Kasie FEBRUARY 2016 ISSUE
Kasie News At Its Best
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Parliament move to PTA?
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HE political parties are divided over the relocation of Parliament from Cape Town to Pretoria.
Recently president Jacob Zuma announced during the State Of the Nation Address (SONA) that the state was spending a lot of money on two capitals, suggesting that one capital city would cut cost of civil servants. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has come out in support
of President Jacob Zuma's proposal to relocate Parliament to Pretoria to create one capital city, but says the party has consistently raised this issue. But the EFF's Mbuyiseni Ndlozi says it is unlikely that this will happen under Zuma's term in ofce, calling him an illegitimate president. “He will soon accept that admitting to pay back the money is an admission that he unduly benetted. There is no way that you can unduly benet as a sitting president without at the same time admitting that you've broken your oath of ofce.” Ndlozi says the ANC and what it calls tenderpreneurs must be warned the relocation of Parliament is not an opportunity to squander state funds for political ends. “It's not just going to be the money making scheme for the parasitical tenderpreneur interest of the general members of the ANC who are politically linked and their families.” Zuma' suggestion was opposed by the Democratic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party and the United Democratic Movement.www.ewn.co.za
A woman jump out of a burning car - Page 2
Van Niekerk succumb to cancer - Page 4
SA clubs kickstart their CAF campaign on high note - Page 8
Voters encouraged to register for 2016 elections
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t the kick-off for the highly anticipated 2016 municipal elections – which could see several major metropolitan areas change leadership – the Independent Electoral Commission of SA said on Thursday the rst voter registration weekend will take place on March 5-6. The election date still has to be conrmed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des van Rooyen – the short-lived minister of nance before being replaced by Pravin Gordhan and shifted to COGTA. The election has to take place within 90 days after the expiry of the current local government term on 17 May. Numerous battles face the ANC, but the most highly contested seats are likely to be in the municipalities of Johannesburg, Tshwane/Pretoria and Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth. At the launch of the elections in Midrand, chief electoral ofcer Mosotho Moepya said a total of 24.95 million people were registered to vote, a slightly lower number than voters registered during the 2014 general elections, which was
25.3 million. One of the biggest challenges facing the IEC is to conrm the physical addresses of voters. This was made essential after a November 2015 Constitutional Court decision found there were irregularities in a by-election in seven wards of the Tlokwe municipality in 2013. The case had been brought by eight independent candidates who had been red by the ANC and joined up with opposition parties. The IEC said the decision by the Constitutional Court had made the IEC up its game, but that it would be able to do it. Since it is illegal for people to register in a voting district where they do not reside, registration ofcials have to conrm that voters are registered in the correct voting district. The IEC said it would also make a strong push to get young voters to register, especially 80 percent of people who are eligible to vote but aren’t registered are under the age of 35. The IEC said it expects to have 22,600 voting stations set up across the country, an increase from just over 20,000 in 2011.-www.sapeople.com
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Finally the long awaited Sports Focus' sister publication, Kasie Focus is here and we hope you will give it the support you did with the other one for the past six years. As the name suggest, Kasie Focus which will be distributed free of charge will be focusing on news as they happen in the townships around South of Gauteng (Johannesburg) and a bit of stories arising from other provinces which are of national
interest. We are therefore appealing to people around the townships such as in E k u r h u l e n i ( m a i n l y K AT H O R U S Katlehong, Thokoza, Vosloorus not forgetting Thembisa), West Rand (mainly Soweto, Kagiso) to send us your news so that we can have them published in this publication. Kasie Focus' target markets are mere individuals on the street, both males and females from the age of 12-70 years who
are regarded as low class levels. Among the stories to be focused in the Kasie Focus will be Community stories, Gig Guides, Entertainment, Travel & Tourism (Preview Guest Houses and B & Bs and Tourism Attraction Centres), Sports, My Kasie, and Feature Stories. In this very first edition, we kick-start our journey of previewing townships in My Kasie section with Alexandra Township on Page 7 Enjoy your publication till next edition.
EDITOR’S CORNER
Hello Kasie Focus!
Feb 2016
A woman hospitalised after jumping off a burning car - nakampe@lenakacom.co.za 071 562 1847
A
- eric@lenakacom.co.za 084 739 0142
March 2010
REPORTERS: Hamilton Ngobeni hamilton@sports-focus.co.za Sekaba Maake sekaba@sports-focus.co.za Clifford Mahlo Thulani Mohale PHOTOGRAPHERS: Lucky Zitha lucky@sports-focus.co.za Kasie Focus @Kasie Focus www.issuu.com/KasieFocus
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Pic by:Lucky Zitha
woman was left with critical injuries after she allegedly jumped out of a partially burning motor vehicle. The incident occurred late on Friday afternoon near Fochville on the N12 in the direction of Potchefstroom. ER24 said in a statement, “the vehicle allegedly caught alight due to sparks that were somehow created. One of the passengers saw the fire and she jumped out of the moving vehicle. After the woman jumped out, the driver brought the vehicle to a standstill and he and the other passengers got out and away from the then blazing vehicle. Besides the woman that was critically injured, there was a toddler of three years old that sustained minor injuries and two other adults who, fortunately, did not sustain any injuries”. ER24 airlifted the critically injured patient by helicopter to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for urgent treatment. “The young child was transported to hospital by another medical service in scene”. The cause of the fire and the incident remains unknown and is subject to further investigation.-www.sabreakingnews.co.za
Alex’s missing girl found T
HE 16 year-old Lizel Molefe, who went missing after she was seen being pushed into an unknown car while waiting for her school transport, has been found. According to the Pink Ladies missing person's organisation, the teenager was found by a team of police officers from Sandringham Police Station on Friday night. "She has been found alive and is presently being taken for a medical. There is an ongoing investigation so no further information at this stage," it said on its Facebook page. Molefe, a pupil at Queens High School in Kensington, was allegedly kidnapped in Lombardy East on Tuesday morning. According to a flyer published by the organisation, Molefe was waiting to be picked up for school when her parents saw her being pushed into a blue car at around 07:00. At the time Molefe's mother, Lynly, told News24 she wanted her daughter back. "I miss my daughter and I want her to
come home. I want her to know that we love her very much." She described Lizel as a normal teenager who wanted to become a criminologist after school, adding that her daughter was very active and enjoyed playing sports.
March 2010
Pic by:Lucky Zitha
Sandringham Police Station's Colonel M Sambo confirmed the teenager was found on Friday night but could not immediately disclose the details on how she was discovered.-www.media24.com
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Feb 2016
Van Niekerk succumbed to cancer South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) on Monday hailed four-time Comrades Marathon gold medalist Riana van Niekerk who died after a nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer a gallant fighter and heroine. "We wish to convey our condolences to Allie, her husband , relatives, friends,her fans and the entire sports fraternity on the loss of an illustrious athlete and a courageous woman, "SANCO National Spokesperson said. Mahlangu said that van Niekerk's courage and endurance has over the years inspired millions of women and fellow athletes across the world. "South Africans from diverse backgrounds looked forward to her next race with great admiration as well as anticipation because she was always a beacon of hope and personified the triumph of the human spirit as a great champion," he said. According to her husband, Allie's social media post, Van Niekerk died around 4pm on Saturday. "She fought like the champ she is,” he wrote. According to The Citizen website, Van Niekerk was diagnosed with the disease last year while preparing for her attempt at a fifth Comrades gold medal. After six months of chemotherapy, and having parts of her gallbladder and pancreas removed, her husband revealed last month that the treatment had not been successful, and she was due to start a new round of chemo sessions. Aside from her Comrades performances, Van Niekerk had also earned three gold medals in the 56km Two Oceans race. The 39-year-old former SA marathon champion boasted victories at the Om Die Dam, Loskop and City2City ultra-marathons.
Two arrested for using fake police van According to Piet Ungerer from WF Security he was on patrol in the suburb on the West Rand on Saturday when he saw the van with the SA Police Service blue and yellow signage, but something did not feel right. He spotted that it had GP registration plates, unlike the usual "B" at the end of police van licence plates. He had it checked and it turned out to be licensed to a rental company. That piqued his interest even more.
"I could not just ignore it. It was going to bother me for the rest of the day. If a crime was committed with it, I would kick myself and think 'I could have just made that call'," he told News24 on Sunday. He followed the van from a distance, suspecting the occupants might members of one of the blue light gangs which stop people under the pretext of being police officers, then rob them. He called the police and when they stopped in Goldman Street near the Spar to use an ATM, he questioned them. The police also arrived and the startled man and woman explained that the van was a prop for a film. But they were not off the hook yet and the car was taken in by police for this explanation to be confirmed. Ungerer said he was concerned that the movie people were not aware of the legislation regarding police signage, and also of the alarm and potential danger. "The police explained to them that certain procedures have to be followed for movie props like that. They should be escorted when they drive in public, and it should be covered when not in use.'' "It looks like a cloned car," said Ungerer. "We would like to know where they [fitted out] the car, because it was a good job." But it was not perfect. In places some of the signage had come off and the blank spots covered with paper. Ungerer was also concerned that if the prop was not used and stored in strict compliance with the law, it could be stolen and used to commit a crime. A spokesperson for the Florida SAPS was not immediately available to comment. Ungerer said he did not know which film the car would be used in.-www.news24.com
Generations' Tau fight for life at hospital
PROMINENT Generations actor Rapulana Seiphemo is fighting for his life at a private hospital in Johannesburg following a collision on the N14 near Diepsloot north of Johannesburg. Two people died and four others sustained serious injuries when two cars collided late last night. ER24 spokesperson Russell Meiring says they found one vehicle in the middle isle of the road while the other was found amongst some bushes on the side of the road. “On inspection, paramedics found that three people had been inside each vehicle. On assessment, paramedics found that two men, one from each vehicle, had sustained fatal injuries in the collision. Unfortunately, nothing more could be done for the patients and they were declared dead on scene,” says Meiring. However, Meiring says four other patients were found on scene with two of them critically injured. He says, “Paramedics treated the patients and provided them with advanced life support interventions.” -www.sabc.co.za
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Feb 2016
Airbag model raises stakes For DATSUN GO A
S much as Datsun GO was well received, with the young market and the young at heart loving it for its less R100 000 price and its attractive, smooth looks, the vehicle also received ak for its lack of basic safety features, more so the airbags. The good news is that the manufacturer has responded positively to the criticism, launching the Datsun GO Lux with an airbag on the driver's side. The Airbag Lux rst hit the road mid-year last year in India, the country where the GO is manufactured. The vehicle has hit these shores as well, priced below R110000. The arrival of GO Lux has also further improved car ownership for different categories of people as the entry level model has got even cheaper at R97 200. Apart from the driver-side airbag, the Lux comes with more smart features the initial did not have. These are power steering, for a better driving experience; USB port and auxiliary input for the entertainment component, and a slightly heavier weight. This is remarkable progress for the GO, after a report by the Global NCAP testing agency recommended that the vehicle be discontinued, saying it was pointless to even t the airbag into it. Nissan weathered the storm arguing that the GO met basic standards of the countries it was released in, including SA. In fact Nissan had also argued that the Global NCAP tests did not inuence their decision and insisted that the move to offer the Datsun Go airbag was always in the initial plans, as follow-up to the introduction of the Datsun GO. There's no denying the importance of safety, given the numbers of deaths due to road crashes. In spite of what NCAP say, and what Nissan does it appears the GO is here to stay as people vote with their feet and wallets. DRIVING PLEASURE Apart from the attractive fuel economy of 5.2 litres per 100km, Datsun GO impresses with spacious interior for family and friends, and plenty of room in the boot too.It's designed for everyday life and it has decent acceleration for when you are in a hurry. However, the best way to drive around in the GO is at cruise speed, so that it's beauty can also be enjoyed by those seeing it drive past. PRICING: Datsun GO Lux (Airbag) R111900 Includes a 3-year / 100 000km warranty plus service intervals of 15 000km
Kasie
Feb 2016
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Focus on my Kasie
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T
he history of Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, Gauteng
THE sprawling township of Alexandra, popularly known as Alex is celebrating 104 years. Located in the northern part of Johannesburg, and a stone throw away from the up-market Sandton city, Alex is lovingly known by its residents, is gradually starting to overcome its past, over 100 years later. But to understand how difficult the road has been, let's get back to the beginning. Its history goes back to 1904, when Papenfus, a wealthy farmer, bought a number of farms, in the Alex area, one of which, Zandfontein, would become the township. Papenfus brought his wife, Alexandra, and his cook Hey Nxele Mbanjwa, with him and their first job was to build a mud hut, which acted as a donkey refreshment station for carts carrying Papenfus' milk from his farm to Johannesburg. The Mbanjwas brought their five-year-old daughter Annie with them when they moved. Annie married Phumuza Twala and they had 10 children. Phumuza was a thatcher and thatched roofs in the white suburbs of
Johannesburg. People from the rural areas, lured by jobs opportunities at the expanding mines, settled near to the Mbanjwas, and by 1912 Papenfus started dividing the farm Zandfontein into plots, selling them to black families and giving them an opportunity to own land just before the 1913 Land Act took that right away from them. Papenfus needed a name for the new township. The Mbanjwa's son, Twala recalls that Papenfus asked his grandparents what name was suitable. They replied: “Your wife, Alexandra, loves people.” So it became Alexandra. In 1912, Alex was proclaimed a “native township” and by 1916 the Alexandra Health Committee was established to manage Alexandra, a settlement that now accommodated around 30 000 people. However, the Committee was not allowed to collect local taxes, nor was the Johannesburg City Council willing to take responsibility for an area that it claimed fell outside its jurisdiction, leading to a lack of resources and proper management. As it grew, with no tarred roads, rainwater drainage systems, street lighting or sewerage systems, accompanied by haphazard shack settlement, it took on the appearance of a ghetto. In 1948, the National Party was elected into government, and it brought into law a sweep of apartheid laws – Alexandra was put under the direct control of the then Department of Native Affairs. It was decided that the 3 influx of people into Alexandra had to be
2 controlled, and in fact the population needed to be decreased, and finally, the provisions of the 1913 Land Act had to be implemented: freehold rights had to be taken away from those residents who owned their properties. Part of the population reduction plan involved the forced removal of 5 000 squatters to Orlando in Soweto. But there were no homes for them in Soweto and they were dumped back in Alexandra, becoming the health committee's problem again, Alexandra being considered outside the jurisdiction of the Johannesburg City Council. The exercise was repeated again
with 2 000 squatters. At this time Alex had a population of 60 000 residents. Read more of the Alexandra history in the next edition.
1. The sprawling Alexandra township 2. Alex FM: Rise4justice blog. By Mantala Nkoatse 3. The Alfred Maimane Phiri Games remain the centre of attraction in Alexandra
Kasie
SPORTS
FEBRUARY 2016 ISSUE
Kasie News At Its Best
FREE
SA clubs off to CAF’s good start T
HREE of the four Absa Premiership teams competing in CAF competition secured first leg victories at the weekend. Competing in the CAF Confederation Cup, Bidvest Wits beat Light Stars 3-0 at the Amitié Stadium in the Seychelles on Saturday. Goals from Dillon Shepard and Sibusiso Vilakazi in the first stanza, and a goal from Markus Lecki in the 60th minute secured the result for the visiting
team. Ruzaigh Gamildien got the early goal, which set up a comfortable 2-1 win for Ajax Cape Town during their outing against Sagrada Esperanca, also on Saturday. The home team scored the equalizer four minutes later but a subsequent goal from Riyaad Norodien ensured the victory for the Urban Warriors. Premiership champions Kaizer Chiefs made an early statement in the CAF Champions League, when they beat Volcan Club 4-0 at the Stade de Moroni in the Comoros on Sunday. A brace from Eric Mathoho and goals from Bernard Parker and Sula Matovu secured the emphatic result for Chiefs. In the only failed assignment of the weekend, Mamelodi Sundowns came unstuck during their trip to Zimbabwe, when they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Chicken Inn on S a t u r d a y, a l s o i n a Champions League encounter. Bafana Ba Style can take solace from the fact they only need to chase one goal during the return leg of this campaign. -www.psl.co.za
Drought of goals in PSL’s five matches SuperSport United, Chippa United, Golden Arrows and Jomo Cosmos all walked away with wins. All four wins were significant. Cosmos, who beat Free State Stars 1-0 at Olen Park on Saturday, have now managed to secure a four-point cushion between themselves and Pretoria University, who are now firmly entrenched in the dreaded relegation zone. A 53rd minute goal from Cheslyn Jampies did the damage. SuperSport United consolidated their spot among the top eight in the league standings, following their 2-0 victory against Pretoria University. Tuks have now lost three of their last four matches. Sibusiso Khumalo and Thuso Phala secured the result for SuperSport United, which was their first win in the last three Thuso Phala matches.
NINE goals were scored in the five Absa Premiership matches played at the weekend of February 12-14, as
Chippa recorded their second win on the trot, when they beat Bloemfontein Celtic 10, in the Free State. The saviour for Chippa was Rhulani Manzini, who scored a goal with one minute to play in regulation time. Chippa are sixth in the league standings, four points ahead of Golden Arrows, who beat Polokwane City 2-1 on Saturday. City had the lead through a fifth minute goal from Thobani Mncwango. However, Gladwin Shitolo and Rodney Ramagalela initiated and completed the comeback for the visiting team. In the only match of the weekend that failed to produce a result, Maritzburg United and Platinum Stars played to a 1-1 draw at the Harry Gwala Stadium. Evans Rusike and Robert Ng'ambi were the two scorers on the day. Platinum Stars remain among the top five in the league standings, just three points clear of Chippa, while Maritzburg United continue to languish at the bottom of the league standings, where relegation seems increasingly likely at this juncture.
Thobani Mncwango