By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-The much-anticipated beauty pageant that has been making waves for months finally came to a “close-down” with 12 young ladies fiercely competing for crown. 

The contestants were dressed by Sammy’s Top Designers and Mop-line designer. 

The Garden View Lodge was the place to be and Bontle Sehemo,a 14 year-old girl captivated the audience and judges alike with her pedigree.

It was not suprising when she was crowed 1st JNR Face OF MHK. 

An aspiring-learner from Sol Plaatjie high School, Sehemo promised to bring change to the youths and help motivate them. “This is my first pageant contest I’ve ever competed in, I am so grateful that I won the crown” Sehemo smiles.

“As part of my duty, I’ll be taking part in many projects that are more on helping the youths and that will enhance on encouraging them” giggled Sehemo.

Onalenna Krisjan was crowned 1st Princess while Rebone Mompei settled for 2nd Princess position.

Adjudicators were: Reigning 2012/2013 Mr MHK Larwence Modise. 

2012/2013 Face Of MHK, 1st Prince Mr MHK Kabelo Motswere, 1st Princess Face Of MHK Babey Palesa, 2nd Prince Mr MHK Tumelo Mosumpa, 2nd Princess Face Of MHK Gilda KI. Principal Judge Tshepiso Khumalo.

“As judges, we are positive we finally came to a firm decision of choosing a young person who can represent the youths. She is able to understand what other teenagers are going through on daily basis” mentioned Tshepiso Khumalo.

The event was attended by some of dignataries to show their support,the likes of Motsweding FM news anchor, Bahedile Bayo Selogilwe graced the event. “Lesco Events would like to thank all the audience who made sure that the event is a success” Lesego Molamu said. 

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IFA/World governing soccer body, FIFA, has announced the match officials that will handle Bafana Bafana’s two upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

South Africa will face the Central African Republic (CAR) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The clash has now been brought forward to 

Saturday, 8 June 2013 from Sunday, 9 June. The match will take place at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Kick-off is at 15h00 local time in Yaoundé (

16h00 SA time).

The match officials are:

Referee: AGBOVU William Selorm (Ghana)

Ass Ref 1: SALIFU Malik Alidu (Ghana)

Ass Ref 2: LARYEA David (Ghana)

4th Official: NUNOO Thomas Micah (Ghana)

Match Commissioner: MBOMBO SEIDOU Njoya (Cameroon)

In the second qualifying match against Ethiopia which will be played in Addis Ababa at the National Stadium on Sunday, 16 June 2013, Egyptian officials will be in charge.

Kick-off is at 16h00 local time in Ethiopia (

15h00 SA time).

The match officials are:

Referee:  FAROUK MAHMOUD Mohamed (Egypt)

Ass Ref 1: DEGAISH Ayman (Egypt)

Ass Ref 2: ABO EL SADAT BEDYER Tahssen (Egypt)

4th Official: BAHOU Mahmoud (Egypt)

Match Commissioner: ASSOGBAVI Espoir Komlan (Togo)

By Obakeng Maje

CAPE TOWN–Efforts to rid the South African Police Service (SAPS) of unwanted and corrupt police officers are being intensified and will continue, and stern actions will be taken against any member who shames the department through their corrupt deeds. 

This is an assurance by the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa as he commended the arrest of nine (9) SAPS officers and seven (7) Home Affairs official at Caledon Spoort Border Post, Free State this afternoon.

Police officers stationed at the border were conniving with Home Affairs officials to conduct their illegal actions through soliciting bribes from people crossing the border from South Africa to Lesotho and vice versa.  

A provincial investigation and covert operation was then set-up led by the SAPS Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khehla Sithole and following intensive investigations, the sixteen suspects were arrested today and will be charged with fraud and corruption.

“All the seven Home Affairs officials that arrested were responsible for the migration duties and following the arrest, there was a delay in processing of movement at the border gate” Ministry of Police spokesperson Zweli Mnisi said.  

However, arrangements are currently being made by Home Affairs for replacement of the suspects to ensure that operations continue effectively.

“We congratulate General Sithole and his team for a tremendous and successful operation.  We cannot have police officers who contaminate our service when they should be discharging their duties with loyalty and dedication.  We have emphasized to SAPS management to intensify the war on corruption.  We shall ensure that we clean the SAPS and further believe that today’s arrest will send a message that tsotsi-cops have no place within SAPS.” said Mthethwa.

Minister Mthethwa reiterated that police derive their mandate from the Constitution of the Republic as well as the SAPS Code of Conduct.  

“This is an excellent code however the Code of Conduct within SAPS needs to be elevated to ensure that it is being practiced, daily. All SAPS members need to understand and adhere to this code and they need to understand an indeed experience, the dire consequences of violating this Code of Conduct.”

The Minister has further cautioned those who pay bribes to official to refrain from such practices.  

He has urged officers to arrest without hesitation any person who tries to bribe them and equally urged the public to report any official who solicits bribe.

“In recent times, the police have been in the media recently regarding certain members’ actions and we believe that this is an issue that has, at times, unfairly portrayed the whole SAPS in the same view.  We are aware that the majority of our members are hardworking and committed to fighting crime and as police leadership, we shall always elevate such dedication to the public” Mnisi said.

The suspects will appear at the Bethlehem Magistrate Court tomorrow.

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TP Mazembe have hit back at Orlando Pirates and their complaints of harsh treatment in Lubumbashi, saying the Soweto team are suffering from ‘hallucinations’.

The Buccaneers knocked the DRC side out of the CAF Champions League this past weekend, winning 3-2 on aggregate, and players have told of the hellish treatment they received from the hosts, and also the biased officiating which nearly cost them the game.

However, in an article on the website (the French one, not English one interestingly), Mazembe insist everything has been blown out of proportion and even that the referee disallowed a perfectly good penalty.

The opening line (translated from French to English) reads: “While some clubs digest difficult removal, other, more rare, have nightmares when they qualify.

“Orlando Pirates must be part of the second category if one refers to the comments made on his official website by his defender Patrick Phungwayo and midfielder Lehohonolo Maselesa. Because according to them, the Buccaneers have been in ‘hell’ in Lubumbashi.”

What follows are sarcastic comments about having to wait ‘experiencing discomfort sofas in the lobby at Grand Karavia Hotel’. It also talks about an ‘excellent lunch’ that Pirates were served, and how no complaint was made to the hotel.

It also questions Phungwayo’s recollection of the game (on Bucs’ official site), argues that the red card shown to Lucky Lekgwathi was legitimate because of contact made with Tresor Mputu, and claims that a third penalty should have been shown because of a handball in the area.

It ends of with: “These fabrications demonstrate how our South African hosts write history after qualification. Whimsical and totally unacceptable!”

Article by: KICK OFF

The North West Provincial Government is to host a one day Clean Audit Indaba to assist provincial departments, municipalities and entities in the province to achieve clean audit by 2014. The summit hosted by the Provincial Department of Finance and the Office of the Premier is scheduled to commence at the Mmabatho Civic Centre on Thursday.  

“The recent provincial audit outcome for provincial departments, municipalities and entities is a matter of great concern to provincial government considering that we are left with few months before the realisation of 2014 clean audit. As government we believe that the situation can be turned around and is not all doom and gloom,” said Finance MEC Paul Sebegoe.

Keystakeholders expected tp arrend the event at which Premier Thandi Modise will deliver the keynote address include among others EXCO members, Mayors, SALGA and the Auditor General.

The programme for the Indaba includes presentations on Auditor General’s 2011/12 Audit Outcomes, Initiatives towards Clean Audit (SALGA, Local Government and Finance), messages of support by Chairpersons of Provincial Legislure Finance Portfolio Committee & SCOPA and signing of a commitment pledge.

Communities need to be educated on conditions that parolees have to adhere to so that they should assist correctional services to monitor parolees and be involved in processes to

  integrate them 

 in society, North West Acting Premier Raymond Elisha

In his speech delivered at the Anti-crime Interdenominational prayer held at the Bakgatla Ba-Mmakau Tribal Kgotla recently, Acting Premier Elisha called for united action to uproot the scourge of rape.

Elisha said that violence against women cannot be tolerated in our free and democratic society and that the significant event has fostered a strong commitment to placing the importance of fighting against this scourge.

“Perpetrators of heinous crime against women and children do not live somewhere in the outer space on some planet. They live in homes and are our children, brothers, uncles, cousins and our neighbours .Those of us who are well aware of their nefarious activities should blow the whistle on them to ensure that they are removed from society,” highlighted Elisha.

   The prayer and commemoration service for divine intervention was aimed at mobilising the community for a partnership against crime which in recent months have claimed the lives of 11-year old rape victim Ofentse Mogale and 13-year-old muti killing victim Neo Ramaswe.

The acting Premier used the opportunity to visit the Mogale, Ramaswe families and that of a 92-year- old granny who was repeatedly raped by a parolee who has since been arrested to convey the condolences and sympathies of the provincial government. Ofentse Mogale was allegedly also raped and murdered by a parolee.

Elisha committed that the provincial government would engage the control prosecutor at Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates Court for the case involving the 92 year old granny to be brought forward for trial and that the area would be prioritised for distribution of whistles and perpersprays to elderly women who are staying on their own.

Madibeng Local Councillor Rantji Chidi and priests who were part of the prayer day attributed the escalating housebreaking and crime in the area to proliferation of the Nyaope drug among youth.

By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-The Democratic Alliance has referred a forensic report on corruption involving Tlokwe Mayor Maphetle Maphetle to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela for investigation. 

The report found the council allegedly irregularly bought a R736 000 customized Mercedes Benz for Mayor Maphetle. It recommends the formal disciplinary action against the mayor and officials.

“The report finds the Mayor to be involved in fraudulently siphoning R300 000 from the municipality’s Poverty Relief Fund to sponsor a jazz festival” DA Juanita Terblanche said.

“Further abuse of the Disaster Management Fund by Mayor Maphetle are also documented by forensic auditors” Terblanche continues.

These findings show that the Mayor was led by personal gain to abuse funds to assist impoverished residents and deal with disasters such as shack fires she said.

“The DA commissioned the forensic audit as part of the party’s campaign against corruption during our short time in charge of Tlokwe” said Terblanche.

The opposition party said ANC caucus resoundingly voted Mayor Maphetle back into power despite serious corruption allegations against him.

“We have no confidence in the ANC’s Tlokwe leadership to deal with these forensic findings in an appropriate and legal way” DA said.

“The DA trusts that the Public Protector will come to fair conclusion about the suitability of Mr Maphetle to hold office and the ANC’s overall mismanagement of Tlokwe municipal funds”.

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By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-North West Department of Health rubbish the rumours that were going around regarding closing down of Anti-Drug facility, located at Witrand Potchefstroom.

Democratic Alliance in North West released a statement confirming the closing down of the centre after some squabbles between department of health and Social Development.

DA Chris hattingh said the centre is critical in continuing fight against drug addiction, especially rife in the youth community concentrated in the educational hub, Potchefstroom, where a number of drug peddlers, including Nigerians, have been arrested recently. 

“The North West Department of Health is disturbed by media reports which suggests that the Witrand Drug Rehabilitation Center has been closed and patients are not receiving the service. After engaging all the stakeholders involved including the District, our sister Department of Social Development and the hospital, the Department can confirm that the Rehab Unit in Witrand is not closed” 

“The unit is running, fully functional and continues to render services according to its mandate, which is dual diagnosis treatment since 2010. Dual diagnosis treatment is when a client uses drugs/ substances and has psychiatric diagnosis. Social Development on the other hand is solely responsible for a single diagnosis treatment (Substance dependence/ abuse)” department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said.

“We do however admit that there has been challenges pertaining to payment between Health and Social Development. However, the challenges never at any point necessitated closing the center. It has always been a norm that, when the Department of Health renders a single diagnosis treatment, services are paid for by the department requesting the service” He said.  

A meeting was held between the two Department to resolved challenges of mutual interest. 

“The North West Department of Social Development today(three weeks ago) acknowledged to a meeting of the NW Social Development Portfolio Committee, that they have closed down the only state Drug Rehabilitation facility in the North West Province after a funding dispute with a sister Department, The NW Department of Health” said DA Chris Hattingh. 

However, the department refutes the claim and said the Rehab Unit is running and there are systems in place for referral of patients with single diagnosis should they mistakenly land in the Witrand Outpatient Department.  

“In this case, they are referred to the Service Point of the Department of Social Development at Dassierand around Potchefstroom. Patients are therefore continuing to receive dual diagnosis treatment at the Rehab Unit” Lekgethwane outlines.

“We can also confirm that this is the only Government institution in the province offering such a service hence we cannot close the center” he said.  

Other such services are however available in the private sector health facilities in the province he continues.

DA said in their statement that they will pursue the re-opening of the centre, Witrand Drug Rehabilitation Facility.

“Drug peddlers, including Nigerians, have been arrested recently after they took advantage of the situation” Hattingh said.

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