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Taung livestock accused back in court


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The case of two livestock-theft accused continues in Taung Magistrate Court on Thursday.

A case against Thembelihle Ndaba originally from Kwazulu-Natal and Otimile Mosimane from Taung resume after they were arrested back in 2008 for livestock-theft in Baga-maidi areas.

The two allegedly stole livestock around Tlapeng village and Mothanthanyaneng village. The case was postponed on Wednesday after the evidence given by both men has signs of discrepancies.

According to the statement, Ndaba said he bought livestock from Mosimane under false pretext as Mosimane made him believe the livestock belongs to him.

Both legal teams said there is untrue story between the two accused and more investigations need.-TDN
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YCLSA saddened by death of Anene’s mom


Johannesburg – The death of the mother of Western Cape rape and murder victim Anene Booysen’s was met with sadness by the Young Communist League of SA (YCLSA) on Wednesday.

“The YCLSA sends its deepest condolences the family and the community of Bredasdorp,” spokesman Khaya Xaba said in a statement.

E-News Channel Africa reported earlier that Corlia Olivier died from cervical cancer in a hospital in Bredasdorp.

She was diagnosed with the disease in December, the broadcaster reported.

Olivier was tasked with overseeing the Anene Booysen Skills Centre in the area, but was unable to do so because of her illness.

The centre, which was set up in Booysen’s memory, was established by the higher education department and the Construction Sector Education and Training Authority.

Xaba said: “We say now that she is gone the centre must not shut down and must continue to serve the youth of Bredasdorp”.

Booysen’s biological father Klaasie Speelman was stabbed to death last week near a Bredasdorp dumping site. A 29-year-old man who was arrested for his death last week allegedly asked Speelman for money, and he gave him R10.

“The man was [allegedly] not satisfied with the money and stabbed him to death when he could not give him more,” police spokesperson Lt-Col Maree Louw said at the time.

Booysen was raped and disembowelled, and died in Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, on February 2 last year.

Her killer Johannes Kana was given two life sentences for crimes against the teenager. His attempt to apply for leave to appeal against his conviction was denied by the Western Cape High Court.

SAPA

Man in court for chopping up bodies


Durban – A Lesotho national accused of chopping up two people and boiling the heart of one of them is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Lehlohonolo Joseph Scott, 26, is charged with two counts of murder and one of escaping from custody in Lesotho. He faces extradition to Lesotho.

During his last appearance, his lawyer Shameer Goolabjith asked the court for the bail application to be postponed while it was determined if Scott was a South African citizen.

Prosecutor Blackie Swart said when Scott was arrested on 6 April he had a fraudulently obtained South African identity document.

However, Goolabjith argued his client had a South African birth certificate.

According to an affidavit by Lesotho Director of Public Prosecutions Leaba Thetsane, Scott, and his mother Malehlohono Scott, are charged with the murders of Moholobela Seetsa, 13, and Kamohelo Mohata, 22.

Body parts found in car

According to the affidavit, Seetsa was cycling on 11 January 2012. He never returned to his home in Koalabata village.

Various body parts were found in a ditch a few days after he was reported missing.

Mohata, a first-year student from the same village, disappeared early in July 2012.

After an SMS was sent to his parents saying that he had gone to South Africa, police were tipped off about the Scotts’ alleged involvement.

When they visited Malehlohono Scott’s house, they found two arms and a leg in the back of a Corsa bakkie and testicles behind the seat.

Lehlohonolo Scott allegedly pointed out a knife that was used to stab Mohata, a wire used to strangle Seetsa, and a pot in which Seetsa’s heart was apparently boiled.
SAPA

Mathunjwa: CEOs’ arrogance blocked agreement


Johannesburg -Leaders of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) vowed to persist in a marathon strike in the platinum mining sector as an undisclosed number of union members returned to work on Wednesday.

Platinum producer Lonmin set May 14 as the deadline for employees to return to their posts.
This came after the company conducted an SMS survey, which indicated more than 60% of workers wanted to return to work.

Earlier on Wednesday, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa told about 5 000 striking miners in Rustenburg, in the North West, that they remained on strike.
“Only an agreement could end this strike, until such time an agreement is reached, the strike continues.”
Amcu members at Lonmin [JSE:LON], Anglo American Platinum [JSE:AMS]  and Impala Platinum [JSE:IMP] in Rustenburg and Northam in Limpopo downed tools on January 23, demanding a basic salary of R12 500 per month.

They have rejected the company’s offer of 10% that will see them earning a minimum of R12 500 by 2017.
Mathunjwa said the union had moved from an initial demand of R12 500 immediately and suggested the increase be spread over four years.
“If it was not for the arrogance of the chief executives, an agreement could have been reached,” he said.
Lonmin on Wednesday declined to say how many of its employees had returned to work.
“We are not going to be providing a blow-by-blow insight of the number of people returning because that’s what incites violence,” spokesperson Sue Vey told Sapa.

“It is a process. People are returning to work but there has been intimidation.”

The platinum producers recently resolved to approach striking mineworkers directly about their latest pay offer, in a bid to end the strike.

Amcu objected, raising fears of friction between striking mineworkers and those who wished to return to work.

Three miners and one of their wives were killed in separate incidents in Rustenburg since Sunday, prompting police to deploy reinforcements in the area.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in Marikana on Wednesday: “Anarchy will not be allowed, whether disguised as industrial action or not.”

More than 5 000 people had been arrested in the platinum belt in the past 20 months and he warned that police were tracking those who instigated violence there.
National police commissioner Riah Phiyega denied police were reluctant to act in the wake of Marikana shooting of August 2012, where 34 people, most of them striking mineworkers, were killed in a violent confrontation with police.
“We have acted over a period of 20 months. More than 5 000 people have been arrested for various crimes. It is not correct that the police are afraid to act,” she said.
The week before the shooting of August 16 2012, 10 people, including two policemen and two security guards, were killed.
The 44 deaths are currently being by probed the Farlam Commission of Inquiry.
Phiyega said the police would remain in the Marikana area as long as the situation warranted their presence.
Spokesperson for the platinum producers Charmane Russel said the companies would oppose an urgent application by Amcu to the Labour Court seeking to interdict the companies from communicating directly with striking workers.
“Amcu leadership has repeatedly indicated that the union will act in line with the mandate given by employees. Let us hear what employees want to do,” she said.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions in the North West called for tolerance and an end to intimidation in the area.
“We do not want see the other Marikana tragedy,” provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said in a statement.
Trade union Solidarity asked for miners to be protected from intimidation, particularly as workers were “extremely vulnerable” once they returned home after shifts.
The strike has cost the companies over R17.8bn in revenue and workers have reportedly lost more than R7.9bn in earnings.
SAPA

Hotel employee axed over Jay Z video


New York -A hotel where someone recorded security video appearing to show Beyonce’s sister, Solange Knowles, attacking Jay Z inside an elevator said on Wednesday it had identified and fired the person.

The Standard Hotel said the person had been terminated for “breaching the security polices of the hotel and recording the confidential CCTV video”.

Celebrity website TMZ posted the three-minute video on Monday and said it was shot last week inside a Standard Hotel elevator.

The video appears to show Solange attacking Jay Z in Beyonce’s presence. A security guard intervenes. The footage shows the performers in the outfits they wore to the Met Gala last week. There is no audio.

The hotel said after the video was first aired that it was “shocked and disappointed” by the security breach. It said on Wednesday that it will turn over “all available information to criminal authorities”.

Representatives for Jay Z, Beyonce and Solange haven’t commented on the video and didn’t reply to emails sent on Wednesday seeking comment.

Jay Z and Beyonce, who were married in 2008, will kick off their co-headlining On The Run Tour on June 25 in Miami.

Solange recently performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where Beyonce joined her on stage. – Sapa-AP

Tlhwahalang High: Teachers clash over dismissed head


By Obakeng Maje
Jan Kempdorp- The disgruntled students of a local high school at Valspan in Jan Kempdorp say they are sick and tired of shenanigans taking place at Tlhwahalang High School.

The situation was unrest since Monday.

According to Congress Of South African Students(cosas) Deputy president Tshepo Louw, things are very tense at school and no classes are taking place.

The issue came after the suspension of the embattled former school principal who was subsequently relieved off his duty by Northern Cape Department of Education over fraud and maladministration allegations leveled against him.

Aubrey Modiakgotlha was suspended then fired by department and his dismissal allegedly sowed division between teachers to such extend that some of teachers come to school armed with firearms.

“We would like the department of education in the province to scrutinise the situation closely as the chicanery affects the students and their education” Cosas deputy president Tshepo Louw told the media.

It is believed that some of the teachers want Modiakgotlha back as they claim his dismissal was unfair and the case against him lack precision.

The department of education said the infights at school need to be sorted out soon as that affects the students education in the process.

“We will make sure that the situation is sorted out in euphony as this affects the education of the pupils” Sydney Stander said.

The students will meet with all stakeholders on Thursday to try and get rid of the bad situation and classes get back to normal again.

Last year the pupils were taunting and singing struggling songs showing unhappiness. They also held placards depicted with this word “We want to write”.

Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Sydney Stander said they will meet with Cosas to try and put the differences to bed and lambast Cosas for running to the media without following proper channels.- TDN
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‘The current state of NWest roads under spotlight’


By Obakeng Maje
Zeerust- The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province wants to be on record that it will not suspend its action until the solution is found on the most expensive toll gate which continues to increase poverty to the people of the North West, including the users of the N4 toll gate.

“We want to confirm and appreciate that the office of the minister and that of acting DDG was able to convene the first task team meeting on Tuesday to deal with the challenges that both the federation and SANCO have raised in our memorandums” Cosatu provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said.

The task team meeting agreed to take up the issues to a subcommittee that will deal with the following issues:

•The reduction of the fees.
•The proposed provincial government reduction from R75 to R58 linked to COSATU’s demand.
•The alternative roads for those who will not be able to pay the fees.
•The current state of our North West roads.
•The consultation processes that was flooded by certain individuals
•The current state of the discount that is benefiting few people, in particular farmers in the surrounding area, and how it can be extended to the rest of the poor working class and the daily users of the expensive toll gate.

The issues in dispute are the following:

•Government to release the concession contract to the public;
•Government to investigate how the concession contract was awarded, who are the beneficiaries and how did it come to the building of the expensive toll gate.
•The government refused to investigate the allegation of the R11milion given to the municipality of Kgetleng.
•The issue of suspending the payment of the toll gate until a solution is found.
•COSATU refuses to suspend its action against the toll until a solution is found.
•The termination of the contract and hand over the road to government

“We are happy that the minister has established the task team to deal with issues we raised and we are happy that there will be no increase to the Swartruggens expensive toll gate until solution is found on the demands of the federation” Phetoe said.

He said this confirms that the toll gate is a burden to the poor working class and is expensive to the workers.

The task team and its subcommittee members are given two months to give the progress report to the broader team.

Cosatu said they will continue with the fight until they see the commitment of the Department of Transport and the Provincial Government in responding positively to their call in particular for the reduction of the toll gate fees.

“We are proceeding with our planned action on 16th May 2014 from 14h00 until 17h30” he outlines.

“We call on the media to support our program. We are calling on all the motorists to support our program, as they will also benefit from the demands. Our communities in Gatling municipality must continue to support our program.”

Phetoe said they are also requesting the police to allow their action to proceed peacefully and stop to provoke the protesters.
He also calls on the Provincial Commissioner to deploy police who will respect the masses of the people so that they are also able to respect the police.

“Those who come to our marches with instructions to arrest or to shoot workers and communities or protesters must not come. We are pleading for a peaceful picket and demonstration as we have been granted permission to proceed under the Gatherings Act.
Let us all meet at the toll gate 14h00 to 17h30” he concludes.-TDN
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Premier Modise condemns torching of Implats cars   


North West Premier Thandi Modise has condemned the destruction of private and public properties in the platinum belt. This follows the torching of three stationary cars at Impala Platinum’s Rustenburg operations on Wednesday morning.

Premier Modise said that those behind acts of violence and intimidation of non-striking workers associated with the AMCU strike need to be unmasked and put behind bars
.

“Our communities have had enough of the violence and the devastating impact of the four months old strike on their livelihood. They are yearning for peace and stability to be restored,” Modise highlighted.

She expressed confidence that the deployment of more police in the area will bring the situation under control.
Implats spokeswoman Alice Lourens confirmed the there were no injuries during the incident as no one was in the vehicles which were parked on the mine’s property.
Police are investigating a case of arson and malicious damage to property.-TDn
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Banyana Banyana captain happy to be back


Johannesburg- Sasol Banyana Banyana captain and central defender Janine van Wyk looks set to return to the starting 11 for the friendly match against Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday, 18 May 2013. The match is scheduled to kick off at 15h00.

Janine van Wyk who has been out for almost three months due to a collateral knee ligament strain, missed the clash against Zimbabwe last month.

“It’s the first time I am training with the team again, and it feels really good to be back. I have been out for 13 weeks without playing football and doing rehabilitation. There are still a few areas I need to work on and get the injury out of my mind. But I am sure I will be ready in the next couple of days,” said van Wyk.

“I cannot wait to take the field against Ghana which I believe will be a much tougher opponent than Zimbabwe. They are more physical, but I think we can compete with them. The last time we faced the Black Queens, we were able to pip them through a penalty shootout and we are looking to do one better for the fans by defeating them within the allotted 90 minutes,” she concluded.

Sasol Banyana Banyana are preparing for the upcoming African Women’s championship qualifiers match against Comoros at the end of the month, and coach Vera Pauw is impressed with the team’s performance thus far. She believes that the match against Ghana will assist in building a strong team.

“Preparations are going well, we have only had three training sessions together. We had the first explosive training session yesterday, to gain more power and after that we had game time. I am impressed by what I saw,” said Pauw.

“We have reviewed the previous match against Zimbabwe and feel that we made it easy for them. It was not the individual mistakes that were a concern but the whole team lacked cohesion in the first 45 minutes. The match against Ghana could not have come at a better time as we look to intensify preparations ahead of the African Women’s Championship qualifiers against Comoros,” she added.

Defender Letago Madiba, who plies her trade for Tshwane University of Technology in the Sasol League remains the only injury scare for the team ahead of the match after sustaining a knee injury during today’s training session.-TDN
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Award-winning journo Mohlahlana promoted to eNews Prime Time


eNCA (DStv 403) reporter Cathy Mohlahlana is officially becoming a news reader and anchor for eNews Prime Time from tonight, Monday 12 May, at 19:00 on e.tv, and is also getting a weekday co-anchor position on eNCA with Joanne Joseph from Thursday 15 May between 09:00 and 13:00.

It’s been self-evident to eNCA viewers that Cathy Mohlahlana is getting upped to anchor status – viewers saw her sitting in over weekends in timeslots to do screen tests and to get experience and training.

Cathy Mohlahlana will now read the news on eNews Prime Time on e.tv on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Following the promotion Cathy Mohlahlana will soon disappear from South African TV screens however – next month she will join fellow South Africans like telenality Romy Titus who will study in Washington D.C. in the United States from June as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative Fellowship.

“We are very delighted to have Cathy Mohlahlana on eNews Prime Time and with her field reporting experience we have no doubt our audience will enjoy her news delivery,” says Phathiswa Magopeni, the head of terrestrial news services at e.tv’s eNews division.

“She is a highly motivated and energetic individual and we believe her experience will add value to our news service,” says Phathiswa Magopeni.

Cathy Mohlahlana joined eNCA four years ago and reported extensively last year on the death of Nelson Mandela, and this year on the Oscar Pistorius murder trial, as well as the recent national elections.

“Her work in the field and ability to think on her feet makes her the perfect choice as an anchor,” says eNCA.

“I love news and this is an overwhelming opportunity for me,” says Cathy Mohlahlana. “Being in the studio is a different environment and I really look forward to that change of pace and perspective”.
For http://www.eNCA.com