THE North West Flames Netball team continues to do the province proud as it leads the pack in the ongoing 2016 Brutal Fruit netball League.

MEC for education and sport development in North West, Wendy Matsemela applauded the team’s exploits after it defeated a fired up Kwazulu-Natal Kingdom Stars team.

Matsemela said she was proud that the team continued to show its mettle at the tournament.

“We urge our people to continue rally behind the team. They are making the province proud with their weekly performances. Our North West Flames Netball Team dominated the weekend games again in the 2016 Brutal Fruit Netball League. This was round 4 of the tournament and took place at Ellis Park Indoor Arena, Johannesburg,” Matsemela said.

North West Flames has played its two crucial games and looks set to be a surprise package this year. The team played against the Kingdom Stars of KwaZulu-Natal on Friday and Gauteng Jaguars on Saturday and came out unscathed.

Matsemela said these two games were taunted as a make or break for the Flames to consolidate their position of staying at the top of the Premier League.

In a thrilling game against the Kingdom Stars, The North West Flames Netball team dominated all the quarters and won 46 – 39. On the second day of Round 4, The Flames played another difficult match against the Gauteng Jaguars in which they ended up sharing the spoils at 52 – 52 goals.

The results of these two games propelled the North West Flames to stay on top of the log above all teams with 11 points.

North West Flames player, Fikile Mkhuzangwe scooped player of the match award. She was awarded R5000 cheque.

Mkhuzangwe said: “I am very excited and attributes my win to the team as a whole. It was all about hard work and dedication. I am very happy and excited to be named the Player of the Match. This means a lot to me as a player and my hard work has paid off.”

North West Flames coach, Doretta Bardenhorst expressed her temporary relief after playing the toughest games in the tournament.

She said: “Somehow I am truly relieved after playing these two games. These were a mammoth task and I will like to thank my players for giving it all. Now going forward, we will take every game as it come.”

Expectations are that the team will managed to clinch the coveted trophy this year and residents in the province have been urged to keep on supporting the team.

-TDN

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Picture: Potch Herald/Selogile Leshage

GRADE 12 pupils from various schools and other various stakeholders gathered at Toevlug primary school in Ventersdorp to attend the JB Marks education trust fund career expo.

The activity was organised by the National Union of Miners (NUM).

Chairperson of the board of trustees, David Sipunzi said the aim of the initiative was to assist needy students with financial resources and also expose them to career choices up for grabs.

“The initiative was established back in 1997 in honour of the Ventersdorp-born former trade unionist, teacher and political activist JB Marks. He died in Russia after suffering a stroke while in exile in Tanzania. He was sent to Russia for medical treatment, but unfortunately he passed away there.

“This is befitting after JB Marks remains were repatriated back to Ventersdorp last year. He was reburied in this area. We wanted to provide bursaries for mineworkers’ children. However the trust fund has now been opened to the public and deserving students,” Sipunzi said.

He said the JB Marks Education Trust has produced about 900 graduates and post-graduates to date. He further encouraged learners to work hard and strive for success.

“We want many kids to benefit from this expo. Unfortunately we had not received that opportunity during our time. So it will be more imperative for our children to embark on the career of their choices.

“Career guidance is very important because it allows every kid to choice their own path. Bursaries will be awarded on merit, so all previous disadvantaged learners are welcomed.

We are very grateful after seeing so many learners gaining interest to visit the expo. This is a two day expo, and we invited close to 48 exhibitors,” he said.

Big companies like Honda, Old Mutual, UNISA, SAICA, NYDA, Justice Department of Justice, SAPS, Mining Qualifications Authority and North West University were also part of the proceeding.

Education and sport development deputy director general, Stephinah Semashwe said that pupils were offered career advice. She further added that they were advised on which subjects to select for grade 12 pupils and for which career.

“We urge our learners to take the opportunity of this bursary. We highly appreciate the generosity displayed by NUM. We hope to see as many graduates as we can benefit from this initiative. We also encourage Ventersdorp learners to apply and benefit as well from the trust,” Semashwe said.

The JB Marks Education Trust Fund covers registration, tuition, examination, bridging courses, textbooks, meals, on-campus accommodation, and capacity building programmes.

One of the learners who attended, Keamogetswe Masigo, 14 from from Kgololosego Intermediate School in Ventersdorp said: “The bursary initiative will encourage us to achieve our career goals in life. I would like to be a social worker after I matriculated. So this fund will come in handy for previously disadvantaged learners like me,” Masilo said.

JB Marks’ great-granddaughter, Pastor and Lecturer, Laurian Marks commended the NUM for the initiative. She said her family was grateful about this and we believe this will be a beacon of hope to many students.

“We are also happy that our great grandfather is home. We can now pay tribute to him for all what he has done. Let us continue with the struggle and strive for betterment of our people,” Marks said.

-TDN

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President Jacob Zuma’s first appearance in parliament since the courts made two damning rulings against him got off to a bumpy start on Wednesday when rowdy EFF members were ejected from the National Assembly.

The EFF wrote a letter to speaker Baleka Mbete asking that Zuma not be allowed to speak in the National Assembly as he had violated the Constitution and also faced the reinstatement of corruption charges.

Zuma was present to address the National Assembly in Cape Town regarding the 2016/17 budget allocations for his administration.

Mbete declined the request.

Source: Timelive

A 47-YEAR-OLD man sentenced to two life imprisonment for rape by Vryburg Regional Court on Thursday. Gilbert Keetile also received 10 years for attempted murder and a further 8 years for two accounts of kidnapping.

Provincial police spokesperson, Sgt Kelebogile Moleko said the sentences emanated from crimes the accused committed between 2012 and 2013. She said the accused kidnapped and raped a 16-year-old girl after offering her a lift under the pretext of taking her home in December 2012.

“In a separate incident that occurred in March 2013, he raped and strangled a 28-year-old woman. Both incidents took place within and around Vryburg.  All the sentences will run concurrently. The North West police commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane welcomed the conviction. She commended the investigative team for their dedication. Motswenyane also warned potential criminals and said that the police will continue to put behind bars those who commit crime,” Moleko said. 
-TDN
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FIVE youth from disadvantaged families in Hartswater, Jan Kempdorp and Pampierstad areas near Taung are being empowered after they enrolled for the Microsoft Certified Solution Associate (MCSA) programme.

  Administrator of the programme, Letlhogonolo Modise said they targeted unemployed youth from rural areas.

  “We have brought a skills development programme to equip the unemployed youth. As the administrator for the project, I realised that the youth in rural areas are beset with many challenges. They are faced with abject poverty, teenage pregnancy, crime and alcohol and drug abuse. So they need to be empowered.

  “We are planning to bring as many skill development projects as we could. We have chosen five people from various areas around Taung to join our pilot project. I approached Torque-IT Company to request their assistance. They agreed to give necessary training to the students,” Modise said.

  A 31 year-old man from Pampierstad said he also approached Phokwane local municipality to give the students necessary job training. He said it was imperative for the youth to be developed because youth empowerment will do the world good.

  “Empowering the youth is better because that will assist them to succeed in life. It is shameful that when youth empowerment is mentioned, people think that it is only the function of the government to empower the youth. This is not so as you, as an individual, can empower the people around you,” he said.

  Business development manager at Torque Career Campus (TCC), Lesego Motshwane, said Torque IT is accredited by Media Information and Communication, Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA). She said her company was strategically devoted to address and narrow the skills gap within the IT sector.

  “Torque IT is acting as a key resource for businesses wants to invest in learnerships, internships and skill programmes. Torque IT has a vast, active client base that partakes in learnership and internship programmes hosted at the four main operating branches in South Africa. Many of these clients choose to make use of Torque IT’skills experience in recruiting learners or interns as well as to place them for workplace experience at different companies with such needs.

  “I was approached by Letlhogonolo Modise who requested Torque IT to assist in terms of job creation in Pampierstad near Taung. He has passion for youth development within the region and approached Phokwane local municipality mayor, Robert Tsikwe and shared his vision. Torque IT has a client named Exponant based in Centurion. Exponant wanted to fund five interns to participate in an internship programme,” Motshwane said.

  She said that Exponant agreed to take five unemployed interns who met the requirements. Exponant paid Torque IT for interns training and also covered the cost of the Microsoft Certificate Exams.  According to Motshwane, Exponant is also providing all interns with a monthly stipend of R3500 over 12 months duration. 

  “Interns are attending a curriculum which is aligned to the MCSA: Windows Server 2012 certification path. They will be certified as such after passing all their international exams. The internship program commenced with class training on April 4 in 2016 at Torque IT head office in Rivonia, Johannesburg. Class training will be completed on May 6 and they will start with their workplace experience at Phokwane local municipality on May 9 until February 28 in 2017,” Motshwane said.

Phokwane local municipality mayor, Robert Tsikwe said the internship will narrow the unemployment gap at the area.

  “We highly appreciate what Modise has done for our youth in the area. Unemployment is the order of the day and that affects the lifestyle of the youth. They end up engaging in drug and alcohol abuse to pass time. The IT skill is very rare and we hope they will make use of the opportunity. We would like to welcome more internship from private companies because mostly people are looking at the government to create jobs,” Tsikwe said.
-TDN
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READING is seen as one powerful tool that can help people broadedn their understanding of issues around them.

  In a bid to promote a reading culture, Tlokwe local municipality partnered with Kajeno Media hosted a book reading event called Rutanang Book Fair at Madiba Banquet Hall in Potchefstroom last week.

  The event was organised by Kgauhelo Dube from Kajeno Media. Dube said the aim was to create a platform where reading books can be made fun and enjoyable. She said they called the event Long Story Short inquest to encourage reading mentality within the society.

  “Everyone knows that reading is important. However we have to ask ourselves why that is so. We need to find out the reason why reading is so important for us. So we can get a brand new desire to explore the world of reading. We engaged with various stakeholders like the department of culture, arts and traditional affairs in North West and the Tlokwe local municipality.

  “We also brought celebrities into our midst to encourage the youth. We also recorded the event during the reading proceeding. The aim is to upload the material on our YouTube page so that it can be accessible to anyone,” Dube said.

  According to Dube, the event will be annual. One of the writers was award-winning Sabata Mokae and North West born actor, Presley Chweneyagae. Mokae said reading exposes oneself to new things.

  “Through reading, you expose yourself to new things like new information and new ways to deal with problems. Sometimes you might actually explore one thing you really like and it may end up becoming your career and success in the future. Exploration begins from reading and understanding.

  “Reading does help you form a better you. We might understand the world better through reading. We can also learn how to build self confidence. Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, showing you nothing is impossible in this world. Nowadays you will see that children do not copy at school because of their participation in social networks,” Mokae said.

  He said the use of writing deteriorate because pupils use different way of writing on social networks. Mokae said pupils must make use of social networks to their advantage.

  “I would like to encourage pupils to make use of social networks to their advantage. They must post informative information and also they can share ideas. I regard social networks as double-edged sword. It can help to bring out the better society or it can contribute to the deteriorating of educational standard amongst the youth,” he said.

  Actor Presley Chweneyagae said: “The aim of the event was to decolonise literature. We encourage our people to write and read in their own mother tongue. There are many stories that need to be told from our background. So the initiative will help in achieving that mark. I was reading a book called Ga Ke Modisa written by Sabata Mpho Mokae.

  “Reading improves one’s mind. It helps in any actions you take on anything. Reading is an essential way which can help you out. In today’s world, getting reviews and feedback from other people can make a big impact on your next decision.”

Tlokwe local municipality mayor, Kgotso Khumalo shared the same sentiments. Khumalo encouraged the society to read and said he reads a lot even through his busy schedule. He said reading broaden one’s mind.
-TDN
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
A 36-YEAR-OLD police constable appeared in Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court for conspiracy to commit murder today.

  Constable Pule Maboke was arrested in Ikageng Township, near Potchefstroom on Friday. 

North West police spokesperson, Col Sabata Mokgwabone said police received information that linked the suspect to a plot of killing an investigating officer in attempted murder and house robbery cases.

  “The suspect together with four other accomplices who were in detention, were allegedly plotting to kill an investigating officer of cases of attempted murder and house robbery involving the accomplices of the constable. The police were tipped off about the plan and the constable was arrested at his place on Friday.

  “He appeared in court on the same day, but was remanded in custody for further investigation and formal bail application. Preliminary investigation has revealed that Maboke and the four accomplices are involved in approximately 20 cases of burglary and theft as well as robberies committed in Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom, Ikageng and Viljoenskroon,” Mokgwabone said.

 The provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane condemned the incident.

  She indicated that rogue elements have no space in the South African Police Service. Motshwenyane indicated that bad apples that pretend to be police officers and commit crime will be weeded out.

Police officers who are caught on the wrong side of the law continue to taint the image of the organisation and Motswenyane said that those caught will be dealt with harshly.
-TDN
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President Jacob Zuma’s convicted former financial advisor Schabir Shaik is willing to testify if corruption‚ fraud and racketeering charges are pursued in court against Zuma.

Shaik served 28 months of a 15-year jail sentence for fraud and corruption related to the arms deal before being granted medical parole due to a “terminal illness”.

He told the Daily News newspaper in Durban‚ in an interview published on Tuesday‚ that he welcomed the fact that Zuma may get his day in court and that he may have to testify.

“There has been a well-planned strategy to discredit the president and myself by certain members within our organisation‚ the ANC‚ ever since Zuma stepped into office. I have always stated that President Zuma was never involved in the arms procurement deal or influenced any company‚ including my own‚ to win or lose any tender‚” he said.

A full bench of the High Court in Pretoria last week set aside a decision by former National Prosecuting Authority head Mokotedi Mpshe not to prosecute Zuma in April 2009.
Courtesy: Timelive

PARLIAMENT – EFF MP Nazier Paulsen hurled abuse at DA MP Yusuf Cassim in Parliament on Tuesday, calling him a “kafir” – an Arabic word for a non-believer or infidel – as opposed to “k****r.

The two MP had a heated exchange during a debate on the Department of International Relations and Co-operation’s budget.

It would appear that the exchange happened when National Freedom Party MP Shaik Emam accused the DA of oppressing Palestinians through its support for Israel.

Cassim rose on a point of order and told the house: “This honourable member from the EFF has just walked up to me and swear (sic) at me…” 

Paulsen shouted at Cassim, calling him a, “Zionist, sell-out kafir”.

Emam later told the house the word “kafir” meant non-believer.

But chairperson Mmatlala Grace Boroto said she was not able to hear everything and asked the two to submit written submissions of the exchange to the rules committee.

ANC MP Naledi Pandor told the debate the two had been engaged in an altercation for some time.

“Both were involved. I was observing… quite closely. Honourable Paulsen sat down and was quiet and the honourable (Cassim) member said something which caused the honourable Paulsen to stand up,” Pandor said.
Courtesy: http://www.enca.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE

POTCHEFSTROOM- A pedestrian was knocked over by a truck on the N12 near Potchefstroom this morning. ER24 spokesperson, Pieter Rossouw said a man, 50 was allegedly trying to cross the highway.

“When ER24 paramedics arrived on scene they found that the man had sustained multiple fatal injuries. There was unfortunately nothing paramedics could do to resuscitate the deceased. He was declared dead on scene. The local authorities were on scene for further investigation,” Rossouw said.

-TDN

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