SA top referee out of World Cup 2014


Brazil- Former South African referee of the Year, Daniel Bennett’s 2014 FIFA World Cup dream has been shattered after he was ruled out of the list of match officials to officiate at the 2014 World Cup tournament through injury.

Bennett was selected as support referee for the world football spectacle taking place in Brazil from 12 June -13 July 2014.

However, the diligent official picked up an injury in a routine training session at the Zico Centre in Rio on Tuesday, 3 June where the niggling injury was detected.

“The medical investigations revealed the seriousness of the injury which means a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks for cure. The main consequence is that Bennett will be unable to officiate and support matches at this 2014 FIFA World Cup,” said FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke in a letter to the South African Football Association (SAFA) and CAF.

The FIFA medical team still had hopes to help Bennett recover but their efforts were in vain to get him ready in time for the tournament.

“During these days, adequate rehabilitation (twice a day) has been provided to Mr Bennett, however, this represents an additional load on the medical team, which has to ensure recovery massage and specific treatments to referees and assistant referees actively involved in the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” said Valcke.

As a result, the FIFA Referees’ Sub-Committee meeting of June 9, 2014 decided to release and send Bennett home to ensure proper recovery. However, his assistant Marwa Range from Kenya will continue with his duties in Brazil as support assistant referee.

There will be no replacement for Bennett as FIFA believe they have sufficient cover.

“The quality of referees and assistant referees at the 2014 FIFA World Cup is paramount, and the support referees were implemented in order to provide a seamless transition when a referee or assistant referee must be replaced for any reason after the final selection has been made.

“At this stage of the competition, taking any referee who is not on the final list of selected match officials is counter-productive, since those referees did not partake in any official FIFA fitness tests nor all theoretical, tactical and physical sessions since January 2014 when the final list of referees and assistant referees was approved,” said Valcke.
-TDN
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‘Letsama Le bolotse’ to visit few schools unannounced


Bona-Bona- The MEC for department of Education and Sport Development in the North West province Wendy Matsemela has tasked the department’s senior management team to conduct unannounced schools visits to their designated schools on Thursday to track progress in teaching and learning and the general school environment.

For this cause, MEC Matsemela will be visiting Bona Bona Primary School in Bona Bona village in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district and Thulare primary School in Moretele in Bojanala district on Friday.

“Monitoring and evaluation programme in schools is a research-based tool to gauge the quality of teaching and learning conditions on the ground and forms part of the department’s key flagship programme, Le Bolotse Letsema campaign which was launched on the 25 April 2014 to intensify positive educational outcomes to schools across the province” departmental spokesperson Brian Setswambung said.
-TDN
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North West MEC of Education happy with mid-year exam progress


Mahikeng- The North West department of Education and Sport Development is happy with the progress of the mid-year examinations that has been registered so far.

“There have been no hiccups experienced during this period of the mid-year National Senior certificate (NSC) examinations” Mr Bernadus Nothnagel who is a Senior Accreditation Manager said.

The mid-year examinations which started on the 2nd June 2014 is written by 10 671 NSC candidates at 120 examination centres across the province and will finish on the 26 June 2014.

Marking for the examination will commence from 27th June until 4 July 2014.-TDN
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Maine to address housing developers in North West


North West MEC for Human Settlements and Local Government Collen Maine will today address developer’s forum attended by contractors contracted by the department to build houses for the communities of the province.

MEC Maine is expected to encourage contractors to build quality houses and complete projects and to submit their claims for payments on time.

“It is during this forum where the MEC, Head of the Department (HoD) and departmental senior management discuss and resolve challenges facing contractors in different housing projects in the province” MEC Maine said.

Unblocking of blocked housing projects, termination of non performing contractors and completion of projects on time are amongst issues to be addressed during the forum.

The provincial developer’s forum will be held as follows:

Venue:Rio Hotel (Klerksdorp)

Date:Wednesday 11 June 2014

Time:11H00
-TDN
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Land not yet chosen for Lwandle evictees


made on where evicted shack dwellers will be moved to in Cape Town, a national human settlements official said on Tuesday.

Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s spokesperson, Ndivhuwo Mabaya, told Sapa a meeting would be held at 17:00 to discuss the available options.

Sisulu would meet Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille and Western Cape human settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela.

De Lille on Monday requested an urgent meeting with Sisulu.

“We have a number of pieces of land that have been made available by Sanral and offers from private developers who have indicated that they are willing to assist,” Mabaya said.

About 800 people living on SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) land next to the N2 highway in Lwandle, near Somerset West, were evicted on Monday and Tuesday last week because of an interim court order.

Their shacks were demolished and set alight. Many lost their personal possessions and were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

Reports suggested shack dwellers had been transferred to Sanral land in Blackheath, a move that was met with resistance by families already living in the largely residential area.

But Mabaya said this was a group of young people who had got bored of sitting in the Nonzamo community hall and decided to go to the land.

“We don’t encourage that,” he said, adding that any piece of land would first need various authorisations and zoning approval from the city.

“We appeal for the mayor [De Lille] to give us an exemption so that we can offer for now to resolve that problem. If so, in 24 to 36 hours, we can have those people out of the hall.”

The evictees apparently had mixed views about the land options.

Mabaya said it was the government’s responsibility to ensure the land was close to the right schools and to Strand, where many were employed.

He said at some point, the city would be vetting the individuals to see if they actually qualified for government housing and were citizens of the country.

This would play a role if or when the city decided to build RDP houses for them or move them to a housing development.

On Monday, De Lille said once the necessary legal and land use approvals had been granted, she would be able to provide emergency housing kits to the evictees.

“If these processes are ignored, then it is only likely that a new set of problems will be created in relation to this matter and the rights of all those involved will be undermined.”

Congress of SA Trade Unions’ provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich on Tuesday accused De Lille of “politicising” the matter.

“We should have people resettled as a matter of urgency on land that is available. The technical details can be sorted out later,” he said.

“The city must provide basic services and ensure that the necessary regulations are put in place.”

SAPA

DA: Madibeng must be put under administration


By Obakeng Maje
Hartbeespoort- It is not raining but pouring at for Hartbeespoort residents if what has been reported is anything to go by. According to reports, Rand Water visited Hartbeespoort on Monday to cut-off the water supply after a default on payment.

Madibeng municipality allegedly failed to pay the supplier R1.4 million the owe.

Tshwane municipality allegedly disconnected Hartbeespoort’s power supply due to Madibeng’s R40 million debts towards it.

“I visited Brits reservoir with DA MP Leon Basson, and officials of Madibeng municipality as well as a representative from Rand Water. It is clear that the problem is being  caused by a faulty valve” DA spokesperson in North West Tiaan Kotze said.

Kotze said clearly the municipality is not able to meet its own financial obligations, or maintain its infrastructure.

The DA will urge the Minister of Co-operative Government to place the Madibeng municipality under administration as soon as possible.

“Taxpayers paying monthly for water, power and municipal services, have suffered under the mismanagement that no longer can be tolerated and has led to continued rioting in the Madibeng area” Kotze said.
-TDN
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‘North West police ordered to arrest perpetrator as Bloem is another town in SA’


Mahikeng- North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Gaoage Oageng Molapisi calls for the arrest of a filling station owner who allegedly assaulted a 9 year-old boy in Ganyesa.

A case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm was registered at the Ganyesa police station following allegations that a 9 year-old boy was handcuffed and electrocuted on Wednesday 28 May 2014, by the owner of Disipi filling station.

According to the information, the police took the child to the local clinic where he was examined and also established that he was injured, but had no fracture.

“The mother was allegedly advised to lay a charge on behalf of the child, which she only did after three days” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.

The police confirmed that the suspect is not yet arrested and said it is alleged that he is in Bloemfontein.

MEC Molapisi said the suspect must be arrested and face the full wrath of the law and charges be proffered against him.

“Gone are the days where people were handcuffed and electrocuted, we cannot accept that kind of action in 20 years of freedom and democracy,” said Molapisi.

However, the MEC further expressed his confidence to the South African Police Service that they will leave no stone unturned to arrest the suspect.

“Bloemfontein is just another town within South African, nothing will hinder with the arrest of the suspect and we also have trust on our justice system that the case will be investigated and give a fit judgement,” concluded Molapisi.
-TDN
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Justice to host an international conference on access to legal aid in criminal justice system


Johannesburg- The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in partnership with Legal Aid South Africa, International Legal Foundation, United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime will host an International Conference on Criminal Legal Aid in Criminal Justice System from 24-26 June 2014.

The three days conference is aimed at addressing the global challenges of ensuring access to quality criminal legal aid services for the poor. It will also provide a unique opportunity to focus attention on developing effective strategies to meet the criminal legal aid services needs to the poor.

Furthermore the conference will widely promote and publicise the recently developed United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice System. These Guidelines and Principles outline key standards and contain detailed guidance on providing effective criminal defence services.

“The conference will bring together a wide range of governmental, intergovernmental and civil society sectors and experts to share and build upon successful strategies for effective criminal legal aid delivery” departmental spokesperson Mpho Phasha said.

Date:  24 June 2014

Venue: Birchwood hotel

Time: 09:00
-TDN
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North West boy mentally-ill after being harassed by white racist

NEWS Leave a comment

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By Obakeng Maje
Ganyesa- The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West has learned that a white racist farmer who owns a shop at Ganyesa in Kagisano- Molopo assaulted a young 9 year-old boy in an attempt to kill him, as the assault includes tying him with snakes around the neck and a chain around the body.

“It is alleged that the boy was stole a small packet of chips and that is why he was so brutally assaulted in a racial manner. It is also reported that the same white man has many snakes that he uses to intimidate African black people, including two old women who have collapsed when they were intimidated with those snakes” Cosatu provincial secretary general Solly Phetoe said.

A case has been opened with the police since 2nd June 2014, with case number 93/05/2014. The name of the boy is Keobakile Gabafediwe, and his mother is Miss O Gabafediwe’s; her contact number is 0765948890. But up to today the white racist man has not been arrested and we are told he has ran away to Bloemfontein, says Phetoe.

“Today the communities around the local village were on their way to demand the arrest of the man and they found that he was not there. They demanded that all the shops and the petrol station must be closed but the police refused and it is alleged that, in front of the police, a business man pointed a gun at the community members who were demanding the station to be closed” He said.

Cosatu call on the police to intervene and arrest the white racist man and the man who pointed the gun during this engagement in front of the police, and also to investigate all the allegations against the white man and the allegation of corruption against some of our police in the area for the way they are treating this rich white man who uses his money to kill poor people.

“We are told that the young man is now mentally-disturbed with many injuries including a broken arm. The white racist must take responsibility of all the costs including paying for all that he did and spend his life in jail for what he did to our young boy. We are told that the man will be appearing in court on Monday if he is arrested and we call on the police to oppose the bail until he gets a trial date” Phetoe said.
-TDN
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Babuseng’s alleged killer back in court

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Taung- A police officer accused of shooting dead a protester appeared briefly in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The case against Malusi Maila was postponed to June 26 for further investigation.

Magistrate Delise Smith said the director of public prosecutions had to decide whether the matter would be heard in the high court or not.

Maila was one of four police officers arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Tshepo Babuseng, 28, but was the only one charged with murder.

Babuseng was shot dead when residents of Durban Deep, Roodepoort, barricaded roads with stones and burning tyres in a protest over a lack of housing in January.

He was granted R5000 bail during a court appearance on January 28.

-Sapa