The office of King Mabhoko III of the Ndebele tribe has blamed the deaths of 28 initiates in Mpumalanga’s highveld area on witchcraft.

Ndzundza Tribal Authority (NTA) spokesperson Prince Dumisani Mahlangu told a Sapa correspondent this week the number of deaths was unusually high. “These deaths are not normal, kune buloyi la (there is witchcraft here),” said Mahlangu, who was also critical of the House of Traditional Leaders (HTL).

King Mabhoko III has been blamed for three deaths in Limpopo and 28 in Mpumalanga, where initiation schools were allegedly being illegally run with his permission. Altogether six deaths have been reported in Limpopo. Three were at initiation schools approved by another Ndebele traditional leader, Kgoshi PJ Mahlangu.

Prince Mahlangu accused Mpumalanga HTL chairperson Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena of speaking “nonsense” to the media. “I read the things written in the newspapers. Mokoena ukhuluma amanyala (Mokoena is speaking nonsense),” said Mahlangu. He said the NTA was investigating the deaths and had already established some of the causes.

“Some boys went to ingoma (initiation schools) without being screened for any sickness, which may place them in danger,” Mahlangu said. “We also found out that some of the permits used for some schools were copies of originals issued to other initiation schools,” he said.

Most of the fatalities occurred in Siyabuswa, KwaMhlanga, Verena, Kwaggafontein, Middelburg, Bethal, Belfast and Evander — all districts of Nkangala in Mpumalanga. After a meeting between the HTL and the Health Department on Friday, department MEC Candith Mashego-Dlamini told journalists that 134 permits were issued under King Mabhoko III, including for those schools where there were fatalities.

“A total of 134 traditional leaders were authorised by King Mabhoko III to conduct ingoma,” said Mashego-Dlamini. “However, we noted with concern that there are traditional leaders who are not accountable to King Mabhoko III, yet are currently conducting ingoma.”

Dlamini said King Mabhoko III had agreed to abide by compliance issues on conducting ritual circumcision. “Some of the compliance agreed upon is pre-screening of initiates for HIV, TB, BP, glucose and other health problems… ensuring that initiation schools are approved and certified by the king to conduct ingoma, and ensuring that there is consent from parents or guardians,” said Mashego-Dlamini.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Almost R6 billion has been set aside by the Department of Correctional Services to crack down on gangsterism in prisons.

Minister of Correctional Service Sbu Ndebele says a National Gang Management Task Team has already been established to implement a gang busting strategy. He says his department has declared war on gangsterism inside prisons.

“We have set aside an amount of R5. 8-billion to fight gangsterism in prisons and that affects our officials, that target our officials and we want to win this war,” says Ndebele.

Earlier this year, 20 prisoners were wounded, two of them critically, at the Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town. The fighting at Pollsmoor followed riots which were reported at the Groenpunt Correctional facility in the Free State, followed by an incident at St Albans in Port Elizabeth which resulted in the death of three prisoners and the injury of 65 others.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Kimberley – A man accused of killing his 10-month-old daughter appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, police said.

The matter was postponed to next Friday for a bail application, police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said.

Michael Marco Nkgatle, 22, would remain in Kimberley prison until then. He allegedly assaulted his baby on Saturday after a fight with his partner.

The baby was taken to Kimberley Hospital, where she died of her injuries on Monday. – Sapa

Bloemfontein – A protesting police union member in the Free State on Wednesday urged President Jacob Zuma to talk to his police minister or lose votes in 2014.

“Zuma, if you do not talk to (Nathi) Mthethwa you are going to lose votes come 2014,” read the placard a protester in Bloemfontein held aloft.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – Letting her child’s alleged abuser walk and not face the music for what he did is one of the most difficult decisions a Pretoria mother has ever had to take.

For years, the 37-year-old woman tried unsuccessfully to get counselling for a son who had allegedly been abused by his father. She was told that therapy at that stage was not possible because it would interfere with the criminal case.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

South African match officials have once again been called up to do duty in major competitions on the continent.

Daniel Bennet, Zakhele Siwela and Lwandile Mfiki have been assigned to officiate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup return-leg qualifier between Morocco and Tanzania. The clash will take place on Saturday, 8 June 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco.

Meanwhile, four officials will travel to Gabon for duty in the first round of the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers in the first weekend of July (5, 6, 7 July 2013).

2013 Absa Premiership referee of the season Victor Gomes will take charge of the match between Gabon and Cameroon. He will be assisted by Johannes Moshidi and Stevens Khumalo. Lwandile Mfiki has been brought in as the fourth official.

South African Football Association (SAFA) National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Alpha Mchunu has been appointed match commissioner in the 2014 CHAN return leg qualifier between Zambia and Botswana in August (2, 3, 4 August 2013).

The Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) has named Victor Gomes and Zakhele Siwela as the referees that will officiate in the upcoming COSAFA Cup tournament which will be held from 6 to 21 July 2013 in Zambia.

Referee Assignments

2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier

8 June 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco 

Morocco vs Tanzania- Return-leg qualifier

1. Daniel Bennett

2. Zakhele Siwela

3. Lwandile Mfiki

1st Round of the third edition of CHAN South Africa 2014         

Gabon and Cameroon – 5, 6, 7 July 2013 

1. Victor Gomes: Ref

2. Johannes Stevens Moshidi: 1st Assistant

3. Stevens Mothibi Khumalo: 2nd Assistant

4. Lwandile Mfiki: 4th Official

Zambia vs Botswana- 2, 3, 4 August 2013 Return-leg

1. Alpha Mchunu: Match Commissioner 

2013 COSAFA Cup, Zambia 6 – 21 July 2013

1. Victor Gomes

2. Zakhele Siwela

By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley- Police are investigating an inquest for a death of an unknown man who was found in the veld at Earnestville, Kimberley yesterday. The man was found by a passer-by in the veld at approximately 15:30pm.
“The deceased male could be between the 50 and 60 years, he has short grey hair and beard, dark in complexion and is approximately 1.65 meters tall and slender- built” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.
Police said the man was wearing a blue t-shirt, blue tracksuit pants, and black socks with no shoes. The police also found a black striped shirt, a navy blue beanie and a plastic bag with newspapers and a green jacket next to the deceased.
“The deceased had no visible injuries but an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death” Kock said.
The police request that information regarding the incident and the identification of the male be forwarded to Detective Constable Gwyneth Paulsen at 082 302 0407 or 08600 10 111 or sms to the SAPS crime line at 32211.
The investigation continues.
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A North West Provincial Stakeholders forum to exercise oversight, monitor and advise the Department of Home Affairs on service delivery needs of communities is to be launched by Minister Naledi Pandor at Setlagole Stadium in Ratlou Local Municipality on Saturday.

The launch of the forum to advance the National Population Registration (NPR) Campaign coincides with commemoration of Child Protection Week (CPW)

Minister Pandor who will be accompanied by Premier Thandi Modise and the Mayor of Ratlou Local Municipality, Councillor Victor Mance will stop briefly to celebrate CPW with children at Maadimo Early Learning Centre before proceeding to the launch and inauguration of the forum scheduled to commence at 10:00am.

The NPR was launched by President Jacob Zuma in 2010 in order to promote the registration of birth within 30 days after birth, encourage citizens who have reached the age 16 years and above to apply and get their IDs and eliminate the current process of Late Registration of Birth.

“The inclusiveness of the forums launched in all 19 of our municipalities and four districts leading towards the provincial launch gives us confidence that closer involvement of stakeholders will not only assist improve home affairs business processes but deliver quality services that meet expectations of our communities,” says Premier Modise.

The Department of Home Affairs has to-date launched 255 stakeholders forums countrywide.
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The Orlando Pirates midfielder picked up an ankle injury during the last League game of the season against Maritzburg United, but ‘Bibo’ has fully recovered and is expected to join camp ahead of the trip for Sunday’s friendly against Lesotho in Maseru.

In a chat with KickOff.com, Ntshumayelo confirms he is back in Johannesburg after spending a few days at home with his family and will join the Bafana camp this evening.

“It was a minor injury. I am 100 per cent okay and can’t wait to join the Bafana camp tonight,” Ntshumayelo says.

Bafana have already lost Tsepo Masilela, Siboniso Gaxa and Kagisho Dikgacoi due to injuries.
For more http://www.kickoff.com

Johannesburg – The land claims process closed 14 years ago will be reopened, The Star newspaper reported on Wednesday.

According to the draft restitution of land rights amendment bill published last week the new deadline for claims would be December 31 2018.

The previous deadline was December 31 1998.

If the bill became law, it would allow those who missed the first deadline to claim, opening the door to new claims for those dispossessed by homelands betterment schemes, including white people, The Star reported.

It would also allow people to lodge claims that were previously refused.

The land claims process was for those who were dispossessed of a land right after June 13 1913 as a result of past racially discriminatory laws.

An explanatory memo attached to the draft bill said the previous restitution programme had “a number of problems” and certain categories of people who lost their rights due to colonial and apartheid laws had not been included.

These were people who could not lodge claims before the December 1998 deadline, and those who were dispossessed before 1913.

Others were dispossesses through betterment planning schemes but were not allowed to lodge claims.
For more http://www.news24.com