Category Archives: NEWS

NWest motorist dies, two rescued in floods  


Rustenburg-One fatality was reported due to a head on collision accident that occurred on the Mogwase-Sun City road, The North West Provincial Disaster Management Centre reported on Friday.

Poor visibility as a result of heavy rains is suspected to have caused the crash that occurred on Thursday afternoon.

“Two motorists whose vehicles were swept away by floods on the Mogwase-Northam road on Thursday evening were rescued at around 5:45 this morning by divers and the Search and Rescue team from the South African Police Service” Premier’s Office spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said.

The pair, one of whom is a local doctor was allegedly found hanging on trees.  

Many trucks are reported to be stuck between Rustenburg and Northam as a result of the flooding Kgetleng Rivier.

“An impact assessment will be carried out later this morning to assess the extent of the damage caused by the floods” Kgwele said.

Meanwhile, the search for the two children who were reported missing after they were swept by floods in Mogwase on Thursday afternoon will continue this morning.-TDN
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Christiana man arrested in connection of murder


By Obakeng Maje
The Northern Cape HAWKS made a breakthrough during the early hours of Thursday morning in connection with the armed robbery and murder of Casper Adriaan Labuschagne(29).

Mr Labuschagne was gunned down on the 27 February 2014 while working at a mine in Holpan, Windsorton.

“At about 00:20, three suspects were arrested in Windsorton and one in Christiana. The suspects aged between, 24 and 43 years old will appear in the Barkly West magistrates’ court on Monday on charges of murder and armed robbery” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

The Hawks were assisted by Kimberley Tactical response Team (TRT).-TDN
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Premier Modise hand over R33m road


The North West Province has a good story to tell because for the first time in many years, it’s Department of Public Roads and Transport will not be surrendering any cent to Treasury as the budget allocated to it towards road infrastructure development has been expended, Premier Thandi Modise reported on Thursday.

Speaking at the official handover of the rehabilitated D114 Boshoek to Pella via Lindleyspoort road towards which the provincial government spend over R33 million, Premier Modise highlighted that 14 roads projects are currently being rolled out in the Bojanala Platinum District  at a budget of over R475 million.

“These projects should improve safety on our roads and lay the foundation for electrification, housing projects and serve as a link for clinics and hospitals for our rural communities to access quality health care envisaged by the National Health Insurance,” said Premier Modise.

She encouraged young people to seize study opportunities that government is making available for them to prepare themselves as future leaders.

MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Raymond Elisha said that the 39 projects some of which are being implemented with the assistance of South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) were identified following a consultative process that started with District Roads Summits and culminated into the Provincial Roads Summit that was held last year.

“The department is indeed committed to working together with our Chiefs, Municipalities and general North West populace to ensure that all these projects become successful and thereby ensuring that, together we move our province and South Africa Forward,” stressed MEC Elisha.

In expressing the appreciation of the community, Mayor of Moses Kotane, Councillor Fetsang Mokati-Thebe appealed to the community not to burn tyres on the road to express their dissatisfaction with services but to engage constructively.
She highlighted that foot prints of the ANC-led government delivered in Tlokweng include funding of Tsholofelo Disability Project, Lesedi Home Based Care, Street lights, Housing Development Projects, Toilets, Sports Park, library and internal road project.
The Queen mother, Dikolo Motsatsi said that the handover of the first phase of the project has created much needed job opportunities for the unemployed Batlokwa and that she is hopeful after listening to the Premier that more developments will reach the area.

The R35 million second phase of the project that has commenced to reseal and fogspray the road from Pella to Lindlyespoort is part of the projects that are being rolled out.
Other projects that are part of the R475 million projects that are under construction in the district include the rehabilitation of the P54/1 from Matooster to Ruighoek, R101 Maubane to Carousel in Moretele Local Municipality, the reseal and fogspray of the D1382 Letlhabile to Brits, D618 and D619 from Brits to Makau and the D 2726 from N4 through Brits to Ga-Rankuwa.-TDN
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Police need help to locate missing Visser


By Obakeng Maje
Strydenburg Police sought after 77-year-old Rosie Visser. Her next of kin reported her missing on Saturday, 08 March 2014.

“She was last seen somewhere around the sports ground in Strydenburg, wearing a white blouse, checked shirt, red head dress and yellow shoes” lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said.

Rosie Visser was residing at 65 Bree Street, Deetlefsville in Strydenburg

“We appeal the assistance of the public, to work closer with the police to trace and reunite Rosie Visser with her family” Tawana said.

Any information that may lead to reunite her with her family, can be communicated to Strydenburg police / Captain Visagie on 082 4955 059 or 053 6831 000.-TDN
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Three bodies recovered in NWest floods


Marikana-The bodies of three people who were swept by floods were recovered by rescue teams in Marikana and Mogwase bringing to four the number of
people who drowned during floods in the past two weeks, the North West
Provincial Disaster Management Centre confirmed on Friday.

Two bodies of two male adults were recovered in Marikana while that of
a boy was recovered in Mogwase.

The search for the second missing child has been called off after the
centre realised that the Mogwase incident involved only one child and
that the earlier reports were as result of double reporting of the
same incident.

In convening condolences to the families that lost their loved ones in the flooding, Premier Thandi Modise appealed to motorists and
pedestrians crossing flooding rivers to exercise extreme caution and
not to underestimate flood currents.

“We appeal to people not to ignore flood warning signs and advise to
use alternative routes. Parents should warn children against swimming in streams,” Premier Modise said.

Modise expressed her gratitude to Disaster Management Centres,
municipalities, law enforcement officers, rescue teams for going the
extra-mile to ensure that relief efforts reach those affected by the
floods and that social relief of distress grants were processed to
deserving families.

She said that a comprehensive impact assessment report will inform
where intervention and additional support is required.

Seven bridges which were washed away have already been identified for
repair and or reconstruction. Over 600 hundred people across the
province were temporarily displaced by the floods in the past few
days.-TDN
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A man wanted in connection of rape


By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley-Galeshewe police sought after the suspect appearing in the identity kit, to assist with the investigation in a rape case.

“It is alleged that on 2013 December 07, the suspect was passenger in a white Toyota Tazz, along Hulana Street. The driver of the Toyota Tazz stopped next to the victim while walking on the pavement along Hulana Street, grabbed and dragged her into the back seat of the car” lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said.

Police said the suspect allegedly covered the mouth of the victim and drove off to the direction of Phillip Mpiwa Street, where they both took turns raping her.

“We request any person who might have any information which may lead to the arrest of the suspect to contact the investigating officer W/O Harriet McKenzie at 082 4954 725 / 0538076 161” Tawana said.-TDN
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SAFA appoint new Banyana Banyana coach


Johannesburg-Netherlands-born Vera Pauw has been appointed the new Banyana Banyana coach.She takes over from Joseph Mkhonza who will take up the position of National Selector.

Pauw’s immediate task is to prepare the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana for the CAF African Women Championships (AWC) scheduled for October in the Namibian capital of Windhoek.

Three teams from the continent will qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The 51-year old Pauw said she was excited to be part of this ambitious and dynamic organisation.

“I am excited to become part of this ambitious project in which we can develop our girls into international stars. SAFA is aiming high with women’s football. President (Danny) Jordaan has expressed this in his New Year message because women’s football is the fastest growing sport in the world. There are plenty of opportunities in which we can use football to enhance the future of women in general,” said Pauw.

“My association with SAFA goes back many years ago. When I was coach of The Netherlands team, we had great times whenever we visited South Africa and most times stayed at the High Performance Centre (HPC) in Pretoria. We have had matches involving our U/20 girls’ teams in Netherlands.”

“South Africa has massive potential in development structures and I am looking forward to this new challenge of taking Banyana Banyana to the next level,” added Pauw.

SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan said Pauw was a potential game changer in South African football especially within the women fraternity.

“Pauw’s appointment was well thought out and we are confident that in her we have a coach who can take Banyana Banyana to the next level.

“She has the right credentials and her track record speaks highly of a coach who has the desire to compete with the best in the world. That is the level we want Banyana Banyana to be. We liked her vision and desire to be successful,” said Dr Jordaan.

“We have also taken a principal decision as SAFA that all women national teams will be coached by female coaches and where we don’t have the right candidates, to source the candidates from outside our borders,” added Dr Jordaan.

Pauw has worked as the Technical Director of the Russian Football Union and was the country’s interim coach in 2011.

She was Netherlands Technical Director and Women’s National Team coach from 2004-2010, leading the country to the bronze medal in the European Championships in Finland in 2009.

Between 1998 and 2004, she was the Technical Director for the National Women’s football in Scotland.-TDN
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A man electrocuted to death


By Obakeng Maje
Roodepan-An unidentified man in his 30’s found killed apparently by electric shock in Lerato Park Electricity Sub Station unit at Roodepan, says lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said.

“Our preliminary investigation indicates that the deceased was attempting to steal copper cables from live electric wires in a substation” Tawa said.

The deceased died apparently after he was electrocuted by live electric wires.

“He was found by the municipality employees during their routine inspection at the substation. The police were immediately alerted about the gruesome discovery” he said.

The deceased could have been electrocuted between 9:30 and 10:00 am.

Upon investigation at the substation a man who was wearing gloves in both hands, black T-shirt, blue Nike training shoes, blue overall pants passed on, having some burn marks on the hands.

“The deceased broke the pad lock of the door of the substation to in order to gain entrance” Tawana said.

The total value of the damage incurred is estimated to more than R200 000.

Any person with the information that may assist the police with the identification of the deceased, can contact Detective Sgt Johannes Bosman at 073 286 0942 / 053 8075 500.-TDN
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FARM OWNER GIVES OUT CRECHE TO FARM WORKERS CHILDREN


De Beerskraal farm owner’s gesture is a positive investment in the future of farm workers children, North West MEC for Social Development Collen said, during his visit to the farm on Wednesday.

“We are pleased to have farmers like Leynette Oosthuizen who has heartily given a house to serve as a crèche for farm workers,” Maine said adding that his department would ensure that Ntataise early childhood development crèche receive conditional registration and that each child would receive R15 per day.

Maine said would be used to buy food for the children and pay stipend for the teachers.

Farm owner Leynette Oosthuizen said the centre used to be the teachers house and she turned it into a crèche for farm workers children in 1992. Since then, Oosthuizen said the centre has rendered services to 35 children between 0-4 years, providing safe and healthy environment for farm workers children where the children are being prepared for basic education and primary learning. She said the centre has 35 children.

“We are so grateful that the authorities have considered our plight. Most of the farmers here have started a feeding scheme for the children at the crèche and also primary learners. We buy them food from our own pockets. We also provide them with teaching aids. We do all these because their parents work for us,” Oosthuizen said.

To keep the centre in operation, Oosthuizen said they deduct R20 per month from the monthly wages of parents of the children and use the money to the centre’s overheads expenses. The parents of the children from the neighbouring farms such as Klerkskraal and Rysmierbult contribute R50 which is utilized to pay the salaries of the two practitioners at the centre.

On Wednesday Maine donated mattresses, sand bags, playing equipment, reading books, tables, blankets and chairs to Ntataise crèche.

Most of the farm workers receive the gifts with ululation and gladness. Maria Kgopo who grew up in farm said she wished that her child would get a better education from early age.

“I am so happy for all these gifts. We do not earn much. This is a relief on us,” Kgopo said, adding that most her peers in the farm depend on social grants and temporaty jobs for survival.

Maine who was accompanied by National Development Agency representatives and the senior management of his department urged the farm workers to attend adult basic education classes – citing that government has put education in its priority list.-TDN
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Taung To Hosts Community Sport Festival


Reivilo-The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture through the Chief Directorate Sport and Recreation will be hosting a Community Sport Festival at Reivilo in Greater Taung on Thursday.

The aim of the festival is to provide coaching clinics on the day and to launch six “Priority” codes in the area, namely football, netball, volleyball, rugby, tennis and basketball.

“The reality that exists within Reivilio community is that people are interested in playing different sporting codes but don’t have the necessary equipments to play. The festival is geared towards affording the community to have knowledge about other sporting codes and to increase the level of participation amongst people” departmental spokesperson Shirley Montsho said.

Montsho said it is according to this background that the Department’s objectives strives for the promotion of health and fitness of Reivilio community, advance club development through the festival, enhance and improve competitiveness in sport and nature and sustain the talent for the elite/competitive events.

The number of participants is expected to be above 300 and the Department will also handover sporting equipments and playing attire to the participants on the day. Attire will be given to 10 soccer teams, 4 netball teams, 3 basketball teams, 1 rugby team and1 volley ball team.

MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture in the North West Province Mme Tebogo Modise calls members of the community to be part of this event in support of a better living for the youth.

Details of the festival are as follows:

Venue: TBC

Time: 09h00

Date: 13 March 2014
-TDN
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