Matlosana-During a public hearing in Klerksdorp the North West Standing Committee on Public Accounts interrogated the Matlosana Municipal Management on their latest Auditor General’s (AG) report on the 2012 Matlosana Financial Statements.
The Matlosana Municipality, one of 16 North West Municipalities that received Disclaimer AG opinions for the 2012 financial year, was severely criticized by the AG in his report stating inter alia that
“The senior management vacancy rate rose from 25% in the previous year to 50% in the current year. Positions in senior management had been vacant for more than 12 months. Officials in key positions lack the skills and competencies to understand and address queries raised during the audit and are unable to perform key reconciliations.” DA Chris Hattingh said.
The declining financial performance of the Matlosana Municipality led to a Provincial Government Intervention into the Financial Administration gazetted during April – however the three administrators remunerated collectively at R191 684 (plus travel and subsistence allowances) had been defiantly and arrogantly prevented by the Municipality to start with their work, says DA.
The AG also reported that the Municipality could not achieve 52% of its 237 predetermined objectives during the financial year.
“The recorded R103 602 752 financial loss incurred by the Municipality contributing to the fact that the Municipality’s liabilities exceeded its assets by R589 582 550 at the audit date caused the AG to refer to a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the municipality’s ability to operate as a going concern.” said DA.
Hattingh said this may be the reasons for the Eskom and Midvaal threats to cut electricity and water provision to the municipality.
Accirding to DA, considering the AG finding that the Municipality incurred Fruitless and Wasteful expenditure of R5 720 251, irregularly expended R25 306 656 and could not provide documentary audit evidence for expenditure incurred amounting to R365 747 278, the state of financial administration in the Municipality is critical and a full Administrative intervention should now be considered.
The financial anarchy evident in the Matlosana Municipality, the second largest in the NW and previously regarded as high capacity municipality puts formally and ends to any aspirations to have clean audits in 2014 – a 5 year program that failed miserably, says DA.
Hattingh said the root cause for the sad state of affairs of the municipality once again appears to be vested in the lack of capacity in exorbitantly highly paid officials – an unintended consequence of the NW ANC’s subversion of affirmative action by implementing a cadre deployment system in which ANC factions compete for power and the control of financial resources at the expense of capacity, qualifications, expertise and experience.
As in other NW municipalities the situation will deteriorate until and end is put to the deployment of incompetent cadres, an independent skills audit is being done and sound and clean governance returns.-TDN
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Petrochemicals Company Sasol continued its long standing support for South African football by becoming the first corporate sponsor South African Football Association Development Agency (SDA) for R 3 million over the next three years.
The agency is tasked with implementing the South African Football Association (SAFA) Technical Master Plan, dubbed Vision 2022 by incoming president Danny Jordaan. The goal of the plan is to have all SAFA National Teams ranked in the top three in Africa and the top twenty in the world over the next ten years.
“The plan has seven pillars to it. These include the development of a national playing philosophy, the training and licensing of thousands of coaches, the identification and development of talent from the earliest age, as well as organisation of structured competition at a local football association (LFA) level” SAFA spokesperson Matlhomola Morake said in a statement.
The implementation of all seven streams of the Plan must take place at a Local Football Association level. This is where Sasol’s sponsorship will be directed, with the sponsorship reaching two South African Football Association (SAFA) Regions, being Gert Sibande in Mpumalanga and Fezile Dabi in the Free State, over a three year period.
“We are delighted that SASOL has become the first corporate partner in our bold vision to change football from the ground up. Vision 2022 is going to need multiple partners for success, and we hope that SASOL’s confidence in our Vision will inspire others to join”, said Dr Robin Petersen, CEO of the SAFA Development Agency.
Sasol has been involved with the development of football for over 20 years first with the National U/23 Football Team “Amaglug-glug” and more recently with women’s football in Banyana Banyana and the Sasol League and this further cements their commitment to the development of football in the country.
“We are excited about this project and it is an excellent example of how we can deliver through partnerships. Sasol’s approach to sustainable development depends on building strong and mutually beneficial relationships and we are proud to be working with the Football Association and contributing to the master plan,” said Maurice Radebe, Sasol Group Executive.
“When we were preparing to take office, we identified development as the key priority of the SAFA administration. This sponsorship will inspire confidence in our Vision 2022 in the business sector, and will provide us with an important starting point for the implementation of our plan,” says SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan. “Thank you SASOL for your support.”-TDN
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Johannesburg – An act prohibiting the possession of dangerous weapons, replicas or imitations in public will come into operation in January, the presidency said on Wednesday.

“President [Jacob] Zuma has, in terms of the Dangerous Weapons Act, 2013, determined 2 January 2014 as the date on which the said act will come into operation,” presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj said.

The act seeks to revoke all existing legislation which regulates dangerous weapons in the country, in order to provide a uniform legislation across the country.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – There was “a bit of a cover-up” over the security upgrades at President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead according to former ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa, Eyewitness News reported on Wednesday.

“I don’t think anybody has tried to justify Nkandla. I think there is a bit of a cover-up and I think we need to know the truth, and the sooner we know the truth the better,” Phosa told the radio news station.

Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi has declined to make available a task team report into why his department spent over R200m on Zuma’s private home in KwaZulu-Natal.

Nxesi has said the report was classified.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is determined to attain record voter turnout in next year’s election, chairperson Pansy Tlakula said on Wednesday.

“We are preparing ourselves for an exceptionally high… voter turnout,” she said at the media launch for the 2014 elections in Midrand.

“In South Africa, our legislative framework requires citizens to register before they vote. Registration is apolitical and everyone has a role to play.”

Tlakula said voter registration needed to be embraced by, among others, political parties, organised labour, organised business, faith-based organisations, and civil society.

The IEC had started consulting with the relevant parties in this regard.

She announced that registration for next year’s elections would take place on 9 and 10 November.

“All our voting stations in the country will be open for the purpose of voter registration from 08:00.
“Our officials will be ready to welcome and assist all potential voters.”

Tlakula said those who were already registered should take the opportunity to check their details on the voters’ roll, and those who had moved should register in their areas.

She called on young people, especially those who were voting for the first time, to register.

“Democracy and freedom came at a great price and you cannot take it for granted. We should treasure and use the opportunity to exercise that right [to vote],” Tlakula said.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – A case of pointing a firearm is being investigated against Mandla Mandela, Eastern Cape police said on Wednesday.

A man who accused Mandela of threatening him with a gun opened the case at the Madeira police station on Tuesday, Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said.

Mandela allegedly pointed a gun at the man and threatened to shoot him during an argument in Nelson Mandela drive, Mthatha, on Tuesday evening, said Fatyela.

No arrest had been made.

– SAPA

Johannesburg – The Supreme Court of Appeal’s dismissal of the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance’s (Outa) challenge to e-tolls makes no difference to Cosatu’s campaign, the trade union federation said on Wednesday.

“This decision will make no difference to Cosatu’s unwavering campaign against this attempt to privatise our public highways,” Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) spokesperson Patrick Craven said in a statement.

“… Our roads are a public asset already paid for through taxation and the fuel levy, and motorists should not therefore have to pay again to drive on these public highways.”

Earlier, SCA Judge Fritz Brand refused Outa’s appeal against the SA National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral) plans to introduce e-tolls. No costs order was made.

However, Brand set aside the order granted by the High Court in Pretoria directing Outa to pay Sanral costs, and replaced it with a ruling that there be no costs order.

Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage said the alliance and its lawyers were studying Brand’s judgment.

The Democratic Alliance said the fight against e-tolls was now in the hands of the people of Gauteng.

“E-tolling will kill jobs in Gauteng and make it harder for people to make ends meet,” DA spokesman Mmusi Maimane said in a statement.

“The power of the vote is the surest way to stop tolls.”

Maimane said this was not the end of the road in the fight against e-tolls.

He said the DA had contributed R1m to Outa’s court action because it believed it was important to contest the principle of e-tolling.
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Johannesburg – Opposition parties in Mpumalanga called for the suspension of community safety, security and liaison provincial head Thulani Sibuyi on Wednesday.

Sibuyi, 37, who was convicted of drunken driving in 2008, appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday on new charges of drunken driving, impersonating a police officer and resisting arrest.

The DA and the Congress of the People (Cope) said keeping Sibuyi at work set a bad example.

“As the head of the provincial task team implemented to fight drunk driving in the province, Sibuyi must lead by example and, therefore, should be suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of investigations into his criminal case,” said DA Mpumalanga leader Anthony Benadie.

“If found guilty, he must be fired,” he said.

The DA also called for an internal investigation into Sibuyi’s alleged use of blue lights on his vehicle.

“According to reports, Sibuyi left the accident scene by using the blue lights on his car, which allowed him to portray himself as a policeman,” said Benadie.

“By law, the use of blue lights is strictly for law enforcement officers and political officials. Sibuyi is neither,” he said.

Cope MP leader Zale Madonsela questioned Sibuyi’s ethics.

“What message is he sending as head of department and an important individual? What message is he sending about his entire department and the provincial government?” he asked.

He also questioned the provincial government’s reluctance to act against Sibuyi.

“When he was arrested in August on a tender fraud related case, the provincial government refused to comment on his fate and said he was innocent until proven otherwise.

“With the seriousness of impersonating a police officer and resisting arrest, does our government still believe in that cliché?”

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Sibuyi and his co-accused, Vusi Mashaba, 41, who own the company implicated in the fraud, are out on bail of R50 000. They are scheduled to appear in court again on 23 November.

Provincial government spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbatha said Sibuyi would continue to work until the criminal cases were concluded.

“We will make any pronouncements in due course, because for now, this matter is sub-judice,” she said.

“The [head of department] was arrested, appeared in court and was granted bail. For now, it’s important to respect the court processes.”

She would not comment on the use of blue police lights in the drunk driving matter.

Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale told a Sapa correspondent Sibuyi was arrested on the new charges early on Sunday, after he was involved in an accident in Gauteng.

He was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court and he was released on bail of R1 000.

– SAPA

The body of a woman was found in a shaft at the Kroondal Platinum Mine in Rustenburg, North West on Wednesday, the Aquarius Platinum mining company said.

“The employee’s name is being withheld out of respect for her family. The board and management of Aquarius extend to them their deepest condolences,” the company said.

“While the circumstances of the incident cannot be disclosed, it was apparent during the initial investigation that the woman may have been assaulted.”

Blasting activities at the Kwezi shaft, where the body was found, had been suspended until police investigations were completed.

Police could not immediately be reached for comment.

– SAPA

Cosatu in the North West expressed shock and anger on Wednesday at the deaths of a father and son while they were unblocking a municipal sewer.

“The municipality must take responsibility for all the cost for the funeral and making sure that the family is not exposed to poverty,” said Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) North West provincial secretary Solly Phetoe.

The two died when they inhaled toxic fumes while trying to unblock a sewerage system at Huhudi township, in Vryburg, on Friday, police said.

“It is alleged that both victims went inside the sewerage main hole which is next to the old dumping site to unblock the sewer,” police spokesperson Pelonomi Makau said at the time.

Batlhaleheng Mohumapelo, 60, was a permanent municipal worker. His son Monnapula, 24, was a contract worker.

Cosatu conveyed its condolences to the family.

“There is nothing more painful than losing a parent and a child on the same day.”

It said the deaths were apparently as result of a lack of the correct tools and protective clothing for workers, and this had become a trend in the province.

Cosatu urged Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant to ensure that municipalities complied with health and safety standards.

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Lechesa Tsenoli should intervene before the situation worsened, Phetoe said.

– SAPA