Orlando Pirates PRO Mickey Modisane has called on all South Africans to rally behind the Buccaneers as they prepare to take on Egyptian giants Al Ahly in a make-or-break CAF Champions League game at Orlando Stadium on Sunday.
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Word coming out of the Orlando Pirates camp is that midfielder Andile Jali has been ruled out of Sunday’s CAF Champions League game against Al Ahly.

As reported by the Siya crew earlier today, Jali, who injured his shoulder during last night’s Absa Premiership match against Polokwane City, went for treatment this afternoon.
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It was far from pretty, but Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa says it was a valuable win over Polokwane City in their Premiership match at Orlando Stadium.

While Pirates were far from clinical on attack, which accounted for the 1-0 scoreline, Polokwane looked out of their depth last night against a clearly tired Buccaneers outfit.

“It was tough, when you start missing opportunities you start wondering. Fortunately we got one on target and got the three points,” said De Sa after the match.

“The most important thing was winning tonight (last night). It was crucial.”

Polokwane parted ways with coach Duncan Lechesa on Monday, and physical trainer Eduardo Schoeler took the reins for the clash.

De Sa said he had opted to rest a number of players after his side’s CAF Champions League commitments.

“It was important to make changes, as we have another game on Sunday (against Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League).

“Travelling takes a lot out of the players. Even tonight players looked lethargic. Oupa (Manyisa) didn’t look himself. Andile (Jali) also came back, there were a lot of changes but I don’t think it was a weakened team.

“Daine (Klate) was just rested, Lennox (Bacela) was another as well as Lucky (Lekgwathi).”

Following two successive losses in the African competition, De Sa was pleased to get a win under his belt regardless of the opposition.

“(Last night’s) game was very important to us. Just to get a win after the two losses. At this club, every game is important, everyone expects you to win, I certainly do.”

Meanwhile, caretaker Polokwane coach Schoeler said it was not his decision on how long he would be filling the role.

“The boardroom will decide who will coach the next game, for now I’m the caretaker,” said Schoeler.

Schoeler said he worked in first and second division sides in a stint in Brazil before coming to Polokwane to take up the physical trainer position.

– Sapa

The troubled Boxing SA (BSA) chief executive will be put on suspension tomorrow, two independent sources have told City Press.

“The BSA board and the department of sport and recreation have realised that all the controversy surrounding Qithi will divert our attention from the National Boxing Indaba (NBI) and the only way was to suspend him,” said a senior source in boxing administration who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Contacted for comment, the department’s spokesperson, Paena Galane, said the BSA CEO was not suspended.

“The DG (Alec Moemi) is meeting with the chairperson of BSA today and the BSA board is meeting tomorrow to consider the Moffat Qithi matter,” added Galane.

Another source revealed that Qithi’s suspension was likely to be followed by his axing following damning allegations made against him in the South Gauteng High Court this week.
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Police and prosecutors scheduled the court appearance of a former private school headmaster accused of the possession of child pornography outside normal working hours today in what appears to be special treatment.

The headmaster and award-winning author, who cannot be named because he has not pleaded as yet, appeared very early in the White River Magistrates’ Court in Mpumalanga today after special arrangements were made.

Senior public prosecutor Karen Mortlock said there was “no prescript” that said all cases had to start at 9 o’clock in the morning.

“I called the case early because I and the investigating officer were available. The magistrate had also agreed to preside over it. It was not special treatment,” Mortlock said.

“I had to be in my office after the case and the police had to go and investigate,” she added.

Journalists who arrived at the court as early as 8 o’clock said the case had already been heard by then.

National police spokesperson Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale promised to look into emailed questions, but did not respond by the time of publication.

The accused resigned as principal of the school last month and put his single-storey house in White River up for sale following his arrest. He has since relocated to Pretoria.

Police had also arrested five others suspected of being part of an international child porn syndicate in Lichtenburg, Bloemfontein, Douglasdale, Florida and Potchefstroom.

They were identified as a teacher, retired school principal, lawyer, dermatologist and businessman.

At that time, Makgale said police had identified 50 suspects after seizing 672 DVDs, 22 memory sticks, eight laptops, two tablets, 39 external hard drives and 25 books containing child pornography.

The headmaster’s biography says he is passionate about water polo and rugby. He has coached water polo at national level.

He is out on R1 000 bail and the case will resume on November 22 2013.
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The National Assembly has endorsed the nomination of 12 people for the new SABC board despite criticism from opposition parties.

The DA, Congress of the People and Inkatha Freedom Party opposed the move, forcing a vote.

The ANC had its way as the ballot saw 203 MPs voting in favour of the 12 nominees, while 78 voted against them. There was one abstention.

Earlier, loud heckling was heard from opposition benches when Parliament’s communications portfolio committee chairperson Sikhumbuzo Kholwane took to the podium and defended the appointment of ANC-aligned nominees.

“I’m convinced that the calibre of candidates is testament to the quality of depth our country is blessed with,” he said.

“It (the proposed board) reflects the kind of patriotism needed to drive our country forward,” he said.

On the skills of board members, Kholwane said he was convinced they chose the “right people for the job”.

“They are experienced enough … and this is a very strong team.”

Kholwane said there was no problem with ruling party members being on the board.

“We deliver as a ruling party that’s why labour is supporting this bill,” he said.

DA MP Marian Shinn responded by saying the ANC members on the committee “betrayed South Africans”.

“The ANC would not compromise … it refused to consider any name submitted by opposition parties. It does not represent the best choice of appropriate skills available,” she said.

The fact that the committee did not choose board members from a broad cross-section of South African society was also a concern.

“We are about to hand over control of the SABC to the ANC,” said Shinn.

Cope MP Juli Killian said the ANC again resorted to “cadre deployment”.

“They refused point blank to accept even one name supported by the opposition,” Killian said.

IFP MP Liezel van der Merwe was equally dissatisfied with the ANC’s choices for the board, going as far as to say its composition was open to legal scrutiny.

“It’s now uncertain whether the SABC sinking ship can be rescued,” she said.

The list of nominated board members will be sent to President Jacob Zuma, who makes the appointments.

The list includes the current interim chairperson of the board, Ellen Tshabalala, her deputy, Noluthando Gosa, and a past member of the broadcaster’s board, Vusumuzi Mavuso.

The others are Ronnie Lubisi, Thembinkosi Bonakele, Rachel Kalidass, Nomvuyo Mhlakaza, Bongani Khumalo, Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe, Krish Naidoo, Aaron Tshidzumba and Hope Zinde.

Parliament dissolved the SABC board earlier this year after infighting caused mass resignations.

– Sapa

Port Elizabeth – Several Somali-owned shops re-opened for business on Thursday as a wave of looting and xenophobic violence in Port Elizabeth was brought under control.

More than 150 small grocery shops were looted in four days of violence which was sparked by the killing of a 19-year-old local boy by a Somali shop owner after an argument over cellphone airtime on Sunday.

“No incidents of looting have been reported since last night (Wednesday),” police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said.

She added that “police will continue to maintain a high presence” in a number of affected areas.

Police arrested 111 people in connection with the pillaging. The man accused of killing the South African teenager was arrested but later released due to lack of evidence.

Violence spread to several townships in the eastern coastal town.

“Engagements with representatives of the foreign nationals, the community and other stakeholders will continue to make sure peace and calm returns to the area,” said Mills.

But some Somalis said they were still nervous.

“I am still nervous but the police have promised us protection, and some members of the community are supporting us and that is why I am back,” Aran Adbikarin.

Amid widespread poverty and unemployment, frustration in South Africa’s run-down neighbourhoods often boils over into anti-immigrant violence.

An explosion of deadly attacks in 2008 killed more than 60

people and displaced thousands into refugee-style camps.

Locals often accuse foreigners from other African countries of stealing their jobs and women.

Foreign-owned shops are also accused of uncompetitive business, selling their wares at lower prices than their South African counterparts.

South Africa plays host to millions of asylum seekers and refugees from across the continent.

Sapa-AFP

Cape Town – The National Prosecuting Authority on Thursday welcomed the two life terms and five-year sentencing of Namibian national Fabianus Fillipus, convicted of killing two police constables in Cape Town last year.

“As the NPA we will continue to play our part to ensure that those who kill police officers who are doing their duties to protect our society, are prosecuted successfully and pay dearly for their actions,” NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said in a statement.

Ntabazalila said although the sentence would not bring back the loss both families had suffered, he hoped they would find solace knowing Fillipus would not hurt other people.

Fillipus, 29, was convicted last week of murdering constables Pindiwe Nikani, 26, and Mandisi Nduku, 27.

The constables were shot dead while on duty at Imizamo Yethu, in Hout Bay, last October.

Nikani died on the scene and Nduku, who was seriously wounded, died later in hospital.

After being questioned by the judge, it was established that Fillipus had a Grade Seven education, had worked as a boilermaker for about a year and had left for South Africa in 2004 when he lost his job.

He settled in the Mandela Park informal settlement in Hout Bay and bought a home there when he met his girlfriend.

At the time of the shooting, he was selling goods to people on the street.

On Wednesday, Fillipus maintained his innocence in a room packed with relatives of the policemen and off-duty police officers at the Western Cape High Court.

He took the stand to convince Judge Patricia Goliath that he should not be given the minimum prescribed sentence of life in prison for police killings.

“I’m worried I’ve been found guilty of something I didn’t commit. I’m also worried at leaving my (three-year-old) child behind and my girlfriend,” he said through his Oshiwambo-speaking interpreter.

Samantha Raphaels, for the State, asked the court on Wednesday to impose two life sentences for the murders, and five-year sentences for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Raphaels said both officers were killed “execution style” which was an aggravating factor, that Fillipus had not shown any remorse and that nothing was taken from the officers after they were killed.

“It is clear that the accused was purely there to shoot and kill. There was a direct intention to kill those officers,” Raphaels said.

Sapa

Witbank – A teacher was arrested in Witbank on Thursday for possession of dagga, Mpumalanga police said.

The 45-year-old was caught after a schoolboy was found selling it for him earlier this month, said Colonel Leonard Hlathi.

The 14-year-old was found on September 3 with 18 “pokes” (a finger-sized quantity) of dagga. He told police he was working for the teacher.

“Police investigations showed that the teacher was allegedly supplying dagga to learners.”

Police recovered 138g of dagga with an estimated street value of R1100 in the teacher’s room.

He would appear in the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Sapa

Port Elizabeth – Heavy winds blew off the roofs of three hospitals in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, the province’s health department said.

They were the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, Glen Grey Hospital in Lady Frere and Cofimvaba Hospital, said spokesman Sizwe Kupelo.

A team of building experts had been sent to assess the damage.

“No injuries were reported, patients are still safe,” said Kupelo.

Eastern Cape health MEC Sicelo Qgobana would visit the hospitals on Friday, he said.

Sapa