Johannesburg – Murders increased for the third year in a row in South Africa, according to crime statistics released by police on Tuesday.
“These are figures I would expect from a country at war,” DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard said.
She was commenting after national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega had presented the annual crime statistics to Parliament’s police portfolio committee.
“We cannot continue with this,” FF Plus MP Pieter Groenewald said.
For more http://www.news24.com
BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The 3rd Supadrift Series Extravaganza gave small businesses extra edge to succeed. The Sportainment was hosted by Department of Economy and Enterprise Development in partnership with Ultrapex Communications managed by Rolance Molapisi, drifter from Mahikeng from 25-26 September 2015 in the parking area of Mmabatho Stadium.
The initiative was part of departmental mandate to support the small business sector as one of trajectories of economic growth through encouraged job creation and economic inclusion initiatives.
MEC Wendy Nelson said: “By supporting Molapisi, we are inculcating the culture of entrepreneurship with a possibility of aspiring young entrepreneurs being exposed not only to driving in this crowd pulling sporting activity, but exposure to opportunities in the niche markets of mechanization and textile industries within the sporting arena.”
Nelson further added that the event further provided a platform to activate vibrant economy for the realization of the Mahikeng Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal Plan (MRRRP) as was launched by premier Supra Mahumapelo earlier this year to put Mahikeng back in the spotlight as the capital city of Bokone Bophirima.
Addressing people of Mahikeng and visitors from other places who were full of excitement, Nelson said that the partnership was forged to mitigate the challenges of youth unemployment and to showcase that government can work closely with entrepreneurs with the view of improving ordinary life of our communities in general.
The crowd puller sport brought the spinoffs to trickle down entrepreneurs both in the formal and informal business sectors, and thus created direct economic benefit through consumables.
“Young people should take advantage of available skills in areas of mechanics, driver development, textile and related activities which cannot be ruled out”.
Nelson said that the event can also be considered as a composite sector that contributes to hospitality, tourism and transport.
Young aspiring entrepreneur like Naledi Tsetse,33, and a mother of 3 residing in Motlhabeng village were afforded an opportunity to sell food and fizzy drinks during the event.
Naledi was the owner of the gazebo that was selling food daily in Mmabatho Stadium parking lot.
According to department, she started her business three years ago with Lesley Tlholatlung from Rooigroond.
They sold pap and meat to government employees and taxi drivers during lunch time.
“We have not yet registered a company but after making a profit of R1000 in a day we are surely going to accept the assistance from the department to register a cooperative so that we can formalise our business and make more money for our kids” Naledi said.
Nelson also urged young people to use untapped opportunities like this kind of an event to come up with innovative initiatives that can enable them to venture into and participate in the mainstream economy of the province without re-inventing the wheel.
“We have also established an economic empowerment fund to assist qualifying enterprises with equipments and raw material and to date we have offered assistance to approximately 30 businesses inclusive of women and young people across all the sectors,” she said.
-TDN
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
A rape case against a 46 year-old man was postponed until October 28 after he appeared before Taung Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
SGB chairperson of a primary school in Lokaleng village, near Taung was subsequently arrested in connection of raping a 10 year-old girl.
It is alleged that the rape took place at the man’s house in April and it was only reported recently.
He was granted a R1000 bail and will be back in court in October.
-TDN
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
NORTH West provincial government said that they will continue to build a relationship with the Botswana, and put in place few projects that will benefit both countries.
MEC for Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs Tebogo Modise said that South Africans and Batswana people from the Republic of Botswana, must be inspired to write about events of the past and work together towards uniting the two nations.
Modise said this on Saturday in Gaborone, where she was representing North West premier Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo during the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the 1985 June 14 raid in Gaborone.
Speaking at the commemoration which was attended by amongst others, survivors of that horrendous night in Gaborone, which included Nathaniel Mooketsi Serache and Abel Masifi from Mahikeng, and Moitse Botshelo from Gaborone, MEC Modise said information on the history of our liberation struggle must be documented for future generation.
“In the spirit of preserving our heritage, we must retrace the steps, highlight the memorable events of the apartheid regime, and ensure that stories of South Africa and Botswana are properly told,” Modise said.
She deeply thanked people from Botswana for their sacrifices and selfless support to South Africans during the struggle for freedom.
Dignitaries who attended the commemoration visited the Gaborone Cemetery in Extension 14 where Modise was joined by the South African High Commissioner to Botswana Mdu Lembede in laying wreaths in memory of the fallen heroes and heroines.
Most of the freedom fighters who were in exile are buried in this cemetery.
Narrating his ordeal to those in attendance, Nathaniel Mooketsi Serache who survived the June 14 attack when the then South African Defence Force (SANDF) crossed the borders illegally and indiscriminately attacked innocent people in Gaborone, leaving 12 South Africa and Botswana nationals dead and scores seriously injured, said 1985 was the year that Botswana really demonstrated its undivided support to South Africans.
“I am lucky to have survived that dreadful attack as the house I was sleeping in that night was bombed, and that nothing was left of it except rubbles. As a result of that, I am often referred to as the one who rose from the dead.” Serache said.
He said that Botswana was at the forefront of making sure that South Africa is liberated, and assisted some of them to get the best medical treatment ever.
The Executive Mayor of the City of Gaborone, Cllr Kagiso Thutlwe said Botswana was proud to have played a significant role in the fight against apartheid, and that through this commemoration, people from these two countries must be more united and tolerant towards one another.
These sentiments were shared by the Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders in Botswana, Kgosi Gaborone, who said it was important to revisit the history of the struggle, and draw inspiration from the courage of those who died while in exile.
The 30th commemoration of the Gaborone June 14 raid was attended by amongst others, South African High Commissioners to other SADC countries, Ambassadors, and the delegation from the North West Province led by MEC Tebogo Modise.
-TDN
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
RECONNECT is the new local family drama scheduled for exclusive release at select Nu Metro Cinemas nationwide from Friday, 16 October. This 100% proudly South African film offers something new for the South African market, while showcasing South Africa’s filmmaking abilities to an international audience.
The marketing Manager for the movie, Pieter Kruger said: “The film tells the story of two friends, who discover artificial intelligence on an old mainframe in an abandoned warehouse and complications arise when they try to lend a hand. The film stars Scot Cooper, Randy Yav and Veronique Rabe, along with well-known names such as Shane Wellington, Anne Power, Paul Ditchfield and other local talent. The film was directed by Marius Swanepoel, with Dana Pretorius as executive producer.”
According to Kruger, RECONNECT was filmed primarily in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, more specifically Matlosana/Klerksdorp and Tlokwe/Potchefstroom.
He said the synopsis of the story was about Eric Scott and his friend, Jason White, was privately working on a new game designed for imminent launched.
He said that their day jobs were based at a large intelligence corporation called Sky Corp. “After exploring an abandoned warehouse as a possible location for their game’s launch party, Eric meets a mysterious artificial intelligent-being on an old mainframe left behind in the warehouse. The system is in a vulnerable shape and threatens the continued existence of XJ-1 (as ERIC now calls him).
“In a courageous attempt, Eric finds a way to transfer him to one of Sky Corp’s extended storage systems and Jason unknowingly helps him. Not long after, XJ-1’s personality begins to change and starts to take over portions of Sky Corp’s mainframe. It is like a virus spreading uncontrollably and no one succeeds in regaining control.”
Kruger said now knowing that it was entirely their fault, Eric and Jason heroically continued to try and find a way to save Sky Corp. He said that in their search, they start to uncover a top secret project and discover documents to support their theories. “As the truth unfolds, relationships are put to the ultimate test and Eric has to deal with his past in order to reconnect with his destiny.”
-TDN
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THE provincial government said that cooperation with Botswana will enhance economic and social ties to benefit residents on both sides of the border. This came at the Prof Zacharia Keodirelang Matthews memorial lecture held at Moeding College in Otse, Botswana, at the weekend.
Matthews was a struggle icon and one of the founders of the ANC who died in Botswana where his remains were later exhumed for reburial in South Africa. The two day celebration was also part of the 30th anniversary of the 1985 Gaborone massacre when 12 people died during an apartheid raid.
Provincial MEC for culture, arts and traditional affairs Tebogo Modise led a delegation that compromised government officials and members of the media.
In her remarks, Modise said: “Matthews was a man of integrity and honour. He dedicated his life to the people of South Africa and Botswana.
“He was one of the first people to draft the Freedom Charter and was a man of his time. Matthews, ironically, was one who, in some ways, stood apart from and even ahead of that time. It was in this that his greatness inspired all of us,” Modise said.
“Matthews, who died at the age of 68, was the first ambassador for Botswana to the US. He was a towering figure in the 20th century. He did not just bestride the continent of Africa but became a political colossus of the entire world stage,” she said.
Matthews was the first black person to obtain a BA LLB degree in South Africa.
*NB: The article first appeared on The New Age newspaper
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JOHANNESBURG – The South African Police Services have now denied that a 29-year-old woman arrested with R4 million worth of drugs at OR Tambo International Airport is a South African celebrity.
Earlier, officials from the South African Revenue Services claimed the woman was a television star who had acted in soapies includingScandal, Rythym City and Isidingo, but police say this is not the case.
The woman was found with 15 packets of drugs covered in foil, weighing nearly 16 kilograms.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za
Port Elizabeth – The murder trial of Christopher Panayiotou, the Port Elizabeth businessman accused of paying hitmen to kill his wife Jayde, was on Monday postponed to December 2.
Panayiotou, 28, appeared briefly in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s court. At his next appearance in December, the court is expected to set the date for his trial to proceed in the Grahamstown High Court.
The body of his wife, a 29-year-old school teacher, was found on the outskirts of KwaNobuhle township in Uitenhage in April, a day after she disappeared. She was assaulted, thrown in the boot of a car and shot twice in the back and once in the head.
For more http://www.iol.co.za
Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela has explained his reasons for rotating his central defenders.
Erick Mathoho and Siyanda Zulu have started seven of Amakhosi’s 10 games at the back in all competitions this season.
For more http://www.kickoff.com
Johannesburg – Former leader of the Congress of SA Students Andrew Babeile has been arrested over his alleged involvement in the destruction of property belonging to the Naledi Local Municipality in North West during a protest this week.
Babeile, Lindwall Steytler, Handy Ntshotshoba, Mvuyo Ncobo and an unnamed man handed themselves over to the police on Wednesday night.
According to councillors and police, they destroyed municipal property and assaulted the municipality’s chief financial officer David Thornhill on Tuesday afternoon.
Babeile is no stranger to controversy. In 1998, he was found guilty of stabbing a white pupil with a pair of scissors at Warrenton High School, following an argument over race.
For more http://www.iol.co.za
