Tlokwe-Members of the North West Province’s Detective Service visited the Sizabantu Aids Project in Ikageng, led by Colonel RC Mocwane and Lieutenant Colonel P Mocwane. The project serves people infected or affected by HIV/Aids, the disabled, as well as vulnarable people who are victims of abusive relationships.

“A slight nip in the air and whirling dust could not dampen the spirit among members of the Detective Service attached to the North West Provincial Office when they ‘did it for Madiba’ on 18 July 2013” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

Armed with an array of clothing, canned food and other groceries, fruit and vegetables, as well as other consumables, they took to Sizabantu Aids Project in Extension 7, Ikageng, on the outskirts of Potchefstroom, where they were warmly welcomed by the project co-ordinator and inhabitants, their pastor, neighbours, family and friends.

“The project is home to some 20 young children and 10 adults all infected or affected by HIV/Aids or some form of disability. At the helm is Sophy Nyenye Mathale, who started the project in 2009 without a cent to her name” Makau said. 

From her humble four-roomed house she is serving her community with pride.

Makau said Mathale’s biggest dream and everything she hopes for is to extend the house in order to be able to accommodate all the children and adults in need. 

“The barren foundation and half-built extensions is a constant reminder of her goal and she is not put off by the fact that she is running short of funds” she said.

Currently, some of the children and adults are accommodated with neighbours and friends at night, as she does not have sufficient space for everyone to sleep, but during the day the house is filled to capacity with over 30 mouths to feed.

“Not only is the project assisting those with HIV/Aids, vulnerable children and adults, who are victims of abusive relationships, are also welcome to knock on this Good Samaritan’s door” police said. 

With no funding, they are struggling to make ends meet, and donations such as those made by the members of the Detective Service serves as an encouragement to them.

Members were so impressed by what they saw that it was decided to adopt the project in order to try and secure sponsorships for the completion of the extensions to the house, as well as for food and other requirements. 

“The project will also be visited regularly to ensure the well-being of all and to assist wherever needed” police said.

The event was lead by Colonel RS Mocwane, Acting Provincial Head of the Detective Service, who was heartily supported by all the members under his command. Both Colonel Mocwane and Lieutenant Colonel Mocwane offered all present a word of encouragement and conveyed a message of hope from the National Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, as well as the Provincial Commissioner of the North West Province, Lieutenant General MNZ Mbombo.

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Labour federation Cosatu and ANC-aligned unions have called for more powers for Education Minister Blade Nzimande, including the right to appoint and fire university chancellors.

This was heard at a march by about 1 500 people at the North West University (NWU) on Friday in a campaign to highlight the lack of transformation and alleged racism at the institution’s Potchefstroom campus.
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Johannesburg – The bodies of two illegal miners were found in an old mine in Primrose near Germiston on Monday, Gauteng police said.

“It is suspected that a third body is still about 600 metres underground in an unused mine. Emergency Services have summoned the Mining Rescue Team to help with an operation to recover the third body,” said Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini.

He said the rescue operation was expected to be carried out on Tuesday.

“Two bodies were brought to the surface by other illegal miners who were taken into custody afterwards.”

On Sunday night a man claiming to have been mining illegally alleged that he and a group of miners had been attacked by unknown people.

Several shots were fired during the attack. Three of his friends were killed and he was shot and wounded in the buttocks.

“They were then robbed of their mining dust, cellphones, food, prima stoves and pots. After the attackers left, he came out of the shaft and reported the case at the police station.

“Eighteen of them, suspected to be Zimbabweans, were then arrested and will be charged with trespassing, illegal immigration and possibly illegal mining as they were found in possession of bags with mining dust,” said Dlamini. – Sapa

Durban – The use of the term “illegal strike” is widespread. Some recent news reports say 5 600 miners embarked on an “illegal protest” at Anglo American Platinum’s Thembelani and Khuseleka mines; “illegal work stoppages” at South Africa’s biggest mail centre; workers at waste removal company Pikitup, who went on an “illegal strike”, would face “disciplinary charges”.
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Johannesburg – A man was granted bail on Monday after he allegedly ran over an Mpumalanga traffic officer, police said.

Mduduzi Meshack Nkosi, 40, appeared in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court and was granted R2 000 bail, police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi said.

“He was charged with driving under the influence of liquor, reckless or negligent driving and failure to stop at the accident scene,” Hlathi said.

Nkosi was expected back in court on 23 August. He allegedly ran over one of the traffic officers manning a routine block on the R23 near Standerton.

The officer had attempted to stop a car, but it sped off. Nkosi allegedly fled the scene, but was caught and brought back.

The officer was airlifted to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg.

Another traffic officer sustained minor injuries when Nkosi allegedly resisted arrest.

– SAPA

Harare – President Jacob Zuma, the chief regional mediator on Zimbabwe, said on Monday he has rebuked his aides for making “unfortunate statements” on Zimbabwe’s lack of readiness to hold crucial elections on 31 July.

Significantly softening its stance on the Zimbabwean elections, Zuma’s office said in a statement that was released in Zimbabwe that only Zuma was authorised to speak for regional mediators.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, campaigning for the poll, has criticised Lindiwe Zulu, Zuma’s international relations advisor, for questioning the southern African nation’s ability to hold credible polls in July.

After a chaotic early vote for police and the military officers who will be on duty on polling day, Mugabe described Zulu as “a stupid, idiotic street woman” raising the ire of women’s equality groups in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The statement said Zuma had noted with “great concern” remarks attributed to his officials in regional media. It made no mention of Mugabe’s slur against Zulu.

Regional leaders of the 15-nation economic and political bloc, the Southern African Development Community, or SADC, at their last summit in June, had urged Mugabe to delay the polls until at least after 14 August to address claims that vetting of accurate voters’ lists, democratic reforms demanded by SADC and other preparations were far from completion.

Zuma’s office said his officials had made “a number of statements have been made which have been unauthorised and which are regrettable and unfortunate. Some of the utterances have also been inaccurate.”

Zuma said he also corrected weekend reports that he telephoned Mugabe to express his dissatisfaction with preparations for the Zimbabwe poll.

“No such telephone call has been made,” the statement said.

Warm relations with Mugabe

South Africa remains “fully committed” to warm relations with Zimbabwe and wishes the country well as it prepares for elections, the statement added.

A meeting of Zuma, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and President Armando Guebeza of Mozambique, a SADC triumvirate on regional security, in South Africa on Saturday also backed away from criticising Zimbabwe for rushing toward hasty polls.

In its communique on Sunday, it said it noted “problems” that arose during the early police and uniformed services vote on 13-14 July but commended the official state Zimbabwe election commission “for taking up these challenges to be overcome on 31 July.”

More than half the 70 000 police, soldiers and government officials eligible to cast early ballots failed to vote. The commission said they were turned away when ballot papers and voting materials were not printed and delivered in time at 210 special voting posts.

About 9 600 voting stations are to be set up countrywide for the full election by 6.2 million people listed as registered voters in the population of 13 million.

The communique said regional leaders congratulated Zuma for his “tireless efforts in ensuring that Zimbabwe’s political stakeholders hold successful elections” on 31 July.

– AP

London – Palace officials have confirmed that the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, has given birth to a baby boy who will be the third in line to the British throne.

The baby was born at 16:24 weighing 3.8kg after the Duchess went into labour early on Monday morning and was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital in central London with Prince William by her side.
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The Premier Soccer League’s Disciplinary Committee (DC) has charged a number of PSL and NFD clubs on the respective issues heard by the DC.

Ajax Cape Town were sentenced to a suspended fine of R50 000, and forced to apologise to Kaizer Chiefs in writing, after pleading guilty to the charge. The Urban Warriors were charged for not allowing Chiefs access to their change rooms at least four hours prior to the teams’ Absa Premiership outing in Cape Town last season.
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News reaching the Siya crew is that former Chippa United midfielder Asavela Mbekile has signed a contract with Moroka Swallows.

Mbekile has been training with Swallows with a view of impressing Zeca Marques and his technical team, and it seems the 26-year-old midfielder has done exactly that.

“Mbekile has signed for us, but I can’t tell you the exact details of his contract,” said a source close to Swallows.
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