By Obakeng Maje
The DA welcomes the possibility that the impasse in the Tlokwe Municipality in Potchefstroom may come to an end on Monday.
The inability of the Tlokwe Council and its committees to meet was this morning discussed during a public hearing conducted by the NW SCOPA. The Tlokwe Speaker, Barei Segotso, in maintaining her intolerable (ANC) partisan position gave no indications that she is prepared to convene a Council meeting – this position may continue for as long as the ANC remains a minority party in the Council.
“One of the reasons for her reluctance to convene a Council meeting is an overdue motion of no-confidence in the Speaker which must serve at the first Council meeting” DA Chris Hattingh said.
DA said it is clear that Segotso puts personal and party interest before community interest underlining her inaptness for the important position of Speaker.
“The DA will do everything in its power to restore stability and respect in the Tlokwe Municipality” Hattingh concludes.
Follow us on Twitter@Taung-DailyNews or @IceT_
Monthly Archives: July 2013
Maphetle referred to as “Executive Mayor”, meeting abandoned
By Obakeng Maje
The attempts of the North West Standing Committee on Public Accounts to conduct a public hearing was derailed this morning after the SCOPA chairperson, Patrick Chauke, referred to Cllr Maphetle Maphetle as the “Executive Mayor”.
The hearing, convened to interrogate the Forensic Investigation Report in which Maphetle and others are implicated in a number of findings, could not move beyond an initial question: “Who is the Municipal Manager in the Tlokwe Municipality?”
The reference to Maphetle as the “Executive Mayor” was the last straw for members of the public, including some expelled (former ANC) councillors who were in attendance. Vicious altercations ensued during which the chairperson and a former MEC were accused of theft, fraud and corruption.
The chairperson was repeatedly shouted down and threatened that the community will stand up against SCOPA and will start with protest meetings directed at SCOPA.
“The clear message from the community members present was that the NW SCOPA in its conduct this morning displayed a political bias in the factional infighting within the ANC”
“The DA is concerned with the conduct at the meeting as it impacts on the functioning of the NW SCOPA – a committee which carefully over years built a reputation for being a non-partisan and ruthless protector of public funds” DA Chris Hattingh said.
The Tlokwe Municipality incident damaged this reputation and also highlighted the fact that the factional divisions prevalent in Potchefstroom also thrives within the every facet of the NW ANC said Hattingh.
DA says, The reality remains that the main victims of the dog eats dog ANC infighting is the community who are being denied quality service delivery and in addition also now are being denied a probing into the expenditure of (their) public funds.
Follow us on Twitter@Taung-DailyNews or @IceT_
Hadebe For Dikwena?
The Siya crew can reveal that Platinum Stars are the frontrunners to land Sibusiso Hadebe’s signature.
It was recently revealed by Soccer-Laduma that the nimble-footed player had parted ways with Golden Arrows, with indications that the 26-year-old was no longer in coach Manqoba Mngqithi’s plans for the new season.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com
Pirates Want Another Striker
After signing Kermit Erasmus from SuperSport United, CAF Champions League competitors, Orlando Pirates, are looking to add another forward to their striking department.
Coach Roger de Sa has Collins Mbesuma, Lennox Bacela, Ndumiso Mabena, Kermit Erasmus, Rudolf Bester and Thulasizwe Mbuyane at his disposal, as it stands, ahead of the 2013/14 PSL campaign.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com
Zambian striker coming to Tuks
University of Pretoria have invited Zambian striker Jackson Mwanza for trials – he is expected to arrive in Tshwane tomorrow.
The 27-year-old is a free agent, having been released by Sudanese side El-Merreikh, after spending six months at the club.
Mwanza moved to Sudan at the beginning of the year from Zesco United in Zambia. After netting a brace on his debut for El-Merreikh, he spent five months out of favour before the board decided to terminate his three-year-contract.
For more http://www.kickoff.com
LRC worried about Marikana delays
Pretoria – Legal Resources Centre (LRC) lawyers expressed concern on Thursday about the Farlam Commission of Inquiry’s repeated postponements.
“We, the LRC, are concerned about maintaining public confidence in the effectiveness and credibility of the [inquiry], which could be seriously eroded by repeated postponements,” George Bizos, for the LRC, read from a statement at the inquiry sitting in Pretoria.
The LRC supported the call by Dali Mpofu, for the miners arrested and wounded during last year’s unrest at Lonmin’s platinum mine in Marikana, North West, to get State funding.
“At this stage we must place on record that, in accordance with the instructions of our clients, we will no longer be appearing before the commission or participating in its proceedings until the issue of funding of legal representation of the parties has been resolved,” Bizos said.
State funding
Mpofu had asked that the public hearings be postponed to 19 August. He said he needed time to approach the Constitutional Court for a ruling on whether the State should fund his team.
The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria rejected his request for State funding last week.
Commission chairperson, retired judge Ian Farlam, asked lawyers participating in the public hearings for their views on the postponement. The lawyers present on Thursday said they supported it.
The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related unrest in Marikana. Police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers on 16 August. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the preceding week.
– SAPA
Cops recover R500 000 worth of copper
Johannesburg – Three men were arrested in Soweto on Thursday for possession of copper with an estimated street value of R500 000, Gauteng police said.
They were caught after police were alerted about a bakkie filled with copper in Mofolo, police spokesperson Kay Makhubela said.
The copper was believed to have been stolen.
They would appear soon in the Protea Magistrate’s Court.
– SAPA
Madonsela: Nkandla report almost complete
Pretoria – The public protector’s report into Nkandla is 95% ready, she said on Thursday.
“I regret to say we have not yet concluded the report. Some things have to be tied up,” Thuli Madonsela told reporters in Pretoria.
She is investigating whether state money was abused for security upgrades at President Jacob Zuma’s homestead in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.
In January, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi said the government had spent R206m on upgrades and consultants.
A report on the issue, drawn up by a presidential task team, was classified.
Asked how she would handle making her own report public in the light of having received classified information, Madonsela said the matter would have to be considered.
– SAPA
Suspects dump drugs during car chase
Johannesburg – Two men threw bags of heroin and cocaine out of their car during a police chase in Cape Town, but were caught and arrested, Western Cape police said on Thursday.
Police pulled over their car in Athlone on Wednesday, but they sped off when the officers walked up to it, police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said.
They threw plastic bags out of the car as they drove away.
The police gave chase and cornered them in Mulder Road.
Plastic bags containing heroin and cocaine were found along the road.
The two, aged 29 and 31, were expected to appear soon in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court for drug possession.
– SAPA
Driver jailed for death of 15 passengers
Pietermaritzburg – A taxi driver was jailed for 10 years by the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday for the deaths of 15 people due to his reckless driving.
Khululeka Gwala, 24, was convicted of 15 counts of culpable homicide, but was acquitted on four charges of attempted murder involving the people injured in the accident.
A child lost both parents in the crash.
In September 2011, Gwala was speeding down a hill into Pietermaritzburg when he crossed two solid barrier lines and drove into oncoming traffic to overtake other vehicles.
Gwala continued speeding into oncoming traffic around a bend, which restricted visibility to 80m. His taxi side-swiped a car and crashed into an oncoming truck. The vehicle landed on an embankment with the truck on top of it.
Acting Judge Piet Bezuidenhout said Gwala had made a conscious decision to cross the double lines and continue speeding.
His attempt to get back into his lane was a high-risk manoeuvre, the judge said.
Bezuidenhout said taxi drivers had a great responsibility to ensure the safety of their fares.
A police investigator said the accident scene was the worst he had seen in 20 years.
– SAPA
The Guardian 