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ANC party agents die in car accident


By Obakeng Maje
Blikfontein- Two ANC party agents died in a car accident in Blikfontein, Northern Cape.

ANC party agents we travelling from Koopmasfontein on their way to Blikfontein polling station. The car that they were travelling with allegedly had a tyre burst.

“Two of our party agents died in a car accident, other was injuried and the driver escaped unharmed” Keitumetse Mathiba told Sabc.

The party agents were travelling from Koopmasfontein, near Barkly West to Blikfontein where they were suppose to drop another party agent.

The name of the deceased are yet to be revealed as their next of kin have not been informed.
Police investigations continue.-TDN
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DJ Sbu ignores photo ban


Johannesburg – Kwaito musician Sbusiso Leope, known as DJ Sbu, ignored an IEC warning not to take photographs in the voting booth when he tweeted photographs of his ballot papers on Wednesday, the Sowetanlive website reported.

The original photographs were close-up shots that showed his marked national and provincial ballot papers under the hashtag #WhyiVoteANC.

However, later these images appear to have been removed as his Twitter feed showed only a photograph of an inked thumb positioned over a portion of oysters on ice with scattered lemon slices.

The same hashtag accompanied this still-life portrait.

The Electoral Commission on Sunday issued a request that people not take photographs in the ballot booth or of their ballot papers.

“It is an offence to take and/or publish photographs which reveal a person’s vote on a ballot paper,” said IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela at the time.

She said offenders would face a fine or a stint in prison.

South Africans are voting on Wednesday in the country’s fifth democratic general elections.-Sapa

Nearly 2 500 voting stations open late


Johannesburg – The chief electoral officer, Mosotho Moepya, said 11% of the 22 263 voting stations opened late on Wednesday for the country’s fifth democratic elections.

This A total of 2449 voting stations experienced delays in opening on Wednesday for the country’s fifth democratic elections, the IEC said.

He said 2 449 of the 22 263 voting stations opened late because staff arrived late, voting materials were delivered lateĀ  and buildings designated as polling stations were locked.

By 09:00 95% of polling stations were open and by 11:00 the final few were operating normally.

Arson

While Moepya said voting was proceeding “smoothly, peacefully and briskly”, tensions had to be calmed in certain areas in Gauteng and the Western Cape.

Strong security measures were implemented at voting stations in a township in Springs and in Bekkersdal, where there had been arson attacks, as well as in Cape Town’s gang-plagued Manenberg on the Cape Flats.

Military vehicles were deployed to Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, following ANC faction-fighting in recent weeks.

At the Evergreen informal settlement in Springs, State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele urged residents to allow delayed voting to go ahead.

Some in the crowd swore at Cwele and shouted “The police will shit themselves today”.

One young resident said: “Those who vote…we’re going to find them at night”.

Lobbying

Military and police officials patrolled Bekkersdal, west of Johannesburg, where two IEC tents were set on fire on Tuesday night and a police helicopter circled above.

IEC Western Cape electoral officer Courtney Sampson said that at a voting station in Barcelona, Gugulethu, a mediation team had been sent in to resolve a community dispute.

In Seshego, Limpopo, IEC officials and police had to intervene in a verbal altercation between Economic Freedom Fighters and African National Congress supporters at the Mponegele Primary School.

EFF supporters accused the ANC of lobbying for votes by handing out T-shirts.

EFF leader Julius Malema arrived later in the day accompanied by his grandmother. He said the free fashion offered by the ANC was not important as voters could not “eat [a] T-shirt”.

Other political leaders and public figures were in a merry mood as they voted across the country.

Prison guard

President Jacob Zuma was welcomed by ululating supporters as he arrived to vote at the Ntolwane Primary School in KwaNxamalala, Nkandla.

“The results will be very good,” he told reporters.

At St Paul’s Church in Rondebosch, Cape Town, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille ditched her party’s blue and white colours in favour of a purple coat, top, high-heeled shoes and necklace.

Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele arrived at the Sea Point, Cape Town, library voting station shouting “good morning citizens” before she voted.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu cast his vote in Cape Town at the Milnerton High School. Walking with a cane, he declared that it was “wonderful, wonderful” to vote in a “relatively peaceful” country.

Meanwhile in Witbank, Mpumalanga, prisoners also exercised their democratic right, albeit with some confusion. At one point two inmates at the Witbank prison went into the same booth, before a prison guard separated them.-Sapa

Peaceful poll a blessing – Tutu


Cape Town – South Africans must be thankful they can vote peacefully, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said as he cast his vote in Cape Town on Wednesday.

“I’m thinking of Ukraine. I’m thinking of South Sudan, you know, all of those things happening there,” he said while shuffling into Milnerton High School with his wife Leah.

“We can vote and [it’s] relatively peaceful, isn’t it? Wonderful! Wonderful!”

Tutu, dressed warmly, used a wooden cane to support him as he walked past a long line of families waiting patiently in the sun.

Ever his charming self, he took off his black beret for photos, thanked those he was walking past and even chatted briefly with some members of the public.

A woman was overheard saying to her husband: “What a moment. How cool is that,” as he got a cellphone picture of Tutu in the school hall.

Secret

Tutu slowly and painfully negotiated the wooden stairs leading down to the election officials and handed over his smart card ID.

A throng of cameras and television cameras bathed the couple in stark light. Leah commented that she couldn’t see because the lights were so bright.

They were both led to their voting booths and the media maintained a respectful distance.

Tutu emerged from the booth a few minutes later and placed his ballots in the provincial and national boxes.

“There we go. Whoopee!” he said, pumping his fist in the air.

“People were imprisoned. People suffered. So we mustn’t waste it. We must keep remembering we got this at a very great price.”

A journalist asked which party he had voted for.

Tutu let out one of his trademark high-pitched squeals and quipped that the journalist thought himself to be very smart.

“My vote is my secret,” Tutu replied.

Not discouraged, the journalist then asked how his vote compared to the 1994 general elections.

Tutu smiled and said: “I am 20 years older.”

All voting stations should be open from 07:00 and close at 21:00.-Sapa

‘Elections are running smoothly in Manthestad’


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-The voting stations opened its doors early in the morning on Wednesday for diligent voters who weathered the even weather to cast their vote.

In Manthestad village, Taung voters were seen going up and down some of them being excited while some of youth were just sitting in the sun.

Our crew spoke with various presiding officers in different voting stations and they shared their thoughts.

“We are elated as people are coming out in numbers. There are no challenges so far as everything is running smoothly”said Presiding Officer Grace “MamaG” Setuti-Maje at Kebinelang Middle School Voting Station.

Maje said they expecting more than 700 people.

Nkone Chakane said the voting are smoothly run and even though people are not coming as expected, they still believe they will come later on.

Our crew also passed by Baga-maidi Tribal Authority and found the voting running smoothly too.

“We are expecting more than 1000 people and so fa so good. There are no challenges we encountered” Nthabiseng Bareetseng said.

Most youth did not show conscientiousness with mixed feelings whether to vote or not.

Few of ‘Born-frees’ did not show up as expected, but maybe that will change later on.-TDN
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A man died after bludgeoned to death


By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom- A 48-year-old suspect was arrested for allegedly stabbing aĀ 54-year-old man at Wilgeboom Farm along Viljoenskroon road on Sunday.

Captain Pelonomi Makau said the victim was stabbed with a knife in his chest and died on the scene after an argument with the suspect” Makau said.Ā 

The suspect appeared in Potchefstroom Ā Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He was remanded in custody until Friday for bail application.
-TDN
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A 20 year-old man shot over a distasteful joke


By Obakeng Maje
KLERKSDORP- A 49-year-old male suspect appeared in Klerksdorp Magistratesā€™ Court for attempted murder that occurred on Sunday at a local taxi rank.

“It is alleged that a 20 year-old victim was found lying and bleeding at a taxi rank. The suspect allegedly got angry when the victim joked with him, and he took out the firearm and shot the victim. The latter was transported to the hospital for medical treatment” captain Pelonomi Makau.

He will appear again on 26 May for further investigation and was granted bail of R800.-TDN
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A parolee re-arrested after raping his sister


By Obakeng Maje
Klerksdorp- A 37 year-old suspect who was on paroleĀ  also appeared in Klerksdorp Magistratesā€™ Court on Monday for rape.

“It is alleged that the suspect raped her 23 year-old sister at Extension 1 in March 2014 after he called her to his bedroom” Captain Pelonomi Makau said.

According to the information available at this stage, the suspect was allegedly released on parole in January 2014 for raping the same victim in 2002.Ā 

The suspect was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on Monday for bail application. Investigation continues.-TDN
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Ā 

North West tradional healer arrested for rape


By Obakeng Maje
Klerksdorp- A 42 year-old man appeared before Klerksdorp Magistrate Court after he allegedly raped a woman.

Captain Pelonomi Makau said a 27 year-old went to see a traditional healer for consultation and was ordered to take off her clothes.

“A woman was allegedly raped by a traditional healer and a case of rape was launched. A traditional healer appeared before court and his case was postponed until Friday” Makau said.-TDN
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Man with disability and dependents receive three houses and electric powered wheelchair


The dreams of a 51-year- old Zeerust man with disability who has no feet and hands became a reality when he and 16 members of his family received three newly built houses from North West Premier, Thandi Modise at Ikageleng Township on Tuesday.

ā€œI did not believe that government will respond speedily to our plight and with such splendour after the Premier visited the dilapidated shack we were staying in less than three months ago. We feel so special,ā€ said the overjoyed Pontsho Ndlovu who also received an electric powered Ā wheelchair from Premier Modise.
Ndlovu who was relocated from Kruisrivier outside Zeerust to his electrified and fully furnished two bed roomed home said that the wheelchair will assist him to move with ease.
In handing over the houses, Premier Modise said that government wants to restore the dignity of every citizen.

ā€œAs a caring and compassionate government, we were touched by the abject poverty and inhumane conditions under which the family lived without necessary documentation to access grants and other essential services from government. We are grateful to the Regional Secretary of the ANC in Ngaka Modiri Molema, Priscilla Williams who drew our attention to the plight of the family during the Provincial Lekgotla,ā€ Modise said.
The Premier also expressed appreciation to the integrated and coordinated intervention by the Departments of Human Settlements-Public Safety and Liaison, Home Affairs, Social Development and Health and Palesa Manche of Sun Success Construction Projects CC who was contracted to build the houses.
Manche who recently completed 600 housing units at the Groot Marico Human Settlement Project and was winner of the Best Woman Contractor category at the Provincial Govan Mbeki Awards also donated furnisher for Pontsho Ndlovuā€™s and curtains for all three houses.
Premier Modise who was accompanied by MEC for Human Settlements-Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi and Ramotshere Moiloa Mayor, Councillor Afrika Thale announced that Ndlovu is to receive prosthesis after completing physiotherapy.
Modise said that Ndlovuā€™s nephew who suffered an epileptic fit and fell into a fire while preparing food for him has been placed on correct treatment and will also receiveĀ  physiotherapy Ā and undergo a skin graft operation to mask his burn injuries.-TDN
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