Pic:(Source)
New brooms:from left to right MEC Wendy Matsemela(Education and Training),Manketsi Tlhape(Local Government & Traditional Affairs)with Premier Thandi Modise and Collen Maine(Social Development ,Women,Children and People with Disabilities) after the swearing ceremony.
Three new members were sworn into the North West Provincial Executive Council (Exco) following a cabinet reshuffle that was announced by Premier Thandi Modise in Mahikeng on Wednesday evening.

The reshuffle has seen Premier Modise drop Louisa Mabe who was entangled in alleged irregularities relating to appointment of legal firm to conduct disciplinary hearings at a cost of R16 million from the portfolio of MEC for Education and Training.The alleged irregularity occurred during Mabe’s tenure as MEC for Finance.

China Dodovu who is facing a murder charge and Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi against whom there are investigations for abuse of Executive members privileges and benefits were also relieved of their responsibilities from the Portfolios of Local Government & Traditional Affairs and Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities respectively.

“The changes should not be misinterpreted to suggest that the recalled members were found guilty of any wrongdoing as matters they were allegedly involved in have not been concluded. All of them executed their tasks with distinction. None of the allegations against them have been proved or disproved. The reshuffle is solely aimed at faster delivery and eliminating the need for us to answer for hang-ups,” emphasised Modise.

She added that where public funds are found to have been misappropriated, steps would be taken to recoup every cent.

“Our focus is on accelerating service delivery and entrenching good governance therefore induction of new members would be prioritised to ensure that they hit the ground running,” said Modise.

Wendy Matsemela a former Member of Parliament (MP) in the National Assembly between 2005-2009, MEC for Economic Development and Tourism between 2009-2010 and was current Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Provincial Affairs and Finance in the Provincial Legislature takes over from Mabe.

Manketsi Tlhape who was the Mayor of Tswaing Local Municipality between 2006-2011 has been appointed in the place of Dodovu as MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs while Collen Maine who served as an MP and Provincial Whip in the National Council of Provinces has been redeployed back to the province to take over from Mokomele-Mothibi.

The reshuffle is the second that Premier Modise has had to make since taking over the reigns in November 2010 and the third since the current term of government.
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Bloemhof – A mentally ill woman died after she fell into a manhole in Bloemhof, North West police said on Wednesday.

The 50-year-old woman’s family had been looking for her since she left their home on Tuesday night, Lt-Col Lesego Metsi said.

At 11.45am on Wednesday a relative reported that she saw the woman’s body in a flooded manhole.

“It is suspected that the deceased could not see the hole that was covered by water… and posed danger to the residents,” said Metsi.

Police divers recovered the body around 3.30pm on Wednesday.

An inquest docket was opened. – Sapa

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union has submitted its wage demands to employers for this year’s gold sector wage negotiations.
It was demanding that B-level employees receive a R7 500 wage increase or adjustment, in addition to the current basic rates, and that those on C-level receive R7 000, Amcu said in a memorandum on Tuesday.

It was asking for an increase of R7 500 for employees in categories five to nine, and of R7 000 for those in categories 10 to 15, said Amcu general secretary Jeffrey Mphahlele.
For more http://www.timelive.co.za

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political platform believes it can win 60 percent of the youth vote in next year’s general elections, it said on Wednesday.
It was reacting to a survey by consumer insights company Pondering Panda, which found that one in four young South Africans would vote for a party led by expelled African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema.

EFF spokesman Floyd Shivambu — also formerly of the ANCYL — said it was inspired by the results of the survey.

“EFF foresees victory in the immediate future, because… 26 percent approves of the Economic Freedom Fighters even before elections happen,” said Shivambu.

“And even before we present all the coherent, consistent, and cogent policy alternatives, we have potential of gaining more than 60 percent of the youth vote,” he said.

Malema reportedly announced earlier this month that he was launching the EFF political platform to shift the approach to the country’s problems from “reconciliation” to “justice”.

The Pondering Panda survey polled 3585 young people aged between 18 and 34 across South Africa.

It found that 35 percent said they would vote for the African National Congress, 26 percent said they would vote for Malema’s party, and 15 percent said they would vote for the Democratic Alliance.

“An absolute majority of the people we have spoken to in all provinces, and via social networks and e-mail, are demanding that Economic Freedom Fighters contest elections in 2014,” Shivambu said.

The political platform had thousands of volunteers who were willing to campaign for EFF in the elections, he said.

“A sizeable number of local independent political formations, community based organisations, non-governmental organisations, and independent movements have expressed the wish to form part of the EFF.”
For more http://www.timelive.co.za

Johannesburg – North West Premier Thandi Modise has reshuffled her cabinet, the ANC said on Wednesday.

“The ANC has observed that these comrades have an impeccable track record in the struggle for the creation of a democratic South Africa, as devoted activists and disciplined members of the ANC,” spokesperson Kenny Morolong said in a statement.

Modise announced the re-shuffle on Wednesday evening, said Morolong.

Wendy Matsemela replaced Louisa Mabe as MEC for education, Manketse Tlhape replaced China Dodovu as local government MEC, and Collen Maine replaced Mamokomele Mothibi as MEC for social development.

Morolong said: “This reshuffle will enhance the necessary political work of the ANC in North West to achieve the objectives of the programme of reconciliation, healing and organisational renewal.”

– SAPA

Bloemfontein – Northern Cape residents were asked to keep former president Nelson Mandela in their prayers on Wednesday.

Provincial ANC secretary Zamani Saul said the party in the province wanted to extend its well-wishes to Mandela.

“We are joining millions of people across the globe in wishing the Nobel Peace Prize winner a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the former statesman.”

Mandela, suffering from a recurring lung problem, was admitted to a Pretoria hospital on 8 June.

His condition had since become critical.

Saul said the ANC was confident in the medical care he was receiving.

He said Mandela’s commitment and dedication in fighting for the freedom of South Africa had left an indelible footprint in the hearts of people the world over.

Mandela epitomised peace, non-racialism, democracy and the hope for a better future, Saul said.

– SAPA

Pretoria – Johan Kotzé planned the torture and gang rape of his wife and the murder of her son down to the last detail, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Cornelia Harmzen put it to one of Ina Bonnette’s alleged rapists, Andries Sithole, that Kotzé would not have gone to the trouble of planning the crime and then getting unwilling rapists to help him.

Sithole, Pieta Mohlane and Sello Mphaka have claimed they pretended to rape Bonnette because Kotzé threatened them with a firearm.

Harmzen put it to Sithole that there was no DNA evidence, and the rapists wore pantyhose over their heads so the victim would not recognise them.

In addition, her attackers deliberately had no information about each other on their cellphones, so the police could not trace them.

“In the cupboard, the torture instruments used for the mutilation lay ready. Ropes were already tied to the bed and burglar bars. All of this is evidence of planning.

“It would never have happened if the three of you didn’t co-operate with Kotzé and did not plan and decide together to rape her.

“For you, it was a win-win situation. You could have sex and get paid for it. You raped her first while she lay there bleeding. You didn’t only stand and watch the other two. You held her down while Mphaka was raping her,” she said.

Threat claims

Harmzen put it to Sithole that he had lied about Kotzé threatening him and the others with a revolver, as Bonnette said she had not seen a revolver.

She had testified only about a rifle that was pointed at her.

Bonnette’s evidence was supported by the fact that the rifle found at the scene had been used to murder her 19-year-old son Conrad, Harmzen said.

Sithole said that if Kotzé had planned anything, he had done so alone.

He said if he had seen a rifle, he and the others would have overpowered Kotzé, but he did want to take a chance while Kotzé had a revolver “because he could not play with his life”.

Before taking the stand, Sithole spoke to Mohlane.

Mohlane later told the court Sithole had told him and Mphaka not to testify, but that he had not taken this seriously.

The trial continues.

– SAPA

Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma has cancelled his scheduled trip to Mozambique after a visit to former the critically ill former president Nelson Mandela in Pretoria’s Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria.

The elder statesman was admitted to the hospital with a recurring lung infection on 8 June.

Zuma’s spokesperson, Mac Maharaj, said Zuma had visited Mandela at 22:00.
“President Zuma was briefed by the doctors who are still doing everything they can to ensure his well-being.”
Maharaj said Zuma had decided to cancel his visit to Maputo, where he was due to attend an SADC summit.
For more http://www.news24.com

By Obakeng Maje

The DA will call for an independent forensic investigation into Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality’s R2.3 million spending spree for last week’s State of the District address.

The DA will also submit questions to the office of the Speaker demanding an explanation following reports that the Supply Chain Management policy was not adhered to.   

“It is unacceptable that R2.3million was spent on a single State of the District Address, while people in Ratlou and the rest of the district are suffering without water” DA Jacquline Theologo said.

DA said there was no council Resolution approving this level of expenditure on the State of the District Address as well as the Gala dinner hosted by acting Exective Mayor Maria Monnana.

“The communities living in the most rural areas of the district have to walk kilometres to fetch water for their households with the villages of Logageng and Magori in the Ratlou Municipality being the most severely affected” said Theologo.

Both these villages are situated in a very vast area with boreholes that are not functioning due to a lack of pumping equipment. 

The communities in those areas are dependent on the supply of fresh water by Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality water tankers twice a week. Unfortunately insufficient tankers and the short supply of fuel curtail the delivery of water.

However the interim mayor refutes the reports. The mayor said the figure supplied was wrong.

The DA believes R2.3 million could have gone a long way to equip those bore holes with tanks, pumps and all relevant equipment to supply these communities with water.

“The ANC are quick to remove people for internal factional reasons but not for the blatant wasting of resources as we have seen with the recent removal of the mayors of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality and the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality” said DA in the province.

“Nothing less than a full investigation into this wasteful spending is needed to enforce accountability from the municipality for the real needs of district residents” Theologo concludes.

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