​

Eight is the number! Two MTN8 semifinals. Two CAF Champions League semifinals. Four league matches. A game every three or four days.

This is what awaits Mamelodi Sundowns this month – if the PSL does not alter some of the fixtures.

This is the price clubs pay for taking part in continental competitions.

September is a make-or-break month for Sundowns as they have to juggle three competitions.

The Brazilians have not had any rest by virtue of their CAF Champions League participation.

They start with their marathon fixtures on Sunday when they visit Chippa United in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinals at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Three days later, the defending Absa Premiership champions open their league account against Maritzburg United.

Then they are off to Zambia for the first leg of the Champions League on September 17 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

They host the Zambians a week later at home in the second leg.

But they face Platinum Stars the Wednesday before the return leg.

Downs are also supposed to host Chippa United in the second leg of the MTN8, but the league has not yet scheduled the game.

Adding to that, they have another date with the Chilli Boys in a league game scheduled for September 25 at the same Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Sundowns will end their marathon run against Bloemfontein Celtic at home three days later.

Hopefully, by then, they will be in the finals of the MTN8 and the Champions League.

The Brazilians have already lost striker Leonardo Castro to injury and playing back-to-back matches could compound their troubles.

Sundowns CEO Sizwe Nzimande told City Press that they were engaging with the league to have some of their matches rescheduled.

Nzimande said it would be a challenge to feature in all the matches as they are currently arranged.

“We are hoping that the league will come to our rescue and reschedule some of the matches.

“One match we would really like to shift is the one against Maritzburg as we have to travel to Zambia immediately thereafter. It would be better not to play that match so we could travel in time to Zambia,” said Nzimande.

He is hopeful that they will come to a beneficial arrangement with the league.

If they succeed in rescheduling the Maritzburg game, the Brazilians will start their defence of the league title against Platinum Stars towards the end of this month.

They would have to play catch-up games throughout the season, particularly if they go all the way to the finals of the Champions League and MTN8.

Source: http://www.news24.com

​

After a thrilling display of football by the Ke Yona team against an experienced Supersport United side, Nedbank in partnership with the Premier Soccer League today announced the results of the PSL draft where 16 of the Ke Yona Team players were drafted into each of the PSL clubs.

The Nedbank Ke Yona Team PSL Draft is in its second year after the 2015 edition saw players such as Ian Chikohwa (University of Pretoria), Luthando Sixhaso, (Kaizer Chiefs) Thamsanqa Gwabeni (Platinum Stars) and Jerrad Meyer (Jomo Cosmos) all eventually signing professional contracts and making their football dreams happen.

All 16 players will assemble for camp at their new clubs on 1 October and will spend an entire month of training with the hope of securing a professional contract.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

2016 Nedbank Ke Yona Team PSL Draft Results

​

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) treasurer-general Magdalene Moonsamy has resigned from her position to concentrate on her career as a lawyer.

EFF’s leader Julius Malema announced on Monday that Moonsamy has established her law firm and had requested the organisation to afford her time off.

“The position of treasurer-general is a full-time position‚” noted Malema.

Her departure follows the recent announcement that the EFF’s national spokesperson‚ Mbuyiseni Ndlozi‚ “will be on study leave effective immediately‚ till 1 November 2016”.

“Commissar Fana Mokoena has therefore been appointed to the position of acting national spokesperson until Commissar Ndlozi can resume his duties in November‚” the party had said in a statement. – TMG Digital

FORMER municipal manager at Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Mokgele Mojaki could be in trouble after R105m was abused under his watch.

This came out when the district leadership appeared before the North West select committee on public accounts (Scopa) in Mahikeng.

It emerged that the district lost R104 698 512 that went out of its coffers in direct contravention of supply chain and procurement requirements.

Scopa indicated that there was a lot of rot at the municipality and people would have to be arrested.

The committee sent out seven questions to the municipality and members did not mince their words that they were not impressed by the direction the municipality was moving.

They made it clear that good governance was not part of the attributes at the district municipality and called for drastic measures to be taken if the situation is to be contained.

Scopa chairperson, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng said the municipality relies too heavily on consultants to assist with key services.

“We believe that the municipality does not have any plan to recoup the missing money. The municipality is in tatters and we want answers. We want criminal charges to be laid against the former municipal manager, Mokgele Mojaki and others.

“We are guided by MFMA rules and regulations. The municipality employed more staff and most of the budget goes to their salaries rather than service delivery. The answers that the municipality giving us does not have remedial actions on them,” Mahlakeng said.

Committee member, Boitumelo Moiloa said the municipality must stop relying on consultants.

She said that huge sums of money were paid to consultants while there are people employed and paid to do the same job.

“The municipality needs to hire competent people. Consultants are too expensive and this will strain the municipality financially. The Audit General also highlighted that the municipality does not have adequate system to reconcile millions lost,” she said.

Executive mayor, Justice Makolomakwa and acting municipal manager Jerry Brandon said they were doing their best to make sure they exorcise the financial mismanagement ghost haunting the municipality.

“As for the R105m and the former municipal manager, the provincial treasury commissioned a forensic audit and the report is out. We are just waiting for further directions from the department before we start acting on the recommendations,” Makolomakwa said.

“There is another case we referred to the hawks for consideration because we are of the view that some people can be criminally charged. Once the Hawks have decided, we will now what step to take next,” he added.

On his part, Brandon promised to work round the clock to bring about accountability and clean governance at the municipality.

Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za

NEWLY elected Matlosana mayor, Maetu Kgaile has rubbished claims by the DA in the area that she planned a lavish R1m inauguration bash for the new council.

Mateu, the first female mayor in Klerksdorp was accused of wanting to indulge friends and pals at the expense of the taxpayers.

While acknowledging that the inauguration party is coming on September 9, Kgaile said it will cost less than R200 000.

“The City of Matlosana can confirm that on 9 September 2016, they will be inaugurating its first female Executive Mayor, Cllr Maetu Kgaile. This is a historic event for the City, hence it is important to have a ceremony or a special event to mark the beginning of her term of office,” she said.

“Inauguration is not something new, it is an ancient way of inducting a leader into the system by communicating intentions, mission, values and strategies to the community at large. The inauguration committee budget plan was presented before council, subjecting the plan for approval.

I can allude that the inauguration committee is continuing with preparations for the event and that the budget is less than R200 000,” Kgaile added.

The mayor pointed out that the R1m was a figment of the DA’s imagination and such claims should be dismissed.

The DA’s Maritha Coetzee said that her party’s objections to stop a lavish party in Jouberton had been overruled by the ANC majority.

She alleged that the mayor and acting municipal manager had planned to host about 8 000 people and fears were that this will cost R1m.

“Contradictory to Treasury MFMA  Circular 82 which states that “excessive and wasteful expenditure has to be reduced” and “restrictions is placed on conferences, catering, entertainment and social functions” the ANC-led council approved this exorbitant and wasteful expenditure.

“This circular also warns against financing of social functions by any suppliers or sponsors.  Nevertheless the ANC is awaiting donations from ABSA and ESKOM respectively, stating that information regarding these donations will be revealed at the next council sitting – which will only happen after the planned inauguration,” Coetzee said.

She added that the ANC had no intention to ensure that public funds are appropriately utilized or to address economic challenges.

“The DA is shocked by ANC remarks that “R1 million is not a lot of money”. We disagree and are convinced it can at least contribute in repairing or replacing much needed service delivery vehicles for a start.

“This is just another way of how the ANC fails the people of Matlosana. In an area where poverty and unemployment are huge challenges, luxuries like this party is a disgrace to the people of the area,” she said.

Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za

THE North West University has launched a history book that captures the story of the ANC in the province.

  The book titled Kongolose, was written by academics Prof Bernard Mbenga and Prof Andrew Manson with the support of Wits University researcher Dr Arianna Lissoni.

  It documents the history of the revolutionary from 1909, three years before the ANC’s official launch in 1912.

  The authors said that the book offers a regional perspective on the ANC’s 100 year history. “Many accounts of the ANC have focused predominantly on national or urban issues and developments often to the detriment of the periphery.

  The book focuses on South Africa’s North-West Province, a mainly rural and less well understood, but nonetheless extremely vital, area of the ANC’s activities and strategies in its wider national liberation history,” Prof Mbenga said.

  Given the thorough knowledge and understanding of North West issues by the two authors, the book presents a political account that sheds light on people and events that have not figured so centrally in previous histories of the ANC.

  Expectations are that the book will help increase people’s knowledge and appreciation of the ANC as an organization and how it worked for a politically free South Africa.

  Mbenga said that Kongolose provides a legacy to which others may aspire.

“It is an extreme honor to launch this book after many consultations dating as early as 2009 if not 2008. This book celebrates out local heroes and struggle stalwarts who play a huge role in ushering in democracy,” he added.

  Present at the book launch were North-West MEC for Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs, Ontlametse Mochware and first Premier of the North West now chairperson of state enterprise, Prasa, Popo Molefe.

Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za