16 January 2015Volume 3 Week 3 www.lesedingnews.co.za - lesedingnews.mobi

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Police in Brits recently exhumed the body of a person who had been murdered in order to carry out tests that will aid their investigation. It is alleged that the 35-year-old man, who was a farmer, was found dead in the Mamogalieskraal area near Brits on 4 January by his colleague. “The deceased’s co-worker alleged that on the day of the incident he went to the deceased’s room to check on him as he used to do,” Warrant officer Mpeile Talane said. “On his arrival at the door of the deceased’s room, he alleged that he knocked and called the deceased by his name several times without a positive response. “The co-worker then further alleged that he attempted to open the door and successfull managed to gain entry in the room but unfortunately he found the deceased dead.” The matter was reported to the dead man’s employers after which a report was made to the police. “The police dispatched to the scene to exhume the body of the deceased from where it was illegally buried. The body

of the deceased was then taken to Brits Government Mortuary for post-mortem which will determine the cause of death. “The police will also establish a thorough investigation to detect anyone involved on this matter, therefore harsh legal steps shall be taken against that person especially when the body of the deceased is buried without the consent of the family,” Talane said. In other developments, the police in Brits are investigating cases of kidnapping and murder which were opened on the 6 January. The two cases were opened after a five-year-old boy was reported missing at Wawiel Informal settlement (Sandfontein). Following an investigation, the police arrested two suspects, aged between 17 and 31 years in Sandfonteinon. Further investigations lead to the discovery of the body of the child. Next to the body of the child there was a knife and both his hands were tied with a string.The body was then taken to Brits Government Mortuary for further investigationAt the moment, the police suspect that the child might have been killed for ritual purposes.

DEAD MAN’S BODY EXHUMED

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:

Young Remoneile Bereng (8) and his Mother Boitumelo Bereng are very excited on the first day of school at Nkukise Primary School in Tlhabane. Here, they are posing with Bokone Bophirima Premier, Supra Mahumapelo who visited the school to encourage learners to work hard this year in their studies

Leseding News02 Leseding News - Brits16 January 2015

10 500 to: Rustenburg. 10 500 to Brits, Marikana and Derby

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PhotographerAndrew Mahlaba

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MadiBeNg’s deBts: Mahumapelo to engage eskomNorth West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has revealed that he will seek an audience with Eskom to find ways to resolve the more than R40 million debts owed to the power utility by the Madibeng local municipality. Mahumapelo made these revelations at the Rustenburg Civic Centre on Wednesday while addressing top officials and representatives from various municipalities in the North West. The meeting was held to find solutions to some of the challenges that are being faced by municipalities in the province, especially in the areas of water provision and sanitation. Departing form the main agenda of the meeting, Mahumapelo revealed that he would soon engage with officials from Eskom to get a clearer picture of how these debts were accrued as well as to find a long term solution to the challenges. “We would like to resolve all these issues associated with debts to Eskom by Madibeng and other municipalities,” Mahumapelo revealed. “We would like to deal with this problem through each account. We are going to have an engagement with Eskom in February to make interventions that will lead to the resolution of

these challenges,” he added. Last year, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) applied serious pressure on the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to urgently place the Madibeng municipality under administration after the electricity supply to Hartbeespoort was cut due to the local government body’s debt. The City of Tshwane cut the electricity supply to Madibeng in November after the municipality failed to honour the R48 million debt it owes. The electricity was only restored after Madibeng made a payment of R15.2 million. .Tshwane is currently reviewing payment arrangements entered into with some of the municipalities, as some of the arrangements seem to exceed the normal repayment period and are taking the form of a loan, instead of a payment arrangement.:Madibeng is like a car that is being polished, but has no engine to drive,” said DA member of parliament, Leon Basson said. “Besides the R33 million Madibeng still owes Tshwane, it also owes Eskom a whopping R55 million and there is still no signed agreement with Eskom. Eskom can also cut the electricity supply to Madibeng at any time,” he said.

PoLice recover stoLeN goods

The police in Brits registered significant success while clamping down on crimes that were committed during the festive holiday. During their operations, the Brits Cluster Police Tactical Response Team together with Crime Intelligence man-aged to recover goods that were alleged to have been stolen during a house robbery incident that took place early this month in Bokfontein near the Mooinooi area. “The recovered items include four laptops, and cell phones and one power battery intelligent saver. All prop-erties are estimated at the value of R30 000,” Warrant Of-ficer Mpeile Talane told Lesedeing News in an interview. The police also managed to arrest some of the suspects

that were involved in the robbery. “Six suspects were arrested aged between 16 and 34 and detained in Brits Police Station Holding Cells. They are expected to appear in Brits Magistrates Court for posses-sion of suspected stolen properties. “There is also the additional charge of house robbery to four of the suspects among the six that were arrested. The police are still carrying out further investigations and are confident of making more arrests,” Talane explained. The victims of the house robbery have expressed their gratitude to the police for their efficient work in appre-hending the criminals and recovering their items.

HAPPY: The house robbery victims show their gratitude to the police (PHOTO: MPEILE TALANE)

PLease heLP Locate their faMiLies

The Brits District Hospital is requesting for assistance from the community in identifying the whereabouts of the family members of two of their patients, only identified as Danny Meyer and Rasta Ellis. Ellis was admitted at the hospital on 14 October 2014 after he was brought into the health facility by an ambulance. Efforts to get any information regarding the patient’s history or family members have so far been unsuccessful. The only information that the hospital has been able to gather regarding Ellis is that he comes from the Bapong area. The hospital is also requesting members of the public to assist them in tracking down Meyer’s family. At the moment, the hospital has not been able to obtain any information regarding Meyer, his family or his background. Please take a look at these photos and please contact the hospital is you can identify any of these two patients. If you have any information regarding the unknown patient, please contact the hospital’s Social Workers on 012 381 7000 /7009/70210 or the Communication Officer on 012 3817050 / 078 803 6865.

DANNY MEYER

RASTA ELLIS

0316 January 2015Leseding News - Brits

EVERYDAY LIFE INSPIRES HIS ARTWORK

For 74-year-old artist Petros Ramafothole, painting has become a way of life for more than 38 years now.Petros – who lives in the Dooronkop section of Maboloka Village near Brits – told Leseding News that he is inspired to paint by various situations that he encounters and what people go through in their daily lives. While living with his 64-year-old wife Martha Ramafothole, Petros earns a living through selling his paintworks to ordinary people. Through the money that he realizes from his work, Petros manages to supplement the money he gets from his pension to make ends meet for the two, who are both unemployed.“I started painting in 1976,” he revealed in an interview with Leseding News. “I really did not pay much attention to my work when I started because I was still employed as a driver at Lombard Transport during this time,” he added. It was only after a horrific accident that Petros was forced to depend on painting as a way of

making a living. “I lost my job after a horrific car accident. The accident occurred in 1989. It was a terrible, unforgettable experience for me. My ankle was nearly cut off. “The period immediately after the accident was a very difficult one for my family because I was no longer working,” he explained. “To make matter worse, I did not get any money or compensation from the company I was working for or from the Road Accident Fund (RAF).”“I had no income and my kids were still in school. I then decided to do my art work again and started selling my works in the Randburg area of Gauteng,” he said. Petros pointed out that while business is usually brisk for him, he is still looking for assistance regarding obtaining a permanent place to sell all his work. “The only thing I need now is to get a shelter where I will paint and sell in a busy place,” Ramafothole said.

AT WORK: Petros Ramafothole earns a living through painting (PHOTO: TEBOGO MATLALA)

JAZZ FESTIVAL ON THE CARDS

The Afro Motswako Jazz Music Festival (JAM), that was supposed to be held late last year, has been rescheduled to be staged on a date that will fall between January and February. The event, which is set to be held at the Mmabatho Palms, will go a long way in providing a platform for budding musicians to showcase their capabilities.Trinity Bogosi from Mmabana told Leseding News that plans were at an advanced stage for the festival to be staged. “Originally, the music festival was scheduled for 7 December 2014 but was been postponed due to bad weather in consideration of the safety of the revelers as well as those of the artists,” he said. “The Festival will now take place between January and February 2015. The actual date will be announced. “At the moment we are just finalizing a few outstanding issues with the artists before we can make the announcement of the

date. “It is our hope that the festival will assist us to develop the arts in the North West as we would like the emerging artists to receive as much exposure as possible,” he added. Bogosi explained that the festival would set the tone for what is expected to be a very eventful 2015. “We have very big plans for the year ahead,” he said. “We would like to hold as many events in the North West as much as we can. Our thrust will be to bring the arts to the people. “We encourage producers and artists to work hand in hand with us in their projects so that we can have a great impact together,” he concluded. Over the years, the North West has held some of the most significant arts events in the country. Towards the end of last year, North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo underlined the importance of preserving the African culture through the arts.

Lovely Keitumetse Tsile was born in the Boitumelong area of Bloemhof. Keitumetse – who has always had a keen interest in modelling and fashion – completed her matric at Thuto Secondary School in 2012. Currently she is studying tourism and would like to expand her horizons by becoming a professional model. She is looking for an agency located within the North West province as she would like to venture into modelling after completing her studies. Extremely ambitious, Keitumetse is looking to combine her passion for modelling and her work in the tourism industry. Models aged between 17 and 30, who are interested in appearing in this space, are requested to phone 014 597 9980.

MEET KEITUMETSE TSILE

FIRING IT UP: The festival is expected to expose upcoming artists (PHOTO: MMABANA)

She is looking for an agency located within the

North West province

04 16 January 2015

When the young Nelson went to join his cousin Mr Selaki Maleka in Pretoria to look for a job, he was arrested while alighting from a train in Pretoria for not carrying a passbook. He first tasted jail that night after being severely beaten by the apartheid police.In 1956 Nelson Diale joined the ANC and in 1962 he was one of Umkhonto We Sizwe’s first recruits. He and his cell, which included comrades Molefe Makinta, Mosupi Tseleng, Alpheus Bokaba and Reddy Mampana, were trained in explosives and short guns.Ntate Diale was later arrested and detained at Marabastad for three months under the Sabotage Act, where he was interrogated daily by Security Police. He was tried alongside his MK comrades and represented, with them, by Braam Fisher. Ntate Diale was sentenced to eight years on Robben Island, where he found Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Amhed Kathrada, Elias Motsoaledi, Andrew Mlangeni, Raymond Mohlaba, Harry Gwala, Peter Nchabeleng and many other senior leaders of the ANC and MK. Ntate Diale was released from prison in 1972. He was banned and banished to his home village of Ga-Masemola, where he found his wife Makopane, whom he had married in 1959, and their children suffering. In 1976 his banning order and that of comrade Peter Nchabeleng expired. They began to

meet quietly underground to continue the work of the struggle. He came to know and work with Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Dean Mminele and Dr Kgaphola during this period. They convinced him to operate the Sekhukhune Advice Office at Jane Furse Lutheran Church, working with Black Sash, the South African Council of Churches (SACC), the Legal Resource Centre and Lawyers for Human Rights. Comrade Getrude Kgalamadi was his assistant and they worked closely with comrade Lawyer Saad Cachalia.Cde Diale was a Member of the first democratic Parliament, serving as Senator in what later came to be called the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). He then became a Member of the National Assembly for 20 full years, serving from 1994 to 2014. In 2011 President Jacob Zuma awarded him the Order of Luthuli in silver “for his excellent contribution to the struggle against apartheid and for his selfless sacrifice for the attainment of freedom for all South Africans.” The ANC local branch is named Nelson Diale Branch and the SACP in the province also gave him an award.Comrade Nelson Diale is survived by his wife and children, Letladi John, Mapenene Dina, Mallane Debora, Mamphekgo David, Dichike Jeanett, Moloisho Precious and Mantaneng Kuny, sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

RIP Ntate DIaleComrade Letsau Nelson Diale was born in Ga-Masemola, Sekhukhuneland, on 1 January 1936, to Letladi Johannes and Mapenene Diale. He grew up like other boys in the village, herding goats, hunting, playing games and working in the fields. Ntate Diale, as he was

affectionately known in the movement, was the eldest of six children. When he came of age, he went to Arkona School 14 km away at Masemola Village.

FIght INk wIth INk- an opinion piece by Palesa YatesAdmittedly, some of the cartoons of Charlie Hebdo look as if they would be more at home on the walls of a schoolboys’ bathroom than on the pages of a respected weekly publication. Nevertheless, the consequent killing of 12 people was an act of pure terrorism designed to intimidate the world’s media and to further the cause of global jihadism.Many other peaceful options were available to the gunmen who stormed the satirical weekly’s headquarters last week. They could have reacted like other victims of the cartoons – including Christians and Jews – who chose to turn the other cheek. Why did they not stand up for their faith by writing letters to editors of local publications, toyi-toyiing peacefully or even drawing their own cartoons? In South Africa, according to City Press editor Ferial Haffajee, the weight of public opinion that would be brought against such a publication would see its doors closing before they even opened. In our country, tolerance and respect go together: you tolerate my differences because I respect yours and vice versa. It has been said, however, that tolerance is the virtue of those who have nothing to believe in and that those who have not found anything they are willing to die for have not yet learned how to live. Not everything can and should be tolerated, and sometimes too much tolerance

is just an excuse for apathy. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil,” said Edmund Burke, “is for good men to do nothing." So the crucial difference between gun-crazed fanatics and martyrs is really who dies first. A wise woman called Farida wrote the following words about a jihadi bride in a letter to the editor of last week’s You magazine: “Her husband will not die a martyr; he is murdering innocent people purely because they do not follow his faith. This is not my Islam. You are a martyr when you defend your faith, not when you murder people of another faith purely because they choose not to be Muslim.” When missionary Jim Elliot and his four colleagues went to visit the Auca Indians of South America in an attempt to win them over to the Christian faith in 1956, they went in peace and died as martyrs. As a result, some of their killers later became Christians. On Wednesday 7 January brothers Saïd and Chérif Kouachi killed the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists because they were unable to destroy their cartoons. As Malala Yousafzai – the schoolgirl shot in the head by Taliban members for daring to pursue her education - told Time, “They only shot a body but they cannot shoot my dreams.”

leseding News - Brits

16 January 2015Leseding News - Brits 05

Leseding News06 Leseding News - Brits16 January 2015

PLATINUM PEOPLE

The job of a policeman is one of the most challenging, especially when one is operating in South Africa – a country that is notorious

for its high crime rate.

BRIGADIER J O H A N M A R X

With such fi gures, policing in South Africa can be a very demanding and dangerous profession as on many occasions one is forced to put one’s body on the fi ring line while on duty in order to maintain law and order. Police offi cers in South Africa also have to be constantly abreast of the new developments and the latest crime fi ghting techniques. This is because criminals bent on their ways will always seek new ways of getting a step ahead of the police. On many occasions, police offi cers lose their lives while on duty during dangerous situations that usually see them exchanging gunfi re with armed criminals. Owing to the pressures and demands of the profession, some police offi cers fi nd themselves leaving the SAPS to pursue other

less demanding occupations. It becomes something of a signifi cant a c h i e v e m e n t , therefore, when one person manages to remain in the police force for more than two decades. Such an achievement goes a long way to point out the dedication and commitment of the person to fi ght and uproot crime. It is

a desire to make a positive change in our country through continuing with the battle against crime. This is the story of Brigadier Johan Marx, a dedicated, tireless and decorated member of the SAPS Brits team. Brits police has started the new year with a new cluster commander following the appointment of Brigadier Marx to the position with effect from 5 January. Brigadier Marx has commenced his duties after having spent the past twenty four (24) years in the SAPS as a station commander in various Police Stations such as Mabopane, Volkrut and Soshanguvhe in Gauteng. For the past two year, Marx served in Kempton Park as the Station Commander before he was reassigned to head the Brits Cluster.

The Cluster C o m m a n d e r has expressed satisfaction at his new appointment and pointed out that he is ready to work hand in glove with his fellow police offi cers and the rest of the community to uproot criminal activities. He will be responsible for leading the fi ght against crime in areas such as Brits, Letlhabile, Mooinooi, Assen, Hartbeespoortdam, Jericho and Bethanie and to ensure that people living is such areas are safe and secure. Speaking about his appointment, Brigadier Marx pointed out that the task ahead would not be an easy one. The Brigadier explained that his aim it to excel in the battle against crime and that he would achieve this objective if the community is willing to work positively with police.

He concluded by saying that in carrying out our duties as police offi cials, attention to detail is more than important. “Whether it is a statement that is to be taken

or a crime prevention programme to be launched, it should be done thoroughly. Our success in this area is heavily reliant on good command and control. “It is therefore, the responsibility of the senior members to ensure that offi cers fulfi l their duties and obligation to communities with utmost diligence.“Last but not the least the community must work together with the police in striving to make Brits Cluster Community a safer place to all,” Marx said.

Pick what you are going to wear- Make sure your outfit is clean and pressed.- Try it on ahead of time to make sure it fits.

Practice greeting your interviewer- A friendly smile and firm handshake is a positive way to start the interview.

Study your resume- It is all your interviewer has to go by in order to get to know you. You might be asked to elaborate on some aspects.

Practice your answers to the most common interview questions- These include, “Tell me more about yourself” and “Why do you think you would be great for this job?” - Do not memorize answers to these questions since you do not want to sound rehearsed.

Getting your dream job…Prepare properly

Lizeth KotzeLizeth.kotze@tametimes.co.za

Job interviews can be the most stressful part of the application process. With a few key preparation strategies, anyone can shine in the hot seat. Good preparation is essential since you only have one chance to make a good first impression.

Interview tips:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Research the company and job position you are applying for- Write down any questions you might have and do not be afraid to ask them during your interview.

Find out what type of interview you will have- Common types are one on one and group interviews.

Print out the directions to the interview and be on time- Allow enough time to get there and anticipate the traffic. - Keep the phone number of your interviewer handy in case you get lost.

16 January 2015Leseding News - Brits 07

PROVIDING A FOOT IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION DOORMany of last year’s matriculants now find themselves in a situation where their plans to study towards a degree this year were thwarted by marks which didn’t allow them to make the cut. But an education expert says that there is still a way for those who remain determined to study towards a bachelor’s degree: that of pursuing a Higher Certificate, which will allow them to take the next step without having to repeat their matric.Dr Anne-Ka van den Hoek, Academic Manager at the Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education institution, says a Higher Certificate is a great option for these prospective students.“A Higher Certificate in Business Principles and Practice, a Higher Certificate in IT in Support Services or a Higher Certificate in Events Management, for instance, will give students access to a BCom, a Bachelor of IT in Business Systems, or BA the year after completion. And the good news is that the Higher Certificate is available to anyone who only achieved a HC pass in their National Senior Certificate.“So you do not have to give up your degree dreams. But the key is to fully engage with your Higher Certificate, so that you can develop some of the key skills you may have been lacking that resulted in you not achieving a Bachelor’s pass to start with.”Van den Hoek says it is important that matriculants check that the institution they register with for a Higher Certificate, supports all students with focused academic literacy modules and a full year programme designed to bridge the gap between school and higher education.She says that Higher Certificates have replaced many foundation programmes, as they provide students with an opportunity to gain a full qualification while at the same time mastering those essential skills needed for

higher education success – broadly known as academic literacies. “These range from how to engage successfully with academic material, to how to review information and present it appropriately with the level of synthesis required for successful academic study,” she says.But she also warns that, while all degrees at public and private higher education institutions are subject to the same quality assurance requirements, they are not all alike. “Students should not only look at entrance requirements, but also at the curriculum and the alignment of that curriculum with their future career aspirations. This is particularly

important for those degrees that can be quite generic, such as a BCom or a BA. “A focus on strategic management, for instance, raises the bar on one’s study of business management and differentiates graduates. And becoming a lawyer is not the only career path to follow a degree with a legal focus. The integration of legal subjects with business management in a BCom degree forms a solid basis for a career in corporate governance or leadership. “Corporate communication, on the other hand, is an entire professional field that encompasses the traditional disciplines of

communication and public relations, but takes them to the level required in the modern corporate world that includes stakeholder management.” Van den Hoek says that those students who were not accepted at the institution of their choice, didn’t gain a Bachelor’s pass, or who need to strengthen their academic abilities before studying for a degree, will all do well to consider the Higher Certificate route.“It may take you a little bit longer to get there, but the experience and ultimate achievement will be well worth it, and will set you on the road to the career you’ve dreamed of but deemed out of reach.”

news@lesedingnews.co.zaGwen Bosman

FELICIA’s mATRIC REsULTs DEFy THE ODDsShe used to travel 57 kilometers to attend school in the hope of overcoming the difficult circumstances that life was throwing at her. Today, Felicia Thato Ramagogodi from Magong village in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality is happy with her impressive matric results that have given her a perfect platform to succeed in life.Felicia, who attended J.M Ntsime Secondary School, managed to pass all her seven subjects – scoring more than 80% in three of them and more than 90% in the

rest of the subjects. Her results are among the the best in the North West Province and her achievements have gone a long way in proving that hard work, determination and commitment pays off. “She grew up without a father and her mother is only earning R 2500 per month,” North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo said of her achievements.“She is a learner from rural community who performed outstandingly and is an example to others,” he added.

She grew up without a father and her mother is only earning R 2500 per month

TOP OF THE CLASS: Felicia is congratulated by the top brass of the North West Provincial government (PHOTO: SUPPLIED)

08 Leseding News - Brits16 January 2015

Conrad eyes glory in BUFFELSPOORTConrad Stoltx – or ‘Cavemen’ as he is known in local extreme sports circles – is eager to start the year on a positive note by winning the upcoming Totalsports XTERRA Buffelsport event. Stoltz will be one of the competitors to watch out for during the hugely anticipated event, which takes off on 24 January. Stoltz started his XTERRA career in Richmond in 2001 when searching for a way to get motivated after the 2000 Olympics. “I felt burnt out and had a hard time getting motivated for another four year slog to the next Olympic Games,” says Stoltz. “My coach at the time said that I could do anything I wanted to get my mojo back. Paging through a USA Triathlete Magazine, I saw a picture of Steve Larsen running his mountain bike through a knee deep stream. “This really appealed to my sense of adventure”.“I made a few rookie mistakes at my first event including not knowing the course, borrowing a bike, riding with road pedals and road shoes to mention just a few,” Stoltz explained. “For most new triathletes swimming is the biggest hurdle, but once you’ve learnt to swim it’s by far the easiest of the three disciplines. If you’re new to swimming, spend the time and money to get private lessons. “Swimming fitness is not a big deal. It’s all about having a good stroke, being comfortable in open water and being able to swim straight without having to follow a black line on the bottom. The XTERRA Buffelspoort mountain bike course is not exceptionally hilly or technical, but you need a decent level of fitness and skill to get through it in good shape,” he pointed out. Stoltz underlined the importance of pacing oneself during the race and reserving energy as some of the areas in the event require competitors to be extra fit. “You’ll need some reserves for the run. It is a tough run that starts out fun, scenic and technical, trail running at its best,” he said. He also said that how a person deals with the high temperatures associated with the event will also influence their performance. “After about 5km, the trail points to the sky and you start climbing. It will probably be hot, you’ll definitely be tired and the hill is long, really long. “XTERRA is not easy, but I recommend it to all athletes because it is fun, it’s an adventure and you get to meet really cool people”,” he concluded.

farirai@lesedingnews.co.za Farirayi Kahwemba

FOCUSED: Conrad Stoltz will be participating at this year’s event (PHOTO: VOLUME PHOTOGRAPHY)

PSL PUTS SAFETY FIRST

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) will invite some of the country’s safety and security experts in the next coming weeks to various workshops across the country where discussions will be centered on improving the safety standards at domestic football matches. South African football has had its episodes of football hooliganism which has – unfortunately – negatively affected the image of the sport. During the 203 season, the PSL stood firm against hooliganism in football following the incident that involved an official PSL referee Lwandile Mfiki in Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. The incident saw an Kaizer Chiefs running onto the pitch before hitting Mfiki with a plastic trumpet (Vuvuzela), in protest for Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s red card during a league game between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs.It is against such a background of these and other episodes that the PSL intends to make the stadiums environments that are more friendly so as to attract more supporters to matches. The workshops, amongst other things, will assist club Security Officers, Event Organisers and other role players to be better equipped in dealing with all safety components at matches. The first workshop was held at the PSL Offices in Parktown on Tuesday, 13 January 2015. This was followed by another workshop two days later in Durban on Thursday, 15 January 2015. More workshops will be held in Polokwane, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. The workshops will aim at establishing a standardized operational approach in planning and managing of all Premier Division and National First Division matches and to narrow operational gap between PSL, SAPS, Disaster management, the clubs and any other security role player on issues of security at PSL matches. It will also establish command and control structure as well as coordination mechanism to support integrated and cohesive planning, implementation and execution and ensure safe, secure and incident free PSL matches at all stadiums. PSL General Manager for Safety and Security, Phillip Masimong said: “Safety and Security is one of the most important elements of any event. As the PSL, we have been doing a lot of introspection on how we can improve on safety and security at our stadiums. We also want capacity building – to empower the Safety Officers to be able to deal with any situation at their venue.” The next workshops will be held in Polokwane, Cape Town and Bloemfontein between 19 and 21 January.