Daily Archives: September 10, 2014

N West Premier lauds RAF’s move


Mahikeng- Premier of the North West Province Mr Supra Mahumapelo has lauded the Road Accident Fund’s resolve to open its Provincial Customer Service Centre in Mahikeng, saying it is a strategic move that befits the Province’s priority of bringing services closer to the people.
The official opening of the RAF Provincial office will be on Thursday, 11 September 2014, at 10h00. 

The new RAF office that is located at Mega City Shopping Centre in Mahikeng will be the Fund’s second Customer Service Centre in the North West Province, which will enable the organisation to service road accidents victims directly, expedite the claims processes and improve the turnaround time.

The first office is a hospital based Customer Service Centre and is located at Mahikeng Provincial Hospital. 

In welcoming this initiative, Premier Mahumapelo committed the Provincial Administration to working together with the RAF in strengthening efforts that are aimed at promoting road safety, this in a view to realise the goals of the United Nation’s Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011 – 2020 by reducing road carnage on the roads.   

“RAF is an entity of the national Department of Transport that compensates all road users and citizens against injuries sustained or death arising from accidents involving motor vehicles within the borders of South Africa” Premier’s Office acting spokesperson Bonolo Mohlakoana said. 
-TDN
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Strong Bafana line-up for Nigeria game


Cape Town- Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba has named a strong starting line-up for today’s (Wednesday) Orange CAF AFCON qualifier against African champions Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium (Kick off 20h00).

Captain Senzo Meyiwa retains his position in goals while the back four consists of Thulane Hlatshwayo, Thabo Matlaba, Eric Mathoho and Anele Ngcongca.

The midfield is anchored by Dean Furman and Andile Jali with Oupa Manyisa and Sibusiso Vilakazi completing the quartet.

Mandla Masango and Bongane Ndulula complete the starting 11 upfront.

“I am very positive we will get something from tonight’s encounter against Nigeria. There is always a start when history is altered and I believe that start will be tonight,” said Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba.

Starting line-up: Senzo Meyiwa, Thulane Hlatshwayo, Thabo Matlaba, Eric Mathoho, Anele Ngcongca, Dean Furman, Andile Jali, Mandla Masango, Bongane Ndulula, Oupa Manyisa, Sibusiso Vilakazi

Subs: Darren Keet, Sibusiso Khumalo, Rivaldo Coetzee, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Tokelo Rantie, Keagan Dolly, Thema Zwane
-TDN
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Springbok man jailed for Culpable Homicide


By Obakeng Maje
The Aggenys police welcomes the Culpable Homicide sentencing which was passed on at Upington Regional Court on 29 August 2014.

Bazil Eland(29) was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment with 2 years suspended for 5 years, after he was found guilty of culpable homicide following an accident which claimed the lives of three people on the N14 near Springbok.

The accident occurred on 12 June 2011 when the accused, travelling in a Nissan Sentra collided with a BMW, on the N14 between Aggenys and Springbok.

“It was found that the Nissan Sentra crashed in the back of the BMW while trying to overtake the vehicle. Both vehicles veered off the road and the two sisters, Maxine Schmidt(20) and Chantelle Schmidt(13) together with their cousin Irone Cloete(19) were flung out of the BMW and died on the scene” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

The father of the two sisters, Brian Schmidt(driver of BMW), their mother Loretta Schmidt(passenger in BMW) together with the Bazil Eland(driver of the Nissan ) suffered serious injuries and were transported to the Springbok Hospital for medical attention. 

“The Pofadder Cluster Commander Lt Col Nico Beukes commended Detective Constable Morgan Finnish for a job well done. The professional manner in which evidence was collected together with the prosecution team brought a water tight case to the court ensured the good sentencing” Kock concludes.-TDN
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Springbok man jailed for Culpable Homicide


By Obakeng Maje
The Aggenys police welcomes the Culpable Homicide sentencing which was passed on at Upington Regional Court on 29 August 2014.

Bazil Eland(29) was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment with 2 years suspended for 5 years, after he was found guilty of culpable homicide following an accident which claimed the lives of three people on the N14 near Springbok.

The accident occurred on 12 June 2011 when the accused, travelling in a Nissan Sentra collided with a BMW, on the N14 between Aggenys and Springbok.

“It was found that the Nissan Sentra crashed in the back of the BMW while trying to overtake the vehicle. Both vehicles veered off the road and the two sisters, Maxine Schmidt(20) and Chantelle Schmidt(13) together with their cousin Irone Cloete(19) were flung out of the BMW and died on the scene” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

The father of the two sisters, Brian Schmidt(driver of BMW), their mother Loretta Schmidt(passenger in BMW) together with the Bazil Eland(driver of the Nissan ) suffered serious injuries and were transported to the Springbok Hospital for medical attention. 

“The Pofadder Cluster Commander Lt Col Nico Beukes commended Detective Constable Morgan Finnish for a job well done. The professional manner in which evidence was collected together with the prosecution team brought a water tight case to the court ensured the good sentencing” Kock concludes.-TDN
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Khuli Chana, cops case withdrawn


Johannesburg- The case against two police constables accused of shooting musician Khuli Chana was withdrawn in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court, Johannesburg, on Wednesday.   

“The NDPP received a letter from the defence and after deliberations decided that the matter be withdrawn,” said Peter Rassie Erasmus, for the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).   

“The State will follow alternative dispute resolution in respect  of the two accused.”   

Mduduzi Mfundisi Nzuza and Sam Baloyi faced charges of attempted  murder, reckless endangerment, failure to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger, and negligent use of a firearm.

Both were out on bail.   The officers allegedly shot at the award-winning musician’s car when he failed to stop at a roadblock they had set up at a petrol station on the N1 in Midrand on October 28. Chana was wounded in the hand and back.   

The musician, whose real name is Khulane Morule, arrived in court on Tuesday. He wore a maroon shirt and blue jacket and listened to proceedings from the public gallery.   

At the time of the shooting, police were searching for a group of men who had kidnapped a Bedfordview businessman.

The ransom money was to have been left at the petrol station. The officers apparently mistook Chana’s car for that of the kidnappers.   

A police officer has since been arrested and charged with the kidnapping.   

The defence team and the State representatives would address media later outside court.   

-Sapa

North West to celebrates Heritage Month


By Obakeng Maje
Klerksdorp- South Africa to celebrate its rich Heritage during Heritage Day

Klerksdorp- The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa will be part of celebrations during Heritage Month.

The celebrations will take place on Wednesday, 24 September 2014 at James Motlatsi stadium, Orkney, North-West Province.

President Jacob Zuma is expected to give a keynote address at the events.

“The theme for this years Heritage Month is Celebrating 20 Years of Democracy: Tell your story that moves South Africa Forward. The theme encourages South Africans to tell their stories as part of celebrating 20 years of democracy” departmental spokesperson Patience Mogomotsi said.

South Africa is a country with a great story to tell, a story of struggle and victory and a commitment to work together to foster nation building and social cohesion, says Mogomotsi.

This years Heritage Month will present an opportunity to remind the nation of our rich heritage through oral history narration, exhibitions, poetry, book-reading sessions, music and dance.

The department of Arts & Culture said these activities will help reinforce efforts for the promotion and preservation of our collective memory and encourage as sense of common belonging and a shared history.

Government will continue to create an environment that enables everyone to work together and move our country forward. The programme for the event will be released in due course.

The event details are as follows:

Date : 24 September 2014
Time : 09:00
Venue : James Motlatsi Stadium, Orkney, North West Province
-TDN
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Robber’s finger hacked off during scuffle


Johannesburg – A robber’s finger was hacked off by his accomplice during a shop robbery in Refilwe, near Cullinan, police said on Wednesday.

“During the scuffle, one of the suspects apparently hacked his accomplice and the police recovered a finger on the scene,” said Bronkhorstspruit police spokesperson Johannes Jaftha.

The owner of the shop, Tesaye Yohannes, 23, was hacked on the head with a panga, Jaftha said.

The suspects broke through the wall of the shop in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“They took an undisclosed sum of money, airtime vouchers and cigarettes.”

Police are still looking for the robbers.

Yohannes has been discharged from hospital.

SAPA

Drake accused of not paying his ghostwriter


Shi Wisdom, who is the ghostwriter for Drake, is suing the Toronto rapper, reports diaryofahollywoodstreetking.com.

According to the website, Shi Wisdom hasn’t receive payment from Drake or YMCMB Records for her songwriting  on the Grammy Award winners albums.

An insider is saying Drake has been dying to sign Shi Wisdom to his OVO Imprint for the past three years, but the deal through because Shi didn’t want to give up her creative control.

“Shi is the creative juice behind Drake. She’s Drake’s co-writer and she’s deserves to get paid,” says the insider.
For more http://www.drum.co.za

Cosatu: Boycott Generations


Cape Town – Cosatu has launched a television boycott of Generations asking all South African viewers to stop watching the soapie on the SABC1 TV channel for a week starting on Monday 15 September.

Generations is set to run out of available recorded episodes with the actors in two weeks’s time following the firing of the soap’s entire principal cast last month by the SABC and Mfundi Vundla’s MMSV Productions after they went on strike.
For more http://www.news24.com

Man scams Eastern Cape schools


Johannesburg – A scam by a man who claims to distribute computers donated by the office of the Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle has hit schools in the province, the provincial education department said on Wednesday.

“The culprit who goes by the name of Mr Balfour, claims to be distributing a consignment of 25 computers per school which are a donation by the premier’s office,” the department said in a statement.

“These computers can only be delivered once a school deposits a lump sum of money allegedly for insurance purposes. The department wishes to place on record that this is nothing else but a blatant lie and a scam to milk monies from our schools.”

The department said the scam had hit Butterworth in Centane and Queenstown districts. It was not clear how much money was lost to the scam.

“The Eastern Cape government would like to assure all schools that the administration is working overtime with law enforcement agencies to apprehend the criminal.”

SAPA