Johannesburg – The ANC on Saturday called on the Lesotho Defence Force to return to barracks and allow the government to continue its functions.

“The African National Congress has noted with deep concern developments in the Kingdom of Lesotho where it is reported that the military has seized key buildings and installations in the country,” spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.

“The ANC condemns any attempted seizure of power through unconstitutional means.”

Kodwa said the party was hopeful that the Lesotho Defence Force would return to barracks and allow the work of civil rule and the democratic government to continue unabated.

Coup

Agence France-Presse reported that Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane confirmed on Saturday that the military had seized power in a coup and that he had fled to SA in fear of his life.

“I have been removed from control not by the people but by the armed forces, and that is illegal,” Thabane told the BBC.

“I came into South Africa this morning and I will return as soon as my life is not in danger,” he said.

“I will not go back to Lesotho to get killed.”

Lesotho’s military seized control of police headquarters and the premier’s residence in the capital Maseru in the early hours of Saturday, but later withdrew, a government minister told AFP.

“The armed forces, the special forces of Lesotho, have taken the headquarters of the police,” said sports minister and leader of the Basotho National Party, Thesele Maseribane.

“The (military) commander said he was looking for me, the prime minister and the deputy prime minister to take us to the king. In our country, that means a coup,” he said.

Denial

Lesotho’s military however denied it had seized power, a spokesperson told an SA television station. Instead, the army’s operation was aimed only at disarming police which were preparing to provide arms to certain political parties in Lesotho, military spokesman Major Ntele Ntoi told the ANN7 news channel.

The SA government said it was not immediately sending troops to Lesotho. The department of international relations (Dirco) diplomacy should be given a chance and the situation should be resolved through peaceful means.

Kodwa called on leader of the African Union and Southern African Development Community to assist the country.

“The ANC calls upon the African Union and the Southern African Development Community to monitor the unfolding developments in Lesotho and continue to work with the people of that country to maintain law, order and democracy,” he said.

SAPA

Maseru – Lesotho’s military seized two police stations on Saturday as gunfire rang out in the capital of the mountainous kingdom. The country’s prime minister said the actions amounted to a coup, though an army spokesperson said the soldiers were only securing the country.

Political tensions have been high in the tiny kingdom that is completely surrounded by South Africa since June when there was a power struggle after Prime Minister Tom Thabane suspended parliament to dodge a vote of no confidence. At the time, South Africa warned against simmering conflict.

“We are calling on the commander of the armed forces to return to the barracks and allow the democratically elected government to return to its business,” Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for SA’s department of international relations and co-operations, said on Saturday.

He said actions by Lesotho’s military bore the hallmarks of a coup d’etat, but added, “The situation in Lesotho is still unfolding. No one has claimed to take over government … so we are monitoring that … our interest is to see it resolved through peaceful means.”

Thabane visiting daughter in SA

The military’s actions forced the prime minister to go into hiding, said Monyela. However, the prime minister had earlier told BBC that he is in South Africa visiting his daughter and would return to Lesotho on Sunday. Calls to the prime minister’s spokesperson and office were not answered.

Monyela said the 15-nation regional group, the Southern African Development Community, will intervene and they are trying to bring all players to the table for talks at this time.

When asked if South Africa would send military, Monyela said that wasn’t under consideration at this time.

“We prefer peaceful resolution to any crisis, particularly if it’s a political crisis … Such things become last resorts,” he said.

‘Business as usual’

Lesotho’s defence forces spokesperson Ntlele Ntoi played down the events.

“As we speak now, the situation in Lesotho, in the capital, is back to normal. It’s business as usual,” he told The Associated Press.

The military had gathered intelligence that the police were going to arm factions participating in a demonstration planned for Monday by one of the coalition parties, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy, he said. The military disarmed police in the capital, Maseru, to avoid bloodshed, Ntoi said.

An exchange of gunfire between the military, youths and police injured one soldier and four policemen, he said.

“The arms have been removed and they are in military custody. The military has returned to the barracks,” Ntoi said, denying reports of any coup attempt. “We are not in a position now or in the future to stage a coup. All we do is to carry out our mandate to secure our country and property.”

He said that the military did not know if the march will still take place Monday.

Ntoi said he had heard reports that radio stations had been down for a few hours. He said he could not say if they were down for technical problems or because of the military.

Coup

But Thabane told eNCA television that the military actions amounted to a coup. He said he did not give permission for the action and that something like this should not be happening in a democratic state. He is going to meet with South African officials, and expects South Africa to help his government restore law and order, he said.

Bernard Ntlhoaea, a guard at the US Embassy in Maseru, confirmed that gunfire was heard in the capital early on Saturday.

“The military has been moving around from 3 o’clock in the morning, occupying police stations in Maseru and moving around to other districts,” said Ntlhoaea. He said the military was armed and he saw at least one armoured personnel carrier on the streets.

The landlocked country’s first coalition government was formed in 2012 after competitive elections that ousted the 14-year incumbent Pakalitha Mosisili, who peacefully stepped down from power. The coalition has since been fragile.

Previous coups

Lesotho has seen unrest in its past and has seen a number of military coups since gaining independence from Britain in 1966.

The constitutional government was restored in 1993, after seven years of military rule. Violent protests and a military mutiny in 1998 came after a contentious election prompted intervention by South African military forces. Political stability returned after constitutional reforms, and parliamentary elections were peacefully held in 2002.

Democratic Alliance Parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said “today’s events come after heightened political tensions in June this year, which led to the country’s parliament being suspended, as a result of a breakdown of the coalition government”.

AP

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has turned down Rwanda’s appeal against the disqualification from the Africa Cup of Nations group stage qualifiers that commence on September 5.
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-TDN
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Speaking after his side’s 3-0 loss to Orlando Pirates, Polokwane City boss, Boebie Solomons, says his defence let them down.

Goals from Kermit Erasmus, Thabo Qalinge and Lehlohonolo Majoro condemned Rise and Shine to defeat and Solomons says they have have been working on other aspects of their game.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

Johannesburg- Preparations for the African Women’s Championship (AWC) are well on track for the South African women’s national team, Sasol Banyana Banyana.

Vera Pauw’s charges are set to continue with the hard work as they work towards their ultimate objective of finishing first at the Championships when they host Tanzania at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, 31 August at 18h00.

Banyana Banyana will have just over a month left after Sunday’s match against Tanzania to prepare for the biggest women’s football tournament on African soil, which will be hosted in Namibia from 11-25 October.

Pauw is confident that the team will perform well at the tournament, though it will not be easy as Sasol Banyana Banyana are drawn in the group of death against, nemesis Ghana, Cameroon and Algeria.

“Our objective of finishing in the top 3 at the tournament is very much possible, although it is not going to be easy. The friendly matches are good preparation for us, we are not focusing much on how Tanzania plays as we don’t know much about them, but on continuing with making sure that we are ready come October,” Pauw said.

The match against Tanzania will be the seventh friendly match they would have played as part of the preparations. Thus far, they have played twice against Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, winning five of the matches and playing to a goalless draw against Zimbabwe.

The Sasol sponsored women’s national team has come second on two occasions already in previous AWC tournaments, and now have their minds set on qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Absa Premiership

Full Time: Free State Stars 1-1 Maritzburg United

Date: 30 August 2014

Venue: Goble Park

Free State Stars and Maritzburg United both failed to take their opportunity to move up the Absa Premiership table when they played to a 1-1 draw in a league match at Goble Park on Saturday afternoon.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za