BY REGINALD KANYANE
THREE Vehicle collided on the N12 near the Orkney Bridge about 20 kilometres from Potchefstroom on Sunday.

Netcare 911 spokesperson, Chris Botha said: “Reports from the scene indicate that two vehicles were parked alongside the road with the occupants standing next to their vehicles when a vehicle lost control and slammed into them.”

Botha said that paramedics arrived at the scene and found that four adults and a child sustained injuries.

He said two adults were in a critical condition while the other patients sustained serious injuries.

“Medics stabilise the injured at the scene before they airlifted the two critically injured men to a Johannesburg hospital for the care that they required.”

The three seriously injured patients were treated at the scene and then transported to a local hospital for further treatment.
-TDN
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Chris Botha

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
THE Provincial government in North West refuted that claims that the North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo was involved in a car accident.

Acting provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said: “There is a rumour that is being circulated to the effect that premier Mahumapelo of the North West province was involved in a car accident yesterday after delivering his State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Matlosana.

“We wish to firmly dispel this rumour as speculative, mischievous and devoid of the truth, since Premier Mahumapelo was not involved in any accident.”

Setswambung further added that Obed Bapela, the Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs was the one who was involved in a car crash on the N12 near Fochville, and Premier Mahumapelo managed to be at the accident scene.

“The Deputy Minister is reported to be in a stable condition in hospital, and Premier Mahumapelo has wished him a speedy recovery,” he said.
-TDN
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JOHANNESBURG – It’s understood the Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Andries Nel, is recovering in hospital following a collision on the N12 near Fochville in Gauteng.

ER24 says it’s unclear what caused last night’s crash between a truck and the car transporting the deputy minister.

Upon arrival, paramedics say they were greeted by a number of police officers already on the scene.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

Vice President of SAFA, Dr. Danny Jordaan (l), Minister of Human and Settlement Tokyo Sexwale during the 2010 world Cup Legacy Project
© Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Six months ago Gianni Infantino was a low-profile right-hand man to European soccer boss Michel Platini. He was the striking, shaven-headed character who pulled balls out of glass pots during televised UEFA competition draws.

Barely-known by the general public, he was also the man behind a complex attempt to force Europe’s clubs to reign in their spending, but which ended up leaving fans and even club directors confused.

On Friday, Infantino was chosen as the new president of FIFA, a position which made his predecessor Sepp Blatter as instantly recognisable as some of the world’s leading statesman.

It was a remarkable leap for the affable Swiss-Italian.

The polyglot lawyer only entered the FIFA race in late October, one day before the deadline, as a stop-gap candidate after Platini had been placed under investigation for ethics violations.
For more http://www.timelive.co.za

When Platini failed to clear his name and was banned from football for six years, Infantino was left carrying the hopes of European football.

For more http://www.timeline.co.za

Mahikeng – The North West University (NWU) has suspended the former SRC president of its Mahikeng campus for three years for misconduct, the institution said on Friday.

Linda Benz Mabengwane was found guilty at a disciplinary hearing of five of the six charges brought against him, university spokesperson Koos Degenaar said in a statement on the NWU’s website.

The five charges were: disrupting the institution’s registration process at the campus in January; assaulting a fellow student; violating a court interdict; interfering with managerial functions; and engaging with the media on topics intended to bring the NWU into disrepute.

Mabengwane was informed of the university’s decision on Thursday, after the hearing.
Courtesy: News24

Cape Town – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s first comeback National Budget tabled on Wednesday afternoon in Parliament was relatively calm and workmanlike one after all the expectations of tax hikes and spending cuts amid tough economic times.

He stressed the need to reaffirm government’s commitment to close the gap between spending and revenue, implementing a plan for stronger economic growth and cooperation between government and the business sector. That should keep the rating agencies that want to downgrade SA’s debt position to junk status temporarily at bay.

Personal income tax rates were not increased as was expected and as Nhlanhla Nene did last year, although about R18bn more will be collected in 2016/17. This will mostly be through yet another big increase of 30 cents per litre in the fuel levy as well as increases in capital gains tax, property transfer tax and an increase of about 7% in the usual sin taxes (alcohol and tobacco) A new tyre levy and a tax on sugar intake (only next year on sweetened beverages) will also be introduced.

The expenditure ceiling was also cut by R25bn over the next three years to bring the budget deficit down to 2.4% of gross domestic product by 2018/19, and to stabilise debt as percentage of GDP around 45% of GDP.

The public sector wage bill will be cut, but provision for contingencies like drought relief and additional spending has been made and increases in expenditure on for example on higher education and small business development continue. Gordhan stressed that the government would not burden South Africans with “austerity measures”, and that social grants will also be raised.

The highlights of the budget are:

Budget framework

•  The budget deficit will fall from 3.2% in 2016/17 to 2.4% in 2018/19 (3.9% in 2015/16).
•  Debt stock as a percentage of GDP is expected to stabilise at 46.2% in 2017/18 (43.7% in 2017/18).
•  Government will lower the expenditure ceiling by R10bn in 2017/18 and R15bn in 2018/19 by reducing public sector compensation budgets.

• An additional R18.1bn of tax revenue will be raised in 2016/17, with R15bn more in each of the subsequent two years.

• Government has responded to new spending needs without compromising expenditure limits. An amount of R31.8bn has been reprioritised over the medium-term expenditure framework period to support higher education, the New Development Bank and other priorities.

Spending programmes over the next three years

• R457.5bn on social grants.
• R93.1bn on transfers to universities, while the National Student Financial Aid Scheme receives R41.2bn.
• R707.4bn on basic education, including R45.9bn for subsidies to schools, R38.3bn for infrastructure, and R14.9bn for learner and teacher support materials.
• R108.3bn for public housing.
• R102bn on water resources and bulk infrastructure.
• R171.3bn on transfers of the local government equitable share to support the expansion of access of poor households to free basic services.
• R30.3bn to strengthen and improve the national non-toll road network.
• R13.5bn to Metrorail and Shosholoza Meyl to subsidise passenger trips and long-distance passengers.
• R10.2bn for manufacturing development incentives.
• R4.5bn for national health insurance pilot districts.

Tax proposals

• An amount of R9.5bn will be raised through increases in excise duties, the general fuel levy and environmental taxes.
• Limited fiscal drag relief of R5.5bn will be implemented for individuals, focusing on lower- and middle-income earners.
• Adjustments to capital gains tax and transfer duty will raise R2bn. The effective rate on capital gains tax for individuals will rise from 13.7% to 16.4%, and for companies from 18.6% to 22.4%. Transfer duty on property sales above R10m will be raised from 11% tot 13% from March1 2016 .
• Government proposes to introduce a sugar tax on 1 April 2017 to help reduce excessive sugar intake.
• A tyre levy will be implemented, effective October 1 2016.
• The general fuel levy will be raised by 30c/litre to R2.85/l for petrol and R2.70/l for diesel, effective April 6 2016. The Road Accident Fund levy will stay the same on 154c/l as it will be replaced by the Road Accident Benefit Scheme.
• Tax credits on medical scheme contributions are increased to maintain the current level of relief in real terms.
• The plastic bag levy is increased from 6c to 8c per bag.
• Personal income tax will bring in 37.5% of government revenue, company tax 16.9%, VAT 25.6% and fuel levies 5.5%.

Sin taxes hikes

Beer 11c/340ml; fortified wine 27c/750ml; ciders and alcoholic fruit beverages 11c/340ml; unfortified wine 18c/750ml; sparkling wine 59c/750ml; spirits 394c/750ml; cigarettes 82c/packet of 20; cigarette tobacco 94c/50g; pipe tobacco 27c/25g; cigars 432c/23g.

Macro-economic outlook

• GDP growth is estimated 1.3% in 2015, 0.9%% in 2016, 1.7% in 2017 and 2.4% in 2018. This is considerably lower than last year’s estimates.
• Export growth  is expected to grow by 9.5% in 2015, 3.0% in 2016 and 4.6% in 2017 while imports will grow an estimated 5.3% in 2015, 3.7% in 2017 and 4.5% in 2017.
• Consumer inflation will fall to 4.6% in 2015, accelerate to 6.8% in 2016 and is then forecast to consolidate somewhat at 6.3% in 2017 and 5.9% in 2018.
• Capital formation is forecast to grow by only 1.1% of GDP in 2015, 0.3% in 2016, 1.4% in 2017 and 2.7% in 2018.
• Household comsumption is set to grow by 1.4% in 2015, 0.7% in 2016, 1.6% in 2017 and 2.2% in 2018.
• The balance of payments wil stay in deficit (-4.1% of GDP in 2015, -4.0% in 2016, -3.9% in 2017 and 2018).

Social Grant increases

• State old age grant from R1 415 to R1 505 per month.
• State old age grant for over 75s from R1 435 to R1 525.
• War veterans grant from R1 435 to R 1 525.
• Disability grant from R1 415 to R 1 505.
• Foster care grant from R860 to R890.
• Care dependency grant from R1 415 to R1 505.
• Child support grant from R330 to R350.

Courtesy: http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – The Electoral Court has ruled that the re-run of the Tlokwe by-elections, which was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, be postponed for six weeks.

“The certification of the voters’ roll which is the subject of this case is set aside,” the court said in its order handed down on Tuesday evening.

The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) was also ordered to provide all candidates contesting the by-election with a copy or a segment of the voters’ roll and the addresses of all registered voters, where addresses were available.

Independent candidates, who were contesting the by-election, approached the court on Tuesday requesting that it postpone the election due to issues with the voters roll.

The candidates have expressed concerns regarding the veracity of it.

The by-elections, which were scheduled for Wednesday, were meant to be held following last year’s Constitutional Court judgment that set aside the previous by-elections, which took place on September 12, 2013 in Ward 18, and on December 10, 2013 in Wards one, four, 11, 12, 13 and 20.

The court ordered that they be re-run.

The Electoral Court judgment on Tuesday only mentioned six of the seven wards. 

Last week, IEC CEO Mosotho Moepya said the commission had taken the necessary steps to verify people’s addresses to ensure a smooth election on the day.
Courtesy: News24.com

Bloemfontein – Tempers flared at the University of the Free State on Tuesday morning, hours after a Varsity Cup rugby match was disrupted.

Dozens of Economic Freedom Fighters supporters, clad in red T-shirts and berets, spilled onto the campus and blockaded the main gate, despite the university announcing that it had been closed for the day.

Groups of students and EFF members flocked to the CR Swart statue and set it alight. Other students chased them away.

Protesters smashed glass cabinets and spray painted the words “Robert Sobukwe Law School” on one building.

For more http://www.news24.com

Cape Town – We want to protect children against revenge porn, the Film Publications Board told Parliament on Tuesday.

This after the board was questioned about whether it was within their mandate to deal with revenge porn, the practice of distributing private sexual photographs and films without concern from the individual featured.

The board, alongside the Communications Department, was presenting the films and publications amendment bill to Parliament’s communications committee on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to amend the Films and Publications Act by closing the gaps in online content regulation.

In terms of the proposed new law, no person may post private photos or films on the internet without consent, or with the intention of causing individual distress.

For more http://www.news24.com

EFF members, AfriForum students and a prayer group have left the area outside the University of Pretoria’s main gate, but will return tomorrow to continue protest action, a report says.

Netwerk24 reports that the EFF, AfriForum and the prayer group have all left the area outside the main gate at the University of Pretoria.

The groups will be back tomorrow, Netwerk24 reports, especially AfriForum, who will hand in a memorandum.

For more http://www.news24.com