BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A 21 YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to 12 year imprisonment for murder. Neo Molefi briefly appeared in Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

North West police spokesperson, Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said: “The accused was walking in the street with his companion in Huhudi near Vryburg when approached by the victim.

“Teussie Monchwe, 23 demanded a cigarettes from them. The incident took place on February 20 in Huhudi near Vryburg.  An argument ensued between the two which precipitated to a fight.”

Monchwe was stabbed on the head and upper body with a knife. 

Molefi briefly appeared in the Vryburg Regional Court where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Mokgwabone further added that four years was suspended for five years.

Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Motswenyane  applauded the justice system and police for instantaneous trial and conviction.

She also commended the community members for reporting the incident to the police.
-TDN
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Cape Town – ANC chief whip Stone Sizani has resigned from Parliament with immediate effect, the party said on Wednesday.

An ANC MP, who spoke off the record, said Sizani was heading to Germany, where he would be deployed as an ambassador.

Sizani would be temporarily replaced by deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude, said spokesperson Moloto Mothapo.

He did not say where Sizani would be going.

 

“The National Executive Committee of the ANC will make a decision regarding the replacement when it meets for its regular sitting in a few weeks’ time,” he said.

Sizani was appointed to the position in 2013.

The MP said the party had found out at an urgent caucus meeting, called on Wednesday.

For more http://www.news24.com

By Reginald Kanyane
MAHIKENG- North-West premier, Supra Mahumapelo visited North West University, Mafikeng campus on Tuesday.

According to statement, he wanted to ascertain for himself the damage caused during the latest unrest at the university.

His visit came abiut after few buildings were torched allegedly by protesting students.

He condemed the torching of the buildings. Mahumapelo informed Campus Rector, Professor Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele and her entourage that they will have the full support of government.

“This is an unfortunate incident. My own view is that this is not linked to students’ demands because there was a clear agreement on how the issues that students were raising were going to be addressed.

“Therefore the university’s approach must be commended. You have our support. We will encourage you to address the legitimate demands of the students and solve them. We will help where we are able to,” Mahumapelo said.

Professor Davhana-Maselesele said the university was determined to salvage the situation despite the damage caused.

“We are re-opening on March 29. Our intention is to save this semester. We will teach on Saturdays and we should be able to recover with the measures that we will put in place,” she said.

Last year Mahumapelo dedicated a whole day meeting with students and the university management imploring them to bring the situation to normalcy.
-TDN
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Hundreds of workers at the North West University’s (NWU) Potchefstroom campus are on the second day of protest.

The strike started last Friday but some have already been dismissed for participating in the illegal strike. Amongst others, workers are complaining about how they are treated by their employer, including alleged low wages and racial discrimination.

Last week the university’s Mahikeng campus saw violent protests.

A worker voiced her complaints saying, “My kid requested money from me, and when I said I do not have any, she then asked why I had to go to work daily when I am working for nothing.”
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

BY REGINALD KANYANE
THREE Vehicle collided on the N12 near the Orkney Bridge about 20 kilometres from Potchefstroom on Sunday.

Netcare 911 spokesperson, Chris Botha said: “Reports from the scene indicate that two vehicles were parked alongside the road with the occupants standing next to their vehicles when a vehicle lost control and slammed into them.”

Botha said that paramedics arrived at the scene and found that four adults and a child sustained injuries.

He said two adults were in a critical condition while the other patients sustained serious injuries.

“Medics stabilise the injured at the scene before they airlifted the two critically injured men to a Johannesburg hospital for the care that they required.”

The three seriously injured patients were treated at the scene and then transported to a local hospital for further treatment.
-TDN
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Chris Botha

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
THE Provincial government in North West refuted that claims that the North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo was involved in a car accident.

Acting provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said: “There is a rumour that is being circulated to the effect that premier Mahumapelo of the North West province was involved in a car accident yesterday after delivering his State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Matlosana.

“We wish to firmly dispel this rumour as speculative, mischievous and devoid of the truth, since Premier Mahumapelo was not involved in any accident.”

Setswambung further added that Obed Bapela, the Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs was the one who was involved in a car crash on the N12 near Fochville, and Premier Mahumapelo managed to be at the accident scene.

“The Deputy Minister is reported to be in a stable condition in hospital, and Premier Mahumapelo has wished him a speedy recovery,” he said.
-TDN
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JOHANNESBURG – It’s understood the Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Andries Nel, is recovering in hospital following a collision on the N12 near Fochville in Gauteng.

ER24 says it’s unclear what caused last night’s crash between a truck and the car transporting the deputy minister.

Upon arrival, paramedics say they were greeted by a number of police officers already on the scene.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

Vice President of SAFA, Dr. Danny Jordaan (l), Minister of Human and Settlement Tokyo Sexwale during the 2010 world Cup Legacy Project
© Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Six months ago Gianni Infantino was a low-profile right-hand man to European soccer boss Michel Platini. He was the striking, shaven-headed character who pulled balls out of glass pots during televised UEFA competition draws.

Barely-known by the general public, he was also the man behind a complex attempt to force Europe’s clubs to reign in their spending, but which ended up leaving fans and even club directors confused.

On Friday, Infantino was chosen as the new president of FIFA, a position which made his predecessor Sepp Blatter as instantly recognisable as some of the world’s leading statesman.

It was a remarkable leap for the affable Swiss-Italian.

The polyglot lawyer only entered the FIFA race in late October, one day before the deadline, as a stop-gap candidate after Platini had been placed under investigation for ethics violations.
For more http://www.timelive.co.za

When Platini failed to clear his name and was banned from football for six years, Infantino was left carrying the hopes of European football.

For more http://www.timeline.co.za

Mahikeng – The North West University (NWU) has suspended the former SRC president of its Mahikeng campus for three years for misconduct, the institution said on Friday.

Linda Benz Mabengwane was found guilty at a disciplinary hearing of five of the six charges brought against him, university spokesperson Koos Degenaar said in a statement on the NWU’s website.

The five charges were: disrupting the institution’s registration process at the campus in January; assaulting a fellow student; violating a court interdict; interfering with managerial functions; and engaging with the media on topics intended to bring the NWU into disrepute.

Mabengwane was informed of the university’s decision on Thursday, after the hearing.
Courtesy: News24

Cape Town – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s first comeback National Budget tabled on Wednesday afternoon in Parliament was relatively calm and workmanlike one after all the expectations of tax hikes and spending cuts amid tough economic times.

He stressed the need to reaffirm government’s commitment to close the gap between spending and revenue, implementing a plan for stronger economic growth and cooperation between government and the business sector. That should keep the rating agencies that want to downgrade SA’s debt position to junk status temporarily at bay.

Personal income tax rates were not increased as was expected and as Nhlanhla Nene did last year, although about R18bn more will be collected in 2016/17. This will mostly be through yet another big increase of 30 cents per litre in the fuel levy as well as increases in capital gains tax, property transfer tax and an increase of about 7% in the usual sin taxes (alcohol and tobacco) A new tyre levy and a tax on sugar intake (only next year on sweetened beverages) will also be introduced.

The expenditure ceiling was also cut by R25bn over the next three years to bring the budget deficit down to 2.4% of gross domestic product by 2018/19, and to stabilise debt as percentage of GDP around 45% of GDP.

The public sector wage bill will be cut, but provision for contingencies like drought relief and additional spending has been made and increases in expenditure on for example on higher education and small business development continue. Gordhan stressed that the government would not burden South Africans with “austerity measures”, and that social grants will also be raised.

The highlights of the budget are:

Budget framework

•  The budget deficit will fall from 3.2% in 2016/17 to 2.4% in 2018/19 (3.9% in 2015/16).
•  Debt stock as a percentage of GDP is expected to stabilise at 46.2% in 2017/18 (43.7% in 2017/18).
•  Government will lower the expenditure ceiling by R10bn in 2017/18 and R15bn in 2018/19 by reducing public sector compensation budgets.

• An additional R18.1bn of tax revenue will be raised in 2016/17, with R15bn more in each of the subsequent two years.

• Government has responded to new spending needs without compromising expenditure limits. An amount of R31.8bn has been reprioritised over the medium-term expenditure framework period to support higher education, the New Development Bank and other priorities.

Spending programmes over the next three years

• R457.5bn on social grants.
• R93.1bn on transfers to universities, while the National Student Financial Aid Scheme receives R41.2bn.
• R707.4bn on basic education, including R45.9bn for subsidies to schools, R38.3bn for infrastructure, and R14.9bn for learner and teacher support materials.
• R108.3bn for public housing.
• R102bn on water resources and bulk infrastructure.
• R171.3bn on transfers of the local government equitable share to support the expansion of access of poor households to free basic services.
• R30.3bn to strengthen and improve the national non-toll road network.
• R13.5bn to Metrorail and Shosholoza Meyl to subsidise passenger trips and long-distance passengers.
• R10.2bn for manufacturing development incentives.
• R4.5bn for national health insurance pilot districts.

Tax proposals

• An amount of R9.5bn will be raised through increases in excise duties, the general fuel levy and environmental taxes.
• Limited fiscal drag relief of R5.5bn will be implemented for individuals, focusing on lower- and middle-income earners.
• Adjustments to capital gains tax and transfer duty will raise R2bn. The effective rate on capital gains tax for individuals will rise from 13.7% to 16.4%, and for companies from 18.6% to 22.4%. Transfer duty on property sales above R10m will be raised from 11% tot 13% from March1 2016 .
• Government proposes to introduce a sugar tax on 1 April 2017 to help reduce excessive sugar intake.
• A tyre levy will be implemented, effective October 1 2016.
• The general fuel levy will be raised by 30c/litre to R2.85/l for petrol and R2.70/l for diesel, effective April 6 2016. The Road Accident Fund levy will stay the same on 154c/l as it will be replaced by the Road Accident Benefit Scheme.
• Tax credits on medical scheme contributions are increased to maintain the current level of relief in real terms.
• The plastic bag levy is increased from 6c to 8c per bag.
• Personal income tax will bring in 37.5% of government revenue, company tax 16.9%, VAT 25.6% and fuel levies 5.5%.

Sin taxes hikes

Beer 11c/340ml; fortified wine 27c/750ml; ciders and alcoholic fruit beverages 11c/340ml; unfortified wine 18c/750ml; sparkling wine 59c/750ml; spirits 394c/750ml; cigarettes 82c/packet of 20; cigarette tobacco 94c/50g; pipe tobacco 27c/25g; cigars 432c/23g.

Macro-economic outlook

• GDP growth is estimated 1.3% in 2015, 0.9%% in 2016, 1.7% in 2017 and 2.4% in 2018. This is considerably lower than last year’s estimates.
• Export growth  is expected to grow by 9.5% in 2015, 3.0% in 2016 and 4.6% in 2017 while imports will grow an estimated 5.3% in 2015, 3.7% in 2017 and 4.5% in 2017.
• Consumer inflation will fall to 4.6% in 2015, accelerate to 6.8% in 2016 and is then forecast to consolidate somewhat at 6.3% in 2017 and 5.9% in 2018.
• Capital formation is forecast to grow by only 1.1% of GDP in 2015, 0.3% in 2016, 1.4% in 2017 and 2.7% in 2018.
• Household comsumption is set to grow by 1.4% in 2015, 0.7% in 2016, 1.6% in 2017 and 2.2% in 2018.
• The balance of payments wil stay in deficit (-4.1% of GDP in 2015, -4.0% in 2016, -3.9% in 2017 and 2018).

Social Grant increases

• State old age grant from R1 415 to R1 505 per month.
• State old age grant for over 75s from R1 435 to R1 525.
• War veterans grant from R1 435 to R 1 525.
• Disability grant from R1 415 to R 1 505.
• Foster care grant from R860 to R890.
• Care dependency grant from R1 415 to R1 505.
• Child support grant from R330 to R350.

Courtesy: http://www.news24.com