Central News Issue 002 | Top Stories : “ City of Mangaung Elects Another Mayor”
Issue 002: Download the latest edition of Central News Print Newspaper and Digital Edition . Top Stories : “ City of Mangaung Elects Another Mayor” Central News aims to give the People real, informing, educating and reliable news. This news agency is set strive to set a new benchmark for local, provincial news in the Free State, North West, Gauteng and the Country. Central News Introduces Print and E-Edition VersionCentral News Introduces Print and E-Edition Version Central News is a portal of information from matters ranging from hard news, general news, government news, politics, sport, business , entertainment and social issues etc. Central News offers sponsored articles, Print Media, Social Media Marketing, Door To Door Pamphlet Distribution, display branding partnerships, podcast services, newsletters, live streaming , Radio & Television Content Development and paid interviews. We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment. Advertisement: To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za For Business Related: business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom: Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za General Info: info@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator: admin@centralnews.co.za Whatsapp : 081 495 5487 Website: www.centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube #centralnewsza #fscentralnews #nwcentralnews #gautengcentralnews CENTRAL NEWS
Issue 002: Download the latest edition of Central News Print Newspaper and Digital Edition . Top Stories : “ City of Mangaung Elects Another Mayor”
Central News aims to give the People real, informing, educating and reliable news. This news agency is set strive to set a new benchmark for local, provincial news in the Free State, North West, Gauteng and the Country.
Central News Introduces Print and E-Edition VersionCentral News Introduces Print and E-Edition Version
Central News is a portal of information from matters ranging from hard news, general news, government news, politics, sport, business , entertainment and social issues etc.
Central News offers sponsored articles, Print Media, Social Media Marketing, Door To Door Pamphlet Distribution, display branding partnerships, podcast services, newsletters, live streaming , Radio & Television Content Development and paid interviews.
We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment.
Advertisement:
To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za
For Business Related:
business@centralnews.co.za
Newsroom:
Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za
General Info:
info@centralnews.co.za
Office Administrator:
admin@centralnews.co.za
Whatsapp : 081 495 5487
Website: www.centralnews.co.za
Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube
#centralnewsza #fscentralnews #nwcentralnews #gautengcentralnews
CENTRAL NEWS
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Social Media
LinkedIn | Facebook | TikTok
Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
@centranewsza
FREE COPY
FREE STATE | NORTH WEST | GAUTENG
FRIDAY
28 APR 2023 | WEEKLY
www.centralnews.co.za | newsroom@centralnews.co.za | WhatsApp 081 495 5487
NEWS
Katlego Bereng’s
family to be
assisted by DSD
The Free State Social Development
Department spokesperson Lindiwe Mnguni
has confirmed the department is committed
to support and assist the family of Katlego
Bereng.
NEWS
ANC Fezile Dabi
confident services
will be delivered
The African National Congress (ANC) in
Fezile Dabi region has welcomed the election
of Gregory Nthatisi as the new acting Mayor
of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality on
Tuesday.
City of
Mangaung
elects
another
Mayor
By Thys Khiba
Free State has welcomed the election of
Gregory Nthatisi as the new acting Mayor
of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality on
Tuesday.
STORY PAGE 2
PICTURE SUPPLIED
Go beyond the headlines
Also available online at www.centralnews.co.za
CONTACT US
General Info
info@centralnews.co.za
Administration
admin@centralnews.co.za
Newsroom
newsroom@centralnews.co.za
Advertising
sales@centralnews.co.za
02 News | 28 April 2023
City of Mangaung elects another Mayor
By Thys Khiba
The African National Congress
(ANC) in the Free State has
welcomed the election of Gregory
Nthatisi as the new acting Mayor of
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality on
Tuesday.
“The ANC is pleased that Comrade
Gregory Nthatisi was successfully
elected as the Acting Executive Mayor,”
said ANC Free State spokesperson Jabu
Mbalula.
His election follows a High Court
judgement interdicted the African
Alliance of Social Democrats (AASD)’s
President Papi Mokoena, from executing
his duties as the mayor.
Mbalula confirmed the party is also happy
that ANC’s Vumile Nikelo has retained
his seat council as council whip of the
City of Mangaung.
“We want to reiterate that his voting out
by council was flawed.
“We are therefore happy that Comrade
Nikelo has been correctly retained to
his position, as is the preference of the
ANC and the people of Mangaung,” said
Mbalula.
The party has expelled seven councillors
including the City’s deputy mayor
Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane for voting
with opposition parties.
For defying the party line and caucus
decision not to attend a council sitting
until certain issues were clarified.
Amongst those who have been expelled
by the ANC in Mangaung, the Deputy
Executive Mayor, Mapaseka Mothibi-
Nkoane and former Speaker Stefani
Lockman-Naidoo are also included in the
list of fired councillors.
“Nobody is bigger than the ANC. As per
the ANC constitution rule 25.35 these
expelled individuals have a right to appeal
this verdict, effectively from the day of
receiving this communication,” said ANC
Mangaung regional Secretary Patrick
Monyakoana.
During a press briefing, Monyakoana
reminded the public of the defiance of
the caucus decision by certain councillors
not to attend a council sitting until certain
issues were clarified.
This included their participation in the
alleged illegal removable of the then
Acting City Manager.
The ANC has accused its councillors
of voting with the opposition party, the
Democratic Alliance (DA) to ensure
that the party preferred candidate for the
position of the Council Speaker, Lawrence
Mathae is not elected.
“The outcome of that voting process to
elect the Council Speaker, as announced;
reflected that the opposition parties had
received more votes than they jointly hold
in the Council.
“The higher votes received by the
opposition means that certain ANC
members had deliberately colluded with
the opposition, to ensure that the ANC
preferred candidate for the position of
the Council Speaker is not elected,” said
Monyakoana.
The denied divisions within the ANC in
the region were full display when some its
councillors in the council on Wednesday
failed to follow the party line when they
voted for DA councillor Maryke Davies
to be the new speaker of the municipality.
The governing party, ANC received 51%
PICTURE SUPPLIED
outright majority in the 2021 Local
Government Elections and this places
the party as the majority party in the City.
According to Monyakoana, the ANC
viewed the behaviour of its councillors
as unacceptable and highest form of
arson.”
On Tuesday, 28 March, the City has
welcomed two new members of the
Mangaung Council, party PEC member
Nthatisi and party regional chairperson
Mathae at the Bram Fischer Building.
Mangaung was placed under the national
intervention in April last year after
it failed to implement the financial
recovery plan.
Warrant of arrest against
ANC MP withdrawn
By Central News Reporter
The Orkney Magistrates’ Court has
withdrawn a warrant of arrest against
the ANC MP Sibusiso Kula after he
arrived late in court on Wednesday morning,
26 April.
This comes after the court case started
at 09:00 without Kula and his legal
representative attorney Gcina Dlanjwa in
Orkney, near Klerksdorp.
“When the matter started in court, both Kula
and his attorney were not present and a
warrant for his arrest was issued.
“He however showed up moments later and
the warrant was subsequently withdrawn,”
said North West NPA spokesperson Henry
Mamothame.
The court suspended the case against the
34-year-old to 10 May 2023, for legal
representation.
“The postponement was however
sustained as Kula could not account for
the whereabouts of his attorney,” said
Mamothame.
Kula is currently out on bail, after the High
Court of South Africa North West Division;
granted him R50 000 bail, following his
appeal on the Orkney Magistrates’ Court
decision to deny him bail.
“He was ordered to surrender his passports,
report twice a day at the nearest police
station, provided the investigating officer
with his work itinerary, and report to
investigating officer if he must move
outside his residential jurisdiction and
have no direct or indirect contact with his
children,” Mamothame said.
Meanwhile, an application has been
submitted to the office of the Director
of Public Prosecutions in North West,
Dr. Rachel Makhari, for the matter to be
transferred to a higher court, owing to its
serious nature.
Mamothame confirmed investigations are
nearing completion as the state prepares for
trial.
Following thorough investigations by the
police, he was linked to the alleged murder
and was arrested on 20 January 2023 and
charged with murder. Kula is expected back
in court on the next court date.
Police reports reveal that Kula’s wife,
Jennifer Mohlomi, was found murdered on
27 November 2022, in what seemed like a
robbery.
She was found with a stab wound on her
PICTURE SUPPLIED
back but the object that was used for her
alleged murder has not been recovered.
“The matter was reported by the medical
facility where she was allegedly transported
by the accused to receive medical attention.
“The accused told the police that he was
not present at his home when the incident
occurred,” said Mamothame.
Dlanjwa indicated in the previous court
hearing, he wants to register their intention
to present an application to oppose further
postponement on the matter.
Speaking to Central News, Dlanjwa
indicated their intention to challenge certain
procedural matters relating to his client’s
first appearance in court.
He indicated that he finds the arrest as a
malicious intent as they did not expect it.
Meanwhile, Dlanjwa said he respects the
intention of the magistrate to issue a warrant
of arrest against his client.
Dlanjwa indicated that he arrived late in
court after being stopped by traffic officers
who were “doing their job.”
28 April 2023 |
News 03
Ramaphosa and ANC make a U-turn on ICC
By Central News Reporter
Presidential spokesperson Vincent
Magwenya has indicated the
African National Congress (ANC)
secretary general (SG) Fikile Mbalula
and President Cyril Ramaphosa made an
error on withdrawal from the International
Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday.
“This clarification follows an error in a
comment made during a media briefing
held by the governing African National
Congress (ANC) on South Africa’s status
with regard to the ICC.
“Regrettably, the President erroneously
affirmed a similar position during media
session today,” said Magwenya.
Magwenya has confirmed the country
remains a member of the ICC in line
with a resolution of the 55th National
Conference of the governing party – held
in December 2022.
This comes after Ramaphosa announced
the ANC has decided South Africa must
withdraw its membership of the ICC.
“The governing party, the ANC, has taken
Social Development department
to assist Katlego Bereng family
By Central News Reporter
The Free State Social Development
department spokesperson Lindiwe
Mnguni has confirmed the department
is committed to support and assist the
family of Katlego Bereng on Wednesday
26 April.
“The department of Social Development
in this incident is responsible for
providing psychosocial assistance.
“As soon as we were alerted on the
state of the condition of the family,
we immediately contacted our sister
department, which is community safety,
roads and transport. Our social workers
were immediately dispatched to the
family yesterday,” said Mnguni.
Mnguni indicated that the family received
psychological assistance and support
by the departmental social workers on
Tuesday.
In addition Mnguni indicated that the
department provided the family with the
‘best team’ of social workers and will
provide transport to the mortuary for the
family to identify the body.
This comes after Bereng’s charred
remains were found in convicted killer
Thabo Bester’s prison cell 35 at the
Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC).
the decision that it is prudent that South
Africa should pull out of the ICC largely
because of the manner in which the ICC
has been seen to be dealing with these
types of problems,” said Ramaphosa.
During the media briefing, it was
confirmed that decision was taken during
the ANC’s national executive committee
(NEC) meeting at the weekend.
Ramaphosa said comments from Amnesty
International were noted where there had
been reflection on what many people
believed was “unfair treatment.”
“Our view is that we would like this
matter of unfair treatment to be properly
discussed, but in the meantime the
governing party has decided again there
should be a pull out so that will be a matter
that will be taken forward,” Ramaphosa
said.
The governing party’s decision to withdraw
might have been influenced by the court’s
decision in March to issue a warrant of
arrest against Russian President Vladimir
Putin who is expected to attend the BRICS
summit in the country in August.
The family indicated that they have
suffered severely as a result of this
tragedy and called on the government
to assist them with professional mental
health assistance.
The family wants answers and have
threatened a legal action against the
South African government.
Meanwhile, the SA Prisoners
Organisation for Human Rights (Sapohr)
said the charred remains of Bereng found
in Bester’s cell exposed the level of rot in
the South Africa’s prisons.
“We are tempted to ask, why did police
wait for almost a year to inform the
biological mother of this despicable
and unthinkable incident… Sapohr’s
outcry remains and we still insist on the
establishment of an independent judicial
commission of inquiry,” said Sapohr
spokesperson Golden Miles Bhudu.
Sapohr has called for the dismissal of
the Justice and Correctional Services
Minister Ronald Lamola and police
officials.
“In order for justice to be done for both
the bereaved family of the late Katlego
Bereng and the country, a mass civil
claim should be instituted against both
the minister of prisons and the SAPS,”s
said Bhudu.
The ICC accused Putin of committing war
crimes.
As a signatory to the ICC, South Africa
is obliged to act on the warrant if Putin
sets foot on South African soil. The
government has sought legal advice on
the matter.
This is for the second time South Africa
has been put on pressure by the ICC
to arrest a head of state. In 2015 South
Africa did not comply with the ICC’s
warrant of arrest for Sudanese President
Omar al-Bashir despite a local court order
compelling his arrest.
It has been confirmed by ambassador
at large for Asia and Brics and South
Africa’s Brics sherpa (emissary) Prof Anil
Sooklal that Putin will attend the summit,
set to take place from August 22 to 24 at
the Sandton Convention Centre.
Meanwhile, the governing party national
spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri
confirmed the ANC did not take a decision
for an immediate withdrawal.
“In outlining this broad context of
discussion, an unintended impression
may have been created that a categorical
decision for an immediate withdrawal
had been taken.
“This is not so. We reiterate the
resolution of conference remains our
policy position until such a point where
its implementation does not yield the
required result,” said Bhengu-Motsiri.
PICTURE SUPPLIED
04 Politics | 28 April 2023
ANC Fezile Dabi confident services will be delivered in Mangaung
By Thys Khiba
The African National Congress
(ANC) in Fezile Dabi region has
welcomed the election of Gregory
Nthatisi as the new acting Mayor of
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality on
Tuesday.
His election follows a High Court
judgement interdicted the African Alliance
of Social Democrats (AASD)’s President
Papi Mokoena, from executing his duties
as the mayor.
“The people of our province’s capital
must rest assured in the knowledge that in
Comrade Nthatisi, they have a loyal and
humble servant who will make service
provision a top priority,” said ANC
regional spokesperson Sello Pietersen.
Pietersen indicated that the governing
party is convinced that the election of
Nthatisi is the right one given the service
delivery challenges faced by the City of
Mangaung.
The party said a speedy provision of
services will receive the necessary
attention.
“We therefore take this opportunity to
congratulate Commissar Nthatisi and
assure him of our unconditional support as
he embarks on what will undoubtedly be a
challenging task.
“As Fezile Dabi region, we are painfully
aware of the mammoth task facing
comrade Nthatisi. The people of the
Free State province, and Mangaung in
particular, rightfully demand provision of
quality services, and political mudslinging
and grandstanding is not what they want,”
said Pietersen.
Meanwhile, Tumahole residents in Parys,
in Ngwathe Local Municipality under the
PICTURE SUPPLIED
Fezile Dabi region led by the ANC, are
subjected to inhumane conditions and
affected by water outages.
Residents told Central News that months
after promises were made by the executive
mayor Victoria de Beer-Mthombeni, they
are still waiting to have water running
from their taps.
Earlier this year, angry residents went on
rampage and torched the house
of the mayor’s mother and
parts of the Ngwathe
municipal in a service
delivery protest.
The affected mayor,
Dr Beer-Mthombeni
alleged that the
burning of the house
was politically
motivated.
Affected residents
of Ward 11 indicated
that they wake up every
morning to get unsafe water from
underground pipes.
“It is possible that this water contains
harmful chemicals, parasites, toxic
chemicals.
“But we don’t have a choice, my brother…
we are subjected to these conditions,” said
angry resident.
Meanwhile, some residents shared
concerns in relation to the impact of lack
of water supply in the schools.
“It is easier for a girl child to get infection
at school due to toilets that are not
flushing.”
Municipal spokesperson Steve Naale said
“we
are painfully
aware of the
mammoth task
facing comrade
Nthatisi”
the water-purification plant is functioning
and affected affected by power cuts.
“Yes, the plant is the functioning, not to
its optimum and load shedding causes
delays in terms of water production and
distribution hence consideration for
alternative energy supply.
“Yes, two filters were fixed, the remain
filters are awaiting advertisement process
which is already ongoing,” said
Naale.
On 25 April, the governing
party in the region had
assessments of all
municipalities in the
region at Sasolburg,
Metsimaholo Local
Municipality.
“This is in accordance
with the 7th Regional
Conference Resolution
to provide political
support and direction to our
Municipalities, in an effort to
strengthen provision of quality services to
our people.
“The Leadership of the Region received
reports from all ANC Mayors, Council
Speakers and Chief Whips from all the
five Municipalities in the Region,” said
Pietersen.
Pietersen indicated that the meeting
focused on budgets, Eskom debts, council
meetings, CWD’s activities, quarterly
reports from councillors.
In a statement issued by the ANC Fezile
Dabi region, the party admitted some
municipal issues require improvement.
28 April 2023 |
News 05
Stepson sentenced for killing his stepmother
at her business premises
By Central News Reporter
The High Court of South Africa; North
West Division sitting at the Vryburg
Regional Court, sentenced Joel Tuma
Phatudi (40) and Lebogang Archibald
Serei (40), to life imprisonment for the
murder of Serei’s stepmother, Kgomotso
Serei.
They were sentenced to a further 35 years
on two counts of robbery, possession of a
firearm, and possession of ammunition.
North West NPA spokesperson Henry
Mamothame confirmed the sentence
is not expected to run
concurrently and two of
their co-accused were
acquitted on all
“they ordered
the cashier to kneel
on the floor before
wrapping her face
with a cloth”
charges.
Their conviction
comes after an
incident that occurred
on 25 May
2017, at the business
premises of
the deceased, where
she owned a funeral
parlour.
The court heard that Serei
had instructed one of her stepmother’s
employees, to lock all doors except
the garage door.
“This he said before this employee noticed
three men standing not far from the
business premises.
“The three suspicious men later entered
the premises through the garage door
wearing balaclavas and they ordered the
cashier to kneel on the floor before wrapping
her face with a cloth,” said North
West police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata
Mokgwabone.
Mokgwabone indicated the three men
then demanded her cellphone before proceeding
to the deceased, who was also inside
the premises.
Joel Tumo Phatudi was identified as the
culprit who turned the gun on to the deceased
and shot her in the head.
The three then took two cellphones and a
handbag belonging to the deceased before
fleeing the scene.
Investigations by SAPS members revealed
that Lebogang Serei had approached one
of the employees to find him a
hitman to murder his stepmother.
“A witness who refused
the proposition
to murder also
provided the police
with a statement
confirming
that he was approached
by the
employee to execute
the murder,”
said Mokgwabone.
The same employee also
confirmed that Lebogang
gave him money to deliver to
Phatudi, after the funeral of his stepmother.
In Court:
The state prosecutor, Adv Cain Nontenjwa,
argued the court not to deviate from
the prescribed minimum sentence as
there were no compelling circumstances
to do so.
Judge Samkelo Gura, agreed with the state
and indicated that the two murdered the
deceased to take over her business.
The court heard that Lebogang wanted to
inherit the business following his father’s
passing.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions
in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari
together with Provincial Commissioner,
Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded
Adv Nontenjwa and Detective Sergeant
Lesley Kgatisang for a collaboration that
resulted in a successful conviction,” said
Mamothame.
06 Classifieds | 28 April 2023
cnclassifieds
28 April 2023 |
Opinion 07
Spoiling The Broth – A Melting Pot of Youth and Experience
A
short story writing contest has
given a total of 22 aspiring
writers an opportunity to be
published authors and to subsequently
launch their publishing careers.
The writers’ works are contained in
two anthologies aptly titled ‘Spoiling
The Broth Volume 1 and 2’, which
have been published by PUBLISH’D
AFRIKA Online Literary Magazine in
conjunction with the
National Arts Council, an agent of the
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
and the Presidential Employment
Stimulus.
The writers hail from all nine provinces
as well as two from Zambia and
Zimbabwe. The title, Spoiling The
Broth, is derived from the saying ‘too
many cooks spoil the broth‘, in this
case meaning the complete, figurative
opposite.
PUBLISH’D AFRIKA Magazine
co-founder Sukoluhle Nontokozo
Mdlongwa said the 22 writers were
identified through a monthly short
story writing contest, which was run
throughout the year in 2022. Altogether
over 200 aspiring writers from all over
Southern Africa entered the competition,
and these 22 were the cream of the crop.
“We invited aspiring writers to submit
short stories of no more than 2500 words
and monthly, we had two winners who
walked away with a R500 prize each,”
she said. “By the end of November last
year, we had a total of 22 winners, who
were then asked to submit two new stories
each, which nowform part of the two
anthologies.”
While the majority of Spoiling The
Broth anthology contributors are aspiring
authors, the short story collectionsare a
melting pot of youth and experience with
at least seven published authors. These
include Busisekile Khumalo, the author of
the acclaimed Harvard Series, Her Silent
Screamsand Fallen Candle, as well as
Hidayat Adams, a Cape Town based author
who has published a short story collection
titled Mhlobam and Other Stories.
“We also had contributions from Zambian
author Isaac Kanyinji, Chance Ntombela
and Anathi Kom,” said Sukoluhle. “Their
stories touch on a variety of issues such
as HIV/AIDS, gender–based violence,
crime, mental health, dealing with loss and
corruption.”
Both Volumes will be officially launched
on Saturday, 29 April, at Hermansdal
Lodge and Venue, outside Witbank in
Mpumalanga. Thanks to the support by the
National Arts Council, the 2023 leg of the
monthly short story competition resumed
in January, and six new writers who show
promise have already been unearthed.
PICTURE SUPPLIED
“The whole point of the competition is
to unearth raw writing talent as well as
to encourage a culture of reading and
writing,” said Sukoluhle.
“Two prizes are on offer monthly; the
Publisher’s Choice Award which is
now worth R1000, and the People’s
Choice Award which is worth R500.
In November 2023, another batch of
22 aspiring writers will form part of
the 2023 anthology and like the 2022
winners, they will also be assisted to
launch their publishing careers.”
_____
Sukoluhle Mdlongwa
editorial
By Thys Khiba
President Cyril Ramaphosa
is a lukewarm leader
While he is known for his
invaluable contribution to the
multiparty negotiations and
convening the Constitutional Assembly
to draft the new Constitution during the
transition from apartheid to a domestic
South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa
is a lukewarm political leader.
Recently, Ramaphosa created
unnecessary confusion by announcing
that South Africa was withdrawing from
the International Criminal Court (ICC)
and later issued a statement through
his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya
on Tuesday to indicate that his earlier
announcement was wrong and an error.
Speaking at a joint press conference
with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö on
Tuesday, he announced the government
had decided to pull South Africa out of
the ICC “largely because of the manner
in which the ICC has been dealing with
these types of problems.”
At least we should not lie about what the
President said but we should repeat what
he said.
“And our view is that we would like this
matter of unfair treatment to be properly
discussed. But in the meantime, the
governing party has decided once again
that we should pull out. So, that will be
a matter that will be taken forward,” said
Ramaphosa.
Did Ramaphosa lie about the governing
party, African National Congress (ANC)
taking a decision to withdraw from the
ICC after having its National Executive
Committee (NEC) meeting at the
weekend?
The ANC NEC released a statement to
confirm its decision of last December
to rescind its 2017 decision to withdraw
from the ICC.
“..an unintended impression may have
been created that a categorical decision
for an immediate withdrawal had been
taken. This is not so,” said ANC national
spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri.
At least to many South Africans who are
able to read and analysis diplomatic crisis,
Ramaphosa might have been ill-advised
by those close to him.
In trying to cover Ramaphosa’s lukewarm
and neutral leadership, Magwenya issued
a statement saying: “The Presidency
wishes to clarify that South Africa
remains a signatory to the Rome Statute
and will continue to campaign for equal
and consistent application of international
law.”
“This clarification follows an error in a
comment made during a media briefing
held by the governing African National
Congress (ANC) on South Africa’s status
with regard to the ICC. Regrettably, the
President erroneously affirmed a similar
position during a media session today.
“South Africa remains a signatory to the
ICC in line with a resolution of the 55th
National Conference of the ANC – held
in December 2022 – to rescind an earlier
decision to withdraw from the ICC.
“The December resolution was reaffirmed
at the meeting of the National Executive
Committee (NEC) of the ANC during
the weekend of 21 to 24 April 2023. The
NEC had also reflected on the potential
withdrawal from the ICC as an option that
would arise as a measure of last resort in
the absence of legal options that would
result in fairness and consistency in the
administration of international law,” said
Magwenya.
In many occasions, politically Ramaphosa
has been viewed as a favourite of Western
leaders and not of Brics countries.
Unfortunately, South Africa is part of
Brazil Russia India China (Brics).
As a member of ICC and Brics, South
Africa is expected to arrest Russian
President Vladimir Putin as he is expected
to visit the country in August to attend the
BRICS summit.
Putin is accused of war crimes in
connection with Russia-Ukraine war.
Ramaphosa is trying to escape that
dilemma.
He realised later that it is legally impossible
for South Africa to withdraw from the ICC
before the BRICS conference in August.
08 Sports | 28 April 2023
sports
CONTACT US
General Info
info@centralnews.co.za
Administration
admin@centralnews.co.za
Newsroom
newsroom@centralnews.co.za
Advertising
sales@centralnews.co.za
PICTURE SUPPLIED
De Bruyne praises Manchester
City overall performance
By Thys Khiba
The Manchester City midfielder Kevin
De Bruyne has applauded City’s
overall performance to secure a
crucial 4-1 Premier League victory over
title rival Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on
Wednesday night.
“When they play man to man we just have to
go a little bit longer because there’s no place
for short passes. The first half we were really
good.
“We could have scored more, but luckily the
second goal wasn’t offside and it changed
the game,” said De Bruyne.
The Belgian footballer opened the scoring
with a superb low strike into the bottom
corner from 20 yards, before setting up John
Stones to double the lead shortly before the
interval.
De Bruyne went on to score his second goal
ten minutes after the interval with a clinical
finish. This was before Rob Holding pulled a
goal back for the visitors.
The Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland
scored his 49th goal of the season across all
competitions to secure the victory for City at
the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s camp scored 4 goals against
1 to secure 3 points of the EPL. The victory
takes up two points behind table-toppers
Arsenal, with Guardiola’s men having two
games in hand on the Gunners.
De Bruyne says in the second half the two
teams, Arsenal and City were 50/50.
“In the second half it was probably about
50/50 and I think we didn’t give much away
to them. They’re a class team and hard to
play against. We had to be at our best today
and we were,” said De Bruyne.
Despite this, De Bruyne believes that seven
games left can still change the current
points of and Premier League table.
City’s football manager Guardiola says his
team are in the position he wanted them to
be in following the 4-1 win over leaders
Arsenal.
“Absolutely my position now. I would love
to be two games ahead with six points.
“It depends on us. Until today I prefer the
position for Arsenal because if Arsenal
beat us it is in their hands. Now it is in
our destiny. I have a feeling the next three
games will dictate a lot,” said Guardiola.
City will face Fulham, Leeds and West
Ham at home with a back up of great
Etihad supporters.
Arsenal football manager Mikel Arteta
believes that City were a better team in the
first half.
“They were probably at their best, especially
in the first half, and we were nowhere near
our level. When that happens, the gap
becomes too big and in the first 30 minutes
we didn’t do all the basic things that you
have to do against an exceptional team,
in terms of competing, winning duels and
understanding what the game requires,” said
Arteta.
Arteta said his side got punished and could
have been punished even more.
FIXTURES
DStv Premier League
29 April
Royal AM v Cape Town City - 16:00
29 April
Stellenbosch v Golden Arrows - 18:30
29 April
AmaZulu v Sekhukhune - 21:00
30 April
TS Galaxy v Orlando Pirates - 16:00
Motsepe Foundation
Championship
29 April
Cape Town All Stars v JDR Stars -
16:00
29 April
Magesi v Baroka - 16:00
29 April
Platinum City v Black Leopards - 16:00
29 April
Polokwane v Uthongathi 16:00
29 April
Pretoria Callies v Casric Stars - 16:00
29 April
Pretoria U v NB La Masia - 16:00
29 April
Tshakhuma v Hungry Lions - 16:00