By Staff Reporter

The Provincial Development Plan, roll out of Infrastructure development projects, job creation and interventions to improve service delivery are expected to feature prominently in North West Premier Thandi Modise’s State of the Province Address to be delivered in the Provincial Legislature on Friday 22 February 2013.

The Premier’s speech to mark the opening of the North West Provincial Legislature is to be broadcast Live on Motsweding FM, North West FM and Regional Community Radio Stations as from 10h00 to 11h00 and is expected to outline achievements, challenges and programme of action to accelerate service delivery and increase the momentum to drive back unemployment, reduce economic inequality and poverty.The speech will be steamed live on www.nwstateoftheprovinceaddress.org.

In his State of the Nation Address delivered last week, President Jacob Zuma announced that he have asked for work in the province to be fast-tracked further in light of the huge backlogs in that province, especially electricity, schools, clinics, roads and water in the next two years.

The Programme of Action for 2013 to be announced by Premier Modise will cover the five priorities – education, health, the fight against crime, creating decent work as well as rural development and land reform.

The Premier will among others also pronounce on the Provincial Development Plan, ICT rollout ,local government turnaround strategy, Clean Audit 2014,uprooting corruption, strengthening partnerships for moral regeneration, the fight against the scourge of rape, HIV and Aids, rhino poaching, social cohesion and the crime in general.

In the aftermath of Marikana, the speech by Premier Modise will also reflect on implementation of social labour plans, the challenges facing the mining sector, the proposed restructuring by Amplats, recent spate of violence in the mining sector and the need to safe jobs in the platinum mining sector.

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By Obakeng Maje

Brits-Police are investigating a murder case which took place in Elandsrand on Monday at about 10:55. 

This is after a 58 year old man was allegedly hit with a brick and shot dead with a firearm said police.  

“It is alleged that the man was at his house yard with his domestic worker when he went inside the house to fetch his cell phone charger” colonel Emelda Setlhako said. 

“The domestic worker heard a person screaming from the house and when she went to investigate what was happening” Setlhako asserted. 

She was surprised to find the man physically fighting with the suspect / unknown man.

According to the information received, the gunshot was fired and the suspect fled. 

The Police, Emergency Medical Services as well as Security Companies were called at the scene of crime whereby the man was found lying dead with blood stains, multiple gunshot wounds and severe bruises. 

“He was then taken to Brits Government Mortuary. The suspect is still at large and investigations continue” Police said.

Police would like to urge members of the community to assist with any information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect by contacting the Investigating Officer, W/O Moses Mmatli on 079 222 8954.   

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By Obakeng Maje

A fight against illegal smuggling of cigarettes and other illegal goods at the Port of Entry is very rife that the police have intensified the fight against it and ensure that those who commit such crimes are brought to book North West police said. 

In less than two days just after police have recovered an illicit cigarettes worth R274 480.00 on Thursday last week at Ramatlabama Port of Entry and on Saturday at Kopfontein Port of Entry, three suspects were arrested for illicit cigarettes worth R1 102 398.00.

“Yet again Kopfontein Port of Entry recovered illicit cigarettes worth R467.720.00 on Monday at about 20:30” colonel Emelda Setlhako said. 

“According to the information, the police were performing their daily routine duties at arrival and search point for heavy motor vehicles when a truck driven by a 30 year old Botswana National male was searched” she said.

The driver was requested to open the rear door of the truck in order for the search to be conducted. While searching, the police noticed the truck had a false compartment.  “They noticed that the length of the truck’s outside is not the same with the one inside” she adds. 

The police opened the false compartment of the truck with a crow-bar and discovered 3904 cartons of Remington gold, Pacific blue & Sevilles cigarettes estimated at R467 720 00.  

The packages of these cigarettes were found without stamp impression which is a requirement in terms of section 54 (2) of Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964 as amended. 

“The goods were seized in terms of section 88 of Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964.

The suspect informed the police that  his manager a 38 year old  Zimbabwean national was escorting him” setlhako said.

A case of smuggling of illicit cigarettes was registered at Nietverdiend Police Station. 

The two suspects  were detained at Nietverdiend police station and will appear at Lehurutshe Magistrate Court on today.

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The Press Ombudsman instructed Drum magazine to apologise to Top Billing presenter Bonang Matheba for unlawfully possessing and publishing her medical records without consent.

Matheba lodged a complaint with the ombudsman about a cover story on July 19, headlined: “It’s a war — As the fight between Bonang and Euphonik heats up and gets dirtier, the truth seems hard to find”.

On the magazine’s cover was a picture of Matheba with the word “Exclusive”, followed by the words: “Bonang’s claims on how Euphonik is out to get her after she reported alleged assault — plus his response”.

Immediately below this was: “I didn’t have an abortion; I’m not a drug addict; He’s trying to destroy me.”

For more details go to http://www.sowetanlive.co.za

THE BBC has apologised after one of its radio stations followed a report yesterday about Paralympics star Oscar Pistorius’s court hearing with a song about a man shooting his girlfriend.

The bulletin on the digital station Radio 6 Music was followed by the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s version of Hey Joe.

The song begins: Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand? I’m going out to shoot my old lady, you know I caught her messing around with another man.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “In light of the nature of the news story, we apologise for any offence caused by the proximity of the song Hey Joe to the bulletin. An on-air apology was made immediately when the mistake was realised.”

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-Yesterday Scopa hauled Department of Social Development MEC Mosetsanagae Mokomele-Mothibi before a disciplinary hearing after she misused taxpayers money.

Senior management at the provincial social development department has been ordered to reimburse R174000 paid for the accommodation of officials and a woman identified as MEC Mositsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi’s friend during the ANC elective conference in Mangaung last year.

She admitted misusing taxpayers money and apologised.

“I am very apologetic and I promise to repay the money within seven working days” Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi said.

“I would like to apologise to the people of North West and people of South Africa for my actions” she concluded.

However, DA did not want to hear none of that and ordered North West premier Thandi Modise to fire Mokomele.

“This is uncalled for,she must just resign as her actions are tasteless. She showed her incompitence and cannot be trusted” DA representative said.

The order was given by the provincial select committee on public accounts (Scopa) when it called Mokomele-Mothibi and her top management to account for the expenditure yesterday.

Records show that the department paid R174000 to Summer Place Boutique Guest House for seven officials from December 10 to 15 when these officials, including the MEC, were attending the Mangaung conference.

When asked for clarity, Mokomele-Mothibi conceded that her friend, only identified in documents as Mavis,had indeed used one of the rooms.

“I can only account for Mavis, who works for the greater Taung local municipality. I agreed that she could sleep in a room that had been booked for the chief financial officer who did not come because the expenses had already been incurred,” she said.

While the MEC said the department was supposed to attend a benchmarking workshop with its Free State counterpart, which was cancelled at the last minute, she could not say whether Mavis and other people who used the accommodation were supposed to attend the said workshop or were at the ANC conference.

Department head, Matshidiso Mogale denied that the department had paid any money for people to attend the Manguang conference.

“The CFO and myself never signed anything about the ANC conference. I did not even go to Mangaung and the CFO was hospitalised at the time,” she said.

Scopa then asked the MEC and management to provide evidence for the expenditure. 

The order will be rescinded if they provide documentary evidence that the accommodation was a legitimate state expense.

The department appeared again on Tuesday and ordered MEC to repay the money used to pay for accommodation to attend the ANC conference, it had to be repaid.

Committee chairperson Hlomane Chauke said: “We are very disappointed by MEC actions. She failed to furnish us with information on this R174000 but the bottom line is that if the money was spent for a party conference, it has to be paid back to state coffers.”

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The top of the table clash between second placed Orlando Pirates and third placed Platinum Stars at the Orlando Stadium tonight easily makes this the fixture of the week.

Both teams are on 37 points, with Pirates having a game in hand. The winner in this match can climb to the top if Kaizer Chiefs (39) lose at Black Leopards, also tonight.

It will be up to the two opposing coaches’ tactical acumen – and the influence of players such as winger Thuso Phala and midfielder Robert Ng’ambi for Stars; Oupa Manyisa and striker Takesure Chinyama for Pirates.

The visitors from Rustenburg are in sublime form, which is shown by the highest number of games any team has won this season in the Absa Premiership – 12. The emphatic 3-0 lashing of Ajax Cape Town in their last match league showed how well-oiled Cavin Johnson’s machine had been this season.

Hard running Pirates midfielder Oupa Manyisa admits Stars are the surprise package and that they are a team to beat.

“We are worried about their form,” Manyisa said.

“They have assembled one of the finest squads this season and their position says it all but we are going to fight to ensure that we win at home.”

Bucs are unbeaten at home in 11 matches but they will require some enthusiasm from their fans to spur them on as Dikwena’s great mental capacity to face everything thrown at them has been evident.

“Pirates are on song and we cannot argue that we go to the game as underdogs. They have enough players who can run the marathon title race longer and we are aware of the threat they will pose tonight,” Stars’ key man Phala said.

Minus suspended talisman Henrico Botes, who has scored seven times this season, Stars’ mentor Johnson will have to come out with another grand plan to topple Bucs at their famous fortress in Soweto.

For more details go to http://www.thenewage.co.za

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane vented his frustration at his players and poor decision making from the officials after their 1-1 draw with Golden Arrows.

Mosimane believes that his side had more than enough chances to secure the spoils, and has warned some of his star players that they face time on the bench after failing to come to life in the game.

“It’s always that case, if you don’t start very well, it’s always difficult to turn things around in the second-half,” said the former Bafana Bafana tactician.

“I am very unhappy with a few big players of Sundowns – I think some of the people must go to the bench, because they are one-game wonders. They play well once and in the next game it’s another thing.

“We could have wrapped it up in the first-half. To change the game is a problem – now I had to risk and play an open game in the second-half. But I was prepared to go forward and open at the back than sit and say we will settle for a draw.

“There were so many chances, we made so many mistakes.

“We have to dig deeper now. Maybe it is a good wakeup call ahead of our Nedbank Cup on Friday.”

The coach was also unhappy with the decision to not award Edward Manqele a penalty after he went down under a challenge from Nkosingiphile Gumede.

“I don’t want to talk about the issue of Manqele and the goalkeeper. We all saw it, and it is a foul. It is bad officiating, but I don’t want to blame referees, but this is how you lose the game. People are not competent and they must shape up.”

For more details go to http://www.soccerladuma.com

Johannesburg – Paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s bail application will run into its second day in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Pistorius was arrested on Thursday morning after his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead at his home in Pretoria’s Silver Woods country estate. He was charged with murder on Friday.

The state intends arguing that the murder was premeditated.

Pistorius was emotional on Tuesday when his affidavit was read to the court, but his brother Carl was there to support him.

In the 10-page affidavit read to the court by his advocate Barry Roux, Pistorius denied the murder allegation “in the strongest terms”.

The court heard: “I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated murder, as I had no intention to kill my girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.”

His version of events was presented in application for bail on the same day that Steenkamp’s memorial service was held in Port Elizabeth, more than 1 000km away. – Sapa