Banyana Banyana head coach, Joseph Mkhonza announced a squad of 24 players that will assemble in Johannesburg for a four-day fitness and assessment camp.

The Sasol-sponsored team last played a competitive match at the Cyprus Women’s Cup in March and this camp will give the coach and his technical team an opportunity to assess players’ developments and fitness.

The squad, which is made up of locally based players, will assemble from 30 May – 2 June and this will be the first time the coach has had an opportunity to have the squad together since the team returned from Cyprus.

This camp forms part of Mkhonza’s plan to track the players’ development ahead of the international competitions that the team will be participating in later in the year. It will also form part of preparations for the Women’s COSAFA Cup which is scheduled to take place in Namibia in December this year.

“It is essential that we monitor and evaluate the players regularly especially during the quiet period for the national team. This also gives us the opportunity to look at players that are doing well in the Sasol League so that we can build a strong squad for future tournaments. This is very important for the development of the team,” said Mkhonza.

Banyana Banyana are expected to depart for Nelspruit on Monday, 3 June 2013, once the coach has cut the squad down to 21 players. The team is set to play an international friendly against neighbours Mozambique at Kanyamazane Stadium on Sunday, 9 June 2013.

Mkhonza said that the team needed to consistently work at improving their performance and that having regular camps and matches was one way of achieving this objective.

“None of our girls that are playing in the overseas leagues are available for this camp. This will give me the opportunity to grow the squad for the future,” he said.

Banyana Banyana squad that will report for camp on Thursday, 30 May 2013:

NAME

  CLUB

  1. Andile Dlamini

  Mamelodi Sundowns

  2. Nkosingiphile Zungu

  Remax Shooting Stars

  3. Mahlatsi Mogola

  TUT PTA

  4. Primrose Ndlozi

  TK Stars (Mpumalanga)

  5. Gabisile Hlumbane

  Kovsies Ladies

  6. Nothando  Vilakazi

  Super Falcons

  7. Nelisiwe Mchunu

  Moroka Swallows

  8. Lebogang Mabatle

  Zebra Force

  9. Khomo Sefako

  PUK Tawana

  10. Janine Van Wyk

  Mondeor Meteors Ladies

  11. Charlotte Mshengu

  Durban Ladies

  12. Andisiwe Ndesi

  City Lads

  13. Nwabisa Kolisi

  City Lads

  14. Chelsea Peterson

  Milano United

  15. Amanda Dlamini

  Durban Ladies    

  16. Nocawe Skiti

  Cape Town Roses

  17. Nomathemba Ntsibande

  Springs Home Sweepers

  18. Nomawethu Nyusani

  Coastal United Ladies

  19. Memory Makhanya

  Durban Ladies

  20. Noko Matlou

  MaIndies

  21. Zingawe Phakathi

  United Ladies

  22. Silindile Ngubane

  Durban Ladies

  23. Shiwe Nogwanya

  Celtics

  24. Zamandosi Cele

  Durban Ladies

The North West Provincial Executive Council has conveyed its condolences to MEC for Health, Dr. Magome Masike whose mother succumbed to long illness in hospital over the past weekend. The 71-year old Jeminah Dikeledi Masike is to be buried in Klerksdorp on Saturday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleague Dr. Masike, his family, relatives and friends during this period of sadness. May they find solace in knowing that the Executive Council collective, public servants across the Provincial Administration, our social partners, stakeholders and communities across the province share their grief as they mourn the loss of a mother who was special,” said Premier Thandi Modise in expressing condolences.

Premier Modise said that the province will forever remain indebted to the courageous Mme Masike for nurturing and raising a humble, selfless leader and servant of the people and for enriching all of our lives through her sacrifices and unfailing love.

The funeral service for Mme Masike is scheduled to start at 8:00 am at the Roman Catholic Church Cathedral Adamayview in Klerksdorp. The cortege will leave for the Klerksdorp cemetery at 10:00 am.

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The office of King Mabhoko III of the Ndebele tribe has blamed the deaths of 28 initiates in Mpumalanga’s highveld area on witchcraft.

Ndzundza Tribal Authority (NTA) spokesperson Prince Dumisani Mahlangu told a Sapa correspondent this week the number of deaths was unusually high. “These deaths are not normal, kune buloyi la (there is witchcraft here),” said Mahlangu, who was also critical of the House of Traditional Leaders (HTL).

King Mabhoko III has been blamed for three deaths in Limpopo and 28 in Mpumalanga, where initiation schools were allegedly being illegally run with his permission. Altogether six deaths have been reported in Limpopo. Three were at initiation schools approved by another Ndebele traditional leader, Kgoshi PJ Mahlangu.

Prince Mahlangu accused Mpumalanga HTL chairperson Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena of speaking “nonsense” to the media. “I read the things written in the newspapers. Mokoena ukhuluma amanyala (Mokoena is speaking nonsense),” said Mahlangu. He said the NTA was investigating the deaths and had already established some of the causes.

“Some boys went to ingoma (initiation schools) without being screened for any sickness, which may place them in danger,” Mahlangu said. “We also found out that some of the permits used for some schools were copies of originals issued to other initiation schools,” he said.

Most of the fatalities occurred in Siyabuswa, KwaMhlanga, Verena, Kwaggafontein, Middelburg, Bethal, Belfast and Evander — all districts of Nkangala in Mpumalanga. After a meeting between the HTL and the Health Department on Friday, department MEC Candith Mashego-Dlamini told journalists that 134 permits were issued under King Mabhoko III, including for those schools where there were fatalities.

“A total of 134 traditional leaders were authorised by King Mabhoko III to conduct ingoma,” said Mashego-Dlamini. “However, we noted with concern that there are traditional leaders who are not accountable to King Mabhoko III, yet are currently conducting ingoma.”

Dlamini said King Mabhoko III had agreed to abide by compliance issues on conducting ritual circumcision. “Some of the compliance agreed upon is pre-screening of initiates for HIV, TB, BP, glucose and other health problems… ensuring that initiation schools are approved and certified by the king to conduct ingoma, and ensuring that there is consent from parents or guardians,” said Mashego-Dlamini.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Almost R6 billion has been set aside by the Department of Correctional Services to crack down on gangsterism in prisons.

Minister of Correctional Service Sbu Ndebele says a National Gang Management Task Team has already been established to implement a gang busting strategy. He says his department has declared war on gangsterism inside prisons.

“We have set aside an amount of R5. 8-billion to fight gangsterism in prisons and that affects our officials, that target our officials and we want to win this war,” says Ndebele.

Earlier this year, 20 prisoners were wounded, two of them critically, at the Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town. The fighting at Pollsmoor followed riots which were reported at the Groenpunt Correctional facility in the Free State, followed by an incident at St Albans in Port Elizabeth which resulted in the death of three prisoners and the injury of 65 others.

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

Kimberley – A man accused of killing his 10-month-old daughter appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, police said.

The matter was postponed to next Friday for a bail application, police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said.

Michael Marco Nkgatle, 22, would remain in Kimberley prison until then. He allegedly assaulted his baby on Saturday after a fight with his partner.

The baby was taken to Kimberley Hospital, where she died of her injuries on Monday. – Sapa

Bloemfontein – A protesting police union member in the Free State on Wednesday urged President Jacob Zuma to talk to his police minister or lose votes in 2014.

“Zuma, if you do not talk to (Nathi) Mthethwa you are going to lose votes come 2014,” read the placard a protester in Bloemfontein held aloft.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – Letting her child’s alleged abuser walk and not face the music for what he did is one of the most difficult decisions a Pretoria mother has ever had to take.

For years, the 37-year-old woman tried unsuccessfully to get counselling for a son who had allegedly been abused by his father. She was told that therapy at that stage was not possible because it would interfere with the criminal case.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

South African match officials have once again been called up to do duty in major competitions on the continent.

Daniel Bennet, Zakhele Siwela and Lwandile Mfiki have been assigned to officiate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup return-leg qualifier between Morocco and Tanzania. The clash will take place on Saturday, 8 June 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco.

Meanwhile, four officials will travel to Gabon for duty in the first round of the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers in the first weekend of July (5, 6, 7 July 2013).

2013 Absa Premiership referee of the season Victor Gomes will take charge of the match between Gabon and Cameroon. He will be assisted by Johannes Moshidi and Stevens Khumalo. Lwandile Mfiki has been brought in as the fourth official.

South African Football Association (SAFA) National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Alpha Mchunu has been appointed match commissioner in the 2014 CHAN return leg qualifier between Zambia and Botswana in August (2, 3, 4 August 2013).

The Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) has named Victor Gomes and Zakhele Siwela as the referees that will officiate in the upcoming COSAFA Cup tournament which will be held from 6 to 21 July 2013 in Zambia.

Referee Assignments

2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier

8 June 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco 

Morocco vs Tanzania- Return-leg qualifier

1. Daniel Bennett

2. Zakhele Siwela

3. Lwandile Mfiki

1st Round of the third edition of CHAN South Africa 2014         

Gabon and Cameroon – 5, 6, 7 July 2013 

1. Victor Gomes: Ref

2. Johannes Stevens Moshidi: 1st Assistant

3. Stevens Mothibi Khumalo: 2nd Assistant

4. Lwandile Mfiki: 4th Official

Zambia vs Botswana- 2, 3, 4 August 2013 Return-leg

1. Alpha Mchunu: Match Commissioner 

2013 COSAFA Cup, Zambia 6 – 21 July 2013

1. Victor Gomes

2. Zakhele Siwela