‘Gareth Cliff is suffering from Verwoerd hangover’: Fikile Mbalula


Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has slammed radio personality Gareth Cliff for comments he made questioning the funeral costs of deceased Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa.

While the official provincial state funeral was unfolding at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, Cliff, who is known for making inflammatory statements, came under fire from social media users after posting on his Twitter account that: “Who’s paying for this massive funeral for #SenzoMeyiwa?”

The tweet clearly angered most users who responded with a flurry of insults and accused Cliff of being ‘racist’ and ‘insensitive’ for asking such a question while the nation was still mourning. The users then asked Mbalula to comment and the Minister was his usual outspoken self, saying in Xhosa ‘leave him (Myekeni) he is ‘suffering from a Verwoerd hangover.
For more http://www.timelive.co.za

MY PUNANI IS FREE


AGNES pulled down her pants in the middle of the street.

You don’t have to rape our kids, the young mum said.

JUST ASK NICELY AND I’LL GIVE YOU MY PUNANI ANY WAY YOU WANT!

Agnes was one of a group of women protesting outside a primary school in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni on Friday.
For more http://www.dailysun.mobi

Pirates set the record straight


Orlando Pirates have responded to media reports suggesting that chairman Irvin Khoza lost his cool over supposed disorganisation at Senzo Meyiwa’s funeral at the weekend.

The Bafana Bafana captain was laid to rest in KwaZulu-Natal this weekend, but the Sowetan reported that the ‘Iron Duke’ was unhappy with certain events taking place.

Pirates today released a statement to clarify matters. It read:

“The Orlando Pirates Football Club management is saddened and disappointed to wake up to a Sowetan article that purports a dignified and well attended funeral of our departed team captain Senzo Meyiwa as chaotic and boring, characterised by ‘unruly soccer fans who sang throughout most of … long speeches’.

“The article also seek to purport Dr Khoza’s intervention on a matter of protocol as an action against the Kaizer Chiefs captain and players. The article further quotes a Thandi Miya, aunt of Senzo that is supposed to have told shocked mourners on Thursday about Senzo being ‘ill-treated by a top official of Orlando Pirates’.

“The Orlando Pirates Football Club is hereby putting on record the sequence of events that led to the Chairman, Dr Khoza requesting the priest that was acting as the Programme Director at the graveyard, to announce the protocol in keeping with what had been agreed earlier when he approached Dr Khoza to seek clarity.

“At the beginning of the graveyard part of the funeral, the presiding priest acting as the Programme Director approached Dr Khoza to verify the protocol that Dr Khoza confirmed as – family first, followed by Minister and Premier, Deputy Minister and Mayor; football leadership – Dr Jordaan, Dr Khoza and Mr Motsepe, followed by the players. The priests unfortunately omitted to announce the protocol as agreed.

“Unaware of the protocol some official signalled to the Kaizer Chiefs players to come forward from the tent where they were seated to come pay their last respect through pouring of soil into the grave. When Dr Khoza noticed this occurrence he consulted and concurred with the Minister and Premier that it needed to be corrected. He quietly went to the priest to remind him to announce the protocol agreed. At no stage did Dr Khoza ‘lose it’ or ‘throw a tantrum’ as the article states.

“The article singles out Kaizer Chiefs players in a manner suggesting Dr Khoza was ‘angered’ by the Kaizer Chiefs captain and players. We find this deliberately mischievous as, by the time the presiding priest announced the protocol to be followed, both the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates players were around the grave paying the last respect.

“It is mischievous to suggest I was angry and especially angered by the Kaizer Chiefs captain and players. I am particularly pleased by the role played by Kaizer Chiefs in the dignified burial of Senzo Meyiwa. I view Kaizer Chiefs players, all players for that matter, as children that I must play my role in nurturing (nge sintu children cannot pour soil into the grave before the elders).

“The rivalry the Sowetan article refers to must exist in the journalist’s mischievous head. The Kaizer Chiefs captain, Itumeleng Khune was one of the first people to arrive at the hospital after Senzo was admitted.

“At the graveyard he came to greet Minister Fikile Mbalula, Premier Senzo Mchunu, myself, the family, Dr Danny Jordaan and Mr Patrice Motsepe. I have no issue with Itumeleng’s manners as they are impeccable,” commented Dr Khoza.

“This unfortunate incident would not have occurred had the priest acting as the Programme Director announced the agreed protocol. I am disappointed that this article was written in the Sowetan. This is a paper best placed to uphold isintu.

It should also know that the rivalry between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs is restricted to the field of play. If the journalist was not obsessed with not letting the facts stand in the way of his mischievous story, he would have heard that the Chairman of Kaizer Chiefs spoke about Senzo Meyiwa as if he was his son and player in his own club,” added Dr Khoza.

Pirates say they are also “following up on the utterances attributed to a person referred to in the article as an aunt of Senzo Meyiwa, alleging that an Orlando Pirates official ill-treated Senzo Meyiwa”. 

Article by: Press Release

Gareth Cliff responds to backlash over Meyiwa funeral tweet


Gareth Cliff came under fire for questioning the funeral costs of slain Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa.

Responses came in hot and fast on the social network as users slammed Cliff for being racist and insensitive. Cliff took to his

personal website

Who’s paying for this massive funeral for  ?

#SenzoMeyiwa

— Gareth Cliff (@GarethCliff) 

November 1, 2014
For more http://www.news24.com

Botswana tourist contribute immensely to the NW GDP


Gaborone – MEC for Tourism in the North West has called on the people of Botswana to share resources and explore the reach cultural heritage of the province. MEC Mohono was speaking during the North West Provincial Tourism Marketing venture in Botswana’s capital Gaborone on Thursday, where she appealed to the media and other tourism business people to assist the province to unlock economic potential of heritage and cultural resources through responsible and sustainable Tourism Development.

According to MEC Mohono, the people of Botswana frequent South Africa on daily basis, and the Bokone Bophirima province is the gate way into the country. She said that even South Africans use Botswana to get to other SADC countries. “It is therefore important for both the people of the North West and Botswana to look at Tourism as an important sector that will boost the economy of both countries. Mining is no longer contributing much as it used to and I think it’s now time to explore this important field. We also share cultural values, and it will be more important that we increase education level in profiling the conservation and preservation needs of heritage and cultural resources for sustenance which will be in line with the values of culture, standards and norms”, said MEC Mohono.

MEC Mohono said that the venture is geared at introducing the people of Botswana to other tourism destination areas which she said are of cultural importance in the history of the Batswana. MEC said that the Batswana and the people of the North West are related and that they are just separated by borders.

“Such a relationship cannot be ignored and must be nurtured, embraced and used to the advantage of all. Township and village tourism is a niche market that has not yet been fully penetrated and explored. Both Botswana and the Bokone Bophirima Province have the advantage of a rich history which has long strides.

“The potential for oral traditions that date back centuries and that would definitely ignite the thoughts and imaginations of the tourist are endless”, she said.

MEC Mohono also took advantage of the campaign by further engaging with the Botswana Tourism Organizations in exploring future partnerships with them.

The Tourism marketing campaign is an annual event which is a joint venture between the Department of Tourism and its entity the North West Parks and Tourism Board. The main aim was to sell the destination North West and target three very important tourism groups being the Media, Travel Trade and the Consumer.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

More trouble for Shivambu over middle finger?


Economic Freedom Fighter chief whip Floyd Shivambu faces another contempt-of-Parliament charge for showing Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa the middle finger on September 17.

This was in addition to the contempt of Parliament charges he faces for disrupting proceedings in the National Assembly on August 21.

He and 19 other EFF MPs chanted “pay back the money” at President Jacob Zuma, while he was answering questions.

Parliament’s powers and privileges committee met behind closed doors today to discuss Shivambu’s middle finger.
For more http://www.citypress.co.za

‘Normal transfer rules’ for Pirates


If Orlando Pirates wish to strengthen their goalkeeping department following the tragic passing of Senzo Meyiwa, they will have to wait until the transfer window opens.

According to the Premier Soccer League, “normal transfer rules” still apply with regards to the Buccaneers acquiring another goalkeeper as back-up to Brighton Mhlongo and Philani Zikalala.

Pirates bade farewell to Meyiwa on Saturday, and while they might still be reeling at the senseless murder of their number one goalkeeper, when their minds turn to filling the huge gap left in their team, they will find little support from the League.
For more http://www.kickoff.com

No power cuts on Monday – Eskom


Johannesburg – Power utility Eskom said that it did not expect to have to implement blackouts on Monday after warning on Sunday about possible power outages after a collapsed coal silo cut generation capacity.

“Everything’s under control. The (system) we put in place overnight at the power station seems to be holding,” Eskom spokesman Andrew Etzinger told Talk Radio 702 on Monday morning.

Eskom cut the lights on Sunday, saying power at its 4 110 MW Majuba station had been affected after a coal silo collapsed. It added that there were risks of load shedding on Monday over the peak evening period.

However, Etzinger said Eskom had managed to get mobile coal conveyers and trucks to bring coal to load up the station.

“Fortunately overnight we’ve managed to get two of the units at the power station going again so at this stage no load shedding is planned through the day,” Etzinger said.

Eskom, which produces virtually all of the country’s power, has been operating on razor-thin margins for more than five years as it works to complete two large new power stations. – Reuters

REPORT: Xulu quits over racist remarks


South African defender Siyanda Xulu has stopped training with his club FC Rostov following racist remarks made by his coach Igor Gamula.

Gamula was speaking at a post-match press conference on Friday after his side’s 1-0 victory over Ural in the Russian Premier League.
For more http://www.kickoff.com