BY Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Commercial Crime Unit is investigating corruption and fraud charges following the arrest of a prominent member of the Karoo Hoogland Municipality in Williston and his wife last night Kimberley police said.

“The two were arrested in connection of fraud and corruption amounted to R 600 000-00” Lieutenant Andrea Cloete said.

Police said two suspects were detained at the Mosselbay Police Station after the arrest and were transported back to Williston Police Station for bail application.

They will appear at Williston Magistrate Court on Monday.

Police investigation continues.

The Hawks have squashed rumours that spread in the province on Wednesday that public safety MEC Nono Maloyi had been arrested in connection with ANC activist, Obuti Chika’s murder.

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter were abuzz with allegations that Maloyi had become the second high ranking ANC official to be arrested for the murder.

This came on the back of ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu’s arrest on Monday.

However, Hawks spokesperson Capt Paul Ramaloko said there was still room for more arrests in the case.

“I can confirm that no other MEC has been arrested in this case but we are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests. We are still investigating the case and that may lead to the arrest of more suspects,” he said.

Maloyi’s office also came out with a statement castigating the rumours as cheap and unfounded.

Public safety department spokesperson Simon Mmope said Maloyi was considering opening a defamation suit against anyone found to have started the rumour.

“The department wishes to put it on record that the MEC is highly on duty and is proceeding with his day-to-day programme of government. We would like to dismiss all allegations and put it on record that they are all lies and propaganda. The MEC is a law abiding citizen who will never be part of any form of illegal activity,” said Mmope.

He added that the rumour was an unfortunate disturbance on governance and an attack on Maloyi’s good name.

“The MEC has vowed to trace the source of these unfounded and malicious allegations. He has been advised to open a case of crimen injuria with the police,” Mmope said.

Maloyi is said to have called on the police to speedily resolve the investigation around Chika’s murder “without fear or favour and let justice take its course”.

Meanwhile, Dodovu, together with seven other suspects, were remanded in custody until next week, when a ruling on their bail application would be heard.

Ramaloko said the State would oppose the bail applications of all the suspects.
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The SACP and Cosatu have expressed disappointment in ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu, who is among eight suspects arrested for ANC regional secretary Obuti Chika’s murder.

Chika was gunned down at his home in the early hours of December 14 last year, two days before the ANC elective conference in Mangaung.

SACP provincial secretary Madoda Sambatha and his counterpart at Cosatu, Solly Phetoe, said they were shocked and disappointed at Dodovu’s alleged involvement in Chika’s killing.

“It is deeply regrettable that the name of the people’s movement, the ANC, is being associated with such regressive and appalling events,” Sambatha said.

He commended the police for the speedy arrests of the suspects and expressed hope that Chika’s family would find closure.

“They (police) must do their job and ensure that all those involved be brought to book irrespective of stature or affiliation. The SACP would like to appeal to members of the alliance to separate acts of individuals from the ANC.”

Phetoe called on ANC members to allow the law to take its course and not be divided along factional lines over the arrests, as was the case during the trial into the death of whistleblower ANC councillor Moss Phakoe last year.

“We want to repeat what we said during the case of the late Moss Phakoe, who was killed and the case took almost four years while the so-called ‘hands-off and hands-on’ were dividing the ANC.

“We appeal to everybody to let the law do what it is expected to do. Those who are implicated, those who played a role in the killing of Chika must face the court and explain to the public why they killed the leader of the ANC,” he said.

He added that those arrested should tell the truth.

“The law must do its duty, whether it is the MEC or a councillor, a worker or anybody who was part of the plan; they must face the music,” he said.
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The winner of this year’s Rector’s Learnership award at North West University Mafikeng Campus, Tsietsi Mmutle, had displayed “quality leadership skills”, the university’s rector, Prof Dan Kgwadi, says.

Mmutle, who was president of the Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC), was given the award at the university’s opening function this week.

The prestigious award is sponsored by Midrand-based computer component importing and distribution company Rectron to a student with exceptional leadership qualities. The company also donated laptops to seven of last year’s best performing first year students.

“Tsietsi led the CSRC during the most challenging year but managed to lead the campus to the most successful academic year as indicated by the output in the core business of research, teaching, learning and community outreach,” said Kgwadi at the opening function

“Stagato” as Mmutle is affectionately known, said he was honoured by the award and thanked friends and family, whom he called the driving force behind his success.
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Cosatu will march against rape on Friday, said its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

“We need to do far more to combat the shocking level of rape, assault and murder of women and children,” Vavi said on Thursday.

He said the rape and murder of 17-year-old Anene Booysen in Bredasdorp, had turned the spotlight on a much wider and deeper problem.

“We read almost daily of rapes and assaults on infants and 97-year-old grannies, and women and children of all ages.”

Vavi said the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) central executive committee (CEC) had resolved to organise marches on March  8, International Women’s Day, and to picket at the courts where people accused of crimes such as this were appearing.

There would be marches in the North West and the Free State on Friday.

Vavi said the CEC had also resolved to demand the transformation  of the whole judicial system.

He said the bail hearing of murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius had shown the world that South Africa’s legal system catered only for the rich.

“If you can hire advocates who charge thousands of rand an hour and put up R1 million rand for bail you can soon be back at home.”

He said Cosatu would campaign to ensure the poor had access to the justice system.

“The current amounts demanded by lawyers and advocates are way above the heads of workers and the poor. This lies behind deepening  levels of inaccessibility of justice to millions.”

He said justice was a basic constitutional right, and should not  be a privilege for only the wealthy. – Sapa

Pretoria – A woman was allegedly raped at Wierdabrug police station when she went to report a case of domestic violence, the DA said on Friday.

“The police officers involved must be suspended immediately pending the outcome of the investigation, as they are not fit to work with members of the public, and women in particular,” Democratic Alliance spokeswoman Patricia Mokgohlwa said in a statement.

Police Captain Agnes Huma confirmed that the matter was being investigated.

She said the incident happened between last Friday night and Saturday morning.

No one had been suspended or arrested yet, and no further details were immediately available because Huma was awaiting the investigating officer’s report.

Mokgohlwa said an investigation was not enough and that the allegations were very serious.

“… Not only because the (alleged) perpetrators are those we are supposed to entrust with our safety, but also because the woman, in a desperate attempt to seek refuge from domestic violence, was further violated by police officials.”

She would ask Gauteng community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko to ensure the alleged rapists faced the “full might of the law”.

“The MEC must also indicate what support has been and will be given to the woman.

“… We will never end the war against women’s bodies when the very police officers tasked to combat crime turn around and become criminals and rapists themselves,” she said.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesman Moses Dlamini could not immediately confirm whether Ipid had received a complaint about the incident. – Sapa

BY Staff Reporter

The South Africa 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations dust has settled down and quarterfinalists, Bafana Bafana will switch their focus to the 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they face the Central Africa Republic (CAR) later this month.

Bafana resume the “Road to Brazil” campaign with a clash against CAR on Saturday, 23 March 2013 at the Cape Town Stadium in a must-win situation for Gordon Igesund’s side.

This will be South Africa’s third match in the 2014 World Cup campaign following two draws against Ethiopia and Botswana last year.

Bafana Bafana are currently placed third in Group A with two points – two adrift of leaders Ethiopia, and just one behind second-placed CAR. Botswana is bottom of the table with one point.

SA Football Association (SAFA) media officer, Matlhomola Morake sat down with Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund to talk about the upcoming qualifiers.

Question: You must be looking forward to the World Cup qualifiers, how will you be approaching them?

Gordon Igesund: The AFCON tournament is a totally different competition altogether.  In the AFCON I had to select a team that would play a tournament, a match every three or so days. You had to consider a lot of things, look at different situations like what would happen if things were to go the other way. You had to also think about the next game. Now I have to select a team for a particular game. Now you can pick a team and not be concerned about what happens if two players get injured.  There is no need to worry much about extra back-up in certain situations.

Question: What have you been doing since the end of the tournament?

GI: My technical team and I have been watching a lot of games since the re-start of the PSL. When I was in hospital, they went on about the job. I have received reports about players and matches and now that I am out of hospital and fully recovered, I am also watching the matches again. We have to pick a team that has to perform and hopefully that will see us qualify for the 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup. Now it is just a matter of picking the team that will play this one particular match and get the three points.

Question: Can we expect any changes to the playing personnel?

GI: Yes there will be a couple of changes. Like I said before, when you pick a team for the tournament you have to cover all your bases. But picking a team for a once-off match, you can have luxury in certain departments, like I don’t need too much cover in defence. During AFCON I had two players for every position, and unfortunately I can only make three substitutions, so it is pointless to have six players as cover. The team will be a lot more offensive.

Question: A great momentum was created during AFCON 2013, can we continue with that?

GI: It is very important that we do, the players are on a high at the moment and we need to continue from where we left off. The vibe around this team is very positive and I want to maintain that spirit.

We lost to Mali on penalties, and I can safely say we ended the tournament unbeaten in 90 minutes in four matches. Having said that I think the players have learnt a lot from this tournament, and I think in the short space of time we had, the players adapted very well. I am thrilled with the way they responded. But also there are a few areas that we need to fix. There are a few players that are coming back from injury that I need to have a good look at over the next couple of days like Morgan Gould, Ayanda Xulu, Bevan Fransman and Daylon Claasen.

Question: How different are the challenges of a tournament and that of a qualifier?

GI: The challenges are the same, every game you play you want to win. But this is a different scenario in that we are not in a good position in the qualifiers. We have played two games and are sitting on two points when we should be having more than that. We have dropped four huge points and are left with four games, so we are basically playing catch-up. We are in a situation where we almost have to win every game.                                         

We are starting from the bottom in respect of points that we should have gained. If we had one win and a draw it would have made a huge difference. We also understand that qualifying for the World Cup is huge for us, and if we had those extra points it would be a different story, so we can’t afford to lose, that is the bottom line.

Question: How important is this clash against CAR?

GI: The first match of the qualifiers (I mean after the AFCON) is very important because at the moment CAR are above us on the standings, and we need to beat them to overtake them. Should we achieve that, then psychologically we have achieved something and then we can get the momentum going. That is why I say there are no other thoughts other than winning because we are all aware that a draw will not help our cause. And sometimes when you go out knowing what you have to do, it becomes a little bit easier because the players know we have to win.

BY Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg-Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini has resigned as the captain of the senior women’s national team with immediate effect and will be replaced by the team’s vice-captain Janine van Wyk on an interim basis until a permanent replacement has been identified by the team’s technical team.

Dlamini, who is a student at the University of Johannesburg where she is currently completing her third year of study in Transport Management sighted her need to fully commit on her studies in her crucial academic year of study while also concentrate on improving her game without the huge responsibilities that come with leading the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana team among the reasons behind relinquishing the captain’s armband.

“It has truly been an amazing journey leading the team for the past three years and my position as captain has opened a lot of doors for me while on the field of play, I led Banyana Banyana during one of our most successful era which saw us make history and qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. I wish the next captain all the best in leading such an amazing bunch of talented and committed girls,” said the dreadlocked midfielder, who also plies her trade for the University of Johannesburg Ladies FC in the Sasol League.

“As a senior member of the team I will continue to give my support and guidance where it is needed. I’m grateful to SAFA and Sasol for their continued support for women’s football and for affording me the opportunity to lead our national team,” she added.

Dlamini has made 60 appearances for Banyana Banyana and has scored 19 goals during that time while she was the captain of the high-riding Banyana side since 2010.

Banyana Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza said: “When we first heard the news from Amanda we were all quite shocked and disappointed but we fully accept her decision and have supported her during this time. She has made a name for herself during the time she led the team, she showed good leadership qualities and saw the team through many successes which include participating in the Olympics and playing in the final of the African Women’s Championship in Equatorial Guinea last year.”

Janine van Wyk, who takes over captaincy of the side during the team’s participation at the Cyprus Women’s Cup until a permanent replacement has been identified, is currently the most capped player in the squad and the coach and his technical team have full confidence in her to carry out the duties as the leader of the team.

Banyana Banyana are currently in Cyprus for the Cyprus Women’s Cup which will take place from Wednesday, 6th March until Wednesday, 13th March 2013.

The Sasol-sponsored team are in Group C alongside South Korea, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

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BY Obakeng Maje

Taung-Police are investigating a case of arson after a house was allegedly set alight today between 01:00 and 02:00 in Manokwane village, Taung.

The residents of Manokwane went beserk and set alight a house belonging to a headmaster after dispute.

They accusing their headmaster of turning a blind eye to their grievances.

Last year the residents went on the street protesting for poor service delivery. They demand a tarred road that link between their area and town.

“The burnt structure is a three roomed house with garage, and is almost completely burnt. The damage is not yet determined as the owners had not yet managed to assess damages due to police who are still working on the scene” police said.

“The house was not occupied during the incident, and there is no report of any injury at this stage” Mokgwabone said. 

The motive of the incident is not clear at the moment except that Manokwane community gathered and protested yesterday afternoon against rebuilding of houses that were burnt last year.  They allegedly demand addressing of their demands before rebuilding of those houses. It is apparent that properties could have been stolen before the house was set alight because one of machineries that were inside the house was found several metres away from the scene. Nobody has been arrested and investigation continues.