It’s all systems go for the Banyana Banyana in their preparation for the African Women Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco in 2022. The Council of the Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) champions have been pitted against neighbours, Mozambique in the first round of the tournament.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis said she was excited about the draw and was ready to get going.
“We are very excited that the draw has finally taken place. It has been a frustrating year for women football because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Mozambique match will be a tough encounter and we are glad that we have played them in the COSAFA tournament before. Therefore, we know their strengths and weaknesses.
“We will not take them lightly as we know that Women’s football on the continent is growing,” said Ellis.
The first match of the two-legged encounter will be played during the week of 7 – 15 June 2021, while the second leg is scheduled for a week later. Mozambique will be at home in the first leg while Banyana Banyana will host the second leg.
The winner of the Mozambique/South Africa match will meet the winner of Algeria v Sudan match in the second round to decide on who qualifies for the AWCON tournament in Morocco scheduled for July next year. The second round matches are scheduled for October.
Four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup scheduled for Australia and New Zealand in 2023 while the two other spots will be involved in playoffs.
Meanwhile, the South African U-17 National Women’s Team (Bantwana) will only play in the third round of African qualifiers against the winners of Equatorial Guinea and Kenya. The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted in India in 2022.
Basetsana who are the South African Women’s U-20 National Team will play winners of DR Congo and Sao Tome in the second round of Africa qualifiers for a shot at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup scheduled for Costa Rica.
A 49-YEAR-OLD woman is expected to appear at the Schweizer Reneke Magistrate’s Court on Monday for murder. According to North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh, the suspect was apprehended by Ipelegeng police on Friday for the alleged murder of her boyfriend (37).
“The police were called to the couple’s place in Charon Informal Settlement, where the victim was found inside the house with a stabbing wound in his chest. The man was declared dead on the scene by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) paramedics.
“It is alleged that an argument ensued between the victim and his girlfriend leading to the fatal stabbing. The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe condemned the incident and said that the police will continue to work hard to ensure that those who perpetrate crime including Gender-Based Violence (GBV) are brought to book,” said Myburgh.
Molefe once more urged members of the community to resolve their differences in an amicable manner rather than resorting to violence.
In anticipation of the third wave, the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) said it will continue to implement the COVID-19 resurgence prevention plans. North West Provincial Command Council chairperson, Prof Job Mokgoro said people should strengthen the adherence to COVID-19 regulations and ensure that they avoid closed spaces, crowds, and close contact with people.
Mokgoro said this is an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in anticipation of the third wave.
“The North West Provincial Command Council (NWPCC) hosted its monthly briefings to receive progress and interventions on the Integrated COVID-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy made by different institutions in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the province.
“The briefing focused mainly on the intervention strategies on the Integrated Institutional arrangement per district and efforts in flattening the COVID-19 curve, enforcement of the lockdown regulations, managing infections, recoveries and fatalities, effective provisioning of hospital beds, quarantine/isolation facilities, medicine, personnel, and equipment as well as social behaviour in general,” he said.
As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province is 69167 with 63687 recoveries, which translates into a 92.1% recovery rate and 1725 deaths. The province now has 3755 active cases, of which 181 cases were identified in the last 24 hours.
The number of healthcare workers vaccinated through the Sisonke Protocol is 21 662. Mokgoro further said the vaccination will now be rolled out to a group of elderly people who are 60 years and over.
“Registration has already started. The province has 370 000 elderly people who must be vaccinated. We will deliver relevant messages to communities through different media platforms and outreach programmes.
“The Department of Health will continue with the current strong focus on contact tracing, strengthen implementation of ward-based interventions, ensure continued support from Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism as well as Department of Public Works and Roads with to quarantine facilities,” said Mokgoro.
He added they will also ensure that the staff is well-trained on treatment protocols, provide PPE’s for staff, to ensure bed, equipment, and medicine availability as well as providing health education to patients and family members.
Mokgoro said there are 24 quarantine sites in the province which amongst others includes Potch Dam, Christiana All Season Resort, and Bakgatla Resort.
“All facilities have over 2400 beds. The command council has also heard that the rapid rise of infections in the province is fuelled by the super spreader events including, family and social gatherings, religious activities since Easter weekend as well as music and cultural events.
“There is an increase in daily positive cases observed since last week in the province. Weekly numbers increased between weeks 13 to 15. In the past week, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi (0.8 cases per 100 000 persons, 7.0% increase) and the Dr Kenneth Kaunda (3.6 cases per 100 000 persons, 13.4% increase) districts reported an increase in weekly incidence risk, compared to the previous week,” he said.
Mokgoro also indicated that the fatigue which is visible in the public has the potential to bring devastating consequences. He cautioned the public against getting fatigued, saying the country is still in the middle of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West expressed concern about relaxation on travel bans and protocols of arrivals from international countries.
SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe said: “This puts the country at risk of exposure to fierce COVID-19 variants. Recent incidents such as the detection of the COVID-19 variant first detected in India among four people living in South Africa and the testing of a further 11 positive for the coronavirus strain first detected in the UK require an urgent review before we are swallowed into the eye of an encroaching devastating wave.”
Picture: NWU researcher, Prof James O Chibueze/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
North West University continues to maintain its niche as one of the best universities across the globe. This comes after an associate professor at the North West University’s Centre for Space Research, Prof James O Chibueze who is the lead author of the paper, Jets from MRC 0600-399 bent by magnetic fields in the cluster Abell 3376, earned a top spot in science publication.
Chibueze conducted research and discovered that, when magnetic fields and long strokes of hot gas known as jets interact, the jets become bent. This important discovery has earned Chibueze space in the prestigious research publication Nature.
“This discovery ventures into uncharted territory and is the first unambiguous discovery of the bending of the jets of a radio galaxy due to their interaction with an intra-cluster magnetic field within their host galaxy cluster.
“Our galaxy, the Milky Way, belongs to a group of many other galaxies. A group of galaxies is called a galaxy cluster. When two of these galaxy clusters merge, they form a massive galaxy cluster,” he said.
Chibueze said hot plasma is produced around the centre of the merging cluster and this could expand and compress the magnetic field around it (a process called magnetic draping), thereby creating a layer of stronger magnetic field.
He added that some of the member radio galaxies in a galaxy cluster are active galactic nuclei, launching fast-moving jet that travel thousands of kilometres per second, moving at speeds close to the speed of light, with the electrons coupled in a magnetic field.
“The discovery is that these travelling jets interact with the magnetic layer and despite their tremendously fast movement and kinetic energies, the magnet layer bends the jets by approximately 90 degrees.
“The rest of the paper focuses on the more technical elements such as use of the spectral index and numerical simulations (known as magnetohydrodynamics MHD simulations). The spectral index is used to explain the dependence the intensity of the radio emission on the frequency at which it occurs,” said Chibueze.
He further said by determining this relationship, the properties of a specific jet can be explained. According to Chibueze, the MHD simulations were used to reconfirm that the observed bending in the jets truly was due to the interaction with the magnetic layer.
His co-authors include researchers from the University of Nigeria, Kyushu University, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Kagoshima University, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, Rhodes University, Nagoya University, the Research Center for Statistical Machine Learning, and the institute of Statistical Mathematics.
Documenting the ground-breaking discovery
Chibueze started with the study proposal in April 2019. In August 2019, he used the South African MeerKAT radio telescope for the observations and data collection.
“Thereafter, I started with the big task of processing massive amounts of raw data. This was finished in 2020. All the hard work paid off as is evident from the study being published in Nature.
“I am very grateful to the NWU for the opportunity to work here. It has allowed me ample time to do research and investigate new areas of space research,” he said.
A significant achievement
Prof Francois van der Westhuizen, deputy dean for research and innovation at the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, says the publication of Chibueze’s paper is a significant achievement, not only for him as a researcher but also for the NWU.
“Nature is a revered science publication that only publishes excellent research results. It is rare for a scientist and a university to publish in the top journals such as Nature – and all the more so as a lead author,” Westhuizen said.
Chibueze was also in the news last year as the only researcher from Africa who has made contributions to the Japanese radio astronomy project on the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA).
This project found that the Earth is moving faster than was originally thought and is nearly 2 000 light-years closer than previously believed to the black hole in the centre of the Milky Way.
A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested by the Taung police for allegedly raping a woman (35) over the weekend. According to information, the alleged victim was with her boyfriend at the pub when she decided to go to the bathroom.
It is alleged that while she was still in the bathroom, Rebaone Seele entered the bathroom and allegedly raped her. One of the patrons who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal said they were all shock to see a ‘naked’ woman storming out of the bathroom.
North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh confirmed the incident.
“Indeed, the police are investigating a rape case that was reported over the weekend. The incident allegedly took place in the early hours of Sunday morning where a woman was raped.
“It is alleged that the complainant was with her boyfriend at the pub when she decided to go to the bathroom. While inside the bathroom, the suspect entered the bathroom and allegedly raped her,” Myburgh said.
She further said Seele was subsequently arrested and appeared at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Meanwhile, a social activist, Kgomotso Morweng said the establishment should be looked into, if people care about their sisters and daughters. In fact, Morweng said it should be boycotted.
“What a sad time to be alive. I refuse to be intimidated into keeping quiet because I am in no one’s payroll or pocket. I also have no obligation to protect their image or so forth. Issues of public interest must be addressed at all times, with no favouritism, ambiguity or bias.
“There is an alleged rape case that took place at Long Street in Taung this past weekend, but people are being quiet about it. Speculations are running wild while those who are given mandate that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas are out here acting like nothing major happened,” she said.
Morweng also lambasted the Taung Men against Gender-Based Violence & Femicide Forum, saying its silence is deafening and asked if the forum is only active during 16 Days of Activism against Women and Children abuse.
“I remember how hands on you guys were last year when it was reported that a woman was beaten. Are you quiet because this recent incident did not happen during 16 Days of Activism against Women and Children abuse?
“Or are you quiet because you are still to seek comment from the owner of the mentioned establishment? Will that be the alleged victim’s word against her perpetrator’s including the owner as well?” she said.
Morweng added that the scourge against Gender-Based Violence needs to be fought at all times despite the date of the year.
However, Taung Men against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Forum chairperson, Tebogo Mokgejane said: “Despite efforts by various formations in Taung, including Taung Men against Gender Based Violence and Femicide Forum to condemn and call to an abrupt halt of all barbaric acts of sexual violence, such cases continue unabated.
“Women will not be pushed to live in fear because some men have turned themselves into sex pests, preying on young and older women. The forum will not get tired of condemning these acts, assist victims and make the necessary follow ups on all cases until justice is serviced to all victims.”
Mokgejane said the ‘victim’ has requested for privacy as the matter is now before the court of law. However, he said they want caution the public about some of the damaging comments that are not assisting either the victim or the efforts by all parties involved, but rather more hurting to the victim and her loved ones.
“Sexual violence cases are sensitive matters that need proper handling. Correct facts must be established before we can publicly pronounce our stance. If we fail to do that, we could also be compromising the case and the hard work done by the police and the prosecution.
“May it be known that the forum will treat all cases equally without fear or favor, no matter who is involved. The forum will continue to give the victim the necessary support, like we normally do to all other victims known to us,” said Mokgejane.
Seele is expected to be back in court on Monday for formal bail application.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, Beauty Dlulane, has welcomed the appointment of the former Cameroon mentor, Hugo Broos as the new Bafana Bafana head coach.
SAFA president, Dr Danny Jordaan announced Broos as the new coach for struggling Bafana Bafana in Johannesburg on Wednesday. Dlulane said Broos’ appointment was punctual and will ensure that there will be no management vacuum in the national team.
“The coach and those he assembles as management team just need the support from SAFA and the public. Furthermore, stability is critical for the team to improve its performance and achieve acceptable results in its future competitions.
“Broos brings a rich experience to the South African soccer squad as he coached at continental and international levels. He seems to possess the right credentials and has an impressive pedigree that will make Bafana Bafana reach new heights,” she said.
Dlulane further said South Africa expects and deserves a winning team where talent scouting and harnessing are fundamental. She said equally important, is continuity and consistency in the boardroom and on the field.
“We call on the new coach to ensure that Bafana Bafana moves above the level they are currently occupying in international rankings,” said Dlulane.
Meanwhile, Broos is expected in the country next week where he is scheduled to meet all football stakeholders including members of the media. He said South Africa has a rich football history and is among the powerhouse on the continent.
“The country has full of quality and I am coming to coach a truly football nation with massive potential. My main focus will be to weave in new players who have hunger and desire to achieve things.
“Young players are ambitious and want to prove a point. I need to start from there because I want to build a strong Bafana Bafana side for the future. My first priority would be to build a completely new Bafana Bafana team that will make huge statement in coming major global tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup,” he said.
Broos further said the impending postponement of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers from next month to September this year will give him more time to prepare his team for Qatar 2022, where Bafana Bafana are in the same group with Zimbabwe, Ghana and Ethiopia.
‘’This is a really exciting project and I am really excited,’’ he said.
A 32-YEAR-OLD man is expected back in Taung Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application today. Tshepo Lenyai from Manthe village in Taung, allegedly stabbed Kamogelo Lekaota (18) to death at a local tavern called Disoufeng during the Easter weekend.
North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the atrocity took place at around 3:30am. Tselanyane said it is alleged that the duo was fighting over alcohol.
“Taung police received a call from the Manthe clinic at around 3:30am. The police rushed to the scene and found Lekaota’s lifeless body in a pool of blood with stabbing wounds. He was stabbed on the left side of his chest.
“According to information, the deceased was ferried to the clinic for medical attention, but he succumbed to his injuries. A 32-year-old man was arrested and is expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application,” he said.
Lenyai was remanded in custody during his first appearance to give police more time to investigate.
ANC Interim Provincial Committee in North West confirmed that it has submitted its list consists of five names that are charged with corruption or serious crimes to step aside or face immediate suspension.
This follows the ANC NEC’s request to all members who have been charged with corruption or serious crimes to step aside voluntarily in 30 days or face immediate suspension. The NEC also requested all provinces to submit the lists of members who are charged with corruption or serious crimes.
It is alleged that the embattled JB Marks Local Municipality mayor, Kgotso Khumalo who is facing theft charge tops the IPC list, followed by the former North West MEC for Finance, Wendy Nelson who is also facing a corruption and fraud charge.
The ANC National Working Committee also issued a ‘stern warning’ to all members who have been charged with corruption or serious crimes to step aside or face suspension. The structure reiterates the ANC National Executive Committee’s call on the matter.
ANC National Spokesperson, Pule Mabe said this was agreed on during the ANC’ Working Committee meeting on Monday, where lists of all members who have been charged with corruption or serious crimes from all provinces were collated.
“In terms of Rule 25.70 of the ANC constitution, which provides that where a public representative, office-bearer or member has been indicted to appear in a court of law on any charge, the Secretary General or Provincial Secretary, acting on the authority of the NEC, the NWC, the PEC or the PWC, if satisfied that the temporary suspension of such public representative, office-bearer or member would be in the best interest of the organisation, may suspend such public representative, elected office-bearer or member and impose terms and conditions to regulate their participation and conduct during the suspension.
“The NWC received reports from provinces on members who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes, the status of their matters, whether the affected members have been informed of the decision of the NEC, and whether they have stepped aside,” he said.
Mabe further said the NWC also received a report from the national officials, through a team lead by the Treasurer General, Paul Mashatile on proposed terms and conditions regulating the participation and conduct of members during the period that they step aside voluntarily.
He added that the affected member must update the relevant secretariat on a monthly basis regarding progress with their cases.
“The decision by a member to step aside will be reviewed by the relevant structure of the organisation every six months. The NWC resolved that the decision of the last NEC, as outlined above, must be implemented. Those who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes and who have not stepped aside should be suspended in terms of Rule 25.70 of the ANC Constitution.
“The NWC instructed that the necessary letters must be written to the affected members implementing this decision, and outlining the terms and conditions regulating their participation and conduct during the suspension,” said Mabe.
He said the NWC also noted various reports of the Integrity Commission and resolved that these reports will be discussed at the Special NEC meeting on 8 – 10 May 2021. Mabe said the NWC also received proposals by the national officials regarding the constitution of an appeals panel provided for in the guidelines and procedures adopted by the NEC for those who wish to appeal decisions of the Integrity Commission.
Meanwhile, South African Communist Party (SACP) secretary in the North West, Madoda Sambatha said: “ANC members should not see the party’s resolutions only when they suit them. When is difficult for them accept, they must just say instead of allowing factional accusations.
“The resolution says people who are charged with serious offences and corruption should step aside or face suspension. So, it means if I am charged today, the ANC Integrity Commission will determine the seriousness of the offence and request me to provide reasons on why I should not step aside.”
A 64-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested by the police for allegedly stabbing a fellow teacher (45) multiple times with a knife. The incident took place at Tshefoge Primary School in Vaalboschloot near Brits on Monday.
It is alleged that a teacher from Tolamo Primary School in Letlhakaneng village, outside Brits, forcefully entered the community hall wearing a balaclava where learning and teaching was underway and demanded to see the victim.
North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said: “Tshefoge Primary School has been under construction since from the last quarter, so learners were moved to a community hall as a temporary measure. The suspect allegedly refused neither to sanitize nor to be screened.
“It is reported that when he arrived at the hall, he called the victim and went outside where the argument ensued between them. It is alleged that, the suspect stabbed the victim multiple times on the neck and her back,” Matsemela said.
She further said, some of the school staff came to the victim’s rescue and managed to apprehend the culprit. Matsemela added that the police were called and the suspect was arrested.
“The injured educator is still in a critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit of the local hospital. We would like to condemn the incident in its strongest terms. As the department, we are disturbed and disappointed by such a heinous and barbaric incident that happened in our schools and allegedly committed by one of our educators.
“I wish to condemn it in its strongest terms and indicate that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is not welcomed in our schools. Anyone who does that will be subjected to the full might of the law,” she said.
Meanwhile, Matsemela said the incident has traumatized learners since it happened in front of them. She also lauded the staff members who showed bravery by apprehending the suspect.
She said both learners and educators who were exposed to this horrible incident will be provided with counselling.
Matsemela is expected to visit the school on Tuesday.
Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said it is concern about the mass retrenchments, wage freezes and austerity measures imposed by the capitalist leaning treasury.
COSATU was celebrating its International Workers Day in Klerksdorp. COSATU’s provincial secretary, Kopano Konopi said North West is one of the provinces that corruption and malfeasance continue to rear its ugly head and this has affected the ordinary citizens.
“We regard this as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Its background and context in our province are protracted. Be that as it may, we have been alarmingly shocked at the rate of increase and impunity during this difficult period.
“Both public and private sectors have demonstrated unbelievable levels of grand-scale corruption without regard for the suffering of our people and their needs. Therefore, this is a struggle against greed, parasitism and institutionalised profiteering at the expense of the working-class and workers in the province,” he said.
Konopi further said corruption is anchored in the unholy intersection between public and private officials and interests abusing the system for private personal gains. He said they are also disenchanted by the extent to which law enforcement agencies are slow in prosecuting the criminals, both in the public and private sectors who abuse public and workers’ monies with impunity.
“We call on the Director of Public Prosecutions in the province to move with speed in putting away from society all who steals from the people and workers. We have provided concrete proposals to deal with thuggery decisively to send a strong message that we shall not and never tolerate all norms of corruption and greed,” said Konopi.
He further said as COSATU, they are concern about the high rate of unemployment. According to the statistics, the rate of unemployment in the province has increased from 28.3% to 33.3% between the third and last quarter of
2020.
“This is an increase of 5% on a quarter-to-quarter basis. Between December 2019 and December 2020, it increased from 28.8% to 33.3% which is an increase of 4.5% on a year-on-year basis.
“At the same time, the quarterly labour force survey released by Statistics SA in February 2021, shows a quarter-to-quarter increase in employment in the province from 930 000 to 944 000 which is an increase of 14 000 jobs between the 3rd quarter of 2020 and the last quarter of the same year,” he said.
However Konopi said nonetheless, there is a decline on a year-on-year jobs which shows that in December 2019 there were 992 00 employed people in the province whereas in December 2020 there were 944 000 employed people. He said this is a decline of 48 000 jobs on a year-on-year basis.
“These statistics illustrate that the North West economy is continuing to shed jobs instead of creating them. It is evident that the current economic state of our province represents a high unemployment rate amidst the triple challenges of racial poverty, gendered inequalities and class unemployment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West said it has identified labour peace as key to South Africa’s economic recovery.
SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe said: “We call for workers’ rights to be protected and the collective bargaining framework strengthened. An urgent return to the bargaining chamber to negotiate a new public sector salary agreement would be critical for the COVID-19 stricken economy to recover from the aftermath of the devastating pandemic.
“Averting strikes through constructive and meaningful engagements to grapple with the economic realities facing the country should be the first step towards economic recovery.”
Sebegoe also emphasised that workers were the ‘first line of defence’ and the hardest hit by the merciless global pandemic.
He said while most fatalities affected the vulnerable with comorbidities, job losses affected low skilled workers in the private sector and the informal economy whom despite multiple interventions could not be protected from the jobs bloodbath therefore economic recovery must be targeted at these categories of workers.
The National Assembly speaker, Thandi Modise said in a statement that the struggle for better and improved rights in the workplace, which were intertwined with the struggle for social justice, freedom and democracy, has come a long way since 1994.
However, Modise said great strides have been made to transform the labour legislative landscape to eliminate restrictive and oppressive labour laws.
“This has ensured progressive laws that guarantee inalienable rights, such as freedom of association, collective bargaining, the right to strike and workplace freedom.
“Celebrating the contributions of workers inevitably draws attention to the scores of South Africans without jobs. We also note with concern the unemployment in South Africa, which particularly affects the working class, most notably women and young people,” she said.
Modise said the country has experienced a high rate of unemployment and parliament cannot turn a ‘blind eye’ to the reality that workers across the length and breadth of the country live with millions of their unemployed brothers and sisters. She said the situation has further been exacerbated by the realities of COVID-19.
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