Category Archives: NEWS

HRC must investigate hockey racism: North West premier

NEWS 1 Comment

North West Premier Thandi Modise says the Human Rights Commission must investigate claims that a 17-year-old Brits school girl was turned away from hockey trials in Rustenburg because she is black.

Modise called the incident “an affront to our democracy” and efforts towards reconciliation” in a statement.

It was also unacceptable that sporting events organised along racial lines were still practised.

The Times reported that 17-year-old Rego Modise, a Grade 11 pupil at Wagpos Hoërskool, was told that hockey trials held at Hoërskool Grenswag were for white pupils only.

Neither Koen nor Wagpos principal Daan Neethling could be reached for comment, but Rev Peter Stans, CEO of Afrikaner Volkseie Sport, the organisers of Bokkie Week, said Modise had “definitely” not been invited for the trials, which were by invitation only. He said the week was for “Afrikaner” children only.

No player of a different race had ever attended Bokkie Week, Stans said.

Modise’s spokesman Lesiba Kgwele said North West education MEC Louisa Mabe had launched a task team to investigate the matter.

The Democratic Alliance said it wanted answers too.

DA sports spokesman Winston Rabotapi said he had written to Afrikaner Volkseie Sport president Koos Marais for clarification on the requirements for attendance of the Bokkie Week trials.

If he did not receive a satisfactory response within three days, he too would ask the Human Rights Commission to investigate.

“This type of exclusion harks back to the days of apartheid and is destructive to efforts at national reconciliation..”

He said sport could be a powerful tool for unity.

 

Journalist quits over Harvard fellowship

NEWS Leave a comment

beauregard tromp

By Brendan Roane

An SA journalist was forced to resign from his job last week after he accepted a fellowship at Harvard University in the US.

Beauregard Tromp, a senior field producer at e.tv, was announced as the latest SA Nieman Fellow to attend Harvard. The Nieman fellowship selects top journalists from around the world for training and journalism studies.

“It is the most prestigious journalism award in the world,” according to Tim du Plessis, the chairman of the Nieman Fund Trust SA.

The fellowship takes place over one academic year, costs between R500 000 and R600 000 and is funded through the Nieman Society.

“Essentially, the kingdom has been offered to me,” said Tromp, about his acceptance into the Harvard programme.

However, Tromp had to resign from his job at eNews when the channel refused to allow him the period of leave to participate in the fellowship.

The television news channel said that while it was “proud of his appointment” it could not grant him a leave of absence owing to company policy. Its policy states employees can only be granted a leave of absence if they have worked with the company for a minimum of three years.

Tromp joined the company less than a year ago.

“We’ve never had this before,” said Du Plessis, “their companies normally react with delight and support them.” He said e.tv’s reasons were “incomprehensible”

NORTH WEST MEC TO ADDRESS GANYESA RESIDENTS!!!

NEWS 1 Comment

BY Obakeng Maje

The North West province MEC of Education, Louisa Lorato Mabe is set to address the angry residents of Ganyesa, near Vryburg in the province today. This comes after the furious residents block roads and went on the rampage protesting for poor service delivery.

It is been two weeks since the residents engaged in a protest and they demand that their wish be granted or else…!!! They want a tar road in the area saying that the gravel road linking the area and its surroundings is non go area.

“We will be visiting the area today and we urge the residents not to interrupt schools and think about their children future” she said.

Yesterday the residents burn a school and some shops of foreigners in the area reported to be looted.

Since last year the people of Ganyesa crying about a tar road and the province then said they are out of budget. The residents believe resorting to illegal march is their last straw as they have not been taken serious.

Most believe that the restless protests the province experience is because of political unrest.

IS PROTESTING AND LOOTING AND BREAKING GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES THE ONLY SOLUTION?

HAVE YOUR SAY…AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @Taung_DailyNews 

 

 

Two accused back in court!!!

NEWS Leave a comment

BY Obakeng Maje

The two suspects who has been accused of killing a 23-year old girl from Schweizer-Reneke will be in court today.

A sangoma(36) and his girlfriend(23) were arrested after a mutilated body of a teenager found by a passerby shaved in a black plastic and floting on a water at nearby river.

That will be for the second appearances as the first appear before Taung Magistrate Court and the case was postponed to give time to investigating officer.

The two suspects remained in custoty and they are expected to apply for a bail application today.

The community members of Mokgareng,Taung were angered about this muti killings and vow to deal with the suspects themselves if police does not act. 

Colonel Kgwenyape confirmn the second appearances of the suspects.

“The suspects will appear today in Taung Magistrate Court on charges of murder” he said.

Follow us on twitter @Taung_DailyNews

 

Kwaito star Brown Dash dies

NEWS Leave a comment

brown dash

Kwaito star Brown Dash has died – exactly eight years to the day that superstar Brenda Fassie passed away.

Brown Dash, whose real name was Siphiwe Mpamile, had been suffering from an unknown illness.

In 2010 he was hospitalised after complaining of chest pains and breathing problems.

An insider confirmed to The Star on Wednesday night that Brown Dash, who hit the limelight with his hit song Phants’ komthunzi welanga, had died.

He was last seen in public last Monday when he performed at the SA Music Awards ceremony at Sun City.

Social networks were abuzz after the news broke.

TV personality Bonang Matheba tweeted: “We say goodbye to another soldier, Sphiwe ‘Brown Dash’ Mpamile. RIP, good guy.

Big Nuz, meanwhile, posted: “RIP Brown Dash.”

“It was first MaaBrrr who passed on May 9, now it’s Brown Dash. I guess sis b wanted another sta 2 collaborate with. May his soul rest in peace (sic),” tweeted DJ Fefe Dre.

Khaya Dlanga wrote: “RIP Brown Dash. Phumla phants’-komthunzi welanga (sic),” while DJ Fresh posted “:-( @TSRecordsSA: Rest In Peace Sphiwe ‘Brown Das’ Mpamile #Gone TooSoon (sic)”.

Julius S Malema, however, was unconvinced, tweeting: “Take the news of the passing of ‘Brown Dash’ with a pinch of salt. It may be mischievous rumours.” – The Star

Schoolboy ‘raped’ on rugby tour

NEWS Leave a comment

Cape Town – A 16-year-old boy from Tygerberg, Cape Town, was raped on a school rugby tour, but authorities did nothing, Die Burgernewspaper reported on Thursday.

The attack, which took place on March 17 between pupils of a high school in the city, was filmed on cellphones and widely distributed. It appeared to be part of initiation proceedings. 

The victim’s mother told Die Burger that the Edgemead High Schools’ first team rugby had camped near Velddrift on the West Coast, and played a rugby match against a local school.

The boy was allegedly raped with a broom handle and a banana later that night.

‘Hysterical’

“On Friday night at around 11.30pm, my son sent me a ‘please call me’,” the mother said.

“He was hysterical and told me that the older boys wanted to shave his head… I insisted on speaking to them, but they told me I couldn’t tell them what to do, and ended the call.”

The boy then reportedly asked his rugby coach, Brandon Grant, for help, but he was told that he had to “stand up for yourself and be a man”.

The next night, after the victim had gone to sleep, he was allegedly attacked in his bed and raped. The attackers also shaved his eyebrows, squirted toothpaste up his nose and drew a phallic object on his forehead.

The victim’s parents removed their traumatised son from the school and laid a charge at the Bothasig police station on March 20.

Police told them on Wednesday that the perpetrators would not be prosecuted, as the boy had not been examined by a district surgeon at the time of the assault.

According to the boy’s mother, she was originally told by police that a medical examination was unnecessary, as the photographic evidence would be enough. The school’s headmaster told Die Burger the school had held an “internal disciplinary hearing”, and that several boys had been put on temporary suspension.

The Western Cape education department said it will investigate the incident.

– SAPA

Boy (5) drowns in pool

NEWS Leave a comment

A residential swimming pool. Picture: EWN

Ndrea van Wyk 

JOHANNESBURG – A five-year-old boy drowned on Wednesday after falling into a swimming pool in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg.

The child was found at a home where his grandmother is employed as a domestic worker.

The boy was apparently exploring in the garden at the time.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Jeff Wicks said the boy was found floating on the water.

“The grandmother ran to the scene and found that he was not breathing. Paramedics arrived and immediately tried to resuscitate him.”

The boy died on the scene.

(Edited by Zethu Zulu)

Sanral announces acting CEO

NEWS Leave a comment

SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) engineering executive Koos Smit will act as its CEO when Nazir Alli leaves in June, it said on Wednesday.

He would remain in the role while the board undertook the recruitment process, said board chairman Tembakazi Mnyaka.

“He is an engineer of great experience and is widely known in the industry for his contributions to the agency’s successful development and maintenance of South Africa’s national road network.

“The board has every confidence that Mr Smit will ensure that the daily operations of Sanral continue at the high level for which the agency is known.”

He said the board took note of speculation about Alli’s sudden resignation.

Media reports suggested he was the “fall guy” for problems encountered in getting the public to accept the introduction of toll roads in Gauteng.

These included a court interdict granted in favour of the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance to stop the start of electronic tolling.

Alli had not said why he was leaving in his resignation letter, and Sanral “did not believe it necessary in the circumstances to try to explore with him his personal deliberations and reflections”, said Mnyaka.

“We can be certain, however, that this was Mr Alli’s own choice. He was not asked to resign. In fact, in the recent performance assessment of the CEO, the board assessed him as well above average in his performance.

“It is widely acknowledged that Sanral’s record of delivery under Mr Alli has made it one of the best-performing state owned enterprises for a number of years.

“Further, the agency has been independently named an employer of choice for two consecutive years. We believe this decision of a chief executive with a long record of service and achievement should be respected rather than interrogated,” he said.

Impala crash driver banned, fine increased

NEWS Leave a comment

IOL mot pic may 9 Impala killed

Related Stories

Kruger National Park officials have responded to the public outcry over a horrific accident in which seven impala were killed by banning the responsible driver and imposing a further fine of R21000.

Last Wednesday the delivery truck driver hit a herd of impala, killing seven.

Witnesses said the driver had killed the impala after he overtook a vehicle near Skukuza at high speed. The impala were standing in the road at the time.

The truck belonged to a contractor working in the park.

 

Laura Mukwevho, spokeswoman for the Kruger National Park, said the driver was fined R2 500 for the charge of reckless driving.

In a statement released late on Tuesday, the park’s management said that following public outcry over the accident and the R2 500 fine imposed on the driver, they had further considered the recommendations of a final report into the incident.

“Based on this, a further penalty amounting to R21 000 was imposed on the main contractor, Kgokole Mmakole Trading & Projects CC (whose sub-contractor is Shivers Contractors), for failure to comply with the Code of Conduct in respect of the death of seven (7) impala. In addition, a ban of five years was imposed on the driver of the vehicle involved, prohibiting him from entering the Park for whatever reason,” the statement said.

On Tuesday, the Beeld newspaper reported that the driver, who they named as Earnest Hickman, 51, claimed that it was a freak accident.

Beeld reported that he was apparently only driving at 52km/h but this was too fast, said a SANParks spokesperson.

According to SANParks, speeding was the cause of the incident.

The newspaper quoted Hickman as saying: “I feel awful, but I’m innocent.”

He claimed he and seven colleagues in two vehicles had exceeded the 50km/h speed limit slightly in order to make the Skukuza gates, which closed at 6pm.

He said the impala had come “out of nowhere” and run across the road.

He tried to brake, but the trailer was heavily loaded and he couldn’t stop in time.

“If I could have avoided the accident, I would have. I feel I am being unfairly crucified for something I could not control.”

In the statement on Tuesday Abe Sibiya, managing executive of the Kruger National Park, said: “I am completely saddened by this incident and would like to warn all contractors, suppliers, staff members and guests to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the Park. Otherwise, severe action shall be taken against any perpetrator without exception. People cannot be allowed to continue to disobey the rules and go unpunished.”

“We will up our ante and there will be more arrests and harsher penalties for transgressions in the Park,” Sibiya said.

– IOL

Man, 73, admits to 95 child porn charges

NEWS Leave a comment

porn king guilty

Related Stories

A 73-year-old Cape Town man has been found guilty of 95 charges related to child pornography and sexual assault.

Johannes Kleinhans admitted to the Parow Regional Court he had befriended his three young victims and took naked photographs of them in various sexual poses.

He told the court he kept the pornographic material for his personal use.

And he admitted he paid his young victim’s off with money, clothes and cellphones.

On Tuesday the court heard in shocking detail how Kleinhans targeted girls aged 13 and 14 years old.

In his photo shoots, Kleinhans said he had his victims perform sexual acts on themselves.

 In some photos he made the girls pose naked, clutching vibrators.

In court on Tuesday, Kleinhans was neatly dressed in a dark suit, tie and white shirt.

He cut a lone figure in the dock as he sat hunched over, staring straight ahead.

Behind him the only people seated in the gallery were members of the media.

He listened attentively as State Prosecutor Herculine Swart took the court through the shocking details of each case.

The court heard how Kleinhans inappropriately touched his young victims, whose identities are known to the Daily Voice.

Swart also took the court through each of the 95 child pornography charges where she described in detail the photographs Kleinhans took of his victims.

When asked if he was aware and understood the charges, he answered in a firm, loud voice: “Ek verstaan dit… ek pleit skuldig.(I understand it….I plead guilty)”

Before addressing the court, Kleinhans’ lawyer Johan Grobbelaar asked if his client could be seated for the duration of his hearing because he had been complaining of a “heart problem”.

 

Kleinhans admitted that he had befriended one of his victims and her friend in 2009 and also supported her family financially and paid for her school fees among other things.

He says in 2010 he took naked photographs of the girl while they were alone at his then Bellville home.

“In the photos that I took, she was naked where the breasts, thighs, vagina and anus were exposed,” the court heard.

He told the court the pictures were for his personal use and said he had paid the girl for the photos.

Kleinhans admitted to paying another girl after taking naked photos of her at his request between 2005 and 2006.

He also told the court about the time he removed a string from the girl’s vagina after it broke from her tampon.

 Kleinhans also revealed that he showed the girls pornographic videos and gave them vibrators with the intention of teaching them sex acts.

Kleinhans admits he took and saved 85 photos of three teenage girls in various poses.

Two sexual assault charges relate to him touching two 13-year-olds during one of his photoshoots.

The court heard that Kleinhans exposed the girls to pornography and made various sex toys including vibrators available to them.

He also admitted to paying the girls for posing naked by buying them gifts, money and supporting their families.

Briefly interrupting the magistrate before the verdict, Kleinhans stood up and said he was remorseful for what he had done.

But he was quickly stopped in his tracks by the magistrate.

He was found guilty of all 95 charges and sent back into custody.

The case was postponed to July 7 for sentencing.

 *This article was published in the Daily Voice