More than 16 villagers in 36 wards in Madibeng Local Municipality under Bojanala district embarked on a strike which they say it was long overdue.

The march that was organised by SANCO turned out to be the second biggest Madibeng has ever had over the same problem and there was a heavy police and North West Traffic police presence.

Residents handed their memorundum to premier Thandi Modise.
For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

Potchefstroom – An ANC’s probe into claims of corruption against former Tlokwe mayor Maphetle Maphetle was slow, the party’s national executive committee (NEC) member Gugile Nkwinti said on Monday.

This, however, did not warrant the party’s councillors in the municipality voting him out of office, Nkwinti said in Potchefstroom.

“From our side we should have been faster perhaps, but they should not have been so impatient as well as to act in the manner which they have done, bringing the ANC into disrepute.

“We have not said those allegations are not true… Now before we did that [investigated] they acted again.”

On Tuesday Maphetle was unseated for a second time since November, when DA Councillor Annette Combrink was voted in as the new mayor.

DA North West leader Chris Hattingh said at the time that 29 councillors of all parties, including the ANC, unanimously voted to return Combrink to the position of mayor.

On Wednesday, the North West ANC’s provincial disciplinary committee said its 14 councillors, who voted to unseat Maphetle, were expelled from the party. They would also be removed as Tlokwe councillors.

Corruption claims

While DA was in charge last year, it requested a forensic investigation into irregularities at the municipality.

The probe found that the council had irregularly bought Maphetle a R736 000 customised Mercedes-Benz.

Maphetle had allegedly abused the municipality’s disaster management fund and poverty relief fund.

The report contains a recommendation that formal disciplinary action be taken against him and other officials.

In May, the DA laid criminal charges against Maphetle.

In June Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said she would investigate the claims of corruption involving Maphetle.

Nkwinti said the NEC had endorsed an investigation into the claims against Maphetle. Again on Monday the former mayor was told the investigation would go ahead.

The matter would be referred to the ANC’s integrity committee.

However, he said action needed to be taken against those ANC councillors who sided with the DA and voted Maphetle out.

“Remember there was a vote and the ANC was elected into power by the people here. The people have not yet expressed themselves and said they don’t want the ANC.”

He said the “balance of forces” could not be changed and there could not be a party in power without a mandate from the people.

By-elections

Nkwinti, who is the NEC deployee in the province, attended a provincial working committee (PWC) meeting on Monday to discuss Maphetle’s unseating and the appointment of new proportional representation councillors.

A by-election would be held soon to elect new ward councillors.

After the PWC meeting Nkwinti and the ANC’s provincial leadership went on a walkabout at the Potchefstroom taxi rank.

After speaking to people Nkwinti said “it’s not looking good for the ANC. Services are not coming through”.

People told Nkwinti they did not have houses, and that Tlokwe’s budget had been sent to Wolmaransstad.

A woman in a wheelchair told him she did not have a decent home and the roads were not good.

North West ANC secretary Gordon Kegakilwe said the party was doing well in the area.

“We are here now in the taxi rank to tell the people that it’s only the African National Congress that can change their lives for the better.

“We have achieved a lot. Our people now have electricity, our people have water, Tlokwe municipality is providing them with blue drop status of water. The roads are tarred in the location which you have never seen before. We are saying to our people it is only the ANC which can keep providing,” he said.

DA take over

However, several residents earlier said they were happy the DA had taken control of Tlokwe and hoped for better services.

Kegakilwe said the ANC had filed papers in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg to have Tuesday’s council meeting, at which Maphetle was unseated, declared null.

“For now, as the ANC we don’t recognise that meeting, we don’t recognise Combrink,” he said.

“Combrink will never do anything for the people of Tlokwe… she will never assist the people, she has never assisted them. They will keep on promising what they can’t achieve,” Kegakilwe said.

He said the ANC was confident it would win the court case.

“We are confident, we have studied all the documents and we are quite sure. Her [Combrink’s] mayorship is not recognised. Comrade Maphtle is the ANC mayor.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Platinum Stars captain Vuyo Mere has withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana squad to play in the Cosafa Cup in Zambia.

Bafana play their first game of the tournament on Saturday.

The latest change to the Bafana squad means the original squad of 20 players has had 14 names withdrawn.

“His name was included during the initial stages of the discussions with Platinum Stars,” the SA Football Association said in a statement on Monday.

“But seeing that the club had already given Bafana Bafana four players it was felt the player should not be part of the travelling party so as not cripple their [Platinum Stars’] preparations.

“Safa regrets the inconvenience caused to the club and the player.”

Gladwin Shitolo of Jomo Cosmos would replace Mere.

The squad assembles on Wednesday.

Meanwhile defender Bevan Fransman will not be available for the first match on Saturday, due to club commitments.

Fransman is expected to line-up for Supersport United against English Premier league side Manchester City in a pre-season clash at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday. He will fly out to Zambia on Monday to join the squad.

Bafana Bafana squad for the Cosafa Cup:
Goalkeepers:
Wayne Sandilands (captain), Siyabonga Mpontshane. Defenders: Devan Fransman, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Sibusiso Khumalo, Gladwin Shitolo, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Lehlohonolo Nonyane, Tshepo Gumede

Midfielders:
Sibusiso Msomi, Lerato Chabangu, Hlompho Kekana, Mzikayise Mashaba, Mandla Masango, Jabulani Shongwe, Ruzaigh Gamildien

Strikers:
Katlego Mashego, Edward Manqele, Lebogang Manyama, Thabani Mthembu
For more http://www.news24.com

Mbombela – The Congress of the People’s (Cope) court battle over leadership is not good for unity, Mpumalanga MPL Zale Madonsela said on Monday.

“Cope’s biggest challenge is suppression of internal democracy through the abuse of the courts,” Madonsela told a Sapa correspondent.

“We are confident of the case we have presented before the court, as we represent a position that is legally sound and politically sensible, but we remain absolutely convinced that the court is a wrong forum to solve political problems.”

This came as the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg was expected to continue hearing the Cope leadership case on Tuesday, between ousted party leader Mbhazima Shilowa and Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota.

In February 2011, Lekota obtained an interim court order recognising him as president of the party and restraining Shilowa from claiming the title of party leader.

Lekota is scheduled to testify on Tuesday.

Madonsela said the party’s congress national committee held a meeting in Johannesburg over the weekend, where it was decided that the party should contest next year’s elections in unity.

“While we await Mr Mosiuoa Lekota’s testimony with great anticipation tomorrow, we remain committed to a permanent political solution,” said Madonsela.

“Cope has called on the court to issue an order for an all inclusive national elective congress to be supervised by a credible independent body.”

At the meeting, Cope’s leadership was urged to finalise a comprehensive election plan to forward to the branches, said Madonsela.

– SAPA

Barkly West-Two men accused of running an illegal initiation school appeared in the Barkley West Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Northern Cape police said.

Winston Moleleki, 38, and Joseph Makhasane, 24, would be back in court on 15 July, police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu said.

The two were also charged with kidnapping two youths and forcing them to attend an initiation school.

They were hospitalised after botched circumcisions, said Naidu.

– SAPA

Durban – The State was accused of suppressing information in the trial of businesswoman Shauwn Mpisane in the Durban Regional Court on Monday.

Advocate Rafik Bhana, for Mpisane, said the defence had less than half of the statements contained in the State’s docket.

Bhana said the State had not disclosed all the statements in its possession and had also failed to furnish the defence with all requested statements.

“The prosecutor cannot decide what is relevant and not relevant,” he said.

Bhana said Mpisane’s rights to a fair trial had been compromised.

He asked for time to make representations to the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) regarding the conduct of the State and for the NDPP to consider the defence’s representations.

The matter was adjourned to 22 July.

Mpisane is accused of inflating invoices by more than R5m in an attempt to cut her tax bill.

She is also accused of violating the Close Corporations Act by remaining the sole member of Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance, and Transport, when she had a previous fraud conviction.

She has pleaded not guilty.

– SAPA

Potchefstroom – The ANC has filed papers in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg against Tlokwe mayor Maphetle Maphetle’s unseating, the party said on Monday.

“The speaker [Barei Mosiane], who is the speaker coming from the ANC… has actually filed the papers nullifying that meeting,” ANC North West acting secretary Gordon Kegakilwe said in Potchefstroom.

He was referring to a council meeting on Tuesday at which DA Councillor Annette Combrink was voted in as mayor.

“For now, as the ANC, we don’t recognise that meeting, we don’t recognise Combrink.”

Kegakilwe was speaking at the taxi rank in Potchefstroom following an ANC provincial working committee (PWC) meeting in the town.

He, ANC North West chair Supra Mahumapelo, and national executive committee deployee and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti were doing a walkabout at the taxi rank.

Combrink was voted in as the new mayor on Tuesday, the second time since November, unseating Maphetle.

DA North West leader Chris Hattingh said at the time that 29 councillors of all parties, including the ANC, unanimously voted to return Combrink to the position of mayor.

On Wednesday, the North West ANC’s provincial disciplinary committee said 14 of its councillors who voted to unseat Maphetle, were expelled from the party.

They would also be removed as Tlokwe councillors.

Kegakilwe said the councillors had to be expelled because they handed power to an opposition party.

“They can’t take power that the people have given to the ANC and give it to the DA, the DA which has never taken care of our people and will never take care of our people.

“We are here now in the taxi rank to tell the people that it’s only the African National Congress that can change their lives for the better.”

By-elections

Kegakilwe said the PWC on Monday appointed six new proportional representation councillors for the municipality.

By-elections would be held soon to elect new ward councillors.

He said the ANC did not recognise Combrink as mayor and said Maphetle was still mayor.

“Combrink will never do anything for the people of Tlokwe… she will never assist the people, she has never assisted them. They will keep on promising what they can’t achieve,” Kegakilwe said.

He said the ANC was confident it would win the court case to nullify the council’s decision.

“We are confident, we have studied all the documents and we are quite sure… Her [Combrink’s] mayorship is not recognised. Comrade Maphetle is the ANC mayor.”

The DA on Monday said Maphetle had failed to adhere to a legal notice forcing him to vacate his office at the municipality.

“During talks with DA councillors today, Mr Maphetle attempted to push for a political and not a legal resolution for the impasse,” Hattingh said.

“He also indicated that he has instructed his mayoral committee not to vacate their offices.”

Hattingh said the DA was consulting its lawyers on the issue.

DA take over

Earlier, several Potchefstroom residents welcomed the DA taking over the municipality.

“What happened in the council is right,” PR Kali said at the town’s taxi rank.

“We think there will be change if the Democratic Alliance takes over.”

He said the ANC-dominated council had done nothing to eradicate poverty in the city or create jobs.

TB Masibi said he was expecting “huge change”.

“We expect a lot of change from the DA. They will combat crime and corruption.”

While the DA was in charge last year, it requested a forensic investigation into irregularities at the municipality.

The probe found that the council had irregularly bought Maphetle a R736 000 customised Mercedes-Benz.

Maphetle also allegedly abused the disaster management fund and poverty relief fund.

The report recommended that formal disciplinary action be taken against him and other officials.

In May, the DA laid criminal charges against Maphetle.

In June Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said she would investigate the claims of corruption involving Maphetle.

Both Masibi and Kali complained about corruption and the lack of jobs.

Many of the fruit and vegetable vendors at the Potchefstroom taxi rank were from Lesotho.

Masibi said he used to have a shop but could not compete with the foreigners and the ANC had done nothing to create jobs for locals.

A woman who did not want to be named said she “felt good” about the DA taking over.

“I am happy… [The ANC] is not for me,” she said.

– SAPA

Police have arrested five people on suspicion of murder for botched circumcisions, which led to the deaths of about 30 boys in the Eastern Cape, a police spokesperson said on Monday.

Police were also investigating suspected assault, gross bodily harm and unlawful circumcisions that left 300 others injured across the province over the last week, police spokeswoman Sibongile Soci said.

Deaths are mainly caused by blood loss or infection from circumcisions poorly performed by traditional practitioners.

The ANC called the deaths and injuries “tragic” and said the government must act immediately.

“Authorities can no longer pay lip service to dealing with this disaster that afflicts our nation during the traditional initiation season,” it said in a statement.

In May, more than 20 youths died in Mpumalanga, prompting rare cross-party calls for reform of the initiation practise.

– Reuters

A former Flantrade Fishing manager appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Cape Town on Monday on hundreds of fraud charges.

Dalton Glenville Randall was not asked to plead on 486 counts of fraud, and a charge framed in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

He allegedly created “ghost crew members” and channelled their wages and commissions into his private bank accounts.

The matter was postponed to 18 July for further investigation.

According to the charge sheet, Randall was the manager at Flantrade Fishing, a company that provides management and operational services to fishing vessels.

His duties included the authorisation and payment of expenses and supplies, the purchase of bait and the payment of salaries and commissions to crew members.

Randall had to prepare written schedules reflecting the names of crew members and the amounts to be paid to them.

Prosecutor Derek Vogel alleges the schedules Randall submitted to financial manager Craig Myburgh, for the payment of crew salaries and commissions, contained fictitious names.

Randall then allegedly channelled salaries and commissions totalling R2.5m for “ghost crew members” into two private bank accounts, for his personal use.

He allegedly also submitted fake invoices totalling R1.2m for bait purchased.

– SAPA