Bloemfontein – An SA Air Force member accused of murder appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The matter against Corporal Simphiwe Magudulela, 27, was postponed until 18 October for further investigation and to make arrangements for a possible psychiatric evaluation.

Magudulela was represented by a Legal Aid lawyer.

A man was killed and another wounded in a shooting at the Bloemspruit Air Force Base outside Bloemfontein at 02:00 on 1 September.

At the time, police said a member on duty had shot two colleagues.

One of the men died on the scene and the other was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

SA National Defence Force spokesperson Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said the circumstances leading to the shooting were being investigated internally. 

SAPA

Johannesburg – Comments about expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema made by an ANC Gauteng provincial executive committee (PEC) member do not reflect the party’s views, it said on Tuesday.

“We want to put it on record that the views expressed by the PEC member comrade Panyaza Lesufi are his personal opinions,” ANC Gauteng spokesman Dumisa Ntuli said in a statement.

“At no stage of any ANC Gauteng meeting (did) such views or discussion emerge,” he said.

On Monday, the Independent Online reported that Lesufi had called on the African National Congress to review its decision to expel Malema, who now leads the Economic Freedom Fighters.

He was quoted as saying: “The ANC still needs a Julius Malema, in so much as a Julius Malema cannot survive ‘outside of the ANC’, an organisation that made him what he is today.”

Lesufi said he respected the party’s decision to expel Malema two years ago, but that the decision might have been “too harsh”.

“Unlike (the Congress of the People), whose members left the ANC, these comrades were expelled, surely a decision that is within our powers to review.”

Ntuli encouraged Lesufi to raise his concerns at ANC meetings.

“The matter of the expulsion of Julius Malema has been fully exhausted in the internal processes of the ANC, his expulsion is now history.”

Malema’s expulsion from the party was finalised in April 2012. He was found guilty of sowing division in the party and bringing it into disrepute. He was found to have done so by unfavourably comparing the leadership style of President Jacob Zuma to that of former president Thabo Mbeki, and for remarks on bringing about regime change in Botswana. – Sapa

Johannesburg – A bus driver was killed and 10 people injured when a bus and a minibus taxi collided head-on in Regents Park, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, paramedics said.

“The driver of the bus, a man in his 40s, was ejected through the windshield of the bus and was found lying quite a distance from where the bus had come to rest against the street pole,” said ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson.

The driver was declared dead at the scene.

“The 10 occupants of the taxi miraculously survived the impact with only minor and moderate injuries, she said.”

The injured were treated on scene and transported to hospitals in the area for further care.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Support for President Jacob Zuma reached an all-time low among the youth this month, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

Conducted by Pondering Panda, the study found that 31% of 2 388 people questioned felt Zuma was doing a good job as president.

In April it was 37%.

“President Zuma’s support has taken a big hit in the last five months, with less than a third of young South Africans now feeling he’s doing a good job of running the country,” Pondering Panda spokesperson Shirley Wakefield said.

The Gupta wedding scandal, criticism from opposition parties like Agang SA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the fact that Marikana was still in the news, were some of the reasons for this.

“According to the latest survey, young black South Africans were the most likely to approve of the president’s performance, with 35% giving him the thumbs-up.

“In contrast, only 17% of whites and 13% of coloureds thought he was doing a good job of running the country.”

Zuma lost support among blacks and coloureds. His approval rating remained unchanged among white youth compared to the April survey.

Across the country

There were differences according to province.

“Respondents from KwaZulu-Natal were the most positive, but this was also where Zuma saw the biggest drop in support, from 57% in April to 48% in September,” said Wakefield.

“The Western Cape and Gauteng were the most negative, with only 19% and 23% of respondents from these regions respectively feeling that Zuma was doing a good job.”

The Free State was the only province where the president’s support grew, from 33% in April to 38% in September.

The survey showed a significant level of disillusionment with the political process. It also appeared to be an indictment of Zuma’s perceived ability as president, Wakefield said.

With next year’s elections approaching, Zuma would need to focus more on appealing to young people for his candidacy not to have a negative impact on the ANC at the polls, Wakefield said.

The respondents were aged between 18 and 34, and were interviewed on their cellphones across South Africa, excluding deep rural areas, between 3 and 10 September.

Responses were weighted to be nationally representative in terms of age, gender, and race.

SAPA

Embattled Northern Cape ANC leader John Block remains innocent until proven otherwise, the ANC said on Monday.

“The ANC will not allow itself to be pushed to take action on any matter, based on allegations,” said ANC Northern Cape spokesperson Gail Parker.

She said the party believed in the principle of innocent until proven guilty and this counted for Block, who faces criminal charges in court.

Last week, the Northern Cape High Court granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) a forfeiture order against property owned by Block to the value of R5.85m.

The forfeiture included 25 ordinary shares in Trifecta Resources and Exploration, given to him on 8 September 2006.

It also included the amount of R349 919, which was the value of renovations made by the Trifecta Group to a guest house belonging to Block in Upington.

NPA Northern Cape spokesperson Mashudu Malabi said Block did not oppose Friday’s application.

He was arrested by the Hawks with two other provincial ANC heavyweights Yolanda Botha and Alvin Botes earlier this year.

The case goes to court again in October 2013.

Corruption claims

The NPA alleges the Trifecta Group entered into a number of lease agreements with the Northern Cape department of social development in which the rentals, or rental space, were grossly inflated.

As a result, the Trifecta Group received or would receive, at the end of the lease agreements, rentals of R57m.

Friday’s order forms part of a series of freezing orders obtained by the AFU in the Trifecta matter against a number of Northern Cape politicians and officials in the department of social development.

Malabi said the case was part of the ongoing work of the Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT) set up by the Cabinet in July 2010.

It was set up to deal more effectively with large corruption investigations.

Parker said the ANC respected the work done by law enforcement agencies.

She said no one in the ANC was untouchable.

“Comrade John Block is a humble man, who is liked by the people of the province,” she said.

Parker said the ANC would nevertheless not stop taking action against anyone who was found guilty of wrongdoing in the party.

SAPA

Taung-Tourism authorities in the province have embarked on an offensive campaign to have less travelled areas in the province get exposure and help lure tourists in the process.

A joint venture between the economic development and tourism, the sport, arts and culture departments and the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) resulted in a media tour that took local journalists to hidden gems in the Taung area.

The move came on the back of the cultural calabash re-launch, the biggest entertainment festival on the Taung calendar. The calabash brings issues of culture and music to the fore but authorities want revellers to experience more than that.

There is an effort to make Taung the cultural city of North West, modelled on the Belgian capital, Brussels. One of the areas visited is the Taung Dam, about 15 minutes drive from the city. The area close to the dam wall offers water activities like canoeing and journalists had fun experiencing some of the activities.

Economic development department spokesperson Dumisa Seshabela said: “We decided to take journalists on this tour to make sure they are exposed to some of the places in and around Taung so that those who come for the calabash can take some time to visit and see the beauty this area offers.”

Seshabela added that the calabash had potential to substantially grow the Taung economy and every effort was being made to make sure local businesses were ready for multitudes that would come for the calabash.

“We decided to have the heritage and tourism celebrations synchronised and we worked with the sport, arts and culture department and the NWPTB so that we maximise the attention. This year’s theme is ‘Water is fun’ and we want people to experience activities on our water bodies like this Taung Dam.”

The North West is hosting this year’s World Tourism Day activities from September 25 to 27 and efforts to build interest towards the event are gaining momentum.

NWPTB spokesperson Mamaki Phoolo said: “We launched the domestic tourism campaign under the theme ‘nothing’s more fun than a Sho’t Left’ and we want people to experience the leisure of Taung in all its forms. We came here to ensure that less travelled areas of our province are exposed.”

Reports indicated that all accommodation facilities in Taung were almost fully booked for the three-day cultural calabash all those going have been encouraged to visit other areas of interest as well. Tour guide, Kagiso Legobe of Kay 2Ze Gee Tours would be on standby to help all those wishing to visit areas like the Taung Dam, the Taung Skull site and other entertainment spots in the area.

For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

Orlando Pirates have received a major boost ahead of Wednesday’s Absa Premiership match against Polokwane City with the news that striker Collins Mbesuma and midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo have recovered from their respective injuries and will resume full training this week.

Mbesuma and Ntshumayelo’s return will come as major boost for Pirates, who are on the back of a 1-0 loss to AC Leopards in the CAF Champions League.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Erick Mathoho and Knowledge Musona both trained with Kaizer Chiefs’ first team yesterday and will be available for selection tomorrow night.

Mathoho was left out of the squad for the Maritzburg United game last weekend after he felt some pain in his thigh, while Musona was substituted in the second half due to stomach cramps.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

The draw for the Telkom Knockout took place on Monday night and saw defending champions Bloemfontein Celtic drawn against last year’s losing finalists Mamelodi Sundowns.

Bloemfontein Celtic lifted the domestic trophy last season, with Clinton Larsen’s troops seeing off the likes of Orlando Pirates, Free State Stars and Chippa United to secure a place in the final – where they beat the Brazilians 1-0.

Orlando Pirates will meet play-off winners Mpumalanga Black Aces, with Aces being the home side in the clash.

Fellow Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs will also take on one of the promoted sides – with Amakhosi travelling to Polokwane City.

The Dube Birds, Moroka Swallows, with host University of Pretoria in their opening clash of the cup competition.

SuperSport United face an interesting opening tie as they will hosts Ajax Cape Town while Free State Stars will be at home to AmaZulu.

Clever Boys, Wits, take on Golden Arrows while last season’s ABSA Premiership runner’s up Platinum Stars host the Team of Choice, Maritzburg United.

Full Draw is as follows:

SuperSport United v Ajax Cape Town

Bloemfontein Celtic v Mamelodi Sundowns

Free State Stars v AmaZulu

Wits v Golden Arrows

Platinum Stars v Maritzburg United

Mpumalanga Black Aces v Orlando Pirates

Polokwane City v Kaizer Chiefs

Moroka Swallows v University of Pretoria
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Bloemfontein – The situation at the Mangaung Correctional Centre, near Bloemfontein, is calm and under control, prison security said on Monday.

Some 311 workers at the maximum security facility went on strike from Thursday last week, and management brought in manpower from outside the city, said Andy Baker, head of G4S Africa.

“We have resources in South Africa from which we could draw. We have some 13 500 full time employees in South Africa,”

On Monday, prison management also had a prisoner riot to handle, which broke out in some sections.

“We have exceptional response teams for such situations which brought the riot under control within 30 minutes,” said Baker.

The prisoners burned blankets, broke toilets, windows and damaged some 40 porcelain basins they wanted to use as projectiles.

Baker said one man was taken to hospital due to the riot.

However, by 7pm on Monday the situation was calm and peaceful, Baker said.

He described the actions of the striking workers as frustrating.

G4S said workers had ignored a signed agreement to return to work on Thursday night.

“There is a possibility that workers would lose their work, because they are now busy with an illegal and unprotected strike,” said Baker.

The company said its first responsibility was to get the situation back to normal within the facility.

Baker said G4S has committed themselves to address the issues which led to the strike.

“We hope sanity would prevail and workers do the right thing by coming back to work in the right and legal way,” he said. – Sapa