Yearly Archives: 2012

North West roads project to resume

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By Obakeng Maje

Construction on the Lichtenburg-Koster road is to resume in the next few weeks ending months of suspended work and protracted litigation between the North West Provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Public Works and Down Touch Investment. This follows a settlement agreement reached by the two parties on Thursday.

 

In welcoming the agreement reached by the parties for an amicable parting off ways presented to her by MEC Raymond Elisha, Premier Mme Thandi Modise congratulated them for taking into account the interest of the Public in the usage of the road and the inconvenience caused which is highly regrettable particularly on the basis of the delays and discomfort considering that the road has been a subject of litigations for an inordinately long and protracted period of time.In terms of the out of court settlements agreement reached after a mutual understanding of the principle of Government in maintaining clean governance, Fairness and Transparency as enshrined in the constitution, the PFMA and supporting Supply Chain prescripts, Down Touch Investment has agreed to leave site.

 

Both parties have agreed to withdraw all litigation processes against each other including the Appeal Process that saw the department pursuing to challenge Justice Landman’s decision.

 

 

 

Though pressurised by public demand and socio economic dynamics to ensure the delivery of the road and to restore the calmness and peaceful use of the road by business people who have been affected, directly or indirectly, The Provincial department will explore all fair and transparent process and acceptable legal prescripts and authorities to expedite a legitimate process towards appointment of a new contractor.

 

 

 

The Department will in due course communicate to all the bidders who took part in the earlier bid and who were also affected by the award process and probably having a keen interest in the litigation cases.

 

 

 

Internal disciplinary proceedings of the officials who flaunted supply chain processes in the irregular award of the tender will continue until they are finalised.

 

 

 

Premier Modise has committed her administration to clean governance, to fight corruption and maladministration across departments including municipalities and has vowed that her administration will not be intimidated or deterred to seek the truth on the fairness, transparency and cost effectiveness of awarded tenders.

 

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SAFA new partner looking for future stars

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By Obakeng Maje

Castle Lager has unveiled its ambitious initiative to find and develop South Africa’s undiscovered football talent, strengthening the future prospects of soccer in South Africa.

 

The programme, called Castle Superstars, will run in partnership with the South African Football Association (SAFA) to identify tomorrow’s soccer stars.

 

During the eight-month campaign, players from the 52 SAFA regions will compete for a place in the Castle Lager Superstars XI.  Qualifying players will be coached, conditioned and mentored by the country’s top professional coaches, trainers and ex-Bafana players, earning them the opportunity to prove themselves to local professional football clubs, and possibly even abroad.

 

“Castle Lager has been a proud supporter of South African football for over 50 years and Bafana Bafana for 20 years, and is extending that commitment to drive the development of our local undiscovered talent, giving them an opportunity to prove themselves at the highest level of the game that they would otherwise not have experienced,” explains Alastair Hewitt, General Manager for Castle Lager.

 

Performance analysis services will be provided by Amisco, which serves 60% of FIFA member countries with football statistics and analysis technology.  Data captured by Amisco will be used by coaches and scouts to identify and monitor individual talent throughout the campaign.

 

The first phase of the campaign, commencing in September, will see players in 52 SAFA regions throughout the country being scouted to be part of the Castle Superfans XI.  Scouted and selected players will attend a two-week training camp in January 2013, where they will coached and mentored by ex-Bafana captain Neil Tovey and be exposed to camp life at a professional level in preparation for professional trials.

 

SAFA CEO, Dr Robin Petersen, explains the importance of the initiative to the Association’s long-term development strategy.

 

“By partnering with a brand that has been a strategic sponsor of the South African national team for over 20 years, we are able to build a talent pipeline for South Africa’s professional leagues and ultimately the national team.  While development takes time, this initiative will bring players closer to where they should be at their age.

 

 “SAFA is all about development, and this initiative is one of many that the Association is using to help nurture talent from an early age.

We have to use the bottom-up approach, because if you take care of development using the right components and the right personnel, then the top, which is Bafana Bafana, will take care of itself,” he explains.

 

 

Two boys arrested for raping a 16 year old girl

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By Obakeng Maje

Lurutshe- Two suspects appeared before Lurutshe Magistrate Court yesterday in charges of rape.

Sphamandla James,18 and his co-accused who cannot be named because of his age were arrested after allegedly raping a 16 year-old girl in Selosesha,near Lurutshe.

According to Police, a 16 year girl was walking with her friend when they passed group o men in the stree.

“The girl was dragged in the nearby bushes by two men waring balaclavas. And she was raped and assaulted by two suspects” said Sergeant Nkwalase.

The two suspects, James and hs co-accused who is a 17 years-old teenager were reminded in custody and will appear back on the 22 of August for bail application.

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Presidency must launch a full judicial commission of Inquiry for Marikana massacre-DA

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The DA calls on President Zuma to launch a full Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Marikana massacre and the questions that this has raised around the use of force by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

 

On Thursday, the police opened fire on protestors at the Lonmin mine in the North West. The massacre which ensued and the use of live ammunition by the police have raised some very serious questions about how the SAPS manage violent protests. In particular, we want to know who authorised the use of live ammunition on the striking workers. We have to know what the line of command was for yesterday’s protest. Whoever gave the order to use live ammunition and open fire must be held accountable. 

 

In August 2011, Minister Mthethwa approved a policy to better manage public protests. The policy called for the establishment of National Public Order Policing Units, which had been disbanded in 2006.

 

One of the key principles of the policy was that members of these units would have to go through specialised training courses on how to manage public protests. It also highlighted the need for a strong line of command and control to ensure that all members involved in policing protest action know which role to play. 

 

The irony of this situation is that yesterday a revised policy document on public order policing was distributed for comment to various members of the SAPS. This begs the question as to whether the policy that was originally drafted was sufficient for public protests.

 

The protest yesterday has shown the failure by the top management of the SAPS to implement this policy effectively.

 

The nation deserves answers as to why this massacre happened. We will be calling on the President today to launch a full Commission of Inquiry into the massacre. The Commission of Inquiry should not only look into the actions of the police but also those of the labour organisations. The inquiry should look into the following issues:

 

Who authorised the use of live ammunition at the mine?

Who was in command of the various police units at the mine?

Who issued the order to fire?

Who was responsible for planning the operation?

On what intelligence was the planning conducted?

How many police, who participated in the operation, were actually trained in (a) public order policing and (b) the use of the weapons with which they were issued?

Whether there has been incitement to violence by any of the labour organisations involved.

The Commission of Inquiry will also provide us with a better understanding of whether the police acted unlawfully or in self-defence and whether the current policy is insufficient to deal with public protests in South Africa.

 

The victims and their families, as well as the nation, deserve answers as to what happened yesterday. We can never have another Marikana Massacre.

for more details go to http://www.da.org.za

AMCU Union to speaking on Lonmin massacre

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Violence that started a week ago has been blamed on rivalry between the new union and the NUM

 

  

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) will hold a briefing on Friday morning to discuss the killing of at least 30 striking workers at Lonmin’s Marikana mine the previous day, it said in a statement.  

 

Amcu’s treasurer Jimmy Gama said the press conference would be held in Johannesburg.

 

The protests, which began last Friday, are believed to be linked to rivalry between the National Union of Mineworkers and Amcu over recognition agreements at the mine. Workers also wanted higher wages.

 

North West premier Thandi Modise said in a statement that the deadly clashes could have been avoided.

 

“This is the most tragic labour dispute with untold misery that South Africa has ever experienced which could have been avoided had parties involved respected the law,” she said.

 

She appealed for “sanity to prevail” to avoid further bloodshed. 

 

NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said that union shopstewards at the scene counted 36 bodies after the shootout between police and striking workers on Thursday afternoon. 

 

Modise sent her condolences to the families of those killed.

 

“We wish to reiterate our call for cessation of hostilities and for a return to the negotiation table.”

 

Modise’s spokesman Lesiba Kgwele said the premier’s office and police had been in negotiations with Lonmin and the unions in an attempt to find a solution to the impasse and prevent “the dispute from escalating to the level to which it has deteriorated”.

 

Modise and public safety MEC Nono Maloyi would be part of a government delegation set to visit the scene later on Friday.  

 

The SABC reported that Lonmin Platinum’s chairman in Rustenburg, Roger Phillimore had condemned Thursday’s killings.

 

Mine management treated the matter with the utmost seriousness, and regretted the bloodshed.

 

Phillimore said that the platinum producer considered the unrest as a matter of public order, not as a labour relations problem.

SAPA

 

North West premier,mme Thandi Modise sent her condolences to Marikana victims

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By Obakeng Maje

North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise is saddened by the loss of lives experienced at the Lonmin Mine in Marikana and wishes to convey her condolences to the families of those that lost their lives in the tragic incidents.

 

 “This is the most tragic labour dispute with untold misery that South Africa has ever experienced which could have been avoided had parties involved respected the law. We appeal for calm and for sanity to prevail to avoid further casualties. Survival of the fittest, anarchy and lawlessness shouldn’t characterise wage negotiations in the mining sector. We wish to reiterate our call for cessation of hostilities and for a return to the negotiation table” pleaded Modise. 

 

 Modise who together with the MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison, MEC Nono Maloyi will be part of the government delegation visiting the area today says that the provincial government is supporting investigations and intervention aimed at bringing the situation to normality.

 

The Office of the Premier and South African Police Management (SAPS) have for a while been engaged in negotiations with Lonmin, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) to broker a solution to avoid the dispute from escalating to the level to which it has deteriorated.

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35 protesters perished at Lonmin fiasco

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Johannesburg – No violence was reported at Lonmin mine in Marikana, North West, overnight after 35 people were shot dead there on Thursday afternoon, police said on Friday.

 

“Police have been patrolling the area, but the situation remained quiet after the shooting,” said Captain Dennis Adriao.

 

ENews quoted Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa as saying that 35 people had died in the shoot-out. 

 

“Police did everything they could… but people [miners] said they were not leaving and are prepared to fight,” he said in an interview with Talk Radio 702.

 

Provincial health spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said no injured people were admitted to hospital although Mthethwa countered this.

 

National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega will hold a media conference on Friday at 11:30 at Lonmin Training Centre. 

 

SAPA

Corruption destabilise democracy-Premier

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By Obakeng Maje

Corruption is a disabler that destabilises democracy, democratic institutions as it slows economic development and hampers service delivery says North West Premier, Mme Thandi Modise.Speaking at the opening of the two-day Provincial Anti- Corruption Round table discussion that commenced in Potchefstroom on Thursday, Premier Modise vowed that her administration will intensify its fight against corrupt elite networks in order to win the battle against greed and corruption.

 

 “It is highly disappointing that scandals involving public officials are common in the South Africa. Everyday people are debating and complaining about outright corruption, lack of ethics, transparency, integrity and unprofessional behavior in government.Corruption has become so rampant throughout the world, not just in South Africa but both public and private sectors throughout the world are faced with the challenge of eliminating bribery and corruption,” she stressed.

 

Premier Modise urged delegates to continue encouraging everyone to be aware of corruption in all sectors as it has the potential of threatening the country’s integrity.

 

Premier Modise said that the provincial government has put in place strategies to root out corruption by recommitting itself to uphold and implement the programme of action of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Forum.

 

She said the forum emphasizes among others the promotion of strong governance structures, sound financial management practices and internal controls, competent workforce and prevention of collusion particularly between the public and private civil sector officials.

 

She also called on all delegates to help in building the culture of integrity in all sectors of society, including communities, families and individuals.

 

Many presenters at the conference supported Chairperson of the Moral Regeneration Movement, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa’s call for reclaim of values and united civic action.

 

They called for intensified advocacy and protection of whistle blower.

 

The Public Service Commission commended the province for having the only functional Anti– Corruption Forum in the country.

 

Addressing the conference, Commissioner Selinah Nkosi commended the Office of the Premier for establishing the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit,a dedicated Hotline, Risk Management and the Forensic Unit and

for ptting in place mechanisms to prevent, detect and investigate corruption.

“The Office of the Premier is leading by example with 100% compliance in financial disclosures for the 2011/2012 financial year. Departments of the Finance ,Agriculture and Rural Development also achieved 100% submissions.

Though there is room for improvement in departments that failed to achieve a 100% submissions, other provinces could benchmark with Office of the Premier the North West Province” she said

 

 

Kgosi Maubane elected as new chairperson for Traditional Leaders

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By Obakeng Maje

Premier Modise congratulates newly elected chairperson of National House of Traditional Leaders

North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise has congratulated Kgosi Phopolo Pontsho Maubane on his election as the new Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL) for the next four years.

elected the new chairperson during the inauguration of the House in Pretoria on Thursday. The event also saw traditional leaders being swor…

Kgosi Maubane who is from the North West Province was elected the new chairperson during the inauguration of the House in Pretoria on Thursday. The event also saw traditional leaders being sworn in as members of the House by Judge Peter Mabuse.After the swearing in, traditional leaders voted for the both the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, where Kgosi Maubane and Nkosi Jacob Matanzima from the Eastern Cape were nominated for the positions of Chairperson.Kgosi Maubane received 15 votes while the remaining votes from 23 members went to Inkosi Matanzima.Kgoshi Sefogole Makgeru from Limpopo and Ikosi Sipho Mahlangu from Mpumalanga were nominated to contest the Deputy Chairperson position. Makgeru got 13 votes to become the Deputy Chairperson.Addressing the House after his election, Kgosi Maubane said: “It is an honour and privilege to ascend to what I consider to be the most important position within the history of the traditional leaders … and it is indeed a surprise.”I commit myself to do the best of my ability, guided by the supreme laws of the country.”Cooperative Governance Minister Richard Baloyi said there were five areas where traditional leaders and municipalities would need to work together.”We know that with your sterling leadership we can further accelerate service delivery, further promote good governance, further enhance sound financial management, as we accelerate the roll-out programme for infrastructure development and as we fight corruption.”It is when we [work together] on these five areas, that the true story about a successful South Africa in a chapter that is to be written led by yourselves will become a real story,” he said.The fourth National House of Traditional Leaders will be officially opened by President Jacob Zuma in Parliament next week.

Board suspended over irregularities

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By Obakeng Maje

The Executive Council (Exco) of the North West Province has suspended North West Transport Investment (NTI) Board and its subsidiary companies, North West Star(Pty) Ltd (NWS) and Attredgeville Bus Services(Pty)Ltd (ABS) for financial irregularities, MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Raymond Elisha announced on Thursday.

 

The decision to suspended the nine-member board and appoint an interim board including a shareholder`s representative that will be seconded to NTI for a period of six months on a full time basis pending investigation into the affairs of NTI and its subsidiaries was taken yesterday during Exco’s bi-weekly sitting.

The Exco resolution to appoint an audit firm that would conduct a forensic audit and report within the six months was announced by MEC Elisha on the sideline of the two-day Provincial Anti-Corruption Roundtable in Potchefstroom.

Exco’s decision to suspend the board and institute an investigation was based on the 2010/2011 qualified Auditor General`s report that pointed out that:o   The entity could not provide sufficient appropriate audit evidence to support the ownership of investment property of R 21 570 000 (2010: R19 561 000), included in investment property of R 177 890 000 (2010: R 179 126 00) disclosed in note 22 to the separate annual financial statements. The entity`s records could not permit alternative audit procedures. Consequently the Auditor General could not determine the rights pertaining to this investment property.o   Payments amounting to R 110 208218 were made in contravention of section 51 of the PFMA. This amount was not disclosed in the financial statements leading to an understament of irregular expenditure by the same amount.o   The entity did not correctly depreciate property, plant and equipment in terms of its accounting policy and also as required by the South African statements GAAP, IAS 16 (AC 123) property, plant and equipment.o   The Auditor General could not obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to determine the accuracy of lease commitments relating to immovable property R 25 330 000 included in the lease commitments of R 132 909 000.o   The accounting authority submitted annual financial statements for auditing that were not prepared in all material aspects in accordance with generally accepted accounting practise and supported by full and proper records as required by the PFMA.o   The accounting authority did not take effective and appropriate steps to prevent irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure as per requirements of the PFMA.o   Contrary to requirements of the PFMA no system for properly evaluating all major capital projects prior to a final decision on such projects was implemented and no appropriate procurement and provisioning system which is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective existed for purchasing of busses.o   The Auditor General also found that the accounting authority does not exercise oversight over reporting and compliance with laws and regulations and internal control, decisive actions are not taken to address risks relating to the achievement of complete and accurate financial and performance reporting. 

 

Elisha has vowed that action will be taken upon receiving the report on the investigation.

 

He confirmed that the powers of the board will be vested with the accounting officer of his department as members of the board were served with suspension letters notifying them of their suspension and advising them to cooperative with the investigation which he is confident will be concluded within three months.

 

 

 

In terms of the letters of suspension, members of the board must not visit the company locations (nor those of its associated companies) or contact any employee of the company without written authorization from the MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport as the responsible Executive Authority.

 

 

 

NTI is a company registered in terms of the Companies Act of 1973 and wholly owned by the North West Provincial Government as holder of 100% of the total ordinary issued shares of the entity.

 

NTI, NWS and ABS are all Public Entities within the context of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and are therefore subject to provisions of the PFMA.

 

 

 

The NTI board constitutes the accounting authority for NTI and its subsidiaries in the form of NWS and ABS in terms of section 49(2) (a) of the PFMA.

 

 

 

The suspensions are in line with Premier Modise’s administration’s commitment to clean governance aimed at ridding provincial government departments, municipalities and state owned enterprises of the scourge of corruption and maladministration targeted to achieve clean audits by 2014