Category Archives: NEWS

NW rolls out training interventions for government Communicators

NEWS Leave a comment

Profile picture

BY Obakeng Maje

The Office of the Premier for North West is to host a two-day induction workshop for Government Communicators that is to commence at Alpha Conference Centre near Broederstroom outside Brits on Thursday.

The newly appointed Provincial Head of Communication and Spokesperson for the North West Provincial Government, Lesiba Kgwele says that the objective of the workshop to be facilitated by GCIS, Office of the Premier and Cogta is to:

  • Introduce government communicators to the systematic functioning of government-wide communication system
  • Enhance and strengthen the communication capacity of new entrants
  • Foster a culture of working together towards shared communication objectives
  • Better coordination of government communication system
  • Responsive, coherent, effective and efficient government communication system.

The induction of communicators from provincial government departments is in line with Premier Mme Thandi Modise’s commitment made during her State of the Province Address that the provincial government will work hard to improve the coordination and coherency in respect of communications programme, campaigns and messaging.

In order to address the challenge of information gap between government and the broader North West community, a weeklong training workshop is also planned for 13-17 August 2012 to build capacity among communicators at the local government sphere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Komphela opts to remain with Free State Stars

NEWS Leave a comment

BY Obakeng Maje

The South African Football Association (SAFA) and Steve Komphela have failed to reach an agreement on the position of Technical Director within the Association.

SAFA had offered Komphela the position, however, he has confirmed through his agent that he unfortunately could not take the position at this time.

He has therefore chosen to stay with his Absa Premiership club, Free State Stars as head coach.

The position of Technical Director is currently vacant after Serame Letsoaka’s contract ended last month.

Vodacom League play-offs officially opened in Polokwane

NEWS Leave a comment

BY Obakeng Maje

Goals continued to flow in Polokwane as the 2102 Vodacom League National play-offs entered the third day of competition at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Following the official opening ceremony, held on Wednesday, 4 July 2012, action got under way with Martizburg City and Morester Jeug playing to an exciting two-all (2-2) draw in Group A. Gershwin Titus gave the Northern Cape side a surprise lead before goals from Sabelo Mbenge and Thabani Nkhathini sent Maritzburg into a half-time lead of 2-1. Titus levelled the scores in the second half to earn his side their first point in the tournament.

Local favourites, Baroka FC kept alive their hopes of overhauling group leaders Roses United from the Free State (who had a bye), with a narrow 2-1 victory over Gauteng representatives, Vardos FC.

Vardos’ Lerato Lamola equalised Kubjana Katlego’s opener for Baroka in the first half, but Boy Boy Thomo, with a well-taken second half winner, ensured a happy ending to the day for the hundreds of loyal fans who turned out in support.

In Group B, Soshanguve Sunshine rallied to beat Batau 3-2 in a thriller. Peter Manaso opened the scoring for Batau, but Soshanguve replied with strikes from Ryan Rae and Benjamin Nthete to lead 2-1 at the break. Mfanafuthi Ntozelizwe equalised in the second half for the Mpumalanga regional champions, only for Patrick Mashele to snatch all three points for Soshanguve in the dying minutes of the game.

Milano United from the Western Cape produced a master-class performance to overcome their Eastern Cape opponents, Tornado FC by five goals to one (5-1). A brace from Clinton Emmanuel, and one goal each from Shaun Daniels, Lesvin Stoffels and Yusuf Abrahams moved Milano to within a point of automatic promotion to the National First Division (NFD). They now need only a draw against Soshanguve in their final group stage fixture. Bongithemba Yabo netted for Tornado.

Earlier at the opening ceremony, SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani offered his encouragement to all participants.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for you all strive to reach a higher level. The stage is set for you to seize the day and give your best. I would also like to thank Vodacom for their support of this event over the years, which could not have been as successful without their involvement,” said Nematandani.

Executive Mayor of Polokwane, Councillor Freddy Greaver, warmly welcomed the assembled crowd.

“It is an honour and a privilege to host the 2012 Vodacom League National play-offs here in Polokwane. We trust you will all enjoy the experience as much as we take pleasure in having you with us,” said Councillor Greaver.

Vodacom regional marketing manager for Limpopo, Ishmael Hlomane said: “Thanks to SAFA and the city of Polokwane for their efforts in organising this event so efficiently. We look forward to a nail-biting climax to what has already been an action-packed competition for both players and spectators as we endeavour to give more ‘Power to You’.”

Play will resume at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Thursday (5 July).
Frontrunners Milano United and Soshanguve Sunshine, in the four-team Group B, will face off for automatic promotion to the NFD at 13h00, while Batau and Tornado will clash for consolation.

At 15h00, Maritzburg City will play Roses United while Baroka FC will meet Morester Jeug in Round 4 of Group A, which has five teams and requires an extra round of matches to be completed on Friday (6 July).

The winners of each group will secure promotion to the NFD before playing each other in the final on Sunday, 8 July to determine the 2012 Vodacom League National champions.

Two suspects appeared briefly in front of Magistrate in connection of stock theft!

NEWS Leave a comment

BY Obakeng Maje

Ventersdorp– Two suspects briefly appeared at Ventersdorp Magistrate
Court after they were charged with stock-theft.

Elias Motshwaisa(23) and hsi co- accused Paul Moloto(21) were denied
bail and will be back in court on the 09 of July.

The two suspects allegedly went to a farm owned by mrs Wilhemina Du
Toit in Klippan and assaulter her employee, a 52 year-old man Frans
Modisa.

The man suffered malicious injuries on his head and arm and he later passed on.
The farmer went to the police after she found the victim bleeding
profusely to death and police were summoned to the area.

“On their arrived the found an ambulance leaving the scene with an
injuried man and stopped it to confirm and evaluate the extended
injuries of a man” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

The police also realise that the pig was stolen from its sty and mrs
Du Toit led them to the near by shack were they discovered the carcass
of the alleged stolen pig covered with track.

The police then arrested two suspects. They also ask for your help as
for now they investigating a case of a murder,but lack of
information,finger pointing and malicious rumours led by mongering
sensationalists are stalling the case.

Follow us on twitter@Taung_DailyNews

A 69 YEAR-OLD MAN ARRESTED AFTER BEATING HIS WIFE TO DEATH

NEWS Leave a comment

BY Obakeng Maje

Venteradorp- A woman were beaten to death by her husband after an argument occurred between the two.

Allegedly the two went on a drinking spree and during early hours of the morning, an argument broke. A 69 year-old man emblonded his wife with a sharp object and suffered injuries on her fore-head.

“He went to wake up neighbours after realised what he did and police and Emergency service were called. Unfortunately a 49 year old woman was certified death on the scene by paramedics and the suspect was arrested”Captain Thulani Ngubane said.

The suspect will appear briefly before magistarte today in Ventersdorp Magistrate Court in connection of murder. Follow us on twitter@Taung_DailyNews

Eskom ‘is open to anything’ for funds

NEWS Leave a comment

PowerLines

Eskom was planning to tap new debt sources to fund two of the world’s four largest coal-fired plants, it said yesterday.

“We really are open to anything,” Caroline Henry, the head of the utility’s treasury unit, said last week.

“It’s about growing diverse access to the market, both internationally and domestically, and making sure you can tap many different opportunities.”

Eskom plans to sell R60 billion of bonds in the next five years to fund expansion to overcome a power shortage that temporarily shut mines and businesses in 2008.

Eskom got its biggest loan from the World Bank at $3.75bn (R30.4bn) to help pay for the Medupi and Kusile power plants, which will each produce about 4 800 megawatts.

Eskom saw a “massive market” for sukuks, or Islamic bonds that pay returns on assets to comply with the religion’s ban on interest, said Paul O’Flaherty, Eskom’s finance director.

For more http://www.iol.co.za/

Make Mandela Day a holiday: union

NEWS Leave a comment

iol news pic mandela day 2012 logo resized

Johannesburg – Mandela Day on July 18 should be a public holiday, the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) said on Wednesday.

General secretary Johan Koen said the union had written to President Jacob Zuma stating its case for the day becoming an annual public holiday.

“Every year South Africans are reminded of the 67 years of his life that (Former President) Nelson Mandela gave fighting for the rights of humanity, equality, justice and democracy all South Africans enjoy today,” Koen said in a statement.

On July 18, Mandela’s birthday, people celebrate his contribution by spending 67 minutes doing something to help others.

Koen said if it was a public holiday, people could dedicate more than 67 minutes to worthy causes.

“Nelson Mandela is not only a living legend, but he also represents the qualities of compassion, determination and unity we must strive for as a nation to make a better South Africa for all.” – Sapa


For more details http://www.iol.co.za

Afcon draw tomorrow

NEWS Leave a comment

African interest will fall on Johannesburg on Thursday when the draw for the final round of qualifiers for the 2013 Afcon finals takes place at Emperors Palace.  

Thirty countries divided into Pot A and Pot B will go into the draw that will determine the final qualification route for next year’s continental showpiece to be staged in the country from January 19-February 10.
 
Pot A which has all the seeded teams based on showings at the last three editions of the Afcon finals after the second round of qualifiers has Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan, Tunisia and Zambia.
 
Pot B has Botswana, Cape Verde Islands, Central Africa Republic, Ethiopia, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, DR Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
  
The 30 countries that go into the draw will produce 15 winners that will join host nation South Africa early next year.
 
A two legged system of home and away final round of qualifiers will be played on September 7-9 and October 12-14 will determine who goes into the 16 teams finals draw on October 26.
  
CAF has truncated the qualification process for next year’s finals after the tournament’s premier football meeting – held every two years – was moved to every odd year to avoid it’s every second edition falling in the same year as the World Cup.
 
The draw will be minus record winners Egypt who were bundled out by Central Africa Republic in the second round and join Congo Brazzaville as the only previous winners out of the running for a place in the finals.
 
CAR and Cape Verde are actually the only countries out of the 30 in the final qualifying draw to have never qualified for the actual finals.
 
The winner of next year’s Afcon will go on to play in the Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil later on in the year.  

For more go to http://www.kickoff.com

Oscar to run in individual 400m

NEWS Leave a comment

iol spt july4 OscarP

Pic: Reuters

Johannesburg – Double amputee Oscar Pistorius will compete in the individual 400 metres and the 4×400 relay team for South Africa at the London Olympics, a member of the country’s Olympic federation said on Wednesday.

Tubby Reddy, chief executive of South Africa’s Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), said Pistorius’s inclusion in the relay team meant he will also be able to take part in the 400m individual race.

“He was named in the Olympic team (in the 4×400 relay) and then the question arose as to whether he was allowed to run the 400 and he can because he is part of the team,” Reddy told Reuters in a telephone interview. – Reuters

For more http://www.iol.co.za/

Physio cheat must repay R2m to state

NEWS Leave a comment

iol news pic Jurry Sehunoe

Phil Magokoe

A physiotherapist who pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering has been ordered by the Pretoria Commercial Crime Court to repay R2.1 million to the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund.

Jurry Sehunoe, 34, pleaded guilty last year to 15 counts of fraud and 26 counts of money laundering.

He was charged with Maxwell Ramaphosa and Samuel Mfeleng, both of whom are former employees of the department.

It was alleged that Ramaphosa and Mfeleng worked in collaboration with Sehunoe to claim money for patients who had not been seen by Sehunoe or who did not exist.

Last year, Sehunoe admitted to having received large sums of money that were channelled into his personal bank account and those of his businesses. These included a driving school and a construction company.

Sehunoe told the court he was prepared to compensate the Department of Labour for the money deposited fraudulently into his accounts.

After Sehunoe pleaded guilty, the trial of Ramaphosa and Mfeleng was separated and transferred to the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

For more http://www.iol.co.za