North West Premier Thandi Modise has instructed the Provincial Department of Local Government & Traditional Affairs to urgently investigate whether the R2,4 million expenditure that Matlosana Local Municipality is alleged to have earmarked towards the Mayoral Soccer Challenge is justifiable.

“Expenditure towards the venture should be measured against service delivery challenges facing communities and whether the municipality which was unable to meet its financial obligations a few months ago can now afford to host the challenge without sponsorship,” said Premier Modise.

It has come to the Premier’s attention that the City of Matlosana is planning to host the Soccer Challenge involving Free State Stars, Bloemfontein Celtics, Platinum Stars and Super Sport United on the 28

th of this month at a cost of R2.4 million while expecting an income of only R192 000-00 from the event. Participating team are reportedly expecting to be paid an appearance fee of R300 000-00 per team.

The municipality has since April been opposed to Section 139 intervention limited to control of finances and deployment of administrators and experts after it failed to honour its statutory, financial obligations and incurred a long-standing debt with Eskom and MiDVAAL water board which resulted in two bulk services accounts being in arrears in excess of R100 million.Matlosana is among municipalities in the province that are earmarked for support by the intervention team deployed by Minister of Public Service and Administration, Lindiwe Sisulu to turnaround ailing municipalities.

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By Obakeng Maje

Madibeng-The Democratic Alliance is exasperated by the task teams’ inability to make any changes or inroads into the management of Madibeng. 

“It is more than a month ago that a task team was appointed by the then Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Richard Baloyi, and still are they unknown to most of the Officials, but shine in their absence on any progress reports” Democratic Alliance Tiaan Kotze said.

Kotze said the silence and seemingly no progress from the task team can be due to resistance from the Madibeng management. 

There are numerous complaints regarding accounts and clearance certificates not issued.

“The ruling party in Madibeng is scared of opening a can of worms by implementing the report of the task team that investigated the affairs of the municipality” DA said. 

The report contains far-reaching recommendations to inter alia prosecute senior municipal officials and take steps to counter corruption and maladministration in the municipality. 

“It was accepted by Council with the recommendation that another committee be appointed to investigate the issue and make further recommendations” DA said.

The committee’s investigation will be the sixth into the affairs of Madibeng and that none of the previous reports were acted on. DA said there is no reason for another committee and investigation as the recommendations and reports by competent bodies are clear and only need to be implemented.

The DA is ready to deliver clean governance in Madibeng as we are doing in the Tlokwe Municipality.

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By Obakeng Maje

Taung-United State ambassador will today honour a Detective Officer who was investigating a murder case against a Lesotho National.

Bongani Mosito,40 is facing three accounts murder which one of them is a murder of a USA citizen. 

Taung Station Commander Lt Col Kgwanyape received information about the Lesotho national who was hiding in Taung, North West. 

“The allegation further stated that suspect committed three counts of murder in Lesotho and one of his victims was a USA Citizen” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said. 

The USA Consulate as well as Lesotho police joined forces and sent two officials to Taung to identify the suspect.

“On Monday, 11 March 2013 at about 19:55 the suspect was traced and arrested by our local detectives after he was identified by the Lesotho officials” colonel Mothusi Kgwenyape said. 

The suspect was not in possession of any permit allowing him to be in South Africa, he was then charged for being an illegal immigrant in the country. 

The necessary application for extradition order is in progress; nevertheless the suspect briefly appeared before Taung Magistrates Court and his case is still pending.

The matter was referred to the department of home Affairs for further investigations.

US consulate will honour Detective Officer today at Mmabana Taung with an accolade for bravery and performance.

“The Investigating Officer will be honoured by USA consulate today at 13:00 and would like to applaud our police to job well-done” sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said.

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Johannesburg – Former ANCYL president Julius Malema is considering taking legal action over a scathing attack on him by the league’s Gauteng chairperson Lebogang Maile at a media conference, The Star reported on Wednesday.

At the press conference on Tuesday, Maile blamed Malema for the ANC Youth League’s financial problems.

“Where is the money of the ANC Youth League? The ANC Youth League owes [creditors] more than R50m.”

He also accused Malema of being a “drunkard and a womaniser”.

Malema reportedly told the newspaper he planned to sue Maile, as his veiled allegation that Malema had embezzled ANCYL funds bordered on defamation.

He demanded that Maile retract the statement and apologise, and denied that he was a womaniser.

“I am not a womaniser; I am a 32-year-old man with one child. I do not have a girlfriend,” he was quoted as telling the newspaper.

“Maile is 33-years old or more with no less than six children. He is expecting twins as we speak.”

SAPA

CAPE TOWN – Despite more allegations emerging against him, the family of the Paarl warrant officer accused of repeatedly raping a teenage girl said on Tuesday they remain convinced he is innocent.  It’s alleged he raped the 14-year-old girl at her home in Paarl East several times earlier this year.  The policeman’s bail application was postponed in the Paarl Magistrate Court on Tuesday for further investigation after it emerged there may be another four victims.  Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) officials believe the officer may be linked to similar cases involving minors. The policeman’s brother, who asked not to be named, said he doesn’t believe any of the accusations. “I am very disappointed in this case. It seems as though the investigator in this case is unprofessional. But we are positive that he will get bail.” IPID’s Lusanda Booi told the court evidence was found at the scene, but officials still needed to verify it. (Edited by Tamsin Wort)

Source: http://www.ewn.co.za

North West Provincial Government has lined up a series of service delivery activities across the province as part of the celebrating 67 years of community service that former President and world icon Nelson Mandela rendered. According to Premier Thandi Modise this will be a fitting tribute to celebrate the legacy of Mandela who turns 95 tomorrow.

In encouraging people to be active citizens by participating in community service in their communities, Premier Modise said that Mandela Month was also an opportunity to promote social cohesion, national healing and nation building.“Madiba has united us in prayer over the past few weeks. We could all make a huge difference by emulating his legacy and taking time out of our scheduled to inspire change in our communities by doing something good,” stressed Modise  

The Premier will be accompanied by MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison will spend her 67 minutes laying bricks and planting trees at Marang Estate housing development project in Mahikeng.

The R3,5 billion integrated human settlement project will  create employment and deliver 1200 community residential units and 2000 bonded houses over the next seven years in the provincial capital.  

Other Members of the Executive Council will lead activities that include renovation of a clinic and donation of school bags and uniforms at Kgokgole Primary School in Taung, cleaning and doing laundry at Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp, distribution of clothes in Ratanang and establishing a vegetable garden in Khuma near Stilfontein.

A prayer service for Tata Mandela who is in hospital will also be hosted by the provincial government in Tlhabane near Rustenburg.

Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated annually across the world to honour the world icon who devoted his life to freedom, equality, peace and reconciliation.

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