By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg – Police shot dead striking Marikana miners out of revenge, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard on Wednesday.

“The reason why there was this frenzy and you drove all the way from Pretoria uninvited was sparked by the killing of the two policemen,” Dali Mpofu, for the injured and arrested miners, told Major General Charl Annandale during cross-examination.

Annandale headed the police’s tactical operations team during the Marikana unrest.

“Some of the actions were prompted… by revenge,” said Mpofu.

Police shot dead 34 striking miners on August 16. Ten people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed in the preceding week.

Mpofu asked why more police officials from other provinces were deployed to Marikana, in North West, only after the two policemen were hacked to death.

Annandale denied Mpofu’s submission.

“There was no frenzy…. I went to Marikana to acquaint myself with the situation and to find out what resources were needed,” said Annandale.

“The provincial commissioner asked me to stay on. It was later confirmed by the national police commissioner that I should stay and assist with these problems.

“[The deployment of more officers] was not a result of the two policemen’s deaths. It was as a result of the escalation of the violence and the deaths of five people.”

The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the 44 deaths near Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana.
-Sapa

Rustenburg – Defending Nedbank Cup champions Supersport United will try to stop a resourceful Platinum Stars — who are determined to upset Kaizer Chiefs’ double dream — when they clash in the semi-final on Wednesday night.

The Crocodiles are three points behind log leaders Kaizer Chiefs and are hoping to clinch the title away from AmaKhosi in the final stage of the season, as well as upsetting them in the Nedbank Cup final.

AmaKhosi qualified for the final after beating United FC 2-1 over the weekend.

Gavin Hunt’s Supersport, on the other hand, are determined to defend their cup title by disposing of a fired-up Stars.

But Supersport have a tough challenge on Wednesday. They have only managed to win one game in their last five matches and are coming off two back-to-back losses.

Stars are looking a lot better in terms on form, having won three from their last five with no losses, and should be a handful for Matsatsantsa.

Kick-off is at 19:30 from the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
-eNCA

TP Mazembe owner Moïse Katumbi has released a statement denying sabotage on the part of the club regarding the SABC’s coverage of the match against Orlando Pirates.

Pirates travelled to DR Congo for a Champions League clash against Mazembe, losing 1-0 but advancing 3-2 on aggregate.

However, the event was described as a “terrifying experience” by Safa.

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Safa’s head of delegation Elvis Shishana, who is also a member of the Safa National Executive Committee, stated earlier today: “It was very clear from the beginning that they [Mazembe] had an agenda, hence they did not want anyone to record the match. It is difficult to explain why millions of fans were denied a chance to watch this match.”

The club hit back at the allegations on their website.

Katumbi also denies the allegations, in a statement that reads:

“It must be stated that we are a law-abiding club and that believes in fair play.

“All the international journalists that travelled for the match and were duly accredited were ushered into the press tribune were they covered the match unhampered.

“The media reports that journalists from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) were arrested after the match are totally unfounded and false.

“There is no record of any arrests and the club has also verified these accusations with the South African consular in Katanga province who are not aware of any journalists from South Africa being arrested.

“In fact, journalists from SABC even had an interview with the TP Mazembe president on Monday May 6th 2013.

“We trust that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appointed very competent match officials for this match.

“We therefore appeal to our brothers and friends from Orlando Pirates to wait for the match commissioner’s report to address issues that are of a technical nature.

“Further, there was no sabotage whatsoever on the part of TP Mazembe for the match not to be screened on SABC.

“The truth is that there was a technical fault on the part of the Congolese television station that was supposed to relay the feed to SABC. As a result, the match was not even on Congolese TV.

“TP Mazembe and Orlando Pirates enjoy a very good and warm relationship which also extends to the two countries’ people.”
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David Moyes is set to leave Everton to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United – with some suggesting the deal could be done by the end of the week.

Ferguson confirmed rumours this morning that he has called it a day after 27 years at Old Trafford, and has apparently earmarked his fellow Scot to take over.

Moyes is out of contract at Everton at the end of the season, but Goal.com suggests the move could already be concluded by the end of the week.

Moyes and Ferguson are good friends and will work closely together as Fergie ‘moves upstairs’ to take over a directorial role.

Jose Mourinho is another name mentioned to take over at Old Trafford, but it is thought he will instead return to Chelsea to replace Rafael Benitez.
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Durban – Two men are expected to appear in court on Wednesday for the armed robbery of a Sherwood family.

The two were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the robbery on Monday.

A taxi passenger was struck in the arm by a stray bullet during an exchange of gunfire between three suspects and the victim of the robbery in Dunbar Road, Cato Manor.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – Tenders reportedly worth R900m, awarded to allies of expelled ANCYL president Julius Malema, will be re-advertised, the Limpopo department of human settlements said on Wednesday.

The department had been advised, rather than ordered, to re-advertise the contracts for the construction of RDP houses, said spokesperson Dieketseng Diale.

The Star reported on Wednesday that the contracts were awarded in December to Malema allies including businessman Selby Manthata, his wife Helen Moroeroa, Matome Hlabiosa, Collins Foromo and Mohammed Dada.

According to the report, a national intervention team, appointed by President Jacob Zuma, ordered the department to re-advertise the housing tenders.

Diale claimed that the report was based on “incorrect and false allegations”.

Process fair, transparent, free

The department believed the tender process had been “clouded by misreporting and malice, rather than by maladministration”.

Diale said law enforcement agencies had been invited to investigate allegations of impropriety relating to the tenders, as the department was confident that these claims were unfounded.

“The department still stands by what it said: that the process was fair, transparent and free. There was no manipulation whatsoever,” Diale said.

“We have always maintained our innocence… and that our department adheres to the highest ethical and administrative standards in all its dealings, including procurement of services.”

The Democratic Alliance welcomed the re-advertising of the tenders.

DA Limpopo local government spokeswoman Desiree van der Walt said in a statement that the party wanted an overhaul of the adjudication process in the province to prevent corruption or “political meddling”.

She called for the arrest of the department officials who initially awarded the tenders.

SAPA

The kick-off time for the international friendly between Bafana Bafana and Lesotho has been brought forward by three hours at the request of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

The clash, which was scheduled to start at 18h00 will now commence at 15h00 at Maseru Stadium on Saturday, 1 June 2013.

The match is being used by Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund as a warm-up ahead of two upcoming crucial 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against the Central African Republic (CAR) in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Saturday, 8 June and Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on Sunday, 16 June.

Meanwhile fans wishing to travel to Lesotho for the friendly match can buy tickets for 40 Maluti (R40) and 60 Maluti (R60).

Tickets can be paid for at the SAFA Finance office at SAFA House; or

Deposited into an FNB account:

Account Name: SAFA

Account Number: 

62026692401Branch Code: 260105

Branch Name: Booysens

Reference: ID Number / Passport Number

Deposit slips to be faxed to 

011 772 4336 

The Name, Surname and mobile phone numbers must be clearly indicated on the fax.

Kindly note that tickets can be collected at the Lesotho Football Association Offices from Wednesday, 29 May 2013. Travelling fans must be in possession of a valid passport for entry into Lesotho, and should bring along the same travelling document for collection of tickets.

For any enquiries regarding tickets for this match, kindly contact:

Namhla Matandabuzo

Matandabuzo.namhla@safa.net082 468 4611