Cape Town – Despite protest from opposition benches, the National Assembly adopted the revised protection of state information bill on Tuesday.

The highly contentious bill will now go back to President Jacob Zuma for assent after 225 MPs voted in favour of the proposed law, and 88 voted against it.

In September, Zuma referred the bill back to the assembly, citing two sections of the bill he deemed unconstitutional.

It was required to correct a cross-reference in section 42 and a punctuation error in section 45 that in effect rendered meaningless a hard-won safeguard on the state’s powers to classify information.

An ad hoc committee then pushed through 30 typographical and grammatical corrections to the bill.

Introducing the revised bill on Tuesday, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele said Zuma should be congratulated for identifying the technical errors in the bill.

“What caused the problem first of all… technical errors in the bill sent to him, some of them so material they could be challenged by members of public…,” Cwele said.

Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said opposition parties would continue in their effort “to not back down in the face of this assault” on democracy.

She singled out the definition of national security in the bill, which was too broad, infringing on South Africans’ right to access to information.

“The DA fully supports correcting anomalies… much more needs to be fixed and the honourable president knows this,” Mazibuko said.

She would again petition the president to not sign the bill into law.

“The DA will not give up fighting this bill. We will not stop until it’s brought completely in line with the Constitution.”

Several other opposition parties held similar views and said the bill remained open to a challenge in the Constitutional Court.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A bomb exploded in Bedfordview near the Eastgate shopping mall late Tuesday afternoon, Ekurhuleni metro police said.

“There was a bomb explosion at the corner of Bradford and Nicol roads in Bedfordview,” said police spokesperson Wilfred Kgasago.

He said metro police had no further information at this stage.

Eyewitness News reported the blast was at a shop owned by businessman Radovan Krejcir, who is currently fighting his extradition to the Czech Republic where he is facing a prison sentence.

Sapa was unable to reach Krecjir on his cellphone.

– SAPA

By Obakeng Maje
Christiana-North West police are investigating a case of inquest after an 8 year-old boy drowned in a quarry today at 15:00 at Gelukspoort Location, near Christiana.

“It is alleged that the boy went swimming with his three friends at a quarry at a known golf course. The police were called and the boy was certified dead at the scene” sergeant Kealeboga Molale said.
Investigation continues.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Klipdrif Farm- A 83 year-old woman allegedly attacked by unknown suspects at Klipdrif farm, near Wolmaransstad on Tuesday, North West police said.
Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said three suspects allegedly attacked a 83 year-old woman and four of her workers at her house in Klipdrift Farm.

“According to the information given, the suspects drove away with the victim and dropped her 200m away from her house and took the bakkie which was later recovered in Ottosdal. She suffered injuries on face and body as she was hit and kicked” Ngubane said.
Police investigation continue.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Doringhoek Farm-North West police are investigating a of house robbery and theft after a 50 year-old farmer was allegedly attacked at Doringhoek farm, near Wolmaransstad on Tuesday.

“A 50 year-old man was attacked in his house. According to information received, four suspects gained entrance through the door; they poisoned the dog then handcuffed and burnt the victim with boiling water on the buttocks” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

Ngubane said the suspects allegedly robbed an owner off his 20 diamonds worth R600 000.00, two revolvers and a Toyota bakkie which was recovered at Rooibult farm abandoned.

Police investigations continue and no one has been arrested yet.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
The Democratic Alliance has requested the Public Protector to investigate the way the municipality of Madibeng is handling a report of a task team appointed by the previous Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Richard Baloyi.

The team was appointed to investigate allegations of inter alia maladministration and corruption in Madibeng.

“The COGTA report was handed almost a year later to the municipality. A revised, tone-downed version of four pages was then tabled, but we are in possession of what we believe is the original version’ DA Chris Hattingh said.

DA said the version in their possession is in line with what the Minister told councillors during a meeting, but what he calls the “Troika” and senior municipal officials deny the existence of this report.
‘We have now asked the Public Protector to investigate the issue” he concludes.-TDN
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Mahikeng – North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Manketsi Tlhape, said her department in partnership with Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) is ready to deliver free and fair traditional council elections to be held in all traditional communities across the province, early next year. MEC Tlhape said this after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department and EISA.

EISA will assist the department with the running of the elections of 52 traditional councils in three districts namely Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Ngaka Modiri Molema and Bojanala Platinum District.

This is line with the Traditional Leadership and Governance Act of 2005. The Act provides for the establishment of traditional councils in traditional communities for a term of five (5) years.

“On the 23rd and 24th of November 2013 the registration of voters will take place at their neighbouring voting stations. Residents will be given an opportunity to nominate the person who will be elected into traditional council. The process will be followed by the actual elections of candidates on a date to be announced soon” she said.

MEC Tlhape emphasized the need for the traditional council elections. “The election process is not just a constitutional mandate but it’s also a cornerstone of our democracy and we are confident that the EISA has the necessary capacity. We are also hoping that this election will bring back stability in our traditional communities especially where there has been a constant conflict”, she said.

These elections were scheduled to take place in July this year but were postponed mainly due to low voter registration will take place before end of March 2014.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje

Vryburg-North West police arrested two suspects, one from Lesotho with dagga worth more than R500 000 near Vryburg.

Sergeant Kealeboga Molale said two suspects aged between 20 and 50 were allegedly arrested after police received a tip-off.

“Vryburg police received a tip-off from a member of community about a bakkie transporting dagga from Taung to Vryburg” Molale said.

A vehicle check point was set where a Nissan double cab vehicle was stopped and searched. 

“Upon searching the vehicle, members of Vryburg SAPS found 24 bags as well as 36 arms of dagga in the back of the vehicle. About 168 kg of dagga was confiscated valued at about R 504 000” she said.

The suspects appeared at Vryburg Regional Court on Tuesday.

Police said the incident took place on Saturday and investigations continue.-TDN

Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma is shocked at the deaths of 29 people in an accident involving a bus and a truck on the Moloto Road near Kwaggafontein, Mpumalanga, the presidency said on Tuesday.

“This carnage must stop. It is completely unacceptable. The fact that this particular road has gained notoriety… means there’s something wrong that we need to address together,” Zuma said in a statement.

“We also urge the law enforcement authorities to swiftly get to the bottom of the cause of this tragedy and the law must be firm on those found to have flouted any rules and regulations of the road, leading to such high fatalities.”

Twenty-nine people were killed and 30 were injured when a bus and a truck collided on Monday night. Zuma wished the injured a speedy recovery.

“On behalf of government and all South Africans, we send our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. May their souls rest in peace,” he said.

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has ordered an investigation into the accident.

“The investigation team consists of the Road Traffic Management Corporation and traffic authorities in Mpumalanga,” spokesperson Tiyani Rikhotso said.

The team would investigate the cause of the accident and recommend ways to prevent a repeat of such an accident.

SAPA

Pietermaritzburg – A prominent Pietermaritzburg doctor had to crawl to seek help early on Monday morning after being dragged into the bush and raped in upmarket Clarendon.

The doctor was found slumped against a gate on Villiers Drive, whimpering for help, witnesses said.

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