Johannesburg – Activist group Anonymous Africa on Friday morning claimed responsibility for attacking the ANC’s website.
The group, which communicates as @zim4thewin on Twitter, posted a tweet shortly after 10am saying “http://www.anc.org.za is tango down! for being corrupt and supporting the mass murdering mugabe #anc #africa #zimbabwe #anonymous”.
For more http://www.iol.co.za
When Bafana Bafana trot onto the National Stadium in Addis Ababa on Sunday, 16 June 2013, for a Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier, they will be up against a country rich in football history.
Ethiopia is one of the founding members of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament having played their first international match in 1947 against the then French Somaliland.
The East Africans also took part in the inaugural AFCON in 1957 when they finished second. That tournament was hosted by Sudan and featured three teams– the hosts, Egypt and Ethiopia.
The tournament was meant to be a four-nation event, with South Africa due to play Ethiopia in the semi-final but the former was disqualified due to apartheid policies prevailing in the country at the time.
Only two games were played in the first edition. Ethiopia got a bye and played Egypt in the final – losing 4-0. Since then the tournament has expanded to a 16-nation African showpiece.
Despite laying a crucial role in the formation of the Africa Cup of Nations, Ethiopia have never qualified for any World Cup tournament.
“This is a match full of history because both Ethiopia and South Africa were part of the four countries that formed the AFCON tournament. We were expelled from international football due to apartheid and never got to play in the inaugural tournament. We are also mindful of the fact that Ethiopia are yet to qualify for the World Cup and as a result this match will have an added significance,” said SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani.
Since re-admission into international football in 1992, South Africa have participated in several Nations Cups and won one, which they hosted in 1996. Bafana have also appeared in three World Cups since re-admission. The SAFA President believes the experience of playing such prestigious tournaments will stand Bafana in good stead in their quest for another World Cup appearance.
“We know they are playing at home but we have strong focus and the determination to do well. Bafana Bafana is not about individuals but team work – and only teams win championships. The players need to do it for themselves and for the country because it means so much for them. These boys are on the verge of history in that in the current squad we have players who were part of the last World Cup in 2010, so for them to play in successive World Cups will be a major feat in their lifetime.”
South Africa hosted Ethiopia just over a year ago (3 June 2012) with the match ending in a 1-1 draw in Phokeng, near Rustenburg.
The return leg takes place on 16 June – Youth Day in South Africa, a significant day in the history of the country.
“Thirty seven (37) years ago, none of the current Bafana Bafana players were around when many people lost their lives in the struggle to liberate our country. What a coincidence that this match takes place on this special day.
“And when they go into battle against Ethiopia the boys must remember those souls that passed on in pursuit of freedom for our country. That is the significance our boys need to remember that it is not just about the World Cup qualifier, but is also about the pride of this country and our liberation,” said Nematandani.
“The good thing about the day is that the whole country will be focussing on this match and also remembering the past, so what a way to wipe their tears off with a victory to say those who went before did not die in vain.”
Ethiopia qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa after an absence of 31 years.
By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng-Yesterday Ethopian National appeared before Mahikeng Magistrate Court on charges of being in possession of illicit cigarettes.
Abose Errasa,33 was granted a R5000 bail by Mahikeng Magistrate Court and will be back in court on the 31st July 2013.
Police said they received a tip-off on Wednesday that there was a truck off-loading boxes onto a bakkie on the other side of the border along the border at Logageng village(between South Africa and Botswana).
“Police spotted the vehicle that fitted the given description at Makgobistad on Bray road to Mahikeng. It is alleged that police stopped the suspected vehicle” captain Pelonomi Makau said.
She said police discovered thirty seven boxes of counterfeit cigarettes to the value of R300 000.
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s “long history” of broken promises, many allegedly made to Parliament, to supply norms and standards for school infrastructure has drawn Equal Education back to court.
For more http://www.mg.co.za
Prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach will be transferred from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU) to the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
The latest move comes after Acting National Director for Public Prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba, filed papers in the Labour Court seeking an order to have Breytenbach dismissed, despite her being acquitted of all 15 charges by the NPA disciplinary hearing three weeks ago.
A core charge against Breytenbach was failing to act impartially when investigating the Kumba Iron Ore/Sishen and Imperial Crown Trading mining rights issue.
On Wednesday, Jiba filed a motion of notice with the Labour Court. The acting NPDD is asking for a judicial review of its own disciplinary hearing which cleared Breytenbach. In its motion the NPA wants Breytenbach to be found guilty on 12 charges against her.
Jiba also want the matter to be referred back to the Chairperson of the Disciplinary Hearing , Selby Mbenenge SC, for what she calls an appropriate sentence.
Jiba contends that Mbenenge’s decision to clear Breytenbach was irrational and crossly unreasonable. She says Mbenenge ‘s decision was informed by material error of law.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za
The National Prosecuting Authority has refuted allegations that it’s dragging its feet in finalising a murder case against suspended North West Local Government MEC, China Dodovu.
This after the case was postponed on Thursday for the fourth time until August 16.
Dodovu and his seven co-accused briefly appeared before the Klerksdorp magistrate Court in connection with the murder of the African National Congress’s regional Secretary in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District, David Chika.
Chika was shot and killed at his Alabama home, three days before the ANC’s National Elective Conference in Bloemfontein last year.
NPA spokesperson, Medupi Simasiku says: “This is a serious crime and it is upon the DPP to give further instructions as to how it should proceed with this matter. It will depend on the instructions we are awaiting from the DPP and definitely, should it be moved, all the accused and the family members will be informed accordingly.”
The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Medupi Simasiku says a murder case against suspended North West Local Government MEC, China Dodovu is a serious crime.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za
Pretoria – Well-wishers on Friday morning left several messages at the main entrance of the Pretoria hospital where former president Nelson Mandela is spending his seventh day.
Colourful get-well-soon messages were printed on large pages and cards attached to the hospital’s wall next to the security checkpoint.
Some of the messages read: “You are a fighter, I know you will make it.”
Several rose and heart designs were attached to the message.
A message from Isagoentle Geranyane read: “We need you Tata Madiba”, and from Emedi Morule the card read: “Get well soon Tata”.
A blue balloon was hanging near the entrance with the message: “Speedy recovery, the legend.”
‘Serious but stable’
Mandela was hospitalised in the early hours of Saturday morning with a recurring lung infection. The presidency said he was in a “serious but stable” condition.
President Jacob Zuma, accompanied by African National Congress treasurer general Zweli Mkhize, visited the ailing icon on Thursday.
“Madiba’s health continues to improve but his condition remains serious,” Zuma said.
“We continue to appeal to people to keep Madiba in their prayers and wish him a speedy recovery.”
Security at the hospital remained tight on Friday, with several police officers searching all vehicles entering the facility’s two entrances.
A media scrum of local and international reporters and broadcasters has been stationed outside the hospital since Mandela was admitted on Saturday.
Passers-by briefly stopped at the entrance to the hospital and read the messages of support.
There were also traces of blue and white candle wax, from a night vigil held at the entrance on Celliers Street.
The elder statesman’s family members have been spotted at the hospital several times over the past six days.
– Are you there? Send us your photos.
– SAPA
Johannesburg – Prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach has been informed that she will be redeployed, SABC radio news reported on Friday.
Her lawyer, Gerhard Wagenaar, told the state broadcaster she had been informed of this on Thursday evening.
“What I can tell you, is that we have received a letter just before 19:00 last night indicating that Ms Breytenbach will be redeployed to the office of the director of public prosecutions in Pretoria and not to the SCU [Specialised Crime Unit] anymore,” said Wagenaar.
On Thursday, the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that it had filed an application for the Labour Court to review the outcome of a disciplinary hearing which cleared Breytenbach of all charges against her.
On 27 May, Breytenbach was found not guilty on 15 counts by a disciplinary hearing, which sat at the NPA’s head office in Pretoria.
One of the charges was that she failed to act impartially when investigating the Kumba Iron Ore/Sishen and Imperial Crown Trading mining rights dispute, because of “improper relations” with Sishen’s lawyer Mike Hellens.
After the findings were made known, the NPA said it found them “factually incorrect and legally unsustainable” and would approach the court for a review.
On Wednesday, the NPA’s executive manager for communications Bulelwa Makeke, said in response to a question, that Breytenbach was at work but that the NPA would not discuss work matters in the media.
On Thursday, Eyewitness News reported that Breytenbach had not worked at all this week.
Asked on Thursday to clarify, NPA spokesperson Nomilo Mpondo said the NPA told Breytenbach she could come back to work on Monday. The NPA reiterated that it would not discuss her daily movements with the media.
– SAPA
Koster- Two men have been sentenced to life in prison, and a third was given an 18-year jail term, for brutally killing an elderly couple on their farm near Koster, Beeld reported on Friday.
Samson Sihlangu, Tshepang Moumakwa, and Johnny Maema were sentenced in the Mogwase Circuit Court in the North West for murdering Marthie Erasmus, 63, and her husband Chris Erasmus, 62, on their farm Hartbeesfontein in December 2010.
Sihlangu and Moumakwa were handed life terms and Maema 18 years imprisonment.
Although Chris Erasmus survived the farm attack, he died a month later.
“We will never forget how my parents were tortured, or that my mother was beaten to death with a hammer, strangled, and stabbed,” said the victims’ daughter Annelise.
A social worker’s report, submitted to the court during the trial, had mentioned that Marthie Erasmus had been known for her kindness, and because she fed the poor and transported the elderly to collect their pension money.
– SAPA
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has made a special appeal for the release of two abducted Syrian church leaders.
In a statement, Tutu says there is no justice and there can be no justification in any circumstances, for such inhumanity.
Archbishop Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, Metropolitan of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo and Archbishop Boulos Yazaji, Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo were abducted on April 22.
Their driver, who was a deacon, was killed during the abduction.
Tutu’s appeal was preceded by an acknowledgement that amidst the chaos and human suffering in Syria, to focus on any single event, or to single out individuals particularly worthy of attention, would be to do the broad peace-loving and long-suffering population a disservice.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za
The Guardian 