Cape Town- Two-goal hero in the Bafana Bafana versus Sudan game last Friday, Sibusiso Vilakazi has praised the new-look squad as a group of youngsters hungry for success and who work as a collective.

Talking after Bafana Bafana had beaten Santos 3-1 in a practice match at Athlone Stadium on Sunday afternoon in which he contributed with a thunderous second goal, the Bidvest Wits captain said the current crop of players would go places if they keep their feet on the ground.

Other scorers during the practice game were Themba Zwane and Keagan Dolly.

“We just need to keep our feet grounded and the rest will follow. The players know what it means to represent one’s country; they know that behind their backs that they are carrying the hopes of 52 million people.

“That is one philosophy coach Shakes Mashaba has been drumming home now and again and I am seeing the attitude of players has tremendously changed. They are prepared to die for a just cause, work for each other and want to bring pride and happiness to the country. That is the type of task any responsible citizen needs to carry to make a difference in society,” emphasised Vilakazi whose teammates call him Vila.

He said the match against the Super Eagles,, who were stunned 3-2 by Congo on Saturday was a defining encounter.

“We know our history against Nigeria but we are determined to change all that. History is always there to be rewritten and I am confident that come Wednesday, we will put smiles on most South Africans,” he added.

Captain Senzo Meyiwa said with the type of vibe currently being exuded in the Bafana Bafana camp, the Super Eagles will face a Herculean task to come here and steal maximum points.

“Yes, they say in soccer certain teams have their hoodoo side but we are ready for the Nigeria match. We are all determined to change the course of history and everyone cannot wait for Wednesday,” he said.

The Orlando Pirates goal-minder said they were not worried about Nigeria’s internal strife and the fact that they are still smarting from a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Central Africans.

“The fact that they lost to Congo has not affected our preparations and determination; we are just concentrating on our task at hand and that is to beat them at Cape Town stadium on Wednesday.

“My only appeal to Capetonians is to buy tickets and provide an electric atmosphere. Cape Town people have never disappointed and I know they will provide that extra motivation when we trot into the pitch on Wednesday,” said Meyiwa.

Wednesday’s match kicks off at 20h00.
-TDN
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North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Gaoage Molapisi together with Local Government and Human Settlements MEC Collin Maine urgently intervened in Boikhutso following the killings of two young people informed by gangsterism acts that were terrorising the community.

Both MEC’s called an urgent meeting with the stakeholders of Boikhutso and SAPS at Lichtenburg Police Station. The meeting was also attended by the Ditsobotla Executive Mayor Lesego Holele and some the councillors.

The urgent intervention was prompted by the killings of two people and the disruption of schools by a mob of young people in Boikhutso who also barricaded the roads on Friday morning. The community of Boikhutso refused to support their march and that frustrated the group.

On Friday, 05 September morning, the mob marched to the schools in Ward 2 and 3, while learners were busy writing the mock examinations.

 Upon their arrival they found the school gates locked. Some jumped the fence and others broke down the gates forcing entry into the school. They then ordered school managers to release the scholars to join them on an illegal march and proceeded to classes to terrorise the scholars, and some were even beaten up.

For some time Boikhutso was turned into a Hollywood, with action on the streets of around thirty young people. It is alleged that these young people use drugs which makes them to lose their senses and live in their dream world. The meeting raised a number of issues with regard to gangstarism in the community and that they demand to be hired at the Municipality. Further they want the contractors in their wards to employ only people who are members of the gang. Both MEC’S agreed that the law enforcement agencies should deal harshly with lawlessness in the area.

MEC Molapisi emphasised that all the cases opened against the gangsters and of the killings should be investigated without any hesitation. Heavy police security is deployed at Boikhutso and arrests have been made.

He urged members of the community to actively participate in Community Safety Forums (CPFs) and should not be reactive.

Molapisi said that the community cannot be held hostage by a group of young people who does not have respect for anybody. “Community must stand up and defend their freedom, Boikhutso which means peace must be peaceful and stable. Safety is everybody’s business and thugs must not set the agenda for them,” he said.

A broader meeting which is inviting all the communities in Ward 2 and 3 will be held at Ward 3 sports ground on Monday, 8

th September 2014 at 14H00. The meeting will seek to find a lasting solution for the problems in Boikhutso and will again be attended by MEC Molapisi and Maine.
-TDN
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Johannesburg – The body of a five-year-old girl was found in the veld in Phomolong, Tembisa on Friday, Gauteng police said.

“It is suspected that she had been strangled and sexually assaulted,” said police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini.

The girl went missing in the area on Sunday.

SAPA

Durban – The Tongaat mall that collapsed, killing two people, was not an unusual structure, an engineer told the inquiry investigating the incident.

Dr Piet Pretorius, tasked with investigating the mall’s design, told the labour department’s inquiry on Friday that the Tongaat mall was not an “irregular structure”, nor was it “a high rise building”.

He believed that it was adequately designed, but that he had concerns about the “accuracy” of the actual structure.

Pretorius has previously said he believed a beam, identified as Beam 7, was responsible for the collapse last November.  

He was being cross-examined by advocate Saleem Khan, the legal representative for Gralio Precast – the contractor building the mall.

Based on his observations of the mall structure, Pretorius said, he would have used larger columns for support.

Pretorius was tasked by Andre Ballack, design engineer for the mall, to investigate the cause of the collapse.

Khan accused Pretorius of evading questions to protect Ballack, the design engineer for the mall.

Construction of the ill-fated mall continued despite repeated attempts by the eThekwini metro municipality to stop the building.

The municipality had also not approved the architect’s plans for the mall.

The inquiry will continue on 18 September.

SAPA

North West Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Gaoage Molapisi wishes to condemn the violence and gangsterism that is emerging in Boikhutso location in Lichtenburg with the strongest possible term.

Few days ago a young person has been brutally killed and one is currently in hospital after two groups attacked each other over projects that are in place in the area.

One group has now decided to turn Boikhutso to Bengazi, terrorising people and destroying property of innocent civilians.

“These acts are not wanted in this time and era. Government is doing its best to change and better the lives of people and is bringing services to communities, but unfortunately it is the same community members that fight and kill one another just to deny others from benefiting out of these developments government is bringing.

People must equally share and benefit, of course it cannot be everyone who will benefit in the particular project but not a certain group that is stronger than the other,” said Molapisi.

MEC said these violent acts are happening when people are allowed to express themselves openly without fear of prosecution.

“Attacking people and destroying property is by all intends and purpose a simple act of criminality which totally is uncalled for and cannot close our eyes and pretend we don’t see. We must act and we are definitely going to act. We have been provoked and we will respond harshly,” warned Molapisi.

     He said communities have every right to bring their unhappiness about anything they may not be happy about to government and that can be done peacefully and amicably which can achieve better results.

“As MEC responsible for community safety I’m duty bound to see to it that I bring sanity in Boikhutso. People of Boikhutso must be free on the streets, at school, at church and at their homes. We will never, never be sweethearts with individuals who want to own this place. We will knock at every door, search every house, stop and search anyone if needs be we will camp here in Boikhutso. We will remove anyone in the community who does not belong to a peaceful society and put them where they belong without hesitation. We are going to meet with the community leaders this afternoon and our SAPS to map a way forward,” concluded Molapisi.
-TDN
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Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim Shakes Mashaba has named a squad mixed with youth and experience for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan later on Friday.

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa will captain the team in the absence of Itu Khune. This is Meyiwa’s fourth appearance for Bafana Bafana after making his debut against Lesotho in June last year. He came on as a sub for Wayne Sandilands.

Meyiwa then played against Swaziland in the 3-0 win last year and the 1-1 draw against Australia in May this year.

The Bafana attack will be led by Tokelo Rantie and Bongani Ndulula. While this will be Rantie’s 21st appearance, for Ndulula it will be his first appearance.

Ndulula was a regular scorer with the national Under-23 side, where he earned the nickname ‘Drogba’, he has yet to convert that early promise into goals in the PSL. He had spells with lower league Young Stars and Blackburn Rovers before signing for Bloemfontein Celtic and made his PSL debut in 2009/10.

After just a single season Ndulula was snapped up by Orlando Pirates, but never managed to win a regular place there and was signed by AmaZulu in January 2013.

The defence will be marshalled by Ngcongca, who is probably the most experienced player in the squad with 35 caps. He will play along Hlatshwayo, Matlaba and Mathoho

Bafana Bafana line-up: Meyiwa, Hlatshwayo, Matlaba, Mathoho, Ngcongca, Furman, Jali, Masango, Ndulula, Dolly, Rantie.

Bafana subs: Keet, Khumalo, Vilakazi, Manyisa, Zwane, Coetsee, Ntuli
-TDN
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