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The world Population Day To Be Launched In Mapopane


Mabopane- The Deputy Minister for the Department of Social Development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu will host an event commemorating World Population Day on Friday.

In keeping with the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) focus on adolescent well-being, and to help include a new goal for young people in the post-2015 development agenda, the theme of the World Population Day 2014 is “Investing in Young People.”

This year’s World Population Day commemorations will be tied in with the UNFPA’s Youth Campaign designed to gather millions of “selfies” from young people, decision-makers, high-profile celebrities and others, in support of UNFPA’s proposal for a youth goal to be included in the post-2015 development agenda.

“There are 1.8 billion people aged 10-24 in the world, making one quarter of the world’s population.  In South Africa, nearly forty percent(40%) of the population is made up by young people between the ages of 15 and 35” departmental spokesperson Emillie Olifant said.

The idea behind the “selfie” campaign is to gather these photos as a show of support and then use the collection to communicate to decision-makers that young people all over the world want to make sure that they are “put in the picture” of future development plans.

Olifant said key among the issues facing young people to be highlighted during the 2014 World Population Day campaign are poverty, access to education and health care (including reproductive health rights), teenage pregnancy, child marriage, female genital mutilation, youth unemployment, violence, death and injury.

The South African Human Rights Commission Report – Poverty Traps and Social Exclusion among Children in South Africa 2014 – notes that, whilst there is still widespread evidence of considerable and deep-rooted poverty amongst children (people younger than 18 years), in the two decades since South Africa’s transition to democracy, the country has experienced considerable success in reducing poverty, both in money terms and in multi-dimensional forms of deprivation such as lack of access to important services such as water and sanitation.

This applies particularly to children, who in a period of declining fertility were also the nominal beneficiaries of the Child Support Grant, which contributed much to a strong decline in money metric poverty and in the number of children who go to bed hungry.

“The Social Development event will bring together fifty young people from across the country who have taken up the role of championing the youth development agenda in their communities.  They will have an opportunity to engage Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu on their accomplishments as well as the challenges they would like the Department’s intervention on” Olifant said.

The event scheduled as follows:

Date         : 11 July 2014

Time        : 08h30

Venue      : Morula Sun, Mabopane

-TDN
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13 held in Marikana for arson, kidnapping


Johannesburg – Thirteen people were arrested for arson and kidnapping at the Mmaditlhokwa informal settlement in Marikana on Wednesday, North West police said.

“They were wanted for allegedly setting alight a ward councillor’s house and a house belonging to the councillor’s close friend where a person was also kidnapped during the night on Tuesday, 13 May,” Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

Residents blocked the entrance to the informal settlement with rocks, apparently protesting over the arrest of the 13.

“The road has been blocked. Police are monitoring the situation,” he said.

Ward councillor Appearance Ndlovu’s house was burnt down during a protest by residents in May. They barricaded roads with burning tyres and rubble in protest against blasting at the nearby Tharisa mine.

They alleged the blasts damaged their houses and affected their children’s health.

Sixteen people were arrested on that night for public violence. They pleaded guilty and each paid a R100 admission of guilt fine in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on 4 July.

Mokgwabone said the four women and nine men arrested on Wednesday were expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court soon.

In a separate incident, three men were arrested for possession of an illegal firearm in Marikana.

“The suspects were arrested after information was received that they were in possession of a firearm.

They are expected to appear in Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Thursday,” said Mokgwabone.
SAPA

NCOP chair takes ‘Sowetan’ newspaper to Ombudsman over pigs comment


Cape Town- Former North West Premier Thandi Modise and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Thandi Modise has lodged a complaint with the Press Ombudsman against “The Sowetan” newspaper for distorting her statement on animals that were found abandoned on her farm over the weekend.

The article by the national daily newspaper of Tuesday 8 July 2014 under the headline “I suffered more than my pigs” on its front page is not only defamatory, amounts to character assassination but also creates the impression that Thandi Modise did not value the lives of or care for  the animals that were kept on her farm.

While Modise has expressed sadness and explained in detail the unfortunate and tragic circumstance surrounding the desertion of the animals on her farm, she is angered by the twist that portrays her as uncompassionate which was also extended to the Tuesday SABC TV 2 Morning Live Show.
 
“Desertion of my livestock without my knowledge is the worst nightmare that I have ever experienced and though i might not receive sympathy from some quarters, the least that I expect is that truth be told about what happened and what i said,” Modise said.

She reiterate that though she is deeply saddened by the abandonment and trauma that the livestock suffered, the suffering that the animals endured is greater than the financial loss that she suffered.-TDN
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Madonsela ‘surprised’ by Motsoeneng appointment


Johannesburg – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Wednesday expressed her surprise at the permanent appointment of controversial acting SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, SABC radio news reported.

“I don’t know what to make of it. I was surprised when I read this morning that he has been appointed,” Madonsela told the station.

“I’m still waiting for a response from the SABC and from the minister; until then I’m not in a position to understand what has just happened.”

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi announced Motsoeneng’s appointment on Tuesday night in Pretoria, saying she had made the appointment following a recommendation by the SABC board.

Damning report

In February, Madonsela released a report “When governance and ethics fail” which found Motsoeneng’s SABC appointment irregular. Among other things, his salary increased from R1.5m to R2.4m in one year.

She found he had misrepresented his qualifications – that he passed matric – to the SABC, and recommended that he be replaced.

At the time of releasing her report, Madonsela recommended that a new COO be appointed within 90 days. This deadline has since elapsed.

After a previous request for extra time, the SABC board was given until 17 August to respond to Madonsela’s report.

On Wednesday, Madonsela said she had had no response from either the communications department or the SABC.

Madonsela said that in reacting to Motsoeneng’s appointment, in addition to investigating “any alleged or suspected improper conduct”, she had the power to take appropriate remedial action.

“I’m not too concerned about what has happened. Of course the actors involved have done what they thought they needed to do. My way forward is to call them to my office to come and explain themselves and then I’ll take it from there.”

Parliamentary debate

Madonsela said one possible option was for her to approach Parliament to debate the matter.

The Democratic Alliance said Motsoeneng’s permanent appointment meant he could continue his “reign of terror” at the national broadcaster.

“We can expect more surveillance and purging of SABC staff, more clampdowns on editorial independence and more ‘happy news’ that reflects positively on the governing party,” DA MP Gavin Davis said.

The Media Workers Association of SA said the SABC needed to ensure its sustainability.

“The SABC needs a credible exit strategy from its persistent circumstances characterised by diminished public confidence, widening trust-deficit and compromised business competitiveness,” general secretary Tuwani Gumani said.

“Strengthening the SABC in terms of its independence from commercial, political and cultural influences is vital.”

Controversy

Last week, political parties called for Motsoeneng to be relieved of his duties. This was after Motsoeneng suggested journalists should have a licence to practice, as in the medical and law professions.

Also last week, Motsoeneng appeared before Parliament to present a strategic plan and budget for the SABC, which received a disclaimer of opinion from the Auditor General – the most adverse finding he can make.

Parliament heard the SABC was losing advertisers and viewers.

SAPA

De Kock parole decision to be announced


Pretoria – Justice Minister Michael Masutha will announce on Thursday whether former apartheid-era police colonel Eugene de Kock will be granted parole.

The minister was expected to make the announcement in Pretoria.

De Kock, a former police death squad commander, approached the North Gauteng High Court for a decision in May.

Judge Thokozile Masipa gave Masutha 30 days to make a decision. The 30 days did not include weekends and holidays.

The national council for correctional services made a recommendation about De Kock’s parole in November last year. The recommendation was sent to then minister S’bu Ndebele. When he failed to act, De Kock approached the high court to force him to do so.

De Kock was in charge of a police “death squad” at Vlakplaas, outside Pretoria, and was arrested in mid-1994. He was convicted and sentenced in the High Court in Pretoria in 1996.

He was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment for two murders and to a further 212 years’ imprisonment on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, culpable homicide, kidnapping, assault, and fraud.

Many of his former colleagues who committed murder under his command testified in return for indemnity from prosecution.

De Kock, nicknamed “Prime Evil”, has spent two decades in prison.

SAPA

Marikana to get 292 houses


By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding  in October 2013, whereupon, Lonmin donated 50 hectors of land to government for housing development purposes; to this end, the North West Provincial Government and the mining giant will officially launch the Marikana Extension 2 housing project on Thursday.

Departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said 292 houses and 252 Community Residential Units (CRUs) will be constructed as part of the first phase of more than 2000 mixed housing typologies.    

“The Project which came out of the Special Presidential Package initiative is aimed at eradicating informal settlements and bringing development around the mining area of Marikana” Ben Bole said.

The project will further ensure housing ownership and further restore the dignity of local residents as they are staying under difficult conditions around the Mining Informal Settlements.

The proceedings will be led by MEC Collen Maine who is responsible for housing development in the province and Lonmin CEO Mr. Ben Magara.

The event will take place as follows:

Time: 13H00
Date: 10 July 2014
Venue: Marikana Ext 2 (Marikana West)
-TDN
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Northern Cape police tri-lateral crime prevention a success


The Northern Cape police, several government departments, Traffic Departments and the Tobacco Industry of South Africa(TISA) had major breakthrough during a tri-lateral cross border crime prevention operation which was recently held in the province.

The operation comprised of interaction between the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape was kicked off on Monday, 30 June 2014 and concluded on 4 July 2014.

“The operation focused on static roadblocks, vehicle control points, dealing in counterfeit products, drugs, firearms, stolen property, liquor outlets, wanted persons, illegal immigrants, stock theft, rural safety and non-ferrous metals” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

Approximately 1400 vehicles were searched , 297 vehicle roadworthy tests were done and searches were also carried out on people.

“The operation included random visits to licensed liquor outlets, scrap yards, farms and second hand dealers” Kock said.

Successes yielded were as follows:

Abalone bust (worth R9.5 million rand) in Colesberg where two men were arrested.
Illicit tobacco molasses raids saw confiscation of illicit cigarettes and hookah tobacco worth R50 000,00.
Other seizures were 120 litres of alcohol , 1.194 kg of dagga, 6 grams of tik, 49 fraudulent credit cards, 2 firearms and one trailer.

“One person was arrested for bribery,
Eleven foreign nationals arrested for not having proper immigration papers. Five wanted persons were also arrested” he said.

Five other persons arrested for serious crimes committed.
69 persons were issued with traffic fines and 63 others were fined for crimes such as drinking in public, urinating in public, riotous behaviour.-TDN
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Amajimbos ready to face Lesotho


Maseru- The South African Men’s Under-17 National Team (Amajimbos) arrived in freezing Lesotho where temperatures dropped to as low as -0 degrees Celsius on Monday.

Amajimbos face Lesotho in two matches this week on Thursday and Sunday- as part of preparations for Tanzania in a 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier. The match against the East African country will take place in Dar es Salaam on 18 July 2014.

The boys had their first training session on Tuesday after travelling from Botswana.

“It is cold but I think it is important for the players to undergo these conditions so they become mentally strong and get used to all weather conditions. We need to take them out of their comfort zone and start conditioning them into men at this early age so they can withstand the rigours of international competition,” said head coach Molefi Ntseki.

“We played on two different surfaces in Botswana – on normal grass and on a synthetic turf – this is also part of the building process for this team so they can be ready for any condition. I must say they acquitted themselves very well. I think we will do the same here and have made a request for two different surfaces because you never know which field you are going to play on when outside the country. But for Tanzania we have been informed that we are playing on an artificial grass, which means we are ready for it.”

The South Africans return home on Monday, 14 July before jetting out to Tanzania the following day (Tuesday, 15 July).-TDN
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Motsweding FM Dj guilty, sentence suspended


By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng- Motsweding FM radio personality, who made headlines earlier this year, Mzwandile Dick Moalusi, 30, appeared briefly before Mmabatho Magistrate Court on Tuesday.

Dj Papa was found guilty in two accounts of culpable homicide and was sanctioned to 8 years in jail, however the sentence was suspended for 5 years in condition he does not commit the same offence again.

Moalusi was released on R5000 bail after he briefly appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court.

Moalusi, better known as Papa was facing two counts of culpable homicide, reckless and/or negligent driving, drunken driving, failure to ascertain injuries and failure to render assistance.

This came after his vehicle hit and killed two brothers at about 5am early this year in Mahikeng’s Extension 38 suburb.

Moalusi was alleged to have been drunk at the time.

The deceased, aged nine and 20, were knocked down by Moalusi’s vehicle, while walking along the road together with their mother on their way to church.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said that Moalusi was driving a silver Audi when he lost control and knocked down the two.

“The vehicle swerved and collided with a maroon Toyota Corolla that was in front and hit a rock before it eventually stopped.

“It is further reported that the suspect fled the scene on foot after the accident, leaving behind a female passenger.

“The police searched for the suspect at his place of residence and also at his work place.

“The suspect handed himself over to the police at Mmabatho station on the same day at about 11am, accompanied by his legal representative.

“That was when he was apprehended and sent to the police cells, where he spent a night before he appeared in court the next day,” Ngubane said.
-TDN

*Additional reports from The Newage newspaper.
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Jozi FM Dj Donald Sebolai arrested


By Obakeng Maje
Johannesburg- Soweto-based radio station, Jozi FM Dj was arrested this morning.

Gauteng police, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said they have been searching for fugitive Dj since from last week.

“He was arrested this morning in Soweto and will appear before court soon” he said.

Donald Sebolai is suspected for killing his girlfriend Rachel Marawa at her flat in Jabulani, Soweto.

Sebolai was on the run since then and police also offered R50 000 for any leads that can help them to arrest the presenter.-TDN
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