The DA has ridiculed Premier Thandi Modise’s fiery comments on the regressive provincial municipalities, as highlighted by the auditor-general, saying she has failed to take action against officials responsible for poor performance and transgressions.

DA provincial leader Chris Hattingh said the premier, increasingly more vociferous and apparently involved in North West issues since she was relieved of her Luthuli House obligations in December –as former ANC deputy secretary general – had yet to acknowledge the core findings of the AG about governance in the municipalities.

Hattingh said the AG’s findings were that leadership did not set the appropriate tone at the top, a significant increase in irregular expenditure and that key officials lacked the required competencies and skills.

“Modise’s unhappiness about municipalities that are not taking action against those responsible for poor performance and transgressions is an indictment against herself as the premier and ANC leader.

“The implicated officials are almost exclusively ANC cadres deployed into positions way beyond their capacity, qualification and experience levels are protected with the accompanying cadre protection system, allowing them to act almost with impunity,” Hattingh said.

He said Modise’s statement about the lack of a political will to act against officials found guilty of corruption and mismanagement of funds was another indictment against herself in her role as the most senior political official in the province and “perhaps an acknowledgement of the devastating effects of having two competing centres of power within the provincial ANC”.

The premier based some of her statements on several forensic reports touching on another serious facet of the provincial governance crisis and not a single forensic report has been tabled in the North West Provincial Legislature by Modise or her predecessors for more than a decade, he said.

“Unless Premier Thandi Modise is prepared to move from speeches and statements to visible action and a real clean-up of corrupt officials and practices, the government at provincial and municipal level will continue its downward trend.

“A good start would be for the premier to table the stacks of forensic reports and start a capacity audit of government officials, then a fraction of the amounts spent annually on consultants appointed to do the work of incompetent cadres will be sufficient to fund such an audit.”

Provincial government spokesperson, Lesiba Kgwele said: “Only a desperate psychotic demagogue would use last year’s audit findings to criticise Premier Modise on her comments on the findings of a report she has not seen.”

Kgwele said the DA leader’s comments on the 2011-2012 Municipal Finance Audit Outcomes were nothing but cheap politics, usual theatrics to draw attention to himself and a desperate attempt to downplay the call for bold steps to be taken to overcome challenges facing municipalities. “The broadside that Hattingh threw at Premier Modise is part of the DA’s strategy to drive a wedge between the provincial government and municipalities and between the executive council and portfolio committees within the provincial legislature.” 

For more http://www.thenewage.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

Klerksdorp-Police are searching for two suspects who robbed a house of a 67-year-old woman at Wilkoppies on Saturday at about 14:00 North West police said. “According to information at our disposal the woman was asleep when she heard noise in the kitchen” captain Amanda Funani. A woman went to investigate and allegedly found the two suspects inside the house. 

“It is alleged that the suspects threatened the old woman with a knobkerrie and demanded money from her” Funani said. 

“Allegation states that the suspects tied the victim with a rope and robbed off her jewellery and undisclosed amount of money” she said. 

The suspects fled the scene driving white Polo, which was allegedly stolen earlier in the same area. 

Police investigation continues.

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By Obakeng Maje

Mmabatho-Police are searching for the suspect who raped a 20-year-old victim at Ramosadi village on Saturday at about 23:10 North West police said. “According to allegations, the victim was from her sister’s place in Ramosadi village going home when she came across the suspect” captain Amanda Funani said. 

The suspect known to her offered to walk her half way, but as they walked pass Maphacwe graveyard, he allegedly dragged her to the graveyard and raped her” police said. 

The suspect is still at large and a case of rape was registered, Investigation continues.

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By Obakeng Maje

Marikana-Police are investigating a case of attempted murder and armed robbery after a 40-year-old victim was shot by two unknown suspects. 

“The incident occurred Friday at about 20:00. It is alleged that the victim was together with his friend walking home from work” captain Amanda Funani said.  Police said the men met two suspects who demanded their wallets and cell phones. “According to the information received, the one of the suspects shot the victim in his face and victim’s friend managed to escape” Amanda Funani said. 

The victim was taken to Rustenburg Hospital where he is recovering. 

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Johannesburg – Murder-accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius was seen enjoying a few drinks on a night out, the Sunday Times reported.

Pistorius was seen arriving at a party at Kitchen Bar restaurant in the Fourways Design Quarter in Johannesburg last Saturday, according to the report.

This was the first time Pistorius, who has been charged with murder after his girlfriend law graduate Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in his Pretoria home on February 14, was seen out in public.

Pistorius family spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess told the Sunday Times that it was the first time the paralympian went out with friends but left the Kitchen Bar when “public interest became overwhelming”.

“He has been out of the house with family, but this was the first time he went out to a restaurant with people other than close family,” she was quoted as saying.

“For Oscar, it was a way of trying to reconnect with friends of his and Reeva’s – and these were the people he went out with.”

According to the report Pistorius left the restaurant and went to Buddha Ta, opposite Kitchen Bar, where he spent 30 minutes before leaving.

Pistorius was released on bail on February 22 under conditions which included a ban on international travel.

He successfully challenged the conditions in the High Court in Pretoria and several were relaxed, including bans on travel and alcohol consumption.

In the week, Pistorius and his family bemoaned the tone of social media comments on his relationship with Steenkamp.

“The disregard that is being shown by some – specifically those commenting via social media – for the profound pain that Reeva’s family and friends are going through is very troubling,” the family said in a statement.

“There is not a moment in the day that Oscar does not mourn for his girlfriend and Reeva’s family, and all those who were close to her are in his thoughts constantly.” – Sapa

Johannesburg – Family members of former president Nelson Mandela are planning birthday celebrations in Pretoria, London and Monaco, the Sunday Times reported.

According to the report, relatives were peddling “Nelson Mandela birthday celebrations” in various cities, with several soccer matches involving Manchester City, for the former statesman’s 95th birthday on July 18.

The events, advertised in a 25-page brochure, are organised by the African Rising Foundation and include a gala dinner at the Union Buildings in Pretoria with “African leaders, friends of Madiba, pan-African multinationals and institutions”.

Another event, the “Monaco Million Dollar Super Four”, is a boxing tournament in which super-middleweight prospect Edwin Rodriguez is expected to take part, according to the report.

Golden Gloves owner Rodney Berman was meant to organise the event but Sunday Times reported that he distanced himself from the tournament on Friday.

“In light of the fight for the Madiba millions and given his health, Golden Gloves took a decision not to get involved in this. We don’t want to get caught in any crossfire,” Berman was quoted as saying.

Mandela was discharged on April 6, after being admitted to a Pretoria hospital on March 27 to receive treatment for a lung condition. – Sapa

After the acquittal of seven police officers for the death of Andries Tatane, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was on the receiving end of strident public criticism. This was because the death had been captured on video and it was therefore seen as an open-and-shut case

For more http://www.iol.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

Upington-Organised Crime Unit in the Northern Cape has worked hard in ensuring that perpetrators of crime get what they deserve. 

This follows a case of Dealing in drugs that was reported in the area of Kakamas in November 2012 said Lieutenant Donald Mdhluli. 

“A 34-year-old woman, Hlahla Bongiwe was found guilty for dealing in drugs and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment or fine of R8000-00 plus 5 years imprisonment suspended for 5 years on probation not to be found guilty again for 5 years for dealing in drugs” lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said. 

The sentencing was handed down on 2013-04-09. 

“The SAPS Management would like to thank its members for their hard-work which yielded positive results” said Mdhluli.

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Johannesburg – Two local actresses who had viewers glued to their television screens after an episode on corrective rape say they would play the roles all over again if they had to.

Lerato Mvelase and Thandy Matlaila’s characters on the SABC1 series Intersexions garnered a huge response on social networking sites recently.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Ethiopian was shot dead at a business premises in Klipgat on Saturday morning, North West police said.

The man was found lying in a pool of blood near a pit toilet, said Captain Amanda Funani.

He sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

Police had spoken to the deceased’s brother, who had found the body.

Funani said his brother had left him at their shop at around 10pm on Friday as he had been checking inventory.

“When he came back to the shop this morning he found their main entrance not locked, and saw that items were missing in the shop.”

The robbers took money, a cellphone, airtime vouchers and cigarettes.

A case of murder and business robbery was opened.

No arrests have been made yet. – Sapa