Category Archives: NEWS

PanSALB and DSAC to launch North West Provincial Language Stakeholder Forum


Rustenburg- MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Mme Tebogo Modise will on Friday April 11 launch the Provincial Language Stakeholder Forum at Orion Safari Hotel in Rustenburg.

The North West Provincial Language Committee in partnership with the Department and other Provincial Language stakeholders held a provincial language Indaba at Mmabatho Palms last year to discuss the language imperatives in the country.

“Subsequent to that, a Provincial Language Stakeholder was established mainly to focus on all matters of languages within the Province. Another main reason for the establishment of the forum is to bring together all language stakeholders, such as Government Departments, Community-based Organisations, Non-Governmental Organistions, municipalities, authors, writers forums, reading clubs and private entities amongst others, to share ideas” departmental spokesperson Shirley Montsho said.

The objective of the forum is to enhance a working relationship and strengthen partnership with various stakeholders.

“It will also serve as an enabler for the province to discharge its function on language imperatives guided by the NW Provincial Language Committee (NWPLC)” she said.

Purpose of the launch amongst others is to:
 formalize the Provincial Language Stakeholder Forum;
 Discuss the terms of reference of the Provincial Language Stakeholders Forum;
 Reprioritize activities programme for the financial year;
 Nominate members of the Executives and
 Pave a way forward.

Details of the launch are as follows:

Venue: Orion Safari Hotel – Rustenburg

Date: 11 April 2014

Time: 10h00 – 16h00
-TDN
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20 year freedom celebration sporting event postponed!


By Obakeng Maje
North West- Department of Sport, Arts and Culture through Directorate Communication and Marketing would like to notify the media that the fun run/soccer tournament event that was to hosted in Bojanala at the Olympia Park Stadium over the weekend has been postponed, due to unforeseen circumstances.

“The Department wishes to apologize for the inconvenience caused to its stakeholders and the public at large” departmental spokesperson Shirley Montsho said.-TDN
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Lopsy set for lengthy break


Cape Town – Proteas bowler, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, will undergo ankle surgery on Wednesday next week to alleviate a right ankle posterior talar impingement syndrome, which has been affecting him for the last 18 months.

The recovery period will be between two to three months, making it unlikely that Tsotsobe will be available for the Proteas’ tour to Sri Lanka in July.

“Lonwabo has been suffering from this ankle problem for the last year and a half and this is the first gap we have had which minimises his time out of the game,” Proteas team manager, Mohammed Moosajee, explained.

“It’s a fairly common injury among fast bowlers and will be conducted by a renowned ankle specialist in Pretoria.
 
“The recovery time is quite extensive so Lonwabo will probably be unavailable for selection for the tour to Sri Lanka, but we will be working hard to have him ready for the tour to Zimbabwe in August.”
Sport24

Nel broaches argument theory


Pretoria – Circumstantial evidence points to an argument between murder accused Oscar Pistorius and his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp before she shot her dead, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard on Thursday.

“The only reasonable inference from circumstantial evidence is that there was an argument,” said prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

After an objection from Pistorius’s counsel Barry Roux, Nel said this evidence included testimony from witnesses who said they heard a woman screaming in the early hours of 14 February last year, when Steenkamp was shot dead in Pistorius’s toilet.

Pistorius had been alleging that the scene at his house had been altered and that a fan was moved.

Nel suddenly said: “It was moved when you and the deceased got in an argument,” prompting Roux’s objection.

Nel said his case would say “when you got up you had an argument. That’s why she ran away screaming”.

Nel said this was the only “reasonable inference”.

Pistorius has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder he faces.

He said he thought there was an intruder about to enter his home when he suddenly fired four shots at the toilet door, killing Steenkamp inside the toilet with three of the shots.

He has also denied guilt on a charge of illegal possession of ammunition and two counts of discharging a firearm in public.

SAPA

Taung Agric. College grateful to receive R10 million


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The Deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe visited Taung Agricultural College as part of “Poverty allievation” programme. Motlanthe was accompanied by minister of Home Affairs Naledi Pandor, premier of North West Thandi Modise and MEC of Agriculture mme Desbo Mohono.

The outgoing deputy president also came along with ambassador of Denmark mr R dinesen and the Managing Director of Haldor Topse, mr Helge Rosenberg.

The main aim of the visit was to handover R10 million donation from the late Denmark businessman Haldor. Topsoe.

Topsoe donated R10 million to Taung Agricultural college in his plea to develop rural areas. Motlanthe said he met with Topsoe sometime ago while visiting Denmark and Topsoe could not keep quite about South Africa and Taung Agricultural College.

“Mr Topsoe could not hold his breathe when talking about South Africa as a beautiful country and said he would like to celebrate his 100th birthday in the country” Motlanthe said.

Unfortunately mr Topsoe died four days before his 100th birthday and he could not fulfil his wish, however he donated R10 million to the college.

MEC of Agriculture, Conservation, Enviroment and Rural Development said her department welcome the donation and will make sure is put in good use.
T
“This is part of bettering the economy of South Africa and will also benefit the economy. I can assure you that Taung will be turned into an agricultural town and just give me only two years” Mohono said.

Taung is an agricultural forefront area and however is poverty-stricken. The Taung Agricultural College received its accreditation last year and according to the principal of Agricultural colleges in the North West, Pepenene Serage the donation comes in handy.

“The college just received its accreditation last year to operate fully and we planning to develop the community of Taung at large by offering them skills and transformation. The 40% of the money will be allocated on developing the communities. We having a piloted project called mobile training in agriculture. We will visit the members of the community and equipped them with neccessary skill” Serage said.

Kgosi Tshepo Mankoroane applauds the Topsoe company and sent his appreciation to the late Haldor Topsoe for the donation. “We apprectiate the donation and we hope it will benefit our community. Taung is a poverty-striken area, but we need to commend its people who took it amongst themselves and made sure the college is sustainable” Mankoroane said.-TDN
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Arms deal cost R46.6bn- report


Johannesburg – The arms deal cost R46.6bn, The Star newspaper reported on Thursday.

The daily said that was the official figure for the controversial 1999 defence procurement package from the National Treasury.

Treasury deputy director general Andrew Donaldson gave the “total nominal expenditure on the SDPP [Strategic Defence Procurement Package] between 2000/01 and 2013/14”.

The deal was financed with loans from foreign banks, with loan costs totalling R51.3bn.

He was testifying before the Seriti Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria, which is headed by Judge Willie Seriti and is investigating allegations of corruption in the arms deal.

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission of inquiry in September 2011, after the Western Cape High Court was asked in 2009 to appoint an independent judicial inquiry into the arms deal.

The commission was supposed to have concluded its work by last November but asked Zuma for a 12-month extension after several delays, including the resignation of senior inquiry officials.

SAPA

Sasol Banyana Banyana making huge steps – Pauw


Johannesburg- Head coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Vera Pauw, is happy with the progress made by her team following Tuesday’s practice match against the School of Excellence U16 Boys side. 

The practice match against the School of Excellence formed part of preparations for the international friendly match against Zimbabwe scheduled for Saturday, 12 April 2014 at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto. Kick-off is at 13h30.

The Sasol-sponsored South African Senior Women’s National team was divided into two groups going down 4-0 in the first match and 2-1 in the match played later in the day.

Sasol Banyana Banyana will have their last training session at the Bedfordview FC training fields on Thursday before moving to the match venue for the captains’ session on Friday, 11 April

Head coach, Vera Pauw with the assistance of interim assistant coach and former national team captain, Desiree Ellis, says she is happy with the build-up to the game against Zimbabwe. She added that the team was making huge improvements and that she was impressed with this.

The South Africans are working towards securing a spot in the eight nations CAF African Women’s Championships. The same tournament will be used as the continental qualifiers for 2015 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

“Following yesterday’s training against the boys, I’m happy with what I have seen so far. We are making huge steps everyday and yesterday’s matches were important as they allowed us to test how far the players have come and to see  if everyone understands what we have been going through in each of the sessions this past week

“Selecting the final 18 players for the friendly against Zimbabwe is not going to be easy because all the players are giving 100% in the training sessions and competition is very tight. The game against Zimbabwe is a building block for us and I am looking forward to seeing how they perform on Saturday,” said Pauw.

The Zimbabwean Women’s National team arrive in South Africa in two groups on Wednesday, 9 April.-TDN
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Premier Modise appeals for calm after protesting teen shot dead  


Christiana- North West Premier Thandi Modise has appealed for calm after a teenager was allegedly shot dead by a tavern owner during violent protest in Christina near Bloemhof on Wednesday afternoon.
It is alleged that the 14- year- old boy was part of a rioting mob that was approaching the tavern owner’s premises with the view to loot after several shops were looted and a community hall torched in the area.
“We are saddened that the life of a person so young was cut short under such unfortunate circumstances and wish to convey our condolence to the family that lost their loved one. Though the death opens fresh wounds of loss of lives we have experienced during violent protests in our province, we are appealing for calm” Premier Modise said.“Everything has to be done to normalise the situation, prevent destruction of private & public properties and loss of lives,” appealed Modise who is scheduled to lead a Provincial Executive Council (Exco) intervention task team visit for an engagement with protestors in Boitumelong Township near Bloemhof  in the afternoon.The tavern owner is reportedly in police custody
.Lekwa-Teemane municipal office, community halls in Boitumelong and Coverdale Townships, five houses belonging to the Mayor, two councilors and two officials and several businesses were torched since violence erupted on in the past week in the area.

Despite engagement with several engagements with the provincial government and a commitment to investigate allegations of corruption and nepotism leveled against Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality, violence has not abated as protestors are adamant that the embattled municipality should be dissolved.-TDN
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Deputy president Motlanthe visits Taung Agricultural College


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- Deputy President Motlanthe visits the Taung Agricultural College in North West Province, as part of the Anti-Poverty Programme.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will on Thursday visit
the Taung Agricultural College, in the Greater Taung Local Municipality, North West Province, as part of the Anti-Poverty Programme.

The Taung Agricultural College offers a range of specialised programmes developed to meet the needs of Commerce and Industry, and it is committed to become a Centre of Excellence in Irrigation Technology in line with its
agro-ecological zone.

“Deputy President Motlanthe will be accompanied by Ministers and Deputy
Ministers and will be joined by the Premier of the North West Province” said Matshepo Seedat.

Motlanthe will also handover R1 million donation to the college by a Norwegian businessman.

DATE: 10 APRIL 2014

TIME: 09H30

VENUE: TAUNG AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
-TDN
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Player-coach rift at Dikwena


Cape Town – A rift is developing at Platinum Stars between coach Allan Freese and one of his senior players, Benson Mhlongo, a report on the SPORT LIVE
website
indicates.

Other senior players are reportedly unhappy with the situation, and have insisted on a meeting with club management.

It is alleged the defender and coach disagree on certain aspects of his coaching method, which resulted in Mhlongo missing three PSL matches – against Maritzburg United, Moroka Swallows and Bloemfontein Celtic.

Mhlongo is also not in the Dikwena squad Wednesday’s away game against Wits (19:30 kick-off).

Both Freese and Mhlonga have denied the rift, citing tiredness as the reason he was omitted.

Stars are currently 9th on the
overall PSL log
.
Sport24