PUBLIC Protector Thuli Madonsela is to appear before Parliament to respond to allegations that staff in her Kimberley office are taking bribes from the DA to prioritise certain investigation in Northern cape.

UNDER ATTACK: Thuli Madonsela is to face parliament about allegations of graft in her office. Photo: PUXLEY MAKGATHO

The parliamentary portfolio committee on justice and constitutional development also wants Madonsela to explain claims that she hired consultants to conduct investigations that could have been done by her staff, including a probe of former communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda at a cost of R300000.

These startling allegations are contained in a letter compiled by her former deputy, Mamiki Shai, and several employees who call themselves “concerned staff of the office of the Public Protector”.

They have been sent by anonymous letter to the office of National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu.

Shai, who allegedly had a frosty relationship with Madonsela, left at the end of last year when her contract expired.

According to the letter certain staff members in the Northern Cape regional office of the public protector are allegedly accepting bribes from the DA in the region to prioritise investigations against provincial government officials linked to the ANC.

DA MP Debbie Schafer said she was aware of the allegations but dismissed them as “lacking substance”.

Madonsela, at a date yet to be determined, would also be grilled by MPs over claims that her office had watered down its investigative report on allegations of maladministration and corruption in the DA-led municipality of Midvaal in Gauteng.

The public protector is also expected to give her side of the story regarding claims that her office procured a case management system that is not working at a cost of R9-million to the taxpayer.

At its meeting yesterday the justice committee decided to invite Madonsela to a formal meeting to answer the allegations against her office.

The committee has also resolved to write to the Public Service Commission (PSC), asking it to indicate if it was within its jurisdiction to conduct a full investigation on the allegations of maladministration in Madonsela’s office.

The PSC and Madonsela’s office are chapter nine institutions that promote democracy and openness in terms of the Constitution.

The auditor-general could also be asked to probe claims that Madonsela’s office violated the Public Finance Management Act when it allegedly procured the services of consultants and to probe its electronic case management system that is said to be dysfunctional.For more details go to www.sowetanlive.co.za

By Staff Reporter

North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on women and girl children to be aware of wolfs in sheepskins. This follows the arrest of a 29-year-old pastors for raping a 17-year-old girl in Phokeng near Rustenburg on Tuesday.

“We are deeply shocked and concerned that the scourge of rape which has in recent months been a plague in our streets and homes now claims among perpetrators those associated with an institution that we consider sacred and those who are supposed to offer spiritual counselling to victims of sexual offences,” said Premier Modise

The Premier comments the vigilance of members of the community who alerted police of their suspicion after they saw the pastor driving into bushes with the girl who was in her school uniform.

Modise cautions women and girls not accept lifts from strangers or leave their girl children no matter how small with male strangers even in their homes.

According to police, the pastor had been visiting the Perish for a church crusade in Phokeng for the past week.He is said to have prayed for the girl during services and fetched her and her friends to held him clean the church premises at night.On Tuesday, he purportedly offered her a lift to school, which she accepted.”… Instead of driving to school, the suspect turned to the nearby bushes where he allegedly raped the victim,” said Brigadier Thulane Ngubane spokesperson of the North West Police.Ngubane said that the suspect was arrested by police who followed the direction… and they found the pastor sexually assaulting the young teenager in her innocent school uniform.”The pastor would appear in the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.Meanwhile, Premier Modise condemned the rape of a 7-year-old girl in Phunong section in Ganyesa Village and called on the community to assist police with information that might lead to the arrest  the perpetrator.In her reaction to this incident, the Premier supported the proposed special offences courts for sexual offences mooted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development particularly where there are high incidents.

Modise reiterated her earlier call for united action against the scourge of rape and for efforts to protect women and children against sexual offences to be intensified.

The incident was confirmed within hours of the Premier calling strategies for the prevention of sexual offenses against women and girl children 

 to be reviewed to curb escalating incidents of rape.

According to police, the child was raped by an unknown man while playing alone at a nearby park on Saturday.

Captain Amanda Funani said that the girl’s grandmother had noticed that she was struggling to walk and told her grandmother about the rape when she  questioned her.The child was taken to a local hospital, where a doctor confirmed that she had been raped. Although a case was opened on Sunday afternoon, no one had been arrested by Tuesday morning.

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By Staff Reporter

North West Premier Thandi Modise is upbeat that the first BRICS(Brazil,Russia,India,China,South Africa) EXPO and International Trade and Tourism Conference that her province will be hosting. The four-day International Investor conference is scheduled to commence as from next week Thursday 21st February 2013 at Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng.

The conference which will create an ideal platform for the public and private sector to network and explore business opportunities with international businesses from BRICS countries is to be held under the theme “Pioneering business and investment opportunities between the BRIC countries and North West province.”

“One of the provincial priorities is to increase investment inflows into the province. Engagements with investors will afford us with opportunities to learn best practices in manufacturing, renewal energy, mining, mineral beneficiation, tourism, infrastructure development and agriculture beneficiation projects,” says Premier Modise.

According to the Premier, besides positioning the North West Province as a preferred investment destination, her province has prioritised the development of these key economic sectors to contribute towards job creation and increase contribution to our Growth Domestic Product (GDP).

Modise said that the province is looking forward to engagement and discussion with our BRIC partners at this auspicious event to further strengthen and solidify close ties in trade, tourism and investment.

About three hundred delegates are expected to converge for the International investors Conference that will be running parallel with the exhibitions that will be showcasing Provincial products and services.

Investors, Exporters, Importers, Investment Promotion Agencies, Tourism Agencies, Companies specializing in Transportation and air and freight transport, road and rail operators, courier companies, finance service providers, banks and the SMME sectors are among those who will also be able to engage in various business to business networking opportunities.

The conference is hosted by the Provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) in conjunction with BRICS EXPO (PTY) LTD and in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industries (the dti) and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)

.Members of the media are invited to cover this historic conference which is a build up to the BRIC Summit to be held.

By Obakeng Maje

Makwassie- A case of seven accused will continue today at Makwassie Magistrate Court after it was postponed yesterday police said.

“Our investigator asked the court to postpone the case for today as the wanted to gather more information on the case” captain Amanda Funani said.

Seven men were arrested after accosted on a 27 year-old woman in Makwassie,near Wolmaranstad.

It is said a woman was from a local tavern with her boyfriend when the gang pounced on them.

“They allegedly threatened a woman with knives and took her to an open field where the alleged rape took place” Funani said.

They were arrested on Sunday morning police said.

All seven members are linked to other crimes took place in the area.

“They remained in custody and will appear today on charges of rape,kidnapping and assault” she said.

The boyfriend ran away and alerted the police about the gruesome event.

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Dali Mpofu, the lawyer for the miners injured and arrested during the strike at the Lonmin Platinum mine in Marikana, is expected to call his first witness to testify at the Farlam commission on Wednesday.

Thirty-four striking mineworkers were shot dead and 78 were wounded when police opened fire while trying to disperse a group of protesters gathered on a hill near the mine on August 16.

In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed. Last week, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) president Senzeni Zokwana was cross-examined.

Zokwana told the commission the NUM would reconcile with the families of those injured and killed during the violent strikes.

“Even if NUM is not found to have contributed [to the violence] NUM will be committed not only to make sure this never happens again, but that mineworkers are united,” he said.

He was asked under cross-examination if the union would be willing to reconcile with those affected, if it were found to have contributed to the violence during the Marikana strike.

“I don’t think we need to be found guilty to participate,” he said.

Zokwana said what had happened at Marikana was an emotional issue, and that as a former mineworker he recalled the pain of seeing a co-worker’s body brought up from the mine.

He said the deaths of 44 people at the North West mine in August should not be in vain. Zokwana said the mining industry needed to change after what happened at Marikana.

Sapa

ABSA Premiership

Result: Sundowns 0-0 Chiefs

Date: 12 February 2013

Venue: Loftus Stadium

Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs walked away with a point each after a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday night.

League leaders Amakhosi struggled to keep possession or cause trouble in the final third in the first-half while Sundowns looked slick but also lacked a final ball.

Teko Modise produced a weak effort in the fifth minute which Itumeleng Khune dealt with easily while a ball over the top was just too strong for Lehlohonolo Majoro eight minutes later.

Nyasha Mushekwi tried to drill a cross into the area in the 17th minute but it was too close to Khune while Modise couldn’t get as much power as he would have liked on his strike in the 27th minute.

George Lebese turned his defender well in the middle of the park in the 31st minute but his pass through the centre of the defence was far too strong for Majoro.

The half finally came to life in extra-time as a wicked cross into the area from Sundowns was dealt with by Khune. Chiefs then burst forward where Majoro tested Wayne Sandilands with a powerful drive which the stopper could only parry and Bernard Parker just couldn’t reach the rebound as the defence cleared.

The second-half started on a brighter note with Reneilwe Letsholonyane getting up to nod the ball into the path of Majoro but he couldn’t turn to get a shot away.

Parker then missed a great chance when he was found at the far post by a superb Lebese cross but he diverted his effort into the side netting.

Chiefs continued to push forward and saw Siboniso Gaxa test Sandilands with a rasping drive in the 56th minute while Modise scuffed a shot at the other end three minutes later.

Elias Pelembe saw a penalty appeal waved away after going down under a challenge from Eric Mathoho while Josta Dladla poked a shot over from just a few feet out.

Khune was forced into a brilliant save with 10 minutes to go to keep out a thunderous header from Themba Zwane while Parker saw a goal ruled out for offside two minutes later.

The dying minutes lacked real chances as both sides had to settle for a point.

Sundowns: Wayne Sandilands, Tebogo Langerman, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Alje Schut, Method Mwanjali, Tsholofelo Modise, Elias Pelembe, Jabulani Shongwe, Esrom Nyandoro, Katlego Mphela, Nyasha Mushekwi.

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Tsepo Masilela, Siboniso Gaxa, Erick Mathoho, Junaid Mashamaite, Siphiwe Tshabalala, George Lebese, Josta Dladla, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Lehlohonolo Majoro, Bernard Parker.

A 29-year-old pastor was arrested in Phokeng, near Rustenburg, on Tuesday for raping a 17-year-old girl, North West police said.

Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the pastor had been visiting the Perish for a Crusade church, in Phokeng, for a week.

He prayed for the girl during services and fetched her and her friends to help him clean the church premises at night.

On Tuesday, he offered her a lift to school, which she accepted.

“… Instead of driving to school, the suspect turned to the nearby bushes where he allegedly raped the victim,” said Ngubane.

“The community members who saw the pastor’s vehicle turning into the bushes alerted the police. Police followed the direction… and they found the pastor sexually assaulting the young teenager in her innocent school uniform.”

The pastor would appear in the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

-Sapa

ABSA Premiership

Result: FS Stars 3-0 Chippa

Date: 12 February 2013

Venue: Charles Mopeli Stadium

Free State Stars enjoyed a winning start after the league break when they beat new boys Chippa United 3-0 at the Charles Mopeli Stadium.

Rudiger Gilbert forced Tshepo Motsoeneng  into a save 10 minutes into the game while Luyolo Nomandela lashed a strike over the crossbar from outside the area.

Some tough tackles were coming in as both sides struggled to take control of the proceedings early on, with Anver Esterhuizen and Thomas Amegnaglo getting bookings.

Stars were then forced into an early change with Noah Chivuta coming on for Esterhuizen. Mbulelo Mabizela tried to break the deadlock in the 36th minute but it was a comfortable save for the goalkeeper.

The opening goal would arrive six minutes before the break when Danny Venter fired home from inside the area to put Ea Lla Koto ahead on his debut for the club.

Chivuta tried to double their tally just before the break but his effort from a free-kick was blocked by Brent Carelse.

The Chilli Boys tried to respond after the interval with James Okwuosa nodding at goal seconds in but his effort sailed wide of the target.

Fikru-Teferra Lemessa then tested Kassaly Daouda moments later while Gilbert powered a shot well over with 12 minutes to go.

Stars would finish with a stoppage-time double though to put some more gloss on the scoreline.

First Venter rifled home a shot from outside in the area in the 91st minute before Luyolo Nomandela completed the win in the 95th minute.

FS Stars: Tshepo Motsoeneng, Mbhuyiselo Sambu, Daniel Cardoso, Angelo Kerspuy, Paulos Masehe, Enva Wiltwer, Anver Esterhuizen, Luyolo Nomandela, Lehlohonolo Thebakang, Danny Venter, Fikru-Teferra Lemessa.

Chippa: Kassaly Daouda, Rudiger Gilbert, Mbulelo Mabizela, Msekeli Mvalo, Vuyisile Ntombayithethi, Brent Carelse, Thomas Amegnaglo, Diego Brown, James Okwuosa, William Twala, Petrus Ngebo.

Goals: Danny Venter (FS Stars 39′, 91′), Luyolo Nomandela (FS Stars 95′)

For more details go to http://www.soccerladuma.com

Xenophobia and Migration high up on NWest Provincial Consulation.

Xenophobia and its linkages with migration are to feature prominently during Provincial Consultation for the drafting of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) 3

rd Progress Report to be held as from 9:00 am on Tuesday 19 February 2012 at the Mmabatho Convention Centre.

The objective of the APRM session for the period October 2010 to January 2013 to be hosted by the North West Provincial Government is to solicit stakeholder inputs on progress made in the implementation of the National Programme of Action (NPoA) and resuscitate Provincial Governing Councils.

The final consolidated country report is to be submitted to the African Union (AU) Summit Head of State and Government of APRM participating countries in May of this year. 

 “The participation of provincial government departments, municipalities, business sector, traditional leaders, labour, civil society, faith based organisations, non-government organisations, the academia, researchers, women organisations and youth organisations will contribute towards a balanced and objective review that will inform the NPoA,” says Premier Thandi Modise. 

 Premier Modise has noted that the APRM Country Review Report of 2007 had recorded that in South Africa:

∙         Definitions and measurement of poverty are agreed upon and applied.∙         Land reform contributes to sustainable livelihoods∙         Improved effectiveness and efficiency of the education system at all levels.∙         Strategies and programmes to improve children’s nutrition and ensure their healthy development are successfully implemented.∙         An integrated and holistic approach to combating HIV and AIDS, as well as diseases such as TB and malaria and other communicable diseases∙         Universal access to constitutionally mandated basic rights and services.While it observed that social capital is built at local levels, particularly in vulnerable and marginalized communities, and participation of civil society organizations in socio-economic development processes is improved, it called for development and strengthening of key institutions and social group to make them more effective. 

This includes support to women-led enterprises,The report also highlighted that South Africa had demonstrated a firm commitment towards a total overhaul of the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Management (ASM) processes to strengthen its credibility, efficiency and effectiveness.

Positive policy developments and refugee and immigration regime management that were recorded in the 2007 review report included:

∙         The Refugees Amendment Act No. 12 of 2011 which enabled the country to establish Refugee Status Determination Committees to improve the objectivity in the adjudication process.∙         Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were drafted for officials involved in the processing of asylum seekers such as officials adjudicating claims; the inspectorate; and officials at ports of entry and Permitting to ensure uniformity in the processing of asylum seekers and refugees and more effective security and coordination.∙         Progress has been registered in enhancement of the National Internet Information Service (NIIS) that supports the processing of asylum seekers and refugees and assist with the adjudication of asylum claims, the tracking and tracing of applications and the production of reliable management information. This work will feed into the broader modernization of systems programmes that will enable the integration of the entire management system. 

In addition to perceived linkages between migration and xenophobia, the report had noted that one of South Africa’s enduring characteristics is its diverse racial and ethnic composition and warned that, if not appropriately managed, can become a source of tension and division leading to political instability, social unrest, conflict and economic decline. 

Johanesburg-With nearly 2 months break due to AFCON tournament that took place in our country,the Premier Soccer League games resume today with mouth watering fixtures one of them being Mamelodi Sundowns up against Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Stadium this evening at 19:00

Kaizer Chiefs who are the current Log leaders will be looking to maintain their lead while the lowly Mamelodi Sundows will desperately want to revive their glory day.

With six key Amakhosi players took part in the AFCON spectecular,surely this will be their toughest test of their championship contenders.

“It has to be the other way round. This is where our championship are made and seperated from mere contenders” said one of our reader Phanue Moroe.

Neo Kutlwano Modihapula adds “Yes the game is do or die but we have to bear in mind that also game between Supersport United and Orlando Pirates is do or die.

But I believe we will come out victorious.

On the other hand with Katlego Killer Mphela the only Downs player who took part in AFCON,Sundowns are surely favorite to win today’s encounter. Mamelodi Sundowns Couch Pitso “Jingles” Mosimane was quoted by other publications saying that playing Chiefs is like playing against Bafana and agreed that this is acid test for his boys.

Tomorrow back to back trebble champion Orlando Pirates plays against the struggling Supersport United. After Rainford Kalaba saga Orlando Pirates surely want to give their fan something to smile about. Should Chiefs draw or lose today’s game and Pirates win,they will be new log leaders. 

Moeketsi Lloyd Ramose says there is no pressure heading to tomorrow’s encounter “Tough game,but I dont see any reason why the boys should not triumph. We are quite comfortable on the log,championship is within our reached” he said. 

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