We are here for a result – Mashaba


Polokwane- Bafana Bafana have safely arrived in the coastal city of Pointe Noire in Congo for a date with the host nation in a CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations Morocco Qualifer.

The squad touched down on Thursday afternoon (9 October) after a four hour flight from OR Tambo International Airport.

The match will be played at the Stade Municipial de Pointe Noire on Saturday, 11 October.

Kickoff is at 16h30 (SA time).

Head coach Ephraim Shakes Mashaba has made it clear to his boys that nothing but a win will be enough.

The Bafana Bafana mentor was the first South Africa coach to face and defeat the same Congo back in 1992.

“It really brings back memories and I want to make it worthwhile by beating them again and qualifying for AFCON 2015 – I believe that would be befitting. If you look at the four teams in the group, the two top teams havent lost a game, and if we continue this way the we (SA and Congo) will go through. So it is up to us to beat them and put one leg into the tournament,” said Mashaba.

“You must also rember that we haven’t qualified for major tournaments in a long time and we must rid ourselves of this mentality of íf only we can get to the next round or we are on a learning curve that is why we are not here for draw. The mission is to quaiify for 2015 and playing for draws won’t help us. We want three points, but at the same time we will not be running like headless chickens. We have to win this one and the home leg and we have one foot in Morocco.”

While stats between the two nations favour South Africa, Mashaba is not focussing on them. In eight meetings, Bafana Bafana have won four times and lost once.

“Sports and mathematics don’t belong together, you don’t have therefore in football. In my view stats don’t have a big role in these games, there are no guarantees because it is about now. It is another day it is another game. We all have to come up with new ideas, new approach and new commitment from the players as well,” added Mashaba.

He is also aware that it is not going to be an easy match.

“In fact, it is going to be a very physical game. It is giong to need a strong match official because with a weaker refeeree it is going to be spoilt match. The referees must exert their authority on it. But if it is open it is going to be open then it will be one of the best games ever, concluded Mashaba.

Asked whether he feels any pressure, he coolly said: “I don’t feel any pressure at all. The only time I feel pressure is when I have dinner because I know if I don’t finish the food my wife will ask where I had food before coming home.

The squad will complete preparations at the match venue this afternoon.

N West patient dies after infection


Klerksdorp- The 72 years old male patient was admitted in Klerksdorp Hospital Highly Infectious Disease Unit as a referral from Potchefstroom Hospital under strict Infection Prevention Control Measures on Thursday at 00:30 am.

“The patient was under constant watch of two Intensive Care Unit trained nurses rotating 4 hourly, medical officer and the specialist in charge. Investigations were done and rivotril was given as the need arises to stop the fits” departmental spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said.

Blood investigations from both Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp Hospitals were done to determine the actual diagnosis.

The patient was treated for the identified bacterial infection in his blood while awaiting blood results from National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) to rule hemorrhagic Fevers.

“The outcome of the blood results showed negative of HIV, Congo Fever, and Malaria. Unfortunately, the patient demised this morning” Lekgethwane said.

According to specialists, the cause of death is Septicemia, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ failure due to overwhelming bacterial infection.

MEC for health in the North West Province Dr Magome Masike would like to send his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased during this very difficult time.-TDN
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SAFA Annual General Congress to be held in Sandton


Johannesburg- The South African Football Association (SAFA) launch the 24th SAFA Annual General Congress, which will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre on Saturday, 11 October 2014.

The Congress will be attended by, among others, President Jacob Zuma and former Presidents of the Republic of South Africa, founding fathers of SAFA and other high level dignitaries.

Details of the Congress are as follows:

DATE: Saturday, 11 October 2014

TIME: 08h00 for 08h30

VENUE: Sandton Convention Centre
-TDN
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A murder case against Dodovu resumes


By Obakeng Maje
Stilfontein- A case against a North West former MEC for Local Government China Dodovu and his co-accused will resume on Friday after it was postponed by Stilfontein Magistrate Court on Monday.

Beleaguered former MEC China Dodovu and current member of provincial legislature Papiki Babuile, and other accused are facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, premeditated murder and murder after they were linked to a murder case of former Kenneth Kaunda District’s regional secretary David Chika who was shot at point-blank.

Security is expected to be beefed-up inside and outside the court as ANC and EFF members are expected to come out in numbers to show their support to troubled comrades.

William Chika, who is a father of David Chika told TDN that the postponement of the case is affecting them.

The case was postponed after two accused including Sihlangu Sikhakhane who is believed to be a gunman asked time to get legal representatives.

“This case has been dragging for so long and this really makes our lives very difficult. We would like to see this case come to a closure as we would like to move on with our lives. We have trust in the justice system and at the end of the day justice will prevails” David Chika’s father William Chika said.

Dodovu and other accomplices will be back in Stilfontein Magistrate Court on Friday.

Chika was shot two days ahead of ANC National Elective Conference that was held in Mangaung in 2014.
-TDN
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PATIENT ISOLATED WITH HEMORRHAGIC FEVER AT POTCHEFSTROOM HOSPITAL


Potchefstroom- A 72 year-old man from one on the farming communities in Potchefstroom, came to the hospital on the 08th of October 2014 after hours. This patient came complaining of fever, weaknesses and cough. 

Clinically, he had signs and symptoms of haemorrhagic fever and patient was isolated. Blood investigations were done and the Virologist was informed based on the results. The Virologist then advised on infection control measures that had to be taken.

“After the advice, IPC Officer came immediately to assist on management and to strengthen infection control measures. The staff and patient were quarantined and after that Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex was notified as a designated centre of isolation in the North West Province.

“The patient was then referred to Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex and all staff members who were in contact with that patient were disinfected including Casualty Department and all the equipments” departmental spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said.

All those who were in contact with the patient will be regularly monitored for any signs and symptoms.

The focal person at Tlokwe Sub-District was also notified.

On transfer still, the infection control measures were adhered to.

The quarantine was uplifted immediately after the patient was transferred.
-TDN
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GBR Chapter to be launched in Mamelodi 


Mahikeng- Opportunities for intellectual and business development, bulk buying for cooperatives and spaza shop owners, mentorships for contractors, emerging businesses, youth and women enterprises and professional development are to be shared with the business sector,professionals and church leaders at the launch of the Global Business Roundable (GBR) to be held at the Mamelodi YMCA  cnr Tsamaya and Sibande Road on Saturday.

The programme for the two-hour launch to commence at 2:00pm includes an addresses by City of Tshwane Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development and Planning, Subesh Pillay, Executive Members of the Tshwane GBR and a presentation on manufacturing incubation.

“Since its launch on 21 August 2009,GBR as a global business networking initiative has experienced exponential growth around the country,on the continent and world-wide” spokesperson Lesiba kgwele said.  

Chapters have also been recently launched at the University of the Western Cape,University of Zululand,University of Kwa Zulu Natal,TUT Witbank campuses following country launches in Mali,Burkina Faso ,Zimbabwe and Senegal.

The initiative is also to be launched in France on the 15th of next month.
-TDN
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It’s always an honour to play for my country – Letsholonyane


Polokwane- When many thought his international had come to an abrupt end, Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe “Yeye“ Letsholonyane put in the extra work at his club and was rewarded with a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad that will face Congo in back to back CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 Qualifiers.

So excellent has Letsholonyane been on the field that he is now the top goal scorer in the Premier Soccer League with four strikes in seven matches. He shares the lead with four others – his clubmate Mandla Masango, Lerato Chabangu (Moroka Swallows), David Zulu (Chippa United) and Moeketsi Sekola (Free State Stars).

Both Masango and Zulu are also on national team duty with Yeye.

“It is good to be back. It’s always lovely representing your country, for me it’s an honour. Every time I am given an opportunity to don the national team jersey, I will do so with pride,” said Letsholonyane at the Bafana Bafana training camp in Phokeng near Rustenburg shortly before the squad’s departure to Congo.

“I will do my best to try and give the same perfomance as I have been giving at Chiefs because frankly I wouldn’t be here if I was not playing well for my club. I will keep on working hard and help the national team.”

The 32-year old midfielder is the most-capped player in the current Bafana Bafana squad. He has made 48 appearances, while the closest is Tokelo Rantie with 22, then Dean Furman on 20. Andile Jali comes in with 17, Oupa Manyisa and Thulani Serero are both on 15 while Eric Mathoho and Thabo Matlaba have 11 caps each. The rest of the players have played under 10 matches for South Africa, while some haven’t been capped – Dumisani Msibi, Rivaldo Coetzee, Kwanda Mngonyama, Fagrie Lakay and Zulu.

Letsholonyane, who was left out of the squad that faced Sudan and Nigeria, is enjoying working with Mashaba.

“Coaches are not the same, and yes Shakes is different from all the other coaches I have played under and he is bringing a positive attitude in the national team. What I saw is a new energy, the youngsters are buzzing and motivated to represent their country and I am happy with what I saw so far,” added Letsholonyane.
He is well aware of the task at hand when they get to Pointe Noire.

“The challenge is that we are not playing at home, so we have to deal with their fans. But at the end of the day we are gong to play football, and that is the same the world over even though the conditions may not be the same. We know it won’t be easy because Congo is not a walkover. They have shown they are a good team with their past results. That they are playing at home should not be an excuse, we will try and win the game,” concluded Letsholonyane.

South Africa will play Congo Saturday, 11 October.

Kickoff is at 16h30 (SA time).

The reverse leg will be played on Wednesday, 15 October at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Kickoff is at 20h05.
-TDN
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Three nabbed for murder in N West


By Obakeng Maje
Three accused in the murder case of a 52- year- old Sheryl Bester of Ottoshoop, Bathobotlhe Motseothata ( 24), Patrick Kgopolo Motlhaga (31) and Harry Meyer ( 32) appeared in the Zeerust Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on charges of murder, house breaking and theft of motor vehicle.  

North West police spokesperson Pelonomi Makau said the suspects were remanded in custody and will appear again on 20 October 2014 for further investigations.

“It is alleged that on Saturday the accused from Maruping village in Ottoshoop entered the deceased’s house, strangled her and stabbed her with an unknown object on her arms. The accused allegedly drove away with the victim’s vehicle which later hit the gate of one community member who alerted the police” Makau said.

One of the accused was found inside the deceased’s vehicle and the other two suspects were traced and later arrested.-TDN
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NWEST PROVINCIAL GOVT SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES ITS BUA LE PUSO PROGRAMME  


Taung – As part of bringing services closer to the people and providing direct and immediate response to problems facing communities, North West Provincial Members of the Executive Council (EXCO) and public servants including senior government officials across all government departments in the province were yesterday operating their offices from the Taung Taxi rank in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District during the official launch of the Bua Le Puso initiative. 

The ambitious Bua-Le Puso is an initiative by EXCO led by the Premier Supra Mahumapelo to bring government to the people and provide direct and immediate response across all Departments to concerns that people raise about government services.

Briefing public servants rendering services on the ground during the launch, Leader of government business MEC Manketsi Tlhape said the programme is different to the normal government imbizo programme because it is cost-effective and its effect is felt by the community on the ground immediately.

She asked public servants to provide government services to the people with a smile and politely.

“We are working for government which means that the manner in which we must conduct ourselves must be in a good, polite manner. We want to change the negative perception about the manner in which public servants conduct themselves in providing services to the people,” said Tlhape also speaking on behalf of Premier Supra Mahumapelo who was not at the launch because he was attending the Presidential Coordinating Council convened by President Jacob Zuma on the same day.

Public servants dressed in various colours of their departments enthusiastically interacted with community members as they assisted them with government services on the spot.

Various government departments like Home Affairs, SASSA, Health, and Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development came with their mobile offices to provide immediate government assistance to community members.

By the end of the day, the Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development had assisted 143 people, the Department of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development 57, department of Health 260, Department of Community Safety and Transport Management 50, Department of Social Development 127, the Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs 210, and SSASA 144. 

MEC Tlhape who also visited government projects around Taung including the place where the Taung Skull was discovered, said the Bua le Puso programme was different to the normal government imbizo programme because it is cost effective and its effect is felt by the community on the ground.

“We have decided to constantly engage as leadership of the province with our communities and provide assistance to the concerns that they raise quickly in line with Batho Pele principles.

“This platform does not need expensive tents, catering and all those things but it needs committed public servants and leadership to deal with all the challenges raised by the communities on the spot,” she said.

Tlhape said many communities do not know where to get certain government services and the platform also provide an opportunity for departments to display what they are doing.

Modisaotsile Molokele,38, from Mogopela A, near Taung said government is doing very well by coming to the communities.

“In the past we had always seen people in government talking through the media about service delivery issues. But today is completely different because they have come to us to work here amongst the community and resolve our problems right here without delays. It’s good to meet with the MECs and know them because when we have problems that are not resolved, we can go to them directly,” he said. 

Remoneilwe Moepi (43) from Taung said he was very happy to raise his concerns directly with the MEC.

“I told the MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management to intervene and assist in solving the high crime rate that we experience in Taung,” he said.

Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Oageng Molapisi promised Mr Moepi that his department will strengthen the work of the police in the area and deal decisively with the escalating stock theft in the area.-TDN
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Premier Mahumapelo serious about reviving Arts and Culture as the pillar of the economy in the North West


Mahikeng – North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo has urged local and professional artists to come together in resuscitating the creative industry and developing local artists in the province. 

Speaking during TNA breakfast show on SABC 2 Morning live, from the Mmabatho Convention Centre this morning, Premier Mahumapelo said the best way of bringing back the vibrancy in the arts and culture in the province is to work with experienced artists who must come up with proposals on how to take the province forward.

“We need to work together to make our province more vibrant like it used to be in the past, of producing best artists and exciting events.

“If we are serious about radically bringing back the status that our province used to hold in the past, we need to unite,” he said.

Mahumapelo said his Provincial Administration has prioritized arts, culture and tourism as the key pillars of the economy of the province.

“We do not want to depend much on mining as the pillar of our economy in the province but we believe that arts and culture can assist us in taking the province forward.

“We need men and women who are passionate about arts and culture to come up with exciting ideas that can revive the province,” he said.

He said the province want to use arts and culture to market tourism in the province.

He emphasized that the province is known of its richness in arts and culture, adding that artists can market the province very well.

MEC for Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs, Tebogo Modise said her department has set aside 10 million for the annual Mahika Mahikeng Cultural event that is scheduled to commence in November this year.

MEC Modise said her department intends to support and market this event to be one of the best in the country.

“We intend to work with our local artists and professional artists who are from this province to come up with best ideas for this event.

We believe that the people of the province have talent and capacity to come up with brilliant ideas that can give birth to best product,” she said MEC Modise.

One of the Province’s well-known artists who come from Mahikeng, Keabetswe Motsilenyane supported Premier Mahumapelo and MEC Modise’s plans to develop Arts and Culture in the Province.

She urged the provincial government to include them throughout the process of developing the arts and culture in the province.

“We do embrace all the plans that the Premier has mentioned about the province. It is very important for us as professional artists, government and business to work together in developing the arts in our province,” she said.-TDN
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