The Hague – Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday rejected a request for the temporary release of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo on health grounds.
Gbagbo, 70, is accused of plunging his country into civil war rather than relinquishing his grip on power after losing a presidential run-off vote in 2010.
His trial has been scheduled to start in November.
Reuters
Hazyview – At least R1 million in cash was stolen after an SBV guard was robbed at gunpoint while loading cash into a bank ATM in Hazyview, Mpumalanga police said on Tuesday.
Spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said two armed men, wearing SBV uniforms, approached the SBV guard as he was loading cash into a Nedbank ATM early Tuesday.
“They pointed at him with firearms, and then emptied the cash tray he had loaded with money. They then escaped in a white Audi, a third suspect had stayed behind in the Audi,” Mohlala said.
For more http://www.iol.co.za
BY REGINALD KANYANE
The National Community Radio Forum in the North West Province held its Provincial Policy Conference for two days in Taung. The aim was under the theme “Reconstruction of Community Radio Policies beyond digital Era”.
The provincial chairperson, Tsholofelo Moepeng said the community radio stations are facing changes that will forever change the landscape of radio. He said changing from analog to digital, will improve the dissemination of information to all South Africans.
“The South Africans need to appreciate the role community radio stations have played in democratising the airwaves. Community radio stations also need to be recognised for the value they continue to add the lives of members of the public. Radio is a medium that improves co-operation between broadcasters and promote freedom of expression,” he said.
Many radio station representatives were in attendance and Vaaltar FM acting Station Manager, Tirelo Maruping said: “Radio is not just a one way medium, it’s also interaction. People can communicate, participate, they can take part by interacting with the broadcaster.”
Moepeng also applauds everyone within the community broadcasting sector for their commitment in ensuring that the sector retains its unique identity, sustainability and continue to be at the heart of the government new strategic approach of revolutionising the communication agenda in South Africa, especially with regard to empowerment of our people.
Some of those who attended including the Mayor of Greater Taung Local Municipality, Cllr Kaone Lobelo, Media Development and Diversity Agency, Department of Communications, the GCIS, Media Connection and the National Leadership of Community Radio Forum led by its General Secretary Johannes Dire.
Lobelo has emphasised on the historical foundation of the Community Radio, its significance and independence from political groupings, although should report on political matters that matters most to communities. As part of the heritage month, the Mayor took advantage of the stage and encouraged visitors to tour around Taung to witness the amazing and educative rich historic stories objects, monuments and cultural activities and food prominent in the area.
“The community radio stations inform the public on what is going on, inform democratic choices through the clarification of complex issues, in particularly in an age when information is the driving force of economic advancement and international events impact on people’s daily lives as never before. The media also have a responsibility in reporting fairly, constructive and without any fear. We, as municipality wish all the best and keep on doing the best you could,” he said.
The Conference dealt extensively on ways and means to reposition and re-vision the sector. The appointing of women issue was also discussed as there is a need for more women in the community media, and how can community radio optimally uses journalism in its mandate.
-TDN
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
NORTH West Public Works MEC, Madoda Sambata met with contractors to try and solicit common grounds after they downed tools. The contractors were hired to build roads across the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district, but left the roads unfinished because of unpaid money.
Departmental spokesperson, George Madoda said the department met with all contractors and they are in a process of paying them the money they owed.
“MEC Madoda Sambatha met with three contractors on Friday. There is Leviro contract firm that is building a road between Morokweng and Bona Bona, and another one building a road between Morokweng and Tseage. We agreed that we will make sure all contractors will be paid before the end of this week and the process of continue building roads will resume,” Madoda said.
Madoda said Sambatha also met with Taung residents and explained that the department will meet with the contractor soon because there are still outstanding matter involved in the case after the contractor took department to court.
-TDN
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Vatican City – Pope Francis, making the most substantial changes to Catholic marriage annulment procedures in centuries, on Tuesday radically simplified them and said bishops should give greater help to divorced couples.
In a move that again showed his desire for the Church to be more merciful to Catholics in difficulty, Francis reaffirmed traditional teaching on the “indissolubility of marriage”, but streamlined annulment procedures many considered cumbersome, lengthy, outdated and expensive.
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Mmabatho – Mafikeng Airport in the North West province is set to be back in full operation by resuming regular flights to Johannesburg and Pilanesburg, the office of the provincial premier announced on Friday.
Speaking during the official launch of the flight schedule at the airport on Friday morning, North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo said the move was part of the provincial government’s broader plan to reposition, rebrand and renew the province with special focus on Mahikeng as the capital city.
“By June last year we were talking theory, and today we have moved from theory to practice. We said that we will make this practical and I am very happy that SA Express and all stakeholders came to the party to make this a reality in line with our saamtrek saamwerk (pull together, work together) philosophy. This proves that we are committed to achieve our objectives,” said Mahumapelo.
SA Express will fly from Mahikeng to Pilanesberg and OR Tambo International Airport three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Fares would range from R400 for Mahikeng to Pilanesburg and from R600 for Mahikeng to Johannesburg.
Mahumapelo said that they were also looking at the possible introduction of flights between Mahikeng, Bloemfontein and Kruger National Park as part of enhancing the Maize Triangle strategic growth.
ANA
Johannesburg – Rapper Nkululeko “Flabba” Habedi had a fight with the woman who allegedly killed him, the Johannesburg High Court sitting in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court heard on Tuesday.
“He came in and greeted us and sang to his track then told us that he had a fight with Sindi [Manqele] and needed to go sort it out,” his cousin Mpho Motsoari said during cross-examination from Norman Makhubela, for Manqele.
Motsoari recalled how Habedi came into the relaxation room and greeted him and another friend and a few minutes later Manqele went into the house.
For more http://www.iol.co.za
Johannesburg – Despite a public outcry, the platform-hunt at a farm outside Alldays in Limpopo continued and 18 animals were killed, the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said.
“It is with sadness that we have to report that the hunt has continued despite the phenomenal public outcry opposing this. We can confirm that 18 animals were killed [Monday], including gemsbuck, eland, wildebeest, warthogs, Impala and duiker. We mourn their lives,” the NSPCA said on its Facebook page.
For more http://www.news24.com
Cape Town – The jury is out on whether Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba should get the axe – or continue at the helm of the national team.
Bafana hit rock-bottom in their AFCON 2017 qualifier against minnows Mauritania on Saturday, going down 3-1 to the 114th-ranked team in the world in what will go down in the annals as the worst performance by Bafana in living memory.
Was it a mere blip in the road to long-term glory, or is it time for fresh blood in charge?
For more http://www.news24.com
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
Vryburg – The North West Education and Sport Development department hosted a two days Provincial School League games on Friday and Saturday, 04 – 05 September 2015 at Gert Lubbe Stadium Sports Ground in Vryburg, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
The cold and rainy weather could not discourage the different teams of learners to compete for the number one spot in their respective different sporting codes. All the teams played on point system whereby the winning team in the group qualified to represent the province in the National championships at the end of the year in December.
The third leg for the Provincial School League games targeted the Under 13 and Under 17 boys and girls in the following sporting codes football, netball, basketball and volleyball.
The second leg took place late July 2015 and consisted of Indigenous games while the first leg consisted of the Special Schools and took place in June 2015.
Schools that will represent the Under 13 at the National Championships in Basketball Itirele Primary Schools from Matlosana (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District) for both girls and boys, in Softball General Hendrik Schoeman Primary School will represent for both boys and girls, in Volleyball A re Itshokeng Primary School will represent the boys and girls at national championships, in Football the boys from Kgetleng Primary School were on top of their group and girls from Kgetleng Primary School won in their group.
In the Under 17 category, the boys from Itshupeng Secondary School from Schweizer Reneke (Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati) won the group, while the girls from Mogawane Secondary School from Bojanala won the group.
In Volleyball the boys from Eletsa Secondary School in Letlhabile (Bojanala District) won the group and the girls of Tsamma Secondary School in Jouberton (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District). In the Basketball, the boys and girls from Keledi Secondary School won their both groups meaning that they will both represent the province at national.
MEC Maphefo Matsemela congratulated the schools who won the selection and wished them good luck at the National Championships.
“I wish to congratulate all the schools who won the Provincial School League Championships and encourage those who did not make it through. These competitions are a very good platform for our learners because they get to expose their talents at different levels until to National. I wish them good luck and they need to work extremely hard in order to bring back Gold to the province”,said MEC Matsemela.
-TDN
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The Guardian 