New Mamelodi Sundowns signing Khama Billiat concedes that he is going to have to fight hard for his place at a star-studded Chloorkop.

The Zimbabwean has been on the radar of several PSL clubs, but it was Sundowns who finally got their man, considered to be one of the hottest properties in the Absa Premiership.

Billiat was announced yesterday (Monday) as the latest player to join Pitso Mosimane’s side, the Tshwane team already having signed the likes of Cuthbert Malajila, Bongani Zungu, Kennedy Mweene, Dove Wome, Raymond Monama and Rodney Ramagalela as they look to challenge for honours this season.

As part of the deal, Sundowns will loan out striker Eleazar Rodgers to the Urban Warriors for one year.

Billiat joined Ajax in 2010, having arrived from Zimbabwean side CAPS United alongside countryman Paul Rusike.

He went on to play 82 games for the Cape side, scoring 20 goals, becoming a crowd favourite for his ability to change a game with an electric burst of speed and skill.

The 23-year-old will add even more pace and fire-power to a Downs attack already containing the likes of Elias Pelembe, Anthony Laffor, Mzikayise Mashaba and Lebo Mokoena.

Billiat accepts that he is going to have to work very hard to earn a place in Mosimane’s starting XI this season, but is relived to have found new home after all the pre-season speculation.

“It is not easy because I have never been in this situation before and I really have to be strong and act mature,” he told the media in his home country.

“It is always a challenge for a player to join a very strong and talented squad like Sundowns and I am aware of the pressure that comes with such a move. I will always try to be at the top of my game and I am not scared of tough challenges.”
Source: http://www.psl.co.za

The first leg of the opening MTN8 semi-final will be contested this Saturday with Kaizer Chiefs set to host Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium.

Amakhosi have shown that little has changed from last season after winning their opening matches of the season, while the Buccaneers will be aiming to replicate their Champions League form on the domestic front.

Here PSL.co.za takes a look at some of the players expected to play key roles in the 75th playing of the Soweto derby:

Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs)

Parker is the only Chiefs striker to hit the target this season after his goal in the league. He seems to have picked up where he left off last season and has been integral to their strong start to 2013/14. The former Thanda Royal Zulu forward is always hard at work, playing with the same attitude for Bafana Bafana over the past week. He is yet to score against Pirates, though, and will be desperate to change that poor record.

Lennox Bacela (Orlando Pirates)

Many people wondered what was the wisdom behind bringing the 30-year-old to the club in the winter, but Bacela proved his capability with a stirring display in the opening round. The former Bloemfontein Celtic striker bagged a crucial brace against SuperSport United. An excellent target-man, he also scored the opener against Zamalek in the Champions League and his form and quick feet in front of goal could prove key for the Bucs.

Oupa Manyisa (Orlando Pirates)

The man that scored the winner against Chiefs in the 2011/12 final, Manyisa will again be a danger. He has played in every minute of the Bucs’ season so far and causing plenty of mayhem to opposition defences. He controls the tempo for his team and is likely to do so again against Chiefs, who will need to be wary of his creativity.

Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)

He may have been criticised in some quarters for his recent showings in the Bafana Bafana jersey, but Tshabalala never seems to let Chiefs down. He has shown excellent glimpses of form for his club this season, scoring the third goal in the 3-0 quarter-final win over University of Pretoria. His bustling runs and vision will have to be guarded by the Bucs defence.

Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates)

Hard-man Jali has been instrumental for the Buccaneers in the short space of the season so far. So much so that his form has recaptured the eye of national coach Gordon Igesund. His robust approach and ability to break play down are likely to be vital to stifling the Amakhosi attack.

Tefu Mashamaite (Kaizer Chiefs)

Often overshadowed by defensive partner Mulomowandau Mathoho, the solidity and reliability of Mashamaite is often overlooked. He was a key member of their double-winning side from last year and will be key to silencing Bacela and co. Just like Mathoho, he too is a threat in the air, although he scored with his feet in the opening round.
Source: http://www.psl.co.za

Tickets for this weekend’s eagerly anticipated MTN8 semifinal first leg fixtures are selling fast and fans have been encouraged to book their seat to avoid disappointment.

There are only under 16 000 tickets left for the MTN8 semifinal first leg fixture between Kaizer Chiefs and Soweto rivals, Orlando Pirates that will be played at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Tickets are still available for the first leg fixture featuring Platinum Stars and Bidvest Wits at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Tickets for all the MTN8 semifinal first leg fixtures can be purchased at Computicket and Shoprite/ Checkers countrywide.

Within the first 10 hours of the tickets being made available for the MTN8 semis, over 15 000 tickets were sold for the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates fixture. The PSL can today confirm that the R40 category tickets for the Kaizer Chiefs against Orlando Pirates was sold out yesterday afternoon. The only categories available are R60 and R150 for this encounter.

Football supporters who had purchased a R40 ticket earlier for the Soweto derby have been given an opportunity to upgrade their tickets to a R60 or a R150 ticket through Computicket and Shoprite/ Checkers.

MTN 8 SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES: Saturday, 24 August 2013

Kaizer Chiefs vs. Orlando Pirates 15:00 (FNB Stadium)

Sunday, 25 August 2013

Platinum Stars vs. Bidvest Wits 15:00 (Royal Bafokeng Stadium)
sOURCE: http://www.psl.co.za

Pretoria – A lieutenant-colonel in the SAPS’ Crime Intelligence unit is claiming R420 000 in damages from the minister of police and from two senior officers after they allegedly leaked classified information pertaining to her and spread false rumours that she and her husband were HIV-positive.

The officer, who will not be named to protect her from further humiliation, stated in papers before the Pretoria High Court that these false rumours were spread during February 2010. Apart from it being hurtful, it was also defamatory, she said.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Cape Town – School days are set to be lengthened, by up to an hour each day, to accommodate the teaching of a third – African – language to every pupil.

Each day will be between 24 minutes and an hour longer for pupils.

This emerged in the Incremental Introduction of African Languages in South African Schools draft policy, which provided details of how the policy would work.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – The African National Congress under President Jacob Zuma had moved away from the vision of its predecessors, the DA’s candidate for Gauteng premier, Mmusi Maimane, said on Tuesday.

“Instead of non-racialism, we are retreating back into the politics of division. Instead of reversing the legacy of apartheid, our people remain as impoverished as they ever were,” Maimane told a poorly attended student meeting at Tshwane University of Technology in Soshanguve, Pretoria.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Cape Town – The driver of the bus which crashed on the Koue Bokkeveld Mountains told his employers the vehicle’s brakes had failed before the vehicle veered off the road.

The vehicle was transporting employees of Tractionel Enterprise, a Joburg electrical company, to Lambert’s Bay when it went off the road on the Katbakkies Pass near Ceres.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – Six men allegedly linked to an international child-pornography ring have been arrested in parts of South Africa, The Times reported on Wednesday.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale said they were arrested last Thursday. Two were teachers from Florida and Carletonville with the others being a school principal from Mbombela, a lawyer from Lichtenburg, a Pretoria dermatologist and a North West businessman.

Another 26 people were being investigated and more arrests were imminent, police told the publication.

Raids

Police also raided several homes at the weekend in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Free State.

“Police raided 15 properties and seized 672 DVDs, 22 memory sticks, eight laptops, two computer tablets, 39 external hard drives, 25 books,” said Makgale.

The case had links to Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, western Europe and Australasia.

The newspaper reported that children as young as 5 were believed to have been groomed to have sex with each other and adults.

The images are believed to have been generated overseas, and police – with the help of their international counterparts – are investigating whether children from South Africa participated.

Police overseas were also investigating if any of the children were murdered.

The six accused face several charges including child-pornography manufacturing, possession and distribution.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A man shot two relatives in Vanderbijlpark on Tuesday before killing himself, according to reports.

Stefanus Labuschagne, 50, was shot dead and his wife, Sonet, 45, was injured in the shooting at a soap business, Beeld reported.

The shooter, Gert Derks, 57, is then believed to have swallowed some tablets and fled from the scene. His body was later found in his bakkie.

“After the shooting it is suspected that [Derks] drank some tablets and fled from the scene in an Isuzu bakkie. Police chased him until R59 towards Meyerton where he stopped and died in his vehicle,” Sapa quoted police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini as saying.

Beeld reported that bystanders speculated that a possible love triangle or family strife led to the shooting.

– SAPA