NDP: Chabane tells Cosatu to back off

COSATU had no right to insist on scrapping the National Development Plan, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said yesterday.

"The government is not in alliance with Cosatu. It is in alliance with the ANC," Chabane said following the cabinet's fortnightly meeting.

This meant any conflict that arose over the plan would be between the ruling party and Cosatu, and would not involve the government, Chabane said.

Cosatu has voiced its opposition to the NDP, while organised business and opposition parties have called for it to be implemented.

Chabane suggested that the government would not bow to pressure from the labour federation as government departments and agencies were ready to implement the plan. - Sapa

IFP bleeds votes as rival NFP muscles in

The IFP lost three wards in closely contested by-elections in Nongoma in KwaZulu-Natal, according to results posted on the Independent Electoral Commission's website yesterday.

The party on Wednesday lost two wards to breakaway group, the National Freedom Party, and one to the ANC.

By-elections were also held in Eastern Cape, North West, the Free State and Limpopo.

The ANC was uncontested in Molemole, Limpopo, and retained wards in Tswaing in North West and Hibiscus Coast in KwaZulu-Natal.

The DA retained two wards and won one in Makhado, Limpopo, from an independent candidate with 38.85% of the votes. It retained the Ngwathe ward in the Free State and a Nelson Mandela Bay ward in Eastern Cape. - Sapa.

Three in court over NUM leader's killing

Three people yesterday appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court in connection with the murder of the National Union of Mineworkers' Marikana chairman.

They will appear again on October 31, according to police. They remain in custody .

William Setelele, 46, was shot eight times at the Nkaneng informal settlement last week. His alleged killers, aged between 33 and 37, were arrested in Wonderkop Extension Two, Nkaneng, on Tuesday.

The ANC has welcomed the arrests and condemned the killings in Marikana.

"As the ANC, we commend the police for their swift action in arresting the alleged murders of comrade Setelele," spokesman Ishmael Mnisi said. - Sapa

Protesters torch community centre

Protesters in Bekkersdal burnt down a local community centre yesterday as a service delivery protest that started earlier this week continued to rage on.

Police spokesman Lungelo Dlamini said several people were arrested in connection with the fire.

The building was set alight about 2pm.

In a separate incident, a group of residents marched to the nearby Simunye township.

Police from were dispatched to the area to quell the violence.

On Wednesday, a local councillor fired shots into the ground when protesters tried to attack him. They ran away and no one was injured.

Police confiscated the fireman and opened a case of discharging a firearm in a public space.