Public hearings about working conditions in the funeral undertaking sector will move to Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, on Wednesday, the labour department said.

Hearings had already been in held in other towns in province, including Springbok and Upington, spokesman Page Boikanyo said.

The purpose of the hearings was to determine minimum wages and conditions of employment for the funeral undertaking sector.

Hearings would be held next week in Bloemfontein, Welkom, and Phuthaditjhaba, in the Free State; and in Port Elizabeth, East London, Queenstown, and Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape.

“The drive will culminate with… [Labour Minister Mildred] Oliphant announcing a new wage for the industry at the end of March 2014, in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA),” Boikanyo said.

The process was being conducted by the Employment Conditions Commission (ECC).

The ECC comprises government officials, labour unions, and employers, and advises the labour minister on wages and other conditions of employment in vulnerable sectors.

Sapa

Johannesburg – A bail application brought by kwaito musician Brickz was postponed by the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Magistrate Piet Kotze said proceedings would resume on Wednesday.

Brickz, whose real name is Sipho Charles Ndlovu, has been in custody since November 1 for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl in March.

In an affidavit, he denied raping the girl and indicated that he intended pleading not guilty.

Warrant Officer Joel Ngobeni testified that Ndlovu was a violent man and a flight risk.

Ngobeni took over the case on Tuesday after the investigating officer fell ill.

He alleged that Ndlovu went into the girl’s bedroom and raped her, then threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

He further alleged that Ndlovu had contacted his wife from prison and told her to withdraw the case.

Ndlovu also allegedly went to the place where his wife and the girl were now staying and threatened to kill them.

“The suspect is a person who carries out the threats he makes,” Ngobeni told the court.

Isaac Mokgopi, for Ndlovu, asked Ngobeni how he knew about the case when he only took over on Tuesday.

Ngobeni said he had interviewed the girl and Ndlovu’s wife before appearing in court.

The court heard that Ndlovu was arrested and fined R1000 for drug possession in 2007.

Sapa

Kimberley – The mystery of the unknown fingerprint on a cooldrink glass outside the Griquatown farm murder house has likely been solved, the Northern Cape High Court heard on Tuesday.

“There is a reasonable possibility that the print on the glass was of Marthella Steenkamp,” fingerprint expert Phillip Bekker told the court.
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Cape Town – An arrest warrant was authorised on Tuesday for a former SABC account executive who failed to appear in court on multiple extortion charges.

Thembani Mazaleni, 36, was to have made his ninth appearance in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Cape Town on Tuesday, but failed to do so.

Magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg ordered that the warrant be held over until his next appearance on November 25, and be executed only if he failed to appear then.

Legal aid attorney Hailey Lawrence told the court Mazaleni was ill and she handed a medical certificate to the court.

According to the charge sheet, Mazaleni’s duties included the verification of invoices submitted for payment by the SABC’s service providers.

One of the service providers, translator Albertina Jaxa, did translations for the SABC in any of the country’s 11 official languages.

According to the charge sheet, Mazaleni started borrowing money from her, but failed to repay her.

Prosecutor Simon Leope alleges that the loans progressed to amounts that Mazaleni demanded from Jaxa, as “kickbacks” for work allocated to her by the broadcaster.

Leope alleges that Mazaleni threatened to stop her workflow if she failed to pay the kickbacks, and warned that she would lose her contract with the SABC if she “blew the whistle” on him.

Mazaleni’s alleged scheme also involved false invoices for work she had not done, for submission to her auditors.

Leope alleges that he extorted a total of R304 000, between 2007 and 2011.

It is alleged that Mazaleni also demanded that Jaxa fraudulently bill the SABC for work not done, for additional kickbacks.

Mazaleni faces 78 counts of extortion involving R304 000, and two of fraud involving a total of R43 080.

Sapa

Taung- North West Finance MEC Paul Sebegoe announced that a budget allocation of R176 million has been set aside to create 20 000 labour intensive initiative job opportunities. The MEC announced that it is expected that these job opportunities should be created as of 01 December this year at an average stipend of R2 200 per month per beneficiary.

These labour intensive job opportunities will be distributed equitably throughout the province with the view of reducing unemployment and creating jobs for the people of this province. It is expected that 5 652 jobs will be created in Ngaka Modiri Molema, 5 098 for Bojanala; 4 459 for Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and 4 791 for Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

Sebegoe indicated that the North West province is amongst the poorest provinces in the country with an unemployment rate of 24.7 per cent as at end September 2013, coupled with soaring levels of poverty, which is currently around 46 per cent; uneven spread of wealth as well as poor conditions of infrastructure that adversely affect the ability to attract potential investors.

“We can appreciate the fact that whilst government has put into place programmes that provide young graduates with practical workplace experience; huge employment demands still exist in the unskilled and semi-skilled sector of society. It is within that context that the provincial government has committed resources towards creation of labour intensive job opportunities in the province in order to address some of the immediate challenges government is facing”, said Sebegoe.-TDN
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North West province is satisfied with progress on capital projects in the province that are aimed at stimulating economic growth through infrastructure development; job creation and poverty alleviation.
Finance MEC said substantive progress has been registered in numerous infrastructure projects in the North West province. This was announced by Finance MEC Paul Sebegoe during the tabling of the adjustment budget in the provincial legislature which has been adjusted by an additional R1.8 billion.
The projects, most of which are either completed or near completion include amongst others the upgrading of the Mahikeng Airport runway, development of the road networks and clinics, schools and tribal offices. He added that the state of the art Brits hospital complex was completed in May.

“Some of the projects have been implemented by the provincial government to boost economic growth and development. Mahikeng Airport runway upgrading project which incorporates, instrument landing, ground lighting and runway, is at 70% completion stage and this lays solid foundation for the stimulation of the economic activity at the Airport and attraction of investors in the cargo, freight and logistics’ business fields,” said Sebegoe.

However Sebegoe said he was displeased at the low spending of the premier’s legacy projects which include the Taung Skull, War on Poverty and the Mahikeng Revitalisation projects.

“The relevance and significance of these projects cannot be questioned as they speak to the heart of service delivery, poverty alleviation and job-creation which remains government key priority programmes, however, the appointment of project managers in the Premier’s Office will help fast track the implementation of these projects through close monitoring.”

Sebegoe said while the country is still faced with major challenges of social inequalities, the national development plan provides solution to address them.

“As province we have moved swiftly during the tabling of the 2013/14 Provincial Budget to align Key provincial priorities with the national development plan which remains an overarching developmental path South Africa has adopted to address the socio-economic challenges we are facing as a country,” he told the legislature.

He indicated that the provincial planning commission is putting final touches to the provincial development plan tailor-made to address specific and peculiar socio economic challenges facing the province. Key priorities of the provincial development plan include employment through economic growth, mining collaboration strategy, tourism development and agro-processing and beneficiation development among other, The provincial development plan with be aligned to the national development plan.-TDN
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Mahikeng-The North West Provincial Administration received additional R1.5 billion to meet the increasing developmental needs of the people of the province. This was announced by MEC for finance Paul Sebegoe during the tabling of the 2013 adjustment budget, the thrust of which aims at “increasing efficiency within government and obtaining better value for money.

He said the fiscal path to be traversed was significant to build a solid, sustainable economy for advancement of growth and development and stimulation of investor confidence and interest in the province.

Sebegoe announced that although the provincial budget was reduced by R301 million in line with Executive Council resolution, it will be adjusted upwards by R1.8 billion as per sources of funding resulting in a net increase of R1.5 billion. Of this, R222 million is from national adjustment allocations and R849 is derived from provincial own revenues. The R1.5 million adjustment increases the provincial main budget from R28 billion to just over R30 billion.

Sebegoe indicated that whilst the spending trend to date is still lower than the expected target of fifty percent, the 4, 24 percent increase is encouraging as compared to the same period last year. In support of service delivery, provincial departments have been urged to increase spending of their budgets and avoid huge under-expenditure.

“Mindful of the service delivery backlogs and huge demands in the province, we have in recent year’s rigorously explored measures to increase spending and to that effect we had in recent years taken bold, decisive and correct decisions,” said Sebegoe.

The adjustment allocations outlines the provincial government’s commitment to sustain and support key government priorities, increase budget spending and enforce fiscal discipline, support budget cuts and redirects funds to other spending programmes and avoid under-spending amongst others.

Provincial departments received additional allocations as follows:

• Office of the Premier received an additional R15 million. An amount of R20 million was availed to the Provincial Legislature, Sport, Arts and Culture was allocated an additional amount of R38 million. An amount of R110 million is recommended to cater for budget pressures of the Department of health.

• An additional R20 million was availed to Public Safety and Liaison whilst Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism budget increased from R486.1 million to R555.8 million. Department of Finance received R37 million. Adding to that, the overall budget of this department has been reduced from R464. 5 million to R411.7 million which is 11.4 per cent decrease as a result of transferring Information Technology unit to the Office of the Premier.

• Education budget has now increased from R11 321.4 billion to R11 523 billion. Local Government and Traditional Affairs got a R25 million shot in the arm for implementation of section 139(b) interventions and revenue enhancement in municipalities amongst other. Total budget of this department has been increased from R431 million to R612.5 million.

• To improve the status of the road network in the province and the anticipated project time, an amount of R35.6 million was allocated to Public Works, Roads and Transport. Social Development received an additional R15 million bringing the total budget of this department has slightly decreased from R1 082.1 billion to R1 060.4 billion. Agriculture and Rural Development received an extra R28 million.

• A further R24.8 million was added in to the budget of Human Settlements for land acquisition to erect habitable shelters for the North West community.

Sebegoe appreciated the role played by business, labour and civil society in the fight against corruption and reiterated commitment by the provincial administration to root out the scourge.

He further said the cost-containment measures that were put in place have significantly contributed towards reducing risks of wasteful and fruitless expenditure in the province. The measures, added Sebegoe, helped to curb excessive spending on items that are unrelated to service delivery have also contributed in the effective management of provincial budget.-TDN
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By Kgatliso Ramose
Johannesburg-Orlando Pirates are picking up the pieces after losing the CAF Championship. The Buccaneers’ dream to rewrite the history of 1995 by winning the second star took a dent when they lost 3-1 aggregation score against the Red Devil of Africa, Al Ahly.

Back home they have a mountain to climb when they face the on-form and second on the Absa Premiership Supersport United at Lucas Moripe stadium November 23 on the Telkom Knockout semifinal.

Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund did not make things easier either for the surely exhausted Pirates after picking up five players from them to face the world number, Spain on the international friendly to be played on the 19 November, four days before Bucs face Matsatsantsa.

Their tight CAF Championship schedule which date back from 15 February saw Buccaneers playing only 3 Absa Premiership games so far and now they will have to play catch-up games as other teams played 9 to 10 games already.

However Bucs will desperately want to redeem themselves and the Continental championship experience will come in handy.-TDN
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Santos coach David Notoane is a players’ coach, and a man determined to see young players developing to their full potential.

For a 44-year-old, Notoane has vast experience in the game. As a distinguished striker, he enjoyed a successful playing career with Santos, also representing home-town club SuperSport United.

As a coach, Notoane has been part of the technical team at Golden Arrows, the National Under-23 side, and was also previously assistant to Ian Palmer at Santos.

As a football player in Atteridgeville in the 1980’s, there were not too many opportunities for youngsters to make a successful career in the game.

But Notoane was fortunate to have grown up alongside the late former Bafana Bafana assistant coach, Thomas Madigage, who became his friend and mentor, helping Notoane earn a move to SuperSport, the two of them also bonded by their faith in the Zion Christian Church.

“We were just a 20-minute-walk apart from each other in the township. He was residing at ‘Ou Stad’ and I was staying at ‘Black Rock’ section. I literally followed in his footsteps in life,” Notoane said in a tribute to Madigage last year.

Now as Head Coach of the Peoples’ Team, the easy-going Notoane, like Madigage, is a man that people warm easily to, making him well-suited to guide and develop the large contingent of youngsters within the Santos squad.

He also spent many years in the Santos development ranks, nurturing some of the exciting young players that are today making the most of their chance in the senior side.

Development is obviously something Notoane is passionate about, and he wants to play his part to ensure that Cape Town’s vast wealth of raw talent does not go untapped.

“If we can look better after the talent that is available in Cape Town, develop it properly, then you won’t have headaches of these players going up north,” he pointed out.

“I always say to my chairman, before we take a player from outside of the Cape, have we exhausted our talent identification program in terms of the local talent, giving it an opportunity first?”

Notoane has been able to forge personal relationships with many of his players from a tender age. Now he hopes that those bonds will see himself, his players, and the club, achieving their goals and ambitions:

“I have had a fortunate situation, because of the players in the current squad, I have worked with a lot of these boys from under-23’s in 2010. I said to them, then: my objective is to be in the PSL. In four, five, years I will be there, I hope some of them will still be with me in the PSL, because that is my ultimate goal as an individual.”

The Peoples’ Team are currently in a strong position in the NFD, sitting in third position and in the play-off zone.

There is however still a long way to go, and with five teams from Cape Town in the division, the Santos tactician believes that derbies will be crucial if the Lansdowne-based club are to challenge for honours.

“You have 24 points at stake [in the eight derby matches,” he explains. “And you have the history, the bragging rights, and all that comes with a derby. As a coach, how do you approach it?

“Derbies are not always the best of games, but that’s what they bring, lots of passion, lots of fighting and kicking, on the sidelines, on the field. I think there could be a lot of draws in the derbies, and maybe the away games will actually determine who is champion.”
Source: http://www.psl.co.za

For Platinum Stars captain Vuyo Mere success was something he was privileged enough to taste fairly early in his career.

The versatile defender was part of a thriving Mamelodi Sundowns squad during the mid-2000s when he went on to win two Absa Premiership titles and also twice won major cups.

He was just 22 when the was part of the Brazilians’ title-winning squad in 2005, and now, seven years on and vastly more matured and experience, Mere was the man to lift the MTN8 trophy when Dikwena claimed the first piece of silverware on offer this season.

“It’s a great feeling and a sweeter one in many ways,” he told PSL.co.za. “If you look at the brand of Platinum Stars, we’re still a developing brand, still trying to establish ourselves up there in order to compete with the best.

“It’s different because I’m now one of the senior players in the team here and all I wanted for youngsters here was to also taste the glory.

“So it was rewarding for me personally to help the youngsters to achieve that.”

“For me personally it was a great feeling to win the MTN8 with this club. Particularly as captain and as the leader of the pack, it was fantastic, although it was a team effort right from the coaching team to the players and the supporters. Everyone deserved credit.”

Mere describes coach Allan Freese as the real ‘father figure’ behind their drive to success and insists that their story is only the beginning of where they want to be in the near future.

Prior to his first trophy at the club earlier in the season, Dikwena had only won one major trophy in their history – the Telkom Knockout back in 2006.

“We have our objectives here at Platinum Stars,” the skipper says. “We did very well last season without any reward or anything to show for it.

“So we had to win something for ourselves to improve on what we did last season.

“We finished second and the only way to improve on that was winning the league and be number one. That’s still our ultimate objective.

“It’s not going to be an easy task, but it is a target. If we look at Orlando Pirates winning the treble, I mean if they did it, why can’t we?

“In fact why can’t we break their record and win all the trophies on offer. So that’s the positive mindset we are trying to set for ourselves. We want to compare and compete with the best. We want to be a team to be reckoned with.”

The 29-year-old Bloemfontein-born player also credits other senior players in the group for putting them on the map.

“I may be captain but lot of credit has to go to the other senior boys,” he added. “The likes of Benson Mhlongo, Henrico Botes, Robert Ng’ambi…and others. They’re making my job so much easier.

“The youngsters look up to these players and these players are so keen to part advice as well. It really is a combined effort here at the club.”

The Rustenburg club are currently third on the league table, four points off leaders Sundowns, and will face Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout semi-finals next weekend.
Source: http://www.psl.co.za