SAFA delegation attends 74th FIFA Congress


By REGINALD KANYANE 

A South African Football Association (SAFA) delegation led by President Dr Danny Jordaan is in Bangkok, Thailand, to attend the 74th FIFA Congress. Jordaan said work began immediately after touchdown and they have continued where they left off in South Africa. 

“Several important decisions are expected to be made during the Congress, including the announcement of the host of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. There are only two bids remaining in the race to host the global tournament, a bid from Brazil and a joint bid from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

“The Brazil bid appears to be favourite to win after they were ranked higher than their rivals in an evaluation report issued by FIFA a few days ago. It will now be up to the members to make the final decision,” he said. 

Jordaan further said it will be the first time that the winning host bid is decided in an open vote by the FIFA members. He added that he has also attended the COSAFA Congress in Johannesburg few days ago with the CEO, Lydia Monyapao and then switched to Thailand.

“The SAFA delegation also remembered that 15 May marked exactly 20 years since South Africa won the right to host the FIFA World Cup. 

“FIFA announced the winning South African bid at a media conference on 15 May 2004 in Zürich and the country hosted the tournament in the highly successful event in 2010,” said Jordaan.

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North West Provincial Government Thuntsa Lerole programme hit Dibono


By BAKANG MOKOTO 

The North West Provincial Government’s Accelerated Service Delivery programme, Thuntsha Lerole, set to hit rural villages of Moletsamongwe, Phadima, Masutlhe 1, Masutlhe 2, Dibono, Mmanawana, Tontonyane, Serotswana, Kabe and Lekung in Mahikeng on Friday. 

These rural areas are expected to be abuzz with activities as different provincial departments, state owned entities, the local and district municipalities, will be rendering services as part of the provincial government’s Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, Thuntsha Lerole.

The North West Provincial Government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said, the central to the day’s programme will be the handing over of Maano Secondary School in Masutlhe 2 village, which has been converted into an Agricultural Focus School supported through Maths and Science Technology grant in partnership with the North West University (NWU). 

Setswambung said the school is a demonstration of the North West Department of Education’s concerted effort towards increasing career pathing opportunities for learners, with its curriculum focusing on agricultural science and agricultural management practices.

He said through the National School Nutrition Programme, utensils will be handed over to Redibone, Kgosi Kebalepile, St Mary’s and Kebonang Secondary Schools in Mahikeng.

“A newly built Weltevreden Clinic, which will provide integrated Primary Health Care Services to the community will also be officially opened. The local SMMEs will also benefit from the North West Development Cooperation (NWDC)’s Small Business Development programme as various business equipment will be handed over to identified beneficiaries as a boost for their tuck-shops, hair salons and catering companies.

“As part of a week-long, Mahikeng Local Municipality’s Thuntsha Lerole Programme, potholes patching, road markings and blading of different roads in the municipality will tomorrow continue in various areas, including Seweding to Unit 13 and Unit 13 to Masutlhe,” said Setswambung. 

He said the de-bushing of an open area in Lotlamoreng Dam has also commenced as part of the programme. Setswambung said a contractor appointed for the construction of Masutlhe 1 Bridge, will also be introduced to the community.

“The Mahikeng Local Municipality Thuntsha Lerole activities will be led by the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi, joined by the Members of the Executive Council (MECs), the local and district municipalities leadership, as well as the local Traditional and Khoi-San leadership,” he said.

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NCOP passes Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill  


By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI 

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has approved the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill, the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill and four other pieces of legislation during its last plenary session of the sixth term of Parliament this morning.   

The NCOP chairperson, Amos Masondo said the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill aims to provide for additional electricity generation capacity and infrastructure, establish the duties, powers, and functions of the Transmission System Operator SOC Ltd. 

Masondo said it also aims to provide for an open-market platform that allows for competitive electricity trading, among others. 

“It further aims to amend the regulatory framework for the electricity industry in response to prevailing conditions in the South African electricity power system and the Department of Public Enterprises’ Roadmap for Eskom in a Reformed Electricity Supply Industry of 2019. 

“The House also passed the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill which seeks to clarify and introduce new definitions of various national security concepts and terminology relevant to the amendments in the Bill,” he said. 

Masondo further said, the Bill also introduces a robust two-step authorisation process for bulk interception, which requires authorisation within the intelligence service and an independent judicial review. He added that this will ensure that interceptions are conducted within the boundaries of the law based on genuine security concerns. 

“Other bills that the House passed this morning are the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency Bill, which seeks to ensure a sustainable, equitable and reliable water supply from national water resources infrastructure, while meeting constitutional obligations, including national and regional social and economic objectives of national policy. 

“Another one is the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill, which aims to improve existing regulations to protect our oceans from ship-related pollution,” said Masondo. 

He said it aligns with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Masondo said it includes, among others, proper stowing, handling, and transfer of toxic waste, the disposal of hazardous waste like cleaning agents, and reducing air pollution from ships.  

“Another Bill is the Transport Appeal Tribunal Amendment Bill. The Bill amends the Transport Appeal Tribunal Act by amending certain definitions and aligning the Act with developments since the Act was enacted. The Bill also empowers the Transport Appeal Tribunal to take appropriate steps in cases where its rulings are not implemented or effected timeously,” he said. 

Masondo said it empowers the tribunal to investigate delays in the completion of its proceedings and allows the Minister of Transport to extend the term of office of the members of the tribunal. 

He said the house also passed the Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Bill, which aims to improve the current phytosanitary system in South Africa to meet the requirements of major trading partners and international agreements and treaties. 

“The Bill also supports the government’s goals of sustainable natural resource management, effective national regulation, and risk management systems, as well as increasing the agriculture sector’s contribution to the country’s economic growth and development. The bills will now be sent to the president for assent,” said Masondo.

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A man sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for killing granny 


By OBAKENG MAJE 

A man (27) was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by the Koster Regional Court on 15 May 2024. Thabang Molapisi stabbed and strangled to death an elderly woman (78). 

The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said the victim, Aleta Moloko, was reported missing at Boons Police Station, but the missing person enquiry was changed to murder after the granny’s lifeless body was found at her house. 

“Molapisi was caught selling household items that were stolen at Moloko’s house. He was arrested and found guilty of murder. Molapisi was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment,” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari, congratulated the police and Detective in Boons, as well as the prosecutor for the sterling job displayed to ensure that the accused get a hefty sentence. 

Kwena said this will send out a message that there will be no tolerance for committing crimes, especially against women and children. 

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Lesotho man jailed for killing his girlfriend 


By OBAKENG MAJE 

A man (43) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the North West High Court sitting in Mogwase on 15 May 2024. This comes after the accused Hlajoane Shakhale, who is from a neighbouring country, Lesotho, found guilty of killing his girlfriend, Dimpho Jeanet Matlhabe (31). 

According to the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani, on 8 October 2022, Shakhale and his girlfriend were from a local tavern in Ramoga village, near Mogwase, outside Rustenburg, when an argument ensued between them. Funani further said Shakhale insisted that Matlhabe, who is also from Lesotho, go with him to his residential place in Lesetlheng village. 

“A fight ensued between the two when the victim refused. Shakhale consequently assaulted the victim, then strangled and left her bleeding on the road. The victim’s body was spotted by a passer-by in the early hours of Sunday morning (9 October 2022). 

“They informed a police official, who had just been knocked off duty. The police were summoned and information was received that the victim was seen arguing with the accused at the tavern. The suspect was positively linked with the incident and arrested,” she said. 

Funani added that Shakhale has been in custody ever since his arrest. She said the accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari, congratulated the police in Mogwase and Detectives, as well as the prosecutors for the sterling job displayed to ensure that the accused gets a hefty sentence. Kwena said this will send out a message that there will be no tolerance for committing crimes, especially against women and children. 

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NPOs in North West urged to comply with the legal frameworks and prescripts 


By BAKANG MOKOTO  

The acting North West MEC for Social Development, Gaoage Molapisi said they urge Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) to comply with the legal frameworks and prescripts. Molapisi, who was addressing the delegates today during a two-day NPO Summit, which is underway at Sun City Resort, near Rustenburg said, non-compliance could lead to deregistration and disqualification from government funding. 

“Most of the NPOs do not comply with the NPO Act. Others do not honour their Service Level Agreements (SLAs), while some lack sound financial management skills. It has been found that some request loans for themselves, using government funding as a collateral. 

“This is unlawful on their part because they commit government funds without authorisation from the department. Held under the theme: “Strengthening Partnership with Civil Society Organisations, the summit focuses on the need to strengthen relationships between government and the NPO sector,” he said. 

Molapisi further said the summit is part of capacity building of NPO, resource mobilization, transformation and compliance to legal frameworks and prescripts. He added that, acknowledging the services rendered by the NPOs on behalf of the government, have always been part of the communities. 

“This is dating back to the dark days of apartheid. NPOs served as a means of survival for black people. They served as social protection for the disadvantaged and the deprived. 

“The scale of social problems in our country is such that neither the government alone can change the lives of people, nor could the NPO sector make an impact without working in partnership with the government,” said Molapisi.

He said: “It is clear that a partnership between the government and the NPO sector should be strengthened. We should work together with NPOs to improve the integrated social services that we render to the poor and vulnerable in our communities. 

“The department is directly involved with NPOs through programmes such as HIV/AIDs, Poverty Alleviation & Sustainable Livelihoods, Child Care, People with Disabilities, Substance Abuse, Victim Empowerment & Support, Crime Prevention, Partial Care and Family Preservation.”

The summit which is underway in Sun City, is being attended by 118 delegates from the NPO sector, the Executive Mayors of Bojanala Platinum District and Moses Kotane Local Municipality, representatives from North West University (NWU), the South African Revenue Services, the National Development Agency (NDA), the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and officials from both provincial and national departments of social development.

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Mosadi o tlhabile ngwana wa gagwe ka thipa morago ga gore a fitlhele a jele dijo tsa gagwe tse a neng a di ipeetse 


Ka OBAKENG MAJE 

Mosadi wa dingwaga di le 48, o atlholetswe dingwaga di le supa kwa kgolegelong ke kgotlhatshekelo ya sedika ya Fraserburg. Fela, dingwaga tseo di ile tsa beelwa kwa thoko sebaka sa dingwaga di le tlhano. 

Seno se tla morago ga gore ngwana wa gagwe wa mosetsanyana a je dijo tsa gagwe tse a neng a di ipeetse. Sebueledi sa sepodisi kwa Kapa Bokone, Sergeant Timothy Sam are, Sielja Konstabel, one a tlhaba morwadie ka thipa mo legetleng, mme tiragalo e ke ya di 21 Phatwe 2021. 

“Go begwa fa mosetsanyana o, ane a sia le go ya go lotlegela sepodisi ka tiragalo e e mo tlhagetseng. Kgetsi ya go teketa ka maikaelelo a go ntsha dikgobalo, ene ya bulwa. Mosadi o, one a tshwara. 

“One a bonwa molato, mme a atlholwa dingwaga di le supa. Fela di ile tsa beelwa kwa thoko sebaka sa dingwaga di le tlhano, mme ga tshwanelwa ke go bonwa molato mo sebakeng sa dingwaga di le tlhano mo ditatofatsong tse di tshwanang le tse,” Sam wa tlhalosa. 

O kaile fa kgotlhatshekelo e laetse fa Konstabel a se mo maemong a go tshwara tlhobolo.

Kgabagare, mokomishinara wa sepodisi kwa Kapa Bokone, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, one a akgola mmatlisisi mo kgetsi e, Detective Warrant Officer Charl Blignaut. Otola o tlhalositse fa Blignaut a dirile ka natla le go netefatsa fa ditshwanelo tsa bana di sa gatakakiwe. 

“Katlholo e tla dibeke pele ga beke ya go keteka ditshwanelo tsa bana (Child Protection Week) ka di 28 Motsheganong go fitlha ka di 4 Seetebosigo 2024,” Otola wa tlhalosa. 

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Broos announces preliminary Bafana squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers


By REGINALD KANYANE

Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has named a 36-member preliminary squad for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Broos said the South African senior men’s national team will face Nigeria’s Super Eagles away from home in Uyo on 7 June 2024. 

He said the Bafana Bafana squad will then return to host Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on 11 June 2024. Broos further said the final 23-member squad will be announced in the next few days.

“Bafana Bafana will return to Bloemfontein for the first time since the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They last played in the city when they beat France 2-1 in the global FIFA tournament 14 years ago. The gates at Free State Stadium will open at 15h00 and the tickets are priced at R50 for adults. 

“The kids, scholars and students, will pay R20 (school uniform and student cards required for over 12-year-olds). Tickets are available at TicketPro outlets, Spar, SuperSpar, Putco, Postnet etc,” he said.

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Additional amendments on BELA Bill adopted


 

By REGINALD KANYANE 

The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education today concurred with and adopted the additional amendments made by its sister committee in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said the changes were made by the Select Committee on Education and Technology Sports, Arts and Culture. Mbinqo-Gigaba said the committee received a briefing today on those amendments from Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Services Office.

“The committee was informed that, yesterday the NCOP House adopted the D version of the Bill and referred it to the National Assembly (NA) for further processing after making slight amendments to the Bill that had been referred to the NCOP by the NA.

“The Bill seeks, among other things, to make Grade R the new compulsory school starting age, to provide penalties for parents and guardians, who do not ensure that their children are in school and to confirm that corporal punishment is no longer allowed in schools, with penalties for those found guilty of such offences,” she said.

Mbinqo-Gigaba said the committee heard that the NCOP had, among other things, agreed to amplify the corporal punishment definition and used the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) definition because it is constantly used now in the Act and Bill. She added that the NCOP also further expanded the powers of the courts in dealing with sentencing and penalties by adding that the courts’ discretion is best placed to decide such matters in accordance with the CPA, with regards to parents or guardians who disregard the provision about taking children to school.

“In terms of clause 4 and 5, the involvement of the head of department (HOD) in approving policies has been removed as have the time frames that may have caused difficulties for the DBE in complying with proper implementation. 

“In the adopted amendments, the HOD retains the final authority on admissions and in providing guidance on the number of mediums of instruction that public schools may use,” said Mbinqo-Gigaba.

She said the committee was assured that all versions of the Bill presented – namely, the one introduced by Minister, the one changed and adopted by the NA on its second reading on the BELA Bill B version, and the one effected by the NCOP on the BELA Bill D version – comply with the Constitution and the jurisprudence of the courts. 

Mbinqo-Gigaba said several other amendments were made to provide further clarity.

“The latest amendments were made due to persuasion by stakeholders’ input received by the select committee. That is, after all, the whole purpose of public participation. 

“The Bill is expected to be debated tomorrow in the NA,” she said.

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Dipego tse di sa totobalang di shupa fa kereke ya UCCSA mono Taung e thubilwe ke magodu 


Ka OBAKENG MAJE 

Go begwa fa go nnile le go thubiwa kwa kerekeng ya UCCSA mono Taung. Go ya ka dipego tseno tse di sa totobalang, go utswitswe dilwana kwa kerekeng. 

Fela sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, o tlhalositse fa go sena kgetsi e butsweng. 

“Ga gona kgetsi e butsweng go fitlha ga jaana. Fela, re tla leka go totobatsa dintlha tseo, mme re neelane ka tshedimosetso e e maleba,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.

Taung DailyNews ga ya kgona go utlwa letlhakuri la baeteledipele ba kereke, fela, lekwalo-dikgang le tla tswelela go batla dintlha ka botlao.  

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