Category Archives: NEWS

Teacher beaten by pupils

NEWS Leave a comment

dec 8 hospital bed

Mpumalanga – Four teenage boys and a girl from a Oosterland High School near Secunda allegedly assaulted a teacher from a neighbouring school so badly at the weekend that he had to be admitted to hospital, Beeld reported.

Attie Rudolph, 44, sustained severe concussion on Friday night at Secunda High School and had to have stitches for a cut on the back of his head.

The attack took place around 7pm at a dance arranged by the school as part of their spring celebrations.

Rudolph was allegedly confronted at the school gate by a group of teenagers who said they had come to collect a girl who was in the school hall.

Rudolph told them that only the girls’ parents were allowed to collect her, asked them to leave and then walked away.

He was attacked from behind and bashed on the head with a heavy object, after which he fell to the ground.

He was kicked in the face before his attackers fled, but they were identified by a witness.

Rudolph was admitted to hospital for treatment, and discharged on Saturday.

A charge of assault has been laid against the five assailants. – Sapa

 

NW’s R600m lease debacle drags on

NEWS 1 Comment

iol pic si NW building

More than four years after the North West public works and health departments signed a R600 million lease to rent a complex for the provincial Health Department, eight officials have been called to a disciplinary hearing about the deal.

 

 

The officials – seven from the provincial Public Works Department and one from the Health Department – appeared before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday.

 

 

They include the former head of the Public Works Department, Obakeng Mongale; Pandora Hlakanye, who was the director of facility management; IT employee Seatlholo Matlhaku; Josie Scholtz; Johanna Hart; Johannes Tselane; Mbulelo Tundzi, who sat on the tender adjudication committee; and Vuyo Mbulawa, the former chief director of corporate services in the Health Department.

 

 

Provincial health spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane confirmed that Mongale, who has since moved to the Health Department, and Mbulawa, attended an “enquiry”. They were not charged but were only there to establish facts, said Lekgethwane, adding that the department was not privy to the details of the meeting as it was a closed, ongoing session.

 

 

Provincial public works spokesman KJLebo Mokgethi would not confirm which employees were summonsed or whether their disciplinary hearings were linked to the Peolwane Properties lease.

 

 

The disciplinary hearing of the eight employees was scheduled for the same week that the two departments, in conjunction with the provincial Treasury, started a court process to set aside the pricey lease – signed off in 2008 by the provincial Health Department and costing R3.9m a month.

 

 

It kicked in in November, but the department has refused to move in or pay rent.

 

 

The building’s owner, Peolwane Properties, approached the Mafikeng High Court to get the department to honour its lease obligations and the court ordered a review of the tender.

 

 

But since the lease was signed four years ago, more than four officials involved in the decision have left the health and public works departments.

 

 

Mongale is now executive manager for specialised hospitals and medical support services in the Health Department and Hlakanye is chief of facility management.

 

 

The disciplinary hearing followed a report by The Sunday Independent that the department had ordered a forensic investigation conducted by Gobodo Incorporated of the the lease after complaints from a losing bidder.

For more details go tohttp://www.iol.co.za/

Two rhinos mutilated in reserve

NEWS Leave a comment

IOL pic oct15 rhino file image

Johannesburg – Two rhinos were found dead and mutilated at the Shingalana Lion and Rhino Game Reserve in Haartebees in the North West on Sunday morning, the reserve said.

Spokesperson Jaco Pfister said the corpses were discovered with their horns, ears and genitals removed.

He said this was the second such incident at the reserve in a week after another rhino was recovered on Monday.

“We believe the same people were behind both incidents because they have removed similar parts from the rhinos,” he said.

No one had been arrested and police were investigating. – Sapa

Mbalula spitting fire over reports

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

The Sunday Independent newspaper earlier reported that Mbalula was now backing President Jacob Zuma in the coming ANC elective conference, quoting unnamed sources.

 

Mbalula was linked with a campaign to replace ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe, a move led by the ANC Youth League.

 

But Mbalula described these reports to the Sowetan newspaper as “a desperation of political thugs and their cohorts who have elected to subject me to political lynch”.

 

“Those who possess uncontrollable ambitions to ascend to leadership by hook or crook, or position themselves as king-makers, will not hesitate to play dirty tricks,” he was quoted by the newspaper.

 

Mbalula also lashed at Zizi Kodwa and businessman Sello Rasethaba who had been quoted as saying he was amenable to their proposals to ditch his ambitions to replace Mantashe, the Sowetan said.

 

The Sowetan reported that Kodwa, a former Zuma spokesman, had been quoted as saying they were trying to make Mbalula understand that “he can’t be part of a coalition that can’t be defined politically”.

 

“There has to be a generational mix, but the generation of 1942 can’t be forced out,” the paper quoted Kodwa as saying.

 

Mbalula said: “…I neither need spokespersons nor self-styled messiahs in the form of Zizi Kodwa or Sello Rasethaba to speak on my behalf.”

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

Zuma delaying to appoint SIU head

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

JOHANNESBURG – A number of organisations on Sunday said President Jacob Zuma’s failure to appoint a full-time head of the special investigations unit is raising questions about his commitment to fighting corruption.

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), Corruption Watch, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) have all voiced concerns.

Advocate Willem Heath stepped down as SIU head exactly 10 months ago, and no new head has yet been appointed.

He resigned following remarks he made to the City Press newspaper about former president Thabo Mbeki’s alleged involvement in prosecuting President Jacob Zuma.

Zuma became embroiled in corruption-related controversy when his financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, was charged and later convicted with corruption and fraud.

Mbeki then relieved Zuma of his duties as his deputy after he was accused of abusing his power.

Corruption Watch head David Lewis said he did not understand the delay in the appointment.

“It doesn’t square with fighting corruption. The SIU has been a very effective body”.

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

Striking Bokoni Platinum miners set to return to work

NEWS 1 Comment

Image

Limpopo- Striking Bokoni Platinum Mine workers in Limpopo are expected to return to work today. More than 3 000 miners embarked on an unprotected strike about two weeks ago, demanding to be paid R 16 500 per month. 

Labour unions, the Transport and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Tawusa) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), have urged their members to return to work after management said it would fire them if they did not do so. 

NUM spokesperson William Mabapa says, “If the workers are not back to work it won’t be the issue about the union, it’ll then be an issue about the employee and the employer, because by Monday (today) the company will start to have the powers and the prerogative that if they dismissed the workers they may re-employ them with low salaries and that’s not what we want as the union because that’s going to take us back to square one, we urge our members to go back to work.” 

The union says it has lost its members after violent protests in Marikana in the North West

Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers says it’s concerned about the escalating violence targeting its members in the Rustenburg area. The union says it has lost its members after violent protests in Marikana in the North West. 

It says four of its members were killed in August. Two people are expected to appear in court today in connection with the killing of an NUM shop stewart in Marikana two weeks ago.

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

Step-father sought after a 5 year old death

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

By Obakeng Maje

Majakaneng-North West police are search for a step-father of the deceased after a five year old baby found murdered.

On Wednesday a case of kidnapping was reported at Mooinooi police station after a boy went missing.

“It alleged that a suspect abducted a boy on Wednesday and a case was opened. Yesterday police were called after a body of a boy was found in an open field” Sergeant Philani Nkwalase said. 

“Police were taken to a crime scene near Echo Berry farm where body as found. The boy was certified dead by paramedics after he suffered a fructured skull and bruises on his neck” He said.

Police are right on the heels of alleged perpetrator who is still at large.

Muder case has been opened and investigation continues.

Follow me on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews 

 

3 nabbed for robbery

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

East-London-East London – Three men were arrested after they robbed a shop of an undisclosed amount of money on Saturday, in Dutywa, north of Butterworth, Eastern Cape police said.

 

Captain Jackson Manatha said five men, two armed with pistols, entered the shop on Saturday morning.

 

Police were informed about the robbery and received information that the men went in the direction of the Ngxakaxha Village, outside Dutywa.

 

“When police arrived at the village, they spotted the suspects and gave chase,” he said.

 

“Three suspects were arrested… The two suspects who were armed with pistols managed to escape with undisclosed amount of money.”

 

He said the police recovered some of the money.

 

The men are expected to appear in court on Monday.-Sapa

Dlamini header sees Banyana Banyana to victory over Zimbabwe in Dobsonville

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

By Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini scored the only goal of the match to give her side victory over Zimbabwe in an international friendly encounter played at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, 13 October 2012.

 

Dlamini headed home six minutes into the second half from a neatly played cross from the right hand side of the field, from second half substitute Silindile Ngubane, who was making her Banyana Banyana debut.

 

Durban Ladies (Sasol League KwaZulu Natal) striker Ngubane, brought on in the second half for Nocawe Skiti, instantly gave the hosts more thrust on attack.

 

Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Thoko Mndaweni pulled off several superb saves to deny the Zimbabweans from equalising, and was deservedly named as the Sasol Diski Queen (Player of the Match).

 

The Sasol-sponsored national senior women’s football team will face the Zimbabweans again on Tuesday, 16 October 2012 (15h00 kick-off), with the matches forming part of the national team’s preparations ahead of the eight nation CAF African Women Championship to be played in Equatorial Guinea from October 28 to November 11.

 

Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group A and will face hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on October 28, Senegal in Malabo on October 31, and will travel to the island city of Bata for their encounter with DR Congo on November 3.

 

Successful group stage results will see the South Africans play in the semi-finals in either Malabo or Bata on November 7, with the 3rd/4th place playoff and the title decider both scheduled for Malabo on November 11.

 

Speaking after the match, Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza said: ““The Zimbabweans are always a tough side to play, either at home or away but the match gave us an opportunity to try out several combinations ahead of the CAF African Women Championship.”

 

The win over the Zimbabweans, ended Banyana Banyana’s run of reverses against their neighbours, having lost in the Cosafa Cup final and the Unity Day celebrations, both played in Harare last year.

 

 

Igesund impressed despite a loss

NEWS Leave a comment

Image

By Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana lost 1-0 to Poland in an international friendly match played on Friday, 12 October 2012. The clash took place in Warsaw’s National Stadium.

 

South Africa’s head coach Gordon Igesund made five changes to the team that defeated Mozambique in Nelspruit last month.

 

Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and Kagisho Dikgacoi returned to the squad while Sifiso Myeni, Luvhengo Mungomeni and Ricardo Nunes earned their first caps.

 

The match was used as part of the preparations for Poland who meet England in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier next week, while Bafana Bafana will take on Kenya in Nairobi on Tuesday, 16 October.

 

Once again, just like his heroics in Brazil, Itumeleng Khune put out a fine performance against Poland, first denying Arkadiusz Piech in a one-on-one situation in the 26th minute.

 

He was back again to stop Sobiech from what looked like a certain goal and despite having a busy evening; he could do nothing about Marcin Komorowski’s 82nd minute shot which gave the hosts victory.

 

South Africa did have the ball in the back of the net from Siyabonga Sangweni late header, but the effort was ruled offside.

 

“Congratulations to Poland for the victory, but I believe we deserved something from the game. I am not disappointed with the performance of my players, but I am unhappy that we gave away a very soft goal. I think we achieved what we wanted from this match. It was a good and worthwhile exercise,” said Bafana coach Igesund.

 

“Poland started well but Khune did well to keep us in the game. I also believe we did not have enough bodies in the box to punish them. It is better to lose games like these and be ready for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament because I am building a squad for that showpiece. It was a great test for us.”

 

Igesund was happy with debutant Ricardo Nunes.

 

“He did reasonably well and he showed some quality. But I still believe he can still improve,” he said.

 

Bafana Bafana captain Bongani Khumalo believes despite the loss, there are some positives to take out of this result.

 

“It is a bitter pill to swallow, more so because we conceded so late in the match. We had some chances which we did not capitalise on and at this level we have to bury every opportunity we get, even half a chance.

 

“Be that as it may, we are forging ahead with our mission of preparing a team for Afcon, so we have to keep on fighting, we have to keep on working hard and the results will eventually come,” said the Greece-based defender.

 

Bafana Bafana who travel to Nairobi on Saturday, will have one training session before taking on Kenya on Tuesday.

 

That clash will take place at Nyayo National Stadium and kicks off at 19h00 Kenyan time (18h00 SA time)