Berlin – A special German task force arrested three people near the western German city of Aachen as part of a Europe-wide search for a suspect in the Paris terrorist attacks, police say.

“We received information that one of the fugitives connected with Paris could be staying in our area,” a police spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The circumstances surrounding the arrests in the town of Alsdorf, near the border with the Netherlands, have not been released. The identities of those arrested have also not been disclosed.

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

MORE than R34 000 was raised during Bakwena’s Annual Potjiekos Competition last week Saturday. The event was held at the Voortrekker Monument Cultural and Picnic area in Pretoria. The organizer, Thandakazi Mashalaba said they rose over R34 920 for three community projects situated along the N1 and N4 toll route.

“Bakwena is dedicated to uplifting the communities that reside along the N1 and N4.The money was handed over to three charities. The three organisations that benefited from this year’s potjiekos were President Kruger Children’s Home which received R11 640 as well as some stationery. Trust Hope Faith Youth Development Organisation, received R11 640 as well as stationery and lastly, Solidarity “My Held” received R11 640 as well,” Mashalaba said.

She said this year’s competition brought industry stakeholders together to enjoy a fun day. Mashalaba said the event was an opportunity for all the participants to interact and network while working towards a cause relevant to them all.

“We appreciate the hard work and dedication of Bakwena’s finance team. The event ran smoothly from start to finish. However, none of it would have been possible without sponsorship from generous donors. The competition itself was tight and the judges had a tough time choosing between the delicious potjies on offer. However, a decision had to be made and the team from Bigen was announced as the first prize winners, followed by National Asphalt in second place and Scan RF who came in third,” she said.

Bakwena spokesperson, Charmaine van Wyk said: “We are grateful to all the volunteers, participants and donors for making the day such a success. We looking forward to seeing everyone again at next year’s event.”

-TDN

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Motsweding FM compilation between two presenters, Phenyo Phushudi and Obonye Nelly Moruri is talk of the town currently. From the manner they walk, talk and carry themselves, these two exude nothing but buoyancy and boldness. The two presenters are both approachable and relaxed.

Phusudi and Moruri present an entertainment show called Ke Moteng every Saturday from 6-9pm. The listeners could not get enough of the craziness throughout the show.

Moruri explained where it all started and she has this to say: “I went for an audition at Mafikeng community radio station. I was so nervous when called back for a re-audition. I worked for three years at the station until I was recruited by Motsweding FM in 2011. It has been enjoyable moment and I believe thorough research on issues we discuss is very important. However we are spontaneous and that is one element that vends our show. I can safely say Phenyo is the best co-host I ever worked with. He knows how to get the best out of me. He is very intelligent, funny, and wiser. He is aware of what is happening around him and never dull moment around him.

A mother of 11 year-old daughter said it was important for aspiring radio presenters to back them up with formal qualifications. “The career on radio is unpredictable, so my message to the young aspiring radio is that they must study. The qualifications can help them to fall back if things do not go accordingly. More research and discipline is needed. One cannot treat radio career as a habit, you must treat it as your workplace.”

Moruri also co-host a graveyard shows with Felix Da Cat between 00:00 until 03:00am.

Phushudi who is permanently employed by SAPS as full time policeman in Northern Cape said, he enjoy working with Moruri. He said the chemistry between them one could think they broadcasting from the same studio. “One would grapple with the revelation that we are broadcasting from distinct studios in separate provinces. We deliver the show from different studios. I always broadcast from Kimberley while Moruri will be in Mahikeng.

“I was inspired by legends like Benny Motaung, Oshebeng Koonyaditse and of course Minah Pilane. I enjoy working with Nelly. She would call me during the week asking if I’ve prepared something for the show. I would tell her I haven’t yet just to hear what ideas she is bringing to the table. She would be like….I was thinking….and I’ll jump in and say yes, we going with whatever are you thinking of,” he said.

Phushudi who started his career at Vaaltar FM, said the radio landscape has changed. He said nowadays not only the presenter has access to the information. “If you do not give a listener what she/he want it will be very easy for her/him to tune to other radio station. One need to be on points at all time,” Phushudi said.

-TDN

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*Note that the article appeared on The New Age Newspaper first

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 34 year-old woman from Mogopela B in Taung was released after being arrested on Friday. The mentally ill woman was arrested amid the death of a 3 year-old toddler. The toddler was found hanged from the rafter of the roof in the house she used to call home. Now her death will remain a mystery after her auntie was released because there was not enough evidence linking her to the murder.

 North West police spokesperson sergeant Kelebogile Moleko, said a woman who was a sister to the mother of a murdered child, was arrested after suspected of murdering the child.

 “The woman, who is mentally challenged, was released pending preliminary investigations.  The police could not link her to the murder of the child. The child was allegedly hanged in the house. Police are waiting for post-mortem results and they will take it from there. She said the girl was hanged found hanged by one of family members,” Moleko said.

-TDN

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

NORTH West police said 32 people were arrested during the weekend in operation Fiela. The operation was conducted across the province since Thursday. North West police spokesperson, Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the police will do what it takes to root-out crime.

“The operations were held jointly with Traffic and Immigration Officials in the policing precincts of Boitekong, Mmabatho, Lomanyaneng and Klerksdorp. The arrested persons include six that were suspects for assault GBH and assault common. Three nabbed for common robbery, seven for drug-related crimes, one for possession of a dangerous weapon and another one for malicious damage to property,” Mokgwabone said.

He said nine fines were issued for liquor-related offences, while five motorists were fined for road traffic related transgressions. “The arrested suspects are expected to appear in Mmabatho, Rusteburg, and Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court soon. The police seized liquor and dagga during the operations. More than 165 premises, 83 vehicles and 508 persons were searched.  The operations will continue and will be intensified in various parts of the province. The aim is to maintain stability and ensure the safety of the community during the festive season as part of operation Duty Calls – Fiela Reclaim,” he said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE department of labour in North West closed down few offices at mini-Garona building in Vryburg. The department visited the building last week after complainants from some of employees who alleged that there building was not conducive. The building that cost the provincial government more than R300m harbours more than ten provincial government offices.

The department of labour provincial spokesperson, Orpa Mathabe said: “We visited the area and closed down few offices for non-compliance. There is no ventilation machinery system, and some of the windows do not open. So, that makes it hard for workers to work under those conditions. We completely closed down the office of the premier, department of education and partial closed the department of social development and health department.

“We are currently busy with paperwork after we realised that the department of education defied the rules and continue to use their office. We will drag them to court because what they doing is encroachment. We urge all private and public sectors to comply with the labour rules to avoid disappointment.”

The department of public works said the investigations were underway to determine if the problems persisted through poor workmanship or not.

Provincial Public Works MEC, Madoda Sambatha said: “We are currently conducting internal investigations. We want to check if the problems arose after the handover of the building by contractor or not. We will work together with the department of labour to derivate the problems. The provincial government aims at creating a mini-Garona at each district within the province. That will help our people to access government offices easily.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA) will hold public hearings on the Public Finance Management Act audit outcomes of the financial year 2014/15 for Department of Public Works and Roads and Signal Developments (PTY) Ltd in the Legislature Committee Room 2 on Wednesday at 09h00.

The public hearings will be attended by the MEC for Department of Public Works and Roads, Madoda Sambatha and CEO and senior management of Signal Development (PTY) Ltd including representatives from the Department of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development and the Auditor General’s office.

-TDN

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Cape Town – France’s ambassador to South Africa Elisabeth Barbier will on Tuesday brief the media at the French Embassy in Pretoria on Friday’s attacks in Paris which led to the deaths of 132 people.

Three teams of attackers including seven suicide bombers on Friday night attacked the national stadium, the concert hall and nearby nightspots.

The attacks left 350 people injured, 99 of them seriously.

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Paris – French President Francois Hollande will present a bill to extend the state of emergency in France, as well as propose severe amendments to the constitution in light of last week’s wave of attacks in Paris that killed at least 132 people.

The French leader said on Monday, in an exceptional joint gathering of parliament, that he would make the proposals on Wednesday and parliamentarians would vote on them before the end of the week.

Friday’s “acts of war… were decided and planned in Syria, prepared and organised in Belgium [and] perpetrated on our soil with French complicity”, he said, speaking in Versailles, south of Paris.

“I have asked the prime minister to prepare constitutional amendments,” he added.

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