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Johannesburg – South Africa’s government is failing to provide education for children with disabilities, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

“The South African government has failed to guarantee the right to education for many children and young adults with disabilities, affecting an estimated half a million children,” the organisation said in its World Report 2017, which was released in Washington on Thursday.

It is an annual review of human rights issues around the globe.

Contrary to the government’s international and domestic obligations, many disabled children still do not have equal access to primary or secondary education and face multiple forms of discrimination and barriers when trying to get into schools, Human Rights Watch said.

“They are turned away from mainstream schools, denied access to inclusive education, and referred instead to special schools by school officials or medical staff, simply because they have a disability.”

The schooling referral system needlessly forces children to wait for up to four years at care centres or at home for placement in a special school. 

While education in mainstream government schools is free, children with disabilities who attended special schools are forced to pay fees.

According to the report, many disabled children in mainstream schools are asked to pay for their own class assistants as a condition to stay in these schools.

“Once in school, many children with disabilities do not have access to the same curriculum as children without disabilities. Many children with disabilities are exposed to high levels of violence and abuse by teachers and students.”

South Africa’s government has failed to implement key aspects of a national policy adopted in 2001, which is meant to provide inclusive education for all children with disabilities.

“South Africa has not adopted legislation that guarantees the right to inclusive education for children with disabilities.”

The majority of the government’s limited budget for pupils with disabilities is allocated to special, segregated schools rather than to inclusive education, according to the report.

For more http://www.news24.com

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Picture: (North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo)

North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo and the provincial business forum are embroiled in a battle over two controversial songs calling for his resignation. 
The songs include one with a backing track accompanied by a poetic rendition of reasons why Mahumapelo must step down and the other is a vocal kwaito/house track.For more http://www.news24.com

BY BAKANG MOKOTO

An unknown man aged between 40-45 years drowned at Takaneng village near Buxton on Sunday. North West police spokesperson, Sgt Kelebogile Moleko said: “The police in Taung are investigating a case of inquest after a man drowned in the dam. According to the information, the deceased slipped and fell into the dam. “The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) was called and retrieved his lifeless body from the dam. He was certified dead and police investigations are underway. We are also looking for the deceased’s next-of-kin.”

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Picture: (Acting Moses Kotane Local Municipal Manager, Tertius Chiloane )

The Moses Kotane Local Municipality has appointed Tertius Chiloane as the acting municipal manager. The municipality spokesperson, Beauty Makganye said Chiloane’s appointment was effected from January 06 this year during a Special Council meeting. She said the meeting was held on Friday last week.

“Chiloane’s acting position will continue for a period not exceeding three months until the appointment of the new municipal manager. He is the Head of the Department of Infrastructure and Technical Services.

“The Council has also appointed the selection panel for the position of municipal manager in accordance with section 12(3) of the Regulations on the appointment and conditions of employment of Senior Managers,” Makganye said.

She added that the panel will be chaired by Moses Kotane Local Municipal Mayor, Ralesole Diale. Makganye further said the process of short-listing for the position of the municipal manager will be completed before January 27.-Newsnote

BY REGINALD KANYANE

A mother was killed, three children, including a one year old toddler sustained various injuries when two vehicles collided head on with each other on the N12 outside of Potchefstroom
this evening.

ER24 spokesperson, Werner Vermaak said: “Paramedics from ER24 arrived on the scene where they found one of the vehicles in the veld next to the road. 

“Some of the occupants were found ejected from one
of the vehicles, including the one year old toddler. The toddler was in a critical condition. The other two children sustained moderate injuries.”

Wermaak said the mother sustained fatal injuries and there was nothing that paramedics could do.

“She was later
declared dead on the scene. The driver, believed to be the father, was found inside of the vehicle. He sustained minor injuries.

“Two occupants were found on the scene from the other vehicle. One of the occupants sustained moderate injuries. The other occupants were assessed on scene, but later declined to
be transported to hospital,”he said.

Wermaak said the injured occupants were rushed to Potchefstroom Provincial Hospital for further medical care. 

“The exact circumstances surrounding the collision is not yet known. Local authorities
attended the scene.” 

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Platinum Stars will be in the market in order to strengthen the current squad.

The January transfer season opened on Tuesday and Dikwena General Manager Senzo Mazingiza revealed to Platinumstars.com that the club will be on the lookout for players that coach Cavin Johnson desires to have in his squad. 

“Obviously we have to support the coach and the team. We have to look at two or three players just to reinforce in this window to ensure that we solidify our position in the league. We will make announcements as soon as we finalize with the individuals that we have already identified,” said Mazingiza.

At the beginning of the season Dikwena didn’t do much in the transfer window but promoted close to ten youngsters from the club’s development. Mazingiza says the club will do everything in its power to get desirable players with the teams’ budget. 

“We cannot act like we have got big budgets. The reason we promoted youngsters was for two fold. One our youngsters were ready to be promoted and two we had to tighten our budget. The economic environment is clearly not favouring us. I know we are not alone in that boat. Anything we do we have to be cognizant of the budget,” said Mazingiza. 

Mazingiza says Johnson and the club have been engaging on the players and areas where the team needs reinforcements. Mazingiza has stressed that the club will throw its weight behind the coach in order to get the players. 

“The coach is the boss of this team. Our role as management is to provide a conducive environment for him to operate. One of the things we have to provide is the players. If we identify two or three players and we are able to lure them, we have to do that. We have ongoing discussion with the coach. We engage with the coach,” said Mazingiza. 

“When we will go out to look for players, we do it together with the coach. It’s not an isolated arrangement. We are aware that there are two or three players that the coach has put on the table and he wants us to get them. We will do our best to get the players.”taungdailynews@gmail.com

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The case was postponed again for the court to consider centralising the two cases against the young man.

The defence lawyer for murder accused Mark Zinde on Thursday asked the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court to centralise the two cases against him.

Zinde, 23, is facing a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for allegedly attacking his father.

In a separate matter, he has been charged with the murder of his mother, former SABC board member Hope Zinde.

His lawyer Francois Joubert told the court they had received a report from a doctor which confirmed that more psychiatric assements needed to be done on the accused.

Zinde was previously admitted to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital where it was found he was fit to stand trial and capable of understanding court proceedings.

The initial report further stated that he did not suffer from any mental disorder when he allegedly killed his mother.

Joubert is disputing the psychiatric report and wants him re-admitted and re-evaluated.

If permission to centralise both matters is granted, the case will be transferred to the Pretoria High Court.

The matter was postponed to January 11, 2017.

Zinde seemed angry when the case was postponed, throwing a red plastic bag he had been carrying down the stairs leading to holding cells.

Zinde is accused of attacking his father, Dr Lebohang Mohale Manoto, with a glass on November 6.

Manoto was reading a newspaper at his home in Walkerville‚ south of Johannesburg‚ when his son allegedly struck him with the glass in his face.

His father took him in after he was released on bail in Brits, North West for allegedly killing his mother.

He allegedly killed his mother in June at her home in Pecanwood outside Brits.

His R10 000 bail on the murder charge was revoked on December 19 for not adhering to his bail conditions.

He was expected to appear in the Brits magistrate’s court on January 24, where an application for admission at Weskoppies would be made.

– African News Agency (ANA)

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The mission to ensure that communities are safe paid dividends after Northern Cape police, Traffic Officers, SANDF and Home Affairs embarked on a raid and road blocks over the weekend. 

Provincial police spokesperson, Capt Sergio Kock said they also searched few houses suspected of drugs. 

“The arrest of a 34 year-old drunk driver was one of our highlights and successes. The police also arrested a man after they found 110 mandrax tablets at the value of R5000 on him. 

“Warrenton Detectives held a suspect-raid and managed to arrest 40-year-old male who was wanted for a house robbery he allegedly committed during November 2016,” Kock said. 

He added that police found a stolen firearm and ammunition on him after they conducted a searched. The 9mm was allegedly stolen during a house-breaking and theft that occurred in Warrenton during December 2016. 

Meanwhile police also confiscated two firearms that was recently stolen at two separate house breaking and thefts in Kuruman. 

“Police followed up on information and three men were arrested in this regard. SAPS Public Order Police, K9 and Flying Squad also assisted Richmond Police and managed to confiscate dagga with an approximate street value of R30 000 on the N1 between Richmond and Colesburg. Three men are currently charged for possession of dagga. 

“The teams stopped and searched 7177 vehicles at roadblocks, searched 12 332 persons and issued 786 fines for various contraventions. Almost 100 liquor outlets were visited where 249 litres of concoction was destroyed and almost 100 litres of alcohol was confiscated,” he said. 

Kock further said one stolen vehicle was recovered, 5 firearms, 18 cellphones, 3 I-pads and 1 laptop were also recovered.

“Dagga, Tik, Khat and Mandrax were some of the drugs recovered by the police during these operations,” he said.

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Mahikeng – While some people dress up as Santa to cheer up children during the festive season, a man allegedly impersonating the North West premier – for more nefarious purposes – was nabbed on Christmas Eve, the North West government said on Monday.

“The man is reported to have contacted several high profile people in a bid to solicit money from them under false pretexts,” said provincial government spokesperson Brian Setswambung in a statement.

“He is reported to have threatened to bomb the Premier’s house when he realised that his tricks of extorting money were not yielding the desired outcome.”

The Hawks arrested the 25-year-old on December 24, after receiving several complaints from various people involved in government and politics who were contacted by the man, allegedly pretending to be Premier Supra Mahumapelo.

Two cellphones, used to allegedly conduct the crimes, were seized.

Previously, a case was opened against the phony public figure by the Head of Security at the North West Legislature, Roger Ditse. The fraudster had requested R1 500 from him.

According to information on the premier’s website published earlier this month, the man also contacted Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance Andries Nel and Deputy Minister of Labour Inkosi Patekile Holomisa, as well as others in Gauteng, Bokone Bophirima, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

Furthermore, the imposter also contacted an MP in the Western Cape asking for money to help a student stranded in Cape Town. At the time, he claimed that President Jacob Zuma had asked him to help the student, whom he alleged was the son of an old acquaintance of the president. The bogus bigwig then asked for R2 000.

The suspect was arrested in Kuruman and will appear at the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on December 28. He is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, as well as intimidation.

Source: http://www.news24.com

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The high number of incidents and fatalities recorded at this time of the festive season has shocked and concerned the Community Safety and Transport Management MEC, Dr Mpho Motlhabane.

To date, about 58 fatalities have been recorded with 58 incidents, which 26 were pedestrians, 13 lost control, 4 cyclists, 8 head on collision and 2 tyre bursts.

Other incidents were unknown while others it was suspected to be mechanical faults on the vehicle.

Last year during the same period, the province had recorded at least 75 fatalities. “It is not an exciting reduction at all. 58 people dying on our roads it’s too much. More worrying is that most of our people dying are pedestrians. This reflects an unrestraint conduct of our road users in general. If a pedestrian gets hit by a car, those there are two people involved, a pedestrian and motorists and both are road users.

And this is a clear indication of not using the road wisely by our road users; it might be the motorists on the bad side of the law or the pedestrian. However, the department together with the South African Police Service (SAPS), Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), will never surrender ourselves to bad road usage. We will never allow the lives of our people to flourish on our roads.

Today our roads are painted with the blood of our loved ones and this leaves us with pain because, as we speak now, someone is a widow today and one child somewhere is an orphan,” said the heartbroken Motlhabane.

He said the Department has partnered with Municipal traffic, RTMC and all other law enforcement agencies to increase visibility in all critical roads of the province.

“We have heightened visible policing in every entrance of our towns and increased traffic and police visibility on our roads, but our people must also contribute in reducing these incidents by taking responsibility. As much as we try our best, we cannot be in every street or car that is travelling on our roads,” he pleaded.

The departmental MEC said, traffic operations are been conducted in every critical road of the province and warned those who will be caught on the wrong side of the law. “We are going to continue arresting those driving under the influence of alcohol, those who drive with high speed, driving without driver’s licence, driving without fastening your seatbelt and unroadworthy vehicles will be impounded immediately,” he warned.

The department recently has created about 85 jobs through management of stray animals. “Stray animals have been causing a high number of incidents in our roads and we then saw it fit to get rangers who will assist us with these animals but besides that, we also continuously engage with our famers and communities with the same issue and we are grateful that this is now bearing fruits.

“Now we would like to urge our motorists to be on the lookout of jaywalkers and further take the same plea to our pedestrians to avoid walking on the road under the influence of alcohol.

“Safety begins with me, with you and with all of us. Please take precautionary measures before leaving the house, practice road safety as you drive on our roads and be alert at all times,” MEC Motlhabane concluded.

#RideWise

#BeingsafeIsCool

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