Category Archives: NEWS

Premier Modise condemns Lonmin killings


The senseless violence related to the strike by AMCU in the platinum belt should be stamped out before more lives are lost, North West Premier Thandi Modise said in condemning renewed violence in which six non-striking miners were killed and six others were wounded on Monday.  

“These incidents call for parties involved in the wage dispute to sober up and employ extraordinary measures to immediately end the strike which has entered into its fourth month before matters get out of hand. One life lost thus far is a life too many,” Premier Modise said.

Modise called on non-striking workers who have been on the receiving end of the violence and acts of intimidation to exercise restraint, remain calm and to let the law to take its course.

The Premier called on employers to tighten the security of non-striking workers who are reporting for duty. She also appealed to the community to assist police in their investigations to ensure that those responsible are behind bars.

“No bail for perpetrators and stiff sentences for those behind the reign of terror unleashed on non-striking miners and communities in the platinum belt will be the only deterrent,” Modise stressed.

 

According to police, a 60-year-old mineworker was found dead with multiple stab wounds in Bapong on Monday,.“On Sunday, in Bapong village, a couple was found strangled to death, the wife was stripped naked, the husband was a mineworker… the couple ran an illegal shebeen,” police spokesperson Brigadier Thulane  Ngubane said.

Ngubane said that another was burned to ashes in the Big House informal settlement in Bapong.-TDN
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North West couple found strangled to death


By Obakeng Maje
Bapong- A 47 year-old man and a woman,38, allegedly found dead at their house in Legalaopeng village near Bapong at about 17:00, police said.

Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the neighbours noticed that the victim’s place which was used as a shebeen was very quiet on Saturday and Sunday and became concern.

Brigadier Ngubane said the neighbours called the family’s next of kin and on his arrival, the family found both deceased with open wounds in their necks.

“They were allegedly strangled with a cloth and a woman’s gown belt respectively. The motive of murder is unknown” he said.-TDN
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One dead, six assaulted at Lonmin mines


By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- A 60 year-old Lonmin Saffi Shaft male employee was found murdered between Saffi shaft and Bob mine hostel on Monday at about 05:00, North West police said.

“The man had several stab wounds on his back, chest and ribs. It is alleged that the victim was found by the mine security personnel while patrolling the area” brigadier Thulani Ngubane said. 

No one has been arrested yet and investigation continues.

Meanwhile the police are investigating cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after six males were attacked by unknown suspects in the vicinity of Saffi shaft. The motive of the attack cannot be confirmed at this stage, and one of the men was admitted at hospital with serious injuries while others sustained minor injuries.-TDN
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Victorious U20 arrive to warm welcome


Johannesburg- The South African U20 Men’s National Team, Amajita have arrived back in South Africa and were welcomed by SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan and members of the Banyana Banyana squad preparing to play Ghana in a friendly match at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday.

Amajita walloped Ethiopia 2-0 in the first leg of the 2015 African Youth Championships qualifier at the National Stadium in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

Upon touching OR Tambo International Airport, the squad was met by SAFA President and the SASOL Banyana Banyana squad.

Amajita captain Ayabulela Maqgwaka was touched by the amount of support.

“It is always good to be received in this way. We really appreciate the support shown by the Association and Banyana Banyana following our win in Ethiopia.

“We are well aware that we are not there yet as we are taking one match at a time but the win has really given us a huge fillip. We will soon regroup for the second leg and we hope to continue from where we left off. We should however, never take the second leg for granted,” said the SA U20 captain.-TDN
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SAFA President mourns late Dick Nkuna


Johannesburg-The South African Football Association President, Dr Danny Jordaan has expressed profound grief at the passing on of former SAFA NEC member Dick Nkuna.
The Welkom-based Nkuna passed away last Saturday of heart problems and will be buried on Friday.

“I would like to convey my condolences on behalf of the South African Football Association to the Nkuna family, friends and the entire football family at the passing on of this football giant.

“Mr Nkuna was one of the pioneers of football administration after SAFA’s acceptance into the FIFA family and played a key role in football administration and development. The country has lost a man who dedicated his life to the game of football,” said the SAFA President.

Nkuna was a SAFA NEC member from 1995-2003.

Before then, he played and later owned Welkom Real Hearts Stars. He was also president of SAFA Northern Free State before the current demarcation of the SAFA Regions.
-TDN
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Veteran journalist Andrew Molefe dies


North West Premier Thandi Modise is saddened by the death of veteran journalist, Andrew Molefe who suffered a stroke during an interview with her at the Premier’s official residence in Mahikeng two weeks ago.

The 52 year-old Molefe who was intervening Premier Modise on Saturday evening for a news profile with the editor of Mafikeng Mail, Bobby Saul and The New Age North West Correspondence, Elfas Torrerai was immediately rushed to Mahikeng Provincial Hospital in an ambulance.
Molefe passed away at the Flora Clinic in Roodepoort on Friday.
“The untimely death of Molefe has robbed the North West Province and South Africa of a patriot and a community builder who had a passion for journalism and served as a fact checker, watchdog, story teller and an investigative reporter. The objectivity and selflessness of this great journo should serve as an example for journalists, aspiring or established, mainstream or alternative,” Premier Modise said.

Modise said that Molefe’s indelible mark and legacy is enshrined in his articles, in the newspapers he helped establish, and in the generations of journalists that he inspired.

Molefe who started his illustrious career as a journalist with Mafikeng Mail and later established Taxi Mate, Vibe Magazine and The North West Economist had long stints with City Press, The New Nation, Sunday World and Sowetan both of which he served as an assignment editor. His popular column at the Sowetan, Andrew Molefe’s People shared views of opinion makers with readers.

The well travelled Molefe also served as provincial editor and columnist for The New Age.
 
The Soweto Chamber of Commerce Magazine, Township Gazette, Capital Mail, Westrand Mail, Eastern Mail and Randburg Post are among the 18 publications that Molefe helped establish in Limpopo, Gauteng and the North West Province.

A memorial service in honour of Molefe is to be held at the Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation Studio 3 as from 14:00-16:00 on Thursday.

The funeral service for Molefe who is survived by his Lydia and two daughters Amogelang, 22 and Atlegang, 18 is to be held at his Horizon View home in Roodepoort on Saturday.He is to be laid to rest at the West Park Cemetery later on the day.-TDN
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Lonmin attacks investigated


Police in Rustenburg in North West say it has not been confirmed if all the victims of attacks near the Lonmin mine outside Rustenburg are mine workers.

The National Union of Mineworkers has reported that three of its members have been hacked to death.

It says this includes two workers who were killed while on their way to work.

Provincial police spokesperson, Thulani Ngubani says on Monday morning, next to the Safi shaft, a 60 year-old mine worker had sustained multiple stab wounds.

“In the very same vicinity, two men, one of them was very critical with stab wounds as well as another one sustained minor stab wound injuries.”

He says there are allegations that these are not mine workers.

Not far from that incident, four other men were found with serious stab wounds and it is also alleged that they are not mine employees.

Lonmin’s chief executive, Ben Magara, has confirmed one employee has been kil…led.  

Mom starves son, 4, for 12 days


Sydney – An Australian mother was Monday ordered to stand trial for allegedly starving her son, 4, who was kept in his filthy bedroom for 12 days and fed with food pushed under the door.

The 23-year-old faced the District Court in South Australia charged with criminal neglect and endangering the life of the child, who survived the ordeal.

The woman, whose name cannot be published, denied endangering the youngster’s life and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of neglect.

But prosecutors rejected her plea and she will be tried on the higher charge.

A neglect charge was dropped against the boy’s 27-year-old father after he pleaded guilty last month to endangering his son’s life.

Disturbing and distressing scene

The court previously heard that the boy, who weighed just 8.3kg, was taken to hospital after being found malnourished in the family’s Adelaide home in October in what police called a “very disturbing and distressing scene”.

A police witness statement said the boy was “unable to stand” when he was found and “appeared to struggle to speak and shook as he did”, the Advertiser newspaper reported.

The father said in a police interview that his son was allegedly locked up because he was naughty.

“Nothing bad,” he told police, according to the Advertiser, adding that they were “not negligent parents or anything”.

“Um, the time just flies past that fast… It’s hard to explain,” he said on why the boy had been there so long.

The father said the son was fed with food sachets, biscuits and long-life custard, but was given no water.

“He hasn’t learnt to drink out of a sippy cup yet,” the father said in response to police questions. “We tried teaching him, he just won’t snap to it.”
AFP

Motlanthe’s mom passed on


Johannesburg – Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe’s mother has died, the presidency said on Monday.

“Masefako Sophia Motlanthe, the mother of Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, passed away on Friday, 9 May of natural causes at her home in Meadowlands, Soweto. She was 89 years old,” the presidency said in a statement.

A memorial service would be held on Thursday, and a funeral service on Saturday.

She died a day before Motlanthe’s wedding to long-term partner Gugu Mtshali in Houghton, Johannesburg.
SAPA

Premier Modise shocked by Stilfontein elderly woman’s murder


North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed shock at the incident in which a 84 year-old man is alleged to have bludgeoned his wife to death over the weekend.

“We wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible this heinous act which highlights the need for intensified effort to fight the scourge of gender based violence,” Premier Modise said.

Modise said that while she had made the call to men in insecure relationships to seek counseling and professional advice instead of taking matters in to their own hands, the age of the suspect arrested in connection with the alleged crime is a matter of grave concern as it raises many questions regarding gender relations in our society.

“We are deep in shock and asking ourselves what would drive a man of that age to such extremes?” she asked.

According to police, the suspect who is in police custody was arrested on Saturday in Stilfontein connection with the fatal stabbing of his 69 year-old wife.  

“The elderly man was allegedly involved in an argument with his wife which ended in a fight,” said Captain Pelonomi Makau said.

Makau said that at this stage the cause of the atrocity is still unknown but police investigations are continuing.

The man is expected to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrates Court today.
-TDN
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