By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-A 43 year-old man accused of raping a 10 month-old baby niece will remain in custody after all.

This came as no suprise as the community of Orkney vent their anger during court appearance.

The judge could not grant Petros mocumi,43 owing to his safety as the community he lives in does not want him anymore.

Petros Mocumi was arrested a three weeks ago after he allegedly took his niece for a walk.

On their way back,a child was crying hysterically and was taken to local clinic where rape was confirmed.

“Petros Mocumi was charged with rape and magistrate denied him bail as he could not provide required information regarding his residence” NPA spokesperson said.

The suspect will remain in jail until his court appearance on the 22nd of February.

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Cape Town – DA leader Helen Zille announced on Monday that she has pulled out of a New Age business breakfast after weekend reports said the breakfasts were sponsored by cash-strapped state-owned enterprises, such as Eskom, using public money.

The breakfast was scheduled for January 31 at Montecasino in Joburg and “the changing political structure in the country and the DA’s outlook on the upcoming elections in 2014” were to be discussed.

On Sunday, City Press reported that Transnet had spent R17.5 million on 18 breakfasts, while Eskom had paid R7.2m for six breakfasts. It was also reported that the SABC did not charge the New Age newspaper a cent to broadcast their breakfasts live on SABC2.

“Now that it has come to light that the breakfasts are funded by public money via state-owned enterprises to the tune of millions of rand, the DA cannot continue to participate,” Zille said on Monday.

She has written to Moegsien Williams, editor of the New Age, to inform him of her decision.In response, Williams said: “It flies in the face of her often harsh criticism of the SABC for not affording leaders of the opposition a fair opportunity on the airwaves.

Williams said Zille’s statement on Monday was disingenuous.

“Zille participated in a Business Briefing on February 2, 2012, in Cape Town and thanked Telkom for its sponsorship in her introductory remarks.”

Zille said that she and other DA colleagues had previously spoken at New Age breakfasts assuming the events were funded by the newspaper and by business people who purchased tickets to attend.

Since 2011 the Gupta family, who own the New Age newspaper and are close allies of President Jacob Zuma, have hosted an array of speakers at the breakfasts, including Zuma, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe and Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

“It is not acceptable or defensible for public money to be used to bankroll a privately owned newspaper, and indirectly the coffers of the ANC,” she said. “This is another example of how ANC cadres in business and ANC cadres in government work together to funnel money to the ANC in a mutually beneficial but essentially corrupt relationship.”

The multimillion-rand sponsorships were revealed by Gigaba in response to a parliamentary question by DA MP Kenneth Mubu.

It was previously reported that Telkom sponsored 12 breakfasts to the tune of R12 million in the 2012/13 financial year, according to City Press.

In a front page editorial on Monday, the New Age’s chief executive Nazeem Howa said weekend reports were aimed at “silencing the New Age”.

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

By Staff Reporter

Premier Thandi Modise is to lead a delegation of the North West provincial government that is scheduled to meet with Ministers from Ivory Coast. The bilateral meeting is scheduled to take place at Sun City outside Rustenburg at around 3:00pm ahead of the Ivory Coast-Toga Orange 2013 African Cup of Nations match to be hosted at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace this evening.

     “AFCON is not just a sporting event but presents countries on the continent with an opportunity to strengthen relations and take forward issues of development and mutual interest,” says Premier Modise.

The Ivory Coast delegation that will be meeting with the Premier and her delegation include Minister of the Promotion of Youth, Sport and Recreation, Mister Alain Michel LOBOGNON and Minister of Tourism, Mister Roger KACOU

Johannesburg – Five people accused of human trafficking and keeping a brothel are due to appear in the Durban Regional Court on Tuesday.

A doctor, his wife, and three men on Monday pleaded not guilty to the charges. They face a total of 156 charges including assault, rape, sexual exploitation of a child, and racketeering.

They allegedly ran a brothel in Durban where children as young as 12 were kept. – Sapa

BY Obakeng Maje

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has noted with admiration the overwhelming support, love and commitment for Bafana Bafana by all South Africans.

The Association would like to thank the fans for the unrelenting support and urge the public to continue rallying behind our boys at all times.

While the outcome of the opening game against Cape Verde disappointed the majority of Bafana supporters, the other result featuring Angola and Morocco (which also ended in a goalless draw) has left Group A wide open with everything to play for.

“Bafana Bafana needs our support as we still have an excellent opportunity to progress further in this tournament,” says SAFA President, Kirsten Nematandani.

“Football is as much a mind game as it is one of skill and we urge the public to continue supporting and encouraging our boys to regain that winning mentality”.

Coach Gordon Igesund said the South African supporters are special.

“The crowd at Soccer City on Saturday was brilliant; they really tried to lift the team in what was very challenging playing conditions. We now need the public to go to Moses Mabhida Stadium in their numbers and give the boys the support and work as the 12th player. The dream of winning this tournament is still very much alive and we believe it is a question of time before we turn the chances into goals.”

“We will do our best to make our amazing supporters happy. They have been fantastic throughout and they need to be rewarded with performances that warrant their unwavering support,” said Igesund about the magnificent support the team has received from the public.

By Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana players believe they still have what it takes to proceed to the second round of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations South Africa 2013.

The 29th edition of the tournament kicked off on Saturday, 19 January and come to the end on Sunday, 10 February when the finals are contested.

Bafana Bafana played to a goalless draw against Cape Verde Islands in the opening match of the soccer showpiece. The second Group B match between Angola and Morocco also ended 0-0.

South Africa takes on Angola on Wednesday, 23 January at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in their second encounter of the tournament.

“We are looking forward to Wednesday’s game. All the teams in our group are good and Angola is no different, they have a lot of experience. We learnt from the past match that we have to be more patient, a bit more attractive going forward and try to create some chances so we can score goals. We kept a clean sheet and we are all positive about the next match, nothing else matters,” said defender Anele Ngcongca.

His views were echoed by midfielder Thulani Serero.

“I am not 100 percent fit but I am getting there with every match. Angola is a very strong side. We watched them on television and they are really an enterprising side. But I believe time has come to go there on Wednesday and get maximum points. We need to get the momentum going. A win will be good for the spirit and can change everything,” said Serero.

“For us to have any chance though, it is critical that we start scoring those goals. Everyone needs to be composed and play their normal game. One thing we learnt from the Cape Verde match is to be patient.”

Striker Katlego Mphela said it was imperative for Bafana to show character.

“At international level you need to keep trying, have a big heart and a strong mentality, more so because we are playing teams who have loads of experience.

“A perfect example was the Group B match between Niger and Mali, the latter kept on going and eventually scored – so that’s what we need to do, just keep on working hard,” he said.

“It is not long I have returned from injury and I am working on my fitness which is looking very good. If I am picked to start against Angola I think I am more than ready to do the business. We didn’t do well in our first game, and hopefully I will get a chance to score some goals so we can better our chances of proceeding to the next round. We have quality strikers in the team and I believe we will do well.”

Bafana Bafana will have their last training session at the match venue on Tuesday, 22 January starting at 16h30 before tackling Angola on Wednesday.

By Obakeng Maje

Mothibistad-A station commander who was arrested last week with allegations of being on possession of illegal firearm,robbery and theft appeared briefly at Mothibistad Magistrate Court today.

Captain Phodisho Anah Phorogotlho was reminded in custody and her case has been postponed until 01 of February.

“Captain Anah Phorogotlho appeared today before magistrate and her case has been postponed until the 01 February where she will apply for a formal bail” Andiswa Swaartbooi said.

“She was arrested in her office at Wrenchville police station after two foreigners implicated her in the crimes committed” Swaartbooi adds.

They were subsequently arrested and allegedly found with a Saps pistol.

Those suspects outlined that they were sent out by captain to rob various tuck-shops and commit other criminal acts.

By Obakeng Maje

South African Football Players Union would like to encourage all the players to make this year a turn around year by going back to school.

“We wish that all our members with matric can register with different institutions to further their studies, Even those who did not finish matric must go back to school and make sure that they matriculate” Peter Khoabane said.

Players are role models in the society and this will encourage even the community members to see the importance of education through players.

Players education is the priority to SAFPU programmes and that does not exclude the financial education.”

We (SAFPU) want to create the generation of educated football players as that will help our members during their carreer transition period” He said. “

We want to make it easy for players to be employed after their playing days” Khoabane adds.

There are few male players who are studying now than the female players as almost all Banyana Banyana players are studying and some are in possession of  Diplomas and Degrees.

Just last year when Banayana Banyana were preparing for the Olympic Games four of their players graduated with degrees and one with diploma.

“It is about time that players start to plan their future in an appropriate manner and be responsible” he said.

“We plea with all the Club bosses and parents to join forces with the Union in terms of making sure that the players study, Because one way or the other these are our friends, children or our brothers and we relate to them somehow. SAFPU would also like to wish all the teams that are playing in the AFCON the best of luck in particular Bafana Bafana” Khoabane concluded.

By Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund says there is all to play for in their next game against Angola after all teams in Group A saw their respective matches end in a goalless draw.

After hosts South Africa had been held to a disappointing draw by Cape Verde, Igesund was content to see Angola and Morocco settle for another goalless draw, giving the under pressure hosts a good opportunity to have a crack at seeking a passage into the quarter-finals.

Bafana Bafana face Angola on Wednesday, 23 January 2013 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban relieved that their campaign is very much on track and that they are still masters of their own destiny.

Kick-off is at 17h00.

“We have our destiny in our own hands, following the draws from the two matches we are starting all over again and on equal footing. All teams have a point each and this means five or six points could get us through to the next round. It is back to the drawing board and we need to work hard. We have to change some things we did in our last match and approach Angola differently,” said Igesund.

“The most important thing for me now is to get into the players’ heads and try to free their minds because the performance against Cape Verde was not convincing at all. I have to get the players to believe in themselves again for us to move forward.”

Igesund says he had a talk with the team and they know what they need to do.

“The truth is the players were also disappointed about their showing; but it’s all behind us now we cannot undo it. They know they let a good opportunity slip by. The remaining two training sessions will be crucial for us to help us prepare thoughroughly for our next match, but I remain confident that with the six points on offer, we can get out of the Group stages.

Morocco and Cape Verde will meet in the second Group A match also played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium as part of a double header.