Upington – Northern Cape premier Sylvia Lucas used her official credit card to spend R53 159 on fast food during her first 10 weeks in office, the Sunday Times reported.

Lucas spent R26 565 on food in one month, according to the report.

She was inaugurated as premier on 30 May.

According to the Sunday Times, she spent R11 956 on food in Kimberley, where she lives in the official premier’s residence, in August.

Treasury guidelines stipulated that official credit cards were for “when the executive authorities are away on official duties outside the province”.

Between 16 July and 2 August, Lucas spent more than R2 000 at her local SuperSpar, the Sunday Times reported.

Lucas reportedly told the newspaper the shop was conveniently “close to her home”.

“When we go out of Kimberley, we go to the SuperSpar and we buy water and Powerade and cool drinks. We need Powerade for the energy, you know,” she was quoted as saying.

“How would we have eaten if we didn’t use taxpayers’ money?”

When asked about using taxpayers’ money on fast food, Lucas referred questions to Ramona Grewan, her chief of staff.

She said Grewan and the PA in the office Nondzame Matika were in possession of the credit cards and signed off on all the spending.

She reportedly told the Sunday Times it was impossible for her to spend the money in Kimberley when she was mostly out of town.

According to the newspaper, Grewan said there were two credit cards, the one Matika had and the one Lucas had. She said she did had not given authorisation for the spending.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Makaziwe Mandela has come out in support of her lawyer who earlier said that Nelson Mandela was in a “permanent vegetative state” and has even offered to take the stand in his defence at a disciplinary hearing.

According to the Sunday Times, this information has emerged in submissions by Wesley Hayes, who has a complaint lodged against him with the Cape Law Society, for alleged misconduct and misleading the High Court in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, lodged the complaint following a bitter legal battle with his aunt and other family members over the burial site of Mandela’s three deceased children. A court ruled against Mandla recently and he was forced to exhume and rebury the remains in Qunu.

Hayes implied that Mandla harbours a grudge against him after he represented and won all 11 cases brought against the ANC MP by his extended family. 

By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison Nono Maloyi together with Premier Thandi Modise and National Human Settlements Minister Connie September will handover 1000 Title Deeds for ownership of houses to the communities of Tlokwe.

MEC says the long awaited title deeds will serve as a basic to create wealth for the beneficiaries.

Maloyi will further handover low cost houses to deserving beneficiaries in the area. 

“The two events which would take place in two consecutive days are informed by the MEC’s intentions to promote ownership and restore dignity to the people on the North West and the country at large” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.

The two events which are scheduled to take place as follows:

1.Handover of Title Deeds

Date            : 16 September 2013

Time           : 10:00am

Venue        : Chris Hani Community Hall in Ikageng Location

2.Handing over of Low Cost Houses

Date           : 17 September 2013

Time           : 14:00

Venue        : Next to the Sarafina Library (Ikageng)-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Cele emerges as key player in the ANC’s election campaign ahead of 2014 poll.

The Cat in the Hat is back. And back with a bang.

Bheki Cele, the former national police commissioner, has returned from the political wilderness and emerged as a key player in the ANC’s election campaign ahead of the 2014 poll.

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

Johannesburg – Cosatu is expected to finally bring charges of serious misconduct against its suspended leader Zwelinzima Vavi and institute a formal disciplinary process when its executive committee meets on Monday.

According to the Sunday Independent, Cosatu will also add charges related to “missing” money allegedly spent on flights and accommodation for Vavi. In addition, the embattled leader is expected to be charged over not following correct procedure when appointing his office lover, Jacqueline Phooko.

The executive committee meanwhile is due to be given a progress report on Monday into the investigation over claims relating to maladministration against Vavi and the federation’s internal strife.

This comes after Vavi, the metalworkers union Numsa and two other unions, asked the South Gauteng High Court to overturn his suspension this week stating his suspension was unconstitutional. The court postponed the application to next month.

For more w.news24.com

Johannesburg – Former communications minister Dina Pule has incurred almost R1.2m in legal fees in three matters that include her defence before the Press Ombudsman, Parliament’s joint ethics committee and the public protector.

Communications Minister Yunus Carrim told parliament that costs incurred thus far totalled R1 187 148.82 and that this was not the final tally, reported the Sunday Independent.

This response was in answer to DA MP Marian Shinn’s request for a breakdown of legal costs for each of the three matters.

As a rule, the state covers these expenses although it is not clear whether it will cover expenses incurred by Pule after she was sacked. She faces an ongoing probe by the public protector over the alleged disappearance of millions of rand from the R25m sponsorship of the 2012 ICT Indaba.

The Hawks meanwhile confirmed last week that its corruption probe is also continuing. Last month Parliament’s joint ethics committee found Pule guilty of having wilfully misled Parliament over her relationship with businessman Phosane Mngqibisa who was paid a staggering R6m at the time of the indaba in “management” fees.

For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – Five men were arrested in Inanda on Saturday for possession of suspected stolen copper, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Captain Thulani Zwane said police acted on a tip-off which led them to a house in Esikebheni where copper cables were found.

“The copper that was found is estimated to be worth more than R1m,” said Zwane.

Zwane said the copper belonged to the eThekwini municipality.

“It is believed that the men cut the copper cables from the electric poles in the Inanda area.”

They are due to appear in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

SAPA

Pic: (Water canal were the victim was allegedly bein raped)

By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-North West police are investigating a rape case after a Carletonville woman was allegedly gang-raped at Extension 6, near Ikageng township in Potchefstroom.

Police said a woman,29, was gang-raped while heading back to Carletonville after visiting family.

“A case of rape was registered after a woman, 29 was allegedly being raped by five men” police correspondent Kelebogile Trom told Herald newspaper.

The atrocity took place on Sunday last week and no one has been arrested yet.

“Five men covered their faces with balaclava pounced on us as I was walking in the street along with my friend. They stabbed her and she fled the scene” victim told Herald newspaper.

A woman said the suspects allegedly dragged her to a dessicated water canal nearby where the atrocity took place.

“They assaulted me while taking turns on raping me. They eventually ran away when they heard ambulance siren” she relives.

She said the suspects bludgeoned her with a sharp object and plea to Tlokwe municipality to close open water canal and instill lights to reduce commission of crime in the area.

Police investigations continue.-TDN

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ABSA Premiership

Result: Chiefs 2-0 Maritzburg

Date: 14 September 2013

Venue: FNB Stadium

Knowledge Musona bagged his first goal of the season as Kaizer Chiefs secured a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night.

The Zimbabwean was on target for the Warriors in their win over Bafana Bafana earlier this week and continued that form with a first-half strike against the Team of Choice. George Lebese then wrapped up the win after the break after replacing the goalscorer

The forward had the first good chance of the game 13 minutes in as he somehow burst through the defence but Shu-aib Walters came out to smother his shot. The rebound looked set to fall for Bernard Parker but Walters got a vital touch to force Parker to send the ball over the empty goal.

Parker then saw his ferocious strike from distance tipped over the crossbar while Siphiwe Tshabalala rifled a shot wide of the target with the goalkeeper scrambling.

Kingston Nkhatha found himself in the referee’s book after sliding in on Walters and catching the goalkeeper while Ruben Cloete sent a venomous strike whistling past the post with Itumeleng Khune beaten moments later.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 37th minute when Tshabalala’s strike was deflected onto the inside of the post and it fell for Musona who powered a shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

No more goals arrived in the first period as Chiefs held their lead at the break.

Chiefs looked to try and kill off the game after the break and saw Musona smash a shot on the turn into the midriff of Walters.

Rheece Evans then missed a chance to pull the game level in the 62nd minute when he attacked the ball at the far post and put it just over the crossbar.

Musona then hit a dipping shot just over at the other end before Nkhatha missed two chances – hitting one straight at Walters before guiding another off target.

George Lebese would finally end Walters’ resistance with his first touch after coming on to replace Musona as he tucked away the rebound after Reneilwe Letsholonyane had been denied by the shot-stopper.

Chances continued to flow for Chiefs with Nkhatha, Tshabalala and Parker failing to bury good opportunities but the hosts had already done enough to secure the spoils.

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Morgan Gould, Tefu Mashamaite, Tsepo Masilela, Willard Katsande, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bernard Parker, Knowledge Musona, Kingston Nkhatha.

Maritzburg: Shu-aib Walters, Mario Booysen, Robyn Johannes, Ruben Cloete, Rheece Evans, Thami Mkhize, Ryan De Jongh, Michael Morton, Dillon Sheppard, Ashley Hartog, Terrance Mandaza.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

CAF Champions League

Result: AC Leopards 1-0 Pirates

Date: 14 September 2013

Venue: Stade Municipal Denis Sassou N’Guesso

Orlando Pirates failed to deal with a plucky AC Leopards as they suffered a 1-0 defeat in their CAF Champions League group stage match in Dolisie on Saturday.

The Sea Robbers had arguably the two best chances of the first-half, both falling to Lennox Bacela but both were wasted as the deadlock remained. Leopards then turned up the heat after the break and secured the win

AC Leopards showed their intentions to push forward early on and won a free-kick on the edge of the area but their first shot hit the wall before the rebound was smacked wide.

Daine Klate responded with a set-piece for Pirates in the 16th minute but the winger could only send it straight at the goalkeeper.

Bacela should have done better with a ball played over the top moments later but he hesitated waiting for the offside flag and the goalkeeper scrambled to get a vital touch on the ball and it was cleared.

Bhebey Ndey then hit a shot off target at the other end before Senzo Meyiwa made a superb diving save to keep out a curling strike at goal. Leopards worked the ball to the edge of the area moments later but rifled a shot wide.

Bacela then missed the chance of the half as Patrick Phungwayo’s cross was deflected into his path but with time and space he scooped his volley off target as he struggled to get control of the ball.

Rooi Mahamutsa chested down a ball into the area with two minutes left in the first period but produced a real defender’s effort with a strike that sailed way off target.

Leopards showed their intentions at the start of the second-half with Ndey working Meyiwa just two minutes in.

Pirates seemed happy to sit back and soak up some pressure but that decision saw Leopards go all out in attack.

After sustained pressure, their ninth corner of the game would pay off as Meyiwa came off his line with no chance of collecting. The ball fell for Dimitri Bissiki who lashed his shot past the goalkeeper who was backtracking towards his line.

Leopards were looking for a killer second goal but Daine Klate would go close with 11 minutes to go as his free-kick curled just wide of the target.

Pirates struggled to deal with the difficult pitch in the dying minutes as they tried to mount a comeback and Leopards stood firm to secure the spoils.

The result opens up the group once again as Leopards move level on points with Pirates and Al Ahly – with the latter having the chance to move clear if they beat Zamalek on Sunday.

A further blow for Pirates will be the fact that CAF uses head-to-head in the group stages, meaning that their better goal difference would not be at their advantage should Leopards finish level on points with them at the end of the group stage.

Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa, Lucky Lekgwathi, Rooi Mahamutsa, Patrick Phungwayo, Siyabonga Sangweni, Lehlogonolo Masalesa, Oupa Manyisa, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Sifiso Myeni, Daine Klate, Lennox Bacela.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com