area, was completed at the end of July 014, says Ward 1 councillor Kgomotso Mokale.
The residents of Sakhile Township near Hartswater were in a celebratory mood after they received their title deeds to be new owners of their houses. The project started four years ago and according to Vaal Times newspaper the project was riddled with some issues mounting from dual approvals, misplacement of rightful beneficiaries and electricity unavailability in some units.

“We would like to inform our people especially who are beneficiaries that they must come forward with any issues that need contractor’s attention before the end of this month. The contractor will leave the area soon after he completed the project, so please make sure that any problems encountered whilst the housing project are brought forward before is too late” Mokale told Vaal Times.

Northern Cape Housing department Robby Tshikwe said the Phokwane municipal workers will start with water taps connection and assured the new owners not to dare sell those houses as RDP houses are only meant for the poor, but can only be sold after eight years of ownership. –TDN
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Pretoria – Murder-accused Oscar Pistorius does not take responsibility for his actions and is always the victim, the State argued in the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday.

“It became clear that the accused is incapable of taking any responsibility,” prosecutor Gerrie Nel said in his closing arguments.

Pistorius “refused to take any responsibility for his actions” and was always the victim.

“He always places the blame for his actions somewhere else.”

Closing arguments

Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.

He shot her dead through the locked door of his toilet at his Pretoria home.

Pistorius has denied guilt, saying he thought she was an intruder about to open the door and attack him. The State contends he shot her during an argument.

Nel started his closing arguments saying the State received the defence’s arguments only after it filed its own.

The State filed its final arguments on 30 July, and the defence on Monday.

Nel said he wanted to set the tone and quoted one of his favourite quotes.

“I was thinking that a criminal trial is a very blunt instrument for getting to the truth,” Nel quoted.

Two defences

He said the defence indicated that it had two defences for the trial but Nel said this was not the norm.

“It’s not two normal defences,” he said.

The defences presented by the defence were that Pistorius did not have criminal capacity and if there was it was in self-defence, he said.

“It’s two defences that can never be reconciled,” Nel said asking the court to choose one.

‘Weak’ performance

He said Pistorius gave a “weak performance” during cross-examination and his version should be rejected.

“If one rejects his version of what happened that night then there was no perceived intrusion,” Nel said.

He said Steenkamp locked herself in the toilet cubicle at 03:00 in the morning with her cellphone and she was fully dressed.

It was not as if she just used the bathroom and was getting dressed, he said.

Pistorius fired four shots with a “powerful handgun” with black tallon ammunition, of which three hit Steenkamp, Nel said.

“There were only two people in the house, one was killed. And one survived.”

Onus

Nel said he knew there would be an argument that there was no onus on Pistorius, but the State would deal with that.

Pistorius is also charged with three contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, one of illegal possession of ammunition and two of discharging a firearm in public. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges as well.

Nel said the athlete’s discharging of a firearm in Tasha’s restaurant was a “blatant disregard of the law”.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

Pretoria – Murder-accused Oscar Pistorius’s father Henke was in the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday for final arguments in his son’s trial.

He sat on the left-hand side of the court which was mostly occupied by the Pistorius family.

It was the first time that Pistorius’s father and Reeva Steenkamp’s father attended proceedings.

Pistorius is charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year.

He shot her dead through the locked door of his toilet at his Pretoria home. Pistorius has denied guilt, saying he thought she was an intruder about to open the door and attack him. The State contends he shot her during an argument.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel began making his closing arguments shortly before 09:30.

The courtroom was packed to capacity for the proceedings, with the Pistorius and Steenkamp families, their friends, members of the public, and local and international media.

Pistorius cut a lone figure as he sat in the front of the court wearing his glasses, listening attentively to proceedings.

He is also charged with three contraventions of the Firearms Control Act – one of illegal possession of ammunition and two of discharging a firearm in public.

He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

– SAPA