Johannesburg – The Electoral Court has ruled that the re-run of the Tlokwe by-elections, which was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, be postponed for six weeks.

“The certification of the voters’ roll which is the subject of this case is set aside,” the court said in its order handed down on Tuesday evening.

The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) was also ordered to provide all candidates contesting the by-election with a copy or a segment of the voters’ roll and the addresses of all registered voters, where addresses were available.

Independent candidates, who were contesting the by-election, approached the court on Tuesday requesting that it postpone the election due to issues with the voters roll.

The candidates have expressed concerns regarding the veracity of it.

The by-elections, which were scheduled for Wednesday, were meant to be held following last year’s Constitutional Court judgment that set aside the previous by-elections, which took place on September 12, 2013 in Ward 18, and on December 10, 2013 in Wards one, four, 11, 12, 13 and 20.

The court ordered that they be re-run.

The Electoral Court judgment on Tuesday only mentioned six of the seven wards. 

Last week, IEC CEO Mosotho Moepya said the commission had taken the necessary steps to verify people’s addresses to ensure a smooth election on the day.
Courtesy: News24.com

Bloemfontein – Tempers flared at the University of the Free State on Tuesday morning, hours after a Varsity Cup rugby match was disrupted.

Dozens of Economic Freedom Fighters supporters, clad in red T-shirts and berets, spilled onto the campus and blockaded the main gate, despite the university announcing that it had been closed for the day.

Groups of students and EFF members flocked to the CR Swart statue and set it alight. Other students chased them away.

Protesters smashed glass cabinets and spray painted the words “Robert Sobukwe Law School” on one building.

For more http://www.news24.com

Cape Town – We want to protect children against revenge porn, the Film Publications Board told Parliament on Tuesday.

This after the board was questioned about whether it was within their mandate to deal with revenge porn, the practice of distributing private sexual photographs and films without concern from the individual featured.

The board, alongside the Communications Department, was presenting the films and publications amendment bill to Parliament’s communications committee on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to amend the Films and Publications Act by closing the gaps in online content regulation.

In terms of the proposed new law, no person may post private photos or films on the internet without consent, or with the intention of causing individual distress.

For more http://www.news24.com

EFF members, AfriForum students and a prayer group have left the area outside the University of Pretoria’s main gate, but will return tomorrow to continue protest action, a report says.

Netwerk24 reports that the EFF, AfriForum and the prayer group have all left the area outside the main gate at the University of Pretoria.

The groups will be back tomorrow, Netwerk24 reports, especially AfriForum, who will hand in a memorandum.

For more http://www.news24.com

PRETORIA – President Jacob Zuma has defended his appointment of Des Van Rooyen as finance minister, saying he was the most qualified minister he has ever appointed to hold that portfolio.

The president was speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Press Corps (PPC) in Pretoria today, where he committed to have regular and candid briefings with the media.

Zuma touched on several topics including his recent international engagements and the budget which will be delivered later this week.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

MAHIKENG – Eighteen-year-old Thuto Gaasenwe shares her heartfelt ‘Dear Mr President’ poem on social media, addressing an issue that many are too afraid to voice or add their opinion to.

The teen’s letter to President Jacob Zuma, carried within a poem  has gained respect and traction, with more than 338,000 views on Facebook and more than 14,000 shares.

* Watch, and listen to her recital in YouTube video in the gallery above.

– YouTube

Courtsey: EnCA

The City of Tshwane cut the power supply to Hartbeespoort today after the Madibeng municipality failed to pay its debt of almost R10 million.

The power was restored a few hours later after the Madibeng municipality paid R4 million of the R9.6 million owed to Tshwane.

Eskom has also threatened to partially cut the electricity supply to the Madibeng municipality by the end of the week if the municipality’s bill of R22 million is not settled. The Madibeng municipality announced last week that it has made arrangements with Eskom to pay up the R22 million owed by the end of February to prevent the utility from interrupting the electricity supply to the area.

The Madibeng Municipality currently owes Eskom R22 721 015.14, part of which has been outstanding since October 2014. Eskom supplies Brits and surrounding areas with electricity while the City of Tshwane supplies Hartbeespoort and surrounding areas.

In November 2014 Hartbeespoort was also left in the dark because of Madibeng’s failure to pay its debt of more than R48 million. It was restored after Madibeng made a payment of R15.2m for bulk services supplied by the city.

Courtsey:   http://kormorant.co.za/19872/electricity-supply-to-hartbeespoort-cut-madibeng-owes-r10m/

Absa Premiership

Result: Black Aces 1-3 Orlando Pirates

Date: 21 February 2016

Venue: Mbombela Stadium

Tendai Ndoro netted twice against his former club as Orlando Pirates claimed a 3-1 victory over Black Aces on Sunday.

The clash was off to a frenetic start as Pirates took the lead after only five minutes. Memela did well on the right flank before crossing for Thabo Rakhale who finished it with a placed volley.

Amazayoni responded in the 12th minute as they levelled matters. Bryce Moon did the work on the right wing before cutting it back for Collins Mbesuma to rifle home at the near post.

Bucs came within inches of restoring their lead in the 22nd minute when Mpho Makola curled a clever free kick towards the top corner of the Aces goal, only to see it hit the bar instead.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

Johannesburg – The mystery of the identity of the two passengers who were travelling with the popular Generations: The Legacy star, Rapulana Seiphemo, when he was involved in a horrific fatal accident on the N14, near Diepsloot, last Sunday has deepened.
For more http://www.iol .co.za

The case of an ANC member accused of raping and kidnapping a 15-year-old girl in the North West has been postponed to allow him to get a legal representative and apply for bail .

The man, who is in his 40s, appeared briefly in the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday. He is facing one count of rape, one count of attempted murder and one count of abduction.

According to the court papers, he allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl at his home on November 15 last year.

The ANC member faces a charge of attempted murder relating to sleeping with the girl while knowing that he i s HIV positive.

ANC provincial secretary Dakota Legotoe said the man has been for some time trying to convince members of the party and the community to support his ambitions to become the ANC candidate for the local government elections.

The last encounter between the man and the teenager is said to have been 10 days ago when he was seen entering his house with the girl and later leaving without.

Magistrate Itumeleng Mabudisa said on February 6, the man allegedly abducted the girl with the intention of having sex with her.

Asked if he needed a legal representative, the man, who was wearing a red T-shirt and a pair of jeans, said he wanted to check whether his father had managed to find him a lawyer.

“I will need my own lawyer. There is someone I have to see first to discuss issues of getting a lawyer. I want to consult with my father,” he said.

The courtroom was packed with ANC members. Some were supporting the accused, saying his arrest was a plot to block his political ambition ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

They held placards written “Hands off our leader”, and “Stop all political plots”. They said the underage girl was not raped but was in a long-term relationship with their comrade.

On the opposite side was another group of ANC members who taunted the accused, calling him a “rapist”.

Legotoe said the ANC did not and will not support any candidate with criminal behaviour.

“We are convinced and confident that members of the ANC have made a correct choice by electing individuals with clean criminal records and good behaviour to represent the ANC in the coming local government elections,” Legotoe said.

The man will appear in court again on Monday.
Courtesy: Sowetan Newspaper