Absa Premiership

Result: Orlando Pirates 1-0 Platinum Stars

Date: 20 February 2013

Venue: Orlando Stadium

Referee: Khulasande Qongqo

Daine Klate scored the winner as Orlando Pirates edged Platinum Stars 1-0 in their Absa Premiership clash.

The victory kept Pirates in second place, two points behind Kaizer Chiefs who also picked up a victory at Black Leopards on Wednesday.

There was a good chance on 18 minutes for Pirates when Klate swung a free-kick into the area, but Takesure Chinyama couldn’t quite get enough power on the header to beat Siyabonga Mpontshane.

On the half hour Dinaledi should have taken the lead when Mogakolodi Ngele ghosted past the challenge of Happy Jele and while his shot had the better of Senzo Meyiwa, it came crashing back off the upright. Patrick Malokase then looked to bury the rebound, but shot just wide.

Seconds later at the other end Innocent Mkhabela was easily dispossessed by Sifiso Miyeni, but his long-range effort failed to draw a save out of Mpontshane.

Platinum Stars’ shooting continued to let them down and shortly before the break it was Robert Ngambi who smashed a chance from the edge of the area well over the bar.

It took seven minutes into the second period for The Sea Robbers to take the lead as Thandani Ntshumayelo did all the hard work by beating two defenders before playing in a perfect cross for Klate to slot into the back of the net. It was a third league goal of the season for the Pirates winger.

Thereafter both teams were lucky to continue with 11 men on the park as Thabo Matlaba reacted angrily to a harsh challenge from Vuyo Mere.

A brilliant reaction save from Senzo Meyiwa then kept Pirates ahead and Mkhabela would have counted himself unlucky not score with his header off a corner.

Matlaba then went on an exciting run up the left and with a fierce shot gave Mpontshane a massive  shock as the ball struck the outside half of the near post.

Dinaledi refused to give up and nearly got the leveller on 88 minutes when substitute Siphelele Mthembu turned his marker and pulled the trigger, but his strike also met the woodwork, much to the frustration of coach Cavin Johnson on the sidelines.

Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa, Happy Jele, Ayanda Gcaba, Lucky Lekgwathi, Thabo Matlaba, Oupa Manyisa, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Andile Jali (Onyekachi Okonkwo 90), Daine Klate (Rudolf Bester 64), Sifiso Myeni, Takesure Chinyama (Collins Mbesuma 71).

Subs: Brighton Mhlongo, Mark Mayambela, Bheki Nzunga, Ndumiso Mabena.

Stars: Siyabonga Mpontshane, Vuyo Mere, Tshepo Gumede, Benson Mhlongo, Luvolwethu Mpeta, Innocent Mkhabela (Roger Majafa 88), Robert Ngambi, Thuso Phala, Patrick Malokase (Siphelele Mthembu 57), Mogakolodi Ngele, Thabani Mthembu (Sibusiso Msomi 65)

Subs: Kagisho Mlambo, Elias Ngwepe, Thabiso Semenya, Solomon Mathe

Goal: Daine Klate (Pirates 52)

For more details go to http://www.soccerladuma.com

Kimberley – A woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing R3.8 million from Child Welfare SA in Kimberley, Northern Cape, the Hawks said on Friday.

The 57-year-old woman was recently appointed assistant financial director in the province’s education department, Captain Paul Ramaloko said.

She was arrested on Thursday.

The woman is accused of transferring social grants into her personal account during 2009 and 2011.

Ramaloko said she would appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on April 12 on 158 counts of fraud. – Sapa

Pretoria – The State is confident about its murder case against paralympian Oscar Pistorius, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Wednesday.

Investigating officer Hilton Botha had not been “discredited” by the defence’s examination earlier in the day, NPA spokesman Medupi Simasiku told reporters in Pretoria.

“It is normal for the cross-examination to happen like that. We believe that he (Botha) is strong enough to stand that (examination),” said Simasiku.

“The bail application is still on, but as the State we remain confident that we will get what we want. Until tomorrow (when the bail application resumes), the status quo remains the same.”

The State is opposing Pistorius’ application for bail in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

On Wednesday, advocate Barry Roux accused the police of contaminating the scene while investigating the St Valentine’s Day shooting of Pistorius’ girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

He accused Botha of walking around the house, in Pretoria, without protective shoe covers.

Botha said he should have worn them, “but they were not around”.

Roux again asked Botha if there was nothing in Pistorius’ statement that was inconsistent with the scene.

“Yes, at this stage,” said Botha.

For more details go to www.iol.co.za

PSL general manager Derek Blanckensee says the League will not preempt what will happen to FC AK after they refused to honour their fixture against Witbank Spurs today.

Orlando Pirates have confirmed that defender Siyabonga Sangweni will be out for six weeks.

BY Staff Reporter

The South African Senior Women’s National team (Banyana Banyana) has settled down well  as the squad prepares for the annual 12-Nation Cyprus Women’s Cup that takes place at the Tasos Marajou Stadium in Paralimi from Wednesday 6 – 13 March 2013 in Cyprus.

Head coach of the Sasol sponsored senior Women’s National team, Joseph Mkhonza is impressed by the showing of all of his players who have reported for camp and is the first to admit selecting the final 22 players will not be an easy task.

Mkhonza will be without the services of all three international based players in Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Kylie-Ann Louw and Roxanne Barker for the coming assignment.

Nyandeni has pulled out of the Banyana squad due to club commitments as her Russian club, Rossiyanka is preparing to take part in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Kylie and Roxanne who play their club football in the United States will not be joining the national squad due to study commitments.

Banyana Banyana will continue with their preparations at the North West University High Performance Centre in Potchefstroom before their departure for Cyprus on Monday 25 February 2013.

While coach Mkhonza will have a tough time selecting his 22-player squad to compete in the Cyprus Cup, he will also be using this camp to look at younger players and groom the squad that will compete for the FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

Banyana Banyana will open their Group C campaign at the Cyprus Women’s Cup against South Korea on Wednesday, 6 March at the Tasos Marko Stadium, Kick-off is at 14:30. The next group stage encounter to be played at the same match venue will be against the Republic of Ireland on Friday 8 March (Kick-off: 1430), while the final group stage encounter against Northern Ireland will be played on Monday 11 February in Paralimi. 14:30 Kick-off.

England, Italy, New Zealand and Scotland will play in the Group A while Group B will contested by Canada, Finland, the Netherlands and Switzerland .

“I want to use the Cyprus Women’s Cup to bring in new players and prepare the country for future tournaments. The 22 players I will select will form the core of Banyana Banyana squad that will take part in the World Cup, the Olympics as well as the African Women’s Championship next year.

“Those that will not form part of the trip to Cyprus must not lose hope as my bigger aim is to create a bigger pool of this Banyana squad. That will put the team in good steady in case of injuries and suspensions,” said the Banyana mentor, Joseph Mkhonza.

The 25 Banyana Banyana players in camp:

Cape Town will host a 2014 World Cup qualifier between Bafana Bafana and the Central African Republic next month.

Pretoria – Magistrate Desmond Nair asked on Wednesday whether if murder accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius would flee South Africa if granted bail.

“Yes”, replied investigating officer Hilton Botha. “It is possible, lifetime imprisonment is no joke.”

He said he knew of instances where people had fled to avoid spending even five years in jail.

Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home in Pretoria on February 14. He has denied the charges.

Nair asked even if a person who had won Olympic gold would jeopardise his career before the case ended.

Botha maintained that life in prison was “no joke”.

Pistorius’ bail application has been postponed to Thursday by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

Magistrate Desmond Nair ruled that he would remain in custody again at the Brooklyn police station holding cells. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-A warrant of arrest has been issued for Merlyn Booysen, on the murder case that is being investigated by the Galeshewe police. 

“Merlyn was arrested for murder, and she escaped during her appearance in Galeshewe Magistrate Court on 2013-01-28” Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said. Merlyn is well-known in Galeshewe at Number two area. 

“It is suspected that she could be hiding either in Kimberley or somewhere in Cape Town” police said. 

“We appeal to any person with the information of her whereabouts is requested to contact the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Attie Browers on 082 4690 138 or Galeshewe police on 053 8076 000.

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The unidentified lieutenant- colonel is on leave and was sleeping at his Eldoraigne, Centurion, home in the morning when he heard someone at his front door.

The officer, who was with his wheelchair-bond mother at the time, immediately woke up and went to inspect. He found that the intruders had forced the door open and were already inside the house.

Captain Agnes Huma of the Wierdabrug police in Centurion said the officer shot one of them in the upper body, “killing him instantly and wounding another, who managed to escape”.

Huma said the getaway car, a white Opel Corsa that was parked outside, immediately sped off during the shooting. No arrests were made but investigations were continuing, she said. –

For more details go to www.sowetanlive.co.za