The world football governing body, FIFA has taken issue with certain recent press reports in South Africa on how they interpreted contents of their letter to the South African Football Association (SAFA), dated 20 February 2012, that it said ignored the existence of the LOC governance structure that was, and still is, in place.

In a follow up correspondence to SAFA this week titled ‘2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee: Financial Matters’ , FIFA points out that their financial statements were not limited to a certain period but covered all years of operations including those ended 30 September 2011 and 2012.

In a letter written by FIFA Deputy Secretary General, Markus Kattner, it reads: “I refer to my letter to you of 20 February 2013 and your response of 21 February 2013 in respect of the financial governance processes of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (‘LOC’).

“We have noted that certain recent press articles in South Africa appear to narrowly interpret the contents of my letter to you of 20 February 2013 and ignore the existence of the LOC governance structure that was, and still is, in place. My comments with respect to the LOC financial statements having been subjected to audit and being approved by the AGM of the LOC, covers all years of operations including those ended 30 September 2011 and 2012.”

The FIFA correspondence further points out that the LOC governance structure was set up on the incorporation of the LOC in 2005.

“FIFA has been consulted on all matters concerning the remuneration of Executive and non-Executive directors of the LOC up to the current day under this structure,” read the letter adding that the world governing body had also been consulted in respect of all grants made to SAFA by the LOC up to the current day. “These matters have all been performed in compliance with the governance structures of the LOC.”

Thanking SAFA for delivering the highly successful 2010 World Cup, the FIFA letter concludes by reading: “Let us also not forget the significant financial contribution made to football development through the implementation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust.”

Johannesburg – Just one out of 217 cases of deaths allegedly at the hands of police in past year have resulted in a criminal conviction in Gauteng.

This is according to the police watchdog that is investigating the death of a Mozambican taxi driver who was dragged behind a police van on Tuesday.

The amateur footage of the incident has gone viral on the internet and caused widespread condemnation from government and civil society of the police’s actions.

A total of 932 cases of deaths in police custody and of police action were reported to the watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), across the country during the 2011/2012 period, and 217 of those came from Gauteng alone.

Between January 23 and February 27, four police officers were arrested, or appeared in court, for rape; two were arrested for murder, while four policemen went on trial for a murder in Diepsloot, and three policemen were sentenced for murder.

In the same period two tactical response team members were arrested for assaulting a fellow woman police officer and damaging her cellphone, while two KwaZulu-Natal warrant officers were arrested for corruption

Mido Macia was found dead in police cells on Tuesday night after being dragged about 400m behind a marked police van in Daveyton with his hands bound behind his head and tied to the vehicle.

Despite being dragged in a seated position, the post-mortem showed Macia died of head injuries and Ipid said it is investigating a case of murder and will perform another post-mortem.

Meanwhile, on Friday eight police officers involved in the Macia incident were arrested and charged with murder.

Spokesman for the ministry of police Zweli Mnisi said the ministry wanted swift action taken but not at the expense of a thorough investigation to root out the “dirty cops”.

“Sometimes you give them the blue uniform but sometimes they deserve the orange uniform,” said Mnisi.

In their annual report for the 2011/12 financial year, the Ipid outline the numbers of cases of “deaths in police custody and of police action”.

In Gauteng, they completed 164 out of 217 received complaints during the financial year, the second highest number after KZN.

For more details go to http://www.iol.co.za

Kaizer Chiefs Head Coach Stuart Baxter lamented the strange scenario faced by the two teams as Kaizer Chiefs will be hosting Bidvest Wits in the ABSA Premiership league fixture on Saturday, 2 March at the FNB Stadium. 

Baxter spoke to kaizerchiefs.com ahead of the much anticipated clash; It is a strange situation to face the same team back to back in a space of a week. It doesnt mean that the results of last week will be repeated or have an influence in tomorrows game no it is a totally different ball game and hence we are preparing accordingly. We are trying to create a coaching environment that can give us the results. Its all about group performance and on the day we hope to produce what we prepared at the training grounds depending on the dynamics of the game on the day. 

Amakhosi will be missing the services of George Lebese who joined Jimmy Tau (Started light training) and Jimmy Jambo on the injury list. Also missing for this encounter are the services of the hard tackling midfielder Willard Katsande who picked up a fourth yellow card against Wits last weekend at Mbombela Stadium in the Nedbank Cup. Baxter was optimistic under the circumstances; Since the beginning of the league we have faced challenges in terms of missing key players in different positions but we are continuing to rally ahead with whoever takes the field. 

The two teams met in the first round of the 2012/13 PSL Season in the league in September 2012 with Amakhosi emerging 3-1 conquerors with Bernard Parker scoring a brace and Lehlohonolo Majoro sealing the victory after Calvin Kadi pulled one goal back for the Students. 

The former Chiefs players, Thomas Sweswe and Tinashe Nengomashe, will share the battlefield with fellow Zimbabwean countrymen Kingston Nkhatha, Lincoln Zvasiya and Matthew Rusike, which should add some spice to the clash. 

The game is scheduled for 18:00 kick-off and tickets are selling at R40 for Adults and R10 for Scholars at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers nationwide.

On the reality show “Rolling with Kelly Khumalo“  Kelly Khumalo and Sarah Setlaelo were an inseparable duo of manager and artist, and looked like they had a prosperous future together conquering the entertainment industry. Sadly, it seems like it wasnt meant to be for the two.

For more details go to http://www.drum.co.za

Johannesburg – An official at a South African gun collectors’ club where Oscar Pistorius was a member says he steadily became an avid collector of firearms in his Olympic year. He says Pistorius bought a collection of pistols and shotguns, all American manufactured, his favorite.

John Beare, vice chairman of the Lowveld Firearm Collectors Association, told The Associated Press that Pistorius also purchased a semi-automatic rifle for his expanding collection at the end of 2012.

That coincided with the early stages of Pistorius’ romance with Reeva Steenkamp, the model he shot and killed at his home in the early hours of February 14.

Prosecutors have charged Pistorius with premeditated murder for killing Steenkamp with three of four shots fired from his 9 mm pistol. Pistorius said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder. – Sapa-AP

Johannesburg – The eight policemen implicated in the killing of an East Rand taxi driver were arrested on Friday, the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID) said.

All eight will be charged with murder, said IPID spokesman Moses Dlamini.

“I cannot disclose which police station they are being held at but it’s not Daveyton… They will appear in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court on Monday,”

Mido Macia, 27, a taxi driver and Mozambican national, was tied to the back of a police van and dragged along the street in Daveyton, on the East Rand, on Tuesday.

An eyewitness filmed the assault. Macia died in the local police station’s cells later that day. – Sapa

Pic: (HANS WILLEMSE)

BY Obakeng Maje

The Griekwastad Regional Court sentenced Hans Willemse(30) to 59 years imprisonment for a series of crimes he committed between 20 and 25 April 2011 police said.

“In 2011he was arrested for theft and house breaking in Groblershoop and sentenced for two years in prison” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

” The accused escaped while on his way to Douglas prison. He dispossessed an officer who was escorting him. The accused then fled to a farm near Griekwastad where he set a farm house alight and shot at through the window” police said.

“Three of the four persons inside the house managed to escape and the accused raped a 43 year-old female four times” Kock said.

“The accused then fled to another a nearby farm where he broke into the farm house, stole clothes, food and slaughtered a sheep. The police search party comprising of the Tactical Response unit, SAPS Airwing,  SAPS K9, Douglas SAPS and Griekwastad SAPS under the command of Colonel Avril Wentzel, managed to arrest him on the fifth day after his escaped from police custody” police said.

The accused was arrested while hiding in a farm near Griekwastad on 25 April 2011.

The police confiscated the stolen firearm, ammunition and a knife from him.

The Griekwastad Regional Court sentenced the accused on 13 counts of offences.

Count 1 and 2 for rape- imprisoned for 22 years.

Count 3 and 4 for rape – 18 years.

Count 5 for escaping from lawful custody – 3 years.

Counts 6(illegal possession of firearm)

7(discharge of firearm in a public place),

8(pointing of firearm) and count 9(pointing of firearm) were put together and the accused received 6 years imprisonment.

Count 10 for arson – 3 years

Count 11 for possession of dangerous weapon – 2 years

Count 12 for Stock Theft – 2 years

Count 13 for House breaking and theft – 3 years.  

A 53 year old policeman who was disarmed by the accused was eventually dismissed.

“The Kimberley Cluster Commander, Major General Jean Abrahams commended the two investigation officers, Detective Capt James Oliphant and Detective Sergeant JJ Geyers for their excellent services and investigations which led to this good sentencing.

The farming community in the surrounding areas are also commended for their assistance with regard to the whereabouts of the accused.

This truly portrays partnership policing at its best.” police said.