Johannesburg – The SA Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) hearings into transformation at universities was biased and not transparent, AfriForum Youth said on Saturday.

“The roleplayers who were involved included one-sided and blatant racist organisations… the hearing involved no minority groups,” Henk Maree, AfriForum Youth chairperson said in a statement.

Maree said his organisation questioned the transparency and credibility of the two day long hearing.

“The examples used by the commission to make their conclusions were amongst others, the Reitz incident, a 2008 incident which has been dealt with long ago, the drowning of a first year student at the Potchefstroom campus of the North West University in 2012, in which the probe found no element of race or discrimination, as well as the example of the University of the Free State two students accused of assault,” he said.

The case of two UFS students, Cobus Muller and Charl Blom is expected to resume in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Muller faces four charges which include reckless driving, crimen injuria, attempted murder and assault, while Blom faces a charge of assault.

The two allegedly tried to run over fellow-student Muzi Gwebu with their bakkie on the campus in February.

At the same university, four students were accused of duping cleaning staff at their Reitz residence to eat food which had been urinated on which was filmed as part of the residence’s initiation process.

The students, RC Malherbe, Johnny Roberts, Schalk van der Merwe and Danie Grobler pleaded guilty to a charge of crimen injuria in July 2010 and were each fined R20 000 or 12 months’ in jail.

On appeal, the fines for Van der Merwe and Malherbe were reduced to R10 000 each, while that of Roberts and Grobler were reduced to R15 000 each.

On Thursday and Friday, the SAHRC held hearings on transformation at universities.

The hearing was spurred by a complaint received in 2012 from the Higher Education Transformation Network about the death of a student, Thabang Mokhoang, at an orientation programme at the North West University. He drowned in a campus swimming pool. The commission was asked to determine what role discrimination had played in Mokhoang’s death.

The commission said there had been a spike in racism-related incidents in South Africa, particularly at universities, with over 500 cases being reported to the commission in the past year.

In the 2013/14 financial year, 45% of the commission’s complaints were race-related.

The commission’s spokesperson Isaac Mangena said AfriForum Youth had “jumped the gun”.

“We expected that those who are against transformation will talk down such a noble process,” Mangena said.

“The hearings were not about groups but about the institutions. In our next batch of hearings, other stakeholders such as student and youth organisations such as AfriForum Youth will be invited,” he said.

“We stand by our hearings. AfriForum Youth should be coming up with ways to ensure that the future is about co-existence between blacks and whites.”

SAPA

Amajimbos are through to the final qualifying round of the African Youth Championships (AYC) with a thumping 4-0 victory over visiting Tanzania in an exciting match played at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday.

Goals from Edwin Sekhwama, a brace from substitute Khanyisa Mayo and a late goal from Thendo Mukumela ensured a great victory for the Molefi Ntseki-coached side.

It was a deserved win for the Under-17, who looked fired up from the word go and had they been more ruthless, especially in the first half, they could have registered a huge victory.

With the very first attack of the game, Edwin Sekhwama broke clear and tapped the ball into an empty net from a tight angle to give Amajimbos a dream start.

After the goal, Molefi Ntseki’s boys then literally camped in Tanzania’s half but at times lacked composure to kill off the match in the opening minutes.

In the 22nd minute, Sekhwama missed an open goal when it appeared easier to score than miss. Seconds later, Tanzania goalkeeper, Metach Mnata was forced to make a good save as Amajimbos swarmed the visitors’ goal area.

Tanzania came back into the second half trying desperately to come back into the game and forced a few anxious moments for the home team.

They hit the crossbar in the 10the min of the second half as if to warn Amajimbos that the match was far from being over.

Seif Seif then forced a brilliant save from Amajimbos keeper Mondli Mpoto as Tanzania chased the equaliser.

As Tanzania threw bodies upfront, they were caught on a counter attack with Khanyisa Mayo scoring a great goal, finishing off a cross from the right to make it 2-0.

Mayo then made it 3-0 with another break away attack and the visitors looked dead and buried.

Thando Mukumela then sealed a huge victory with a goal in the 90th min to make the final score 4-0.

The first leg had ended 0-0 in Tanzania two weeks ago.

Amajimbos will now meet the winner between Congo Brazzaville and Egypt for a place in the Championships finals scheduled for Niger next year in March/April.

Starting Line-Ups

South Africa: Mondli Mpoto (GK), Katlego Mohamme, Notha Ngcobo, Manoke Noge, Themba Nzimande, Thendo Mukumela, Keanu Cupido, Athenkosi Dlala, Nelson Maluleke,  Sibongakonke Mbatha, Edwin Sekhwama: Coach – Molefi Ntseki

Tanzania: Metacha Mnata (GK), Issa Majira, Martin Luseke, Adolf Bitegeko, Prospal Mushi, Seif Seif, Omary Wayne, Athanas Madamu (C), Abdulrasul Bitebo, Baraka Baraka, Omary Omary – Coach (Steward Hall).
-TDN
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Johannesburg – A Mozambican national has been arrested for possession of explosives in Boitekong, near Rustenburg, North West police said on Friday.

“On Thursday, members of the K9 Phokeng and Rustenburg explosives and bomb disposal unit followed up information about a certain house in Boitekong where explosives were apparently hidden,” police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone said in a statement.

Police found five blasters, 18 electric detonators, and 50 blasting current indicators in the house.

Mokgwabone said the 28-year-old’s arrest would help police crack syndicates involved in underground copper cable theft from mines.

The man was expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of possession of illegal explosives.

SAPA

Mahikeng- Jaws intervention unit has impounded more than19 private scholar transport taxis around Mahikeng for operating without licenses.

The taxis were impounded during the special taxi operation which lasted for two days.

North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Gaoage Molapisi said the department would not allow any taxi operating on the road without operating licenses.

“These taxis operate without permits and they ferry learners in and out of school on daily basis. The most worrying factor is that they overload these taxis and do not even have necessary documents.”

According to traffic authorities one taxi was found loading 32 learners and is certified to carry 15 passengers.

In a meeting with the Head of the Department Mr Bailey Mahlakoleng, operators whom their vehicles have been impounded claimed that they have since applied for operating licenses and they are still awaiting for their permits. Upon departmental investigation, it was established that only four had applied and three disqualified with one going to PRE in its next sitting for consideration.

While they raised concerns on lack of information on the application process, the department committed to assist and ease the process for them.

The operators have since further been advised to pay their traffic fines issued when their vehicles were impounded before they could collect them.

Traffic Authorities also revealed that most of the operators whom their vehicles are been impounded are also operating as routine taxi operators which means they have permits at their respective ranks with specific routes and therefore cannot qualify to operate as scholar transport.

In that regard, MEC Molapisi said; “The department only issues one operating license per vehicle, there is no way that one taxi can operate parallel, so those who operate as taxis should make a choice whether they continue as taxi operators or as taxi scholar transport which then we will withdraw your taxi operating permit.”

As part of an outreach programme and strengthening of partnership, the department will conduct information sharing session and campaigns within the industry in orders to minimize illegal operations.

The purpose of this exercise would be to encourage more illegal taxi operators to legalise their operations.

More than 63 traffic fines with a value of R70 800 were issued during the operation to motorists for different offences such as using cellphone while driving, seatbelt, overloading and driving without driving license.

A Zimbabwean citizen who is an accountant, was further arrested for driving a white ford bantam with a fraudulent vehicle license disc. The fraudulent disc was detected through the Number Plate Recognition System (NPRS), and two vehicles were discontinued for unroadworthiness.
-TDN
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Cape Town – A quarter of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigations proclaimed by President Jacob Zuma over the past six years have been completed, the presidency announced on Friday.

In an update on the state of the 36 proclamations he signed since 2009 – a total that includes five extensions to proclamations – it said nine investigations were completed and the final reports submitted to the presidency.

The remaining 27 investigations were still ongoing.

Among those completed was the SIU investigation regarding SABC personnel, which included undisclosed or unauthorised conflicts of interest with service providers.

“Twenty-eight criminal cases have been referred to the police, nine for fraud and 19 for the contravention of the Companies Act… In addition, 464 disciplinary cases have been referred to the SABC for recommended action.”

On the SIU investigation into under-spending or misspending by the arts and culture department during the period 2007 to 2009, in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup, the presidency said seven criminal cases, involving a total of R2.4m, had been handed to the police.

“Acknowledgements of debt have been obtained to the total value of R351 000.”

Other completed investigations included those into the finances of various municipalities, including the George, Stellenbosch, Oudtshoorn and Swellendam local municipalities in the Western Cape.

Investigations still ongoing included SIU probes into the affairs of the SA Social Security Agency, the SA Police Service, the State Information Technology Agency, the SA Post Office, and the departments of rural development and land reform, and water affairs.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The DA on Friday expressed concern about alleged interference in the investigation of cruelty to animals at NCOP chairperson Thandi Modise’s North West farm.

The Veterinary Defence Association had confirmed that one of the surgeons investigating the case had been threatened, Democratic Alliance North West leader Chris Hattingh said.

“The DA, apart from being concerned about the pressure excreted [sic] upon Dr Abbas, will add the latest revelations to our charge… registered at the Buffelshoek SAPS, as evidence of attempts to defeat the ends of justice accumulates,” he said in a statement.

Last month, police and inspectors from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) found starving and dead animals on Modise’s farm Modderfontein, near Potchefstroom, North West.

100+ dead animals

About 85 live pigs had begun cannibalising 58 dead pigs, and were reportedly drinking their own urine.

Sheep, geese, goats, and ducks were also among the more than 100 dead animals. Many had to be put down.

It appeared the animals had been without water and food for a week, possibly two. There were no farmworkers on the property, no electricity, and the water pumps were broken.

The Mail & Guardian and Beeld newspapers reported that the vet who performed the post mortems on several pigs’ carcasses refused to have anything more to do with the case.

Sameer Abbas, a veterinary surgeon practising in Potchefstroom, also refused to hand over his report to the NSPCA.

The society has laid charges against Modise and people living on the farm.

Claims of farm manager threats

Hattingh said Modise had promised to co-operate with the investigation.

“We have seen nothing of this co-operation yet. Instead reports of attempts to prevent NSPCA officials from doing their work emerged.”

On Tuesday, Modise’s farm manager Neo Moepi denied threatening two NSPCA inspectors with violence, claiming he had saved them from harm at the hands of farmworkers.

Earlier that day, Moepi and a farm manager allegedly threatened to kick the inspectors’ car and set it alight, and grabbed a cellphone and erased recordings.

The altercation allegedly happened last Friday, when the inspectors visited Modise’s farm to evaluate the animals.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Massive plumes of smoke can be seen from the Johannesburg CBD after a building in End Street was allegedly petrol bombed, according to reports.
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Johannesburg – A number of power cuts are expected in Soweto in the coming weeks due to maintenance on Eskom infrastructure, the power utility said on Friday.

The outages would take place on Tuesday from 09:15 to 23:00, on Wednesday from 09:30 to 23:00, and on Thursday from 09:15 to 23:00, Gauteng spokesperson Lerato Nkosi said in a statement.

The following Monday and Tuesday electricity would be disrupted from 09:15 to 23:00.

“Eskom apologises for the inconvenience caused, and further requests customers not to report this particular fault to the contact centre,” she said.

SAPA

Despite Mamelodi Sundowns announcing that Edward Manqele has joined Chippa United on loan, the striker is still training at Chloorkop.

Manqele was recently put on special training programme to shed a few kilos, but the club then shipped him off to the Chilli Boys, who will this season play out of Port Elizabeth.
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New Mamelodi Sundowns signing Mogakolodi Ngele will not play against his former club when the Brazilians meet Platinum Stars in the MTN8 quarter-finals.

The Botswana international has signed a five-year deal with Sundowns but has been loaned back to Dikwena for the 2014/15 season.

Sundowns’ website has confirmed the transfer of Ngele, and KickOff.com has gathered that due to Sundowns rules which forbid loaned-out players from playing against their parent club, Ngele has been ruled out of tomorrow’s fixture.

Lindokuhle Mbatha, however, could face his former team after joining Sundowns from Stars at the end of last season.
For more http://www.kickoff.com