Premier Modise to address emerging farmers concerns over state leases farms 

 Concerns of emerging farmers regarding state leases farms are to be the focal point of an engagement between North West Premier Thandi Modise and farmers from the province affiliated to the African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA).The meeting is scheduled to be held as from 10:00am at the Office of the Premier, Ga-Rona Building in Mahikeng on Friday

Delegates expected to meet with Premier Modise include representatives from Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Ngaka Modiri Molema and Bojanala Platinum Districts.

The farmers allege that besides a moratorium on sale of state farms that was announced in 2010, they are being discriminated against as some farms are being sold to certain individuals within the farming sector.

According to AFSA President Gideon Morule, farmers affiliated to his organisation wish in the interest of transparency to be involved in the allocation and recapitalisation of farms they are leasing. They have expressed fear that they might be chucked out of the farms by government officials in favour of their preferred candidates.  

By Obakeng Maje

Pella-Police seized dagga over the weekend to the value of more than R3000. 

“This came after a Crime Prevention Operation was launched. Members of the Springbok K9 unit were called in to assist with the Operation and they brought along a dog named “Brandon” under the command of Capt Bernie Murray” Lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said. Several houses of suspected drug smugglers were searched. 

“Bags containing dagga were found at the outside parameters of the premises.The dagga recovered by a police dog” Mdhluli said.

“According to Constable Freddie Korten, Capt Murray did a good job guiding Brandon. Most of the dagga was found by the dog and was fresh and already packaged for sale” He said. 

Constable Korten says four inquiry dockets were opened and as soon as results are available from LCRC arrests will follow.

Capt Bernard Böck, who was also part of the Operation applauded Capt Murray and his own members for a job well done.

He said that through this integrated approach such great successes can be achieved. 

He said he was grateful to see the commitment his members shown throughout the Operation as they covered long distances behind Brandon. Böck further stated that he will be very grateful if any positive results can be obtained from LCRC as his station already has 3 dagga cases showing commitments in dealing with suspects of dagga.     

By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng- A driver who allegedly killed a learner from Kebarileng High School on saturday at Montshiwa denied bail. 

The incident took place on saturday near Montshiwa post office when a driver of a white Ford, Kabelo Mathikga,33 knocked down Tsegofatso Phele,20 while trying to cross the road.

Kabelo Mathikga was attacked by community members and school children.

“Police were called to a scene where a 33 year old man was attacked. The driver allegedly was drunk and knocked down a Grade 12 learner at a post office” Sergeant Philani nkwalase said.

“The Tshegofatso Phele died on the scene. The driver appeared briefly at Mahikeng Court on charges of Drunken Driving and Culpable Homicide” Nkwalase said.

The case was postponed for further investigations and the suspect remains in jail.

By Obakeng Maje

Private Sector companies launch food security project for Orphan and Vulnerable children in Rural NWest community.

A food security project to support HIV/Aids Orphans and vulnerable children from child headed households is to be launched in Ramatlabama village outside Mahikeng on Thursday afternoon.

North West Premier Thandi Modise is to deliver the keynote address at the launch of the Mangwana Permaculture Project which is an initiative funded and supported by Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) in partnership with Trees for Africa.

“It is encouraging that private sector companies are adjusting their Corporate Social Investment strategies to partner with government and respond to the challenges of high level of unemployment, malnutrition, HIV/Aids, substance abuse, crime and early teenage pregnancy that are experienced in our rural communities,” says North West Premier Thandi Modise ahead of the launch.

Members of the media are invited to cover the launch scheduled to commence at 12:30pm at Mangwana Day Care Centre.

By Obakeng Maje

Durban-Many would have seen images of three Bafana Bafana goalkeepers huddled up in a hug after the 2-all draw against Morocco in the last group stage match of the Africa Cup of Nations South Africa 2013 on Sunday, 27 January at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

At the sound of the final whistle, when the rest of the players celebrated on the centre of the field, the three goal minders – Senzo Meyiwa, Itumeleng Khune and Wayne Sandilands – were kneeling in a hug next to the goalposts with the cameras zooming in on them.

The celebration of the whole team was after South Africa had qualified for the quarter-finals of the tournament after a gallant fight back against a tough-as-teak Moroccan side that was intent on spoiling the party.

Khune, who played in all three matches in the tournament, had just been chosen the Orange Man of the Match.

“We all know it’s not about us as individuals, it’s about the country. We all know we have a role to play and we have to play that role as best as we can. We are professionals on the field, but we are also good friends off it,” said Sandilands.

“We respect each other and we also push each other as best as we can because at the end of the day it’s about the country. We know that if we are not playing we push the one that is playing to do his best. We give the support to each other because we want the same when selected to play. As players we are hungry to give our best and keep performing well, and God-willing that will take us all the way to the final to do our country proud. This is a once in a life time opportunity for some players so we have to make the most of it.”

The in-field players have also been very supportive from the sidelines, encouraging their teammates on the field to do well – something head coach Gordon Igesund has been preaching to his players.

“Yes, there is a great team spirit but also it shows the healthy competition we have. We support each other, we are always there for each other. But what I like most about Senzo and Wayne, even during the game, whether after conceding a goal or making a save, they are always encouraging me to do more and that’s what keeps me going during the 90 minutes because I know I have the support of the other goalkeepers,” said Khune.

I don’t think there is anything that will stop us if we show that great team spirit. And it’s not only the goalkeepers but also the in-field players as well who are behind us all the way, we all have a great team spirit in camp and I believe that’s why we have come this far.”

Bafana Bafana take on Mali in the quarter-finals of the tournament which will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 2 February 2013.

Johannesburg – Julius Malema faces a lonely walk to court when he next appears on charges of racketeering and money laundering, if a resolution taken by the ANC Youth League to bar its members from “mobilising” in support of “accused persons” holds.

The axed youth league president’s previous court appearances, among them his hate-speech case over the Dubul’ iBhunu (Shoot the Boer) song – and even his ANC disciplinary hearings – were attended by hundreds of vocal supporters.

But the youth league announced on Monday, following a two-day meeting of its national executive committee in Irene, near Pretoria, that it believed the courts should “continue unhindered to perform their function of bringing to book those in conflict with the laws of the Republic”.

“We have therefore resolved and hereby instruct the structures of the ANC Youth League to desist from the unbecoming practice of mobilising and organising young people under the banner of the ANC Youth League for court appearances and similar activities of accused persons,” the league said in a statement.

In another sign that Malema’s hold on the league has been broken, it also said its treasurer-general, Pule Mabe, who was suspended after a vote of no confidence in him last year amid whispers that he was angling to replace Malema as youth league president, would be reinstated.

The league also declared on Monday that it accepted it had failed in its bid to have Malema’s expulsion reviewed by the ANC’s national conference in December, “thus bringing the matter to finality”.

Having lost in its attempt to have Kgalema Motlanthe replace Jacob Zuma as ANC president at the Mangaung conference, the league has been putting on a more obedient face, repeating on Monday that it would “subject itself to the guidance of the ANC”.

Political Bureau

Social development, women, children and people with disabilities MEC Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi said her department would provide social relief and groceries to the Du Plooy family after they lost their grandmother who died while trying to re-register for her old-age grant.

Tinny Du Plooy, 90, died on Tuesday while queuing for a social grant re-registration exercise in Choseng village last week.

Reports from Sassa indicate that one official noticed that something was wrong with Du Plooy and called her son. They checked on her and discovered that she had stopped breathing. Paramedics then certified the granny dead at the scene.

Mokomele-Mothibi said the department would continue to render bereavement counselling to the family during and after the funeral.

The MEC visited the Du Plooy family members at Choseng in Greater Taung local municipality on Thursday.

“As a department, we do not want to see things of this nature happening to our elderly citizens. We would be working with all stakeholders to make sure what befell granny Du Plooy does not happen again to other grant recipients, particularly our old people.”

The MEC urged family members looking after the elderly to make necessary arrangements with Sassa so that they can collect pension grants on behalf of elderly people and those with disabilities.

“All family members need to do is fill in proxy forms that would allow them to receive grants on behalf of their elderly people. We should avoid this situation where old people stand in lengthy queues to get services that can actually be done in a different way,” she said.

The deceased’s son Piet Du Plooy said this was made more painful after he struggled to gain entry into the premises when he heard news about his mother.

The deceased would be buried in Choseng village on Saturday.

Anglo American Platinum Ltd has had “constructive” consultations with the South African government about a company restructuring that could lead to 14,000 job cuts, chief executive Chris Griffith said on Tuesday.

The world’s largest platinum producer agreed to postpone the massive job cuts to allow for more talks.

“We have had very constructive conversations. I think our relationship is sort of back where it should be. This is going to be a difficult process,” Griffith told Talk Radio 702.

Mining minister Susan Shabangu said the company had betrayed government trust earlier this month by announcing a plan to mothball shafts and lay off workers under a restructuring by parent company Anglo American.

Griffith told the radio Amplats was trying desperately to keep the business alive given tough market conditions.

“This is not about playing games. The company is in real trouble and we have to collectively do something,” Griffith said.

Last week, President Jacob Zuma said the government needed to engage with gold and platinum mining firms about proposed shaft closures and lay-offs, and was not threatening them with licence reviews.

South Africa boasts 80 percent of the world’s platinum deposits. Producers have been hit by rising input costs, falling prices, safety stoppages and violent labour unrest. – Reuters

The SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in North West is deeply opposed to the recall of Ngaka Modiri Molema district mayor Phaladi Saku.

This comes after the provincial ANC leadership gave Saku until today to resign from her post and be replaced by Manketsi Tlhape.

Saku was apparently voted to be mayor by councillors, defying the party’s directive to put Tlhape in charge of the district soon after the 2011 local government elections.

The ANC has never approved of her since then and provincial party spokesperson, Kenny Morolong, indicated that Saku was supposed to leave or face a disciplinary hearing.

“Together with Africa Thale, the mayor at Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality, Saku should respect the position of the organisation because continued defiance would lead to disciplinary issues pursued against the two members,” he said.

Morolong said that decisions of the ANC had to be implemented and no one should be seen to be acting outside the party’s mandate.

However, Sanco provincial secretary Packet Seaketso said bringing in Tlhape to the district was tantamount to “killing it”. He alleged that she had failed to lead Tswaing local municipality and it would be difficult for her to assume a bigger responsibility.

“The ANC cannot force Saku to resign so as to give way to a mayor who has dismally failed Tswaing local municipality which has 14 wards. How can she manage a district with 101 wards? This is a clear indication that the PEC of the ANC has an agenda to kill the district. Tlhape left Tswaing under Section 139 of the constitution, which shows bad administration and poor leadership,” he said.

Seaketso further questioned Tlhape’s grassroots leadership qualities, saying the ward she comes from was ruled by the opposition party.

“The ward where Cde Tlhape resides is led by DA and it leaves us with questions of her leadership skills and qualities. The people have spoken in terms of the mayors of their choice and as Sanco, we respect the will of the majority.

“Cde Manketse was not even on the party’s proportional representation list,” he said.

He further alleged that ANC leadership in the province was damaging the organisation’s image.