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SANDF will be deployed to CAR- minister


Cape Town – South Africa will not deploy troops in the strife-torn Central African Republic (CAR), Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said on Monday.
Briefing journalists in Cape Town, she said there were sufficient troops from the region, the European Union, and France.

“I can certainly say without any fear of contradiction for now there is absolutely no intention [to deploy troops in the CAR],” she said.

Over the past 15 months more than 1 000 people had been killed and a million displaced in sectarian violence in the country.

“Indeed there is a crisis in that country right now but the issue is not about the shortage of boots on the ground. The issue is about how best do you utilise the forces that you have at hand,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.

The use of troops deployed in the CAR had to be properly co-ordinated, to ensure an organised approach to ending the crisis.

“Taking from South Africa a few soldiers and sending them to the Central African Republic and maybe get more from other countries will not resolve the problem if there is no proper command and control or if there is no proper co-ordination of the few that you have currently on the ground.

“You can have thousands of forces and they can be as disorganised and will not serve the purpose you want them for.”

South African troops were deployed in the CAR last year, but withdrew after a bloody battle on 23 March left 13 soldiers dead and another 27 wounded.

SAPA

SABC bias towards ANC- Cope


Johannesburg – Opposition parties will approach the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) about what they perceive as the SABC’s preference for the ANC, Cope said on Monday.
“This past weekend we witnessed disproportionately huge coverage of ANC events on SABC platforms, including radio and TV channels, while opposition parties receive coverage so minuscule that if you blink, you could easily miss it altogether,” party president Mosiuoa Lekota said.

The Cope and other parties were seeking legal advice and had approached Icasa to end such “one-sided storytelling”, he said.

– SAPA

ANC distances itself from Nkandla


Johannesburg – The ANC has put some distance for now between itself and the public protector’s damning report on President Jacob Zuma’s private Nkandla home.
Briefing reporters in Johannesburg on Monday, party secretary general Gwede Mantashe consistently declined to give direct replies to questions on the Nkandla issue.

He said there were “processes that need to be given a chance”.

Mantashe was giving feedback on an ANC national executive committee (NEC) in Cape Town at the weekend.

He said the NEC was satisfied with work undertaken on the matter by officials and the party’s national working committee.

“It further noted that there are processes that need to be given a chance, like the pending report of the president expected in due course and progress on the work of the Special [Investigating] Unit.”

Zuma has directed the unit to investigate the security upgrades.

In her report on the security upgrades done at Zuma’s private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal titled “Secure in Comfort”, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that Zuma had unduly benefited from the improvements.

These included a cattle kraal and swimming pool, built with state money. She also stated in the report that he should refund a portion of the R246m cost.

On Monday, it was reported that Zuma told a crowd in Gugulethu in Cape Town he would not repay the money because he did not ask for the upgrades. He placed the blame on government officials.

“They did this without telling me,” he told ANN7.

“So why should I pay for something I did not ask for.”

Mantashe said on Monday the NEC had made no recommendations about the Nkandla report.

“We recommend nothing. There are reports that deal with the matter. The ANC will monitor the implementation of the report. That report [Madonsela’s] must be attended to,” he said.

“Anyone who benefited fraudulently or wrongfully must be pursued.”

He said the fact the report was discussed did not indicate whether the NEC did not favour Madonsela’s report over other reports.

Zuma given deadline

Mantashe said given the deadline for Zuma to respond to Parliament was on Wednesday, the ANC did not want to interfere in a process that had not run its course.

Turning to other issues, Mantashe said public discourse about corruption in the country indicated society held high standards on the matter.

“What we have observed in the public discourse, are the high levels of discussion on corruption; a clear reflection that we pitched our standards as a country high, and we should correctly continue to do so.”

Mantashe said the meeting also dealt with the state of the organisation, a report on elections, and international issues.

He said the NEC was concerned over the international trend of regime-change methods which undermined democracy.

“Elected governments are undermined and dislodged in many regions with Ukraine being the latest and Venezuela being threatened as well,” Mantashe said.

“We have directed our government to deal with these disturbing trends in international forums including the United Nations and African Union.”

Mantashe said any African government which took power through unconstitutional methods was acting against the AU’s constitution.

“SA as a member of the member of the AU supports [its] decision… to suspend Egypt from participating in its activism.”

On jobs, Mantashe said in-depth research would be commissioned to look into the best way of dealing with jobs that did not require high level skills, and those that were usually taken by foreign nationals.

“… Equally such an in-depth research should also look into small trading impact by foreign nationals.”

He said once the research had been compiled, the immigration policy would then be refined.

SAPA

North West athletes win big at Sasapd


By Obakeng Maje
The North West Province has today through Allen Dingle from Klerksdorp won 3 Gold medals for Power lifting open category at Stellenbosch University’s Akademia Hall in Stellenbosch.

The 39 year old Dingle is hard at work in preparation for 2016 Paralympics in Rio De Janeiro.

The North West Province Team of 130 Physically Disabled excluding officials became part of an auspicious opening ceremony on the evening of 30th March at Stellenbosch City Hall.

“The night was an encouraging occasion with speakers from the President of the South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled (SASAPD) Mr Isaac Shadung, Mr Pieter Retief from the Municipality, Dr Eugene Cloete from Stellenbosch University to the main sponsor of the games for the past twenty -three years (23) Nedbank Mr Thulani Sibeko pumping into athletes drove their message of human potential as well as having faith in oneself irrespective of your disability to all athletes” departmental spokesperson Shirley Montsho said.

Athletes were also encouraged not to forget the gift of participation and sportsmanship as people with disability for competing amongst themselves as they also prepare for 2016 Paralympics and other competitions in their calendar.

Mr Thulani Sibeko told athletes the tournament is a pinnacle of human spirit and endeavour- that their limitations are just fitness to imagination and that each and every one of them can achieve any goal they put for themselves.

This message is also shared by the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Mme Tebogo Modise who wished our athletes well in the Championships this year.

“Our constitution which is the main law of our country is there to afford each an everyone of us to participate in sport irrespective of our physical and intellectual disability including our background and where we come from” she said.

The Games are taking place at Stellenbosch, Belhar and Paarl in the Western Cape Province from 29 March to 2nd April 2014. The following codes are showcased at the games- Boccia, Footbal 7 aside, Goalball, Powerlifting, Swimming, Athletics and Cycling for Juniors and the North West Province is participating in all of them.-TDN
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Premier: Men must screen and test for breast cancer


Mahikeng-North West Premier Thandi Modise has appealed to men to do annual screening and testing for breast cancer as it does not affect women only.

Premier Modise made the plea before the tee-off of for the North West Province BRICS Charity Golf Challenge on Saturday.

In her send off address to over a 100 golfers who turned up for the challenge held at the Leopard Park Golf Club in Mahikeng, Premier Modise said that research has shown that men who develop a breast lump delay seeing their doctor longer than a comparable woman with similar symptoms.

“Though male breast cancer is rare, men can develop the disease and should be aware that they should seek care if they develop a breast lump.” Premier Modise said.

Modise thanked sponsored and participants for heeding the call to support the fight against cancer.       
The Charity Golf Day held on the last day of the 2ndAnnual North West BRICS Expo International Investment and Tourism Conference was aimed at raising cancer awareness. Funds raised in the challenge are to benefit of CANSA, Kgaratlho Home for the blind and Mafikeng Hotel School best performers from destitute families. 

MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Motlalepula Rosho said that Kgaratlho Home for the blind was chosen as a beneficiary in memory of Mahikeng Local Municipality Member of the Mayoral Committee, Councillor Refilwe Tirano who was passionate about looking after the interest of people with disabilities and was associated with the NGO.

The Golf Day organise by the North West Development Corporation in partnership with the Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism  was sponsored by among others Standard Bank, ABSA Bank, WeSizwe Platinum Limited, Avalanche, Protea Hotel, Mmabatho Palms Hotel, Tshedza and Fidelity Guard.-TDN
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MEC Maloyi handover 570 houses to Rustenburg rural families


Rustenburg-Life will be a lot easier and better as compared to where we come from. These are the words of Ms Lebogang Kwele of Maile Diepkuil village outside Rustenburg after she was officially given a house by the MEC for Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison in the North West on Friday.

The Handing over is part of the departmental programme of handing over about 8000 houses to beneficiaries across the province between February and March.

According to the 38 year old Ms Kwele the house has drastically changed her life and that of her two children. “We used to stay in a shack, which from time to time needed to be repaired. We were from time to time fearing that we may loose our property especially during rainy seasons like this one. We are however happy and grateful that government has came to our rescue and build a beautiful house like this one. This will be a home us for many more years to come,” said the Kwele.

Meanwhile, MEC Maloyi urged all the 570 families who benefited from the housing delivery programme, to take care of the houses and make them their personal homes. “Through this houses Government wants to make sure that your rights as a citizen of this country are protected. We do so also in closing the Human Rights month, which also seeks to restore your dignity. This is one mandate that government has committed to do and will continue to do, in ensuring that you as a South African enjoy all the rights like others, poor or rich,” said MEC Maloyi.

The handing over of 8000 houses which started in February will continue until the end of March. The MEC will among others hand over low cost houses, rental stock, and financially linked individual subsidy programme and Community residential units.-TDN
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Proteas two games away from glory


Cape Town – Good omens are stacking up quite nicely for South Africa as they advance to a Dhaka semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20 on either Thursday or Friday next week.
For more http://www.news24.com

Baxter not happy with ref as Chiefs crash out of Caf


Johannesburg – Speaking after his side were eliminated from the CAF Champions League by AS Vita, Kaizer Chiefs head coach Stuart Baxter was not happy with the officiating. 

According to the Soccer-Laduma
website
, goals from Knowledge Musona and Morgan Gould were not enough for AmaKhosi as AS Vita went through as 3-2 aggregate winners, but Baxter was not pleased with the officiating and the AS Vita goalkeeper.
 
“We get the second goal, hope the ref is counting the seconds the keeper took, but three minutes was a smack in the face,” Said Baxter
 
“My biggest regret is that, when the world sees officiating like tonight, they laugh at Africa.
 
“The keeper was an embarrassment. Sometimes he (Nguemba Lomboto) took 15-16 seconds on the ball, it just got worse and worse.”  Sport24

Pirates roast Swallows to occupy fourth spot


Johannesburg – Orlando Pirates moved back up to fourth place on the Absa Premiership log as they edged Moroka Swallows 1-0 at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Dube Birds squandered chance after chance in the second half as Tlou Segolela’s first half strike remained the separating factor between the two teams.
 
Vladimir Vermezovic was marking his debut at Orlando Stadium since taking over the coaching role at the club earlier this month, and it was also his second Soweto derby encounter.
 
The first half chance of the fixture fell to Orlando Pirates when Mpho Makola looped a ball to Sifiso Myeni inside the box on eight minutes. The striker burst into the area but was brilliantly closed down by Greg Etafia.
 
Pirates deservingly took the lead four minutes later when Etafia palmed away Thabo Matlaba’s shot. It only got as far as Tlou Segolela, who was waiting at the back post, and he headed it into the back of an empty net.
 
Swallows’ first chance of the fixture arrived in the 21stminute  in which Senzo Meyiwa drew a save from Siyabonga Nomvethe. His chance was saved, but the rebounded effort by Felix Obada was scrambled away in a mix-up between defender and goalkeeper.
 
Then, on the stroke of the half hour, Rudi Isaacs did well to get above Lucky Lekgwathi and header in a corner kick but it failed to hit the target – going high and wide.
 
The Dube Birds were enjoying a good share of attacking possession and they were awarded a free-kick on 34 minutes, but Lerato Chabangu saw his strike sail narrowly over the crossbar.
 
Bucs made a change at the restart, seeing Lennox Bacela come off and replaced by Helder Pelembe, while Obada was the first to crack a whip at goal with a powerful effort that sailed past the far post.
 
Matlaba failed to test Etafia with his stinging snapshot on 50 minutes from the edge area and so did Myeni, as his shot lacked any form of power to worry the shot-stopper.
 
The tempo of the encounter took a sudden drop and, as a result, allowed for the Dube Birds to try take control of the encounter.
 
The Buccaneers were living life dangerously with just a quarter of an hour left and Meyiwa beat away Nomvethe’s header from a throw-in. Vuysile Wana tried to follow up with the rebound but it was pushed out for a corner.
 
Zeca Marques was lucky to see his team see out the game with 11 men after men after Levi Mokgothu was shown yellow for a crunching tackle on Happy Jele with ten minutes to go. Backpagemedia

Militants killed in Kambul stand-off


Kabul – An Afghan interior ministry official says five militants who attacked the election commission headquarters in Kabul with rocket propelled grenades and machine guns have been killed, ending a four-hour stand-off.

Deputy Interior Minister Mohammed Ayub Salangi says two policemen were injured in the attack on Saturday.

There were no casualties among the dozens of Independent Election Commission staff and other people on the heavily fortified compound.

Salangi said the five insurgents wore the all-encompassing burqua to sneak unnoticed into a building that looked onto the heavily fortified Independent Election Commission headquarters.

It’s the latest in a series of high-profile attacks that come as the Islamic militant movement steps up a campaign of violence to disrupt presidential elections due to be held in a week.

AP