Johannesburg – About four million people are not registered as voters in the 2014 general election, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Saturday.

“According to the IEC [Independent Electoral Commission], four million young South Africans are not registered to vote in next year’s election. 

“Four million. And many of them are potential DA voters,” she said in a speech prepared for delivery at a rally in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town. 

“Registering is the first necessary step to winning. I cannot emphasise it enough: We can only win if we can register enough people on the registration weekend on 9 and 10 November.”

Zille said it was important for every person to play a role in changing South Africa for the better.

“It means a growing economy with more jobs, better schools, more service delivery to the poor, and less corruption,” she said.

“From here, if we register enough people to vote next year, we can win. We can win in the Western Cape, we can win in Gauteng, and we can lay the groundwork for… a DA government to the whole of South Africa.”

SAPA

A man has been arrested after he was found in possession of drugs worth more than R800,000 at the Lebombo border post between South Africa and Mozambique. It’s understood authorities discovered five boxes of a green plant in the suspect’s vehicle on Friday night. The police’s Marika Muller says the drugs have been identified by authorities as ‘khat’. “It’s a stimulant. It’s essentially part of a shrub, mainly grown in east Africa, and one of the compounds it contains is something called cathinone which is a quite heavy hallucinogenic substance and it’s illegal in South Africa.” The man is due to appear in court soon. Earlier this month, police reported a massive bust after a police constable and a South African Revenue Service (Sars) employee were arrested for allegedly mishandling drugs at the same border post. The policeman had allegedly discovered R3 million worth of cocaine in a taxi travelling from Mozambique and called the Sars employee to take the drugs home. The taxi driver was also arrested.

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

ABSA Premiership

Full Time: Free State Stars 0-0 Platinum Stars

Date: 14 September 2013

Venue: Goble Park

Despite both side’s playing an attacking brand of football the Absa Premiership match between Free State Stars and Platinum Stars at Goble Park on Saturday ended 0-0 as both teams fired duds in front of goal.

There was no shortage of action on the day as both teams pushed forward, but for all their efforts their shooting on goal was rather poor.

Both teams had well over 15 shots on goal, but the majority of those were off target.

Free State did do most of the attacking and when they did manage to get a shot on target they found Siyabonga Mpontshane in their way, the Dikwena keeper having a superb game between the sticks.

In the fourth minute Mpontshane was called into action for the first time when he denied a powerful shot from Adam Abdul-Basit.

In the tenth minute Danny Venter thought he had found the opening goal, but again Mpontshane produced a fine stop to keep the scores level.

Venter turned provider in the 25th minute when he supplied a pin-point cross for Abdul-Basit, but the Free State man headed his effort agonisingly wide.

The away team were not really to threatening in attack and when they did have shots on goal they were straight at Daniel Agyei who made relatively easy saves.

The second 45 was more of the same as both teams wasted good chances in front of goal.

Platinum Stars were the first to attack in the 50th minute as Issa Sarr met a Vuyo Mere cross, but his header went wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.

In the 65th minute Robert Ng’ambi met a cross with a good header, but the Platinum Stars man failed to hit the target.

Neither side was able to penetrate the others defence as the game ended 0-0.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-North West University (Potchefstroom campus) mourns the passing of one of their own students who perished in a car accident.

Deidre Nel (21), a third-year human movement studies student at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus died on campus shortly after 2am on Thursday when the driver lost control of the car in which she was a passenger.

Deidre, a member of the women’s residence Bellatrix, died on impact. 

“She was one of five passengers; the other four, also students, were not seriously injured” said police.

The University’s trauma counsellors and the police were called to the scene immediately.

“The University wish to convey our deepest condolences to Deidre’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. There is nothing as tragic as a young life cut short” said University spokesperson.-TDN

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Johannesburg – A 4-year-old girl has died after being knocked down by a bakkie in Ashburton, KwaZulu-Natal paramedics said on Saturday.

The accident occurred on Friday.

ER24 said the girl was part of a group of children who were playing near the road where a few shacks have been built.

She then went into the road.

“The reason as to the little girl running into the road is not yet clear, but the area where the tragedy took place is in a poorly visible area with a bend in the road and in a dip,” said ER24.

Paramedics said the girl was so badly injured that nothing could be done to revive her. 

She was declared dead on he scene.

The bakkie driver was not injured.

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Johannesburg – The death toll of an accident in Fields Hill, Pinetown, has risen to 23, KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo said.

One of those injured in the accident had died in hospital on Saturday morning, he said.

There were no further details.

On 5 September, 22 people were killed and many injured when an articulated truck rammed into four minibus taxis and two cars at the intersection of the M13 and Richmond Road.

A huge crowd gathered in Hammarsdale on Saturday for the funeral of four of the victims. Among the mourners were several high profile dignitaries including eThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo, KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture MEC Meshack Radebe and Dhlomo.

Former provincial premier and current African National Congress Treasurer General Zweli Mkhize also attended.

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By Obakeng Maje

Atamelang-North West police are investigating an inquest docket after three kids died on Thursday at Vrisgevaagte village, near Atamelang.

Sergeant Kealeboga Molale said three kids were allegedly playing outside the house on Thursday and later on their parents could not locate them.

“Three children were allegedly found in an old unused frigerator near a kraal. Three kids aged between 3 and 4 were last seen playing outside the house in the area” Molale said.

Parents with a help of a community lauched a search but that did not yield any results.

The three bodies of the deceased were allegedly found in a freezer by an old man in the area.

“Three bodies were allegedly found in an old unused freezer near a kraal. They were found by the old man in the area” she said.

Police suspect no foul play and the case investigations continue.

It is alleged that the kids might died from suffocation.-TDN

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Johannesburg – Two people were killed in a car accident on Umngeni road towards Durban, KwaZulu-Natal paramedics said on Saturday.

Rescue Care spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said the incident occurred at around 22:20 on Friday evening.

He said the driver appeared to have lost control of the vehicle and rolled numerous times before hitting a light pole.

“It is believed some of the occupants were ejected from the vehicle whilst it was rolling. Paramedics… found that two people were still entrapped in the wreckage and had unfortunately passed away,” said Jamieson.

Six other people who had been in the car were found lying on the side walk. They had sustained various injuries.

The six were taken to various hospitals in the area for further care.

The cause of the accident was being investigated.

SAPA

Johannesburg – SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) CEO Nazir Alli’s salary package has increased by R1.1m compared to the previous financial year, Beeld reported on Saturday.

According to the report, Alli presently received a total package of R3.061m and a bonus payment of R679 000.

In 2012, his total package was R1.919m excluding bonuses, according to Sanral’s yearly statements published this week.

Sanral received an unqualified audit, however the auditor general warned that the group’s situation needed to be watched. 

The AG said because of a R5.7bn cash injection from government, Sanral was no longer a concern, Beeld reported. 

Sanral’s balance sheet indicated it had an accumulated loss of R4.7bn.

Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona told the newspaper the company was not in trouble financially.

He said roads that were not tolled were financed by the Treasury and Sanral received about R10bn from government for them annually.

SAPA