Cape Town – The development of rugby in the Western Cape goes beyond the simple argument of raw talent of players from previously disadvantaged areas versus those from established rugby schools and clubs.
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Potchefstroom – Pigs have been found starving and eating one another on a farm owned by National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairwoman Thandi Modise, the Sunday Independent reports.

Modise bought the multi-million rand farm Modderfontein, near Potchefstroom, around three years ago.

Police and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) officials made the discovery on Saturday.

The remaining 85 pigs on the farm had begun cannabalising the 58 dead pigs, and were reportedly drinking their own urine. Sheep, geese, goats and ducks had also died on the farm.

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.

Modise said she learnt of the neglect late on Saturday.

“I am not a farmer. I am trying to farm. I am learning. But if you are a woman and you are learning you are not allowed to make mistakes.”

She said the farm had a manager, who had a family emergency. His interim replacement had disappeared.

Sapa

Robega, North West – A 33-three-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife and sister-in-law and shooting and wounding a former girlfriend and her boyfriend, North West police said on Sunday.

“It is alleged that the suspect arrived at his wife’s parental home in Tlhabane where he shot and killed… (his) wife, 34, who died instantly,” Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said in a statement.

“The victim’s elder sister, 39, went outside to investigate after hearing a gunshot, but the suspect shot and killed her too.”

The man allegedly went on the shooting spree on Saturday morning.

He then fled the scene by car and went to his 33-year-old former girlfriend’s home in Robega village. He allegedly shot her and her current boyfriend, 35. Both were critically injured and taken to Chaneng clinic.

The man was arrested shortly afterwards and expected to appear in the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court soon.

Sapa

The strike at the Sun International resort in the North West has been resolved, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration said on Friday.

“After two days of CCMA-facilitated talks a settlement agreement was reached today at noon, bringing the strike to an end,” CCMA spokeswoman Laura Mseme said.

On Sunday, Sun International spokesman Michael Farr said about 160 people employed across the Sun City resort were under investigation for the theft of food and beverage consumables.

“Only 30 of these staff members are Sun City employees. The balance are employed by four external service providers,” he said at the time.

On Saturday, Cosatu regional secretary Solly Phetoe said hundreds of people working at the resort protested outside the premises.

The protesters were demanding the immediate reinstatement of between 200 and 250 of their colleagues, who were fired during the week.

Mseme said the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union, the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union, and Sun International business partners signed an agreement to end the week-long strike at Sun City.

“This once again demonstrates the level of commitment required from all parties to maintain stability in the South African labour market,” CCMA director Nerine Kahn said.

-Sapa

By Obakeng Maje
Klerkskraal- Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a 41-year-old male allegedly died in a motor vehicle accident on Saturday at about 00:05 on the Krugersdorp & Ventersdorp Road, N14.  

“It is alleged that the driver of the Toyota Condor that was carrying three passengers lost control of the vehicle and rolled on the side of the road. Two victims, a male and female were transported to Ventersdorp Hospital while the driver was certified dead on scene” sergeant Kealeboga Molale said.
-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
The North West police arrested a total of 554 suspects through various operations in the past seven days between 29 June 2014 and 06 July 2014 for Contact, Contact related, Property related, trio and many other crimes.

The arrests include 16 for Murder, 27 for Rape, 116 for Assault GBH and assault common,  27 for shoplifting, 16 for driving under the influence of liquor and 53 for drug related crimes. 

“The police managed to seize goods such as 9 firearms, counterfeit cigarettes and various electrical appliances during operation.  Most of the suspects have already appeared in different courts while others are expected to appear on Monday” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.
-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Hartbeesfontein- North West police are investigating a case of inquest after a 71 year-old man was allegedly razed in a blazing fire on Friday at Oblate Farm, near Hartbeesfontein.

Sergeant Kealeboga Molale said the man stayed alone in a shack while his family reside in a main house in the same yard.

“A 71 year-old man allegedly took a paraffin lamp to his room and sent his good-byes to his wife. The family was woken up by neighbours who saw the fire. The man was burnt beyond recognition and his shack was reduced to ashes” Molale said.

Police investigation continues and no foul play is suspected.-TDN
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Johannesburg – Twenty-six people have been arrested in Gauteng for intimidation, public violence and malicious damage to property as police monitor the metals and engineering strike, police said on Friday.

The 26 were arrested in connection with crimes committed over the past three days, police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini said.

Of these, 19 people were arrested in Elandsfontein on the East Rand after protesters, believed to be strikers in the metals and engineering industries, broke the gate of a business.

When police arrived, the crowd stoned their vehicles. Police used rubber bullets to disperse them.

In a separate incident in Benoni on Thursday, around 2 000 striking workers forced their way into a company and damaged equipment and computers. The damage was estimated at several million rand.

In Wadeville, also on the East Rand, nine people were arrested for allegedly breaking windows at a business premises.

“Although it is a protected strike and employees are allowed to picket, acts of violence will not be tolerated and police are ready to take action,” Dlamini said.

Majority union in the metals and engineering industries, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) embarked on an indefinite strike on Tuesday.

Several smaller unions have joined the strike.

Numsa is demanding a one-year bargaining agreement, including a 15% wage increase, a R1 000 housing allowance, and the scrapping of labour brokers.

On Thursday, the biggest employers’ organisation, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (Seifsa), tabled a three-year wage offer of between eight and 10% for different levels of workers in the first year.

The first category of worker was offered seven percent in 2015 and 2016, while the others were offered nine percent in the second year, and eight percent in the final year.

The National Employers’ Association of SA (Neasa) has offered eight percent, subject to an agreement for entry-level workers’ wages to be lowered and measures to make the industry more flexible.

Violence and intimidation

Neasa CEO Gerhard Papenfus said the employers’ demand relating to entry-level wages was aimed at boosting job creation.

He said around half of companies affected by the strike had reported violence and intimidation.

Seifsa also complained that some of their members had reported damage to property and violence accompanying the strike.

The federation’s CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba has written to national police commissioner Riah Phiyega twice, calling on police to prepare for a potentially violent strike.

Phiyega’s spokesperson Solomon Makgale confirmed on Friday that the letters had been received.

“The law makes provision for protest but clearly stipulates that such protest cannot be violent,” he said.

Seifsa has expressed concern that Numsa refused to sign a peace accord, and the matter has been referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Numsa was not available for comment on Friday.

In a statement on Thursday, however, spokesperson Castro Ngobese denied Numsa members were behind the crimes.

“Numsa condemns the spurious accusations being made by employers that our striking members are involved in acts of intimidation and vandalism.”

Responding to Seifsa’s letters to Phiyega, Ngobese said the union rejected this as an attempt to involve organs of state in the strike.

“Seifsa should not open unhealed wounds. Workers have not forgotten their comrades were slaughtered in Marikana by the police,” he said in a statement at the time.

Marikana shooting

On 16 August 2012, 34 people, mostly striking mineworkers, were shot dead at Lonmin’s platinum mining operations in Marikana, North West, in a clash with police. Police were apparently trying to disarm and disperse them.

Earlier on Friday, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry condemned strike-related violence and called on the police to arrest the perpetrators.

“The high economic costs and severe infringement on the rights of South African citizens indicate that government must intervene to avert anarchy,” CEO Neren Rau said in a statement.

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi said in a statement that the government condemned the violence attributed to Numsa members.

“While South Africans have the constitutional right to protest, intimidation and violence against those not participating in the strike will not be accepted,” she said.

“South Africa is a democratic country where concerns ought to be addressed within the framework of the law.”

The government called on employers and trade unions to work together to reach an amicable and speedy resolution.

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant is expected to meet Seifsa and Numsa later on Friday, following her meeting with Numsa on Monday, spokesperson Mokgadi Pela said.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Electricity supply to Pimville and Nancefield in Soweto, Johannesburg, has been restored following cable thefts, Eskom said on Friday.

“The power was restored on Thursday, 3 July 2014 at approximately 23:40 after replacing the damaged cables,” Eskom’s Gauteng spokesperson Reneiloe Semenya said in a statement.

Residents went on the rampage on Thursday morning following disruptions, and damaged cars as they protested.

About 15 cars were burnt and seven damaged by the angry protesters.

Police had to intervene to allow Eskom technicians to fix the cables.

“Eskom would like to thank the police, local councillors and the local authority for working with us throughout the incident yesterday in Nancefield and Pimville until supply was restored,” Gauteng general manager Peter Sebola said.

Police spokesperson Kay Makhubela said the situation was calm on Friday.

SAPA